Poverty hidden "German miracle"

In a stagnant eurozone , German locomotive seems to have found the formula to repeat the miracle of postwar low unemployment rate , economic growth and increased exports . But this glossy showcase for hiding an unthinkable fourth largest economy and second largest exporter in the world social reality. This flexible labor market explains an apparent paradox reflected in the Social Report 2013 published by the German Federal Office of Statistics. According to the report , the level of employment in 2012 reached a record 41.5 million people, but the total number of hours worked was below the rate for 1991 . " More and more people working part time voluntarily or because they do not offer anything else," the report said .

Poverty in a rich country

This job insecurity has been accompanied by an increased "risk of poverty " . According to the official flag "is considered precarious situation when a household whose income does not exceed 60 % of the median income of the entire country." Constantly ready money is all that is below 848 euros per month ( equivalent to U.S. $ 1,158 ) . In purely numerical terms it is clear that a poor in Germany is not as poor as in Latin America. But if you take into account the cost of living in Germany , the hardness of the European winter and the monthly salary of mini-jobs (450 euros) the film changes . Although employment has grown in the last ten years , today more than 16 % of the population is at " risk of poverty " compared with 15.2 % in 2007. The increase may seem minimal, but reflects a new social premise: having a job is not enough to escape poverty. According to German researcher Sebastian Dullien , author of " decent Capitalism " , the changes of the last decade are creating a new model. " The double reform social security and the labor market has greatly increased poverty and inequality. We are becoming a country of low wages ," the BBC said Dullien .

Global world , flexible work

The starting point was the Agenda 2010 reform led by the Social Democratic Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in 2002 to combat the challenges of globalization. That year the German growth was 0 % and had a high rate of "chronic" unemployment considered . Many economists Germany called the " sick man of Europe ," incapable of coping with the competition from China and other Asian countries . According to the head of the European Research Council for Foreign Affairs , Hans Kundnani , Agenda 2010 favored employers at the expense of workers. "To compete globally entrepreneurs were moving production to countries with lower labor costs. This forced the unions to accept wage moderation . So they worked did not see a drop in their standard of living for the security reform social and those that work had not felt that they benefited from this so-called German ' second miracle ' . relaxed to that the employment contributed to lower labor costs plus the German joined , "he told BBC Kundnani . The unions negotiating tripartite system -business- government established after World War II paved the way for this adjustment was made, but considering that GDP growth between 2002-2012 was 1.2 % the economic performance is far from being a "miracle" . " we had a couple of pretty good years , but the growth has not been as strong . wage stagnation was a fall in living standards and our domestic consumption," Dullien told BBC world.

The long-term

A poverty rates , add a crisis that is hitting very hard to retirees. The official estimate is that 30 % receive a pension of 688 euros per month ( U.S. $ 928) . The intervention of social security helps supplement this income , but the current labor market flexibility will go a shadowy society account. According to a recent report by the Ministry of Labour contributions of people with mini-jobs to public pension funds will give them a right to a 3.11 euros per month (U.S. $ 4.19 ) per year worked. With the retirement age to 67 , it can be calculated that someone who has had mini-jobs in hotels or restaurants, will have a monthly pension of 140 euros ( U.S. $ 189) at retirement. According to Sebastian Dullien is a situation that affects not only the mini-jobs . "There are full-time jobs that pay about 5 euros per hour (U.S. $ 6.75) . Pension of such wages also will be below the poverty line ," he told BBC News .
A model in trouble

Despite these data , Germany has been called a "miracle " because it spanned two international - the crisis, financial crash of 2008 and the sovereign debt of 2010 - with a level of growth which, while not outstanding, was remarkable if as compared with the rest of the eurozone. But this miracle is beginning to dissipate. In 2010 and 2011 the economy grew by 4.2 % and 3 % respectively, partly recovering the ground lost during the global economic recession in 2009 ( 5.1% contraction ) . Since then the story has changed . In 2012 growth was 0.7% . In 2013 0.5%. Percentages are comparable with the crisis years of the century . Still, Chancellor Angela Merkel was reelected in September, but was forced to form a coalition with the Social Democrats to govern. The price that the Social Democrats put the pact was an improvement of social conditions , including a minimum wage, an increase in pensions and investment in infrastructure. This new covenant is not the end of the easing. According to Hans Kundnani , globalization will continue to impose conditions. "This is a dilemma for all developed economies . The problem is that Germany tried to compete with emerging economies based on price and not on innovation and investment. The new measures driven by social democrats may increase consumption. 's argument is right that this minimum wage will be job losses , "he told BBC Kundnani
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The nightmare of the Spanish in Belgium: "We have been told a big lie with Europe"

Like many, left Spain with the idea of ​​a better life abroad, but the project was 300 Spaniards emigrated to Belgium were twisted when ordered to leave the country for being " an undue burden " to the system.



