Chile: Student protests turn violent
Students and police clashed in Santiago during the latest protest over education reform. Student leaders are demanding wholesale reform of Chile's education system, which they say is unequal and under-funded. Police used tear gas and water cannon against protesters who set up barricades and threw petrol bombs. With more demonstrations planned for Wednesday 26th the government said it will invoke emergency security law to quell the violence. The protest movement started in May by students and are backed by teachers and trade unions after talks with the government broke down earlier this month. Chile's education system is heavily reliant on private funding with 40% of all education paid for by students. Representatives of the movement went to the heavily guarded presidential palace to present an unofficial plebiscite on their demand for educational reform.
Pray: for a peaceful resolution that implements adequate funding for the country’s education. (Is.54:13)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15358921
Australia: Government protest Iranian Pastor's death sentence
The Australian Christian Lobby is calling for the Australian Government to make representations to the Iranian Government about Christian Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani who has been sentenced to death in Iran. ACL’s Lyle Shelton said the case is in conflict with the religious provisions of Iran’s constitutional law and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which allows freedom of religion and freedom to change one’s religion. ‘We join with many churches and groups nationally and internationally to condemn the death sentence of Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani', Mr Shelton said. Meanwhile some are saying ‘placing Pastor Yousef’s case into the hands of high Supreme Leader Ali Khameini could make or break his chances of an acquittal.’ (See last week's Prayer Alert) Voice of the Martyrs director said, ‘Whatever decision is made there will be a hefty amount of people who are not happy with it.’ see:
Pray: for international condemnation to succeed in bringing Iran to recognising religious freedom. (Ps.45:4)
India: Human trafficking
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery in India and has become one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world. Homeless girls and boys become victims of violence, deceit and compulsion for sexual exploitation or other forced labour. Every day hundreds of thousands of minors are trafficked, sold and forced into prostitution and bonded labour. Helpless poor people, seeking a better life because of poverty, domestic violence or other pressures they have no control over, are brutally oppressed, often sexually abused, raped, beaten, starved and humiliated by those making a god of power and money. So it is heart-warming when we read, ‘Two minor girls stuck in prostitution ring in a red light area in Pune were rescued by the Christian organization, Indian Rescue Mission, along with the Social Security cell of Pune police on Thursday, October 13, 2011. Acting on a tip they raided the brothel and rescued Roopa (16) and Gowri (17), and the manager of the brothel was arrested.’
Pray: for God to minister healing to the girls and for more traffickers to be found and punished appropriately. (Ps.64:7-10)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=9440
Brazil: Miracles at city scale
More than one hundred Brazilian mayors have presented the keys of their city to Jesus, reports Dutch prayer leader and author Pieter Bos. ‘In Brazil local deities are so incorporated in the city life and festivals, that at the annual carnival in an official ceremony, most of the mayors hand over the key of their city to Prince Carnival, or Rei Momo. Carnival in Brazil is known for its rampant drunkenness, licentiousness, immorality and violence, but this is a structural problem. Many city mayors are now so desperate to break out of this pattern that they are giving the key of their city to Jesus,’ says Bos.
Praise: God for this initiative and pray that He will bless their choice to follow Jesus. (Mt.4:19)
More: http://ausprayernet.org.au/newsletter/DisplayNewsletter.php?e_id=00000002278#st2
