The NHS' “Bare Below the Elbows” policy requires that to prevent the spread of infections, health workers should not wear watches, rings (other than wedding rings) and should be bare below the elbows. This is based on research showing that bacteria can survive on sleeves and from there spread to patients on contact. Some Muslim female health workers, and 'community' leaders, have raised concerns about this policy.
A number of options are being discussed, including sleeves that can be easily rolled up on patient contact. My own view is that Islam is sufficiently flexible to take account of necessity. If there is scientific evidence for the survival of bacteria on sleeves, and transmission from there to patients, then out of necessity, there should be no obstacle to women health workers being bare below the arms.
Friday, November 28
Thursday, November 27
Dependency culture...?
I enjoy studying the welfare state. It is a fascinating topic. This is because, although the details are boring and technical, underlying the welfare state are principles of compassion and humanity. Another reason for my interest is that, as so frequently happens, there is a conflict between the stated, noble, intentions and operation in reality.
Every area of the welfare state has examples of this dichotomy between reality and intention. Take child protection. We condemn the welfare state as a meddling nanny when happy families are broken; we condemn it for not doing enough when tragedies, such as the case of Baby P, happen. Yet we accept the principle that the state should have a role in helping vulnerable children.
There is, in other aspects of the welfare state, a conflict between the wish to help and the need to prevent making people dependent on state help. Take the case of financial help given to the unemployed. A perpetual challenge has been how to help those who need it, without, especially for those lacking skills, making people think hard and fast before accepting jobs that would make them only marginally better off ( or not better off at all, or, taking everything into account, worse off).
If the state is contributing significantly towards your mortgage payments, and you are not a skilled professional, you will think hard before accepting a job that could make you worse off. It is natural to make such calculations; it is totally unreasonable for there to be an expectation not to think in this way. Similarly, there is a huge disincentive to taking on short term contract work.
I am not sure what the solution is to these problems. Means testing, or targeting help to those who need it most, sounds great in principle, but for it to work, we all need to be saints.
Every area of the welfare state has examples of this dichotomy between reality and intention. Take child protection. We condemn the welfare state as a meddling nanny when happy families are broken; we condemn it for not doing enough when tragedies, such as the case of Baby P, happen. Yet we accept the principle that the state should have a role in helping vulnerable children.
There is, in other aspects of the welfare state, a conflict between the wish to help and the need to prevent making people dependent on state help. Take the case of financial help given to the unemployed. A perpetual challenge has been how to help those who need it, without, especially for those lacking skills, making people think hard and fast before accepting jobs that would make them only marginally better off ( or not better off at all, or, taking everything into account, worse off).
If the state is contributing significantly towards your mortgage payments, and you are not a skilled professional, you will think hard before accepting a job that could make you worse off. It is natural to make such calculations; it is totally unreasonable for there to be an expectation not to think in this way. Similarly, there is a huge disincentive to taking on short term contract work.
I am not sure what the solution is to these problems. Means testing, or targeting help to those who need it most, sounds great in principle, but for it to work, we all need to be saints.
Saturday, November 22
BNP member list
This week saw considerable controversey about the release of the personal details of BNP members. Some people could hardly contain their glee, arguing that members of other parties do not hide themselves. Others argued that BNP members have rights too. Although Labour or Tory members do not need to hide, there would be an outcry if their personal details were published online. I agree with the latter view.
The list itself, easily available, contains 12801 entries. I am sure there must be social scientists somewhere analysing the data, though there isn't much to go on, apart from personal details. I suppose it does help in identifying the national distribution of members.
Of the 12801 entries, roughly 2400 are female (18.7%). 40 have the title of Dr before their names; 5 are reverends. There are even afew lords, ladies and knights, though I do not know if these titles are geniune. My own city, Birmingham, has around 220 members, including some who are from predominantly Pakistani/ Asian areas. Most of the members are from what could be called deprived areas, though there are several from more affluent areas.
