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OSSTF District 11- Thames Valley
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District 11 Office |
Education Matters Online
Recognitions
Volume 4, Issue 1: October 3, 2005
October 17: Make Poverty HistoryProvincial Office Communication |
OSSTF is one of many organizations to endorse MakePovertyHistory (MPH) -- an international campaign launched last February to demand that world leaders take meaningful action to end poverty now.
This campaign
gained worldwide attention last spring and summer through the Live8
concerts, actions at the July G8 Summit, and ads featuring celebrities.
During these events, people around the world were asked to wear the white
wristbands which have now become a widely recognized
symbol of support for the campaign.
Behind the high profile media events, however, it is the thousands of people who have come behind the campaign that give it real strength and meaning. Unions and their members are also playing an important role through endorsing the MPH campaign and urging members to show their support for its demands.
The Canadian MPH campaign and its partner Campaign 2000 have chosen October 17, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, as a National Day of Action focused on the demand to end child poverty in Canada. In addition to an action planned in Ottawa, they are calling on communities, schools, faith groups and organizations to hold local events highlighting the need for government to take steps to address this vital concern.
As educational workers, OSSTF members are all too aware of child poverty and its destructive effects, and the Provincial Executive encourages district and bargaining unit leaders to ensure their members are informed about the October 17 National Day of Action. Information on the day, including ideas for local events, is attached. For additional background on the overall campaign and its goals, as well as an online petition and information on ordering wristbands and posters, please visit www.makepovertyhistory.ca. A direct link is also available on the OSSTF website.
