Posted by admin on January 22nd, 2009 — Posted in Activists, Education, Hall Of Gender Issues
Gone are the days when companies focused solely on their stockholders. Nowadays, it is vital for companies, regardless of their respective scopes of operations, to keep in mind the safety, comfort, and good working conditions of their employees. Most multinational companies have even come up with their own set of rules in implementing proper human rights practice.
Since its conception in the 1930s, Unilever has maintained its thrust of providing quality home, health, and personal care; and food products. Over the years, the company has also remained firm in its practice of conducting business well within the boundaries of human rights.
Adopting a Code of Business Principles, Unilever actively advocates human rights. A section of the company’s codes assures employees of their right to freedom of association. The code also abhors and refrains from the practice of forced and child labor, which have slowly become rampant in the past years. In 2006, their youngest employees from Germany, Switzerland, and the United States, though only 15 years of age, had all fully complied with their respective countries’ labor legislations.
Unilever is also proud to disclose that the wages they pay exceed the set minimum wage and that almost 40% of their employees are actively engaged in trade unions.
To further expand their human rights support, Unilever works closely with other companies and with labor and civil society organizations in coming up with programs and projects geared towards the promotion of human rights.
The company is a founding signatory of the United Nations Global Compact, which seeks to commit businesses to adhere to various human rights standards and principles.
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Posted by admin on May 27th, 2008 — Posted in Hall Of Gender Issues
The holiday season can wreak havoc on any woman, but those
of us with health concerns need to be extra careful this
time of year. With holiday parties, offices full of junk
food, traditional foods and well-meaning friends and family
pressuring us to let our diets go for the holidays. Don’t
forget the emotional stress of gifts, parties and family
gatherings. As cold weather hits our bodies often crave more
calories and more carbohydrates. Shorter days can lead to
more munching to maintain energy levels and brighten moods.
Add in the scheduling crunch so many of us experience this
time of year and this time of year can be hard on your
health.
Here are some pointers that can help you survive the season
without losing the battle:
* Plan ahead and make sure you have plenty of healthy foods
on hand. Slip carrot sticks, protein bars, nuts, cheese or
other healthy choices into your purse before you leave the
house. Carrying good snacks with you can help you withstand
the urge to binge on mall foods while shopping or giving in
to the candy that seems to sprout in every office this time
of year.
* Choose wisely when you snack. Gravitate towards the veggie
trays and nut dishes rather than the cookies. Choose a
splash of cranberry juice in water, lemon in water, or a
diet soda instead of sugary drinks. One good chocolate,
savored, can curb your desire to binge on other sweets.
Chocolate is also absorbed more slowly than simpler carbs
because it has more fat in it.
* Plan your indulgences. If you MUST have Aunt Sydney’s
latkes or Grandma’s eggnog then plan for it. Don’t blow your
eating plan on lesser treats. Hold out for the good stuff. A
few indulgences can help you stave off a binge.
* Say no! Not every invitation or request must be accepted.
You have a right to a sane and happy holiday season. If that
means graciously turning down an invitation or saying no to
a volunteer opportunity, then that is what you need to do.
Your health MUST come first or you are no good to anyone
else.
* Stick to your healthy habits as much as possible. Schedule
in time to meditate, exercise, or attend a yoga class. When
you are happy and healthy you will do much more to spread
the holiday spirit than you ever could if you were crabby
and exhausted.
***
You may reuse this article without charge as long as it is
unchanged and the following information is included.
Julie Holland, author of “Alternative PCOS Solutions” is a
life coach who helps professional women cope with the
effects of chronic illness. She writes the weekly
e-newsletter “PCOS Success.” You can learn more at:
http://www.pcoscoach.com.
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Posted by admin on May 9th, 2008 — Posted in Hall Of Gender Issues
Have you ever wished that you had the CONFIDENCE TO SPEAK OUT
about something you disapprove of or disagree with? Maybe you’d
like to tell your boss that there’s a better way to do
something, or that you don’t like being treated in a certain
way. Maybe you’re sick of people taking you for granted, or
hurting your feelings without even caring to assess the damage
they’re doing to your self-esteem.
