January 15, 1992, carnegie newsletter by Carnegie Newsletter

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d o l l i l l l o l ~ sl l c c ~ ! p l ~ ! d .

NEWSLETTER

JANUAP.Y 1 5 , 1992.

401 Main S t . , Vcncouver (V6A 2T7) 665-2289

Wish List Front-Line Advocate Workerst Wish L i s t The M i n i s t r y of S o c i a l S e r v i c e s (MSS) has announced i n c r e a s e s i n l e v e l s of income a s s i s t a n c e , beginning with cheques f o r February 1992. Money s t i l l g e t s separa t e d i n t o 2 p a r t s - support E s h e l t e r - E experience shows t h a t l a n d l o r d s immediately'h i k e r e n t s equal t o o r g r e a t e r than any i n c r e a s e i n t h e s h e l t e r p o r t i o n . ltSupport"..food, c l o t h e s , over-the-counte r drugs, e d u c a t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , r e c r e a t i o n and s o on - LIFE - is supposed t o be covered by whatever money i s l e f t a f t e r paying t h e r e n t . Most rooms G apartments c o s t more than t h i s maximum f o r s h e l t e r ; i n t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e and throughout t h e province even laces occu- - - . pied almost e x c i u s i v e l y by weifare r e c i p i e n t s r o u t i n e l y c o s t $20-$40 more than t h e maximum f o r s h e l t e r . The new r a t e s l i s t e d below show t o t a l s ; what p a r t o f i n c r e a s e s a r e f h e l t e r d r sufiporp i S n t t knowfi yeb:, -

Category S i n g l e , employable S i n g l e , handicapped Couple, employable Single parent, 2 children 2 p a r e n t s , 2 k i d s , unemptble 2 p a r e n t s , 5 k i d s , emptble ".

Old

New

$so0 $525 694 837 1033 1144 1407

739 872 1131 1242 1587

FEA#S;6 members .;of End L e g i s l a t e d Poverty met with Joan Smallwood, new NDP M i n i s t e r of S o c i a l Services. "Wish L i s t w may sound l i k e a dream, but t h e following i s s u e s have t h e wealth of experience from l i v i n g on incomes 40-55% below poverty l i n e s :

Longterm goals - -----------1) Welfare r a t e s i n c r e a s e d t o above t h e poverty 1i n e 2) Minimum wage increased t o above t h e poverty l i n e ; 3) Review of MSS i n r e l a t i o n t o f e d e r a l t r a n s f e r payments (CAP funding) & work - with t h e f e d e r a l government.

p a r e n t s having t h e i r youngest c h i l d o l d e r t h a n 6 months wemployable", reduced t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e cheques $50 a month a s an "inc e n t i v e " & forced them t o a c t i v e l y seek I ; any work i n any c o n d i t i o n s a t any wage. Benefit t o t h e family was a moot p o i n t . . t h e absence o f affordable c h i l d c a r e was ir-i r e l e v a n t . . t h e e f f e c t on c h i l d r e n a s young a s 6 months being without t h e food $50 would buy, t h e misery o f a p a r e n t t r y i n g t o f e e d , c l o t h e , house, educate o r g e t medical a i d f o r h e r l h i m s e l f E family on a wage of $5 an hour (maybe $65O/mo a f t e r ded u c t i o n s ) was ignored. ELP fought f o r nine months t o have t h e $50 r e s t o r e d but t h e forced employment r e g u l a t i o n continued. M s . Smallwood abolished t h i s r e g u l a t i o n f o r single parents. ~

Short term g o a l s I]-RG&i@-fhG-def i n i t ion o f handicapped t o be more i n c l u s i v e ; 2 ) Earnings exemptions: g e t r i d of r e s t r i c t i o n s o f enhanced e a r n i n g s l i k e time limits, handicapped v s o t h e r s ; 3) Get r i d of employab able" & "unemployabl e f t c a t e g o r i e s 6 i n c r e a s e a l l welfare t o a t l e a s t c u r r e n t unemployable r a t e ; 4 ) ' S t o p forced employment of s i n g l e pare n t s on welfare E ltemployables";* 5) Moratorium on j u d i c i a l reviews o f welf a r e tribunal decisions; 6) Abolish t h e d i s t i n c t i o n between s h e l t e r ,and support payments; 7) Make q u a l i t y t h e r a p y f o r sexual abuse s u r v i v o r s a v a i l a b l e E funded; 8) Review t h e Family & Child S e r v i c e s Act;** 9) Stop involuntary r e g i s t r a t i o n of women on welfare with t h e Family Maintenance Enforcement Program; 10 Stop lump sum deductions o f Sack famil y G criminal i n j u r i e s payments from welfare cheques; 11 Funding f o r community groups t o make ..:~s!Ihi.ssions t o Review Panel (**) ; 12 Income Assistance f o r youth - t h e y can s t a y i n school E n o t q u i t t o go work; 1 3 BUS passes f o r a l l people on welfare & t h e working poor below poverty l i n e s ; 1 4 Abolish a l l u s e r f e e s f o r medical s e r v ices, prescriptions E alternatives; 15 Return of t h e rentalsman; 16 L i s t of l o c a l advocates i n every MSS off ice. e socreds, i n 1988, d e c l a r e d s i n g l e

inc ge. CO'

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** Smallwood has i n s t i t u t e d t h e formation & mandate of a Review Panel f o r t h e Family & Child S e r v i c e s Act. Both P a t r i c i a Chauncey, who d i d much o f t h e i n c r e d i b l e work with Linda Marcotte t o e s t a b l i s h lunch programs i n s e v e r a l Vancouver schools E Freda McClelland, formerly with DERA and now working with t h e BC C o a l i t i o n of People with D i s a b i l i t i e s , a r e on t h i s Panel. And t h e Big P i c t u r e

The i n c r e a s e s i n a s s i s t a n c e l e v e l s a r e ! d i s a p p o i n t i n g , given t h e r e a l i t i e s of pove r t y . A t t h e same time, almost doubling I r a t e s t o reach t h e poverty l i n e would have brought c r i e s o f rage from business E midd l e income e a r n e r s . The double yoke on governments a c r o s s Canada f i g h t now, due t o t h e "free" t r a d e agreement/GST/privatisation/deregulation i s , on t h e one hand, dramatic i n c r e a s e s i n job l o s s e s , p l a n t c l o s u r e s , e t c . dramatica l l y i n c r e a s i n g t h e burden on s o c i a l programs such a s medicare, UI E welfare. On t h e o t h e r hand a r e small b u s i n e s s e s 6 employed people angry a t i n c r e a s e s i n t h e i r t a x e s . Above both s i d e s & e s s e n t i a l l y manip u l a t i n g both a r e t h e t r a n s n a t i o n a l corpora t i o n s , wanting t o entrench t h e " r i g h t s " of Big Business i n Canada's C o n s t i t u t i o n , f o r c e Canada i n t o being nothing more than a 3rd world country, t h r e a t e n i n g t o p u l l o u t o r j u s t l e a v i n g f o r p l a c e s l i k e Mexico t o maximize p r o f i t : ,,screw Canada o r t h e IUSA.

' 1

I t i s t h i s l a s t - t h e t h r e a t o f taking income-producing jobs & i n d u s t r y - t h a t g e t s t r a n s n a t i o n a l s what t h e y want: t a x concessions, "free" t r a d e & no gov' t i n t e r f e r e n c e i n any p l a n o r scam t o make money and damn t h e consequences. I t a l l interconnects.

There a r e sound a l t e r n a t i v e s t h a t would make f a i r n e s s t h e o r d e r of t h e day - f a i r t r a d e , f a i r t a x e s , f a i r s o c i a l programs, 3 . f a i r t o t h e environment & animals, f a i r i n j u s t i c e & i n hope. A new socio-economic o r d e r must be evolved t h a t w i l l reduce t h e d i s p a r i t y o f wealth & i n c r e a s e production & purchasing power. This w i l l i n c r e a s e t h e c i r c u l a t i o n of money throughout t h e whole economy & t h e whole population; t h e economy w i l l again become h e a l t h y & dynamic.

* Guaranteed purchs-ing power - employment for all;

* Key i n d u s t r i e s & c e n t r a l banks organised a s public u t i l i t i e s . . n o profit/no loss;

* C e i l i n g s on wealth (income E i n h e r i t a n c e ) * Worker ownership: co-operatives a s a maiThe Tories (Progressive Conservatives) conned people about t h e lfbenefit'! 'thb Free Trade Agreement would b r i n g ; t h e GST was a d v e r t i s e d a s "revenue n e u t r a l t 1 ; p r i v a t i s a t i o n & d e r e g u l a t i o n & g l o b a l competition a r e a l l of t h i s "no a l t e r n a t i v e " b u l l s h i t t h e y s a t u r a t e t h e p u b l i c with. L i b e r a l s & t h e Reform p a r t y tow t h e same l i n e but t h e ' T o r i e s a r e t h e most obscene about it. They keep blaming g o v t t spending f o r t h e c u r r a e n t r e c e s s i o n (almost depression i n Ontar) i o due t o c a p i t a l s t r i k e / f l i g h t & c r o s s 1 border shopping), while s o c i a l programs ' have been r e l a t i v e l y f l a t f o r years. I t ' s t h e y e a r s of r e d u c t i o n s i n income t a x e s f o r t r a n s n a t i o n a l s , c o r p o r a t i o n s & t h e supe r r i c h t h a t has c r e a t e 2 d e f i c i t s & debts:

o r s e c t o r of economy..co-op banks;

* D e c e n t r a l i s a t i o n o f economic development i n t o regional, self-sufficient units.

These a r e some of t h e guiding p r i n c i p l e s of PROUT, an acronym f o r Progressive U t i l i s a t i o n Theory propounded by P. R. Sarkar. I t i s now a world-wide movement; woman & men o f a l l r a c e s & a l l peoples whb are::seeking an a l t e r n a t i v e t o c a p i t a l i s m & communism. The goal o f PROUT i s t o c r e a t e a harmonious s o c i e t y t h a t ensures t h e welfare of a l l c r e a t u r > ? s . .humans, animals & p l a n t s .

Ren;wable energy systems can convert the p r e s e n t use o f environmentally dangerous, imported & expensive sources of energy o i l - t o l o c a l l y derived, s u s t a i n a b l e ones l i k e hydel u n i t s , biogas p l a n t s , windmills & s o l a r hot water h e a t e r s , pumps & l i g h t s . By c r e a t i n g employment o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r The next s t e p , i f a North American Free l o c a l people & s u b s t i t u t i n g l o c a l products Trade Agreement (NAFTA - Canada/US/Mexico) f o r imports, cooperative e n t e r p r i s e s can becomes law, w i l l be t h e imfamous S t r u c t u r a l Adjustment Programs imposed almost un- h e l p solve problems of unemployment and capital drain. iformly on 3rd World c o u n t r i e s by t h e InWhen people have meaningful employment, t e r n a t i o n a l Monetary Fund & t h e World Bank. Under t h e s e , governments cannot enact laws work can become a s i t should be - an expo r r e g u l a t i o n s t h a t would b e n e f i t c i t i z e n s r e s s i o n of t h e inborn c r e a t i v i t y which we a l l possess. i f they c u r t a i l t h e maximisation o f p r o f i t & paymentsflon t h e now e t e r n a l d e b t .

