Petition Tag - recommendations

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The Education System
•Increased Character Education

Children's Aid Society (Child Protective Services)
•protect children physically/mentally & emotionally
•recognize & educated on the signs of parental alienation
•children need mental health protection to be acknowledged and protected from mental & emotional abuse.

Family Court System
•enforce court orders when mental health issues are being ignored
•enforce doctors recommendations for counselling when there is a family history of mental illness
•oversee the office of the children's lawyer: to work in the best interests of the children they are representing, follow through with mental health assessments
•give a doctors diagnosis the respect it deserves, and consider the recommendations
•give the education system the respect it deserves, and consider their recommendations
•enforce court orders

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STOP UNCONTROLLED GAMBLING IN NOVA SCOTIA
SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO GOVERNMENT WE THE PUBLIC ARE GOING TO PROTECT OUR YOUTH OUR FAMILIES AND OUR SENIORS FROM BEING VICTIMIZED.

1. GAMING CONTROL ACT: STATES: AS ITS PURPOSE TO REGULATE, CASINOS, LOTTERY SCHEMES AND TO INCREASE REVENUE FOR THE PROVINCE.
ENSURE THAT ANY MEASURES TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO CASINOS AND OTHER LOTTERY SCHEMES ARE UNDERTAKEN FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC AND WITHOUT LIMITYING THE LIMITING OF THE FOREGOING, TO MINIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT GIVE RISE TO PROBLEM GAMBLING AND OTHER ILLNESSES CRIME AND SOCIAL DISRUPTION, (1994-95,C,4,S.2.)THESE OPERATIONS ARE LICENCED PURSUANT TO THIS AND THE REGULATIONS AND THE CRIMINAL CODE (CANADA) TO CONDUCT AND MANAGE LOTTERY.

2. CONTROLLED BY MINISTER OF FINANCE AND MINISTER OF LABOR FOR THE PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA. PART I AND PART I I .
THE GAMING CONTROL ACT SECTION 20 SUB SECTION C STATES OPERATORS AND RGULATORS MUST HAVE IN PLACE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO IDENTIFY AND REMOVE PROBLEM GAMBLERS NO WHERE IN THE ACT DOES IT SAY SELF-EXCLUSION FOR A PROBLEM GAMBLER.

3. MANAGED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL THERE ARE THREE TO FIVE BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED.

4. THE CORPORATION SECTION E STATES REPORT FORTHWITH TO THE MINISTER AND THE COMMISSION ANY DEFECT, ABUSE, ILLEGALITY OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN RELATION TO CASINOS AND OTHER LOTTERY SCHEMES;

5. NOVA SCOTIANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY NO TO GAMBLING IN THE PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA. CASINO OPERATIONS AND VLTS OPERATIONS MUST BE STOPPED. GAMBLING IS A VERY DANGEROUS PAST TIME FOR ALL.

6. THE PAST AND PRESENT GOVERNMENT HAVE SHOWN THE PUBLIC JUST HOW INTEGRITY AND HONESTY REALLY WORKS JUST TAKE A LOOK AT PROBLEM GAMBLERS BANK ACCOUNTS. HOW MUCH MORE ABUSE AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY CAN WE TAKE. THIS IS NOT ENTERTAINMENT. THE OMBUDSMANS REPORT WAS FINISHED IN 2007. THE RECOMMENDATIONS MOVE VERY SLOW AND ARE ONLY 50 % COMPLETE AFTER TWO YEARS. WILL WE EVER SEE ALL RECOMMENDATIONS COMPLETED?

7. WHEN GAMBLING ON MACHINES WAS ILLEGAL GOVERNMENT ACTED SWIFTLY AND WITHIN ONE DAY ALL WERE GATHERED UP AND DESTROYED. WHAT HAS CHANGED NOW? “NOTHING”

PLEASE SIGN WITH NAME ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER:
NAME: ADDRESS: PHONE NUMBER: VOTE:
PAUL BURRELL 269 CHARLOTTE STREET 902-578-0340 NO CASINOS &VLT’S

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A damning report by Ofsted recently revealed that up to 4 children die every week in England from abuse or neglect. Two thirds of the victims were less than a year old.

Experts say that 1 in 10 UK children suffers abuse or neglect and that most maltreated children are not known to the authorities. In the UK it is estimated that one million children are affected each year.

An average of 57 sexual offences against UK children were recorded DAILY by police in 2008. In more than 800 cases the victim was aged under four.

The current judicial system does not adequately reflect the serious nature of these crimes. The death of a child through abuse or neglect is often punished with a prison sentence ranging from only 1-14 years, most of which are automatically halved with parole. This needs to change now.

