Don't use aid money for peacekeeping, PM told
Christian development agencies are urging the Government not to divert aid money to peacekeeping operations. The plans were unveiled this week by Prime Minister David Cameron who is under pressure to save the Armed Forces from further spending cuts. However, charities are warning that the move could jeopardise stability in regions benefitting from British aid. Justin Byworth, Chief Executive of World Vision UK, said: “The Prime Minister's correct that security and peace are essential, but long-term stability is about far more than peacekeeping. "In reality, it’s a complex mix which includes nutrition, health, education, and protecting vulnerable children, which all help to prevent conflict and empower people to cope with challenging circumstances. “Spending on peacekeeping from the aid pot is already limited by international standards. We’d be concerned if this statement means these standards are being challenged.” Christian Aid warned that linking aid to military spending in fragile states could put aid workers on the ground at risk.
Pray: for legislation to be revised so that Christians can serve their communities as Christians – not in a way that forces them to ‘leave their faith at the door'. (Pr.31:9)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/dont.use.aid.money.for.peacekeeping.pm.told/31697.htm
Irish Inter Faith Workshop
A Workshop on Inter Faith Engagement will be held this weekend, in the Chapel of St Columbanus in NUI Galway. Organized by the Church of Ireland’s Inter Faith Working Group, the workshop will be based around the Porvoo Communion’s study guide, ‘Keys to Inter Faith Engagement’. The Porvoo Communion is a communion of thirteen mainly northern European Anglican and Lutheran Churches, including the Church of Ireland. The aim of the ‘Keys’ document, and of the Workshop, is to enable people to consider the situation where they live with their neighbours from different faith communities, and to support and develop inter faith dialogue. The Workshop will be led by Canon Andrew Wingate. The founding Director of the St Philip’s Centre for Study and Engagement in Leicester, he is now a consultant and teacher in the area of inter faith relations, particularly in Scandinavia. He was a member of the group which prepared ‘Keys to Inter Faith Engagement’.
Pray: for all those attending the workshop and for inter-faith engagement in Galway and elsewhere. (Jude 3)
More: http://ireland.anglican.org/news/4479
One in five British children still living below the poverty line
One in five British children are living below the poverty line, with almost half under the threshold in some areas, according to new research from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the End Child Poverty coalition. Manchester Central is designated the poorest area, with 47 per cent of children living in poverty, followed by Belfast West and Glasgow North East on 43 per cent. Areas of Liverpool and Middlesbrough also had four in 10 children living in poverty in 2012. Children are classified as being in poverty if they live in families on out-of-work benefits or in-work tax credits where their reported income is less than 60 per cent of median income. The new figures show eight areas of large cities have more than 40 per cent of children in this category, down from 19 in 2011. They also reveal the wide disparity across Britain and within regions
Pray: for the most vulnerable in our society who are least protected from the ongoing austerity measures. (Pr.19:17)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/18051
Mexico/US: Drug cartels
For decades Mexico has been scarred by struggles among drug cartels for control over the lucrative drug trade to the US. The conflict has left 70,000 dead since 2007, paralyzed whole cities with fear and spawned a culture of corruption reaching the upper levels of the Mexican state. The rape by suspected drug gangs last week of six Spanish women vacationing in Acapulco has heightened fear and questions government control of crime. It didn't help that at the same time as the rape of the Spanish holiday makers, Mexico's minister of tourism was in Spain, attempting to promote tourism. This is Mexico's moment, was her theme.
Pray: 2013 would be Mexico’s moment for the government and police to overcome the evil vicious drug war violence. (2Sa.23:3-4 & 6-7)
