January 15, 1994, carnegie newsletter

FREE

- donallons accepted.

.JANUARY 15, 1 9 9 4 .

Vancouver Native Health ...

Needle Exchange.. .

Community Organizing!

There i s t h e development o f underdevelopment. There i s l e g i s l a t e d and planned p o v e r t y . There i s a p r o c e s s f o r t h e lack of process.

~t lack what more

i s t h i s l a s t , a process f o r t h e of a p r o c e s s , t h a t seems t o b e we a s " a community a r e faced w i t h and more.

The p r o j e c t at H a s t i n g s & Main i n t h e o l d Bank of M o n t r e a l b u i l d i n g was one where i t was d e c i d e d and p r e s e n t ed : a s a 'done d e a l '. The community was s t u c k w i t h r e a c t i n g , w i t h f i g h t i n g back t o g e t it back t o a l e v e l of r e s p e c t f o r o u r n e e d s and i n p u t .

T h i s i s now b e i n g done o v e r , w i t h a S t e e r i n g Committee of l o c a l p e o p l e and d i r e c t community i n p u t t h a t w i l l shape and d i r e c t i t .

The Needle Exchange, t a l k e d a b o u t i n t h i s issue, is another project whose n e e d s and f u t u r e a r e b e i n g a f f e c t e d by d e c i s i o n s made e l s e w h e r e .

Now we a r e b e i n g c h a l l e n g e d a g a i n w i t h an agreement between t h e P l i n i s t r y of H e a l t h and t h e C i t y of Vancouve r ' s H e a l t h Department t o " t r a n s f er f u n d i n g and o p e r a t i o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e Vancouver N a t i v e H e a l t h S o c i e t y t o t h e Vancouver H e a l t h Dept!'

T h i s agreement i s t h e r e s u l t of months of n e g o t i a t i o n s between t h e 2 g o v ' t b o d i e s t h a t were c a r r i e d o u t w i t h o u t anyone from t h e N a t i v e H e a l t h S o c i e t y even b e i n g aware of them.

T h e r e was no c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h any c ommun i

t h i s c o a l i t i o n . VNHS i s o n e of t h r e e Aboriginal service agencies i n t h e a r e a . A s i d e from i t s day and e v e n i n g c l i n i c s , t h e S o c i e t y has developed & is operating culturally-based service which m e e t s t h e u n i q u e n e e d s of Abori g i n a l p e o p l e . R a t h e r t h a n work w i t h t h i s Society, t a l k t o t h e people i n i t , a d e c i s i o n h a s been made t o t a k e away i t s autonomy and s p l i t up what s e r v i c e s i t had d e v e l o p e d .

Q u e s t i o n s of "why?"

Why was a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o a c l a i m of ' m i s h a n d l i n g ' g o v ' t money made? Why, when t h e S o c i e t y was found t o b e i n n o c e n t of any wrongdoing, was t h e f r e e z e on i c s a l l o c a t e d g r a n t n o t immediately l i f t e d & a n apology ,made?

What i s t h e f u t u r e of t h e N a t i v e Health Society?

The M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h , Hon. P a u l Ramsey, met w i t h a number of r e p r e s e n t i v e s of s e v e r a l community g r o u p s : DERA, C a r n e g i e A s s o c i a t i o n , DEYAS , t h e C o a l i t i o n , Watari Youth Detox and Ray-Cam Community A s s o c i a t i o n w e r e t h e r e w i t h Vancouver N a t i v e H e a l t h .

The m i n i s t e r l i s t e n e d t o t h e c o n c e r n s of a l l t h a t , once a g a i n , t h e v e r y cruc i a l m a t t e r of r e a l community c o n s u l t a t i o n and p r o c e s s had been i g n o r e d .

'

A f t e r much d i s c u s s i o n Ramsey s a i d t h e t r a n s f e r would go ahead anyway.

The community r e p s walked o u t .

Mike H a r c o u r t c a l l e d f o r and saw t h e f o r m a t i o n of t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e - S t r a t h c o n a C o a l i t i o n . It was t o be "a v e h i c l e f o r t h e two communities t o j o i n t l y t a c k l e common problems as w e l l a s b e i n g a c o n s u l t i n g mechanism f o r issues a s they a r i s e , including government i n i t i a t i v e s t h a t a f f e c t e i t h e r o r b o t h communities."

The Vancouver N a t i v e H e a l t h S o c i e t y was one of t h e f o u n d i n g members of

i s o u r community. We have n e e d s , i d

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. "Gran

Friends :

SMOKE SIGNALS ENTERPRISES Kenneth Peltier - Krawchuk Vancouver, B.C.V5L 122.

Offices: 1543 Frances Street.

255 - 2094

I feel I'm ready to start a prosperous business here in Vancouver.

Therefore I appreciate the opportunity to introduce Smoke Signal Enterprises to the downtown community, with the appropriate finances to the foregoing company.

During the past months I have been studying the feasibility of opening a CoffeeIBannock Shop in the downtown area. It has become apparent to myself, through several different sources, that this type of business would be a successful enterprise.

I believe with the influence and with the relationship I have with the community members and families I would have a 200% opportunity for success.

My background in the food industry and in business began in 1967. I started work at the Canadian Pacific Hotel in Banff Alberta, then worked at Calgary C.P.R. Hotel. From there I was employed by the Regina, Sask. C.P.R. Hotel. I worked at all phases from kitchen, dining room to banquet room. For a period of nine years I worked for the Holiday Inn within Regina. Also at the same time, I managed my own painting business, which later became a company called L. and K. Painting and Decorating, and did very well.

Then I went to U.S.A. to see my mother and family in North Dakota. I completed some more schooling, and achieved a G.E.D., and also an Auto Electronics course.

I moved to Vancouver in the early 1970's fulfilled various employ with Maclean's magazine. Later I got involved with the American Indian Movement (AIM). I helped set up numerous distinctive gatherings and performed fundraising events for the AIM Committees.

After that I moved to Seabird Island Indian Reserve, where I returned to school. I also worked on getting a general store going on the Seabird Indian Reserve, which is now a successful truck stop.

I later returned to Vancouver and built a concession stand on wheels. With the concession stand in a big van, I went to seven different pow - wows. I sold my business, and returned to the U.S.A. where I started helping people set up their own businesses, throughout the United States and Canada.

I intend to start a Coffee\Bannock Shop, Native Art Gallery, and Native family dining-entertainment centre.

There is a desire for such an appointment. Already people show a big interest by trying to get a few hours of training in Native Art at the Carnegie Community Centre which has many programmes of its own, and can only spare a few hours a week for the natives.

These are my prior experiences and responsibilities with business relations. Through your support, I know I will accomplish the successful operation of this enterprise.

With gratitude, I thank you for your time and co-operation in this matter.

I

Sincerely yours, Kenneth Krawchuk.

Winners i n Smoke S i g n a l s E n t e r p r i s e s ' S o l s t i c e Draw: Dream C a t c h e r e a r r i n g s - C o l l e e n Okeymaw Dream Catcher e a r r i n g s -Samantha Kelly Dream C a t c h e r e a r r i n g s -Howard Paul1 Dream Catcher e a r r i n g s - C h a n t e l l e P i e r c e Dream C a t c h e r B a r r i n g s -Robert Watt Dream Catcher e a r r i n g s -D. Anderson Dream C a t c h e r e a r r i n g s -Laura Newman Dream C a t c h e r e a r r i n g s -Joann H a l l Beaded armlrbands -Sarah Brown Beaded b a r r e t t e s G h a i r t i e s -Megan -L. Grey Beaver hand drum Dream C a t c h e r ( r e d ) -Robert Watt Dream C a t c h e r ( t a n ) -P. T i g c h e l a u r Dream C a t c h e r ( p u r p l e ) -Robin R u s s e l l F e a t h e r e a r r i n g s (wood) -N. Banks F e a t h e r e a r r i n g s (wood) -G Tobacco F e a t h e r brooch -Charles T a i t Bear brooch -R. T i l s t r a Indian head n e c k l a c e l e a r r i n g s e t -Dale Buffalo s k u l l b o l o t i e -Marina Reid Eagle GThunderbird Plaque c a r v i n g s -Hauchecorne Salmon Plaque c a r v i n g s -Todd Birch Bent box P Wonnacot t Woodland d e s i g n b e l t J. Sandy Mink drum D . McGruer

.

I have had t h e same d o c t o r f o r 1 2 y e a r s . I l i k e d him, he was r e a l l y good t o me, b u t he was wrong.

I have had p a l p i t a t i o n s , shakes, sweats, mood swings, speeding mind r a c i n g f a s t e r t h a n my body could cope and my eyes were s w o l l e n and red.

I t o l d my d o c t o r I f e l t l i k e I was dying. He s a i d it was i n my mind.. he o f f e r e d me t r a n q u i l l i z e r s f o r t h e shaking and "panic a t t a c k s " .

I went t o a new d o c t o r v e r y r e l u c t a n t l y because I l i k e d my own d o c t o r s o much. I was g i v e n a blood t e s t and it t u r n e d o u t I had an o v e r - a c t i v e t h y r o i d . Within 3 weeks I was t r e a t e d w i t h r a d i a t i o n and my t h y r o i d shrank.

A l l t h e p a s t symptoms have stopped.

I f e e l s o much b e t t e r .

Always g e t a n o t h e r o p i n i o n !

S h e i l a Baxter

.

i

Under t h e s o u t h end of t h e Cambie b r i d g e Where t h e mad bag l a d y used t o l i v e Her son with h e r i n the winter's fridge I came a c r o s s two s t a r l i n g s tangled i n s t r i n g s A-flopping and s t r u g g l i n g w i t h bound up wings S t r i n g s around neck E l e g s . .caught up i n garbage r e p o s i t o r y o f f e r i n g s .

I thought t h e y were mating a t f i r s t glance, No; it was a b a t t l e f o r e s c a p e and l i f e s u r e l y no romance.

I caught them a f t e r a s h o r t chase To l o o s e n s t r i n g s and send them back t o a i r y space

They pecked and s t r u g g l e d even though my i n t e n t was f a i r Along came a businessman unaware o f where h i s d e s t i n a t i o n o r the inclination t o care I asked a s s i s t a n c e t o no a v a i l S e n t o f f on t h e wrong t r a i l H i s p a r t i n g word - ' I hope you succe The s t a r l i n g s a r e f r e e and on t h e w j A song s u i t 6 t i e w i l l . ' n e v e r s i n g .

Tom Lewis Revolution w i t h o u t r e v e l a t i o n is tyranny, but Revelation without revolution i s enslavement.

