Interact magazine winter 2012 by Amber

Letter from the Magazine Coordinator Interact Interact is a youth-led non-profit organisation that brings together people from all faiths, beliefs and cultural backgrounds. Our aim is to build a cohesive society where diversity is valued and celebrated. We achieve this by creating opportunities for face-to-face dialogue through side-by-side action, building respect and understanding through interaction. Based in London, we run skills-based learning projects in the arts, media, politics and the environment on a local, national and international level. Our projects provide a platform for young individuals to engage with the wider community and encourage active and responsible citizenship.

Editor Letter This magazine is the fruit of many months of hardwork by those who have been involved in its production; the writers, designers, and our wonderful mentor. There have been a few challenges that we had to face, mainly stemming from the fact that the magazine relies on volunteer efforts which can, at times, be hard to maintain. Despite these, we managed to develop a range of ideas together and work as a team to create articles of a standard that could go into this magazine. Overall, putting together this magazine has been an enjoyable and educational experience for everyone.

INTERACT Find us: Our website: http://www.interact-uk.org.uk/ Our blog: http://interactmagazine.tumblr.com/ On twitter: http://twitter.com/lnteractUK On facebook Contact us: i_interact@hotmail.co.uk info@interact-uk.org.uk (020) 7482 4020

Interact Magazine Online www.interact-uk.org.uk Winter Issue 2012

TEAM

Editorial

TEAM

Designers

Editorial

Designers Designers

Sadie Chana Richard Willson Sadie Chana Roy Heath Willson Richard Roy Heath

Nadina Ricketts Suhanna Khan Nadina Ricketts Nadina Ricketts Shreyaa Chezhian Suhanna Khan Suhanna Khan

Writers

Shreyaa ShreyaaChezhian Chezhian

Writers WritersRipa Jasmine Jasmine Ripa Jasmine Ripa Alice Olive Alice Alice Olive Olive Rabia Mirza Rabia Rabia Mirza Mirza Becca Mitchell Becca Becca Mitchell SadieMitchell Chana Sadie Chana Sadie Chana Oliver Park Oliver Park OliverChezhian Park Shreyaa Shreyaa Chezhian Shreyaa Chezhian Jassmine Ripa Anika Alleyne Anika Alleyne Anima Alleyne Sarhang Sarhang Majid Majid Sahrang Majid Tundes Tundes Akinfolajimi Akinfolajimi Tundes Akinfolajimi Beka Beka Schultz Schultz Beka Schultz Interact MagazineOnline Online InteractMagazine Magazine Online Interact interactmagazine.btck.co.uk www.interact-uk.org.uk interactmagazine.btck.co.uk WinterIssue Issue 2012 Winter Issue2012 2012 Winter 3

CONTENT WINTER ISSUE-2012

FEATURE ARTICLE WHAT IS A REAL WOMAN? AND WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE THE ‘REALNESS’ OF A PERSON?

PAGE 20

FEATURES **CULTURE **

**WOMEN**

Effects Of The Olympics...................................8 By Jasmine Ripa

Beauty And The Beast.......................................14 By Shreyaa Chezhian

Children’s Books..............................................10 By Alice Olive

Skinny Women....................................................20 By Jasmine Ripa

Relative Rights – Who Makes The Rules?.........................................................28 By Rabia Mirza

Blaxploitation......................................................30 By Anika Alleyne **RELIGION**

**POLITICS** Islamophobia....................................................12 By Becca Mitchell

Religion and War......................................................6 By Jasmine Ripa

The Extreme View............................................18 By Sadie Chana

Spirituality v Religion...........................................16 BySarhang Majid

A Political History Of Christianity and Islam in china............................................24 By Oliver Park

Religion and The Workplace.............................22 By Tundes Akinfolajimi

Spiritual Rainbow..................................................26 By Beka Schultz **INTERACTION** Book Review-Life After Harry Potter............11 Fifa Review..........................................................19 World Facts ........................................................32 Crossword............................................................34

Interact Magazine Online Visit www.interact-uk.org.uk

EFFECTS OF THE OLYMPICS Written By Jasmine Ripa

NOW THAT THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS IS OVER, PEOPLE WILL SIT BACK AND DISCUSS THE LEGACIES THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND. HAS BRITAIN REALLY SUCCEEDED? AND SEEING THAT THE MAIN MOTTO WAS TO ‘INSPIRE A GENERATION’, HAS THIS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED?

There is a lot of cynicism about the legacy of the Olympics, as many people think it was extremely expensive. Britain, which is in deep economic recession, used the taxpayers money to pay for the Games. At a time like this, we need to be saving our money and not spending it on an event that will only last one month. Some say that the Olympics have pushed us further into recession, as we are still repaying towards the Games. Jas Hothi, who is a Sport Development Officer for London Youth, had stated that the “funding has reduced massively.” This already shows that the lack of money is already making taking is toll. Other people, such as the commuters, were frustrated because of the disruptions in their travels and an extra three million people they had to travel with. Others also think that many of the sporting venues will become ‘white elephants’ as it may be too expensive to maintain. There is also the squabble between football clubs arguing over who will own the stadium. However, the views are not that important, as the legacies that have been left behind will change many lives. As a part of the generation who will inherit the legacy and is supposed to be inspired, I believe they will leave a great legacy and here’s why. By opening its doors to the world and allowing tourists to enter close knit communities, locals were caught up in the buzz as they took pride in their

