Santa Claus
"RATHER THAN WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS EVE, EVICTION NOTICES ARE HEREBY SERVED on: Dec . l 9
m y o r Gordon Campbell responded to the people of Vancouver in his usual charming way - by practicing being stupid. The course of events leading to this latest display started a while ago and reached crisis proportions over a year ago. The issue is housing. Demolitions, closure of secondary suites, huge rent increases and the buying and selling of land holding all inspired once-affordable housing by the greed and social unconsciousness of "developers" - have produced a situation unparelled in the history of Vancouver. On Tuesday, Dec. 19th, hundreds of people from every neighbourhood in our city went to City Council. It was standing room only in council chambers with the gallery full and people unable to squeeze in filling committee rooms to watch events unfold on video screens. Rev. Art Griffin, formerly of First United Church, spoke for the citizens of Vancouver. He began by asking all present to observe two minutes silence for all people in Van who had lost their homes in 1989. It was deafening.
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Few words of polite introduction were wasted. Very early, he said, "There is nothing that the majority (NPA) on this council can do to lower our opinion of you." Griffin covered the appalling insensitivity of the eight NPA members when listing what they have refused to do to meet the needs of thousands of residents. He then asked, like an elementary school teacher, that they each take a pencil and write down what is demanded, so they can't say they've forgotten 1. An immediate halt to demolitions until a program of Housing Protection is implemented. This program must ensure sufficient quantities of rental, affordable and co-op housing in the same neighbourhoods. 2. A moratorium on the closure of secondary suites and discontinuence of the present closure process. This "suite deal" must not be confined to single neighbourhoods but be part of an overall housing review covering all areas of the city. 3. The office of the Rentalsman must be re-established at once. Until this provincial post is filled, the City of Vancouver must form a Rent Review Board with sweeping powers to roll back unacceptable, unjustifiable rent increases. 4. The City'must instigate a move to leasing land for the construction of affordable, low-cost and co-op housing and discourage the buying and selling of lands so designated by the profit-motivated.
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The recommendations of Rev. G r i f f i n met w i t h thunderous a p p l a u s e , e x c e p t of c o u r s e from Campbell and h i s p a r t of Council. Campbell k e p t f i n d i n g p l a c e s t o l o o k where no one was and working h i s jaw behind a c l o s e d mouth. As t h e s t a t e m e n t of t h e r a l l y ended and people l e f t , Alderman P u i l was heard t o s a y , "Can we g e t on w i t h business now?!"
Back t o t h e p o i n t of p r a c t i c e d s t u p i d i t y . Campbell d o e s n ' t have t o be reminded t h a t t h e people l o s i n g t h e i r housing t o p r o f i t - s e e k i n g d e v e l o p e r s cannot a f f o r d even t h e c h e a p e s t s u i t e i n any of h i s dream p r o j e c t s . H e doesn ' t have t o be shown, a g a i n & a g a i n , t h a t sound b u i l d i n g s a r e being t o r n down o r t h a t , where formerly 75 people were housed, t h e new c o n s t r u c t i o n ( s ) a r e f o r a q u a r t e r t h e number a t f o u r t o ten times t h e p r i c e . H e doesn't have t o "plead" w i t h h i s s o c r e d counterparts i n Victoria to restore the Rentalsman, and he d o e s n ' t have t o make c i t i z e n s of Vancouver puke when he t a l k s of t h e g r e a t job he and t h e o t h e r NPA members a r e doing. Campbell h a s t o s e p a r a t e f a c t from fantasy. H i s executive c i t y i s a ghost. The developer m e n t a l i t y makes s o c i a l consequences someone e l s e ' s problem, b u t make-up and s m i l e s won't stop ballots..or bullets.. By PAULR
Campbell had a p r e s s c o n f e r e n c e t o respond. H e a c t u a l l y s a i d t h a t everyt h i n g t h a t c o u l d be done was being done. H e s a i d t h a t he was a g a i n s t a h a l t t o d e m o l i t i o n s because l a n d l o r d s would o n l y l e t b u i l d i n g s worsen u n t i l H e t h e n had t h e they " f e l l down". g a l l t o c i t e t h e megaprojects going up - Concorde P a c i f i c (Expo l a n d s ) , Marathon (Coal Harbour), Bosa B r o t h e r s (Main & Terminal) a s the City's best e f f o r t s . H e even brought up t h e VLC scam w i t h h i s buddy Poole and t a l k e d i n glowing t e r m s of t h e thousands of units in a l l this.!
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A real scream
NOW .IT'S PARTY TIME
TAYLOR
Editor: I n t h e Dec.15/89 i s s u e of t h e Newsletter I was s t i l l amazed t h a t M r . Tora s t i l l blames DERA f o r C i t y by-laws t h a t only C i t y Council can append. I n 1985-86 t h e Hotel owners were given good sums of money f o r r e p a i r and upgrading (an Expo j o k e ) . A few h o t e l owners d i d f i x rooms and charged $65.00 a n i g h t and up. While t h e books showed good p r o f i t s t h e owners s o l d o u t t o Asian and European buyers. Some owners put new doors, windows and f r e s h p a i n t a t the entrances only ( f o r f a l s e s t r e e t f r o n t views) t o draw t o u r i s t s (suckers) i n . Out went t h e s t e a d y monthly tena n t s , but a s soon a s Expo was f i n ished t h e owners/managers begged t h e Welfare people back by p u t t i n g p o s t e r s and a d s i n a l l t h e w e l f a r e off ices. The bottom l i n e i s where and what have t h e C i t y I n s p e c t o r s been ins p e c t i n g on t h e i r v i s i t s ? T o i l e t s broke f o r s e v e r a l months, doors held by one hinge, paper s t u f f e d i n broken windows, no h o t water s o t h e r e f o r e no steam h e a t . . . a n d t h e l i s t goes on. A g r e a t number of t h e s o - c a l l e d h o t e l s down i n t h e East s i d e have no b a r s and lounges but have Hotel s t a t u s f o r b i g t a x dodges. I f a t e n a n t complained they were t o s s e d o u t on t h e s t r e e t u n t i l DERA fought f o r and got t h e proper r i g h t s f o r t e n a n t s on e v i c t i o n s and other services.
