More than 600 job seekers showed up at a Toronto job fair this week, as the ranks of the recently unemployed have begun swelling. According to the The Star job seekers waited in line to meet job counsellors and employers at the fair, held by JVS Toronto. JVS -- a non-profit dedicated to employment -- has been operating for 61 years and has experience placing people during good and bad times.
Canadian employment had been holding up fairly well until recent months. Global job losses from the recession could top 50 million by year's end, The New York Times reports. The figures come from the International Labor Organization, a United Nations agency.
The International Monetary Fund anticipates that global economic growth will reach its lowest point since the Depression by late 2009. According to researchers quoted in the Times, growth has essentially stopped and developed economies are expected to shrink 2 per cent during this year.
The French employment minister noted that this is the worst that his country has seen since 1929. He said globalization makes the unemployment picture much different and more severe.
February 13, 2009
February 12, 2009
Space Pollution: Trouble in the Heavens
by Diane Wilson
For those of us who would prefer to forget Kyoto and global warming and the many forms of pollution that most people agree are problematic, we now have something else to keep us up at night -- space pollution.
According to the The New York Times , two communication satellites -- an operational American satellite and a Russian satellite -- collided 490 miles above northern Siberia. There is now concern that orbital debris could affect the International Space Station.
Weighing in at about 1,200 pounds -- the size of a fully grown cow, and measuring more than 12 feet long or the height of a mature elephant -- the American satellite was one of a group of 66 spacecraft.
According to Nicholas Johnson, chief scientist for orbital debris at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, it will take time to find out how much damage was done, and whether the debris could threaten the space station and its astronauts. He noted that the risk to the station is small, because you can dodge the large objects whipping through the universe. Apparently, it's the smaller objects that you cannot see -- think industrial pollution here on earth -- that can cause the most damage.
Which brings us to our risk for more of this in space, given our penchant for communication devices. For that matter, were I to understand physics, would it be possible to track all of the waves and rays and other stuff emitted by all of the machines we now engage? I remember being told years ago not to stand to close to my microwave. I stand three feet away, and then go near it as it beeps the friendly message: "Enjoy your meal." There are all the conflicting stories about mobile phone use and the brain. And now collosal pollution in the heavens. We have created such a superb technological society that my microwave is about to change its message: "Last laugh's on you."
For those of us who would prefer to forget Kyoto and global warming and the many forms of pollution that most people agree are problematic, we now have something else to keep us up at night -- space pollution.
According to the The New York Times , two communication satellites -- an operational American satellite and a Russian satellite -- collided 490 miles above northern Siberia. There is now concern that orbital debris could affect the International Space Station.
Weighing in at about 1,200 pounds -- the size of a fully grown cow, and measuring more than 12 feet long or the height of a mature elephant -- the American satellite was one of a group of 66 spacecraft.
According to Nicholas Johnson, chief scientist for orbital debris at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, it will take time to find out how much damage was done, and whether the debris could threaten the space station and its astronauts. He noted that the risk to the station is small, because you can dodge the large objects whipping through the universe. Apparently, it's the smaller objects that you cannot see -- think industrial pollution here on earth -- that can cause the most damage.
Which brings us to our risk for more of this in space, given our penchant for communication devices. For that matter, were I to understand physics, would it be possible to track all of the waves and rays and other stuff emitted by all of the machines we now engage? I remember being told years ago not to stand to close to my microwave. I stand three feet away, and then go near it as it beeps the friendly message: "Enjoy your meal." There are all the conflicting stories about mobile phone use and the brain. And now collosal pollution in the heavens. We have created such a superb technological society that my microwave is about to change its message: "Last laugh's on you."
February 11, 2009
Baseball Banking and Madoff
by Diane Wilson
As the top American bankers testified in Washington today, one could only sit in disbelief at the sad spectacle. The heads of the once great banks -- and these were really good banks -- had to explain and apologize, and beg. Washington is beginning to ring out the excesses as it comes to terms with the new realities but it will take awhile to sort out a culture that had coveted excess.
America's national game, baseball, has been having a rough week. The New York Daily News reports that former Blue Jay Roberto Alomar got hit with a heavy duty lawsuit. This follows the flap created by Alex Rodriguez's interview with ESPN, in which he admitted to using banned substances while playing with the Texas Rangers back in 2001 - 2003. Rodriguez told the network that he wanted to prove that he was worth the money.
Then there is the slow steady drip from the Bernie Madoff case. If reports are true, he is the player who has really hit it out of the park, having claimed thousands of victims in his alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme. Madoff doomed the rich and the retired, but it is his devastating reach into philanthropy and pension funds that boggles the mind. According to the New York Times, this case extends to the New Orleans City Employees Retirement System and locals of the Plumbers & Steamfitters union, among others. Everybody had counted on Mr. Madoff to keep their money safe.