hometown. It was an honour to finally say “I’m from East London.” The world’s biggest sporting event was being placed on their doorsteps, thus allowing locals to thrive by using the Olympics to their advantage. Thousands of jobs were created, and Westfield Shopping Centre contributed to the abundance of jobs on offer. Young, local residents were not only living in East London but also working there, which had a positive and a lasting effect. At last they felt accepted in their hometowns, as nods of approval motivated them even more. Finally people, such as the Game Makers, were being noticed for their importance and their determination which had contributed to the smooth running of the world’s biggest sporting event. Local people embraced the positive vibes, as the impression of finally being united rippled through the country. Olympians, celebrities and tourists were finally stepping into the land of the infamous Jack the Ripper and the Kray Twins. The positive contrast of ‘then’ and ‘now’ highlights how East London has a taken a turn for the better, with the Olympics playing a major helping hand. The desperate need for a positive transformation was forming, and the renovation of East London was just beginning.

Thousands of people walked through Stratford during the Games, leaving their presence and a gentle reminder that the people of Britain had worked together as a team. For once no one complained about the predictability of British weather or the horror off delayed tubes and overcrowded buses. This was the news of the past; it was all about the Olympics now. Britons were more focused on making the Games a success and to show the world that Britain wasn’t all about rain and delayed trains. There was more to Great Britain and the Olympics had allowed the cultural creativity to shine through. The creativity and the imagination is abundant in Britain, as the Olympics had proven. Loud cheers, and big smiles had passed around as the Opening and Closing Ceremony celebrated Britain and showed the world what Britain was really about. Britain’s mass of different cultures had built up towards the Opening and Closing Ceremony, leaving spectators in awe and admiration as they gripped their seats in excitement,

Another important legacy, which will play a major role in people’s lives is the athletes influence over the people of Great Britain.

The facilities that many spectators had accessed will soon be reused for the benefit of the public, which is another positive and lasting aspect of the Games. The Olympic Park, which was the core location and the heart of the Games, will be renamed as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It will be a focal point building links between communities and local people, while establishing a network of solidarity, unity and cohesion. The new quarter in London has also been developed; E20. This is the new final part to East London, and the flats and houses within this postal district are very desirable adding towards the regeneration of Newham. Glimpses of living in harmony and peace are also beginning to surface, as the idea of a unified society compels us closer together. The Park will also be a future asset, as tourists will flock to the Queen Elizabeth Park to see the place where a historical event took place, once again stealing the limelight from West and Central London. The sporting venues will also still remain allowing people to have access to such highclass facilities, which will introduce people to a world of sports and fitness.

SPORT AND DETERMINATION GO HAND IN HAND, AND SUCCESS IS ONLY SEEN THROUGH HARD WORK AND WILL POWER. THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE OLYPMIANS, ESPECIALLY OF TEAM GB, WILL INSPIRE A GENERATION. Inspiring a generation will allow people, especially the young Britons, to come together in sport and hold hands in team spirit. The strong sense of unity and the sense of pride will last long, as our athlete’s had shown us during the Games. The Paralympics have also helped to change stereotypes and attitudes, as it has opened up a world of new possibilities and new achievements. To watch the paralympians take part in sport has shown people that anything is possible, if only we try. The athlete’s accomplishments are profound and life changing, and watching the tears drop from the eyes and the smiles spread across the faces means only one thing; they are proud of their success. Their success highlights the impact of dedication and persistence that can be cultivated if we work hard to achieve

our goals and ambitions. Our athletes have also shown us how to work as a team, and yet be the best that we can be as individuals. Throughout the entire summer, Britons have come together building a rapport and a bond that allowed us to put on a show without the slightest glitch. Being healthy and fit is another important aspect in our lives. The athletes had shown us the way to have a healthy and fit lifestyle, resulting in a happier and positive future. They have inspired young people to come off the streets, especially in deprived areas such as the Olympic host boroughs, and to take part in activities that will have a lasting effect on their mental, social and physical health. So maybe Britain has succeeded after all, and maybe the glory of the legacies will reign over us. The Olympics have only just ended so time will tell, as redevelopments are taking place and the excitement is slowly beginning to fade. The Olympics gave people a taste of a united community, and the desperate need to inspire a generation is gradually working its way up. People are now working together in team spirit and unity to inspire the next generation, who can then inspire the next and so forth. Everything that we have learnt during the Olympics and the qualities that we have picked up will change lives, and so maybe, just maybe, the legacies will leave a lasting effect on everyone.

ICTURE BOOKS are never short of a message. Although first and foremost they are for entertainment and sheer delight, they are also primers for children and their parents – to be didactic and push a message on both child and adult. They explore ideas of what it is to be a child and the relationships between the cared for and the carer; the weak and the strong; the brave and shy; the child and the parent.Although they are frequently instructional, either direct in the title or indirectly in terms of ideologies within a story such as Lewis Carol’s Alice in Wonderland, which explores ideas on peer pressure, child imagination and curiosity, they are just as often about empowerment and encouragement. The books regularly feature ideas on child independence and how the adult is often cautious about giving the

