The 65^th United Nations General Assembly began Sept 20, 2010 with the usual fanfare and traffic headaches in midtown Manhattan. Aside from the local commuter’s annoyance, however, the subject of the annual meeting centered on issues that all Americans and the international community have great stakes in. President Obama spoke to the Assembly stressing the need for continued peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. He said that it is possible to have an agreement on creating an independent Palestinian state and simultaneously securing Israel within a year, based on newly restarted peace talks between the two. This was contingent on an extension on the settlement moratorium, although President Benjamin Netanyahu stated publicly that the freeze would end as scheduled. This back and forth on spreading Israeli territory into Palestinian regions is the source of contention between international leaders trying to get the opposing sides to put away their differences and develop two independent states living in peace. These tough objectives, from social development to economic and political stabilization, will not come easy, as representatives from Israel, Palestine and parts of Africa can attest. Leaders of premier international think tanks and organizations criticized President Obama, who although known for his rousing words and insights, found himself hard-pressed to show tangible, consistent gains. Some expressed disappointment at what seemed to be back-pedaling on the Israeli territory issue. Another area that President Obama has received scrutiny in is the priorities of the nation’s budget. To date, the U.S. has spent $100 billion on the largely drawn out and marginally successful Afghan War, while only $10 billion put into the whole of Africa. Some argue that it is time for these countries to help themselves and not strain American taxpayers. To his credit, in his speech Obama did call out Arab countries that support Palestine with words but not political and financial help, indicating a region yet to find its own internal balance without outside intervention.

Nevertheless, the mood at the UN meetings is one of gritty determination. In the court of public opinion, many bloggers increasingly question the relevance and practicality of the Millennium Development Goals launched in 2000. The Millennium Development Goals, by 2015, are as follows: one-Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. 2- Achieve universal education for boys and girls. 3- Promoting gender equality and empowering women. 4- Reduce child mortality by two-thirds in children under age 5. 5- Reducing maternal mortality ratios by 75% and achieving universal access to reproductive health. 6- Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other major diseases and halting their spread. 7- Ensuring environmental stability and reducing biodiversity loss. 8- Develope a global partnership for development that addresses the special needs of certain developing nations while fostering a rule-based, nondiscriminatory trade system.

According to Jeffrey D. Sachs, world economist and head of Columbia University’s Earth Institute, the MDGs are still attainable. So far, the results achieved are mixed. Many ten nations in Africa, including Angola, Ethiopia and Egypt reported that they halved their absolute poverty levels. The other side of the coin calls for protecting fair and free votes in Sudan or enforcing women’s rights to education and economic opportunities in Kenya. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stressed that the eight goals can only be successful worldwide if the 192 member nations honor their commitments. This means that due diligence should not slow down during the economic crises of the past two years. “We should not balance budgets on the backs of the poor,” said Ban.  Mr. Sachs asserted that one step towards bolstering U.S. involvement in the MDGs begins in Washington. Old trade policies from two decades ago do not reflect today’s foreign assistance agenda. The world is rapidly changing, so the models for interacting with countries in need must change as well. President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged that France would increase its contribution to the Millennium Goals by 20 percent over the next three years, on the heels of a controversial Parliamentary ruling. The decision to increase the retirement age in France from 60 to 62 has sparked ongoing protests from citizens, threatening Sarkozy’s already faltering legacy of effective governance. Mary Robinson, former UN Human Rights Commissioner when the MDGs launched in 2000, said that they are faltering because of a lack of accountability from rich countries. She also criticized the well-roundedness of the approach, pointing out that women’s reproductive and legal rights were not high up enough in the assessment of human rights. On another hand, the policies were not linked to employment or address jobless rates in the Middle East or Africa, which tend to go hand-in-hand with poverty and lack of education.  Friday, September 24 session of the General Assembly was an emergency meeting to address the rising world food prices in the largest food producing nations. Leaders met to share information and coordinate strategies to deal with this year’s drought and floods that cost huge losses. Ongoing riots erupting in food producing nations like India, Brazil and Mozambique center on more demand for higher calorie foods like milk, meat and fruit, while protesting higher prices for less available food in general. 

One thing that is clear from the impassioned talks during the General Assembly, the nations need to innovate new effective ways to resolve their differences. The world cannot expect the MDGs to succeed without integrative approaches that explicitly address their interconnectedness. Leaders of developing nations or “bad boys” like Ahmadinejad should focus on using their platform at the UN to promote their nation’s agenda and attempts at cooperation, not pulpits for sowing seeds of animosity. This is the breaking point for so many reasons worldwide, and many still look to the United Nations for realistic, effective solutions.

~by Selome Brathwaite

No related posts.

Nestled in the northernmost corner of the Upper East Side of Manhattan is a string of high-rises housing many well-to-do families from diverse backgrounds. Walking down 2^nd Avenue, you will find all manner of convenience store, grooming spa, and specialty restaurant demarcated by the 96^th Street “border” that separates the public housing projects of East Harlem from this curious yet self-contained region.  One could argue that there is a lot of good coming out of the Upper East Side, in spite of its exclusive outer shell, at times. Amid the boutique clothing shops and high-end groceries, you will also come across another seemingly endemic occurrence between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenues, the upper 70s through the upper 90s: the charity thrift store. There are thrift shops dedicated to funding AIDS and cancer research, diabetes and arthritis, manned by a purposeful set of middle-aged and elderly women that maintain a knowledgeable and business-oriented attitude while graciously ushering in the curious and the bargain- hunters, alike. The shops provide an alternative shopping experience that seems to have caught on again in this new tight economy: bringing together thrift and social services. The Spence-Chapin shop stands out from these in that their funds go to their adoption agency. Not far from the thrift store of the same name is the New York headquarters of the agency, operational since 1908. Spence- Chapin is a fixture in the neighborhood. They handle domestic as well as international adoptions, pre- and post-pregnancy counseling, and hold informational meetings monthly open to the public and those seriously considering adoption. Spence-Chapin also makes big strides in keeping 4- to 6-week old infants connected to their birth parents in some form of open adoption until they are older. Its domestic adoption fees are based on a sliding scale. On its website, the organization promotes a Sept 7 documentary that aired on PBS, “Off and Running” which focused on the triad. The “adoption triad” includes the agency, the parents and the adoptee, indicating a substantial shift from the early years in America where the actual child really had no voice in his or her own situation. One thing is clear when someone decides to go down the road of adopting a child: you have to have a deep purse as well as a big heart.

