"Paradise" (pray for the Maldives)

Date: 10 January 2010 17:29:46

This week I am encouraging people to pray for the Maldives. Often thought of as “paradise”, this is a country which has been through much in the last 10 years, and there is much to praise God for. In 2008 democratic elections were held after 30 years of autocratic rule. There is now in theory freedom of the press, and further steps are being taken to make this more of a reality. The Maldives were also badly affected by the 2004 Tsunami, and much rebuilding has happened since. The Maldives are one of the nations most effected by climate change. None of the Islands that make up the Maldives are more than 6ft above sea level. Also as the oceans warm it will dissolve the coral that the Islands are made of. The Maldives relies on tourism for it’s economy, if there is increased flooding this will also be effected. I have partly chosen to flag up the Maldives for prayer, as Scotland (where I live) are developing links with the Maldives to help them deal with climate change. Prayer points. • For continued democracy • For continued freedom of the press • For nations to work together to prevent the earth’s temperature rising beyond 2 degrees • For tourism to managed in a sustainable way • That the voice of the Maldives (and other similar islands) will be heard internationally