June 15, 2009, carnegie newsletter

JUNE 1~, 2009 carnnews@vcn.bc.ca www .carnnews.org (373 hits per aayt) http://harvesters.sfu.ca/chodarr (INDEX)

I

On the complete closure of community space Oppenheimer Park fills one square city block, bounded

by Jackson and Cordova, Dunlevy and Powell streets respectively. It is an unassuming park as parks go, with no Hower gardens or statues spouting fountains. The grass has been let go and hasn't been mowed in months Still, there is a border of magnificent old trees with a handful of cherry trees planted some 30 years ago by the Issei to commemorate their legacy. There is as well a line of young cherry trees recently planted in a sharp diagonal through the centre of the park from Cordova and Dunlevy. These young trees provide welcome shade as well as obstacles to larger groups congregating. A baseball diamond and bleachers are snug in the Powell/Dunlevy corner while the children's playground on the Powell/ Jackson side has for years now been fenced off and forbidden to adult play. Tucked in between these two underutilized areas is the modest clubhouse, headquarters of the valiant and feisty park staff that, in addition to supervision and coordination of park activities, also provide an astonishing variety of programs and services. Above a gentle grassy hill is a wonderful carved memorial bench and, in pride of place, an original totem pole carved here by local artisans and raised shortly after I moved across the street going on a dozen years ago.

There is a worm in the heart of the city and it's eating away at the carefully formed alliances forged over the years by the diverse populations that make up our vibrant DTES neighbourhood. Ours is a poor, multi cultural, outsider community refuge and last resort for a variety of displaced persons including old timers, artists and political and social refugees. Over and above simple residency, what defines us as a community and makes us a pretty special place to live is our resilient spirit and, for the most part, the tolerance, respect and freedom we are each accorded and extend to each other that allow us to be ourselves without shame.

After an unusually extended, clammy and cold spring, summer returns to the park like a blessing and the neighbourhood gratefully adapts to the summer routine.

Most of us dwell in the surrounding single room apartments, little boxes wnn poor ven111at1on and lighting .. stuffy and cramped at best, gloomy and bug-infested at the extreme low end of the accommodation scale. For us the park is our escape zone and living room, a small haven that provides a place to stretch out on the grass with a book or a pen or a friend. Those who need to let off steam run around with balls or frolic with dogs. The

park is small but it accommodates many opportunities to seek sun or shade, welcoming to a diverse bunch of habitues. This works primarily because we leave each other alone, observing the unspoken etiquette that allows people a measure of privacy in a public space. So it is that I recognize but do not know the names of people around me.

There is the lady in blue who moves around the park with the sun; the silver-haired lady with a silver flute; the woman who is always under the same tree, reorganizing her handcart; the handsome guy with the shades propped up on his pack on the other side of the tree, reading; the guy who does a kala every morning at precisely ?am throughout the year. There is a small crowd around the dog with spots like a cow and his own personal soccer ball, the Spanish on the steps, a few homeless sleepers, the addicts in the far comer going about their sad business. Contrary to urban lore, they never approach with fabulous offers, unless you approach them first. There doesn't seem to be a lot of drinking or carrying on in an alcoholic way Mothers stroll through on their way to and from shopping at Sunrise or visits to the clinic, and there is continual flow of new faces that soon blend in or disappear. Primarily, the people who depend on this park are older, quieter, seeking peace and quiet rather than action or excitement.

That is not to say we don't look forward to the annual and special events, like the Powell Street Festival and Art Against Brutality. Many people have come to rely on the free meals and especially the barbeques hosted by various groups and charities throughout the summer in Oppenheimer Park.

The worm in the heart of the city threatens all this, challenging our good will and our best intentions. The feeling of solidarity that has evolved over the years, bringing us together to celebrate and mourn, to support and defend and commemorate, is horribly undermined.

Trust, faith and hope are on the chopping block.

This is not a hidden thing, nor is it terribly new. We have all been exposed to a greater or lesser degree at some point. Many of us have even been seduced or aroused by its message, gone to meetings, many meetings, and public hearings and conferences and planning events. We've volunteered our time and ideas, shared our thoughts and wishes and fears, and struggled to put it all in writino. We have been led to believe that our 1npur was va1ua01e ano tnal we nao some say, after all, in how our lives would be impacted, in particular by mega-projects that wouldn't go away in spite of public opposition, in spite of local assurances that local needs

L

I

were being taken into consideration.

