February 15, 1994, carnegie newsletter

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- donallons occepled.

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401 Main St.. Vancouver V6A 2T7 (604)665-2289

FEBRUARY1 5 , 1994.

February 14 i s V a l e n t i n e ' s Day; i t ' s t h e day f o r a memorial march t o keep t h e s p i r i t a l i v e f o r changing treatment o f women i n t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e - o v e r 35 women have been murdered i n o u r neighbourhood i n t h e p a s t few y e a r s .

February 14 i s t h e day f o r C i t y C o u n c i l ' s meeting t o c o n s i d e r t h e P o l i c y Statement on development of t h e Port l a n d s between Canada P l a c e e a s t t o t h e n o r t h end o f Main S t . i n c l u d i n g Crab Park.

February 14 i s a l s o t h e day o f t h e Park Board meeting t o c o n s i d e r t h e Port development and how t h e h e l l d i d t h a t happen where b o t h t h e Park Board and C i t y Council meet a t t h e same time t o go o v e r t h e same i s s u e and how can t h e community respond without b e i n g s p l i t up from t h e s t a r t ?

T h a t ' s one minor i s s u e o f p r o c e s s , but a major i s s u e i s what appeared on t h e f r o n t pane of t h e Saturday

Sun - a Los Vegas-style c a s i n o i s p a r t of every developer's proposal - i s i n f a c t the centre-piece of massive p l a n s t o b u i l d a h o t e l and convention c e n t r e around s a i d c a s i n o with c r u i s e s h i p s and t o u r i s m a l l s e t t o go with a f a s t - p a c e d s t r i p ? ?

Reports, minutes o f e v e r y p u b l i c meeting, n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h both t h e P o r t o f Vancouver Corporation and t h e C i t y o f Vancouver t o g e t a r e a l Downtown E a s t s i d e community p r o c e s s i n p l a c e - a t none of t h e s e was even t h e i d e a of a c a s i n o mentioned. Not once! According t o t h e Sun s t o r y it was b e i n g c o n s i d e r e d and d i s c u s s e d a s f a r back a s September.

A t t h i s p o i n t it seems t h a t a l l t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s and w i l l i n g n e s s t o meet halfway have been s o much crud.

Given p a s t performance, t h e C i t y and t h e P o r t w i l l adopt and b e g i n work on t h e P o l i c y Statement. What s t a r t s then i s our determination t o any be an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f making p l a n / i d e a r e f l e c t awareness o f o u r needs.

By PAULR TAYLOR

t h o s e who a r e c a l l e d "shy" o r "backward" - t h o s e who a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y q u i e t , who l i k e t o be a l o n e , who s i t on t h e s i d e l i n e s 6 observe b u t do n o t p a r t i c i p a t e ; t h o s e c h i l d r e n who t e n d t o t u r n inwards, developing an % n r e a l " f a n t a s y world, a r e cons i d e r e d by p s y c h o l o g i s t s t o b e I'tempermentally f e a r f u l " o r " i n h i b i ted. " The e x p e r t s o f m a n i p u l a t i v e medi-

t h e s i d e o f a c t i v e , o u t g o i n g , compe t i t i v e , happy, c o - o p e r a t i v e persona l i t y ~ ;t h o s e of u s who s t a r t l i f e t h i s way w i l l b e c o n s i d e r e d h e a l t h y w i l l be encouro r "well-adjustedt' aged t o remain t h i s way ...b u t s a d , brooding p e r s o n a l i t i e s , such a s t h o s e who grow up i n t o Edgar Allan Poes , Vincent Van Goghs o r . Buckminst e r Fullers, w i l l not be tolerated.

S o c i e t y ' s new drugs w i l l b e admini s t e r e d t o such p e o p l e . I t s newlydeveloped g e n e t i c e n g i n e e r i n g t e c h n i q u e s w i l l be t e s t e d on them. Careg i v e r s w i l l be concerned f o r t h e well-being o f t h o s e who a r e n o t i n s t a n t j o i n e r s . They w i l l be diagnosed a s having an u n h e a l t h y r e l a t i o n s h i p t o s o c i e t y , E p a r e n t s w i l l work h a r -

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This s o r t of f u t u r e s i t u a t i o n is t h e runaways, t h e " r a d i c a l s " - t h o s e b e i n g designed t o d a y i n t h e name of -who f a i l t o honour t h e i r p a r e n t s I Itmental h e a l t h , I f b u t what do we r e a l l y know about t h e shy, i n t r o v e r - who, i n f a c t , become t h o r n s i n t h e . , '4 s i d e o f law-abiding c i t i z e n s , who t e d , unco-operative p e r s o n a l i t y ? ...i s it a s o u r c e of problems, o r i s m i s t a k e s E t h e u g l i n e s s of t h e "per- 1 , ~ i t simply t h e withdrawn o b s e r v i n g s i d e of o u r naturem p r o v i d i n g a nete s s a r y check G b a l a n c e t o s o c i e t y ' s "positive thinkerstf? ceded by g e n e t i c m a n i p u l a t i o n , G "Positive thinking" 6 aggressive, t h e n , i t seems t h a t "road t o h e l l v outgoing p e r s o n a l i t y s have been a source o f many world problems. They have g i v e n u s most o f o u r modern 1"conveniences" - t h e i n t e r n a l comb( u s t i o n e n g i n e , t h e assembly l i n e , 'modern pharmacology, chemical engin-) i pimpled f a c e of "progress". eering, superstores E television commercials a r e o n l y a few o f t h e high-powered i n v e n t i o n s o f t h e o u t 'going mind. The accumulated E f f e c t of such a c t i v i t y impacts on t h e p e r $ sonal e x i s t e n c e of every i n d i v i d u a l , I & i t ' s c l e a r t h a t such t h i n g s have J n o t always been "healthy" - i n f a c t , Dear Ann Landers, u n t o l d m i s e r y E c o n f u s i o n have come upon u s i n t h e wake of such wonderf o r t h e M u n i c i p a l i t y and t h e o t h e r f u l inventions. one h a s been s e n t e n c e d t o d e a t h i n P s y c h i a t r i s t s , psychologists 6 . t h e e l e c t r i c c h a i r . My mother d i e d p r o f e s s i o n a l " c a r e - g i v e r s f f would b e from i n s a n i t y when I was o n l y t h r e e advised to remember t h e o l d s a y y e 1 . ~y two sisters a r e both i n g : "The road t o h e l l i s paved with. and my father sells z good i n t e n t i o n s .

I narcotics.

I But t h e y t h i n k t h e y have i d e n t i f Recently I met t h i s g i r l who was i e d t h e enemy ...E t o t h e i r way o f i j u s t r e l e a s e d from a r e f o r m a t o r y t h i n k i n g , motivated a s i t i s by socwhere s h e s e r v e d t i m e f o r smothering i a l a c c e p t a b i l i t y & investment c a p i h e r i l l e g i t i m a t e c h i l d t o death. t a l , t o s a y n o t h i n g of t h e l u x u r y I l o v e t h i s g i r l and want t o marry c a r G t h e c r e d i t card vacation t o h e r . MY problem i s should I t e l l t h e enemy exotic tourist resorts h e r about my b r o t h e r who works f o r i s n o t "us" , a s Pogo h a s s o c l e a r l y t h e M u n i c i p a l i t y ? Sign me p u t i t , b u t "them". . . t h a t i s , t h o s e Disturbed.

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Carnegie C e n t r e T h e a t r e Wed. 23 Feb. 7:00 p.m.

