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Health officials looking to control the Swansea measles epidemic have expressed concern at a fall in numbers attending the latest MMR clinics. Drop-in clinics have been held for more than a month but only 381 vaccinations were given last weekend. Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board is ‘particularly concerned’ because 9,000 young people have still not had the jab. The number of local measles cases stands at 1,094. Drop-in clinics have already given more than 7,500 vaccinations at the weekend sessions in Bridgend, Neath and Swansea over the past four weeks. But after the recent low turn-out, the health board's director of public health Dr Sara Hayes said: ‘We are particularly concerned because our records show there are 9,000 four to 18 year olds in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg area who have not had their MMR.’
Pray: for success of the drop-in centres and especially for the take-up of those who have yet to be vaccinated. (Pr.3:8)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22513562
Victims will urge children at risk to tell the authorities of their fears. Their stories are ones not normally made public in intimate detail. In the first scheme of its kind survivors of forced marriages will travel the country in May to describe the ordeals they went through in an attempt to try to persuade communities to abandon the practice. Men and women who were forced to marry against their wishes will visit 12 cities to tell teachers and police officers to be extra vigilant about children going missing during the summer holidays. Each summer hundreds of girls and boys, largely from South Asian communities, travel with their families to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where they are forced into marriages. Those working to stop the practice say the period just before the summer holiday is always their busiest time of the year.
Pray: for those taking part in this tour, that their voices will be heard. (1Co.16:13)
A recent survey has revealed that growing numbers of medical students are opposed to carrying out abortions. The study, published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, found that almost a third of students would not perform an abortion for a ‘congenitally malformed’ baby after 24 weeks and a quarter would not perform an abortion for failed contraception before 24 weeks. Abortion is currently allowed after 24 weeks if there is a ‘substantial risk’ of the baby having a ‘serious handicap’, but this requirement has been interpreted to include even treatable conditions such as a cleft palate or a club foot. There have been almost 18,000 such abortions since 2002. Of these 1,189 were aborted after 24 weeks. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has voiced concern about the ‘slow but growing problem of trainees opting out of training in the termination of pregnancy and is therefore concerned about the abortion service of the future’.
Pray: for our young doctors as they make choices that effect the lives of God’s creation. (Gen.9:5)
To a significant extent, Britain is reliant on churches to reach out to communities and address the social needs of people amidst the financial crisis, a new study has found. The study, conducted by the Church Urban Fund, shows that 6,500 Church of England parishes offer special services to help schoolchildren, parents, new immigrants and the elderly. A total of eight out of 10 said that parishioners use their spare time to informally help those struggling with issues such as isolation, family breakdown, drug abuse, domestic violence or debt. The survey shows that donations given by churchgoers to social action projects have increased by 19 per cent to £342 million in just two years. Andrea Williams of Christian Concern commented: “The Government must ensure that its legislation – whether Charity law or equalities legislation – does not inhibit churches and Christian organisations from carrying out their service whilst maintaining an overtly Christian ethos.
