Grassy Narrows is a First Nations Community in northern Ontario where youth suicide has risen at an alarming rate. The impact on families in this community of 1,500 has been nothing short of devastating.
To properly examine the brutal truth behind Grassy Narrows, we must explore the effects of mercury contamination in their water supply, resulting in horrifying mental and emotional consequences and health issues that have disproportionately affected youth. Between 1962 and 1970, an industrial paper mill within proximity of the community discharged ten metric tons of mercury into the English-Wabigoon River system - a water source critical to the residents of Grassy Narrows. The local fish were, naturally, the first victims of this environmental disaster and, of course, they form an important part of the community’s diet. As a result, the mercury permeated through the food chain, from the fish up to the residents of the Grassy Narrows community who consumed them. The toxic levels of mercury contamination continue to plague the local ecosystem today, dramatically reducing the quality of life for generations. This is a tragedy that children should not have to live with, especially in Canada. Significant Health Implications Mercury poisoning causes both physical and mental health consequences. Individuals that inhale the deadly substance can become victims of neurological and behavioural disorders, developmental problems as well as various crippling diseases. As the contamination works its way through the ecosystem, fetuses become exposed to mercury through the placenta, causing an intergenerational ripple effect of disease. The psychological damage is also devastating, resulting in a huge rise in cases of depression, anxiety, and general hopelessness among many members of the community. The Alarming Rise in Youth Suicide Researchers and community members have made yet another tragic link between the contaminated water source and its downstream effects - an extraordinary rise in the local suicide rate among youth, which is over three times of other First Nations communities in Canada. There were no documented suicide cases in Grassy Narrows before the mercury dump. Thus, the poisoned water has not only deprived the community of its physical well-being but also left an indelible mark on its youth, taking away from them what all human beings should be entitled to by right - a safe and healthy environment. The Right to a Healthy Environment The United Nations recognizes clean and healthy living as a basic human right. This right in particular has special meaning for Indigenous communities such as Grassy Narrows since they are intimately connected to the land. Nevertheless, the mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows clearly demonstrates the denial of such a right, as the community has been robbed of its access to clean and safe water. This contamination, and the resulting theft of clean water access, has far-reaching consequences and demands to be viewed in the historical context of First Nations communities having their rights and resources stripped away by Canadian governments and corporations. Children’s Rights and the Grassy Narrows Tragedy First Nations children are the most vulnerable to environmental contamination. Grassy Narrows acts as a powerful reminder of the need to give children the right to grow and develop - like all children - in a stable and healthy environment. It is heartbreaking beyond words that the reckless mercury poisoning of the English-Wabigoon River system continues to be the cause of high suicide rates. Although the Grassy Narrows community is known to be resilient, the struggle to cope with mercury poisoning continues. Traditional economic activities have been dramatically impacted, mental and physical health has been impacted across generations, and suicide rates continue to climb. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on toxic wastes, Baskut Tuncak, visited Grassy Narrows and concluded, “There exists a pattern in Canada where marginalized groups, Indigenous peoples in particular, find themselves on the wrong side of a toxic divide, subject to conditions that would not be acceptable elsewhere in Canada.” As always, when discussing potential violations in human rights, children are the most vulnerable. Do you have a young person in your life who would love to help tigers, orangutans, and elephants through their art? The annual international OrangArtan Competition is for children aged 4 to 12 and provides a unique opportunity to become involved in creative conservation efforts.
