News and Prophecy Staff

Many assume that Greece will be forced to leave the EU and that Spain and Italy must follow.  This could leave Germany with a trillion euro liability—something few Germans want their nation to be responsible for.  Experts and the European press are starting to suggest that the only really feasible option for Germany may be for it to leave and let the EU “sink or swim” on its own (Telegraph, August 21, 2012).

Spain and Portugal are experiencing one of the worst forest fire seasons in recent history.  Forest fires have consumed three times as much area in Spain (January 1-August 5) as they did last year.  Fires also rage fiercely in Spain’s Canary Islands.  About 10 percent of the island of La Gomera has burned, including a quarter of a UNESCO World Heritage nature preserve.  Thousands have been evacuated (BBC, August 14, 2012).

In a recent interview, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair told the German Die Zeit newspaper that it is clear that the eurozone crisis will lead to “powerful political change of the EU,” adding, “And on this point, I am deeply worried that Britain could decide by referendum to leave the whole process” (Fox Business News, August 8, 2012).  Are we seeing the first cracks in Britain’s long-standing relationship with the wider EU community?

Last Saturday, two powerful earthquakes struck Iran.  The first was 6.4 magnitude and the second 6.3 (ITV News, August 12, 2012).  They were both followed by many aftershocks.  At least six villages were completely destroyed and dozens more experienced great damage.  More than 50,000 have taken temporary shelter (Reuters, August 14, 2012).

In a recent “letter drop” in the east Auckland suburb of Botany, the National MP for the area, Mr. Jami-Lee Ross, issued a message to residents. The letter, titled “Same-Sex Marriage: What do you think?” explained that “Parliament will soon be voting on draft legislation to enable same-sex couples to marry. Members of Parliament will be given a [individual] conscience vote on this issue. To help me represent the Botany Electorate when I vote, I would appreciate knowing your views on same-sex marriage” (Jami-Lee Ross, National Party, Same-Sex Marriage Letter, 6th of August, 2012).