"Debt is the slavery of the free"

For some god-awful reason I decided to see what was on television one afternoon. I came across 'Til Debt Do Us Part which details couples' financial circumstances and resolves their budgetary predicaments. Shock came across me. One episode featured a couple who had a new tv, a mini fridge, game system, and dvds in their original packaging in their living room. Big deal - virtually everyone has such luxuries in their home. The host goes on to outline the couple's debts: Three credit cards with $24,000 owing on them, a $35,000 line of credit, two car loans totaling $23,000, student loan of $3700, $3000 owing on back taxes, and the tv (bought on a buy now pay later plan) - $2200. A colossal debt of over $100,000!! Spending is also an issue. In addition to paying the mortgage, loans, and bills, $1500 a month is spent on food (groceries, restaurants, and alcohol), $650 on home decor, $550 on clothes, $500 on electronics, and another $500 disappears in bank charges and fees... What is most surprising is that together their net income is $89,000 and they have no children. What the h*ll is going on??

I decided to investigate some more. It turns out this is not an isolated case, affecting young and old, couples and families. Canadians are $1.3 trillion dollars in debt (900 billion or 69% of that represents mortgages the remaining is consumer debt).

I place the blame on three aspects. First is the incredible availability of credit. Anyone can apply for credit in the form of a loan, a card, or line. We are pressed by banks, retail stores, and credit card companies to the tune of 200 million offers every year. Canadians possess 64.1 million MasterCard and Visa cards. This does not include the 24 million retail credit cards in the wallets of Canadians. We certainly do not have to earn much money to spend a lot more of it.

Secondly, our consumer society constantly reminds us that we need luxuries. We are exposed to hundreds of ads every day. We are told we must have that big screen plasma television, the most fashionable clothes, that new car, and modern home decor. The reason being? Such things apparently bring us happiness and reflect our social status.

Thirdly, is the lack of education and willpower. Most provinces have an area of study where students learn money management. The problem is that these courses are not mandatory. Ideally, financial affairs should be taught at home. Of course this only works if the parents are disciplined in their spending. People make too much money and mismanage it. Or they get married and no longer see the need to micromanage their finances as their combined income is substantial. When we don't pay attention to where our money goes, we can fall in financial dilemmas. Accompanying this is the absence of self-restraint. Buying on impulse, on emotion, on habit, or on want only adds to our monetary problems.

"Shameful Chapter in Canadian History"

Last Thursday two hundred people packed a university lecture hall to hear Mr. Alex Neve, Secretary-General of Amnesty International Canada, speak on behalf of Indigenous people around the world. Two years almost to the date, the "most neglected and overlooked people of the world" were finally acknowledged after twenty-two years of negotiations and debate. On September 13th, 2007 the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was supported by 143 nations in the assembly. At the time only four countries voted against the proposal: Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and most surprisingly of all - Canada. "It was a source of great shame and embarrassment that my own country chose to stand on the wrong side of this human rights milestone," Neve asserted.

Neve began by providing a brief history of how the declaration and Canada's decision came to be. In 1945 national leaders came together to ensure that the human rights atrocities of World War II would never be repeated. This led to the founding of the United Nations (1945) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). The International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights followed in 1966. Neve accentuated three important aspects involved in these declarations. First, all were universal in nature; guaranteeing rights for each and every individual. Secondly, they were government-driven rather than originating from grassroots lobbying. Finally, governments laboured to create these documents under "challenging Cold War circumstances."

Governments soon recognized that particular rights and individuals needed more attention due to their vulnerability or nature. Conventions on racial discrimination, discrimination against women, against torture, and on the rights of children and refugees were formulated in the '60s, '70s, and '80s. In 1982 the United Nations perceived that Indigenous peoples across the world were among the poorest, unhealthiest, and least educated in their respective countries. The push to develop a declaration of their rights began.

