More on Dominican Beauty Parlor Politics

December 21, 2006 Leave a comment

As summarized in DR1:

…many women feel that instead of giving the money in this
way, it should be used for other important causes. …some women who would rather have “bad hairdos and full stomachs” during the Christmas
holidays. The Woman and Health Collective view this plan as a form of populism, saying that it
exploits women’s sexual image. They say that women deserve more than that. The group cites the high
maternal mortality, teenage pregnancies and AIDS rates among women as examples of programs that are
more deserving of government funds. The hair program did generate a windfall of public opinion, as
it was debated on talk shows nationwide, with more in favor than against the measure.

Filed under International

U.S. Latinos: Food Insecurity

December 20, 2006 Leave a comment

As reported by the
BBC and based recent studies: 

Latinos are the biggest single minority group in the United States.

The study said the “food insecurity” rate of Hispanics is nearly as high as that of non-Hispanic blacks.

It is substantially greater than that of non-Hispanic
whites, of whom only about 5% suffer from limited access to nutritious
food, according to US government statistics.

“Lack of access to resources is forcing far too many
Latino families into choices no-one should have to make, such as
between having a roof over their heads or putting food on the table,”
said Janet Murguia, NCLR President and CEO.

“A lack of affordable, nutritious food also has
devastating health consequences, such as increasing hunger and obesity,
affecting not only the Latino community, but the well-being of our
entire nation.”

One of the authors of the study, Jennifer Ng’andu, said
the Latino community was “practically invisible” when it came to the
issues of hunger and malnutrition in the US.

Filed under Government

Beauty Parlor Politics in the Dominican Republic

December 20, 2006 Leave a comment

Dominican politicians know how to get the women’s vote.

President Leonel Fernandez is appealing to Dominican women voters this Christmas. Fernandez, who is expected to seek reelection in 2008, has traditionally garnered the female vote. Now he has announced for Christmas the distribution of 800,000 boxes containing traditional Christmas dinner foodstuffs plus the government will pick up the beauty parlor tab for Dominican women on the 23, 24, 30 and 31 December dates. As reported in Diario Libre, the program was first implemented by the Department for Community Development (DGDC) on occasion of Mother’s Day this year when 226 beauty salons offered discounted hair styling service for only RD$50.

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Filed under Florida

Increased Urban Density: The Logical Solution to Urban Sprawl in Miami

December 19, 2006 Leave a comment

The following succinctly defines “urban sprawl”.

The unlimited outward extension of suburbs characterized by low-density residential and commercial settlements, unchecked land development, dominance of transportation by private automotive vehicles, and widespread strip commercial development. Concerns associated with sprawl include loss of farmland and open space, increased public service costs, and environmental degradation as well as other concerns associated with transportation.
www.njtpa.org/capital_programming/glossary.htm

I recommended the recent post in Transit Miami in which the issue of greater urban density is raised as a response to urban sprawl in Miami. For greater urban density to be successful it must be accompanied by protection of the characteristics of existing high quality urban neighborhoods, the insertion of reasonable small green areas, the increase in mass transportation and the incorporation of good zoning and land management that promote a good quality of life.

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Filed under Miami

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