It is real difficult for me not to throw personal experiences into this picture, especially because I am still a youth, which is quite the contrary to what my birth country, Jamaica, will recognize, as our youth age ends at 24 years. The National Youth Services (NYS), National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD), and other state agencies and ministries do not recognize me as youth, although I am at the regional level.  This means that young people in the 25- 30 age cohort in Jamaica have been left out on a limb. We are not morally accepted as adults, and we are not legally recognized as youth. What a conundrum?

In Jamaica the overwhelming majority of those who are unemployed are youth, with employment trending upwards as you move from the youngest, 14 years, to the oldest youth age, 30 years. I must say that in my almost 11 years as a working youth I have not seen or experienced much changes.

Youth work often times limits and predisposes employees to: entry level positions and assistants posts; low remuneration compared to the actual responsibilities of youth and what they generally qualify for; reluctance of agency and organizational leaders to hire youth in leadership positions that they are qualified and experienced for; use of stigmatizing terms to refer to youth in employment, e.g. young Tom come and carry out the coffee; unequal pay and benefits compared to an adult in the same position with the same responsibilities and qualification; disproportional representation of youth in all levels of work and national leadership; and exploitation of youth time in promise for sustainability.

I attended the Commonwealth Youth Lecture (Jamaica) 2008 at the Courtleigh Auditorium on Thursday, October 9. The theme for the event was: "Youth Mainstreaming: The Key to National Development." It was at this lecture that I encountered the term youth work in Dr. Fatiha Serour's presentation. Its usage immediately struck a chord in my brain, and it was like giving voice to something that was once mute. On hearing the term, I reached to my friend next to me and said, "Youth work, I never knew that youth do a different kinda work from adults? " It really woke me up!

I immediately turned my eyes to the agenda in hand and the presenters who were sitting immediately before me--the most significant role was being played by an adult. While I respect Dr. Serour and found several valuable lessons from her lecture, I believe that she too has contributed to the marginalization of the youth--a key issue which she articulates in her presentation. Looking at the agenda from a youth work perspective, all roles, except that of the Lecture, were entry level and assistants posts--they were all played by youth: welcome, prayer, greetings, cultural item, introduction of speaker, and the vote of thanks.  The young man who introduced Dr. Serour even introduced her as a youth--what a calamity?

When will young people wake up and see that they are marginalized in work because the adults refuse to make employment standardized and equally accessible and available despite age, creed, race, religion, etc. Can you imagine that in this day and age, Jamaica a western country, roughly 200 miles outside of the United States of America, does not have an equal employment opportunity Act? Further more, there is absolutely no nondiscriminatory clause to address issues of youth and religion in the Equal Work for Equal Pay Act. What an archaic state of affairs?

We, the youth, need to envision the day when we will be delivering the Commonwealth Youth Lecture, when we have eliminated the concept of youth work, and are able to stand in equality with adults in employment. If we fail to do this, we will fail to exist, as Dr. Serour said in her presentation, the face of poverty was once a woman's, now it is the face of a Youth. Young people, get up and stand up for your rights!

I can be a tad difficult to work for. I'm loud, pushy and while I used to think we paid well, i am no longer sure. i work from home, so you get the pleasure of being hounded by me all day long. and, you get to pretend to like me, because i am deeply sensative. (but well dressed and a know it all, a winning combination I assure you.)

If you cannot multi task, or communicate without being passive aggressive, don't even bother replying.
If you are the type who doesn't notice crumbs on the table, skip to the next post, because crumbs are a deal breaker. they put me over the edge.

i have all sorts of theories on how to stack my dishwasher, and if you are judgemental about ritalin for adhd, or think such things are caused by too much sugar, again, deal break city.
You do get a separate entrance excellent studio on the ues. you do get air conditioner and internet connection and cable. even hbo. and showtime. you can bring your spouse, roommate or partner, but sorry no kids. If you ask, can i bring my kid, the answer will be...anyone? anyone? No.
If you can cook, all the better. otherwise, i'll teach you all sorts of things about pasta. (Here's a freebie, butter and parmesean, mmmmmm)

If you know anything about chess and violin i will be impressed.
We are not snobs, which is good. but then again, my kid sometimes swears to make a point. (We're working on it, but halfheartedly, because, well the apple doesn't fall far from the fucking tree.)Although I am told they are all very bright, they have not mastered the use of the oh so complicated napkin. This is a napkin Junior, say it after me...Nap Kin. Good boy.

i am not looking for Super nanny, or anyone who wants this job because they will love my kids as if they are their own. you won't. really. they are infinitely lovable, but trust me, they're mine and you will move on when your journey with us is over, and save for some funny stories and a delightful email every now and again, you won't grieve. Nor will we. (okay, we did all grieve a few of our past sitters, oddly they were all named Sarah or Kate, or Nikki. And Leah. Leah was delightful, even if she did drop my twin babies off our couch during a family gathering. Good times.

I don't want someone who has a lot of theories on the right way to raise kids, because in the end, I'm just a woman doing my best. I'm willing to learn from you, or anyone, but not so much about how i should parent my spawn. teach me to knit. introduce me to yoga, the white stripes, russian literature or the best place to get a burger in the village at 2Am, but do not tell me to put star stickers on a good boy chart. stickers irritate me.

