Military receive spending boost
David Cameron announced on Monday that the government will invest an additional £800m in boosting the military’s surveillance, intelligence and Special Forces plus £300m on extending existing capabilities. He said that the Armed Forces must adapt to deal with unseen enemies and spending on intelligence and surveillance equipment, such as drones, is a national necessity. He warned that Britain faces changing threats in the form of global terrorism and unseen cyber-criminals who can target the country from abroad, stating, ‘We cannot defend the realm from the white cliffs of Dover.’ See also: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10965217/Huge-investment-in-Armed-Forces-means-a-more-secure-future-for-Britain.html
Countdown to 2014 Commonwealth Games
It’s count down time to the Commonwealth Games and a Christian ministry organisation ‘Flourish Scotland’ has been set up by Auchterarder-based Chris McCrosson, in partnership with the Christian charity More Than Gold. It will facilitate worship and preaching and Christian activity throughout the entire twelve days of the event with the hope of seeing lives and communities transformed through the release of God's blessing. Taking inspiration from the motto ‘Let Glasgow flourish through the preaching of his word and the praising of his name,’ the teams are preparing for a ‘24/12 Encounter’ in which a variety of speakers and worship artists will help form a non-stop 288-hour period of praise, prayer and preaching from the very start of the Games on 23 July through to the closing ceremony twelve days later. More information about how to support Flourish Scotland at the Games can be found at www.flourishscotland.com.
Assisted Suicide Bill – the debate
On Friday 18th July the House of Lords will vote on Lord Falconer's Bill to legalise assisted suicide in England and Wales. The outcome of this vote will carry weight in the Scottish Parlament as the Assisted Suicide Bill is processed there. Previous bills of this nature have been defeated because they were considered dangerous. While the bill is being debated in the Lords people opposed to the bill will gather from 9:30 onwards outside the building armed with placards, banners and wearing black and/or red. The organisers of this protest want people to consider that while we fight for human rights for the disabled, for assistance in life for the disabled, support and independent living for the less able, a bill is being debated for assisted suicide for the same people. At a time when the NHS and social care are being decimated and the ILF is facing closure, is the only assistance we’ll get a suicide bill? (see also World section - item 6 and Europe section - item 1)
Salvation Army uses sport to help the vulnerable
The Salvation Army is 149 not out - and is using sport to help vulnerable people suffering from addiction problems and homelessness. The Salvation Army, which last week celebrated 149 years since it was founded by General William Booth, believes sport is a powerful tool in helping people recover from addiction problems and homelessness. The organisation has a number of programmes to get people involved in sport, including Partnership Trophy, a football tournament for homeless men and women, summer camps, weekly football matches, hill walking, badminton, tennis and many more. Captain Nick Coke, a Salvation Army minister, is working with people of all ages and backgrounds in east London, teaching them key life skills though sport. He explained: ‘Sport gives confidence, tackles stress, helps in treatment of people with addiction problems, and brings people into their community as well as keeping them healthy. We support them to get back on their feet and help them stay there; sport is a perfect tool for doing this.’
General Synod vote in favour of women bishops likely to succeed this time
This week, beginning on Friday 11 July, the Church of England’s General Synod will be meeting in York. This is always an occasion for the media to highlight debates or decisions which are seen to be controversial or eye-catching. The main item on the agenda is the legislation to consecrate women bishops, which was narrowly defeated at the last Synod meeting in November 2012. This time it is expected to be passed, mainly because of a great deal of behind-the-scenes consultation with those who were opposed on principle, to improve the wording. Tom Sutcliffe (Diocese of Southwark) said, ‘The Measure which is before us this month makes much better provision for most of those who don't believe women can or should be bishops and priests. . . If this Measure were to fail, I think it would be a total disaster.’
UK Airport Security - electric gadget restrictions extended to more destinations
Mobile phones or tablets with flat batteries will not be allowed on flights as part of new security restrictions. All air passengers flying into or out of UK airports must ensure their electronic devices are charged, following updated guidance from the Department for Transport (DfT). Advice issued at the weekend concerned passengers flying to the United States, but on Tuesday that instruction was widened to affect anyone flying into or out of the UK. No specific routes have been highlighted, and the DfT spokesman said they hope to ‘minimise disruption as far as possible’. The heightened security comes amid reports that two terror networks are working together on a bomb that could evade existing measures. Last week Prime Minister David Cameron said decisions had been made based on ‘the evidence in front of us’ and in co-operation with America. ‘The safety of the travelling public must come first. We mustn't take any risks with that,’ he told the BBC.