INTERNATIONAL POLITICS HUMAN RIGHTS:

WATER AS A HUMAN RIGHT:

Most of take our access to clean safe abundant water for granted. This is not, however, the case in poorer countries nor even on many reservation here in Canada. In a time when there are increasing disputes between countries for access to water and when there is a global push to sell off public utilities to the private sector the movement to declare access to water as a human right is particularly timely. Here's a notice from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) asking you to add your voice to this movement.

WWWWWWWW
Water is a human right: Push for Canadian action


On July 28, the United Nations General Assembly will take a landmark vote on recognizing the human right to water and sanitation. CUPE members can help push Canadian representatives to support this vital resolution.

The resolution would recognize “the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a universal human right”. The resolution calls for increased financial, technological and capacity-building support to countries in the global South, to build the public services that will make this human right a reality.

The Council of Canadians’ Blue Planet Project has launched an online week of action to build support for the resolution.

Today, 1.2 billion people don’t have access to clean drinking water, and 2.6 billion don’t have access to basic sanitation services. For years, the Canadian government has blocked efforts at the UN to recognize these services as basic human rights.

CUPE has written a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon as part of an action organized by Public Services International, the public sector trade union federation we belong to.

CUPE has also signed an open letter supporting the UN resolution.

What you can do

Now it’s time to add your voice, by sending a message to Canada’s UN representatives and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

**Send an email to Canada’s representatives at the United Nations, Ambassadors John McNee and Henri-Paul Normandin.
**Send an email to Prime Minister Stephen Harper calling on the Canadian government to support water as a human right.

WWWWWWWW

THE LETTERS:

Here are the letters that the post above asks you to send. First of all go to this link to send the following letter to the Canadian ambassador to the UN.

WWWWWWWW
Dear Ambassador,

I am writing to express my support for the United Nations General Assembly resolution clearly recognizing the human right to water and sanitation.

I believe it is critical that the United Nations General Assembly demonstrate leadership in focusing priorities on securing water and sanitation for the 1.2 billion people without access to clean water and the 2.6 billion without access to basic sanitation. Everyone must be able to enjoy these fundamental rights.

Access to safe clean drinking water and sanitation is essential for the health and dignity of people around the world. This resolution comes at a time when communities around the world face the impacts of climate change and a global water crisis.

As you know, under Target 3 of Goal 7 of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Environmental Sustainability, states pledged to “Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.”

I am hopeful that passing the resolution will make water and sanitation high priorities at the UN Summit on the MDGs being held September 20-22, 2010 in New York, U.S. It will also focus attention on water before the Rio +20 summit in 2012, another critical moment for the global community to come together for our common future.

When the General Assembly considers this resolution, I respectfully ask that your country provide its support for a clearly stated resolution declaring the human right to water and sanitation.

I would also encourage your state to co-sponsor this historic resolution and send a further signal of your commitment to these fundamental human rights.

Sincerely,

WWWWWWWW

And if you go to this link you can send the following letter to our beloved comrade leader Sneaky Stevie Harper.

WWWWWWWW
Prime Minister Harper,

I am writing to demand that Canada support the resolution put forward by the Bolivian Mission at the United Nations, which calls for water to be recognized as a human right.

This resolution would recognize the right to water and sanitation for the 1.2 billion people without access to clean water and the 2.6 billion without access to basic sanitation.

We are concerned that Canada along with a handful of states including the United Kingdom, Sweden, the United States and Australia, are attempting to block the process by watering down what is currently a strong proposal by Bolivia to address global injustice when it comes to access to water and sanitation.

It is essential that the resolution specifically declares “the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation a universal human right.”

Your government claims it is committed to maternal and infant health, yet you have obstructed the official recognition of water as a human right at several key UN meetings. Every eight seconds a child dies from drinking dirty water. Access to safe clean drinking water and sanitation is essential for the health and dignity of communities around the world.

People living in Canada want their government to show leadership on water issues by recognizing this human right and by taking an active role in dealing with the global water crisis. It is time for Canada to stand on the right side of history and support this very important call to have water and sanitation declared human rights.

