End of the road for pathway of death
The Liverpool Care Pathway is to be abolished following a Government-commissioned review which heard that hospital staff wrongly interpreted its guidance for care of the dying, leading to stories of patients who were drugged and deprived of fluids in their last weeks of life. An independent committee has recommended its closure. The Government has ordered hospitals to carry out immediate reviews of their practices and announced that the Liverpool Care Pathway will be phased out. Its defenders say the LCP offers people a peaceful, pain-free death. But it is only pain-free because of the sedation. Dehydration and starvation are normally painful. The critics accuse doctors of using the LCP to hasten death and free up beds. Although the Pathway was supposed to be used only in cases where recovery was not possible, elderly patients suffering from non-terminal illnesses have found themselves at risk from doctors illegally practising euthanasia.
Pray: that this answer to our prayers will lead to a transformation in health recovery for those in need. (Ph.3:21)
More: http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/index.php/2013jul15lcp/
Hospital trusts rapped over major failures
11 hospital trusts are being placed in special measures because of major failings, the Government has announced. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the trusts, among 14 investigated for high death rates, had problems so entrenched that tough action was needed. He cited examples of staffing problems, poor care and weak leadership as he announced the move in Parliament. The other three trusts investigated were also told to make improvements following the review. But the Health Secretary said investigators had confidence the leadership at those trusts was capable of making the changes needed. As part of the process of special measures for the other 11, teams of external experts will be sent into the organisations to work with the senior management team. Regular updates on their progress will also be given, while unsafe practices have been stopped immediately. For example, two operating theatres have been closed at one site because of inadequate maintenance records.
Pray: for those charged with the task of achieving improvements to the NHS. (Ps.8:4)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23315869for-justice-and-peace
European churches continue working for justice and peace
At its 14th Assembly, the Conference of European Churches (CEC) was praised by Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) for its contributions to European church unity and its ‘prevailing vision for justice and peace’ in the region and beyond. ‘The European churches must together seek and ask for new expressions of solidarity, fellowship and love in a Europe experiencing growing economic disparities, rapidly growing secularization, new challenges between peoples on the move, and a much-changed landscape of different faith communities,’ he added. Tveit mentioned other assemblies held this year by regional ecumenical organizations in the Pacific, Latin America and Africa. ‘These assemblies should strengthen us in our joint pilgrimage, which has unity, justice and peace as its goal, making us ready and able to go to the places and the people where we are most needed,’ he said.
Pray: for the church assemblies to take up the challenge of bringing justice and peace. (Ps.140:12)
More: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/european-churches-urged-to-continue-working-
European churches continue working for justice and peace
At its 14th Assembly, the Conference of European Churches (CEC) was praised by Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) for its contributions to European church unity and its ‘prevailing vision for justice and peace’ in the region and beyond. ‘The European churches must together seek and ask for new expressions of solidarity, fellowship and love in a Europe experiencing growing economic disparities, rapidly growing secularization, new challenges between peoples on the move, and a much-changed landscape of different faith communities,’ he added. Tveit mentioned other assemblies held this year by regional ecumenical organizations in the Pacific, Latin America and Africa. ‘These assemblies should strengthen us in our joint pilgrimage, which has unity, justice and peace as its goal, making us ready and able to go to the places and the people where we are most needed,’ he said.
Pray: for the church assemblies to take up the challenge of bringing justice and peace. (Ps.140:12)
More: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/european-churches-urged-to-continue-working-
Norwegian neo-Nazi arrested in France over 'terror plot'
A neo-Nazi linked to Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik was arrested in southwestern France on Tuesday after investigators decided he might stage a large ‘terrorist act’ almost two years to the day that Breivik killed 77 people in Oslo. Kristian Vikernes, who is a well-known black metal musician in Norway, where he goes by the name of ‘Varg’, received a copy of a manifesto from Breivik before the far-right militant staged a brutal massacre on July 22, 2011. According to French Interior Minister Manuel Valls, 40-year-old Vikernes could have been preparing a ‘major terrorist act’. ‘Having received the manifesto before [Breivik] committed his crimes and having been sentenced in Norway in the past for murder, this individual, who was close to a neo-Nazi movement, was likely to prepare a large terrorist act,’ Valls said in a statement.
