| LIFE-NET NEWS |
| by Ret Z. |
| Covering Poverty Widely in a Net of Many Voices |
| June 17, 2009 | No Profit; No Proceeds |
| Volume 13 Number 3 | All-Volunteer |
| "Give a family a fish, and they'll eat a meal; give them a Net, and they'll have fish for Life." |
| Microbusinesses Prove Recession-Resistant |
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LIMA, PERU Microenterprise is an escape valve for social tension at times of crisis. Microbusinesses do a better job of weathering the storm than bigger companies because they are used to overcoming difficulties -- a positive effect that is further multiplied when it involves women.
"Microbusiness owners have always operated in tough conditions. For them, there has always been a crisis," said Sonia Arenaza, a Peruvian member of ACCIÓN International, a Boston MA-based microfinance network involved in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. "This is a reality that you see in Peru as well as the rest of Latin America and developing countries in general." The microfinance expert also confirmed that "during this time of global financial crisis, women who run microbusinesses are doing a better job at withstanding the negative effects, as shown by numerous studies. They are performing better in financial and entrepreneurial terms." In Peru, the impact of the global crisis has led to a plunge in exports, spending cuts, and a rise in social tension, especially among the poor. Against that backdrop, microfinance takes on a special importance because it channels funds into keeping afloat small businesses, which are a lifeline for the lowest income sectors, said Arenaza. With an economically active population of 10.6 million people, 35% of whom are women, Peru has an estimated three million microbusinesses, which by definition employ five or fewer people. Microloans are mainly granted in developing countries, fomented by government policies, local and international NGOs, and regulated financial institutions. The Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) Multilateral Investment Fund reports that there are 565 microfinance institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean financing around nine million microenterprises, with an outstanding loan portfolio of $9.2 billion, which covers 13% of demand for microlending. The advantages of channeling financial services and products to female microenterprise owners are not limited to times of crisis, said Arenaza. "This has a multiplier effect in terms of development, in first place related to the microenterprise itself and the improvement of its business, and in second place related to the home and the improvement of living conditions for the microbusiness owner's family, like health and education for the children." Statistics show that women all around the world are better borrowers when they manage to gain access to loans, the expert said. Microfinance should also focus on women because they have traditionally been marginalized by lending institutions and because a large proportion of them are among the poorest of the poor. Women's ability to combine "productive" and family "reproductive" roles in microfinance activities means microcredits to women can have a greater impact, on their families and on society as a whole, in terms of expanding progress and social improvements. Source: Inter Press Service |
| Delaware Nation to Return to Trenton |
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ANADARKO, OK The Delaware Nation, a tribe whose ancestors were the original people of New Jersey, recently announced plans to return home to Trenton and pursue economic development collaborations in the capital city. Kerry Holton, president of the Delaware Nation of Oklahoma, and Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer on May 29 signed a memorandum of understanding as a first step toward what the tribe hopes will be a fresh connection with the region of its ancestors.
