Knighthood, Reception & Vision for New Governor-General of Jamaica London/UK, | 22.06.2009 | International A knighthood at Buckingham Palace, a reception at the Jamaican High Commission in London and visits to the Adventist Camp Meetings of North and South England Conference in Southport and Prestayn made for a very busy weekend for Sir Patrick Allen, Governor-General of Jamaica. The first Seventh-day Adventist to serve as Governor-General of Jamaica was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace on Friday, 12 June. The same afternoon, the High Commissioner for Jamaica, His
U.S. Faith groups welcome tobacco regulation <br> <br> Faith coalition cheer Congressional approval of FDA regulation of tobacco industry Washington D.C./USA | 22.06.2009 | Health & Ethics American Faith leaders have applauded U.S. Congress for its action approving landmark legislation authorizing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products. "Better late than never, the Congress has responded decisively to pleas from medical and scientific experts and hundreds of religious leaders across the country to give the American consumer regulatory protection from the relentless marketing of this deadly health threat," said Wesley "Pat" Pattillo, the National C
Former Baptist Chief Executive Officer Lotz receives international religious liberty award Washington D.C./U.S.A. | 19.06.2009 | Religious Liberty Denton Lotz, former general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), received the International Award for Religious Liberty on June 18, in the U.S. capital Washington D.C. Lotz, who was named General Secretary Emeritus upon his retirement from the BWA in 2007, was awarded for making "religious freedom a major focus of his ministry as church leader and church statesman," at the 7th Annual Religious Liberty Dinner, which was sponsored by "Liberty" magazine, the International Religious Lib
Pitcairn Island has greater Freedom and Responsibility under New Constitution Adamstown/Pitcairn Island, South Pacific Ocean | 12.06.2009 | International Pitcairn Island has a new Constitution, the fourth in the island’s 219-year European-Polynesian history, and although its provisions are being followed on the island its people have not yet formally voted on it. The new Constitution was accepted by the Pitcairn Island Council in August 2008, on the urging of the Auckland-based Pitcairn Commissioner Leslie Jacques, but the Pitcairn people have as yet not voted to accept the document, nor has it been officially promulgated on the island. Cha
British Adventists Vote To Streamline Future Business Sessions Stanborough Park, Watford/United Kingdom, | 07.06.2009 | International The Seventh-day Adventist administration of the countries of Britain and Ireland, known as the British Union Conference (BUC), voted a plan that is described as “more efficient and streamlined as well as giving a greater level of input for delegates and more information for members as a whole”. This took place at a special one day Extraordinary Session of the BUC on 17 May at Stanborough Park, Watford. Over 320 delegates heard that the current system could be seen as a drain on finances that
World Environment Day, 5 June 2009: <br> <br> Christian Communicators call for environmental actions Ontario/Canada | 05.06.2009 | International To commemorate World Environment Day, 5 June 2009, the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) is calling for action rather than words to solve environmental problems. "Global greenhouse emissions need to be dramatically reduced, while at the same time raising the quality of life for the majority of the world’s people." The full text of the WACC statement, released June 5, reads, as follows: "On World Environment Day 2009, the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC)
Australia: Flood Victims in New South Wales Receive Assistance Sydney/Australia | 03.06.2009 | ADRA Tens of thousands of homes were without power and hundreds of schools closed on May 21 as a wild storm front lashed Australia's northeast coast. Heavy rains caused severe flooding in northern New South Wales (NSW). The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia provided immediate support to those affected, through the activation of its disaster recovery teams as part of the NSW Government’s Disaster Plan. Working from numerous evacuation centers throughout the region, ADRA’s tea
In War Torn Northern Sri Lanka, Camps Strain Under Pressure Colombo/Sri Lanka | 03.06.2009 | ADRA While Sri Lanka’s decades long civil war appears to have come to a sudden end, an ongoing humanitarian crisis is expected to worsen in overcrowded camps holding thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) unless unfettered access is given to aid organizations, said the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). To mitigate the humanitarian impact among the displaced civilian population, ADRA is preparing to conduct water trucking and distribute hygiene kits to IDPs in the affected r
Cyclone Aila Strikes Bangladesh; ADRA Launches Response Dhaka/Bangladesh | 03.06.2009 | ADRA Cyclone Aila made landfall on the southwestern coast of Bangladesh on May 25 killing approximately 180 people, displacing more than 500,000, and destroying homes, businesses, and thousands of acres of cropland, reports the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). "Many villages are still underwater and because of the rainfall, we are afraid that the situation of survivors will continue to deteriorate," said Elidon Bardhi, country director for ADRA Bangladesh. "Currently, people are in
In Mexico, Adventist churches, institutions resume normal operations Mexico City/Mexico | 03.06.2009 | International Seventh-day Adventist churches and schools in Mexico are open and operating normally a month after an alarming number of H1N1 flu cases in the country led its government to close schools and discourage large gatherings, such as church services. "We are thankful that things are back to normal for our churches and schools in Mexico," said Israel Leito, president of the Adventist Church in Inter-America. Letio credited precautions taken by local church leaders for safeguarding students and
