Press Release: January 21, 2008
MEDIA ADVISORY - For Immediate Release
January 21, 2008
Before Manley report is released, a broad coalition demands Housing Not War
Over 100 diverse organizations and 2000 individuals including public figures and politicians have joined a new national Housing Not War campaign. The campaign demands Canada's Federal government end the Afghan war and shift resources from record-high military spending to peaceful purposes including housing. The campaign was launched by the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC) and the Canadian Peace Alliance (CPA).
As the Harper-created Manley report looms, the public has its own ideas on war and Canada's priorities. Endorsers of the Housing Not War declaration range from Canada's largest unions and citizens' group to grassroots community organizations and include Canadian Labour Congress, Council of Canadians, Canadian Muslim Union, Science for Peace and AIDS Action Now! Among the 111 organizations to have endorsed as of January 21 are anti-poverty and peace activists, feminists, environmentalists, scientists, faith groups, health workers, social services, ethnic communities, students, teachers, and more.
Prominent individuals include Gordon Pinsent, Ursula Franklin, Naomi Klein, and dozens of elected politicians from all levels of government. More sign on every day.
"We are in the worst housing crisis since the Great Depression. 300 000 people experience homelessness annually in Canada – the only industrialized country with no national housing program", said Cathy Crowe, Street Nurse and TDRC co-founder. The Federal government spends only 1% ($2 billion) of its budget on housing.
Instead, government spending on war is higher in constant dollars than at any point since WWII: $18.2 billion or 8.5% of the budget. "Much of this spending is for the unpopular counter-insurgency war in Afghanistan, which a large majority of Canadians want to end", said Sid Lacombe, CPA coordinator. Recent polls show only 17% of Canadians want the combat mission to continue.
"This is about fundamental priorities", said Beric German, TDRC co-founder. "Canada stands at a crossroads. Will the government listen to its people and change course from the waste and destruction of war to invest in a just society?" The campaign linking poverty and war demands an extra 1% of the Federal budget for social housing.
The Housing Not War campaign will hold a public demonstration in Toronto at noon on Thursday February 7, 2008.
A list of individual and organizational endorsers of the Housing Not War declaration can be found at the campaign's website: www.housingnotwar.ca.
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For more info contact: housingnotwar@gmail.com
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