I was looking at the funding given to Prince George in March of this year to deal with homelessness in our community- The Province has generously given $742 000 to various social justice and advocacy groups in our community. This money has gone to hire consultants and outreach workers to help bridge those in need with what they need. I hope this doesn’t sound stupid, but why are we putting that money into employment for social workers and coordinators when that money could be directly benefiting the homeless by giving them a home. Direct action is what we require- we don’t have low-income housing- build it! People are hungry- feed them!
The work that support workers do is invaluable- advocacy and support are integral in building a movement and getting things done- but at what cost? I’m proposing a more direct action approach to physically provide the necessities of life- not just to facilitate.
What good is paying a school teacher if there’s no classroom to teach in.
We need the government to provide funding for support, but first invest in the infrastructure.
We have the resources, clearly, or at least we are beginning to. Take that $742 000 and build something or create a project that will still be there after a year- unlike a salary that benefits one household. I am aware that employment is an issue, and that facilitating the needs of the community must be valued and paid- but to me, that $742000 is just lip service if we have nothing to show for it except for facilitation. Maybe those of us who work in the social justice field need to work harder during our work hours to ensure that facilitation and administration is as efficient as possible and therefore more coordinators isn’t the answer- more walls and ceilings and bathrooms are the answer, more kitchens and day care and community is the answer.
The cycle of poverty in Prince George will not be broken unless we start to build outwards- and reach toward a sensible goal. The reason that homelessness and child poverty is an issue in Canada is because there are people that stand to benefit from other people’s misfortune. There are people that benefit from the institution that solidifies the walls of oppression. Noone in the world need go hungry- 30-40% of all the food produced in the global agricultural system is wasted, rotten or thrown away because of market principles and mismanagement. We have to recognize that what we deserve is not based on how much money we make or how hard we work. What we all deserve is food, shelter, clothing, compassion and change!!! I don’t think any of us deserve a 4 car garage or a yearly vacation to the Caribbean. I’m sorry if you don’t want to hear that. Because I’m sure a lot of people here work hard and need a break…
But my message today is about the redistribution of wealth and resources. Let’s just make a bit more sense out of this problem. It’s within our grasp, its within our reach. Everyone learn to give a little more and not out of duress- but from the heart.
If you feel like you can live with a little less then you are ready to tell the institution the same thing. Institutions like the government that overbudget for the smallest things like staff meetings and throw money away- and then can’t find funds for the next quarter to keep an addictions centre open. Institutions like Multi National Corporations that get tax incentives to build and open 100 stores in an urban area that strangle hold small business and then don’t even have the guts to pay their employees a living wage! Institutions like industrial farming that get subsidies from the government to pour toxic chemicals into the ground that will make food security and fresh water two of the most important issues facing Canadians in the next few years.
So what can we do?
We can make demands. We can call and write and email our member of parliament or the Prime Minister.
I don’t find that effective unless an entire community does it- 70,000 emails with the same subject line might be convincing though.
The lesson there is that if there is an action- and you support the issue- do what is required- if its sending a letter, send it, even if its futile- because it wont be if everyone does it. and if you think you don’t have the time- you do!!! There’s time- when we step outside of our capitalist work work mindframe of spending and consuming and then consuming leisure time and then working again- we will find that there is a lot of time to do things that we want to do.
Helping with existing campaigns or start your own-
Always be collecting food for the food bank, always be fundraising for local initiatives that could use the extra dollars, soup kitchens, after school programs, etc.
I would like to suggest a mind expansion revolution. Start thinking more about what you consume and how and why- what do you need, what do you deserve- how can you make your Christmas as waste reducing as possible- all of these things are interconnected.
And for those of you here that are homeless, or at risk of homelessness- how can you spend your time building community and reaching out to people and seeking the services that do exist to strengthen your ties with the community and your feeling of belonging. We all belong to each other, we all breathe the same air, we are all pink on the inside.
When a small city like Prince George cares and cares a whole lot- it will resonate throughout the province and the country. Let’s have bigger goals.
Let’s get together.
Let’s believe in ourselves and in each other.
It’s time to change what you think you know- about life and love and money and especially power. The power is in your hands if you choose to take it.
Don’t let any injustice go unaccounted for- speak up- speak for yourself.
