How could these effect the ethics and values of your society?
A very common argument against globalization is that it destroys traditional culture and values.
Some people say that the traditional culture and Islamic values are threatened by global media. For example, many young Emirati people like watching American films and TV programs. These films and TV programs show behavior which conflicts with their traditional Emirati culture and Islamic values.
? ?
Do you think young Emiratis are easily
influenced by global media?
Do you think that the global media
always has a negative effect on
traditional culture and values?
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Solutions?
Thursday, March 08, 2012 10:07 AM
If you think that traditional values and moral standards are affected by global media, do you think that any of the following would be effective solutions?
? closing cinemas ? only allowing films made in the GCC
countries to be shown in cinemas ? making satellite television illegal ? stopping the sale of American and European
DVDs in shops ? blocking American music channels, like MTV ? blocking Facebook and Twitter
If you do not think any of
the solutions above would
work, what can Emiratis do
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work, what can Emiratis do to protect their culture and values from the influence of the global media?
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Globalization & Ethics
Thursday, March 08, 2012 10:20 AM
In 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This was soon after the Second World War (1939-1945), during which 60 million people were killed, and many atrocities were committed.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. was “the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled” (link).
The United Nations wanted all the countries in the world to adopt the Declaration.
Before we look at the declaration, think about these two questions:
? What does it mean when we say that a person has rights?
? What are the basic human rights?
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Wednesday, March 07, 2012 10:49 AM
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
Look at the declaration.
Some of the articles are written in quite complicated language. e.g. 1, 4, 5, 9…
Imagine you had to explain these articles to a child – try to express the ideas in more simple language!
Article 1.
? All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2.
? Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 3.
? Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
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Article 4.
? No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Article 5.
? No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 6.
? Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
Article 7.
? All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 8.
? Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
Article 9.
? No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 10.
? Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
What do you think of these articles?
Do you think they are suitable
for all the countries in the
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for all the countries in the world?
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The Cairo Declaration of Human Rights (1990)
Wednesday, March 07, 2012 3:50 PM
Some Muslim countries did not agree with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For example, Saudi Arabia refused to sign it in 1948.
In 1990, representatives from Muslim countries wrote the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam. In 2000, many Muslim countries agreed to support the Cairo Declaration.
How is the Cairo Declaration different to the United Nations Declaration?
Just have a quick look…
ARTICLE 1:
(a) All human beings form one family whose members are united by their subordination to Allah and descent from Adam. All men are equal in terms of basic human dignity and basic obligations and responsibilities, without any discrimination on the basis of race, colour, language, belief, sex, religion, political affiliation, social status or other considerations. The true religion is the guarantee for enhancing such dignity along the path to human integrity.
(b) All human beings are Allah’s subjects, and the most loved by Him are those who are most beneficial to His subjects, and no one has superiority over another except on the basis of piety and good deeds.
ARTICLE 2:
(a) Life is a God-given gift and the right to life is guaranteed to every human being. It is the duty of individuals, societies and states to safeguard this right against any violation, and it is prohibited to take away life except for a shari’ah prescribed reason.
(b) It is forbidden to resort to any means which could result in the genocidal annihilation of mankind.
(c) The preservation of human life throughout the term of time willed by Allah is a duty prescribed by Shari’ah.
(d) Safety from bodily harm is a guaranteed right. It is the duty of the state to safeguard it, and it is prohibited to breach it without a Shari’ah-prescribed reason.
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ARTICLE 3:
(a) In the event of the use of force and in case of armed conflict, it is not permissible to kill non-belligerents such as old men, women and children. The wounded and the sick shall have the right to medical treatment; and prisoners of war shall have the right to be fed, sheltered and clothed. It is prohibited to mutilate or dismember dead bodies. It is required to exchange prisoners of war and to arrange visits or reunions of families separated by circumstances of war.
(b) It is prohibited to cut down trees, to destroy crops or livestock, to destroy the enemy’s civilian buildings and installations by shelling, blasting or any other means.
ARTICLE 4: Every human being is entitled to human sanctity and the protection of one’s good name and honour during one’s life and after one’s death. The state and the society shall protect one’s body and burial place from desecration.
ARTICLE 5:
(a) The family is the foundation of society, and marriage is the basis of making a family. Men and women have the right to marriage, and no restrictions stemming from race, colour or nationality shall prevent them from exercising this right.
(b) The society and the State shall remove all obstacles to marriage and facilitate it, and shall protect the family and safeguard its welfare.
ARTICLE 6:
