December 15, 2011, carnegie newsletter

DECEMBER 15, 2011

NEWSLETTER 401 Main Street, Vancouver. V6A 2TI (604• 665-2289

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''ti.s the Season

Canadian Drug Policy Coalition #2400- 5 IS West Hastings Street Va ncouver, BC V6B SK3

Share this announcement with friends & colleagues.

The Canadian Harm Reduction Network (CHRN) urges yo u to read th is letter and to become involved w ith the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition in working toward development of sensible and humane ways to reg ulate the control of psycho tropic s ubstances in C anada, as an alternative to the failed War o n Drugs. The C HRN is a partner of theCanad ian Drug Po licy Coalitio n and has partnered in its establishment and development.

Dear friends - Chcrs amis, chercs amies, (Le jran9ais suit I 'anglais) It is with great excite ment that we write you to announce the official launch of the Canad ian Drug Po licy Coalition (CDPC) and our new website: www.d ru gpo licy.ca.

The C DPC re presents a diverse & growing national network of civil society organizations and individuals that include front-line harm reduction and treatment providers, yo uth organizations, parents, HIV/AIDS serv ice o rganizatio ns, peo ple who use drugs, researchers a nd public health officials.

O ur goal is to produce & advance constructive d rug policy recom mendat ions to all levels of government through co llaboration w ith communities across the country. It is time to move away from our curre nt punitive approach to substance use problems, to one rooted in public health, evidence, social inc lusion a nd human rights.

Together we can reduce harm from substance use, including death and disease, and improve public safety while minimizing organized criminal involvement in the drug trade.

We urge you to v isit drugpolicy.ca to learn more a bout o ur v isio n for: • A health, socia l and human rights approach to s ubstance use; • The important ro le harm reduction approaches play; • Removing the stigma of crimin a lization for people w ho use drugs; • Moving beyond the current approach to drug pro hibitio n; • Nationa l dia logue o n drug policy fr Canada T he site a lso features stories about prominent drug policy pioneers, current d rug plicy related events

here and around the world, more about our partners, and CPDC's voice and issues in the media.

Most importantly - www.drugpolicy.ca is a place fo r you to take action & join us in shaping the future of drug policy, legislation and institutional practice in Canada. We want to work with your commun it ies, hear your ideas and have you join in collective discussion to transform drug policy in our country.

We look forwa rd to working together.

Don't forget to let us know what you think of our new webs ite !

S in cerely, Do nald MacPherson, Director Canad ian Drug Policy Coalition

Chcrs(eres) ami(e)s, C'est avec un immense plaisir que nous vous ecriv-ons pour vous annoncer le lancement officiel de Ia Coalition canadienne des politiques s ur les drogues (CCPD) et de notre nouveau site Web : www .drugpo Iicy.ca.

La CCPD represente un reseau natio nal croissant et diversifie d 'organisations et de personnes de Ia societe civile qui comprend des prestataires de reduction des mefaits et de traitement de premiere ligne, des o rgan ismes jeunesse, des parents, des organ ismes de lutte contre Je VIH/s ida, des personnes qui utilisent des drogues, des chercheurs et des agents de Ia sante publique.

Notre but est de produire et de presenter des recommandations constructives en matiere de politiques sur les drogues atousles ordres de gouvernement grace aune co llaboration avec les collectivites de tout le pays.

II est temps de nous eloigner de nos approches punitives actuelles des problems d'utilisation de substances pour en adopter une qui prenne racine dans Ia sante publique, les donnees probantes, I' inclusion sociale et les droits de Ia personne.

Ensemble, nous pouvons reduire les dommages lies a !'utilisation de substances, don't Ia mort et Ia maladie, et ameliorer Ia securite publique en minimisant !'implication du crime organise dans le marche des drogues.

Nous vous prions de vous rendre a notre site drugpolicy.ca pour en apprendre davantage sur notre vision : • une approche de sante, de societe et de droits de Ia personne de !'utilisation de • substances; • le role important que jouent les approches de reduction des mefaits; • eliminer les stigmates de Ia criminalisation pour les personnes qui utilisent des • drogues; • depasser !'approche actuelle de prohibition des drogues; • un dialogue national sur les politiques en matiere de drogues au Canada.

Le site presente egalement des reportages sur les principaux pionniers des politiques sur les drogues, des activites actuelles liees aux po litiques sur les drogues ici et dans le monde, des details sur nos partenaires, et Ia voix et les communiques de Ia CCPD dans les medias.

Et surtout - www.drugpo licy.ca est un endroit ou vous pouvez agir el vous j oindre a nous pour donner forme a l'aven ir des politiques, lois et pratiques institutionnelles en matiere de drogues au Canada.

Nous voulons travailler avec vos collectivites, ecouter vos idees et vous voir participer a Ia discussion collective pour transformer les politiques sur les drogues dans notre pays.

Cord ialement, Donald MacPherson, Directeur Coalition canadienne des politiques sur les drogues Canadian Drug Policy Coalition #2400 - 515 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3

Once upon a time There was a cowboy Could he ever say a lot About a "wow" joy He liked is mum so much He responded to her touch And said, ''Mom, I'm g iving you a toy, dear."

But the children love their rappin' and hangin' out So God bless you all dear Carnegie people, for taking in us Mortons- we thoroughly enjoy your music bunch especially, if push comes to shove- we will take our hat & glove - I say "Yeah"-

So the two of tem laughed and giggled like Mom & baby pandas Carnegie, the heart of Vancouver And when they kindajiggled Love, They forgot about verandahs Joyce Morgan and when the lightning struck they realised they had luck it was kinda due to Chuck Who used to drive a truck To this day we remember Chuc' & now his son drives a truck.

Father & Son doing well Kitten will you ever tell Once a long time ago It knew a Hell but when Daddy Chuck came it was so swell He turned that awful hell into Heaven itself And now that ol' Joy Is our best Christmas Elf! She sighs like an angel and she never fears danger S he sta11s every day anew No longer is she just the o ld Jew. And she's never ever written a poem like this before But she's so inspired by her precious Carnegie that she thought she'd write a special realogy - about her precious family Her darling daughter Heidi is a beautiful young gal and when she hit the Carnegie they did not know what was gonna happen

A Learning Centre Christmas Carol Every year at Christmas time we have an End-of-term party in the Learning Centre Lucy (Ebenezear): 路路Another End-of-term pa1iy- why must we always have parties. It' s just too much. Nothing ever works around here. I can't take it any more. Not one more End-of-term party in the Carnegie Learning Centre'' Adrienne (Tom Cratchit): '路But, Lucy my students have no books and the computers are always crashing. But most of all the students just love to have a party."