Timothy Learey

5.

t h e s e people go i f you c u t back?

P l e a s e g i v e t h i s m a t t e r your deepPaul Ramsey, M i n i s t e r of Health. est c o n s i d e r a t i o n b e f o r e c u t t i n g any Dear S i r : p a r t of t h e Needle Exchange.

I h e a r d some v e r y d i s t u r b i n g news Thank you. I remain, on t h e r a d i o t h e o t h e r day t h a t you Verna Beaudin cut back On the Needpeople plan P.S. : Anyone wanting t o w r i t e --l e Exchange. If t h a t happens you'd PAUL RAMSEY, b e doing a d i s s e r v i c e t o t h e people M i n i s t e r o f Health, Room 310 on t h e Mainland. I know t h a t AIDS would r i s e a t an alarming r a t e Parliament B u i l d i n g s , When people a r e a d d i c t e d 6 c a n l t VICTORIA, B.C. V8V 1x4 <di>\-".,"" g e t a c l e a n n e e d l e , t h e y don1t c a r e c i > + ~ *?. -. ,-.-$; $-.",y c -,-/&..,a, ..,. .",s ."..

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0 $% *?./ ,I .:;. i f t h e l a s t person who h a s used a n e e d l e h a s HIV p o s i t i v e bloodl..they y'' The DEYAS Needle Exchange,,from i t s u s e t h a t d i r t y n e e d l e anyway. I can .h, i n c e p t i o n t o t h e end o f November '93, n o t s t r e s s enough what could t h e n !%' h a s d i s t r i b u t e d almost 2.5 m i l l i o n as happen t o t h a t person. s y r i n g e s . A s w e l l a s proviiding o t h e r When young people can g e t condoms s u p p l i e s such a s b l e a c h , w a t e r b o t t l e t h e y can have s a f e sex, f r e e of AIDS and a l c o h o l wipes t o I V drug u s e r s , 6 s y p h i l i s , gonorrhea, h e r p e s . I f t h e Exchange a l s o p r o v i d e s condoms t o \ you c u t back on t h a t o u r c h i l d r e n - I V c l i e n t s and t o Vancouver s e x t r a d e w i l l e x p e r i e n c e s e x w i t h d e v a s t a t i n g =!=, worker-. Condom d i s t r i b u t i o n i n 1993 unwanted p r e g n a n c i e s , n o t effects . t o t a l l e d approximately 300,000. t o t a l k about b a b i e s born w i t h AIDS The Needle Exchange i s extremely o r even born b l i n d due t o gonorrhea. "3 e f f e c t i v e i n p r e v e n t i n g t h e t r a n s m i s The h e a l t h b i l l b e a l o t h i g h e r t o s i o n of H I V , t h e v i r u s b e l i e v e d t o t h e B.C. t a x p a y e r t h a n what you p l a n ' c a u s e AIDS. P r o v i n c i a l s t a t i s t i c s t o c u t back on t h e Needle Exchange. k+, show t h a t of t h o s e t e s t e d f o r H I V I have been v o l u n t e e r i n g f o r f i v e /.{ whose s o l e r e p o r t e d r i s k i s I V drug u s e , o n l y 2.1% t e s t e d p o s i t i v e . This y e a r s a t Carnegie, f o u r days a week a t 8:45 am, and I p a s s by t h e Needle * compares w i t h 5.7% i n Toronto, 16% i n Exchange on Main S t r e e t . I have seen - Montreal and 60-70% i n New York. Most 2, o f B C ' s e s t i m a t e d 15,000 I V drug usmore 6 more p e o p l e o u t s i d e w a i t i n g f o r it t o open a t 9 am. When I come e r s l i v e i n t h e a r e a s e r v i c e d by t h e home 4 h o u r s l a t e r t h e Exchange room1 Exchange. i s f u l l of p e o p l e s o t h e s e p e o p l e This service prevents not only t h e (' * a r e concerned about t h e i r h e a l t h . I g t r a n s m i s s i o n 0.f H I V b u t a l s o h e p a t i t am s u r e t h a t AIDS i s n o t on t h e up- ' ( i s , s y p h i l i s , gonorrhea and o t h e r i n r i s e i n Vancouver l i k e i n o t h e r ' fections.

North American c i t i e s t h a n k s t o t h e The exchange r a t e f o r n e e d l e s i s now a v e r a g i n g 98% t o 99% p e r month.

Needle Exchange.

I talked t o t h e supervisor of t h e I t c o s t s t h e M i n i s t r y o f Health Exchange a f t e r I heard t h e news and $157,000 i n a c u t e c a r e h o s p i t a l s h e s a i d t h a t t h e y handled 200 more costs per IV drug user who gets c a s e s i n 3 months t h a n when t h e y opened. The Needle Exchange i s open Above a r e some of t h e f a c t s t h a t 7 days a week because s e x 6 a d d i c t have been p r e s e n t e d t o t h e government ion d o n ' t t a k e a day o f f . Where w i l l :

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t o convince them t h a t t h e Exchange i s a c r u c i a l s e r v i c e i n need o f more funding. The problem i s t h a t t h e Mini s t r y has decided t o c o n t i n u e funding a t t h e 1992 l e v e l , d e s p i t e t h e almost 100% i n c r e a s e i n t h e need.

Cutbacks i n t h e e x i s t i n g s e r v i c e s a r e a s h o r t - s i g h t e d and s h o r t - t e r m saving. L e t t e r s t o t h e M i n i s t e r o f Health, a!nd t o your,MLA, newspapers, C i t y Council, a r e one way t o respond.

C u t t i n g back on t h e Exchange w i l l lead t o increased c o s t s i n h e a l t h s e r v i c e s and an i n c r e a s e i n human misery.

-

from a submission by J . TURVEY (Note: To b e c l e a r , i f 4 people g e t AIDS due t o having t o u s e a ' d i r t y ' syringe, t h a t w i l l c o s t t h e Health M i n i s t r y 4;x$157,000 = $62%;000o v e r t h e y e a r l y budget f o r t h e DEYAS Needle Exchange now.

Third f l o o r F I R E S I DE program One o f C a r n e g i e ' s s t o r y t e l l e r s , Grant H i r s t , k e p t a spellbound a u d i ence a t t h e Learning C e n t r e i n suspense l a s t week w i t h a two-part r e n d i t i o n of h i s own t a l e "Blind J u s t i c e f ' .

The new FIRESIDE program on t h e 3rd f l o o r f e a t u r e s s t o r i e s , poems, songs and humour by s t u d e n t s and l o c a l storyt e l l e r s . Free, i t ' s h e l d each evening between 7pm and 8pm.

Bring your mug and g e t s e t t o r e l a x and l i s t e n t o some new and v a r i e d creations.

Daily p r e s e n t a t i o n n o t i c e s a r e posted on t h e f i r e p l a c e i n t h e Learning Centre.

Coming up a r e FIRESIDE program s t a r s *DORA SANDERS *GRANT HIRST * I S M A E ~ISMAEL *ERNIE DUSCHARME "KELSEY WEBB *MARTIN LAU *JIMMY ROADKNIGHT *NICHOLAS OLSON and o t h e r s Everyone welcome.

...

Around Carnegie G i n t h e neighbourhood you w i l l sometimes meet people who a r e involved i n s t r a n g e mental p r o c e s s e s . some c a l l it o t h e r s c a l l i t Ifmentally c h a l l e n g e d , " 6 s t i l l o t h e r s s a y t h e s e people a r e j u s t p l a y i n g mind games G f r e e l o a d i n g on t h e system.

These unusual mental G emotional s t a t e s (not r e a l l y s o much % n u s u a l f f a s l f u n a c c e p t a b l e l ' ) a r e n o t always dangerous t o o t h e r s . Sometimes t h e y a r e c r e a t i v e F, benevolent, a l t h o u g h t h e r e i s d e f i n i t e l y a danger t o o t h e r s t p o t e n t i a l i n some o f them. What t h e s e people a r e going through i s now l a b e l l e d " s c h i z o p h r e n i a f f , "mania", "depression", " p a r a n o i a f f , " o b s e s s i v e compulsive p e r s o n a l i t y d i s o r d e r w e t c .

- but r e a l l y , i t v sa s old a s t h e h i l l s - o r , more a c c u r a t e l y , o l d e r t h a n t h e h i l l s , s i n c e i t ' s been around a s long as human b e i n g s have l i v e d on t h i s p l a n e t . What many of u s a r e gol n g t h r o u g h t o d a y , t o n i g h t , tomorrow, i n t h e p e r s o n a l "madness" o f o u r own p r i v a t e thoughts, i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y an i l l n e s s o r d i s e a s e . . i n f a c t , it might b e more a c c u r a t e t o s a y it neve r was an i l l n e s s o r disease..however t h i s i s how t h e " e x p e r t s f f r e l a t e t o it t o d a y , E God knows t h e y ' v e i n s p i r ed many u n f o r t u n a t e i n d i v i d u a l s w i t h t h e i d e a t h a t t h e workings o f t h e i r own minds a r e s i c k .

I ' v e had p e o p l e r e p e a t t o me word f o r word what t h e d o c t o r s a i d about them. They seem t o b e l i e v e completely i n t h e d o c t o r ' s t h e o r y E have obvious l y adopted t h a t r e a l i t y j u s t a s t h e d o c t o r d e s c r i b e d i t . Of c o u r s e I know t h e s e people a r e on d r u g s as t h e v a r e

..

v a r i o u s mood-altering p i l l s f o r t h e d a i l y u s e of t h i s unlucky c i t i z e n E t h e g o v t t h a s p a i d f o r it i n advance.

So, i t ' s h a r d t o r e a l l y know i f t h e d r u g s a r e making them t h i n k t h i s way, o r i f t h e y a r e j u s t " b e l i e v i n g i n t h e e x p e r t a d v i c e of medical s c i ence". I n e i t h e r c a s e , t h i s whole way of d e a l i n g w i t h what we c a l l i n s a n i t y is q u e s t i o n a b l e nobody knows t h e whole s t o r y on t h i s s t u f f , because everyone i s more o r l e s s involved i n it; a t a d e e p e r l e v e l it r e p r e s e n t s an unconscious agreement t h a t manife s t s t o some minds a s a s e c r e t consp i r a c y . The p s y c h i a t r i s t s , s o c i a l workers o r " c a r e - g i v e r s " a r e a l l p a r t of t h i s i n t e r a c t i o n a s is, of c o u r s e , t h e p a t i e n t , c l i e n t o r s u b j e c t of such experiments,..what e l s e could you c a l l d i a g n o s e s & t r e a t m e n t under such c o n d i t i o n s ? . . t h e "care-givers" a r e experimenting on t h e "mentally c h a l l e n g e d " . . . I Y r y i n g t o h e l p them", i t ' s called.

