August 15, 2001, carnegie newsletter

AUGUST 15,2001 401 M a i n St.,V a n w u v e r ,

BC V 6 A 2T7

Fifteen Years!?!

Email: caranew@direct.ca

Only their spiritual lives become successful - whose minds are pained at the gloomy touch of human sorrow - whose minds sparkle like rubies and emeralds with the tears of joy and laughter of all beings.

P.R. Sarkar

On August 15. 1986, thc first edition of thc Carnegie Newslcttcr was handed out - it was 12 pagcs long with 60 copics made on the photocopier.

The issue of thc day was a 50-50 split on the Board of Directors, with members resisting beinb just one piccc on certain directors littlc empire-building jigsaw - with kitchen contracts for friends, constant dcrision of the Centre's Director and a virtual stalcnlate with volunteers.

Seems prctty pcdcstrian now, but in light of all the struggles, events, issues and exposed scams in the last 15 years, the spirit in which this problem was dealt with has proven to be the lifeblood of Carnegie and all fighters for frecdom. It's not some overblown csamplc - pcople fought back, organized a petition. went to meetings, stood firm and demanded change.

Thc inherited mess was a challenge, but the very idea of fighting back means that you have to learn what the problems are, what the scam entails, what is a bcttcr way and then, most importantly, finding othcrs who share thc ideation.

Poverty, homelcssness, substandard housing and slumlords, all manner of governmental scams and injusticc that get exposed by their own cxccsses, drugs, alcohol, greed, power, safety, religious dogma and cconomic dogma, thc sex trade and "free" trade and on to the environment and globalisation. Each thing is inextricably linhcd to everything else.

Native Spirituality is so rich, decp and ancient, and the slickness and superficiality of the world gets crystallized, ironically, with a biblical statement: ". . .and this, to, shall pass."

I could start to list Lhe victories, the changes and new things that have come about because of this profound commitment of pcople in and to this community, but evcn that would fall far short of touching the indestructible intangibles that are at the core. Hold onto your spiritual practice. Be strong..

Sandy Cameron suggested that a book be published.

The idca is intriguing and thc work is there to do.

It's bccn an off-on projcet since then and, with support from a funding source, should be together within a year.

This is a plan, already in for PEACH assistance, to publish The Best of the Carnegie Newsletter bcfore the 1 6Ih anniversary next ycar.

It's a gem. It's a jcwel of the Downtomn Eastside.

Thanhs evct-yone.

Respectfully submittcd, PaulR Taylor Volunteer Editor.

On April 26 1 l994], about 100 Downtown Eastside residents and supporters shut down the Main St. ovcrpass. The group was protesting because Vancouver City council refused to find another ovcrpass that wil let people with dmbilities get to CRAB park .The existing overpass has too stccp a grade. In this photo Margaret Provost leads the crowd. They stopped tn~cks from gcttiug to thc waterfront for about 2 hours.

Community groups working for an accessible overpass are now directing their attention to fcderal and provincial governmcnts.. Dan bketlej)photo

3 DAYS? NO WAY! September

is when we'll pay!

WALKERS AND RIDERS REVOLT (WARR) HAS STARTED THE FAIR FARE PROGRAM 3 DAYS FREE RIDES AFTER MORE THAN 4 MONTHS WITHOUT OUR BUSES IS NOT ENOUGH COMPENSATION FOR THE EXTREME HARDSHIP PLACED ON THE BUS DEPENDANT PUBLIC. Throughout this strike Translink has continued to collect revenues while not providing service All upper management continued to receive high wages and tax free car allowances while so many of us got only pain and frustration.

Past mismanagement by Translink has cost us many millions of dollars and the cost to the region for this strike alone has been in the billions.

This Fair Fare Action is a continuation of the public voice demanding accountability and integrity. vde will accept 3 days free and take another 3 1 days as small compensation Fare payment on buses will begin on September I O~ INFORMATION: W .A.R.R.604-724-4485

Healing Our Community The Downtown Eastside Aboriginal Native Community will host an outdoor Four-Day Fast at Oppenheimer Park.

No Food - Only water will be allowed to the People involved.

We will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 14 and end on Saturday, Aug. 18.

All involved are volunteers, doing this on the basis of self-commitment and for our Downtown Eastside Community.

Elders are asking for volunteers to act as security, to get donations of bottled water, and especially to cook for the feast!

W e invite all to fast with us, o r to stop by and just say hello.

Start: Tuesday, August 14, 12 noon.

Finish: Saturday, August 18, 12 noon.

FEAST on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. a run-through of tunes composed and arranged rock's time honored excesses not all that unfamiliar voices speaker feedback the brittle whine of electric guitar aniplified acoustic guitar a legitimate social checkpoint c~rcumstance responsibility desire little worries impatient noodlings a greater trauma an aloof mock-eloquence too far and long estranged a tragic hero the audience's myopic i~lfatuation with artistic and emotional tasks a deceptive indelicacy charles fortin

Open Letter > On behalf of the Board and staff at DERA, congratulations to all the current contributors and volunteers who have worked on the Carnegie Newsletter over the past 15 years. A special note of thanks gocs out to Paul Taylor who works tirelessly (and sometimes nods off over the computer at 2 A.M.) to meet the deadlines that are rarely missed.

The Carnegie Newsletter is not only the voice of the comniunity it is the eyes, ears and heart of it.

Whether it is local political issues, broader national and international affairs or governmental intransigence, the Carnegie folks leave no stone unturned nor ass unkickcd to get to the truth and inform Downtown Eastsiders as to whatTscoming down.

The (itrneg~eNewsfetter is everything the Sztn and Province should be and could be if they weren't addicted to Hollywood fluff picces and neo-"con" rant features. Keep up the excellent work; everyone in the Downtown Eastside needs to support this publication every way it can. We'd all be diminished considerably if it weren't part of our daily lives.

