December 15, 2003, carnegie newsletter

Enews@vm.bc.ca

NEWSLETTER

A01 Ma~n S l r r r l Vancouver V6A 2l7 (604)665-22@9

DECEMBER 15,2003

SANTA CLAUS IS A CAPITALIST PLOT Father Christmas works one nite a year & gives a lotta Santa impersonators jobs

4 a month or so also a lotta teenage girls in green leotards & elf mini skirts at less than minimum wage

The Twelve Days of Christmas On the first day of Christmas, Santa Campbell gave to BC A Notice that another hospital is closing for Eternity.

On the second day of Christmas, Santa Campbell gave to BC Cutbacks to Welfare for you and me On the third day of Christmas Santa Campbell gave to BC The selling off of BC Rail for Infinity

On the fourth day of Christmas Santa Campbell gave to BC Cutbacks to people needing surgery On the fifth day of Christmas Santa Campbell gave to BC More cutbacks to all the ministries

On the sixth day of Christmas Santa Campbell gave to BC A threat to sell the Coquihalla Highway which belongs to you and me On the seventh day of Christmas Santa Campbell gave to BC Cuts to education and closure of schools in our communities On the eighth ofChristmas Santa Campbell gave to BC A promise to sell Hydro to 'benefit' you and me On the ninth day of Christmas Santa Campbell gave to BC Rate hikes for everyone needing ICBC On the tenth day of Christmas Santa Campbell gave to BC The threat to privatize Liquor Stores in our municipalities On the eleventh day ofChristmas Santa Campbell gave to BC Closures to Women's centres and their facilities On the twelfth day of Christmas Santa Campbell gave toBC Embarassment and legal fees for drunk driving in Hawaii.

Gany Bigg

Mother Christmas works 365 days a year washin Santa's clothes, cookin his meals & keeping th North Pole clean Who do U think makes all those Christmas cookies? not Santa Some people don't call cooking, washing & cleaning Real Work but then they're not th ones who do it The elves work 365 days a year in some kinda Free Trade Zone called th North Pole & Santa gets 2 take all th credit Pretty feudal 4 this century, wouldn't'cha say?

The don't even have names - "Th Elves" Snow White's dwarves had it better than that R they unionized?

They gotta medical plan 4 fiostbite?

Don't need 2 worry about maternity leave, as far as I can see, they're a buncha white guys Pretty discriminatory hiring practices, eh?

Santa Claus is a capitalist plot He was invented by Coca Cola & all th kids R told there's a Santa Claus Is he th most popular guy around, or is it Ronald MacDonald? or is it Jesus Christ?

Is th Man Who Gives U What U Really Want created by a company 2 sell liquid amphetamine? created by a company 2 sell dead animals & potatoes fried in animal fat? or created by organized religion 2 sell real estate in th here-after?

Hmmmmm When people say "kids don't know what's good 4 them" U gotta wonder where they're getting their ideas from

- Lady Di

By Mayor Larry Campbell Few British Columbians will soon forget the fear that gripped the people of Kelowna last summer as the Okanagan Mountain fire raged at the edge of the city, rendering hundreds of people homeless in a matter of hours while others remained inexplicably unscathed.

The entire province responded with an outpouring of solidarity, choking warehouses with toys, clothing and food. Millions of dollars in disaster relief flowed fiom Ottawa and Victoria.

It was a moving demonstration of community spirit - and a stark contrast to the harsh reaction we hear fiom some in Vancouver when our own homeless push themselves onto the front pages.

An unfair comparison? I don't think so. For the 1,000 or more who are homeless on our streets, the events that catapulted them into poverty seem just as random and arbitrary as a wildfire.

In two recent editorials, the Vancouver Sun produced a searching examination of why so many are homeless, but did its own flame-out at the city's proposed Single Room Accommodation bylaw, a practical measure which would safeguard the city's stock of last-resort housing.

The Sun rightly concluded that people wind up on the street for many reasons, but that few chose to do so. Nor would many remain there of their own accord. Whether unemployed, addicted or mentally ill, they are homeless for reasons largely beyond their own control.

The reality is this: BC's economy is stagnating.

Resource communities are in serious trouble. The social safety net that used to protect many fiom homelessness is being reduced. We see the human consequences on our streets.

When I call on George Abbott, provincial minister of municipal affiirs, or Stephen Owen, federal minister responsible for the Vancouver Agreement, they respond promptly and to the limits of their ability. Federal housing minister Claudette Bradshaw travelled with Prime Minister Chretien last spring to announce new federal funding for homelessness initiatives. But their resources are inadequate to the challenge.

BC's welfare rates have stagnated since 1991. The $325 that singles on welfare had to spend on shel-

ter in 1991 is all they have to spend today. Since then inflation has reduced their real income by 20%, while rents have increased to as much as 3 $450 for single room accommodation.

In April, the province will be terminating welfare for all single employable people who have been on income assistance for two years, in the belief that they can find work if they want it, although the unemployment rate in Vancouver stands at 8.4%.

Given Victoria's decision to cancel HOMES BC last year, which included finding to replace vital single-room housing stock, many of those facing loss of income assistance will wind up in the street.

Add these policies to the lack of support for those suffering fiom mental illness and we can see where the "homelessness crisis" is coming from.

In the long run, all of us want to see the SROs in the city replaced with good quality, proper housing where residents can live in dignity. However, until the federal and provincial Governments commit the sustained funding needed, the city must protect this stock.

The Sun finds this concept "outrageous," claiming that the cost of maintaining this housing was being placed on hotel owners. The Sun argued that all taxpayers should pay the cost of subsidizing those unable to afford market housing. 1 agree. Federal and provincial governments, which represent all taxpayers and raise the largest share of taxes, should fUnd social housing. We can't compensate for the failure of the federal and provincial governments to invest in Canada's and BC's social infrastructure. But the city must protect itself, to the degree it can, fiom the consequences of that failure.

None of this justifies, in my mind, the occupation of parks by tent cities or the defiance of city and park board bylaws. But solutions have to be located in the real world. Since the city election, the park board or council have resolved five "squats" or encampments without the use of police enforcement. We deal with the homeless issue first, then consider whether policing is desirable or necessary.

Thanks to a series of measures, the current council has been able to open or begin construction of another 400 non-market housing units this year. The increase in homelessness, however, threatens to

overwhelm these gains. Vancouver cannot continue to bear this burden on its own. No wonder then, that council has turned its attention to measures to protect single room occupancy (SRO) housing, the last stop for many before the street. A number of American cities have taken similar measures.

SROs provide the most minimal housing available in Vancouver. Those who live in the downtown's SROs pay more than 60% of their income in rent and are one month away from the street or park or anywhere else they can crawl into and hide. The bylaw now approved by council will require owners of single-room occupancy housing to come to council for approval to convert to another use. It is not a freeze, but would allow the city to take steps to avoid the unplanned loss of a key housing asset.

The threat of losses is real - an independent consultant estimates the city lost 1,200 such rooms since 1991 - about 100 a year -- enough to house most of those now estimated on the street and then some.

The point is, no one should ever have to be homeless. Someone who loses a job -- for instance a sawmill worker in a small town in the Interior who travels to Vancouver seeking work -- should never have to live on the street. Unemployment insurance and welfare should be available so they have a place to call home, store their possessions, and organize their lives.