WE PETITION THE GOVERNMENT TO:

1. Increase the maximum sentence of 14 years for ‘allowing or causing death of a child’ to a discretionary life sentence, naming this new ruling ‘Peter’s Law’, as it was the murder of Peter Connelly that opened the nations eyes to the injustice of the current tariff.

2. Review sentencing guidelines for ALL crimes relating to child abuse, increasing both minimum and maximum tariffs.

3. Introduce a law concerning fatal abuse without fatal injury where death as a result of complications from failure to seek medical attention; illness in a child whose immune system is impaired by the stress of chronic abuse or neglect; or abuse or neglect of a child already impaired by chronic illness, is labeled murder.

4. Ensure that sentences for child abuse run consecutively.

5. Abolish parole for all crimes against children.

6. Life sentences should mean LIFE.

7. Close the legal loophole which allows abusers to escape jail when the child survives, by blaming each other for the abuse.


Please see the accompanying document for a thorough explanation of our law proposals & examples of the injustice of our current legal system.


In light of the tragic and avoidable death of Baby P and the more recent serious child protection failings in Doncaster and Birmingham, we call for urgent improvements to child protection nationwide to include:

1. The NSPCC say that babies & toddlers are particularly vulnerable to physical abuse. If regular compulsory health checks were introduced, at least 4 times a year for ages 0-2 and three times a year for ages 2-5, they would help to reveal any signs of abuse or neglect. Social Services should be alerted if appointments become overdue.

2. Social workers & health visitors should be allowed to physically examine young 'at risk' children. A child on the 'at risk' register means that child is considered to be at risk of significant harm. Examinations should therefore be compulsory at every visit of an at risk child or when any new child is brought to the attention of the authorities where there are reported concerns of abuse as this is the easiest, quickest & most effective way to determine if a child is being physically abused or not.

In the news recently was a 3 year old Carlisle toddler who was tortured by her father Reuben Williams her entire life. Because a Health Visitor determined after speaking to the mother that there were no child protection concerns without ever seeing the child and because 3 months later, a Social Worker did not examine the child despite renewed allegations of abuse, she was subjected to a further completely avoidable 18 months of being whipped, burned, punched, scratched and bitten. Her body is now permanently disfigured by nearly 200 scars and the emotional harm done is incalculable. Points 1) & 2) should hopefully avoid unnecessary & prolonged suffering of this kind.

3. Social Workers should carry out a task list at every visit which should be adopted nationwide and include:

- check the cleanliness/hygiene of all living quarters
- check for evidence of undisclosed people living at the property & Criminal Record Bureau Check all residents & regular visitors
- check there is sufficient food and other essential supplies
- physically interact with the child
- physically examine the child
- insist children in nappies be changed to reveal any cases of serious nappy rash
- insist any food, ointment, paint etc be removed from the child
- ensure they see the child unrestrained & moving, crawling or walking to assess any difficulty with movement & possible injury
- see children old enough to speak on their own in the presence of another professional, so that the child can talk uninhibited away from its carers
- check for signs of drug use or alcohol abuse as these are often linked to cases of child abuse & neglect
- observe family's interaction with pets as abusive behaviour may be indicative of domestic violence
- check for any other dangers

4. If a social worker strongly suspects physical abuse, they should have the power to remove the child immediately while the matter is investigated, with or without police aid.

5. Social workers must be aware of 'red flags' that could be cause for concern and should check on the child without delay every time one is raised as the child may have already sustained injury or be in poor physical condition. These should include:

- carers failing to attend any appointments
- being denied access to a child or its living quarters
- carers regularly appear not to be at home or who say a child is unavailable (confirm child's whereabouts immediately)
- carers saying that they can't see anyone for a period of time

6. Up to 80% of Social Workers' time is spent on administration. Free up this time to be spent with vulnerable children instead with adequate admin support. Also, main focus needs to be protecting vulnerable children - not meeting targets, budgets or red tape.

7. An urgent review of the criteria required to have a child taken into care. In Baby P's case 2 doctors, the police and a Social Worker stated separately that Baby P should not be returned to his mother and yet lawyers said there was insufficient evidence to start care proceedings.

8. Introduction of the whistleblowers' hotline for the use of all child protection agencies and the public to expose internal bad practice. Better protection for whistleblowers and a ban on gagging orders in such circumstances as they only serve to hush up bad practice and allow it to continue unchecked.

9. Provide a suitable and adequate alternative to the Children's database which must be used and accessed by the NHS, Social Services and the police to help strengthen communication between the agencies. Currently 66% of hospitals fail to check if an injured child is involved with social services and a lack of communication was cited in 75% of child death Serious Case Reviews.

10. to recruit and retain adequate numbers of high quality, well trained Social Workers & Health Visitors.

