angora

Apr 5 2014, 03:17 AM

I do not see human beings as the natural owners of the planet. I believe that we are only one species equal among others, no matter what we believe or how it looks. Therefore, it is not up to us to judge what other species are useful, beautiful, or to be protected or rejected.

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Tuatara are rare, medium-sized reptiles (adults ranging from about 300g to 1000g) found only in New Zealand.
They are the only extant members of the Order Sphenodontia, which was well represented by many species during the age of the dinosaurs, some 200 million years ago. All species apart from the tuatara declined and eventually became extinct about 60 million years ago.

begete_Justicette

Apr 8 2014, 12:02 PM

You have no religious fundamentalists in Kiwiland? I thought that type of crazy was worldwide!

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Cooper, Neville. Neville Cooper, aka Hopeful Christian, an Australian who founded the Cooperites. In 1994 he was convicted on 10 counts of indecent assault. He denied the charges.

Cooperite Community, Cooperites. Not Yet Rated Hot Topic The Cooperites are a self-sufficient group of about 400 members at Gloriavale Christian Community on the West Coast of the South Island), where they moved in 1991 from their former location at Springbank Christian Community near Cust, North Canterbury (also known at that time as Cust Christian Community and Christian Community Church). Founded in the 1960s by Neville Cooper, who is now known as Hopeful Christian. His second-in-command is Fervent Stedfast. The contact person for the Gloriavale Christian Community School is Faithful Pilgrim. The community is self-sufficient, and runs at least four export businesses including sphagnum moss. Businesses are directed by Steady Standtrue. The Cooperites hold very conservative Christian principles, apparently with an emphasis on sex within marriage. They strongly restrict contact with the outside world, especially contact with former members (a mind control technique known as shunning). Submissions for this listing are now being accepted. Please see the Contact page. Cults NZ

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The community had its beginnings in 1941 when a group of Christian Pacifists agreed to adopt a way of life based on co-operation. They wanted to demonstrate that this was a practical alternative to the competitive ways of normal society which are a major contributor to wars. One of the group contributed 30 acres of farmland and orchard, in the Lower Moutere Valley, and some of them moved there to live.

Several of the founding members were conscientious objectors to the compulsory military scheme during the Second World War. These men spent the war years on a prison farm in the Taranaki region while their wives and children moved to the small farm in Lower Moutere. Later, after the war, the newly formed Religious Charitable Riverside Community Trust (RCT) was foundered and, over time, new land was purchased and the hilly scrub land cleared and cultivated. Riverside Community

Prospective members interested in joining, should first visit informally; hostel accommodation is usually available out of the harvest season. The next step is to write giving some background information about yourself and ask to make a formal two week visit. During this visit you will stay in self-contained facilities, be invited to meals in members homes and share in work and other activities.

After an interval for reflection, you may now wish to write applying for probationary membership. This trial period is for up to two years, during which any private assets you have are frozen and you will live on the same basis as all other members. Formerly when accepted as a full member all major assets you have became the property of the Community Trust. A new policy on this is at present being tried out by which any assets remain frozen and are available again on leaving. Any interest earned from this investment becomes the property of the Riverside Community Trust Board. Members leaving after three years or more of full membership, are entitled to a special allowance of 80% of a year's cash allowance, if their private assets are less than this entitlement.

We see our way of life as our main contribution to peacemaking. We demonstrate that a community can thrive without being focused on competition, benefiting its members and society. We offer an alternative to societies based on mutual exploitation and an opportunity for people who want to put their group living ideals into practice.

Highly socialistic or even Communistic ideals

Edited by Kahu, Apr 8 2014, 12:35 PM.

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Scientists have estimated that over the course of Earth's history, anywhere between 1 and 4 billion species have existed on this planet. Be it through disease, genetic obsolescence, over-predation or any number of other factors, the overwhelming majority of these species are now extinct. Of these billions of species, roughly 50 million still survive into the modern era. While these numbers are certainly extreme at first glance, it serves as proof that extinction, while a sad occurrence, is a part of life for all living things.