The Cratchits - Del, Caroline, Paul, Mabel, Itae, Bao, Len Wau enter; They ask Adrienne, a ll excited'路Can we have poems and songs this Christmas at the end ofterm party .. Please!!"

Lucy: '"I've had enough of these parties. No, I won't do it any more. No more parties and that's it! Adrienne you can have one day off but I want you back at work first thing right after Christmas- no more slacking off."

The Cratchits (pathetic and sad) "Crashing computers, no more parties, no more songs, no more books, no more poems."

Tiny Bao: "Can't we have one more song and one more Power Point slide, please???"

Adrienne: " I'm sorry, Tiny Bao, but Lucy says no. She is really cranky because all the computers keep crashing. We will just have to live with it."

Narrator: (Ghost of Learning Centre Past) In the old days in the Learning Centre Hal, Judy, Lisa and many other students and tutors were so happy. Life was good and the computers never crashed.

(Ghost of Learning Centre Present) These days it's not so great. Lucy is cranky all the time and we can't have our end-of term party this year. The students are so sad. Tiny Baa is being brave about it but it is so sad.

Person wearing VPL sign enters " I am here to deliver new computers to the Learning Centre."

Lucy: transforms into great excitement like Scrooge "Bring on the songs and poems Tiny Bao can have as much Power point as she wants and we will all be happy from now on."

Epilogue: And it came to pass that there was never a kinder soul in the Learning Centre than Lucy; and Tiny Bao was able to do all the Power Point she ever wanted to. The End This was Adrienne's first attempt at playwriting and it was performed at the Learning Centre Christmas Party on December 7'", 20 I I to much applause.

Merry Christmas to everybody from the Carnegie Learning Centre and join us for lots of fun in the LC next year!

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HOPE CALENDAR breaks SALES RECORD NEAR SELL-OUT OF 17,000 CALENDARS A 20 per cent increase in sales of the Hope in Shadows calendars this year means not only will it likely sell out a record number before the New Year, but it will help more people in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

"We are really pleased the 20 12 calendar is selling so well through our street vendor program," said Paul Ryan, Project Director for Hope in Shadows, who added that fewer than 30 per cent of the 17,000 calendars printed remain for sale. " Beyond providing much needed income, vendors have positive, meaningful interactions with the genera l public and connect with people from different communities. It helps build self-esteem."

Vendors like Sandra Czechaczak, who have worked with Hope in Shadows for the last 8 years, have made the project an integral part of the Downtown Easts ide community. The project has helped her not only economically but emotionally as we ll, increasing her self confidence and creating community for her & others around her.

"This has been a real empowering experience for me to share positive pictures of my community with the rest of Vancouver," says Sandra who also had a winning photograph in the 20 II calendar. "It has been a great opportunity to connect with people in and outside of Vancouver's Do,wntown Eastside."

The Hope in Shadows annual photography contest g ives Downtown Eastside residents the opportunity to portray their community through their own eyes.

Now onto its ninth year of production, the calendar is taking off with g reat s uccess. This past June, over 4,000 photos were submitted from some 200plus cameras distributed to participants. Thirteen of those images have been compiled to paint a picture of hope in a strong knit community, giving voice to residents of the Downtown Eastside, through the 2012 Hope in Shadows calendar.

The calendar is sold for $20 each by street vendors from now until it sells out in various locations across Vancouver and Victoria.

December 17th is the International D ay to E n d Violen ce against Sex Workers

Direct Action against VPD Come participate in the Direct Action against the Vancouver Police District 2 office to protest the failure of the police to protect DTE S survival sex workers over the last 30 years.

December 17th

2:00- 4:00pm 312 Main St. (Police Station) 17th of December INTERNATIONAL DAY to End Violence against

SEXWORKE()

T his day calls attention to hate crim es committed against sex workers a ll over the globe as well as to the critical need to remove the stigma and discrimination that is perpetuated by c ustom and laws that have made violence aga inst sex-workers acceptab le. T he red umbrella, adopted in 2002 by Venetian sex workers for an anti-vio lence march, symbo lizes resistance against discri mination fo r sex workers worldwide.

Violence against Vancouver sex workers is a maj or problem, and th is is especia lly so for those who work on the street. Canada's prostitutio n laws make sex workers into crimina ls: these laws must be abo lished.

Crimina li zing sex workers makes them more vulnerable to vio lence w hile deny ing them real access to human and labour rights and po lice protection.

Fo r further info rmation and to he lp Vancouver sex workers gain the ir rights and increased access to v ital anti-vio lence, health and education services co nsider vo lunteering w ith and/or donating to these sex worker-serving organizations. T ha nk you.

BC C oa lition of Experiential Communities: bccec.wordpress.co m H USTLE: Men on the Move: www.peersvancouver.org PE ERS Van couver: www.peersvanco uver.org PACE (Prostitution Alternatives Counselling Education) www.pace-society.ca SW AN (S upporting Women's Alternatives Network): www.swanvancouver.ca WISH Drop-in Centre: www.wish-vanco uver. net ORCHID Outreach&Research in Community Health Init iatives& Development www.asia.bc.ca ':L'+

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A comedic musical a nd clown performance with Gerardo Avila and Veron ica Dahl in the Carnegie Theatre on Dec I 0, 2011. by db lair This was a wonderful and quirky performance by two professional entertainers- Veronica Dahl and Gerardo Avila- who provided us w ith fast and furious skits invo lv ing changes of clothing, set changes, and scene c hanges- and except for the lighten ing fast c lothing c hanges off set - the set and scene changes were primarily prov ided by the performance and lyrics a nd magical scenes of the two marvellous performers. The theme of the eveni ng was love ... and as the title of the program indicated - it was about "The Moon and the Other S ide of the Honeymoon".

Life was becoming a little less rosy for the two, as can be indicated by the titles of some of the pieces that singe r Veronica Dahl provided for us, both vocally and as a musician on a g uitar, accompanying herself singing such songs as: Complicated Love, Ungrateful Love, Hate Me, and When it is time for you to go. Dahl was doing all this, and also changing in and out of beautiful costumes to accent flavour of the various scenes. Some scenes she was dressed as a "normal" woman, others she was a diva in beautiful o utfit. At all times she was a sexy women dressed (and able to walk and dance) in the highest of high heels !

Avila was fabulous as the man she still loved (sort of) ... his costume changes also invo lved the use of magic to portray h is emotions. He used hi s fabulous experience as mime, clown, magician and story teller to tell his side of the story.

