September 15, 2017 carnegie newsletter

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SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

NEW S LE TT E R

21

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When 1 was a little girl, I dreamed of being loved for who I was. There was a point in my life, that I took wonder in the smells and sights of the English gardens where 1 was brought up. My life was full of peace and wonder. My father would point at the swan in the park lake and tell me I would be like that one day. However, it was around the age of 8 or 9 that I met my friend, Sadia's father who started to groom me for his sexual gratification. It eventually led to where one day he sat me in the back seat of his car and proceeded to rape me. I lost my innocence at the age of 10. I was never the same again.

We left Birmingham England in the spring of 1977. I was glad to leave because now Sadia's father could not hurt me anymore.

We landed in Canada and the first thing I noticed was the mountains and the size of everything. The inner city of Birmingham had no mountains, the car/were small, and the houses were terraced and little as well. In Vancouver, the houses were beautiful, and the sky was blue and although my father had a hard time finding ajob, and we lived in my uncle's basement where one room tripled as a kitchen, den and living room, I thought I was safe because miles separated me from Sadia's father.

That was short lived.

I proceeded to see a lot of violence and alcoholism in my extended family. My uncle would beat up on the kids in violent and crazy ways. I was groomed for yet more sexual abuse. I never told my parents because it was an overt and covert rule to not talk about sex in my Punjabi culture. So I just shut up and started to

create imaginary friends and an imaginary garden where I could go to escape what was going on. I still have those friends today. They have kept me alive.

My story is not uncommon. The faces change but the acts remain the same. Sexual abuse is a nasty secret in my culture that needs to be exposed. It is the leading cause of alcohol and drug abuse in my community. I am more than a survivor; I am a thriver. Everything I have faced in my life makes sense, when I consider the fact that I am a survivor of sexual abuse. The drug addiction was the natural consequence of my life circumstances.

I am no longer living a life of shame and guilt, blaming myselffor what adults did to me. It is when I harness my rage and face my demons, that I make the first step the uncover the layers that will l~ad to forgiveness, first for myself, and then for those that hurt me. It is not mandatory, but it is easier than carrying all that hate and pain. Maybe by writing about it I can expose the dark places we go to hide our secrets be cause it is true, that we are only as sick as our secrets.

By Ruby Diamond

TIME Time.

People say that time heals all wounds and mends all broken hearts.

How I wish to give you all the time in the world to heal from the deep pain and sorrow that have afflicted your soul.

May you replace your shattered dreams and unfulfilled expectations with new dreams and a new vision of hope on the horizon.

May you take a step back to truly appreciate your strengths and all that you have accomplished, regardless oflife's outcome.

May you feel deserving of the love, compassion, and respect expressed by those who value you -- for you are of infinite worth.

Š Jacqueline Angharad Giles

With fentanyl being made available in relatively obscene quantities, those at the extreme end of social engineering are using capitalist exploitation to both profit from and kill off the "undesirables."

The same mentality was prevalent in the early 90s when entrepreneurs put drugs at unprecedented levels of purity on the street - the death toll was at an all-time high of 3 50+ in one year. Right-wing reactionary forces, then as now, kept obfuscating perceptions, fanning flames ofthe demonization of anyone too poor to use in private or too obviously addicted to be worth caring about.

Now, the death toll is a still a number but over a thousand people a year are caught in the greed of those supplying the market. Following are 2 poems by Bud Osborn that appear in Raise Shitl Social Action Saving Lives co-authored with Susan .Boyd & Donald MacPherson. It's the story of how Insite, North America's first supervised injection site, came into being. The first is about the same right-wing reactionaries practicing being stupid in public forums.

Protest on Main Street

By Bud Osborn

we are right now in the heart in the vulnerable and naked and wounded heart of the downtown eastside a community of 10,000 human beings who have the lowest per capita income in canada the highest suicide rate the lowest life expectancy the most homeless people the fewest jobs of anywhere in british columbia and the downtown eastside is experiencing the worst hiv/aids epidemic among drug addicts in the western world the downtown eastside struggles to survive as a community for all who live here amidst third world poverty conditions . amidst the most wretched housing in north america according to experts from the united states and the human beings of the downtown eastside comprise the most traumatized community

the most disabled community the most besieged bylaw-breaking noise levels of ups eale construction developments which are displacing and scattering this community of poor people

