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transmutationisms · 9 months

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could you please elaborate that post about spiritual ennui not being the cause of many social phenomena? theres a whole book I started reading recently (work pray code) which is predicated on the idea that in the US work has come to replace religion as the centerpiece of peoples lives (simultaneously bc of a withdrawal from religion as a country and bc of capitalism demanding that life revolve around work) and I wasnt completely convinced by the authors evidence toward that hypothesis. or was the social phenomena in question more like online culture stuff?

i don't know that particular book or author, so i don't have a sustained critique of them. but in general, yes, i'm frustrated by hypotheses that basically boil down to the idea that a decline in religiosity and religious infrastructure is causing some kind of spiritual poverty that is in turn responsible for various social ills. commonly i see this argument used to 'explain' phenomena including: the persistence of astrology and occult sciences; gun violence; political 'polarisation'; drug use; perceived cultural decline; 'mental health crises'; &c. broadly these analyses tend to draw elements from max weber's idea of disenchantment,¹ a large-scale diagnosis of modernity's devaluation of religion, and from the related notion of desacralisation, the process of divesting individual objects or institutions of their divine properties or provenance.

i think these analyses are really fucking bad and here are some major reasons why:

they're not materialist. by this i mean that, instead of looking for material factors and conditions that might explain social and cultural phenomena, they turn to metaphysical, philosophical, and intellectual explanations. let's think about the persistence of astrology as an example here. on a disenchantment analysis, people are getting back into astrology because, having lost (organised) religiosity in their lives, they feel a spiritual void and seek to create new cosmological meaning through engagement with an anachronistic science-turned-spiritual practice. this explanation sucks. in addition to the fact that astrology and occult sciences never really 'went away' in the first place (& neither did religion lol), this explanation treats spiritual practice and belief as mostly an individual/psychological phenomenon, neglecting rigorous sociological attention to how these ideas spread and how group and community dynamics nurture them and form around them. it also ignores things like the profit motive for astrological practitioners, and related points about how heterodox sciences in general thrive in contexts where professional and class interests create a massive gap between laypeople and experts, barring the general population from accessing and engaging with scientific discourses and critique. 'disenchantment' also grafts onto a general idea about 'alienation', positing that the decline in religiosity creates a sense of loss and disconnect and that this psychological experience drives interest in practices like astrology. but when we talk about 'alienation' in a marxist sense,² we mean material conditions of production: the literal, physical alienation of a labourer from their products, and of a capitalist from the world (because they produce only proximately, via the labourer). the psychological experience of alienation is a result of this real material process of estrangement and expropriation; a weberian analysis that tries to put alienation down to cultural or intellectual factors is not useful for understanding material changes and the 'base' economic relations.

these types of 'disenchantment' analyses tend to claim or imply that they're making universal sociological arguments: religiosity decreases, x takes its place. but in fact these are highly culturally and historically specific arguments. weber's formulation was explicitly premised on a highly eurocentric and teleological conception of 'modernity' and modernisation, wherein the west led the world in a process of 'rationalisation' that involved jettisoning spirituality. that he was ambivalent about the consequences of this process does not make the argument any less flawed. for example, even defining religiosity is not so easy (do we measure by church attendance? private internal belief? community values?) and although the catholic church has become less powerful in certain ways since the reformation, a) it's hardly gone away and b) it doesn't follow that spirituality or religiosity writ large have declined. sticking with the astrology example, if the weberian explanation holds, we should be able to come up with some set of criteria for identifying societies with high or low degrees of religiosity, and then associate that with prevalence of astrological practice. but uh, both of these things vary widely between countries, regions, social groups, &c, almost as though there are other factors at play here, and 'religion' and 'astrology' themselves also have varying meanings, uses, and practical manifestations in varying social and historical contexts.

these 'disenchantment' explanations pretty much all start from the same rhetorical operation, which goes something like: "[x problem] is bad and harmful, which is discordant with my imagination of what 'the west'/the usa is 'supposed' to be like. why does such a [developed/modern/wealthy] society have these problems?" from there, it's a move to a critique of modernity/rationality/the speaker's notion of 'progress', and specifically a critique that aims to identify and root out some kind of spiritual rot or void, without ever challenging or problematising the construction of such notions of 'progress' or the processes of imperialism and colonialism that make 'the west' and wealthy lifestyles possible. in other words, these are generally reactionary arguments that seek to preserve the status quo of the material processes of exploitation and production, but want more psychological fulfillment for a few people.

these explanations are just really fucking bad and over-simplified explanations of how religion functions and what effects it has in a society. again, part of the issue here is that 'religion' is not even really a cohesive category and certainly not a unified set of practices. it works sometimes through institutions, which have their own financial and class characters; it interacts with and sometimes seeks to control politics; it also functions to enforce group identity and community cohesion. these are not inherently good or spiritually fulfilling things, and these effects all vary in different religions, societies, and historical contexts, which makes statements about the consequences of 'declining religiosity' kind of nonsensical on their face. religion can be a vector of racism, of caste, of other inequities; given astrology's essentialist character and resemblence to similarly class- and race-enforcing and -creating psychological projects, i'm certainly willing to entertain arguments that modern astrology performs these religious functions. but again, this argument would require actual materialist analysis, not just the vague diagnosis that 'people want to create spiritual meaning' in a 'modern' world supposedly too 'rational' to fulfill that need.

¹ term borrowed from schiller, but schiller used it somewhat differently and in a different context

² marx's later texts largely subsume the idea of 'alienation' or 'estrangement' into a larger analysis of 'commodity fetishism', which has its own theoretical problems in the construction of the 'fetish' concept; see j lorand matory's "the fetish revisited: marx, freud, and the gods black people make".

#weber #astrology

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anabanana-romanova · 10 months

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Because there has hardly been anything about Dmitri's backstory, I am now vomiting my ideas here

Deal with it

He's Jewish. Idk why specifically but it just fits... even if he's more culturally Jewish than religiously (my friend is like that) it just fits and also it makes a lot more sense as to why he really really hates Russia. I mean, the majority of people didn't like what Russia was but they still wanted improvement and they still had some respect for the culture and the land itself, Dmitri seems like he just wants to be done with the place because, yknow, Anti-Semitism. Also having Dmitri as Jewish gives a sharp contrast between imperial Vlad who was practically at the top of the food chain (almost) compared to Dmitri who was quite literally at the bottom. If history wanted Anya to live, wouldn't it be to bridge the gap between the two?

If Dmitri is Jewish his mother definitely died in the pogroms, which would have led his dad to be completely done with the autocracy and join the Bolsheviks.

Little Dmitri sharing a bunk in a cramped boarding house for factory workers where disease was rampant, the floor was dirt, he only had one outfit, worked for like 11 hours a day and hot paid virtually nothing. If you say I'm traumatizing it for ✨trauma✨, I'm being genuinely honest these were the working conditions in Russia at this time DO YOU SEE WHY THEY HAD A REVOLUTION-

Dmitri's dad inevitably getting arrested and Dmitri being sent to a horrible boys home that made him have a buzz cut for three years to avoid love and he runs away at 10, stealing half the money. Conveniently there is a huge crowd watching a parade of the Royal family go by *wink wink* in a crowd of thousands *wink*

Dmitri finding a bunch of older teenagers who take him in because he's really quick and young and can steal stuff really well. They also turn out to be rather avid Bolshevik supporters (can you see where I'm going here)

Dmitri at 12 having a well-established idea that middle and upper classes were horrible mean people who are exploiting the working classes for their own gain until he tries to steal from a merchant's shop and the merchant takes him into his home and the family feeds him. Dmitri asks why they're doing this and the merchant explains that in their religion, they believe that the most important thing one can do is to help and love and care for people because that's what Christ would do. "Even Jews?" "Of course. Christ was a Jew, wasn't He?" Dmitri realises that not all Christians are horrible people who want him dead

By the time he's in his mid-teens he's a full-on Bolshevik and is painting propaganda posters for them because he wants to help but he can't read or write because he had no education because 1. He was poor and 2. He was jewish: he wasn't allowed. Also, the Bolsheviks promised freedom for Jews and that made him really happy

Revolution happens and Dmitri begins to find flaws in the Bolshevik regime: there's still a secret police (The cheka: one of the boys he boards with is a member), there's still a whole heap of poverty and now families are still being arrested and sent to labour camps. He watches one get arrested and the little girl gets carted off to an orphanage somewhere and he realises that it's no different to what the tsar did except now they're arresting people who are "rich"

The merchant and his family were arrested. Dmitri cried.

