March 1, 2009, carnegie newsletter

MARCH 1, 2009

EWSLETTER 401 Main Street, V6A 2T7

carnnews @vcn.bc.ca www .carnnews.org (373 hits per day!) http://harvesters.sfu.ca/chodarr (INDEX)

Where 1:he Hear-t is . time came and the Lord said you leave, give up seeing your daughter and I' ll remove the curse of cocaine the price is loneliness, high in the mountains all the comforts, your health at the cost of losing the love you need

Mayor + DTES police crackdown = ?

A February 16 Vancouver Sun article by Mary Frances Hill titled, "Downtown Eastside residents fear they'll be jailed during Games," states that City Councillor Geoff Meggs said the police crackdown in the Downtown Eastside is a result of a Vancouver Police Department draft business plan, and reflects the province's Safe Streets Act enforcement. Meggs said, in effect, that DTES residents have every right to be worried about the Olympics because of past discriminatory practices of police against certain communities during the Games.

A February 18 Vancouver Courier editorial by Allen Garr titled, "Mayor losing (ans over police business plan," states that people could have read about early concern about the crackdown in the Courier on December 12, shortly after Mayor Gregor Robertson was sworn in to office. At the time, Robertson said he knew about the crackdown, and if there was a backlash, he' d be on it.

As of Sunday, February 15, there was an official backlash: supporters of the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, backed by the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, Pivot Legal Society and the Carnegie Community Action Project, told the press a 50 per cent spike in tickets issued to DTES residents last year is criminalizing poverty.

The Courier editorial goes on to say that as of Monday, February 16, Robertson had done nothing.

The thing is, the city has the power to overturn some types of tickets, like for vending. Now, one of Carnegie's Volunteer of the Year recipients has got such a ticket, and if she is forced to pay a fine, she can't eat for a month. She's not the only one in this bind. Why is Robertson sitting on his hands?

By Rolf Auer

years passed the habits fell away the weight was gained back but the boredom set in bad had everything, grocery store a skip away more money the whole shitworks it all added up to zero eventually so I' m back in the DE, my home where no judgment is passed- sinners all these streets course through my viens as I see the changes and the things that never ch be glad that you're here the hankies in the real world won't have you forever watchfu one of the junkies will escape this danger zone, hoe, only one I know.

AI Loewen

British Columbia Persons with AIDS Society Treatment Information Program will host an 1

information session on Thursday, March 19 h at 6 pm at the Carnegie Centre. We will have Dr.Brian Conway present on what's new in HJV treatment.

This event is open to persons living with HTV and any other interested participants. You can phone 604 893 2274 to rsvp or email zorans@bcpwa.org.

A Right to Community [http://www. libbydavies.ca/] On Saturday, I attended the 18th Annual Missing Women's Memorial March in the Downtown Eastside. Eagles circled high above us at Hastings and Main, maybe as a sign that their spirits were close by as we looked up.

I have been to many of the marches as they wind their way through the alleys and streets that hold the memories and stories of the tragedy ofthe missing, but not to be forgotten, women.

The Pickton trial is over and there are still disappearances and still enormous risks faced by women, especially for those involved in the sex trade.

At the very beginning I called for a public inquiry into the whole tragedy - it has not happened - but it must. No other group in our society would remain so invisible to the legal, judicial and political authorities.

The Conservative government in Ottawa has washed its hands of any action for law reform to allow sex workers to assert their rights for safety, dignity and control of their lives.

The annual marches are important as a gathering of memory, strength, and will, to make sure the missing women are not forgotten, nor those still alive and at risk.

It was ironic that on the same day as the march, the Globe and Mail began its series on the Downtown Eastside "Our Nation's Slum. Time To Fix It". People I talked to on the march, loathed the headline- yet another inaccurate, sensational one liner to describe a rich, complex community.

These stories can be frustrating- they are so predictable. This one (at least on its opening day), zeroes in on the $1.4 Billion- estimated by the paper- spent on the neighbourhood since 2000. The story begins with .... "it remains riddled with drugs, disease and despair ....."

The story did not address the impact of failed public policies that have forced people into poverty and homelessness over two decades. It focuses on the

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~VII'-'-<IIlJ<UIUI~ V1 }JUVC'l~J diiU Lilt: iJH::JJJI ~t: LJJal Open- .5 mg up the netghbourhood to the middle class, businesses, and some good old development, is what will do the trick. I have heard this many times. Indeed developers can't stand the fact that these properties, home to thousands of low income people, and so close to the Downtown core, are "unreal ized" to their full deve lopment potential (more condos ... ).

To me the underlying argument being raised is: lowincome people have no right to exist in dignity in their own community, one that has a rich history, social connection and deep sense of community. I wonder what other neighbourhood would voluntarily allow itself to be uprooted and dismantled - because it was deemed unacceptable by others.

Residents of the Downtown Eastside, have as much right as any other community to live, thrive, g row, have decent housing, and earn decent incomes.

I tried to describe this perspective, in a fo rward to

"Hope in tlte Shadows" <http://www.libbydavies.ca/news/2009/02/ 17/hopeshadows-forward-libby-davies> a book about the people in the Hope in Shadows Calendar.

I won't repeat what I said in that foreword, except to say, I know people in the community feel ongoing anxiety about the media view of the neighbourhood.

The media have always been an integral, and important part of the unfolding story of the Downtown Eastside - but not always right.

Maximum Fun Running' Have fun this year running for a new level of health every Sunday at 9:00a.m. and 2:00p.m. starting out from the Carnegie Community Center with the goals working towards a Half I Full Marathon in 2009/20 I C If you always wanted to do something more fo r your self, want better confidence and time management, would like to understand more about your body's true fuel requirements through exercise discovery, then this could definitely be for you. For more information leave a message for Darren at the front desk or come out and give it a try.

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SiSta'hood Celebration Art, Resistance and Community Transformation The setting: The downtown eastside neighbourhood of a city, struggling with poverty, drug abuse, violence.

The story: A young woman grows up in this neighbourhood.

She and a group of artists start a successful technology and design collective. They launch a business

National Convention. She is currently teaching in an artist residency at University of Illinois. Rodriguez also leads TUM IS, a flagship of innovative web design for progressive campaigns. The company's p_rofits are donated back to Oakland 's Eastside Arts Alliance During her visit to Vancouver in early March, Favianna Rodriguez will engage in a number of local projects, including workshops with union members.

See her Designing for Democracy show with VJ Reed Rickert, March 5 at District 3 19 (319 Main Street, $20/$15, sponsored by Web of Change). On March 6 at 9pm Rodriguez and Rickert are special guests of W2 for their fundraiser Tech forms (Northem Way Campus, 577 Great Northern Way, $25).

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and help establish a non-profit society.

They raise the money to buy an old building and On Sunday, March 8, there will be a public art rehabilitate it. lt houses their company, a bilingual presentation and community dialogue with Favianna Rodriguez at the W2 Launchpad 116 daycare, a cultural centre, and 16 units low-income W.Hastings, from 2- 4pm. This event is FREE! housing. Their efforts are bringing social and econâ&#x20AC;˘ mic development, music, art, and their community lÂŁ~~~~~~~~=~==========::!J together. It's an incredible transformation.

Where is this?

Sista'hood Celebration is a festival held every March Oakland, California. But it's an inspiring vision for that highlights women's arts and issues. what could be/should be possible here in Vancouver! www.sistahoodcelebration.com On Sunday, March 8 Sista'lwod Celebration presents For more info, call Teresa 604-313-6103 Art, Resistance, and Community Transformation, Check it out! www.favianna.com a public art presentation and community dialogue Favianna's recent Mexico City art collaboration with Favianna Rodriguez, co-founder of Oakland's http://vimeo.com/2587847 Eastside Arts Alliance (at W2 Launch Pad Gallery, Favianna's art process http://vimeo.com/2588771 116 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, freeadmission, co-sponsored by DTES Community Arts Network Sista'hood Celebration and Tides Canada-Endswell Fund.)

564 Union St., Vancouver, BC V6A 288 This vibrant young woman has just been named one 604-630-7482 of Utne Reader magazine's Top 50 Visionaries. Rodsistahood@gmail.com riguez is an artist, activist, technologist, and organiwww.sistahoodcelebration.com zation builder.

"Art alone does not transform the world. Mass movements do. It is unique collaborations between artists, acti vists, and people that forge true social change," Rodriguez notes.