If you are fundamentally unhappy with your life, you will be more unhappy if you take this job, so do us all a favor and get some treatment or move to the Rockies, but do not apply for employment with us. Also, if you suspect all wealthy women are frivilous, we are not for you. I do not want to hide my occasional bergdorf shopping bag.

If you smoke, please quit. don't apply either, but please quit. i have known too many people diagnosed with cancer this year. Even if you are a judgemental nanny 911 wannabe, no one should have to endure some of the things I have wittnessed.

You gotta be able to drive with a valid license, but if you've ever hit a human,move to the next post. You won't have to drive in the city, but if we go to our weekend place together, or if you make it to the summer and still work for us, we need you to run into town to get some pink milk, so be able to drive a mini van.
Can you swim? Swimming is good.

If you do drugs or drink enough so that you are grumpy in the morning and grumpier at night prior to that next cocktail, call AA, and peruse craigslist childcare positions when you have a year sober. I'll probably be looking again, and now is the time for you to focus on yourself anyway.
I need a team player. I need someone to back me up when it comes to remembering when the library books are due, and whether i have rsvped to that birthday party yet.
Help me dear G-d keep track of our skim milk supply and also, also, also, what should I make for dinner tomorrow night?

the hours are 7 in the morning to 8:30 in the morning. We'd be in it together, getting the kids out with clean faces, brushed teeth and some food in their bellies. Doesn't that sound easy? Doesn't that sound doable?
Then come on back for a fun filled afternoon 2:15-8:15 of activities and playdates and snacks and dinners and homework and riveting conversations about global warming, hannah montana and guitar hero.
When you do get to go home (to that swanky studio and possibly a significant other or buddy) your time off will be respected. If I would like you to give extra hours, i'll ask. if you say yes, you get paid 15/ hour. if you say no, I will not fire you or hate you. Except if it is a school holiday or if i have a sick kid, then i might ask, and unless you have a final exam worth 2/3 of your grade or tix The Lion King, you may need to help out.

Okay, if you're still reading this ad, it means:
a) i am a halfway decent writer and maybe i really will get that book deal i'm yearning for
b) you need a job desparately
c) you think this just might be destiny, and that you could be one of the few, the proud, the potential babysitter of our dreams.
D) you want all the information about job requirements, so that you can write me emails about how I should stay home with my kids otherwise they are going to grow up to be sociopaths. (If my pen pal is out there, wassup? Found love yet? No? How 'bout that.)
best of luck to all of you in your search for a job. Seriously. Job searching sucks. No two ways about it.

Source: Craig's list

Every fourth builder will be sent to compulsory vacation or will be dismissed during next winter, believes Matti Harjuniemi, chairperson of Finnish Construction Trade Union.

“There will be 15 000 apartments remaining inbuilt, which means 30 000 unemployed workers,” said Harjuniemi.

More than 150 000 people working in construction sphere in Finland. According to prognosis foreign builders lose their jobs first and there is about 20 000 of them.

Source: BBN

With fewer jobs available in a failing economy, those responsible for hiring new workers say they're seeing more job seekers try unusual antics to capture employers' attention. One candidate even approached a hiring manager in a restroom while he was occupied with ... other business, according to results of a survey released last week (Oct. 8, 2008) by CareerBuilder.com.

"Candidates have a short window to make a lasting impression on potential employers," according to Jason Ferrara, senior career advisor at CareerBuilder. His company's website attempts to match employers' needs to people looking for work. "Resourcefulness and an inventive approach" may help workers stand out in employers minds, Ferrara said, but he added they need "an appropriate balance of creativity and professionalism (to be)remembered for the right reasons."

Among the most memorable tactics, cited by more than 3,300 hiring managers surveyed for CareerBuilder during August and September, included job-seekers who:

• Advertised themselves on a billboard.
• Carried around a sign that said, "Will work for paying bills."
• Brought a broom to the interview to "clean up waste and corruption in the office."
• Wore a shirt to the interview that said, "Please hire me."
• Showed up with breakfast for the employer every day until hired.
• Sent a giant cookie with "Hire Skip" written in frosting on it.
• Parked outside of the office building with a sign that said "Seeking employment."
• Wrote a poem in her cover letter about why she wanted the job.
• Promised to give the employer a foot massage if hired.

Peace, all.

P.S.  Hey prairieflounder, did you watch Withnail & I yet?  Just curious...

P.P.S.  If a fan of my strange movies actually exists, he or she will be excited to know that I'm working on a horror movie for Halloween.  Boo!

However, this past week at work a campaign started to raise funds for a very well known charity (which will remain unnamed here).  This charity seeks contributions every year and it just so happens that every single place I've ever worked at has been a contributor.  And I have never given a dime to this organization, simply for my own personal reasons.

So my company decides to throw in this incentive:  if 70% of your department's employees donate, everyone gets an extra 1/2 day off.  To me, I could take it or leave it.  My commute to work is almost an hour so really, what's a 1/2 day?  Yes, on the surface it sounds nice.  But I'm not going to contribute to a charity I don't believe in simply to help achieve this incentive.

But to some in my department, this seems to be a life or death matter.  There have been several of my co-workers who have begun the "pressure" e-mails--requesting that anyone who is donating to let them know, so they can keep track.  First of all, it's none of their damn business if I'm contributing to this charity or not.  Secondly, it is not mandatory that I contribute.  Thirdly, if I don't contribute are they going to drag me out to the parking lot and shoot me? 

