Global Perspectives
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[edit] Global Perspectives
[edit] International Food Aid
U.S. International Food Aid
Introduction and Body:
The United States is one of the world’s largest provider of international food aid to third world countries and other developing nations. As of 2005, food aid from the U.S. accounted for about 59 percent of food shipment and a large portion of this aid is directed through the WFP (the United Nations World Food Program). The WFP provides food aid for low-income nations and humanitarian relief for countries in need. Approximately 56 donor countries and other charitable non-governmental organizations contribute to the cause of WFP. The U.S. provided about 47 percent of total contributions in the last 10 years as of 2005. U.S. contributions on the whole increased from 2.9 million metric tons in equivalence of wheat in 1996 to about 5.5 million metric tons in 2005. Also known is the FAC (the Food Aid Convention), which is now expired and was an agreement made in 1999 that provided a minimum amount of food aid to developing nations. Under the FAC, donor nations made annual food commitments, with the U.S. making the largest commitment of about 2.5 million metric tons as of 2003. Even though the FAC is expired, the IGC (International Grains Council) was established to carry out the commitments of the FAC. The committee continues to review donor contributions in accordance to FAC guidelines. The WFP, which was established in 1960, is a humanitarian aid division of the United Nations and it helps about 90 million people worldwide in need of food and other necessities, stressing its cause mostly on children. Every year around 800 million people worldwide go hungry and millions of others die from lacking nutrition.The values of the WFP and its message stresses the importance of providing food aid to help refugees in cases of emergency, to improve the nutritional aspects of people who are in need of help, and to provide the skills necessary for communities and the people in it to become more self- reliant. As of 2006, the WFP provided about 4 million metric tons of food aid to those in need in 80 countries, helping approximately 90 million people. Accordingly the countries that needed the most help were Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya. WFP accepts donations from governments, non-governmental organizations, private donors and other charitable organizations. WFP also organizes the growth of other programs to help combat world problems such as the Purchase for Progress program, which aims to help end poverty and hunger in developing nations and the Fight Hunger program which aims to end child hunger by 2015.
Controversies surrounding International Food Aid: .Being that the U.S. is the worlds largest donor, the U.S. government and other anti-hunger campaigners are suggesting that the U.S. and other nations should donate cash supplements, etc... rather than excess surplus of food. The cash would allow malnourished nations to buy food locally for its people, thereby helping the economy and decreasing hunger. About a third of all global food aid, some $600 million U.S. is wasted because of excess shipping and purchases costs in home markets, according to a recent report from the UN organization.
.Organizations that receive these food surpluses in unfortunate nations sell them off to raise money for the needy...cash seems to be more appropriate to them rather than directly giving the food to those in need. The claim to need the funds not the food to continue on with their organizations, being that some of them are charitable and non-governmental.
.Cash seems better because it saves time and the transportation costs of shipping food aid.
. Even though there is enough surplus in well off nations to cover wide-spread hunger and poverty, why is there still malnutrition and why does hunger still persist?
.Global warming and the dwindling production of food (many farmers are making corn for ethanol,etc.) will cause a deficit in food surpluses and food production will decrease.So food aid seems to be in jeopardy.
Resources: Web Resources/ Print
1-Hanrahan, Charles E. “International Food Aid: U.S. and Other Donor Contributions.” CRS Report for Congress, CRS Web. 18. Oct. 2006.
2- Hopkins, Raymond F.. International Organization, Winter92, Vol. 46 Issue 1, p225, 40p, 5 Charts, 1 Graph; (AN 9203301210)
3-Mousseau, Frederic; Mittal, Anuradha. Humanist, Mar/Apr2006, Vol. 66 Issue 2, p24-26, 3p; (AN 19862072)
4-Rucker, Philio. “ Gates Foundation to Fund Experimental Food Aid Program.” The Washington Post. 24 Sept. 2008.
5-Schalch, Kathleen. “U.S. Aid Critics Call on Congress for Overhaul.” NPR. 24 Sept. 2008. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16053196.
6-Uvin, Peter. International Studies Quarterly, Sep92, Vol. 36 Issue 3, p293, 20p, 6 Charts; (AN 9211163888)
7-The impact of food aid on world malnutrition. By: Schubert, James N. International Organization, Spring81, Vol. 35 Issue 2, p329-354, 26p, 10 Charts; (AN 5181327).
