Tuesday 28 February 2012

human rights meditations: week 6

via my flickr stream


Welcome to Week 6 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 all about the time that you spend reflecting, and engaging in the discussion via comments below & twitter (hash tag #hrmlak). 

This week we’re looking at Article 6 of the UDHR.

Article 6: Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

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 is some of what came up for me: 


  • Citizenship: traditional view of this is under law, as in , if you are a citizen you have the right to vote. However new definitions are about responsibility to your community. There's also a movement around global citizenship and what it means to act responsibly to those we are connected through via trade and travel. 
  • Consumer ethics... again. I keep coming to this. 
  • Asylum seekers: clearly, we don't treat asylum seekers in the same way that we do "our own citizens". Something has gotta change! 

Kate xx

3 comments:

  1. I agree with your points! Also what first came to mind is how this article is in line with my general philosophy. People will generalise/stereotype as that's what people do. They need to categorise (even if subconsciously) and develop statistics etc I get that BUT I still believe everyone has the right to be treated as an individual FIRST. Preconceived judgements should be put aside, people given the benefit of the doubt (so to speak) and should be treated/judged according to personal character/experiences/actions/values. Individual VS Group. If you do this and then decide afterwards you don't like person or that person needs to deal with consequences of law then they have been treated with true equality, as a person not as a 'people'.
    Hope that makes sense!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It makes sense and I totally agree. I remember when I was first starting out in my career a supervisor told me "It's not making a judgment that's the problem- everyone judges a book by it's cover- BUT what's important is what you do with that judgment; act on it, reflect, put it aside, treat that person differently. That's what matters"

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    2. hmmm what an interesting thing to say! Nice way to put it!

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thanks for your comments, I love to hear from you!

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