Sudan: Thousands flee burning and looting by North Sudan forces
Thousands of civilians have been displaced following the occupation of Abyei Town by the Sudan Armed Forces at the weekend. Christian Solidarity International reported that 20,000 desperate civilians fled across the river Kiir and are sheltering under trees from the rain. The UN Mission in Sudan reports burning and looting by northern forces in Abyei Town and members of the UN Security Council have demanded that North Sudan withdraws its 5000-strong force from the area. Oil-rich Abyei is a disputed region with northern Sudan and newly-formed South Sudan both staking a claim for an area inhabited permanently by nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms. Abyei is a key part of the comprehensive peace agreement that ended a civil war that ravaged the country since 1983.
Pray: for God to remove the spiritual atmosphere of war and destruction that remains over the area. (Ps.37:16,17)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11050147.htm
Nortth Korea: Food shortage?
A US/South Korean fact-finding team will visit North Korea on Tuesday to conduct an eight day investigation into people starving in remote regions. They hope to assess the amount of food necessary to relieve thousands of people. A South Korean spokesman said, ‘Transparency of the North’s distribution of food must be guaranteed before any food is sent’. Pyongyang’s past reluctance to disclose their food distribution process to outsiders sparked suspicions that most of the aid is used to feed its army and political elite. It is suspected Kim Jong-ll is stockpiling rice to release on the 100th anniversary of its founder Kim Il-sung next year. - See: For scandalous information from a Christian missionary detained in North Korea for two months please read this weeks Insight report. Pray:for all that is hidden to be revealed. For God to rule over and throughout all negotiations and investigations (Pr,16:4,5) Info: http://www.prayer-alert.net/info/NorthKoreaSuffering1.pdf
Mega Mosque’ allowed to defy planning rules
Cross community campaigners for social cohesion in Newham have condemned the decision of a government planning inspector to allow Islamic group, Tablighi Jamaat, permission to breach planning laws. In a ruling, the inspector authorised the radical group to continue using the current temporary mosque on the site of their proposed Olympic mega-mosque at West Ham. Local opposition association Newham Concern say the decision will provide succour to Islamic radicals. ‘For years Tablighi Jamaat have deliberately flouted building regulations and planning laws’, said Alan Craig, Newham Concern’s campaign director and former leader of the Opposition on Newham Council for the Christian Peoples Alliance party: ‘After much delay and procrastination Newham Council at last took the right action and told them to move off site. But the Planning Inspector has overturned this and apparently decided that illegality pays. They can now stay on site with temporary planning permission for a further two years.’ (See Prayer Alert 06-2011)
Pray: that this decision will be over-ruled. (Pr.29:26)
More: http://www.cpaparty.org.uk/?page=news&id=383
Religious hate crimes on the rise in Scotland
The number of religious hate crimes in Scotland has risen by nearly 10% in a year, according to new figures. The Crown Office report came as First Minister Alex Salmond warned the ‘parasite of sectarianism’ would not be tolerated in Scotland. Last year's figure is the highest since 2006-7. Meanwhile, the number of charges of race crime fell by almost 4% to 4,165 in 2010/2011. More than nine out of 10 of the cases in 2010-11 led to court proceedings. Speaking at Holyrood following his re-election as first minister, Mr Salmond said modern Scotland was ‘built on equality’. Solicitor General Frank Mulholland QC said there was no place in modern Scotland for crimes motivated by race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity. He said: ‘The high prosecution rate demonstrates that offending motivated by prejudice will not be tolerated, and that perpetrators will be dealt with robustly by Scotland's prosecutors'. Pray: for a growing tolerance and neighbourliness to allow people of different creeds, denominations and beliefs to live harmoniously together. (Lev.19:18)
Cross-party support for free speech amendment
Prominent MPs have signed an amendment to improve the law on free speech – offering more protection for Christian street preachers. The amendment would remove the word ‘insulting’ from Section 5 of the Public Order Act. In recent years a number of street preachers have been unjustly arrested because someone claimed to be ‘insulted’ by their message. The Government is so far resisting the change, arguing that the problem can be solved by better police training. But Simon Calvert, The Christian Institute’s Deputy Director of Public Affairs, says the law needs to change. Genuine Christians don’t want to insult anyone. But insult can often be in the eye of the beholder. Too many Christian street preachers have been unjustly silenced by the police and even arrested simply because someone doesn’t like what they are saying. The amendment is expected to be debated in the House of Commons next month.
