News - Really useful articles

Really useful articles

Recent articles on a range of topics...
The most recent ones are at the TOP!

20 October 2008: "Illusions of Climate Science"
William Kininmonth, Quadrant, October 2008.
William Kininmonth is the former head of Australia’s National Climate Centre. He was an Australian representative and consultant to the World Meteorological Organization on climate issues and is the author of Climate Change: A Natural Hazard (Multi-science Publishing Co., 2004).
He begins: "How have we come to a situation where, as some polls suggest, most Australians are so concerned about dangerous climate change that they will put aside the very tools and technologies that have sustained clean air, clean water, nutritious food and long life? More importantly, is the perceived danger real and will the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions avert the perceived danger? Although there are many uncertainties to be resolved, it is clear that the community has been the subject of more than two decades of heavily biased propaganda.
" In spite of claims to the contrary, there is no consensus of scientists supporting the findings and recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. There exists a large and vocal group of highly qualified dissenters (often denigrated as sceptics, deniers or worse). Published letters and opinions in the press suggest the scientific community is still divided and the community has not succumbed to the propaganda of human-caused global warming. Many in the community, with every justification, are awaiting more information about the costs and the economic and social impacts before lining up to march behind the government’s carbon dioxide reduction banner..."

25 July 2008 - New “Progressive Christianity”: An Old Liberal Swindle
Peter Jones (CWiPP) writes about the use of the word 'progressive' which is usually associated with decrying the 'fundamentalists'.
Excellent analysis of an important issue in the 'church' today.
Patrick Sookdheo recently said that what used to be called 'liberal' is now often is what is called 'evangelical'. [We have the CD for sale in our office.]

21 July 2008 - No smoking hot spot
This article is very interesting as Dr Evans worked with the Australian Greenhouse Office, doing the models for carbon accounting.
He now says the earth is not warming and gives a lot of evidence to show the whole thing is not valid!
No smoking hot spot
The Australian, David Evans, July 18, 2008
"I DEVOTED six years to carbon accounting, building models for the Australian Greenhouse Office. I am the rocket scientist who wrote the carbon accounting model (FullCAM) that measuresAustralia's compliance with the Kyoto Protocol, in the land use change and forestry sector. . . I've been following the global warming debate closely for years. When I started that job in 1999 the evidence that carbon emissions caused global warming seemed pretty good: CO2 is a greenhouse gas, the old ice core data, no other suspects.
The evidence was not conclusive, but why wait until we were certain when it appeared we needed to act quickly? Soon government and the scientific community were working together and lots of science research jobs were created. We scientists had political support, the ear of government, big budgets, and we felt fairly important and useful (well, I did anyway). It was great. We were working to save the planet.
But since 1999 new evidence has seriously weakened the case that carbon emissions are the main cause of global warming, and by 2007 the evidence was pretty conclusive that carbon played only a minor role and was not the main cause of the recent global warming. As Lord Keynes famously said, "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?" ..."

9 June (Posted) - Statement about number of Muslim converts
On May 2008 Patrick Sookhdeo of Barnabas Fund wrote this important article warning of the dangers of inflating statistics of Muslim converts because of the risk of harm to them and to Christian missions...

Exaggerated Convert Figures Could Cost Lives
Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, Barnabas Fund... GENERAL NEWS - 14th May 2008
"Converts from Islam to Christianity are increasingly concerned about a number of reports in recent months which have cited astounding statistics on conversion. It is true – and a matter for thankfulness to God – that more Muslims are now coming to Christ than at any other time in history. However, they are not converting on the vast scale alleged in some reports. These false reports, often initiated by non-Christians and then circulated by Christians, are a matter of grave concern, not just for those who love truth and accuracy, but also for the many individuals whose lives are being endangered by the publicity given to the exaggerated figures...."

4 June 2008: Dr Dennis Jenson - speech in parliament
Dr Dennis Jensen, a former nuclear physicist with CSIRO and now Liberal MP from WA, gave a sppech in parliament where he criticised the notion of global warming.
Click here to read his speech on Hansard - Pages 134- 137.