Soon it's 1918 and the Cheka member he boards with comes back after being away for a couple of days, gets insanely drunk on vodka and starts gloating about the Romanovs in Yekateringburg in house arrest. Dmitri causally asks how they are. The Cheka member laughs and shoots him a nasty snarl. "They're dead. We shot them in their heads and bayonetted them til they stopped screaming." Dmitri thinks his heart has stopped beating because the youngest girl was was still a child, only a couple of years younger than him (I've reduced Anastasia's age because her being 27 during the musical feels weird) and she was one of the few people who smiled at him and treated him like a person. She wasn't bad. She was a child. He speaks out and the Cheka member pulls out his whip.

Dmitri runs away and gets a job at Putilov steelworks. He burns his arm in the first week but a lot of the men are nice enough to help him as he recovers.

Dmitri quits the Bolshevik party and starts implementing all the cons and thievery that he knows to thwart smaller plans and be a general nuisance to them. He saves a count from a firing squad who decides to follow him around for eternity, which is annoying. Dmitri tells the count absolutely nothing about his past because he doesn't want yet another person judging him.

He nearly gets caught by the Cheka and, after avoiding conscription for the civil war, is inevitably wanted by the government. He hides in the Yusopov palace by the Moika River. He can almost see the splendor Yusopov must have lived in

At night he dreams of buying a little cottage by the seaside (is the sea nice? Dmitri's never been, he wouldn't know) and there's a garden with millions of vibrant flowers and hot food and warm baths and a bed with a mattress and blankets and Dmitri lives contentedly forever. That's his dream. His dream requires a lot of money though. Money that he's never had.

Then he hears about the rumour regarding Anastasia. That she's alive and her grandmother, Maria Feodorovna, is waiting in Paris with 10 million roubles and Dmitri's eyes widen. It's the perfect opportunity to score some money, then he can run away to the French countryside and live in peace.

Then a girl with dark red hair and vivid blue eyes breaks into the palace and, well, you know the rest.

Also they don't go back to Russia at the end, that's the dumbestvidea ever, the go to countryside France by the seashore and get a cute little house with a massive garden full of flowers and every morning they go to the bakers and get a fresh loaf of warm bread.

#anastasia #anastasia headcanons #dimya #anastasiaromanov #anastasia movie #anastasia musical #dmitri #dimitri #dmitry

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danonrealestate · 4 months

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History of Red Lining

Redlining is a malicious practice that has plagued the United States for decades, with its effects still being felt by marginalized communities today. This discriminatory practice has its roots in the early 20th century, when federal housing policies and mortgage lending practices effectively institutionalized segregation and economic disenfranchisement of minority communities. The history of redlining is a dark stain on the social fabric of this country, and it is crucial to understand its origins and impact in order to combat its lasting effects.

The term “redlining” originated from the practice of marking certain neighborhoods on maps with red lines to indicate high-risk areas for mortgage lending. This practice became widespread after the passage of the National Housing Act of 1934, which established the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC). These agencies were responsible for establishing lending guidelines and rating systems that effectively excluded minority communities from accessing affordable housing and loans.

The HOLC implemented a system of color-coded maps to assess the risk of lending in different neighborhoods, using racial demographics as a major factor in determining the risk level. Neighborhoods with predominantly white residents were typically graded as safe and received favorable lending terms, while those with minority populations, particularly African American and Latino communities, were graded as high-risk and were denied access to fair lending practices.

This deliberate and systematic discrimination led to the physical and economic segregation of communities, as minority residents were effectively blocked from accessing homeownership and the wealth-building opportunities that come with it. This practice perpetuated the cycle of poverty and reinforced the systemic inequality that still plagues American society today.

The impact of redlining is evident in the persistent wealth gap between white and minority communities, with minority households significantly lagging behind in homeownership rates and household wealth. The legacy of redlining is also seen in the disparities in access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities in predominantly minority neighborhoods.

While redlining was officially banned with the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, its effects continue to reverberate in the present day. The discriminatory lending practices that stemmed from redlining have contributed to the racial wealth gap and the continued segregation of neighborhoods across the country.

It is imperative to recognize the history of redlining as a form of institutionalized racism and to work towards remedying its lasting effects. Efforts to address these disparities must include policies that promote equitable access to housing, financial resources, and economic opportunities for marginalized communities. This includes initiatives to increase affordable housing options, improve access to fair lending practices, and invest in underserved neighborhoods to promote economic development and revitalization.

Additionally, addressing the legacy of redlining requires acknowledging the systemic racism that underlies these disparities and working towards creating a more just and equitable society. This involves confronting deep-rooted prejudices and biases, dismantling discriminatory policies, and actively promoting diversity, inclusion, and equality in all facets of society.

Photo by Unseen Histories on Unsplash

#history #investing #politics #race #world

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iorpaleghbenedictushahembasblog · 9 months

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"THE LABOURS OF OUR HEROES PAST, SHALL NEVER BE IN VAIN", A SONG OR REALITY; A LOOK AT OUR NIGERIA OF TODAY

"The labours of our heroes past, shall never be in vain" is a line from the Nigerian national anthem. It reflects the belief that the efforts and sacrifices made by past generations to achieve independence and build the nation should not be forgotten or wasted. However, whether this sentiment holds true in the Nigeria of today is a matter of perspective.

Nigeria, as a country, has faced numerous challenges and struggles since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1960. These challenges range from political instability, corruption, economic inequality, ethnic and religious tensions, to security issues such as insurgency and crime. Despite these obstacles, Nigeria has also made significant progress in various aspects.

In terms of economic development, Nigeria is considered one of the largest economies in Africa. The country is rich in natural resources, particularly oil, which has been a major source of revenue. However, Nigeria has faced issues of mismanagement, corruption, and over-reliance on oil, which have hindered its overall development and led to widespread poverty and inequality.

Nigeria is a diverse nation with over 250 ethnic groups, each with its own cultural heritage and traditions. While this diversity can be a source of strength, it has also led to ethnic and religious tensions, at times resulting in conflicts. Achieving national unity and social cohesion remains an ongoing challenge.

Political governance in Nigeria has been marked by periods of military rule and democratic transitions. Although Nigeria has had several democratic elections since the return to civilian rule in 1999, there are concerns about the fairness, transparency, and accountability of the electoral process. Corruption has also been a persistent issue, affecting various sectors of society and hindering development.

In terms of infrastructure, Nigeria still faces significant gaps in areas such as power supply, transportation, healthcare, and education. These shortcomings have limited opportunities for individuals and hindered the overall progress of the nation.

However, it is important to note that Nigeria is also a country of immense potential. It has a young and vibrant population, a rich cultural heritage, and a growing entrepreneurial spirit. There are dedicated individuals and organizations working towards positive change, and there have been notable achievements in various sectors, including technology, entertainment, and sports.

In summary, the reality of Nigeria today is a mix of challenges and opportunities. The labours of past heroes, while significant, have not fully translated into the ideal progress many had hoped for. However, Nigeria continues to strive towards a better future, with the hope that the efforts and sacrifices of its people will eventually lead to a more prosperous and united nation.