11. If abusive pet owners can be banned from keeping animals, a similar law should be in place to protect children from abusive carers or carers who allow a child to be abused or neglected. Abusers should forfeit all visitation & parental rights. Why should children have less rights to protection than animals?

12. A child's welfare must always take priority over keeping a family together.

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In the light of the Baby P Tragedy, please petition 10 Downing Street to better protect vulnerable children and request that the government adopt the following recommendations for the future handling of children 'at risk' cases:

** Represents known areas where Baby P was badly let down

1.** If on 2 occasions the authorities (police/medical) advise against a child being returned to its family, Social Services should not be allowed to overrule this.

2.** Social workers should insist that all clothing be removed & chocolate/paint/ointment etc be cleaned off at every visit as these may hide a multitude of sins. Children old enough to speak may be too afraid to do so.

3.If a social worker strongly suspects physical abuse, they should remove the child immediately, with or without police aid, while the matter is investigated.

4.Social workers must make regular unannounced and out of hours visits.

5.If a social worker is denied access to a child or living quarters by its carers or suspects that a carer is pretending not to be at home, then social workers should call on the police to gain immediate access, as the child may have already sustained serious injuries or be in poor physical condition.

6.If a carer says a child is with someone else, this must be verified immediately.

7.** If the carer fails to attend any appointment set by social services, the child must be seen without delay, as again they may be injured.

8.If abusive pet owners can be banned from keeping animals, a similar law should be in place to protect children from abusive carers or carers who allow a child to be abused or neglected. Why should children have less rights to protection than animals?

9.** If Social Services refer a child for assessment, the doctor must do a full examination.

10.** If someone is assigned by the council to check on or live with the child at risk's family, that person must be monitored to ensure they are performing their duties.

11.** If a carer tells social services or equivalent that they can't see anyone for a period of time, the child must be seen immediately before this is granted, as the child may be injured.

12.** A child's welfare must always take priority over keeping a family together.

13.Carers should be told that they won't be judged if they admit to not loving a child or that they resent looking after a child or that they simply can't cope and that they can choose to have the child put into care, if only temporarily.

14.All the above points must be made known to carers on the social workers first visit to ensure that carers are fully aware that it won't be so easy to hoodwink social workers, to make excuses or to hide signs of physical abuse and that there is only a small, finite number of chances to get it right if they don't want to lose a child.

15.Legal & child care costs may deter councils from taking child abuse cases to court. To stop this happening, there should be a central government fund in place for these expenses.

16. The NSPCC say that babies & toddlers are particularly vulnerable to physical abuse. Babies are at greatest risk of being murdered in their first year of life than any other age. It should therefore be compulsory for babies & toddlers to have health checks at least every 3 months, for the first year or two, to help detect any signs of neglect or physical abuse. If carers fail to attend a health check, social services should be alerted and the child seen without delay. Responsible carers already take their children to health centres regularly, so this system should only serve to highlight any irresponsible, neglectful or abusive carers.

17. Child abusers and those responsible for a child's death through abuse or neglect must be punished with tougher prison sentences and no parole. The current judicial system is far too lenient.

NOTES:

*'Social Worker' can also mean Health Visitor or equivalent.
*Please sign and forward onto friends and family.
*Please note that your email and street address will NOT be displayed on-line.

Thank you.

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PLEASE: Forward this to all your friends and e-mail a signed copy to oldsdidsbury.threehills@assembly.ab.ca

My sister lost her son due to the low numbers of lifeguards on gaurd. He was only 8 years of age. Please keep in mind this is to save your kids and yourself and family from going through this too.

To my Honorable MLA in protest;

We need your help and assistance. Recently we have been made aware of the policies outlined by The Lifesaving Society, with regards to the recommended ratio of lifeguards to bathers within public aquatic facilities. Currently, as there is no official legislation, these are the recommendations for all public aquatic facilities.The following chart shows their recommendations:

Number of Bathers Number of Lifeguards
1-75.................................1
75 -150..............................2
151-275..............................3
276-400 .............................4
401-550..............................5
551-700..............................6
701-1000.............................7


Note: These numbers were developed at the time when a typical public aquatic facility was a single rectangular swimming pool, usually 10m to 13m wide by 25m long (approx. surface area of 250m2 - 350m2). Most new pools do not conform to this basic shape and also most new pools include a separate jacuzzi pool, a separate wadding pool and waterslide facilities. In many cases the above ratios are not adequate to provide effective supervision for all users within the aquatic facility.

This puts all bathers at an unnecessary risk. We need to enhance public safety at our aquatic facilities.There needs to be legislation governing the operation of these facilities and the lifeguard to bathers ratios. The current guidelines have not been changed since 1985.

