April 1, 2002, carnegie newsletter by Carnegie Newsletter

"DEMOCRACY 1,sA JOKE.

An Angry Old Man Hates Democracy Jean Swanson and I went to Victoria on February 23/02 {thanks to busses supplied by the BC Federation of Labour), to attend the huge rally to protest Gordon Campbell's vicious cuts to social programs, labour standards, environmental laws, and government services. About 25,000 citizens were there. It was an inspiring and peaceful rally - one more step in the long fight to stop the big business fanatics who want to serve up B.C. citizens and resources on a platter to international corporate and investment powers. During the rally Jean and I went for a walk on the streets close to the Parliament Buildings to stretch our legs. We saw a man in his seventies walking towards us. He had a slight limp, and he used a cane to steady himself. He had a round, flushed fBce and a handlebar mustache. He wore a jaunty brown fedora and an expensive, brown camel hair coat. He was obviously very angry, and smoke appeared to be hissing out of his ears. His eyes flashed like a prairie thunderstorm. "Thousands of socialists are ruining the lawn," he snarled. (the lawn in fiont ofthe Parliament Buildings) "And a handful of capitalists are ruining the province," Jean replied, as fast as an Ali left jab. "Canada is a capitalist country," he said. "You only get what you work for." "Canada is supposed to be a democracy," I said.

"Democracy is a joke," the old man said, and he walked on, muttering to himself. Why did he call democracy a joke, I wondered? What did he mean when he said that Canada was a capihdjst country? Capitalism is about accumulation. It is about buying cheap and selling dear. It is about maximum profit. The old man holds the value of making money above all other values, and he thinks Canada, also, should hold the value of making money above all other values. That's why he called Canada a capitalist country. Democracy, on the other hand, is about equality, citizen participation and human rights. Democracy and capitalism have never gotten along. They hold different visions about what it means to be a human being, and how a human being should live. The old capitalist who called democracy a joke reminded me of Scrooge in Charles Dickens' story called A Christmas Carol. Scrooge said, "Humbug" when his nephew wished him a Merry Christmas. What did Scrooge mean by that? He meant that the value of making money was the only legitimate value, and the values of Christianity, and the other great religions of the world, were just so much "Humbug". Michael Walker of the Fraser Institute wrote an article in the Toronto Star (Dec. 24/92) entitled "Dickens was wrong; miserly Scrooge was a hero." In it Walker took the same position as the old capitalist we met on the streets of Victoria. Making money is the only legitimate value. Scrooge is a hero according to Michael Walker of the Fraser Institute, and this neoliberal propaganda tank is a major influence on the corporate elite that controls the B.C. provincial Liberal Party. The narrow, self-centred, acquisitive values of unrestrained corporate capitalism lead to a world where, "Humanity must perforce prey on itself, Like monsters of the deep." (King Lear, by Shakespeare, Act 4, Scene 2) We have some very dangerous, violent people in charge of our province right now. They have a monetary vision of the world that is quite different fiom the democratic vision of most ordinary Canadians. By SANDY CAMERON

The poor are paying the price for the Campbell agenda

3 may have an impact on eligibility for assistance. * Work transition or support benefits will be discontinued. * People ages 60 to 64 will now be expected to seek work * Anyone convicted of welfare fraud will be banned for life from receiving welfare.

3 ,

&----

I \ ) KLI~LICt bL,pcKA\ \ [ p<p-th<,tT\ \ \ L \,\I

L , ~ , \

1'.

1 \ 1

\', RI 1~

Effective May 1: * Assistance for people ages 55 to 64 will decrease to $1 85 a month (used to be $23 1.92 for ages 55-59; $282 for ages 60-64). * Single parents will lose their $1 00 tamily maintenance exemption.

IA,)\C

r1AF

\ 1\

\I\\ 1

I ,\

The Liberals are attacking the most needy and vulnerable British Columbians. Here's how: Effective April 1 : * Single parents are classed as employable when their youngest child turns 3 (formerly 7). This affects 4,500 parents and 15,000 children. The Campbell government has cut funding for child care so working mothers can't find child care. * Three week waiting period to apply for weltare. Applicants will now be called "enquirers" and given a "job search package" and an appointment in three weeks but no money. * People will only receive assistance for two out of every five years. * Legislation is pending which will require youth to live independently for two years before they are eligible for assistance. This will hurt youth fleeing abusive hmily situations who need immediate assistance. * Asset levels will be decreased which means fewer people will be eligible for assistance. * Security deposits will be clawed back- a minimum of $20 a month. If a second deposit is requested (and the first one is still outstanding), another $20 will be clawed back. * Crisis grants for food will be capped at $20/month. Crisis grants for clothing, hydro and furniture will be capped. * Liens will be placed on homes if a crisis grant for home repairs exceeds $1,000. * The Debtor Assistance 1'1 ogram is eliminated. * Owning an automobile worth more than $5,000

* All earning exemptions (other than for disability clients) will be eliminated. People used to be allowed to keep up to $200 a month. * Assistance to single parents will be cut by an average of $70. This will impact approximately 60,000 poor children. * New cap on the amount for shelter for two dependents. Staggering funding cuts will hurt front-line workers The government is closing 36 offices, laying off hundreds of experienced front-line workers and increasing the work loads of others. The government is proposing to replace workers with "kiosks" which will dehumanize services to the needy. Speak out. Organize. Fight back Tell the Premier what you think of his attack on the poor. phone (250) 387-1715; fax: (250) 387-0087; email: gordon.campbell.mla@leg.bc.ca write: c/o Legislative Buildings, Victoria, BC

yu fool the how far in darkness is there, denied attributed to daughters to widows to mothers the segment of a poem that can only be inner city ruin, night sky dusky magenta radium loon

