Hello all: I'm glad Alana posted her note. I think she raises an important question and I'd liek to add my voice. I am certianly not a qualified voice or a professional. I hold no formal education in health administration or promotion, nor do I have years of experience in a professional capacity. What I do have though is creative energy, commitment and vision. I recognize the emerging potential of health promotion and even population health as well and would like to be a part of the process in ensuring it is a common and integral part of the health system. "You health promotion types are all a bunch of left-wing fanatics who don't understand the realities of modern government! Now, let's sit down and talk about your proposal." I do not think that advocacy has to be adversarial at all. In fact, it can be quite effective, if it is approached in a positive and determined manner. I agree that when "we" advocate, our language and tone is too confrontational and scathing. I do not like or agree any more than than the rest of us what the likes of Harris and Klein have done, but I do not think they have instituted the policies thay have to choke the poor any more than they already are or limit access to institutional care or education. Instead, they initiate actions based on their political ideology which does not place much emphasis on these social values. Is that fair ? Is that just ? Well, folks..we voted them in. We have to live with it for a term of four years and while we can do a lot of advocacy, when we use tempermental language and vile rhetoric, we are playing their game just as much as they are ! I think we, as health promoters shoudl recognize one fundamental principle. The values of our national health system changes with the society and must remain flexible to adopt to this change. A fundamental role in this flexibility is the democratic elements. We must be advocates, maybe even political activists and we should be arguing points, making suggestions. However, I don't think opposing for the sake of opposing helps our cause. It is better to pick our battles and yes, there are many these days. But, health promoters are crucial to the system and must approach advocacy with a positive tone an attitude not to simply be aggressive, but to initiate change through effective political communication. As such, this can be done to affect change as health promoters. Positive strategies are technical and legislative ideas and proposals which are taken to government, opposition parties and significant special interest groups with the goal of having the government adopt them in policy platforms. This rewquires effective communication devices and policy development skills. I am probably not stating anything we don't already know. However, we, as health promoters and activists have much to contribute to the debate in provinces such as Ontario and Alberta. After all, a system with promotion as a service structure based on population based determinants will address current inequities and injustices which result because of an emphasis on traditional institutional care. I respectfully submit that our approach and tone be modified, as Alana suggested, to reflect the political culture and policy processes which mark the governments in power. Thank you Alana for your question. I'm glad you asked what most were to afraid to raise. I hope my commentary provokes reaction. David Gourlay ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com