February 1, 2011, carnegie newsletter

FEBRUARY 1, 2011 carnnews@shaw.ca www.camnews.org http://carnegie.vcn.bc.ca/newsletter http://harvestors.sfu.ca/chodarr 401 Main Street, Vancouver BC 604.665.2289

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20 YEARS OF "THEIR SPIRIT'S LIVE WITHIN US" The Februar) 14th Women's Memorial March began when a Coast Salish woman was brutally murdered in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Her remains were strewn around the streets of the community. ll cr famil) from the Coast Salish territory came to the area to collect the remai ns of thi s Aboriginal woman.

The family brought with them a "seer"- someone who could vision where the remains were. so they could be collected and a ceremony performed at each of the sites her remains were located. This horrific event tool, place on January 20, 1992. The perpetrator was a family man from Burnaby. The woman was involved in the "survival sex trade" ; out of respect of the family's wishes. her name is not spoken today. The perpetrator was caught because a security guard in the area wrote down the licence plate number as his van was parked in a suspicious location.

Women in the community were in shock, and angr) that yet again a woman from the downtown eastside was murdered by someone outside the community and no one seemed to care or pay attention to women being murdered in the community.

They planned to march through the streets of the downtown eastside and stop at locations women were murdered. The date was chosen, they would march on February 14'", a date universally recognized as a day to show the one you love affection, caring, love, & appreciation, a day to honour the significant one you love.

Women met and organized the day; they would make placards bearing the names of women they knew who

died due to violence. They made banners and printed photographs of women that were murdered. Lavender would be the colour chosen to bring healing and roses would be left at each site. They planned to march through the streets. stopping at each location; at one of the many run down hotels or a dirty alley in the community, the Elder would perform a ceremony of smudging the site (smudge consists of sage. cedar, tobacco and a combination of herbs)- when lit, the smoke is dispersed with an Eagle feather. More tobacco is left at the site and a red rose is placed in her memory.

The grassroots group was small; about 28 in total gathered at the headquarter of the Vancouver Police Department at 3 12 Main Street to allow speeches from community women's groups who called on the Police Chief to hear the complaints ofconcemed community members regarding violence against women in the dov. mown eastside.

As the years progressed more and more women \\ere "missing" and the community wanted to acknowledge and raise awareness around the mi ssing women. It was decided the women who were missing would be honoured on February 14'11 as wel l. The colour of their rose was to be yellow, the colour of I lope. hope for their safe retum. The yellow ribbon of hope sits along side the purple ribbon. As years passed and the numbers increased their names were included on the memorial brochure, a document that bears the names of 332 women and 32 women on the missing women's list.

These women were never the forgotten women. In fact their memories are held in the hearts of those who loved them. Other titles she held were mother. daughter, sister, cousin. auntie & friend.

As we begin a new phase with the "missing women public inquiry" the February 14'" Women's Memorial March Committee is sceptical that anything will change for women in the downtown eastside. Women continue to go miss ing, they continue to be seriously assaulted and murdered by drug dealers in the area.

They continue to die premature deaths due to lack of access to adequate health care, poor living conditions, homelessness and addictions.

The missing women inquiry is too broad in its scope of investigating missing women fro m not only the downtown eastside but also the women from the Highway of Tears in northern British Columbia.

These are two very different sets of circumstances.

We in the downtown eastside need to have very different answers to our questions of why this has happened to vulnerable women from this community.

Why no real investigation took place when suspects \\ere clearly identified? Why women d1cd needlessly while jurisdictional questions and issues were being argued about across invisible boundaries?

Why increasing numbers of women were missing with no one apparently looking for them?

The appointment of Wally Oppal does not sit well \\ ith some community members, families and organizations involved in the missing women public inquiry and confidence in his abilit) is lacking. The scope of his inquiry for the missing women covers from 1997200 I. "hy arc these dates more significant when we knO\\ women were missing much earlier than 1997?

The years listed below come from the missing women web site Vancouver Missing Eastside Women or Google "missing women."

1978 I woman • 1983 2 women 1984 I woman • 1985 2 women • 1986 I woman 1988 I woman • 1989 I woman 1991 2 women 1992 2 women 1993 4 women • 1994 I woman • 1995 4 women • 1996 3 women • 1997 14 women • 1998 9 women • 1999 5 women • 2000 4 women • 200 1 8 women A shining light will be forced upon the dtes community once again throughout this process. The findings and outcomes from the missing women public inquiry hopefully will have a profound impact on how issues of\'iolence against women in this community and reports of missing women in particular arc hand led.

These women's deaths must not be in vain.

Come and join us in remembering our women from this community at the 20th February 14th Women 's

Memorial March. } Monday February 14, 2011 beginning at I :00 pm at") Main & Hastings.

Please be respectful of our wishes and leave your agency banners at home as we carry five banners bearing the names of our missing and murdered women.

Submitted by Marlene George

HEAR OUR SPIRITS CALL (dedicated to the 20th Annual Women's Memorial March) We were Mothers Daughters Sisters Lovers We were Hear Our Spirits call Hear our prayers We pass the torch to you You are Our voice You raise the flag Against ignorance and apathy Against cruel!) and greed Against systemic racism and gender bias In this city In this country and all around the world We are with you We walK oes1dc you m :::.pmt We hear your cries We knov. your fears We sec your tears For We are in the morning light We are in your joy and in your pain And as yo u gather to light the fight We are in the sunlit rain You know our story We ask that you walk in glory Walk fo r Our children They arc Our future They wi ll be Mothers. Daughters Sisters Lovers Hear their prayers Walk for peace Walk for justice Walk for equality Walk for opportunity Walk for and in Our memory Someday soon voices will rise We have Our freedom We have victory Dalannah Gail Bowen

Presentation by Libby Davies (Member of Parliament f or Van couver East) at tlte Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, Community Engagement Forum, held January 19, 201 I Mr. Oppal, respected elders, family members and members of the community, I thought hard about how to begin today, having been involved with this tragedy of the missing women since the 1980s, when I was a Vancouver City Councillor.

For years I, like many, called for a public inquiry into the missing and murdered women. And here it is- the public inquir) is happening. It' s imperfect; not exactly as called for; and too limited in its scope of years, which is very worrisome as to why. But nevertheless it is a public inquiry- and that's really important.

But already I'm thinking. and I hate that I'm thinking this: What faith do I have that this inquiry will result in any real change? Will it be another weighty report, well intentioned but destined for the back shelf and forgotlen?

I'd like to say to you today, Commissioner Oppal, that I believe your biggest challenge is to produce a report that cannot be ignored. nor forgotten. nor dismissed. It must be a report that addresses the deeply disturbing and egregious wrongs done by our society to the most defenceless people in our community. Your report must have built-in mechanisms that ensure its active follow up. All of us as witnesses, experts, victims, families, friends and ad,路ocates must compel you to issue a report that is bullet proof, hard hitting and will cause shock waves as to v. hat went wrong and why.

Nothing less can do. If it's less than that, let's go home now and keep pretending nothi ng happened, both individ ually and collectively.

So that's your and our challenge: we get one shot at it and we'd bet1er get it right. Otherwise countless other women, sex workers and aboriginal people are doomed to harm, loss of life and tragedy.

In 1999 I met with the then-Minister of Justice and told him about the tragedy of the missing women. He was a decent guy but barely knew anything about it. It shocked me that even though there had been so much media in Vancouver it was still not known nationally.

