Strong support for EndItNow
Jerusalem, Israel—Five Seventh-day Adventist English-speaking congregations in Israel gathered together on December 26, 2009, to draw strength from each other and, most of all, from God as they heralded the theme “EndItNow.”
The successful gathering, organized by Nina Usacheva, Women’s Ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Israel, and Julio Mendez, the pastor for the English-speaking Adventist congregations in Israel, had about 180 people in attendance.
There were discussion groups on awareness, prevention, solutions, and inspiration from the Word of God to comfort those who have fallen victim to abuse. The attendees signed a petition signifying their support and commitment to end violence to women and girls.
EndItNow is a worldwide campaign, coordinated by the Women’s Ministries department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, to take a firm stand against violence aimed at women and girls. [Milagros Mendez/TED News Staff/ TED News]
New smoking ban in Finland expected to pass by summer
The Finnish government took further measures for public health by proposing a ban on smoking in private cars with underage occupants and prohibiting stores from displaying tobacco products. While government statistics report that only 20 percent of the Finnish population smokes, the goal is to eliminate smoking entirely, said state Health Ministry secretary Ilkka Oksala in an interview with BBC News. Health experts for the Seventh-day Adventist Church supported the move, citing the church’s long-time emphasis on health and wellness.
“Any measure that makes a substance a little more difficult to acquire . . . has been shown to result in a decreased consumption of the product,” said Allan Handysides, director of Health Ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “There’s a linear association between the amount of the product used and the amount of the disease that we see in the whole community.” Handysides added, “What people don’t realize when they start smoking is that giving up the habit is just as difficult as giving up cocaine or heroin.”
Finland’s ruling party in parliament is championing the antismoking legislation and faces little opposition from other parties, the BBC reported. The proposed laws will likely be implemented by summer.
“To make Finland a smoke-free country is probably the boldest goal ever against smoking from the [Finnish] health authorities,” said Atte Helminen, president for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Finland. “It is great to see how the health principles [the church] has promoted for so long are now recognized by the government as well.” The Finnish parliament first outlawed tobacco advertising in 1976. [ANN News]