If you struggle to speak out, it’s probably for one or more of
these reasons:
- You’re afraid that people may like you less if you say
something they find controversial or disagreeable
- You’re afraid that someone, whom you perceive to be more
powerful than you, may try to take revenge on you if you dare to
speak out and challenge his or her behaviour
- You’re afraid that someone smarter than you will point out the
errors in your argument and make you look foolish
But, even if you can relate to all three reasons, ask yourself
this: is suffering in silence really more satisfying than
speaking out and dealing with the consequences?
When you choose silence, there’s a voice inside your head that
judges you. And, no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to
shut it up, can you? It’s your own chatterbox, and it tells you
“you are powerless and weak. Your opinions are worth far less
than other people’s. I don’t think you deserve to like yourself
very much today.”
Do YOU have a chatterbox inside your head that drives you mad?
Each day that you choose to stay silent, the voice becomes more
smug. Your self-esteem drifts downwards as if falling into a
deep, dark hole. You start to lose belief that you will ever be
able to climb out again, to hold your head up high in the
sunshine to fill you with warmth and the joy of living.
Of course, none of us can expect to feel as if the sun is
shining on us every day, but hiding your thoughts from the world
is one of the surest ways to guarantee a pretty dull life.
So from now on, whenever you have something you want to say,
whether it’s to your friends, your colleagues, family members,
or a group of strangers, remember these four powerful and
foolproof steps. They will almost guarantee that you get your
point across effectively.
1. straighten out your thoughts
Wherever possible, think through what you want to say in
advance. That way you stand far less chance of tripping yourself
up with logical inconsistencies. And, the best way to get your
thoughts straight is to WRITE THEM DOWN!
2. stabilise your emotions
Get control of your emotions - one of the easiest ways to get
your opinions ignored is to express them with either too much or
too little “heat”. Acting too apologetically or sheepishly,
raising your voice, crying, or becoming too upset will seldom
(if ever) help your cause.
3. strengthen your motivation
Make yourself a commitment, before you speak out about
something, that the ONLY thing that will cause you to concede is
if the audience to whom you are talking provides you with new
and sound evidence to show that you are in fact wrong!
4. JUST speak out!
Yes, all that’s left is to take the initiative and speak out,
often! Bear in mind also that you cannot “lose” or look foolish
if you make an honest point calmly, rationally, and with a
motivation to achieve an outcome that is right for those
involved.
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Posted by admin on April 29th, 2008 — Posted in Hall Of Gender Issues
An abdominoplasty is a major surgical procedure. It involves
cutting your abdominal skin and repairing your abdominal muscles
in order to get rid of loose skin. As with any invasive surgical
procedure, you will have scars resulting from the surgery.
A tummy tuck scar can run horizontally across the entire width
of your body from hip to hip, depending on how much skin you
lose. As well, depending on the procedure, a tummy tuck scar can
run vertically anywhere from your pelvic area to the chest area,
although this is not common. A tummy tuck scar is permanent.
However, surgeons will usually cut the skin under the swimsuit
line so that the tummy tuck scar is not as noticeable, or even
viewable. Keep in mind that a tummy tuck scar might look worse
within the first three to six months after the surgical
procedure. This is a normal phenomenon and you shouldn’t be
alarmed. It will take about 9 to 12 months before the tummy tuck
scar begins to flatten out and lighten in color, blending in
better with your natural skin tone.
The severity of the scars can depend on how much skin was
removed, how well your body heals, how well your body scars, the
skill of the individual surgeon, and what technique was used. Be
sure to consult with your doctor as to what methods he uses, as
well as incision types, techniques, and placements. He might
even take a marker and draw the surgical site on your body so
you can get an idea of what might show after you heal. Once your
surgery is complete, you might be put on bedrest for at least
the first week. You won’t be allowed to lift heavy objects or
participate in any strenuous activities. You will be encouraged
to walk around a few times per day for a minute or two at a
time. This is partly to prevent blood clots from forming in your
leg and causing a thrombosis condition, which could be
potentially fatal. Note that you won’t be able to stand
completely straight up at first. You’ll have a hunched-over
posture. The surgeon will recommend that you stay bent at a 45
degree angle for the first few days of recovery. Being in such a
position for prolonged periods of time can cause a lot of back
discomfort. The doctor might prescribe some kind of muscle
relaxant or valium.
