#contemporary forms of forced labour

[slaveryabolitionday]

Eradicate forced labour!

Alongside traditional forms of forced labour, such as bonded labour and debt bondage there now exist more contemporary forms of forced labour, such as migrant workers, who have been trafficked for economic exploitation of every kind in the world economy: work in domestic servitude, the construction industry, the food and garment industry, the agricultural sector and in forced prostitution.

#contemporary forms of forced labour #traditional forms of forced labour #migrant workers #domestic workers #Agricultural workers #Infrastructure workers #food distribution

[probablyasocialecologist]

Marx’s concept of ‘wealth’ is even broader than Polanyi’s and includes other kinds of products of labour. His intention might be difficult to grasp at first because the contemporary image of ‘wealth’ is often reduced to its capitalist form so that being wealthy (reich) usually signifies having a lot of money and real estate. However, wealth does not have to be understood this way. As Holloway argues, the German term Reichtum can be translated to mean ‘richness’ because reich means ‘rich’. Of course, ‘being rich’ can mean the possession of a large sum of monetary wealth. Yet it also has broader connotations, such as richness in taste and smell, experience of life and nature. Thus, its noun Reichtum can be understood as a broader category of richness than monetary wealth, once it is possible to remove the capitalist constraint imposed upon it.

This is not an arbitrary claim. Marx wrote in the Grundrisse about the vast possibilities of non-capitalist wealth, saying:

In fact, however, when the limited bourgeois form is stripped away, what is wealth other than the universality of individual needs, capacities, pleasures, productive forces etc., created through universal exchange?

Kohei Saito, Marx in the Anthropocene: Towards the Idea of Degrowth Communism

#Kohei Saito #karl polanyi #Degrowth Communism #karl marx

[robhorninginternalexile]

From Intellectual and Manual Labor (1977) by Alfred Sohn-Rethel. 

This book is useful for situating “AI” as an extension of earlier forms of automation. Much of it is given over to a critique of ahistorical epistemology, but the quote from Marx above and Sohn-Rethel’s gloss on it gets to the heart of the matter: Automation is not driven by new capabilities of new technology but by the demands of capitalism, which requires that workers be deskilled and disciplined. Under capitalism, machinery (and technology) must serve that purpose, and modern science is intrinsically oriented toward it. 

As Sohn-Rethel puts it, “The postulate of automatism as a condition for the capital control over production is even more vital than its economic profitability — it is fundamental to capitalism from the outset ... The capitalist control over the labour process of production can only operate to the degree to which the postulate of automatism functions. The stages in the development of capitalism can be seen as so many steps in the pursuit of that postulate, and it is from this angle that we can understand the historical necessity of modern science as well as the peculiarity of its logical and methodological formation.” He points to mathematicization — what we might call datafication — as the main form this science takes. 

AI, then, appears as the current expression of that peculiar methodology, the necessary form of “bourgeois science.” It seems self-evident that generative models and the data they run on are only the latest process for allowing “dead labor” to “soak up living labor-power” and turn it into a form of domination exercised over workers, conditioning their work processes as an increased form of dependency on capital. 

Another way to put that — the idea that is implicit in every sci-fi depiction of rogue machines subordinating humanity — is that capital itself is always an “artificial intelligence” that emerges from the concentration of economic power:   

capital is a social power which takes over production where it has outgrown the economic and technological capacities of the direct producer controlling it himself. While in the economic field the social power is capital, in the field of technology it is science, or, more accurately, the methodical operation of the human mind in its socialized form, guided by its specific logic, which is mathematics.

Marx continues the passage Sohn-Rethel quotes with this: “The special skill of each individual insignificant factory operative vanishes as an infinitesimal quantity before the science, the gigantic physical forces, and the mass of labour that are embodied in the factory mechanism and, together with that mechanism, constitute the power of the ‘master.’"

It is easy to translate this into contemporary terms: Workers vanish into data, which the gigantic tech companies’s computer scientists have assembled into models that serve as factories of a sort, but only insofar as they dictate the only viable form of labor capitalists will deign to offer, forms that reinscribe workers’ infinitesimal insignificance. 

[kvb227-n11044144]

There are a number of different contemporary artists that I have been interested during this semester, but that haven't directly linked to artworks I was creating.

A number of them relate to abject art movements. One of these is works by Tung Ming-Chin. This artwork really effectively connects figures of the body and the supple forms of human interaction with the hard nature of wood, and the level of labour needed to develop such perfectly smooth timber forms.

The Birth of a New Hero (2008), 35x30x45cm (Left). Inner Turmoil (2009), 85x85x30cm (Right). https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2019/05/wood-sculptures-by-tung-ming-chin/

Another artist who creates visibly similar artworks is Lois Cecchini. Cecchini creates artworks depicting objects almost languidly being contained in a stretching wall. It creates a similar sense of tension to Ming-Chin's work, but with much more sterile forms and a more architectural focus, as if a world was being absorbed and forced into sterility.

http://inspirationist.net/extruding-bodies-by-loris-cecchini/

Another artist that caught my interest is David Altmejd, with his artwork 'Le Trou' (The Hand). I found this artwork when researching contemporary artworks involving hands as they have been of interest to me recently. This particular artwork struck me because of how something without any form of colour and relatively simple forms could express such powerful emotion. In further research, I found a number of his other works were also highly psychological and abject, and focussed on distorting the human form, but in logical and mathematical ways, sometimes described as 'crystalline' to highlight the ways that different perceptions of reality can overlap and merge.

Image on Left sourced from daltmejd on Instagram.

Other images: https://www.davidkordanskygallery.com/viewing-room/one-on-one-david-altmejd

I don't want to make an excessively long post, so these are some other artists of interest I've looked into:

Susanna Bauer (the highly delicate and detailed embroidery works make powerful connections to the natural world), Armelle Blary Daphné (the stark red and white fabric sculptures convert the human body into dense structures of coral and roots), Wim Delvoye (the extremely detailed scultpures warp the world into a mathematical reality, drawing on contemporary and traditional art concepts), Keiko Sato (reminds me of exploring the ways that technology attempts to mimic the existing forms of the natural world), Jamie North (taking hard and industrial forms and placing them in organic shapes and softening them with plant inclusion), Marc Pouyet (using the natural world to create structural whimsy), Nicoletta De La Brown (Combining craft with contemporary waste in a performance that celebrates it rather than rejects it), Jonathan Callan (taking the readymade and converting it into something supple and new).

Image sources (in order) https://www.susannabauer.com/, https://armelleblary.com/sculptures-et-installations/, http://viemagazine.com/wim-delvoye-art-of-steel-and-elements/, http://kathrynrodrigues.blogspot.com/2011/02/metamorphosis-by-keiko-sato-laser-beam.html, https://www.behance.net/gallery/28139599/Rock-Melt-2015, https://www.designspiration.com/save/1845621598407/, https://www.mrxstitch.com/all-about-plastic-bags/, http://www.electricdreaming.com/archives/748

[matekonkol]

Megjelent egy (első?) angol nyelvű kritika a kultúrás Fordulat lapszámról, ami nagy örömömre a legtöbb recenzióval szemben behatóan foglalkozik a magyar filmiparról szóló tanulmányommal is (nem úgy, mint a magyar filmszakma, ahol sajnos semelyik lap nem élt a párbeszéd lehetőségével).