Good luck and best wishes for many more years of success.

Ian MacRae, President Downtown Eastside Residents' Association.

exceedingly rare to grace our pages with staffphotos,but once every 15 years is okay. Congratulations!

Take Back The Night An International Protest Against Male Violence Against Women 3 Neighborhoods: Burnaby, Strathcona, and Kemsdale 1 Finale: 8:30 pm Georgia and Granville September 1 5,200 1 Wheelchair accessible, Sign language interpretation. Childcare available For more info and to get involved call:. Vancouver Rape Relief Rr Women's Shelter

872 8212 Take Back The Night, the international protest against male violence against women has been al~ve and well in Vancouver since 1979. For the past 22 years. women have gathered in a public space to ~ n s ~ s t violence against women end. We gather on the streets as a group of women collecting our power in numbers without male protection. We protest for our safety in the homes and on the streets Because violence against women happens everywhere, Vancouver Rape Relief & Women's Shelter is organmng Strathcona, Bumaby and Kerrisdale for smaller actions before meeting with the larger group downtown for the finale. There will be public workshops throughout August and September where women w n talk about male violence and shape Take Back the Night.

For more info: contact Tamar Eylon @ 872 82 12

'I

SISTERS RESIST! Sisters of the Downtown Eastside: The Breaking the Silence Campaign invites you to a screening of the video

Singing Our Stories Thursday, August 16, 3:00 to 5:OOpm at the Carnegie Centre, 3rd Floor Singing Oztr Storics is a groundbreaking documentary that pays tribute to ind~genouswomen sonbwnters and singers. The video highlights Native women who continue to honour and preserve the musrcal heritage of their ancestors. Singjng Ozu Stories is written and directed by Annie Frazier Henry

Refreshments will be served Sisters Resist! is a celebration of women's resistance to the violence In our lives It is held every Thursday from 3:00 to 5.00pm (except after cheque issue day )

Compromise, adhere, see the other's point of view, their place. If one does not hclp another to improve. what good is one to another'? I have lost one too many good friends to the late night street and the many little treats it has to offer. This is not a poem, this is a request to save our conln~unityfrom those vcry evils that might be so low, so bad, that even the living devil turns his head away in fear. 1 know this place, this centre, isn't the only facility to aid those community dwellers with thcir relaxation, but there arc a multitude of offerings to assist the community at large. I sit and watch the young oncs come in, say nothing, just play basketball, volleyball or floor hockey. This I likc.

As volimteers, we may offer cach other the chance for friendship, food and fun. It's a chance for somcthing to do other than looking at stagnant creeks and garbage dumps. I witncsscd animals such as bears and raccoons and rats rummaging through heaps of garbagc on beautiful sunlnler days, a little likc it is

today outside of here. Here, though, it's people going about likc bears ctc. looking for the garbage (dope) pills, up/down, sonletinlcs vcry bad stuK 1 lost two friends to these rivers and creeks Addiction - it must bc like breahfast, lunch or dinner, to hclp pass the time. Sometimes the people outside and around the place seen1 to think drugs can replace food, or so you'd think . It's a terrible shame for a person to go that route and never return to a way of life where at least they can get clear of the contaminate for a few weeks. No. I don't mean jail. but a place that is away froin all drug deals.

Yeah, there is a great number \vho will never scc a different way of life, who don't really carc if the?' do or not, because of drugs. I hopc to the Higher Power that one of the answcrs is to hclp with sctting up a "safe drop in" to allow the situation to go on but \vith hopc. When I first heard about this I ':just damn well didn't see" the addict dying in the back alley, the young women tising her hit \vith water from the mud puddle. . F--k, what a horrible scene to have to aclinowlcdgc. Yes, YES plcase let's get them inside, for awhile at least; you know the wild ones, the oncs that arc grateful for those \vho do carc, even though they arc still addicted. Addiction mcans they cannot stop without help; for sornc stopping cold would actually kill thcnl, but most arc sick and weak for another ninc or ten days c\lcn under the best carc..

I feel good, as one of Carncgic Community Centre volunteers, that I may be helping these people to get help. I know it helped me in my hour of need and helps me now. If it weren't for this placc, the stan' and other volunteers. it could be me out there and, just as bad, it could be you.

We must hclp cach othcr to find othcr venues for ourselves in the line of an~uscincnts,because I know that's how it all starts out. Please hclp me to see the ways of amusement in the centre. where volunteers and the community ma? use this location for their amusement. That isn't quite as stringent as a three inch spike going in the jugular, or a ball point pen case getting the life sucked out of it for a puff on somc kind of mothball, or cockroach poison. causc that damn crack cocaine is the same f---Ling dance.

It is escapable. I've seen son~cwho habe, but too inany who 1 will ncvcr scc again (Your local anonymous volunteer)

-

7

Trip Home Coupla Wild Turkc\,s straight up a coupla wild turkqs drinkin' beer Missed the 7:07 woulda got me clear

To an outstanding person, for putting out outstanding meals:

To D U N E of course!

So macho man hitchhikes. sclls his hat & canc Twice in Hopc, walks out 5 bucks richer and still has the hat and canc Cane to the CC, hat to the first Rcd Man I scc.

A whitc man in a jvhitc truck snortin. mcth 2 beautiful waitresscs. 2 words joy gin 2 grcaseballs I'm glad to Icave behind A fag for 250 Klicks, Sick of Mouse 2 days of all-night coffce; waitress fccds me I write her a story.. a m!th actually 1 112 d a y on the curb cause A1 the nianagcr figures I'm li\.ing thcrc. rescue comes bombs and threats lawyers and bikers Don't cvcr disrespect a hiker

I day ridin' high B? light I Lvanna dic Almost kill the old man ~vitha stccl rod Psych ward - simple withdrawal they say Turn thc Rattlcr loose . . . maybc git bit But then again. who givcs a shit?