Back i n t h e e a r l y days of p s y c h i a t r y , any b i z a r r e behaviour on t h e p a r t of I f p a t i e n t s " was welcomed a s a p o s i t i v e s i g n o f f e r i n g t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of s e l f - h e a l i n g . S t r a n g e t h o u g h t s o r beh a v i o u r s were r e f e r r e d t o i n t h e w r i t i n g s o f Freud, Jung Adler e t c . a s "emergence of unconsciousness cont e n t s " - u s u a l l y , t h e wproblem'f o r whatever i t was t h a t made t h e p a t i e n t s u f f e r , was c o n s i d e r e d t o b e locked up as childhood trauma i n t h e p a t i e n t ' s body, E t h e emergence o f "cont e n t s " was c o n s i d e r e d t o b e a s i g n t h a t t h e time was r i p e t o r e v e a l E r e e x p e r i e n c e t h e s e t r a u m a t i c memory

...

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t r a c e s o r complexes, t h u s p r o v i d i n g an o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e i n t e g r a t i o n of l o s t information i n t o t h e conscious p e r s o n a l i t y , causing a harmonization o r healing e f f e c t .

Over t h e y e a r s t h e s e o r i g i n a l ideas, which a r e probably c o r r e c t , have become a t h r e a t t o t h e s o c i a l system.

The die-hard o l d - l i n e e s t a b l i s h m e n t does n o t l i k e t h e s e i d e a s because t h e source of "trauma" (extreme a n x i e t y causing a s t a t e o f shock) was d i s c o v e r e d t o be e x t e r n a l - t h a t i s t o s a y , it was t h e a c t i o n s of p a r e n t s , t e a c h e r s G s o c i e t y l s a u t h o r i t y f i g u r e s on t h e i n d i v i d u a l t h a t produced t h i s mental lldis-order1'.

Today t h e s e s o c i a l a u t h o r i t y f i g u r e s (moms, dads, p o l i t i c i k n s , lawye r s , b u s i n e s s p e r s o n s , e t c . ) have t a ken o v e r E l i t e r a l l y run t h e psychiat r i c p r o f e s s i o n by p r o v i d i n g i t with r e s e a r c h g r a n t s , expensive h i - t e c h equipment, l a b s , s a l a r y s e t c . The work n e c e s s a r y t o develop hundreds of thousands of new drugs - most o f them mood-alternating - p s y c h o - a c t i v e chemi c a l s used t o induce G m a i n t a i n c e r t a i n ' l d e s i r a b l e l f mental s t a t e s i n indi v i d u a l c i t i z e n s , was almost complete l y funded by government money ( i f y o u ' r e a taxpayer, you c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h i s process).

Now, of c o u r s e , o u r s o - c a l l e d medic a l p r o f e s s i o n no l o n g e r r e l a t e s t o b i z a r r e behaviour as an o p p o r t u n i t y t o heal it i s today c l a s s i f i e d a s a "symptom" - t h u s p r o v i d i n g f u r t h e r proof of " i n s a n i t y t 1 . Automatically, sometimes j u s t by c o n s u l t i n g a l i s t , t h e "community c a r e - g i v e r f 1 p r e s c r i b e s a drug he o r she h a s p r e s c r i b e d hundr e d s of times b e f o r e b u t h a s n e v e r Usually a c t u a l l y t r i e d themselves t h i s drug i s p r e s c r i b e d f o r t h e l i f e time of t h e p a t i e n t - t h a t i s t o s a y , t h e t a k i n g o f t h e drug i t s e l f depends upon t h e a t t i t u d e t h a t no c u r e p o s s i b l e , E a l l t h a t can b e done i s

t o control o r sedate the individual f o r t h e r e s t of t h e i r l i f e .

The t a k i n g of t h e p r e s c r i b e d medica t i o n t h e n becomes a symbol o f hopel e s s n e s s t o t h e " p a t i e n t " , who comes more 6 more t o b e l i e v e i n themselves a s a h e l p l e s s mental c r i p p l e depende n t on t h e S t a t e . T h i s r e a c t i o n o f t e n warms t h e h e a r t s of "care-givers" E males them t h i n k t h e y have-done somet h i n g worthwhile.

TORA

t o b e n e a r e r you dinner l a s t night u n f i t f o r two wiccans i n t h e n i g h t buying a worn o u t shoe t h a t was supposed t o s a t i s f y not mortify the f l e s h of me and you

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is

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b u t down t h a t l o n e l y road we went your money s p e n t tlwas t h e thought, thank you n o t t h e shoe t h a t k e p t me i n l o v e w i t h you t h a t k e p t me i n l o v e w i t h you a i r p l a n e s comin a i r p l a n e s goin t h e wind blowin b o a t s a movin spray a f l y i n i l m a diein t o b e n e a r e r you l e t ' s do it a g a i n t h a t over turkey o v e r stew o v e r a cooked up shoe i ' m i n l o v e w i t h YOU i ' m i n l o v e w i t h you Murray Fenwick

\

ON SOCIETY'S FRINGES

The Vancouver Sun, ~ o " d a y ,December 27, 1993

Street trans ROBERT SARTl Vancouver Sun

facing greater risks

Cold cuts and soda pop. That's Transsexual 12 diploma ana g<into a aitterent Christmas dinner on the bottom rung prostitutes suffer more violence than kind of business. of the social ladder.

About adozen transsexuals attend most other sex-trade workers Dozens of transsexuals working on the self-help sessions. All a r e in mainly from irate johns who have downtown streets run more risks and process of changing from male to discovered their true sexual idenenjoy fewer perks than any other cat- female, and are considered at risk tities. egory of street people. say members for AIDS, because they are involved Thirty-four-year-old April Wickof a new self-help group for indi- in prostitution or drugs. ford said street transsexuals need viduals seeking to change their sexThe group also maintains a hot- their own "safe house" or drop-in, so ual identity. line (254-9591) for crisis counselling they can get counselling and health "We live on the margins of soci- and information. care from people who understand ,ety - according to Statscan, we're Group members cited a host of their special problems. not even a gender, we don't exist," problems not encountered by other Transsexualism is considered a says ,Jamie Hamilton, a community street people, such as: medical condition in which an indiworker who runs the weekly support 0 Women's and children's cen- vidual with the sexual characterissessions for transsexuals a t First tres in the area restrict their atten- tics of one gender identifies psyUnited Church on East Hastings. dance because of their masculine chologically with the other gender.

"We're outcasts even within the energy and physical size.

Surgery and hormone therapy are street community."

The medical establishment used to bring about the sex change.

Christmas dinner this week at the wants them to find a husband and get Wickford started her life on the drop-in was cold cuts and soda pop, married once they have their sex- street as a 14-year-old male prostiw h ~ c hthe members contributed tute. She first gave up drugs 18 change operations. themselves. months ago, fell off the wagon twice, As some members got dressed or the A I D S - s u ~ ~ o r t g o ubut ~ s is now enrolled in a Grade 12 put on makeup to go out to work on are "predominantly male-tme"orm upgrading program and undergoing nizat~ons.more comfortable dealing hormone therapy. the street, others exchanged gifts.

"I just spent $9,000 on surgery. so with homosexiials.

"I've known all my life what I was 0 Even the regular prostitutes' -a trapped in a body,w don't expect much she said. drop-in allows them space only once (for Christmas)," .. - - . a ween. said a woman "There's a lot of insensitivity out 0 A parking garage that was an there. When I'm in school, I'm still named Caress, informal bunkhouse for transsexuhanding out giftals was invaded by drug addicts who called by my male name." wrapped packages left a big mess, forcing the owner oftalcum powder, of the garage to clear out the site just shampoo and a few days before Christn~as. cologne.

0 A drop-in for street transsexuCaress said she als closed earlier this yearnhen too experienced so much red-tape and mans other delay from the R.C.,Medical Plan that street people she finally decided to pay for the showed up for operation in Montreal herself, takfree meals and ingout an ad in a weekly newspaper provincial fundoffering sex for sale to raise money. ing could not be "I'm a recovering alcoholic, so it obtained to conwas hard to go back to the street," tinue t h e proshe said. gram.

Now she plans to get her Grade - . . .. --

.

A SENIOR CITIZEN' S LAMENT

Thought I ' d l e t my d o c t o r check me, 'Cause I d i d n ' t f e e l q u i t e r i g h t .

A l l t h o s e aches and p a i n s annoyed me And I c o u l d n ' t d e e p a t n i g h t .

He could f i n d no r e a l d i s o r d e r , But he wouldn't l e t me r e s t ; What with Medicare and Blue Cross, I t wouldn't h u r t t o do some t e s t s .

To t h e h o s p i t a l Though I d i d n l t He arranged f o r Every t e s t t h a t

he s e n t me, f e e l t h a t bad. them t o g i v e me could b e had.

I was f l o u r o s c o p e d and cytoscoped, My aging frame d i s p l a y e d .

S t r i p p e d upon an i c e - c o l d t a b l e , While my g i z z a r d s were x-rayed.

I was checked f o r worms E p a r a s i t e s , For fungus and t h e crud; While t h e y p i e r c e d me with long n e e d l e s Taking samples o f my blood.

Author unknown.

HOMINUM

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f o r gay men coming o u t from a marriage, fram a gay r e l a t i o n s h i p o r j u s t coming o u t . We meet weekly. For f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n c a l l 684-6869, 7-10pm any day.

I f y o u ' r e i n t e r e s t e d ... t h e r e ' s a mess o 1 meetings t h i s month. I f you want t o know what it means, a s k God. JANUARY 18 - S e n i o r s Annual General with reports JANUARY 18 - Anniversary Events!!!

Carnegie' 14th birthday s o look f o r s i g n s .

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CORNWALL, Ont. -A Royal Canadian Legion official who criticized Sikh officers for wearing turbans in the legion hall has been banished from the veterans' organization pending a disciplinary hearing.

Angelo Lebano, branch president, caused a p u b Iic uproar earlier this month when he said that if Sikhs "feel they have to wear turbans, then let them go back to their country."

Doctors came t o check me o v e r , Probed and pushed and poked around, And t o make s u r e I was l i v i n g They wired me f o r sound.

They f i n a l l y concluded ( t h e i r r e s u l t s have f i l l e d a p a g e ) , What I have w i l l someday k i l l me...

I t ' s c a l l e d o l d age.

