Episodes #7 and #8

(23-24 July 2011)

This week we turn to two important aspects of MDG #3, Gender Equality and Empowering Women. On Saturday, we start in Singapore, where we explore the relationship between Gender, Age and Poverty. Are older women more likely to have financial problems than older men? And if so, why?

Then on Sunday, we take a look at the intesection between Gender, Poverty and Climate Change. The world’s impoverished are not responsible for climate change, but they bear the brunt of the impact . . . women most of all. Learn about the Climate Justice Hearings that are bringing women’s voices to the forefront.

AUDIO

Episode 07 :  MDG # 3 – Gender & Aging (Local)

Episode 08 :  MDG #3 and #7 – Gender, Poverty and Climate Change

EPISODE #7 RESOURCES:

If you know a woman who needs help, you can encourage her to call the AWARE hotline at 1-800-774-5935 or check out WINGS (tel: + 65 6250 1012), which among things, helps provide older women with income-generating activities.

And a bit about the facts cited in this episode:

• Singaporean women earn less than Singaporean men: 88 cents to the dollar. Sources:  “Is the Gender Pay Gap Narrowing?” (Human Resources, 3 June 2010); The Report on the Labour Force in Singapore 2010 notes that on average men earn SGD 2,920 per month and women earn SGD 2,500/month.  This works out to 85 cents on the dollar.
• Women have about 40% less CPF than men. Source: AWARE-TSAO Foundation, “Income Security for Older Women in Singapore”.   See also “Beyond Youth:  Women Growing Older and Poorer” (AWARE – TSAO Position Paper, Feb 2005)
• Many women have less than 5 thousand dollars in their CPF accounts when they turn 55. Source: Angelique Chan, “Singapore’s Changing Structure and the Policy Implications for Financial Security, Employment, Living Arrangements and Health Care”

Additional Resources:

• “National Survey of Senior Citizens 2005″ by MCYS
• AWARE’s Shadow Report to CEDAW (the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women), May 2011

EPISODE #8 RESOURCES:

Hear the women’s voices, watch videos from the Climate Justice Hearings:

• Climate Justice Hearings
• GCAP Feminist Task Force – Women’s Tribunals on Climate Justice (The Hub, 10 December 2009)
• Climate Justice Women’s Tribunal Botswana Gcap Feminist Task Force (duration: 9 minutes; 28 June 2011)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• “Climate Change Impacts on the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals: Can We Afford Not to Integrate?” (Mia MacDonald with inputs from GCCA, GCAP and Realizing Rights, September 2010)
• “Women, Gender Equality and Climate Change” (UN.org – Women Watch)
• “Women and climate change – most affected and least heard” (WRM Bulletin , 22 March 2010)
• Facts and Figures on Gender and Climate Change (UN Women)
• Feminist Task Force
• “Food Vulnerabilities in the LDCs” (Andrea Solazzo, 12 May 2011)