I f T o r a ' s t o i l e t was broken f o r s i x months, i f he had a door w i t h no l o c k s o r t h e c e i l i n g was f a l l i n g down from f l o o d s above, would t h e r e n o t be a complaint t o h i s l a n d l o r d o r manager? . . o r i f , a s i n many p l a c e s , t h e mice and cockroaches a r e s o bad t h a t t h e l i g h t s have t o be l e f t on a l l n i g h t ? For y e a r s t h e C i t y H e a l t h , Buildi n g s , Permits & Licences I n s p e c t o r s have l e t t h e Hotel owners have f r e e c o n t r o l , and now t h a t they must b r i n g t h e i r money makers up t o s t a n d a r d , they c r y f o u l ! To f r e e z e r e n o v a t i o n s a s Tora sugg e s t s would o n l y f r e e z e t h e t e n a n t s . James F i s c h e r
BLOOD ON THE SIDEWALK The g r e a t e s t f e a r i s n o t knowing what t h e g r e a t e s t f e a r i s . I t ' s a l l induced paranoia i n t h e s e a r c h t o f i n d t h e l e s s e r of e v i l s . Tomorrow's tombstone w a i t s f o r one of u s , b u t f o r most tomorrow w i l l be j u s t ano t h e r today, s o l e t ' s g e t trendy and d e c l a r e t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e a s a I I ~ i s t i n c t i v e "community. ~ e t ' sg e t i d e a l and persuade t h e governments t o e x p e r i ment w i t h buying every h o t e l i n t h e DEside, and t u r n them i n t o S o c i a l Housing w i t h every b a r and t a v e r n becoming sober community c e n t r e s . Smacks of s o c i a l i s m , you s a y ? No. 1t's j u s t a glimpse i n t o the future. Garry Gust
THE POOR OF BRITISH COLUMBIA To the Editor, Tora is either playing devil's advocate or is very short-sighted when he blames DERA for the squeeze on rents now occurring in the Downtown Eastside (Carnegie Newsletter, Nov.15/89, 'Worse than Catch-22'). Is he suggesting that tenants don't have the right to live in better than the flea-bag hotel standards of the past? And if they do, is it DERA's fault for advocating those better standards? Let ' s paint Ltheifinger where it belongs - at a city council and provincial government that refuses to intervene on behalf of low and fixed income tenants because "that's just the way capitalism works." How long does it take before we all get sick of that excuse?
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Grant Richards Vancouver.
During the last few months I had to get out and help my nephews secure rental accommodation. They wanted West Side, perhaps Kerrisdale or Marine Drtve, Cambie, Dunbar, Point Grey or UBC areas. What eneraliy happenedwas that I would k to a real estate agent over the phone. We'd discuss location, price and set an appointment time. We would meet and they wrould see we were Nisga'a native lndian and their attltude towards renting wwld change. The vast majority of real estate a ents were of Oriental descent. Who taug t them to discriminate against native peoples? The same attitude was shown us by the white real estate agents.
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M a W. Alexander VANCOWER
Atmosphere is so important. The higher you are the more energy you have. As you get into the lower planes of energy the atmosphere is different. The people at the bottom interact differently. The rich like to keep only a few people at the top while the middle class is feeling the strain of the poor. The gravity of the poor is pulling down the middle class. The have-nots pull on each other, They penetrate each other, feed off each other, take energy like a suction. Pulling others down is the game that is played at all economic levels; rich people are very adept at hiding their crudity, using words like "business" and '1 progress" instead of "thievery" and "slime" Society has to make ways of lifting people up. Society has neglected the attitudes of the poor as the open book on people in general. More education, more resources might improve social development. The poor are not being emotionally built up but rather are deteriorating with the continuous idea that "rich is better". Society makes being poor a criminal offense and the treatment is that of a professional dealing with an illiterate only on the basis of academic credentials. While society places such a bias on letters/money, the reality of life's education is discounted as unmeasurable, therefore unworthy.
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"When I am under your authority I ask for your sympathy because that is according to your principles. When you are under my authority I suppress you because that is according to my principles." This is the attitude of the haves. (From an idea of BJR)
1FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK T h i s i s a d i f f i c u l t i s s u e t o address, but f e e l i n g s on b o t h s i d e s have been expressed c a l l i n g f o r t h e same t h i n g and n e i t h e r s i d e g i v e s much c r e d i t t o t h e o t h e r f o r t h e I Iways & ~ e a n s "of a c h i e v i n g t h e desired goals. On t h e one hand i s c r i t i c i s m of t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e R e s i d e n t s ' Tora, i n two A s s o c i a t i o n (DERA) l e t t e r s p r i n t e d i n r e c e n t i s s u e s of t h i s Newsletter, sees DERA a s having played i n t o t h e hands of greedy landl o r d s and a b s e n t e e owners by followi n g up on complaints brought t o them about b a s i c l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s i n h o t e l s , rooming houses, e t c . H e ' s s t a t e d t h a t DERA i s t o blame f o r t h e neighbourhood c r i s i s . Implied i s t h a t community work o v e r t h e p a s t 15 o r 16 y e a r s has l e d d i r e c t l y t o t h e pres e n t s i t u a t i o n of l a n d l o r d s c i t i n g "by-law enforced r e n o v a t i o n s " a s t h e main reason f o r r a i s i n g r e n t s . Tora s t a t e s t h a t a renovation f r e e z e i s t h e answer t o keeping r e n t s s t a b l e and s t o p p i n g t h e c l o s u r e a n d / o r demol i t i o n of low-cost housing.