For over 2 decades the C ity, Province and Federal governments and law enforcement agencies decided that the steady disappearance of women, mostly aboriginal and mostly working in the sex trade, was not worthy of committing the needed resources to put a stop to it.

Why? We have learned in bits and pieces about what happened in the case of the serial murderer who preyed upon these women. We have learned that complaints were not taken serio usly, standard investigation techniq ues set aside, jurisdictional issues looked over and that there was fighting, con nict a nd lack of investigation resources.

No one can deny there has been, and continues to be, a deep prejudice against sex workers and aboriginal women who are at high risk. It raises deeply disturbing questions about our judicial system, how it operates and how it failed the missing and murdered women.

The tragedy of the situation is far-reach ing. For many in ihe Downtown Eastside and beyond there is ongoing loss and grief as people face the enormity of what has taken place. That is one reason why a formal public inquiry is not enough.

The Women's Memorial March in the Downtown Eastside has been one example of the grief and impact on this community. Last year in 20 I 0, thousands of people came to Main and I Iastings to participate in the march and remember the missing and murdered women.

The disappearance of over 60 women from the Downtown Eastside and hundreds more across the country, including the "Highway of Tears" and the disappearances evidenced in the "Stolen Sisters Report," raise the most fundamental questions about j ustice and e quality in our society, and questions about why these women were, and are, so at risk and vulnerable to vio lence, poverty, explo itation and death.

I was at a Parliamentary Commit1ce yesterday hearing witnesses, and one witness described the s ituation as "the brokenness of our system." Current laws pertaining to prostitution make street level sex workers vulnerable to selective and harmful law enforcement. And the fa ilure of the criminal code to protect sex workers is a key factor that must be brought forward by this public inquiry.

T he Parliamentary Comm ittee on Justice a nd Human Rights completed a report in late 2006 on Canada's prostitution laws. While the report did n't go far enough, it did clearly outline the fai lure of the criminal code to protect sex workers and local communities. When sex workers are displaced to isolated areas as a result of the communication

law (Section 213 of the criminal code), they become eas1cr targets lo r predators and lace greater ns~ ol harm and ~~ The current status of law enforcement pertaining to sex work is contradictory and unacceptable, as evidenced in the recent Ontario Superior Court ruling.

On the Parliamentary Comminee we heard from over one hundred sex workers. We heard over and over again how they are fearful to report violence. assault, coercion and fear the police because of their illegal status. The poor relationship with law enforcement contributes to the danger they face. h is ironic. to say the least, that the very protection that we believe we can turn to and rely on, is itself a source of harm and conO ict for the women who went missing and others in similar circumstances.

The reality is this: the people who most needed protection often ended up being subject to harassment, discrimination and prosecution while the real perpetrators went free and unchecked. This is perhaps the greatest failure that took place, and puts into question the credibility of our Ia\~ enforcement institutions and the role they play There are four key issues that need to examined and addressed: I. The failure of the law itse lf 2 Failure of broader public policy that deliberate!} deepens poverty, homelessness and loss of human rights 3. Racism 4. Failure of law enforcement agencies and loss of their credibility I am reminded of the famous quote from Anatole France, "rinen in 1894, and displayed in a mural at Main and Hastings: "1he law in ils majestic equali1yjorhids !he rich, as well as 1he poor. 10 sleep under bridges. 10 beg in the Slreels and to steal bread. " We might not want to know as a society that we have allowed laws and policy to be applied differently to different people. But that is the case and that is, in part, what this inquiry is about.

I have five questions I hope you will ask and get answers to: I. What went wrong and why?

2. Why were individual reports of missing women in the Downtown Eastside not taken seriously and followed up?

3. Why did it take so long to form a special task force w ith the RCMP, or even within the VPD, to investigate the disappearances?

4. Over the 30 year history of missing women, what patterns of law enforcement against sex trade workers have existed, beginning with the communication law in 1985, and what conclusions can be drawn from this that will explain the systemic issues involved in the disappearances and harm toward sex workers?

5. What publ ic policies in the form of service cuts; deliberately minimized income support ; and lack of housing contributed to the disappearances?

I also have some recommendations: Support the need and call for a community Jed process that allows the Downtown Eastside to cope with the trauma and impact on so many lives; Develop a tracking system for the Comm ission's report and ensure there arc regular progress reports to the BC Legislature and the community. Consider the idea of an ongoing process, made up of elected and civil society representatives to follow up the recommendations of your report; • Don't shy away from needed law reforms; • Examine the specific and transparent police protocols for receiving, processing and investigating complaints of missing women, particularly those who are identified as high risk and involved in the sex trade. Accountability is the key issue here. There has been none. In 2008 I wrote to the VPD about what changes had been made to respond to the complaints about missing women. I received a detailed response but it is not clear to me whether these protocols are adequate or even well known in the community.

Don ' t ignore the underlying issues of poverty, racism and inequality. If they are ignored nothing will change.

And finally: See the families, friends and advocates for the missing women and sex workers themselves as allies and powerful voices who know what happened and can tell you why it happened. They know what needs to be done. If you listen to these voices the truth \\ill come out.

C harles Dickens'

GREAT EXPECTATIONS adapted for the s tage by Errol Durbach A Blackbird Theatre Company co-production with Persephone Theatre, Saskatoon as presented by the Gateway Theatre, Richmond

Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP) FREE Information Session in English Hosted by Richmond Centre for Disabilit)

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The RDSP is a new fede rally registered savings p lan that is delivered by the Canada Revenue Agency. It is designed to ens ure long-tenn financial security for people with disabilities. Beneficiaries may receive the

2pm Sunday, February 13 Carnegie Centre Theatre

added benefit ofgovemment grants and bonds. The RDSP, grant and bond are an initiati ve of the Govemmem of Canada. Richmond Centre for Disability Carnegie Centre will host a reading of a new stage (RCD) encourages people to apply for RDSP's. T his savings plan alig ns with the Independent Li ving phiadaptation o f Charles Dickens' famous novel Great Expectations. a Ill) stcrious tale of Jove, loss and relosophy encouraging people with disabilities to plan for their long term financial security and the future demption that cemented Dickens' fame in his li fet ime and led to its se lection, 140 years after his death. as an costs of disability needs. Come join us to learn more Oprah 's Book Club selection. about how this program can be beneficial to you and l!:jlilllllllllililiiiiiiiillllllllllllllllllllllll~ your beloved one with disabilities.

Date: Februar) I S'h. 20 I I T ime: 5:00-6:30 pm Venue: Carnegie Community Centre (Classroom II) http://stopthemeter.ca

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are about to impose usage-based billing on YOU. This means we're looking at a future where ISPs will charge per byte, the way they do with smart phones. If we allow this to happen Canadians will have no choice but to pay MUCH more for less Internet. Big Telecom [Te/us, Shaw, etc.] companies are obviously trying to gouge consumers, control the Internet market, and ensure that consumers continue to subscribe to their television services.

These Big Telecom companies are forcing small competing ISPs to adopt the same pricing scheme, so that we have no choice but to pay these punitive fees.

This will crush innovative services, Canada's digital competitiveness, and you r wallet.

We urgently need to send a clear message to Ottawa, saying that we won't stand by while some of the most profitable companies in the country indiscriminately add new fees to our Internet bills. Enough is enough .

