Rethos.com - BethW's Global Feed

Environmental Activists Expose Dangers of E-Waste

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:48:26 -0500

November 14, 2008, Delhi, India: In the streets of Mustaffabad, a poor quarter of Delhi, children in sandals sit on top of piles of broken glass and twisted metal, smashing computer monitors. Men with blowtorches melt circuit boards, while nearby, women sort and scrub other boards with diluted acid. Charred fiberglass and copper dust litter the ground.

This is the world of the electronic waste (e-waste) recyclers, who make a living by tearing apart the toxic remains of old home computers, cell phones and printer cartridges from the United States and other coun...

Blogging Connects Women Across the World

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:56:54 -0400

Advocacy Project (AP) have launched a blog group to connect professional women in the Washington area with young American women volunteering for human rights overseas.

This innovative use of information technology was developed during the summer, when eight Zonta members in Washington decided to follow the blogs of graduate students serving as AP Peace Fellows in Serbia, Kosovo, Uganda, Jordan, El Salvador, Nepal and Kenya.

"This is a fantastic program," said Heather Dolstra, a Zonta member and Washington travel agen...

Credit Card "Insiders" Speak Out About Abusive Practices

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:36:25 -0400

Earlier this year, former employees of MBNA and Bank of 
America contacted AFFIL looking for a way to speak out about 
disturbing sales practices they were trained to use as employees. Their stories confirm what
we've long suspected: that credit card companies extend credit
to those who can't afford it, and engage in a "tricks and traps" 
business model designed to max out cardholders and keep 
them on a debt treadmill as long as possible. Watch the video 
and listen to what Cate Colombo
and Jerry Young have to say.

Disability and Life on the Street

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:01:30 -0400

Life on the Street

I've been putting off writing this entry because I thought it would be best to provide you with images of these hard-working people so that you can see what I am talking about. But every time I went out and I saw a good photo opportunity, I felt embarrassed and guilty for just wanting to take their photo. I can't talk to them because I don't speak Bangla. I can't explain to them that I am advocating for their rights, nor can I convince myself that my motivation is just. If I could only shake o...

A must read for every college kid heading back to campus!

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:12:35 -0400

Credit Card Tips for College Students

Now that you're making financial decisions for yourself, be sure to protect yourself from credit card tricks and traps. Here are some tips to consider before you break out the plastic. Adapted from "Credit Card Tips for College Students,” Consumers Union...

War on the middle class

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:40:29 -0400

Credit card companies go after American college students, often with the help of universities. Lisa Sylvester reports.

What Will Mac ’n’ Mae Cost You and Me?

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:30:11 -0400

THE inevitability of a taxpayer-funded bailout of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the hobbled mortgage behemoths, shook investors last week, and shares in both companies plummeted on fears that existing stockholders would be wiped out.

These government-sponsored entities guarantee or hold $...

That Student Loan, So Hard to Shake

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:28:08 -0400

MOST people struggling to pay off their student loans keep quiet about it. They do not want to acknowledge that, perhaps in a fit of naïve, youthful optimism, they borrowed more than they could handle.

Then there is Alan Collinge, who for years has described his struggle with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt to anyone who will listen. He has appeared on “60 Minutes” criticizing...

Avoiding College's Plastic Hangover

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:25:34 -0400

The immediate gratification of using plastic to buy an iMac, tickets to a Coldplay concert and nights of bar hopping has a way of coming back to haunt college students after graduation.

Despite their lack of a credit history and sizable student loans, most college students can get their hands on credit cards with as much ease as a swipe. And they're often lured into doing so with awards like free T-shirts. Along with the freebies, however, come some not-so-pleasant surprises: high interest rates and a range of fees and penalties.

Internship Opportunity—Tour Liaison
Otesha Cycling and Performing Tours
www.otesha.ca

The Otesha Project is seeking 14 dedicated, organized, fun-loving individuals, aged 18 to 30, to serve as Tour Liaisons for its 2008 cycling and performing tours. As part of a team of 15 to 20 performers, you will take care of all administrative and on-the-road logistics for the tour. Successful candidates will support team members as individuals, foster a positive team environment, support teams in achieving tour object...

Think Democracy's Sexy? Volunteer with AisB!

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:02:17 -0500

As always, if you’re interested in volunteering, get in touch. We need people who can:
- graphic design - research, blog, and write - web design - do some mindless data entry (if you’re in the mood for some tedium, but we try to keep it to a minimum!) - develop website content - translate (English – French) - help out at events (hand out surveys, talk up Apathy, take pictures, sell gear) and a plethora of other things.

