Girl Guides consider dropping 'God' from Promise
Girlguiding UK are consulting the public on whether the Girlguiding Promise should be changed to ‘make it more meaningful to girls and women.’ The consultation follows a similar move from the Scout Association, (See Prayer Alert 49-2012) which is also consulting the public on possible changes to the Scout Promise. Girls make the Promise when they join the Guides, which includes the vows to ‘love my God’ and ‘serve the Queen and my country.’ It will be the first major reform under the Guides’ recently appointed chief executive Julie Bentley. Some alternatives put forward to replace the reference to God in the Promise are ‘to search for the spiritual value in my life’ and ‘serve the highest truth and love faithfully at all times.’ The potential changes follow two cases of families who wanted their children to become Guides but objected to the oath.
Pray: that pressure from a small atheist minority will not cause the movement to revise its founding principles. (1Cor.3:10)
More: http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/social/girl-guides-consider-dropping-god-from-promise
Eurozone unemployment reaches new high
The unemployment rate across the eurozone hit a new all-time high of 11.8% in November, official figures have shown. This is a slight rise on 11.7% for the 17-nation region in October. The rate for the European Union as a whole in November was unchanged at 10.7%. Spain, which is mired in deep recession, again recorded the highest unemployment rate, coming in at 26.6%. More than 26 million people are now unemployed across the EU. For the Eurozone, the number of people without work reached 18.8 million said Eurostat, the official European statistics agency. Greece had the second-highest unemployment rate in November, at 20%. The youth unemployment rate was 24.4% in the Eurozone, and 23.7% in the wider European Union. Youth unemployment - among people under 25 - was highest in Greece (57.6%), followed by Spain (56.5%). Overall unemployment was lowest in Austria (4.5%), Luxembourg (5.1%) and Germany (5.4%).
Pray: for the ability of the authorities to increase the workplace levels across the Eurozone. (Ps.90:17)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20943292
Eurozone unemployment reaches new high
The unemployment rate across the eurozone hit a new all-time high of 11.8% in November, official figures have shown. This is a slight rise on 11.7% for the 17-nation region in October. The rate for the European Union as a whole in November was unchanged at 10.7%. Spain, which is mired in deep recession, again recorded the highest unemployment rate, coming in at 26.6%. More than 26 million people are now unemployed across the EU. For the Eurozone, the number of people without work reached 18.8 million said Eurostat, the official European statistics agency. Greece had the second-highest unemployment rate in November, at 20%. The youth unemployment rate was 24.4% in the Eurozone, and 23.7% in the wider European Union. Youth unemployment - among people under 25 - was highest in Greece (57.6%), followed by Spain (56.5%). Overall unemployment was lowest in Austria (4.5%), Luxembourg (5.1%) and Germany (5.4%).
Pray: for the ability of the authorities to increase the workplace levels across the Eurozone. (Ps.90:17)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20943292
NIGERIA: Huge fire in slum area of Lagos
A massive fire has ripped through one of the poorest suburbs in Lagos, burning down dozens of ramshackle homes and workshops in Ebute Metta community, along the Lagos lagoon where sawmills process timber. The huge blaze was the second major one in the city in recent weeks. On Boxing Day a massive explosion ripped through a warehouse full of fireworks in a crowded neighbourhood in Lagos Island. Fire remains a major danger in Nigeria, where many people store gasoline and diesel in their homes to run generators for electricity.
Pray: for those who have lost everything, with no means to regain an income or a home.
More: http://news.sky.com/story/1035313/huge-fire-rages-through-lagos-lagoon-slum