UPDATE: The CRTC just made a decision that paves the way for new internet fees to be added to your bill. To stop this we need to raise our voices now more than ever.

"It's the people wflo malce our community

beautiful, and they do that by reaching out to each other and helping each other.

Even as the giant fir is nurtured by its roots, so our community of the Downtown Eastside is nurtured by its members."

Sandy Cameron, C;wnegiâ&#x20AC;˘ flâ&#x20AC;˘wsltttt<

News From 1:he Library My origami efforts always end up looking like a crumpled piece of paper rather than a graceful nying crane. If you're like me, or if you're an expert paper folder who's run o ut of proj ects, check out Uber Orig ami: Every Origami Proj ect E ver! by Duy Nguyen (745.54). Find out how to make a mermaid, a rhinoceros, and even a B2-bomber.

The n~w edition of Diabetes for Canadians for Dum11ues (616.46) has a wealth of information on a disease that's all too familiar to many DTES residents. Understand the different types of d iabetes, learn how to reduce your diabetes risk, and help to manage your diabetes through exercise and nutrit ion. " If you thought you had white people pegged as Oscar-party-throwing, Prius-driving, Sunday New York ~imes-rea~i ng, self-satisfied lane lovers- you were n ght. But 1f you thought diversity was just fo r other races, then hang on to your ceo-fr iendly tote bags. Veteran white person Christian Lander is back with fascinating new information and advice on dealing with the Caucasian population." Whiter Shares of Pale (827).

A ll of these books are in the library disp lay case and wi ll be available to borrow on Monday, Februar~ 7th.

Beth, your librarian

REAL LO CAL

SOLEfood Farm Info-Employment Session The SOLEfood Urban Fann, located at the comer of East Hastings Street and Hawks A venue (beside the Astoria Hotel), will soon be entering its second season. SOLEfood Farm is a project led by United We Can that trains and employs people from the community to grow food. T he food is primarily sold at Farmers Markets and to restaurants so that we can generate revenue to maintain employment for our farmers. A portion of the grown food is also made available to the community by hand ing it out on the street to our

neighbours and passersby, growing produce that is publically accessible for people to pick and share, or distributing it to other DTES organizations like the DTES Neighbourhood House and DTES Women's Centre. As the SOLEfood Farm reaches financial sustainability, we wi ll be developing programs and strategies that provide more fresh and healthy produce to DTES community members.

To prepare for the upcom ing growing season, SOLEfood Farm is looking for more farmers to join our team. lfyou are interested in working at SOLEfood or would like to know more about the project, come to our info-employment session on Friday. February 41h at I :OOpm, held at Bui lding Opportunities with Business located at 163 Pender Street (west of Main St. near the Dollar Store). Previous experience is notrequired. We hope to see you there.

Hail to the Hood

(Brotherhood)

As funky as the 'hood gets sometimes you gotta be thankful it is what it is I've been in places where the racism is blatant Where being brown or black is enough to draw down fi re from T he Great White l lunter types C ruisin' the mountain side in their ATVs Cruisin' the highways on their Harleys -power toys for the powerlessempty except for the uptown dress all leather and push and shove all wrapped up in leather g loves the re nective shades hid ing what I wonder hear a lot of noise in the endless thunder the great American[adian] power grab all dressed up in olive drab all made up in camo drag all the bodies going out in a bag I'm glad to be here, downtown eastside whatever I am, I don't have to hide you believe me, down here we got pride Here's one for the Downtown Eastside!

AI

Tales of Trail and other Trials in the City of Trail Here's the smart wigger he figure me; I'll head up to a town no one wants to live in, so 1 move in the Frontage. famous throughout the region as "the Place" wherein the coke fiends and ho's reside. First day, just to break the ice, I'm out in the park next door with my trusty hatchet demanding money back from the local hillbilly crack fiend-he's actually kinda impressed by the fact I was gonna kill him for being the onehundredth asshole to rip me off.

Turns out Constable Powell drove me all the way to Trail Regional to change the IV they'd installed so as to save what threatened to be an amputation of my shooting arm, my right ann.

So when the snow fell, landlord be gone to Haiti helping po' black folk, leaving us honkies to freezeno heat, no furnace!! I gets riotous about this, no-one listens or cares. Bitch figured she'd pull my chain 'n turned off the electricity that made life possible. 3 times I go up switch the switch on the b itch .. she figure it's funny till! up and maced her.

RCMP Constable Powell said next morning "Sir I can see by your record you've led a clean I if~.. exdept for this.'路 collect my silver and take off Christmas Day I figure maybe I was wrong maybe afler all I did and have picked the wrong kinda town AI Loewen Hi everyone, Robert says he talked to Bernie and it's OK.

fol" KtlNil Friends sometimes you end up missing w~lking down familiar streets missing

fne nds you've left only for awh ile yet secretly afraid you'll somehow lose 'em the ones whose card was the only one you got whose T-shirt made you unique, the only shirt advocating nonviolence in Hindi on ly one in that backward ass-backwards town made special, more special, because only there is the ~pecial friend you suddenly miss today and thtnk fondly of on Thursdays just like this the one friend you forgot to kiss good-bye saving it up for a k iss hello wait only for the time to pass AI Loewen

Dear Editor This is to address Colleen Carroll's letter in the Janu路 ary 15th Carnegie News/eller While I agree that the mainstream media vilifies our citizens; I do not agree that Jim Dewar's cartoon is meant in the same spirit. It was inspired by a question heard on TV last summer. This reporter suggested that all the free food in the DTES enabled drug use.

We are not all saints in this neighbourhood, and many of our residents do use drugs in order to escape the poverty and despair they face. To put our heads in the sand and say that nobody in the DTES smokes or drinks beer is not the answer. A satirical cartoon says what we are afraid to say or face. .

If the Carnegie newsletter is only allowed to show us in a positive light, no matter what the truth is. it is as guilty of propaganda as the media we love to hate.

Like all communities, we are a mixture of all kinds of people. We may have kind, caring neighbours; but we also have in our midst, those that throw young women from hotel rooms over drug debts. And sometimes those kind and caring neighbours will steal your smokes and beer.

I, too, love liv ing in the DTES and detest the media portrayal of our hood, but having a Pollyanna perception about ourselves does no one any favors.

If we can't laugh at ourselves and be honest about our realities, we wi ll lose touch with the people who do smoke and drink beer, the very same people we pretend to support. I smoke and drink beer, myself, on occasion, as do people all over this city. Does that automatically make me a loser, too?

Adrienne McCallum

An Ode to Your Heart I'm sure that you notice it all the time People dismiss you as not being worth their energy Because of your funny way of walking, talking Society dictates, "Be kind to the disabled if you must interact 路with them but ignoring them is best."

Those of us who truly care about you Know what they are missing ..

A friend who listens; A philosopher and writer with compassion for humanity; A ready sense of humour; A smile that can brighten your day; A man who does whatever he can for his communi ty.

You fall down more often than most, Sometimes you fall hard.

You have a lot of practice Picking yourself up, Checking for damage, And carrying on.

Broken bones heal faster Than a broken heart Or damaged self-esteem.

You teach us to heal ourselves With your living example.

Continuing with dignity Ignoring the pity in strangers' eyes.