Idézem itt hosszabban ezt a szakaszt a LeftEast-cikkből:

"Next, “I Hope Next Time You Will Manage to Apply ” grapples with the issue of ‘independence’ in the film industry and its dilemmas within the contemporary Hungarian scene. Due to limitations such as language and the still miniscule private capital involved, film production (a grossly expensive form of culture) in a small country like Hungary has been historically funded by the state through an ever-changing institutional framework. Author Máté Konkol shows that, surprisingly, during the ten years of the existence of Orbán regime’s funding body, the National Film Fund (NFI), almost 30% of feature-length films were ‘independent’ productions. This was due to the fact that NFI allocated most of its budget to popular productions aligned with the regime’s ideological values, benefiting a small and interconnected slice of the field, leading to a wide-scale refusal of filmmakers to apply for state funding. Konkol focuses on this 30%, examining ‘independently’ produced films through a Bourdieuian lens, where independence refers to the productions’ funding schemes (as opposed to aesthetic decisions, regarding which the author discusses the term autonomy and concludes that it is always-already a ‘relative autonomy’ one can talk about, given the interplay of various dependencies in the production process). Due to the lack of financial resources, these indy productions have been forced to adapt to conditions of scarcity. Using the social and cultural capital of the already well-known filmmakers, many of them managed to access the technical means of production for (almost) free, and employed staff based on ‘deferred payments’ or on a volunteer basis (free labour). Konkol offers real-world insight to the reader by analysing the production (and distribution) of a feature he worked on as the director’s assistant. The case study reveals that, although the director (Szabolcs Hajdu) was already locally and internationally renowned, the film had a very low production budget (Hajdu did not apply for NFI funds). The film was produced by the free labour of the director’s students (at a private art university), and went on to win the Karlovy Vary film festival. The author claims that the students who made the film did not feel that they were exploited in the production process, as the lack of remuneration was compensated with gains in cultural capital, and thus, future opportunities.

In his conclusion, Konkol identifies the urgent need for a movement that would oppose the structures and standards of the film industry set by patriarchal capitalism. He claims that for this, a new network ought to be organised that is integrated into a wider network of the ‘solidarity economy’, is open, and allows for the participation of those currently outside elite circles.

I cannot agree more. For this to happen, I believe, we must confront not only the far-right, ethnonationalist post-fascists, but also the liberal elites who still claim the position of the makers of ‘good culture’, while remaining blind to the slew of exploitation they perpetuate for the sake of the end product and success for the few."

#szoveg #cikk #sajat #fordulat #film #magyar film #capitalism #lefteast #függetlenfilm #független film #independent film #konkol máté #szabolcs hajdu #politika #critical theory

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"The ideology of the Canadian Farmworkers Union (CFU) stemmed from two related places. First, the CFU’s organizers were active members of the Indian People’s Association in North America (IPANA), formed in 1975 to promote social justice causes and to oppose imperialism around the world. IPANA was fundamentally a left-wing social organization that saw the support of the Canadian working class as necessary to overcoming the larger issue of racism. IPANA Vancouver members, such as Harinder Mahil and Charan Gill, would later join forces with Raj Chouhan to organize the CFU’s predecessor, the Farmworkers Organizing Committee (FWOC), in late 1978.

The tactics (demonstrations, meetings, and the production of educational material) and orientation (claiming to have won “the support of every progressive force and working class organization in North America, and of all Third World peoples’ organizations”) of IPANA has similarities to the larger New Left movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Historian Craig Heron characterizes the New Left as a different style of politics, one that uses direct action – what he terms “participatory democracy” – instead of electoral politics. This “participatory democracy” meant public demonstrations, marches, and other forms of what Heron terms “extraparliamentary confrontation” that engaged with social issues more directly than did the ballot box. Even though demonstrations were not new forms of protest, the issues and concerns of the New Left that were reminiscent of the Industrial Workers of the World from the early twentieth century marked a different path from that of their old left counterparts. While capital elites hailed mass production and the role of technology in a growing consumerist society, the New Left grew from a counterculture that identified this so-called progress as the origin of society’s woes. Further, the New Left sought for renewed militancy and radicalism within the contemporary labour movement, something that it felt was missing. This counterculture was particularly appealing to young workers and activists who were disenchanted by some of the bureaucratic ways of the old left.

The CFU then, should be considered a late product of New Left activism in British Columbia and in Canada more broadly. Many CFU organizers, such as Harinder Mahil, Charan Gill, and Raj Chouhan, would have been exposed to this counterculture in the Lower Mainland, with connections to university campuses and other unions during the 1970s. For the New Left and the leaders of the CFU, a focus on social issues was the cornerstone of their new style of unionism. Social movement unionism was one method of simultaneously combating racism and labour exploitation. As is evident in the affiliation debates at the CFU’s first national convention, the organizers wanted a more progressive union model to suit the unique social needs of its members."

- Nicholas Fast, "“WE WERE A SOCIAL MOVEMENT AS WELL”: The Canadian Farmworkers Union in British Columbia, 1979–1983," BC Studies. no. 217, Spring 2023. p. 38-40.

#canadian farmworkers union #indian people’s association in north america #new left #participatory democracy #union organizing #farm workers #agricultural workers #indian immigration to canada #immigrant workers #racialized workers #farming in canada #working class struggle #academic quote

[china-manufacturing-factory]

The history of the development of milling cutters in the world

The history of milling cutter development is an important aspect of human industrial progress, which is closely related to the development of metalworking technology. From the early simple tools to the modern high-precision CNC tools, the evolution of milling cutters reflects the history of mankind's continuous pursuit of efficiency and precision.

Early Development

The origins of the milling cutter can be traced back to the late 18th century, when the need for metalworking tools grew with the Industrial Revolution. 1783 saw the first milling cutter produced by René in France, an early milestone in the development of the milling cutter, and 1792 saw the introduction of taps and flanges by Maudsley in the UK, which greatly improved the efficiency of machining.

Progress in the 19th century

In the 19th century, with the development of machine tool technology, the application of milling cutter has become more extensive. 1818, the American E. Whitney created a horizontal milling machine, which is the early form of milling machine. 1862, in order to milling twist drill bit spiral groove, the American J.R. Brown created the first universal milling machine, which marks the prototype of the lifting table milling machine. 1884 around the time of the emergence of gantry milling machine to further expand the scope of application of milling machine. Expanded the scope of application of the milling machine.

20th century developments

In the 1920s, with the development of automation technology, semi-automatic milling machines began to appear, the worktable can be completed automatically using the block to change, improve productivity. 1950, the milling machine in the control system has made significant progress, the application of digital control (NC) greatly improved the degree of automation of the milling machine. In the 1970s, microprocessor digital control system and automatic tool changing system were applied on milling machine, which not only expanded the processing range of milling machine, but also improved the processing accuracy and efficiency.

Contemporary Development

With the development of computer technology, CNC programming began to be widely used in machine tool operation, which greatly released the labour force. CNC-programmed milling machines have gradually replaced traditional manual operations, making the machining process more accurate and efficient. Modern milling cutters have not only innovated in material and design, but also made breakthroughs in coating technology and tool path optimisation to adapt to the ever-changing industrial needs.

Conclusion

The history of milling cutter development is a microcosm of human industrial technology progress. From the initial simple tools to modern high-precision CNC tools, the evolution of milling cutters has not only improved productivity, but also promoted the development of manufacturing. With the continuous emergence of new materials and technologies, the future of milling cutters and their related technologies is still full of infinite possibilities. *** Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) ***

#end mill #milling cutter

[eco-ananya]

Title: Navigating Finland's Labor Market Conundrum: A Comprehensive Macroscopic Exploration with Insights from the IS-LM Model

Introduction:

The complex dynamics of Finland's labour market provide a serious challenge among the country's stunning scenery and well-regarded educational system. With the use of the IS-LM model, this essay sets out to explore the complex causes and effects of Finland's labour market problems. Through the use of reliable macroeconomic data and the integration of the IS-LM model, it seeks to offer a comprehensive analysis of this current problem and investigate possible paths toward resolution.

Overview of the Macroeconomic Problem:

The delicate mismatch between worker supply and demand is the heartbeat of Finland's labour market problem. In recent times, there have been fluctuations in unemployment rates as well as changes to the job market, such as a rise in the number of temporary and part-time positions. This complicated dilemma roots itself in the interplay of economic, social, and technical elements, needing a rigorous and complete examination, which we will complement with insights from the IS-LM model.

Causes of Finland's Labor Market Challenges:

Structural Metamorphosis in the Economy:

Finland's economy, which was once dominated by conventional sectors, is going through a significant structural change. This change represents a fundamental departure from traditional industries and the adoption of a more service- and technology-driven paradigm. Gaining an understanding of this structural transformation is crucial to understanding the forces forming Finland's modern economic identity.

