SNIPPETS
JULY 2011

In this Edition: Europe; Africa; Asia; Australasia; Global; Latin America; Middle East; USA

• FEB
  FEB has signed up with Twitter! Follow @FEBEurope to get extra news and information.
  
   
• UK
  The UK Government has published a Digital Radio Action Plan (DRAP) to provide information on whether to proceed with a radio switchover. It has asked Ofcom to chair a DAB coverage and spectrum planning group to determine the current level of FM coverage and develop a range of options to increase DAB coverage to match FM. Defining FM coverage is not simple as signals degrade over distance, but it is still possible to receive some kind of signal that some listeners would regard as acceptable.
  Source: Ofcom
  
  
  
  
• NETHERLANDS
  The Jesus.net Conference is being held from 3-6 October 2011 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The Conference goals are to broaden people's vision of Internet Ministry, hear about the new Jesus.net developments, ideas and innovations, provide times of fellowship and hear reports of progress, victories and disappointments in the work of Jesus.net. There will also be opportunities for training.
  Contact: Jan-Willem Bosman jwbosman@agape.nl 
  
   
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION
  New rules aimed at reducing the price gap between using a mobile phone at home and abroad have been proposed by the European Commission. "Roaming" costs would be reduced by 2014, by allowing customers to switch to separate operators when in another country without having to use a different phone number. This will increase competition and reduce profit margins.
  Source: BBC News
  
  
   
• UK
  Dame Patricia Hodgson and Dame Lynn Brindley have been appointed as non-executive Members of the UK's Ofcom Board. Hodgson joined the Board on 1st July 2011 and from January 2012 will become Deputy Chairman for a 3-year term on the retirement of Philip Graf CBE. Dame Patricia Hodgson is Principal of Newnham College Cambridge, and previously was CEO of the Independent Television Commission.
  Source: Ofcom
  
  
  
  
• EUROPEAN UNION
  EU President, Jerzy Buzek has presented an anti-sleaze plan to the Leaders of the European Parliament's political groups in a bid to increase transparencey and forestall future corruption allegations following the "cash-for-influence" scandal. The proposed Code of Conduct includes more rigorous checks on MEPs' financial interests as well as guidance over work that MEPs should not be permitted to accept alongside their parliamentary duties. This would discourage MEPs having other jobs that involve lobbying on EU policies.
  Source: European Voice
  
  
  
  
• UK
  The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) will intervene on behalf of four cases involving discrimination against Christians in the workplace at the European Court of Human Rights, saying that judges have interpreted the law "too narrowly". The UK Evangelical Alliance has urged the EHRC to press for greater flexibility in interpretation of equalities legislation and also for employment law to be clarified as it directly affects many people of faith.
  Contact: Daniel Webster d.webster@eauk.org
  
  
  
  
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION
  The latest Eurobarometer report by the European Commission has found that 74% of Europeans see disclosing personal information as an increasing part of modern life. Social networking site users are more likely to disclose their name (79%), photo (51%) and nationality (47%). Online shoppers disclose their names (90%), home addresses (89%) and mobile numbers (46%). However, 43% of Internet users say they have been asked for more personal information than necessary and many are concerned about the recording of their behaviour via payment cards, mobile phones and mobile Internet. Only 33% of Europeans are aware of the existence of a national public authority responsible for protecting their rights regarding personal data.
  Source: European Commission
  
  
  
  
• GERMANY
  Os Guinness and Daniel Bourdanne will be the main Speakers at the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) Assembly in Bad Liebenzell, Germany from 17-21 October 2011. The Assembly brings together around 150 leaders of churches, EAs and organisations from across Europe, Turkey, Israel, Central Asia and North Africa. Morning Bible studies will be based on the book of Daniel.
  Contact: Niek Tramper office@europeanea.org
  
  
  
  
• ALBANIA
  Radio 7 Albania hosted June Hunt and several ministry team members from Hope for the Heart. June is the author of the Biblical Counselling programme "Key to my heart" which is aired daily on Radio 7 as well as an author of 4 books. June spoke to over 600 women and shared a message of hope.
  Contact: Tammie McAdams tmcadams@hopefortheheart.org
    
  
  
  
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION
  The Society of European Affairs Professionals (SEAP) has issued a Press Statement on the new European Commission common Transparency Register which was launched on 23 June 2011. SEAP welcomed the adoption of a common transparency Register rather than an interests register - and the broadening of the scope of who is expected to register. SEAP cautions that the register should not be a barrier to access and believes that Parliament should take this opportunity to increase the limit of two access passes per organisation. In addition more detail is needed on the proposed complaints and sanctions procedure.
  Contact: Gary Hills secretariat@seap.be
  
  
  