#nigeria #democracy #writing #public libraries

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roblosraw · 5 months

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Leader of Workers Rights and Communism, The Guestonnian Socialists Union

The Guestonnian Socialists Union, or GSU, is known for its immense size. It is the biggest country in Robloxia. Its environment consists of tundra's, plains, forests, and deserts. However, due to it's enormous size, the GSU has multiple points where other nations could invade. In response, the GSU commits to a more offensive doctrine than other countries, to prevent itself from being invaded.The GSU arose after what Guestonnians call "The Fall" happens in the Guestonnian Kingdom, an absolute monarchy that used to rule what would become the GSU. After multiple failed attempts by the royal family to stabliaze the country, workers and peasants rose up against their bosses and landlords, which would turn into a full civil war. The Guestonnian Civil War, which lasted from 1916-1922, saw initial successes by the loyalists, but the tide of war swayed in the rebellions favor. This was in thanks to other monarch and capitalist states not intervening in the conflict. The Third Lutum War (1911-1919) just destroyed central Atnas, seeing heavy casualties on all parties involved, who were the main powers of Atnas, such as Zombland and Forcas. Getting involved in another war right after a previous devestating conflict would be seen as an outrage by the general public. So the governments had to stand down. The rebellion reached the capital city, and sadly executed the royal family by firing squad, which was kept secret by the Guestonnians until the breakout of the Robloxian War, and the Socialists had taken control over Guestonnia. The GSU's government is mainly ran by the "Singular," which would be the leader of the GSU, but the "Supreme," a 10 person group, would be the check of the Singular's power, and have slightly less power than the Singular. The Supreme would approve of the Singular's action, but corruption ran rampant in the Supreme, as the Singular can choose who is part of the Supreme.

During the GSU's early years, the government nationalized key industries and implemented a comprehensive system of social welfare programs. These policies helped to lift many citizens out of poverty and improve their standard of living. However, the GSU's government was also known for its strict control over the media and suppression of political dissent. This led to a lack of political freedom and human rights violations.

In the following decades, the GSU's economy grew rapidly, thanks in part to its natural resources and size. The country became a major player in the global economy, but at the cost of increasing income inequality and a widening gap between the rich and poor.

As a result of its abundant factories and labor force, the nation experienced even more unprecedented economic and military growth during and after The Robloxian War. Similar to the Federation, the country established spheres of influence and attempted to propagate its ideology to other nations, ultimately leading to the the Cold War between the Federation and the Union. As these two superpowers with different governments and beliefs engaged in proxy wars and espionage, the Cold War would continue to escalate rapidly until it reached to a boiling point. Note, Guestonnians are a pure white color.

#outer bloc #roblox #rawroblox #worldbuilding #roblox worldbuilding #cold war #flag making

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mariacallous · 1 year

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Concerns about students forgetting what they learned in the school year across a long summer break date back approximately 100 years. This phenomenon of losing academic skills during the summer, which is often referred to as “summer learning loss” or “summer slide,” is widelyreportedeachsummer. Additionally, there are long-standing concerns that summer slide is concentrated in high-poverty areas, as more affluent students may have access to certain types of enriching summer opportunities that students experiencing poverty may not have access to. The ubiquity of concern around summer learning loss and its perceived contribution to educational inequities has led many educators and parents to go to great lengths to provide academic opportunities to students during summer break.

However, a 2019 Education Next article by Paul von Hippel highlighted the lack of consensus in the field, calling into question how much we actually know about summer learning loss. The article focused on attempts to replicate a finding from a famous early study, the Beginning School Study, that showed unequal summer learning loss between low- and middle-income students in elementary school explained more than two thirds of the 8th grade socioeconomic achievement gap. von Hippel was unable to replicate these findings using two modern assessments and concluded that a major limitation of much of the early summer learning loss research was how the older assessments were scaled across grade levels (e.g., students were asked questions about 2nd grade content at the end of 2nd grade and then asked about 3rd grade content in the fall without accounting for the more difficult content).

In summary, von Hippel wrote, “So what do we know about summer learning loss? Less than we think. The problem could be serious, or it could be trivial. Children might lose a third of a year’s learning over summer vacation, or they might tread water. Achievement gaps might grow faster during summer vacations, or they might not.”

Here, we revisit the concerns raised in the Education Next article. In the context of pandemic-era school shutdowns and test score declines, “learning loss” has taken on new meaning—and perhaps new importance. We draw on recent research published since 2019 to address three big questions about summer learning:

Is it possible to “lose” learning?

Do summer learning loss patterns replicate across modern assessments?

To the degree there are test score drops, are they concentrated among high-poverty students and schools?

It is possible (and natural) to “lose” learning

One might wonder whether it is possible to have “lost” knowledge/skills over a short period like a summer break. A common argument is that if learning can be lost over the span of a few months, there may not have been any real learning in the first place.

However, a long line of research on learning and cognition has shown that procedural skills and those that involve a number of steps tend to rapidly deteriorate in the absence of practice or other reinforcement (see summary in chapter two of this monograph). Furthermore, it is considered normal and healthy to forget a good deal of what one has learned and experienced. In fact, forgetting may also assist the development of procedural knowledge (skills) through a process of automatization, as individuals become less dependent on explicit knowledge and rely more on procedural skills.

All to say, (some) forgetting can be an important part of learning and not an indication that learning did not occur. But how much forgetting is normal during a summer break? And when does forgetting cross the line between “normal” and problematic? These are the million-dollar questions we’re still trying to answer.

Multiple assessments indicate that test scores flatten or drop during the summer

While our initial understanding of summer learning loss dates back to studies conducted in the 70s and 80s, a flurry of recently published studies now allows for a comparison of summer learning findings based on three modern assessments with large national (though not always nationally representative) samples. Unlike many earlier assessments, these three assessments (ECLS-K cognitive tests, MAP Growth, and i-Ready) are all built using item response theory (IRT) methods that allow for (a) better matching of item difficulty to student performance and (b) cross-grade linking which enables researchers to compare test scores across grade levels.

Across these studies, test scores flatten or dropon average during the summer, with larger drops typically in math than reading. This finding is highlighted in Figure 1, which compares summer learning estimates in standard deviation (SD) units from three large analyses of student test scores. Studies using test scores from ECLS-K:2011 show that student learning slows down but does not drop over the summers after kindergarten and 1st grade, while research using interim and diagnostic assessments (MAPGrowth and i-Ready) has found far larger summer drops across a range of grade levels.

These studies consistently show that summer learning patterns are starkly different from school year learning patterns. However, there is wide variation across assessments, with estimates ranging from inconsequential to alarming in magnitude. How is it possible that one test indicates an average gain of .02 SD over a summer while a different test indicates a huge drop of .50 SD? The answer is unclear. While the modern assessments are not subject to the limitations of the older approaches highlighted by von Hippel, they still differ in their purpose, design, content, and administration. For example, ECLS-K tests are administered one-on-one with a test proctor sitting with each child and measure a broad range of early math and literacy skills, while MAP Growth is administered on a tablet/laptop (with audio supports in younger grades) and measures the skills specified by the state’s content standards. Additionally, analysts use different strategies to estimate summer test score drops, from simply subtracting a fall score from the spring score to more complicated modeling approaches that adjust for the weeks in school elapsed before/after testing. The i-Ready analysis demonstrated that different analytical approaches can yield very different results (for example, a gain of .02SD versus a drop of .22SD).

It is important to note, however, that focusing on average drops hides an important finding: there is a huge amount of variability across students in test score patterns over the summer. One study found that a little more than half of students had test score drops during the summer, while the other half actually made learning gains over summer break. Students’ race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status only explain about 4% of the variance in summer learning rates, and we still have only a limited understanding of the mechanisms that explain the remaining variability.

Contrary to prior research, recent data does not show that summer test score drops are concentrated among students in poverty

A meta-analysis of summer learning studies from the 1970s to 1990s found that income-based reading gaps grew over the summer. Researchers theorized that many high-income students have access to financial and human capital resources over the summer, while low-income students do not. However, a multi-dataset study conducted just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic indicated that gaps between students attending low- and high-poverty schools do not appear to significantly widen during the summer. Additionally, we recently examined differences in summer learning patterns by school poverty level using MAP Growth test score data collected just prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Figure 2 shows that the test declines for students in high-poverty schools were either statistically indistinguishable or less extreme than those for students in low-poverty schools in both summer 2019 and summer 2022. In other words, there is little evidence from recent data to support the earlier finding that the summer period contributes meaningfully to widening test score gaps across poverty levels.

