Final

The beginning of this class my focuses was on globalization and how it inspires poverty, inequality, and crime. In my blogs I took this focus and showed the relationships of these outcomes towards women, and how it effected them. As corporate capitalism spreads throughout the world, these negative effects are having a large impact on women's roles and livelihood. These roles become degrading and unhealthy as women reside in a world that undermines their ability and moral rights as human beings. We learned in class about women's roles in western manufacturing, women were in great demand for their low paying labor to compete with foreign competition. Third world nations provided this means of cheap labor by creating the necessary structure needed for foreign capital to relocate within their country, due to their weak economy that created very low regulation for labor. These poor nations offered tax incentives and little regulation on environmental and and health hazards. Those affected by this means of globalization work for close to nothing as they are usually unable to support themselves or their families due to their low income. It was hard to fight against these exploitation many of the workers were experiencing as companies threaten to move their operations elsewhere leaving an even larger burden then before. Our Western society has a large influence on the ongoing suffering that women are experiencing everyday as statics shows of the 1.3 billion of the worlds absolute poor 70% is women.() Western International politics ignores the health and financial impacts the manufacturing institutions have on women and the environment. Free trade zones and corporate compounds are established in areas with little regulation on wages, health, safety, and the environment. This allows transnational corporations and companies to exploit third world nations for their cheap labor force, especially women. In addition to the horrible working conditions and minimal if any pay, women are subject to the harsh rules and regulations of the corporate compound. These rules consist of curfews, forced overtime work without the legal compensation or sometimes even pay, restrictions on certain social behaviors, and rules against becoming sick or pregnant.
As I dug deep into the problems associated with globalization towards women. I stumbled upon on a very disturbing subject, " HUMAN AND SEX TRAFFICKING." As you can see in one of my early blogs, I address the problems associated with poverty and how it contributes to the construction of the infrastructure needed to conduct illegal trafficking. For the second part of my final project I made a PowerPoint presentation on human trafficking. I hope the audience is able to gather valuable insight on this major problem and how globalization plays a major role in allowing these criminal activity's to be conducted, mainly within eastern Europe. I believe it is important when covering my topic of the effects globalization has on poverty, inequality, and crime towards women. That I address one of the most lucrative criminal acts against women.

Blog sex trafficking

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Trafficking and prostitution, whats happening and how can we prevent it.

The United Nations International labor Organization reported that 12 million people worldwide are currently victims of human trafficking. 100,000 thousand of these victims are from Ukraine being transmitted to Turkey. Turkey has a large sex trafficking industry as buyers from the Western societies and the Middle East come to buy women as sex slaves. East Europe is found to be a large sex trafficking area that contributes to an enormous amount of women being transported. In the movie Women, Girls and Trafficking, women were showed being transported from Ukraine to Turkey to be sold as sex slaves. Many of these women were unaware and forces of poverty pushed them to take up ads that were believed to be factory or domestic jobs. After arriving to Turkey they soon come to find that they were just sold to one of the local pimps to be used as a sex worker. It is not uncommon though for women to willing allow themselves to be prostituted with promise of good pay, usually 1,000 to 2,000 per week. These offers are very intriguing as statistics show 70% of the worlds 1.3 billion absolute poor being women. Women in Ukraine and countries around Eastern Europe are offered 20 to 40 times what they could make given the state they are in. The harsh reality sets in though when they find themselves living in one bedroom apartments, with 10 other women, with five beds or less. They are forced to serve 20 to 30 customers a day, many without out condoms because of the increase in price, two three times higher. (Ukraine social assistance and victim support) There is very were few opportunities to escape once sold as the elites in the industry work closely together with the local police. One girl explained an incident when she was able to escape and report to the local authorities. Instead of helping her they drove her back to the pimp she had escaped from. Ukraine government officials and polices can be seen very corrupt. These countries located in and around Eastern Europe show why it is possible to allow for such a market to be established. Poverty and police corruption make it easy for members of the sex institution to operate successfully. Ukraine’s interior ministry reported progressive as numbers of prosecution increased from 3 in 2006 to 23 in 2007. These convictions usually resulted in probation instead of jail time. The percent of human traffickers receiving jail time has decreased in 2007 from 44 percent to 36 percent. So are Ukraine’s officials really making efforts to deter human trafficking from happening within their country? It almost seems that the increase in conviction was just a method to get out of the spotlight. Once statistics showed they appeared to be making reforms in 2007, they converted back to the corrupt system that allowed these illegal organization to operate.