One co-worker who had not contributed and decided she wasn't going to was harrassed by another co-worker until she gave in (wimp!) very unwillingly. 

"It's just a dollar," she told me later when I asked her why she gave if she really didn't want to.

"That's not the point.  If you believe in something, such as not giving to this charity, then why give a dollar just to please someone who wants an extra 1/2 day off?"

"I guess you're right.  But maybe because of me we'll reach our goal."

Maybe...but at the cost of your choice? 

I'm getting ready for someone to approach me and if they do, they will get an earful.

I've never considered myself a leader but I'm also not a follower.  I guess you could say I'm more of a "go my own way" type of person.  A lot of people have issues with me because I do choose to do "my own thing" and not "go with the flow".  To them I say "get your own set of balls" because I  have mine.  That's why I stand on my own two feet, maybe alone, but at least I'm not dragging my ass behind a bunch of carbon copy individuals who think they have to do such-and-such because so-and-so said they have to.  Often without explanation. 

I'll do something if I want to or if it's mandatory.  I won't do it because everyone else is.

You get nervous and decide to do what you have seen the politicians do.

"If I were you I wouldn't hire so and so.   I heard he has a drinking problem and screws around on his wife," You offer based on what you overheard at the water cooler.

"Is that true?" the interviewer asked.

"Yes," you reply hoping that it is.

"Thank you, we'll call you," the interviewer closed the conversation.

You know you just blew it.

That is what is happening in politics today.  Unfortunately, there are enough voters out there that buy into this, enough to sway an election.

"good girl".

Two words and one enormous crisis of identity. Yes, the customer was an asshole. A fat, balding, greasy, pompous, illiterate (probably not true - he could read the prices), asshole. And those two words probably fall from his self important lips all the day long. "Excuse me, where's the nearest petrol station? Good girl" or "Oh doctor, hearing my tests came back negative for herpes is such a relief [if entirely undeserved], thanks, good girl", etc etc.

But falling from his mouth, his lips, his round moon-like face, they felt like two bullets. Two bullets and a red flag to this bull.

I was rude but stealthily rude. Something you learn in the retail industry is an ability to belittle and shame the person responsible for making your day a pile of steaming turd without them quite knowing what just happened. I mean, c'mon, most of these people barely register that they're involved in a transaction with another human being most of the time.

But back to the words. "Good girl".

Suddenly my life is worth nothing and I'm planning my escape. I need out of the job and into the world I'm curoiously over- and under- qualified to enter. The world my peers are in and the place where all of the education and talent I've worked sorta hard to acquire have led me to. Yet I'm not there and the breakdown inducing moments of sheer panic when my position in life, my attempt at temporary that has turned somewhat permanent, generally follow enocounters with patronising gits like this one.

Those two words, and the accompanying tone, all the 'loves', 'pets' and 'sweethearts' the public can throw my way, are the epitome of the condescension shown by the public to the people behind the counters of this world. It's not affection, it class war thinly disguised as affection. It's a not-so-subtle way of telling me where I belong in this world's strati of status. I'm a century past living in the basment of your Georgian mansion tending to your every whim and calling you Sir or Ma'am yet you still think you own me.

And, godammit, it worked. I feel like nothing. I morph with my uniform and become the serf I sometimes wonder I was born to be.

And the asshole walks away and I remain. He to his home and me to another person who has another order for me and a vacant stare with which to greet this shopgirl.

Two words and I'm up all night trying to find a way out.

But like the good girl I am I know I'll be back tomorrow.

grrl x

BIZCHINA / Center

CPI growth to slow in 2nd half

By Fu Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-07-26 08:21

Consumer prices in China are projected to grow at a slower pace in the
second half of this year after rapid increases from January to June, an
official from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said
yesterday.

?
Discounted?instant noodles are snapped up in Weifang, Shandong Province
July 25, 2007. Consumer prices in China are projected to grow at a slower
pace in the second half of this year after rapid increases from January
to June. [newsphoto]

The level of the increase in the months ahead will depend on the harvest
of farm products this autumn, as food has been the main factor driving
this year's rise in the consumer price index (CPI), said Cao Changqing,
the NDRC pricing director.

His projection came following a 3.2 percent CPI growth in the first six
months and a 4.4 percent rise in June, the most rapid increase in 34
months. Up to 78 percent of the jump in the first six months was due to
rising food prices.

Related readings:
?100 economists appraise China economy
?Instant noodle prices up as high as 40%
?Central bank raises interest rates, cuts interest income tax
?GDP grows 11.5% in first half

"We feel that prices are now climbing slowly, in a relatively steady
manner," Cao said.

He added that the nation's grain reserves are adequate.

China's Agriculture Minister Sun Zhengcai recently forecast a fourth
consecutive bumper harvest this year, and expects to meet the annual
target set for 2010, three years ahead of schedule.

The NDRC said the government's main role is to prevent the economy from
overheating.

Zhu Hongren, deputy director of the macroeconomic development department
under the NDRC, said the government will use economic and legal policy
tools to cool the growing pace of the economy.

Accelerating inflation also pushed real interest rates further into
negative territory, prompting regulators last week to raise interest
rates and slash taxes on interest income from bank deposits.

