Christian Concern for One World - What can I do?

Fairtrade Fortnight Events 2011

Maranda — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:22:05 +0000

Fairtrade Fortnight 2011: Events in Berks, Bucks and Oxon

If you know of other events, please do get in touch! Email maranda@ccow.org.uk, and we'll update the list.

Throughout Fairtrade Fortnight

Local Fair Trade shops @St Mary's (Wendover), Fair Trade @ St Michael's (Oxford), Just Trading (Wallingford), The Mustard Seed (Faringdon), The Windmill (Headington, Oxford), World Shop @ RISC (Reading) will be having events to engage with Fairtrade Fortnight. Many village and community shops (such as the East Hagbourne village shop) will also have special Fairtrade displays. Do visit the websites (and the shops) and see what's happening!

If you're in Oxford, you can also celebrate Fairtrade cotton at the Botanical Gardens. "Explore the tropical Palm House to see crops of cotton, find out the differences between a pair of Fairtrade jeans and a conventional pair, and why supporting Fairtrade cotton farmers is so important. See displays of clothes from ethical traders, as well as some unusual fibres such as 'peace silk' and 'naturally coloured cotton.' Palm House open during glasshouse opening hours, 10.00am – 4.00pm. Garden open 9.00am – 5.00pm. Entry, adults £3.80, children free. University of Oxford Botanic Garden, Rose Lane, Oxford, OX1 4AZ, 01865 286690,www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk

Specific Events

4 March -- WENDOVER -- Big Brew
In the @St Mary's Fairtrade Shop, 10:00 am onwards.

4 March -- OXFORD -- Wine Tasting
At the Co-op in Headington. 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

4 March -- GROVE -- Wine Tasting
At the Grovelands Co-op, 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

5 March -- BANBURY -- Big Brew and Bunting
Opportunities to enjoy Fairtrade refreshments and to decorate (more!) bunting. With a display of bunting made "on the day" and some bunting made earlier by students at Banbury School. Town Hall -- contact maranda@ccow.org.uk for details.

5 March -- BICESTER -- Fairtrade Street Action
Bicester Fairtraders will celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight with a stall, bunting, leaflets, balloons and a stilt walker.

5 March -- BOURNE END -- Shopper's Refreshments Stall.
Tea/coffee/biscuits and honey tasting served to passers-by.Outside the Co-op Store in the Parade, Bourne End. SL8 5SS, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.

5 March -- FARINGDON -- Fairtrade Bunting World Record Attempt
Come and decorate bunting! Under Faringdon Town Hall, 9:30 am to 11:30 am. All materials provided. More details from karen@vogt.org.uk/01367 241707.

5 March -- HOOK NORTON -- Fairtrade Tea
Held by St Peter's, with homemade cakes and biscuits. 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

5 March -- NAPHILL -- Fairtrade Tea and Coffee Tasting Event.
Drink as much as you like for £2. Traidcraft stall. Naphill Methodist Church, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.

5 March -- NEWPORT PAGNELL -- Big Brew
URC Newport Pagnell, MK16 8ND, 9:30 am to 1:00 pm.

5 March -- SANDHURST -- Annual Quiz with Fairtrade Supper and Fairtrade Wine
Fairtrade hot supper, wine, quiz. Speaker Paul Chandler, CEO Traidcraft. St. Michael's Church, Church Rd, 7:00 pm. Reservations: jill-a-white@tiscali.co.uk/01344 774349.

5 March -- SHRIVENHAM -- Fairtrade Sale
Shrivenham Methodist Church Coffee Shop, 10:00 am to 11:30 am. All welcome.

5 March -- THATCHAM -- Big Brew
Tea and coffee morning with home made cakes and biscuits made with Fairtrade ingredients. Opportunity to help decorate bunting for the Fairtrade cotton campaign.Thatcham Methodist Church, Chapel Street, Thatcham, RG18 4JP, 10:00 am.

5 March -- WITNEY -- Annual Fair Trade Market
One of the biggest in our area. Langdale Hall, off Market Square, 10:30 am to 4:00 pm.

5 March -- WOODSTOCK -- Fairtrade Coffee Morning
Come to the farmer's market and enjoy Fairtrade refreshments, with an emphasis on honey, at the same time! Proceeds to a development project in Ethiopia. Sponsored by Sustainable Woodstock. Town Hall. Check here for further details.

6 March -- BANBURY -- Big Brew and Fairtrade Lunch
Enjoy Fairtrade refreshments and take the "honey quiz." St Francis Church, after the 10:30 am service.