In the last decade, high profile adoptions are more noticeable because of celebrities like Lionel Richie, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Madonna and most recently Sandra Bullock. These A-listers make it seem so simple, but even Madonna can attest to varying stages of international red-tape and unfavorable media coverage, and that is for people with all the money a child could possibly need. Principled state and private institutions still have a moral mandate to conduct a thorough and unbiased review of any potential adoptive parent, regardless of public position or influence. What seems like a recent trend of interracial international adoption sparks public interest and ire, in some circumstances because it forces Americans to look inward at the validity of social, economic and cultural reasons for adopting children. The call has always been for the rights of the child, his or her long-term well-being, and a supportive network of family members (biological or otherwise) and programs that maintain these mandates. Times were when it was hopeless to pursue information about one’s origins, and in some cases, closed adoptions still maintain this in the interests of protecting the birth parents’ wishes for privacy. Various social networking sites and groups now help adoptees do their own sleuthing to triangulate information. Programs like Ethiopian Heritage Camp, started by native Ethiopian adoptee Amber Stime who is also the Executive Director of African Cradle foster an atmosphere that supports adopted children by connecting to the art, language, food and other significant cultural markers of their native countries. These organizations provide an often-overlooked connection to the puzzle many adoptees face growing up in America.

Recent statistics estimate that more than one-third of Americans have considered adoption, although only about 1.6% of the current population of women 18-44 is actively seeking to adopt (CDC, 2002). Most adoption agencies are non-profit, so their charges cover expenses and a nominal fee, yet the cost of total adoption proceedings, including legal fees, counseling, placement, pre and post preparations can run into the tens of thousands, aside from actual costs of raising a child in America today. The first state that legally allowed adoption was Massachusetts in 1851, following the Adoption of Children Act, where adoption was a social and legally bound operation for the best interests of the child. This Act required judges to oversee adequate standards for adoption proceedings. By 1872, the New York State Charities Aid Association had organized and created a specialized child-placement program in 1898. A Michigan law in 1891 required that the judge determine an adoptive parent had “good moral character” as well as the means to raise and educate an adoptee in a suitable home. It would take until 1989, with the UN Convention on the Rights of The Child, and the 1993 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation with Respect to Inter-country Adoption before the international community had a unilaterally binding document focused on accrediting agencies, protecting children from smuggling, abuse and inappropriate adoption processes. The U.S. joined the Hague Convention in 2008. Certain countries outside of the European Union or the Convention may still have a high “market” in the U.S. but lighter regulations in countries like Guatemala and Moldova. Another important aspect to consider is what proportion of children is leaving a poverty-ridden country and what is the state of that country’s politics with America.

The April 2010 scandal involving American mom Torry Hansen sending her 7–year-old adoptive son Artyem Savilev back on a plane to Russia by himself highlights ongoing problems the international adoption community need to address. Ms. Hansen claimed that her son was mentally ill to the point of threatening her, yet saw no moral or physical harm in jet-setting an unaccompanied minor away from the promise of a better life. Moscow saw this action as so jarring that it publicly discussed suspending or closing all international adoption agreements with the U.S., a possibility that no-doubt causes much consternation for the thousands of white families that still look to the northern expanse for a child that could “fit” into their familial unit. Preferences and politics will always have a way of getting tied up with the most important service adoption provides, but aside from the occasional horror stories that make it to American televisions, there is still a large interest in caring for and raising the future world. Only more interest can beget better laws, bilateral agreements with specific countries, and, hopefully an ultimate end for the need to transplant underserved youth from their native lands in the first place.

No related posts.

When most people think of empowerment, certain images and phrases certainly come to mind: Women’s movement, Equality, Grassroots Activism, and Underserved Population are just a few. The concept of empowerment and its intricate relationship to women’s struggles did not develop in a vacuum. In the United States, the 19^th Amendment granted women the right to vote in 1920, not even 100 years ago. Owning property, being able to carry one’s own name with dignity and a sense of self and having a voice that will be heard in the democratic process of the nation were some of the major reasons for the women’s suffrage movement. Other important concerns included decent employment, access to higher education, childcare considerations and domestic violence awareness, issues that touched men and women and their relationships. In the beginning there was an uproar that women were out of line making demands for equal or fair treatment, that they should keep quiet in their realm of the home, but the fact remains that these human requirements foster a better society across gender lines. In recent years, more men are taking a stand concerning domestic violence prevention, economic and social development and many other types of community and international advocacy. The shifting paradigm of male and female contemporary roles also informs a need for changing traditional concepts to cope with society as it is today.

As with the men that pledge every year during V-Day movements to stamp out sexual oppression of women worldwide, they are recognizing within themselves the truth of the statistics. Men perpetrate most violent crimes specifically against women. The important aspect of these crimes is the intimacy aspect. There are fewer men killing men they love or are related to in some aspect than men killing or terrorizing women. There are also considerably less documented cases of men mass raping or sexually subduing other men. Since in most parts of the world women outnumber men and are the primary childcare providers, the dilemma increases because once women are mistreated or killed, their children, the next generation, is also vulnerable. Orphaned children in poor or disadvantaged communities fall through the cracks, are exposed to more traumatic experiences and have a generally harder time surviving to adulthood without permanent developmental effects.  Crimes that target women create a counterproductive social development where generations of dysfunction can flourish. This is also true for societies where the male population is constantly under attack from violence, lack of gainful employment, substance abuse and other mental and physical assaults. In addition to this, men react to depression very differently. According to UK mental health charity Mind, men are just as likely to get depressed as women, but they are less likely to seek help, be diagnosed and receive treatment. If one does not have a constructive outlet, the results can be catastrophic for those nearby. Extrapolate this predicament to a particular economic or social bracket and you may very well have a national problem. This is happening all over the world right now.