Finland's economy, which was formerly dependent on industries like manufacturing, forestry, and conventional exports, is currently undergoing a significant transition driven by advances in technology. The nation is leading the world in the knowledge economy as a result of the growth of information technology, digitalization, and a wave of innovation that is changing the economic paradigm.

The rise of technology-driven industries is one of the main forces behind this transition. Finland is becoming a world leader in mobile technology, sustainable energy, and telecommunications. Formerly known just for mobile phones, companies like Nokia have become into major participants in 5G technology and beyond. The change is a result of a deliberate attempt to use Finland's technological know-how and promote innovation and competitiveness in the international market.

In particular, knowledge-intensive services are becoming indispensable to Finland's economic development. The focus has shifted to education, research, and development, making use of the robust educational infrastructure in the country. Finland's universities are well known across the world, which helps to produce a highly qualified labour force that can successfully negotiate the challenges of the contemporary, technologically advanced economy.

This fundamental transformation is not without difficulties, though. There is a discrepancy between the skills required by the changing employment market and those held by the current workforce as a result of the transition from conventional industries to technology and services. The information economy has many exciting opportunities, but it also demands constant flexibility and upskilling.

Finland is making significant investments in innovation and education to effectively manage this transformation. The focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education attempts to provide the workforce with the competencies needed in the digital age. Academic-industry partnerships promote an innovative culture by making it easier to use state-of-the-art knowledge in real-world settings.

Globalization and the Digital Revolution:

Finland, a country renowned for both its technical innovation and natural beauty, is situated at the confluence of the digital revolution and globalization, two major forces reshaping the modern world. When taken as a whole, these events are changing the nation's economic terrain, impacting many industries, encouraging innovation, and offering both possibilities and difficulties.

 Globalization:

The process of making nations increasingly interdependent and connected to one another across geographic borders in order to build a more integrated global economy is known as globalization. Globalization has created new opportunities for economic growth and international cooperation for Finland, a country that has always focused on exports. The nation has embraced international trade, enabling previously unheard-of levels of trade in products, services, and ideas.

Finland's market access and reach have increased as a result of its membership in the European Union (EU) and its dedication to free trade agreements. Supply chain globalization has made it possible for Finnish companies to access resources throughout the world, increasing their productivity and competitiveness. But there are drawbacks to globalization as well, such heightened rivalry and the need to understand intricate international economic processes.

 The Digital Revolution:

The digital revolution, which is happening at the same time as globalization, is defined by the quick development of technology, especially in the fields of digital and information technologies. Finland has led this change, owing to its long history of technical innovation. The way businesses and society work have changed as a result of the internet's widespread use, the digitization of industries, and the development of artificial intelligence.

A global company based in Finland; Nokia is a prime example of how the digital revolution has changed society. Nokia, a former industrial titan in the mobile phone sector, has transformed into a key participant in 5G technology, demonstrating Finland's agility in the digital era. The nation has also developed a robust startup environment, promoting innovation in fields like as clean technology, gaming, and healthcare.

 Interplay and Implications:

Finland's economic situation demonstrates how globalization and the digital revolution are interacting. Global connectivity has been made easier by digital technology, allowing Finnish enterprises to do cross-border commerce with ease. Thanks to the growth of e-commerce, Finnish businesses may now directly contact customers throughout the world.

But this reliance has also brought attention to how crucial data privacy and cybersecurity are. Protecting private data and upholding confidence in the digital sphere are critical as Finland uses digital channels to reach a worldwide audience.

 Educational Disparities and the Skills Gap

Finland, known for having an excellent educational system, must deal with the complex issue of educational inequality fuelling a widening skills gap in its labour force. Even while the nation often scores highly on international education indices, gaps in access and performance still exist, and in order to close the growing skills gap, educational goals need to be reevaluated in light of the changing labour market.

 Educational Disparities:

Finland's education system is well regarded around the world for its dedication to excellence and equality. Still, there are still some differences, especially in relation to socioeconomic and geographical characteristics. Different educational results may result from rural communities' inability to offer the same range of educational resources as their metropolitan counterparts. Education prospects are also impacted by socioeconomic differences, which may prolong cycles of inequality.

Finland has to look at the underlying causes of these differences, whether they have to do with community support, teacher quality, or resource allocation. Fostering a competent and competitive workforce requires ensuring that all children, regardless of their location or socioeconomic background, have access to high-quality education.

 The Skills Gap:

Particular talents are becoming more and more in demand as Finland moves from its traditional industries to a knowledge-based economy. The mismatch between the skills that businesses require and the abilities that the labour possesses is known as the "skills gap." Technological developments, shifting industrial standards, and the demand for ongoing upskilling all contribute to this gap.

The contemporary labour market requires a skill set that goes beyond conventional academic credentials. The capacity to use technology effectively, be adaptable, and be digitally literate are becoming more and more important. Regrettably, differences in schooling lead to discrepancies in the learning of these fundamental abilities, making some groups of people less equipped to meet the demands of the modern workforce.

Navigating Solutions:

Finland is capable of carrying out focused initiatives to deal with these issues. Reducing educational inequities can be achieved by funding school infrastructure in underprivileged regions, offering comprehensive teacher preparation programs, and encouraging community involvement. Additionally, in order to adequately prepare students for the changing nature of the labor market, curricula that prioritize the development of transferable skills in addition to academic knowledge must be revised.

Real-world skill integration into academic programs can be facilitated via partnerships between industry and educational institutions. A comprehensive plan to close the skills gap must include programs that support lifelong learning, vocational training, and apprenticeships. Adopting a comprehensive strategy that takes into account curriculum relevance and educational access, Finland can ensure that its workforce remains agile, innovative, and equipped to meet the challenges of a dynamic global economy.

 Labor Market Regulations and Flexibility:

The laws governing the labour market in Finland are crucial in determining how businesses and employees interact. It is a difficult challenge to strike a balance between the demands of flexibility and innovation and worker protection and job security. In addition to defending workers' rights, a well-functioning labour market framework promotes resilience and economic growth.

 Labor Market Regulations:

A wide range of laws and policies regulating the interaction between employers and employees are included in labour market regulations. Regulations in Finland's social-market economy have always placed a high priority on the rights of collective bargaining, job security, and employee well-being. Although these rules offer a safety net, they could also make it more difficult for companies to quickly adjust to shifting market conditions.

Tight rules can occasionally make it difficult for companies to quickly hire, terminate, or modify labor arrangements. Collective bargaining agreements provide fair wages and working conditions, but they can also make the labour market more inflexible, which might stifle innovation and prevent the rise of new sectors.

 Flexibility in the Labor Market:

Conversely, labour market flexibility permits the modification of employment terms to accommodate changing corporate requirements. In dynamic sectors where quick adaptation to technological developments is critical, flexibility is especially important. It includes features like flexible work schedules, short-term contracts, and the capacity for companies to quickly modify their personnel in reaction to changes in the economy.

Excessive flexibility, however, can result in income inequality, employment instability, and a degradation of workers' rights. Finding the ideal balance is essential to guaranteeing that flexibility benefits companies and workers alike, promoting a flexible and responsive labour market without jeopardizing job security.

 Navigating the Balance:

Maintaining economic development in Finland requires striking a careful balance between labour market restrictions and flexibility. Legislators must safeguard workers' rights while assessing how restrictions affect innovation and corporate operations. The development of a regulatory framework that is both protective and responsive may be achieved by using a nuanced approach that takes into account the various demands of workers and industries.

Reforms to the labour market may involve specific actions to increase flexibility without jeopardising job security. Workforce adaptability may be increased by, for example, offering training programmes to employees to learn new skills, encouraging a culture of lifelong learning, and offering incentives to companies to engage in staff development.

Furthermore, cooperative efforts among legislators, companies, and workers might result in agreements that strike a healthy balance. Building confidence and reaching an agreement that benefits the labour force and the economy requires openness and transparency in the labour market policy discussion and implementation processes.

