Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued a historic apology Monday to thousands of impoverished British children shipped to Australia with the promise of a better life, triggering calls for compensation for the abuse and neglect that many suffered.
The British government has estimated 150,000 British children may have been shipped abroad between 1618 and 1967, most from the late 19th century onward. After 1920, most of the children went to Australia through programs run by the government, religious groups and children's charities.
The programs, which ended 40 years ago, were intended to provide the children with a new start — and the Empire with a supply of sturdy white workers. But many children ended up in institutions where they were physically and sexually abused, or were sent to work as farm laborers.
(more at link)Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued a historic apology Monday to thousands of... more
Courage comes in many different forms. For Esmeralda a transgender asylum seeker from Mexico who faced horrific circumstances in immigration detention, it came in the form of seeking justice. Kept in a segregated cell with other transgender detainees, Esmeralda never realized that her experience in detention would match the trauma of discrimination she had faced back home. But her story is also one of hope for change.Courage comes in many different forms. For Esmeralda a transgender asylum seeker from... more
I found this story extremely shocking and timely. We can no longer afford to keep sweeping the sexual crimes of women against children under the rug. Women can be just as abusive as men comitting sexual crimes.I found this story extremely shocking and timely. We can no longer afford to keep... more
More children have been coming forward with reports of sexual abuse by women, says Childine.
Since 2004 calls of abuse by women have increased, five times faster than those about male abusers.
From a total of 16,094 children who called Childline in last year, as many as 2,142 of them spoke of being abused by women -- this was an increase of 132% from 2004-2005.
Of 16,094 children who called Childline about sex abuse last year, 2,142 told of abuse by a woman, up 132% on 2004-5.
The NSPCC state that female sex abuse has tended to go under-reported, due to social stigmas preventing the belief that females do not engage in sexual assault.
An introduction to the Lantern Project and it's founder, Graham Wilmer. This is the first in a series of short films showcasing the stories of survivors of sexual abuse and the work of the Lantern Project. www.lanternproject.org.ukAn introduction to the Lantern Project and it's founder, Graham Wilmer. This is the... more
The new cases were added to the 57 counts involving nine accusers issued by the grand jury in March.
Like the previous charges, the new batch alleges that Thomas committed sodomy, sex abuse, extortion, kidnapping, assault and ethics violations.
Thomas' attorney, Bob Clark, described them as "the same old, same old."
But in one instance, Thomas is now accused of engaging in "deviate sexual intercourse" with a victim by forcing him to have anal sex -- an act he's not been accused of before.
In other cases, Thomas is accused of soliciting "sexual favors or services," including, as in the previous indictments, whipping the defendants.
Thomas did that in one case, according to the new indictment, by causing the victim to "with or without clothing, expose his buttocks to paddling and/or whipping and/or touching." The victim was also caused to expose "his penis to touching by" Thomas.
MORE INFO IN THE LINKThe new cases were added to the 57 counts involving nine accusers issued by the grand... more
A nursery worker and two accomplices in Britain have pleaded guilty to carrying out a string of sex attacks on children as young as 18 months old.
Vanessa George, 39, admitted seven counts of sexual abuse and six counts of distributing and making indecent pictures of children.
She committed the crimes at Little Ted's nursery in Plymouth, where she worked.
She denied one count of sexual assault, which was ordered by the judge at Bristol Crown Court to lie on file.
The children in George's photographs have never been identified.
By analyzing electronic references stored within the images, detectives have been able to work out roughly when the pictures were taken.
With the assistance of a consultant paediatrician, they have also estimated the ages of the children involved.
By cross-referencing nursery records, they have narrowed down to 30 the number of families who would have had children of the right age, at the relevant time, in the care of George.
But beyond that, individual identification is very difficult.
** This is horrific!! and they talked about in Facebook, why didn't Facebook do something about it??A nursery worker and two accomplices in Britain have pleaded guilty to carrying out a... more
I haven’t spoken with her yet, but my sense is that Deborah Calla, who produced and co-wrote the new indie film A Beautiful Life, feels a strong connection to the lead character of Maggie.
It’s just a sense, but the character of Maggie, a teenage girl running away from the sexual abuse of her father, doesn’t seem like an emotional story you would want to participate in telling unless it really spoke to your soul.
Of course, I could be completely mistaken.
Calla, a Brazilian native, first discovered Wendy Hammond’s play, Jersey City, back in 1996. It took a long time to translate Jersey City into [i]A Beautiful Life[/i], but I’m sure there is an audience out there for this alternately harsh and yet tender slice of modern life.
