Ten Minute Rule’ bill on sex education passes
A proposal requesting that information about the benefits of sexual abstinence be included in sex education has passed its first vote in the House of Commons. The ‘Ten Minute Rule’ bill was put forward by MP Nadine Dorries. The bill requested: ‘That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require schools to provide certain additional sex education to girls aged between 13 and 16; that they must include information and advice on the benefits of abstinence from sexual activity; and for connected purposes.’ The bill comes in the light of high teenage pregnancy rates and amidst concerns that the sexualisation of Britain’s young people has been largely responsible for this state of affairs. Dorries urged the ‘normalisation’ of abstinence in schools and highlighted the relational, psychological and social benefits of a sex education programme that incorporated teaching on abstinence. The bill was passed however; the proposals are unlikely to become law without the Government’s backing. Praise: that this bill will receive continued support and will become law. (Pr.23:16)
Ten Minute Rule’ bill on sex education passes
A proposal requesting that information about the benefits of sexual abstinence be included in sex education has passed its first vote in the House of Commons. The ‘Ten Minute Rule’ bill was put forward by MP Nadine Dorries. The bill requested: ‘That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require schools to provide certain additional sex education to girls aged between 13 and 16; that they must include information and advice on the benefits of abstinence from sexual activity; and for connected purposes.’ The bill comes in the light of high teenage pregnancy rates and amidst concerns that the sexualisation of Britain’s young people has been largely responsible for this state of affairs. Dorries urged the ‘normalisation’ of abstinence in schools and highlighted the relational, psychological and social benefits of a sex education programme that incorporated teaching on abstinence. The bill was passed however; the proposals are unlikely to become law without the Government’s backing. Praise: that this bill will receive continued support and will become law. (Pr.23:16)
Nigeria: Christians fear backlash after Bin Laden's death
In the aftermath of the recent presidential election hundreds of Christians were killed and hundreds of churches and Christian business were burned down or destroyed. Now, with the death of Osama Bin Laden, Christians across northern Nigeria are bracing themselves for possible reprisal attacks by Muslim extremist who are opposed to Bin laden's death. Church members have received anonymous text messages warning them of an impending attacks due to Osama's death, and reports are coming out of five northern states that some Muslims are planning to demonstrate against the death of Bin Laden. Northern Nigerian Christians have always been at the receiving end of violence when Muslim extremists feel they have been offended.
Pray: against sadistic acts of vengeance against Christians. (Ps.20:1)
Laos: Military kill four Christian women
Alarming religious freedom abuses contine in Laos. Believers are routinely expelled, forced to relocate, pressured to renounce their faith and arrested. Several Christians were recently attacked and killed in Xiengkhouang Province. Last month troops caught a group of Christians belonging to the Hmong community, an ethnic minority and confiscated their Bibles, they shot and killed four of the women after repeatedly raping two of them. Their husbands and children were beaten, tied up and forced to witness the gruesome killings. At last report,the whereabouts of the surviving believers is unknown. The absence of free press and lack of information infrastructure in this Communist state prevents news from reaching the outside world - including that of religious freedom. This incident and other recent reports indicate a disturbing increase of repression facing Christians in the country. Pray: protection for Protestant Christians and the Hmong Christians particularly who are as a threat to Comunisim. (Heb.10:35,36)
Mexico: Human trafficking
Mexico is a hot spot for trafficking. 85% of victims are girls exploited for unpaid labour or prostitution where they earn 160-180 pesos (£8-10) per sexual encounter with 20-40 men a day. The girls are kidnapped, or sold by parents as forced wives or servants, or lured away from home by false promises of jobs, or seduced by pimps posing as boyfriends and future husbands. Child sex tourism is also growing in Mexico, especially in tourist areas. Trafficking is linked to Mexico’s infamous drug cartels which the government is fighting, though human traffic makes far fewer headlines than the ‘war on drugs’. Human trafficking is one of the most profitable means of illegal income around the world. Mexico also has serious corruptionproblems involving police, judges and politicians. Campaigners say the country has inadequate laws to tackle human trafficking.