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On t h e o t h e r hand i s t h e ongoing s t r u g g l e of members and workers of DERA t o make t h e l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s of r e s i d e n t s worth t h e p r i c e charged by t h e s e same l a n d l o r d s and owners. S i x t e e n y e a r s ago was n o t t h e t i m e when a l l t h e h o t e l s and rooming houses began t o go d o w n h i l l i n terms of what they provided t o t e n a n t s ; t h e founding of a r e s i d e n t s ' a s s o c i a t i o n was t h e o n l y t o s t o p t h e rapac i o u s e x p l o i t a t i o n of low-income people i n t h e i r r o l e a s t e n a n t s . On t h e d o o r s t e p of p r a c t i c a l l y everyone l i v i n g around h e r e w e r e t h r e a t s of e v i c t i o n , g r o s s l y s u b s t a n d a r d accomo d a t i o n and p e r p e t u a l l a c k i n adequa t e s a f e t y systems - be they f i r e , s e c u r i t y o r simply p e s t c o n t r o l . By u n i t i n g , r e s i d e n t s w e r e and a r e a b l e t o make landlords/managers comply w i t h t h e e x i s t i n g by-laws: t o i l e t s t h a t work, windows t h a t open and doors t h a t c l o s e & l o c k , s p r i n k l e r systems and f i r e p r e c a u t i o n s t h a t meet a c o n s t a n t l y u p d a t i n g code of Vancouver's F i r e Department, s t a i r s t h a t a r e n ' t dangerously r o t t e n and e l e v a t o r s t h a t f u n c t i o n , b a s i c c l e a n l i n e s s & garbage removal, These a r e b a s i c b u t t h e same landl o r d s who have t o be l e g a l l y t h r e a t ened t o p r o v i d e them wouldn't even b l i n k a t c a l l i n g them r e n o v a t i o n s i f such a t h i n g a s a " r e n o v a t i o n f r e e z e " happened. I n s p i t e of t h e by-laws, h o t e l owners and l a n d l o r d s ( t h e n a s now) s h i r k r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o p r o v i d e adequate housing and t r y t o c a s t themselves i n a h a l o of l i g h t - s a y i n g t h a t t h e q u a l i t y of housing i s determined by t h e people who l i v e t h e r e , t h a t they should be given c i t i z e n s h i p awards f o r accomodating p e o p l e whom no one else w i l l - by p l a y i n g t o a l l of t h e myths and misconceptions t h a t keep t h e term 'Skid Road' i n u s e .
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. A h i s t o r y o f DERA i s l o n g and won't be attempted h e r e , b u t t h e b a s i c cons i s t e n c y and coherence of t h e work i s a p p a r e n t - DERA f i g h t s back. To "blame" DERA f o r g i v i n g l a n d l o r d s a n excuse t o r a i s e r e n t s , e v i c t , s h u t down a n d / o r s e l l o u t i s p u e r i l e and short-sighted. Without DERA and o t h e r tenantslresidents organizations the Downtown E a s t s i d e would now be compara b l e t o t h e w o r s t slums and g h e t t o e s found i n most American c i t i e s . It r e a l l y h i t s home when someone you know, someone whose home/apartment/ room you've been t o , g e t s added t o t h e l e n g t h e n i n g l i s t of t h o s e being destroyed by t h i s a n c i e n t scam. As f a r a s making a compromise w i t h greed-driven people, beware: Making compromises w i t h greedy people o n l y g i v e s them time t o t h i n k of how t o g e t back t o s q u e e z i n g e v e r y t h i n g t h e y can g e t w h i l e g i v i n g a s l i t t l e a s p o s s i b l e ; how t o g e t around t h e ' d e a l ' and back i n t o s e e i n g everybody a s s u c k e r s and scum. The o n l y way t o d e a l w i t h such greedy i n d i v i d u a l s -(and c o r p o r a t i o n s ) i s t o h i t them w i t h a hammer. I f t h a t d o e s n ' t work, h i t them w i t h a sledgehammer.
By PAULR
TAYLOR
FOUND POEM During t h e 19601s, s t a n d i n g a l o n e I n t h e middle of a weedstrewn f i e l d In t h i s city, There was a weathered s i g n t h a t read: "$25 reward f o r i n f o r m a t i o n l e a d i n g t o The a r r e s t and c o n v i c t i o n o f anyone Removing t h i s s i g n . " For whatever i t ' s worth, The s i g n h a s l o n g s i n c e d i s a p p e a r e d . And s o , f o r t h a t matter, has t h e f i e l d .
THE MAZE L i f e i s b u t a game Where wicked r e a c h t h e t o p ; Nice guys go down t h e d r a i n But t h a t d o n ' t make me s t o p For a good-time man l i k e n, Can always p l a i n l y s e e ; That no matter which road y?u t a k e You always g e t l o s t i n t h e maze. The cocoon of madness S w i r l s above t h e manse ; For t h o s e who have confessed To t a k e t h e upper hand A r e enthroned i n r u b i e s On mother ~ a r e ys' knees; Everything i s always a t s t a k e A t t h e t o p of t h e maze. Paupers f i l l e d w i t h l o v e A t t h e bottom of t h e heap; E n c i r c l e d by shiny doves Are d e f e a t e d i n t h e i r s l e e p They l i v e o u t i n t h e street I n t h e midst of t h e c i t y h e a t ; 'Twas a l l done f o r C h r i s t ' s s a k e A t t h e bottom of t h e maze. While walking i n t h e r a i n My h e a r t h i t t h e mud; I was l o s i n g my b r a i n s Out i n t h e b l a z i n g sun Even though I was b l e e d i n ' My ego kept m e hanging on; Bad blood had f a i l e d t o break M e a t t h e bottom of t h e maze. J o e Ringer
Q*?.& & S u AND WARM WISHES FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
RADIO and LITERACY f o r t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e
The Radio Access f o r L i t e r a c y Proj e c t i s underway ! I f you want t o g e t i n v o l v e d , t h e r e i s a b i g meeting Friday, January 1 2 a t 2 pm i n Classroom Two on t h e t h i r d f l o o r . It w i l l be a chance f o r everyone who's i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e r a d i o proj e c t t o g e t t o g e t h e r and d i s c u s s i t over c o f f e e and c o o k i e s . The g e n e r a l aim of t h e p r o j e c t i s t o make r a d i o f o r o u r p a r t of t h e c i t y and t o g i v e people involved i n t h e p r o j e c t a chance t o improve t h e i r readi n g and w r i t i n g s k i l l s . The p r o j e c t w i l l r u n f o r s i x months, and r a d i o programs made d u r i n g t h i s t i m e w i l l b e b r o a d c a s t on Vancouver's Co-op Radio. There a r e twa f u l l - t i m e s t a f f worki n g on t h e p r o j e c t . Brenda P r i n c e i s t h e l i t e r a c y worker. She h a s worked a s a t u t o r a t t h e Learning Front and t h e Native T u t o r i n g Centre and a l s o worked a t t h e I n d i a n Centre. Helene Littmann i s t h e r a d i o worker. S h e ' s been a v o l u n t e e r a t Co-op Radio f o r a number of y e a r s . We have an o f f i c e a t Co-op Radio (337 C a r r a l l S t r e e t ) and w i l l a l s o work a t Carnegie. I f you'd l i k e t o t a l k t o u s about t h e p r o j e c t come by t h e o f f i c e o r c a l l 684-8494. (The Radio Access f o r L i t e r a c y Proj e c t i s funded by g r a n t s from S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e and t h e B.C. M i n i s t r y of Advanced Education.)