"This is for you!" we have so often been told ... if you fit the criteria and accept the conditions. "Let us know what you need" and when we do? We are advised to be patient. to be understanding, to be grateful for each tiny victory or concession, and to be graceful in our defeat as we scuttle back to the end of yet another line. We do put our best into it, no doubt in our creative resourcefulness.

At the end of the day, then, why do I often feel cmpromised and diminished rather than empowered, patronized and depleted by the process, ripped off and betrayed by the results and tainted by association with those whose interests sorely clash with mine? Collaboration doesn't always mean collusion, does it?

No doubt about it, our community is in deep jeopardy.

The forces we are up against, the opportunists and the developers, want our beautiful area. They are not only vastly more organized with the backing of money and connections, but they have infiltrated our attempts to stand up to their camp-aign, which just happens to include the destruction of this free-spirited community in the name of social development.

On the last Friday in May there was the fateful open meeting when the complete closure of Oppenheimer Park and the fencing of the entire perimeter was announced. In the days since then there have been strong feelings swirling about the park. Tense and unhappy, I found myself seeking out the company of others, principally those in my section of the park where I always align myself with the totem pole in the sun. The elegant woman with the flute reveals that she is a mental health survivor and tells me how grounding it is for her to be able to come here every day, how necessary. She mentions how the park helps her to relax and then be able to focus on whatever she chose.

I've hung out a bit now with the soccer-playing dog and his admirers and they agree that none of the other parks in the vicinity meet their requirements in terms of accessibility and structure No doubt each of these places will see an influx of displaced residents. In the case of the addicts, two scenarios are possible. Used to harassment, they could just accommodate to the situation and the fence will become their territory. Or they will move out into the surrounding area and we will see some nasty turf wars and tragic casualties.

The worm at the heart of the city is not easily classified.

It mimics many postures as politically expedient. It lies to the media and attempts to project a benign image. I would not even claim that overt greed is its main charac-

I

I

3 tenstic, for the will to survive and prosper and improve one's position seems to be innate. But we have Witnessed inordinate greed in shameful action, and we know its requirements: complicity, indifference, lack of scruples and a willingness to suspend or twist ~oral values in order to consolidate a position of relahve power and entitlement.

Yes, 1am glad that the park staff has managed to fend off developers who would tum this park into a warehouse or a dense tower for profit. and it's nice that they were able to secure the funding for renovations. The clubhouse could use expansion, the drainage could be improved, the Homeless Band could use a decent rehearsal space, the kitchen a good overhaul. But to close down the entire block for the summer is a disaster for the neighbourhood, with repercussions that will s~ill out into the surrounding area as people seek alternallves.

For some it will be too much effort reqUired, especially for those who find walking difficult and slow.

What happened with the arguments that were made about the long house design for the new structure? What about the strongly expressed concerns that the proJect take place in phases, with some part kept open while the work goes on? It may also be a good thmg that enterprising homeless might be a.llowed to .~ake use ~fa specific area while the park IS 1n trans1hon. Creallve use of the space that moved towards resolving some of the problems could keep the balance between an unacceptable and a positive outcome. This park should not be closed. We need it.

Each golden day since June 1' 1, when the park officially closed, has been a precious reprieve. At work I am apprehensive as to what I will find when I ~et home. l.n the park 1 flop down but find it hard to unwmd ..There IS a subtle air of menace, an unsettled and defens1ve mood.

The dog keeps barking, lunges at me, a relativ~ stranger. 1realize how important the parks staff are 1n keeping the park safe and serene when I witness a racist, violent incident that indicated to me a general feeling that now that the park is closed, the bullies feel confident moving in. I had never seen the white, middleaged, flabby brute that attacked an African youth who was too exuberant for his taste that day. In react1on I stayed away for two more but I was soon lured back by the urge to make the most of what time is left available to us there.

By Delanye

News From the Library New Books Soul Rebel: An Intimate Portrait of Bob Marley (78 1.57) is a collection of David Barnett's previously unpublished photos of Bob Marley. Taken on assignment for Time in 1976, only two of Burnett's photographs \\ ere published in the magazine. A }ear later, Burnett photographed Marley again, this time for Roll ing Stone. These pictures arc gorgeous, easy photographs from performances to tour bus to recording studio, from football to guitar to marij uana. We're going to keep this book in the library so that as many people as possible can read the descriptions and see the photos.