People who live on the street, or even in shelters for a few days, risk losing their ability to participate in society, to seek let alone find work, and risk a spiral into chronic homelessness. No one is born homeless; homelessness is the end of the road, not the beginning of the journey of life. It is our task, society's task, to ensure there is always be a choice other than hornelessness. We are failing in this task.

The public outpouring in support of those forced from their homes in Kelowna, Louis Creek, Barriere, Cranbrook and now Squamish and Pemberton has set the benchmark for how we can support fellow citizens in trouble. If we offer less support to those sleeping in our streets, we must ask ourselves why.

';Q&'ordable Mousing Pg Reprinted from The Long Haul

Dear a n l a We all know that the jolly red suited Santa Claus image that we see today ad nauseam is a brilliant marketing cash cow created by Coca Cola and developed to boost Christmas sales; the commercial Christmas message. Santa Claus encourages consumption and flies through the air from the North Pole. Sanla Claus belongs to chilrlhood On the other hand, St Nicholas, a patron saint who encouraged compassion and charity, walked on earth caring for the needy. St. Nicholas was the main gift giver; gifb that were meant to be shared, not hoarded for oneself. He focused on giving rather than receiving and loved children. He embodied cheer, happiness, fun and gifts. St Niclrolas modelsfor aU of life.

Observing and working with our very own DTES Santa donned in the traditional coca cola design for the past four years (who wishes to remain anonymous), and most certainly would be appalled by any comparison to St. Nicholas, it is near impossible to not detect a similar motivation; of course putting aside the odd hissy fit and not too many curses. I believe our Santa's many kindnesses come from a root of compassion and charity, he certainly walks on earth, loves children and embodies cheer, happiness, fun and an endless supply of gifts that seem to appear out of some secret bottomless stash that never ceases to astound nWhoever you are Santa, I cannot let another year go by, without thanking you for bringing so much joy and pleasure to many.

Santa Claus is not bad.

St. Nicholas is just better.

With Appreciation, Colleen

Tempered Moments 5 Slippin thru the seams of dark-webbed distractions earning the power fiom deep-willed heaves of regret forgetmenot when days 'r long n hardly fair it seems I'll pick it up as I've fallen down n out once more a simple sign breaks the ice with true self-analysis griefs subtle pain purified by a silent spirit spring tapped wells of desire and memories long past to create a solemn yarn of daring-do; slaying dragons & percolating notions and Heart to oppose daemons Bite your tongue, of course, to spout delightful tones Robyn L NEW WORDS FOR 2004 Essential additions for the workplace vocabulary BLAMESTORMING: Sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.

SEAGULL MANAGER: A manager who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.

ASSMOSIS: The process by which some people seem to absorb success and advancement by kissing up to the boss rather than working hard.

SALMON DAY: The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die in the end.

MOUSE POTATO: The on-line, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.

STRESS PUPPY: A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiney.

SWIPEOUT: An ATM or credit card that has been rendered useless because the magneticstrip is worn away fiom extensive use.

XEROX SUBSIDY: Euphemism for swiping free photocopies fiom one's workplace.

IRRITAINMENT: Entertainment and media spectacles that are annoying but you find yourself unable to stop watching them. The J-Lo and Ben wedding (or not) was a prime example.

PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE: The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to work again.

0HNOSECOND:That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that you've just made a BIG mistake.

NEW YEAR' S EVE PARTY

The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason This is the fascinating story of Edgar Drake, commissioned by the British War Ofice in 1886 to travel to hostile Burma to repair a rare grand piano.

LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL THEATRE A mesmerizing account of Burma at that time.

7 - I o Dm Forefront Rock91Rollers' Victim: the Secret Tapes of Marilyn Monroe by I Opm - I am Sneaky Peat' Matthew Smith Wednesday, December 31" 2003 -2004 He has written several books about J.F.K. and the events surrounding Marilyn's tragic death. Now, in Door Prizes, Wacky Hats, Noise Makers, Food, Refreshments this latest book, he delves even deeper into the subEVERYONE IS WELCOME ject with new material The Kalahari typing school for men by Alexander McCall Smith.

For those who have not yet discovered The No 1 Ladies Detective agency here is a treat and a world of discovery set in Botswana .You will be introduced to wise and hilarious characters set in a fascinating landscape which like our own DTES is much richer in humanity and caring than portrayed in the main stream media.

You belong in a zoo! by Peter Brazaitis Just right for life after PI!. Brazaitis superintendent of reptiles at the Bronx Zoo and later curator of animals at the Central Park Wildlife Center makes for exciting reading. His stories of people, animals, politics, and adventures at the zoo and abroad are irresistible.

You too can have as much fun as Andy Saying Yes: In defence of drug use by Jacob Sullum gyou come to the New Year's Party!!

He goes beyond debate on legalization or the proper way to win the "war on drugs," to the heart of a social and individual defence of using drugs. Our exNew Titles in the Library ...Please remember to pensive and ineffectual drug war, Sullum says, is check out display case on 3'dfloor there are always predicated on a fundamental misconception that some exciting new books which you can request. We drugs are inherently "bad." Politicians and the media welcome suggestionsfor purchase from all of you our patrons. perpetuate the stereotypes Bound to be controversial.

Oryx and Crake By Margaret Atwood.

Pocahontas By Paula Gunn Allen Ms. Atwood depicts a near-future world that turns Written by a Native American scholar this a correcfiom the merely horrible to the horrific in this hturtive of all previous stories and portrays Pocahontas, istic work by contrast, as a real visionary, a prodigiously gifted young woman fervently devoted to the spiritual traBoomeritis by Ken Wilber ditions of her people: Here popular author Wilber's moves fiom philosoSeasons greetings to all our wonderfulpatrons phy to postmodernist fiction or maybe science fiction his central character, also named Ken Wilber, is from the library elves. a student at MIT who is energized by his belief that within 30 years artificial intelligence (Al) will have so progressed that humans can upload their consciousness into silicone life forms

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Poverty Literal and Figurative THE NIGHT BEFORE

'Twas the night before welfare and all through the land Everyone was starving both woman and man The minister of welhre was in bed but awake He was getting some that night so the cheques they could wait Then all of a sudden he heard such a clatter Que pasa he yelled say what wazza matter He jumped out of bed through the kitchen he ran Tripped over the cat knocked over the fan He looked down the hall and what did appear A binner a native and a few other peers A tired old woman her face full of woe yelled give out the Cheques hey cough up the doe The minister pouted i'm sorry i'm wrong But alas of course we've all heard that song He gave out the cheques and passed out stale beer Then said with a sneer see you same time next year

I wish those 'Welfare Bums" would stop sucking off the Public tit "They" are ruining our nice land Along with those pushy squeegee kids And those unwashed panhandlers.

Why don't they get a job, or at least a haircut?

They make My shopping trips uncomfortable Those children on the cold and damp pavement Why don't they get a job?

Why aren't they in school?

Do you suppose they are doing a survey of public compassion?

On Broadway and Granville I talked to an older man Pushing his stuff in a Safeway cart.

He told me his story - about his job, about the company's ruin The loss of his West-End apartment And then about his own hll fiom grace.

