April 15, 2007, carnegie newsletter

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NEWSLETTER .

carnnews@vcn. be. ca www.carnnews.org 604-665-2289

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APRIL 1_~' 2007

PR EVIEW

many other members c : :1-:; > cast and crew, fro m the huge smash hi: 2 :e·.~. ~·ears back, "The Heart of the City·• perfo rmed a: :he Japanese Hall. That was a large par: o: ~'1e 11Widredth anniversary celebrations of the Ca!·negie Co mmunity Centre's building, and the firs: of what has become an annual must-see e\en£ in the D owntown Eastside.

With the generous help and sponsorship from numerous contributors, Yancouver Moving Theatre, along with Urban Ink Labs and the Carnegie and Roundhouse Community Centres, have incredibly managed to create, organize and present this stunning production of " We're All In This

"We're All In This Together" The Shadow Project- Addiction and Recovery It seems so incredibly amazing to me and to the many other hundreds of volunteers, writers, cast members, crew and production team that this humongous project was literally years in the makinga written history, both modern, mystical and spiritually ancient.

The entire·company has been intense and very emotional in an exuberant and happy way at rehearsals, as almost every theatre production is.

The play is quite artistically challenging because we're pushing the boundaries of addiction, and know that many, if not all audiences, will be moved and/or know someone - inc luding themselves, relations, fri ends and acquaintances- who have been trapped, are suffering, or have even died from their addictions, whether in recent times or in the distant past. Add iction does not discrim inate, and can be any sort of addiction, habit or vice: alcohol, marij uana, crack, cigarettes or a plethora of thousands of other drugs, attitudes or behavior.

Whatever.

T his prod uction includes an astonishi ng array of shadow castings, with bright lig ht behind a huge floor to ceiling screen extending the entire width of the hall/theatre, along with actors, a choir of singers and danc ing. A band plays magical and hyp.,. netic orchestrations of almost every musical genre, from wal tzes to rock, rap, and rig ht up-to-date hip hop that w ill entrance all.

Spearheading the who le production team is the prod ucer, Terry Hunter, and Savannah Walling, Artistic D irector of the Vancouver Moving T hea~· Sayannah is act ually one of the main writers of the script and lyrics, and is also a prominent member of the chorus as a singer. We are under the extremely confident, directorial hand of Kim Collier, and the fun-loving and quite efficient stage managing of Robin Bancroft-Wilson. Musical Director Ya-wen V Wang has created a healing, fantasticall y mus ical score to support the songs wri tten in partnership with Joelysa Pankanea, who has too many credits and hits on her resume torecord here. Suffice it to say the list is long and celebrated. You may remember her fondly, and

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Together- The Sh adows Proj ect: Addiction and R ecovery." The scri pt was crafted and interwoven with tremendous care by the effervescently positive and encouraging Rosemary Georgeson and Savannah Wal ling and eleven other contributing writers. They utilized the helpful suggestions and personal accounts of many, many people whoreside in the Downtown Eastside who filled out questionnaires and feedback sheets over the past few years. Thank you to each and every one.

And so, finally, this much-anticipated creative expression is ready to be shown to the world with the enchanting and compelling set and design

by Tamara Unroe and Sharon Bayly, and themesmerizing T.D. and lighting design by Adrian Muir.

Special thanks to David Chantler and Larry Reed.

In closing this preview, I can promise you that you will most certainly be vis ually and audibly blown away by th is production. I tru ly believe it to be a feast for the senses. It is chock fu ll of sudden

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awe-inspiring surpri ses that will catch you off guard, you'll be bewitchingly astonished at it coming from seem ingly every possible direction with piercing perception, and be moved by feelings of pleading pathos, to positive, powerful, poignant redemption and acceptance.

I obviously hope to see you and everyone in attendance at an upcoming performance of" We 're All In This Togeth er" at the historic Russian Hall at 600 Campbell A venue (Campbell and Keefer, seven blocks east of Main). Shows take place from April 19 to April 29. Suggested donation is $5 to $20. Reservations are recommended- (604) 254-691 1.

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A tremendous amount of time, sacrifice, and commitment has been dearly spent by all of those who are involved, and you may find yourself leaving the theatre floating on a soft cloud of air, deep in pondering thought of both your distant past, the complexities of the present, and your immediate future, with renewed hope and a positive resolve!

By Robyn Livingstone

A Grey Paper is a powerful force

There is no formal definition for a Grey Paper; however, when it comes to writing many people -not glob_. ally but internationally- consider that a gray paper is something written in a single simple tone of ink mostly black, dark gray, dark blue or mild green- and is printed, if possible, on recycled paper.

The work expressed on a gray paper may be simple but based on consistent arguments, mostly facts. Some other friends around the world say a gray paper's production is sober, humble, does not carry logos, attractive banners or icons of any sort.

Another important characteristic of a gray paper is that, while it won't avoid disagreements with other points of view, it wi ll respect the persons and organisations whose ideas are different. Some other thinkers add that if a gray paper keeps in perspective the idea

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of practicing deep listening, meaningful reading and compassion, the chances for better results are greater.

The concept of gray paper productions is being more well-received among community-oriented organisations, community driven newspapers, newsletters and social studies magazines. Grey papers do not foll ow the methodologies, protocols and/or filters recommended by corporate academic groups or required by mainstream media in order to be publ ished. Also, most gray papers do not require membership in or good standing status that authors must subscribe to in order to merit publication.

A gray paper is usually an independent publication that may contain results of a general or specific research, social facts or works of art etc. It does not necessaril y follow academic or conventional formatsinviting to tough, highly talented persons mainly due to the fact that such does not have (or often need) any sort of official sponsorship. Grey papers are getting more 'in fashion' in Canada, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Oceania ...

The fact that gray papers are Not like those contained in nice-looking, expensive brochures or styled for magazine printing (and not sheltered un- demeath the umbrella of huge corporate websites) adds another handy advantage: the reader will have less chance to be distracted by other subliminal issues. It provides objective opportunity to focus, concentrate and appreciate the message or main idea presented by a person as a member of the community. And opinions expressed in gray paper can make a difference when considered in an aggressive manner by publically elected people and persons who enjoy positions and have the goodwill to help people in need.

