[ ‘SHARE’ Jan-Feb 2014 – Who Is Willing to Be Their Neighbour? ] FOCUS ~ SOCIAL CONCERN
Interviewed and written by> Jojo & Tiffany
In September 2013 the HKSAR Government has set the poverty line for Hong Kong to be 50% of median monthly household income, and the Policy Address in January 2014 has announced a series of poverty amelioration measures. A poverty line may help the Government set appropriate poverty alleviation policies, but data and a line cannot define or reflect the real situation of poverty and the voices and expectations of marginalised groups.
The three interviewees below are from different origins and backgrounds. You may see from their sharing how the personal experiences and life expectations of different social groups among them display the uniqueness in life value that is beyond numbers and a line.
[ ‘SHARE’ Jan-Feb 2014 – Who Is Willing to Be Their Neighbour? ] STEP INTO THE WORLD
In Pakistan, women are often victims of domestic violence and they are traumatised both physically and mentally. Yet, the society they live in rarely acknowledge the situation.
CEDAR’s partner CGDC launched amongst churches in Pakistan the first ever project that focuses on women abuse, and advocates on Christian family values. It also teaches what the bible says about family violence. In the first six months of project period, CGDC provided related trainings in four churches and held a nation-wide conference against violence on women.
Partner will continue their advocacy in Pakistan seeking to eliminate any form of women abuses:
mobilising local churches to care for and support affected families through visits, seminars and conferences;
holding nation-wide conferences for more awareness on how to respond to and prevent women abuses;
collaborating with organisations and churches in raising community awareness and understanding of women abuses.
Please support the ministry of CGDC, bringing to the vulnerable women in Pakistan safety and dignity!
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts. [3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
[ePrayer – Pray for the quake victims in Pakistan]
On 24 September, a 7.7 scale quake hit the mountainous south-western province of Baluchistan, Pakistan, causing more than 500 dead. A local partner of Tearfund UK, one of our long-term working partners is assessing aid needs. The quake flattened houses ‘as far as the eye can see’, according to one witness. Hundreds of people have been injured amid the collapse of buildings made from mud and bricks. Rescue efforts are underway but are being hampered by the remoteness of the affected region and disruption to transport links. A powerful 7.2-magnitude after-shock hit southwest Pakistan again on 28 Sep. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams are still searching for people trapped under their homes. Thousands of people have been made homeless as mud houses have collapsed and are sitting in the open waiting for help. Many villages in remote areas have still not been reached by the Pakistan’s army. [Tearfund UK]
Pray for the quake victims in Pakistan:
Please pray for those affected and that help gets to them as soon as possible;
Integral Alliance* has been watching the situation closely. Pray that God will make a way to provide the relief assistance.
* Integral is a global alliance of 18 Christian relief and development agencies, working together to present a more effective response to poverty worldwide. CEDAR is one of the member agencies.
[ ‘SHARE’ Sept-Oct 2013 – Myanmar – A Beam after the War Flame ] FOCUS ~ Country Development
The Lisu pastor serving the displaced in the camp
Author: Lisa CHAI, Senior Programme Officer
Habakkuk 1: 2- 3
How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. (NIV)
For decades the Myanmar government armed forces and opposing non-state armed groups have engaged in armed conflict. The frequent occurrence and brutality of reported human rights violations by these armed forces caused us to cry out like Prophet Habakkuk. Why do the innocent suffer and perish? We ask God to intervene yet violence and abuses prevail. Over the years CEDAR has supported partners operating in conflict affected areas in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, just to name a few. I am reminded by the book of Habakkuk that in face of conflict situation, we may be perplexed yet God is continuing His work. In the midst of violence and destruction, development is possible.
[ePrayer – Pray for women vulnerable to acid attacks]
Five months back, a scorched 26-year-old woman named Ruqqaiya Perween was brought to the Civil Hospital’s Burns Centre. Scarred for life with burns on 22% of her face and upper body, the mother of four said her husband flung acid on her while she was asleep with her children – and some even fell on them. ‘Since my marriage 12 years ago, I’ve never had a day’s peace. Beating me up was a regular pastime of his,’ she said. It was always because her husband needed the money that she earned as domestic helper.
Despite stiffer sentences for offenders, ranging from 14 years to life imprisonment and a fine of one million rupees (US 10,000 dollars), since the Acid Crime Prevention Act was modified in 2011, campaigners say the number of women doused in acid has increased 89% in 2012. In addition, 70% of acid crime victims are women, and in 60% of cases the attacks occur during family disputes. In the last couple of years, especially after a Pakistani film named ‘Saving Face’ won an Oscar award in 2012, there has been increased conversation around this form of violence – which may actually have given some men the idea. [IPS]
Pray for women vulnerable to acid attacks:
Pray for God’s healing to Ruqqaiya Perween and other victims of acid attacks;
Pray for God’s protection to those women and children who are vulnerable to acid attacks and domestic violence;
Pray that God will transform the evil hearts of human to stop any kind of violence.
Security is based on people’s welfare and not on military annihilation, UN said, marking the 68th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and later Nagasaki which together killed more than 400,000 people. ‘We are united in countering the erroneous view that security is achieved through the pursuit of military dominance and threats of mutual annihilation,’ Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony. There is a ‘surge of new interest’ in nuclear disarmament based largely on an increasing awareness of the horrific humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. UN has made nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation a top priority. Disarmament frees up resources which could be channelled to address major global threats, including poverty, hunger and disease.
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans all nuclear explosions in all environments, for military or civilian purposes. It was adopted by the General Assembly in September 1996 but has not yet entered into force. China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States have yet to ratify it. [UN News]
Pray for Global Nuclear Disarmament:
Pray that the governments of the nations will put all their efforts to improve the people’s welfare and create the peaceful atmosphere. Pray that they will give up the military competition and nuclear weapons.
Pray that the UN can rope in the nations to sign, ratify and implement the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