There are many stones out there, But the people are getting less and less able to speak our languageThe language of the roof-over-our-heads The language of warmth-in-winter The language of food-In-belly A clean clothes kmd of dialect Wilhehnma Miles

Direct Action & Culture Art Sale Saturday, Dec.20, noon 6 pm Gallery Gachet, 88 â‚Ź.Cordova At I pm we have special guests The Highs and Lows Choir

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CANDY CANES AND CHRISTMAS When I was a little girl my mother used to ask my grandfather, "What do you want for Christmas?' He always gave her a silly answer, like, "Oh, just a stick of candy."

One year she decided she should buy him the largest candy cane she could find. Mother did all her shopping at the old Woodwards store in the downtown eastside. She had finished her Christmas s h o p ping so she chose one day where she could search the whole of Vancouver for the largest candy cane.

And of course she started her search in Woodwards.

Sure enough they had a candy cane 5 feet tall and very thick. Mother was only four feet something, so the cane was taller than she was. Father was at work so he could not help her. She did not like to spend money on taxi's so she had to carry the candy cane home. It was somewhat heavy because it was very thick She managed to get the well-wrapped candy cane onto the first bus all right. That bus took her partway home. Then she had to get a second bus, because we

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lived where there were very few houses, in the East Side of Vancouver. The bus was crowded but people made room for my very determined mother. She had to make sure to hold the candy cane close when she got off the bus so that it would not get broken by the bus doors.

There was a cow barn on 15thAvenue where we lived, and cow pastures nearby. The barn and cows are gone now, but back then it meant mother had to walk three long blocks from Renfrew Street with the large, heavy candy cane. She kept it in her bedroom closet.

Mother gave the cane to Granddad when he came for a short stay on Christmas Day, right after the turkey, but just in time for the dessert. He usually did the rounds of his children's homes. He would eat as little at his sons home, then my Uncle Harold would take him to his three daughters' homes, and he and Uncle Harold and his wife whom we called Aunt Sis, would eat a little at each house until they managed to have an entire Christmas dinner. When my mother gave him his candy cane my Uncle Harold had to put my Granddad in the back seat of his car and arrange the long candy cane in the car in such a way my Granddad could hold it while he was driven home. Aunt Sis was squished into the car somehow.

Granddad could not put the candy cane in the fiont closet because it was too tall, it was also too large for the bedroom closet. He thought he should not put it behind the sofa or push it under the bed or stick it in the broom closet. Finally he decided he must break it into three pieces so he could put it in his dresser drawer.

Now the candy cane was very thick, very sticky, and very hard to break. He really had to work hard to break it so it would fit in his bottom drawer, then he had to empty the dresser drawer of his sox, pajamas, and good shirts. If not the clothing would smell of strawberry flavour. He ate little pieces of the candy throughout the year finishing it just before the following Christmas.

Every year after that Mother bought him the largest candy cane she could find. I tasted a piece of his candy cane once when I went for a visit. He showed me where he kept it and then gave me a small piece.

It was the sweetest, nicest candy 1 had ever eaten, maybe because it was so special.

BY DORA SANDERS

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GIVE WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED

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Pete McMartin's column in the Vancouver Sun on Nov. 22 entitled "Parking-lot Trolls: The Latest Street Scam" talks about how some street people try to scam citizens into giving them money. Inspector Dave Jones of the Vancouver Police Department says, 'Wever, ever give money to a panhandler or beggar" because begging is "propelled by a drug and alcohol culture" and also because giving them money "defeats our own social welfare system." He says, 'Wo one ever has to go hungry in this town. There are places to get free food."

This article completely misses the point. It is fill ofjudgmental attitudes about how other people live their lives, and puts conditions on the act of "giving-- which basically says "only give to someone if they do what you think they should do with the gift." This is a sad example of the predominant belief system that is eroding humankind and causing so much suffering in our world.

It is precisely this attitude that forces the street people to invent a "sob story." They know that many of us will not give them money unless we are convinced that there is a 'justifiable" need. For most of us, drug addiction does not fall into this category. Yet how does anyone but the addict know what addiction feels like? I know that I don't, but I can certainly guess that to an addict who has become horribly dependant on a chemical substance, the need for drugs is, in fact, a justifiable physical need.

Even so, some ofyou may feel, as I once did, that you do not want to cause firther "harm" to the addict by contributing to his addiction and therefore perpetuating it. Perhaps you tell yourself, as I did, that you are "doing it for hislher own good" so that they will be forced into treatment. But that is self-righteous map, plain and simple, and is based on the arrogant belief that we know what is "best" for them.

We do not know what is "good" or "bad" for them because we do not know the soul's agenda. We do not know what their soul desires to experience in this lifetime. Perhaps their journey involves healing their addiction, or perhaps their soul wishes only to gain firsthand knowledge of the disease so that in the next lifetime helshe can effectively help other addicts.

Or, even more profoundly, perhaps the soul of the addict, in an unselfish act of love, has sacrificed hisher own life on earth this time around in order to give others the opportunity of having the grandest experience for which we came into the body: to feel the love deep within us, and express it in the form of kindness, compassion, acceptance, and unconditional giving.

Wouldn't it be something if the people who actually need "help" are not the panhandlers at all? Maybe, just maybe, it is the rest of us who can be helped by them. Let's stop using the street people as an excuse to focus on what's "wrong" with other people so that we don't have to look at ourselves. In the eyes of the Creator, we are all perfect just as we are in this moment. So allou (:tk: their c)!:.~ !':it!- i - f r i n p l!tached : yourself, for simply because it feels good to do so. Remember alwa:, s hat what you give to anothe~, bi ~ r to . ., We Are All One. f

Happy Holidays

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This season end a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust.

Write a love letter. Share some treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Find the time. Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong. Try to understand. Flout envy.

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Examine your demands on others. Be kind, be gentle. Think first of someone else. Appreciate. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more. Deserve confidence.

Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency.

Express gratitude. Go to church. Welcome a stranger Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love.

Speak it again Speak it still once again.

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CUT-OFF AND THREATENED I met the dying woman and her hyper daughter, who was struggling to get out of an old beat up stroller, at a bus stop. The woman explained why she was crying. She was working in Mexico where she met and married a Mexican. When she was pregnant she came back to Canada to have her baby because it would cost too much to give birth in Mexico. She then returned to Mexico to be with her husband, but found the poverty down there overwhelming. She left her husband and returned to Canada, to be with family and friends. The poverty down there was too much for her. She found a place near her family who are not well off and applied for welfare until she could get her rented house in shape for taking in children to baby-sit. She was on welfare 4 months when, without any warning she could be cut off any moment, she got a phone call to say she is cut off all financial assistance. She was upset because she was just trying to get into a position where she could take in children but she doesn't have a kitchen table yet. Parents will exam a house to make sure it is suitable for their children and not having a kitchen table means a lot.

While we were heading for Hastings and Main where she was tearfully telling me she was going to meet a fiiend and go to a meeting of legal aid people who were going to help her in some way. It was a

sad story, which gripped the hearts of the people on the SkyTrain. When we arrived at the main street station several Chinese people could see the awhl position she was in. Her daughter was screaming to get out of the stroller. Three elderly Chinese people teased the child and did their best to distract her. So she would stay in the stroller. The mother was doing her best to keep the girl safely in place but she was very distraught because welfare had threatened to take her daughter away from her if she could not pay her rent and ended up on the street.