As mentioned before, two very different approaches to the situation are worth highlighting, as they attempt to address common problems with uncommon solutions. Male advocacy can mean recruiting more men into discussions and actions to prevent domestic violence, using religious doctrine or sports-centered activities to reaffirm the role of provider and protector or strategizing community building and AIDS awareness projects with and for young men. It can also mean creating a space for men to deal with depression, achieve higher education standards and regain some of the bruised ego that stems from having no one to connect with and too often ends with a violent or self-destructive reaction. A common sign of depression in men, as opposed to women, is lashing out and getting aggressive. As in the recent headline incidents involving men going on a murder/suicide spree after being fired or dumped, they feel they have nothing else to live for, yet want to take down as many people that “wronged them” as possible. The need for male advocacy is apparent. Steve Saltarelli, a University of Chicago student had a light-bulb moment last year after writing a satirical article in the school newspaper. Saltarelli touched on the subject of lowered test scores and less men in higher education in recent years. He also mentioned that many college-age men have a general unawareness and apathy towards global issues, indicating disconnection from society. Saltarelli felt the need to create Men in Power, his campus group, to address these issues with men who are prime targets for depression and need to be more in tune with the world around them as they grow into the future leaders and taxpayers. The idea was never to disparage the women’s empowerment movements that came before and still hold the line for equality and advocacy, but rather serve as a complement, showing that men, too need to address social pressures and have constructive support mechanisms in place to deal with their aggression. This approach to male advocacy is catching on as more and more mental health and social development experts get to the root of why systematic atrocities occur in so many parts of the world on varying levels. You may see high instances of young men in gangs in major cities across the US, and in war-torn parts of Central Europe of East Africa, they are in militias threatening the stability of governments.

Similarly, across the globe, a group of men successfully completed a training program specifically geared to educate them in ending violence against women. A large objective for a small program in the small nation of Fiji, these twenty men participated with the Women and Children’s Crisis Centre (WCCC) with funding from AusAid Regional. Their goal was to understand the reasons domestic violence persisted in their community, and use religious as well as guidelines from international objectives to counteract the trends. Similar programs and movements have cropped up outside of the Western world, in India and Japan, two countries that have a long history of male-centered cultures.

The mission behind these two tactics is to foster an environment that promotes well-balanced, responsible men that can function in society, have happy relationships and be career-focused and nurturing individuals, character traits that women have fought for since time immemorial. While there are many naysayers about certain men’s rights movements in America and abroad, these particular projects can serve as a precedent for open and fair dialogue on men’s roles in the future.

No related posts.

The ongoing monsoon and devastating floods in Pakistan impart a bleak future for the perpetually aggrieved state. Its nearest neighbor and constant rival, India, shares many similarities, in terms of ethnic makeup, historical lineage and political problems. Home to about 180 million, the recent floods stretch through the heart of the country, from the Khyber Pass in the disputed Kashmir region in the north, through to the Arabian Sea in the south. In addition to destroying valuable fall harvests in a prime agriculture region, the flood has rendered about 1.5 million people homeless, and hundreds of thousands more cut off from any help. The natural flow of these catastrophes dictates that soon the problem will include lack of clean water and food access, and a rise in water-borne diseases and deaths. About 8 million people currently need emergency assistance. As if Pakistan does not have enough problems, the economic and social upheaval coming could very well spiral the state out of governmental control.

Since the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan by former imperial Britain, the two countries have endured a long and bloody rivalry drawn down religious as well as ideological lines. Pakistan is primarily Muslim, while India is predominantly Hindu with large Sikh and Christian populations. The partition, meant to ease tensions between the diverse populations of the former British Empire, only exacerbated ancient feuds that went back to the times of the Silk Road. Pakistan claims Kashmir and Jammu territories should be a part of their nation, since major Muslim populations live there, but the geographic regions provide coveted access to remote locations, as well as high economic value in the cashmere wool trade, for instance. Intense riots, migration and unrest have continued to plague the borders for the past 60 years. Although Kashmir officially acceded to India in 1954 and approved its own India-based constitution in 1957, Pakistan retains control of certain areas within the Kashmir state, and throughout the 1970s and 1990s assisted in various military invasions and retaliations to their advances in taking over. A 1971 civil war in Pakistan prompted the creation of autonomous Bangladesh, formerly known as East Pakistan.

Although the 50^th anniversary of independence in 1997 saw public efforts at diplomacy between India and Pakistan, the stalemate over Kashmir and Jammu continued, and the 1990s overall was marked by a resurgence of militant Islamists in the valley regions. A large number of “jihadist” fighters, survivors of the Soviet-Afghani war of the 1980s inhabited the region, and became breeding grounds for al-Qaeda and Taliban movements. In 1998, India and Pakistan intensified their one-upmanship nuclear rivalry, with both countries successfully testing long-range missiles capable of destroying major cities. Now that these former colonies were forces to be reckoned with, the international community responded with public sanctions and froze humanitarian aid in an effort to cool down the arms races of these volatile “squabbling siblings”.  Throughout the 2000s, India and Pakistan continued to exchange blame and protracted armed attacks in spite of international pressure.

