Prime Minister Modi’s visit to UK - and Indian religious intolerance
India's prime minister will visit London this week amid protests that his Hindu nationalist party has created an atmosphere of religious intolerance and impunity. Narendra Modi will have lunch with the Queen and address a joint session at Parliament with David Cameron. The highlight of his trip will be his rally at Wembley Stadium where 60,000 fans are expected to give him a rapturous welcome. Among all the pomp and ceremony, up to £10 billion-worth of deals are expected to be signed over the course of his stay. Meanwhile, David Cameron has been urged to highlight the increase in attacks on religious minorities since Narendra came to power. Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported 600+ cases of violence against religious minorities in that period and an estimated 43 deaths. An atmosphere of religious intolerance is further stoked by systematic attacks against the Dalit community (untouchables in India’s caste system). Many Dalits are Christians.
Archbishop of York’s Young Leaders’ Award reaches 315 schools!
The Archbishop of York Youth Trust announced on Tuesday that it has further extended its Young Leaders’ Award with 315 schools having signed up to the Award since its launch. The Archbishop said, ‘Young people have the potential to change our society for the better, and my Young Leaders’ Award is helping them to do it. Up and down the north of England these young leaders are using their creativity, passion and energy to transform their communities and be the change they want to see.’ For example Church Walk CE Primary School asked the council if they could put out more litter bins and signs reminding people to pick up litter and clean up dog fouling. The council visited the class and promised to put signs and bins in the churchyard and surrounding area. Young leaders have learned decision-making, compassion, interpersonal and organising skills, and being listeners to others.
Prince Charles urges consumers to buy British
The Prince of Wales has urged people to buy British food whenever they can to support family farms and save the countryside. His appeal comes amid growing fears over the economic future of Kintyre as the area's traditional dairy farming industry struggles to stay afloat. The heir to the throne called on the public to harness their consumer power by shopping for home-grown produce instead of imported food. He highlighted the pressure facing the country's family farms, including falling commodity prices and rising input costs, and warned that some city-dwellers may be overlooking the crucial part that farmers play in the UK. In August this year the president of the National Farmers Union said that farmers struggling to cope with falling prices for milk, lamb, beef and cereals are being driven to suicide. See also: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/farming/north-east-farmers-despairing-low-9821650
Storm Abigail: damage and disruption
Storm Abigail, the first storm to be officially named by the Met Office, hit the Western Isles, parts of Argyll and the northwest Highlands and Orkney yesterday (Thursday). Gusts of up to 84 mph and waves up to forty feet high were recorded, with lightning strikes and heavy rain. All schools in the Western Isles and Shetland will be closed today. Two thousand customers in Lewis and Harris lost their power supply, though most have been reconnected. A ferry travelling from Skye to Raasay was prevented from docking for three hours due to stormy conditions, and ferry services today have been cancelled or disrupted.
