Unless they make allowances for the religious faiths of their ever more diverse workforces, they will suffer lawsuits, official rebukes and protests from staff.

Employees increasingly expect to be able, for example, to dress in accordance with their faith while at work, and be given appropriate times and places for prayer.

The latest admonition came last month in new guidelines from America's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, pointing out the steady rise in religious-discrimination cases (3,721 last year, up from 1,709 in 1997) and setting out what that means.

For example, businesses must respect the personal styles of their staff—Rastafarian dreadlocks, say—if these are inspired by faith.

And religiously attired workers must not be hidden away to avoid upsetting customers of a different faith.

European firms are still absorbing the impact of last year's victory by a British Airways worker who won damages at the European Court of Human Rights after she was denied, temporarily, the right to wear a cross with her uniform.

In advice updated last month, Britain's Equality and Human Rights Commission urges firms to meet religious needs, even if expressed by only one employee, as long as they do not infringe the rights of others. Continue reading.

Source: The Economist

Image: The Telegraph

In 2008, about 14 per cent of New Zealanders had used cannabis, the Ministry of Health's alcohol and drug use survey reports.

According to the United Nation's World Drug report, that puts us up there as one of the highest-using countries in the world.

A Christchurch Health and Development Study estimates that nearly 80 per cent of young people have used cannabis on at least one occasion:

And 10 per cent have developed a pattern of heavy use consistent with a diagnosis of cannabis dependence. Heavy cannabis use is more common in males and amongst Maori.

These findings have been based on South Island samples recruited in Dunedin and Christchurch but it is likely that the patterns of use found in these samples will apply to North Island settings.

Ngatokorima Lamkum, 16, says while it's different for each area in Auckland, in his social circle, there are people whose parents grow pot. "It's families who are doing it, and everyone networks through that." Continue reading.

Source: The Wireless

Image: clarepeople.com

The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill — the first legislation allowing abortion in the Republic of Ireland — passed its second stage by 138 votes to 24.

Abortion is currently illegal in Ireland but the bill would allow abortions to take place where there is deemed to be a risk to the life of the mother, including if there is a threat of suicide.

Four politicians who defied their leader, Prime Minister Enda Kenny, by voting against the bill have been expelled from the governing Fine Gael Party and told to vacate their offices.

A Sinn Fein politician also defied his party, and a Sinn Fein spokesman said this was regarded as a serious breach of party rules and he would face unspecified disciplinary action.

The Sinn Fein politician, Peadaar Toibin said: "It is with great sadness that I have had to separate from my party on this, but I cannot vote for a medical evidence-free bill that will result in the death and disablement of children."

Just hours before the vote, Cardinal Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland, appealed to Fine Gael politicians to rebel against Mr Kenny.

"In practice, the right to life of the unborn child will no longer be treated as equal. The wording of this bill is so vague that ever wider access to abortion can be easily facilitated," said Cardinal Brady.

In an earlier statement, the cardinal said: "This bill will provide the widest possible legal justification for deliberately and intentionally destroying the life of the unborn child, with no time limits and no mechanism for ensuring that the right to life of the unborn is adequately vindicated as required by Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution. In practice, the right to life of the unborn child will no longer be treated as equal."

Sources:

BBC

Catholic Herald

Zenit

Image: BBC

Ross defends the flag burner's right express moral indignation at the foreign policy of the United States and others. " But I would like her to know that a country's morality is born from the collective morality of individual citizens. The mirror she refers to should first see her image and only then will she have the moral integrity, and credibility, to publicly pass judgment on others.

Steven Price reflects on these issues. "Of course, that doesn't mean that every protester has magic access to the truth. Some are crackpots. The point is that it is vital for society to be constantly challenged by people who strongly believe that things should be done differently," he says.
Read his piece in Media Law Journal

Source

• Dom Post Anthony Ross - Letters to the Editor
• Dom Post Valerie Morse - Letters to the Editor
• Image: Media Law Journal