PRAYERS FOR PEACEMAKERS, Weds. Dec. 2, 2009

Pray for the people of northern Iraq. Tensions are increasing between Kurdish and Arab residents as displacement, bombings along the Turkish border, and the anticipated withdrawal of U.S. troops contribute to the uncertainties of their lives.

In recent weeks, the Colombian investigative magazine, Cambio, has published stories about the Colombian government subsidizing its rich citizens, while poor Colombians lose what little they have.  It reported that some of the wealthiest families of Colombia received millions of dollars to develop their agricultural investments.  It also reported that these families had donated large sums of money to President Uribe's and to former Agriculture Minister Andres Felipe Arias' 2010 presidential campaigns.  Mr. Arias was responsible for authorizing the subsidies.