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, and what has been the most significant response by our public servants by the political will to the cries of fear and pain and rage we hear in the screaming of sirens upon sirens upon sirens? this summer vancouver mayor philip owen .attended a meeting of the urban development institute which is composed of business and real estate people and owen was told that condominium sales are holding steady throughout vancouver except in-gas town and the downtown eastside where sales are low because of'the people on the streets because of the residents because of the drug situation and owen left that meeting singing an old discredited tune singing "war on drugs". and the cops came out swinging dehumanizing the downtown eastside in the province newspaper and beating people on the streets and in the parks and alleys beating the afflicted people of the downtown eastside I myself attended a meeting with the new chief of police chambers who said the police were unleashed in a clean-up campaign on the downtown eastside streets for the sake of tourists and business tourists and business and the chief inspector of this area gary greer said in a public meeting that the police are going to aggressively enforce laws they do not enforce anywhere else in the city

and recently greer was quoted as saying street level drug dealers are responsible for creating the hiv I aids epidemic he's a liar the abandonment and betrayal of the people of the downtown eastside by elected leaders from all three levels of government is what has created the western world's worst hiv/aids epidemic among drug addicts the war against drugs is a war against the poor but not against all of the poor people in the downtown eastside the war on drugs discriminately assaults latino and aboriginal and black people and those who look like white trash the war against drugs. is a euphemism for a war against refugees from global economic warfare whether they are from alberta or el salvador the war on drugs is an excuse for pol ice to beat the shit out of people who are ill and abandoned and deemed expendable and powerless and . who have nowhere else to go than down here I am personally sickened and enraged from hearing on a a daily basis stories of more beating and harassment and brutality committed by police on downtown eastside streets the war on drugs is a war on this community the war on drugs is a war against hope and compassion and care the war against drugs itself spreads the hiv I aids epidemic by driving addicts into hotel shooting galleries john blatherwick the chief medical officer of the city of vancouver says the safest place to shoot drugs in the downtown is in the alleys because there only one or two people use a needle but when the police drive addicts offthe streets and out of the alleys and back into the hotels several people crowd into a single unsanitary room and share needles

and the epidemic spreads and as I am a member of the vancouver/richmond health board representing the downtown eastside I hereby voice a complaint and an accusation against the vancouver police and demand they charge themselves with the crime of spreading an epidemic and aggravating a public health emergency but I have met police officers in the downtown eastside who are not terrorists but are ashamed of the shameless actions of fellow officers. and I call on them to step forward now I call on those cops who privately express their support for our struggles to survive here those cops who understand the pressures bearing down on us I call on them to publicly renounce this insane war and announce their distance from this increasing brutality and become leaders in this community instead of being tarred with the same brush as the sociopaths in their department I call on those authentic officers of the law to be real community police

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In 2003, The Portland Hotel Staff asked Bud Osborn to write a poem for the official opening of Insite, the first official safe injection site in Canada (and North America).

a new day we of the downtown eastside have made history today we who have had the highest rate of overdose deaths in the world we today are making history we who have had the highest aids rate in the world among injecting junkies the highest rate of tuberculosis from shooting up in putrid alleys and poisonous hotel rooms

are making history we have won a major battle we the most afflicted of the poor have won a battle in the war against the drug warriors the u.s. state department, the dea the rcmp we have beaten them in a harm reduction battle a war of 50 years begun by ernie winch mla for burnaby who first tried to bring safe injection sites to vancouver and the rcmp shut him down 50 years tens of thousands of needless deaths and disease tens of thousands of destroyed families and hopelessness but here something new has emerged from the troubles work sweat demonstrations tribulations for ever so many years from so many people we are writing a new canadian his tor) . this is canada's real identity not tearing apart communities and families like the country to the south that enables dope and the death of hope . to enter our land yes. we have fought for over 50 years and today we can announce an incredible victory saving lives and giving those lives opportunity for change saving lives saving lives saving lives for a real life of love and joy and care and health this is canada â&#x20AC;˘ this is what a safe injection site is about th is is our day

the day for everyone who has ever cared for the downtown eastside in a world of death and terror we have won a corner of it for life and peace life and peace there has never before been in north america a safe injection site approved by 3 levels of government and the vancouver ~olice until now so embrace each other congratulate each other this is the beginning of new life for each other this is a new illuminating light for everyone in the blackness of the war on drugs in north america a new illuminating light of hope Those who hate & fear the resulting social ills of maintaining and exacerbating the misutilization & irrational distribution of wealth and other potentialities are hard at it still. This presentation is in response to an idiotic assertion in a daily paper that any attempt at or promotion of ideals of social justice are moronic & doomed from the start. We remain the target of policies & practices to disperse our communities and kill off the most vulnerable. But we fight back, we resist, we RAISE SHIT!