8-Military Famine, Human Rights, and Child Hunger. By: Jenkins, J. Craig; Scanlan, Stephen J.; Peterson, Lindsey. Journal of Conflict Resolution, Dec2007, Vol. 51 Issue 6, p823-847, 25p; (AN 27584556)
[edit] Israel
Intro-
The Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) influence on the Israel Welfare State- In Israel, there is a religious sect of jews called Haredi's who are almost fully supported by government subsidies. The reasons for this are partly due to their religious beliefs, and partly because of the tremendous amount of political power they hold in the Knesset (Jewish Parliament). While being subsidized by the state so overtly, resources to help other citizens in the state become depleted, causing it to be one of the most poverty stricken countries in the modern world.
Resources:
http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/12439/- This article essentially provides the backbone as to how a Haredi families are able to exist and continue their rigid lifestyle while living in a modern era.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/900677.html- This article shows the statistical data proving how poverty stricken the state of Israel really is.
http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1999/b3621065.arc.htm- Another article discussing at the current rate of subsidy, the Israeli Welfare State could collapse in the near future.
http://www.jcpa.org/jl/vp104.htm- This article discusses how the Haredi sector became so influential in the government with their primary party of Agudath Israel. Also discusses the inner workings of the Haredi faction and how they uphold their antiquated ideals within a modern framework.
(More To Come)
Subsections-
Haredi influence in the Israeli Political System and history- The only way such a small fraction of the population can get so many government subsidies is by government allowance and by extreme haredi influence. Here I will try to explain how this dis- proportionality was caused and how it is today.
Haredi religious beliefs and antiquated ideals- Part of the reason why Haredi's receive so many benefits from the state is caused by their belief structure. Here I will try to explain what they believe and how this plays a part on their welfare subsistence.
[edit] Russia
when most people think of Russia they still picture the former soviet union and the bread line and socialism, obviously that's not the way it it is anymore since Russia is just Russia and they are now a “democracy” . In 1994 the World Bank declared that Russia's current social protection was not good enough for new market oriented economy that they were striving for. This began the process that Russia is still going through to change its welfare system. They are currently working on improving their orphanages and children's welfare,
as well as trying to improve their homeless situation since it is estimated that there are over 300,000 homeless people in Moscow alone, and there is only one shelter. Russia has finally installed a minimum wage and is working on stabilizing its welfare system and bringing it up to standards.
Facts about Russia
Population: 140,702,096 (July 2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 10.81 deaths/1,000 live births/ USA total: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Literacy:99.4%/ USA 99%
Unemployment rate: 6.27%/ USA 4.6%
Poverty rate: 16.3%, there are about 16 people living below the poverty line for everyone millionaire.
[edit] Homelessness
The urban homeless are a category of the socially disadvantaged that received no official recognition in the Soviet era. Soviet law banned beggars and vagrants and the homeless. After the fall of the Soviet Union the ban also fell and thousands of homeless people appeared in Russian cities. In 1995 Moscow estimated that the city's homeless population was about 30,000, but these figures are often protested by western experts who put the number around 300,000. An estimated 300 homeless people die for every month of the winter months in Russia. In the mid 1990's Moscow hod only one homeless shelter, with a capacity of twenty four people. Other major Russian cities didn't even offer anything close to that. For a homeless person to find a place to live, they must first get a housing permit which costs about $7,000, so not only do you have to be able to find a way to pay for the apartment that you want to rent, you must also be able to afford a housing perimt. In 1995, the city of Moscow built ten new shelters, and has eased the procedure for obtaining a residency permit, it only costs about $1,000 now compared to the $7,000 it was before.
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== Pension ==
Pensions are the largest part of the social program. The Pension fund accounts for 83 percent of russia budget. These are the qualifying factors for different types of Russia's pensions.
Old-age pension
Old-age labor pension: Age 60 (men) or age 55 (women) with at least 5 years of insurance coverage.
The qualifying conditions are reduced for persons who have worked in the far-north region or in hazardous or dangerous work, to mothers who have five or more children or disabled children, and to some specified professional categories.
Unemployed workers aged 58 or 59 (men) or aged 53 or 54 (women) with no possibility of finding work, subject to the approval of the Employment Agency.
Age 50 with 20 years of work (men) or age 45 with 15 years of work (women), including 10 years (men) or 7.5 years (women) working in an unhealthy environment, underground, or in hot workshops.
Age 55 with 25 years of work (men) or age 50 with 20 years of work (women), including 12.5 years (men) or 10 years (women) in an unhealthy working environment, in geological work, in the railway service, as a driver in a mine, as a dock worker, as a sailor, or as aircraft ground crew. (The required number of years of work in an unhealthy working environment may vary according to circumstances and profession.)