China's gross domestic product expanded by 11.9 percent in the second
quarter and by 11.5 percent in the first half of the year. Fixed-assets
investment in urban areas jumped 26.7 percent in the first half over a
year earlier, up from 25.3 percent in the first quarter, while industrial
output climbed 19.4 percent in June.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)

>> I will continue the story on my next post, happy reading!

BIZCHINA / Center

Chinese economists warn of risks of continued yuan appreciation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-07-25 14:15

Chinese economists have warned that the continued yuan revaluation in a
single direction may adversely affect the country's economic and
financial security, as they saw the yuan kept going higher at a faster
pace since the beginning of this year mainly due to outside pressure.

The Chinese currency, the yuan, had been rising in small steps during the
first year after the central bank dropped the peg to the US dollar in
July 2005 and linked the yuan to a basket of foreign currencies.

The driving force behind the yuan appreciation then was the economic
growth itself and the progress in the financial sector, said Tan Yaling,
a research analyst with the Bank of China.

However, in 2006 and 2007, the yuan picked up in the speed of
appreciation, becoming the prey of global investors and speculators.

Meanwhile, the yuan is getting more closely related to the performance of
the US dollar. The central parity price of the yuan would go up against
the weak dollar, and the pressure of appreciation would be relieved when
the dollar rebounded.

China is under great pressure to revaluate its currency as the US blamed
China's currency controls for a bulging trade gap between the two
countries, saying the yuan was undervalued to give Chinese exporters an
unfair price advantage.

China's central bank announced in May to allow the yuan to fluctuate
against the US dollar by 0.5 percent a day, up from the previous 0.3
percent, in a bid to make the currency more flexible.

The real value of the yuan has gone up by 4.41 percent since it was
revalued by 2.1 percent from 8.28 yuan in July 2005, according to latest
statistics from the Bank for International Settlements.

The accelerating pace of the yuan revaluation and the amounting pressure
for the yuan appreciation are independent of the country's monetary
policy, said Tan, adding that the trend might be going against the real
situation of the Chinese economy.

Many, including the US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, said the
yuan appreciation was in the interest of China.

They have too much focused on the price of the currency and neglected the
structural problems of the country's economy and its financial sector,
Tan said.

The Chinese economy is still at the low end of market economy, compared
with the high-end developed economies to which the yuan is linked, in
terms of technologies, production efficiency, industrial development and
consumption, she said.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)

?? ?? 1?? 2?? ??

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>> I will continue the story on my next post, happy reading!

BIZCHINA / News

Economists warn of risks of continued yuan appreciation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-07-25 12:53

Chinese economists have warned that the continued yuan revaluation in a
single direction may adversely affect the country's economic and
financial security, as they saw the yuan kept going higher at a faster
pace since the beginning of this year mainly due to outside pressure.

The Chinese currency, the yuan, had been rising in small steps during the
first year after the central bank dropped the peg to the U.S. dollar in
July 2005 and linked the yuan to a basket of foreign currencies.

The driving force behind the yuan appreciation then was the economic
growth itself and the progress in the financial sector, said Tan Yaling,
a research analyst with the Bank of China.

However, in 2006 and 2007, the yuan picked up in the speed of
appreciation, becoming the prey of global investors and speculators.

Meanwhile, the yuan is getting more closely related to the performance of
the U.S. dollar. The central parity price of the yuan would go up against
the weak dollar, and the pressure of appreciation would be relieved when
the dollar rebounded.

China is under great pressure to revaluate its currency as the U.S.
blamed China's currency controls for a bulging trade gap between the two
countries, saying the yuan was undervalued to give Chinese exporters an
unfair price advantage.

China's central bank announced in May to allow the yuan to fluctuate
against the U.S. dollar by 0.5 percent a day, up from the previous 0.3
percent, in a bid to make the currency more flexible.

The real value of the yuan has gone up by 4.41 percent since it was
revalued by 2.1 percent from 8.28 yuan in July 2005, according to latest
statistics from the Bank for International Settlements.

The accelerating pace of the yuan revaluation and the amounting pressure
for the yuan appreciation are independent of the country's monetary
policy, said Tan, adding that the trend might be going against the real
situation of the Chinese economy.

Many, including the U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, said the
yuan appreciation was in the interest of China.

They have too much focused on the price of the currency and neglected the
structural problems of the country's economy and its financial sector,
Tan said.

The Chinese economy is still at the low end of market economy, compared
with the high-end developed economies to which the yuan is linked, in
terms of technologies, production efficiency, industrial development and
consumption, she said.

The country would face great risks with a strong yuan in the long run if
it failed to improve the quality of its economy to support the currency
by then, Tan warned, urging the government to be alert and take
precautions against the risks.

She was worried the stronger yuan would cut or even wipe off the profits
of China's labor-intensive manufacturing sector, while the foreign
investors would snatch fat profits on the back of low-cost labor in China
and become a dominant factor in the Chinese economy.

Ha Jimin, chief economist with China International Capital Corporation,
argued accelerating yuan appreciation may help ease trade frictions,
lower the pressure from imported inflation, and urge exporting companies
to upgrade its industrial structure.

Professor Ding Zhijie with the University of International Business and
Economics warned the persistent anticipation might lead China to the trap
of attracting more liquidity for its relatively low interest rates.