Pray: for legislation to be revised so that Christians can serve their communities as Christians – not in a way that forces them to ‘leave their faith at the door'. (1Pe.3:15)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/survey-reveals-britains-dependence-on-churches
The total deaths of people in police custody or following contact with the police in England and Wales since 1990 is 955 and all deaths including pursuit and shooting is 1,447 according to research carried out by INQUEST(United Campaigns for Justice and Accountability) The Human Rights Act guarantees everyone the right to life. In practice this is interpreted as requiring the state to investigate deaths linked to the authorities and hold accountable those responsible for unlawful killings. In spite of this guarantee it has proved almost impossible to hold anyone accountable. No police officer has been convicted of manslaughter for a crime committed while on duty since 1986, though since then hundreds have died in police custody or after contact with the police. Time and again, the Crown Prosecution Service has been unwilling to prosecute police officers, and in only one case, in 1969, has a police officer been convicted. See: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/19/simon-harwood-police-officer-not-guilty
Pray: that authorities would honour their ‘duty to protect’ people in their custody, pray also for a ‘much discussed’ national enquiry into these statistics to be a reality in 2013. May all that is hidden be revealed. (Ps.103:6)
More: http://inquest.gn.apc.org/website/statistics/deaths-in-police-custody
Nearly two thirds (63 per cent) of the British public believe if a child is taught Religious Education (RE) at school, then they are more likely to be tolerant towards other faiths and cultures as an adult. The ComRes poll of 2,000 adults also found that 72 per cent agree that RE is an important means through which children learn about other people's faiths and ways of life, and 73 per cent believe it is important for young people to learn about a range of religious beliefs other than their own while at school. Chief executive, Baptist minister the Revd Peter Kerridge, said 'This poll clearly reveals that British public are overwhelming in favour of religious education in schools, and understand the benefits the subject can for young people growing up in today's modern, multicultural Britain. 'What is so surprising is the unity across all faiths on this issue. Pray: for the Government to recognise the place of R.E. in the school curriculum. (Ex.18:20)
The housing and homelessness charity Shelter says it has seen a surge in demand for its advice services as the high cost of housing, rising living costs and cuts to housing support leave rising numbers of people struggling to pay for their homes. Shelter reported a 40 per cent increase in the number of callers in England helped with housing costs, arrears and other debt issues during the last year, while in the last six months alone, visitors to the charity's online housing costs advice have doubled. Shelter’s research reveals that people who are current ly struggling to pay their rent or mortgage have few options for increasing their income: only 21 per cent said they or their partner are able to get extra hours at work, and just 26 per cent said they could get a second job. Last month Shelter reported that almost a third of people have already cut back on food in order to pay housing costs.
Pray: for those who are finding life difficult in the current situation. Pray for Shelter and other charities in this field who offer support. (Ps.18:18)
A petition calling upon the Government to maintain the existing definition of marriage has notched up over 18,000 signatures in just one day after it was launched. www.c4m.org.uk The petition was launched by the Coalition for Marriage (C4M) in opposition to the Government's attempts to redefine marriage to include same sex unions. The coalition has the support of MPs and church leaders, including the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey. Lord Carey claimed the proposal to change the status of marriage ‘constitutes one of the greatest political power grabs in history’. The Government is due to begin its consultation on the introduction of same-sex marriage next month and has indicated its support for the change. A poll conducted by ComRes for C4M has found that the majority of people in Britain (51%) want the existing definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman to remain. Only a third (34%) said they supported the proposed change.
Pray: that this petition and the support given by MPs and church leaders will reverse the current trend against the existing definition of marriage. (Heb.13:4)
Supermarkets have been accused of hoodwinking shoppers with a series of false and misleading pricing claims that could leave them open to prosecution, according to a damning report. An investigation into pricing and offers at Britain's four major supermarket chains found that all were guilty of making erroneous or untrue assertions, some of which breach consumer regulations. Bogus price drops, promotions which offer no savings and larger ‘value’ packs which are relatively more expensive than smaller alternatives were uncovered by the report. The study by the BBC's Panorama programme comes a year after the Office of Fair Trading told supermarkets they must stop attempting to mislead consumers, or risk ‘enforcement action’. Deborah Parry, an expert in consumer law, said some of the practices being undertaken were potentially illegal. The Office of Fair Trading said it would ‘welcome’ the chance to view the report.
Pray: that in this time of austerity, retailers should be honest and transparent in all pricing of goods. (Lev.19:11)
Churchgoers are being encouraged by Sir Cliff Richard to make the most of their summer holiday by recording their favourite Bible chapter on the beach or wherever they are spending their break. The King James Bible Trust has this week released new easy to follow summer recording guidelines for their ambitious YouTube project to get the whole Bible read aloud online, with the support of the Summer Holiday popstar. A range of figures from the Church, politics and the arts have already supported the project including the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams who recorded Job 38. The YouTube recordings are part of the 400th anniversary celebrations of the King James Bible.Sir Cliff who plans to record his chapter in the autumn said this week: ‘ The King James Bible was translated to be read out aloud and the YouTube Bible is a great modern way of fusing this wonderful old literary text with a worldwide digital phenomenon.
Pray: for this original approach to speaking and spreading the Word of God. (Dt.32:1)