Work

Aid for Main Street Lost Amid Wall Street Dramas

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With all eyes glued to the drama over the high-stakes Wall Street rescue effort, most overlooked the mourners for the failed $61 billion bill to boost infrastructure and subsidies for low-income people. But Vicky Lovell says women were badly hurt.

Politics

Namibia Hits Political Target; Mothers Need Help

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(WOMENSENEWS)–CheersNamibia has reached 30 percent female representation in the national assembly, a target set in 1997 to be met by 2005 by the South African Development Community, the Windhoek New Era reported May 5. Tanzania, South Africa and Mozambique have previously met the goals.Patricia Mulasikwanda, Zambia’s gender affairs minister, commended Namibia for meeting the targets, saying the four countries that have achieved the goal should inspire the other 10 nations, including her own, that have not.South Africa’s public services minister, Geraldine Moleketi, announced that her government would also reach a target of filling 50 percent of senior management positions in the public sector with women by 2009, the Tshwane BuaNews reported May 6.More News to Cheer This Week:Canada awarded honorary citizenship to Burmese Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi May 6, calling on her release from house arrest, Agence France-Presse reported. Canada’s foreign minister said Suu Kyi “personifies the struggle to bring freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law” to the nation, struggling with the aftermath of last week’s cyclone. Relief agencies predict the cyclone’s death toll will rise over 100,000.Hazel Jones, an 84-year-old World War II veteran from Dover, N.H., was awarded five medals last week including the Women’s Army Corps Service Medal. Jones received the medals after arrangements by Rep. Carol Shea Porter, who has made it a special priority to work with the military to issue veterans’ medals even if they are years past due, according to her office.