Latest news with #Simcox
NZ Herald
26-04-2025
- NZ Herald
Lake Tekapo tourists' rock cairns frustrate community and church
The cairns are the creation of visitors. Piles of rocks that are constructed for the purpose of a photograph on social media. It's not a new phenomenon, nor is it confined to Lake Tekapo, but Evans believes it's getting worse at the tourism hotspot. 'This has happened over summer, there were nowhere near the numbers when I last visited in late November,' says Evans. Evans' disapproval of the tourist activity is echoed by the neighbouring Church of the Good Shepherd – the attraction that brings visitors to that part of the shoreline. Church committee member and Lake Tekapo Community Board representative Caroll Simcox says it's frustrating. 'It's not natural. We spend such a lot of time trying to preserve the heritage and the natural landscape around the church. Having said that, they are relatively temporary,' says Simcox. As evidenced by the comments on Evans' Facebook post, many locals demolish the cairns as they walk through the area. Simcox says nature plays its part as well. 'We know that when a big storm comes up it's going to knock them all down again and we'll wait for them to start again next year,' says Simcox. Like Evans, Simcox believes it's reached a new level. 'I did notice this year the lakebed is far more damaged or modified than it has been before because the numbers of tourists are up right back to where they were before Covid, possibly even more this year,' says Simcox. Evans' post garnered widespread support with the majority of responses condemning the rock-stacking practice. Only a few defended the right of tourists to create cairns. Others reiterated the point that water levels would soon return the shore to a flatter shape, and that the post was making a mountain out of a molehill. Simcox says she understands both sides. 'People think we're the fun police, but people come here to see what they believe to be a natural landscape. We also acknowledge that there are families down there who have fun building these things and it doesn't seem wilfully destructive, and it doesn't seem like a big deal, but we'd much prefer that the lakebed was just left in its natural state,' said Simcox. Environment Canterbury (Ecan) doesn't consider building cairns a big deal but it does discourage it. 'While rock stacking isn't a major concern, we encourage visitors to leave the landscape as they found it,' said an Ecan spokesperson. Simcox says Mackenzie District Council wants to offer the area greater protection, but that may not prevent the rock stacks from reappearing next summer. 'The council's proposing a heritage overlay over all of that area. I know for a fact building cairns is not covered in that,' says Simcox. With a busy winter of tourism ahead for the district, it is hoping Lake Tekapo water levels rise soon to level the site. 'The Church of the Good Shepherd is sold worldwide as being this iconic site with this wonderful view out of the church window and surrounding us, and the cairns don't actually add to that,' says Simcox. For the time being, Simcox and the church committee don't plan on spending their free time knocking the piles down. 'We're just going to let nature do its thing,' she says.
Telegraph
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Poisonous ideas turn people into terrorists, not poverty or racism
A new report entitled 'The enduring role of ideology in terrorism and radicalisation' is a meticulously researched and timely riposte to the Keir Starmer's view that we are now facing a 'changed' terrorist threat in the aftermath of the Southport attack. What the author of the report, Robin Simcox, found instead was the enduring power of ideas and beliefs. Many in the counter terrorism community fell in behind Starmer's paradigm. According to them, factors such as environment, upbringing, misogyny, mental health and a fixation with extreme violence are the foremost factors in terrorist motivation. In other words, terrorists gravitate to their heinous actions because of what has been done to them by society, or what can be diagnosed by a doctor or discovered by a social worker, rather than what the terrorists themselves affirm as inspiration for their actions. While many of the people Simcox studied had some or all of these additional pathologies, he is clear that there is a remarkable consistency in the significance that terrorists of all types attach to political or religious ideology. These toxic belief systems, assembled online and often repurposed in their own manifestos, provide violent extremists a 'baseline' way of seeing the world that gives them permission to kill and spread fear. Simcox looked at 100 convicted terrorists and 6,000 pieces of the 'mindset material' they had collected. He found there was a diversity of material that influenced them: from far-right texts such as Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf to Islamist books like Sayyid Qutb's Milestones. Ideology co-exists with other deficiencies that turn hateful thought into action, but it is still the dominant force. This is bad news for the Home Office officials who had bought the Prime Minister's line that material deprivation is more important to radicalised killers than a poisonous vision of the world. In January, a leaked report from these experts signalled that extremism should no longer be looked at through an ideological lens. I have personal experience of discussions with these mandarins. They are sincere and well-meaning, but one gets a sense of palpable relief at the prospect of replacing 'problematic' religious or political beliefs with the behaviours that can be medically or sociologically categorised. This is utterly misguided: a 'mentally ill' Jihadi can kill just as efficiently as his 'sane' white supremacist counterpart, and vice versa; many Islamists come from affluent or comfortable backgrounds. But it is far safer to focus on psychological impairment, or material deprivation, than the straightforward fact that some people have been driven to murder under the inspiration of Islam. Wilcox has proven the Prime Minister comprehensively wrong. It might be one reason his tenure as counter extremism tsar will not be renewed. But Sir Keir is right on one thing: we do have a serious problem spotting and stopping people who want to kill for its own sake and kill at scale. Violent offenders who follow no ideology except their own nihilistic rage are here to stay. But while we tackle them, we must also retain a sharp focus on combatting those prepared to kill in the name of ideas. Tomorrow's terrorists are already in the making, dutifully reading their dangerous texts.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Poisonous ideas turn people into terrorists, not poverty or racism
