Wednesday, March 29, 2023

The South African farm labor in Mississippi changing the scenario

In this blog post, I will explore the controversial issue of South African farm labor in Mississippi, who are hired as seasonal workers under the H-2A visa program. The H-2A program allows U.S. farmers to bring foreign workers to fill temporary agricultural jobs when there are not enough U.S. workers available. However, some farmers have been accused of abusing the program by discriminating against local Black workers and favoring White immigrants from South Africa.

According to a recent lawsuit filed by six Black farmworkers in Mississippi, their former employer, Pitts Farm Partnership, brought White laborers from South Africa to do the same jobs they were doing, and paid them more than the minimum wage, while paying the Black workers only $7.25 an hour. The lawsuit also alleged that the farm did not make the same effort to recruit U.S. workers as it did to obtain immigrant workers and that the White supervisor used racial slurs against the Black workers.

The plaintiffs claimed that the farm violated the regulations of the H-2A program, which require equal treatment of U.S. workers and their foreign counterparts, and that they suffered economic and emotional damages as a result of the discrimination. They are seeking an unspecified amount of compensation and injunctive relief.

The farm has not responded to the lawsuit yet, but some industry advocates have defended the use of foreign workers as a necessity in the face of labor shortages and competition from abroad. They argue that the H-2A program provides a legal and reliable source of workers who are willing and able to do the hard and seasonal work that many Americans shun.

However, some critics have questioned the need for foreign workers in a region with high unemployment and poverty rates, especially among Black residents who have historically been marginalized and exploited in the agricultural sector. They contend that the H-2A program is rife with fraud, abuse and exploitation, and that it undermines the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers.

The case of the South African farm labor in Mississippi raises important questions about the role and impact of immigration in the U.S. agricultural system, and the rights and responsibilities of employers and workers. It also exposes the racial and economic disparities that persist in one of the most fertile and productive regions of the country.

Sources (Bing Research):

 Mississippi farm recruited White immigrants rather than hire Black Americans, lawsuit says - CBS News

 Black Farmworkers Say They Lost Jobs to Foreigners Who Were Paid More - The New York Times

 Immigrant agricultural workers sue Mississippi farm owner for visa fraud, unpaid wages - Mississippi Today

 Black farm workers allege in federal lawsuit their former employer hired white immigrants instead - NBC News

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Happiness levels remain stable globally. Finland tops World Happiness Report for 5th year in a row

 The 2022 World Happiness Report was released on March 28, 2022. The report ranks 156 countries by their happiness level, using data from the Gallup World Poll.

The top 10 happiest countries in the world are:

  1. Finland
  2. Denmark
  3. Iceland
  4. Switzerland
  5. Netherlands
  6. Luxembourg
  7. Sweden
  8. Norway
  9. Israel
  10. New Zealand

The bottom 10 least happy countries in the world are:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. Zimbabwe
  3. Lebanon
  4. Rwanda
  5. Botswana
  6. Lesotho
  7. Haiti
  8. Malawi
  9. Tanzania
  10. South Sudan

The report found that the global average happiness level has remained relatively stable since 2012, at around 6.8 out of 10. However, there have been some significant changes in the rankings of individual countries.

For example, Finland has topped the list of happiest countries for the past four years, while Denmark has consistently ranked in the top three. Iceland has also seen a significant increase in its happiness score since 2012, while Zimbabwe has seen the biggest decrease.

The report also found that there are a number of factors that contribute to happiness, including GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, and generosity.

The report's authors suggest that governments can take steps to increase happiness levels in their countries by investing in social support, improving mental health care, and promoting policies that encourage generosity and social participation.

The World Happiness Report is an annual publication that ranks countries by their happiness levels. The report is based on data from the Gallup World Poll, which asks people in more than 150 countries to rate their lives on a scale of 0 to 10.

The report has been criticized for its subjective nature, but it has also been praised for its insights into the factors that contribute to happiness. The report's findings have been used by governments and organizations around the world to develop policies and programs that promote happiness.

The 2022 World Happiness Report is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the factors that contribute to happiness. The report's findings can help governments, organizations, and individuals take steps to increase happiness levels in their own lives.