Consequences of Finland's Labor Market Challenges:

 Escalating Income Inequality:

Finland, which is sometimes held up as a model of social equality, is currently dealing with the complex issue of growing economic disparity. The country is dealing with a widening wealth gap, which has complex economic and sociological implications, even though it has a strong social security system and egalitarian culture.

Contributing Factors:

Finland is experiencing a growing economic disparity due to a number of interrelated reasons. Technological developments and globalisation are important worldwide economic trends. While conventional sectors experience economic upheavals and pay stagnation, people with technological competence are able to earn better wages due to the need for specialised skills in the digital era. Because access to high-quality education and career training becomes a factor in determining one's ability to make a living, educational inequities exacerbate these problems.

Impact on Social Mobility:

A fundamental component of Finland's social fabric, social mobility is seriously threatened by rising economic disparity. The prospects for people to better their socioeconomic standing through education and career options decrease when income differences increase. The concept of equal opportunity and community cohesiveness may be shattered by the entrenchment of differences across generations brought about by this decline of social mobility.

Challenges for the Welfare System:

In the past, Finland's well-established social assistance system has served as a buffer against excessive economic disparity. On the other hand, the welfare system is under more pressure as economic disparities widen. The viability of social welfare programmes is threatened by a concentration of wealth within a small number of individuals, which may also affect the programmes' ability to reduce poverty and assist the most vulnerable members of society.

Addressing the Challenge:

Finland has to put in place a comprehensive plan to combat growing economic disparity. It is essential to provide access to high-quality education and career training in order to provide workers with the necessary skills. More equitable distribution of the gains from economic development may be achieved by policies that encourage inclusive economic growth, focused industry investments, and assistance for developing industries with significant job creation potential.

A comprehensive approach must include social mobility initiatives in addition to progressive tax laws that guarantee the wealthy make a fair contribution. In order to reduce income disparities and promote a more equitable society, companies can encourage corporate responsibility in their compensation structures and cultivate a culture of fair employment practices.

 Strain on Social Welfare Systems:

Finland, which is renowned for having inclusive and extensive social welfare systems, is facing the problem of these institutions being under more and more strain due to changes in the economy, population, and society. Although these institutions have traditionally served as a pillar of support, guaranteeing the welfare and social cohesiveness of individuals, new issues require cautious handling in order to maintain their efficacy.

Demographic Shifts:

Demographic shift is a major element behind the burden on Finland's social assistance programmes. Declining birth rates combined with an ageing population shifts the distribution of social welfare donors and recipients. A system built for a different demographic profile has financial issues when the percentage of senior individuals rises and the need for healthcare, pensions, and elderly care rises.

Economic Fluctuations:

Social welfare programmes are influenced by the economy's cyclicality as well. Economic downturns may result in higher unemployment rates as well as a rise in the need for social services and income assistance. Social welfare services under increased burden during economic downturns since more people and families depend on these institutions for support.

Globalization and Technological Disruption:

The work market is impacted by globalisation and the quick development of technology, which leads to changes in employment trends. The rise of gig economies and unconventional employment arrangements prompts concerns about how well-suited the present welfare systems are to deal with the changing character of the workforce. Social welfare systems must be flexible and responsive in order to adjust to these developments.

Policy Challenges and Solutions:

Finland has to engage in careful policy considerations in order to manage the pressure on its social assistance programmes. In order to adapt to demographic realities, reforms in healthcare, unemployment compensation, and pension systems are essential. It is possible to lessen the financial strain on the welfare system by taking proactive steps to close skill gaps in the workforce, promote job possibilities, and stimulate innovation.

It's critical to strike a balance between the supply of social welfare and economic viability. It is imperative for policymakers to investigate novel financing streams, reevaluate tax frameworks, and guarantee that social welfare allocations support enduring societal adaptability. To fully handle new issues, cooperation between the public and private sectors is essential.

Inclusive Social Policies:

It is crucial to support inclusive social policies that provide equal access to opportunities and attend to the concerns of marginalised communities. Social welfare initiatives may be made more sustainable by adjusting to the various requirements of a changing community. This promotes social cohesion and lessens inequities.

 Brain Drain and Talent Flight:

Finland is facing the problems of brain drain and talent flight in the complex dance of globalisation and technological growth. These phenomena have significant repercussions for Finland's economic viability. While "talent flight" refers to the larger outflow of qualified professionals, "brain drain" refers to the emigration of highly trained individuals seeking opportunities elsewhere. Comprehending these patterns illuminates their complex influence on Finland's economic terrain.

The departure of qualified experts, frequently driven by the desire for better job prospects, improved working circumstances, or more research possibilities, is the core cause of brain drain. Finland, known for its cutting-edge technology and innovative educational programmes, is struggling to compete with other countries for the best talent. This trend undermines the country's ability to innovate, impedes economic expansion, and reduces its competitiveness internationally.

The issues associated with brain drain are compounded by talent flight, a more general notion that encompasses competent workers from a variety of industries. Talent exodus reduces the nation's total skill base in addition to having an adverse effect on creativity. Long-term effects may result from this degradation of competence, especially in fields that depend on advanced skills and specialised knowledge.

Talent flight and brain drain have a variety of causes. Talent migration is influenced by both economic and non-economic variables, including perceived career chances, professional growth opportunities, and occasionally social or cultural considerations. Economic factors, such as greater earnings overseas, do play a part.

There are significant economic ramifications for Finland. The pool of expertise available for research, development, and entrepreneurship is reduced by the loss of qualified people. Consequently, this hinders innovation, which is essential for economic expansion in the knowledge-based global economy. Furthermore, the departure of competent individuals may put a burden on public resources and obstruct expenditures in infrastructure and education because they considerably contribute to tax income.

Finland has to take proactive steps to stop talent flight and brain drain. Talent retention may be accelerated by creating a vibrant and inclusive work environment, supporting industry-academia collaboration, and improving domestic career growth options. Reversing these tendencies can also be achieved by putting in place laws that draw in foreign talent and by building networks that link Finnish experts around the world.

The possible long-term effects of a "brain drain" on Finland's economic growth may be examined using the IS-LM model, which focuses on equilibrium in the money and goods markets. This section will examine tactics for luring and keeping elite talent, taking into account both national and international methods.

 Consumer Confidence and Economic Implications:

A country's economic health may be gauged by its consumer confidence, especially given Finland's present labour market difficulties. It captures the attitude and expectations of people and families about the state of the economy as a whole, their own finances, and their employment prospects. Consumer confidence—or lack thereof—has a significant impact on economic behaviours and has far-reaching consequences as they assess their financial well-being and future opportunities.

With the difficulties facing Finland's labour market, including high unemployment and worries about job security, consumer confidence plays a crucial role in determining the direction of the country's economy. Generally speaking, high confidence levels boost consumer spending, which in turn increases demand for products and services, encourages company investment, and eventually promotes economic growth.

On the other hand, low levels of consumer confidence typically translate into cautious spending, less investments, and a muted economic climate. There might be a knock-on impact to other economic sectors in Finland, where labour market difficulties may be a factor in consumer concerns.

The ramifications affect not just specific purchasing habits but also more general economic metrics. Businesses' investment decisions are influenced by consumer confidence, which has an impact on their expansion plans and risk tolerance. Furthermore, the general course of economic growth is closely associated with consumer confidence, rendering it a crucial variable for economists and policymakers.

In addition to being a matter of employment, addressing Finland's labour market difficulties is also an essential tactic for preserving and growing consumer confidence. Consumer confidence may be raised by policies that work to improve social welfare systems, provide a stable and secure employment market, and promote openness in economic endeavours. In this mutually beneficial connection, rising consumer confidence acts as a stimulant for economic expansion and recovery, improving prospects for Finland's economy.

