The Pandemic of Poverty

From: J Birch Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 1:00:20 PM To: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>; Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca <Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca>; dujarric@un.org <dujarric@un.org>; jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca <jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca>; Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca <Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca>; jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca <jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca>; GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca <GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca>; tips@GlobalTVBC.com <tips@GlobalTVBC.com>; contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com <contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com>; news@skynews.com <news@skynews.com>; Secretary@HHS.gov <Secretary@HHS.gov>; Sky.Today <Sky.Today@sky.uk>; nytnews@nytimes.com <nytnews@nytimes.com>; media@gatesfoundation.org <media@gatesfoundation.org>; david.penberthy@news.com.au <david.penberthy@news.com.au>; dir_enq@cso.gov.hk <dir_enq@cso.gov.hk>; jedmiston@nationalpost.com <jedmiston@nationalpost.com>; accredit@gov.ru <accredit@gov.ru>; dan@jpost.com <dan@jpost.com>; media@sputniknews.com <media@sputniknews.com>; doug.fordco@pc.ola.org <doug.fordco@pc.ola.org>; info@bnn.ca <info@bnn.ca>; ASKUS <ASKUS@novascotia.ca>; English@mail.gov.cn <English@mail.gov.cn>; news@thelocal.se <news@thelocal.se>; correspondence@council.nyc.gov <correspondence@council.nyc.gov> Subject: The Pandemic of Poverty (Opinion) Hey Everyone, I was reading a story that talked about how some communities within our society have seen higher infection rates than other communities. It talked about how the common thread between these infected communities was poverty. The story talked about how lower income neighborhoods are at a greater risk of infection due to where they live, where they work and what options are open to them. Poverty is a public health crisis and always has been. I personally, have always lived below the poverty line and I know all too well the lack of options open to me, let alone what others have to face. Poverty is something that people cannot control and is aggravated by a number of factors including education, job circumstances, color and even identity. I have spoken about education a lot in my writing because its the cornerstone of our civilization and the bedrock of equality, the great equalizer. Having the same knowledge, benefits and opportunities to learn can change a persons mindset and current and future circumstances. When everyone has a chance to learn, we grow as communities and nations as we strive together in thought, speech and action. The potential of a nation is defined by its education and unless we ensure the same educational opportunities for all our people we will be made lesser for it. Think back to the great people in our history, can you imagine the wonderful contributions that we might have lost over the years because of a lack of edification. Somewhere out there now is a person with the knowledge we need to chart the stars or cure the next pandemic. Without that person and their knowledge we may never touch starlight or cure the next great leader. Each of us has a lesson to learn and a gift to teach, and education is where we turn dreams into reality. Education is the way we start to end poverty by equalizing opportunities. Additionally, we need to take a closer look at housing in more vulnerable communities as the housing we have now is not built for Pandemics or the total health of the resident. Crowded apartments and lack of space makes vulnerable communities group together in smaller spaces that can only lead to more viral spread. We need to build pandemic centric housing moving forwards to ensure that our more vulnerable residents have the space they and their families need in good times and in times of ill health. I was thinking for immediate space options perhaps buildings can look at starting rooftop terraces or gardens, to not only provide residents with more space but also help to supply them with fresh produce. Diet and healthy food is another way we fight the next pandemic, we need to ensure that all our people have access to healthy cost effective food to ensure that while we improve our minds we do so for our bodies as well. Additionally, like I have mentioned prior in relation to homelessness, we build transitional housing in compact housing communities. These compact homes are affordable and can be customized to the families needs. They can be placed under overpasses in cities or other land to house the homeless and also provide a cost effective path to home ownership. They would be outfitted with water filtration and solar power panels to offset utility costs to help low income families start a better futures together. These homes can then be re-purposed after we have resolved homelessness and they can be used for airbnbs to generate city revenue or be sold to the military or FEMA to act as emergency housing in case of need. This will allow us to help families escape poverty and allow them a space to quarantine in times of pandemic. Finally, we need to look at the important work that they are doing for our communities, cities and countries. This Pandemic has shown that these jobs are essential services that keep our nations running. Each job is important and should be looked to with pride. We need to ensure that any job within our nation helps to save that person from poverty. We need to look at better paying jobs, paid sick leave in all industries as well as year round safety precautions to keep our people safe. This will allow all of our workforces to be more efficient and better suited for the workers to improve their situation each day they work. I realize that many of the issues surrounding poverty have been debated for some time but this crisis has only aggravated an already precarious position for our most vulnerable communities. Poverty is everyone's concern, it is a reflection of a society with cracks in our tenements and we need to strengthen the load bearing walls within our society. We also need to help the hard working men and women who keep society operational. We can choose to not only make our society safer by eliminating the poverty stumbling blocks behind viral contagion's, but at the same time we can create a more equal future for all of us no matter the distinction. Together if we start building from an equal landscape the possibilities of what we can build are expanded as we too expand what it means to be a member of our great society. By elevating the most vulnerable amongst us and lifting them forever out of poverty, we expand the potential of where we can go, what we can achieve as a people and the potential of our futures. When we build on such a level and equal foundation, the heights of our buildings stretch ever upwards with our dreams. It is time that as a society we all get to dream the dream of equality, of purpose. To stand together no matter the distinction and build a better future for the whole of humankind. I believe in us, in every single soul that inhabits this great planet. I know that together our future can have more beauty than in our entire history combined. Together, we must turn poverty into potential. Stay Safe, Stay Sanitized and Stay Supportive, John Ames Birch @johneames2

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