June 15, 2012, carnegie newsletter

JUNE 15, 2012

.... a r E n tie gie ~ NEWSLETTER

carnnews@vcnbc.ca

F Featunng:

Fraser Union Dalannah G3il Bowen Solidarity Notes Choir Carn eg:e Street Band Spoken Word with Bud Osborn and others

Sunday, June 17th, 2012 at 7:30pm {doors at 7) St. James Community Square, lOth & Trutch, Kitsilano (one block south of Broadway between Blenheim and Balaclava bus stops)

The Carnegie Newsletter: A Space for People to Speak Out Literacy Roundtable Newsletter (June/July 2012) ~

PaulR Taylor, volunteer editor of the

Carnegie Newsletter In February 2012, the volunteer editor of the Carnegie Newsletter, PauiR Taylor, notified the Downtown Eastside community that the Gaming Commission had rejected the Community Communications component of the yearly application for refunding. For the past two decades, the printing costs of the newsletter have been mainly covered by these funds, with some individual donations. Its sister publication "Help in the Downtown Eastside" (printed twice a year until 20 I 1) has been paid for with funds raised separately for its 21-year existence. This article is based on an interview with Paul in May 2012.

Can you share a bit about the history of the Camegie Newsletter?

The Carnegie Newsletter got started on August 15, 1986. Its predecessor was the Carnegie Crescent, which had died out because there were too many editors at the helm.

In the case of the Carnegie Newsletter, Alan Mettrick [here on a Ul-Top-Up] was the editor for the first 7 issues. His UI ran out and he left, and a few who had contributed thought that this wasn't that

hard. The early issues were being produced on a typewriter and, having learned to type in high school I stepped into the role of editor.

The Carnegie Newsletter has been a space for people in the Downtown Eastside to write about politics and issues that are relevant to them. It raises what can't be ignored and allows people to speak out. It shines a light on everything we are not being told in the mainstream media. Over the years, submissions have challenged the notion that it's poor people's fault that they're poor, highlighted how legislation keeps people poor, and raised alarm bells about the hundreds of murdered and missing women in the DTES. The Carnegie Newsletter also hasn't shied away from discussing issues such as the s hortage of affordable housing, homelessness, drugs, sex, free trade, gentrification, marginalization, safety on the streets, kids at risk, and needle exchanges.

The Carnegie Newsletter turned 25 last year. It is published on the I st and 15th of every month. Typically each issue is 16 to 28 pages and 1200 printed copies are distributed to readers throughout the Downtown Eastside. Copies also go to City Hall, UBC, SFU, VCC, VPL, VANDU and mental health services I drop-ins. On average, there have been 23 issues each year.

Who is involved in the getting the Carnegie Newsletter out?

There have been over a thousand volunteers over 25 years who have worked on the Carnegie Newsletter, some contributing their time for just one issue while others have been involved on almost every issue. l volunteer as the ed ifo r, and various people have come and gone in working with me on the layout.

Most volunteers help in the assembly of the newsletter. Often they are retirees who have worked in the DTES communities, but some people just come and ask "Can I help?" One of our volunteers worked for 30 years in a printshop in China; she could put together the newsletter faster than anyone. There's this energetic banter that goes on back and forth between volunteers while assembling the newsletter. There are also volunteers who deliver the newsletters to locations around the community (and to the places abbreviated earlier).

As for submissions, people sometimes write their poems or thoug hts on napkins and slide them under

the door. Others might come to the office and say " I'm a poet. Here's my latest." Poets/writers like Bud Osborn and Sheila Baxter began their publishing careers in the paper. Sandy Cameron, a well-known historian of the DTES, contributed to the Carnegie Newsletter for over 20 years.

What is the impact -short term and long termof the government's decision to cut the funding for the Carnegie Newsletter?

The short term impact is that we've had to put an appeal out to readers to help us find funds to continue publishing. The problem is that most of our readers don't have extra money. Various people who have jobs (and several who don't) have sent money. ln general, the response has been good, but people are waiti ng for something or someone to make a higher financial contribution. T here has been the suggestion of charging 25 cents for each newsletter. But then we would have to keep track of quarters. And the idea is that the Carnegie Newsletter should not cost you to use it.

The long term impact is that if the newsletter dies, it would be a blow to the community. For people who have their work published in the newsletter, it improves their self-esteem and confidence to see what they have written in print. People's faces beam. It may be that they haven't written anything in their life.

Sometimes they ask for 15 copies to send back home to their family.

To the government, it's just a newsletter, of the same genus as in-house, online newsletters with schedules and announcements for content. But this Newsletter is something much different.

Where to from here?

There is a Crude Cash Concert fundraiser on Sunday, June 17 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at St. James Community Square (3214 West I Oth Ave). There will be music and entertainment and a si lent auction of artwork by First Nations artist Gamet Tobacco. Top price tickets are $100 with a s liding scale of what people can afford [basically choose your own price!]. We're aiming to raise up to $10,000. After the fundraiser, we'll re-evaluate where we're at. The hope is that a larger permanent funder will be located soon. We also plan to re-apply to the Gaming Commission again in November.

What motivates you?

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Volunteering is not a big deal for me. If you believe in something, you do it. One of my best memories of working on the Carnegie Newsletter was this guy who was learning how to read and write. He wrote out 4 lines and submitted it to be published. It was full of spelling mistakes, but what this guy wrote was genuine. And he didn't g ive a damn what people thought.

He got something down on paper that made sense to him and it was printed without correcting or editing.

He was astonished. Now that's really something.

To learn more, contact Paul at carnnews @shaw.ca .

"The Heart ofthe Community: The Best of the Carnegie Newsletter" can be found at the Carnegie Library.

