A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action Please

Although I am pleased that the Canadian Red Cross has finally stepped in to provide some temporary relief to the residents of the Attawapiskat First Nation, our government really needs to step up and do what is right here, hell do anything, do something, do their jobs!

The RNAO released a statement on the 23rd of Nov. advising that, "The living conditions some people in the northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat are being forced to endure are deplorable and dangerous to their health ."  

When their own grade school was closed down 12 years ago, it took a 13 year old girl, Shannen Koostachin, to launch an international campaign to try and shame the government into providing the children in Attawapiskat with the same quality of education that children who live in the South have.   In October they had to declare a State of Emergency because of their living conditions and only now is the government reacting, and that is probably because of public pressure a result of a Blog by MP Charles Angus that was in the Huffington Post. 

No running water, no indoor heating or plumbing facilities, a bucket, really?  What is it going to take, a child or an elder freezing to death?  Winter is going to be here soon and someone is going to die, either by actually freezing to death or in an attempt to stay warm with an unsafe fire! Would you accept your child or your parents living in these conditions? I would go mad with sadness and anger.

I know just writing about it won’t help.  I also know that this situation is not necessarily new or unique to Attawapiskat but rather something that many First Nation Communities face and have faced for far too long.  Having said that, now that the mainstream media have brought attention to this situation, even if only for a fleeting moment, we should take advantage of the coverage and spread the word as much as possible.  Blog about it, tweet about it, post about it, email about it, shout it from the rooftops so that as many Canadians as possible become aware of the appalling conditions the residents are forced to endure.  It is shameful! 

Contact the federal and provincial governments, and make them accountable instead of just pointing fingers at one another while nobody takes any responsibility and nothing is done.  Apparently Officials from the Aboriginal Affairs department will be in Attawapiskat early next week, at least this is what Minister John Duncan told the House of Commons on Friday.  Let’s hope it doesn’t  just end up being more finger pointing and something concrete will finally be done because unless you are camping for fun in the summer,  you shouldn't be forced to live in a tent.

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister                                               
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2                                              

The Honourable Dalton McGuinty
Premier of Ontario
Main Legislative Building
Queen’s Park, Room 281
Toronto, Ontario   M7A 1A1

You can find your MP here:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/compilations/houseofcommons/memberbypostalcode.aspx?menu=hoc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6abZ0LFT5CQ

http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=3623&SiteNodeID=390&BL_ExpandID

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/883603/people-of-attawapiskat-and-other-first-nations-communities-deserve-better-nurses-ask-prime-minister-and-ontario-premier-to-intervene-in-housing-crisis

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/11/24/attawapiskat-reserve-housing-funding_n_1112145.html#undefined

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1092057--red-cross-steps-in-to-help-attawapiskat-as-queen-s-park-and-ottawa-bicker

Thank you to the Troublemakers

Troublemaker

Noun

A person who habitually makes trouble for others; esp., one who incites others to quarrel, rebel, etc.

As I was getting ready for work this morning I heard a reporter on one of the local Toronto morning news shows advise that most Occupy Toronto protesters where leaving St. James Park in Toronto peacefully but there were some "Troublemakers" refusing to leave.

Up until now I embarrassingly admit that I haven't given the actual protesters that much thought.  Their message has been unclear and it seemed (Not saying that this is actually the case, and even if it was, who cares?) that there were as many people just camping out as there were exercising their right to gather, protest and work for change. (Do not email me with the legalities of this, I really don’t give a shit).  This morning however, that term "Troublemaker" caught my attention. I had the same reaction I do when I bite into something cold sans Sensodyne, cringe, ouch... Troublemakers?  WTF does that mean? Why is there a negative connotation to that word, especially in this particular case?  Isn’t that what you have to be? What else could the protesters be but Troublemakers and Rebels?  Have you ever tried to fight an injustice nicely, politely, patiently?  How far did it get you?  Was justice served? Of course they are Troublemakers and thank goodness for them. 

Although I may not necessarily agree (I’m not sure exactly how I feel about this, I confess I switch back and forth regarding its efficacy), with occupying the park, and I wish they had a clearer message, if for no other reason than to shut up all the naysayers who constantly use their lack of a clear message as some type of proof of their incompetence, I want to thank the Troublemakers.  I want to thank them for doing what I am too busy, too tired, perhaps too cynical and jaded, possibly too scared to do. Thank you Troublemakers for standing up for what you believe in and reminding us we can and we should.

Are they lazy?  Are they hippies (say it isn’t so!)? Are they jobless, crazy radicals or social crusaders? I think they are a combination of many things and maybe some folks who have it harder than most so they seem a little angry.  Ok some of them seem a lot angry but there are individuals and families out there who have a lot to be angry about; you know, what they will feed their kids, where they will live, that kind of thing. If you are thinking to yourself right now, “how is that my problem”, you might as well stop reading.  In the end they are just fighting for people and those in power to acknowledge that the system isn’t working for many.  We need to keep in mind that that means different things to different people, for some it means no vacation this year, for others it could mean not being able to afford medicine for themselves or their children (hence that whole really angry thing).  I know it’s inconvenient and easy for me to say as I’m really not personally inconvenienced by this particular protest, but next time it may be a cause you give a shit about and you will be told to, “just move along.”

If you are a Troublemaker…if you have ever fought for Aboriginal rights, Women’s rights, fought against racism, sexism, homophobia, violence against women and children….if you have ever fought for the right to choose, the right to drink clean water, for human rights...thank you.