Sincerely,

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS:

TAKE ACCOUNT OF PEOPLE WHEN FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE:

Everybody wants to save the Earth these days, and surely the sentiments are laudible. Despite the gloating of the climate change deniers the scientific evidence is virtually incontrovertible that a)the Earth is warming and b)human activities are very much responsible for this. The minor actions of a couple of researchers don't take away at all from the tens of thousands of others across the world who have come to the obvious conclusion. Whatever those who search the internet for evidence of their pre-formed beliefs may think.

Yet, there is something that should be taken into account when measures are proposed to mitigate climate change...the rights of indigenous people. While very few outside of Nazi and primitivist ideological cesspools would advocate outright genocide of such "marginal" people to "save the Earth" the general 'liberal consensus' gives such people minimal importance. Here's an item from the Care2 site about how such things should deserve attention.

IPIPIPIPIPIPIPIP
Bring Indigenous Voices into the Conversation About Climate Change

The United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries or UN-REDD was created to offer developing countries financial incentives for cutting down carbon emissions by preserving forests and biodiversity.

Addressing global climate change is vital, but unfortunately policies developed by the global North are not always harmonious with the livelihoods of the indigenous peoples that live on the lands. The watchgroup REDD-Monitor points out specific language in REDD's call to action that can be problematic:

1. "conservation" sounds good, but the history of the establishment of national parks includes large scale evictions and loss of rights for indigenous peoples and local communities.

2."sustainable management of forests" could include subsidies to commercial logging operations in old-growth forests, indigenous peoples’ territory or in villagers’ community forests.

3."enhancement of forest carbon stocks" could result in conversion of land (including forests) to industrial tree plantations, with serious implications for biodiversity, forests and local communities.

When groups of marginalized people barely have a voice at the state or national level, it is easy and convenient for world leaders to overlook them. But besides bringing unique perspectives and knowledge of the issue, indigenous peoples need to have a say in the fate of the land they live on.

TAKE ACTION:

Tell the Head UN-REDD Programme Secretariat Yemi Katerere that indigenous peoples must participate in deciding climate change policies by signing the petition.

IPIPIPIPIPIPIPIP

The Letter:

Please go to the link above to send the following letter to the United Nations Collaborative Program on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries (REDD).

IPIPIPIPIPIPIPIP
Dear Dr. Katerere,

As the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN-REDD) develops its policies for COP-16 in Mexico, I am writing to encourage you to promote the participation of local and indigenous peoples. They are the key to conserving standing forests and restoring degraded forests to combat global climate change.

[Your comment will be inserted here]

In particular, EcoLogic encourages integration of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in REDD projects and policies, including: a) free, prior, and informed consent of local and indigenous people in REDD project development; b) land rights based on traditional ownership, occupation, and use; and c) a transparent and fair process to recognize and adjudicate these rights.

I strongly support the EcoLogic position that indigenous people must be an active part of the solution to protect the world's forests.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
[Your name here]

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS/CANADIAN LABOUR:

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION:






Today, March 21, is the day declared by the United Nations as 'International day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination'. This begins a week of events in solidarity with victims of racial discrimination. Human beings are one species, and it is a hangover of more primitive times that they are divided by race. the international anarchist movement has always worked against this prejudice, and, in my opinion, its elimination is both possible and necessary even under our present economic system- managerial society. It will actually be one of the great tasks of "the managers" before they pass from history, and the accomplishment of this task is necessary before (not after) a free society can come to birth. Great advances have already been made, but there is much more to do. Here's the statement of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) about this day.
CLCLCLCLCLCLCL
Eliminating racial discrimination
March 21 is the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination. On the day in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid “pass laws” in Sharpeville, South Africa.




Events and activities worldwide, which mark the day, aim to remind us of racial discrimination’s negative consequences. It also reminds us of our obligation to combat racism in all its forms.




