Abuse of the Elderly - Mar 02

Citizens Panel on Policing and Community Feb 02

Grannie Ria comments about pesticide use in Ottawa - Aug 04

City of Ottawa Resolution Against War in Iraq - Feb 03

In February 2003, The Ottawa Raging Grannies lobbied with letters and flyers for a Resolution by Ottawa City Council against the war on Iraq.  Councillors  A. Cullen and C. Doucet were successful in bringing the first motion before Council.  The following is the final text of the Resolution that was passed on February 26 as recorded in the Minutes:

WHEREAS the United Nations General Assembly, in Resolution A/RES/39/159, states "That all states take no actions aimed at military intervention and occupation, forcible change in or undermining of the socio-political system of states, destabilization and overthrow of their governments and, in particular, initiate no military action to that end under any pretext whatsoever and cease forthwith any such action already in progress;"

WHEREAS unilateral, pre-emptive military action without a legally valid United Nations Security Council resolution would violate Articles 2 and 51 of the United Nations Charter;

WHEREAS the United Nations Security Council is bound to act in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter to maintain international peace and can only authorize the use of limited force only when:
- there exists a proven threat to international peace and security;
- all peaceful means have failed to contain the identified threat; and
- use of force is necessary, proportionate to the threat and is in the common interest;

WHEREAS Canada's National Defence Act (1985) stipulates that Canada may engage in military action in the event that Canada or a NATO ally is attacked or pursuant to an action taken under the UN Charter;

WHEREAS a further war in Iraq would result in extensive death, injury and suffering to the Iraqi people;

WHEREAS many cities in North America have passed resolutions expressing opposition to the use of military force to compel a regime change in Iraq, including Vancouver (B.C.), Washington (D.C.), Seattle (Washington), Albuquerque (New Mexico), Santa Cruz (California), Ithaca (New York), Sante Fe (New Mexico), New Haven (Connecticut), Oakland (California), Ann Arbor (Michigan), and others;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Ottawa:

1. Support the Canadian government efforts to seek a peaceful resolution in accordance with 
the UN Charter;

2. Support the Canadian government efforts to discourage a unilateral, pre-emptive military 
action against Iraq not sanctioned by the UN Security Council;

3. Support the Canadian government efforts to work with the United Nations for compliance by Iraq with UN Security Council resolutions concerning the disarmament by Iraq of weapons of mass destruction;

4. Support the Canadian Government in its continued dialogue with UN Security Council nations and UN diplomatic efforts that encourage democracy and respect for human rights in Iraq;

AND THAT this resolution be sent to the Prime Minister of Canada, The Leader of the Opposition, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defence, and local area Members of Parliament.

Yeas (13): Councillors E. Arnold, A. Munter, P. Hume, H. Kreling, G. Hunter, C. Doucet, M. Meilleur, P. McNeely, M. Bellemare, J. Stavinga, A. Cullen, D. Deans
and Mayor Chiarelli.

Nays (8): Councillors D. Thompson, W. Stewart, R. Bloess, D. Eastman, S. Little, 
R. Chiarelli, J. Harder, and J. Legendre.

Citizens Panel on Policing and the Community

Hearing: February 21-2002

Presenter: Grannie Ria (Ottawa Raging Grannies)
See Also Presentation by Grannie Alma

I attended the Vigil at the Human Rights Monument on Friday November 16. It was meant to be an interfaith gathering, specifically to give Islamic students from Carleton U and Ottawa U a chance to express themselves. It was peaceful and inspiring, even when a group of young people arrived unexpectedly and started to dance.

I had just whispered the remark to my husband how impressed I was with the young organisers of this Vigil and with the many peaceful, beautiful young people attending the event, when some kind of a smoke bomb went off. I did not observe any disturbance that could lead to such action. The smoke quickly spread; we had to disperse. Thanks to the organisers there was no real panic, they called us together when the smoke disappeared, but it clearly was not a good idea to continue the gathering at the Monument. Suggestion was to continue at Ottawa U.

So we linked arms, staying very close together for the safety of us all and singing our special songs.

We "snake-marched" though the streets, first passing rows and rows of police in full gear, then turning right somewhere to avoid the police.

The march continued, totally peaceful, without any vandalism. Our group was large so cars had to stop for us, but all went smoothly.

I would like to conclude with some observations and share my feelings about this event.

1) It is difficult to understand how anyone -even the police- could be allowed to disrupt such a peaceful, meaningful and healing event. Even if there was something going on that needed police attention, it could have been done in a discreet manner.

2) In Quebec City I had been exposed to tear gas, a gas which under the Geneva Convention has been forbidden to be used in wartime (as far as I know!!).  Although the exposure to the tear gas was not a "fun experience", I would cover my face and was able to breathe.