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SKYTRAIN USERS Important news f o r t h o s e S k y t r a i n u s e r s i n a h u r r y i f you want t o g e t ahead o f t h e r u s h . Watch f o r t h o s e dark s p o t s which i n d i c a t e t h e s t o p s f o r t h e c a r s . The arrow and/or d o t shaped dark p u r p l e s p o t s a r e on t h e p l a t f o r m s b e s i d e t h e t r a c k s . They i n d i c a t e where t h e doors w i l l open.

The r e d E green marks r e v e a l where t h e l a s t and f i r s t c a r s w i l l stop.

I f you a r e l i k e me and t r y t o avo i d a crush of p a s s e n g e r s , t h a t i s t h e way t o go.

Dora Sanders

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Sponsored by t h e Carnegie Reading Room

Come and h e a r t h i s f i n e w r i t e r r e a d from h e r c o l l e c t i o n o f s h o r t s t o r i e s : RAPUNZEL, RAPUNZEL LET DOWN YOUR YELLOW HAIR. J a n c i s i s w e l l known a t Carnegie Centre and i n t h e e e r work and h e r concern w i t h women's i s s u e s .

Born i n England, J a n c i s r a n away om a v i o l e n t home a t t h e age o f 14 e j o i n e d t h e Women's Royal Navy S e r v i c e when s h e was 18 and s e r v e d a s a r a d i o o p e r a t o r i n Malta. I n 1966 s h e emigrated t o Canada w i t h h e r husband and d a u g h t e r , She obt a i n e d a d e g r e e from UBC i n 1991 a t t h e age of 53. J a n c i s h a s p u b l i s h e d numerous s t o r i e s and poems i n magaz i n e s and won s e v e r a l awards.

Donlt miss t h i s s p e c i a l program funded by B.C. W r i t e r s i n L i b r a r i e s .

For f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a c t E l e a n o r i n t h e Reading Room o r c a l l 665-3015.

C a r n e g i e ' s Unique System S e v e r a l Carnegie s t a f f , t u t o r s and l e a r n e r s h e l d a meeting i n Classroom # 2 i n t h e Learning C e n t r e , They d i s cussed t h e H i r i n g Committee t h a t i s b e i n g p u t t o g e t h e r t o choose Lex's replacement. (Lex's p o s i t i o n i s much l i k e t h a t of a school's p r i n c i p a l . ) Each group d i s p e r s e d t o d i f f e r e n t a r e a s i n t h e Learning C e n t r e t o s e l e c t 2 r e p s o f t h e i r p e e r s and t h e n a l l r e t u r n e d t o classroom 2 and t h e chosen r e p s made speeches.

The speeches were s t r o n g , with each r e p g i v i n g a good e x p l a n a t i o n o f where t h e y s t o o d i n t h i e r b e l i e f s , what t h e y want t o s e e i n Lex's r e p -

lacement and how good a r e p t h e y ' l l be on t h e h i r i n g committee.

Three s c h o o l board members, p l u s one s t a f f , one t u t o r and i l e a n e r w i l l be on t h e h i r i n g committee.

Thursday E F r i d a y , Feb. 10 E 11, were chosen a s v o t i n g- days i n which t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s were voted on. A b a l l o t box was p l a c e d on a t a b l e i n t j e open a r e a between classrooms and many new ESL l e a r n e r s were given a chance t o v o t e .

I t w i l l be some t i m e b e f o r e we know who among t h e 10 s h o r t l i s t e d f o r t h e i n t e r v i e w i n g p r o c e s s w i l l be chosen.

Dora Sanders

Budget Bull "Open process'' and " b u i l d i n g consensus" a r e t h e buzzwords o f t h e new L i b e r a l government i n Ottawa. They j u s t f i n i s h e d having f o u r pre-budget conferences - t h e l a s t one i n Calgary f o r Canada west o f O n t a r i o - and i t matched t h e format of t h e o t h e r s . You could a t t e n d i f i n v i t e d , and pay a l l expenses l i k e t r a v e l , h o t e l , meals The huge m a j o r i t y of t h e 100 people a t each one-day e v e n t were t h o s e a l ready f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e t e c h n i c a l side of budgetting - business represe n t i v e s , economists, academics - and were h a r d l y "average" Canadians. They were d e f i n i t e l y n o t r e p r e s e n t i t i v e o f t h e 1 2 p e r c e n t o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n who a r e unemployed, o r t h e m i l l i o n s o f women and c h i l d r e n who have been pushed i n t o p o v e r t y by t i g h t money p o l i c i e s and h a r d t i m e s .

One s e s s i o n I caught had a p r o f e s s o r of economics r e a d i n g a p a p e r h e ' d w r i t t e n , followed by t h e head o f MacBlo, followed by a woman who was t h e v i c e - p r e s i d e n t o f a bank, followed by a n u r s e t a l k i n g about t h e need f o r sound medicare and working h o s p i t a l s . The p r o f e s s o r t o l d how he had d i s c o v e r e d , w i t h t h e wisdom born o f years i n a university, t h a t there i s n o t enough money t o pay f o r b o t h economic growth and s o c i a l programs; t h e guy from MacBlo s a i d " I t ' s t i m e t o b i t e t h e b u l l e t and go i n t h e same d i r e c t i o n a s t h e r e s t o f t h e world.. . l e t ' s q u i t t a l k i n g and j u s t do i t ; " t h e banker spoke of . l o a n s t o governments i n t h e T h i r d World b e i n g a warning f o r u s - we j u s t c a n ' t a f f o r d " c o s t l y s o c i a l programstt.

Even t h e o r d e r o f s p e a k e r s was i n t e r e s t i n g - sandwich one v o i c e f o r maintaining G strengthening our s o c i a l s a f e t y n e t i n with 3 o r 4 who t a l k about ' a f f o r d a b i l i t y ' while e a r n i n g over $100,000 a y e a r .

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J e a n Swanson, founder of End Legisl a t e d Poverty and a b l e t o g e t through t h e smoke In m i r r o r s o f 'double e n t r y scams' l i k e t h i s , g o t an i n v i t a t i o n t o t h e conference i n Calgary a s a r e p f o r B . C . H e a l t h Care Advocates.

She responded t h a t , s i n c e she i s low income and unable t o pay f o r t h e t r i p t h a t t h e g o v ' t should pay. They r e f u s e d . No t r i p . . n o v o i c e . . o n e l e s s t o l i f t a c o r n e r o f t h e c u r t a i n ... what e l s e do you c a l l i t when "input" from "Canadians" becomes a one-day t e l e v i s e d forum o r g a n i s e d by b i g b u s i n e s s and s t a c k e d t o choking w i t h e x e c u t i v e hacks t o b e convincing w i t h Newspeak on t h e c a u s e s G c u r e s o f t h e d e f i c i t .

I ' d almost convinced myself t h a t t h e p r o f e s s o r would have some i n t e g r i t y and s t a t e t h a t t h e l a c k o f money i s because o v e r 100,000 c o r p o r a t i o n s pay 0 income t a x , o r t h a t t a x b r e a k s and l o o p h o l e s have p e r m i t t e d l o o t i n g of t h e r e s o u r c e s and t r e a s u r v o f Can-

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ada - b i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s a y e a r t o go on with a s m i l e by t h e wealthy o r j u s t t o s a y t h a t t h e crunch i s due t o n o t c o l l e c t i n g l e g i t i m a t e t a x money from t h e 1%of t h e p o p u l a t i o n who own .68% o f t h e w e a l t h .

I could imagine he s a i d i t d u r i n g t h e commercial, b u t t h e r e w e r e n ' t any commercials ...

