Stories about Labor from January, 2008
Iraq: Respect Women
Hala S, an Iraqi who lives in the UK, relates an incident which made the following thought ring true: “There will be no democracy and no freedom in the Middle East till men learn how to respect women and look at them as partners not inferiors”.
Ukraine: Interview on Prostitution
Natalia Antonova interviews a Ukrainian man on prostitution.
Iran:Open letter to Chavez from Iranian labour activists
Militant has published an open letter to President Hugo Chavez from Iranian labour and student activists. Chavez was asked to use his close relation with Iranian president,Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,to help more than 40 jailed students and labour activists,to be released from prison.
Poland: “Invisible” Government
“‘The government can do nothing’, should be the slogan for this new government,” writes the beatroot.
Uzbekistan: Labor Migrants
Libertad writes about the problems Uzbek migrant workers face while working in foreign countries, refers to a report by an NGO on migrant workers and uploads photos of migrant labor workers leaving Uzbekistan in barrack-like buses.
iraq: Goldsmiths Still at Work
According to Alive in Baghdad, goldsmiths are still busy at work in the war-torn city.
Burkina Faso: foreign, local and international incidents
Just a few weeks into the New Year and normally placid Ouagadougou observed its first sensational crime of 2008. A Lebanese man allegedly killed a local Burkinabé money changer during a business deal gone wrong.
Russia: Xenophobia Blogging
There seems to be more and more posts on xenophobia in the Russian blogosphere. Many are written by xenophobes, while some are written about them. Below are two recent examples of xenophobia blogging.
Russia: Migration and Racism
Moscow Through Brown Eyes writes about Russian racists and labor migration to Russia.
China 2007: Part2
Here is a personal roundup of what marked mainland China's 2007, a year of controversies, changes, desperation but also hopes.
Egypt: Chinese Goods
Chinese goods are swamping markets worldwide. Egyptians now have to deal with roving Chinese salesmen and women knocking on their doors. Tarek Amr brings us the story.
Anguilla: Dolphin Pros & Cons
“We would all have heard by now that the Ministers have agreed to give the ‘swim with the dolphins’ company a licence…for their new facility”: Corruption-free Anguilla raises some questions.
South Korea: Internet Broadcast for and without Migrant Workers
CINA comments on the South Korean government's report on the ‘Internet Broadcast for Migrant Workers’: Foreign workers in Korea can now speak their minds more than before… if they're not hunted, arrested and deported..
China: Top 10 Legal Stories
China Law Prof has listed out the top 10 Legal Stories in 2007.
China 2007: Online
In 2007, the internet performed as a platform on which people fulfilled what they might not be able to fully enjoy in the reality --- the freedom of speech, the public participation and the pursuit of justice. In China, the internet was a copy, an extension of the real world. To know about the former, you might know about the latter.
Bangladesh: Labour Riots
Unheard Voices discusses the causes for the textile labour riots in Bangladesh.
Hong Kong and China: Labour Rights
Fons from China Herald notices the change of attitude in China Labour Bulletin with the All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU). It seems that the Han Dong Fang is prepared to work with the Chinese official union on labour rights.
Guatemala: Migrants and the Holidays
The holidays are a time for families to gather and share in one another's company. In Guatemala, many have relatives that have migrated outside of the country for better opportunities and as a result, many are not able to return to Guatemala or deportations have separated loved ones. For those that are able to and choose to return home, the sights at airports are memorable.