According to the annual Global Peace Index (GPI) published by the Institute for Economics & Peace the world has become more peaceful for the first time since 2009. However it also reports that the UK is less peaceful. Globally, austerity-driven defence cuts creating gains in several indicators of militarization and improvements in the Political Terror Scale have led to changes in the annual rankings, whilst Syria has dropped over 30 places on the rankings. The index reveals Somalia as the least peaceful country, which with Afghanistan, Sudan, Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo make up the bottom five. The UK has fallen three places to 29th position, which means it is the first time the UK placement has not risen in the list. The index also estimates that if the world had been completely peaceful in 2011, the additional economic impact would have been an estimated $9tn - equal to the size of Germany and Japan's economies combined.

Pray: that our rankings in this index would rise and we would see the positive impact on our economy. (Ps.85:8)

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/jun/12/global-peace-index-2012

2011 saw a significant rise in the number of people in the UK taking their own life, according to new figures. According to the Office for National Statistics, some 6,045 people committed suicide in 2011, up by 437 on the previous year. An average of 11.8 people per 100,000 population ended their lives in 2011, compared to 11.1 people in 2010. Men between the ages of 30 and 44 were most likely to take their own life. Figures from the ONS reveal that the rate of suicides among men in 2011 was the highest since 2002, with 4,552 men committing suicide. The suicide rate among women was far lower, with 1,493 women killing themselves in 2011. The average number of suicides among women fell across all age categories in the last three decades. The 2010 and 2011 figures among men brought an end to more than 10 years of falling suicide rates.

Pray: that the increasing numbers of suicides would cease and the causes be found. (Is.41:10)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/uk.sees.rise.in.suicides/31497.htm

The President of the Bangledeshi National Garment Workers Federation has warned eight leading UK retailers that there could be a repeat of this year's Rana Plaza tragedy if they refuse to sign up to an international accord designed to protect Bangladeshi factory workers. Amirul Haque Amin, who is in the UK, addressed the Trades Union Congress Annual Conference this week, saying several high street names are still refusing to commit to the agreement that will make building inspections compulsory at Bangladeshi factories that supply fashion goods to UK stores. These brands include Matalan, River Island, Sports Direct/Republic, Jane Norman, Peacocks, Bench, Mexx and Bank Fashion. The TUC is asking consumers touched by the Dhaka tragedy to use social media to build pressure on the UK clothing brands that are refusing to sign up. The e-action allows consumers to write directly to the companies and tell them to support strengthening health and safety protection for Bangladeshi textile workers.

Pray: for all retailers to recognise their responsibility to the workers who supply them with goods and that they will all sign up to the accord. (Lev.25:53)

More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/19013

Donations from the UK public to the Disasters Emergency Committee emergency appeal for people suffering from severe food shortages in East Africa have now exceeded £15 million. The worst drought in 60 years has killed cattle and devistated crops in parts of East Africa, creating a humanitarian emergency, with problems expected to be compounded by a poor harvest. The DEC East Africa Appeal in Britain has been presented by actors Jason Isaacs and Fay Ripley, actor and comedian Lenny Henry and broadcaster and journalist Kate Adie. Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee Brendan Gormley said: ‘The more money we raise, the more lives we can save in the short term, and the more help we can give people to rebuild their lives in the long term. It’s vital that people keep giving,’ he added. To make a donation to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal, visit www.dec.org.uk

Pray: for all those affected by this disaster, for those working to alleviate the suffering and for those who continue to donate to the appeal. (Ps.91:10)

More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/15123

One British hotel manager has decided to chuck the Gideon Bibles traditionally stocked in guest rooms for copies of the racy novel ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ by British author E L James. Wayne Bartholomew, General Manager of Damson Dene Hotel, in Cumbria, says he got the idea to swap copies of the Holy Book for the otherwise unholy one after a discussion with fans on Facebook. ‘Fifty Shades of Grey' is all that people are talking about at the moment, but I know that some are too shy to buy it for themselves. I thought it would be a special treat for our guests to find it in their bedside cabinet and that includes the men. Some of the more than 3,200 followers on the Damson Dene Hotel's official Facebook page expressed disagreement with the change.