Members of the Delaware Nation, also known as the Lenape, lived along the Atlantic seaboard and were among the first Native Americans to come into contact with European settlers in the early 1500s. In 1683 the Delaware Nation created Philadelphia jointly with William Penn. Later, the Delaware Nation militarily aligned with the colonists in the fight for independence. As a result of unfavorable peace treaties and war, the tribe moved westward and is now concentrated in Anadarko OK. "Long before Trenton gained renown as a center for industrial might with steel and pottery manufacturing here -- and even before Trenton became the turning point of the American Revolution, Native American influence was very significant," Palmer said. "At the confluence of the Assunpink Creek and the Delaware River, below the falls, an important transportation center, a river crossroads, has always existed." "Today, the Delaware Nation is coming home to Trenton with a strong interest both in renewing this little-known 'third dimension' to our history and in exploring economic development possibilities," said Holton. "That is why we are signing this memorandum of agreement." The agreement with the city sets in motion the Delaware Nation's goal to establish clean energy businesses in the city and generate green jobs that will boost the local economy. "The economic downturn has essentially created a level playing field for our small emerging nation and, combined with President Obama's clean energy initiatives, has allowed the Delaware Nation to enter into clean energy businesses that create jobs for the community," said Holton. He described it as a "win-win" situation for the tribe and Trenton. He said the tribe will also pursue redevelopment opportunities at industrial sites and vacant buildings in several sections of the city. Currently, the tribe operates a housing authority, environmental office, social services, cultural preservation office, and a casino on Indian lands. Holton said they are not interested in establishing a casino in Trenton. Shelley Zeiger, a Trenton importer who serves as a consultant for the Delaware Nation, said the business ventures would enhance the city's economy while enriching its culture. "I'm delighted to see the Delaware Nation is coming back to its aboriginal territory and helping develop private-sector industry and jobs." Source: Indian Country Today |
| Botswana Aims Anti-AIDS Effort at Road Workers |
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TUTUME, BOTSWANA Employees of China Civil Engineering, a company engaged in the Tutume-Mosetse road project, have been urged to refrain from multiple sexual partners, or to use condoms if they cannot hold their urge for sex.
An official from the Tutume Sub District AIDS Coordinating office, Ms Monica Nfila, said it is common that whenever construction companies set up camp, women, especially the non-working class, flock to the area to hook up with men who are renowned for "pass-time-partners" and one-night stands. She added that at the end of the projects there would be babies left behind as the contractors move to another site. "We cannot force you not to have sex, but we encourage you to refrain from multiple sexual partners and remain faithful to your partners back home." Nfila also revealed that the government is striving to have no new infections by the year 2016, which is just seven years away. She also advised them to consider circumcision as research has shown that it cuts transmission rate by up to 60%. Another officer, Mr Thatayaone Maithamako, informed construction workers that Tutume Sub District is one of the areas with a very high HIV/AIDS prevalence. "In total, we have 6,743 males and 11,714 females in the 15-49 age category." He warned men not to take solace in the statistics, as it does not mean that men are less infected. "The number of men infected seems to be less because men still drag their feet when it comes to health issues in general, including HIV testing. This explains why the number of HIV-positive women outnumbers that of men." He also said that statistics from the District Health Team in Tutume indicate that condoms are well collected from distribution points, yet prevalence in the area is one of the highest, something which he said might mean that condoms are either used wrongly or are only collected and not used. Source: Botswana Press Agency |
| Native Woman-Owned Firm Makes Inner City 100 List |
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BOSTON, MA The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City recently released its 2009 Inner City 100 [IC-100] list, and Kauffman & Associates Inc, of Spokane WA, is ranked 11th. Innovative practices and sustained growth are the predominant traits of the 2009 IC-100, a ranking of the 100 fastest-growing businesses in inner city communities nationwide.
Now in its 11th year, the list provides unmatched original data. For the 2009 list, more than 5,000 nominations were received. The 2009 winners grew at a compound annual growth rate of 40% and an average rate of 324% between 2003 and 2007. Collectively, the top 100 inner city businesses have employed nearly 17,000 people and created nearly 10,000 new jobs over the past five years. Highlights:
"We are delighted to celebrate businesses like Kauffman & Associates that are playing a critical role to revitalize distressed urban communities throughout America," said Michael Porter, founder and CEO of ICIC. "By creating jobs, income, and wealth for local residents, these high-growth businesses are vivid proof that the most effective way to address economic inequality in America is to equip every community to prosper in the market system. IC-100 companies also provide a window into the future where all companies will need to learn to address diverse customers and mobilize diverse workforces." Founded in 1990 by JoAnn Kauffman, a member of the Nez Perce Tribe, Kauffman & Associates provides a wide range of consulting services to federal, state, local governments and the private sector in the areas of communications, research and evaluation, management support, and web-based solutions. This is the fourth consecutive year Kauffman & Associates has appeared on the list, moving from 33rd in 2006 to 30th in 2007 and to 27th in 2008. Source: Indian Country Today |
| End Gaza Blockade, Say 40+ Humanitarian Agencies |
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JERUSALEM, ISRAEL More than 40 UN and other humanitarian agencies today urged Israel to lift its crippling blockade of Hamas-run Gaza, where a majority of the population is kept alive through foreign aid. "We call for free and uninhibited access for all humanitarian assistance ... We also call for a return to normalized trade," said a joint statement read at a news conference in a UN warehouse in Jerusalem where aid destined for the impoverished Palestinian enclave is stored. The statement was issued to mark the second anniversary of the blockade under which Israel and Egypt have kept Gaza after the violent takeover by Hamas, an Islamist movement pledged to the destruction of the Jewish state.