A new report entitled 'The enduring role of ideology in terrorism and radicalisation' is a meticulously researched and timely riposte to the Keir Starmer's view that we are now facing a 'changed' terrorist threat in the aftermath of the Southport attack. What the author of the report, Robin Simcox, found instead was the enduring power of ideas and beliefs. Many in the counter terrorism community fell in behind Starmer's paradigm. According to them, factors such as environment, upbringing, misogyny, mental health and a fixation with extreme violence are the foremost factors in terrorist motivation. In other words, terrorists gravitate to their heinous actions because of what has been done to them by society, or what can be diagnosed by a doctor or discovered by a social worker, rather than what the terrorists themselves affirm as inspiration for their actions. While many of the people Simcox studied had some or all of these additional pathologies, he is clear that there is a remarkable consistency in the significance that terrorists of all types attach to political or religious ideology. These toxic belief systems, assembled online and often repurposed in their own manifestos, provide violent extremists a 'baseline' way of seeing the world that gives them permission to kill and spread fear. Simcox looked at 100 convicted terrorists and 6,000 pieces of the 'mindset material' they had collected. He found there was a diversity of material that influenced them: from far-right texts such as Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf to Islamist books like Sayyid Qutb's Milestones. Ideology co-exists with other deficiencies that turn hateful thought into action, but it is still the dominant force. This is bad news for the Home Office officials who had bought the Prime Minister's line that material deprivation is more important to radicalised killers than a poisonous vision of the world. In January, a leaked report from these experts signalled that extremism should no longer be looked at through an ideological lens. I have personal experience of discussions with these mandarins. They are sincere and well-meaning, but one gets a sense of palpable relief at the prospect of replacing 'problematic' religious or political beliefs with the behaviours that can be medically or sociologically categorised. This is utterly misguided: a 'mentally ill' Jihadi can kill just as efficiently as his 'sane' white supremacist counterpart, and vice versa; many Islamists come from affluent or comfortable backgrounds. But it is far safer to focus on psychological impairment, or material deprivation, than the straightforward fact that some people have been driven to murder under the inspiration of Islam. Wilcox has proven the Prime Minister comprehensively wrong. It might be one reason his tenure as counter extremism tsar will not be renewed. But Sir Keir is right on one thing: we do have a serious problem spotting and stopping people who want to kill for its own sake and kill at scale. Violent offenders who follow no ideology except their own nihilistic rage are here to stay. But while we tackle them, we must also retain a sharp focus on combatting those prepared to kill in the name of ideas. Tomorrow's terrorists are already in the making, dutifully reading their dangerous texts. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Non-profit ‘Talon Ridge Raptor Institute' working to conserve birds of prey in NETN
NORTHEAST TENNESSEE (WJHL) — A new non-profit named Talon Ridge Raptor Institute (TRRI) has been established in the region to assist in conservation efforts for birds of prey such as owls, eagles, falcons and hawks. The Talon Ridge Raptor Institute's founder, John Simcox, said he looks to bring the Tri-Cities a one-of-a-kind experience where the public can adventure into the vast world of raptors and birds of prey. 'These birds are typically what we consider apex predators,' he said. 'So they help control the food chain from the top down. And our, you know, ecosystems around here, especially in Appalachia, are very unique and very fragile. And so by being able to educate the public on the importance of these birds can help us continue to conserve them over time.' VOTE: Tri-Cities Best Plant Store Simcox said the organization plans to develop an industry-leading facility centered around research, conservation, community outreach and cultural celebrations. He added that raptors and birds of prey play an important part in the Appalachian ecosystem, and conserving them is vital to our region's health. 'Back in the 60s and 70s, the bald eagle, our nation's bird, was faced with extinction. And through nationwide and most specifically community support, we [citizens] helped be able to bring the bald eagle back from the brink of extinction. And we want to make sure that we're doing that with our other bird species as well.' Simcox added that the TRRI will not only lead conservation and research initiatives but will also operate mutual aid initiatives in the surrounding communities. A mission statement on TRRI's website states the following: At the heart of our mission is the belief that conservation and culture are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Talon Ridge Raptor Institute (TRRI) is dedicated to preserving raptors and the natural world while honoring and integrating the diverse cultural heritage of the communities we serve. We recognize that our planet is not a backdrop for human life; instead, it is woven into the very fabric of the cultural identities and traditions that we express daily. Through our dedicated efforts of both conservation action and cultural appreciation, we strive to celebrate the vital role that raptors play in our ecosystems and communities, both locally and abroad. TRRI Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Middle East Eye
