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Global Minimum Wage, Global Maximum Wage
Global Exchange is promoting an idea whose time has come: the need for a global minimum wage and a global maximum wage. For just one dollar each you can get cool bumper stickers with this simple, yet explosive message: "If we're going to have a global economy, let's have a global minimum wage and a global maximum wage".
We should no longer tolerate a world 'order' in which the 200 largest corporations control more wealth than the poorest 80 percent of the world's people; a world in which the wealthy are permitted to waste resources while the poor see one of their children die from the effects of hunger every two or three seconds, on average.
Our starting point for seeding this idea is that the annual minimum wage could be set at $1,000 and the annual maximum wage could be set at $1 million. These are round numbers which leave plenty of room for upward mobility (does anyone need more than $1 million income per year?) and yet put a survival floor under the poor.
We can later debate the details of (1) are these amounts the best ones? (2) how could these standards be enforced? and other questions. The goal at this initial stage is to win a conceptual victory by getting the general public to accept the idea that there should be a global minimum wage and a global maximum wage.
Order your bumper stickers with the message "Global Minimum Wage, Global Maximum Wage" by sending $1 per bumper sticker to Global Exchange. Bulk discounts available.
Mexico Program Keeps Growing
Despite reports in the business press that Mexico is repaying its debts and on the road to economic recovery, there are many signs of crisis.
- The Zedillo administration repaid the loans from Washington by borrowing new money from European lenders.
- Millions of Mexicans are living in unbearable poverty, with joblessness and crime escalating.
- High-level officials have been arrested and implicated in corruption related to Mexico's status as the main conduit of narcotics coming into the United States.
- Zedillo and the ruling PRI have broken agreements with Zapatista rebels and opposition political parties, thereby diminishing hopes for both peace and justice in Chiapas as well as honest national mid-term elections this July.
Vast areas of southern Mexico have been militarized and hundreds of (mostly peasant) activists have been harassed and arrested in Oaxaca, Guerrero, and other states. Yet repression has not stopped a new guerrilla movement from staging a dramatic recruiting drive.
Global Exchange and our Mexican partners need your help. You can make a difference in the following ways.
- Join a human rights delegation. CLICK HERE for our Reality Tours to Mexico.
- Work as a human rights volunteer through our peace center in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. Opportunities include:
- Short-term (6-8 weeks) stints in Civilian Peace Camps in the Chiapas conflict zone;
- Long-term collaboration (6 months +) in the documentation, accompaniment, and NGO support work of the center;
- Limited opportunities for exceptionally skilled and experienced volunteers exist in Oaxaca, Mexico City, and possibly other states. Inquire if you are interested.
- Observe and report on national mid-term elections. GX will again work with Mexico's Alianza Civica to observe elections for congress, governors, and municipal officials throughout Mexico. Observation efforts will focus on southern states where there is a heavy military presence. We will also observe the first-ever elections for mayor in Mexico City.
- If you can't go to Mexico, please consider sponsoring a human rights delegate or volunteer who has the time to go, but not the financing.
For more information e-mail us or call our Mexico program at (415) 255-7296.
