Syria: Technological consequences of conflict
Media companies including the New York Times, Twitter and the Huffington Post lost control of their websites after hackers supporting the Syrian government breached the internet company managing major site addresses. The Syrian Electronic Army, a hacker group that has previously attacked media organisations that it considers hostile to the government of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, claimed credit for the Twitter and Huffington Post hacks in a series of Twitter messages on Tuesday. They also simultaneously targeted CNN, Time and the Washington Post see: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/08/20138281421074547.html Meanwhile an elite Israeli intelligence unit intercepted conversations among high ranking Syrian government officials discussing last week’s chemical attack. U.S. officials said intercepted conversations would be included in a U.S. intelligence assessment that the White House will release to the public. - Israel has superior intelligence coverage of Syria and technical ability on a par with much larger nations as they collect intelligence on the countries that border them.
Pray: for international repercussions of the Syria conflict to be contained. (Ps.35:17)
Iraq: Shia Sunni conflict
On Wednesday a series of co-ordinated bombings during the rush hour in mainly Shia neighbourhoods of Baghdad killed more than 50 people and wounded dozens more. Violence has increased in recent months amid heightened tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims. More than 4,000 civilians have been killed and 10,000 more have been wounded so far this year, with Baghdad province worst hit. In July 1,057 civilians were killed - making it the deadliest month in Iraq for years. The authorities have stepped up security operations in Baghdad but they seem unable to stop the growing intensity of violence now back to a level not seen for five years. No group has admitted carrying out the bombings, but many believe they have been carried out by Sunni militants. Correspondents say deep-rooted sectarian tensions have been aggravated by the civil war in neighbouring Syria.
Pray: the international response to Syria’s crisis in the coming days will not fuel further Sunni Shia hostility in Iraq. Pray for their hostilities to tbe harnessed. (Gen.16:12)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23861541
Egypt: Christians targeted
This report follows last week’s Prayer-Alert Egypt update when you were asked to pray into the situations where Imams across Egypt were calling for Christians to be attacked - particularly Christian shops churches and Christian homes - the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom reported on Friday that over 100 Christian churches, homes, properties, businesses and individuals had been attacked in Egypt from 14th August to 22nd August 2013. His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of The Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom informed the Christian community in the United Kingdom of the nature of attacks currently facing Christians in Egypt and asked for us to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Click here to view the full list of recent attacks, http://copticcentre.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html
Pray: for all the victims of violence on the streets of Egypt over the past weeks. Pray for God to protect Christian families and communities, comfort all those who mourn, or havve lost loved ones, been injured or feel powerless. (Ps.32:6-7)
More: http://www.copticcentre.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/christian-churches-homes-properties.html
Japan: Radioactive leak 'serious'
On Wednesday Japan's nuclear regulator upgraded the rating of a leak of radiation-contaminated water from a tank at its tsunami-wrecked nuclear plant to a ‘serious incident’ on an international scale and castigated the plant operator for failing to catch the problem earlier. The 300-ton (300,000-litre, 80,000-gallon) leak probably began a month and a half before it was discovered - exposure levels among patrolling staff started to increase in early July. The regulator said there is a much larger on-going problem of massive amounts of contaminated ground water reaching the sea that cannot be rated under the IAEA's International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale because it is unknown exactly how much ground water is escaping, how contaminated it is and what effect it is having on the sea and marine products.
Pray: for honest and honourable appraisals of this latest challenge to the containing contaminated of waste from land and sea. Pray for wise and effective measures to be implemented. (Pr.4:13-14)
More: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/japanese-regulator-raises-alert-nuclear-leaks-20089403
South Africa: Family Policy Institute calls for clampdown
The Family Policy Institute (FPI) stated, ‘Research shows the wide availability of pornography in society is destructive and harmful especially to women and children. This is evidenced by the fact that South Africa is currently regarded as the rape capital of the world. More than 64 000 women are raped annually in SA. In addition, reports indicate that more than 25,000 children are sexually abused every year in SA.’ The FPI called on the Government to take urgent action to stop the free flow and distribution of pornography following the arrest this week of a school principal, teachers, a doctor, an attorney and a businessman for the manufacture and dissemination of child pornography. The FPI statement continues, ‘Children as young as 10 are downloading sexually explicit images to their cell phones. Some are also producing pornographic videos of themselves and sharing it with friends.’
