In this issue

Under the Silent Stars - Greenbelt 2016
Prison officer numbers fall again as major recruitment drive fails
Deep looking and deep listening in the service of change
'Self-help welfare' - an appeal to self-interest?
Five million adults lack basic literacy and numeracy skills
Release of DRC democracy activists 'rare, positive step'
Canada trade deal threat to UK food safety say campaigners
Day of worldwide 'Care of Creation' unites Christians
UN chief expresses concern over tensions in Western Sahara
Mistakes of EU referendum campaign should ‘never be repeated’

Thursday 1 September 2016

31 Aug 2016

Under the Silent Stars - Greenbelt 2016

Greenbelt 2016 got off to a great start this year, when my son, Jonathan, and I arrived at the bookshop to be greeted by the sight of Ekklesia books in the recommended section.

31 Aug 2016

Prison officer numbers fall again as major recruitment drive fails

The number of frontline officers working in public-sector prisons has fallen over the last year, despite Ministry of Justice plans to recruit additional staff to help respond to the highest levels of violence, suicide and self-injury since recording practices began.

30 Aug 2016

Deep looking and deep listening in the service of change

A series of 82 portraits by David Hockney portrays his sitters – famous and unknown, adults and children – in an identical format: every subject using th

30 Aug 2016

'Self-help welfare' - an appeal to self-interest?

Prior to the 2010 General Election, I heard a man on a radio phone-in asking, "Why should I pay tax and National Insurance so that other people can claim benefits?"

30 Aug 2016

Five million adults lack basic literacy and numeracy skills

Five million adults are lacking basic reading, writing and numeracy skills essential to everyday life and being able to find and secure work, according to analysis for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

1 Sep 2016

Release of DRC democracy activists 'rare, positive step'

The release of four Congolese pro-democracy activists, including Amnesty International Prisoners of Conscience Fred Bauma and Yves Makwambala, is cause for celebration but they remain at risk of re-arrest unless the charges are dropped, Amnesty International has warned.

31 Aug 2016

Canada trade deal threat to UK food safety say campaigners

EU-Canada trade deal CETA is a major threat to UK food safety, a new report published by War on Want and allies in Europe and Canada has warned.

30 Aug 2016

Day of worldwide 'Care of Creation' unites Christians

On 1 September, churches worldwide will come together to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and to observe the Season of Creation between that day and 4 October, a day for celebrating the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Many Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and Anglican organisations will join to encourage Christians worldwide to pray and act on ecological issues.

29 Aug 2016

UN chief expresses concern over tensions in Western Sahara

The UN Secretary-General is deeply concerned over the tense situation that has developed in the narrow buffer strip in south-western Western Sahara border as a result of changes in the status quo and the introduction of armed units from Morocco and the Polisario Front in close proximity to each other.

1 Sep 2016