USA: What matters to you?
From: Nita and Shaunna, Ultraviolet
Last week, House Republicans voted on a disastrous bill that would allow employers to demand more work for less pay. It's time to show Congress what a pro-woman economic agenda really looks like. Tell us what matters most to you.
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/756?t=2&akid=445.6000.VqfXmr
Dear Readers:
Eric Cantor and House Republicans are intent on rolling back women's economic rights and we have to push back.
Last week, they passed a disastrous bill that would allow employers to demand more work for less pay under the guise that it would give women and families more flexibility.1
50,000 UltraViolet members weighed in and made it clear that women aren't falling for this gimmick--and President Obama heard you and vowed to veto the bill.2
But now pro-woman champions in Congress are left wondering, what does a pro-family, pro-woman economic agenda look like?
With 42% of women having to choose between their paycheck and taking care of a sick child,3 childcare being more expensive than rent in 22 states,4 and the average woman losing almost $11,000 dollars every year due to wage discrimination,5 this is an urgent priority to figure out.
So can you tell us: What policies are imperative to increasing the economic security of women and our families? And what is your experience with them--does your office offer child care? Paid sick leave? We'll take the top responses from all UltraViolet members and put them into a 21st agenda for family economic security and make sure every member of Congress knows where we stand.
Tell us what's most important to you in a pro-woman economic agenda.
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/756?t=3&akid=445.6000.VqfXmr
The gender wage gap has been stagnant over the last decade.6 So far, Connecticut is the only state that requires paid sick leave,7 which ensures workers can stay home when they’re sick. And don’t even get us started on how the US is one of only three nations in the entire world that doesn't offer paid maternity leave.8
All of this makes it harder to be a working woman, a parent, and a caregiver in America.
We need to show Eric Cantor and his fellow Republicans what a pro-woman economic agenda really looks like. UltraViolet is launching a major campaign to push it, but first we want to hear about what matters most to you.
Will you take 5 minutes to fill out the survey?
Tell us what matters most to you in a pro-woman economic agenda.
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/756?t=4&akid=445.6000.VqfXmr
Thanks for speaking out.
Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Malinda, and Karin, the UltraViolet team
Sources:
1.Working Families Flexibility Act Passes House Over Opposition Of Democrats, Labor, Huffington Post, May 8, 2013
2. Ibid.
Harkin, DeLauro Renew Fight for Paid Sick Days, Senator Harkin press release, March 12, 2013
3. Working Women Need Paid Sicks Days, National Partnership for Women and Families, 2013
4. Parents and the High Cost of Child Care, Child Care Aware of America, 2012
5. What Could Women Do With $10,662 Per Year?, National Women's Law Center, April 20, 2010
6. The Wage Gap is Stagnant in Last Decade, National Women's Law Center, September 2012
7. State and Local Action on Paid Sick Days, National Partnership for Women and Families, April 2013
8. How The Zero Weeks Of Paid Maternity Leave In The U.S. Compare Globally, Think Progress, May 24, 2012
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING ON CONDITION OF WORKERS
from: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013
Following my article of yesterday on middle class Kenyans continue to be exploited every time Labour Day being celebrated, some of our readers have sent in some comments and queries.
Peres Were of the graphic design, Westalnds-Nairobi asks: “Father, do you think government of Kenya will ever listen to the cry of middle class?”- Kizito Nyongesa from Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) writes: “Father Omolo thank you very much for your News Dispatch, they have helped me to have big picture on many things happening around us.”
The third reader is a Theology three Seminarian from Nairobi who does not want his name to be mentioned for fear of his authorities. He describes a sad and painful story where his parish priest is exploiting his cook by giving only Ksh 5,000 as his salary every month.
This cook has children to take to school, wife to take care of, medical care, food, clothing, etc. This is the same person who cooks, washes the clothes of the priests and irons them. When he asks the priest to add his salary, the priest tells him he has no money since the sadaka (offertory) is not enough.
But this priest is able to entertain his friends with more than Ksh 5,000 every week. He drives luxurious car, pays school fees to his siblings, able to talk on his phones hours and hours and many other things that cannot be counted here all.
This seminarian wants to know whether there is a place this cook can complain, that is a kind of a union defending the rights of the workers. The seminarian goes on to say that even it there was this cook may be afraid to go because when the priest discovers it will be the end of his job.
This story is just one sample of how many workers have been exploited in church institutions which are supposed to defend their rights. Most of the workers in these institutions have been treated like beasts of burden- an animal, such as a donkey, ox, or elephant, used for transporting loads or doing other heavy work.
The principles of Catholic social teaching on this issue are very clear. One reason compelling Leo XIII to write Rerum Novarum was because of the reason that middle class workers have been exploited like beats of burden. Leo XIII - Rerum Novarum.
http://www.google.co.ke/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CC4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vatican.va%2Fholy_father%2Fleo_xiii%2Fencyclicals%2Fdocuments%2Fhf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum_en.html&ei=FvCBUaDxJYbYswa-kIH4Cg&usg=AFQjCNHZZv4Y-UQdX6cekrJXwHf2yv9FsQ&bvm=bv.45960087,d.bmk
His conviction was that the present age has handed over the working poor to inhumane employers and greedy competitors. He saw the working poor as needy and helpless and insufficiently protected against injustices and violence. His sympathy went out to these poor, who have a "downcast heart”.
Leo felt that most of the working poor live undeservedly in miserable and wretched conditions with no medical care, minimal wage, no retirement benefits, no savings, and no holidays- they overworked as if they were not human beings created in image of God.
That is why even more significantly, Leo challenged the position of those who use religion to support their oppression of the poor. In a clear anticipation of what would later be known as the preferential option for the poor.
The working poor, Leo asserts, should be liberated from the savagery of greedy people. He wanted the poor to understand that the lowest in society cannot be made equal with the highest and that poverty is no disgrace.
Leo XIII made it clear that the poor and the exploited were not to accept unjust treatment as though it were inevitable, and that they were to stand up for their rights at the same time that they helped to preserve good order in society.
His advice to them was: “protect your own interests, but refrain from violence and never riot; your demands should be reasonable; press your claims with reason; form unions but do not strike.
Leo XIII wanted the working poor to protect their interests, to make demands, to press their claims, and the principal means for doing this was the formation of unions. In their efforts to claim their rights, the working poor should find in the government an ally, and Leo made it clear that the working poor should be given special consideration by the government.