Her work on such issues as immigration, racism, war, and globalization has been featured in Mexico an~ across America, including at the recent DemocratiC

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Home Ground

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The First Annual HomeGround Festival seems to have gone off without the slightest hitch. Quite remarkable, considering how big an operation it was, for the maiden run, encompassing activists over the entire expanse of Oppenheimer Park including two huge tents covering the entire block of Dunlevy St. The Festival was flawlessly organized none other than Barbara Chirinus, the event coordinator who is also the Artistic Director for the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. The team included Brenda Arr~nce as artist coordinator, Stacey Bonenfont as volunteer coordinator and many other staff, all of whom had important (crucial!) departments: Technical coordinator Ethel Whitty, the director of Carnegie and Dan Tetrault, the assistant-director of Carnegie (Dan often in the middle of the food as that aspect was a joint production between Carnegie Community Centre and the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House and spearheaded by its director Joyce Rock).

This partnership involved volunteers too numerous to mention, with the exception of the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement whom everyone in this area and beyond know for their works of charity over the past century.

HomeGround was definitely the first 3-day festival I can ever remember in the DTES, and I've been down here for quite a few years. There are certainly a lot of !-day events and the Powell Street Festival runs over 2 days. HomeGround's entertainment schedule was most certainly as varied as it was humongous, running from noon to seven-thirty all 3 days From the opening ceremonies with Sam George, the Oppenheimer Park Drummers and Terry Hunter's Drum Mother until the closing act of the weekend "The Hastings Express" all of the music and performers - whether spoken word, drums or stand-up comedy - everyone was truly overwhelmed and impressed by all of the amazing talent living right here in our ' hood, the Downtown Eastside.

I was extremely impressed by the multitudes of volunteers who worked tirelessly yet happy at the pivotal tasks that needed to be done by comm itted people for a cause they all truly believe in. Without their dedication, a festival of this s ize could not possibly be brought off with such smoothness and so few, if any, bumps in the road. Whether they were making and keeping the coffee com ing (which they

never ran out of I might add) to directing traffic in tht food tent, to picking up garbage and cigarettes, to guarding and protecting people at traffic barricades, they were simply awesome and polite and courteous!

Again, HomeGround was so well-organised; all the staff and volunteers seemed to be colour-coded with toques of blue, red, orange and white repleat with the HomeGround logo embroidered on each.

And I certainly can't end this wi thout thanking the Guru Nanek Temple for their amazingly precisioned food operation in the bid tent. It was all vegetarian with tapioca pudding, coffee and koolaid. Everyone was hungry, happy and no one complained, even a little. This isn't the first time the Guru Nanek people have come to the 'hood, starting 2 Decembers ago they came to the Lifeskills Centre on Cotrdova near Dunlevy and provided food for a week to anyone who was hungry, and stopping by to visit thereafter.

They now come to do the same for 4 straight days a month. They are no strangers to the neighbourhood.

Hopefully we do it all over again next year and attend the Second HomeGround Festival in 2010, to celebrate everyone's work to counteract the vibes & stave off the ongoing attem pts to gentrify this sacred and ancient Coast Salish neighbourhood. In the Down town Eastside we have all got the responsibi lity for our future generations to sustain our home and protect it fro m the outside money-changers and extreme rapacious of real estate speculation/developers who aim to destroy it and are indifferent to our wishes.

We want improvements in social housing- decent, safe, affordable -and services for us that meet with the community's approval. All has to be for the betterment of residents and workers who make their livings here. Such are not to be for windfalls or corrupt cash cows for the so-called moneyed eliteand not for those who fancy themselves out "political masters" ! - sorry, not on our watch .. not on our HomeGround This is precisely what this amazing festival is all about: desperate times sometimes demand desperate measures, don't you agree? Think about it.

Each and everyone I saw and met at HomeGround said and looked like they were having an absolute blast with loads of food & coffee and tons of fun!

Let's do it al over again next year. It can only get bigger and better ... until then see you around the 'hood.

By ROBYN LIVINGSTONE

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a Field of Dreams History sometimes has a way of repeating itself in w~ys one could never imagine. As a fourth generation Japanese-Canadian, I knew that my grandma and her family, the Ono clan, once lived on the edges of Japantown near what is today Strathcona Park. I knew of their internment and eventual exile to Northern Ontario, but it wasn't until the release of the National Film Board's Sleeping Tigers did I appreciate the importance of this linle park to the Japanese-Canadian community.

Many evenings I would sit on the player's bench on the first base side of the diamond long after the games were over, marvelling at the cherry bloss-oms shivering in bloom reflected by the waning light.

Little did know as I patrolled the outfield and wat~hed as the sun sank behind the maple trees behmd home plate that this scene was played out many times by the Asahi teams of old.

In Oppenheimer Park, or Powell Street Grounds as it was called back in the days of the Asahi, base-ball was not only a so urce of community pride but a buttress against racism, a tradition that was pass-ed generation to generation as reflected in the pict-ures collected by Pat Adachi forth Asahi Baseball Organization's 1992 book, Asalti: A Legend in

Baseball.

For the past three decades baseball at Oppenheimer Park has played a similar role for the disenfranchised people of the Downtown Eastside. In the early years it was played by people of many ethnicities with team names like the Dragons and the Spartans as an escape from grinding poverty and boredom. Today the team names the WolfPak the Trib~ ~nd the Warriors reflect the predominant~ly abongmal and youth orientation of the league. Many ofthe~e yout~ began playing because they grew up watchmg the1r parents and their grand-parents play

the game in Oppenheimer Park.

Baseball and Oppenheimer Park aren't the only things shared by the Japanese-Canadian and Indian communities. Many Indian people have fled the Reserve system, which was deliberately imposed on them to beggar their communities by forcing them on to small plots of land in order to make way for incoming settlers . The racist policies of the Indian Act, which still guides Government policy, determines who is an Indian, and what benefits are to be accorded them. They are the only ethnic group in Canadian society that still must carry Government issued identity cards.

I know many in the Japanese-Canadian commun-ity welcome the redevelopment of Oppenheimer Park because it has fallen on hard times. While Oppenheimer Park is no longer the heart of the Japanese community, it does not mean that it doesn' t hold a special place in their hearts and in ours the ' ball players of Oppenheimer.

Members of the Asahi team circulated a petition to retain at least a partial field. Despite the fact that the majority of the park users voted for retention ofthe playing field and public pronouncements by at least one member of the recently de-elected Vanc-ouver Parks Board, this historic park is in peril. Ironically, in 20 I 0 Vancouver will be welcoming the world for a celebration of sport; it also marks the centenary when Japanese-Canadians began organizing baseball teams at the park.

On Monday, March 2nd at 7:00P.M. at the Strathcona Community Centre, the newly-elected Vancouver Parks Board will be fielding questions.

Be there. Be heard.

All My Relations, Brad Akeroyd wakeroyd@vsb.bc.ca

Colleen's corner

Photography by

Casey-Dale: Bowman is being shown for the first time at the Carnegie Centre in the month of April

Become an ESL Conversation Facilitator ...

WHO > People interested in gaining va luable volunteer experience by sharing the ir knowledge of Canadian c ulture. No experien ce necessary!! Training and support provided! People w ith fluency in English willing to help imm igrants in conversation WHEN> Program is 12 weeks in le ngth ; volu nteers fac iletate at least 2 conversati on group per week (3 hrs) Professional development held at UBC English Lang uage Institute once per week (I Oam-1 pm) Bus fare and snacks are provided.

WHY> FREEprofessiona l trai n ing at UBC English Lang uag e Institute De vel op publ ic speaki ng, fac ilitation, cross-c ultural communication skills Make a difference in the lives of others WHERE> UB C Learning Exchange, 612 Main Street Progra m A ssistant: Silvia Corco ran Tel: 604 682 6921 I E-mail: silv ia.corcoran@ ubc.ca www .learni ngexchange.ubc.ca

There comes a point in your life when you realize: Who matters Who never did Who won't anymore ....

And who always will.

So don't worry about people from your past.

There is a reason why they didn't make it to your future.

1. VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE MEETING March II @ lpm Classroom II (3'd Floor) All Volunteers Welcome! Your voice is needed and appreciated.

KARAOKE Friday March 13th plus 27th 7pm -10pm Carnegie Theatre Be a karaoke legend: sing to a ll your favo rite songs!

Please join us- without you it won't be any fun.

Refreshments served to all ofyou song birds.

VOLUNTEER DINNER 111

Wednesday, March 18 @ 4:30 路pm Sharp!