Archives of the Carnegie Newsletter are posted at http://carnegie. vcn.bc.calnewsletter 路

Hi Friends, Carnegie Community Centre has lost much of its funding for its newsletter. Carnegie Centre is considered the "living room" of the Downtown Eastside. l recently received a call from Paul Taylor, Editor of the Carnegie Newsletter asking if I could help raise funds so that they can continue to publish their vital , info rmative and entertaining newsletter in its traditional twice a month sched ule. To that end, I have organized a benefit for the newsletter that will be an evening of great entertainment and be a lot of fun.

Performing will be: FRASER UNION, a talented and longtime favourite Vancouver Folk group; CARNEGIE STREET BAND, comprised of Carnegie users who will give us Beats from the Street; SOLIDARITY NOTES, Vancouver's Labour Choir extraordinaire; DALANNAH GAIL BOWEN, one of Vancouver's top Blues, Gospel, and Rhythm and Blues singers.

In add ition, a number of g reat WRITERS from Carnegie will be reading their poems and other works.

This includes BUD OSBORN, considered the Poet Laureate of the Downtown Eastside The evening will be held on Sunday, June 17 at St. James Community Square (32 14 W I oth ave) at 7:30 Tickets are $ 100 and are t<Lx deductible and for each ticket bought, a ticket will be g iven free to volunteers of the Carnegie newsletter and to other residents of the Downtown Easts ide.

I hope you will consider purchasing a ticket for this important event. We want to ass ist the Carnegie Newsletter.

If you wou ld li ke to attend, but can't afford this price, please feel free to come and pay as you can.

Everyone is welcome and no one will be turned away . lf you can' t attend, but want to contribute anyway, 1 would be delighted. You can a lways donate any sum no matter how s ma ll or how large. Your donation will be used to not o nly help raise funds for the newsletter, but also to enab le a Downtown Eastside resident to attend th is great concert.

Cheques can be made out to Carnegie Community Centre Association and can be mailed to me at: Mel Lehan 283 1 W 3'd Ave Vancouver, BC V6N 1K8 It will be greatly appreciated if you can forwa rd this to your friends and your lists.

Thanks. Mel

CARNEG IE VILLAGE CHOIR+ Special Guests SAA HilL THUT/Gerry Oldman GATHERING PLACE CHOIR In CONCERT JUNE 29 3 PM Carneg ie T heatre

Dear friends, Hello, people of our society & espec ially to our local people of so-called skid-row.

Sincerely- I've known skid row (Powell & Main) since 1939- a few of us came from Fraser Valley to attend to a moved situation. Native people have tuberculosis etc. and my school was turned into a hospital for TB. My school became Alberni Valley.

Beneficially we went ; got taught much which helps us in livelihood. Every year it's beneficial for me to have an X-ray. Now all's well that ends well.

Sincerely, Chris Wallace

Parents and grandparents tell Dix:

"We're not begging, just asking for justice"

The European Union Defined: A means by which the wealthy elite of France, Germany, and England could suck the lifeblood out of smaller nations.

Raise welfare rates to a liveable level, build social housing that people on welfare and basic old age penFor centuries, Greece was do ing fine on its own. sion can afford, and stop clawing back .I 00% of Then it joined the EU, and within a few years earnings and child s upport payments. That's what hundreds of thousands of Greeks were, and still nine parents and one grandparent on income assisare, suffering. tance told NDP Leader Adrian Dix and MLA Jenny Kwan today at Strathcona Community Centre.

The European Union is a conspiracy of "One-PerIn short and eloquent speeches the nine women and Centers" who feel the need to increase their wealth, one man told Dix and Kwan what it is like living on and shrink the middle class into a population of serfs. welfare for them and their children: Slaves who are paid just barely enough money to eat "There is no such thing as sitting around. We forage and house themselves. every day," said Stacey Bonenfant.

Over the past winter, the leaders of the Occupy "Before we had social housing I had to take $150 out Movement have been 'gotten to' by the conspirators, of my food money for rent," explained Colleen Boudand the movement has now lost its steam. reau. "If government built enough social housing people would have more fo r what they need."

The power of the conspirators is reinforced by those "Stress [from not having enough money to feed her of you in the upper middle class who lack interest child] makes my disability worse," said another moin socio/economics and social justice. ther who gets disability ass istance. She added, "I You are too comfortable to believe that your grandam constantly judged & poor-bashed by the Ministry." children will ever be in the paid slaves majority of "Sometimes children say they don't want snacks just the world's population. because they don't want their parents to go without," It's sad to know that the only thing standing between said another parent on disability. "Because I don't the masses and the above scenario, is a small g roup of have enough money I could never take them to SciHackers. ence World, Play land, or the Aquarium. It's even hard to go on picnics. It makes us feel like we are .

Garry Gust ...,.-, -:~ .x- ec~- ~~,- '"":1:_:-a_ ~~ less than others even though we're trying our best."

After all the speeches and requests for the NDP to ~Written Between the commit to raising welfare and building social hous- ¡ repulsed Raindrops Time elapses ing, Dix said, "There will be a plan and you will Addiction is li ke the Humans lapse see it before the election." holocaust gas chambers "Housing is a key part of it," he said.

Seconds slap into minutes multitude of thousands All of the points raised by the parents are "under con Slapshot into hours millions plagued with sideration by us," Dix added.

Crapshoot into days major infestation A single parent with one child who is expected to Map out into years worms in the brain look for work gets $945.58 per month on income aseating away at your Time indifferent as erosion sistance. A single parent on disability with one mind, sicker sicker It just happens child gets $1242.08. to the point you're a The parent and grandparent group is also trying to corpse and rot, die No deity winds this arrange a meeting with Lberal Minister Stephanie slowly, pain is your Cosmic clock Cadieux. ultimate goal, loneliness Contacts: Jean Swanson: 604 729 2380; â&#x20AC;˘ Only by living well do we seems so isolated Stacey Bonenfant: 604 441 5744; Wind it up ourselves stop listening to the Colleen Boudreau: 778 329 2294 lies John Doug las Nora Kay

US Trade Agreement Leak Reveals 'Radical New Powers' for Multinational Corporations Obama administration agrees to deal that contradicts domestic agenda - Common Dreams staff The release today of a confidential document from ongoing US trade negotiations with eig ht Pacific nations-- known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) -- reveals that provisions included in the trade agreement wou ld drastically undermine Obama's proposed domestic agenda and give unprecented political authority to multinational corporations.