Early this morning my son was waiting for a taxi which he had called to takc him to work He had saved moncv for a trip to Toronto but had to use it for cabs to gct to and from work or lose his job. As his cab arrivcd a v c n wcll drcsscd. wcll groomcd woman camc out of a ncarb~apartment. As Chris was going to the cab the woman hollercd that shc kvantcd it. The taxi driver said, "It is his." She argucd that "He can wait. I \van1 it." Chris said. "It is mine. I kvaitcd half an hour for it." The woman argucd and tricd to prcvcnt Chris from gctting inside it b?, hitting him with her pursc. She hit him scvcral tinlcs as Chris tricd to gct the door opcn and climb insidc.

Finall>-Chris gabbed her purse and thrcw it up into a trec. I t s t a y d thcrc. Chris managed to gct into the cab \ + M ethe enraged wornan swore a! him. Thc cab driver got out of thcrc in a himy. Weird or what'?

Dora Sandcrs

Earthling

ECIJADOR,South America

JOBS Work experience & skill enhancement for:

YOUTH AGED 19-29 10 positions from October 01 - April 0 2 Primarily outdoor work cxpcricncc consisting of 1 . Park maintcnancc and planning in an endangered ecological zonc in the Cloi~dForest of Ecuador 2. Conmiunity Economic Ab~iculturcbased on sustainable agricultwc.

3. Environmcntal Education. con~mun~cation and ccotourism.

4. Design and construction of approprlatc tcchnologq related to c n c r g

What we are looking for: Interest in project. Ahle to w r k o~rt.vrd~,. ( 'tm ~ n r k in group. Selfstarter. knjo.v ~ w k r n grn c~hrrllc~ngrn~ ~wllirrdenvironment 1)csrr.c lo do p h ~ r c ~~i nl r X orrtsitk in d l sorts o / ~ w ~ t h c r Ml~vtIenrn ,&mi.$ h

'

How to apply: Send a letter of intcrcst. a resumc and (opt~onal)a -'creative cxpression" that rcprcscnts who \ ou arc EYA I Ecuador Project PO Box 34097, Station D Vancouver BC V6J 4M1 Fax: 604-080-4242 No prior direct cxpericncc required

Environmental Youth Alliance

www.eya.ca

thoughts on change We oflen talk about making changes in our lives, or think about it. Some of the questions we have to ask ourselves and others: Is this really possible'? Can I do this'? What arc family and friends going to think'?

Will we be better persons or will our lives be more productive'? Most of the time these questions cause fear in our hearts and minds. I spcak for myself on this issuc. I'm in the process of changing my life around. It's very hard at times; it's also a struggle.

It's being comfortable with our old lifestyles. We know what to expect and what the outcome of our cveryday decisions will bring. Also, the unhnown prevents 11sfrom striving forward, or putting an honest cfTort into changing. Where it all starts is within oursclves, not the outside appearance, but what's really going on in the inside of us.

Sometimes we blame others for this attitude / situation. Looking at ourselves in a deep, honest way, will at times hurt and make us angry and have resentment. If one picks a place with a quiet solitude, that provides us with enough time to be alone and reflect on our past mistakes, it puts our attitudes in a much better perspective. Changing the way we see things in life and the way we feel helps us to see life in a better way.

Honesty is really what it's all about, my friend, conling to terms with ourselves and reali~ingthat we need to forgive ourselves for what we've done.

Forgiving yourself is the start and the first, important step to healing your mind and soul.

I was lost not so long ago in a world that was cruel and destructive. I was losing hope and my spirituality was dying, along with my faith.

I found myself in a dark, lonely place. It was cold and damp with no sunlight and no door to walk through. My question at that precise moment: How the hell did I get here? I've lived a dark and sinister life and denied my own feelings and actions. Little did I realize that I was on a journey of self-healing, that this was the place to start. I couldn't see this in myself. I was so trapped and isolated from myself and the ones I love the most.

I finally broke down, at the end of my ropc (as some of us like to call it) . This was Dcc. 1/00, I found myself alone and on my knees, crying and asking the Lord for another chance. Please help me! I'm lost in

life without a sense of direction. Is this all that life's about'? Is this the end for me? I can't go on like this anymore. I'vc hurt too many people and myself.

Please guide mc, Lord.

A few hours later, I was arrested, and on my \Val, back into the justice system. I hated everyone and everything, blaming certain pcrsons in mj. life.

Here I am again!

The prayers didn't stop that night or any other night aRcr that. God never left me alone; it was I who walked away from him, turning my back on ever),thing that he wanted for me.

I'm not a holy roller now, so don't get me w o n g .

My soul was dying along bbith my faith.

There' s nothing w o n g with having faith in God, faith in yourself and others. Faith also put in place l f people the conlpassion I once had for n ~ ~ s eand around me. Every day and moment I have to work hard to make a sincere change in myself, loving myself for who I nm and what I stand for.

I'm still a man with a strong desire to push forward.

1t.s a new journey, ne\v outlook, nekv emotions and new ground. Problems will still exist from da) to day. The outcome will be different.

Don' t let problems fester and build. Alkvays remember: To change is to look at yourself. We arc our own worst enemy at times. I'vc managed to find my smile, my compassion. I'vc found rn), love, n q peace, my integrity, my love for life and for God. Most of all, what's very important, I'vc found Darcy !

Please, brothers and sisters. to really change, take that very first step. Believe in ~roursclT.If I can do this, so can you. The outconle of changing one's self will bring so many more positive benefits. I'm still struggling everyday arid come up against many road blocks. I've learned to go through them. not around them.

Today is April 24, 2001. I'm starting on a new journey. It's new. it's exciting and it's \~ondcrful.