1 I

S p i r i t u a l Renewal Unlike t h e m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h i e s o f c a p i t a l i s m ' t communism, PROUT d o e s n ' t a s s ume t h a t m a t e r i a l consumption b r i n g s huma~ h a p p i n e s s . The e x c e s s e s & p s y c h i c g r i e f of p e o p l e o f s o - c a l l e d wdevelopedt' n a t i o n G t h e i r increasing yearning f o r i n n e r peace h a s exposed t h e i r s p i r i t u a l p o v e r t y i n t h e midst o f p l e n t y . C o u n t l e s s c o o p e r a t i v e e x p e r i m e n t s have f a i l e d because o f t h e members' i n a b i l i t y t o transcend t h e i r p e t t y s e l f i s h d e s i r e s f o r t h e common good. I n t h e coming y e a r s o u r g r e a t e s t a s s e t w i l l be i n n e r s t r e n g t h A t t h e end o f t h e m i l l e n i u m b o t h c a p i t a l i s m & communism w i l l s e l f - d e s t r u c t . Both have brought s o c i e t y t o what S a r k a r c a l l e an " o m n i - s t a t i c s t a t e " i n which, due t o extreme e x p l o i t a t i o n , s o c i a l p r o g r e s s h a s c e a s e d . The b a s i c human, s p i r i t u a l v a l u e s o f l i f e have been abandoned; c y n i c i s m and n i h i l i s m have become rampant.

Now we need l e a d e r s w i t h v i s i o n & d e t e : mination t o b r i n g about a p o s t -communist p o s t - c a p i t a l i s t economy b a s e d on t h e principles of * D e c e n t r a l i s e d , s u s t a i n a b l e developmen. * Local s e l f - r e l i a n c e ; * Cooperative e n t e r p r i s e ; * Environmental s e n s i t i v i t y . We need a f i r m s e n s e o f p u r p o s e : b u i l d ing a v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e t o t o d a y ' s u r b a ized, overcentral ised 4 alienated s o c i e t To p a r a p h r a s e S t a r Wars, a s t r a n s n a t i o a l s g e t more b l u n t & c r u d e i n t r y i n g t o g a i n complete con-trol t h e y won't s e e t h e dead-end o f t h e i r t a c t i c s . The coming t u r b u l e n t y e a r s w i l l b e a t i m e o f t e s t i n g f o r u s a l l . Every c h o i c e we make a f f e c t s f u t u r e c h o i c e s . D i d i Anandamitra wrote p a r t o f t h e s e c t i o n d e a l i n g w i t h PROUT. Common s e n s e i s t h e b i r t h r i g h t of u s a l l . By PAULR

TAYLOR

She went t h r o u g h l i f e w i t h a s i l v e r spoon So s h e c o u l d n ' t o r wouldn't u n d e r s t a n d 4nyone e l s e ' s p a i n o r t r o u b l e s For h e r e v e r y t h i n g was s o e a s y 411 s h e had t o d o was h i n t a t what s h e ~ a n t e dand it was p r o v i d e d h a p p i l y lever failing--dow c o u l d s h e u n d e r s t a n d t h e needs o f o t h e r s , n e e d s n e v e r f i l l e d when h e r needs were s o e a s i l y met Vever mind t h e p a i n o f t h i r d world c o u n t r i e s - e s p e c i a l l y women She would j u s t s a y " t h a t ' s r i d i c u l o u s ! I ' "why d o n ' t t h e y j u s t p u t t h e i r f o o t down s t a n d up f o r t h c i r r i g h t s . . what's t h e i r p r ~ b l e m ? ! ' ~ low could s h e ( s h e w i t h t h e s i l v e r spoon) r n d e r s t a n d a woman having t o c a r r y w a t e r f o r m i l e s , o r working i n a f a r m e r ' s f i e l d f o r hours, o r feeding h e r c h i l d r e n s c r a p s ) f bone i n w a t e r I f n o t f o r l u c k o r God, i t c o u l d b e h e r , o r me o r you----------------------I c a n ' t h e l p t h i n k i n g ' b o u t t h e news Russians s t a r v i n g , Croatians f i g h t i n g 50 l i t t l e we can do, even u n d e r s t a n d w d s o few p e o p l e even g i v i n g a damn.. )r s o it seems.. The q u e s t i o n i s , a r e r i c h e r c o u n t r i e s ' e f f o r t s even h o n e s t . . I mean, where does t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y b e g i n --3ut sometimes l i f e j u s t a i n ' t f a i r . . i t a i n ' t 3ur r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . .and y e t i t i s , i t i s you know a b o u t t h e l e a s t o f t h e s e . . So it g o e s on and on - t h e l a t e n i g h t h o r r o r s t o r y e v e r y d a y everywhere I sometimes t h i n k God's a n g e l s must b e v e r y sad..must be b l e e d i n g I d o n ' t know i f a n g e l s b l e e d b u t i f t h e y do t h e y a r e --- whose f a u l t i s i t . Some p e o p l e f i n d it d i f f i c u l t t o s u r v i v e i n t h i s i n s a n e world rhink o f homeless Kurds, l o s t r e f u g e e s , p o l i t i c a l p r i s o n e r s i n j a i l f o r nothing. I t ' s no g r e a t m y s t e r y t o me Some f o l k s f i n d i t h a r d t o s u r v i v e If n o t f o r l u c k o r p l a c e o f b i r t h -. it c o u l d be you o r I . :I

n n v c McCnnn6.l 1

To The'Goddess o f Peace:

The n i g h t l y a b r e a c t i o n o f wanting you i s l i k e t h e a c c e s s t i m e o f a computed desire, The a c c u l t u r a t i o n of o u r d u a l p e e r ships is dissolving our aesthetic dist a n c e , making my p e r c e p t i o n o f you constantly nurtured. But n o t h i n g o f i t w i l l come t o a c t u a l i t y u n t i l a stimulus exceeds t h e t h r e s hold v a l u e of o u r d i s c r e e t senses. The name you have been d e f i n e d u n d e r i s i d e a l i s t i c , and s o e l u s i v e on t h e s e endless nights. I want t o b e w i t h you now! I grow e x t i n c t w a i t i n g f o r your e n t i r e p r e s e n c e on t h e f a c e o f t h i s e a r t h .

Garry Gust

Renovation More r e c e n t l y , t h e y were working t o g e t h e r t o open-supply r o u t e s through guerilla-held t e r r i t o r y , g e t t i n g help t o t h e people:

.-,-.

t h e r e i s no f o r e s t i n t h i s poem. i t i s n o t h i n g l i k e t h e s p i r a l of increasing curves inside a n a u t i l u s shell as b e a u t i f u l a s any o t h e r t h i n g on e a r t h , t h a t t h e n a u t i l u s made o n l y f o r t h e humdrum o f e a r n i n g i t s l i v i n g and n e v e r meant i t t o be s e e n . h e r e t h e poem i s a b a r e l a n d s c a p e , f l a t and d r y , and i a s k you, i n a v o i c e b o t h y o u r s and mine: how a r e you b e i n g a l i v e a s you r e a d t h i s ? when you answer, w i t h a v o i c e b o t h y o u r s and mine; how a r e you b e i n g a l i v e a s you w r i t e ? we have come t o t h e f a r t h e s t edge o f t h e poem. beyond t h i s a wind i s a l r e a d y r i s i n g t h r o u g h t h e b r a n c h e s , ar,d t h e s h e l l i s a l r e a d y t u r n i n g and t u r n i n g i n o u r hands. andy a l e x a n d e r

McArthurslSongs About Real Life, For Real People By Aaron Nelson Vancouver

A open, friendly man, Maurice McArthur seemed almost embarassed to say how much he likes being here in Vancouver. "Wow." He said quietly, about the feedback he's got so far about his music. "And I can't express that enough." McArthur, Assiniboine, comes to town with his new album. Jlisrice Now.

Maurice finds that he's ;;,et many more people here to get feedback from about the lyrics from his songs, which he describes as, "Just songs of fact," he said. "I would like them to be accurate in detail, and truthful. They are different things." McArthur said, and carefully explained the difference between the two, saying that the facts do not always add up to the whole truth. The melodv

and emotions of singing the song add a lot to the carefully researched details of events such as Oka. or the release of Donald Marshall. McArthur's songs are not all historical incidents, but many seem based in reaction to the world around him.. . both beautiful and painful. It's music, McArthur says with a gentle smile, which will appeal

Maurice McArhlrr in Vancouver for ~ipcominqcllhrmi. brines recent ;elease Justice Now.

Premier Pussyfoot The f i r s t n e g a t i v e s i g n from t h e Harcourt government was when he l e f t Emery Barnes o u t o f c a b i n e t . Emery Barnes was t h e l o g i c a l choice f o r t h e Dept. of Human misery. He p e r s o n a l l y l i v e d on t h e meagre w e l f a r e r a t e a s an experiment t o prove how inadequate it is. I guess- Premier. pussyfoot d i d n ' t want t o o f f e n d any of h i s right-wing money boys by moving w e l f a r e r a t e s up. Maybe i f he does i t slow enough he won't o f f e n d any o f h i s c o n s e r v a t i v e voters. I n o p p o s i t i o n , h e knew what was wrong; now he has t o have s t u d i e s , committees & t h e u s u a l b a f f l e g a l befo r e making any p o s i t i v e d e c i s i o n s . Of c o u r s e n e g a t i v e d e c i s i o n s , such a s r a i s i n g b i l l s l i k e hydro, w i l l be s p e e d i l y passed. Brian Wagget

Honesty

One h e a r s s o many c r i m i n a l s t o r i e s d u r i n g t h e C h r i s t y a s season, I thought I ' d w r i t e a happy one. On Dec. 2 Wayne l o s t h i s w a l l e t i n Vancouver's p o b r e s t neighbourhood. We never expected t o s e e it again and r e ported t h e l o s s t o t h e police. The following morning I was on my way t o t h e BC T r a n s i t Lost & Found when something t o l d me t o s t o p a t Carn e g i e . Imagine my s u r p r i s e when Phylli s a t t h e information desk s a i d t h e w a l l e t had been t u r n e d i n . Even more s u r p r i s i n g was t h e f a c t t h a t t h e buspass and ID were s t i l l i n s i d e . Apparently t h e w a l l e t managed t o walk two blocks away from Carnegie and end up i n an a l l e y behind Minto's Pub. One o f Carnegie ' s s e c u r i t y persons picked t h e w a l l e t up, looked a t t h e I D and recognized t h e name. Many thanks t o Dan McDonald f o r h i s honesty and caring. I r e n e & Wayne Schmidt

The f e d e r a l g o v ' t r e c e n t l y announced a j o i n t funding ($2 m i l . ) agreement with t h e Quebec g o v ' t t o do a s t u d y on l i t e r a c y . Sounds good u n t i l you r e a d between t h e l i n e s . P a r t o f t h e announcement read, "The Canada-Quebec agreement p r o v i d e s f u n ding f o r such a c t i v i t i e s a s informat i o n & c o - o r d i n a t i o n , p u b l i c awaren e s s 6 p a r t i c i p a t i o n , and r e s e a r c h & development of e d u c a t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s by school commissions and n o n - p r o f i t community e d u c a t i o n a l o r g a n i s a t i o n s . However, d i r e c t l i t e r a c y s e r v i c e s provided by school commissions & nonp r o f i t community e d u c a t i o n a l o r g a n i s a t i o n s w i l l n o t be funded under it." What i s r e a l l y being s a i d i s "those people, p a i d o r v o l u n t e e r i n g , down i n t h e muck & guck c r e a t e d by governments o r t h e school commissions/ boards, p l e a s e keep doing t h e good j o b you a r e doing. Your hard work makes u s look l i k e we c a r e and s t o p s u s having t o d e a l with a r e a l problem By ART VAN- LANE

THE NEEDLE The y e a r s f o r me have come and gone, I l i v e with g r i e f t h a t never passes; What l o v e I knew has burned away, A l l I'm l e f t i s cold,white ashes.

