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Winter 2006
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Winter
2006
Victories
Argentine Homemakers Win Retirement Benefits
Argentine homemakers are now eligible for retirement benefits from the state. They do not need earned income from a job to qualify. They are exempt. Paid workers are required to contribute to the pension program for 30 years to qualify for retirement.
Info from The Michigan Citizen
Liberia Elects Woman President
On Jan. 16 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became Liberia’s new president. She is the first female president in Africa’s 48 countries. Sirleaf vows to stamp out corruption. She also promises to work with the international community to implement a fair Economic Plan for Liberia.
Info from The Michigan Citizen
Single Mom Becomes President of Chile
A single, never-married mom became Chile’s first female president. On Dec. 11. Dr. Michelle Bachelet won an overwhelming victory against the conservative male who ran against her. Bachelet is a former pediatrician.
Agentina agreed in 1990 that women should fill at least five Cabinet positions. But there are only two women out of 38 senators and 15 women out of 120 congressional representatives. Dr. Bachelet promised to make the 1990 agreement mandatory.
In 2000 Dr. Bachelet became Minister of Health. She had walk-in clinics built. She had them open weekends and 24-hours a day. Previously people often waited three months for treatment.
In 2002 Bachelet became Chile’s Minister of Defense. She was the first female Minister of Defense in Latin America and North America. During her tenure, Chile commemorated the 30th anniversary of Gen. Augusto Pinochet’s CIA-backed coup. Between 1973-1990, the Pinochet regime killed at least 3,000 Chileans, including Bachelet’s father. During this time of terror, Bachelet and her mother were arrested, blindfolded and tortured. When they were finally released, they were exiled.
Despite being a single mom and an agnostic, the people greatly admire Bachelet. This is partly because they could identify with her survival strengths. Like her, thousands of Chileans had survived torture or loss of family members under Pinochet.
Chile still spends more on its military than any other Latin American country. The military is entitled to 10% of all profits from copper, Chile’s major export. Chilean presidents can’t fire commanders. But the military can limit presidential powers. The military also appoints four of Chile’s senators.
Like in the US, the gap between rich and poor in Chile grows ever wider. Mining is degrading the environment. Chile is short on housing. The birth rate keeps climbing among the poor. Abortion is illegal except to save the woman’s life. And then the woman must obtain written approval by three doctors. But Chile has Latin America’s fastest-growing economy. Bachelet’s challenge will be to create economic justice.
Info from Ms.