The Spaniards were in 2013 third in the list of those most Europeans against expulsions were issued in Belgium for this reason , after Romanians and Bulgarians, according to figures released in January by the Belgian Aliens Office .

The spokesman for the Foreign Office in Belgium, Dominique Ernould explained that under the concept of " unreasonable burden on the system " case is examined case in Belgium , and considered load " when a person takes in more than one arrest whole year , does efforts to find a job and is installed on a system of social aid . "

The Belgian State Ernould stressed , " can not stand " that pressure : "Since the Belgian population is difficult. If in addition we have to accept and treat as part of the European population , is absolutely impossible. "

A burden to the system
One of the cases affected by the expulsion of Belgium is the Donaire Fatima (Jaén, 1984) , Bachelor of Fine Arts , which arrived in Belgium in November 2010 to practice for five months in a design studio , a scholarship program Eurydice .

When the fellowship ended, Donaire reported that decided to stay in Belgium to learn French and find work. At the same time , asked one of the social assistance in Belgium to people who do not have sufficient resources are granted and that allowed him to receive 525 euros a month to pay for accommodation .

During a year, the Andalusian worked as a waitress , but her work was declared to social security and still receiving social assistance, until he received a letter with the order within 30 days that he had to leave the country for being a burden on the system .

Already with the Belgian population is difficult. If in addition we have to accept and treat as part of the European population , it is absolutely impossible

In Belgium European expulsions have increased from about 300 in 2010 to 2,000 in 2012 to overcome , since the Belgian authorities cross -agency data .

"This has revealed that many European abusing the system. We have seen that we were putting the nail on the head : it is a system that was not working , "said Ernould .

Donaire says it received a " derogatory treatment " at the town hall where he went to receive the letter and where he retired Belgian identity card .

Through a Belgian lawyer presented evidence that during your stay no longer looking for work , and had also done a course to become child cheerleader in schools.

Thanks to that , and above all , to find work last June in a public school in Ixelles ( Brussels ) , avoided expulsion.

European lie
"I feel cheated , I feel that we have told a big lie with Europe when it is not true, and we are all deceived. Until you pass something of this kind do not know , "he said in an interview.

Overcome the situation, she explains that to free movement within the European Union " really means that you have money to stay interested , you do not have money and are looking for the life that will come to your country."

The expulsions , said spokeswoman Belgian Aliens Office , responding to the provisions of European legislation .

In this regard Justice spokeswoman of the European Commission (EC ) , Mina Andreeva , recalled that " the free movement right together is a duty."

Andreeva said , although it involves the free movement within the Community , "does not imply the right of free access to social security systems of the Member States " .

" The citizens have the right to go to another EU country and stay up to three months without any obligation or right to seek benefits ," says Andreeva , adding that only you can stay up to six months in the country if the person demonstrates that actively seeking work .

After that term , " European citizens have no right to remain in the host Member State , unless they have financial means to support and comprehensive sickness insurance ."

Gamonal victory .

Gamonal victory .

The work is temporarily paralyzed , one side , the mayor says he does not give way and the other, neighboring stands firm in its position . It looks like a stalemate that will never end until the defeat or victory of one .

I want to give the neighbors an idea hoping these words reach the neighborhood and can help make the "real " mecha to force substantial change our country needs and our Democracy. For Wicks , sparks and flame you but many believe will not produce fire , and that, of fire, and had quite our grandparents, EVER .

These are the following:

Gamonal victory would be complete if the associations of neighborhood residents prepare an alternative draft to the council, which is much cheaper Boulevard and free of speculation , commissions and subcontractors. That has a parking PUBLIC thought for the neighbors. And of course , labor is hired in the same neighborhood and distributed as best as possible.

This would be the political grave of the mayor and the district would remember the " boulevard no", do not be deceived that will try again to have Forever " Victory Boulevard " .

And on this I said ... All those with whom they discuss both do nothing but wait wicks , sparks and flame ... Should think about it ...

There are victories in stopping a project or another, or take a government or other ... The victories are generating between ALL "reality" to build after the change to ALL ... And that we're not going anywhere.

We see sparks , wicks , flames and fire ... No matter if we do not do what I say , or at least give voice and support those who are willing to do it themselves ... Without that ... There will be more and more sparks , wicks , flames and fire ... But we will only be fucking smoke in history.

