Page 67 - Phonebox Magazine October 2008

Give landmines the boot . . .
Death Valley Challenge to support the real death valleys:
8th - 15th November
http://www.maginternationaorg/supportmag/events/death-valley-cycle/anthony-doble/
Local Cranfield resident Anthony
level to 5500 ft, and through the dramatic rocks and shimmering dunes of America's largest national park, before cycling into the lights of Las Vegas...
Doble has taken up the challenge of cycling 263 miles across Death Valley in
California next month in aid of Mines Advisory Group (MAG) a charity that helps locate and destroy landmines across the world.
The itinery of the ride:
Anthony would like to get some sponsorship for the venture which starts 1st November. He can be reached via email at info@crispcontracts.co.uk or on the website above.
Day 1: Sunday 9th November: 30 miles, Beatty Junction to Stovepipe Wells via Daylight Pass (4317 feet).
Flying direct from London to Las Vegas, the Death Valley cyclists will begin their challenge at Beatty Junction, about 100 miles from the centre of the city. Over the next five days the group will cycle through California and Nevada, through altitudes ranging from sea
Day 2: Monday 10th November: 54 miles, Stovepipe Wells to Panamint Springs via Emigrant Pass (5328 feet).
Day 5: Thursday 13th November 62 miles, Pahrump to Las Vegas, the final destination, via Mountain Springs Summit 5490 feet.
Decent Family Life by Geoff Bacchus
Ihave previously described the present government as the most evil in our history. I was writing about the legislative obstructions being put in the way of people seeking to set up such fun events as Olney’s
annual Raft Race and much of my fire was directed towards the health ‘n safety idiots. What I said about the government, however, was no simple off the cuff comment.
I was not writing as a Tory party man, I am first and foremost a Christian Englishman. This nation was built on Christian principles and Christian values. Those values are broadly supported by all religious faiths. This government, driven by godless heathen impulses is obstructing those principles and denying those values. This government is seeking to set aside the whole importance of family bonds and authority in the life of young people. This government is unwilling to accept that young people belong among their own kith and kin. For this government children are the property of the state and there can be no authority other than the state.
Some ten years ago this nation stepped into the foulest quagmire in our long history. We now have a government which does not see us as people but only as citizens and as the property of the state. In caring for their young citizens, whom we dare to hope may turn out to be our children, we are required by law (decrees of the education secretary) to instruct the young to a prescription which is to come complete with a series of tests for compliance. Some children in old fashioned families spend substantial amounts of time with old fashioned grandparents or aunts and uncles; that arrangement now requires that such people must be registered child-minders pledged to maintain the standards prescribed by the dep’t of ed’n & etc. A pair of state satisfying child minders may be two men in a civil partnership with no woman or of two lesbians. We are now required by law to treat such partnerships in every way as real as the married state.
A charity watching over the need of an orphan must now entertain the approach of a same-sex couple on par with actually married people. Either the charity conforms or else it will be deprived of its charity status and so be penalised by the tax man. The moral stance of this government is an even greater danger to the nation than their mis- management of our economy.
Please consider the St Francis Childrens’ Society as they advertise in this issue. For the most part their volunteers, trustees and staff are Roman Catholics; for the most part but by no means all of them. Questions of denomination have never entered into their assessment of couples offering to adopt little orphans or other youngsters in distressed circumstances. On such circumstance which the society is particularly anxious to avert is the separation of siblings; and yes we know to take on two or three children all at once is a stern task. The people who dare to help the kids get more help and encouragement than the state has to offer.
To-day the very Church from which the society sprang may not too overtly support them for the simple reason that we will not bow to the idea that an homosexual relationship is anything other than an abomination. If you are attracted by the simple wish to help little children enjoy the comfort and leadership of full family life then please have a close look at that advertisement.
No I’m not writing from a Tory stance, I dare not do so because there are libertines in my own party. I long for the forthcoming general election, but I fear an immense amount of push and thrust will have to come from the ranks before the whole horror of present legislation is revised, revoked or otherwise consigned to the Kingdom of Hell.
Geoff.bacchus@btopenworld.com
Day 3: Tuesday 11th November: 56 miles, Panamint Springs to Furnace Creek via Towne Pass (4956 feet).
Day 6: Friday 14th November: Las Vegas with an evening flight back to London arriving Saturday 15th November (35,000 feet).
Day 4: Wednesday 12th November: 61 miles, Furnace Creek via Devilʼs Hole to Pahrump via Death Valley (2037 feet).
Thank you – please return to address below
Phonebox Magazine 67