PRT

From the LibrarY This year we're part of the annual WORD Vancouver festival. On Saturday September 23 in the Classroom we have a workshop at 11am called "Write a Book and Get Published," and another workshop at 2:30pm called "Note to Self: Therapeutic Writing for Writers." During the day (12pm - 3pm) we have volunteers in the Gallery with laptops offering to Type-Up your hand-written poems, letters, stories and you can choose to print, email or copy the document to USB stick. Come early to insure you are assisted.

We are kick-starting the fall with some really great programs. Please join us on Wednesday September 20th (6pm - 7:30pm) for a "Philosopher's Cafe" dis-

Word Vancouver is inspiring. A free festival of reading and writing and a celebration of community.

Between September 19 and 24 (six days!), a multitude of free reading and writing activities will take place at various locations and are all part of the Word Vancouver festival.

The big festival day happens on September 24 in and around the Central' Branch of the Vancouver Public Library at 350 E Georgia from 11 am - 5 pm. Take in free readings, panel discussions, writing workshops, site performers, family activities, an exhibitor marketplace, and more.

Carnegie Centre Branch & Association will be there with our unique displays and interactive exhibit with this Newsletter & various publications. PLEASE drop by - give us a smile & get a Lifesaver!

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cussion in the Learning Centre. This first session will be led by Gary George who asks, "Is there something therapeutic about traditional First Nations hand drumming?" Everyone is encouraged to join in on the conversation.

Speaking of drumming ... check these out!

UNDERCOVER

Spirit Drumming: a guide to the healing power of rhythm (2017) by Gabriel Horn (White Deer of A u-

As a child and throughout my teens I dreaded maturing physically.

tumn). Horn is a recognized Indigenous speaker and professor, and this book includes powerful stories about how the drum restores our true selves and connects us to the earth, Naamiwan 's Drum: the story of a contested repatriation of Anishinaabe artefacts (2016) by Maureen Matthews. This story follows a famous Ojibwe medicine man and how an important drum was finally returned to its rightful community after a controversial exchange.

Born to Drum: the truth about the world's greatest drummers from John Bonham and Keith Moon to Sheifa E. and Dave GroM (20 15) by Tony Barrell. A "who's who" of contemporary drumming, and an analysis of the greatest recorded drum tracks.

Japanese Drums (2010) by Joji Hirota. This DVD is described as "an exhilarating live show of high energy, powerful, driving Japanese drumming." If you have ever attend the Powell Street Festival, you have probably experience taiko drumming. Hirota provides more background on its history.

• Your librarian, Natalie

Fear stunted m:t ascent into womanhood.

I feared his touch, his need for self-gratification.

I believed that as long as I made myself unattractive, he would stop.

He didn't.

I feared her punishments, her need to release her jealous rage.

I believed that as long as 1 was inconspicuous and obedient, she would stop.

She didn't.

Years of abuse have aged my body, mind and soul.

When I left home at 18 they no longer violated my body.

I did. © Jacqueline

Angharad Giles

CARNEGIE

COMMUNITY

ACTION

PROJECT

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NEWSLETTER

BC BUDGET UPDATE, HOGAN'S ALLEY, OHCW TAKE NDP MINISTERS ON GENTRIFICATION TOUR

SEPTEMBER

2017

LGBTQ+ HOUSING

STATS

Homophobia and transphobia often occurs at shelters and shelters not necessarily equipped to deal with it "I don't feel safe in shelters. Counsellors and shelter staff are not trained. They also don't have proper stuff for trans women."

Family conflict and fear of repercussions of coming out a major factor in youth homelessness and LGBTQ2youth are everrepresented among homeless youth Homelessness and housing issues faced by people identifying as LGBTQ2are not hombgenous Trans persons fcee unique circumstances related homelessness and insecure housing - t2.g., herder to pass when homeless, rejection and discnminetion at shelters, more Iikt2lyto experience violence

Gay men, or men who are perceived as gay, face their own challenges related to homophobia and violence.

LGBTQ+ DTES COMMUNITY

VISION

If you identify as a low-income LGBTQ2s+resident of the downtown eastside, join us in a safe space to discuss what changes you'd like to see in your neighbourhood!

Contact: lenee@carnegieaction.org

WHAT DOES THE BC BUDGET UPDATE MEAN FOR HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE?

On Sept. 11the new BC government brought down a budget update that says how they intend to tax and spend money until next February when there will probably be another budget. What did the budget say about housing, homelessness and renters rights?

HOUSING: The budget says the government will invest $208 Million over 4 years, or $52 million a year on building "affordable" rental housing. They say that this will provide 1700 new units, although it appears that the province is only providing $122,000 per unit. A single unit of social housing built on city-owned land costs about $200,000 so the province must be relying on other "partners" like cities, or non profit groups to provide the rest. Just for comparison, the Alliance Against Displacement says we need 10,000 units of social housing a year in BC, not 1700 over 4 years.