Please commit to prioritizing public safety at our aquatic facilities.
Name (Signed): _______________________________________________________________________


Name (Printed): ________________________________________________________________


Phone: (_______)________________________


Information gathered from web site www.lifesaveing.org

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March 20, 2006

Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee Victorian Electronic Democracy, Final Report, May 2005.

Chairpersons' Foreward

The challenge and the opportunity provided by electronic democracy are providing the means by which the citizens can more fully participate in the decisions which affect their lives.

The key issue when evaluating the role of digital technologies for Democracy is how much Governments and Civil Society can learn to use the opportunities provided by the new channels of information and communication to promote and strengthen the core representative institutions connecting citizens and the state.

I believe that the subcommittee's recommendations, if adopted, will make significant improvement to the Democratic process in Victoria, enhancing the opportunities for the civic participation from the Victorian community and improving the policy making processes of the Government and the Parliament.

INTERACTING WITH PARLIAMENT

Recommendation 80. The parliament of Victoria should introduce an online petitions facility (on a trial basis), subject to ongoing evaluationas to the benefits offered to Victorians.

The Victorian online petition system should include a moderated discussion facility, similiar to that provided by the Scottish Parliament.

Recommendation 81. The Parliamentary Template for paper petitions should be amended to allow for optional collection of email addresses or other electronic means of communication, in order to allow the petitioner to receive information about the status and tabling of their petition from the parliament.

Queensland already accepts online petitions as legally presented petitions, therefore we humbly request that the rest of the Australian legislative assemblies and the federal parliment make electronic petitioning legal.

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REASON FOR PETITION: The following interview was given just before the opening of the new pier and the following statements were made by The New Pier Management and we as pier Patrons/Anglers expect the management to abide by the statements that were made in the following Newspaper Interview in 2004 prior to the completion of the new Jacksonville Beach Pier.

***********************************

Fishermen will be front and center at the new Jacksonville Beach Pier.

That's the word from the folks chosen to manage the 1,300-foot pier, which is expected to open around the end of November.

"That's our primary focus -- fishing," said Don Streeter, a partner in Dania Pier Management. "I think this thing is going to be awesome. There's nothing on the Florida East Coast that equals it in length."

Dania Pier Management operates piers in Dania Beach, Deerfield Beach and Juno. The company was awarded the contract after the city of Jacksonville put out bids to manage the pier. While several groups expressed interest, Dania Pier Management was the only respondent.

"We were doing our own research, talking to cities and counties [with privately managed piers]," said Debbie Doran, of the city's Department of Administration and Finance. "All of them were very pleased with Dania Pier Management."

The firm's contract runs for five years, with a provision to renew for another five years.

When plans for the new pier were first being developed, local fishermen expressed fears it might become not much more than a boardwalk designed to attract tourists. Not to worry, Streeter said.

"We're going to do everything we can to make it where the fisherman is the main priority," he said. "Whatever the fishermen want -- whether it's live shrimp, greenies. If it's available, we'll have it."

The pier's main building will house restrooms and a bait and tackle shop. Rental rods will be available, and popular pier lures and other tackle will be sold.

"All piers are different," Streeter said. "Here in Dania, they very rarely fish with plugs or lures. But in Juno, 80 percent of them use lures."

Streeter recently met with Doran, and he'll submit a list of recommendations, including admission fees and hours.

"They're in the business of operating piers, so I'm sure we'll look closely at their recommendations," Doran said.

Streeter's plans call for the same admission fees charged by the old pier. Ronnie Waterman, who once managed the old pier, said admission fees were $3.75 to fish, 75 cents to walk.

Streeter is also recommending that the new pier be open from one hour before sunrise to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, the closing time would be 11 p.m.

"That's the way we're going to start off, and if the demand is there, we'll extend the hours," Streeter said.

Dania Pier Management's Juno pier is open from 30 minutes before sunrise to sundown. The company's other two piers are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Streeter, who plans to live in Jacksonville Beach at least temporarily, expects to hire several people to run the new pier.

The pier is expected to feature four fish-cleaning stations, two on each side. The original architect's plans included cleaning stations only on the north side, but Streeter recommended southside stations for use during colder months.

"If you've ever tried to clean fish facing into the wind during the winter ...," Streeter said. "The city has been very receptive to ideas. They're in agreement, if it benefits the pier and the fishermen, they're open to discussion."

The old Jacksonville Beach Pier held a popular annual tournament for surface and bottom species. Streeter said the new pier may also stage some kind of competition. Last year, on opening day of snook season, the Dania Pier conducted a $5 Calcutta pool for the first legal snook caught and the heaviest legal snook.

"If we get notice a good run of blues is coming down from the Carolinas, we might institute something like that," Streeter said.

Benches on the pier will be built back to back with space in between. Streeter has plans to install wind breaks that would fit in that space. Trash receptacles are scheduled to be emptied once a day.

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