Rob Halligan: Always Heading Home

Really looking forward to welcoming singer-songwriter Rob Halligan back to St Nick's, Beverley. It's free to come, but it would help to know numbers, so if you know you're coming, drop us an email at:

stnicksoffice@gmail.com, leave a message on 01482 863542 or book via Eventbrite here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rob-halligan-always-heading-home-tickets-89276104231 Rob returns to St Nick's, Beverley to perform songs and tell stories from his life. It's quite a story - including a period without a home, and losing his father in the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers. Big themes in Rob's songs are forgiveness and the power of love to overcome bitterness and hate. Rob has also done work for Globalcare https://www.globalcare.org - a charity working with refugees in Lebanon on the Syrian border. Rob's set will include new material from his new CD Always Heading Home, as well as tracks from earlier albums. There will be an interval with a licensed bar, when you can have a chat to Rob and buy CDs and merchandise. There will be an opportunity to donate towards expenses, and any surplus on the night will go to Globalcare.

Greenbelt 2013

Greenbelt reached it 40th edition this year. If you're not familiar with Greenbelt, it's an arts festival at Cheltenham race course, with a Christian background, but by no means limited to Christian input. Music, drama, literature, and talks addressing matters of faith and justice all feature, along with a good dose of silliness and fun. There are always several venues functioning, so there is plenty of choice as to how to spend the time. There are also plenty of stalls, (organic/fair trade/responsibly sourced) catering vans and displays to browse if you want to take a bit of time out. So what were my picks for 2013?

Jazz Church

Andy Flannagan and friends

There is usually some opening worship so we went along to Jazz Church in the Big Top. Some classic hymns to new arrangements mixed with a jazz take on more contemporary ones, including "Heaven" by Gungor. Not something you could sustain very often, but a great idea and a fresh take on some familiar tunes. I also got along to Ben Cantelon on Sunday doing set of contemporary worship songs in a (dare I say) more conventional way. Andy Flannagan closed things off on Monday with an interesting mix of him, a DJ and a man on a trombone. Somehow it worked.

Other options over the weekend, apart from the main worship on Sunday morning included eucharists from Blessed, an alt-worship sacramental community, another used music from Les Miserables, there was a U2charist and a goth mass. You could get close to nature with Forest Church, of you prefer it quiet, Quakers and Franciscans offer alternatives!

The range of music on offer is always a highlight for me. You can usually find a good selection of singer-songwriters around the place at the Performance Cafe (this year changed to a venue not a cafe!), the CD tent, the Christian Aid tent and the Shed - the youth venue. Martyn Joseph is usually on the list and he also hosts a session (The Rising) with musicians each day to talk about their work and share songs. We caught him talking to old-timer Garth Hewitt and two newer artists, Carrie Rodriguez and Blair Dunlop. The latter 2 were so good we spent 2 hours sitting on the floor of the Performance cafe for their afternoon sets. Blair Dunlop is a great guitarist and writes interesting songs; Carrie Rodriguez is more country influenced but avoids the country cliches. Ably assisted by Luke Jacobs on guitar and sometimes singing and playing the violin at the same time, she had real quality. Also caught Stylusboy from Coventry and Andy Howie from Scotland, but missed plenty more.

The Boxettes at The Performance Cafe

The word 'box' seemed to dominate music on Saturday. Boxes is a solo project by Carey Willetts of the band Athlete (who headlined our first Greenbelt in 2009). Playing solo with a variety of backing effects he did a good set. Later The Boxettes appeared. 4 singers and world champion beat boxer Bellatrix with no instrumentation or backing track, they delivered a great energetic set. More followed at the Performance Cafe, including an improvisation using three words from the audience. They're still unsigned and have far more talent than most 'girl groups', so somebody get them a contract! Also caught Black Rebel Motorcycle Club for some serious rock.