15M and turned on the "real " mecha ... Stop waiting Revolutions and Make it because it is happening and many seem to have been unaware

Heterofobia Cortometraje

Child Labour: the billionaire business Yerba Mate

From the NGO A Dream for Missions , Patricia Ocampo tries to bring society to collaborate with the campaign " I love the Matte But Not Child Labor ." In Misiones boys are exploited to increase the daily harvest.
30/11/2013
Patricia Ocampo is the General Coordinator of the NGO " A Dream For Missions" and the continuation of the constant campaigns that attempt to eradicate child labor , naked reality covering companies producing Yerba Mate and points out the challenges to eliminating thrashing in the field. "We need educational revolution is " almost screaming from northeastern Argentina.
Ocampo against government decisions but also admits that not only depends on officials " but the only way to achieve the eradication of child labor and containment of families is that worry us all ."

What are the measures from the missionary Government taken to reduce the scourge of child labor in the area of ​​the Yerba Mate?
- There are isolated initiatives that arise from the problem of extreme marginality tareferos in which they live. For example, it has introduced a bill to place a stamp on the packages of yerba producers to comply with the law by employing children in the harvest and so provide tax advantages. However, the only way to achieve the eradication of child labor and containment of families is that we all worry . It is undeniable that politicians make the major decisions , but nothing that is really important to be left alone in the hands of governments , I repeat , nothing that is important and children are.
Why herbalists themselves do not dare to denounce the conditions in which they live and their children?
- The tareferos not reported because the need is on your plate and as a counterweight on the other side is the power. I give an example , a journalist asked us a note with a family whose children had died on the road in June 2013 . These guys did not exceed the age of 14 went to work to yerbal and died because the contractor 's moved on a truck with visible mechanical failures . To their families , the provincial government awarded them a grant , when asked if they wanted to make note , at first said yes and then said that they were afraid to let them make the subsidy if they spoke . I'm not saying that they'd been taken , but it is obvious that they are afraid of losing what little we have . The tareferos are afraid of losing the bags with food, school supplies given to them . The tareferos leaders know that their peers are with them because they are the leaders who receive and distribute what the government gives them . So each party ends up being functional to the status quo that keeps people in poverty 75 .
What is the salary of an employee?
- A worker has a base salary , paid when working and as harvesting , works 6 months and live the rest of odd jobs ( Hand of cheap unskilled labor ) . On average a worker claimed , in 2013 , about 2200 pesos a month, that's why if accompanying children harvest increases this figure. A complete family from sun to sun can get to reap thousand kilos in a day against the three hundred or five hundred who manages to make a tarefero alone. 70 % of tareferos works in black and white does not want to be in to keep subsidies .
Do parents are forced to take their children to work or do it by necessity?
- They do it out of necessity and because they have no place to leave them . Most working parents in harvesting the grass started working when they were between 4 and 13 years, it is normal for them . We must understand that among tareferos go hungry , we're not talking that they can not have holiday is among the ranks of the tareferos and peoples of Misiones where malnutrition and you need to speak to understand why so hard to get ahead. We need educational revolution is , if we get all our children and young people access to adequate food and an excellent education in 20 years we have another country.
Is it true that there are more deaths in children are unknown ?
- " A dream for Missions" does not have the resources to carry out scientifically statistics . We know that the guys in yerbales die , while poverty and hunger also kill . There are many diseases associated with poverty .
Can pesticides causes the deaths of the boys?
- A committee of IPEC ( Provincial Institute of Statistics and Censuses - Misiones ) met in August and have been expressed thus: " The provincial government has decided to conduct the first census operation that takes into consideration specifically to these important rural workers who form a key sector of the industry " will have to wait to finish the census to find accurate data, while I can only tell you so much that we have encountered many children with cerebral palsy and their mothers worked in the fields while pregnant . Although IPEC develop until the census we are blind as the state.
Could you talk to the kids or their parents ? What do you say ?
- In general there is a state of resignation , a way of life close to slavery is accepted. See no other possibility although deep sense that they are used. Imagine them like this: your grandparents were poor , your parents too poor vos sos not got nothing, you know your rights , your obligations and your energies are put into getting the calories to arrive tomorrow. Sometimes we have to pay some fees and feel anguish. These people think of getting the basics.
Why being a multimillion dollar business in such precarious working conditions and the kids are out of school ?
- The answer is very personal, could tell you that at 5 corporations that handle mate as they do not mind the money, the government such a thing , other than such opposition ... However , I really think the problem is social . We live in a society in fear of losing what we got to missing work and / or money. Crisis after crisis and live every day accept unfair situations for ourselves and others. This campaign is a way to retrieve the values ​​and curb injustice. If you were to accomplish the task , which is simply to highlight what we as a society do with children who are our future and create a multi- table so that together the government , trade unions, opposition and NGOs , forget what we separated and we focus on eliminating child labor in yerba mate , then maybe we can be an inspiration to others and begin to transform society. There are many people wanting to do the right thing and this feeds my faith that this is possible.
Did you talk to the unions? With the Ministry of Labour ?
- Every time someone signs the petition automatically sends an email to the authorities of the country office of the ILO for Argentina , the Argentine Association Coordinator ( CCAS ) Council and the Secretary General Juan Carlos Schmid, Hugo Moyano, the Secretary General of the UIA and Carlos Taken , the Ministry of Labour , the Central Workers CONAETI Argentina and President John Bruno , Communication CONAETI , among many others. No replies yet. We have also communicated by telephone with CONAETI and you know what? we were asked to send an email , I hope it was a joke , however , I want to acknowledge Daniel Filmus me via Twitter helped one to support the request for a wheelchair for a 12 year old boy with cerebral palsy and one for phones CONAETI the president .
How this problem is solved without political status , without schools nearby for kids to not have to work ?
- It would be a mistake to think that this problem can be treated only with actions involving children , create a safety net for families, serve no spasmodic acts must develop policies and sustained action to eliminate child labor in the grass in 2015 but we must continue with the rest of the work that endanger children by 2016 , as promised in the Argentina international agreements. We need consensus , well-meaning people who embrace the idea of ​​ending it in 2015.
Patricia Ocampo returned from missions to the province of Buenos Aires next week to continue the campaign started because the scourge herbalists living the missionary families . Also, Ocampo sent a letter to Pope Francisco , which had a large membership in social networks .
Hernán Giacomelli