HOM ELESSN ESS: The budget says it will provide $291 million over 2 years to build 2000 units of modular housing for

people who ar.e homeless. The budget also says the government will spend $173 million over three years to staff these modular units.

For comparison, Vancouver has 2138 counted homeless people as of last March. The city has called for 600 units of modular housing per year for 3 years. The province's commitment is for about 130 modular units in Vancouver per year if Vancouver gets its share of modular housing money based on Vancouver's population (13% of the population of BC lives in BC) So the provincial commitment is way lower than what is actually needed.

RENTER'S RIGHTS: Vancouver renters experience a median rent for a one bedroom apartment of over $2000 a month. We desperately need rent control based on the unit not the tenant. so landlords can't raise rents between tenancies. There was nothing in the budget about this. It only says that the government will increase the amount of money it spends on the Residential Tenancy Branch

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

A week ago, I received a call from Emma FitzGerald, an Irish Canadian artist born in Lesotho' who was inquiring about Hoqan's Alley. She came across my name through internet search and was hoping to talk with me about including Hogan's Alley in a new illustration book project she was writing. Emma is the author of Hand Drawn Halifax: Portraits of the city's buildings, landmarks, neighborhoods and residents (Formac, 20lS). I invited Emma to our weekly lunch at the Downtown East Site Neighborhood House. A place where we meet. cook and share a meal. This gathering serves as a baraza. a platform to discuss issues that people of African descent face in the community. I asked Emma if she had a dish she'd like to prepare. She said she would make a Gambian dish with peanut butter and

*Lesotho: an enclave, landlocked

country surrounded

yam sauce. I said I will make Ugali. a type of corn meal dish we eat using our fingers.

Emma recently moved back to Vancouver, so she was getting re-acquainted with the city. I gave her a quick tour of the Carnegie Center and we walked to Sunrise Market. Sunrise is a treasure in the community, the only affordable market that has resisted against gentrification.

We picked up ingredients and headed to the Neighborhood House. Peanut butter sauce is used in many parts of Africa. Emma lived in the Gambia and I worked in neighboring Senegal.

Ground nuts were a major source of protein and can grow easily without much water. When I prepare the sauce, I usually include spinach and serve it with Ugali:

by South Africa.

century, it was a welcome neighborhood for people of calor in a time when Black renters faced racist hostility elsewhere. It was a favorite hang-out by great musicians whenever they came to Vancouver. In 1923, the African Methodist Episcopal Fountain Chapel was founded as the anchor of the community.

The Pullman Porter Club operated there from 1927-28, accommodating Black porters during trans-Canada train trips between Halifax to Vancouver. When people wanted to eat soul food, listen to jazz or other types of entertainment. legal and not-sa-legal. They came downtown to Hoqan's Alley.

Later, we were joined by Henrik and Bill. who volunteer at the Neighborhood House. Kevin from Kenya, who recently moved to Vancouver from Toronto and Anthonla, a member of Hoqan's Alley Working Group. Given Emma's interest in Hoqan's Alley, the conversation veered to sharing stories on the future of Hoqan's Alley.

In 2015, the Vancouver City Council admitted the viaducts were a bad planning idea and voted to tear them down. Five councilors voted in favor of the demolition against four who opposed the viaducts removal. The decision to tear down the viaducts presented an opportunity for the revitalization of the neighborhood Black British Columbians called home. A group of us set up the Hoqan's Alley Working Group-and began planning ways this block can be designed to house the rebirth of Hoqan's Alley to include housing, businesses and a cultural center.

Hoqan's Alley was a Black community destroyed by the City of Vancouver through its urban renewal policy in 1972. The policy was sarcastically referred to as 'negro removal'. It targeted pqpr, Black inner-city neighborhoods, which the city choked by neglecting to maintain public infrastructure, denied residents bank loans to upgrade their homes and eventually moved in with bulldozers to clean up what they considered blight (affliction). In Vancouver, the construction of the Dunsmuir and Georgia viaducts destroyed part of Chinatown and displaced Black residents who made up the majority of Hoqan's Alley residents.

Hogan's Alley was an immigrant enclave close to the railway station where many Black men worked as porters in the early twentieth

For more information, hogansalleytrust.ca

please visit:

OUR HOMES CAN'T WAIT LEADS GENTRIFRICATION

WITH

TOUR

NDP MINISTERS

On August. 15,the Our Homes Can't Wait coalition (OHCW) led NDP ministers on a gentrification tour in the DTES. OHCW is group of organizations such as Carnegie Community Action Project. Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, Downtown Eastside Womens Centre, and Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society, and more, fighting for social housing and preserving SRO hotels in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES.) Shane Simpson, the Minister for Social Development and Poverty Reduction, and Selina Robinson, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing attended the tour.

