A few things that have got me thinking and musing this week.
Justice and phones
What’s your phone got to do with a war?
Via Robin Peake
One of a few helpful pieces from Tearfund Rhythms on phones and conflict minerals. One of the reasons why I bought a Fairphone – topic of a future blog!
Football
Breaking news: Fifa say Hell will host 2026 World Cup
Via Gary Lineker
Great piece from the Telegraph on the farce that is FIFA.
Politics
Experiments show this is the best way to win campaigns. But is anyone actually doing it?
Via Tom Baker
From the US – What is the most effective form of political campaigning and why is it not used as it should be? I resonated with this in terms of my likelihood to vote for candidates I have the opportunity to engage with on the doorstep.
Thank heavens for Justin Welby
Via Pete Greig
How Lambeth Palace is worth listening to again and Justin Welby’s taking on of Wonga and payday loan companies by providing an alternative.
Sweden’s Prostitution Solution: Why Hasn’t Anyone Tried This Before?
How the Swedes have tackled traficking with incredible results.
Young people, riots and character
The New Politics of Character
Via Robin Peake
The results of a study into young people participating in riots in London revealed that the key factor was not lack of money or lack of morality but lack of character. What follows is an interesting discussion on defining and developing character in young people.
Cities
For the sake of our cities, it’s time to make town planning cool again
On the need for visionary planner more passionate about flourishing than bowing to the whims of developers.
Leadership, change and church
“The Top Ten Reasons This will Never Work”: On Leading Change in the Church
Via David Fitch
Despite my not being a fan of numbered lists there is some helpful stuff in here on leading change in churches and some of the many objections…
A quote
And finally a couple of tunes for the weekend…
Leonard Cohen – Did I Ever Love You?
And Springsteen from Dublin back in 2006 – When the Saints Go Marching In
the soapbox 
I read that piece about Justin Welby. I didn’t like it. I don’t know much about him other than the general picture painted in the article. I couldn’t give his views on Welby much credence as he woefully mischaracterised Rowan Williams.
I particularly disliked the part where he suggests that Welby would NEVER come out and suggest that markets are malign in and of themselves. Given the markets led to Wonga I would imagine that Welby would have a lot to say about the markets.
Also, it seemed to suggest that church leadership is really about effectiveness and not about prayer and thoughtfulness and consistency .
Yeah it was pretty harsh on Rowan Williams. Still its the Spectator and some of article says more about their/author’s perspective than Welby’.
I loved that Downing St get annoyed with his speeches!
I think Welby is very sharp and knows how to operate in ways that are making a positive impact such as what he has done on Wonga et al. Church leadership is about prayer and thoughtfulness and fruitfulness.