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<(:;,~ 0~ "11 t:}AI c ,~-y..-.e..:» Contents of studies published on gray papers have not had the sponsorship of "prestigious organisations" or global financial institutions and therefore can follow different perspectives and trends of opinion. This fact alone provides all with the unusual alternative of contemplating situations from totally different points of view.

A gray paper does not require an elevated budget in order to be produced and published; it can be presented by every and any pe rson in the world, meaning university or college degrees are not needed (some of my fri ends even say that degrees are not welcome if they are just to show off). Gray works to open spaces for contributions from all of th e people.

Grey papers have been around for awhile. Some of them have even become bestsellers : The letter of Vincent Van Gogh to his brothe r Theo; The mail between Dora Carrington & Lython Starkey. Some gray papers have been enigmatic: the story of the pilot whose plane made that emergency landing in the Saha ra Deseti. The paintings in ancient caves; th e scrolls found among ruins; the first drawing of a todd ler, often ke pt by a parent or grandparent in that haul stored in basement or attic; archi ves of special collections in a public library.

Our newsletter - The Carnegie Newsletter - is a Grey Paper where many mem bers of our community -poets, artists and ethnic minorities- have been able to express a voice that, even in the most difficult circumstances and through systemic adversity, cannot be shouted down.

By Jorge Escolan Acknowledgement to Paul T. A Worker, A person who has put his efforts in favour of a brave community. '

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Wake Up, Vancouver!

"The struggle against power is the struggle against forgetting " -Milan Kundera Wake up, Vancouver! Our city's oldest stable community- the Downtown Eastside - is under siege.

The collective memory of Vancouver as a city with a proud history is being destroyed in the name of the corporate city. That corporate city " is not so much a place for people to li ve in and call their own, as it is a machine rati onally and effectively designed for making money." (1) Yes, there is a trag ic street scene of homeless and ill people in the Downtown Eastside created to a large extent by government neglect and gove rnment legislation- for example abysmally low welfare rates and low minimum wage,. In countries like Sweden or Finland. which are more de mocratic than Canada, that

horrendous stree t scene Cve~71 ··exist. As Nelson Ma~1de la has sci d. ··Like sla~. e;-:. and apartheid, poverty is not natura:. his man-r;:ade. and can be overcome and erad icated b~ lhe ac:!ons o~human beings."

The Downtown Eas:s!d e :, made up of many differen: comm unities. :\ los: of these commun ities have a common struggle for dignity and human rights over one hundred years of struggle in our collective memory- and these struggles are an inspiration to all citizens as we work, day by day, to build a ~e mocrati c society in Canada.

Friends, remember First Nations people whose ancestors lived for thousands of years on the land on wh ich Vancouver sits, and who have never given up their struggle for a just land claims settlement. Remember, also, the struggles of working people in our commun ity fo r the eight hour day and the right to form trade unions, the On-To-Ottawa Trek that started on the rail way tracks at the foot of Gore A venue, the brave strugg les of Chinese and Japanese communities for di gnity and hum an rights, the Strathcona Property Owners and Tenants Association (SPOTA ) that stopped the disastrous urban renewal plans of City Council, the Downtown Eastside Residents ' Association (DERA) that won, with the help of a wide coalition of friends, the Carnegie Comm unity Centre for the neighbourhood, a nd changed the image of the community from skid road to the Downtown Eastside, the struggle of Downtown Eastside residents for Crab Park that included a seventy-five day illegal occupation of the desired park land, the inspiring work of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), the li berating work of the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, the occupation of Woodward's by homeless people, and the strug gle for dignity and human ri ghts by Latinos in Action.

And remember, too, the powerful cultural life of the Downtown Eastside that lives on the margins of the establishment society, and burns with a vision of radical possibility- the enduring Co-op Radio, radio plays stage plays, artists, poets, writers, musicians, the C D " These are the voices," the Carnegie Opera Proj ect, th ann ual Heart of the City Festival, the Shadows Project - a shadow puppet play on the theme of addiction, the Carnegie Newsletter that has bee n running fo r almost twenty-one years, "Fearless," - a seasonal arts and news magaz'ine published by the Downtown Eastside Community Arts Network, the caring , historical work of the Des~e 9ia Collective, the creative work of Gal-

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lery Gachet, the dynamic cultural life of the Carnegie Community Centre - the living room for many Downtown Eastside residents, First Nations cultural evenings. concerts in our "Carnegie Hall", the inspirational choir, "Sol idarity Notes," the beautiful memorial quilt banner remembering the women who have been murdered or are missing in the Downtown Eastside, the play"/ love the Downtown Eastside", a play by Bob Sarti about Bruce Eriksen called " The Tipping Point", art exhibitions like "Picturing The Downtown Eastside," organized by Charo Neville, "Rituals of Rock," a book of poems by a Downtown Eastside Women's Writing Group, Carnegie Poetry Nights, the book " The H eart of th e Community- The B est of the Carnegie Newsletter", the folk art of Sam Rod dan, portraying the endurance, compassion and hope of the community, the Walls o(Change Project in which large murals were painted on banners and on the sides of buildings by different groups in the community, the Speaking in Chalks Project in which people drew colourful, caring, and deeply moving images in chalk on the sidewalk in front of the Carnegie Centre, and the awe-inspiring Oppenheimer Park Totem Pole with its dedication, "To our sisters and brothers who have died unnecessarily in the Downtown Eastside, and to thos e who have survived." Stephen Johnson, an Oppenheimer Park worker, wrote, " What most people don't know about the Downtown Eastside is that we are a family. Despite the hardships that come with addiction and poverty, we love, support and protect each other as if we were blood relations. We survive because there is strength in belonging. Wherever yo u come from, you will find acceptance here."