They both expressed themselves to us in Englis; sin ce this was a love story and the language of love is Spanish, they communicated both in English and flavoured the play w ith Spanish which, l could tell, some of the audience understood. I unfortunately am not as talented as these two, but it did accent the

It was a wonderful evening with much laug hter, sadness and mutual satisfaction from an audience who showed their appreciation for a story we all know - itwas well done by two hard working professionals delighting us with their talent and story.

ANDY HUCLACK 1928 - 20 I I Please join us in remembering and celebrating Andy's life here at Carnegie Monday January 9, 2 - 4 pm 20 12 in th e theatre

I restrain my busy tongue to get out pen & paper; the forces are back in town. - Anonymous

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MY QUITÂŁRMILK BISCUIT My Butte rmilk Biscuit was perfect day The Biscuit flaky and sl ig htly crunchy And well put together.

My most important meal After the nig ht's fast from salty evaporated Soups, tired s li ces of pizza Not a real sauce in sight Le sauce c 'est tout, n' est-ce pas?

Life is good. The water is cold & the coffee not - let fresh be th e word Be finale of s tale.

The petit-fleure from the bridge party Doth furnish forth some Koffee Klatch or other In the Cafe the talk is of wi ld er anima ls ~ ...._ Coyotes sp ied early morning in the ravine ... scary ( ) o~ ~~ The Province's ta le of bear attacks ' T he length of the claws that rip the flesh In Stanley Park That dreadfu l forest encroaching on our tidy town

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While on the bus the other night I noticed the new front of the Carnegie bu ilding at Main & Hastings .. so mething the drug dealers and peddlers can be proud of, standing in fro nt while plying their wares.

Kitty-corner - the o ld bank building- occupi ed

by Pathways, is being boarded up! I really wonder who makes these decisions.

Pathways provides an outreach service to the underprivileged, homeless and low-income people in the DTES. These include telephon e and fax for jobs, counselling and advocacy options and gu idance, a mailing address and informat ion centre, job search and resume help, as well as references to health, housing and foodbanks.

Meanwhile, back across at that other corner, drug sales are brisk with dealers standing two and three deep. " Hey Paba, over here: rock, powder, down!!"

Maybe the dope dealers are the ones renovating the band building across the way. After all they' ll be much c loser to throwing it in the cops' faces. " Hey officer: rock, powder, down!!!"

Henry George

Wilhelmina

T he p owe r of the natio n, all together s uch eternal love th e immense oceans to cleanse the soul, Montana sw eet g rass & all the nations gathered upon the dirt field. Look up! T he clouds are viv id ly telling stories of past gone by and present and yet to come.

Dear Debra Lov I LOVE YOU P.S. All my re latio ns, Nora Kay

Ongoing program!

DIES DE--CLUITERSUPPORT Last Wednesday of each month 7:00PM 3rd F loor Seminar Room, Carnegie Centre

Facilitated by the group founders/co-ordinators or USC students, all who have a background of research and experience in hoarding, or living with clutter.

You don't know you hold the whip you saw me open up the lunch bag a 'wish sandwich' (wish I had meat...) peanut butter atop peanut butter embarrassed look in' over the other kids ' fruit & yogurt & nutbars Second whip is a in' t got no shoes not even runners, just hand-me-downs and now after the foundation's laid down always the poor kid .. threadbare cotton shirts a lways too short 'cause money's a lways short nowadays you know who holds the whip ain ' t nobody but the brutal white man holds the wh ip; say they hire you just to fire you .. so they can turn to their wh itebread pals - " I gave that lazy long-haired pot-smokin halfbreed a job but you know what them people like hadda fire h is ass out the door 'fore it caught on" ya boss I know who holds the whip TBIRD COLLTNS

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(CCAP) Newsletter

~q,:IRead CCAP reports at: ccapvancouver.wordpress.com December 15, 2011 I OF DTES HOTEL 2011 CCAP hotel report ;...J reveals we are in danger of Z ROOMS RENT AT losing all DTES private SRO 0 WELFARE RATES hotels to gentrification afford. The annual survey of privately owned DTES hotels found that only 7% of rooms (235) are in buildings where all rents are $375 or lower, down from 12% in 2010 and 29% in 2009.

Gentrification is worsening the Downtown Eastside housing emergency. This is the conclusion of the Carnegie Community Action Project's 4th annual hotel report, Upscaled: the Downside of Gentrification.

Hotel rooms that used to be the housing of last resort for low income people, are being upgraded and rented to students and young workers at rents that low income residents can't

At least 700 people are literally homeless and living in DTES shelters, not counting people living on the streets or couch surfing says the report, released today. Thousands more live in about 3,500 privately owned SRO rooms. Many of these have deplorable conditions with poor management, rodents , cockroaches, bedbugs, and danger, especially for women, transgender people and people with health issues. Another 1 ,500 people live in government or non-profit owned SROs that are usually cleaner and better managed but are still tiny and don't have private bathrooms or kitchens or meet modern earthquake standards.

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This year CCAP's fourth annual hotel report also found: • More hotels are excluding low income DTES residents from desperately needed housing by high prices and by class, racial and health profiling done by desk clerks; • The number of rooms in hotels where the lowest rent is $425 or more declined slightly (122 rooms) from last year; • The number of rooms in hotels where the lowest rent is $600 or more increased by 227 from last year; Vacancies remain minimal with only two in rooms that rent for $375 or less; At least 13 hotels charge between • $200 and $375 extra when two people share a tiny room; • More hotels seem to be renting illegally on a daily or weekly basis.

"We are seeing more discrimination based on class , race and health stereotypes," said Ivan Drury, one of the report's authors. "For example, when I tried to rent a room at the Lotus, I was told that rent was $600 a month and a room would be available at the end of the month. Fifteen minutes later Robert Bonner tried to rent a room and was told rent was $800 and there were no vacancies."

"We also found that only 7% of the 2

rooms are in hotels where all the rooms rent for $375 or less," said Jean Swanson, co-author of the report . "This is down from 12% last year and 29% in 2009," she added .

Herb Varley, a York Hotel resident, said he fears that the new owner of his hotel will upscale the building so it is no longer affordable by low income residents.

"Where will people live when the rents go up?" he asked.

The report makes recommendations for all three levels of government, including : • The city should buy 10 sites a year for social housing in the DTES and stop condo development until all current DTES residents have decent housing ; • The province should spend its $250 million Housing Endowment Fund on housing now, make rent control apply to the unit, not the person, and make "social condition" a prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Human Rights Code.

• The federal and provincial governments should provide funds to replace 1000 SROs a year for the next 5 years with self contained social housing that current residents can afford.