6 March -- FARINGDON -- Fairtrade Sale and Big Brew Coffee
Catholic Church Hall (Blessed Hugh), 10:00 am to 11:00 am. All welcome

6 March -- FYFIELD -- Fairtrade Sale
St Nicholas church, 10:30 am (after the village service). All welcome.

6 March -- OXFORD -- Misa Campesina and Fairtrade from Nicaragua
25th Anniversary of the Twinning of the City of Oxford and Leon, singing of Nicaraguan Misa Campesina, and an exhibition of Fair Trade products from Nicaragua. Blackfriars Church, 64 St Giles, 11:00 am.

6 March -- SANDHURST -- Renewal of Fairtrade Vows
Using Just1's "Fairtrade vows" service . . . and making a banner. St Michael's Church. Contact: jill-a-white@tiscali.co.uk/01344 774349 for details.

6 March -- WARFIELD -- Fairtrade Focused Service
Quiz and DVD during the service, bunting, Fairtrade cakes, biscuits, etc. St Michaels Church, RG42 6GE. Contact church office for details.

6 March -- WOKINGHAM -- Carnival Sunday with Fairtrade Feast
After the 11:00 am service at the Cornerstone, Norreys Ave, Wokingham RG40 1UE. Tel: 0118 979 2797 for details and to register.

7 March -- DORCHESTER-ON-THAMES -- Fairtrade Coffee
11 Page Furlong, OX10 7PU, 9:30 am to 12:00 noon. For tickets contact Linda Hender on 01865 340032.

8 March -- OXFORD -- Celebrate All Things Fairtrade
Two producers from Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana will speak -- and there will be chocolate tasting, a Fairtrade fashion show, bunting to decorate, stalls and more! Town Hall, St Aldate's, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Sponsored by the Midcounties Co-op. All welcome!

8 March -- SHRIVENHAM -- Fairtrade Pancakes
Pancake Feast at the Shrivenham Methodist Church, 10am-12midday. All welcome!

8 March -- THAME -- Wine Tasting
At the Co-op in Thame, 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

8 March -- WENDOVER -- Pancakes!
Celebrate Shrove Tuesday with pancakes, served with Fairtrade honey, golden syrup or traditional lemon and sugar. Wendover Christian Centre, Aylesbury Rd HP22 6JG, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Contact 01296 625769 for details.

9 March -- MILTON KEYNES -- Celebrating Women and Fairtrade!
Local business woman, Susan Waters of Cotton Roots will be talking about her Fair Trade company and the impact Fairtrade has had on her supply chain. Fairtrade food and wine will be included in the price of entry and there will be campaigning and gift stalls to browse.
Greek Orthodox Church Hall in Stony Stratford, starting at 7pm. Places are limited, and confirmation is essential. To confirm your place please either email: enquiries@mkfairtrade.org.uk Pay on the door: £8 (or £5 unwaged)

10 March -- SOUTHMOOR -- Fairtrade Honey event
Free event organised by Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor WI to raise awareness about beekeepers in developing countries. Traidcraft goods for sale, plus refreshments. Southmoor Methodist Chapel, Hanney Rd, OX13 5HT, 9:30 am to 12:00 noon. contact Mel Gulliford on 01865 821087 or melissagulliford@yahoo.co.uk for further info.

11 March -- CARTERTON -- Fairtrade Wine Tasting
At the Co-op in Blackbourton Road, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

11 March -- CHESHAM -- Fairtrade Wine and Nibbles Evening
Selection of Fairtrade wines and snacks (each visitor will receive a free glass of FT wine or fruit juice of their choice) and talk by Veronica Pasteur, Head of Campaigns at the Fairtrade Foundation. Immediately preceded by Chesham4Fairtrade's first AGM at 7:30 pm. Emmanuel Church, 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

11 March -- WENDOVER -- Fairtrade Brunch
Brunch promoting Fairtrade and locally sourced goods, plus a chance to design bunting. Wendover Christian Centre, Aylesbury Rd, HP22 6JG, 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Details: 01296 625769.

12 March -- CHESHAM -- Fairtrade Fair
Stalls with Fairtrade chocolate, sneakers, footballs and more. Displays, cafe. Speaker: Adam Gardner from the Fairtrade Foundation. Chesham Grammar School, White Hill Rd, HP5 1BA, 10:30 am to 2:00 pm. 50p entrance fee for adults.

