V.T.XXXIV - Deaths of Journalists in Brazil II

      This post is a summary of three reports. Two published at the same place, BBCBrasil.com and on the same day, April,27,2012. One has the title " In twenty years, around 70% of the deaths of journalists stayed unpunished in Brazil." Another, " United Nations condemns deaths of journalists in Brazil." Both written by Luis Kawaguti, and translated by me. Other was published at Deccanherald.com, on December,18, 2012. With the title, " 139 journalists killed on the job in 2012."

      According to the American organization Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) there were 20 murderes between 1992 and 2012, being that 14 were not punished. Brazil was classified by the committee in 11st place among the countries where there is more impunity against press professionals. However, the survey of the CPJ is outdated. The organization counted in 2012 only the death of the journalist Mario Randolpho in Vassouras. According to the survey of the CPJ, the most part of the victims were journalists reporting on corruption cases, however more common than murderes are the threats and intimidation cases.

     The Office of the High-Commissariat of Human Rights of the United Nations condemned on friday the murder of journalist Dêcio Sá in Maranhão State. The organization called of "troublesome trend" the fact of another journalist murdered in the country in less than four months. " We are worried with what seems to be a troublesome trend in the deaths of journalists, what is affecting the practice of free speech in Brazil," said the spokesman of the office, Rupert Colville. The office requested that measures of protection should be adopted immediately to avoid new crimes of this kind.

     A total of 139 journalists from 29 countries lost their lives while doing their jobs in 2012, the Press Emblem campaign (PEC) said. Many of those deaths came among reporters covering the conflict in Syria. After the Iraq war, the civil strife in Syria has become the bloodiest episode for journalists since the beginning of the 21st century. Somalia ranks second among the world`s most dangerous countries for journalists with a death toll of 19, while Pakistan comes in third with 12. Meanwhile three Latin America countries remain on the most-dangerous list this year. In Mexico and Brazil, both ranked fourth in the world, at least 11 journalists were killed up to now. And in Honduras there were at least 6.

     

V.T.XXXIII - Deaths of Journalists in Brazil

    This post is a summary of two reports with the same issue. 1) "In ten years, 2012 already is the most violent year for journalists." Published on June,1st,2012, at Estadao.com.br   2) "Journalist and girlfriend are killed." Published on February,9th,2012, at Extra.globo.com  (translation by me).

     In just five months, 2012 already is the most violent year for journalists in a decade, according to  Interamerican Society of Press, four journalists were killed in the country in crimes related to their profession.

     " This is a threat to the freedom of speech." Said Marcelo Moreira, head of Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism. " When a journalist shut up, who suffer is the society." He adds. The violence in the country, has distinct natures but, he highlighted that there is a less visible threat: political crimes. The four journalists killed this year were victims from this kind of crime.

       According to the International Institute of Security of News, put in 2012 Brazil as the third worst country for journalists. Press organizations protested about more security and heard from government the promise to creation of an observatory of violence against journalists, and the press organizations also ask for the federalization of these crimes, with investigation by the federal police.

       The journalist and blogger Mario Randolpho Lopes, 50 years-old was found killed together with his girlfriend in Barra do Piraí - RJ. He was the owner of an online newspaper called " Vassouras na Net."

       The president of the National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ) Celso Schroder said, " It`s a repugnant, hideous crime, not only because killed a person, but also because this is an offense to journalism, fundamental activity for democracy".

       Randolpho is the fourth journalist killed in the Rio de Janeiro State in less than two years. Last year were killed the journalist and owner of the newspaper "Panorama Geral" in Angra dos Reis, the president of the newspaper "Entre Rios" in Três Rios, and another was found killed strangled in Barra de Sao Joao in the north of the state.

OECD Launches Skills Strategy to Boost Jobs and Growth

            This post is a summary of a article published at OECD.org on May,11,2012. Title is above.

       Boosting investment in education, skills and training now is the key to strong, sustainable and shared growth in the future, according to the OECD skills strategy.
       The skills strategy, to be discussed by ministerial meeting, acknowledge that with public finances under pressure, governments have tough budgetary decisions to make but spending on education and skills is an investment for the future and must be a priority.
       OECD secretary-general Angel Gurría, said: " Skills have become the global currency of 21st century economies, they transform lives and drive economies. Government must invest more effectively in the education and skills that people will need in tomorrow`s workplace. They need to deploy their talent pool more strategically so that these investments translate into better jobs.
       Today in many countries a third of adults lack the minimun core skills needed to engage in further learning and get a good job. The social and economic costs are huge: OECD analysis shows that people with poor skills are at much risk of unemployment, poverty and reliance on social benefits.
       In the short-run, the focus should be on helping youth acquire the skills required by the labor market. The OECD skills strategy provides a framework for countries to analyse their strenghts and weaknesses and recommends ways they can develop the skills. Among its recommendations are that countries should:
       - Improve the quality of learning outcomes by putting skills-oriented learning.
       - Involve employers and trade unions more closely on developing training programmes.
       - Help local economies to move up the value-added chain, foster entrepreneuship and stimulate the creation of high-skilled jobs.
       To help countries get a clearer picture of their workforce`s skills, the OECD is carrying out a survey of adult skills. The results will be published in October 2013. The OECD has also developed an online portal: Skills.OECD.org , it features data and analysis on 40 countries and links to OECD work on skills.

Leaders of the Americas: Protect your Human Rights Defenders

        This post is a summary of a article published at Huffingtonpost.com on April,10,2012 and was written by Lisa Haugaard. The complete title is,"Leaders at the summit of the Americas: protect your human rights defenders."

        Alexander Quintero campaigned for justice for the victims of Colombia`s 2001 Naya river massacre, committed by paramilitary forces. "It could have been any of us," said a sobbing defender, as she told me about Alexander`s May 2010 assassination.

       Nahum Palacios Arteaga was the anchor for a tv station in Honduras. He was reporting on land conflicts, where campesinos leaders were being threatened and murdered. Hitmen killed palacios and his friend, a doctor, in March 2010.

       Miguel Gonzalez Ramiro was a member of the banana workers union in Guatemala. He was killed in February 2012. He is the seventh former member of the workers union killed. Killing human rights activists or defenders, as we call them, harms not only the people, their friends and family. It aims to destroy an organizing process and derail a struggle to defend the rights of many.

       Every eight days a human rights activist was killed in Colombia in 2011. Nineteen journalists have been killed in Honduras since June 2009. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has also singled out Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela as especially dangerous for  human rights defenders.

       Who is behind the violence? Sometimes it is government agents, including police or military, in other cases, it is paramilitary groups or organized crime.

      Human rights defenders and journalists in Latin America face harassment by government of all political stripes: from being jailed on baseless charges and subjected to illegal surveillance to newspaper editors who are sued by government officials.

