Raise the Minimum Wage: A Good First Step in Addressing Poverty Iraq — ICPJ Update — January 25, 2006
0. Opening Words
1. Raise the Minimum Wage: A Good First Step in Addressing Poverty
2. Tell the truth about torture, Mr. President
3. State of the Union Party
4. Events Calendar
5. Meditation — 20 Questions: A Peace and Justice Quiz
=*=*=*=*=*=*=
0. Opening Words
Dear –name–,
ICPJ has joined the technology bandwagon.
We’ve started a blog.
All hype aside, the web log will make it easier for us to keep you informed about what we’re doing, news about our current campaigns, and action alerts that don’t make it into our weekly newsletter.
The layout is still a bit rough, but you can see what we’ve got so far online at:
I’m excited to have the blog for how it will help us keep you informed about the good work ICPJ is doing. Just don’t expect us to start podcasting any time soon. We’re not that cool.
In peace,
-Chuck
=*=*=*=*=*=*=
1. Raise the Minimum Wage: A Good First Step in Addressing Poverty
You know as well as I do that the current minimum wage, $5.15 per hour, is a sub poverty wage. As long as we leave workers to earn such paltry income, we will not address the problem of poverty in the United States.
You and I also know that ending poverty will take more than just raising the minimum wage.
Last Sunday the Ann Arbor News ran an editorial on the minimum wage effort, and they got the issue half-right. They acknowledge that the poverty is our “national shame” and that it will require a comprehensive solution.
Where they get things wrong is in downplaying the role of raising the minimum wage as part of that comprehensive solution.
Read the Ann Arbor News editorial online at:
http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1137928526212020.xml?aanews?NEE&coll=2
Then write a letter to the editor telling the News that raising the minimum wage is an important first step in helping address poverty in America. You can send letters to letters@annarbornews.com, they must be no longer than 250 words, and include your full name, address and daytime telephone number. We’d love to see what you write, so please send a copy along to us as well.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=
2. Tell the truth about torture, Mr. President
Sign on online at http://www.tellthetruthabouttorture.org
Numerous allegations of torture committed by agents of the United States government have been reported since President Bush declared the “war on terror” in 2001. It’s time for the torture to end. Sign our petition and ask the President to tell the truth about our country’s acts of torture at home and abroad when he gives his address this month.
Mr. President,
- In what acts of torture and inhuman treatment have agents of the U.S. government engaged and where have they taken place?
- How will you be sure that all individuals throughout the chain of command are held accountable for abuses that have occurred?
- Will the United States renounce all future acts of torture so it never happens again?
Join Amnesty International as we stand for the truth about torture and fight to end it. We insist that the United States investigate and prosecute past acts and stop future acts of torture committed in our names.
http://www.tellthetruthabouttorture.org
=*=*=*=*=*=*=
3. STATE OF THE UNION PARTY
Tuesday January 31st, 8 pm
Cavern Club, 210 S. First, Ann Arbor
Desserts provided; cash bar; all ages welcome
8-9 pm:
· “People’s State of the Union” address
· Bush impersonation contest
· Your predictions: what will the president say?
9-10 pm:
· Play Bush Bingo and watch the speech on a big-screen TV.
After the speech:
· Open mic: rebuttals
Don’t watch it alone!
Sponsored by Michigan Peaceworks, www.michiganpeaceworks.org, 734-761-5922.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=
4. Events Calendar
January 27-29–Making Links and Breaking Chains Conference centered around learning about a diverse set of different issues including (But not limited to): The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, Immigration Issues & Immigrant Rights, The Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Multiculturalism and Social Justice in Community Student Living, Hawaiian Sovereignty, and more. To register, visit: www.umich.edu/~umsafe/mlbc.htm
Friday, January 27– WOMEN OF COLOR AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZING presentation by Andrea Smith. 1:30 PM. 1644 School of Social Work Building, 1080 S. University Ave.
Saturday, January 28– “The Patriot Act: Who is Targeted?” featuring Nazih Hassan, plaintiff in ACLU v National Security Agency 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Michigan League, U of M campus, 911 N. University Dr., Ann Arbor. The U-M undergraduate chapter of the ACLU will host a discussion with National Security Agency spy case plaintiff, Nazih Hassan, as part of the SAFE conference, “Making Links and Breaking Chains.” Hassan, who is also a plaintiff in the ACLU of Michigan lawsuit against Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act, will share how Arabs and Muslims living in the United States have been dealt with by law enforcement since September 11, 2001.