By PAULR TAYLOR The budget s t a r t e d months b e f o r e t h e s e "conferences" and i s on i t s way t o t h e p r i n t e r while we're " i n p u t t i n g " . Making unemployment t h e main t o p i c o r t a l k i n g about p l a c e s t o get revenue (unpaid t a x e s . . . ) were outside t h e s t a t e d ?'financial s i t u a tion", meaning t h e d e f i c i t / n a t i o n a l debt t h a t t h e L i b e r a l s and b i g b u s i ness have hyped o u t o f a l l p r o p o r t i o n t o rational action.

What i t comes down t o i s t h a t t h e r e w i l l be l e s s money f o r w e l f a r e , unemployment i n s u r a n c e , e d u c a t i o n , medi c a l and h e a l t h c a r e , d i s a b i l i t y and s e n i o r s ' pensions - these a r e s o c i a l p r o g r a m s . . t h e s e make up o u r s o c i a l safety net.

The government i s manufacturing consensus and w i l l r i g h t e o u s l y s t a t e t h a t t h e i r c u t 6 s l a s h budget w i l l be mandated by "Canadians".

Crud.

P.S.:

STRUCTURE

7.

e r t a i n k i n d of way; h d when t h e w a t e r ' s r u And m i s t y i n t h e bay.

When t h e t r e e s a r e s t r i p p e d and Like t h e b a r r e l o f a gun.

I t h i n k o f Linda l i v i n g , Out by highway 401.

I t was a l a s t i n g w i n t e r , cold a s s p l i n t e r e d g l a s s .

AS

There was i c e up0n the There was snow upon t h e g r a s s .

She l i v e d beneath an o A c o l o u r of t h e s u n .

A l o n e l y s p o t of s u n s h i n e , Out by highway 401.

Now it d i d n ' t r e a l l y m a t t e r , Amidst t h e t r a f f i c ' s r o a r ; That she was pushing f i f t y , Maybe sixty,maybe more.

Beside t h e sound of t Beside each r o l l i n g t o n ; Linda l i v e d h e r q u i e t l i f e , Out by highway 401.

I remember when I met h e r , She was g r a c i o u s a s Wrapped warm i n s i d e And s i p p i n g steaming t e a .

Now what I ' v e s a i d I ' v e s a i d b e f o r e , When a l l i s s a i d and done.

She was t h e p e r f e c t l a d y , Out by highway 401.

And when t h e sky began t o show, I ' m s o r r y , I must r u n . " f e l t a touch of sadness, Out by highway 401.

,I

Someday I know t h a t I must d i e , Like e v e r y m o r t a l t h i n g .

Perhaps I ' l l walk i n P a r a d i s e , And h e a r an a n g e l s i n g .

But t h i s I know f o r c e r t a i n , When e t e r n i t y ' s begun.

I ' l l always t h i n k o f Linda, Out by highway 401.

Michael James McLellan

Death And The Olympic Games

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I n 1971 I was i n Cuernavaca, Mexico, a t t e n d i n g a seminar on a l t e r n a t i v e s t o s c h o o l . In Cuernavaca flowe r s grow i n J a n u a r y , and s h a r d s o f broken g l a s s imbedded i n t h e s t o n e w a l l s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e houses o f t h e r i c h g l i s t e n i n t h e sun.

One o f t h e f i r s t t h i n g s I l e a r n e d from o t h e r s t u d e n t s was t h a t i n 1968 - t h e y e a r o f t h e Olympic Games i n Mexico C i t y - about 400 Mexican peop l e were murdered by t h e p o l i c e during a huge d e m o n s t r a t i o n a g a i n s t i n justice.

A t f i r s t I refused t o believe the s t o r y because it seemed i m p o s s i b l e t h a t murder on t h a t s c a l e j u s t bef o r e t h e Olympic Games could b e

seemed u n j u s t t o them t h a t a t a time o f growing p o v e r t y and high unemploy ment, t h e Mexican government was spending m i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s on t h e Olympic Games.

By l a t e August, 1968, hundreds of thousands o f people were marching i n t h e s t r e e t s . The p o l i c e murdered about 30 more, threw thousands i n j a i l , and s a i d n o t h i n g about t h e many people who had d i s a p p e a r e d . The government d i d n ' t want t h e people p r o t e s t i n g i n f r o n t o f t h e cameras o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l media t h a t had come t o c o v e r t h e Olympic Games.

On October 2nd, one week b e f o r e t h e opening o f t h e Olympic Games, a huge crowd g a t h e r e d i n t h e p l a z a de

hushed up. Gradually, however, t h e e v e n t s of t h e time were v e r i f i e d and although t h e Mexican government w i l l deny t h e s t o r y , many books now menti o n i t . For example, s e e tlThe Death o f Ramon Gonzaleztt by Angus Wright, page 224-225.

The y e a r 1968 was a t i m e of u n r e s t i n t h e United S t a t e s , France, and o t h e r European c o u n t r i e s as w e l l a s Mexico. On J u l y 26th, w h i l e crowds were c e l e b r a t i n g Cuba's r e v o l u t i o n and p r o t e s t i n g p o l i c e b r u t a l i t y i n Mexico C i t y , 4 s t u d e n t s were k i l l e d and hundreds were wounded.

Peasant and l a b o u t groups became involved i n t h e p r o t e s t s because i t

l a s T r e s C u l t u r a s i n Mexico C i t y .

T h i s h i s t o r i c a l p l a z a was t h e s i t e of t h e f i n a l d e f e a t o f t h e Aztec p e o p l e , and u n t i l t h e 1985 e a r t h quake it c o n t a i n e d t h e remains of a pre-Columbian pyramid, a Spanish c o l o n i a l church, and a modern Fore i g n M i n i s t r y b u i l d i n g . The p o l i c e opened f i r e , k i l l i n g between t h r e e t o f i v e hundred people and wounding thousands o f o t h e r s .

A b l a c k o u t o f t h e news media f o l l owed, and t h e world n e v e r l e a r n e d t h a t t h e 1968 Olympics i n Mexico had been b u i l t on a f o u n d a t i o n o f blood.

By SANDY CAMERON

i s s u e , i s a l u c i d e x p l a n a t i o n o f how a l o t of u s a r e on w e l f a r e , b u t it d o e s n ' t g i v e a macroeconomic r e a s o n .

I am 23 and a l o t of people my age " b e l i e v e t h a t it was t h e Trudeau and ; ,I ~ u l r o n e yg e n e r a t i o n t h a t r a n t h e ecojnomy t o t h e ground, e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g $ t h e decadent e x c e s s e s of t h e 8 0 ' s .

Don't f o r g e t t h e greedy yuppies a r e \ t h e e x a c t same people who were once the so-called s p i r i t u a l hippies.

Twenty y e a r s ago one could g e t a house i n Vancouver f o r $20-$30,000Now even a p l a c e i n East Van could v e r y e a s i l y go f o r a h a l f - m i l l i o n .

The r e a l i s s u e i s t h e r a p i d d e c l i n e of purchasing power. m e S t a t e s , b e t t e r off i n terms of p u r c h a s i n g power, d o e s n ' t have t h e formidable s o c i a l

;

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really b u t t h e n aga - "Get a job where t h e he THE JOBS? ! !

Leon Trotsky l e a r n s how t o make propaganda : Look a t t h e s e beans; t h a t one i n t h e middle r e p r e s e n t s t h e Tzar.

Make a r i n g o f beans around t h e c e n t r a l one t o r e p r e s e n t h i s min s t e r s ; a r i n g around them i s t h e p r i e s t s and c a p i t a l i s t s ; around t h e o u t s i d e a r e t h e workers and peasants.

Now JUMBLE UP a l l t h e beans! ! !