By paying a registration fee, you can help the Orangutan Project rescue orphaned orangutans from the illegal wildlife trade and provide them with a second chance at freedom in the wild. Your contribution will also be used to support wildlife rangers, who protect Sumatran tigers, elephants, and their habitat. Artwork Theme For 2022 The theme for this year’s OrangArtan Competition is to draw “wildlife and their habitat in Sumatra and Borneo.” This includes tigers, birds, and other animals living in the rainforests, trees, or rivers. Borneo and Sumatra are the only regions in the world where tigers, rhinos, orangutans, and elephants live together. Encourage your children to use their creativity in supporting an amazing cause while learning about the importance of habitat protection. How To Register Any child between the ages of 4 and 12 can register to put their creativity to the test. A panel of judges will assess the artwork and reward prizes for the first, second, and third places for each age category. If you are able to register more than 90 students in your school, the Orangutan Project will provide a valuable live presentation about wildlife conservation and the ecosystems of Borneo and Sumatra, allowing an opportunity for students to develop ideas for their artwork. How Your Donations Will Help Save Lives The Orangutan Project works with various rescue alliances to save orphaned orangutans who have been stolen from their mothers with the intent of being sold into the wildlife trade. This wildlife trade is illegal but unfortunately runs rampant in many countries. Orangutans are critically endangered species, and one of the major threats facing the species is the illegal wildlife trade. Through your contributions, you will be helping to raise the money necessary to help remove these innocent animals from this horrible, life-altering trade. Due to the generous donations provided by conservationists and generous people, the Orangutan project was able to save 10 orangutans over the past year and many other species in need of help. In addition to rescuing these poor animals, the Orangutan Project also funds wildlife rangers, who monitor the forests and protect wildlife against illegal threats such as poaching and traps. If you want to be involved and protect the forest, please register and encourage the children in your life to participate in the OrangArtan Competition. This is a unique opportunity to encourage young children to become involved in making the world a better place while educating them on the importance of conservation efforts to protect wildlife and their habitats. If you want to register for this event, please follow the link here. Why Are The Orangutans In Danger? There has been significant destruction and degradation of the tropical rainforest, especially lowland forests, such as Borneo and Sumatra – which is the main reason orangutans are at threat of extinction. As a result of habitat destruction, orangutans are more vulnerable to being targeted by traffickers in the wildlife trade. The illegal wildlife trade is one of the world’s most lucrative illegal trades, with a value of approximately $10 billion dollars annually. Infant orangutans are taken from their mothers to be sold as illegal pets. The mothers are usually killed. In addition to being used as pets, orangutans are traded for food, for use in biomedical research, and for wildlife entertainment in zoos. We need to do everything we can to protect these endangered species. Please consider participating or donating directly today. Menstruation stigma still exists in many or most cultures around the world. Unfortunately, women may be excluded from certain positions and settings due to menstruation. Some traditions prevent women and girls from cooking food and require them to live outside of the home, usually in a hut or livestock shed, when they are menstruating. As a result, women and girls have been exposed to isolation, extreme temperatures, animal attacks and sexual violence.
In 2019, a 21 year old Nepali woman died of suffocation in a windowless “menstruation hut” after she started a fire to keep herself warm. Her body was discovered by her mother-in-law who said “she was excited about the next day as her menstruation would end. Poor child closed her eyes forever.” This tragic incident came just weeks after a mother and her two sons died in a similar shed. According to the ancient tradition of Chhaupadi, women who have periods or have just given birth are seen as impure and bringers of bad luck. They are banned from touching some foods, religious items and men. As such, these poor females are subjected to extreme weather in small huts. Although Nepal criminalized the practice of exiling menstruating women and girls in 2017, it remains a widespread practice in rural areas. In rural parts of Ethiopia, women and girls are banned from the home during menstruation, childbirth and also postpartum bleeding. In India, some women and girls are forced to live outside the home and