Summary

What have we learned since von Hippel asked in 2019 whether summer learning loss is real? While the story is still pretty mixed in the early grades, we consistently observe average test score drops during the summer in 3rd through 8th grade. However, differences in the magnitude of test score drops across studies imply that we still cannot say with certainty whether summer learning loss is a trivial or serious issue. This is particularly true in reading where the magnitudes of test score declines during the summer are smaller than in math (which may be attributable to more exposure to opportunities for reading during the summer months compared to math). Additionally, researchers need to pay more attention to the considerable amount of variability across students in summer learning patterns, with many students showing test score gains during the summer. That is to say, summer test score declines are not destiny, but we still know little about who is most vulnerable to forgetting academic skills during the summer. However, these new data show us that, contrary to popular belief, we can say that test score drops do not appear to be concentrated among students experiencing poverty.

Educators may be wondering what the right path forward is in the meantime until the debate is settled. Whether summer learning loss is real or if learning simply stagnates in the summer, we believe it is less harmful to assume the former and act accordingly (e.g., offering high-quality summer learning opportunities to students) than it is to assume the latter and do nothing. In short, despite the ongoing debate, we will continue to advocate for additional summer opportunities and prioritizing these opportunities for students who would most benefit.

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teachersupdates · 1 month

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Government Makes U-Turn on Private University Placement Amendment

Government Makes U-Turn on Private University Placement Amendment The government's concern about potential financial losses in capitation fees has led to a reversal of its stance on a proposal that would have tasked the Kenya University and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) board with placing all students in both public and private universities. The proposal aimed not only to secure state funding but also to entrust KUCCPS with coordinating placements to ensure standardization and quality control of courses and student qualifications. ALSO READ: Education Ministry Finalizes Draft Proposals for Presidential Working Party Reforms Despite this, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula agreed to the request by the leader of the majority, Kimani Ichung’wah, to withdraw the proposed amendments to the Universities Act of 2012. These proposed changes, part of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2023, were included in a government-sponsored Omnibus Bill affecting 17 Acts, including the Universities Act. Speaker Wetang’ula announced, "I have acceded to the request by the leader of the majority to withdraw the provision as contained in the Bill." The specific amendment targeted section 56 (1) (a) of the Universities Act, intending to grant the placement board the responsibility of placing all students, not just government-sponsored ones, in universities and colleges. This proposed change raised concerns, leading to further consultations and engagement within the sector, as mentioned by Mr. Ichung’wah in his letter to the Speaker. ALSO READ: Ministry of Education Seeks Bill Waiver for Public Universities' Debts The Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance is currently examining a related matter concerning the funding of university education in the country. The government's funding to public and private universities follows the Differential Unit Cost (DUC) model, allocating budgets based on the number of undergraduate students registered for state-funded regular programs and their chosen courses. State funding covers 80 percent of the unit cost, with students financing the remaining balance. Allowing the KUCCPS board to place students in all institutions would have affected private universities, depriving them of government-sponsored students' current capitation. Proprietors of private universities would no longer receive funds for students who opted for private institutions through the KUCCPS portal. The government initiated a pilot program in 2016, admitting government-sponsored students to private universities to address limited space in public facilities. Over 80,000 government-sponsored students are currently enrolled in private universities, with the Omnibus Bill proceeding without the withdrawn provision. The funding model remains a crucial factor in supporting both public and private universities in Kenya. ALSO READ: CBET and Dual Training System in TVETs to Combat Poverty and Skill Gaps Government Makes U-Turn on Private University Placement Amendment Read the full article

#EducationReforms #KUCCPS #PrivateUniversities #teachersupdates

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rynn-1 · 6 months

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Denny JA highlighted the decline in the Human Development Index in the middle of Pandemi

In this article, we will highlight the decline in the human development index that occurred in the midst of Pandemi Covid-19. The main focus in this article is the view of Denny JA, a prominent figure in Indonesia, about the impact of Pandemi on human development.

I. Introduction Pandemi Covid-19 has shaken the world in a way that we have never imagined before. All sectors of life are affected, including human development. In situations like this, it is very important to listen to the views of experts and influential thinkers. Denny JA is one of the figures who have long been observing social and political developments in Indonesia. He is a prominent statistician and researcher who has made a major contribution to our understanding of Indonesian society. His view of the decline in the human development index in the midst of this pandemic is very important for us to understand. II. Decrease in the Human Development Index Pandemi Covid-19 has had a significant impact on human development. The human development index is an indicator used to measure the progress of a country in the fields of education, health, and income of the community. However, with this pandemic, many aspects are disturbed and cause a decline in the human development index. A. Education One aspect that is affected by the big impact is education. With the closure of schools and restrictions on access to education, children around the world face difficulties in getting quality education. Denny JA highlighted the importance of education in human development and concerns about the increasingly widening gap. B. Health Pandemi Covid-19 has destroyed the health system in many countries. Limited access to health services and the increasing number of COVID-19 cases has caused many lives to be lost. In Denny Ja's view, it is important to strengthen the national health system and provide sufficient protection to the community. C. Income The economic impact of Pandemi is also very pronounced. Many people lose their jobs and income. Denny Ja highlighted the importance of social protection and policies that support economically affected people. Without adequate protection, poverty can increase and hamper human development. III. Denny Ja's view Denny Ja highlighted the importance of seeing Pandemi Covid-19 as an opportunity to make better social changes. He argues that we must strengthen our education, health, and social protection systems in order to face challenges like this in the future. In Denny Ja's view, the government must play an active role in ensuring that appropriate policies are implemented to improve the human development index. He also appealed to the community to participate in human development in the way they could, such as supporting local initiatives and contributing to the development of their community. IV. Conclusion Pandemi Covid-19 has led to a decline in the human development index in many countries. In Denny Ja's view, this is an important time for us to see the opportunities of better social change. In an effort to improve the index of human development, education, health, and social protection must be a priority. Through the right steps, we can build a stronger and more powerful society in the future. In dealing with difficult times such as pandemic, it is important for us to listen to the views of experts and thinkers like Denny Ja so that we can take the right steps to improve the human development index and build a better future.

Check more: Denny JA: highlighting the decline in the human development index in the middle of Pandemi

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abfdfjy · 7 months

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From Awards To Achievements: N. Chandrababu Naidu's Stalwart Leadership In Andhra Pradesh

Shri. Nara Chandrababu Naidu, a visionary leader and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, is widely acknowledged for his remarkable TDP contributions to the state's growth and development. As the driving force behind the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), N Chandrababu Naidu's leadership has not only garnered numerous awards and recognition but has also ushered in a new era of economic and technological advancements in Andhra Pradesh. N. Chandrababu Naidu's exceptional leadership and dedication have earned him a series of prestigious awards, underscoring his significant impact on both regional and global stages. His accolades include the IT Indian of the Millennium by India Today, Business Person of the Year by The Economic Times, and the South Asian of the Year recognition from Time Asia. These awards reflect his tireless efforts to position Andhra Pradesh as a thriving hub of innovation, economic growth, and public service.

Under N. Chandrababu Naidu's leadership, the Telugu Desam Party has been instrumental in shaping Andhra Pradesh's modern identity. The TDP party has been at the forefront of driving various developmental initiatives, focusing on key sectors such as technology, infrastructure, education, and healthcare. By advocating for TDP policies that promote inclusive growth and sustainable progress, the TDP government has played a pivotal role in transforming Andhra Pradesh into an economic powerhouse. The TDP agenda under N. Chandrababu Naidu's leadership has consistently prioritized the welfare of the people and the overall advancement of the state. The TDP manifesto is a testament to its commitment to fostering a conducive environment for business, innovation, and employment generation. With a focus on infrastructure development, education reforms, and poverty alleviation, the TDP government has strived to create a dynamic and prosperous Andhra Pradesh for all its citizens.

N. Chandrababu Naidu's tenure as Chief Minister witnessed transformative developments that have left an indelible mark on the state's landscape. His visionary approach led to the establishment of technological parks, which paved the way for Andhra Pradesh to emerge as a major IT and business destination. The Golden Peacock Award for Leadership in Public Service & Economic Transformation stands as a testament to his pioneering efforts in driving sustainable change. The TDP party, under Nara Chandrababu Naidu's guidance, has nurtured a cadre of dedicated TDP party leaders who share his commitment to progress and development. These leaders have played crucial roles in implementing a range of TDP schemes aimed at improving the lives of the people. From enhancing healthcare access through innovative health programs to promoting agricultural modernization, the TDP government's initiatives have touched various facets of society.

