Loan sharks cruising poorest areas – report
Stuff.co.nz 16 Feb 2012Low-income families’ struggles with debt are not due simply to bad decisions – they are often victims of an environment filled with exploitative lenders, a report says. The Families Commission report confirms that areas of high deprivation often have a high presence of alcohol shops, finance companies, fringe lenders, mobile truck shops, pokies and door-to-door sales. Some credit agencies appear to target families who can least afford it, the report says. The findings were backed yesterday by Mangere Budgeting Services Trust chief executive Darryl Evans, who said: “We’ve got everybody here, the loan sharks, the mobile trucks, the liquor truck, money lenders operating out of garages. They literally are operating out the back of $2 shops.”http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/6426292/Loan-sharks-cruising-poorest-areas-report
Stuff co.nz 4 April 2015No little girl dreams of this dressing room. Anna hunches on the concrete beam scratching around in her bag for her high heel boots.The ground is a mat of shingle and damp dirt.Even the weeds have given up trying to grow in this dank corner of Christchurch’s red light district. A digger tyre serves as Anna’s vanity table. On it rests a sparkly card holder full of condoms.It is bitter July night in Christchurch – the kind of cold that eats through each layer of clothing. But instead of putting clothes on, Anna is taking them off.She is a prostitute on Manchester St.She shivers, but it is barely noticeable from her hands that are shaking, because Anna, 25, is dependent on alcohol.“We all put on a show on how we can do this,” she says. “But yeah, it’s hard.”http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/67610160/Christchurch-sex-workers-Life-on-Manchester-St
Daily Mail 22 August 2016Family First Comment: “Assistant professor Dr Samuel Perry said: ‘Beginning pornography use between survey waves nearly doubled one’s likelihood of being divorced by the next survey period, from 6 per cent to 11 per cent, and nearly tripled it for women, from 6 per cent to 16 per cent. Our results suggest that viewing pornography, under certain social conditions, may have negative effects on marital stability.’” Married couples who watch pornography almost double their risk of divorce, researchers said yesterday.While it was once seen as the preserve of husbands, it now seems that wives are almost as keen on watching it as men.But viewing adult films or images comes at a price, with the researchers saying that women who start looking at porn while married are almost three times more likely to want a divorce.Their report comes after statistics last year showed that as many as one in three women watches adult content at least once a week, with the majority viewing it on their mobile phones.In the latest research, sociologists from the University of Oklahoma interviewed thousands of married adults regularly over several years.They found that porn negatively affects those in a happy marriage, the newly married or those from a non-religious home.But there was no increase in the probability of divorce among weekly church-goers because the social stigma of divorce was greater, showing ‘religion has a protective effect on marriage, even in the face of pornography use’.READ MORE: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3752169/Why-porn-death-knell-happy-marriage-Married-couples-view-adult-material-double-risk-divorce.html
Recently the African Union said the continental stand by force will soon be operational.The force’s logistics headquarters are set to be in Cameroon’s port city Douala.But what exactly are their capabilities and where will the funding come from?CCTV’s Girum Chala sought to find out.