The UN hires thousands of employees to aid in security around the world. Since are establishment of protectorate in 1995 Bosnia’s trafficking has increased astronomically. There is very mounting evidence that the UN played a role in covering up their involvement of personnel in human trafficking and prostitution. One of the company’s the UN employs is DynCorp Technical Services to help polices and provided maintenance support for the U.S. military, as well as recruiting American officers for the international police force. Kathryn Bolkovac, an American woman, worked for DynCorp and won a case against the UN after she was fired for reporting alleged prostitution racket involving other services officers. She recognized British and American officers, along with other UN officials around the world, being involved in supporting and contributing in the trafficking and prostitution of women within in Bosnia. Others have also reported different allegation against officials like David Lamb, a former Philadelphia officers who was stationed in the town of Bijeljina Bosnia. He made some of the same allegations against UN officers, about there major roles in the criminal infrastructure seen in Bosnia. Bosnian police spoke out against military forces, indicating military forces tipping-off brothel keeper in return for “gifts.” Instead of using UN forces to stop human trafficking and prostitution, they are instead aiding and protecting the criminal ring that conduct within the sex trafficking industry. We add to the corruption that is already instilled in Bosnia’s society. Instead of convicting these UN officials, they are instead charged with very low counts of sexual misconduct or is dismissed and sent home.


To help dismantle human trafficking and prostitution, the UN has sent officials to investigate and monitor their employees. This is the first step of many we need to make in order to disallow these illegal activities from continuing. In order to resist against these illegal organization from continuing their reign, the justice system needs to reestablish itself to serve more severe punishment for trafficking and forced prostitution. Conviction should not continue to be resolved with probation and minor offenses. The UN also needs to present harsher penalties for any involvement, in order to create greater deterrence within the justice system for participating in these illegal activities.

"The OSCE Project Co-ordinator and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODHIR) launched the first national, toll-free hotline service in 2002, which complemented a network of seven regional hotlines in Ukraine. The service provides information and support for anyone who plans to go abroad for work, marriage or other reasons. It also assists in identifying potential victims".(http://www.osce.org/ukraine/item_2_177.html)

Since the establishment of the regional hotlines in 2000, 22,000 people have phoned for help and advice. The network was established through the co-operation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs): the national La Strada Ukraine in Kiev, and seven grass-root NGOs in Kharkiv, Luhansk, Odesa, Sevastopol, Ternopil, Uzhgorod and Mykolaiv.(http://www.osce.org/ukraine/item_2_177.html)


humantrafficking.change.org/.../


http://www.osce.org/ukraine/item_2_177.html

www.humantrafficking.org



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15 sources

"Bananas, Beaches and Bases"> Cynthia Enloe- Really good insight on globalization. Talks about women's role in the sex industries. The negative effect globalization has on women in different countries. What the economies really like outside the resorts and beautiful beaches we vacation too.

"Disposable Women". Melissa Wright- Harsh environments in different manufacturing institutes in third world countries. How corporation exploit third world countries for their low wages and regulations. The harsh environment women have to experience while working at these factories.

www.thegateway.org/browse/2483- The Purposes of different institution in the global economy: ILO, WTO, NAFTA, IMF.

http://www.southerncenter.org/la_feb01_trade.pdf- Pros and Cons on free trade. Comparative advantage, threats to domestic industries.

http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/Key/global.htm- Benefits gained from globalization and the risk that follow. The expansion of the world trade and the substantial benefits it provides for countries around the world

www.ifg.org/-Alliance formed to stimulate new thinking, joint activity, and public education in response to economic globalization and its impact

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/1996/08/16/mexicos-maquiladoras-abuses-against-women-workers- The treatment of the workers in the exporting factories in Maquiladoras Mexico. The sector is dominant by U.S. corporations.