child too much license. This means the children’s questioning of authority has to be dressed up to a certain extent and sometimes partially disguised. And it ultimately means authors are creating the ideas of the value and cost of character defiance. None of this is as clear as in Beatrix Potter’s, The Tale of Peter Rabbit. The beloved story characterises Peter as being a fine example of a child’s self belief or some would say naughtiness. Peter defies his mother, sure that he can get the won derful vegetables in Mr McGregor’s garden and not get caught. Although he manages to escape death – there is a price to pay. He loses all of his possessions and falls unwell as a result of being out in the cold weather too long. Peter ends up in a bed – a place all children historically dislike – he lies in solitude and has nightmares of his experiences in McGregor’s garden. Peter’s well behaved siblings, having obeyed their mother’s instruction, are rewarded with a wonderful supper. However, Peter has learned that authority is not absolute. His mother told him that death is a real possibility if he disobeyed her instruction not to enter the vegetable patch – he disobeyed though and survived. Here, Beatrix clearly shows her readership what you can gain from a near death experience and that you must not rule out any goal. The same principle is shown in Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are which also shows an example of a defiant child who has a view to gain. Sent to this room 10

without any supper because of his unruly behaviour, Max famously sails away on a wonderful adventure, meets the Wild Things and joins in with their terrible behaviour, thus allowing him to express himself and returns home where he finds a hot supper waiting for him. In Eat Your Peas, Kes Grey and Nick Sharratt offers a positive take on a child expressing a food preference at the dinner table focusing more on getting the parent to listen and accept rather than Daisy’s obstruction. The conflict demonstrates the child voice being heard over the parent’s authority. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl also shows to question adult authority and slightly undermine its importance. Critics have previously argued that the narrative promotes inappropriate language, alcohol/ drug abuse and disobedience to parents. Other works, which have been viewed in the same light, include Rowling’s Harry Potter series dubbed for promoting witchcraft and Blume’s Prettty much anything which critics believed spoke too openly on ideas of sexuality and religion. It seems then that freedom of expression within children’s literature enables the voice of the child to be the forefront of the story’s message and for authority to be challenged. Written by Alice Olive

BOOK REVIEW

LIFE AFTER LIFE AFTER HARRY POTTER HARRY POTTER Written by Sadie Chana

t took her a while, but JK Rowling has finally published her first book that is aimed at the adult market, marking the start of her life and career post Potter universe. Casual Vacancies has not been met by blind admiration or been guaranteed raving reviews, in fact many have been disappointed by the book. It is likely that the majority of the negative reviews of Rowling’s first book since the end of her Harry Potter series are due to how this book is so different from what they expected of an author who found success writing a fantasy series. Harry Potter exists in an alternate reality in which there are two societies. One is magical, made up of witches and wizards with their ability to cast spells and live completely different lives than those who live in the other society which we would consider to be similar to the one we experience, where very few are aware of the existence of magic. Harry, himself, was from birth marked as a remarkable individual, he was the only survivor of an attack by the evil ‘Lord Voldemort’ and during each year of his attendance of his magical boarding school he experienced an altercation with this lord. These

J. K. Rowling’s new novel, “The Casual Vacancy”, is it as far from the world of Harry Potter as we can get? experiences set Harry and his friends apart from what the average reader would encounter in their lives, and provided readers with an opportunity for escapism from their own experiences and problems. The series has become so popular that many 11 year olds, having read the series or watched the films expect a letter accepting them into Hogwarts. This is the area where Casual Vacancies challenges many expectations people may have had over what the setting of the book would be. The events of the book take place in what we would consider to be a normal fiction setting rather than a fantasy world. The events that take place in the book are based around the reactions of the characters to the sudden death of a parish councillor, leaving his seat available before a vote on whether a council estate remains the responsibility of their town. The book has been considered a little controversial. An unpopular Sikh teenage girl is described

as having a moustache and due to her experience of bullying at school and a mother who is dissatisfied with her academic inferiority in comparison to her siblings, self harms. The occupants of the contested estate known as ‘The Fields’ live in a rundown area that is frequently subject to graffiti and crime, many have a relationship with drugs including the flawed heroine Krystal whose mother is a drug addict. JK’s writing style for this book has a few flaws. The chief among them is the course manner in which those who live within the controversial Fields area talk, they are supposed to have thick West Country accents, but it reads badly, and becomes irritating throughout the book. The book can be said to negatively depict teenage/country life as either filled with self loathing or boredom, drugs and sex. The experience of relationships is described as tolerating your other half, husbands will become fat, probably have affairs, and wives will be left unsatisfied. 11

SPIRITUALITY VERSES RELIGIOUS Written By Sarhang Majid

What does it really mean to be spiritual and not religious? Why having traditional religious beliefs is viewed as unjustified and encouraging spirituality and self growth is increasingly trendy? Where are we heading or where should we be heading when deciding between the two?

People who would like to identify themselves as spiritual rather than religious are growing. Almost 40% of all Americans are estimated to have no connections with organised religion. Research suggests that young people from all religious backgrounds, particularly in America, are beginning to have a differing view on religion beliefs, compared to their parents. Professor of religious studies Robert C. Fuller at Bradley University claims that ONE IN FIVE AMERICANS CONSIDER THEMSELVES SPIRITUAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS Spirituality seems to be gaining popularity but what does it mean to be spiritual and not religious?

What are the implications of this phenomenon on people and their communities? Spiritual and religious generally means different things to different people. Spirituality defined in Longman dictionary as ‘’the quality of being interested in religion or religious matters. Religious is defined as relating to religion in general or to a particular religion, believing strongly in your religion and obeying its rules carefully.’’ This brings the confusion that religious and spiritual words are synonyms. Both want to connect and form a strong relationship with whom

they consider to be god. Younger people appear to become attracted with the idea of creating their own beliefs, principles and thinking through things for themselves. Therefore, both cannot create interest in daily practices, rituals and moral behaviours that demand people to consistently follow certain behaviours and principles.