I had a different experience at the Human Rights Monument. The smoke of this chemical choked me and I could not breathe. It frightened me. I feel we have a right to know exactly what the police used.

3) Once we had to march away from the Monument the police presence - in full gear, ready to ATTACK - was overpowering and threatening. Never before have I experienced such strong emotions. (and I have been in many demonstrations and marches in the last 25 years)

I felt ashamed being there, as if I was doing something delinquent. I felt I was doing something real "dirty", I felt like crying and screaming at the same time, to make them see for what reason we had come.

4) To me the police action could have provoked such anger that especially among the younger generation it COULD have resulted in acts of vandalism. Realising the violence our younger generation is exposed to through the different media, well, one does not have to be a psychologist to see that their perspective towards vandalism and violence is influenced by that. And I feel that we who belong to the older generation should really think about that.

If I -as a grandmother- even felt threatened and very frustrated, how much stronger effect on the teenagers this could have. But they all stayed peaceful that night. as well as the day after as far as I observed.

5) My experiences of the whole week-end of November 16-18 left me with a sad, depressed feeling, which took weeks to overcome. I had not been prepared for this.

Just a more or less unrelated remark:

Bill C36 is part of a new reality!! This Bill has now legalised the police violence which I experienced. It denies me the fundamental constitutional rights to peaceful protest and assembly, one of the ways used to express my views and convictions.

Just one absurd example: I can be arrested without cause, held for 72 hours, then be released without charge!

But... because of this bill I realise better than ever before that I should never stop with what I was doing, so I'll protest and demonstrate whenever the need arises.

By Grannie Alma (Ottawa Raging Grannies)
See also Grannie Ria's Presentation

PRESENTATION TO CITIZEN’S PANEL FEBRUARY 21

GRANNIES SHOULD BE PRESENT AT SUCH MARCHES AND DEMONSTRATIONS, BOTH TO SUPPORT THE ANTI GLOBALIZATION/ANTI WAR MOVEMENT, AND TO ASSERT OUR CITIZENS RIGHT AND DUTY TO PROTEST PUBLICLY.

ALTHOUGH WE WERE NOT THE TARGETS OF POLICE VIOLENCE WE WITNESSED A NUMBER OF
INSTANCES OF INTIMIDATION AND UNPROVOKED ATTACKS ON PROTESTERS BY THE POLICE. THESE HAVE BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED BY OTHERS WHO WERE MORE DIRECTLY INVOLVED BUT WE CAN WITNESS THAT SUCH ACTS DID IN FACT TAKE PLACE. FOR EXAMPLE, SEVERAL OF US SAW UNLEASHED POLICE DOGS ATTACKING PROTESTERS AND WITNESSED THEIR WOUNDS BEING TREATED BY THE MARCH’S MEDICS.

WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE SEE AN IMPORTANT ROLE THE GRANNIES IN FUTURE SUCH EVENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

BECAUSE WE ARE A GROUP OF OLDER WOMEN WE RE-EMPHASIZE THE ALL ENCOMPASSING NATURE OF THESE CONCERNS; THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF YOUNG NAIVE RADICALS WHO DON'T  UNDERSTAND THE "REAL WORLD"; MANY OF US HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SIMILAR PROTEST ACTIONS FOR DECADES – SINCE THE BAN THE BOMB CAMPAIGN IN THE 60’S. WE ARE EXPERIENCED IN NON-VIOLENT PROTEST AND KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING IN FOR THE LONG HAUL;

WHILE AVOIDING VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS OURSELVES, WE SHOULD BE PRESENT AS WITNESSES TO VIOLENCE WHICH TAKES PLACE. MORE IMPORTANTLY EVEN, WE CAN AND SHOULD ACT TO DEFUSE POSSIBLE VIOLENCE. WE MIGHT TO THIS BY " FLOWING IN "TO SURROUND SOMEONE UNDER ATTACK THUS GIVING BOTH PROTESTERS AND POLICE A CHANCE TO COOL OFF ; EQUALLY WE MIGHT BE PREPARED TO SING NON-CONFRONTATIONAL SONGS WHEN WE SEE A TENSE SITUATION BUILDING ; INVOLVING A GROUP IN SINGING OFTEN DEFLECTS ENERGY AWAY FROM ANGRY ACTION. THIS DID IN FACT HAPPEN AT TIMES ON NOV. 20TH.

WE EMPHASIZE THAT WHILE WE OURSELVES WILL NOT RESORT TO VIOLENT TACTICS NOR ENCOURAGE THEM IN OTHERS, WE EQUALLY DEPLORE AND WILL RESIST VIOLENCE USED
AGAINST OTHERS BY THE POLICE. SOME – THOUGH NOT ALL OF US – ARE PREPARED TO ACCEPT ARREST IF THAT IS THE PRICE OF PROTESTING OR PROTECTING OTHERS. BUT ALL OF US INSIST THAT WE CAN AND MUST EXERCISE OUR CITIZEN’S RIGHT TO PROTEST.

