"I want to live in a country where equality exists between girls and boys"

President Bachelet launched a campaign for increased equality between men and women, with a focus on how Chile can be more progressive, without discrimination... and that women and men not only have the same rights, but rather the possibility exists to exercise them and benefit from the development the country has reached.

Ethical Salary Debates
The headlines during the past couple of weeks in Chile (besides the Peruvian earthquake) have been discussing the topic of an ethical salary or a "just wage" for the workers of this country. A Catholic priest started the public debate between unions and workers, government and business, when he mentioned that workers in Chile should earn a better salary, or an "ethical wage." Now President Bachelet is promising to respond to this concern by asking a group of her Ministers, especially our favorite Labour Minister Osvaldo Andrade, to propose a complete plan for how to improve labour relations and working conditions, as well as collective bargaining... incorporating in this element of a just wage. It's great to see this discussion being out in the open and talked about by all sectors of society... maybe Chile can set a new trend to be followed by other developing countries --significantly improving labour standards in all areas.
Keep up the great work and leadership, Michelle!!

President Michelle participated in activities related to the Agricultural sector, especially an initiative by INDAP (part of the Ministry of Agriculture) to give out reconstruction bonds to the small farmers severely affected by the latest cold streaks hitting various regions of the country in what is the most difficult month of winter, August.

Visiting the tomb of Saint Alberto Hurtado on Saturday, August 18th ... Day of Solidarity in Chile.

Michelle Bachelet visited the tomb of now Saint Alberto Hurtado on Saturday, August 18th, 2007 to celebrate the Day of Solidarity. In her speech she made mention of the importance of strengthening CSR- Corporate Social Responsibility, as a call to the ethical conscience of the country, saying that a "fair and just society is not constructed only through laws, but with the commitment and participation of all social actors..."

CHILE OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO PERU’S EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

President Michelle Bachelet expressed Chile’s solidarity with Peru on Thursday morning, following the powerful earthquake that rocked Peru early Wednesday evening.

“Today is a painful day for the Peruvian people, and I have communicated to President Alan Garcia (of Peru) that the government of Chile and the Chilean people will continue to think of the tragedies suffered by the victims and will keep them in our thoughts,” said Bachelet.

GO MICHELLE BACHELET!!!


“I want to take advantage of this event to announce that, in September, I will propose a modification to the current voting laws in order to require a minimum number of women to run for parliamentary or municipal elections,” Bachelet said. She went on to express her hopes about the benefits of such a law.

“When one woman alone becomes a politician, then the woman changes. But when many women are involved in politics, then politics change. This is important because one of the challenges and necessities of a democracy is to improve the quality of politics (…) this measure will be an important step forward for democracy in Chile .”