Halliburton Victim Twice Over - Americans for Fairness in Lending

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:48:03 -0500

Check out this important message from our Partner, Public Citizen: http://action.citizen.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=22031 â€œNo one â€“ especially a victim of a heinous, violent crime â€“ should be denied access to a judge and jury because of a binding mandatory arbitration clause in an employment contract. â€œUnfortunately, this is what is happening to Jamie Leigh Jones, who recently told ABCâ€™s 20/20 that she was gang raped while working for a Halliburton subsidiary in Iraq. Now, she is being victimized twice over. Halliburton is denying her constitutional right to tak...

Simplify the Holidays and stay away from Credit Card Traps - Americans for Fairness in Lending

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:12:46 -0500

As you consider how to celebrate the holidays responsibly, take some time to protect yourself from credit card tricks & traps. Read AFFILâ€™s Holiday Credit Card Tips before you break out the plastic this season, at http://www.affil.org/consumer_rsc/holiday-credit-card-tips. 1. Donâ€™t get tricked, trapped or suckered into a card with bad terms. If you want a credit card, get one with a long-term low interest rate (APR). If you get a low introductory rate, chances are itâ€™ll start at 0% and then jump to 20% with one almost-on-time-but-didnâ€™t-quite-make-it payment. Still want a credit ...

Overdraft Abuse: Tell Your Story - Americans for Fairness in Lending

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:05:18 -0500

Congress needs to hear your story: A message from the Center for Responsible Lending Jennifer Rakowski of Oakland, CA had been with her bank for 15 years when, before she knew what hit her, she accumulated a series of overdrafts in quick succession that put her over $300 in the red. Has something like this happened to you? Consumers are catching on to the ways in which banks artificially increase overdrafts, costing their account holders billions per year in unfair fees. When the House Financial Services Committee was debating H.R. 946 this month, Congresswoman Carolyn Malone...

Movie night? We know a really scary one. - Americans for Fairness in Lending

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:00:47 -0400

Halloween is coming up - it's the perfect time to host a party and watch consumer horror stories in the documentary Maxed Out. Visit http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/476/t/1153/signUp.jsp?key=2745 to sign up. Credit card companies are making billions off of us every year by charging outrageous fees and inserting dangerous clauses into the fine print of their contracts that strip away our rights. Americans for Fairness in Lending and our Partner Public Citizen want to help spread the word to households all across the country about the dangerous traps set by credit card companies. ...

Alliance Accepted! - Americans for Fairness in Lending

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:36:36 -0400

College Students, Welcome to a Lifetime of Debt!

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:24:09 -0400

By Barbara Ehrenreich -

Colleges and universities today are turning teenagers into full-fledged citizens of our economy by introducing them to a lifetime of debt.

Welcome to Fleece U., where our mission is to take feckless teenagers such as yourselves and turn them into full-fledged citizens of our economy, meaning, of course, debtors.

Many life-changing things will happen to you in the next four years. You will make lasting friends, including perhaps the love of your life. You will drink more than you ever thought possible and bitterly regret it in the morn...

High Priced Student Loans Spell Trouble

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:06:19 -0400

The near doubling in the cost of a college degree the past decade has produced an explosion in high-priced student loans that could haunt the U.S. economy for years.

While scholarship, grant money and government-backed student loans – whose interest rates are capped – have taken up some of the slack, many families and individual students have turned to private loans, which carry fees and interest rates that are often variable and up to 20 percent.

$963 million down the tubes

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:25:32 -0400

Have you ever been charged $30 for withdrawing $1 too much on your bank account? If so, you’re not alone. The Center for Responsible Lending estimates that 18- to 24-year-olds are paying $963 million per year in fees for abusive “Overdraft Loans” (the population as a whole pays 17.5 billion in overdraft fees).

Congress is considering a law to regulate this kind of ridiculous practice. Tomorrow, September 25, the U.S. House Financial Services Committee will vote on sending H.R. 946, the Consumer Overdraft Protection Fair Practices Act, to the full House. H.R...

In Debt We Trust

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 12:53:39 -0400

An in-depth account of the ins and out of the credit card business in America. In Debt We Trust was written, Produced and Directed by Dannny Schechter. Once you watch this movie, you’ll gain valuable insight into the credit card game.

Maxed Out - now on DVD

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:28:41 -0400

Maxed Out takes viewers on a journey deep inside the American style of debt, where things seem fine as long as the minimum monthly payment arrives on time. With coverage that spans from small American towns all the way to the White House, the film shows how the modern financial industry really works, explains the true definition of “preferred customer” and tells us why the poor are getting poorer while the rich keep getting richer. Hilarious, shocking and incisive, Maxed Out paints a picture of a national nightmare which is all too real for most of us. Great for college stude...