      Where there are risks, government should establish protection programs. Defenders say the most important action is investigate and prosecute the attacks against them. Latin American governments should take advantage of human rights support and monitoring provided by the UN (United Nations) and OAS (Organization of American States). It is disturbing that governments such as Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela have recently tried to limit the role of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and special rapporteur on freedom of expression.

     The United States government should speak out more for defenders in the Americas. It has  an absolute obligation to take action, including enforcing human rights conditions.

    There is always rhetoric about democratic values at these summits. Yet real democratic values include the space for people to defend their rights on a daily basis.

How to Make Broadband More Accessible and Affordable in Latin America

     This report was published on May 30,2012. At IDBdocs.IADB.org and this is a summary, the title is above. This report is part of a larger report called: " Bridging gaps, building opportunity. Broadband as a catalyst of economic growth and social progress in Latin America and Caribbean."

      Broadband is expanding rapidly in Latin America and Caribbean, but the region still lags behind the world`s most advanced nations in terms of coverage, access and adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) services delivered through fast networks, according to a new report released by the (IDB) Inter-American Development Bank is the product of discussions between the IDB and a wide array of stakeholders, including tech companies, multinational and national telecommunications operators, academic institutions and international agencies. Bridging gaps, Building Opportunities report includes a common position statement with recommendations on how to accelerate the deployment and use of fixed and mobile broadband services in L.A. It cites an IDB study that found that a 10% increase in broadband penetration in the region could boost gross domestic product (GDP) by an average 3.2% and raise productivity by 2.6%. By improving broadband connectivity and making services more widely available and affordable, countries could help businesses, particularly small and medium-sized ones, becomes more competitive as well as provide their citizens access to more efficient government services, educational opportunities and healthcare. At present, however, broadband is less accessible, more expensive and less used in most L.A. countries than the average for countries in the OECD. In terms of fixed broadband penetration, European nations have an average of 30 installed lines per 100 people, nearly triple the average in this region. Regarding mobile broadband, countries such as Korea, Sweden and Japan have about one line per person. The average of L.A. is about 15 lines per 100 people. 

      Although prices have been falling in recent years, cost is another major hurdle: broadband users in L.A. pay far more for slower services than consumers in OECD countries, where households have more disposable income. The report also addresses issues such as digital literacy. Among the solutions countries could pursue to enable more citizens and businesses to take full advantage of broadband services are expanding current efforts to wire schools, train teachers in information tech ( IT ) and provide computers to students. Some countries have successfully used e-government portals as gateways to digital literacy services. Other encourage small business to adopt broadband and train their employees in ICT. 

      Governments could adopt policies to foster investment in broadband "backbone" infrastructure in the region. They could also adopt regulations to help reduce the cost of civil works needed to expand broadband networks, such as policies that require public companies building roads, railroads or pipelines to include ducts capable of carrying optic fiber. The concentration of demand for broadband services in major cities has led to strong competition among telecommunications companies. In order to improve coverage in sparsely populated areas, governments can establish universal service funds. 

      In its conclusions, the report states:"the challenges of developing broadband are so formidable that the private sector will not able to face them alone. Indeed, there is a need for governments to join with the private sector and to provide leadership to reduce not only the digital divide but also to use digital means to narrow the social divide." For its part, the IDB is committed to helping its member countries in L.A. and C. in the challenge of developing this technological infrastructure, from supporting the design of national broadband plans to nurturing public-private partnership necessary to expand broadband coverage.

V. T. XXXII - Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America

       This post is a summary of two reports published at ECLAC.org. The first on 3 May,2012 with the title, " Latin America and Caribbean received us$ 153 billion from foreign direct investment in 2011." The second,  on 23 October, 2012, with the title " Foreign direct investment rises 8% in the region during the first half of 2012.

       L. A. and C. received us$ 153.45 billion from foreign direct investment ( F.D.I. ) in 2011. Which represent 10% of the global total flows, according to a report by the ECLAC. This is about the largest amount of F.D.I. received by the region so far, until then, the highest record had been in 2008, when F.D.I. amounted to us$ 137 billion. In 2011, the main recipients in the region were Brazil ( us$ 66.6 billion, 43.8%  of the total ), after comes Mexico ( us$ 19.4 b ), Chile ( 17.3 b ), Colombia ( 13.2 b ), Peru ( 7.6 b ) and Argentina ( 7.2 b ).

      In 2011, 46% of the net income deriving from F.D.I. was due to profit re-investments. As shown in the report, this trend, which started in 2002, is a result of the amount of assets accumulated by transnational companies in the region and an increase in their profitability due to the good economic performance of the countries and high prices of raw materials.

     Also, the document points out that F.D.I. strengthens the specialization of production in L.A., in 2011, 57% of F.D.I. received by South America ( except Brazil ) were directed to the natural resouces sector. Meanwhile, 46% of F.D.I. received by Brazil were to manufacture and 44% to services.

     " In this context, it is urgent to promote policies to guide F.D.I. and leverage its potential benefits, among which are the knowledge and technological exchange, creating production chains, building human capacity and fostering local entrepreneurial development," emphasized the U.N. official.

     Inflow of F.D.I. to 17 in the region`s countries rose by 8% in the six months of 2012, compared with the same period of the year earlier, to stand at 94.3 billion dollars, according to figures released by the ECLAC. At the same time, investment by L.A. enterprises abroad or also known as trans-latins surged by 129% in the same period.

     The rise in F.D.I. income is attributable to economic buoyancy and stability in most countries and high commodity prices, which continue to incourage investment in mining and hydrocarbons ( particularly in South America ). The strong climb in investment in Chile, Argentina, Peru and Colombia give an overalll positive result. this combines with stable flow to Brazil ( which dipped by 2% ) which accounts for 46% of the F.D.I. received by the region in 2012 and makes it the main recipient in L.A.

    Chile is also consolidating its position as the second recipient in the L.A.while Mexico is in the third largest recipient in the first half of 2012. The largest positive variations in the first half of 2012, in L.A were: Chile +80% and Bolivia +53%. The largest negative variations were: El Salvador -60% and Venezuela -20%.

Uzbek Education Open Minds and Hearts

     This post is a summary of a report published at Worldbank.org at December,07,2011. And was written by Matluba Mukhamedova, communication officer in the World Bank Uzbekistan office. The title is above.

          Jumaeva took her mother`s advice and became a school teacher. After she went back to her small town, where for the last six years she has been principal of Romilton School. Jumaeva has seen a lot of improvement at Romilton School. The school has had an infusion of new materials and resources that are helping teachers improve what they know and how they teach. Together with 1,501 schools, her school has been benefiting from a project of government supported by the World Bank that aims to improve the effectiveness of both teaching and learning.

