Word: afraid
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Married for two years, the Gongs say they want to stay childless for another four years, partly because of their financial situation. Like so many other young Chinese couples find, having a baby brings additional financial burdens that they are afraid they can't afford. "It's just a possible item in our next five-year plan," says Gong. The next "five-year plan" includes a car and a better health-insurance package for his wife, as well as a new apartment in a nicer neighborhood where they can feel secure to walk their dog. But right now, everything...
...Nobody knows exactly how many people are forced into marriages because, as scholars like Talib note, most affected women are afraid to seek help and ostracize themselves from their communities. But the U.K.'s Forced Marriage Unit, administered through the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), handled more than 1,300 cases during the first three quarters of 2008 alone, an increase of 79% over 2007. With some victims as young as 13, most cases involved women, though experts estimate that 15% of cases worldwide may involve men marrying as a result of family pressure. "We're definitely getting more calls than...
...repeatedly lowering interest rates and taking substantive moves to bolster the property market and encourage consumer spending. "They've done everything right so far and very fast," says one western diplomat in Beijing. "Often it's been bigger and faster than other countries like Germany, and they aren't afraid to advertise that fact in the papers and on CCTV...
...afraid? We should not be afraid of the terrorists. When we were born, we were free," thundered Cacha from a red carpeted stage. He urged his congregation to embrace friendship, brotherhood, and open minds. "We need to teach the new generation how to live," he said...
...People crave reassurance and comfort during stressful economic times like this," said Dr. Martha Leibmann, a New Jersey-based therapist who has witnessed an increasing number of single patients venturing into cyberspace to find a partner. "They are afraid of being alone even in good times, but that fear is especially heightened nowadays." A poll recently conducted by Opinion Research Corp. and sponsored by popular dating site eHarmony backs up Leibmann's theory. Of 1,092 respondents, those who said they felt stressed by the current economy were 14% more likely to aim to be in a long-term relationship...