From h e r arms bled s c a r l e t f o u n t a i n s , I watched t h e d r o p l e t s smear t h e f l o o r ; And probing i n h e r t h i g h s and b r e a s t s , The Needle was t o g i v e h e r more.

I was t o wander a ruined world, A broken world beyond r e p a i r ; A t w i l i g h t world where s h a t t e r e d dreams, L i t t e r e d t h e landscape o f d e s p a i r .

P i c t u r e s i n blood t h e Needle t r a c e d , In long,heavy l i n e s it wrote; When a l l h e r v e i n s had been destroyed, She was f i x i n g i n h e r t h r o a t .

Where s t r e e t s were paved with l o n e l i n e s s , The misery of d e s p e r a t e y e a r s ; Laced through with raw b r u t a l i t y , And washed down with e n d l e s s t e a r s . By t h r e a d s o f Two l i v e s , t h e Emotions t h a t On angry s e a s The Lay For And

chance we came t o meet, Fates were c r o s s i n g ; would bind u s both, were t o s s i n g .

warm blending of two c u l t u r e s , on h e r countenance t o see; h e r f a t h e r was a Frenchman, h e r mother,she was Cree.

The Needle f i l l e d t h e e n d l e s s days, As h e r companion and h e r f r i e n d ; A marriage made with misery, That seemed t o never e v e r end. Around h e r arms and down h e r l e g s , The Needle's t r a c k s would t i g h t l y wind; Not one p l a c e upon h e r body, That t h e Needle could n o t f i n d . And t h e r e were c r a t e r s everywhere, That t h e many f i x e s had turned; F e s t e r i n g s o r e s of i n f e c t i o n , Everywhere on h e r body burned.

Her eyes were velvet,deep and dark, Her voice was a whispered s i g h ; Upon h e r back cascaded h a i r , That was black a s a midnight sky.

Her Her Her She

Deep was t h e love I f e l t f o r h e r ,

In t h e nightmare she was l i v i n g , There was no time t o s l e e p o r e a t ; In t r y i n g t o e a s e t h e c r a v i n g , She began t o work,out on t h e s t r e e t .

A pure passion t h a t kept burning: A f i e r y love I f e l t f o r her,

But h e r love was not r e t u r n i n g . Tormented love I was t o know, A h u r t i n g love i t was t o be; In h e r hunger f o r t h e Needle, Raging hard thrpughout h e r body, Would run storms-'of s i l e n t p a i n ; Tearing through each l i v i n g moment, The Needle's craving would remain. The F a t e s would hold t h e both of u s , In a s t r a n g e and t r a g i c mixing; Always,always I was with h e r , Whenever she was f i x i n g .

f a c e grew gaunt,her f e a t u r e s t h i n , dark eyes grew wide and s t a r i n g ; body wasting i n t o bones, had l o s t h e r w i l l f o r c a r i n g .

Out t h e r e beneath t h e l i g h t she s t o o d , A l o n e l y v i g i l day and n i g h t ; To make enough f o r one more f i x , To feed t h e Needle's a p p e t i t e . She l e f t one n i g h t , i t was December, I pleaded with h e r n o t t o go; On t h e s t r e e t , t h e wind was f r e e z i n g , And f i l l e d with d r i v i n g r a i n and snow. I waited As I had Icy r a i n The wind

and I paced t h e room, done i n times b e f o r e ; s t r e a k e d on t h e windows, blew hard a g a i n s t t h e door.

To end t h e worry and t h e w a i t i n g , I ventured o u t i n t o t h e n i g h t ; There I found h e r s t i l l form huddled, On t h e corner,beneath t h e l i g h t . She would n o t l i v e This came t o me a s The touch o f Death I t s d u l l - g r a y haze

t o s e e t h e morning, no s u r p r i s e ; was on h e r f a c e , hung i n h e r eyes.

I k n e l t and wrapped h e r i n my c o a t , But h e r b r e a t h was slowly stopping; I g e n t l y h e l d h e r i n my arms, Down my cheeks,the t e a r s were dropping.

9. Belated Christmas Poem He came i n t o t h e Lamplighter Pub S e i z i n g a paper o f f my t a b l e He l i t it on f i r e . Moved on toward t h e Christmas t r e e muttering o f b i k e r s G homosexuals Tony a very l a r g e man Took hold o f him But he clamped h i s hands On t h e open window's s i l l s The burning dropped harmlessly o u t s i d e For a l l h i s 200 l b s Tony could n o t move him So I h e l p u n f r e e z e h i s g r a s p from t h e s i l l Tony c a r r i e d him g e n t l y t o t h e s t r e e t

In t h e middle of Alexander S t . He l i t h i s jean j a c k e t on f i r e Drawing a b e t t e r crowd than most s t r e e t performers S t a r i n g i n wonder a t t h i s s t r a n g e a p p a r i t i o n of a man A lonely deranged soul crying out p l e a s e love me A madman's merry christmas t o you.

I l a i d h e r head upon my l a p , T h a t ' s when h e r eyes opened wide; And whispering t h a t she loved me, I t was t h e r e i n my arms,she died.

The minutes wandered i n t o hours, Through d r i f t i n g t i m e , t h e r e i s no blame Empty y e a r s j u s t keep on p a s s i n g , Always t h e s t r e e t w i l l s t a y t h e same. The y e a r s f o r me have come and gone, I l i v e with g r i e f t h a t never p a s s e s ; What l o v e I knew has burned away, A l l I'm l e f t i s cold,white ashes. Michale James McLellan

The l i t t l e everyday t h i n g s , I t a k e o r g r a n t e d . A F r i e n d l y s m i l e , a cheery e l l o , c h i l d r e n laughing, an e l d e r l y ouple walking hand-in-hand an Eagle o a r i n g high on warm suinmer c u r r e n t s . Things t h a t may n o t p a s s t h i s way .gain. The s p r i n g o f my youth s l i p s by, t o e r e p l a c e d by many g r a t e f u l thankyous. Again, g a t h e r i n t h e everyday t h i n g s le t a k e f o r g r a n t e d , f o r it may not a s s t h i s way again. A G r a t e f u l Indian

...

Poverty Report

LYYL W L L ~ue w e year of t h e g r e a t orgy. Hosting t h i s love-in f o r t h e super r i c h w i l l be t h e c i t y of Rio de J a n i e r o , Brazil. The .five main colonizing c o u n t r i e s of t h e Americas: B r i t a i n , France, Portugal, Spain & t h e United S t a t e s , p l u s t h e i r f r i e n d s l i k e Canada w i l l g e t t o g e t h b r t d celebrabe t h e discovery o f America. The main party-goers w i l l come from fami l i e s whose f o r t u n e s were b u i l t on t h e commerce c r e a t e d by t h e c o l o n i z a t i o n of The Americas. I t w i l l be a l a v i s h p a r t y . Hundreds o f m i l l i o n s a r e being spent i n Spain i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e 500th anniversary o f Columbust voyage, & b i l l i o n s more i n Brazil. Yet, Brazil i s experiencing inescapable poverty. The p r e s i d e n t has been f o r ced t o say t h a t B r a z i l i a n poverty i s t h e r e f o r a l l t o see. For m i l l i o n s of people l i v i n g i n t h e Americas, t h i s s o - c a l l e d "discoverytt has q u i t e a d i f f e r e n t meaning. The m i l l i o n s of Native people who have always l i v e d here, s e e t h e discovery a s an invasion which destroyed t h e o r i g i n a l economy by imposing a new & a l i e n one. This new economy has meant 500 y e a r s o f impoverishment. Millions of people of African descent und e r s t a n d it was t h e i r s l a v e labout which was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r b u i l d i n g much o f t h i s new economy. T h e i r reward t o o has been a l i f e of oppression & poverty. For m i l l i o n s o f poor people brought over from t h e coloni z i n g c o u n t r i e s & forced t o l i v e i n t h i s "New World", t h e i r l i v e s have a l s o been dominated by t h e constant s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t poverty. Meanwhile, t h e "super rich;" t h e people who have c o n t r o l l e d t h e economies of t h e 5 b i g colonizing powers, have reaped such a reward from t h e difscovery t h a t they have been a b l e t o expand t h e i r corporate economic empires around t h e world. This expansion has been based on t h e labour & resources e x t r a c t e d from t h e Americas. The 500 y e a r period s i n c e Columbus a r r i v . ed has c r e a t e d a reason f o r c e l e b r a t i o n only i f you a r e r i c h ; t h e hope t h a t t h e p a r t y goes on f o r another h a l f millenium. For t h e vast m a j o r i t y t h e r e is no celebrat i o n , j u s t r e s i s t a n c e t o poverty, oppression and economic & m i l i t a r y d i c t a t o r s h i p .

(From Arti-Poverty News)

Bonnie Perley "One does not sell the people walk on" Crazy Horse This quote depicts the spiritual beliefs the Native people held towards the land. Crazy Horse, a Sioux Indian, died in 1887fighting against the loss of his people's land. The Sioux are still fighting the United States government for the return of the Black Hills in South Dakota.The Sioux want this land, not because of financial gain but because they believe it to be the sacred ground of all Indian people. The Sioux refer to the Black Hills as the heart of everything that is, "the Holy of Holies." In the thousands of years the Natives lived on this land they never lived in the Black Hip.This land was used only for worship. Then came the White Man! The Europeans, who learned to survive in this land from the tribal p&ple who had lived here for at least 80,000years, rewarded this aid with unimaginable greed. The exploitation which resulted devastateda people's culture and spirit. It is not something natives want to celebrate in Odober, 1992 as Spain hosts the 500th anniversary of Columbus' voyage to the "New World".

was actually outlawed by the Indian Act in 1867. It was deemed "pagan" and "demonic" by theChristian missionaries who were determined to rid natives of their spirituality and force them to become Christians "for theit own good." The missionaries believed it was their Godly duty to convert the Indian people of this country to Christianity. Yet how do we justify 500 years of spiritual o p pression? Oppression which did not end with breaking their spirits. The Indian Act also broke up their families.