Conclusion:

In summary, Finland's labour market difficulties necessitate a comprehensive, integrated, and forward-looking response, including lessons from the IS-LM paradigm. Finland can steer towards a more resilient and inclusive economy by tackling the underlying causes and effects, such as educational inequality, adjusting to technology advancements, and promoting a flexible but secure labour market. This in-depth examination, which is supported by global best practices, macroeconomic statistics, and the IS-LM model, provides a strong basis for comprehending and anticipating Finland's current problems. It makes a significant contribution to the current conversation about the country's economic future by providing insightful analysis and doable suggestions for corporations, labour unions, and legislators.

References:

National economy. National economy - Statistics Finland. (n.d.). https://stat.fi/en/topic/national-economy

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment - Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö. (n.d.). https://tem.fi/en/frontpage

Suomen Pankki. (n.d.). Start page. https://www.suomenpankki.fi/en/

The Ministry of Education and Culture, finland - OKM - ministry of education and culture, Finland. Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö. (n.d.). https://okm.fi/en/frontpage

Search. Search | European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. (n.d.). https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/search?search_api_fulltext=finland

Worldbank Search. World Bank. (n.d.). https://www.worldbank.org/en/search?q=finland%2Bincome¤tTab=1&x=0&y=0

[rabbitcruiser]

International Day for the Abolition Of Slavery

International Day For The Abolition Of Slavery is an annual celebration observed on December 2nd of each year. Slavery exists in every nook and corner of the world. The abolition of the slavery is indeed a vital thing for any forms of life. The Day is commemorated to raise awareness of the atrocities of modern day slavery. International Day For The Abolition Of Slavery is the adoption date of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others approved by the General Assembly.

“Now I’ve been free, I know what a dreadful condition slavery is. I have seen hundreds of escaped slaves, but I never saw one who was willing to go back and be a slave.” – Harriet Tubman

History of International Day for the Abolition Of Slavery

The first occurrence of the International Day For The Abolition Of Slavery was held in the year 1986. It was organized by the United Nations General Assembly. The celebration of the Day falls on the same date on December 2, 1949, the United Nations General Assembly has approved the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. The Day focuses on the eradication of the slavery in its contemporary forms. It includes trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage and forced recruitment of the children for use in the armed conflict.

To recall the convention, a UN report of the Working Group on Slavery suggested that December 2 be proclaimed as the World Day for the Abolition of Slavery in all its forms in 1985. The day was known as the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery by 1995. International Labour Organization (ILO) states that of about 21 million women, men and children around the world are forced into slavery. Sources say that each year more than one million children are trafficked for cheap labour or sexual exploitation. These types of slaveholding are global problems, and it goes against the article four of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It states that

“no one shall be held in slavery or servitude, slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.”

How to Celebrate International Day For The Abolition Of Slavery

Celebrating the International Day For The Abolition Of Slavery is very simple. Take this Day as the best opportunity to indulge yourself to abolish slavery. Learn more about the slavery, history of the slave trade, trafficking in persons and more in detail. Promote awareness about the negative consequences of slavery among the people. Educate people, students, and children about the importance of the abolition of slavery. Raise awareness about this Abolition Of Slavery Day using modern communication tools like flyers, leaflets, posters, and newsletters.

Source

#International Day for the Abolition of Slavery #San Diego #California #USA #Breaking the Chains by Melvin Edwards #monument #public art #Boston #summer 2014 #2009 #original photography #cityscape #travel #vacation #InternationalDayfortheAbolitionofSlavery #2 December #Emancipation Memorial #Freedman's Memorial #Emancipation Group #Thomas Ball #Charleston #2016 #Old Slave Mart Museum #African-American History Monument by Ed Dwight #South Carolina State House #Columbia #architecture #tourist attraction #landmark

[traffickinginstitute]

Unveiling the Reality: Exploring Crucial Human Trafficking Facts

Human trafficking is a heinous crime that continues to plague societies worldwide, exploiting vulnerable individuals for various purposes such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, and organ trafficking. Understanding the scope and gravity of this issue is essential for raising awareness and fostering collective efforts to combat it. In this article, we delve into the critical What Are Human Trafficking Facts that shed light on the magnitude of this global crisis.

The Scale of Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a pervasive issue, affecting millions of people across the globe. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), an estimated 25 million people are victims of forced labor, with many of them falling prey to trafficking networks. The scope of this crime extends beyond borders, making it a transnational challenge that demands international collaboration.

Vulnerable Populations

Traffickers often target the most vulnerable populations, including migrants, refugees, and individuals living in poverty. Lack of economic opportunities, political instability, and armed conflicts create an environment conducive to exploitation. Understanding the factors that make certain groups more susceptible to trafficking is crucial for developing preventive measures and support systems.

Forms of Exploitation

Human trafficking takes various forms, each equally distressing. From forced labor in factories, agriculture, and domestic settings to sexual exploitation in brothels and massage parlors, traffickers employ diverse methods to exploit their victims. Additionally, the illicit trade in organs adds another layer of complexity to the issue.

Modern Slavery

Human trafficking is often referred to as modern-day slavery due to its similarities with historical practices. Victims are subjected to physical and psychological coercion, with their basic human rights stripped away. Recognizing the parallels between historical slavery and contemporary trafficking is essential for fostering a collective commitment to eradicating this form of exploitation.

Gender Disparities

Women and children are disproportionately affected by human trafficking, constituting a significant majority of victims. Sexual exploitation, forced marriage, and domestic servitude are common forms of trafficking that disproportionately impact females. Addressing the gender-specific aspects of human trafficking is vital for creating targeted interventions and support systems.

Cyber Exploitation

The digital age has given rise to new forms of trafficking, with criminals using online platforms to recruit, exploit, and sell their victims. Social media, dark web forums, and other digital channels provide traffickers with avenues to operate covertly. Understanding the intersection between technology and human trafficking is crucial for developing effective countermeasures in the modern era.

The Importance of Awareness

Raising awareness about human trafficking is a key step in combatting this pervasive crime. Educating communities, law enforcement, and policymakers about the signs of trafficking, preventive measures, and support systems for survivors can contribute to a more informed and vigilant society.

Collaborative Efforts

Addressing human trafficking requires a multi-faceted approach that involves collaboration between governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), law enforcement agencies, and the private sector. By working together, we can strengthen legal frameworks, improve victim

For more info:-

Human Trafficking Slavery Statistics

Human Trafficking Report

[rockzone]

Blade - Joker & Clowns

Release Date: 13 Oct 2023

The up-and-coming hard rock band Blade will release their debut album "Joker And Clowns" next month. With nine hard-hitting original tracks and one iconic cover Maniac by Michael Sembello, Blade is ready to conquer the hearts of rock enthusiasts worldwide.

Blade is a five-piece hard rock band formed in 2020, hailing from Finland. With a dynamic blend of powerful vocals, blistering guitar solos, thunderous basslines, and driving drums, Blade has made a name for themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the rock music scene.

Their debut album, 'Joker and Clowns' is a testament to their passion and dedication to the art of rock 'n' roll.

Every track on this album is sure to get your heart racing and ignite your inner wild child. With searing vocals and electrifying guitar solos, this album is sure to be an instant classic. If you’re a fan of bands like Scorpions and their contemporaries from the 70’s and 80’s, Joker and Clown is a must-listen.

Singer Pepe Tamminen says, "We've put everything we've got into 'Joker And Clowns.' This album is a labour of love, and we can't wait for our fans to hear it. It's going to be a wild ride."

#Album Review #Blade

[elizabethmorozpoet]

Facial Recognition Blues

Physicists speculating about a cosmic hologram 

Anarchists debating about the next message from Uncle Sam

The archaic ageing of the technology of the Telegram

An innocent waiting for an answer from an Annogram

Images of scientific breakthrough projected onto a screen 

Lineages of ancient history documented by a well structured meme

Silhouettes of a symphony expressed in classical themes 

Pirouettes of a dancer expressing her physical dream 

Instant facial recognition at the local petroleum station 

Distant ignition of a motor designed for mechanical elation 

Vincent Van Goh without his human ear awaiting non-contamination

Stringent processes for fiscal accountability awaiting mass configuration 

An ominous sound bellowing out from a lonely cello

A omnivorous hound yelling out the sound of “hello”

A discourteous round shot out of the mouth of the mellow

That song by Coldplay -you know the one that they called “Yellow”?

