Eurozone Emerges from Recession
BBC: The eurozone economy has emerged from recession after growing between July and September, figures have shown.

The 16 nations that use the euro collectively grew 0.4%, after shrinking by 0.2% between April and June.

The French and German economies both grew for a second consecutive quarter, confirming the eurozone's two largest economies are out of recession. >>> | Friday, November 13, 2009

Birth Rate Drops Amid Recession
THE WASHINGTON TIMES: Decline first annual dip since start of decade

ATLANTA | There aren't just fewer jobs in a recession. There are fewer babies, too.

U.S. births fell in 2008, the first full year of the recession, marking the first annual decline in births since the start of the decade and ending an American baby boomlet.

The downturn in the economy best explains the drop in maternity, some experts believe. The Great Depression and subsequent recessions all were accompanied by a decline in births, said Carol Hogue, an Emory University professor of maternal and child health and epidemiology.

And the numbers have never rebounded until the economy pulled out of it, she said, calling the 2008 recession the most likely culprit for fewer babies.

It's not clear that it's the only explanation, however. Another expert noted a recent decline in immigration to the U.S. may also be a factor.

The nation recorded about 4,247,000 births last year, down about 68,000 from 2007, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics.

This recession began in December 2007, and since then the economy has lost almost 7 million jobs. Housing foreclosures worsened in 2007 too, and fell into a state of crisis in 2008.

The largest decline in births were in California and Florida, two states hit hardest by the housing crisis. >>> Mike Stobbe, Associated Press | Saturday, August 08, 2009

Lord Carey Calls on Brown to Apologise for Recession
CHRISTIAN TODAY: Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has called on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to apologise for his role in the current economic crisis to boost his standing among the general public.

Lord Carey said that Brown needed to accept responsibility for the recession, but added that the Prime Minister would only “bounce back stronger” if he admitted his role in the current crisis.

The former Archbishop, writing in the News of the World, said, "I am puzzled and frankly saddened by Gordon Brown’s inability to acknowledge that he played a part in the awful events that brought about the current economic turmoil.

"All he needs to do is to say simply: ‘Yes, during my time as Chancellor I got it wrong. I apologise to the British people that, without knowing, I weakened the UK economy. I regret that I failed to take the steps that other leaders saw coming.’

"A church minister’s son, Gordon would know that ‘confession’ is but the prelude to the restoration of relationships with Almighty God; it works similarly in politics as it does in all walks of life." >>> By Jennifer Gold | Monday, March 16, 2009

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As If We Needed the Archbishop of Canterbury to Tell Us This!
THE TELEGRAPH: The recession could lead to an increase in support for right-wing political groups, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has warned.

Dr Williams said that public anger, caused by rising unemployment and falling house prices, may lead to xenophobia and prejudice.

He claimed the recent election of a British National Party councillor in Kent was a warning sign that must not be ignored.

His comments come amid growing concern about the social unrest that could be triggered by the worsening economy.

Last week it emerged that riot police fear Britain is heading for a "summer of rage" as middle-class victims of the recession join activists to hold mass protests outside bank headquarters.

Thousands of workers at oil refineries and power stations across the country staged walkouts recently after Italian and Portuguese staff were given jobs at Lindsey Oil Refinery in North Lincolnshire ahead of local workers.

A leaked Home Office memo written last year also predicted that crime and racial tensions will rise during the recession, while funding cuts could make it more difficult for police to cope.

The letter written by Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, warned that financial hardship could increase hostility towards immigrants and drive voters into the arms of the far-right BNP – which could in turn see victims of racism turn to terrorism. >>> By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent | Tuesday, March 3, 2009

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Far Right Posting Gains in England
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR: Fueled by the recession, the groups have won members and seats in recent elections.

LONDON - For decades, the tiny city of Stoke-on-Trent in central England has been a stronghold for the country's left-leaning Labour Party, but disillusionment among poorer white residents and tensions with their Muslim neighbors is pushing the city to the far right.

The whites-only, anti-immigration British National Party (BNP), has gone from being a fringe group to gaining a 15 percent stake in Stoke-on-Trent's governing council. Many observers now believe the group could win enough votes to control the council by 2011.

Some mainstream politicians are now voicing concerns that BNP is poised to make nationwide gains. While white Britons have lived in relative harmony with immigrants for years, the nation's deepening recession is raising concerns of heightened anti-immigrant sentiment, and is sparking support for the far right, says Jon Cruddas, a parliamentarian who represents the London borough of Barking and Dagenham.

"History suggests that the far right tends to do well in times of economic trouble," says Mr. Cruddas, who was appointed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to spearhead a campaign against the far right.

Of the roughly 8,000 town council members scattered across England, only 50 or so are members of the BNP. But during June elections, the BNP is expected to make significant gains and could win up to three of England's 59 seats in the European Parliament, according to experts. Such results would also indicate a chance for the party to potentially capture two seats in the United Kingdom's national parliament. >>> By Ben Quinn, Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor | November 20, 2008

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