Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 24, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba A10 Winnipeg free press comment editor Gerald flood 697-7269 Winnipeg free press editorial Board members Are Bob Cox Gerald flood Catherine Mitchell Tom Oleson Dave Obrien cartoonist Dale Cummings submissions to the View from the West Are Welcome. Contact comment editor Gerald flood 204 697-7269 / six month View from the West Archive available online at View thursday August 24, 2006 katrina promises Are still unmet a year later by sen. Harry Reid o be year ago Hurricane katrina and Hurricane Rita destroyed the Gulf coast. The storms were a reminder of the awesome Power of Mother nature. Together katrina and Rita destroyed Homes and property in five states and left one million people scattered across the country. As damaging As these natural disasters were the More lasting damage ? the damage americans will never forget ? was caused by the failures of political leaders. From levee warnings that went unheeded to hundreds of our Neighbours stranded at the super dome the events of 2005 were marked by dangerous incompetence and a loss of Confidence in government. In the weeks that followed from the Congress to the White House we heard Promise after Promise that this would never happen again. We were told those who lost everything would be taken care of. We heard pledges that the Gulf coast would be rebuilt and talk of a renewed commitment to eradicating poverty in the United states. One year later its appropriate to look at How Many of these promises have been kept. Certainly the american people have done their part. If there is any Good to be found in the Wake of katrina and Rita it was in the outpouring of support from across the country. Individuals and families men and women Young and old corporations foundations and anyone who could give something did. While the cities like Houston and Nashville opened american their arms to evacuees people Rose with no place else to to the go and welcomed them with a spirit of cause the generosity. Government sadly that a where the Good news seems still has not to end. While the american people Rose to the cause the government still has not. To this Day too Many problems still exist and too Many promises have not been kept. Take housing. In new Orleans houses Are being rebuilt but that does to mean every displaced family has a Home. Too Many still have nowhere to go. In St. Bernard Parish alone 1,200 families Are unable to live in the trailers that sit locked on their property because the government has not connected the utilities. About 400 other families have nothing at All. Its a similar Story outside Louisiana. Thousands of families whose lives were swept away Are still waiting for the government to come to their Aid. While they suffer right now in Hope ark., 10,000 trailers bought by the government for katrina evacuees still sit unused. Why Are they empty the answer is troubling. Its because the same government that one year ago promised to move heaven and Earth for the Vic Tims of katrina now can to figure out How to get them to those in need. And what about reconstruction one year ago the american people were promised a massive Effort that would rebuild the Gulf coast better than it was. It has to materialized. Instead we be heard a familiar Story from the Bush administration ? no bid contracts to companies that Don to get the Job done. For example four companies that were awarded $400 million to House evacuees after the storms have charged the american people $3.4 billion. What they be done for that Money is unknown. The Only thing we do know is that people Are homeless and the Gulf coast has hardly been rebuilt. As for poverty we know it is still there and affecting millions of americans but it has virtually disappeared from the National debate. The same people who made promises in september 2005 Arent even talking about it in september 2006. To see How far poverty has slipped from politicians minds look no further than the . Congress. Its last action before the anniversary of katrina was not to help those with the greatest needs but to try to repeal the estate tax and give a handout of nearly $800 billion to 8,100 multimillionaire. The victims of the Gulf coast deserve better. We cannot change the past but we can control the future. One year later the destruction remains. One year later so do the promises. We must fulfil them. There is not another year to wait. Sen. Harry Reid d-nev., is minority Leader of the . Senate. ? Mcclatchy Tribune information services Canada plays a role in cutting funds for palestinian Hospital the Price of politics keep people off the streets after Sundown. This by Greg Harris w tested the abilities of our bus Driver to find an alternate route to the Hospital which is located Hen a sick child arrives at an in a picturesque setting on the mount of olives. Emergency room in Canada treat palestinians seeking treatment for medical ment in to contingent on the Colour issues that Day were similarly challenged but it of the child a skin or the political was a minor inconvenience compared to the party their parents voted for. Most canadians system of military checkpoints they must would rightly recoil in horror at the thought of endure daily. Such an offensive screening practice. A Cor Augusta Victoria primarily serves palestini that palestinians weren to interested so much in a further $1.4 million. Ans from the West Bank and East Jerusalem Herstone of Universal health care is that the supporting a Radical islamic Agenda As they act has raised 60 per cent of its target butane provides care regardless of race gender sick and suffering should receive the Best were fed up with the corruption and income even assuming it reaches the full amount it irreligious belief nationality ethnic origin or medical care available ? regardless of Cir tence of the ruling Fatah party. In a Canadian Only a temporary solution to a Long term prob political persuasion. The lutheran world Feder cum stance. Context it would be the same As having Reserva Lem. Action owns and operates the facility which pro this same humanitarian spirit underpins con tons about the conservatives but being so sick so what can or should canadians do they ides chemotherapy radiation therapy kidney mentions of War designed to exempt medical and tired of the liberals that those misgivings can earmark a donation through Canadia dialysis and head neck surgery. It is the Only personnel and the wounded from hostilities. It Are set aside. Lutheran world Relief facility providing paediatric dialysis and Radia was hard not to be appalled when a Katusha whatever the reasons palestinians voted the through act . Tion oncology services to palestinians in the rocket hit an israeli Hospital or israeli shelling Way they did ? and Western nations reacted the better still they could pressure their govern occupied territories. Injured emergency Relief workers during the Way they did ? the fact remains today that ment to redirect to Augusta Victoria the $7.4 the palestinian authority contracts wit recent fighting in Lebanon. When millions of dollars in Aid dry up there Are