OHCW delivered the following Simpson and Robinson:

demands

to

TO END HOMELESSNESS - IMMEDIATE NEEDS: - Immediately build enough modular housing to house all homeless people, including couples and families. They will pay for themselves in 4 years. Do this before winter.

- Preserve and upgrade SROs until new social housing is built - Implement a rent freeze and tie rent control to the unit. not the tenant

- Provide funds to build social housing at 58 W. Hastings at 100% welfare/pension rate - Raise welfare. City says we need $600 for shelter just to pay for maintenance in social housing - Need a provincial definition of social housing that overrides city definition and doesn't exclude low income people - Fund tenant advocacy groups LONGER TERM: - Build 5000 units of good quality social housing that low income DTES residents can afford.

- Build 10,000 units of social housing that low income people can afford, per year, across the province - Change housing management models so housing is dignified and independent. not institutionalized and medicalized, and covered by the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA.) - Make RTA changes that support tenants, including ending fixed term leases - Stop the privatization of BC Housing buildings See photographs page.

from the tour on the following

CARNEGIE

COMMUNITY

ACTION

PROJECT 111:15AM EVERY FRIDAY

The Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP)is a project of the board of the Carnegie Community Centre Association. CCAPworks mostly on housing. income. and land use issues in the Downtown Eastside (DTES)of Vancouver so that the area can remain a low income friendly community. CCAPworks with english speaking and Chinese speaking DTESresidents in speaking out on their own behalf for the changes they would like to see in their neighbourhood.

Join us on Fridays11:lSam for our weekly volunteer meetings! Downtown Eastside residents who want to work on getting better housing and incomes and stop gentrification are welcome to attend. Lunch is provided!

CARNEGIE

AFRICAN

DESCENT GROUP

III AM EVERY 2ND TUESDAY

The Carnegie African Descent Group (CADG)is pleased to invite you to a bi-weekly lunch gathering at the Downtown Eastside Neighborhood House. Come. cook. talk and enjoy African dishes with us.The lunch will take place every Tuesdays.from 11:00am tilll:30 pm. The group has the same mandate as CCAP.but with particular focus on issuesthat Black and African Descent community members experience. DTEScommunity members who identify as Black and or as of African Descent are welcome to the lunch. For more information. contact: Imugab07S@gmail.com

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CONCERN GROUP

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CONTACT US: Office: 2nd floor of the Carnegie.

401 Main Street. Vancouver Phone: 604-66S-210S Email: info@carnegieaction.org Website: www.carnegieaction.org

Vanci

•

Thank you to Vancity for supporting CCAP'swork. Support for this project does not necessarily imply that funders endorse the findings or contents of this report.

The Four Percent Populous Collusion Like a valadic Dorian Grey picture it remains while the living rot away how about scooter sidewalk rage if this is a glimpse of my future is there some kind of sacrifice to kill off these unwelcome days the strength of silent confessions brings if we let it closure if I am the only one let it be, Like an American in a foreign country after removing a couple of Canadian flag stickers but you can't hide your voice people aren't as stupid as you think they are you only build more hate if at the start of everything I'd have picked Canadian as my choice appearance & deceit benefit not even yourself ignorance is like living in a box you will never see, Like a stand-up comic in Rwanda or Syria or Yemen laughter is enforced by dictatorship laws I get sick of making jokes about our North American landlocked neighbour give me a second to clear the vomit (some think this is a new form of applause (silent auctioneering of confederate flags & KKK mementos))how does 4% of Earth's population become the saviour ofwhats left of what was a beautiful planet, like being dropped instead of slapped to make sure you are alive guns hots could prepare them for life not just in the States where hate is more than just active it takes control of the lonely & absolutely fucking thrives Earth is my friend he says to billions of people & will make the mind's biggest graveyard. Stupidity or Ignorance (there is a huge difference) more than several kids shake Do You have no conscience or do you want to see Earth die?!

Do You honestly think you & yurs alone will survive?

Like having an arithmeticket to a better life or apocalypstick make-up all well-meaning insanity I am sure don't let it get to you well-meaning disasters happen every second like wars in Afghanistan & other countries where just waking up alive is a neat thing ....

Like being interviewed for a Rock Death magazine called Expiry Dates so warm&inviting they ask me if I like it I've seen more compassion on a can of insect killer like taking dna from a shadow or using anger until all your friends become vessels of blame When those in power want all the money who counts the human cost the human loss?!