Who said, after being arrested in his hotel room by the Canadian police in 1977, .. What disappointed me was that none of them was wearing a proper Mounties uniform. They were all in anoraks with droopy mustaches and bald heads. I'd have woken up a lot quicker if I'd seen the red tunic and Smokey Bear hat." Yup, that' s Keith Richards and that's just one of the quotations in Stone Me: Tire Wit and Wisdom of Keith Richards (78 1.57).

Can elephants hear through thei r feet? Do chimps kiss and make up after a fight? Can rats count?

Find out in Tire Smartest Animals on the Planet: Extraordinary Tales of the Natural World's Cleverest Creatures (59 1.51 ).

Downtown Eastside Writers: Getting Your Work Out There Are you a writer who's stuck where to go next? Do you need help editing your work, submitting it to ppublications. or do you just want to get some feedback? Then you need Gett ing Your Work Out There. Written by Brenda Prince and Alexander Wilson and designed by Bakir Juna ideen, the brochure is packed with tips from fellow writers about everything from creating space in your li fe for writing to coping with rejection letters. There are copies of this leaflet in the library, in our\\ riting section. Please come and take one! Thanks to the Friends of the Vancouver Public Library. who funded this booklet, and to the SFU Writers Studio\\ ho helped make it possible.

'l

.J

(

Heather Spears

I can still draw

Wednesday June 17th, 7:00 PM

Thursdays 2: Writings from the Carnegie Come celebrate the launch of Thursdays 2: Writings from tlte Carnegie Centre, ed ited by Elee Kralji i Gardiner and John Asfour, with the writers fro m the Thursday Writing Class. This launch is (of course) Thursday, June 25 at 8pm at the Brickhouse, 730 Main Street.

Carnegie Centre Theatre, Carnegie Library, 401 Main Street. _ Admission is !re~. Seating is limited.

Heather Spears is an award-winning author of fiction , non-fiction and poetry, and she has published severa l collections of drawings.

She has won the Pat Lowther Award, the CBC Literary Competition and the prest igious Governor General's Award for Poetry. I can still dra w is a stunning collection from a celebrated poet, and will not disappoint reade rs who have come to expect formidable work from her. Join us as she reads from her most recent work.

I

~l

I

Carnegie AGM On June 4 111 the Annual General Meeting of the Carnegie Community Centre Association took place in the Carnegie Theatre.

As there were 15 spots to be filled on the Board and, as there were 15 eligible candidates present, the Association membership resolved to elect these 15 people by acclamation!

As of 4 June 2009, the members of the CCCA Board of Directors are: Matthew Matthew Adrienne McCallum Norma-Jean Baptiste Ben Rampre Paul Ca mpbell Colleen Carroll Phoenix Winter Cra ig Hathaway Priscillia Tait Gena T hompson Rolf Auer James Pau Sa ndra Pronteau Jason Fleury Lisa David Board members subsequently elected the executive Matthew Matthew - Presidelll Gena Thompson - Vice-president Colleen Carroll - Treasurer Rolf Auer- Secreta/y Sandra Pronteau - Member-at-Large [Executive members have signing authority.]

Personal Emergency Preparedness Workshops Carnegie Community Centre June and July 2009 In a disaster, you could be on your own for 72 hours or more.

Make sure you and your family are prepared.

Sign up for one of these workshops today.

At Ca rnegie Community Centre 3'd Floor Administration Office Workshop dates: Monday June 8- 3:30 PM Monday June 22 - 4:30 PM Monday July 6- 7:00PM T hursday July 23 - 3:30 PM Since a light lunch is ordered for the participants of the classes we asl.. you to please sign up at least 24 hours before the class so we have sufficient food ordered and handouts and door prizes.

