2. ZURICH CONSIDERS ALLOWING ASSISTED SUICIDE IN RETIREMENT HOMES
from: LiveAction
SYNOPSIS: The city of Zurich is considering allowing assisted suicide in all retirement homes and hospitals. The Zurich Cantonal Council approved the measure, but not for prisons or psychiatric hospitals. This move raises concerns that it could pressure the elderly to choose assisted suicide.
The article suggests this could set a precedent and spread beyond Switzerland if unchallenged. Pro-life advocates worry this erodes the boundaries between care and ending life, potentially due to healthcare costs or staffing shortages. The article suggests this could set a precedent and spread beyond Switzerland if unchallenged.
Pray for people, especially Christians, to be alert and to take a firm stand against assisted suicide and euthanasia in retirement homes and hospitals. See my blog "Ageism is the New Racism."
3. LAVROV: THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE ON RUSSIAN CHURCH AND LANGUAGE
from: RISU
SYNOPSIS: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia is prepared to compromise in negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine. He said this in an interview, as reported by Hromadske. "We are always open to compromises, or, simply put, finding a balance of interests. The most important thing is that the legitimate interests of each state are considered," Lavrov stated.
However, he emphasized that compromises cannot involve "key, fundamental principles on which a state's existence depends, and most importantly, the lives of millions of people." Specifically, Lavrov highlighted concerns regarding "Russia's security" and the alleged "destruction of the Russian language and the Orthodox Church." Lavrov also asserted that the objectives of the Russian occupation forces "remain unchanged and are not subject to any opportunistic compromises."
Ask the Lord that the West will not capitulate to Russia's "non-negotiable" demands in peace negotiations on their war against Ukraine's national identity.
4. TRUE END-OF-LIFE CARE: RESPECTING THE SACREDNESS OF HUMAN LIFE
from: American Life League
SYNOPSIS: The article discusses a surprising resistance to the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide in Western democracies, particularly in Europe. The French Senate rejected a bill legalizing assisted suicide, leading to debate and a focus on palliative care. Legislative efforts in Scotland, England, and Wales are also facing obstacles, with amendments and delays.
The focus should be on palliative care (pain management) rather than normalizing death. The French bishops have spoken out against assisted suicide, emphasizing the importance of respecting human life and dignity. The article highlights potential abuses of euthanasia, citing cases of patients being euthanized despite changing their minds. The author suggests a turning of the tide, encouraging continued advocacy for life and sharing the Church's teachings.
Thank the Lord for people becoming more and more aware of the dangers implied by legalizing assisted suicide and euthanasia.
5. DISABILITY-FOCUSED PROMS TO BE HELD ACROSS THE GLOBE
from: Disability Scoop
SYNOPSIS: Special proms for people with disabilities, called "Night to Shine," are being held worldwide around Valentine's Day. The events, organized by the Tim Tebow Foundation, will take place in over 950 churches across the U.S. and in over 70 countries. Each prom will include a red carpet, hair and makeup, karaoke, limousine rides, dancing, and dinner.
The events are free and open to individuals with disabilities ages 14 and up. Tim Tebow highlighted the joy and celebration the proms bring to participants. The article also mentions several other news stories related to disability, including issues with autism care, underpayment of a school janitor with an intellectual disability, and concerns about altering IDEA.
Rejoice with those who rejoice! Praise God for Christians who are providing opportunities for disabled young people to enjoy prom night like other students.
6. POSITIVE AGEING: REDEFINING WHAT AGEING SUCCESSFULLY MEANS
from: PositivePsychology.com
SYNOPSIS: Positive ageing redefines successful ageing, emphasizing resilience, growth, and adaptability over just physical health. A positive mindset and attitudes toward ageing are key to better health and life satisfaction. Successful ageing encompasses physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. The article contrasts positive and negative beliefs about ageing, highlighting the impact of age stereotypes and the importance of challenging them.
Six key pillars of positive ageing are a healthy lifestyle, cognitive health, social connections, mindfulness, spiritual growth, and financial security. Positive psychology offers perspectives, including a strengths-based approach, gratitude, growth mindset, emotional resilience, and purpose. The article provides examples of positive ageing in action and lists helpful resources and books on the topic, including works by David Lereah and Atul Gawande.
