29 June 2009: Free Geoff Hibbert - Rffj Youtube vid
Geoff Hibbert was found guilty of public nuisance and endangering road users for his M25 protest last August, he was remanded in custody and potentially faces up to 7 years in prison for his peaceful protest.
Rffj think that the over zealous police officers that closed 6 lanes of traffic should have faced the charges instead.
Geoff has now been on hunger strike in Wormwood Scrubs for 12 days.
>Youtube video link<
Please rate, comment and add to your favourites.
Write to Geoff:-
Geoffrey hibbert
Prisoner number bx1006
b wing
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
P.O. Box 757
Du Cane Road
London
W12 OAE
Rffj think that the over zealous police officers that closed 6 lanes of traffic should have faced the charges instead.
Geoff has now been on hunger strike in Wormwood Scrubs for 12 days.
>Youtube video link<
Please rate, comment and add to your favourites.
Write to Geoff:-
Geoffrey hibbert
Prisoner number bx1006
b wing
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
P.O. Box 757
Du Cane Road
London
W12 OAE
29 June 2009: Rffj meet with USFI in cross border talks
Members of Northern Ireland branch of Rffj met up with Ray Kelly leader of the USFI last week.
Peter of RFFJ explained the thinking behind the Belfast meeting:
“The aim of coming together with our fellow campaigners from the Republic is to construct a cross-border group, Fathers without Borders, which will provide a much needed service to men in the context of advice and support etc.
“The help available to men in Northern Ireland who happen to find themselves in the aftermath of a broken relationship is practically non-existent. If they find themselves being forced out of their children’s lives they have nowhere to turn. The mental anguish is often unbearable without having it made worse by the system’s inbuilt bias against the male partner in a relationship breakdown situation.”
Anyone requiring further information on Fathers without Borders or Real Fathers For Justice Northern Ireland branch can contact Rffj N/I coordinator Peter Morris - petermorris @ mail2web.com or on 0759 2253929
23 June 2009: Featured website
One fathers true story of elation at the birth of his daughter, quickly turning to despair and frustration at the situation he finds himself in.
We see first hand how the system allows the mother to reject the need for a father and deny all contact with total impunity.
22 June 2009: 'Superhero' fathers climb cranes
BBC News
Two men from the group New Fathers 4 Justice (NF4J) have staged a Father's Day protest by climbing cranes dressed as Banana Man and Captain America.
David Hodge and Sean Wheeler scaled the cranes beside Newport Leisure Centre in south Wales at 0700 BST on Sunday to highlight fathers' rights.
Mr Hodge came back down at around 1000 BST and Mr Wheeler followed at 1045 BST and both were arrested by police.
Matthew Starmore from NF4J said both wanted changes in the law.
Mr Hodge, who was dressed as Captain America, had been apart from his three children for 15 years, said Mr Starmore.
"He's not been a part of their growing up and he's gone through a great deal of psychological trauma because of it," he said.
Mr Wheeler broke up with his partner last year and has full access to his son but decided to protest because he feels so strongly that the justice system is unfair, said Mr Starmore.
He said he did not know what they had been arrested for but suspected it was for trespass.
He said both men were taken to Newport central police station.
Gwent Police sent officers to the scene to ensure the safety of the protestors and the public, they said.
Traffic diversions were put into place.
Two men from the group New Fathers 4 Justice (NF4J) have staged a Father's Day protest by climbing cranes dressed as Banana Man and Captain America.
David Hodge and Sean Wheeler scaled the cranes beside Newport Leisure Centre in south Wales at 0700 BST on Sunday to highlight fathers' rights.
Mr Hodge came back down at around 1000 BST and Mr Wheeler followed at 1045 BST and both were arrested by police.
Matthew Starmore from NF4J said both wanted changes in the law.
Mr Hodge, who was dressed as Captain America, had been apart from his three children for 15 years, said Mr Starmore.
"He's not been a part of their growing up and he's gone through a great deal of psychological trauma because of it," he said.
Mr Wheeler broke up with his partner last year and has full access to his son but decided to protest because he feels so strongly that the justice system is unfair, said Mr Starmore.
He said he did not know what they had been arrested for but suspected it was for trespass.
He said both men were taken to Newport central police station.
Gwent Police sent officers to the scene to ensure the safety of the protestors and the public, they said.
Traffic diversions were put into place.
21 June 2009: Fathers day comment
Well its here again, not that you would notice!
The main source of information to the public, the BBC, has made little comment about it, yes i mean FATHERS DAY. It is expected that the BBC in their wisdom would, not being sexist, treat mothers day with the same contempt.
Today many dads will enjoy time with their children and provide the close emotional needs to promote a lasting bonding relationship between them.
