Ms. Magazine - "Paradise Lost", Making a Difference for Women in Marianas

I received this in an email from Ms. Magazine and wanted to share it with all of you. I am attempting to post this as they sent it. Please take the time to read and respond.

This is a very important subject and needs to be kept alive. This is not the only place stuff like this is happening, so let us not stop here.

Dear ...,

"Paradise Lost" - the explosive Ms. magazine investigative report on the appalling conditions of guest workers in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory - is making news again as Congress finally acts to stop the worst abuses. Congress has already delivered a victory for the guest workers in the Marianas by including them in the recently passed minimum wage increase.

Ms.'s hard-hitting cover story brought to the nation's attention the labor and immigration abuses that were the focus of a Senate committee hearing last Thursday. When we published our investigative report last spring, we spurred weeks of additional news coverage and generated widespread public outrage. Two of the women we interviewed for our report - including a young woman trafficked into the sex industry against her will - testified at the Senate hearing.

Make a special contribution to the Ms. Investigative fund today to ensure that Ms. continues to break stories of vital importance to women here in the U.S. and around the world.

Here's the background on the situation:

Although the name-brand clothing companies that contract with garment factories in the Marianas can attach "Made in Saipan (USA)" or simply "Made in the USA" labels to their clothes, until now they have been exempt from U.S. minimum-wage and immigration laws.

Women trafficked to the Marianas, mostly from China and the Philippines, work up to 20 hours a day in factories at a sub-minimum wage of $3.05/hour in often dangerous conditions. In its report, Ms. detailed how these women find themselves in a situation akin to indentured servitude as they struggle to earn enough money to pay for room and board and to repay human traffickers who charge as much as $7,000 for a one-year contract to work in the Marianas.

Moreover, with expiring trade agreements, some companies have closed down their Saipan operations to move to mainland China, leaving their workers stranded and owed months of back-pay. Ms.'s investigative report documented how, unable to make ends meet, many women have been forced to work in the islands' sex tourism industry in order to survive.

Now, with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff (who lobbied on behalf of Marianas factory owners) in prison, Tom DeLay (a leading supporter of garment-company interests) out of Congress, and other opponents of reform defeated in the November elections, Congress may finally be able to pass long-blocked reforms.

Ms.'s in-depth reporting on the suffering of women in the
Northern Marianas is the kind of ground-breaking investigative journalism that truly changes lives. We are determined to continue to follow this story, and dispatched a reporter to cover the hearings. Look for updates on MsMagazine.com and in upcoming issues of the magazine.

Help Ms. stay strong by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Ms. Investigative Fund now.

For a Strong Feminist Media,

Katherine
Spillar
Executive Editor

Eleanor Smeal
Publisher

http://www.msmagazine.com

Copyright © Ms. Magazine 2006

Worn in the USA pt.2

Here are a few interesting follow-ups in regards to what's being done about the corruption and abuses in the Mariana Islands:

http://www.msmagazine.com/news/uswirestory.asp?ID=10147
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/9/24525/93892
http://www.catholicexplorer.com/explore4325/nationworld/rape-victim-catholic-work.shtml

Hopefully, we'll see some some changes made and an attentive eye kept towards maintaining the clean-up.

First 100 Continued

Well, looks like the Dems are off and running. While I have strong feelings regarding Nancy Pelosi's remarks regarding the possibility of impeachment proceedings (about which I have previously stated), so far, so good on the embarkment of the first 100 hours promise. With the passage of the enactment of the 9/11 Commission recommendations, we've had a nice follow-up:

Minimum Wage Increase:

PASSED
Date: Jan. 10
Hour: 12
Vote: 315-116
Republicans in Favor: 82


Fund Stem Cell Research:

PASSED
Date: Jan. 11
Hour: 17
Vote: 253-174
Republicans in Favor: 37

Also of note, but I don't have all of the specifics as of yet are:

Ethics Package (will ban gifts from lobbyists and require full disclosure of earmarks):

PASSED
Date: Jan. 5
Vote: 232-200

Pay As You Go

PASSED
Date: Jan.5
Vote: 232-200

To keep abreast as things progress, watch these links:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/washington/100HOURS_GRAPHIC.html

The First 100 Hours - NY Times

The New York Times has a nice little piece online showing you the main pieces of the Democratic Party agenda for the first 100 hours.

The First 100 Hours
The Democratic leaders of the House of Representative are moving to pass their 100-hour legislative agenda, but the bills will still need Senate approval and President Bush's signature to become law. 

It shows the six main agenda items with the House proposal, the schedule, the Senate's view and the Administration's view.

Under the schedule they will show you when it is scheduled for a vote and if the vote has taken place it will show something like this:

From the vote on the:

Sept. 11
Commission

PASSED
Date: Jan. 9
Hour: 6
Vote: 299-128
Republicans in Favor: 68

They also give you a link in the schedule area for "related" articles.

I am hoping they will keep this updated online at the same web address. This would make this a great link to send out to your friends and family so they can easily see and read the progress of the Democratic Party's "First 100 Hours".

