August 15, 1992, carnegie newsletter

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m i t such sub-standard housing t o e x i s t as1 such? Also, I would be very i n t e r e s t e d t o know why criminal charges a r e not being brought a g a i n s t t h e s e owners of drinking Editor, establfshments who allow c l l e n t s t o g e t s i n e b r h t e d t h a t they a r e i n j u r e d o r k i l l e In regards t o t h e "Welfare Wednesday" vidoe proposgl t h a t goes t o t h e Knowledge when leavfng t h e s e places.

E a l s o f e e l t h a t t h i s program would cau ~ e t w o r k , 1 am very disappointed. Hopefully se many t o n e g l e c t t h e g r e a t s t r i d e s t h a t the Knowledge Network w i l l have t h e good sense t o deem t h i s a h o s t i l e p r o j e c t which 1irarious community o r g a n i z a t i o n s have made, luring t h e p a s t decades. DERA (Downtown i s of questionable value, e s p e c i a l l y t o Eastside Residents1 Association) has I t h e r e s i d e n t s of t h e community o f t h e fought f o r & gained an impressive a r r a y o Downtown Eastside.

I am a r e s i d e n t of t h e Downtown Eastside v i c t o r i e s (affordable, well-maintained ( f o r t h e l a s t 3 years) 6 yes, P am on wel- housing, C ~ a bPark, Carnegie Centre, etc.I4 i n t h e area. A l l of t h e s e endeavors have f a r e . Each month I r e c e i v e a cheque, cash helped t o shape t h e community 4 made it it & pay my r e n t & b i l l s , buy food 6, j u s t &I.-I-..+ - la.... c 4. c 4 ~ byrabb r u r 4 v c . y 6 l v r r r r . . maybe, have a few d o l l a r s kicking around I f e e l t h a t t h e Knowledge Again, t o use f o r my enjoyment In t h e s e 3 ybars I hhve been tot&her.bars could b e t t e r s e e t o spend t h e i r l i m i t e d , public supported programming i n t h e a r e a (measured i n f e e t from t h e than on t h i s extremely narrow vtew of my f r o n t door of my building) a grand t o t a l co~~muntty, t h e Downtown Eastsfde. of two times..once for1 change t o g e t on t h e bus & t h e o t h e r f o r a pack of c i g a r e t Matthew C.ross t e s . W i l l I be represented i n t h i s f i l m p r o j e c t o r w i l l t h e r e a l i t i e s t h a t do coJIM WHO? e x i s t i n t h e Downtown Eastside j u s t be l o s t i n t h e gruesome rush f o r sensasionalWho i s J i m Bach & why i s he s o i n t e r e s t ism? I am p r e t t y c e r t a i n t h a t my s t o r i e s & ed i n Whe a r e a bounded by C a r r a l l 6 Gore hundreds of o t h e r s w i l l not be t o l d s i n c e running p a r a l l e l along Hastings S t .It? our s t o r i e s don't include t h e p r e r e q u i s i t s Is J i m Bach sonnected i n some way with of drug & alcohol abuse, no a s s o c i a t i o n the Fraser I n s t i t u t e ? . .he speaks t h e i r with p r o s t i t u t i o n & pimping, & t h e y c e r t language. a i n l y won't f i n d me l y i n g on t h e sidewalk.

He seems t o question what he c a l l s "The I f e e l t h a t t h e r e i s enough s e n s a t i o n a l - r i g h t s of s e l f :determination within a govist programs on t h e a i r & t h a t t h e Knowle- ernment a s s i s t a n c e program". .ddes ,he t h i n k dge Network should not stoop t o t h i s l e v e l i n order t o i n c r e a s e i t s viewership. L e t ' s t h e f a c t t h a t a welfare r e c i p i e n t i s f r e e leave it t o J e r a l d o & Hard Copy t o search t o spend h i s / h e r money anyway they wish t o causes s o c i a l problems? Why i s J i m Bach so f o r those areas. A show which would j u s t come i n t o t h e neighbourhood (& t h a t ' s what concerned with Ifthe l a s t i n g e f f e c t s on f u t u r e generations" of ' p o v e r t y sicknessIt? it i s , a neighbourhood) t o h i g h l i g h t t h e problems, i s needed a s much a s another bar What about t h e l a s t i n g e f f e c t s of p o l l u t i o n , white-collar crime, p o l i c e b r u t a l i t y A s a counter-proposal, might I suggest psychological i n t i m i d a t i o n , s e c r e t s u r v e i l t h a t t h e Knowledge Network show how t h e lance Techniques, d i v i d e G conquer t a c t i c s , , r e s i d e n t s of t h e Downtown Eastside pool r e a l e s t a t e speculation, absentee i n v e s t t h e i r l i m i t e d resources and share & h e l p each o t h e r f o r hhe r e s t of t h e month. Per- ment, junk food, junk t e l e v i s i o n , 4 partic: u l a r l y t h e l a s t i n g e f f e c t s of documentarys haps t h e r e could a l s o be an i n v e s t i g a t i o n I n t o who p r o f i t s f ~ o mt h e badly maintained l i k e "Welfare WednesdayIf & a l l t h e o t h e r media treatments of "Poverty" which amount r o o m i ~ o t e l sf n t h e area: Who a r e t h e s e owners?; What o t h e ~businesses do t h e y A have?; Why does t h e C i t y of Vancouver percor~'3

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t o a form of voyeurism - i s J i m Bach j u s t another poverty voyeur?

How much of a t h r i l l of s e l f - r i g h t e o u s . ness do t h e s e middle-class do-gooders g e t 5c out of filming people who have f a l l e n dow :c drunk, when t h e i r f i r s t impulse should be t o help them up & put them i n a cab?

IDon't t e l l me these well-paid t e c h n i c a l cogs i n t h e wonderland of entertainment'; packaged r e a l i t y c a n ' t a f f o r d <it.

My advice t o b r o t h e r s & s i s t e r s i s t o s t a y away from camera lenses, do not f i l l i n any forms, never a t t e n d t h e s e b u l l s h i t meetings, & d o n ' t t r u s t anyone pfetending t o have no problems of t h e i r own.. . t h e s e people a r e only i n t e r e s t e d i n making you look bad.

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I am a person who l i v e s a s well a s works i n t h e downtown a r e a you Call ttSK$d Row".

Negative terms only'add t o t h e probltms already e x i s t i n g and a r e not a b e n e f i t t o anyone not t o those who l i v e i n t h e a r e a t r y i n g t o have a l i f e , not t o those who work i n t h e a r e a t r y i n g t o be product i v e , and not t o those who read o r see the term because they w i l l prejudge t h e a r e a & never v i s i t it due t o t h e i r assump t i o n s . They w i l l miss out on some g r e a t events a s well as b e a u t i f u 1 , c a r i n g people.

There i s n e g a t i v i t y i n t h e Granville area, a l s o t h e Davie area, but I don't s e e them being tagged with such terms o r thoughts. In t h i s day and age I thought we would be working toward more producti v e thoughts, terms & l i f e s L y l e s .

I don't l i k e your proposal on behalf of t h e groups & people I am p a r t of Women, Natives, Mothers, Grandmothers, Great Grandmothers, Foster Parents, Volunteers, Counsellors, e t c .

Please t r y t o focus on s o l u t i o n s ., instead of enlarging t h e negative aspects of a problem.

Loreli Hawkins J i m Bach

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r Response t o Welfare Wednesday Why do they want t o s e e t h e 72'hours a f t e r welfare day? What happened t o t h e r e s t of t h e month?

Most of t h e people i n t h e a r e a a r e not here by choice. They a r e here becahse the r e n t is a f f o r d a b l e f o r t h e amount of money 'they receive. ~ o s of t t h e time t h e welfare cheque comes1 in..sometimes it doesn't due t o wonderful computers screwing up. The landlord wants h i s r e n t , b i l l s need t o be paid/food bought, ..&o t h e r e s s e n t i a l s a r e needed t o make l i f e s l i g h t l y more worth l i v i n g , TV - g e t it sut sf the Iwcitshop..anyrhing e i s e t h a t was of any value a l s o needs t o be redeemed from hockshops..taken out t o be used again i n t h e f u t u r e t o borrow 1none9 on f o r food.

Whatever meager money may be l e f t a f t e r paying b i l l s & money borrowed, why not go t o a bar & t r y t o f o r g e t t h a t t h i s cheque d i d n ' t go very f a r again..drink a b i t , do whatever, t o t r y t o f o r g e t t h a t t h e cycle j u s t s t a r t e d again - t h e long wait f o r t h e next welfare aay. I I .

YOU can walk i n t o downtown East Hastings on Mardi Gras Day & look a t a l l t h e clowns who own t h e bars. They o f f e r a higher-priced beer a t a f a i r e r p r i c e . . a scheme t o p i l f e r a few bucks from t h e welfare people what they had l e f t a f t e r some people paid

artenders f o r c r e d i t over t h e p a s t month.. paid with i n t e r e s t .

S t o r e s put up big s a l e s t o a t t r a c t some welfare money.

People who go t o t h e s e b a r s a l s o have t o contend with bartenders who short-change o r ask f o r t i p s . T aqkrd a b ~ r t c n d c r*!hy he wanted t i p s from people on welfare. He s a i d it was only f a i r s i n c e he paid t h e i r welfa a r e with t a x e s .

Going p a s t 72 hours would show a l l t h e volunteer hours t h a t people put i n . They should t a l k t o S h e i l a Baxter, who could t e l l them a l o t of horror s t o r i e s about welfare & t h e days a f t e r cheques come.

People on welfare work harder than o t h e r people j u s t t o l i v e .

What i s a few hours t r y i n g t o f o r g e t t h a t t h e s t r u g g l e t o g e t through another month has j u s t s t a r t e d ? I need a drink t o t r y & f o r g e t t h e pain of not being a b l e t o give my k i d s everything they want, o r proper food they need, o r b e t t e r l i v i n g conditions without mice o r roaches.

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@ For most p e t q l e l i v i n g i n downtown e a s t

WHY NOT SHOW PRACTICAL APPRECIATION?

is n o t a c h o i c e . Mentally handicapped a r e placed i n t h e a r e a because of low r e n t . The p l a c e s t o g e t f r e e food & medical a r e somet i m e s okay, sometimes n o t .

Welfare people a r e p e o p l e . They need some o u t l e t f o r anger 4 f r u s t r a t i o n due t o every day l i f e & c o n t a c t w i t h t h e s o - c a l l e d a u t h o r i t i e s everywhere t h e y t u r n .

People a r e always s a y i n g "Get a job!"

What job? Where a r e t h e y ? !

Charlev

Do animals have a knowledge of medici p l a n t s ? It would seem t h a t t h e answer i l y e s l . Throughout t h e world many s c i e n t ists have r e p o r t e d unexplained behaviou on t h e p a r t of many animal s p e c i e s : A pregnant e l e p h a n t was r e p o r t e d maki a t r i p of 20 m i l e s i n o r d e r t o e a t from c e r t a i n t r e e ; s h o r t l y a f t e r s h e gave b i r Some monkeys, a f t e r b e i n g on a s p e c i f d i e t , g i v e b i r t h o n l y t o male b a b i e s .

