What role does religion have today?

Would you say you’re living a ‘good’ life at the moment? If you were asked what constitutes a ‘good’ life, what would be your first thoughts? Respecting and valuing others and helping those in need? Having a great career, a good network of friends and a loving relationship? Devoting your life to charity? Or living in an apartment overlooking the Champs Elyseés? Today, it seems that the personal question of religion or having a relationship with God rarely crosses most people’s minds. Fifty or so years ago it might have been a different story. So what’s changed?

The West has experienced a drastic decline in religious practice in the last 25 years, especially in Europe, with over 50% of people seeing religion as lacking in importance with that figure reaching over 70% percent in Scandinavian countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Norway, in addition to France and the United Kingdom.

So why is religion less relevant to young people today? Atheist scientist Dr. Matt Johnson sees the sudden abundance of information at our fingertips as the reason why religion holds less interest for young people. “I think the increasing access to information via the internet and television is playing a huge role. Young people now have access to a much greater pool of knowledge from which they can draw their own conclusions about the likely existence of a god.”

With the likes of Lady Gaga, Brad Pitt and Beyoncé splashed all over magazines, TV and internet, religion just isn’t seen as relevant to our lives as it once was, as Rev. David Pepper explains. “Young people are exposed to different icons of celebrity and modern culture, a culture which has no need or place for religion – and so it follows that church is just not relevant. Having said that, there is some good work being done by many evangelical groups, but this type of religion is not for everyone. I know the church has to try new things but personally I can’t stand gimmicks to ‘get people in the door,’ too often the church is embarrassing when it attempts it. The gravity of material icons the young are exposed to is so great that it often makes the church look unfashionable and irrelevant in their eyes.”

Religious figures have traditionally been seen as pillars of the community, and the first port of call whenever advice is needed. Rabbi Irit Shillor believes that with so much information available, young people would rather use Google to solve their problems. “I think that religion is not offering young people the answers they are seeking. I think that the conventional answers that satisfied my generation and older people doesn’t answer questions to do with how much time we spend working, how important computers and especially internet have become (making life quite virtual in many cases), and how chance is manifest in many aspects of life. I also think that young people look at their elders, who often claim to be religious, and their behaviour, which is not always compatible with religious values.”

Another contributing factor is society’s changing attitude towards atheism. Philip Pullman was one of the first major children’s authors to promote an atheist message in the His Dark Materials trilogy. And most people in London will be familiar with The British Humanist Association’s famous bus campaign with the slogan, “There probably is no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” In Europe at least, a person can decide that they don’t believe in God without the fear of being persecuted or frowned upon by society for doing so. Theology student Fran O’Neill notes that now society has become more questioning, and more importantly tolerant of non-believers, more young people like herself are free to decide not to believe in God. “Society has become less dogmatic about religion, people are allowed to question the reason for our existence for themselves, and many of us who do not describe ourselves as ‘god-fearing’ do not have to live in fear of being banished or killed!”

The need for the church has declined

As well as society becoming more tolerant of non-believers, the advent of the welfare state, in addition to government-funded schools and healthcare means people are less reliant on religious institutions in times of need, as Rev. Pepper explains. “Traditionally the church has been strongest where the population is poor; the church has given people hope of a better existence. It has fed and taught the poor, and has been a parental figure in their lives. But as people are brought out of poverty, so their need for the church declines; when they become self-sufficient in a physical sense, this also tends to snuff out their need for spiritual sustenance.”

As well bringing comfort to the poor, society has also turned to religion to try to understand the world and their place within in. Modern advances in science and psychology have given rise to the view that religion is nothing more than early humanity’s way of making sense of the universe, in the same way the Ancient Greeks thought changes in the weather were dependent on the moods of their gods. Scientist Charles Darwin shook the foundations of the church when his Theory of Evolution argued that man evolved from apes as opposed to being created fully-formed by God in the form of Adam and Eve. But then there are scientists such as Max Planck who believed that science and religion are not mutually exclusive. “Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are a part of the mystery that we’re trying to solve.”

Much later, Sigmund Freud denounced religion as an expression of a childish delusion to create feelings of security in a world where one feels helpless. Freud’s view sees God as a child’s imaginary friend, whom they can turn to whenever they feel confused and alone, and argues that atheism is a natural result of society ‘growing up,’ of rejecting fantasies and dealing with reality. “If one attempts to assign to religion its place in man’s evolution, it seems not so much to be a lasting acquisition, as a parallel to the neurosis which the civilized individual must pass through on his way from childhood to maturity.”

So what’s does the future hold for society if we were to reach this stage of “maturity” Freud describes, by giving up religion altogether? It’s impossible to ignore the well-worn argument that religious conflict has been the cause of most major conflicts throughout history, and therefore does more harm than good, as some like physicist Steven Weinberg would have it. “With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.” But whether there would be no more conflict within society if religion was taken out of the equation remains to be seen.

Rabbi Shillor believes there is no easy answer to this question. “We have to ask whether religion is necessarily compatible with a ‘well-functioning’ society. The answer is not a simple “yes”. I think that many religious institutions are very corrupt. Also, we have seen how religion can lead to war mongering, genocides and other major disasters. Having said that, it is my belief that religion can encourage people to find the best in themselves. Such examples of religion are very positive for society and its ability to function well.”

On a more personal level, O’Neill argues that religion isn’t necessary for us to lead a good life. “I do not need The Ten Commandments to be a good person. I certainly don’t need a fear of eternal damnation to live a moral life. I don’t need fear of hell simply because I have sex outside of marriage- something which might be considered ‘sinful’ but can’t possibly be considered ‘immoral’. Needless to say, I do not believe religion is necessary.”

Religion can provide support and advice

Others such as Rev. Pepper agree that while religion does not necessarily mean we are morally superior as people, it still has the power to enrich our lives nonetheless. “For those who lead good lives, but without God in their lives, I believe that they are missing out on the most profound of relationships. For me having a faith in God provides me a whole different dimension in life, a dimension which makes a person feel in tune not only with God but also with all created things in heaven and on earth and this in turn shapes how we live and the values we hold dear.”

