False economy of single person benefit cuts
The Government's planned cuts in housing benefit for 25-34 year-olds will be a false economy that will end up burdening welfare services, according to the Christian Peoples Alliance party. Changes to be introduced in a few months' time will see an average cut in housing benefit of £47 per week for people receiving the Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR). This is because their benefits will only cover the cost of a room in a shared house, instead of a self-contained flat. The CPA says what may only affect 88,000 people could have huge consequences for their ability to keep their lives on track. As Crisis, the homelessness charity put it these changes ‘will be an absolute disaster’. According to the CPA, ‘There is a false assumption that multi-occupancy accommodation is already there and available. In many places in Britain it is not, and the result will be further pressure on temporary accommodation and homelessness’. Pray: that the government will reconsider and recognise the desperate needs of these young people. (Jas.2:16)
Britain third worst country for families in Europe
Britain ranks the third worst country in Europe for pressures on families, according to an index compiled by the Relationships Foundation. The think tank’s new family pressure gauge compares the pressures on families in 27 European countries and finds that families in Britain are struggling more than their European counterparts under the weight of money worries, long working hours and high living costs. Only families in Romania and Bulgaria are more pressured. The study found that while Britons work the longest hours per week in Europe – 43 on average – they are also paying dearly for it, with nearly a quarter of the family income (23.5%) being spent on childcare. That amounts to twice the amount paid by families in France, three times that paid by German families, and four times the cost of childcare in Sweden. Around one in five British families with dependent children (20.9%) is experiencing ‘difficulty’ or ‘great difficulty’ in making ends meet.
Pray: that these shocking statistics will awake our government to the needs of families. (Pr.11:29a)
More: ttp://www.christiantoday.com/article/britain.third.worst.country.for.families.in.europe/28029.htm
Balkans: Corruption barrier to EU membership
A new European Commission funded report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says that an average of one person in six has to pay bribes to access services in the Western Balkans and that the problem, despite the best efforts of both the EU and western Balkan governments, is as bad as it ever was. An official from the European Commission’s bureau for enlargement in the Balkans said that, ‘corruption and the rule of law are at the heart of the current enlargement process,’ and the ‘challenge is enormous,’ but fighting corruption was ‘make or break’ for the Balkan nations aspirations towards EU membership. Only 1.5% report bribery. Over half do not report payoffs because either it was perceived as ‘pointless’ as ‘nobody will care’ or because it was deemed ‘common practice’. Of the few that did make a report on paying a bribe, in a quarter of cases no action at all was taken. Pray: that God would expose corruption here and wherever it occurs that His light will expose the darkness. (Job.12:22) More: http://www.neurope.eu/articles/Balkan-Bribes/106541.php
Malta votes on divorce, winner could be radical Islam
European and American experts say changing Malta's divorce ban would show weakness to radical Muslims, who could capitalize on the island's drift toward secularism to push for Islamic laws. ‘Forced secularism is a gift to the radical Muslims,’ said Stephen Schwartz, a U.S. author and researcher on the Islamic world. ‘Everybody has reason to be worried about radical Islam, and this is an issue of radical Islam,’ said Schwartz, founder of the Washington-based Centre for Islamic Pluralism. ‘My opinion is: Malta should not change its divorce laws.’ Malta is the only European country that does not allow divorce. But this could change, depending on the outcome of a May 28 referendum in this tiny Mediterranean island nation of 408,000 people. Voters will decide the fate of proposed legislation that would permit divorce. If the referendum passes by popular vote, the legislation would then go before parliament for its approval.
Pray: that the people will be guided by God’s Spirit and not allow further incursions against His laws. (Mt.5:32)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue12941.html
Malta votes on divorce, winner could be radical Islam
European and American experts say changing Malta's divorce ban would show weakness to radical Muslims, who could capitalize on the island's drift toward secularism to push for Islamic laws. ‘Forced secularism is a gift to the radical Muslims,’ said Stephen Schwartz, a U.S. author and researcher on the Islamic world. ‘Everybody has reason to be worried about radical Islam, and this is an issue of radical Islam,’ said Schwartz, founder of the Washington-based Centre for Islamic Pluralism. ‘My opinion is: Malta should not change its divorce laws.’ Malta is the only European country that does not allow divorce. But this could change, depending on the outcome of a May 28 referendum in this tiny Mediterranean island nation of 408,000 people. Voters will decide the fate of proposed legislation that would permit divorce. If the referendum passes by popular vote, the legislation would then go before parliament for its approval.