Sacred C i r c l e Group The s a c r e d c i r c l e was a tremendous s u c c e s s and everyone was happy. I'm p l e a s e d t o s e e s o many of our people t a k i n g p a r t i n an e v e n t which i s s o g r e a t and s t r o n g i n u n i f i c a t i o n w i t h a l l . With Christmas a t i t s peak season r i g h t now, r e a l i z i n g t h a t i t ' s q u i t e f o r our Native people t o rea d j u s t t o being away from home and f o r t h o s e whom a r e s i c k and i n t h e h o s p i t a l s and o t h e r i n s t i t u t i o n s . But t o t h o s e who a r e i n t h e c i t y and a r e t r y i n g t o c o n t a c t t h e i r homes and f a m i l i e s t o extend t h e i r s e a s o n ' s g r e e t i n g s t o r e l a t i v e s and f r i e n d s , I pray t h a t each and every one of you w i l l have a good and b l e s s e d s h a r i n g , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e i n t h e Sacred C i r c l e I wish 1990 w i l l be a b e t t e r y e a r f o r everyone. This i s from t h e h e a r t of an E l d e r of t h e E a r t h . Joseph A Paul Elder
Nanoose Bay Band
BIRD TRACKS I N THE SNOW I want t o g e t o u t b u t t h e r e ' s no p l a c e t o go. T h e r e ' s f r o s t on t h e g a t e s r i s i n g from t h e deep snow.
To v e n t u r e o u t now would s p o i l t h e f a t e of N a t u r e ' s good p l a n t o b e s t e a d f a s t and w a i t . Though f e e l i n g s of w i n t e r , s o f a t a l and b l a c k , must s u f f e r my s t r e n g t h no m a t t e r t h e l a c k . It always o c c u r s t h i s t i m e of y e a r ; t h e lowest o f s p i r i t s from t o o much f a l s e f e a r .
But s p r i n g t i m e w i l l g r e e t me and m e l t t h i s ice-glow; f e e l i n g f r a g i l e and s m a l l l i k e b i r d t f a c k s i n t h e snow. Carry Gust
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THE GOLDEN PRAYER Out west where s t e e l l i m e s t o n e s t a n d s Touching t h e c o o l m i s t o f t h e sky; The f a i r e s t p l a c e i n t h i s l a n d Where t h e clime i s sweet a l p i n e I saw a p r e t t y damsel queen With r i b b o n s o f wisdom i n h e r h a i r ; I f e l t l i k e I was i n a dream A l l i n t h e l a n d of t h e Golden P r a y e r . Months o f p l a n n i n g , weeks o f hard work, days o f never-ending t h i n g s t o d o . . . i t made C a r n e g i e ' s c e l e b r a t i o n s o f t h e s e a s o n unique. The K i d ' s P a r t y saw t h e T h e a t r e overflowing w i t h r u g r a t s , b a l l o o n s and p a i n t e d f a c e s and b r e a k f a s t s a l l through t h e b u i l d i n g . A downtown c h i l d r e n ' s program worker s a i d w i t h a laugh t h a t t h e r e seemed t o Atop t h e b a r r e n landscape be about 300 k i d s t h e r e ! A s jagged a s a p i p e r ' s s c r a w l ; Walking through t h e C e n t r e , you Lay t h e ice-cold f l e e c y f l a k e s j u s t f e e l amazement o v e r t h e decorPerched h i g h above t h e h o t w a t e r f a l l a t i o n s and Al Wilson's banners (on I t s m i d - r i f t hue mounts t h e s l o p e s t h e f i r s t , second & t h i r d f l o o r s & Like a l l t h e s t a r t l i n g s t a r s t h a t glow; o u t s i d e ) g r e e t e d everyone. Al even This woman g l i t t e r s i n t h e s l o p e s A l l i n t h e land o f t h e p r a y e r t h a t ' s g o l d . found time t o make a n i n c r e d i b l e 3-foot h i g h Christmas Card. Joe Ringer Throughout a l l t h e f e s t i v i t i e s t h e s t a f f j u s t k e p t going, g e t t i n g a l l t h e t h i n g s done t h a t people a l ways n o t i c e i f t h e y a r e n ' t done. The food s e r v i c e f o r a l l t h e e v e n t s and d i n n e r s was g r e a t , t h a n k s t o everybody who worked and worked i n I the kitchen. I t ' s n o t r i g h t t o s i n g l e o u t any one i n d i v i d u a l , any one s t a f f person and applaud them f o r t h e i r e f f o r t s because someone e l s e w i l l have done a s much o r more and n o t asked f o r any r e c o g n i t i o n . The S p i r i t of t h e season was s h i n i n g on t h e f a c e s of many, many people a s t h e y made i t e n j o y a b l e f o r hundreds of o t h e r s . T h i s c a n ' t be ended without one s p e c i a l n o t e of p r a i s e f o r M r . & Mrs Santa Claus. They had more f u n t h a n a l l t h e r e s t of u s p u t t o g e t h e r ! I ' v e been t o l d t h a t Kashopowi winds Hold t h e s e c r e t of wondrous God; ' n t h a t a l l of t h i s q u e e n ' s s i n s Are a s q u i e t a s a s a c r e d mirage This queen's t h i n m i r r o r s h i n e s Like t h e r a d i a n c e o f a s u n g l a r e ; A l l t h e b l e s s e d s c e n e s o f mine Lay i n t h e l a n d o f t h e Golden P r a y e r .
