Written for FathersCan by Dr. Don Dutton PHD-for national and International distribution

‘Time for a Change?’

What do Chris Brown, Ike Turner, and OJ Simpson have in common? They are all famous men who beat their wives. Chris Brown’s case got maximum exposure on Oprah, Ike Turner was vilified in a movie, OJ got all day/every day coverage at his murder trial. Our ability to remember them as examples of “wife beaters” is called the availability he uristic- we develop these associations largely from high profile media events. Since an availability heuristic- the examples of domestic violence we can call to mind- shapes our beliefs and judgments about an issue like domestic violence, the question is raised whether these media examples are representative of typical domestic violence.

The answer is that they are not. They misrepresent domestic violence in three ways by making the perpetrators appear to always be black, male and acting alone. Reality bites- when large sample victim surveys that ask about domestic violence are done, a very different picture emerges. In the first place, domestic violence is not more common in black relationships than white or other racial groups. Perhaps more surprisingly, the stereotype of the male as a bully and the female as hapless victim is not supported by the data. Surveys from 1989 to 2007 keep finding the same thing; the most common form of domestic violence is two -way- both partners assault each other at about the same level of severity. Women are hurt somewhat more but only somewhat- men get hurt too for the obvious reason that everyday weapons get used, knives, frying pans, and boiling water, amongst other things.
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Independent enquiry!!! was the subject of the email I recieved yesterday, noting that Owen Glenn is launching an inquiry into domestic violence and with the comment that this could be a chance for men’s concerns to be heard.
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Cartwright Seminar

Concerns that Family Court failing women and children

HE’S JUST SWAPPED HIS FISTS FOR THE SYSTEM

2012 Women’s Refuge Conference

I welcome any constructive feed back or suggestions that could assist me with the following:

The background is that I have 4 children, the youngest is 23 years of age and resides in France. I have been working overseas and recently returned to Australia which has been my primary residence since 96 when I left NZ. I had been back in Australia for 2 years when I received a liability from Child Support NZ for $89k. I was aghast as I had paid child support directly to my ex wife for all the years my children were dependent. Upon investigation it would appear the liability goes back to 2002 for a 1 year period and from Dec 05 – May 08. (more…)

The New Zealand IRD (i hope google picks this up) took my ex wife’s word that I earnt money under the table, when I was clearly destitute on the DPB and after having lost my my business in 2008. They assessed me on my previous year’s income and after the review I got a letter which pointed to a previous court case where a dad refused to work to avoid child support. (more…)

(Disclaimer: I’m writing this article since our Minister is a Christian, with a hope that his legislation of child support will be influenced by it. I have no intention to convince any of you to become a Christian – I’m not a Christian myself! I just have knowledge of the bible, have researched the scriptures and one of my hobbies is research of international history/cultures)

Payments of child support are not directly mentioned in the bible, although the financial responsibility of the father to the children, even under situations of separation or divorce, is straightforward when you read the bible. (more…)

Both my daughters dropped out of school when they turned 16. Now they spend all day at home doing nothing, not working etc. it’s been over 8 months. Their mother is in support of this. I understand that child support continues until 19 or such full time employment over 30 hours a week. Does this mean that my daughters get a three year paid holiday and I don’t get do do anything about it?

Male Health Research and Policy Workshop

This workshop was hosted by the Institute of Policy Studies and the University of Otago Wellington and was held on June 1, 2010.

In recent years some health researchers have suggested that more attention needs to be given to developing strategies for improving men’s health. This workshop therefore aimed to define where the problems lie, explore information gaps, highlight a set of policies and programs currently making a difference, and identify some possible broad research and policy agendas.
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How Is Social Media Becoming Relevant To Family Law Cases?

Prosecutions should only proceed when it is in the public interest, for example when there is sufficient evidence that there is a reasonably prospect of gaining a conviction.

When there is no workable system of accountability for prosecutors, then defective prosecutions may still occur. From the prosecutor’s perspective, successes gain public credit (and wrongful prosecutions just result in private costs to the innocent victims, garnished with public humiliation for the innocent victims).

In the longer run, the costs often come back onto the Government, as compensation to victims for prosecution malpractice. Although this is an old problem in NZ, it has never been satisfactorily been resolved. I have seen one police prosecutor who appeared to understand these issues and she behaved accordingly, which is far more than I can say for most of the men prosecutors I have seen in NZ. (I haven’t seen enough to be able to make valid overall conclusions.)
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When I was younger and had never seen the inside of a caughtroom, I thought legislation guided judges, in rather clearly defined manner.

