Think not forever of yourselves, O Chiefs, not of your own generation. Think of continuing generations of our families, think of our grandchildren and of those yet unborn, whose faces are coming from beneath the ground.
-Peacemaker,
founder of the Iroquois Confederacy
Since Sept. 11, 2001, we have all been struggling to contextualize and understand the events leading up to and on the day of the tragedy.
From our current vantage point, we see a nation and a world still reeling in the aftermath. Many children, young people and adults suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder; our sense of safety and hope for the future has been damaged; our civil liberties are threatened; we worry about the newly purchased firearms that individuals and families are bringing home; our economy is suffering, and we worry about the rising crime and violence that often follows on the heels of economic hard times. As a result of a variety of economic and political forces, many local charities and nonprofits find themselves struggling to stay afloat. Our California state and national budgets are diminished. As a result, there is keen competition among many worthy causes for the scarce available resources.
But, despite the challenging and difficult position we find ourselves in, there is reason for hope. Advocates for injury and violence prevention have encountered these challenges before. We know that addressing the root causes--poverty, social injustice and health disparities--is a crucial building block for a safe, healthy, and peaceful future for the world's children, young people, and extended families. The American Public Health Association (APHA) has issued a call to action for public health leadership and we'd like to reiterate that call and extend it to injury and violence prevention advocates everywhere. APHA has outlined 5 positions deeply rooted in the public health policy of that organization which we would like to highlight:
War is the enemy of public health
"War and militarism have catastrophic effects on human health and well-being."
[Jimmy Carter]
Diversity is our strength
"Whenever deplorable actions are associated with an identifiable racial, ethnic or religious group, we witness
an increase in racial profiling and its consequences,including violence. [Advocates] must stand firm in our vocal opposition to profiling and for fair treatment for all
people."
Funding for public health must be bolstered
"Now that the economy is facing its most severe threats in decades, public health leaders must strive not
merely to maintain, but to increase funds allocated for public health infrastructure and programs."
Promote reasonable protections for civil liberties
Any proposed restrictions on constitutionally protected rights must be balanced against the need to preserve
individual liberties from overly intrusive governmental behavior. We must embrace caution and reason."
Discover what you can do to aid in this crisis.
Con Paz,
In this new year, raise your voice loud and clear for prevention. Raise it any and everywhere you can. Reaffirm
your commitment to public health, to addressing root causes, to advocating for sane, long term solutions that focus on root causes and justice for all. Affirm your
commitment to hope for a future filled with peace.
With Peace,
The Trauma Foundation
For more information about APHA's Responses to Terrorism see www.apha.org/united/action.htm
01-03-02
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