Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: Kenya, faith-based opposition to human trafficking, the Kurds, Turkey, Poland, India, ways the wealthy can help the poor, and Jewish vs. Israeli identity in the state of Israel.
AROUND THE WORLD
Militants Divide Kenya Miners by Religion, Then Begin Killing
by Jeffrey Gettleman
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/03/world/africa/mandera-kenya-quarry-shabab-killing.html?ref=world
Somali militants methodically separated the Christian workers among a group of Kenyan miners from the Muslims and took the Christians to the side of a hill, near a gravel pit. Then they ordered the disbelievers to lie face down. According to the Kenyan authorities, the militants killed 36 people, most of them young men. It appeared all the Muslims had been spared.
Pope Francis Joins Other Faith Leaders to Demand an End to Human Trafficking
by Joesphine McKenna
Religions News Service
http://www.religionnews.com/2014/12/02/pope-francis-joins-faith-leaders-demand-end-human-trafficking/
Pope Francis and religious leaders from Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and other faiths came together at the Vatican on Tuesdayto call for an end to slavery by 2020.
Sanctions Against Kurdish Groups Complicate Humanitarian Effort
by Jamila Trindle
Foreign Policy
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/12/02/sanctions_against_kurdish_groups_complicate_humanitarian_effort
Kurdish political groups remain on the US terrorist list, even as they've become crucial allies in the Islamic State fight.
European Court Condemns Turkey for Discriminating Against Alevis
Reuters
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2014/12/03/european-court-condemns-turkey-for-discriminating-against-alevis/
The European Court of Human Rights condemned Turkey on Tuesday for discriminating against members of the Alevi religious minority by failing to grant their places of worship the same status and advantages as those of other faiths.
A Gay Mayor in Poland? No Big Deal
by Rick Lyman
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/03/world/europe/a-gay-mayor-in-poland-no-big-deal.html?ref=world
In the end, the fact that Robert Biedron is one of Poland’s most prominent gay-rights activists seemed to play almost no role in his election as the new mayor of Slusk, a conservative city of 97,000 near the Pomeranian coast. In conservative Poland, where the Roman Catholic Church wields enormous political power, that amounts to a sea change.
India’s New Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Aims to Rebrand and Promote Yoga in India
by Annie Gowen
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/indias-new-prime-minister-narendra-modi-wants-to-rebrand-and-promote-yoga-in-india/2014/12/02/7c5291de-7006-11e4-a2c2-478179fd0489_story.html
In recent weeks, Indian officials have begun efforts to reclaim yoga for the home team, making plans for a broad expansion of the wellness practice into all facets of civic life. They are spearheading efforts to promote and protect India’s most famous export, even quietly weighing a “geographical indication” for yoga, a trade protection normally given to region-specific goods such as Champagne from France or oranges from Florida.
Pope Francis, the Kochs, and How the Wealthy Can Help the Poor
by John and Carol Seaman
Washington Post op-ed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/pope-francis-the-kochs-and-how-the-wealthy-can-help-the-poor/2014/11/28/958fbac2-770a-11e4-a755-e32227229e7b_story.html
Pope Francis’s words have also led us to support a group outside the church: the nonprofit community associated with Charles and David Koch, including Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce.
Is the Choice Really One of Judaism or Democracy?
by Stephen G. Donshik
Jerusalem Post op-ed
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Is-the-choice-really-one-of-Judaism-or-democracy-383490
Within the State of Israel there is no unanimity on the meaning of Jewish or Israeli identity.
Militants Divide Kenya Miners by Religion, Then Begin Killing
by Jeffrey Gettleman
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/03/world/africa/mandera-kenya-quarry-shabab-killing.html?ref=world
Somali militants methodically separated the Christian workers among a group of Kenyan miners from the Muslims and took the Christians to the side of a hill, near a gravel pit. Then they ordered the disbelievers to lie face down. According to the Kenyan authorities, the militants killed 36 people, most of them young men. It appeared all the Muslims had been spared.
Pope Francis Joins Other Faith Leaders to Demand an End to Human Trafficking
by Joesphine McKenna
Religions News Service
http://www.religionnews.com/2014/12/02/pope-francis-joins-faith-leaders-demand-end-human-trafficking/
Pope Francis and religious leaders from Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and other faiths came together at the Vatican on Tuesdayto call for an end to slavery by 2020.
Sanctions Against Kurdish Groups Complicate Humanitarian Effort
by Jamila Trindle
Foreign Policy
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/12/02/sanctions_against_kurdish_groups_complicate_humanitarian_effort
Kurdish political groups remain on the US terrorist list, even as they've become crucial allies in the Islamic State fight.
European Court Condemns Turkey for Discriminating Against Alevis
Reuters
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2014/12/03/european-court-condemns-turkey-for-discriminating-against-alevis/
The European Court of Human Rights condemned Turkey on Tuesday for discriminating against members of the Alevi religious minority by failing to grant their places of worship the same status and advantages as those of other faiths.
A Gay Mayor in Poland? No Big Deal
by Rick Lyman
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/03/world/europe/a-gay-mayor-in-poland-no-big-deal.html?ref=world
In the end, the fact that Robert Biedron is one of Poland’s most prominent gay-rights activists seemed to play almost no role in his election as the new mayor of Slusk, a conservative city of 97,000 near the Pomeranian coast. In conservative Poland, where the Roman Catholic Church wields enormous political power, that amounts to a sea change.
India’s New Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Aims to Rebrand and Promote Yoga in India
by Annie Gowen
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/indias-new-prime-minister-narendra-modi-wants-to-rebrand-and-promote-yoga-in-india/2014/12/02/7c5291de-7006-11e4-a2c2-478179fd0489_story.html
In recent weeks, Indian officials have begun efforts to reclaim yoga for the home team, making plans for a broad expansion of the wellness practice into all facets of civic life. They are spearheading efforts to promote and protect India’s most famous export, even quietly weighing a “geographical indication” for yoga, a trade protection normally given to region-specific goods such as Champagne from France or oranges from Florida.
Pope Francis, the Kochs, and How the Wealthy Can Help the Poor
by John and Carol Seaman
Washington Post op-ed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/pope-francis-the-kochs-and-how-the-wealthy-can-help-the-poor/2014/11/28/958fbac2-770a-11e4-a755-e32227229e7b_story.html
Pope Francis’s words have also led us to support a group outside the church: the nonprofit community associated with Charles and David Koch, including Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce.
Is the Choice Really One of Judaism or Democracy?
by Stephen G. Donshik
Jerusalem Post op-ed
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Is-the-choice-really-one-of-Judaism-or-democracy-383490
Within the State of Israel there is no unanimity on the meaning of Jewish or Israeli identity.
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