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PACIFIC SURF MEDITATION L a s t n i g h t t h e storm. I n c e s s a n t s u r f Pounding on t h e beach Like t h e r o a r of e n d l e s s t r a f f i c To a c i t y boy's ears And t h e wind slamming t h e c a b i n Like t h e thunder of e t e r n a l l y p a s s i n g t r u c k s And t h e d i s t a n t foghorn Like some f a b u l o u s f r e i g h t - t r a i n And t h e sound of s i r e n s and w h i s t l e s On t h e w i l d wind -
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Oh, p i t y t h e poor s a i l o r o u t on a n i g h t l i k e t h i s ! Oh, p i t y t h e poor drunkard passed o u t homeless on a n i g h t l i k e t h i s ! On any n i g h t
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Oh, p i t y t h e poor l u n a t i c f o r whom t h i s storm r a g e s n i g h t and morning a l l t h e c r a z y days of h i s mad l i f e . !We are a l l h o l y f o o l s , one way o r a n o t h e r . I t ' s j u s t t h a t some of u s Wear t h e cap and b e l l s More d a i n t i l y t h a n o t h e r s . David Bouvier Momma's Mad E a r t h Mother's one p i s s e d o f f p l a n e t . s h e ' s never f e l t t h i s way b e f o r e . W e b e t t e r s t o p r i g h t now, t h i s i n s t a n t O r s h e ' s gonna be awful s o r e ! We've r u i n e d t h i s p l a n e t completely W e men made a h e l l of a m e s s . What s h e ' s g o t i n s t o r e f o r a l l humans Q u i t e f r a n k l y i s anyone's guess. So p l e a s e , when you speak of our Mother B e c a r e f u l . J u s t watch what you s a y . Lest s h e send u s h e r grim d a u g h t e r P e l e Whose b l a s t w i l l j u s t blow u s away. O r maybe s h e ' l l raise up more mountains C r e a t e a new ocean o r two. No m a t t e r how p o t e n t o u r missiles There wouldn't be much w e c o u l d do.
ENMASS THE RABBLE ( I HERD) Seasons G . , w i l l - t h e New Years' S t a r v a t i o n and Disease those old s o c i a l ills not eradicated S T I L L Tou j o u r l'amour Torch t o a motor b i k e (There i s ) a l i t t l e world up t h e r e Mangers on t h e a l t a r Native p a t h ( s ) H e l l "0" See A s o n s g r e e t i n g s on h i s b i r t h d a y J C t o God t h e F a t h e r & f o r Christmas t h i s y e a r How a b o u t ? It? Taum DanYCreag
Hi!
To o u r Carnegie Family
George & I would j u s t l i k e t o t a k e a moment t o t h a n k s e n i o r s t a f f , Band & S e c u r i t y & Kitchen and a l l t h o s e who helped t o make o u r a n n i v e r s a r y so beautiful The day w e g o t m a r r i e d , w e thought 'What a b e a u t i f u l wed1st a n n i v e r s a r y ding!' ' This i s j u s t g r e a t ! ' 2nd a n n i v e r s a r y 'Wow, t h i s i s b e t t e r than l a s t t i m e ! !' We would a l s o l i k e t o s a y thanks t o everyone f o r t h e g i f t s - n o t expected b u t pleasant surprises. And t o everyone, our wish f o r you i s t h a t a l l your dreams f o r 1990 come t r u e !
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Lillian & George
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Fly little bird, fly By Matthew Cross
MONTREAL - Only blocks from the city's most prestigious hotels, one of my best friends, Kenny, is on his way to register for his night's lodging and meal at the men's mission. I decide to join him and get reacquainted. The last t h e I saw him in early May, he was in a semi-comatose state after having stopped a fast moving vehicle with his, then already frail body. Now, nine months dler the accident, his gait, like a baby is, unsteady and shaky, and his mind questions many things. The one-storey brick building which houses the Montreal men's mission is nondescript and like many of the persons who frequent it, soulless. There's already a lineup although it's only 6 p.m. and registration doesn't start until 6:30 p.m. We wait, then make the necessary moves toguarantce there's a place to sleep for the night. There's another half hour of waiting before the doors finally open, so we make another trip to the front yard to share a cigarette. About 10 feet from the door stands a huge maple tree that has to be at least 30 feet tall. As we pass under the tree, we hear a sound from above. Looking up, we are startled to see a bird fall to the ground where we are standing. Its vertical descent is remarkable! Realizing the clamor came from a falling bird, falling as if it had never been in the air at all, and by all appearances did not seem worse for its drop, the men who were waitmg for dinner started to laugh as if they were one. Pre-dinner entertainment was qature's gift to man this evening. Kenny and I went over to a couple of
dcsunding steps from the yard, took a seat and started to joke about our poor feathercd friend. The other guys stood around laughing, looking at the seemingly self-conscious bud, and everyone's mood was lightcned from the incident. A tall man in his early 20s, dressed in denim, and wearing work boots, bends down to check the bird. He gently cups the bud in his hands, surveys its wings and feet, sort of bounces it on his hands, and sees that it is none the worse for its embarrassing entrance into our disenchanted world. He perches it on his shoulder to show us how well this little creature adjusts to rapid changes. Our humane friend seemed a study in contrasts. His appearance suggested the tough street-smart character, and his assured movements among the others showed that he was able to back his stance if need be. However, as he gently grasped the pigeon in his hands, I knew there was another side of him. He now stood out from the crowd of street personalities; his humane gesture allowed us to see another aspect of him. Next, he brought the bud now sitting in his palms, into a clearing in the yard. As if offering the bird to the skies where it belonged, he threw his grasped hands up, releasing the bud. The bird flapped its wings, flew in a circle above us, and crashed into the trunk of another smaller tree. This method of landing seemed anything but easy. Another check to see how the little fellow was doing and then another send-off. Thissecond launch took him over the highway nearby, ending in another hard fall. One more catapult into space brought disastrous consequences. The bird flew in a long cir'cular swoop, passing low over the highway, passed over the yard, then crash-landed on the road. Cars, trucks and buses swerved uh'til a fastmoving taxi drove over the bird. We sat there stunned, hoping he was not hurt.