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Canadian Press

1 I

JANUARY 19

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H e a l t h : A t 2pm i n t h e 2 n d - f l o o r non-smoking r m OPPENHEIMER PARK COMMITTEE t i m e E d a t e t o be announced JANUARY 27 - Community R e l a t i o n s corn-' m i t t e e ; 4pm

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FEBRUARY FEBRUARY FEBRUARY FEBRUARY

1 - M u l t i - C u l t u r a l Committee 1 - Program Committee; 4pm 2 - Finance Committee; 4pm.

3 - Board of D i r e c t o r s ; 7pm.

:*,$- Those of you i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e L i b r a r y , Education, Kitchen Volunteer and/or V o l u n t e e r s have a l r e a d y missed J a n u a r y ' s meetings. Check w i t h t h e N e w s l e t t e r i n February f o r d a t e s o r s e e t h e s t a f f p e r s o n . . . j u s t ask.

There is a pervading sense of discouragement a n d frustration among the people of this country who feel powerless a s individuals to bring about change. There are, however, ways in which all of us a s individuals can contribute to finding a solution to this problem.

. . . We can join together to raise the consciousness of this country to a level where people will no longer tolerate the tragedies which have taken place.

- The Doobie Brothers

MacPHAIL STICKS UP FOR PEOPLE ON GAIN Joy MacPhail is t h e new M i n i s t e r of S o c i a l S e r v i c e s . She has been d e a l i n g with a l o t of media hype and q u e s t i o n about w e l f a r e f r a u d , and a l o t of we& fare-bashing by t h e media.

Surrey p o l i c e a r e accusing people of f a l s e l y r e p o r t i n g l o s t o r s t o l e n cheques s o t h a t t h e y can g e t them r e placed by t h e M i n i s t r y of S o c i a l Ser. MacPhail r e f u s e d t o t r a s h people on welfare i n h e r responses t o t h e media According t o t h e Vancouver Sun, she "cautioned t h a t p o l i c e have t o t r e a t people on w e l f a r e t h e same a s anyone who r e p o r t s a t h e f t n r l n s s "A t h e f t i s a t h e f t , " MacPhail s a i d , "whether it be a s o c i a l a s s i s t a n c e cheque o r your paycheque MacPhail i s a l s o r e f u s i n g t o t r a s h people from A l b e r t a who have been c u t o f f w e l f a r e by t h e A l b e r t a g o v f t and thrown t o t h e wolves. Some of them a r e e v i d e n t l y moving t o B.C. t o look f o r work. MacPhail has maintained t h a t t h e y have t h e l e g a l r i g h t t o w e l f a r e i n B.C. (Note: This a r t i c l e was i n t h e ELP Newsletter. ELP i s having a 2-day conference on Jan.14-15; MacPhail i s t h e r e on t h e 1 4 t h , Smallwood on 15th.)

..."

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The Bat And The R a t t l e s n a k e A Love S t o r y

The whole t r u t h i s t o o good t o b e l i e v e u n l e s s we d a r e t o be naive L e t ' s have a p l a c e f o r h e a r t s t o be Forgiving i n a t i c k of time Where we a r e innocent and f r e e And our mistakes a r e a l l d i v i n e Let u s f i n d a s t a t e of mind Where everyone i s counted i n And we continue t o be kind Where o t h e r forms of l i f e begin L e t t s t r a v e l through an i n n e r space Where everything t r u e love redeems And we w l l come a l i v e with g r a c e And joy beyond o u r w i l d e s t dreams The u l t i m a t e m i r a c l e of being Is a l i v e and p r e s e n t Within u s and a l l around u s I n f i n i t e l y knowing and c a r i n g Now and f o r e v e r t h e source of a joy Which i s l i f e i t s e l f And though we a r e u t t e r l y f r e e (even f r e e t o b e l i e v e it o r n o t ) S t i l l it i s t r u e S t i l l we s w i m i n an ocean of l o v e S t i l l we bask i n t h e warm u l t r a l i g h l Of an i n v i s i b l e sun.

We a r e s t i l l I n c i d e n t a l l y immortal, Fearless On white water highways of l i f e .

One day t h e b a t and t h e r a t t l e s n a k e went f o r a walk i n t h e country. They were i n love and t h e y sang a song "How sweet it i s t o be i n love When our h e a r t s a r e f a i t h f u l . I t They were v e r y happy but soon :. storm clouds approached and it began t o r a i n . The b a t and t h e r a t t l e s n a k e found s h e l t e r under a t r e e . They made a f i r e , huddled c l o s e t o g e t h e r f o r warmth, and began t o c h a t .

Itoh, i f o n l y I weren't bald,It s a i d t h e b a t , who was sometimes c a l l e d t h e b a l d mouse. t t I ' v e t r i e d a l l k i n d s of l o t i o n but without success. Being b a l d w o r r i e s me and makes me unhappy!' " I f you w e r e n ' t b a l d , you wouldn't b e a b a l d mouse," s a i d t h e r a t t l e snake. "You'd b e a mouse, and I e a t mice. I ' m g l a d t h a t y o u ' r e t h e way you are.Ir The l o v e r s s a t t o g e t h e r i n s i l e n c e f o r awhile, and t h e n t h e r a t t l e s n a k e spoke. "Oh, i f o n l y I d i d n ' t have t h e s e r a t t l e s , " he s a i d . " I t ' s v e r y annoying a s everyone can h e a r me. I t r i e d t o s e l l my r a t t l e s a t a church one day, but when I crawled through a window a l l t h e people r a n o u t t h e 'door. I ' m v e r y unhappy. " I ' m b l i n d , " s a i d t h e b a t , "and I c a n ' t s e e you. I f you d i d n ' t have t h o s e r a t t l e s I wouldn't b e a b l e t o f i n d you. I ' m g l a d t h a t y o u ' r e t h e way you are."

"I guess i t ' s a l r i g h t then," s a i d the rattlesnake.

"I guess so," s a i d t h e b a t .

Soon t h e r a i n stopped and t h e sun came o u t . The l o v e r s could f e e l t h e warmth of t h e sun, and t h e r a t t l e snake saw a rainbow which he d e s c r i b ed t o h i s f r i e n d . Together t h e y continued t h e i r walk.

By SANDY CAMERON

i

TOUCH When I get out I'm going to ask someone to touch me very gently please and slowly, touch me I want to learn again how life feels.

I've not been touched for seven vears

One: fists At the beginning fierce mad fists beating beating till I remember screaming Don't touch me please don't touch me. rears of paws .Y

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Un touc I can cc that ha

paws, searching up, shoes off rt g paws, systematic ndifferen t away ICY. sts and paws to be touched ~ c h , o feel alive o say :et out

I am ;e touch me.

I ,

South Africa

I t ' s t h e name of a p l a c e . On t h e 1st of J a n u a r y people t h e r e s t a r t e d t o b e k i l l e d by t h e Mexican Army.

People t h e r e a r e mostly Mayan; t h e i r f i r s t language is n o t Spanish and t h e y a r e a b o r i g i n a l , j u s t a s Native Peoples i n Canada a r e .

For y e a r s t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y o f Mayan people have l i v e d i n a b j e c t p o v e r t y been s u b j e c t e d t o continuous abuse by well-to-do Mexicans who 'have r e f u s e d t o even c o n s i d e r any k i n d of l a n d claims. Over t h e p a s t 5 y e a r s , a s poor Mexican people have l o s t l a n d , work E hope with t h e s e l l i n g o u t by t h e i r g o u ernment t o t r a n s n a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t s (NAFTA), t h e s i t u a t i o n f o r t h e Mayan p e o p l e has grown worse. People began t o o r g a n i s e r e s i s t a n c e . . . t h e Mayans r e f u s e d t o b e ground down any f u r t h e r . . s t a t i n g t o t h e world t h a t t h e r e was n o t h i n g l e f t and nowhere t o go.

I t ' s easy t o s i t thousands 06 m i l e s away and analyze, b u t what t h e y d i d i s b r u t a l l y c l e a r - d e a t h by s t a r v a t i o n o r d e a t h by machine gun.

On t h e news t h e r e was a f r o n t p u t up by t h e Mexican g o v l t showing a few of t h e Mayan ' l e a d e r s 1 s a y i n g t h e y were okay and t h e r e b e l s were j u s t malcont e n t s ; f o r t u n a t e l y t h e y were r i d i c u l e d by almost e v e r y o t h e r Mayan i n t e r v i e w ed and t h e r e p o r t e r concluded " t h e r e i s widespread s u p p o r t f o r t h e r e a s o n s t h e y a r e f i g h t i n g E dying f o r " .

A s Ron George, n a t i o n a l p r e s i d e n t of t h e Native Council of Canada, s a i d , "Mr. C h r e t i e n should t e l l PresidenO S a l i n a s (of Mexico) t h a t bombing v i l l ages i s n o t an a p p r o p r i a t e way t o nego t i a t e l h d claims."

Miriam P a l a c i o s , a Guatemalan worki n g w i t h Oxfam Canada s a i d , "There were many more p e o p l e massacred t h a n t h e 100 s t a t e d by t h e Mexican g o v l t .

These p e o p l e a r e t h e f i r s t c a s u a l i t i e s of NAFTA." News s t o r i e s w i l l keep l a b e l l i n g t h e a c t i o n s of people "insurrections" o r " r e b e l l i o n s M . What w i l l t h e y c a l l i t when it happens i n Canada?

By PAULR TAYLOR

The above a r t i c l e was w r i t t e n w i t h v e r y sketkhy i n f o r m a t i o n . Thanks t o S a l v a d o r Peniche, a member of t h e Mexican C o a l i t i o n Against "Free" Trade i n Canada f o r 6 months, what f o l l o w s i s a n a t i v e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f what h a s caused t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t t o grow.

In 1524 t h e Conquistadores invaded Mexico. Mayan people fought them. For t h e next 500 y e a r s one army, one conq u e r o r a f t e r a n o t h e r h a s invaded, t o r t u r e d , raped, murdered and p i l l a g e d .

The Mayan people and o t h e r indigenous p e o p l e s have fought, been decimated E s c a t t e r e d , t h e n k e p t more and more t o themselves t o s u r v i v e . \r The Mayan p e o p l e have gone through

slavery, f i g h t i n g t o expel Spain, then France, t h e n t o keep US i m p e r i a l i s m from d e s t r o y i n g them. Throughout t h e s e c e n t u r i e s t h e y have r e t a i n e d t h e i r i d e n t i t y a s a people with a d i s t i n c t c u l t u r e & language. They a r e t r e a t e d w i t h contempt by both t h e government E army, being s u b j e c t e d t o i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e d racism, d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , human r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s and t h e lbare , s u b s i s t e n c e o f extreme poverty. S i n c e t h e 1920's what h a s allowed them t o s u r v i v e as a people h a s been a l i t t l e known b i t of l e g i s l a t i o n - A r t i c l e 27 o f t h e Mexican C o n s t i t u t i o n . I t simply g u a r a n t e e s t h e r i g h t of i n d i g e n o u s people t o r e t a i n t h e i r communal l a n d holdings.

j 1

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T h i s was changed t o a b i d e by t h e North American F r e e Trade Agreement.