I'm happier than before. I can finall\. live \vithin myself. I'm living life now. not just cxistmg. God doesn't c a y me anymore. We walk together, hand in hand. It's a walk alright. but it's a walk of faith together, trusting and believing in God. YOLIca11.t scc him. Man, you sure can feel Him! Still struggling, but li\.ing. Dar-~-sea

4

1 would llke to thank e \ e c one from the ('arncg~c Centre for the get-wcll card There \%eresonic people's signatures that I d ~ dnot c\cn rccogn~sc' For sure, t h ~ slncludes the non-Carncg~cmember\ w h o ~ o ~ n eIndon thc slgnlng W ~ t h~ t man? s encouragmg words t h ~ scard reall\ n a m e d m! heart It d ~ dtouch me You h a ~ been e supportnc throughout m! hoc;p~tals t q and surgen (In cr transplant) W ~ t h>our encouragement ~t mal\c. e x ? thmg e a s m for me My \la\ to reco\cn 1s & u ~ lbe l faster Thanks agam for > our hmd thoughts The Party Boat

7-10pm Carnegie Theatre HEPHIVE & Carnegie Hepatitis Support present a forum on Co-infection with HIV and Hepatitis.

Many people with HIV arc coinfected with Hepatitis C. Either disease can severely impact a person-s life.

Being co-infected with HIV and hepatitis can be ovcnvhclming. The two diseases have an impact on one anothcr. It is more diflicult for doctors to treat and they require two different types of treatment that don't always go well together.

First we will offer an overview on HIV by a representative from BC Persons With AIDS Society: What is HIV, how does it progress and what are the treatments. Then \ve will have an overview on hepatitis C and general information on Hepatitis and treatments We will then talk about co-infection and how the t\vo diseases affect one another. Issues around treatment like which to treat first, current trends in trcat~~~ent. and problcnis with medications. We will also c v l o r e coniplimentary therapy and some of the emerging concerns with herb - drug interactions.

The forum takes place in the tlicatrc at the Canicgic on Thursday August 23 from 3-5 pm.

Light refreshments \vill be pro\,ided.

Sometimes life is a heab). load For one poor man to do alone With a bus strike, in a big city Mole hills turn into a mountain Hearing music pla! cd so loud Thought it was a wedding party In the middle of the \vilderncss But it was Just another Party Boat Along the coast line of the West A dark connection with the past Never lost \vith a cocaine addict~on Pilgrimage taken one summer night To watch the first festival of lights The Nckv Millennium at English Ba! Something so primitive in man alive Reaching the depths of the universe Stand-iig for the National Anthem of South Africa- now with her freedom Dancing to the invitation to celebrate Lying back on the grass behind the Jocks and their girlfriends and those Players of the night with all the colors Of Africa exploding in the sky above All of the darker oranges and greens It was all that an old nian could ash for Happiness. to get through the crowds Treasure to keep inside for an eternity Bags of enipties for the Recycle place A long stand in line the next morning But it was just another Party Boat sent Adrifl along the Coastline of the West Daniel Rajala

C hre tien's Folly Although there has been a lot of protest against corporate, global imperialism, Prime Minister Chrcticn has chosen the tiny, mountain community of Kananasliis, Alberta, about 50 n~ileswest of Calgav, to be thc site of next year's Group of Eight (G8) Summit. The Group of Eight is made up of sonlc of the world's most powerful industrial nations with somc ofthe world's most powefil corporations. "We think it's pretty cxciting," said Dalc Dyck, gcncral manager of Delta Lodge, onc of the two hotels in the rcmote community. Dale Dyck has no idea just how exciting it's going to be.

To enforcc totalitarian security, Cluetien will bring in enough tear gas and pepper spray to poison the world. Thcre'll be tens of thousands of police and military personnel, tanks, water buns, flame throwcrs, helicopters, rubber bullets, real bullets, electric prods, baseball bats, stun guns, barbed wire fences, attack dogs, and specially built gulags with shoot-to-kill employees. In a world as despairing as this one, it's easy to find people who will kill othcr human beings for money.

But wait a minute. Next year's G8 Summit is going to be in the wilderness, and the creatures of the wilderness aren't happy about this invasion by the most destructive animal the world has ever seen man.

Already the animals, birds, insects, snahes, fish, mountains, trees, lakes and rivers have met together to discuss this threat to their being. Everyone looked to the grizzly bears to lead the resistance, but the bcars wcrc wary of the enormous fire power of the enemy. "We can't match their violence," the bears said. "We have to think of a strategy they can't deal with."

Thcre was a long silence after this statement, for all the crcatures knew of the murderous power of profitdriven men and women. Then the mosquitoes spoke.

"We are not strong like the bcars," they said, "but along with our cousins the black flies, we have the power to drive men crazy. Also, we can carry diseases like yellow fever and malaria, and because wc move our wings one thousand times a second, we can create a humming sound that will obliterate their enlire communication system. Maybe we can use

their high tech equipment against them. We can swam] under thcir visors, into their helmets, and find the crevices in their Halloween outfits. We can jam their gas masks, attack their eyes, block their ears, fly up their noses, and charge into thcir n~ouths.

Many of us will be killed, but we are like the phoenix in the fire. Our awareness of living includes the past and the future, and the continuity of life is more powerful for us than the finality of death.Thcre are billions and billions of us, and we have lived on this earth for four hundred million years. We share with you a vision of community that lifis being-inthe world from the predatory stage of devclopmcnt to ecological balance. We do not want our success to depend on another's failure, nor our prosperity on another's poverty. We want to be in control of our lives, to belong to our land, and to live with our traditions. We are not for sale."

All thc creatures of the wildcrncss cheered afler this speech, and the grizzly bcars said, "Come, friends, let us work together, and we will prevail."

