Unemployment: compared to the rest of the developed world Australia is not doing too badly

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, International Labor Comparisons

In May 2011 the official U.S. unemployment rate was 9.1 per cent, the latest figures available from the U.K. show an unemployment rate of 7.7 per cent (March) and, in New Zealand  and Canada the rate stands at 6.6 per cent and 7.6 per cent (April) respectively. Also in April 2011 Japan recorded a seasonally adjusted  unemployment rate of 4.7 per cent.

How the Australian Bureau of Statistics sees the Australian labour force in its latest release for May 2011:

MAY KEY POINTS

TREND ESTIMATES (MONTHLY CHANGE)

• Employment increased to 11,444,200.
• Unemployment decreased to 588,400.
• Unemployment rate steady at 4.9%.
• Participation rate steady at 65.6%.
• Aggregate monthly hours worked increased to 1,602.5 million hours.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ESTIMATES (MONTHLY CHANGE)

• Employment increased 7,800 (0.1%) to 11,440,500. Full-time employment decreased 22,000 to 8,027,100 and part-time employment increased 29,800 to 3,413,500.
• Unemployment increased 8,900 (1.5%) to 592,800. The number of persons looking for full-time work increased 6,700 to 421,800 and the number of persons looking for part-time work increased 2,200 to 171,100.
• The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.9%. The male unemployment rate decreased 0.2 pts to 4.5% and the female unemployment rate increased 0.4 pts to 5.4%.
• The participation rate remained steady at 65.6%.
• Aggregate monthly hours worked increased 6.4 million hours to 1,601.1 million hours.

LABOUR UNDERUTILISATION (QUARTERLY CHANGE)

• Trend estimates: The labour force underutilisation rate decreased 0.1 pts to 12.0%.
• Seasonally adjusted estimates: The labour force underutilisation rate increased 0.2 pts to 12.2%. The male labour force underutilisation rate increased 0.2 pts to 10.2%. The female labour force underutilisation rate increased 0.2 pts to 14.6%.

UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE (TREND ESTIMATES)

MALES
The trend estimate of the underemployment rate for males fell from 5.6% in May 2001 to 5.2% in August 2002 before rising to 5.4% in May 2003. The trend then generally fell to 4.3% in May 2008 before rising to 6.3% in August 2009. The trend has since fallen to 5.3% in May 2011.

FEMALES
The trend estimate of the underemployment rate for females rose from 9.1% in May 2001 to 9.6% in February 2002. The trend then fell to 9.3% in August 2002 before rising to 9.7% in February 2004. The trend then fell to 7.8% in May 2008 before rising to 9.8% in November 2009. The trend has since fallen to 9.0% in May 2011.

Internet should remain as open as possible - UN expert on freedom of expression

On 3 June 2011 the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression Frank La Rue warned Friday that fearful Governments are increasingly restricting the flow of information on the Internet due to its potential to mobilize people to challenge the status quo.

Mr. La Rue also called upon Governments to develop a concrete and effective plan of action to make the Internet widely available, accessible and affordable to all segments of the population.

Excerpts from the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression covering the free flow of information and recommendations are over the page.

Full report at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/14session/A.HRC.14.23.pdf

UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Media Release 3 June 2011

Close the door on the way out

From The Onion, a clear case of Earth to Humans?

“EARTH—According to a statement released to the press Tuesday, the planet Earth has "just about run out of ways" to let its roughly 6.9 billion human inhabitants know it wants them all to leave.

Following a recent series of disastrous floods along the Mississippi River and destructive tornadoes across much of the United States—as well as a year of even deadlier natural catastrophes all over the world—the Earth said its options for strongly implying that it no longer wants human beings living on it have basically been exhausted.

"At this point, I think I've stated my wishes quite loudly and clearly," the Earth's statement to all of humanity read in part. "I haven't exactly been subtle about it, you realize. I have literally tried to drown you, crush you, starve you, dehydrate you, pump you full of diseases, and suck your homes and families into swirling vortices of death. Honestly, what more is it going to take for you people to get the message?"

"Do I have to spell it out for you?" the statement continued. "Get the f**k out of here. I want you to leave now."

Sorry for nicking your logo Mr. Fore!