One of the cornerstones of Nara Chandrababu Naidu's leadership has been his emphasis on policies that promote inclusive growth. The TDP's policies have sought to bridge socioeconomic gaps, uplift marginalized communities, and empower women through targeted initiatives. By investing in skill development, rural infrastructure, and social welfare programs, the party has strived to create an equitable society where opportunities are accessible to all. The Political news and TDP party news, give more information about the achievements and accolades made by N Chandrababu Naidu for the welfare and progress of Andhra Pradesh.

In conclusion, N. Chandrababu Naidu's journey from a visionary leader to a celebrated recipient of numerous awards is a testament to his unwavering dedication to the growth and development of Andhra Pradesh. The Telugu Desam Party(TDP), under his leadership, has brought about transformative changes, shaping the state's trajectory toward progress, innovation, and prosperity. As the legacy of Nara Chandrababu Naidu and the TDP party continues to unfold, their TDP contributions will stand as a beacon of inspiration for leaders and citizens alike, driving the relentless pursuit of a brighter future.

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newstfionline · 7 months

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Sunday, October 1, 2023

Congress Passes Stopgap Measure to Avert a Shutdown (NYT) Congress narrowly averted a government shutdown on Saturday with just hours to spare as the House, in a stunning turnabout, approved a stopgap plan to keep the federal government open into mid-November and the Senate then cleared it and sent it to the White House. “We will have avoided a shutdown,” said Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader. Its passage capped off a dramatic day on Capitol Hill that started with the government appearing headed for a near-certain shutdown. Instead, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who had for weeks brushed off demands to work with Democrats on a spending solution, brought forward a temporary patch that could pass only with substantial Democratic help. The bill passed the House on a vote of 335 to 91, with more Democrats than Republicans supporting it.

The mosquitoes are winning (NYT) The mosquito kills more people every year than any other creature does, and the toll is rising. Malaria deaths rose about 8 percent between 2019 and 2021, the first increases in decades. he toll is rising for two main reasons. First, mosquitoes have evolved to elude strategies that were once working against them. The increasing use of bed nets has led to a decline in the population of mosquitoes that tend to live indoors—but mosquitoes that thrive outdoors have increased in number, and bed nets can’t fight them so easily. Mosquitoes have also evolved to become more resistant to current insecticides. Second, climate change has expanded the areas where the weather is warm enough for the most dangerous species of mosquitoes—those that carry deadly diseases—to thrive. Dengue, which used to be a purely tropical disease, has moved into Florida and France. This past summer, a small number of malaria cases spread in Texas, Florida and Maryland, the first local transmissions of the disease in the U.S. in 20 years. “It seems as though the mosquitoes are winning,” Eric Ochomo, a mosquito-fighting scientist in Kenya, said.

New York Is Rebounding for the Rich. Nearly Everyone Else Is Struggling. (NYT) As New York City inches closer to recovering all the jobs it lost during the pandemic, Manhattan—the city’s economic engine—marked a far less encouraging milestone. It now has the biggest income gap of any large county in the country. Even in a city notorious for tableaus of luxury living beside crushing poverty, the widening gap is striking. The wealthiest fifth of Manhattanites earned an average household income of $545,549, or more than 53 times as much as the bottom 20 percent, who earned an average of $10,259, according to 2022 census data, released earlier this month. “It’s amazingly unequal,” said Andrew Beveridge, the president of demographic data firm Social Explorer. “It’s a larger gap than in many developing countries,” and the widest gulf in the United States since 2006, when the data was first reported.

Britain’s full-frontal nude dating show sparks U.S. debate (Washington Post) The premise of “Naked Attraction” is simple: Contestants on the dating show should start relationships “where a good date often ends. ... Naked.” But the debate over the series is growing increasingly heated as it becomes a surprising transatlantic export from the more traditionally buttoned-up Brits. All six seasons of the show—which first aired on Britain’s Channel 4 in 2016 and is dominated by close-ups of full-frontal nudity under bright stage lighting—made their way on to the streaming service Max, formerly known as HBO Max, last week. As it surged to become the top-streamed show this week, it has generated discussion on American morning shows (one host called it “fascinating”) and among viewers. Some said the close-up look at contestants in all shapes and sizes encourages body positivity and is breaking down barriers around squeamish topics. Others called it objectifying; one family values advocacy group called it “pornographic.” One thing is clear: Americans are not looking away. The distribution company responsible for the show tweeted that “U.S. audiences are loving” the program. “The U.S. has just discovered Naked Attraction and appears to be going absolutely wild over Brits’ wobbly bits,” one online commentator said.

France races to stamp out bedbug 'scourge' before Olympics (Reuters) With the Paris Olympics less than a year away, French authorities want to make sure the bedbugs don't bite during the games and have started a drive to exterminate the pests. Social media users have been publishing footage of the insects crawling around in high-speed trains and the Paris metro, alongside a rash of online articles about bedbugs in cinemas and even Charles de Gaulle airport. At the Paris Gare de Lyon train station, travellers said they doubted whether authorities would be able to get on top of the problem. "I'm worried about it. I'll keep my luggage closed to stop (bedbugs) getting into my home. Once I get home, I'll have to wash all my clothes," Laura Mmadi, a sales worker heading to the south of France said. In a report published in July, health agency Anses said that between 2017 and 2022, bedbugs had infested more than one in ten French households.

Need a Visa to Go to Europe? Get in (a Very Long) Line. (NYT) For most travelers from the United States, going to Europe is a relatively smooth experience, without the need to apply for visas or pay steep fees for short visits. But for people like Duygu Yildirim, that isn’t the case. Ms. Yildirim, 36, holds a Turkish passport and lives in Knoxville, Tenn. Within Europe’s Schengen Area, a border-free zone allowing free movement among 27 European countries, citizens of Turkey and dozens of other countries, including India, South Africa and China, must apply for visas for stays of fewer than 90 days. The application process is expensive, anxiety-inducing and time-consuming. For every visit to Europe, the visa costs 80 euros (about $85) and requires an in-person appointment as well as hard copies of various legal documents. These appointments, usually outsourced to for-profit companies, have been scarce in recent months. Travelers say that it’s also taking longer than the typical three-week period—in some cases, several months—to get a visa in hand. Applicants have failed to receive visas in time for their trips, or receive visas for the full duration of their travel. Some have even been denied visas altogether. Those caught up in these visa woes have been forced to change plans or forgo travel to Europe altogether. The bureaucratic red tape has not only caused planning headaches, but also spotlighted an uncomfortable reality: that these fees and inconveniences target a specific group of people—the billions of people around the world who have had systematic unequal opportunities and access to travel, largely those living in the Global South.

Young people in China call themselves ‘special forces’ of budget travel (Washington Post) A steady stream of young Chinese tourists stops by a seaside cafe in Hong Kong’s Kennedy Town to take pictures of the harbor—but only for a moment. Many are on a city walk recommended on the short video app Xiaohongshu, China’s answer to Instagram, as a way to rush between picture-ready—and free—destinations among the soaring skyscrapers and lush mountainsides of the otherwise pricey Asian financial hub. The young people who are trying to get as much bang for their buck while on holiday during these difficult economic times have come to be known as “special forces” travelers because they push themselves to the limit with packed itineraries and extreme cost-cutting. Budget-conscious travel is all the rage for Chinese tourists taking advantage of the long holiday that begins on Friday with the Mid-Autumn Festival and runs into National Day commemorations. Nine months after Beijing suddenly abandoned its strict “zero covid” policies, Chinese tourists are gradually returning. But lingering concerns about a slowing economy mean they are more likely to spend less and pick destinations closer to home, analysts said.