By ROBERT McGILLIVRA Y "I was angry with my friend," I told my wrath. My wrath did end. 'I was angry with my foe,' I told it not.

My wrath did grow. -William Blake (a poison tree)

The Carnegie Association Board invites you to join the Walk for Reconciliation on Sunday, Sept. 24th! We will meet at 9:30 am at 650 Cambie Street at Georgia and walk to Strathcona Park.

Let's all walk together for reconciliation.

I don't feel an)lthing at all. I can read the words perfectly. It is English. I understand. I probably should feel something through transparent confusion. I want to see a society. I continue to breathe not wanting to look away. I watch society sifted and incorporated into each breath. Delectable diversions don't dilute the inevitable question - isn't there something wrong here? Or what good could come from a couple of drinks. Moments get stepped on by automatic breaths.

A good crowd gathered more concerned of the funeral than what was going on. Where did they all come from? Inside some vestibule sanctuary. Although I do see the makings of a great screenplay, people take themselves too seriously.

People are showing up for the sake of the paycheck.

The director gets up from his chair, "Cut! Go back and try it again." Chalk drawing composition enmeshed by a cover girl Mac. Gracefully, elegantly I take the place I've always taken. When it comes to what I've been trained to do; I know what to do.

Discomfort only comes from sloughing off imposed skin. I will try to be who J truly am.

AnyaH

Lives Lived Stories of DTES heroes, heroines & villains Andrew Carnegie: Just another Scumbag Capitalist

By Debra McNaught Yes, that Carnegie, the old dead white guy whose name is carved over our front door. His fan club continues to extol his philanthropy, but they're generally people pathetically overawed by extreme wealth, and Carnegie (pronounced CarNA Y gee, actually), like all raving capitalists, cheerfully walked over thousands of bodies to amass his fortune, and his anti-union actions caused suffering to many thousands more.

He was born poor in Scotland in 1835 and watched his father struggle to provide; later in life he claimed "I began to learn what poverty meant. It was burnt into my heart then that my father had to beg for work. And then and there came the resolve that I would cure that when I got to be a man." (I'll come back to that). The family emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1848 and at age 13 he was working in a factory, making $1.20 a week. He advanced rapidly, and in short order was working as assistant to the President of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and that's when the light bulb went off.

At that time, the railway was expanding across the continental US but the rails themselves were brittle, being made of iron. Steel was the best option but it was prohibitively expensive to produce. Carnegie found investors enough to build the first modern steel plant, and solv~d his supply chain hurdles by orchestrating production 'from start to finish: he owned the raw materials, he owned the shipping and rail to get his goods to market, owned coal fields to fuel his blast furnaces. Buildings in mid-nineteenth century seldom exceeded 5 stories - that weak iron thing again - but Carnegie steel built the first skyscraper, and went on to supply the steel for thousands of high steel buildings. To Carnegie, "vertical marketing" had savoury implications, and Manhattan real estate, already expensive, began to head skyward. Literally. Carnegie amassed a fortune equivalent to $78.6 billion in 2015 USD,and for a time he was the richest man in America. At 35 he

declared he would work towards providing education, literacy, and public good works; sure, he did, but he still continued making obscene amounts of money on the backs of the people he purported to be helping.

The late 19th century was known as the Gilded Age, and if you were rich enough to own your own politicians it most certainly was. Political corruption was everywhere rampant, racial strife was fanned, and when combined with violent labour strikes kept the working class fighting each other instead of the industrialists. Governments were happy to provide subsidies for their new friends in the rail industries, in mining and oil extraction, for lumber barons, manufacturing interests, and to actively discredit unions and provide the muscle to repress the threat they represented, cheerfully shooting those who interfered with profit.

Henry Clay Frick was a ruthless businessman violently opposed to unions. In the 1800's worker's rights didn't exist. No medical, no pensions, long hard hours in extremely dangerous and brutal conditions, 6-day work weeks. Frick and Carnegie became partners in several interests, and in less than two years Frick doubled Carnegie's wealth. To celebrate being Masters of tre Universe, Frick builds a social club, the South Fork Hunting and Fishing Club, and Camegie and the cream of America's wealthiest capitalists partnered in. The Club was located upstream from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, alongside the South Fork dam. Finding the roadway across the top of the dam too narrow for his fancy carriage, Frickin the absence of any engineering studies - decides to lower the dam wall and increase the reservoir capacity of the old earthen dam. Disaster strikes May 31, 1889: during a period 6fheavy rain the overstressed dam collapses, a roaring wall of water heads downstream to engulf Johristown, and over 2200 people lose their lives, sorrie of them horribly. The I floodwaters inundated a barbed wire factory and the wire snarled up against the town bridge, trapping hundreds. Then it caught fire.