When the #3 bus arrived she had to let the child out of the stroller and cany both aboard. The bus driver didn't even know the Gore address the woman was going to. Several Chinese people pointed out it was on Hastings and Gore. One of the child's stroller wheels fell off A Chinese man picked it up and handed it to the woman. She had to put it in her jacket pocket. When we arrived at Hastings and Main a Chinese lady pointed to where the woman should go. I pointed out the few places in the area where she could find help. I know its difficult enough for the people in the area to get the help they need, but I think this is one woman, crying and upset as she was. would have to come to, to get the help she needs to keep her child close to her.

BY DORA SANDERS

Mounting evidence of Increasingly violent and Illegal behavior by the Vancouver Police must be checked. As well as routinely targeting the poor and homeless there have been widespread reports of assault, harassment, steroid use, lying under oath and coverups. The Vanuwver Police insist that only they can "Investigate" themselves.

They have refused to be accountable. We need an independent body to investigate Police abuses including

- Vancouver Police complicity in the disappearance of more than 60 women from the Downtown Eastside - The systematic harassment and routine physical assaults on the poor and disadvantaged

- Repeated allegations of Vancouver Police lying under oath and cover-

Honourable Rich Coleman Minister of Public Safety: and Solicitor General

PO Box 9053 STN PROV GOVT Victoria BC V8W 9E2

ing up crimes committed by fellow officers, including mysterious deaths In police custody The actions of the Police at theBritannia police riot and the brutal arrests and detention of nine community activists, students and children.

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The Vancouver Police must not be above the laws that they are sworn to uphold.

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Home is where the Heart is This old hotel holds only broken souls welve all been mangled, the remnants remain breathing but not totally alive yet we survive the bits and pieces of ourselves we have left you could make a calendar up here every page having a different dysfunction but the phobias become endless and smeared a blurry mirror vision of ourselves I love them all in all their deformity these lepers, losers all yet all were once just children playing.. . we all got lost in the Black Forest of hunger in the Red Desert of loss cripples - if not in body then spirit we, the walking wounded my kinship is with the dispossessed it is my blood they shed in the nightmare of not enough heroin on the bathroom floor, the rigs full of diseased lovers cast aside while casting aside This old hotel is a mansion of human sorrow the tinny laugh of the whore washed down in booze and methadone all these strangers carry a piece of my shame I know can't live forever thank christ but you won't hear me complain there will come an end to this pain an end to this pain R. Loewen Hello all.

1 am the chairperson of the Illitiit Society in Iqaluit Nunavut. The Society is an incubating type organization that sets up services and attempts to get other organizations to take on the service once it is stable.

Passing things on to others is not quite as easy as it should be. At present we operate a shelter for homeless people in Iqaluit. I estimate that there are about 200 to 300 homeless people at varying stages and types of homelessness and our shelter serves about 14 per night on a first come first served basis.

Actually some of our people have homes with extended family members but wear out their welcome because of the overcrowded conditions. When this happens they use the shelter as a respite so that tempers don't get out of hand and they don't cause problems Up here it is not correct for a family member

to turn away another family member, but the host I' family often ends up suffering lack of space, privacy and food.

We also operate a shelter for young people between the ages of 16 to 26, but this shelter is more like a transition home where they can stay for a few months, get the support they need and hopehlly then move on. The people in this shelter are almost all referrals from the youth criminal system of social services.

We are also partnering with the women's shelter to assist them in developing a transitional home for women coming out of the women's shelter (family violence victims). We have rented a duplex, provided $20,000.00 to them to hire someone to look for more sustainable fbnding and set up the protocols etc. This month we hope to turn the lease over to the Society that is running the women's shelter so they can take it on themselves.

We run a small bail program for people who can be released on bail, are told they cannot have contact with their families (usually charged with family violence), but do not have a place to live. We put aside two beds of our shelter for these people so they have someplace to go.

It is our hope to develop a model for inexpensive and culturally appropriate housing. We have a model plan for a "family compound" that could house an elder couple, and perhaps four or five small families that are sons and daughters of the couple. In this way, we hope to reinforce the family structure of Inuit instead of housing them in different neighbourhoods. It is our hope that they will be provided with consultation to assist them in establishing a family corporation whereby they will order their supplies by sea each year, get their skidoos by tender, buy their food in bulk, have a common place for family passive recreation, and support each other through the unique skills and abilities of each of the members of the family.

We have offered this suggestion to a number of people and government departments. There is an interest but it has not yet jelled. We hope to continue to develop this interest.

I will continue to "listen in" to [povnet.org].

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Bill Riddell Chair person, Illitiit Society, Nunavut d

In The Heart of a City The Downtown Eastside Community Play It was everything it's "reviewers" said and more.

Following is a review that appeared in the Courier, and (as of this writing) a few bits and pieces fiom inside and outside.

tso' grandma Heart so strong like a salmon spawning Humour so healing like a cub fishing Hands so warm like a a child measuring hers to hers Harmony like an eagle soaring to the spirit world Till we come across each others' paths Mays (Priscilia) PS: I raise my hands in honouring all grandmas who have endured such a journey. Aay I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my grandmothers.

Misiyh

RE PEALING THE BEAUTY WITHIN Hidih I come fiom the territory of the Wet'suwet'en My experience in performing in public was in the Grade Four choir & (get this) - we came in first.

Rehearsal was quite intense and we missed recess.

The Community Play in the Downtown Eastside was not what 1 expected. It was a memorable and courageous event.

I was impressed by the Coast Salish-speaking people involved in the process and involved in the play.

1 assumed the Director was going to be "Mr. Perfect", like my Grade Four teacher, but he wasn't like that at all. Jimmy, the crew and the cast inspired me to grow and 1 grew along with my son, Uligen.

I met and learned fiom many people from all walks of life and from all over the world. 1 realized I am not the only one facing discrimination fiom the mundane society of Vancouver.

I gained strength and courage to perform the role of "Nicole" for the community. Risk is what 1 needed to enhance my self-esteem as an Indigenous woman.

I enjoyed the rehearsals and meeting so many beautiful people, but no Huckleberry cheesecake!!

Yeah, I raise my hands in honouring my son and the cast, crew and writers of the play. Aay, stay beautiful - until we cross each others' path again.

Priscillia Tait

In Memory of A Mystery 'Come on down' you hear in cryptic tones You call out my name, you drop the phone Your heart's in flux, girl, get in the run whose face down crying ain't no damn fun Are you out on a line or walkin' the line You used to be ladylike, uhuh, so refined What became of the one I knew a few short years ago now your mascara runs in glistening tears the glint in your eyes says love passed you by a broken heart beating in murky waters, calm, keep your chin down, staring into seamless space ..some day you may recover and be welcomed back to this human race Robyn L.

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Courage pumps through historic Heart I

Revlewed by lo LedlnghamL I K EKIDS AFTER A S C H O O L Christmas concert.' ride and relief were written on the performers' faces-young and oldat the end of this extraordinary premiere.