AUDIO EXCERPT: “I think this is the best work Bai has ever done. This is a woman who looks amazing with makeup on, amazing without any makeup on. She just has so many different colors and goes through such a journey. I hope this movie will show other producers and directors what she can really do.”
And Calla found some strong women to fill the lead and featured roles, starting with Angela Sarafyan as Maggie, the lead character, and continuing with Bai Ling as Maggie’s protector, Dana Delaney as her mother and Debi Mazar as a librarian who takes an interest in Maggie.
You can LISTEN to this interview with DEBORAH CALLA, producer of A BEAUTIFUL LIFE, by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player above!By BOB ANDELMAN
I haven’t spoken with her yet, but my sense is that Deborah... more
In the spring of 2008, a team of Canadian students travelled to the border cities of Douglas, Arizona in the United States and Agua Prieta, Sonora in Mexico. The students explored a variety of issues and documented personal stories of youth living on both sides of the border. They produced this film over two weeks with the support of local Mexican youth filmmakers.In the spring of 2008, a team of Canadian students travelled to the border cities of... more
"'Hero' Greek woman sets fire to drunken Briton's genitals
A 26-year old Greek woman has become an overnight national hero after setting fire to the genitals of a 23-year old drunken Briton who allegedly tried to sexually assault her in a crowded bar.
According to a police statement issued last night the incident occurred at a club in the notorious coastal resort of Malia, which is dominated by young Britons seeking all-night revelry.
It alleged the Briton took down his trousers and started waving his genitals at a number of girls. He then specifically "forcefully fondled" the 26-year old Greek woman, asking her to take hold of his genitals.
After asking him to stop harassing her, the police said, she poured the alcoholic drink Sabucco on his genitals (an Italian brand type of Greek ouzo or French Pernod drink).
This again allegedly failed to stop his advances, so the woman seized a lighter and set fire to the alcohol-drenched genitals, local press reports said."
This story gives new meaning to the famous advice, 'keep your dick in your pants'!!!"'Hero' Greek woman sets fire to drunken Briton's genitals
A 26-year old Greek woman... more
Kentucky band makes video to bring awareness to the affects of Domestic Violence toward women and children.Kentucky band makes video to bring awareness to the affects of Domestic Violence... more
A jury in Arkansas convicted evangelist Tony Alamo on Friday of 10 federal counts of taking minors across state lines for sex, according to the court in the Western District in Arkansas.
Authorities in September charged Alamo, the 74-year-old founder and leader of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries, and raided his 15-acre compound near Texarkana, Arkansas.
Jurors reached the verdict after more than eight hours of deliberations. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Between March 1994 and October 2005, Alamo transported five girls younger than 18 across state lines for sex, according to the indictment.
The criminal complaint included accounts from three of the girls, two of whom were 17 when the complaint was filed last year and one who was 14. All three said Alamo sexually abused them.
Alamo, whose real name is Bernie Hoffman, had denied all wrongdoing. In a phone interview last year with CNN, he called the accusations a hoax.
"They're just trying to make our church look evil ... by saying I'm a pornographer. Saying that I rape little children. ... I love children. I don't abuse them. Never have. Never will."
Asked why authorities were searching the property, Alamo compared himself to Christ.
"Why were they after Jesus," he asked. "It's the same reason. Jesus is living within me."
Alamo also has compounds in Oklahoma and New Jersey.
The Southern Poverty Law Center says Tony Alamo Christian Ministries is anti-Catholic and a cult.A jury in Arkansas convicted evangelist Tony Alamo on Friday of 10 federal counts of... more
Evangelist Tony Alamo preyed on his loyal followers' young daughters, once taking a girl as young as 8 as his bride and repeatedly sexually assaulting her, a federal prosecutor said Tuesday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes said that girl's story and others unwound an "elaborate facade" Alamo wove around himself. Lawyers for the 74-year-old Alamo, who is charged with taking underage girls across state lines for sex, argued that the alleged victims traveled across the country to further the outreach and business interests of a "bona fide religious group" that the government targeted out of its own prejudices.Evangelist Tony Alamo preyed on his loyal followers' young daughters, once taking a... more
Cindy Greunke, 42-year-old married mother from Fremont, Nebraka was arrested last week on suspicion of first-degree sexual assault, debauching a minor and enticement by electronic device. Greunke allegedly sexually assaulted the boy on June 26 at her Fremont home and sent sexually explicit images and text messages to the boy's cell phone.
