Nowadays Slavery

"The number of people held in slavery today is 27 million” (Malbert, 2008)

Article 4 of European Convention (September 1953) states: No one shall be held in slavery and servitude and no one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour. It makes exceptions for military work; work imposed because of a detention, giving service in case of emergency and part of the civic obligations.

The statement ‘slavery has all about disappeared’ is completely inaccurate and false.  Slavery has developed adapting to the society, as a result of this, it is rarely seen slave trade as it happened in the 17^th century. Nevertheless, still millions of people who were trade as slaves and controlled by others, which is the key factor to commit slavery.

According to the US Government there are eight actions which are considered modern slavery: Forced Labour, Sex Trafficking, Bonded Labour and Debt Bondage among Migrant Labourers, Involuntary Domestic Servitude, Forced Child Labour, Child Soldiers and Child Sex Trafficking.    

Forced Labour is considered any work which exploits its workers involving often coercion, for example exceeding of working hours, salaries lower than the minimum, violence etc.

Sex Trafficking, is when an adult is forced to work as a prostitute. It is often than Latin American and African women are brought to Europe to work in prostitution thinking that they are going to be involved in domestic

Bonded Labour and Debt Bondage among Migrant Workers are fairly similar, both use debt or bond as a way of coercion, which is the essential to be considered Forced Labour.

Involuntary Domestic Labour consists on forced labour related to domestic chores. This slavery is more vulnerable to women, and teenagers.

Forced Child Labour, is the same as compulsory work but involves children. A great example of Child Labour is Restavek. Around 300,000 children between 4 and 18 are forced to practice Restavek.(house cleaning, preparing meals, ironing clothes etc., in Haiti)

Child Soldiers is a tactic to use children in the army forcing them to be soldiers. Many regions, which are now in conflict, mostly in Africa and Asia make the children participate in the combat. Child Sex Trafficking is really common type of modern slavery.  Women, under 18, are forced to leave their home and work as prostitutes without receiving any benefit from their work.

To summarize, Article 4 ECHR has served in terms of abolishing legal slavery; but still millions of people are held in slavery today, the highest rate ever. As a result, it is undoubtedly necessary to question about Article 4 real effectiveness. 

Source:

 ‘Free the Slaves’ <https://www.freetheslaves.net/SSLPage.aspx>

Bales K. Malbert R & Sealy M, Documenting Disposable People Contemporary Global

‘U.S Department of State Diplomacy <http://www.state.gov/j/tip/what/index.htm>

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Budget´s Summary

2013 Budget has been mainly influenced by the Euro zone crisis and the idea of referendum to get out of the European Union.                                                        
The Budget was realised by the Chancellor of Exchequer and Second Lord of the Treasury of United Kingdom, George Osborne in the morning of Wednesday 20 March, 2013.

Roughly, in terms of the country´s economy, the Budget was about deficit, borrowing, net debt and Europe. It was focused in reducing deficit and building a stronger economy. The deficit, which is the difference between the money the Government takes in and its spending, is expected to fall to 6.8% next year.

Borrowing, money that Government has to raise in markets, is expected to drop less than £100bn.  The net Debt in the public sector will be 75.9% this year; it will keep growing up before it starts falling in 2017-2018. However, the Gross Domestic Product is expected to increase 0.6% this year. Moreover, in relation with Europe, the European budget negotiated the UK £3.5bn.
The Budget will also make some changes in daily life and families´ economy. Taxes are expected to rise and personal allowance will set up in £10,000. Corporation tax will be reduced so that it creates new business .

National Insurance will be cut the first £2,000 from national employee’s bills.
The Budget was focused in falling deficit and building a stronger economy, this regards cuts in the public sector such a social care or higher education level. Moreover, fuel it will also increase its value. All countries in the Euro zone are concerning about the crisis, United Kingdom, by now, is one of them.

The Bank of England still targeting for 2% inflation rate, with the purpose of boosting the economy. Government´s departments will also suffer cuts, it is expected to save more than £10bn in this sector.

Families with children will have more support, because of tax-free childcare vouchers. Pension flat rate will start in 2016 instead of 2017. Social care will also go through cuts. For this reason, pensioners will be moving on the private sector.

The expected raise of the alcohol is not going to be done and the beer will be 1p cheaper.

Besides the Budget, the unemployment rates were also released. It shows that the number of unemployed has risen. These figures start being worrying, almost a million of people between 16- to 24- years-olds have no job. It has increased by 20% since October.

The Budget was focused in falling deficit and building a stronger economy, this regards cuts in the public sector such a social care or higher education level. Moreover, fuel it will also increase its value. All countries in the Euro zone are concerning about the crisis, United Kingdom, by now, is one of them.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/budget-2013

Venezuela, by USA

Recently, the Spanish newspaper El País has published an interesting interview to Roberta Jacobson, current United States Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. It clarifies some new perspectives about the relationship between United States and Latin American countries such as Venezuela or Cuba. 

USA hopes that Venezuela’s elections are carried out with total normality according to the democratic principles. They would like that international observers as well as some local ones control de process so that transparency is guaranteed. 

The relationship USA-Venezuela has always been strained due to the past and the different ideology. Chavez used to criticise George Bush’s, and then Obama’s, way of governing. His speeches in the national television channel are worthy to remember. It is worrying, as well as dangerous, that the Government uses the national media with indoctrinating purposes. Without Free Press, it is difficult to have a free citizenship capable of making its own well-informed opinion. Moreover, as Roberta Jacobson says, only if the press is independent, the government and the opposition can send their political message to the voters. USA thinks that Henrique Capriles, head of the opposition Party Primero Justicia, would be a good candidate to win the poll, but they do not admit having a favourite.