Unfortunately, there are people, driven by the dynamic of accumulation, who would destroy the low income communi ty of the Downtown Eastside. To destroy the homes of low income citizens in a city where low-cost rental accommodation is practically non-existent is immoral. Not only homes are destroyed with the dispossession of Downtown Eastside residents.

A circle of fri ends is destroyed. A neighbourhood is destroyed- Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood- a small world in itself- a world that people who are dispossessed cannot rebuild. Some of those who lose their homes just die as Olaf Solhei m, an 87 year old retired logger, died when he was thrown

out of the Patricia Hotel after living there for 40 years~ His ro om was needed for Expo '86 tourists. A few leave town. Others move to basement rooms in strange neighbourhoods, and still others become homeless.

As Canad ians we are known by how we treat those who are poor and powerless. True, our provincial government has just bought ten hotels in Vancouver in order to secure social housing. This is an important move, but it doesn't create any new affordable housing, and 3,200 new units of social housing are needed in Vancouver if homelessness is to be addressed in a meaningful way. We can 't let poor people in the Downtown Eastside be displaced by gentrification heated up by the Winter Olympics in 20 I 0 as residents were displaced by Expo '86. The Downtown Eastside is a living, creative community. It has much to teach the rest of Vancouver about courage, justice and collective memory. Wake up, Vancouver! It is not just our oldest neighbourhood that is at risk here. It is Vancouver's soul.

Sandy Cameron ( I ) " The Developers," by James Lorimer, published by James Lorimer & Co., 1978, page 79.

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I always walk S miles a day ! what do you do for exercise Clyde ...

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A Pack Of Cigarettes

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They start out belonging to one but at Carnegie they belong to more.

First the pack gets open.

Then the crisp plastic wrapper gets thrown down so quick to get your fingers in to grab a stick.

Someone sees a fresh pack, 19 left.

Hey Joe give me a smoke, I can see you have a whole pack.

Come on, give me just one. Okay, but don't come back.

The first one gets smoked half way down then the rain comes and snuffs it out.

A simple toss to the ground until the next day.

Someone sees the treasure.

Still lots of tobacco left for me.

I'll smoke it all until its gone.

But oh no, I see my friend approaching, it won't be long.

Hey can I bum a smoke?

No I only have this little piece left Oh, come on then as a pair we can share.

As we puff away the last piece of lung horror A raindrop falls and snuffs out someone else's butt.

There's hope for tomorrow.

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By Jackie Humber

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In a time of universal deceit, merely speaking the truth becomes a revolutionary act.

George Orwell

Plastic Bags The Vancouver Public Library is no longer maki ng plastic bags. We're trying to find a reliable source of used plastic bags so that the Carnegie Library can continue to provide plastic bags to neighbourhood residents. Please drop off any clean plastic shopping bags (the type with handles) at the library.

News from the Library New Books In Criminal ofPoverty: Growing up Homeless in America (362. 5), Lisa G ray-Garcia, tells her family 's story of years of homelessness and serial evictions.

Filled with black humour and incisive analysis, the book illuminates the roots of poverty, the criminalization of poor people, and their struggle for survival.

Gray-Garcia is a journal ist, poet and community activ• ist, and fou nder of POOR Magazine and the Poor News Network.

Terry Glavin's latest book Waiting for the Macaws

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and Other Stories from th e Age ofExtinctions

(578.68) takes us around the world on an expedition to track species disappearing from our world forever.

G Iavin, who 1ives in Victoria, argues that all extinctions are related and that the languag~ of environmentalism is inadequate for describing this great unravelling.

With more than fi fty million viewers, Al-Jazeera is one of the most widely watched news channels in the world.

Lambasted as a mouthpiece for AI-Qaeda, its journalists have been accused of spying for everyone from Mossad to Sadaam Hussein, sometimes simultaneously.

In Al-Jazeera: How Arab TV News Challenged the World (070. 19), Hugh Miles traces history and influence of the popular news station.

Thank You For A rg uing (303 .3), by Jay Heinrichs, is

billed as a "master class in the art of persuasion." Learn how to get your point across from experts as diverse as Winston Churchill, Cicero and Bart Simpson. And discover the secrets of timing from Stalin, decorum from Eminem and word games from George W Bush.

You can see these & more new books in the display case in the library. Ask at the front desk of the library if you want to reserve one (or more) of them.

May 2 Writers' workshop Last fall, 15 writers took part in a fabulous workshop with Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden. This spring, Larry is inviting these same writers to a followup workshop so that they can work some more on their writing.

If you attended the fall workshop, I'll be contacting you about the follow-up workshop. There may also be room for new writers - if you're interested, please see Beth in the library.

The workshop will take place Wednesday, May 2 12.30-2.30, Classroom 2, 3rd floor, Carnegie Centre

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Beth, yo ur librarian.

VANCOUVER OPERA "The Night Before the Opera"

" to sea"

By Giacomo Puccini The first 75 people will receive free tickets to the final dress rehearsal of the opera.

Wednesday April18, 2007@ 7pm Carnegie Centre Theatre Presented by Vancouver Opera's UBC Learning Exchange in collaboration with the Carnegie Centre.

Budget Backlash Shall Surely Trigger a "Summer of Protest" Across Canada ([U nceded] Coast Salish Territory) "As sure as spring follows winter, Stephen Harper's Budget 2007 shall trigger a summer of Aboriginal protests from one end of this country to the other," predicted Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.

Life's Pa Everybody's life seems to have a path, a life-long .