Posted 22 May 2008
A helpful perspective on the role of government...

Law and Moral Purpose
Robert P. Georg, First Things, January 2008.
"The obligations and purposes of law and government are to protect public health, safety, and morals, and to advance the general welfare—including, preeminently, protecting people’s fundamental rights and basic liberties.
At first blush, this classic formulation (or combination of classic formulations) seems to grant vast and sweeping powers to public authority. Yet, in truth, the general welfare—the common good—requires that government be limited.

15 April - Islam - Daniel Pipes in Australia
Daniel Pipes is particuipating in a debate organised by Intelligence Squared tonight.
Topic: Is Islam compatible with democracy?
Click here for details.
This article was printed in The Australian today...
Europe or Eurabia?
The Australian, Daniel Pipes | April 15, 2008
"THE future of Europe is in play. Will it turn into "Eurabia", a part of the Muslim world? Will it remain the distinct cultural unit it has been for the past millennium? Or might there be some creative synthesis of the two?
The answer has vast importance. Europe may constitute a mere 7 per cent of the world's landmass but for 500 years, 1450-1950, for good and ill, it was the global engine of change.
How it develops in the future will affect all humanity, especially daughter countries such as Australia that still retain close and important ties to the old continent. I foresee potentially one of three paths for Europe : Muslims dominating, Muslims rejected or harmonious integration. . . "

17 March 2008 - Garnaut Review
Professor Ross Garnaut has been asked to write a review on the impact on climate change on Australia's economy. He released an Interim Report in February 2008.
Click here for the Interim Report.
Click herefor our web page on the Garnaut Review.

14 February 2008 - Islam and Christianity
138 Muslim scholars wrote 'A Common Word between us and you' last year. It was a letter to Christians - but it is based on verses from the Qur'an, it assumes there is only one God and invites Christians to join them.
300 Christians responded in a statement organised by Yale. They printed the statement in a full-page ad in the New York Times .
We believe that the original statement by the Muslim scholars is not something that Christians can support; we also believe that the 'Christian response' is flawed.
Barnabas Fund's Rev Dr Patrick Sookhdeo and Rev Dr Mark Durie have analysed the original statement and the Christian responses:

Rev Dr Mark Durie:
Notes for Christians on Understanding 'A Common Word Between Us and You'

On the Yale Response

Rev Dr Patrick Sookhdeo:
28th November 2007 - RESPONSE TO OPEN LETTER AND CALL FROM MUSLIM RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO CHRISTIAN LEADERS

24th January 2008 - Barnabas Fund Response to the Yale Center for Faith and Culture Statement

12 November 2007 - Abortion and Breast Cancer
A recent major study highlights the link between Abortion and Breast Cancer (ABC):
It was published by Patrick Carroll in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons Volume 12 Number 3 Fall 2007.

The Breast Cancer Epidemic: Modeling and Forecasts Based on Abortion and Other Risk Factors

For more information on the link check out Prof Joel Brind's website:
Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer

31 October 2007 - Australian views on abortion
What Australians Really Think About ABORTION
54 pages - "A report on comprehensive independent market research conducted by Market Facts (Qld) Pty Ltd, commissioned by the Australian Federation of Right to Life Associations.
This national opinion poll of 1200 Australians was conducted in two stages – in April/May and August/September 2005 – with 15 questions in total."
Published in February, 2006

ED: Contains very useful data to show that many Australians are very concerned about the high number of abortions and want the nubmer reduced.

28 August 2007 - Comparing Christianity and the Green movement - the roots in ancient paganism

The Return of the Old Gods: A Challenge to Green Evangelicals
By Timothy Birdnow August 25, 2007 - American Thinker

28 August 2007 - Diversity and Culture - a clash!

Diversity, Nihilism, and the Anti-Rational Mind
By Gary Wolf, August 22, 2007 - American Thinker

22 May 2007 - Spirituality and Health
The current issue of the Medical Journal of Australia has a 'Supplement' titled 'Spirituality and Health'. There are numerous articles about the importance of religion and prayer in the health of a person. (See below for full details and links).

