NAPO News No. 88 February 2005

In this issue...

Social Forum brings activists together
What we've been up to
Message from New NAPO President, Paulette Halupa

Social Forum brings activists together
by Paulette Halupa

In June 2004, I represented NAPO at the Americas Social Forum in Quito, Ecuador. The Forum brought together 11,000 activists from 55 countries ( including European, Asian and African nations) in an attempt to bring attention to the impact of trade agreements and other government policies on people in different countries. There were demonstrations, workshops, meetings and a host of other activities that brought people together to share experiences, ideas and strategies for bringing about change.

In Ecuador the differences between the rich and poor are obvious. The rich have fancy houses, luxurious cars and their children go to school dressed in expensive uniforms. Children in poor families do not go to school. Instead, parents take them to work selling in the market. As for housing, homes often don’t have the basics - like a front door.

Two of the best workshops at the Forum were on the World Women’s March and the Kensington Welfare Rights Union. They were significant for NAPO since both of these groups represent the poor. Workshops were also held on the various trade deals that have been signed over the last several years and the negative impact they are having on the poor of all countries.

One of the events in Quito was a march against the free trade deals. There were an estimated 10,000 people marching. People in the streets yelled out encouragement while people driving home from work honked their horns in solidarity. No one seemed to mind the inconvenience as the large crowd wound its way through the city.

Looking at the crowd, it was clear there was a large diversity of participants. Of particular note was the lack of military or police presence during the various events, especially the march. There weren’t large numbers of police like you see in the U.S. or Canada. The only places that had guards were McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken. I felt this protest was a true testament that activists are peaceful and do not need to be tear gassed and beaten with batons.

The wrap-up event on the final night was fantastic. There was smoke drifting all over from indigenous smudge fires, flags from various countries, and people dancing and singing to a Quito-based indigenous music group that disappeared behind hundreds of dancing bodies that invaded the stage.

The solidarity and cooperation engendered at the Forum was invigorating for me as a participant. All around me people seemed rejuvenated and ready to carry on the fight. On the last day, we celebrated the fact that the people of the Americas are of one accord - we all want a world of peace and prosperity where our children can thrive and build for a future were everyone is truly equal. I left with the feeling that I had made many friends who shared the same vision and who I could depend upon in the struggles for justice that would take place in the coming year.

What We’ve Been Up To

• NAPO took the lead on writing a chapter on poverty for the Alternative Federal Budget 2005. The AFB is published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. It combines the efforts of many groups and individuals who believe new ways of government budgeting can help eliminate inequality, poverty and injustice. Watch for its release in February.
• Coalitions have been formed around our minimum wage and international human rights campaigns. Meetings were held with a number of labour, student and equality-seeking groups in September and November to discuss ideas and strategies.
• Our youth poverty initiative is gaining momentum with the formation of a volunteer working group and an advisory committee. We are still looking for youth volunteers across the country to help with our campaign so let us now if you can lend your energy and skills to the campaign.
• NAPO’s Executive Director, Dennis Howlett, visited PEI and New Brunswick in October. The aim of the trip was to learn about the anti-poverty work being done in these provinces. It also helped to establish connections with people who are active in these areas. Dennis met with a number of groups, including the NB Common Front for Social Justice, the Working Groups for a Livable Income and ALERT in PEI. There are a number of opportunities for NAPO to help groups in their struggle to gain minimum wage and social assistance rate increases in this region.
• NAPO met with the Minister for Labour and Housing Joe Fontana on November 16 th. We presented the action cards that many of you sent us in response to our Housing Campaign, and NAPO’s concerns and recommendations for dealing with the national housing crisis.
• Despite much confusion over when or if the Standing Committee on Finance would actually hear public presentations this year, NAPO made it onto the list of groups invited to answer Committee questions. We appeared at the hearings and submitted a brief that makes several recommendations on how to end poverty. Click here to see the NAPO brief to the Finance Committee.
• NAPO Executive Director Dennis Howlett was invited to an informal round table discussion with Finance Minister Goodale in December to discuss the Federal Budget.
• Sandra Bender, our research and campaigns coordinator, did a short presentation on NAPO’s report Voices: Women, Poverty and Homelessnessin Canada at a National Housing Research Committee meeting in Ottawa. The meeting hosted people from across Canada who are working on various housing issues.

Message from New NAPO President, Paulette Halupa

Dear members and friends of NAPO,

This past year has been a very productive one for NAPO. The Board has continued to work on the outcomes of our 2003 organizational review and we hired a new executive director (Dennis Howlett). We took the lead on writing the poverty chapter for the 2005 Alternative Federal Budget, staged the anti-poverty play Danny King of the Basement, met with federal cabinet ministers on various issues, travelled to provinces to meet with other anti-poverty groups, developed excellent new promotional materials and started numerous campaigns that will run during this year. Our staff and executive director have been working hard to keep NAPO as the leading voice of the poor in Canada. We owe them our thanks for all of their efforts.

Currently, the Board and staff are working on a number of important campaigns on homelessness, youth poverty, living/minimum wage and the Canadian Social Transfer. We are also developing strong networks with groups across the country that are also working on poverty and related issues. In addition, NAPO Board members are busy in their own regions working closely with people living in poverty. There is a strong sense of action, excitement and enthusiasm driving NAPO’s work as we begin this New Year, and I look forward to being a part of it. NAPO will be pushing hard for real changes in a number of areas like housing and childcare over the next 12 months. I am pleased to be a part of NAPO’s efforts to end poverty in this country, and I look forward to representing your concerns about this all-important issue.

Best wishes for a fulfilling year, Paulette Halupa