By SANDY CAMERON

The Old Vancouver Townsite Walking Tour.. .(2 Living Footprints Community Art Project (3 The Vancouver Agreement.. . (4 Western Diversification.. (5 Gastown. Powell Street, Strathcona, Chinatown, Victory Square, (6 . . .the Mosaic project is great: Tuesday, August 7, markcd the official 'opening' of the 17 mosaic markers that have been created and inlaid in sidewalks throughout the Downtown Eastside*. #2 above is the name given to enticing people to stroll in our community, with a guidebook bearing the same title, and see the rich history and events that mark our heritage. #-3 is what unique catalyst provided the foundation for this - a project with aims of beautifully creating markers that depict history, events, people, places and spiritual ideas, all with a tremendous dedication to local talent, volunteers, artists, and at the core the Camegie Conununity Centre with staff and members working together. #-( is thc thing between the Municipal government of Vancouver, the Provincial government of BC and the Federal government of Canada to work on such nefarious ideas as "revitali~ation"and "economic dcvclopment" and 'cleaning up' - the downtown castside*. It gets funding and staff support and kind words from the 3 levels, and residents keep working not to be overlooked in the plethora of projects and

...

.

,

ideas and consultants getting the lion's share. #5 is where the money came from. It's a federal pro gram and kicked in $200,000. It was administered

by Camegie Centre, and went to artists and suppl~es and facilities and stuff I expect that a financial report is public knowledge, and thcy've come back asking that another proposal be submitted in order to continue this worh! Yeah! Scems that the potential of these mosaics and the tour being a great and valued addition to the diversity of our neighbourhood has prompted several locations (and their attendant happy campers/businesses) to try 'commissioning' sidewalk mosaics in front of k r domiciles )reah #6 is the list of areas that are referred to in the text and on the tour of the promotional booklet. It was available at the ceremony held in Oppenheimer and referred to by speakers as something e\.er),onecould get. Then it hit us (us being local people) - nowhere on the cover nor in the entire book were the words Downtown Eastside. * Questions were asked. and it seemed to smack of the ongoing classism and promotion of gentrification that the business groups in Gastown and Chinatown and Strathcona have been screaming about for a few years. It's not a head-butting confrontation, but the

Downtown Easts~dehas been struggling for years to be recognsed as a v~brantand dynam~ccomrnunltj. unlque and v~tal.and the above named areas are all a

with thanks l h i s bnnklet was edited by John Atkin I he lour map was prcwided by I h e Vity of Vancomer and d c s i p e d b?. [)an IGxney ('twer design by Victoria Ilughes

part of, not separate from, this Downtown Eastsidc Community.

The Carnegie Community Centre Association is the prime sponsor and instigator of the project, and asks to have our community, the Downtown Eastside, named on both the map and cover of the guidebook What at first seemed to be sinister (or just snotnoscd) was rationalized by people being away when the final drafl of the booklet came in for approval, there was a deadline, etc. Innocuous enough.

The remedy is to have stickers afixed to thz covers of all books already in print (about 2000) that havc the words "Downtown Eastside Community" above all the subdistricts named, and covcrs for any subsequent printings changed to include these words in the original.

The sticker comes from another oversight remcd~cd by one afixed to the inside back cover. This stickcr tells one and all that there is, in Oppenheimcr Park, a mosaic and bench on top dedicated to volunteers who've dicd.

Maybe the axiom here is "The first shall be last."

By PAULR TAYLOR

Take your place in the sun, get ready to run, run, run Keep your face in the breeze, try to beat ease Skip the jump 'n jive, just hoping to stay alive Gauging possibilities, discarding responsibilities Take a good look around at all that can be found You may never have these things, not even a fling But kcep wishing for these because some gods aim to pleasc Robyn Livingstone

Plant Illustratiuas used in this hnoklet and on the tour bannem h a ~ heen c prwided by. I'lanLs of('oastal Ilritish ('olumbia Pqjar and hfacliinnon 1 Il.(', hlinistry of 1;oresls.

Ihe ('arnegie ( ' o m u n i t y Association and The Street Program wish to thml. those who have helped and nssisted us in so nlany waw with this project: 'I'he City of Vancower and Slsn'from the many departnxnts who guided US through our dally crises. Western I>i\wsification Canada ~ h ~cniaincd o positive. supportive and confidmt throughout. I'lic Vancouver Richmond Ibalth lloard and Sheree Iludson in particular for their unhiling assistance. l;,ric looes and Pcter Schwitay at l lltratech Printing for unswen-ins patience and understanding, as well as outstanding technical aA ice. Kwan I ce. our host lor the project. Tor his gracious hospitality. The Staff as th~.\'ancower Public I.ibrary. Carnegic Rranch. fi,r river I w l i n g nverdue notices.

Many i'nntmunity (kganizalions. Husmesscs and Individuals have been cupporiive and helptul: The Japrnesc I.anguage Schnnl. 'The Japanese L'oluntecn Association. 1 . h ~Japanese i'madian h4u~eun1and .4rchivcs. (hatie Thompson.

Dill Quinn. Sandy ('ammm. The Hastings hlill Sttne Museum. ( ;astown I l ~ ~ i t a Area g c Planning ('nmminec Strathcona i ' o m u n i h ('atre, Strathcnna Uusincrs Association. Strathcona Kesidcnts Asswiation. lIctitag%eVancorner Ka).('am ('ommunity Centre. Iht: Friends ofl'ahc ('reel.. t\rchitt.ctural I d lute of i3 C'.. Fred Ma. Constantine Pappas. 1)orothg Rarkley. I h e ('hinatown Rcvitaliration ('omminee. 'The Chinese Freemasons. I he Victoty Square Inlprnvemcnt Cornminee. Vancouver Police Mu=.eum. ('hincse ('ultural ('entrc 'I'he Artists who wnrked on this prnject werc: Pat I\caton I aki I3lucsingcr. Joe llolton. Jane ('ameron. Jacquie I)ionne. Francc (herin. I h n Ilill. Katie Johnson, Tkc Media. Anor: Marie Slater (Artistic IXrector / hanner pmgamnle) h t h o n y Sohala. Marina Srijarto (Artistic Ihrector , mo.;aic pmganmlc) Candace W a p a n , llmcc Walther. (;weny Wonp. Ikhra Y c b a

This roject would not,l~avebccn possible without the c orts and t~nieof ~nnunlerablcvolunteers.

