Making Rights Matter
by Cheryl Duggan
Making Rights Matter was part of a two day dialogue with Miloon Kothari, the United Nations first Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing. The Special Rapporteurs job is to investigate, monitor and recommend solutions to human rights problems. They are critical in their views and forthright with [...]

“Language is the armoury of the human mind … contain[ing] the trophies of its pasts and the weapons of its future conquests.” Samuel Taylor Coleridge
In advocacy circles “welfare” is a highly contested word. If anything this word should be considered politically incorrect. It is offensive to so-called welfare workers who act more as prisoner guards [...]

The Courage to Hope is a one-of-a-kind graduation ceremony that took place for the second year in a row at Toronto’s City Hall on June 15th, 2009. These graduates have completed a unique advocacy training program designed specifically for people who have otherwise been silenced. The graduates of this program have been transformed into “Agents [...]

On September 11th, 2009 there was an introduction to a new global poverty project that began in Australia. The presentation took place at the Danforth Music Hall. There are two things that set this project apart from the rest. The first is what the “1.4 Billion” represents. The second is that The Global Poverty Project [...]

Thanksgiving is a bountiful feast.
With lots of delectible treats.
Dinner platters swimming in gravy.
Eating more than the whole damn navy.
This feast could cost over a $100 for one day.
That’s not too high of a price to pay.
What about those who are down on their luck?
Without so much as a turkey toe to pluck.
For people on O [...]

On September 22nd, 2009 Food Share provided a bus tour of some of Toronto’s community and school gardens. From Food Share in the west end to Lorna’s One Love Cummunity Garden in the east end, and back, one message became increasingly clear. Everyone is capable of reducing their ecological foot print. So when will the [...]

Ontario has an opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of those who rely on social assistance. There was a forum on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 hosted by the Income Security Advocacy Centre. It’s broader intent was to promote a new interactive website that deals specifically with the notion of a social assistance [...]

Politiclone – often those living in poverty are deemed not capable of thinking for themselves.
Office ghost – agency workers who maintain a position but are never in the office.
Voters Remorse – similar to buyers remorse but symptoms may take longer to appear.
Electile Dysfunction – inability to get aroused by any of the candidates up for [...]