The exploitation which resulted devastated a people's culture and spirit.

The act enforced the attendance of native children at Christianrun residential schools. These children were separated from their families, and were not allowed to speak their languageor practice their spirituality. They were also raped. Recent evidence shows the children weresexually and physically abused at these residential schools across Canada. These residential schools werestill inexistenceaslateas 1952. Many natives suffered at the hands of those whose mandate it was to enforce Christianity and change the identity of native people.

In fad, the aboriginals are looking at this anniversary as the beginning of 500 years of healing as they seek to revive their traditional

Is it any wonder natives rank highest among those with alcohol and drug abuse problems, suicide, premature death, infant mortality, unemployment and poverty. Suicide

among youths between the ages 01 10-19 years is estimated at seven times higher than the total Canadian rate from 1980-84. The results of a study carried out by the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Dependency Commission in 1985 also shows while natives comprise only 3.35 per cent of the national population, they r e p rqent 10 per cent of the Canadian prison population. It isestimated 99 per cent of the offenses committed are alcohol-related.' We can clearly see what destroying a culture, a language and a spirituality, that wasintertwined with all things, has done to the Aboriginal people. The stereo-type images which evolved from their enforced state of existence on reservations, has been used as a weapon against them by the power structure of this society. The sad part of the whole thing is thestereo-types i.e., "drunken Indians", "lazy Indians", and the whole notion "they are given everything"; translates into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Their impoverished social and economic position perpetuates thesestereo-types. This enables the larger social order to categorize nativesgenerally, and the natives themselves are caught in the ideological trap produced by the oppression of their culture and identity.

It was not until 1980,with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that natives were finally allowed to practice their traditional spirituality in a country which prides itself on freedom of religion! One may ask why Europeans were so intolerant and aggressive toward the native way of life which flourished here before the west was conquered. 'The whole way of life of these tribes was in conflict with the ideology of the free market economy. In a market-society based on a laissez-faire economy and self-interest, everything must bend andmold to the wheels of the market. Perhaps the earth-based natives were an obstacle to those wheels. The kind of economy which evolved with the Industrial Revolution required a free market society with private property as the basis of free enterprise. Since natives had no conception of these rules, they were deceived by the newcomers to their land. Profit became the name of the game and today we see profit is still the most powerful game in the country.

Natives did not understand the game of Capitalism and had no rule book. What the natives believed, and how they lived, conflicted with theexpansion of the market economy. The Indian Act made things simple. They would be placed on sections of Crown land and made dependent on the state, which would then control their lives. This was the government's way of dealing with the "Indian problem." Today the exploitation continues with the destruction of different races of people around the world and the world itself. If this is progress, one must wonder who is progressing. Aboriginal people have survived a great deal. They are now returning to their traditional spirituality and culture. This resurgence is having an extremely positive influ-

ence on native people. Yet prejudice and ignorance are still rampant destructive tools. They become psychological traps which hinder social change. Both are based on a system of oppression, whose aim is todivide the masses of people and render them powerless. Awareness of what really happened gives people back their power. The truth is we have the power. We can overcome the myths and socially created beliefs by looking for the truth. It is not too late for us to learn how to share our knowledge with each other and to learn how to live at peace with each other and our earth.

The APN Collective wishes to thank the New Brunswick Native Indian Women's Council and the Saskatchewan Native Women's Association for their assistance with graphics

CARNEIGE LEARNING CENTRE - January t o June 1992 Tutors a v a i l a b l e f o r small group and one-to-one match-ups i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s ! DROP-1N:Learn t o r e a d , w r i t e o r do math. J o i n u s i n a warm f r i e n d l y enMORNING --------------vironment t o meet o t h e r l e a r n e r s , s h a r e your knowledge and e x - . p e r i e n c e and l e a r n new s k i l l s . (9am-noon; ;Mondays t o Fridays) AFTERNOON DROP-IN: S t u d e n t s who a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n p r e p a r i n g f o r t h e GED exam o r ----------------t a k i n g high school c r e d i t c o u r s e s e i t h e r through Carnegie o r with t h e correspondence School can r e c e i v e t u t o r support G i n s t r u c t i o n d u r i n g t h i s new drop-in program. (2-4, Tues. - F r i . ) Monday ESL L i t e r a c y 9:30-11:30 Grammar i n Context 11:30-1:30

Tuesday Composition 1O:OO-22:OO S o c i a l 11 12:OO-2:30

Wednesday Thursday Friday Composition Math G Science ESL L i t e r a c y 10:OO-22:OO 9: 00-2 :00 9~30-11:OO Grammar S o c i a l 11 i n Context 12:OO-1:30 11:30-1:30 Western Math/ S c i ence Western C i v i l i z a t i o n 12 1:30-2:30 C i v i l i z a t i o n 12 3:OO-5~30 3:OO-5:30 English 11 Secondary English 11 Secondary I n t o r . t o L e t t e r s Upgrading Upgrading 2 :30-6: 30 2:OO-4:OO 2:30-5:OO 2:30-6:30 2 ~ 3 0 - 5:OO C r e a t i v e Writing 6 : 30-8: 30 Upcoming 1992 Computer C l a s s e s

C l a s s Hours

Intermediate DOS: ----------------

For people who want t o go beyond t h e r e g u l a r "Introduction t o DOS" c l a s s r e g u l a r l y o f f e r e d every Saturday. Includes c r e a t i n g b a t c h f i l e s , managing s u b - d i r e c t o r i e s , e t c . (Basic knowledge of DOS i s r e q u i r e d ) #1, Saturdays 6-7:30, s t a r t s Jan.11 f o r 4 weeks. S t e v e Akins. - - - - - - Classroom ............................................................ Drawing o r P a i n t i n g with Computers: A beginners c l a s s i n computer a r t . No ex.................................. p e r i e n c e necessary; hands-on work. # I , Saturdays 6-7:30, s t a r t s Feb.15 f o r 2 weeks. S t e v e Akins. Classroom ............................................................................... dBase Programming Level 1: For people i n t e r e s t e d i n l e a r n i n g t o c r e a t e database ......................... a p p l i c a t i o n s . Knowledge of DOS & prog. experience. #1, Saturdays 6-7:30, s t a r t s Feb.29 f o r 6 weeks. S t e v e Akins. Classroom ............................................................................... I n t r o d u c t i o n t o DOS and t h e IBM PC SATURDAY 2:OO-3:30 I n t r o d u c t i o n t o Wordperfect 4:OO-5:30 I n t e r m e d i a t e Wordperfect 4:OO-5:30 6:OO-7:30 S p e c i a l I n t e r e s t C l a s s SUNDAYS 2:OO-6:00 I n t r o d u c t i o n t o Programming P r a c t i c e S e s s i o n s Monday 1:30-5:30. Friday 1:30-5:30 -----------------

(Classroom #1) (Classroom # I ) 2) ( C l a ~ s r e o m# ~ (Classroom #1) (Classroom #1) (Computer Room)

Letter t o Moe Sihota, MLA:

Editor,

RE: Current support by you f o r maintaining

We a r e a n o n - p r o f i t s o c i e t y r u n by 4 even increasing roadblocks 4 s a f e t y ' v o l u n t e e r s and one o f o u r aims i s t o inspections +a reduce insurance c o s t s . h e l p immigrant women f i n d work. Please ask your s t a f f t o supply you with Over one hundred women who came from t h e reports 4 information compiled by t h e a l l o v e r t h e world have s i g n e d up i n Association f o r Vehicle Movement Safety. o u r J o b S k i l l s D i r e c t o r y . They have a From t h e beginning of t h e program c i t i n g l o t t o c o n t r i b u t e t o Canada i f t h e y d r i v e r s f o r minor d e f e c t s i n t h e i r vehicle a r e given a chance. t h i s association has t r i e d t o g e t coste f f e c t i v e information from t h e m i n i s t e r Match S k i l l w i t h J o b responsible. I t was p a t e n t l y obvious t h a t Free r e f e r r a l t h e "defectsv ( 6 3 o r 64 of them) whose 731-9801 presence i n a vehicle c w d mean immediate ~ o b - s k i l lD s irectory Co-ordinator r e s t r i c t i o n s were i n no way s u f f i c i e n t t o Vancouver S o c i e t y on Immigrant Women warrant thc "repair o r replace" options. Thank you. C a r o l i n a Wong, Co-ord. The Association has g o t t e n s t a t i s t i c s from other p a r t s of Canada & t h e US t h a t show mechanical d e f e c t s cause l e s s than 5% of accidents. Also, t h e age of vehicles i s a very minor f a c t o r when compared t o o t h e r causes of accidents. Socreds e t a1 take g r e a t pains t o have t h e i r public image a s polished a s possible - popularity c o n t e s t s t o replace issues. taking care of themselves & t h e i r f r i e n d s 4 crumbs t o t h e i s s u e . Someone l i k e P a t t i son wanted t o boost p r o f i t s , got t h i s bogus program i n t o massive use, he & cohorts make millions from unnecessary "repairs o r We used t o make o u r v a l e n t i n e s replacementsM E t h e g o v ' t h i d e s f i g u r e s For t h e g i r l s ,whose books we t o t e d t h a t show age of v e h i c l e s & mechanical deOur puppy l o v e was g e n u i n e f e c t s in no way j u s t i f y t h e expense of Our h e a r t s t o them devoted. searching them out. Respectfully, The messages we g o t a c r o s s PaulR Taylor. Was s t i r r i n g t o t h e h e a r t With a c o r e o f i n s p i r a t i o n Only m o r t a l s can i m p a r t .

How d e l i c a t e t h e f e e l i n g In verses so sincere Gave t h o s e s i m p l e c a r d s a glamour That l a s t e d a l l t h e y e a r . Those p l e a s a n t dreams o f long ago Revive e n d e a r i n g t i m e s When l o v i n g t h o u g h t s were p a s s e d along On a hand made V a l e n t i n e . The P a v i l i o n Bard (Submitted by Wart)

Forgive U s Our Debts? ? We v o t e d them i n because t h e y promised t o s a v e u s from S o c i a l C r e d i t ' hen h a r c o u r t went o n - a L b u s i n e s s t r i p t o Japan. When he came back he s a i d government f u n d s were t o o low. S o c i a l C r e d i t had s p e n t t o o much money. T h i s morning I read i n t h e paper, I "The BC Government exp e c t s i t w i l l have t o write off tens of m i l l ions of d o l l a r s i n b a d , d e b t s from l o a n s t h e previous administrati o n made t o shaky b u s - , i n e s s e s . " I t s a y s gov- ' ernment a c c o u n t a n t s adlvised writing the debts o f f " j u s t l i k e any bank o r lending i n s t i t u t i o n would." I t a l s o s a y s , "The New Democrat government h a s no p l a n s t o c a n c e l any programs und e r which b u s i n e s s e s can o b t a i n government loans o r grants. " Well, now, t h e n , t h e r e . . . Welfare r e c i p i e n t s who r e c e i v e t h e l o w e s t r a t e o f a s s i s t a n c e w i l l g e t a 25 d o l l a r a month r a i s e - t h o s e who r e c e i v e a h i g h e r r a t e w i l l g e t a l a r g e r i n c r e a s e & t h o s e l i v i n g on l e s s w i l l g e t l e s s ( t h e r e ' s a B i b l i c a l q u o t e i n t h e r e somewhere, b u t why b o t h e r ? ) . So h e r e we a r e , saved from t h e s o c r e d s & t h e government's t u r n i n g t h e i r " t e n s of m i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s v i n t o g i f t s t h e y ' r e writing it o f f t h a t means g i v i n g it away t o businessmen who l e g a l l y a r e r e q u i r e d t o pay it back. They s a y t h e s o c r e d s s p e n t a l l t h e money?..sure t h e y d i d . . b u t i f you o r I had borrowed t h a t money, t h e NDP would have u s i n c o u r t & g a r n i s h e e o u r wages f o r t h e r e s t of o u r l i v e s So how come b u s i n e s s i s s a c r e d ?

