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The Rich Tapestry of Life Page
Nine pages of odds and ends that don’t fit anywhere else, information, general knowledge, light-hearted quips and quotes from all over the place that make up the ‘rich tapestry of life’ for reading in those odd moments when you have nothing else to do! Wow! If you have come this far, you are a serious reader. Some more will be coming soon!
This is PAGE EIGHT - Another “Life and Human Encounter” Page
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Being a Parent
Here is a concept to play with! Once you have conceived a child you will be a parent for the rest of your life – until either you or they die.
Why? Because the definition of a parent is simply a father or a mother. However old your ‘child' is, you are still a parent.
When the child is an embryo in the womb, you are a parent-in-waiting .
When they are born you are a parent-in-action .
When they have left home and have a partner of their own, you are a parent-in-support .
When they have children of their own, you are still a parent-in-support, now what we call a grand-parent .
Throughout all these stages you are still a parent.
What differs is the way you will express it.
If you are a mother carrying the foetus, your child is totally reliant upon your body.
When it is just born it is totally reliant upon your care.
In its teenage years it starts ‘standing on its own two feet', declaring its individuality, still needing your care but making more and more of its own decisions.
When it leaves home it is completely reliant on itself, but will still appreciate your presence in the background, there as a loving support, as and when needed.
Here is a concept to play with! Once you have conceived a child you will be a parent for the rest of your life – until either you or they die.
Why? Because the definition of a parent is simply a father or a mother. However old your ‘child' is, you are still a parent.
When the child is an embryo in the womb, you are a parent-
When they are born you are a parent-
When they have left home and have a partner of their own, you are a parent-
When they have children of their own, you are still a parent-
Throughout all these stages you are still a parent.
What differs is the way you will express it.
If you are a mother carrying the foetus, your child is totally reliant upon your body.
When it is just born it is totally reliant upon your care.
In its teenage years it starts ‘standing on its own two feet', declaring its individuality, still needing your care but making more and more of its own decisions.
When it leaves home it is completely reliant on itself, but will still appreciate your presence in the background, there as a loving support, as and when needed.
Oh yes, parenting is more than just for some limited period
Population & Ageing
More than half of babies born today in affluent homes are expected to live to the age of 100, based on current life expectancy trends.
Analysis of life expectancy and the quality of life in older age indicates that ageing processes can continue to be extended.
Using demographic modelling, scientists calculated that the average British child born in 2007 could expect to live to 103, while in Japan they would live to 107.
Experts made the prediction in a review of the latest research evidence in The Lancet medical journal, published today. They pointed out that huge increases in life expectancy, amounting to more than 30 years, had been seen in most developed countries during the 20th century.
Death rates in nations with the longest life-spans, such as Japan, Sweden and Spain, suggest that even if health conditions do not improve, three quarters of babies will live to 75. If present trends continue, most of those born in well-off countries since 2000 are likely to celebrate their 100th birthdays.
Kaare Christensen, from the Danish Ageing Research Centre at the University of Southern Denmark, said that increases in life expectancy since 1840 showed no sign of slowing, helped by medical advances, better nutrition and improved living conditions.
He said that many issues were posed by a large, active, increasingly elderly population — such as the “Prince Charles scenario” where people could find themselves waiting for the most senior post in an organisation for decades.
“So few people die at an early age now, so we do not expect substantial improvement at a younger age. Instead, it will be at older age. This will be because of high-tech advances, such as mobility and medication, but also low-tech advances such as keeping elderly people a part of active society,” he said.
More than half of babies born today in affluent homes are expected to live to the age of 100, based on current life expectancy trends.
Analysis of life expectancy and the quality of life in older age indicates that ageing processes can continue to be extended.
Using demographic modelling, scientists calculated that the average British child born in 2007 could expect to live to 103, while in Japan they would live to 107.
Experts made the prediction in a review of the latest research evidence in The Lancet medical journal, published today. They pointed out that huge increases in life expectancy, amounting to more than 30 years, had been seen in most developed countries during the 20th century.
Death rates in nations with the longest life-
He said that many issues were posed by a large, active, increasingly elderly population — such as the “Prince Charles scenario” where people could find themselves waiting for the most senior post in an organisation for decades.
“So few people die at an early age now, so we do not expect substantial improvement at a younger age. Instead, it will be at older age. This will be because of high-
(Source: Sam Lister, The Times, October 2, 2009)
Your rights made simple
Here we've simplified the text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). All 30 rights are equal to each other and it is the duty of governments to protect and promote them.
