December 15, 2002, carnegie newsletter

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PRINCESS MARGARET RULES!!!

Ms. Margaret Prevost, President Carnegie Community Centre Dear Margaret, One ofthe last Letters that I am writing on my Last day at City Hall is to you to congratulate you on being awarded the Queen's Jubilee Award. This is a great honour that you well deserve and I know that your family and many fiiends from Carnegie and the community will be justly proud of you. Congratulations!

Yours truly, Philip W. Owen MAYOR

The Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I1 "The Commemorative Medal for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11's Golden Jubilee was created to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty to the Throne on February 6, 1952.

It is awarded to those persons who have made a significant contribution to Canada, to their community or to their fellow Canadians." order to have a list of recipients that's represen~tiveof all regions of Canada, various organimons were invited to propose the names of candiates for the Medal: the federal, provincial and mitorial levels of govcrnment, national professmal, educational and cultural organizations, iilitary and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, eterans' groups, sports associations, and philan~ropicand charitable bodies.

4pproximately forty-six thousand medals will be istributed.

The Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubile of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 is part of the lanadian Honours System established in 1967.

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[ecipients of The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal re as follows: Harry Biden Liz Evans J i m O'Dea Margaret Prevost (!)

Cynthia Wong I'rincess Margaret, aka (also known as) Margaret Prevost, is President of the Carnegie Community Centre Association, President of the Vancouver Native Health Society, and former vice-president of the Downtown Eastside Residents Association.

The ceremony at which she is presented with this Medal will be held at the

Radio Station Cafe in the Sunrise Hotel at I 1:OOam on Tuesday, December 1 7.

Libby Davies will join Jenny Kwan [or the presentation of the medals.

It's amazing what the threat of legal action will do to otherwise rational people.

In the Nov. I issue of the C'arnegie Ne~sletter, "Then a newlweird strategy crept in with wholesale distribution -i.e. no exchange necessary- of needles.

The public was not informed and only when a table set up alongside Carnegie Centre was busted for directing recipients to nearby dealers did this 'strategy' come out."

In the Nov. 15'" issue of the Carnegie Newsletter: "The shutting down of the VANDU 'exchange' table followed incidents of volunteers using, encouraging irresponsibility of other users and, at the time of the actual shutdown, directing new fish and others to nearby pushers and 'good deals.' " It seems to hinge on the difference between what is known and what can be proven in court. Therefore the Carnegie Community Centre Association retracts statements [that it didn't make in the first place] that volunteers from the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users were using drugs or "directing" occurred

Grey Power

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Twenty-eight buses of seniors traveled to Victoria from all over B.C. on November 26"'. They were Mad as Hell over the threatened cuts to PharmaCare.

Iflwhen the legislation goes through, many seniors will pay four times as much for their medications.

Right now people are dying because they can't afford to pay for their prescriptions.

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The BCGEU supplied the buses. People had signs and costumes to depict struggles: Devil Campbell. a caveman (economic policies), "Brutish" Columbia.. .

I yelled "Recall!" and it spread like wildfire in the there with canes crowd of over 2000 people, and walkers, having to protest for what's ours by right. We felt powerfbl giving Greedy Campbell a strong message on the last day of the Legislature.

By IRENE SCHMIDT

Princess Margaret's assignment in the last issue ofthe Carnegie newsletter "What is your dream for the future?" proved challenging. We were instructed to take time and write out thoughts about what kind of world we want our children and grandchildren to g o w up in. Lately my dreams of the future have been more like nightmares. It was inspiring to imagine another dream.

DREAM OFA DREAM

I dream of a future when not one of us needs alcohol or drugs to ease our pains or havefun.

I dream of a.fkture when there's no need,forpolice or armies andpleny offood for everyone.

I dream ofafuture where laughter andpeace of mindgrow on trees that don't get cut down.

I dream of a future when men and women respectfully appreciate each other and have time tojoke around.

I dream of afuture when children run happily,fiee and every day gets funnier.

I dream of aJirture when elders grow older and wiser instead of older ant grumpier.

I dream of a future when we don't fear death because we know something else happens.

I dream of afirture where the air isfresh hut full offragrance.

I dream ofa,fu/ure with no cars and we all have tiny, silent motors thatfly us around, anywhere we want to go, and they never hreak down.

I dream of a,fi~turelike the best reporfsfrom Sweden - those statistics which claim that the Swedish enjoy the highest quality of lfe because each person's basic need are provided for; thus relieving the angst of guilt and envy. True or not, it sounds better than what we've got.

I dream of a,futurefi.ee o f guilt, emy, greed andfear.

I dream of afitrure when holidq cheer laLvtsall year.

I dream of a future brimming over with kindness, beauty and laughter.

I dream qf afuture where Mother Earth lives happilv ever after.

Boring? Maybe. Impossible? Definitely.

-But - - not - - -as - -stressing_or_dep_res_s~n~~r_eafi@: -----

Leith Harris

Carnegie Community Centre Association

NOTICE OF BOARD BY-ELECTION - SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING THURSDAY, JANUARY 9,2003 @ 7PM An election will be held for three vacancies on the Board of Directors. These vacancies will be filled until the annual general meeting in June 2003.

To be eligible for nomination a person must have been a member of the Carnegie Association for at least 60 days from the date the election is called.

To be eligible to vote in the election a person must have been a member for at least 14 days from the date the election is called.

Nominations are made at the general meeting. Candidates make a short speech about why they wish to be on the Board.

Do you know someone who would make a good board member? Think about running yourselj?

To find about the roles and responsibilities of the Board contact Margaret Prevost, President, or Michael Clabwe, Director (in the Program Office third floor)

Flower Power If l had power to control I would not jeopardize my soul I would do Man good and stop the crime The need for food, and political slime..