According to Dan Blazer a professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Duke University a 10 year empirical study of young looking at depressed and none depressed subjects to decide whether spirituality or religion caused the onset and the course of major depression found that with individuals who said they were Catholic or Protestant and placed religion or spirituality as highly important were 76% less likely to experience an incidence of major depression. Blazer claims this study confirms other studies undertaken on the subject that came to three related conclusions. Firstly INDIVIDUALS WITH NO RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATION ARE AT RISK FOR DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND DISORDER. Secondly people who involved in their faith communities are more likely to reduce risk of depression and thirdly personal religious activities and beliefs are not strongly connected to risk for depression. These studies suggest that there is a correlation between health and religiousness. But is it really possible to measure whether a complex subject as religion can have a positive impact on health? Do religious people choose a particular religion because they have certain values and principles or because they deem their religion would make them healthier and less depressed? Recently a priest in St Edmund’s Church in Southampton banned yoga classes within its premises because he claimed that yoga was not consistent with the Catholic faith. Priest John Chandler said church premises need to be used for Catholic activities and we banned yoga classes because they were promoted as ‘’spiritual yoga’’. Cited in BBC news Chandler stated ‘’Yoga is a Hindu spiritual exercise and being a Catholic church we have to endorse the gospel within our church premises.’’ The president of the Vedic Society Hindu Temple of Southampton, Ravindra Parmar stated that yoga is ‘‘a form of exercise’’ and ‘’not a religious

type of activity’’. Said Parmar people are welcome to rehearse yoga exercises at the temple and I feel ‘’a little let down’’ because of the work the Southampton Council of Faith does to ‘’get all the faith talking to each other’’. Spirituality advocators believe that spirituality is a connection that comes from the essence of an individual to the present moment and it is not linked to the past traditions, past beliefs and groups. They view spirituality as accepting, receptive and nonbiased and being spiritual means to listen to your own belief, your own voice and your own god. THEY VIEW RELIGION AS BACKWARD THINKING THAT GOES BACK TO THE BELIEF OF OUR ANCESTORS WHO THEMSELVES INHERITED IT FROM THEIR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS. They argue that religion is a corporate venture, a system whereby rabbis, priests and mullahs have defined the class of the world and promote the idea and beliefs that the world has already fully understood and no need to question, think or doubt it. According to Fuller a group of social scientists whom studied 346 people from different religion backgrounds to explain what is understood when individuals express themselves as spiritual but not religious found religiousness was related to high interest in church attendance and obligation to established beliefs. In contrast spirituality was related to high interest in mysticism, experimentation without established beliefs and practices. Moreover, spirituals showed negative feeling toward churches and clergy and were more likely connect to activities that relate to spiritual growth, more likely to reject the organised religion as the only value for furthering their spiritual growth. Having been brought up by a Muslim parent, as a child my mother taught me

to teach myself, maintain a relationship with god and be helpful, open and respectful towards others. Therefore Islam is an important part of my personal beliefs. Similarly teaching yourself and maximising your full potential becomes more meaningful, inspiring and more motivational when you are able to firstly accept others just the way they are rather than how you want them to be and secondly when you are able to be open to new discoveries, viewpoints and beliefs with attention and without biased. There is a strong argument that it is possible to be religious and spiritual. For me Islam is about continuously teaching yourself so that to become a better and more beneficial person for yourself, your surroundings and your god. Sanaya Roman in her book SPIRITUAL GROWTH STATES THAT PART OF YOUR REASON FOR COMING TO THE WORLD IS TO TEACH YOURSELF AND TO HELP OTHERS IN SOME WAY. She describes the activity of teaching yourself as ‘’life purpose’’ and the help you came to offer people as your ‘’work life’’. Life purpose and work life activities are strongly related. When you help others you are naturally developing yourself and as you develop you are unconsciously benefiting others and your communities. Surely the universe cannot be defined and understood by the beliefs and ideas of some groups of organised people or just by taking some meditations and regular yoga classes. Therefore, both should encourage you the importance of thinking through the universe and decide for yourself how you want to connect to the world around.

THE EXTREME VIEW Terrorism is widely considered to be among the most serious threat to national security within Western society. The threat of extremism or terrorism has generally been associated as solely a problem within the Muslim community and therefore to be more of a ‘foreign problem’ rather than an issue that has the potential to be experienced by anyone. It took until the attacks carried out by Anders Breivik in Norway last year for people to realise that this was not the case, despite the existence of attacks by non Muslims since 2001. There is still a wide sense of denial about this, with posters in Germany that raises awareness of how to report suspicions of extremism as only depicting those of Arabic decent which perpetuates the image of it being an Islamic problem.

or the English Democrats are not widely considered to be a credible alternative to the main political parties. Due to the issues these parties tend to be concerned with, the far right is prone to a lack of unity and discipline which has resulted in occasions of factionalism which tends to put people off voting for parties they consider being volatile. There is often a connection between the far right parties and far right movements. Breivik had been a member of the Norwegian far right Progress Party. The progression towards more

rather than all immigrants from any background (including those from the EU) is that they do not always have such obvious cultural differences to what is considered to be ‘British characteristics’. This perception of Muslim immigrants being a major cultural threat to the national way of life is exasperated by those who subscribe to this view tend to have few acquaintances let alone friends who are of different or minority backgrounds. These limited interactions with those who are considered to be ‘different’ can