There is no lower age limit for teachers who have worked with children for 25 years and for medical workers employed in health care institutions in cities for 30 years or in villages for 25 years. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[edit] Disability pension
Disability labor pension: The insured must have been previously employed. The pension is calculated according to three assessed degrees of disability: Group III, 100% incapable of work and requiring constant attendance; Group II, 100% incapable of work but not in need of constant attendance; Group I, 50% incapable of work and not in need of constant attendance.
State disability pension: There is no minimum qualifying period for persons younger than age 20 whose disability is due to a general illness or for any disability resulting from a severe work injury, an occupational disease, or military service.
Sickness benefit: The benefit varies according to the length of the insurance coverage period: 60% of current earnings is paid with less than 5 years of insurance coverage; 80% with 5 to 8 years; 100% with more than 8 years (or if the insured has three or more dependent children).
To provide care for a sick child younger than age 7, the benefit is provided for the total period of sickness; for a child younger than age 15, for 15 calendar days; for a family member older than age 15, for 7 calendar days.
The minimum benefit is equal to 100% of the minimum wage.
The maximum benefit is equal to 85 times the minimum wage.
The minimum wage is 1,100 rubles (May 2006).
Funeral grant: A lump sum of between 1,000 rubles and 2,000 rubles is paid, depending on local government financial resources.
Maternity benefit: 100% of the insured's gross earnings in the last 12 months is paid for 70 days before the expected date of childbirth and 70 days after childbirth; may be extended by an additional 14 or 40 days in certain cases.
The maximum benefit is 12,480 rubles.
Childbirth grant: A lump sum of 8,000 rubles is paid, plus an additional sum paid by local government.
Pregnancy registration supplement: 300 rubles is paid when the pregnancy is registered.
Adoption grant: A lump sum of 6,000 rubles (2005) is paid, plus an additional sum paid by local government.
Unemployment benefits: Must be registered at an employment office, have 26 weeks of full-time employment in the last 12 months (or the 26-week equivalent for part-time employment), and be able and willing to work.
Benefits may be reduced, postponed, suspended, or terminated if the worker is discharged for violating work discipline, leaving employment without good cause, violating conditions for job placement or vocational training, or filing a fraudulent claim.
Unemployed persons who do not meet the prior work conditions or persons who have never worked may be eligible for reduced benefits. Unemployment Benefits
Benefits are calculated as a percentage of previous average wages and are paid for up to 12 months. The benefits decrease over time: 75% of the previous average monthly wage is paid for the first 3 months; 60% for the next 4 months; and 45% for the last 5 months.
For a second 12-month period, the monthly benefit is equal to 30% of the local minimum subsistence level.
The minimum monthly benefit is 720 rubles.
The maximum monthly benefit is 2,880 rubles.
For unemployed persons who do not meet the prior work conditions or for persons who have never worked, the benefit is 30% of the regional minimum subsistence level for the first 6 months and 20% of the regional minimum subsistence level for the next 6 months, but not less than 100 rubles per month.
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== Child allowances: ==
Payable to families with income below the locally determined minimum subsistence level. The child must reside in the household.
Child care leave allowance: Payable to employees, students engaged in vocational courses, and military personnel. Family Allowance Benefits
Child allowances: The allowance varies according to geographic region. The allowance is paid for each child from age 18 months to age 16 (up to age 18 if a full-time student).
Supplements are paid if a parent fails to pay alimony.
Single parents receive twice the child allowance.
Child care leave allowance: 700 rubles a month is paid until the child is age 18 months; age 7 if the child is ill and receiving outpatient treatment; age 15 if receiving inpatient treatment.
