There seems to be  always something inconsistent in what Canada's PM Stephen Harper says and does.. like his attempt to bring Democracy to Afghanistan through war.. Democracy means freedom of speech and freedom of religion right evangelical Mr. Stephen Harper? or do we not understand what democracy is? It is a Bush/Harper setup dictatorship?  

 

because   "Afghanistan Deports Hundreds of Korean Christians for 'Spreading Christianity'   Afghanistan has ordered hundreds of South Korean Christians to leave the country yesterday, accusing them of seeking to undermine Islamic culture and trying to spread Christianity.  Members of a South Korean non-governmental organization, called the Institute of Asian Culture & Development, had prepared for a ‘peace festival’ set for this weekend.  A member of the Korean group has said that the festival has been canceled at the request of the Afghan government, Agence France-Presse reports.  Spokesman for the group Sung Han Kang said that Interior Ministry officials told him they were being deported for their own protection, not due to security fears.  Meanwhile, Interior Ministry spokesman Yousef Stanezai said    "The program was against the Islamic culture and customs of Afghans," he said, adding they have been told to leave the country as soon as possible.   Anne Thomas anne.thomas@christiantoday.com "

 

Many Canadians also have questioned Stephen Harper's approval of Israel's  Lebanon's invasion's  value. Clearly  even the unreal cease-fire is a disaster, even as Hezbollah is basically intact, a clearly active resistance,  and still able to fire rockets into Israel. Meanwhile Israel's supposed mistakes or actually real war crimes are too easily ignored, justified, forgiven, forgotten by too many false spin doctors and that is all unacceptable still too. Israel undeniably has really itself become a terrorists  monster through its many war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon.  The spins do not change the truth.

 

"A Church of Ireland Priest Condemns Israeli Offensive in Lebanon  Posted: Saturday, August 12 , 2006, 13:47 (BST) A leading figure in the Church of Ireland has condemned the Israeli military offensive in Lebanon as the UN’s special envoy for the Middle East peace process said it expected Israel to pull back its ground offensive over the next couple of days before an expanded international force is deployed in southern Lebanon.  Rev. Patrick Comerford, Southern Regional Co-ordinator of the Church Mission Society Ireland, said the military offensive by Israel in southern Lebanon was “precisely that – offensive”. He made the comments as he preached on the 61st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in Rathfarnham.  Rev Comerford acknowledged Israel’s concern to root out Hezbollah militants but suggested that their attacks did not warrant the scale of Israel’s military offensive on southern Lebanon.   “Israel is legitimately worried about its very survival, about attacks on its civilian population, and about Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm in defiance of UN resolutions.   “But Israel has defied international law, international conventions on human rights, the accepted criteria for a “just war” and UN resolutions, by waging an undeclared war; using a disproportionate force that is totally destructive; deliberately attacking civilian populations; making refugees of up to half a million non-combatant civilians; targeting UN observers; destroying the democratic institutions and civilian infrastructure of a sovereign state; and of course, by acquiring nuclear weapons.”  He also criticised the “appalling destruction” of the families and mainly children who lost their lives in the attack on Qana at the end of last month which left at least 28 civilians dead including 16 children.   He said the Israeli military action in Lebanon “should be offensive to all humanity, and – with the capacity of all modern wars to degenerate quickly into nuclear wars – modern wars must be declared offensive.  Rev Comerford said on the anniversary of Hiroshima: “The bombing of Hiroshima on this day 61 years ago should have made any future wars impossible.”  He added, “The whole world is now living beneath one looming mass mushroom cloud.”   Maria Mackay mmackay@christiantoday.com "

 

"Archbishop to Hold Vigil for Middle East, Hits Out at Bush  Posted: Saturday, August 12 , 2006, 11:35 (BST) The Archbishop of York is to hold a weeklong vigil inside his cathedral during which time he will abstain entirely from food. (BBC)   One of the most senior leaders in the Church of England, the Archbishop of York is to hold a weeklong vigil inside his cathedral during which time he will abstain entirely from food. The effort is intended as a demonstration of his solidarity with the victims of the Middle East conflict.  Archbishop Dr John Sentamu made the announcement Friday that he had cancelled his holiday to Salzburg, Austria, and would instead sleep alone in the 13th century gothic cathedral of York Minster for the next week, reports Reuters.  “In the Middle East there are thousands of people sleeping in churches, bunkers, underground car parks and shelters in an attempt to escape from the bombs and rockets that are falling on both sides of the border," Sentamu said in a statement.   "This act is a rallying call to people of all faiths and none, to encourage them to feel that there is something that can be done."  Archbishop Sentamu said he would lead prayers every hour throughout the seven days to support those affected by Israel’s military assault on Lebanon to root out Hezbollah militants.  We have an opportunity to stand up and be counted with those in Israel, Lebanon and Palestine.  Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu  "We have an opportunity to stand up and be counted with those in Israel, Lebanon and Palestine," said Sentamu, who starts his vigil on Sunday. "This is what this week will be about."  The Archbishop of York also criticised US President George W. Bush for comments he made following the foiled bomb plot to blow up flights from Britain to the United States, reports AFP.  Following the revelations earlier in the week of the terrorist plot, Bush warned that the West was at war with “Islamic fascists”, comments the Archbishop of York said were not helpful.   "I actually want to see this society becoming a good neighbourly place and you are not going to do it by that kind of language on a ranch in Texas.” He also criticised the international community for failing to heed the call by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on 20 July for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.  "The UN has a role, diplomacy has a role and our government has a role to play in bringing this conflict to an end," he said.  "But we as people also have a role to play in showing our common humanity with all those who are suffering. "Just like those sleeping on the floors of bunkers, car parks and churches, I will also spend the week camped out sleeping in the Minster."  The Church of England has appealed for an immediate end to the fighting which has now killed more than 1,000 people and left another 900,000 displaced.  The Archbishop of York expressed his hope that others in Britain might join him in his vigil by giving up one meal and donating the money they would have spent to charities currently serving in the conflict zone. "