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The o t h e r day I came a c r o s s a person i n a wheel c h a i r t h a t had a f l a t t i r e on one s i d e and a very l o o s e wheel on t h e o t h e r . This person seemed a c c u s t omed t o g e t t i n g around under c o n d i t i o n s like this. I asked myself, 'Are we a s people getting t o the point i n our l i f e t h a t going p a s t a person l i k e t h i s , without Editor, asking i f t h e y need help, i s t h e norm of today? Did you know t h a t Toronto now has more food banks than McDonald's? That Over t h e y e a r s I have a t times s a t i n i n 1990 Canada's food banks d i s t r i b u t a wheel c h a i r and t r i e d t o v i s u a l i s e ed 50 m i l l i o n pounds of food? That what i t must be l i k e t o have t o g e t from p o i n t "A" t o p o i n t "B" i n one of over 1 m i l l i o n c h i l d r e n l i v e d i n povthem i n a l l kinds of weather. Being e r t y i n 1990 according t o StatsCanada? a b l e t o g e t up, p u t t h e c h a i r back Numbers such a s t h e s e beg t h e question where it was and walking away stopped What more could we do h e r e i n Vancoume from g e t t i n g t h a t t r u e f e e l i n g . v e r t o help our neighbours who may be I da remember a time d r i v i n g along hurting? t h e freeway and g e t t i n g a . f k t - t i r e a t A C a l i f o r n i a o r g a n i z a t i o n , Food f o r t h e same time. The one s p a r e t i r e was A l l , h a s devised a program which i s not going t o do me much good. Trying now used i n over 1,000 grocery s t o r e s t o f l a g a n o t h e r d r i v e r down f o r a r i d e a c r o s s t h e S t a t e s . Wkn t h e c a s h i e r i s r i n g i n g up a p e r s o n ' s g r o c e r i e s , t h e t o a phone o r a s e r v i c e s t a t i o n got me nothing b u t s t a r e s . A walk t o t h e shopper can a l s o purchase from t h e next e x i t and f i n d i n g a phone b u t no c a s h i e r a " c o n t r i b u t i o n c a r d M f o r 504, phone book and an o p e r a t o r who c o u l d n ' t $ 1 o r $5. This c a r d i s then a l s o rung up by t h e c a s h i e r and t h e grocery s t o r e help d i d not make f o r a loving f e e l i n g towards t h e o t h e r s who had passed me by. donates t h a t amount t o t h e l o c a l food Everyone has times i n t h e i r l i v e s bank. when t h e y n u s t t a k e hold o f t h e i r s i t I o f t e n n o t i c e t h e food bank boxes empty o r n e a r empty i n l o c a l grocery n at ion and g e t it solved. There a r e s t o r e s . Perhpas a program such as t h i s , ~ t h e rtimes when a h e l p i n g hand from e s p e c i a l l y i f implemented by a c h a i n someone i s welcomed. such as Safeway o r Super Valu, would WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND. Maybe h e l p hungry people i n o u r own neighthose who can p a s s by have n o t had it bourhoods . :ome around hard enough y e t . Darren Lowe The Shadow

In a p a s t i s s u e I s a i d t h a t e v e r y person

is t e l e p a t h i c b u t t h a t such c a p a b i l i t i e s l a y c l o s e r t o t h e conscious l e v e l i n hea~ry drinkers than i n o t h e r s . Those who have done c o n s i d e r a b l e d r i n k i n g a r e l i k e l y , w i t h p r a c t i c e , t o be a b l e t o prove t h e i r own t e l e p a t h i c a b i l i t i e s by means o f t h e t e c h n i q u e s I o u t l i n e d i n t h a t first a r t i c l e . I emphasize t h a t many p r a c t i c e s e s s i o n s may be r e q u i r e d .

Moderate o r n i - d r i n k e r s may have t o cont e n t themselves w i t h t h e t h o u g h t t h a t t h e i r t e l e p a t h y o p e r a t e s perhaps only a t t h e dream l e v e l , t h a t any dream t h e y might ' have i s being s h a r e d by o t h e r s , p e r h a p s ' numbering i n t h e t h o u s a n d s . Undoubtedly, many n d n - d r i n k e r s a l s o have t h e t e l e p a t h i c l e v e l c l o s e t o t h a t of t h e c o n s c i o u s mind. What about a l l o f t h o s e who a r e t r e a t e d a s m e n t a l l y i l l because i they claim t h e y c o n s t a n t l y hear voices? , Sometimes a c o n f e s s e d murderer w i l l s a y v o i c e s (which h e might c a l l "demons" o r "the d e v i l " ) urged him t o h i s a c t . Many p e r s o n s i n d a i l y l i v i n g may have f e e l i n g s , o f murderous a n g e r a g a i n s t o t h e r s b u t , a s c i v i l i s e d b e i n g s , d i s c i p l i n e themselves t o s u p p r e s s t h o s e r a g e s . I t may b e t h a t t h o s e kill-hungry m e n t a l i t i e s a r e t h e source of t h e voices t h a t urge a l e s s d i s c i p l i n e d mind t o commit murder. T e l e p a t h i c minds o r g a n i s e t h e m s e l v e s i n t o networds. For example, p a r t o f t h e mind o f an a v i d s k i e r w i l l v e r y soon become l i n k e d to s i m i l a r p a r t s o f t h e minds o f o t h e r kvid s k i e r s and a l l a r e l i k e l y t o have rkiing dreams t o g e t h e r . Any person who i s n o t o b s e s s i v e l y s i n g l e ~ i n d e di n one a r e a o f concern i s l i k e l y t o le a p a r t o f more t h a n one, p e r h a p s many e l e p a t h i c networks. Any o f t h e s e networks, ependent on a t h e r f a c t o r s , might s u p p l y \

t h e dreams on any g i v e n n i g h t . The whole complez a r e a o f s e x u a l p r e f e r e n c e s , d r i v e s , i n t e r e s t s , r e p r e s s i o n s , subl i m i n a t i o n s , e t c . b r e a k t h e human r a c i a l mind i n t o a h o s t of v a r i e d - n e t w o r k s . For example, t h e r o b u s t l y h e t e r o s e x u a l w i l l n o t be a p a r t of a t e l e p a t h i c network of committed homosexuals, and v i c e v e r s a . S i m i l a r l y , a p r o s p e r o u s p e r s o n coricerned w i t h work and p o s s e s s i o n s i s n o t l i k e l y t o be l i n k e d t o t h e mental network o f p e r s o n s on welfai-e e x c e p t , p e r h a p s , through p a r t s o f t h e mind concerned o n l y with sex. While t h e t e c h n i q u e s e a r l i e r mentioned seem unworkable .during i n t o x i c a t i o n , a few d r i n k s can o f t e n b r i n g t e l e p a t h y t o t h e c o n s c i o u s l e v e l i n d a i l y l i f e . I walked i n t o a bank where I had had a n a s t y argument w i t h t h e ' c h i e f a c c o u n t a n t . J u s t i n s i d e t h e door, I t h o u g h t t o m y s e l f , "Here comes a troublemaker." I looked around t h e bank and t h e a c c o u n t a n t was s t a r i n g c o l d l y a t me. That was h e r thought I had picked up; i t was what s h e was t h i n k i n g about me. I should p o i n t out t h a t if t h e conscious mind goes down t o a t e l e p a t h i c l e v e l , t h e words a r e spoken t o u s . However, when t h e t e l e p a t h y comes up t o t h e c o n s c i o u s l e v e l , ( i n my c a s e a t l e a s t ) , it i s a s i f one was saying t h i n g s t o o n e s e l f . Undoubtedly many p e r s o n s o f t e n have t e l e p a t h i c messages pop i n t o t h e i r conscious minds i n such a way, wondering t h e n , "Now why d i d I t h i n k t h a t ? " . . j u s t a s I might have wondered t h a t day i n t h e bank, had I n o t r e c o g n i s e d t h e thought a s r e c e i v e d telepathy.

A widespread u n d e r s t a n d i n g of such t h i n g s would b e o f u n t o l d v a l u e t o t h e human r a c e . What a p i t y t h a t u n i v e r s i t i e s a r e s o o b s t i n a t e l y r e s i s t a n t t o new knowledge..so ded i c a t e d t o m a i n t a i n i n g t h e s t a t u s quo. However, I q u i t e believe t h a t those educators w i l l n o t always be a b l e t o block p r o g r e s s . A f t e r a l l , t h e y t o o have subconscious minds t h a t would undoubtedly a l s o l i k e i n c r e a s e d r e c o g n i t i o n and awareness.