  
• INTERNET REGULATION - FEB NEWS RELEASE
  After Meetings in Brussels FEB Chairman Harvey Thomas sent a News Release supporting the Bailey Report - particularly the concept that all new Internet Software should have a customer-friendly "cut-off" included so that both Individuals and Organisations can, if they choose, easily block access to harmful sites.
  http://www.feb.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/News-Release-July-2011.htm
  
  
  
• VATICAN
  The Vatican launched an Internet News Information Portal www.news.va on the 60th anniversary of Pope Benedict's ordination as a priest. The portal will aggregate information from the Vatican's various print, online, radio and television media and is designed to be social-media friendly, with Twitter feeds and Facebook links.
  Contact: Father Federico Lombardi dirgen@vatiradio.va
  
  
  
  
• UK
  The BBC will commission up to 6 pieces of original 3D content a year, beginning with a stereoscopic dinosaur documentary that will air on BBC HD at the beginning of 2012. This follows BBC's 3D broadcast of the Wimbledon Tennis finals, the first free-to-air 3D broadcast in the UK.
  Source: Broadcast
  
   

• SOUTH AFRICA
  Over 13,000 people attended 131 CBN showings at Media Ministry Centres across South Africa, with over 60% of them making commitments to Christ. CBN will launch the new "Superbook" series at the DISCOP African Television Market meetings in Nairobi from 7-9 September, before celebrating CBN's 50th Anniversary in late September in Virginia Beach, USA.
  Contact Keith Strugnell: keith.strugnell@go-tell.org
  
  
  
  
• SOUTH SUDAN
  The world's newest country, South Sudan, has received messages of solidarity from religious freedom organisations around the world, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). During the civil war, USCIRF identified Sudan as the world's most violent abuser of the right to freedom of religion or belief. Since the signing of the peace agreement in 2005 religious freedom has flourished in the south, while severe violations continue in the North against both non-Muslims and non-confirming Muslims.
  Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned that escalating violence in the north threatens the risk of creating "another Darfur".
  Source: www.christianpost.com
   
  
  

• NIGERIA
  Christians in northern Nigeria's Borno state are concerned about threats from the Islamic sect Boko Haram as they commemorate their leader's death. In Maiduguri Christians are now leaving the city, having already been forced to abandon worship services and churches are shutting down as some of their members have been killed, even after security agencies were enlisted to confront the assailants.  
  Contact: info@compassdirect.org  
  
  
  
  
• NORTH AFRICA
  The first 26 episodes of Family Life Network's new TV programme, "Just for Women" is now in production. The programme is aimed at Arabic-speaking women aged 18-35 and will cover topics including relationship issues such as marital, parenting, caring for ageing parents, friendships, spiritual health and more.
  Contact: Leona Krahn lkrahn@fln.ca
   

• PHILIPPINES
  "Tulung-Tulong sa Pagsulong" is the 700 Club Asia's latest live TV special being aired from 18-22 July at 11.00pm on GMA News TV. The show will contain inspiring stories of breakthroughs in tackling poverty, thanks to their humanitarian arm Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines. Operation Blessing demonstrates love in action by alleviating poverty in the least-served communities in the Philippines. Its programmes target malnutrition, illiteracy and health problems in children, while providing income for parents through skills training and small-scale businesses.
  Contact: tscaonline@cbnasia.org
  
  
  
  
• INDONESIA
  FEBC's Indonesia Director is in the process of registering HADIA (Heartline Academy of Media) with Indonesia's Education Department to enable HADIA to offer a degree in Radio and Television and Information Technology Training, beginning in August 2012. The radio station which trains these students is FEBC's local FM station in the Jakarta area.
  Contact: info@febc.org
   

• MEDIA ETHICS
  Following the News of the World phone-hacking scandal in the UK, Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard has indicated that she would support a parliamentary review into media ownership and ethics in Australia. Senator Brown has warned that media ownership laws in Australia are too lax, although there has not been any evidence of illegal behaviour by journalists in Australia.  Brown has called for a review of media practices and ethics, following Rupert Murdoch dropping his bid for control of UK's BSkyB. "With press freedom comes responsibility" he told ABC News.
   