12 March -- DATCHET -- Big Brew
Come and help us 'Create A Buzz' We will be selling Fair Trade Tea, Coffee, Biscuits & Honey and the event is open to all. "The Bridge On The Green," 10.30am to 1:00.pm.

12 March -- GROVE -- Bunting Bonanza!
Fairtrade bunting afternoon -- pens, paints, sequins, sewing and bunting provided - just bring your imagination! Fartrade drinks and cakes available for purchase in the coffeeshop. Cornerstone Coffeeshop, 10 Savile Way, 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm

12 March -- OXFORD -- Fairtade Landmark Event
Anyone with bunting (or who wants to decorate bunting) is invited. We'll receive/decorate bunting from 10:30 onwards at Fair Trade @ St Michael's, then have a bit of a Fairtade sing, a talk from an Oxfam staff member, and sally forth to bunt key Oxford landmarks -- returning for a light lunch. St Michael at the Northgate, Cornmarket, 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.

12 March -- OXFORD -- Fairtrade Tea and Cake
Jericho Community Centre, 33 Canal St Oxford OX2 6BQ. 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

12 March -- THATCHAM -- Fashion, Food and Fairtrade Facts
Fashion parade by young people showing off cotton T-shirts designed to promote the Fairtrade message. Fairtrade cookery demonstration and tasting by chef who trained with Marco Pierre White. Traidcraft items to buy, a short talk and a game to play.For information call T: 01635 863592 Thatcham Park Primary School, RG18 4NP, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.

13 March -- BUCKLAND -- Fairtrade Sale
St Mary's, after the morning service. All welcome.

13 March -- CHALFONT ST GILES -- Fairtrade service
Run by the youth group, with Traidcraft available. St Giles Church, 10:00 am.

13 March -- WOKINGHAM -- Fairtrade sale and refreshments
Regular Traidcraft stall, plus fairly-traded baked treats will be available to taste with teas and coffees. Donations to CAFOD. Corpus Christi Church, 60 Sturges Rd, RG40 2HE, after the 9:00 am and 11:00 am services.

14 March -- READING -- Fair Trade Fashion Show
Models showing clothes from People Tree and Bishopstone Trading as well as some High Street shops. Stalls selling other Fairtrade products. Tickets £3. Free Parking on site. Reading University Students Union, Whiteknights Site, Shinfield Rd, 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

19 March -- STANFORD IN THE VALE -- Fairtrade Sale
St Denys Church, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. All welcome.

What's your promise?

Maranda — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:20:19 +0100

I promise to keep on campaigning against injustices until they are overcome
Laura Selman in Hampton Wick | 22 days ago.

    I promise to make more of an effort to understand the root causes of poverty, and to pray about and share what I
    learn with my friends.
    Felicity Cowling in London | 28 days ago.

I promise to waste less, consume less and give more
Alistair in Milton Keynes | 29 days ago.

Will you go to the What's your promise website and make a promise to "remember those living in poverty"?

In Paul's letter to the Galatians, he talks about the way that the Apostles in Jerusalem "asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."

By "remember" the Apostles weren't asking for some kind of occasional reminiscence. Rather, "remember" meant that in the communities Paul was to visit, he would ask the new Christians to consider the needs of the Christians of Jerusalem who were living in poverty -- and to give, often sacrificially, to meet those needs. Paul agreed to do that . . . and, as his other letters attest, he fulfilled his promise.

Today, millions worldwide are living in poverty. And Micah Challenge, a global Christian coalition that works (a) to encourage deeper Christian commitment to action on poverty and (b) to hold governments accountable for their promises on the MDGs, is asking Christians around the world to "commit to a life that remembers those in poverty."

Once again, "remember" is a call to action. And so Micah is also asking to seal our commitment with a promise to do something to act against poverty. We might commit to pray regularly for particular countries or issues. Or to campaign against injustice. To give time, talents or money. Or to reduce our carbon footprint. The ways we respond will be as many and various as the gifts and callings God has given us.

You can join the people who have already made their promises -- like those above -- by posting yours online at the What's Your Promise website.

Our promises are useful for us -- to hold us to our commitments. But they're also useful for others -- who can be inspired by the promises when they read them. And the promises also are useful in our campaign to ensure that politicians remember those living in poverty. If you give your postal code when making your promise, it will be delivered to your local MP with all the other promises from your area. In turn, the MPs will be asked to make their own commitments to action.

