MAINE
ASSOCIATION OF
INTERDEPENDENT
NEIGHBORHOODS
PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER FOR PEACE, BREAD AND JUSTICE
MAIN Update Winter 1999 Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods (M.A.I.N.) Statement to Propose an Economic Bill of Rights for Maine, December l0, l998 This statement was given at a press conference on December 10, 1998, the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, to unveil the Economic Bill of Rights for Maine. Thanks to MAIN members who organized this event and to all those who attended.
The Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods has developed and adopted an Economic Bill of Rights. We are here today to publicly launch this document and to seek help in achieving our goal of making economic rights a reality.
We chose this day to begin our campaign toward economic equality because 50 years ago today the United Nations issued its proclamation of Human Rights. Now fifty years later, the gap between those who have and those who have not has not decreased. In fact, it has increased. M.A.I.N believes that it is not acceptable for people in our state to be hungry, without health care or even a warm place to sleep.
Everyone in Maine has the right to have their basic needs met regardless of their financial capabilities. Society must guarantee that these basic needs will include but are not limited to: work with dignity; food and clothing; secure, affordable and permanent shelter; accessible and affordable health care; quality, accessible and affordable child care; and a standard of living that is adequate for their economic security and well being.We also believe that the time has come to stop blaming poverty on the poor and to begin to work to eliminate the causes, such as social spending cut backs, bloated military spending, poor working conditions, low wage jobs and many others -- some of which you will see on our wall -- which represent the barriers to economic justice.
If you compare MAIN's Economic Bill of Rights to the declaration of Human Rights, prepared 50 years ago by the United Nations, you will find that eight of our nine rights were there 50 years ago, the exception being the right of a clean environment.
M.A.I.N. is a statewide coalition of organizations and individuals,organized in l980, working together to make life better for low income people in our state. We work to affect positive change predominantly through legislative advocacy and public education. This past session of the legislature, M.A.I.N. was instrumental in expanding health care for children, expanding the low-cost drugs for the elderly, creating Parents as Scholars, a student aid program for TANF recipients and increasing the minimum wage, which unfortunately was vetoed by the Governor.
We have developed a very ambitious legislative agenda for the upcoming session which will continue our work toward the elimination of the gap between the haves and the have nots and so making life better for everyone in our state.
I always sign my letter, "Peace, Bread and Justice," and my friends affectionately chuckle at the throwback to the "60's". But I will always sign off that way. Everyone needs bread -- food, shelter, income, health care, and security -- even when times are bad. Everyone deserves justice -- a chance to be heard fairly and just treatment socially and economically. We must always fight for bread and justice, knowing peace will come when the others are achieved. In the same way that it takes a village to raise a child, it will take our entire state to achieve economic justice for Maine residents. In acknowledging this fact, MAIN has reached out to others in support of our Economic Bill of Rights and you will be hearing from some of them now. -- Judy Guay, President of M.A.I.N.
MAIN's Statement of Economic Rights MAIN members developed this Statement over the past year; introduced the Bill of Rights at a press conferences on December 10, the 50th Anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights; and will continue to work on strategies to implement the Bill of Rights. We welcome your involvement in this process. Contact Judy Guay to share your ideas or find out when we will meet again. 207-947-4371 or krjguay@bangornews.infi.net
M.A.I.N.'s Statement of Economic Rights Everyone in Maine has the right to have their basic needs met regardless of their financial capabilities. Society must guarantee that these basic needs will include but are not limited to: work with dignity; food and clothing; secure, affordable, permanent shelter; accessible and affordable health care; quality, accessible and affordable child care; and to a standard of living that is adequate for their economic security and well-being.
Economic Bill of Rights for Maine The following rights are guaranteed by society:
1) Every individual has a right to human dignity, and to be treated with respect.
2) Every individual has the right to the opportunity to provide the basic needs of his/her family through each persons own best efforts and the shared commitment of everyone in Maine by productive work and quality public (social/private & public?) services.
3) Every individual has a right to a safe and clean environment that will be sustained economically in a way that protects and preserves the environment for future generations.
4) Every individual has the right to participate in the political decision- making processes that affect all of our lives.
5) Every individual has a right:
- to productive work with equal pay for equal or comparable work,
- to seek ones choice of employment,
- to protections against the ill effects of unemployment, and
to freedom from discrimination in obtaining their basic needs. 6) Every individual has a right:
- to form and join labor unions and other groups which protect their interests,
- to bargain collectively on issues such as pay and working conditions,
- to strike without fear of reprisals, and
- to work in businesses or cooperatives which provide maximum opportunities for economic democracy.
7) Every individual has a right to education or training to obtain the skills that allow her/him to participate in the Maine economy, and at a level that will provide all of their family's needs.
8) Every individual has a right to access financial resources and services, including but not limited to, savings or checking accounts, loans and IRAs.
9) Every individual has a right to access quality legal services regardless of their ability to pay.
Following Judy's statement, several other organizations spoke in support of MAIN's Economic Bill of Rights before Channel 7 WVII, the Bangor Daily News, and several radio stations including Maine Public Radio. Supporting groups included: INVERT, Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center, Maine AFL-CIO, PICA/Clean Clothes Campaign, Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine, Maine Lesbian/Gay Political Alliance, Communities United for Reproductive Safety, Maine Chapter, National Organization for Women, Spruce Run and many others. Judy Guay and Larry Dansinger were also guests on WERU-Radio 89.9 with host Jane Livingston, also a MAIN member.
If your organization would like to sign on as a supporting group contact Judy Guay at 207-947-4371 or by e-mail at krjguay@bangornews.infi.net.
MAIN Update Winter 1999 Issue Contents