Panel discussion featuring Jim Wallis
and Richard Coles

The talks programme is always interesting, usually challenging, often inspiring and rarely without something controversial in there somewhere. Caught a nice little session with Martyn Joseph speaking about songwriting. Graham Cray spoke about what kind of church seems to be emerging for the future. Maybe I've been to too many sessions and read too many books on this, but I didn't find this very inspiring. However, Jim Wallis gave a very challenging, inspiring and yet very accessible address on 10 personal decisions you can make for the common good. I missed most of Steve Chalke, but I gather he was very good, but I did catch Rachel Mann on being a trans lesbian priest in the church today. that's not a talk I'd heard before, and it had a lot of insights.

Comedy from Paul Kerensa

The Christian Aid tent had a comprehensive programme. regular live music from Harry Bird and the Rubber Wellies, Paul Field and others. Interviews and panel discussions took place throughout and we also got some poetry from Harry Baker and comedy from Paul Kerensa, who writes for Miranda and other radio and TV shows. Meanwhile the cafe team made it a place to take a break and get some refreshment.

What else? Well there's always something going on. Giant puppets, a stage where anyone can have a go at a song, art installations, book launches, a beer tent (The Jesus Arms) and bumping into people you haven't seen for years.

This year there was little rain, no mud, and a new layout to avoid the quagmire of 2012. They did well, given the constraints, and we're sure to be back in future years.

Overseas Aid

In the middle of government cutbacks and a Budget just about to happen, I've seen quite a few comments asking why the overseas aid budget is protected. I very much hope that George Osborne has the courage to resist the pressures to cut it back. My first letter to an MP about that issue was back in the 1989s, when Chris Patton had the overseas development brief. My MP, Jim Lester, was very interested and concerned in the matter, took it up with him, and I have a signed letter from Chris Patton explaining the government's position, which at that time was losing ground on achieving the 0.7% of gross national income as an aid budget target.

No doubt some aid goes astray. Some will find its way to corrupt officials, and certainly some aid has been mis-spent on infrastructure projects that nobody wanted except the western contractors that built them. However, mistakes can be learned from, and errors don't mean the system is wrong in principle.

What concerns me is that the budget is vulnerable to a lot of pressure groups, ranging from "charity begins at home", through free market arguments that it's best to let the market decide, through to a kind of anti-foreign standpoint. They are likely to be populist (as indicated by some polling) but I think they are wrong.

The first reason is that the international community has a commitment to this target via the UN. Only a few countries meet it, and some are shamefully short of it. However, abandoning this would be an acceptance that the richest nations of the world (and we are one) have no obligation to the poorest (some of whom supply the raw materials we rely on for our prosperity). If the UK abandons its commitment, it effectively gives permission for other nations to do likewise.

Second, a commitment to aid is what some have called "enlightened self-interest". It's not a very selfless principle morally, but the argument is essentially as follows. Failure to provide aid to acute needs will lead to conflicts, mass movements of people and huge refugee camps. Sooner or later [expensive] intervention will be required to stop this spilling over borders and spreading instability, potentially to the developed world's frontiers. Aid therefore can be a relatively cheap way of heading off disasters, which would otherwise cost us more in the long run. Aid can also benefit the economies of developing countries. As they grow and develop, they will become new markets for products manufactured or developed in the west, so it's good for business and exports too.

But for me as a Christian, it's just a lot simpler than that. Responsibility to neighbour isn't just about the people you can see around you; it's an obligation to all who are in need. We have lots of challenges ahead in our own country - that's a certainty. But if we abandon those in even greater and profound need around the world, something has gone acutely wrong. Comic Relief raised well over £70 million this year, split between UK and African causes. I think that's enough evidence to show that when faced with the issues and needs, there is enough charity at home to help people in need far away.

Time for an out-of-context quote from Mrs Thatcher for the Chancellor "don't go wobbly, George".

Related articles

• You: Economists urge George Osborne to maintain aid spending in budget
• Britons wary of overseas aid costs

Gareth Davies-Jones and Rob Halligan Concert

In October Morecambe Parish Church is hosting a concert by Gareth Davies-Jones and Rob Halligan. Gareth and Rob are singer-songwriters who have been busy over the last few weeks playing at a number of summer festivals, inclusing Greenbelt. We’re delighted they approached us to host this concert. Some may remember Gareth from the concert he did at MPC 2 years ago with Yvonne Lyon

Their songs reflect on life, faith, justice and both have appeared on the BBC with good reviews.