When we take a closer look at it, the future for religion is not as clear cut as statistics may suggest. Ultimately possessing a faith comes down to our personal choice as individuals rather than something that can be accepted and rejected by the whole of society. There will be people reading this who are deeply religious and think that statistics pointing to a decline in religious beliefs do not speak for them, in the same way as there would be atheists who still think religion has a strong hold over our culture. A religion has no bearing on whether or not someone is leading a ‘good’ life, but whether we would be ‘missing out’ by not having a religion is a matter of personal experience. One thing we can hope for is that we continue to live in a society where we are allowed to make that decision for ourselves.

France: a protest against Roma expulsion

The summer began with a tough move from French president Nicolas Sarkozy; the government announced and put in place a controversial plan that envisaged the expulsion of the Roma illegally present in the country. Many non-authorised camps have since been closed down and their inhabitants offered 300€ plus 100€ for each child if they agree to get on a plane back to the countries they arrived from, mainly Romania and Bulgaria.

Many in France see Roma communities as a ‘cradle of crime’, with involvement in illegal activities, such as theft and prostitution. The only answer to the problem, according to the French government, is the expatriation of these communities. In July, when French police shot two young Roma in Grenoble and Saint Aignan, groups of local Roma responded with riots and violence.

The policy has been harshly criticised by human rights organisations and a large group of European Parliament members. According to French law, a member of the Roma population acquires the right to settle in the country only if he or she manages to find a job within three months from his or her arrival in the country. This specific law, however, is interpreted as discriminatory against the Roma community, since as European citizens, they should be entitled to move freely across the member countries of the EU. In their countries of origin, the Roma already face a struggle with unemployment, racism, and social and political exclusion.

The Romani as an ethnic group originated in medieval India. It is likely that they had to leave the country following the defeat of their army by the sultan of the kingdom of Ghazna. Since then they have endured slavery and marginalisation at the hands of the various countries they have settled in; in many cases they have been subject to ethnic cleansing and open hostility. The peak of cruelty came during World War II, when the Nazis put in place their project of systemic destruction of the Roma population. Attempts at the extermination of the Romani are referred to as ‘Porajmos’.

One of the main reasons that is usually used to explain the great hostility towards the Roma focuses on the uniqueness of their culture, which sets them widely apart from what is considered to be ‘normal’ or ‘acceptable’ by the rest of society. The nomadic lifestyle embraced by many Romani groups constitutes a major obstacle to integration, and the lack of a formal registry through which to keep track of the members of their communities makes it difficult for any state to provide services and exert control over them.

The strong communal spirit within a Roma camp means that often members of their community do not feel the need to be part of a bigger society. This is also due to the general suspicion nourished by the rest of society towards this specific group of people that speak a different language, often practice a different religion, and look and think differently. Racism has made it extremely difficult for them to be accepted as valid members of society, or entitled to the same jobs and education as anyone else. Double standards are often applied when a Romani is in search of a job or applies for a decent education, meaning that many are left with no other option but petty crime to sustain themselves. It’s a self-pepetuating cycle, as the more this tendency becomes entrenched, the more criminality within Romani communities becomes organised and difficult to tackle.

A distinct group with individual needs

Many European governments, however, do not seem to be taking the social emergency seriously. Or, at least, they aren’t looking at it from the right perspective. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia it is common to segregate Roma children in classes and schools reserved for disabled children. In Italy a major clampdown on the local Roma began under Silvio Berlusconi’s new government in 2008. The proposal to fingerprint the Roma population present in the country was denounced by the EU as a ‘clear act of racial discrimination’.

Even the UK, which in the past has proved to be quite tolerant towards its community of ‘travellers’, has recently changed direction in its policies under the coalition government formed by the Tories and the Lib-Dems. The Communities Minister Eric Pickles has put forward a proposal that would allow the government to evict the Roma groups with only a temporary permit to use land for their sites. This proposal, part of the wider project to balance the state budget, would see many people being driven back onto the streets and would criminalise those refusing to comply.

Raising awareness on the issue of marginalisation of the Roma community is extremely urgent and necessary. A few positive steps have already been taken; The Decade of Roma Inclusion, sponsored by the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and other organisations, is a project that tries to set priorities and identify alternative paths towards the solution of the Roma issue. The countries taking part in it (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Spain), however, still lack the will for an effective change to take place.

A good precedent, however, seems to provide a little hope. In 1989 the Spanish city of Avilés introduced programmes to better integrate Roma people, focusing on employment, education and provision of social services. Starting from 2000 Roma families have been re-housed in standard accommodation along with the rest of the population. Integration seems to have been fully achieved to the extent that the Avilés is now regarded by EU organisations as a good model to export. In the end, the problem of the Roma is not an unsolvable riddle. It will take a while, though, for the national governments to understand that the Roma are not an insect colony, but a group of individuals that need to be treated as such.

Womanly styles on the catwalk at Vuitton

This spring, the autumn/winter catwalks were awash with nipped in waists, modest-length full skirts and shapely legs set off by an elegant midi-heel. This restraint, after the outlandish  and androgynous  style led by Balmain, has been welcomed as a return to female-friendly-fashion, as opposed to the looks so favoured by male designers that only look good on waifish, young Eastern Europeans.

The glossies are heralding the return of the ‘woman’; Louis Vuitton famously used older and curvier (although one should be careful not to qualify them as ‘curvy’, as they are still minuscule compared to what you see on the street) models such as Elle Macpherson and Bar Rafaeli for their catwalk show back in March. It seems that fashion is leading the charge in a return to conventional modes of femininity, as presented through the shapes and styles that are so à la mode. The appeal of the hourglass woman has even been sponsored by the British Government, with equalities minister Lynne Featherstone advocating the figure of Mad Men star Christina Hendricks as a healthy one to aspire to.

The Renaissance Woman

However, it’s not just fashion that depicts this shift back to a more traditional idea of femininity. Craft and cookery classes are also enjoying something of a renaissance among the younger female generation – perhaps because they have never felt that such pastimes were a symptom of oppressive patriarchy. Nigella Lawson is famed for reimagining the domestic goddess for the noughties, and Cath Kidston kitsch has never been more fashionable. The ideal perpetuated here is an image of motherly loveliness that is confined to the kitchen. Perfect fodder for sexist maxims that women enjoy cooking, cleaning and sewing, it would seem. What is more likely, however, is that it’s part of the make do and mend movement that always gains popularity in hard financial times. But it is disconcerting that it is wrapped up in such a pretty package.

