March 17, 2009
Letter to the Editor - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Dear Editor,
March 21st is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
I was raised to respect people and to help anyone who was being bullied, or discriminated against. That’s how my father raised me. If there is an opportunity to take a stand against discrimination, I believe we should. Racial discrimination will tear a community apart. Canada is a great country because we bring our cultures together, being thankful of the true diversity of the Canadian people.
It is always right to put our collective voices out there and work together to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. I encourage you to participate in an important event in Langley this week. The Langley Diversity Committee and Muriel Arnason Library invite you to participate in the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Muriel Arnason Library
130, 20338 – 65 Avenue, Langley, BC
Friday, March 20, 2009
3:00 – 4:00pm
Find out more about the challenges, experiences and solutions surrounding the elimination of racial discrimination. This is a free drop-in program – everyone is welcome.
The extreme of racial discrimination is ethnic cleansing; tragically still going on in parts of the world today. The goal of the United Nations is unified, strong and blended communities that embrace and appreciate the multitude of cultures living within. The majority of us come from families who emigrated only a generation or two ago – we have come a long way – but we dare not take it for granted.
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid "pass laws". Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination
For further information on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination please visit: www.un.org
Mark Warawa,
Member of Parliament, Langley
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
