Canadian Social Research Newsletter
October 19, 2008
Welcome to the weekly Canadian Social Research Newsletter,
a listing of the new links added to the Canadian Social Research
Links website in the past week.
The e-mail version of this week's
issue of the newsletter is going out to 1909 subscribers.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Canadian content
1. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (United
Nations) - October 17
2. World Food Day (United Nations) -
October 16
3. Province of Newfoundland and Labrador Launches
Poverty Reduction Consultations - October 16
4. 2008 Federal Election Results
(Canadian Social Research Links)
5. What's New in The Daily (Statistics Canada):
--- Trends in employment and wages, 2002 to
2007 - October 16
6. What's new from the Childcare Resource and
Research Unit (Toronto) - October 15
International content
7. Poverty Dispatch: U.S. media coverage of social
issues and programs (Institute for Research on Poverty - University of
Wisconsin-Madison)
8. Australian Policy Online Weekly Briefing - selected recent content
9. CRINMAIL (October 2008) - (Child Rights Information Network - CRIN)
Have a great week!
| 1.
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - October 17 (United Nations) |
From the United Nations:
International
Day for the Eradication of Poverty - October 17
"(...) Through resolution 47/196 adopted on 22 December 1992, the
United Nations General Assembly declared 17 October as the
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and invited all States
to devote the Day to presenting and promoting, as appropriate in the
national context, concrete activities with regard to the eradication of
poverty and destitution."
International
Day 2008
In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the theme for this year's observance of the International
Day for the Eradication of Poverty is "Human Rights and Dignity of
People Living in Poverty".
Second
United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017)
In December 2007, the General Assembly proclaimed the Second United
Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017) reiterating
that eradicating poverty was the greatest global challenge facing the
world and a core requirement for sustainable development, especially
for developing countries. The proclamation recalls the outcomes of the
World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special
session of the General Assembly
- includes links to related resources in the text and in the left
margin of the page
First United
Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)
- incl. links to : Information on the Decade - Reports and resolutions
(current and previous sessions) - Bulletin on Poverty Eradication -
Meetings/Events - more...
October
17 - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
"The United Nations General Assembly declared 17 October as the
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, to be observed
beginning in 1993. It noted that activities undertaken with respect to
the Day will take into account those undertaken each 17 October by
certain non-governmental organizations and invited all States to devote
the Day to presenting and promoting, as appropriate in the national
context, concrete activities on the eradication of poverty and
destitution. The General Assembly also invited intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations to assist States, at their request, in
organizing national activities for the observance of International Day
for the Eradication of Poverty, paying due attention to the specific
problems of the destitute."
[General Assembly resolution 47/196 of 22 December 1992]
- incl. links to messages from the Secretary-General and the President
of the General Assembly, official press release, press briefing and
conference, summary of events planned around the world and more...
World
Economic and Social Survey 2008:
Overcoming Economic Insecurity
The World Economic and Social Survey (WESS) provides objective
analysis of pressing long-term social and economic development issues,
and discusses the positive and negative impact of corresponding
policies. The analyses are supported by analytical research and data
included in the annex.
Source:
United Nations
Economic and Social Development
Related UN Links:
* Millennium
Development Goals
* United Nations Development Program
(UNDP)
* UN News Centre
* UN Economic
and Social Council
* United Nations
Economic and Social Development
Related links:
STAND UP and TAKE ACTION
- third annual Stand Up mobilization coordinated by the Millennium
Campaign and the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) to
coincide with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on
October 17.
About
Stand Up
In Canada:
Stand
Up and Take Action - October 17-19th
Join millions worldwide to STAND UP and TAKE ACTION against Poverty
and for the Millennium Development Goals at events across Canada,
October 17th to 19th. Last year, over 43 million people Stood Up to
demand that world leaders keep their promises to end poverty and
inequality . This year, help us break that record and send an even
louder message to our governments.
