Demand for forced labour increasing in EU
20 Apr 2013The economic crisis is leading to a rise in the number of people being trafficked for sex, hard labour or organ donation, the EU commission said Monday (15 April,) but the vast majority of member states have failed to implement an anti-trafficking law. While the Czech Republic, Latvia, Finland, Hungary, Poland and Sweden have transposed the law, the remaining 21 member states, including Bulgaria and Romania from where most of the victims come, have not. Reported statistics, published by statistical agency eurostat, show that around 23,600 people were trafficked between 2008 and 2010. The figure rose each studied year with 6,309 in 2008; 7795 in 2009 and 9,528 in 2010. EU home affairs commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom put the rise in numbers partly down to Europe's economic crisis which has seen public spending slashed and GDP slump in several EU countries.
Pray: that anti-trafficking laws will be implemented across the EU. (Ps.105:45)
Dagestan: Pastor in Russian Republic Killed
02 Aug 2010
A pastor in the Russian republic of Dagestan known for founding the biggest Protestant church in the region and for successfully reaching out to Muslims has been killed by unidentified gunmen, local authorities have confirmed. Artur Suleimanov, 49, pastor of Hosanna Christian Church in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, was shot on the evening of July 15 while leaving his church building. The identity of the shooters remains unclear, but in the weeks leading up to the killing, Dagestan media broadcast calls for people to take measures against Suleimanov because he was too ‘active’ and converted ethnic Muslims. Suleimanov founded Hosanna Christian Church in Makhachkala in 1994. It started out as a small prayer group, but now with 1,000 members it is the largest Protestant church in the Northern Caucus region. According to a letter Suleimanov wrote to Compass several years ago, 80 percent of the congregation is made up of former Muslims. Pray: for the continued growth of the Church in Dagestan and protection of the believers. (Ps.5:11) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/Dagestan1/23303/
Czech Republic: Europe rise up!
08 Dec 2011‘Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.’ This was the Scripture used to call a gathering of European Christians in Prague from December 1st-3rd. For many years Europe has been on the periphery of the Holy Spirit’s blowing. Delegates at the conference took a stand believing if the European nations come together and start building a unity in Europe God will command a blessing. Christians in Europe are taking a stand against a divided Europe. The delegates intend to start to learn what is happening in particular countries and begin praying for one another. The delegates also acknowledged, ‘It is possible that this unity cannot come about without repentance of the things we have been guilty of in the past because we trespassed against other countries. We should also repent of all prejudices we have against other countries and their people.’
Pray: for God to bless this initiative towards unity. Pray also that the desire to pray together will grow and birth more ‘Prayer Watches’ and ‘Houses of Prayer and worship’. (Is 40:3)
Czech Republic: Controversial homeless plan
27 Aug 2010
Organizations working with the homeless, the country's largest opposition party, the political party likely to lead Prague after autumn elections and homeless people themselves are all speaking out against the plans by City Hall to build an ‘integrated assistance centre’ for the homeless on the outskirts of the city. Plans approved by the City Council last week will see a new centre being built within six months in Malešice, an industrial area on the eastern edge of the capital. Facilities planned for the centre are described as ‘an oasis’ for the homeless. Homeless people would be registered but would not be required to live in the new space but would be encouraged to go there. Ilja Hradecký, chairman of a Christian charity that works with the homeless, described the idea as ‘absolutely misconceived’ and would either see people leaving the camp each day after being taken there against their will or being ‘interned’, something that he termed a violation of human rights. Pray: for wisdom to result from the debate over Prague’s homeless. (2Cor.8:9) More: http://www.praguepost.com/news/5501-outcry-as-city-approves-controversial-homeless-plan.html
A tense calm has returned to the Czech Republic where officials say some 100 far-right activists have been detained in violent demonstrations against gypsies, also known as Roma. Officials said arrests were made in at least eight cities, which resembled a warzone on Saturday. Riot police used teargas to prevent hundreds of far-right activists from entering a district mainly inhabited by Roma. There were violent clashes between stone-throwing protesters and police in what rights activists viewed as a show of hatred towards the already discriminated and largely impoverished Roma minority. Advocacy group Amnesty International had urged the Czech government to ‘ensure that these protests do not lead to violence against Roma communities, and that those at risk get the protection they need’. Rights activists held counter demonstrations in several cities, including in the capital Prague. Government officials said the anti-Roma protests were fuelled by what they called ‘a list of lies’ distributed through the Internet. (See Prayer Alert 32-2013)
Pray: that the activists that instigated these protests and hate moves against the Roma will be stopped.
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/30084-news-watch-czech-republic-detains-100-in-massive-anti-roma-protests
Cross is point of contention in Poland
25 Aug 2010
Supporters of the late president Lech Kaczynski of Poland are refusing to take down a cross they placed outside the presidential palace in Warsaw, a move that is igniting political tensions between secularists and nationalists. The 13 feet high cross was put up soon after the crash on April 10 of the presidential plane killing the president, his wife and 94 others. Calling themselves Defenders of the Cross, many who have gathered around the cross belong to the nationalist Law and Justice party. The party is led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the twin brother of the late president. With important local government elections due in the autumn, analysts say, Law and Justice is trying to recover its popularity. The church has refused to be dragged into the controversy. On Thursday, it took the unusual step of calling on all sides to find a compromise in a dispute it claimed was being exploited for political reasons. Pray: that the Cross might unify rather than divide. (Mt.5:9) More: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/world/europe/14poland.html?_r=1&ref=europe
Costa Concordia disaster
19 Jan 2012The Costa Concordia, believed to be the largest cruise ship flying the Italian flag, struck rocks in shallow water off Italy's western coast on Friday. The cruise liner captain accused of abandoning ship reportedly claimed he was unable to lead the evacuation because he slipped and tripped into a lifeboat while helping passengers leave the stricken vessel. The captain did however admit responsibility for crashing the ship into rocks forcing him to ground the vessel. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/18/costa-concordia-captain-tripped-lifeboat The name Concordia is Italian for harmony. Ironically, a Swiss national told national daily La Tribune de Genève he was listening to the theme tune from the film Titanic in the restaurant with his brother Kevin at the time of the accident. However, he said staff incompetence in evacuating the stricken vessel bore no comparison to the Titanic disaster. ‘Besides kitchen staff, who helped, there were no crew members,’ Mr. Sgaga is quoted as saying.
Pray: for God’s to rule and reign over this disaster, giving encouragement to survivors, comfort to family and friends of the deceased and those still not accounted for and that this will not become an ecological disaster. (Ps.47:8)
Concern at Europe's 'energy dilemma'
23 May 2013European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has voiced concern about Europe's ‘energy dilemma’. Opening the European business summit in Brussels on Wednesday, he said, ‘It's now becoming clear; eventually Europe may well be the only continent in the world to depend on imported energy. Already by 2035 our dependence on oil and gas imports will reach more than 80 per cent. This will have an impact on the competitiveness of our companies, and of our economy as a whole. He said he wanted the ‘energy dilemma’ to feature on the agenda at next week's Brussels summit of EU leaders and heads of state. In a keynote speech, Van Rompuy said that reviving job creation and growth was Europe's ‘foremost’ political priority. Other aims are fighting unemployment and supporting growth in the near term and strengthening the economic and monetary union.
Pray: for the Brussels summit as it gathers next week that wise decisions will be made by the delegates. (Pr.1:5)