The TPP negotiations have go ne on for two years between the Obama administration and several Pacific nations under conditio ns of'extreme secrecy' without press, public or policymaker oversight, says Public Citizen who posted the leaked document on their website today. " The top U.S . trade official effectively has said that the adm inistration must keep TPP secret because otherwise it won't be able to shove this deal past the public and Congress," said Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch.

"The top U.S. trade official effectively has said that the adm inistration must keep TPP secret because otherwise it won't be ab le to shove this deal past the public and Congress" -Lori Wallach Public Citizen' s G lobal Trade Watch The leaked document, according to the Huffington Post, reveals 'extreme provis ions' that have been agreed upon in secret negotiations that ''bestow radical new political powers upon multinational corporations" in g lobal trade and contradict key promises made to the US public about such deals.

According to Public Citizen, the leaked text now confirms that the terms of the TPP wo uld: *Limit how U.S. federal and s tate officials could regulate foreign firms operating within U.S. boundaries, with requirements to provide them greater rights than domestic firms; *Extend the incentives for U.S. firms to offshore investment and jobs to lower-wage countries; *Establish a two-track legal system that gives foreign firms new rig hts to skirt U.S. courts and laws, directly sue the U.S. government before foreign tribunals and demand compensation for financial ,

health, environmenta l, land use and other laws they claim undermine their TPP privileges; and *Allow foreign firms to demand compensation for the costs of complyi ng with U.S. fi nancial or environmental regulations that apply equally to domestic and foreign firms.

"The airing of this one TPP chapter," said Wallach, ."which g reatly favors fo reign corporations over domestic businesses and the public interest and exposes us to significant financial liabilities, shows that the whole draft text must be re leased immediately so it can be reviewed and debated. Absent that, these negotiations must be ended now."

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7 of 'housing' now open in Japan, at first for overnight when caught working too late; now renting for up to $700 a month! A bit less high than wide, each looks aBout-a ~g. The lack of affordable rooms (sounds familiar} has students & working singles making 'homes.'

The sky-licking greed of humans makes this a reality. It keeps people out standing to breathe, to limit self with no thought of 'asking friends ove(. and almost impossible to share space.

This could well start here if/when Vancouver becomes the developers wet dream: an Executive City. (Workers housing.}

This collage can give any number of reasons to think- class consciousness is knowing which side of the fence you are on. 'Anyone can be rich" is myth, the Big Lie on steroids.

Our Right to Food For much of my life I've been having conversations about our right to food. Over the last year many of those conversations have been with my friends and neighbours in the Downtown Eastside, while others have been with a number of people who are becoming more and more concerned about the proliferation of a two-tier food system in British Columbia and beyond. Currently those of us that are materially poor are finding it increasingly difficult to access healthy, local and organic foods- which we all recognize as having positive effects on our health.

Do we reallv have a right to food?

For most of my discussions this seems to be a question for many. In response I choose not to negotiate or convince others of deservedness to food. In fact I find it appalling to have to do so- we live in a country, and in the case of British Columbia a province, that produces more than enough food for all our neighbours to enjoy. The unfortunate reality is that almost one million Canadian families are food insecure each year. This is a situation that is only getting worse as we see a growing number of worki ng fam ilies becoming food insecure and dependent on charity to get through the month.

My preference in this discourse is to anchor my thinking with the international right to food framework that has existed for over th irty years in Canada and beyond. In 1976 as a part of the Universal Declaration of I Iuman Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was ratified, which speak to out Canada's right to food obligations. It is important to be clear that right to food does not mean that the government is responsible for handing out free food, but instead it is obligated to create and support an environment that enables people to feed themselves. Despite having signed the international covenant many years ago, a growing number of Canadians are food insecure. How can this be?

What can be done to make right to food a reality?

Issues of food insecurity need to be addressed broadly and collectively with the input of a variety of stakeholders (including those with lived experience of food insecurity). in a process that is based on a realistic and honest understanding of the political facto rs that impede our right to food. These factors include low wages/incomes, a lack of affordable housing, the need for affordab le child-care, the dominance of charity as the major societal response to food insecurity and the recognition of an often unspoken distrust of the poor that exists in the minds of many. In short, lack of access to food is largely a societal construct and can be improved through the actions of a willing society. A poverty reduction strategy for British Columbia (one of on ly two provinces that do not currently support one) is what many of us recognize as being a mechanism to address the growing imbalance.

To look at the situation in more detail we must understand the impact of low wages/incomes. Without the enactment of a livable wage policy, more and more working individuals have to rely on food banks--this is clearl y not a solution to food insecurity. The foods that are available at food banks are often Eurocentric, which is a huge challenge to many low-income Chinese elders in the Downtown Eastside, and certainly does not support positive health outcomes. These foods are often high in sugar, sodium, overly packaged and laden with preservatives. Ofte n in more trad itional food banks they are also the food that people with more resources chose not to eat or that have been sitting in their cupboards for months I years before they choose to take it to the Food bank. With that said, I think it is important to note that food banks are important and should be viewed as an emergency resource that are a part of a contin uum of supports and not a regular part of the monthly plight of people with low-incomes to access food. Food banks positioned in this way is unsustainable and one that does not work to address the systemic issues of poverty.