"In our view this latest deliberate attack against Aborigicourse that can sometimes crash, everyone has thetr nal people represents "strike three" for the Harper Govown struggle, a test to get through all Life's rubble, ernment. First, it was the complete rejection of the sometimes life's good, sometimes life's great, some Kelowna Accord; second it was Canada's refusal to suptimes life is bad and this we all hate, but we all have a port the United Nations' Declaration of the Rights of Inpath, with the test of life's wrath, but do all have .a digenous People and now we have the announcement of choice, wel l that's why God gave us a vo tce, the deci$21 million in new spending for Aboriginals in the face of sion is yours, to live open or behind closed doors, to a $9 billion surplus," added Grand Chief Phillip. feel good about yourself, rather than get stuck on the "Enough is enough. Our communities have long since shelf, you need to think what's best, what's ~est f?r reached their breaking point. The internalized violence of your health, or you' ll end up like the rest, a hfe. With. no poverty in terms of increasing infant mortalities, suici~e, wealth, all things seem to happen for a reason, JUSt ltke homicide, drug-related gang violence, child apprehen~10n s love when in comes the season, sometimes life's bored, and mass unemployment is dangerously close to flashmg without much excitement, but good days are still stored, over to an outward expression of externalized violence in just with little delightment, so the choice is yours, to the form of roadblocks, rail blockades and more Calechoose life's path, to live for a great day, without life's donia-style occupations of disputed lands."

Grand Chief Phillip continued, "Let's be clear. We do not wrath.

Brian David Little need more Federal government welfare payments. What we need is for the Government of Canada to fully meet its LABELED Constitutional and legal obligations in the area of outBeing a youth can be very hard, always being labe led, standing land rights issues. We need the Government of this can leave us deeply scarred, it makes it impossible Canada to take heed of the recently released Senate Reto stay stable, people seem to complain quite a bit, port, entitled 'Negotiation or Confrontation: .It's Can~da's about how us youth are always causing shit, they put us Choice' that outlines the over 1000 outstandmg spectfic as a group, like the army and a troop, but what they claims across Canada. We need the Government of Candon't realize, is we've given life many tries, but wi th no ada to recognize and accommodate our Aboriginal and surprise they label us, to them we're nothing but trouTreaty entitlement to the Lands and Resources within our ble, and because they label us we want to make it dourespective territories. Further economic development ble, they just don't see how much we really struggle, all represents only 4% of Federal Government Aboriginal they ever do is judge just let me tell you no one is perprogram spending," he stated. . . fect, but still they don't budge, because to them we're "Obviously the Government of Canada is not !Jstemng. nothing but thugs, killers, and people who sell drugs, Perhaps a summer' of barricades, balaclavas and burning you see life as a youth isn't so easy, and it's because of tires will serve to draw attention to the urgency of the des- this label that you won ' t help free me, all we want is perate situation of the Aboriginal people of Canada," con- just to be accepted, to feel good about ourselves and be cluded Grand Chief Phillip, respected, but we can't because we are held down, dis cow¡aged with a frown .. why, because we are labe led.

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Brian David Little

Bonnie two weeks ago I was on a river rafting trip, when I lost my balance inside the raft and ' crashed ' into the river. I almost drowned !

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The Predators of Spring

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Having survived another bleak harsh Winter beware the dangers of spring.

The softening warmth the rush of flowers makes a lonely heart vulnerable to illusions of love and other mockeries.

Do not succumb! Nor Jet yourself be distracted by the intoxication of false promises that linger in the fragrant night.

Believe me! A garden or a pet are more worthy of your attention and better companions; so listen less to your blood singing its seasonal hormonal dance.

This knee jerk response may have you melting now but remember it's all for show.

Take in as much warmth as you can.

The withering is in the heart of the bloom The mask of beauty is hollow.

Because of sly hustlers with no mercy and smooth talking people who never make the smallest of commitments. Flee from the solicitous attentions of new acquaintances and people who pretend to be friends. If you must have sex with perfect strangers.

We have not endured for so long to be brought down by liars and hypocrites.

Rather give up your life for a more important cause than love or spring which are fleeting.

Hold on to your purse and integrity Make your heart like a stone Don't give it away But find the right target and fling it.

It wi I! soon be over.

Delanye

Things always happen in three's.

Be careful Clyde.

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What happend Clyde?

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Silence So precious is, that. of Silence time matters not to you but you dance, on and on, So misunderstood you are, I take you for granted Silence, yo u walk before me you walk behind me you alongside me if I take the time to Iis ten you become my guide Silence, I try to run I try to hide you know my every move there is nowhere to escape you are my inner fear, my peace, my love, Sooner or later we bow before you and you will reign after.

Silence I am gone you are the total package Silence In friendship, Steven Lytton

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---Volunteer of the Year- 2006 Norina-Jean Baptiste It's my honour to serve this centre. I love the coffee sellers, 211.d floor aRd lane level reception; rm grateful to Colleen, Sindy and Marlene with all my heart. I have shared awesome out-trips and they are astounding people here.

I miss Michael Clague, John Ferguson, Doug Riebling, Linda (receptionist), Muggs and Bob. I appreciate the staff, BSWs and volunteers. I love the events that are ongoing.

I have other interests. I am one of the "Daughters of the Drum" at Aboriginal Front Door. I have co-founded " Dry Fathers" AA meetings. I welcome Skip, our head of Securi ty. I love this center and people who serve Downtown Eastside.

I wish the best of I uck to the soon-to-be-chosen Volunteer of the Year for 2007.

Happy Birthday to Sheri and Roland Baptiste, Jordan Alexander and Ronny Rizzetto.

Love & kisses NJ

Design for Performance Workshop led by Marina Szijarto Saturday & Sunday, May 12 & 13 Carnegie Centre, Classroom II This two day workshop will focus on several aspects of designing costumes, sets and props for both traditional theatre and site specific performances.

The workshop is limited to 12 participants and to those who can attend both days.

Please submit your expression of interest to Rika Uto by Friday, May 4 by e-mail to "rika.uto@vancouver.ca" or by leaving her a note in the 3 rd floor Program Office. You can • also call her at (604) 665 3003 for more info.

Origami Workshop Wednesday, April 18th 2 to 4 p.m.

Vancouver Women's Chorus is happy to be showcasing our season•s repertoire at the Carnegie Centre on

Saturday, April 28, 2-3pm.

A Vancouver Women•s Chorus is a small amateur choir whose members are lesbian or lesbian friendly. This year we are celebrating our 25th anniversary of singing together and performing around Vancouver and elsewhere.

Our season runs from September to May and we practice on Thursday nights. Women who are interested in joining the choir can call (604) 669 0992 for more information about our 2007/2008 season.