He noticed that market anticipation of yuan appreciation persisted,
though the currency kept going upward and the exchange rate formation
mechanism became more market-oriented.

Ding said the Chinese government should try not to follow Japan in the
80s, which failed to correct the appreciation anticipation and fell
victim to bubble bursts in the real estate sector and the stock market.

Both Ding and Ha said the pressure of appreciation would continue due to
the country's high growth rate and accumulating forex reserves, and
predicted the value of the Chinese currency would rise to 7.3 yuan to one
U.S. dollar at the end of the year if the dollar maintained its
performance.

Ha said it would at least take three years to ease the pressure for
further appreciation of the yuan.

The Chinese government should do more research to identify the real value
of yuan and the equilibrium price of the yuan in order to avoid risks
from the yuan appreciation in a single direction, Tan said.

Fan Gang, a member of the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee,
however, was against deliberately bringing down the anticipation of the
yuan appreciation, and said the yuan's revaluation should keep to the
mechanism of market supply and demand.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)

Related Stories ?

� China warns IMF over renminbi rate
===========================================================================
� AmCham: Stop pressuring China to revalue renminbi
===========================================================================
� Renminbi business expansion
===========================================================================

To be continued

BIZCHINA / News

China Enterprises Index up 1.2%

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-07-25 13:00

Hang Seng China Enterprises Index on Hong Kong Stock Exchange surged
160.30 points, or 1.20 percent Tuesday, to close the day's trading at
13,480.72.

The H-shares index, initiated in August 1994 and readjusted on March 12,
2007, tracks the overall performance of 41 Chinese mainland State-owned
enterprises listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Hang Seng China H-Financials Index rose 147.21 points, or 0.94 percent,
to close at 15,788.95.

The H-Financials Index, initiated on November 27, 2006, tracks the
performance of eight major banks and insurers of the Chinese mainland.

Hang Seng China-Affiliated Corporations Index went up 9.33 points, or
0.20 percent, to close at 4,598.48.

The index tracks the performance of 31 locally listed companies with a
significant equity interest held by entities in the Chinese mainland.

Hang Seng Mainland Composite Index went up 17.61 points, or 0.41 percent,
to close at 4,321.50.

Introduced on October 3, 2001 and readjusted on September 11, 2006, Hang
Seng Mainland Composite Index gauges the performance of 103 Hong
Kong-listed companies with principal places of business in Hong Kong and
the Chinese mainland.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)

Good Night !!

BIZCHINA / Center

CNOOC plans heavy oil petrochemical projects

By Wang Yu (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-07-25 09:34

China's top offshore oil producer is strengthening its foothold in
downstream businesses by planning several gigantic heavy oil
petrochemical projects in Guangdong Province.

These include a 3 million ton asphaltum project and a 600,000 ton
lubricant plant in Zhanjiang of Guangdong Province, Liu Junshan, a senior
press official with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), told
China Daily yesterday.

Since the details are still being worked out, Liu was tight-lipped on
investment figures. But he said the projects will use heavy oil as raw
material.

"The material will either come from our oilfields in Bohai Bay or
imported. Asphaltum will be the primary refined product. Further refining
of heavy oil will yield lubricant," Liu said.

CNOOC is seeking a differentiated approach to develop its petrochemical
business for niche markets in China. Developing heavy-oil-based
petrochemicals is a key component of that strategy, Fu Chengyu, chairman
of CNOOC, told China Daily.

"We want to add value to our heavy oil resource. Our asphaltum products
refined from heavy oil accounts for 30 to 40 percent of the domestic
market and high-end asphaltum products can replace imported
counterparts," Fu had said in an earlier interview.

Agreeing with Fu, Pan Derun, vice-president of China Petroleum and
Chemical Industry Association (CPCIA), said refining asphaltum from heavy
oil is a wise idea. "This way, the value of heavy oil can be maximized,"
Pan said.

CNOOC is now busy developing special asphaltum products with designated
multi-functions. In addition to quality products, it is also offering
integrated solutions for transport departments, Fu said.

CNOOC is strong in petrochemical segments such as asphaltum and
fertilizer, and it's natural for the offshore oil giant to further tap
downstream business as a strategic development path as its upstream
production increases, Liu Gu, a senior energy analyst with Guotai Jun'an
Securities, said.

Asphaltum and lubricant products in China face good market prospects,
CPCIA's Pan said. "High-end asphaltum and lubricant products are, to a
large extent, import-oriented. CNOOC's high-end asphaltum products can
replace imports and are widely used in highway and airport construction,"
Pan told China Daily.

Though investment details are not yet available, Nanfang Daily quoted a
local official as saying total investment in major petrochemical projects
in Zhanjiang would exceed 20 billion yuan.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)

Good Night !!

BIZCHINA / News

Further rate hike urged

(Shenzhen Daily)
Updated: 2007-07-25 08:55

China needs to raise interest rates further to reduce the risk of
liquidity-fuelled asset bubbles, a government think tank said yesterday.

The Macroeconomic Research Institute, a think tank under the National
Development and Reform Commission, said the central bank could raise
interest rates more than once before the end of the year to curb
excessive money supply growth.

“Monetary policy should consider asset prices — it should especially
monitor fluctuations in property and share prices and include them among
policy targets,” the think tank said in a full-page report in the
official China Securities Journal.

