Author: admin

EQUALITY AND EMPLOYMENT

 

Xiaolin Qi

 

There is no such thing as a true transcendentalism, and therefore there is no true individual.

 

Society creates humans, and people tend to rely on society. And regardless of how people view their communities, it is what their lives depend on. With such a system, there will always be issues lingering around it, causing minor and major side effects. Then it becomes people’s job as a component of this system to diagnose problems and try to solve them.

 

With the economy struggling to recover from the subprime crisis and the failure of the Chinese stock market, job opportunities have become one of the most serious social issues in recent years. In both developed and developing countries, unemployment rates have skyrocketed in the last five years. Even in the U.S., the unemployment rate has shown no significant reduction since the Obama administration. Considering the overall status of the global economy, job opportunities may not recover for up to a decade. Clearly it is a problem when 99% of the population have to worry about their everyday lives.

 

With a majority of people worried about their jobs, rich people remain in control of the market. From wealth distribution to labor force employment, all issues facing the common people are not at all a concern for these individuals. The gap in employment rates between America’s highest- and lowest-income families has stretched to its widest levels since officials began tracking it a decade ago. According to government data reported by the Associated Press, unemployment rates for lowest-income families (those earning less than $20,000) have reached 21%, nearly matching the rate for all workers during the Great Depression. The unemployment rate for the poor has skyrocketed since the 2008 financial crisis and has never fully recovered, even under the Obama administration.

 

The unemployment rate is also a huge problem when it comes to race. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics cover the age range from 16 to 19 and indicate that, for whites in this age range, the official unemployment rates are about 15.7% for Hispanics and 20.8% for African-Americans. This huge gap has been around for many decades and still has considerable influence on the economy. For every level of educational attainment, blacks have unemployment rates that are similar to or higher than less educated white counterparts. For instance, whites with only high school diplomas have unemployment rates similar to blacks with college degrees: 4.6% versus 4.1%. The unemployment rate has been a problem for minority groups in America, and it is expected to remain a serious problem in the foreseeable future.

 

There is no doubt that the economy has been expanding in recent years. However, there remain serious problems for people without jobs. It is possible that this economic expansion may reduce the unemployment rate, but this will ultimately depend on the speed at which the employment-to-population ratio increases and the increase in the productivity of the workers added as the labor market expands. Based on the current economic situation, the market is not looking good for people.

 

This is the place; this is the age, Oh my ancient sage!

Where man lives hiding in his hole, deep inside this concrete jungle,

He strains his head to see the sunset, for he cannot see beyond this golden cage,

The sunrise he can never see, unnatural lights flicker and disrupt his cycle every night.

 

This is the place; this is the age, Oh my holy father!

Where everyone is in a hurry, the stress runs high,

Where money is the driving force, for it, one kills another,

Where technological intelligence thrives, and spiritual maturity is about to die.

 

This is the place; this is the age, Oh my king!

Where my ruler is a criminal, but I’m not bothered, I am mentally sedated,

The moral implications of my actions don’t bother me now,

I am here and I live for now, there is no God I fear, everyday here, truth is adulterated.

 

This is the place; this is the age, Oh my love!

Where I can break every marriage vow, showing you the glitter of diamonds,

Where I can use words like ‘divorce’ loosely for our marriage was a contract honey,

not made high above.

 

This is the place; this is the age, Oh mother earth!

Where conceited men like I, abuse you and pollute you for our greed,

We spit on the same soil we sow, it is from here that men like us grow,

We will be the cause of your death, but you will continue to give us birth.

 

This is the place; this is the age, Oh my guru!

Where my teacher despises fools, but hates that I am clever,

Where my thirst for knowledge, is my arrogance,

Where sticking to my guns, is my belligerence.

 

When the world around me is so unreal, where do I start?

Our complex minds have gotten us here; let’s give a chance to our heart,

Let emotions be the voice of reason, let your instincts be the guiding ray,

Through those clouds of uncertainty, simplicity is the only way,

Too much oo much gyaan for you to handle, now go, have a nice day!

 

Student: Ameya Malkan

Invisible Chains: The Global Crisis of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery

Brian Tran

Today, over 40 million people around the world are victims of modern slavery. This is more than at any other time in human history. Despite being illegal in almost every country, human trafficking and modern slavery continue to expand, often hidden in plain sight. These crimes involve the act of people exploitation through fraud, force or coercion, whether for forced labor, sexual exploitation, or domestic servitude. This issue impacts on nearly every country in the world and targets the most vulnerable groups such as women, children, and migrants.

Human trafficking is the illegal trade of people, often involving transportation across borders, but it can also take place within the entire country. Victims are often offered with lucrative benefits like promised jobs, education, or simply a better life, only to be exploited once they are under the control of traffickers. Modern slavery is a broader term that includes trafficking but also covers forced marriage, child labor, and other forms of exploitation that involve control and abuse.

There are several roots that contributes to this global spread issue. One of the most significant ones is poverty. When people lack opportunities, education, or protection, they are more vulnerable to be lured into trafficking schemes. Gender inequality is also a key factor in which women and girls make about 71% of all trafficking cases worldwide. They often be exploited as sexual tools. Armed conflict, political instability, and refugee crises have also increased trafficking, as displaced people become easy targets. Meanwhile, in many regions with corrupt officials and weak legal system, this act is allowed to act with impunity.

Modern slavery is also associated with many forms. Forced labor is one of the most common, where people are made to work in factories, farms, or construction sites, often under inhuman conditions with such a little pay or even zero pay. Sex trafficking is also another widespread form which involves forcing individuals (often women and girls) into prostitution, pornography, or exploitation of sex work. Children are also victims. They are trafficked for labor, begging, or even forced into conflict as child soldiers. All these crimes are just to earn money based on blood and the suffering of others. In some cases, domestic workers are trafficked into homes where they are abused and taken over basic human rights.

In response to these staggering crimes, many governments and organizations have begun to respond to this crisis. The United Nations has included the goal to end modern slavery by 2030 in its Sustainable Development Goals. Several countries like UK, France, Germany, or Benin have passed stronger anti trafficking laws and established rescue and rehabilitation programs to support survivors. However, progress remains slow. Fewer than 1% of victims are ever rescued, and traffickers often operate across borders, making prosecution more difficult.

So, what could we do to reduce this problem? We must raise the public awareness about this issue. It could be education campaigns in schools, communities, and online to help people understand the signs of trafficking and how to prevent it; or law enforcement must be trained and resourced to go after traffickers and protect the survivors. In addition, we must also demand more ethical business practices in which companies must ensure their supply chains are free of forced labor. Finally, empowering at risk populations with education, job opportunities, legal protection is key to break the cycle.

Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery – more cruel, illegal and often invisible. But it is not unstoppable. By working together as individuals, communities, and nations, we can fight back against this injustice and give freedom and dignity back to millions who deserve to have it but have been denied both for far too long.