Another anti-vaxxer barred from entering Australia
by Michael Cook | 2 Sep 2017 |
A prominent American anti-vaccination campaigner has been barred from entering Australia, after immigration minister Peter Dutton deemed his views to be against “national interests”.
Mr Dutton believes that Kent Heckenlively -- who describes himself as the “world’s no.1 anti-vaxxer” -- will undermine the new federal government A$5.5 million vaccination education campaign, aimed at dispelling myths about the risks of vaccination. Dutton commented:
Two other anti-vaccination campaigners, Polly Tommey, from the UK, and Dr Suzanne Humphries, from the US, have been reportedly banned from returning to Australia after organising screenings of the controversial film Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe.
Mr Dutton believes that Kent Heckenlively -- who describes himself as the “world’s no.1 anti-vaxxer” -- will undermine the new federal government A$5.5 million vaccination education campaign, aimed at dispelling myths about the risks of vaccination. Dutton commented:
"These people who are telling kids, telling parents that their kids shouldn't be vaccinated are dangerous people … it is clear to me that it is not in our national interest that [Heckenlively] should come here.”Mr Heckenlively has authored multiple books on the dangers of vaccination, and has links to discredited anti-vaccination scientist Andrew Wakefield.
Two other anti-vaccination campaigners, Polly Tommey, from the UK, and Dr Suzanne Humphries, from the US, have been reportedly banned from returning to Australia after organising screenings of the controversial film Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe.
“Fatherhood” is what the guys in the business of policing the language call an “essentially contested concept” – no matter how much palaver you invest in it, you won’t make any progress. At least nowadays.
Below we feature a story from the Netherlands about two men who have each sired over a hundred children, one through sperm donation to IVF clinics, the other mostly through more conventional channels. Are they fathers?
Another story comes from Australia, which is girding its loins for a campaign on same-sex marriage. A group promoting closer links between fathers and their children, Dads4Kids, has been running a public service TV advertisement for 15 years. This year, a 30-second spot of a dad crooning to his wee sprog was rejected because it was “too political”.
A spokesman for the foundation complained:
Happy Father’s Day to our Australian readers.
Below we feature a story from the Netherlands about two men who have each sired over a hundred children, one through sperm donation to IVF clinics, the other mostly through more conventional channels. Are they fathers?
Another story comes from Australia, which is girding its loins for a campaign on same-sex marriage. A group promoting closer links between fathers and their children, Dads4Kids, has been running a public service TV advertisement for 15 years. This year, a 30-second spot of a dad crooning to his wee sprog was rejected because it was “too political”.
A spokesman for the foundation complained:
“It is extraordinary that this is where we have come to as a country; we can no longer celebrate Father’s Day without being forced to look at it through the lens of the same-sex marriage debate. It’s a tragedy that a political motive is now implied in any mention of fatherhood. Not everything is about same-sex marriage.”
The history of this simple advertisement tracks the evolving concept. In a span of 15 years, fatherhood, or rather “fatherhood”, has shifted from a universally admired status to a politically suspect notion. Are we the better for it?Happy Father’s Day to our Australian readers.
Michael Cook Editor BioEdge |
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A prominent anti-vaccination campaigner has been barred from entering Australia.BioEdge Suite 12A, Level 2 | 5 George St | North Strathfield NSW 2137 | Australia Phone: +61 2 8005 8605 Mobile: 0422-691-615 Email: michael@bioedge.org |
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