million Worth of funding it suspended to the Augusta Victoria for key medical services and but what about a situation that canadians and repercussions. There Are still palestinian Chil palestinians earlier this year. The Complex until Early in 2006, reportedly provided 40 per other Western nations helped create ? albeit Dren who need dialysis ? innocents caught in issues at play in the Mideast Are never As Blac cent of the hospitals operating budget. So when inadvertently ? when their governments put a the crossfire ? and Augusta Victoria is the Only and White As our leaders want to think. But Western politicians pulled funding to the Stop payment on millions of dollars in Aid going place they can get it. Surely we can Rise above politics and history authority to exert pressure on Hamas to soften to the palestinian authority following the elec the Hospital continues to operate but on a and All agree on this that helping provide its destructive stance toward Israel they effect Tion of Hamas How Many realize that one of precarious footing. A number of churches have health care to a suffering and beleaguered civil timely threw out the baby with the Bathwater. The results of that move was to choke off fund stepped into the breach including Canadian Ian population is the right thing to do. Its important to distinguish that the Palestin ing to a palestinian health care facility Augusta lutherans who through the evangelical Luther Ian authority is not a government but rather Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem an Church in Canada have contributed $50,000 Greg Harris was part of a tour to Israel the West service infrastructure that is responsible fori visited Augusta Victoria in october last year to Augusta Victoria american lutherans have Bank and Jordan last year organized by win providing Basic services such As health Careon the eve of yom kippur. It was in the morn chipped in another $100,000. The global Nipes based Canadian lutheran world Relief. He and education to its citizens. Ing but israelis had already strategically Alliance action by churches together actives in Calgary and works at the University of Many observers noted following election blocked several roads with boulders in order to issued an emergency Appeal in March 2006 for Calgary. Aussie pm fights losing Battle to keep out refugees election on the Back of near panic Fol instincts Are reputed to be bulletproof the age declared the proposed Laws Thalia a political class transfixed for i t happens so rarely it had aus lowing the sept. 11 terrorism attacks. Went too far. Would have contravened Australia Sun a week. The electorates fears of invading hordes when i first read the details i obligations to refugees. It needs to be australian prime minister John were calmed by the vision of a Strong thought i must be misreading the legis said that people risking their lives on Howard faced internal rebellion earlier Leader who famously proclaimed we lation in terms of its severity and the leaking boats in the Middle of the Ocean this month when several of his maps will decide who comes into this country lengths to which it was going said sen Are not illegals the age said. To use turned on him Over what has become a and the circumstances in which they Ator Judith Troeth. Such a Label prejudge them and shows signature of his prime minister ship ? my first thought was i can t agree to the world an ugly Tough immigration Law. The coalition then pushed through leg to ? but the National daily the australian in 2001, Howard framed what Many isolation excising outlying australian maps Petro Georgiou Russell Broad had a different take suggesting aus believe was one of Australia a strongest owned islands from the australian Bent and Judi Moylan joined senator Thalia a suspicion of others May still have refugees when told they would be taken immigration stands since the White aus immigration zone meaning any Asylum Troeth along with the strongly Christian been at play in the political drama. Back to Indonesia begged to be taken Thalia policy in the Early part of the 20th seekers had to set foot on the Mainland party family first. Howard knowing he Howard put Forward his migration Bill onto Australia knowing this country was Century discouraged people of Colour before being granted refugee rights. Faced defeat in the Senate dropped the after a spectacular Dummy spit on the a signatory to United nations Conven from even contemplating a move to our All went Well until last january when Bill last week. Part of indonesian president Susilo Bam tons on the handling of political shores. 42 Asylum seekers from the indonesian Australia has Long stood accused of bang Yud Toyono who was furious at the refugees. The new regime was sparked by a rash province of West Papua did just that ? holding a latent racist Streak in its decision to Grant visas to 42 West papuan but Howard backed by his ruling of boat people arriving on Australia a braved the perilous sea voyage Between National character and the electorates Asylum seekers the australian said. Coalition party refused the Tampa per Northern shores from Afghanistan Iraq the two countries to arrive on the main Strong support of the Howard govern the move was widely seen As an Mission to land at the port of Christmas Iran and a Host of other trouble spots land near the far Northern mining town ments uncompromising response to the attempt to appease Indonesia and made Island off the Western australian coast around the world. Ship of Wei a. Tampa has been used by Many to Back voters wary. While the prime minister and sent the army a elite Sas squad to just weeks before the 2001 election they claimed persecution and were the perception. Has been statesmanlike in managing take control of the ship. Howard was the norwegian freighter the my Tampa afforded Protection much to the anger but last week Many in the nations relations with our Northern Neighbour determined the afghans never set foot steamed into our Waters on aug. 26 hold of neighbouring Indonesia. Howard went Quality press were applauding the rebel in quelling Indonesia a objection to the on australian soil because that would ing 450 refugees mostly from Back to work on Australia a immigration maps for their morality As Well As their legitimate and proper decision by Immi Force us to Grant them Protection. Afghanistan. Laws this time making legislative courage. Good riddance to this Bill Gration officials he went too the refugees were eventually the frail vessel that had taken the changes that would require All Asylum declared the Melbourne age newspaper. Processed on the tiny Pacific Island of seekers to be processed and detained in what was at the heart of the Bill was afghans from Indonesia had sunk and Naru and in new zealand the majority the Tampa a Captain fulfilled his duties offshore locations even if they made it How this country treated its Respo Sibil Michael Madigan is a senior journalist were accepted As genuine refugees and As a Mariner by rescuing them. The to the Mainland. Cities to those less fortunate than our with the courier mail newspaper. Howard went on to win the november this time the pm whose political ;