Starbucks in row over Internet porn free-for-all
Coffee giant Starbucks is failing to filter out pornography from its free in-store wi-fi, leading to concerns about children accessing inappropriate material. The coffee chain was warned over a year ago about the problem but still has not rectified the situation. Baroness Massey, a former chairman of the Family Planning Association, highlighted the issue in the House of Lords and called on the Government to remind ‘high street companies of their duties to protect our children’. She cautioned: ‘In Starbucks anyone can have full access to anything the Internet has to offer including the most obscene websites.’ Baroness Massey said that McDonald’s had ‘told its wi-fi supplier that it did not want customers coming in to bring up pornographic images that people sitting on nearby tables may see’. Speaking for the Government, Viscount Younger of Leckie said he was ‘alarmed’. He said the issue would ‘certainly’ be followed up to ‘find out what can be done to resolve it’.
Pray: that pressure on Starbucks to change its policy over access would succeed. (Ps.12:7)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/starbucks-in-row-over-internet-porn-free-for-all/
Vince Cable attacks corporate 'tax abuse'
Business Secretary Vince Cable has condemned corporate tax avoidance as ‘completely unacceptable’, saying there are ‘appalling stories of abuse’. He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show UK authorities should do more to stop it. However, he said that tackling the issue required international agreement as well as domestic action. His comments came after executives from Starbucks, Google and Amazon were grilled by MPs, although the firms say they operate within the tax rules. The executives were questioned earlier this month by the Public Accounts Committee about how they used favourable European tax jurisdictions for their UK businesses. Starbucks, for example, has made a taxable profit only once in its 15 years of operating in the UK. As a consequence, the company is thought to have paid just £8.6m in corporation tax over the period. Mr Cable told Andrew Marr: ‘The best off in society have got to contribute more, and that includes companies.’
Pray: that our Government will be successful in dealing with companies who avoid their full corporation taxes. (Mk.12:14)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20384428
Help for offenders
‘Offenders should be ‘met at the prison gate’ by mentors who can help them escape a life of crime.’ said Chris Grayling the Justice Secretary. He has plans for a major extension of mentoring provided by voluntary groups and private companies on a payment-by-results basis, calling for an ‘enlightened’ approach to dealing with criminals and to decry the tragedy of inmates leaving jail with no idea how to get their lives back on track.This proposal comes during ‘Prison Week’ when Christians are asked to pray for those administering justice and those within the criminal justice system. May those ministering to offenders be given the wisdom of Solomon for the tasks they are engaged in, and good judgment as they guide prisoners on their daily journey through the prison system. See: http://www.prisonsweek.org/
Pray: that the implementation of the mentoring system will grow and produce a new path for ex-prisoners to follow. (Ps.139:11-17)
More: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/mentor-every-inmate-released-jail-051453731.html
Dawn raid in Home Counties
A gang of eight Asian men aged between 20 and 28 were arrested in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire on suspicion of being part of a Home Counties paedophile ring, after a girl told police how she'd been raped and abused for five years from the age of 12. Only one victim has come forward so far, detectives believe the paedophile ring is responsible for abusing others. Many believe sex abuse reports 'turn a blind eye to Asian gangs' even though they account for a quarter of all cases. There is only one organisation serving the needs of parents, carers and wider family of child sexual exploitation victims in the UK. It is called CROP’ and has a family-centred approach to tackling child sexual exploitation by supporting, encouraging and enabling parents and families to be actively involved in responding to the devastating, complex and multiple issues that arise as a result of the sexual exploitation of their child. See http://www.cropuk.org.uk/
Pray: for more courageous victims to come forward. Pray for additional organisations to minister to the abused and may all that is hidden be revealed. (Ps.9:16-18)