The concert details are:

Gareth Davies-Jones & Rob Halligan in Concert

Wednesday 17^th October 2012 at 7.30pm

Morecambe Parish Church, Church Street, Morecambe

Tickets £7, £5 concession (student, unwaged, retired), £20 family

Group discounts available (e.g. for youth group trips) – get in touch.

Fairtrade bar and refreshments available on the night.

For more information, contact Mike Peatman 01524 410941 mikepeat@lineone.net

Tickets are also available at Lancaster Christian Bookshop,
5 Mary Street, Lancaster LA1 1UW

More about Rob at http://www.robhalligan.co.uk

More about Gareth at http://www.garethdavies-jones.com

Click image for poster

 

Fairmined gold

It's great to see that the Fairtrade movement has now managed to get a standard for gold, called Fairmined. As well as offering a fair price to small scale miners, the certification requires that the extraction of the gold is done without toxic chemicals (such as cyanide and mercury) and with a regard for the environment.

It is estimated that 100 million people depend on small scale mining, but they find it hard to get a fair price on the open market.

The good news is that the royal jewellers, Garrard, have already indicated that they wish to use Bolivian Fairmined gold.

Anti-Apartheid Movement logo

It's not the first time that the sourcing of gold has been used as a way of achieving greater justice. In 1991, we bought a wedding ring for me from Traidcraft, who offered rings made entirely free from South African gold. The negotiations for transition from white minority government to democracy were underway, and this was a small gesture to maintain pressure. It also  gave other gold producers a place in a market dominated by South Africa. As well as the usual hallmarks, my ring has the anti-apartheid logo stamped into the metal. A reminder of very different times

Thankfully that era is over, but a fair deal for small, responsible producers and the campaign to stop "dirty mining" are still greatly needed.

Related articles

• Fairtrade hallmark sets the gold standard (guardian.co.uk)
• Fairtrade gold in pictures (telegraph.co.uk)
• Fairtrade gold to protect miners (independent.co.uk)

Hope for Justice

Last night at Manchester Apollo, I was providing transport for my son, Jono, to get to "The Stand". This was an event organised by Hope For Justice, which is campaigning to end human trafficking. The statistics are scary, and slavery is a reality, even within the UK. It's clearly a huge problem across the world, and the people involved on the frontline of helping people escape and then come to terms with their traumatic experiences face real dangers.

Hope for Justice campaigns in a number of ways - awareness-raising, legal issues, rescue and support, campaigning and, of course, fundraising. The Stand 2010 was an event with video, drama, music, prayer and a hard-hitting talk from Tony Campolo.

It was very refreshing to go to something which was contemporary and had a lot of energy and passion, but wasn't about the people gathered. There was no sense that this was about having a religious experience, or that the audience/congregation were there to be receivers or consumers of stuff from the front. This was about a problem in society and the world which needs urgent action, and a key part of being faithful Christians was about working for justice for captives. There was also no sense that this was evangelism 'in disguise'. The motivation wasn't that people rescued might be converts, but that it's the right thing to be working for anyway. There was also a very positive view of working with allies, whether Christian or not. Perhaps the biggest surprise was that people in the 'sex industry' were recognised as being on a spectrum, and some are willing to provide information and evidence with regard to trafficked women and girls.

Music for worship came from Ben Cantelon and Graham Kendrick. They represent the latest and the established in the area of worship music. Cantelon seemed more at ease with the format (gig venue, high volume) than Kendrick, but the older guy can still deliver.

Tony Campolo never pulls his punches, and he spoke very passionately about justice, and also how attitudes in society towards making women 'commodities' can help to create a climate where there is demand. He gave an interesting example of common ground with a passionate feminist on this issue, with whom he had plenty of other differences.

What's perhaps the most disturbing is that this may well be an issue on all of our doorsteps.

Lent Blog 13: protest songs

Neil Young via last.fm

In an imaginary universe where I had a musical career, I'd want to be remembered for songs that said something, or maybe protested about stuff. Some of my favourite songs are protest songs.