China raised interest rates Friday for the fifth time since April 2006 to
slow an economy that grew 11.9 percent in the second quarter from a year
earlier.

The institute said that, while the Central Government was trying to apply
the brakes, local governments were pressing on the accelerator because
they depend heavily for their revenues on taxes generated by investment,
especially in urban infrastructure.

To that end, China needed to overhaul its system of fiscal transfers and
create different political incentives for local officials, who are now
largely assessed on their ability to deliver growth, the institute said.

Low interest rates could fuel asset inflation, which, along with
continued expectations of yuan appreciation, would attract more overseas
capital, the institute warned.

To curb real estate investment, it urged the government to levy a general
property tax as soon as possible. People who buy second homes should be
required to make higher downpayments and pay higher mortgage rates, it
added.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)

To be continued

BIZCHINA / Photo

Property prices up 7.1% in major cities

By Hu Yuanyuan (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-07-24 08:40

?

A ballon rises in front of buildings in Shanghai. Property prices in
China's 70 large and medium cities rose by 7.1% on a yearly basis last
month. [newsphoto]

Property prices in the country's 70 large and medium cities rose by 7.1
percent on a yearly basis last month despite the government's efforts to
cool down the market, the National Development and Reform Commission
(NDRC) said yesterday.

The growth rate, the highest since 2006, contributed to the strong
economy, experts said.

"China's sizzling property market is closely linked with the overall
economy," said Anna M Kalifa, head of the research department at Jones
Lang LaSalle Beijing.

The country's gross domestic product grew by 11.5 percent in the first
half of the year, beating experts' forecasts.

Beihai, Shenzhen, Nanjing and Beijing led the country in terms of price
increases, with growth rates of 15.5 percent, 13.9 percent, 11.3 percent
and 10 percent, respectively. Beihai, a small city at the southern end of
South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has been at the top of
the list for four months in a row, reflecting the strong growth in
second- and third-tier cities.

June and July are generally key times for property deals, not only in
China, but also for the entire world, Kalifa said.

Related readings:
?Beijing housing prices up 10.1% in 1st half
?Guangzhou property prices hit new high in June
?Property price growth in May quickens; Up 6.4% on year
?Housing, a too heavy burden

"Property prices in China will continue to grow in the next half of the
year, but at a slower pace," Kalifa told China Daily. "We expect the
property price to grow by around 8 percent from January 2007 to January
2008, and we've seen most of that growth already."

The sales prices of pre-owned houses jumped by 7.8 percent last month.
That was one percentage point higher than in May. Shenzhen and Beijing
are still among the top four cities in terms of price hikes, with growth
rates of 16.1 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)

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>> I will continue the story on my next post, happy reading!

BIZCHINA / Center

Mobile subscribers exceed 500 million

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-07-24 10:43

The Ministry of Information Industry (MII) announced Monday that the
number of China's mobile phone users had reached 501.64 million by the
end of June, which means every 100 Chinese people had 38.3 handsets.

Official figures showed that the nation's mobile users increased by 40.56
million from the end of last year, 6.76 million a month on average.

The total number of short text messages sent by cell phones amounted to
279 billion, up 37.5 percent year on year.

Meanwhile, fixed-phone users had only grown by 4.86 million to 372
million.

"The demand for mobile telecommunications is increasing," said Zeng
Jianqiu, a professor at the Beijing University of Posts and
Telecommunications, "that's the reason why China's mobile subscriptions
climbed over recent years." he added.

In the first five months, the nation's western regions saw sharp
increases of mobile subscriptions. Meanwhile, more and more people in the
vast rural area have been joining the surge.

Major mobile communication operators including China Mobile have offered
competitive prices to attract rural consumers.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)

>> I will continue the story on my next post, happy reading!

BIZCHINA / Center

Work starts on wind stations in Beijing

By Zhang Chunmei (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-07-24 09:17

Work has begun on the first of 33 wind generators that will eventually
supply clean energy to?Beijing and next year's Olympic Games.

There are currently 44 wind power stations nationwide. The newest
additions to the country's wind-power industry will sit on the outskirts
of Beijing at Guanting. They are expected to help reduce the capital
city's reliance on emissions-heavy coal-fired power generators.

The wind-power stations will produce an estimated 100 million kwh of
electricity a year, enough to meet the demands of 100,000 Beijing
families.

"Beijing has never had any large windmills before, much less wind-power
stations," said Deng Mao, an official with the energy sources department
of the Beijing municipal development and reform commission. "There are a
few rural households with small windmills. Wind power could arouse
people's awareness of energy conservation and environment protection."

Xue Xing, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Meteorological
Sciences, said the station was located in a spot with ideal wind
conditions and at the optimal altitude for wind turbines.

The project will cost an estimated 580 million yuan ($76.7 million).
Electricity generated by wind turbines will cost about 0.7 yuan per kwh,
0.3 yuan more than electricity from a coal-fired plant. The government is
considering a package of subsidies to encourage people to use wind power.

According to the Beijing Electric Power Corporation, the city needs an
annual supply of 60 billion kwh of electricity to meet demand.

Although wind power's contribution is insignificant at the moment, the
sector will cut carbon dioxide emissions by at least 10 million tons per
year, said the commission.

The Chinese Olympic Committee wants at least 20 percent of the Olympic
venues to be powered by wind-generated electricity.