Carnegie Theatre. Please pick up your ticket from the Volunteer Program Office Volunteers of the Month: Peter G uttormsson , Dishwasher extraordiarre Davor Zizic, Senior Coffee Monitor and Seller Carnegie Pool Room: 8-Ball League

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5.

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Top 8 Qualifiers Joe S. 2. Solomon S. Norman M MoB Urbain

4. Rocky B 6. A IW. 8. Ray J

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL! !

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION IMAX Out-Trip with Colleen Mid-March: Date to be announced. as intended trip/film is not yet listed in 1MAX's agenda BOWLING with Sindy Friday, March 20\ 2009 @ Noon at Info desk Please sign up at the Volunteer Program office

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Obama Visit Puts Canada on the Defensive When President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper meet in Canada this Thursday, the growing economic crisis will be the main point of discussion.

And Harper could quickly find himself in a position he doesn't like to be in: on the defensive.

Canada, as the smaller of the two trading partners, has become much more an exporter of raw and semiprocessed resources in recent years - accounting for almost 60% of our exports- and it is deeply dependent on exports to the U.S. The collapse of U.S. demand and of commodity prices is the main factor behind Canada registering in December a major drop in exports and its first trade deficit in 33 years.

Canadians should be grateful that Obama is taking bold fiscal steps to confront the most dangerous economic crisis since the 1930s. He is investing almost $800 billion over two years- equivalent to about 2.7% per year of U.S. GDP- in an attempt to prevent the recession from turning into another great depression.

Canada has a huge stake in seeing U.S. economic recovery policies succeed. It is essential to our own recovery. However, it could become a political sore point with the Obama administration since Canada has not been real as proactive. The Harper government's proclaimed $40 billion fiscal stimulus package over two years is pretty feeble by comparison.

Subtract Harper's planned spending cuts and infrastructure funding that is contingent on matched provincial and municipal dollars, and the Parliamentary Budget Office calculates that the Harper plan is even more tepid. The real net stimulus effect falls to a mere 0.7% ofGDP - one quarter of the U.S. fiscal stimulus.

Ifl were the U.S. president, 1 would be concerned Canada is free riding on the coat tails of a U.S. recov-

ery initiative without doing its part to prevent a prolonged global economic slump. And I would be pressuring the Canadian Prime Minister to do more.

While dragging his feet on stimulus front, Harper appears content to throw darts at the Obama administration for its 'buy America' provisions attached to the use of pub! ic funds. These requirements will improve the effectiveness of Obama's stimulus package in jump-starting the U.S. domestic economy.

Since U.S. taxpayers are incurring additional debt to pay for these measures, it makes sense they would want their investments to create jobs at home.

Canadians would wish the same.

As Harper should know, such domestic procurement policies have been in place in the U.S. for decades & they are legal under international trade agreements.

In the current c ircumstances, any alleged adverse consequences from minor departures from free market ideology (which by the way, got us into this mess in the first place), pale in comparison with the disastrous trade consequences of failing to revive the US economy.

The Canadian government should re-examine how it can better pull its weight by improving its own fiscal stimulus package. Instead oflecturing Obama on the theoretical virtues of free trade, the Harper government could implement its own 'buy Canadian' policy and create more jobs right here at home Given the highly integrated nature of sectors like steel and autos, both countries might even agree to mutual exemptions.

When Harper and Obama meet this week, the U.S. President will likely repeat .assurances that his country wi ll respect its international trade obligations. But he will not compromise on his number one priority: reviving the U.S. economy.

While Obama has some need to compromise with Republicans in Congress, there are no votes to be had from pandering to the republican inclinations of our prime minister.

On this and other issues, growing policy differences are likely to leave the Harper government increasingly out of sync with the Obama administration.

Bruce Campbell is the Executive Director ofthe Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

Carrier Sekani get justice You'd never know it by reading the Canwest press but the BC Court of Appeal made a landmark decision whose ramifications truly make the mind spin. You can read the decision by going to www.saveourrivers.ca and follow links.

Please send this to your address book and ask the recipients to do likewise. The media won't deal with this issue so cozy they are with Campbell & Co but like President Obama, we know that the internet can make amends.

The history of Alcan and the city ofKitimat it spawned has been, to put it mildly, spotted. The idea behind the original massive environmental disaster was to allow A lean to reverse rivers, build lakes, install pipes and generators, construct dams, and run roughshod over the rights of First Nations in order to supply electricity to its new aluminum smelter and the "vicinity of the works" (if they had any left over after their aluminum smelting needs were met). The original agreement as enshrined in legislation was for an aluminum smelter, not a power company.

Over the years, in cahoots with the provincial government, Alcan did in fact become a power company- a big one- and its interest in smelting faded as the power dollars rolled in.

When 1 was part of the large group fighting Kemano 1J back in the 90s Alcan promised that this power was going to fue a new smelter as well as the one in Kitimat ... or was it two new smelters? Or perhaps four? lt was difficult to keep coun As the struggle continued I was under considerable pressure from Kitimat and elsewhere to butt out- that Alcan was thei buddy and would always keep its workers and their families close to their warm heart. The City Council of Terrace, which would have supplied much of the labour and equipment for Kemano II, passed a resolution declaring Terrace to be a "Rafe Mair free zone."

One morning I interviewed Bill Rich, an Alcan VP who was quarterbacking Kemano II, and I got this usually taciturn executive to pound his fist on the table and say "you don ' t seem to understand that Alcan is not in the Aluminum busines ... it's in the power business !" In anger, veritas!

To cut to the chase, it began to dawn on the people of Kitimat that the smelter was shutting down lines, that A lean was neglecting maintenance and modernization. And where were all those new smelters?

In 2002 The Kitimat Council reluctantly concluded: I. Alcan is now in a position whereby it would be contrary to shareholder value for the firm to invest in aluminum in BC. 2. It is contrary to Alcan's shareholder value to remain in aluminum production in BC. 3. Alcan will therefore minimi ze aluminum production in BC and maximize power.

So Kitimat, reading the orig inal agreement and legislation, went to court maintaining, quite reasonably, that Alcan was doing much more than creating power for "the works and the vicinity" and that victory was a slam dunk.

Ah, but you see, these things can get a bit tricky. Alcan and the government of BC said that the only people that can have "standing" to sue on a contract are those who made that contract, namely the province and Alcan. In short, since the province of BC was into this skullduggery up to its eyeballs it wasn't going to sue- so tough titty, Kitimat!

Kitimat got some solace from a 2006 decision of the BC Uti lities Commission which found that a $2 billion "sweetheart" deal between B.C. Hydro and Alcan- where Alcan could generate power for $5 a megawatt hour, and sell it to BC Hydro (that's us folks) for $71 - was just a bit too sweet. Revelations amid the proceedings that Gordon Campbell owned Alcan stock may also have helped to torpedo that deal. So Alcan and Hydro tried again and in 2007 did another "not quite so sweet a deal" - this one approved by the BCUC. But trouble was lurking in the form of men and women in black robes and a very persistent First Nation ...

As mentioned, the Carrier Sekani First Nation had been screwed at every turn by A lean which, back in the 50s, flooded its land including their graveyards using agreements that Elders of that day who, not speaking English, signed with Xs, it being later determined that the Xs were a ll done by one man, probably the Indian agent.

Well, last week the Carrier Sekani won and won big in the BC Court of Appeal, wh ich held there was "massive" infringement" of the right of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council to be consulted in the Kemano Power Project and later expansion near Kitimat that involves B.C. Hydro buying electricity from the Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. aluminum smelter. The court also found "B.C. Hydro, as a Crown corporation, was taking commercial advantage of an assumed infringement on a massive scale, without consultation."

Wow! What does this mean? l s the entire Kitimat deal back to 1950 up for review? That claim, opened up and fairly

Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP)

Newsletter Find us in the Carnegie Association office (604-839-0379)

Mar 1, 2009

Poverty Olympics a big hit Thanks to the over l 00 volunteers of the 2009 Poverty Olympics. You all rock! Check out the great photos below taken by the Blackbird and Goh Iromoto.

One picture is of Phoenix and Robert making bannock for the PO, a

symbol of all the hard behind-thescenes work that made it all a success.

You can find all the media links for the Poverty Olympics plus a YouTube video: Poverty Olympics Athlete's Village by Henrik, James, Phoenix, April, Rolf and Jean on the ccap blog: www.ccapvancouver. wordpress.com

With good advocates you can win big

you complain you are evicted." says Hunter.

