S.T.O.P. ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2007
Two meetings were held during
2007, the first being the Annual General Meeting on 27 March at 7.30p.m.
in the Bergvliet High School hall. Attendance was 42 with 22
apologies. The second was on 29 October at 7.30p.m. in the
Meadowridge Library with attendance of 16 and 10 apologies.
The June meeting was cancelled and replaced with a letter which updated
supporters on the main happenings of the first half of
2007.
What of general trends during 2007? It appears that we
continued to gain credibility and recognition as has been demonstrated
by, firstly, increased “networking” initiated by other organizations and,
secondly and more significantly, by our being in ever-increasing demand
as speakers and as participants in radio and television
programmes. .
How true it is that nothing succeeds like success!
The sequel of the increased publicity given to S.T.O.P. in this way
resulted in ever-more requests for counselling via Email and phone from
desperately unhappy men and women. Hits on our Website also
increased noticeably, particularly after T.V.
broadcasts. These aspects are dealt with more fully elsewhere
in this report.
The following report summarises events of year 2007:-
1. A.G.M. 26 March ’07 at 7.30p.m. in the Bergvliet High
School Hall.
There were 42 persons present with 22 apologies. 15 of those
present were “first-timers”. The program focused mainly on
the presentation by Clive Borman, Film and Publication Board (FPB)
Compliance Officer. This included a D.V.D. on the
role of the FPB in protecting children. His talk was
received with much interest and relevant questions were
asked. Given the topicality of the subject, and the known
concern of parents at the widespread availability of pornographic
material, the attendance numbers were
disappointing.
2. Legislation
2.1 Film and Publications Amendment Bill
Our input proved to be a time-consuming exercise. We
forwarded our second submission in April (the first had been in October
2006) and attended the Public Hearings held over 2 days in early
May. Our request to present an oral submission had been
granted. The hearings proved to be an interesting,
informative and (until our slot was over!) somewhat nerve-wracking
experience. The presence and input of the top-level
representatives of the press, broadcast and cell phone industries,
together with their batteries of lawyers was somewhat overpowering whilst
the representatives of civil society were in the minority.
Evidence that our submission had been well-received came in the form of a
follow-up request from the Home Affairs Committee to be present at
another of their meetings on 16 May. We were the only civil
society organisation to be so invited and again the media contingent
presence was heavy.
The above events, together with many ensuing Home Affairs Committee
deliberations, resulted in the tabling of new proposals by the ANC on 25
May. Several improvements are visible in these, including provisions
which can be applied to the regulation of sexual content in mainstream
magazines. Opposition to the Bill by the media and some
political parties, on the grounds that the regulatory provisions are the
first step of a potential “slippery slide into censorship”, is ongoing.
The Bill is presently awaiting
discussion by the National Council of Provinces and, if approved, will be
signed into law by the President.
2.2 Doctors For Life
In April we were contacted by Doctors For Life legal department who
requested copies of the Film and Publications Amendment Bill and our
submission. We also forwarded relevant Australian legislation
which we had found helpful. As Doctors For Life are now
extending their concerns to pornography it was agreed that a networking
relationship between our organizations would be mutually helpful.
We also received a copy of their submission on the Amendment
Bill. This included an outstanding piece of academic work
(162 references) citing a wealth of up-to-date scientific findings on the
effects of exposure to both pornography and violence.
2.3 Sexual Offences Amendment Act
This long-awaited Act was gazetted at the end of the year. We
found two aspects of the Act encouraging. Firstly, there was a broad
definition of pornography – something which had been avoided in all
previous legislation. Secondly, comprehensive provisions had
been put in place regarding exposure of a child to pornography, this
being a punishable offence directly enforceable by the S.A. Police.
We believe this could be applied to the ubiquitous display and sale of
the mainline magazines containing pornographic material.
3. Tabloids
Child Porn and Bestiality in “Daily Voice” 9 and 16 March.
The lead “Child Porn” article in the 9 March edition, ostensibly intended
as an exposé of child porn activities in Cape Town townships, included
suggestive “action” photos of allegedly young teenage girls. Another item
in the same paper featured bestiality (sex with animals) with photographs
(fortunately blurred) and descriptions of a man and his dog.
As the publishers had clearly contravened the law governing such
descriptions and depictions we felt that there was a strong case
for prosecution. An associate accordingly laid a
charge with the Police and there was immediate high-level interest and
activity including a response from W. Cape Intelligence Commissioner
Petros, with the case finally proceeding to the Director of Public
Prosecutions.
The publishers, having no doubt been gratified by the circulation
figures, then chose to repeat the same lead story in the following Friday
edition!
We delivered copies of the above tabloids to Mr. Patrick Chauke M.P.,
Chairman of the Home Affairs Committee and we kept him informed of
ongoing events. We subsequently made “good use” of both
papers by presenting them as “exhibits” during our oral presentation to
the Home Affairs Committee (referred to above). Mr Chauke ordered that
the Cape Town Director of Prosecutions should forthwith personally inform
the Committee re progress with prosecution.
Thus far we have not been informed of any further developments.
4. Advertising Billboards
In early January Bryanston Methodist Church, contacted us for
advice on their envisaged campaign against the “outbreak” in Gauteng of
sexually orientated billboard advertising by strip clubs and escort
agencies. These were frequently situated inappropriately near schools,
residential areas and in family shopping outlets. We
initially advised on their pamphlet, to be widely distributed in their
area, and continued to provide other necessary information.
Their actions involved, amongst others, alerting the public, organizing
petitions (supported particularly by schools and churches), initiating
articles in their local press, and forwarding a complaint to the
Advertising Standards Authority (A.S.A.).
Interestingly, Kate Turkington of Radio 702/Cape Talk
picked up on the issue, with virtually all the respondents being
supportive of disallowing such billboard advertising.