wear the same clothes and use the same utensils when menstruating as these are believed to be unclean and cannot be taken into the home even after the period is over. Some cultures believe that menstruation demonstrates the readiness for marriage and sex, which leads to forced child marriages, sexual activity and early pregnancy. Menstruation could start at the age of 7 and does not indicate that females have reached an age of mental or physical maturity. It is a lack of information about menstruation that leads to damaging ideas and discrimination, leading girls and women across the world to miss out on normal experiences. These stigmas, taboos and myths create barriers for both girls and boys from being educated on the matter as well as practicing healthy habits. A recent report by UNICEF and the World Health Organization revealed that a significant proportion of women in developing countries are still struggling during menstruation. Due to the financial burden posed by menstrual supplies, many low-income females face “period poverty.” Many females struggle to afford menstrual products, which force them to stay home from school or work, which obviously has lasting negative consequences on their education and economic opportunities. For example, in Kenya, studies have shown that some schoolgirls have engaged in selling sex to pay for their menstrual products. Further, 15% of girls in Burkina Faso, 20% in Ivory Coast and 23% in Nigeria missed school in the last 12 months due to their periods. Also, one in five girls and women in Samoa, Laos, and Ethiopia used no menstrual products during their periods, putting them at risk of infection and health issues. Silence about menstruation leads to ignorance and violations of human rights. The right to health, the right to education, the right to work and the right to non-discrimination and gender equality are all undermined by women’s and girls’ treatment during menstruation. Menstruation should be discussed publicly to break the silence and taboo. Men and boys must be involved in the discussion about gender equality and eliminating the stigma and discrimination associated with menstruation. Recently, Save the Children joined in on their yearly conversation about menstruation on May 28, 2022, to break the stigma and raise awareness for gender equality and the empowerment of girls. They shared a story from the community of Milange, Mozambique, where boys were taught how to make reusable menstrual pads. Menstruation causes an increase in the likelihood that young girls may skip school, due to pain, shame, or lack of supplies. This greatly highlights the need for menstruation education and access to health-promoting habits. Save the Children’s Ungumi project works with youth ages 10-19 in the areas of Milange, Murrumbala and Derre in the Zambezia province. Their goal is to provide education about sexual and reproductive health and rights. “At first, I found it very strange when the mentor said that we would learn how to make menstrual pads,” 17-year-old Raul shared in the article. “With time, I began to realize that we should know about how to help the girls who end up leaving school […].” By ending the stigma, social norms can be changed, as well as the behaviours that negatively impact those who menstruate. Please consider donating to one of the charities below: The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Since then, children’s physical and mental health, education, and economic well-being has been put at risk. As the world enters a third year of this global crisis, the impact could continue for years to come.
Rise in violence against children Children have been at greater risk of violence over the past two years of the pandemic. According to Save the Children, which surveyed 25,000 people across 37 countries in 2020, children were reported to have higher rates of violence when schools were closed compared to when they could attend classes. The economic impact and closures of schools have been correlated with this rise in violence against adults and children. Save The Children also reported that figures from South Africa showed that more than 350 children were killed in the last three months of 2021, with an additional increase of 30 percent in attempted murders. Most of this violence took place at home. A 2020 report called the Perfect Storm, released by World Vision, revealed that 85 million children are in immediate danger of physical, sexual and emotional violence at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The abuse is often a result of increased isolation. “It is vital that world leaders take responsibility for the protection of all children against violence and abuse,” said Michael Messenger, President and CEO of World Vision Canada. “We know from bitter experience that crises, including conflict and the spread of deadly diseases, increase violence against the most vulnerable girls and boys. The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo was a recent example. Looking