In the affidavit, investigators state that Greunke and the 15-year-old boy had participated in mutual masturbation while sitting on her front porch.
Greunke sexually assaulted another 15-year-old couple of years ago and is a registered sex offender.Cindy Greunke, 42-year-old married mother from Fremont, Nebraka was arrested last week... more
A Philadelphia woman says she 'feels like she was raped' after FBI and Philadelphia police broke into her home to investigate her boyfriend. She was in a towel when they arrived, and an officer demanded she get dressed in front of them.A Philadelphia woman says she 'feels like she was raped' after FBI and Philadelphia... more
Summer Kelli Ashle Nelson, 28-year-old local babysitter, Summer Kelli Ashle Nelson, was arrested yesterday for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy she was hired to baby sit. Nelson allegedly had sex with the teen at the home in Post Falls on numerous occasions
Police say the abuse took place in 2007, but they were not told about the crime until December of 2008. After a seven-month investigation detectives found there were at least four sexual encounters that occurred between Summer Nelson and the young teen back in August of 2007.Summer Kelli Ashle Nelson, 28-year-old local babysitter, Summer Kelli Ashle Nelson,... more
A Massachusetts prosecutor says a 6-year-old girl was kidnapped by a would-be rapist but managed to escape from his apartment despite being in leg shackles.
Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz says the girl was found Saturday afternoon as police searched the apartment complex in Hanover, about 20 miles southeast of Boston, where she and the suspect live. Her mother reported her missing at about 1:30 p.m.
Cruz says the girl pointed officers to an apartment where she was taken. They arrested 26-year-old Justin Shine after a struggle.
Shine is to be arraigned Monday on charges of kidnapping, attempted rape, assault and resisting arrest. It's unclear whether he has an attorney.
The girl was also taken to a hospital, but authorities declined to comment on her injuries.A Massachusetts prosecutor says a 6-year-old girl was kidnapped by a would-be rapist... more
Brookanne Collier, 32-year-old elementary school principal, who was arrested in April for having sex with a teen female, pleaded guilty to three felony counts last week.
The prosecution says her relationship with a 14-year-old girl started about six years ago and lasted until this year.
The former Tunnel School Principal was facing seven felony counts of sex acts with a minor. In April, Collier entered not guilt pleas to all of the charges. Following Thursday's plea agreement, Collier pleaded guilty to four charges after three of the seven charges were dropped.
Collier will face one year in county jail and five years probation when she is sentenced next month.
In addition, she will be required to surrender her teaching license and register as a sex offender.Brookanne Collier, 32-year-old elementary school principal, who was arrested in April... more
Chasity Lynn Huff, 29-year-old mother from Lakeland, Florida, has been arrested for alleged child abuse in Mentor Township which reports indicate occurred between Spring 2000 to the summer of 2001.
According to reports from the Cheboygan MSP post Huff allegedly sexually abused two boys, ages four and five, at a Mentor Township residence in 2000 and 2001. Huff reportedly restrained the two young boys, locked them in rooms and exposed them to pornography. Huff was a live-in girlfriend of the boy’s father at the time of the alleged abuse.
Current chrges against Chasity Lynn Huff:
4 counts of kidnapping
4 counts of torture
5 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct
4 counts of first-degree child abuse
4 charges of gross indecency between an adult female and a minor male or female.
In addition, Compton is being charged as a three-time habitual offender.Chasity Lynn Huff, 29-year-old mother from Lakeland, Florida, has been arrested for... more
Julie Carr, 30-year-old woman from Mars Hill, Maine, has been arrested and charged with gross sexual assault after Maine State Police alleged that she is linked to a child pornography investigation with international ties.
Law enforcement officials in the United Kingdom were investigating child sexual abuse when they discovered recorded videos showing a woman committing sexual acts on a young child. The U.K. investigation revealed that the U.S. was the likely origin of the videos, which had been recorded from a live webcast. Police discovered that the point of origin likely was in Mars Hill.
State police detectives and ICE agents worked to identify the woman while Aroostook County District Attorney Neale Adams and caseworkers from the state Department of Health and Human Services teamed up with authorities to collect information about the suspect, who turned out to be Julie Carr - a photograph of Carr on file with the Maine Department of Motor Vehicles reportedly confirmed that the woman in the video from the U.K. was her.Julie Carr, 30-year-old woman from Mars Hill, Maine, has been arrested and charged... more