The list itself, easily available, contains 12801 entries. I am sure there must be social scientists somewhere analysing the data, though there isn't much to go on, apart from personal details. I suppose it does help in identifying the national distribution of members.
Of the 12801 entries, roughly 2400 are female (18.7%). 40 have the title of Dr before their names; 5 are reverends. There are even afew lords, ladies and knights, though I do not know if these titles are geniune. My own city, Birmingham, has around 220 members, including some who are from predominantly Pakistani/ Asian areas. Most of the members are from what could be called deprived areas, though there are several from more affluent areas.
Wednesday, November 19
Film news.....from Mirpur
Those who watch satellite channels of the DM Digital, KBC and Aapna TV sort, will know of a new genre of film and drama coming from Pakistan. I am referring, of course, to Potahari/ Pahari entertainment. The Potahar region of Pakistan is in fact a cultural entity that includes the Mirpur district of Azad Kashmir.
Now I hear that a new Pahari amateur film has as its leading actors at least 4 people from my own village, Chattroh. The film, Mara Sajan Pola (My naïve lover), is currently making the rounds in England. As a first amateur attempt, it’s actually an extraordinarily good film, well shot, the story moves quickly and there is a good dose of unique comedy.
Potahari/ Pahari films and dramas, helped by the rise of niche satellite channels, are increasingly becoming popular. Given the resemblance of Urdu and Hindi, Lollywood’s Urdu outputs do not stand a chance next to Bollywood. And Lollywood’s punjabi films are ridiculous, with every sentence delivered in earth shattering tones. The gap thus left is filled by Potohari films, which are in general more realistic and touch relevant themes, including the Pakistan/ England link.
The 'government' of 'Azad'Kashmir should take note and offer a cultural policy. It is clear young people want this; note how popular Bollywood movies, despite being banned, are in AK. I doubt, however, if anything will change. Culture does not go beyond recital of the quami-tarana and afew poems by Iqbal. The private sector is taking the initiative.
Now I hear that a new Pahari amateur film has as its leading actors at least 4 people from my own village, Chattroh. The film, Mara Sajan Pola (My naïve lover), is currently making the rounds in England. As a first amateur attempt, it’s actually an extraordinarily good film, well shot, the story moves quickly and there is a good dose of unique comedy.
Potahari/ Pahari films and dramas, helped by the rise of niche satellite channels, are increasingly becoming popular. Given the resemblance of Urdu and Hindi, Lollywood’s Urdu outputs do not stand a chance next to Bollywood. And Lollywood’s punjabi films are ridiculous, with every sentence delivered in earth shattering tones. The gap thus left is filled by Potohari films, which are in general more realistic and touch relevant themes, including the Pakistan/ England link.
The 'government' of 'Azad'Kashmir should take note and offer a cultural policy. It is clear young people want this; note how popular Bollywood movies, despite being banned, are in AK. I doubt, however, if anything will change. Culture does not go beyond recital of the quami-tarana and afew poems by Iqbal. The private sector is taking the initiative.
Wednesday, November 12
Good times on credit
It has become something of a statement of the obvious to say that over the past decade or so the material standard of life has increased by leaps and bounds. For example, ownership of material possessions, such as mobile phones, ipods, etc, has increased tremendously. That much cannot be denied.
But looking at it now, after the credit crunch, it seems all this prosperity has been achieved not by high paying, quality jobs, but on credit. Unprecendented levels of consumer credit, which have become clear since the crunch, are evidence of this.
With quality jobs shifting to low wage economies and being replaced by McJobs, it seems permanently low interest rates have been one way for the Western governments to ensure living standards do not fall for their citizens.
But looking at it now, after the credit crunch, it seems all this prosperity has been achieved not by high paying, quality jobs, but on credit. Unprecendented levels of consumer credit, which have become clear since the crunch, are evidence of this.
With quality jobs shifting to low wage economies and being replaced by McJobs, it seems permanently low interest rates have been one way for the Western governments to ensure living standards do not fall for their citizens.