One of those reports is specifically about the influence of prayer....
Talking to God gives body a boost
AAP, Sunday May 20, 2007

The actual report is
Prayer as medicine: how much have we learned?
Marek Jantos and Hosen Kiat — Med J Aust 2007; 186 (10): S51-S53.

Supplement — Spirituality and Health
MJA, 21 May 2007
All the articles published in the supplement are available by clicking the title.

16 May 2007 - Climate Change shock for Victorians!
Climate change: shock findings for Victorians
A special report prepared for Premier Bracks warns of dramatic risks...

7 May 2007 - Selecting gender of children
Home Gender Test Will Lead to Sex-Selection Abortion, Experts Warn
New test called “very dangerous” byUK charity spokeman.
A new DNA test that parents can use at home to determine the sex of their unborn child in the early weeks of pregnancy is being condemned as a sex-selection abortion tool by concerned pro-life leaders and medical professionals.

7 May 2007: TV watching
Study: Frequent TV Viewing During Adolescence Linked to Attention and Learning Difficulties
Lifesite: Teenagers who watch television for three or more hours per day may have a higher risk of attention and learning difficulties in their adolescent and early adult years, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Risk Of Attention And Learning Difficulties Linked With Frequent TV Viewing During Adolescence
Adapted by Medical News from original Press Release.

3 May - Civil Unions in NZ
Small Increase in First Marriages
Official NZ government statistics on marriage and civil unions. (pdf document)
.......... There were 397 civil unions registered to New Zealand residents in 2006. These comprised 319 same-sex unions (131 male and 188 female) and 78 opposite-sex unions. There were 33 civil unions registered to overseas residents, making a total of 430 registrations.

16 April 2007 - Climate change (global warming)
Changes on Neptune Link Sun and Global Warming
World Climate Report.
"Skeptics of manmade global warming have found further support in research linking solar output with the planet Neptune’s brightness and temperatures on Earth.
The findings appeared in a recent issue of Geophysical Research Letters. The authors of the article, H.B. Hammel and G.W. Lockwood from the Space Science Institute in Colorado and the Lowell Observatory in Arizona, note that measurements of visible light from Neptune have been taken at the Observatory since 1950.
Those measurements indicate that Neptune has been getting brighter since around 1980. And infrared measurements of the planet since 1980 show that Neptune has been warming steadily as well."

Study: Hammel, H. B.; Lockwood, G. W.
Suggestive correlations between the brightness of Neptune, solar variability, and Earth's temperature
Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 34, No. 8, L08203 10.1029/2006GL028764, 19 April 2007.
Click here for the abstract.

12 April 2007: Christianity and Politics
An uneasy marriage of necessity
The Age, Prof Tony Coady, April 3, 2007.
Interesting article about the role of religion and politics...
Some extracts...
"AFTER years on the periphery of democratic politics, religion, to the astonishment of many, is well and truly back in the centre."
"There are two major and apparently conflicting truths that must be reconciled in any answer to the question of religion's place in politics. The first is that most religions preach a world view that influences a way of living. This "way" tends to permeate a sincere believer's life, including their politics, either as citizen or politician. The second truth is that the point of religion is essentially different from that of politics."
"An anti-religious ideology of secularism must be distinguished from the commitment to secular space for politics. ..."
"... They will, however, compromise their religion and weaken the impact of their values if they behave like puppets of their religious leadership or seek to further their ends by devious or surreptitious means."

3 April 2007: Drugs - Cannabis
Liberal UK newspaper The Independent reverses its position on marijuana! After campaigning FOR the decriminalisation of marijuana since 1997, they now say there are TOO MANY DANGERS! They have abandoned their campaign!