Post Sourced by Bard.

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Pathaan: A film with a larger-than-life performance from Shah Rukh Khan

Pathaan is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films. It stars Shah Rukh Khan as the titular character, with Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in supporting roles. The film was released theatrically on 25 January 2023.

The film is set in the world of espionage and follows Pathaan, a spy who is drawn into a dangerous mission to stop a terrorist attack. Pathaan is a skilled fighter and a master of disguise, and he uses his skills to outwit his enemies and save the day.

The film has been praised for its action sequences, which are some of the most spectacular ever seen in a Bollywood film. The film has also been praised for its performances, with Shah Rukh Khan giving a larger-than-life performance as Pathaan.

However, the film has also been criticized for its length, which is over two and a half hours. The film also has a number of plot holes and inconsistencies.

Overall, Pathaan is a fun and entertaining action thriller that is sure to please fans of the genre. However, the film is not without its flaws, and it is likely to divide audiences.

Here are some of the pros and cons of the movie:

Pros:

Spectacular action sequences
Shah Rukh Khan gives a larger-than-life performance
The film is sure to please fans of the genre
Cons:

The film is over two and a half hours long
The film has a number of plot holes and inconsistencies
The film may divide audiences

Reached by Bard 

Pathaan: A Bollywood Spy Thriller with Non-Stop Action now on Amazon Prime

The movie **Pathaan** is a Bollywood action entertainer directed by Siddharth Anand and based on a screenplay by Sridhar Raghavan. The movie stars Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Ashutosh Rana, Dimple Kapadia with Salman Khan in a cameo². 

According to a review by Indian Express, Pathaan is a patriotic spy thriller that has finally got what’s needed in a spy thriller -- non-stop action, glamorous leads, the guy who can save the world, a high-octane set piece, and an emo line at a time⁵. 

Shah Rukh Khan is back and how! Embroiled in controversies, anticipation and many records in the making, King Khan’s spy thriller film Pathaan released worldwide today. The film marks Shah Rukh Khan’s entry into YRF’s one of a kind spy verse and marks SRK’s foray into the world of action films². 

Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/22/2023(1) Pathaan Movie Review: King Khan Back With A Bang; Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham. https://english.jagran.com/videos/film-reviews/pathaan-review-king-khan-back-with-a-bang-shah-rukh-khan-deepika-padukone-movie-review-697.html Accessed 3/22/2023.
(2) Pathaan movie review, Pathan review: Shah Rukh Khan is back. https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/pathaan-movie-review-shah-rukh-khan-back-with-patriotic-spy-thriller-8403468/ Accessed 3/22/2023.
(3) 'Pathaan' Review: So Furious and Chaotic It Makes 'RRR' Look Classical .... https://bing.com/search?q=pathaan+movie+review Accessed 3/22/2023.
(4) Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Pathaan’ Earns $135 Million In 50 Days: A Look At The Film’s Politics. https://www.forbes.com/sites/swetakaushal/2023/03/17/shah-rukh-khans-pathaan-earns-135-million-in-50-days-a-look-at-the-films-politics/ Accessed 3/22/2023.
(5) Pathaan box office collection Day 48: Shah Rukh Khan's film sees a steep drop on Monday. https://www.msn.com/en-in/entertainment/bollywood/pathaan-box-office-collection-day-48-shah-rukh-khan-s-film-sees-a-steep-drop-on-monday/ar-AA18AEax Accessed 3/22/2023.
(6) 'Pathaan' Review: So Furious and Chaotic It Makes 'RRR' Look Classical .... https://variety.com/2023/film/news/pathaan-review-shah-rukh-khan-john-abraham-1235507420/ Accessed 3/22/2023.

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Reviews of Shantha Mohan’s “Leadership Lessons with The Beatles”

Shantha Mohan’s book “Leadership Lessons with The Beatles” has been making waves in the leadership and business communities. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the reviews and praise the book has received.

One reviewer on Amazon described the book as “deep, resourceful, and invigorating” . Another review states that Mohan gifts the world with a winning approach to affording our business lives with the Fab Four’s unique balance of buoyancy and goodwill .