SEIU Launches "Bank of America Bad for America" campaign

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:16:32 -0400

http://www.bankofamericabadforamerica.org/

As the nationâ€™s largest bank with branches and services in the heart of many communities around the country, Bank of Americaâ€™s actions have a significant impact on the lives of millions of American families.

Instead of living up to its obligation to employ responsible business and banking practices, Bank of America is using its size and market dominance to run up fees and credit card rates, cut corners on community reinvestment efforts, deny loans to working families and minority communities, avoid paying taxes, and activ...

AFFIL Signs Statement of Concern about Rising ATM Fees

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:12:22 -0400

STATEMENT OF CONCERN ABOUT RISING ATM FEES

By Americans for Fairness in Lending, California Reinvestment Coalition, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Service Employees International Union, Woodstock Institute

We are deeply concerned by Bank of Americaâ€™s plan to raise fees for non-customers at many of its ATMs to $3 per transactionâ€”the highest in the country. In its emerging role as the largest banking institution in the United States, Bank of Americaâ€™s planned ATM fee hike from $2 to $3 has alre...

Don't Get F#%'D

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:10:01 -0400

http://www.affil.org/ybf A hilarious video about predatory lending and what you can do to avoid compromising your financial security.

AFFIL's Six Principles of Fairness in Lending

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:11:57 -0400

Our goal is simple â€“ to establish fair credit policies and practices.

Lending is necessary in our society and can be helpful in building and preserving community and individual assets. Our laws, however, allow lenders to encourage and profit enormously from personal debt. Discrimination and the selling of unaffordable and abusive loans is rampant. Practices that used to be called â€˜loan-sharkingâ€™ are now legal. Borrower protections cannot be left to the lenders. We propose these six components of fair lending against which all credit practices and products must be test...

John Edwards Becomes First Presidential Candidate to Publicly Endorse AFFIL Principles for Fair Lending

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:06:36 -0400

AFFIL Asks All Candidates to Stand For Consumers and Against Predatory Lending

(September 13, 2007) Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards today publicly endorsed the Six Principles of Fairness in Lending developed by Americans for Fairness in Lending (AFFIL), which call for the return of reasonable oversight and regulation of Americaâ€™s runaway lending industry. The Principles focus on greater lender responsibility in determining consumersâ€™ capacity to repay debt, reasonable regulation of interest rates, fees and lender practices, full disc...

March 23, 2007 - Americans for Fairness in Lending Calls on Regulators to Step Up and Rein In Rogue Practices in Subprime Mortgage Lending Industry

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:43:38 -0400

Kirsten Keefe, Executive Director of Americans for Fairness in Lending (AFFIL), released the following statement in response to the crisis in subprime mortgage lending:

â€œRegulators can turn this crisis into an opportunity by reining in rogue practices in the subprime mortgage lending industry. The inherent design flaws in the subprime mortgages can and must be changed. Foreclosures not only have a devastating impact on families, they impact communities, lower property rates, affect tax bases, and prohibit asset-building. Predatory practices need to end immediately and solutio...

March 6, 2007 - First National Public Awareness Campaign Calls for Reform of Unfair Lending by Banks, Credit Card and Mortgage Companies

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:04:49 -0400

Major Consumer Groups Unite in New Organizationâ€”Americans for Fairness in Lendingâ€”to Highlight Need for Regulations and to Promote Fair Lending Principles through Internet, Print/Radio Ad Campaign; linked to release of Maxed Out documentary

(March 6, 2007) â€“ The first national campaign to end rampant abuses of consumers by the lending industry in America is being launched today by Americans for Fairness in Lending (AFFIL), a new partnership of consumer, civil rights, faith-based, non-partisan and grassroots organizations. The AFFIL campaign is ma...

Awareness

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:39:17 -0400

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-6vFh7gOlc Check out this 5 minute clip about avoiding predatory lenders and taking action to make abusive lending illegal

Don't Get F%#'D

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:26:15 -0400

Watch this video and Listen to Cashton Klutcher: Don’t Get F%#’D!

http://www.affil.org/ybf

Top Ten Tricks of the Lending Trade

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:01:30 -0400

Top Ten Tricks of the Lending Trade

Hello and welcome to Americans for Fairness in Lending!

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:58:02 -0400

Hello and welcome to Americans for Fairness in Lending. AFFIL is raising awareness of the absurd, greedy and abusive predatory lending practices and policies in America with a unified call for regulation and protection.

You, the informed members of RETHOS can learn how to avoid lender tricks and traps. You can help spread the word to your friends and family. And you can call on our government to return the regulations that protected consumers from ancient times until the 1980s – when lenders were suddenly allowed to i...