A few of you were surprised that we have poverty here in Canada. According to statistics,
- 1 in 7 children in my province live in poverty.
- 10% of families do not have enough money to meet the most basic needs.
- In 2012, 882,000 accessed food banks, the highest levels ever.
- There are 150, 000 to 300, 000 homeless in Canada. Considering the population of Canada is about 35 million (about the same as the entire state of California) those numbers are high.
- 25 - 40% of homeless youth are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual or transgender.
I could write pages and pages of statistics but what good does it do? Our politicians don't care. Even sadder is that most people who are not living in poverty don't care either. I know well what it is like to live in poverty. Up until November 2011 when I finally got a job that pays well we were living well below the poverty line. I made a promise that I would not forget. I haven't.
It has taken me two days to write the above. Sometimes I worry when I can't come up with a post because that is when I get into a blogging slump and end up not posting at all then I just quit. There is not a whole lot to post about right now other than I am still having difficulty breathing. Today I am going to plant about 100 crocuses in the yard because by the end of winter is is the best thing to see the crocuses coming up.
It has taken me two days to write the above. Sometimes I worry when I can't come up with a post because that is when I get into a blogging slump and end up not posting at all then I just quit. There is not a whole lot to post about right now other than I am still having difficulty breathing. Today I am going to plant about 100 crocuses in the yard because by the end of winter is is the best thing to see the crocuses coming up.
I do enjoy seeing spring flowers. Sorry you are having trouble breathing. Hope that goes away.
ReplyDeletePeople assume that if a country has a social safety net (like Canada still does) that it prevents all poverty. Not true. It does, however, prevent some of the worst abuses of poverty. But not even all -- there are always those who fall through the cracks.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I did not know that about Canada either.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you are still unwell.
ReplyDeleteI think every country has poverty, sad but true.
I would like to learn more about the Social Security system in Canada. As you probably know the UK is going through some changes in it's Welfare system which is increasing poverty. I know comparing systems and statistics seems cold and clinical but I am interested to learn more. What interests me is how different Western countries do this. I believe that our government's advisors have studied the American system to decide how to reform our own system. Maybe you could do a post or three on this in case you get into a rut - I wouldn't want you to quit! Hope your breathing improves soon. Your daughter sounds fun. xx
ReplyDeleteWe have sad statistics like that here in the US. What upsets me so are the homeless veterans.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize poverty was as big an issue in Canada, so i was surprised by the stats! the use of food banks has more than trebled in the UK, our figure for emergency food is approx 360,000..(info obtained from 1 charity anyway). The social demographic of those affected by poverty is really shifting! as as a result will become much harder for policy makers to ignore possibly)
ReplyDelete100 bulbs.. now that sounds nice!
They have poverty everywhere. I have thought that the difference is that in Western countries most, not all, of the homeless live in week to week hotels. Children most often go into shelters or or foster care, and aren't living on trash heaps. The reality of poverty is overwhelming. The best safety net is if every who can finds an effective charity and gives what they can.
ReplyDeletePoverty exists everywhere, and Canada is no exception. The cost of living increases faster than wages do, and people have and more trouble trying to make ends meet.
ReplyDeleteHave fun planting the crocus bulbs! That is an uplifting thing to do this time of year as winter heads our way.
yes!
ReplyDeleteindian situation is that the government is focusing on making rich people richer...
Love crocus!!!
ReplyDeleteKeep posting...no matter what...
Email me your address...
I want to send you something, too!!!
Cheers!
Linda :o)
People like you care and help and that makes a huge difference. If we all made our own little corner of the world better, the world would heal itself.
ReplyDeleteIt starts one by one. Keep going!
Riot Kitty said what I wanted to. What I felt.
ReplyDeleteYou do make a difference - and yay for the crocus - which will add colour to your world.
Concentrate on your crocuses and let the rest of us worry about the world condition for a while. You deserve a break from unneeded stress.
ReplyDeleteSadly I think the most telling of those statistics is the one about the percentage of homeless kids who are LGBT. In this day and age it's dreadful that people are still judged by that standard.
ReplyDeleteIt's not WHO you love that counts, it's IF you love.
XX
Poverty knows no boundaries. And it is so frustrating & aggravating to see what is happening in the world. Those most far removed from poverty seem to turn a blind eye. And as always its the children and those that don't fit into a nice tidy little mold that suffer.
ReplyDeletebirdie...I remember when you were posting and things were so bleak for you. Please remember and think about how far you have come through hard work and just hanging in there!
ReplyDelete