The Atheist bus campaign - January

Buses with the slogan "there is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life" took to the streets in several key UK cities in January 09. Public transport became the unlikely site for a debate between humanists and religious groups.  Unusual and brilliant responses to the campaign included Theos think tank contributing a token amount to demonstrate that it was positive if it made people think about God at all. 

Obama's inauguration - January 

The eyes of the whole world watched the inauguration of president Obama on January 20 09. He is the USA's 44^th president and the first black premier. In an historic inaugural address delivered to millions in Washington he said "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America". Black people everywhere rejoiced at the historic moment and the Evangelical Alliance along with the Bible Society sent Obama a Bible after a scripture-less swearing in.

World Recession - January

Grim tales and doom and gloom news about the worsening credit crunch emulated everywhere. It was a tale of slow improvement for most of the world in 2009. Despite occasional hints of  positive climbing, unemployment was at historic highs and getting higher with each piece of news of more redundancies. Personal debt has been ever increasing and businesses of all kinds went into administration.   

Life Beyond Debt was the Evangelical Alliance's campaign in response to the current economic crisis.  It addressed the Church's involvement in helping people out of debt and steward their money responsibly. It encourages all to think about the role that money plays in our life.  Out of Life Beyond Debt came the Simplify campaign. Simplify saw hundreds of people live on less for a month in order to give away more and challenged people's lifestyles so we can become more generous. Jesus challenged us not to worry about money, but to think first of the needs of others.

Nurse Caroline Petrie case - February

The senior nurse, 45, from Weston Super Mare went through the courts in February this year after being suspended in December 08. Mrs Petrie, a Baptist, offered the prayer to a patient in her 70s on a home visit and she insisted that when refused she left the matter alone. She was reinstated in her job and was pleased to be invited back to work.

Susan Boyle shot to fame - April

She was completely unknown and an unlikely star but her audition on Britain's Got Talent show, on ITV in April, catapulted her to a major youtube hit within days. Due to her appearance and nature it seemed unlikely that the judges  would take more than one look but then they heard her sing.  It was a huge talking point across the nation.

MPs expenses scandal - May

Full lists of expenses from Members of Parliament were published by the Telegraph in May 09. The scandal of inappropriate use of funds ranged from the excessive to the downright bizarre.  Moat draining, creating duck islands, second homes and loo problems all made juicy news stories and came back to haunt the MPs. 

It has caused more distrust of politicians despite not all MPs being found to be fiddling the books. MPs are now banned from making mortgage claims and employing family members under a radical overhaul of the parliamentary expenses system.

Swine flu - May onwards
Dire warnings and huge scares of swine flu dominated the media from May onwards with warnings that half the population could fall ill and up to 750,000 people worldwide would die. The subject didn't leave the headlines for months as threats continued.  The WHO declared a pandemic and millions spent on vaccines. As it stands it was less lethal than thought with 1% of the population in England had swine flu of which 0.026 % died.

The Government suggested that communities set up Flu friend networks at the height of the epidemic and the Evangelical Alliance inspired churches in the UK to be at the centre of these networks.

Michael Jackson's death - June

The world famous pop star Michael Jackson died in Los Angeles, aged 50, on 25 June 09. 

Jackson, with a history of health issues was due to make a comeback tour and play 50 concerts at the O2. There was controversy and confusion over the exact cause of his death. Being so well known and idolised over the world gave cause for the details to be explored in news across the world.

Lockerbie bomber released - August

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi who was in a Scottish prison was released in August and allowed to go back to Libya. The Scottish government caused huge controversy with this decision stating that it was on purely compassionate grounds as he was suffering from terminal cancer. Further controversy and fury ensued when he received a heroes welcome on arrival in Tripoli, Libya. Many were appalled that a man responsible for the loss of 270 lives in the Pan Am jet bombing could go free.

This case got people discussing justice and compassion.  Kenny Macaskill said that Megrahi was now 'being judged by a higher power'. A discussion of these comments on Newsnight saw Justin Thacker, the Evangelical Alliance's Head of Theology, say: "The notion of justice leads us to have compassion, for instance compassion for the victims of crime. But also our compassion leads us to pursue justice at the same time so the relationship between compassion and justice is not simply one of opposition but they can actually relate and reinforce one another at times. Holding them in tension is part of what we try to do in creating a fair judicial system"

Copenhagen Climate Summit - December

The UN conference meeting in Copenhagen aimed to thrash out a global deal on climate change. The summit held 7-18 December was the biggest environmental meeting in history  with the aim of sealing a worldwide deal to head off dangerous global warming - any rise over 2 degrees C. Hopes were high before the meeting and thousands marched in London as part of 'the Wave' protest to demand that the British Government put it high on their agenda and push for an agreement.

Sadly there were no firm or binding agreements made on emission cuts so it was a bit of a failure. Funding for developing nations to adapt to climate change was also in contention with 10 billion a year agreed but at least 100 billion a year required.

Jan 6th Telegraph - Atheist buses denying God's existence take to streets.

Jan 6th BBC -  Atheists launch bus ad campaign

Oct 21 '08 Theos  - Theos respond  

Obama's inauguration - January

Jan 20th Guardian - Obama Inauguration

Jan 19th Telegraph - Inauguration; everything you need to know

 Nov 10th Article by David Muir -Barack Obama 

Jan 22nd Eauk - Bible sent to Obama after scripture-less swearing in

 World Recession - January

Jan 23rd Telegraph - The recession; how bad will this one be?

Jan 23rd Times - The Credit Crunch  

Dec 21st 09 Telegraph -Over or does recovery remain distant?  

Life Beyond Debt Campaign

Simplify

Nurse Caroline Petrie case - February

Feb 1st BBC - Nurse suspended for prayer offer

Feb 7th Times - Victory for suspended nurse

Susan Boyle shot to fame - April

Apr 10th Telegraph - An unlikely star   

Apr 16th Telegraph-Britain's Got Talent star a youtube hit

MPs expenses scandal - May 

May 13th Telegraph - Gordon Brown backs plan for all claims to be published online

June 18th BBC - Details revealed for MPs expenses

May 17th Times - House of Frauds 

Swine flu - May onwards

Jun 12th  BBC - Swine flu cases soar past 800 

Jun 18th BBC - More test positive 

May 7th Eauk - Flu Friends press release 

Michael Jackson's death - June

June 26th Guardian - Michael Jackson is dead  

June 26th BBC - World famous Jackson dies at 50 

Lockerbie bomber released - August

Aug 13th BBC - Lockerbie bomber to be released

Aug 23rd Guardian - Gordon brown in storm

Aug 30th Times -  Lockerbie bomber 'set free for oil'  

Copenhagen Climate Summit - December

Dec 14th Guardian - Talks stall

Dec 5th Telegraph - The Wave march takes to London

December Teafund campaign - prayer points 

Dec 19th Tearfund  -Weak deal leaves poor nations in limbo