Source:
Make Poverty History
(Canada)
Glimmers of hope in poverty fight
October 17, 2008
By Carol Goar
Today, people of conscience in every country will take time to mark
International Day to Eradicate Poverty. Canadians will meet in council
chambers and classrooms, homes and churches to renew their commitment
to fight poverty. The tradition began 15 years ago, when the United
Nations designated Oct. 17 as a day for humanity to stand together
against the most ruthless killer and greatest cause of suffering in the
world. It has been observed – usually by a devoted few – ever since.
For Canadian anti-poverty campaigners, this year's anniversary comes at
a particularly challenging time.
(...)
Although the Conservatives won Tuesday's federal election, the three
opposition parties captured more than half of the seats in Parliament.
The Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Québécois all want
Ottawa to tackle poverty. Their policies are very similar. If they are
prepared to use their combined strength to advance policies that will
help struggling Canadians, they have the votes to make headway. It will
take political maturity and a strong prod from the Canadians who voted
for them. But there is potential for progress under a minority
government. (...) For those working tirelessly to lift their fellow
citizens out poverty at home and abroad, promising glimmers and
isolated success stories don't provide a lot of sustenance. Luckily,
they don't need a lot.
Source:
The Toronto Star
- Go to the United Nations Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/un.htm
| 2. World
Food Day - October 16 (United Nations) |
From the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations:
World Food
Day, 16 October
World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and
Bioenergy
World Food Day provides an occasion to once again highlight the
plight of 923 million undernourished people in the world. Most of them
live in rural areas where their main source of income is the
agricultural sector. Global warming and the biofuel boom are now
threatening to push the number of hungry even higher in the decades to
come
The
State of Food and Agriculture 2008
Biofuels: prospects, risks and opportunities
"(...) explores the implications of the recent rapid growth in
production of biofuels based on agricultural commodities."
World
Food Situation
- includes links to : FAO News - New Reports - Key Issues - Related
links - Partners - Media - more...
Policy
measures taken by governments to reduce the impact of soaring prices
New policies or changes to existing measures since last
report (Crop Prospects and Food Situation)
April 2008
Source:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
of the United Nations
The FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both
developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where
all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy.
Related link:
The
Challenge of Hunger 2008
October 14, 2008
Thirty-three countries have alarming or extremely alarming levels of
hunger, according to the 2008 Global Hunger Index, released for World
Food Day.
Source:
International Food Policy Research
Institute (IFPRI)
FPRI seeks sustainable solutions for ending hunger and poverty. IFPRI
is one of 15 centers supported by the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research, an alliance of 64 governments,
private foundations, and international and regional organizations.
Also from IFPRI:
Blog World Hunger
http://www.ifpriblog.org
-----
From the United Nations World Food Programme:
World
Food Day reminder of daily crisis borne by millions, say UN officials
Josette Sheeran, WFP Executive Director
16 October 2008
As the eyes of the world continue to watch the ups and downs of global
markets amid the current financial turmoil, United Nations officials
are calling attention today to another global crisis – hunger – which
affects millions daily and kills a child every six seconds.
World
Food Day: 7 things to do
For WFP, every day is World Food Day
Rome, 15 October 2008
World Food Day is held every year on October 16 to mark the day that
the UN Food and Agriculture Organization was founded in 1945. FAO was
the first agency created by the United Nations to address global
hunger. Among other things, World Food Day is an opportunity to learn
about global hunger and join in the fight against it! Here are seven
things you can do right now, without leaving your computer.
- includes the suggestion : "Play
FreeRice" - try it!
Source:
United Nations World Food
Programme (WFP)
Among the Millennium Development Goals which the United Nations has set
for the 21st century, halving the proportion of hungry people in the
world is top of the list. (...) WFP is the United Nations frontline
agency in the fight against global hunger.
See also:
The
Hunger Site
Click on the graphic or text link to donate food
- Go to the Food Banks and Hunger Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/foodbkmrk.htm
| 3. Province of Newfoundland and Labrador Launches Poverty Reduction Consultations - October 16 |
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Launches Poverty Reduction Consultations
October 16, 2008
The Provincial Government is planning a series of public consultations
to strengthen its Poverty Reduction Strategy. This will include a
series of public sessions, round tables, focus groups, and a website.