A female chimpanzee, o b v i o u s l y s i c k & very f e e b l e , made a t r i p w i t h a n o t h e r f e male companion t o a d i s t a n t p l a c e , r e s t i f r e q u e n t l y a l o n g t h e w a y . A r r i v h g zt hc d e s t i n a t i o n s h e a t e only t h e l e a v e s of a certain plant, resting & eating again, w h i l e h e r companion d i d n o t t o u c h t h e chosen p l a n t . The s i c k chimpanzee went back home, a p p a r e n t l y exhausted. The next day, however, s h e was up & a b o u t , seeming l y q u i t e w e l l & e a t i n g an a s s o r t m e n t of her f a v o u r i t e foods, enjoying l i f e .

Another chimp was s e e n p e e l i n g c a r e f u l l y t h e b a r k of a young t r e e & e a t i n g i t .

The l o c a l people e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e y u s e t h e same b a r k f o r u r i n a r y i n f e c t i o n s .

- Another chimp was observed choosing v e r y c a r e f u l l y , one by one, some l o n g l e a v e s C i t h a rough s u r f a c e , p a i n s t a k i n g 1 r o l l i n g them i n t o t u b e s & swallowing them without chewing. She l a t e r evacuated them i n t a c t from h e r body. The s c i e n t i s t s who observed h e r u n r o l l e d t h e l e a v e s , t o f i n d no answer t o t h e mystery.

Many of t h e p l a n t s chosen by t h e anima l s have a b i t t e r t a s t e , o r a r e p r i c k l y , ~ b v i o u s l yn o t a g0Unnet food. The l o c a l t r i b e s p e o p l e know of t h e i r a n t i - p a r a s i t i c , a n t i-bact e r i a l & / o r o t h e r .. . v i t a l . q u a l i t i e s .

Each t i m e an animal shows US humans a good p l a n t from which a good medicine can b e d e r i v e d , t h e r e i s a rush f o r p r o f i t d c i n g . should n o t osme pharmaceutical --compapy - o r a l l of them - earmark t h e cash b e n e f i t s d e r i v e d f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n of t h e environment & t h e s p e c i e s concerned o r a t l e a s t some of i t ? Yes, why n o t ? !

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BY MICHELLE CHAR~ONNIER

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Industrial site transformed into garden

VANCOUVER (CP) - Com- steady, repetitive process of shovelposed material is the catalyst for ling to aerate the compost. For her, people reclaiming gardening plots it is an aid to contemplation.

"Some people go to church, I go from a 1.2-hectare site strewn with concrete and asphalt in the city's to the cbmpost pile," dys Sigurlow-income downtown eastside. geirson, who works as a School The warmth of the rotting coffee secretary. "some people can paint beautiful grounds, egg shells and vegetables from nearby Chinese grocers and pictures or create pottery from clay. festaurants is comforting. to those Some of us can take food scraps working the soil at the Strathcona that are considered repulsive and turn them into something beautiful Community Garden$.

I Joanne Hochu spends her week- and desirable."

For years, the garden site was an days working in a hospital with sick children. But her Saturdays are industrial dump - dead clay with devoted to shovelling steaming jagged blocks of concrete and mountains of rotting material asphalt. crawling with wonns.

When the gardens were estabShe says she loves the smells - lished in 1986 under a Vancouver and after a morning in the compost park board lease, the gardeners' heap the bouquet becomes part of biggest challenge was to bring the soil back to life. her.

"I don't even notice until someNo one had money to truck in body downwind mentions it," says topsoil, so they set up individual compost piles on their plots.

Hochu.

Sigurgeirson found a Safeway Her friend Muggs Sigurgeirson finds a certain spirituality in the cart in a lane and started trucking

5. buckets of coffee grounds and eggs shells over from the local soup kitchen. She would draw a crowd at every light as she moved through the busy Chinatown streets.

Another gardener built a wagon and attached it to his bicvcle to transport raw materials ba& from grocery wholesalers' dumpsters.

The still-edible celery stalks and carrots were put on the free table next to the shed in the gardens. while the stuff that had gone bad went spight into the compost.

Now the gardeners are setting their sights still higher - on a neighborhood-scale composting facility.

They want people without backyards to bring ii their kitchen scraps and they're asking the same of local restaurants a.d institutions.

The idea is to show that any neighborhood can do the same thing in its empty lots.

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PLACE : The K e t t l e F r i e n d s h i p S o c i e t y 1983 Commercial D r .

DATE:

1 September 1.992

TIME: -

1 pm, Tuesday, u p s t a i r s

Information

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C a l l Laurel a t

THE WASTE OF A NATION Poor people speak out about charity How do peoplrt f e e l about using c h a r i t i e s ' End ~ e g i s l a t e dPoverty (ELP) applied f o r funding through t h e Unemployment Insurance Commission t o h i r e 4 people t o research answers t o t h i s question. It was p a r t i c i p a . tory; t h e e x p e r t s consulted were people whc use c h a r i t i e s every month, be they f o r fool or clothing o r shelter.

I t ' s always d i f f i c u l t t o shorten, t o t a k ~ essential ~ ' ; i iii irolu au already a x c e i i a n i report on anything. This i s no exception.

The report bearing t h e t i t l e of t h i s piece is well-rounded & contains quotes from t h e ' f r o n t linesu', from t h o s e of us who use a c h a r i t y out of b a s i c need. .

"Feelings a r e such a luxury. Survival comes before anything. There's more t o c h a r i t y than f e e l i n g degraded, t h e r e ' s a l s o a need . I f lELP member) The f i r s t p a r t ifivohed l i s t e n i n g t o t h e people who use c h a r i t i e s - what thoughts E f e e l i n g s . A t a gathering, words E emotions included "sharingu, "helping those i n need with g i f t s H , "handouts" & "kindness". One of t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s s a i d t h a t t h e s e f i r s t thoughts described those who give t o , not those who g e t from. This comment moved o t h e r s t o add t h e i r s - "cold", t5mpersonal t o hold-your-nose I t ' , "dependency", "tax free", 6 "poorly d i s t r i b u t e d f 8 .

A c l a s s i c example i s t h e "Taste of t h e Nation" t r i p where well-off people E some corporate execs 'did t h e i r t h i n g f o r t h e poor1 by chipping i n t o buying a r e f r i g e r a t e d van t o pick up l e f t o v e r s from convent i o n s , dinners, e t c . & somehow d i s t r i b u t e t h i s s t u f f t o t h e needy. There i s no t a l k o r a c t i o n concerning a system t h a t p u t s wealth i n t h e hands of very few while m i l l i o n s l i v e f a r below t h e poverty l i n e .

This was an enjoyable s a l v e t o t h e manipul a t i v e excesses inherent i n what t h e bene& t h e poor c a l l f i c i a r i e s c a l l business greed. The crudest s p e c t a c l e i s "poor bash ing", p a r t of t h e smell o f s u p e r i o r i t y

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complex. The p i t t a n c e o f t e n given from on a f f l i c t e d with economic b l o a t seems t o be such a g i a n t i c e f f o r t , l i k e a m i l l i o n a i r e saying "Here's $5 from t h e sweat of my brow".

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"The d i s t i n c t i o n s among c h a r i t i e s a r e t h n i t t y - g r i t t y of what people have t o l i v with.

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d i s t i n c t i o n between those c h a r i t i e s which had a r e p u t a t i o n f o r t r e a t i n g i n d i v i d u a l s 1 i n a p o s i t i v e manner & those which display1 a lack of s e n s i t i v i t y &/or empathy f o r those i n need of t h e i r s e r v i c e s . Analysing comments made by people show t h a t t h e "good" ones have *advocates f o r problems with welfare, e t c ; *many s e r v i c e s ; *respect f o r people who use them; *good-quality food; *no line-ups; *cleanliness; *other people t o meet with s o c i a l l y ; *safety (Noted examples were c o n s i s t e n t l y Carnegie and t h e Downtown Eastside Women's Centre) PLaces where people d i d not f e e l comfort a b l e a r e those where people f e l t * t r e a t e d l i k e a number; *given inadequate food; *yelled at..demeaned..lectured; 'told t o g e t a job; *forced t o endure sermons; *forced t o line-up i n h i g h l y v i s i b l e way.

Itif you're only making $5 an hour you're worse o f f than (when you're on) welfare o r taking c h a r i t y . You have t o pay f o r everything. I f you don1t g e t $8 an hour o r more you might a s well be on c h a r i t y . "

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"The g o v l t i s n ' t d i s t r i b u t i n g t h e money properly. Banks E corporations g e t huge t a x breaks 6 people a r e begging f o r food." " I t ' s d i s g u s t i n g what they give on welfare.

They expect us t o l i v e l i k e animals."

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c h i l d r e n should not have t o s u f f e r ' c a u s e h e i r p a r e n t s a r e on welfare. C h a r i t i e s an be go~dcbut..kid_s;shoufdn't..have t o u s e i s c a r d s , l i k e worn-out, d i r t y beds, l e f t v e r s & t h i s kind of t h i n g . Welfare could udget f o r t h e sake of c h i l d r e n ' s h e a l t h . " We need a more p o l i t i c a l s t a n c e from t h e ,eople who o r g a n i s e & run c h a r i t i e s . " 'The reason we're on welfare i s t h e minimIm wage. Q u a l i t y o f l i f e would' be lower i f re worked ( o u t s i d e t h e home).

'Get each o t h e r t o support each o t h e r i n !ighting t h e i n j u s t i c e s o u t t h e r e . " [Quotes from

Suggestions f o r Change ' p a r t ) ......................

The Summary ------- of t h e r e s e a r c h s t a t e s : 'People who u s e c h a r i t i e s t o l d u s t h a t the q u a l i t y of t h e food i s sometimes bad & j o e s n ' t meet t h e i r needs. They s a i d t h e y j o n ' t g e t enough..that t h e y h a t e l i n i n g up gave examples of both empowering & demeaning t r e a t m e n t . They spoke of t h e contr a d i c t i o n between t h e i r need f o r c h a r i t y & t h e f e e l i n g o f h u m i l i a t i o n t h a t came from having t o accept i t . They s a i d c h a r i t y i s t h e r e s u l t of greed - & t h a t t h i s connection should be exposed. They made suggestTons f o r improving c h a r i t y : - t r a i n i n g f o r food bank workers; - having people who use c h a r i t i e s w r i t e g u i d e l i n e s f o r how t h e y ' d l i k e t o be treated; - c h a r i t i e s should "get p o l i t i c a l " 6 work f o r t h i n g s l i k e h i g h e r welfare r a t e s and h, m h e r ~ d r q ! j ~m it p~i m i ~ mw a-0 v e- . "'b""-J They a l s o made suggestions f o r ending t h e need f o r c h a r i t y : h i g h e r minimum wage, f a i r t a x a t i o n with banks 6 c o r p o r a t i o n s paying more; decent & a f f o r d a b l e housing & job c r e a t i o n &, most of a l l , h i g h e r welfare rates. '

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There i s p l e n t y of evidence t h a t t h i s 7 . f e a r is not mere paranoia. Food Banks a r e becoming a permanent f i x t u r e . In t h e f a l l of 1990 about 590,000 i n d i v i d u a l s received monthly a i d from food banks i n Canada, an i n c r e a s e of 53% from t h e s p r i n g of 1989.