"The indiscriminate sanctions are affecting the entire 1.5 million population of Gaza, and ordinary women, children, and the elderly are the first victims," it said. "While Gazans are being kept alive through humanitarian aid, ordinary civilians have lost all quality of life as they fight to survive." The situation was compounded by devastation wrought by the 22-day military offensive Israel launched against the Gaza Strip in December, which killed more than 1,400 Palestinians. Thirteen Israelis were killed during the fighting that Israel said was aimed at ending rocket fire from Gaza. Because of the blockade, humanitarian agencies have been unable to bring in the materials needed to rebuild homes, schools, and hospitals. "Thousands of people are living with holes in their walls, broken windows, and no running water." To highlight the effects of the blockade, Oxfam spokesman Michael Bailey held up a can of Gaza-made hummus that cannot be exported because of the blockade. "This is collective punishment in a tin," he said. The company that makes the chickpea paste had to close down last year and lay off its 85 employees because it could not import empty cans from Israel. Among the signatories were the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Oxfam International, and CARE, as well as several dozen smaller organizations. Source: Agence France-Presse |
| Help Wanted? Could Be a Scam |
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PHILADELPHIA, PA
To the unemployed graduate or student seeking a summer internship, a high-paying job with a low time commitment seems too good to be true. Most often, it is.
Last week, the University of Pennsylvania's Career Services office sent an e-mail to students warning them about fraudulent job and internship opportunities posted online. Associate Director of Career Services Claire Klieger said Career Services was prompted to send the message to its listservs after an alumnus, who had been receiving suspicious e-mails with job offers on a daily basis, sent several samples to Career Services for review. The spam postings circulating the Internet typically attempt to trick recipients into believing that the fictitious company offers an attractive and well-paid part-time or Internet-based position. According to the press office of Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett, who recently cautioned graduates to be wary of job and Internet fraud -- the scams operate by duping newly hired employees into wiring money or releasing confidential personal information. Once tricked, victims are often left with depleted bank accounts or susceptible to identity theft. Once hired by such a company, graduates only run into problems. "It's extremely difficult to get your money back if you do fall prey to such a scam," Klieger said. "You often don't realize [a scam] until you are missing a lot of money from your bank." Potential red flags in fake job posts range from a generic company name or contact e-mail to bizarre language or phrasing in the job description, according to Klieger. To help determine the legitimacy of a suspicious job posting, Klieger said potential applicants should ask the advertiser for a list of references. "Especially if it is an intern or volunteer activity, ask to speak with past program participants or alumni," she suggested. "If they are unwilling to give you that information, it is a big red flag that there is something wrong or that they are not legitimate." Associate Director of Career Services Helen Cheung also emphasized that students should always be wary when an employer requires hires to pay to work. "A legit position, even for an unpaid internship, shouldn't require you to pay for training or contribute money to the employer up front." Furthermore, Klieger suggests that students trying to gauge the legitimacy of a potential employer should just go with their gut feelings. "Use your common sense if something looks too good to be true," she said. "If it doesn't feel quite right, it probably isn't." Source: Daily Pennsylvanian |
| More Nations Sign Up to Fight the 'Resource Curse' |
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WASHINGTON, DC Four new countries have joined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global effort to set concrete standards for the transparent management of revenues from the oil, gas, and mining sectors. Albania, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, and Zambia joined the list of 26 candidate countries now implementing the EITI process, the EITI board announced on May 18 in Washington.