Tuesday January 31– STATE OF THE UNION PARTY, 8 pm, Cavern Club, 210 S. First, Ann Arbor, Desserts provided; cash bar; all ages welcome. Sponsored by Michigan Peaceworks, www.michiganpeaceworks.org, 734-761-5922.
Tuesday, January 31– REPRESENTING TORTURE: Women’s Criminalization and Torture, presentation by Carol Jacobsen. 4:30 PM. 1636 School of Social Work Building, 1080 S. University Ave
Friday, February 10–Book reading by Chesa Boudin from his two new books: The Venezuelan Revolution & Letters From Young Activists. 7:00 p.m. at Shaman Drum Bookshop. Details: publicity@shamandrum.com.
February 10-12–COFFEE AND CHOCOLATE SAMPLINGS. Equal Exchange, a Fair Trade distributor of coffee and chocolate will be hosting samplings at Ten Thousand Villages on: Friday, Feb. 10, 6-8pm; Saturday, Feb. 11, 6-8pm; and Sunday, Feb. 12, 2-4pm. A coffee and dessert class featuring Equal Exchange products will be given on Saturday, Feb. 11, 11:30am - 1:30pm. Class registration is limited to 12 people. $10 class fee. Call 332-1270 or email villagesaa@hotmail.com to register.
Sunday, February 12– Theology on Tap: Revisiting “The Fog of War.” Viewing and discussion of the 2003 Oscar-wining documentary “The Fog of War,” reflecting on the experiences of Vietnam-era Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. Drinks and selections from the appetizer menu are available starting at 6:00 pm, and the movie starts at 6:30. Arbor Brewing Company, 116 E. Washington St. Organized by The Outreach Committee of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Contact: 734-213-5378
Sunday, March 12–ICPJ Annual Meeting & 40th Anniversary Celebration. Contact info@icpj.net or 734-663-1870 for details.
Tuesday, March 14– The Challenge to Vote: Access and Independence for Citizens with Disabilities. Malletts Creek Library 3090 Eisenhower Parkway. Contact: Carolyn L. Grawi, Director of Advocacy and Education, Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living
734-971-0277 ext 47, cgrawi@aacil.org
Sunday March 19–MCHR 25th Anniversary Annual Dinner. Keynote: Lani Guinier, “The Constitution in Crisis.” Details: (313) 579-0971 www.mchr.org
=*=*=*=*=*=*=
5. Meditation — 20 Questions: A Peace and Justice Quiz
by Bill Quigley of the Poverty Law Center at Loyola University
1. In 1968 the minimum wage was $1.60 per hour. How much would the minimum wage be today if it had kept pace with inflation?
2. In 1965, CEOs in major companies made 24 times more than the average worker. In 2003, CEOs earned how many times more than the average worker?
3. The US is composed of 3,066 counties. In how many of the nation’s 3,066 counties can someone who works full-time and earns the federal minimum wage afford to pay rent and utilities on a one-bedroom apartment?
4. How much must the typical US worker must earn per hour if they dedicate 30% of their income to housing costs?
5. How many million workers in the US earn poverty-level wages of less than $8.20 an hour?
6. What are Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and Tennessee?
7. What are Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia?
8. In 2001, the average financial wealth for black householders was about what % of the average for white households?
9. The median financial wealth for blacks is how much of the corresponding figure for whites?
10. Over the entire 28 year history of the Berlin Wall, 287 people perished trying to cross it. In the ten years since the Clinton administration implemented the current U.S. border strategy with Mexico, how many people have died trying to cross?
11. Where does the US rank worldwide in the imprisonment of its citizens?
12. In 2004, the direct reported US military budget was how much for each second of the year?
13. In 2003, the US military budget was how many times larger than the Chinese budget, the second largest spender?
14. In 2003, the US military budget was how many times as large as the combined spending of the seven so-called “rogue” states (Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria)?
15. The difference in income per head between the richest nation and the poorest nation in 1750 was about 5 to 1. Today the difference between the richest nation and the poorest nation is what?
16. Of the 6.2 billion people in the world today, how many live on less than $1 per day, and how many live on less than $2 per day?
17. The richest 1% in the world receive as much income as what percentage of the poorest?
18. The Congress under President Bush has been more generous in helping poor countries than under President Clinton. In 2003, the US increased official development assistance to poor countries by one-fifth. Where does the US contribution rank in the top 22 countries in proportion to our economy?