• CHRISTIAN TELEVISION AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES WEB CHANNEL
  Christian Television Australia (CTA) has launched a web channel www.cta.tv , containing programmes and TV spots, as well as providing resources for training and sharing content by other producers. CTA is seeking content from Australian Christian video producers. CEO Martin Johnson said, "For more than 50 years, Christian Television Associations across Australia provided programming for the free-to-air networks. CTA is still committed to this model but with the convergence of media and the growth of Web 2.0 and high definition video sites, we see this new development as a way of continuing to serve the Australian Church".
  Contact Martin Johnson enquiries@christiantelevision.org.au
  
   

• FACEBOOK versus GOOGLE+
  Facebook has announced a partnership with Skype to add video chat to its social networking site. Skype is in the process of being bought by Microsoft, a major shareholder in Facebook. This is seen as a move to compete with Google+, which is now offering group video calls, known as 'Hangouts'. Mark Zuckerberg revealed that Facebook now has more than 750 million users, but he said that the amount of sharing - i.e. photos, videos and weblinks- is a good indication of how people engage with the site.
  In the UK, Channel 5 will use Facebook as a voting platform for the first time when the Big Brother series returns. It is working with mobile agency "Mobile Interactive Group" on the project, with viewers being able to vote off contestants using Facebook Credits.
  Source: BBC News Technology & C21Media.net
  
   

• "RELIGION STILL MATTERS"
  A new Ipsos global MORI poll has found that 7 in 10 people claimed to have a religion, but there was a marked difference in whether faith was important in their lives. Of the 18,000 people surveyed, across 24 countries including the UK and the USA, 94% of those in Muslim-majority countries agreed that their faith was important in their lives compared with 66% in Christian-majority countries. Muslims were far more likely to believe that their faith or religion was the only true path to salvation (61%) compared with only 19% in Christian countries. Muslims also say that their faith is a key factor in giving time and money to people in need.
  Contact:press@christiantoday.com.au 
  
  
   

• DIGITAL ADVERTISING
  Digital Advertising will account for 17% of global advertising in 2011 and is growing at a rate of 15-16% annually, according to media buyer GroupM. It estimates that spending on digital advertising will exceed US$100 billion by 2012. GroupM Futures Director Adam Smith said, "Digital advertising spending accounts for 20% and more of measured advertising in countries where it is most developed, but it still has real growth potential even in those nations". Technologies such as behavioural targeting and video advertising are key drivers for that spending.
  Source: GroupM
   
  
  

• TWITTER
  The Twitter information network now has more than one million registered third-party Applications, up from 150,000 only a year ago. According to its own blog, a new app is registered every 1.5 seconds. Twitter has been criticised for encouraging third-party developments and then building its own products which compete directly - for example their photo-sharing service.
  Source: Mashable.com
   

LATIN AMERICA

• TRAINING
  HCJB Global has set up the Corrientes initiative, which provides mentorship for young professionals from Latin America who want to serve as missionaries in cultures other than their own. In the past, North America and Europe were the largest missionary-sending regions, reaching people in third world countries. Now that figure has reversed and 60% of missionaries are now sent from countries that were previously receiving countries.
  Contact: Ron Cline rcline@hcjb.org
  
  
  
  

• SOUTH AMERICA
  Family Life Network's Spanish weekly "Encuentro" programme is now aired on 1240 radio stations in South America. The programme features interview-style testimonies conducted by Pastor Ernesto Pinto. FLN's programme "180 Grados" is aired on 127 TV stations.
  Contact: Leona Krahn lkrahn@fln.ca
  
  

• COLOMBIA
  
  

MIDDLE EAST

• IRAQ
  Canon Andrew White, known as "the Vicar of Baghdad" has been awarded the International First Freedom award. This award honours those who have shown extraordinary commitment and contribution to peace-keeping and the advancement of religious freedom. White is the Rector of St George's Anglican Church in Baghdad. White will be speaking at an event in Bristol, UK in October with the theme, "The Future of the Church in the Middle East and North Africa".
  Contact: Rachel Fadipe rachelfadipe@sat7trust.org
  
  
  

• IRAN
  SAT-7 PARS is using traditional Persial storytelling (Naqqal) skills to produce a new genre of programme combining Naqqali and modern drama based on John Bunyan's Christian classic "Pilgrim's Progress". As Sara Afshari, SAT-7 PARS Executive Director explains, "The Naqqal is an ancient theatrical art form of storytelling in which acting, visuals, symbols and signs relate to Persian culture and we are using these methods to share the good news".
  Contact: Rachel Fadipe rachelfadipe@sat7trust.org
  
  
  

• USA / UK
  USA's Inspiration Network has teamed with Hillsong Church London for the Hillsong Conference from 21-23 July at the O2 Arena, London. Israel Houghton and Joel Houston will be leading worship and Joseph Prince and Priscilla Shirer will be among the Speakers.
  Contact: Melissa Prince info@ini.tv
  
  
  
  
• 125 HOURS OF PRAYER
  More than 125 years ago, Emma Dryer began weekly prayer meetings asking God to move D.L. Moody's heart to begin a training school in Chicago. Moody Bible Institute began as a result of these consistent prayer meetings. As Moody celebrates its 125th anniversary, it is holding a Prayer Meeting for 125 hours, beginning on Sunday August 21 at 7pm and ending at midnight on Friday 26 August. Anyone can sign up for a 15-minute slot by visiting www.moody125.org
  Contact: pr@moody.edu

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