         It is needed. Many teachers lack the skill to engage students in what they are learning. In addition, classroom equipment is either insufficient or outdated and information technologies was used ineffectively.

        Since Romilton School received its new aids, one student won an olympiad, another won an essay contest, and a third received the governor`s scholarship. Jumaeva explains " we want to create a stimulating environment to encourage students to be masters of their learning. To achieve that, the teachers need to know how to make the lessons more interactive, and apply a student-centered approach to improve learning outcomes."

       Along with new attitudes for teachers, came stronger roles for school boards. Boards comprising parents, neighboring communities, sponsor organizations and teachers can be powerful, specially in knowing what a school needs to improve.

       In 2008. per capita financing was introduced and completely changed school financing. The old system was inequitable and resulted in inefficient and nontransparent spending of public resources. Schools had little budget authority and no incentive to spend wisely, as savings would result in budget cuts the following year. With per capita financing, schools directors were administrators of funds. They and accountants had to estimate budget and staff needs to pass a budget through the regional treasury and manage resources according to the law.

       On a given day, Jumaeva is relentlessly active. Asked whether every day is as hectic, she answered: " Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself."

V. T. XXXI - Teachers` Day

    This post is a tribute to teachers. The main text (Third paragraph) was published at Huffingtonpost.com at May,8 2012 and has the title of :  " Open letter to teachers on teacher appreciation day."  And was written by Antonio Villaraigosa - Mayor of the City of Los Angeles. The others texts, the source is indicated in the end of paragraph. All paragraphs are summaries from original text.

      The day on which teachers`day is celebrated varies from country to country. In the U.S.A. is celebrated during the teacher appreciation week, on the first week of May. Teachers`s day are distinct from World Teachers`s day which is officially on October,5. National Education Association ( NEA ) describes national teachers`day as  " A day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives. " NEA is the largest labor union in the U.S.A. representing public schools teachers, universities staffs and others, has 3.2 million members.  ( Wikipedia.org )

      On October,15, 1827. Dom Pedro I issued a decree creating the elementary school in Brazil, descentralizing the system and putting compulsory subjects and rules of teachers` recruitment. But was only in 1947 that happened the first celebration on this date. Becoming a national holiday after 1963. ( Portaldafamilia.org.br )

       There is a japanese proverb that says, " Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher". Almost everyone has a story about a teacher who has touched his or her life. Just like so many politicians, entrepreneurs and surgeons, I am who I am today partly because of a great teacher. After dropping out of school, I found my way back in Herman Katz`s English class. Mr. Katz believed in me even when I did not believe in myself. Teachers devote their lives to giving our children the tools to succeed and inspire them to do it. If teachers challenge them, and encourage them to stand up for their values. Teachers will teach them the importance of constitution, they will show the next Carlos Santana how to strum a guitar, and demostrate the scientific method to the bright student who will cure cancer. The simple truth is that, as a nation, we must invest in a strategy that places value on the contribution that teachers make to our collective future. Teachers attrition rates are far too high, and given that they are the builders of our future, losing even one good teacher is too many. We must continue to expand career and leadership opportunities, that allow teachers to develop their practice, foster a school culture, and empower them to innovate. Moreover, any efforts to brighten our nation`s future must be built upon a deep appreciation for their incredibly important work. On this teacher appreciation day, I would like thank you for your countless hour, your sweat and tears, and your relentless commitment. And I would also like to thank you in advance for inspiring the next generation of amazing teachers.

      Appreciation - recognition of the worth, gratitude.

      Diligent - careful and conscientious.

      Stand up - speak or act in support of.

      Strum - play a guitar by sweeping the thumb up and down.
      Foster - encourage the development of.

      Attrition - gradual wearing down through prolonged attack or pressure.

      Relentless - never stopping or weakening.
      Amazing - astonish, surprise greatly.

  

    

Surveillance Tools: Not Just for Spies Now

    This report was published at Washingtontimes.com at December 5,2011. And was written by Shaun Waterman. This is a summary and the title is above.

    A German company offers surveillance technologies for use against political opponents. In Russia, a company sells equipment to identify a single targeted voice in digital recordings of thousands of phone calls. In China, a company boasts software that can track the security on any hotmail or gmail account.

    Secret tech that just a few years ago were exclusive of spy bureau, are now available to the highest bidders from companies in dozen of countries.

    The private companies offer tech and services that can eavesdrop on cellphone calls, monitor internet activity, tap into fiber-optic cable. The tech can search, filter and index vast quantity of data obtained through all this surveillance.

    "Even if American companies, as they claim, only sell to governments, there is no real regulation of end-users even in the U.S., let alone in China and Russia". Said Christopher Soghoian, an privacy advocate and graduate at the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research at Indiana University.

    Privacy International, a NGO and the anti-secrecy Wikileaks last week published a database of more than 130 companies worldwide that market surveillance tech. The Privacy International NGO and Wikileaks investigators infiltrated tech conferences and obtained promotional materials based in 25 countries, they included well-established entities in the U.S., Israel, Europe, Brazil, China and Russia.

    Chinese telecom giant ZTE, for instance, market surveillance products in addition to its phone networks, Cisco System Inc., big U.S. tech company also sell surveillance equipment and services.

    After the Arab spring uprisings, protesters in Egypt, Libya and other countries found evidence that deposed dictator had used surveillance tech to spy activists. Syria is using this tech to intercept even secure communication channels such as Skype.

    Campaigners are calling for the law to be tightened. "When it comes to surveillance tech operating within the boundaries of current legislation is insufficient", said Emma Draper from P.I. NGO. "Those are essentially tools of political control to oppressive regimes with impunity can no longer be tolerated", she added.

   

V. T. XXX - Gross Domestic Product ( GDP )

        This post is a summary of a report published at: ECLAC.org at 2 October 2012 with the title of " Latin America and Caribbean growth will fall to 3.2% in 2012, owing to the weak global economy." Where there are the estimates of growth for 2012 in the Latin America countries.The source is from ECLAC on the basis of official figures, these are projections in the variation in GDP for 2011-2012.

        GDP is one of the primary indicators used to gauge the health of a country`s economy. As one can imagine, economic growth, what GDP represents, has a large impact on nearly everyone. For example, when  the economy is health, you will see low unemployment and wage increases as businesses demand labor to meet the growing economy. ( investopedia.com ).

       The other list is the ranking of  GDP of the Minas Gerais municipalities, this data is from: IBGE.gov.br and is from 2009, the most recent year available. This list is the first.