In the ensuing claims for damages and liability all the rich bastards at the South Fork H & F managed to weasel out of any culpability, and somehow the survivors just couldn't get any lawsuits to stick. In 2016 a new engineering report stated that the South Fork H & F was entirely at fault. The original engi-

neering report had cleared all of any wrongdoing, the very expensive lawyers took strategic action against the lawsuits and claims, more politicians were paid off. The only positive thing arising out of the tragedy was the public outrage, a groundswell mighty enough to force changes to American civil law, lending stronger support to victims of corporate and individual malfeasance. Not that anyone has won any major lawsuits lately.

Camegie was a disciple of Herbert Spencer; Margaret Thatcher was also a fan. As the poster boy for Social Darwinism, Spencer advocated against social programs, rationalizing that 'left alone the poor will eventually die off.' Problem solved. Spencer was loved by ultra-conservatives in his day and is quoted relentlessly by neo conservatives today. Him and Trump could have gone for beers. Camegie's supporters claim he later distanced himself from Spencer, and he came out in favour of unions, at least publicly, yet he gave Frick carte blanch to deal with his striking steelworkers at Homestead; it was only afterwards the two had their falling out. It reeks of damage control, of distancing yourself from the resultant bad press associated with shooting your . workforce.

Homestead, Pennsylvania was the site of a Carnegie Steel Company plant where in 1892 employees went on strike in protest against a 22 per cent wage cut.

Frick locked them out & advertised for strike breakers as far away as Europe, and the ensuing struggle was the bloodiest, most brutal example of the repression of worker's rights in US history. Frick hired 300 rent-a-goons (the Pinkertons), a private security force that protected the assets of the wealthy. He also asked for the National Guard, regular US Army troops and more politicians, and got them. Gunfire was exchanged on both sides, but even the families who had come to support their breadwinners were targets. Sixteen people died, over 60 were wounded.

The lockout continued for almost 6 months, finally forcing desperate workers to accept reduced wages; within a decade the Amalgamated Union was defeated, wages had fallen 25 percent - in the face of ever increasing profit - and the work day had risen from 8 to 12 hours.

Camegie is admired because he left 90 per cent of his fortune to charitable and non-profit concerns, founded Carnegie-Mellon university, and built Carnegie Libraries in any city willing to maintain them.

Artist unknown. Photo by Debra McNaught

Returning to his goal of "curing" the plight of the working class, it seems clear he lost his way chasing wealth. As for the philanthropy, what I see is a man terrified of how he will be judged in the afterlife and, spurred by absolute panic, gets religion and attempts to grease the skids by trying to atone for a lifetime of greed, giving his money away as his life winds down and he suddenly discovers he is terrified of going to hell.

So think about the nasty old bastard next time you look at the Camegie from the street. Feel free to spit. ps: Yes I'm back.

Memor-ial Housing Duct tape rubber boots Nest for human consumption Makeshift furniture Slight drift housing Not so swift society Third world temperate climate When its hot-it's hot When its cold-it's cold The heater is broke and so's The air conditioning .

Jenny Kwan, MP Vancouver East Immigration, Refugee Citizenship Critic 2572 E Hastings 5t Vancouver,

BC V5K IZ3

T: 604-775-5800 F: 604-775-5811 Jenny.Kwan@parl.gc.ca

NDP and

CANNOT TRUST THAT TECHNOLOGY

POISON This happened years ago. I was living in Edmonton, going to high school. These people, a man & his wife, invited me for dinner, so I accepted. It was a very good dinner. When it was over I went to the bedroom to brush my hair. There was a bottle there. r read the label and it said Arsenic, It's a white powder. They put arsenic in my food. I didn't report them to the police but I never went back there again. I survived.

Be sure to always check people out before accepting invitations, even for a. coffee or drink.

Marlene Wuttunee,

Technology won't get me a date or a wife "'Won't save my soul o!~)ife Won't fill my bank account Won't fill my tummy Won't silence Trump, that rich dummy Won't inspire me to create Won't inspire me to procreate Won't make me late Won't make me smile Or run a jogger's mile Won't get me a gold medal!

But ifl put technology on my back burner, it WILL Give me the precious time to date charm and play With that unique lady I deem so divine.

John alan douglas

Vote?

People go door-to-door; set up information tables at different events, talk to others on the street, in coffee shops, at meetings, and say how good a particular person would be if elected. And a response from a number of people is "I don't vote." (or) "I don't believe in voting." That seems kind of weird, especially when the same person is quite ready to complain about all kinds of things that elected people have influence on.

