Check out these videos of ACORN India’s Dharavi Rocks project on MTV! 

They are called Sound Trippin.

Dharavi

Scrap Rap

Sneak Peek

Dharavi Promo

A Costly Money Migration from Ottawa Citizen 

The Ottawa Citizen May 31, 2012

On Thursday, NDP MPP Jagmeet Singh introduced a private member’s bill in the Ontario legislature that deserves careful consideration from all parties. It would ensure that people in Canada won’t pay prohibitive fees to send small amounts of money overseas.

In general, the NDP instinct to solve the world’s problems by telling private businesses what they can and can’t do should be discouraged. But in this case, there’s a compelling argument for regulation.

International money transfers — also called remittances — are a bulwark against poverty. The World Bank estimates that $483 billion in remittances flowed in 2011, of which $351 billion went to developing countries. This is money that goes directly to people, bypassing governments. It’s more money than flows through foreign aid, it’s voluntary rather than taxed, and it’s resilient to political and economic cycles.

As migration plays an ever greater part in the labour market, there is great potential for remittances to improve the lots of families all over the world.

But there’s a big inefficiency in the system: fees and exchange-rate costs. According to a database maintained by the World Bank, if you’re in Canada and want to send $200 to family in Rwanda via Western Union, you’ll pay a fee of $16 and lose about 1.5 per cent on the exchange-rate margin, for a total cost of about $19.

The World Bank says the average cost of remittances in Canada is slightly more than 10 per cent, higher than both the global and G8 averages. Singh’s bill would cap fees at five per cent. The cost now varies by company, method of transfer and recipient country, and it’s worth noting that many fees are below five per cent already. But some aren’t.

The best way to drive costs down is to encourage competition. For some recipient countries, new players and technologies have led to better prices. For others, there’s an oligopoly and high prices. It seems unlikely that the most punitive fees will come down without regulation.

In 2009, the G8 vowed to bring global costs for remittances down to five per cent by 2014. Market-based approaches, such as greater transparency in fee structures, are crucial to this effort. But they haven’t brought fees down very far.

There could be unforeseen consequences to a cap on fees. The most reliable transfer companies could get out of the business for some corridors. Or they could try to make up costs by raising some fees that are currently under five per cent.

Legislators should consider these risks before passing the bill, but a cap of five per cent seems unlikely to have widespread dire consequences. We regulate other financial fees and interest rates. Remittance fees are particularly damaging because these tend to be small, frequent payments, destined for people who need every cent.

Ottawa Citizen
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

All Ontario Parties Should Support Cap on Remittance Payments from Toronto Star

Members of Ontario’s legislature have a chance to take a small but important step toward preventing some of the most vulnerable workers in the province from being ripped off. They should seize the opportunity.

It comes in a private member’s bill introduced last week by Jagmeet Singh, the New Democrat MPP for Bramalea-Gore-Malton. Singh’s bill would limit the fees charged to migrant workers and immigrants who send money back to extended family in their home countries. All parties should get on-board with this measure.

Remittances, as they’re known, involve the transfer of hundreds of billions of dollars every year around the world. The World Bank says remittance payments amounted to $501 billion U.S. last year; $372 billion of that went to developing countries.

This is far more than all the official foreign aid ($133 billion last year, as calculated by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), and amounts to a big chunk of the national income of some poor countries. Even more important, it goes directly to people — not through government officials who may skim off a share or manipulate it for political reasons.

There’s a big catch, however, for many of the hard-working migrant workers and immigrants who wire money home. Fees can be hefty, to say the least. A recent survey by ACORN, a national advocacy group that is campaigning on the issue, shows it can cost as much as $40 to transfer $100 abroad, depending on the destination and speed of service. The average cost of remittance services in Canada is just over 10 per cent of the amount transferred, according to the World Bank.

Singh’s bill would cap remittance fees in Ontario at 5 per cent, and require companies like Western Union and MoneyGram to disclose any other costs or exchange fees. The 5 per cent figure is the same as that recommended by the World Bank and by the G8 group of countries, which in 2009 pledged to bring remittance costs worldwide down to that level by 2014.