5 Steps That Enable Bold Decisions

Opinions. Feedback. Advice. Guidance. Counsel. Consensus!

Ugh.

Granted, it’s natural to look for input when we need to make decisions. And if asking for advice doesn’t come naturally, the business world trains us to actively solicit opinions, bounce ideas off other people, and run our ideas up proverbial flagpoles in order to harness the amazing brain power of the many to make awesomely incredible decisions.

Sometimes that approach works… but sometimes it’s the worst approach to take when you need to make a huge decision.

The main power wielded by group thinking is the power of the middle ground. Groups grind away the edges and the sharp corners. After all of the input and feedback and devil’s advocacy, what remains is safe, secure… and similar. One person making a decision enables boldness and originality — a “committee” making a decision ensures timidity and conventionality.

If you want to be different—if you want to achieve “different”—the only opinion that truly matters is yours. Group decisions give you an out. Other people can be at least partly responsible. Other people can be wrong.

When you make the decision, everything rests on you: your vision, your passion, your motivation, and your sense of responsibility. So you’ll try harder if only to prove others wrong. You’ll fight through every obstacle and roadblock, if only to prove yourself right.

You will do everything possible to make it happen.

So when you need to make a huge decision, this is how to get input and opinions—while still making sure you, and only you, make the final decision:

1. Take a “crazy” idea.

Choose something you believe in late at night but in the cold light of day hesitate to try.

Or choose an idea you’ve been told will never work.

2. Then seek data, not opinions.

Input from other people is useful, but only if you see that input as data points and not opinions.

Opinions carry extra weight, like the weight of credibility (he’s really smart, so I’m sure he’s right), the weight of guilt (if it turns out he’s right, I’ll never hear the end of it), or the weight of safety (yeah, there probably is a reason no one has tried this before).

“I think you’re crazy to try to open a store in that market,” is an opinion. It may be accurate or may not be accurate; either way, it’s still just an opinion.

If you value the person’s perspective, ask how he or she arrived at that opinion. Always look for the data behind the conclusion.

Otherwise ignore everything that isn’t data—warnings, cautionary tales, and well-intentioned but poorly founded advice—since you already know all those things anyway.

3. Evaluate the data.

Data analysis is easy when opinions and “weight” are stripped away.

Make a pros and cons list. Apply sensitivities. Be objective. Be smart. You know how.

4. Decide how strongly you believe.

Analysis will only take you so far, since critical thinking tends to steer decisions towards conventional wisdom.

An innovative product only looks like a sure thing in hindsight. The emergence of a new industry only seems inevitable after it has emerged.

At some point, someone believed when others didn’t, so then…

5. … decide if that someone is you.

If you believe when others don’t–and a major portion of your belief is based on analysis and not gut feel—then go for it. Start a new initiative. End a struggling initiative. Enter a new market. Take a chance on a new product.

Go for it, knowing you’ll go harder and faster and longer because the only person that really matters made the decision.

You

No Job Land