Granted that cynicism is a healthy way to respond to outlandish claims of those promising miracles, but it's a lazy way to think when every attempt to do anything positive or even different is put down. We live in a democracy, which those, under repressive or malign military dictatorships yearn for - where you have a chance to say what you think without fear of Jailor death. Maybe think of having the right to vote as a responsibility to yourself. But what are the alternative ways of changing things for the better?

Electing someone you trust, agree with, believe will do whatever they can to make things important to you a priority - is this just too idealistic to pass the smell test? The political system in place in Vancouver isn't perfect gr even ideal, but this is what we have to work with. Not having anything is supposedly anarchy, but that is a practical matter of brute force making it up as it goes along. Not very desirable if you aren't the one wielding the club.

Every so often someone comes along who can be voted for, not as a compromise or as the lesser of evils but someone who has shown by their life's work that human cardinal principles mean much more than making deals for selfish reasons.

The upcoming Vancouver City byelection is a case in point. People in this community are affected every day by political rules & regulations set up by elected officials. If you want or see the need to make changes in such things then voting for someone you can believe in is the first step. I urge everyone reading this to vote in the upcoming civic election - to make sure your name is on the Voters List and to exercise your franchise. Nothing changes by itself. If you don't vote (or just self-righteously refuse to) you give up your right to complain. Check out the candidates. But don't refuse to do anything. When evil wins it's because good people do nothing.

By PAULR TAYLOR

WCMHNS-AGM The Annual General Meeting of the West Coast Mental Health Network Society will be held on Sunday, October 1 at the Central Branch ofYancouver Public Library. The meeting will be in the Alma YanDusen room (lower level). Doors open at noon, and the meeting will start at Ipm. Please let me know if you are interested in standing for a position on the Board of Directors. You are welcome to contact me in advance of the AGM if you have questions about the role of Board members Richard Ingram Secretary, Board of Directors, West Coast Mental Health Network Society. *88 E Cordova St Vancouver BC V6A 1K3* a week had passed since the beginning of my lamenting.

I shut the door and went inside. my long face strong proof of my fasting and something new and unseemly born between us new words are not easy I push and pull to make them come up like purple wildflowers in wild grass monkey's in Mumbai can chatter and climb the turrets at the temple I know Godis there too look at my poverty I know nothing of great verse I stumble about like a drunkard in the shadows domesticated by Prozac In a chemical straight jacket my utterings of magical charms shout praises in the street see the madwoman made vile, made still she contorts on the bathroom floor the loonies gather around and poke their fingers into her side she is an object, something frightful the distance between us is nothing I am worse than her because I have no future resigned to mopping up bile and washing dishes, , If I am to live a life of peaceful tranquility it will have to quiet these visions RubyDiamond

Carnegie~ NEW S L

E TT

ER

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

cRrnncwS@vcn.bc."

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

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

WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter

..

•

• • • • •

I.SlAP (Law Students

Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry.

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

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

Black & White printing only.

Size restrictions apply (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: Camegie Volunteer Tickets

Legal Advice program) DROP-IN Call 604-665·2220 for time

COMPUTER ADVICE Vancouver Community Network Cost- effective computer & IT support for non-profits VCN Tech Team http://techteam.vcn.bc.ca Call 778·724-0826 ext2. 705-333 Terminal Ave, Van

Please make submissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.

The editor can edit for clarity, format & brevity, but not at the expense of the writer's message.

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION • AIDS • POVERTY • • , HOMELESSNESS • VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN • ABORIGINAL GENOCIDE • TOTALITARIAN CAPITALISM • IGNORANCE and SUSTAINED FEAR

Website carnegienewsletter.org Catalogue carnnews@vcn.bc.ca entail carnnews@shaw.ca 604-665-2289

ph one

401 Main Street, Vancouver

V6A 2T7

Next issue: SUBMISSION DEADLINE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER

28TH

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DONATIONS 2017 In memory of Bud Osbom: Kelly F.-$100 In memory of Debbie Blair. Teresa V.-$50 Uoyd & Sandra 0.-$200 Maxine B.-$25 In memory of Gram -$10 A nonnymouse In memory of David Wong (busser extraordinaire) In memory of Frederik Lewis Laila B.-$60 Elsie McG.-$100 Elaine V.-$100 Craig H.-$500 / Christopher R.-$250 Leslie S100 Sid CT -$50 Michele C.-$100 Glenn B.-.$250 Laila B.-$100 Hum 101 -$200 Barb & Mel L.-$40 Ellen W.-$100 Vancouver Moving Theatre -$500 Michael C.-$10Q Farm Dispensary -$15Q Robert McG.-$165 Geoff W & Ollvia N -$150 Muriel 2hugs -$50 Anonymous -$275

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