1. Freedom

Category Archives: Freedom

Freedom-camping bylaw needs teeth

Posted on by

OPINION: After 3 1/2 years of denial, delusion and dereliction, the Christchurch City Council has finally agreed to craft a freedom-camping bylaw.

Despite the Government empowering local councils with the legislative tools to regulate and enforce freedom camping since December 2011, our council opted to sit on its chuff, complicit and complacent, as the free-for-all fecklessness of self-entitled spongers has festered.

But as the council gears up to draft a dedicated bylaw, already the warning signs are clear that some councillors are angling for a marshmallow bylaw, a mealy-mouthed cop-out, or measures that will appease the working holiday Eurotrash who commandeered the Beresford St car park before migrating to Waimairi Beach.

In January, at the height of the Camp Beresford debacle, Cr David East revealed to me that he wants the ratepayer to bankroll the reinstatement of Rawhiti Domain as a fully equipped, freebie campground. He still supports that view, even though it would undermine the nearby South Brighton Holiday Park, which happens to be council-owned.

With nightly accommodation starting from just $20, this of course is precisely where these long-stay vagrants should be directed.

Last week, The Press reported city council staff also advocating for the city to cater to the needs of freedom campers, by allocating them some parks and reserves in the red zone, with the added provision of some on-site facilities. (This is strongly reminiscent of that equally ludicrous proposal hatched 12 months ago, and thankfully aborted, to provide street prostitutes with a slate of publicly-funded al fresco amenities.)

Cr East and council staff also claim that enforcing a freedom-camping bylaw could be problematic. Seriously? From the city famous for its oh so zealous, omni-present parking wardens? What's so problematic about unleashing a particularly battle-hardened platoon of these wardens on the foreign freeloaders?

Christchurch should simply replicate the sensibly weighted bylaw that Queenstown Lakes District Council vigorously enforces across a territorial area vastly bigger than our city council's.

If your vehicle isn't fully self-contained, freedom camping on public land is banned outright (just as it is in Europe). You must use campgrounds and holiday parks. Certified self-contained vehicles can use designated public areas for two nights, maximum. In 2014, the Lakes District issued over 2600 feckless campers with $200 infringement fines.

Some violators have failed to cough up, because rental companies are reluctant to charge tourists' credit cards for council fines - despite leasing them the offending vehicle. If rental firms won't act in the civic interest voluntarily, Parliament should amend the law, to compel them to play ball.

See the original post here:

Freedom-camping bylaw needs teeth

Ex-owner pleads guilty in W. Va. chemical spill case

Posted on by

Published: Monday, 3/16/2015

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHARLESTON, W.Va. A former owner of Freedom Industries pleaded guilty today to federal Clean Water Act violations stemming from last years chemical spill in Charleston.

William Tis, 60, entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Charleston. Tis faces up to a year in prison when sentenced June 22. He also faces a fine of $25,000 per day per violation, or $100,000 whichever is greater.

Another hearing was set later today for former owner Charles Herzing.

Plea hearings also were scheduled Wednesday for Freedom environmental consultant Robert Reynolds and tank farm plant manager Michael Burdette, and on March 23 for the company itself. All are charged with federal Clean Water Act violations and are expected to plead guilty.

Ex-Freedom owner Dennis Farrell and former President Gary Southern face trial later this year on charges related to the spill of a coal-cleaning agent. In addition, Southern faces charges related to Freedoms bankruptcy.

Freedom filed for the protection eight days after the Jan. 9, 2014, leak into the Elk River in Charleston. West Virginia American Water uses the river for its water supply less than 2 miles downstream, and the spill prompted a tap water ban for 300,000 residents in nine counties for days until the system was flushed out.

In addition to his ownership in the company, Tis was Freedoms secretary from 2004 until December 2013.

Southern, Tis, Herzing and Farrell were accused of failing to ensure that the company operated the Charleston facility in a reasonable and environmentally sound manner, and ignoring or failing to pay for repairs and maintenance needed to comply with environmental regulations.

Read this article:

Ex-owner pleads guilty in W. Va. chemical spill case

Religious freedom bill at the center of Statehouse debate

Posted on by

INDIANAPOLIS - The House Judiciary Committee has passed the so-called "religious freedom bill" by a 9-4 vote.

Protecting religious freedom was at the center of several demonstrations Monday at the Indiana Statehouse.

The legislation causing the activity is Senate Bill 101 or the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. It was designed to protect the freedoms of people.

For example, a Christian pharmacist who objects to dispensing abortion pills, contrary to their religious beliefs, would be protected under law.

However, those against the bill say it has the potential to do much more than that, including discriminating against those in the gay community. There is also concern the bill could create unintended legal concerns for employers and those looking to do business in Indiana.

There were dueling rallies Monday morning inside the Statehouse both for and against the bill.

Supporters came out strong, wearing their green, saying the bill is all about guaranteeing protections for business owners without worrying about their religious freedoms being jeopardized.

"We want to be able to practice our faith even in our businesses, in our homes, in our churches without fear of being prosecuted," said supporter Cindy Holmes. "You hear stories all over the country where where bakers and florists are losing their businesses and homes just because they wanted to practice their faiths and stand by their beliefs. We want to be able to do that in Indiana and we don't believe the Constitution does that for us in complete."