The report is available at ccapvancouver.wordpress.com For info, contact Ivan Drury (605 781 7346) or Jean Swanson (604 729 2380)

"Market and non-market housing must proceed apace ..."

Stop the 17-story condo at 611 Main St. Selection from the CCAP statement on a the first proposed building rezoning since the Chinatown heights review For the full statement visit our website

The Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) opposes the proposed 17-story condo tower project at 611 Main. We are asking that any condo project at 611 Main be put on hold, along with a general moratorium on all market condo development in the Downtown Eastside (DTES), until the housing and homelessness crisis in the DTES is stopped, until no body is forced to sleep in SRO hotels, shelters, or on the street, and until the assets

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are at risk from the ripple effects of gentrification from any condo project at 611 Main include 34 rooms at the Arno hotel on Georgia and Gore; 14 at 221 E. Georgia; 30 rooms at the Pacific Rooms; and 45 units at the Keefer Rooms. These units are

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Our main reasons for opposing \ tf bemg lost to this condo development gentrification fro roposal are about City policy ~.the proposed P · 7-story condo ( ... )

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1) The 611 Main condo proposal contradicts the 2005 DTES Housing Plan objective of "revitalization without displacement."

Market SRO hotel units in the immediate vicinity of the 611 Main project could be immediately affected by increased real estate prices and an improved investment and speculation market in the area. Hotels we believe

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vulnerable to the most common form of gentrification; through the holes in the SRA bylaw they can be converted to student and young worker housing.

Even more readily at risk are the approximately 30 rooms in the East Hotel and at least 45 in the Fan Tower.

These low-income family residential 3

apartments are not protected from conversion or demolition by the SRA bylaw or even rental-apartment conversion bylaws.

There are no city laws or policies to guarantee that this 'revitalization' will not displace the approximately 200 low-income people who live in immediate vicinity of this proposed condo project in vulnerable market housing.

2) The 2005 DTES Housing Plan states that market development must proceed apace non-market development.

City council's stated objectives include ending homelessness, including replacing all 5,000 units of SRO hotel rooms. To meet this objective the city seeks to slow market development and allow the relatively slow construction of social housing to catch up. Since the 2005 Housing Plan was written, this policy has failed. Rather than proceed apace, between 2005 and 2011 the rate of market to non-market housing development has been 3 to 1.

The city has work to do to correct the failing rate-of-change guidelines.

Unfortunately the problem is made worse by building 171 units of market condo housing that may have 26 units at slightly depressed rates, apparently due to depressed unit-size. For lowincome people this condo tower might as well be an exclusive penthouse 4

suite as there will not be a single unit for existing residents who may be displaced from the surrounding hotels and low-rent apartments due to gentrification.

3) On January 20th 2011 City Council initiated an unprecedented DTES Local Area Planning Process.

The reasoning for this initiative was council's recognition that exisiting policies and plans for the DTES are not working and that the solution lies in the rich experiences and ideas of the people who live in the community themselves.

Proceeding with a massive and exclusive condo tower at 611 Main St undermines and short circuits the credibility, effectiveness, and value of the Local Area Planning Process. We want this condo project and all ether potentially destructive market condo projects to be put off until after the Local Area Planning Process can do its work and develop a vision for the DTES. ( ...)

The proposal for a 17-story condo project at 611 Main puts many critical parts of our community in jeopardy. ( ... ) We are calling on City Council to stop the condo tower at 611 Main St and prioritize ending homelessness and underhousing in the DTES. Our community needs low-income affordable social housing not condo towers. -10

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DTES residents, get involved in making a plan for your neighbourhood!

As some of you may know, DTES residents are starting to get involved in the city's upcoming DTES Local Area Planning Process. Please read on to learn more about this plan below, talk to us about getting involved and watch out

for posters advertising the first meeting about it.

What is the DTES Local Area Planning Process?

In a motion dated January 20, 2011 , city council made the DTES Neighbourhood Council (DNC) and Building Community Society (BCS) co-chairs of a Local Area Planning (LAP) Process for the DTES. 5

Most city plans are made by city staff that consult with the public, developers or whoever else they see as important.

Then staff bring a draft plan to city hall where it is debated by city council.

The DTES planning process will be different. City staff will work in partnership with a "community committee" of primarily residents to help write the plan. This group will have a bit more power than an advisory group because they will be involved in all stages. Disagreements about the final draft will be noted, the committee will sign off on the draft plan and then it goes to city council for their vote. City council could change it.

Who will be on the LAP committee?

Council's motion stated that BCS and DNC can form the committee. So far, BCS and DNC agreed on about 24 seats.

About half of the seats will be held by reps of resident and peer-driven lowincome groups. Others will represent agencies, business associations and cultural groups. Another 7 seats will be open to application from residents. The co-chairs will make sure that 50% of the committee members are women and 50% people of colour and/or Aboriginal people.

What will the LAP committee do?

The committee will meet regularly, work with city staff, form sub-committees and get lots of feedback from "the community." Ideally it will find out 1) what is working and not working in the 6

DTES, 2) ways to speed up good things and slow down other things that are negatively affecting the lives of lowincome people and 3) what should be in the plan. City council also wants the committee to develop a strategy to implement the city's 2005 DTES Housing Plan. This could be a challenge as there are good things and bad things in this plan depending on your point of view or your class position.

Can this LAP committee speak for the whole community?

No. We are striving to create a diverse committee which will include many voices, especially those most often ignored. But, it is not possible to reflect the total diversity of expertise and opinions. There will be many opportunities for residents to participate in shaping the plan such as regular public meetings and sub-committees.

This might help fill some of the gaps.

Why was DNC chosen as the cochair?

The DNC is building off the work done by the Carnegie Action Project (CCAP). In May 2009 CCAP organized a resolution endorsed by 47 groups calling for a Local Area Planning Process because condos were overwhelming the area and because these groups wanted a safe, affordable and healthy lowincome neighbourhood. In Fall 2010, many of these groups organized to stop the up-zoning of Chinatown and other parts of the DTES until a plan was made.

Because of this pressure, City council asked BCS and DNC to "accelerate and enhance" a Local Area Plan.

Unfortunately, council also "accelerated" condos by giving incentives to developers.

Why was BCS chosen as a co-chair?

BCS is chaired by former Mayor and Premier Mike Harcourt. This group is made up of mostly ex-senior city planners and people tied to real estate development. BCS lobbied for a local area plan in 2009 as well. They also asked council to hold off on incentives for market development in Chinatown until a plan was made although some of their members spoke in favour of towers independently. Likely council chose this group to "balance" the DNC. What are DNC and CCAP's shared goals with the LAP Process?