By ERIC ERICKSON

He looked around, i n e v e r y room U n t i l he saw h i s mate The v i s i o n o f h i s v i r g i n b r i d e J u s t t o o k h i s b r e a t h away THE OLD WISE WOMAN 6 THE OLD WISE MAN The o l d wise woman looked and saw A g r e a t b i g emptiness I t n e e d s a l i t t l e something t h e r e To b r i g h t e n up t h e p l a c e She c a l l e d h e r p e r f e c t mate t o s e e What s p e l l she had i n mind He nodded s a g e l y and agreed "You're r i g h t , my d e a r , " he s a i d With g l e e f u l smirk on h e r sweet f a c e She jumped behind t h e v e i l She f i n a l l y found a p l a c e j u s t r i g h t And c a s t a magic s p e l l The o n l y way t h a t t h i s w i l l work I s i f I become t h e p l a c e She c a s t . h e r s p e l l s , h e r dreams a s well And soon s h e was a l l s e t She had woven h e r s e l f r i g h t i n t o t h e p l a c e She was a l l and e v e r y t h i n g i n it From t h e t y n i e s t , t e e n i e s t l o v e organ To t h e g r e a t e s t o f them a l l The l i t t l e ones were u n t o l d z i l l i o n s Yet each one s l i g h t l y d i f f e r e n t The n e x t s i z e l a r g e r , u n t o l d t r i l l i o n s Each one was d i f f e r e n t t o o She wove and wove and wove and wove U n t i l it was complete The b i g g e s t of t h e s e s h e wove i n p l a c e The s i z e o f a l l i n f i n i t y The o l d wise man was s i t t i n g i n h i s louhge Enjoying brandy and a f i n e c i g a r J u s t wonder what s h e ' s weaving now He mused q u i t e t h o u g h t f u l l y The brandy done, t h e c i g a r burned o u t He s t r e t c h e d and yawned and s c r a t c h e d I guess i t ' s time I checked on h e r S h e ' s been gone a goodly w h i l e He jumped behind t h e i n f i n i t e v e i l Where p l a c e s a l l e x i s t Each one w i t h i t s c e r t a i n r u l e s A l l d i f f e r e n t from t h e r e s t

He looked h e r o v e r , from g r e a t t o small And matched h e r s p e l l f o r s p e l l Each one o f h e r p e r f e c t l o v e e n g i n e s Now had i t s p e r f e c t mate

H i s power was o f t i m e , you s e e The time e a c h mating o c c u r s From t h e v e r y l i t t l e t i n y o n e s To t h e g r e a t e s t o f them a l l They came t o g e t h e r In a rush Of d e l i c i o u s e c s t a s y And blew each o t h e r ' s minds The orgasm o f t h a t i n f i n i t y That came t o g e t h e r so Was made by s p a c e and l o v e d by t i m e For a l l e t e r n i t y Dreamweaver

You name i t : I f you b e l i e v e t e l e v i s i o n , chroni'c f a t i g u e syndrome i s a world-wide e p i demic, & people who d o n ' t have t h e energy t o t a k e p a r t i n an " a c t i v e f 1 l i f e (as defined by t h e a u t h o r i t i e s ) have been showing up i n d o c t o r s ' o f f + i c e s f o r y e a r s demanding t o know what i s wrong with them ... They d o n ' t have any o t h e r symptoms except bhey're t i r e d a l l t h e time. Suzuki ran a s p e c i a l on i t l a s t n i g h t . B a s i c a l l y , t h e s i t u a t i o n has led t o a world-wide s e a r c h by s c i e n c e medicine t o f i n d a c u r e f o r t h i s f a t i g u e syndrome. O f course r e s e a r c h e r s want t o experiment with t h e drugs they've developed on people who a r e ' l c h r o n i c a l l y f a t i g u e d . " In t h e process they won't f i n d a c u r e , b u t w i l l develop a whole bag o f t r i c k s (drugs) t o , d e a l with i t . (mood m o d i f i e r s ) Doctors claim t h i s c o n d i t i o n h a s a l ways e x i s t e d among a c e r t a i n p e r c e n t age of t h e population, b u t it j u s t wasn't i d e n t i f i e d a s a d i s e a s e before. Today, t h e r e a r e CFS support groups around t h e world f o r people who a r e always t o o t i r e d wo work, p l a y s p o r t s o r go shopping a t t h e mall. Most o f them say t h e y found it a g r e a t r e l i e f t o f i n a l l y know what's wrong with them. I s t h e r e r e a l l y something wrong with them? They s a y so, d o c t o r s s a y so, 6 c e r t a i n l y those who p r o f i t o f f t h e l e g a l p r e s c r i p t i o n drugs t h e y w i l l be using, a s soon a s "research" provides them, say so. TORA

binJo aL

The Expansion E Contraction Theory on Religion A t t h e end of t h e beginning A l l motion ceased

Nothing moved o r changed. Complete c a t a t o n i a ! Jehovah could not even burn a bush, o r d e l i v e r stone t a b l e t s , nor could t h e pharmacist Absolute Zero None f e l t t h e c o l d A l l energy gone Science exact i n i t s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of a u n i v e r s e expanding t o emptiness. Now we f l i p t h e coin The p l a n e t s E s t a r s conjoin Energy flows t o t h e c e n t r e a s t r a v e l l e r s anxious f o r home. We draw n e a r e r , n e a r e r Precious cord Poor c l a u s t r o p h o b i c d e i t y Squashed with t h e Plebians even more compressed than Woodwards on $ 1 . 4 9 Day. Poor God an overzealous r e a l t o r Can't s t o p t il t h e market c o l l a p s e s The Crash o f ' 2 9 a mere f l u c t u a t i o n . P.S. I t h i n k myse I f I ' l l f o l l o w E i n s t e i n ' s t h i n k i n g and t r a v e l f a s t enough to get t o t h e u n i v e r s e before He c o n s t r u c t s i t ; t h a t way I won't have t o go to h e l l . .spend e t e r n i t y s i n g i n g :dl alone. T . Lewis

C a p i t a l i s t s t h i n k e f f e c t i v e l y f o r thems e l v e s when t h e y t i e d i s p o s a l o f c a s h a s s e t s with t h e i d e a o f how t h i n g s , f o r them, should "gol1; working p e o p l e must t i e a c t ion with t h e i r i d e a o f how t h i n g s should "go" f o r them.. i d e a / a c b i o n a s i n s e p a r a b l e . I f c a p i t a l i s t s withdraw money, working p e o p l e w i l l withdraw l a b o u r : one v o t e s with claims t o property, t h e o t h e r with u n i t y o f head f, f o o t . . w i t h t h e whole p e r s on, f o r t h e whole p e r s o n . How can t h i s be done when t h e r e i s unemployment?

QUERY :

Which comes f i r s t : t h e hen o r t h e egg? Answer: Both. Life i s not a thing, i t i s a process of constant i n t e r a c t i n g , interpenetrating phenome~a. The egg/hen q u e s t i o n i s t h a t o f u n i t y i n - d i v e r s i t y . I t i s t h e i n s e p a r a b i l i t y of t h e d i a l e c t i c a l i n t e r a c t i n g change o f form, o r i n t e r a c t i o n of changing form, each a s p e c t i n i t s e l f a p r o c e s s o f change & growth and/or decay, o r b o t h s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . This i n t e r a c t i o n , t h i s i n s e p a r a b l e u n i t y of c o n t r a d i c t o r y being i s s e e n everywhere i n t h e phenomenon we c a l l l i f e , t h e world, the unit erse. Grasping t h i s , one can weave a t e x t u r e o f expanding p r o d u c t i v i t y & r i s i n g r e p r o ductive capacity o r , conversely, s e l l l i f e o u t t o d e s t r u c t i o n & d i s i n t e g r a t i o n , decl i n e E ultimate extinction. The c h o i c e is o u r s . I f we a r e wise, we s h a l l concern o u r s e l v e s w i t h promoting b o t h good eggs & good hens, i n a f l o u r i s h i n g environment.

It is to the farming and mechanic interests we must look in these days of extraordinary delusion among mercantile men, for sound views as to the causes of the evils which distract the country, and as to the proper means of bringing affairs back to their former prosperity. If the farmers and mechanics . . were subject to the same periodical madness which afflicts the merchants, we should indeed think there wasbut too much reason t b despair. . .. But while we may look to them for such a host of sound minds in sound bodies . ..we shall not lose our confidence in the stability of the democratic republic. .

So published The Vindicator, Montreal's largest English-language newspaper, in May 1837. A panic - an economic panic - was settling down over North American business. Originating in the USA, its effects were asserting themselves in Canadian business. Banks were refusing specie payments. The Vindicator jeers at the panic-mongering: "The bugbear that is attempted to be raised about all the specie leaving the country, if the banks part from it, is absurd and ridiculous. If we owe the money, why, let it go; we have the wherewithal to purchase more.

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OBSERVATION : Working people a r e o b l i g e d t o e v o l v e a *. m o b i l i t y o f t h e i r own l a b o u r i n t h e i r own i n t e r e s t e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e m o b i l i t y o f capi t a l , o f money i n t h e hands o â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x2122; c a p i t a l i s t s . As money i s withdrawn from l a b o u r , l a b o u r must withdraw i t s e l f from c a p i t a l : i e wage c u t s = walkouts. C a p i t a l v o t e s w i t h money; workers v o t e w i t h t h e i r f e e t . . w h e n e v e r e i t h e r means "business". The n e c e s s i t y - w i t h o u t which s u r v i v a l function.

The democratic movement of 1837 in Canada Some governments ( e . g. P a r t i Quebecois) was painstakingly just in its evaluation of its have p a s s e d a n t i - s c a b l e g i s l a t i o n . T h i s opponents; indeed, it was tog gentlemanly for c a u t i o n s c a p i t a l n o t t o r a s h l y provoke l a b its own good, a s events proved. The Vindicator o u r t o s t r i k e . Where s u c h l e g i s l a t i o n does article in this instance goes on:. n o t y e t e x i s t , Community o r g a n i s a t i o n s t h a t f a v o u r a w i d e r d i s t r i b u t i o n o f purchkThe traders, as a body, are a useful class, but not a s i n g power & g r e a t e r economic peace i n the most patriotick. The spirit of traffick is always adverse to the spirit of liberty. We care not whom o u r communities can m o b i l i s e p r o - l a b o u r the remark pleases nor whom it offends; but it is the o p i n i o n w i t h a v i g o u r comparable t o t h a t truth, which aU history corroborates, that the mera f f o r d e d by t h e media i n f a v o u r o f c a p i t a l , cantilecommunity, in the aggregate,isever impelled a l t h o u g h t h e form & p r o c e s s i s d i f f e r e n t . by sordid motives of action. The immediate interests Community o r g a n i s a t i o n s , a f t e r a l l , a r e of trade. not the permanent interests of their counsimply p e o p l e - o f f - t h e - j o b g e t t i n g t o g e t h e r try, supply their strongest impulse. They peruse on common i n t e r e s t s i n t h e i r neighbourhood. their ledger with more devotion than the ConstituThey can m o b i l i s e among t h e m s e l v e s , whetion; they regard pecuniary independence more than t h e r working o r j o b l e s s , t o s u p p o r t s t r i k e political; and they would be content to wear iga c t i o n a g a i n s t wage c u t s o r p l a n t c l o s u r e s , nominious chains, so that the links were forged of an equal currency is to them a phrase of gold u n i t i n g t h e t o t a l working community f o r better import than equal rights, a uniform system of t o t a l community b e n e f i t . exchange a grander object than a uniform system of Wage c u t s & p l a n t c l o s u r e s a r e d e t r i m e n t freedom.'. a l t o t h e economy a s a whole; t h e y reduce A good example o f combining l a b o u r & comp u r c h a s i n g power-. . c u t back t h e home e f f e c t i v e p u r c h a s i n g power - and t h a t ' s no good munity i n t e r e s t i n s t r u g g l e , & t h e power f o r anyone e x c e p t t h e i d l e r i c h who l i v e t h a t u n i t y e x e r c i s e s , i s t h e Canadian Sean o t by producing b u t by m a n i p u l a t i n g o t h e r s men's s t r i k e o f 1949, I b e l i e v e . - t h o s e who do t h e work - t o keep them i n This t i t a n i c s t r u g g l e i s perhaps t h e f i n t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f l i f e t o h i c h t h e y l i k e t o e s t example i n Canada t o d a t e o f advanced, f e e l t h e y a r e e n t i t l e d & accustomed. a s t u t e , self-preserving labout action. In D e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e home market i s a r e p - t h a t e p i c s t r u g g l e t h e i n t e g r a t i o n of l a b r e h e n s i b l e a c t i o n w i t h worldwide r e p e r c u s s - o u r ' s i n t e r e s t i n one o c c u p a t i o n (seamani o n s , s i n c e t h e world market i s simply t h e s h i p ) w i t h t h a t o f e v e r y community a f f e c t e d sum o f a l l domestic m a r k e t s f o r goods n o t reached a h i g h l e v e l . . s o high t h a t g o v ' t s of c a p i t a l i s t hue around t h e world f e l t obs u p p l i e d 'on s i t e ' . ~d hoc committees o f community neighbour- l i g e d t o jump i n t o t h e f r a y t o s a v e c a p i t a l hoods d e m o n s t r a t i n g s u p p o r t f o r l a b o u r ' s i n t h e s h i p p i n g i n d u s t r y from s u f f e r i n g defeat. d i r e c t a c t i o n s a g a i n s t wage c u t s & p l a n t c l o s u r e s a n d / f o r fundamental c i v i l r i g h t s That s t r u g g l e was n o t o n l y f o r seamen's a g a i n s t harassment, e t c . can work t o c o n t - r i g h t s , b u t proved t o b e a l o s i n g f i g h t f o r r o l movements o f c a p i t a l and promote r e s p - Canada's merchant marine. e c t f o r d e m o c r a t i c r i g h t s , uphold mass purAS i n t h e Winnipeg General S t r i k e of 1919 ( a n o t h e r h i g h w a t e r mark i n n o r t h american c h a s i n g power, j o b s e c u r i t y & t h e d i g n i t y of labour. l a b o u r e x p e r i e n c e ) , t h e long hand of r e a c t Extension of t h i s urban u n i t y o f l a b o u r 6 i o n from s o u t h o f t h e b o r d e r p l a y e d no community o r g a n i s a t i o n t o t h e f a m i l y farm & s m a l l p a r t i n d e f e a t i n g t h e d e m o c r a t i c e l a n working farm community can be an e f f e c t i v e o f Canadian l a b o u r . How w e l l have we i n Canada s t u d i e d , appl e v e r on g o v ' t p o l i c y i n f i s c a l & t r a d e affairs. r e c i a t e d & l e a r n e d from t h e s t r e n g t h s of o u r own l a b o u r h i s t o r y ? T h i s development o f a " f l y i n g wing" o f l a b o u r & f a r m e r u n i t y d e s e r v e s s e r i o u s conC. VANCE s i d e r a t i o n a t t h i s t i m e & on a broad s c a l e , i f t h e r i g h t - w i n g a t t a c k on p e o p l e ' s s t a n d a r d s o f l i v i n g i s t o b e stemmed a s , f o r example, i s e x e m p l i f i e d i n t h e Mulroney a n t i labour drive.