www.humanrightsproject.org/vid_detail.php?film_id=1-"Behind the Labels"- The harsh conditions experienced in Saipan. Large immigration of Chinese and Filipinos experience harsh wages, a unhealthy environment, and a degrading social structure.

www.globalexchange.org/economy/coffee/- "Sweatshops in the field" Small coffee workers receive prices for there coffee that are lower then the production. This helps force them in a cycle of poverty and deep in debt.

globalpolicy.org- Up to date events occurring in the global economies. International controversy, political events, policy reforms.



washington.edu/sparke/global- History of the first known large integration of people brought together to commerce and trade. Starting with the silk road too trade routes in the new world and areas of the Caribbean.

www.capitalforcommunities.org/articles - A Article on the involvement U.S. had in organizing a covert war. The regulation the U.S. helps set on trade policy's. The invasion of U.S. corporations and the negative impact they have on the economies.

www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1850.htm- Nicaragua's history on their government and economic production.

"Global Women," Barbara Ehrenreich, Arlie Russell Hochschild- How women our exploited in sweat shops. The harsh conditions that are forced upon them. Talks about the exploitations of domestic workers mainly in the UK where lots of women immigrate to find work. How they are treated and the low wages they experience.


"Global Village or Global Pillage," by Jermery Brecher and Tim Costell- Good insight on the exploitation taking place within factories in poorer countries. How workers fight back against unhealthy working environment. Talks about protest and worker joining together to fight for better labor, environmental, and social regulations. How these protest and strikes help to regulate better standards. Still even with reforms governments in areas like Maquiladoras in Mexico, they still will not let workers form unions to regulate wages.

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Concepts from Class: Globalization exploiting women

Globalization is fueled by neoliberal economic policies using the cheapest means of production to increase profitability. Free trade zones and corporate compounds are established in areas with little regulation on wages, health, safety, and the environment. This allows transnational corporations and companies to exploit third world nations for their cheap labor force, especially women.

Third world nations aid in the spread of globalization by attracting foreign capital to relocate within their region by offering tax incentives and by building the necessary infrastructure needed for production. Those affected by this means of globalization work for close to nothing as they are unable to support themselves or their families through their low income. This is hard to counteract as companies threaten to move their operations elsewhere leaving an even larger burden then before. As corporate capitalism spreads throughout the world, these negative effects are having a large impact on women’s roles and livelihood. These roles become degrading and unhealthy as women reside in a world that undermines their ability and moral rights as human beings.


As we learned from the concepts in class about women’s roles in western manufacturing, women were in great demand for their low paying labor to compete with foreign competition. An example of this trend was shown in English companies, such as textile productions and garment-makings, sought out Asian and African British women to fill these low-paying jobs that offered minimum benefits and a series of maximum health hazards (BBB pg160,161). The sexual and racial politics used by the post-imperial British corporations exploited the use of immigrant women in the work place with cheap-labor. This practice was adopted culturally as small firms in the US and Canada used the “home-work strategy,” which targeted women of color and immigrants due to the fear of being deported. These were early means of production used within nations against women in a manner that can be seen unethical and unhealthy. As competition increased, firms began to look elsewhere to establish cheaper production. Third world nations became an attractive fit as firms were able to take advantage of their lower wage standards and tariff laws.

When examining the factories residing in parts of Asia in class we learned about the connection international politics has on ignoring the health and financial impacts these institutions have on women. In Melissa Wright’s “Disposable Women”, she depicts women in factories in China being presented with a two year contract that is terminated immediately at the end of the agreed upon period. Men are instead presented with job security and the opportunity to improve their position for a better future in the company. Upon signing this contract women are also required to pay a cash deposit that is kept by the company until their contract is completed. If this contract is terminated before the ending date, the company keeps the deposit. Termination can be enforced if women are found sick, injured or pregnant. There are no health benefits or compensation for any work related health concerns or injuries. The women have very little freedom as they are forced to ask permission to use of the restroom or to take lunch breaks. Women are also not allowed to travel into the city or leave the compound for any reason. They are under constant surveillance as they are packed into dorms and small work areas to be easily monitored. Men, on the other hand, have freedom to conduct themselves as they please in and out of the work place. Any mistakes made by men are attributed to the fault of the work environment. Meanwhile women who make mistakes are unacceptable and poor performance can lead to termination. The wages of women are significantly lower even though they are the driving force for production. These are all examples of how women are exploited in an effort to socially control them and limit their position within an industry