These consultations are designed to engage individuals living in
poverty, the community and the general public in a dialogue on the
strategy’s themes, goals and objectives. (...) The Provincial
Government will hold public consultation sessions and roundtables in 15
communities across the nine rural secretariat regions of the province.
Individuals and groups can also provide their feedback and views.
[click the link above for other means of providing input into the
consultation]
The deadline for consultation submissions is December 15, 2008.
2008
Consultations
In 2006, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador released Reducing
Poverty: An Action Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador (PDF
file - 1.6MB, 60 pages). This Action Plan was developed with input from
community-based organizations, business, labour and people living in
and vulnerable to poverty. The Poverty Reduction Strategy outlines
Government’s plan to transform Newfoundland and Labrador from a
province with the most poverty to one with the least, within 10 years.
Over three budget cycles, and on an ongoing yearly basis, the
Provincial Government is investing over $100 million in initiatives
aimed to prevent, reduce and alleviate poverty. The Provincial
Government has also improved many programs and services. The Provincial
Government is now planning for the next phase of the strategy.
- incl. links to more info on:
* Understanding Poverty * Role for the Provincial Government *
Progress to Date * Key Themes * Review of Goals and Objectives *
Questions for Consideration * Participate in the Consultation Process *
* Annex 1 - Groups Helped by Poverty Reduction Strategy * Annex 2 -
Description of Poverty Reduction Strategy Initiatives
Poverty
Reduction Strategy
2008 Consultation Booklet (PDF - 792K, 36 pages)
Source:
Dept. of Human Resources,
Labour and Employment
[ Govt. of Newfoundland and Labrador ]
- Go to the Anti-poverty Strategies and
Campaigns page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/antipoverty.htm
- Go to the Newfoundland and Labrador Links page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/nfbkmrk.htm
- Go to the Key
Provincial/Territorial Welfare Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/welfare.htm
| 4. 2008 Federal Election Results - October 14 |
2008 FEDERAL ELECTION RESULTS:
The election in
60 seconds (Flash graphic)
- from The Toronto Star
Who won each of the 308 ridings and which seats changed hands?
[NOTE : this Flash file may not work if you're behind a corporate or
university network firewall.]
---
From Elections Canada:
Election
Night Results
- results displayed nationally, or by electoral district, major centre,
postal code, province/territory, or party leader.
National results for
all registered parties
- including popular vote for each party
NOTE : at the bottom of the table of national results, you'll note the following disparaging news:
Voter turnout 2008:
13,832,972 of 23,401,064 registered electors --- 59.1%
Voter turnout 2006:
14,815,680 of 22,812,683 registered electors --- 64.9%
See also:
Voter
Turnout at Federal Elections and Referendums, 1867-2006
---
Canada Federal Election 2008 - from Nodice.ca
---
2008 Federal Election Coverage - from The Toronto Star
---
Federal Election 2008 - from The Globe and Mail
---
Canada Votes 2008 - from CBC
---
Federal Election 2008 - from CTV
---
2008 Election Headquarters - from Macleans.ca
---
Links to the latest Canadian election news (from Google.ca)
- Go to the 2008 Federal Election and General Political Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/politics_2008_fed_election.htm
|
5. What's New in The Daily
(Statistics Canada): |
What's New in The Daily [Statistics Canada]:
October 16, 2008
Trends
in employment and wages, 2002 to 2007
October 2008
In 2007, Canada had the highest proportion of people employed in at
least three decades and the national unemployment rate sank to a
33-year low of 5.8%. While the 2002 to 2007 period was marked by strong
gains in employment, some concerns have arisen over the quality of
these new jobs.
Source:
Feature article in the
Canadian
Economic Observer - October 2008 (PDF - 1.1MB, 122 pages)
- complete issue of the Canadian Economic Observer
[ Canadian
Economic Observer - home page ]
The Daily Archives - select a month and a date from the drop-down menu
- Go to the Federal Government Department Links (Fisheries and Oceans to Veterans Affairs) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/fedbkmrk2.htm
|
6. What's new from the Childcare Resource and Research Unit (Toronto) - October 15 |
From the Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU):
October 15, 2008
Quality
in leisure time centres: Guidelines and comments
15 Oct 08
- Report from the Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket)
describes the curriculum for school-age child care and discusses
strategies for ensuring high quality.