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LifestyleRelationships Should you date a man who is separated?. by: – June 3, 2011 Share By Abiola AbramsLast Thursday I slipped on my pre-recession, nappa tie-back Jimmy Choos, grabbed my subway Metrocard and headed out to meet my favorite boys and girls at the glam rock weekly dance party Ladyland. Ladyland, incidentally, takes place at the usually staid Hudson Library in Manhattan. My tribe was brimming with energetic positivity as we caught up.Then a tall Wall Street type waved and smiled from the next table. He had a sturdy medium build and was slightly rumpled with a sweetly crooked smile. As he was one of the only guys in the room not wearing jeans skinner than mine I waved back. After he bought a round of drinks for our table he sat down and we started talking about the club, the news and recently outed celebrity love children.“Well, you’re not married, right?” I asked jokingly as he wrote his cell phone number on a business card.“Separated,” he said, suddenly looking like somebody bought up all of his favorite stock. It turned out that he had been legally separated for 7\seven months from his wife of six years. “We live separate lives in separate cities,” he explained. “We are absolutely getting divorced. I am just trying to sort out the financial aspects of it first.”So should you ever date a man or woman who is separated from their spouse but not yet divorced? No. Absolutely not. Nunca. Never.Should You Date Him If He Is Legally Separated?A person who is separated from their spouse, whether legally or by circumstance, is still married. As anyone who has ever badmouthed a friend’s ex-boyfriend only to have them reunite as a happy couple knows, break ups don’t always “take.” My parents had two legal separations when I was growing up and they are now one of the cutest married couples I know.There are too many fish in the sea to go after the ones that someone else already caught. When the person is officially signature-on-the-deed divorced then (and only then) they are single and available, physically at least. Then when you date them you only risk being the rebound chick, not the home-wrecker.When You’re The Separated OneThe reverse of the question is should you date when you are separated? I know from experience that ending a marriage takes time. When you know for a fact that your marriage is over, you want to move on quickly to the next chapter of your life but it is also a time of healing. For some of us that means crying in a ball on the kitchen floor for four months. Others of us find comfort dancing on tables with our girlfriends.Only you know in your heart whether the relationship is truly dismantled. Unlike when dating a person who is separated, if you are the separated one, you know whether your divorce plans are imminent.Dating is fun if we allow it to be. Like I always say, be good. And if you can’t be good, be safe.
Tweet Food & DiningLifestyle Classic Fudge-Walnut Brownies by: – September 15, 2011 Share 71 Views no discussions Share
Sharing is caring! Share Classic Fudge-Walnut BrowniesThe best brownies are fudgy, chewy, and dense, with the thinnest sugar crust on top. Achieving all this in a light recipe can be tricky: If you use too little fat or too much flour, or leave the brownies just a minute too long in the oven, results will range from springy cakes to dry pucks. Ingredients:3 19/50 ounces all-purpose flour (about 3/4 cup)1 cup granulated sugar3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa1/2 cup packed brown sugar1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon salt1 cup bittersweet chocolate chunks, divided1/3 cup fat-free milk6 tablespoons butter, melted1 teaspoon vanilla extract2 large eggs, lightly beaten1/2 cup chopped walnuts, dividedCooking sprayPreparation:[1] Preheat oven to 350°.[2] Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl. Combine 1/2 cup chocolate and milk in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds. Stir in butter, vanilla, and eggs. Add milk mixture, 1/2 cup chocolate, and 1/4 cup nuts to flour mixture; stir to combine.[3] Pour the batter into a 9-inch square metal baking pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup nuts. Bake at 350° for 19 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Cool in the pan on a rack. Cut into squares.Recipe: CookingLight.com
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LifestyleRelationships 9 Things Every Engaged Couple Should Talk About by: – June 19, 2014 Alignment on some key values and compatibility on certain topics is crucial to an enduring marriage. You are bound to experience tests as a couple, both internal and external. Therefore there are conversations that need to take place when you know you and your fiancé are going to spend the rest of your lives together, as teammates.MoneyHow will money be handled once you are married? Assets, paychecks, inherited sums. What happens if one of you loses a job unexpectedly? Being married means you are a team and need to be on the same financial page, as this is a huge, contentious issue for many couples who divorce. If there was a single thing that separated my first husband and I, it was completely opposing views about how to spend money. Harmony on this subject is crucial for long-term unity.ChildrenDo you want them? When? How? How many? What values, ideals, and education do you want them to have? Will there be a stay home parent? “Yes, we both want children” is not enough.WorkloadThis refers to all of the unpaid work at home. How will this be divided? This issue can be an unpleasant shock if you don’t cohabitate before you wed, or discuss who will clean the toilets, take out the trash, or vacuum. FamilyWhat is your anticipation of the involvement of in-laws, siblings, holidays/vacations