Categories
Observations Politics

Cheap, Safe and Friendly Countries

We all have our notion of the best countries in the world – whatever that may mean. I recently came across an interesting exercise which ranked countries according to their friendliness, cheapness and safety. It’s well worth a look. It doesn’t surprise me at all that three Sahelian countries; Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal are […]

Categories
Observations Politics

Maps That Challenge Our Thinking

I recently came across this page which shows 40 maps that challenge the way we view the world. Here are a few examples that I found most interesting. Map by Vizual Statistix Countries that do not use the metric system Map via Wikimedia Commons Map by valeriepieris on Reddit

Categories
Observations Politics

The Global Economy Simply Explained

This is a brilliant explanation of some issues in world economics. It takes eight minutes, but it’s worth it. If aren’t interested in economics, just admire the use of a whiteboard.

Categories
Church: UK Politics

The PM, The Bible and Cultural Christianity

This year has seen the four hundredth anniversary of the Authorised Version of the Bible marked with a good deal more publicity than ever attended its orignal publication. Yesterday, in a speech delivered to clergy in Oxford, the Prime Minister added his voice to the many who have spoken up over the last year (read […]

Categories
Observations Politics

The Greek Crisis Explained

Normally in my world, when people talk about explaining something Greek, they are referring to something complex involving verbs and participles. This video, is about something even more complex, it’s about economics! However, it is straightforward and easy to follow. Should you keep your money in a bank or in a unicorn shaped pinata? I’ll […]

Categories
Africa Politics

Advice to Nigerian voters

In a BBC article entitled ‘Viewpoint: Ivory Coast’s lesson to Nigeria’, Nigerian-born novelist and journalist Kingsley Kobo reflects on the situation in Ivory Coast and takes a look at what Nigerians can learn from it for their own Presidential Elections. Kobo is well-placed to comment as he has spent the last 16 years living in […]

Categories
Africa Politics

When Politics Leads to Paralysis

France 24 have produced an excellent 15 minute documentary on the situation in Ivory Coast. Sadly, I can’t embed it here, but you watch it here. The post-election crisis in Ivory Coast has dragged on now for more than two months. Both the outgoing leader Laurent Gbagbo and opposition leader Alassane Ouattara have been sworn […]

Categories
Observations Politics Theology

Darkness and Light

The British press have, rightly, been full of reports about the death of 10 Aid workers, including one British doctor, in Afghanistan over the weekend. The ten who died worked for a Christian Charity, the International Assistance Mission. IAM is a humanitarian organisation which has worked inside Afghanistan for forty years providing healthcare to people […]

Categories
Politics

Coalition, Culture and Symbol

I apologise for the lack of blogging over the last week or so. I’m pretty much preoccupied with another writing project at the moment and don’t have a lot of spare time and even less spare energy! It looks as though my series on the election and mission may well never be completed – as […]

Categories
Mission Politics

Mission and the Election 3: Loving Service

To respond to human need by loving service. Christians and Christian organisations have a long history of providing caring services to people in the UK. Even in a country as rich as ours, there are still many people who are in need of a helping hand in one way or another. The Christian response is […]