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Join Lisa in the Art Gallery on the third floor and discover the magic of turning a piece of paper into a decorative or useful object through the Japanese art of paperfolding.

All materials supplied.

LETTER OF THEDA Y Vancouver Sun

Downtown Eastside shows we need to do more for our fellow man I was appal!~d to see w ith my own eyes the current cond1t10n of the Downtown Eastside during a recent visit. Something must be dramatically wrong with our society if we can let this happen.

Man, those are people out there; people with hearts and souls. For the love of God, care for them. Where is our humanity? Why can't our economic well-being as a province have a positive effect on these people, too?

I find it amazing that such a disparity exists in a beautiful city like Vancouver. Yaletown, home to the nouveau riche, is just a short dis-. tance away from the Downtown Eastside.

What a moral and ethical gauge, in what is supposed to be a progressive society.

I encourage every citizen of Vancouver to get out of their car and take a walk from Main to Abbott along Hastings and then think about the coming Olympics. Is this ( what we have to show the world? I am ashamed.

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GREG MAURER Port Moody

GORDO'S SHOPPING CART: HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? Claude Richmond, Campbell's effervescent Minister of Human Resou rces, is frequently quoted as saying welfare recipients need to budget better; they need to spend the paltry alms he bestows unto them better so their

dollars stretch further. When Gordo announced the purchase of 9 Downtown Eastside SRO's and rooming houses, (one uptown), it's clear he hadn't taken this wise counsel to heart, much less to head.

It's almost as if he panicked at the increasing presence of human detritus littering the landscape of Vancouver and Victoria and directed h is underlings to do something--anything-- and do it fast. It's clearly not an option to "stick" these homeless souls in shelters since, for the most part, they won't stay stuck. What's the next best big idea? Buy some SRO's! [WHICH ONES MR. PREMIER]? "I don't care. Just come up with maybe 10,--there's a nice round number--; then we hold a highly charged glossy P.R. sodden press conference and we'll all be going for gold.

The 9 premises he purchased in the Downtown Eastside are: The Marble Arch Hotel--@ 195 rooms; Carl Rooms 47, Rice Block (Hastings & Hawks) 45, Rooseve lt 45, Park Hotel 56, Walton 51, Orange Hall 27, Orwell 55, Savoy 28, for a total of 497. Why in vest millions of public dollars to purchase hotels with 43, 28, and 27 rooms respectively?

Had Campbell consulted with people in the neighbo urhood who know the landscape and understand the nature of current trends, he could have assembled a more meaningful and valuable package like perhaps the following: The Winters 70 rooms, The Colonial, 90--both on Water St. in Gastown and at risk of being lost to predatory market forces--; The West 95, The Ivanhoe 104, Cobalt 88. Then there are hotels currently on a kind of "watch" list by the city as being repeat offenders in terms of violations of one sort or another: The Astoria 84, The Sal moral 171, Regent 151 , Brandiz 102. (Public ownership of the last 3 would go a long way in stabilizing the long moribund I 00 block of E. Hastings). The number of salvageable units from this sam ple list is 955--nearly twice the amount now owned by the Province.

While it's likely that at least some of these hotels may not have been available, it would have been worth the effort to do a more comprehensive "due dili gence" exercise which may have taken some more time to complete, but would have yielded a better outcome.

Rich Coleman, the third wise man from thi s enterprising troika, the Minister responsible for Housing, was asked on a radio interview whether the newly acquired rooms would be modified to self-contained status--all the while referri ng to these rooms as "homes"-- allowed

that this decision would have to wait until further assessment could be done, but that one or two may go this way as a pilot project. My understanding of the term pilot project is of an endeavour of some sort undertaken as a one-off effort to determine whether the concept was viable and could be replicated effectively and effic iently elsewhere ... Well, there are already plenty of SRO's operating now with self-contained facilities-places, the residents of which refer now to as home-- to show the way in that regard. Any and all future acquisitions should be undertaken only with renovations of this nature a given from the outset.

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WOMEN RESPOND TO GOVERNMENT HOUSING ANNOUNCEMENT ON GOOD FRIDAY Women in the Downtown Eastside, as part of the Power of Women to Women Project of the Downtown Easts ide Women's Centre, welcome the announcement by _th~ BC gover!1ment on April 3 to fu nd 996 housing un1ts 111 the provmce. This Good Friday, they also call on t~e government and fellow residents to路seriously cons1der and act upon the anguish, pain, and violence of poverty being wreaked upon poor and homeless women on a daily basis.

According to Teresa N, a woman currently residing in a ~emporary shelter in the DTES, "I am very happy by th1s announcement, which is a direct result of all the pressure that has been placed by res idents and advocate~ on this issue. I hope it will provide a step for peoMaybe I'm missing something here. Maybe the real ple like me to secure long-term housing." purpose of this endeavour is the Real purpose--that is Despite the seemingly good news however, women are these sites, over time, will continue to engender high land values and, as the City of Vancouver's gentrifica- . deeply concerned by the fact that since these units are supportive housing units, BC Housing might exempt tion hidden agenda hums along, the purchase price of hotels with 27 and 28 rooms won't matter in the face of itself from the Residential Tenancy Act and strip tenants of their basic civi l and human ri ghts. Supportive the value of the land they sit on. I think this is known as housing and assisted living housing units are exempt speculation. Such activity by governments would norfrom many of the sections of the Residential Tenancy mally be seen as a welcome form of asset management Act and regulations. and protection for low income communities. But from "What good is it to me if I manage to find a room but I t h .IS government.. ....? am sti II unprotected as a tenant and can be evicted or have my rent increased at the whim of a landlord or to Campbell has promised more purchases of this kind fulfill the goals of gentrification leading up to coming soon. If he wants to kick off the next round the Olympics All the housing units that the government with a big splash he could start with the now defunct has funded should not be exempt from the application Cozy Corner at Hastings &Columbia. It has enormous of the Residential Tenancy Act," states Anne-Marie L. heritage significance but perhaps most impor a 60-year old homeless woman with disabilities. tantly it has 7 rooms that can be rescued from doom.