The last six years have seen even more woes for Pakistan in the form of almost annual devastating natural disasters. A 2004 tsunami and 2005 Kashmir earthquake rocked the country, sparking international support in spite of fears of governmental corruption of aid. A 2003 military coup and subsequent reinstatement of elected officials left uncertainty about consistency by Pakistani officials to continue the fight against Islamist militants. In mid-August, monsoon season brought the most devastating floods to date, swallowing up about one- third of the country and leaving as many as 20 million people at risk for homelessness, disease and abject misery. It came as a surprise, then that India publicly stepped up and offered $5million in aid to its constant rival. The gift is generous, considering the state-run giving program has only collected just over $1 million alone. Fears that funds would be misappropriated hamper efforts, especially at a time when the international community is reeling from recessions across world markets as well as large outpourings of billions of aid dollars for other victims this year, such as Haiti. UN Secretary General reportedly appealed for $460 million in emergency funds. Although Pakistan has been criticized for its slow movement in addressing the floods and providing adequate support for victims, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi made a public announcement that the government has accepted the money from India. India expressed their willingness to provide more assistance, proving that in times of true desperation, one’s neighbors, however combative, might be the most understanding and able to assist.

At this time in Pakistan’s history, it is important that its most staunch rival reach out a helping hand.  Most of the international community is exhausted by the constant blame games and seeming backwardness of its leaders. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari gained much international criticism for retreating to France in the midst of the flood disaster, causing more people to distrust the sincerity of the government’s efforts. In a time where the United States’ War on Terror seems a thinly veiled attempt to cull the spread of Islam within its own borders, it still manages to be one of the largest aid benefactors to Pakistan to date, even more than fellow Islamist countries like Saudi Arabia. India’s contribution can serve as a world inspiration to continue to believe in Pakistan, in spite of their history of animosity. The last five years have seen a number of major natural disasters around the world, and, coupled with economic meltdowns, sever donor fatigue threatens to dry up traditional means of support for survivors. India is in a position to step up its role as not only exporter of intellectual services and technological advancements, but also international benefactor, starting right in its own “backyard”. Pakistan needs to prioritize its missions in the aftermath of this disaster if it expects increased international support. Its claims of working with the US to fight home-based terrorist organizations must be a balance of protracted armed training as well as targeted aid to its own victims, the most vulnerable to social unrest.

Photo courtesy of: www.monstersandcritics.com  

No related posts.

Just what does it take for a modern Western man to assess his ethics and make changes accordingly? What does it even mean to be ethical by today’s standards, you may ask? BBC reporter for Newsnight, Justin Rowlatt, took on the one-year challenge along with his family in 2006, 2007, and again in 2009 throughout the United States. The program featured episodes where Rowlatt’s pregnant wife solved the problem of carrying the family’s groceries in England without using a car to, the legal limitations of urban foraging. Experts such as Professor Tim Jackson from the University of Surrey sat down with Rowlatt and helped him calculate his family’s carbon budget- how much the household is responsible for producing annually. For his family, it was 10 tons- the national UK average is about seven tons. One family vacation flight used one ton of carbon by itself.

Rowlatt has participated in and been the face of a number of serial documentaries, the most recent of which being “Going Green” in April 2009. He also participated in a broadcast for BBC News America, which focused on what obstacles Americans in Michigan, Texas, California, and Washington, D.C. faced in their efforts to meet “green” goals. One of the most common setbacks for participants is perceived costs, or just plain unemployment. In places like Muskegon, Michigan, which faced some of the highest unemployment rates in 2009, a decision to purchase a more efficient washer and dryer makes one family seriously consider their overall household costs, subsequently tweaking their budgets during lean times.

Rowlatt’s “Ethical Man” documentary serves as a testing ground for belief systems, specifically environmental ones, but ultimately has had resounding effects on social, economic, and political tenets as well- and how they influence powerful agendas, hidden or transparent. The show helps to foster necessary debate in an easily digestible format for its viewers, giving important ideas a platform for comment and examination. ““Ethical Man”” makes clear that collective forces influence society, such as the energy grid, which makes it difficult, but not completely ineffectual, to take personal responsibility.

As with his other reporting exploits, Rowlatt uses energetic wit to ask pointed questions of his subjects, whether they are political analysts, business executives, or the general public. The positions of some leading scientists and analysts are that the emphasis on global warming fosters government control and lines the pockets of already wealthy influential companies, such as GE. Of the environmental scientists and ethical columnists, he asks, “what can one person do to influence the greater good?”  The responses vary from active political awareness (voting on progressive policies), to social (simple, direct collective actions and changing one’s own behavior).

“Ethical Man’s” theory of environmentalism in social practice examines the idea that conservation and changing one’s consumption habits will help to preserve finite resources on our planet for generations of humans to come. There may not be enough empirical evidence to justify every claim of the environmental movement, but then again there not enough claims that precautions are hurting, either. The bigger question Mr. Rowlatt’s project poses is how positive and far-reaching can the effects be from a socioeconomic and political standpoint.

One question he asks, rather poignantly, is, “is it more ethical not to buy beans from Kenya [and] support local farmers, or should we [support Kenya’s efforts for economic survival]?” Ultimately, beyond the prescribed green movement, many ethicists point out the continued benefits in the West derived from the misery and unsustainable desperation of Third World nations. There is empirical evidence of this in investigative journalist accounts of mining precious metals for cell phone raw materials in the Congo and covert arms deals between governments and illegal militias to strong-arm locals protesting the fouling of their waterways for oil. The moral and ethical mandate remains to undo the damage we have already caused, whether that means taking every iota of argued science for what it’s worth, or erring on the side of caution by using common sense regarding our consumption habits.