One goal is to ensure those who have the least amount of power and the most to lose as the DTES gentrifies, have a strong voice and help create this plan. Another goal is win support for measures to stop gentrification. We also hope to get many people working on concrete actions that deal with the systemic roots of violence against women, poverty and homelessness that directly affect low-income residents and Aboriginal people so harshly here now.

Will my participation in this process mean that I can't organize direct actions?

No. So far, the city has not agreed to

hold off on market development or on other actions that harm the community like ticketing people for poverty crimes like vending, while the plan is underway.

We must continue to advocate for social justice, through a diversity of tactics, including demonstrations and negotiations, while we find ways to keep the good things about the low-income community and to improve the lives of those who are most vulnerable to displacement.

What are the rules for the process?

Terms of Reference are like rules for the LAP Process to operate by. The DNC, with CCAP's support, worked for about 8 months to come to an agreement with BCS and the city on the rules.

DNC signed these terms of reference along with BCS and the city manager in September 2011 .

Pick up a copy of the Terms of Reference in the CCAP office (Carnegie Centre, 2nd floor).

What could go wrong? What could go right?

This could be an opportunity for lowincome people, especially women, people of colour and the Aboriginal community (on whose unceded land the DTES is located) to take up space with their visions for the community. It could stall or stop condo development with by-law and zoning amendments; buy us more time to build low-income housing! be a good process for community organizing; help us get more allies; and, 7

·11. . .: r: help us set a new standard for strengthening the power that 11 1 -- -.(.' than !ow-income "residents", rather just agency managers and 111... businesses, have over their ·J'

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fhe LAP Process, so we can try J . · ,· to avoid these pitfalls. Some ·::. • .• . · ~f these pitfalls could be: the ·LAP will fail to stop or slow gentrification; our work will be ;~ used to give politicians a good image; more gentrification projects like Woodwards will happen with token benefits for low-income residents; and, committee reps may be blamed if the work goes badly.

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concerns are reflected in a new 1(1H DTES plan.

• . • -· How can I get involved?

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Are you a resident who has a lot r • •• 1 of "insider knowledge" about yo~JI • community? Are you a resident ·~.I t leader in the community? Wendy from CCAP is also the main organizer for the LAPP with DNC. Call her at 604-839-0379 and leave .. ., your contact info. She'll keep you plugged in. Also keep an eye on our website and watch for posters and flyers that advertise meetings.

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What CCAP learned this month about

Social housing, SRO hotels, & BC Housing renos On November 15th, the Carnegie Action ProJect staff met w1th Shayne Ramsey, the head of BC Housing.

Here are some interesting things that he said: 1. The province is going to renovate 13 hotels. Most of them are in the Downtown Eastside.

They include the Washington, Sunrise, Gastown, Orange Hall, Rice Block, Marble Arch, Dominion,

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The whole process should take 4-S. years.

Local people w1ll be employed. When the renos are done, rooms still won't have bathrooms, but bathrooms on the floors will be improved and there will be separate ones for women.

\12. BC Housing policy does not include a 30 day limit on shelter stays. Shelters who allow people to stay more than 30 days would not be in trouble with the government.

3. BC Housing does not Marr, Roosevelt, Cordova Residence, require shelters to have The Hazelwood is one of 13 reno-sites staff hand out Tamura House, The Beacon, and medication .

Hazelwood. They are going to do the 4. Homes have been found for about 125 renovations with a private partner who people at the First United Shelter but it is will be responsible for the renos and still filled up. for maintaining major building systems like heat for 15 years. The buildings 5. Housing on the 14 city owned sites will be upgraded for earthquakes and is fully funded even though about 1000 heritage buildings will be restored . The units on those sites still haven't been whole project will cost $80 to $100 built. million in capital costs and $50 million 6. About 1000 people are on the BC in maintenance. Some people who Housing wait list for supportive housing live in some of the buildings will have and 12,000 to 14,000 on the wait list for to be moved during the renovations. non supportive BC Housing . - JS 9

Low-income people not welcome at CBC Foodbank Day "open-house" Report on Raise the Rates December 2 march for 芦Justice not Charity!"

Downtown Eastside residents went to the esc foodbank day today with two messages: We want Justice so we don't need Charity, and we want the esc to spend more time covering ways to end poverty and so we don't have to spend so much time alleviating it.

"We hope the food bank raises lots of money today," said Roland Clarke, the event's MC. "If they raise half a million dollars that would be good. That would work out to about $2.78 for every person on welfare and disability in BC. The problem is: People in poverty need more than $2.78 worth of food each year. We need justice."

coverage on a poverty reduction plan and higher welfare rates." This is when security guards prevented the six people in the delegation from entering the main room where other members of the public were participating in the radio show.

Before the delegation tried to enter the esc with its message of "justice so we don't need charity," Tina the Charity Turkey also made an appearance, calling for a new group, Turkeys United for Justice so we don't need Charity.

"Welfare is too low," said Tina, "It needs to be at least $1300 a month so people can pay rent, buy groceries and take transit to look for a job."

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After skits and speeches a small delegation from the group went into the CBC to present a donation and a giant thank you card on air. The card said: "Justice Now to End the Need for Charity."

"Thank you CBC .

Now make an even bigger difference by providing more 10

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People who donate to the food bank need to do more, said the Turkey. ''They can tell the Premier to raise welfare rates so people can buy me with their own money, or preferably buy ham."

Over and over speakers said that the $610 a month welfare rate for rent, utilities, food, transit, clothes, cleaning supplies, phone and other necessities is not enough to live on .

Area Network of Drug Users added, "Anyone who's used a food bank knows that the process is often frustrating, undignified and even humiliating . As a stopgap measure it's bad enough, but when this becomes institutionalized it becomes another part of the grinding violence of poverty that struggling individuals and families have to endure."

"It's the indignity of standing for hours in line for help and then not even being able :-s;iiiiliii!M to use the food they give you ," said Brian Miles.

I know I'm in a tough situation, but at times at the foodbank, I've felt really humiliated."

While outside, the group Coalition delegates Paul & Lorna turned handed out bandaid shaped leaflets asking "Most of what they give you at the everyone to email premier@gov.bc.ca foodbank, cans and packaged goods, are past expired , sometimes a year or urging the Premier to raise welfare more," said Richard Cunningham. rates to $1300 a month. They also asked passers-by to fill out a budget "You have to spend hours in line and for living on $610 per month for all then if you live in a SRO and you don't expenses including looking for work . have a kitchen , you can't use half of what they give you," explained another Contact: Aiyanas Ormond: 604-315food bank user, Laura Shaver.