Senator John Faulkner speaks his mind

Australian Labor Party Senator for NSW John Faulkner when delivering the annual Neville Wran Lecture at New South Wales Parliament House, Sydney on 9 June 2011:

When I joined the ALP, it was the political face of a broad social movement. Many of the tensions and disagreements within the Party were precisely the result of the depth and breadth of its appeal as a party that promised reform through government. All of us were deeply and passionately committed to the Labor promise of a “bringing something better to the people … working for the betterment of mankind not only here but anywhere we may give a helping hand.”

Opinions, however, varied on what should take priority in that struggle, and what policies and legislation would best achieve it. Ending Australia’s involvement in Vietnam, defending unions and unionists in the workplace, fighting apartheid in South Africa, free tertiary education and health care, decriminalising homosexuality, better sewerage for the suburbs, workplace equality for women, preserving Australia’s environmental heritage, modernising Australia’s censorship laws, preventing nuclear proliferation – the list of Labor’s concerns was a long one.

People were attracted to the Labor Party because they wanted to make the world a better place. Their involvement in the Party was often only one facet of their pursuit of that goal. And, while the Party has never welcomed those who seek to make it the servant of another organisation’s agenda – and endured a devastating split for that very reason in the 1950s – the Party I joined accepted that membership was, for many, one aspect of active community engagement.

These days, as Party membership dwindles, ALP strategists talk about ‘reaching out’ to organisations active on particular progressive issues, ‘gaining endorsement’ of our policies.

That idea, with its implications of ‘us’ in Labor and ‘them’ in community organisations, is wrong. The frequency with which it’s raised by hand-wringing apparatchiks makes many wonder if Labor has lost its way.

Progressive, socially aware activists passionate about social and economic reform must never be outsiders to the Labor movement.

Labor cannot thrive as an association of political professionals focused on the machinery of electoral victory and forming, at best, contingent alliances with Australians motivated by and committed to ideals and policies.

A Party organisation staffed by experienced and competent strategists and managers is necessary to serve the campaign and organisational needs of Labor’s members and supporters, not to substitute for them.

Nor should Party membership be a useful and engaging experience only for those with ambitions to secure preselection…….

The Party has now become so reliant on focus groups that it listens more to those who don’t belong to it than to those who do. This makes membership a sacrifice of activism, not a part of it.

Full transcript overleaf here.

McDonald's Yamba: a marketing and public relations disaster

The word around the traps, which is said to be coming from "informed sources", is that the Big M in Yamba is in big, big trouble, perhaps heading towards going belly up.

The other day I journeyed to Yamba for a spot of fishing with a couple of mates, Blue and Snow. When we were putting Snow's tinnie in the water at the boat ramp an old-timer (OT) who said he's lived in Yamba for over forty years started yarning to us about a thing or two.

OT told us that Maccas in Yamba is in big strife with its turnover being a lot less than was anticipated. OT reckons its staff turnover is probably higher than its cash turnover.

We drove around to check out the place for ourselves. We didn't venture into the place but had a good 'Captain Cook' from outside. The car park said it all. We suspected the few cars that were there all belonged to staff. While we were there (about 15 minutes) we didn't see a solitary soul enter or leave the premises on foot or drive-through.

Our group also saw a Macca's sign on a bus stop that's been "touched up". Another local said, "That's been like that for ages. You'd reckon they (Maccas) would either fix it up by restoring it or having their logo totally removed."

While not condoning the behaviour responsible for the sign's current appearance, something is terribly wrong with the local management's marketing and public relations to allow the sign to stay like that for so long. 

Gene Ethics: Grain traders snub GM canola

Excerpt from a Gene Ethics media releases of 3 March and 26 May 2011:

Major grain purchaser Co-operative Bulk Handlers (CBH) has confirmed that strong demand for non-GM canola has resulted in premiums of $50/tonne over the price for GM canola (See MR attached). The co-operative's March 3 Grain Weekly says: "By far and away the biggest development this marketing season has been the increased demand for Australian non-GM sustainable canola.

European and Australian demand for GM-free grain is so strong that leading grain traders Elders-Toepfer and Glencore Grain refuse to buy any genetically manipulated (GM) canola this year. And traders that buy GM will pay up to $45/tonne less than for non-GM grain.

“This market is a bonanza for the majority of Australian grain growers who wisely stayed with non-GM canola varieties,” says Gene Ethics Director, Bob Phelps.

“Ninety five per cent of Western Australia's canola sold to Europe last year and strong demand is expected to continue, but only for non-GM. European shoppers have zero tolerance for GM canola.

* This post is part of North Coast Voices' effort to keep Monsanto's blog monitor (affectionately known as Mr. Monsanto) in long-term employment.