 GDP of MG Municipalities          Estimates of GDP growth 2012 for L. A. Countries

1º Belo Horizonte - 44.5 billions                                   Panama   9.5%
2º Betim - 25.2 b                                                          Peru     5.9%
3º Uberlândia - 16.1 b                                                  Chile     5.0%
4º Contagem - 15.4 b                                                   Costa Rica  5.0%
5º Juiz de Fora - 7.4 b                                                  Bolivia    5.0%
6º Uberaba - 6.5 b                                                       Venezuela  5.0%
7º Ipatinga - 5.6 b                                                         Ecuador   4.5%
8º Sete Lagoas - 4.1 b                                                  Colombia   4.5%
9º Montes Claros - 3.8 b                                               Suriname   4.3%
10º Itabira - 3.4 b                                                          Mexico    4.0%
11º Varginha - 3.0 b                                                      Uruguay    3.5%
12º Gov. Valadares - 2.85 b                                          Argentina    2.0%
13º Divinópolis - 2.82 b                                                   Brazil     1.6%
14º Poços de Caldas - 2.8 b                                          Paraguay    -2.0%
15º Pouso Alegre - 2.5 b

V. T. XXIX - Homicide rates

   These data are from: Institutosangari.org.br and from a  Mexican NGO called, Citizen Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice.Seguridadjusticiaypaz.org.mx. At first, the data from Brazilian cities and after from the world.The world list, data are from 2011. The rate is number of homicides/ 100.000 inhabitants, for all lists. The list begins with the most violent to less.

          MG Municipalities                      Others Brazilians Municipalities

    Betim                   61.7                                 Top 5 in Brazil

    Téofilo Otoni       45.5                            1º  Itupiranga (Marabá)                160.6        

    Govern.Valad.     43.5                           2º Simões Filho (Salvador)            152.6

    St. Luzia              39.3                        3º Campina Grande Sul (Curitiba)    125.5
   Contagem            39.0                           4º Marabá    PA                         125.0            B .H.         38.2                                             5º Pilar (Máceio)                 110.6            Ribeirão neves     36.4                                     Others

    Uberlândia           22.6                                 Vitória   ES                  70.3

    Viçosa                 19.7                              Duque de Caxias  RJ       67.1

    Ubá                     16.7                                  Curitiba     PR             56.5

    Alfenas                13.5                                  Campos   RJ              47.6

    S.J.del rey           11.0                                   Goiânia   GO              41.5

    Lavras                10.9                                 Porto Alegre  RS           41.5

    Juiz de Fora        10.6                                     Brasília                    35.9

    Varginha             10.4                                  Diadema   SP             32.3   

    Poços Caldas      6.8                                   Rio de Janeiro                28.8

    Barbacena           4.5                                    Guarulhos    SP              22.9

    Cataguases          3.8                                     Campina     SP              16.8     

     Pouso Alegre     2.9                                      Três Rios  RJ               16.5

                                                                              Maringá    PR              16.0

        Top 10 in the World                                     Barra do Piraí    RJ          13.5

  1º San Pedro Sula (Honduras)    158.9                 S. J. Rio Preto   SP           11.1

  2º Ciudad  Juarez (Mexico)     147.8                       Petrópolis   RJ               10.8

  3º Máceio (Brazil)                   135.3                       Ribeirão Preto  SP           10.3

  4º Acapulco (Mexico)             127.9

  5º Distrito Central (Honduras)   99.7                            Top 4 in the U.S.A.

  6º Caracas (Venezuela)           98.7                          1º  New Orleans         57.9   

  7º Torreón (Mexico)              87.8                            2º Detroit                 48.5

  8º Chihuahua (Mexico)           83.0                           3º St. Louis                35.4

  9º Durango (Mexico)             79.9                            4º Baltimore               31.4

 10º Belém (Brazil)                 78.1

The Depth of Human Rights Protection in Democracies

   This post is a summary of a article published at Purdue.Academia.edu and was written by Kali Wright Smith, Phd in Political Science. The title is above.

   There is a substantial body of research devoted to understanding the relationship between democracy and human rights performance. The dynamics of the relationship between the degree of democracy in a state and protection of empowerments rights might be different and improvements may take longer to emerge.

   The expansion of democracy is often championed due that will provide citizens with a host of benefits. One of the primary advantage is government protection of human rights. There is a substantial theoretical and empirical evidence to support this idea. Beyond fundamental rights lie an expanded range of freedoms including freedom of speech, movement, religion, association and worker`s right. The transiton to democracy might bring immediate advances in human rights, but the experience of third wave democracies demonstrates that newly democratic states may experience a reversal or adopt a weaker variant of democracy, consequently, it is worth asking whether there is a change in the depth of human rights as democracies mature.

   This study reveals a strong link between improvements in democracies and protections of empowerments rights. It demonstrate that longer experience with democracy produces more fortified human rights protection. Democracy have received attention in both, the academic and policy worlds. This regime is viewed as a critical factor in a country`s social and economic development. The presence of democracy is associated with superior civil society, increased economic equality, and stronger provision of public services.

   Other inherent qualities of a democracy directly influenced rights. Democracies are the natural allies of human rights because as a state become more open the public gains the ability to mobilize and press for increased rights. The development of democratic institutions gives the public greater imput into the government which allow it to challenge undesirable government practices through democratic channels rather than through extreme measures. This accountability mechanism shapes the way democratic leaders perceive demands for individual rights. Democracies frequently bind themselves to international human rights law because they respond to norms ragarding the appropriateness of such behavior. Studies of compliance with international law suggest that democratic states have greater respect for their international legal obligations because they have experience with the rule of law at the domestic level.

  Looking at the gap between theory and reality, Arat ( 1999,124 ) claims, ¨ I see this selective treatment of human rights and privileging of some over others as an important explanation of the failure of democracies in actually observing the recognized rights of their citizens.¨

  This is a stronger test of the relationship between democracy and human rights. In addition to questions about what types of human rights democracies respect. There are challenges to the overarching idea that democracies are always superior in protecting human rights, this skepticism is grounded in the notion that in developing countries, the transition to a democratic regime does not always make a substantial difference in human rights protection. This is particularly pertinent to young democracies which often suffer from lack of proper foundations for democratic rule. However, the finding that democracy does not have a strong effect on human rights in developing countries could be due to the fact that these countries have had less experience and have not attained sufficient democratic consolidation. Greater experience with democracy also result in deeper entrenchment of democratic norms, thereby creating increased citizens expectations and demands for government rights protection.

   The primary finding that the level of democracy is a critical factor in understanding protection of broader civil, political, and social rights is an important step, but this can be used as a starting point for further research. This study has shown that more work is needed to determine what factors other than democracy affect empowerment rights protection.

   Arat, Zehra F. (1999) Human rights and democracy: expanding or contracting?

 

Living Democracy

     This post is a summary of a article published at Co-Intelligence.org  and was written by Frances Moore Lappé and Paul Martin Du Bois in 1992. The title is above.

     Around the world people are throwing off tyranny. Meanwhile, here in the United States it feels like democracy is not working. Public debate gets nastier, and our democracy seems stymied in the face of mounting social problems.