There are many personal dilemmas individuals face on a daily basis. The idea of confronting ethics in a more day-to-day setting, outside of academia, is not new, but is becoming more popular, thanks, in part, to revolutionized globalization of media. Planet Green, a TimeWarner Cable channel in New York City, for instance, produces many reality-style shows that allow ordinary people to look at where their food and clothing comes from, and what the total cost is beyond their ready-made price tag. This new crop of media investigations aims at making citizens more aware of their input into greater systems, such as banking and buying food. If they succeed, of course ratings will go up, but maybe viewers will also start questioning the underlying agendas of every industry, and thus become more actively involved in the goods and services they consume, and the ideas they help to gain traction.

Even if it only serves as a jumping board on the green bandwagon in response to global warming claims, scientific or not, what the “Ethical Man” documentaries manage to highlight is the inherent human nature to survive, and how modern society evolves to incorporate this instinct in consumption. If anything, “Ethical Man” challenges common notions of what are needs, wants, and should-haves, and how every individual can look within and reassess these imperatives in his or her daily life. Mr. Rowlatt is not a leading anthropologist or ethicist, but his investigative efforts help a larger audience tackle serious questions about sustainable lifestyles, all with the guts, glam, and grace of his longsuffering wife!

No related posts.

Today, the provocative question for many women seeking safety abroad is tempered by whether their case is strong enough to hold up in federal courts as well as through international mandates. All over the world, women and men endure horrific circumstances where their basic human rights do not exist. Political, religious, and sexual freedom, as well as the ability to pursue gainful employment and live in peace is beyond their reach in parts of Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

Every year, thousands of such people petition United States courts and various nonprofit organizations for help in granting them access to a perceived safer, more stable environment in America. The American Dream, one that persists in the 21^st Century, even during the most unsettling of economic times, is still strong for millions of people on the outside. The key is how to get in, stay in, and survive once they are in. In 2010, the intersection of immigration policy with political asylum seekers creates hotly-contested instances to challenge federal, state, and international law.

America has a long history as a haven for asylum seekers, as well as general immigration. In order to qualify for asylum in the U.S., the applicant must submit admission at a port of entry within a year of being in the country. They must also provide substantive proof that they are fleeing religious or political persecution that may threaten their life and liberty. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website states, “Refugee status or asylum may be granted for individuals who have been persecuted or [fear persecution] based on their race, religion, nationality and/or membership in a particular social group or political opinion”.

Since 1995 reforms, the law states that the applicant must have a case review within 60 days of issuing the application, and if they do not appear, or they are determined to be unqualified, they could receive deportation orders from the immigration judge or asylum officer. This is the short version, of course. Many cases over the years have proven to be more complicated than simply applying and waiting to be heard. There are specific provisions for battered spouses and children, and humanitarian exceptions, such as the Haitian earthquake. When there is criminal activity involved, or the fact that one entered the country illegally to begin with, things get hazy.

A 1988 Los Angeles Times article pointed out a marked increase in asylum applications from Central America two years after the sweeping 1986 Immigration Law “unintended consequences” as the author noted. Apparently, these undocumented (illegal) immigrants were seeking work authorization cards that allowed them to find employment while their applications were in process. This is not a new situation in 2010, obviously. Everyone is looking for work, including the estimated 12.5 million illegal immigrants we now have in the United States.

Border States like California, Texas, Utah and Arizona experience a somewhat more acute situation with those wishing to enter the country by whatever means. Tension is apparent since President Obama’s candidacy hearings, where he vowed to work with federal and state governments to handle illegal immigration, and possibly set up a system of amnesty towards legal citizenship for many of the millions.

Citizens in these particular states reject the idea of sharing their hard-earned taxpaying dollars with those they consider to be freeloaders of the welfare system, who also “refuse” to assimilate, i.e.: learn English. They are apparently stealing available (and desirable) jobs from American citizens and create higher crime rates because they are hard to trace in crime databases.

According to the LA Times article, less than 4% of applicants from El Salvador and Guatemala received asylum in 1988, compared with a whopping 80% of Nicaraguan applicants the year before, hinting at politically-driven decision-making. Whether that was true or not, today the debates center around whether exploding murder rates of women in parts of Central and South America are reason enough to consider a grantee’s claim. What is clear is that women face human trafficking, drug smuggling coercion, and multiple rapes while even trying to flee Latin America, so they constitute a high percentage of eligibility for protection under various United Nations agreements.

Take the July 13 ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals, 9^th Circuit in California; two lower immigration courts ruled that illegal Guatemalan woman, Lesly Yajayra Perdomo, should be reconsidered for asylum and not deported because the terms were too broad. Ms. Perdomo’s stated fear is that she will be killed if she returns to Guatemala, where 3,800 women have been murdered since 2000.

A 2002 Human Rights Watch research and advocacy mission report found that a large problem in addressing crimes of any sort is impunity. The police forces are overwhelmed with various classifications of criminal activity; so many crimes against women in particular go underreported or not investigated at all. Human rights defenders in the country repeatedly face intimidation or outright violence for speaking up against citizens’ abuse. The government may make small public efforts to meet with organizations to handle abusive activities and identify secret terror groups, but no substantial results from these efforts. Minimal resources for the Attorney General charged with handling reports of abuse and prosecuting accordingly highlight the flaws within the Portillo administration, and the ongoing struggles in Guatemala to fulfill international mandates for protecting activists and social change agendas. Current country reports (as of 2009) conclude that the weakness and corruption of the government directly contribute to inequality among the citizenry and unaccountability for the rule of law.

The charge that the state courts have, going forward, is to maintain accurate and fair proceedings, especially with activist groups like the Concerned Citizens of the United States issuing mandates to government organizations and publicly petitioning the media with unlawfully obtained “blacklists” of alleged illegals in Utah. President Obama has already issued a suit ruling that the Arizona illegal immigration law (filed in April and scheduled to go into effect July 29 unless blocked by a higher court) was unconstitutional, but the 9^th Circuit case bears reason for review, advocates and academics say. Local Queens Defense Attorney Devian Daniels said, “Asylum statutes are supposed to protect people that have a credible fear that they will be killed”. Ms. Daniels is currently working on a case of an El Salvador woman who claims she was gang-raped and is requesting a similar stay in the U.S.  Ultimately, the Board of Immigration Appeals must determine if Ms. Perdomo will be granted asylum, yet the fact remains that any precedents developed this year will shape human rights and national democracy policies of the future.