The new r u l e s make e v e r y t h i n g open t o b e t a k e n by whoever can s o manipulate o r force o r threaten or starve o r k i l l o r DO \BUSINESS i n such a way t h a t t h e p r o p e r t y becomes t h e i r s .

The Mayans i n Chiapas grow c o r n on t h e i r land. I t i s about t h e o n l y c r o p t h e y do grow, and s e l l what t h e y d o n ' t u s e themselves. NAFTA opens t h e market t o d u t y - f r e e U.S. c o r n , grown by multinational agribusiness, t o flood the t r a d i t i o n a l market, undercut a l l l o c a l producers, f o r c e them t o s e l l t h e i r land t o pay t h e i r o p e r a t i n g c o s t s , moving them o f f t h e l a n d i n t o urban slums o r i n t o t h e r o l e of $2-a-day farm workers f o r t h e f e w ( e r ) r i c h c o r p o r a t i o n s buying up a s much l a n d a s possible l a n d t h a t h a s been f o r c e d onto t h e ' f o r s a l e ' market by t h e , p r i c e - f i x i n g E market m a n i p u l a t i o n o f i t h e s e same c o r p o r a t i o n s .

NAFTA w i l l wipe o u t t h e l a n d holdI ings and communities o f t h e Mayans i n Chiapas. They know. They had a c h o i c e t o s t a r t down t h e p a t h o f t h e l a n d l e s s E homeless o r t o r e s i s t . . . t o f i g h t back On J a n u a r y 1st f o u r towns were 'occupied' by armed women, indigenous and peasants t o c a l l t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e world t o t h e i r p l i g h t . . t o break up t h e image t h a t t h e f r a u d S a l i n a s and h i s government keep pushing - t h a t Mexico i s a f r e e , democratic, h e a l t h y land e a g e r t o embrace t h e b e n e f i t s o f 'free' trade The h o l e appeared. The army showed i t s e l f t o o p e r a t e as i n d e p e n d e n t l y a s it p l e a s e d . I n t h e f i r s t 3 days o f t h e y e a r o v e r 100 p e o p l e were k i l l e d .

The Bishops from Tapachula E T u x t l a G u t i e r r e z , and Bishop Samuel Riuz from San C r i s t o b a l , c a l l e d (and a r e c a l l i n & f o r a d i a l o g u e t o a v o i d even more bloodshed.

The army/government responded by':' c e n s o r i n g t h e p r e s s , bombing v i l l a g e s

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L b p n Ballplayer wore thigh guards and o thick protective kWIheM~yonball game rearirnbled barkelboll. Thc ployen hit d w b b s r boll through a ring with their knees or hips.

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and ~ a communities ~ & and murdering anyone even s u s p e c t e d of b e i n g one of t h e " i n s u r g e n t s . " The Globe E Mail had a p i c t u r e of j o u r n a l i s t s l i n e d up w i t h t h e i r "Press" bands a c r o s s t h e i r mouth i n s t e a d of on t h e i r arm... An open lett e r from t h e Council o f BC Indian Chiefs t o Chretien t e l l s of a r e c e n t i n c i d e n t where seven "suspected i n s u r gents1' were f o r c e d t o l a y on t h e ground i n t h e middle o f t h e p u b l i c s q u a r e and were each s h o t i n t h e head

by Mexican s o l d i e r s .

The "ZAPATISTASI1, a s t h e armed women and indigenous and p e a s a n t s c a l l thems e l v e s , have r e t r e a t e d i n t o remote mountainous j u n g l e s i n Chiapas. Army f o r c e s have occupied many towns and a s t a t e o f m a r t i a l law p r e v a i l s . Food, blankets, water - s u r v i v a l s u p p l i e s a r e a l l s c a r c e , y e t many people from o u t l y i n g farms 6 communities have migr a t e d t o t h e towns f o r s a f e t y and f o r whatever food t h e r e may be.

S a l i n a s , t r y i n g d e s p e r a t e l y t o keep up t h e t a r n i s h e d image o f "Mexico and Business", h a s removed P a t r o c i n i o Gonz a l e s Blanco Garrido from t h e c a b i n e t

p o s t of M i n i s t e r of t h e I n t e r i o r . Garr i d o was t h e former Governor of t h e S t a t e of Chiapas and h a s a long h i s t ory of endorsing human r i g h t s v i o l a t ions a g a i n s t t h e Mayan E indigenous people.

The people, non-rich/Mayan/indigenu ous/peasant/Zapatista/Mexican, who w i l l not b e n e f i t from NAFTA a r e f i g h t ing f o r t h e i r f u t u r e . The Mexican government has t r i e d t o downplay t h i s by i n t e r v i e w s with '!Mayan l e a d e r s " i n a c o n t r o l l e d p r e s s , s t a t e m e n t s of a ''willingness t o forgive" i n t h e same p r e s s , and s o on. They even want t h e world t o b e l i e v e t h e i r numbers: under 100 k i l l e d (over 400); 250 people a r e a l l r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e mess (2,000+

i n Chiapas alone) and t h e v a s t majorit y of t h e Mexican people welcome t h e b e n e f i t s of NAFTA (86 indigenous peop l e s , comprising 57% of t h e population, a r e " t h e people'' d e s c r i b e d i n t h e 1st sentence of t h i s paragraph excepting v e r y few who have adopted t h e ways of t h e greedy r i c h , t h e s e people ark i n c luded i n t h e more than 60 m i l l i o n c i t i z e n s of Mexico who l i v e i n p o v e r t y ) .

The conclusion h e r e i s t h e same a s t h a t surmised 5 days ago: t h i s i s n o t "over". Chiapas i s merely t h e f i r s t example of people r e f u s i n g t o bow t h e head and a c c e p t t h e New Economic Order a t t h e expense of t h e i r s o u l s .

From 1853, h e worked f o r t h e Pennsylvania Railroad Co. and was t h e man who introduced s l e e p i n g c a r s .

From 1872 he worked i n s t e e l , founding what l a t e r became t h e Carnegie S t e e l Company. In t h e 1870s he b u i l t t h e f i r s t s t e e l p l a n t s i n t h e US t o u s e t h e new Bessemer steelmaking proc e s s . L a t e r i n t h e 1890s he introduced t h e b a s i c open h e a r t h furnace. A s a former steelmaker myself ( S t e l c o , Hamilton) I can say t h e steelmaking process h a s n ' t changed t o o much s i n c e Carnegie's time.

by t h e ~ b m e s t e a dS t r i k e i n which seve r a l were k i l l e d . This was caused by Carnegie c u t t i n g wages.

He r e t i r e d i n 1901 and funded l i b r a r i e s a l l over t h e English-speaking world ( i n c l u d i n g our Centre, which was Vancouver's main l i b r a r y u n t i l t h e 1950s).

Carnegie H a l l i n New York i s a famous music p l a c e . I'm a musician.

I h a v e n ' t played t h e r e b u t I have played t h i s Carnegie Centre and t h a t means even more t o me.

Terry Edwards

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By PAULR

TAYLOR

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J u s t i c e not Charity

On December 1 8 t h End L e g i s l a t e d Poverty h e l d i t s annual event t o r e s pond t o t h e p r e s s u r e of c o r p o r a t i o n s ( s e l l i n g ) and t h e media ( ' t i s t h e season t o give) t o make need and pove r t y something t h a t o n l y has t o be educates people i n a v a r i e t y of ways acknowleged once a year. t h a t : 1) Poverty is a conscious creah t i - p o v e r t ~groups have foryed i n t i o n of t h e r i c h , t h e c o r p o r a t i o n s dozens of v i l l a g e s , towns and small t h e y own E t h e governments t h e y contc i t i e s i n B.C., i n l a r g e p a r t because r o l ; 2) The development of underdevof t h e o r g a n i s i n g work of ELI'.

It's elopment i s a planned e f f e c t of every not a m a t t e r of ' d i s c o v e r i n g ' poverty n a t i o n a l and i n t e r n a t i o n a l a i d progi n each p l a c e b u t f o r t h o s e l i v i n g m ; t h e y a r e desimned t o provide t h e incomes f a r below t h e poverty l i n e t o b e s t investment c l i m a t e f o r p r i v a t e r e a l i s e t h e y a r e not a l o n e . . t h a t it f i n a n c e . .no more ; 3) There i s a i s p o s s i b l e t o do something. c o r p o r a t e agenda, enhanced by t h e I n s e v e r a l p l a c e s o u t s i d e t h e Lower r e c e n t "free" t r a d e d e a l s , t o widen Mainland (Kamloops, Shuswap, V i c t o r i a t h e gap between r i c h and poor, t o Nelson, Salmon Arm, ) people c e l e - ,$:transfer more of t h e c o s t o f doing , E"business brated t h e ' J u s t i c e n o t Charity' day t o t h e p u b l i c ( t h e system t :of p u b l i c s u b s i d y / p r i v a t e prof it with e v e n t s of t h e i r own c r e a t i o n , each t o g i v e support t o t h e individuknown a s f r e e e n t e r p r i s e ) and t o i, exacerbate t h e d e s t r u c t i v e s p i r a l of a l s involved and t o t h e many people who t r y t o keep t h e i r p o v e r t y a s i n - r: competitive impoverishment. ,.: v i s i b l e a s t h e y can. I t ' s t h e s e l a s t . A We have only t o s c r a t c h t h e s u r f a c e t h a t a n t i - p o v e r t y work hopes t o reach $, of any Third World country l i k e Braz- t h e r i c h E powerful a r e n ' t s o much :ti1 o r Nicaragua t o s e e t h e t r u t h of ignorant about t h e causes of poverty , ? - ' t h i s , b u t , c l o s e r t o home, a look a t ' a s t h e y a r e i n d i f f e r e n t . The r i c h t h e Maritimes w i l l g i v e t h e same p i c f e e l q u i t e h o n e s t l y t h a t t h e y have $( t u r e - drained o f i t s r e s o u r c e s and so much more than t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y i-, abandoned u n t i l something e l s e of t h a t t h e y deserve &$value s u r f a c e s . by d i v i n e r i g h t everything t h e y have and t h e r e s t of 8, Back t o BC; a t t h e event on t h e I ?..18th t h e r e were people speaking of us a r e h e r e t o s e r v e them ( o r a t l e a s t n o t t o be s o impudent a s t o i m personal experiences. A Native s i n g l e p l y , by thought, word o r deed, t h a t mother t a l k e d o f d i s c r i m i n a t i o n and we deserve o u r f a i r s h a r e o r ( h e l l g o v ' t l i e s ; a man from Newfoundland f o r b i d ) t h a t t h e y , t h e r i c h , have who was i n j a i l over Clayoquot Sound somehow come i n t o p o s s e s s i o n of more p r o t e s t s ; a d i s a b l e d woman spoke of than t h e i r f a i r share!).

