News

Thousands tackle increased globalisation threat at world forum

29 January 2009

Thousands have gathered in Brazil for a grass-roots level forum exploring ways to put an end to expolitative globalisation.

Organisers of the World Social Forum are running the event in a bid to counter the World Economic Forum of political leaders and global business captains currently taking place in Switzerland.

UK churches slam Gaza appeal ban

29 January 2009

Top church leaders in the UK have slammed the BBC for failing to air a TV charity aid appeal for Gaza, Ecumenical News International reported on 26 January.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu said the broadcasting giant was wrong not to show the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for relief for victims of the conflict.

Dr Williams, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion said: "This is not a row about impartiality but rather about humanity. This is not an appeal by Hamas asking for arms but by the Disasters Emergency Committee asking for relief. By declining their request, the BBC has already taken sides and forsaken impartiality."

Indian church backs child education bill

29 January 2009

The Church of North India has welcomed government plans to protect children's rights to an education with the introduction of a new bill.

The church has backed plans for the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill 2008 which was discussed by government chiefs in the Rajya Sabha earlier this week.

Madagascar: Riots claim at least 34 lives

28 January 2009

At least 31 bodies have been found after Monday's riots in Madagascar, bringing the known death toll to 34. President Marc Ravolamanana has accused his opponent Andry Rajoelina of causing the unrest but called for dialogue, AFP reported on 28 January. A curfew is in place to prevent a repeat of the violence, which affected provincial towns as well as the capital, Antananarivo.

French Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner called for "calm and dialogue" on Tuesday, according to an official communiqué, which said that he called President Ravalomanana to encourage all sides to seek a "peaceful and lasting way out fo the current crisis".

Ravalomanana told the AFP news agency that Rajoelina, who is mayor of Antananarivo, is the "initiator of the unrest", although he says that he is ready to talk to his rival. The President has called for mediation by foreign governments and churches.

Dream of a new Jamaica, urges pastor

22 January 2009

Jamaican pastor Rev Dr Roderick Hewitt has called on the people of Jamaica to join forces in a new drive to address social, economic and spiritual unrest in the country, the Jamaican Information Service reported on 18 January.

The Kingston-based Hope United Church pastor and CWM moderator Dr Hewitt lobbied peers at the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast which took place last week stating that recent hardships had left society with a "deeply infested wound that requires surgery."

Encouraging individuals to "dream of a new Jamaica", he urged people to bear in mind the importance of a shared sense of identity that underpins national unity.

Divided Korean Christians pray for unity

22 January 2009

Thousands of Christians in Korea have joined together for prayers of unity with each other and over the divided Korean peninsula, the Union of Catholic Asian News reported on 20 January.

Church leaders from the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) helped organise the prayer week which began with an ecumenical service of 3,000 participants in Seoul last week.

NCCK chairperson, Reverend Kim Sam-hwan said this year's event fell at a particularly hard time for Korean Christians with crisis in the economy, environmental issues and unemployment as well as tensions between the two Koreas: "We cannot give up our hope, because we believe it is God's providence that makes us depend only on our Lord in these gloomy situations," he said.

"We believe that when we obey the words of God, our Lord will help us to recover from all this suffering."