A Declaration to World Leaders

WE CARE!!!

Because . . . 

• Almost 1 Billion people around the world are hungry (i.e. having insufficient food to sustain life);
• Over 2.5 Billion people lack access to clean water and/or proper sanitation;
• More people die annually from poverty related causes than AIDS, TB, malaria, natural disasters, and conflict COMBINED;
• Woman & children die needlessly during child birth and early childhood due to lack of basic medical care;
• Lack of education entrenches the poverty cycle; and
• Poverty exists in every nation in the world.

. . . and WE believe there are Basic Human Rights whereby EVERYONE has . . .

• sufficient food;
• clean water and sanitation;
• adequate shelter;
• access to basic education; and
• access to primary medical care.

WE, the undersigned, call upon all leaders EVERYWHERE to work together in a non-partisan, non-political manner to ensure that NO ONE GOES WITHOUT food, water and sanitation, shelter, basic education or primary medical care on their watch.

IT'S SIMPLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

Taking Action

The following is episode #5 of a 5 part video interview with Deb Runnalls, Street Level Manager with The Mustard Seed. The Mustard Seed has served the street homeless for over 25 years.

What can we do to help the street homeless?

Please leave your comments below and feel free to share this with others . . . we have to put an end to myths as they prevent real people just like you and me from getting the help they desperately need.

For more information about The Mustard Seed and its programs, go to www.theseed.ca.

The other segments of this interview include:

Panhandlers, Street People & The Mustard Seed

The Truth Is Beyond What You See

Busting Myths About Street Homeless

Just Curious . . .

Hey!! I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.

Click Here to See WACHOOKANDU.

The Five Minute Challenge (Day 28 - August 19, 2011)

Peace dude!

Well that will freeze your Grandmother's preserves!!!  Seriously.  Ye ol' mercury dipped to the freezing point last night . . . 0C . . . 32F . . . 273.15K . . . no matter what you call it . . . it was cold.  At that temperature human beings should have shelter.  I'm extremely lucky as I have a tent.  Unfortunately, there are so many people that don't have that luxury.  I was actually warm inside my sleeping bag, blanket and hoodie . . . so much so that I did not want to get out this morning (see picture on left).


Guess what I just did?!?  I just wrote my Member of Parliament to ask him about what the Canadian government is doing to eliminate poverty in Canada.  It took me all of 15 minutes from finding his e-mail address to writing the letter to hitting "send".  That gives me an idea . . . a challenge for you!

Do you have 5 minutes to spare for the poor this weekend?  Good, I thought you might . . . because 5 minutes is easy.  Everyone has 5 minutes.  I challenge you to do one of the following two options this weekend - each will only take you 5 minutes.


OPTION #1 - Take 5 minutes to write to your MP and ask them about what the government is doing on our behalf to eliminate poverty.  While it took me about 15 minutes, it should only take you 5 minutes because I have done much of the work for you.  Simply follow these three steps (if you are in Canada):

Step #1 - Go to WACHOOKANDU and scroll down to the link to find your Member of Parliament.  On your MP's page take note of his or her e-mail address.

Step #2 - Cut and paste the following letter into an e-mail, and insert your information as noted:

Dear ENTER YOUR MP's NAME:

 

I have a question that I would appreciate you looking into and getting back to me.

 

What is the Canadian government doing to eliminate poverty (a) in Canada and (b) around the world?

 

Allow me to provide some context for my question;

• In the 1990's Parliament voted unanimously to eliminate poverty in Canada, but as far as I know the level of those in poverty in Canada remains at about 3.5 million Canadians (which includes 1 in 10 children);
• There are almost 1 billion people in the world without adequate food, and yet the world produces enough food to feed everyone;
• More than 9 million people die each year around the world due to hunger related causes and approx. 3.5 million die due water related reasons (which is most prominent with the poor) . . . this by far surpasses the number that die from AIDS, malaria, TB, natural disasters, and conflict COMBINED (which altogether totals between 5 and 6 million deaths) . . . and yet this is not publicized like those other plights; and
• We live in a world that has the abundance and technology to eliminate poverty and ensure that everyone has food, water, basic schooling, access to basic medical services, and safe birthing experiences for women. Some studies show that the additional cost to do all of this is approximately equivalent to 5% of the world's military spending.

I think there is an excellent opportunity for Canada to be a world leader in bringing an end to poverty in Canada and around the world. The Canadian government, and all governments, should ensure that no one goes hungry or without their basic human rights met on its watch.

 

I look forward to receiving your comments with respect to my question at your earliest opportunity. Thanks very much for your attention to this matter.

 

Best wishes,

YOUR NAME HERE

YOUR HOMETOWN HERE

YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER HERE

 

Step #3 - Hit "SEND"

 

 

OPTION #2 - If you are unwilling to do Option #1, then take 5 minutes to think about "Why?".

 

 

By the way, for those who choose Option #1, please feel free to let me know what your MP tells you.  I will let you know what my MP says.  And . . . for those who choose Option #2, please feel free to share your thoughts and insights from your time of reflection.

 

 

Hey!!  I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.

 

Ending Hunger Now (TED Talk by Josette Sheeran)

This is a 20 minute video well worth watching. And, please read my summary below which suggests actions you can take to end hunger now.



One of the primary poverty issues is hunger.  There's hunger in my community, there's hunger in your community, and there's a lot of hunger around the world.  Almost 1 BILLION people suffer from hunger daily . . . not having enough to eat.  Yet, as I have stressed, and as Josette Sheeran confirms, there is enough food in the world to feed EVERYONE. 

Josette Sheeran is the head of the UN's World Food Program.  In the video above,she talks about why, in a world with enough food for everyone, people still go hungry, still die of starvation, still use food as a weapon of war. Her vision: "Food is one issue that cannot be solved person by person. We have to stand together."

As Ms. Sheeran points out that hunger relates to us all . . . we may have experienced it ourself . . . it may be in our family history . . . it may offend our sense of justice and compassion . . . and it affects all of us economically.  We live in an interdependent global economy which could really use the productivity and involvement of those suffering from hunger . . . AND those who needlessly suffer from malnutrition, particularly as children, receive irreversible damage to their brain that prevents them from ever reaching their full potential.  Most importantly, Ms. Sheeran affirms that we have the technology and resources to end hunger now . . . not only to the benefit of those suffering from hunger, but to the benefit of us all.

So what do we do to make this happen?  Yes, donations are helpful and volunteering is appreciated.  However, the most effective thing Canadians can do is to let our Prime Minister and Minister of Finance (as well as our Member of Parliament) know that "No one should go hungry on their watch."

Contact Information (click on their name):

Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Hon. Jim Flaherty (Minister of Finance)

Your Member of Parliament


And . . . get your friends, colleagues, and family involved, too.  The more we speak about issues and the more people that are involved, the quicker change will come into being.  For many who are in need, getting things done as soon as possible is a matter of life and death.

Hey!!  I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.