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The Peace & Justice Center (PJC) works on the intersecting issues of
economic and racial justice, and peace and human rights. We have
been deeply saddened by the reports of the loss and suffering of so
many people resulting from this Hurricane and the response of the
local, state and federal governmental systems in place to aid and
protect people in such a serious and important time of need. The PJC
offers our condolences to the survivors of the Hurricane.
PJC would
like to reemphasize the lessons presented by this calamity:
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The poor, people of
color, and people with disabilities (some of our country’s most
vulnerable peoples) were disproportionately disregarded by the
following: the federal government’s failure to respond in a timely
and efficient manner and to provide appropriate aid and evacuation
assistance; the federal government’s failure to address the known
and fragile condition of the levees; the federal government’s
failure to adequately fund the Flood Control budget, from which $71
million was cut in New Orleans last year alone.
Ø
The Hurricane
uncovered the economic, social, and racial inequities and injustices
that continue to exist within our nation.
Ø
Billions of dollars
are spent on the war in Iraq and increased funding is designated for
military/anti-terrorism homeland security resources at the expense
of adequate preparation for natural disasters.
And
further:
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We lament the hundreds
of thousands of lives drastically and forever altered by the
destruction and violence of the Hurricane and its aftermath, and by
the level of response from the local, state and federal government.
Ø
We recognize the unity
and generosity of all residents of the State of Vermont, the United
States, and the world, in the rebuilding of the survivors’ lives.
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We recognize that many
of Vermont’s residents have been, at the very least, affected by
this situation due to the impact on the price of gas and heating
oil. Many more of us will feel the effect during the heating season,
according to the preliminary winter fuel projection by the
government’s Energy Information Administration (EIA). EIA estimates
that we will spend 34% more for heating oil this winter than last,
52% more for natural gas, 16% more for coal, and 11% more for
electricity. This will be a difficult winter for many low-income
Vermonters.
Therefore, we want the following:
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Stop funding the war
in Iraq and devote more national resources to protecting people from
natural disasters, ending poverty, racism, and other economic and
social inequities in our country.
Ø
Provide the basic
necessities to survivors of the Hurricane, including food, water,
housing, and health care.
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Vermont’s policymakers
and community leaders to address the underlying economic, social and
racial injustices that exist, and that led to so many lives being
disregarded.
Ø
The state and federal
government to respond to the anticipated crisis this heating season
in Vermont by providing additional funding to programs that provide
heating and fuel assistance to low-income Vermonters.
Ø
The federal government
to heed global climate changes
predicted by almost all
weather researchers and to take the necessary steps to adequately
address this serious issue.
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