Greece: Economy and impact on population
Greece is close to agreeing to a new set of austerity measures, which will affect both the public and private sectors, that would unlock the emergency loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund that the country needs to keep its economy afloat. In the private sector, employers who have more than 200 people in their work force would be able to sack 4 per cent of them at once rather than the 2 percent in place now. There will also be a gradual phasing out of the 13th and 14th monthly salaries that employees receive as Easter, Summer and Christmas bonuses, possibly over the next five years. In the public sector, civil servants will lose their 13th and 14th monthly salaries and their supplementary pay,
which has already been cut by 30 percent, will be reduced by another 5 per cent. This would represent savings of 1.7 billion euros, or 0.6 per cent of Greece’s gross domestic product.
Pray: that the spirit of the Greek population will not be broken by these enforced measures. (Pr.10:15)
More: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100002_29/04/2010_116768
Greece: Economy and impact on population
Greece is close to agreeing to a new set of austerity measures, which will affect both the public and private sectors, that would unlock the emergency loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund that the country needs to keep its economy afloat. In the private sector, employers who have more than 200 people in their work force would be able to sack 4 per cent of them at once rather than the 2 percent in place now. There will also be a gradual phasing out of the 13th and 14th monthly salaries that employees receive as Easter, Summer and Christmas bonuses, possibly over the next five years. In the public sector, civil servants will lose their 13th and 14th monthly salaries and their supplementary pay,
which has already been cut by 30 percent, will be reduced by another 5 per cent. This would represent savings of 1.7 billion euros, or 0.6 per cent of Greece’s gross domestic product.
Pray: that the spirit of the Greek population will not be broken by these enforced measures. (Pr.10:15)
More: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100002_29/04/2010_116768
Survivors of forced marriage go on UK tour
Victims will urge children at risk to tell the authorities of their fears. Their stories are ones not normally made public in intimate detail. In the first scheme of its kind survivors of forced marriages will travel the country in May to describe the ordeals they went through in an attempt to try to persuade communities to abandon the practice. Men and women who were forced to marry against their wishes will visit 12 cities to tell teachers and police officers to be extra vigilant about children going missing during the summer holidays. Each summer hundreds of girls and boys, largely from South Asian communities, travel with their families to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where they are forced into marriages. Those working to stop the practice say the period just before the summer holiday is always their busiest time of the year.
Pray: for those taking part in this tour, that their voices will be heard. (1Co.16:13)
BBC TV Documentary on marginalised Christians
Christians feel marginalised and pushed out of public life while other faiths are handled with kid gloves, according to a flagship BBC documentary shown on Easter Sunday. The film was presented by Nicky Campbell and featured two cases backed by The Christian Institute: Lillian Ladele, the registrar disciplined for her stance on civil partnerships, and Ben & Sharon Vogelenzang, the Christian hoteliers charged with a crime for criticising Islam. The hour-long programme called ‘Are Christians Being Persecuted?’ investigated widespread claims that Christianity is being sidelined in modern Britain. A poll conducted for the documentary showed that 44 per cent think Britain has become less tolerant of religion. Mr Campbell concluded the documentary asking: ‘So, are Christians being persecuted? No they’re not being tortured or killed like Christians in Pakistan and the Sudan. But a minority believes they are being sidelined and victimised. By the standards of a liberal society that can feel like persecution.’ Watch on BBC iPlayer available until Sunday. See link Highly recommended
Pray: that each one of us will live our lives as a clear expression of our Christian faith and not be ‘sidelined’. (1Th.1:3)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/watch-bbc-tv-show-on-marginalised-christians/
