World Community, Social justice, and Global Activism
1. The World Community; Definition (Wikipedia)
'...The term is used primarily in political and humanitarian contexts to describe an international aggregate of nation states of widely varying types. In most connotations, the term is used to convey meanings attached to consensus or inclusion of all people in all lands and their governments.
'...In terms of human needs, humanitarian aid, human rights, and other discourse in the humanities, the world community is akin to the conceptual Global village aimed at the inclusion of non-aligned countries, aboriginal peoples, the Third World into the connected world via the communications infrastructure or at least representative ties to it.
2. Social Justice; Definition
Wiki answers;
'...Social justice is a term that is used loosely to describe economic equality. There have been movements throughout history which focused on making sure that everyone had the same economic situations.'
Wikipedia;
'...Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being.[1][2][3]
'...Social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality and involves a greater degree of economic egalitarianism through progressive taxation, income redistribution, or even property redistribution. These policies aim to achieve what developmental economists refer to as more equality of opportunity than may currently exist in some societies, and to manufacture equality of outcome in cases where incidental inequalities appear in a procedurally just system. The Constitution of the International Labour Organization affirms that "universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice."[4] Furthermore, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action treats social justice as a purpose of the human rights education.[5]
'...The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by the JesuitLuigi Taparelli in 1840 based on the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas and given further exposure in 1848 by Antonio Rosmini-Serbati.[1][2][6][7][8] The word has taken on a very controverted and variable meaning, depending on by whom it is used. The idea was elaborated by the moral theologian John A. Ryan, who initiated the concept of a living wage. Father Coughlin also used the term in his publications in the 1930s and the 1940s. It is a part of Catholic social teaching, the Episcopalians' Social Gospel, and is one of the Four Pillars of the Green Party upheld by green parties worldwide. Social justice as a secular concept, distinct from religious teachings, emerged mainly in the late twentieth century, influenced primarily by philosopher John Rawls. Some tenets of social justice have been adopted by those on the left of the political spectrum.
Note the central position of *economic* equality. The 'haves' and the 'have-nots'. Right to money. Right to property. Right to wealth.
opposites; social justice is *not*; plunder, torture, oppression, slavery, segregation, sexism, gender bias, hate crimes, or discrimination.
Social Justice Theory
John Rawls http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rawls
The basic liberties according to Rawls
- Freedom of thought;
- Liberty of conscience as it affects social relationships on the grounds of religion, philosophy, and morality;
- Political liberties (e.g. representative democratic institutions, freedom of speech and the press, and freedom of assembly);
- Freedom of association;
- Freedoms necessary for the liberty and integrity of the person (viz: freedom from slavery, freedom of movement and a reasonable degree of freedom to choose one's occupation); and
- Rights and liberties covered by the rule of law.
It is a small thing- not a full society- but I also have a basic list of freedoms that I fought for (and won) through the course of my marriage;
1. Freedom of perception
2. Freedom of identity
3. Freedom of action
That is to say;
1. I will not let anyone warp my perception. I will determine the truth for myself.
2. I will not let anyone define who I am. I will investigate that, learn that, and become that, myself.
3. I will not let anyone tell me what to do. I will chart my own course.
I have never regretted making that decision.
Freedom from slavery begins at home.
3. Global Activism
For as long as I can remember, there has been a social awareness of inequity between 'developed' nations and '3rd world' countries. I remember protests back when I was 16, and I am 60 now. And there has been no real change. The rhetoric continues, the solicitation for charitable donations continues, the super-rich continue to donate to world efforts- but the exploitation continues.
http://www.globallabourrights.org
For a comparison between current conditions in Hamin, Bangladesh (December 14th, 2010) and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911, see this youtube video. It was bad enough to see the presentations in 2011 of footage and photographs from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory ; 100 years after this event, it is still tragic and unacceptable- but to hear that similar conditions, another fire with fatalities, locked doors, and workers paid less- by far- than those of 100 years ago-
Why is this still going on? What earthly motivation can there be to treat human beings in such a fashion? What soul-less corporate profitmongering must be at work to allow this to happen?
'The global sweathshop economy.' 'The race to the bottom.' The true human cost of electronic gadgets and 'affordable' designer clothing. I so well remember the boycotts back in my younger days. It is as if they waited til our attention was distracted, and then crept back in, up to the same old game; making a profit at the cost of human misery.
Do you wonder at the hatred the 3rd world has for developed nations, especially the USA? Who is contracting for the labour performed by these children? Accusations are leveled at 'The Gap', Wal-Mart, and Microsoft.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noL8nFSzsDc&list=UUHppUgSa-1YUTBUNb-u8YqQ&index=5&feature=plcp
From Wikipedia;
'...The National Labor Committee in Support of Human and Worker Rights, commonly known as the NLC, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) that investigates human and labor rights abuses committed by U.S. companies producing goods in the developing world. Today, the NLC is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with offices in Bangladesh and Central America, with Charles Kernaghan serving as Executive Director. The NLC publicizes investigations with aims to influence public opinions and corporate policies. It is currently undergoing a name change to become the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights.
'...Founded In 1980, the National Labor Committee was founded by Jack Sheinkman, President of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union; United Auto Workers’ President Doug Frazer, and Bill Wimpisinger, President of the International Association of Machinists. At its founding, the NLC’s mission was to help union members and activists in Central America who were victims of political violence. When the 1990 Peace Accords were signed in Central America, the NLC became a registered non-profit and moved its headquarters to New York, where it expanded its mission to defend human and worker rights globally. Charles Kernaghan joined the NLC in 1986 and became Executive Director in 1990.
'...In 1996, the NLC was meeting with workers in Guatemala to research alleged sweatshop factory conditions, where workers in the factory presented labels from the Kathie Lee Gifford clothing line, which was produced for Wal-Mart and claimed to be manufactured in the United States. The NLC targeted Kathie Lee and her high-profile, wholesome image, which sparked a media frenzy and brought the issue of sweatshops into the public eye.[1]
'...Their 1996 discovery and publicity of Gifford’s clothing line being manufactured in sweatshops is often cited as the beginning of mainstream media coverage of sweatshop and labor abuses abroad. “Kernaghan will perhaps forever be known as the activist who made Kathie Lee Gifford cry…” [2]
'...Since then, the NLC has exposed the conditions under which many celebrity labels are made, including those of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Sean Combs, Thalia Sodi, and Daisy Fuentes. Other reports released by the NLC have targeted the NBA, the NFL, Disney, Ford Motor Company, Microsoft, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, H&M, Reebok, Puma AG, Nike, Inc., Liz Claiborne, Hanes, Target, Fruit of the Loom, Levi Strauss, JCPenney along with many other clothing labels and companies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WutW8usfTTg&feature=related
http://www.globallabourrights.org/admin/reports/files/Chinas_Youth_Meet_Micro.pdf
http://observers.france24.com/content/20090212-working-hp-microsoft-china-serving-prison-sentence-sweatshop-dell-ibm-china
Microsoft itself has put up material on its websites concerning these allegations;
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/04/microsoft-investigates-as-sweatshop-spotlight-shines-on-supplier.ars
What has been seen to be effective in producing meaningful change is 1) organized protest and 2) boycotts. Organized protest by workers is the most effective under a supportive regime. The more repressive the regime, the more bloody the protest. Consumer boycotts, if public, vocal, and sustained, can be quite effective in forcing a change.
Governor's Report: Child Welfare Overview by NEWSCENTER26 on Scribd