"Bananas, Beaches and Bases"> Cynthia Enloe

"Disposable Women". Mellissa Wright

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Globalization in Saipan

Almost all major corporations use a strategic globalized strategy. These corporate businesses use underdeveloped countries as the locations for their manufacturing plants. I've talked briefly in my earlier blogs about various negative effects that are found within a globalized market. The focus of this blog will help support these indications, as I examine the effects global markets have on the island of Saipan. Saipan is the capital of a United States common wealth on the Northern Mariana islands located off the coast of Japan. Many American corporations have established factories within Saipan. These corporate businesses take advantage of Saipan's tariffs, tax incentives, and minimum wage regulation the US territory has to offer. These large businesses exploit the already weak regulations as they violate many human and labor rights.

The labor force in Saipan is made up of almost all non-resident alien workers, the majority of these workers are women. In order to be hired, workers must pay recruiting fees extending between $2,000 and $3,500 hundred dollars. Many foreigners pay this large fee with the illusion that they will be offered U.S. standards of labor but in actuality the American territory has exemptions from American federal duties allowing them to abuse labor and wageregulations. Minimum wage is only $3.05 and health benefits are minimal if they are offered at all. Women are taken advantage of by the corporations who place their factories in Saipan. In a documentary called "Behind the labels: Garment workers of US Saipan" many of the women who were interviewed reported that managers often held months of their pay. This made it very difficult to pay off their large recruiting fee and profit. After paying the large recruiting fee, working for free for months, and low wages it is almost impossible to make any kind of profit.


In addition to the horrible working conditions and minimal if any pay, they are subject to the harsh rules and regulations of the corporate compound. These rules consist of curfews, forced overtime work without the legal compensation or sometimes even pay, restrictions on certain social behaviors, and rules against becoming sick or pregnant. Disobeying these codes and regulations often leads to suspension or termination. The large recruiting fee leads thousands of individuals to fall into thousands of dollars in debt, creating an influx of crime, health, and social problems within the infrastructure in Saipan. Some women pay these large recruitment fees to sign contracts as waitresses but upon arrival find themselves forced into sexual slavery.

Past employees of the infamous Antonio Benavente fought back against being neglected compensation for their work. Workers sued for 1 billion dollars and won making Benavente the first businessman in Saipan to be convicted for human and labor rights violations, however. This victory against the negative impacts of globalization was bittersweet, as thousand of these workers were never compensated for their back wages totaling over hundreds of thousands of dollars since Benavente fled Saipan immediately after the verdict.

The example of Saipan shows how gobalization is effecting communites and societies negatively, as workers are exploited for basic human and labor rights. We can see the use of our American flag being used unethically to garner interest and trust, as employers promise fair wages, and good housing benefits. These lies only help to harness the increase of crime and poverty as globilzation is becoming a leading economic force.



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www.thegateway.org/browse/2483
www.humanrightsproject.org/vid_detail.php?film_id=1
www.globalexchange.org/economy/

History: Globlization, crime, and poverty

As we look into our past thousands of years ago, we can recognize the first forms of globalization. As people traveled more frequently, routes and trails were established. People from diverse societies were integrated for the first time. These routes and roads became the silk road. The silk road connected China and Europe during the middle ages. It was one of the earliest forms of major integration among people, driven by trade and investment.




Today we are experiencing a new type of globalization that has vastly changed, due to major increases in technology and the influence of new policies. As technology improved, the ability to travel greater distances was made possible. Looking back to the 1600s, we see a large integration by the powerful nations to the Americas and Asia. With technology driving exploration, nations began to establish trade networks and colonies overseas. As explorers discovered new resources, large trading networks began to emerge as large quantities of desired goods became readily available to export. This allowed for a great stimulus of commerce for the more industrially developed nations. During the late 1600s and early 1700s powerful nations attacked one another in an effort to gain access to better resources and greater wealth. This shows the early forms of crimes committed due to the forces of globalization. These hostile acts negatively affected all economies. They soon realized they would prosper with an open market for trade. In 1713 the English agreed to Asiento, a trade agreement that allowed the right of a single vessel to travel within their territories for commerce and trade. This started a chain of agreements that have lead us to the open market we know of today. In the last half of the 1700s Spain agreed to liberalize there commercial policies to open a market of trade amongst the colonies. This was the first time merchant vessels did not have to travel with naval convoys, as the powerful nations recognized the potential for profit in a larger market. This marks the beginning of the open markets established today.

