Category Archives: Culture

UN Women UK comments on Queen’s Speech

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The Queen’s Speech on Wednesday 9th May caused quite a bit of controversy from quite a few sources. It also prompted UN Women to comment on flexible working practices.

Jan Grasty, President of the UK National Committee of UN Women, which focuses on encouraging economic empowerment for women as a route to education, career progression as well as benefitting society as a whole, comments on the recent Queen’s Speech:

“There are some welcome announcements from the Queen’s Speech, which offers opportunity for women to continue in their careers through moves to make parental leave more flexible. At the same time, we are seeing many employers in the UK taking steps to mitigate and challenge unconscious gender bias in the workplace, providing parents with greater flexibility in the workplace.

“These companies recognise the benefit of retaining staff – especially women – after they have children. Of these organisations, many have signed the CEO Statement of Support for the UN Women/UN Global Compact Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), launched in the UK last week. These principles offer businesses of all sizes a set of guidelines to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community with the goal of creating a better working environment for all and improving financial performance for the company.

There is still a long way to go however, and potential remains for both Governments and corporate thought-leaders to implement flexible parental leave policies, particularly within small and medium-sized organisations or those companies working in sectors which have historically been male-dominated. There are many reasons for wanting to take extended leave and return from it, raising children, caring for elderly or infirm relatives are just some of them, and all can apply for men and women.”

The Queen Looks as unamused with former President Bush as some were with the 2012 Queen's Speech.


1) Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality

2) Treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support human rights and non-discrimination

3) Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers

4) Promote education, training and professional development for women

5) Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women

6) Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy

7) Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality

Have your say.

7-49 UP DVD

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Arguably the best documentary series ever made for British television and certainly the longest running factual programme in the history of UK TV, The release of 7-49 Up is now out on DVD. The flagship ITV series about children from different social backgrounds made between 1964 and 2005 as they evolve through life will be available to buy on DVD for the first time in the UK in a 6-disc set,

The first instalment of 7-UP was broadcast in 1964 as a one-off World in Action special, featuring children talking about their hopes and dreams for the future. As members of the generation who would be running the country by the year 2000, what did they think they would become? Inspired by World In Action founder editor Tim Hewat’s passionate interest in both the Jesuit saying: “Give me the child until he is seven and I will show you the man,” and the rigid class system of 1960s Britain, Seven Up set out to discover whether or not the children’s lives were pre-determined by their background.

This forward thinking television show – the very first example of a programme recording real people living real lives – and the follow-up documentaries – have won an array of accolades and awards. Director Michael Apted, who has since moved to Hollywood to direct films, has returned every seven years to chart the children’s progress through life. Over the past five decades, the series has documented the group as they have become adults and entered middle-age, dealing with everything life has thrown at them in between.

 

Dirty Projectors announce new single | Music News

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Dirty Projectors are to release ‘Gun Has No Trigger’ as the first single from their highly anticipated sixth album, ‘Swing Lo Magellan’. The track will be available in the UK on 2nd July via digital download and on a special edition 8” vinyl. The album will follow on 9th July.

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Kathryn Williams – Presents… The Pond | Music Review

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As someone who has kept an eye on Kathryn Williams’ career thus far I am still unable to truly call myself a fan. Or at least until this record came along. This album, The Pond, is a collaboration between Simon Edwards (formerly of Fairground Attraction) and Ginny Clee and represents a fresh sound for Kathryn and a chance to move her away from her folk rut.

It’s Kathryn, folks, but not as we know it! Not so folk. There’s a lot more going on – a whole level or two up in terms of excitement, at least two levels up in terms of what is going on. It’s a record punctuated by floating melodies, understated yet funky beats, ethereal vocals and a whole lot of excitement.

Opening song ‘Carved’ eases us gently into proceedings with a traditionally folk sound with some of those funky beats joining the party. ‘Circle Round The Tree’ sounds like Mint Royale dancing with Paul Simon at a wedding. ‘Bebop’ has a laid back country twang to it and has the added vocals of rapper Kirsch over the top. It’s ambitious and daring and it genuinely works. Country-rap could end up sounding like Kid Rock but it works. It’s enjoyable.