Furthermore, the housing announcement protects only Ian MacRae an estimated 20% of low-income housing units in the DTES . Tamara L, a homeless woman, states, "The funding announcement provides less than 300 new units. We call on the municipal, provincial, and federal governments to commit to ongoing funding for both replacement and new social housi ng; to place a moratorium on SRO conversions; place rent freezes on low-

income housing units; and to implement the recommendations made by the Inner-City Inclusive Housing Table. Women have a right to safe and affordable hous- . i ng."

Women are di sproportionately affected by the ongoing devastation of poverty and homeless ness in our community. According to the 2005 GVRD Homelessness Count, there has been an increase of 60% in the number of homeless women si nce the 2002 Count and it is estimated that the rate of rapid gentrification leading to the Olympics will triple the number of homeless in Vancouver.

Harsha Walia, Project Coordinator Downtown Eastside Women's Centre 302 Columbia Street, Van. Email project@dewc.ca

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The Four Sisters Housing Co-op .

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ple3., s ed to a.nnounc~ its . . .

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20YEARANN .

On May 6, a quiet recognition of the hope, work, volunteer dedication and genuine joy co-operative living brings will be part ofour qelebration.

, Both Jenny Kwan, O\li Member of the Legislative Assembly in Victoria, and Libby Davies. our Member ofParliament in Ottawa, will be present.

Former members and people who have contributed to this community within the community are invited to come on

Sunday, May 6, 1 - 4p.m. â&#x20AC;˘

at the 133 Powell Street entrance door

HOMELESSNESS GOING THE DISTANCE "I was not able to crawl out of the bucket." " Why?" " I needed just a little more money to live on, which is just about impossible living on Welfare. I am always in debt. By the time the next welfare cheque arrives I owe most of it out".

According to Mike McCardel, he asked addicts he spoke to today " WHY not just get a job?"

I wonder if Mike understands the critical multiple barriers involved in obtaining full time employment for the many who suffer from homelessness .. or if he und erstands how difficult it is for an addict from the DTES to get hired?

It is important to understand that most people in the DTES don ' t really want to be on welfare.They would rather have a job to be able to afford simple luxuries in life most of us take for granted ; a full belly, proper shoes, warm clothing that is not already thread-bare, a safe roof over their head where they can have a decent sleep, their own bathroom where they do not have to stumble over dirty need les and passed out bodies.

However, it is difficult to get proper drug rehabilitation along with support to deal w ith multiple barriers (mental, physical, emotional disabilities) that are part and parcel for newly recovered addicts, many who may not

have not seen the sober light of day for many years.

First: Treatment.

Second: Housing; slowly move into society after learning how to live. Proper housing, food, sleep, clothing and easy access to a telephone are necessary bottom Ii ne needs in order to maintain the rigours of fu ll time work.

T hird : Training for active employment. It also must be taken into account that merely going back to school to learn a trade doesn't necessarily ensure employment.

Fourth : Learning how to manage money and live on a strict budget that does not leave them in constant debt, making them vulnerable to returning to old destructive habits of survival.

Fifth: A good support group to hel p get through the hard times.

By the way, not ALL residents DTES are suffe ring from alcohol or drug addictions. Channel 11 seems to stigmatize ALL of the downtown eastside residents as people w ith addiction problems. Channel 11 never looks furthe r than Main and Hastings do wn to Victory Square which is only a segment of the DTES Margaret M.O.D.E.

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Loving Oneself Respect is one of many things to earn Love oneself, take care of one's soul & heart Never give up on one's dreams Enlighten your humour or adopt to share yo ur love Enjoy what Mother Earth has given for nothi ng.

Friends What will happen if you don't have a friend?

You won't have anyone to open up to Share your deepest thoughts, share your love, Or explain that hatred doesn't apply.

Knowing a friend can become a bond That cannot be broken .

So dear people, learn to love oneself or someone else All my relations, Bonnie E Stevens

So my dear friends, Hope we will come together again To share our thoughts and dreams.

A II my relations, Bonnie E Stevens

JOB D ESCRIPTION Festival Event Coordinator

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The Fearless Festival is a Downtown Eastside celebration of art and theatre, music and diversity, history and hope. It will be held from 3 to 9pm on Canada Day, July 1, 2007.

It will involve community art and performers on the

3. be generally responsible for media and marketing; 4. manage the artists/performing spaces at the Festival; 5. assist in the hiri ng of, and work with, the Volunteer Coordinator.

sidewalks of Hastings Street between Columbia & Carrail, at the Pantages, and at Pigeon Park. It will involve professionals and volunteers at every level. It will be led by an Event Coordinator.

The Event Coordinator will be paid an honorarium of $1500 & start on Wednesday, April 25, 2007.

Reporting to the Fearless Festival Subcommittee of the Public Realm Cluster of the DTES Community Arts Network, in partnership with the Community Arts Council of Vancouver, the Coordinator will:

Please subm it a' Letter of Interest and Experience' to Rika Uto, Carnegie Centre, 3rd Floor Program Office, 40 I Main Street, Vancouver, V6A 2T7 or by e-mail to " rika.uto@vancouver.ca" NO LATER THAN 5pm

I. lead and coordinate every aspect of the Festival; 2. assist the Committee in raising money toward its $1 0,000 budget;

INTERESTED IN THE JOB?

Wednesday 18 April2007.

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This is the 3rct of 3 prints that the artist has had published in the Carnegie Newsletter. Her or his signature was inadvertently clipped off the 2nd one several weeks ago; please accept my apology.

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davidjohnston is a homeless man who believes in our collective right to live an alternative lifestyle without being criminalizedfor it. he's been arrested several times for attempting to sleep on provincially 'owned' property, is a central character in the 'right to sleep' campaign, and is now challenging the 'no loitering' doctrine at the public library in downtown victoria.

IT'S ALL IN THE CAN Can i stand?

Can i sit?

Can i laugh, With no wit?

Can i win?

Can i lose?

Can i run, With no shoes?

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Can i eat?