Marcos says Philippines is not looking for trouble but will defend waters against Chinese aggression (AP) The Philippine president said Friday that his country does not want a confrontation but will staunchly defend its waters after its coast guard dismantled a floating barrier placed by China at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. It was the first time President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has spoken publicly against China’s installation of the 300-meter (980-foot) -long barrier at the entrance to Scarborough Shoal which was dismantled at his order. “We’re not looking for trouble, but what we’ll do is to continue defending the maritime territory of the Philippines and the rights of our fishermen, who have been fishing in those areas for hundreds of years,” Marcos said in response to a question at a news briefing in southern Surigao del Norte province. The latest flare-up between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest trade routes, comes after Marcos decided earlier this year to allow an expansion of the U.S. military presence in the Philippines under a 2014 defense pact.

How a Prayer Meeting Split Israeli Jews on Their Holiest Day (NYT) Yom Kippur, the most solemn and sacred date on the Jewish calendar, is usually a day of unity for Jewish Israelis. Highways empty, shops close and transport networks shut down, as nonobservant Jews show respect to the devout by avoiding work and driving. But that social cohesion collapsed this year. Confrontations broke out on the streets of Tel Aviv as religious Jews tried to organize Yom Kippur prayers in which men and women were encouraged to pray separately—angering residents of the mainly secular city. The clashes shocked Israelis of all backgrounds, and the fallout is still reverberating, leaving many braced for similar standoffs in the coming days, with more Jewish holidays falling this weekend and next. On Thursday, the Tel Aviv City Council canceled permission for another outdoor religious event this weekend, citing the possibility of public disorder. The far right security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said he would hold his own segregated prayer meeting on the same spot on Thursday evening, before backing down. Critics of Mr. Ben-Gvir went ahead with a mixed prayer service nearby, in what had been intended as a counterprotest. Yair Lapid, the opposition leader and a secular Tel Aviv resident, said the religious activists had “decided to bring war to us.” And President Isaac Herzog warned that the social divisions posed “a real danger to Israeli society and the security of the State of Israel.”

#headlines #news

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aviewfromthecheapseats · 1 year

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"Caught in the Wealth Divide: The Alarming Plight of Economic Inequality in America"

Economic inequality is a growing concern in America. The issue has been compounded by factors such as global economic changes, automation, and globalization. The rich continue to accumulate wealth at an unprecedented rate, while the poor and middle class struggle to make ends meet. This inequality has significant social, economic, and political consequences, and its effects are felt by everyone, regardless of social status.

The widening gap between the rich and the poor is a major problem in America. According to a study by the Economic Policy Institute, the top 1% of earners in the country made 39 times more than the bottom 90% in 2016. The top 1% of earners own more wealth than the bottom 90%, and the top 0.1% of earners own as much wealth as the bottom 90%. This concentration of wealth has resulted in a skewed distribution of resources, where the rich have access to a disproportionate amount of resources, while the poor struggle to get by.

The issue of economic inequality has been exacerbated by changes in the economy. As technology continues to advance, automation has led to the loss of jobs in certain industries. This has affected low-wage workers the most, as they are more likely to work in jobs that can be easily automated. The loss of jobs has resulted in a decline in wages and a rise in unemployment. According to the Federal Reserve, the unemployment rate in the United States was 6.2% in February 2021, up from 3.5% in February 2020, before the pandemic.

Another factor contributing to economic inequality is globalization. As companies expand globally, they have access to cheaper labor in other countries. This has resulted in a decline in wages for workers in developed countries like the United States. According to a study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, globalization has led to a decline in wages for non-college educated workers in the United States. This decline in wages has led to a rise in income inequality.

Economic inequality has significant social consequences. The concentration of wealth in the hands of the few has led to a decline in social mobility. People born into low-income families are more likely to remain in poverty than their counterparts in other developed countries. The lack of social mobility has resulted in a growing sense of frustration and resentment among the poor and middle class. This has contributed to social unrest and political polarization.

Economic inequality also has significant economic consequences. The concentration of wealth in the hands of the few has led to a decline in consumer spending. This has resulted in a decline in economic growth, as businesses struggle to find customers. According to a study by the International Monetary Fund, inequality reduces economic growth, as it reduces the purchasing power of the poor and the middle class.

The political consequences of economic inequality are also significant. As the rich accumulate more wealth, they have more power to influence political decisions. This has resulted in policies that favor the rich, such as tax cuts for the wealthy and the deregulation of industries that benefit the rich. These policies have further exacerbated economic inequality, as the rich continue to accumulate wealth at the expense of the poor and middle class.

There are several ways to address economic inequality in America. One solution is to increase taxes on the wealthy. According to a study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, increasing taxes on the top 1% of earners could raise $450 billion over the next decade. This money could be used to fund programs that benefit the poor and middle class, such as healthcare, education, and affordable housing.

Another solution is to increase the minimum wage. According to a study by the Economic Policy Institute, increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025 could lift 1.3 million workers out of poverty. This would help to reduce economic inequality and increase social mobility, as workers would have more disposable income to spend on education and other opportunities.

Investing in education is also crucial in addressing economic inequality. Providing access to quality education to everyone, regardless of social status, can help to increase social mobility and reduce the wealth gap. This includes investing in early childhood education, providing affordable college education, and vocational training programs that equip people with the skills they need for high-paying jobs.

Addressing economic inequality also requires policies that promote worker rights and protect against discrimination. This includes policies such as paid sick leave, family leave, and equal pay for equal work. These policies help to level the playing field for workers and ensure that everyone has access to the same opportunities and benefits.

In conclusion, economic inequality is a growing concern in America. The concentration of wealth in the hands of the few has resulted in significant social, economic, and political consequences. Addressing economic inequality requires a multifaceted approach that includes policies such as increasing taxes on the wealthy, increasing the minimum wage, investing in education, and promoting worker rights. By taking these steps, America can work towards a more equal and just society that benefits everyone, not just the wealthy few.

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socialjusticeday · 1 year

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2023 Commemorative Event on the Occasion of the World Day of Social Justice.

The Permanent Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN and the International Labour Organization, in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the UN Youth Office, are pleased to convene the commemorative meeting of the 2023 World Day of Social Justice. This year’s theme will focus on the recommendations of Our Common Agenda to strengthen global solidarity and to re-build trust in government by “Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for Social Justice”.

Today, the majority of workers have not recovered their pre-pandemic labour incomes and the gender gap in hours worked has continued to grow. Increases in food and commodity prices is disproportionately impacting poor households and small businesses, especially those in the informal economy. Roughly half the world’s population remains without any access to social protection. And in too many places, having a job does not guarantee the ability to escape from poverty. A continued lack of decent work opportunities, insufficient investments in social policy, and an over-consumption of natural resources have led to an erosion of trust and a frayed social contract in many countries. Even before the pandemic, there was growing concern about the adverse effects of high and rising levels of inequality, and a recognition of the need for urgent and decisive action to reduce them and ensure more inclusive growth that provides decent work opportunities for all. The digital divide and disruptions to global trade and supply chains risk further deepening inequalities and poverty. Women and youth are disproportionately affected by overlapping crises, unemployment, and socio-economic insecurity and face many barriers in accessing decent work. There are however many opportunities to unleash greater investments in decent jobs, particularly in the green, digital and care economy. In an era of rapid technological development, young digital natives can also find solutions to overcome inequalities. Youth entrepreneurship is on the rise and the increasing number of incubators, accelerators, and programs focused on supporting young entrepreneurs contributes to this trend. As tech leaders, young entrepreneurs can also use their influence to advocate for policies and practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, launched by the UN Secretary-General and welcomed by member States and many other stakeholders, also provides a platform to mobilize financing, to boost employment in the green, digital and care economy and to extend social protection floors. Almost thirty years ago, at the World Summit for Social Development in 1995, global leaders pledged to make the eradication of poverty, the goal of full employment and social justice overriding objectives of development. The 2030 Agenda also aims to “promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all”. Decent work has increasingly been recognized as the lynchpin of strategies to achieve social justice by linking the social, economic and environmental components of sustainability.

#International Telecommunication Union (ITU)#International Labour Organization (ILO)#UN Youth #United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)#worlddayofsocialjustice #meetings #20february #panel discussion

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burmaassociatedpress · 2 years

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Karen women continue to strive for better lives

Karen, June 11.

The fresh turmoil in Myanmar over the last year and a half has brought hardship to wide swathes of society across the country.

