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Daily English 626 - Wiring Money to Another Country

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Slow Speed begins at: 1:19 Explanation begins at: 4:16 Normal Speed begins at: 21:30

Mahmoud: My brother emailed about an emergency situation. He needs $300 by tomorrow, but how can I get cash to him within 24 hours if I’m here in Mexico City and he’s in New York?

Sharon: That’s easy. You can wire him the money from here and he can pick it up immediately there.

Mahmoud: You mean wire him money through the bank? I already checked with my bank and it’ll take at least five days for them to process the wire.

Sharon: You can just use a private wire service like Western Union and the money will be available to him immediately. I wire money all the time using Western Union. Here is a blank form. I can help you fill it out if you want me to.

Mahmoud: That would be great. Hey, this form is for a money transfer . Is that the same thing as a wire?

Sharon: Yes, it’s the same thing. Fill out the receiver or recipient information here and the sender information there.

Mahmoud: Can I pay in local currency ? I don’t have that much cash in U.S. dollars.

Sharon: Sure. When you go to the Western Union office, they’ll calculate how much you’ll have to pay according to the current exchange rate .

Mahmoud: Is there a fee ?

Sharon: Yeah, there is, and it’s a little higher if you want the money to be available immediately. If you had more time, you could save a little by using the slower service that makes the money available in three business days . All done?

Mahmoud: Yeah, I think so. Now what?

Sharon: Now you take this to the nearest Western Union office. They’ll give you a copy of this form with a control number . Your brother can use that control number to pick up the money from any Western Union office in New York.

Mahmoud: Sharon, you’re a lifesaver .

Sharon: So, what’s the emergency?

Mahmoud: Tickets go on sale tomorrow for my favorite baseball team. My brother and I have to get tickets.

Sharon: That’s the emergency?!

Mahmoud: For us, it’s a matter of life and death .

Category: Money | Shopping

Jackie: Why don’t you hold off on that? I’m not sure how I’m going to pay for all that and buy gas, too!

Category: Transportation

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Story | Arts & Culture

People like short movies. So why are they getting longer?

Oppenheimer. Killers of the Flower Moon. Babylon. What do they have in common? They're all box office hits. And they're all over three hours long. Consumers, producers, and theaters all like short movies. But hit movies are getting longer. Today, we take a look at why.

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[The JRB Daily] Shortlists announced for 2024 UJ Prizes for South African Writing in English

The Johannesburg Review of Books

Header image: Wisani Mushwana, Siphokazi Magadla, Jarred Thompson, Nthikeng Mohlele, Buntu Siwisa, Morabo Morojele

The shortlists for the annual University of Johannesburg Prizes for South African Writing in English have been announced.

The UJ Prizes are not linked to a specific genre, as, according to the organisers, the idea is to ‘open the prize to as many forms of creative writing as possible’.

The UJ Main Prize winner will receive R70,000, while the UJ Debut Prize comes with prize money of R35,000.

‘The judges were particularly impressed by the high quality of the entries, especially from the first-time author,’ prize coordinator  Dr Siphiwo Mahala reports.

Debut Prize

• A Soft Landing (novel) by Wisani Mushwana
• Guerrillas and Combative Mothers: Women and the Armed Struggle in South Africa (non-fiction) by Siphokazi Magadla
• The Institute for Creative Dying (novel) by Jarred Thompson
• Breasts, etc. (novel) by Nthikeng Mohlele
• Paperless (novel) by Buntu Siwisa
• Three Egg Dilemma (novel) by Morabo Morojele

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• Entertainment

Editorial: Japan will never be truly equal without same-sex marriage, surname choice

September 2, 2024 (Mainichi Japan)

Japanese version

There are people whose dignity is being trampled on daily because their marriage, their commitment to someone they love, is not legally recognized in Japan. And many of these couples feel that they are being discriminated against.

Eri Nakaya, head of a nonprofit organization that supports sexual minorities, lives in Sapporo with her partner, a woman in her 30s. They have been together for 16 years.