8766; Dave Diewert: 778 708-5006 Aiyanas Ormond of the Vancouver Il

MLA to spend January living on welfare rate of $610 a month

As you may know by now, Surrey and to build at least 2000 units of social Member of the Legislative Assembly, housing a year in BC. Jagrup Brar, has agreed to live on $610 Raise the Rates and Brar know that for a month. $610 is the welfare rate his month spent living on $610 won't for a single person who is expected to be nearly as hard as actually having look for work. Brar will spend the first half of the month in his riding of Surrey, to live on welfare. Raise the Rates is hoping that the challenge will help and the second half here in the Downtown Eastside. We are hoping to have educate people about how low wela town hall meeting in the second half fare rates are, and generate pressure on the province to increase rates and of January where people on welfare can come and talk to the MLA about make other humanizing changes to the welfare system. what welfare changes are needed.

Brar is responding to a challenge by Raise the Rates, a coalition that wants government to raise welfare rates and minimum wages, to end the clawbacks of earnings exemptions and child support payments from people on welfare,

If you have ideas about what we should do while Brar is in the DTES, call Jean at 604 729 2380 for the e'l suggests... time and place of the next Raise the .j.'f Rates meeting. · ~ ~

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Some websites to look at http://ccapvancouver.wordpress.com/ Virtually everything we're up to at CCAP gets posted on this blog.

Click on the reports tab to read the full 2011 CCAP hotel report. https :/Is ites. goog le .com/s i te/dteslapp/ This site is regularly updated with information about the DTES LAPP http://dtesnotfordevelopers.wordpress.com The Pantages coalition has re-formed to fight gentrification all over the DTES, including sites like the 17-story tower at 611 Main Stand the Paris Annex

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News f'rOtn the LibrarY Christmas Bool<s Happy holidays from the Carnegie Library! Get into the ho liday spirit w ith these featured titles from our seaso nal collection: A West Coast Christmas: Celebrating the Season 011 the Edge of th e Pacific, edited by Anne Tempelman-Kluit (394.26) is a classic collection of Christmas memories, sto ries and recipes from our history. Highlights include Emily Carr's account of Christmas in Victoria circa 1885 and Dr. W. Wymond Walkem's description of the Christmas experience of loggers in Gastown in 1877.

We a lso have a selection of recent Christmas fiction, includ ing Kat Martin's The Christmas Clock (FIC), a heart-warming story of family, love, joy & forgiveness set in the tiny Michigan town of Dreyervi lle.

For a good laug h, c heck out Politically Correct Holiday Stories by James F inn Garner (FIC SS).

Garner has revised and improved five class ic holiday tales, from A Christmas Carol to The Nutcracker. Rudolph is now a " nasally empowered reindeer" struggling for fair working conditions, and Santa an "overweight patriarchal oppressor."

Read this book if you're ready to have an en lightened (and humorous) yuletide seaso n.

Whi le you're enjoying any of th e above books, you might want to listen to a CD of Christmas music. We reco mmend Tile Magic of Christmas

by Quartetto Gelato (783.6), wh ich features a selection of 17 classic carols on the accord ion, oboe, clarinet, eng lish horn, ce llo, violin, bass and more, with members ofThe Hamilton Festival Choir.

All of these are in the library display case. with plenty more availab le to borrow as well, including seasonal magazi nes fu ll of ho liday crafts, children's stories, and even Christmas music books fu ll of sheet music and lyrics.

Emily, your librarian

in the Downtown Eastside. We do th is by honouring and sharing the c reative skills and resources our community and its res idents have to offer. DECA was first fo unded in 2009 by Dalannah Gail Bowen and is currently under the direction of Pat McSherry and Sharon Kravitz. We recognize creative expression as a basic need. Like food, clothing, she lter and love, we cannot function without it.

DECA is developing a series of initiatives which reflect these val ues: full listing of Downtown Eastside arts programming that are free or by donation catalogue of community spaces, equipment and supplies in the Downtown Easts ide to support programs, projects and events in the ne ighbourhood mentorship and c reative skil l support network recycled art materials depot to provide low-cost art and c raft materia ls.

We invite you to work with us. We are look ing for Board members a nd Friends of DECA who live and/ or work/vo lunteer in the Downtown Eastside who have o ne o r more of these skill sets to donate I 00 hours a year to DECA. Board training is offered. Our community is often seen in terms of its deficits. The initiati ves we're developing will reflect its greatest assets, a lot of creative resourceful people.

Become a member of our Facebook page.

Skill Sets

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• Board Development a nd Recruitment T he Downtown Easts ide Centre for the Arts ( DECA) is an organization committed to working col labora tively with individuals and organizations

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Fundraising skills and expertise Grant writing Gathering community art program information/community outreach Web development and support Graphic artist Media / Marketing Space resources: office, storage, pg delivery Facilitation Legal I professional Artistans and craftspeople Bookkeeping I accounting Builders, carpenters, trades, handy workers Researchers Plannin g skills Special Event production Educators I me ntors

Go to info@decentreforthearts.com by Jan 3 1, 20 12 with your expression of interest. {Sharon &/or Pat)

The Silence of Cries Been hanging around with my bi-polar bears now they may not care but my plate has really piled up, I see airplanes now come with complimentary handcuffs as people guzzle their dinner as brain cells get thinner I may embellish the truth but I really wish I were making this up. I see tis Great White North once again losing its course as Alberta decides whether to become the 51 51 State, corporations jumping for joy as we continuously pump out new girls and boys do you ever envision what could be their very Hell-like fate, do you ever think Earth & Mother Nature bring us wave after wave life isn't for the squeamish let alone what once was really cool could soon become ominous silence and cries, are you one of those fooled into paying 50 bucks for "The Best Licence Plate in the World?

I think some of the other 233 countries think we are a bunch of fools now is that true or is it at least a little a bit a lie, like being glad you've only dived into the shallow end of an empty pool, now you may have courage and also have brains but all that and plenty more will go down the drain HEY I'm talking to you I know that I'm wh ining but right now you're the b igger fool Now I have friends who complain about my whining sense of charm so be it you can't please anybody all the time; I'm guilty of oppression being part of this human cha ingang don't worry no names will be mentioned but take a real hard look at this planet/country/ city all being simultaneously destroyed every waking moment thanx to mankind; as for Selfishists give 'em an inch they take a thousand-fold more than an army ofMr Grinch is come back for more now this is just way too bloody much Don ' t you think the time is now to tell these selfish bastards to go to hell. I think we have the abi lity to acquire the St Minus touch - no more black oceans but grey clouds are okay no more Pick tons or 01sens ... w ith 7 billion remembering we w ill never ever be forgotten and that is good. With the power of cowards we should be able to move mountains thus not so much Reconstruction and slow down this thing called Progress then all of humanity could be on the same page ... Come on now every-

body love it or hate it you damn well know we should, maybe one more thing to think about that although there is much cruelty war poverty and much more to doubt that light at the end of the tun~el is just our sense of vision, try to enjoy the endmg of an extremely good news/bad news kind of year I'll try to reappear 'til then I'll be listening to f~o~steps on_ ~y roof and of course enjoying my joy d1V1dend I diVIsion

By ROBERT McGILL!VRA Y "Skill c~mes so s low, and life so fast doth fly; we learn so httle and forget so much." Sir John Danes

Sun's Coming Sun's peeking through the clouds, my self will was ki lling me. I lost the power to choose and each day became fear-driven escape felt like the only way.