This class is only open to those who have not taken it before. Sponsored by Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program, City of Vancouver 604.871.6377 nepp@van couver.ca

----------------------------------HUM 101: JUNE DOCUMENTARIES CARNEGIE CENTRE THEATRE 6:00 PM

Sites of Empowerment: A Walking Tour With Carnegie Community Action Project Sun June 21, 11 :30am - lpm Meet at the front steps of Carnegie, 401 Main Pay what you can, all proceeds to CCA P This tour will start at the front steps of the Carnegie Centre and visit some of the best loved and worst places in the area according to the stories of low-income DTES residents. Join Wendy Pedersen, parent and community organizer in the Downtown Eastside, and contemplate how these key sites give us clues as to how to build a vision for a safe, healthy and affordable lowincome neighborhood in the future. CCAP is a project of the Carnegie Community Ce_ntre.

Association and works mostly on housmg, mcome and land use issues in the Downtown Eastside .

...

JUNE IJS/\TURDAY Depleted Uranium Dehydration and Cane JUNE 20 SATURDAY Hogan's Alley and other documentaries celebrating our community's history.

JUNE 27 SATURDAY Wild Food S urvival with Linda Runyon. Never go hungry with this knowledge.

'Optimism is a strategy for making a better future.

Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take . responsibility for making it so. If you assume there ts no hope, you guarantee there will be no hope.'

- Noam Chomsky

Snapshot Often times I think I must walk around with blinders on. That would explain my sometimes out-of-step optimism, my well-intentioned (however mislead) sense that all is well with the world.

This morning I was reminded full force of the other side of things here in the 'hood. On the sidewalk lay a native guy, maybe 40 or so but with the years of boozing and god knows what else he'd aged beyond his years. What struck me was the fact he was damn near dead. Displaying all the signs of AIDS in its terminal phase, my friend ripped me out of my complacency.

The reed thin arms and extended belly were something out of the TV ads for the starving masses in Africa or somewhere else far from here. Yet riht here in the most prosperous country in the world this guy was publicly dying. When you see death up close and personal it rattles your cage. It disturbed me; still does.

The control freaks are freakin' controlling, the crazy hermaphrodite is busy directing traffic, the Drs. all say "take one of these and it'll all go away' The control freaks are freakin' controlling how much poverty we endure and if it's not hard enough they'll turn it up for sure.

Half of us got HIV, most of us got HepC, and what we aint caught yet they're giving away for free! The control freaks are controlling, doing it for society, and if it comes down to annihilation they'll get rid of you and me.

The crazy weather is here now, got nothing to fear: the control freaks are in control-don't do what they don't 'allow' .. .

AI

Peace Begins in the Home

Doesn' t maner where you roam Peace begins in the home

Peace begins in the home Doesn' t maner where the children go Peace begins in the home Peace begins in the home Gently speak "yes" or "no¡• Save the world from many woes Carefully help love grow Haste is worse than going slow Peace begins in the home Peace begins in the home Finally put on end to war Peace begins in the home

Peace begins in the home Set examples that will show No one needs to have much more Than the others living next door Make all safe for each tomorrow Never hit and then cause sorrow Peace begins in the home Peace begins in the home

Peace begins in the home All earth's life we should adore Ev' ry animal, bird, fish and more Don' t eat 'em or even make them sore Respect their feelings- a spirit like us At this and any time they'll need love Peace begins in the home Peace begins in the home Our hearts and minds can always kno"" Peace begins in the home May K

I

~l

Walk for Justice

a n

llenJeJnber Our 0 0

Beginning from the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, a band of women and men rat missing women. This is necessary, to join the grief and worry of those with mothers, sis\ families tied to the Highway o f Tears in northwestern BC. Along a stretch of highway tt those unaccounted for as well as stories and " last seen sheets. The walking friends cling\

I

Lost

r n I,, Photography by Sharon Burns

ging in age from 4 to over 80 are waiking to Prince Rupert to raise awareness about the !rs, aunts, daughters and friends disappeared from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside with ere another 15 or more women have vanished. The supply van is covered with photos of o hope and pray for this rragedy to end.

. ..