The Woman Reborn

The most interesting political point regarding this desire to hark back to the image of the fifties housewife is handily summed up by Emma Thompson’s recent assertion that having it all (that is to say managing a career and a family) is a “revolting concept”. Since the power woman of the eighties, women have been told they can have what they want, when they want – the world is theirs for the taking. Thanks to the sexual revolution of the sixties and the advent of the contraceptive pill, women were suddenly able to control their own reproductive destiny and so the ‘career woman’ was born. Pressures have mounted though, and many women have indeed found it difficult to manage both public and private spheres of their lives. But does this mean they shouldn’t try? And that society shouldn’t try and help them? After all, we have only so far lived in a world set up according to male rules and timetables. Perhaps a change to a gynocracy is what is truly needed for women to achieve full equality of opportunity.

What can we attribute this potentially worrying trend to then? Is it merely a reversal of the ‘naughty noughties’, defined as they were by attention-seeking starlets flashing the flesh, lad mag photo shoots and the rise of the celebrity sex tape? A call for more restraint and conservatism (with a small ‘c’)?

Goodbye to the naughty noughties?

Perhaps it is another social consequence of the economic doom and gloom. In times of turmoil, people look to the past with rose-tinted glasses; gender roles were clearer then, men had the role of breadwinner and women had to keep house. As unemployment is still a problem throughout Europe, househusbands are becoming more common – cultivating an image of traditional femininity could be a reassuring presence to those with conventional ideas of family. Or is it something simpler still? It is well known that trends are cyclical in nature – forty years after women’s lib, maybe it’s just time for females to model themselves on their grandmothers; at least they have the choice whether to adhere to other restrictive expectations this time, rather than being obliged to follow them.

The Fairer Sex

In truth, all of the above are probably contributing factors to this trend of the ultra-feminine. What is important to remember is that despite appearances, it is unlikely that this shift will provoke a drastic reversal in societal norms. What is the most likely conclusion though is that the twenty- and thirtysomethings who are spearheading this revival in all things girly have never needed to consider the implications of it. Young women of 2010 are accustomed to more freedom and rights than their mother could have even wished for (despite the pay gap, abortion rights and rape still being important feminist issues). Unlike the fifties housewife they dress as, Western women  are fortunate today to have the choice of whether to stay at home and raise a family or go out and forge a career in whichever profession they choose. You can’t say fairer than that.

Jessica with famed publicist Max Clifford

Jessica Huie is not only the brains behind the first ethnically inclusive card company ColorBlind Cards, but also runs her own PR Company JH Public Relations- with a portfolio including Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration event, Samuel L Jackson’s ‘Shooting Stars in Desert Knights’ Charity benefit and Cypriot international music festival ‘MedFest, together with a client roster ranging from Kelly Rowland to the British Ministry of Justice. She has acted as an advisor on enterprise to Britain’s then Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and been honoured with a string of awards including the “Enterprising Young Brit Award 2007” and the “Precious ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award 2008.’

The fact that she began her career whilst a teenage mother didn’t hold her back from her dreams and ambitions – in fact, she credits her daughter Monet with giving her the drive to succeed. When breaking the news to her father that she was pregnant at 17, he told her that from then on she would only ever be a statistic. But within ten years- having spent three of them working seven days a week – her hard work and drive to succeed paid off, and her story is a life-line to the many young mothers who think that falling pregnant marks the end of any future career prospects.

Shortly after Monet was born, Jessica returned to college to complete her A-Levels followed by a degree in Journalism, whilst simultaneously working at Pride Magazine, BBC Radio and as an intern with famed Publicist Max Clifford who ended up employing her. But this was only the beginning of her success.

Whilst out one day choosing a birthday card for Monet, she noticed that all the cards she came across featuring people, were invariably of white people. This gave her the idea for ColorBlind Cards, a unique range of greeting cards featuring multi-ethnic models, and was subsequently snapped up by several major card retailers with great success. At the time Jessica was still working for Max Clifford and “surviving on four hours sleep.” But eventually the business was growing at such a rate that she decided to go into it full time, in addition to establishing her own PR Agency. Both businesses have since gone from strength to strength.

Despite all this, she still managed to find the time to chat to RIH about her secret to success, nearly throwing in the towel, and the balancing act of being both a career woman and a mum.

When starting out, did you have a career plan and did you know you would eventually go on to achieve the level of success that you did?

The first thing I would say is – how do you measure success? I accept I have achieved some things, but I still have much more to do before I’ll feel comfortable saying I am successful. It’s not about material things, rather more about becoming the type of human being I want to be. Once I get to that place I will accept my success. That said, when I started out, I was a young person with big dreams. With every achievement my dreams got bigger and my confidence grew. I had no idea I would find myself enjoying some of the experiences I have done, but I never actually had an end goal in mind – I just wanted to do everything!

Looking back, would you do anything differently?

I’d do lots of things differently if I’m honest, such as keeping accounts (!) and being so much more organised. At the same time I totally accept that where I am now is where I am supposed to be, and I am a product of all of my experiences, so if I could do it all again I probably wouldn’t change anything.

As well as working for Max Clifford you also worked at several prestigious magazines. What made you decide to focus on PR?

PR comes in many different guises, but the two publicists I worked for Max Clifford and [Celebrity Publicist] Connie Filippello, are the cream of the crop and far from your average PR consultancy. The buzz was addictive, and each day was different from the next. I also made the decision to move from journalism into PR for financial reasons. I adore writing and still enjoy doing the occasional blog, but as a young, single woman raising a child, I had to be practical – but it was also a career progression to become a part of the Max Clifford associate team.

What qualities do you need to make it in PR?

It’s far from brain surgery, but it does take creativity and people skills. The most important thing however is relationships, and the ability to maintain them.

A cute greetings card from ColorBlind Cards

When building your career, how did you stay motivated?

Motivation is one thing I never lacked – having a baby and wanting to give her the best was my driving force.

Did you ever feel like giving up?