with extended family? Will you see them every weekend? Once a month? Two to three times a year? This can be an especially important conversation if one or both of you is an only-child.Elderly ParentsWhat will your physical and financial commitment look like? This is remarkably easy to overlook if you marry in your twenties. But, marriage is supposed to be forever, so at some point this conversation is going to become relevant. People in their 40s are now referred to as the “sandwich generation” – raising children while taking care of ageing parents. What will your roles and responsibilities be for your parents and in-laws?Sexual ExpectationsSex while dating or being engaged can be very different from sex with your husband 10 years down the road. Many couples seek therapy or counseling if one or both partners do not feel satisfied in the bedroom after many years together. It’s important to stay connected physically and having a recurring date night once a week can help keep the intimacy alive.Life PrioritiesWhat matters most to you both? Do you want to really nest and settle down or instead go traveling together? Go back to school? Do you want to volunteer in India? Save for a beach house? Talk about your aspirations and objectives and get comfortable with a relative timeline.DealbreakersWatching sports all weekend with his friends on the couch. Coming home drunk at 1 a.m. on a work night. Working non-stop 16 hours days. Blowing cash in Vegas. Over-the-top flirtation with other people. Unnecessary jealousy. What won’t you put up with over time? Repetitive behavior that upsets either of you does not bode well for a happy future together.SupportIn difficult times we all communicate differently. My husband likes time alone and I love to talk it out. We now allow for both and understand what the other requires. Its important to voice how you need to feel loved and supported and then you ask (and provide) what your spouse needs.These conversations can raise many other talking points and you need to remember that no matter how much ground is made, life is still dynamic and ever changing—you need to be flexible. As the old proverb goes, “we make plans and the gods laugh!”But getting aligned before marriage is the key to making it last. The fact you can discuss and agree on central subjects (in a mature and calm way) is the most important thing. Even if in a few years life looks different or you feel different to how you did when you married. Our relationship has experienced many changes over the years as we moved to New York City from Sydney (and started over), changed jobs, had shifts in income, and decided for now to not have children. The goal as a couple is that no topic is off the table for discussion. This means that, with your teammate beside you, almost anything can be overcome.Marieclaire Sharing is caring!
Sharing is caring! Share Share Today, June 30, marks the end of a three-month State of Emergency in Dominica.The initial period was from April 1st to 20th and was extended for a total of three months following a sitting of Parliament.The Act allowed for Government to impose restrictions to contain the coronavirus threat to public health.Individuals who were not considered essential workers were prohibited from being outdoors in public places from 6pm to 6am on weekdays, with a total lock down on weekends.The island is almost fully reopened now except for sporting facilities and events and commercial passenger travel.The Hon Prime Minister, Chair of the Cabinet Subcommittee on Covid19, Roosevelt Skerrit, said Sunday that the emergency powers jurisdiction would not be extended past June 30th.“The Emergency Powers [Act] comes to an end on Tuesday, 30th. The Government is not intending to extend this. Therefore, in large measure we will go back to the normal or the new normal,” he said. The Hon Minister for Health and Wellness, Dr Irving McIntyre responded to the question of what the new normal will be after today.“We’re back to where we were before,” he said hastening to add that “before, we didn’t have Covid; now that we have Covid, we have to make sure that we can practice all these public health and social measures that we’ve had in place, which is what has brought our success.”He listed proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette,wearing masks and sanitisation.Hon McIntyre also stated that there was a decrease in influenza-like symptoms for which he credits the guidelines promoted to curb the new coronavirus.“As a matter of fact,” he said, “Up to March of this year, influenza-like symptoms were down to 4 cases per week. Prior to these measures we put for Covid we used to get 25 cases a week.“It just shows you how wearing a mask, washing of hands and proper respiratory etiquette can cut down these things. This is what we want to emphasize.” Tweet
223 Views no discussions LifestyleLocalNews State of Emergency Ends Today by: – June 30, 2020 Share
7 Views no discussions Share LocalNews It is unfortunate that the Opposition does not sit in Parliament by: – September 1, 2011 Sharing is caring! Share