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The man responsible for sending him into ihe air, went running over to take a look. The bird when picked up, shook his head and flapped its wings, and seemed none the worse for its abuses. Next, the bird was taken into a neighboring field, offered into the air again and with a burst of speed took off toward an abandoned building nearby. It seemed to be heading for the branches of a tree, but endcd up at the base. We assumed this was the end of the sad affair and now the bird could make his way onward. However, we were to receive a surprise. The birdman went to the area where the bird had landed and proceeded to search for it. When he found it, things g d ugly. He placed the bird on the ground in front of him and started to use his boots on it. From Lickhg it, he proceeded to step on it and crush the life out of it.' Next, he grabbed a stick and started to beat it. We were more horrified with what was going on than when the bud had been hit by the car. The birdman next brought the bird into a clearing in the field and laid it next to some.cement blocks where he threw stfOnes at it. Having done all this in front of those watching and, I guess, finishing his gruesome task, he returned to take his place among the crowd. Kenny and I had an uncomfortable feeling as he re-entered the group. I still had not finished the cigarette that I had lit when we came outside... Then things got real hairy! Our birdman returned to the spot where he left the bud, took some broken glass, covered the bird with it, and started to throw rocks on the glass. He also used his boots again on the lifeless bird, as if damming it for some of the misery in the air. He made a final return into the crowd milling around the mission doorway.
Someone took it upon himself to utter somethingto this birdman and then a pushing and shoving match ensued. One of the so-called mission guards came out and also got involved. A fight then broke out between the birdman and another two men. From a laughing crowd to a crowd full of hostility. I didn't understand what was going onj and still don't. I only know that totally different and contradictory human feelings stand side-by-sideand within the time that it took (about 15 minutes), we saw a whole range of human emotions. What lies below the surface of the image of man is anyone's guess. I believe that tie whole incident s t a r t e d o u t a s a humanitarian gesture and perverted into something which only one person can answer: our birdman.
what you see To begin, i t ' s no l o n g e r allowed t o speak a s a d e l e g a t i o n a t Council proper, when TV cameras and t h e m a j o r i t y of media a r e p r e s e n t . The s c r u t i n y t h a t t h i s had p e r m i t t e d i s now d i f f u s e d and t h e p u b l i c screwed with people having t o make a l l k i n d s of e x t r a o r d i n a r y changes i n t h e i r s c h e d u l e s t o f i n d a way t o g e t t o t h e r i g h t committee. Before adding t h i s red t a p e t o t h e p u b l i c p r o c e s s , i t was p o s s i b l e t o speak t o Council on Tuesday n i g h t s . Work would be f i n i s h e d f o r t h e day, supper could be made and e a t e n , c h i l d c a r e could be taken c a r e of w i t h a baby s i t t e r , having t o w a i t 2 o r 3 hours t o speak could b e t o l e r a t e d when no p r e s s i n g committments would f o r c e people t o forego speaking t o t h e i r concerns. Now, w i t h committee meetings a t 9:30am and never knowing when you w i l l g e t your t i m e , people wanting t o speak t o Council f o r m a l l y have t o l e a v e work ( o r j u s t n o t go, meaning l o s s of pay e i t h e r way), be unable t o g i v e c o r r e c t times f o r when t h e y a r e a v a i l a b l e o r can r e t u r n t o work, have t o Lrrange daytime c h i l d c a r e when most b a b y s i t t e r s a r e i n s c h o o l , when a l l t h e p r e s s u r e s of l i f e and work are g r e a t e s t t h e people are supposed t o have no t r o u b l e changing e v e r y t h i n g t o go and s i t i n C i t y H a l l l o r from 1 t o 3 hours w i t h l i t t l e t o do but worry about a l l t h e t h i n g s you've changed t o be t h e r e i n t h e f i r s t place. on
Compare t h i s , which may sound mundane u n t i l i t happens t o you, t o what t h e NPA m a j o r i t y seems t o be s a y i n g t o t h o s e from whom i t wants t o h e a r : W ' e welcome your submissions, r e p o r t s and r e s e a r c h . You've been p a i d t o do i t o r w i l l be p a i d f o r t h e time you spend on i t . Committee meetings are of c o u r s e d u r i n g t h e day, allowi n g your evenings t o be f r e e f o r t h e much more important s o c i a l f u n c t i o n s and p e r s o n a l t i m e t h a t i s r i g h t f u l l y yours ... when: t h e workday ends a t 5 pml' People who would n a t u r a l l y count themselves among t h o s e s o considered are members of t h e " e x e c u t i v e class". The NPA m a j o r i t y , l e d by Gordon Campb e l l p l a y i n g t h e Mayor, i s s e t t i n g the stage f o r t h e i r executive c i t y , where t h e concerns, complaints and p r o t e s t s of t h e e l d e r l y , t h e s i c k o r d i s a b l e d , community groups, neighbourhood a s s o c i a t i o n s , v o l u n t e e r s i n ecology, urban p l a n n i n g , women's and a r e automatically children's issues, rendered second-rate o r i r r e l e v a n t by simply making i t i n c r e d i b l y d i f f i c u l t t o be heard.
