Latest News from Ekklesia

Younger Christians gather to learn tools of nonviolence

staff writers — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:34:09 +0100

Christians aged roughly 18-30 will assemble in London this evening for a weekend of training in nonviolence. The event is organised by the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FoR) as part of a project to develop practical peacemaking skills.

Campaigners highlight 'public revulsion' against arms industry

staff writers — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:52:21 +0100

The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has pointed to nationwide protests against the arms industry as evidence of “public revulsion". Such feelings are expected to increase ahead of the London arms fair in September.

C of E's biggest investment 'destroying lives of poorest'

staff writers — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:11:24 +0100

The company in which the Church of England has its biggest shareholding is responsible for bringing impoverishment, conflict, human rights abuses and despair to the majority of the people in the oil-producing areas of the Niger Delta.

Bishop urges Government to prioritise conflict prevention

staff writers — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:18:50 +0100

The Bishop of Wakefield has urged the Government to prioritise conflict prevention, and warned about becoming too ‘state centric’ in dealing with issues of international protection.

Church rewarded with £3bn profits as Tesco pays 7p an hour

staff writers — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:42:53 +0100

Britain’s largest retailer Tesco will today come under fire over 7p an hour garment workers in Bangladesh as shareholders prepare to hail the company’s record £3 billion profits at its annual meeting.

Amnesty report on Gaza condemns Israel and Hamas war crimes

agency reporter — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:08:01 +0100

Israeli forces killed hundreds of unarmed Palestinian civilians and destroyed thousands of homes in Gaza in attacks which breached the laws of war, Amnesty International says in a new report.

Lutheran world leader calls for an end to Islamophobia

Ecumenical News International — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:00:26 +0100

Renounce Islamophobia, the general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation has urged world religious leaders at an inter-religious congress held in Kazakhstan.

'Crisis is still here' says Zimbabwean priest

agency reporter — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:37:49 +0100

A Zimbabwean Catholic priest has told Catholic aid agency CAFOD that despite supermarket shelves heaving with food imported from South Africa, the majority of Zimbabweans are still in need of food and basic medicines.

Trident activists risk arrest in peaceful Parliamentary protest

staff writers — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:21:52 +0100

A group of anti-nuclear campaigners have this afternoon assembled peacefully in the central lobby of Parliament, risking arrest by taking part in an unauthorised demonstration. They formed a silent circle and refused to leave.

C of E investing in company funding climate change sceptics

staff writers — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:45:20 +0100

The Church of England has a major investment in an oil company which has given hundreds of thousands of pounds to lobby groups who have published 'misleading and inaccurate information' about climate change.

Catholics join Gay Pride

staff writers — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:16:12 +0100

Gay Catholics, their parents, families and friends, will be out and about at Pride London this Saturday (4 July 2009) join by churches in central London.

Democracy and Honduran people have ‘lost out’ in coup

staff writers — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:06:47 +0100

People working with the Catholic aid agency Cafod, have said that the forced removal of the President of Honduras is a backwards step, but his restitution is not the solution.

Hungary recalls end of Iron Curtain with mixed emotions

Stephen Brown — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:00:22 +0100

Hungary has marked the 20th anniversary of a symbolic opening of the Iron Curtain, which once separated it from neighbouring Austria, amid warnings from churches that Europe remains divided.

Jewish peace activist faces jail after homes demolition protest

staff writers — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:37:15 +0100

A Jewish peace activist faces a jail sentence today of up to 18 months after protesting against the demolition of Palestinian homes.

Malaria response may hold lessons for other crises, church told

staff writers — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:55:57 +0100

A United Nations’ chief policy officer has told a United Church of Christ organisation that the way malaria has been tackled may model responses to the global economic crisis.