Pray: that this initiative will not be repeated by others and that those in disagreement would increase. (Ps.119: 37)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/uk.hotel.replaces.bedside.bibles.with.fifty.shades.of.grey/30271.htm

Thousands of practicing doctors in the UK have drinking problems and suffer from depression, several recent studies reported. They continue to treat patients because of a ‘culture of invincibility’ and ‘presenteeism,’ as well as a fear of exposure. A GMC report found that 98 per cent of 1,384 doctors who had underlying health concerns over the past five years were diagnosed with alcohol and substance abuse or mental health issues. While there is no evidence to suggest that ill doctors have harmed patients in their care, the study argued it is likely that they provide a ‘less good service.’ Dr Max Henderson from King’s College London’s Institute for Psychiatry said, ‘Doctors feel ashamed of being unwell and they don’t deal with illness well, they find it hard to exchange the doctor role for the patient role.’

Pray: for doctors suffering burnout, stress, and work-related pressures to find appropriate paths of treatment. (Pr.3:13-17)

More: http://rt.com/news/uk-work-henderson-health-157/

Women are being granted abortions after telling doctors their baby is the ‘wrong sex’, a national newspaper undercover investigation has revealed. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has reported the paper’s information to the Police and said carrying out an abortion on the grounds of gender alone is ‘morally repugnant’. The Chief Medical Officer is writing to all abortion clinics, NHS hospitals and Primary Care Trusts, to ‘remind them of their responsibilities and the requirements’ under abortion legislation. The Daily Telegraph’s investigation found three instances of doctors offering to arrange abortions after being told that the women did not want the baby because of its sex. In an editorial yesterday, the Telegraph said its investigation ‘raises a host of disturbing questions, adding ‘The investigation has also confirmed that abortion on demand, often dismissed as a myth, is in fact routine.’ It said that ‘the UK is developing an unenviable reputation for the commercialisation of abortion.

Pray: for an end to this unacceptable practice and for a firm response by the authorities. (Zec.8:5)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/video-uk-doctors-agree-to-gender-abortions/

The UK was once a missionary-sending nation but after years of secularisation, a new poll has found that Christians in the UK are increasingly looking to the overseas Church to help in the work of spreading the Gospel. In a survey of more than 1,100 UK Christians, 74% agreed that the UK needed missionaries from other countries to come and bring the Gospel to the people. This figure was supported by 68% who stated that out of all the world's regions, the UK should receive the highest priority for church mission, prayer and support. The feeling among UK Christians is reflected in their giving, with a quarter of those surveyed saying they had started to give more generously to UK causes than to overseas ones. The figures were published in ‘The World on our Doorstep?’, the latest quarterly booklet from the Evangelical Alliance's research arm.

Pray: for the Church as it seeks help from the global Church to meet the needs of mission within the home nations. (Ac11:20)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/uk.church.sees.need.for.missionaries.from.abroad/30145.htm

Only half of all seven-year-olds in the UK are getting enough exercise each day to stay healthy, a new study has found. The research, published in BMJ Open, found that half of UK 7-year-olds are sedentary for six to seven hours a day, with girls, children of Indian ethnic origin, and those living in Northern Ireland being the least physically active. UK guidelines on daily physical activity recommend that children spend at least an hour a day in moderate to vigorous activity and spend less time sitting down. Girls were far less active than boys, with only 38% satisfying the guidelines, compared to 63% of boys. The study's authors warn that more investment and "wide interventions" are needed."The results of our study provide a useful baseline and strongly suggest that contemporary UK children are insufficiently active, implying that effort is needed to boost [physical activity] among young people to the level appropriate for good health," they wrote.

Pray: for a concerted response to this report that restates clearly an issue for children that has been suggested for many years. (1Co.6:19-20)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/uk.children.need.more.excercise/33675.htm