The success of this campaign became evident when the A.S.A. upheld their
complaint.
5. “Cosmopolitan” magazine
The February 07 “Cosmo” once again contained an explicit “Sealed Sex Section”
and was displayed without the customary plastic wrapper. We
notified the Film and Publication Board (FPB).
We alerted Pick-n-Pay, Woolworths and Clicks with the result that
Pick-n-Pay recalled the magazine nationally, Woolworths “called in” representatives
of Cosmo (and also “Marie Claire” magazine) and warned them.
A group of ladies wrote letters of complaint to the FPB but the response
was unhelpful on the grounds that the complaints raised were not
sufficiently specific. This highlights the gap which exists
between public opinion and the legal parameters which prevent many
complaints from being upheld – an ongoing bone of contention!
6. Support Groups for Pornography Addicts
The support group, with three male facilitators, has continued to
function with very encouraging results.
In March, with the backing of Meadowridge Baptist Church (MBC), a support
group for young people with porn problems was started under the
leadership of a young former
addict.
7. Interviews and Talks by Committee Members – T.V. and Radio
included
7.1 Talks
·
12 March: Two-hour presentation at Baptist Seminary, Athlone.
·
8 August and 23 August: Two lectures/talks to students doing
the Pastoral Counselling course at Baptist Seminary.
·
24 August: Address to an early-morning Men’s Breakfast at
St. James Church, Kenilworth.
·
21 September from 6a.m. to 7a.m: Address to 70 men at
Vredelust Gemeente Kerk, Bellville. This was the first time this issue
had been openly discussed and the session had to be extended to 8.15a.m.
·
13 November: Talk to the ladies group at Vredelust Gemeente
Kerk following on from the above address to the men.
·
17 November, Saturday morning: Presentations at the “Media
Workshop” hosted in Athlone by the Islamic Unity Convention Women’s
Forum. Live coverage of proceedings by Radio 786.
·
4 December: Audio interview on porn addiction
(to be used in Ghana).
7.2 Radio
·
28 March: Interview on Voice of the Cape.
·
28 June: Live interview on Radio 786 (Muslim) in hour-long
broadcast. An Imam’s wife phoned in to say the programme was
excellent and “we must do more of this” It was subsequently
aired several more times.
·
12 July: Participation in Africa Christian Action’s 9
p.m. Radio Tygerberg broadcast on porn addiction.
·
10 October: Interview on Radio 2000 “Bravo
Brava”, an alternative lifestyle programme from 10 to 12 p.m.
·
13 October Saturday morning: Participation in a
half-hour Radio 2000 programme. Interesting that a young black girl
(14) subsequently phoned us saying she “wanted to join STOP” as porn was
ruining the lives of so many young people. A black gentlemen
from “the far North” also phoned to express appreciation of the
“excellent programme”. This response is mentioned here because porn is
commonly seen as a “white man’s problem”
·
17 October: C.C.F.M. Participation in live
2-hour afternoon programme to discuss porn addiction and problems
associated with porn. There was a response via
phone-ins and S.M.S.
·
29 October, 10 to 12 midnight: Interview
on Radio 2000 as “studio guest” on “Anonymous on Air” – a programme
which deals with various addictions.
7.3
Television
·
21 June: Telephonic participation in a live T.V.3 broadcast
– “Noeleen on 3 Talk” June being Child Protection Month the subject
discussed was the harm of pornography to children.
·
14 August: Two STOP committee members participated from SABC
3 studios in Johannesburg in alive “Noeleen on 3 Talk” panel discussion
on porn addiction. There was excellent input from them both. A
clinical psychologist and the head of an addiction clinic with experience
in porn addiction also took part. The “3 Talk” programmes have a viewer
rating of 1 million. More about the response in the next item
headed “Sequels …”
·
November: Took part in, and advised on, a documentary
on porn addiction for screening in the SABC 2 “Issues of Faith” programme
in early 2008. Kairos Productions had been commissioned by
SABC to produce this.
·
19 December: Invitation from Mr. Molefi Le Bone of SABC2
to participate in the programme “Life 24/7” on
pornography. As we were unable to be in Johannesburg for
this, we sent articles and information.
Note:
51.1% of South Africans have access to television
8. Sequels
to above “3 Talk” T.V. broadcasts
8.1 Phone and Email Response
This was immediate after the 21 June programme - 18 during the following
week. After the 14 August programme the response from people crying out
for help was immediate and also ongoing over a longer period (26 up to
the end of October). Amongst these - during the two weeks
following the August broadcast - 9 calls for counselling were
received from despairing women in deep distress. The response of
one caller summed it all up – “You’ll never know how many
marriages you’ve saved …..”
Calls were still being regularly received through November and December.
“Focus on the Family” in Hillcrest, Natal, had proved to be an excellent
referral point for the people who lived beyond the Cape Town area and
were in need of ongoing help. They are able to advise via
phone and Email and where necessary refer victims to suitable counsellors
nation-wide.
8.2 Website
Website traffic increased dramatically from a “normal” busy average of
approx. five hundred to approx. four thousand hits. More specifically for
July ’07, after the previous “3 Talk” T.V. broadcast of 21 June, hits
were recorded as 1,463. In August in the week after the
second “3 Talk” there were 3,961 hits. During September there
were over 3000.
The S.A.B.C. producer of the programme confirmed that there had been
a more-than-usual positive
response from the public asking for contact details, etc. She
felt that the subject, porn addiction, had been more topical than the
previous “3 Talk”, and that a repeat show on addiction should be mooted.
(The response to radio and T.V. broadcasts had once again highlighted the
need for Churches to establish support groups – and indeed for Government
to initiate porn addiction clinics for the many who cannot afford
professional counselling.)
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