19. Americans give how much per day in government assistance to poor countries?
20. Americans spend how much on soft drinks each day?
ANSWERS to Twenty Questions:
1. The minimum wage would be $8.70 today if it had kept pace with inflation. Brennan Center, NYU Law School, November 3, 2004.
2. In 1965, CEOs in major companies made 24 times more than the average worker. In 2003, CEOs earned 185 times more than the average worker. “Wages” in State of Working America 2004-2005, Economic Policy Institute, www.epinet.org
3. In four of the nation’s 3,066 counties can someone who works full-time and earns the federal minimum wage afford to pay rent and utilities on a one-bedroom apartment. New York Times, “Study Finds Gap in Wages and Housing Costs,” December 25, 2004.
4. In fact, the typical US worker must earn $15.37 an hour if they dedicate 30% of their income to housing costs. New York Times, “Study Finds Gap in Wages and Housing Costs,” December 24, 2004.
5. How many people in the US earn poverty-level wages of less than $8.20 an hour? More than 30 million workers. William Quigley, ENDING POVERTY AS WE KNOW IT: Guaranteeing A Right to A Job at a Living Wage 24 (Temple 2003).
6. What are Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and Tennessee? The total population of these states represents the number of people in the US living below the official poverty line. William Quigley, ENDING POVERTY AS WE KNOW IT: Guaranteeing A Right to A Job at a Living Wage 23-24 (Temple 2003).
7. What are Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia? The total populations of these state populations must be added to the states above if you count all the people below 125% of the official poverty line, a total of 22 states. William Quigley, ENDING POVERTY AS WE KNOW IT: Guaranteeing A Right to A Job at a Living Wage 23-24 (Temple 2003).
8. In 2001, the average financial wealth for black householders was about 12% of the average for white households. “Minorities,” in State of Working America 2004-2005, Economic Policy Institute, www.epinet.org
9. The median financial wealth for blacks was $1,100, less than 3% of the corresponding figure for whites. “Minorities,” in State of Working America 2004-2005, Economic Policy Institute, www.epinet.org
10. Over the entire 28 year history of the Berlin Wall, 287 people perished trying to cross it. In the ten years since the Clinton administration implemented the current U.S. border strategy with Mexico, more than 2,500 people have died trying to cross. Wayne Cornelius, director of the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies at UC San Diego. Marc Cooper, “On the Border of Hypocrisy,” December 5, 2003, LA Weekly.
11. Where does the US rank worldwide in the imprisonment of its citizens? First. The US imprisons over 700 persons per 100,000. Russia is second with 584. Sentencing Project, Facts About Prisons and Prisoners. www.sentencingproject.org
12. In 2004, the direct reported US military budget was over $399 billion, $12,000 a second. www.globalissues.org
13. In 2003, the US military budget was more than 8 times larger than the Chinese budget, the second largest spender. www.globalissues.org
14. The US military budget was more than 29 times as large as the combined spending of the seven “rogue” states (Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria). Even if you add China and Russia’s military spending to that of the seven potential enemies, all nine nations together spent $116.2 billion, 27% of the U.S. military budget. The US military budget is more than the combined spending of the next twenty three nations. www.globalissues.org
15. The difference in income per head between the richest nation and the poorest nation in 1750 was about 5 to 1. Today the difference between the richest nation, Switzerland, and the poorest nation, Mozambique, is about 400 to 1. (David S. Landes, THE WEALTH AND POVERTY OF NATIONS, xx, W.W. Norton 1998).
16. Of the 6.2 billion people in the world today, 1.2 billion live on less than $1 per day, 2.8 billion live on less than $2 per day. 2002 UN Human Development Report.
17. The richest 1% in the world receive as much income as the poorest 57%. 2002 UN Human Development Report.
18. The Congress under President Bush has been more generous in helping poor countries than under President Clinton. In 2003, the US increased official development assistance to poor countries by one-fifth. Where does the US contribution rank in the top 22 countries in proportion to our economy? Last. Nicholas D. Kristof, “Land of Penny Pinchers,” New York Times, January 5, 2005.
19. Americans on average give how much per day in government assistance to poor countries? 15 cents. Nicholas D. Kristof, “Land of Penny Pinchers,” New York Times, January 5, 2005.
20. Americans spend how much on soft drinks each day? 60 cents. Nicholas D. Kristof, “Land of Penny Pinchers,” New York Times, January 5, 2005.