.r

Tbe O!!Wtltown b$tside Heart of tho City Festival til coopenliou w tth Carnegio Commumly Centre and radha yoga & eatQry pre)elll$ Vancouver Movtng Theatr e·$ produc:llon

Ea

E

~lu 0 atAII

hat Jazz

fe a tu ri n g Mos ter of Ce re monie s Chtc Gt/Jsan Stngers T• m Ptd , 11 8 C.wdu~ Churcl111/ Mus teal Director Btll Cu stm Musoc ians Bt/1 Costlfl & Ttm Sract v Specia l Gue s t "h clmn 61hson Direc ted by Oem< Srmpson

Create d li nd wrrtl en by OetiiS Stm pson

8 Savannah Walling A

i'>t t h

Mr t ,·onord Gt!J son

sou l-stirring eve ning of gospel and blue s, jazz and memories

celebr ating the historic black community of Vancouver's East End

SATURDAY JUNE 20 ~I

i

7:30pm

Black history films 6pm

Carnegie Com munity Centre, 401 Main St reet

FREE

SUNDAY JUNE 21 7:30pm radha yoga & eatery, 728 Main Street

I

I

$10 at t he door

Saturday June 20

Sunday June 21

lOam- 11:30am Chinatown Walk Every Building has a Story 50 E. Pender 11:30am-lpm Stories of Hope In Shadows Carnegie 3rd floor

lOam- 11 :30am Hist orical Wa lki ng Tour Caught in the Middle 240 E. Cordova

l pm- 3pm Story Sharing It's a Long Story .. .

Carnegie 3rd floor

11:30am- lpm CCAP Wa lking Tour Sites of Empowerment meet at Carnegie front 5te 5 lpm- 3pm Story Sha ring Three Guys and an Alley Carnegie 3rd floor

Friday June 19 3:30pm- Spm Bruce Eriksen Heritage Walking Tour meet at Carnegie front 5te 5

7pm- 9pm Story Shari ng The Fight for Community Recognition Carnegie 3rd floor

3pm- Spm Digita l Stories Everyday Heroes Carnegie 3rd floor

6pm - 7:30pm Hogan's Alley CBC Interview Clips Bamboula Carneqie Theatre 7:30pm - 9pm East End Blues & All That Jazz Carnegie Theatre free

3pm- Spm Story Sharing Standing up for Community Carnegie 3rd floor

7:30pm- 9pm East End Blues & All That Jazz radha yoga & eatery

$10

I

off \HE STRtt:'r Arts & Crafts Fair Saturday ,June 20th, 2009 Victory.. Square

Want to display or sell your work?

Call

Live or Work

US.

in the DTES?

We want you! â&#x20AC;˘

In The Temple of Medicine The Angel of Hunger came and flew over me Without a look M y eyes rolled and the Angel dove for me And gave me to the Leviathan to cat Lazarus was holding a tea leaf in each hand.

Product of Frustration

I killed a man i n my dreams With a glass bottle and cried & cried In front of his wife and daughter After saving Blake I came out of a G ruyere's hole Because a weird branch was torturing my armpit Did you see a camel pass through the eye of a needle?

Mari lngouf

-•

I

m ~ ~ •!• +Summer Classes +•!• \81 • Carnegie Theatre Workshop

ACTING BASICS How to ...

Voice, Movement, Scene Study Imagine, Prepare, Explore .J Saturday afternoons for 3 hours

Sat June 27, July 4, 11 and 18 starting at 1:30pm Carnegie Theatre Free

All levels of experience welcome!

Attend 1 session, attend all 4.

No registration required.

Class size may be limited.

Led by Teresa Vandertuin For more info cal/60-1-255-9401 email: thirteenofhearts@hotmail.com

I

l

I am a product of manipulation, I keep getting threatening congratulations, l see St. Minus sending out his yearly salutations ... lam the PRODUCT OF FRUSTRATION! Like being prosecuted to the fullest extent of their lawns (they own it all you know) we're sti ll here yawning for answers about the little things in li fe like cures for all cancers though no concern of yours yes those 17 days of sun & sand kicked i n your face for once where is a policeman? Places & people began to disappear after we 'won ' the circus in whatever was the year. Don't shake them grimy pig hands or is he too a product of frustration or just selfishization too many doormats not enough doors they' ll keep on kicking one of them has to be yours hilarity abounds me op inions surround me is there such a thing as a word lost&found? Walk at me talk at me is this another test do you want my breath or am I under some kind of arrest or are you just ruining my day yet agai n?? I f Charles Schultz was alive there would a cop hat on Pigpen! Like using the correct firearm to turn left but left is right & right is wrong why do you wear a gun? A chi ld wi ll ask daddy's got to get to work & terrorize the traumatized with your copsuit as a disguise now genuine regret doesn't forget those who got dealt a 1 bad deck like a 4 h party cheque time to check out! (who wants to go to heaven today) even after death the poorest need the poorer to pay and this Avon Call ing day after day before day like the picture of health I carry w ith me at all times l ike which came first, mankind or his fate, happiness or hate I got here late but common sense tells me said fate lies in the amount we create & that scares me more than Campbell's cloud of mushroom soup with N Korea being the next Hiroshima ooops! - I hope I didn't upset your set list of destruction you clai m progress is in construction now it's time to contradict previous instructions we are all Products of Frustration!!! A ll of·us·.

