Heavy web-use harms a child's mental health
Over-use of the internet is causing mental health problems for children, government health advisers have warned. Each hour spent in front of a computer puts them at greater risk, they say. As a result, children face mental illnesses and social problems such as loneliness, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and heightened aggression. In a report submitted to MPs, Public Health England officials warn that one in ten children now has a mental health issue, with computers and the internet largely to blame. Public Health England, which issues guidance on good health to the NHS, says there is a clear relationship between the amount of time spent on social media sites such as Facebook and ‘lower levels of well-being’. The link becomes particularly striking when children spend more than four hours a day in front of a screen – but it kicks in even at very low levels of use.
British forces in Afghanistan
With the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan, the public focus on our troops has lessened. However, there are still many British troops still serving in Afghanistan. Their lives are still very vulnerable, as we were reminded by the tragic loss of five men (each one precious in God’s eyes) when their helicopter crashed last month. The most remarkable miracle is that this was the first British helicopter accident involving loss of life since the Afghan conflict started in 2001 – an amazing answer to your prayers. Thank you
‘Significant steps’ needed to progress Anglican-Methodist Covenant
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, together with the President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, have today issued a joint statement, in response to a report to their Churches. The report, entitled The Challenge of the Covenant, recommends that both Churches take action to enhance unity between them, with the work being fully embedded in Church structures. The report also encourages the Church of England to address the question of interchange ability of ordained ministries between the two Churches, and the Methodist Church to consider the possibility of a form of Episcopal ministry (such as a 'president bishop'). The statement from the Archbishops and Methodist Presidency welcomes the report, stating: ‘The time has now come for our Churches to take further, significant steps to achieve that level of reconciliation between us and partnership in the gospel that will enhance our mission together in local communities and our shared witness to the whole of society.’
Christians offer safe houses to Muslims
A Christian campaign group is launching a national network of safe houses for Muslim converts who face ostracism or violent reprisals for leaving their religion. It says it knows of up to 1,100 former Muslims at risk in Britain but the true number could be 3,000. Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, which is organising the network, said: ‘We are motivated by a deep sense of love and compassion for those that feel trapped in a situation from which they cannot escape. The penalty for them at best is to be cut off from their family; at worst they face death. This is happening not just in Sudan and Nigeria but in east London. The government has failed to deal with the rise in anti-Christian sentiment.’
Britain's hidden exploitation: Prostitution behind closed doors
The landscape of prostitution in the UK is changing. Ten years ago, you'd find women on street corners at certain times of day. Now, they tend to operate from brothels, saunas, massage parlours and hotels. The use of internet and mobile technology, increasing stigmatisation of men wanting to pay for sex, a change in national legislation and also the consequences of human trafficking all mean that the patterns of prostitution are shifting. Mark Wakeling, director of UK charity Beyond the Streets, says this shift from on-street to off-street locations means those working to support women in the sex industry have had to re-think their approaches. His charity has partnered with The Gate, a local charity in Southampton, to work out a new way to reach women. Research suggests that many women who sell themselves from brothels and massage parlours are isolated and feel unable to access support. Violence against women in these situations remains high.
Churches urged to pray4media on Sunday June 1st
Churches and Christians are being encouraged to pray for the media on Sunday June 1st. The initiative is being led by the Church and Media Network, with prayers being submitted by the Archbishop of York, Rev Ruth Gee, President of the National Conference of the Methodist Church; Dr Daleep Mukarji, the Vice-President of the Methodist Conference; and the Rt Rev Nick Baines, the Anglican Bishop-designate of Leeds. The Church and Media Network, which seeks to encourage Christians to engage with the media, is encouraging people to submit their own prayers on the newly-launched website www.pray4media.co.uk and to tweet prayers to @pray4media. Rev Tony Miles, Chair of the Network, explained: ‘As Christians we want to affirm the media’s vital role in our society. At its best the media gives a voice to the voiceless, holds the powerful to account, highlights unjust practices, calls for justice, keeps people informed, brings us strong opinions to challenge our own – and tells stories to entertain us.’
Pakistan: Asia Bibi death sentence appeal cancelled again
Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi's Tuesday appeal hearing on her death sentence for blasphemy was again cancelled - for the fifth time. No new hearing date has been set. Bibi's four previous hearings were also cancelled at the last minute by the court. Bibi, a mother of five, has been in prison since being sentenced to death for blasphemy in 2010. The accusation followed a heated dispute with Muslim colleagues. Blasphemy is a serious crime in Muslim-majority Pakistan and carries the death sentence, but human rights groups say the charges are often trumped up as a means of settling personal scores and vendettas. Anyone accused of blasphemy in Pakistan faces threats to their life from extremists. Relatives often have to go into hiding to escape the same fate, and being behind bars doesn't make the accused any safer. Sometimes extremists march into their prison cell and kill them while the guards turn a blind eye.
Afghanistan: Thousands of US troops to stay
US President Barack Obama has announced a pull-out plan for Afghanistan that will leave 9,800 troops in the country after 2014, overriding previous plans of a complete withdrawal by the end of the year. He has been insistent that at the beginning of 2015, the war in Afghanistan will officially be over, but leaving almost 10,000 there after 2014 may make it difficult to realise that distinction on the ground. US troops will still be armed and conducting ‘counter-terrorism’ missions. With this announcement the president is reinvesting in his strategy, giving the military what it says it needs but also giving them a timeline. The president says by 2017 the US will only provide the normal numbers that are needed to secure an embassy.
Global: Three newborns challenge pro-abortion assumptions
Decklen was born at 22 weeks in California. He was just 10 inches long and weighed 14 ounces. His parents had to choose whether or not to have an emergency operation. They wanted to give Decklen a chance. ‘If he’s a fighter, you know, we want him to fight and make his own decisions,’ his dad said. His words forced journalists in the secular, pro-abortion media to acknowledge Decklen’s value. Meanwhile doctors in Australia have criticised another couple’s decision to allow their conjoined twin girls a chance at life. The girls, born six weeks early, have diprosopus. They share everything and when
the condition appeared on an ultrasound at 19 weeks doctors said, ‘None of the 35 other children born with diprosopus in recorded history is alive today’. But the parents refused an abortion and named the girls Faith and Hope. Doctors now say if the girls can continue progressing for five weeks, they have a good chance of survival.
Eritrea: 21st birthday but 1,000 Christian prisoners don’t celebrate
Eritrea is ruled by President Isaias Afewerki, who won independence from Ethiopia in 1991. He became a dictator, repressing soldiers then turning on religious dissenters and critics within the party. Today the Eritrean regime tolerates no dissent of any kind. There is no free media, no university, and even the ruling party - renamed the People’s Front for Freedom and Democracy - has not held a party conference for years. Tens of thousands of young Eritreans have fled the country, escaping across the border to Ethiopia or Sudan to face a difficult and uncertain future. Others have attempted to reach Europe, some of them drowning in the Mediterranean Sea on smuggler ships. Eritrea’s 6 million people live under a regime that has earned a reputation as the most repressive in Africa. Exiled human-rights group, Release Eritrea, reports that 1,000+ Christians are currently in detention. The group bases its tally on phone calls to friends and colleagues in the country.