Fat Fines: Japan’s New Law

July 8, 2008 / Culture, Opinion / 22 Comments

Japan has recently instituted a new law that fines employers that hire ‘obese’ employees or employees with ‘obese’ relatives. Men are required to have waistlines slimmer than 33.5 inches and women 35.4 inches. As I read that from the newspaper headlines last month, my first reaction was stunned silence. What happens to those who are…


Obligation: Human vs. Citizen

March 11, 2008 / Daily Life, Opinion / 28 Comments

The other I was walking down my street with my boyfriend. It was snowing. The whole street was peacefully silent – almost as if the snowflakes were absorbing the noise. But then a man started shouting desperately “PAY THE RENT! PAY THE RENT!” I ignored it at first. Then my boyfriend and I saw two…