Rerum Novarum also contained a message to those who deal with the working poor. For Leo, employers have clear moral obligations: workers are not to be treated as slaves; the dignity of your workers' human personality must be respected; do not use people as things for gain; do not oppress the needy and wretched for your own profit.
Leo tells the wealthy the same thing he told the working poor: Christian morals must be re-established, for true dignity resides in moral living. Morality for the wealthy employers consists in coming to terms with their "proud spirit" and being "moved toward kindness". They are to be mindful of their duties, which mean that they are not to oppress workers with unjust burdens or inhuman conditions.
The encyclical Rerum Novarum is considered the first great social encyclical of modern times. It was published by Pope Leo XIII on May 15, 1891, a landmark date in the history of the Church Magisterium Forty years later, Pius XI commemorated it with the encyclical Quadragessimo Anno, and on the eightieth anniversary Paul VI issued his letter Octogessima Adveniens. Finally, John Paul II commemorated the ninetieth anniversary with the most recent of the great social encyclicals, Laborem Exercens.
All these encyclicals emphasize the important of the main fundamental rights which include the right to life, liberty, and security of person; the right to physical and moral integrity; the right to sufficient and necessary means to live in a becoming manner (food, clothing, housing, rest, health care, social services).
The right to security in case of sickness, disability, widowhood, old age, unemployment, and any involuntary loss of the means of subsistence; the right to due respect for one's person and good name.
The right to education; the right of assembly and of association; the right to form unions; the right to participate actively in public life; the right to personal participation in attaining the common good; the right to the legal protection of one's rights.
It is God's will that man should engage in work, an activity which encompasses all those human efforts which aim at improved conditions of life (or better still, the process by which man understands, cares for, superintends, and transforms the earth and its resources).
When man was created in the image and likeness of God, man received the command to rule the world, subduing the earth and all it contains, thus continuing and cooperating in the creative work of God.
Pope Francis I in his homily on the feast of St Joseph the worker emphasized this fact. The Book of Genesis tells us that God created man and woman by entrusting to them the task of populating the Earth and subjugating it, which does not mean to exploit it, but to cultivate and guard it, to care for it with their own labour (cf. Gen 1:28; 2:15). On St. Joseph the Worker | ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome.
http://www.google.co.ke/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CC4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zenit.org%2Fen%2Farticles%2Fon-st-joseph-the-worker&ei=XAmCUazKB4zJrQeX7oHoCw&usg=AFQjCNH0uirUdFU6_rhNpGgmFIz-4n_x8Q
The work is part of the plan of God's love; we are called to cultivate and safeguard all the goods of creation and in this way we participate in the work of creation! The work is fundamental to the dignity of a person.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.comFacebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002
KENYA: LABOUR DAY CELEBRATED AS MIDDLE CLASS KENYANS EXPLOITED
from: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2013
Today is Labour Day. The Google doodle has marked the day by showing men at work creating building blocks. It shows workers from all walks of life doing their jobs. It shows an IT worker, a gardener, a painter and a plumber. A chopper is also hovering around its blocks.
Although the day is meant to celebrate the economic and social contributions of the workers, in many countries workers are exploited, working many hours with little wages. In Kenya, despite the attempts by workers to walk out during the President’s speech over his failure to set new guidelines on minimum wages has not seen any change.
The minimum wage for workers in the industrial sector was last raised in 2006 when it went up from Sh4,817 to Sh5,395. The amount for agriculture workers is Sh5,346.
In recent months, the cost of basic commodities has gone up significantly partly due to inflation, the effects of post-election violence and the rise in the price of fuel globally.
In his speech, the President always rule out a pay increase, saying the challenge we are facing is in Kenya is immense. The President’s explanations have however, not go down well with the workers.
The day is being celebrated at the time Kenya’s approach to food pricing emanating from grain pricing and imposition of taxes on basic grains like wheat which Kenya is not self sufficient.
For several years now, despite rising international prices and declining local production, Kenya has maintained taxes on imported grain against pleas of consumers – which invariably drives up the costs.
In Kenya we don’t grow enough to meet the local consumption needs and yet they all attract very high duties – made worse by global price increases due to constrained supply in the source markets.
Yet government of Kenya has not managed to provide tax relief on the importation of basic commodities and raw materials that are needed by industry. The government has also failed to consider taking measures to reduce the cost of fuel which has tremendously gone up over the past few months thus increasing the cost of living in the country.
Fuel prices can only go down when the reduction of tax charged on fuel, reworking of the formula used to come up with fuel pricing and measures that will ensure that the country has strategic reserves of fuel stock that can serve the country for at least 90 days at any given time thus preventing ‘shock prices among others.
When the government fails to take these measures then the situation will continue to deteriorate even further, then, many businesses will have no otherwise but either to relocate to other destinations that offer lower cost of doing business or completely close down their operations.
The situation in Kenya is so worrying to the extent that even musicians have used their lyrics to plead with Kenya government to look into the matter urgently. One of such musicians is Odhiambo Osumba Rateng with his hit: Baba Otonglo aka Baba Penny.
The music talks of an erstwhile rich man who has hit upon hard times, clears his throat and gathers a sheaf of papers ready to deliver his anticipated domestic budget.
As his large polygamous family listens attentively, Baba Otinglo points out that since the previous financial year had put a squeeze on the shilling, there was need for austerity measures to survive the slump during the next year.
He, therefore, proposes that from then on meals like beef, chicken and fish would only be eaten twice in 30 days” mid month and end month. Breakfast would invariably consist of strong black tea with one spoonful of sugar or uji, without luxuries like milk, bread and eggs.
Due to high cost of living, Baba Otonglo emphasises with a tinge of sarcasm, even the neighbour is still alive despite not eating such foods. As for chapati and rice, these would be reserved for Easter and Christmas.
Boiled sukuma wiki from Soko Mjinga would be the meal of choice. More importantly, everybody would be expected to eat meals at the same time, as it is expensive to keep food for those who come late. And only bar soaps would be used for bathing, not the many luxury brands hitherto at the family’s disposal.
There would also be reforms in the management of visitors. Ideally visitors are officially banned from the house. But should any turn up without notice, they would be expected to carry their own bus fare and bedding.
Also prohibited would be neighbours who have formed the habit of asking for small quantities of items like flour, cooking oil and matchsticks, with false promises that they would replenish the supplies.