Over the course of four days in the fall of 2008 Mr. Gurdyal and Pal Sahota attempted to defend their neglect ofthe roofs building by claiming that one of the tenants had intentionally vandalized the roof. In the hearings they claimed they did everything they could to prevent this disaster.

However, the Dispute Resolution Officer found differently, in his 17 page decision he states "I find that the landlords are liable in damages to the tenants in negligence.... .I so find because, as mentioned earlier, I have found that the respondents conduct transcended simple negligence and amounted to a reckless disregard for the welfare of the tenants and the duty imposed on the landlord to provide housing suitable for occupation". Mr Howell also stated in his decision that the landlords used the 'alleged vandal' as a convenient scapegoat to their argument.

Tenants were each awarded an individual monetary amount based on what they lost during the roof collapse, as well as aggravated damages for the pain and suffering caused by the experjence. Total amount for the 28 claims is about $170,000. - DERA Press Release 02/18/09 (edits- wp)

On February 12th, 2009 the much awaited decisions from a Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution hearing arrived and delivered a monetary blow to one of the worst landlords in the DIES. Dispute Resolution Officer Mr. Howell awarded to the former tenants of 2131 Pandora St, monetary awards for their loss of property and aggravated damages. This victory is the largest monetary case in BC's Residential Tenancy History.

In October 2007, 30+ families and individuals had less than an hour to grab whatever they could and leave their waterlogged aprutment in East Van as water poured in from the roof.

"Tenants lost everything, all their property, their security and their home.

This situation was totally avoidable, the landlords just did not care about the building and the necessary maintenance." stated Anna Hunter, advocate for the tenants from the Downtown Eastside Residents Association.

The infamous Sahota family owns the building, as well as numerous other SRO hotels and apartments in the DIES. "These landlords are well knovm in this community for doing the least amount of work possible in their buildings. They harass and intimidate their tenants and if 2

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What's going to happen after ~arch 31st when the shelters close?

Councillor Kerry Jang says the city is working to find housing for people using the shelters (G&M, Feb. 19).

Judy Graves says the shelters have made a big difference but estimates there are 500 people still sleeping outside.

Will the city be able to house the 500 people using the shelters on April 1?

BC housing just bought 5 new buildings.

Of those, 566 Powell ( 12 rooms) was vacant on Jan 30 and should be ready for occupation by Feb; 21 rooms in the London Hotel should also be ready by Feb. The Backpackers, with 40 units, should be ready by April. Total in newly bought buildings by April: 73 Of the other hotels that the province bought earlier, the Carl Rooms is completely vacant and should be ready

by March with 44 rooms. Total available by April when shelters close: 117. Total short: 383, not counting people who are still homeless on the street.

Some of the hotels have " swing" units where tenants are moved while their

rooms are being renovated. This may provide some space, just guessing.

All the other provincially owned hotels are scheduled to be ready after

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~ April, with the Dominion (67 rooms) in May; Walton (48) in June; and the Savoy (25) in July for 140 more.

Some of the provincially owned hotels are partially vacant (as of Dec., 2008).

These include the St. Helens, Park, and Orwell (50% occupied), Orange Hall (65% occupied), and Marble Arch. So this means an additional 43 units from St. Helens in November; 25 from the Park in May; and 27 in the Orwell in Dec. and a few more in the Orange Hall and Marble Arch. ~Jean Swanson

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Upscale bistro says they're "a little ashamed" Last month, Dave D, Jean, Hendrik, Rolf, William, Dave and I delivered a letter from CCAP volunteers to the owners of an upscale bistro on Alexander that had poor-bashing restaurant reviews on their website about DTES residents. rn the letter we said "we know you didn' t write these articles, but linking them to your website implies that you condone what they say" (read more on the ccap blog.)

The Maitre d' who is in the middle of this photo, didn't appreciate the delivery of the letter or the message. Rut, one of the owners, Carl, later called Wendy and said that "when we looked at [the material on the website] through your eyes, we total ly agreed. We are a little ashamed we didn't catch it. We overlooked it." A day later the offending articles were taken off the website.

Carl, the owner, said they support food programs at WISH, Covenant House, Canuck Place, the Food Bank, donated winter coats during the cold spell and donate to Projections, the non-profit

charity of choice for the William Vince Foundation at 319 Main Street (across from the Police station). He also said he would much rather spend time here than in his other restaurant on Granville. The Alexander bistro is has no graffiti etc.

Carl also said they wanted to be part of the community. When I asked him if he would sign on to our campaign to create a future low-income friend ly neighbourhood and endorse more social housing in the area, he said yes. He also said he was insulted that we didn't come and talk to him first and asked that we do that instead of writing in the future. - wp 4

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Housing budgets not much help to DTE_S Sometimes people say, "I don't pay any attention to politics. It doesn't affect me."

Well, if you are a person who needs decent housing politics does affect you, a lot.

One of the most important things that governments do is decide how much money to rake in each year and how much money to spend each year.

They make all kinds of decisions about this and call it the annual budget. The federal government in Ottawa released their budget in Febmary. The provincial government in Victoria released theirs in January.

The money government rakes in is mostly from taxes which can be taxes on poor people, middle income or rich people, or corporations, or various fees like health care premiums. The money it spends can be for running the post office, fighting the war in Afghanistan, paying for Olympic security costs, or providing welfare and building housing that low income people can afford.

If our provincial and federal politicians wanted to help people who are homeless or living in crummy hotel

rooms, they could put money into their budgets for housing. What did they do?

The province said, " ... new housing will be supported by a new integrated, personalized homelessness intervention strategy and a new community safety."

To see what the government really means by this you have to go to the actual budget: $30 million for homelessness in 2008/09 (that's last year!) to acquire and renovate rental properties (probably the old hotels in Vancouver and other places). Then in another part of the budget there is $1 10 million over the next 3 years, or about $3 7 million a year. Let's see, the units in the Lux, that new social housing building next to the bottle depot, cost about $187,000 each. So $37 million a year means about 202 units a year to be spread over the whole province, if the money is spent on new units. For comparison, the City of Vancouver says it needs 800 units of new social housing a year and we still have over 2000 homeless people in the Vancouver region. What did the federal politicians put in their budget for housing? $ 1 billion over 2 years to renovate existing social housing. Nice, but its not new housing. $400 million over 2 years for social housing for seniors. $75 million over two years for social housing for people with disabilities. $400 million 5

over two years for new social housing and remediation of housing on First Nations reserves. And $200 million over two years for social housing in the North. Note: nothing for homelessness.

Nothing for replacing crummy hotel rooms. Nothing for building housing for people who are just plain poor. And note how it's all spread over two years so it looks like twice as much as we're really getting per year. And figure that BC gets about one-tenth ofthese amounts since the spending is for the whole country.

So, while some of this spending is definitely better than nothing, or than cuts, it won't do much to help people in the Downtown Eastside.

Both levels of government are onJy agreeing to spend this money on housing because we're in a recession and building housing creates jobs and puts money into the economy. But we need billions spent on housing every year to house all the homeless that resulted when 路governments cancelled social housing programs in the 90s (federal) and in 2001 (provincial). In any event, if you are a homeless person, and the government decided to put an adequate amount of money into social housing, you might be able to get into a nice apartment, like the ones at Lore Krill, or Bruce Eriksen Place or Native Housing like J. C. Leman on Pender by International Village. - JS

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One of the 14 sites ready for supportive housing in Vancouver waitillgfor senior govemmellt funding. Location: 505 Abbott Street (&Pender Street). It will be operated by Atira and will have 120 ullits.

What is CCAP doing about this?

Watch for actions. In the meantime ' CCAP will go to city council next week to demand they speed up the permits on the 12 sites and to fmd a way to get the province to fund these sites with their $250 mil Housing Endowment Fund before the May provincial election.

CCAP helped get an article published in the Globe and Mail last week about the 12 sites. CCAP sent MLA Jenny K wan a note about the 12 sites and 3 pages of discussion between her and Housing Minister Coleman on the 12 sites can be found at: http://www.leg.bc.ca/HANSARD/38th 5th/H0224am-09.pdf - wp 6

A response to "The Fix: DTES, Canada's Slum" Wendy from CCAP sent this article to the Globe and Mail as a possible "op ed" in respomâ&#x20AC;˘e to their serie.fii called: The Fix: DTES, Canada's Slum. It was published last week on the blog of Francis Bula,fnrmer Sun reporter and has got lots of comments including much poor bashing and some helpful m1es. DTES residents like Matthew, Audrey and Rolf have posted responses..

