Can you please take me off this list serv.  Thank you


>From: "d.raphael" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Health Promotion on the Internet <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Toronto:  Homeless Tent City Downtown (fwd)
>Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 08:25:20 PDT
>
>Sunday, August 1, 1999
>
>An Open Letter to faith groups and members of the academic community:
>
>I appeal to you to support the Safe Park in Allen Gardens that will be set
>up at 4 pm Saturday, August 7 for homeless people in the City of Toronto by
>the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty and to speak out against TARGET
>POLICING.
>
>I also invite you to physically be at the park the afternoon of set up.
>Your
>physical presence may serve as a means to protect and support people. If
>you
>can bring something - water, cold drinks or fruit would be appreciated. For
>information on other ways to help contact Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
>at (416) 925-6939.
>
>Why am I writing you?
>
>Communities of faith and higher learning have served as both witness to
>injustice and been an active voice and participant in various movements to
>seek social justice around the world.
>
>In particular, when oppressive governments have used the strong arm of
>policing bodies to fulfill their goals, and when death and injury have
>resulted, members of faith and academic communities have spoken out.  In
>the
>words of Michael Czerny, a Jesuit priest who replaced one of the Jesuit
>priests in Central America brutally murdered in 1989:  "Our commitment as a
>university community is to the truth, our commitment as priests and as a
>Christian community is to the people and the political chips will fall
>where
>they may."
>
>The inherent right to life for homeless people in Canada is not being
>protected by our governments.
>
>In its submission to the United Nations titled "Death on the streets of
>Canada"  the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee wrote: The government of
>Canada's actions and lack of action leading to, and failing to prevent,
>morbidity and death, violates the moral and ethical codes of the nation's
>religions, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and federal and
>provincial human rights codes.
>
>The Unitarian Fellowship of Northwest Toronto recently wrote both Mayor
>Lastman and David Boothby, Chief of Police. In their letter to Boothby they
>write:
>"We urge you and your department to cease and desist from the policy of
>social cleansing and to refrain from obstructing the creation of a place of
>safety for people who due to poverty, illness or other calamities, have no
>place to call home. May you heed the call to compassion and extend your
>protection to each and every citizen and not just to those who enjoy
>wealth,
>privilege, and social standing."
>
>In a public letter to NOW magazine this week, nurses Kathy Hardill and
>Alicia Odette write: "We represent a group of nurses who have been working
>with homeless men, women and kids for over a decade. We have witnessed
>police confiscation of precious pieces of identification. We have watched
>as
>weary people are moved along from places of refuge in parks. We have tended
>to police-inflicted wounds."
>
>I can personally attest to the need for a safe park and also the danger
>target policing practices pose to homeless people in this city.
>
>To express your views please write Mayor Lastman, Chief Boothby, newspapers
>and please, if you can please be there.
>
>To offer a donation to assist with the park contact OCAP at 925-6939.
>
>In solidarity,
>
>
>
>Cathy Crowe, RN
>
>
>
>
>Housing for all - mark October 2 in your calendar!
>
>Cathy Crowe, RN
>[log in to unmask]
>
>   ******************************************************************
>    Where a great proportion of the people are suffered to languish
>         in helpless misery,
>    That country must be ill-policed and wretchedly governed:
>    A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.
>
>    -- Dr. Samuel Johnson, 1770
>   ******************************************************************
>
>Dennis Raphael, Ph.D.
>Associate Professor and Associate Director,
>Masters of Health Science Program in Health Promotion
>Department of Public Health Sciences
>Graduate Department of Community Health
>University of Toronto
>McMurrich Building, Room 101
>Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M5S 1A8
>voice:    (416) 978-7567
>fax: (416) 978-2087
>e-mail:   [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


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