It is easier with practice Dust off the bruised pride And find the courage To wear your heart openly once more

Lisa David

DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY I really want to disappear, I'm afraid I never will. Am I ever going to be erased- to vapour off & vanish? Confounded I am; what in tarnation am I not doing right!?

For me to run off and hide -The Great Escape- why am I always getting the deep down blues (besides being hard of hearing).. am I also missing the News?? Oh, what's the difference: no one can ever tell if up is down and whether it's a good or bad spell...

I can take the mystery and leave it in an others guiding hands, that's the easy thing to do, pass off the honours that are truly meaningless in the ultimate end. I have a lot to be forgiven for, so I apologise for all those days of yore.

After all I'm not so mortally wounded. I can recover cover my head for awhile maybe in the foetal position and awaken in sackcloth and ashes Gust a small pile).

End-of-sto ry???

By ROBYN LIVINGSTONE

Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP)

Newsletter Read CCAP reports at:

ccapvancouver. word press. com

Febl.201l

Two condo towers down and five to go ~----~~~~------~ Downtown Eastside residents had a little victory on Jan. 20th. 80 people signed up to speak at City IIall, 29 professors signed a very public letter, and a group of high profile folks. including former Premier Mike Harcourt and former Carnegie Director Michael Clague in the Building Community Societ) also wrote a letter that became public.

The issue was this: Will Counci l adopt a new policy that allows developers to build higher condo towers in the DTES? The pressure was too great for Council. At the very last minute they cancelled all the speakers and passed a motion. The motion stops developers from building 15 story condo towers at 99 W. Pender and 425 CatTail St. and stops them from buildings 12 story towers in the Main and llastings area for at least a year. But Counci l sent plans to al low developers to build at least 5. 15 stor) condo towers on Main St. between Keefer and Union to a public hearing probably in February.

The motion also sets up a Local Area Planning Committee for the entire

(

NEXT STEPS: FIGHT THE

\

5 TOWERS IN CHINATOWN!

DTES Neighbourhood Council Info/Strategy meeting All welcome 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb 5 First United Church Gym (320 E Hastings St) Sign up for Public Hearing at city hall- Date TBA Info: (604) 839-0379

\.

Fight the Height!

Keep Chinatown in the DTES!

y

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DTES except for Chinatown. And it said that the Committee will be co-chaired by a person from the Building Communities Society and the DTES Neighbourhood Council. This committee is supposed to (CONT. page 2)

(CONT. from page 1) Lorna Bird, Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction and "enhance and accelerate a others speak out against towers with their back to one DTES local areas plan of the sites stalled for at least a year by acth·ists. and to develop a clear strategy to implement the Stor existing Council approved DTES Housing Plan.·· The co-chairs will select the other committee members.

One of them must be from the Strathcona Residents' Association.

1 he co-chairs will also decide on the terms of reference. The City Manager is supposed to "ensure that appropriate resources are 1\!eighbourhood Council will consider a llocated·· to ensure that the project is \.vhcthcr to participate or not or under done by Dec. 3 I. 20 I I . what conditions, at its next meeting on Rezoning of99 W. Pender, 425 Feb. 5 from 2pm-3pm at the First United Carra!! and the Main and Bastings area Church (Hastings & Gore). This meeting will be considered after the planning is open to non-members as well. committee reports at the end of -Jean Swanson.

December. The Downtown Eastside

Was it a victory? it's not nearly 100% of what we wanted and we have to keep fighting. There arc good parts in the resolution. One part that is a victor) is that the owner of the BC Electric Building can't start building a 15 story tower. llc·s stuck with onl y 7 stories (which will slo"'. if not stop, redevelopment (CONT. page 3)

Was it a total victory? No way! Can we stop fighting now? Definitely not. But Council did feel our pressure. and all those people who signed up to speak should give themselves a nice big pat on the back. Victories don't come too often so it"s worth celebrating, even though

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(CONT. from page 2) there for sure). The owner of 99 W. Pender. a vacant lot. can't build a 15 story tov.er there ei ther. llc路s also stuck with abo ut 7 stories. Marc Williams. the Pantages owner. can't build a 12 story bui lding. He's st uck with 9 stories.

Cam Watts of District 3 19 (across from cop shop mega development from V.'aves to the rord Building) is in the same boat as Williams.

This is also a victory fo r the DTES Neighbourhood Council. It has only been around for I year. But it has earned enough respect in the DTES community that the city thinks it' s important to have the DNC co-chair the planning committee.

Another victory is a local area plan needs to be in place before applications for rezoning will be co nsidered.

The worst part of the city's motion, which is definitely not a victory. is that Chinatown has been carved out of the DTI:.S and the city has sent the plans for 15 stor) towers there to a pu blic hearing. The hearing will probably be

on feb. 17 or March 3. This is where we have to keep fighting. CCAP will organize people to speak at the public hearing. especially low income Chinatown residents who face gentrification if the tower plan goes ahead.

The wording in the motion is also questi onable because it says one purpose of the local area plan is to implement the D ri:,S Housing Plan.

The DTES Housing Plan has some good parts that say condos can't surge ahead and the SRO' s need to be replaced. The bad part of the DTES Ilousing Plan is it says the city needs to encourage more affordable condos in the area. But, ifs good that we get to set the terms of reference for the planning process because we wi ll have some po'' er to influence how the DTFS I lousing Plan is read.

If the DNC agrees to work '"ith the Building Community Societ) to cochair the plann ing committee it could be good or bad. It could be good because CCAP and the 1)1'\C may ha\'C some

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influence with them and they did support our latest push at cit) hall. The) ma) he less biasl!d against the low income community than a Business lmprovl!mcnt Association or some other outside group. Rut it is bad because the) have no real connection or authorit) in the IYI LS. t\o planning committee in Kcrrisdale or Mt Pleasant would be expected to have a table of out<;ide socalled "experts"' from another nl!ighbourhood on their committees.

You never win I00% of what you '"ant. I3ut we sure scared them. The

planning department and council ha\L been pushing this for 1 ) ears and CC 1\P met with city planners or council C\'l!r) few months about it and ''e said the same thing 0\ er and over again they can·t re/one until there is a plan to secure the tenure and assets of the communi!). So nO\\ \\e havl! to fight to stop the towers in Chi natO\\ nand to get Chinatown included in the IHES plan, and especially to protect about I 000 IO\\ income Chinato"'n residents from the impact of gentrification. - Jean Swanson

Will the city take Concord's empty Hastings properties for social housing? !lave you been listening to the news lately? ·r he cit) may take o\·er 2 DTES properties on Hastings owned by Concord Pacific. one of the biggest real estate companies in Canada. But not for free. It would be a "switcheroo·· that al lows Concord to bui ld I00% condos on 2 'orth False Creek properties that are supposed to be social housing. The two Concord sites in the DTES are on llastings. One is 58 W llastings (Olympic tent cit) site across from f-unky's) and another is 11 7 1- llastings (the garden ncar lnsite) ...58'' is ad,·ertised to be "Greenwich" condos.

Like!~ the garden site was going to be condos too. In at least 2 surveys of

DTES residents that CCAP knows about. the \ ast majority of residents call for more social housing in their neighbourhood. The Olympic tent ci t) site is named as one of the I0 sites that the DTLS Neighbourhood Council wants for I 00% social housing. rhc housing on these 2 potential!) cit) owned sites could really help make a dent in the homclessncss problem by providing housing for low-income seniors, for IO\·\ incoml! families. for Aboriginal and Chinese community members and more.

