NEWS/PRAYER ALERT! Divided Country: Ukrainians Count the Cost of Change - By George Thomas, February 25, 2014;http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/February/Ukrainians-Facing-Uncertain-Future/ KIEV, Ukraine -- "President Viktor Yanukovych, facing an arrest warrant, is still on the run as the country prepares for elections to replace him. Meanwhile, for many anti-government protesters in Ukraine, like Yevgeniy Sikunov, the future remains uncertain... Meanwhile, many say it is hard to predict which direction the country will go. There's talk of splitting Ukraine in two as supporters and opponents of Yanukovych clash with growing frequency.
NEWS/RAYER ALERT! "Ukraine President Becomes Fugitive from Justice "- By George Thomas, Monday, February 24, 2014; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/February/Opposition-Takes-Presidency-in-Divided-Ukraine/ KIEV, Ukraine -- The former president of Ukraine is a fugitive from justice Monday. The country's interim government issued an arrest warrant for Viktor Yanukovich after the mass killings of civilians last week. Yanukovch fled the capital Saturday and reportedly is in hiding in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainians are mourning the loss of more than 100 people killed in clashes between riot police and protesters. That sadness is settling over a country facing dramatic political changes...On Saturday, Ukraine's parliament stunned the nation by voting overwhelmingly to impeach Yanukovych. Hours later, members of parliament picked Oleksandr Turchynov, a prominent evangelical Christian, as interim president until new elections in May. "Christians were praying on Independence Square," Pastor Kaluzhny said. "We were praying in our churches. People around the world were praying for us, and God did a miracle! Ukraine is a new country." What happens next is uncertain.
As the Lord leads, please pray:
-That the turmoil in Ukraine will be resolved
-That the leaders of Ukraine will be able to peacefully resolve their impasse
-Safety for those trapped by the violence in the nation
SIGN NEW PETITION - (Jan. 27) American Pastor Saheed Abidini - An Iranian leader has said that clemency for the pastor after almost 1 and 1/2 years being falsely imprisoned. Please sign this new petition at: http://beheardproject.com/ 2/6 - PRAISE GOD that after pastor Abedini has been unjustly imprisoned for over a year and a half, President Obama finally spoke out himself for the pastor's release as well as that of Ken Bae from North Korea (see below)!
SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
Oct. 23: "Christians Fleeing IRAQ Area Once Considered Safe," - CBNNews.com, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Christians-Fleeing-Iraq-Area-Once-Considered-Safe/ PRAY that believers in Iraq will know God's protection and provision; that believers will know[ whether they are called to flee or remain and persevere; and that their persecutors may come to hear the gospel and come to faith in Christ. - Stan]
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
Update on Kenneth Bae: "US Ready to Bargain with N. Korea for Bae's Release,"- CBNNews.com, Aug 14, 2013 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/S-Ready-to-Bargain-with-N-Korea-for-Baes-Release/ - PRAY for 1) God's healing of and presence with Pastor Bae, 2) His earliest release by the North Korean government, and 3) God's comfort for his family and friends.]
November 04, 2013 - Saeed's Life in [Greater] Jeopardy After Prison Transfer - CBNNews.com, ; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/November/Saeeds-Life-in-Jeopardy-after-Prison-Transfer/ IRAN - Vigils Mark One Year Imprisonment of Pastor Saeed - CBNNews.com, Thursday, September 26, 2013 - Today marks one-year that American pastor Saeed Abedini has been held in an Iranian prison. He is serving an eight-year sentence because of his Christian faith. It has been a year of torment as he has suffered beatings, physical pain from untreated medical conditions, and separation from his wife and two children... The suffering has not dampened his passion for Jesus. Pastor Abedini has led more than 30 prisoners to Christ during his time in prison.
November 04, 2013 - Saeed's Life in [Greater] Jeopardy After Prison Transfer - CBNNews.com, ; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/November/Saeeds-Life-in-Jeopardy-after-Prison-Transfer/ IRAN - Vigils Mark One Year Imprisonment of Pastor Saeed - CBNNews.com, Thursday, September 26, 2013 - Today marks one-year that American pastor Saeed Abedini has been held in an Iranian prison. He is serving an eight-year sentence because of his Christian faith. It has been a year of torment as he has suffered beatings, physical pain from untreated medical conditions, and separation from his wife and two children... The suffering has not dampened his passion for Jesus. Pastor Abedini has led more than 30 prisoners to Christ during his time in prison.