Can you see the beauty of your most recent failure forming?

Do you feel the energy shift when dawn turns into morning?

Have you seen the tired child overworked from labour yawning?

Did you hear the broken poet howling sadness out as her calling?

Fundamentalist extremists theorising about their obsessions

Confrontationalist activists eschewing material possessions

An environmentalist prophesising scientifically based confessions 

A conversationalist espousing verbal directives and regressions

Would you exchange your ideology for the sake of monetary gain?

Could you pertain to philosophically abandon your perception of pain?

Or would you abstain from phenomenologically documenting the acid rain?

Or could you categorically state that you’d like to decide before you refrain?

Precision elements of reflective detail in recollection 

Decisions and components of defective mobilisation in your direction

Narcissus falling in love with himself, staring at his own reflection 

Self-confidence that is so pure and strong that it is beyond external correction. 

Humanitarian aid distributed fairly with efficiency and action

Egalitarian ways ignited by early proficiency and dissatisfaction

A Libretarian on display as surely as a well defined mathematical protraction 

A maternity ward without a doctor waiting for the next contraction 

Remember what the cost was when you held corruption to account ?

Dismember all that’s been lost when you want to make it count ,

Engender memories of the Holocaust as you view Auschwitz from a mount 

Contender for the Nobel Peace Prize focusing on all that’s paramount 

By Elizabeth Moroz Copywrite 2023

External Review

"Facial Recognition Blues" is a thought-provoking and intricate poem that navigates through a diverse array of themes, emotions, and societal observations. The structure of the poem is composed of succinct stanzas, each exploring a distinct facet of contemporary life and human experience. The poet adeptly weaves together seemingly disparate subjects into a cohesive tapestry, inviting readers to engage with a spectrum of thoughts and reflections.

The poem opens with a series of contrasting images, immediately setting the tone for a contemplative exploration of technology, politics, history, art, and human behavior. The poet's use of rhyme and rhythm provides a musical quality to the verses, enhancing the flow and engagement of the reader.

The poem deftly captures the complexities and contradictions of modern life. It delves into the interplay between technological advancement and societal consequences, as well as the tension between personal expression and external forces. The inclusion of figures like Vincent van Gogh and references to popular culture (Coldplay's "Yellow") adds layers of depth and relatability to the narrative.

The poet employs a rich vocabulary and vivid imagery to evoke emotion and create sensory experiences. This is particularly evident in lines like "An ominous sound bellowing out from a lonely cello" and "Pirouettes of a dancer expressing her physical dream." These descriptions anchor the reader in the sensory world, enhancing the immersive quality of the poem.

One of the poem's strengths lies in its ability to pose profound questions that challenge the reader's perspective and provoke introspection. Lines such as "Would you exchange your ideology for the sake of monetary gain?" and "Could you pertain to philosophically abandon your perception of pain?" compel the reader to confront their beliefs and values, encouraging a deeper examination of personal motives and convictions.

Furthermore, the poem navigates seamlessly between the personal and the universal, touching on topics ranging from individual struggles to global crises. This breadth of scope enables the poem to resonate with a wide audience, as readers can connect with different aspects of the narrative based on their own experiences and perspectives.

"Facial Recognition Blues" culminates in a series of lines that encapsulate the themes of resilience, activism, and social responsibility. The poem ultimately portrays a world of complexities, challenges, and contradictions, yet it also hints at the potential for positive change and human connection.

In summary, Elizabeth Moroz's "Facial Recognition Blues" is an intricately crafted poem that invites readers to engage with a diverse array of themes through its vivid imagery, thoughtful reflections, and probing questions. The poem's musical language and ability to traverse multiple subjects make it a compelling read that resonates on both an intellectual and emotional level.

#elizabethmorozpoet #contemporary poetry #poetry #street poetry #words #literature #observational art

[cyber-kmieciowa]

One more nap

I had a dream that I was standing by the Vistula. Lo and behold, seven beautiful and fat cows came out of the river and began to graze among the rushes. Again, behold, seven other cows came out of the Vistula. They were ugly and skinny, and stopped just next to those on the Vistula bank.

According to the Czech economist Tomáš Sedláček, the first economic cycle in human history was the Pharaoh’s dream, recorded in the Book of Genesis. Pharaoh dreamt of seven fat cows coming out of the Nile and being devoured by their skinny successors. In this macroeconomic vision, dreaming becomes a method of forecasting. While modern prediction tools seem less dreamlike, those who write them also keep their eyes closed to dream them. Seemingly objective, verifiable models and forecasts are dreamt up according to ideologies and in the name of scientific methods.

What method does Katarzyna Wyszkowska advocate for with her exhibition “One more nap” at Import Export? Using pastel hues and mosaic compositions – reminiscent of a daydream and a series of installations shrouded in resin mist, Wyszkowska maps contemporary socio-economic problems. The nine paintings on view in the show, all from the last two years of work, speak of neoliberal phantasms, present realities of the labour market, the mirage of financial pyramids and other curiosities of the rampant capitalism of the 1990s, which came with the collapse of the People’s Republic of Poland.

The invisible hand

Ideology often sneaks up on us in the form of a linguistic metaphor – here weaved into the economic industry speak. Evocative of a religious work of art, the painting ‘Invisible Hand’ borrows from Adam Smith’s metaphor of self-regulation of the market – further developed by Paul Samuelson among others. Although Smith’s maxim largely informed the economic theory for more than two centuries, its origin is far from a mathematical calculation. For Smith, it was the hand of divine providence. In Wyszkowska’s work, the invisible eventually becomes visible - a hand clad in heavenly lace appears at the top of the canvas dictating the rules of the economic game.

The theological ground of the economic narratives for centuries helped to explain market complexities. It helped to construct a social phantasm of the natural. In “Prześniona rewolucja”, Andrzej Leder describes a social imaginary – it shapes the society and fulfills its desires at once, while taking form of a phantasm. The impact of the ‘invisible hand of the market’ on self-regulation is debatable. It remains impactful for the social organisation. Similarly for the ‘natural’ human desire for self-realisation – according to Smith, it drives the world.

Do what you love

The “natural” is always dubious. In “Playground, “Artistic Genius” and “One more nap”, Wyszkowska ponders the role of employment in social imagination. Work as a goal in itself, a natural human need, is a fairly new construct. This dogma of work was contextualised and deconstructed by David Frayne in his publication “Refusal of Work”. Following Weber’s thought, he argues that in a pre-capitalist society, people worked only as much as necessary, and that the idea of work as a goal in itself has its roots in Protestant ethics. This dogma, however, cannot be challenged easily. While reading Frayn’s book, I felt repeatedly ignited in discord. I kept repeating in my mind that I love to work. Work has become the core of one’s identity. In this occurs the true force of the phantasm – that it is difficult to stop believing in it. To wake up from the dream of work is to lose the meaning of life.

On the playground

In “Playground”, Wyszkowska’s characters seem to have reached the breaking point –the sense of meaninglessness of work cannot even be eased by the company perks. The mosaic composition featured ten ways to kill time at work: from watching Netflix in secret to playing table football. “Playground” is a world build from from various work spaces juxtaposed. It is a co-work – or rather co-anti-work. It is a playground for adults. Outside the window a red sunset announces that soon the seventeenth hour will pass and the performance of work for the day will come to an end. To these ten scenes, I would add one as described by David Graeber in “Bullshit jobs”. It is a story of a Spanish civil servant, who – tired of bureaucratic boredom – had not shown up for work for six consecutive years. Despite this, he drew a salary, because no one had noticed his absence. When his superiors finally discovered the truth, they brought him into court. In his justification, he said that he had used the time to study the writings of philosopher Baruch Spinoza.