"When I feed the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor are hungry, they call me a communist." -- Dom Helder Camara, Archbishop of Recife, Brazil

Throughout the f%llof 200 1 and the early months of 2002, British Columbians have been presented with piecemeal information about the provincial government's plans to rewrite the welfiire program: - November 2001 - The Minister of Human Resources, Murray Coel I, presented cabinet with his ministry's "Core Services Review." - January 17,2002 - The Ministry of Human Resources released its "Service Summary Plan 2002103 - 2004105." Budget day, February 19,2002 - We have been promised a more detailed report on the changes to the welfare program. We have been told that government will introduce a bill in the spring session of the Legislature repealing the BC Benefits Acts and enacting the BC Employment and Assistance Act; regulations containing the details of benefits and eligibility rules will follow in the early months of the fiscal year 2002103. The Service Summary Plan released January 17 shows that the bottom line is the reduction of the weltare budget by 30 percent over the next three fiscal years. Minister Coell's oft-repeated core message is that he will legislate a shift from a "culture of entitlement to a culture of employment." The implication is that the welfare program in BC has allowed people to lounge about on income assistance and that this government's changes will give people a needed push to go find a job. The reality is that the number of individuals on welfare has been steadily declining since the BC Benefits program was introduced in December 1995. BC's welfare caseload declined 32.6 percent between December 1995 and August 200 1, when there were 120,700 fewer people on BC Benefits. The program contains strict rules requiring applicants and recipients to look for work, any work, and penalizes people who refbse to take a job, fail to attend training sessions, quit a job without just cause, or get fired from a job. Getting onto welfiire involves a vigorous eligibility screening process and, as it currently stands, many people fall through the

cracks. If there ever was a "culture of entitlement," it ended a long time ago. Given that we already have a lean and mean welfare program in this province, how will the government accomplish its goal of a 30 percent reduction in the welfare budget, and what will be the impact? Looking at the changes announced to date, there appear to be three ways: PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTR\IG ON TO THE WELFARE SYSTEM IN THE FIRST PLACE Before being able to apply for welfare, people will have to participate in an employment orientation and a three-week self-directed job search. - Applicants aged 19 and over will have to be indep endent for two years after leaving their parents' homes to be eligible for assistance. - There will be no assistance at all, not even hardship assistance (referrals to a shelter and food vouchers) for certain categories of individuals, such as refugee claimants or people deemed to have voluntarily quit a job without just cause. Individuals convicted of welfare fiaud will face a lifetime ban fiom receiving assistance. Provincial welfare is Canada's social safety net of last resort. The proposed changes will exclude thousands of people fiom the program, notwithstanding

abject poverty. For the individuals and families directly affected, this may mean homelessness, malnutrition, health prbblems, and death. Under the current system, it takes several days, if not weeks, to get through the application orientation and verification of eligibility processes. The addition of three weeks before someone can apply for assistance will cause extreme hardship. The two-year ineligibility period for youth will force many youth to live underground and push young women especially into prostitution, increased criminalization, and health problems. The death of Kimberly Rogers, August 9,2001 should not be forgotten. Ms. Rogers was cut off income assistance in Ontario following a conviction for welfare fraud for not disclosing receipt of student loans. Ms. Rogers had started a court case challenging the Ontario welfare regulation as being contrary to sections 7, 12, and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and outside the legal power of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council of Ontario. On May 25,2001, Madame Justice Epstein of the S u p erior Court of Justice of Ontario granted Ms. Rogers interim relief, reinstating her Ontario Works benefits pending the outcome of the constitutional challenge. Judge Epstein stated in her decision: "Ms. Rogers has no reliable alternative source of income. She is at the brink of being homeless. She is at this moment unable to feed herself adequately. The medical evidence and the record is clear that as I pregnant woman in her last trimester of her preg-

nancy the Applicant is exposed to serious and 5 perhaps permanent health problems, unless, at the very least, she has access to proper nutrition if not shelter. The irreparable harm is clear and obvious." Even when her benefits were reinstated, the money was absurdly tight. As a single person, she was entitled to receive $520 a month from Ontario Works. However, because of her debt to the ministry, that was clawed down to $468 a month. Her rent, when she paid it in full, ate up $450 of that. From May until her death on August 9,2001, Ms. Rogers would have had to survive on $18 a month while being confined to her apartment as a result of the fraud conviction. Ms. Roger's lawyer, Sean Dewert, noted that his client would have been better off if she had committed a violent crime and been sent to prison. In The Globe and Mail, he stated: "If sentenced to jail she would have had the necessities of life, she would have access to medications. If something had happened to her, it wouldn't have been two days before her body was found." (The Globe and Mail, August 18,2001) When asked about how such a tragedy could happen, Howard Duff, the director of the Sudbury office of Ontario Works, said that the changes that the Harris government made to the welfare system in 1997 created an atmosphere in which more people simply slipped through the cracks. "The focus is now on employment," he said. "We're not really into the social-service side anymore." Amanda Chodura {Elizabeth Fry Society) stated: "This tragic case is a symptom of a government putting policies into practice without doing any research. What transpired was she and her child were placed in a dangerous situation. This should never have happened. Two lives are over." Welfare advocates in BC are seeing the Campbell government putting similar policies into practice without consultation. Those who work on the front lines know all too well how easily the proposed changes could lead to another tragedy like the one that happened to Kimberly Rogers in Ontario. GE'TTING PEOPLE WHO ARE ON WELFARE, OFF WELFARE All welfare recipients will be required to sign e m p loyment and assistance agreements, outlining the