Google "Francis Bula Blog" to read all the commentfii.

Since everyone is talking about the Downtown Eastside (DTES), I thought I would add my two bits as I've been in the DTES for 20 years. Both my kids were born here and it reminds me of the fishing community 1 grew up in -and it has the same economic pressures that threaten to disperse it.. .. big market forces do squeeze out the little guys.

I'm part of a group of 5000 residents called the Carnegie Association. Right now we're doing mapping sessionswe're mapping people's most meaningful places and asking them why. Here's some things said about an important park in the DTES: "I helped raise the totem pole with the eagle on top." " We had a kissing booth at the hard times festival." "It's where thousands of people gathered for the On

To Ottawa trek in the dirty Thirties."

"There's always someone there to have a conversation with about what's happening." "Years ago we had a vision quest there." Here's what the mappers said about our community centre, the Carnegie: "It's our living room." "It's the first place I ever found people who are comfortable with who Tam." " My social life is tied here; it branches out from here." "The Carnegie kitchen was my first volunteer position. Tt was the first time in my life that I was open and honest about my drug addiction. When I told the [the people] in the kitchen, they didn't judge me, and accepted me. It was a big step towards my recovery." "It's where Tcan be a Pow-wow dancer."

We also map the uncomfortable places.

People say the forlorn streets with no li ghts are not safe. People have burst into tears when talking about the missing women. They don't like condos because they say people who move in them took down on them. Surprisingly few lowincome residents name the outside drug market as a problem . When we probe about this at the mapping sessions we find that most residents have a sophisticated view of addiction and want treatment on demand and housing. They care more about getting at the roots of the 7

I

problem than punishing those who are trapped by it.

We need to build on the upsides of the DTES. What some people call slum, we call community. People give you a cigarette if you need one. Most people nod at you as you walk down the street.

Sometimes it takes a long time to get home because you have so many conversations at street corners. People fall in love and get married. People tell lots of stories about you at your funeral.

We have 5000 social housing units that anchor the community. There are 5000 hotel rooms in the area and not many of them are rented at welfare rates any more and welfare/minimum wage is not keeping up with inflation. Thirty years ago, people could afford to go to the store and buy a newspaper, or go out for breakfast, even if on welfare. About $1 million a month has been sucked cut of the neighbourhood because welfare has not kept up to the 1970's cost of living.

People are in survival mode and this has made it easier for the drug market to take hold of people for sure.

Why does the DTES bother people so much? Is it the visible drug-selling and drug-taking? I think the open drug market has been a double edged sword.

It has sheltered the 10,000 or so lowincome people not in the drug trade from the impact of gentrification because it' s just too hard for the upper classes to take.

But for those of us willing to live with it, we get cheaper stores, cheaper housing, a

tight knit community, decades-long friendships and a sharing of resources that builds a communal sense of how to be together that doesn't exist in other places. That's the part that reminds me of the old fishing community.

So, to everyone who is reading this, maybe this challenges your view of my neighbourhood, maybe not. Think of me with my 2 kids who have the privilege of growing up in a really tight community like their grandparents did. I would take away the drug trade any day but then we need something in its place to prevent gentrification. Special down-zoning, replacing the hotels with decent housing, and increasing incomes could shelter the community that wants to stay together (95% of the 650 surveyed in our report, Nothing About Us Without Us say they want to stay if they have decent housing).

CCAP's Blog: http:/I ccapvancouver. wordpress.com/

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

8

decided could wipe out Rio Tinto who owns Alcan now and has a lot of other fmancial unpleasantness on its hands - to say nothing of what could happen to taxpayers ...

What does that do to that " not quite so sweet" deal between Alcan and BC Hydro (ren:embe~, that's _us folks)? .

The case w ill, no doubt, go to the Supreme Court of Canada but, as you may have not1ced, F1rst Nat1ons are domg rathe well in that august body these days. . . . . .

What does this mean for Campbell 's energy and rivers giveaway ~o pnvate mterests w 1thout any consultatiOn w1th the voting public? What does it mean for license appli cations and for license holders? Hard to say.

What is for sure is that the Campbell Government has concocted a huge screw-up which w ~ll likely cost the taxpayers billions, demonstrating that the Liberal/ A lean lovey dovey relationship which _res ulted both m the above c~urt c_ase and Campbell 's energy g iveaway plan- which was for all intents and purposes wntten by Alcan and other m~JOr pnvate power players- together are such a horrendous calam ity that all the evils of other governments past pale mto insignificance. . . . . .

Surely the voters of this province w ill deal appropnately w1th th1s w1cked reg1me at the ballot box on May 12 next.

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C larence This is a story about my brother. He lives in Victoria 4 months of the year and Winnipeg the rest of the time. This's thanks to his caregiver Lilian O ig, who has cared for him for the last 20 or so years. I got in touch with him because of my sister Darleen who had gone to visit him in Winnipeg. They had some kinda family reunion a long with a coupla mo re brothers, Terry n' Rick and do ll's son Chris and his two boys, Nik n' Cage, apparently they had a good time.

That's when s he told me that he lived in Victoria 4 months of the year. S he gave them my phone# and me theirs, I called and talked to Lilian. We decided I should go for a visit and get to know my brother a bit We had been strangers for many a year and its time we got to know each other. It was the best decision that I have ever made. I had to plan a tr ip to Victoria by using trans it on both sides with a ferry in the middle. I could've taken Pacific Coach but he price was $74 and I can't really afford that. I went to Burrard Statio n to catch a 602 to Ladner and there I transferred onto a 61 0 to Twassen where I could catch a ferry to Swartz Bay near Victoria.

Li li an n' C larence wou ld pick me up downtown and take me to th eir home, where I would s pend the night in my little brother's company. After 49 years or so it seemed like the thing to do. l had seen him at funerals n' such but had never visited with him. I had not heard him play since 1966 when he came to the Home for Boys where I was a guest for alm ost a year. Since then he has expanded his world by play

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-ing in places like Sweden n' Alaska n' all over Manitoba, inc luding in front and with the Manitoba Symphony Orchestra w ith Bramwell Tovey, who is now Conducting th e Vancouver Orchestra. From the video I watched they seemed to enjoy each other's company. From a tape I heard he also had a great time with Peter Gzowski on h is show Morningside. Now here's a bit of the tape that I heard :e:w ith C larence n' Peter n' Z iggy n' Lilian. I hope you _:: :_ enjoy it. They enjoyed it so much that they did it - !~ twice although the one I heard was the second one. :e:.,, Now 1 have some great memories of my little brother and a lso some pictures. I didn't know if I ·,,' had anything to add to his life but now I know that family is family and I hope we can add to each other's life. 1 may need Lilian to fac il itate any ·:::· conversation but at last we have a starting point and :! :hopefully we will get a fee li ng f~r each other._ I :e:think he learned to talk by listenmg to the radio that ::: he had as a youngster. He talks like a radio personality and he is quite amazing to listen to. He :e:was raised in a ward where no on ever ta lked so he ' ' ' was left to his own devices wh ich I guess was

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mastering his world. I got to meet the happiest person in the world . He has a great sm ile which he share's with anyone and everyone. When Lilian and 1 were talkin g he a lways inte rrupts with a very sly aside that usually has someth ing to do with our conversation. He has a very unique sense of humor and he uses it quite well. Welcome back to my life little brother. - ha l

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going to be entertained by the Holy spirit.

For the next hour, I squirmed in my seat as Rev.Gary Paterson nimbly ran through his scripted Sunday routine. First came a children's pantomime about :e:- Christ healing a paralyzed man, performed with _: ::_ stuffed bears and children led by Paterson. Next, a :~: sermon about a minister's weekly struggle to make

by Ann Diamond :e:- his sermons relevant to parishioners.

I rarely go to church but last Sunday in Vancouver A_t time: ~e r~ised_ hi~ arms and threw back his head I attended the occupation of St. Andrew's Wesley _:::_ as tfrece1vmg msptrahon from heaven. He digressed United Church by survivors of Canada's residential :~: briefly into a commentary on the "guests" who had school genocide. :e: interrupted the service, and from there he talked About ~wenty aborig~n~l men and women entered th~ :.:- about "illness" and the c~s~ of the pa_ralyzed man who '·· was saved by the holy spmt descendmg through a church JUSt as I was stttmg down, and lined up in front of the altar holding a banner calling for there- : .:- hole in the roof. He talked about "sin" as the root turn of the 50,000 missing children's remains, and a :e:- cause of sickness-- an ancient belief that still has proper burial. :. :- meaning today. Never once did he address the theme , ,. of guilt, or atonement for crimes against humanity.