Just recently I was listening to Ohio, Neil Young's angry rant against the shooting of 4 unarmed Kent State University students during an anti-war demonstration in 1970. The National Guardsmen are believed to have fired 67 rounds; two of the dead students were walking from one class to another; another 9 were wounded. The single, recorded By Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young had another classic, Find The Cost of Freedom on the B-side (if you can remember B-sides).

I also came across Martyn Joseph's version of Great American Novel written by the late Larry Norman. It prompted me to listen to the original, which is slower and performed in a more restrained way, but was a remarkable song. In the midst of Vietnam, civil unrest, racial tension and more, Norman managed to protest about the war, racial violence, infringement of civil liberties by security forces and media misrepresentation - all at a time when Christian contemporary music was virtually non-existent (and controversial). Over 30 years later, Joseph spotted the resonance with contemporary concerns and it needed virtually no update. It would be great if more Christian musicians could produce such an incisive critique today.

World Toilet Day

Today is World Toilet Day! It is designed to draw attention to the fact that 2.5 billion people don't have one, and inadequate sanitation is costing many lives every day throughout the world.

You can do something from the comfort of your living room (or loo if you have wifi and a laptop)

Twitterers can tweet Michael Foster MP, the International Development minister here: http://act.ly/11s

Facebook users can go to Superbadger (which is a Tear Fund initiative) and send the minister an email http://apps.facebook.com/superbadger/index.php

Or you can sign an online petition at http://www.endwaterpoverty.org/

...or you could write him a letter...

Blog Action Day 2009: stewardship

Today is the day. Around the world, bloggers are posting in all kinds of ways about climate change.

What concerns me is the resistance within some Christian circles to take seriously the reported facts and figures about climate change. This complacency seems to arise for a number of reasons:

1. A strong belief that the world will end soon, and therefore the condition it happens to be in at the moment is of transient importance. A more extreme version seen in 'end timers' in the US is a desire to see world events move towards its destruction, as they would see that it speeds the Lord's return. (I would have thought he will choose his own time!)
2. People regarding evangelism (in the sense of concentrating on personal conversion) is the only core business of the church, and other things are peripheral.
3. Disbelief in the science of climate change, or a belief that global warming would be happening at this rate anyway.

The interesting thing about all of these 'objections' is that they disregard the key Christian theological reason to conserve the environment and the earth's resources; namely stewardship.

Christians stewardship understands reality in a fundamentally different way to secular materialism; namely that we own nothing, and everything is, in a sense, on loan or entrusted to us by God for safe-keeping. This theme regularly surfaces in Scripture, eg Psalm 24:1. Even in the story of Creation in Genesis 1, God gives responsibility as well as privileges to the human beings. There is no mandate to go and wreck what has been provided.

This means there is an accountability to God for what has been entrusted, even if the end of the world really is very near. In the parable of the talents (Mt 25:14-30), which is not primarily about material gifts, the three people only have what is entrusted to them temporarily; the issue is what they did in the meantime. The question for climate change is what will God make of our stewardship of the earth which was entrusted to us. Even if you're a climate change doubter, you are not off the hook. Even if the earth isn't warming at all, we still have a responsibility to look after the wonderful gift of creation that God has chosen to share with us.

Stewardship also challenges us about the consequences of our choices and actions for others. If consumption, pollution and environmental degradation is ruining the livelihoods of millions of fellow human-beings, then surely there is a responsibility for Christians to act? Even Christians who only focus on evangelism must surely be concerned that millions of potential hearers and recipients of the gospel might suffer and die. I think our faith gives us a duty to care, regardless, but I'm trying to get inside the head of people who think differently here.

It seems to me that Christian must be good stewards. Whether you believe the world is warming or not, whether that's a result of human activity or not, whether you think evangelism is the only concern for Christians, or even if you think we have only a few years before Jesus returns, that still holds. And if the science is (more or less) right, that stewardship will be an important contribution to all the world's occupants; if it's wrong, then we will have done what we should have been doing anyway. It's very sad that Christians haven't always been at the forefront of environmental protection, as it's there in the heart of our theology.

