Pop Culture Parenting?

 

By Laura Callan

 

When one of your daughters is undergoing constant random drug tests before being held in a psychiatric ward, and the other announces being pregnant at 16 where the legal age of consent is 18,  who is really going to go to you for parenting advice?

 

Britney’s mother Lynne Spears’ parenting manual was pulled last month after it was revealed that her younger daughter Jamie-Lynn was pregnant.

 

Tennessee-based Christian publishers Thomas Nelson confirmed that they have “postponed the book indefinitely” without giving a reason for their decision.

 

The company, who produce Bibles and inspirational books, called off the publication of Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World, which was described as “a parenting book that’s going to have faith elements to it”.

 

Britney’s stability is under so much question that her kids are in the care of estranged husband Kevin Federline while she undergoes random drug and alcohol tests. She was recently held in a psychiatric ward after a four hour stand-off with police where she was reported to be “under the influence of an unknown substance” and refusing to return her two young sons to Federline.

 

Lynne Spears testified against daughter Britney in her bitter custody battle with Federline last year. 

 

 

This woman, who pushed her two daughters into this “Tabloid World” since they were infants is now offering advice to other parents?

What is she actually thinking?

Anyone who would take parenting advice from that woman would have to really despise their children to seek that kind of life for them.

Animal Rights: The Fight Goes On

© Laura Callan Photography
(Written June 2007 for Portsmouth News)
By Laura Callan

When raids were carried out across the UK, Netherlands and Belgium last month, arresting 30 people, it made international news.

For Southsea Animal Action, this meant two of their full-time members being arrested in their homes in dawn swoops.

Tom Harris, 23 and Nicci Tapping, 25 were both arrested on suspicion of Conspiracy to Blackmail, and later released on police bail. Both uphold that they have never been involved in any criminal activity regarding animal rights.

Southsea Animal Action are involved with the Southern Animal Rights Coalition, and members regularly arrange marches and protests against animal cruelty. Tom Harris said of the group: “We campaign for the rights of all animals.”

Days after the raids took place the newly released campaigners attended a group meeting ready to carry on promoting their cause. Upon arrival, Tom Harris joked, “We haven’t planned anything because we’ve been arrested for the past few days”.

Talking about their current campaigns, he later said, “We’re trying to get fur out of the area, and stop the sale of foie gras in Portsmouth and Southsea. “We’re trying to work with the council and local MPs to actually get a ban on the sale of foie gras in the area”

The group are also in talks with local shopping centres Gunwharf Quays and Cascades to stop and prevent the sale of fur in the future. Fur garments are currently still being sold in the Guess and Dune stores in Gunwharf Quays.

The production of fur has been banned in the UK but is still imported from fur farms abroad. There have been many undercover investigations by animal rights supporters into the treatment of animals in fur farms. Tom told us, “The way animals are killed for fur is quite horrific: the stunning methods used are inadequate, often when they’re skinned they’re alive and fully conscious, they’re anally electrocuted, and sometimes gassed by CO2 car emissions.

“It really is a horrific industry; I’d suggest that anyone who wants to find out more visit our www.furfreesouth.com website which has a lot of information about the fur trade.” The group welcome anyone to get involved; information is available at www.sarconline.com