actions they will take to obtain employment. Noncompliance with the terms of the employment plan will result in reductions to the income assistance rate All welfare recipients will be assessed as to whether they are expected to work or not. - Persons in the "expected to work" category are only eligible for a maximum of 24 months of income assistance out of every five-year period. Given the context within which these changes are being made - that is, a bottom-line goal of reducing the budget of the ministry by 30 percent - advocates are concerned that the employment plan will not be used as a tool to genuinely provide people with the support, counselling, life skills development, and training that they need to maximize their potential, but rather will be wielded as a tool to reduce and terminate people's benefits. Requiring single parents to find employment once their child is three, a reduction from the current age of seven. Advocates are concerned that this significant change is occurring without daycare or other supports in place, and note that this change is contrary to research that shows that high quality care during a child's early development years is crucial to his or her future health,education, avoidance of criminality, and standard of living. Investing in childhood care is a sound economic investment for all of society.

REDUCING THE WELFARE RATES Shelter rates will be reduced for families with two or more children, with payments based on the lower unit rates. The support rate for employable single parents and employable individuals 55 - 59 and 60 64 will be reduced to match that ofemployable individuals aged 19-54: reductions of 18.4 to 34.6% The Social Planning and Research Council of BC has reported that welfare benefits only cover 45 - 65 percent of the cost of daily living. The proposed rate reductions will cause extreme hardship. Almost all people on income assistance, other then those fortunate enough to be in subsidzed housing, have to spend part of their support money to cover the rent. People are left with an inadequate amount for food and other necessities. The proposed reductions will cause people to lose their housing; fitce evictions for non-payment of rent; lose their possessions because they will not be able to pay storage fees while they are homeless; risk malnutrition and illness; and be forced further down into poverty and desperation, and hrther fiom financial independence. The impact of the proposed changes to welfare, combined with the elimination of poverty law advocacy by legal aid, will erode social and economic stability in the province. Even from the point of view of a purely market economy ideology, this cannot be good for the economy.

(Thanks to Povnet (www.povnet.org)) Dear Adrienne Tanner It seems that the Liberal government has really shown whom they are backing. It's not welfare people, single parents and kids along with teenagers addicted to alcohol and drugs. I normally don't read the paper, because it rarely has GOOD news. During my breakfast I was getting angry when I read today's paper - "Drug Treatment Centre For Teens Set To Close." Why must our kids suffer - Campbell, is making sure rich prospers from his government they are getting $50 from the poor and the kids get kicked out ofthe treatment centre at the end of the month. DOES anyone care, cause 1 do. M.O.D.E.

imperfection My Grandma calls me fat My dad says 'be a stick' How can I do that? No eat throw up make myself sick the things they say, I feel so small I sit and wonder if I matter at all My friends are perfect it isn't fair I'm not attractive, I don't compare they say "you're pretty'' in a hollow tone I cry at night when I hang up the phone I look in the mirror; the reflection hides all the pain I feel inside A little chubby I may be but for heaven's sake that's just me If you want to help just go away for all you know I want to stay this way

don't be ckzzled by the sun what's happening now is death the disaffection is enormous nothing is celebrated stand on the edge insist on annihilation oppose individuality hold your breath in this world nothing lasts a realistic nightmare accomplished through seduction charles fortin it's the only way life is boring negate your personality become an automaton the true blankness subvert the establishment begin the end put yourself on the line in an original moment of inspiration assume a strange shape now is the time know that you exist

J. Sarson [*The Newslelter has obtained a copy of a letter to Marg Green as President of the Woodward's Co-op Committee. It's slightly edited for length, but the salient points are NO co-op housing in Woodwards. and any future consideration for affordable housing depends entirely on the government choosing to provide funding. They just axed 1000 units promised under the NDP government.] Dear Margaret Green: [Read: Residents of the Downtown Eastside]

I am writing to inform you that BC Housing has completed its' budget process as well as its review of the HOMES BC program. Based on the outcome of these initiatives, the province will not proceed with the current proposal for the Woodward's building and the associated co-op housing units. However, time often presents us with new and positive opportunities. We will therefore continue to explore alternative options that would allow for the building's redevelopment in the future. I understand the disappointment and fiustration this decision brings and commend the dedication and leadership that the Woodward's Housing Co-operative has provided to the redevelopment of Woodward's and the unwaver ing desire to provide affordable housing in the Downtown Eastside. The provincial government recognizes that the Woodward's building plays a key role in the future social and economic health of the Downtown Eastside and is committed to finding a workable solution to the redevelopment of the site. As such, BC Housing will continue to work with the community, the City of Vancouver and other partners to actively pursue additional equity partnership contributions. The future renewal of Woodward's will only be possible with a strong public-private partnership. Should such a partnership prove to be viable, an affordable housing component will figure prominently. However, please be aware that any future housing component would require a renewed commitment fiom government for the funding of the housing units. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (604) 439-4712. Yours truly, Shayne Ramsay Chief Executive Officer, BC Housing

pc: Cameron Gray, City of Vancouver;