The i n c r e a s e i n people who.need c h a r i t y h a s been caused by Tory g o v ' t a c t i o n s .

Since 1984, t h i s government has : * Put a cap on t h e Canada Assistance Plan, making it h a r d e r f o r p r o v i n c i a l govt' s t o pay adequate welfare r a t e s ; * Slashed t h e Unemployment Insurance program, c r e a t i n g increased poverty f o r over d00,000 people & t h e i r f a m i l i e s who a r e a l r e a d y poor; sr

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Then t h e r e i s t h e b i g g e r p i c t u r e that which shows t h e 'why' of c h a r i t y & greed: End L e g i s l a t e d Poverty f e a r s t h a t c h a r i t i e s a r e becoming t h e new u s o l u t i o n u t o poverty. One person u s i n g c h a r i t i e s s a i d , "They a l r e a d y have t o a c e r t a i n e x t e n t .

You go t o a w e l f a r e o f f i c e & ask f o r a s s i s t a n c e a t t h e end of t h e month & t h e y ask you i f you've been r e f e r r e d t o t h e Food Bank.

* Signed t h e f r e e t r a d e d e a l which h a s helped d e s t r o y over h a l f a m i l l i o n jobs & helped t o push d ~ w ndecent wages t h a t people need t o escape poverty; f r e e t r a d e has a l s o s e v e r e l y l i m i t e d g o v t ' s a b i l i t y t o manage E r e g u l a t e t h e economy i n o r d e r t o reduce poverty; * Passed t h e b i l l (C-69) t h a t w i l l end t h e u n i v e r s a l i t y o f medicare when povert y is i n c r e a s i n g . .poor people g e t s i c k more than o t h e r s G need more c a r e ; * S h i f t e d $4 b i l l i o n i n t a x e s from corpo r a t i o n s t o i n d i v i d u a l s with t h e GST; * Made o t h e r t a x changes t h a t i n c r e a s e them f o r t h e poor & middle income & r e duce them f o r t h e r i c h .

These f e d e r a l government measures, o r p o l i c i e s s i m i l a r t o t h e s e , were c a l l e d f o r by corporate lobby groups such a s t h e Business Council on National Issues & t h e Fraser I n s t i t u t e .

A t t h e same time t h e g o v ' t i s funding groups l i k e "Imaginetf t o encourage Canadi a n s t o give t o c h a r i t i e s .

Here i s j u s t one example of how inadequate a response c h a r i t y i s t o t h e povert y gov't p o l i c i e s have created. In April 1991, a u s u c c e s s f u l ~ fc h a r i t y event c a l l e d t h e Taste of Nations r a i s e d $70,000 t o buy a r e f r i g e r a t e d truck t o t a k e l e f t o v e r food from t h e t a b l e s of t h e r i c h & delive r them t o t h e poor. How'many f u n d r a i s e r s l i k e t h i s would- it take j u s t t o r e p l a c e b ~ Q.~M U UeJ I ~

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incomes under $15,000 a year by gov't i n U1 c u t s ? I f t h e y were a l l on t h e same huge s c a l p a s t h e Taste of Nations event i n Vancouver, it would be about 8349, o r 24 f u n d r a i s e r s every day f o r a year. Char i t y cannot hope t o f i l l t h e need created by government's poverty c r e a t i o n p o l i c i e s .

Yet c h a r i t y i s a "solution" p u t forward by corporate lcbby groups. The Fraser Ins t i t u t e , which r e c e n t l y published a repo r t claiming t h a t poverty i n Canada i s no big deal, says t h i s about c h a r i t y : "On economics and t h e Canadian Bishops": "There i s no problem, o f course, with p r i v a t e c h a r i t y t o t h e unemployed, o r t o t h e poor, a t whatever l e v e l . For p r i v a t e c h a r i t y , by i t s very nature, i s f a r more f l e x i b l e than t h e p u b l i c v e r s i o n , , F i r s t of a l l , s i n c e it i s voluntary, it can be c u t o f f i f c o n t r i b u t o r s f e e l it i s doing more harm than good." (page 17) In s h o r t , c h a r i t y , t b t h e corporate lobby group i s a means of & dominance over low income pe2ple.

ELP b e l i e v e s t h a t Canadians must r e a f f i r m our committment t o f u l l employment & decent s o c i a l programs. People who l i v e i n a j u s t s o c i e t y should not be forced t o r e l y on c h a r i t y . We want t o end t h e need f o r c h a r i t y . We ask.people who read t h i s r e p o r t t o take up our challenge, put f o r ward by Debbie E l l i s o n when she spoke o u t s i d e t h e Taste of Nations event i n ' 9 1

"We challenge people who a r e n ' t poor t o

ask hard questions about c h a r i t y . Does c h a r i t y meet t h e needs of poor people?

How many people f a l l through t h e cracks of c h a r i t y ? How many d o n ' t use food bank because $hey a r e d i s a b l e d o r because the, work, or' because t h e y a r e s t u d e n t s & can not g e t t h e r e ? How many don't use food banks because t h e y would r a t h e r be hungr than humiliated? W i l l c h a r i t y end povert o r w i l l it l e t people think t h a t t h e hun. g e r problem i s solved when it i s growing i n s t e a d ? Does c h a r i t y r e f l e c t t h e kind o: s o c i e t y we want? Do we want a s o c i e t y i n which t h e poor s u b s i s t on l e f t o v e r s from the rich?

"We challenge people who a r e n ' t poor t o l i s t e n t o people who a r e poor. Some of u: a I L--* Av"u uculna, UUL ~ L L ' J u u i Lecause we l i k e to. We don't want t o l i v e i n a s o c i e t y where one group i s powerful & anc t h e r is powerless. We want t o have a r e l i t i o n s h i p of e q u a l i t y & c i t i z e n s h i p . We dc not want handouts 4 humiliation. We want jobs & adequate incomes.

"We challenge people who a r e n ' t poor t o j o i n with us i n r e j e c t i n g American-style s o c i a l programs where food & housing a r e provided f o r t h e poor a t t h e whim of t h e r i c h . And we challenge people who a r e n ' t poor t o work with u s t o change our syster t o end poverty. We need jobs, housing, higher minimum wage, higher welfare. Can; da has t h e resources t o provide a decent l i f e f o r everyone. We challenge people wl a r e n ' t poor t o demand t h a t our p o l i t i c i a ~ work f o r a j u s t s o c i e t y , where people arc more equal & where t h e poor don't have t c depend on l e f t o v e r s Bf Aha:-~ich-?io subsir

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ELP makes t h e following recommendation: about c h a r i t y : (short term) - Charity u s e r s should be helped t o w r i t c t h e i r own g u i d e l i n e s of how they want t c be t r e a t e d by c h a r i t i e s ; - People who volunteer f o r c h a r i t i e s need t o be t r a i n e d i n r e s p e c t f u l treatment of c h a r i t y u s e r s , why we need c h a r i t i e s & what changes we can make t o reduce & end t h e need f o r c h a r i t y ; - People who organise & run c h a r i t i e s should work f o r t h e long term changes l i k e jobs, h i g h e r welfare & minimum wage t h a t w i l l reduce & end need f o r c h a r i t y ;

Maintenance payments from e x - p a r t n e r s should n o t b e deducted from w e l f a r e (espe c i a l l y when e x - p a r t l c r s g e t t o deduct .S nks t h e s e payment:; from t h e i r income t a x ) ; hev, people who donate t'o charity should a l an so w r i t e t o gov' t c a l l i n g f o r h i g h e r welf a r e & minimum wagws & a f f o r d a b l e housg r y ~i n g , each time t h e y make a donaribn; r t y - People who work f o r s o c i a l j u s t i c e need t o s t a r t making greed an important i s s u e In - t o be d i s c u s s e d , along w i t h c h a r i t y .

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of .,,These recommendations would h e l p end .n t h e need f o r c h a r i t y : ( l o n g e r term) - Welfare r a t e s should be i n c r e a s e d t o t h e poverty l i n e ; - Minimum wages should be i n c r e a s e d t o a t 0 u s l e a s t $9.05 an hour; - F a i r t a x e s based on a b i l i t y t o pay w i t h t h e wealthy E c o r p o r a t i o n s paying more; no- - Repeal B i l l C-69 ( d e s t r o y i n g t h e u n i v e r . l a - s a l i t y o f medicare) & t h e cap on Canada lo A s s i s t a n c e Plan; : - End t h e f r e e t r a d e d e a l s s o o u r e l e c t e d government i s a b l e t o reduce/end p o v e r t y ) - Build a f f o r d a b l e housing.. r b n t c o n t r o l ; Maintain & improve medicare, e d u c a t i o n , c h i l d c a r e , Canada Pension Plan, Unemploy ment I n s u r a n c e , Worker' s Compensat i o n . '

T h i s r e p o r t on an eye-opening p r o j e c t The s t a r t e d with a s h o r t d e s c r i p t i o n of Waste o f a Nation, t h e media/community a- event p u t on a t H e r i t a g e H a l l on Aug. 12. ~ o l l o w i ni~s a s t a t e m e n t w r i t t e n & r e a d 'O

by Richard A. Watson.

IS "1 a m a r n - ~ d i t o r for TRANSTTTON; t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e BC C o a l i t i o n of People ) w i t h D i s a b i l i t i e s . Also, I have been workit! i n g f o r t h e Vancouver P r o v i n c e f o r t h e p a s t e i g h t months. I n December 1991, I wrote a column c r i t i c i z i n g t h e concept & e t h i c s of t e l e t h o n s & ' c h a r i t y ' .

I t a l k e d about my own e x p e r i e n c e a s a I c h i l d b e i n g used on t h e V a r i e t y Club t e l e thon t o r a i s e money o v e r which I would n e v e r have c o n t r o l . The c h i l d r e n w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s whom t e l e t h o n s u s e w i l l n o t s e e t h e b e n e f i t s when t h e y become a d u l t s . Mosl w i l l g e t by on GAIN f o r t h e Handicapped.

I appeared on t e l e t h o n s many t i m e s i n t h e mid t o l a t e ' 6 0 ' s . I loved t h e l i g h t s & p u b l i c i t y I thought I was g e t t i n g . I wanted t o be ' d i s c o v e r e d ' , & have my own

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m a t e r i a l recognized & p u b l i s h e d .

9.

It was n o t u n t i l s e v e r a l y e a r s ; a t e r t h a t I r e a l i z e d I & my t a l e n t s were b e i n g e x p l o i t e d i n t h e name of c h a r i t y . I r e a l i zed i t was a t t h e expense of b o t h m y own ti i g n i t y & t h e message t h e p u b l i c was re42eiving.