R.

The Money Myth offers you fantasy gratification..

God's ncw suit - tailored of coursc. for Fortune Magazine glossies, for invitation to your new homc.

You expect Him to drive up in a Lincoln, your dog yapping, childrcn draggcd away from backyard play.

'Work hard and savc, Heaven's only a n~illionaway' 1.5 billion $ budget deficit "How would you balancc the budget'?..

By giving business tax breaks, privatizing. down-sizing. cost cutting.. or will thc poor get it in thc tccth like wc always do?!

A. Kosbnuik

fight in^ Back

At Nottingham. England. in 1798, a scandalized merchant \\TOIC to a friend, -'A post was set up with a board fised upon it. on which was written 'All Vagrants \vill be apprehended and punished as the Law directs.' Now o\cr the word 'Vagrants' the ~vord'Ty-ants' has been pasted, and no one stirs to take it down."

COMMUNITY DAY Thursday, August 23 200 I

OUT! OUT! OUT! Most cvlct~onsarc shabb? squcc/c plaj s on the ..

Po\ crtj of the poor dc\ cloptilent proposals'' to &t nd of the m~sfits.the rcdundants, the nulsance mal\crs TO s u r \ n c thc trauma. much strength IS nccded a sense of worth. spmt. morale, publlc s!nipath~. h n w -ho\s, good fr~cnds Sam Roddan

August is a long month for people receiving Soc~aI Assistance.

The Vancouver Richmond Health Board has canceled the August Health Fair "due to lack of funds as well as the number of agencies with no stanavailable to take part''.

Some conlmunity workers and residents not on vacation arc @ring to quickly organi~ea Commun~t>, Day full of fun and food on Thursday August 23rdat Oppcnheimcr Park.

There is no funding in place for this event so 11's a "potluck'. of food and entertainment so far.

The Street Nurses, Walari, the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre,VANDU, Crabtrce Corners, Unilcd We Can, the Latin Amencan Working group and the First Nations Working group at Commumty Directions have offered to contribute what they can.

It would be great if all the organi~ations,agcncrcs and groups could get together and make t h ~ day s fun and fulfilling for people living in the D o w n t o ~ n Eastsidc.

Please come to a planning meeting Wcdncsda) August 1 5 ' ~at 2:OO PM at Community Direct~ons - 384 Main Street - or call Byron at 671 -8025 or Leith at 665-2 124.

TNURSDPY

$

AUGUST 23.2001

n

10:OO a*

3:00 p m

FOCGS ON &00Q AND

*us

.

Education Committee meeting: Friday, August 17,3:00 pm Classroom I1

'

16

VOlCEMAlt HAIL r o r r s

mn w r r r n V**CwrL W

I .

Everyone Welcome!!

Another sunrise stay up all night for this particular moment Say Thank you Spirit It's deal, steal or ho I just don't know What-s going down down here anymore The only poetry on the street is the constant song of up, powdcr, down

VOlCCMAlL A N D MAILBOX NCW SUBSCRIPTION PRICE LIST

VOICEMAIL: $3 50IMONTH $12 WEOUR MONTHS S3010NE YEAR MAILBOXES. $4 00 PER MONTH

.

C A l l 'N POST

PRINTING SERVICES FULL COLOUR AND BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOCOPIES

COMING SOON! FREE INTERNET ACCESS

BUSINESS HOURS

-

Friday

930

Sun*

CLOSED

lo

600

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE YOUTH ACTlVlTIES SOCIEW

STD CLINIC - 219 Mrh; Moodry-Friday, loam - 6pm

NEEDLE EXCHANGE - 22 1 Main; 8:30nm8pm wcry dry NEEDLE EXCRANGE VAN - 3 Routu

City - 5:45 pm - 11:45 pm Ovcmigbt - 1 2 9 0 am - 8:30 am Downtown Eutsidc - 5:30pm - 1:30sm

Harold D -S20 Pam-% Mary C-S30 R d f A-$75 Bruce J -S34 Peggy -W5 Kettle -S20 Sonya S -S 120 BCTF-$9 Nancy H - $ I 9 Bill G -$I30 We3 K - S 1 4 DEYAS-S I50 Raycam-S70 LSS-S230 John S-$34 Paddy -%O Sarah E 4 2 0 Rockingguys 4 3 0 Aoooymws 4 1 7 3 ~ b ~d~~ c -$ZOOC C I C ~ C w -522 JO'S Mom - $ 2 5

T H E VEMSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF TtiE C 4RVEGIE COMhlUNITY CENTRE ~ S S O C I A rrbk 4rtlcleu reprewnt thc \iews of indi\idual contributors and not of thc asmiation.

f cr newt issue

*

Welfare problems;

*

Housing problems; Unsafe living conditions;

*

Living below the poverty line in Canada gives one some insight as to the wrongs against the poor.

Therc was a time when wealthy landowners in Ireland held all the good useable land in estates with the poor outside or working for them. I rcad an account where cven the wildlife and fish stocks were in their holdings.. Thc poor were so desperate that some would trespass to do a little fishing.

Today, if you arc poor in Canada, you'vc got to pay forty dollars or morc to try catching a fish in local waters.

Whcn will this government wake up?

Look at the Revenue Canada tax information: every poor person - on Welfare or not - has a personal income alter rent is paid (by those who can afford to) of around $3,000 a year.