"The EITI gives governments and citizens a sorely needed blueprint for legitimate dialogue about the management of natural resources," said Karin Lissakers, director of the nonprofit Revenue Watch Institute. "Without a healthy conversation between civil society and policymakers, the countries richest in oil and mineral wealth remain the most vulnerable to all forms of economic, political, and social exploitation and unrest." The EITI board had held a series of meetings with diverse stakeholders in Washington, hosted by the World Bank (WB). The WB has been a supporter of EITI since it was put forward in 2002. "I am encouraged that more countries from Africa and other regions of the world are joining the EITI process and recognizing the benefits of greater transparency in the extractive industries sector," said Somit Varma, WB director for oil, gas, and mining. "It is, however, only when countries take full ownership of this voluntary initiative that it can succeed. The World Bank is committed to supporting governments in this effort." It was also announced that three new countries would become donors to support EITI implementation through the WB. Currently, ten donor countries and the European Commission provide funding to the World Bank-administered EITI Multi-donor Trust Fund, which provides technical assistance for implementation. The ten are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Britain. Finland just joined as a donor country, and the US and Switzerland will be joining the donor group soon. An important theme at the series of meetings was planning for EITI validation, the oversight mechanism for country implementation. Twenty-one of the EITI candidate countries have until March 2010 to complete EITI validation. Through EITI, countries bring together companies, civil society and government representatives to monitor and account for payments being made to governments by extractives companies operating in their country. Countries that have met all of the reporting and operational indicators set out under the EITI guidelines and completed a rigorous validation process are then dubbed "EITI compliant", establishing that a country's revenue reporting standards in its extractive sector have achieved a greater level of transparency. In February, oil-rich Azerbaijan was named the first EITI compliant country. According to the bank, 3.5 billion people live in countries rich in oil, gas, and minerals. Take for example the nations of Africa, where for some time now the continent's natural resource abundance has caused it to suffer from what many call the "resource curse". The exportation of these resources has contributed to widespread poverty, corruption, conflict, and environmental degradation. Source: Inter Press Service |
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| The Bright Side of Biotech for Sustainable Farming |
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ATLANTA, GA Fresh numbers show that biotech crops have delivered significant global economic and environmental benefits and are making important contributions to global food production and security. "Since 1996, biotech crop adoption has contributed to reducing the release of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, decreased pesticide spraying, and significantly boosted farmers' incomes," said Graham Brookes, director of PG Economics, co-author of the yearly report. "The technology has also made important contributions to increasing the yields of many farmers, reducing production risks, improving productivity, and raising global production of key crops. The combination of economic and environmental benefit delivery is therefore making a valuable contribution to improving the sustainability of global agriculture, with these benefits and improvements being greatest in developing countries."
Key findings:
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| Undaunted Faithful Challenge Local Violence |
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WILMINGTON, DE It takes dedication to hold a rally in the pouring rain. Especially when no one may be listening to the message. But dedication is in no short supply among three city councilmen and the faith-based organizations that have come together for a monthly display of their desire for nonviolence in the city.