Conclusion: Overall, it seems that Shantha Mohan’s “Leadership Lessons with The Beatles” is a must-read for anyone interested in leadership and the music of The Beatles. Don’t forget to check out the book for yourself!

Sources: Leadership Lessons: News & Praise | Shantha Mohan Leadership Lessons With The Beatles | Shantha Mohan

Research by Bing

Rediscovering Joy with Faraway on Netflix

Faraway is a 2023 German romantic comedy-drama movie directed by Vanessa Jopp and starring Naomi Krauss, Goran Bogdan, and Bahar Balci (1,2,3). 

The movie follows Zeynep Altin, a woman who inherits a house on a Croatian island and embarks on a spur-of-the-moment trip that reignites her joy in life and opens a door to new love(1,4).

The movie has been praised for its portrayal of women seeking happiness whenever they want. Naomi Krauss does an excellent job portraying Zeynep Altin2. The locale of Croatia adds to the beauty of the film.
Research from Bing. 
Sources: 
1: Netflix Official Site 
2: It’s A Stampede! 
3: Martin Cid 
4: The Cinemaholic

Living Longer: A Century of Progress in Life Expectancy

Life expectancy has increased rapidly since the Age of Enlightenment. In a pre-modern, poor world, life expectancy was around 30 years in all regions of the world. In the early 19th century, life expectancy started to increase in early industrialized countries while it stayed low in the rest of the world1.

Since then life expectancy doubled in all world regions. In Oceania life expectancy increased from 35 years before the health transition to 79 years in 2019. In Europe from 34 to 79 years. In Americas from 35 to 77 years. In Asia from 27.5 to 73.6 and Africa from 26 years to 63 years.

According to data from the United Nations, the global average life expectancy for 2019 was 72.6 years. This is higher than in any country back in 1950. In 1950, Norway had the best health with a life expectancy of 72.3 years1.

The World Health Organization confirms this trend for longevity: lifespans are getting longer. Globally, life expectancy has increased by more than 6 years between 2000 and 2019 – from 66.8 years in 2000 to 73.4 years in 20192.

Excluding child mortality, during the period between the 12th and19th centuries, average life expectancy was approximately 55 years. If a person survived childhood, they had about a 50% chance of living between50-55 years.

Sources: 1 Life Expectancy - Our World in Data 2 Life tables - World Health Organization 3 Life expectancy - Wikipedia

Saturday, March 11, 2023

The Great Reinvention: A Time of Change

The term "The Great Reinvention" has been used to describe the current era of change brought about by a combination of health, financial, and societal crises occurring simultaneously all over the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a catalyst for change, forcing people to start or stop doing things for extended periods of time. As a result, new behaviors have emerged while old ones may no longer return.

According to Rishad Tobaccowala, an innovator and thought leader on the subject, a key factor in driving The Great Reinvention will be focusing on society and how businesses can serve society while also addressing people's needs for health and financial security.

This period of change has also brought about a renewed interest in sustainable practices such as the circular economy. Manufacturing companies that adopt a circular approach can not only reduce their strain on the environment but also reap major business benefits.

In an NPR story titled "The Great Reinvention: People craved change and the pandemic was the motivator," Rachel Martin explores how many people have used this time of upheaval to make significant changes in their lives.

The Great Reinvention represents an opportunity for individuals and organizations alike to reassess their priorities and make positive changes. It is an exciting time full of potential for growth and innovation.
Information provided by Bing

Bibliography:
: "The Great Re-Invention - by Rishad Tobaccowala." Substack. https://rishad.substack.com/p/the-great-re-invention-6e3
: "The Great Re-Invention: Resurrect Now ! – Re-inventing by @rishad." WordPress. https://rishadt.wordpress.com/2020/04/25/the-great-re-invention-resurrect-now/
: "The Great Reinvention: A Business Case for the Circular Economy." Manufacturing.net. https://www.manufacturing.net/economics/blog/21271204/the-great-reinvention-a-business-case-for-the-circular-economy
: "The Great Reinvention: People craved change and the pandemic was the motivator." NPR. https://www.npr.org/2022/07/05/1109779560/the-great-reinvention-people-craved-change-and-the-pandemic-was-the-motivator