"This is the first time we have moved in the direction of large-scale
utilization of wind power," said Cai Xiaozhong, deputy director of the
commission.

The project's total installed capacity for wind-power generation is 1.26
million kilowatts, the 10th largest in the world and the third largest in
Asia.

"China has the greatest wind power reserves in the world. But the high
cost and China's reliance on imports of equipment have slowed down the
development of wind power," said Huang Yicheng, honorary chairman of the
China Energy Research Society.

"The Guanting wind power generation station will offer a new way to ease
Beijing's ever-increasing demand for electricity. "

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)

>> I will continue the story on my next post, happy reading!

I’ve lost a battle I didn’t know my part,

Faces of confusion, the occasional tear,

No cake or card it’s quite hard to bear,

so many friends are staying behind,

Some with spirits so bright they blind,

Six years gone, seemingly down the drain,

as my anguish builds and turns to pain,

Could I work so hard a company help build?

Then treated so badly as if I had killed,

But my things are packed and I’m on my way,

Loyalty, trust and hard work don’t pay,

Apparently here it’s only lies that reap,

A cold hearted bastard they’d rather keep,

No grudge I bear, even to him,

As I’m determined I’ll come back and win.

"Does Bad Credit Make You a Bad Person?

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/YourCreditRating/does-bad-credit-make-you-a-bad-person.aspx?page=2

Excerpts include:

After all, what does poor credit really have to do with a person's ability to be a good worker or a safe driver?

...

The answer, critics say, is nothing. The evidence is slim to none that credit history accurately predicts any behavior outside of borrowing.

...

"Our belief is that people who are careful and prudent in managing their finances are also careful and prudent in other areas of their lives," says Michael Gaughan, a vice president at TransUnion. "They're prudent and careful in how they manage one of the largest assets in their lives, their home, and in how they lock up and care for their vehicle."

...

Piper Hoffman, a partner at Outten & Golden, an employment law firm in New York, gets calls every month from workers at all income levels who have lost job offers after a credit check. Some had already been working on a temporary basis and were well-liked.

One man, an executive, had damaged his credit after taking out a second mortgage to pay his mother-in-law's medical bills. "And he found the job offer being withdrawn because essentially he was being a good son-in-law and taking care of his family," Hoffman says.

The assumption, she thinks, is that people with debt will embezzle funds, "which is another way of saying 'we don't trust poor people.' And there's no evidence of that."

Individuals looking for work in the government or government contracting industry must undergo a credit check, and that check is keeping more and more young people out of the market. Why? It's not just a matter of "discrimination" against people with credit card bills. These same individuals who seek sensitive employment sometimes have other issues going on, which are uncovered when they have their criminal background check.

The bottom line is often impulse control. Can these individuals resist the urge to spend on pleasure for themselves to the detriment of their basic needs or financial solvency? Are they going into debt because of drugs? Do they have any drug- or alcohol-related arrest in their past? The two reports together--credit and criminal background--go a long way toward determining whether someone would make a trustworthy employee or not.

Debt in and of itself is not a bad thing, especially if you're living within your ability to pay and pay on time. The answer to "Does debt make you a bad person?" is "That depends. What else have you done?"

Tories this weekend called for a freeze on new employment rights…

Chris Grayling, the shadow work and pensions secretary, told The Observer it would become ‘more difficult’ to make the case for flexible working in the darkening economic climate and called for deregulation to take the pressure off employers: ‘The one thing government must recognise is that it can't keep piling regulation on small business….

Because, as we all know, it’s those damnable uppity employees and their rights we should be blaming for the “global economic crisis” (© G7).

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Yet, I think it highly unlikely that social services or CAFCASS or any judge would hold that these people are "incapable" of looking after their children as a result of any depression or anxiety resulting from these job losses. This depression and anxiety is likely to be looked on sympathetically by those people in total contrast to how they would perceive someone with a mental health diagnosis such as Bipolar who suffers from the same level of depression and anxiety. Would this then be discrimination?

Is this fair? What do you think is the difference between the effect of a depressive illness brought on by job loss compared to a depressive episode in Bipolar? Should they be treated as resulting in an inability to parent their children? If not, why not? If so, why? Your views and perceptions would be gratefully received.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/oct/08/mental.health.financial.crisis

The text of the Guardian Article:

An independent mental health hospital located near London's banking district has identified a new disorder sweeping through the devastated ranks of City bankers and hedge fund managers.

The clinic says it is seeing more and more cases of "square mile syndrome", a term it is using to describe stress-related mental health problems faced by City workers as the credit crunch chews through the financial sector, leaving a trail of redundancies in its wake.

Capio Nightingale Hospital, a private clinic, says it has witnessed a 33% increase in the number of City workers seeking advice for anxiety, depression and stress since July, and a 30% rise in patients seeking help for drugs and alcohol addiction - often the result, says the clinic's medical director, of recreational drug use tipping into full-blown dependence during times of stress. There has also been a 27% rise in inquiries about its eating disorders programmes.

"We're seeing 25-year-old bankers waking up with acute anxiety and stress, and realising that the job they thought they had for life and the bonuses they had come to rely on had literally disappeared overnight," says Capio Nightingale's medical director, William Shanahan, who is quick to point out that "square mile syndrome" is not a medical or diagnostic definition.