It was demeaning.

C h a r i t y & p i t y seem t o go hand i n hand. rhe thousands of people who watch t e l e 1thons do n o t g e t t o s e e what people w i t h a 4i i s a b i l i t y can a c h i e v e , & w i t h o u t t h e a i d Telethons portray children (~ f c h a r i t y ! !

J a s i c a l l y a s basket-cases. However, t h e :ax-paying p u b l i c is t o l d t h a t t h e i r d o l l nrs w i l l make e v e r y t h i n g b e t t e r .

B u t , most of t h e money r a i s e d through t e l e t h o n s & o t h e r c h a r i t i e s goes t o t h e 2rof e s s i o n a l s who r e s e a r c h , t r e a t , g i v e :herapy & g e n e r a l l y a t t e n d t o people w i t h iisabilities A c l o s i n g thought : While watching t h e c l o s i n g ceremonies of t h i s y e a r ' s Olympic Games, I could n o t l e l p b u t t h i n k about how many c h i l d r e n ~ o u l dhave been f e d & how a l l t h e p e o p l e a i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s could l i v e more comfortnbly on t h e m i l l i o n s of d o l l a r s wasted on Eireworks..gone up i n smoke!

And w h i l e t h o s e m i l l i o n s go up i n smoke, ae, people w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s , must r e l y on 2 h a r i t i e s f o r what i s e s s e n t i a l t o u s .

Thanks f o r l i s t e n i n g

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For Huong i s a s f a r now a s e v e r & i m p c r i l ''To assume something i s t r i c k y because ed no more t h a n b e f o r e on h e r c o l d s e a a l t h e r e is a forwarning i n t h e word and acone..Theu h a s gone t h e n e x t degree t o s h e e r tion itself it makes an ASS of U and ME. lengthwise madness. .Heather has l e a r n e d t o walk s o well again t h e p h i l o s o p h i c a l h a l l s o f academia, remembering h e r gone s i s t e r , FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION CENTRES my f r i e n d . .

(Operating every Wednesday. except l a s t Each second p r o p e l l s u s l i k e blanks i n t o Wednesday of t h e month.)- t h e echoing landscape.

For Brenda spends a n o t h e r m o n o l i t h i c y e a r 1l:OOam - 12 noon a t t h e s e depots: ................................. i n h e r p r i s o n s e l f , i n t h e b i g g e s t house i n , . 1) S t .Jude's C a t h o l i c Church California..Michael & Cathy f i n d t h e i r mortgage f i n a l l y a s deep a s l a v a n d e r i n a dream 3078 Renfrew S t r e e t ( a t 15th Ave.) of excesses, 6 t h e bachelors g r i n a t t h e i r 22 P o l i s h H a l l laundry, t r y i n g t o a p p e a r knowing.

4015 F r a s e r S t r e e t ( a t 24th Ave.) A t a i l o r is agog i n a f r e n z y of n o t q u i t e gerfwt dares.

3 ) St ,Paul's h g l i c s n Church For my f r i e n d speaks o f 1.G.Farben b i r d s 1130 J e r v i s S t r e e t ( a t G n d r e l l ) f l o c k i n g n e a r t h e f a t , i r o n river..Huong i s 4 ) West Burnaby United Church f l o a t i n g f o r e v e r on t h a t b o a t a l o n e . .Wendy ' 6050 S u s ~ e xS t ($ block o f f Kingsway) comes sooner t o t h e wide,unstopp@ble v i s i o n I t h a n any of u s f o r e t o l d . . R a p h a e l dons h i s 1 5) North Shore Neighbourhood House hundredth impossible costume d e s i r i n g s l e e p .

225 E. 2nd S t . , North Vancouver For Huong i s a s l e e p i n t h e b o a t , t h e cold SINGLES ONLY ocean f o r e v e r , dreaming o f storms. f On t h e s h o r e t h e r e is a s m a l l wooden house.)

6) Native I n d i a n New S t a r t C h r i s t i a n Soc. 1600 F r a n k l i n S t (behind I n d i a n Centre) i ~ at t a b l e by t h e window, i n t h e l i g h t of a'/ waxing moon, someone i s r e a d i n g t r a i n 7) Longhouse Council of Native M i n i s t r y ules over & over again.

2595 F r a n k l i n S t ( a t Kamloops) F a l l i n g awake, a song i s s e t l o o s e from the,.

FAMILIES ONLY bottom o f t h e s e a . There a r e c o l o r f u l banne r s l i e i n g about i n e v e r y d i r e c t i o n .

8 ) Ray-Cam Community c e n t r e 920 East Hastings S t r e e t Daniel Feeney

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irransition House - jr Mwy. 13Pl

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ktuary for Women 11 Street V6A 1G5 ri t Lodge n East Broadway t V5T 4N9 m

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India Mahila Association P.O. Box 67553 Station 0 Vancouver V5W 3T9 325-3327 Downtown Eastside Women's Centre 44 East Cordova ,.

Vancouver V6K 1K2 68 1-8480

YWCA Single Mothers Service 580 Burrard Street Vancouver V6C 2K9 683-2531

Vancouver Lesbian Connection P.O. Box 69591 Station F Vancouver V5W 5L4 254-8458

Women's Research Centre 101 - 2245 West Broadway Vancouver V6K lK2 734-0485

P.O.W.E.R. (Prostitutes and Other Women for Equal Rights) P.O. Box 2288 Vancouver V6B 3W5

Simon Fraser University Women's Centre C/OSFU Student Society Burnaby V5A 1S6 29 1-3670

Wish Drop In Centre (drop-in for prostitutes) c/o First United Church 320 East Hastings Vancouver V6A 1P4 68 1-9244

lhenemaker's '- I of B.C. Vest Broadway V52 1G4 a I

North Shore Women's Centre 103 - 145 West 15th Street North Vancouver V7M 1R9 984-6009 Surrey Women for Action 12569 94A Avenue Surrey V3V 1M9 563-7346 South Surrey/White Rock Women's Place 1 - 1349 Johnston Road White Rodc V4B 322 536-9611

omestic Workers

Pacific Post Partum Support Society 104 - 141 6 Commercial Drive Vancouver V5L 3x9 255-7999

University of British Columbia9s Women's Committee (& Centre) Room 130,Student Union Building P.O. Box 103 Vancouver V6T 1W5 822-2163 Douglas College Women's Centre 700 Royal Street New Westminster V3L 5B2 527-5148 Langara Women's Centre i .

100 West 49th Avenue

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324-3881 or 324-5511 CapilanoCollegeWomen's Centre 2055 Purcell Way North Vancouver V7J 3H5 986-1911 or 984-4969

Women Futures Port Coquitlam Women's Centre 217 - 1956 West Broadway 2420 Mary Hill Road Vancouver V6J 122 Port Coquitlam V3C 3A9 941-6311 Howe Sound Women's Centre P.O. Box 2052 Squamish VON 3G0 1-892-5748

Media Watch 11 703 - 610 Jeevis Street Vancouver V6E 3M4 688-3034

WENLIDO Women Educated in Self-Defence Training (W.E.S.T.) 2349 St. Catherines Steeet Vancouver V5T 3x8 876-6390

Care Line Lower Mainland

Other Services

Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Centre Vancouver 733-4111 Richmond/Delta 273-8701 Pitt MeadowsIPort Coquitlam/ Maple RidgeICoquitlaml New Westminster 525-3330 Langley 530-5385 SurreylWhiee Rock 588-0188 Sids Helpline (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) 685-7437 Information Daycare 875-6451 Elisabeth Bagshaw Clinic The Hycrofe Medical Centre 40 - 3195 Granville Street Vancouver V6H 3K2 736-7878

Catalyst House (Homefor women 19-21who are alone and homeless) P.O. Box 177-720 6th Street New Westminster V3L 3C5 732-4705 YWCA Housing Registry 501 East Broadway Vancouver V5T 1x4 873-1313

End Legislated Poverty 211 - 456 West Broadway Vancouver V5Y 1R3 879-1209 Vancouver and Lower Mainland Multi-Cultural Family Support Services Society 5000-Kingsway Plaza Phase Ill 306 - 4980 Kingsway Bumaby V5H 4K7 436-1025

Women's reality - some statistics A woman is raped every 17minutes in Canada.

Rape, battering, the sexual assault of children and sexual harassment are all abuses of power in which men force us into violent situations against our will. Male violence against women is an attempt-to control us, to deny us the right to control our own bodies Rape and battering are acts of aggression, anger and contempt for women.

We respect every woman's right to confidentiality. It is important for women to share our stories because making our expriencs known to each other corrects myths and distortions about our lives We celebrate all the ways individual women and groups of women choose to resist and survive.

,What you can do about violence against women

Meri have the advantage of power over women -just as white people have power over peoples of colour and the rich have power over the poor. Men who attack us use whatever power they may have, including brute physical force, weapons, firing or harassing us out of jobs They betray the trust of wives, daughters, friends. They invade our homes. They use the state to threaten us with the loss of our children, with deportation, and wi& institutionalization.

Speak out. Expose men who attack. Silence is their ppkction Talk with your neighbow, friends and workmaten Plan to make your surroundings as safe as you can.

Rape Relief -who we are, what we do, and how you can use us

0

Vancouver Rape Relief was opened in 1973by two women. Over the past 18 years we have grown into a volunteer feminist collective joined together in the fight to end violence against women.

In the fall of 1981, we opened a transition house because we wanted a place to offer more of what women a @ d y need to resist -moie safety, more time to organize their lives, a place to dream and scheme together. Lf you don't have safe shelter,bee from attack or fear of attack, our transition house is available for you to come to.

Talk frankly with your children about sexual assault Let them know they can talk to you.

Keep emergency numbers handy. Plan what to do if you are attacked.

If you know of a woman in danger, help her -at least by giving her the number of a rape crisis line or transition house.

Join our work We always need new volunteers. '

WOMEN:It is easier to protect ourselves and fight back if we are not alone. A Support, Education and Action group is a good place to start.

Join the Women's Liberation Movement. We can put you in touch with groups of women in your area.

Call us anytime. We take emergency calls all day and through the M A C 1981

One woman in four will be raped sometime in her life, most often by ~ " l & l K ? she ki-,Cws CASAC 1981

night, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

MEN:Men who refuse to be violent with the women and children in

Try not to be isolated from other women who could understand your

their lives can do many things to support our struale for Women's Liberation. Call us to find o i t how.

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One in eight girls is sexually assaulted before the age 18, most often by a male family member.

Vancouver Unit& Way 1984

Face to face c o w l l i n g is available for emotional support, to help y& strategize and fight back.

54% of women living with men will be struck at some time during the relationship by their partners.

You'll need information if you're dealing with the Ministry of Sodal Services and Housing, the police, court and/or hospital. Phone for an appointment to come in and find out what we know.