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is what you'll get. The bottom l i n e i s t h a t u n l e s s you a r e speaking from a p o s i t i o n o f high income, high-powered p r o f i t motivated economic o r i e n t a t i o n , what you have t o s a y i s n ' t worth t h e time o r consid e r a t i o n o r a C i t y Council where t h e m a j o r i t y o f members have t h e i d e n t i c a l .narrow-minded ' v a l u e system' a s t h o s e from whom t h e y want t o h e a r . The o t h e r run-off of t h i s bureauc r a t i c muselage i s t h e NPA m a j o r i t y ' s i d e a of " p u b l i c hearings". A democrat i c way i n v o l v e s 1 ) t h e i s s u e ; 2 ) input from a l l t h o s e concerned i n a n open, p u b l i c h e a r i n g ; 3) d e b a t e t o ans w e r concerns; 4) r e s o l u t i o n s s a t i s f y i n g t o t h e m a j o r i t y of t h o s e p r e s e n t and concerned. What happens now i s t h e NPA m a j o r i t y Gordon Campbell, P h i l l i p Owen, George P u i l , Johnathon Baker, Sandra Wilking, Gordon P r i c e , Don Bellamy and C a r o l e Taylor - make t h e i r decision before the hearings, p a s s a motion s t a t i n g t h e d e c i s i o n bef o r e t h e h e a r i n g s , t h e n s u f f e r through t h e tedium of s p e a k e r a f t e r s p e a k e r g i v i n g now i r r e l e v a n t a l t e r n a t i v e s (almost always based on r e s e a r c h and i d e a s n o t done o r c o n s i d e r e d v a l i d by t h i s same m a j o r i t y ) . "hearings" a r e now l i t t l e more t h a n i n f o r m a t i o n meeti n g s where c i t y s t a f f o r sometimes c o u n c i l l o r s come t o e x p l a i n what's goi n g t o happen, l i k e i t o r n o t .
What happens n e x t i s a l s o planned: p o l i t i c i a n s say, " I f you d o n ' t l i k e what w e do o r t h e way w e do i t then v o t e u s o u t . " Come e l e c t i o n t i m e , a n i n c r e d i b l e t h i n g happens. P r o m i s ~ s of change, s t a t e m e n t s of ''not knowing you d i d n ' t l i k e t h i s o r t h a t and 'we w i l l change that"' i g n i t e s hope i n many people t h a t maybe t h e y ' v e seen what's wrong ...may be they should be given a chance...
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It's 'maybe's' t h a t have p e r m i t t e d a d v e r t i s i n g e x p e r t s t o make a s c i e n c e of brainwashing. Maybe a law w i l l be passed r e q u i r i n g a l l p o l i t i c i a n s t o d i s c l o s e t h e amounts of t h e i r campaign c o n t r i b u t i o n s and from whoa they g e t "donations". (The NPA has promised t o obey such a law i n t h e l a s t two e l e c t i o n s and r i g h t r f t e r g e t t i n g i n t o o f f i c e has v o t e d i t down each t i m e . ) Maybe p u b l i c i n p u t w i l l be a primary c o n s i d e r a t i o n bef o r e any d e c i s i o n s a r e made. (The NPA now makes t h e i r d e c i s i o n s , t h e n has "public h e a r i n g s " t h a t make a l l i n p u t , a s o u t l i n e d above, i r r e l e v a n t . ) Maybe an e x e c u t i v e c i t y i s a p l a c e where o n l y e x e c u t i v e d e c i s i o n s a r e allowed. By PAULR TAYLOR
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NEWSLETTER -
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I I I L NLUhI.LI'ICY I S A YUULICATION OF' Ilk C A H l 4 t C l t C O M I I N I I ' I CCNTYP ASSOCIATION
Al('1' BY 'IOHA
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d n u ~ h i l o ~ tusc c u p l u d .
C l ~ yl ~ r f os t a f f c a ~ r ' t a c c e p t J ~ m lo~rti ~ i f o r 1l1ln N e u s l e i i e r , so 1f you r - i l ~ I~ ~ e l p , fl11J Paul 'Kay l o r ~ I I IJ ~ e ' l l g l v e you o r e c e l 1 , i .
I l . f ~ ~ ~olvtosl y i , t ~ t l y .
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DONATIONS: Yanum Spath-$200 Nancy W.-$300 WSllfs S.-$110 ~ e o r g e$.-$I5 Rich P.-$41 Robert S .-$60 J a n c i s A.-$45 L u i s P.-$20 Tom - $4.02 Marg S.-$20 L.B.T.-$100 Ted B.-$5 S h e i l a B.-$2 L i l l i a n H.-$20 James M.-$50 1.MacLeod-$150 K e l l y - $3 j.East-$1 Nancy J.-$50 Sue H.-$20 S t e v e R.-$5 N e i l M.-$2 B.& B.-$8 I a n L.-$5 P e t e r E.-$3.32 CEEDS - $10 T e r r y t h e T e r r i b l e -$zoo Anonymous - $43.23
unsafe livillg conditions i n hotels o r apartmeuts d i s p t ~ t e sw i t h l a n d l o r - t l s irlcoale t a x
ONE YEAR AT CARNEGIE
I remember s a u n t e r i n g i n t o Carnegie t h i s t i m e l a s t y e a r n o t r e a l l y knowi n g what t h i s community was a l l a b o u t , but by t h e g r a c e and wisdom of many f r i e n d s , I was encouraged t h a t t h i s was a p l a c e where I might want t o be. I c a n ' t b e l i e v e t h a t I ' v e been h e r e f o r one y e a r ; somehow t h e t i m e has gone by s o f a s t . A t t h e i n t e r view w i t h A l i c i a , Tom, L a r r y & Henry I was s o nervous w i t h Larry s o q u i e t and Henry f u l l of q u e s t i o n s . . A l i c i a was c o n f i d e n t a s s h e knew m e from our o l d human r i g h t s days. I came t o Carnegie t o t e a c h i n t h e Learning C e n t r e , b u t what h a s happe n e d i i s t h a t I have l e a r n e d much from s o many people who come h e r e . I discovered t h a t f r i e n d s h i p s go beyond t h e classroom and permeate throughout the building. The f i r s t s m i l e t h a t I e n c o u n t e r is from Butch, who always a s k s m e how I am and informs m e i f someone has c a l l e d . Then t h e r e ' s t h e Securit y s t a f f - P a u l , Ted, Alex and o t h e r s - who have rescued m e i n my nona s s e r t i v e moments. Linda and t h e o t h e r s t a f f i n t h e l i b r a r y have been a r e a l boon w i t h s t u d e n t s needi n g i n f o r m a t i o n and m e needing phot o c o p i e s " r i g h t now". Winding up t o t h e second f l o o r , ( i n c i d e n t l y , I l o s t 15 pounds i n t h e f i r s t 3 months h e r e climbing t h o s e s t a i r s ! ) now-familiar f a c e s and f r i e n d s s h a r e t h e i r s t o r i e s ; remind me t o e a t , and k i t c h e n people l i s t e n t o r e q u e s t s f o r cups of soup i n s t e a d of bowls. The pool room h a s brought back o l d f r i e n d s from Kamloops l i k e Ralph, t h e s t a r of my human r i g h t s video.