"Hopefully, we can encourage more people to come and get help," he says. "We can draw worrying comparisons with the Black Wednesday days of the 1990s, when we saw a sudden spike in the number of City workers who suffered mental health problems after the bottom fell out of the market. We want to try to avoid this happening again."

Shanahan says there is still not enough recognition of the mental health problems faced by employees in high-pressure jobs. The clinic is offering a deal where patients who can produce a P45 issued after September 1 can pay for their treatment once they find work.

"Things have got better, but there can be a reluctance to admit you have a problem when you're in a high-flying job where you are expected to deal with stress day after day," Shanahan says. "If we don't watch out, square mile syndrome could be a timebomb."

Respondents from Edinburgh and Leeds were least happy to discuss their mental health at all (67% and 63% respectively). 39% of the respondents from Edinburgh cited shame and embarrassment as their main reason for not wanting to disclose a mental health condition, whereas, 26% of respondents from Leeds cited fears that their employers would not be sympathetic as the reason for not feeling happy to discuss their mental health.

"Despite the office of National Statistics estimate that one in six people may experience a mental health condition at any one time, our research illustrates that people are still very reluctant to reveal their conditions and show any signs of perceived weakness.

However, we know from our work that people with mental health conditions are perfectly capable of managing a job and their condition with the right support from their employers and therefore feel it is vital that such misconceptions are laid to rest".

Tim Cooper, Managing Director, Shaw Trust

In fact 34.5% of respondents said that the reason that they wouldn't want to reveal a mental ill health condition was because they would either feel ashamed or worried that they would be treated differently. With this percentage rising to 43.3% amongst 16 - 24 year olds.

The stigma attached to mental ill health was more of a concern than the fear of possibly hampering career progression among 25 - 44 year olds, with 37% of people in this age group citing shame as their main reason for not feeling happy to talk about a mental health condition.

Those respondents in graduate entry level jobs were the most confident that a mental health condition does not affect their ability to do their jobs, with 29% of the people in this group citing this as the main reason they wouldn't discuss their mental health.

Respondents in professional sales, media and marketing were most concerned amongst all industry sectors about being treated differently if they were to disclose their mental health condition (31%) compared to just 4% of people within the professional finance industry who cited this as a concern.

Professional Finance also came out at the biggest industry group to cite that a mental health condition didn't affect their ability to do their jobs as their main reason for not wishing to discuss it.

Overall 54% of people felt that they would receive more support at work for a physical disability than a mental health condition (rising to 58 % amongst the senior Manager / Professional group) compared to only 6.9% who believed they would receive more support for a mental health condition.

" People have become more comfortable talking about physical illnesses over the years, however, there is still a huge stigma associated with having a mental health condition. Dealing with such a problem often leaves people feeling awkward and a culture of secrecy seems to have emerged in which people are frightened to confide in others".

Professor Cary L Cooper, CBE, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University

"There is a clear need for more structure and education on how to support employees with mental health issues, businesses need to create an environment in which people not only feel confident enough to discuss a mental health condition with a line manager or member of the HR team but in which they can also receive the support they need to continue making a valuable contribution. We see the effect that being out of work and coping with a mental health condition can have on people's lives and we are urging employers to use this website to find out how to make a difference in the workplace".

Tim Cooper, Managing Director, Shaw Trust

*All figures unless otherwise stated are from a Tickbox survey. Total sample size was 1070 workers. Fieldwork was undertaken between 18th - 24th September 2008. The survey was carried out online.

Many people assume they aren't rich because they don't earn enough money. If I only earned a little more, I could save and invest better, they say.

The problem with that theory is they were probably making exactly the same argument before their last several raises. Becoming a millionaire has less to do with how much you make, it's how you treat money in your daily life.

The list of reasons you may not be rich doesn't end at 10. Caring what your neighbors think, not being patient, having bad habits, not having goals, not being prepared, trying to make a quick buck, relying on others to handle your money, investing in things you don't understand, being financially afraid and ignoring your finances.

Here are 10 more possible reasons you aren't rich:

You care what your car looks like: A car is a means of transportation to get from one place to another, but many people don't view it that way. Instead, they consider it a reflection of themselves and spend money every two years or so to impress others instead of driving the car for its entire useful life and investing the money saved.

You feel entitlement: If you believe you deserve to live a certain lifestyle, have certain things and spend a certain amount before you have earned to live that way, you will have to borrow money. That large chunk of debt will keep you from building wealth.

You lack diversification: There is a reason one of the oldest pieces of financial advice is to not keep all your eggs in a single basket. Having a diversified investment portfolio makes it much less likely that wealth will suddenly disappear.

You started too late: The magic of compound interest works best over long periods of time. If you find you're always saying there will be time to save and invest in a couple more years, you'll wake up one day to find retirement is just around the corner and there is still nothing in your retirement account.

You don't do what you enjoy: While your job doesn't necessarily need to be your dream job, you need to enjoy it. If you choose a job you don't like just for the money, you'll likely spend all that extra cash trying to relieve the stress of doing work you hate.

You don't like to learn: You may have assumed that once you graduated from college, there was no need to study or learn. That attitude might be enough to get you your first job or keep you employed, but it will never make you rich. A willingness to learn to improve your career and finances are essential if you want to eventually become wealthy.

Read More... Why you are not Rich