By 2005 the draft of the declaration had nearly halted and there were fears of it remaining unfinished. Nation members of the Working Group persisted in accomplishing the job. Canada, which had previously been indifferent in contributing to the draft, became more active in the drive to complete the declaration. However, three key events in 2006 turned Canada "from bridge-builder to foe of the declaration." The first was a change in government; the Conservatives defeated the Liberals in the January 2006 election. Secondly, in March the United Nations called for an overhaul and the Commission of Human Rights was dismantled and replaced by the Human Rights Council. Lastly, and most significant was Prime Minister Harper's first international visitor in May of 2006. Australian Prime Minister John Howard, staunchly opposed to the document, persuaded Harper to his side. The new government "which had not uttered a previous word" about the convention was now against it. Leading up to the fall 2007 vote on the declaration, Canada along with Australia, New Zealand and the US did all they could to lobby against it.

Why? Why did Canada become hostile to the declaration? Neve argues that there was never a clear public answer. A few arguments include: it is inconsistent with the Canadian Constitution, it risks reopening treaty negotiations, collective rights of the document would undermined individual rights, or that it violates national defense acts. Regardless, these answers are vague and never elaborated on. In fact the constitution counters most of these excuses.

Who cares if Canada did not sign the Declaration? To begin with, Canada's reputation as a human rights leader has been tarnished. Our nation has been a consistently powerful voice for the protection of human rights, starting with our central role in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Secondly, rejecting the declaration suggests that it does not apply to our country. Thirdly, in a world lavish with human rights abuses, we need international leaders. As a country with a significant Aboriginal population, Canada's voice matters in setting an example to other nations. Finally, Canada has not done enough to alleviate "the gravity of injustices" experienced by our Aboriginal population:

• Since 1971, the Lubicon Cree of northern Alberta have been in opposition with governments over rights to the land on which they live.
• The disappearance and murder of Aboriginal women is so prominent in Manitoba that the government formed a joint police task force to review cases of missing women last month.
• Aboriginal child protection agencies receive less funding than non-Aboriginal protection organizations.

Neve urged all attendees to "bring this shameful chapter in Canadian history to a close." Please call or write letters to your Member of Parliament, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and encourage your friends to do the same.

Take action

Find your Member of Parliament

N.B. In April 2009 the Australian government, under new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, officially approved the Declaration. The United States and New Zealand governments are currently rethinking their positions.

Day of Infamy

In the early morning hours of September 11th an unimaginable tragedy occurred. Confused and distressed citizens listened painstakingly to radio and news reports for the facts on what had transpired. Despite his entourage of political aids and security advisers, the president himself remained uninformed. The world seemed to pause for the next few days, speculating on what was to come. Many people recall exactly where they were and what they were doing on that fateful September morning. In the end approximately three thousand innocent people had lost their lives.

This Friday marks the thirty-sixth anniversary of the dreadful event. What a minute? Don't you mean the eighth commemoration Nathan? Regardless of what may have crossed your Americentric mind, I have been referring to the Chilean coup d'etat of September 11th, 1973 and not the 9/11 attacks on the USA. For on that infamous day, the democratically elected presidency of Salvador Allende was overthrown by military personnel led by the general of the Chilean army, Augusto Pinochet. Seventeen years full of disappearances, torture, persecution, imprisonment, murder, and forced exiles followed. According to the Valech Commission three thousand people were executed, thirty thousand jailed and tortured, and several thousand were forced to leave the country.

President Salvador Allende Gossens

The two events share more than a common date. In 1970, President Richard Nixon authorized the CIA to oust Mr. Allende from office. For you see President Allende was a socialist and immediately viewed as a threat to America and American business in Chile. However, this is a discussion for another time.

My motive is simply to create awareness of the eclipsed Chilean coup d'etat. I ask that as you pause to remember the 3,000 innocent American lives lost eight years, please honour the thousands of lives affected by the events thirty-six years ago in Chile.

Workers of my country, I have faith in Chile and its destiny. Other
men will overcome this dark and bitter moment when treason seeks
to prevail. Go forward knowing that, sooner rather than later, the
great avenues will open again and free men will walk through them
to construct a better society.

Long live Chile! Long live the people! Long live the workers!

-Salvador Allende 11 September 1973

Click here for Chilean news on their commemoration.

Click here for American news on their remembrance services.