60%of rapes reported to us, most battering and sexual assault, takes place in the home -the place we are supposed to be most safe.

Vancouver Rape Relirlf

We will accompany women to the hospital, to the police, through court proceedings, appointments with lawyen, Financial Aid Workers, and Social Workers, providing emotional support and advocacy.

UDA

90%of women are sexually harased on the job at some time during their worklife.

C U E 1980

I;r

=-residentsf group, meet once a week Sharing emotional support and knowledge helps us all pin together to act for change.

0

We have articles, films, and speakers on male violence against women and we are interested in sharing our resources with other groups.

872-8212

information, contact: Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter 872-8212 .For - further -

Rape Crisis ceflt~esand pantition Houses in the Lower Mainland You can call these groups if you've been attacked andlor need a safe place to stay while you decide what to do next. Most of the groups have a 24 hour crisis line and you won't be refused shelter because you have no money. You may call the houses listed here and make arrangements to stay. These groups either organize against violence against women, or they will help you get in touch with groups hat do.

Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter Rape Crisis Centre and Transition House P.O. Box 65342 Station F Vancouver V5N 5P3 872-8212 Women Against Violence Against Women Rape Crisis Centre P.O. Box 88584 Chinatown Postal Outlet Vancouver V6A 4A7 255-6344 Battered Women's Support Services 401-5 10 West Hastings Vancouver V6B 1L8 687-1867 Emily Murphy Transition House Delbrook Community Centre 600 W. Queens Road North Vancouver V5N 5T5 987-3374 Kate Booth House P.O. Box 35361 Station E Vancouver V6M 4G5 872-7774 or 872-7775

Sunshine Coast Transition House Evergreen P.O. Box 1413 15164 Frasc Sechelt VON 3A0 Surrey V31 1-885-2944 584-3301 White ROC^ 53 1-9151 (office) 53 1-4430 (emergency) Abbotsford Transition House p.0. bX3044 Mission V ~ 4V ~ 3 Abbotsford 1-852-6008

Powell San 329A Powe Vancouver 683-4933 ~

~sp

Box 56,54: Vancouver 872-6649

Other Women8 Groups

Marguerite D i o n House Suite 186-4664 Lougheed Hwy. Burnaby V5C 3V7 298-3454

Vancouver Status of Women 301 - 1720 Grant Street Vancouver V5L 2Y6 255-5511

Coquitlam Transition House P.O. Box 213 Coquitlam V3C 3V7 464-2020

Vancouver Women's Health Collective 302 - 1720 Grant Street Vancouver V5L 2Y6 255-8284

Congress c 294 Tenby Coquitlam 25 1-6678

BCCAC (B.C. Coalition of Abortion Clinics) P.O. Box 66171, Station F Vancouver V5N 5L4 669-6209

Indian Hol Associatio~ 201 -640' Vancouver 876-0944

Everywoman's Health Clinic 2005 East 44th Avenue Vancouver V5P 1N1 322-6692

OASIS (in 8165 Main Vancouver 324-8186

DAWN (Dis-Abled Women's Network) 10846 141st Street Surrey V3R 3S4 584-4449 or 535-3247

Philippine 2964 East 4 Vancouver 465-3633

Nova Transition House c/o Chimo Crisis Centre 4751 Garden City Road Richmond V6X 3M7 270-491 1 Ishtar Transition House P.O. Box 3262 Langley V3A 4R6 530-9442 Mission Transition House P.O. Box 3044 Mission V2V 413 826-7800 Ann Davis Transition House P.O. Box 136 Chilliwack VON 3A0 1-792-31I6 Cythera Transition House P.O. Box 383 Maple Ridge V2X 8K9 467-9966

I

South Asian Women's Group 301-5250 Rupert Street Vancouver V5R 219 435-9420

Vancouvex Immigrant 2524 Cyprc Vancouver 731-9108

West Coast Associatio~ 302- ll9Y Vancouver 669-4482 o

A FLY-BY-DAY-TALE

The r a t h e r r e s e r v e d , middle-aged couple who l i v e d half-way down t h e block, f e l t very l i s t l e s s one v e r y hot J u l y day, so were t h e i r twin t e e n sons of 16 & t h e i r adopted daughter o f 20.

Q u i t e o f t e n , t h e y ' d spend a g r e a t 'deal of time i n o r around t h e kidney-shaped pool i n t h e i r backyard. T h i s p a r t i c u l a r day was no exception t o t h e r u l e . Neighbours would s a y , "My what a c l o s e f a m i l y t h e y a r e . See, t h e y always t a k e t u r n s cooking s t e a k s on t h e ba'rbeque or'making s a l ads, lemonade o r f r u i t punch . I 1 When t h e punch bowl was empty t h e y ' d go, i n turn, t o the corner s t o r e f o r a carton o f mixed pop & f r u i t d r i n k s .

One day t h e r e were more t h a n t h e u s u a l amount of f l i e s & b e e s buzzing around s o 'good o l d dad' dashed annoyingly i n t o t h e house t o g e t a f l y - s w a t t e r . The e n t i r e family took t u r n s s w a t t i n g t h e p e s t y c r e a t u r e s u n t i l t h e s w a t t e r became detached from i t s long handle.

"That does it," s a i d t h e i r Mom. "Tomorrow 1'11 buy s e v e r a l f l y - s t i c k e r s & some i n s e c t spray."

The next day t h e r e was an a l l - d a y d r i z z -

l e , so t h e f a m i l y s p e n t t h e day i n t h e house. They were b i t t i n g around, c a t c h i n g up on reading o r completing a house p r o j e c t , when a l l o f a sudden t h e d o o r b e l l rang long & loud. One o f t h e twin boys s i t t i n g c l o s e s t t o t h e door, jumped up & y e l l ed, " I ' l l g e t it!" The o t h e r boy mockingly asked, "Get what?" I t t u r n e d o u t t o be a young gent s e l l i n g f l y - s p r a y products. He o f f e r e d a ' f r e e 1 f l y - s w a t t e r , shaped l i k e a g i a n t f l y , i f o n l y he could t a k e a few minutes of t h e i r time t o e x p l d i n t h a t t h e r e p e l l a n t wasn't harmful..tha+ is, non-toxi c t o humans. . b u t deadly t o bugs.

The salesman was a b i t t o o e a g e r with h i s demonstration & sprayed t h e i r p r e t t y g i r l i n h e r f a c e . I t caught h e r by s u r p r i s e , so she a n g r i l y chased him down t h e s t r e e t with t h e g i a n t f l y - s w a t t e r .

I s e e t h e i r f a c e s t a u t and drawn with Bloated bowels i n p l a c e s f r a u g h t and withdrawn t h e i r Protruding e y e s coated i n d e a t h 1 s dim glow a s k i n g Why I now groan f o r t h e c h i l d r e n ' s c r y i n g Sci-e~ii6k i t h i-eliitu&~h& 5igllLL t l ~ c i@ P~L ~ I I L C J ;lccd nb , Blind with s u s t e n a n c e ' g r e a t need ''i Anguish v e n t s i t s dying dreams Weighed down i n u n e a r t h l y g r a v i t y p h y s i c a l l y Bound t o t h e w o r l d ' s s p i r i t u a l G e r a l d i n e (August 1, 1992 - Car.Nwsltr) , Cavity where man's humanity i s f Sick i s s t a r v a t i o n i n abundance To ask about t h e S e n i o r s 1 f a c i l i t i e s & Enriched by THEIR ravenous v a n i t y a c t i v i t i e s is g r e a t , b u t t o prejudge t h e THEY cannot s e e it e x i s t s ! whole by one o p i n i o n of an i n d i v i d u a l i s I Mac- D. slight.

The b e s t way t o f i n d o u t what i s going ,on a t t h e S e n i o r s ' i s t o g e t a c t i v e l y invit1 olved, n o t o n l y i n a c t i v i t i e s b u t a t t h e meetings. That i s where your v o i c e can & w i l l be h e a r d . . t o be a g r e e d ' w i t h o r . t o ask f o r changes. Hope t o s e e you t h e r e i n . t h e f u t u r e , a l o n g w i t h many o t h e r s !

s

t

i

3 i c

VANCOUVER PORT PLANNING INITIATIVES

The C i t y ' s Major P r o j e c t s Planning Proce s s has not worked f o r the low-income Downtown Eastside community. This process has produced only h i g h r i s e , high-density 6 high income-bracket developments.

The process has shown no r e a l concern f o r s o c i a l o r environmental impacts on t h e Down town Eastside. Bosa development,, t h e Expo lands & Coal Harbour a r e 3 examples of mega p r o j e c t s using t h i s process f o r approval.

The Port i s not being developed i n a demo c r a t i c o r w h o l i s t i c way. The Port Corporat i o n should go through normal c i t y permits & have democratic p u b l i c hearings. A t h r e e person "binding a r b i t r a t i o n panel" picked C i t y i _ s an ~ n a c c c p t a b l esubby the Port s t i t u t e f o r proper citizen/eommurnity input.

The s e r i e s of token ' p u b l i c meetingstv i s a forum f o r t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n of completed I plans, 'complete' a s f a r a s t h e Port Corp., CPR & C i t y a r e concerned.

There must be an independent s o c i a l impa c t study done through t h e City h i r i n g a consulting firm. This study must be done a s e a r l y a s p o s s i b l e i n t h e process G f i n d i n g s made p u b l i c without a l t e r a t i o n . There a l s o needs t o be an independent environmental impact study nc: funded by t h e Port Corp. or private d e x o p e r s .

Vancouverls Parks Board passed motions i n t h i s vein r e c e n t l y , c a l l i n g f o r both s o c i a l and environmental impact s t u d i e s & c a l l i n g on t h e Port t o involve communities which f r o n t on t h e water a l l along the i n l e t .

Hey, I 'm Not A Consumer

If Big Business had i t s way, we would a l l be c a l l e d consumers i n s t e a d of c i t i z ens, & we would v o t e with d o l l a r s i n s t e a d of b a l l o t s . Consumers buy & buy. They a r e l i k e vacuum c l e a n e r s t h a t suck up everyt h i n g around them. They never s t o p because they a r e never s a t i s f i e d . Advertising has taught them t h a t they cannot be complete persons u n l e s s they buy t h i s t h i n g o r t h a t thing. They a r e a d d i c t s , & t h e h e a l t h of t h e economy depends on t h e i r addiction.

According t o t h e consumer philosophy our purpose i n t h i s s o c i e t y i s t o accumulate a s many t h i n g s a s p o s s i b l e , & t h e person who has t h e most t h i n g s when he o r she d i e s , wins.

Yhe word "consumertt supports t h e nlg Business dream of endless accumulation. A t t h e c e n t r e i s homo economicus, t h e consume r , who i s an i s o l a t e d , individual vacuum c l e a n e r t h a t attempts t o f u l f i l l i t s desi r e s i n t h e market, The i d e a l consumer s e e s t h e world a s commodity. Everything i s f o r s a l e . Buying & s e l l i n g d e f i n e s i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e e a r t h . Value is underI stood i n ierms of money. The golden r u l e i s make p r o f i t , not l o s s .

