labor and borders; migrants and remittances

last week, the LA Times ran a really fantastic four-part series called "the new foreign aid." for a more personal look at what a little help from a family member living abroad -- legally or illegally, both scenarios are discussed -- can do, definitely give it a read. an interesting graph (image) reveals that remittances provide more assitance to needy families in impoverished, wartorn, underdeveloped countries than FDI and aid combined.
the stories are touching, the photographs are beautiful. and if you don't have the time to read the article, at least give the narrated slide shows a chance.

oh, and if you need a little added incentive, one of the featured male foreign workers wears a usc hat. (image, top right)