To see and read the whole thing go here:
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/washington/100HOURS_GRAPHIC.html

Happy New Year, One and All!

And so we say good-bye to another year passed. I can't say that I'm not
more than just a little relieved. On a personal level, this past year
was a continuation of much sadness and loss. On a broader level, that
would seem to hold somewhat true as well. We just closed out another
year of mounting casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan with no end in
sight. There are 48 million Americans without health care and those
numbers seem to be rising. The death and horror continues in Darfur with
nary a mention. And our own unique beloved city of New Orleans still
sits in ruins with no operating hospitals within its city limits and no
electricity or drinking water in the Lower Ninth Ward.

Of course, we were dealt a few new cards as well. Perhaps most important
was the passage of the Military Commissions Act. The little gem that
threw the "quaint" Geneva Conventions Act and Habeas Corpus right out
the window. Yes folks, we can now be labeled enemy combatants and
imprisoned without right to trial or even the right to be informed of
what the charges are against us. Not to mention, the US gets to decide
what we consider torture to be, regardless of the precedent set before
us and, therefore, can administer it as we see fit. Such a fine example
for others to follow.

Despite the aforementioned and other disappointments we've encountered
this year, I do remain cautiously optimistic for the year ahead. After
all, we did end it with a ray of hope. The overwhelming response to the
current administration's deeds were stated clearly by the voters in
November. A sizable feat considering what has become of our electoral
system. The turnout was in proportions to a presidential election year,
something seldom seen in the mid-terms. Republicans lost control of both
the Congress and the Senate and we will soon return to a two party
system. Not a single Democratic incumbent lost their seat. Incredible!

So what does all this mean? Obviously, that remains to be seen. One
thing we do know is that despite what we keep hearing from the talking
heads, the Democrats do have a plan. And while I disagree that it was
the correct thing for Nancy Pelosi to say that the option of impeachment
is off the table, I do keep in mind that the Dems haven't yet taken
control and have had absolutely no power until now and I'm willing to
give them a little time to see what damage they can undo. At the very
least, the first 100 hours that Speaker Pelosi has promised us:

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/11/22/0259/2848

I consider this to be the Democrats' New Year's resolution. So, as
you're vowing to keep your own, please consider one more. Write or call
your elected representatives and let them know you expect them to follow
through on their promises and keep an eye on how they vote on the issues
at hand. Tell when you are unhappy with the way they represent you but
also thank them and give them support when they do what's right.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

But What Can I Do? The Power of One.

Hello,

With the heartbreaking stories of the devastation coming out of the Gulf Coast, I'm sure we are all feeling helpless. Many have given monetary donations and, hopefully, will continue to do so. But so many of us are unable to give what we consider to be an adequate dollar amount as we are stretched ourselves at the increasingly elevating cost of living and are asking, "what can I do to help?".

Here are a few suggestions. One of the many precious luxuries that those of us outside the storm ravaged and flooded areas have is the ability to communicate. By the very fact that you are reading this means that you have access to the internet. I'm willing to bet that you probably have a working telephone as well. Some of you even have free long distance. You are able to reach out to those who have the means to do something to alleviate the suffering of those in need. Among those you may want to contact are hoteliers. As the events of this past week have shown, football stadiums, which may provide an instant roof over the heads of thousands, were not designed to house people. I'm sure the Hiltons, et.al., could afford to open a few doors to those left homeless.

Another would be cruise ships. They are in a unique position to simultaneously evacuate and provide temporary housing. Interestingly, while I was on the telephone yesterday to Carnival Cruises, they literally updated their web site with the news report that they would be halting the sailing of 3 of their ships to be used in rescue attempts in the Gulf. Of course, this may have been done not entirely of their own volition as they are receiving funding from FEMA, nonetheless, they are doing so. Although they are stationing them in Galveston, and will still need help with embarkment. This was the only cruise line I found to be making a concerned effort. In fact, while all others were pretty much of no help due to the fact that the higher-ups were on Holiday weekend, they were very amiable. Unlike Holland America, whose corporate offices are right here in Seattle. The woman I spoke to demanded to know my name, whether or not I was with the press, and what organisation I was from. Sad, indeed, that a plea would be construed as an attack.

Something that is also very important is that you contact your local representatives and ask them to assist in every way possible. This would include in the rebuilding of the areas affected and that they insist on using the labor of local people so that they can put their lives back together and get their economy flowing. Don't allow them to call in Halliburton and their subsidiaries so that they can continue to prosper off of the anguish of others. You can do this by contacting:

http://www.congress.org

If you can afford the postage you may also want to print out your letters and mail them. Remember how impressive the huge pile of mail on the judge's desk on "Miracle on 34th Street" was? Made you believe in Santa Claus, didn't it?

Also, if any of you are bloggers, you may want to post these and any ideas you may have. I think we've all come to know how powerful these web logs have become.

Thank you for bearing with me and understanding that this is the problem of the entire nation and that we all have a duty to do what we can. We are all vulnerable, whether it be to natural or man-made disaster, or enemy attack. We need to know that we will be able to rely on each other and, hopefully, next time in an expediant manner.


Sincerely,

TKelly