The voice of the poor is not heard except by the wicked, who quite oAen lie in wait looking for ways to ensnare thcm. Many others are likc vultures, waiting for one to fail and then coming to the "rescue.'.

Living in poverty is much like surviving in the Depression years, except today the man or woman eking out an existence is less and less understood because those around them are not in the same Depression boat. The surrounding culture today - if you can call it that - doesn't know of their brothers and sisters in need. They don't stop in their cars to offer a lift or a few dollars; they are living life in the fast lane, or they reason that their few dollars won't help. The common thought is that Welfare plays the role of good Samaritan in our society.

We arc strung along the life of povcrty and time is the secret ingredient, likc water wearing away the rocks. The bible says "poverty is the destruction of the poor and it is so."

There are too many ways the poor arc hit in this wealthy land. "We wrcstlc not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and corruption in high places."

Low income people should be entitled to special social considerations. In thc eyes of a child the answers are easy, and thcy truly arc.. but the adult mind, 'aware' of so many ins and outs, fails to scc the forest for the trecs.

Thanks for reading this and please write your MP or send thcm this letter.

Yours, Mike Bohncrt

Spratt' s O i l e r y

1For Gordon CampbcllPresident of the Company of B.C.] Joseph Spratt, like many newcomers to the west coast, wantcd to get rich. Oh, how he wantcd to gct rich.

He built, in 1882, a Floating canncn8and fish oil plant at Coal Harbour, just passed the First Narrows in Burrard inlct.

Herring would supply the fish oil because thcy cane to Burrard inlct bj, the millions. and had since timc immemorial.

Spratt made money, you bct he did. but the more hc made, the morc he wantcd.

He discovered that the cheapest way to catch fish was to dynamite thcm. Now that's cost-cffcctive fishing!

The First Nations people told him to stop. said something bad would happcn. but what did thcy know about the bottom line'?

In 1885 Spratt had to shut down. Thc herring had stoppcd coming to Burrard Inlet. 1 . o see. ~ And they never returned.

Sandy Cameron

Sunny sometime Sunday morning. .. figure I'll ramble on down Hastings eat some porridge at the library early I am, 8:45, no news blues smokin' staring at my shoes sittin' there bullish with all the hypes chick gets grabbed by a screaming guy "Ripoffr You ripped me bitch!! You pay now!!!" he punches her drags her down on the sidewalk a girlfriend of the dude is trying to stick a pointed comb in the victim's back not too dangerous but pokey all the same all over a rock for christomatic's sake can not believe it! so 1 turn away count to ten turn around - action's gone whatever happened never happened the game went on the players poker-faced junk never rests, rust don't stop

-

sittin' in the library's oasls cafe eating porridge amazed, not surprised, not shocked, just real sad how unfair.. me, I'm eatin' porridge in the sunshine that stabbed chick is in a place even I can't reach walls of fire wc must walk thru all alone yepper, gets rougher all the time, don't it, pal'?

/*The following article appeared in the Manchester Guardian, Aug.11

Lisbon takes drug use off the charge sheet Addicts are treated as a health and social problem

-

Gilles Tremiett Lisbon

Portugal has forced back the frontiers of drug liberalisation in Europe with a law that, at a stroke, dccriminalises the use of all previously banned narcotics, from cannabis to crack cocaine.

The new law, which came into effect on July 1, takes a socially conservative country with traditional Catholic values far ahead of much of northern Europe in treating drag abuse as a social and health problem rather than a criminal one.

Vitalino Canas, the drug tsar appointed by the Socialist prime minister, Antonio Guterres, to steer the law into place, said last week that it made more

sense to change the law than to ignore it, as p o k e forces do in the Netherlands, parts of S w i t d a n d , and in the Brixton area of London.

"Why not. . . change the law to recognise that consuming drugs can be an illness or the route to illness'?" Mr Canas said. "America has spent billions on enforcement, but it has got nowhere. We view drug users as people who nccd help and care."

He admitted that Mr Guterres was tahng a risk, but said that Portugal had no real choice. The police had stopped arresting suspects, and the courts *ere throwing out cases against users rather than apply legislation that sent then] to prison for up to 3 y,ears.

Margarida Costa, 35, an addict who has found a home at a drug treatnlent hostel, said prison had never helped her. "In fact, I started taking drugs in jail," she said. "You could get eveything in there, every day." Still eniaciated from 10 years of herom abuse and living rough, she is on methadone and preparing to return to living with her mother.

She is lucky. She has escaped fiom Casal Ventoso, Europe's worst drugs ghetto, where 800 or so addicts lived rough in tents or shacks of wood and corrugated iron. Up to 5,000 more poured in daily to buy their heroin fix. The government is bulldo~ing the ghetto, but hundrcds of addicts still shoot up there at all hours.

Up to 100 at a time gather nearby in Maria Pia Strcet, blocking trafic as they wait for dealers. They are joined by smart couples in four-wheel-dnve vehicles sceking their daily dose.

Luis Patricio, the psychologist who led the campaign to treat Casal Ventoso as a public health problem, said that most countries had got the relationship between drugs, crime and jail the wrong way around "Prison is a university of crime. People lcarn violence there."

The rightwing opposition is predicting a catastrophic boom in drug consumption and the sudden arrival of thousands of hardened addicts and thrill-seekers from around Europe.

"We promise sun, beaches and any drug you Irke,-' said Paulo Portas, leader of the Popular party. But Mr Canas insisted that he was not turning Portugal into Europe's drug paradise. "We are still fighting a war against drugs, but wars have their victims, and the drug users are victims of the traffickers," hc said.