Now t e l l me - which i s t h e Tzar?

omic p o l i c i e s . Make i l l e g a l s u i t e s ("That which governs b e s t , governs l e a s t . I ' - Thoreau) do that than work at some reclusive, redundant, meaningless occupation nvlwhere 1 am j u s t a n o t h e r expendable u n i t of production.

Post-secondary t r a i n i n g - 11d love i t ! Yet i t seems t h a t w i t h t u i t i o n h i k e s on t h e one hand and school budg e t c u t s on t h e o t h e r , w i t h each sue-

ce calls for inner kids finding themselves sent to the suburbs

11.

IApprehended

By SEAN MAGEE The provincial government is working with a Downtown East Side community group to recruit foster parents in Vancouver's inner city.

"Currently, o v e r 100 children are apprehended in our community every year," foster parent project co-ordinator Robin Posella said. "But there haven't been any foster parents in Strathcona and very few In the inner city that we can place them with.

"There's even fewer First Nations foster families, s o these kids end u p being placed in Mission, Coquitlam, White Rock - a long way from home."

The social services ministry's first priority in placing an apprehended child is to find foster parents with the same cultural background. -Proximity to the child's iatural family is asecond priority.

Given t h e high rate of appre.. hended children in the inner city, *Thl?lj particularly from OUT n a t i v e families.

ICo-op appealing for donations 1

T h e Ray-Cam C o - o p e r a t i v e Centre is looking for donations to its foster-parent lending library.

The library is operated by a social services ministry-sponsored project designed to increase the number of foster families in the inner city. organizers hope to collect good, usable cribs, beds, play-pens, car-

ture shock and economic shock of moving to another community."

Posella a n d the co-operative centre's foster parent project have identified t w o inner-city foster parents in the past year. One famiIv has successfuliy f i s t e r e d 15 children; the oth. er has iusf received i t s F i r s t E~~~ t h e s h o r t a g e of foster parents placement.

Another seven m e a n s c'hildren families are going are o f en separatthrough the applie d from their cation process. families, schools The main chaland communities. " @el Posella saysl is to dispel t h e -Most children are placed in myth t h s foster temporary care Robin Pose"a parents are white, for between a middle-class month and a year before returning home-owners.

Single parents, common-law couto their natural parents.

"So not only does the child lose ples, renters, tenants in subsidized t o u c h w i t h h i s o r h e r family," housing, people w h o work fullPosella said, "but there's the cul- time, and those on social assistance

have to accept culture and lifestyle, though we may live in poverty, it doesn't mean we're not good people with good lives.

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seats, toys, children's books and videos, sports equipment, bikes and furniture.

Items will be loaned to foster families to enrich the lives of inner-city c h i l d r e n t e m p o r a r i l y placed in their care.

Call 251-2141 for more information.

-Sean Magee

are all valid foster parents;she said, if they exhibit the ability to care for and nurture children.

"The ministry has .finally begun to realize that if they want First Nations foster families and inner-city foster families, they have to accept our culture and lifestyle," Posella said.

"Even though w e may live in poverty, it doesn't mean we're not good people with good lives."

A particular problem has been the recruitment of native foster families.

Thirty-th~eper cent of children taken by the ministry are native, but an equivalent number of native foster homes does not exist, particularly in the inner city.

Of the seven Downtown East Side families currently applying for foster care status, only two are native.

"It's important-to remember the Canadian ovemment took children. away froanative families and put, them all in residential schools," Posella said.

"That's a whole generation of ndtive parents who lost their p a ~ n t i n g skills and a whole generation esposed to a childhood of abuse and \ degradation.

"There has to be some sort of support to heal the ravages these schools have left on the native community."

Ceeds h a s a s u r p l u s o f o r g a n i c d v e g e t a b l e s . For a time we were n o t s u r e what t o dowith i t . Then ( 4 someone s u g g e s t e d t h a t we s u p p l y food f o r t h e Carnegie Volunteers Christmas banquet. An e x c e l l e n t t h a t f i t s r i g h t i n with our philoso-\ y, o u r p o l i t i c s . The d i n n e r was a l e b r a t i o n , a learning experience r a l l of u s . For i n s t a n c e when s announced t h a t t h e food was g a n i c a l l y produced t h e r e was a e a t b u r s t of enthusiasm. When we a r t e d o r g a n i c f a r m i n g 23 y e a r s o r g a n i c farming was t r e a t e d a s a t our l i f e t i m e i n t a k e of such . n o t s o today. People a r e becoming I aluminum s i l i c a t e were known, s u r e t h e accumulated more aware of t h e food t h e y e a t and R l l ~ 1 t h o s e who can a f f o r d it a r e s w i t c h i n g l l / b r a i n f u n c t i o n s would b e horrendous. t o organ i c ,F I P ~m""Iw!~rnrvW I ~IpPWl ~ lrl ~ I ~ m ~ ~ P ~ I \ ~ p I Early s e n i l i t y G Alzheimer's d i s e a s e ' i s no more fun t h a n c a n c e r . But, o f l"lb The o t h e r day on CBC Radio we h e a r d l course, c a n c e r 8 h e a r t f a i l u r e a r e r ' 1 1 a r e p o r t t h a t more women on low i n - $ ' /I I come were s u b j e c t t o b r e a s t c a n c e r . ' much b i g g e r bogeymen t h a n t h e h o s t The reason given was t h e i r l a c k of 1 1 1 vaguely d e f i n e d E u s u a l l y u n t r a c e a b e f f e c t s of an u n s o l i c i t e d chemother 1 lpy dumped on u s e v e r y day i n t h e /\name of p r o g r e s s .

IM&I"LI~~'~$~\ We a r e v i c t i m s i n s o many ways t h t h e b r i e f i l l u s o r y comfort o f a c i g a r e t t e i n a h o s t i l e environment i s almost a godsend. N i c o t i n e , way, was once b e l i e v e d t o be I'medication i n t h e t r e a t m e n t zophreniaf , even though t h e , l e r s o f y e s t e r d a y d i d n ' t know ' s c h i z o p h r e n i a was, any more t h a n t h o s e o f today do. &\AS f a r a s tobacco t )decreases i s concerned i t wo well f o r government a g e n t s t e r one t h i n g : No one can l e g { t h e personal health h a b i t s o i v i d u a l . In t h e long r u n , an t o do s o i s doomed t o e x t i n c Who would b e l i e v e t h a t h e a l t h c a r e g i v e r s would i n v e n t t h e p o l i t i c s :smoking E t h a t governments would

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DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

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STD C l i n i c Monday through Friday, 9am 5pm.

Mon, Wed, Friday, 5:30-7 :30 pm.

FREE MEDICAL CLINIC NEEDLE EXCHANGE 221 Main; every day. 9am 5pm.

Needle Exchange Van on t h e s t r e e t evenings, Mon-Sat. N.A. meets every Monday n i g h t a t 223 Main S t r e e t .

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Out-To-Lunch Bunch meets d a i l y a t 59 Powell, l o a m

1993 DONATIONS S t u a r t M.-$50 K e t t l e F.S.-$16 E t i e n n e S.-$50 Lisa E.-$10 Matt -$20 Keith C.-$20 Abby K.-$20 Anonymous -$75

Eleanor K. -$25 Adbusters -$SO J o y T.-$20 Legal Aid -$SO Marianne C. -$25 Paula R.-$20 S t e v e T.-$15 E r i c E. - $ I 6

Wayne H. -$4.50 Colleen E.-$20 William F . -$SO Adult Ed. - $ I 6 Roberts ALC -$30 CEEDS -$SO E m i l E.-$20 Mike H.-$100

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2:30pin.

