Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Beginning 2013 With a Lack of Social Justice.

      The beginning of 2013 finds Canadians in the midst of a couple of issues which are a result of a lack of social justice. Both of these issues began in December of 2012 but their origins are from hundreds of years ago. One , Chief Teresa Spence's hunger strike, has more recent origins but is more critical. The second, "Idle No more" has origins further back in time but is not in need of immediate attention.

     Chief Teresa Spence had a serious housing problem on her reserve less that a year ago. Prime minister Steven Harper did very little about the situation. A few emergency measures were taken. The band's finances were taken over and chief Spence fought against it as it was not the problem.

     Since then, Steven Harper's spin doctors have taken over. Steven Harper would like us to believe that the Attawapiskat community has had 90 million dollars for housing in the last year. Of course, the spin doctors, with innocent caring eyes, want to know why houses haven't been built. So here's what happened. the 90 million dollars was for the last five years so that's about 16 or so million a year. Now out of that 16 million came education, health and welfare. This left about 4 to 5 million for houses. Now out of the 4 to 5 million house maintenance was taken. So were left with little for housing and in fact nothing as they decided to use all the money on maintenance rather than let the houses fall into disrepair. Now these folks just can't go down to the local Canadian Tire or Rona and get materials to fix their own houses. These stores are not in their community. As a result these houses fall apart quickly.

    Now back to Chief Spence.  For the past year she has been patiently and persistently lobbying the government to expand and improve housing. Nothing was done. Now we are to the winter season again and drastic action is needed. This is where Chief Spence found herself on  hunger strike. 

    So this is a case where social justice is completely lacking. Also lacking is the basic humanity of a Prime Minister who apparently has no concern for certain groups of people. The Prime Minister sees himself as an economist although he has very few economy classes. He's done some reading of material from  the Chicago School of economics. Apparently economists don't have to worry or care about people. They only care about the "economy."

     So it's a very sad start to 2013 where we have a person who is near death because she's fighting for housing for her people and a group of people who have very poor housing for the winter.

    Please support Chief Teresa Spence.

24 comments:

  1. oh, this is heartbreaking. bless her in her steadfast cause, but with such a potential tragic cost to the people she leads.

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    1. Well said. We have some very real issues that need to be solved.

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  2. An awful story...let us hope for a satisfactory resolution.

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    1. The bigger story is in need of serious attention.

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  3. Well thank you Merle, I guess you may have been an asset when I arrived from 6 years
    in the tropics of “delightful” Papua New Guinea before they got Independence in 1975.
    If after Tokyo for New Year, and that was COLD, what greeted me in Vancouver, of New Year Day again, was too much. I when on arrival contacted Medicine Hat, only to be told that all documentation had not arrived, but they looked forward to my arrival, for consultations???? I informed the Catholic Education Office of Alberta what they could do. So I got on the then Canadian Pacific Rail train to Montreal – snow, snow and more now. Montreal was even colder, yes Merle, I could have done with even climatic advice.

    Now as for this topic. No comment from me. Good luck to the Lady concerned.
    Colin (Brisbane. Australia)

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  4. Thank you for giving me an insight into an issue I knew nothing of. Your analysis, like all of your writing, is clear, to-the-point, and incisive. Happy New Year my friend.

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    1. I find history fascinating and in particular aboriginal history.

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  5. The only support I can give her is my sincere wishes that this problem is resolved before she dies. Is there anything that can be done by me, Red? How do I support this cause?

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    1. You are doing the only thing you can do. Keep informed is necessary.
      Thanks for your support.

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    2. DJan you can help spread the word about what disgrace our government is in. Mainstream media reporters have been outrightly slandering the first peoples of our country, the very people who helped the first immigrants to this country survive are in need of world wide recognition for basic human rights.

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  6. WHO ELECTED THIS GUY IN THE FIRST PLACE? Its very sad to see such a tragic cost taking place as the loss of life dwindles in high ranking hands of a government that couldn't care less. He is not treating her any different than the seniors of our country and countless others. This is all just too sad Red - I do hope there is a positive resolution before its too late.

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    1. You're right. There are many issues in social justice that Steven Harper has eliminated.

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  7. The Chicago School of Economics. One mark there against a fine city.... and its guru???? Milton Friedman. Yuk....

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    1. I'm glad to find somebody who knows the inside story of the Friedman goons.
      My Daughter lives in Lagrange so I have visited Chicago and find it an awesome city and I don't like cities.

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  8. I was talking to a workmate (who recently arrived in our country) about this and he asked "How can this happen in Canada?"

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    1. It's actually an unbelievable situation. Harper's (Kenny's) record with immigrants is just as dismal.

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  9. It is amazing to have such dedication to her cause. Hoping for a solution of justice for her and her people.

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    1. I hope that there are some movements to begin looking for solutions.

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  10. So much injustice in the world. I hope things can improve for these people.

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    1. There's much injustice and we live in an area which is supposedly much more progressive.

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  11. Red thanks for furthering knowledge by sharing your voice. hugs!

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  12. You would think that injustice would not exist in today's world...but sadly it does. Bless her heart, I hope it works out for her.

    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

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  13. Red I've been following this and just this morning I read the full accounting of the $90 million dollars, it's appalling, disrespectful and outright injust how Harper isn't dealing with any of this. From what I have been watching, hearing and yes even supporting by attending one rally thus far, Harper is all about assimilation. I've heard that he wants to do away with INAC thus making this a provincial matter in each province.... seriously, another disregard for our treaties. I'll stop here so I don't go on one of my rants, but thank you for posting this and bringing awareness to Canada's lack of concern regarding our Indigenous peoples.

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  14. And assimilation is a bad word. Harper has no respect for the law let alone treaties and for that matter many other governments didn't have an awful lot of respect for treaties.

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