Building
on our strengths: A child care plan for Victoria
15 Oct 08
- Report of the Victoria Regional Child Care Council sets out a vision
of a regional child care system that provides high quality, affordable
care to all families that require it.
Family
day home standards manual
15 Oct 08
- New guide from the Government of Alberta sets the minimum operating
standards for approved family day homes in the province.
Preschool
education and its lasting effects: Research and policy implications
15 Oct 08
- Policy brief from National Institute for Early Education Research
(US) reviews the research on the effects of preschool education; offers
policy recommendations.
more
WHAT'S NEW ONLINE »
child care in the news
· Losing
a fortune's as easy as ABC [AU]
14 Oct 08
· Adding
up childcare costs [IE]
13 Oct 08
· The
price of child care [CA-BC]
10 Oct 08
· Who
claims the family policy agenda? [US]
10 Oct 08
· National
child care program must be established now [CA]
9 Oct 08
· No
licensed child care for majority of Canadian kids [CA]
5 Oct 08
Related Links:
Subscribe
to the CRRU email announcements list
Sign up to receive email notices of updates and new postings on
the CRRU website which will inform you of policy developments in early
childhood care and education, new research and resources for policy,
newly released CRRU publications, and upcoming events of interest to
the child care and broader community.
Links to child care sites in Canada and elsewhere
CRRU Publications
- briefing notes, factsheets, occasional papers and other publications
ISSUE files
- theme pages, each filled with contextual information and links to
further info
Source:
Childcare Resource and
Research Unit (CRRU)
- Go to the Non-Governmental Early Learning and Child Care Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/ecd2.htm
| 7. Poverty
Dispatch: U.S. media coverage of social issues and programs (Institute for Research on Poverty - University of Wisconsin-Madison) |
Poverty
Dispatch (U.S). ===> the content of this link
changes twice a week
IRP compiles and distributes Poverty Dispatches twice a week. Each
issue of the dispatch provides links to U.S. web-based news items
dealing with topics such as poverty, welfare reform, child welfare,
education, health, hunger, Medicare and Medicaid, etc.
Each Dispatch lists links to current news in popular print media.
October
16, 2008
* Report: The Working Poor and Basic Needs
* State Antipoverty Initiatives - Pennsylvania
* Food Assistance Programs - Minnesota, Massachusetts, Texas
* Schools and Homeless Children
* Homelessness and Housing - Minnesota, Utah, Massachusetts
* Medicaid Reform - West Virginia, Florida
* Kids Count Report - Alabama
* U.S. Foster Care Legislation
* Affordable Housing - Illinois, Virginia
* No Child Left Behind - Texas, South Carolina
* Income, Life Expectancy, and Health Inequities
* U.S. Infant Mortality Rate
* Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment
* Low-income Students and Recess Time - Georgia
October
13, 2008
* People Living in Poverty - Charlottesville, VA
* Medicaid Enrollment and Low-wage Workers
* States and Health Insurance Coverage
* Census: Small Area Health Insurance Estimates
* Report: Employer-based Health Insurance Coverage
* Post-Katrina New Orleans and Subsidized Housing
* Racial Unemployment Gap - Milwaukee, WI
* Strengthening Families Initiative - Texas
* Home Energy Assistance and Utility Shutoffs
* Teenage Pregnancy and Parenting
* Poor Schools and Teacher Quality - Tennessee
* No Child Left Behind and School Progress
* Charities, Donations, and Increasing Need for Services
* Car Ownership Programs for Low-income Workers
Past
Poverty Dispatches
- links to two dispatches a week back to June 2006
If you wish to receive Poverty Dispatches by e-mail,
please send a request to rsnell@ssc.wisc.edu
Source:
Institute for Research on Poverty
(IRP)
[ University of Wisconsin-Madison ]
- Go to the Links to American Government
Social Research page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/us.htm
- Go to the Links to American Non-Governmental Social Research (A-J)
page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/us2.htm
- Go to the Links to American Non-Governmental Social Research (M-Z)
page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/us3.htm
| 8. Australian Policy Online Weekly Briefing - selected recent content |
APO Weekly Briefing
The content of this page changes each week, and it includes links to a
few book/report reviews, about two dozen new reports, a few job ads and
60 events (mostly conferences) of interest to social researchers...