Craig Crawford, Director of Development Services, BC Housing

Open Letter to: Honourable George Abbott, Minister of Community, Aboriginal, and Women's Services, Honourable Lynn Stephens, Minister of State for Women's Equality, Ilonourable Geoff Plant, Attorney General, and Honourable Rich Coleman, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Dear Ministers Abbott, Plant, Coleman, and Minister of State Stephens, I am writing to express my deep concern about a series of recently announced public spending cuts that will drastically increase the risk of harm to and reduce the safety of women who are victims of violence in relationships. On February 14, St. Valentines Day, many women's groups and community members came together in a march to honour the memory of the many, many women ki!led by acts of violence in BC. At this time, 50 women from the Downtown Eastside remain missing. Statistically, 59% of BC women over the age of 16 have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence (the highest rate among all provinces in Canada). Now is the time to reflect on how government policies can affect the level of violence against women in our communities. The elimination of core funding for women's centres by 2004 will negatively affect many women in British Columbia. Women's centres play a crucial role in assuring access to services for women in BC. Women use centres to access services such as counseling and support, training and upgrading, and legal advocacy. Many women particularly marginalized, impoverished, and elderly women, rely on women's centres as their daily safe haven fiom the mean streets. I urge you to consider the key role that women's centres play in the continuum of services that respond to violence against women in our communities.

I would also like to draw your attention to cuts to Violence in Relationship Programs. As recently announced, contract therapists who provide abusive men's treatment programs will see their services cut by a minimum of 50 per cent. These cuts will severely increase the risk of exposure to violence that women in BC face. These cuts are not occurring in a vacuum, but coincide with other changes that call into question the safety of women in BC. Recently announced cuts to social assistance coupled with the general economic downturn, are factors that will make it harder than ever for women to leave and avoid abusive relationships. Under the new Social Assistance rules, employable single parents receiving social assistance will be expected to tind work when their youngest child turns three. Since the vast majority of single parents in BC are women, these cuts can be expected to have a detrimental effect on poor women and their children. Similarly, the requirement that youth be independent for two full years before qualifying for social assistance is sure to push still more under-aged girls into the violence and abuse of life on the street. Further, recent 38.8% cuts to legal aid funding will lead to a direct decrease in access to justice for poor women. These cuts will substantially reduce the funding available for legal aid family law such as in cases ofcontested custody and supervised access orders where violence is a factor. They will also reduce funding for poverty law, meaning that women who are unable to afford legal representation in a variety of criminal and civil matters will be denied access to justice. Taken together, these cuts to legal aid and social assistance will mean that many disadvantaged women will be more likely to stay in abusive relationships rather than risk facing, unaided, the economic and legal costs of leaving them. Ministers Abbott and Plant, while I applaud your decisions to continue to fund, respectively, transition houses and domestic violence retraining orders, I fear that as these cuts take effect, the need for these programs will only increase.

The view points expressed in this letter do not come from me alone, but from the growing numbers of British Columbians who have contacted my constituency office with grave concerns about the effect of many ofyour government's decision on women's freedom from violence. Therefore, on behalf of my constituents and the concerned citizens of BC, I urge your government to be concerned about the safety of women, and to immediately restore finding for social assistance for all mothers, for legal aid, and for programs aimed at preventing violence against women. Sincerely, Jenny Wai Ching Kwan, MLA Vancouver-Mt. Pleasant

STATEMENT ON MrSSrNG WOMEN As the RCMP and Vancouver Police continue their search and investigation at the Port Coquitlam property in connection with the women who are missing from the Downtown Eastside, I want to express my support and sympathy for the families and friends who continue to wait anxiously for information that we all hope will tell them what happened to their loved ones. Having been approached by family members and friends over the past few years, I have heard their strong sense of frustration and despair about the lack of progress being made. I have met twice with representatives of the task force to be briefed on the case. The tragedy of this situation is far reaching. For each individual woman and her circumstances, there is a sense of loss and grief, from within the Downtown Eastside and from many other people who are horrified at the enormity of what has taken place. It raises many questions about our society and why these women are so at risk and vulnerable to violence, exploitation and death. There are serious questions about the police investigations and why it took so long for a special task force to be put together. I cannot help but wonder how many of these women would not be on the missing list if their disappearances had been treated as an urgent priority earlier on. It is critically important to recognize that there are many women in the Downtown Eastside who are daily still at risk, due to neglect, stigmatization and the failure of governments to act.

I am calling on the Mayor (as Chair of the Vancouver Police Board) to conduct an inquiry into police investigations of the missing women to determine what happened. I am also calling on the federal Minister of Justice to begin an immediate review of federal laws pertaining to soliciting that puts many of these women at risk on the street. It is vital to improve safety in the community. As well, Premier Campbell must immediately reverse his devastating cuts to programs and services that force these women into deeper poverty and despair. Resources are required to improve the health and well-being of women and sex trade workers in the Downtown Eastside. Libby Davies, MP Vancouver East

MUNICIPAL RESPONSES TO ZERO TOLERAlQCE

Date Action Simcoe County - Social and Children's Services Cttee]