Bush Vows To Remove Toxic Petroleum From National Parks WASHINGTON DC: Resolving to rcstorc the prislinc splcndor of America's natural trcasurcs. Prcsidcnt Bush Monday unveiled Project: National Parks Clean-Up, an ambitious progranl to rcmovc all toxic pctrochcrnical deposits from national parks by 2004 :i

Placcs hkc Ycllowstonc and Yosemitc wcrc oncc pure, unspollcd uddcmcss,' Bush s a d at a Wh~tc Housc prcss co~~fcrencc"But ovcr the coursc of the past 10 mdhon ycars, \vc hate allowcd thcnl to bccomc pollutcd w ~ t htoxic Fossil-fuel dcpos~ts.turning a bllnd cyc to the stead! bulldup of kast quant~tlesof dangerous pollutants It's t m c to end t h ~ tcrrlblc s ncglcct Continued Bush: 'A comprchcnsivc survcy of our parks, conductcd by a tcam of top geologists specially conunissioncd by me, has discovcrcd giant pockcts of pctrolcum, coal. and othcr fossil poisons beneath an alarming 38 perccnt of our national parks' surface area. Though a majority of thcsc poisons arc buricd undcr several million tons of rock strata, should thcy evcr sccp to the surfacc and spread into thc surrounding areas, they would spcll d~sasterfor the parks' precious ccosystcn~s.'

To underscore thc scvcrity of thc crisis, Bush produced a chart illustrating survey rcsults for Ycllowstonc National Park, wherc a 'staggeringly hugc toxic-pctrolcum deposit was discovcrcd. ' This amount rcprcscnts the cquivalcnt of 40,000supertankers worth of oil," said Bush. gesturing t0ward.a linc on thc chart. "To put the dangers into perspective, consider this: If thcsc 'petro-poisons' should evcr spill out into thc park itself the resulting cnvironmcntal disastcr would be 40,000 timcs worse than thc damage caused by the wreck of the Exxon Valdcz. ' Wc cannot allow such a thing to happcn," Bush said. "We must rcniovc this oil now. bcforc it's too Late." [*Editor k note: Some kind soul bcamcd this missive onto thc floor (undcr the oficc door) and 11's hcrc to warn1 Lhc heart of cvery red-bldcd.. . whatcvcr. Anothcr equally titillating treatise, undcr thc article on Portllgalal's decriminalizing of drug usc, has Georgc W. publicly pushing for a private a m y in Ccntral and South Ancrica. nladc up of 'cx' armed forces pcrsonncl. to wagc thc "drug war." Tllc Bush family has been inlplicatcd in cocaine traficking on a global scale sincc the days of Gcorgc Sr. LC@ drugs would paupcnrc the wrong ~ C O ~ I CI ~. U C S S .if you've wondcred about the US policy on drug genocide, hcrc's a clue. 1

Crah Park Family and Children Summer Fun Fest

CRAB Park is dcar to the hcarts of m a m Do\sntown Easts~dcrs.

Thc Crcatc a Rcal Available Bcach movement bcgan in thc carlj. 1980's \\.hen the north end of Main Strect was a muddy, treclcss & flowerless wasteland. It was ugly yct peaceful.

Local rcsidcl~tsgathcrcd thcir thoughts thcrc.

Rumour had it that it \vould be turncd into an illdustrial arca ncxt to thc rich helicopter landing. A group of.Do\\ntown Eastsidc residents and activists got togcthcr to fight for greenspace.

Thc most persistent. driving force was Don Larson and thc Water For Life group. Thcrc w r c protests, dcmonstrations and cvcnts nith lots ol'good. free food and music. Local politicians like Libby Davics and Kcll!. White spokc from thcir hcarts. Thc loved and rcccntl~.dcccascd Da\.e McConnell played his guitar thcrc. Eagles circlcd above. For six months thcrc was a camp of 20-30 tents.

Thcrc was no go\enuncnt funding for this movemcnt and no paid organi~crs.People just gave and gavc; cvcn their first trcc was donatcd. (That lonely tree dicd but. as can bc sccn now. man). have thrived sincc then. ) Thc Cit?Parks Board tinally approved the beach in 1080. Thcy changcd the name to Portsidc Parh but no onc hcrc pa?,s attention to that. Thcrc \$ere furthcr protcsts in the IOOO's for wheelchair accessibility. l'hc Downtonn Eastsidc was no paradise in the IC)XO'sbut. in comparison to the late 1090's. can sccm so. Crab Park has rc;mained a solace and a Victory to man) of us. There have been many events

thcrc for children! ~y son has had most of his birthday parties there. Local artists carve and mold thcir wares. A nlemorial Stone has been erected for thc women who have died in the Downto\vn Eastsidc.

RayCiun runs summer programs for kids out of a portable by thc v e n popular water park.

Parents can no longer take thcir children to Oppenheimer Park or the Carncgic Centre because of drug-related dangers. but Crab Bcach has rcnlaincd a relatively safe place. I rarely sec a needle or condom. I t was with great dismay the other day ~vhen,picking up garbage in the park, I found a package with crack and heroin in it. It doesn't take much imagination to imagine the horrors of littlc children finding one.

The Port Police had been in charge of suncilllng the arca so I went there to report this, but the budding seemed closed down. I then told our friendly neighbourhood police persons, Dave Dickson and Mandy. They promised to watch out and I learned from RayCarn park staff that a patrol was thcrc the next day. That was nice.

This Friday. August 17'. a coalition of local groups is hosting a Crab Park celebration for kids. There'll be games and bouncy h n g s for the little ones and a volleyball tournament for adolescents and teens.

And Food!

Ken Lyoticr, another original founder of Crab Park and director of United We Can, has promised that the UWC cleaning team will do a thorough sweep of the area early Friday morning.

Get your favourite kids together and come on down and enjoy the fun!!

By LEITH HARMS

childvm~twwuwF u t IPSF r e d It's FreeC IPSF r e d

ot of Main across the bridge) Activities all day!

--

1 1:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. )fitratnr,festivalwillkbeBat RayCam Gwperaftw- 920 L in the gym