...

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STD CLINIC - Monday t h r o u g h F r i d a y , 9am - 5pm. FREE MEDICAL CLINIC - Mon, Wed, F r i d a y , 5:30-7 :3Opm NEEDLE EXCHANGE - 221 Main; e v e r y d a y 9am - 5pm. N e e d l e Exchange v a n - on t h e s t r e e t Mon-Sat e v e n i n g s . N.A. m e e t s e v e r y Monday n i g h t a t 223 Main S t r e e t . N a r c o t i c s Anonymous (NA) meets a t Dugout, 59 Powell, 7:30 F r i

1991 DONATIONS: Charley B.-$30 Hazel M.-$25 Oly(Sven) -$TO B i l l T.-$20 Wendy $20 Mendel R.-$15 Marilyn S.-$36 Sage -$25 t4EWSLETTEfi Heather M.-$15 Darren L.-$50 E l l e n -$5 Herman L.-$10 E t i e n n e S.-$20 ABEd -$15 THC * l U S L t ? l t I I S A I U D L I U ? I O I or lilt Keith C.-$30 Nancy W.-$75 Bruce D.-$5 C A C N I C I ~comtmln C ~ N I B Erssoclrito* Sandy C.-$35 A l b e r t H.-$10 CEEDS -$50 Artlrl.. ~.,#.m.nl t h o vlou* e l I n 4 l r l d u . l Terry T.-$200 Vishva A.-$15 N e i l M.-$3 c u n t ~ l b u t m eend 01 t h e I e e o c l * c I n n . ~ r e n d a-$I5 Marg S.-$20 Bruce .T.-$20 . I:lllili c l o l l n l l u ~ l srlccul~rclcl. . Janet B .-$20 C l t y 111fo s t a f f can't nccept L i l l i a n H.-$20 d m s t Ions f u r thin I t c u e l e t t e r , o o Cplleen E.-$25 If you c n n h c l p , f l n d F v u l l'ny l o r Dave - $ l o nod h e ' l l g l v e you a recelpt. Nancy J.-$10 Donald M.-$10 William B.-$20 Annette R.-$30 Diane M.-$30 Rhinos -$5.03 Laughing Bear-$200 A r t VL -$5 S a l v a t i o n Army Chilliwack -$30 Legal s e r v i c e s S o c i e t y -$700 F ~ United ; ~ church-$i00 ~ The Downtown Eastslde Residents' Af;socintlon Four S i s t e r s Co-op -$500. can help you with: Yanum Spath -$200 DERA -$500 any welfare yroblenls "01

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lnformatlon on legal rlghts disputes w i h landlords unsafe living conditions Income lax UIC problems f i r d i n g housing opcning a bank account I

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or phone us at 682-0931

D O W N T O W N .E A S T S I D E F O R 18 Y E A R S .

We a r e concerned when any of o u r c h i l d ren a r e apprehended. What "is good f o r t h e c h i l d " should i n s t e a d mean whht i s good f o r t h e f a m i l y i s good f o r t h e c h i l d . Too o f t e n apprehension i s t h e worst t h i n g t h a t can happen. Such a d e c i s i o n i s u s u a l l y made i n t h e Social Services o f f i c e s i n a very secret manner w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n t o o o f t e n based on 1. p r e j u d i c e 2. s l a n d e r 3. half truths who s u f f e r s t h e most a r e p o v e r t y mothers with few o r no r e s o u r c e s , Native p a r e n t s & f a m i l i e s of mixed h e r i t a g e . There i s l i t t l e i f any a t t e m p t t o s i t down with t h e mother o r h e r s u p p o r t e r s . The v a l u e system t h e mother can a f f o r d i s never considered. In one c a s e t h e worker hounded t h e mother f o r months p r e s s u r i n g h e r e t o ~ e l i n q u i s hh e r c h i l d r e n . Many o f o u r women, while p r e g n a n t , f a c e t h e t h r e a t o f having t h e i r c h i l d apprehended a t b i r t h . Anyone who h a s any knowledge o r understanding should r e a l i z e t h a t apprehending a t b i r t h i s dangerous. I t i s an i n t e r f e r e n c e i n t h e bonding between mother & child nurtured p r i o r t o birth; t h a t interf e r e n c e can cause i r r e p a r a b l e damage. D r . Segal o f UBC h a s done wonders r e : a l c o h o l and drug syndrome babies..however t h e abscence o f t h e p a r e n t a f t e r apprehension i s serious. J u s t a s serious is the practice ' o f s e i z i n g b a b i e s a t 3 hours of age. So apprehension i s c a r r i e d o u t . Our p o v e r t y p a r e n t s must depend on t h e l e g a l a i d r e p r e s e n t a t i o n when appearing b e f o r e t h e c o u r t . Some o f t h e s e lawyers a r e good. Some a r e awful. Some a r e t i e d t o year contracts with t h e municipality. Some work, i n o u r o p i n i o n , "hand-inglove1' w i t h t h e people apprehending. In one case, t h e f a t h e r d i d n ' t want t h e c h i l d , d i d n ' t want t h e mother t o have t h e c h i l d , had a s i s t e r who c o u l d n ' t have c h i l dren, had money & t h e mother l o s t h e r baby. Our most o u t r a g e o u s c a s e - simply c r i m i n a l - was where l e g a l a i d was r e f u s e d . In a n o t h e r c a s e t h e worker drove t h e mother t o swear & t h r e a t e n v i o l e n c e by h e r a t t i t u d e . I t 1 $ , a c a s e oE "whiitilola wants l o l a g e t s u with S o c i a l S e r v i c e s . When i t

was s t a t e d i n response t o a j u d g e ' s q u e s t ion "Do you b e l i e v e it was a conspiracy?" - llYes.ll - h i s n a s t i n e s s t o t h a t spoke volumes. Never dwell on t h e misery - look a t what i s happening: 1. In BC t h e mother has t o be t o l d why t h e c h i l d i s apprehended. 2. Even though a c h i l d i s adopted o u t , a p a r e n t may have c o n t a c t w i t h t h e c h i l d . What t o do i f you a r e faced w i t h such a c r i s i s o r a r e t h e advocate 1 . Get i n touch with us. A network of Ad-

v o c a t e s i s r e q u i r e d with a c l e a r unders t a n d i n g o f t h e n a t u r e o f advocacy. 2 . Get a lawyer such a s David Mossop: c a l l 685-3425. 3. S c r u t i n i z e c l o s e l y t h e document p r e s e n t ed t o c o u r t i n t h e a p p l i c a t i o n f o r apprehension. 4. I f t h e r e i s a psychological assessment p r e s e n t e d , s e e t h a t t h e lawyer a r r a n g e s t o have one done. Legal Aid w i l l pay. 5. Be t h e r e when t h e c o u r t convenes. F i n a l l y remember t h a t , i f you a r e t h e advo c a t e you a r e a l l s h e has. Never f o r g e t , i t i s h e r & n o t t h i s a r c h a i c system t h a t you r e p r e s e n t . The f r u s t r a t i o n o f t h e poor can n e v e r be measured. The most oppressed group i n Canada i s t h e poor. By Barbara Davies & Margaret M i t c h e l l .

Unite AROUND Police campaign"

In t h e d a i l y p a p e r s i n December a l o t o f a t t e n t i o n was given, a l b e i t f o r a few days, t o t h e u s e of l o c a l elementary school grounds by people involved i n two very o l d t r a d e s drugs G p r o s t i t u t i o n . P i c t u r e s G s t o r i e s abound of dope, used n e e d l e s E condoms. P a r e n t s and t e a c h e r s and r e s i d e n t s a r e f i g h t i n g t o r e t a i n t h e community. Following i s a shortened v e r s i o n of a l e t t e r w r i t t e n t o P o l i c e Chief Mars h a l l by t h e newly-elected c o - c h a i r persons of t h e S t r a t h c o n a School Cons u l t a t i v e Committee. P o l i c i n g i n t h e S t r a t h c o n a School a r e a i n c l u d i n g t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e : "We're aware of a number of i s s u e s impacting on p o l i c i n g - immigration, administration of j u s t i c e , provision of adequate s o c i a l s e r v i c e s - which must be addressed by governments. We a l s o recognise t h a t local r e s i d e n t s must p l a y a r o l e i n supporting commu n i t y p o l i c i n g s e r v i c e s . 'I The l e t t e r goes on t o d e t a i l sugge s t i o n s & i d e a s , some based on succe s s e s i n o t h e r c i t i e s & some s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r o u r community. 1. "We endorse t h e r e q u e s t f o r both S t r a t h c o n a G Seymour Schools t o

have a d e s i g n a t e d , school-based p o l i c e o f f i c e r . I n n e r - c i t y elementary s c h o o l s must r e c e i v e t h e added p o l i c i n g ; we need t o develop crime prevention programs f o r c h i l d r e n & r e s i d e n t s t o d e a l w i t h . a ) drugs b) gangs."