ahead, it’s deeply worrying to think about the crushing economic and social impacts of COVID-19, which will put up to 85 million more children in harm’s way.” Surge in child poverty According to UNICEF, child poverty was projected to be 10 percent higher than before the pandemic, resulting in an additional 100 million children going into poverty. Families in developing countries have suffered the most as the recovery process has been slower due to high unemployment rates and the lack of government assistance. Prior to the pandemic, 47 percent of children around the world were living in multidimensional poverty: poverty without access to healthcare, education, clean water and sanitation, adequate nutrition, and housing. Children’s mental health Sick Kids reported on the impact of COVID-19 among children 2 to 18 years in age. They found that over 70 percent reported worse mental health during initial COVID-19 lockdowns. Children were left feeling lonely, overwhelmed, worried, sad, anxious, depressed, and hopeless. Please consider donating and supporting our vulnerable children to secure a more promising future for them: UNICEF Save The Children World Visio Thai Elephants Dying of Starvation Due to the Pandemic and its Impact on the Tourism Sector5/19/2022
The pandemic has negatively impacted Thailand’s tourism sector. With the exception of elephant sanctuaries or rehabilitation centres, captive elephants in Thailand are often exploited for financial gain and depend heavily on tourism for funding. Captive elephants may be forced to provide rides for visitors, play soccer for spectators, or other tricks to generate income. However, the pandemic has also negatively affected elephant sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres that rely on tourists who volunteer to care for the elephants, donate money or pay for admission to view elephants in their natural habitat free from chains. Many camps and sanctuaries have struggled to provide the proper care and food for their animals. Maesa Elephant Camp in Chiang Mai, Thailand, was originally established in 1976 as an elephant camp for tourism, which introduced elephant riding, elephant shows, and tricks. However, in 2019, Maesa Elephant Camp underwent significant change when the ownership was transferred to Mrs. Anchalee Kalmapijit, who believed that elephants should live a more natural life, free of chains. She eliminated riding and other exploitative activities with assistance from Elephant Nature Park. Unfortunately, due to the lack of funding and the decrease in tourism, 22 elephants at Maesa Elephant Camp died during the pandemic as a result of starvation. The most recent death was a 50-year-old male elephant named Krung Rattana. He died while staff were working hard to transport him to Elephant Conservation Centre for urgent medical care. Krung Rattana had been chronically ill and had previously received medical treatment from the camp’s veterinary team. However, as a result of not receiving a proper diet for two years, he did not survive. Mrs. Anchalee Kalmapijit stated that elephants are expensive to feed considering they eat 10 tonnes of food every day. In addition, Maesa Elephant Camp currently only has 110 employees, a third of the 330 employees the camp had two years ago. The elephant crisis in Thailand has been receiving international coverage in the media. An article was written by Mongabay.com in 2021 and explores the topic of the feeding crisis and the difficulty in providing care to elephants without sufficient funding. It states: “An interesting development we’ve seen in the last few years, right up to the start of the pandemic, is more travel companies – not only in Western countries but also in China – dropping conventional elephant activities, such as elephant riding, in favour of observation only and more humane alternatives,” said Jan Schmidt-Burbach of World Animal Protection, an organization that has studied elephant welfare in Thailand for more than a decade. “I really hope that the travel industry will pick up where they left off at the start of the pandemic and not fall back into greed-driven profit-maximization.” It is my hope that the pandemic will change Thailand’s exploitative elephant tourism sector and provide a chance to reconsider the relationship between humans and elephants. Donations have provided emergency funds to aid 1,826 elephants in 226 camps in Thailand, according to World Animal News reported in 2021. However, this crisis continues to persist and more help is required to ensure the survival of these beautiful, social, and intelligent creatures. The elephants at Maesa Elephant Camp are in need of financial support to care for their elephants. Please consider sponsoring an elephant at: maesaelephantcamp.com/sponsor-an-elephant/ Human trafficking is a global epidemic that aims to exploit the most vulnerable people in communities across the world. Traffickers look for people, especially children, that are prime targets for human trafficking and exploitation.