When renting a place to live, a real estate agent told them, "Some landlords won't rent to you, so please say you're just friends sharing a room." When they tried to buy an apartment, they couldn't get a so-called "pair loan," wherein married couples can each get a loan for their home and then become one another's guarantor, effectively splitting the debt between them, because they were not legally married.

It took a long time to gain their families' understanding, and they have faced social prejudice. Nakaya fears that many more difficulties lie ahead.

Even though same-sex couples have always existed, society has treated them as if they don't. Same-sex marriage is not recognized under the current Civil Code or Family Register Act. Even if a same-sex couple submits a marriage registration application, it will not be accepted.

Couples face disadvantages

While many municipalities are adopting partnership certification systems, they have no legal effect in matters like taxes, social security, parental rights or inheritance. In some cases, a person may not even be able to participate in hospital admission procedures or consent to surgery if their same-sex partner becomes ill.

Nakaya, aiming to make same-sex marriage a reality in Japan, filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that "because a (same-sex marriage) system is not in place, those involved are suffering." In March of this year, the Sapporo High Court ruled that the current system violates the first paragraph of Article 24 of the Constitution, which stipulates freedom of marriage.

In similar lawsuits across the country, district court rulings have also found the current system to be unconstitutional or in a state of unconstitutionality. "Based on the judiciary's observations, I hope the government will act swiftly," Nakaya says.

The system for married names is also a barrier to tying the knot for some people. The Civil Code and other laws require Japanese couples to always use the same surname, so a marriage registration will not be accepted unless one partner changes their name.

Yukari Uchiyama, a 56-year-old high school teacher in Nagano Prefecture, has remained in a common law marriage with her former colleague, Yukio Koike, 66, so she can keep the surname she grew up with. To establish parent-child relationships between her husband and their three children, they have married and divorced three times.

While legally married, Uchiyama was able to go by "Uchiyama" at work as a common name, but she had to change her name to "Koike" on public documents like her driver's license. She felt a sense of loss, as if her name was being erased.

Four years ago, her eldest daughter, who had just married, called her in tears, saying the process of changing her surname felt like "holding a funeral for her name." Uchiyama felt guilty for making her daughter go through the same experience she had.

Currently, 95% of couples in Japan choose the husband's surname. Uchiyama finds it unreasonable that women disproportionately bear the disadvantages of changing their names.

As Uchiyama grows older, she is concerned about the future. In a common law marriage, the rights of a married couple may not be fully guaranteed. She is participating in a class-action lawsuit seeking the introduction of a system that allows couples to choose whether to share a surname or keep separate ones.

Protecting individual dignity

Sexual orientation is diverse and cannot be changed at will. A person's name is their social identifier and a symbol of their character. Both are related to identity, but Japan's current legal system does not respect them. Some people feel that their dignity is being compromised and that their very existence is being denied. This is a human rights issue, and human rights should be legally protected.

Despite this, the government and the Diet are slow to act.

Marriage has traditionally been understood as a union in which a man and a woman form a household and raise children. Although the family-based civil law system was abolished after World War II, the requirement for married couples to have the same surname was maintained.

However, people's views on family have changed. In various opinion polls, more than half of respondents support the legalization of same-sex marriage and the introduction of a selective surname system.

Keigo Komamura, a professor of constitutional law at Tokyo's Keio University, points out that "politics is out of step with public consciousness. Diet members need to think from the perspective of those affected and have the sensitivity and imagination to understand the disadvantages they face."

If Japan's marriage-related systems are revised, the hopes of those disadvantaged by current law will be fulfilled. At the same time, none of these changes will infringe on the rights of others. We must create a society where everyone is respected as individuals and can marry the person they cherish.