The Pond is a great and most welcome record to my collection. It may have taken her 13 years but Williams has shown that she can experiment and step away from her trademark folk sound and make splendid album. If she was preaching to the converted before then she most certainly won’t be, with this album certain to gain her a new following away from her cult.

 

‘The Pond’ is released on 28th May

Maia – Zuma Aluma | Music Review

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Folkers Maia have been working hard over the last few years gigging to anybody that will have them. Their Duran Duran-gone-folk sound is as infectious as a yawn, but they’re never likely to raise one from you, and this new single is likely to gain them even more followers. Watch the video here – it’s genius in that it was shot and edited entirely using iPhones and IPads.

‘Zuma Aluma’ is released on 25th June 2012 by Vandal Records

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The Comedy Autopsy Live : You’d have to be dead to miss it!

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You wish you had something to do on Wednesday the 23rd of May from 7PM to 9:45pm? Well that’s Interesting. And you wish it cost £4? This is getting a bit spooky now. Don’t tell me you wish it could be of a comedic nature? You do wish it could be of a comedic nature? Ok let’s try one more check: You wish it was in Peckham? This is freaky. The Comedy Autopsy Live is a comedy event happening in Peckham at The Last Refuge, it starts at 7PM and ends before 10PM and, even better, costs just £4. This is meant to be.

The Comedy Autopsy Live is a live stand up comedy event which incorporates elements of podcasting to enhance the experience and give the event a unique flavour. This is comedy version 2.0 if you will allow us such over confidence. We take the comedy out of the pub and put it in a chilled environment that will scream “comedy unplugged”. We can promise that if you come along we will make jokes go into your ear-holes that will make laughter come out of your mouth-hole. It will make you laugh. And that’s all comedy is.

Why start a comedy night man London like totally is crawling with comedy nights? Yes that’s a good point not real person. The reason is simple: I want too. What you want more? Is that not a bold enough statement of mission? Fine I actually do have one of those. It can be tough for emerging comedians (people starting out) to get longer sets to develop their skills. That’s where we come in. This isn’t open mic, nor is it for the comedic elite to try out new material. And by comedic elite I mean they get paid. No the comedians who will appear on The Comedy Autopsy Live are ones that the good people at Comedy Autopsy HQ find funny because we’ve seen them and they have made us chuckle till we buckled. Every act that appears is a 100% guarantee laugh out loud….comedian. Sorry thought there was something better coming but I went with the obvious.

But if you want a specific reason to come along then I have one or two for you. For a start Amy Howerska and James Loveridge will be previewing their Edinburgh Festival show for us. That’s right an Edinburgh Festival preview makes us sound and feel like a proper comedy night. The second reason is that we have Sarah Callaghan. Sarah is a very talented comedian who while not only a graduate of the prestigious Second City improv comedy group in Chicago has also appeared on Coach trip. And we here at The Comedy Autopsy are not sure which we are more jealous of.

So May 23rd. The Last Refuge. Peckham. A night of awesome live comedy. Only £4. It would be great to see you there. I’d appreciate it and so would the performers. £4.Got to be worth a shot.

PS: While it’s not in a pub you will still be able to buy alcohol. In case you were wondering.

Shannon Stephens: Video for ‘Care of You’ unveiled | Music News

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Seattle singer-songwriter Shannon Stephens has unveiled the video for her single ‘Care of You’, taken from her 3rd album ‘Pull It Together’, which is released on 28th May. The video was shot by Christian Soren Hansen in a friend’s kitchen. The album will be the first release since 2009’s ‘The Breadwinner’.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyUySbnhMVY&w=560&h=315]
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Alpines – Empire video unveiled | Music News

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STh0PaH1LjA&w=560&h=315]

 

Following the recent announcement of their new single, South London cinematic pop duo Alpines have unveiled their new video. The single ‘Empire‘, released June 11th, and the video was directed by award-winning avantgarde and art-house director Luke Losey, notable for his work with Orbital and Mercury Rev among others (including the MTV Awards nominated video for Orbital’s ‘The Box’).

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