A whopping 79 million Europeans are ‘poor’
cafebabel discusses three main points for the ‘2010 European year for combating poverty and social exclusion’; and they all fit in with popular stereotypes. Those living in the east are poorer than those in the west, thanks to higher poverty thresholds. Women suffer more social exclusion than men, though groups like the divorced and separated fathers in Italy are fighting back. The most modern calamity in 2010 though comes in the form of an armada of graduates. The young unemployed are flooding the internship markets, keeping a more than beady eye on the average European minimum wage. The clock is striking, and dignity is no longer the chime; it remains a vain word for too many Europeans. Try that for a new stereotype
Introducing Italian poet Vanni Santoni's 'precarious characters'
Initially, the Tuscan-born writer blogged a series of characters. The contemporary anti-heroes soon became literary figures, appearing in the book 'Personaggi precari' in 2007
florence, european year for combating poverty and social exclusion, civil society, vanni santoni, literature, poverty, society, precarity
Minimum European income to fight poverty?
Given persistent shortcomings of minimum wage policies, legislators and organisations instead debate the merits of ‘minimum income’ to combat poverty in Europe. But it remains to be seen whether the EU parliament will force continent-wide reforms
european parliament, european year for combating poverty and social exclusion, labour, poverty, unemployment, society, precarity, labour market, minimum wage, men and women
'Conciliabules': French women fight for European poverty via theatre
Marginalisation, precarity - in any case, women are 'poorer' than men. But the ladies from this French troupe use art, not negativity, in their official response to Europe's designated 'year of poverty and social exclusion'
european year for combating poverty and social exclusion, theatre, poverty, european commission, culture, art, society, social networks
Europe’s graduates: lecture halls to poverty lines
At best, many graduates find themselves facing a marathon of internships, and at worst a life under the poverty line. Unemployment in times of crisis brings social consequences too. The EU is reacting to prove that a degree is for life, and not just for christmas
university, european year for combating poverty and social exclusion, job seekers, internships, labour, eurogeneration, poverty, unemployment, studies, society, labour market, minimum wage
In Italy, divorced men are down and out
Divorce is often the cause of financial meltdown, which can plunge ex-partners on the outskirts of society and into destitution. Often, he ends up poorer than her. ‘Single dads’ groups say that it’s a very Italian situation unequalled in the rest of the European Union
european year for combating poverty and social exclusion, divorce, poverty, society
Europe makes 2010 its year for fighting poverty and social exclusion
When the 'Lisbon strategy' was launched in March 2000, EU member state leaders said that they wanted to take decisive steps towards eliminating poverty. Ten years later, during the worst economic crisis since 1929, the EU has named 2010 its year for fighting poverty and social exclusion. It’s about time, too
consumers, european parliament, european year for combating poverty and social exclusion, civil society, labour, poverty, european commission, development, economical crisis, society, labour market