Those against the bill wore red,sending a message that Hoosiers are against discrimination. They say the bill will discriminate against people, particularly those in the gay community.

"I'm a woman, I'm African American," said Whittney Murphy in opposition to the legislation. "I'm also a member of the LGBT community. So, if I walk up to a store and there's a sign that says no LGBT people, I remember reading from history there were signs that said no African Americans and that was based on religion as well."

More here:

Religious freedom bill at the center of Statehouse debate

UPDATE: Former Freedom Executive Pleads Guilty to Chemical Spill Charge

Posted on by

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A former executive of Freedom Industries has pleaded guilty to a crime connected to the massive chemical spill that contaminated the water supply for hundreds of thousands of people.

William Tis, 60, pleaded guilty to a count of causing unlawful discharge of refuse matter.

When U.S. District Judge Thomas Johnston asked Tis point blank "did you do it?" Tis responded saying "I have signed my name to these documents, but no, I don't believe I committed a crime."

Judge Johnston was apprehensive about continuing the hearing, saying "this exchange is rather unique in my experience."

Tis went on to explain that while he doesn't feel responsible for the chemical spill, as a corporate officer, he takes responsibility.

Judge Johnston went ahead and set a sentencing date for June 22 at 2:00 p.m.

As he left the federal courthouse, WSAZ asked Tis to further explain what he meant when he said "I didn't commit a crime," but one of his attorneys jumped in and said "he has no comment."

The chemical spill happened on January 9, 2014 when MCHM leaked from a storage tank at Freedom Industries and went into the Elk River.

Another former executive of the company, Charles Herzing, is set to plea Monday afternoon. WSAZ will have a reporter in the courtroom.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com and WSAZ mobile for the latest information.

Read the original here:

UPDATE: Former Freedom Executive Pleads Guilty to Chemical Spill Charge

Secret society mastermind: FREEDOM Trip Bulgaria 2015 part 2 – Travel around the world – Video

Posted on by


Secret society mastermind: FREEDOM Trip Bulgaria 2015 part 2 - Travel around the world
This is my story of how i went to the SSM trip in Bulgaria , organised by Timothy Marc and the freedom business blog. PART 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wE191LSEVk How to travel around...

By: Lightning Video Editors

Follow this link:

Secret society mastermind: FREEDOM Trip Bulgaria 2015 part 2 - Travel around the world - Video

Secret society mastermind: FREEDOM Trip Bulgaria 2015 part 1 – Travel around the world – Video

Posted on by


Secret society mastermind: FREEDOM Trip Bulgaria 2015 part 1 - Travel around the world
This is my story of how i went to the SSM trip in Bulgaria , organised by Timothy Marc and the freedom business blog. PART 2 : https://youtu.be/gjftiga_Eew How to travel around the world......

By: Lightning Video Editors

Read more:

Secret society mastermind: FREEDOM Trip Bulgaria 2015 part 1 - Travel around the world - Video

Religious Freedom Proposal Shelved After Rep. Requires Businesses to Post Refusal Notice

Posted on by

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. A religious freedom proposal that was meant to protect business owners who have faith-based objections to fulfilling particular orders has been shelved after a Democratic representative put forth an amendment that would require such businesses to post notices about their objections.

The Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act, HB 1371, was introduced earlier this year by state Rep. Chuck Strohm (R-Tulsa) to provide protections for those whose religious beliefsforbid them from being partakers in other mens sins (1 Timothy 5:22).

In any action brought under the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act,neither the State of Oklahoma nor any subdivision thereof shall beentitled to claim a governmental interest which purports to requireany person to participate in any marriage ceremony, celebration, orother related activity or to provide items or services for suchpurposes against the persons religious beliefs, the bill read.

But Rep. Emily Virgin (D-Norman), an opponent of the bill, submitted an amendment to the Act this week that would require such businesses to post notices stating which persons they would not serve.

Any person not wanting to participate in any of the activities set forth in subsection A of this section based on sexual orientation, gender identity or race of either party to the marriage shall post notice of such refusal in a manner clearly visible to the public in all places of business, including websites, the amendment read.The notice may refer to the persons religious beliefs, but shall state specifically which couples the business does not serve by referring to a refusal based upon sexual orientation, gender identity or race.

A number of business owners across the country who have been involved in civil rights complaints have stated that they dont refuse to serve homosexualsthat they have regular customers and employees who are involved in such relationshipsbut must draw the line when it comes to personal involvement in a ceremony.

I was pretty flabbergasted [about the Religious Freedom Act] because it hearkens back to a time when we were legalizing discrimination on the basis of race, basis of gendermany other things that now just seem silly, Virgin told local television station KFOR. If you want to discriminate under this law if it passes, then youre legally allowed to do that, but you need to own it. You need to fess up to it.

However, now that Virgin added the amendment to the Act, the Religious Freedom Act has stalled and has been shelved for discussion.

As previously reported, in recent years, a number of states have been seeking to pass local laws similar to the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, signed by then-President Bill Clinton. The Michigan House of Representativespassed a bill in December that some interpreted as providing protections for faith-based businesses, as well as conscience-based objections for employees of secular businesses.

Some opposed that bill as well.

The rest is here:

Religious Freedom Proposal Shelved After Rep. Requires Businesses to Post Refusal Notice


  1. Freedom