Top 10 Reasons Why I've Never Been more excited about the VWC
By James Haslam, VWC Director
Dear Friend,
When we started the Healthcare Is A Human Right Campaign to change what was politically possible around healthcare reform so many people looked at us as if we were nuts. It's hard to believe how far we have come in a few short years. I can honestly say that I have never been more excited about the work we're doing. We have not only made huge strides in Vermont, we have helped spark a new national healthcare justice movement with healthcare is a human right campaigns sprouting up all over the country. Looking back to 1998, it seems like all of the incredibly hard work of thousands of Vermonters over those years was building for the time that has come when the 99% movement would be born. I offer 10 reasons why you should join and give to this people's movement, a movement of so many amazing people I am truly honored to work with in this struggle for human rights and real democracy. Here's my Top Ten list...
10. One Movement for People and the Planet
This was the theme of the speech I had the honor to give kicking off 350 Vermont's Moving Planet Rally this past October. Tropical Storm Irene has pushed us to broaden our organizing for human rights to include the right to a healthy environment and livable planet. The same forces that are exploiting people are also exploiting the planet and threaten the survival of future generations. The solution to both is a powerful people's movement to realize the democracy we need to address the crisis we face.
Image to the left is a page from the VWC’s new coloring book called "One Movement for People & The Planet."
9. Movement for Human Rights
When we say we are building a universal human rights movement---we truly mean everybody's human rights. Immigrant rights are always getting challenged and this year was no different, when the Brock Sears amendment was inserted into the healthcare bill barring undocumented workers from receiving care. We fought back and made it clear that a universal healthcare system needs to be truly universal and cover everyone, regardless of their immigration status.
Click here to view a PDF of our 2011 Human Rights Day Report.
8. Housing is a Human Right
Tropical Storm Irene devastated our state and hit mobile home park residents particularly hard -- one third of the homes destroyed by the storm were mobile homes. The VWC joined relief efforts and immediately helped residents at mobile home parks organize for their rights. The group Mobile Home Residents For Equality & Fairness was started by the residents and they successfully demanded their destroyed homes be removed at no cost. They won! Because of their work all mobile homes destroyed statewide have been removed at no cost to the residents. And now they are joining us in the broader struggle to put people first!
7. New Leaders
I am constantly fueled in this work by new amazing people that step forward. Irene brought Vermont much suffering and destruction, but it also created many new powerful leaders who will make sure our communities are not so vulnerable when the next storm hits.
Sandy Gaffney, featured in the video link on the left, of Mobile Home Residents For Equality & Fairness recently said:
"I am united with workers standing up for dignity in work, healthcare as a human right, safe, affordable housing, livable wages, and to be at the table when decisions are made concerning the welfare of all. My eyes are open, my ears are tuned in, my hands are ready for work, and my mouth is no longer silent...The strength we have is in working together for the good of us all."
6. Strength of the Storm
When we met Sandy and other survivors from Irene, we realized their powerful story had to be told. Vermont filmmaker Rob Koier captured this story in all its sadness and beauty. It is a film that every Vermonter really should watch and we need your help bringing this film all over the state.
Watch the trailer online: www.strengthofthestorm.org
5. New Project!
Meg Dunigan, left, officially launched the Vermont Parents United campaign on December 10th. Families are struggling to have access to affordable childcare and quality early education for our children. To have a united voice on issues that affect our families, the VWC is working with parents to launch this new organizing effort.
"We can stand together and say 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!' We can stand together and say 'No child will suffer the consequences of the all too common UN-livable wage!' I have joined the Vermont Parents United because I have had enough. I want my voice to be united with all other parents in saying "Our children deserve better!" - Meg Dunigan
4. We are helping build a national 99% movement
The VWC is part of national and international movement building because we recognize that our struggle here in Vermont is interconnected with peoples' struggles everywhere. We know that our victories are most powerful when they contribute to a global movement for justice. We have incredible opportunities to lead the way in Vermont and so much inspiration to gain from our brothers and sisters fighting for justice everywhere.
"It's important for us to be here today, to say we're in solidarity with the Vermont Workers' Center. Because we are part of this movement, a larger movement to end poverty. Poverty doesn't exist because people don't want to work. Poverty exists because the corporations are taking everything." -Luis Larin, United Workers, Baltimore
3. We are all Leaders
This is a People’s Movement. The VWC is not the staff. It is the thousands of people who have joined the movement, who are organizing in their communities, developing policy, fundraising, collecting stories, and holding our government and employers accountable.
In early 2012 you can get the People’s Passport and the journey to learn more about the VWC and social justice. The People's University of Learning and Liberation (PULL) will be hosting Solidarity School and lots of trainings. Get your Leadership on!
2. Redefining Democracy: The People’s Team
See all those red shirts? That's the People's Team, in action, at the Statehouse.
The People's Team is democracy in action. We make sure that the voice of the people is heard clearly as our elected officials made decisions that affect us. We don't believe that decisions about our fundamental needs should be made behind closed doors between politicians and corporate lobbyists.
1. Healthcare is a Human Right
We were told it couldn't be done but that didn't stop us. In May, the governor signed into law the first universal healthcare system in the nation here in Vermont. Act 48 defines healthcare as a public good and clearly lays out that our new system should be created using human rights principles. It's hard to believe how far we've come in the last few years. Yet the fight continues. We've already beat back attempts to privatize dialysis clinics in the state. Our opponents are saying this is only the beginning.
Insurance industry: "It is a far cry from being implemented...we won't be pushovers." –Vermont Insurance Agents Association
Big business: "If it were a hockey game, we would say first period done." –IBM
Help Us Win this Fight! Join Us
As we have grown, the question often comes up "where does the VWC's money come from?" I always say, "good question." It doesn't come easily that’s for sure. The only way that we can sustain and build this work is if the people who are part of it-all of us who have a stake in seeing a better future-contribute what they can. I hope you will become a VWC monthly sustainer and/or give a special contribution of $100 (or whatever you can).
To help build this movement, go to our Donate page or send checks to Vermont Workers' Center, 294 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT 05401. Thank you so much for your support. I look forward to working with you for Vermont to lead the way for healthcare and building a movement that puts people and the planet first!
For a better future for us all,