Can i drink?

Can i wash.

With no sink?

Occupation of Library Courtyard (Greater Victoria) Good day all. Apparently the 'no loitering' signs are still up, so I'll be now living in the library courtyard (taking breaks for bathroom and food). I imagine I'll hunt down some cardboard and make a sign (saying 'not leaving until'no loitering' signs are taken down').

We'll see what happens ... a few variables, so it is hard to say what will happen- maybe they'll wait until after the library closes to call the police- presuming they do anything about it... we'll see. In my experience with the Crown I think maybe I'll be arrested eventually, then held without charges; or they will charge and ask me to sign an undertaking- let me make this perfectly clear- l will not be signing Anything. I don't care to take this to trial ... then maybe they'll hold me for a few more days 'hoping' that I'll 'come around' then release me with 'time served', then I return, of course. I will see these signs taken down or I will die- I've no other course, I'm addicted to justice and any who pretend to believe that loitering is real have absolutely no authority. It is not just an inconvenience, it is fascism and accepting this mentality means slavery for the world .. . so, the signs are coming down, one way or another.

Peace and justice to us all.

David Arthur Johnston Victoria, BC, Canada

Can i sleep?

Can i wake?

Can i smoke, With no shake?

Can i play?

Can i work?

Can i learn, What a jerk!

Can i succeed?

It's not funny, i can't get laid, i got no money!

So go for broke, it's all a joke, So they say .. that's okay Just who's the boss anyway?

Bernie Boyd H urn I0 1 Student

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DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY 612 Main Street 604-251-3310

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NEEDLE EXCIIANGE VAN- 3 Routes: 604-685-6561 City -5:45pm - II :45pm Overnight - I 1:30am -8:30am Downtown Ea stside - 5:30pm - 1:30am

www .carnnews.orJ: carnnews@vcn.bc.ca

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(CJii'JR(((]) ll®l!o7JFJW ·a-"The job ofthe newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. " · The famous quote is about a hundred years old and can be traced to the work of finley Peter Dunne, one of the great journalists of the day

THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION

Articles represent the views of individual contributors and not of the Association

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Editor: PauiR Taylor; layout by Lisa David.

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-------------------·· On the Life Cycle: Backpedaling like crazy!

·The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends.

2007 DONATIONS Libby D.-$100 Rolf A.-$50 I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time Barry for Dave McC-$125 C hristop her R. -$50 and what do you get at the end of it?

Margaret D.-$40 Penny G.-$50 Jan ice P.-$30 ~ A death.

Wes K.-$50 Gram-$400 John S.-$60 Leslie S.-$20 What's that, a bonus?

Michael C.-$80 Sheila B.-$20 Wilhelmina M.-$25 . I think the life cycle is all backwards.

CEEDS -$50 Saman -$20 Phyllis L.-$200 , You should start out dead; get it out of the way.

Paddy -$125 Bob S.-$100 Barry M.-$1~5 , You wake up in an old age home, feeling better The Edge -$200 Mel L.-$20 Greta P.-$20 ·every day. You eventually get kicked out for being ·too healthy and go collect your pension.

Submission dead:lne for next Issue: . • When you're too young to be retired any more, you ~~~~ftnit~ get a job - and on your first day they give you a gold Thursday, April26 Centre watch.

You' II work 40 years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement You're promiscuous, you drink alcohol, you party so that you'll know all the pitfalls and can be more responsible when you get to high school.

You end high school as a freshman and get to make . fun of all the seniors who are just starting. .Jenny You go to primary school, you become a kid, you Wai Ching play, you have no responsibilities .

You become; a baby, and then get to spend your last Kwan MLA nine months floating peacefully with all the luxuries of a fivestar hotel...- central heating, spa, room ser. vice on tap, and larger quarters everyday.

And finally you finish off as an orgasm.

1070-1641 Commercial Dr V5L 3Y3 Doesn't this make more sense?

Working for You

Phone: 775-0790 Fax: 775-0881 Downtown Eastside Residents Association · liE. Hastings St, or call 682-0931

- on the web, from comedian Sean Morey (Submitted by Ms Kelly}

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Downtown Eastside' Residents Nicky Dunlop Association

(DERA)- 604-771-7731

DERA called for the immediate resignation of City of Vancouver Councilor Peter Ladner today. This followed the revelation that Ladner had fabricated the widely reported story that DERA Executive Director Kim Kerr had threatened the life of Councilor Elisabeth Ball. "Mr. Ladner's story was a lie, we knew it was a lie, and now we have proof it was a lie," says Nikki Dunlop, Program Coordi~a­ tor of the Downtown Eastside Residents' Association. "How can a man who fabricates such an outrageous allegation in the media legitima~ely represent our city? What critics are next on his smear campaign?"

On April 12, 2007, Vancouver Councilor Peter Ladner appeared on CBC One Radio News and CBC Television News alleging that he had heard Kerr make a threat to kill City Councilor Elizabeth Ball, saying: "Kim Kerr after the meeting in the Council Chambers, came up to Councilor Ball, and said 'you'd look good lying in an alley, on your back in an alley, with that red scarf tied tight around your neck.' And, at some point, you just sav that's enough."

• Local documentarian Conrad Schmidt, producer of "Five-Ring Circus: The Untold Story of the Van-

couver 2010 Games," located the alleged threats made by Kerr to Councilor Elizabeth Ball in his videotape archive. "The video shows Kim Kerr at the end of the meeting when City Council voted not to pass a moratorium protecting low-income rental housing in Vancouver," says Schmidt, who captured the exchange as part of the filming for his documentary. What Kerr actually says to Councilor Ball, clearly audible on the videotape, is: "Maybe you can take your red shawl and give it to a woman who is going to be cold on the street tonight, because as nice as it may look on you, it could come in handy."