Tweet Share Dr. John Colin McIntyreMinister responsible for the portfolios of Employment, Trade, Industry and Diaspora Affairs Dr. John Colin McIntyre believes it is unfortunate that the Opposition Party does not sit in Parliament.Dr. McIntyre who addressed members of the media yesterday says, while this action may benefit the government, it is a bad move which will affect the country.“It is unfortunate that we have an Opposition that does not sit in Parliament. They have no say, there is no interest, there’s no representation to the people, they are just totally not interested in Dominica or the people of Dominica. I mean no Opposition is good for a government to a certain extent but it is bad for the country. It is bad for the country in that you expect to get some form of input from the Opposition in terms of looking at programs as well to form a national point of view in pushing this country forward. When you have an Opposition that seat out completely with no say, with lack of representation to their own people, though it is a slim margin I must admit, there is no direction.”The Minister explained that irrespective of which party is in power the national program and plan should continue.“I want to enforce here right now that irrespective of which government is in power, we have to look at the national program and continuity. We cannot say that because one time it was the Freedom Government, one time it was the UWP for a very, very short time I remember that very well and now that you have the Labour Party in government; for a reasonable time now and to be honest with you for a long enough time as well, we must continue the program and I speak here of the national program for Dominica. It cannot be the Freedom Party was in power they had this program, the UWP got into power the program should be changed, the Labour Party is in power right now so the program should be changed? No, it should be a continuation of the plan,” he said.According to Dr. McIntyre a proper national plan should continue whether the government which initiated it remains in office or not.He noted however that for continuity to take place this would require the input from a functional opposition party which is sadly lacking in Dominica.“What would be ideal to balance this whole program is a program where you have a functional opposition but in Dominica’s case we don’t have that and it is sad for the country,” he said.This decision to abstain from the Parliament Dr. McIntyre thinks will “just help to strengthen government’s role and maintenance of this Labour Party in power for a very, very long time.”Dominica Vibes News
Share Sharing is caring! Tweet Share Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II, at the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia. Photo: Annaliese McDonough/ Commonwealth SecretariatPERTH, Australia — Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II, in opening the three-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia, on Friday, made an unusually pointed reference to the report by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), which has recommended the creation of a Commonwealth commissioner for democracy, the rule of law and human rights.”I wish heads of government well in agreeing further reforms that respond boldly to the aspirations of today and that keep the Commonwealth fresh and fit for tomorrow,” the Queen said. ”We should not forget that this is an association not only of governments but also of peoples.”The EPG was established by Commonwealth leaders in 2009 to look at how the Commonwealth might be updated and made more relevant and has recently completed a report on the status and future of the organisation.Women’s and youth empowerment; women’s political participation; intra-Commonwealth trade; HIV/AIDS; a Youth Corps and the need for greater co-ordination among the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Foundation and Commonwealth Designated Organisations are key areas of focus in the report. Other topics included the role of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) and the need for the increased engagement of this body in order to preserve Commonwealth values. A need was also identified for the establishment of a Commonwealth Commissioner for the Rule of Law, Democracy and Human Rights to effectively support and implement the work of the secretary-general and CMAG.Disagreement had arisen earlier this month over whether or not the report should be released to the public prior to the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM) in Perth.“Inexplicably, current chair-in-office, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, decided that the reports should be kept secret,” Canadian Senator Hugh Segal said.Sir Ronald Sanders, a former high commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda to Britain, who, along with Segal, is a member of the EPG, said the absence of comprehensive information has led to misinterpretations.A handful of government representatives have chosen to focus on the Commissioner for Democracy, the Rule of Law, and Human Rights, wrongly suggesting that the holder of the post will be a “policeman” playing a “punitive role,” Sanders said.The Queen’s words have been interpreted as an unusually direct message to the nations that oppose the creation of the commissioner.However, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard indicated on Friday that the commissioner was unlikely to be established, in favour of a compromise to strengthen the powers of the CMAG, which consists of the foreign ministers of nine member states and was established in 1995 to deal with persistent or serious human rights violations by Commonwealth states.The EPG had argued in its report that the commissioner was needed as well. ”The Commonwealth is in danger of becoming irrelevant and unconvincing as a values-based association,” the group said.Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Britain have been pushing for the establishment of the commissioner.The opposition is led by India, Sri Lanka, South Africa and other African nations. Other recommendations by the EPG include a call for the 41 Commonwealth nations that treat homosexuality as a crime to scrap these laws. It says they are an abuse of human rights and make treating HIV/AIDS more difficult.By Caribbean News Now contributor
Share 22 Views no discussions NewsRegional Queen supports Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group report by: – October 29, 2011