Report From The Poverty Olympics
Last Updated (Friday, 12 February 2010 00:12) Written by ORN Monday, 08 February 2010 05:45
The third annual Poverty Olympic Torch arrived in vancouver today six days ahead of the opening of the winter games. The torch bearers were accompanied by the three poverty olympic mascots itchy, creepy and chewy, a marching band and a group of hundreds of concerned citizens and community groups who oppose the 2010 Winter Games. Organizers say that public dollars could be more justly spent on ending poverty and homelessness, and the annual event is meant to highlight this.
Canada is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. And the province of British Columbia (BC) is among its most prosperous regions. But some people are being left behind.
At the same time as Vancouver is recognized as one of the most livable cities in the world, the Downtown Eastside — the city’s poorest neighbourhood — was singled out in 2007 by the United Nations Population Fund as a sign of “trouble in paradise.” The HIV rate here is 30% — the same as Botswana’s. Other diseases like Hepatitis C are rampant. Visitors who think of Canada as a caring, wealthy place are shocked to see the malnutrition, addiction, homelessness, and other harsh signs of grinding poverty all around.
Between 2002 and 2005, the BC government cut spending on social programs by nearly one third. That included an end to annual funding for new social housing. The BC Government also cut welfare benefits for single parents and their children, and for older folks. Poverty rates among single parents jumped as a result. All this happened at the very time when big promises were being made to win the 2010 Olympics bid — promises to build more social housing, reduce homelessness, and make sure poor people weren’t displaced by Olympics-driven development.
Bad decisions have made poverty and homelessness worse. If your fed up with an unaccountable administration that gives bailouts to banks and spends billions on a five ring circus while the poor suffer. If your tired of a corrupt government that continues to expand oil sand production while the people say NO MORE! If your ready for your voice to be heard than come to the anti-olympic convergence/peoples summit Feb 10th - 20