Source:
Australian Policy Online (APO)
- home page
With nearly 120 member centres and institutes, Australian Policy Online
offers easy access to much of the best Australian social, economic,
cultural and political research available online.
NOTE: the APO home page includes links to the five most popular reports
on the APO website, and this list is updated each week.
APO Weekly Briefing - selected recent content:
Social
inclusion - origins, concepts and key themes (PDF - 475K,
50 pages)
October 2008
Alan Hayes, Matthew Gray and Ben Edwards / Australian Institute of
Family Studies
Australian Institute of Family Studies
Posted: 18-10-2008
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the origins of
the concepts of social inclusion and exclusion and of key themes and
emerging debates about social inclusion in Australia and selected
overseas countries [incl. Canada]. The concepts of social
inclusion and exclusion are closely related, and it is difficult to
discuss social inclusion without also discussing social exclusion.
Throughout this paper, the discussion switches between social exclusion
and inclusion as two ends of a single dimension.
Guide
to the federal wage safety net
Posted 14-10-2008
Steve O'Neill / Information and Research Services, Parliamentary Library
This Research Paper sets out some of the key features associated with
the safety net/s for wages and employment conditions. It outlines the
widened coverage of the federal system, the role of specific parts of
the federal safety net , and a case study to indicate how the
legislated safety net works in practice.
APO Archive
The APO archive is grouped into 23 subject areas, with entries
appearing in reverse chronological order.
* Ageing *Asia and the pacific * Citizenship and the law * Disability *
Economics and trade * Education * Employment and workplace relations *
The environment * Foreign policy and defence * Gender and sexuality *
Health * Housing * Families and households * Immigration and refugees *
Income, poverty and wealth * Indigenous * Media, communications and
cultural policy * Politics and government * Population,
multiculturalism and ethnicity * Religion and faith * Rural and
regional * Science and technology * Social policy * Urban and regional
planning * Youth
- Go to the Social Research Links in Other Countries (Non-Government) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/internatngo.htm
|
9. CRINMAIL -
September/October 2008 |
From the Child Rights Information Network (CRIN):
16
October 2008 - CRINMAIL 1025
* CORPORAL PUNISHMENT: Towards the Universal Prohibition of All
Violent Punishment of Children [publication]
* WHO: World Health Report 2008 [publication]
* EUROPE: EU Parliament Acts Against Child Trafficking [news]
* MALTA: 'Children must be heard in court' [news]
* UNITED STATES: The Convention on the Rights of the Child - why it is
time to ratify [event]
* NICARAGUA: State attacks 'trojan horse' NGOs [news]
* KENYA: Child-centred approaches to HIV/AIDS: A Child-to-Child
Approach [event]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
14
October 2008 - CRINMAIL 1024
Special edition on child rights and the UN General Assembly
* DEATH PENALTY: UN urged to end executions of juvenile offenders
* UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: What has it got to do with child rights?
* UN SECURITY COUNCIL: Reform process to begin next month
* RESOLUTIONS: Rights of the Child - Violence against Children - the
Girl Child
* REPORTS: The Status of Child Rights
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
Earlier
issues of CRINMAIL
- links to 300+ earlier weekly issues, many of which are special
editions focusing on special themes, such as the 45th Session of the
Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights
of the Child.
Source:
CRINMAIL(incl. subscription
info)
[ Child Rights Information
Network (CRIN) ]
- Go to the Children's Rights Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/chnrights.htm
Disclaimer/Privacy Statement
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***************************
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