There a r e secondary school p o l i c i n g programs i n e f f e c t ; gang .members a r e u s i n g underage c h i l d r e n t o s t e a l . . a n d some t o work on t h e s t r e e t a s hookers. 2 . Community based P o l i c i n g S t r a t e g i e s * permanently a s s i g n i n g a d d i t i o n a l police officers - S t r a t h c o n a 6 D . E . a r e unique a r e a s with s p e c i f i c n e e d s a s i n n e r - c i t y communities; - intense, short-term police pressu r e d o e s n ' t work i n t h e long term. * new, i n n o t a t i v e s t r a t e g i e s needed - t h e b i c y c l e squad i s good; - r e t u r n of ' b e a t cops' i n some areas ; - an i n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l t a s k f o r c e should be d e s i g n a t e d s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r Strathcona/Downtown E a s t s i d e a s t h e c u r r e n t a r e a f o r downtown cops i s t o o b i g . * a multicultural hotline - provides emergency s e r v i c e s i n 4 o r 5 major languages of r e s i d e n t s . * p o l i c e f o r c e r e f l e c t i n g community p o l i c e should b e e t h n i c a l l y s i m i l a r t o residents; - b i l i n g u a l English/Cantonese/Vietnamese/Spanish speaking. * re-examine p o l i c e r o t a t i o n p o l i c y - case of l o c a l youth o f f i c e r . * p o l i c e forums t h a t respond t o needs - informal, f u l l y b i l i n g u a l (E/C) * a d m i n i s t r a t ion o f j u s t i c e - senior judge..senior o f f i c e r both point finger a t gov't; - system now p u t s drug d e a l e r s back on s t r e e t s w i t h i n t h e week, e t c . The l e t t e r concludes w i t h words of support f o r t h e i n c r e a s e d p o l i c e a c t i v i t y i n Strathcona G t h e D . E . , but res t a t e s t h e need f o r long-range t h i n k i n g E programs. "Parents a r e deeply concerned about t h e s a f e t y E s e c u r i t y of t h e i r c h i l d r e n E t h e q u a l i t y of l i f e i n o u r neighbour-

hood"'

ByRONHANSEN 6 POMPONIA SCfmIDT WEINblAR

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DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE *6

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BlENES GRANITOS 0 A BA10 COST0

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SERVlClOS LEGALES

SHELTER h HOUSING

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RECREACION SOCIAL

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ADVOCACY RESOURCE LIST

PROYECTO LATlNO AMERICANO, DEYAS

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H~BERGEMENTET LWEMENT ....................... 3

CASA Y ALOJAMIENTO

INFORMACION. APOYO Y CONSWERIA

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of t h resource guide i s now few p l a c e s around t h e of phone numbers have been c o r r e c i e d and 2 e n t r i e s were t a k e n o u t . Someone c a l l e d i n November ( I t h i n k ) and s a i d , " t h a t p l a c e has been c l o s e d f o r a l most a year!" So it goes. The main reason f o r #6 i s t h a t #5 had run o u t . P r i n t run i n c l u d e d 1200 i n French, 1200 i n Spanish and 4600 i n English, which should l a s t u n t i l A p r i l . Many thanks t o Four S i s t e r s Co-op f o r donating $500, and Legal S e r v i c e s S o c i e t y put a cheque i n t h e mail f o r an a d d i t i o n a l $200. P r i n t c o s t was about $750, s o we almost broke even. I f you w w t one o r know of someone who could use one i n any st t h e t h r e e languages, come t o Carnegie i f t h e y a r e n ' t i n a p l a c e you u s e .

' I

Ccci e s t " Help in t h e D o w n t o w n E a s t s i d e " ( n 6 l t r a d u i t en fran~aisavcc la permission de I'Cditcur. Ic c c n t r c w r n r n u n r u t a i r c Camegic. Le cenae Carnegic a aussi f a i t I'irnprcssion. Merci l

"May t h e numbers b e w i t h you." T h i s N e w s l e t t e r has a y e a r l y budget of $6,000, o r $500 a month. T h i s i s t h e amount t h e Carnegie A s s o c i a t i o n i s c u r r e n t l y p u t t i n g towards t h i s p r i c e l e s s rag. In 1991 a l l t h e N e w s l e t t e r s , Help i n t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e b o o k l e t s , paper 6 s u p p l i e s 6 p o s t a g e and s o on c o s t $8,323. BUT d o n a t i o n s and $50 a month from DERA f o r t h e i r ad came t o $4,321. S p e c i a l t h a n k s t o Laughing Bear! Lo E Behold - n e t c a s t was $4,002. Not bad.. . Paul T a y l o r , E d i t o r

2 -

Competitiveness

A Second Look

1 1 ~ o n ' thog t h e b a l l ; we share here," an eight y e a r o l d c h i l d s a i d f i r m l y . I was watching some Vancouver P u b l i c school s t u d e n t s demonstrate i n a p l a y t h e y had w r i t t e n themselves t h a t co-operation was an important v a l u e f o r a h e a l t h y community. These c h i l d r e n were so convincing t h a t I began t o r e c o n s i d e r t h e p r e s e n t c u l t o f competitiveness. In t h e business world competitiveness r e f e r s t o t h e c o s t o f doing business. The bottom l i n e i s p r o f i t , and c o r p o r a t e economists w i l l c a l l a p r o j e c t uncompetitive i f it does n o t make a p r o f i t . Business competitiveness encourages t h e war of a l l a g a i n s t a l l a s t h e BC Telephone advertisements inform us. Only t h e smart w i l l survive; t h e r e s t , presumably, w i l l d i e . Business competitiveness, u n l i k e compet i t i o n i n s p o r t which i s based on e x c e l l ence, r e f e r s t o t h e u n d e r c u t t i n g and eventual e l i m i n a t i o n of t h e opposition. A t t h e c e n t r e of unregulated competition l i e s t h e s p e c t r e o f monopoly, and we can see t h i s process working a s a r e s u l t of deregulation. For example, s i n c e t h e der e g u l a t i o n of t h e a i r l i n e s i n t h e United S t a t e s i n 1978, a dozen a i r l i n e companies have gone o u t o f business, and more than 50,000 of t h e i r employees have l o s t t h e i r jobs. A i r f a r e s have gone up, and c i t i e s once served by m u l t i p l e c a r r i e r s a r e now served by one o r none (1). Corporate b u s i n e s s i s powered by t h e dynamic of accumulation, and t h i s dynamic has crushed much of what we have t r a d i t i o n a l l y known a s small b u s i n e s s . So conc e n t r a t e d has wealth become i n Canada t h a t i n 1983 t h e t o p 500 c o r p o r a t i o n s had

s a l e s o f $359 b i l l i o n - 92% of GNP Also, 9 f a m i l i e s i n Canada c o n t r o l the v a l u e of a l l t h e s h a r e s o f t h e most important companies l i s t e d on

(2). 46% of

300 the

Toronto Stock Exchange ( 3 ) . According t o P e t e r Newman i n h i s two volume work, The Canadian Establishment, Canada i s c o n K l led by a j u n t a of 1000 corporate barons who do not s u f f e r t h e sharing of power gladly (4). Business competitiveness i s a value based on p r o f i t and l o s s , and it i s measured i n monetary terms. I t ddes not provide any e t h i c a l foundation on which t o make t h e profound d e c i s i o n s t h a t s e t t h e moral framework of our l i f e t o g e t h e r . When t h e Business Council on National Issues (BCNI), a powerful business lobby, says i n i t s pamphlet, National Economic P r i o r i t i e s , dated January 25/91, "put economics before p o l i t i c s , " it means t h a t t h e maximization of p r o f i t should be placed before t h e e t h i c a l d e c i s i o n s we have t o make a s responsi b l e c i t i z e n s i n community. This statement of t h e BCNI has o l i g a r c h i c a l undertones because it p l a c e s t h e power t o make fundamental d e c i s i o n s about our economy and our l i v e s i n c o r p o r a t e boardrooms r a t h e r than with t h e c i t i z e n s of a democratic country. Competitiveness i s t h e opposite of coo p e r a t i o n on which community and u n i t y depend. I t promotes a s o c i e t y i n which avari c e i s rewarded. A s t h e economist, E . F . Schumacher, i n h i s 3ook Small i s Beautiful, "Nature abhors a vacuum, and when t h e a v a i l a b l e s p i r i t u a l space i s not f i l l e d by something h i g h e r , then it w i l l be f i l l e d with something lower - by t h e small, mean, c a l c u l a t i n g a t t i t u d e t o l i f e of economics a s prof i t -making. " (5)

Rather than a s o c i e t y based on business competitiveness, many Canadians long f o r community t h a t l i f t s being-in-the-world beyond t h e competitive, p r e d a t o r y s t a g e of human development. We would not be t r e a t e d a s means f o r a n o t h e r ' s end. We want t o be i n c o n t r o l of o u r l i v e s , t o belong t o o u r land, t o l i v e with o u r t r a d i t i o n s . We a r e not f o r s a l e . We long f o r a p u b l i c language with which t o express a shared notion o f p u b l i c j u s t i c e , and we would work towa r d s democracy, based on e q u a l i t y and r e s p e c t , and an understanding of freedom t h a t can d e l i v e r us from i s o l a t i o n , and c a r r y us i n t o fellowship. We cannot divorce economics from t h e b a s i c v a l u e s we choose t o l i v e by a s human beings i n t h e world. There i s a p l a c e f o r competitiveness, but only i f it i s regulat e d by a u t h e n t i c , compassionate c i t i z e n s i n t h e community of n a t i o n s . By SANDY CAMERON References: 1) "Prices Keep Rising A s Deregulation Backfires", by D. L. B a r t l e t t 6 J . B . S t e e l e , D e t r o i t Free Press, Nov.6/91. 2 ) The CUPE Facts, vo1.8, #1, Jan/Feb 1986 p. 14. 3 ) Wrong End of t h e Rainbow, by E r i c Kierens 6 Walter Stewart, p.7. 4) The Canadian Establishment, by P e t e r Newman, vol. 1,p. 387. 5) Small i s Beautiful, EF Schumacher,p.lOS

The l o n g t o l l o f - t h e b r a v e is n o t l o s t i n darkness: over t h e f r u i t f u l e a r t h and a c r o s s t h e s e a s h a s passed t h e l i g h t of noble deeds unquenchable f o r e v e r .

' T h a t ' s our problem, a r l i e , t h e more w e g e t , t h e more we wan t."

in an i n s c r i p t i o n found on the L i o n ' s Gate a t Mycanae