     Now many people feel that the political process itself, driven by wealth and media professionals, hold citizens in contempt, so a cycle of disaffection has begun, feeding on itself : the more citizens withdraw from public participation, the more politicians ignore them. The more irresponsible the politicians act, the more citizens withdraw in anger and hopelessness.

     But, we from Co-Intelligence Institute NGO believe this self-destructive cycle arises from an incomplete understanding of democracy. More important than its forms ( like elections ), democracy needs to be viewed as a way of life, a civic culture in which people creatively participate in public life.

    Our research has encourage us : we have found that millions of americans are awakening to one of the key insights of living democracy, a very simple truth, today`s problems can not be solved without the involvement of the people most directly affected. Solutions to social problems can not just be fabricated by computers and experts. Wise, workable solutions need the insight that emerge from diverse experiences. They depend on the ingenuity of those involved, who knows the problems most intimately.

    To act on their values, citizens need power, but to many americans, power is bad, it is always corrupt, coercive, self-serving. But in living democracy, power is seen as a dynamic, enabling relationship, not a one-way force. The concept of power becomes one of mutually expanding horizons.

    When power is understood as derived from relationship among people, not from authority over people. Each person`s action influences the actions of others. From this insight it follow that no one is ever completely powerless. A relational approach to power alters the practice of politics, making it more interactive. Living democracy sees power in terms of enabling relationship.

    Citizens of a living democracy are not born. We learn the arts of democracy. The democratic arts are capacities that citizens cultivate in order to act with power, wisdom and effectiveness in public life. There are dozens of them. We find it useful to place them into four categories: communication in public dialogue, the resolution and management of conflit, thinking and group facilitation.

    Public dialogue requires conscious commitment to exploration: to asking why, why do you and I think as we do and toward what ends? It requires attention to creating an environment ( even mutually agreed upon rules to insure full participation ) in which differences are used as occasions for examining underlying assumptions and sources of information.

    Democracy requires that we learn to create systems of accountability, to ask those difficult questions, and to expect and get answers from those we empower to work for our communities.

    In living democracy, citizens are not seeking more government and no less government, they are developing appropriate and effective roles for government. Made accountable to citizens` real concerns. These citizens know that they don`t have a democracy. Democracy is something that they are doing.

    Nastier - more unpleasant, or disgusting, or bad-tempered.

    Stymie - prevent or slow down the progress of.

    Hopelessness - loss of hope in regard to a particular situation, feeling of passive abandonment of oneself to fate.

    Insight - ability to understand the truth about something.

    Contempt - feeling that a person or thing is worthless or unworthy of respect.

    Accountable - responsible for your actions and expected to explain them.

   

Index of Fiscal Management

    This post is a summary of a report published at Estadao.com.br at March,18,2012. This index was made by FIRJAN (Federation of Industries of the Rio de Janeiro State/ FIRJAN.org .br), and this index combines five factors: own income, personnel expenses, investments, cost of debt, and liquidity of the brazilians municipalities. The index is based on data from the official statistics released by the Office of National Treasure. Data are for the fiscal year 2010.

    Concept A = Management excellence = index greater than 0.8

    Concept B = Management good = index between 0.6 - 0.8

    Concept C = Management in difficulties = index between 0.4 - 0.6

    Concept D = Management critical = index less than 0.4

    63.6% of the municipalities have a index below 0.6, due the high spending on staff, own income reduced, and scarce investment. 36.4% of the municipalities are between 0.6 - 0.8 and only 1.8%  are above 0.8 with a management excellence, were classified as having excellent fiscal status.

    MG Municipalities                            Other brazilians municipalities
    Muriaé - 0.84                                             S.J. do Rio Preto - 0.87

  Uberlândia - 0.80                                         Vitória - 0.84

   Ubá - 0.72                                                   São Paulo - 0.78

   Lima Duarte - 0.70                                       Curitiba - 0.77

   Belo Horiz. - 0.69                                         Campo Grande - 0.76

   Juiz de Fora - 0.68                                        Londrina - 0.75

   Caxambu - 0.67                                            Ribeirão Preto - 0.69

  Varginha - 0.66                                             Angra dos Reis - 0.68

   S. J.del Rey - 0.65                                        Rio de Janeiro - 0.67

   Viçosa - 0.64                                                Duque de Caxias - 0.62

   Gover. Valad. - 0.64                                     São Gonçalo - 0.61

   S.J Nepom. - 0.61                                        Salvador - 0.48

   Contagem - 0.60                                           Natal - 0.45 

   Santos Dumont - 0.58                                    Macapá - 0.44

   Betim - 0.58                                                  Petrópolis - 0.43

   Cataguases - 0.38                                          Três Rios - 0.40

   Barbacena - 0.32                                           Cuiabá - 0.37

  Cost of Debt - ratio between interest and amortization expenses and the total revenue.

  Fiscal - relating to the income received by a government, raised through taxes.

  Liquidity - availability of liquid assets.

  Critical - at a point of danger or crisis.

V.T. XXVIII - Education and the 2012 election

    This post is a summary of two reports: 1) ¨Education and the 2012 election.¨   Published at Huffingtonpost.com at 4 Nov 2011. Written by Gaston Caperton. And    2) ¨Education to play significant role in 2012 elections.¨  Published at Theepochtimes.com   at 9 Feb 2012. Written by Shar Adams.

    For decades, americans have been searching for a president who could put the school system on his or her back, make education the government`s top priority. Unfortunately, every four years it seems like a new issue comes along that pushes education to the back ( economy, terrorism, health care ).

    Will 2012 be different? It is soon to tell. But for education advocates like myself, this election is a unique opportunity to seize the public dialogue and steer it toward a serious conversation. The reality is that education plays a role in many of the key issues that will decide 2012 presidential race. How can we put more americans back to work? Education. How can we lower our long-term debt? Education. How can we become energy independent? Education.

    Education can be the silver bullet if we invest the necessary time and the resources. Unfortunately, both are becoming scarce. As the U.S. continues to plummet in the global education standings, we can not afford to continue wringing our hands.

    We have a lot of big questions when it comes to education, questions about the role of the federal government, the nature of the curriculum and the integration of technology.

    While jobs and the economy are headliner issues for most americans, education will likely play a significant  role in elections this year, according to a recent research for a forum for education.

    With long-term unemployment a reality in many communities. Americans increasingly see the relationship between education and the economy. The research  indicated education had move up on par with health care and the national debt as an issue of concern.

     David Winston, president of the D.C. research company says, ¨ people are beginning to realize that one of the outcomes of having an education system that is not producing what it needs is that you are seeing skilled work going overseas because other countries have better labor pools and have really skilled workers.¨

     The forum followed of the research touched on a range of key education issues this year, ranging from the  reauthorization of the ¨ No Child Left Behind¨ act to raising the dropout age to 18. The new goal of the NCLB act is to have 100% of students reaching proficiency in mathematics and reading by 2014.