From tiny tots dressed like little birds to a floor-to-ceiling, multi-armed - effigy of Andrew Carnegie, everyone involved in this Downtown Eastside i (DTES) community theatre project deserves to be proud. Sure, lines got dropped like bread crumbs in Pigeon Park, but the show went bravely on. In one hilarious instance, two men appeared in one fat man costume and when one forgot his lines, the other immediately prompted him. And, once, a shopping cart with a mind of its own launched itself down the slope of the undulating, skateboard park-like stage and threatened to wipe out the band. Musical director Wyckham Porteous stuck out an arm at the last minute and brought the buggy to a halt.

T h e cast list truly reflects the area's multiculturalism: Brouillette, Kato, Collins, Lin, Wong, Schopman, Xie, Romero, Fekete, Nahanee, Morelli, Dosantos-and dozens more. For the nervously excited performers, relief came when the first performance of In the Heal* of a City was enthusiastically cheered, when it was obvious that the show had touched the hearts of many.

"We did it," they seemed to say, highfiving and hugging each other.

The project began with the Carnegie Community Centre and Downtown Eastside residentdartists Terry Hunter and Savannah Walling (Vancouver Moving Theatre). It quickly mushroomed over a year to include i n t e ~ e w s with more than 200 people, questionnaires returned by 275 DTES residents, 40 workshops for more than 500 people and nine weeks of rehearsals and building with over 1SO participants. Gener1

ous spirited professionals offered help: James Fagan Tait (director and choreographer), Marina Szijarto (costume and puppet designer), Irai Erdal (lighting), Wyckham Pdrteous and many more.

First Nations elders, historians, translators and consultants came on board. By the time In the Heart of a City opened at the Japanese Hall, there could hardly be anyone living in the neighbourhood who wasn't involved or doesn't know someone who is.

The play is a saga of First Nations people and immigrants who peopled the downtown area called, at that time, Granville. In 20 episodes, Vancouver's story is told, including The Great Fire of 1886 ("Vancouver didn't bum; it exploded"), the Anti-Asian Riot in 1907 and Bloody Sunday in 1930. Stitched through all the stories is the present-day story of Nicole (played by Priscillia Tait), a First Nations woman who arrives by Greyhound from Bella Bella.

"Where am I?" she asks. "Main. And Hastings," comes the reply. Anned with a backpack and a phone number, she looks for help among the locals to find her Auntie Rita.

Again and again, Nicole encounters The Old One, an old First Nations man who says he's been walking "for 10,000 years."- He tells us what uied to be deer trails are now the streets of the Downtown Eastside and what was once a

swamp "turned into Woodwards."

At the heart of this production is tiny (under five feet) Downtown Eastside resident Stephen Lytton in the role of The Old One. Lytton has cerebral palsy and walks with some difficulty, but, as the embodiment of the wisdom of the ages, his ability to remember lines, to deliver them passionately and to ad lib with a quick wit when necessary is nothing short of astonishing. With his baggy coat and trousers, red polka-dot handkerchief tucked under his baseball cap and grey woolen pigtails hanging down, Lytton is like an ancient troll delivering truth. Several other ~erformersare amazingly good, too, and those who are not, do their charming, enthusiastic best.

The evening is too long, but with all that history and all those stories, it must have been impossible to pare it down.

What part of Vancouver's history could possibly be left out?

As part of the 100th birthday of the Carnegie Centre (first a library, then a museum and now a community centre), In the Heart of a City beats with vitality and hope-characteristics that don't usually make the evening news from this part of town. These funny and brave performers are proof that the courage and humour that kept Main and Hastings alive and kicking through the 19th and 20th centuries, is still around.

FROM THE HEART

My name is Stephen Lytton. I was born in Lytton, BC in 1955, with Cerebral Palsy. What I have learned about my disability is that there are many forms of CP stemming from severe to minimal or almost non-existent. CP is caused by a shortage of oxygen to the brain during the birth process.

I was asked if 1 was a mischievous little devil way back when. Yes I was, and now that I think back on it, I loved it! In one of many incidents, I made a mess by spilling dry food all over the kitchen floor.

We got caught by our mother and my sisters got the blame! The next time my mother tied me up to the kitchen table but I still got into mischief, don't ask me how, I just did. One time wet all my clothes so my mother dressed me in a blouse and an accordion dress. And that was the beginning of my acting career!

In 1961 1 was sent to St. George's Residential School in Lytton. During my years in attendance at St. George's School, I've made a lot of friends back then and learned much about human relations and how that worked then, and now I feel little has changed since then. While at St. George's there was a lot of positives learned for me in the beginning. As those times passed, though, I realized that my experience at residential school was also devastating for myself and my culture -the opportunity to bond with family. I regret the missed opportunities to learn about my Nlha7kapmx people and culture.

Including that anger from that whole experience of residential school which has devastated my people and still impacts us to this day. I left residential school in 1978.

Today 1 am involved in a number of initiatives at home and around the province. I am a community advocate, as well as board member of BC Aboriginal Network Disabilities Society. Our mandate is to promote the betterment of Aboriginal People with Disabilities on a daily basis. I am a member of the Nicomen Band, just outside of Lytton, involved with band governance. In about one year's time I've been asked to run for leadership or council of the band.

My hobbies are creative writing, poetry, karaoke, listening and dancing to a variety of music from country to blues to 50's and 60's music, and meeting people.

As for my part in The Heart of the Ciy,I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever be involved in acting, let alone the leading character, and not knowing who or what we were doing in the play.

Later learning that playing this role of the Old One was an enormous honour and responsibility for the success of the play. The bird was the key to my role; it represented life itself. Very strong, yet so fragile while in the palm of my hand. For the Old One it was the thing of beauty, the power to hold onto something so awesomely beautifid one moment, so alive, and then gone the next moment. The beauty about the bird and the Old One was to show that life is but a moment's time to our Creator God. The bird & man brought the heart of the audience so close together it was almost like a dream, like holding the heart of the audience in your hand. A bittersweet love story.

Not knowing the success and changes that would follow. It brought me more awareness that I realized I still have weakness 1 must address, but I do have a lot of strengths in human relation. Anyone can meet the challenge if willing and ready. My hope for this play has been realized, the bridges have been built, the message is out there now. Building lasting friendships, bonding together. To laugh, to sigh and cry. Out of the ashes comes a thing of beauty yet bittersweet. The play's location was the DTES, known throughout Canada as the poorest postal code in all the nation. The heart and soul of this community is the great hope, that we are committed to stay to build bridges, break down the colour barrier and other barriers we may encounter.

The Old One Stephen G. Lytton

Welfare Cuts Blues The Liberal government has all welfare recipients jumping through hoops to obtain their cheques. I went to the Ministry of InHuman Resources ofice at Metropoint with someone who had a mean-spirited financial aid worker.

Eight days after the cheques were issued, Tom had still not received his. The worker kept moving the goalposts. This was the 2ndtime they were going to cut Tom's and refked to hand it over until I went as a witness. Before they finally issued Tom's cheque he had to take forms to all the banks where his accounts were. Tellers were reluctant to sign them until I went with him. I told them it was crucial for them to sign as Tom had to pay his rent.

It was an exhausting day to say the least, but the end results were very satisfactory. I'm putting up a Murray Cruel poster in every office I go to.