The church, which had been humming with preservice chatter, suddenly became silent. After confer- :.:- The United Church has nothing, apparently, to say ring quickly, the minister and one or two other robed :e:- about that. officers approached the group and talked with them. ::: When we were asked to turn to the people around us :'-:- and shake hands and greet one another in the "spirit For a few moments, the atmosphere was tense and uncomfortable. :e:- ofthe Lord," 1 was forced to look into one smiling Then the minister addressed the congregation and :.: face after another. As mouths repeated the ritual line, ': ::· eyes told another story. They were eyes I would welcomed "our friends" who had a message to deliver. He did this in a superficially friendly and :'-: instinctively have avoided, filled with coldness, fear, grandstanding way that showed he was on top of the secrecy. ':::· I started to think there was something strange about situation and knew exactly how to deal with it.

The native men and women stood holding their :~: this church and its congregation. I turned my head banner, which read "All The Children Need a Proper :e:- once or twice to look at them, standing in their rows, Burial". In contrast to the minister, none of them : .: astonishingly alike in Sunday clothes, as if they knew were smiling. They looked as if they had just absorb- ':: :· what was expected of churchgoers. In his struggle to ed another insult. No one in the congregation moved :'-;. be relevant, the minister seemed almost like a Marioor responded. All eyes were focused on the visitors :e: nnette, calling on us to stand up again and make a and the minister who stood awkwardly rubbing his _:: :_ "joyful noise to the Lord." It was, he said, our time to hands together in one of those ritualized gestures :~: "rock." The guitars came out and the niiddle-aged expressing benevolence and Christian tolerance. :e:- choir put on a pathetic show of belting out a few The church seemed suddenly filled with the disap- :.: "contemporary expressions of faith." The minister pointment and anger of the native people. I felt tears ':::· joined in the rapture, shaking to the Muzak, letting it welling up, inside and around me. :~;. all hang out for Jesus.

When they all slowly turned and began silently filing :e;. How people manage to go through these motions down the aisle towards the front door, it was as if week after week without choking, is beyo?d me. It they had had enough ofthis place. I felt like running ': ::· takes a stronger person than I to take part m a weekly after them, but a family had just sat down next to me, :~;. orgy of phoniness, and walk out feeling at one with blocking my exit. :e;. God's love and light.

Once the natives had disappeared, the minister was _:::_ By the time it was over, I understood my place in the all smiles again, calling on the congregation to "wave universe: out on the street with the native people who your hands wildly" and shout requests for favorite :'-: must know by now to expect nothing from a church hymns. The heavy mood had lifted, and now we were that has been taken over by latter-day zombies.

Latter Day Zombies

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Yet Another Op-Ed artiCle that will never be printed Harry Wilson: Why There is No Healing and Reconciliation

by Kevin Annett Harry Wilson of the Heiltsuk nation, kidnapped and sodomized by Christians at age six, and for nine years after, at the United Church's Alberni Indian residential school; a witness to the violent murder of friends and relatives, and the discoverer of a young girl's dead body on the grounds of the school; drugged and straight-jacketed for a year when he spoke of what he saw to the Principal, another child rap ist, who has never gone to jail.

Harry Wilson sleeps most nig hts now on the cold g round of Oppenheimer Park on cardboard he t_~. k collects from nearby a lleyways in Vancouver's d.owntow.n e~stside. When he gets too cold, he nsks dozmg m the pews of nearby First United ~ . ~ Church, where he usually gets beaten up and ~ · ~ robbed. ·. ~ Last week, when I came across Harry slouched '·, . ·Z against a wall during my nightly walkabout, the ., / blood was still congealing over hi s swollen face. ·:;.,. · He wore no jacket, even though it was below freezing.

"They took it when I was sleeping in the church" Harry muttered.

"Took my coat, my watch, all my money. Then they socked me a few times. " "Where was the nig ht staff?" I asked him.

"Aw, smoking crack outside. They don't do nothin'

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" First United Church proudly an nounced its "out of the cold" gimmick in December, opening their doors to the homeless at night thanks to a gift of $30,000 from city taxpayers One wonders what the $30,000 is being spent on, when Harry and other homeless aboriginals - made homeless by the to rture they endured at the hands of the same United Church of Canada- can be so easily violated, once again.

East Hastings is li ke the Gaza strip: an urban concentration camp where the conquered are penned in and slaughtered when required. Harry is a veteran of the slaughter, somehow survi ving it into his fifty sixth year. But he doesn't have much time left.

. Harry's steps are slower now, his face more saggmg and worn, the scars bloodier and deeper each week, his hours utterly drowned by alcohol. He is dying in front of me, his life sq ueezed out by the same forces, to feed the same people.

When the U.S. Army bombs civi lians to pieces and then sends in their medics to treat the survivors, it's behaving exactly like the United Church of Canada who first rape and kill innocent children in their residential schools, and then offer "heali ng" programs to those who survived. That's how winners in history get to behave. .The only real evidence of their crimes is people hke Harry, and the bones of his friends who never made it out of the residential school. But church and state have shoved both Harry and those little corpses out of sight and mind: Harry to rot and die in obscurity on East Hastings street, and the bones of the dead to be dug up and destroyed.

The digging is happening aga in, in just a few days, at the very place that robbed Harry of his childhood and life. The Uni ted Church's old res idential school building in Port Albemi is being demolished by the government and its trained seals called ~he Nu u-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council, even though 1t's a proven crime s ite where hundreds of kids lie in unmarked g raves.

"When the girls were raped by the staff, they'd abort the babies and bury them between the walls where nobody wo uld fi nd them" described Harri e'tt Nahanee, who witnessed a murder at the school in

1946.

"That old building is full of bones. They even had a cold s:orage room in the cellar where they kept the bod1es before they buried them in the hills out back."

That evidence will be obliterated on February I O, as the worl d watches and does nothing as unmoved as when ~arry tries to choose between a beating and merc1less cold each night.

The U~ited Church will stand by and do nothing, pretendmg that it hasn't murdered Harry and thousands of others. .T he RCMP w ill stand by and do nothing, either, smce they helped to bury the slaughtered children.

But they have warned me not to interfere w ith the ir latest destruction of evidence of a crime.

T he killing and coverup continues.

Welcome to "Beautiful British Columbia."

Yang's Ale House I picked up a local paper today to check out what's been goin' on in that so-called real world out there that you can theorize and make up stories about, and there was a picture on the front page of that new guy everyone on the planet who's not blind as a bat with it's hea? stuck_i~ ho:se dung hopes can get this wacky bus ':"~ re al_l ndmg m back on the highway and runnm on t1me. Do us proud Barack.

But that's not what I was wantin' to talk about today, no it was what was on the back page of the paper that started my minds "now that's interesting" narrator, -something I think we all have actuallygoin' on one of it's flights of fancy out there and down the street in the general direction of Yang's A Ie House. Yang's the brother of Yin who runs a little vegetarian take out across the road from Yangs.

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You've heard of those guys right?! Yin and Yang Chi?! People who know them say they're the life of any party they show up at.

Anyway, on the pack page of the paper there was this full page ad that I'm sure Yang howled with laughter at when he saw it and ran over to Yin's to share a little metaphysic humor. Those two are just like that.

It was from a biggish company that even has mascots we've all come to recognize 'round these parts those little Salamanders from Telus. Two of'em, one orangey and bright, the other purplish and dark; a corporate advertising yin and yang ya might say.

These two in the ad were goin' round 'n 'round in a circle under the banner "Running Right, Day and Night".

Now nn sure m e auverusmg uuues ur uuueues WJJu put the ad together thought they were bein' clever and cute and that's their job, I think, but I just had to laugh at the juxtaposition of things in general and even that silly paper's synchronistic place in the universe at this moment of space time .

I mean there on the front page was a new hope they'd actually voted on to be that promise, and on the back page a silly ad that synchronisticly suggests all that has been goin' wrong the past while.

Accidentally of course.

Picture a bird with one wing that can still somehow fly but it keeps going around in circles. Now picture both yin and yang, those two Salamanders, only going as the add suggests in another context as only "Running Right" and yin and yang end up like the bird with one wing going forever in circles, nowhere.

See why the brothers Chi are laughing? Over there in the so-called real world you can theorize about and make up silly stories to describe the bozos who've been runnin' things for the last while seem like they've spent all their time in Yang's Ale House getting drunk on the power of making the balance of things only to spin to the right. Just look at all those little propellors on their heads.

