Today South Africa became the
first African nation to legalize same-sex marriage, recognizing the "voluntary union of two persons, which is solemnized and registered by either a marriage or civil union." Back on the other side of the Atlantic, Canada decided to
reopen debate on the topic. Canada became the fourth country after the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium to recognize same-sex marriage when its House of Commons passed a federal bill legalizing same-sex marriage across Canada in June of 2005.
Here in the States, Mitt Romney, presidential wannabe and current governor of Massachusetts,
filed a lawsuit to force the Massachusetts legislature to decisively vote on a proposed ballot initiative to end marriage equality. Gary Buseck, Legal Director for GLAD, says the lawsuit is without merit on the grounds that it "ironically tramples on the constitutional principle of the separation of powers, by seeking a court order to direct the Senate President to conduct a specific vote in a legislative body. The lawsuit also ignores the clear requirements of Massachusetts constitution. Does the Governor imagine winning a court victory? Surely not. But he certainly hopes to score political points on the national stage."
posted by Alexandra at 11/30/2006 03:29:00 PM
Martha Burk at
TomPaine.com notes the increased estrogen levels in foreign politicians, cites "the unprecedented number of female candidates and winners in the U.S. elections, topped off by the first female speaker of the house," and concludes, "The trend is clear: Women are now flexing political muscle like never before."
Any guesses which ex-first lady she's hoping will run in 2008?
posted by Matt Borondy at 11/29/2006 10:24:00 AM
The first lesson of economics is a simple and basic contention: one will act in one's own self-interest. In a global economy in which it could be successfully argued that multinational corporations have created oligarchies more powerful than some international political bodies, what becomes of developing nations, those nations on the brink of economic survival? What happens when corporate self-interest collides with the self-interests of local producers?
These are some of the questions pouring out of Starbucks' recent crisis in Ethiopia.
Oxfam charged that the coffee uber-giant opposed Ethiopia's plan to gain increased control over its coffee trade and, perhaps more importantly, a larger share of the earnings for millions of coffee farmers living in poverty, by protesting Ethiopia's application for
trademark rights to its most famous coffee names, Sidamo, Harar and Yirgacheffe (
although Starbucks has denied this).
As Dr. Douglas Holt at Oxford University's Said Business School noted in
Business in Africa, Starbucks' "rash attempt to shut down Ethiopia's [trademark] applications would hurt the ethical brand the company has tried to create." More so, it would cause
economic hardship: consider that Ethiopian farmers earn as little as $0.75 for one pound of coffee beans, while Starbucks earns up to $26 per pound; Ethiopia's GDP is $11.2 billion, while Starbucks' annual revenues near $7.8 billion. Over 54% of Ethiopia's GDP depends upon coffee.
According to the
The Times, Starbucks' CEO will meet with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to discuss the matter. The company's representatives are quoted as saying: "We support the recognition of the source of our coffees and have a deep appreciation for the farmers that grow them...We are committed to working collaboratively and continuing dialogue with key stakeholders to find a solution that benefits Ethiopian coffee farmers. We have had recent conversations with Oxfam about planning logistics for a stakeholder summit."
The Starbucks crisis speaks to a larger issue: the need for corporate international growth policies that work
with nations, rather than against them, in the hopes of not only increasing private revenue but investing in the local economy--that is to say, working within that economic structure to provide the best conceivable ends for all parties involved. This extends beyond products and supply to the local labor market. Current trade policies are vague on fair labor, allowing corporations free rein to maximize profits to the detriment of the local labor and commodities market. It may sound idealistic, but bridging the gap is certainly within sight.
posted by Alexandra at 11/28/2006 10:58:00 PM
Is it possible that in the twenty-first century women's political equality is still not on parity with that of men? Yes, says the
2006 Global Gender Report by the World Economic Forum. In fact, as the WEF's analysis shows, in an examination of 115 countries around the globe, women only hold 15% of the political empowerment endowed to men. Troubling to think about when one considers that women represent over 5 billion of the world's population.
The report would seem to urge women to travel north, where despite the seemingly harsher climate, economic and political opportunity abound. The Nordic countries not only boast a long-standing tradition of political empowerment, but equality in economic participation and opportunity, education and health. As
Globe and Mail explains, "Nordic Europe is the guiding light for gender equality in the world, topping a global list of 115 countries and laying claim to the world's best maternity leave, the best political participation rates and an education system in which women now outnumber men."
Where does the United States rank? Twenty-ninth, lagging behind many European nations and Canada (Number 14). Although the US shows strong equality in economic participation and opportunity, it ranks 66 out of the 115 nations on political empowerment with 15% of women in congressional and legislative positions, 14% in governmental leadership positions and no history of female leadership in the executive office. Think about it, Nancy Pelosi is the first American woman to take on the position of Speaker of the House.
Equality in all of WEF's criteria is increasingly grim in parts of the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. Yemen, at the ranking of 115, is the only nation that is yet to close even 50% of its gender gap.
posted by Alexandra at 11/22/2006 11:39:00 AM 