Freeing Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi

The furore continues over the release, on compassionate grounds, of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi - the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing. The sensitivity of the issue makes calm discussion almost impossible, and so many strands get tangled up together when people start to talk about it. As I have read and listened, there seem to be several issues:

1. Was the conviction of al-Megrahi safe? There are quite a few people around who believe him to be the fall-guy. It was interesting to hear from someone from Lockerbie on the news the other day who said that a number of residents there never believed the real perpetrator was caught.
2. Should people ever be released on compassionate grounds? Some would have a very punitive view for people who have committed serious crimes, and that the price they pay is to go through their illness in jail or a secure hospital. Others would see the possibility of compassionate release as a sign of a civilised society. We have seen the same debate recently in the case of Ronnie Biggs
3. Were there prior commitments relating to the trying and detention of al-Megrahi? If there was a prior reassurance that he would be kept in Scotland, then release under licence to hospital/hospice care in Scotland might have been more acceptable to a wider group of people.
4. The handling of the release and handover. If he was to return to Libya, why wasn't it done quickly and discreetly, to avoid the scenes at the airport in his home country, which have alienated a lot of those who would have been sympathetic to some form of compassionate release.

It's all happened now, and we will probably never know the real truth about Lockerbie.

Iconic Crimes

It's been strange to see recent mention two crimes that have featured in the media for over 40 years. The Moors murders still send a chill down the spine, and it was particularly sad to hear that the search for Keith Bennett's body - the last undiscovered victim of Brady and Hindley - is to cease. The police have exhausted all avenues of enquiry, including trying to identify the landscape from photos seemingly taken near a grave. Unless new evidence comes to light, or new technology opens up other possibilities, there are no further options.

Back in 1980s, information from Hindley and Brady enabled police to find Pauline Reade, but Keith's body remains undiscovered, despite extensive excavations on the moor. Hindley died in 2002, leaving Brady as the only living witness to the location. Keith's mother, Winnie Johnson, gave an emotional plea for more information from Ian Brady - the one person who might be able to help her. He has indicated that he can remember the place and could identify it, but won't cooperate with the police. At 76 Winnie Johnson just wants to bury her son before she dies. I hope she gets the chance.

The following day's news reported that the great train robbery of 1963 has surfaced with the question of parole for Ronnie Biggs. Biggs notoriously escaped from prison, escaping to Brazil, only returning to the UK as an elderly unwell man. He has just been denied parole by Jack Straw as he has been deemed "wholly unrepentant" (remarkably religious terminology for a legal decision). Although originally given a 30 year sentence, I think it is correct that Biggs has now served more time in prison than any of the other gang members, and he had a lesser role in the robbery than others. His escape, media profile and apparent enjoyment of his celebrity have obviously counted against him.

On the face of it, it's hard to see what damage an ill 79 year old is likely to do to society. Do we really need to spend money accommodating him in a cell that is in great demand? And what defines appropriate repentance? His is supposed to have expressed regret in a book published in the 1990s. On the other hand, justice needs to be done and needs to be seen to be done. A tricky calculation for the relevant authorities when it is appealed. Brady will certainly die in jail, but whether Biggs should seems to me a rather different question.

Iranian election

Maybe too much has been said and written already, but I wanted it to feature in this blog. There's very little any of us in the West can do (or should do) about the dissatisfaction of the Iranian people with what has happened. My uneducated guess would be that any Western pressure would strengthen those who wish to cling on to power. This is about the people ensuring they have the leadership they have chosen. We can only hope and pray that it can be resolved without the country descending into chaos.

Water Ripoff

Charities, club and churches are all facing considerable increases in water rates, which can leave them paying more than high-class businesses. www.dontdrainus.org is campaigning to get this pricing regime changed.

See more at the website

Equitrade

At the end of Fairtrade fortnight, I'd like to champion something that is seeking to take things a step further: Equitrade. This certification is available to higher value finished or part-finished products from the developing world which attract a fair price. One weakness of Fairtrade is that it leaves developing nations as the raw materials producers, rather than them getting technology and higher value jobs and sales.