TAI' NEWSLTTTI'R I S A PUBLICATION O r TIII' CAKNCGII' CO~QIINITY CTNTRF. ASSOCIATION. A r t i c l e - r e p r e ~ e n tt h e v i e w ? of ind l v i d u n l c o n t r i b u t o r s and n o t of the A s s o c i a t i o n .

Help i n t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e (funding) S o c i a l S e r v i c e s $1000 ! Vancouver H e a l t h Dept. - $ I 1 I Employment 4 Immigration -$800 r P . L . U . R . A . -$loo0

Submission Deadline NEXT ISSUE

NEED HELP ?

The Downtown Eastside Residents' Association can help you with: +

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any welfare problem information on legal rights dis~uteswith landlords unsafe living conditions income tax UIC problem finding housing opening a bank account

Come into the DERA office at 9 East Hastings St. or phone us at 682-0931.

DERA HAS BEEN SERVING THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE FOR 20 YEARS.

Tenants Tenants i n BC have been c a l l i n g f o r t h e r e t u r n of r e n t c o n t r o l s i n c e 1984 when t h e o l d system was a b o l i s h e d a s a p o l i t i c a l favour t o t h e province's c o r p o r a t e l a n d l o r d s and d e v e l o p e r s .

The "de-regulation" o f t h e housing market h a s been p a i d f o r by t e n a n t s i n rent increases; i n t h e l a s t f i v e y e a r s r e n t s i n many of BC' s urban c e n t r e s have r i s e n by more t h a n 50%.

Rent i n c r e a s e s can a l s o b e used by landlords t o r e t a l i a t e against tena n t s who s t a n d up f o r t h e i r r i g h t s .

On Dec. 14 Joan Smallwood, M i n i s t e r of Housing, announced a "Rent P r o t e c t i o n " system t h a t would go t o t h e l e g i s l a t u r e i n i t s Spring s e s s i o n .

Tenants' R i g h t s Action C o a l i t i o n (TRAC) was quick t o respond t o t h e m i n i s t e r ' s plan t o consult with t h e people a f f e c t e d . A system i s a s good a s t h e r u l e s and p r o c e d u r e s i n it;

Recommendations:

Rights it can b e good o r it can b e a s usef u l a s a b u r n t match.

TRAC d i s t r i b u t e d a d i s c u s s i o n p a p e r t o a s many t e n a n t groups and advocacy a g e n c i e s a s p o s s i b l e . The i n t r o s a y s : "Rent p r o t e c t i o n i s a m a t t e r of s o c i a l p o l i c y , n o t simply p r o t e c t i n g t h e r i g h t s of i n d i v i d u a l t e n a n t s . A f f o r d a b l e r e n t a l housing i s an importa n t s o c i a l r e s o u r c e . I t i s being eroded through re-development, l a n d s p e c u l a t i o n and i n c r e a s i n g r e n t s .

TRAC p o i n t s o u t t h a t any system to. d a t e i n Canada h a s g i v e n l a n d l o r d s a generous 'way o u t ' through l o o p h o l e s and making t h e l e g a l means d i f f i c u l t f o r t h e average t e n a n t t o access o r even understand.

Input and a c o - o p e r a t i v e r e s p o n s e from TRAC member groups and advocacy a g e n c i e s i s c r u c i a l . A summary o f recommendations f o l l o w s :

Fair is fair.

1) INITIATION: The l a n d l o r d s h o u l d d i s c l o s e reasons f o r a proposed i n c r e a s e a t t h e o u t s e t , u s i n g a p r e s c r i b e d r e n t i n c r e a s e form.

In c a s e o f disagreement, t h e l a n d l o r d should f i l e f o r Tenancy Branch i n t e r vention, not t h e tenant.

2 ) USER FEES: Any u s e r f e e f o r t h i s system should b e p a i d by t h e l a n d l o r d .

3 ) PENALTIES: Landlords who p r o v i d e f a l s e o r misleading i n formation e i t h e r t o t e n a n t s o r t o t h e Tenancy Branch should b e p e n a l i z e d ; p e n a l t i e s should b e a v a i l a b l e through a r b i t r a t ion.

4) BARRIERS TO THE SYSTEM: There can not be a "vacancy r a t e t h r e s h o l d " invoking t h e system o n l y when v a c a n c y r a t e s a r e low.

5) DISCLOSURE:

Landlords s h o u l d b e required t o disclose r e a s o n s f o r proposed r e n t i n c r e a s e s when t h e y g i v e n o t i c e t o t e n a n t s 6) JUSTIFICATION: Any c r i t e r i a used t o j u s t i f y an i n c r e a s e should presume t h a t t h e t e n a n t a l r e a d y pays f o r g e n e r a l r e p a i r s and maintenance with r e n t , a s w i l l a s f o r periodic c a p i t a l expenditures a s t h e b u i l d i n g ages. Furthermore, any c r i t e r i a e s t a b l i s h e d t o determine t h e j u s t i f i a b i l i t y of a r e n t i n c r e a s e must b e s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d and f a i r . Complex c r i t e r i a w i l l o n l y b e n e f i t l a r g e corpo r a t e l a n d l o r d s a t t h e expense of t e n ants.

6a) Operating c o s t s - Tenants should --------- -----pay r e n t i n c r e a s e s t o cover i n f l a t i o n - i n operating

c o s t s o n l y a s r e f l e c t e d i n a governm e n t - e s t a b l i s h e d index, n o t by l a n d l o r d s 6b) Major r e p a i r s / r e n o v a t i o n s - Rent ......................... inrceases based on c a p i t a l e x p e n d i t u r e s should b e allowed o n l y where t h e y c r e a t e an added b e n e f i t f o r t e n a n t s , and should g i v e t h e l a n d l o r d a f a i r r e t u r n on t h e investment - no more.

ISN'T IT TIME Repairs n e g l e c t - No r e n t i n c ---- ---- and ----------r e a s e should allowed f o r any reason where it i s wn t h a t t h e l a n d l o r d i s s y s t e m a t i c y neglecting the property.

Recent . . . . . . . . .i n. .c.r.e.a. s. .e.s. .f.o. .r . t. h. .a.t. .u n i t m y r e n t i n c r e a s e s between t e n a n t s should be s u b j e c t t o t h e same c r i t e r i a as any o t h e r r e n t i n c r e a s e . Also t h e h i s t o r y of r e n t i n c r e a s e s f o r t h a t u n i t and b u i l d i n g should b e a m a t t e r of p u b l i c r e c o r d .

6e) Consistency . . . . . . . . . . . . . .w . .i.t .h.i.n. .b. u. .i .l d. i n g - A l l of t h e u n i t s i n a b u i l d i n g should have t h e i r r e n t i n c r e a s e s s e t f o r a common d a t e .

Tenants who wish t o have t h e i r r e n t in c r e a s e s reviewed a t a j o i n t h e a r i n g should be allowed t o do t h i s with o r without l a n d l o r d consent (nowneeded).

6 f ) Rents f o r s i m i l a r u n i t s i n a r e a

6g) Refinancing ----- ------

Increased c o s t s r e l a t e d t o l a n d specul a t i o n should n e v e r b e passed on t o tenants.

6h) Phase i n l a r g e i n c r e a s e s - Maximum ........................ i n any y e a r w i l l n o t p u t any t e n a n t s a t r i s k of l o s i n g t h e i r homes, s o s u b s t a n t i a l i n c r e a s e s should b e phased i n .