Far right extremism is nothing new, the French far right party Front National is now 40 years old, and many European parties of this ideological persuasion are fairly influential within their domestic political system, the Dutch far right party had been part of a coalition government. It was thought within the academic circle that these parties would be short lived, or that their electoral success would be dependent on the economic cycle, but many of these parties have managed to attract a loyal support base. One of the reasons the British far right has not been as successful as many of its European counterparts, is that the British National 18 Party, the English Defence League

direct rather than political action can be caused by being disillusioned by the political system, or the belief that the stance of the party is not extreme enough. One of the central ideals of the far right is an anti-Islam stance. Though this is not necessarily just on the grounds of a religious conflict between Christian and Islamic views and beliefs as around 40% of those who support British far right parties describe themselves as having no religious affiliation. The reasoning or motivation for people to adopt this stance is often a sense of insecurity, economically and culturally towards Muslim immigrants. One of the reasons that Islam is singled out as a threat

create belief is stereotypes and misinformation. Sometimes these beliefs can lead to dramatic and devastating situations such as the shooting of Sikh worshipers at a Gurdwara in Wisconsin in America which was just one of many incidences of Sikhs being attacked since the 9/11 attacks due to them being mistaken as being Muslim.

Written by Sadie Chana

FIFA 13 – IS IT YOUR NEXT BUY? Written by Shreyaa Chezhian

Critically and commercially, FIFA now dominates video games football yet every year there's a feeling that this might be the year EA Sports slips up. It wouldn't take much - just a lazy update short on tangible improvements or some killer new game mechanic that ends up spoiling the game. Last year's effort, FIFA 12, sailed close to the second scenario at times, its revamped defensive systems and player interactions coming close to disrupting the flow of play. Yet this also made the game feel more authentic, and for most of us that was enough. Well, FIFA 13 isn't the game to wreck FIFA's upwards momentum. Its new features might seem small - and s o m e are undeniably gimmicky - but they cement FIFA's status as the world's best football game both on and off the pitch. Sorry Konami and the valiant efforts of PES 2013. FIFA 13 is the first of the FIFA franchise to embrace the Xbox 360 and PS3’s motion control peripherals, with Microsoft Kinect and PlayStation Move support bundled in.

You can call out substitutions, create your own custom tactical combos, and FIFA even goes so far as to watch your language for offensive words and tweak the officials so that they'll come down harder on your misdemeanours. The message is clear; don't suggest that the referee indulges in unseemly and solitary habits unless you want to see how much of a, you know what, he can be. Accuracy of recognition is very good, and helpful pop-ups remind you of the different options, but we'd have to say that the impact of swearing seems limited in practice. Online, there’s even more effort to

tie FIFA 13 into the community and into the world of real football. As well as Ultimate Team's cunning combination of FIFA action with Fantasy Football now more accessible thanks to interface changes and new tutorials - and challenges in EA football club, FIFA 13 introduces a Game of the Week, giving you the chance to try one of last weekend's big encounters with the same teams and conditions. It's impossible to evaluate these things before release, but those who've made FIFA 12 one of the online fixtures of their lives should find plenty of reason to make the upgrade.

SKINNY WOMEN ARE NOT REALWOMEN Written By Jasmine Ripa

WHAT IS A REAL WOMAN? AND WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE THE ‘REALNESS’ OF A PERSON? The media plays a large part in convincing and influencing people to think in a particular way. The way we think, and even the way we behave is often manipulated by the media. The way we judge someone, and the way we label others are stereotypes we subconsciously pick up. Our world is full of adverts and to avoid it will be quite impossible. We are highly influenced by this lucrative and materialistic industry, and it often persuades us to make choices about simple day to day activities. From buying our food to buying our clothes, we are subconsciously pressured by the adverts which we are surrounded by. Human needs vary but to be part of society and to be accepted by society is what we all strive for. To fit in and to be seen as ‘perfect’ and ‘real’ are the qualities that people want. Magazines often portray this image of ‘realness’. The way a woman should look, the way a woman should dress and the bodies they should have are often major issues in magazines. So are we really to blame the media for such pressures to look perfect? Or should we, as individuals, think for ourselves? However with images of flawless perfection all around us, we are often lured into such desires that we can only blame the media. The media was once full of images of healthy women, and that was the body shape all women desired. Then came the size zero that pressured many young people to go on a diet in order to lose weight, just so they could look like the women from the magazines. Size zero was seen as perfection, and it allowed people to fit into society. However images as such can create havoc in a person’s mind, and more importantly on their bodies leading to dangerous consequences. Campaigns and petitions were created to put a stop to Size Zero, with somewhat positive results. As the campaigns appeared all around us people’s way of thinking began to change. The magazines’ constant images of size zero were backfiring, and in order to have customers they changed their attitude. They dropped the size zero look of perfection and soon curvaceous women filled the glossy pages. The public soon realized that to be considered ‘real’ they would need to have the ideal hourglass figure with the right curves in the right places. This was the body shape most women were now craving for, again allowing the media to play with our minds and even with our bodies.