1 All Human beings are free and equal in dignity and rights
Case Study: Discrimination based on descent
2 All people are entitled to rights without distinction based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, opinion, origin, property, birth or residency
Case Study: World Conference Against Racism
3 Right to life liberty and security of person
Case Study: International campaign to ban landmines
4 Freedom from slavery
Case Study: The trafficking of children in West Africa
5 Freedom from torture
Case Study: Freedom from torture in Mexico
6 Right to be treated equally by the law
Case Study: Slobodan Milosevic's trial
7 Right to equal protection by the law
Case Study: Sharia law
8 Right for all to effective remedy by competent tribunal
Case Study: Domestic violence
9 Freedom from arbitrary arrest
Case Study: Anti-terrorist legislation post Sept. 11
10 Right to fair public hearing by Independent tribunal
Case Study: The prisoners of Guantanamo Bay
11 Right to presumption of innocence until proven guilty at public trial with all guarantees necessary for defence
Case Study: Legal proceedings in Malaysia
12 Right to privacy in home, family and correspondence
Case Study: Privacy on the Internet
13 Freedom of movement in your own country and the right to leave and return to any countries
Case Study: Internally displaced in Turkey
14 Right to political asylum in other countries
Case Study: Asylum seekers in Australia
15 Right to nationality
Case Study: The issue of nationality in Ivory Coast
16 Right to marriage and family and to equal right of men and women during and after marriage
Case Study: Forced early marriage
17 Right to own property
Case Study: Land reform in Zimbabwe
18 Freedom of thought and conscience and religion
Case Study: Legislating against religious hatred in the UK
19 Freedom of opinion and expression and to seek, receive and impart information
Case Study: Freedom of expression in Uzbekistan
20 Freedom of Association and assembly
Case Study: Anti-globalisation protests
21 Right to take part in and select government
Case Study: Democracy in East Timor
22 Right to social security and realisation of economic, social and cultural rights
Case Study: Bangladesh's micro-loans
23 Right to work, to equal pay for equal work and to form and join trade unions
Case Study: Ecuador's trade unions
24 Right to reasonable hours of work and paid holidays
Case Study: Enforcing labour standards in a global economy
25 Right to adequate living standard for self and family, including food, housing, clothing, medical care and social security
Case Study: World Summit on Sustainable Development
26 Right to education
Case Study: Education in Afghanistan
27 Right to participate in cultural life and to protect intellectual property rights
Case Study: West Papua's cultural identity
28 Right to social and international order permitting these freedoms to be realised
Case Study: Military intervention for human rights
29 Each person has responsibilities to the community and others as essential for a democratic society
Case Study: Guns in the USA
30 Repression in the name of rights is unacceptable
Case Study: The concept of Asian Values
Here we've simplified the text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). All 30 rights are equal to each other and it is the duty of governments to protect and promote them.
1 All Human beings are free and equal in dignity and rights
Case Study: Discrimination based on descent
2 All people are entitled to rights without distinction based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, opinion, origin, property, birth or residency
Case Study: World Conference Against Racism
3 Right to life liberty and security of person
Case Study: International campaign to ban landmines
4 Freedom from slavery
Case Study: The trafficking of children in West Africa
5 Freedom from torture
Case Study: Freedom from torture in Mexico
6 Right to be treated equally by the law
Case Study: Slobodan Milosevic's trial
7 Right to equal protection by the law
Case Study: Sharia law
8 Right for all to effective remedy by competent tribunal
Case Study: Domestic violence
9 Freedom from arbitrary arrest
Case Study: Anti-
Case Study: The prisoners of Guantanamo Bay
11 Right to presumption of innocence until proven guilty at public trial with all guarantees necessary for defence
Case Study: Legal proceedings in Malaysia
12 Right to privacy in home, family and correspondence
Case Study: Privacy on the Internet
13 Freedom of movement in your own country and the right to leave and return to any countries
Case Study: Internally displaced in Turkey
14 Right to political asylum in other countries
Case Study: Asylum seekers in Australia
15 Right to nationality
Case Study: The issue of nationality in Ivory Coast
16 Right to marriage and family and to equal right of men and women during and after marriage
Case Study: Forced early marriage
17 Right to own property
Case Study: Land reform in Zimbabwe
18 Freedom of thought and conscience and religion
Case Study: Legislating against religious hatred in the UK
19 Freedom of opinion and expression and to seek, receive and impart information
Case Study: Freedom of expression in Uzbekistan
20 Freedom of Association and assembly
Case Study: Anti-
Case Study: Democracy in East Timor
22 Right to social security and realisation of economic, social and cultural rights
Case Study: Bangladesh's micro-
Case Study: Ecuador's trade unions
24 Right to reasonable hours of work and paid holidays
Case Study: Enforcing labour standards in a global economy
25 Right to adequate living standard for self and family, including food, housing, clothing, medical care and social security
Case Study: World Summit on Sustainable Development
26 Right to education
Case Study: Education in Afghanistan
27 Right to participate in cultural life and to protect intellectual property rights
Case Study: West Papua's cultural identity
28 Right to social and international order permitting these freedoms to be realised
Case Study: Military intervention for human rights
29 Each person has responsibilities to the community and others as essential for a democratic society
Case Study: Guns in the USA
30 Repression in the name of rights is unacceptable
Case Study: The concept of Asian Values
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