The Journal Pioneer
December 13, 2008
Editor,
During this season of giving, we like to give back to those who have less than we do. Traditionally, we help out by doing an act of charity – giving to food banks, turkey drives, soup kitchens, and Christmas baskets.
And these are all wonderful and very worthwhile causes. No Islander likes to think of a friend, relative or neighbour going without. These acts help people survive the immediate crisis. They help folks provide a happy Christmas for their families.
We need to help people survive in difficult times, but we also must work for long-term solutions by reducing poverty on this Island and around the world. We wish to encourage Islanders to consider fighting poverty by walking with two feet – one foot being: Acts of Charity and the other foot being: Acts of Social Justice. The two must work together for us to walk strongly.
While helping people out in tough times is absolutely necessary, it is also absolutely necessary that we work toward eliminating poverty.
So how can we work to eliminate poverty?
We can buy local foods and gifts that support a living wage for local citizens. We can buy fairly traded products. We can talk to our MPs and MLAs. We can join local groups working to eliminate poverty. We can donate money to local groups working to eliminate poverty.
Island groups who specifically work on this issue are the McKillop Centre, the Cooper Institute, the PEI Working Group for a Livable Income, ALERT, the local chapter of the National Anti-Poverty Organization (NAPO).
So this year when you are making your charitable donation, consider what you can do to walk with the other foot. Let’s keep moving, and work together, to eliminate poverty, at Christmas and all year long.
Sara Roach-Lewis
Women’s Network PEI (a member
organization of the PEI Working
Group for a Livable Income)
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