Flower Power was once in the limelight To end perversion without a fight But Social Norms came into light And gave .power back to political scum The power that changes social views Should always echo from the pews But across this land is Federalism That's given birth to Radicalism So power to Unionism, Verbalism and Vocalism.. .

And don't forget that Capitalism Is just another form of Cannibal is Preventing a fight with Idealism Bur hang onto Patriotism To have impact on Universalism Don't give power to Separatism And People Power will be Probable-ism.

George Kartsonas in memory of Evan, little bro.

What would make life better for you and others in the Downtown Eastside?

A research project is being conducted by a student of the University of Victoria to assist in the develop ment of Ministry of Human Resources programs and services that will best meet the needs of income assistance recipients living in the Downtown Eastside.

One of the objectives of the research is to determine first hand, from the perspective of income assistance recipients living in this community: What the significant issues are, how these issues are currently being (or not being) addressed and how they might be addressed in the hture.

Income Assistance recipients living in the Downtown Eastside can provide valuable perspective in this research project and possibly make life better for themselves and others. If you are interested in participating or would like more details, please leave a message for Margaret Prevost at Carnegie Centre.

Linda Mazzei Ministry of Human Resources]

PRIVATIZATION OF WEIFARE

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I claim [hat we have come to a period in the histov ?four country when we must decide once and.for all which shall prevail, profits or human we!fure.

- J.S. Woodsworth. March 14. 1922

The BC Liberals' response to people with disabilities.

Ontario Tories wasting hundreds of millions

By DARREN YOURK The Ontario government is wasting hundreds of millions of tax payers dollars on high-priced consultants. In his annual report for the year 2002, Gen. Auditor Erik Peters points to numerous accounting blunders, including a case in which 40 employees of the Public Safety Ministry left their jobs and were rehired as consultants within days at more than double their salaries.

Even the Management Board, a body that oversees government spending, allowed one consultant's daily fee to rise from $725 in April, 2000, to$2,600 within six months without any documented rationale. The Auditor also showed the Community Services Ministry paid almost $250-million for what turned out to be a failed attempt to upgrade its computer systems.

A contract with the consulting firm Accenture previously Andersen Consulting - resulted in a "seriously flawed" system that users considered to be a step backwards from what they had.

"I consider the ministry's involvement with Accenture to have been a very expensive lesson in how not to implement a new (information technology)-based service-delivery system," the report says. "Making the system work properly may well take much more time and will certainly take many more taxpayers' dollars."

Mr.Peters also reported that ON Hydro's "stranded" debt has increased by $700-million to $20.1-billion, since restructuring of the sector began in 1999.

[Accenture is the # I contender for taking over the Welfare Ministry and other Social Services in BC.]

MAKING PROFITS OUT OF POVERTY How about just making profits from welfare?

That's the latest and lowest plan from the B.C Liberal government: to privatize welfare, contracting out service delivery to corporations whose profits will come from increasing misery for the poor.

In an unannounced and, to date, unreported move, the Ministry of Human Resources issued a fasttracked request for proposals on November 29. The competition, which closes January 10.2003, is to provide an "alternative service delivery model" for welfare that'd be fidly implemented by July 2003.

And the government's "Questions and Answers for Media Inquiries" guide for communications staff. leaked to the Stight, shows the ministry anticipates major controversy over its decision. Anti-poverty activists, social policy researchers and the BC Government and Service Employees Union are all alarmed at the Liberals' move and their apparent intention to quickly privatize welfare.

"If you're making a profit on people's despair, it's open to abuse.lt's another way of punishing th poor," says Marsha Drake, spokesperson at End Legislated Poverty. "A private company is not responsible to voters. The money will go to profits, not people in need."

The RFP (Request for Proposals), found on the BC Bid Web site (www.bcbid.~ov.bc.ca/),makes clear what the government wants.

"Demonstrated experience in a senior role on projects in other provinces involving alternative service delivery models, such as downsizing, outsourcing of traditional public sector services, negotiations involving partnering with the federal government. creative financing or public-private partnering, privatisation, or similar objectives in designing or implementing alternative ways to provide government social service programs."

And in another key tip-off to the government's intentions, a bold-faced instruction reads: "Note that it is mandatory that the proposed team for Phase 1 must include at least one individual who was a key

participant in a social service reform project in another province." Could this other province be Ontario or New Brunswick perhaps, which have significantly privatized their social service sectors in controversial decisions opposed by anti-poverty activists? And could thoseHkeyparticipants" possibly be employees of giant international consulting firm Accenture, formerly Andersen Consulting, which was involved in both privatization efforts?

Michael Goldberg, research director of the Social Planning and Research Council, says the tight timeline for implementation may indicate that the contract winner has already been determined, with the RFP merely a formality. And if the winner is indeed Accenture, expect strong opposition to their program A report issued last year by the National Union of Provincial Government Employees(NUPGE) doesn't pull any punches. "What US multinational is stealing money fiom Ontario's poor?" the report asks, saying much of the company's $16.3 billion profits in 1999 came at the expense of the poor and public employees around the world. [Coincidentally, Accenture is also one of the key bidders on pending privatization of three BC Hydro components.[Enron] And expect a high-tech, big brother approach to welfare. "Andersen [now Accenture] is especially excited about its Orwellian vision of the future, something they call 'self-service government,"' writes NUPGE. "Using multi-media kiosks, fingerprint 'smart cards' and call centre techniques, Andersen envisions a day when government will employ very few people, relying instead on computerized service and decision-making."

SPARC, which recently released a study called "Falling Behind" that shows that the basic needs of British Columbia's poorest citizens are already not being met and that argues welfare rates should be increased because current payments only cover 45 to

65 percent of living costs, is concerned that privatization of we1fare can only make things worse.