Racism contradicts and undermines our union struggle for equality, inclusiveness and social justice. Intolerance, hatred and discrimination lead to the denial of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, endangers peace and economic and social security.
Help fight racism
**Challenge your own racist assumptions and beliefs.
**Learn more about racially visible people and their communities.
**Stand with racially visible communities and speak out against hatred and racism.
**Challenge governments’ racist and discriminatory policies and laws.
**Organize a panel discussion on racism.
**Set up an information booth or a lunch-time video that promotes better cross cultural understanding.
**Act against racism, whether jokes, slurs, graffiti, or name calling.
**Organize a speaker on human rights at your next union meeting.
**Identify barriers to equality at work and find ways to remove them.
**Put equality issues on your bargaining agenda.
**Organize education on anti-racism in your local.
**Make sure your union newsletter or website carries ethnic culture success stories and send your stories to your local newspaper.
**Encourage public institutions and officials to show their support for human rights and anti-racism when an issue arises in your community.
**Work with other unions and local allies on a plan to end racism in your workplace, local institutions and community.
**Join or support organizations that are working to build inclusive communities.
**Get involved, have courage and take a stand against racism and hate!

CANADIAN ANARCHIST MOVEMENT:

OCAP OPPOSES U.N. AWARD FOR CITY OF TORONTO PROGRAM:

The City of Toronto has a 'Streets to Homes' program that is supposedly designed to help the homeless but is actually more akin to some sort of "ethnic cleansing" designed to get the homeless out of visibility and offer them very little help. This program is amazingly in the running for an United Nations award during the upcoming World Habitat Day ceremonies. The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) has something to say about this. Here is their statement.

..........................

OCAP CHALLENGES INTERNATIONAL AWARD NOMINATION FOR TORONTO‏
OCAP CHALLENGES INTERNATIONAL AWARD NOMINATION FOR TORONTO

The City of Toronto's 'Streets to Homes' program is a mechanism for attacking the homeless and driving them from the centre of the the City. It dumps people without supports in outlying areas and is a pretext for removing funding from the vital services the homeless need.

This program is up for one of two awards that will be announced on October 6 and presented in front of the United Nations celebration of World Habitat Day.

Below is the text of a letter that OCAP has sent to the international body that hands out the awards.

August 13, 2008

World Habitat Awards

Building and Social Housing Foundation

Memorial Square

Coalville

Leicestershire

LE67 3TU

UNITED KINGDOM

Dear B.S.H.F.,

We have learned that the 'Streets to Homes' Program operated by the City of Toronto has been entered and, indeed, is one of the finalists for your annual awards. This program may well be held up before the United Nations celebration of World Habitat Day as a model of "practical and innovative solutions to current housing needs and problems". Our organization has worked to challenge homelessness and the devastation of services to homeless people in Toronto and we are writing to urge you in the strongest possible terms to avoid legitimizing this City's ongoing attack on poor and homeless people.We say this because 'Streets to Homes' is a dishonest, pseudoprogressive component of and cover for this ugly agenda and it would be massively unfortunate for your body to assist in the deception.

The underlying context for the situation I will lay before you is a phenomenon of upscale urban redevelopment that, as an internationally focused body, you will be well familiar with. Capital is reinvesting in the central part of this City following an earlier process of "suburbanization". Commercial and high end residential development is sweeping into areas of the inner city where substantial homeless populations and low income neighbourhoods have been established. Low income housing stock is being lost and homeless people are being demonized and persecuted in the interests of this process. This is the economic and political backdrop to the '"innovative solution" called 'Streets to Homes' that you have already held up before the world and that you may hand a prestigious award to. Before you do, we want to provide you with a perspective that you would not have heard from City officials or politicians that speaks to the feelings of those who stand in the path of the redevelopment agenda. We want to deal with 'Streets to Homes' from two standpoints. Firstly, we will examine its glaring immediate shortcomings as a program that claims to be improving the lot of those it brings under its wing. Secondly, we are going to deal with the bigger question of the overall agenda of the City towards poor and homeless people and show the role of 'Streets to Homes' in facilitating this.