With a ll that! 've said above it is also exciting to see a growing number of food banks coming to the table as partners and allies in the movement towards universal access to healthy food. It is becoming increasingly common to hear the dedicated folks who work and volunteer at food banks supporting and participating in the call for things like a livable wage policy- which would give families the opportunity to make their own food choices and ulti-

Carnegie Community Centre Association (CCCA) Board of Directors: 2012-2013 President: Gena Thompson Ava Eder Ludvik Skalicky Vice-President: Phoenix Winter Ernie Harris Margaret Teng Treasurer: Pat McSherry Fraser Stuart Marvin Dennis Secretary: Adrienne Macallum James Pau Paul Taylor Member-at-Large: Priscillia Tait Lisa David

mately reducing or eliminating dependence on food banks. These days at some food banks that recognize the challenges of the traditional model are frankly asserting that food banks are not solutions to hunger and need not be positioned as such. A growing number offood banks are becoming important allies in the fight to increase access to our right to food. At the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society they have been animating community kitchens in many of the si ngle room occupancy units (SROs)/hotels in the Downtown Eastside through the Downtown Eastside Community Kitchen Program. This too is a model that many of the more progressive food banks are beginning to use as ways to introduce people with limited storage to healthy and fresh foods and the benefits of pre paring that food with their friends and neigbours.

Another significant hurdle to having everyone enjoying their right to food is around the welfare rates in British Columbia. They are arb itrari ly set and have no connection to the cost of living. The focus of welfare seems to be an attempt to keep people alive who are not working - not an attempt to support people as they transition to employment. The challenge here is that inflation has deeply eroded any chance of welfare helping people to live healthy lives. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives research points to a 36% decrease of value of a welfare cheque as a result of inflation in the last twenty years, The maximum that an individual on welfare in British Columbia can receive is $6 10/month (with $375. of that going directly to the landlord by way of rent). If we pretend that someone can access a place to live for $375/month in a city like Vancouver, then this leaves just over $7.50/day for that individual to maintain their hyg iene, seek employment, access public transportation and of course secure and consume food that will allow for good health. Instead those on inadequate welfare try to access their right to food by engaging in dangerous and unsafe survival work- binning, survival sex work and selling drugs. These activities put people in constant risk of danger, and ultimately are more expensive for society to address retroactively through increased medical and policing costs. There are several other problems associated with welfare and welfare rates, which could certainly be the basis of an entire novel, but I will stop here.

Another key systemic hurdle to enjoying right to food is the lack of affordab le hous ing and affordab le chi ldcareor at the very least strateg ies to address these issues. This reality of this means that parents/caregivers are forced to choose between work and staying at home to care for their children. The loss here is not only the lost income that the caregiver could have received, but also the loss on increasing expe rience and seniority. A lack of affordable hous ing, which is a growing concern in cities like Vancouver, particularly for those who are homeless, recip ients of welfare or disability "supports," This often forces people to have to choose between housing and eating. The UN Special Rapporteur on Rig ht to Food suggests that these are key pieces of addressing food security and that it is incumbent on the Canadian government to live up to its international right to food obligations by paying greater attention to these key issues.

The longer we neglect to pay attention to the systemic issues and continue to funnel the resources that can be used for that into charitable efforts, the inequity becomes more entrenched and more difficult to address. We need action now - it is important to the health of our friends and neighbours who aren't able to secure the food that they need to keep them alive and healthy. There are some incredible advocacy groups and campaigns that are hard at work in British Columbia that you can support and get involved with that are working to challenge the systemic issues that get in the way of our right to food. Together we can demand better and we must!

By Paul M. Taylor

Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) Newsletter June 15, 2012

Read CCAP reports: htt

New changes to welfare ...

Some good, some bad, none nearly enough After no increase in welfare rates for over five years, the BC government announced 28 changes to welfare policy last week.

Unfortunately, none of them were rate increases and we still have to keep the pressure up.

The best change is

are expected to work. The new rule doesn't go into effect until October 1 though.

A lot of the other changes eliminate some rules that were hair-tearingly frustrating such as not allowing families on

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criminalized. Right now BC is the only province that doesn't have an earnings exemption for people who

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or not allowing children whose parents were on Hardship to get any dental care. These ridiculous rules will be ended in October.

A single person can now have up to $2000 in assets, up from $759, and a family can have assets worth up to $4000,

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~ NOtl! hardship to keep their child benefits or lump sum Family Benefits refunds ,

which is also higher than before.

This (Cont'd on page 2) l

means if you are thinking you might have to go on welfare, be sure to apply before you are completely broke. People on disability can now have up to $5000 in assets and couples and families on disability can have up to $10,000.

People on disability will be able to keep $800 a month of what they earn, up from $500. But this affects only about five percent of people who get these benefits.

On the bad side there is a lot of rhetoric about making people look for work. By October you will have to look for work for five weeks after you apply for welfare, not three as you do now. And if you have an immediate need for food, shelter or urgent medical attention when you apply, you can get hardship, not welfare. Hardship doesn't provide as many benefits and you might have to pay it back.

Back on the good side, the government will end the time limits for being on welfare (two years in a five year period). But they say there will be "intensified work-search requirements." This could mean people will be harassed unmercifully to find jobs which may not exist.

It all adds up to: we have a lot more work to do to pressure both the Liberals and the NDP to raise welfare rates, to say nothing of building more social housing that people on welfare can afford. Be sure to come to the Cost of Poverty forum on June 26th to learn how to argue effectively for government policies of raising the welfare rates and ending poverty. See the flyer on the back page. ~ J .S.

Some websites to look at http://ccapvancouver.wordpress.com/ Virtually everything we're up to at CCAP gets posted on this blog. Click on the reports tab to read CCAP's reports. http://dtesnotfordevelopers.wordpress.com Website for the Downtown Eastside Not for Developers Coalition and the campaign to stop the Sequel 138 condos on the 100-block http://raisetherates.org/ See the Raise the Rates website for updates on the campaign to raise welfare and basic wages in BC and the fight for justice, not charity!