It was a song that brought him and his Sega Sega Band fame, fortune and, inevitably, trouble. Initially, says Osumba, it received sufficient airplay on the Voice of Kenya (VoK) radio. But things soon turned sour and the political class, sensitive to any form of criticism and ready to censure artistic expression at the slightest excuse, apparently ordered the national broadcaster to stop playing the song.
Osumba then got into more trouble when in the flurry of media attention, a journalist convinced him to pose with a briefcase, in the manner of the Finance Minister’s pre-budget posture. When the photograph was published it rubbed some powerful people the wrong way.
Four policemen came to his house in Baba Dogo Estate, Nairobi, and arrested him. They accused him of criticizing the Government and composing a song that incited people.
In Kenya that is normal, anything that tries to criticize the government for its failure and evils are called incitements or hate speech. The best example is the controversial play by Butere Girls High School Drama Club: “The shackle of Doom”. The play, although talked of nepotism and an equal distribution of wealth, it was termed political.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002
USA: Congressional salaries should be the first cut
From: Diane Russell
Below is an email from Diane Russell, a MoveOn member from Portland, Maine. Diane started a petition on SignOn.org, the petition site from MoveOn.org which allows anyone to start their own online campaign. If you have concerns or feedback about this petition,
then visit http://civic.moveon.org/signon_feedback/?id=63488-21095459-e3aD8dx&t=1
Pay cuts for federal workers should not exempt Congress or the President.
Sign the petition
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=287736&id=63488-21095459-e3aD8dx&t=2
Dear MoveOn member,
Congress is about to impose furloughs amounting to a 20% across-the-board pay cut for 800,000 federal employees, more than 44 percent of whom are veterans.1
And yet, where is the same 20% cut for Congress and the president? Are they not federal employees? Aren't these the people who keep telling us that everyone must share the burden?
The across-the-board cuts set to go into effect at the end of the week will hurt the economy and they should be stopped.
But if Congress insists on cutting anyone's salary, they should cut their own paychecks first. We pay their salaries. That's why I created petition on MoveOn.org's petition site, SignOn.org, which says:
Any across-the-board pay cuts for federal employees must include the same pay cuts for all members of Congress and the president of the United States.
It's up to us to demand that if members of Congress pass these unnecessary and harmful cuts—despite overwhelming public opposition—that they start with themselves.
Thanks!
–Diane Russell
Source:
1. "Many federal workers facing furloughs are veterans," The Washington Post, February 13, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=287733&id=63488-21095459-e3aD8dx&t=5
This petition was created on SignOn.org, the progressive, nonprofit petition site. SignOn.org Political Action Edition is licensed to and paid for by MoveOn.org Political Action, which is not responsible for the contents of this or other petitions posted on the site. Diane didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.
Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 7 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.
https://pol.moveon.org/donate/donate.html?cpn_id=44&id=63488-21095459-e3aD8dx&t=6
Msg BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Global Employment Trends 2013
From: Yona Maro
The report examines the crisis in labour markets of both advanced economies and developing economies. The epicentre of the crisis has been the advanced economies, accounting for half of the total increase in unemployment of 28 million since the onset of the crisis.The report estimates the quantitative and qualitative indicators of global and regional labour markets and discusses the macroeconomic factors affecting the labour markets in order to explore possible policy responses. In examining the impact of macroeconomic developments on labour markets, the report looks at negative feedback loops from households, firms, capital markets and public budgets that have weakened labour markets. It finds that macro imbalances have been passed on to the labour market to a significant degree. Weakened by faltering aggregate demand, the labour market has been further hit by fiscal austerity programmes in a number of countries, which often involved direct cutbacks in employment and wages, directly impacting labour markets.
Link:
http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/---publ/documents/publication/wcms_202326.pdf
--
www.wejobs.blogspot.com Jobs in Africa
www.jobsunited.blogspot.com International Job Opportunities
www.naombakazi.blogspot.com
--
Jobs in Africa - www.wejobs.blogspot.com
International Jobs - www.jobsunited.blogspot.com
Tackling the youth employment crisis: A macroeconomic perspective
From: Yona Maro
This paper is a revised and substantially expanded version of a background note that was prepared for the report on the Youth Employment Crisis: Time for Action that will be presented and deliberated at the 101st session of the International Labour Conference (1 - 14 June 2012).
The authors highlight salient empirical regularities. First, the youth unemployment rate is typically twice the adult unemployment across low, middle and high-income countries. Second, youth employment is much more sensitive to business cycles and policy-induced economic downturns than adult employment. Third, short-run demand shocks mutate into long-run ‘scarring’ effects manifested in reduced employment and earnings opportunities that can last decades. Young people with limited skills and from disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly vulnerable to ‘scarring’ effects.
--
Jobs in Africa - www.wejobs.blogspot.com
nafasi mpya za Kazi www.kazibongo.blogspot.com
Habari na Picha www.patahabari.blogspot.com
USA: Black Friday
From: Nita and Shaunna, Ultraviolet
Walmart's treatment of its workers is terrible--and now those workers, 70% of whom are women, are fighting back. On Black Friday, an unprecedented strike of Walmart workers will go national. Let's show Walmart's workers that we've got their backs. Sign our statement of solidarity today.
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/362?t=2&akid=229.6000._nbI57
Dear Reader,
Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, is just a few days away. With your help, it could be a huge day in an ongoing workers rights struggle affecting nearly a million women nationwide.
Here's the back story: In October, 70 Walmart workers walked off the job, the first strike of Walmart workers in the company's 50 year history. They walked after facing retaliation--threats, suspensions, and firings--for complaints about rock-bottom wages and poor working conditions. But despite having no union and no protections, these brave workers took action.1
On Black Friday, organizers are taking the strike nationwide--to thousands of stores and the nearly one million women who work for Walmart in the U.S.2 An estimated 70% of Walmart's hourly workforce is women--women like, Monique Velasquez, a single mother of five children. Monique's hours were cut from 30 a week to eight after becoming active with the strike organizers. As she told the Huffington Post, with those hours, she "can't even pay one bill. It's very, very hard." 3
Now, UltraViolet members can stand with Monique and the hundreds of thousands of other women and men standing up to Walmart this Friday. No company is impervious to public opinion--and for a company like Walmart, which relies on Black Friday to make up a significant portion of its entire holiday sales, bad PR is a killer. By joining the fast-growing movement, led by OUR Walmart and The United Food and Commercial Workers, and supported by Color of Change, Credo Action, and others, we can show Walmart just how many of us stand with their workers--and how many of us won't be shopping there on Black Friday. It could make a huge difference.