Pray: for an end to the Government’s liberal attitude to the unrestricted availability of pornography. (Lk.18:16 & Ps.12:5)
More: http://gatewaynews.co.za/family-policy-institute-calls-for-adult-porn-clampdown/
Half of teenagers sleep deprived, say experts
A combination of natural hormone changes and greater use of screen-based technology means many teenagers are not getting enough sleep. Research has suggested teenagers need nine hours' sleep to function properly. "Sleep is fundamentally important but despite this it's been largely ignored as part of our biology," said Russell Foster, Professor of Circadian Neuroscience at Oxford University. "Within the context of teenagers, here we have a classic example where sleep could enhance enormously the quality of life and, indeed, the educational performance of our young people. Yet they're given no instruction about the importance of sleep and sleep is a victim to the many other demands that are being made of them. The great problem with teenagers is that you're not only biologically programmed to go to bed late and get up late, but there's also many attractions like gaming and social media and many teenagers are doing this into the early hours of the morning and delaying sleep even further."
Pray: for a greater appreciation by teenagers of the need for quality sleep. Pray also for better information to be given to them about sleep. ( Pr.3:24)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-23811690
UK children need more exercise
Only half of all seven-year-olds in the UK are getting enough exercise each day to stay healthy, a new study has found. The research, published in BMJ Open, found that half of UK 7-year-olds are sedentary for six to seven hours a day, with girls, children of Indian ethnic origin, and those living in Northern Ireland being the least physically active. UK guidelines on daily physical activity recommend that children spend at least an hour a day in moderate to vigorous activity and spend less time sitting down. Girls were far less active than boys, with only 38% satisfying the guidelines, compared to 63% of boys. The study's authors warn that more investment and "wide interventions" are needed."The results of our study provide a useful baseline and strongly suggest that contemporary UK children are insufficiently active, implying that effort is needed to boost [physical activity] among young people to the level appropriate for good health," they wrote.
Pray: for a concerted response to this report that restates clearly an issue for children that has been suggested for many years. (1Co.6:19-20)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/uk.children.need.more.excercise/33675.htm
Methodist Church promotes humans rights with new investment policy
Methodist Church investment decisions are now being guided by a new policy on human rights which focuses on companies operating in areas of conflict around the world. While governments are ultimately responsible for upholding human rights, the policy recognises that companies have obligations too. The policy has been adopted by the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church, which manages £1 billion of Methodist Church investments. The Church is urging companies to extend their engagement with human rights issues beyond their own operations by entering into dialogue with major suppliers and business partners. Bill Seddon, Chief Executive, said: "This new policy will help us engage with companies operating in areas where human rights are being ignored, often due to armed conflict. It will help us structure our on-going human rights engagement with companies." The Church said companies have responsibilities, not only to shareholders but also to their employees and people in the societies in which they operate.
Pray: for other groups and companies to follow the lead from the Methodist church and that their new policy will have a real and practical impact for good. (Pr.31:8-9)
More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/news-and-events/news-releases/methodist-church-promotes-humans-rights-with-new-investment-policy
Honduras: Kidnapped - then thousands pray
On August 12th missionary Trish and her son Ben were accosted by two young men with handguns and taken to a remote area. Then Trish was released and the kidnappers began ransom demands via the mission sending agency supporting the family. The kidnappers had no way of knowing that through social media within 12 hours there were over 100,000 people praying for Ben, after 20 hours there were over a quarter million praying. At the end, 300,000 people had logged in and were praying around the globe for his release. The negotiation - or lack of negotiation - was tense because the family could not pay a ransom. In response to prayer, God moved and the two young men had a change of heart. Ben was released unharmed on August 13th and taken to a local hospital for observation. He was dizzy and confused when released, and slightly bruised from his travel through the bush.
Praise: God for social media activating global prayer within a matter of minutes. (Ps.66:19-20)
Honduras: Kidnapped - then thousands pray
On August 12th missionary Trish and her son Ben were accosted by two young men with handguns and taken to a remote area. Then Trish was released and the kidnappers began ransom demands via the mission sending agency supporting the family. The kidnappers had no way of knowing that through social media within 12 hours there were over 100,000 people praying for Ben, after 20 hours there were over a quarter million praying. At the end, 300,000 people had logged in and were praying around the globe for his release. The negotiation - or lack of negotiation - was tense because the family could not pay a ransom. In response to prayer, God moved and the two young men had a change of heart. Ben was released unharmed on August 13th and taken to a local hospital for observation. He was dizzy and confused when released, and slightly bruised from his travel through the bush.
Praise: God for social media activating global prayer within a matter of minutes. (Ps.66:19-20)