But I r e f u s e t o be reduced t o a mere consumer, 6 you probably f e e l t h e same way Our e a r t h & h e r c h i l d r e n (including u s ) a r e bound t o g e t h e r by a web of complex, l i v i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s , & t h a t means t h a t we're not i s o l a t e d , i n d i v i d u a l buying machines.

I t a l s o means t h a t t h e only way we can understand ourselves i s i n r e l a t i o n t o a l l t h e persons & t h i n g s around us. This home . economicus i s a monstrous perversion of our human experience.

We can simplify our l i v e s , & t h a t ' s OK. Wise people have been t e l l i n g u s t h a t f o r c e n t u r i e s . A t t h e same time, we have t o be more aware of t h e complexity of our r e l a t ionships. I t r e a l l y i s n ' t p o s s i b l e t o do one t h i n g by i t s e l f any more than i t i s p o s s i b l e t o throw a s t o n e i n a pond without making r i p p l e s .

Anyway, l e t ' s g e t r i d of t h i s word "consumer". We're c i t i z e n s , a f t e r a l l , & even more, we're human beings.

By SANDY CAMERON

c3Q

Dear Mayor, ' Our Laughter i s made from t h e b e s t Indian Medicine Men! An open minded l e t t e r . .imagining you became a slumlord i n our downtown a r e a on t h e poor people. Mock eracy f o r our Reader's i n t e r e s t i n my J U L Y JOURNAL ' 9 2 S ORRY FOR MYSELF ---------------*

I'm a d i r t y o l d looking Indian we t e l l Sleeping i n a l l e y s with 'your backdoor i s home1 peopl Mornings hold no Looking g l a s s f o r t h i s f a c e f u l Only water I drink i s with Rubbing Alcohol ''Lost my p r i d e t r y i n g t o jump unto t h e f a s t l a n e Nobody t o lead t h e way out of t h e s e handouts Don't know my name 'cause I ' m so ashamed A l l I can do i s walk down t h i s skidrow'' Please g e t t h i s p i c t u r e o u t of my mind i l l e g a l l y I have t o sober up o r t h i s rubby f o o l w i l l people see Gonna r i d e t h i s s o r r y f o r myself out of here sometime S p i r i t Writer Miako Stephen Likakup On J u l y 1, I was sleeping with one eye open when a mouse jumped on t h e edge o f t h e bed, bowlegged backwards t o my nose, 'humped' once & burped me i n t o a shriek. I r o l l e d o f f fihc:bedlwith,ghizkL8~ghing1~Gag turning me on ! Your f o o l , Richard Roderick Horsefall Now I give t h e Carnegie Newsletter readers an ins i g h t i n t o another point of view..that Carnegie h e l p s people f o r , and those speaking f o r , our NATIVE LIAISO SOCIETY - a r e here f o r you.

Adrionne Pasaua

When I s e e t h i s world and a l l t h e games t h a t weave through t h i s p l a c e I must temember t h i s My h e a r t b e a t s To an e t e r n a l drum When I s e e t h i s c i t y and how love i s fouled and soiled and k i l l e d s o young, s o sweet I must remember t h i s MY heart, b e q t s

t o an e t e r n a l drum The peace i n my h e a r t runs deep, one e t e r n i t y deep When t h e i l l u s i o n s of love die and f e a r a s s a i l s me and I f e e l small and scared I must remember t h i s My h e a r t b e a t s t o an e t e r n a l drum

When I see t h i s world through t h i s p l a c e I must remember t h i s TO an e t e r n a l drum When I s e e t h i s c i t y and how love i s fouled and so young, s o sweet t o an e t e r n a l drum The peace i n my h e a r t When t h e i l l u s i o n s and f e a r a s s a i l s me

this My h e a r t b e a t s t o an e t e r n a l d v m And when I c r y f o r t h e l o s t ones and i t d p s n l t Ag me any good I must remember t h i s My h e a r t b e a t s To an e t e r n a l drum And when I wash t h e windows of my soul and t e a r s flow c a r e l e s s l y down my f a c e a t the f o l l y of it a l l I must remember t h i s My h e a r t b e a t s t o an e t e r n a l drum.

Dreamweaver

D u r i n g 1986 I r e t u r n e d t o a p o s i t i o n I had h e l d i n p r e v i o u s y e a r s . Wanting t o est a b l i s h myself once a g a i n w i t h t h i s company, I o f f e r e d t o a c c e p t p a r t - t i m e work.

I n o r d e r t o pay my c o s t of l i v i n g , I a l s o a p p l i e d f o r unemployment i n s u r a n c e t o supplement my income. Once t h e cheques were s e n t from U I , I would f i l l o u t my e a r n i n g s almost t o t h e d o l l a r f o r t h e 2 weeks.

I n a 5-month p e r i o d i n which I worked, p a r t - t i m e o n l y , I e a r n e d $1594.00, l e s s t h a n w e l f a r e ' s allowance. U I cheques were v e r y minimal, about $120 p e r week. I eve n t u a l l y o b t a i n e d f u l l - t i m e employment & r e p o r t e d t h a t I no l o n g e r needed t h e supplement. I ' d k e p t m o s t l y a l l of my pay r e c O r d ~f r ~ mmw emnl n v a r --J r - - J - - One day 2 y e a r s l a t e r , q u i t e unexpectedl y , I r e c e i v e d a l e t t e r from t h e Unemployment I n s u r a n c e Commission s t a t i n g t h e y ' d o v e r p a i d me i n 1986 & I owed $1240, payabl e immediately. They'd a l s o added a p e n a l t y f o r my " f a l s e s t a t e m e n t s " - news t o me!

I thought t h i s had t o b e a m i s t a k e .

During t h e f o l l d w i n g weeks I t r i e d despe r a t e l y t o f i n d t h e r e a s o n f o r t h e overpayment, b u t w i t h a l l of t h e h e l p from Legal S e r v i c e s i n New W e s t m i n s t e r , t h e UBC Legal C l i n i c , p l u s t h e r e c o r d s from m! employer, I was s t i l l no f u r t h e r ahead.

They i n s i s t e d I owed $1240 & t h a t was t h e way i t s t o o d .

I was s e n t a form which s t a t e d t h a t I d e c l a r e d e a r n i n g s of s o much & t h i s was wrong. I n one i n s t a n c e t h e y had c a l c u l a t e ( e a r n i n g s of $112 p e r week, when i n f a c t i t was f o r 2 weeks. T h e i r d a t e s were a l l o f f T h e i r f i g u r e s d i d n o t even j i v e w i t h my e m p l o y e r ' s . According t o my employer I ' d e a r n e d $1594. They had me down f o r $2200.

I n my e f f o r t s t o t r a c e t h e e r r o r I founc t o t a l r e s i s t a n c e on t h e i r b e h a l f . I must have a s k e d a dozen t i m e s where t h e y g o t t h e i r f i g u r e s from i f n o t my employer and n o t me.

One day I was c a l l e d t o t h e U I C o f f i c e i n Burnaby r e g a r d i n g what payments I coulc make. I saw a M r . Tan, w i t h my lawyer fro1 t h e UBC l e g a l c l i n i c . I t o l d M r . Tan t h a t I c o u l d n o t m a i n t a i n s t e a d y work a t t h i s t i m e a s my l e g s & back were g i v i n g me s e r . i o u s problems & 1 ' d soon b e going back t o

art-time work.

M r . Tan l i s t e n e d w i t h what seemed g r e a t : o n s i d e r a t i o n & t h e n t o l d me I f I could ming a l e t t e r from my d o c t o r v e r i f y i n g . h e s e c o n d i t i o n s , t h e U I commission would rrite o f f t h e ' d e b t ' . I f e l t t o t a l l y r a i l :oaded i n t o s e e i n g my d o c t o r a t t h a t p o i n t .

The d o c t o r w r o t e a l e t t e r which r e a d : 'Severe b i l a t e r a l v e r i c o s e v e i n s . Limited :o 30 h r s . of work p e r week." I s e n t i t t o 4r. Tan, who even w r o t e on t h e e n v e l o p e h e " A t t e n t i o n M r . Tan".

5ave me Well i t t u r n e d o u t t h a t M r . Tan had no ;ay i n t h e m a t t e r a t a l l . It was a M r . ' a t t e r s o n , C o l l e c t i o n s O f f i c e r , who t o l d ne t h a t h e (Tan) had n o t h i n g t o do w i t h my !.&:, Well xh'J :5 hell did I~ z L Pa, &-7 ~ f tf o s e e him & a n o t h e r t o s e e my d o c t o r i f h i s s u g g e s t i o n was i n v a l i d !

It d i d n ' t t a k e much t i m e b e f o r e P a t t e r ;on had my wages g a r n i s h e e d . It began w i t h 20% b u t I c o u l d n o t a f f o r d t h i s amount s o L c a l l e d t o s a y I would n o t b e a b l e t o pay r e n t , a f f o r d my c a r & s t i l l e a t , s o a s i t low s t a n d s I ' m t o pay $100 a month.

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To t h i s day I d e c l a r e t h e r e i s something t e r r i b l y wrong. There a r e s o many q u e s t i ons unanswered, s u c h a s why d i d t h e y w a i t 2 y e a r s t o w r i t e 2 l e t t e r ; where d i d t h e y g e t t h e i r i n f o r m a t i o n ; who i s M r . Tan; why d i d n ' t t h e y b e l i e v e my employer?

I f I had my way I ' d n e v e r c o l l e c t anothe r c e n t from U I . I f 1 was e v e r unemployed I would much s o o n e r d e a l w i t h t h e w e l f a r e p f f i c e whom, I ' m s u r e , does n o t send noti c e s of overpayment a f t e r 2 y e a r s &, I u n d e r s t a n d , have some compassion i n conne c t i o n w i t h g l a s s e s , t e e t h , bus p a s s e s . .

.

Norma Bodaly

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Tories axe family ahwance and the child tax credit

By Roneen Murcol~r

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reducing taxes for the rich.

Things like: ~ncreasing RRSP contribution limits; continuing the business entertainment deduction; allowing more capital gains exemptions for the rich (so that rich- people don't have to pay taxes on profits for things like buying and selling art!!).

On July 18th a delegation of three ELP members to Ottawa to speak to the Parliamentary committee on Bill C-80, the so-called "child benefit." The ELP delegation told the committee that poor people don't want this so-called "benefit" that will take away family allowance and the child The ELP delegation told the committee that if the government really wants to "benefit" children it tax credit. should, among other things: ELP criticized the fed's expensive advertising *end free trade; around the "child benefit", calling it *restore UI programs; sleazy and misleading. The advertising, which has *end the cap on CAP; *improve programs like UI, CPP, WCB, been characterizing poor children as abused and neglected, has been telling people that they will medical, education, childcare and housing; now be getting up to $144 per month per child. *base taxes on ability to pay; *increase taxes for the rich and corporations and On the surface this might sound pretty good to some people but what the ads don't tell people is end loopholes that benefit the rich. that they won't be getting family allowance or the child tax credit anymore. The Tories have been Members of the ELP delegation were Sam telling people that the "child benefit" will be better Snobelen (DERA), George Lawson (St. for poor people when in fact people on welfare Margaret's Anglican), and Roneen Marcoux (TRAC).

