TresSugar

Olympic Sponsors Responsible for Human Rights Violations?

LibertySugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Pro-Tibet groups are joining together to call out the corporate sponsors of the Beijing Olympics. The groups say that unless the companies use their influence to pressure China, they are complicit in a humanitarian disaster.

Twelve global sponsors, including Coca Cola, General Electric, McDonald's, Visa, Johnson & Johnson and Omega have paid a combined $80 million for the four year exclusive sponsorship deal. Activists explain that together these companies have a GDP equal to Canada's, the world's eighth largest economy. Thus, they can wield a lot of influence.

Do you expect sponsors to get involved in global politics, considering they work with governments, employ lobbying firms, and maintain international presences?

Are human rights more than politics, therefore giving everyone an obligation to pressure China, including corporations and consumers? Or, should the sponsors be commended for supporting the Olympic movement, which would be impossible without them?

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Monkey Business

GiggleSugar — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:00:00 -0700

A man drops his wallet at a zoo. Does this monkey look like a good samaritan to you? Let's tune in and find out...

Cool James Bond Ad

GiggleSugar — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:00:00 -0700

I can't get a taxi in this town. Maybe I should hang out with Bond-James Bond.

Beauty and the Geek: Lawmaker Wants Models Off Tech Visas

LibertySugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:00:04 -0700

International geeks may be able to thank their beautiful counterparts for freeing up about 1,000 H1-B visas. Congressman Anthony Weiner, from New York, wants to end the practice of making foreign models and foreign hi-tech workers compete with each other for a limited number of work visas.

Rep. Weiner wants Congress to create a separate immigration class for models. Oh, and in case you were wondering - foreign supermodels such as Gisele Bundchen already qualify for super O-1 visas, those reserved for immigrants with extraordinary ability, like Nobel Prize winners.

Of course creating a Beautiful People Visa would not solve the HB-1 visa crunch. The 65,000 H-1B visas granted this year were snatched up in one day. Bill Gates told Congress last March that the tight controls force companies to outsource jobs overseas.

When companies, technology or fashion, set up global businesses they're likely to go where they can hire the best, brightest, and beautifulist. Should America do more to fight the brain and beauty drain?

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Front Page: Gaza Progress, Zimbabwe Run-Off, H-1B Visas

CitizenSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:57:02 -0700

Israel's defense minister has just said he would consider reopening Gaza's border if violence from the territory stops. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on a visit this week pressed Barak to consider easing Israel's blockade of Gaza. The blockade has caused huge economic hardship in the territory of 1.4 million Palestinians. Israel considers Hamas a terrorist group and closed Gaza's crossings after the group took control of Gaza, only letting in limited humanitarian supplies since. Barak said, "when conditions have matured in the future for an end to the rockets, the terror and the reduction of the weapons' smuggling, we will be willing to consider easements in the Gaza crossings through cooperation with representatives of (Palestinian Prime Minister Salaam) Fayyad's government."

In Zimbabwe's presidential race, delays are causing increasing speculation that a runoff may be needed between President Robert Mugabe and his rival Morgan Tsvangirai. The delay is frustrating voters as they can see the results of local voting posted at polling stations throughout the country. Independent estimates of the results show Tsvangirai winning with 49 percent to Mugabe's 42 percent. About two-thirds of Zimbabwe's election results have been declared, with the parliamentary seats for the ruling party and opposition very close.
The annual lottery for visas for highly skilled temporary foreign workers begins today. Applications for the H-1B visas are in hot demand. Last year, the agency received enough petitions to cover the annual quota on the first day, and the number of visas offered is controversial. High-tech companies have urged Congress to raise the number offered as they face a shortage of highly skilled tech workers, but official figures show the biggest users of the visas are three Indian high-tech companies, who may be sending workers here to learn competitive information. There are currently 65,000 visas given each year.

Cubans With Family in US Get Fast-Track Visas

LibertySugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:00:40 -0700

Under the Cuban Family Reunification Program, the US will start speedily processing visa applications for Cubans who have relatives living in America. Instead of taking three to seven years to receive visas, Cubans will get them in a matter of months. While the US often has no problem splitting up families when an immigrant has been here for decades illegally, it does take familial considerations into account when granting Cubans fast-track visas.

The US takes a unique stance toward Cuban immigration. An old agreement between the two countries allows for 20,000 legal Cuban immigrants per year. The Family Reunification Program will not add to that number. Once Cubans immigrate to America, they are only allowed to return home once every three years.

There are so many layers to the immigration issue, and I find it interesting that US policy differs from home country to home country. What factors should matter most when deciding which nation's immigrants are more sympathetic, or more deserving of fast-track visas?