Managers of themselves

“Working from nine to five, what kind of life is that?” - ironically asks Dolly Parton in a song criticizing office boredom from the film “9 to 5”. However, the undoing of the tight corset of regular working hours brought new problems to light. Katarzyna Wyszkowska’s installation “One more nap” captures the mood of dreamy procrastination that accompanies freelance and remote work. In this psychedelic scene, we see a figure taking a nap. The sleep, however, will not last long, as a huge alarm clock hovers over the sleeper. The figure of the sleeper blends into the surroundings, just like the private with the public spheres blend. In bureaucracy, rules and boundaries are clearly defined. Discipline comes from managers and bosses. In biocracy, on the other hand, the line between work and non-work is blurred. The apparatus of discipline is not set in the external environment - it is within us. As a result, we work almost the entire time. Byung-Chul Han in “Psychopolitics” describes job burnout and depression as the body’s immunologic reaction to the self-harm. The inflammation is not caused by an “outsider” but by ourselves. When mind is a tool of work, we direct our aggression inwards. Frustration does not find a venting outlet, and relaxation is lined with stress.

Time to get up

 “One more nap” does not bring the desired rest. Whether we want it or not, we dream about tasks that pile up. Maybe this time when we wake up – not so much from a nap, but from the dogmatic sleep of work – we finally can quote the hero of my favorite meme. To the question “What is your dream job?”, he answers: “I simply don’t dream about labour.”

______

Essay for One More Nap exhibition by Katarzyna Wyszkowska at Import Export gallery, Warsaw

[slaveryabolitionday]

Eradicate Sex Trafficking!

According to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, trafficking in persons means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion for the purpose of exploitation.

Exploitation of persons includes prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs. The consent of the person trafficked for exploitation is irrelevant and If the trafficked person is a child, it is a crime even without the use of force. The Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons.

#trafficking in persons #modern slavery #comtemporary slavery #protocol #human trafficking #Exploitation of persons #trafficked persons #Protocol to Prevent Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons #women and children #Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons

[thozhar]

At the time of Independence, there were nearly one million Tamils of Indian origin and they were a highly exploited labour force in the country, most of them illiterate and very poor. However, supported by the left political parties, they gradually organized themselves into effective labour unions. They had also formed their own political party, the Ceylon Indian Congress (CIC), which later became the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC). The political impact of the Malayaha Tamils was strongly reflected in the 1947 general election held one year before Independence under the new Soulbury Constitution. The Left Parties secured 18 seats, many of them supported by the plantation workers. The CIC won 6 seats and together they formed the Opposition in the new parliament. The ruling United National Party (UNP), representing the Sinhala nationalists, sought to curtail the political force of the plantation workers and passed a Citizenship Bill in parliament in 1948. A great majority of them lost their voting rights and became stateless overnight. Various agreements were subsequently signed between the Sri Lankan and Indian governments from time to time, and on their basis certain portions of the stateless were sent back to India while others were granted citizenship. By 1985 nearly half a million people had been repatriated to India and a few hundred thousand absorbed into the population. Eventually, the rest of them were granted citizenship by an act in 1988. Although the plantation workers significantly contributed to the build-up of the Sri Lankan economy, the Sinhala nationalist forces were opposed to their presence in the country from the beginning. D. S. Senanayake, who later became the Prime Minister in the first parliament, expressed his discontent over the influx of the Indian immigrant workers in 1926. He said “unless special steps are taken this country will soon be swamped by Indian immigrants, mainly unskilled laboures. This free influx from the adjoining mainland most necessarily affects adversely not only the rates of pay and the prospects of employment of indigenous labour but even of the needed labourers themselves” (Nadesan 1993: 125).   This attitude of the Sinhala nationalists towards the immigrant workers continued throughout the colonial and post-colonial period. The Peoples’ Liberation Front (JVP), a Sinhala nationalist party with a left flavour which was mostly constituted at the time by unemployed Sinhala rural youths, and which emerged as a political force in the late 1960s, regarded the hill-country Tamils as a tool of “Indian expansionism.”  Owing to this hostility and the later political developments and ethnic tension, the Malayaha Tamils became quite vulnerable to ethnic violence, being severely affected by the anti-Tamil riots of 1977, 1981 and 1983. The Malayaha Tamils constitute the larger portion of the work force in Sri Lanka. The left parties and trade unions had been actively involved in transforming them into a conscious working class to fight for their labour and civil rights from the 1920s and, as we have noted earlier, they saw their political strength in the 1947 election. However, owing to the failure of the left movements in the country, the development of ethnic politics and the emergence of an ethnically-conscious educated middle class among them, they also emerged as a distinct, politically-conscious ethnic community from the 1960s. Their qualitative transformation from the derogatory thooddak kaaddaan (the term, literally meaning “plantation country brute”, that was once used to refer to members of this community by the upper class Jaffna Tamils) to the dignified malayaha thamilar  symbolizes this very significant social change. The concepts malayaha thamilar and malayaha thamil ilakkiyam (up country Tamil literature) gained currency from the 1960s and became firmly established in the contemporary Sri Lankan socio-political and literary discourse among Tamils.

— Ethnic Conflict And Literary Perception: Tamil Poetry In Post-Colonial Sri Lanka

#malayaha tamil #tamil indentured history #plantation tamils #tamil literature #malayaha tamil literature #proletariat literature #ceylon indian congress #ceylon workers congress #eelam #sri lanka #eelam literature

[puttingherinhistory]

“Covid has unleashed the most severe setback to women’s liberation in my lifetime. While watching this happen, I have started to think we are witnessing an outbreak of disaster patriarchy.

Naomi Klein was the first to identify “disaster capitalism”, when capitalists use a disaster to impose measures they couldn’t possibly get away with in normal times, generating more profit for themselves. Disaster patriarchy is a parallel and complementary process, where men exploit a crisis to reassert control and dominance, and rapidly erase hard-earned women’s rights. (The term “racialized disaster patriarchy” was used by Rachel E Luft in writing about an intersectional model for understanding disaster 10 years after Hurricane Katrina.) All over the world, patriarchy has taken full advantage of the virus to reclaim power – on the one hand, escalating the danger and violence to women, and on the other, stepping in as their supposed controller and protector.

I have spent months interviewing activists and grassroots leaders around the world, from Kenya to France to India, to find out how this process is affecting them, and how they are fighting back. In very different contexts, five key factors come up again and again. In disaster patriarchy, women lose their safety, their economic power, their autonomy, their education, and they are pushed on to the frontlines, unprotected, to be sacrificed. 

Part of me hesitates to use the word “patriarchy”, because some people feel confused by it, and others feel it’s archaic. I have tried to imagine a newer, more contemporary phrase for it, but I have watched how we keep changing language, updating and modernising our descriptions in an attempt to meet the horror of the moment. I think, for example, of all the names we have given to the act of women being beaten by their partner. First, it was battery, then domestic violence, then intimate partner violence, and most recently intimate terrorism. We are forever doing the painstaking work of refining and illuminating, rather than insisting the patriarchs work harder to deepen their understanding of a system that is eviscerating the planet. So, I’m sticking with the word. 

In this devastating time of Covid we have seen an explosion of violence towards women, whether they are cisgender or gender-diverse. Intimate terrorism in lockdown has turned the home into a kind of torture chamber for millions of women. We have seen the spread of revenge porn as lockdown has pushed the world online; such digital sexual abuse is now central to domestic violence as intimate partners threaten to share sexually explicit images without victims’ consent. 

The conditions of lockdown – confinement, economic insecurity, fear of illness, excess of alcohol – were a perfect storm for abuse. It is hard to determine what is more disturbing: the fact that in 2021 thousands of men still feel willing and entitled to control, torture and beat their wives, girlfriends and children, or that no government appears to have thought about this in their planning for lockdown. 