25 April 2I00

County Council

Thunder Bay - District Social Services Administration Board

London - City Council

Regional Municipality of Sudbury Health & Social Services Cttee

Regional Municipality of Waterloo

City of North Bay

**North Bay & Disctrict Health

:ity

Recommendation to endorse Waterloo Resolution opposing lifetime ban. Petition not to proceed Letter fiom Clerk to Harris dated April 27: endorses the Resolution of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo

24 February 200 1

2 pol icy. 3ran permanent ban "unnecessarily harsh and disproportionate to other more serious crimes" Did this also go to council or re-gion 15 May 2001 request to Baird to rescind regulation. "review all possible options to mitigate" "London City Council deems this % regulation to be cruel and unusual of citizens of this province" ! 17 October 2000 "resolved that a letter be sent to the Hon John Baird ...requesting that the Zero Tolerance legislation be amended so that the penalty for welfare fraud would better reflect the severity of the crime City Did this go to council? Mun 9 February 2000 petition to Government of Ontario not to proceed with implementation of lifetime ban; resolved that resolution be forwarded to all - OW delivery agents 24 January 2000 unfair treatment of citizens of this province" 10 April 2000 2 Regic children affected by welfare fraud policy" Com~ increased risk to children and families Heal1 refers to letter from Medical Oficer of Healt

:ity of Toronto - City Council

I 1 April 2000

Brant County Council

4 July 2000

City of Ottawa [Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton]

24 May 2000

Region of Hamilton-Wentworth Community Services and Public Health Committee

8 February 2000

yet copy of letter? Possible witness? Request "to include appeal process in legislation" City Solicitor requested to submit report on what legal action the City could take with respect to the ban, "having regard that it legislates into the Criminal Code area" Advise province that ban should not be implemented "in that such an action would cause untold suffering on people with severe mental and physical disabilities, and drug benefits coverage would be denied for people with terminal illnesses (such as AIDS)" whereas "OW recipients convicted of fraud have already shown a propensity of making wrong life decision and in many cases are subject to substance addictions and/or mental health problems"; will increase costs to municipal governments through increased crime, break-up of families policy was developed and implemented without municipal consultation or support Resolved that Minister of Comm & Soc Ser be requested to reconsider this matter and work with the municipal partners to develop more appropriate deterrents and solutions to welfare fra"d Resolved "That the Region of OttawaCarleton support the City of North Bay and Region of Waterloo Council resolutions regarding the lifetime ban for social assistance fraud, and notify the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, all Ottawa-Carleton M.P.P.'s and all three political party leaders and request that the policy for Zero Tolerance for social Assistance Fraud be withdrawn." Staff directed to prepare report with "creative ideas on how to best address the Zero Tolerance policy", costs associated with fraud convictions; regional costs to continue support to banned individuals; options for appeal procedure.

Isn't It Ironic That the hallshest condemners of sexual liccmce are transgressors.. That the loucjest proponents of peace are warriors. Thr. nhc ,,, -,,n o t ,,stinate opponents of progress are the advantaged.. The most histrionic deniers of drugs are the addictive, To put this irony in context Bluenose excoriation of perfidious lechery transforms into loving beauty of two favourite sons of the 20" century sons of hookers - Chaplin and Amstrong

The Referendum This is a serious issue. The Liberal schtick is to make it as officious as possible, while the actual questions can be taken any way they want. A message on Povnet says that First Nations are taking a stand to ignore the thing, to not vote or participate and to even hold burning parties for ballots. I have no idea if this is a general consensus or one response to people asking 'What can we do to support Native rights?' Call United Native Nations at 688-1821. Training in the 3rd Floor Computer Lab

Old Heroes Never Die Q.e e sda 6om m o 6 m n2uK$?'?asseYs run ZX'm !pm?o 3pm; one-on-one training is fiom 3pm to 6pm April's Scheduled Classes: April 3 - Downloading Free Software (Internet) April 10, 17,24 -- Make yer own pamphlet. Topics include: * Special features in Word 2000, including colours, columns, borders, fancy fonts, etc. 1 * Grabbing graphics off of the 'net. I * Designing and creating an information pamphlet for your group or special project. Training by Dave Olsen on behalf of the Vancouver Community Net.

There's history in down town east side. Back in '33. at the orange hall at Gore and Hasting, we cheered on our hero-'baby face" Jimmy McLarnin. world welterweight boxing champion of the world training under the eye of his fiimous manager Pop Foster. But do you think we can forget the time Jimmy jogged over to our boys club in the shabby mission across the street, shook our hands, gave us a pep talk, told us we had the guts to punch our way to the top but always remember that Big Champ in the sky!' ..do you forget words like that? never in a lifetime Sam Roddan

To: Liberal Government of BC The cuts that the Liberals are planning will have a harsh impact on women in BC. Women will lose "good jobs" in the health and services sectors; will be forced to take jobs with less pay and without union security; and will shoulder an increased

burden of unpaid care giving to fill the gaps caused by cuts in public programmes. The hardest hit of all of us will be women currently on welfare - and women who will need welfare at some time in the future. The Government will: . cut welfare rates for single mothers by 18% require single mothers to return to work when their youngest child is three (instead of 7) - eliminate the Family Maintenance exemption which allows those receiving child support payments to keep $100 a month eliminate the Earnings Exemption, which allows single welfare recipients to keep $1 00 a month of earnings, and those with a child or partner to keep $200 a month. In combination, these cuts mean that some single mothers could lose as much as $370 per month fiom the support portion of their allowance. Unfortunately, there is much more. Time limits will be imposed on eligibility for welfare - some women will be flatly denied, regardless of need. Some women will lose their disability benefits because this category will be reduced. Rehgee claimants, many of whom are women, will be refused assistance. This plan will cause extreme psychological stress, and increased homelessness and malnutrition for the