No related posts.

As the world looks toward the Western hemisphere and its swirling despair in the Gulf of Mexico, Nigeria’s delta region blinks back in disbelief at the extent of its underexposure of the same plight. In fact, Nigeria has suffered oil spill disasters of a greater frequency, with magnitudes equal to Exxon-Valdez annually for half a century.

Nigeria has the largest population in Africa at 148 million people, although its geographic area is a fraction of the state of Texas. Nigeria is also the continent’s biggest oil exporter and can boast the largest natural gas reserves. Adam Nossiter of the New York Times wrote a June 17 article highlighting just how extreme the conditions currently are for the fuel-rich yet environmental and human rights-scourged nation. Nigeria depends heavily on its oil fields for economic stability, which means that governments, interest groups, and a host of environmental and human rights organizations all vie for attention when issues arise. The greatest issue of modern times has and continues to be the apparent underexposure of gross environmental degradation Nigeria suffers due to its desired resources.

Wherever environments are ruined, human suffering is close behind, especially for a nation where the primary sources of revenue are intricately linked to the viability of their shores, forests, water systems, and arable land. The stark contrast of “rich” resources lying below an impoverished citizenry is not lost when one considers the high instances of scandal and corruption gaining attention within the Nigerian government.

Oil companies like Shell, Exxon Mobil, and BP are well acquainted with the high costs of contamination and the repercussions for local citizens when mining for precious resources hits a detour. The latter, BP, is currently embroiled in a large-scale cleanup and subsequent review of their whole operation at the Gulf of Mexico thanks to public pressure for BP executives to come clean (which involves constant news coverage, YouTube video feedback, and locals taking to the radio waves chronicling their own personal struggles to keep their fishing businesses afloat).

The Obama administration has taken BP to task in federal court demanding financial reimbursement for the cleanup and loss of livelihood and environmental integrity in the region, with marked, if not immediate results. It will take more time and constant monitoring to see what the long-term damage is to humans and environments alike.

In contrast to Louisiana, there are virtually no news cameras doing around-the-clock feeds of the state of the Niger Delta. Dubbed the world capital of oil pollution (air, water, and soil), Nigeria is mired from its mangrove swamps to its halls of government. Recent world headlines broke open a scandal in 2007 implicating retired naval officers in illegal bunkering schemes that gave access to petrol traffickers while they were still part of the armed forces. This news served to reveal the close relationship between illegal civilian, military, and foreign interests that make transparency difficult.

Shell Oil, the major player in the Delta, attributes 98 percent of the over 7,000 oil spills between 1970 and 2000 to vandalism, theft, and sabotage by militants, and only a minimal amount to deteriorated infrastructure. There are no nationally sanctioned investigations following these spills in Nigeria, or enough regard for the independent watchdog groups who require frank dialogue between the impoverished citizens and oil industry bigwigs.

To its credit, the Federal High Court of Nigeria issued a stop order against gas flares in the oil fields of the Niger Delta in November 2005. The order stated that the flares were unnecessary and in violation of constitutional human rights to health and dignity. Major oil companies listed in the order were Shell, ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, and others. The order plainly stated that these companies were engaging in illegal activities, and that their practices were out of line with the current laws regarding drilling and waste generation. The situation has not changed much in five years, except that some documentaries are now making headlines and pointing out stark realities.

There is a clear need for more corporate accountability, since Shell Oil, the largest contender for energy profits and infrastructure control in the Niger Delta avoids independent monitoring, keeping relevant data away from the public. The overall impression is that outside of the United States, oil companies are above international and local laws regarding extraction, regulation, and safe practices.

Two recently released documentaries illustrate the need for more awareness and examination of this phenomenon. One film, Crude, chronicles an indigenous Ecuadorean tribe’s 13-year battle with Texaco to take responsibility for damaging their waterways, health, and livelihood. Crude, directed by Joe Berlinger, garnered worldwide respect and accolades at last year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Sweet Crude, directed by Berlinger’s former classmate Sandy Cioffi, is about Nigeria’s political struggle in the face of pollution by a large company that provides a large source of revenue for the nation. Her approach invests heavily on the belief that the presence of the media at strategic events in history worldwide has a direct impact on the results of these important historic events.

Ultimately, Nigeria needs to focus its economic development on its human capital, lessening the dependence upon the oil industry. The government of this nation needs improvement in stamping out corruption and unholy ties to corporations that do not take the citizens’ interests seriously, thus undermining the very nation a large percentage of first-world countries rely upon to keep their own systems running (on fuel, that is).

More media coverage and grassroots support is necessary in order to have a fair and balanced perspective on Nigeria’s varying problems. Christians versus Muslims, ethnic disaccord and uneven disparity between the rich and poor exacerbates the environmental damage Nigeria endures, but unless more organizations turn their eyes on the Delta, even America might miss some important lessons about the intricate links between the health and prosperity of a people and the health of the land.

Sources:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/Nigeria/Background.html

http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2010/06/17/127917637/easy-oil-hard-oil-and-nigeria-s-lesson

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/movies/18ande.html?_r=1&ref=movies

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/world/africa/17nigeria.html?scp=1&sq=nigeria,%20oil&st=cse

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10649775&pnum=3

http://web.worldbank.org

No related posts.

Almost 20 years after the “Blackhawk Down” incident in Mogadishu, Somalia, the United States finds itself yet again tied to the failed state in an uncomfortable and internationally denounced arrangement. Somalia is a nation in East Africa that endures longstanding images of starvation and human suffering alongside more recent ones of pirates and desperate, rebellious youth. It is a country whose own government admits that it cannot control the armed groups, some closely tied to Al-Qaeda, roving the remote areas, picking off neglected children to train as hardened mini-forces.