 



Roberta Jacobson is sure about the possibility of cooperating with Venezuela: “In the past, it has always been talked about this region in terms of threatening, now we have to talk also about the opportunities.” Now that Hugo Chavez is no longer in the power, the future of the country is still unknown. Will Venezuela continue on its to democracy? Only time will tell.
 

Caño, A. (15th March 2013) “Cuba está cambiando” El Pais. Available online: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2013/03/12/actualidad/1363127804_593782.html

Mali in conflict

The situation in Mali continues to be unsustainable as neither of the parts want to give up their conditions. Ibrahim ag Mohammad Assaleh, member of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (NMLA), says that the government will have to take into consideration the separatist organisation if they want to re-establish the control all over the country. As part of the tuareg community, they have been fighting in wars for more than half a century, and will continue until the situation changes. 
The international support is essential and appreciated by NMLA provided that they fight against the terrorists attacks. France is obviously one of the most involved countries in the conflict. However, the European country is preparing its departure from Mali in virtue of the UN peace troops.  

UN has just revealed that they have got evidence that Mali army planned and carried out violent acts as revenge after France entered in the country. The victims could have been tuaregs, peul and arabs as they are generally considered as supporters of the separatists.  The justice minister, Malick Coulibaly, has said during a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council that these violent episodes are only isolated cases. 

However, a war is devastating and the consequences for the country are always long-lasting. For example. UNICEF states that around 200,000 children in the African country do not have access to education. Going to school is something that here, in the “developed” countries, may be considered as something normal, or even boring. But for Mali children is an opportunity to succeed in the future and help their community develop. Moreover, since the Putsch on March 2012 help coming from foreign countries has diminished.  

The future and stability of Mali depends on the peace coming soon to its streets.

In this video from Al jazeera in English they wonder if the military intervention is suitable to finish with the conflict. 

"Habemus Papam Franciscum"

After Pope Benedict XVI reached more than 3 million of followers on Twitter, he has resigned as head of the Catholic Church on Thursday 28 February, 2013. Although Pope Benedict XVI has resigned by himself because of his poor health condition, all Catholics supported him during his last ceremony and waited excited for the new pope, Francis.

A Name, an error
Many means of communications have made a mistake while putting the name of the new Pope. Was it and error due to the hurry to inform immediately or was it misunderstood? The truth is that even official Holy See’s news agency wrote incorrectly the new sacred name of Bergoglio. The new Pope’s name is Francis, and not Francis I as everybody tends to say. He will become Francis I when a Francis II is elected.


Latin American repercussion
A European Pope was expected to be elected as it has always happened. However, this American Pope might suppose a change for the Catholic Church in the American continent. Currently, in Latin American countries, where have always been a great religious fervour, the number of Catholics is decreasing. Will Pope Francis make a change? 
Moreover, the Catholic Pope is the head of around 13% of United States population, which has a great number of Catholics because of its immigration.


First Jesuit as the Head of the Catholic Church
The Jesuits, funded almost 500 years ago, has finally seen how one of its members has reached the highest position in Earth for a Catholic. They have always been extremely obedient to Pope’s orders even if sometimes it caused troubles. One of their most strict laws is to avoid high positions, however Pope Francis is an exception. Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires though his parents are Italian he started studying Chemistry.

Francis, the humble
The new Pope stands out for his modesty and will to give. He honestly believes in the power of praying. Before going to Rome he used to live alone in a room next to Buenos Aires’ cathedral. He used to cook always for himself and caught often the tube. 

A Pope of the first times.

It is the first time that a Pope has chosen the name of Francis. It is the first time that the Pope has been argentine. It is the first that the Pope has been Latin-American. Is the first time the Pope has been Jesuit. It is the first time that the Pope has asked the believers to spend the money with which they would have gone to the Conclave in the poor people. It is the first time that a Pope wears during his first appearance complete white clothing. Is the first time that the Pope has only one lung.


The entire Catholic Church is hoping that Francis will be able to adapt the old religious institution to the new ages.

Awareness of Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol consumption has always been an issue that National Health Service is worried about. NHS has set the recommendation limit on 21 units per week for men and 14 for women.  However, the real data (provided by University College of London) is of concern because the actual limit exceeds its recommendations.

University College of London has published a study, which compares the alcohol consumption between the different ages and different regions of England. They gathered the people in groups of ten years, so that they got these age groups: 16-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64,  65-74 and  75+.

This study has done its research based on a survey and on revised estimate numbers. Surprisingly, the results from the survey were much lower than the actual estimate data. For example, the total average for survey response was 12.9 Nevertheless, the revised estimate was 21.3 

Both men and women in all age groups have put-upon in the Survey, giving the responses much lower than the revised estimate data.  The information below is used the actual revised estimate data.

According to the research, men drink almost twice as much as women. For instance, in the ages between 16 -24 men drink 27.5 units/ week, whilst women, between those ages, drink 17.2 units/week. This difference is also significant in the pensioners; men over 75 ingest the treble as women. While men drink 18.2 units/week, women drink 6.7 units per week.The age group that has the highest alcohol consumption is men between 45-54 that have a current consumption of 32.8 units per week. In women, this group of age also has the highest level: 17.2

There are many risks associated to alcohol use; it has been linked more than 60 diseases to alcohol consumption. Some of the greatest diseases are: cancer, cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis and any liver disease.  This risk increases when people are under 18.

Interesting Links:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ghs/general-lifestyle-survey/index.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2013/feb/27/how-much-alcohol-do-we-really-drink