Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Where have all the babies gone? Three University of Minnesota researchers think they've found an unexpected answer. They blame the baby bust on the Social Security system, and similar government old-age pension and savings plans. Those programmes, they claim, have reduced the need for forward-thinking couples to produce lots of kids who could take care of Mom and Dad in their old age.
Not child, not adult. Research suggests that a growing number of twenty- and thirty-somethings are lingering for years in a newly emerging generational netherworld. More than two-thirds of all 30-year-old men and slightly more than half of all 30-year-old women would not be considered adults under traditional definitions of adulthood, claims the group of sociologists, which included professors Frank F. Furstenberg Jr. of the University of Pennsylvania and Ruben G. Rumbaut of the University of California-Irvine.
Want to reduce births by teenage girls? Increase the legal age when students can drop out of school, say three economists who have studied the impact of compulsory education laws in the United States and Norway. The economists found that requiring students to stay in school until at least 16 years old reduces the chances that a woman will give birth before turning 20 by 4.7 percent in the United States. Increasing the age when students can leave school to 17 nearly doubles the effect, reducing the probability of teen births by 8.8 percent.
The US Supreme Court heard arguments earlier this month in a potentially explosive set of cases that will determine whether the Ten Commandments can be displayed in or around government buildings. At issue is whether the displays constitute a government endorsement of religion or simply a recognition of the role that the Ten Commandments have played in American legal history. From the Christian Science Monitor, a short, informative look at the role of the Ten Commandments in relation to the Constitution.
Christianity is thriving. There are now some 39,000 Christian denominations in the world, ranging from several million to fewer than 100 members in all 238 nations. These denominations can be divided into six 'ecclesiastical megablocks': 1. Roman Catholics (1.119 billion); 2. Independents (427 million); 3. Protestants (376 million); 4. Orthodox (220 million); 5. Anglicans (80 million); 6. Marginals (34 million). The Independents, comprised of independent and post-denominational Christians, are the fastest-growing group, and already make up 20 percent of the world Christian population. Christianity is currently growing fastest in China, with an estimated 10,000 new believers each day. In 1900, around 81% of Christians were white; today, the percentage has shrunk to 43%. The current top 10 nations ranked by Christian population (2005) are: 1. USA (252 million); 2. Brazil (167 million); 3. China (111 million); 4. Mexico (102 million); 5. Russia (85 million); 6. Philippines (74 million); 7. India (68 million); 8. Germany (62 million); 9. Nigeria (61 million); 10. DR Congo (53 million).
The presidential predilictions of Helen Clark. Fran O'Sullivan provides a thoughtful analysis of Helen Clark's political style, and the changing role and powers of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Our secular leaders don't reflect NZ society, claims an article by Sarah Stuart in the Sunday Star-Times. She quotes Massey University's Peter Lineham (Maxim supporter) and Victoria Uni religious studies lecturer Marion Maddox as saying the mainstream parties have ignored the new spiritual mood in the country. The newspaper version of the article gives leaders' religious beliefs, which could be summarised as follows: Helen Clark agnostic; Rodney Hide agnostic; Peter Dunne non-committal; Rod Donald atheist; Pita Sharples, Maori spirituality; Don Brash, non-committal.
Smacking still has big part in NZ society, says an article in Stuff - a new Government survey finds that half of all parents with young children admit physically disciplining their kids. A Social Development Ministry survey of 612 parents and 539 caregivers with children under five years old found half of parents – and a fifth of caregivers – said they had used physical discipline or had used it in the past three months. Asked why they smacked their children, 42 per cent said they were trying to end misbehaviour "immediately", while 14 per cent said they used it to teach children about safety and danger. About 8 per cent smacked because they had been smacked as children, while 6 per cent said they smacked because it was effective.
Stephen Franks' claim that anti-child porn legislation passed last month threatens the freedom of speech of all New Zealanders is complete rubbish, Phil Goff says. Amendments to the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Amendment Act is do not allow censors to age-restrict ideas or opinions that they think would be degrading to some groups in our society; it applies only to images. The act allows age restrictions to be placed on publications solely because they contain offensive language. To qualify, the language must be highly offensive to the public in general, to an extent that if not age-restricted in some way, the availability of the publication would likely cause serious harm to people under that age.
Funds from federal and provincial government agencies helped pay for a picture book for Canadian elementary school-aged children promoting same-sex marriage. In a letter to MPs accompanying the book, Corina Eberle described the book as "a gentle story for young children that celebrates the joyous planning of a wedding where the happy couple happens to be two women."
UK churches unite on abortion review. The Archbishop of Canterbury last weekend joined Roman Catholic calls for a review of the Abortion Act, and received immediate backing from other church leaders. There is a "groundswell of distaste" at the way the 38-year-old Act works, Dr Williams said, and "more and more … unhappiness and bewilderment around … its effects". Rt Revd Tom Butler, vice-chair of the Church of England mission and public affairs division, said there was widespread concern among Anglicans that there were more than 500 abortions a day.
Small families rob kids. Children in Western countries are growing up socially deprived because extended families have been broken down into unnaturally small groups, said an American child psychologist visiting New Zealand. Many children have one tenth of the "inter-relational time" that kids elsewhere have in extended families, said Dr Bruce Perry. Instead, children as young as four are spending time in front of the television and being drilled in cognitive skills such as reading and maths. ~ The Press, March 5 (sorry, no link).
A "depravity rating" that measures evil and will help courts decide whether convicted murderers should face execution or just imprisonment has been drawn up by American psychiatrists.
In a narrow 5-4 decision the United States Supreme Court has abolished the death penalty for juveniles, ruling that it is excessive and cruel to execute a person who was younger than 18 when the crime was committed.