There were definitely days where I’d succumb to the pressure and contemplate throwing in the towel and working on the shop floor of a high-street store! That feeling never lasted long as I’m quite good under pressure. I crumble for a day or two but then come back stronger! I was also very lucky in that I had several people in my life who were extremely supportive. My family supported me practically and people like my tutor Chris Whittome at university, Connie Filippello and Max Clifford were all massive supports in my life and helped me to believe in myself and my ability.

Do you believe becoming a mother changes your outlook on life and work?

Completely, I have no idea where or who I would be if it were not for my daughter’s birth. She is the best thing that ever happened to me.

Do you think you would have achieved so much if you hadn’t had your daughter?

We will never know! I know that I have certain characteristics that were there before I had Monet, but the ambition, determination and vision that I grew up with had disappeared by the time I was 17. Monet’s birth brought them flooding back.

Did you ever experience resentment from other young mothers who didn’t choose to build a career like yourself?

No, never. Everybody has been beautifully encouraging and I often get lovely emails from young mothers saying I have inspired them to go back to college or university – it’s a wonderful feeling.

What’s been the highlight of your career?

Too many, but knocking on the door of No.10 Downing Street to have a meeting on enterprise with ex-PM Gordon Brown has to be one for sure!

Many would argue that the problem of juggling a career and motherhood still hasn’t been solved, but do you believe that your story is proof that women can in fact “have it all?”

I think it’s just about having a balance, and I’m definitely still trying to find mine. My daughter still gets upset that I constantly have a Blackberry in my hand, and I’m still battling to give her and myself the quality time that is necessary to function at my optimum level. I am happy however – I have an amazing child and an equally amazing career. So yes it is possible to have it all (but I’m yet to find a way of having it all without suffering from time to time!)

You achieved a great deal of success with ColourBlind Cards. What’s one piece of advice that you would give aspiring women entrepreneurs?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Have you ever had any nightmare jobs?

I once took a client to Monte Carlo and she became involved in a fight whilst the national newspaper journalist who’d travelled with us, proceeded to write about the whole episode – word for word! It was stressful at the time but hilarious in retrospect.

"Dance like nobody's watching." We agree!

As you know, Running in Heels is written by and for European women. Do you consider yourself British or European?

I’d tick British on a form.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Sade always! And golden oldies like Al Green and Eartha Kitt.

What’s your favourite European city and why?

St Tropez or Bari in Southern Italy are both beautiful.

Desert-island book?

Too many to name, but my current bedside read is The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz and I love it! I like to learn when I read.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Spending much more time in the USA, reaping the rewards of what I’ve worked for and enjoying the new sense of balance in my life.

And lastly, can you run in heels?

All day (and night) long!

For more information on Jessica, see her website and you can find out more about ColorBlind Cards online here.

Welfare state systems help the poorest

It might not be the first thing you’d consider when thinking about poverty, deprivation and inequality, but welfare state systems are highly indicative of political influence and social policy and can make a huge difference to our well-being, particularly that of women and children.

What is the Welfare State?

Not to be confused with a welfare society, welfare state, which exists in some format across the Western world, is a term used to describe the way in which the state acts to ensure a level of welfare for its citizens. It should not be assumed that all states will intervene to ensure a basic standard of living for all residents or indeed all citizens, but rather indicates that a policy approach and a system are in place. As such, welfare states and benefits will have very different priorities, procedures and outcomes in different places.

Although it is possible to outline several broad types of welfare state, the welfare approach itself tends to fall within two models:

● The state acts as a low level boundary put in place to catch all those who cannot support themselves to a state-determined minimum.

● The state takes first line responsibility to ensure citizen welfare. Welfare is considered to be a right of the individual within society.

Although the term itself can cover a wide range of economic and social priorities and constructs, the existence of a welfare state relies on some desire for equality including the sharing of wealth, and is underpinned by a responsibility of each individual for the good of society.

Which Types Exist in the EU?

There are four main welfare state types in Europe. Within those central strands individual countries will have differences according to need and socio-economic conditions, but key principals will remain constant. Each model has its critics and has a very different impact on employment markets and levels of social exclusion which is particularly important when considering mothers returning to work:

● Nordic: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands observe the Nordic welfare state approach which is centred on principles of citizenship and which has low entry-levels to social assistance. key to this type of welfare state is a focus on ensuring that unemployment is short-term, so public sector employment is fundamental to the running of the system. The Nordic model is dependent on a high income tax. Equality is a leading objective in these states – this can be observed when looking at an inequality map of the EU.

● Anglo-Saxon: The Anglo-Saxon model is more akin to a ‘last resort strategy’ and is observed across the UK and Ireland. Social subsidies are difficult to access and frequently dependent on employability, both in terms of the age of a recipient and in terms of employment history. The Anglo-Saxon model has been blamed for high-levels of inequality particularly among strands of the population such as the elderly and the single mother.

Greek budget cuts have provoked protests

● Mediterranean: The Mediterranean model is more complicated than other European models as it was formed much later (1970s and 1980s) than its counterparts across the EU. Like in the UK and Ireland, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain impose conditions on access to social subsidy but conversely, subsidy is focused in pensions rather than unemployment benefits. As such, these countries often have high levels of early retirement. The Mediterranean system has been criticized for encouraging social exclusion, particularly of single mothers who are not incentivised to return to work after having children and often find it difficult to re-integrate with society.

● Continental: The continental model, in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg is similar in approach to the Nordic model although places a stronger focus on pensions. The continental system centres on the security of its citizens. The continental model has been criticized for relying too heavily on parents being married and on men being breadwinners. As such, married mothers are expected to be supported by their spouses and un-married mothers by their families.

What Impact Will Recent and Future Budget Cuts Have and How Will Our Poorest Fare?

Recent financial crises which have ricocheted across the EU are expected to impact on all welfare state systems. One sceptical US Think Tank predicted a general move towards the American welfare model. In Economics of the Welfare State, Gosta Esping-Anderson describes the American welfare system when compared with a non-specific European Model:

‘The American welfare state is designed to address market shortcomings and do what private enterprises cannot do themselves. Unlike welfare states built on democratic socialist foundations it is not designed to accomplish a Marxist redistribution of political power from capital to labour; nor is it designed to mediate class struggle, as is the case with corporatist welfare states.’

