The Vicar's blog about the world

The Chocolate Slave

November 4, 2007

One could be forgiven for thinking of this as the year of William Wilberforce. The latest appearance of the great agitator occurred this week at Hull when the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu gave the Annual William Wilberforce Lecture and homed in on chocolate. Apparently the Brits are addicted and spend more than 4 billion English Pounds on chocolate each year (= 8.2 billion USD).

However the lecture wasn’t about addiction or health but slavery. Ruth Gledhill reported in the Times, “More than 12,000 child slaves and trafficked child labourers are working in Ivory Coast harvesting 43 per cent of the world's chocolate cocoa beans, according to Stop the Traffik.”

The Archbishop appealed not for a boycott on firms that source their cocoa from such areas, ... Read the rest of the Article. Post a Comment.

Christians engaging with our world

October 28, 2007 - Ian

This week I read an article on Christendom and violence, I watched the film “Amazing Grace” about the work of William Wilberforce ending slavery in the British Empire exactly 200 years ago, I have worked, for this Sunday’s sermon, on the letter in the Bible called Philemon (have a read of it, it won’t take you long). All these three “works” have challenged me to think about how a Christian should engage with our world. Throughout history there has been a diversity of approaches; from complete disengagement with the world and so living alone on top of poles, to being so involved with the world that you mount armies to conquer in the name of Christ “for Christendom” (like the Crusades of the 11th -13th Centuries). Most of us fit in between these extremes.

Focusing now on the issue of slavery... Read the rest of the Article, Post a Comment.

Working for love.

29 April 2007

Every now and then the dedicated worker pauses and asks herself, “Why am I working like this?” Sometimes late at night as he leaves the office, the business man asks himself. “Who am I working for?”

There is more than one answer to these questions. Money, house payments, children’s education, retirement, holiday, alimony, the “cause”, promotion, status, no other choice, a slave driver, a dysfunctional organisation…

My mother (the traditional housewife) used to say that she was working for love – meaning she didn’t get any other pay. Although she was also describing her motivation. Of course some workers work for money as well as love. That is, they are looking for payment in terms of love. Or at least approval. Well, let’s be honest – acclaim, status. Read the rest of the Article. Post a Comment

Liberte? ... Egalite? ... Fraternite? (Work and relationships)

18 February 2007

Part of the history of labour movements has been the fight for better conditions for workers. Famous battles between unions and governments/employers have been fought over the length of the working week, about fair wages, and about other important matters to do with employment.

Part of the aim was to give workers time away from work for rest and family. But the world keeps changing and long hours creep back – especially among the so called professional classes. There are many reasons for this, including the use of work as a retreat from home. Actually as a retreat from difficult relations at home.

Last week Greg spoke at the Men’s breakfast about the book, The Man in the Mirror. One of the things I think he reported was that one of the temptations men face (and not only men) is to use work as a diversion from responsibilities and relationships. More... Post a Comment.

Book Review: Responsible Dominion: A Christian Approach to Sustainable Development. By Ian Hore-Lacy. Regent College Publishing. Vancouver. ISBN: 1-57383-342-8 7 January 2007

A book by the Director of Public Communications for the Word Nuclear Association may be suspected of being a public relations exercise for the nuclear industry. Certainly nuclear energy is part of the discussion and receives strong support in the book.

But it would be a mistake to write the book off (or buy it) just for that reason. M ore... Post a comment.

Reflections about the World 2005-2006

Family Nov 12, 2006

Progress to where? Science & Bible Nov 5, 2006

Making a Difference Helping the needy Oct 15, 06

Science and Truth Evolution and the Bible October 8

Grieving for What? Public grief Sep 10, 2006

Who needs a King? Is politics the answer? Aug 6, 06

Is this Natural? Earthquakes & Tsunamis July 23, 06

Obsession? A Code of Conduct for Conversions? July 16, 2006

The Culturalisation of Christianity July 9, 2006

How Generous? Giving July 2, 2006