By ROBERT McG ILLI VRAY '·As often as a study is cultivated by narrow minds they will draw from it narrow conclusions." John Stuart Mill

I

GET CLEAN! Shower up at the Lord's Rain

-"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

There is a shower facility at Gospel Mission, 327 C arra II Street Gust off Pigeon Park). There are towels, soap, shampoo - the works! &Coffee

Special thanks to Trevor Robinson for getting the Newsletter's printer, scanner and PC working and communicating!

Modayn: lOam - 3pm; Tu esday : 7- 8:30am; Wednesday (Ladies' Day): lOam - Noon Friday: lOam - 3pm; Saturday : 7 - lOam

CFRO 102. 7FM CO-OP RADIO Next issue is July 2nd · SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Friday, June 26 Free showers for homeless persons at 327 carraR Wed 7-8:30am; Sat7-10am; Women Only Fri 6-llpm

401 Main Street. V6A Zl7 THIS NEWSLE1TER IS A PUBLICATION O F THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Articles rrpreseot the views individual Contributors and not ol th~ A~tlnn..

or

Cover art in the June 1 issue was done by Jimmy Dewar • Editor: PauiR Taylor Cover Art be Garnet Tobacco I Collation & distnoution crew: Harold, l..iu Lin. Bill, Mary 1 Ann. Miriam. Rotr•.Tina. Videba. Kelly, ~·. ~obY':'· Nick, Jackie. Manhew. Lisa. Red. Pablo. Ida. Priscdha. Ltsa.

r---

-----~- ~

TIM STEVENSON CITY COUNCILLOR

---... •

.-------------------, I We acknowledge !hat Camegi~ Community Cenln!, and this Newsletter, are occurring.'Pn Coast Salish Territory.

WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsklll!r • • •

SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITH PRIDE

QTYHAU 451 Wm 1110 AvE. V5Y 1V4 Plaone:

~'

(i '

'~•. !

! ~

[.

.

• •

.

./

.

•

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA

Working for You 1070-1641 Commercial Dr. VSLJYJ Phone: 604-775-0790

I

'-------------------~

• •

Small illustrations to accompany articles and poe by Cover art -Maximum size: 17crn(6-314") wX1e x 15cm(6") high.

Subject matter relevant to issues pertaining lo the Downtown Eastside preferred, but aD work win be considered; Black & White printing only Size restricfions must be considered (i.e. if your piece is too large, it wiD be reduced and!or cropped to fit; All artists will receive credit for their wori<; Originals will be returned to the artist after being copied for pub6cation; Remuneration: Carnegie volunteer tickets.

•

Please make submissions to:

Paul Taylor, Editor.

)

\ Law Students' Legal Assi stance Prog ram

LSLAP: Carnegie hours Tuesdays: 2pm-5pm and 6pm - 8pm Wed-Fri: 10am-12pm and 1pm-4 pm

2009 DONATIONS: Bany M.-$1 50, Ubby 0.-$70 Rolf A.-$50, Margaret D.-$40, Jenny K.-$23, Sue K.-$30, Sandy C.-$25, Christopher R.-$180 Mel L -$25, Greta P.-$?5. Java B.-$75, Alayne-$25 Anonymous -$1500 Leslie S.-$25 The Edge -$200 Harvey B.-$25 Wilhelmina M...$20

~tvttAliOtvS Perception is Nine-tenths of a conviction It seems that regardless of what's actually going on, those who appear to get their way have some knack at gening their illusions accepted as fact.