Related Articles

• Married trans woman petitions Kyoto court to change gender
• Major lobby pushes for Japanese women to be able to keep maiden names after marriage
• Japan same-sex couple rejoice over groundbreaking 'husband' listing on residence cert.
• Editorial: Japan PM must move now on separate surnames for married couples

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The enduring power of letter writing in the digital age

In an era where digital communication has become the norm, the practice of writing letters by hand might seem outdated, even quaint. However, as World Letter Writing Day on September 1st reminds us, this seemingly old-fashioned activity offers unique and powerful benefits. From nurturing mental well-being to enhancing critical communication skills, the act of putting pen to paper—or stylus to tablet—can still have a profound impact on our lives.

Mental health benefits through deliberate communication

Letter writing, unlike digital communication, demands a slower, more thoughtful approach. The process of crafting a letter by hand encourages a person to reflect deeply on their thoughts and emotions. This form of introspection can have significant mental health benefits. Studies have shown that writing about one's feelings can help manage stress, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and even improve mood. The act of writing a letter to a loved one or even to oneself fosters a sense of connection and understanding, which is crucial for emotional well-being.

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Moreover, letter writing allows for a pause in the hectic pace of modern life. In an age where notifications constantly vie for our attention, the deliberate nature of letter writing—where one must consider each word and sentence—can serve as a form of mindfulness, promoting a sense of calm and focus. This deliberate pace contrasts starkly with the rapid-fire exchanges typical of instant messaging, offering a sanctuary from the demands of immediacy.

Skill development through structured expression

Beyond its mental health benefits, letter writing plays a critical role in the development of essential communication skills. For young children, the practice of writing letters helps hone their spelling, grammar, and sentence structure in a meaningful context. Unlike the shorthand and often fragmented language used in texting, letter writing requires the writer to organize their thoughts coherently, resulting in the development of stronger writing skills over time.

For adults and professionals, regular letter writing can refine communication skills crucial in both academic and professional settings. The ability to convey ideas clearly and persuasively on paper is a valuable asset in any field. Furthermore, letter writing encourages creativity and originality, allowing individuals to express themselves in ways that might not be possible through digital mediums.

The evolution of letter writing in the digital space

While traditional letter writing remains valuable, it has inevitably evolved with the advent of digital technology. One such innovation is the Lettre app , designed exclusively for the Apple iPad. Lettre merges the nostalgic charm of handwritten letters with the convenience and reach of digital communication, offering a unique platform for deliberate communication in the modern era.

The app not only allows users to write and send digital letters but also integrates features that enhance the traditional letter-writing experience. Users can collect digital stamps, each uniquely designed and serving as more than just a decorative element—they are collectible assets within the app's ecosystem. These stamps can be traded, gifted, or appraised, creating a vibrant community of stamp enthusiasts.

In addition, Lettre supports the creation of global pen-pal connections, enabling users to engage with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds, further broadening their horizons. This 'slow messaging' concept helps build deeper, more meaningful connections that are often lost in the immediacy of modern communication.

Letter writing may have transformed with time, but its essence remains the same. Whether through the tactile pleasure of paper and ink or the innovative digital platforms that bring letters into the 21st century, this practice continues to offer a meaningful way to connect, reflect, and grow. As we embrace these modern tools, we should not lose sight of the timeless benefits that come from a thoughtfully written letter, in whatever form it takes.

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বাংলাদেশ–ভারত সম্পর্কের সোনালি অধ্যায় ছিল দলের ও ব্যক্তির মধ্যে সীমাবদ্ধ: পররাষ্ট্র উপদেষ্টা

আমি মনে করি, কোনো এক পর্যায়ে, কোনো এক কারণে পাকিস্তানের সঙ্গে সম্পর্কে একটু টানাপোড়েন ছিল। এখন স্বাভাবিক একটা সম্পর্কে যদি উন্নীত হয়, আমাদের সবার খুশি হওয়া উচিত।

পুলিশের ওপর সরকারের এখনও নিয়ন্ত্রণ প্রতিষ্ঠিত হয়নি: গোলাম মোর্তোজা