election time...
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Things have been very quite on this blog front recently, but I'm breaking the silence (!) to post this interesting interview with the three main Political Party leaders concerning their attitude towards the church. It's well worth a watch...
Of course, this isn't the only, or maybe even the most important, issue that should concern us as Christian voters. The people at the 'Robin Hood Tax' have made it easy to canvass our politicians views on that issue, which could well expose their attitudes towards poverty and wealth more generally. I only sent the email yesterday and have already received an extensive reply from our local Green Party candidate. Click 'here' to send it to your candidates.
Finally, in the wake of the controversy surrounding Gordon Brown's inadvertent cock-up yesterday, Kester Brewin has written a great parable with tongue only slightly in cheek. Find it on his blog 'here', but it's worth reproducing in full...
Of course, this isn't the only, or maybe even the most important, issue that should concern us as Christian voters. The people at the 'Robin Hood Tax' have made it easy to canvass our politicians views on that issue, which could well expose their attitudes towards poverty and wealth more generally. I only sent the email yesterday and have already received an extensive reply from our local Green Party candidate. Click 'here' to send it to your candidates.
Finally, in the wake of the controversy surrounding Gordon Brown's inadvertent cock-up yesterday, Kester Brewin has written a great parable with tongue only slightly in cheek. Find it on his blog 'here', but it's worth reproducing in full...
Now the Electorate was out in Middle England, and Sky News and other members of the Media brought Gordon Brown to them. They made him stand before the group and said to the Electorate, "Voters, this man was caught in the act of speaking rashly in private. He left his microphone on, and it caught him accusing a woman of being bigoted." They were using this question as a trap, in order for having a basis for people not voting for him.
But the Electorate bent down and started to write something on their Twitter accounts. When the Media kept questioning them they straightened up, and said to the them. "If any of you - journalists and or other party leaders – if any of you has never spoken rashly in private, let us cast our votes for you."
At this, those who had heard began to go back to their campaign buses and leave, one at a time, the older ones first, until only the Electorate was left, with Brown still standing there. The Electorate straightened up and asked him, "Prime Minister, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one Sirs." he said.
"Then neither do we condemn you." the Electorate declared. "Go now and DON’T BE SUCH A BLOODY IDIOT AGAIN OR WE’LL CERTAINLY NOT CAST OUR VOTE FOR YOU."
With thanks to John 8: 1 – 11
the robin hood tax...
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
it's a simple, relatively pain-free (unless the bankers are really greedy!) but revolutionary idea that could raise hundreds of billions each year to boost the NHS, UK schools, the fight against domestic child poverty, as well as tackling poverty and climate change around the world! Oh yes, it's also being supported by, amongst others, Christian Aid, Cafod, and our own Prime Minister!Watch the Bill Nighy video below, and then go sign up your support.
a new religion?...
Monday, June 29, 2009
'This' is an interesting article by Rowenna Davis from the Guardian comparing religion and environmentalism. Dave Walker offers some interesting reflections on it 'here', not least the observations that "many... find it important to combine religious belief with environmental action."
I was at a conference last week in which Jim Wallis was speaking. In one of his sessions he made the observation that there are two great hungers amongst young people in the USA and UK today - the hunger for spirituality and the hunger for social justice. Wallis argued that the two must be held closely together - spirituality without the desire for justice simply leads us into a selfish consumer-driven 'feel good' faith, whilst the quest for social justice without a spirituality offering hope simply leads to cynicism and anger. I reckon Jim Wallis got it about right, and that it is up to those of us that claim faith in God to make the connection for those who don't but are deeply passionate about justice. It seems to me that this is the very stuff of the kingdom of God.
Labels: mission, politics, spirituality
extrmely dangerous...
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, was interviewed on Al Jazeera English by Sir David Frost on 12 March 2009. He spoke about the threat from domestic terrorism in Pakistan saying that the 'situation is very grave'...
"The situation in Pakistan is extremely dangerous. I would say it's very grave. I think Pakistan faces a mortal threat, not from India, but from domestic terrorism. And that domestic terrorism is so grave that I think that politicians in Pakistan need to come together.
At the moment the politicians are pointing their fingers at each other. In fact they should be coming together and pointing their fingers at those who threaten the Pakistani people and those are terrorists on the Afghan border, terrorists in the Punjab who struck with such deadly effect in Mumbai and terrorists who after all claimed the life of Benazir Bhutto in December 2007."
"The situation in Pakistan is extremely dangerous. I would say it's very grave. I think Pakistan faces a mortal threat, not from India, but from domestic terrorism. And that domestic terrorism is so grave that I think that politicians in Pakistan need to come together.
At the moment the politicians are pointing their fingers at each other. In fact they should be coming together and pointing their fingers at those who threaten the Pakistani people and those are terrorists on the Afghan border, terrorists in the Punjab who struck with such deadly effect in Mumbai and terrorists who after all claimed the life of Benazir Bhutto in December 2007."
the cost of democracy...
Monday, February 18, 2008
... I hope and pray that it's worth it; that the newly elected Pakistani government, whoever it may be, respect the immense price that many ordinary Pakistanis have paid for these elections, in the hope of better and more stable times ahead.See Pakistanis vote in tense election
Pakistan bomb...
