There are two important, parallel events concerning migrants happening in the country from October 28-30. One is the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) and the other is the International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees (IAMR). At the GFMD, migrants are the subject and not the center of discussion. At the IAMR, they are…
Month: October 2008
Middle East is ‘Most Distressing OFW Destination’ – Migrant Group
The Arroyo government is frantically working for an increase in the deployment of Filipino migrant workers in the Middle East to cushion the impact of the probable lay-offs and decrease in remittances of overseas Filipinos in the US and other counties hit hard by the financial crisis. But the Middle East, according to Migrante International…
Oct. 29 Zero Remittance Day for Zero Confidence on GFMD, GMA
The Philippine government has every reason to be worried. With countries such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates that are all in the top 10 sources of remittances of Filipino migrants participating in the call for zero-remittance day, there can be no doubt that the GFMD…
World Council of Churches, Indigenous Peoples Urge Arroyo Gov’t to Surface Missing Activist
Representatives of Protestant churches and indigenous peoples all over the world condemned the abduction of missing activist James Balao, an indigenous Ibaloi of Benguet, have called for a speedy investigation, and urged the government to locate and surface him. BY ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat BAGUIO CITY (246 kms.…
Int’l Mission Slam Gov’t Inaction on Balao Case
Delegates of the International Solidarity Mission (ISM) to Surface James Balao were frustrated and disappointed over government inaction in resolving the case of the missing activist. BY CYE REYES HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Northern Dispatch Bulatlat LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (248 kms. North of Manila)—Delegates of the International Solidarity Mission (ISM) to Surface James Balao were frustrated…
NDF Consultant Hopes for Freedom After Court Junks Rebellion Raps
Detained National Democratic Front consultant Elizabeth Prinsipe is heartened after an Ilocos regional trial court judge dismissed the rebellion charges against her and ordered her release. It’s one down, three more pending cases to go, for Prinsipe. BY ROD TAJON HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur (347 kms. north…
Greenspan Concedes Error on Regulation
In his prepared remarks, Alan Greenspan, considered as the infallible maestro of the financial system, said he was in “a state of shocked disbelief” about the breakdown in the ability of banks to regulate themselves. He also warned about the economic consequences of the crisis, saying that he “cannot see how we will avoid a…
Halloween 2008 – The Horror of Foreclosures
As Halloween neared in 2006, the looming mortgage crisis was already apparent and now two years later the horror of it all hasn’t gone away. It keeps getting worse. We’ve spent the last few months talking about the possibility that two million people might lose their homes by early next year. Now it turns out…
Why Soldiers Rape: Culture of Misogyny, Illegal Occupation Fuel Sexual Violence in Military
The view of women as sexual prey has always been present in military culture. Indeed, civilian women have been seen as sexual booty for conquering soldiers since the beginning of human history. So, it should come as no surprise that the sexual persecution of female soldiers has been going on in the armed forces for…
Corruption in Water Costs Billions of Dollars, Hits Poor the Hardest – Global Report
To compensate for the losses caused by corruption, Transparency International reports that an additional $45 billion would have to be invested over the next decade in order to reach the Millenium Development Goals, particularly increasing the access to safe water. BY RONALYN OLEA Bulatlat The Transparency International’s “Global Corruption Report (GCR) 2008: Corruption in the…
World Crisis to Adversely Affect China Too – Sison
The current GDP of China is reportedly already USD 3.251 trillion. But China is a huge country with a huge population of 1.33 billion. With a per capita income of only around US$ 2,700, China is still a very poor country, a far cry from the US per capita income of US$ 46,000 in 2007.…