Sign our statement of solidarity with Walmart workers.
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/362?t=3&akid=229.6000._nbI57
Walmart is notorious for treating its workers badly, from low wages and terrible working conditions to sex discrimination. Recently, a group of women filed a class-action lawsuit against Walmart, noting, among other things, that women fill 70% of the hourly jobs at the company but make up only 33% of the managers.4
And according to an article in USA Today, in the past two years, "Walmart has twice raised the number of hours that part-time employees need to qualify for health benefits. Wage caps begun about six years ago block raises for some longtime employees in the same jobs. And some workers say the company's work-scheduling system limits their hours below what they need to qualify for benefits and produces such widely varying schedules that it's difficult to take a second job to make ends meet."5
Walmart is the largest retailer in the world, and a major employer of women in the U.S. Their policies impact millions of people--employees and their families. Thanks to the bravery of those 70 workers who walked off the job in Los Angeles, Walmart employees now have a chance to make a real impact on how they are treated.
And we have a chance to help them. Organizers are encouraging supporters to speak out on Facebook, Twitter, and other social network sites, and other organizations are circulating statements of support ahead of Black Friday. Let's join them, and show Walmart that while they might be a huge company, they can't get away with treating their workers this way.
Sign our statement of support for Walmart workers.
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/362?t=4&akid=229.6000._nbI57
Thanks for speaking out,
Nita, Shaunna, Kat, and Karin, the UltraViolet team
Sources:
1. Walmart Strike: Dozens Of LA Workers Walk Off The Job In First-Ever Strike Against Retailer, Huffington Post, Oct. 4, 2012
2. Walmart Black Friday Strike Being Organized Online For Stores Across U.S., Huffington Post, Nov. 9, 2012
3. Walmart Employs 1% Of America. Should It Be Forced To Pay Its Employees More? Business Insider, Sept. 20, 2010
Walmart Ruling is Major Setback for Workers' Rights, Time, June 21, 2011
4. Ibid.
5. Some Walmart workers want better wages, affordable benefits, USA Today, June 8, 2012
KENYA: KISUMU COUNTY CHIEFS DEMONSTRATE OVER THEIR FATE OF WORK
BY MAURICE ALAL,
Over 200 Chiefs and Assistant chiefs of Kisumu County took to the street of Kisumu City protesting to petition the government on their fate of work under the new Constitution.
“We want to know our job security from President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga who were the team leaders during the referendum campaigns”, said the chiefs.
Lead by the Chairman of Kisumu County Chiefs ,Senior chief Mr. Peter Akeyo Nyambok claimed that the fate of provincial administration is yet to be restructured but the government have not declare whether the local chiefs will retain their jobs or not.
According to the new constitution, the law indicate that the “Provincial Administration system will be restructured”. This, however have not been clearly explained in the constitution whether the local administration system will be abolished or not.
“We were convinced and cheated by politicians during the referendum to mobilize the public to vote for the new constitution promising that our work will be safe,” said Nyambok.
The chiefs threatened to join national strike if the government fails to assure them of their work under the new constitution. “We demand the National Administration and Coordination Bill of 2012 be amended in parliament within 14 days,” they argued.
Nyambok said the provincial administration system should remain in the National Government to facilitate and coordinate effective work in the 47 counties.
“It is the chiefs who enable service delivery to reach residents up to the village level,” they argued adding that if the system is abolished then ordinary people especially the physically challenged persons will be marginalized.
The chiefs challenged politicians to desist from discussing provincial administration issues in public rallies and funeral gatherings to gain mileage but urged them to amend the issues in parliament.
“We are aware that the public overwhelmingly supported the retention of the local administration for effective service delivery,” said the chiefs.
Nyambok further accused some members of committee of experts who have fixed negative opinion on the roles of provincial administration terming it bad taste on the line of their duty and department.
“Our detractors should know that we are also voters and have direct link with the Kenyan votes,” he said, adding that members of the public should be left to decide on their fate than few individuals with vested interest.
However, the Secretary General of Kenya Civil Servant Union, Kisumu County Mr. David Osodo said the union is fully behind the chiefs in demand to know their fate of work in the new dispensation.
Osodo said the government should come out clearly and address the plight of the Provincial Administration instead of giving conflicting statements over the matter.
“Let the government prepare for nationwide strike if the provincial administration issue is not well addressed before the end of strike notice issued,” Osodo reiterated.
END
USA: Obama on jobs report: We’ve “come too far to turn back now”
From: Judy Miriga
Folks,
We are headed to the right direction and President Obama is right......It cannot be said better than the attached videos..... Being the first Black President, having taken the country from the brink of collapse with a burden that accumulated for about more than 30 Years; he worked hard to put the country on the right track; benefits of which will be reaped for many years to come. The result is not showing perfection not yet because those plans that has been planted by President Obama and team has to take full turn to be effective. It has to permeate every fiber and tendrils and fizzle through every limb of economic veins to make alive parts that were already frozen and collapsed so that economy bounce can be fully felt by everyone and also that it in effect remain stable and sustainable even more effective for a very long time.
The driver of the Reform that provided the improvement cannot be thrown out to bring a new driver; not just yet.......Why?..........It is because the economy is still too weak to be played around-with by those who brought us into this mess in the first place. This is the very reason why President Obama should be given a second chance to complete what he started and so to give America a Clean Bill of Good Health. This must be done if we want the change to get better so life can be of meaning to all of us in a balance where every one has a shot for opportunity to improve their own lifestyles. This is a structure for Peace and Unity people..........it reduces reasons to conflict, hate and animosity because there is not need to fight when people have equal opportunity for access to what they need without discrimination racial biasness or the Rich get richer and the Poor Poorer.......
President Obama is offering the best leadership across the whole world effects of which will soon be felt and manifested by all immediately when Peace and unity abounds and conflicts conclusively resolved......This is why he is different from all other Presidents and may we all give Credit to where Credit is due.......Obama is working for all of us........
Cheers everybody.......
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
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Martin Bashir - Romney, job 'truthers' cry foul after positive jobs report
Published on Oct 5, 2012 by Licentiathe8th
Oct 5, 2012
MSNBC analyst Jonathan Alter and Democratic strategist Julian Epstein pick apart mounting conspiracy theories about today's jobs report --- promulgated by some Republicans and conservative pundits -- that say President Obama somehow doctored the numbers.
very informative , and honest journalism. Thank? you.
storm10862 days ago
The ED Show - The death of a talking point....Bilo 8%
Published on Oct 5, 2012 by Licentiathe8th
Oct 5, 2012
For years Republicans have been attacking President Obama for not getting the unemployment rate below eight percent. But with today's news, their attack is officially dead. Tonight Ed Schultz takes a look back at some of their greatest hits with Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis.