"They're going to make money from denying people welfare - that's one way a company would make money," Goldberg says. "And where do you go to complain about a private firm denying you welfare?"

Clearly anticipating negative public reaction to privatization, the ministry's questions and answers guide gives strong hints at what is to come. "Q13.

There may be big, multi-national firms bidding. Is this the start of an "Americanization" of B.C. welfare? A 13. No. An important component of the selection process for bidders will be their experience in Canadian jurisdictions."

Privatization will not save money, if Ontario is any example. Ontario's auditor-general delivered a scathing report in 1998 on the welfare changes, stating that: "We continue to question the achievement of value for money for taxpayers fiom this agreement. . . . This project is failing to deliver the replacement technology and hnctionality required for administering the Income Supports and Ontario Works programs economically and efficiently within the timetable planned."

The Ontario auditor-general raised concerns that the $1 80 million paid to Andersen Consulting was more than double the original estimates of $50 to $70 mill, that one project manager was paid $575 an hour and that Andersen employees wage rates had jumped 63 per cent since the contract was signed. The controversy led the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union in October to call for a forensic audit.

The NUPGE report also cites Andersen Consulting cost overruns and failures to meet contractual obligations in several other jurisdictions, including New Brunswick and Texas.

BCGEU (BC Government Employee's Union) president George Heyman told the Straight that his union is deeply concerned about the government RFP and sees both potential job losses and an attack on the social safety net. "Our front line workers know that those in need are already suffering from too few benefits and services," Heyman says. "To now undertake a dangerous experiment with privatization that has been proven an expensive failure elsewhere is simply wrong."

Unfortunately, it appears that the profits of poverty

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are simply too rich for the Gordon Campbell government to resist.

MORE OF THE SAME: ACCENTURE, THE MULTI-NATIONAL firm trying to win a contract to privatize BC's welfare system, has launched a major public relations offensive after it was first disclosed here in December that a request-for-proposals by the B.C. government seemed tailor-made for the company. Dave Seibel, Accenture's Canadian director, flcw into town from Toronto last weck to court the Vnncorwer Sun, the Province and the Victorin Tunes-Chlonist's editorial boards in a damage control effort that included hiring a fornicr media personality in Victoria.

Unfortunately, Accenture's efforts to present a pristine image were tarnished when Ontario AuditorGeneral Erik Peters gave an interview to CBC Radio on his concerns about Accenture being overpaid.

Bill Tieleman is President of West Star Communications, whose clients include labour, business and non-profits. He is a political commentator each Thursday on CBC TV's Canada Now and regularly on CBC Radio's Early Edition

Cheque-issue Days for 200; i January 2003

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Dear Community Partner,

The guide includes a letter that people can take to their doctors and assessors. Also inch is a checklist, based on materials provided by other advocates, that will help those comp the form to identify the daily activities they need assistance with.

Copies of this guide can be found in the Carnegie Learning Centre. There is also a list 01 to call and where to go to get help. Remember, if you have to complete this form and do1 get it in by March 15,2003, your income assistance will be reduced starting in June.

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A Christmas Carol, The Fraser Institute, And Gordon Campbell Scrooge was a miscrly, mean-spiritcd, grecdy old sinner, hard and sharp as flint and solitary as an ovster. That's how Charles Dickens saw him in his story, A Christmas Carol, and Scrooge was meant to represent business men who turned every human value into a monetary one. When Scrooge's nephew wishcd him a "Merry Christmas". Scrooge replied, "Humbug." What did he mean by that? He meant that the only value worth considering was the value of money-making, and that the values of Christmas were just so much "Humbug." The pursuit ofprotit was his god.

Dickens knew about the poverty and suffering these business barons created with their individual get-rich economics. He wrote about th misery of poor people in many of his books, including the tragic "Hard Times." Dickens, however, wasn't part of the political working class movement that fought for the eight hour day, better wages. and democracy. He didn't have an analysis of how the economy worked to the advantage of rich people, The only way Dickens could imagine things getting better in England was through the spiritual transformation of the business class. Scrooge, with the help of the spirit world, would turn from a business fanatic into a human being. I doubt ifthe business class in Canada is ready for a spiritual transformation today, but with the Creator anything is possible.

Michael Walker of the Fraser Institute, a business lobby group, felt that Dickens wasn't treating business men fairly. He wrote an article in The Toronto Star on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1992, entitled "Dickens was wrong miserly Scrooge was a hero".

In it he defended Scrooge, and all other business barons, on the grounds that their devotion to the unrestrained accumulation of wealth actually built the just society.

So in Michael Walker's world, it's O.K. for Scrooge to pay his clerk, Bob Cratchit, a wage so low it would have resulted in Tiny Tim's death if it hadn't been raised after Scrooge's conversion. It's O.K. for Cratchit to freeze in the ofice so Scrooge can avoid paying for coal. It's OK for Scrooge to say Humbug when his nephew says "Merry Christmas." It's O.K. for Scrooge to have material accurni~lationas his

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guiding principle in life, even though a young woman, who might have been his wife, is lost in the bargain. It's OK that this narrow, vicious ideology of relentless accumulation leads to his own miserable death that Scrooge sees when he is with the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. According to the predatory Scrooge, the person who has the most things when he dies, wins - but that's not the philosophy of Tiny Tim or Charles Dickens.

The next time you read Charles Dickens' book, A Christmas Carol, and it's lots of fun to read, remember that according to Michael Walker, "Dickens was wrong; miserly Scrooge was a hero." And remember also, that Gordon Campbell and his stable of corporate business fanatics who have taken over the provincial Liberal Party and the government of British Columbia, actually believe this Scrooge-had-it-right ideology of the E'raser Institute. Merry Christmas.