poorest British Columbians. For women, it will also result in increased exposure to violence and sexual coercion, and an increased pressure on women to make money through prostitution When women, in times of need, cannot receive welfare in an amount adequate to feed, clothe and house themselves and their children, they are likely to accept unwanted sexual relationships with men, and they are less able to escape domestic violence. Their liberty, their sexual autonomy and their physical safety is at risk. Adequate welfare is an equality issue for all women Women are the majority of the poor in B.C. and they are the majority of welfare recipients. Women are more likely to need welfare at some time in their lives because many raise children alone, and most still have lower paid and more precarious employment than men. Over 90% of women are sexually harassed at the work place, with such high statistics it is necessary to have welfare to protect women. Many women are only one marriage breakdown, or one non-standard job away fiom needing welfare. Many women leaving violent men must have access to welfare in order to be able to escape. Adequate welhre is an equality issue for women. W WW stands for: increases, not cuts, to welfare rates access to welfare on the basis of need; - no 6 dollar training wage full legal aid services for family law, poverty law, and human rights complaints no cuts to hnding for women's centres. 1 support what WWW stands for and call on you, the Liberal government of BC to support women needing welfare now. Sincerely,

I'm lost in a perpetual empty hole that 1 slowly fill with self-pity remorse and reret tread water and never move forward 'cause god knows I can't go back I can never go back -little loewen

TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE TERRORIST ATTACK ON WOMEN In the tried and true tradition of the Carnegie Newsletter, which is that we'll print whatever we can get our hands on, I came across an open letter from Clarissa Pinkola Estes on the Web, titled "HEALING FROM TERRORISM SICKNESS". What she's writing about is a "rolling anxiety and/or feeling profoundly emptied out, lingering sorrowful feelings, and/or having rolling anger." I see such a parallel between how Americans are reacting to the Sept. 1 1,200 1 bombing, and the amount of traumatization we all, women and men, have experienced with the unearthing of the Pickton Pig Farm and the ensuing murder charges. I'm just going to reprint what she says; you'll see what I mean. "Firstly, all of these are normal reactions to the current events. So do not think you are losing the one brain cell you have left. And do not think you are losing your nerve. You are not. And do not think because you feel tearful that you are some wibbley-wabbly weakling. You are not a weakling. You are an invincible soul who is recovering from a huge psychic blow. You could not have protected yourself from all that has occurred, nor seen it coming, nor have been 'better prepared.' You are a strong soul who has been.. .well, let's call it being ambushed psychically. In post-trauma times like those we are in right now, some people describe their feelings as 'not knowing what hit me' or 'feeling empty and just going through the motions of life' or 'feeling despair from time to time without knowing why' or 'feeling limp and tired, feeling frightened.' Here is why. And it is not your fault. To know exactly why we feel so 'emptied-out is to become free of it. There may be fragments in it that come from previous shocks, and difficulties in your life; and these may temporarily take on renewed colour now. The main goal of terrorism is 'intentional trauma' to the living. This 'infection' that terrorists hope to circulate is that of innocent persons becoming afraid of life, afraid of the future; of causing people to put off the

living of life, to move in ways that are far less than their previous free selves, for people to be locked into feeling ill, angry and/or anxious. The effect of living in such a crouch hurts the human spirit and heart. Terrorism is willful psychological assault; a conscious and planned assault against the minds and hearts and spirits of a large group of persons. Terrorists seek to cast their net of 'sickness' over all survivors and victims, over the living - by trying to deprive you of esperanza, fullest and freely felt Hope. By trying to limit your libre, your Freedom, your living life as a completely free person, shoulders proud, head up, mind on goodness, and love for all. There are many time-tested ways to cut through this net ... + Refuse to dwell on what psychically depletes you of hope, contentment and ease. Test your thoughts every day; are my thoughts becoming obsessive and depriving me of any of these God-given rights? + During post-trauma times, sometimes an extremely difficult or disheartening set of thoughts attach themselves to us; they are almost like a gang cruising around looking to harass someone. You

may try to be gentle with these intrusive thoughts, but we find because they are vulgar in and of themselves, that being forceful is better. Say to them 'Be gone!' and 'Out of my way!' or 'F-off and 1 mean it!' or 'Get thee behind me!' My grandmother used to say 'Just because someone presents you with dog poop on a pretty plate doesn't mean you have to eat it.' + Dwell on what strengthens you. Remember, what brings you peace tends to be the same as what strengthens you. + Clean up your kitchen around food especially. Do not assault your own body by making it work extra hard to throw off toxins now. + Think of the greatest beauty and love you know. Discipline your mind to stay with those images; they are medicines for what has hurt you. + Some may tell you it is time to 'move on'. This may be said by some, not because anyone is mallingering, but because the speaker is fatigued and emptied out and cannot bear to hear of any more suffering now. More correctly, the truth is that every moment is time to 'keep moving', the way a potter's hands hold the clay on the wheel and draw it upward. + Insofar as you are able, pick your endeavors carefully. Now is an opportunity to drop various endeavors that deplete you. + Give yourself to humour as often as possible. + Refuse to think you are less able than you were before this great shock. You are not less. You are in soul, actually more shining than you were before. Many of the ego's unneeded layers fall away in the midst of a great wind. What matters most has never shined so brightly as it does right now. + When you cannot think of anything to say to console others, I tell you this absolute truth; during the journey back from a great shock, the only thing that those who are traumatized really and truly remember is kindness. So do not fear that you cannot think of words enough to console others. Your kindness to others will stand stronger and be more healing than any words you could ever compose. + Your work in the world at this time is best stated in the Hebrew phrase, tikkun d a m . This means to every day help repair the world soul, by mending