Van city 2

van co uver foundation

Support for this project does not necessarily imply Van city or Vancouver Foundation's endorsement of the findings or contents of this newsletter

Parents and grandparents tell Dix: "We're not begging, just asking for justice" Raise welfare rates to a Liveable level, build social housing that people on welfare and basic old age pension can afford, and stop clawing back 100% of earnings and child support payments. That's what nine parents and one grandparent on income assistance told NDP Leader Adrian Dix and MLA Jenny Kwan at Strathcona Community Centre on June 5th.

In short and eloquent speeches the nine women and one man told Dix and Kwan what it is like living on welfare for them and their children: "There is no such thing as sitting around.

We forage every day," said Stacey Bonenfant.

"Before we had social housing I had to take $150 out of my food money for rent," explained Colleen Boudreau. "If government built enough social housing people would have more for what they need."

"Stress [from not having enough money to feed her child] makes my disability worse," said another mother who gets disability

assistance. She added, "I am constantly judged and poor-bashed by the Ministry."

"Sometimes children say they don't want snacks just because they don't want their parents to go without," said another parent on disability. "Because I don't have enough money I could never take them to Science World, Playland, or the Aquarium. It's even hard to go on picnics. It makes us feel like we are less than others even though we're trying our best."

After all the speeches and requests for the NDP to commit to raising welfare and building social housing, Dix said, "There will be a plan and you will see it before the election."

"Housing is a key part of it," he said.

All of the points raised by the parents are "under consideration by us," Dix added.

A single parent with one child who is expected to look for work gets $945.58 per month on income assistance. A single parent on disability with one child gets $1242.08.

The parent and grandparent group is also trying to arrange a meeting with Liberal Minister Stephanie Cadieux. ~ J.S.

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Photo essay from the DTES Not for Developers' June 2nd 2012

Pantages paint-in, pancakes, and petting zoo protest for the people

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Diane as "Sq rat" invites the crowd to her petting zoo

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100% social housing"

Lippman's out ... but are the Wonder Rooms & Palace Hotel safe and secure housing yet?

The Wonder Rooms and Palace hotels had their day in court again on Wednesday June 13th. A court-ordered sale was supposed to approve or refuse a bid to buy the buildings by notorious gentrifier Stephen Lippman. But on Tuesday, less than 24 hour before the court date, Lippman's offer stalled, and then failed. The Wonder and Palace hotels have been saved from the clutches of an investor who has a record of raising rents and bringing in a higher income group of renters ... but the 72 rooms are not safe, healthy, or secure yet.

This past Friday CCAP discovered that notorious SRO hotel investor Stephen Lippman had made the leading bid in the court ordered sale of the Wonder and Palace hotels. CCAP, DNC, V ANDU and allies flew into emergency action when they discovered that the sale would be confirmed before a supreme-court judge on Wednesday June 13.

On Monday they held a picket line in front of Lippman's private West Vancouver mansion and set up a protest camp down the street.

Lippman's business partner Jeffrey Howes complained that protesting in front of his "private home is inappropriate." One of his neighbours even swore at one of the children colouring Lippman's driveway with chalk. Tami Starlight, DNC president, responded, "They' re confused.

Lippman is the one displacing people from their homes. We are just visiting West Vancouver to let his community know what he has been doing in the DTES."

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The protester set up a camp, strung up information signs, distributed pamphlets and held discussions with Lippman's neighbours. Greg Williams, one of the campers in the green space steps from Lippman's place, said, "No matter what happens we feel like we have won something important if Lippman doesn't take over these two hotels. I met a lot of his neighbours and most of them don't know him at all.

Maybe his lack of relationships with his neighbours explains why he's such a bad neighbour in the DTES."

Palace Hotel tenants at BC Housinf!

On Tuesday more than 50 residents marched to BC Housing to stop the gentrification of 72 low-income housing units in the targeted hotels. As the crowd rallied and chanted for social housing outside three Palace hotel residents met with Dale McMann, a member of the BC Housing executive board. Lome, who has lived in the Palace for 5 years said, "My room is lousy but if llose it I'll be on the

street." And Linda, a recent resident who doesn't want to lose the room she settled into after being homeless, said, "We get treated like dirt by these big landlords, that's why we need BC Housing to help. Please save our homes." McMann promised to look into acquiring the buildings and the residents left, pledging to return if BC Housing continues to do nothing.

Finally, on Wednesday morning a group of DTES residents gathered at Supreme Court for a confusing verdict.

Lippman's offer to buy the buildings is off. But someone else, a mysterious company, bought the mortgage. It means that George Wolsey is still the owner. It means the future ofthe 72low-income affordable hotel rooms and the people who live in them hinge on a secret arrangement between Wolsey- the subject of tens of RTB complaints and hundreds of city bylaw violation notices - and a company willing to break bread with him: "Laurelwood and Southwood Ventures."

Wonder and Palace residents deserve healthy, safe and secure housing, not tenancy on a Monopoly board. To get it, BC Housing should buy the buildings and the city should finally enforce their laws and collect the bylaw violation fines Wolsey owes them.

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Canada: national food strategy can eradicate hunger amidst plenty- UN rights expert "Canada has long been seen as a land of plenty. Yet today one in ten families with a child under six is unable to meet their daily food needs. These rates of food insecurity are unacceptable, and it is time for C~nada_ t~ adopt a national right to food strategy," said Oltvter De Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, on the last day of his official visit to the country.* "What I've seen in Canada is a system that presents barriers for the poor to access nutritious diets and that tolerates increased inequalities between rich and poor, and Aboriginal non-Aboriginal peoples. Canada is much admired for its achievements in the area of human rights, which it has championed for many years.

But hunger & access to adequate diets, too, are human rights issues-- and here much remains to be done."

The UN human rights expert was nonetheless confident that the country could move towards establishing food systems that deliver adequate and affordable diets for all, and called upon the Canadian government to convene a national food conference that would clarify the allocation of responsibilities between the federal level, the provinces and territories.