While half the world mourns the impending death of Terry Schiavo (and the other half celebrates), here's a challenging personal story from Lindsey O'Connor: While I Was Sleeping - Why my husband finally refused to end my life during my two-month coma.
Not child, not adult. Research suggests that a growing number of twenty- and thirty-somethings are lingering for years in a newly emerging generational netherworld. More than two-thirds of all 30-year-old men and slightly more than half of all 30-year-old women would not be considered adults under traditional definitions of adulthood, claims the group of sociologists, which included professors Frank F. Furstenberg Jr. of the University of Pennsylvania and Ruben G. Rumbaut of the University of California-Irvine.
Want to reduce births by teenage girls? Increase the legal age when students can drop out of school, say three economists who have studied the impact of compulsory education laws in the United States and Norway. The economists found that requiring students to stay in school until at least 16 years old reduces the chances that a woman will give birth before turning 20 by 4.7 percent in the United States. Increasing the age when students can leave school to 17 nearly doubles the effect, reducing the probability of teen births by 8.8 percent.
The US Supreme Court heard arguments earlier this month in a potentially explosive set of cases that will determine whether the Ten Commandments can be displayed in or around government buildings. At issue is whether the displays constitute a government endorsement of religion or simply a recognition of the role that the Ten Commandments have played in American legal history. From the Christian Science Monitor, a short, informative look at the role of the Ten Commandments in relation to the Constitution.
Christianity is thriving. There are now some 39,000 Christian denominations in the world, ranging from several million to fewer than 100 members in all 238 nations. These denominations can be divided into six 'ecclesiastical megablocks': 1. Roman Catholics (1.119 billion); 2. Independents (427 million); 3. Protestants (376 million); 4. Orthodox (220 million); 5. Anglicans (80 million); 6. Marginals (34 million). The Independents, comprised of independent and post-denominational Christians, are the fastest-growing group, and already make up 20 percent of the world Christian population. Christianity is currently growing fastest in China, with an estimated 10,000 new believers each day. In 1900, around 81% of Christians were white; today, the percentage has shrunk to 43%. The current top 10 nations ranked by Christian population (2005) are: 1. USA (252 million); 2. Brazil (167 million); 3. China (111 million); 4. Mexico (102 million); 5. Russia (85 million); 6. Philippines (74 million); 7. India (68 million); 8. Germany (62 million); 9. Nigeria (61 million); 10. DR Congo (53 million).
The presidential predilictions of Helen Clark. Fran O'Sullivan provides a thoughtful analysis of Helen Clark's political style, and the changing role and powers of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Our secular leaders don't reflect NZ society, claims an article by Sarah Stuart in the Sunday Star-Times. She quotes Massey University's Peter Lineham (Maxim supporter) and Victoria Uni religious studies lecturer Marion Maddox as saying the mainstream parties have ignored the new spiritual mood in the country. The newspaper version of the article gives leaders' religious beliefs, which could be summarised as follows: Helen Clark agnostic; Rodney Hide agnostic; Peter Dunne non-committal; Rod Donald atheist; Pita Sharples, Maori spirituality; Don Brash, non-committal.
Smacking still has big part in NZ society, says an article in Stuff - a new Government survey finds that half of all parents with young children admit physically disciplining their kids. A Social Development Ministry survey of 612 parents and 539 caregivers with children under five years old found half of parents – and a fifth of caregivers – said they had used physical discipline or had used it in the past three months. Asked why they smacked their children, 42 per cent said they were trying to end misbehaviour "immediately", while 14 per cent said they used it to teach children about safety and danger. About 8 per cent smacked because they had been smacked as children, while 6 per cent said they smacked because it was effective.
Stephen Franks' claim that anti-child porn legislation passed last month threatens the freedom of speech of all New Zealanders is complete rubbish, Phil Goff says. Amendments to the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Amendment Act is do not allow censors to age-restrict ideas or opinions that they think would be degrading to some groups in our society; it applies only to images. The act allows age restrictions to be placed on publications solely because they contain offensive language. To qualify, the language must be highly offensive to the public in general, to an extent that if not age-restricted in some way, the availability of the publication would likely cause serious harm to people under that age.
Funds from federal and provincial government agencies helped pay for a picture book for Canadian elementary school-aged children promoting same-sex marriage. In a letter to MPs accompanying the book, Corina Eberle described the book as "a gentle story for young children that celebrates the joyous planning of a wedding where the happy couple happens to be two women."
UK churches unite on abortion review. The Archbishop of Canterbury last weekend joined Roman Catholic calls for a review of the Abortion Act, and received immediate backing from other church leaders. There is a "groundswell of distaste" at the way the 38-year-old Act works, Dr Williams said, and "more and more … unhappiness and bewilderment around … its effects". Rt Revd Tom Butler, vice-chair of the Church of England mission and public affairs division, said there was widespread concern among Anglicans that there were more than 500 abortions a day.
Small families rob kids. Children in Western countries are growing up socially deprived because extended families have been broken down into unnaturally small groups, said an American child psychologist visiting New Zealand. Many children have one tenth of the "inter-relational time" that kids elsewhere have in extended families, said Dr Bruce Perry. Instead, children as young as four are spending time in front of the television and being drilled in cognitive skills such as reading and maths. ~ The Press, March 5 (sorry, no link).
A "depravity rating" that measures evil and will help courts decide whether convicted murderers should face execution or just imprisonment has been drawn up by American psychiatrists.
In a narrow 5-4 decision the United States Supreme Court has abolished the death penalty for juveniles, ruling that it is excessive and cruel to execute a person who was younger than 18 when the crime was committed.
While half the world mourns the impending death of Terry Schiavo (and the other half celebrates), here's a challenging personal story from Lindsey O'Connor: While I Was Sleeping - Why my husband finally refused to end my life during my two-month coma.