Today’s critics predict the demise of European models based on a number of surprising statistical discoveries (the average age of retirement in Greece is 53) which may or may not imply what they appear to at first glance, suggesting that EU models are frequently excessive and corrupt.

In reality however, corruption and excess will not be leading any demise of the welfare state in Europe, but spending cuts will. George Osborne’s recent budget for the UK, including proposed changes to housing benefit, disability allowances and tax credits due to come in between now and 2015, appeared quite regressive in its approach and was rightly criticised for hitting the poorest hardest.

The Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) said the poorest 10% of families would lose over 5% of their income as a result of the budget compared with a loss of less than 1% for non-pensioner households without children in the richest 10% of households. It added that the budget contrasted with the “progressive” plans for 2010-14 inherited from Labour, under which the richest 10% of households bore the brunt of the cuts.

Recent budget cuts will hurt the poorest

Despite signalling a commitment to cutting child poverty, the coalition appears to have hit the poorest families and is unlikely to reduce current levels. The End Child Poverty campaign has very clearly announced is discontent.

In their report, the IFS said that: “Low-income households of working age lose the most as a proportion of income from the tax and benefit reforms announced in the emergency budget. Those who lose the least are households of working age without children in the upper half of the income distribution. They do not lose out from cuts in welfare spending, and they are the biggest beneficiaries from the increase in the income tax personal allowance.” Evidently, the cuts to welfare will not encourage our unemployed back to work, but could simultaneously push low-earners out of work and out of their homes.

In other EU countries, similar slash and burn approaches are being taken and welfare states are taking the brunt. Governments appear to be aiming for immediate cost savings at the expense of medium-to-long-term benefits.

Perhaps it is time for governments to reassess the success of their approach to welfare, but it is not a time to forget our poor.

Evgenia: passionate about Khimki's forest

Evgenia Chirikova has not been easy to get in touch with of late. The young Russian mother of two has been arrested four times in the past month and become the object of continuous and humiliating attacks by the police. She has not committed any murderous crime, nor is she involved in an embezzlement scandal. She is simply exerting her right to protest against the destruction of an area that her family, as well as many others, have chosen as a healthy and safe environment to live in.

In 2004, the Russian Ministry of Transport decided to build a motorway to connect Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The project planned the passage of the motorway through the forest of Khimki, a city situated north of Moscow. Khimki is renowned for its forest, which is part of the ‘green belt’ that protects Moscow from pollution and provides a natural habitat to many plant and animal species.

Evgenia found out about the project in 2007 when she noticed strange red marks on the trees in the forest. A passionate supporter of environmental issues, Evgenia set up Vzashchitu Kimkinskogo lesa (In Defence of the Forest of Khimki), a movement against the destruction planned. Despite scarce funds and resources, the initiative gained support from citizens, journalists and liberal politicians. It emerged that the planned motorway was in violation of federal law, which forbids the destruction of public forests for road building when alternative routes exist; as they do in this case. In a lucky twist of fate, the company in charge of the work planned failed to provide necessary documentation at the project start date, which after a court hearing meant that logging was temporarily suspended.

The fight has not been easy by any means; in 2008 the editor of the local paper Khimkinskaya Pravda Zhiva (The Living Truth of Khimki) Mikhail Beketov, a pro-active member of Vzashchitu Kimkinskogo lesa, was attacked by unknown assailants and sustained serious injuries. In order to raise further awareness in the local populartion, Evgenia decided to run in the Khimki mayoral elections in 2009. Despite complicated bureaucratic procedures, a lack of funds and personal threats, she managed to obtain 16% of the votes; a real success for her battle and for the organisation. Evgenia’s husband Mikhail recalls: “The Mayor of Khimki was really frightened. He even revoked his decree about the motorway building – this was a small victory.”

The victory did not, however, last long as in 2009 Prime Minister Vladimir Putin transferred the forest from protected land status to land ‘for transport and infrastructure.’ Following this decision, and despite an appeal to the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, work was set to start on July 14th 2010. Evgenia and other Vzashchitu Kimkinskogo lesa activists demonstrated and picketed the area to prevent the trees being cut down. The reprisal has been violent; on July 16th, Evgenia was almost run over by an unknown silver car. And a week later, members were beaten by a group of individuals wearing white T-shirts and masks to cover their identity. When the Russian militia arrived, they arrested a number of the victims.

According to Mikhail “The police have tried to prevent Evgenia and other activists from protecting the forest by attacking us under any pretext.” On July 28th the protesters marched on Khimki. At the same time, a group of people belonging to an anarchist and neo-fascist movement stormed the Town Hall. This gave the police an excuse to arrest Evgenia for the second time, accusing her of being involved with the violence.

On August 2nd, she was detained yet again, after attending a conference. Following her release the next day, she was ordered to return for questioning on August 4th, but on arriving at the police station, she was arrested and taken to court. According to Mikhail: ‘She was given no time to discuss the matter with her lawyers or invite enough witnesses. In court, police officers were openly lying, [saying] that they heard Evgenia talking about destroying the machinery used to cut the trees, resisting the police, and starting fires in the forest.” Despite Evgenia’s dismissal of the accusations as ‘sheer lies’, the court found her guilty and she was ordered to pay a fine.

The beginnings of destruction in Khimki

At the moment Evgenia is safe at home. But her battle continues. And she wants to make her story known as much as possible abroad. “Without free media, our cause would have failed long time ago” says Mikhail. The aim now is to lobby the Vinci Group; the parent company of  Teplotekhnik, which is carrying out the destruction. She also hopes for support from the European Commission, EIB and EBRD, which have given funds to the Vinci Group. These organisations could potentially use their influence to prevent the area from being destroyed.

And she has a message for everyone. ‘What we can see now in Russia is the restoration of a Soviet-style authoritarianism or even totalitarianism – “upgraded” by the adoption of principles of “wild capitalism”. This mix is especially destructive for both environment and human rights. We are committed to fight it, to protect our freedom, our nature and our way of life. We ask the West not to help the perpetrators of another authoritarian regime in Russia.’

Is 30 a milestone year for happiness?

Warning to readers: what you are about to read is not another existential meltdown  piece on the doom and gloom of  turning 30 or an obituary on  the death of the 20s.