7) EXEMPTIONS: A l l t e n a n t s covered by t h e R e s i d e n t i a l Tenancy Act ( t h a t i n c l u d e s t h o s e of u s who a r e l i v i n g i n h o t e l s and rooming houses) should be covered by t h e r e n t p r o t e c t ion system, except f o r t h o s e i n dwelli n g s where r e n t is t i e d t o income.

These a r e b a s i c . They w i l l a l s o make l o t s of l a n d l o r d s scream f o u l . Tenants a r e not s a i n t s and l a n d l o r d s a r e n o t d e v i l s , y e t more t h a n 140,000 t e n a n t households a c r o s s t h e p r o v i n c e pay more r e n t t h a n t h e y can a f f o r d . In t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e most of u s pay 5070 p e r c e n t of o u r income on substand. a r d housing, while people n o t on GAIN have t o pay according t o t h e s h e l t e r p o r t i o n s of GAIN r a t e s .

This i s o u r f i r s t chance i n 10 y e a r s t o c r e a t e a system t h a t could b e f a i r and j u s t . (*Material provided by TRAC s t a f f . )

~entS-Sh5Gid-n5t-6E-inFiiEiCEa~6~-Othe r b u i l d i n g s i n t h e neighbourhood.

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While r e n t a l supplement s e n i o r s and t h e handicapped l i v e comfortably i n t h e i r supplemented apartments, t h e y a r e a l s o a t r i s k o f domination by t h e i r apartment managers and o t h e r longterm t e n a n t s . Many f a i r l y new low income t e n a n t s a r e f o r c e d o u t o f t h e a f f o r d a b l e apartments by p r e s s u r e s from w i t h i n , e i t h e r by o t h e r t e n a n t s who know t h e wisdom of t h e system o f "Don't complain o r y o u ' l l b e c o n s i d e r e d mental" o r by s u b s i d i z e d low r e n t a l apartment managers. S e v e r a l of t h e s e t e n a n t s move o u t when f a c e d with t h i s .

Some managers may f e e l t h e y have t h e r i g h t t o c o n t r o l t h e i r supplement e d e l d e r l y and handicapped t e n a n t s a t w i l l . This leads t o t h e t e r r o r i s m o f t h o s e apartment r e s i d e n t s who cannot b e l i e v e t h e y have cbme t b a s t a g e i n t h e i r l i v e s where t h e y a r e going t o be t r e a t e d a s m i n d l e s s .

Poverty i s a handicap, b u t n o t a mental handicap. I t i s n o t a f a c t o f l i f e t h a t a l l p e r s o n s h a v i n g low i n comes (low enough t o g e t s u b s i d i z e d housing) need t o have t h e i r t h i n k i n g done f o r them.

An example: A f a i r l y new low i n c ome r e n t a l t e n a n t c a l l s t h e i r manager and makes a n o i s e complaint a g a i n s t a n o t h e r t e n a n t . The manager c a l l s t h e

t e n a n t t o t h e o f f i c e and, without ano t h e r word from them, t e l l s t h e t e n a n t t h a t i t ' s a l l i n t h e i r mind and t h a t t h e y a r e a "troublemaker". " E i t h e r move immediately o r go and s e e your d o c t o r . Get a l e t t e r from him s a y i n g you have v i s i t e d him. T e l l him t o p r e s c r i b e p i l l s f o r you t h a t w i l l calm you down and make you s l e e p What i s t h e name of your d o c t o r ?

Give it t o me."

A f t e r t h e stunned t e n a n t l e a v e s , t h e manager n e x t c a l l s t h a t d o c t o r and makes s u r e t h e t e n a n t g e t s t h e p r e s c r i p t i o n , and t h e n phones f o r a mental h e a l t h worker t o v i s i t t h e complainant and check them o v e r .

Forms must b e f i l l e d o u t by t h e ment a l h e a l t h o f f i c e r . Problem? Imagines n o i s y neighbour.

Rather t h a n u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e i r t e n a n t may have a l o g i c a l r e a s o n t o complain, t h e manager a v o i d s any r e s p o n s i b i l i t y by c a u s i n g t h e compla i n a n t t o b e doped up and l e s s o f a b o t h e r . A t t h e same time t h e manager c r e a t e s t e r r o r i n t h o s e t e n a n t s who may become v e r y a g i t a t e d a t b e i n g reduced t o t h e l e v e l of a n o t h i n g .

T h i s i s a v e r y mind-boggling way t o t r e a t low income, supplemented rental tenants.

Such enforcement o f "No c o m p l a i n t s f v i s b r u t a l , and i n i t s own way mindl e s s ...l e a d i n g t o t h e misery of t h o s e u n a b l e t o cope w i t h t h e t e r r o r i s m .

I question t h e a d v i s a b i l i t y of t r a i n i n g managers of supplement apartment b u i l d i n g s t o employ t h i s k i n d o f ' c o n t r o l ' o v e r t e n a n t s . I s it common? Do Mental H e a l t h workers have t h e r i g h t t o f o r c e such t e n a n t s i n t o mental h e a l t h c a r e and e n f o r c e t h e i r b e l i e f s , t h e i r i d e a of behavioural a c c e p t i b i l i t y l i k e t r a i n e d monkeys?

Low income r e n t a l t e n a n t s , no matt e r what t h e i r economic s t a t u s , have t h e r i g h t t o voice t h e i r opinions abd be t r e a t e d with r e s p e c t by apartment managers.

I f t h e managers c a n ' t h a n d l e t h e i r j o b s , t h e y should be f i r e d . I f t h e wealthy owners who run c h a i n s o f supposedly c h a r i t y b u i l d i n g s , with supplemented apartments, c a n ' t handl e normal r e n t a l management systems, t h e y should g e t o u t o f t h e b u s i n e s s .

By DORA SANDERS a victim.

FIRST NATIONS RADIO i n Vancouver 'When S p i r i t Whispers' i s Vancouve r ' s ONLY F i r s t Nations a r t s E e n t e r tainment r a d i o program, making i t s home comfortably a t Vancouver Co-op Radio, CFRO 102.7 FM. For t h e p a s t seven y e a r s 'When S p i r i t Whispers' has been produced and h o s t e d by Kerr i Charnley, E r i c Grey and Raymond Williams. In 1994, a f t e r w e l l o v e r 300 shows, i t c o n t i n u e s e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y t o b r i n g l i s t e n e r s words of wisdom and music t h a t i n s p i r e unwaveringly.

E r i c Grey h a s l e f t t h e program t o give more time t o h i s t r a d i t i o n a l a r t work; h i s l a t e s t e f f o r t s have him canoeing up t h e BC c o a s t with o t h e r s from Washington S t a t e .

K e r r i Charnely i s now an a c t i v e a u t h o r and a new mother. 'When S p i r i t Whispers' t r u l y r e a l i s e s t h e absense o f t h e s e i n d i v i d u a l s and acknowledges t h e i r d e d i c a t i o n t h a t e a t e d and s u s t a i n e d t h i s show.

I n t o t h i s new y e a r , 'When S p i r i t i s p e r s ' i s produced and h o s t e d by n a Robertson o f t h e Tsemshian Natn , Raymond Williams of t h e Kwagl t h Nation, and Bruce Gongola. g e t h e r t h e y w i l l have many g u e s t

h o s t s , such a s Rory Dawson, Broderi c k P r a i r i e Chicken 6 Douglas Lewis.

'When S p i r i t Whispers' h a s many s i g n i f i c a n t o b j e c t i v e s ; foremost i s t o t a p i n t o and p r e s e n t t h e r i c h and v a r i e d a r t s G music b e i n g c r e a t e d Buffy S a i n t Marie, XIT, Kashtan, Maurice McArthur, I n d i a n Nation, Milo Yellow H a i r , John T r u d e l l Welcome a r e comments and p a r t i c i p a t i o n ; we a r e looking f o r musicians, w r i t e r s and a r t i s t s who wish t o a i r t h e i r views, p l a y music, o r r e a d t h e i r works o f p o e t r y .