Pray: for justice and clarity to the authorities as they investigate and that the truth will be revealed. (Act.20:30)
NIGERIA: Insecurity
Security of citizens is one of the most important roles of government; unfortunately many issues are threatening the security of Nigerians and other nationalities living in the nation. Armed robbery, religious violence, intertribal crises, bad roads causing accidents, Fulani herdsmen destroying peoples' farms and attacking the farmers, carelessness in the aviation industry resulting in air-crashes, sales of false drugs, etc. All these problems of insecurity make Nigeria look hopeless like the dry bones of Ezekiel 37:1-4 but the Lord breathed life to the dry bones and they became a great army and were brought out from the graves to their own land. Ask God to open the grave of all areas of life in Nigeria and bring the country out of corruption, occultism, bloodshed, violence, Boko Haram killings, injustice and witchcraft. Pray and prophecy to the dry bones of authority in Nigeria that Nigeria will live and prosper once again.
Pray: for God to bring about peace, unity and love to manifest amongst all people of various religious backgrounds and tribes in Nigeria. (Ps. 72:6,7)
More: http://www.pray4nigeria.org/images/resources/Prayer-Guide.pdf
Canada: Call to prayer
Government:-The recent federal cabinet shuffle has put new faces in senior levels. Please pray into this change - asking God to use it to shift government tone and direction toward righteousness. Immorality:- Canada was the first country outside Europe to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide. In 2003 the ordination of a gay man, Gene Robinson as the Bishop of New Hampshire created a split in the 72 million-strong Anglican Communion which remains unresolved. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada accepts gay clergy. Pray immorality would be cleansed from God’s Church - no matter how deep the darkness, Jesus saves and delivers. Outreach:- Pray for more ministry outside the Church walls with the love and power of the Holy Spirit. Unity:- Recently there has been beachheads established for unity in the Church; let's pray for these to strengthen and for a new level of grace for unity throughout the Canadian Church.
Pray: that the government and church of Canada would be blessed by God’s direction and protection. (Ps.33:12
More: http://www.ears2hear.ca/en/
North Korea: Military cargo on seized ship
Panama's president Ricardo Martinelli said his country has seized a North Korean-flagged ship in the Panama Canal carrying ‘undeclared sophisticated missile equipment.’ The 35-strong crew had resisted the search and the captain had tried to kill himself. The US ‘commended’ Panama for its actions and said it strongly supported a full inspection of the ship. The ship had crossed the Pacific from Cuba without its automatic tracking system switched on - a move described by the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner as highly suspicious. The suspected weaponry was found in two containers and finding further ‘surprises’ was not ruled out as the search of the ship continued on Wednesday. Neither Cuba nor North Korea has yet commented on the incident. Under United Nations sanctions North Korea is banned from weapons exports and the import of all but small arms. North Korea has an on-going missile development programme.
Pray: that all North Korea’s black-market dealings would continue to be intercepted, and that sanctions would achieve the desired results. (Job 34:28-30)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23324170
Egypt: Leaders of Cabinet has women, Christians - no Islamists
The interim leader has sworn in a Cabinet that includes women and Christians but no Islamists as it moved swiftly to formalise the new political order and present a more liberal face that is markedly at odds with the deposed president and his supporters. The changes came as bloody clashes continued following the coup that removed President Morsi from office and cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood. For two years Egypt has been split between Morsi, his Muslim Brotherhood and Islamist allies, and secular Egyptians, liberals, Christians and moderate Muslims. The fault lines remain. US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said, ‘We have encouraged the leaders to be inclusive, bringing all political parties in to allow them to participate in the writing of the constitution and the elections.’ The Cabinet includes three Christians. Successive governments had no more than one or two Christians.
Pray: for God to enable the leaders to agree on a constitution that is workable and accepted by the population. (Ps.106:3)
More: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10899001
Israel: Israeli Arabs land
Israeli bulldozers demolished a Bedouin village in southern Israel for the 53rd time on Tuesday. Families in Araqib managed to re-build five of the sheds and Palestinian and Israeli activists are due to visit the village to help rebuild the rest of the structures. On Monday thousands demonstrated across Israel and Palestine against a plan to displace 40,000 Bedouins from land they had always lived in but for which they have no proof of ownership. The Israeli government plan addresses the matter of unrecognized Bedouin villages in southern Israel. The plan allows the Bedouin to own 45,000 acres of land that is registered in the name of the State of Israel and they will be eligible for 62.5% of land that they own. Last month the Knesset approved the first reading of the bill to legalise Bedouin settlement in the Negev, but not before a heated debate during which the Arab MKs tore up the bill. See: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/169921#.UeZ2lW1lhGM
Pray: for the 90,000 Bedouins at risk to be able to retain their communal and social fabric peacefully and for the state to give communities access to basic services and infrastructure, such as electricity and running water.(Ex.22:21 & Lev.19:33)
More: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=614293