Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Taking Action

I've always been passionate about equal rights and justice for all, but after reading Chew On This, I've been even more troubled about social justice, locally, nationally, and globally. (For example, when Lisa led me to discover that my beloved Target had hardly better labor practices than my arch enemy Wal-Mart, I was devestated.) In any event, it is McDonald's and other Fast Food Franchise's labor practices that have my knickers in a wad (as Jessie would say ;) Tonight I found a great website that could help adults and students alike take action after reading Chew On This or Fast Food Nation. It specifically posts links to McDonald's transgressions and shows easy ways you can fight back - particularly through persuasive letter writing, which is "write" up our ally. (sorry for that...)

Enjoy!

Organization: Jobs with Justice
Website: http://www.jwj.org/

1 Comments:

Blogger Lisa Smith said...

Something I thought you might be interested in. This if from the tolerance.org website:

As you teach impoverished students, consider the mathematical realities of their lives.
The federal government says that a family of four making $18,810 a year is living in poverty.

What exactly does that mean?

Housing
A family of four will spend an average of $5,274 a year for even the most basic of shelter.

$18,810
- 5,274
$13,536

Utilities
Want to keep your family warm? The average expense for utilities is $2,350 a year.
$13,536
- 2,350
$11,186

Transportation
If you plan on driving to work, getting your children to school or going to the grocery store, you'll need to spend at least $4,852 to maintain a car and keep it full of gas.
$11,186
- 4,852
$6,334

Food
Even if you get food stamps, the average a family of four needs at least $4,815 a year for food.
$6,334
- 4,815
$1,519

Health Care
Even if an employer contributed part of the costs of health care (which is unlikely for working-class people), the average for a family of four will be $793 a year. A large medical problem likely would devastate the family.
$1,519
- 793
$726

Child Care
Even with child care subsidies, working-class families can spend an average of $2,030 a year on child care for two of their children. In a large metropolitan area, the cost could exceed $13,000 a year.
$726
- 2,030
$-1,304

Now your family is in the red and you still haven't considered the expenses you'll need for toiletries, school supplies, shoes, clothing, holiday and birthday gifts, education, life insurance, furnishings for your house, recreation and vacations, cleaning supplies or any kind of entertainment.
What will you do?

Source: Poverty USA

9:34 PM  

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