INSIGHT: Elections in Taiwan and elsewhere
08 Jan 2016
Taiwan’s general elections will be held on 16 January to elect the 14th president and vice president and all 113 seats of the 9th Legislative Yuan. These elections are said to be the most important in the democracy in nearly 20 years because: 1. Taiwan is poised to elect its first female president, as both of the two major parties have nominated female presidential candidates. 2. Taiwan’s long-time ruling party, the KMT, is expected to lose the presidency and possibly the legislature. Taiwan operates a semi-presidential system, with a directly elected president but also a premier similar to parliamentary systems. 3. Taiwanese identity is growing despite (or because of) increased ties with China. Taiwan’s polls have frequently asked whether people identify as Chinese; over the years Chinese identification has fallen from 25.5 percent to 3.3 percent. This shift benefits the opposition party, the DPP, who have traditionally promoted a distinct Taiwanese identity. For information regarding other nation-changing elections in the coming year go to: http://www.prayer-alert.net/index.php?option=com_docman&view=download&alias=616-insight-elections-jan-june-2016&category_slug=insight-articles-1&Itemid=216
MPs to debate ban on Donald Trump entering UK
08 Jan 2016
MPs will hold a debate on a petition calling for US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to be barred from Britain after his proposal to stop all Muslims entering the United States. The debate, called by the Petitions Committee of the lower house of parliament, will be held on 18 January. The government responds to all petitions with more than 10,000 signatures. Topics are considered for debate if they reach 100,000.Trump owns two golf courses in Scotland, and has threatened to withdraw investments from the UK worth £700 million if barred from entry. In the past, people have been banned from Britain for fostering hatred that might provoke inter-community violence. The petition said, ‘If the United Kingdom is to continue applying the “unacceptable behaviour” criterion to those who wish to enter its borders, it must be fairly applied to the rich as well as poor, and the weak as well as the powerful.’
Jihadi bride was once a Christian
08 Jan 2016
The British jihadi bride whose four-year-old son recently appeared in an IS execution video was once a devout Christian who loved going to church, her father has said. 25-year-old Grace, who now goes by the name Khadijah, was religious. She would read her Bible and pray all the time. Her father said, ‘We called her Grace after Amazing Grace, the hymn. She went to church every week without fail, often three times.’ Khadijah converted to Islam in 2010 and is believed to have been radicalised online. She fled to Syria in 2012 with her son, Isa, who appeared in a ten-minute IS propaganda video released last week entitled 'A message to David Cameron'. It showed five hostages being killed.
Northern Ireland: a taste of today’s news
08 Jan 2016
’Embrace’ supports refugees and people seeking asylum and encourages other church communities to make Northern Ireland a welcoming place for refugees and those with minority ethnic backgrounds. Pray for all churches and organisations in Northern Ireland who are reflecting gospel values of compassion, hospitality and justice. -An estimated £50,000-worth of cannabis plants, cultivation equipment and other drugs paraphernalia was uncovered at a property in County Down this week. Pray for the police as they attempt to take drugs off local streets. Pray for Fitzroy Presbyterian Church as they provide treatment for people dependent on alcohol or drugs through their residential treatment units. -A meeting was held on Thursday to discuss flooding issues in Northern Ireland. Environment minister Mark H Durkan and agriculture and rural development minister Michelle O'Neill attended the meeting. Pray for this and all similar meetings taking place as we come to terms with poor flood defences and land management.
Christian MP Jonathan Reynolds resigned as Shadow Minister for Transport, in what is dubbed the ‘revenge reshuffle’. Mr Reynolds said he had no option and ‘if someone is on the front bench they have to go along with a collective position. If you're not happy with that, or you want the freedom to say more, or you disagree with some decisions taken, then the thing to do is to leave in a dignified fashion, which I've tried to do.’ He told Premier's News Hour that his faith drove his decision saying, ‘I personally feel it's not the time for me to be part of the Labour front bench. A lot of people with a Christian faith will recognise those traits in themselves, whatever jobs they do.’ Christian MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, Stephen Doughty, resigned live on air on the BBC's Daily Politics programme. See: https://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Christian-MP-s-faith-drove-him-to-resign-from-Corbyn-s-front-bench
1,000 British troops deployed to Libya
08 Jan 2016
6,000 European and US soldiers, including 1,000 British Special Forces, have been deployed in Libya to wrest back control of over a dozen oil fields seized by Islamic State militants. UK Special Forces spearheading the coalition will include close observation experts from the Special Reconnaissance Regiment. IS has seized several revenue-boosting oil fields in Libya and wants to win more control over the country. The land could provide them with millions of dollars to fund terror attacks. The terrorists are now targeting Marsa al Brega oil refinery, the biggest in North Africa;if they capture it, they will gain full control of the country’s oil. Britain’s SAS is working with Libyan commanders to advise on key ‘battle-space management’ tactics using troops, tanks, warplanes and ships. They will also supply intelligence to Ministry of Defence chiefs that could determine whether airstrikes are needed. They will join an advance force on the ground.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has invited all Primates to a meeting next week to reflect and pray about the future Anglican Church. The agenda is likely to include: -religiously-motivated violence -the protection of children and vulnerable adults -the environment -human sexuality. The meeting will be an opportunity to review structures of the Anglican Communion and decide on an approach to the next Lambeth Conference. There are factions within the Anglican community worldwide. Some believe there is a need to replace it with a much looser grouping, allowing North America, which recognises and encourages gay marriage, and the African churches (led by Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria), which are against all homosexual activity, to separate. Justin Welby suggested there is a need to consider recent developments, look afresh at ways of working in unity while paying attention to past developments. Pray for the church to move forward proclaiming the gospel, making disciples and living in holiness in spite of pressures that vary greatly between Provinces.
Desmond and Eva flooded 16,000 homes in England
08 Jan 2016
Floods have caused havoc across much of the UK. Many are now asking, ‘Have decisions made by the public and politicians made things worse?’ It is suggested that the following has contributed:
-Four million residential properties currently sit on flood plains or places with a one in 1,000 risk of flooding each year. -The argument over dredging has grown since the 2013/14 Somerset floods. -River straightening causes faster flow and more dangerous floods downstream. -Trees act as a natural flood defence, but there aren’t enough now growing on river banks. As a result of recent events the Environment Agency, farmers and politicians are discussing ways to remedy our failure to care for our land effectively and how we address the effects of climate change. We can pray for effective action to protect our land as a result of these discussions. See also article 2 in the World section of this week’s Prayer Alert.