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China's Dislike of Activism Unmasked - Officials Revoke Visa

LibertySugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:00:41 -0700

The Chinese government has a short fuse when it comes to tolerating activist-athletes. Chinese officials revoked the visa of Joey Cheek, a gold-medal speedskater and co-founder of Team Darfur. Cheek, who won the gold at the 2006 Olympics, helped create the organization of athletes dedicated to ending human rights violations in the Darfur region of Sudan. China has come under fire for its human rights policies and for purchasing large amounts of oil from Sudan.

And perhaps not wanting to be booted out of China themselves, the four US cyclists who wore black pollution masks over their noses and mouths in the Beijing airport have apologized. The US Olympic Committee chief said the athletes sent a written apology to the Beijing Organizing Committee because "they've now seen how their actions have been perceived. They were very eager to take the right action, which was to apologize to their hosts." Do you think an apology was in order?

The US Olympic team has chosen a Sudanese refugee to carry the American flag at the Beijing Opening Ceremonies. I wonder how China feels about that.

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Should Unemployment Rates Impact Immigration Policy?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:30:59 -0800

As the unemployment rate rises, so does the call for stricter immigration rules. Many Americans resent that they have lost their income while visaed foreigners bring home dollars, or even worse, while corporations illegally hire undocumented workers.

The issue showed up last week on CNN's Cafferty File. Jack asked whether a 7.6 percent unemployment rate meant it was time to change the immigration policy in America to keep jobs from going to millions of legal, and illegal, immigrants. One viewer said:

Halt all immigration until the unemployment rate is below 3 percent. Plus impose a 50 percent tax on all money sent back to home countries by noncitizens.

Columnist Thomas Friedman has a different take on it. He was wants an "open-door bailout." To see what that means, read more.

Friedman summed up the message immigrant business people want to send America:

Dear America, please remember how you got to be the wealthiest country in history. It wasn’t through protectionism, or state-owned banks or fearing free trade. No, the formula was very simple: build this really flexible, really open economy, tolerate creative destruction so dead capital is quickly redeployed to better ideas and companies, pour into it the most diverse, smart, and energetic immigrants from every corner of the world and then stir and repeat, stir and repeat, stir and repeat, stir and repeat.

Last year Bill Gates argued to Congress that allowing more foreigners to work in the US would not steal jobs away from Americans, but rather create more jobs for them. He said for each H-1B visa hire, four support employees are hired.

Do you think open immigration will help solve the economic crisis, or is it just part of the problem?

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Front Page: South Africa Denies Dalai Lama Entrance

CitizenSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:52:39 -0700

Organizers of a peace conference in South Africa have canceled the event after the government denied a visa to the Dalai Lama. - New York Times
Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner is asking Congress today for unprecedented power to seize non-banking financial companies. - AP
The recent volcano eruption in Alaska has made a case for the volcano monitoring funding included in Obama's stimulus package and criticized by many. - Washington Post
The crew aboard the Discovery space shuttle has been expecting a call from President Obama before they return home. - AP
China has blocked YouTube, reportedly because it included video of soldiers beating monks and other Tibetans. - BBC News

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You Asked: I'm Terribly Homesick

DearSugar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:15:23 -0700

Dear Sugar,

I moved from California to England to be with my husband. He said it would be a short term move, until we could get his Visa sorted out, but seven and a half years later, I'm still here with no light at the end of the tunnel. I am incredibly home sick and miss my family and friends terribly. The economy in both places is ruining our chance to move back and I know there is nothing we can do about it. I want a better life for our daughter and I know the best place for her is around her family in California. This isn't my husband's fault, but I'm starting to resent him for my unhappiness. I am feeling like there is no hope for me and I am destined to spend my life being unhappy about where I live. Help! - Homesick Holly

To see DearSugar's answer read more

Dear Homesick Holly,

I'm sorry to hear that you're unhappy living in England. It's definitely a different world than sunny California, but since you're going to be there for a little longer, I think it'd be best to just make the most of it. Since Spring/Summer is quickly approaching, could you make a few trips back home while your daughter is out of school? Or could you ask your friends and family to come out to England to visit you? Seeing a familiar face could really help lift your spirits.

I hear that you're homesick, but dwelling on it will only intensify those feelings, and being unhappy will just make it worse for your daughter. I advise you to talk to your husband, tell him how you feel, and see if you can't come up with some ways to make this living situation better for you. If you've made friends out there, try to strengthen those relationships, get involved in your community, go out and meet new people, explore your surroundings, or get a part-time job to keep you busy.

Yes, our economic state is making things difficult for everyone right now, but it won't last forever. I wish you luck and hope you can get home sooner rather than later.

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