Linda Marcher right t o dignity End L e g i s l a t e d Poverty, i n i t s a c t o t t e , a member of ELp ' s s t a f f , t h e n i v i t i e s throughout the y e a r and espi n v i t e d t h r e e of perhaps fivel o c a l e c i a l l y on ' J u s t i c e n o t C h a r i t y ' day, A

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p o l i t i c i a n s t o speak..They were t o respond t o t h e theme of t h e day and t h e n s i g n t h e i r name t o a p l e d g e t o work f o r h i g h e r w e l f a r e r a t e s and a h i g h e r minimum wage.

Each spoke; n o t one o f them would s i g n , Emery Barnes, who responded t o a c h a l l e n g e of ELP1s a few y e a r s ago and l i v e d f o r one month on a w e l f a r e income, sounded t h e most h o n e s t and s i n c e r e . He s a i d t h a t s i g n i n g t h e p i e c e of p a p e r wouldn't make t h e changes it t a l k e d about, b u t t h a t h e would c o n t i n u e t o do what h e could.

O t h e r s sounded okay b u t I was s i t t i n g behind them b e f o r e t h e y g o t up, The L i b e r a l MLA had a good c h u c k l e when t h e o t h e r L i b e r a l MLA p o i n t e d t o ELP1s i n f o r m a t i o n t a b l e and s a i d , "A1 1 t h e i r propaganda i s o v e r t h e r e . l1 F a c t s about p o v e r t y , documented evidence o f t h e s y s t e m i c c a u s e s of need and i n j u s t i c e , b a s i c i n f o r m a t i o n on o r g a n i s i n g o u r s e l v e s . . . p ropaganda?

J u s t keep l e a r n i n g . When you know a l i t t l e , t h e r e w i l l come a t i m e when you t a l k about it t o someone e l s e , . . t h a t person might t e l l someone e l s e o r one of you might i n v i t e a t h i r d p e r s o n t o s h a r e what you know... and you have t h e P r e s i d e n t , Vicep r e s i d e n t and S e c r e t a r y / T r e a s u r e r o f your o r g a n i s a t i o n r i g h t t h e r e !

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PAULR

TAYLOR

Do not adjust. ..

Welfare safety net isn't for life Of course the federal and proklncia1 governments are refusing to release separate, but equally damning reports, regarding welfare fraud (Ottawa won't release welfare fraud reports, Dec. 31).

To let the public see what a mess our welfare system is in and how easy it is for criminals to bilk it would be tantamount to admitting the welfare state is not working for the ben. efit of anyone except the criminals.

The people who really need help -the sick, the disabled, the unfortunates who really can't find a job despite searching every day - are not getting it.

Meanwhile, we fritter away billions nationwide on layabouts and thieves.

The working people of this country a r e being robbed by this system, while the people who refuse to work expect all the rights and privileges that society has to offer.

We cannot continue to spend billions more than we make every year.

A social safety net should be just that - something to catch you if you fall, not something to carry you around in for the rest of your life.

Of course, the politically correct answer will not be to stop this insanity. But it would be the correct

answer.

GARY TUPPER Langley

I see that Ron Rapley, director of public rights administration, has decided that the public is not to be made aware of the three reports on welfare fraud by refugees.

Since we the public a r e taxed heavily to, among other things, provide the funds for welfare payouts as well as pay the salary of Mr. Rapley, I fail to see how he can make this decision for us.

HELENA SMITH Surrey

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KEMANOGATE

few y e a r s , b u t because t h e s e a r e a t odds w i t h ALCAN's p l a n , t h e y a r e now a l a Watergate, meaning t h i s i s i r r e l e vent. becoming one of t h e b i g g e s t s c a n d a l s c ) Harcourt could p a s s l e g i s l a t i o n unearthed i n Canada ( s o f a r . . t h i s r e q u i r i n g a l l s t u d i e s t o be consiy e a r . . . ) . There w i l l b e more informatdered. .t o s t o p t h e e n t i r e p r o j e c t ion n e x t i s s u e , a f t e r a complete packt o make ALCAN abandon t h e e n t i r e mess age of r e p o r t s and covered-up a c t i o n s He's s a i d ' ' t h i s would make f o r a negi s d e l i v e r e d t o t h e N e w s l e t t e r by t h e a t i v e investment c l i m a t e i n BC" s o c o u r i e r from Greenpeace. b u s i n e s s e s l i k e ALCAN (and MacBlo i n 1 Clayoquot Sound) wouldn't want t o i n v e s t i n BC r e s o u r c e s t o make maximum p r o f i t s out o f p o l l u t i n g t h e environment and d e s t r o y i n g t h e ecology. d) C h r e t i e n promised a complete r e view d u r i n g t h e e l e c t i o n . Now no L i b e r a l w i l l say a n y t h i n g . e ) Dept. of F i s h e r i e s workers a r e not u & p e r m i t t e d t o t a l k about t h i s t o A & anyone anywhere. a The s y n o p s i s s o f a r goes l i k e t h i s : ALCAN wants # t o p r i v a t i z e a r i v e r . They 3) Someone a t some l e v e l of government want t o d i v e r t it t o u s e 88% o f i t s s a i d t h a t ALCAN d i d n o t have t o go water t o g e n e r a t e power. The r i v e r i s through an EARP..an Environmental a major t r i b u t a r y of t h e F r a s e r and i s Assessment Review P r o c e s s . This was t h e spawning ground o f a major p o r t i o n r u l e d b o t h i l l e g a l and u n c o n s t i t u t i o n of t h e salmon each y e a r . a l , meaning t h a t ALCAN d i d and does ALCAN h a s h i r e d s c i e n t i s t s and f i s h have t o go through an EARP. " e x p e r t s t 1 t o p r o p a g a t e t h e i r grand de4) ALCAN can r e g u l a t e t h e flow of s i g n and, i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e propower when it has c o n t r o l o v e r t h e v i n c i a l E f e d e r a l governments, i s flow of water. I t can t h e n e x p o r t t h i s h o l d i n g "hearings" i n a c o u p l e of power t o t h e S t a t e s . T h i s w i l l t h e n b e towns i n t h e i n t e r i o r . p a r t o f what t h e S t a t e s w i l l e x p e c t ; should ALCAN d e c i d e i n t h e f u t u r e t h a t 1) The f i r s t d e a l was c u t i n p r i v a t e it needs t h e power i t s e l f , it c o u l d by t h e T o r i e s , under Mulroney, t h e s h u t o f f t h e S t a t e s quota, t h e CanadSocreds under Vanderzalm, and ALCAN. i a n g o v ' t would s t i l l b e r e q u i r e d t o 2 ) The Department of F i s h e r i e s d i d a h o s t o f s t u d i e s from 1980-1986. The supply t h e S t a t e s w i t h t h e same amount t h e y had g o t t e n f o r t h e n e x t 3 y e a r s s c i e n t i s t s 6 f i s h l v e x p e r t s l ' working r e g a r d l e s s of what t h a t d i d t o energy f o r them s a i d ALCAN's p l a n c a n ' t work. needs i n Canada, and a t t h e same c o s t a ) The 'lhearings" a r e being h e l d o u t a l l c o u r t e s y of t h e r u l e s of NAFTA. s i d e t h e Lower Mainland t o make ALCAN could t h e n b i d t o b u i l d t h e them somehow n o t worth media c o v e r a g e now n e c e s s a r y second power p l a n t t o b) The m a t t e r s t o b e d i s c u s s e d exsupply Canada and s t a r t t h e whole c l u d e a n y t h i n g done b e f o r e 1987, round o v e r . meaning a l l t h e s t u d i e s done by t h e ALCAN has one of t h e b e s t r e c o r d s Dept. of F i s h e r i e s i s n o t a c c e p t a b l e . o f corporate i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n t h e Any s t u d y done on w i l d l i f e and e c o l o world.

I t h a s been involved i n s t r i k e g i c a l f a c t o r s h a s t o b e done o v e r a

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b r e a k l n g , c o n s i s t e n t bad management p r a c t i c e s E l a b o u r r e l a t i o n s and is known throughout t h e world as a major p o l l u t e r . I t s c o r p o r a t e credo i s "Dilution i s t h e s o l u t i o n t o p o l l u t i o n l ~ and j u s t t r i e s t o s p r e a d i t s c r a p o v e r a wide a r e a . .

Okay. I f you a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e complete s t o r y and what you can do, t h e r e i s a p u b l i c meeting on Monday, JANUARY 17, 7pm, a t t h e Maritime Labour C e n t r e (1888 Triumph S t . ) . Go.

Compassion f o r a Vet

E a r l y one morning w h i l e I was making my u s u a l t r i p t o t h e War Memoria l i n V i c t o r y Square, I saw an o l d v e t s i t t i n g on a bench. He w a s ' s h i v e r i n g . . t h e look h e gave me t o l d me e v e r y t h i n g . I s a i d t o him, I1Need a drink?" He bobbed h i s head about t e n times. I s a i d , I1Follow me."

Once i n my room I p l a c e d a h a l f b o t t l e f o wine i n f r o n t o f him. Afte r a few d r i n k s , he t o l d me war by t h e t i m e he f i n i s h e d ,stories t h e b o t t l e he f e l t h a l f )human. I s a i d The t i c k e r t a p e and o f f i c e towers h t o him, "Here's some change t o jangSaw t h e l e a d e r s s m i l e a t t h e hour.

The v i c t o r y won ' g a i n s t v i o l e n t a g g r e s s i o n l e i n Your deep s e a pockets."

To t h i s day we have been f r i e n d s .

Showed s i l v e r c l o u d s end of o p p r e s s i o n .

But a c l o c k was s e t , and. r u n n k r s r e a d i e d On c a r s f o r g a n g s t e r s t h e r e a - p l e n t y Upon t h e sidewalks of a town.

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And t h e booze flowed i n b a r s where j i g s Were danced i n s i d e t h e town's b l i n d p i g s .

And some played g i g s t h a t calmed t h e cops, But t o o much j i g , t h e g l o v e s would drop.