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Now as we look at music videos we are bombarded with curvier hourglass women, who are portrayed as beautiful and as ‘real women’, and are more desired by men. For example ‘Curvy Cola Bottle’ by the singer Chico is highlighting the need of an hourglass figure. This once again is complying with the media’s image of ‘realness’. Being curvy is a much healthier and a positive option, but can often lead to slimmer women feeling ‘unreal’, less womanly and less feminine. Nonetheless, this does not mean that size zero should be portrayed as the desired figure, but the feelings of naturally slimmer women should be taken into consideration. A woman should not feel inferior to another woman. This is where the media interjects as it plays the ongoing feud between slim and curvy women, by publishing images and thus allowing people to judge what’s real and what’s not. Should a woman be judged on her ‘realness’ according to the inches around her waist? Or judged on her ‘realness’ according to her ambitions, her intelligence and her personality? We all know the answer to that question. Our weight can yoyo but our personality and ambitions are what make us who we are today. Personality and ambitions are the most significant qualities that allow a woman to be an individual, and to be a real person. These are the significant qualities that allow girls to enter womanhood. It gives the girls the opportunity to be a woman and to feel like a woman, and to feel the inevitable happiness and the sadness that comes with it. These qualities allow women to be a success in their own right by achieving their highest goals. Our ambitions and our personality are more worthy and admirable than our body shapes, but with the media interfering in our lives we have no choice but to surrender to the media’s way of life.

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REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES

This is another statement seen in the media which plays with people’s minds and attitudes. Is this a way of building self confidence while breaking down someone else’s? Being proud and confident of one’s body is a must but by breaking down another person’s self confidence shows insecurity. The people behind the media control the minds of the consumers, and the feelings of insecurity and the lack of confidence is at the fault of the media. They inform us of what is acceptable in society and what is not. They construct and establish the society we live in today, and they are the judges of ‘realness’. The media only fills our day to day lives with artificial perception which creates a world of artificial needs and false desires. It guides the masses and manipulates the public by influencing us to think in a certain way. The media represents an individual’s journey to fit in and be accepted in society, and to feel at ease with others around us. The powerful tools used by the media are the strong words and the flawless images that we come across every day. With such powerful devices around us, it becomes difficult to think differently and to behave differently. The perception of beauty and the realness of a woman are highly influenced by the media, and the definition of beauty changes from time to time. Seeing as there will never be one definition of beauty, maybe we, as females, should unite as sisters and allow our womanly voices to be heard. The media is extremely influential but maybe it is time for women to break away from the mould and stop the media from interposing in our sisterhood, and to stop the media breaking up our kinship and creating opposing views. The media, as influential as it is, should define ‘real women’ as women who ignore the media and accept that all women are beautiful and real, regardless of weight and height. This kind of thinking is the way forward, and the media has the power to do just that if it chooses to do so.

RELIGIOUS ACOMMODATION IN THE WORK PLACE Written By Tunde Akinfolajimi

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Religion in the workplace can be a very difficult area for employees and employers to navigate, most people claim some form of religious affiliation. The public display of religious symbols, can often be controversial, like wearing the cross or the Hijab at work so where do we draw the line between private faith and public religious expression? Is there legislation for or against this in employment Law. Also at what point do we draw the line at which a person refuses to act against their faith if he/she is told to perform a duty which is contrary to their religious belief(s).â&#x20AC;?

THE QUEEN, HAS A CROWN SET WITH A CROSS, IT LOOKS LIKE SAVAGERY TO PREVENT THE PEOPLE FROM WEARING ONE.” He added further that The Government’s position received an angry response from prominent figures including Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury who

ACCUSED MINISTERS AND THE COURTS OF “DICTATING” TO CHRISTIANS

ANSWER Recently Ministers in the UK have been fighting in the European Court of Human Rights against a British woman seeking to establish their right to wear the cross at work. It is the first time that the Government has been forced to state whether it backs the right of Christians to wear the symbol at work. A document seen by the Ministers argues that because it is not a “requirement” of the Christian faith,

EMPLOYERS CAN BAN THE WEARING OF THE CROSS

and said it was another example of Christianity becoming sidelined in official life. A conglomerate which owns Russian Milk and has more than 6,000 employees co-founded by Vasily BoykoVeliky, a controversial dairy tycoon who is a conservative Orthodox believer, announced that it would no longer buy British goods for its factories and dairies and refused to use British Airways or BMI “in connection with the persecution of Christians in Great Britain. They said “We announce a ban on Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Jaguars, Bentleys and other British cars made after February 2012 entering our premises,” adding that company cars would boycott BP and Shell petrol stations. Mr BoykoVeliky also said: “I know and respect Britain and I like its products but in a country where the English monarch

“WE ARE AGAINST THE PERSECUTORS OF FAITH. FOR ORTHODOX BELIEVERS, WEARING THE CROSS IS OBLIGATORY. Our boycott is aimed primarily at the British people, in support of those who are against this. We hope they will demand a law from parliament and the government to allow a cross to be openly worn.”

and sack workers who insist on doing so. I feel this is harsh and unfair to employees who would like to display their religious beliefs at work where I do not believe people are easily offended by seeing their fellow workers do this. As long as the worker does not force his or her religious beliefs on their fellow workers, then they should be allowed to display their religious symbols.