By SANDY CAMERON

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I The Downtown Eastside Neighhourhood I I Safety Office Is Moving!!

I I The Safety Office is moving from 12 East I 1 Hastings to 47 West Cordova on Decemberl8. I I Due to the move, office set up and Christmas 1 Holidays we will not reopen until January 6th.

I Our phone number will remain 604-687-1772. I I We would like to thank DERA and B.C.Housing for I I giving us a home for the past seven and a half years. I I We would also like to thank the Portland Hotel I

VOLUNTEER TOWN HALL MEETING -

INTERESTING PROCESS Over 45 volunteers attended a town hail meeting in the Carnegie Theatre on November 22"d to contrib.ute their ideas, issues and concerns to the volunteer program review that is currently underway.

The process was a very interesting one. It was an open discussion allowing everyone in the room to say what they thought and felt.. or write down their concerns or issues on the flip charts posted.

A lot of good ideas were raised by volunteers that Society for providing us with a home to go to!

I might make the volunteer program work more effHappy Holidays nnd see you in the New Year! ectively. Some of them included: -new training opportunities for volunteers; Another Day Passes -allowing volunteers to participate in university1 tiny pebbles in puddles college courses fiee of charge; using volunteer people 'round me I experience as an entry to real jobs in the community; don't see preferential hiring for volunteers when Carnegie or feel them there while the community has projects; a better dispute i'm not shot scraping in doorways settlement process between volunteers and staft i've been bled on between tokes huddled -a better and more open way of selecting the i've been lucky into brick and metal corners since cops usually kill Volunteer-of-the Month; so to protect the flame -fairer opportunities for volunteers to participate in i didn't deserve that oblivious to all but the day trips or week trips; but what about you? chemicals and -a skills banwexchange so volunteers can use each you've got it coming stolen Zen moment other; and a number of issues relating to volunteer the lawyers are insane transcendental masturbation i can tell tickets and how they are used. hurthlly hungry These were only some of the ideas. In addition. the unbearable volunteer program review process has engaged staff driving pain for their ideas as well as volunteers in various areas pain driven I'm ofthe Carnegie including the Senior's, Pool Room, driven bewildered to you Weight Room, Learning Centre, and Kitchen. All of my fiiend I come in these ideas will be put together when the Volunteer degradation Committee makes a report to the Board of Carnegie low as an unlikely contender The volunteer program review is an opportunity for all proven to be successfd everyone at Carnegie to have a say about what is I want is more good about the volunteer program and what needs the facts have turned up improving, if anything. What we are trying to do is money help help leper a humble machine begs a bit of your flesh Improve the Volunteer Program so it is better able to charles fortin death respond to the needs of the community, the patrons ly ashamed I want to die 7 I of Carnegie and of all of the volunteers that make I want to live to die to this whole thing work. live lfyou have not yet said what you think or feel about 111111111111111 the volunteer program, talk to the volunteer program ah co-ordinators or to the Chair of the Volunteer fspencer I I Committee.

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News From The Library Sonte Nr\v Ti11e.sreceived Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury: Call # 364.106 asb

Published to coincide with the release of Martin Scorsese's film, The Gangs ofNew York has long been handpassed among its cult readership. It is a tour through a now unrecognizable city ofNew York as it was then. We are given a part documentary of old New York that ultimately gave rise to the modem Mafia and its depiction in films like The Godfather.

Skins: Contemporary Indigenous writing Call # 823.01 ski This work is a compilation of indigenous writing from Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand and it presents some ofthe most exciting and talented writers from around the world.

Good Work by Howard Gardner :Call#174.4 gar

"Good work," the authors claim is "work that benefits the broader society." They focus on what it means to carry out good work--work that is both excellent in quality and socially responsible. In this first volume in the Good Work Project series, they explore this theme in the fields ofjournalism and genetics Lift After Loss by Raymond Moody: Call # 155.93 moo Orering plenty of helpfil advice how to cope with stress, how to get sympathy, etc. Moody and Arcangel gently guide mourners through the four tasks of healthy grief accepting the reality ofthe loss, working through the emotional pain, adjusting to the changed environment and moving forward.

Prison Writings: M y Life Is M y Sun Dance by Leonard Peltier: Call # 970.5 pel Archbishop Desmond Tutu Nobel Laureate from South Africa has said of this work "We pray that it does not fall on deaf ears. It/s a brave book which recounts one ofthe most infamous miscarriages ofjustice in our times.

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Feast of the Coat by Mario Vargas Llosa: Call # 833.9 Ito

Latin American fiction is widely regarded as a fiction which reflects Latin Americans' preoccupation with history and politics. The latest novel by the Peruvian master is no exception. It has been compared to Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, and is a powerhlly drawn anatomy of tyranny and tyrannicide. Vargas Llosa reenvisions the Dominican Republic in 1961, at the time of the assassination of infamous Dominican strongman Rafael ("the Goat") Trujillo, whose death brought his 30-year highly oppressive regime crashing down

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andfir something on the lighter side.

The Polar Bear Waltz and other moments of Epic Silliness By Editors of Outside Magazine: Call # 779.97

nature photographers f?om all over the world capture wonderful, whimsical moments in which people and nature collide images to chuckle over that truly delight.

Happy Christmas to all Libra y users and all our Carnegie friends

The Library Gang Mary Ann, Yvette, Laurie, Lia

.. .and all the other elves who w r k here

"You see, I don't bclieve libraries should be drab places where people sit in silence, and that's been the main reason for our policy of eniploying wild animals as librarians."

-hlotzty f~~thotz

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Comments?

Concerns?

