Am I a pornographer?

I'm confused.

I note with interest the fact that the Constitutional Court will be examining a High Court decision on the Film and Publications Act today (13th March 2012) which may or may not affect me. They will essentially be deciding on whether or not it is constitutional for the Publications Board to require pre-classification of printed material (books, newspapers & magazines) that contain "sexual conduct". If the Publications board gets the high court's decision over turned, it would mean that (except for newspapers) everything that is published that has "sexual conduct" described/depicted in it cannot be published without first getting pre-approval from them.

Even if the judgement is upheld, there is still some confusion in my mind. It is VERY easy to hide behind the emotive issues of child porn, rape and bestiality and "concern for children", without considering the effects that these things have on the decisions I have to take as a publisher.

Included in the Act in question, if one of the submitted works contains "child porn", that work must be submitted to the Police for investigation and prosecution. I need someone to help me out here. If I publish someone's biography, and in the process of the book they describe that they were raped as a child, does this mean that the book must be classified as for Adults Only (XX or X18)? Is this "child porn"? Does this description mean that I have to submit the book for classification before publication? One of the books I have already published includes a fairly graphical description of a young boy receiving oral sex from an adult woman. Does that mean I am a pornographer? Maybe even guilty of distributing child porn? If so, then it proves that the effect of the law is ridiculous and (in my opinion) unconstitutional.

Unfortunately, I don't have the deep pockets that are required to challenge this, but hopefully the Constitutional Court will start out today by sending the Publications Board home with their tails between their legs!

[JDPUB: 152] new book: WHILE THEY KEPT THE FLAG FLYING by Ken Gillings

 

While they kept the Flag Flying – The Relief of Ladysmith

The Battle of Thukela Heights 13^th – 28^th February 1900 by Ken Gillings has just been published by Just Done Productions. R100

 

Whatever the casualties, the Battle of the Thukela Heights was, until the Second World War, arguably the biggest fought by the British in Africa, and until the Falklands war of 1982, the biggest battle fought by the British in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

This battle paved the way for the development of new battle tactics, which were subsequently used in the great battles in Europe during the First World War. These new tactics involved attacking across a broad front with most of their force and with the infantry and artillery working in close co-operation.

 

“Ken Gillings is a founder member of the KwaZulu-Natal branch of the S.A. Military History Society, and has been a past Chairman for 6 years. In respect of his contribution to the Society, he was awarded an Honorary Life Membership. Ken is a Registered Tourist Guide and Specialist Battlefield Guide. His knowledge of the Anglo-Boer War and Zulu Wars is amazing, and he has a great skill in interpreting significant battles at each historical site.”

Bob Smith

 

·        Binding                                 Perfect Bound

·        Colour pages                      8 Colour Pages (with Maps)

·        Cover Type                         Paperback

·        ISBN 13                                 978-1-920315-80-1

·        Lulu                                        ID18951091

·        Number of Pages             86

·        Publication Date               11 March 2012

·        Size                                        A5

 

To order: http://www.justdone.co.za

You may pay via credit card using Paypal. EFT is referred to as BANK WIRE on the site.

 

International clients may order via Lulu or on the Just Done site

 

 

 

Shirene Dovey

Just Done Productions

http://www.justdone.co.za

publish@justdone.co.za