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Another bomb blast in Pakistan as the country gets closer to the scheduled February 18th elections. This time 18 people were killed - a tragic waste of human life and, I suspect, not the last in the days ahead. Keep Pakistan in your prayers.
"don't change your light bulbs...
Thursday, January 24, 2008
... change your leaders."
Bono on the political challenge of global poverty and climate change
see also Bono and Al Gore at the World Economic Forum
hat tip... Andrew Jones
Bono on the political challenge of global poverty and climate change
see also Bono and Al Gore at the World Economic Forum
hat tip... Andrew Jones
Benazir Bhutto RIP...
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Words fail me... for all her faults (and she had a few, but then don't we all) I genuinely think that Benazir Bhutto was Pakistan's best bet for a more stable future. I feel some of the grief that many Pakistanis will experience in a much greater measure, as well as a degree of despair over where Pakistan goes from here. This is a country in the grip of desperation - Pakistan and its people need and deserve our prayers at this time.complicit...
Thursday, December 13, 2007
A powerfully honest post from Kester is well worth reading, but be warned... don't bother if you're comfortable just the way you are and don't want to be challenged.
I blogged about TTIS in Liverpool 'here'
I blogged about TTIS in Liverpool 'here'
the truth isn't sexy...
Friday, November 16, 2007
Last night over 30 students and young adults took the truth isn't sexy campaign into the pubs of central Liverpool. We went into 36 pubs and bars and were knocked back by only two! We had a few saying we needed to come back when the manager was in or write to head office for permission, but the vast majority took the posters and/or beer mats and promised to display them in their bars. It was a great evening and the people who volunteered for the pub crawl enjoyed themselves so much we're already planning a 'phase 2' to hit more city centre pubs soon!It's a great campaign so if you're not familiar with it take a moment to go to the campaign website and find out more. Even better... get together a group of people to take the beer mats and posters into the pubs in your area. The wider this material is distributed, the more chance there is that it will have the desired effect of revealing hidden realities, challenging attitudes, and changing the culture that leads to so many women being trafficked and/or enslaved against their will in the 'sex industry'.
The local BBC ran a feature about it yesterday and the BBC web site has a piece 'here' (even if they did heavily edit the quotes!!)
world clock...
Friday, October 05, 2007
This world clock is amazing and disturbing all at the same time. Launch it, click the 'now' button, get on with your work (leaving it running in the background) and return to it later to see what's been happening statistically in the world during that time. In the time it took to write this short post 31 people have been infected with HIV.
You'll need the flash plugin to see it
You'll need the flash plugin to see it
Gordon Brown remixed...
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
"I do believe that Britain needs a new type of politics which embraces everyone in the nation and not just a select few; a politics that's built on consensus and not division; a politics that draws on the widest range of talents and expertise, not the narrow circles of power; a politics that's built on engaging with people and not excluding them" - Gordon Brown, yesterday.
Try substituting the word 'Church' for 'politics' throughout the above quote - it seems like a pretty good aspiration to me!
Try substituting the word 'Church' for 'politics' throughout the above quote - it seems like a pretty good aspiration to me!
troubled Pakistan...
Friday, August 03, 2007
Regular readers of this blog will know about my connection with Pakistan (click on the 'Pakistan' link below to see my other posts). These are worrying times for that country, with indications suggesting a possible slide into civil war between the military government and the religious conservatives. Caught up in the middle of this are minority communities, such as the Christian community, and progressives who want to see the country live up to its founding principles of freedom and harmony.Recently, we had some friends staying with us from Peshawar in the North-West Frontier (near the Afghan border), which has seen more than its fair share of trouble and unrest in recent months. They urged us to keep praying for their country.
If you're interested in finding out more about this troubled country, yesterdays Guardian newspaper carried a two page article which summarises the situation well. It can be read online 'here', and a catalogue of recent Guardian articles about Pakistan can be found 'here'.
act now...
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
I don't normally use this blog for petition signing and the like, but when a dire situation arises accompanied by an opportunity to do something simple and potentially effective, I think 'why not?'!Last Thursday, 23 South Korean aid workers (pictured left), most of them young women, were taken hostage by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The Taliban are threatening to execute them later this week, an action that could force aid agencies to pull out of Afghanistan, denying millions of Afghanis the help they need after years of war.
The situation is desperate, but there is a possible hope. The Taliban are all from the 'Pashtun' ethnic group, and observe a strict code called Pashtunwali. This code demands, above all else: "hospitality to all, especially guests and strangers". There are rumours of infighting among the Taliban over these kidnappings, because they clearly violate the code.
A global outcry for the Taliban to follow their own code would certainly be covered by media in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the Taliban are based, creating massive local pressure on them to free their prisoners. These hostages are living under a 24 hour death sentence and so avaaz.org have arranged a global online petition to try to generate this kind of publicity and pressure. It's simple to sign - only taking a minute of your time - but it could make a huge difference. Go 'here' to sign the petition and try to pass word on to others who may sign. It would be great if you left a comment here too...
see the Guardian's coverage of the crisis 'here'
sign the petition 'here'
preach it Bono!...