No other province caps remittance fees, but the idea is no different in principle from limiting the interest charged on payday loans to prevent low-income earners from being gouged. Ontario did that in 2008.

All parties at Queen’s Park should back Singh’s bill. It would be an excellent step toward helping out some of the hardest working and most deserving people among us.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/1204701–all-ontario-parties-should-support-cap-on-remittance-payments

Report from San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Report from Kenya May 2012

Report from ACORN Kenya on Work on Education

Report from Delhi

Bangalore Report APRIL 2012:

I am trying to bring together the organizations working on the street vendors on a common platform to work together on the issue. Along with Vinay we had the first meeting at ALF office on.

Malar from Action aid, selva from Jansahayog, Maithri from ALF, Vinay from Beedhi vyaparigala hakkothaya Okkoota, Swathi from Equations, Srinivas from AKRVO K.R.Puram , Nirmal from Yeashwanthpur traders association, Basavaraj from SN Dasappa Education Society, Zamir from Shivajinagar street vendors association participated.

The decision taken at the meeting was:

1. Reinstating the vendors of shivajinagar.
2. Study on Street vendors, (economic and social status)
3. to organize and mobilize the street vendors all over Bangalore for further protests and other programme on FDI in retail and also the issues on street vendors.

The next meeting will be on 20^th of May. There are attempts to accommodate more organizations in the platform. I am trying to find some one for the expenses and also vinay has had talks with the professors of IISc to help us on the study on the street vendors. And some of them had agreed to get it done for us and we are in the process of getting the logistics for the survey and the study ready.

Weekly Meetings:

Hebbal: 3 meetings with the street vendors.

Yelahanka New town: 3 meetings with the traders of Yelahanka New town traders association.

Shivajinagar: 3 meetings with the vendors.

Yeshwanthpur: 3 meetings with the traders association.

In K.R. Puram: 3 meetings were held.

In all the meetings the common agenda was to bring all the street vendors and traders associations in Bangalore on a single platform.

I had also organized legal awareness programme on women related issues for Sthree shakthi groups. In all there were 9 programmes in the last two months. Advocate. Smt. Nagarathna volunteered in advising the women folk at the meetings.

ACORN Honduras Report San Pedro Sula, Mayo 2011-2012

ACORN Honduras Report Tegucigalpa, Honduras 2011-2012

Yadira Micolta Victoria

Acorn-Argentina

Informe 2011-2012

Después de la visita de Wade a Buenos Aires continuamos el trabajo en Isidro Casanova (Matanza) debido a la gravedad de la situación que vive la comunidad, como es el inacceso al agua potable, electricidad y el problema de contaminación que viven en su barrio. Además la comunidad se mostró receptora y motivada para hacer un cambio en su comunidad.

Lo primero que hicimos fue un pedido de petición a la Ministra de Desarrollo argentino, Alicia Kirchner, para saber cómo era la situación de las tierras en la que habita esta comunidad, si son privadas o públicas. La respuesta del pedido se demoró ocho días, inmediatamente nos enviaron a la Municipalidad de la Plata en donde la respuesta por parte de los funcionarios públicos fue “tienen que ir a la Municipalidad de La Matanza en compañía de un abogado, o si no los atenderemos”.. Esto fue un poco frustrante para la comunidad, pero fue una muestra más de la neglegencia por parte de los funcionarios públicos y de la falta de respuesta que tienen ante la comunidad.

Al mismo tiempo habíamos enviado una Carta pidiendo la pavimentación del arroyuelo contaminado que a traviesa la calle, esta respuesta jamás no la dieron, ante nuestro llamado la respuesta siempre fu ¿quién va a pavimentar la calle, ustedes o nosotros?, miren que para esto no hay dinero… una vez más dejaron a la comunidad desarmada.

En el transcurso de este tiempo tuvimos la ayuda de algunos voluntarios extranjeros.