So, this sounds like a great opportunit). right? ·1hat's what we thought when we first heard it too, but there are serious concerns.

4

Wendy rants in front of 58 West Hastings (between the Portland and Grand Union Hotels) in .July 2008. The fight for this site has been going on for some time now. We're inching nearer to our goal of 100% social housing. Will we get there'!? ',

r:'

housing on False Creek. but the two DTES properties may not end up with social housing on them either.

On CBC radio.

Vision Councillor Meggs said 58 West should have housing for "couples with good paying jobs.·· So. what can we do about al l this?

CCAP will push the city to get the Hastings sites for free. build social housing on False Creek and work to ensure the Hastings sites have 100% social housing on them. You can make your point of view heard to city council at an upcoming public hearing at 121h and Cambic on the J'd floor in the city council chambers. Sta) in touch w ith CCAP and come along to city hall with us \\hen it happens. The last 2 times we ga\'e our input to council on housing issues in the DTES. we managed to shift them a little. This could be another example of that. - WP

-

Firstly. Concord has already made their millions in profits. After Expo, Concord got a S\\eet deal fo r cheap land on False Creek and over the years built tons of condos along the waterfron t. Recently, Concord built "Smart" condos across the street from four Sisters Hous ing Co-op on Powel l Street and gave nothing back to the community. Concord can afford. with their profits to ··gi\'e" and not ··exchange·· the D I' FS property.

Secondly. consider this even bigger problem. If this switeroo goes ahead. not only wou ld there be no social

5

Can a city-run gentrification study help us? month; it's called a "~ocial Impact Assessment" (SIA) and CCAP is tak ing pan in it.

The S IA is supposed to figure out \\hat happens to low-income people \\hen the cit) lets (or helps) developers build condo towers and other market

A year ago CCAP was worried that the Downtown Eastside (DTES) had taken a serious blow from pro-developer forces at Cit) J !all. Cit} Council wanted more condos built in the DTCS. CCAP \\"anted the Cit) do a study on the effect of gentrification on the lov.-income

..

The City's Social Impact Asscs~ment workshop training: What does this picture mean to you'? developments in the [)'[ FS. And yes. you're right. \\C already kno\\ what happens when new condo projects are built: rents go up, students take oYer hotel rooms. fane) boutiques take the (CONT. pg 7) storefronts

community first. Council voted to give the developers a go-ahead. It was bad news but it wasn't complete!) bad: City co uncil was barreling on ahead with their development plans, hut the~ agreed to the study. That study is starting this

6

think and how we feel. We think a cityrun gentrification study can help us. but we know that we have to work hard to be sure that there is space at these workshops for 10\.~- incomc residents to explain all the experiences. ideas. feelings. and worries that come from life amongst the condo towers ... and we need your help.

The first workshop wi II be at First United Church. probabl) sometime in early March. Stay tuned for more updates and information: the city needs to hear your voice!

- Ivan

(CONT. from pg 6) where cheap stores used to be. more security guards roam the streets. Our community explained all this and wrote it out together through CCAP's Community Vision report writing process. But city planners are determined to redo all this work.

So, Ivan from CCAP is participating in the STA observer committee. along with nine other lowincome 01 ES residents. 1 he observer committee is working with Vancouver city planners to set up workshops where low-income residents arc comfortable showing up and talking about what we

Raise the Rates Job Posting Contact elected officials and folio'" up with them. inviting them to accept RTR's challenge; Create media releases and organize and host press conferences to cover events of campaign: Liaise with local communi!) organizations and sen 路icc providers to connect 'challenge accepters路 with these groups for assistance; Organize actions/events involving local residents and communit) organizations to raise the profile of the campaign: Give regular updates to staff at CCAP and brief final \Hittcn report assessing the campaign. (CONT. pg 8)

Rai se the Rates Campaign Organizer: Contract Duration 8 - 12 weeks, 2 days/week Pay rate -$20/ hr. plus 15% in lieu of benefits Commencing early February. 2011 Raise the Rates is a coalition of community organizations. faith based groups and unions working to get government to raise wei fare rates. build more social housing. eliminate arbitrary barriers to accessing welfare. increase the min imum wage and raise taxes for the \Vealth).

The Campaign will draw public attention to the unliveable. below poverty level wei fare rates in BC. Dutics/Responsi bi Ii ties 7

(CONT. from pg 7)

Previous experience leading lobbying campaigns or anti po'verty campaigns: 1-.xcellent communication skills both \Hitten and \'erbal: Ability to use fax machine, e-mail and social media to promote campaign.

Ski lls/K.nov.ledge Strong knowledge of poverty issues and issues facing the Down tO\\ n Eastside Community: Good familiarity of sen ice providers and resources for IO\\ income people. for example. food banks. health clinics. low cost housing providers. free meal providers:

Email resume plus 2 letters of reference plus a half page essay on the causes of poveny to jcan.swansontlt gmail.com by feb. 7th. 2011.

Things that may be useful to read on the computer h t tps :1/sitcs.googlc.co m/sitc/figh tfor 1Osites/: Stop the DTES condo tower plan website: read the community resolutions signed by 31 groups. the support letter from 29 academics etc. It also has a great collection of helpful newspaper articles. poor bashing articles and letters in response too. Stay in touch v. ith upcoming meetings and more. http://ccapvancouvcr.\\ ordpress.com/ Virtually e\'erything we're up to at CCAP gets posted on this blog. Click on the reports tab to read CCAP·s reports. Read the speeches that CCAP didn't get a chance to make about the city's tower plan for a 3 year history of this fight. http://va ncoun•·.ca/com ms" cs/plann ing/ha h r/ Read the city's motions regarding towers in the DTES, the 98 page report on the I li storic Area I Ieight Re\ ie'"' aka tower plan for the DTES etc.

Vancity Support for this project does not necessarily imply Vancity 's endorsement of the findings or contents of this report."

8

f

To:

Commissioner \\1ally Oppa l Q.C. Missing Women Commission of Inqui ry Room 1402 - 808 Nelson Street.

Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2H2 Re: Formal Proceedings of the Commission January 19'h Missing Women Forum and Missing Women Commission of Inquiry Due to the tragic events that befell the 68 plus missing and murdered women of the Downtown Eastside, it may be time to consider decrim inalization of prostitution. Thereby, pimps and johns would be more actively prosecuted but the prostitutes would no longer be legally targeted.

The critical lack of on street civilian youth workers and sufficient police youth liaison officers has been very deadly to the vulnerable citizens of the Downtown Eastside.

Our organ ization, Crab - Water for Life Society, has been active since the beginning of the Annual Missing Women's March i.e. for the last twenty years.

- Our organization has interest regarding Geographical Profiling of serial killers and in the work of Dr. Kim Rossmo. Why was Dr. Rossmo removed from the investigation?

-We recognize the street level work of former Constable Dave Dickson and understand that his file may be available to this Missing Women Inquiry.

- We would like to know what training the various police forces have in recognition and dismantling of dangerous quasi-rel igious groups?

- We believe that more sensitivity training for street police would be beneficial.

- We support a community-based, independent civilian invest igati ve body for dealing with allegations of police misconduct.

- We are concerned that about two dozen street women of the downtown eastside were missing or murdered before the police went public with this info.