In Peru, hundreds of women and girls have gone missing since lockdown was imposed, and are feared dead. According to official figures reported by Al Jazeera, 606 girls and 309 women went missing between 16 March and 30 June last year. Worldwide, the closure of schools has increased the likelihood of various forms of violence. The US Rape Abuse and Incest National Network says its helpline for survivors of sexual assault has never been in such demand in its 26-year history, as children are locked in with abusers with no ability to alert their teachers or friends. In Italy, calls to the national anti-violence toll-free number increased by 73% between 1 March and 16 April 2020, according to the activist Luisa Rizzitelli. In Mexico, emergency call handlers received the highest number of calls in the country’s history, and the number of women who sought domestic violence shelters quadrupled. 

To add outrage to outrage, many governments reduced funding for these shelters at the exact moment they were most needed. This seems to be true throughout Europe. In the UK, providers told Human Rights Watch that the Covid-19 crisis has exacerbated a lack of access to services for migrant and Black, Asian and minority ethnic women. The organisations working with these communities say that persistent inequality leads to additional difficulties in accessing services such as education, healthcare and disaster relief remotely. 

In the US, more than 5 million women’s jobs were lost between the start of the pandemic and November 2020. Because much of women’s work requires physical contact with the public – restaurants, stores, childcare, healthcare settings – theirs were some of the first to go. Those who were able to keep their jobs were often frontline workers whose positions have put them in great danger; some 77% of hospital workers and 74% percent of school staff are women. Even then, the lack of childcare options left many women unable to return to their jobs. Having children does not have this effect for men. The rate of unemployment for Black and Latina women was higher before the virus, and now it is even worse. 

The situation is more severe for women in other parts of the world. Shabnam Hashmi, a leading women’s activist from India, tells me that by April 2020 a staggering 39.5% of women there had lost their jobs. “Work from home is very taxing on women as their personal space has disappeared, and workload increased threefold,” Hashmi says. In Italy, existing inequalities have been amplified by the health emergency. Rizzitelli points out that women already face lower employment, poorer salaries and more precarious contracts, and are rarely employed in “safe” corporate roles; they have been the first to suffer the effects of the crisis. “Pre-existing economic, social, racial and gender inequalities have been accentuated, and all of this risks having longer-term consequences than the virus itself,” Rizzitelli says. 

When women are put under greater financial pressure, their rights rapidly erode. With the economic crisis created by Covid, sex- and labour-trafficking are again on the rise. Young women who struggle to pay their rent are being preyed on by landlords, in a process known as “sextortion”. 

I don’t think we can overstate the level of exhaustion, anxiety and fear that women are suffering from taking care of families, with no break or time for themselves. It’s a subtle form of madness. As women take care of the sick, the needy and the dying, who takes care of them? Colani Hlatjwako, an activist leader from the Kingdom of Eswatini, sums it up: “Social norms that put a heavy caregiving burden on women and girls remain likely to make their physical and mental health suffer.” These structures also impede access to education, damage livelihoods, and strip away sources of support.

Unesco estimates that upward of 11 million girls may not return to school once the Covid pandemic subsides. The Malala Fund estimates an even bigger number: 20 million. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, from UN Women, says her organisation has been fighting for girls’ education since the Beijing UN women’s summit in 1995. “Girls make up the majority of the schoolchildren who are not going back,” she says. “We had been making progress – not perfect, but we were keeping them at school for longer. And now, to have these girls just dropping out in one year, is quite devastating.” 

Of all these setbacks, this will be the most significant. When girls are educated, they know their rights, and what to demand. They have the possibility of getting jobs and taking care of their families. When they can’t access education, they become a financial strain to their families and are often forced into early marriages. 

This has particular implications for female genital mutilation (FGM). Often, fathers will accept not subjecting their daughters to this process because their daughters can become breadwinners through being educated. If there is no education, then the traditional practices resume, so that daughters can be sold for dowries. As Agnes Pareyio, chairwoman of the Kenyan Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Board, tells me: “Covid closed our schools and brought our girls back home. No one knew what was going on in the houses. We know that if you educate a girl, FGM will not happen. And now, sadly the reverse is true.” 

In the early months of the pandemic, I had a front-row seat to the situation of nurses in the US, most of whom are women. I worked with National Nurses United, the biggest and most radical nurses’ union, and interviewed many nurses working on the frontline. I watched as for months they worked gruelling 12-hour shifts filled with agonising choices and trauma, acting as midwives to death. On their short lunch breaks, they had to protest over their own lack of personal protective equipment, which put them in even greater danger. In the same way that no one thought what it would mean to lock women and children in houses with abusers, no one thought what it would be like to send nurses into an extremely contagious pandemic without proper PPE. In some US hospitals, nurses were wearing garbage bags instead of gowns, and reusing single-use masks many times. They were being forced to stay on the job even if they had fevers.

The treatment of nurses who were risking their lives to save ours was a shocking kind of violence and disrespect. But there are many other areas of work where women have been left unprotected, from the warehouse workers who are packing and shipping our goods, to women who work in poultry and meat plants who are crammed together in dangerous proximity and forced to stay on the job even when they are sick. One of the more stunning developments has been with “tipped” restaurant workers in the US, already allowed to be paid the shockingly low wage of $2.13 (£1.50) an hour, which has remained the same for the past 22 years. Not only has work declined, tips have also declined greatly for those women, and now a new degradation called “maskular harassment” has emerged, where male customers insist waitresses take off their masks so they can determine if and how much to tip them based on their looks. 

Women farm workers in the US have seen their protections diminished while no one was looking. Mily Treviño-Sauceda, executive director of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, tells me how pressures have increased on campesinas, or female farm workers: “There have been more incidents of pesticides poisonings, sexual abuse and heat stress issues, and there is less monitoring from governmental agencies or law enforcement due to Covid-19.” 

Covid has revealed the fact that we live with two incompatible ideas when it comes to women. The first is that women are essential to every aspect of life and our survival as a species. The second is that women can easily be violated, sacrificed and erased. This is the duality that patriarchy has slashed into the fabric of existence, and that Covid has laid bare. If we are to continue as a species, this contradiction needs to be healed and made whole. 

To be clear, the problem is not the lockdowns, but what the lockdowns, and the pandemic that required them, have made clear. Covid has revealed that patriarchy is alive and well; that it will reassert itself in times of crisis because it has never been truly deconstructed, and like an untreated virus it will return with a vengeance when the conditions are ripe. 

The truth is that unless the culture changes, unless patriarchy is dismantled, we will forever be spinning our wheels. Coming out of Covid, we need to be bold, daring, outrageous and to imagine a more radical way of existing on the Earth. We need to continue to build and spread activist movements. We need progressive grassroots women and women of colour in positions of power. We need a global initiative on the scale of a Marshall Plan or larger, to deconstruct and exorcise patriarchy – which is the root of so many other forms of oppression, from imperialism to racism, from transphobia to the denigration of the Earth. 

There would first be a public acknowledgment, and education, about the nature of patriarchy and an understanding that it is driving us to our end. There would be ongoing education, public forums and processes studying how patriarchy leads to various forms of oppression. Art would help expunge trauma, grief, aggression, sorrow and anger in the culture and help heal and make people whole. We would understand that a culture that has diabolical amnesia and refuses to address its past can only repeat its misfortunes and abuses. Community and religious centres would help members deal with trauma. We would study the high arts of listening and empathy. Reparations and apologies would be done in public forums and in private meetings. Learning the art of apology would be as important as prayer.

The feminist author Gerda Lerner wrote in 1986: “The system of patriarchy in a historic construct has a beginning and it will have an end. Its time seems to have nearly run its course. It no longer serves the needs of men and women, and its intractable linkage to militarism, hierarchy and racism has threatened the very existence of life on Earth.”

As powerful as patriarchy is, it’s just a story. As the post-pandemic era unfolds, can we imagine another system, one that is not based on hierarchy, violence, domination, colonialisation and occupation? Do we see the connection between the devaluing, harming and oppression of all women and the destruction of the Earth itself? What if we lived as if we were kin? What if we treated each person as sacred and essential to the unfolding story of humanity? 

What if rather than exploiting, dominating and hurting women and girls during a crisis, we designed a world that valued them, educated them, paid them, listened to them, cared for them and centred them?“

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