Contact Jenny Wai Ching Kwan, MLA

Working for You

loothAnniversary

-To contribute to the loothAnniversary of the Carnegie Centre Building, the Cultural Sharing Program is sharing its 15 years of joint history.

-You a r e invited to submit stories of how they participated on particular celebrations & events.

-Please contact Barb Gray a t 604-665-2274 and arraneements will be made to meet with vou.

1070-1641 Commercial Dr. VSL3Y3 Phone: 775-0790 Fax: 775-0881 Office hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9am-4pm

NEW YEAR'S EVE DANCE !

with a new live dance band with Sue Le and her fantastic music crew.

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hy stay at home on new years eve!?!

Come and dance and have a good old-fashioned fun evening with friends and strangers alike. This is a drug and alcohol free dance where people can still have a great time. Help us bring in the new Year 2003 with cheers and hugs. We also will have door prizes, wacky hats, noise makers, food, refreshments.

Knowing Colleen, there will be a lot of silliness, noise, cheers, screams and any other RACKET that will ring in the new year.

It will be live fiom Carnegie Hall Theatre,

Tuesday, December 31''

(ofcourse), 8pm

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Everyone is welcome, especially you!

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaappy New Year folks. Hope to see you here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EXCERPTS FROM HANSARD (December 6,2002) Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): On this dav, December 6, we mark and remember the anniversary of the 14 young women who were brutally murdered at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique.

I want to recognize the leadership of Dawn Black, former NDP member of Parliament, who brought fonvard this day as a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Thirteen years later we remember the horror of what took place and the ongoing suffering and grief of the families.

The case of the 66 missing women in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, 15 of whom are known to be murdered, is also evidence that violence against women. particularly poor and aboriginal women, is increasing.

Governments have failed to act on every level. The federal government must bear responsibility as womeniuffer ongoing cutbacks i n services-. The government must demonstrate that ending violence against women is truly a priority.lt must be reflected in the laws, programs, services and community supports so that women can live without the fear and abuse of violence. Nothing less will do.

MsLibby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): The Minister is fill of wishfid thinking on what he would like to hear. I think I very clearly suggested and put forward that the registry had been completely mismanaged. Let us remember it was set up to prevent violence against women, while at the same time the homicide rate for young women separated fiom their spouses is double that for other women.

Again I ask the Minister, how does the government plan to deal with the mismanagement and also prevent the murders of more women?

Mr. Paul Harold Macklin (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice nd Attorney General of Canada, Liberal.): We are very concerned about the issues that the Hon. Member raises. The reality is that we take many measures on this side of the House to look at prevention. We work very hard at trying to find new ways of prevention. The gun control legis-

EXCERPTS FROM HANSARD (December 6,2002) That tragedy [Montreal massacre] compelled action, including the need to register guns to prevent violence against women. Now we are faced with the staggering financial mismanagement of the registry, while at the same time services and programs to women have been cut. I would like to ask the Minister, will the government end this disgraceful record of mismanagement and restore front line services for women who are facing poverty and violence?

Hon. David Collenette (Minister of Transport, Liberal)

I am glad the Hon. Member recognizes the fact that the country has a gun control law that works and is effective, and no greater rationale for it is, of course, the ceremony that we have marked earlier, with the tragic deaths of women in Montreal and the ones that have occurred in Vancouver.

I have to underscore the fact that the gun control law is there. It will stay, as will the registry.

lation is simply one method that we have used. We will keep looking for other ways and means of preventing those situations that occur and that the Hon. Member is concerned about.

EXCERPTS FROM HANSARD (December 5,2002) Ms.Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Close to 100 homeless people are facing imminent eviction from their makeshift tents around the Woodwards building in east Vancouver. The newly elected city council there is urgently trying to line up alternate housing.

I would like to ask the Minister responsible for homelessness, will she give her commitment that she will work with the city to provide the federal funds necessary so that people are not left on the street?

Will she work with the community to secure Woodwards as affordable long-term housing?

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Hon. Claudette Bradshaw (Minister of Labour, Lib..): I want to assure the Hon. Member that one of our best communities for the homeless is the community of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.

The Mayor and Council of Vancouver have done a tremendous amount of work. I can assure the Hon. Member that if the community groups want to support the Woodwards building we will be there. I also want to assure the Hon. Member that the community groups are working very hard to ensure that the homeless have a place to sleep.

Please feel free to drop us a line. (it's postage f i e e ! ) Libby Davies, MP 483 West Block 2412 Main Street House of Commons Vancouver, RC Ottawa, ON KIA 0A6 V5T 3E2 Ph. (613) 992-6030 Ph. (604) 775-5800 Fax (613) 995-74 12 Fax (604) 775-581 1 Email: daviel@parl.gc.ca

THE NIGHT BEFORE Twas the night before welfare and all through the land Everyone was starving both woman and man The minister ofweltare was in bed but awake He was getting some that night so the cheques could wait Then all of a sudden he heard such a clatter "Que pasa?" he yelled, "Say what? Wazza matter?!!"

He jumped out ofbed then through the kitchen h e ran Tripped over the cat.. knocked over the hn..

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The Santa Story: Not long ago and far away, Santa was getting read) for his annual trip...but there were problems everywhere. Four of his elves got sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones, so Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her Mom was coming to visit. This stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out, heaven knows where to. More Stress! Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the boards cracked and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys.

Totally frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of coffee and a shot of whiskey. When he went to the cupboard, he found the elves had hit the liquor and there was nothing to drink. In his frustration, he dropped the coffee pot and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the straw it was made from.

Just then the doorbell rang and Santa cussed on his way to the door. He opened the door and there was a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.The angel said: "Where would you like me to put this tree, fat man?"