Young boys, some as young as nine-years-old, according to Somali human rights groups and UN officials, are recruited to carry heavy assault rifles and set up check points for vehicles, much like those in rebel forces. Yet instead of being in school they are part of the Transitional Federal Government.

The TFG is part of America’s all-important counter-terrorism contingent, and is the current internationally recognized government of Somalia, succeeding the Transitional National Government in late 2004. Because of America’s counterterrorism operations, taxpayers may very well be aiding ineffective and possibly corrupt officials in hiring children to pick up guns.

Although it has had a shaky parliamentary authority in reconciling boycotting party factions like the moderate Islamists and clan leaders, the TFG is the fourteenth incarnation of any semblance of governance in Somalia since Dictator Muhammad Siad Barre’s rule ended in 1991. Currently, the TFG is a composition of powerful clan warlords who maintain their own armed forces yet have banded together for common interests that can change at any moment when it does not suit their individual objectives.

The CIA backs a coalition of warlords in Mogadishu that are anti-Islamist, namely the Alliance for Restoration of Peace and Counterterrorism (ARPCT), of which Mogadishu’s mayor since 2007 Mohammed Dheere, is a member. Political experts say that not much is expected to change in Somalia concerning splintered power among leaders, yet the hope is for a continued vested interest between those clans that do work together to keep leadership in a favorable position for American interests.

In May 2008, Amnesty International released a report where Somali citizens rated their distrust of the TFG, citing instances of brutality against civilians that rivaled Ethiopian military and the Islamist rebel forces. Human Rights Watch alleges that the TFG forces are also guilty of rape, unlawful killings, and theft, which makes this newly emerging child soldier recruitment even more worrisome to international human rights groups and political analysts. The lines are blurring between sanctioned and lawless forces, especially when their tactics look similar.

Right now, the Ethiopian army is the only faction able to impose law and order, but they are at odds with Somali citizens that view them as invading outsiders. Political experts agree that a reconciliation process between the powerful and sidelined infighting clans and sub-clans is necessary. Security is still an issue, however, which explains the pressure the TFG has to employ children in the first place, as if undercutting the hope of the future of Somalia through violent initiations that would not have lasting repercussions.

Although the United States ratified an optional protocol to the Convention of the Rights of the Child concerning preventing the use of child soldiers (under age 15), its alliance with Somalia, the sole country that has not ratified the original Convention, allows for an apparent loophole in current affairs.

Some experts disagree on the best way to move forward internationally with Somalia. Ej Hogendoorn, Project Director of Horn of Africa, recommends a better form of international intervention, while Council on Foreign Relations reporter Bronwyn Bruton asserts that more involvement spurs on radical groups and prolongs the suffering of the Somali people who continue to undergo attacks from all sides for the past few decades.

In the meantime, the situation for little boys and girls remains grim. The boys are trained to kill and use their frazzled, underdeveloped minds to channel rage and frustration for ends they cannot understand or cannot benefit from in the long-run. Girls face a future of illiteracy, possible sexual abuse, and marginalization in refugee camps, not to mention unstable motherhood and exposure to diseases and related hardships when they get older.

The United States and other international leaders must choose carefully who they continue to back in this ongoing saga, if not for the threat of quickly broken-down alliances within Somalia, then because of associating itself with a weak government that would stoop as low as arming the most vulnerable, like their enemies. In the interest of good governance, there is no way that democratic nations can continue sanctioning this practice in the international stage.

Sources:

http://www.cfr.org/publication/12475/somalias_transitional_government.html#p2

http://www.economist.com/debate/days/view/529

http://www.history.com/videos/the-true-story-of-blackhawk-down#the-true-story-of-blackhawk-down

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/06/14/us-step-pressure-allies-using-child-soldiers

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/africa/14somalia.html?pagewanted=1

No related posts.

Around this time of year, scores of magazines, tabloids, and talk shows focus on the traditional spring and summer rites of the West, specifically brides and their wedding preparations. As if following nature’s mandate with a flair for the dramatic, women consume every scrap of information, ideology, or tradition based on their personal history and influences, or many times, what the current trends are where they live.

Wearing white, an old symbol of purity and virginity, is still the norm for many women on their wedding day, although one might wonder if the concept of after or even before the wedding enters into the conversation. How do we reconcile our modern-day sexual politics and contradictory media messages with the idea of being less pure, less than “white”? The veil serves a dual purpose, concealing a precious gift until the “right” moment wherein the husband can enjoy himself, or reveal to the world the mate by his side as his own, transformed from her formerly single status. The veil can be a sartorial baptism of sorts, a transition before the clergy and families that symbolizes a new physical and spiritual bond. Visual versus other aspects of a “beautiful wife” include virtues like dutifulness, modesty, loyalty, and fertility.

Feminism has long held court about beauty concepts, down racial as well as gender lines. Are we all trying to look alike in America? What does embracing multiculturalism really mean? Two years ago, Italian Vogue made a splash displaying models of obvious African ancestry. Obvious, because often what passes for women of color in commercials rarely looks as diverse as one would expect in New York City, Atlanta, or even London. At Guts. Glam. Grace. Magazine, topics relating to beauty and vanity include the Black Hair Industry, healthy eating habits, and guides to dressing for your body type. Beauty is also a highly cerebral concept, employing advertisements, social norms, as well as one’s own self-realization (or lack thereof). Thus, how women view weddings can indicate how they see themselves and their potential futures.

One of the most fascinating things about weddings, however, is the wide range of traditions that exist and are now gaining a seeming resurgence in popularity. There will always be the traditional “white wedding” with roses, church organs, and the common girls’ touch of royalty with bridesmaids and attendees. It is no coincidence that traditional sex roles play a major part in modern Western cultures when one considers the multi-billion dollar beauty industries.