This? is 7.8% beautiful to watch
Tyrone Thrower44 minutes ago
We need to flush boehner and his henchmen out of congress to keep? unemployment on the low.
koukimonzta1 day ago
It looks like the Dem. will take the Senate. The House is a problem. Another lame duck Congress... you'd think people would be sick of seeing the Republicans blocking everything by now.
This was good news of course. ? But unless the Dem. take the House its all a moot point as nothing will get done even with Obama winning.
FuzzyBunnyCursing2 days ago
The Last Word - Rewriting the debate: Nobody won
Published on Oct 5, 2012 by Licentiathe8th
Oct 4, 2012
The political media covers presidential debates as if they are sporting events. MSNBC's Lawrence explains why that's a big mistake in the latest Rewrite.
OMFG ROFLMFAO!!!!
That was a perfect analogy and 100% correct!?
9753flyer2 days ago
This is truly a great video...Please listen and watch this one..all of it..But, watch the last 20 seconds...Those last 20 seconds are incredible...thanks for? posting...this is a great one..
quite outstanding..and I have seen hundreds of the....Stuart
stuartarticles2 days ago
The Last Word - Obama mocks Romney's 'crackdown' on Big Bird
Published on Oct 5, 2012 by Licentiathe8th
Oct 4, 2012
Mitt Romney wants to try and balance the budget by getting rid of Big Bird which will save exactly a miniscule fraction of the federal budget. MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell gets analysis from TheGrio.com's Joy Reid.
Chris Hayes Takes Us Through The Looking Glass Of Republican (Mitt Romney) Fuzzy Tax Math
Published on Oct 6, 2012 by incitebytes
Clip from October 6, 2012, Up with Chris Hayes where Chris takes a moment to take us through the looking glass of Republican fuzzy tax math. Chris clearly explains why presidential candidate Mitt Romney's statements literally don't add up when it comes to the looming tax bonanza for rich folk under Romney's policies.
The ED Show - Mitt Romney's Big Bird problem
Published on Oct 5, 2012 by Licentiathe8th
Oct 5, 2012
Mitt Romney continues to feel the heat for saying that he'd gut federal funding for PBS. Ed Schultz and MSNBC analyst Karen Finney discuss what Romney's cuts would really mean.
honor student since 1995, thanks Sesame Street?
devmanification2 days ago
The ED Show - Romney gets big boost from coal company
Published on Oct 5, 2012 by Licentiathe8th
Oct 5, 2012
Mitt Romney is getting a big boost from a major coal company. According to a new report from The New Republic, Murray Energy CEO Robert Murray makes his salaried employees give to Republican candidates as well as the company PAC. The New Republic's Alec MacGillis tells Ed Schultz what he learned about this prominent coal company.
Nothing from Bob Fatass Murray should surprise anyone.?
MsZeitgeist852 days ago 4
poor coal miners? had to attend that shit rally for Romney..that is criminal.. the boss is a criminal
xadam2dudex2 days ago 2
For those who don't know who Bob Murray is go watch TYT's story on the Utah mine collapse. ?
MsZeitgeist8513 hours ago
Theres no such thing as "clean coal". Thats? an outright lie.
obamasmomma691 day ago
Osama Dead? GM Alive -Obama 2012
JewsChristiansUnited11 minutes ago
Obama on jobs report: We've "come too far to turn back now"
By Lindsey Boerma /
CBS News/ October 5, 2012, 1:45 PM
President Obama speaks at a campaign event at George Mason University, Friday, Oct. 5, 2012, in Fairfax, Va. / AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Celebrating a September jobs report that showed the lowest unemployment level since he took office, President Obama on Friday tried to make the case at a Fairfax, Va., rally that "this country has come too far to turn back now."
The Labor Department announced Friday that employers added 114,000 jobs last month, and the unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent - a welcome gift for the president, up against newfound momentum from GOP nominee Mitt Romney. Positive news about Americans finding work could help to tip the scale in the incumbent's favor, something Mr. Obama half-joked about Friday.
Obama on jobs report: We've come "too far to turn back now"
"For the 'undecideds' who are here," he said to laughter in the crowd, "as well as those who are watching today - I've said before, this is a choice not just between two candidates and two parties, but a choice between two fundamentally different visions for America. And today, I believe that as a nation, we are moving forward again. We're moving forward again."
While the president acknowledged there are still "too many of our friends and neighbors" looking for work, he argued, "they were struggling long before the crisis hit."
"Today's news certainly is not an excuse to try to talk down the economy to score a few political points," he continued after talking up the jobs numbers for a minute and a half. "It's a reminder that this country has come too far to turn back now."
Mr. Obama also continued to mock Romney's performance Wednesday at the first presidential debate - which pundits have largely awarded to the GOP nominee - calling his policy arguments an "extreme makeover" from his primary platform.
Obama: Romney "fact-checked by his own campaign"
After Romney claimed in the debate that he'd cover preexisting conditions under his health care plan, the president said, "I explained, 'Well actually your plan doesn't do that.' And then his campaign has to come out and say, 'Actually, that's not true, our plan wouldn't do that.' So Gov. Romney was fact-checked by his own campaign. That's rough."
And though Romney on Thursday night called "completely wrong" a remark he made privately that 47 percent of Americans are dependent on government and consider themselves "victims," Mr. Obama didn't let up on the comments, saying Romney proved he is "willing to write off half the nation" before even taking office. He also kept up his ridicule of Romney's promise to cut federal funding to PBS as a way to bring down the deficit.
"For all you moms and kids out there, don't worry," Mr. Obama said, "somebody is finally getting tough on Big Bird... Elmo's gotta watch out too. Gov. Romney plans to let Wall Street run wild again, but he's going to bring down the hammer on Sesame Street."
Romney to slam Obama foreign policy: ‘Hope is not a strategy’
By Holly Bailey, Yahoo! News
Senior Political ReporterThe Ticket
LEXINGTON, Va.—Looking to bolster his foreign policy credentials in the final weeks before Election Day, Mitt Romney will accuse President Barack Obama of "passive leadership" in the Middle East and will link last month's deadly attack on the United States consulate in Libya to a larger critique of what he'll describe as Obama's failed leadership overseas.
