humanrightsradio

Saskatchewan is booming and the housing situation in Regina has reached epidemic proportions with a less than 1% vacancy rate as well as out of reach rent costs for a great many less than average and average wage earners.  On Friday January 6th, we welcomed Jim Elliott from the Regina Tenants Association, Florence Stratton of the Regina Making Peace Vigil.  Also joining us was Rhonda Paul who is currently a resident at 1550 14th Avenue and who has received an eviction notice from the building owners.

On Friday December 16th, Human Rights Radio spoke with three members of the Occupy Regina Movement, Waldo Smith, David Jerome, and Rob Sutherland.  They gave us their perspective on what has been accomplished by the Occupy Movement, in Regina and around the world.   They reflected on how the movement has been perceived by the public and by elected officials.  Future actions will include focusing on housing and homelessness in Regina and other actions which will be determined by Occupy General Assemblies.

On Friday December 2nd, Amnesty International Field Worker, Gordon Barnes spoke with Human Rights Radio about "Write for Rights" on December 10th, the anniversary of the Declaration on Human Rights.  We discuss the upcoming Regina event and how we can make a difference in the lives of victims of human rights abuses.

Our first story about being homeless was done with Stella. She informed us about what it was like for her and others to live on the streets, about services that were helpful and those that were missing. She taught us about the need for compassion and understanding. Stella has lived in many places since this interview for short periods of time, always ending up back on the streets. This story is being reposted in November 2011. Since this interview, we have done four more over the past two years. Homelessness has reached a crisis situation in Saskatchewan. Stella is still struggling to find a permanent home where she can rest her head and have semblance of a normal life.

In recognition of HIV/AIDS awareness week, Human Rights Radio spoke with our special guest, Shathani Kagiso, who talked about her journey from Botswana, Africa.  Shathani has lived with HIV/AIDS  for some time now and has dedicated her life to advocacy and education.  Our second guest is a good friend of Human Rights Radio, Dan Lindsay, who has dedicated his life to advocacy and educating the public about a multitude of human rights issues such as homelessness, indigenous rights regarding prior and informed consent, and the fight against nuclear waste burial in Saskatchewan as well as HIV/AIDS in the Aboriginal community.

On Friday November 18, Human Rights Radio spoke with Jordan Puscus, and Ashley Creaser, students from the faculty of Social Work at the University of Regina who are taking action with the Red Tent campaign and Dan Lindsay of Rainbow Youth in Regina.  We discussed homelessness and the unfortunate paradox of hard times for low income earneers during the Saskatchewan Boom.  The answer to homelessness and affordable housing lies in co-operation between Federal, Provincial, and Municipal Government.  Why is there no plan in Saskatchewan to address this acute problem?

On Friday November 4, 2011,  Human Rights Radio discussed a new film short, Bridging the Gap, with the producer and researcher from Carmichael Outreach, a Regina Community Based Organization that works with homeless people and those in poverty.  The film explores the severe impact on people who live in poverty due to the barriers to adequate, safe, and affordable housing in Saskatchewan.

On Friday Oct 28, Human Rights Radio spoke with Mikayla Schultz,  of TransSask Support Services.  We touched on a private members Bill reintroduced for the fourth time (having died on the order paper three times when Parliament was dissolved for general elections) and the protections this bill, if passed, would provide for transgender persons. This program will educate and make the listener aware of the many difficulties involved in the process of dealing with gender identity.

On the evening of October 19, we went to Victoria Park in Regina to find out why a group of protesters has pitched tents in the park and have stayed there for the better part of a week.  We took a recorder with us and talked to a few people and invited a couple of the participants to be with us for our show on Friday, October 21.  Nathan Seckinger and Dan Lindsay joined us for a lively discussion about the variety of issues which have prompted "Occupy Regina.

On October 7th, We spoke with Anita Hopfauf who is the Director of the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan and Cindy Leggott, Rehabilitation Councillor/Peer Support Coordinator with the Canadian Paraplegic Association Southern Region.  Topic was the ongoing work to provide permanent adequate income support for persons with disabilities.