By IRENE SCHMIDT

SHADOW AND ME 1 prayed to God to heal his soul To take away his pain This straight white chick, this Native dude This addict from the street The years went by and nothing worked Until one day I knew The prayers I said had been all wrong It wasn't him, but ME, you see Who needed healing all along He tried to fit into my world (We both believed he should) His love was strong he thought he could But Downtown Eastside called He ran to it again again The drugs and friends his draw Down there he always could belong It freed him from the world of "wrong"

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I gave him shelter, gave him food Baked cookies filled with love "He takes so much from me," I'd brood And felt myselfthe fool A violent addict full of lies Was all that I could see It made me "right," you must agree So I didn't have to look at ME Then came that time I felt destroyed The grief, the tears too much Upon the floor a crumpled heap I asked Creator, "WHY?" "Look past the pain," said God to me "Look past the lie you see" "This man can teach you how to fly" "He's come to set you free" Creator showed me late that night The soul that Shadow was With awe I looked that wondrous sight And suddenly I knew This soul of Love had come to earth A mirror to give to me To show the "wrong" I saw in him Was also part of ME

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Because of him I found myself That girl I'd never seen He taught me Truth, he made me Real How phony I had been!

With eyes that pierced into my soul His look that said I KNOW He stopped my dance he gave me ME That's why I love him so.

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So if you meet my husband there On streets Downtown Eastside You'll probably think he's just a bum Who on that day is "fried" Look past what Shadow seems to be Don't judge like you can do Remember angels come disguised And see the mirror he holds for YOU Maureen Kerr

Dear Canadians, Within days a federal cabinet decision could trap Canada into permanently supporting the U.S. military's missile defence scheme. And Canadians won't know what hit them because Defence Minister John McCallum is keeping the negotiations under wraps.

In May, Prime Minister Jean ChrCtien promised, "There will be a debate in the House of Commons... we want to know everyone's position." For Canada's sake let's insist that Chretien fillfills his promise. Visit www.ceasefire.ca right now to send your letter asking for a debate in Parliament.

Without your voice Chretien will let McCallum get away with quietly locking Canada into George W. Bush's missile defence program. They'll forge ahead knowing full well this military extravaganza will be more costly, more dangerous, and just as grotesquely unworkable as the original Ronald Reagan Star Wars scheme.

Don't be surprised. The decision is coming down the pike and will be made in secret. Why secret?

Because the government knows that Canadians oppose missile defence. But we can stop this crazy idea. Canadians are well aware that this U.S. military program endangers our security and will waste billions of dollars - money that needs to be allocated to social programs like health care, housing and alleviating poverty. I'm asking you to visit www.ceasefire.ca today. You can get more information and take action now. Sadly, the decision to cuddle up to this military scheme will be made to appease global corporations and the American far right after having opposed their war on Iraq.

But even more worrisome, adopting missile defence is just one piece of an even larger agenda deep integration between Canada and the United States. This idea is being championed by some of the same folks who brought us free trade and who now want Canada to adopt the U.S. dollar and further integrate our economies.

We need to let Prime Minister ChrCtien and incoming Prime Minister Paul Martin know that we oppose missile defence. We've already surrendered our sovereignty in areas such as energy, natural resources, social policy, and so-called harmonization of visa and immigration policy.

Now, Canada will give up even more sovereignty over our country's defence and security by handing decision-making powers to the Pentagon.

We ought to remember that George W. Bush said he considers Canada's water as part of his country's security policy. Thus "deep integration" should come as no surprise - the U.S. President and his Canadian free trade supporters seem to believe Canada is nothing more than a U.S. resource supplier. And it 's unlikely that Paul Martin will stand up for Canada. Yet there is a growing wave of democratic power that Martin and ChrCtien cannot ignore.

Canadians do not want further integration with U.S. social, political and military policies. We believe in our health care. We believe in peacekeeping and not wielding a big stick. We believe in our country. And we believe that we are much safer engaging with the rest of the world instead of forcing our will on them.

I'm confident that Martin and ChrCtien will change their minds when Canadians boldly speak up in favour of Canadian security and Canadian priorities.

Missile defence will be a disaster for Canada. It will undermine our sovereignty and security. It will likely force Canada to spend more money on the military, and on the wrong kind of military priorities at that (war-fighting instead of peacekeeping). end a letter to Prime Minister ChrCtien and copy it to Paul Martin, letting them know that missile defence is unacceptable. And, at the very minimum, let them know they need to be brave enough to make the decision in public and not behind closed doors.

Sincerely yours, Maude Barlow, Voluntary Chairperson, Council of Canadians

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

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I The Donkey1s Tale One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.

The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, and it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over - and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked down the well, and was astonished at what he saw. As every shovel of dirt hit his back, the donkey did something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the hrmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty 'soon, everyone was amazed, as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off The Moral: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.

The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!

Remember theJive simple rules to be happy: 1 . Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

O.K., that's enough of that B.S. ...

The donkey later came back, caught the farmer out in the field and kicked the shit out of him. Then he went over to each of his neighbors farms and kicked the shit out of them too for helping.

The REAL Moral: When you try to cover your ass, it always comes back to get you.

It was on this very day A newborn babe on straw he lay Born in a stable one cold night He came to be under star light No one knew that this would be The birth of a king of eternity That he would save us one and all Help us to stand while others fall Alt we really need to do Is believe that it is true That Jesus died at Calvary Shed his blood to make us free That when the many years go by, And it comes time for us to die We can be happy then to see His smilin face in heaven will be

I guess that's what keeps me going When I am sad and blue The belief something better is waiting For me when my life is through

BY PHIL wonderti1 crazy impossible real things it's not quite hell but it might as well be it's the golden age so la di da i don't want to talk about my life it's none of your business that i've saved my life now who is the saviour? there this day i remember the days and my symbols i was in control from the start filed a keeper for every good charles fortin

Living on Purpose

by Larry Trunkey We are fast approaching Winter Solstice. The amount of daylight hours will be increasing a little bit every day and Spring will soon be upon us. But for now. Winter is here and even in Vancouver it is exerting an effect on our lives. Winter slows things down. We spend more time indoors. Many of us sleep more and, if we had the opportunity, some us would like to eat more. Winter is also a time when many of us think more about life. We reflect on how our lives have been and how we'd like them to be in the future.

Some use the coming New Year as an opportunity to set goals and make resolutions. Some people move through their days with a sense of purpose that we notice in the confident way they move, the way they meet challenges face on, and seem to deftly duck the big problems in life and just keep moving. We might say to ourselves, "I'd like to feel more purposeful."

There is a very simple four step process that has helped many people get clearer about their purpose in life. It might help you also. The exercise requires you to create two lists. The first is a list of what you like about yourself. The second is a list of the things you most enjoy doing. Next, you'll need to write a brief description of the kind of world you'd like to live in.

Finally, you will assemble these three pieces to create a statement of your "life purpose."

1 . What Do I Like .libout Myself3 This is no time to be shy. To get the maximum benefit from this exercise you must come up with at least ten (10) positive personal qualities. You'll find it easier to get started by answering this question, "When people get to know me well, they say I am <fill in the blank>." The idea is come of with a list of positive qualities or attributes.