"Hope is not a strategy," Romney will argue in a Monday morning address at the Virginia Military Institute, according to excerpts released by his campaign.
Romney will use his speech to double down on his criticism of the Obama administration's response on the attack in Libya, which claimed the life of Ambassador Chris Stevens. The Romney team is hoping to capitalize on what they believe is the Obama administration's misstep in pointing to an anti-Islamic video as the trigger for last month's attack as well as criticism over whether the attack could have been stopped in the first place by beefing up security at its overseas outpost.
"The attacks on America last month should not be seen as random acts. They are expressions of a larger struggle that is playing out across the broader Middle East--a region that is now in the midst of the most profound upheaval in a century. And the fault lines of this struggle can be seen clearly in Benghazi itself," Romney will say, according to his campaign.
He will argue the attack in Benghazi was "likely the work of the same forces that attacked our homeland" during the 9/11 attacks 11 years ago.
"This latest assault cannot be blamed on a reprehensible video insulting Islam, despite the administration's attempts to convince us of that for so long," Romney will say. "No, as the administration has finally conceded, these attacks were the deliberate work of terrorists who use violence to impose their dark ideology on others, especially women and girls; who are fighting to control much of the Middle East today; and who seek to wage perpetual war on the West."
Romney will also use the speech to offer new details on his overseas approach. Among other things, he is expected to call for more direct intervention in Syria, arguing that anti-government forces should have weapons. He will also call for the U.S. to be tougher on Iran, saying that if he's elected president he will "not hesitate to impose new sanctions" on the country to stop the country from acquiring nuclear capabilities.
The speech comes as Romney tries again to gain advantage over what he has repeatedly described as Obama's "weak" and "naïve" foreign policy approach. But it also comes as Romney tries to clean up his own perceived foreign policy missteps, including his own widely criticized response to the attacks in Libya, in which he accused Obama of sympathizing with those who had launched the attacks there on and on diplomatic missions overseas.
Romney is also still trying to undo damage from an overseas trip he took in July that was largely overshadowed by his suggestion that London hadn't done enough to prepare for the Summer Olympics and by a swipe at Palestinians, whom he suggestion hadn't moved ahead economically because of their culture.
On Sunday, the Obama campaign used the trip to preemptively attack Romney's speech.
"We're not going to be lectured by someone who has been an unmitigated disaster on foreign policy every time he's dipped his toe in the foreign policy waters," spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters aboard Air Force One as Obama launched a West Coast fundraising swing.
'The only person who has offended Europe more is probably Chevy Chase," Psaki added in an apparent nod to "National Lampoon's European Vacation."
Romney has come under criticism from both Democrats and Republicans for not offering enough details on what his foreign policy approach would be if he wins the White House. In previewing the speech Sunday, Romney aides argued he would offer "new details" on what his approach would be, but it was unclear exactly how far he would go in detailing exact policies.
"We've gotten various excuses about Benghazi, statements that (the White House) had to pull back from," Eliot Cohen, a former adviser to George W. Bush who is now advising Romney, told reporters Sunday. "But you haven't had an attempt to portray: What's going on here? How should we think about it? What should we do about it? Gov. Romney's going to do step forward and do the kind of things he would do as president--which is to lay out exactly those things."
But the excerpts of his speech included points that Romney has previously made before on the campaign trail, arguing the country's overseas leadership has diminished under Obama's watch.
"I believe that if America does not lead, others will--others who do not share our interests and our values--and the world will grow darker, for our friends and for us. America's security and the cause of freedom cannot afford four more years like the last four years," Romney will say, according to excerpts. "I am running for president because I believe the leader of the free world has a duty, to our citizens, and to our friends everywhere, to use America's great influence--wisely, with solemnity and without false pride, but also firmly and actively--to shape events in ways that secure our interests, further our values, prevent conflict, and make the world better--not perfect, but better."
Olivier Knox contributed reporting from Los Angeles.
Obama: 7.8% unemployment rate means U.S. has come too far to turn back now
11:38 AM, October 5, 2012
Associated Press
President Barack Obama says an encouraging jobs report shows that the country has made too much progress to turn back to the policies that he says led the nation into an economic crisis.
Obama got much-needed good news today following his disappointing debate performance as the unemployment rate dropped to 7.8%. That's the lowest it's been since he took office in 2009.
At a campaign event in suburban Washington, Obama said the report was "a reminder that this country has come too far to turn back now."
Cheers erupted from the crowd at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., when Obama noted that the jobless rate is now at its lowest level since he became president.
Republican rival Mitt Romney says Obama still hasn't done enough to create jobs.
USA: Chicago Teachers Vote to End Strike
From: Judy Miriga
Folks,
Teachers are the backbone of any society, and education is the means to progressive development success story. Educational system must be handled with atmost due care engaging diverse opinion consultation and dialogue for its improvement and competitiveness but must not be allowed to be treated to serve divergence special interest or a short-cut to enrich some special interest aims.......
Cheers everybody........!!!
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
- - - - - - - - - - -
Chicago Teachers Vote to End Strike
By MATTHEW JAFFE | Good Morning America –
Chicago's first teachers strike in 25 years will come to an end after a week and a half when the teachers union's delegates today decided to return to school Wednesday.
Public school teachers emerged from a delegates meeting this evening and revealed that a huge majority had elected to suspend a walk-out that had dragged on for seven school days and featured bitter disagreements between teachers and the city of Chicago.
It had appeared that the strike was nearing an end Sunday, after both sides said Friday that they had settled on the framework for a new labor agreement. But to the surprise of many, the teachers decided to stay on strike Sunday, claiming that they needed more time to assess the deal.
The move infuriated Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who filed an injunction Monday to end the strike. However, Emanuel's move was not successful and it took until the delegates' meeting today for the union to call off the walk-out on their own terms.
The strike, the city's first in more than two decades, had kept some 29,000 public school teachers and 350,000 students out of the classroom. For the last week and a half, students had gone to "safe haven" sites during the school day.
The two main sticking points in the talks had been the city's new proposed teacher evaluation system and the process for re-hiring laid off teachers.
The teachers' union had argued that the proposed evaluation system would emphasize students' standardized test scores too heavily and unfairly penalize teachers, while the district countered that the system already includes input from teachers and can be adjusted to change the weighting of the test scores.
In the end that is just what the district did, reducing the emphasis on student testing and making the evaluation system more forgiving for teachers.