Bankers, baseball players and fund managers. We sit with an issue of trust, a need to sort the good from the bad, and to get back to some sort of normal. So, we have a stimulus bill passed in the US and we have one here at home, but we need more. We need values. No more shock and awe economics. No more swinging for the fences. No more. I want to know which of the banks are still reliable because I'm still foolish enough to believe that they are not all bad guys. I just do not think that. Same with the managers and players. It is the scoundrels that are dominating. Time to get them out of the way, change the culture and move on.
As the top American bankers testified in Washington today, one could only sit in disbelief at the sad spectacle. The heads of the once great banks -- and these were really good banks -- had to explain and apologize, and beg. Washington is beginning to ring out the excesses as it comes to terms with the new realities but it will take awhile to sort out a culture that had coveted excess.
America's national game, baseball, has been having a rough week. The New York Daily News reports that former Blue Jay Roberto Alomar got hit with a heavy duty lawsuit. This follows the flap created by Alex Rodriguez's interview with ESPN, in which he admitted to using banned substances while playing with the Texas Rangers back in 2001 - 2003. Rodriguez told the network that he wanted to prove that he was worth the money.
Then there is the slow steady drip from the Bernie Madoff case. If reports are true, he is the player who has really hit it out of the park, having claimed thousands of victims in his alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme. Madoff doomed the rich and the retired, but it is his devastating reach into philanthropy and pension funds that boggles the mind. According to the New York Times, this case extends to the New Orleans City Employees Retirement System and locals of the Plumbers & Steamfitters union, among others. Everybody had counted on Mr. Madoff to keep their money safe.
Bankers, baseball players and fund managers. We sit with an issue of trust, a need to sort the good from the bad, and to get back to some sort of normal. So, we have a stimulus bill passed in the US and we have one here at home, but we need more. We need values. No more shock and awe economics. No more swinging for the fences. No more. I want to know which of the banks are still reliable because I'm still foolish enough to believe that they are not all bad guys. I just do not think that. Same with the managers and players. It is the scoundrels that are dominating. Time to get them out of the way, change the culture and move on.
February 8, 2009
Time for Work: Now!
by Diane Wilson
According to January's horrible Canadian unemployment numbers released Friday, we now have a national unemployment rate of 7.2%, up significantly from December's 6.6%. Youth unemployment rang in at at a staggering 12.7%, and men over 25 clocked 6.7%. Unemployment among women fared much better at 5.4%.
The US jobs report for January showed unemployment rising to 598,000, or 7.6%. While some jobs were added in health care and in government, every other sector shed jobs. All of which means, the unemployment rate is well into the double digits for people without a high school diploma. Male unemployment now sits at 7.6% while female unemployment is 6.2%.
This trend is not our friend. I picture women across America feeling guilty now that they have retained their jobs, as well as their housework, and I envision swelling numbers of Nintendo playing disaffected men -- and their fathers -- standing in line to flip burgers. There is only so much Grand Theft Auto and Mario that these guys can play before they start asking how their futures evaporated. Why do women have all the jobs? What happened?
The American heartland tells me that the deadening economy could unleash anger on the streets. Which is why the stimulus package is needed now. This business about tax cuts makes no sense. Young people will not benefit from a tax cut. Unemployed people need job opportunities. We need big government spending, the kind we would normally rail against. We must retain all precarious positions and create new jobs for those disaffected people who believe the rest of the world has stopped caring about them. It is a time to show compassion and interest in your fellow man. If we act, we will create the opportunity for millions of people to start contributing and rebuilding society.
Time to stop with the party politics. Time for everybody to get to work, getting work for workers. Something along the lines of hope and change.
According to January's horrible Canadian unemployment numbers released Friday, we now have a national unemployment rate of 7.2%, up significantly from December's 6.6%. Youth unemployment rang in at at a staggering 12.7%, and men over 25 clocked 6.7%. Unemployment among women fared much better at 5.4%.
The US jobs report for January showed unemployment rising to 598,000, or 7.6%. While some jobs were added in health care and in government, every other sector shed jobs. All of which means, the unemployment rate is well into the double digits for people without a high school diploma. Male unemployment now sits at 7.6% while female unemployment is 6.2%.
This trend is not our friend. I picture women across America feeling guilty now that they have retained their jobs, as well as their housework, and I envision swelling numbers of Nintendo playing disaffected men -- and their fathers -- standing in line to flip burgers. There is only so much Grand Theft Auto and Mario that these guys can play before they start asking how their futures evaporated. Why do women have all the jobs? What happened?