Having seen several caught cases proceed, I eventually came to the conclusion that more often than not, Parliament and legislation is several years behind changes in judge’s behaviour. Tail wagging the dog? This is politely called “judicial activism”, but less charmingly may be called malpractice, incontinence, senility, hormonality or corruption.
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RIP Andrew.

WOTTON, Andrew Grant. Passed away 3 September due to a tragic accident, aged 54. (more…)

SFO relying on corruption whistle-blowers

Parents who are concerned to protect the lives and quality of life of their children (who are being forced to deal with familycaught$), need to look very carefully at how they plan to protect the lives of their children and grandchildren. – MurrayBacon
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This is Steve Taylor’s Press Release [about Judge Boshier and the latest Family Court Reforms] …… The percentages he quoted are from the Govt’s own report into the Family Court apparently.
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Recently, Leighton Smith has allowed some talk back discussion about familycaught$, on News Talk ZB

A friend told me that the discussion has been wide ranging and positively focussed.

I suggest to listen and perhaps take part!

Leighton Smith Show 8.30 am to 12 pm
– Murray Bacon.
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History of Child [and Spousal] Support

The best concise record of the history that I have seen, is by Barry Pearson in UK.

While his website is available, it is quicker and easier to read Barry Pearson’s website. The headings of the two articles below, take you to the source website.

As his website might one day be closed, I have taken the liberty of copying the essence into the MENZ website.

There have been quite a few postings recently on MENZ about “Child [and Spousal] Support”, which have taken the viewpoint of the accused father.
If we wish to address the problems that result, for fathers, mothers and children, we need to see these issues also from the viewpoints of taxpayers, beneficiaries and children in particular.
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The EU is about to enforce what they term as positive discrimination in regards to women having a seat on major company boards. 40% of women on boards in non exec positions will be mandatory. There is nothing in law presently to stop  them  achieving status as a board member but there is a “belief” out there, based on the lack of women in seats, that they are hindered by discrimination or a glass ceiling, as they like to term it.

Now for arguments sake lets call a company “the baby or child” that someone spent a lot of time and energy creating, nurturing and investing time and money into it. As it grew many other people invested into the company and eventually they voted for a board of directors to look after their baby. Shouldn’t there be some concern about who is in control of this baby?

Should we allow women, having such a short history in the field of business, into such a major position when there are men more able to fulfil the role? After all, we have always had this role and in the majority of cases men have done a superb job. Can we really trust females with the baby? If a woman should make a mistake whilst on the board then the ramifications for the ‘child’, not to mention the many employees and investors, will be dire. 

We need to take action now to stop this madness becoming law here. In order that we do not appear unfair, misogynist or discriminatory we need to be very clever by always mentioning in the media and on any article we write how the industry needs and wants women to be involved at a high level. However, hidden amongst the legislation we include a little clause stating that the ‘best interests’ of the Company must be paramount in any decision made. In the case of a rejected prospective female board member taking the issue to court we need to give the Judge an easier job of finding in our favour, so lawyers with a strong financial leaning will be required to represent the soul of the Company. This will ensure that human rights will never become an issue in their argument. 

I feel pretty sure this will be effective, as the best interests of the company is such a vague and subjective concept that we can keep women out of the board room forever. 

Last Friday 31 August a few committed people set up the Ministry of Men’s Affairs on parliament grounds after protesting near the Family Court, because successive governments have failed to address men’s issues or to seek true gender equality. We set up a good public address system, gave speeches, sang songs and tried to make the issues clear. (more…)

The NZ HERALD today provides us with appalling statistics on child suicides in NZ.The article quotes Prime Minister John Key,

“suicide was a complex issue and the Government didn’t have all the answers.

Well, that may well be because it is not asking the right questions? He goes on to say,

 “When a young person takes their life, as a country you mourn that, because as adults we know that there’s always a solution to problems.

Yes John, there are solutions once you know the problem. If you don’t understand the problem or choose to ignore it then a solution will never eventuate.

Misguided research may indicate that a lot of these children are victims of bullying and concluded that this is the factor that needs addressing. However, I believe that it is the lack of self esteem these children possess that makes them unable to handle the effects of bullying and many other negative factors that a young life encounters. This issue may well be due to the lack of fathering. If this is found to be the case then the solution is to change the existing system so that fathering holds a far more prominent position in society than is does in the present moment.