During the World War II economies accepted free market systems in hope to quickly increase their production potential and to create an open market for more international trade investors to join. The proponents of today would argue that globalization gives poorer countries a chance to develop economically and help raise their standards of living. As we have seen in many cases of globalization, this idea is very controversial as many nations that are influenced by globalization are exploited. It is very evident that globalization plays an essential role toward the increase in poverty and crime, in the nations with high western influence. The free market benefits the western world at the expenses of these third world parties. These enterprises help push third world countries to fall further into poverty.

Throughout our history, groups of elites regulate and structure societies toward their benefit. This helps to create a class that is oppressed by the upper class, which usually lives in poverty. This lower class suffers at the expense of the upper classes efforts to seek out greater wealth. Early forms of this power elite system was established with Kings and Queens being the governors or governesses of their society. As the lower class resisted we see the first forms of crimes. Power elites established laws in some cases to insure benefits for the upper class. Conflict perspective would argue that crime was an act of resistance against the structure of power oppresses a class of people. As we see regulation established through corporate influence, we see a new group of power elites emerging contributing to further oppression of the lower class. Countries affected by corporate influences serve minimum benefits, maximum hazardous environment, few labor rights, and extremely low wages.


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globalpolicy.org
infed.org
washington.edu/sparke/global

Topic: The relationships Globalization has towards poverty, inequality, and crime.

I choose to focus on the emphasis of crime, inequality, poverty, and globalization to help show how they are all related. As globalization spreads throughout the world crime and poverty continue to increase in areas affected by corporate and foreign government influence. Globalization, in many cases, is using the cheapest means of production to increase profitability. Things like free trade zones and corporate compounds are established in areas with little regulations on wage and tariff laws. This allows certain producers to exploit third world nations for their cheap labor force. Third world nations aid in the spread of globalization by attracting foreign capital to relocate within their region by offering tax incentives and by building the necessary infrastructure needed for production. These tools for cheap production contribute to the downfall of many economies. Poverty and crime often increase drastically in areas affected by such globalization. Those affected by this means of globalization work for close to nothing as they are unable to support themselves or their family’s through their low income. This is hard to counteract as companies threat to move their operation elsewhere leaving an even larger burden then before.


Third world countries accept foreign direct investments in efforts to boost their economy and to help build a more efficient government. Unfortunately, these loans are usually accompanied by unreasonable high interest rates and trade benefits that push them to fall father into debt. These examples of the destructive forces of globalization can be attached with what is seen happening in areas like Nicaragua. In 1979 factories closed their doors and relocated in other parts of South America that allowed cheaper means for production. This left many unemployed causing an even large state of poverty and increase in crime. Also with a dictatorship in power Nicaragua was found excepting large scale loans from the World Bank and the IMF. The extent of have these loans were used controversial as groups such as the Contras were aided by United States military in a covert war to over throw the Sandinistas. As these counter groups were dismantled the World Bank and IMF were able to implement their lows standards of free market and free trade policies. With these new policies advocated by the World Bank and IMF the increase in foreign investors has exploded since the 1990’s. This is a great example of how these organizations are taking advantage of third world nations by establishing their own polices and regulation to better serve themselves. These policies allow factories to create difficult and poor working conditions that are attached with very low wages. This helps create a work force that is constantly struggling to escape a state of poverty that is made more difficult because of the lack of labor rights. The crime rate in Nicaragua is classified as high which can be largely contributed to the lack of opportunity and poverty that can be seen created by globalization. Nicaragua is just one of the great examples of the focus of my topic on crime, inequality, and globalization. I hope this created good insight on the areas of focus I will be researching this semester.

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www.capitalforcommunities.org/articles
www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1850.htm