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'When S p i r i t Whispers' - llpm t o midnight - e v e r y Wednesday evening with a r e - b r o a d c a s t Monday mornings, loam.

Prayers I once was i n a dark world and l o s t I s t a y e d t h e r e a t any c o s t Alcohol and d r u g s were most important I d i d n ' t c a r e about a n y t h i n g b u t my a s s o r t m e n t

My l i f e was p a s s i n g by f a s t I t was time I had t o g e t a g r a s p I c o u l d n ' t do i t by m y s e l f , I t r i e d I prayed t o god f o r h e l p , I c r i e d P l e a s e h e l p me, show me t h e way I want t o be c l e a n and s o b e r today My p r a y e r s were answered awhile ago And now I have a l i f e t i m e o r s o .

David F i r t h

People come from a f a r Funny how it becomes But we have room For t h o s e who have No p l a c e t o go.

They come and go A s they please Hope i s everywhere But a l l t h e same The Lookout i s a P l a c e t o be when you Need h e l p and t o f e e l safe.

T h e r e ' s l o v e f o r people l i k e you a t t h e Lookout.

M. L .

The ELP Dictionary o f

SOCIAL POLICY NEWSPEAK But l i s t e n i n g t o t h i s s o c i a l p o l i c y Newspeak, you'd t h i n k p o v e r t y was caused by i n d i v i d u a l s l a c k i n g incent i v e , by dependent p e o p l e , by t h e p o v e r t y c y c l e , and low s e l f - e s t e e m .

You'd a l s o t h i n k t h a t everyone on w e l f a r e was a s i n g l e a b l e b o d i e d p e r son. In f a c t m i l l i o n s a r e c h i l d r e n .

Tens o f thousands a r e p e o p l e w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s . Hundreds of thousands a r e s i n g l e p a r e n t s a l r e a d y working at raising t h e i r children.

A t t h e End L e g i s l a t e d Poverty board meeting on J a n . 1 4 t h , people brainstormed about t h e language t h a t ' s b e i n g used t o imply t h a t t h e dismantling of our s o c i a l s a f e t y n e t i s a c t u a l l y good f o r u s . Here i s ELP1s l i s t o f t h e s e p h r a s e s and what t h e y r e a l l y mean.

I f t h e government came a l o n g and s a i d , "We're going t o s l a s h w e l f a r e o r unemployment i n s u r a n c e . . p e r i o d , " people might g e t a b i t f e a r f u l t h a t t h e s o c i a l s a f e t y n e t t h a t has kept o u r c o u n t r y a b i t c i v i l i z e d would be wrecked.

So s o c i a l p o l i c y makers a r e u s i n g some new p h r a s e s about w e l f a r e and UI--phrases t h a t make proposed changes seem l i k e t h e y a r e f o r t h e good o f t h e people on U I and w e l f a r e . . p h r a s e s t h a t seem p o s i t i v e u n t i l you look a t t h e d e t a i l s .

I n t e r e s t i n g l y , t h e p h r a s e s imply t h a t low income p e o p l e , n o t t h e lack o f j o b s o r d e c e n t wages, cause poverty. Free t r a d e , high t e c h , and corporate r e s t r u c t u r i n g a r e a l l r e ducing t h e number o f a v a i l a b l e j o b s .

I n c e n t i v e t o work. Often used i n s e n t e n c e s such a s "Cutting Unemployment I n s u r a n c e o r w e l f a r e t o p r o v i d e an i n c e n t i v e t o work." The i n c e n t i v e i s d e s p e r a t i o n .

I f p e o p l e c a n ' t r e l y on UI o r welfa r e , t h e y w i l l be s o d e s p e r a t e t h a t t h e y w i l l have t o t a k e any job, no m a t t e r how i l l - s u i t e d it is t o t h e i r s k i l l s and no m a t t e r how low t h e pay Reform. Used t o mean t o "make t h i n g s b e t t e r . Now, when a p p l i e d t o s o c i a l pronrams ( f o r example, " r e formu tile UI system) n e a r i y always means " t o make t h i n g s worse" f o r low income p e o p l e .

D i s i n c e n t i v e t o work. S i m i l a r t o "incentive t o work" o n l y t h e o p p o s i t e . Used i n s e n t e n c e s such a s "Welfare i s a d i s i n c e n t i v e t o work." The p h r a s e i m ~ l i e s t h a t p e o p l e would r a i h e r c o l l e c t p w e l f a r e t h a n work a t p a i d jobs. In ' L t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y of c a s e s t h i s i s 3 'Vat t r u e . According t o a r e c e n t at-/;,, i o n a l Council o f Welfare s t u d y , i n ' j c r e a s i n g minim~mwage t o $10 o r $11 [ a n hour would e l i m i n a t e v i r t u a l l y ? a n y " d i s i n ~ e n t i v et~o ~work i n t h e 171 we l f a r e system. I t wouldn't c o s t t a x ' a cent e i t h e r .

?

.'

Active, n o t p a s s i v e s o c i a l programs.

This i s used by t h e L i b e r a l s i n t h e i r l i t t l e r e d - p o l i c y book. They c l a i m t h a t e x i s t i n g programs keep people l a z i n g about, doing n o t h i n g .

The phrase i m p l i e s t h a t t r a i n i n g and prodding p e o p i ~t o g e t o f f w e l f a r e w i l l c r e a t e j o h s f o r them t o t a k e .

Trampoline e f f e c t : T h i s p h r a s e a t l e a s t recognizes t h a t people a r e going t o be l o s i n g a l o t of j o b s . S o c i a l programs, i t i m p l i e s , should be designed t o bounce people back i n t o j o b s , which s t i l l don't e x i s t .

Launching pad: S i m i l a r t o t r a m p o l i n e effect.

E j e c t i o n s e a t : To be h o n e s t , t h i s p h r a s e h a s o n l y been used a t End L e g i s l a t e d Poverty board meetings. Board member Andrew Lacombe i n v e n t e d i t . The p h r a s e r e f e r s t o t h e p o l i c i e s o f A l b e r t a and Michigan, where people a r e simply e j e c t e d o f f w e l f a r e i n t o d e s t i t u t i o n and homeless ness.

Hand up, n o t hand o u t : This term i s o u t o f t h e US and i s l a t e y b e i n g p l a g i a r i z e d by Canadian po i c y makers. I t i m p l i e s t h a t s o c i a l programs, a s t h e y a r e , always keep p e o p l e from g e t t i n g work.

If programs a r e changed t o p r o v i d e c o u n s e l l i n g , money-management s k i l l s , and t r a i n i n g f o r low wage j o b s , t h e t h e o r y goes, t h e n p e o p l e w i l l g e t o f f o f w e l f a r e . The r e a l i t y i s t h a t peopl e on w e l f a r e and U I w i l l t a k e a v a i l a b l e jobs when wages a r e h i g h enough t o s u s t a i n them. No prodding i s nece s s a r y . We need more d e c e n t j o b s and d e c e n t wages, n o t more prodding t o get o f f welfare.

Discouraging dependence: T h i s term implies t h a t t h a t w e l f a r e and UI c r e a t e "dependent people" l i k e c h i l d r e n . According t o t h i s t h e o r y t h e programs have t o be changed s o people d o n ' t u s e them. The r e a l i t y , again, i s t h a t people w i l l a u t o m a t i c a l l y t a k e j o b s when t h e y a r e a v a i l a b l e a t d e c e n t wages.

