G8/G20 Communique: Speak the f**k up!

[1]Krystalline Kraus

Don't feel like taking Senator Nancy Ruth advice when she warned women's groups to "shut the f--k up" or face reprisals from Prime Minister Stephen Harper over forwarding the woman's maternal health agenda?

Ya....me neither. I'm not very good at the shutting the F**k thing. I think I'd be the first person voted off the Shutting-the-f**k-up Island.

Oh well, looks like this cast-away pirate would be in good company.

Speaking of awesome pirates, check out this great column [2] as no one says it better than Antonia Z!

Quote: "Consider the silence from the Conservatives on continued funding by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, which helps women and girls in 174 countries

Meanwhile, CIDA announced $357,146 for the Prince Albert, Sask.-based Chakam School of the Bible Inc. to build a school in Sudan. "It's okay to translate the Bible," says Demers. "But there are aboriginal women here who are dying."

Well, let us radical femme pirates convene!

On Wednesday June 16, 2010, rabble.ca and THIS magazine are hosting Speak the F**k Up! [3]: a women's maternal health forum at Clinton's Tavern at 7:30 pm (693 Bloor Street West) hosted by Judy Rebick, featuring Antonia Z and Josephine Grey for $5.00

To dicuss: "Does Canada have any business leading the charge on these issues? Shouldn't we look to our own back yard first."

I mean hell... I think it's important to keep Canada accountable for the mess in its own backyard!

Why is our Prime Minister trying to steer the global maternal health care agenda when he should be taking bold leadership to face the health and poverty crisis among First Nations in his own country first.

Face the facts: [4]

Too many Aboriginal people live in poverty in Canada. The statistics speak for themselves:

--One in four First Nations children live in poverty.

--Diabetes among First Nations people is at least three times the national average.

--Recent Census data shows that 23 per cent of Aboriginal people live in houses in need of major repairs, compared to just 7 per cent of the non-Aboriginal population.

--Overcrowding among First Nations families is double the rate of that for all Canadian families. A recent government study found that more than half of Inuit families live in overcrowded conditions. Some three-bedroom homes are known to house as many as 20 people.

--More than 100 First Nations communities are under boil water advisories right now, meaning they have little or no access to clean water for drinking and sanitation.

--First Nations people suffer from Third World diseases such as tuberculosis at eight to 10 times the rate of Canadians in general.

--More than half of First Nations people are not employed.

--One Aboriginal child in eight is disabled, double the rate of all children in Canada.

--Among First Nations children, 43 per cent lack basic dental care.

--Aboriginal children are drastically over-represented in the child welfare system

--High school graduation rates for First Nations youth are half the Canadian rate.

--First Nations youth commit suicide at five to eight times the Canadian rate. The suicide rate for Inuit youth is six times as high as in the rest of the country.

--The majority of Inuit people in Canada live in remote arctic communities that make it difficult for them to access medical services and consumer goods.

--A 2005 Statistics Canada report found that 56 per cent of Nunavut respondents stated that their household lacked the money over the past year to buy enough quality food to eat. In the North, junk food is often much cheaper than nutritious food, because it is so much easier to ship.

--More than half of First Nations and Inuit people are under 25 years of age. This is the fastest growing population in Canada If poverty is not addressed today, it will continue to negatively impact First Nations families for generations to come.

Well, Harper, what do you have to say for yourself? Speak the f**k up!

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If you care, get involved! [5]

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