The negotiations featured a bitter back-and-forth battle between Emanuel, whom the teachers portrayed as a bully, and union president Karen Lewis, whom the city denounced for overseeing what they felt was an unnecessary strike.
After the teachers elected to return to school, Lewis told reporters that "we feel very positive about moving forward" and "grateful that we have a united union." Lewis said "98 percent" of the delegates at the meeting today wanted to return to school.
Lewis said that while the strike is suspended, teachers have not officially signed off on the new deal. It could take up to two weeks for the union's members to do so, she said, but the decision to end the strike was a clear-cut one.
Emanuel praised the proposed contract as one that will really help Chicago's children.
"This settlement is an honest compromise," he said at an evening press conference following the teachers' announcement. "It means returning our schools to their primary purpose: the education of our children. It means a new day and a new direction for Chicago public schools. In this contract we gave our children a seat at the table.
"In past negotiations taxpayers paid more but our kids got less," he said. "This time our taxpayers are paying less and our kids are getting more."
--
Karibu Jukwaa la www.mwanabidii.com
Pata nafasi mpya za Kazi www.kazibongo.blogspot.com
Blogu ya Habari na Picha www.patahabari.blogspot.com
KENYA: TENSION UP IN AWENDO TOWN AS THE COUNCIL WORKERS THREATENED TO PUT DOWN THEIR TOOLS IN PROTESTS AGAINST THE NEWLY POSTED TOWN CLERK.
Reports Bob Ndira-Uradi.
Tension is building up in the small farming town of Awendo in Migori County after the dozens of the Council workers threatened to down their tools in protest against the newly posted Town Clerk.
The workers had mobilized themselves and locked the gate to the Council offices ,which are located in Awendo Town. They insisted that the new Town Clerk a Mr. Alia was not welcome in the Council on allegation and accusations that he is a non-performer.
Alila a former Mbita Town Clerk swabbed the position with the former long serving Awendo Town Clerk who has been transferred to Luanda Town Council in Western Province.
According to impeccable sources within Awendo, the issue had divided the civic leaders in Awendo Council right in the middle with half of them in solidarity with the protesting workers, while the other half had accepted the new Town Clerk.
There were unconfirmed allegations and rumors that money had changed had. Three of the Councilors said to have been compromised, it was reported had secretly traveled with the new Town Clerk to Nairobi where hey pleaded with the Ministry of their acceptance of the new chief officer. While the other were I solidarity with the chairman of the Council Johnson Omolo Owiro
The Councilor who were reported to have traveled to Nairobi to persuade the Ministry to stand their ground and withheld their posting included Adera Awene {Nominated]. Roselyne Arucho [ [Sakwa East} and Martin Ondong’ {Sakwa South}
Both teams made hastily arranged trips to the Ministry headquarters in Nairobi and after what is e believed to be widely consultations it was resolved that the new Town Clerk be accepted by he Council. This, according to sources was only after the intervention of both the Awendo D.C. and the Minister for Public Services Dalmas Otieno, who is the incumbent MP for Rongo constituency in whose jurisdiction Awendo Town Council falls under.
But finally the new Town Clerk Alia was driven into the Council offices by he Nyanza Provincial Local Government Officer {PLGO} who is based in Kisumu under tight security.
Alila, who hails from Suna East near Migori, according to reports had previously served in the same capacity in the nearby Migori Municipality was served in the same capacity, but was ejected from there under very controversial circumstances following the allegation that he is a non-performer . Alila had also served in Rongo Town, Kehancha and other local authorities within the region.
The Awendo Town Council workers are also up in arms demanding for the immediate transfer of the Town Treasure Pete Aoro arguing that he was another non-performer and that the positions of the Councl the Chief officer could be filled with’ Deadwoods”.
The have workers urged the Ministry to post the right men for the job or else they would what they termed as the mother of all protests and strikes in the near future if the government continued dumping only chief officers who have already been rejected and rejected by other local authorities.
Ends
Teaching jobs in Rwanda
From: AKR|Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda
Dear Fellow Kenyan,
Find email below that may be of interest to you or your family and friends. Kindly circulate widely.
Carol
- - - - - - - - - - -
Begin forwarded message:
From: Ivan
Date: 14 September 2012 17:05:09 GMT+02:00
Subject: Teaching jobs in Rwanda
Teachers needed In Rwanda
The government of Rwanda is recruiting teachers for the mentorship program in public schools . Interested qualified teachers visit this link for details. http://www.tutorsinkigali.com/government-jobs.html
Also private schools are currently carrying on recruitment. Interested candidates can visit this link.
http://www.tutorsinkigali.com/teaching-vacancies.html
USA: Stop Sending Calls and Jobs Overseas
From: Senator Sherrod Brown
If you’ve had to call a major company for a service repair or to get an answer to a question about your cable bill, chances are you’ve probably spoken with a worker in a different time zone or on a different continent.
That’s because big companies have been shipping U.S. call center jobs overseas for years. But when these companies send call center jobs abroad, they don’t just frustrate consumers—they hurt our economy as well.
With so many unemployed citizens right here in the United States, it just doesn’t make sense to ship these jobs overseas.
According to an analysis conducted by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), there are at least 167,000 call center jobs in Ohio. We have an obligation to take care of American workers and American industry first. It’s commonsense, and it’s the best way to move our economy forward and reduce our deficit.
That’s why I’m supporting the United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act of 2012. This bill would help both American workers and consumers.
Consumers have the right to know where their call is being handled, just like consumers know the country-of-origin for products. That’s why this legislation would require companies to disclose to callers when their calls are transferred abroad.
This legislation will also stop giving American tax dollars to big businesses that ship call center jobs overseas. Why should we hand over federal grants or loans to companies that hand over American jobs to other countries?
By directing the Department of Labor to provide the public with a list of companies that shutter their doors in America to hang up their “open-for-business” signs overseas, this legislation will allow Americans to decide for themselves which companies will receive their business.
Finally, this legislation would require federal agencies – including the Department of Defense – to give preference to U.S. employers that remain open here at home.
We aren’t powerless when it comes to creating American jobs. And that’s what the United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act of 2012 does. It’s an important and simple step that we can take to continue turning our economy around.
The stakes are high. We must do everything we can to support American workers.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator
Senator Brown's Offices
Washington, D.C.
713 Hart Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
p (202) 224-2315
f (202) 228-6321
Columbus
200 N High St.
Room 614
Columbus, OH 43215
p (614) 469-2083
f (614) 469-2171
Toll Free
1-888-896-OHIO (6446)
USA: we’ve got a note for you
From: Justin Ruben, MoveOn.org Political Action
You're fired!