So before going any further, I must issue the following disclaimer: yes, I did turn 30 last month. But no, I didn’t make a list of unaccomplished tasks or undiscovered, exotic destinations I had not as yet visited, nor brainstormed possible names for my unborn children. I have to confess that when D-Day finally arrived on my doorstep like an unexpected but welcome visitor, I found it rather much like any other birthday.

To the say the least, I succumbed,  Buddha-like to the moment and enjoyed  all the well-intentioned  wishes, calls and text messages streaming  in from loved ones all over the world. From friends with children came the wise counsel that I should be enjoying this childless and guilt-free time, whilst simultaneously dropping the subtle hint about how fulfilling motherhood could be. From the Carrie Bradshaws in my life, came the comment that I was so lucky to have met and married the man of my dreams before the age of 30 and a good old whinge at the lack of single talent back in Sydney. I was told that I could be so “happy with the way things had turned out.”

This made me think about what had happened in the last decade: since when did digits become dictators joining the likes of Kim Jong Il or the Burmese junta in their quest to make life intolerable?  Since when was happiness necessarily equated with  having figured out your career, personal and family planning goals by 3-0 ? This mystery of numbers as masters with supernatural powers could be the making of a new Da Vinci Code sequel and made me reflect further upon my own age and the last thirty years. Arguably with every new wrinkle, weakening of muscle tissue or sneaky little grey hair, it is natural to feel that time is indeed marching on, that we have that looming fear that we won’t ever climb Mt Kilimanjaro or secure that six figure salary package by the big three-zero.  In short, using numbers to calculate and measure our happiness as though it were a kilo of grapes in the fruit store is not helping us be happy.

It seems that this thinking has become symptomatic of a 21st century social malaise that has got us all in its grips whether we realise it or not: Age Angst. The urge to judge not only ourselves but also others not by who we are and how rich our lives are but rather by an arbitrary temporal threshold, namely how old we were when we accomplished something or how quickly by age 30 we  managed to cross things off any number of unrealistic lists.

Like its predecessors of times gone by “Emotional IQ” of the noughties and “Zen Buddhism” of the nineties, Age Angst is the Zeitgeist of our times and has its fair share of “happiness hunters” at the ready. There does however seem to be an antidote to Age Angst: learning to embrace it and enjoy the aging process, as strange as that may sound.  A recent recent Gallup poll in America has found that by almost any measure, people get happier as they get older, and researchers are not sure why.

“It could be that there are environmental changes,” said Arthur A. Stone, the lead author of a new study based on the survey was quoted as saying in the New York Times, “or it could be psychological changes about the way we view the world, or it could even be biological — for example brain chemistry or endocrine changes.”

The telephone survey, carried out in 2008, covered more than 340,000 people across the US, aged 18 to 85, asking various questions about age and sex, current events, personal finances, health and other matters.  The results, published online in May this year in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, were good news for old people, and for those who are getting old. On the global measure, people start out at age 18 feeling pretty good about themselves, and then, apparently, things start going downhill. They feel worse and worse until they hit 50. At that point, there is a sharp reversal, and people keep getting happier as they age. By the time they are 85, they are even more satisfied with themselves than they were at 18.

Is this what happiness really looks like?

Closer to home in Europe, another punter in the  “happiness business”, the World Values Survey in its most recent survey in 2008, found Denmark to be home to the planet’s most contented citizens (again) with Zimbabwe as the most miserable (again).  Traditional Scandinavian top 10 place getters such as Sweden and Finland were this time nudged by the Latin bloc consisting of Puerto Rico and Colombia. Directed by University of Michigan political scientist Ronald Inglehart and administered from Stockholm, the survey found that freedom of choice, gender equality, and increased tolerance are responsible for a considerable rise in overall world happiness. The results reject the more simplistic and traditionally accepted notion that wealth is the determining factor, says Inglehart.

The World Values Survey, which has compiled data from 350,000 people in 97 countries since 1981, aims to measure “subjective well-being” through qualitative measure of peoples’ happiness and life satisfaction. It asks just two basic questions, which have never changed: “How would you rate your happiness?” and “How satisfied are you with your life these days?”

Inglehart’s team figured it needed a better explanation for the data. “Most of the earlier studies, including my own, were based on economic factors, which are something you can simply pull off a bookshelf and look up,” he says.

What the survey found for the 2008 survey results is that freedom of choice and social acceptance are the most powerful forces behind national moods. “Money’s pretty powerful, but it’s not the whole story,” says Inglehart, though he maintains that a strong correlation still exists between high standards of living and happiness measures.

As the epicentre of world happiness, Denmark is neither a fairy-tale alpine setting nor a turquoise Caribbean getaway. It’s a bitterly cold nation home to the Vikings and the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The Danes proudly attribute their status as the world’s happiest country to a balance in managing high standards in education, a free yet buoyant  economy, social welfare, and tolerance towards foreigners. The attitude among Danish people is summed up in one word—”hygge” (pronounced hooga). Difficult to translate and even harder for non-Danes to comprehend, hygge describes a cozy, genial emotion that involves strong family bonds.

Other European nations in the 2008 top 10 list included Iceland (Number 4), Ireland (Number 6), Switzerland (Number 7), Holland (Number and Austria (Number 10). The World Values Survey is currently compiling its 2010-2011 survey. This will provide a 30-year time series for the analysis of social and political change.

While there is no one way to deal with Age Angst and how it affects our overall happiness, perhaps it is not as difficult as what we might think. Perhaps we need to redraw those boxes that were supposed to have been neatly ticked upon completion of certain tasks and turn them into black dots with lines joining other dots and create our own dynamic, uncharted real life dot-to-dot diagram? So while many of my friends have removed the year of their birth from their Facebook profiles, I have happily left mine visible for all the world to see.

Should we protect unborn children?

The subject of abortion has long been a controversial and conflicting one. Policies regarding abortion vary across Europe and all around the world. Within the 27 countries of the European Union, the law extends from abortion being allowed only to save the life of the mother in Ireland to being available on request in countries such as France, Germany and Romania. The UK and Finland offer the option to mothers who are at risk physically or mentally and also for economic and social reasons. The gestational limit for legal abortions does vary within the EU and Malta is the only country to have banned abortion altogether.

