[mobglob-discuss] FW: Human Rights Violations of Homeless People in Vancouver

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From:   Roslyn Cassells <rcassells at alternatives.com>
To:   rcassells at alternatives.com
Subject:   Local Politician Joins Missionaries in Plea to United Nations to
Intervene in Human Rights Violations of Homeless People in Vancouver,
British Columbia
Date:   Thu, 31 Oct 2002 00:00:21 -0800

PHILIP OWEN, MAYOR OF VANCOUVER,

The following is a copy of an e-mail sent The Secretary General of the U.N.
As well, a copy was sent to Mr. Chretien.
Mayor Owen,  your job is not over yet.  With deepest concern we urge you
to
stop all action against the squatters around the Woodward's Store and open
up Woodward's and other government buildings to house the many people under
viaducts, alleys, doorways, and in parks before tragic situations or
violence
occurs.  Even if the charge that not all there are homeless is true, there
are many
more than this group, sleeping outside who are too sick and too afraid to
join in.  When we send our young people to war to fight and defend the weak,
the sick and the defenseless we decorate them with medals for their bravery.
Is it not a noble act that young people are willing to 'stand up' and live
outside and sleep on cold cement, and face humilation and danger for the
defense of the homeless of Vancouver.

DEAR U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL, KOFI ANNAN

WE ARE CURRENTLY DEALING WITH HUNDREDS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE SQUATTING AROUND
THE OLD WOODWARD'S BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER B.C., CANADA.  THE POLICE
HAVE
GIVEN THEM UNTIL NOON TODAY OCT 30/02 TO CLEAR OUT, WITHOUT PROVIDING THEM
WITH ANY SHELTER,  AS THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND AS
CANADA IS A SIGNATORY MEMBER OF THE U.N. DECLARATION AND THE COVENANT, WHICH
DECLARES THE RIGHT TO "SHELTER AND FREEDOM FROM CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING
TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT"  WE ASK THAT YOU IMMEDIATELY CONTACT MR. CHRETIEN,
THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA, AND ASK HIM TO INTERVENE AS THE CHIEF
UPHOLDER OF OUR INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS.

This request is made in agreement with Roslyn Cassells an elected official
for The Vancouver Parks Board,  and the following statement released by her.
Thank you for your immediate attention.

Pastor Gloria Kieler
(1-604-251-2493) gloriakieler at shaw.ca

Commissioner Roslyn Cassells
(1-604-257-8512) roslyn_cassells at city.vancouver.bc.ca

HUMAN RIGHTS OF SQUATTERS VIOLATED BY CITY OF VANCOUVER

Vancouver, BC.  October 29, 2002.  The City of Vancouver, in a desperate
attempt to dislodge an increasingly embarrassing example of the political
and social neglect of poor people, disabled people, addicts, and persons
with mental health concerns, has demanded that the group around the
Woodwards building abandon the sidewalk where they have taken up residence
after being forceably ejected from the abandoned building there.

Just where are all these homeless people supposed to go?  Back to jail?
To
another sidewalk?  Or does the City just hope that if they keep on
harrassing them that at least some of them will succumb to the cold, wet,
weather, and die
..ceasing to be an eyesore on the way to downtown, and
saving the province a monthly welfare cheque?

Desperate situations require desperate measures, and the group which has
banded together around the Woodwards building has created a
mini-neighbourhood right there on the sidewalk.  They are taking care of
each other, feeding each other, providing places to sleep, and keeping each
other safe

something no level of government has seriously attempted.  It
makes you wonder if the bureaucrats and elected officials really give a
rat's ass about any of these folks.

The next move according to some in the group, is to take over abandoned
city buildings to use as temporary shelters.  And why not?  They are public
buildings, and they belong therefore to the people, and should be put at
the service of the people, and not just ruling elite
..oh, yes I mean the
NPA.  In fact, you have to wonder why COPE, ostensibly a party of the
people, is not supporting this move, or the Greens for that matter.  The
COPE, NPA and VCA mayoralty candidates are all against it
..easy enough for
them as they lay their heads down each night in their warm beds to ignore
the plight of those who not only have no warm place to sleep, but face the
prospect of being criminalized for the very fact of being poor!!

In fact I have brought motions to park board on a number of occasions,
October 21, 2002 most recently, to require the city to open up municipal
buildings to the homeless, temporarily suspend laws pertaining to loitering
and curfews in the public parks, and to provide round the clock public
toilet and drinking fountain facilities.  My notice of motion, with notice
waived, was discussed and dismissed by all of the NPA commissioners on
Vancouver Park Board.  Why are similar ideas not being brought forward at
council, at school board?  And why are city staff and the Vancouver Police
being deployed against the weakest members of our society?

In many countries, Holland being a prime example, the rights of squatters
are respected not only in public buildings, but also in private ones.  You
cannot throw out a squatter unless you provide them with a place to live
that they agree to.  The right to housing, as a human right, is respected
there, as it is not here.  Perhaps Holland takes more seriously its status
as a signatory to the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

In addition, the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
states in the preamble:  "the ideal of free human beings enjoying civil and
political freedom and freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if
conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his civil and political
rights, as well as his economic, social and cultural rights,"  Note the
wording
"everyone".  And how about Article 7 which states "No one shall be
subjected to
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."  Why is
it that in Vancouver, if you are poor, if you sleep on the sidewalk, that
you get thrown in jail? (punishment)  And why is it that in Vancouver, if
you are poor, you are not allowed to be on the sidewalk like any other
person? (degrading/discrimination)

Canada is a signatory to both the declaration and the covenant, although
the way we are acting against our own people, you'd never guess.  Perhaps
this is why the UN, and Amnesty International have leveled serious
criticisms at the Canadian government on a number of occasions.

Are we willing to stand by and watch as the human rights of a bedraggled
but brave and defiant group of our brothers and sisters are violated?
Their fight is the fight of any right-minded citizen who respects the
inherent value of all persons.  Their fight is the fight of all of us who
truly and wholeheartedly aspire to a just society.  A society in which all
members are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their economic
or social status.

Roslyn Cassells is an elected park commissioner, and a candidate for city
council. She can be reached at 604-257-8512.
Visit her website at www.alternatives.com/greenwave/


*******************************************************

This email is a message from Park Commissioner Roslyn Cassells.  Should you
need to get hold of park board staff, call 604-257-8400 and the switchboard
operator will direct you to the correct staff member.  If you require
information on animal issues, please visit the "Animal Groups" link on my
webpage at http://www.alternatives.com/greenwave/  There is also a section
on Urban Coyotes.
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