What's your promise? isn't just a campaign for individuals: it's also for churches to do together, as a way of strengthening their common commitment to fight poverty. You can gather promises in church: there will be a downloadable form and postcards that you can order. And on the 10th of October, your church can join millions of Christians in dozens of countries to pray that God will use our promises to create a more just and righteous world.

Because in joining What's your promise? you won't just be joining with other Christians in the UK to create a wave of prayer and action. You'll also be joining with Christians worldwide. Micah supporters in Zambia will also be praying, promising, and taking part in "the big hand-in" to their parliamentarians. And so will Micah supporters in Australia. In Benin. In Canada. In India. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the US . . . and in more than 30 other countries worldwide.

If we, as Christians, commit to a lifestyle that remembers those in poverty -- and act on our commitment -- God can use us to do great things. It starts with a promise. What will yours be?

CCOW is a member of Micah Challenge in the UK. For more information about Micah Challenge in the UK, go to http://www.micahchallenge.org.uk.

Pathways to Prayer on Global Issues

Maranda — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:18:13 +0100

Interested in praying about global issues, but unsure where to begin?

On Saturday 17 July (9:30 for 10:00 am to 1:15 pm) at St Michael the Archangel Church in Warfield (Bracknell), Christian Concern for One World is presenting a free half-day event to explore different ways of praying on the topics that most concern you. We'll be looking at different types of private prayer -- from contemplative prayer to prayer walks to praying with objects or through art. And we'll also be sharing ideas about how to pray with groups, whether that's in a formal service or house group or just a group of friends.

The day will start with a brief introduction to the subject and then most of the remaining time will be spent in workshops -- you'll be able to think about new ways of prayer and then immediately start to apply what you're learning to the topics that interest you.

Want to join in? Email us for further information!

The Wave

Maranda — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:26:21 +0000

Join the Wave for climate justice

On 5 December, Christians from around the UK will come together in London to pray and march for climate justice.

The day begins with an ecumenical service at Westminster Central Hall, at which the Archbishop of Canterbury will deliver an address, and the Archbishop of Westminster, the President of the Methodist Conference, and the General Director of the Evangelical Alliance will lead worship. Agency partners from other countries will provide information about climate change's impacts and local activity on climate change in other parts of the world. There will also be activities for children, which are being provided by CAFOD.

After the service, participants are invited to join the Stop Climate Chaos march from Grosvenor Square to Westminster, which will culminate in a human "wave" encircling the Houses of Parliament at 3:00 pm.

CCOW supporters are then invited to join supporters from other agencies for "tea and cakes" at the Mothers' Union building (Mary Sumner House) on Tufton Street.

Large numbers of people from our area are attending "The Wave." CAFOD has organised coaches from Reading/Woodley/Maidenhead and Northampton/Milton Keynes/Luton, and the Coop/Oxfam have organised coaches from Oxford. There are also groups going together on the train. For full details, see the attached "Wave Q and A" sheet or contact CCOW.

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DfID Consultations

Maranda — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:00:46 +0100

DfID is putting together a new White Paper on International Development, and is holding a consultation as part of the process.

The consultation document is available online at http://consultation.dfid.gov.uk and is open for comment until 27 May. There are also regional consultation events, including one in Southampton on 7 May and one in Leicester on 13 May. Click here for more information about these.

The document has an ambitious title: Eliminating World Poverty. It has five main sections:

Building our common future
Global economic growth
Climate change
Fragile and conflict-affected countries
International institutional reform

"Building our common future" is the introduction; each of the remaining sections includes a brief outline of DfID's thinking on the challenges involved in one key area, together with questions about DfID's response to which those taking part in the consultation can add their thoughts.

Downloadable notes on the main presentations at the DfID Consultation in Bristol on 8 April are at the bottom of this post.

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Prayer, Action and Information around the G20

Maranda — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:32:41 +0000

As the G20 "comes to town" next week, how can we make sense of the maelstrom of opinions, hopes and fears around the meeting? And what can we do to pray and express our hopes that any outcomes of the meeting will be ones that move the world towards the vision of God's Kingdom, a vision of love and justice?

Praying and Acting

Within a UK context, there are two major opportunities for prayer and action.