"All political parties have expressed support for the establishment of a national food policy, and the engagement of citizens through food policy councils across the country is truly impressive. But in order to address them, Canada must first recognize the reality of the challenges it faces," he stated.

Three areas of concern were highlig hted that should be addressed in a national food strategy. First, a large number of Canadians are too poor to afford adequate diets. "800,000 households are food insecure in Canada. This is a rich country, but it fails to adapt the levels of social assistance benefits and its minimum wage to the rising costs of basic necessities, includinat:> food and housing. Food banks that depend on charity are not a solution : they are a symptom of failing social safety nets that the Government must address."

Second, more than one in four Canadian adults are obese, and almost two thirds of the population is overweight or obese, costing at least 5 billion Canadian dollars annually in health care costs and in lost productivity. "This is also a result of poverty: adequate diets have become too expensive for poor Canadians, and it is precisely these people who have to

pay the most when they live in food deserts and depend on convenience stores that charge higher prices than the main retailers."

Third, the situation of Aboriginal peoples raises s pecific concerns. Referring to the situation of fly-in communities in Manitoba and reserves in Alberta that he visited during the miss ion, De Schutter called for a refonn of the Nutrition North Canada program that subsidizes retailers to serve remote communities. He also called for a structural approach to tackling the socio-economic and cultural barriers to opportunities for those living on reserves that result in their not enjoying fully their right to adequate food. He also regretted that neither the federal Government nor the provinces consider that they have a responsibility to support off-reserve Aboriginal peoples in overcoming the structural discrimination they face.

De Schutter was encouraged by a number of local and provincial initiatives that seek to rebuild local food systems, and to ensure adequate incomes to farmers while at the same time ensuring consumers' access to fresh and nutritious foods. He noted, however, that these initiatives were not sufficiently supported at federal level, and that they were currently under threat. "School breakfast and lunch programs still depend on local initiatives in the absence of a national policy in this regard," he said.

The Special Rapporteur will present his final report to a forthcoming session of the Human Rights Coun-cil in 2013.

Olivier De Schutter was appointed the Special Rapporteur on the right to food in May 2008 by the United Nations Human Rights Council. He is independent from any government or organization.

Harper of course dismissed this out-of-hand, even going so far as to say such findings reduced the credibility of the United Nations(!) It's li ke anything to do with climate change: Harper shut down a 25-year old independent (i.e. with un-appointed staff) network I foundation whose specific purpose was to mon itor and report on the environmentally questionable acts & proposals/projects in Canada. No more funding.

This response mirrors the massive 'streamlining' of our system of checks & balances in tenns of unfettered industry and its s ubsequent environmental impacts. Prisons are his solution to needed housing.

PRT

(CJ

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News From -the Library New books In her latest trave logue, Clle Guevara and the

to help improve our service here . We'lf also pass on what you tell us to library staff w ho are looking at introducing a Carnegie-type card for the whole c ity.

Stop by the library anytime Monday-Sunday of this week, June 13-1 9, and pick up a survey at the desk.

We will also have a table in the cafeteria this Friday, J une 17 from 12- 1. T hanks in advance for your help!

Elizabeth (your student librarian at Carnegie over the next few months--come say hi!)

Megan, yo ur librarian

Mountain ofSilver: By bicycle and train through South A merica (918), author Anne Mustoe follows in the same bike-tracks you ng Che took some 55 years before. Anne's capti vating story is steeped in the hi story, politics and breathtaking landscape of South America. A n enchanting read for those seeking history, humo ur, and adventu re!

Creative Recovery: A Complete A ddiction Treatment Program That Uses Your Natural Creativity (362 .29) offers a complete addiction recovery program specifically designed for writers, artists, musicians, and creators in every fi eld. Full of explanations and exercises, this book prese nts ways to use your own innate creative abilities in service of your recovery and at each stage of the recovery process. Authors Eric Maisel and Susan Raeburn present a practical, useful guide to help you live a fu lly creative and add iction-free life.

A Room in the City (362.5) represents the culmination of Gabor Gasztonyi's five-year project of photographing the residents of the Cobalt, Balmoral, Regent, and Sunrise Hote ls in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Gabor worked closely with DTES residents, presenting them in private moments, with respect and dignity--in their rooms and on the streets--as they wish to be seen. Poems and diary entries from Gabor further add to his photographic journey.

In The Hidden R eality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos (530. 12) author Brian Green, one of A merica's foremost physicist and science writers, explo res the mam moth question--Is o urs the only universe? The book investigates the potential for "multi verses," o r parallel worlds, explaining how we can use math and science to learn about these multiverses.

YWCA \ "anr路o un 路 r l'u iJit< L ibrary

METRO VANCOUVER

OPEN HOUSES Wednesday, June 20 (4 to 7 pm) Saturday, June 23 (11 am to 2 pm) DUNLEVY SNACK BAR I 433 Dunlevy Avenue y 12,000 sf. full-service Library branch Vibrant children's area to h ost programs for children & families Distinct space for neighbourhood teens Meeting room space for Library & community programs Access to computers and computer learning Opportunities for adult literacy & ESL Lots of books, DVDs, newspapers & o ther materials Coll ections of Chinese language & Aboriginal materials Read ing, studying & group work spaces .)