A parent caring for a sick child receives 60% to 100% of wages for the first 7 days of illness; thereafter, 30% of wages (50% for single mothers) until the child's full recovery. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[edit] Charities
Charities in Russia are very hard to come by, Russian laws gives not statue for private charities. They are usually terribly underfunded and cannot support the high demand and many are driven out because of the high rents they are charged. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[edit] Russia's Orphanages
Some general information about orphans throughout Russia indicates the following:
• The estimate is that there are some 770, 000 orphans • 100,000 new orphans are added to the system annually • 93% of orphans today are known as “social orphans”—abandoned or removed from their parents • Within one year following leaving the orphanage or tech school, 40% are involved in drugs, 10% have committed suicide, and 10% are considered “normal” • “Street Kids” are estimated at 1 to 3 million • Orphan graduates between the age of 16-23 from the 82 regions total 90-130 graduates each • Russia’s unemployment rate stands at 13% --with youth it is 26% --the majority being orphans • Regarding domestic adoptions, they are free for Russians; 92% of children adopted are under one year; up to 80% of these adoptions fail with the child returned to the state • 27 to 82 regions in Russia have foster care that is state supported; however, no national foster care plan has been approved • Finally, there is the lack of Russian government ownership of the orphan problem; a lack of organizations to provide services to orphans; and a lack of coordination between agencies that serve orphan children • The ministries of education, health, social work, labor, and international affairs all work with orphans, yet, don’t coordinate together _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[edit] Education
While Russia has always had a very strong school system, it has heavily influenced by soviet values. After the fall of the soviet system, many schools were given free-range on what kind of programs to run. They also lost a lot of their funding since the money was needed in other places. In 1994 one of every two students attended a school operation on two or three shifts.
There is a huge lack of teachers in Russia, since teachers are so underpaid there where over 29,000 vacancies in teaching positions in 1993. Over twenty five percent of foreign language teacher positions were unfilled
Russia does have one of the highest literacy rates in the world.
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[edit] The Parts of the Welfare System
The Russian welfare system is broken up into four extra-budgetary funds, They are the social Insurance Fund, The Pension Fund, The Employment Fund , and the Fund for Social Support. These are all than broken down into smaller groups. The Russian social security system is very poorly mangagend with a lot of decentralization and many events of missing money and corruption.
Social Policy and Reforms Through the Eyes of Russians Gorshkov, M. K.
The economic impact of chronic diseases: How do households respond to shocks? Evidence from Russia Abegunde, Dele Olawale Stanciole, Anderson
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3530184.stm
[edit] INDIA
Introduction: Being the biggest country and population in the middle east, India struggles to support its people from minor needs. Although, india have some welfare programs to help those in need, still there are people who are eligible and are not getting help. To get started for this research Project, I would focuse on Child healthcare,Widows welfare, workfare in india and education (financial aid). To support my research I would be using the following resources.
RESOURSES Healthcare in India: Changing the Financing Strategy. Preview By: Duggal, Ravi.Social Policy & Administration, Aug 2007,Vol.41 Issue4, P386-394,9p,3 charts; DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9515.2007.00560.x; (AN 25764953)
Child Budgeting as a Strategy for Policy change. Preview by : Mathew, Leemanmol.Social Poicy & Asministration, Aug2007,Vol.41 Issue 4,p395-400,6p, 2charts; DOI: 1.01111/j.1467-9515.2007.00560.x; (AN 25764952)
Supervision in Tribal and State Child Welfare Agencies: Professionlization. Resposiblities, Training Needs, and Satisfaction. Preview by: Maceachron, Ann E.. Child Welfare, Mar/Apr94, Vol.73 issue 2, p117-128,13p, 2 charts; (AN 24227519)
Observation son the child Welare Scene in India. Preview by: Damania, Deenaz. Child Welfare, Mar/Apr 89, vol.68 issue 2, p141-144, 4p (AN24622532)
Do Anti-poverty Programmes Reach the Rural Poor in India?Preview By: Gaiha, Raghav. Oxford Development Studies, Feb2000, Vol. 28 Issue 1, p71-95, 25p, 4 Graphs; DOI: 10.1080/136008100113628; (AN 287306)
Workfare versus welfare: Incentive arguments for work requirements in poverty-alleviation programs Preview By: Besley, Timothy; Coate, Stephen. American Economic Review, Mar1992, Vol. 82 Issue 1, p249, 13p, 4 Graphs; (AN 9204060605)
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND RURAL SOCIAL CHANGE.Preview By: Loomis, Charles P.. Sociologia Ruralis, 1968, Vol. 8, p289-304, 16p; (AN 15675063)
http://www.widowwelfareassocation.com/story/page7.htm
http://www.orpahange/org/asia/india/stpaul/index. htm
http://indiancarpets.com/welfare.html
http://www.hcilondon/net/india-overview/soical-objective-welare/index.html
http://childrencharityindia.workpress.com/
http://www.articlesbase.com/women's-issues-aritcles/shaheen-womesn-resources-and-welare-organization
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2006/1914/
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/plc/prereadin/widremar.htm
http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/shrine/4287/child.htm?20087
http://india_resource.tripod.com/welfare.html
SUBSECTION
I would be discussing about welfare in india in general. Some issues dealing with healthcare for children and how they affect them in the long run? Who is eligible who is not? Is a widow eligible for welfare? How are they treated with government if they even recieve welfare? who are eligible to get financial aid if any, in india? Most importantly, where is the money coming from to support these welfare programs?
