Squat Update - Wednesday (A Big Day!)

Friends,
And we thought things would get quieter at the squat...

Today started with Dwayne Koe being interviewed on the CBC. Dwayne is representing Streams of Justice very well. Continue to pray for him as he starts the construction and framing course at BCIT on Dec. 3, 2007.

Just before noon some of the guys started digging into the hard, root-bound dirt. Then Dave, Tom and Callum from Jacob's Well brought soil and plants to create a beautiful garden in front of the major shelter at the squat - fragrant rosemary as well as a pepper plant and bok choy have brought some joy to the group. Tom also had a couple of bales of hay to make a path from the gate to this "living room and kitchen" area. While this was going on Paul and Angela brought soup down for lunch. Thanks to our many friends who are caring for those in the squat in so many different ways.

Then, just before dusk - what a privilege and honour to have Miloon Kothari, the UN appointed Special Rapporteur on adequate housing. He arrived around 5:45 and left about 6:30. He did a lot of listening in his conversations with different folks at the squat before he addressed the whole squat saying he stood in solidarity with the squatters. He took some of the Streams of Justice literature and indicated that he would take the message of 'Homes Now' to all three levels of government.

What a full day!

It is cold and wet and windy, so if any of you have a portable propane heater you would lend to the squat I know several people who would be very grateful...

Please come on down to 950 Main Street (enter around the back off of Station Street) - bring a pair of gloves or some socks to give away. You'll leave being encouraged by our friends and the Spirit of Peace and Love .

Al McKay

More photos of this big day added to Flickr.

Miloon Kothari was appointed in September 2000 by the UN Commission on Human Rights as Special Rapporteur on adequate housing. His mandate involves reporting annually on the status worldwide of the realization of the rights related to adequate housing and identifying practical solutions and good practices towards this end. An architect by training, he has extensive experience in the areas of housing and land rights. Mr. Kothari is also the coordinator of the South Asian Regional Programme of the Habitat International Coalition’s Housing and Land Rights Network and a founding member of the International NGO Committee on Human Rights in Trade and Investment. He is a member since 2005 of the Leadership Council of the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

This short bio taken from the UN website, which has more information on Mr. Kothari's mandate.