Some people get stuck on this list because they think they have to be perfect in some attribute to add it to the list. For example; you may like the fact that you are direct and honest with others, but as you think about it you remember that there are one or two people that you just can't talk to. Should honesty be on the list? You bet! We need to acknowledge our good points even though we can always improve.

Let's imagine you've come up with three qualities so far, "I'm direct with people, I'm honest, and I'm proud of my work and enjoy doing a job well. " 2. What Do I Enjoy Doing Most? Your list can include things that you could get paid for doing. It can also include things that that you do just because you find doing them personally rewarding. For example you might start your list with, "I like to help people solve their problems, I like to work along with others, and I like to lead. " 3. What Kind of World Do I Want to Live In? If you awoke tomorrow into a world that was just the way you wanted it to be, what would it be like? Maybe, you'd answer this question by saying. "It would be a world without conflict and people would treat each other with respect and fairness. " 4. Statement ofPurpose. Whatever you come up with in exercises 1-3, you can assemble into a statement of purpose. Using the above lists and vision, the purpose statement could be: "Iwant to apply my qualities of directness, hones@,and pride in my work through my ability to solve problems, work with others, and to lead in order to help create a world that is without conflict, and where people would treat each other with respect and fairness. " Try this exercise yourself!

Larry Trunkey is the Program Manager of The Job Shop at Tradeworks Training Society. The Job Shop supports residents of the DTES in their return to work. Participants develop and broaden the skills they will need to get and keep a job. Federally funded by HRDC, The Job Shop starts new participants every week.

Program information sessions are held Tuesdays. at 1 p.m. Call 604-253-9355 and ask for The Job Shop.

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Need A Chance T o Prove You're Ready, Willing & Able T o Work?

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D~WN'I'OWN

EASTSIDE YOUI'H ACTIVITIES SOCIETY 49 W.Cordova

NEEDLE EXCHANGE - 221 Main; 8:30am - 8pm every day NEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN - 3 Routes: &C - 5:45pm - 1l:45pm 604-685-6561 Overnipht - 12:30am - 8:30am Downtown Eastside - 5:30pm - 1:30am

604-251-33 10 FRFF

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TIIE NI<WSI,ETTERIS A P~~BLICAT'ION OF'IIIk ARNEGIE ('O~IMIINI IY c ENIRE ASSOC'IAIION.

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

I tlilor: I'dd laylor ('over art & laynul by l)janc Wlrd

Submission deadline for the next issue:

Monday, January 12 No paper on January 1.

ONLY THE BANK IS LEAVING The Four Comers Bank at Main and Hastings is shutting down services. There are still three ;her organizations in the building who will be continuing to provide services in 2004. Pathways Information Centre provides information and connections to all available services in the area. Fast Track to Employment and Aboriginal Connection to Employment will still be there working in their area. They all look forward to helping you as usual.

2003 DONATIONS Libby D.-$60 Barry for Sam R-$50 Eve E.-$18 Nancy H.$30 Margaret D.-$25 Hulda R.45 Val A318 Wm B-$20 Mary C-$50 Paula R-$15 Rolf A.-$55 Bruce J.-$50 BCTF-$10 U'mista - $40 Heather S.-$25 RayCam-$25 Cram -$I00 Paddy 450 Sarah E.-$ I 0 Charles F.-$10 Rosemary 2.-$20 Joanna N.-$20 Jim G.4150 Glen 6.475 John S.-$100 Penny G.-$41 Liz S.$5 Jenny K.-$18 Celeste W.S30 Sandy C.$20 Dara C.-$20 Ellen W.-$150 Audrey 4 2 0 Wes K.-$15 Rockingguys-$25 Joanne H.-$20 The Edge Community Liaison Ctt -$200 Jay H.-$25 Bob 5.-$40 Christopher R.-$25 Anonymous -$5.02

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The Downtown Eastside Residents Assoc~attonr th: Phone & Safe ~ a i l b o k d Welfare problems; 1,andlord disputes; Ilousing problems Clnsafe living conditions

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or phone us at 682-0931

for Papa 3 Ionly have a drink on Welfare day Pisspot Pete stands at my door 2 days after issue day he's naked so messed iver he can hardly talk can you get me dressed? that's 1 lam before noon he's knocked another six or so times can you get me a beer? burning up, need a beer every month same old story takes a week to sober up after he's sold all his tobacco for a beer and begged all his neighbours for a beer shed himself of any dignity for a beer pissed off all his neighbours for a beer it gets to the point where you run out of pity helpless old useless drunk once a man now just a phantom beggar crying do you think you could buy me a beer? change my diaper, wash my rear? help me get outta here?

Mike Stand

Dreaming This morning I don't want to see what has become of my life this morning I will dream myself back to walking in the country with my old dog down a winding mountain road alone in the green of tall timber the air fresh mountain clean my young body washed by sunlight and the dew of early morning And I will go back there, older yes but the mountains don't change that quickly landslides maybe but it's only cleansing the country calls me home the wind in the trees knows my name and I will leave this cruel jungle take my chances with the animals nothing Nature has is as merciless as the mechanix of men I will conjure I will pray You won't see me walking away R.

So another year ahead my old friend in a wheelchair now talks of doctors who missed the tumor, size of a melon, their little white coats and know-it-all looks still didn't see the trouble in his guts; it's a wonder he'll see another Christrnas..last one was in St.Paul's maybe the next one too - life can be that cruel when you come right down to it despite what you said you cling to life any damn way to stay alive even trust those smug bastards as they tool away your time no, you cling to life hoping for some reprieve but you lonely slow down death it's a certainty like you said- one day you wake up mildly surprised look at this you're still alive one more day and that's all anyone's got you don't live a week at a time, no, just this moment and maybe the next and sure enough you find yourself come full circle another new year when you stop and really face the nothingness this life we live is great compared to that void no matter what we slog thru.. . life is worth it this side of the coin is sufficient; with each sunrise we roll the dice and play again, ever hopefd the next moment will be a jackpot Something will happen and you'll be lovin' it again know why it's good to be alive AI

For the Bear Smoking in the old hotel Me 'n Arch swappin' stories.. he tells me how he'd seen in the midst of a burning house back in Long Plains a woman walking serene from room to room as the flames shot ever higher watched the house bum down to the ground That morning before I'd shown up he'd seen a man sitting at the table working with his hands half asleep he mutterd "It's ok, I know you're there" then when he focused his eyes and looked the man had just disappeared

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01' Arch has got a big 01' heart big as the Saskatchewan sky -this gentle giant, this real human a rare creature down on the skids he sees with his heart, not his eyes only a real human can do it like that not very many real humans left, ya know

A1

My Grandfather

CARNEGIE 'VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH' November 2003

I like my grandfather he is never in a hurry he .- takes time to be himself he gives me time to be myself his clock is the tide -

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my grandfather is quiet he listens when there is nothing to hear he looks when there is nothing to see we sit together in silence sharing each other's company my grandfather does not fight me with words he does not ask many he does not demand many answers he speaks softly but I never forget what he says when my grandfather talks to me all of him is there there is not some part of him which is somewhere else my grandfather respects my life he lets me make my own mistakes he waits for me as a mountain waits for the deer to graze upon its meadows in the early morning my grandfather is patient he is not afraid that which he has done has been well done and therefore done forever with wisdom as an aged tree he waits in quiet dignity in silence and serenity for an old friend

Peter Van Diiken Peter has shown an outstanding volunteer committment from the first day he started volunteering Peter has been around as a patron for many years, and one day last winter he decided (with prompting from someone (grin)) to get involved. And are we happy he did!