Otro aspecto importante fue tener en nuestras manos la personería jurídica de la organización, que si bien necesita cambios en las autoridades, ya es un paso grande tenerla en nuestras manos. Los abogados del Estudio Jurídico Allende & Brea fueron los encargados de ayudarnos gratuitamente hacer esta labor.

Buscando cómo cambiar las autoridades pude encontrarme con un antiguo socio de la Organización, el Señor Julio César Vera, quién firmo una carta petición en la que convocaba a una asamblea General a las autoridades.

Después de ello tuvimos una muy buena reunión con todos los nuevos socios de la organización, se hizo la proyección de un video sobre la Urbanización del Barrio “Villa Palito”.

El mes siguiente tuvimos una exitosa reunión con los abogados de Poder Ciudadanos, quiénes fueron a la comunidad para iniciar un proceso de asesoramiento. También tuvimos contacto con varios muralistas, con quiénes no pudimos pintar debido a las lluvias y a los inconvenientes de horario pero sigue pendiente hacer este mural y por último pudimos hablar con el Colegio de Abogados de la UBA quienes comenzaron asesorarnos en la renovación de las autoridades.

En Marzo tuvimos una gran actividad que fue la reunión con Poder ciudadano, en la que unas 20 personas asistieron a la reunión y participaron. En ésta se aprendió hacer una carta petición para la municipalidad, además se elaboró el documento inmediatamente. El documento será presentado en la segunda semana de Abril ante la municipalidad de La Matanza, ya que del 1 al 6 de abril es Semana Santa y Pesaj (Pascua Judía) por tal motivo las actividades en la municipalidad están paralizadas.

Por otro lado los niños asistieron al cine, junto con sus padres, gracias a Linterna Mágica la otra organización con la que estamos trabajando.

En el mes de abril tuvimos varias actividades puntuales, por un lado el seguimiento de la renovación de las autoridades en la personería jurídica. Tuvimos encuentro con los nuevos abogados, pero estamos esperando que nos puedan acompañar personalmente ante la oficina en de la CGJ (en donde se saca la personería). Por otro lado este mes no pudimos pintar el mural (como las otras veces) porque el muralista se casó y no pudo hacerlo, está de luna de miel.

Además tuvimos algunos inconvenientes, uno de ellos fue la falta de motivación de la comunidad por defender sus derechos, aunque los lideres están muy involucrados, tanto que desearon cortar la ruta por la contaminación que están viviendo a diario en su barrio, la hija de uno de los lideres tiene llagas en su cuerpo debido a la quema diaria de madera en y basura en su calle.

Estamos buscando la manera de poder solucionar este asunto, he decidido hablar con algunas autoridades que defienden los derechos humanos aquí para denunciar este caso ya sea ante la municipalidad o internacionalmente. Porque los miembros de la organización y los otros vecinos no pueden seguir viviendo de esa manera. El gran problema es que la municipalidad, ni ningún organismo competente en el asunto nos escucha, por eso queremos pedir ayuda internacional, nos gustaría que desde la oficina de Acorn Internacional puedan ayudarnos en este caso, tal vez si enviamos videos y fotografías de la situación que están viviendo los vecinos se puede hacer una investigación e informe y denunciar la corrupción gigantesca que se vive en Argentina. Ya que aquí solo dan subsidios pero la comunidad vive de una manera indigna.

Nuestra propuesta para este mes es pedir ayuda de Acorn internacional en este asunto, la situación es grave.

Este mes se hizo una reunión fallida con los abogados del Colegio de Abogados de la UBA, tuvimos unos pequeños inconvenientes y no se pudo concretar la reunión, además se puso fecha para el 9 de junio hacer la tercera reunión con Poder Ciudadano en la comunidad, se van a llevar los pedidos de petición a la municipalidad, y vamos a ir con los abogados a la CGJ.

un gruppo di giornalisti della prima rete nazionale ci ha contattato e ha fatto oggi un servizio su noi & la nostra campagna contro gli affitti in nero, per la trasmissione di Rai 1 “la Vita in Diretta”. un grazie alla Rai per l’interesse in Noi.