     The Obama administration has proposed changes to NCLB act : to grant schools flexibility, to teach with creativity, and to replace teachers who are not helping kids` learn.

     

     Steer - direct or guide.

     Wringing - very wet or  to wash.

     Outcome - result or consequence.

     Pool - a supply of people for use when needed.

     Dropout - stop participating or attending.

     

V.T.XXVII - Human Rights Day

  This post is a summary of two reports: 1) ¨Secretary-general`s message for human rights day.¨  at UN.org and   2) ¨Message from secretary Hillary Clinton. at Humanrights.gov. Both published at human rights day, 10 December, 2011.

  Human rights belong to every one of us without exception. But unless we know them, unless we demand they be respected, and unless we defend our rights, and the rights of others, to exercise them, they will be just words in a decade-old document.

  The importance of human rights has been underlined over and over again this year. Across the globe, people mobilized to demand justice, dignity, equality, participation. The rights enshrined in the UDHR.

   Many of these peaceful demonstrators persevered despite being met with violence and further repression. In some countries, the struggle continues, in others, important concessions were gained or dictators were toppled as the will of the people prevailed.

   Many of the people seeking their legitimate aspirations were linked through social media. Gone are the days when repressive governments could totally control the flow of information. Government must not block access to the internet and various forms of social media as a way to prevent criticism and public debate.

   We know there is still too much repression in our world, still too much impunity, still too many people for whom rights are not yet a reality.

   On December 10, 1948, world leaders gathered and pledged to uphold and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people. This promise recognized that human beings are, by virtue of their birth, endowed with certain inalienable rights.

  63 years later, we hear this call for freedom and dignity echoed in the streets, squares and neighborhoods of middle east, north Africa, and beyond. It is up to people of each nation to create the governments and societies that reflect their aspirations, and craft the constitutions and build the foundations that will protect their human rights and freedoms and it is up to the people of every nation to guard their budding democracies against those who would seek to hijack freedom.

  The violence we have witnessed this year against people exercising their universal rights to free expression, assembly and association remind us of the distance that exist between the values inscribed in the UDHR and the realities for many people around the world.

   It is an obligation of every government to guarantee the rights of all citizens. We will stand with those who defend human rights against opression wherever it occurs, and support those working toward a more peaceful world.

  Endowed - have something as a natural characteristic.

  Budding - showing signs of promise.

  Hijack - take over something and use it for a different purpose.

  Pledge - solemnly promise to do something.

   

E-Democracy

    This text was published at Wikipedia. This is a summary and the title is above.

    E-democracy is concerned with the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to  engage citizens, support the democratic decision-making processes and strengthen representative democracy. Democratic actors and sectors in this context include governments,  elected officials,  the media,  political organizations  and  citizens.   E-democracy aims for broader and more active citizen  participation  enabled by the internet.

    There has been a significant growth in e-democracy in the last four years. Public and private sector provide an avenue to citizen engagement while offering access to transparent information that citizens have come to expect.

    The massive spread of free information through the internet has become a central networking for our world, encouraging freedom and human progress through social and economic development, the internet can be used as a tool for democracy in promoting basic human rights.

    The internet provides a distinctive structure of opportunities that has the potential to renew interest in civic engagement and participation, this could include three distinct dimensions: political knowledge, political trust, and political participation.

    The internet allows citizens to become more knowledgeable about government issues, and the interactivity allow for news forms of communication with government, elected officials, and public servants. ICT are merely means to an end and not normative by their nature. They are tools that may be deployed to achieve certain goals, and these goals may even be contradictory ( both coercive control and participation can be fostered by digital tech ). While many celebrate the internet as a tool for democracy, it should not be forgotten that the earlier visions of an informatization-state were rather frightening, such as the one told by  George Orwell in 1984. While tech can be used for the good and bad, certain institutional framework conditions may either support or hamper the use of eletronic means for the benefit of democratic processes.

    If the internet is to become a new democratic tool, through which people can participate in and influence the democratic process, it is vital that everyone who wants irrespective of age, gender, profession or geographical location has the access to it and the skills to use.

    The government must be in a position to guarantee that online communications are secure and that they do not violate people`s privacy.

    Internet is a two way street. It enables citizens to get and post information about politics and it allows those politicians to get advice from the people in larger numbers. This collective decision making gives more power to the citizens. This creates a more productive society that can handle problems faster and more efficiently.

Vol.T.XXVI - Brazil, country of the future.

   This post is a summary of two reports: 1) ¨Fresh look for author, and for land he lauded¨. Published at NYTimes.com at November,21,2011. And written by Simon Romero.   2) ¨Brazil complete 70 years-old as country of the future.¨ Published at Economia.IG.com.br at January,28,2011. And written by Patrick Cruz.

   When the viennese-born writer Stefan Zweig moved in 1941 to the Petrópolis, nestled in the mountains near Rio de Janeiro, he was one of world`s most translated author, renowned for his taut novellas exploring passion, obsession and despair. But after Mr. Zweig, despondent over the advances of the nazis, took his own life here at the age 60 in a suicide pact with his wife, he became known in his adopted country for creating one of most hackneyed phrases ever associated with Brazil: ¨country of the future¨.

   Derived from the title of his 1941 book praising Latin America largest country. The phrase got expanded and recycled ad nauseam as a refrain, ¨Brazil, country of the future, and always will be¨ used to cassualy dismiss a nation long plagued by high inflation and entrenched corruption.

    The house where Mr.Zweig took his own life is set to reopen soon as a museum, meanwhile brazilian writers and historians have been reflecting on the significance of ¨land of the future¨, and some of the political intrigue surrounding its publication 70 years ago.

    In a recent televised discussion of Zweig, Alcino Leite, editor of Publifolha, compared his importance in Brazil to that in the United States of Alexis Tocqueville, the french thinker who wrote about american concepts of liberty and equality in ¨Democracy in America¨.

     ¨We had Stefan Zweig,¨ said, Mr. Alcino, ¨who left us this book advocating tolerance, comprehension, an indictment in favor of peace, written during world war II.¨ Mr. Zweig`s reappraisal in Brazil, coincides with renewed crisis in Europe, and with a new wave of portuguese emigration to Brazil, but this time of unemployed professionals, some of those seeking opportunity may even know that Mr.Zweig remain highly esteemed in parts of Europe, especially in France, where his books are still widely available. Strangely, Mr. Zweig`s book was fiercely criticized in Brazil shortly after his publication. Critics laid waste to the writer with vehemence, opening him to insinuation that he was paid by the authoritarian regime of Getulio Vargas to write the book. But the author of numerous best sellers had little need for Brazil`s financial support.