– s t h g i R e v i t a l Re It is an open ended argument which will always stimulate debate, but is it merely wishful thinking to assume that in a world so divided in morals and ideals human rights could or should be universal? We are no strangers to the crucial work of non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) such as the United Nations (UN) and Amnesty International. They seek to patrol overseas borders to identify and combat the worst human rights abuses. However the nature of this work is perhaps one of the most challenging as there is no universally agreed definition of the phrase ‘human rights’, consequently it is bound by no parameters. From our own limited perspectives I think we are all guilty of accusing any un-western or practice by the ‘other’ to be a cause for concern, but who gives us the right to determine the affairs of the rest of the world? Surely those involved in these practices have the right to their culture without external intervention? This is one of the growing de 28

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bates paving the way in the fight for ‘human rights’. To gain a better understanding of this debate we must first discuss some vital terminology. This is where the topical phrase cultural relativism comes in. Cultural relativism is the ideology that all beliefs, practices and moral codes are relative to the individual. Essentially this means that what is right or wrong in one culture may not prove true for another. This is where the root of the debate lies. With the near impossibility of a universal standard of morality, how can any one society have the right to judge another? On the other side of our debate we have our opponent in the form of ‘universal human rights’. This phrase gained popularity after the signing of the Universal Declaration of human rights, 1945. The legal document has since been used as a benchmark for human rights for its member countries. However with the growing multiculturalism and increasingly complex ethnic and cultural makeup of today’s modern world, these two phrases have been brought together by a key question, where do we draw the line between the right to ones culture and what we may now consider to be human rights abuses? This forms the foundations for the great cultural relativism Vs universal human rights debate. We can argue that one of the biggest arguments-

? s e l u R e th

Written by Rabia Mirza

denouncing the concept of universal human rights is the notion of ethnocentricity. Ethnocentricity can be defined as the act of judging or evaluating a different society or culture based purely on the ideals or norms of your own. In this case the ethnocentric view we speak of is of the western world. It is fair to say that the content of the universal Declaration of human rights is not in fact very ‘universal’ at all as it is largely a produce of Western institutions and their ideals. Consequently Anthropologists argue that this doctrine can not and should not be representative of the entire globe where cultural practices may be entirely different. I think it is fair to say that if we give one societies perspective more authority over an others we are in some ways implying that their moral code or values are superior. Despite this however there are quite a few holes in the cultural relativist perspective, though this is a growing trend. Perhaps the most detrimental of these is that the entire concept perceives cultures and societies as simple black and white entities. It undermines their complex structures and sects and perceives a society or culture to be completely united or homogenous. This poses a problem within itself, as we must first attempt to define the norms or beliefs of the culture. How can we attempt to outline human rights in just Sudan alone when the country is still split over the issue of female genital mutilation? Similarly, even though India has a largely Hindu population, there are endless variations of sects and castes, each with their unique customs.

I think it is fair to suggest that this may be a near enough impossible task as regional or sectional variations could be deemed infinite. Thus it once again appears unfeasible to protect the interests of everyone. However cultural relativism does bring an important positive to the table. Whether we later deem certain practices right or wrong it certainly allows us to actually explore other so cieties and cultures. It promotes tolerance amongst cultures and allows for empathy to take place. We can argue that this is an improvement on simply casting our own skewed judgements from the outside. Though everyone may already have strong opinions about which direction the human rights debates should head, it is vital to remember that these views are probably largely influenced by our own cultures and upbringing. So can we actually ever fully understand a conflicting viewpoint? I think this is a mystery which will remain largely unsolved, but until then I think there are a few things that we can agree on. Surely we can all agree that as humans our individual and collective aim is to help build a more harmonious and advanced society – though we may have very different takes on what advancement means. I think the main thing that we can take away from this debate is that all societies are currently at different stages of development, so we should not simply attack the practices of another, but rather reason and rationalise with them. Even the currently most ‘advanced’ countries such as England and the USA have a history of human rights abuses, more famously in the form of the slave trade. We should remember that this debate is not an attack on culture itself as the majority of cultural practices such as differences in food, dress or festivals pose no problems to the general well being of society, but rather this is what makes the earth the beautiful and diverse place that it is. It is only when these customs become physically, psychologically or harmful in any other way to an individual or society that we should mutually agree to draw a line. It is when we surround ourselves with an air of superiority that we loose focus of our combined objective – to make the world a safer and better place for everyone. 29

“I am probably right when I say the majority of people reading this will not know what Blaxploitation is if that is the case read on as you will enter an era of its own.” written by Anika Alleyne

New

type of

Film Genra

fu w of b v B in en th th to ‘c w an to ch fi ti u m g d

Blaxploitation & The Woman’s Role ‘A brief insight’

acters using humour to outwit other white characters. More importantly, it paved the way for the Blaxploitation explosion that occurred between 1970 and 1975. Blaxploitation movies essentially attempted to present the black experience through super-sly and super-sexy ghetto heroes. Even though they presented new and potentially positive images of blacks, they failed to properly represent the aesthetic values of black culture. Due to the number of blacks onto the movie screen in the 1970's it replaced the stereotypical paradigms of the past with new ones. The black audience's need for assertive black characters in which they saw a reflection of themselves was paralleled by a new set of stereotypes which merely served to reinforce previously held prejudices. Another aspect of Blaxploitation which I would like to discuss is the portrayal of women in the films. It focused on women as anti-heroine. Women of the Blaxploitation era were critiqued for their revealing clothing and their