Sadly there are too many dads who are not given this opportunity.
Caught between a vindictive mother and a wholly incompetent secret family court system, whose claim to fame is that it will always favour the mother`s wishes regardless!
These disposed of dads can only hope for change and an equal opportunity to continue their relationship with their children, or wait in anticipation that the children, once grown will seek their dads out and re establish a relationship with them.
For those dads enjoying their day i wish you much happiness, for those who, for no reason of their choice are not, never give up what you have and the reason why you are fighting.
Sent to us from J.R. Co.Durham
The main source of information to the public, the BBC, has made little comment about it, yes i mean FATHERS DAY. It is expected that the BBC in their wisdom would, not being sexist, treat mothers day with the same contempt.
Today many dads will enjoy time with their children and provide the close emotional needs to promote a lasting bonding relationship between them.
Sadly there are too many dads who are not given this opportunity.
Caught between a vindictive mother and a wholly incompetent secret family court system, whose claim to fame is that it will always favour the mother`s wishes regardless!
These disposed of dads can only hope for change and an equal opportunity to continue their relationship with their children, or wait in anticipation that the children, once grown will seek their dads out and re establish a relationship with them.
For those dads enjoying their day i wish you much happiness, for those who, for no reason of their choice are not, never give up what you have and the reason why you are fighting.
Sent to us from J.R. Co.Durham
20 June 2009: Write to Geoff Hibbert
M25 protester Geoff Hibbert is on remand in Wormwoood scrubs until sentencing next month, please help keep his spirits up by writing to him...
Geoffrey Hibbert
Prisoner number bx1006
b wing
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
P.O. Box 757
Du Cane Road
London
W12 OAE
Geoffrey Hibbert
Prisoner number bx1006
b wing
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
P.O. Box 757
Du Cane Road
London
W12 OAE
19 June 2009: Top judge warns of threat to justice after ex-soldier is gagged in fight to keep grandson
Daily Mail
Lord Justice Ward, said the former soldier and his wife could now seek legal representation again
A senior judge has warned of 'wide concerns over open justice in the family courts' after a former soldier was effectively stripped of the right to legal representation as he battled council social workers over custody of his grandson.
In a crucial victory for the grandfather and grandmother, Lord Justice Ward granted them the right to appeal against the order, which they say has prevented them showing evidence to lawyers.
The grandfather, who saw active service in Northern Ireland during the 1970s and is now in his 50s, said the county court judge who imposed the gagging order last year had not listened to their side of the story.
The former soldier and his wife are at loggerheads with Wakefield District Council officials, who say they are not suitable guardians for the three-year-old son of their disabled daughter.
The wrangle erupted after it emerged that the boy's father was on the sex offenders register and had two indecent assault convictions.
The council began care proceedings in early 2007 but the child's grandparents say they had already ejected the father from the family home eight months earlier - when they had first found out about his criminal record - and that he has not been back.
However, last August a county court judge ordered that the boy be put up for adoption.
The ruling followed anonymous tip-offs claiming that the little boy had been seen wandering in the street unaccompanied and that his father was still at the grandparents' house.
The couple countered that the tip-offs were baseless but Judge Graham Cliffe, at Leeds County Court, found against them.
Judge Cliffe also issued an injunction banning them from disclosing any documents relating to the case to any third party - effectively barring them from gaining legal representation to carry their fight forward.
A senior judge has warned of 'wide concerns over open justice in the family courts' after a former soldier was effectively stripped of the right to legal representation as he battled council social workers over custody of his grandson.
In a crucial victory for the grandfather and grandmother, Lord Justice Ward granted them the right to appeal against the order, which they say has prevented them showing evidence to lawyers.
The grandfather, who saw active service in Northern Ireland during the 1970s and is now in his 50s, said the county court judge who imposed the gagging order last year had not listened to their side of the story.
The former soldier and his wife are at loggerheads with Wakefield District Council officials, who say they are not suitable guardians for the three-year-old son of their disabled daughter.
The wrangle erupted after it emerged that the boy's father was on the sex offenders register and had two indecent assault convictions.
The council began care proceedings in early 2007 but the child's grandparents say they had already ejected the father from the family home eight months earlier - when they had first found out about his criminal record - and that he has not been back.
However, last August a county court judge ordered that the boy be put up for adoption.
The ruling followed anonymous tip-offs claiming that the little boy had been seen wandering in the street unaccompanied and that his father was still at the grandparents' house.
The couple countered that the tip-offs were baseless but Judge Graham Cliffe, at Leeds County Court, found against them.
Judge Cliffe also issued an injunction banning them from disclosing any documents relating to the case to any third party - effectively barring them from gaining legal representation to carry their fight forward.