Woe t o t h e t h i g s t h a t took poor f i r l s And showed them t o t h e d i r t y world Upon t h e sidewalks o f a t o h .

Guns t h e y c a r r i e d , and t h e y would d i e , J u s t c a r r i o n , one c o u l d d e s c r y them, While gambling h i d d e n i n smoky rooms Sent poor f a m i l i e s t o t h e i r doom.

And c h i l d r e n r a i s e d i n f e a r o f hunger Grew t o l i v e and f a c e w i t h a n g e r empty d a y s Upon t h e s i d e w a l k s of a town.

Oh, what p o l i c e f o r c e could c o n t r o l A thousand drunken, rowdy s o u l s .

And what young n a t i o n c o u l d a b i d e A c i t y by cops t e r r i f i e d Upon t h e s i d e w a l k s of a town.

Passed i n c i t i z e n days o f f e a r , And n i g h t s o f sorrow met w i t h t e a r s .

Sad wives o f poor o u t w i t t e d men Looked on t h e dawn, t h a t r o s y hope, r i s i n g then Above t h e s i d e w a l k s of a town.

- -Carten

There was a f a c t o r y which employed , t o prove i t s e l f e n l i g h t e n e d , gave t h e h o s p i t a l i t s o f f i c i a l backing, with thousands of people. I t s production u l i n e was a m i r a c l e of modern e n g i n e e r s, n r e s t r i c t e d a c c e s s t o t h e f a c t o r y , a small annual g r a n t , and an ambu- 1 ing, t u r n i n g o u t thousands of machlance t o speed s e r i o u s c a s e s from i n e s every day. The f a c t o r y had a , I workshop t o h o s p i t a l ward. \. high a c c i d e n t r a t e . The complicated -But, y e a r by y e a r , a s production machinery of t h e production l i n e took L:' i n c r e a s e d , t h e a c c i d e n t r a t e c o n t i n l i t t l e account of human e r r o r , f o r 6 $.' ued t o r i s e . More and more people g e t f u l n e s s , o r ignorance. Day a f t e r , were h u r t and maimed. And, i n s p i t e day people came o u t of t h e f a c t o r y j of everything t h e h o s p i t a l could do, with squashed f i n g e r s , c u t s E b r u i s e s more and more people died from t h e Sometimes a person would l o s e an arm L! i n j u r i e s t h e y received. o r a leg.

Only t h e n d i d some people begin t o Occasionally someone was e l e c t r o Ai\ i f it was enough t o t r e a t peoples' ask cuted o r crushed t o death. Enlighteni n j u r i e s , while l e a v i n g untouched ed people began t o s e e t h a t something t h e machinery t h a t caused them. needed t o be done. F i r s t on t h e scene 2 were t h e Churches. An e n t e r p r i s i n g P This s t o r y i s i n a book Between t h e m i n i s t e r organized a small f i r s t - a i d i: I t ' s an i n c r e d i b l e p i c t u r e of Lines. .t e n t o u t s i d e t h e f a c t o r y g a t e . Soon, j much of what p a s s e s f o r s o c i a l a c t i o n with t h e backing of t h e Council of i n t h e news well-meaning people, Churches, it grew i n t o a p r o p e r l y e x p e r t s , p r o f e s s i o n a l s , even t h e usufirst-aid b u i l t clinic,a b l e to give 4 a l do-gooders a l l doing t h e i r p a r t t o to quite cases, and to t r e a t minor i n j u r i e s . The town c o u n c i l be- b? apply a bandaid t o a bleeding wound. came i n t e r e s t e d , t o g e t h e r with l o c a l of t h e work of community g r a s s ' r o o t s o r g a n i s a t i o n s i s done by volunbodies l i k e t h e Chanber o f Trade and 1i., t h e Rotary Club. The c l i n i c grew into !4: t e e r s , b u t being paid a wage d o e s n ' t 1 ; a u t o m a t i c a l l y open t h e doors t o s t o p a small h o s p i t a l , with modern equipt:" - t h 5 causes of i n j u s t i c e . ment, an o p e r a t i n g t h e a t r e , and a Never s t o p l e a r n i n g . Many o f us s e e f u l l - t i m e s t a f f of d o c t o r s and n u r s e s ;!'

Several l i v e s were saved. F i n a l l y , ,-' l e a r n i n g a s h a r d . . t h i s i s a mental ?st : block. Learning i s easy i f you begin the factory management, seeing the good t h a t was being done and wishing " See every as an Oppor\

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DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

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

STD C l i n i c FREE MEDICAL CLINIC Mon, Wed, F r i d a y , 5:30-7 :30 pm.

221 Main; every day. 9am 5pm.

NEEDLE EXCHANGE Needle Exchange Van on t h e s t r e e t evenings, Man-Sat. N.A. meets every Monday n i g h t a t 223 Main S t r e e t .

Out-To-Lunch

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Bunch meets d a i l y a t 59 Powell, loam Joy T , 4 2 0 Colleen E. 4 2 0 W i l l i a m F .-$SO

Eleanor 11.-$25 Adbuntera 4 5 0 Wayne H . - $ 4 . 5 0

- 2:30pm.

Legal Aid -9% n a q c.-$25 Paula R.-$ZO Steve Te-$15 Eric Le-$10 Anonymous -$7 5

Adult Ed.-$16 Roberts ALC 4 3 0 CEEDS $50

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Emil E.-$20 Mike H . - $ 1 0 0

A PUBLICATION O F THE THE NEWSLETTER ACRNECIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION.

A r t i c l e s represent the views o f Individual contributors and not of the Association.

0 Submission Deadline NEXT ISSUE 1

NEED HELP ?

28 January . Friday

The Downtown Eastside Residents' Association can help you with:

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any welfare problem information on legal rights dis~uteswith landlords unsafe living conditions income tax UIC problem finding housing opening a bank account

Come into the DERA office at 9 East Hastings St. or phone us at 682-0931.

DERA HAS BEEN SERVING THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE FOR 20 YEARS.

b e also know youd like to Improve uality of your life w i t h o g

Y&T

Van.SUN e n t e r t a i n m e n t s e c t i o n

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Plugged-In (video) P l a y Good Prep For Life" .."sitting i n f r o n t of a screen pressing buttons & getting tense is probably t h e b e s t r e a l l i f e preparat i o n any p a r e n t c o u l d p r o v i d e . l1

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j u s t s t e p back, c a t c h o u r b r e a t h a moment, & t h i n k about t h i s s e r i o u s l y . . it s a y s : Itthe b e s t any p a r e n t could providef1.

I guess t h e w r i t e r means t o s a y t h a t s i n c e technology depends on people being hooked i n t o keyboards c r e e n behaviour, c h i l d r e n a r e b e t t e r o f f b e i n g p r o c e s s e d now t o meet t h a t standard i n t h e f u t u r e . In othe r words, s t a n d a r d s s e t by machines i n o r d e r t o produce more machines i f w i l l c o n t i n u e t o p r o v i d e a s c a l e of v a l u e s agaubst which p e r s o n a l experi e n c e w i l l c o n t i n u e t o b e measured ( o r something l i k e t h a t ) .

So, what we have i s f u t u r e f a m i l y v a l u e s based o n the i n s a t i a b l e drugs e x - v i o l e n c e syndrome t h a t c a h be o f f e r e d a s a reward f o r k i l l i n g , b e a t i n g up, o r o t h e r w i s e d e f e a t i n g bad guys who a r e u s u a l l y f o r e i g n dark-skinned, o r have b i g n o s e s .

This, then, is a s o r t o f t r a i n i n g ground f o r t h e kind o f d e a l s druginduced b u s i n e s s men & women w i l l have t o make i n t h e f u t u r e t o keep on t o p o f more new technology pumpi n g o u t f a s t e r & f a s t e r orgasms f o r & smaller brains.

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T h i s i s a p r e p - d e f i n i t e l y . Akind of e d u c a t i o n t o p r e p a r e anybody's k i d s f o r wars t h e i r governments w i l l r e q u i r e them t o f i g h t w i t h money, s e x & machines. A chance t o p l u g a l l f u t u r e e x p e r i e n c e i n t o t h e meani n g l e s s snap c r a c k l e 6 pop o f worldc l a s s imagery i n o r d e r u l t i m a t e l y t o f r y t h e human b r a i n completely, once & for all. o f c o u r s e , once it i s d e e p - f r i e d by technology, t h e market v a l u e o f t h e human mind i s i n c r e a s e d enormous l y . A s f a r a s long-term e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t y f o r investment i n t h e f u t u r e of young Canadians i s conc ed, o u r t a r g e t d a t e seems t o b e 20 o r 30 y e a r s down t h e l i n e , where ext r e m e l y e n t e r t a i n i n g forms o f mental E emotional r e t a r d a t i o n may o f f e r u s t h e f i n a l answer t o a q u e s t i o n nobody asked. T h i s may b e t h e u l t i m a t e c o n f i g u a r t i o n n e c e s s a r y f o r medical & m i l i t a r y e x o e r t i s e i n t e s t i n g new d r u g s & thought c o - o r d i n a t e s r e a c t i v e t o e l e c t r o n i c s t i m u l a t i o n overl o a d e s s e n t i a l t o a new world o r d e r .

I So. "Plugged- I n P l a y Good Prep Fo Lifef1 i s t h e e x a c t i n f o r m a t i o n l o o p we need now t o s u i t up t h e n e x t genera t i o n f o r t h a t i n e v i t a b l e walk i n space, where t h e r e l i g i o u s e x p e r i e n c e of f i t t i n g machine p a r t s t o g e t h e r i n a weightless s t a t e w i l l design i t s e l f t o occupy t h e mind e t e r n a l l y . a v i r t u a l r e s u r r e c t i o n o f metal e l e c t r i c i t y i n the willing recept of human f l e s h . Of c o u r s e , t h i s w

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TOMMY BURNS of s t r e e t - e n d views. I n d i v i d u a l l i f e - 5% times, p e r s o n a l freedoms, e t c . w i l l i , Burns was Vancouver's o n l y have t o b e r e l i n q u i s h e d i n f a v o u r of ''6; h e a v ~ e i g h tboxing champion. He was born Noah Bmsso, June 17, i n t e r n a t i o n a l a c c e s s codes t h a t prog1881, i n Habover, O n t a r i o (about 125 ram E pathway t h e f l e s h f o r p o l i t i c a l m i l e s n o r t h w e s t of Toronto). He beeconomic renewal. champion on Feb. 23, came F u r t h e r t r a i n i n g i n keyboard- s c r e e n lgo6 when he won a 20-round d e c i s i o n r e a c t i o n s p r o v i d e s u s with t h e opporL.A. He defended >.Over Marvin H a r t i n t u n i t y t o perform a kind of r i t u a l lobotomy on human e x p e r i e n c e i t s e l f . . t8,4his t i t l e 11 t i m e s u n t i l ~ e c e m b e r26, something t o f u r t h e r "revolutionizett '$1908 (one of h i s t o r y ' s i r o n i e s - boxt h e way we t h i n k , f e e l & a c t . . somei n g Day) when h e l o s t t o J a c k Johnson t h i n g as warm 6 w i l d a s a barbedwire i n 14 rounds i n Sydney, A u s t r a l i a .