One way round this has been to make the producers shareholders in the Western-based manufacturing, which is what happen with Divine chocolate. The alternative is to build a chocolate factory in Africa, which is what Malagasy have done.

The chocolate is absolutely fantastic - over 70% cocoa, yet not bitter.I have had the Mora Mora and Sambariano bars and they are wonderful. OK, they are just over £3 a bar in our local branch of Booths supermarket, but they are a brilliant treat if you can find them, so why not stash one away as a treat for Easter?

Malagasy also produce a number of other Equitrade products, so I'm looking forward to seeing and tasting more in the future.

Fairtrade Fortnight

It's Fairtrade fortnight.

Great news from Cadbury's. All Dairy Milk chocolate in Britain and Ireland will be Fairtrade certified by late summer 2009.

Ash Wednesday

The pancakes are still going down from yesterday - a relic of an era when the meat and fat were used up before the austerity of Lent began. Had a d'oh moment earlier in the week when I realised that the word carnival has its origins in the Latin for remove meat. Obvious when you think about it: a valedictory moment for the carnivores!

Anyway, I've been trying to work out how I will mark Lent. I've given stuff up, taken new things on, read Lent books, even blogged.

This year I will try Christian Aid's "Count your blessings" challenge. Each day has a reflection on the difference between our lifestyle and values and those in the developing world, and a response to make. All on 2 sides of A4

As they say, "it's easier to give something up for Lent if you've got something to start with."

DEC Gaza Appeal

This is what the BBC will not show.

Click here to give using the secure online form

Gaza aid

This morning the BBC have again been defending their decision not to broadcast the Disasters Aid Committee's emergency appeal for Gaza. On Saturday morning, I had had the rare experience of hearing a government minister (Douglas Alexander) giving a straight answer to a question and I also agreed with him as he said the BBC should change this decision.

This morning (Monday) on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Mark Thompson (the BBC's Director General) was suggesting that although the DEC is non-partisan, the issue of aid to Gaza was contentious. Hence, the logic goes, a broadcast of the appeal might place the BBC on one side of the conflict, making it partisan and compromising its journalists in the field.

This seems fundamentally wrong. Here are a few random reasons:

• not to broadcast is also a partisan statement. Will the apparent refusal to support humanitarian relief to Gaza endanger journalists on the other side?
• this is humanitarian relief. Israel - the 'other side' in this conflict - itself allows some supplies through, so why should it object to this appeal in assisting something it already allows?
• there is a fear that supplies might go to militants, but that is always true when helping civilians caught up in a war zone. Relief in Darfur and the DRC may well have 'leaked' to some militants, but that did not stop the appeal broadcasts, so why this one?
• other networks - ITV, Channel 4 and Five have all deemed it appropriate (though sadly not Sky News). Are they being irresponsible?

I have two other concerns. This decision could very easily give the impression that Arab and Muslim casualties are in some sense less important to Western eyes than others. It is fuel for the kind of propaganda which sets the West upo as an enemy of the Arab and Muslim worlds.

It may also fuel anti-semitism. There are dangerous people out there who still peddle the line, which was popular with the Nazis, that the world is in the grip of a Jewish conspiracy. If this episode give the impression that the BBC was 'nobbled', then this kind of conspiracy theory gains momentum. That isn't in Israel's interest, let alone the suffering Palestinians in Gaza.

Come on BBC, do the right thing and broadcast ot.

In the meantime, you can donate online to the DEC appeal at their website.>

World Aids Day

Today is World Aids Day

Read about HIV/Aids around the world at the Christian Aid website

Blog Action Day 2008: Poverty

Today is a day when bloggers around the world say something about poverty in an attempt to raise awareness and action around the world. I can't write much just now, so here's what's on my mind at the moment:

My main concern is the consequences of the credit crunch on the poorest of the world. If rich governments are struggling and prioritising their own needs, where does that leave the poor. We have to keep donating, campaigning and allocating the aid budgets.

If you're sitting at a computer and want to do something, why not click on the The Hunger Site - donate without it costing you anything. If you would like to something more committed, then check out the latest campaigns on the TEAR Fund website.