Micah Challenge calls Christians to pray
World: The International Christian movement Micah Challenge is calling upon millions of Christians to pray and take action against extreme poverty as part of its 10.10.10 campaign. Today (Thursday) marks the 100-day countdown to 10.10.10, when as many as 100 million Christians worldwide will remind their political leaders of the promises they made to halve extreme global poverty by 2015. Micah Challenge and its many partner organisations, including The Salvation Army, World Vision and Tearfund, warn that unless urgent action is taken now, many of the Millennium Development Goals agreed in 2000 will not be met. On October 10, Christians will join in saying a specially written 10.10.10 prayer asking for God’s intervention on behalf of those still suffering in poverty and confessing their own failure in ignoring God’s call for justice. They will also make a promise to remember the poor and remind their political leaders of the need to keep their commitments to the poor. Pray: And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Mic.6:8) More:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/micah.challenge.calls.christians.to.pray.and.act.for.worlds.poor/26201.htm
Human Rights Watch and torture
Three countries - France, Germany and the UK - acquire foreign intelligence for security and police matters from countries that routinely use torture to obtain information, claims a report issued on 28 June by Human Rights Watch. Additionally the use of torture intelligence in the fight against terrorism damages the credibility of the European Union, as they contradict anti-torture guidelines. Intelligence services in the three countries claim it is impossible to know the sources and methods used to acquire shared information in states such as Algeria, Syria, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Pakistan. But officials in the UK and Germany have made public statements indicating that they believe it is sometimes acceptable to use foreign intelligence even if obtained under torture, the report notes. The 62-page long document cites the case of Djamel Beghal, whose statements made under ill-treatment in the United Arab Emirates were used against him in a French court, where he was on trial for plotting a terrorist attack. Pray: that even those plotting inhumane deeds are treated humanely. (Ps. 79:11)
Human Rights Watch and torture
Three countries - France, Germany and the UK - acquire foreign intelligence for security and police matters from countries that routinely use torture to obtain information, claims a report issued on 28 June by Human Rights Watch. Additionally the use of torture intelligence in the fight against terrorism damages the credibility of the European Union, as they contradict anti-torture guidelines. Intelligence services in the three countries claim it is impossible to know the sources and methods used to acquire shared information in states such as Algeria, Syria, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Pakistan. But officials in the UK and Germany have made public statements indicating that they believe it is sometimes acceptable to use foreign intelligence even if obtained under torture, the report notes. The 62-page long document cites the case of Djamel Beghal, whose statements made under ill-treatment in the United Arab Emirates were used against him in a French court, where he was on trial for plotting a terrorist attack. Pray: that even those plotting inhumane deeds are treated humanely. (Ps. 79:11)
Italy seeks an end to crucifix ban
Catholicism stopped being the state religion in Italy in 1984 The Italian government is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights to overturn a ban on classroom crucifixes. The case against crucifixes was brought by a woman who argued that her children had a right to a secular education under Italy's constitution. Last year the court agreed with the mother, saying parents should be able to bring up children as they saw fit. Her victory caused uproar in Italy, where 90% of the population describe themselves as Christian. Italy started its appeal against the court's ruling - which was widely interpreted as interference in the country's culture, history and religion - on Wednesday. If the government loses, it would mean that all religious artefacts in classrooms across the European Union could be outlawed. A government minister said the ruling was ‘shameful’ while Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini said the crucifix was a ‘symbol of our tradition’, and not a mark of Catholicism. Pray: that secularism is countered in this important case. (Ps.31:23)