After holding their first rally in April at Judy Johnson Park at Third and Clayton Streets, the group gathered again on Friday, May 29, at the corner of Sixth and Madison streets and called on people of all faiths to pray for peace. "We need more faith in the city of Wilmington to try and address this violence that's occurring," Councilman Kevin Kelley said. "That's the reason we are here. It didn't start overnight, and we're not going to resolve it overnight." Kelley, fellow councilman Samuel Prado, and Paul Ignudo joined representatives from churches, synagogues, and mosques to form connections and use spirituality to stave off the violence that typically increases in summer months. Last year was the deadliest on record in Wilmington: 26 people were killed and 125 shot. "We're all coming together -- Muslims, Christians, Jews -- because it's getting warmer," said Brother Ronald Cephas, a Christian and member of Clubs of the 70s, a group of men who were gang members in the 1970s and now have turned their lives around. "I was a part of tearing it up. I want to be a part now of putting it back together." The rally drew only a dozen people to the intersection across from William Hicks Anderson Community Center. Drivers passed by with their windows up, impervious. Walkers kept on walking. Rain pounded the rally-goers, soaking their shoes and clothes. They huddled together under flimsy umbrellas. They were undaunted. The Rev Mike Tyson from St Paul's Roman Catholic Church offered a prayer and said, "It's a kind of love called agape. We don't love other people because of what they can do for us. We love them because God loves them. "No matter what our faiths, we are all one in wanting to stop the violence." St Paul's will be the site of a faith-based 1,000 Man Rally on June 27. The event calls on men to "stand up" for a safer, better community. Source: Wilmington News Journal |
| Quarter of a Million Sri Lankans Face Two Years in Camps |
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COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Many of the quarter of a million people held in internment camps in Sri Lanka face up to two years behind razor wire, a government official said on May 20.
Despite international concern over conditions inside the camps, the defence ministry spokesman, Lakshman Hulugalle, said Sri Lanka was not prepared to let the UN dictate terms over the length of time people could be held.
A UN spokesman, Gordon Weiss, said he was "shocked" at the revelation, which ran counter to previous government assurances. "It was our understanding that the government was to return 80% of the people to their homes by the end of the year, or at least try to." The UN, Britain, and human rights groups have been pressing the government in Colombo to release people from the camps as soon as possible. But Hulugalle said: "The UN can't dictate terms to us. They can always make a request but the UN hasn't asked us to release people. The government has a plan to resettle them. Let these agencies come and join us." Hulugalle said the government had already resettled almost 200,000 people after the east of the country was liberated from Tamil Tiger control. "We were able to resettle them within nine months. This operation will take a little longer -- one-and-a-half to two years." Some elderly people with close relatives who could look after them had been released, but many others would have to stay behind for up to two years. Responding to criticism of conditions inside the camps, where detainees have said they are short of food, water and medicines, Hulugalle said, "You can't expect five-star hospitality in an area like that. What we are providing are the basics -- security, food, health, and schools. These are basic. You can't expect an Oxford college." Hulugalle said the government had turned down an offer of 750 previously used blankets from the Hilton hotel group because people did not want to be treated as second-class citizens. "They are not beggars." The government said it needed to hold the civilians until it can establish whether or not they are Tamil Tigers. The news came as the Red Cross suspended delivery of supplies to displaced civilians after Sri Lanka blocked access to camps it controls in the country's north. Save the Children claimed that at least a quarter of pregnant and breastfeeding women in the internment camps are acutely malnourished. Another government minister disputed the military's assessment of the timescale for rehabilitation, but admitted the task posed particular problems. Disaster management and human rights minister Mahinda Samarasinghe criticized some of the efforts of the UN agencies involved, claiming that tents supplied to house detainees were inadequate and unable to stand up to rain, and that toilets supplied by Unicef were not good enough. "As much as they tell us to maintain international standards, it is incumbent on us as a government that if there are shortcomings on their part we tell them." Source: Guardian (UK) |
| Wilmington Kids Take Rare Trip Outside City |
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WILMINGTON, DE Nanette Hill, a paraprofessional at Elbert-Palmer Elementary School in the Southbridge section, watched as dozens of students from the school who live in or near its low-income neighborhood walked through the door of the overnight lodge at the Ashland Nature Center in Hockessin.