Friday, June 22, 2007
If you're not a fan of U2's music, then stick with this anyway (or skip ahead to 4:44) to hear Bono's inspirational words...
... the address that these words are taken from is posted in full 'here' - I know it's a bit old now, but it's still one of the most powerful, most biblical addresses on poverty and justice I've ever heard, so it's well worth watching again.
Also, if you've got an hour to spare (I haven't!) YouTube also has an interview of Bono by Bill Hybels which was aired at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit last summer. It's been posted in several parts beginning 'here' with Bill Hybels' introduction about Bono. It also features the video posted above. I haven't yet had the chance to watch it in its entirety, so can't comment on it, but thought it was worth posting the link anyway!
hat tip... Beth at 'U2 Sermons' blog
... the address that these words are taken from is posted in full 'here' - I know it's a bit old now, but it's still one of the most powerful, most biblical addresses on poverty and justice I've ever heard, so it's well worth watching again.
Also, if you've got an hour to spare (I haven't!) YouTube also has an interview of Bono by Bill Hybels which was aired at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit last summer. It's been posted in several parts beginning 'here' with Bill Hybels' introduction about Bono. It also features the video posted above. I haven't yet had the chance to watch it in its entirety, so can't comment on it, but thought it was worth posting the link anyway!
hat tip... Beth at 'U2 Sermons' blog
Labels: justice, politics, popular culture, spirituality
stuff...
Thursday, June 21, 2007
The below pictures are part of an amazing art installation by Chris Jordan, depicting the habits of contemporary American (and so western) society, with regard to consumption and waste. 'This' website shows several of the powerful images in the series (and includes an image of one installation on display to give an idea of scale) - it's well worth a visit! Here's a sample...
an image depicting 11,000 jet trails, equal to the number of commercial flights in the US every eight hours...
partial zoom...
details at actual size...
There are more images like this 'here'
an image depicting 11,000 jet trails, equal to the number of commercial flights in the US every eight hours...
partial zoom...
details at actual size...
There are more images like this 'here'
if you're in liverpool next week #2...
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Press Release...The Truth Isn’t Sexy
Liverpool Guild of Students Fair Trade Fashion Show
Date: Tuesday 1st May
Time: 7.00- 10.00
Location: Mountford Hall, Liverpool Guild of Students
Liverpool Guild of Students, in partnership with the University of Liverpool’s Faith Express, is to host a Fair Trade fashion show to raise awareness on the consequences of unjust international trading systems and the growing problem of human trafficking
The injustices that exist within the international textile manufacturing industry amount to a form of modern day slavery, which can lead people to seeking ‘better futures’ in other countries only to find themselves victims of human trafficking and, in many cases involving young girls and women, forced prostitution.
Friday 23rd March saw the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery here in Britain, yet according to the government 4,000 women and children were trafficked into prostitution in the UK in 2003. Many come from Eastern Europe or Africa on the promise of good jobs or education. They end up sold into the hands of sex gangs.
From children sold by debt-ridden parents to the boom in human trafficking in a world without borders, the United Nations estimates that in the 21st century 12m people are trapped in slavery.
The event will showcase Fair Trade garments that are becoming increasingly available on the high street and through internet retailers. All proceeds from the event are being donated to The Truth Isn’t Sexy campaign, which has been devised to expose the truth of human trafficking and prostitution through an extensive awareness campaign directed at the demand side of the sex industry. A key component of this is the distribution of beer mats in local pubs, and the hope is that money raised through this event will enable this to happen across Liverpool city centre.
The Truth Isn’t Sexy had its own Parliamentary launch last month supported by a number of Ministers, MP’s and peers including Liverpool Riverside MP, Louise Ellman, who has shown her support for the event saying...
"It has been 200 years since the abolition of slavery in this country yet there is still a significant human trafficking industry. This is a very worrying reality. It is however, encouraging to see students being proactive in campaigning to raise awareness of these issues."
For more information see
www.thetruthisntsexy.com
remember...
Sunday, March 25, 2007
...and act25 March 1807 - 25 March 2007
information...
government site
merseyside maritime museum
set all free
news...
bbc
church of england
action...
anti-slavery
stop the traffik
the truth isn't sexy
information...
government site
merseyside maritime museum
set all free
news...
bbc
church of england
action...
anti-slavery
stop the traffik
the truth isn't sexy
archbishops podcast about slavery...
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Rowan Williams makes his first YouTube broadcast, appearing alongside John Sentamu (the Archbishop of York), to reflect on slavery past and present. Watch it 'here' or click on the frame below...
I'm Malcolm Chamberlain
from Liverpool, United Kingdom
. I'm married with two young children and, in addition to Liverpool, have lived in Leicester (for the first 18 years of my life), York, Peshawar (Pakistan), Oxford and Walsall. I've been actively involved in the emerging church since 2001, as a founding member of Dream in Liverpool City, and coordinator of the Dream network. I'm currently engaged in research into emerging missional communities, and work as a parish priest and pioneer minister.