Meanwhile everyone seems to have forgotten that without balance, or proper checks and balances the world of humans can, even after only a relatively short period of time begin to look like it's goin' down a figurative drain. Like those two Salamanders in the ad that have Yin and Yang Chi pissing themselves with laughter over.

Yup those right wing types forgot about basic stuff that's so obvious that the saying "can't see the forest for the trees" ends up synchronistic-ally being described even in silly ads in silly papers as to what's been goin' on all over the planet that's all wrong, and running not to the 'right' anymore but out of time.

Maybe those drunkards over there at Yang's should take a break and head on over to Yin's and get some decent food in their bellies, nd a different perception of things as being as fragile as the ecosystem of a small pond, where two Salamanders are having a hard time of it these days.

Don't believe me? Well, I guess you just haven't been payin' attention.

Skippy the Tie Dyed Mascot

~; .Boycott weed, stop gang viol en~~,.., !

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WHAT WOUD ZORRO DO? 680.000 PEOPLE FINDING REALITY? I DON'T THINK SO! The Problem with Gangs ?

Oh boy here we go again : they're on the "stamp out criminal behaviour" bandwagon that people have been riding around in circles on ever since Gronk Flintstone, a cousin of Fred decided to invent a thing he called a "wheel".

"It's our permissive society!"? Are you kidding or just not thinking clearly because you're as mad as I am right now at all the people who are being killed and maimed in all the recent Turf Wars over what appears to be drug territory.

Yeah gangs are at the centre of it but that particular squared circle is a result of an even bigger problem in society in general - "A lack of common sense from our society's leaders".

Want to know why people die out there? One word: MONEY. Period. Full stop . Ferget everything else yer adrenaline charged brain is churning up like poison from the bottom of the love canal. lt's over MONEY .... Just follow the money. Money talks.

Money makes the world go spiraling 'round in ever quickening circles of avarice and greed .

Money.

People have quirky habits ya know. Sure they do.

Like they have this genetic quirk of getting together in groups all over the place. Ever since Gronk and

Fred climbed down outta the trees people have been getting together in little tribes, or groups, or to use another word "gangs". It's just another word to describe a group. Gang. Though it's a word that because everyone watches way too many bad cop shows on TV we automatically associate the word with criminals, but every little group in society could be called a gang of one type or another couldn't they.

It's basic human nature to get together in little groups.

Probably a genetic hangover of safety in numbers ya know?

The problem? The reason people are dying over drug territory is because society has made something people want illegal. That's right, people LIKE taking drugs. It's a fact so pull your head out of whatever orifice you've got it stuck in today and get a freakin clue. If you make things people want illegal you automatically create a black market and little groups of people will get together to supply that for a humungus profit.

Want to know why kids are dying out there?

Because so-called adults made something most adults like illegal.

Decriminalize NOW.

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~. ~ i-~ii"Jfy the (frustrated) Tye-Dyed Mascot

A Day In The Life A Sequel.

[Author's Note: The original story was written many years ago. Many changes have occurred in the Downtown Eastside. This sequel relates those changes.]

Life on the streets of the Inner City of Vancouver hasn't changed much. People still sleep wrapped up in blankets, sleeping bags, some in tents in parks like Crab Park, Oppenheimer Park, Stanley Park. It was only just recently with First United Church opening its door in the rigid winter for people to sleep inside through an almost twenty-four hour period (twentyone plus hours). Soup is still served at 8:30 weekday mornings. Lunch is now at 12:00 (instead of It :30).

They have a new (and professional) cook, so meals are now considered balanced, instead of just what most people call "slop".

There is a new Mayor in Town. He created an advisory group to address the issues of homelessness, lack of living quarters for those homeless/disenfranchised.

There are still those who are homeless. I hear the grumblings all around. "Man, it's real cold. I wish 1 had a place of my own!" Others are bellyache about the "system". "The Government's a bitch! There ain't no one caring about us! They'd rather have the Olympics than create homes for us! How can anyone survive when their promises are nothing but shit!" I can sympathize with them. "I was homeless (on and off) at times. I've been on B.C. Housing for over ten years now, and I'm still waiting for a place I can call home", another one says to his friend.

"I'm on an advisory committee myself' at First United Church, and it's a slow procedure to see anything accomplished. a clean shaven, clean dressed man says. The Province and C ity have purchased

several building that are dilapidated and are turning them into who knows what. Real housing is not being created by both the City and the Province. No wonder people are getting worse and more despondent.

The City's local newspaper, the Vancouver Province, is now doing a one year series, daily, Monday to Friday, by a group called "Operation Phoenix." It is going to tell in story and pictures what is occurring in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Some of the pictures are truly depressing.

A housing society, called the Portland Society purchased a dilapidated hotel called the Pennsylvania, and turned it into bachelor suites. They are now housing forty-five homeless people. Another place that was changed into bachelor suites is next door to a place called United We Can, an Inner City bottle depot where the homeless can make a little money from bottles and cans they've collected through the night. The new place is called the " Lux".

Drug deals still go in at the corner of Hastings and Main streets. " Methadone" one person advertises.

"T-4's (Tylenol with codeine). "Rock" (rock cocaine) another one calls out. It' s a virtual sales market out in front of Carnegie. Some of the homeless are so stoned all they do is just wander around aimlessly, or doing the "Hasting Shu fOe" (a drug induced jerky motion that is synonymous to Saint Vidus Dance.

Life can be hard and ugly down here, but many of the long time residents still say it's "home", and that it's "family". It is, in a strange sort of way. People look out for each other "I've been considered family by these people for decades, even though they know I am not a "user", said another individual. It's a community, just a depressed one.

Every day is filled with something happening in the Inner City. I see people pushing shopping carts, carrying bags of clothes and empty cans. People sell things they acquire from either community centres or churches or keep their eyes out for things hotels and apartments have thrown out. ll's a way of life for many of the people down here. The Mayor's Advisory Committee is sti ll collecting data on this, and it's frustrating to wait, because there are people who are still without permanent housing, How many more people must die in the wi nter time before the ones who are in charge wake up to the fact that it won't just go away, and everyone is not rich? How can we be the most livable area in Canada, yet allow such

degradation to occur to human li ves?

There was once a saying that applied to Canada: "Everyone in Canada "has". That is now an oxymoron statement by the fact that there are people hungry, homeless, without clean clothes or a roof over their heads. What happened to compassion towards human beings when they are hurting so badly? This Province should be ashamed of itself for allowing this to fester as long as it has, and just issue "band-aid" solutions that don't address the underlying issues of these people. Too many who have the power to change things are more worried about the Olympics and lining their pockets with the interest from the middle class. Too many have suffered enoug h!

Times are a changin', as someone once said (and sang) but why are they changing for the worse?When wi ll society wake up and realize what is happening to the poor? Lots of people who are affluent don't have a clue of what it's like to do without, to scrimp, to wish for something they cannot afford. It' s a sad situation when the 21 st Century version of "Les Miserables" are being avoided and forgotten. How much lower can we sink into such apathy towards these people?

Think about it!

Do something!

Make a difference!

On the Edge of the Ineffable I used to keep that Safeway cart in my apartment Just in case I used to care I used to worry I used to worry I used to be afraid I forget why I stopped The end of something and some Time.

Now I keep a red tricycle to make my getaway A "Radio Flyer" according to the hand lebars They have neat red & white fringes - a bell that rings rarely My very own private Gong show.

Once upon a time I had a wooden s led And my young father pulled me Across the frozen harbour of our village The snow deep and dangero us Close by the cliffs edge The only path.

I remember, or remember remembering.

The NEW TIMES, bright as a newly minted copper Sparkling and shining n the occasional light Blinding me to the Past Blinding me to the Pain Sparing me the sadness knowing brings The losses and the losing The failures and the almost was Still bringing Hope again - that feathered thing Bring Promises again Bringing Future into a Present Again.

Wilhelmina M

Survivors of Incest Anonymous, Inc.

Farmer's Market in Gastown!

Hi everybody! If you like the idea, please take a minute to sign a petition & Pass it on!

Here is the link to the petitio n for a Gastown market

http://petitionspot.com/petitions/gastownmarket Please feel free to share.

For women.

Every Thursday, 6:15 to 7:15pm Avalon Women 's Centre.