Audible comments by Kim Kerr [Footage Shot by Conrad Schmidt] "You'll be living in your house, and get ready for Sunday. You haven't seen anything yet. If you value tourism, understand that we will do everything in our power, internationally, for the world to know what you've done here. And for the world to know that people are dying on the streets of the downtown eastside. And Miss. Capri, you will be held accountable." [ ... ] To Counsellor Ball: "Maybe you can take your red shawl and give it to a woman who is going to be cold on the street tonight, because as nice as it may look on you, it could come in handy." [ ... ] "Get your security out on Sunday, and ever~ week after that because we'll take every opportumty to come on in and say this. So understand Miss Capri what you've done here, and the people will get it out so the world knows what you've done here."

Written Statement of Kim Kerr: My name is Kim Kerr, executive director of the downtown eastside residents' association. On the advice of my lawyer, I am confining my comments on this matter to a written statement, which I will read to you today. I will not be answering questions on this matter today.

I was shocked and amazed yesterday afternoon when media began reporting that councilor Peter Ladner was accusing me of threatening the life of Vancouver City Councillor Elizabeth Ball.

While I am passionate about the issues of the downtown eastside, my passionate politics have never, and will never, include personal threats or violence against any person.

While I knew that Councillor Ladner's allegation was completely fabricated and false, I was worried that I would lose my job as a result of this allegation, and that the Downtown Eastside Residents' Association would lose its funding, beyond the cut

already made by Counci llor Ladner and the NP A to our Chinese Seniors Support Worker position last week.

I am pleased and relieved that Conrad Schmidt, by a fluke, had videotaped my comments and can expose them for what they were, a call for a city councilor to be compassionate in the face of homelessness, certainly not a threat of violence. I do not know what position DERA and I would have been in but for this lucky coincidence.

It is completely inappropriate for a City Councillor to make criminal allegations against an individual that are fabricated. I am calling for a public apology and retraction from Councillor Ladner, whose credibility as an elected official is now seriously in question.

The Downtown Eastside Residents' Association is calling for Councillor Ladner's immediate resignation and we invite other groups who are afraid that, if they are critical of the NP A, criminal allegations will be made against them to call for the same.

Yeah ...

It's unheard of (we hope) that someone who is extremely stupid would be elected to public office.

This surmise leads me to ask "Why would Peter Ladner actually practice being stupid, announcing on CBC that Kim Kerr was a monster needing restraint?"

Why would one of his handlers or bosses (present &lor prospective) tell or order him to do such a ridiculously asinine thing?

Let's start with the Olympics, or rather the ideology that the modem Games are one of the shining examples for. Think money, then wealth and power, then class and the snotty dream of most extreme capitalists to get as much of the first 3 to go with the (to them anyway) obvious 4111 - their birthright to being regarded as royalty (a Ia Conrad Black perhaps). I won't give a complete rant about injustice and the vicious adventures that such people perpetrate (wars, military dictatorships, "free"

trade scams, anti-democratic laws, economic terrorism, almost complete control of global media, mind control via OJ Simpson-type of overkill on such crap while real news/info on cause & effect of all aforementioned goes unnoticed or just dies).

??????'

The Olympics are a multi-billion dollar opportunity for very wealthy and powerful people. The International Olympic Committee rides the idea that athletes are ripe for the dog n' pony show as the pinnacle of human development, to be among the highest paid public property and their adulation is great for all the money to be made off them before, during and after each performance. Every

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four years for most of the last century and certainly gaining momentum since 2000 the sharks of capitalism gravitate to them, using "The Olympics!" to roll over all local development, laws, human rights and any other considerations and ram through short-term or class-directed projects.

Even Hitler used the 1936 Olympics in Germany to show 'A ryan superiori ty'; and with the misdirection of billions in public money for sports' venues and massive displacement of ongoing ecological stuff (until hell freezes over !?) the charade goes on.

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Here: speedskating rinks, Eagleridge Bluffs, expropriation of contested land, and right next door · the dispersement of the thousands of inconvenient poor people occupying valuable land.

Okay. These people stop at nothing and feel quite justified in doing any illegal or criminal thing to slander, libel, frame or just kill those expressing intelligent opposition.

And back to Why Ladner would obey such an ????????? order.

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The Neighbourhood Small Grants Progr.am for the Downtown Eastside and Strathcona! .

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Application deadline: Spm Wed Apri125, 2007 路 , For projects to take place June to .N ovember 2007 .

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Funded by a grant from the Vancouver Foundation, this program offers up to $~00 to groups of neighbours who want plant a neighbourhood garden, to work together on small projects that enhance their neighbourhoods. Residents hold a community story & feast, organize an art fair or host a youth sports day - whatever a group would like to create

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Do you have an idea and would like help applying for a grant? ~ Information session ~ Saturday April21 - lpm to 3pm- Carnegie 3rd floor classroom Brochures and application forms available at Carnegie Community Centre (401 Main), Ray-Cam Cooperative Centre (920 E. Hastings) or Strathcona Community Centre (601 Keefer).

For more information, phone the DTES/Strathcona Neighbourhood Small Grants committee 604-713-1850 or email: teresa-nsgp@hotmail.com.

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He can get away with maligning Kerr if there's no proof otherwise, and the impression counts more than any inconvenient truth. We're conditioned to read headlines, to skim news, to believe the Big Lie. Whatever money or position Ladner was given to get him to do this is a drop in the bucket of petty cash for those profiting from anything that can be gotten away with in the name of the Games. And if he gets caught or exposed, well , he can either 'justify it' in words that people will swallow or get on with his soon-to-be-richer private life.

As Kerr says, without this fluke of evidence, neither he not DERA would be able to disprove the lies Ladner told. As for being on CBC, that has two consequences. First, if it blows up in Ladner's bosses' faces, the CBC gets bad vibes and shores up the call by CTV's owners to privatise all public media. The second thing is that, by not being reported by CTV, they can say it wasn't their fault for running such a vicious load of crap. After all, CTV is the Official media empire providing all

media coverage and supporting slants on development juggernauts. It's owners will make billions as well.

At least this one case slightly dislodges the blanket condemnation of all calls for housing, dealing with ecological concerns and the loss of reason that goes with every Olympic spectacle. Yeah ...

By PAULR TAYLOR