-We support the SiSterUJatCh Program of the Vancouver City Pol ice Telephone: 604-215-4777 - We need three levels of government intervention to produce more shelters, facilities, permanent housing. support/educational programs for prostitutes. Also low income single mothers, and youth, in particular inner city aboriginal youth, need these faci lities.

- We in particular need significantly more detox faci lities for vulnerable youth and women.

- Outreach camping and healing programs for inner

city youth, in particular aboriginal youth, need to be made available.

- We perceive the need for educational programs in both primary and secondary schools regarding First Nation Culture.

- There is a need for a professionally trained aboriginaVcivilian liaison advocate to faci litate the recent loss of a family member.

-We recognize the need for repatriation of the 33 bodies of Robert Pickton's victims to their families. We wish the Vancouver City Police and RCMP uphold their pledge at the August 29th 20 I 0 Ceremony at Crab Park Vancouver. B.C. [sponsored by Crab. Water for Life Society] to pay ful l costs of the 33 funerals and all victim's families travel costs involved and for memorials.

By Don Larson

FIND OUT ABOUT B.C. HOUSING BC Housing put out a notice asking for a non-profit to take over the management and running of Tellier Tower at 16 £.Hastings St. If you or someone you know is on the BC Housing waitlist, go to the website following to get answers ...

The Level Enterprise Portal <http://www. bchousing.org> - Quick LinksWhat is subsidized housing?

• How to Apply • Housing Listings • Eligibility Criteria • Information on Emergency Shelters • Tenant Services • Tenant Handbook • Non-Profit and Co-op Tenants • Information for Other Renters !-lousing Provider Kit • !lousing Provider Resource Centre • The Housing Registry • Supplier Resources • Bid Documents • Current Bid Documents • Housing Matters BC • Rental Assistance Program • Provincial J-lome lessness Initiative

~

• • • • • •

• • • • • •

Independent Living BC SAFER Emergency Shelter Program Call for Proposals Who We Are Housing Sustainability Career Centre Publications Annual Report Service Plan What We Do Who We Serve

Defending the DTES, by any legal and moral means necessary Part 1 PaulR Taylor, writes "If you can keep on tl; is theme (corruption and abuse of power) all the better. It was in regard to my prev ious article, "Worthington Properties(Pantages theatre) linked to Organized Crime Syndicates." Well here goes Paul.

On Jan 20, 2011 Mayor G regor Robertson and his Vision-less council members created an abrupt '·Emergency"' resolution that begins the process of chopping up the body of the DTES, by removing a vital organ of the DTES, separating our poor in our Chinatown neighbourhood (Historic Area Heights Review).

But that's not all. Mayor Robertson, also abused his power by silencing our entire DTES community by not allowing 80 community members to speak to Council. Counci l members from left to right spoke in unison condemning this universally as draconian and undemocratic.

These actions come fro m Mayor Robertson, who in China last year infamously questioned how worthwhile democracy was and endorsed China's undemocratic oppressive authoritarian lc. ders. He was later forced to apologize.

Mayor Robertson's two pillars of his Vis io n team are the eradication of homelessness and making Vancouver the Greenest city on earth by 2020. The truth is

· - -· · o-· .... ···-

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Foods, Happy Planet (he's co-own er) green wash cor· porate industry (the faux green movement).

The reality is our DTES is the greenest urban community in Canada. How? Per person we have the 1011 est carbon foo tprint in urban Canada. The vast major ity of us do not own cars. Most of us do not even ow bikes or phones, we're malnourished and confined to tiny spaces. We're a non-consumerist culture, werecycle and reuse everyth ing, and we have a weekly community street fair that helps faci litate that. A cui· ture of sharing is what the poor do. And as a soul of the DT ES Harriet Nahanee defended the land, envi· ronment. women and the poor. We are a unique culture of survivors and resisters to all forms of exploita lion and abuse. The spirit of l larriet would tell you, that spirit of resistance goes all the way back to its Squamish roots.

It is imperative that the green movement (those opposed to foss il fuels and nuclear) lock arms with our community to oppose our destruction (e.g. by gentri· fication: building more elite market condos) and cal' for I00% affordable housing, until all our people an adequately housed and safe. We are the urban com· munity face of such a movement, one rooted in Jus· lice, compassion, sensibility and a culture of sharing.

If Martin Luther King jr were alive today and was in Canada, he would without a doubt be locking arms with our community, because we are a community of Justice seekers.

The prime justice directive of all the world's religions f rom Antioch Christianity to Zoroastrianism is to not judge and oppress the poor, but we should judge tl1e greedy and the powerful and check their abuses and corruption.

All communities of Love, Compassion and Justice seekers should be locking arms w ith our community, for we are also a community of healers.

• As a beloved community member put it many times, our community lost its virginity over the Woodward's condo complex process. Now with Mike llarcourt's Bui lding Commun ities Society and the local area plan, we face the Woodward's process to the I Oth power. We need to move very slowly and deliberately. We should not be forced to do anything we don't want to or we mig ht j ust fi nd out that our partne eats Grandma and has very big teeth and ears.

More in Part 2 Love Anonymous Zero

HUM 101 DOCUMENTARIES FOR FEBRUARY Carnegie Theatre. Saturday 12-19-26, 6:PM Feb. 12. You, Me & the SPP. Trading Dcmocr:1cy for Cot路pora te Rule. What do secrecy, police provocateurs, an assalt on democracy and infringements on citizens' rights have in common? THE SECURITY PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP! 91 minutes.

Why Understanding 9/11 is Crucial t o our Future A video power point presentation by Jan Woods, publisher and editor of Global Outlook Magazine of9/ ll Truth.-84 minutes.

Feb. 19. A Force More Powerful "When People Decide they Want to Be Free... There is Nothing that Can Stop Them."- Desmond Tutu. How nonviolent power overcame oppression and authoritarian rule.

The power Gandhi pioneered has been used by underdogs on every continent in every decade of the 20th century, to fight for their rights and freedom. Episode one: Black college students in Nashville, Tennessee, successfu lly desegregated downtown lunch counters in five months. In South Africa, a movement against apartheid a consumer boycoll awakened whites to black g rievances and fatally weakened business support for apartheid. Episode Two. German military forces invaded Denmark, and Danis h leaders adopted a strategy of resistance disguised as collaboration, undermining German objectives. Workers in Poland demanded independent unions. Chil ean workers against the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet, a USA puppet. A century of stories of mi llions who chose to battle the forces of brutality with nonviolent weapons-and won.

Feb. 26. BLA CK H ISTORY MONTH DOCUMENT ARIES. TBA watch for the posters.

Dustjacket Now who among us remember those good old days when Christians were thrown to the lions, what preytell would feast on atheistic meat, there have been over 7.5 Billion curious onlookers says St MINUS this earth has & is his beat; we are just mere dust

amongst friends, did someone sell you that selfrighteous babble about such a thing as a living end. now if there is it must be bloody cold for this body is rented or so it says on my deadend scroll.. I told you so l told you so I lose my meaning the further time goes. Today another country (Sudan) wants to split in half; did you know that 90% of overpopulation is coming from the 3'd World's half, did we start a 4'" world or is Satan stining a laugh (ha ha)?

