I had not intended for this week to be all about Poverty...it just so happens that all this information is coming out and I want to stay on this topic for the rest of the week.
The following information was taken from a presentation done by Rob Rainer of Canada Without Poverty. He spoke at the "No Place For Poverty" workshop in Yellowknikfe Oct 5-7, 2010.
Myth 1: There is no such thing as poverty in Canada. No one starves to death like they do in Africa.
Myth 2: People in Poverty in Canada are just a little bit poor.
Myth 3: Canada is getting richer and the number of people in poverty is decreasing every year. The rising tide of wealth creation is lifting all the boats.
Myth 4: Poverty is too expensive a problem for Canada to fix.
Myth 5: People in poverty depend on welfare.
Myth 6: Education is a way out of poverty.
Myth 7: Getting a job is the key to avoiding living in poverty
I want you to think about these myths. I want you to sit and roll them around in your perceptions, perspectives and paradigm.
I think what I have to tell you next will blast your beliefs wide open...
But you will have to wait til tomorrow as I want to give this information to you one day at a time.
Just 7 days to a new way of thinking.
Here is what Nelson Mandela said
Myth 8: The poor shall always be with us as the Bible says.
"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings." Nelson Mandela
One person can change the world. Always.
Love and all good things,
The Peaceful Matriarch
God wants you to end global poverty: an interview with South Africa's Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane on Oprah, AIDS, and how Christians are battling ... An article from: Sojourners Magazine
A call to action.(Introduction)(Nelson Mandela gives a speech about a poverty in London, on February 2005): An article from: Canada and the World Backgrounder
I belong to a list-serv, Alternatives North. I received an email on Monday in regards to BIG PHARMA trying to use the Canada-European Union Free Trade Agreement to get rights that will expand their patent rights and increase drug prices!
So here is the gist of it--- you can see the full article on the National Union of Public and General Employees....
THIS IS GOING TO DRIVE UP OUR HEALTH CARE COSTS AND - FOR US AND OUR NATIONAL SYSTEM! We are talking BILLIONS of dollars people!
The BIG PHARMA are going this route because they know with our current Minority Government, they won't succeed with Canada's Parliament.
And low and behold- two provinces- Quebec and Alberta have already written to the federal government asking them to support the BIG PHARMA demands! What did I say yesterday about big corporations buying our government?
Drug companies are making BILLIONS of dollars in profit. And not taxed much either- in Alberta 10%!
Right now they can get 20 years of patent protection before a generic company can make the same drug at a more affordable price- and- they can extend it 2 more years if they want to squash a generic company. They just have to CLAIM that the generic company is infringing the patent! No proof required.
So here are four things they want, but can't have from the Canadian Gov't but can from the European Union:
- The Right to Infringement turned down- want more free competition time.
- Extension of the patent protection to however long it takes to get the new drug approved in the market.
- Data protection- keep ingredients secret for up to 10 years even if the ingredients do not need patent protection.
- Seizure of drug shipments if the drug company decides the shipment violates a patent right.
What does it mean for you? Delay access to cheaper, more affordable drugs
"...They want the trade deal to cancel the right of Canadians to have a say in how the drug industry operates.....Our governments need to stand up for the right of Canadians- and for their own right to make democratic decisions. They need to tell the drug companies that they can't go to Europe to get through the back door what would never be agreed to in an open debate in Canada." says Larry Brown, NUPGE Secretary Treasurer.
A public rally has been scheduled for Friday October 29, 2010
to demand Harper halt the negotiations.
What can you do? Call or email your MP- tell them this is not acceptable!
******************Lets look at one of these companies....Pfizer...they had total revenues in 2009 of $50.1 BILLION dollars. (Wikipedia)
and ....
CEO of Pfizer in 2008, Jeffrey B. Kindler earned a total compensation of $14,788,302, which included a base salary of $1,575,000, a cash bonus of $3,000,000, stocks granted of $7,553,015, and options granted of $2,222,026.[3]
This is more than the total budget for North Bay, Ontario, Canada! Our City has 55,000 people!
