Preparing churches for the General Election 2010

A General Election will be held sometime before 3 June 2010. Christians across the country will be campaigning for different parties or standing for election. Churches may host hustings meetings where candidates can be questioned by local voters, and voters will have the opportunity to decide who they wish to vote for, and which party’s policies most closely match their own hopes and values. Churches Together in Britain and Ireland has published a document, Faith in Politics, which covers a range of the most important policy issues, such as children and young people, criminal justice, the economy, education, environment, health, migration, poverty, and others. For each topic there are sections on subject background, the main issues, suggested questions to candidates and contact details for more information.

All the subject sections in Faith in Politics are available as web pages online, and additional material and links will be added as the election draws closer. The work comprises a series of articles on a variety of topics.

European Elections 2009

CARE has developed http://www.vote2009.eu/, a website to help Christians understand the issues surrounding the upcoming European Elections. Of particular interest may be the policy briefings which look at what the European Parliament has done since the last election. The briefings cover the following issues: equalities, family, bioethics, gambling, human trafficking, and the Lisbon Treaty. CARE would like to encourage Christians to engage in these elections, believing that you can make a difference for the sake of the future.

Bible for Barack after Scripture-less swearing in

The Evangelical Alliance UK is sending President Barack Obama a new Bible after reports that one was mysteriously absent from his second swearing in. The new US President is being sent a copy of an edition of the Bible that highlights issues of poverty and justice: The Poverty and Justice Bible, published by Bible Society. This edition highlights more than 2,000 passages that speak of God’s attitude to poverty and justice. Prime Minister Gordon Brown was recently presented with The Poverty and Justice Bible at Downing Street, while in July 2008, hundreds of Bishops carried copies as they marched across Westminster in a campaign against world poverty.

EU backs down over fruit & veg

Eating what's in season is good for your wallet as well as your health. Now, the European Commission has scrapped controversial rules that prevent oddly-shaped fruit and vegetables being sold in the EU. This means less food waste and "good news for hard-pressed consumers who will see cheaper - if slightly misshapen - vegetables appearing in the shops". The new rules are expected to come into force on 1 July 2009.

Brief video on understanding US elections

In the course of my day job (nice work if you can get it!) I came across this video guide to Electing a US President in Plain English. It explains in just under 4 minutes what I seem to remember took much longer (probably several lectures and a tutorial) when I was a political science undergraduate!

Bored with the US election?

While bearing in mind that we don't "do politics" on this blog, the intense media coverage of the US election means makes it impossible to ignore. Here's a website about the statistics behind the election and a prayer for the election. After all, whatever the result, this is what we are called to do:

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour (1 Timothy 2:1-3)

Wordling politicians

You can use Wordle to analyse any sort of text - not just Scripture. The BBC have just used it to analyse the speeches made by the two US vice-presidential candidates.

While we don't really "do politics" on this blog, if you feel you are losing the plot about what's happening in the US, check out the 20-page briefing on the US election 2008 from the Economist.

Welcome to England. Fancy a cuppa?

Somewhat belatedly I have discovered a news item from last month in which a British MP is calling for a traditional tea trolley to be introduced at British airports. Acting on a suggestion by the managing director of Waitrose, MP Michael Fabricant has tabled a Early Day Motion in the House of Commons which states: "That this House supports a proposal initiated, funded and operated by Waitrose, to trial the introduction of tea trolleys with biscuits into arrival halls at UK international airports to provide a warm welcome to weary returning UK nationals and visitors from overseas queuing up for passport inspection."

Discussing this in an article in the Times, "Welcome to England, ducks. Fancy a cuppa?", the columnist describes the "psychological maelstrom" of modern air travel and asks "who would not be instantly soothed and cheered by the sight of a gleaming, steaming tea urn in the arrivals hall?"