From 1900 t o 1920, Burns had 60 teddy b e a r . ' b o u t s , winning 45, 35 by knockout. AfKids l i k e u s c a n hug a b e a r l i k e t e r r e t i r i n g h e became a Downtown t h a t a l l n i g h t long, o r a t l e a s t u n t il t h e j o l l y o l d gentleman from t h e '?\ E a s t s i d e a l c o h o l i c , reformed and became an o r d a i n e d m i n i s t e r i n 1948.

International Fund shows He d i e d i n 1955 i n Vancouver.

When he does, you can b e s u r e t h a t h e \ I used t o box i n t h e o l d Western w i l l p e r s o n a l l y walk on h o t c o a l s t o S p o r t s C e n t r e ( n e a r t h e Balmoral..you appease t h e god o f r e a l e s t a t e t r a n s can r e a d t h e s i g n on t h e s i d e o f t h e actions - a virtualr e a l i t y i n i t s e l f b u i l d i n g ) around 1979-80. T h i s p l a c e t h a t h a s become a p o p u l a r p a s s t i m e has s i n c e been c l o s e d . Even though I f o r emotionally d i s t u r b e d business have s i n c e d e c i d e d I d o n ' t l i k e boxp e r s o n a l i t i e s t h e world o v e r .

TORA ing, I wonder i f Burns e v e r boxed o r Chains.. ce), /:# z--- >/ (. -i ', t r a i n e d t h e r e . Often I walk a l o n g East H a s t i n g s and f e e l h i s s p i r i t .

ST~RIKING Differences

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Some Do Some Don't Some a r e w i l l i n g Some Some wander Striking differences Simplify our course Amplify o u r Ambitions L i b e r a t i n g o u r Learning P r a c t i c e is P r a c t i c a l Purpose i s P r o v i n c i a l People a r e People Striking differences

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S a t 15: YELLOW BELLYS World Funk J a z z

8:00 smoking s e c t i o n

Input from & d e c i s i o n s by t h e v o l u n t e e r s . 7:30

Mon 17: La Quena Workers Meeting

Tue 18: Canadian Cinema n i t e a t La Quena t l I ' V E HEARD THE MERMAID SINGINGtt P o l l y i s awkward, shy and d e l i g h t f u l l y funny; she h a s won t h e h e a r t s of audiences & c r i t i c s i n t h i s h i g h l y acclaimed f i l m . 8pn d o n a t i o n non-smoking.

Wed 19: v i d e o FROM THE HEART OF THE WORLD Documents mountain people "The Kogi", t h e o n l y v i a b l e pre-columbian s o c i e t y s t i l l i n t a c t and a c t i v e . 8pm f r e e .

Thu 20: NATURAL MYSTICS Reggae band. B e n e f i t f o r Mystic C e l e b r a t i o n P r o d u c t i o n s and Sound o f Vision. 8pm $5/7 smoking s e c t i o n .

Fre 21: KAREN MILADY UNPLUGGED S a t 22: COZY BONES

Songs and Poetry.

High energy funky groove.

8pm

$4/.6

$5

non-smoking e v e n t .

smoking s e c t i o n .

Sun 23: ARABIAN MUSIC 6 DANCE One Night i n a Thousand B e l l y dance, music from t h e middle e a s t . Arabian songs. And l o t s o f madness. 8pm $5/7.

Tue 25: Canadian Cinema n i t e a t La Quena '11' Two h e r o i n a d d i c t s , Michele and Snake, s t r u g g l e t o withdraw c o l d t u r k e y . Nailed i n t o t h e i r apartment t h e y become h o s t a g e s o f each o t h e r ; t h e i r r e s o l v e ebbs E f l o w s a s t h e y d i g d e e p e r i n t o themselves. S e n s a t i o n s f l a r e u n t i l Snake d i s c o v e r s a f o r g o t t e n s t a s h hidden i n t h e apartment. 8pm d o n a t i o n non-smoking event.

Wed 26: HOWLING FULL MOON POETRY NIGHT

Open s t a g e p o e t r y n i t e .

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7:30 pm

Thu 27: MOM'S THE WORD A t t e n t i o n Moms! Women I n View and E a s t s i d e Family P l a c e p r e s e n t a s p e c i a l pay-what-you-can oerformance o f Mom's t h e Word. T h i s " k i t c h e n t a b l e c a b a r e t t 1 f e a t u r e s performer-moms Linda Carson, J i l l Daum, A l l i s o n Kelly, Robin Nichol, Barbara P o l l a r d and Deborah Williams s h a r i n l ' s t o r i e s , humour and o t h e r coping s t r a t e g i e s i n a behind-the-scenes peek a t t h e i r t o u g h e s t r o l e . Doors open a t 2:30. Performance s t a r t s a t 3pm.

F r e e c h i l d c a r e i s a v a i l a b l e by c a l l i n g E a s t s i d e Family P l a c e a t 255-9841.

Non-smoking.

C a l l e a r l y a s i t ' s l i m i t e d . Advance t i c k e t s : 685-6800.

Thu 27: Open S t a g e

Come one, come a l l 6 p l a y o r j u s t hand o u t . 8pm d o n a t i o n .

F r i 28: La Quena Cabaret f u n d r a i s e r w i t h JOHNNY 0 QUENA 6 THE CROONETTES Come on o u t f o r p i r c a b a r e t f u n d r a i s e r , i n s p i r e d by t h e v o l u n t e e r s 1 performances a t one of o u r v o l u n t e e r p a r t i e s . YO;' 11 have a r i o t . $ = s l i d i n g s c a l e ( $ $ ) S a t 29: La Quena b e n e f i t C a b a r e t performers. 8pm.

Tonightls cabaret w i l l include various l o c a l

Callinp all volunteers, please drop in, and become a La Ouena volunteer.

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LADY X

Garry Gust

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We first heard about her several years ago when newscasters told us that a woman living in a makeshift tent near the Mary Hill bypass was being harassed into moving away by wellmeaning local residents.

A year or so later it was reported that she had taken up residence in the relative tran.quillity of Stanley Park.

And now. Lady X has returned to the "stomping grounds" of her youth, having erected her home between a walking path and a roadway near a hotel where Howard Hughes himself stayed over two decades ago.

Her shelter consists of some boxes covered with rainproof tarps and upright forklift pallets giving the structure some four feet of height.

When asked how she liked her new neighborhood, Lady X replied: "Oh, I've livedaround tall buildings before." She then continued to landscape her tiny yard by gathering up stones and putting them in a neat pile.

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The one significant characteristic of both Howard Hughes and Lady X is that he was,. as she still is, a recluse.

Whereas Mr. Hughes, as one of the great proprietor kings, was forced into self-exile by those around him whose behavior drove him tb distraction, Lady X was driven to her alternative life-style by landlords and their "ever changing rules. " Take away the vast economic differences of these two individuals and what remains is their tremendous resolve to be left alone, "to not hurt anyone, and to not be hurt by others.I' It's these uncompetitive values that blunt the mundane ambitions of acquiring creature comforts for the long cold winter ahead, and leaves an undeniable spiritual contentness that few of us will ever understand.

If left alone by disgruntled guilt merchants and squeaky clean land developers, Lady X will still be there when Spring rolls around.

However, it would be socially gratifying, in Vancouver style, if someone could quietly leave one of those inexpensive Army & Navy comforters at Lady X's door.

WINTER CELEBMTTONS

G . Gust

Passed away autumn leaves lie in state fueling the soil of the Strathcona Gardens.

Three wild cats sternly sit on hind legs guarding the wishing well's perfect ice crown.

Nothing moves but one cat heading for birds in the compost and 'drinks :from' the. pond.

A11 the plots whisper in wonderment 1 where are the humans this twenty fifth day.

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FOR LINDA MAY We spoke b r i e f l y , on a cloudy windy a f t e r n o o n The wind swept your h a i r a s you p u l l e d your j a c k e t c l o s e r t o you Your words were anxious and s e a r c h i n g , l i k e your eyes I n t o which I looked w i t h f a s c i n a t i o n . . . f o r I knew That t h e s p i r i t w i t h i n would somehow touch my l i f e .

In t h e following days you dropped by unannounced You s u r p r i s e d me by v o i c i n g your a f f e c t i o n s .

I was f l a t t e r e d and nervous and happy, because I f e l t t h e same t h e n we k i s s e d And we laughed ahd t a l k e d and hugged While i n s i d e I was t o r n .

...

I d o n ' t want t o s a y no, y e t I ' m s c a r e d t o s a y yes Because I ' v e grown t o love you...

And you s a y "you d o n ' t even know me" i n t h a t s i n g i n g v o i c e Yet I f e e l I know your s p i r i t w i t h i n , t h a t gazes out through t h o s e brown eyes.

The s p i r i t t h a t speaks t o me a s a b e a u t i f u l woman with a l i t t l e g i r l ' s l a u g h t e r and a l o v e r ' s embrace.

And I ' d g i v e up my world f o r t h e chance t o know t h e s p i r i t t h a t beams through your laughing eyes.

1'11 no l o n g e r p r e t e n d i t ' s a g e n t l e wind, a whim... no...

I t ' s a welcome warm b r e e z e , i t ' s t h e b r i g h t morning s u n . . .

I t ' s t h e sky t h a t I p r a y t o and gaze a t with awe The s p i r i t , t h e you, t h a t I ' v e come t o l o v e . submitted anonymously

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The American Indians are the original ecologists. The way they lived for centuries was in total harmony with their environment. I think the concept of a n ecological balance is relatively new to our own society.

It has a lot to do with respect. Respect for life. Respect for Creation. If you respect your own life, you can respect the life of another.

It's easier to ignore the threats posed by the nuclear power industry if there's nobody you feel responsible for. I suppose the person who made it possible for me to focus on this issue was my son. I want my son to be able to have his own children without being afraid that the increased levels of radiation in ?he environment could cause them to be born deformed.

We're going to have to think about what we need and what we want. About what's important.

-Jackson Broic~ne

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