Contact Michelle: 604-263-7177 For more infonnation, call or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope (SASE) to:

Survivors of Incest Anonymous, Inc. P.O.Box 190, Benson, Maryland USA 21018 1-410-282-3400 www.siawso.org

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE ..

YOl)TH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

NEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN·- .J ROUICIII . ..

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City- Sa4~pm- Ua45pm Over@lebt- l2:30a~.:.. ~alOam Downtown Enstelde _; 5r30pft! - I :lUau CFRO 102.-7 FM CO-OP RADIO Next issue is Marc-h 15

SUBMISSION DEADLINE Thursday, March 12 · Free showers for homeless persons at 327 Carrall Wed 7-8:30am; Sat 7-10am; Women Only Fri 6-Spm THIS NEWSLETrER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE · 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , C.A.. RNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION We acknowledge that Carnegie Community Centre, and Articles represent the views or individual I this Newsletter, are occurring on Coast Salish Territory. I Contributors and not or the Association. ' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ..J

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~isa_David ;

Collation & distribution crew: Harold, Lm Lm, Btll, Mary Ann, Miriam. Rolf, Tina, Videha, Kelly, ~al,_ ~ob~, Nick, Jackie Matthew, Lisa, Red, Pablo, Ida, Pnsctlha L1sa.

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WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsktter

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TIM STEVENSON

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SERVING THE COMMUNITY

WITH PRIDE

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CITY HAlL

.f5l Wm 12111 AV£, V5V 1Vif Phone: 604.87l·7Z<f7

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA

Working for You 1070-1641 Commercial Dr, V5L JYJ Phone: 604-775-0790

oo you Have a Legal 'Problem?

Are you charged with a crime?

VIsit the UBC Law Clinic In the 3rd floor gallery of carnegie Centre for free advice & representation.

UDC L.aw Students Legal Advice Program (LSLAP) Drop-In, Tuesdays, 7 - 9pm.

Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry

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Cover art -Maximum size: 17cm(6·3/4j wide x 15cm(6j high.

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

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2009 DONATIONS: Barry M.·$150, Libby D.-$70 Rolf A.-$50, Margaret D.-$40, Jenny K.-$23, Sue K.-$30, Sandy C.-$25, Christopher R.-$180 Mel L.-$25, Greta P.-$25. Java B.-$75, Alayne-$25 Anonymous -$1500 leslie S.-$25 The Edge -$20(

OPERATION KLEENEX

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back!

•!• \@) • thing happened during my TransJoke journey to the Carnegie Centre last Monday now up to this point I '"" -~....._,_-, Carnegie Theatre Workshop had no idea what "Operation Phoenix" was but was 51 about to find out first hand now. 1 I was physically assaulted in my own hallway by cop# 1856 & How to... verbally abused & told to " Stay where you are!" ..boy Voice , Movement, Scene Study do they get pissed when they can't find a reason to Ima gine, Prepare, Inv estigate lock me away.. Anyway I had just gone in grab 5 or 6 Emot ional, Intel l ec t ual, Fl exib le copies of the latest newsletter (Feb.15) to bring back to the Kettle Mental Health & Friendship Centre & 3 hours Saturda y afternoons keep one for myself. Just as the light changed I began Sat March 7, 14 and 21 walking to the busstop for the Victoria bus when a 1 : 30pm cop car lurches around the corner & the lone female cop stops diagonally -in the bus lane (no buses were Carnegie Theatre coming (pity)) & gets out of said car with pad in Free hand. I looked around there were 3 or 4 old people on All lev els of expe rienc e welcome ! the bench & 2 others standing a few feet away from Attend 1 session, attend all 3. the busstop & me when she swaggers to the bus No registration required. shelter & begins barking at an old man who was Class size may be lim i ted . maybe mid-60s but likely 70+; now yes he was smoking (which wi ll be a capital offence by the time Led by Teresa Vandertuin all these new babies will think themselves grownup For more info call 604-255-9401 1 & crash & burn to death for their 16 h Bday) email: thirteenofhearts@hotmai/. com Anyways a very one-sided shouting match by her to him began "Now I can write you out a ticket for 100 something dollars or you can get the Hell away from the busstop - it was about this time I noticed his trembling fingers urgently trying to put out his butt with his coat & hands probably thinking he'd be arrested for littering (some people just don't want to go to jail- go figu re) As a flock of buses became visible she got in her car Japantown Multicultural Neighbourhood Celebration & drove away - time to destroy someone else's day!

Saturday Ma rch 28, l Oam to 8pm On a personal note I began with stories/lyrics/poems whatever very very ser iously after Detective David Procession, commemoration, performances, walks, Bruce Thomas beat & kicked one of my best friends stories, forums to celebrate the past, present and Jeffrey Berg in 2000 (Oct.24) the outcome? a future of the neighbourhood of Powell Street and promotion for the killer but Jeff stays dead you Japantown. Further details in the next Newsletter. selfish bastard. lf there is a Satan/God Ice Cream Produced by Tonari Gumi, Vancouver Japanese Language Family I know where my friends are & better yet School & Japanese Hall, Vancouver Moving Theatre and know where you will reside forever. P lease watch the Powell Street Festival Society. your backs because they are watching you; every life & liberty they take away should make us stronger.

For information please contact Teresa at 604-255What goes around comes around, or so they sat ...

9401 or email : thirteenofhearts@hotmail.com ROBERT McGILLIVRAY

ACTING BASICS

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Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America (609.73) Lobotomy: Surviving the Ramones, by Dee Dee Ramone (78 1.57) Consumer's Guide to Psychiatric Drugs (615.78) Documentary Film: A Very Short Introdu ction (791.43) HIV!A IDS: A Very Short Introduction (6 16.97) By the way, did you know that us Welsh also have a national vegetable? First person to come and see me in the library and tell me what is the national vegetable of Wales wins a VPL shopping bag.

Happy St David' s Day! Beth, your librarian

News From 1:he LibrarY

13th International Day Against Police Brutality!

March 15th, 2009

March 1 is St David's Day (David is the patron saint "As police officers, repression is our job. We don't of Wales), and because the Welsh national flower is need a community relations officer for a director, we the daffodil , it always makes me think of spring, and need a general. Let 's keep in mind that the police getting outside. Luckily, Aaron has been shopping for force is, after all, a paramilitmy body." some great books to help you plan yo ur next outdoor Yves Francoeur, President Montreal Police Brotherhood adventure.

Hikino Guide to the Big Trees of Southwestern t> â&#x20AC;˘ ' Justice to victims of police brutality and impunity!

British Columbia (97 1.13) ts Randy Stoltmann s No justice, no peace! classic guide to our ancient rainforest. It's from 1991, so some of these trees may no longer be with us.

Randy Stoltmann is also no longer with us. He was a TO READ THE WHOLE CALL OUT: tireless advocate for preserving our wildemess areas http://www.cmaq.net/node/32131 and old growth forests, and after he was killed in an avalanche in 1994, activists working to preserve the International Women's Day is March 8th every year.

Elaho Valley north of Squamish designated this area Beholden as the human race is to its majority stakeholders as the Stoltmann Wildemess. this issue of Ye Olde Carnegie Newsletter has striven to You don' t have to go far in Vancouver to check out recognize our collective better half by featuring our new nature. Wilderness on the Doorstep: Discovering Mayor in the same way that women have been featured I Nature in Stanley Park (578.09) is a guidebook to exploited 1demeaned for decades I centuries I millennia, the plants and wildlife of our urban oasis. Maybe albeit not sans clothes. you' ll see the pileated woodpecker (think Woody 'Tis to be hoped that PBG ("Pretty-Boy Gregor"} has a Woodpecker!), the northern flying squirrel, the somewhat thicker skin that Phil and isn't a closet "Woe is Pacific treefrog, or angel wing mushroom. me!" like Sam. A kinder, or at least a less brain-dead If bears are your thing, check out Bears by Kevin Providence, would have graced I, your sorry-ass editor, Van Tighem (599.78), a comprehensive guide to bear with a stunning photo of His Worship James Maclean, You habitat, behaviour and hab its. know, the 70 year-old guy in the tartan skirt from the Sally If nature's not your thing, and the rain is convincing Ann and long socks from a homeless shelter, erstwhile you to stay indoors, check out one of the following: stand-up double for the mayor and handing out medals at The Betrayal of Work: How Low-Wage Jobs Fai/ 30 the Poverty Olympics? Ahh, Broadway!!

PRT Million A mericans, by Beth Shulman (33 1.23) .__ _....,;.._.._..__ _ _ _ _...__ _ _ _ __