Class Inequality in the Third World Versus First World

Third World Countries such as Philippines

Poor countries from a global perspective, usually depend on their own local currency only and production of goods which may still be either home crafted or even if factory made are priced so low that manufacturers probably underpay their workers.  For international trading, most developing nations are mainly agricultural based or industrial parts and assembly that the income generated certainly still does not gain workers a high income to achieve the modern middle class lifestyle.  To be middle class, a family has to have at least two wage earners from the educated professional or small business class and be allowed a house mortgage to become owners.  If they are lucky to have a family member migrate into the First World countries such as USA and Canada, the money remittances and dollar to peso conversions allow them a faster way to house ownership!

Without any or little Government and public welfare funding for development of low or no income groups, there are still many unfortunately living in poverty and temporary housing known as squatters.  There is public education available but without employment or underpaid employment, the families live in these crowded shanties and are probably malnutritioned as well.  One charity Gawad Kalinga is fundraising globally to train and build houses for poor, a responsibility which unfortunately the Government or Banks have not yet resolved nor allotted from public taxes nor loans.

Overpopulation of the lower class groups is another reason for poverty, due to the Catholic mentality:  against contraception and birth control methods such as the pill and condom, against abortion, and for having more Catholics.  Also poor people cannot afford the pill and condom, unlike the middle class and wealthy who can and do use these methods to prevent pregnancies.


Refer:
http://tacapamasshousing.com/the-project/site-study/
http://www.gk1world.com/home


First World Countries such as Canada

Canada however is one of the wealthier nations and belongs to the G8 Group of Eight top industrialized nations of the world and the G20.  These countries are probably the wealthiest and most developed with high standards of living, housing, employment, education, nutrition and their trading is mainly industrial machinery and technology to help the other less developed countries reach the modern age through cars, buses, construction equipment, airplanes, factory manufacturing machines, trains, etc.  Canada also has agricultural mass production using technology instead of manpower in farms.  As for Government public welfare, there is basic housing and food support for these individuals:  disabled, unemployed, retired pensioners, maternity, refugees.  The public services come from taxes paid by employed but all can enjoy:  education up to secondary high school level schools, medical treatment in hospitals and clinics, information in libraries, roads and highways, garbage and recycling maintenance.  The quality of living in Canada is very high and it is geographically vast and underpopulated but highly developed, so it allows immigration in even from poor countries such as Philippines.

Refer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G8

Class Inequality

The various economic and employment classes from wealthy, middle and business, and poor have different ratios depending on the country.  A large middle class is probably the most stable of economies for both economic and political reasons.  Public services paid by taxes should include:  education, medical, dental, roads, information, garbage and recycling, and available for all groups.  Class inequality is more visible in less developed countries where the poor have no or little support from Government public funding.  The quality of living difference between the wealthy and the poor is a huge gap and causes human suffering.  The basic human rights set by the United Nations need to be met for survival:  Article 23 work, Article 25 for food, clothing, housing and medical and Article 26 for education, Article 17 own property, and above that even more for full human development per individual!

Refer:
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

Moralizing on Sex Tourism -- A Bedroom Dialogue

Sex tourism is tourism involving travellers, usually business men who visit a country and hire sex workers for sex.  In some Third World countries, the prostitutes may be poor children and teenagers.  This intriguing play by Erin Shields is set inside a hotel bedroom, probably in India because the young prostitute played by Miriam Fernandes is wearing a sari, and the married middle aged business man played by Derek Boyes is probably from Canada since his phone numbers which she found on his business card are Toronto area codes of 416 and 647.  The intimacy of the set, with the central bed and the setup of a typical hotel with dresser and chair, closet, gives the viewers an inside view of an experience, which although written about by news media and politicians is usually from a detached cold distance.  The dialogue between the play's only two characters personalizes the experience, although it probably does not happen that way in reality -- the argumentative, moralising tones to elicit guilt and conscience of what is wrong or right about their temporary relationship.  It would kill lust and they basically end up doing just that, talking themselves out of the possible sex encounter!  What both internalized are the rationalization against prostitution and the differences going against them, voices usually formed by outsiders who are critical and consider such immorality as evil, rather than allowing curiosity and adventure to take control and lead them into giving into temptation.  He would have been committing adultery with a female a quarter of his age (?), out of curiosity sparked by his co worker's previous trip and advice to 'take advantage' of the situation, ie. probably the poverty in Third World countries.  The first shock was when after his initial monologue of being tempted by his friend's stories, and his fascination for her differences in physique by age, skin, height, etc., she suddenly replies hostilely in English!  Yes, she can 'speak English'!  They end up arguing through most of the play, with her accusing him of being a pedophile rapist and he ends up accusing her of being a lesbian or virgin!  In the end, nothing happens.  

The audience laughed at some of the dialogue but everyone clapped in the end.  For those who are seeking such sex encounters while travelling, it would be advisable to watch this play and remember not to argue nor accuse each other as these two characters did, or else one would miss out on the possibility of enjoying a no strings attached temporary experience overseas.  As for those who are not seeking such experiences, all your arguments against it are mouthed by these two characters, which probably explains why the audience clapped instead of booed at the end.  Instead of getting it on with the titillating scandalous action, they both talk themselves out of it!  Everyone goes home feeling moral, having done the right thing, instead of immoral and doing the wrong thing...

Note:  a friend's advice 'hmmm... thought provoking, makes you think of or from a different perspective...'  So for curiosity seekers of adventures, this play can seriously make you think before you travel and give in to such temptation!

Immigration -- Free Room and Board Versus Free Ticket Home

North America offers better opportunities for education, employment, health care, political and religious freedom, sexual liberation, class system mobility, etc than most countries in the world. Therefore people are willing to become immigrants to start a new life leaving our birth countries and what they offer. The legal process to apply and be approved for entry in both Canada and the United States can take years of preparation and waiting for the millions trying to get in!  This can lead to feelings of frustration and desperation for the applicants. Some may even consider attempting fraud, bribery and smuggling into boundaries to accomplish their goals!

The Government of Canada has changed its policies regarding illegal aliens, those who entered by illegal methods. Supposedly to protect the Immigration Act, not immigrants and refugees who often come from repressive foreign Governments which persecute those against them, there is now detention ("free room and board") for illegal immigrants and imprisonment for smugglers and / or deportation ("free ticket back home") after.  Unfortunately since our own foreign Governments may persecute or punish us too, it becomes a tragedy for the desperate refugees whether here in Canada or there back in the home country. A catch 22 situation damned if you remain and damned if you return!

Lucky for me, I entered legally thanks to my parents who are both educated and middle class in the Philippines and achieved the same lifestyle eventually despite changes in employment and income. We left the Philippines because my father did not like the restrictions of martial law and dictatorship during Marcos term, even though he initially campaigned for President Marcos and was rewarded with Government positions and status. We all now have dual Philippine Canadian citizenship and some even have American too. But for the unlucky few who are escaping their birth countries, the recent change in immigration policy can be a prison trap defeating their goals of a better life and Society.  "Free room and board" in a detention center followed by a "free ticket back home" due to a deportation order does not help but harms them.

Refer to:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/reform.asp

http://www.solidarityacrossborders.org/en/solidarity-city/solidarity-city-journal/outsourcing-racism-bill-c-31-prison-expansion-and-the-detention-of-immigrants

http://rabble.ca/news/2012/06/passage-bill-c-31-threat-refugees-and-black-eye-canada