Carissima associata, carissimo associato

• si è tenuta a Città del Messico gli scorsi 17 e 18 maggio una grande conferenza di tutte le sedi mondiali di ACORN International, tra cui ACORN Italy.  E’ stata una magnifica occasione per vedere tutte le persone che lavorano con stessi ideali & passioni in ogni angolo del mondo, dal Canada al Kenya, Dal Messico alla Corea del Sud, dall’Argentina all’India &c. Come anche in passato, abbiamo avuto modo di esprimermi, stando con noi non solo avete la più forte garanzia sulle questioni della vostra casa registrata con noi, ma state partecipando e supportando qualcosa di più grande. Ecco un articolo (in lingua inglese) sulla due giorni messicana e mondiale: http://chieforganizer.org/2012/05/18/great-acorn-reports-from-around-the-world-and-remittance-campaign-breakthroughs
• ACORN Italy va sempre meglio. semplicemente, ogni settimana si iscrivono a noi più persone della precedente; ogni mese si iscrivono a noi più persone del mese precedente. Le registrazioni di case, da Napoli a Torino, da Bolzano a Palermo, sono tantissime, e tantissimi siete dunque voi, che assistiamo prima, durante e soprattutto dopo l’avvenuta registrazione 
• Se avete facebook e nel caso non lo aveste ancora fatto, vi incoraggiamo a cliccare subito “Mi piace” alla nostra pagina, che resta lo strumento più agile e immediato per tenervi al corrente di tutte le nostre ultime novità e aggiornamenti!

Nell’esprimere solidarietà alle vittime dei terremoti in Nord-Italia e a quelle dell’attentato di Brindisi, ci teniamo particolarmente a estenderla a tutte le brave persone che lavorano ogni giorno per la legalità in tutte le Agenzia delle Entrate, con la cui dirigenza in particolare (e nonostante qualche sporadica incomprensione tra nostri associati e alcuni funzionari in taluni sportelli) abbiamo una collaborazione davvero cordiale, fruttifera e che ci onora del nostro lavoro, e che non meritano di essere sottoposti a ingiurie, insulti, minacce, sequestri e odio, da parte di chi ha un debito con lo stato, e quindi con la comunità, al netto degli errori che possono esser commessi, ma che non giustificano quanto appena detto.
Il problema non si chiama Equitalia, il problema si chiama Evasione. E l’errore non giustifica l’eversione.
Mentre tutte le ACORN erano a Città del Messico, a Roma lo stesso 17 Maggio si incontravano il Presidente del Consiglio Monti con il Direttore dell’Agenzia delle Entrate Befera, e proprio per la solidarietà in questione e per la condivisione che vogliamo offrire, linkiamo qui dei resoconti:
http://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/wps/content/nsilib/nsi/agenzia/agenzia+comunica/eventi+e+convegni+2col/incontro+presidente+consiglio+equitalia
Se vogliamo pagare meno dobbiamo pagare tutti, e un passo decisivo per la legalità è quello che voi membri di ACORN Italy avete fatto regolarizzando con noi il vostro contratto di affitto, non solo con tutti i benefici che ciò vi ha portato, ma anche con la consapevolezza che passo a passo, membro a membro, giorno per giorno, stiamo cambiando questo paese (e non solo questo) per il meglio.

Può non essere popolare (o populista?) schierarsi, soprattutto in un momento come questo, a favore della legalità e delle istituzioni e delle persone tutte che la rappresentano e difendono in nome e per conto dello Stato, ma a noi non intriga ciò che è comodo, a noi interessa ciò che è corretto.

vi aspettiamo come sempre su facebook e a tutti i nostri contatti che trovate anche qui sotto in firma. attivatevi e diffondeteci.
un abbraccio sincero & forte ,e a presto.

— 
ACORN Italy

www.acornitaly.org
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Skype: acornitaly

Piazza dell’Ateneo Salesiano, 77
00139 – Roma

Please visit ACORN Italy section for more information.