And that my friend is how the little angel came to be on top of the Christmas tree.

Martina

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He looked down the hall and what did appear A binner, a native, and a few other peers A tired old woman, her face full of woe, yelled "Give out the cheques. Hey! Cough up the doe."

The Minister pouted, "I'm sorry, I'm wrong..."

But alas - of course - we've all heard that song.

He gave out the cheques and passed out stale beer Then said with a sneer, "See you same time next year!" and a Merry Christmas fiom Mr.McBinner!!!

What tree did you fall from?

Find your birthday, find your tree and the17 scroll down... This is really cool and somewhat accurate, also in line with Celtic astrology.

Jan 01 to Jan 1 1 - Fir Tree Jan 12 to Jan 24 - Elm Tree Jan 25 to Feb 03 - Cypress Tree Feb 04 to Feb 08 - Poplar Tree Feb 09 to Feb 18 - Cedar Tree Feb 19 to Feb 28 - Pine Tree Mar 0 1 to Mar I0 - Weeping Willow Tree Mar l 1 to Mar 20 - Lime Tree Mar 2 1 - Oak Tree Mar 22 to Mar 31 - Hazelnut Tree Apr 01 to Apr 10 - Rowan Tree Apr I 1 to Apr 20 - Maple Tree Apr 21 to Apr 30 - Walnut Tree May 0 1 to May 14 - Poplar Tree May 15 to May 24 - Chestnut Tree May 25 to Jun 03 - Ash Tree Jun 04 to Jun 13 - Hornbeam Tree r Jun 14 to Jun 23 - Fig Tree Jun 24 - Birch Tree Jun 25 to Jul04 - Apple Tree Jul 05 to Jul 14 - Fir Tree Jul 15 to Jul25 - Elm Tree Jul 26 to Aug 04 - Cypress Tree \ Aug 05 to Aug 13 - Poplar Tree Aug 14 to Aug 23 - Cedar Tree Aug 24 to Sep 02 Pine Tree Sep 03 to Sep 12 - Weeping Willow Tree Sep 13 to Sep 22 - Lime Tree Sep 23 - Olive Tree Sep 24 to Oct 03 - Hazelnut Tree Oct 04 to Oct 13 - Rowan Tree Oct 14 to Oct 23 - Maple Tree Oct 24 to Nov 1 1 - Walnut Tree Nov 12 to Nov 2 1 - Chestnut Tree Nov 22 to Dec 01 - Ash Tree Dec 02 to Dec 1 1 - Hombeam Tree Dec 12 to Dee 2 1 - Fig Tree Dec 22 - Beech Tree Dec 23 to Dec 3 1 - Apple Tree

APPLE TREE (Love) - of slight build, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant aura, flirtatious, adventurous, sensitive, always in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, scientific talents, lives for today, a carefree philosopher with imagination.

ASH TREE (Ambition) - uncommonly attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be egotistic, very reliable and trustworthy, faithful and prudent lover, sometimes brains rule over the heart, but takes partnership very seriously.

BEECH TREE (Creative) -has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.)

BIRCH TREE (Inspiration) - vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly, pretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

CEDAR TREE (Confidence) - of rare beauty, knows how to adapt, likes luxury, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, determined, impatient, likes to impress others, many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waiting for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

CHESTNUT TREE (Honesty) - of unusual beauty, does not want to impress, well-developed sense of justice, vivacious, interested, a bom diplomat but irritates easily, sensitive in company, often due to

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a lack of self confidence, acts sometimes superior, feels not understood, loves only once, has difficulties in finding a partner.

CYPRESS TREE (Faithfulness) - strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give, content, optimistic, craves money and acknowledgment, hates loneliness, passionate lover who cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered, unruly, pedantic, and careless.

ELM TREE (Noble-Minded) - pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, loudest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.

FIG TREE (Sensibility) -very strong, a bit selfwilled, independent, does not allow contradiction or arguments, loves life, it's family, children and animals, a bit of a social butterfly, good sense of humor, likes idleness and laziness, of practical talent and intelligence.

FIR TREE (Mysterious) - extraordinary taste, dignity, sophisticated, loves anything beautihl, moody, stubborn, tends to egoism but cares for those close to them, rather modest, very ambitious, talented, Industrious, uncontested lover, many fiiends, many foes, very reliable HAZELNUT TREE (Extraordinary) -charming, undemanding, very understanding, knows how to make an impression, active fighter for social cause, moody popular, capricious lover, honest, tolerant partner, precise sense of judgment.

HOKNBEAM TREE (Good Taste) - of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic. makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner,dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.

LIME TREE (Doubt) - accepts what life dishes out in a composed way, hates fighting, stress, and labor, dislikes laziness and idleness soft and relenting, makes sacritices for friends, many talents but not tenacious enough to make them blossom, often wailing and complaining, very jealous but loyal.

MAPLE TREE (Independent) - no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

OAK TREE (Brave) - robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.

OLIVE TREE (Wisdom) - loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids agression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense ofjustice, sensitive, empathetic, fiee of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.

PINE TREE (Particular) - loves agreeable company, very robust, knows how to make life comfortable, very active, natural, good companion, but seldom friendly, falls easily in love but its passion bums out quickly, gives up easily, everything disappointments until it finds its ideal, trustworthy, a and sensitive in company practical.

POPLAR TREE (Uncertainty) - looks very decorative, not very self-confident, only courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.

ROWAN TREE (Sensitivity) - full ofcharm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic passionate, emotional, good company, doesn't forgive.

WALNUT TREE (Passion) - unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, oflen egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions. spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist. very jealous and passionate, no compromise.