(or at least you could be if Romney and Ryan are elected)
Possible reasons for termination:
The Romney-Ryan budget would kill 1 million U.S. jobs in 2013
To give more to the rich, Romney and Ryan would raise taxes on the middle class—tanking the economy and killing jobs
Romney is proposing to give even bigger tax breaks to corporations that outsource jobs Will you help us share 1 million pink slip messages today so voters know what to expect if Romney and Ryan are elected?
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are the dream ticket for the 1%. But their plan to give even more to the rich would be disastrous for the economy. We're distributing 1 million pink slips this week to show voters just how many jobs Romney and Ryan would cost us in the first year alone. Can you share this pink slip message with everyone you know?
Romney & Ryan: Don't hire them, unless you want them to fire you.
Sources:
1. "Ryan's budget cuts would cost jobs," The Economic Policy Institute Blog, March 21, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278656&id=49016-21095459-CJjhZVx&t=3
2. "Five Times Mitt Romney Has Embraced The Ryan Budget," ThinkProgress, August 11, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278984&id=49016-21095459-CJjhZVx&t=4
3. "Study: Romney tax plan would result in cuts for rich, higher burden for others," Washington Post, August 1, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278241&id=49016-21095459-CJjhZVx&t=5
4. "Romney's Bain Capital invested in companies that moved jobs overseas," Washington Post, June 21, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278985&id=49016-21095459-CJjhZVx&t=6
5. "Romney's Tax Plan May Cost U.S. As Many As 800,000 Jobs: Report," Huffington Post, July 17, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=278610&id=49016-21095459-CJjhZVx&t=7
Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 7 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.
BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Reality of Corporate Social Responsibility: Case Studies on the Impact of CSR on Workers in Asia
From: Yona Maro
As Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been practiced in many different ways, this book tries to present Asian context by investigating how CSR activities has been impacting people on the ground. The book provides case studies from China, South Korea, India and Indonesia, disclosing the ugly face of CSR. The biggest problem with CSR is not that it has limitations, nor is it concerning its questionable ability to sufficiently address the problems it intends to ameliorate. Rather, it is the fact that it takes people to a completely wrong direction.
For many large corporations, CSR is primarily a strategy to divert attention away from the negative social and environmental impacts of their activities. In the Asian context, CSR mostly involves activities like adopting villages for what they call a ‘holistic development’, in which they provide medical and sanitation facilities, build school and houses, and helping villagers become self-reliant by teaching them vocational and business skills. Such corporate strategies have been effectively hegemonic, providing a strong legitimacy and license for corporations to sustain the exploitation of human and natural resources. More importantly, it leads people to wrongly assume that the business houses, and not the states, are responsible for citizens' basic rights to better education, clean water, healthcare, etc. It disciplines the un-informed poor motivating them to behave in ways that make state regulation obsolete, while leaving them at the mercy of market forces.
http://www.amrc.org.hk/system/files/Book%20-%20The%20Reality%20of%20CSR%20-%20AMRC.pdf
--
Karibu Jukwaa la www.mwanabidii.com
Pata nafasi mpya za Kazi www.kazibongo.blogspot.com
Blogu ya Habari na Picha www.patahabari.blogspot.com
USA: Connecting Veterans with New Employment Opportunities
From: Senator Sherrod Brown
Ohio is home to more than 890,000 veterans, making our state the nation’s sixth-largest population of veterans.
Despite their service, an unacceptably high number of veterans struggle to find work. Just as we invest in our servicemembers while they’re on the battlefield, we should do the same when they return home.
That’s why it’s imperative that we do a better job of connecting veterans with the support resources they deserve.
Among them is the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), a joint Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Labor training initiative that is a component of the recently passed VOW to Hire Heroes Act. VRAP provides unemployed veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 the opportunity to pursue training for new careers in high demand occupations. From welders, to paralegals, to teacher’s aides, VRAP offers wide ranging opportunities for veterans seeking work.
However, as the program is limited to 99,000 participants through March 31, 2014--and with the first wave of enrollment closing at the end of September-- it’s crucial that Ohio’s veterans apply quickly for these vital benefits. It’s our duty to Ohio’s heroes that we spread the word to all eligible participants.
Eligible veterans must be at least 35 but no more than 60 years of age; unemployed; received an other than dishonorable discharge; not eligible for any other VA education benefit program; not receiving VA compensation due to being unemployed; and not enrolled in a federal or state job training program.
Veterans can also find work through the Justice Department’s new initiative, “Vets to COPS” (Community Oriented Policing Services). This program, which is a component of the Department of Justice’s Cops Hiring Program (CHP), requires that all new officers hired through the program must be military veterans that have served at least 180 days of active military service, any part of which occurred on or after September 11, 2001.
While too many police departments across our state have had to lay off police officers due to budget challenges, too many recently-returned veterans have struggled to find work. These men and women who fought to keep our country safe shouldn’t have to fight for a job when they come home.
“Vets to COPS” is a critical investment in the people who devote their lives to protecting Ohioans—both as members of our Armed Forces and as law enforcement officers. Finally, it’s crucial that word spreads regarding the U.S Department of Transportation and VA’s new websites designed to help military veterans find jobs in the transportation industry. The websites will link to the Veterans Transportation Career Center, where veterans can enter their specific military work experience and see how it translates to jobs in the civilian transportation industry.
The site will guide veterans to jobs in five positions from aviation pilot, aviation maintenance technician, air traffic controller, commercial motor vehicle driver, and emergency medical services. Veterans seeking work can find what training and certification is needed for civilian jobs, determine what career fits best with their background, and search for available jobs in their field. The portals are available at www.dot.gov and www.va.gov.
Our servicemembers and veterans deserve our nation’s full support. And at the very least, they deserve elected officials who are willing to put partisan battles aside to ensure that returning veterans have jobs to ease their transition into civilian life.
My constituent services office – which you can reach by calling 216-522-7272 – stands prepared to help Ohio veterans receive the support they need. As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I’m committed to ensuring veterans have the tools they need to find employment.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator
Senator Brown's Offices
Washington, D.C.
713 Hart Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
p (202) 224-2315
f (202) 228-6321
Columbus
200 N High St.
Room 614
Columbus, OH 43215
p (614) 469-2083
f (614) 469-2171
Toll Free
1-888-896-OHIO (6446)