"Put People First" is holding a service, march and rally on Saturday, 28 March. The service , which begins at 10:30 for 11:00 features the Bishop of London; Joel Edwards, International Director of Micah Challenge; Christine Allen, Executive Director of Progressio; and Fr Joe Komakoma, General Secretary of the Episcopal Conference, Zambia. Many other church and agency leaders will also be speaking and reading, and there will be worship music by Andy Flannagan. A tremendous opportunity to gather and pray for wisdom and discernment for those meeting . . . but also more broadly for God's justice, mercy and peace to flow through all deliberations and our own lives.
Micah Challenge , the international coalition of Christian organisations campaigning on the Millennium Development Goals and seeking to engage the churches in issues of poverty and justice, has prepared the Rise Up resource to help us pray for the G20 meeting and more generally for a better world. This resource will be used by Christians in countries around the globe -- from Australia to Zambia. Join in! There's a special prayer for use this Sunday, 29 March, in churches. Can you see if your church could use it?

Information and Opinion

Is the G20 legitimate? Or not? Should it be trying to reform the world's financial architecture? Or standing by to allow a more representative UN-based system to do the job? Should it try to relaunch the Doha round of trade talks to fight protectionism? Or would doing so imperil the economies of some of the world's poorest countries?

If you're trying to find out more about the issues surrounding the G20, here are some places to begin:

The official website of the London Summit
Gives the official aims, press releases, etc.
G20 voice
One of the most interesting developments in coverage of a major international meeting (and praise to Oxfam for coordinating it!). The G20 voice project means that 50 civil society bloggers will actually be in the G20 Excel Centre, with the same access as traditional journalists, blogging away in real time. They've come from all over the world . . . go to the site to hear their perspectives.
The newspapers.
As ever, the broadsheets will have ample coverage and opinions. Two the best places to look? The Guardian which, for example, has just printed this entry from Joseph Stiglitz. And the Financial Times, which has an "in-depth" section on the G20 which brings together related articles and commentary.
The policy statements.
One of the broadest coalitions of organisations ever assembled in the UK is Put People First , which counts among its members development agencies, environment agencies, faith groups, unions, student groups and other civil society organisations. Major Christian charities, such as CAFOD, Christian Aid, Micah Challenge UK, Progressio, Tearfund and World Vision are among its key members. Put People First has a policy platform which addresses the need for a more just financial architecture, secure jobs and public services for all, and progress towards a low-carbon future. You can download the full report , or go to the website for the main recommendations.
ODI, the Oversea Development Institute, has put together a "Development Charter for the G20 ," a series of short reports that address the potential areas where the G20's decisions could affect, positively or negatively, developing countries. This is a slightly more technical document, but worth reading.

Choike , the online portal on southern civil societies, will print news and press releases about the G20 from various northern and southern civil society organisation.

Some Christmas and New Year's Reminders

Maranda — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:32:46 +0000

I was in prison . . .

It's not too late to send a message of hope and encouragement to someone who is suffering from political or religious persecution this Christmas season.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Open Doors, and Amnesty International all have lists of people who would be grateful for letters and cards. Your writing helps to remind the prisoners themselves -- and those holding them -- that those who suffer persecution are not forgotten, and are not alone.

To download Christian Solidarity Worldwide's letter-writing guide, click here .

To download Open Doors letter-writing guide, click here .

To go to the webpage for Amnesty's Greeting Card Campaign 2008, click here .

Don't forget to register!

Two events coming up early in 2009:

The Big Brew takes place during Fairtrade Fortnight, but the registration deadline is 16 January. Click here for information and a registration form.
A "Green Faith Day" on 17 January in Tilehurst will help us think about how we as Christians can fulfill our calling as stewards of creation. It's particularly aimed at any churches that may be involved in -- or considering being involved in -- the Eco-Congregations programme. Click here for more information, and to register.

Taking Action on AIDS

Maranda — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 08:39:04 +0000

World AIDS Day was marked in a variety of ways around the three counties.
St Mary's, Thatcham, posted prayers and a red ribbon on their altar and Hope Tshenkeng, diocesan president of the Mothers' Union in Kimberley and Kuruman, shared in prayer and reflection with local Mothers' Union members. Many churches used material from the prayer resources available for World AIDS Day.

A few weeks earlier, on November 22nd, local AIDS charity ACHIVA held a conference entitled "Restoring Hope: Practical Responses to HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa." Keynote speakers were South African AIDS activist Masi Cowper, who spoke of her own work empowering women living with HIV and AIDS; and Basil Eastwood, chair of Cecily's Fund , who shared lessons learned from that charity's work educating orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia. The keynote panel was chaired by the Bishop of Oxford.