On one wall, a large deer head with antlers stared down at them with a stone gaze. On another lodge wall, mounted geese appeared in poses that looked like they were about to take flight. "A lot of them haven't been outside of the city," Hill said of the children. "They were so fascinated. Seeing their faces coming in here, it was just like a Disney World trip for them. Just the joy in their eyes, no amount of money could pay for that." Thanks to Nature Link, neither the school nor the children had to pay for their overnight stay. The program is designed to reach underserved children who might not otherwise get the experience, said Helen Fischel, associate director of education for the Delaware Nature Society (DNS), which operates the nature center. She said that the society makes several thousand dollars available each year for children such as the 26 third-graders from Elbert-Palmer Elementary who spend the night at the lodge. DNS staff also visit school assemblies and provide educational activities as part of the program. "This will be my fifth time bringing kids here," said Karen Von Steuben, a third-grade teacher at Elbert-Palmer. "We’re studying communities in social studies. It gives them exposure to a community outside of their world." In addition to the third-graders, school buses brought 27 second-graders from Elbert-Palmer to experience day programs at the nature center. Steuben said they were considered too young to spend the night. Montgomery led a geology program with the children, who wore goggles and wielded hammers to break open rocks, including samples that they could take home with them, such as pieces of quartz, mica, or feldspar. Later, she led an aquatic study to the center's Wildflower Stream and what they call the Ashland Marsh, where thousands of tadpoles are hatching. Ta'onna Saunders, 8, a second-grader, caught a frog in her net as she scooped it into the stream. "I think it's wonderful," she said, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. "He's got green lips and black eyes." Parent Chimere Shockley, 27, of Southbridge, chaperoned as her daughter looked for bugs and other aquatic life. Shockley remembers staying overnight at the lodge in the early 1990s: "It's an eye-opener, especially if you don't get to experience this." Source: Wilmington News Journal |
| The Real Civil Rights Challenge: School Choice |
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Adapted from a piece by Star Parker, an author and president of the Coalition for Urban Renewal and Education:
An incensed Andrew Sullivan -- homosexual journalist and activist -- told CNN anchor Anderson Cooper the other night that Barack Obama is ducking the "core civil rights challenge of his time." For once, I find myself on the same page with Sullivan, but for me, the core challenge is not expanded rights for homosexuals but school choice for parents and children. We've got all kinds of flowery rhetoric from our president about the education crisis and the need to do everything to educate our kids. But, as is unfortunately often the case, Obama's deeds are less inspiring than his words. Most recently, and flagrantly, was the announcement that Obama would sit by and allow Congress to pull the plug on the five-year-old voucher program enabling 1,700 kids in Washington DC, to attend private schools. This despite a new study from Obama's own Department of Education saying that these kids outperformed their DC public-school peers in reading -- and that the vouchers, valued up to $7,500 per scholarship, cost less than half the $17,000 per student DC spends to maintain one of the worst public school systems in the country. It's no secret that Obama is very much the politician, and in this case one beholden to unions. So perhaps educating children is important to our president. But not quite as important as the perks of elected office. But back to Sullivan -- we have more than a difference of opinion about civil rights and political priorities. Sullivan's agenda is not only different from mine, but it's one of the reasons I attach such importance to school choice: Early this month, the Obama administration announced the appointment of homosexual activist Kevin Jennings as assistant deputy secretary in the Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-free Schools. Included in the mission of this office, according to the Education Department website, is, "Administer the Department's programs relating to character and civics education." Jennings founded and was executive director of GLSEN -- Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network -- whose mission is to strive "to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression." Today's real minority group is low- to middle-income parents who want their children educated with traditional values. Needless to say, sexual moral relativism is the last thing black kids need to hear in school. Most important for these kids, who come overwhelmingly from single-parent homes, and half of whom in our urban public schools don't graduate, is to be taught traditional values. Of the 1,700 kids in DC's soon-to-be-defunct voucher program, 879 have been attending Catholic elementary or high schools. Source: WorldNetDaily |
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