Unit 3 - UK's split from the EU

The following blog post is a summary of an article found from the Washington Post. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/03/25/only-way-out-brexit-lies-with-people/?utm_term=.220155cb00e7

Back in 2016 the citizens of UK voted on leaving the EU and the date of March 29th, 2019 is fast approaching and there is no deal in place with the EU.  With the UK set to leave the EU it leaves a lot of unanswered questions about travel, trade and other diplomatic issues of how the UK would interact with members of the EU after the 29th.  The majority of the younger people in the UK are strongly against Brexit claiming leaving the EU will do more harm than good.  Prime Minster May bas submitted two different proposals to the UK government but both have failed to reach the majority needed to pass.

The EU was formed after World War Two to promote economic growth.  It was the goal that if the countries came together that they would avoid going to war with each other.  Overall it would seem that most of the countries have benefited from the EU but being in the EU also means losing a certain amount of control on things like border security and taxes assessed on traded goods.
But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 1 Corinthians 7:15.

I believe this verse sums up the recent tensions in the UK and trying to leave the EU.  Separation is not easy process.  It can be very messy and there are many decisions that have to be ironed out to a mutually agreed benefit of both parties.

Unit 2 - Recent political issues in Venezuela

Currently, in Venezuela, there is a power struggle between the sitting president Nicolás Maduro and Juan Guaidó. Maduro was elected in 2013 by a narrow margin after Hugo Chávez died and was recently re-elected to a second six-year term in May 2018. The opposition claims that the recent elections were not free nor fair. Candidates had either been barred from running, jailed or fled the country on fears of being jailed by Maduro. Guaidó claims that he is the legitimate president and President Trump has even gone as far as tweeting out a message recognizing Guaidó as the interim President of Venezuela. Maduro claims the recent issues to the power grid in Venezuela is an attack initiated by the United States as a way to remove him from power.

Latin America has had its share of dictators who have rules under fear and oppression. Some examples are Fidel Castro in Cuba and Hugo Chávez in Venezuela. They use their power and influence over the military to oppress the people of the country and to eliminate any threat to their power. Chávez admired Castro and used the oil industry in Venezuela to promote his objectives and to resist any outside influences from the United States. Nicolás Maduro and Hugo Chávez were close and Maduro stated that he would continue the policies of Chávez.

“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God” (Proverbs 14:31). “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done” (Proverbs 19:17).

I chose these two passages because they tie in well with this week’s devotional and this week’s reading. We have a responsibility to use our power and influence to honor God and others around us. To do this we should do everything in our power to help the poor and needy. All are equal in the eyes of the Lord. When that power is used for personal gain and to keep those oppressed we bring dishonor on ourselves.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36319877