     In 1941, Brazil had a little more of 40 millions of inhabitants and 56% of them were illiterate. The coffee was a third of exports, and a third of the children were out of school, but nothing of this diminished the optimism of Stefan Zweig, a renowned writer, published in that year ¨Brazil, country of the future¨, book that gave  to Brazil a surname. The book is a exercise of excitement and jingoism. He said,¨I was fascinated not only by the unique combination of sea and mountain, but also for a new species of civilization¨. And thus follows the text, between descriptions of the vastness of the territory, the possibilities of rich soils ( for agriculture and mining ) and the mild and unarmed spirit of the people.

      Although it is a collection of praise, the book is not without a critical sense, Zweig notes that public health was the Achilles heel of the country, and the poverty in the countryside, in faraway places from the cities is another misfortune attested for him.

    Laud - praise highly

    Taut -  tense

    Ad nauseam - an annoying excessive extent

    Despondent - in low spirits from loss of hope

    Hackneyed - unoriginal and used too often

    Entrench - so firmly established that change is difficult

    Achilles heel - a weak point

    Jingoism - excessive pride in your country

    illiterate - unable to read or/and write

   

Vol. Teac. XXV - Human Rights and Bullying

   This post is a summary of two reports: ¨ Human rights teaching reduces bullying, study finds.¨  Published at Guardian.co.uk at 2 November 2010 and written by Jeevan Vasagar and the other: ¨Bullying and human rights.¨  Published at Discoverhumanrights.org at Fall 2010.

   Teaching children about their human rights can reduce bullying and exclusion, improve relations with teachers and create a calmer atmosphere for learning, according to an UNICEF-UK project in more than 1,000 schools across Britain.The first evaluation of the project has found that its introduction was accompanied by a fall in truancy and an improvement in results at schools. Pupils increasingly took part in making decisions and in debates about the school. In some schools, pupils showed candidates for teaching jobs questions they wanted to ask. They also gave feedback after candidates for teaching jobs gave sample lessons. 

   Anita Tiessen, director of UNICEF-UK, said: ¨It is wrong that all children in the UK do not learn about their rights. Today`s evaluation report shows a profound effect it can have not only on children, but also in teachers, governors and parents.¨ Meanwhile, research by the Educational Sutton Trust finds that poor children are twice as likely to start school with behavior problems, compared with their more privileged peers. And also that the gaps in behavior between poorer and wealthier children has widened over the last 10 years. Peter Lampl, chairman of Educational Sutton Trust, said: ¨This study is showing that disadvantaged children are much more likely to have a challenging behavior. It is no wonder that the gaps in achievement grow during school. More than anything, the research shows once more again why it is so important to intervene to stem problems before they develop.¨

    Social studies devote considerable discussion to the balance of power among the branches of governments as well as to a nation`s system of justice to assist students` understanding of the court system, social studies teachers may hold mock court trials of famous cases, in which students role play the parts involved. Since social studies are intended to develop students` understanding of democratic system of justice, students need dealing with disputes and making decisions fair to the parties involved as well as to their community. Peer mediation is one means of developing students` requisite skills and knowledge of justice. Through peer mediation students must consider all sides of bullying and develop workable solutions that are fair. Research has shown that peer mediation increases students interests in the justice and legal system, while promoting citizenship. Bullying is not a rite of passage for children, this perception represent an opportunity to explore the way human rights protection is initiated, defined, and enacted  by different  states  in  the  U. S. as well as around the world. Just because it has not yet been  possible to eradicate bullying, this does not mean bullying should continue. Teachers who emphasize positive environment can only help students become secure. In addition, should familiarize students with the rules and policies regarding bullying. Social studies textbooks generally include the role of the U. N. in promoting world peace, aiding victims of war and natural disasters, and advocating for human rights. Teachers must help students recognize that freedom from bullying and harassment are human rights issues, and human rights advocates around the world have denounced bullying.

    It is imperative that each adult assumes responsibility for protecting students from physical and psychological harm. Each child, regardless of ethnicity, gender, and culture, deserves equal protection. Teachers should focus on uses and abuses of power and promote positive attitudes and tolerance of others. Furthermore, the adults must recognize bullying for what it really is, a violation of human rights.

   Truancy - stays away from school without permission or explanation.

   Stem - stop the flow of something

   Mock - arranged for training or practice

   Harass - torment someone by subjecting them to constant interference or bullying.

Non-production benefits of education: crime, health and good citizenship

        This report was published at NBER.org in January 2011 and was written by Lance Lochner. This is a summary and the title is above.

       A growing body of work suggests that education offers a wide-range of benefits that extend beyond increases in labor market productivity. Improvements in education can lower crime, improve health, and increase democratic participation.

        Economists have long recognized and measured the effect of education on an individual`s own lifetime earnings. More recently, attention has been paid to the effects of education on other personal and social outcomes. In 1997, over two-thirds of all prison inmates in the U.S. were high school dropouts. But the link between schooling and crime is more complicated than simple prison statistic suggest.

     It emphasizes the role of education as a human capital investment that increases future work opportunities, which discourages participation in crime. Variation in the cost of or taste for schooling may also affect the education-crime relationship through accumulated skill levels. Policies that encourage schooling investment should reduce crime rates among youth as they substitute time from crime to school. Education may also teach individuals to be more patient. This would discourage crime. Education also affect preferences towards risk. In most cases, mechanisms related to changes in preferences or social interactions suggest that educational attainment is likely to reduce most types of crimes.

        Health amd mortality gaps by education are large and have been growing for decades. Education is more correlated with health than is income or occupation. The literature has identified many reasons education may improve health and reduce mortality.

       The hypothesis that education strengthens democracy has a long history, crediting the basic idea to Aristotle. It emphasize the role of education in informing citizens and increasing their capacity to make ¨good decisions¨, while resisting demagoguery. Education may instill civic and democratic values.

        Despite the plethora of hypotheses linking education and democracy, formal economic models of this linking are scarce. A notable exception is Glaeser, Ponzetto and Shleifer ( 2007 ) who emphasize the social nature of political action and education`s role in facilitating social interaction.

      While democracy and political freedoms are intrinsically valuable, economists have largely been interested in the link between education and democracy based on the potential for democratic institutions to facilitate economic growth. Education and democracy are highly correlated across countries. For example, Barro ( 1999 ) shows that countries with higher average years of schooling also have greater civic liberties. A large literature in political science demonstrates a strong correlation between educational attainment and political participation, civic awareness, support for free speech, and other measures of civic engagement.

         A growing literature has established that education impact a wide range of personal decisions. The social benefits from these impacts can be sizeable. For example, Lochner and Moretti ( 2004 ) estimate that high school completion may lower the annual social costs of crime by $ 3,000 per graduate. Increasing high school completion rates in the U.S. by 1% point would reap a saving of more than $ 2 billion annually.

