On 11 May 2013 all the Christian Churches in Syria united in prayer, asking the Lord to bring peace to their country. For the first time ever, the different Christian denominations present in this martyred land mobilized to pray for four intentions: a return of peace, the liberation of all hostages, the support of children traumatized by the war, and humanitarian aid for the country’s huge number of refugees. Other religious denominations also participated in this event, which was labeled “The Prayer of a Broken Heart.” According to those who organized the Day, its purpose was to sensitize the world to a conflict that is by now out of control in a nation in which Sunnis, Sh...
3 May was World Press Freedom Day, a celebration instituted by UNESCO. In a joint message, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova reminded everyone that today many journalists continue to be subjected to intimidation, threats and violence in a persistent climate of impunity. David Maggiore, Vice-President for the Italian division of Reporters without Borders, says: “We have seen a new mechanism come into play in the wars that have been fought over the last 20 years, namely: the fact that it is getting harder and harder for reporters to be present in battle zones because of the very high risk that they might be kidnapped, if not outrightl...