The American heartland tells me that the deadening economy could unleash anger on the streets. Which is why the stimulus package is needed now. This business about tax cuts makes no sense. Young people will not benefit from a tax cut. Unemployed people need job opportunities. We need big government spending, the kind we would normally rail against. We must retain all precarious positions and create new jobs for those disaffected people who believe the rest of the world has stopped caring about them. It is a time to show compassion and interest in your fellow man. If we act, we will create the opportunity for millions of people to start contributing and rebuilding society.
Time to stop with the party politics. Time for everybody to get to work, getting work for workers. Something along the lines of hope and change.
January 29, 2009
Just Maybe: Good may come from this
All of the economic malaise -- nice way to put a recession/depression -- and all of the sordid stuff that accompanies bad times might lead to better stuff. That's what I am hoping. You might have noted that DoSomething.org is the talk of Davos this year, along with PhilanthroCapitalism. People are trying to figure out how to use the crisis in capitalism along with the needs of philanthropy. Excellent idea.
Perhaps people will go beyond their own personal reach and really work to establish a better community. We have not seen that kind of thinking on a wide scale in decades. People liked Obama's message during the campaign. They loved the messages of hope and change. Regardless of country,we now turn to neighbourhoods and cities and we start figuring out how many things need doing.
Challenges have come along before, and people have often united to make things better. We are coming out of a vacuous period in which people saw their own personal wealth rocket, only to watch the same wealth evaporate. Time to shift gears, and build something real. Help the community. Eradicate poverty. We talk about this great country of ours -- let's all make it as great as it can be. And then, just maybe, we will really be wealthy!
Perhaps people will go beyond their own personal reach and really work to establish a better community. We have not seen that kind of thinking on a wide scale in decades. People liked Obama's message during the campaign. They loved the messages of hope and change. Regardless of country,we now turn to neighbourhoods and cities and we start figuring out how many things need doing.
Challenges have come along before, and people have often united to make things better. We are coming out of a vacuous period in which people saw their own personal wealth rocket, only to watch the same wealth evaporate. Time to shift gears, and build something real. Help the community. Eradicate poverty. We talk about this great country of ours -- let's all make it as great as it can be. And then, just maybe, we will really be wealthy!
January 27, 2009
When is Enough Enough??
I don't know about you, but everywhere I go people are concerned and downright confused about the proposed stimulus packages here and south of the border. We need something, something big. But then, hey, I don't want to pay for all that stuff, especially paying for stuff to beautify the nation's capital. And then, what about TARP? What about TARP? Sounds like it could end up as a Trivial Pursuit question in years to come. Sad.
So people think something needs to be done. They want help in their own personal life. Cut taxes. Help with expenses. Help with credit. And if they have lost jobs, help getting employed.
There is one overwhelming concern: Exactly how much is enough? That said, Treasury in the U.S. and Finance in Canada are hearing from all sides on how they are failing to do enough, and that they are meddling way too much.
Perhaps people are just a wee bit fatigued at this point, and starting to get cranky. South of the border we had one long primary season that under normal circumstances would have led to an inaugural high and levity for a good hundred days. We could just enjoy the Obamas and their style. Canadians feel the same way, having been totally invested in the US election. We just want to enjoy the culmination of a fascinating race. We have Barack. We have Hillary. And, we no longer have Bush. Yes, this was our hour to sit and enjoy.
But the economy has spiralled down. Yesterday looked downright spooky in the US when more than 50,000 people lost their jobs. Canadians have had a look at the American economy and thanks, but we just hope Canada doesn't go there.
Which brings me to the central question: how much stimulus should be given. I haven't a clue, but I do think everybody else is trying very, very hard to get it right. That at least merits a thank you.
So people think something needs to be done. They want help in their own personal life. Cut taxes. Help with expenses. Help with credit. And if they have lost jobs, help getting employed.
There is one overwhelming concern: Exactly how much is enough? That said, Treasury in the U.S. and Finance in Canada are hearing from all sides on how they are failing to do enough, and that they are meddling way too much.
Perhaps people are just a wee bit fatigued at this point, and starting to get cranky. South of the border we had one long primary season that under normal circumstances would have led to an inaugural high and levity for a good hundred days. We could just enjoy the Obamas and their style. Canadians feel the same way, having been totally invested in the US election. We just want to enjoy the culmination of a fascinating race. We have Barack. We have Hillary. And, we no longer have Bush. Yes, this was our hour to sit and enjoy.
But the economy has spiralled down. Yesterday looked downright spooky in the US when more than 50,000 people lost their jobs. Canadians have had a look at the American economy and thanks, but we just hope Canada doesn't go there.
Which brings me to the central question: how much stimulus should be given. I haven't a clue, but I do think everybody else is trying very, very hard to get it right. That at least merits a thank you.
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