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News Briefing and Comment

Ekklesia runs a syndicated news and events listings service for churches, journalists, organisations and charities. Hundreds of churches and organisations now carry Ekklesia's news on their web sites. You can get Ekklesia's news on your web site in seconds, or by signing up for our daily email bulletin.

  • 29 Apr 2013
    The Drones Quilt: stitching for Noor

    Last Saturday (27 April) demonstrators gathered for a protest march at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire from where drone attacks on Afghanistan are now controlled. On 7 May, the Drones Quilt – a project initiated by the Fellowship of Reconciliation - will be handed in at Downing Street. Between these two events, I heard a moving ministry from a Friend who had participated in making a square for the quilt.

  • 29 Apr 2013
    Failure to legislate for equal marriage may result in legal challenge

    Amnesty International has warned of a likely legal challenge if Northern Ireland is left as the only part of the UK without marriage rights for same-sex couples.

  • 29 Apr 2013
    Pankhurst v Thatcher: A tale of two legacies

    With the backing of Conservative Way Forward, and the Cherish Freedom Trust (CFT) fundraising has begun for a proposed Thatcher Library. With supporters like Rupert Murdoch on board it will no doubt be quite easy to raise £15 million and acquire a prestigious Central London property.

  • 29 Apr 2013
    Refugee Council gives evidence to Parliamentary enquiry into asylum

    The Refugee Council has submitted evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee, which is undertaking an inquiry into the asylum system for the first time in ten years.

  • 29 Apr 2013
    IDS and pensioners: undermining social security

    The Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has urged better-off pensioners not to claim payments such as the winter fuel allowance, free bus pass and TV licence.

  • 28 Apr 2013
    Arctic campaign comes to Friends House

    The Arctic came to Friends House in London on 20 April as part of a global day of action as Greenpeace used 3D projection to transform the building into the pristine Arctic.

  • 28 Apr 2013
    Latest hangings in Japan condemned

    The execution of two death row inmates in Japan is part of a chilling escalation of death penalty use under the country'snewgovernment, Amnesty has said.

  • 26 Apr 2013
    Cameron must raise human rights abuses during UAE state visit, say NGOs

    Human rights groups have called on the Prime Minister to raise human rights abuses with the President of the United Arab Emirates during his State Visit to Britain.

  • 26 Apr 2013
    Sudanese churches an important voice in rebuilding nation

    The World Council of Churches General Secretary has stressed the important role of Sudanese churches in rebuilding their nation after years of conflict.

  • 25 Apr 2013
    Gove and Truss: an impoverished view of education

    The Department for Education and Skills appears to be channelling for some of Charles Dicken's more grotesque characters. Gradgrind Gove has long been preaching his gospel of 'facts' and rote learning. Now he has decided that children and teachers are not working hard enough and has called for longer school days and shorter holidays. His sidekick M'Choakumchild Truss, not to be outdone in ensuring that our youngest citizens should not be permitted to slack, has this week criticised nurseries which allow toddlers to “run around with no sense of purpose.”

  • 25 Apr 2013
    Lords back NHS regulations despite privatisation fears

    The House of Lords has backed regulations promoting privatisation of NHS services in England. An Opposition attempt to overturn the NHS (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) (No. 2 Regulations 2013) was defeated by a ruling Coalition majority of over a hundred votes. Holders of NHS budgets are likely to be forced to put more services out to tender, giving lucrative opportunities to private firms even if this harms patient care.

  • 25 Apr 2013
    Worldwide protests demand protection for Peru’s uncontacted tribes

    Survival International has held protests outside Peruvian embassies and consulates, calling for an end to expansion of the Camisea gas project in Peru’s Amazon rainforest.

  • 25 Apr 2013
    Scottish government warned over probationary tenancies

    Shelter Scotland has led a coalition of Scottish charities in criticising proposals by the Scottish Government to put all new social housing tenants on ‘probation’.

  • 24 Apr 2013
    Anglicans call for action to promote peace in Korea, East Asia and Pacific

    The threat of military escalation in Korea and Japan was one of many topics discussed by the Second Worldwide Anglican Peace Conference, held in Okinawa 16-22 April.

  • 24 Apr 2013
    Poll reveals 1 in 4 disabled rail passengers suffer hate crime or abuse

    One in four disabled rail passengers has suffered a hate crime or abuse, according to new research published today (24 April)) by the TUC's Action for Rail campaign