With sex education, sexual health and sex in general being more and more openly discussed nowadays; it seemed just a matter of time before abortion would be advertised. In 2009 it was announced that there were plans for abortion advice to be advertised on television and radio in the UK. This was alongside plans to relax restrictions on advertising condoms as part of a scheme aiming to reduce high UK rates of teenage pregnancy and sexual infections.

The Broadcast Committee on Advertising Practice (BCAP) has said that the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health had called for a relaxation of the rules on condom advertising. This came after figures showed that over 11,000 under-16s were diagnosed with several sexually transmitted infections including Chlamydia, herpes and genital warts between 2002 and 2006. Along with this proposal was a chance for pregnancy advice services to advertise for the first time. However, they were informed that such advertisements would have to make it clear whether it referred women for abortions.

Andrew Brown, chairman of BCAP, stated that those drawing up the code aimed to set a high bar for social responsibility. “Our priority is to ensure that the rules remain relevant for the future so that consumers can continue to enjoy and trust the adverts they see,” he said.

So how did thousands of viewers feel when they witnessed the first ever pregnancy services advertisement on 24th May 2010? Shown on Channel 4 some time after 10pm, Marie Stopes became the first organisation to advertise abortion advice and of course it caused controversy.

Marie Stopes is one of the UK’s most well-known providers of sexual and reproductive healthcare services. Founded by Scottish doctor of the same name in 1921, their first ever clinic opened in Holloway, North London and played an important role in dispelling taboos surrounding sex and helped to improve reproductive health. Nowadays their nationwide network of clinics open their doors to over 100,000 men and women each year who seek advice, information and medical care. Working with nearly 70 Primary Care Trusts, Marie Stopes has long been recognised as a professional healthcare service, yet since its first advertisement was aired a few months ago, those who are anti-abortion have felt even more compelled to speak out.

The advertisement itself runs for approximately 32 seconds. It features three women of different ages and lifestyles who are all late and expecting their menstrual period. The advertisement simply reaches out to any women who are late and perhaps pregnant and offers them the Marie Stopes’ telephone number and website, which are sources of information and advice.

“Clearly there are hundreds of thousands of women who want and need sexual health information and advice, and access to services,” Marie Stopes International’s CEO Dana Hovig said. “Last year alone we received 350,000 calls to our 24 hour help line.”

A move to cut down on teen pregnancies?

There has been support for and defence of the controversial advert; with comments that it is a positive move at a time when the UK is experiencing criticism for its teenage pregnancy rates. Michele Tejani, a recently qualified nurse working at her local PCT in Harrow, North West London thinks that advertising abortion is a significant step forward: “On a daily basis at work I am seeing more and more younger children visiting the PCT for sexual advice. This is a shocking sign of the times but at the same time it seems unavoidable,” she says. “Perhaps if teenagers who are sexually active see these types of adverts they will understand the heartache and difficult decision-making that comes with having an abortion, and will think twice about the importance of contraception.”

As well as targeting young people, Marie Stopes are also reaching out to older women who perhaps have already started their family and find themselves in a difficult situation if they’ve fallen pregnant again and feel that they cannot cope. Some women may feel alone at a time like this and may feel they have nowhere to turn or could feel ashamed to visit their GP; this is where advertising pregnancy advice clinics is helpful as it gives women another option to consider.

But do sensible women really need to see an advert on television in order to be aware of the alternative choices? Could the Marie Stopes advert and future advertising be influencing women’s decisions? Anti-abortionists around the UK are evidently against this type of advertising describing it as “unnecessary, utterly grim and deeply sad.” Of course advertising has always been seen as a form of persuasion. Beauty products, flashy cars and sunny destinations are all advertised on television to entice and persuade the viewer to feel like they need this product in their life. But can the same be said for pregnancy advice adverts?

Marie Stopes argue that they are not trying to convince all pregnant women to have a termination. Their advertising is simply just a subtle way of letting females know that there are other options and that they are available to help. But the other side of the debate argues that by advertising abortion clinics, young people are more likely to see abortion as a form of contraception rather than a last resort. The number of females taking the morning after pill has certainly increased over the last few years in the UK as it is so easily available; is this conveying the wrong message to naïve teenagers who are too embarrassed to visit their GP to be prescribed the contraceptive pill? And will advertising abortion make matters worse?

Back in 2009, John Smeaton, the National Director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said that the proposal “threatens to further commercialise the killing of unborn children”. Fast forward to summer 2010 when abortion adverts have been aired on national television and the exact same argument still applies. Abortion is always going to be an option for women across Europe whether it is advertised or not. Perhaps the fact that Britain has the most liberal abortion laws in Europe contributes to the negative discussion surrounding the issue. However abolishing the advertisements isn’t going to change the fact that a woman in the UK can have a termination up to 24 weeks into her pregnancy and it should be recognised that organisations such as Marie Stopes are not trying to trick women into making a particular decision, but are simply letting them know that help is available.

The controversial Marie Stopes advert

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

It was in 1957, near the beginning of her long reign that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II made her first televised Christmas Day broadcast to British Commonwealth, in which she duly noted: “I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice”. Thus plainly and clearly pointing out the vast difference in the perception and the role of monarchies in modern society, compared to the medieval roots which many institutions are built upon.

Nowadays the role of monarchies, monarchs and their extended Royal Families are much harder to define. However Elizabeth II’s broadcast in 1957 which was pre-recorded and broadcast across the entire British Commonwealth highlighted what she considers her role, and the duty of monarchies, in the modern age as she offered her “heart” and her “devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.”

Having worked for the British Royal Household myself, I have often been approached by people visiting Buckingham Palace and have been asked – sometimes not so subtly – what is the role of the Queen and Royal Family in the modern age. I am instructed to say that Her Majesty’s duty it to “serve the nation and her people” although of course this is extremely vague.

It is universally agreed upon that the days of political power merely de facto of their birth are over – however this does not mean that the concept of royalty and monarchy is dead. The 20th century witnessed great social and political change – the beginning of the century was one of Imperialism and Royal Absolutism – with the likes of Russia and Germany being ruled by autocratic emperors. However it was the monarchies that were willing to adapt that were able to survive and the end of the century saw the continuation of democracy and Constitutional Monarchies in nine of Europe’s major nations.