I know that our choices never define who we're meant to be; We were all born innocent, some of us nurtured, some of us tainted. forgive move on Nora Kay

Friends So Far Away My Special "K" Being alive a very long time you count yourse lf lucky If you don't end up punch drunk and dazed by a ll the drama we call our ' lives' Years ago was a Cockney bastard leave one topwn end up in another cavalierly trading one set of faces for another; confident somehow I'd never run out of friends but buster ain't so lemee tell ya bro' be lucky if you can count your friends your whole life long on the fingers of your lucky hand.

This holiday season I really miss someone special to me was bittersweet diving and drowning in her limitless friendship was so nice to matter to another soul on this planet of strangers I count myself lucky to feel this tag on my heart never know love till you miss it and honey I miss it this Christmas I'll be thinkin and gladly miss in you as evidence of our loving, and our time together

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!Merry Christmas they all say

. Jeveryone expected to pay pay the homeless to stay away So we don't see them on our holiday

even the guy selling junk on the comer wants more than it's worth stuff he got for nothing now suddenly he wants something

And so I came back here to die I said Thinking about that wild and freeArtistic period in the sixties.

hell, Christmas ain ' t for the needy it's for the greedy and for no one broke and kinda seedy 'want more' that' s all they say down & out you still gotta pay

My friends in the Black Swan on Robsonstrauss Good German soap for twenty-five cents The coffee houses, hootnannies and marijuana a part of every gasthering Kelowna Red or Ricffinio Heroin was rare in our set It rained once for four days & nights We walked across Granville Bridge in our raincoats and umbrellas There was a sawdust burner in my place The smell divine but dangerous I kept the shelves full of Campbell's soup Baked beans and baby eggplant Life was very livable The goldfish ion my bowl came up to talk We made angels in the sand of English Bay So many places to go So much to do

guy on the corner of Gore & Hastings pain in the ass with all his wasting gets a rosary for free but he wants money from you & me Ain ' t for the needy or the seedy Christmas is all about the greedy

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Tdreamed of that starving artist life every day For twenty-two years So I have come back to die Wilhelmina Miles

la:S A JOKE The Vancouver Mayor says the "F" word quite regularly. He was caught on television saying the F word.

The F word of course is a word spelled with an 'f as, for example, 'fuck' .... you know in the Downtown Eastside lots of people say "the fucking this" & "the fucking that" ...

We're on the side of the Mayor on this one!

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Tara

If you want to write something, you should alway! try to tell the truth.

If you tell a little lie it's bad for karma & it involves a lot of little lies that may be entertaining f01 some people, but one in a hundred will intuitively know that you lie.

If it' s truth & lie, truth & lie, it's not much better.

You have to tell the truth always.

If you're advertising something you're an actor, chosen for having the right voice to speak on radio, so you are immediately not telling the truth.

Few people see this. Drug users do!

Tara

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HUMANITIES HELLO!!

To all Hum students, alumni and friends: we are having a Hum Christmas party at the Carnegie Centre on Thursday December 22nd from 2-4p.m. A buffet will be provided a long with some light entertainment. It will be a good chance to catch up with some old faces and meet some new ones. We hope to see yo u there.

Other events:

Neighbourhood Walks

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Join us for a neighbourhood walk to pro mote safety, security and fitness. Three 1hr walks in the strathcona, carnegie and raycam area. includes a fitness component, neighbourhood trivia, and it's free!! ! first walk dec 1Oth, II am at the strath community center. for more details emai I victor bryan (strath fitness attendant) at trinigladiator 19 @gmail.com. It will be fun!

Roberta Robertson

When: Sunday December 18, from 2-4p.m in the third floor classroom of the Carnegie Centre Facili- ~ tated by: Steven Frey and Judy Blair. ~. \ Film: Amazing Grace ~ This new film g roup is looking to attract some film buffs who are eager to watch and di scuss film. The What a Way to Be next session is December 18, and into the New Lovelorn, love lost, passed on, given away, disYear the group will be meeting every other Sunday, carded kaput, rejected, cut-off, avoided ; love on the run, to sp lit from , to play hide & seek, don't wanna from January 15 onwards.

Amazing Grace is a 2006 film, directed by Michael be loved or adored or pitied. Get the picture: no Apted, about the campaign against slave trade in more .. ever again .. finito ; hunter & huntress with bow & arrow drawn ready to release, headed the British Empire, led by William Wilberforce, who was responsible for steering anti-slave trade straight for your broken heart that hasn't yet healed mutual agreement, nothing doing, common law, legislation through the British parliament.

In 1797, William Wilberforce, the great crusader prenuptial agreement; not a chance, no way, forget for the British abolition of slavery, is taking a vacait, breaking up, putting down, silent treatment, in tion for his health even while he is sicker at heart the doghouse.

How about yo u? Changing locks and combinations, for his frustrated cause. However, meeting the charming Barbara Spooner, Wilberforce finds a comparing, matching signs of the zodiac,. What's soul mate to share the story of his struggle. With ooino on there? does that make sense? 'cause in the few allies such as his mentor, John Newton, a slave :nd ~·s all about dollars and cents. You' re not my sister, mistress or master. Who's your lawyer .. got ship captain turned re pe ntant priest who penned the a name & number .. she ' ll fleece us both to tear us great hymn, "Amaz ing Grace,'' Prime William Pitt, and Olaudah Equiano, the erudite former slave asunder. Let's call a truce - why don ' t we just chill turned author, Wilberforce fruitlessly fights both out, like hang real loose, let's make a deal, no hard public indifference and moneyed opposition deterfeelings; all kidding aside, no dice?