The following factors are indicators that someone may be vulnerable to human trafficking: Political Instability The existence of war, violence, political conflict and natural disasters create an unstable environment in which people may fear for their survival and lack the ability to earn a living. There is an increased likelihood that children may be separated from their families or left without proper guardians to protect them from potential predators. In situations of forced migration, people may be required to flee from their homes in search of safer or more stable communities. However, this is not always successful, as they may find themselves homeless, in temporary settlements that are unprotected, and cut off from their family or social network. Human traffickers take full advantage of these circumstances. Gender Inequality While advances have been made in the Western world, there is still a large gap present in terms of gender inequality both here and around the world. This disparity between the opportunities that are available to men versus women is one of the many reasons women and young girls are more at risk. In many places, women and girls are viewed as less valuable than men. They often earn less for work and have less access to education and healthcare. In many cultures, women are also expected to be submissive, putting them at greater risk when faced with human traffickers. Poverty Human traffickers will specifically target poor, marginalized communities to trick vulnerable people, often minors, by offering false opportunities to improve their current circumstances. Because of their situation, the victims may be willing to take greater risks to provide for themselves and their families, and are often misled about the opportunities they are presented with. Forced abductions of children for exploitation are also more common in developing countries. This can put those experiencing poverty at even greater risk of human trafficking. Gang Violence The existence of violent gangs can make the exploitation of men, women and children an incredibly profitable business — even when compared to other illegal trades like weapons or drugs. Members of gangs recruit and exploit people every day utilizing a variety of methods. They may even coerce their own members or associates to participate in illegal activities, such as forced labour and other exploits. Online Connections Living in a digital world means traffickers have more tools than ever to lure vulnerable children and adults into meeting in person. They can convince vulnerable people to take inappropriate photos, and coerce them into complying with demands through extortion, threats and false promises. Traffickers may hold a compromising photo or video to keep someone under control, threatening to release the information and ruin their lives. Traffickers may also pose as someone they’re not, such as a potential love interest or someone of similar age to lure a person into meeting them in person. Conclusion: You can be part of the solution The international Labor Organization estimates there are over 40 million victims of human trafficking. The globalization of this terrible industry is heartbreaking. Fortunately, there are some amazing organizations you can support to raise awareness and participate in the fight against human trafficking. One of my favourite organizations, Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), works internationally to rescue victims of human trafficking, including children from sexual exploitation. You can donate and/or volunteer with the organization and serve an active role in ending human trafficking. Please consider donating here. With the dry season approaching the Borneo forests, The Orangutan project is attempting to raise $115,000 to protect against forest fires.
Data from the SiPongi (Karhutla Monitoring System) reported in 2019 that approximately 317,749 hectares of forest were burned down in Central Kalimantan. If fire rips through the area again, many orangutans and other critical wildlife will suffer. Even if some animals manage to escape, the devastation of fire will have a ripple effect that will impact their ability to survive by destroying natural food resources and their ability to reproduce. Why is the Sebangau Forest in danger? Peat forests are some of the most carbon-rich ecosystems in the world. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, peat can store up to 550 gigatonnes of carbon, exceeding the carbon stored in all other vegetation types. As a result, if the forest catches fire, it could burn non-stop for months. Peat, or decomposed tree matter, has been compacted in a wet, swamp environment for thousands of years. When plant material does not fully decay in wetland areas, it becomes peat. When it builds up, it holds water, creating a wet blanket on the ground that can help prevent forest fires. However, due to climate change and illegal logging, the forests are experiencing longer and more frequent droughts, causing peat forests to disappear. This is further aggravated by the creation of canals by illegal loggers. The illegal loggers create canals as a means to transport timber causing the water in the area to drain. This led to widespread drainage of the peatland and drying out of the forest. Thus, a simple spark can now make dry peat light up and start large devastating fires, which would threaten the whole ecosystem. This area is the home to the largest population of Bornean orangutans, meaning that their lives are at risk every dry season. How you can be part of the solution? The Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) goes into the forest before every dry season to conduct a program of blocking up the old disused canals and wetting the peat. This ensures leaf litter and water is retained in the ecosystem, lowering the risk of it catching fire. It is extremely difficult and physically demanding to drag materials through the forest to build the necessary dams to keep the forest and its wildlife safe. A team is required to build several hundred dams as every single canal requires dozens of dams to be built. To date, the organization has built hundreds of dams using sustainable materials. However, these efforts are costly, and The Orangutan Project — which partners with Borneo Nature Foundation — is required to raise $115,000 to help fund construction of more dams throughout the forest. Each dam requires constant monitoring and repairs. A shortfall of funds We are urging everyone to be a part of the solution by donating money to ensure BNF has the materials necessary to keep the forests from burning this dry season. Without funding, the lives of many orangutans, as well as other wildlife and people, are at serious risk. Their goal is to raise $115,000. Please consider being part of a movement that will preserve the forest and save the lives of countless endangered wildlife and their precious habitat. Click here to donate. In 2017, UNICEF estimated that there were approximately 153 million orphaned children worldwide. Some children were placed into an orphanage system while others were left to fend for themselves. Both situations can be detrimental to the emotional, mental and physical development of children. Unfortunately, children with mental or physical disabilities and children requiring medical intervention are often marginalized, misdiagnosed or mistreated when placed into the orphanage system.