Pray: for Congress to pass powerful trafficking legislations and for the influential people fighting these legislations to be silenced. (Ex.23:1)
Egypt: A spiritual battle
Reports of Christians and Muslims working together guarding their neighborhoods during Egypts’ protests and violence, and an internet image of Christians linking hands to protect Muslims as they bowed in prayer, was remarkable in a country where Christians are often persecuted. Revolution gave Christians opportunities to share the Love of Jesus. However, Sheik Yusuf al-Qaraawi, Muslim Brotherhood (MB)leader called ‘Theologian of Terror’, returned from exile and addressing a vast crowd in Tahrir Square called for ‘war against Israel and a takeover of Jerusalem.’ Within weeks the MB have quickly formed a political party and some are saying they are now preparing to take control of Egypt without having to use force. The MB murdered Egyptian Prime Minister Nokrashi in 1948 and attempted to assonate President Nasser in 1954. President Sadat, ‘promised the Brothers shari’a would be implemented as the Egyptian law’ and released all Brotherhood prisoners. Then Sadat was assassinated by the MB after signing a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. Pray: God’s intervention in these dangerous and confusing situations, for Egypt, Sudan and Gaza Strip to be protected from their manipulation and control. (Ps.92:9)
Iran: Conservatives put pressure on Ahmadinejad
Last month President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad boycotted public duties for eight days after Supreme Leader Khamenei vetoed his sacking of the Intelligence Minister (an ally of the supreme leader). The clash over controlling the intelligence ministry triggered conservative backlashes against the president that show little sign of abating. Under Iranian law, the president has the right to dismiss ministers. But Khamenei is Iran's ultimate wielder of power. Conservative parliamentarians have warned Ahmadinejad he could face impeachment if he refused to obey Khamenei. The votes of at least one third of parliament's 290 lawmakers are required for impeachment of the president. The head of the Revolutionary Guard (who reports directly to the supreme leader) warned, ‘Certain people within the regime have forgotten the values of revolution and seek to misrepresent Islam. People do not follow demons or jinns, and will not tolerate such deviance.’ The conservative parliament has opposed the government frequently in recent months and launched a petition demanding that Ahmadinejad come before parliament to explain his behaviour.
Pray: for a Holy Spirit awakening and spiritual revolution over and throughout Iran. (Ep.5:14)
Israel: Watching Middle East and North Africa with concern.
The Golan Heights are watching the protest wave and wonder what it could mean for Israel. Recently 1,000 Syrian Druze living under Israeli occupation took to the streets in Boqata in support of President Bashar al-Assad. Israel’s Druze minority has close religious and political links to Syrian’s leadership. Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor said the situation with Syria is complex. ‘Syria is an enemy neighbour that keeps the border quiet, it is supportive of Damascus terrorist groups and is an ally of Iran. But we are not in the business of telling other countries how to rule themselves. We see a big wave throughout the whole Arab world and we don't know where it will end’ (see Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt story below. (For years Syria has fought Israel by proxy through militant groups) Israel and Syria have fought three wars but there has been no direct confrontation for decades. Pray:for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps.122:6)
INSIGHT ARTICLE: Syria - Escalating unrest
* EU has announced an arms embargo on Syria and sanctions against 13 officials while turning a blind eye towards President Bashar al-Assad’s role in overseeing violence against his people. *The UN demanded humanitarian access to 30,000+ Palestinian refugees in Deraa desperate for medical supplies. Deraa was cut off two weeks ago by troops and tanks ‘restoring government control’. *Hundreds have been arrested in house raids with 400+ rounded up in Banias since Saturday. *Banias has a power station and oil refinery. It is predominantly Sunni Muslim but also home to many Alawites (the sect of the ruling Assad family and many senior officials).* 7,000+ are detained in overcrowded prisons, schools and public buildings *An agency caring for 120 Palestinian patients unable to get insulin supplies need help. * Exiled Syrian opposition members from across the political spectrum including activists affiliated with the banned Muslim Brotherhood are attending a Cairo conference later this month. Source: For Christian roots in Syria click 'Info'.
Pray: pray this will not be turned into a religious uprising between Christians and Muslims. (Jer.29:11)
Info: http://www.prayer-alert.net/info/Syria1.pdf
Prime Minister under pressure to boost religion GCSEs
David Cameron is facing calls to revise exam league tables to ensure that religious education is at the heart of the secondary school curriculum. A campaign to include RE in the new English baccalaureate has won the support of 110,000 people, including faith leaders and 100 MPs. Before last year’s election, Mr Cameron said any petition with more than 100,000 signatures would be eligible for debate in the House of Commons. The RE. ACT campaign is calling on the Prime Minister to honour his pre-election pledge and allow MPs to discuss revising the school reforms. The Coalition’s new English baccalaureate was introduced in an attempt to address years of ‘dumbing down’ in which pupils have been able to opt for so-called soft courses at the expense of traditional academic subjects. (See also Prayer Alert 04 & 11-2011) Pray: that the results of this campaign will lead our government to include RE in the baccalaureate. (Dt.32:2)