During your operation, “drains” will be placed in your body to
help discharge fluid build-up. These drains will be removed
within a week or two after the procedure. After they are
removed, you’ll probably be able to stand straight up. If the
drains are needed to remain in your body for a longer period of
time, you will need to use an abdominal pressure garment, which
you might be instructed to wear for at least a month or two. At
this time, you’ll notice the tummy tuck scar getting worse and
some swelling and discoloration will occur. The amount of
swelling and discoloration depends on the individual patient and
how well she heals. Regardless, it is a normal occurrence.
Alison Wheelock has been a freelance writer and author for over
10 years. You will find more Tummy Tuck articles available at
http://www.tummy-tucks.success-tips-and-tricks.com/
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Posted by admin on March 29th, 2008 — Posted in Hall Of Gender Issues
Women have been feeding their children this way from the beginning, and it is of course natures intended food, therefore the best nourishment for your child. The decision to breast-feed is entirely up to you and each woman should make up her own mind, it is an individual choice.
There are a number of reasons why a mother would decide not to breastfeed, including infection e.g. hepatitis or HIV this can be passed onto the baby through the breast milk, or if the mother is on long-term medication for an illness, in this situation it is advised to bottle feed instead. Some mothers can’t produce enough milk and others just do not like the idea at all, either way it’s a personal decision.
In the 40s and 50s it was very unfashionable to breastfeed and mothers were encouraged to bottle-feed. It’s a different story now days with our health conscious society, more and more mothers are deciding that for them and their infant’s breast is best.
Breastfeeding benefits not only the child but the mother also.
It is the baby’s natural food and is easily digested limiting stomach problems and wind causing pain and discomfort to the baby. It is also provides antibodies reducing the risks of gastro-intestinal infections, urine infections, chest and ear it infections, breathing difficulties including asthma, diabetes, eczema and childhood obesity.
There are also lots of benefits to the mother for breastfeeding including a close maternal bond between you and your baby, a reduced risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis. Breastfeeding also helps the womb to contract back to its normal size much quicker than if you were not breastfeeding.
You need to keep in mind that when you are breast-feeding it is not safe to take the combined pill but you can take the mini pill for this duration, this of course dispels the myth that you cannot get pregnant during breastfeeding you definitely can.
Another positive note is that breastfeeding aids in the loss of the body’s fat stores that were stored in preparation for breastfeeding, this will speed up loosing the pregnancy weight.
Although keep in mind that eating a well balance diet with daily vitamins and minerals is fundamental for producing high quality milk for your baby, this is not the time for any crash diets.
One of the big concerns for mothers when breast feeding is that they are unsure of the amounts of food the baby is consuming, once the baby is breastfeeding well and he or she is having wet and dirty nappies be assured all is well. Your midwife or maybe friends and family can help and advise when you are going through those anxious few weeks of breastfeeding, there are also breast feeding support groups that you can go along to and speak to other mums with the same problems or concerns as you.
Another concern for mothers is breast-feeding in public, most people are okay with breastfeeding in front of friends and family but the thought of breastfeeding in public makes them a little nervous. Do not let this put you off, if you and your baby are comfortable with it that’s all that matters. There is always a discrete table you can sit at in a restaurant and or on the train and there is always the option of planning your outings around feed times to avoid it completely.
When you decide the time is right to wean your baby onto bottles and get some routine back into your life you need to decide if you will be expressing your own milk or using formula.
Expressing is said to be a difficult and tricky task that takes a bit of time and patients, however if you decide to go down this route you can build up a store of breast milk and freeze it in specially adapted freezer bags. Breast milk can last up to six months in the freezer. This way you can be more flexible with your time and your baby gets all the goodness of breast milk.
Although a lot of women actually want their breasts back and to feel it’s their body once again so they go with formula. Bottle feeding using formula is not a bad idea as you can stop worrying about those embarrassing wet patches and get back into your pretty smaller size bras again.
Not all women want to or can breast feed but I think you should give it a go. It is a wonderful bonding experience for both mother and child providing a lot of health benefits, its extremely rewarding all round.
About the Author
Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice for parents and consumers on purchasing a variety of
baby products which includes
baby crib bedding,
strollers,
and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.
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