|
Magazine –
Features & Articles |
|
|
|
|
|
'The Power of Nightmares' BBC In the past, our politicians offered us dreams of a better world. Now they promise to protect us from nightmares, e.g. the threat of an international terror network. But just as the dreams weren't true, neither are these nightmares.
This TV series showed dramatically how the idea that we are threatened by a hidden and organised terrorist network is an illusion. At the heart of the story are two groups: the American Neoconservatives and the radical Islamists. Both were idealists born out of the failure of the liberal dream to build a better world. These two groups have changed the world but not in the way either intended. Together they created today's nightmare vision of an organised terror network: but it is a fantasy that politicians found restored their power and authority in a disillusioned age. Those promoting the darkest fears became the most powerful. [From
BBC on-line programme listings] |
What's behind the Darfur Situation? Reuters Alert Net Why are the attacks happening? The simplistic answer is that Sudanese troops are trying to put down a rebel movement, bombing towns and villages suspected of supporting insurgents. Human rights groups also accuse the government of committing ethnic cleansing and backing the raiding militia. Khartoum denies this, saying the militia are merely outlaws. But the conflict has local roots too. Local divisions are feeding the war. Ethnic differences have been exaggerated by local leaders and there is a battle over resources.
It is also partly a struggle between pastoralists and farmers over land. Land used to belong to tribes. Darfur was the place of the Fur people, a black African group. Some of the Arab peoples felt they were left out of the system that gave more "dars" (districts) to non-Arab communities. The war between the government and the rebels in the south is often depicted as a conflict between the Arab, Muslim north and the black animist or Christian south, but it has also been significantly fuelled by divisions over control of oilfields and political power. |
In Greed we Trust by John F Schumaker, in New Internationalist
People are being reshaped by consumer culture into restless, dissatisfied, all-desiring economic pawns. Greed is being redefined as a virtue and a legitimate guiding principle for economic prosperity and general happiness. In the process, it is steadily eating away at the cornerstones of civilised society and undermining the visions, values and collective aspirations that make us strong. Some argue that without greed our current economic and social structures would implode. Greed is said to produce preferable economic outcomes most of the time. Greed is held to be the only consistent human motivation. No one has been able to create a society where communal altruism dominates individual greed. Others feel that greed could be our ultimate undoing as a species. Evolution programmed us to be greedy since greed locks us into discontent, which in turn keeps us motivated for change. In the past, this favoured survival: happy people tend not to do much.
|
|
Were the Magi Occultists?
Some have described the wise men as astrologers, yet surely astrology is occult in origin? The significance of the wise men — the 'Magi' as they have been termed — is that they were Gentiles. They were probably from Mesopotamia. They would not have benefited directly from Judaism or its Scriptures. It is, however, very likely that they would have taken note of a prophecy that had been uttered centuries earlier by a Gentile prophet, Balaam by name. He was from their own area, Pethor, by the river Euphrates (Numbers 22:4,5). His words would have been remembered down the ages. |
What they need most Can you help? Food: Curiously, tomato soup, baked beans and tinned grapefruit just don't get eaten. But they always need tins of ham, custard, rice and sweet fruit, plus chocolate biscuits. Clothing: They are desperate for trainers and shoes – anything that hasn't totally worn down. Toiletries: Things like soap, shaving cream, disposable razors, tooth brushes and tooth paste. (Not second hand! We look for what's on offer when we're out shopping) [From an article published in The Link, the magazine of Wellspring Church, Congleton] |
Mission in Action
Since becoming involved with Mission in Action, I have become acutely aware that many people do not know about Jesus who are bereaved at an age when they are only just embarking on their adult lives. So, at Christmas time, instead of buying that extra present for the special people you know, please consider giving the cost of the gift to Mission in Action for God’s special people whom we don’t know. At Christmas I also find I must have those boxes of chocolates and biscuits. We can well do without the extra calories, so next Christmas how about doing without one of some luxuries and giving the cash to Mission in Action instead. Margaret
Bradley, Wellspring |
|
|
Weight Lifting |
|
Some 'down to Earth' Prayers Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children. Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can’t give change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next year. Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking tramp, begging for money in the same spot every day (‘who really ought to get a job’) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares. Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slowly through the aisles of the supermarket and blocking our progress with shopping, are savouring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together. Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love. [published
in Wellspring Link Magazine] |
|
Here’s an exercise for people who want to build muscle strength in their arms and shoulders. Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5-lb potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides, and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, then relax. Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer and do at least ten repetitions. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato sacks, then 50-lb potato sacks, and eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight out for more than a full minute. After you have worked your way up and feel comfortable at this level, put a potato in each of the sacks, but be careful! [Wellspring Link Magazine] |
|||
|
A study published by NCH in June 2004 analysed children's diets and highlighted the struggle to eat a health diet on a low income in the UK. |
|
*
questionnaires to 55 families living on low incomes |
|
Findings : * parents struggle to find enough money for food * children's diets are nutritionally poor: 28% never eat green vegetables or salad; one in ten never eat fruit; 43% eat crisps most days * families in the survey spent just £2.20, per person, per day, on food * it costs significantly more to eat healthily |
Recommendations: * Social security benefits, including income support, should contain an explicit element concerning food * Food manufacturers should reduce salt, sugar and fat in foods aimed at children; retailers should remove snacks and sweets from supermarket checkouts * Government guidance must explain that 'being healthy' includes 'eating healthily' and detail what this must mean in practice |
Conclusions: The issue emerging from this study as the overwhelming reason for poor diets is low income. NCH believes it is clear that government policies need to be much more ambitious, coherent and far-reaching if children living on low incomes are to eat well. [see NCH reports] |
|
|
|
This is Magazine Page 7 |
|
|