The one NDP member of the won't get one cent extra.

Parliamentary Committee, Chris Axworthy, was ELP told the committee that we think the slashing very supportwe of ELP's position on the so-called of universal programs such as family allowance is "child benefit." part of a larger Tory strategy to wipe out Canadian social programs altogether. The Tories are not It was clear to the delegation that the Tory interested in helping poor children in Canada. dominated committee was simply a sham, set up to They are only interested in supporting big business give the appearance of a "democ~ticprocess."

Bill C-80 was in fact rammed through the and free trade. following day with little or no discussion about the The delegation sugested that if the government possible negative effects it will have on poor reaiiy wanted to heip poor cniiaren it wouid have peep!e. to stop passing bad laws that keep creating more poverty. They reminded the committee of some of (Roneen Marcoux is a director of ELLP from the the things the federal government has already done Tenants' Rights Coalition, and was pan of the to increase poverty in Canada. Things like: ELP delegarion on Bill C-80). slashing UI, creating poverty for over 400,000 more Canadians; signing the free trade agreement which has resulted in the destruction of over half a million Canadian jobs; bringing in the GST which is a direct tax to the poor; passing the Bill that will More school end the universality of Canadian medicare; putting a cap on the Canada Assistance Program which is The provincial budget for school lunch programs making it harder for the provincial governments to will increase from $7 million to $11.6 million in pay adequate welfare rates; and slashing the co-op 1992-1993. This will mean that about 40,000 housing program. children in 152 schools in low income areas will get to eat lunch at school for free.

At the same time the Tories have been doing things to create more poverty, they have been

lunches!!

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In Vancouver the lunch program will be expanded from 13 elementary and 9 secondary alternative programs to 25 elementary, 2 secondary, and 21 secondary alternative programs.

End Legislated Poverty is the group that organized the campaign that pressured the provincial government to fund this program.

The CEEDS a r e Sown.

A f t e r two years of filming we f i n a l l y got i t t o g e t h e r - t h e f i r s t CEEDS video!

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In case you missed it, the summer rewrts on corporate- profits for 1991 came out. -LO and behold, the top corporations continued making huge profits even though we're supposed to be in a recession; even though governments aren't supposed to be able to tax more. These numbers show some corporations could handle a much bigger contribution to social programs and wages.

BCE made $1,329,000,000,in profits and its assets increased by over $4 billion.

Bell Canada made a mere $986,000,000 in profits.

Bell's assets increased by about half a billion.

The Royal Bank made a profit of $983,466,000.

Its assets increased by nearly $662 million.

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Seagram made profits of $727,000,000. Its assets increased by over half a billion.

s'noweci i t a t llarneeie Centre .%nciay

evening t o about 35 people. We were s u r e g l a d t o have so many i n t e r e s t e d people come out. The video was about 15 minutes long & t o l d t h e s t o r y of t h e CEEDS communc moving o u t of t h e h i l l s i n '88 t o what's happening up t h e r e today, our f u t u r e plan: and o u r need f o r more people.

Thanks t o Egor, who s e t up t h e technica: end o f t h i n g s , 4 Dave who s e t up c h a i r s .

Following t h e video some songs from t h e commune were sung & some questions from t h e audience l e d t o discussion of many asp e c t s of communal l i v i n g . The meeting end. ed around 8: 15 p.m.

Anyone i n t e r e s t e d i n v i s i t i n g t h e conunune should contact Bob S a r t i oc Muggs Sigurgeirson a t Carnegie, o r phone 253-4718.

We have f i v e organic farms i n t h e Carib00. W e l i v e n a t u r a l l y & s h a r e what we havc

By N I K K I SPOONER

The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce made L $811,204.000 in profits. Its assets increased by (Source: R e ~ o r on t Business magazine, July, $726 million.

The combined profits of the top five Canadian banks were over $3.5 billion.

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Learning t o be a s i n g l e p a r e n t . . mile I was married my husband d i d a l l the cooking on Christmas Day. He claimed he was a f a r b e t t e r cook t h a n I , e s p e c i a l ly during t h a t Season. . he Christmas a f t e r I l e f t him my ,two kids 6 I were i n a small r e n t e d house t h a t provided a s t o v e w i t h 2 o f t h e b u r n e r s not working & h a l f t h e oven elements burned out...and t h e r e was no f r i d g e .

A week b e f o r e Christmas both my church 8I another, h e a r i n g t h a t I had become a s i n g l e p a r e n t , each donated a l a r g e turkey. I had no i d e a how t o cook one, l e t a l o n e t w c t h e y had t o b e cooked once t h e y thawed.

The s i n k became my c o l d water f r i d g e . I dug o u t a grade seven cookbook because I remembered it l i s t e d d e t a i l s c l e a r l y . I t suggested having a b i g enough pan - good idea! I bundled t h e k i d s i n warm c l o t h e s fI h i e d o f f through deep snow t o t h e n e a r e s t department s t o r e .

The day b e f o r e Christmas I woke t o f i n d t h e roof l e a k i n g m e l t i n g snow..dripping on my b l a n k e t s . I p u t t h e thawing b i r d s

My 6 year-old son came i n t o t h e k i t c h e n , looked a t t h e smoking oven, & calmly s a i d , "Oh Mom. How embarrassing." He stayed i n Ih i s room while t h e f i r e m e n were t h e r e . My Idaughter h i d under t h e t r e e & opened a l l Iof h e r p r e s e n t s .

The fireman s a i d I ' d have t o pour o f f t h e wine, s o it wouldn't c a t c h again, but t h e turkey would b e e d i b l e once cooked.' The oven needed c l e a n i n g & he s a i d he'd w r i t e a complaint t o t h e owner about t h e s t o v e with t h e b i l l f o r t h e i r s e r v i c e on Christmas.

J u s t what I needed. Maybe it 'd g e t f i x e d !

by Dora Sanders

back i n cold water i n t h e s i n k , changed bedding, & p u t t h e empty pan on t o p s o I could g e t some s l e e p .

Following d i r e c t i o n s , I prepared t h e l a r g e r b i r d t h a t morning. It would have t o cook a l l n i g h t a t a h i g h e r temperature as t h e oven wasn't r e l i a b l e . I determined t o add wine t o it b u t only knew t h e r e were 2 kinds - r e d & white. The k i d s & I bundled ..n

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t i n g s l u s h . My husband had been an alcohol i c before o u r marriage, q u i t , t h e n became a f a n a t i c about n o t having any i n t o x i c a n t s i n anything. Now, a f t e r t h e s t r a i n of making s u r e he wouldn't be traumatized by t h e t a s t e o f l i q u o r , I wanted Christmas cake with brandy i n i t , & rum-flavoured pudding He'd made me f e e l I was missing something!

On Christmas morning I b a s t e d t h e b i r d with wine, r e p e a t i n g t h e p r o c e s s . u n t i 1 a n i c e l a y e r of wine was i n t h e pan. Anyway, it caught on f i r e (maybe t h e cheap pan had l e a k e d ) . I opened t h e oven door, screamed, & closed it again, s h u t t i n g it o f f b e f o r e c a l l i n g t h e f i r e department. In my p a n i c I d i d n ' t r e a l i s e t h a t c l o s i n g t h e door-shutt i n g i t o f f would -- put t h e f i r e o u t .

U may be T.V. p a r i t y , Does T.V. s e e ?

Time's Light S p a c e ' s Energy?

T'sung Dao Lee and Cheng Ning Yang, Coined P a r i t y 1956 A.D. i n c u r r e n t s l a n g , For enat iomorphic c h i r a l i t y of supersymetry T.V. Lao Tsu might say Is magic-box-shadow s e l f - h e a r t h goddess, Trinergy rime r e v e r s e Space IG.D.S., T.V. i n t e r f a c e I n t e g r a l goodness of mental c i r c u s Surface and submerged i n g r a c e IChrysolaisy freedom of t h e human r a c e .

q

John Hussey

( T h i s l e t t e r came t o Pam Fleming, a s ' f a c i l i t a t o r ' of FrontLine Advocate Workers) Dear M s . Fleming, TO b e g i n w i t h , I want t o confirm my cornmitment t o e s t a b l i s h i n g an ongoing d i a l o gue w i t h a l l t h o s e who have a v e s t e d i n t e r e s t i n t h e d e l i v e r y of s o c i a l s e r v i c e s i n B.C. T h i s i n c l u d e s p r o f e s s i o n a l s i n t h e f i e l d , s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t advocacy groups, consumers of o u r s e r v i c e s & members of t h e tax-paying p u b l i c . It is my i n t e n t i o n t o e s t a b l i s h an a d v i s o r y c o u n c i l t h a t i s i n c l u s i v e r a t h e r than exclusive i n i t s represe n t a t i o n . I b e l i e v e t h i s w i l l p r o v i d e my M i n i s t r y w i t h t h e balanced background necessary for r ' n ~r i p v ~ rl ~ n m ~c_+ n t ~ c l i c i ~ Er . programs w h i c h , a r e r e s p o n s i v e t o t h e needs & e x p e c t a t i o n s of B r i t i s h Columbians.

We must acknowledge t h a t o u r p l a n n i n g is tempered by t h e r e a l i t y of t h e c u r r e n t BC economy & t h e retrenchment of t h e f e d e r a l g o v ' t on c o s t s h a r i n g w i t h t h e p r o v i n c e . I have t w i c e a d d r e s s e d t h i s l a t t e r w i t h t h e f e d e r a l m i n i s t e r of H e a l t h & W e l f a r e , t h e Hon. B e n o i t Bouchard, & w i l l c o n t i n u e t o do s o w i t h t h e support of my c o l l e a g u e s .

I a g r e e w i t h I r e n e Schmidt, t h e advocate from Carnegie C e n t r e , who s t a t e d t h a t c l i e n t s of my M i n i s t r y need t o b e t r e a t e d with dignity & respect. This is w r i t t e n i n M i n i s t r y p o l i c y & i s my p e r s o n a l e x p e c t a t i o n of a l l M i n i s t r y s t a f f . I a l s o b e l i e v e t h a t people need t o be empowered s o t h a t t h e y can view themselves as consumers of o u r s e r v i c e s who can e x p e c t & demand quali t y s e r v i c e . C l i e n t s need t o b e educated about t h e M i n i s t r y ' s management s t r u c t u r e & how i t can b e a c c e s s e d when s e r v i c e qua1 i t y i s an i s s u e .

