207 lines
7.6 KiB
Markdown
207 lines
7.6 KiB
Markdown
# Freedom From State Violence
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!!! danger "Urgent: Ongoing State Violence"
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As Albertans, we must acknowledge that state violence isn't just about physical force - it's happening through policy decisions, resource allocation, and systemic discrimination every day. Through our compliance and silence, we enable a system that perpetuates harm against marginalized communities. This institutional violence threatens everyone's freedom, and we must take responsibility for dismantling it.
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!!! quote "Systemic Justice Wisdom"
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"State violence isn't just about physical force - it's about the systemic ways institutions can harm communities."
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[Call Alberta Human Rights Commission](tel:7804274893){ .md-button }
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[Email Human Rights Commission](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/human-rights){ .md-button }
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[Call Alberta Ombudsman](tel:7804274357){ .md-button }
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[Email Alberta Ombudsman](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/ombudsman-investigation){ .md-button }
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## Why Do We Need Freedom From State Violence?
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Because somehow we went from "government of the people" to "government despite the people." Let's talk about why true freedom means addressing the ongoing impacts of state violence in Alberta.
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### Our Current "Democratic" System
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!!! example "The State Violence Experience Today"
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1. We create discriminatory policies
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2. We underfund vital services
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3. We ignore systemic barriers
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4. We blame poverty on the poor
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5. We call it "fiscal responsibility"
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6. We repeat until someone calls it good governance
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## Understanding State Violence
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State violence encompasses the broader ways that government institutions and systems can cause harm to individuals and communities:
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- Systemic discrimination in institutions
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- Economic violence through policy
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- Environmental racism
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- Healthcare inequities
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- Educational disparities
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- Housing discrimination
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- Food security barriers
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## Forms of State Violence
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### Institutional Violence
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- Discriminatory policies
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- Bureaucratic barriers
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- Systemic racism in government services
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- Language and cultural barriers
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- Accessibility issues
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### Economic Violence
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- Poverty-perpetuating policies
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- Insufficient minimum wage
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- Inadequate social supports
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- Housing market failures
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- Food desert creation
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### Environmental Violence
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- Environmental racism
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- Resource extraction impacts
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- Industrial pollution placement
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- Climate change inequities
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- Infrastructure disparities
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## Alberta's Context
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Our province has specific challenges:
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- Resource development impacts on Indigenous communities
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- Urban planning inequities
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- Healthcare access disparities
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- Housing affordability crisis
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- Food security challenges
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## Solutions and Resistance
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### Policy Reform
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- Evidence-based policy making
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- Community consultation requirements
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- Impact assessments
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- Equity frameworks
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- Accessibility standards
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### Community Action
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- Grassroots organizing
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- Policy advocacy
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- Community support networks
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- Alternative systems building
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- Mutual aid networks
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!!! tip "Taking Action"
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- Engage in policy consultation
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- Support community organizations
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- Document systemic issues
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- Build mutual aid networks
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- Advocate for policy change
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## Building Alternatives
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Creating freedom from state violence means:
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- Building community resilience
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- Developing alternative systems
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- Supporting mutual aid networks
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- Creating accountability mechanisms
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- Fostering community power
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!!! info "Resources"
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Connect with local organizations working on:
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- Policy reform
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- Community support
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- Mutual aid
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- Advocacy
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- Education
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## Moving Forward
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True freedom requires addressing all forms of state violence. It's about creating systems that support rather than harm, include rather than exclude, and empower rather than oppress.
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!!! warning "Remember"
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State violence affects different communities differently. Understanding intersectionality is crucial for addressing systemic issues effectively.
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## What Real Freedom From State Violence Looks Like
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- Equitable resource distribution (not just "equal opportunity")
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- Indigenous sovereignty (not just consultation)
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- Economic justice (not just charity)
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- Environmental protection (not just corporate profits)
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- Community-led solutions (not top-down policies)
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### But What About The Economy?!
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!!! info "Plot Twist"
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Just governance doesn't mean austerity - it means investing in people and communities rather than corporate welfare.
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!!! tip "Pro Freedom Tip"
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If we think systemic change is too expensive, let's calculate the cost of maintaining oppressive systems.
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## What Reformed State Systems Look Like
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- Participatory democracy
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- Community-controlled resources
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- Indigenous-led environmental stewardship
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- Universal basic services
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- Equitable urban planning
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- Food sovereignty initiatives
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## The Economic Reality
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When we address state violence:
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- Communities thrive
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- Innovation flourishes
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- Resources are shared
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- Environment heals
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- Everyone benefits from just governance
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!!! warning "Reality Check"
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Reform without redistribution of power is just oppression with better marketing.
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Remember: Real freedom means freedom for everyone, and that includes freedom from the violence of unjust systems and institutions.
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---
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## Sources & Evidence
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### Systemic Discrimination
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- Indigenous peoples face systemic discrimination across Alberta institutions including healthcare, justice, and child welfare
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- LGBTQ+ Albertans face new legal barriers through **Bills 26, 27, and 29** (2024)
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- Racial profiling concerns persist in policing practices
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- Source: [Alberta Human Rights Commission](https://www.albertahumanrights.ab.ca/)
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### Healthcare Inequities
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- Emergency room wait times in Alberta average **3 hours 48 minutes** - the longest in Canada
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- Mental health services have wait times of **6 months to 1.5 years**
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- Rural and Indigenous communities face significant healthcare access barriers
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- Alberta has only **10.6 psychiatrists per 100,000 people** (below national average)
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- Source: [Canadian Institute for Health Information](https://www.cihi.ca/)
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### Child Welfare Crisis
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- Indigenous children make up **over 50%** of children in care despite being approximately 10% of the child population
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- The child welfare system has been described as a continuation of residential school policies
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- Foster care outcomes remain poor with high rates of homelessness and incarceration for former youth in care
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- Source: [Alberta Children's Services](https://www.alberta.ca/childrens-services.aspx)
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- Source: [First Nations Child and Family Caring Society](https://fncaringsociety.com/)
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### Housing & Homelessness
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- Rental costs increased **17.5%** in Alberta in a single year
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- Homelessness disproportionately affects Indigenous people, youth aging out of care, and people with mental health challenges
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- Social housing waitlists continue to grow
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- Source: [Statistics Canada - Rental Market Report](https://www.statcan.gc.ca/)
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### Economic Violence
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- Minimum wage has not kept pace with cost of living increases
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- Income assistance rates leave recipients far below the poverty line
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- Food bank usage increased **21.8%** in a single year - the highest increase in Canada
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- Source: [Food Banks Canada HungerCount Report](https://foodbankscanada.ca/)
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### Environmental Racism
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- Industrial pollution disproportionately impacts Indigenous and low-income communities
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- Fort Chipewyan and other downstream communities face health impacts from oil sands operations
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- Environmental monitoring and enforcement gaps leave communities vulnerable
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- Source: [Keepers of the Athabasca](https://www.keepersofthewater.ca/)
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