But even by these standards, hardship is something the Karen ethnic group in the country has been intimately familiar with for the last seven decades as they continue to struggle for self-determination and a federal union within Myanmar.

Given the current situation in the country, it comes as no surprise that young people in areas controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU) have missed out on opportunities that youths in urban areas of Myanmar have more access to.

Against this landscape of deprivation, young Karen women, called Kawthoolei Mu Naw in the S’gaw Karen language, face even greater difficulties in gaining access to vital things such as education, healthcare, and employment.

Struggling to get an education

“It is almost impossible to study because women in Karen areas face difficulties merely living. They are constantly forced to flee conflict so they can’t complete their education even if they get a chance to go to school,” says Naw Heh Say, a member of Karen Youth Organisation (KYO).

“Dropping out after primary school is far too common for many girls as they are forced to find work in farming or other menial labour to help support their families. Poverty and insecurity are hard barriers to overcome even if there are any who want to continue with tertiary education. Besides, centres of higher learning are mostly located far from our areas, compounding the situation,” Naw Heh Say added.

Before the February 2021 coup, girls in KNU-controlled areas had the opportunity to study in government schools, but the Covid-19 pandemic that reached Myanmar’s shores in March 2020 forced schools to close.

Then, even before the schools had reopened, the military seized power. The coup led to many civil servants, including teachers, to join the civil disobedience movement protesting the takeover.

Due to the massive disruptions to the education system, many Karen youth have dropped out of the public education system.

Earlier this month, the national public education system reopened fully for the first time in over two years and many children across the country have begun going back to school.

However, this is not enough to overcome the education gap in Karen-majority areas.

Seeking to overcome this, the Karen have set up what they call Kawthoolei schools. Kawthoolei is the name used by Karens to refer to Karen State.

Kawthoolei schools, some 1,500 of them in KNU-controlled areas, teach S’gaw Karen language, Myanmar, English, geography, maths, and extracurricular activities.

Despite their best efforts, the Kawthoolei schools have been swamped by an influx of new students who would rather not attend public schools effectively overseen by the military junta.

As they are community funded, the schools also face difficulties in paying teachers, funding facilities, textbooks, and even stationery.

“When it rains, we have to avoid leaks in the classroom,” said one student who moved to a Kawthoolei school from a government-run public school.

She added that there is also added pressure to catch up with the curriculum since education had been shut down for so long.

However, even though the restarting of schools is a boon, there are other structural difficulties to be overcome.

Among them is the dearth of opportunities in higher education even if students complete 12th grade in Kawthoolei schools. Colleges and other institutions of higher learning are located far away from KNU-controlled areas due to the security situation.

Given the instability in Myanmar, it is understandable that parents are sometimes reluctant to let children, especially girls, travel away for education.

“I am really sad because my parents are not allowing me to go away to study. I will teach younger children from our village for a year, then I will have to work in the rice fields,” said one young lady who completed her secondary education in a Kawthoolei school this year.

On top of this, even if they finish high school and get a degree, there are few job opportunities in their area.

Poor job prospects

Many Karen women, whether educated or not, often end up doing manual labour such as tapping rubber, cultivating konjac and betel nut, picking cashew nuts, and durian.

Those who would rather not do agricultural work often end up working illegally in neighbouring Thailand.

“I have no work other than tapping rubber trees at home. It doesn’t pay well and I have to get up when it is still dark to do it,” said one 22-year-old woman who earns 300 baht (US$8/K14,500) a day working in a factory in Thailand.

Myanmar’s short acquaintance with democracy under the National League for Democracy had not been able to overcome decades of military misrule, even before last year’s coup.

Lack of development is evident in Karen-majority areas and has led to a dearth of facilities such as vocational schools that could help alleviate the situation. Although some Karen women do run small handicraft businesses making traditional clothing and crocheting, this mostly done for supplemental income as there is no easy way to scale up such businesses to reach larger markets. Bigger businesses such as manufacturing are largely absent.

Sexual assault

Even as the Karen strive to overcome the socio-economic problems they face, Karen women constantly face the threat of sexual attacks.

Young Karen women are constantly in fear of sexual harrassment or worse by junta troops and their allied Border Guard Forces.

Junta forces also often detain villagers to use as human shields to prevent attacks when moving through KNU-controlled areas. Women and children are the first to flee villages whenever there is news of military troop movements.

According to women in Karen-majority areas, rape and the killing of women is something that happens in almost every township and village.

“There have been instances of pregnant women and even children being sexually abused. Every village and township has to have women’s organisations to help victims of such crimes,” said Kawthoolei school teacher Naw Thout Kyar Eh.

Seeking to deal with the issue of women’s safety and safety, the Karen Women’s Organisation (KWO) was set up. It now has a strong presence in KNU- controlled areas and works hard to address issues faced by women.

“While the KWO works to help survivors of sexual assault, we also cooperate with the relevant authorities to prosecute those who perpetrate such attacks. We have been effective in accessible areas, however, sadly, some of these crimes take place in very remote places where we have less of a presence,” said Naw Thaw Thaw Kalal, chairwoman of the Karen Women’s Organisation in Win Ye Township.

Dearth of healthcare

Another issue faced by people, especially women, in Karen-majority areas is a widespread lack of healthcare.

This is brought about by a shortage of skilled medical staff and medicines in almost every village. What clinics and hospitals that do exist are spread few and far between.

“While women are susceptible to many of the the same diseases as men, they also have to deal with reproductive-health issues. Older Karen women are also prone to diabetes. Often people who are ill have to travel long distances over difficult terrain just to reach a clinic, and if the clinic doesn’t have the expertise or medicine to treat an issue, then the patient has to try another facility somewhere else. It is difficult for people, especially women, to travel from location to location seeking healthcare,” said a health official for Kawkareik Township.

Another issue brought about by the lack of opportunity and education that affects women’s health is child marriages. Many girls below the age of 18 who lack an education often marry. This in turn can bring about poor outcomes for maternal and child health.

Seeking to overcome this problem, KNU health authorities distribute food and nutritional supplements once every three weeks to areas that it can access.

However, despite the efforts to provide rudimentary healthcare, there is no routine immunisation for Karen children, and parents who seek to immunise their children have to travel to hospitals in bigger towns, according to one healthcare worker.

“What Karen women need most now are opportunities to gain access to education and employment. Vocational training centres and courses to upgrade skills would go a long way to improving the situation,” said Naw Heh Say of the Karen Youth Organisation.

“We simply seek equal opportunity as other people in the country have,” she added.

The problems the Karen, the third-largest ethnic group in the country, are not unique to them and are representative of the issues also faced by other ethnic groups.

Myanmar currently ranks 147 out of 189 countries in the world on the Gender Inequality Index for 2020, according to the United Nations.

Given the grim statistics, it makes the efforts of Karen women to better themselves and champion women’s rights all the more inspiring.

Burma Associated Press

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beardedmrbean · 2 years

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CAIRO (AP) — The United Nations is appealing for $4.27 billion for Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, with 161,000 people likely to experience famine there in 2022.

The virtual pledging conference is co-hosted by Sweden and Switzerland to alleviate what the U.N. says is the word's worst humanitarian crisis.

“Two in three Yemenis — 20 million men, women and children — live in extreme poverty,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told donors in New York. “Today, we must do everything we can to bridge immediate funding gaps and strengthen aid delivery. We cannot cut people adrift from humanitarian aid.”

The conference comes as world attention is gripped by the war in Ukraine, which has overshadowed other humanitarian crises across the world since the Russian invasion on Feb. 24 — raising concerns that that Yemen’s plight may be forgotten. Over 3 million people have fled Ukraine, in Europe’s largest exodus since World War II.

“The Ukrainian crisis could also dramatically impact Yemenis’ access to food," said Erin Hutchinson, Yemen director at the Norwegian Refugee Council. "We hope that Yemenis will find the same level of support and solidarity as we’ve seen with the people of Ukraine."

Speaking in a briefing ahead of the fundraising conference, Swedish diplomat Carl Skau urged donors to pay attention to Yemen. “While Ukraine understandably and rightly requires our urgent attention, we can’t drop the ball on other crises,” he said.