Monday, November 10
Holy Punches!
Those who saw the news last night would have seen images of Greek Orthodox and Armenian monks trading punches at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old Jerusalem. The scenes brought to mind an incident, in which two mullahs exchanged slaps, I witnessed in the late 80s.
The point at issue was the vexed question of whether fasting should start the next day or not. As many people know, this is a difficult issue because it depends on the sighting of the new, thin crescent moon. The fact that the date of the new moon can now be scientifically calculated seems irrelevant, as does the fact that the new moon may have been sighted in other countries.
Anyway, this brawl that I remember started when one of the clerics rather naively suggested that the mosque just follow the decision of the majority. The other cleric was having none of this pragmatism. And so slaps ensued.
I am unable to empathise with those who take part in these petty disputes. What drives them? I just cannot get into their mind to see what is behind it. Take the issue of the sighting of the moon. Clerics in the UK are willing to say their prayers at precise times, such as 5:33 or 7:47. Where does this precision come from? It does so from the Met Office. Yet why not rely on the Met Office for the sighting of the new moon? What, in principle, is the difference between the two?
The former Pakistani Prime Minister, Z A Bhutto, talking about the mullahs once said “I have no time for those who argue as to which nostril to clean first”. That is one statement with which, in this day and age, one can easily empathise.
The point at issue was the vexed question of whether fasting should start the next day or not. As many people know, this is a difficult issue because it depends on the sighting of the new, thin crescent moon. The fact that the date of the new moon can now be scientifically calculated seems irrelevant, as does the fact that the new moon may have been sighted in other countries.
Anyway, this brawl that I remember started when one of the clerics rather naively suggested that the mosque just follow the decision of the majority. The other cleric was having none of this pragmatism. And so slaps ensued.
I am unable to empathise with those who take part in these petty disputes. What drives them? I just cannot get into their mind to see what is behind it. Take the issue of the sighting of the moon. Clerics in the UK are willing to say their prayers at precise times, such as 5:33 or 7:47. Where does this precision come from? It does so from the Met Office. Yet why not rely on the Met Office for the sighting of the new moon? What, in principle, is the difference between the two?
The former Pakistani Prime Minister, Z A Bhutto, talking about the mullahs once said “I have no time for those who argue as to which nostril to clean first”. That is one statement with which, in this day and age, one can easily empathise.
False hope....
Medical experts, backed by the charity Sense About Science, have expressed concern about the safety and efficacy of many web based remedies being offered to people who are unwell and suffering. In most cases, they just offer false hope at great cost.
I am similarly concerned about some of the adverts I have seen in the free Urdu newspapers, which offer, not just medical advice, but a solution to all of life’s problems. One spiritual healer claims to solve any problem, from impotency to recalcitrant children. Another promises that your stubborn sweetheart will fall at your feet after a (costly) visit.
These can be dismissed as entertainment, but some make more serious claims, such as to cure chronic conditions, such as diabetes, or even life threatening diseases such as cancer. Recent years have seen a proliferation of these free newspapers, which contain little original news (just poor quality re-wording of news from more established sources), and many adverts. The problem is that these newspapers are read by the most vulnerable - older Asian men who have little understanding of other sources of information to confirm or disconfirm what they read.
I am similarly concerned about some of the adverts I have seen in the free Urdu newspapers, which offer, not just medical advice, but a solution to all of life’s problems. One spiritual healer claims to solve any problem, from impotency to recalcitrant children. Another promises that your stubborn sweetheart will fall at your feet after a (costly) visit.
These can be dismissed as entertainment, but some make more serious claims, such as to cure chronic conditions, such as diabetes, or even life threatening diseases such as cancer. Recent years have seen a proliferation of these free newspapers, which contain little original news (just poor quality re-wording of news from more established sources), and many adverts. The problem is that these newspapers are read by the most vulnerable - older Asian men who have little understanding of other sources of information to confirm or disconfirm what they read.
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