human rights meditations: week 5

Coffee Art Print Set by Hey Harriet.
Available via etsy. 

Welcome to Week 5 of Human Rights Meditations. Each week we’re looking at an Article in the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Learn more about the series here. This series is way more about the time that you spend reflecting, and engaging in the discussion via comments below & twitter (hash tag #hrmlak) than it is about one person's opinion. Read this with an open mind, and speak up!

This week we’re looking at Article 5 of the UDHR.

Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Read over the article above a few times and let it sink in. As you reflect, consider the following:

·          What's the first picture that came to your mind?

·          How did you respond to what you read?

·          Reflect how you feel about yourself in comparison to others.

·          Reflect on how you perceive others in your world. 

·          Reflect on your understanding of global issues.

Write the article down and stick it somewhere where you know you'll see it throughout the week. This will prompt you to keep the thinking going! Alternatively, write down something that has stood out to you throughout this meditation.  

Now, get talking! Let's talk openly about our thoughts on each article, what we're learning about ourselves and some of the actions we're taking to live more in line with the Declaration. Don't forget that as well as chatting via the comments below, you can get talking via twitter by including this tag: #hrmlak

Here's a bit of what came up for me: 

• Consumer ethics: What I buy and where I buy it from counts. Some of the easiest changes for me are where I buy my tea, food and clothes. This article really brings it home that if we aren't buying consciously and ethically we are accountable to the people who are mistreated as a result of what we buy. We are not only accepting it, we are paying for it. 
• Gay Rights: I'm going to put it out there and say that I hate calling rights for the LGBT community "Gay Rights". Seriously, it's human rights, and those in our very own communities that are mistreated and degraded for their sexuality need their human rights recognised. Enough with the judgment. Let's practice acceptance, rather than tolerance (which in my experience, doesn't mean a whole lot anyway).  

Kate xx


Thanks to the lovely Hey Harriet for sharing her truth giving art in support of this series. You can check out more work via etsy.