New Stonewall chief plans to target under-fives
The new chief executive of LGBT activist group, Stonewall, has called for preschool children to be taught to ‘celebrate’ being gay as part of a proposed Government-funded campaign to tackle ‘homophobia’ in schools. Ruth Hunt said she wanted Stonewall to commission a series of books ‘celebrating difference in all its forms’ to encourage under-fives to ‘think about different families’, including same-sex households. ‘I think the next step is about going into preschools,’ she said. ‘I know from all my godchildren that the quality of children’s books depicting difference is dire.’ She added: ‘I really want to commission – and this is something we’ve got to talk about as an organisation – a suite of books that celebrates difference in all its forms for under-fives, with different families in it but also mixed-race people and sent into every preschool setting. That will take time too. But that is possibly one of the most radical campaigns we could do.’
Born addicted to drugs: 1,500 have ‘withdrawal symptoms’
More than 1,500 babies were born addicted to drugs last year, according to statistics uncovered by a national newspaper. Since 2009, almost 8,000 babies have been born showing symptoms of drug withdrawal, the Daily Mirror found. The figures show ‘addiction is not just about individual choice – it affects children, families, communities and public services’, according to one think-tank. The Mirror used freedom of information requests to gain figures on the issue from NHS organisations, stretching back five years. An average of over 1,500 babies a year since 2009 were born showing ‘neonatal withdrawal symptoms’, the figures revealed. Most of the babies involved were born in England – some 6,600 – with over 700 in Scotland and almost 500 in Wales. In 2013 the figure for Great Britain stood at 1,536.
Almost two million young adults still living with their parents
New research from the housing and homelessness charity Shelter has found that 48 per cent of working 20 to 34 year olds live with their parents because they are unable to afford to rent or buy their own home. Data from the last census shows a quarter of all 20 to 34 year old working adults in England – 1.97 million people – are currently living with their parents. As the latest government figures show average house prices for first-time buyers in the UK have risen by 11.3 per cent in a year, Shelter is urging stronger action to help the 'clipped wing generation' fly the nest. Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: ‘The ‘clipped wing generation’ are finding themselves with no choice but to remain living with mum and dad well into adulthood, and those who aren’t lucky enough to have this option instead face a lifetime of unstable, expensive private renting.’
Ethics panel for Greater Manchester Police moral 'grey areas'
An ethics committee has been set up to tackle moral issues faced by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the area's police and crime commissioner. The independent committee is one of the first of its kind in the country and aims to make recommendations on moral and ethical dilemmas. It will look at issues such as surveillance operations and the use of body cameras and water cannon. Members of the public can make referrals to the committee. The panel of 13 is chaired by the Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev David Walker. It includes retired NBA basketball player John Amaechi - who has helped organisations deal with ethical issues - and Ruth Bromley, ethics and law head at Manchester Medical School. GMP Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said: ‘There are lots of grey areas in policing.’
West Africa: Ebola enters Nigeria as World Bank pledges financial support
Lagos has eight suspected cases of Ebola with one case confirmed, all came into contact with Nigeria's first victim who died. On Tuesday the World Bank pledged $200 million towards containing the virus. A doctor in Lagos is the second case in the sprawling city. The doctor attended to a man working for Liberia's finance ministry who contracted the virus from his sister before travelling to Lagos for a meeting of West African officials. Seventy people who came into contact with the deceased are being monitored. Three show signs of the disease. World Bank president Jim Yong Kim, himself an expert on infectious diseases, was deeply saddened at the breakdown of already weak health systems in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The funding will provide medical supplies, pay healthcare staff and manage priorities to try to contain the epidemic and prevent future outbreaks. Reports from Liberia say corpses are being dumped or abandoned and bodies of victims rot in the streets or in their homes. See also
Middle East: Ceasefire and negotiations
At the time of preparing this article the latest Gaza ceasefire enters its second day. There is tentative relief to millions on both sides and Palestinian and Israeli teams prepare for tough talks in Cairo. Riyad al-Maliki, Palestinian foreign minister, said he expected the ceasefire to expand beyond 72 hours. The small teams of delegates bring conflicting demands. Palestinians want open border crossings. (Not only Israel has closed borders. The Egyptian regime is hostile to Hamas and suspicious of political Islam. Only 140 injured Gazans have gone to Egyptian hospitals since 8 July. See: Meanwhile Israel wants Gaza fully demilitarised. The US is also due to participate in the Cairo talks. ‘We are determining at what level and in what capacity and when,’ said the US State Department spokesperson in Washington. Riyad al-Maliki complained to The Hague of war crimes committed by Israel. Israel said it did its utmost to avoid civilian casualties, accusing Hamas of putting people in harm's way by launching rockets from densely populated districts.
