The Rapping Grannies Take on the Banks

On May 1 (2012), as part of the May Day demonstrations, the Grannies invaded the Royal Bank of Canada with a banner and  rap song.

Check out the words!

Check out the video!

Who says the Grannies aren’t hip?

Raging Grannies Rap

Sinkin, sinkin, sinkin, sinkin

Greed has hit and leaves us thinkin

The one percent will get away

In tax free havens they will play

Profits grow and justice shrinkin

That’s - just – stinkin

Money, money, money, money

The banks get rich, and it ain’t funny

The sneaky ways, the banks get paid

Our money, we can not afford 

to  Give  a – way

CHORUS: Money, money, money, money

Whosemoney? Ourcash? (point to bank)

Money money money money

The one percent leave the rest of us

With nothing left except to fuss

They borrow cash at one percent

Eighteen percent on creditcards

Is what we pay, that reallysucks

What –the -F… (cover mouth)

Money, money, money, money

CEOs so rich, that it ain’t funny

The one percent leave the rest to sink

Our debts their gain, it makes us think

So what to do? A bank divorce

would be good – for – you.

Divorce, divorce, divorce,  divorce

That’s the thing to do, of course.

We need to get our cash away

Where’s a safe place it can stay?

A credit union just  might 

Save – the – day

CHORUS

My Student Loans

TUNE: THE GIRL THAT I MARRY

I live in my dad’s basement pad

Cause now I’m no longer an undergrad

McDonalds pays my way

To so many luxurious things I can’t say.

My student loans are a piece of cake

They take three-quarters of what I make

Lest I take off

Or I’m laid off

Only thirty years more and they’re paid off

And then I can marry

No reason to tarry

There’ll be.

So Canadian kids will be poor or dumb

Or flee to countries, and there are some

Like Germany, Denmark and Spain

and Sweden and Cuba and Ireland so sane

Where tuition is free just as it should be

If they can do it, then why can’t we?

It’s a given

While they’re livin’

That they can’t make their way when debt-driven

A lousy beginnings

What student loan living

Will be.

Well-deserved recognition of Granny Cathleen!

From “The Good News Page” of the April, 2012 CCPA Monitor:

GUELPH, ON. – Cathleen Kneen, outgoing chair of Food Secure Canada, was presented with a lifetime achievement award from the Organic Council of Ontario at its recent Organic Conference held in Guelph.

Her contribution to organics started many decades ago as a farmer in the Maritimes with her husband, Brewster.

Cathleen’s work in the food systems movement has always been cutting edge. Her mentorship of community food activists across the country has created a generation dedicated to including farmers and food producers in the food security discussion. She has championed organic production as an integral part of both emergency food and long-term sustainability.

-Food Secure Canada.

National Aboriginal Health Organization Axed

In a stunning example of action speaking louder than words, the Harper Government cut funding to the National Aboriginal Health Organization — sneakily announced on Thursday afternoon before the Easter weekend.  I wrote the following letter to John Baird, Foreign Minister and my MP:

Dear Minister Baird,

I am sure that, as Foreign Minister, you are aware that the state of Indigenous communities in Canada is well known around the world and greatly diminishes Canada’s stature as a modern democracy. Certainly, the Prime Minister has apologized for the residential schools horror; but your government’s actions belie those fine words. The cancellation of the National Aboriginal Health Organization is a shocking example of the Government’s callous disregard for the intelligence and integrity of Canada’s Indigenous peoples to address the aftermath of  their mistreatment at the hands of European settlers. This is shameful behaviour and I can only hope that you will quickly act to change your policies.

I look forward to a response which details the steps that your Government is taking to respect Canada’s Indigenous peoples and support their work to regain control of their own lives and territories in order to offer their children the same opportunities that are available to other Canadians. Please do not tell me about the number of house trailers have been sent to Attawaspikat, I already know about that. What I want to know is what systemic changes you are making to turn that famous apology into real action.

Sincerely,
Cathleen Kneen

Letter to the Editor supporting Hassan Diab

Just before the Easter holiday (timed to minimize attention from the press), Minister Nicholson signed the extradition order for Hassan Diab to be sent to France.  Fortunately, Chris Cobb of the Ottawa Citizen covered this distressing news.  Check it out.

In response, I sent the following letter to the editor, which was published.

Re: ‘We expected this decision, but not this way,’ April 6.

I’ve followed the Hassan Diab case closely and am shocked that Minister Rob Nicholson signed the extradition order in the light of such flimsy, if not non-existent, evidence.

Of particular concern to me is the fact that Diab has not been allowed to present evidence that clearly shows he is not the man they are after, particularly the fact that his palm and thumb prints do not match those taken from the crime scene. Even worse, it has come to light that Diab is only wanted for questioning. Let the French authorities come here and ask their questions. Canada does not extradite for questioning, only for trial.

Jo Wood, Ottawa

It’s a Long Way to the Food Bank

Tune: It’s a Long Way to Tipperary

It’s a long way to the Food Bank

All my friends are–in line–

With cuts to–social programs

no one’s doing fine!

It’s goodbye to good health care–

disabled wane and pine

while the rich folk’s fill their bulging pickets..

Our kids ask us … “Why”??

Well thanks to Michael Harris

and his 905 friends–

“Cut the welfare, chop support groups,

such waste has got to end!”

Put the axe to social housing

farewell to day care.

Social action now and we will fight back.

We ALL will be there!

Flaw in the System

Tune: Hole in the Bucket

There’s a flaw in the system

when the rich just get ricker

and the poor just keep falling

down into the pits.

When cutting down taxes

Means programs get ax-ed

poor kids have got problems

that will not get fixed.

And if you’re dis-abled

or just dis-enabled

well, you’ro outta luck

when the goodies are hurled!

Well, Grannies want changes!

This poor-bashing pains us.

Treating people like shit

is a crime we should quell.

There’s a flaw in the system

and you damn well know it–

So why won’t you fix it???

WE’RE ANGRY AS HELL!!!

Grannies Join ACORN in Protest Against McGuinty Budget

A number of the Ottawa Raging Grannies, Ann, Jake, Jo, Ria, Shannon joined the ACORN antipoverty group in a protest at Dalton McGuinty’s office.  We were protesting the freeze on welfare and disability payments in the provincial budget, particularly harsh since the cost of living is forever rising.  We sang two of our anti-poverty songs, “It’s a Long Way to the Food Bank” with “McGuinty” substituted for “Harris” whose attack on the poor inspired the words.  We also sang “Flaw in the System“, as true now as ever.

Sara

Blog

Periodocially one of the Grannies will be posting a blog story about their activities.