Disabled people call for new deal
Disabled and sick people, including actor and comedian Francesca Martinez, have launched a petition calling for an end to what they call the 'War on Welfare' (WOW) being waged by their own Government. The campaigners want an independent, cumulative impact assessment of the Coalition's controversial Welfare Reform Act, which has attracted massive opposition from charities, experts, peers, community groups, disability organisations, churches and civic groups. The activists include people with learning and mental health difficulties, their families and carers. ‘The welfare budget, and particularly benefits going to sick and disabled people, has been heavily and unfairly targeted for cuts,’ says War on Welfare. Spearheaded by actress and comedian Francesca Martinez the WOW petition aims to get 100,000 signatures to end this War On Welfare by the Government. A remarkable 2,000 people had signed the petition on the Government's own e-democracy website within a little over four hours of its launch.
Pray: that this initiative will result in an end to this war on welfare for the needy. (Ps.9:18)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17654
Children going hungry because they cannot afford meals
Children are still turning up to school hungry and skipping meals at lunchtime because they cannot afford to eat, research suggests. Some youngsters have been spotted stealing toast as they are so hungry, and in another case, a teacher found two girls sharing a packed lunch in the school toilets because one had no money for food, according to a report by the Children's Society charity. The study, based on a survey of around 570 teachers, reveals serious concerns among school staff. Almost three in four (72%) of the teachers surveyed said they have seen pupils coming into school with no lunch and no way to pay for one. Nearly half (45%) said that children are often hungry during the school day. The study, conducted with the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT), also reveals that two-thirds (66%) of school staff say that teachers are providing pupils with food or money for meals if they turn up for lessons hungry.
Pray: for the children who are missing out on lunches because of poverty or stigmatism. (Pr.10:
Don't be a Scrooge, Christians tell Chancellor
Anti-poverty campaigners delivered a copy of the Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to George Osborne. Alan Pinch, a Quaker, Stephen Pennells, a Roman Catholic, and Graham Martin, an Anglican, are all supporters of Church Action on Poverty. They fear that Britain may be returning to the levels of poverty and contempt for the poor described by Dickens in A Christmas Carol. The trio cycled to the Chancellor's constituency office in Knutsford where they dropped off the festive classic. The 20-mile journey started at Manchester's Albert Square Christmas Market and stopped along the way so that members of the public could sign a statement to the Chancellor. Pinch said: ‘Chancellor Osborne is at severe risk of turning into a modern day Scrooge, and we want to add our voices to the many calls for him to change track.’
Pray: that the message behind this topical one will be taken seriously and encourage the Chancellor to change track. (Ecc.8:1)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/dont.be.a.scrooge.christians.tell.chancellor/31213.htm
Police account of 'pleb' row inaccurate?
David Davis hopes to overturn a ‘gross injustice’ against the former chief whip Andrew Mitchell over a confrontation with officers in Downing Street, stating the Police had been called into question by a series of recent revelations. Davis said the Police log has ‘very similar wording’ to two emails sent to an MP by a serving officer who claimed to have witnessed the incident. The MP handed the emails to No 10. The Police Officer has now admitted he was not present. The Police log and emails claimed the incident was witnessed by several people. CCTV footage shows only one member of the public witnessed the incident. Mitchell and Davis were refused permission by the Met commissioner to see the Police log and are relying on a newspaper version which Davis said, ‘If it is an accurate account of the Police log it would get torn to shreds in Court for what was clearly not true.’
Pray: for a fair enquiry that resolves this issue and for any hidden agendas to be revealed. (Ps.15)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/dec/19/david-davis-police-andrew-mitchell