So, to start with a look at the immediate track record of the program on its own terms, you only have to scratch beneath the surface to immediately find factors that sound a note of caution. 'Streets to Homes' may be putting people into housing units but on what basis? The homeless population is, of course, concentrated in the central part of the City but we can see that close to 40% of those being put into units are finding themselves outside of that area. Indeed, this understates things because the available figures include the area of East York as part of the central area. This means that a definition of central Toronto has been adopted that understates the degree to which the program is pushing people from the actual core. To be placed, without living income, services and access to affordable transportation in outlying areas of the City is a recipe for isolation and inability to secure the necessities of life. This factor makes it less than surprising that, after the first seventeen months of operating this program, 94 out of 269 people had lost their first housing placement and fully11% of those placed had again become homeless or their whereabouts were unknown.

We must also ask ourselves what kind of housing are people being moved into? If the City had to show that it was housing people in units that could be deemed as adequate and dignified, it would have much less to shout about in terms of the "success" of 'Streets to Homes'. Many of the private sector units people are being placed in are of the poorest quality. In the case of placements in municipal housing units, the situation is something of a scandal. There are over 70,000 people on the waiting list for public housing in Toronto and many of them wait for over five years for a unit but 'Streets to Homes' is able to move homeless people into a Toronto Community Housing (TCH) unit if it is refused three times over by those on the waiting list. If a unit is rejected repeatedly by those who have waited years for rent geared to income housing, you can be sure it is woefully inadequate.

In the course of our advocacy work, our organization has visited TCH buildings and units that people have been dumped in that would shock anyone concerned with basic health and human dignity. We have seen people living in conditions of dilapidation and neglect in such units that are so extreme that their health, safety and social inclusion are more compromised than they would be in any homeless shelter.

If people are being housed without proper regard for location, ongoing support and any effective commitment to ensure the adequacy of their living conditions, this only reflects something fundamental about 'Streets to Homes'. It has been developed not as a solution in the lives of homeless people but as a "solution" to the problem of homelessness as it exists for those concerned with redevelopment and commercial activity in this City. The homeless are seen as a problem to extent that they are visible, especially in the central area. The intention is to remove them from view so that they are not sleeping on the streets or asking for change in areas where tourism and recreation find overt destitution an impediment to their business operations.That's why so many are being placed in units outside of the core and that's why anything that can be referred to as "housing" will do regardless of what it represents in the life of the person dumped in it. This brings us to important consideration of where 'Streets to Homes' fits into the overall agenda of the City around the homeless.

If this program were only a very shoddy and dishonest attempt to put some people into housing units, we would regard a high profile international award as ill deserved and laughable but our sense of outrage would still not be as great as it is. However, the most harmful element of 'Streets to Homes' lies in its use as a cover for a broader agenda to attack the homeless. While a process of dubious rehousing of some people proceeds, the City is closing beds within its shelter system and defunding the services that the homeless need to survive. The new religion of "housing the homeless" is utilized to hide the worsening crisis on the streets. Vital services for those who access shelters or must sleep outside are being curtailed and all complaints and concerns on this score are swept away by a chorus of ill deserved triumphalism. Yet, people are not able to access the overcrowded shelters. On the streets, they must deal with an escalating and ugly drive by the police to push them out that proceeds regardless of claims by the City that new, supportive approaches are being adopted to assist those who sleep outside or who panhandle to try and survive. Last year, Toronto police issued over 10,000 tickets to homeless people who were panhandling (a massive increase) and, as this is written, the City of Toronto is revealing a plan to crack down on poor people who collect and return empty bottles and discarded cans in order to try and survive.

That you have already made 'Streets to Homes' a finalist in your competition is desperately unfortunate. As a program for housing people it could better be called "Streets to Slums". As a cover for an agenda of social exclusion in the service of upscale urban redevelopment, it is as dishonest as it is harmful. In this most wealthy City in one of the wealthiest countries on earth, the homeless are being swept from view. Should you reward and promote such an outrage, it will be a shame on your organization and on World Habitat Day that will cry out for public exposure. Please consider this letter and reject 'Streets to Homes' when you make your decision.

The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty