January 25, 2010 - 1:23 pm |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Pivot Legal Society Executive Director John Richardson smugly sits in front of his latest publicity stunt.
The Pivot Legal Society specifies its mandate as taking “a strategic approach to social change, using the law to address the root causes that undermine the quality of life of those most on the margins.”
And when employing the law as “a critical tool for social change,” encompassing:
they can serve as a powerful agent of social change. A few examples include fighting for the rights of protesters around the Woodward’s building in 2002, participating in a Charter challenge on decriminalizing sex work in Canada, and advocating on behalf of keeping the InSite safe injection site open.
But where I have an issue with the tactics of the society is in their tendency to allow cheap publicity stunts to overtake the causes they are fighting for.
Their latest “Red Tent” campaign is a perfect example.
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December 8, 2009 - 11:20 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
The police have taken a stand, and will be using a gentle and non-forceful approach with the homeless in spite of provincial legislation to the contrary.
I think that it is a huge development for Vancouver Police Department Chief Jim Chu to in essence state that he will not be enforcing BC Minister of Housing and Social Development Rich Coleman’s new legislation on the homeless.
“If there is overt resistance, then we will back away and disengage. There will be no further physical contact. They will be allowed to remain where they are.”
The ministry is trying to put their best foot forward in response:
“The policy that the VPD has put in place appears to be a reasonable interpretation of the act. We appreciate the VPD respects the spirit of the act and we respect their position,”
but the VPD have passed a debilitating judgement on a piece of legislation that is not only controversial with Charter and homeless advocates, but is also unrealistic and nearly impossible to properly enforce.
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