WEEPING WILLOW (Melancholy) - beautifid but full of melancholy. attractive, very empathetic, loves anything beautiful and tasteful, loves to travel, restless, dreamer, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with, demanding, intuitive, sutkrs in love but finds sometimes an anchoring

00WN'1'0WN

EASTSIDE YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

NEEDLE E X C H A N G E - 221 Main: 8:30sm - 8pm every day NEEDLE E X C H A N G E V A N - 3 Routes: C & ! - 5:4sp111 - I I:45pm 604-685-656 1 Overnieht - 12:30am - 8:30am Downtown Eastside - 5:30prn - I :30am

2002 DONATIONS Lihhy D.-$81 Sam R.-$20 Eve E.-$18 Nancy H,$50 Margaret D.422 Sahitri G.-$22 Hulda R.-$25 Val A.6 18 W m B-$27 Harold D.-$2 1 Mary C-$7 1 Paula R-$35 Rolf A,-$75 Bruce J.-$18 peg^ -$25 Kettle -$I 8 Sonya S.-$100 BCTF-$ I 0 Bill G.4100 Wes K.-$36 Charley B-$25 DEYAS-$ 125 RayCam-$25 LSS-$200 John S-$36 Paddy 4 7 5 Sarah E.-$10 The Edge -$200 Maggie R-$100 Jo's Mom -525 Charles F.-$10 Mennonite CC -$85 Rosemary 2.440 Joanna N.-$40 Jenny K.-$18 Charlotte F.-$20 Nancy C.-$50 Dehbie -$20 Glen B.-$100 Penny G.-$40 Jelly Bean -$20 buise's Mom 4 2 0 Gram -$lo0 Anonymous -$2 1

Free -- dond~onrrccptcd

T~IE N E W S I . K ~ T E R ISA P I ~ I C ' A T I O NOF ' ~ I I E C,\RNECIE C n M h l l l N r r Y C E N T R E ASSo('I,\'rION Articles represent the views of individunl contributors and mt o f the Association

Submission Deadline for next issue: Saturday, January 11

There is no January 1issue of the Newsletter!

I

Welfare problems; Landlord disputes; Housing problems; Unsafe living conditions; orne l o the Oera office at 425 Carrall Street or

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hone us at 682 0931

"WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM?" The money needed to "fix" Medicare can easily be found

By Ed Finn Of all the many questions raised by the Romanow Report, the one most often asked is "Where's the money coming from?"--and it's the one question that should not be asked at all.

The money needed to "fix" Medicare--whether it's the $1 5 billion over the next four years called for by Romanow, or even double that amount--is readily available.

Where will it come fiom? The answer may be found in the following statistics: * The budget surpluses accumulated by the federal government since the late 1990s total more than $46.7 billion. * The federal revenue voluntarily forgone through the many tax cuts made by Tory and Liberal governments since 1984 totals about $250 billion. * The largest single set of tax cuts came in Paul Martin's budget in 2000, which will deprive Ottawa of about $100 billion by the time they all kick in by 2005. * Most of this forgone tax money--64% of it--is going to the highest income earners. The capital gains tax exemption alone is giving about $1 2 billion extra to the most affluent Canadians. * There was no rational economic reason for cutting taxes in Canada. The public wasn't clamoring for such cuts. According to the OECD, our effective personal average 18% tax rate is now lower than those of all other G-8 nations except Japan. In Britain it's 23.5%, in Germany and France about 22%, in Italy 25.5%. * The claim that taxes in Canada needed to be cut to make our industries competitive with those in other countries has been refuted often, most effectively by the annual reports of the respected KPMG consulting firm. The KPMG has consistently found that business costs in Canada, including taxes, have been substantially lower than those in most other industrial countries. * According to the compliance research directorate of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, four out of five ofthe largest and most profitable corporations in this country paid less than $25,000 annually in income tax fiom 1995 to 1998. The number of

our largest corporations with revenues of more than $250 million that pay no tax at all in any given year ranges from 29% to 41 % of them. In addition, close to 40% of the subsidiaries of these corporations, along with other smaller firms--as many as 700,000 of them--pay not a single cent in income taxes. * Although tax officials never report or even estimate the amount of corporate tax revenue that is lost through avoidance or evasion, we know that, in the 1998-99 tax year, the total corporate income tax that was actually collected--including the $3.2 billion recovered by the compliance division through audits and reassessments--was $21.6 billion. If every corporation, big and little, paid its fair share of taxes, it's safe to assume that this amount would at least be doubled, if not tripled. * There are many billions of dollars in taxes that the federal government could collect, but doesn't. It calls these vast amounts "tax expenditures," and they're listed by the Finance Department under the headings of "exemptions, deductions, rate reductions, rebates, credits, deferrals, and carry-overs." The amount in taxes that the government opted not to collect in the 2000-01 tax year fiom the corporations that benefited from "tax expenditures" was in the range of $22 billion (which is a billion or so more than the total corporate income tax that was actually collected).

Still not convinced that the extra money required to repair and improve Medicare can be found, or made available? Then this last set of statistics should remove any lingering doubt:

Back in 1970, when Medicare was at its peak (no financial crisis, no long waiting lists, no shortage of doctors and nurses), Canada's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at a per capita level of $l6,48 1 (in constant 1992 dollars). By 1999, our per capita GDP (also in '92 dollars) had soared to $28,869, an increase of 75%.

So we now have a country that is far wealthier than it was in 1970, in terms of the total income the economy generates. but one that somehow allegedly can't afford to maintain our health care system at a level we managed to find without any difficulty 32 years ago--with far less national per-person income.

Clearly the problem is not one of revenue insufficiency, but of revenue mal-distribution. Thanks to needless tax breaks and various government handouts to our richest individuals and companies, we now live in a country where Statistics Canada tells us that the wealthiest 10% of family units hold 53% of the personal wealth, and the top 50% control a shocking 94.4% of the wealth.