Can't disappear to who knows where! mined to keep their exploitation safe. Nevertheless, What's the meaning of this, we must move on, Wilberforce finds the insp iration in new found love we're wasting time, time to vanish, to get off the to rejuvenate the fight with new ideas that would dime; no more shackles, no more ball & chain lead to a great victory for social justice. they cause too much damage, too much pain. Back Humanities I 0 I Community Programme to almost fatal attractions, one-night-stands, the Dr. Margot Leigh Butler, Academic Director bitter end of infidelity. Why bother have real tel. 604-822-0028 fax. 604-822-6096 dreams to end this madness by any means; whatever it takes to finish th is stupid fooli sh tug of war.

Nothing more to say you say, cross your heart and hope not to die, when thi s goes off the rails try not to laugh .. then cry. I guess that' s it, end of story, case closed, except that on every wedding anniversary day I will never ever forget to send you a yellow, lo ng-stemmed rose.

ROBYN LIVINGSTONE

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Caii1egieC NEWSLETTER

"Never do ubt that a small group of thol.lghtful, committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has ."

- Margaret Meade

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401 Main Street, Vancouver 604.665.2289

THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION

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

WANTED

We acknowledge that the Carnegie Community Centre, and this Newsletter, are occurring on Coast Salish Territory.

Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter Next Issue SUBMISSION DEADLINE: *Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry; . ~HURSDAY, JANUARY 12th *Cover art -Max.size: 17cm(6 ~")widex15cm(6")high; 2011 DONATIONS: Ubby 0.-$50. Margaret D.-$50. Rolf A.-$50, *Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the Brian H.·$100, CEEDS -$100, Barry M.·$150, leslie S.-$50, Downtown Eastside but all work considered; . Savannah WITerry H -$200, Jenny K.-$25, Barbara M.-$200 Vancouver Moving Theatre -$300 .. The Edge -$200, )(' -$52, *Black &White printing only; Wilhelmina 11.-$25, Sheila B.-$100, Christopher R.-$175 *Size restrictions apply (i.e. If your piece is too large MiciYel C.-$50, 0, Bonnie F.-$100, CUPE 15 -$1450, Wl-$100 -~izotne-~~ it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit; *All artists will receive credit for their work; *Originals will be returned to the artist after being copied for publication; *Remuneration: Carnegie Volunteer Tickets.

Please make s~bmissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.

GET CLEAN Shower Up at the Lord's Rain 327 Garratt St. just off Pigeon Pari< HOT SHOWERS. (towel, soap, shampoo (the works) & coffee) Monday, 7-1 Oam, (Ladies only!) ?am Tuesday, Wednesday.& Saturday

FREE DENTAL HELP 455·E Hastings: Monday & Friday, 9:30-12:30

Call 604-254-9900 for information.

Cleaning only at VCC is $35; Info: 604-443-8499

FREE

LE~AL

ADVICE

USC - Law Students Legal Advice Program All cases checke~ wnh lawyers; confidential Drop-in: Tuesdays, 7- 9pm (ends 11/22/11) Jrd floor Art Gallery, Carnegie Ctr, 401 Main

camnews@shaw.ca www.camnews.org http://carnegie. vcn.bc.calnewsletter http://harvesters.sfu.ca/chodarr

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-' WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTON • • • • • •

AIDS POVERTY HOMELESSNESS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TOTALITARIAN CAPITALISM IGNORANCE and SUSTAINED FEAR

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Clash is good! If everything is going well, no conflict among those whom each situation forces contact with, how long can it go on before you freak out for lack of progress?

Physical clash is the foundation of evolution; Cosmic Mind crudified into inorgan ic matter- unit mind evolving from this state via physical c lash, psychic clash and attraction of the Great. When a human vehicle becomes necessary for further growth each entity moves closer to the Infinite with more subtle expressions of its nature. The Iinkage w ith Cosmic Mind is the first"!" in the senten ce "I know that I exist." This is the dominant force governing the "I" that does -that performs action. The 'doer-!', in turn, rules over the crudest aspect of individual identity, the conscious mind. To advance in sp iritual evolution the fastest way is to meet the Primary Clash!

Intuition is far stronger and truer than intellect, needs no indulgence in intellectual extravaganza for expression, and action based on its illumination never degenerates into tall talk. As unit mind evolves through being crude, subtle, subliminal and sublime to attune with causal dealing with intensifying clash must be taken up as part of the process.

This is healthy, as the self-deprecating aspect doesn't dominate .. it becomes quieter as psychic power develops. Self-pity can become dangerously acute with repetition. All physical and psychic clash occ urs to strengthen spiritual gains.

Religions casual and religions intense are constantly at odds over who has the unique reve lation and 'True Word'. Spirituality is the original and true path of awakening, using "original and true" at their simplest.

Myths and legends of all times try to exp la in what actually happens in language that those hearing will understand. The mystery relig ions on which Christ ianity was based and from which most of its legends were taken (Adam, Noah, Lot, Moses, Abraham, etc.) suffered from the stigma of all suc h di sciplines: they were written by self-serving orderspriests/rabbis/ministers/umma whose main concern was and is the continued subservience of a ll from whom independent thought has been exorcised.

(Read Deceptions and Myths of tlte Bible, then Holy Bloodmoly Grail)

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C lash must be seen and dealt with on a ll levels, inwardly & outwardly, with all people and ideas that ask to be bowed down to in recognition of their assumed superiority.

Welcome to the Monkey House. PRA'N'A VA

Replying to simple and friendly social niceties Depression is a con stant monkey but myriad 路methodologies ' - having been postulated by academ ics and so metimes val idated by experienceweigh in vying for top spot on the pyramidal heap of choices availab le. Of course by the time any system is even pulled kicking & screaming from its carefu lly sequentialized positio n in whatever hierarc hy it rests, the c rummy feeling has evolved or devolved into something entire ly unrecognisable and it's all fo r shit. Bubbling and bo il ing down, I finall y arrive at the immortal words of Alfred E Neuman: " What, me worry?"

For the first five years of this News letter's existence, issues came out (almost) invariably on the 1st & 15th of every month. On December 31st, 1990 (actually in the first ho ur of January I st.

1991) I was in the News -letter office at quarter-toone collati ng the next day's paper and out of the blue, like a vis ion burnt across the clouds, it came to me: "What the fuck am I doing?!" I hazarded to believe that some people would survi ve without any lethal withdrawal symptoms if there was no January 1 paper ever again !?!?! Since then December 15th has been the last paper until January 15th next year.

This December 15 will be the 25th anniversary of my being the ed itor.

I warned Beth to fully brief you on the dire consequences of mi ssing a deadline; yet even she has never had to learn the truly devastating result of(oh my 1) forget t i n g ... . I will refrain from illuminating you for fear of causing nightmares or forcing you to sleep with your Minnie Mouse nightlight on!

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