A prolonged conflict in Ukraine is likely to further reduce Yemenis' access to their basic needs, as food prices, especially the cost of grain, are likely to increase. Yemen depends almost entirely on food imports, with 22% of its wheat imports coming from Ukraine, according to the World Food Program.

“The horrendous situation in Ukraine will have an indirect and direct impact on our ability to assist children in Yemen,” said Philippe Duamelle, UNICEF's representative in Yemen. “Operations around the world will be more expensive.”

Last year’s conference raised only some $1.7 billion for Yemen, out of $3.85 billion the U.N. had appealed for as the coronavirus pandemic and its devastating consequences hit economies around the globe. The U.N. chief at the time called the 2021 result “disappointing.”

However, the overall amount reached over $2.3 billion by the end of 2021, according to Guterres.

Yemen’s war started in 2014 when the Iran-backed rebel Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of the country’s north. A Saudi-led, U.S.-backed coalition intervened months later to dislodge the rebels and restore the internationally recognized government.

The conflict has in recent years become a regional proxy war that has killed more than 150,000 people, including over 14.500 civilians. The war has also created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, leaving millions suffering from food and medical care shortages and pushing the country to the brink of famine.

The majority of Yemen’s around 32 million people live in Houthi-held areas. The rebels have for years been implicated in aid theft and withholding for extortion.

U.N. experts earlier this year said they documented that the rebels provided or denied humanitarian aid to families “solely on the basis whether their children participated in fighting or to teachers on the basis of whether they taught the Houthi curriculum.”

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, has warned that a total of 19 million people are expected to face acute food insecurity by the second half of this year — an increase of around 20% compared to the first six months of 2021. Of them, 161,000 people are likely to experience famine, it said.

OCHA said that half of the country’s health facilities are shuttered or destroyed. It said the Yemeni currency, the rial, lost 57% of its value in 2021 in government-run areas, while persistent fuel shortages drove up the prices of food and other basic commodities in the Houthi-controlled north.

It said 4.3 million Yemenis have been driven from their homes; around one-fifth of new displaced people in 2021 were in the energy-rich province of Marib which Houthis have attempted to seize for over a year, it said.

Ghalib al-Najjar and his family lives in the Dharwan camp on the outskirts the rebel-held Sanaa. The 48-year-old father, his wife, and seven children are at risk of famine amid price hikes and lack of humanitarian assistance.

“In the morning, half of us are fasting and I’m doing my best to provide food - if available - to the others,” he said in a recent interview. “We live like ants on the ground or fish in the sea. We eat what we find on our way.”

With the $4.27 billion for Yemen, the U.N. aims to provide support to 17.3 million people in 2022, out of the 23.4 million who need aid, OCHA said.

David Beasley, head of the World Food Program, said his agency was forced to cut rations in half for 8 million Yemenis due to the shortage of funds.

“We are in great need and the children are in great need,” he told the donors.

#nunyas news

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coochiequeens · 2 years

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International Women’s Day is upon us, and along with it the endless gabfests about women’s equality, mostly led and attended by women in suits.

Increasingly we’re seeing women’s safety feature in the discussion and cursory mentions of issues facing Blak, disabled and queer women.

But in 2022 the conversation about women’s equality and safety is still lacking the voices of people in the worst circumstances and those at highest risk of harm.

In the lead-up to IWD, a slick new campaign with the tagline #SafetyRespectEquity has been launched to near universal praise.

There’s no denying privileged women experience violent relationships. But, just as I feared, there was a glaring gap, a major threat to women’s safety that didn’t even rate a cursory mention in the campaign: poverty.

The welfare system is deeply imbued with misogyny. In my work as an anti-poverty activist I hear far too many examples of how it traps women in unsafe situations, whether in the workplace, the family home or a relationship. It disproportionately harms Blak, trans and disabled people. I agree with other advocates who say it’s harmful by design.

We see the results in the stomach-churning statistics. Chronic underinvestment in public housing and social security payments as low as half the poverty line means in a year 7,700 women return to their abuser due to risk of homelessness and 9,000 survivors who leave for good end up homeless.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Ninety per cent of women with intellectual disability have experienced sexual abuse. I am told stories by women who weren’t able to escape this abuse because the “safety net” failed them. According to Anti-Poverty Week* women aged 21-28 years in financial hardship were more than three times as likely to report severe partner abuse in a year. In 2019 more than 60,000 women aged 15-24 years who experienced violence also experienced moderate to very high levels of financial hardship.

There are myriad reasons women are excluded from accessing support altogether.

As my colleague Jay Coonan wrote recently, the partner income test is rooted in sexism and is a paternalistic hangover from a period when women were viewed only through the prism of their relationship to men.

The rule reduces or cuts people off if Centrelink deems someone to be in a relationship, regardless of whether finances are shared. It’s been retained only to save the government money, at great cost to women who are forced into financial dependence – itself a contributor to the strain that can lead to relationship breakdown.

Women living in Australia on the wrong visa type have no entitlement to an income support payment at all. And once you become a citizen, you are still excluded from payments such as the disability support pension – good luck to anyone who needs it within 10 years of moving here.

When people who are forced to comply with punitive “mutual” obligations face sexual harassment and assault because of these activities, they are trapped. Leaving means losing your poverty payment.

Women incur social security debts as a direct result of the actions of their abuser. They have payments wrongly cut off at an extraordinary rate, punishing both women and their children.

And then there’s the most abusive and insidious policy: cashless welfare programs like the cashless debit card that control women’s income and restrict their ability to survive in poverty.

It’s a racist program with its origins in the Howard government’s Northern Territory intervention and ever since it has targeted and punished First Nations women. Dr Elise Klein found that the CDC has not only failed to reduce violence, as the government says it’s designed to do, but there has been an increase in violence after its introduction.

Of course, it goes without saying setting every income support payment at a poverty level causes direct harm. The most common payment, jobseeker, is just half the Henderson poverty line.

The government’s national action plan to reduce violence against women and their children is completely silent on financial abuse. They refuse to even mention “social security” in the strategy to address family and domestic violence, while the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children says the welfare system is replicating the hallmarks of family and domestic violence.

If this isn’t violence against women, what is?

Advocates for women in poverty have put forward many proposals to address these harrowing statistics. We don’t need a special payment or special rules for people fleeing violent relationships. Targeted programs in effect act as a means test for people who are able to “prove” their circumstances to Centrelink – itself a traumatising process.

Any such program will inevitably exclude many people experiencing or at risk of violence, particularly trans and disabled people trapped in unsafe environments because they don’t have the money to escape.

The answer to ameliorating the disproportionate harm caused to women by the welfare system is a universal response that protects all women and trans folks by equipping us with access to enough resources to keep ourselves safe.

We need more money but that’s not all.

Raising all payments to above the Henderson poverty line while we do the work of developing a more sophisticated measure of poverty is a first step only and will not go far enough. It must be easier and faster to access welfare payments.

Everyone living in Australia must be able to access them, regardless of visa status. People cannot be forced from one abusive situation to another – removing dangerous and punitive measure like ‘mutual’ obligations requirements and cashless welfare must be a priority.

My friend Elly Baxter puts it simply: “The fact that mainstream feminism routinely ignores marginalised women is the reason we have been so stunted in our progress.”

As an anti-poverty activist it’s clear to me that the design of the welfare system – its inadequacy, who it excludes and how it operates – is undeniably the top reason women are unsafe. It hurts us whether we’re desperately trying to avoid it, desperately trying to escape it, or see no way out of it.

There is no pathway to safety, respect and equity for all women without a robust social safety net to protect those who are most disadvantaged.

It’s time corporate feminism grappled with it and realised that the movement for women’s safety must not just include but be led by Blak, disabled, trans and people who rely on the welfare system to live.

Kristin O’Connell is an activist and disability support pensioner working in social policy at the Antipoverty Centre. She held the voluntary position of National Secretary for the Greens in 2018. She is on Twitter at @kristin8x.

* Anti-Poverty Week is not affiliated with the Antipoverty Centre.

#Australia #abusive men prey on vulnerable women #Poverty and the risk of abuse

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