Lebanon: Hamas/Hezbollah - who’s inspiring whom?
Hamas had been digging tunnels in Gaza for decades. The Lebanese Shiite organization has used tunnels and underground bunkers since the IDF withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000. Now there’s concern that Hezbollah has expanded its network of tunnels inside south Lebanon, to enable offensive infiltration into Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu said the Hamas cross-border tunnel network had the ‘catastrophic’ potential of gunmen emerging into southern Israel near army positions, kibbutzim and settlements. Israeli communities on the Lebanese border have in the past reported hearing muffled sounds underground, which they believe indicate Hezbollah tunne-digging. Now, such reports are gaining new resonance and the Israeli security establishment is taking their concerns seriously. An article published on Hezbollah’s website cited that ‘security elements’ spoke of booby-trapped tunnels prepared over the past two years inside southern Lebanon, allowing fighters to move easily from place to place during battle. Last month, Hamas official Osama Hamdan said that the exchange of knowledge between Hamas and Hezbollah on Israel is ongoing.
Africa: A prayer request for un-reached people groups
An evangelist reports, ‘1,536 adults and 1,808 children attended activities during our Botswana & Namibia outreach, where we explained the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people living in remote areas and small villages. A hundred Bibles and a few thousand tracts were distributed, as well as different topics from Jericho Walls International Prayer Network on prayer and Bibles studies. We worked with nearby churches in these remote areas. Using guides and translators is always key to the age old problem of follow-up programmes to isolated groups.’ Pray for the reached communities and the participating churches to experience God’s blessings and be greatly encouraged as they grow in God’s Kingdom.
Nigeria: Kidnapped girls – trauma rises
For the families of the missing girls kidnapped more than a hundred days ago, another trauma has emerged. Eleven of the grieving parents have died, many after heart attacks and stress-related illnesses. President Goodluck Jonathan pledged to secure the girls release during his first meeting with parents recently. Parents pulled out of previous meetings believing they were being used for political reasons. Despite the support of the USA, France and the UK the whereabouts of the girls is still unknown. President Jonathan reassured parents, appealing for patience, understanding and cooperation. ‘Anyone who says we are aloof and not doing what we are supposed to do to get the girls out is not being truthful. Our commitment is to get the girls out and to rout Boko Haram completely from Nigeria.’ Please pray for security in the area; there are concerns of a humanitarian disaster as Christians flee Boko Haram. See:
Pakistan: Christian persecution drastically increases
Christians make up 4% the population in Pakistan and are targets in the rapidly increasing violence against minorities. Pakistan's blasphemy laws are frequently misused to settle personal scores. ‘It's not safe for Christians in this country.’ said the bishop emeritus of Peshawar. ‘Everyone is ignoring the growing danger to Christians in Muslim-majority countries.’ Increasing persecution is causing panic. 16,000+ Christians have fled to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand. In an attempt to end this mass exodus authorities illegally removed 1000+ Pakistani Christians from their flights in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. Sri Lanka detains them as refugees. Pakistan has moved to number 8 on Open Doors World Watch List of the worst persecutors of Christians in the world. Pray and ask God to soften the hearts of extremists, convict them of their sins against humanity and to provide protection over Christians in Pakistan