Here’s a poem and I thank you for your time:
Time for change
Time for rage
Time to turn
another page
Time for Love
Time for scorn
Time to save
the newest born
Tear it down
to build anew
time to see
just what you’ll do!!!!
PEACE!
The work that support workers do is invaluable- advocacy and support are integral in building a movement and getting things done- but at what cost? I’m proposing a more direct action approach to physically provide the necessities of life- not just to facilitate.
What good is paying a school teacher if there’s no classroom to teach in.
We need the government to provide funding for support, but first invest in the infrastructure.
We have the resources, clearly, or at least we are beginning to. Take that $742 000 and build something or create a project that will still be there after a year- unlike a salary that benefits one household. I am aware that employment is an issue, and that facilitating the needs of the community must be valued and paid- but to me, that $742000 is just lip service if we have nothing to show for it except for facilitation. Maybe those of us who work in the social justice field need to work harder during our work hours to ensure that facilitation and administration is as efficient as possible and therefore more coordinators isn’t the answer- more walls and ceilings and bathrooms are the answer, more kitchens and day care and community is the answer.
The cycle of poverty in Prince George will not be broken unless we start to build outwards- and reach toward a sensible goal. The reason that homelessness and child poverty is an issue in Canada is because there are people that stand to benefit from other people’s misfortune. There are people that benefit from the institution that solidifies the walls of oppression. Noone in the world need go hungry- 30-40% of all the food produced in the global agricultural system is wasted, rotten or thrown away because of market principles and mismanagement. We have to recognize that what we deserve is not based on how much money we make or how hard we work. What we all deserve is food, shelter, clothing, compassion and change!!! I don’t think any of us deserve a 4 car garage or a yearly vacation to the Caribbean. I’m sorry if you don’t want to hear that. Because I’m sure a lot of people here work hard and need a break…
But my message today is about the redistribution of wealth and resources. Let’s just make a bit more sense out of this problem. It’s within our grasp, its within our reach. Everyone learn to give a little more and not out of duress- but from the heart.
If you feel like you can live with a little less then you are ready to tell the institution the same thing. Institutions like the government that overbudget for the smallest things like staff meetings and throw money away- and then can’t find funds for the next quarter to keep an addictions centre open. Institutions like Multi National Corporations that get tax incentives to build and open 100 stores in an urban area that strangle hold small business and then don’t even have the guts to pay their employees a living wage! Institutions like industrial farming that get subsidies from the government to pour toxic chemicals into the ground that will make food security and fresh water two of the most important issues facing Canadians in the next few years.
So what can we do?
We can make demands. We can call and write and email our member of parliament or the Prime Minister.
I don’t find that effective unless an entire community does it- 70,000 emails with the same subject line might be convincing though.
The lesson there is that if there is an action- and you support the issue- do what is required- if its sending a letter, send it, even if its futile- because it wont be if everyone does it. and if you think you don’t have the time- you do!!! There’s time- when we step outside of our capitalist work work mindframe of spending and consuming and then consuming leisure time and then working again- we will find that there is a lot of time to do things that we want to do.
Helping with existing campaigns or start your own-
Always be collecting food for the food bank, always be fundraising for local initiatives that could use the extra dollars, soup kitchens, after school programs, etc.
I would like to suggest a mind expansion revolution. Start thinking more about what you consume and how and why- what do you need, what do you deserve- how can you make your Christmas as waste reducing as possible- all of these things are interconnected.
And for those of you here that are homeless, or at risk of homelessness- how can you spend your time building community and reaching out to people and seeking the services that do exist to strengthen your ties with the community and your feeling of belonging. We all belong to each other, we all breathe the same air, we are all pink on the inside.
When a small city like Prince George cares and cares a whole lot- it will resonate throughout the province and the country. Let’s have bigger goals.
Let’s get together.
Let’s believe in ourselves and in each other.
It’s time to change what you think you know- about life and love and money and especially power. The power is in your hands if you choose to take it.
Don’t let any injustice go unaccounted for- speak up- speak for yourself.
Here’s a poem and I thank you for your time:
Time for change
Time for rage
Time to turn
another page
Time for Love
Time for scorn
Time to save
the newest born
Tear it down
to build anew
time to see
just what you’ll do!!!!
PEACE!
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