The b r i e f from t h e U n i t a r i a n Church r a i s e s t h e important i s s u e of how we appr o p r i a t e l y provide f o r individuals with handicaps. H i s t o r i c a l l y , i n t h i s p r o v i n c e , support h a s been provided under t h e terms & philosophy of t h e GAIN Act & R e g u l a t i o n s Whether t h i s i s t h e most a p p r o p r i a t e way t o meet t h e needs of t h e d i s a b l e d , i s one of t h e many q u e s t i o n s we must a d d r e s s i n o u r review of M i n i s t r y programs & s e r v i c e s I w i l l be l o o k i n g f o r i n p u t from i n d i v i d u a l s w i t h handicaps & t h e advocacy groups

ho r e p r e s e n t them a s we come t o terms i t h t h i s issue.

The paper from t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e omen's Centre h i g h l i g h t e d t h e v e r y r e a l roblem t h a t o l d e r s i n g l e women have i n o c a t i n g a p p r o p r i a t e housing i n t h e urban o r e o f Vancouver. To a d d r e s s , t h i s i s s u e , h e BC Housing Management Commission h a s ~ o d i ife d t h e g u i d e l i n e s under which s i n g l e ~ e o p l ea r e a c c e p t e d i n t o s u b s i d i z e d & co~ p housing. For t h e most c u r r e n t informatb n on t h i s , you should c o n t a c t Commission itaf f d i r e c t l y , o r approach my c o l l e a g u e , h e Hon. Robin Belncoe, M i n i s t e r of Munici)a1 A f f a i r s , R e c r e a t i o n 8. Hnnsing, as this i a i i s under h i s a r e a of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . )ur s e p a r a t i o n of t h e s u p p o r t & s h e l t e r :omponents o f income a s s i s t a n c e b e n e f i t s las t r a d i t i o n a l l y been done t o meet Canada i s s i s t a n c e P l a n g u i d e l i n e s . T h i s , however, r i l l a l s o b e under review.

My c o l l e a g u e , t h e Hon. C o l i n GabLemann, ittorney General, i s responsible f o r t h e ?amily Maintenance Enforcement program. I ~ o u l ds u g g e s t t h a t p o s i t i o n p a p e r s on t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h i s program b e d i r e c t e d :o h i s a t t e n t i o n . The i s s u e of exemption ,f maintenance s u p p o r t payments t o famili e s on income a s s i s t a n c e i s under review.

T r a n s p o r t a t i o n allowances a r e c u r r e n t l y a v a i l a b l e t o r e c i p i e n t s f o r s p e c i f i e d purposes, s u c h as conducting a job s e a r c h . We a r e reviewing f u r t h e r o p t i o n s around t h e i s s u e of t r a n s i t p a s s e s f o r r e c i b i e n t s a i t h t h e a g e n c i e s involved i n t h e p r o v i s i 3n of t r a n s i t s e r v i c e s .

A s I i n d i c a t e d t o you, many of t h e issues of concern t o your member groups a r e c u r r e n t l y under review by government. I cannot bre-empt t h e l e g i s l a t i v e p r o c e s s by making f i r m commitments a t t h i s t i m e , othe r t h a n t o a s s u r e you t h a t your p o i n t of view i s recognized & h a s r e c e i v e d s e r i o u s considerat ion.

I n c l b s i n g , I want t o t h a n k you f o r your i n p u t t o d a t e . I b e l i e v e we have made a p o s i t i v e s t a r t on what I t r u s t w i l l be an ongoing d i a l o g u e & exchange of i d e a s .

Yours t r u l y , Joan Sma1lwood;:Minister.

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

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STD CLINIC Monday through F r i d a y , 9am - 5pm.

FREE,MEDICAL CLINIC - Mon, Wed, F r i d a y , 5:30-7:30pm.

NEEDLE EXCHANGE 221 Main; everyday 9am-5pm.

Needle excGange van - on t h e s t r e e t Mon-Sat evenings.

N.A. meets e v e r y Monday n i g h t a t 223 Main S t r e e t .

Out-to-Lunch

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i l--y a. .t - 101 -W.Cordova Bunch meets -d-a- ----- - - -(A.A.) . - -.

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1992 DONATIONS: Cement Masons-$100 K e i t h C.-$20 P a u l a R.-$20 Nancy W.-$100 Colleen E.-$25 Luba P.-$10 S t u a r t M.-$10 Robert - $ l o CEEDS - $50 1811: IliU ' SI.ETfER I S A PlIII.Il:A'fIlUI Or Tllf.

Rotary Club of Chinatown -$767.15 (:ALNBl:IE I1IWIW111'1 CIHI'RF. ASSIICIATIUN..

Four S i s t e r s CO-OP -$500 Arl lrlcm represcot 11,. vlru. 01 I r d l r l a t u a l con1 r ator or* ~ I no1 J 01 11,. A.SO~ i.1 lo".

DERA -$500' Joyce -$lo Legal S e r v i c e s -$200 ~ l t yI n f o s t a f f c a n ' l accept donat Ions f o r t l t l n I I E U S I C L ~ ~ Cso .

E t i e n n e S -$50 submiss ion I f yoat can I~elp,11115 P a u l l a y l u r F o r e s t Lawn -$25 and 11e'll g ~ v eyou a r e c o l p t .

Yvonne C.-$10 T l ~ a n k aeveryone l Ken -$5 ' 28 August T.om S.-$5 Friday Hazel M.-$25 The Old S a i l o r -$40 C e c i l e C.-$20 J e a n F.-$15 Anonymous -$I8 'l'hc I)ow~~towa E a s t s i d e Residents' A s s o c i a t i o n call I ~ e l pyou w i t h : , S F_ m y weJ.fare p r o b l e n ~ s * i.nfore!a t i o n on l e g a l r i g h t s 5 d i s p u j e s with landlords z: !!!?s:s';" l % ~ ~ o i!? ~nn n ~ i i r l n n r fi i ~ ~ c o rLax e * ULC probleil~s :t r i11di118I I O U S A I I ~ fi o p e n i n g u bank accotlrlL

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General Membership Meetings Last ~ r i d of a ~ t h e month -10:30am Carnegie T h e a t r e .

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MORE POOP ON POVERTY:

There's a new rag o u t i n Vancouver t h a t claims concern f o r t h e poor, produced by something c a l l e d "Text Tools - SPARC-BCtl. I t ' s e d i t e d by a michael McCarthy. This paper's name i s taken from t h e t r a d i t i o n a panhandler's c r y - "spare change" ,- & i t s motto, p r i n t e d on t h e f r o n t page, i s : "The b e s t place t o f i n d a helping hand i s a t t h e end of your own arm." [a mean 4 p i r i t e d statement, if you think about i t "Spare Change" c r e a t e s an image of being t h e s t r e e t p e r s o n ' s newspaper - with an a r t i c l e by John Turvey 6 headlines l i k e S t r e e t News, Nickles & Dimes, Gimme S h e l t e r , Cheap T h r i l l s , S t r e e t Beat, e t c . But one of i t s major p o l i c y s , a s revealed on i t s e d i t o r i a l page, i s t o s t o p people f r o giving money t o panhandlers.

A f r i e n d of mine, who i s a r e g u l a r , we1 known & well l i k e d panhandler on Downtown E a s t s i d e s t r e e t s , showed t h i s newspaper t me. She was f u r i o u s about t h e back page, which says: "Help feed t h e poor - don't g i v e money t o panhandlers.ll (Merchants: C l i p t h i s ad ti 4 i s p l a y it i n your window. ) My f r i e n d used t o be a hooker, u n t i l s h t e s t e d HIV-positive 6 decided t o g i v e up hooking f o r panhandling. She i d e n t i f i e s s t r o n g l y with s t r e e t people - t h e y ' r e likl family t o her. When she saw "Spare Change she got s o angry she threatened t o go bac, t o hooking & t o hook r i g h t i n f r o n t of t h ~ newspaper ' s o f f i c e s .

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The "Spare Change" newspaper's philosophy s very i n s u l t i n g t o my f r i e n d t h e panhand-

e r . I t s e d i t o r i a l says -"The Spare Change ~ o l u t i o ni s simple. The next time you a r e ,pproached by a panhandler, put a copy of ;pare Change i n t h e i r hands & say "Read h i s - & when you're f i n i s h e d , s e l l it." . . t h e u l t i m a t e degradation Apparently h i s Michael McCarthy a c t u a l l y wants people .o r e c r O i t panhandlers t o s e l l h i s paper.! ..Whatever happened t o J e s u s & t h e good ;amaritan? Where's Charles Dickens when we ~ e e dhim? Why has our s o c i e t y become so lean-spirited, h y p o c r i t i c a l , o p p o r t u n i s t i c ?

I t ' s a g r e a t t h i n g t o walk i n t h e s t r e e t i f e e l f r e e t o i n t e r a c t humanely with one's :nvironment i n t h e g r e a t white n o r t h , where hopping t h e occassional looney i n t o a cup )r h a t i s not considered a crime.

Why must t h e s e community organizers be so 5od-damned p o l i t i c a l l y c o r r e c t ? Are they so s u p e r f i c i a l t h a t they j u s t c a n ' t g e t t o mow & i n t e r a c t with s t r e e t people i n a Eriendl y humane way?

- Where's t h e r e a l s p i r i t of generosity? ,..gimme a break . . . y ou c a n ' t f o r c e people to g e t jobs - t h e y d o n ' t want them! - they tanna panhandle l TORA

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(Note : A number of people who appear t o have l i k e d McCarthyls f i r s t ex,planations of what "Spare Change" would be a r e now having s t r o n g 2nd thoughts. A f t e r t h e derogatory & i n s u l t i n g "philosophy" appeared I understacd where s h c ' s coiiiiiig I ~ U I I I . i n Frxnt, many c p z s t i = z s need a n s x r s . Xio i s McCarthy, t h a t he can pass judgement on Most of Vancouver's "Panners" a r e passive poor peoplg t h a t t h i s paper can s t e r e o t y p e g e n t l e peopke. Many have d i s a b i l i t i e s & with more s t i f l i n g arrogance - ' h e l p yoursome a r e even Buddhist monks ( i f t h a t mak s e l f (since it"s your f a u l t ) ' - & having any d i f f e r e n c e ) . t h e g a l l t o t r y inducing poor people t o Poverty voyeurs & do-good organizers of s e l l h i s paper with i t ' s garbage back page en claim t h a t giving money t 6 poor people p o s t e r . How many of t h e e r s t w h i l e vendors w i l l not 'Isolve1l t h e "problem" of poverty know t h a t a l l f u t u r e i s s u e s have t o be Of course it won't! - The personal impu paid f o r f i r s t ? Who i s paying f o r it now? s e t o generosity was never meant t o "solv Why i s . f r e e information, a s i n Help i n t h e s o c i a l problems - it was j u s t supposed t o Downtown Eastside, now being charged f o r ? be the freedom of i n d i v i d u a l s t o spontanMcCarthy i s coming t o t h e Community Relateously r e a c t i n a generous manner by shar ions Committee meeting h e r e i n Carnegie on ing some e x t r a cash with those who have Thursday, August 27th a t 4:15. I f you have less i t ' s a human form of communication questions o r comments, p l e a s e come.) & a good one a t t h a t .

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