Workshops offered further perspectives on particular projects -- among others Charlotte Bannister Parker and Hope Tshenkeng spoke of work in the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman; Glen Williams from Strategies for Hope asked participants to share in an AIDS education activity from one of the charity's Called to Care books; and Paula Clifford from Christian Aid shared reflections on the extent to which understanding the cultural context is key to successfully working on prevention and care . . . and asked what it means to HIV+ in a rapidly changing global situation.

What did you do for World AIDS Day? Please let us know -- the more we share, the stronger our response becomes.

"Sharing the Journey"

Maranda — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:47:58 +0100

In this section, we'll post articles by and about people who are seeking to "live the Gospel in a global context" through different forms of community.

Daniel Rutland: Following the "Servants" Model in Southall

Praying and Acting for Zimbabwe (click here for more)

Maranda — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:12:45 +0100

"Compelling evidence of violence, intimidation and outright terror; the studied harassment of the leadership of the MDC, including its Presidential candidate, by the security organs of the Zimbabwean government; the arrest and detention of the Secretary-General of the MDC; the banning of MDC public meetings; and denial of access to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, all have convinced us that free and fair elections are not possible in the political environment prevalent in Zimbabwe today." (ANC Statement on Zimbabwe, 23 June 2008)

"'You shall love your neighbour as yourself" (Mt.22:39). Electoral processes and outcomes are not an excuse for breaching God's commandments. The sun will still rise on June 28, 2008, well after the elections. May our present conduct help Zimbabwe rise too to assume its rightful place among the nations of the world." (Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference statement, June 2008)

The deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe over the past few weeks has been the subject of immense concern for many. Aware of violent attacks like those described in this article from the New York Times and this video, how can we respond as Christians?

In recent statements, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference have requested our prayers.

The Catholic bishops noted: "We renew the call to prayer for all our needs, which include a credible electoral process, food and provisions for our families, education for our children, medicines for the sick and respect for every human life and dignity."

The Church leaders have also requested that the SADC (Southern African Development Community) and African Union "work towards arresting the deteriorating political and security situation in Zimbabwe. " Prayers for the leadership of the SADC. in particular, would be welcome. A security troika of SADC leaders met yesterday in Swaziland to discuss the crisis. They have urged that the elections scheduled for Friday be postponed. The official SADC mediator for the situation, President Mbeki of South Africa, whose "soft" approach to Mugabe has been widely criticised as ineffective (as per this cartoon), was not invited.

Christian Aid partner the Habakkuk Trust have also requested prayers for strength, hope and the "walk to freedom" "I sense a great feeling of helplessness," their director writes, requesting the prayers for hope.

That same feeling of helplessness has been echoed by many here. But for local Church of England vicar Nigel Hawkes, it is precisely that sense that makes prayer so vital. "We have no physical means of influencing events, and what we are left with is prayer. As a Christian, I believe [praying] is a very powerful thing that we can do." We find, he adds, any power we have "in God's power."

Hawkes has been reminding himself and others to pray by wearing a black dog collar. He was inspired by Archbishop of York John Sentamu's cutting up his dog collar, and by a parishioner who came to prayer wearing a black armband on the day after the Archbishop's action. The black -- which serves, he says, "as a visible sign of our concern," is a constant reminder to "offer to God the troubles of the people in Zimbabwe and pray that there will be a resolution."

Hawkes is encouraging others to join in both the symbolic action and prayer. His hope is that if enough people join in, it will "get the whole dea of prayer for Zimbabwe into the common psyche." And, reflecting on he ways in which some previously intractable-looking problems, such as partheid in South Africa, have been relved, he adds: [sometimes there is] o human answer . . . and [after prayer] suddenly a change came about."

Some suggestions:

Find out more, and pray on what you find out. The Guardian has a good section devoted to Zimbabwe, including a blog with links to Zimbabwean activist websites. Or try following the situation -- and the changing Southern African approach to it -- through Southern African media: From South Africa, for example, the official SABC news, the Independent Online (including this reader poll), Mail and Guardian, Sunday Times and Cape Argus all have extensive coverage of Zimbabwe. Pray for the situations and people mentioned. From inside Zimbabwe itself, there are papers (for example, The Herald), which give a sense of the officially sanctioned press; The Zimbabwean is an independent paper printed outside Zimbabwe but for Zimbabweans. Go here for a discussion of the difficulties involved in reporting from Zimbabwe.

CAFOD, Christian Aid and Tearfund all have sections dedicated to the crisis in Zimbabwe, offering news, prayer points/requests, and opportunities to donate for future work. Read . . . pray . . .give . . . .