Stand up!

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

I have a busy week coming up here, and I’m excited about it too!

This week is a week of action, to stand up against an issue that faces not only people around the world, but those of us closer to home as well, poverty. A lot of us will never know what it’s like to go hungry, or to want for something as basic as clothes and shelter. There are others out there that are faced with this crippling issue, who have no ability to feed and clothe themselves. Currently ten percent of Canadians find themselves UNDER the poverty line, which is the bare minimum the government believes necessary to survive.

I’m always very enraged to hear people call homeless ‘lazy’ and ‘welfare bums’. I do agree welfare can be taken advantage of, but I also think it’s necessary. Some people just can’t afford to live on minimum wage alone, and certain people are predisposed to living with incomes that fall below the Canadian poverty line. Groups such as single-parent mothers, autistics, aboriginals, the mentally ill, the physically handicapped, recent immigrants, and students. With such a disadvantage, effects as results of poverty may include poor health, substance abuse, homelessness, crime, and suicide. A lot of people find themselves trying to buy groceries and having their debit card bounce. This doesn’t mean that they spend their money unwisely, it could just mean that the costs of living are higher than their income rate. People tend to pass judgement on others too easily, dismissing them and their problems as someone else’s.

Students have to pay the costs of living, plus tuition, books and supplies. Student loans are there to help yes, but they only cover a part of living expenses and if you’re in a big city it’s very hard to cope. You can take a job, but that can effect the grades you achieve. Almost all campus’s have a Food Bank, and cities have local food banks as well. You’d be surprised how many people need these services to survive, young and old. Shelter is a big issue, and beds are becoming harder and harder to come by when people suddenly find themselves homeless and in need of a warm place to stay while they try and get back on their feet.

So who’s problem is this? Is it the people who are disadvantaged and at the bottom? Is it their fault they’re in these situations? Or is it really just the way the dice roll, and some people in life get shafted? Here’s a question…. If you could do something to let the government know that it’s not right that these people have to struggle so hard in a losing battle, would you?

I’m not going to sit here and tell you it’s your responsibility to do something about this, because I can’t change your mind if it’s a cause you don’t believe in… But for those of you out there who want to do something about it, Stand Up To Take Actions Against Poverty!

http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/


All around the world October 17th-19th, people will be arranging activists meets to ‘Stand up’ and send a message about poverty. Sometimes there will be bands, and activities based around the day of action to get more people involved. You can come out, meet up with people, and talk about the future and what you think needs to happen. We all have voices, and it’s time we started sharing them.

October 17th students from my University will be gathering together and standing up in the Atrium, to send a message. I’ll be there as their photographer for the event, and I hope that you’ll try and get in touch with the groups in your community, and do the same.

Find your local event
http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/en/events/map/954 Here!

See you there!

She's the bravest little girl you'll ever see,
holding her mothers hand while she sleeps.
She whispers quiet soul filled prayers,
telling her to have no fears.
There's three little girls and two boys to feed,
water to carry and a garden to seed.
Clothes need mending and meals must be made,
But clinics to far, and there's no money saved.
A day or two and time will come undone,
The sister will now become the mum.
She's the little bravest girl you'll ever see,
A mom to five and barely fourteen.

He's the bravest little boy you'll ever see,
Barefoot and hungry in an empty street.
His moms upstairs with a man he doesn't know,
But at least tonight they'll be food on the table.
He smiles and pretends that he can't hear,
When the men come knocking he just disappears.
He's no money for books, no uniform to wear,
A dirty face, and unkempt hair.
His dreams aren't of games, of sugar or treats,
They're of education, and a university seat.
He hopes and he dreams, with a heart filled with hope,
Tomorrow the missionaries come with toothpaste and soap.
They'll tell him stories and inspire his heart,
But he can never afford school, even if he is smart.
He's the bravest little boy you'll ever see,
A dirt smudged face and a silent plea.

It's the bravest little house you'll ever see,
One pair of shoes and sixteen feet.
The walls are a mixture of straw, mud, and reeds,
A roof of thatched palms from overhead trees.
A father of six and a grandchild afoot,
Crumbling walls are hard to stay put.
No electricity, plumbing, air conditioning or heat,
water is fetched from a mile away creek.
Sometimes there's laughter, sometimes there's tears,
but there's always hungry bellies and hearts filled with fear.
Food on the table is hard to come by,
with so many empty mouths sometimes they cry.
Blisters are plenty and hard work fills their days,
even the youngest helps till the last sun rays.
Coffee is grown with hands that take care,
What little they make is evenly shared.
It's the bravest little house you'll ever see,
With hopes of fairtrade and a loving family.


She's the bravest mom you'll ever see,
Walking the streets to bring home money.
Her body for business, her heart for her kids.
No where to turn without turning them in.
Minimum wage doesn't get you far,
theres bills to pay and she has needs a car.
She has no phone to call into work,
When Annie gets sick and needs a doctor.
Mistakes have been made, but there's no way to escape,
Superboy uses a towel for Halloween instead of a cape.
Kraft dinner again, tomorrow the same,
She needs to get help but there's so much shame.
If only the world could understand,
Without stigma and blame outstretch a hand.
They'll tell her she's no good, that the kids have to go,
They'll take away her heart, and they'll shatter her hope.
She's the bravest mom you'll ever see,
A better life in her dreams and her heels on the street.

You're the bravest student you'll ever see,
when you stand up and fight to stop poverty.

By Starsha Battrick
Starchild.art.creations@gmail.com