Mr Stephen Harper these are the reactions, actions of a real christian.. not merely a professing one? And Mr Peter MacKay do you have any comments now about all of this Israeli abuse too?

"Jeff Lucas Challenges Church to Fight Poverty in New Film Posted: Friday, August 11 , 2006, 9:12 (BST) Famous Christian author, speaker and broadcaster Jeff Lucas has launched a new educational film, which is appealing for Christians to take responsibility for those living in poverty across the world.  The educational film, produced by child sponsorship charity Compassion UK, follows Lucas on his recent trip to the troubled country of Ethiopia.  Lucas reported, “This is a great resource to encourage the Church to take up the responsibility we have to our brothers and sisters across the world. I encourage every church to get hold of a copy.”  Following last year’s G8 Summit at Gleneagles in Scotland, it was hoped that large steps would be taken towards the full eradication of poverty across much of the world.  However, in June this year, UK charity Oxfam joined a number of relief and aid organisations in declaring that the aid increases made by the world’s richest G8 countries are not enough to meet the promises they made at the Gleneagles meeting last year.  The G8 countries made the commitment to increase development spending by £27 billion a year by 2010. The raw data, showing a £11.4 billion increase in development spending in 2005 over 2004, look as if they show some progress towards that target.  However, Oxfam says 80 per cent of that figure was in the one-off cancellation of debt to Nigeria, along with cancellation of debt to Iraq. The charity states that if those figures are taken out then “the underlying trend in aid by some G8 countries actually gives cause for serious concern”.  Oxfam has said, however, that the debt cancellation and other measures have made a real difference. It says, “Across Africa, lifting the burden of debt is allowing millions of dollars to be directed to fighting poverty instead of repaying rich countries.”   But in combining the total together with other development payments, the developed world is "double counting" the money.   “The danger is that this will mask a failure to increase the underlying volume of real aid in line with their Gleneagles commitments, allowing the G8 to take their foot off the accelerator,” say Oxfam.  Oxfam’s analysis of the figures finds that once debt repayments are taken out of the equation, the total increase in development aid offered by the G8 countries is a shockingly low 8 percent.  Poverty figures reveal that half the world — nearly three billion people — live on less than two American dollars a day (Just a little more than £1).   In addition, the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the poorest 48 nations (i.e. a quarter of the world’s countries) is less than the wealth of the world’s three richest people combined. Lucas has explained how, by partnering with the local church, Compassion UK mobilises Christians to reach out to children at risk in their community.  During his trip to Ethiopia, Jeff met with children whose lives had been changed through sponsorship, he also visited churches that have grown from eight to 350 members as a result of their partnership with Compassion.   The pastor from one such church in Southern Ethiopia commented: “We used to have no place for the children but now we have more than 700 visiting in one week, and this is thanks to Compassion.”  Following his journey to the African country, Lucas is calling for the churches to make a united stand in an effort to fight poverty, and is hoping the new resource made in partnership with Compassion, will go a long way to encourage churches to take action.      Daniel Blake daniel@christiantoday.com "

 

Meanwhile also " keep wondering why my Prime Minister won't be there to welcome the world (AIDS Conference 2006 -- Aug. 12). Canada is the host for this important congregation of those determined to beat this scourge. Where is its national leader? Does Mr. Harper not value our international image or the opportunity to take global leadership on this issue? How can he justify forfeiting this role to others? I am ashamed. My Prime Minister represents everyone in this nation, including those who are suffering from HIV/AIDS. As the leader of a G8 country, he should exercise his obligation and this unique opportunity to represent the developed countries' moral responsibility to eradicate this international pandemic. This is bad politics, shows poor judgment and demonstrates a lack of humanity.    PEG HERBERT  executive director, Help Lesotho".

 

Can anyone be really still  stupid to believe the undemocratic, Calgary Alberta Conservative biased Western Standard Polls? I have been writing for months how ruthless, oppressive, controlling these people now firstly are.. with a Jewish name of Ezra too..  "COMPAS poll, comissioned for the Western Standard, which purports to refute the earlier poll by showing 64% of Canadians support Harper's stand. It also reports that 82% of respondents believe Israel had a right to defend itself and 69% believe "Iran was wrong to arm Hezbollah and call for the destruction of Israel."  All very interesting, but there are questions to be raised about his poll's methodology as well (critics say it questioned far fewer people than the Strategic Counsel poll and extrapolated some findings in an unorthodox way). " Like I have undeniably said before a long time ago too the lying Jews, and Conservatives keep on making new lying polls to get the answers they want..   Next the Western Standard is going to write a poll the majority of people approved of Harper's now show at the Toronto Aid's conference? Now get real!!!