Sensationalist Reporting Abusive

I am wondering about the ethics of reporting on violence.  Yesterday two bombs went off toward the finish line of the Boston Marathon creating chaos and killing 3 people – 2 adults and a child – likely all bystanders.  Many, including atheletes were injured, losing legs and sustaining serious injuries of many types.

The CBC cancelled almost all other news and devoted every program on radio and TV since then to covering the aftermath of the event.  Since real news in such events comes very slowly,  they endlessly repeated the same information.  A reporter gave us a snippet of information and Evan Soloman repeated it word for word as if he was giving us new information.  This went on and on for hours. 

As they found new witnesses, they had each person recall exactly what they experienced and how they felt minute by minute until there was nothing to add. 

What is their objective here?  Is the point to put every member of the audience in the exact position of someone who was there, experiencing the bomb.  Do we want the whole American and Canadian populations to experience the violence vicariously?  Is the repetition designed to induce in us a condition of PTSD?  Post traumatic Stress Disorder?  As we live and relive the same traumatic moments in time?

There is no question that this was a tragic event and has put people and security systems around the world on alert.  We have no idea who did this or why?  Was it an act of terrorism?  A political act?  Or the act of a mad person – or several mad people?  This information will no doubt surface in time.  We all want to feel compassion for those who were directly affected.  But is this a reason to traumatize the whole of North America on a personal and emotional level?

And does this mean that the fact that the stock market is in free fall, job growth is weak to non-existent and there continues to be a growing disparity between the rich and the poor are issues that have just gone away?  Where is the balance in reporting.  Why aren’t some of these resources being put into serious research on what is happening to our economy?  Why is our economy so dependent on commodities?  Why is the whole energy of the CBC devoted to this incident instead of covering issues of real importance to Canadians?  What greater reward can you give the people who committed this terrible crime?

CUSJ Calls Conservatives to Pass Bill C-400 - A National Housing Strategy

For Full Housing Campaign including petition, sample letters, and MP visits go to our Housing Page at http://cusj.org/emerging-issues/national-housing-policy/

Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice

A national faith-based organization founded in support of Unitarian values

P.O. Box 40011, Ottawa, ON, K1V 0W8

President, Rev. Frances Deverell                                                                          president@cusj.org

January 20, 2013

The Hon. Diane Finley,

Minister of Human Resources and Social Development;

House of Commons,

Ottawa, ON., K1A 0A6

RE:  Bill C-400 to Implement a National Housing Strategy

Dear Hon. Diane Finley:

I write to appeal to you to honour the commitment you made in May 2012 when you and the Prime Minister and the whole conservative caucus voted that “the Government “should keep with Canada’s obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the right to adequate housing as guaranteed under the international Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.” 

We are well aware that this government has renewed its homeless strategy till 2014, and has spent 1.2 billion under the Affordable Housing Initiative as well as other initiatives.  We note your programs to support infrastructure maintenance.  We thank you for these positive efforts, but they are not enough.  A patchwork, ad hoc group of initiatives has not realistically addressed the problem that around 400,000 people in Canada are either living on the streets or using shelters at least some of the time.  Thousands of low-income people wait years to get into social housing.  We are embarrassed to note that the United Nations has identified homelessness in Canada as a human rights crisis!  We need a comprehensive national housing strategy that is adequately funded, based on consultation with vulnerable target groups in Canada.

We are looking for:

·      Engagement and consultation with all stakeholders including First Nations, organizations representing persons with mental health issues, people on welfare or disability, the working poor, people escaping violence, the elderly, retired soldiers, and the private sector.

·      Clear targets and timelines to end homelessness.

·      Independent processes for evaluation and accountability

·      Effective complaint mechanisms and resources to investigate and respond.

·      Financial supports for those who cannot afford market rates.

Bill C-400 is a good bill that provides legislative commitment to implement the promise you made last May.  It affirms that access to affordable housing is a human right.  It is a good first step towards action for change.  Support for this bill by the Conservative caucus would demonstrate your good will and intentions to solve the problem of homelessness in Canada.

Faith Communities such as Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice (http://www.cusj.org) and Not-for-profit organizations who work to improve the condition of the poor are looking forward to working in collaboration with you to solve these problems in Canada.  Give us Bill C-400 as a foundation for real change.

In faith,

Rev. Frances Deverell,

President, Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice

cc. The Hon. Prime Minister Stephen Harper

            The Hon. Thomas Mulcaire, Leader of the Opposition

            Bob Rae, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

            Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada

            News Media

            Canadian Unitarian Council

            Unitarian Universalist Ministers of Canada

            Dignity For All

            Canada Without Poverty

            Citizens For Public Justice

Chief Spence on a Symbolic Fast

    

Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice

A national faith-based organization founded in support of Unitarian values

P.O. Box 40011, Ottawa, ON, K1V 0W8

President, Rev. Frances Deverell                                                                          president@cusj.org

2013 01 19

Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

 pm@pm.gc.ca

The Hon. John Duncan

Minister, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs,

House of Commons

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0A6

Governor General David Johnston

1 Sussex Drive

Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A1

Dear Prime Minister and Governor General;

I am writing again to support Chief Spence in her appeal to have the two of you meet together with First Nations leaders to address the long-standing justice issues for First Nations people in Canada.  Unitarians across Canada are very concerned about the well-being of Chief Spence as her body weakens.  To allow her to die in this cause would be a travesty when we should be moving forward on these issues without being forced.

Whatever your thoughts about her person or her tactics, clearly, she is on a symbolic fast that is having a powerful effect on the First Nations people of all ages and in all locations.  The fish broth was used by First Nations to survive when there was no food during a harsh winter.  Our First Nations people have been fasting for a very long time – through multiple generations.  They are fighting for their very survival as unique peoples and cultures.  This is a situation that is beyond the usual politics and as Canadians, we need to be transformed in our attitudes.

I appeal to you today.  Take appropriate steps to bring Canadians into right relations with our First Nations.  Begin the negotiations for economic, cultural and environmental justice.  Don’t let this opportunity for change turn into a tragedy with repercussions for years to come.

In faith and prayer,

Rev. Frances Deverell,

President, Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice

613-747-7584

cc First Nations groups

Media release

Idle No More

CUSJ Supports Chief Spence

                     

Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice

A national faith-based organization founded in support of Unitarian values

P.O. Box 40011, Ottawa, ON, K1V 0W8

President, Rev. Frances Deverell                                                                          president@cusj.org

December 20th, 2012

Open Letter to the Media

Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice have written to ask our Federal Government to properly represent Canadians in their responsibilities to First Nations people.  We want to ensure they have the levels of education, health, quality of environment and economic opportunity promised to them through the treaty process.  The Conservative Government dismantled the agreement between all parties known as the Kelowna Accord.  It has never replaced this with a different policy agreed to by First Nations, provinces, and the Federal Government.  An apology without significant agreements is simply not enough.  It is time the Federal Government came to the table and negotiated an acceptable deal with First Nations Leaders.

Furthermore, Bill C-35 affects the basic rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.  It not only violates international human rights standards, it falls far short of the legal requirements established in Canadian law.  We have to do better than this.  We must give First Nations the respect of full consultation regarding activities in their territory and respect their rights.

We fully support Chief Spence in her call for these negotiations to begin in the New Year.  As Canadians, we must not let this situation turn into a tragedy that will humiliate us for generations to come.  We must step up to the plate and negotiate a fair deal for all Canadians.  We will all do better when our First Nations grow and prosper and become a full partner with us in this country.

In faith,

Rev. Frances Deverell

President,

Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice

613-747-7584