Thank the Lord for letting us grow older! “Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.” See my blog "Ageism is the New Racism."
7. EPIGENETICS: HOW ENVIRONMENT SHAPES GENES
from: Disabled World
SYNOPSIS: Few scientific discoveries in the past century have reshaped our understanding of health as profoundly as epigenetics. For decades, genes were viewed as fixed blueprints - immutable instructions passed down from parents to children. Today, we know that genes are more like scripts subject to editing. Epigenetics explains how life experiences, environment, stress, nutrition, and ageing can influence how our genes behave - without altering the DNA sequence itself.
This insight has major implications not only for the general population but also for seniors and individuals living with disabilities. Epigenetics is the field of biology that studies how gene activity is regulated without altering the underlying DNA sequence. Rather than changing the genetic code itself, epigenetic processes involve chemical tags that influence whether specific genes are turned on, turned off, or adjusted in their level of expression.
Praise God for this important field of discovery! It is helpful to realize that our thoughts, attitudes, and behavior can shape our lives.
BE A LIGHTHOUSE, NOT AN OSTRICH!
Earlier this week, I wrote a response to Paul Kingnorth's manifesto "Writers Against AI" that he posted that same day. Click the photo to read my response and his original article. To really be a writer and at the same time to fully be against AI would put oneself back in the days of quill pen and inkwell, writing by candle light after a long day of hunting in the woods for meat and working in the fields for vegetables.
But the truth is that AI is already fully embedded in most aspects of modern society. This began decades ago: we used to call it "DP – Data Processing," then renamed it "IT – Information Technology," and now we call it "AI – Artificial Intelligence." It's everywhere: in our cars, traffic signals, shopping, banking, TVs, smartphones, social media, politics.... We get the feeling – "Resistance Is Futile! Just Give In!" Or as Kingnorth proposes, stick our heads in the sand like an ostrich and retreat into Luddism – but in reality, he can't retreat, nor can we. So, we must learn to use it wisely – "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16).
What does "circumspectly" mean? To be circumspect is to be wary; the word comes from a Latin word literally meaning “look around.” Be careful not to be deceived. There are plenty of grifters and loafers in the world and even in churches who want to deceive you and take advantage of you. Scripture calls them "wolves in sheep's clothing," "thieves and robbers," and "ravenous wolves." There are many in the world who misuse charitable-sounding words and phrases to draw you into one or another very uncharitable, dictatorial worldview.
One hundred years ago, in 1926, G.K. Chesterton wrote a short story entitled The Outline of Sanity (This links to an "epub" e-book version, but you can find it in many formats on the Internet.) His humorous and satirical writing style brightly illuminates the two evils of Socialism and Capitalism, and describes a middle way, the "golden mean" between the two, which he and others call Distributionism. He is not opposed to private property, but instead opposed to the concentration of property in the hands of either the super-rich capitalists or the super-rich socialist state and their bureaucrats. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Distributists believe in the equal distribution of private property to all people, so that there will be neither rich nor poor, fat capitalists or fat bureaucrats. Distributists advocate for small businesses and small farms owned by individuals, families and small co-operatives. This is very similar to the stewardship-ownership of land in ancient Israel and our concept of Agape Restoration Communities. Small groups of people should be able to become mostly self-sufficient with a few acres of land, and take care of one another. When problems arise – which will always happen – they can be resolved face-to-face instead of taking issues to court.
Communitarians are very similar, emphasizing the human need for genuine community, not the fake "friends" on social media or even in large churches. The idea of meeting together in the town square, or in a coffee shop, or at a church picnic, or a playground, or gardening – this is almost lost in today's world. People need other people, real people, not just distant faces on a screen or voices on a smartphone.
This is what our Agape Restoration Communities are all about. so please take a few minutes to read my "Building the ARC" article... and share it!
Share this essay! Go to our ARC-News blog. Also, create your own website for just a few bucks per month!
61 Million adults in the United States live with a disability – that's 26%, or over 1 in every 4 adults. (Click on the photo from the Center for Disease Control to see all six parts of this infographic. You can also download it as a PDF.) The second part of the infographic shows us the percentages of adults with functional disability types: 13.7% - mobility, 10.8% - cognition, 6.8% - independent living, 5.9% - hearing, 4.6% - vision, and 3.7% - self-care. These often overlap, but mobility issues make up over half of all disabilities.