This comes home with a lot of news stories and staged events. This morning Stephen l larper was given free airtime as he delivered a progress report on the so-called stimulus package the Conservatives put together. No reporters were allowed in, the entire audience was made up ofTory supporters (as stated by the '·Political correspondent'') and on I) pre-approved questions were allowed after llarper's gung-ho diatribe. He hammered any opposition to what he and his cronies are doing as ··politically motivated''. Yet look at it from an unbiased point of view: He doesn't make this report in the House of Commons where only the united power of all the opposition forced him to have such reports, where he would have to answer nonapproved questions and where the undelineated results of his policies are also made public. But ho hum, what else is new?

Here in Vancouver the domi nant theme is that .. revitalization. improvement, quality-of-life and opportunities for the future'· are all catch phrases to hide gentrification. equating wealthy speculators with ..good, honest people.. and all the reasons why bulldozing the DTES is in everybody's best interests. The reality underlying this is the results of financial inequality, class ism and the not-astakeholder label wrapped around most lowincome people- wrapped so tight that the blatant hope is that we strangle in it.

It seems to be more of what you can get someone to believe that hides the stuff going on. Witness the export of the "American dream" worldwide that somehow convinces everyone how wonderful things are in North America - but the poverty,

l

I

homelessness. disease, want and oppression are as tangible as anywhere else. But if all you get is John Wayne and Bruce Willis and Tom Cruise and George Bush, streets must sti ll be paved wi th gold.

With the Olympic Games, the media and all on board are going to great lengths to ignore homelessness, poverty, land claims, the prom ises ab_out housing made to get the bid and then_ systematically broken, the continual cover-up on usmg the Games as the blanket excuse to get massive redevelopment billions on highway and venue projects rolli ng like a juggernaut over all manner of community consultation, com mon sense and basic decency to make as much for as few as possible. A guy named Kurt Yonnegut wrote a bit in one of his books about ~his: "I have never seen a more sublime demonstration of the totalitarian mind, a mind which might be likened unto a system of gears whose teeth have been filed off at random. Such a snaggle-toothed thought machine, driven by a standard or even a substandard libido. whirls with the jerky, noisy, gaudy pointlessness of a cuckoo clock in Hell. .

[We] wrongly think that there are no gears m the mind [of the m onopoly, corporate capitalist], and say •·You' re completely crazy." .

[The narrow-minded boobs bent on accwnulatmg "unlimited wealth and power"] aren't completely crazy. The disma) ing thing about the classic t~tali­ tarian mind is that any given gear, though mutilated. will have at its ci rcumference unbroken sequences of teeth that are immaculately maintained, that are exquisitely machined.

Hence the cuckoo clock in Hell -keeping perfect time for eight minutes and thirty-three seconds. jumping ahead fourteen minutes, keeping perfect time for six seconds, jumping ahead two seconds, keeping perfect time for two hours and one second, then jumping ahead a year.

The missing teeth, of course, are simple. obvious truths, truths available and comprehensible even to ten year-olds, in most cases."

The one point of this is to ask that you take nothing at face value. Always ask ·'what is being said and what is not being said!' Why does someone want me to believe what they are saying'>!'' The answers to these simple questions open a whole new world. The future is up to us.

PRT

\

tlaCjonal

ABORIGI AL DAY Crab Park!

Feast Traditional Drummers Canoe Arrival CeremonY Kids Korner Craff Area

Supporlod by: C<VOOgle Commuruty Cen~e. Oppenhetme< PM<, Heritage Canada. Aboriginal Welness Program, Port and Hoiel Society, Aborignal Frool Door, Indian Residential School &rvivO<S Soc10ly, Wit< Bravely FO<Watd SociOiy, Oo'NniO'NTl Eastside Neighborhood House, Collingwood Nei1Jborhood House. Urban Native Youth Society, Native Court.vori<ers & Counselling Association a BC, Bean Around lhe Wol\d, IAM, BCt.C. CUPE 15, CUPE 391 ,....,., ol Public Sa/tty ond Solicitor Gonerol 路"'"\ IIKmlH

Ganw>g Pc:IJcy a'ld Enbn:omont Broncn

Info or to rolunteer: Sandy at Oppenheimer Parle office: (604) 66S.2210

o-~~~~~gie: (604) 665路3005.

. .Crull&~

Art work byDonald

P;~~路-