what you are able to of what is in disrepair within you and near you. To do this to the best of your ability is sacred duty. + Do not cease goodness or pleasures that bring good. One of my deeply held quotes from the Koran is this: 'When you die, God will call upon you to account for all the permitted pleasures you did not enjoy while on earth.' + Continue to implement life dreams. Now has always been the time. + Use your intuition to guide you through these days. It will not fail you. It will take time for this shock we are in now to pass, to be cleansed from our cells outward, from our intrusive thoughts, from our semi-wilted spirits. But the time will come, and even though the healing is gradual, it will be completed. You will see. Be gentle with yourself, you are stronger than you have ever realized. No matter what has occurred in one's life, no matter how great the woundings, no matter how horrified they have been, no matter what they have been subjected to - the great light of the soul can never be extinguished. This is your strength. It has always been your strength. Rely on it now. ''

Submitted by Diane Wood

"It sure would be nice if we could reverse everything today. " "It sure would be nice if we could go back to the good old cluys. " Both of these comments were made by seemingly intelligent people at the massive rally on March 23. Both seem to reflect a kind of wishful thinking that has little connection with reality. "Reversing" -the direction wanted by most people is to cut waste and topheavy spending while improving delivery of services; 'good old days' is a fantasy that never really existed. .. anyone with memory can readily say that things were never that 'good' in the 'old days.' Health Care and a publicatiodcampaign of the Council of Canadians entitled "Profit is Not The &." In case you haven't noticed, the Americans are quite happy to abide by the trade rules set out in NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) unless they don't like them (softwood lumber), and Health Care is a prime example. Once any province sets up a formal two-tier system with private hospitals and those who can pay getting the best of everything, the Americans will be permitted to bring their for-profit system to Canada and Medicare is destroyed. It's not exaggerated or "the sky is hlling" but part of a long-term push by the business end of health care (many doctors, pharmaceutical corporations, insurance, etc.) who fought tooth and nail for years to stop the implementation of a universal public health system in the first place. Find out about this in any way you can. Look for stuff under the name Colleen Fuller, Maude Barlow, HEU (Hospital Employees Union), CUPE and/or the Council of Canadians. Like so much, we don't know what we've got 'ti1 it's gone. Headlines Theatre is co-sponsoring a live theatre production of THlR$TY at the Roundhouse Community Centre from March 22 to April 7. It is a great show! The issue is the pressure and plans of corporate business to privatize - buy & sell - our fiesh water. The scale is not truckload, it's tankers and pipelines. Numbers start at millions of litres a &.The whole event includes guests and speakers from all over the world, people who have struggled with their own governments and multinationals trying to privatize public water supplies and commurlity wells and draining lakes to sell to the highest

3 cheers to the organizers of the protest rallys

bidder. Displays and information tables abound on environmental impacts, community awareness and the documented cases of intimidation, blackmail and murder perpetrated by these same business and political interests to force their way. When people talk of reversing things, it may mean going back to the time when they were unaware of any problems -but the drift to putting common needs under private control.. from health to water to space to education to food to housing to safety to social services to courts to prisons to legal aid and more can be likened to a trickle becoming a creek becoming a stream becoming a river becoming a torrent becoming a waterfhll. Those with only a bottom line and self-interest at heart expect a rainbow over the waterfall, while the vast majority see only a dangerous rapids and piles of smashed rock at the bottom of the same waterfall. The whole point of community is to find solutions that benefit the vast majority, rather than enriching a handful at the expense of almost everyone. The Liberals are convinced that going as hard and as fast as possible in all this will benefit them and their friends. That it will destroy much ofwhat has been painstakingly built over years is irrelevant. The times are good for asking yourself what you believe and what is right.. what is fair. Then learn about and join with others who also strive for justice. By PAULR TAYLOR

Aftermath o f Tears

Comments? Concerns? Contact jenny

Wai Ching Kwon, MLA

1070-1641 Comrnerclal Dr., VgL 3Y3 Phone: n5-0790 Fax: n 5 - 0 8 8 1

OMce hours: Tuesday-Frlday gam-qpm

Candlelight vigil, another dampened saddened wake Rituals are respected, tears are free flowing, salt of the earth, For whom, for us, for the many to then entrust, to the weak, the stricken, to the brokenhearted when the beat slows and trembles. That's all you can do - what else can be done after the fall but before the script's fidfilled.. . Incomplete, people go and come.. to capture a rainbow then into a vortex. So capture these fleeting moments and take a split second to ponder, to wonder Why not me? I want to cry; want to sleep; I'm sure you understand when someone special dies; I have to weep because I can't stop the shifting sands. They say be strong, be true, continue to your destiny. It's not a riddle or a mystery, it just couldn't be that all is lost when your best fiiend fades away. All it means to me is that no matter what we must not go astray into twists and turns that cannot be predicted Take a risk, pay the price, live by chance, roll the dice, but always think to yourself before you act what do I hope to gain9

