0 You're being exploited by dirty (wealthy) foreigners!

Alright, confession time.

How many of you have had issues with a service (cellphone, television, electronic equipment) and thought about calling the help line then thought,

"I just wish I could talk to someone on this continent about this problem! No more Indians in call centers in India!"

from nextbillion.net

Be ye honest!

We've watched program after program about call center help being outsourced and the various ways in which American Companies exploit those markets by getting very cheap non-unionized labor, sometimes exploiting children! We've gasped boycotted the products for a while - till you trek through Wally World and realize you really really really want that-thing-that-you-totally-don't-need-and-will-never-need - EVER!

Remember Nike's debacle? Look at yo feet man! You are wearing shoes sown together by little innocent children trying to feed their ever growing families. Sure, we can all ignore it, especially when Nike joins an organization like this one.

When we hear about workers in India being exploited, we think... well, $100 goes further there than here so there is no reason they should earn more than anyone working in a call center here - comparatively speaking.

Well, well, well...

The tables have been turned on us. Let's see how we handle it!

IKEA, the company responsible for selling you bits and pieces of things so you can go home and make your own furniture has done something similar. You just might not imagine WHO is being exploited!

Me: YOU!
You: Who?
Me: You! (pointing now so you can understand)
You: I don't work at IKEA.
Me: OMG! You're missing the point...
You: But you said me
Me: No, I said yo... aaaaaaaaaah! Forget it!

AlterNet has released an article claiming that US Workers are being EXPLOITED! We're part of the larger World now, probably much closer to the developing countries we look down our noses to.

European employees of IKEA earn a minimum of $19 per hour, have a MANDATORY 5 week PAID vacation. Wanna know what American workers start at? Full time employees are paid $8 per hour with 12 vacation days and those subcontracted by employment agencies get even less.

from greengenie.ca

 Are you gonna protest or WHAT?!

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0 Trudge-by Tuesday: So What?

The threat of unemployment has many of us stuck in jobs that we dread going to and employers we loathe. How many times have we sat, backs aching in those hard office chairs not made for our ample bottom, wondering what excuse we're going to use to get out of working on Friday?

But what is the solution? Is there one? How will bills get paid?

Very valid questions, however consider this, if you walked in this morning and found a variation of "the pink slip" in your inbox, what would you turn to to supplement the ever dwindling employment benefits?

The February issue of the O Magazine had questions to gear the readers towards reaching their creative potential. You know it's inside you just waiting to get out. You've picked up a camera, a paint brush, a needle and thread... something that made your creative juices start mixing and churning. But then logic set in, you convinced yourself you were not THAT talented otherwise someone would have noticed and you wouldn't be stuck where you are. Check out this panel discussion with Vera Wang, Sara Lewis, Deborah Kenny, moderated by Gayle King..

My challenge to you today is to follow that passion. If you're not quite sure where you are being led, visit your local arts and crafts store. and see what tickles your fancy. Don't be discouraged if you don't immediately feel something calling to you. Allow yourself the chance to search.

I believe that the way to get out of the doldrums and walk towards a prosperous future lies in tapping into our creativity and turning it into a venture that will pay back.

Let your creative juices flow!

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