[edit] COLOMBIA
Introduction This research will mainly focuse of organizations and foundations that provode aid to the Colombian people inside and outside the country. I will be talking about organizations such as the Colombian Family Welfate Institute, Conexion Colombia and some foundations such as Naked Feet, Nutrir and some others. I will also research on the history of the social welfare system in colombia.
Resources
Displacement Due to Violence in Colombia: A Household-Level Analysis.Preview By: Engel, Stefanie; Ibáñez, Ana María. Economic Development & Cultural Change, Jan2007, Vol. 55 Issue 2, p335-365, 31p, 5 charts; (AN 23237730)
Colombian Institutions in the Twentieth Century. Preview By: Kalmanovitz, Salomón. International Journal of Politics, Culture & Society, Fall2000, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p235, 21p; (AN 10736740)
Employment and Poverty during Economic Restructuring: The Case of Bogota, Colombia.Preview By: Gilbert, Alan. Urban Studies, Jun97, Vol. 34 Issue 7, p1047-1070, 24p, 12 charts; DOI: 10.1080/0042098975727; (AN 9706261871)
Rural Nonfarm Employment and Income Diversification in Colombia. Preview By: Deininger, Klaus; Olinto, Pedro. World Development, Mar2001, Vol. 29 Issue 3, p455, 11p, 3 Charts; (AN 4354630)
Key Words
Colombian Welfare, Embassy of Colombia, Colombian Government aid, Plan Colombia, ICBF (The Colombian Institute of Family Welfare), Unemployment in Colombia, Colombian Economy, Inflation rate in Colombia, Conexion Colombia, Colombian Foundations, Study Colombia, ProExport, Globalization in Colombia, Colombian GDP, Colombian Debt, Population Growth in Colombia, Unemployment and Poverty In Colombia,
On the Web
•Colombia. Country Studies. 2008. Country Studies Online. 17 Oct, 2008
http://countrystudies.us/colombia/
•Colombia." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 17 Oct. 2008 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/126016/Colombia
•ConexionColomia. May 12, 2008. Colombian Foundations. Oct 17, 2008
http://www.conexioncolombia.com/20080912544/Fundaciones/Fundaciones.html
•Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar. 2008 ICBF. 17 Oct. 2008. http://icbf.gov.co/Noticias/index.html
Colombian Family Welfare Institute
This organization offers programs such as child protective services, actions against domestic violence, international adoption, and medical aid for the elderly among others.
Conexion Colombia This is another Colombian organization whose goal is to keep the Colombian people connected to their country. People outside Colombia can contribute in things such as donating money, clothing, food, and other types of resources. This organization has also has 40 foundations which deal with some of the problems that the country has such as domestic abuse, education for children as well as adults, aid for people who had to move due to unsafe living conditions, aid for blind people, child protective services, woman’s rights and many others. With this organization, people have the ability to make donations from anywhere in the world and the funds collected would go to one of the 40 foundations that this organization has. The nicest thing about this organization is that it is a non-profit organization...
[edit] TURKEY
[edit] Turkey's Living Standards and its Welfare System
Intro:
I will be discussing the living standards of Turkey, and how there has been great improvement on its Social Welfare System. Recently, the Turkish Government has reformed its social security system and this was a part of the $10 billion loan agreement from the IMF (International Monetary Fund) that helped Turkey out of its financial crisis back in 2001.
Resources:
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPOVERTY/EXTPA/0,,contentMDK:20205436~isCURL:Y~menuPK:435735~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:430367,00.html -This article is actually a brief excerpt of a 104 page study done by the World Bank in 2000, discussing Turkey's Economic Reforms, Living Standards and Social Welfare.
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Europe/Turkey_Crisis.html - This article discusses Turkey and what led up to the financial crisis in 2001.
http://countrystudies.us/turkey/83.htm - This article discusses the Welfare Party before it was banned in 1998.
http://www.aihgs.com/turkishwelfareparty.htm - This article is discussing the background of the banned Welfare Party.
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/07/31/turkey19521.htm - This article discusses the current ruling party in Turkey and why it needs to be reformed.
http://www.boeckler.de/pdf/south_east_europe_review_2002_04_p21.pdf - This article discusses Welfare State policies in Turkey.
