G20 deadlock
02 Mar 2023
Finance ministers of the world's largest economies failed to agree on a closing statement after China refused to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine or accept parts of G20’s statement deploring Russia's aggression ‘in the strongest terms’. Moscow said ‘anti-Russian’ countries had ‘destabilised’ the G20 after China’s plan was viewed as pro-Russian. President Zelenskiy will meet China’s president to discuss China’s cease-fire proposal, saying a meeting would be ‘important for world security.’ China's 12-point ‘political settlement’ plan does not require Russia to leave Ukraine and was met with scepticism from Ukraine’s allies. Emmanuel Macron called on Beijing to ‘help us pressure Russia’ to end the war as peace was only possible if ‘Russian aggression stopped, troops withdraw and territorial sovereignty of Ukraine and its people is respected’. Joe Biden said, ‘China as a peacemaker in Ukraine is not rational. Putin's applauding it, so how could it be any good? I've seen nothing in the plan that would benefit anyone other than Russia, if China's plan were followed.’ See also
Nagorno-Karabakh - prayer still needed
02 Mar 2023
In January we prayed for the 120,000 Christians stranded in Nagorno-Karabakh, a landlocked enclave between Armenia and Azerbaijan, asking God to halt the obstructions to one of Christianity's oldest communities. The situation continues and requires immediate action. Currently, inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh cannot travel freely out of the region; 954 are still stranded on either side of the corridor. Only the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers’ vehicles are allowed to travel along this corridor, which is clearly insufficient to fulfil the needs of the population. It is vitally important that goods can get through in time for the sowing season. Furthermore, the repeated disruption of gas and electricity supply to the territory has resulted in serious violations of the rights of the inhabitants: many have lost their jobs and children are deprived of education since schools had to close. Azerbaijani military positions are within Armenian sovereign territory, sometimes well beyond any disputed border.
Sudan: school for peace
02 Mar 2023
‘Peace is the wish of everyone in Kadugli,’ says Bishop Hassan James. The area suffered decades of civil war and has recurrent tribal violence, cattle theft, murder, intimidation and displacement. Against this volatile backdrop a symbol of hope for the present and future has risen and flourished - the Peace Episcopal Primary School, supported by the diocese. ‘We started the school as the society needed more options for affordable children’s education; especially orphans, poor families and Christian children,’ said Hassan. ‘It’s called The Peace School because living in a war zone, needing peace, we must teach children about peace.’ Over 480 pupils from ages 6 to 15 attend, with a separate kindergarten for 80 children. Bishop Hassan works hard to promote peaceful relationships between the Christian and Muslim communities. He regularly speaks on the need for peace via local radio and advocates for peace and reconciliation efforts with local authorities.
‘Help me, I am being tortured by my employer. I'm covered in blood every day, help me!’ Meriance Kabu wrote, then folded the note and threw it out of the locked iron gates of the apartment where she worked as a live-in maid. A passer-by found it and took it to a retired police officer. ‘If she had stayed there, she would have died,’ he later said. That same day Malaysian police knocked on the door of the apartment Meriance hadn't left in eight months. ‘I felt as if I was falling,’ she says, recalling when she saw the officers. ‘They said, “Don't be afraid, we are here”. At that moment I felt like I could breathe again. The officers called me closer and I told them the truth.’ Her story contained distressing details. Nine years later she still fights for justice. Recently Malaysia and Indonesia agreed to improve the conditions of Indonesian domestic workers. Indonesia is lobbying for the case against Meriance's employer to be resumed.
Global: lightning strikes causing fires
02 Mar 2023
Researchers, including those from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia, say that lightning-ignited wildfires produce large emissions of carbon, nitrogen oxides and other gases, playing a key role in the climate crisis. Previous studies already found that the global occurrence of lightning flashes may increase due to global heating over land and in the oceanic region of south-eastern Asia. A warming planet could lead to more ‘hot lightning’ strikes in many parts of the world. Hot lightning bolts are much more likely to spark wildfires and the climate crisis could lead to more wildfire-inducing ‘hot lightning’. Lightning strikes of all kinds could increase by 30% by 2100, researchers say,and a new model suggests major ice sheet collapse will happen before the Paris Climate Agreement temperatures are reached.
Asbury fire of revival spreading
23 Feb 2023
Last week we praised God for the revival fires burning at Asbury University, and now this outpouring of the Holy Spirit is spreading. CBN News reported that for days, people have been giving testimonies, reading scripture, worshipping God, and praying in the ongoing revival that began on 8 February. Four auditoriums on the campus are now filled with people. Graduates, pastors, seekers, and busloads of students from over 24 other universities began visiting Asbury, seeking God. The wave of revival fire shows no signs of stopping. Lee Christian University Campus caught the fire next. By 23 February reports were coming in from colleges and universities across the nation fully igniting into spontaneous worship, prayer, and repentance as the Holy Spirit continues to fill students' hearts and minds. Christian leaders are speaking about the timing and what it could mean for this point in history. Also this outpouring coincides with the national Collegiate Day of Prayer on 23 February.
South Dakota ‘help not harm’ act
23 Feb 2023
South Dakota signed into law a bill that prohibits healthcare professionals from using drugs, hormones or surgery to alter the appearance of the sex of a minor. Under the Help Not Harm Act, healthcare professionals who violate the law will lose their professional licence or certificate. If they have already begun a course of treatment on a minor, that treatment must stop. If immediate termination of the treatment would harm the minor, the treatment may be ‘systematically reduced,’ and must end by 31 December 2023. The Institute for Research and Evaluation of Scientific Evidence stated, ‘Cross-sex medical treatments are not beneficial to children. There is evidence of harmful impact, and gender dysphoria in children usually goes away on its own by young adulthood, if “transition” is not encouraged. This avoids the harmful effects of such interventions.’
Products of slavery in the UK
23 Feb 2023
We are approaching the celebrations of Easter, the resurrection of Christ. As we enter Lent we may choose to fast from chocolate, phones or coffee. Right now, people are being exploited to make these everyday products. Slavery is in the supply chains of everything - the clothes we wear, the coffee we drink, the technology we use and the chocolate we eat. Slavery has been linked to the supply chains of many everyday products and commodities. Nestle, Mars and Hershey all source cocoa from West Africa, where child labour and forced labour still persist. One in three workers in Malaysia’s electronics sector may work under conditions of forced labour. Coltan and other conflict minerals in electronics devices often come from forced labour in illegal mining whose profits support armed forces. Forced labour is big business, with profits around £125 billion. Please pray that UK businesses become increasingly aware of slavery in supply chains.