Family Integrity # 155 -- Back to work!

Family Integrity # 155 -- Back to work!

Greetings Now that the holiday break is over and we have lovely weather, it is time to begin thinking about serious things again. Section 59 will be at the top as one of the most important things to be dealing with this year. Please put it in the top 3 items of your priority list for the rest of January and February.

WHERE IS SECTION 59 UP TO:

The report of the Select Committee who considered this Bill to repeal Section 59 can be read at: http://tinyurl.com/yk49lh

In the old Section 59 correction was the only motivation allowed in the use of reasonable force with children.

With this proposed new Section 59, correction is the only motivation specifically prohibited in the use of reasonable force, while other motivations are specifically allowed!

It is clear: the real motivation behind this Bill is not to stop the use of force with children, but to stop parents from correcting their children.

For information on how a private members Bill progresses through Parliament read here: http://www.familyintegrity.org.nz/page/887173 According to this, the earliest that the Bill will surface in Parliament is February 21. The second reading could be February 21.

NEW BROCHURE:

We have a new brochure "Kiss your Children Goodbye" for passing out to people. Check it out here at the top of the www.FamilyIntegrity.org.nz home page.

Please forward this link to your friends, neighbours and family.

We would also like to be able to give 1000s of this brochure away for free to people. Are you able to help with this by donating towards this cause? If so, then please send your donation to: Family Integrity, P O Box 9064, Palmerston North and mark your donation to be used for the printing of the brochure "Kiss your Children Goodbye".

WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING NOW:

There needs to be a ground swell of people writing to the MPs for it is they who will be voting on this bill.

1. Therefore there continues to be an urgency for us all to be writing/visiting/phoning our MPs. All MP contact details can be found at: http://www.familyintegrity.org.nz/page/588413. Tell the MPs you are totally opposed to the repeal or the amendment of Section 59. Ask them to leave Section 59 just as it is and to simply dump Bradford's Bill as it is far too damaging to families.

2. We all need to be contacting our own MPs and all those that are able should also be contacting all the MPs

3. Contact should be via:
EMAIL: Consider sending an email to all the MPs using this link: http://www.betterdemocracy.co.nz/email_mps.php
LETTER: A very effective way to lobby, no stamp required when sent to Parliament
FAX: This costs a bit more and is time consuming but effective.
PHONING: This is much easier to do than it would seem. You just ring the MPs office and say "Please add my name to the list of people you have who are against the Repeal or amendment of Section 59". You have to give your name of course and that is it.
VISIT: This is by far the hardest to do for some people. But this is most certainly the most effective way to lobby. We are fast running out of time for visiting our MPs. Parliament begins sitting again the week of February 12

4. Read this great press release from Family First on "CHILDREN'S NEEDS, NOT RIGHTS, SHOULD BE THE FOCUS"
http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/media_centre/published_articles/articles/children_s_needs__not_rights__should_be_the_focus.html
Click on the heading to read the whole article

5. Take a look at this Family First website. Family First is calling for people to advertise in papers: Protect parents from Bradford's anti-smacking Bill. Would you be willing to SPONSOR one of these advertisements in your local newspaper OR in a major newspaper? Click here for more information http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/action_alert_/anti_smacking_bill.html

6. These are the days that Section 59 could come up in Parliament: February 21 March 14 and 28 May 2 and 16

7. Ex MP Larry Baldock is organising a Citizens Initiated Referendum opposing this Bill and needs people to help as local contacts and co-ordinators. If you'd like to be involved, please email him at: l.baldock@xtra.co.nz.

8. Make a donation for the printing of "Kiss your Children Goodbye"

9. Order and distribute to friends, neighbours and relations the brochure "Kiss your Children Goodbye"

10. Forward this email and attachment to heaps of people - your friends, neighbours and relations

COMING EVENTS:

If you are in the South Island, then don't miss these meetings: Hokitika, Oamaru and Christchurch For more information go to: http://www.familyintegrity.org.nz/page/844292
We look forward to seeing you there.

Blessings Craig and Barbara Smith