Hello Friends, Prayer Warriors & Intercessors,  (from Chris Burke     Prayer Coordinator    www.prayforme.com.au)
 
The recent report ‘Little Children Are Sacred’ revealed an epidemic of child sexual abuse in the Northern Territory fuelled by alcohol, drugs and pornography. As part of its strategy to combat violence against children the Federal Government has banned pornography in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. It is also looking at overriding the Northern Territory’s liberal censorship laws, which allow for the sale of explicit pornography and restricting the supply of similar material out of the ACT, which has a large mail-order business.

Now former Nationals leader John Anderson is calling for the bans on hard-core pornography to be extended nationwide to protect white children as well as black. Mr Anderson said X-rated material was damaging children across the nation. “As Noel Pearson put it so beautifully, ask the children if they mind a bit of paternalism when they’re cowering under the table,” Mr Anderson said. “You can’t restrict that to just Aboriginal children. That plainly happens in non-indigenous communities as well as indigenous communities.”

Mr Anderson said the evidence was overwhelming that there are real and frightening links between porn and sexual violence. “What you have here is a giant hypocrisy that no one has wanted to tackle. The minute it’s questioned, the members who have questioned it are immediately targeted by the X-rated video industry lobby groups.”

Mr Anderson said that by banning pornography flowing into NT Aboriginal communities, the Howard Government had effectively conceded there was a link between watching the material and acting in dysfunctional ways. I think what comes out of this is we are now conceding that there’s a problem with this stuff, and frankly I think that all Governments ought to have a long hard look at it again,” he said.

“And we ought to say that civil libertarian arguments are not enough in the face of too many young Australian children’s lives being deeply. and even permanently scared.” Mr Anderson said that while he is no expert, he had been told by many experts that porn was like drug addiction.

Christians wanting to support Mr Anderson in his campaign to have X rated pornography banned nation wide have been given an avenue to do so by the creation of a website that will facilitate such action.

In launching the site the Australian Christian Lobby said that the problems of pornography aren’t confined to the Northern Territory or to indigenous communities. There would be many other communities in Australia – even some in our major cities – which are isolated by lack of opportunity and social disadvantage and would be as badly affected by pornography.

The ACT and Northern Territory are currently the only two places in Australia where the sale of X-rated pornography is legal. Both territories have a booming interstate trade in sending mail-order X-rated material to the States.

Pornography exploits women, harms marriages and can contribute to sexual abuse. Whilever the sale and possession of X-rated pornography is legal it will also find its way into the hands of minors.

By using the site ( http://www.makeastand.org.au/ ) you can send an email to the Federal and ACT Governments congratulating the Prime Minister on his moves to restrict X-rated pornography in the Northern Territory and asking that this material also be banned in the ACT (the only other place where X-rated pornography can legally be sold).

Emails sent via the site will also be copied to the Federal Opposition Leader, the ACT Opposition Leader and the State Premier of your state of residence, letting them know that you would like further action taken on this issue.

This is an important issue for our nation, and one in which your involvement could make all the difference. Please consider taking part in this campaign.  You may also care to send an email to John Anderson thanking him for his courageous stance on this issue. You can email him at John.Anderson.MP@aph.gov.au
Source: Compiled by APN from material obtained from various sources
God Bless You As You Pray.

Should you have any questions please direct them to info@prayforme.com.au   Warm regards, Chris Burke