New Hope Foundation, an organization based in China, aims to care for orphaned children who require medical treatment or palliative care. The organization faced significant financial challenges in 2021 due to a decrease in funding as the pandemic affected people’s ability to donate. Further, a major funding source, which donated $2 million per year, announced it would no longer be able to assist New Hope Foundation. As of 2022, despite their financial obstacles, New Hope Foundation continues to take in orphaned infants and children who require special medical care by decreasing expenses while still prioritizing the children’s care. New Hope Foundation was founded by a family medicine doctor and her husband. The organization cares for infants and children by providing not only personal care, but also providing medical treatment for sick children, funding surgical interventions for children with correctable needs and loving care for children who require a palliative approach when they are not expected to survive due to severe medical conditions. The organization operates multiple care facilities to ensure that the children can both play and learn with emotional and physical support. Each nanny working at the organization is trained to respond to the children’s individual requirements. The organization also employs nurses who provide quality care to each child based on their individual medical needs. New Hope Foundation attempts to pattern routines, staff uniforms and facilities to look similar so that children who need to be transferred from one unit to another can have continuity and familiarity regardless of where they are. Here’s How You Can Help in 2022 As a result of financial challenges faced during the pandemic and the loss of their major funding source, New Hope Foundation created a new child sponsorship program. The organization did not want to be dependent on one funding source and sought an arrangement in which they could involve a larger group of families. Child sponsorship is one of those opportunities for people to become involved. The child sponsorship program was simple and cost effective to develop and implement (only 0.1% of their overall expenses). New Hope Foundation wanted to remove financial barriers for people to sponsor, especially during the pandemic when families have lost their jobs or businesses. As such, New Hope Foundation set the amount to sponsor a child at only $10 per month. The organization has a $3 million per year budget, which averages to be $250,000 per month for all expenses. New Hope Foundation would need at least 20,000 sponsors at $10 a month to continue their operations. As of February 2021, New Hope Foundation only received 248 sponsorships with many generous sponsors giving more than the minimum amount. Although this was a significant achievement, the organization did not meet their monthly needs and were required to further reduce expenses and shut down some care facilities. As of December 2021, New Hope Foundation had approximately 228 children in their care. Through the help of their sponsors and donors, New Hope Foundation was able to meet their 575 End of the Year Strong Goal. In the last quarter of 2021, New Hope Foundation received over $575,000 USD in donations which allowed them to cover all their costs for the year. As they embark on 2022 and the unforeseen obstacles ahead, New Hope Foundation encourages anyone to donate or sponsor a child to help them continue their efforts. Whether it be sponsoring one child, giving a one-time donation, or simply spreading the word about their valuable work with children would be crucial to the organization’s ability to survive. New Hope Foundation’s main goal for 2022 is for more people to sponsor one or multiple children, and for their adoption program to receive more applications from people around the world who are ready to love and welcome one of their children into their family. As of March 2022, New Hope Foundation received 2,965 monthly sponsorships and is 85% away from their goal. You can help by going to New Hope Foundation’s website to sponsor a child, cover the cost of a surgery, fund a child’s medical treatment, or donate towards general expenses. If you are able to provide supplies or planning to travel to Beijing, you are encouraged to contact New Hope Foundation to assist in providing supplies that cannot be purchased in China. If you subscribe to their newsletter and have already sponsored a child, thank you! You can take part in their Join NHF (New Hope Foundation) Challenge. Other Ways to Help Children Other organizations that strive toward similar goals are the Ai You Foundation, Love Without Boundaries, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages, and Heart for Kids. |
AuthorKatrina Sriranpong is a philanthropist with a passion for aiding disadvantaged children, advocating for refugees from war-torn countries as well as promoting animal rights and protection. Archives
January 2024
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