Pray: that the people will be guided by God’s Spirit and not allow further incursions against His laws. (Mt.5:32)
More: http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue12941.html
Denmark: Danish Church waking to Gospel call
In Denmark, at least 4 percent of the country's population claims to be of the Muslim faith. Now, one former Muslim is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. Massoud Fouroozandeh was born a Muslim in Iran. Fouroozandeh was called up for military duty, but instead of serving, he fled Iran and eventually settled in Denmark. Today, he is the pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in Denmark with a special outreach to Denmark's Muslim immigrants. He is the author of the book titled ‘The Forbidden Salvation.’ His journey to Christianity began when his mother, who also became a Christian, gave him a Bible. This angered him and he decided to disprove it, but something different happened. Fouroozandeh was running his own business in Denmark when he says Jesus appeared to him in a dream and called him to serve Him. He later began the Church of Love. Praise: God for this wonderful testimony and may Fouroozandeh’s Church continue to grow. (Gen.1:28a) More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/May/Frmr-Muslim-Danish-Church-Waking-to-Gospel-Call-/
Denmark: Danish Church waking to Gospel call
In Denmark, at least 4 percent of the country's population claims to be of the Muslim faith. Now, one former Muslim is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. Massoud Fouroozandeh was born a Muslim in Iran. Fouroozandeh was called up for military duty, but instead of serving, he fled Iran and eventually settled in Denmark. Today, he is the pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in Denmark with a special outreach to Denmark's Muslim immigrants. He is the author of the book titled ‘The Forbidden Salvation.’ His journey to Christianity began when his mother, who also became a Christian, gave him a Bible. This angered him and he decided to disprove it, but something different happened. Fouroozandeh was running his own business in Denmark when he says Jesus appeared to him in a dream and called him to serve Him. He later began the Church of Love. Praise: God for this wonderful testimony and may Fouroozandeh’s Church continue to grow. (Gen.1:28a) More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/May/Frmr-Muslim-Danish-Church-Waking-to-Gospel-Call-/
Qatar: Faith communities grow through service of Anglican centre
In a section of Doha, in an expanding development that has come to be known as Church City, thousands of Christian migrant workers worship freely with the blessing of the Qatari authorities. Christianity in this Islamic state was once an underground religion, but today it thrives, thanks in part to people like the Rev. Bill Schwartz, an Anglican priest and an Episcopal Church missionary. In one part of Church City, Schwartz is overseeing the construction of an Anglican Centre. More than 10,000 Protestant Christians from 37 denominations already worship in the Anglican Centre and many more are waiting for space to become available. Until recently, Qatar was seen as a purely Islamic country, but as new leadership tapped vast natural gas resources, economic development exploded. The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, knows that such development brings migrant labour and different faith traditions, provided the land for Church City. Praise: God for the growth of Church City and pray that its influence will continue to grow. (Heb.13:20-21) More: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_128330_ENG_HTM.htm
Japan: Workers at reactor & Greenpeace warning
Workers briefly entered Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant measuring radiation levels and checking damage as they attempt to bring the reactors to a stable, cold shutdown by January. It was the first time anyone had entered reactor two building. There are signs that damage to the nuclear plant was worse than initially thought. Radioactive runoff has leaked from dousing operations into the sea causing 620 fishermen to halt fishing and demand damage payment. However from May 20th, fishermen will begin harvesting seaweed for public consumption from the 12-mile territorial waters. Greenpeace research indicates a significant risk that this seaweed will be highly contaminated as they have detected radiation far above legal limits in seaweed 40 miles off Fukushima nuclear plant and are calling on Japan's government to undertake comprehensive radiation testing of seaweed along the Fukushima coast. See:
Pray: for God in His mercy to minimise the ongoing repercussions from this disaster. (Ps.86:8-9)
Syria: Tanks shelling Tel Kelakh
Tanks have been bombarding border town Tel Kelakh since Saturday as they crush protests against President Bashar al-Assad following Sundays demonstrations demanding ‘the overthrow of the regime’ - the slogan of revolutions that toppled other Arab leaders. The army is storming houses and making arrests, then withdrawing from neighbourhoods after these raids. Some families are resisting, preferring death to humiliation. Human rights groups say Assad’s crackdown has killed at least 700 civilians. ‘We're without water, electricity or communications’, a resident of Tel Kelakh said on satellite phone. Artillery and heavy machinegun fire hit the main road to Lebanon on Tuesday night, some people trying to escape to Lebanon turned back because shelling was too heavy. The Tunisian government threatens to report Libya to UN Security Council if shelling on the border does not stop. See: Pray: for the homeless refugees fleeing Syrian violence and for the terrorised residents left behind. (Ps.23:4) More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/18/us-syria-idUSLDE73N02P20110518