PRAY: - For comfort and peace for Saeed’s wife and children here in the U.S.\
- For a strong witness and testimony from Pastor Abedini in the prison where God has placed him
- For Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ
- For leadership from the White House and State Department in defending the freedoms of Abedini and other Americans
- GO TO SaveSaeed.org to sign a petition over 600,000 others asking for his immediate release
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"The Protesters' Cry for Freedom" - By Amy Payne, February 24, 2014-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The international scene in the past couple of weeks was supposed to be a smiling gathering of nations for the Olympics. That has been overshadowed by violence in Ukraine and Venezuela, where protesters are demanding leadership that would address their concerns of freedom, both personal and economic.
Where is President Obama? Nile Gardiner, director of Heritage’s Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, observes [2]: The leader of the free world has been largely invisible as Ukrainian demonstrators are ruthlessly picked off by government snipers and left for dead, while Russian President Vladimir Putin vows that Ukraine will remain in Russia’s orbit. Obama’s approach to foreign policy, which Heritage experts have described as a “radical departure [3]” from previous presidents, has relied heavily on international institutions and summits to address problems. “This flawed approach, with a fundamental rejection of the notion of American exceptionalism, is amply on display over the Ukrainian crisis,” Gardiner says [2]. “The Russian reset has spectacularly backfired, resulting in staggering complacency in Washington over Ukraine and Moscow’s ambitions.”
And just what are Moscow’s ambitions? Heritage’s Peter Brookes says [4] Putin has several methods at his disposal for keeping Ukraine close:Now we’re not talking about Russian tanks rolling into Ukraine. Rather, financial weapons such as energy deals and foreign aid are the likely instruments of this political warfare. Ukraine’s economy is weak and a convenient point of leverage for influencing Kiev.
Putin spent $50 billion on the less-than-strategic Olympics. How much do you think he’d spend to hold on to Ukraine?
Economic crises go hand-in-hand with political oppression and unrest. A quick look at the Heritage/Wall Street Journal Index of Economic Freedom reveals that Ukraine [5] ranks 155th in the world and suffers from corruption and a lack of labor freedom. Venezuela [6] ranks 175th, also corroded by corrupt leadership, and its people essentially have no property rights.
No quick changeover in a country’s leadership can fix these deeply rooted problems. And America’s commitment to economic freedom around the world is vital.
Besides securing freedom for oppressed people, are American interests are at stake in these other countries’ turmoil? Heritage experts say most definitely.
Ukraine: “It is in the national interest of the United States to prevent Ukraine from becoming a Russian satellite and a key member of a Moscow-dominated sphere of influence,” says [7] Senior Research Fellow Ariel Cohen. The Obama Administration’s approach—called a “reset” of policy toward Russia—“has done nothing to curb Moscow’s determination to be the bully of the neighborhood,” adds [8] James Carafano, Heritage’s E. W. Richardson Fellow.
Venezuela: “It’s time the Obama Administration woke up and recognized the looming threat in its own hemisphere,” says [9] Heritage’s Ana Quintana. “Not only are the regimes governing the socialist ALBA [10] bloc of Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Nicaragua hostile to their own people, but they are a danger to the United States.”
Read the Morning Bell and more en español every day at Heritage Libertad [11].
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
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Article printed from The Foundry: Conservative Policy News from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org; URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2014/02/24/ukraine-venezuela-protesters-cry-freedom/
URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2014_02_23_MorningBell_Payne.jpg
[2] observes: http://blog.heritage.org/2014/02/21/kyiv-burns-obama-doctrine-going-flames/
[3] radical departure: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/08/defining-the-obama-doctrine-its-pitfalls-and-how-to-avoid-them
[4] says: http://blog.heritage.org/2014/02/22/putin-displeased-ukraine-distracting-olympics/
[5] Ukraine: http://www.heritage.org/index/country/ukraine
[6] Venezuela: http://www.heritage.org/index/country/venezuela
[7] says: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/10/why-the-us-should-support-ukraines-association-and-free-trade-agreements-with-europe?ac=1
[8] adds: http://washingtonexaminer.com/the-stakes-are-high-in-ukraine-with-freedom-on-the-line/article/2543720
[9] says: http://blog.heritage.org/2014/02/17/obama-silent-venezuelan-government-violently-represses-democratic-opposition/
[10] ALBA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALBA
[11] Heritage Libertad: http://www.libertad.org/
Copyright © 2014 The Heritage Foundation. All rights reserved.
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