Historians may constantly brush over the importance of the monarchy and the sovereign’s role in society and politics. Although key events in modern history have often been influenced by the each country’s respective monarch, our modern day Kings and Queens such as Beatrix of the Netherlands do after all meet with, and discuss politics with, their respective Prime Ministers nearly every week.

Although this political influence is often ignored by political commentators and historians, as in most cases the monarch’s opinion and influence is never documented; rest assured it is there! It would be ignorant to disregard the wealth of experience and knowledge that our Kings and Queens have accumulated over the years.

The British Royal Family today

In the case of Elizabeth II, with her first Prime Minister being Winston Churchill, and having been informed of every political development in the country since 1952, it is safe to assume the Queen knows what is going on, and will always have some wise words of (very discreet and off the record) advice to give to the relevant ministers of the day. Surely this is a great benefit to modern democracy and stability – monarchs are the one constant in the ever changing world of politics.

The constant presence of the monarch and royalty also has a benefit of allowing them to become central to their respective country’s societies. Europe’s Kings and Queens have seen endless people come and go, as have their respective monarchies over their long and fruitful histories. Europe’s Royal Families not only serve in the political sphere but also serve the nation with their championing and support of charitable causes and appeals. This can be seen in many nations – with the Queen of Sweden co-founding the World Childhood Foundation in 1999 showing that royalty continue to involve themselves in charities, which they have done since the foundling concept of these organisations.

The history of royal involvement in philanthropy can be seen as HRH Princess Mary-Adelaide of Teck, born a British Princess was known as the first ‘People’s Princess’ due to her heavy support of voluntary and charitable organisations in the reign of Victoria. The effectiveness of royalty’s social-role can be seen through the positive responses to Prince William’s “Call to Arms” campaign in 2010. Many agree this is an exemplary way for the upper-classes to use their inherited wealth and status for the furtherance of social issues. Their experience of aiding charitable causes for generations will come to play an integral role in the future.

Royalty also plays other roles at the centre of our modern societies. They no longer rule us, so instead of looking to our Monarchs and Royal Families for guidance, we look to them for support and reassurance of stability and continuity. The can be seen as far back as George III who wished to present the image of a united family that symbolised the nation – indeed in the reign of Queen Victoria, as the time when the role of the British royal family and monarch in society was being defined as “the family on the throne”. In many respects, this is how royalty have become viewed in the modern age; we look to our Royal Families to encapsulate morality and traditional values. We place them at the heart of the nation – symbolically and culturally. This can be seen through the great excitement that occurs around royal events as simple and “normal” as weddings, christenings and funerals.

The great importance that these “ordinary” family events have for the people of each Royal Family’s respective countries can be seen through the vast crowds and public interest surrounding these relatively personal ceremonies. The recent wedding of HRH the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden was covered everywhere from HOLA! Magazine in Spain to British Grazia.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

In Britain this popular support was seen via the celebrations that surrounded the Golden Jubilee; an event which was predicted by some to become an abject failure and symbol of the decline of monarchical support. However those who doubted were proved wrong.

Very wrong!

The celebrations culminated in a weekend of events in June, which saw the largest crowd gathered outside Buckingham Palace and on the Mall since the V-E Day celebrations in 1945. A defiant symbol of the central place monarchy still holds in the nation and society as a whole.

If one is to look past the palaces, the carriages, the beautiful dresses and priceless jewels, there is an institution that is central and integral to the nation; both politically and socially.

As society, Europe and the world changes – I personally feel safe that one constant always remains. As these institutions adapt, which they do with each successive generation, I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds.

It could be a good deal for both of us...

Well hey there good lookin’! I’m a 29 year old lawyer, high powered business woman, international spy, blogger and I’m looking for a lil sugar daddy action.

I’m not sure how these things work, but here’s what I envision: basically, you’ll buy me stuff. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for female empowerment and sisters doing it for themselves, but quite frankly, this sister is tired and needs a little help. I have a lot of things I’d like to do over the next few months, things I’d like to buy, places I’d like to go etc and I’m slogging my guts out, but the reality is, none of those things are gonna happen on my salary, so that’s where you come in.

You’d be kind of like my supplementary income, if you will. But, that part’s straight forward enough. I’m sure you’re probably wondering what you’ll get out of the deal.

Well, I’m obviously younger than you and quite frankly, I’m pretty smokin’, so have me on your arm at all those company functions/balls/corporate events etc, and people will admire and respect you for the pervert you are. You’ll get to enjoy the pleasure of my company and as company goes, I’m pretty darn fascinating (and not in the slightest bit conceited or egocentric). I’ll let you come round to my apartment every now and then (that you’re paying for), to drop things off (that you’ve bought for me).

Now I’m sure you’re eager for something a little more sexual, but I was hoping we could get away without the sex (unless you look like George Clooney, in which case, I’m willing to negotiate). I’d be willing to indulge in the occasional cuddle, perhaps some hand holding and if you have some weird foot fetish thing which involves you buying me shoes and admiring me in them, then we can definitely talk, but other than that, I will most likely shut down any sort of sexual advance you make towards me with a swift kick in the balls (and if you’re the kind of guy that enjoys that, then I’m gonna need you to move on to the next ad).

Into S&M? Non, merci!

You might see pictures of me online, like the one to the left and despite what you may think, I’m not into S&M. If you are, Merry Christmas, but please take your chains and whips elsewhere. All this needs to be is a simple exchange of your money, for my thrilling company. I’d be willing to give you, oh, say, one day a month? I’d make myself available for any additional dinners etc, but naturally, I’d expect you to cover my expenses.

See, this could really be a great deal for the both of us. Think of all those expensive holidays you can send me on (you’re not invited on those, by the way. What if I meet a guy and you’re there? Awkward!), the nice dresses you can buy me, the debt you can get me out of and not to mention the shoes – oh, the shoes. And you get…to hang out with me. Hello! Win-win!

So, if you think you’re up for being my Sugar Daddy, apply within. I’m sure I’ll be absolutely inundated with emails, so I may be holding American Idol-style auditions to decide on the final ‘Daddy’.

Read more Bangs and a Bun blogs online here.