Cannabis An apology
By Jonathan Owen, The Independent on Sunday,UK, 18 March 2007.
“In 1997, this newspaper launched a campaign to decriminalise the drug. If only we had known then what we can reveal today...”
“Record numbers of teenagers are requiring drug treatment as a result of smoking skunk, the highly potent cannabis strain that is 25 times stronger than resin sold a decade ago.
“More than 22,000 people were treated last year for cannabis addiction - and almost half of those affected were under 18. With doctors and drugs experts warning that skunk can be as damaging as cocaine and heroin, leading to mental health problems and psychosis for thousands of teenagers, The Independent on Sunday has today reversed its landmark campaign for cannabis use to be decriminalised …..”

Click here for Lifesite comment and report.

29 March 2007 - William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce and his impact on Australia
A great lecture by Associate Professor Stuart Piggin. Very enlightening!
Given in the Main Committee Room, Parliament House, Canberra on Monday 26 March 2007. The lecture was hosted by Senator Guy Barnett.

This week - 25th March 2007 - marked 200 years since the signing of the English Bill that abolished the slave trade. William Wilberforce was the UK politician who campaigned for many years to achieve this (as well as banning the owning of slaves some 26 years later).
We have listed some articles on our website: click here .

19 March - Stem Cell Research
"75 New Reasons to Reconsider the Alleged Need for Stem Cell Research that Destroys Human Embryos."
DoNoHarm: The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics (stemcellresearch.org) has just posted this PDF. It is a catalogue of recent advances in adult stem cell research and other alternatives to embryonic stem cell research published since June of last year.
So far the result sheet for embryo stem cell research is totally blank .

14 March 2007: Politics
Beautiful Politicians
Are attractive candidates more likely to be elected?
A research paper from ANU. Interesting analysis!

6 Feb 2007: Islam
Living Apart Together: British Muslims and the paradox of multiculturalism
This report fromUK think tank Policy Exchange is a major new survey of the attitudes of Muslims in Britain and the reasons behind the rapid rise in Islamic fundamentalism amongst the younger generation. “The research finds that there is a growing religiosity amongst the younger generation of Muslims and that they feel that they have less in common with non-Muslims than do their parents. Significantly, they exhibit a much stronger preference for Islamic schools and sharia law and place a greater stress on asserting their identity publicly, for example, by wearing the hijab.”
Click here for the Overview page.
Click here for the actual report. (100 pages)

6 Feb 2007: Terrorism
Protecting Australia Against Terrorism 2006
The federal government publication Protecting Australia Against Terrorism 2006 updates and builds on the 2004 edition to provide a comprehensive overview of Australia’s domestic and international counter-terrorism strategy, policy and arrangements. It explains the steps the Australian Government has taken to protect Australians and Australian interests against the threat of terrorism and outlines the government’s partnership with state, territory and local governments as well as the private sector in developing the nation-wide counter-terrorism capability.
The pdf document is available form the above link.

5 Feb 2007: Child abuse
Child Protection Australia 2005 - 2006
The latest Report on child abuse in Australia has just been released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare - a federal government agency. The statistics show the various types of abuse - physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect, across all states and territories for the year 2005 - 2006.
The instance of reported and substantiated abuse is increasing - partly due to new legislation in some states and higher awareness of the issue.
The Report finds - see Family type P 30 - that a child is proportionately LEAST likely to be abused if living with their biological INTACT family of mum and dad. Lone parent (mother, followed by father) families have the highest risk factor for abuse.

Sexual Abuse and Assault
Young people who sexually abuse: Key issues
Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, part of the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
ACSSA Wrap - No. 3 December 2006
by Cameron Boyd, in collaboration with Leah Bromfield.
“This paper is about young people who have committed acts of sexual abuse. It is written for those who might come across this issue in their day-to-day work and would like to know what the current research and practice says about understanding and responding to this group of young people."
Detailed paper analysing research on sexual assault and abuse by young people. AIFS is a federal government body.

Homosexuality
Same-Sex 'Marriage' and Civil Unions
Focus on the Family, November 2006.
A new series of articles on same-sex 'marriage', civil unions, and other forms of recognition of homosexual relationships.
Click on the title to get the Overview and links to the other articles in the series.
The individual articles, with links, are:

Author: Jenny Stokes | Modified: 20 October 2008