Sorry, but due to the past government's irresponsible spending on (fast) ferries, BC can no longer afford bridges. We will be offering everyone a free swimming lesson, however. Just stand on the edge of the dock while your Liberal MLA walks up behind you.. "Right, so don't worry about it. EVERYONE WHO IS ANYONE knows that the huge tax breaks for the rich will rejuvenate the economy big time, so that no one will need welfare in two years. So everyone quit all that special anti-poverty interest group bitchin and get with the program." [*Cynicism is one tool, but the news of people dying must be more than just reporting on an event. The two-year rule is supposed to start April 1,2002 with all welfare recipients having a 'clean slate.' as far as time on assdistance. You are only eligible for 24 months out of 60 starting April 1. It may be rhetoric, but the computer address to get the rules is: ~www.mhr.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/2002lAprilIniatives.htm

Carnegie Community Centre Association is one of the charities with a license at Planet Bingo! The money is used for food and programs here.

Streets of Hastings These streets of Hastings That i walked so many times As a young man, a student some light in the underground all the brilliant ideas and dreams These streets of Hastings, that bring escape from the status quo that gave me a cocaine addiction and took iiway everything I had. That turned me into a criminal selling whatever I could steal for the most wicked master took away all those years and a prisoner of my selfish desires all my sweat and blood and all the tears that were shed and

The Olympics' Darkside: Do Low-Income Communities Pay a Price? Under this heading the Impact on Communities Coalition had a get-together in Carnegie with guest Glen Bailey. Glen is from Salt Lake City and shared a lot of information on how the recent Olympic Winter Games affected people there. The Coalition had appeared at City Council in Vancouver the night before, with Glen as one of the presenters. He said the reports of "no evictions' in Salt Lake were simply false, that low-rent (SRO) rooms went from monthly or weekly rates to daily costs - the poor people were put out. Glen works as a community organizer with a thing called Urban Crossroads. They have a food bank, low cost goods for the poor and homeless, and do advocacy for people without health insurance or living incomes. He was at the forefront of the impacts visited upon the people of the City. Just a note about reception at Vancouver City Council -they were considering a motion calling for an "arm's length impact study" and "no evictions" as part of the City's involvement in the Olympic bid for Whistler as the 2010 site. The response was

beaten up and driven down. Where I had been robbed and lied stared at death, right in the face standing in the cold pouring rain all night, when all hope was gone and my soul was in great pain Those streets of Hastings where everything you see on the streets is something that has been waste socks and old shoes and cigarette butts Alcohol and drugs and dirty pictures Food that no-body else would want These streets of Hastings where I woke up one day; it became fertile ground a new person was born that found freedom and danced as light as a bird. Daniel Rajala

described as "arrogant and demeaningwand what passed had the "no evictions" clause dropped and the study will be an in-house thing that would cover general impacts, not just the impact on housing and social matters. In Carnegie the impact of Expo 86 is remembered well, and Glen related much in the way of how rich and powerhl individuals positioned themselves to make as much money as possible off the Games. , He noted that we are about 18 months ahead of where the community organizing was in Salt Lake. They made a conscious decision not to oppose the Games entirely, due to that being a sure way to be marginalized and shut out. The Games had already been awarded when the community organizing began. Here the bid selection process is still over a year away and our input and supplying the IOC with relevant and sound information on the Games' impact on other cities & Vancouver can be done in a competent and fair way. This is a real challenge as Pacific Press (owner of the Sun, Province, and weekly papers) has already promised $1 million worth of free advertising to the Olympic Bid Committee.. . while ensuring everyone that they will be impartial and unbiased in their reporting on these same Games. PRT

DOWNTOWN

EASTSIDE YOUTIi A<'TIVITIES SOCIETY

S T D CLINIC - 219 Main; Monday to Friday, loam - 6pm NEEDLE EXCHANGE - 221 Main; 8:30am - Bpm every day NEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN - 3 Routes: - 5:45pm - 11:45pm Overnipht - 12:30am - 8:30am Downtown Eastside - 5:30pm I:3Oam

2002 DONATIONS Libby D.-$81 Sam R.-$20 Eve E.-$18 Nancy H.$50 Margaret D.-$22 Sabitri G.422 Pam C.-$9 Val A31 8 Wm B-$27 Harold D.-$9 Mary C-$18 Paula R-$35 Rolf A.-$75 Bruce 3.-$18 Peggy -$25 Kettle -$I8 Sonya S.-$100 BCTF-$lO Bill (3.-$100 Wes K.-$36 Charley B-$X DEYAS-$125 RayCam-$25 LSS-$200 John S-$36 Paddy -$75 Sarah E.-$10 The Edge -$200 Celeste W.-$10 Jo's Mom -$25 Charles F.-$4 Mennonite CC -$60 Rosemary 2.-$40 Joanna N.-$40 Jenny K.418

rm-I

rara-+mr

T H E NEWSLETTER IS A PUBI.ICATION OF CARNEGIE COClMUNIl'Y CENTRE ASSOCIATION.

Articles represent the views o f individual contributors and not o f the Association.

Submission Deadline 1

help you with: Welfare problems; Housing problems; Unsafe living conditions; Come to the Dera office at 425 Carrall Street or phone us a t 682 0931 DERA has been serving the Downtown Eastside

bl;.\\

forZIIyears!!!!

mmrJ