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For immediate release
January 5, 2005
Canadian teachers rally in support of South Eastern Asia
colleagues affected by tsunamis
(CTF News Service - Ottawa) Teacher organizations across Canada are rallying in
support of over 10,000 teacher colleagues in South Eastern Asia whose lives have
been affected and paralyzed by the recent disastrous waves of tsunamis.
The Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) is actively responding to an urgent
appeal issued by Education International (EI), the body representing millions of
teachers worldwide.
"EI has already allocated 30,000 euros in aid of affected teachers in Sri Lanka,
Indonesia and India," said CTF President Terry Price. "But more funds are
urgently needed." CTF is inviting Member organizations to contribute generously
to the EI Solidarity Fund in order to aid teachers and their families affected
by the natural disaster.
As a further show of support, Terry Price, has written to the presidents of the
teacher federations in countries affected by the December 26 tsunamis expressing
CTF's sincere condolences to the families of the victims.
"In classrooms across Canada, students and teachers mourn the monumental loss of
lives while attempting to comprehend the sheer magnitude of this disaster," she
said in a January 5th letter.
"On behalf of over 200,000 Canadian teachers, please accept our heartfelt sympathy for the extensive loss of life and devastation caused by the tsunamis."
"We hope the worldwide response to the appeal issued by Education International
(EI) will provide you with the springboard to help rebuild the future of the
hundreds of thousands of innocent people whose lives were impacted by this
crisis."
"Although we cannot bring back those who have died, we can help the ones who
have survived. As teachers, we have a role to play in that we can help children
of all walks of life comprehend the terrible images of this
disaster which has brought home our vulnerability to the forces of nature,"
concluded Ms. Price.
Prior to the tsunamis, Ms. Price had scheduled to attend the Golden Jubilee
Conference of the All India Primary Teachers' Federation in Nagpur, Maharshtra,
India. As the destination was unaffected by the tsunamis, travel plans have
remained intact. Ms. Price will also be attending a meeting with representatives
of the EI Asia Pacific office and the All India Secondary Teachers' Federation,
and part of a workshop on maternity protection benefits organized by the SAARC
Women's Network.
Undoubtedly talks will also cover the mobilization efforts to assist those
affected by the tsunamis.
CTF, the voice of over 200,000 teachers across Canada, manages programs of
international cooperation and provides international humanitarian assistance in
response to natural disasters and national emergencies such
as the ones in the wake of the hurricanes in the Caribbean last September.
EI is the largest global teacher organization representing over 29 million
education personnel from all education sectors, from pre-school to university,
through 345 member organisations in 165 countries and territories.
Related links:
Education International:
http://www.ei-ie.org/main/english/index.
Canadian International Development Agency:
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/index-e.htm
Oxfam Canada:
http://www.oxfam.ca/
Canadian Red Cross:
http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=000005&tid=003
Save the Children Canada (excellent teachers' guide)
http://www.savethechildren.ca/
UNICEF:
http://www.unicef.org/