AS ONE OF OUR SONGS SAYS:

Try and put the lid on; try and shut us up
Pepper spray won’t do it; nothing makes us stop.
We’ve been around and we don’t scare
WE’RE HERE, WE’RE THERE. WE’RE EVERYWHERE
DON’T EVEN THINK TO GAG US
HERE COME THE RAGING GRANS.

http://members.rogers.com/citizenspanel/grannies.html

Grannie Winnie presents to City Council the plight of Abuse of the Elderly

March 2, 2000 - 1:30 Champlain Room “Regional Council Headquarters”

Mr. Munter:  Mr. Cullen:   Fellow citizens of Ottawa-Carleton
My name is Winnifred Loucks
I am the spokesperson for the “Concerned Caregivers of Ottawa-Carleton”

We are the on-call nurses, health care aides, and sitters who are called by our support agencies to assist the elderly, whether they reside in private homes, nursing homes, hospitals, or Retirement Homes, in other words: the "front line" caregivers.

I am here, on invitation, to affirm the need of an immediate action team of dedicated people to set up regulatory safeguards for our most vulnerable seniors, who are presently at risk of being abused, and are in fact being abused in our residences and care facilities. Evidence of systemic abuse is on the rise as well.  Doctors, nurses, personal caregivers, social workers, having too great a workload, with fatigue and burnout being the end result.

I could tell you many horror stories.  Incidents that are in fact going unreported, and workers afraid of losing their jobs if they do report. Paperwork galore must be attended to, not freeing up the qualified staff to oversee the needs of the residents.

Remembering a case I was called to in a locked unit with a couple - the gentleman, in the advanced stages of alzheimers, hitting, and lashing out at staff and his wife.  They lived in accommodation of approximately 14ft. x 22ft. well contained, with a full bathroom.  My purpose was to sit in a chair down the hall from their room, with a cell phone in hand.  Should the husband wander through the locked door, and out into the street, I was to follow, phone his son and inform which direction we were going in.  The son would then pick us up, and bring us back to the Retirement Home.  The son wanted his mother to stay with her husband for as long as possible.  The second trip to this couple blew me away.  Halfway through my shift I informed, and in fact demanded of the head nurse, that they both needed personal care.  Within the hour, someone was there to stay with the husband, while his wife had the privilege of taking a bath.  Also they were confined to their room, because she had had flu symptoms.  They were literally in this room, meals and all, for about three days.

It is very difficult working under these conditions, and feeling compassion for the residents.

Caregivers are not being allowed to give adequate care to residents for lack of supplies, aids, and because of time constraints.

Male attendants, assist in bath time or personal care of female residents. Frankly, I find this a deplorable practice.  Many female residents have been abused, as findings indicate, in their formative years. 

Mealtimes can be a horrendous experience.  A nutritionist, in house or in an advisory capacity, is an asset and a must to any institution.  Most of the meals are being brought in from outside sources. Having previously been frozen, thawed in institutions, re-heated on site.

Upgrading of staff credentials, from administration on down, to new improved, procedures, pharmacology, and dietry.  Some medications, eg: risperidone, are being used to treat seniors with dementia.  Risperidone is an anti-psychotic, and was designed for younger people with mental disorders.  It’s the perfect solution for nursing homes for keeping the elderly still and quiet.  It affects the elderly more quickly, developing liver problems, and causes a toxic overload on people who have probably been on all kinds of drugs over the years.  Regulations are needed in this respect as well.

In house training, for staff of all occupations,  in tolerance and in understanding the grieving process of the elderly.

Many residents suffer great losses, emotionally, financially, and perhaps have suffered neglect - in some cases self neglect, in order to provide themselves with a comfort zone in their retirement years. However it seems at this moment in time that, no matter how financially stable one thinks they are, the services will be the same for everyone. The residents do indeed, need to be heard!

 I would suggest a hotline, be set up as soon as possible, with a (live) professional counsellor, equipped with an effective questionnaire, to address the concerns of the senior, their family members, caregivers, or concerned friends.  Followup is most important as well, with an unannounced visit from an advocate. 

Residents I have visited would like the advice of their own family doctor. I have been advised that in some instances the house doctor and administration prevent the residents from having this service.  Also the in-house doctor charges extra for consultations, I am told, going directly into his or her pocket.

There are many more instances I would like to report on, but this would take at least one hour instead of eight minutes.

When these regulations are being considered, I respectfully submit that front line workers be consulted, or made a part of the Health Team investigating changes to this unregulated system, as it now stands. 

Thank you.