Those attending: Debbie Larlee, Jan Lightfoot-Lane, Marlene Lightfoot-Lane, Tammy Trask, Ina Demers, Dave Wagner, Larry Dansinger
1. Change the name of the group? We discussed the name and shortening it or changing it. Keep the "poor people" part? Who gets a vote on decisions? We decided to keep the name.
2. Report from Housing Group (Marlene and Jan). No room available but met in a hallway for one hour. Talked about what's available for more affordable housing, including Section 8, General Assistance, shelters, re-use of military bases, job corps facilities. Find out what can be done in counties. Stories from people who have been in shelters. What can be done with empty houses? Banks can't kick out renters from foreclosed houses. People need to know their rights (use Maine Equal Justice, Pine Tree Legal, others). Meeting again at 10 AM on July 25 in Waterville.
3. Large gathering. Something to describe how many people are in shelters and how many are left out. Media is afraid to talk about this. Brainstorm ideas to promote rights. Make sure we invite people from POWER, MAIN, etc. to come together and to endorse. State constitutional amendment? Something in writing and legal endorsement would help. Use schools and colleges to help. Use list of 25 ideas as some possible strategies. Do something on July 4, December 10 (anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights), Constitution Day? Need to discuss this more.
4. How do we keep in touch with each other? Use the list serve and facebook. Jan says we can use www.change.org. Maybe a website and blog to keep in touch. Tammy and her daughter will see if facebook will work. We already have a "mainersrights" list serve for those using email.
5. Report back from Poverty Conference. This may give us some ideas of what we can do in Maine. We will do this report with at least some or many of those in Kentucky on July 25, 11 AM, in Waterville (location to be arranged). We may also want to do reports in other locations.
Friday, July 10, 2009
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Desired Economic Human Rights
1) Every individual has a right to have his/her basic needs met, such as:
* food and clothing
* permanent housing
* health care
* child care
2) Every individual has a right, through productive employment and/or through entitlements, to income in order to provide the basic needs of her/his family.
3) Every individual has a right to:
* freedom from discrimination in obtaining basic needs
* seek employment
* productive work at a livable wage, with equal pay for equal or comparable work
* protections against the ill effects of unemployment
* a standard of living that is adequate for security and well-being
4) Every individual has a right to:
* form and join labor unions and other groups which protect his/her interests
* join labor groups in order to bargain collectively on issues such as pay and working conditions
* work in businesses or cooperatives with opportunities that further economic democracy
* strike without fear of reprisals
5) Every individual has a right to education or training to obtain the skills that allow him/her to participate in and contribute to the economy.
6) Every individual has a right to access financial services, including, but not limited to, savings or checking accounts, loans and IRAs.
7) Every individual has a right to access quality legal services regardless of ability to pay.
* food and clothing
* permanent housing
* health care
* child care
2) Every individual has a right, through productive employment and/or through entitlements, to income in order to provide the basic needs of her/his family.
3) Every individual has a right to:
* freedom from discrimination in obtaining basic needs
* seek employment
* productive work at a livable wage, with equal pay for equal or comparable work
* protections against the ill effects of unemployment
* a standard of living that is adequate for security and well-being
4) Every individual has a right to:
* form and join labor unions and other groups which protect his/her interests
* join labor groups in order to bargain collectively on issues such as pay and working conditions
* work in businesses or cooperatives with opportunities that further economic democracy
* strike without fear of reprisals
5) Every individual has a right to education or training to obtain the skills that allow him/her to participate in and contribute to the economy.
6) Every individual has a right to access financial services, including, but not limited to, savings or checking accounts, loans and IRAs.
7) Every individual has a right to access quality legal services regardless of ability to pay.
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