Pray: for Parliament to agree to this proposed amendment to the law. (Job.9:35)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/cross-party-support-for-free-speech-amendment/
Christian doctors back GP over 'Jesus' remarks
The medical standards watchdog is facing a backlash from doctors after censuring a Christian GP who raised his personal beliefs with a patient of a different faith. Dr Richard Scott, a family GP with 28 years’ experience, is facing disciplinary action and fears he could lose his job after he discussed his faith in Jesus with a patient last year. The 50-year-old is being investigated by the General Medical Council but Christian doctors rallied to his defence and criticised the way that the professional standards regulator had handled the case. In 2010, Dr Scott, who works at Bethesda Medical Centre in Margate, Kent, a practice known for its Christian partners, saw a patient at the request of the patient’s mother. He maintains that he only discussed how his faith in Jesus had helped him at the end of the consultation, and with the patient’s consent. Dr Peter Saunders, chief executive of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said ‘It does seem to me that the GMC have overreacted by censuring him.’ Pray: for Dr Scott at this time of personal challenge and for the GMC to rethink their view in this case. (Ps.89:21) More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8529595/Christian-doctors-back-GP-over-Jesus-remarks.html
Call to churches to pray for toddler groups
Churches are being invited to take part in the first ever day of prayer for toddler groups this June. The day is being organised by 1277, an alliance of Christian denominations and agencies including the Church of England, the Catholic, Methodist and United Reformed Churches, and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. The name of the alliance represents the average number of days between a child’s birth and the start of formal education. There are around 27,000 church-based toddler groups across the UK, many of them run by committed volunteers and amounting to half of the total support and care on offer to the nation’s pre-schoolers and their carers. The day of prayer on 5 June falls within National Family Week. It is being dedicated to those who attend a church toddler group and will also celebrate the valuable work of those who help out.
Pray: for all those who care for, prepare for and work with all our pre-school children. (Lk.15-16)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/call.to.churches.to.pray.for.toddler.groups/28005.htm
False economy of single person benefit cuts
The Government's planned cuts in housing benefit for 25-34 year-olds will be a false economy that will end up burdening welfare services, according to the Christian Peoples Alliance party. Changes to be introduced in a few months' time will see an average cut in housing benefit of £47 per week for people receiving the Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR). This is because their benefits will only cover the cost of a room in a shared house, instead of a self-contained flat. The CPA says what may only affect 88,000 people could have huge consequences for their ability to keep their lives on track. As Crisis, the homelessness charity put it these changes ‘will be an absolute disaster’. According to the CPA, ‘There is a false assumption that multi-occupancy accommodation is already there and available. In many places in Britain it is not, and the result will be further pressure on temporary accommodation and homelessness’. Pray: that the government will reconsider and recognise the desperate needs of these young people. (Jas.2:16)
Britain third worst country for families in Europe
Britain ranks the third worst country in Europe for pressures on families, according to an index compiled by the Relationships Foundation. The think tank’s new family pressure gauge compares the pressures on families in 27 European countries and finds that families in Britain are struggling more than their European counterparts under the weight of money worries, long working hours and high living costs. Only families in Romania and Bulgaria are more pressured. The study found that while Britons work the longest hours per week in Europe – 43 on average – they are also paying dearly for it, with nearly a quarter of the family income (23.5%) being spent on childcare. That amounts to twice the amount paid by families in France, three times that paid by German families, and four times the cost of childcare in Sweden. Around one in five British families with dependent children (20.9%) is experiencing ‘difficulty’ or ‘great difficulty’ in making ends meet.
Pray: that these shocking statistics will awake our government to the needs of families. (Pr.11:29a)
More: ttp://www.christiantoday.com/article/britain.third.worst.country.for.families.in.europe/28029.htm
Balkans: Corruption barrier to EU membership
A new European Commission funded report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says that an average of one person in six has to pay bribes to access services in the Western Balkans and that the problem, despite the best efforts of both the EU and western Balkan governments, is as bad as it ever was. An official from the European Commission’s bureau for enlargement in the Balkans said that, ‘corruption and the rule of law are at the heart of the current enlargement process,’ and the ‘challenge is enormous,’ but fighting corruption was ‘make or break’ for the Balkan nations aspirations towards EU membership. Only 1.5% report bribery. Over half do not report payoffs because either it was perceived as ‘pointless’ as ‘nobody will care’ or because it was deemed ‘common practice’. Of the few that did make a report on paying a bribe, in a quarter of cases no action at all was taken. Pray: that God would expose corruption here and wherever it occurs that His light will expose the darkness. (Job.12:22) More: http://www.neurope.eu/articles/Balkan-Bribes/106541.php