What is interesting is how these roles trickle down into the very rites of civilization, to the point where debates about what is a “good marriage” and who retains the rights to the old customs writes the very dialogue of what is beautiful and worthy to behold. All throughout history, weddings represented societal norms, political alliances or grievances, and the testing or breaking of theories, including controversial age differences, sexual orientation (today’s challenge), and marriages that cross the religious or color “boundaries.” Age and experience can either enhance or detract from someone’s perspective of beauty. Variances across the world have always existed, but the role of the Internet age is growing, and with that an interest in different ideologies and practices.

African traditions throughout the continent emphasize the importance of family ties, promoting future prosperity and vibrant colors, music, food, and clothing. Many modern African weddings incorporate Muslim, Christian, and/or tribal customs, so the bride and groom might be wearing white Kente patterned fabrics and elaborate headdresses while listening to the pastor give rites. Many of us in America can now identify a Hindu wedding thanks to Bollywood films, like “Bride and Prejudice” and even the scenes in “Bend It Like Beckham,” where modernity finds its way into the dialogue of love and identity.

Different regions and religions put a stamp of authenticity on weddings, allowing for a broad range of concepts on multiculturalism, and thus, beauty. In China, red is the color and symbol of good luck, so white is a more recent Christian adoption for many couples. Women in parts of Africa and Southeast Asia wear multitudes of metal rings to stretch their necks beyond nature or elongate their earlobes. Some women bleach their skin to look lighter while others tan extensively to achieve a “healthy” glow.

Overall, multicultural beauty is about facing, accepting, and incorporating the many facets of human appearance and fostering a balanced perspective on desirable attributes, physical, mental, and spiritual. Beauty is what lures us to create more of our own kind, to perpetuate nature in our own eyes, and to highlight our best attributes to each other and for ourselves. We behold one another and sometimes we see what we want to be, or what we think someone else says we should be. Our very own genetics imbue the varied possibilities of beauty in this world and our wisdom lies in our ability to reflect it. The bride, whether modern, tribal, or traditional, is a strong spokesmodel for our take on multicultural concepts of beauty. She can help us to see ourselves as desirable, intelligent, and nuanced members of society, in all forms.

Sources:

http://anthro.palomar.edu/marriage/marriage_1.htm

http://redbrownandblue.com/index.php/ponder-this-survival-of-the-fittest%E2%80%A6-or-prettiest

http://www.todaysface.com/The-Beauty-of-Faces.html

http://www.worldweddingtraditions.com/locations/african_traditions/south_african_traditions.html

No related posts.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the warm weather is upon us, and with that comes thoughts of lounging and relaxing in some far-flung part of the world. Now, here at Guts. Glam. Grace. Magazine, you can find great insights on places to visit, as well as important tips on how to pack those hiking boots or teeny bikini! Maybe this year you are considering a different path. Read up on last year’s piece about a young woman who tried it out.

Many readers often yearn for an alternate travel experience. They want to get out to the beautiful places and meet the beautiful people of those places, interact with them, and even contribute in some meaningful way to their betterment aside from tourist dollars. For those adventurous, eco-conscious, and social change types, here are some interesting statistics.

The Travel Industry Association reported that more than 25% and an expanding number of Americans are interested in spending their vacations volunteering. The advent of modern telecommunication helps to fuel this interest with nature programs of Alaska and the Sahara Desert, language learning specials, international television and radio access, and of course, the internet.

Depending on what your interest and motivation is, you can travel from one to 52 weeks of the year, or in month and year-long brackets. Teaching abroad would require longer commitments to generate long-lasting effects once the class is over. Some volunteer organizations allow flexible tours of duty for busy people, but also because their program benefits from more rotating influences. International nonprofits promote global connections as a way to foster respect among people of various backgrounds and nationalities.

Local partnerships emerge from the interactions that continue long after the volunteer vacation ends. The native communities can continue to feed, clothe, employ, and educate themselves given better tools and supportive institutions. They learn that they are capable of being successful with a little help, but essentially on their own “two feet,” a valuable lesson in self-determination and autonomy.

The volunteer comes back with an incredible fulfillment, having learned what responsible traveling is capable of. She learns that she too can benefit from seeing a different way of life. She may respect the environment more and realize her integral place in ecologically-sound living. She can even help to influence her local politicians with her experiences and push foreign legislation aimed at promoting beneficial policies or coalitions. If a tourist or volunteer program can make positive inroads in a country or city with a successful development initiative, needy residents benefit from outside support as well as attention from their governments.

As the growing situation of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico illustrates, traveling and volunteering can also make a significant difference in America as well. The U.S. Travel Association is a leading force in monitoring the environmental and economic disaster of the oil spill, aware that the closer the damage gets to the shores of Mississippi and Louisiana, the higher the cost to these areas in lost tourism dollars. These dollars help the region to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina and other devastating storms. Just as thousands of young and old visitors to Louisiana donned construction hats and fishing boots to rebuild homes and waterways, volunteers visited Bangladesh and Haiti during their earthquakes and flooding.

Just remember, it takes only a little bit of courage and a lot of heart to embark on your own adventure in volunteering away from home. There are religious, academic, non-profit, eco-conscious, and creatively driven ways to volunteer, and an association for every one of them. Please share your experiences with Guts. Glam. Grace. readers so that others can Go!

SOURCES:

http://www.abroaderview.org/photo_gallery.php

http://go.global.wisc.edu/site-lists/volunteer.htm

http://www.ihfonline.org/volunteering.php

http://www.unitedplanet.org/volunteer-vacations

http://www.ustravel.org/news/press-releases/statement-concerning-deepwater-horizon-situation-gulf-mexico

No related posts.