Stability like common sense lies broken on the ground somewhere beneath the underdog lies the key to eternity lost&found, like avoiding heaven 'cause you're afraid of heights. or holding your breath as if it were the last call or a newborn gasping its first breath in a downtown alley at night; once again I could be right so please let me be wrong- today's future is tomorrow's present- like the world 's oldest living person telling you it won't take long; like salvation being a 2way street- one's a dead end the other claims to have no end I really hate waking up on this street. 1 am no friend of heights & confined spaces, so swimmingly perverted specific oceans to be emptied & convened for swap meets. garage sales & the occasional chariot races, like a compass without directions or a cat that curses its affections, let us know when you get to the part of life where you scream IT'S NOT FAIR! Yes it's true this dustjacket will fit you as you give your watch the thousandth time stare, like blending politics culture social studies & religion being equald in stupidity by a fuel truck tailgate party one thing about our idiocy they'll always be made into movies & sequels, you must wear your dustjacket there will be plenty of charcoal cars & people, as long as we keep sweeping faith under the door poor old tired earth will have to adjust to the selfisllists and their desire for more & more, can anyone slam this destructive need for their very own when there arc so many already here dying on your floor; one of these days Value Village will have a 'c hildr~n for sale' floor ... they will not be mine how many are yours, assistance is futi le as your painted face begins to curl into a clown's smile- excuses now tum into facts.

No more war over populated, self-opinionated visions of what's in store. For once I'm going to try & relax .. what's a tomorrow for?!

By ROBERT McGILLIVRAY

SmASH ROCK

You wake up early and the sun is just cominR up You can see the mountains glmving from your hotel \vindow & the streets are almost quiet, only the taxis are out yet & you think "maybe I ' 11 wal k myself down to Siwash rock" Dmm by the Harina the boats Only a jogger or two running down t he seawall side\valk All the trees in the park are stil l cover ed up in shadow & you turn to the east , where the s un is grmving stronger Now ' s the time to be alive When the sun comes up through your \vin dow Now's the time to be yourself & love the things you know

On the far side of t he inlet there are heaps of yellow sulphur &the bridge is studded with morning traffic jams All th e signs of a world you left years ago People still selling their own freedom j ust to s urvive Behind you there's an eagle at the top of an old jack pine Agains t a sky unbelievably blue He sp r eads his black wings & drifts into the forest & you breathe a gain, while your heart i s growing stronger Now's the time to be alive lfuen the sun comes up thr o ugh your window Now's the t ime to be your self ~-~... & love the things you knmv WllAT'S GOING ON THIS WEEK Slugging down the beer on a Sunday afternoon Once again missed church .. how empty is my pew!

Relative to life now in it over 40 years I've managed to still be in a playpen or more of a barnyard as it appears Some people call me clever What are they really getting at?

Do they surm ise I'm a con, like an alley cat??

Well yes, I've learned to dodge a con artist but I'm still gullible I'm not as street-wise as they are I'm not out to hurt but remain cool As tough as anyone can have it, in any walk of life One thing you learn about the street You have to fight tooth and nail to survive.

MichP.IIP.

Earle Peach

CRUNCH/altea ))oE'S "tHE AVAILABI\.\1'>' OF' FREE

MEALS lN ~KE b0 WNl'owtJ EASl"Sl~( ALLOW YoU

1'0 S"ENt> Yo"~ GRoci.RY Mot~ e.Y Ott/ l>RUG ?

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~~

It would be very cool to construct a physical represen-

tation of the gap between the rich and poor (and the in between) The shocking thing is the vel) teensieness of the super elite ( 101 I or so billionaires in the world) and the vastness of their assets and the vastness of the number of people with nothing. (Billions?)

1 puzzle also about how to physically display the fact that a Canad ian millionaire has much much much more in common with a welfare recipient than"' ith a billionaire. To create a kind of solidarity rather than the fear and hatred of the poor by the people who have at least a small pot to piss in.

The string demonstration and piles of pennies demonstration is impress ive but perhaps a larger piece of art kind of installation based in fact would be genius. The mass of us arc what is known as numerically illiterate and the word billion has little real understanding from say a million etc love Ann

Gap Between Rich and Poor the "Eighth Wonder of the World," PARiS At a press conference Tuesday, the World

lleritage Committee officially recognized the Gap Between Rich and Poor as the "Eighth Wonder of the World," describing the global wealth divide as the "most colossal and enduring of mankind's creations."

"Of all the epic structures the human race has devised, none is more staggering or imposing than the Gap Between Rich and Poor," committee chairman Henri Jean-Baptiste said. "It is a tremendous, millennia-old expanse that fills us with both wonder and humility."

"And thanks to careful maintenance through the ages, this massive relic survives intact, instilling in each new generation a sense of awe." Jean- Baptiste added.

The vast chasm of wealth, which stretches across most of the inhabited world, attrac!S mi ll ions of stunned observers each year, many of whom have found i!S immensity too overwhelming even to contemplate. By far the largest man-made structure on Earth. it is readi ly visible from locat ions as fa r-fiung as Eastern Europe. China, Africa, and Brazil, as well as all 50 U.S. states [& 10 Canadian provinces].

"The original Seven Wonders of the World pale in

comparison to this," said World I!eritage Committee member Edwin MacA lister, standing in fron t of a striking photograph of the Gap Between Rich and Poor taken from above Mexico City. "It is an astounc ing feat of human engi neering that eclipses the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Giza, and perhaps even the Great Racial Divide."

According to anthropologists, untold millions of slaves and serfs toiled their whole lives to complete the gap. Records indicate the work likely began around I0,000 years ago, when the world's first landed elites convinced their subjects that construction of such a monument was the will of a divine authority, a belief still widely held today.

Though historians have repeatedly disproved such claims, theories still persist among many racist and bigoted groups that the Gap Between Rich and Poor was built by the Jews.

"When I stare out across its astounding breadth. l'n often moved to tears," said Johannesburg resident Grace Ngubane, 31, whose home is situated on one â&#x20AC;˘ the widest sections of the gap. "The scale is staggcl¡ ing; it makes you feel really, really small."

Whi le numerous individuals have tried to cross the Gap Between Rich and Poor, evidence suggests that only a small fraction have ever succeeded and many have died in the attempt.

Its official recognition as the Eighth Wonder of the World marks the culmination of a dramat ic turnaround from just 50 years ago, when popular movements called for the gap's closure. l lowever. due to a small group of dedicated politicians and industry leaders, vigorous preservation efforts were begun around 1980 to restore and greatly expand the age-ol structure.

"It's breathtaking," said Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, a longtime champion and benefactor ofth rift's conservation. "Afier all we've been through in recent years, there's no greater privilege than watching it grow bigger and bigger each day. There may l:t a few naysayers who worry that if it gets any wider, the whole thing will collapse upon itself and take mi lions of people down with it, but I for one am willing to take that chance."

Added Blankfein, "Besides, something tells me I'd probably make it out okay!""[... Ed.]

@ the ONION

The Greatest Wonder Of Them All

Job posting Raise lite Rates Campaign Organizer

'

Contract Duration 8 - 12 weeks, 2 days/week Pay rate -$20/hr. plus 15% in lieu of benefits Commencing early February, 2011 Raise the Rates is a coal ition of community organiz.<llions, faith-based groups and unions working to get government to raise welfare rates, build more social housing. eliminate arbitrary barriers to accessing welfare, increase the minimum wage and raise taxes for the wealthy.