Vol. Teac. XXIV - Dickens part III

    This text is a summary of two reports: the first, ¨My hero: Charles Dickens.¨ Published at Guardian.co.uk in 4 February 2012 and written by Simon Callow. The second, ¨Teaching Dickens with NYT¨. Published at NYT.com in 12 January 2012 and written by Katherine Schulten and Shannon Doyne.

    The Pickwick Papers, thrust into my hands at the age 13. It danced before my eyes, a great hokey-cokey of eccentrics, phony politicians, amorous widows and wily witty servants. A tear sprang to my eyes when I read the book`s closing words: ¨Some men like bats, have better eyes for the darkness than for the light¨.

    When I first read it, I had no idea how hard-won that sunny vision had been for its 25 years-old author, only 12 years before, he had been a drudge in a shoe-polish factory, living in his own. He felt abandoned, humiliated, heart-broken. By a supreme effort of will, he turned away from the dark feelings that threatened to engulf him and threw himself into life with a blazing enthusiasm.

    This alone would not be enough to make him my hero, though it is a heroic effort. The reason I love him so deeply is that, having experienced the lower depths, he never ceased, till the day he died, to commit himself, both in his work and his life, to trying to right the wrongs inflicted by some people, above all, perhaps by giving the dispossessed a voice, from the moment he started to write, he spoke for the people, and the people loved him for it, as I do.

    This year is the 200th Dickens` anniversary, and events are planned all over. Here are some ideas for celebrating a writer who ¨could extract wisdom, pathos, humor from the most unlikely materials, and never failed to read the man underneath all the strange wrappage that habit, speech and association might have flung around him.¨

     Type the adjective ¨Dickensian¨ into some web search and you will see that it has been used to describe from the ¨life of a 1930`s child star to Newt Gingrich`s thoughts on educational reform.¨

     In a 2009 review, written just after the investor Madoff fraud: ¨Little Dorrit is particularly apt at this moment in history because the story focuses intently on something deeper and more universal than real estate bubbles or bank runs: Unfairness.¨

    Phony - a person that is not genuine.

    Wily - clever.

    Witty - having the ability to say something in a clever and amusing way.

    Drudge - who does hard, menial work.

    Engulf - overwhelm someone.

    Pathos - a quality that arouses pity or sadness.

    Unfairness - injustice

 

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

    This is a summary of the document with the title above published at UN.org and also a summary of a text published at Detentionwatchnetwork.org , everybody have heard about human rights , but you know what this really is? They are a total of 30 article and it was proclaimed by the UN general assembly at 10 December 1948.

    Why are human rights important? The UDHR , together with the international covenant on civil and political rights, and the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights, form what is known as international bill of human rights. These fundamental human rights should be ¨a common standard of achievement for all people and nations.¨ They are the most basic rights that all human beings should enjoy, respect and protect. International human rights law lays down obligations which states are bound to respect. By becoming parties to international treaties, states assume obligations and duties under international law to respect, to protect and to fulfill human rights.

                 Article 3

  Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

                Article 4

  No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.

               Article 5

  No one should be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

              Article 12

  No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence.

           Article 14

  Everyone has the right to seek in other countries asylum from persecution.

           Article 19

  Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This include hold opinions without interference  and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

          Article 21

  Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. The will of the people shall be expressed in genuine elections held by secret vote.

        Article 25

 Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the well-being of himself, and the right to security in the event of sickness, disability, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstance beyond his control.

    Article 26

  Everyone has the right to education. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Education shall be directed to full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

   Article 27

Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

           

Fighting corruption, boosting integrity.

         This report was published at OECD.org in 2011, this is a summary and the title is above.

      Life may not be fair, but we all need to believe that the rules governing our lives are fair, and that corruption will be rooted out. That mean ensuring that the spirit of the law is respected, and that we have the right set of rules governing our societies. Tackling corruption and abuse of the system is vital to restoring people`s trust. Public sector corruption result in poorer public service.
      This is not just about big bribes to high-ranking officials to win contracts, it is also about ordinary taxpayers who end up with shoddy bridges, roads and buildings as a result.
       Sometimes, monitoring systems are not enough. Corruption is by its very nature secretive and often it takes someone inside to expose corruption and any good citizen wanting to warn somebody, but what if this person do not know who inside should complain to, or if the last person who did so lost their job or was accused of breaking confident rules.
        Whistleblowers acting from the best of motives often find that they are seen as the problem, not the solution. Losing their jobs, being discredited and even ending up in jail for speaking out, enough to discourage anyone from doing the right thing. Civil society groups such as Transparency International have long campaigned to protect whistleblowers.
       At the same time, people are asking whether some of the rules themselves also need revising. Should bankers` contracts allow them a full bonus even when profits have plummeted and taxpayers has paid for a bailout?
        One thing is clear. Having clear rules and ensuring that they are respected are key to rebuilding trust and better trust leads to better policies, which leads to better lives.

Vol. Teac. XXIII - Famous Quotes

      This post is a selection of quotes from many webpages searched at Google. Quotations is the reproduction of the words of a speaker or writer. A quotation whose author is forgotten or unknown becomes a saying. We can learn something with them.

      " By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; third, by experience, which is the bitterest."

                          Confucius

      " Leadership is lifting a person's vision to higher sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations."

                           Peter Drucker

      " Human  history  becomes  more  and  more a  race  between  education  and  catastrophe".

                       H. G. Wells

      " Teachers open the door, you enter by yourself ".

                      Chinese proverb

      " Freedom is when the people can speak, democracy is when the government listen."

                               Alastair Farrugia

      " Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever."

                             Mahatma Gandhi

       " It is not enough to rage against the lie, you' ve got to replace it with the truth."

                           Bono U2

       " The great penalty those of us who live our lives in full view of the public must pay is the loss of that most cherished birthright of man, privacy.¨

                           Mary Pickford

       " The privacy and dignity of citizens are being whittled away by imperceptible steps, taken individually, each steps may be little, but when viewed as whole, begins to emerge a society in which government may intrude into the secret regions of a person`s life. The fifth amendment  ( compensation for government abuse ) is an old and good friend, it is one of the great landmarks in the men`s struggle to be free of tyranny and to be civilized."

                      William O. Douglas

       " Who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither."

                         Benjamin Franklin

        " Information is the currency of democracy."

          Thomas Jefferson            
                                                                                
      "Gratitude is the memory of the heart."
Jean Baptiste Massieu

      

        " Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

                          Martin Luther King

        " He who opens a school door, closes a prison."

                        Victor Hugo

        " What a teacher writes on the blackboard of life can never be erased."

                           Author unknown