The underfinding of Medicare is one of the conesquences of this skewed distribution of wealth, and it has been a matter of political choice, not necessity.

No one, for example, asked "where's the money coming from?" when Ottawa allocated an extra $5 billion or more to beef up our airport and border security and send Canadian troops to Afghanistan.

The money was made available immediately. Why? Because the federal government believed it was an essential Canadian contribution to the U.S. "war on terrorism."

By the same token, if our federal and provincial governments really believed that a war on sickness or poverty or homelessness, or any other social problem, was a priority, the money for such an initiative would also be quickly found or raised--and without increasing taxes or taking money away fiom other needed services.

It's simply a matter of political preference. The question, "Where's the money coming fiom?" is as silly as it is spurious.

(Ed Finn is an editor with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. He obtained the statistics cited above fiom Statistics Canada, the Finance Department, the OECD, KPMG, the Auditor-General's reports, and internal reports of Revenue Canada's Compliance Research Directorate.)

ANNOUNCING COMMUNITY CONSULTATION MEETING

<W><H><Y> WOMEN'S HUMANITIES YEAR BARRIER FREE, lStYEAR UNIVERSITY program in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside Are you a woman having difficulty accessing post-secondary education?

Do you have the drive but not the means?

COME AND JOIN US!!!

Monday December 16th2002,l-3pm W.H.Y learning space, 4 1 W.Cordova Wed. December 18th,2002,6-8pm Carnegie Centre theatre, 401 Main St.

Epistle to Captains and Kings To be tom, ripped, shredded, spit out in a split second, not unexpected taken down, turfed, decreed to be scrap ends via systematically coordinated application of being put down. stepped on, pounded, crucified. to be discontinued, a spent force, silenced to take it on the chin, kick-out the jams 'No witnesses.' to travesties in progress that are unreported, invisible, surgically lanced.

You know the feeling folks, 'as the stomach turns, the head spins' - your body twirling unprotected Ponder the schemes, piece together the puzzle, Decipher this riddle: Analyze Your Dream.

Robyn Livingstone

WHY I DON'T KILL THE MICE this is a rented room I try to spend as much time in bed as I can it's the only place innocence still survives except in children & animals sometimes & ifyou want to call me lazy you can find lots of ways to do it

I'm not so clean as some people want me to be either my girlfriend thinks I'm worthless if 1 don't do my dishes my landlady wants me to get my act together & my welfare worker trys to find me a job my friends say there are important meetings I should attend & I try hard to remember what day it is my intellect is creeping closer to the kitchen sink every day finding a quarter for the telephone in the hall gets to be a big problem & spraying for cockroaches happens when you least expect it my fiiends can't understand why I don't kill the mice they come stagering out on the kitchen floor half dead from a dose of poison put out by one of my neighbours they like to die right in front of me it's a sort of ritual we share they know I'm one of those crazy people who thinks they're human & they like that

I've got this great big picture of an eagle glaring at me over my mirror I put it there to remind me that the animals have eyes & ears & noses of their own & KNOW what's going on when we try to prove we own their planet & a picture ofthe moon

behind my hotplate so the walls don't close right in on me & a winged scarab over my kitchen window so I won't forget the eternal resurrection of the heart but that doesn't mean much to most people they think it's a real nice piece of artwork & makes a good image if you want to get poetic they're practical realists & the capitalists have built a world to support their sanity & they know l'm some kind of mystical joker they can drink coffee & debate philosophy with & whether humans spend thieir time driving spikes into baby s;eals' heads or growing flowers in wir~ d o wboxes makes no difference to thc:m if you like animals so mucch why aren't you a vegetarian? well I'm not really ration; I don't run a tight ship & my hture is totally undefined I might wind up on some street comer somewhere screaming obscenities at a long line of commuters but today 1'11pretend to be a poet & see if that makes any sense

Book Review

Love and Death in the Valley Kevin Annett puts the United Church of Canada in the centre of the storm - Residential schools, the rape, torture, experimentation on, pedophilia and murder of thousands of children.. engaged in over decades, the theft and sale ofNative land and the complicity ofoficials in both government (police and politicians) and the corporate world to perpetuate this while denying everything.

This is the continuing story of Annett's conflict with the Presbytery - the lawyers and highly paid senior people in the corporate body of the United Church -and their vicious attacks on him to deprive him of first his congregation (Annett was a minister) his calling, his further research and social justice pursuits, his marriage and his reputation.

The narrative begins in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island and the almost unchallenged hold that the "pale" population has on Native resources and the social conditions - wealth, land, class distinction, fear and the trappings of power. It is outrageous what happened to Annett as he was fired for the unpardonable sin of questioning the church hierarchy on matters of principle and Native relations the public relations v. the dark side of money and control and scapegoating all justified (centuries of it) by the Bible thumping while such goes on.

Annett has a companion book that documents

stories of survivors of the residential schools, but in Love and Death in the Valley he sheds light on the slimy hypocricy of the religion business and the obscenity of its actions versus its "beliefs".

A copy is available in the Carnegie Library and it's available for purchase ffom First Books.

For more info, contact kevinannett@yahoo.ca

December 6th - A Candlelight March from Pigeon Park along Hastings to Oppenhamer in Honour of the Women Killed from the Downtown Eastside Stolen Raped Tortured Mutilated

Murdered Fed to p ~ g s But not forgotten Beneath the towering totem pole, drumming, songs, prayers and a legend dance about women warriors surrounded the offered food and candles. A gentle fog, like friendly ghosts, descended with warmth and comfort.

LC'(%Ifsrr',c,