Bring s o c i a l prog.rams i n t o t h e 2 1 s t c e n t u r y : T h i s g e n e r a l l y means s l a s h and c u t s o c i a l programs s o p e o p l e w i l l have t o work a t low wage j o b s s o t h e y can compete w i t h people i n Mexico making $5 a day.

Breaking t h e c y c l e o f p o v e r t y : Lurki ng behind t h i s p h r a s e i s t h e t h e o r y t h a t c h i l d r e n a r e t a u g h t t o be poor by poor a d u l t s . They t h e n p a s s t h i s p r e ference f o r poverty onto t h e i r c h i l d r e n . Note t h a t no one i s e x h o r t e d t o "break t h e c y c l e o f wealth" where r i c h people p a s s t h e i r wealth on t o c h i l d r e n who p a s s it on t o t h e i r children, perpetuating i n e q u a l i t y of income d i s t r i b u t i o n . This shows t h e double s t a n d a r d o f media and s o c i a l p o l i c y makers.

s e l f esteem." I t i m p l i e s t h a t a s i n g l e p a r e n t must b u i l d h e r s e l f esteem a t a low wage r a t h e r than b her children t o Truly needy: Thi

sal programs, o r programs t o t h e 1 ' m e r e l y ' needy. I t i m p l i e s , f o r ex-

ample, t h a t p e o p l e on U I , who may g e t more t h a n people on w e l f a r e , should have t o g i v e up t h e UI s o t h e g o v l t can c u t t h e d e f i c i t and. maint a i n payments t o t h e " t r u l y needy1'.

Lost i n t h e d i a l o g u e i s t h e s t a t u s of t h e t r u l y greedy, who, one assume s , c o n t i n u e on with t h e i r t a x b r e a k s and i n c e n t i v e s t o accumulate.

-

Training f o r t h e jobs of t h e f u t u r e ; T h i s p h r a s e i s used t o imply t h a t i f o n l y we g o t o u r s e l v e s t r a i n e d i n computer programming o r a i r t r a f f i c c o n t r o l l i n g , we could g e t o f f welfa r e o r U I and be s e t f o r t h e f u t u r e .

I n f a c t , we d o n ' t need 1 . 5 m i l l i o n people ( t h e number o f unemployed i n Canada) i n new h i g h t e c h j o b s . T r a i n i n g does n o t c r e a t e jobs. A v a i l a b l e j o b s a r e mostly low wage. Tens o f thousands o f p e o p l e g e t t r a i n e d and then c a n ' t f i n d work. They a r e pushed o u t i n t o t h e l a b o u r f o r c e t o comp e t e with t h o s e who do have j o b s and p u l l wages down because t h e y a r e trained f o r exploitation. c u l t u r e : This i s a n o t h e r phrase t h a t implies a t poor p e o p l e l i k e t o be poor and a t t h e y need c o u n s e l l i n g from mide c l a s s p r o f e s s i o n a l s t o h e l p them oose a n o t h e r l ' c u l t u r e , " presumably e t h a t s u p p l i e s more money.

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of u s s t a r t p i c k i n g up GAIN cheques - i n person because o f t h e changes i n M.S.S. p o l i c y .

End L e g i s l a t e d Poverty w i l l have an e x t r a 10,000 c o p i e s o f i t s Newsl e t t e r t h a t day, s o I won't r e p e a t s t u f f h e r e . We've had a couple of lawyers and l e g a l s t u d e n t s look a t t h e changes and a t making a l l "empl o y a b l e ~ "and c h i l d l e s s c o u p l e s p i c k up cheques i n p e r s o n . McPhail E Harc o u r t a r e dancing t o t h e 'Golden Good i e ' o f Blame The Victim, hyped by t h e media and Gordon Campbell's Tax Revolt crowd. The lawyers s e n t a l e t t e r t o J o y McPhail a s k i n g f o r a w r i t t e n response d e t a i l i n g "the purpose o f . . r e q u i r i n g cheque pickup/automat i c a d m i n i s t r a t i o n f o r people whose cheques a r e l o s t o r s t o l e n / r e c o v e r i n g s e c u r i t y d e p o s i t s d i r e c t l y from landl o r d s / f o r c i n g p a r e n t s whose youngest c h i l d i s 12 t o t a k e any employment.. and t h e evidence t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y r e l i e d upon t h a t choosing each o f t h e o p t i o n s above would a c h i e v e t h e o r i g i n a l purpose. " The TAX FACTS i n t h i s i s s u e might g i v e you an i d e a o f w h a t ' s going on.

Tax &cts Between 1961 and 1992, t h e s h a r e o f f e d e r a l revenue coming from p e r s o n a l income t a x e s h a s jumped from 32 p e r c e n t t o 48 p e r c e n t w h i l e t h e s h a r e from c o r p o r a t i o n s h a s dropped from 21 p e r c e n t t o j u s t 7 p e r c e n t .

I n 1992, 93,405 p r o f i t a b l e c o r p o r a t i o n s made $27 b i l l i o n i n p r o f i t s without paying one c e n t i n f e d e r a l t a x e s .

For t h e p o o r e s t 20 p e r c e n t o f f a m i l i e s , income t a x e s have more t h a n doubled s i n c e 1984.

The Business Entertainment d e d u c t i o n allows b u s i n e s s t o deduct 80 p e r c e n t of t h e c o s t s of a l l t h e i r "business" lunches and e n t e r t a i n m e n t . T h i s loophole c o s t s t h e government about $1 b i l l i o n a y e a r .

90 p e r c e n t o f a l l t i c k e t s t o Blue J a y s games a r e deducted under t h e Business Entertainment Deduction.

"At a time when Canada h a s more t h a n 12 p e r c e n t unemployment and hundreds of thousands of people a r e dependant upon s e r v i c e s which a r e b e i n g c u t because o f t h e d e f i c i t l l c r i s i s r l , Canada c o n t i n u e s t o have t h e lowest c o r p o r a t e t a x r a t e i n any i n d u s t r i a l i z e d c o u n t r y i n t h e world."

CHILL IN

Garry Gust

How easy it is to forget. Around this time last year we were disturbed by the World Trade Center bombing and the Branch Divinian madness.

This year it's the extortive toba co taxes, welfare fraud, sliced o penis condonations, figure skatin conspiracies, and the national passion over the deficit.

It's two california juries that couldn't decide if they should punish the Mendenez brbthers for slaughtering their parents; and it's a Canadian court giving only a ten year sentence to a man who killed two women, one of which was pregnant, because he was high on cocaine.

Every year North America gets weirder and weirder.

If this trend continues, the American Empire will be in full decline by the year 2,000, and those of us still remaining will surely be treated as outcasts by the rest of the world.

What is it about this well endowed continent that causes us to squander our chance at advancing mankind to an improved specie in step with natural evolution.

Acquired apathy has turned us into a society of unfeeling monsters where human life is as cheap as yesterday's headlines.

The over tolerarit, politically correct, liberal minded, anything goes ideology has eroded our collective sensitivities to the point of mass social insani tv.

It's as if we all secretly realize that Earth could get along very well without the human being, but we cling to our existence like a wounded pig drinking its own blood so as not to die of thirst.

If we don't get back to a "Let The Punishment Fit The Crime" justice system, the value of a life will continue to diminish until we reach a point of warranted extinction.

But cheer up; maybe we'll get it right the next time around.

GOING COUNTRY Find out how you can join in

country living At the CEEDS organic farm in the Cariboo.

Video and Music Show Thursday, February 17, 1994. 4 p.m.

Carnegie Centre, 401 Main St. (info: 253-47181