The Campaign will draw publ ic attention to the unliveable, below poverty-level welfare rates in BC. Duties/Responsibilities Contact elected officials and follow up with them, inviting them to accept RTR's challenge Create media releases and organize and host press conferences to cover events of campaign Liaise with local community organizations and service providers to connect 'challenge accepters' with these groups for assistance Organize actions/events involving local residents and community organizations to raise the profile of the campaign Give regular updates to staff at CCA P and brief final written report assessing the campaign

Skills/Knowledge Strong knowledge of poverty issues and issues facing the Downtown Eastside Community Good familiarity of service providers andresources for low income people: for example, food banks, health clinics. low cost housing providers. free meal providers Previous experience leading lobbyi ng campaigns or anti poverty campaigns Excellent communication skills- both written and verbal Abilit) to use fax machine, e-mail and social media to promote campaign

Email resu me plus 2 letters of reference plus a half page essay on the causes of poverty to jcan.swa nson@gmail.com. by Feb. 7th, 20 11.

-~

Vancouver Moving Theatre in association with Centre of Integration for African Immigrants and Firehall Arts Centre proudly announce

Spirit Rising Community Events Honouring the history of the Black community in the DTES Music, Songs, Films, Walks and lots of Stories!

February 24-27, 2011 Further details to be available in February 15 Carnegie Newsletter This program has been mode possible with the support of .

Assembly of BC Arts Council, Province of British Columbia, City of Vancouver Greot Beginnings Program and Homber Foundation

[ove ... l ove. l ove love. lov e Love can be wh areve r our hearr d esi r es L ove ar first" sight. Love n1elrs our h ea rr inro v arious colours. Colours char a r e, ar rimes psychelic; which en.ligh ren :; any m o od we are in . To love is co b e whoever we are .

E v en rhe s lighresr fare we lee our in fronr of our love does nor marrer. He y, char's parr o f nature. Love is more th an gas and n1olecules , even n1 ore chan a piece of deliciou s , sc rumprious, larhering layering Brusse l s choco lare, huckle berry che ese c ake . Love r ends t o be carefree and excidng fron1 t he world a r o und u s. L ove can mend rhe p ai n and t o rmenr. L ove is parr of healing. Love i s humour. My firsr l ove was love ar firs r s ighr. My . heart was so wired, l ike n a rur:lll y being high

All my relations Priscillia May

6 Ca r•~n eg·l e

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,

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committed citizens can change the wMor 1drg.alrnedteMedea,d'· it is the only thing that ever has."

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NEWS LETTER 4J' Ma.o

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carnne.vs@\/Ctlocca

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\Ia""""'"'. Caoata VEA 217 (6C4) £65-2289

THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARN EGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Articles represent the views of individua l contributors and not of the Association.

WANTED

Next Issue: SUBMISSION DEADLINE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH

Artwork for the Carnegie newsletter • Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry.

• Cover art- Max size: 17cm(6 'Y.")wide x 15cm(6")high.

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

• Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the Downtown Eastside, but all work considered .

• Black & White printing only.

2011 DONATIONS: libby D. $50. Margaret D. $50, Rolf A S50, Brian H.-$100, CEEDS $100, Barry M.-$150 • Size restrictions apply (i.e. if your piece is too large, • it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit).

• All artists will receiv~ credit for their work.

Through Love all that is bitter will be sweet • Originals will be returned to the artist after being Through Love all that is copper will be gold. copied for publication.

Through Love all dregs will tum to purest wine • Remuneration: Carnegie Volunteer Tickets Through L ove all pain will turn to medicine.

Please make submissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.

Through Love the dead will all become alive.

Through Love the king will tum into a si ave!

GET CLEAN! Shower up at the Lord's Rain 331 Carrall Street Oust off Pigeon Park)

HOT SHOWERS (towels, soap, shampoo, the works! & coffee) Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday -6:30am; Tuesday 9-noon and LADIES Only!

Monday & Friday - 11am lei on par/e Francais Hablamos Espanol

"I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, dignity, equality and justice for their spirits. I believe that what self-centred men have tom down, other-centred men can build up."

Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Rumi carnnews@shaw.ca www.carnnews.org http://carnegie.vcn.bc.calnewsletter http://harv esto rs.sfu.ca/ch odarr Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA WORKING FOR

You

1070-1641 Commercial Dr, V5L 3Y3 ;_.

Phone: 604-773-0790

Solder & Sons 247 Main Street Coflcc&T.,., Used Boob C urious Audio Recordio&s

Away from Economic Terrorism &Toward a Sentient Peace Armed struggl e - war &its horrors is relatively unkno~m in Canada . It is a major part of news from all over the world though, &~an only be ignored at our collective peril. Even in the U.S. there are few, if any, although the military might of our neighbour surpasses that of any other nation on Earth .

How then have thousands of people in these two countries come to the convict ion that one or both are being sys t ematically destroyed?

Behind every armed force is a fundamental will to acquire, to take from, to profit on a scale equal to or greater than the scale of resources & funding maintaining said armed force . Consider Ottawa/Washington .. Bay Street/ll'all Street; the force of banks &transnational corporations armed to t he teeth &deadly serious. The power wielded has its base in the mental disease of greed .

In Canada the weapons used have been the "free'! trade agreement, interest rate s , obscene taxes on the shrinking middle class & burgeoning poor 1-1hile major banks &over 110,000 corporations pay no income taxes at all. These same banks (& their best customers, the transnationals) wage continuous war against the hopes &aspirations of millions of people through economic terrorism - the structural adjustment programs of the International Monetary Fund &the ll'orl'd Bank, the successive campaigns of f oreign incursion into the economies of poor countries, paying in mud &misery while extracting go ld &more greed.

In Canada the fear of poverty is used as a form of political control. The rhythmic rhetoric used to sell "free" trade paid for (the $54 million cost of the ' ~lulroney/Tory public relations scam) from corporate petty cash, has us now in the position of many Third World nations .

Buzz-words like "competitiveness" & the oft-repeated "no alternative" are used to dull our futu r e &even our expectations for our children. The next stage in this corporate agenda is to expand "free" trade to Mexico, despite its electoral fraud, the murder of over 100 people who were leaders in opposition &a record of human rights' abuses still growing. The Business Council on National Issues a subsidiary of the Trilateral Commis~ion, hammers about the deficit &the debt & cutting social programs while its transnational members close plants, ruin the lives &plans of hundreds of thousands of people, decimate communities &feel no responsibility for consequences ... then immediately build new plants in countries where the pure enjoyment of paying slave wages (SS a DAY) amid non-enforcement of pollution controls is theirs virtually tax free .

If this sounds like a rhetorical rant then please stop reading. If your inner rage keeps you here, ask how dogmatic or rhetorical it is to speak of rainforests being destroyed for lumber &future grazing land for Big Macs on the hoof, of armies fighting for control of oil, or just why one group 1vants what another group has?

The causes of war are often penned by the victors in the aftermath, but 1"e are in a crucial period of planetary survival now.

What is currently "peace " doesn't deserve that label when children go to school hungry .. when alcohol & drug abuse are rampant,when homocid e & crime threaten us al l.

P. R. Sarkar said: "Capitalism makes humans beggars; communism makes the beggar a beast .

Only a people ' s agenda will take us through this; only funding for people's needs through rational distribution of 1vealth rather than the current flow into corporate coffers \\â&#x20AC;˘ill help us realise a sentient peace.

By PAULR TAYLOR