Safe, affordable housing for single mothers & th eir children Rents based on income Fourteen 2 & 3 bedroom apartment units On-site support staff Communi ty fami ly program space, such as: Medical services by visiting medical professionals Employm ent services

Carnegie Library Card Survey

Aboriginal Infant Development Program (AIDP)

Tell us about how you use your library card by filling in a quick survey. We're going to use this information

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Program

Parenti ng & single moms' support groups

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2::5

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De1ayed by p r o g r

e

5 5

Hello Miss opportunity .. I take my coffee bleak that is just my way, where will you be when the poor get cut down like dead trees Atrocity Exhibition designer body bags and other cute things will be on display, s idewalk blankets with curbside pillows for us poor people to snuggle down, like the playhouse for the criminally insane where after thought is underway invitees are making for a very under the city ground, lining up for their piece of the street they trade their dignity for somewhere to sleep it could be worse the selfish keep repeating bullcrap like we do the truth, 3rd world conditions I've stopped counting the petitions no one laug hs it could mean their ass these people are sick of being so beaten white & black is now Black and blue, this sh ine-on you call progress destroys the soul of both young but mostly the older as we all shall be soon have you noticed the moon now drips red, the new order says "clasp your hands behind your head" and rest assured .. what percentage of life do you want dead, every vacant sight is created by exceptionally vacant minds the D.T.E.S. has rats the size of pigs guess it takes one to know another of its

kind why give our earth a bad name what you have nothing to say how you've used up every book for its words and more, so many sardine canned heating vents on wheels passing you by yet the Hastin gs poverty and misery tour is nothing but glade grave fresheners for sewers pay your fare sit down sh ut up and enjoy this tour yes nothing ever makes sense tor those masses you forget daily only because the ir poor, so many twist endings jockeying fo r position our dear leader lip-synchs to all oppositions look you [sickopinko-commie-social justice ratfucks] some people do wake up on the wrong side of the street you' re the evil that pushes peo ple skills on folks that never got taught they jus t got caught, if your brain was planted in someone's garden would it produce fresh fruit or blackened milk cartons not a chance of it growing a single common sense thought, like releasing people with a hundred charges for more what the RCM P's 300 new m 163 mega guns are for are you planning some surprise party for a ghetto soon to be full of metal soon to be obliterated by the blue boys your guest of horror which is you, if you really want a show your brain tree has produced a corpse tlower check it out they exist but have only one day's supply of power unfortunately the selfish the proud yet thank your pseudonym only the few my eternal reward is their termination now tell me does hell give out transfers too? I seem to be on the top I 0 most wanted of the obsolete s hut down my pens my li fe and my points of view I've Iived in burned out houses abandoned buildings so what about you, rich people who earn it hey cool but if you're the slumlord who ri pped off I'll use m y "friends" as tools don't you ever in my existence compare me to you, reno-evictions are no better than loansharking predictions who gets to live and to die which by the way you have no say yet you bum promises every minute why don't you go and lose your gun, somewhere there is a kid who has that stupid ----gun will it be suicide an accident" we was only having fun" have that cop go to the parents and try to explain their child is dead there is nothing funny about ineptitude may your God have mercy for all who cou ld end like this one, this trans it of Venus will make the red s un black in I 05 years it will come back Will that line up still be as long as my moon is red? If my moon becomes our future food bank even those who g uzzle Listerine will know exactly who to unthank those who left of us will track you down ... maybe tonite

By ROBERT McGILLIVRAY

Karen Jamieson Free Dance Workshops

June I- July 13 Carnegie & SFU Woodwards Come to both each week !

Every Friday at Carnegie Community Centre Gym 3:30 -5:30 June I, 8, 15, 22, 29; July 6, 13

Every Wednesday at Audain Gallery SFU Woodwards 3:30 -5:30 149 West Hastings Street -Entrance from the street June 6, 13, 20, 27; July 4, II Free and open to all res idents of the DTES of all levels of experience, studying the basic elements o f dance through rhythm and improvisation

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All are welcome!

Come and discover the joy of dance!

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Please see Rika Uto in the Carnegie Program office for more information Karen Jam ieson Dance at 604.687.6675 -kjdance.office@telus.net -ww w.kjdance.ca

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Actors and Performers from the Carnegie Theatre Workshop present Hope Floats over East Vancouver , This cloudy-spring morning Wind kissing clouds away A lone Canada Goose Signatures across the sky.

As my social-poetic life Becomes more & more like A Hugh Grant s lapstick Romantic comedy Hope (in Jarsee: "omeed-var") Rings round this lucky bird Like an aura of Demi-destiny As I plait this living breathing poem These rainforest s kys become clear l be rid of all inner fears Single bird, s ingle tear John Douglas

a Play Reading: -we've read 7 plays/short play collections this springhelp us choose which to read for our finale -

Wed June 20, 6pm Following the volunteer dinner

Carnegie Theatre Open to Public audience "Show thou Carnegie work shop Players"

dreaming

sometimes, wholesome sometimes raunchy rocky rolling w ith the punches takes work, patience longing, fo rgiving, virtue moral, q uirks, learning lessons, getting to know urself, through the eyes o f others is not so easy take what you want leave the rest, taking giving, receiving, accepting crying, laughing, sacrifice along the way you stop and reflect SMILE keep dreaming never gtve up Nora Kay

. .

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

- Margaret Meade

carDegieC NEWSLETTER

401 Main Street, Vancouver 604.665..2289

THIS NEWSLETIER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Articles represent the views of individual contributors and not of the Association.

We acknowledge that the Carnegie Community Centre, and thiS Newsletter, are occurring an Coast Salis·h Territory.

WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter

*Small illustrations to accompany artides and poeby; *Cover art -Max.size: 17cm(6 }4")widex15cm(6jhigh *Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the Downtown Eastside but all work considered; *Black &White printing only; *Size resbictions apply (i.e. If your piece is too large it wil be reduced andlor cropped to fit *All cr1ists will receive credit for their work; *Originals will be returned to the artist after being copied for publication ; *Remuneration: Carnegie Volunteer Tickets.

Please make S'-;lbmissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.

GET CLEAN Shower up at the Lord's Rain 327 Carrall St, just off Pigeon Park.

HOT SHOWERS (towel, soap, shampoo & coffee) Monday, 7-10am, Ladies only!

Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday: 7am

Nen Issue SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

. TUESDAY JUNE 26TH 2012 DONATIONS Margeret D-$40, libby D-$75, Jenny K-$25, Sheila 8-$100 Harold D-$100, Leslie S-$150, Bake Sale at BC Cancer-$405 Christopher R-$150, Phoenix W-$60, Wilhelmina M- $20, Patrick F-$10, CUPE 15-$1000, Robert M-~. Bob S-$200 Megan L-$40, LV -$10, Vancouver Moving Theatre-$150 Michael C-$50, Michelle C-$20, Glenn B-$100, Shyla 5-$75 Naomi N-$20, Peak House -$40, Sonia M-$25, Lou -$5 Sharon/Henry/Patty/Mike/Hui Zhen/Bijan -$25, Elsie M-$100 Literacy Roundtable -$1000, Sue K-$40, Anonymous $40 Solder and Sons Cafe -$50 Marsha D -To the memory of Sandy Cameron -$50 Lazara Press - To the memory of Richards -$100 camnews@;>haw.ca

www.camnews.om hllp:Jkameqie.vcn.bc.calnewsletter h!tp:Jiharvesters.sfu.calchodarr

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA WORKING FOR YOU 1070-1641 Commercial Dr. V5L3Y3 604-775-0790

FREE DENTAL HELP 455 'EHastings: Monday & Friday, 9:30-12:30 Call 604-254-9900 for information.

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

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION • AIDS

FREE LEGAL ADVICE Law Students Legal Advice Program All cases checked with lawyers; confidential.

Monday 10-4pm, Tuesday 2-8pm Thursday 10-4pm. Art Gallery, on Carnegie's 3•dfloor, 401 Main.

Call UBC for info: 604-822-5791

!.

• • • •

POVERTY HOMELESSNESS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TOTALITARIAN CAPITALISM IGNORANCE and SUSTAINED FEAR

Big Lake Small World Day breaks at the big lake Women return from the hunt Bearing food.

Some prey still warm and sticky with blood.

Whatever you say it's all about you; about dancin' , trickin' n treatin' .. also some quite nasty tweekin'. It's all in the game concerning life on the street where people can get happy yet homeless and sometimes quite battered & beat. Yet again, "who the hell cares?" what's goin' on in your about all the thievery, strife and tension, and you go on with your from early evenings to fast nights, hardly ever asleep - to rest weary head on a soft pillow aching bones maybe a real bed.

Those days seem long past, many moons back when you had pleasant dreams -and wished a regal princess to become, to reign beloved-a fantasy over & yet real.

You'd be dressed in translucent white, a maiden of dignity, benevolent, uncritical yet always honestly right. .. you can put yourself back there in a blink of an eye when things get too rough, too hectically restless, not unlike a 'natural' high ..

When you really want out of the business, out of the danger, chemicals, from the crime and dirt to your world of sweet secrets, released from the hurt and free from the pain What good is a life without goals, aspirations to have in the clouds, what an exh ilarating sensation that as of this day you are sorely and mythically weighted down with a crown of thorns .. unfairly so. In point of fact it should be a gl ittering, sparkling tiara resting softly upon your shimmering auburn hair.. though not to be in this particular space & time.

You deserve this (&every) accolade as much as ever for never giving up on your dreams, surviving, facing down tremendous obstacles, trials & tribulations .. you rate the best of everything laid at your feet Know and fear not, as all is not lost. If not here on the face of Mother Earth, then in eternity where everything will be pure and perfect, as you wish, because your wishes will always be forever, my command.

You can count on this. Until then please be strongsleep tight, pleasant dreams - Princess.

ROBYN LIVINGSTONE.

Air is chilly just now before dawn The season late this year Giving rise to much speculation and ritual sacrifice To known and unknown beings of mystery and magic Voodoo, religion Cross, star and crescent moon Coyote, Raven, Thunderbird.

Now in June suddenness blooms lushly Strangely on this petite planet Sun sparkles dazzling our eyes, enchanting our Visions Silver cufflinks in the basket by the parkbench Turquoise and aquamarine.

Bare feet on the cool damp lawns Communion Howling and hooting at the sky Naked now On the altar The knife glints We drink.

And are carried back, carried forward The crack in the cosmos enough to slither through Once more.

Wilhelmina

The VCN help desk has moved to 704-333 Terminal Ave. It is one block east of the Main Street SkyTrain Station. The VCN office is in the south-east corner of the suite. We will be open Monday to Friday from lOam to 4pm.

VCN will have one public access computer available outside our office.

The Senior Centre will have 4 computers available on the west side of the room .

The 411 Seniors Centre is moving as well.

'How little we really own, Tom. when you consider all there is to own.'

Dakota tribal wisdom says that when you discover you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount. However, we often try other strategies with dead horses 1.

2.

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T9.

Get a bigger whip.

Change riders.

Saying ''This is the way we' ve always ridden this horse."

Appointing a committee to study the horse.

Arranging to visit other sites to see how they ride dead horses.

Lowering the standards for riding horses.

Appointing a Focus Group to revive the dead horse.

Creating a trianing session to increase our riding ability.

Comparing the state of dead horses in today's environment.

Declaring that "This horse is not dead."

Blaming the horse's parents .

Harnessing several dead horses together to increase the horses' performance.

Declaring that "No horse is too dead to beat."

Providing additional ftmding to increase the horse's performance.

Doing a study to see if contractors can ride the horse cheaper.

Procuring a COTS dead horse.

Declaring the horse is "better, faster and cheaper" dead.

Fanning a quality circle to fmd uses for dead horses.

Revisiting the perfonnance requirements for horses .

20. Saying路t bat the horse was procured with cost as an independent variable.

21 . Closing the horse farm on which it was born.

22. Promoting the dead horse to a supervisory position. *found on the floor.. 路email from Ziffeng in CalgG/y' (Dead horses:

-Non-treatment, jail cell harm reduction.

-Criminalising poverty.

-Prostitution and dmg abuse as a direct result of slack upbringing.

-Cowboy policing .. e.g. vacuum cleaner approach (i .e.Gastown hypocrits)