The Global Gender Gap Report is an annual study compiled by the World Economic Forum. This report includes 130 countries (which represents over 93% of the world’s population). It uses a series of economic, political, and social criteria to assess a nation’s ability to provide equal opportunities to both men and women. The four areas of focus in this report are economic opportunity, educational attainment, health, and political empowerment. According the 2012 Global Gender Gap Report New Zealand ranked sixth.
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Economists from Harvard University and the University of California, Berkley have teamed up to launch The Equality of Opportunity Project. This study focused on comparing income mobility across America’s largest metropolitan regions. The group compiled a list of regions where children raised in the bottom fifth (parents’ income less than $25k) are likely to end up in the top fifth (parents’ income more than $107k).
President Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) because he believed in a person’s right to political self-determination. He had the courage to question authority and build an international condemnation against Apartheid. Although he spent twenty-seven years in prison, he managed to become the President of South Africa. President Mandela played an influential role in shaping public policy. His dedication to advancing the well-being of humanity sets a paradigm for other leaders to follow. During his career he championed for universal education, affordable housing, and clean elections.
During the 2012 United States House of Representatives election Democrats won 48.3% of the popular vote (compared to 46.9% of the Republican Party). Even though Democrats surpassed Republicans by over 1.7 million votes nationwide, the Republican Party walked away with 53.79% of House seats. For the longest time politicians have used gerrymandering to protect incumbents and increase the number of wasted votes. This technique has reduced competition and distorted the political geography across America.
Social stratification and commodification of public goods is not a new idea embraced by conservatives. In 1965 President Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This legislation was part of a series of education reforms to tackle the “War on Poverty.” This provision required states to administer standardized tests in order to receive federal education grants. Title I states that the federal government gives funding priority to schools that demonstrate a commitment to improving their test scores. Schools receiving Title I funding are regulated by federal legislation. Nebraska is the only state that does not have a standardized test. In 2001 Congress passed No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The education reforms behind NCLB rely on standardized tests to hold schools accountable. NCLB reduced academic freedom because many school districts were fixated on delivering better test scores. School districts across America competed to “teach the test.” Many electives were eliminated and school districts began imposing a subject-base curriculum.
The Progressive Alliance formed on May 22, 2013 by political parties currently and formerly affiliated with Socialist International. This organization aims to promote progressive values and stresses the importance of democracy, freedom, transparency, and justice. The organization started shortly after the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDP) refused to pay their membership dues to Socialist International. SDP Chairman Sigmar Gabriel refused to pay Socialist International any money until the organization expelled political tyrants from Africa and the Middle East. In recent years Socialist International has received criticism for admitting political parties connected to corruption. For instance, the Pakistan People's Party is still a member of Socialist International despite being accused of past human rights violations. Socialist International houses corrupt political parties such the Alliance for Democracy in Mali and Yemeni Socialist Party. Gabriel has been critical of Socialist International's admittance and continuing inclusion of undemocratic “despotic” political movements.
In 1979 the United Nations adopted an international treaty to stop discrimination against women. The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was intended to serve as an international bill of rights for women. Key provisions include: rejection of violence against women, equality of men and women under the law, and to ensure that women participate in decision-making (at all levels). This treaty came into force on September 3, 1981. As of July 2011, 187 countries have ratified or acceded to this treaty.
On June 30, 2009 North Carolina became the sixth state to enact a comprehensive anti-bullying law. Governor Beverly Perdue signed the School Violence Prevention Act (SB 526) which protected LGBT students from being bullied in public schools. SB 526 was landmark legislation because it was the first gay rights bill to pass the North Carolina legislature in over thirty years. Since SB 526 was passed, the number of states with anti-bullying laws has tripled. Today at least 18 states have enacted legislation similar to the School Violence Prevention Act. Below is a map of states with anti-bullying laws. The states shaded in dark blue are the states that protect LGBT students from being bullied.
I'm very disappointed at the United States Supreme Court because their ruling(s) on same-sex marriage did not go far enough. In 2006 South Africa became the fifth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. In Minister of Home Affairs v. Fourie the Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled 8-1 that Parliament must enact same-sex marriage legislation within a twelve month period.
Australia is the only developed country in the world to not incorporate a Bill of Rights or Human Rights Act into their constitution. For over a hundred years politicians in Australia have debated human rights legislation, however each time this issue has been debated it has never been met with success. The National Human Rights Consultation process lasted for several months. During this period, political leaders met with citizens to discuss the Human Rights Act. Over 10,000 Australians sent submissions to the government regarding this issue. According to Amnesty International, more than 80% of those submissions were in favor of passing a Human Rights Act. Despite overwhelming support, the Australian Labor Party shelved a proposal to add a Human Rights Act into their Constitution in 2010.
Many countries throughout the world have passed Immigration Equality legislation which allow bi-national same-sex couples to attain citizenship (in their partner’s home country). This legislation aims to provide same-sex couples the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples during the process of attaining citizenship. Immigration Equality can be enacted in one of three ways: same-sex marriage, domestic partnerships/civil unions, or through immigration policy.
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Gabriel FilerThis blog started as a place to dump my thoughts as I tried to wade through the complexity of this world. It also serves as a platform to put my ideas out into the ethers. Archives
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