MOMA, if Government funded, could conduct research using the methodologies of quantitative, qualitative and participatory research thereby giving us a clearer understanding what role the lack of fathering has in these suicides. 

I may be wrong in my reasoning but on the basis of statistics showing the vast number of solo mothers would it not be prudent to investigate the issue and at least commission MOMA to conduct it’s own research and the results made public?

Some further data supplied in the article is-:

Total suicides over five years – 2717

Key findings:

– The number of suicides recorded by the Coronial Services Unit in the year to June 30 was 547, down 11 on the previous 12 months

– 74 per cent of all suicides in New Zealand were male

– Increase in suicides in the 15-19 age group – from 56 to 80

– The most common method of suicide (61 percent) was hanging, followed by poisoning and overdose

– 28 percent of people who killed themselves were unemployed

FYI, information about the launch of a new campaign at parliament grounds this Friday 31 August. We invite supporters to join the campaign with a $5 donation; they will receive a black ribbon that can be worn alongside or instead of the white ribbon.

MMA
MINISTRY OF MEN’S AFFAIRS
MINITATANGA MO NGA TANE

PO Box 13130, Tauranga 3141
[email protected]

28 August 2012

MEDIA RELEASE

Black Ribbons for Men

The Ministry of Men’s Affairs, an NGO set up to advance the welfare of men and fathers, announced today that its first project will be the Black Ribbon Campaign with the slogan “Show You Care About Men’. (more…)

“Kill the Family Court; It Kills Families”

A few dedicated men and women have gathered at each of the venues (except Napier) and protested. Here is a news article concerning the most recent protest at Rotorua, held in the median strip of one of Rotorua’s main streets and attracting a lot of attention.

Sadly, the turnout has never been great. There was some disquiet about the title of the protests involving the word ‘kill’, but it certainly won’t be quickly forgotten by the public. The message is simply that in order to bring the Family Court and NZ family law to become a system that benefits our society, so much change would be necessary that it would become a totally new, rebirthed system. Tinkering with corrupt, socially destructive institutions seldom changes the harm they do, so we call to scuttle the current system and start again. Kill off the current feminist-saturated, false propaganda-based family law system and its courts, and design one based on sound principles of justice, gender equality and evidence-based approaches to support the best interests of children.

The final protest will be in Wellington this Friday, 31 August outside the Family Court at 49 Ballance St from 11am. This is the Friday of the weekend of Fathers Day, a celebration of fathers that feminist groups recently described as a day of shame. At 1pm we will move to Parliament grounds to open the Ministry of Men’s Affairs where we will invite men and women to report their experiences with misandry and discrimination against men.

Please, please come and support us at either venue if you are in Wellington or can get there.

given the current climate of anger at new zealand family court and given its a know fact that their are lawyers who are using the delays to the advantage of their clients then is it not the right time for fathers to unite and take to the streets?

FYI, I attach my letter to Sgt Mark Oliver, NZ Police, concerning his statements in the NZ Herald today about domestic violence being associated with All Blacks matches.

Men will be banned from a Muslim exhibit at The Dowse

Men will be banned from watching a video display coming to a Lower Hutt art gallery that shows Muslim women without veils.

The Dowse Art Museum is preparing to host the world premiere of the art installation – despite advice from the Human Rights Commission that not letting men inside could be seen as sexual discrimination.

Men are moved by Air New Zealand when seated next to children travelling alone and now Dowse director Cam McCracken is banning men from an exhibition an Art gallery. Why? Because they are men. Does McCracken live in the twenty-first century? Art exhibitions are not exempt from our right as citizens of New Zealand not to be discriminated against based on our gender. McCracken’s polemic provides free advertising for the on-going propagation of discrimination based on gender.

“I’ve bought into the fact that we take this work on the proviso that no men see it. We respect the artist and the privacy of the women who are portrayed.”

No, what McCracken brought into is discrimination based on gender. McCracken can’t hide behind Islam’s belief system as a justification for discrimination based on gender; we live in a secular state. Quite possibly this is part of a staged Media campaign to maximise exposure for the Gallery?

Shame on you Cam McCracken for choosing to promote discrimination against men what next no men allowed near unattended children in the Dowse?

Discrimination of this type should not be tolerated.