A new type of film genre’ I am probably right when I say the majority of people reading this will not know what Blaxploitation is if that is the case read on as you will enter an era of its own. Blaxploitation is the exploitation of blacks especially in movies featuring or intending to appeal to blacks it emerged in the United States in the 1970’s a time when America was in the transition from separatism to civil rights. Blaxploitation touched upon the most sensitive material in America at its time and exploiting them on the big screen or the vinyl’s in the record player back then, the films were made in comical and satirical way. My aim is to educate those who are not aware of this time in history and combine the knowledge with those who are familiar. A very popular Blaxploitation film called ‘Sugar Hill’ launched the vigorous and upbeat spirit of the 1970's. Although it has been criticized for retaining the stereotypical buffoonery of the past, it depicted the char30

th h th a it p ar cu m w g lo b th A co to w so im

furthering of black stereotypes perceived by white America. This related to the women of the era rejecting the ideals of ‘respectability’ Blaxploitation films also displayed the victimization of women. Most women in Blaxploitation films were reduced down to insignificant prostitutes or curvaceous women who flaunted all they had. Even while the movie's main characters were women, they were still objectified and reduced down to loose, sexual and insatiable. Movies like ‘coffy’ created the statuesque black woman who would not take ‘rubbish’ from anyone and at the same time, was willing and able to flaunt her body at the drop of a hat. The characterizations of black women in these films greatly restricted the characters potential for growth because they always had to use their bodies to get what they wanted. A major criticism of Blaxploitation was the over glamorization of characters that are pimps, drug dealers or prostitutes. This ghetto’’ glamorization elevated these life styles and only reinforced negative stereotypes about black people and the black community. In my opinion Blaxploitation films were and still are a significant part of the cinematic history. They reflected some historical progress that blacks have made in the US. They helped to make the seventies a very prominent time for blacks. However, its use of sensationalism and exaggeration proved to do more harm than good. The artistic aspects of the black experience and culture were completely lost. Through these mis-representations, the image of blacks was redefined with new stereotypes and generalizations. It is important to look back and enjoy some of the better qualities that exist within the movies; African Americans continue to struggle with the burden of some of these images today.

Pakistan The ancient eastern city of Lahore marks the beginning of spring with the Basant carnival, an orgy of kite flying, rooftop soirees, garden parties and equestrian events, much to the disgust of Islamic clerics. Lahorites and out-of-town enthusiasts don glamorous clothes, in the yellow and green of spring flowers blooming citywide, to bid farewell to the frosts and fogs of winter and usher in spring.

Czech Republic However, many injuries and deaths occur from falling off roofs. The government has recently banned the competition.

The czech Republic boasts an extraordinarily high number of cultural monuments. Over 2,000 preserved castles and chateaux are open to the public (more per square mile than any other country in the world) and represent an improtant part of national cultural heritage, in terms of their number and their historical and artistic value. The Czech Republic is the birthplace of many well-known people, notably Antonin Dvorak (Music composer) and Madeleine Albright (First woman to become Secretary of State in USA) . The Czech Republic is also the number one beer-brewing nation and can lay claim to many ‘beer-firsts’: first in per capita beer consumption, first beer museum in the world, first beer brewing textbook, first Pilsener, first Budweiser, and the first president to have written an absurdist play based on his experiences working in Czech beer brewery in 1974 (Vaclav Havel – Audience).

Basant festival has caused the deaths of many. Competitors tie sharp (such as knives, glass, and metal) objects to their strings and kites to slash their opponents’ strings.

Singapore Singapore means “Lion city”. The name Singapura is derived from the Sanskrit words singa (“lion”) and pura (“city”).

Recent studies of Singapore indicate that lions have never lived there, not even Asiatic lions and the beast seen by Sang Nila Utama was probably a tiger, most likely the Malayan Tiger.

According to the Malay Annals, this name was given by a 14th century Sumatran Malay prince named Sang Nila Utama, who, after landing on the island after a thunderstorm, spotted an auspicious beast on the shore that his chief minister identified as a lion.

U.S.A The United States is the most depressed country in the world! The following were results of a study done by Harvard Medical School and World Health Organization indicating the percentage of people in each nation who suffer from depression (March 2007): 9.6% in the US

6% in Lebanon 4.8% in Mexico 3.8% in Italy 3.1% in Japan 0.8% in Nigeria (a country that suffers from violence, poverty, and diseases!) The number of American children (including pre-schoolers) who take anti-depressants has grown an average of 10% each year between 1998 and 2004 (The Washington Post).

NEPAL

FRANCE

Mount Everest also known as Sagarmatha (means: goddess of the sky) to the natives was named after Sir George Everest in 1865, the British surveyor-general of India. It is the tallest mountain in the world.

Erika La Tour Eiffel, 37, is a former soldier who lives in San Francisco, falls in love with objects. Her first infatuation was with Lance, a bow that helped her to become a world-class archer, she is fond of the Berlin Wall and claims to have a physical relationship with a piece of fence she keeps in her bedroom.

Should you attempt the climb? About 3000 people so far have reached the top of the 29.035 ft peak of Mt Everest. Those people and others who attempted the ascent left over 100 tons of trash. There are about 120 corpses left on the mountain. The success rate: one death for every 10 successful ascents.

But it is the Eiffel Tower she has pledged to love, honour and obey in an intimate ceremony attended by a handful of friends. She has changed her name legally to reflect the bond.

K C A T T A T FAC

DR CONGO At the moment in Congo, the weather is about 33 degrees Celsius and more, not your definition of cold if one has been in England for the past few months. But if there is one place you can go for a deep is Lake Tanganyika.

ZHIAN SHREYAA CHE

Apart from the apparent breath taking view, the lake is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume and also the second deepest. Forget the pictures, nothing can capture the magnificence of standing under that bright blue sky and surrounded by the sea not to talk about the green.

w? Did you kno nts about cou Random fac all over the s re u lt u c d n tries a world!!!