I mean, come on! Why does he need to make $15 million dollars? What does Pfizer manufacture? According to their 2009 Financial Statements they made a profit of $8 Billion! After tax which I wonder if they really paid...
Well, divide 15 million into 8 Billion- how many years do you think their profits would pay for even our City Budget???
How much money do you need? What about balance! I am not against profit...I am against things like ...
"Canada Regains Tims Bragging Rights- Edmonton Journal, Sept 23, 2009. Canada Will have the Lowest Corporate tax rate in the G7 by 2012"
Really, I mean Really???? Our Canada Pension plan is gone, Employment Insurance is a joke, Poverty is at its all time high, we have a 49.2 billion dollar deficit.. our Health Care system is eroding..... Your plan is not working Mr Harper! Get the other countries together and unite- even the playing field! You want a world economy? Offer a universal corporate tax rate!
I think Gail Vax-Oxlade needs to meet with you Mr. Harper and your Finance Minister. I think she put our, my money! into glass jars and cut up your signature stamp!
It is starting people- take notice, take a stand!
Love and all good things!
The Peaceful Matriarch
On October 15, 2010, I travelled to Ottawa, Ontario.
In the evening I attended a fund raising event at the beautiful Dominion-Chalmers United Church hosted by Canada Without Poverty- Poverty and Punchlines. Steve Patterson, host, Don Kelly and Mary Walsh - great Canadian comedic talent- raised the laughter high into the beautiful dome roof.
Ed Broadbent graced the stage and talked about the need for a National Housing program. But the icing on the cake was the Poor No More Documentary clip shown by Mary Walsh. We all needed tissue to wipe away the tears- not from laughter this time. The 2010 Poor No More Documentary looks at Canada, Ireland and Sweden's poverty and the working poor.
Most of what was in this film did not surprise me as I sat on the board of Canada Without Poverty for 6 years (NAPO when I was on the Board). I had the privilege of going to the United Nations in Geneva to speak, along with many Non-Government Organizations, to the United Nations Committee on Economic Social & Cultural Rights (2006) hearings,
What did shock me was the story on the LCBO- Liquor Control Board of Ontario- owned by the Ontario Government. SHOCKING! The salaries and bonuses are absolutely ridiculous! Our tax dollars being given to the few at the top while the workers are so poorly paid.
But, do you as the average Canadian, the average world traveller...are you aware of the GREAT RACE TO THE BOTTOM? The race for all the countries on our planet to offer their countries up on a silver platter to CORPORATIONS? How? What? Yes, some countries are racing as fast as they can to bring the big money, wealth to their countries by lowering the Corporate taxes. Big Corporations buying our countries via our politicians! The consequences of the BIG RACE- poverty rates in Canada are at an all time high! Check out the Fact Sheet on the Poor No More Documentary website to find out more about poverty in Canada.
Corporate tax rate for 2010 in Ireland- 12.5%
Corporate tax rate for 2010 in Canada- 18%- down from 19% in 2009! Corporate tax rate for 2010 in Sweden- 26.3%
Now, these are companies recording BILLIONS of dollars in profit.
Personal marginal tax on $55,000 in Canada is 31.15% so the government collects approx $10,734 from you if you live in Ontario.
I took a quick look at Bell Canada. You need to be an accountant to understand their financial statements, but it appears to me that they made almost $16 billion dollars in 2009 and did not pay a cent in taxes! And they paid out dividends!
Their tax bill, if they had paid the 31.15% in taxes would be $310,500 million dollars! Can you just Imagine??? I wonder how many of their employees made over $200,000 a year and how many make less than $50,000.
Even Warren Buffet- a multi billionaire says the rich are taxed too little.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLD0p1QpcI8
It is TIME to wake up and take notice ! Take ACTION! Do you really accept this?
The world is a changing place. These old systems, old way of doing things- they no longer work. They served their purpose...it is time ... get educated...this is very personal- it is about you, me and everyone else on this planet! How can you make a change? Ask questions, talk, VOTE!
Love and all good things!
The Peaceful Matriarch