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Simcox out as counter-extremism commissioner in Home Office shakeup
Robin Simcox looks set to be replaced as the British government's commissioner for countering extremism as part of a major shakeup at the Home Office. In a statement on Friday, the Home Office also said it had abolished the role of independent adviser on political violence and disruption. That post had been held until recently by Lord Walney (John Woodcock), a former Labour MP now sitting as an independent peer in the House of Lords. But the Home Office said the work previously undertaken by Walney would now form part of the work of the Commission for Countering Extremism (CCE) with a strengthened remit. It announced open competitions to appoint Simcox's successor, and a new permanent independent Prevent commissioner to review the government's controversial counter-terrorism strategy. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the creation of the new Prevent role last month amid criticism of the programme after it was revealed that a teenager who killed three young girls in Southport had been referred to it three times as a schoolboy. The government has appointed Lord David Anderson, a former independent reviewer of counterterrorism legislation, to the role on an interim basis. In a statement, security minister Dan Jarvis thanked Simcox and Walney for their work. 'To continue our fight against extremism and terrorism in whatever form they take we need expert advice and oversight. The role holders will be crucial in those efforts, and I look forward to working with the successful candidates,' said Jarvis. Prevent review: Home Office advisor compared Islamophobia to 'blasphemy law' Read More » Simcox was appointed commissioner for countering extremism on an interim basis in March 2021, replacing Sara Khan who had held the post since it was created by the former Conservative government in 2018. He was appointed to the post permanently in 2022. The Home Office said his three-year fixed term would end in July. "The appointment of a new commissioner will also be announced in due course." the Home Office said. Simcox was considered a controversial appointment because of his previous work for think tanks accused of promoting Islamophobia. He was supportive of a contentious review of Prevent by William Shawcross, which was widely boycotted by human rights and Muslim community organisations, and was subsequently tasked by the previous Conservative government with overseeing complaints about Prevent. This was also controversial because the original remit of the commission did not include oversight of Prevent. But a charter under which the commission originally operated was removed from the government's website in 2023, and it appears to have been operating without one ever since. Last month, Middle East Eye reported that the commission was soliciting complaints about Prevent from anonymous far-right social media accounts. Walney's tenure as a government adviser on political violence has also been contentious. Last year, MEE reported that a dossier of evidence he presented to the Home Office on threats made against MPs during last July's general election was compiled from unsubstantiated and partisan social media posts. He accused pro-Palestine demonstrators who have marched regularly in London since the start of the war in Gaza of belonging to a "far-left subculture", and called for defence companies and energy providers to be protected by tougher anti-protest laws. Protest organisers accused him of using his position "to further his political disagreements" with teh cause of Palestinian rights, and of making recommendations that would "seriously undermine long-held democratic principles". In comments on social media on Friday, Walney again called for restrictions on pro-Palestine protests. "At a time of increasing threats and intimidation, we must do more to protect our democracy and its MPs from organised coercion, and the public from the menace of extreme protestors," he wrote. A job description for the role of commissioner for countering extremism posted on the government's website on Friday described its responsibilities as including 'providing the government with impartial, expert advice and scrutiny on the tools, policies and approaches needed to tackle extremism'. It said: 'The Commissioner for Countering Extremism will also take on responsibility for providing challenge and scrutiny to the government on political violence and disorder. This is a new aspect to this role.' A job description for the role of Prevent commissioner indicates that it will take responsibility for a Prevent standards and compliance unit which was originally set up within the CCE. It said the commissioner may need to 'invite challenge from Prevent's critics', and suggested that reports produced in the role would 'inform public policy around how counter-terrorism interacts with integration, public health, faith and communities'. Prevent has been repeatedly criticised over years by human rights and civil liberties groups including Amnesty International, Rights and Security International and Liberty over concerns that it disproportionately targets Muslim communities.