James Colvin

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Lone, time volunteer as Lane Level Receptionist (past 7 years). Thank you James for your dedication and reliability.

!!!!!! ATTENTION I!!!!!!

VOLUNTEER,PROGRAM OFFICE HAS MOVED -same Building, same 3"' Floor -at the other end of the hall in the Program Office -you can 't miss us YOU ARE JUST AS WELCOME AS YOU EVER WERE; NOTHING'S CHANGED DON'T BE AFRAID TO DROP BY EVEN JUST TO VISIT .....Merry Christmas, Colleen

Inner Strength

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Sandy Cameron

A friend is a gift you give yourself.

Robert Louis Stevenson

If you can start the day without caffeine or pep pills, If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains, If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles, If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it, If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time, If you can overlook when people take things out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong, If you can take criticism and blame without resentment, If you can face the world without lies and deceit, If you can conquer tension without medical help, If you can relax without liquor, If you can sleep without the aid of drugs, If you can do all these things, Then you are probably the family dog. submitted by Diane

The Queen of Accommodation December I st To: ALL EMPLOYEES I am happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will be held on December 23rd at Luigi's Open Pit Barbeque. There will be lots of spiked eggnog and a small band playing traditional carols...feel fiee to sing along. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed up as Santa Claus to light the Christmas tree! Exchanging gifts among employees can be done at this time; please remember to keep gifts to the agreed $10.00 limit.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director December 2nd TO: ALL EMPLOYEES In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Hanukkah is an important holiday that often coincides with Christmas (though not this year unfortunately). However, from now on we're calling this party our "Holiday Party." The same policy also applies to employees who are celebrating Kwanzaa at this time. There will be no tree, or Christmas carols sung. Happy holidays to you and yours.

Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director December 3rd TO: ALL EMPLOYEES Regarding the anonymous note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table, I'm happy to accommodate this request, but please remember that if 1 put up a sign on the table that reads "AA ONLY," you won't be anonymous any more. In addition, we will no longer be having a gift exchange since Union members feel that $1 0.00 is too much money.

Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director December 7th TO: ALL EMPLOYEES I have arranged for members of Overeaters Anonymous to sit farthest away from the dessert buffet and for pregnant employees to sit closest to the restrooms. Gays are allowed to sit with each other; Lesbians do not have to sit with the gay men; each group will have their own table. And yes, there will be a flower arrangement for the gay men's table! Happy now?

Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

December 9th TO: ALL EMPLOYEES People, people!! Nothing sinister was intended by wanting our CEO to play Santa Claus! Even if the anagram for "Santa" does happen to be "Satan", there is no evil connotation to our own "little man in a red suit'.

Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director December 10th TO: ALL EMPLOYEES Vegetarians- I've had it with you people!! We're holding this party at Luigi's Open Pit Barbeque whether you like it or not!! You can just sit at the table farthest from the "grill of death," as you put it, and you'll get salad bar only, including hydroponic tomatoes. But, you know, tomatoes have feelings, too! They scream when you slice them.

I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them right now. Ha! I hope you have a rotten holiday!

Drive drunk and die, you hear me?

The Bitch from Hell !

December 14th TO: ALL EMPLOYEES I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery from her stress-related illness. I'll continue to forward your cards to her at the sanitarium. In the meantime, management has decided to cancel the Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon off with full pay on the 23rd.

Terri Bishop Acting Human Resources Director

Are You a Survivor of Indian Residential Schools?

Do you have information about the death, torture or disappearance of Indian children?

It's Time your Story was Told!

The Truth Commission into Genocide in Canada is working with the United Nations to document evidence of crimes against humanity in Canadian Indian Residential Schools. By sharing your story with Truth Commission investigators we can charge the criminals before international law, and allow the dead to rest in peace. All interviews are conducted in strict confidence, and you will control whether or not your story will be shared with others.

It's time that justice was won for residential school survivors! Leave a message at 1-888-265-1007 email us at: genocideincanadacii,,vahoo.ca

... You have to love "innocent" clergy Did they see the other article that the young girl submitted?

And then they wonder why they are persecuted?

My opinion ... There is a cultural divide here that they simply don't see. If they were "missionaries" they would expect it but they don't expect it in their own backyard.

Would the clergy be as belligerent if they were dealing with the Vancouver Sun or Province?

Angus

The article in the December 6th edition of the Carnegie Newsletter, entitled "Comforting the Afflicted" by Kevin Annet, contained language that some members of our community found offensive.. As a reminder to all potential newsletter contributors, I have reprinted the editorial policy as approved by the Board of Directors.

PaulR Taylor, Editor.

The Carnegie Newsletter is a publication of the Carnegie Community Centre Association. Its purpose is to provide news, information and opinion of interest and relevance to the residents of the Downtown East Side.

Its contents aim to be inclusive of the Centre's members and the community-at-large.

1. The Association is ultimately responsible for all contents of the newsletter, editorial or otherwise. As such, the Association will establish, approve and amend editorial policy as it deems necessary.

2. The editorial policy will recognize and support Carnegie's Mission Statement and the Associations' current policies and practices.

3. The content of the newsletter will reflect the diversity of community views and interests. Therefore, editing of the newsletter will not favour one position or viewpoint to the exclusion of others.

4. Editorial positions will reflect Board policies and positions where they are established. In the absence of established policies/positions, the editor is fiee to express his or her views, clearly stated as such.

5. The editor retains the right to edit material from contributors. Any editing of materials will endeavour to respect the content and the message of material submitted.

6. All contributors are required to ensure the factual accuracy of any material submitted for publication.

7. No contributions will be considered for publication that are or might reasonably be construed to be racist, derogatory, demeaning or discriminatory of persons, groups or organizations.

8. No political pamphlets, tracts, advertising or contributions from political parties or people seeking election will be published during an election period. However, politicians are free to utilize the newsletter outside of these periods to indicate what they are doing for our community and readers are fiee to respond with their views.

9. Every edition ofthe newsletter will contain a disclaimer indicating that the opinions expressed by contributors in no way reflect the opinions of the Association.

10. Contributors must understand that not all material received can be printed, given the limits of space in the newsletter.

I

1 --

7:00 p.m.

A lice MacKay Room

Come listen to the voices from The Heart of the Community - poetry, prose, articles, artwork and more, spanning life as the residents of Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood live and breath it in the Downtown Eastside.

The launch of this book, edited

by Paul Taylor, will feature some of the talented writers in

1,owc:r 1,evel

Central 1,il)rary 3.50 West Georgia St.

Reporting the News: A Workshop for new and seasoned writers.

Who? What? When? Where? Why? can be a framework, This will look at 1) How to find a story; 2) How to write it up; 3) How to find your own voice.

lpm This workshop will be held on the 2"d floor of the Four Corners Community Savings Wednesday, December 17, l l a m

at 390 Main Street. Go to the Pathways Reception desk to register and for access.

Participants will work towards writing for www.dtes.ca Community News.