There are many planned rallies around the world to mark fatherless day this year, here's one from India...
Sindh Today
Bangalore, June 19 (IANS) Many Bangalore men who are separated from their wives but pine for their children are set to mark Father’s Day by taking out a rally here. Kids should get the love of both parents, they stress, even as divorce cases are going up in India.
Along with others, Saturday’s rally will see these men asserting their right to be in touch with their children. June 21 is Father’s Day.
It is the brainchild of Children’s Rights Initiative For Shared Parenting (CRISP), a city-based NGO, fighting for shared parenting rights, in association with Save the Indian Family Foundation (SIFF).
“Not every child is lucky enough to have the love and care of both father and mother, even when both the parents are alive during their growing up days. Due to a rise in divorce cases in the country, most children of separated parents are deprived of both their parents’ affection,” Kumar Jahgirdar, president of CRISP, told IANS.
“On the occasion of Father’s Day, CRISP members will have a rally in the morning near Mahatma Gandhi statue at M.G. Road to create awareness on the importance of the father in the life of a child,” added Kumar.
He himself has been battling for the custody of his daughter for almost a decade.
Sindh Today
Bangalore, June 19 (IANS) Many Bangalore men who are separated from their wives but pine for their children are set to mark Father’s Day by taking out a rally here. Kids should get the love of both parents, they stress, even as divorce cases are going up in India.
Along with others, Saturday’s rally will see these men asserting their right to be in touch with their children. June 21 is Father’s Day.
It is the brainchild of Children’s Rights Initiative For Shared Parenting (CRISP), a city-based NGO, fighting for shared parenting rights, in association with Save the Indian Family Foundation (SIFF).
“Not every child is lucky enough to have the love and care of both father and mother, even when both the parents are alive during their growing up days. Due to a rise in divorce cases in the country, most children of separated parents are deprived of both their parents’ affection,” Kumar Jahgirdar, president of CRISP, told IANS.
“On the occasion of Father’s Day, CRISP members will have a rally in the morning near Mahatma Gandhi statue at M.G. Road to create awareness on the importance of the father in the life of a child,” added Kumar.
He himself has been battling for the custody of his daughter for almost a decade.
18 June 2009: M25 Batman found guilty
Geoff Hibbert has been remanded for 4 weeks, he faces up to 7 years in prison.
A protest will be arranged in support of Geoff, maximum turnout required - more news to follow.
Telegraph
Batman facing jail for M25 protest
A Fathers For Justice campaigner could be jailed for up to seven years after causing a 55 mile traffic jam when he climbed a motorway gantry on the M25 dressed as Batman.
A campaigner, believed to be linked to Fathers 4 Justice, dressed as Batman, stands on a gantry over the M25 near Heathrow Airport
Police were forced to cone off the entire London Orbital when Geoffrey Hibbert scaled an overhead sign and unfurled banners in protest of his treatment by the family courts on August 15 last year.
He stayed there for eight hours at junction 14 near Hillingdon, West London, causing tailbacks stretching up to 55 miles.
A protest will be arranged in support of Geoff, maximum turnout required - more news to follow.
Telegraph
Batman facing jail for M25 protest
A Fathers For Justice campaigner could be jailed for up to seven years after causing a 55 mile traffic jam when he climbed a motorway gantry on the M25 dressed as Batman.
A campaigner, believed to be linked to Fathers 4 Justice, dressed as Batman, stands on a gantry over the M25 near Heathrow Airport
Police were forced to cone off the entire London Orbital when Geoffrey Hibbert scaled an overhead sign and unfurled banners in protest of his treatment by the family courts on August 15 last year.
He stayed there for eight hours at junction 14 near Hillingdon, West London, causing tailbacks stretching up to 55 miles.
18 June 2009: Oxford Protest
One of the protestors, Roger Crawford, 60, claims he hasn't been able to see his daughter for 15 years.
After spending several hours staging their peaceful demo dressed as the Incredible Hulk and a court jester, they came down to allow a school trip access to the tower - no arrests were made.
Pair stage protest at top of Carfax Tower
Oxford Mail
By Tim Hobden
A group calling itself New Fathers 4 Justice is staging a protest at the top of Carfax Tower in the centre of Oxford.
Two men - dressed as a jester and the Incredible Hulk - climbed to the top of the tower this morning and unfurled banners.
Roger Crawford, 60, from Bedfordshire, and Peter Smith, 33, from Bristol, have been given a 5pm deadline by police to come down.
The men said they represented a splinter organisation from the orginal Fathers 4 Justice campaign group.
They are calling for a review of court procedures involving access to their children.