One more f l i g h t and a cup of c o f f e e i n hand, I head f o r classroom 2 where s t u d e n t s e a g e r t o l e a r n a r e waiting. I ' m thankful f o r t h e i r p a t i e n c e on t h o s e days when I am l a t e o r t h e z e r o x machine breaks down. A l l of t h e c l a s s e s a r e r i c h w i t h v a r i o u s p e r s o n a l i t i e s : young & o l d , Spanish, French and Chinese, who a t t e m p t v e r y humbly t o l e a r n Math o r E n g l i s h , GED o r computer, and c o r r e c t my s p e l l i n g on t h o s e bad days when I c a n ' t q u i t e remember what language I ' m w r i t i n g i n . Of c o u r s e t h e r e ' s t h e wonderful c r e a t i v e w r i t i n g s t u d e n t s who s h a r e t h e i r poems and s h o r t s t o r i e s through a s e n s i t i v e p r o c e s s of d i s c u s s i o n , but always w i t h l o v e and l a u g h t e r l o t s of l a u g h t e r ! Colin and Ted have g r e a t t e a c h i n g a s s i s t a n t s and the students r e a l l y appreciate t h e i r e f f o r t s . . m e too!!
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Thanks t o L i s a and Kathy who a l s o come t o t h e r e s c u e when I c a n ' t f i g u r e o u t how t o f i x t h e machine o r where t o f i n d paper. The o f f i c e s t a f f always comes through i n a crunch. Henry H e b e ~ tand I team-teach i n t h e computer room, and through t h e times of ten s t u d e n t s and broken comp u t e r s , o r r a i n coming through t h e r o o f , he h a s always managed t o be i n good humour w i t h a joke o r a song t o b a i l us out. Claude always seems t o know what I d o n ' t know. H e u p d a t e s me, t e l l s me where t o f i n d t h i n g s and i s g e n e r a l l y j u s t t h e r e when needed. ( I wonder i f he goes home a t n i g h t somet-Lmes!) Brian i s g r e a t a t p l a y i n g male s e c r e t a r y , running a l l o v e r , g i v i n g me messages and even g e t t i n g c o f f e e . A l i c i a , Don and Diane have been inc r e d i b l y c a r i n g and s u p p o r t i v e . Diane j u s t d o e s n ' t l i k e when I s i t on t h e 3rd f l o o r f u r n i t u r e . , There a r e many names I haven't ment i o n e d b u t i t ' s n o t t h a t I f o r g e t you. I thought i t was important t o r e f l e c t
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on my y e a r a t Carnegie. T h e r e ' s much more t o l e a r n and new people t o m e e t and e v e n t u a l l y I hope t o make i t t o a serving of course. Volunteer Dinner I once t r i e d t o sneak a Y o r k s h i r e pudding on r o a s t beef n i g h t . but Don aught me! Happy New Y e a r . . F e l i z Nueve Ano..Bonne Annee!!!
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By KATHIE LEROUX On Tuesday, Dec. 1 9 t h , Ms. S a n t a Claus (who, d i s g u i s e d a s t h e mildmannered d i r e c t o r o f Carnegie Centre) took h e r beloved e x t e n s i o n r e p o r t t o c i t y council. The e x t r a 2 h o y r s were added i n June f o r six months, a s a n experiment. Numbers of people i n t h e l a t e r h o u r s , a c t i v i t i e s , changes i n programs and space u s e , a l l o f t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n was needed t o d e t e r m i n e how w e , a s u s e r s of Carnegie, would respond. Ms. Claus, d r e s s e d i n h e r r e d n i g h t gown, was worried a b o u t p o t e n t i a l d i s a s t e r , but t h e n a n e l f t o l d h e r t h a t i t was Carnegie and everybody a t C i t y H a l l l o v e s Carnegie s o s h e s h o u l d n ' t worry. Council approved a n o t h e r s i x months -of extended h o u r s and even l e f t i t open f o r u s h e r e t o .determine whether t h e e x t r a 2 hours should be a t t h e end of t h e day (10pm t o midnight, l i k e now) o r an hour earlier t o a n hour l a t e r (9am-llpm). M s . Claus i s s t i l l worried about p u b l i c i t y , , s o h e r s e c r e t i d e n t i t y can n o t be d i k c l o s e d . . . y e t .
Have you f e l t t h e genuine h e a r t o f s a d n e s s I n t h e s w e e t sorrow o f t h e v i o l i n ? And have you t r i e d t o thank them, The makers of music, With your poor stammering words, For t h e g i f t t h a t t h e y g i v e you? David Bouvier
DOOMSDAY Come t o m e weapons of r u s t h d show m e t h e s c a t t e r of d u s t ; b i l l me f o r only the t r u s t That one b l i n d man had i n u s For h a t e defends f o r a w h i l e Hades e x t e n d s i t ' s s m i l e Beginning draws t o a n end h d doomsday e n t e r s - my f r i e n d .
I I
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Stop showing o t h e r s such f a i t h f u l t r u s t I n empty deeds f i l l e d w i t h e m p t i n e s s ; For happiness is n o t w h i t e But b l a c k a s ~ a b y l o n ' sb l i g h t Take up your slums t o r o o t The second moves i n on time ; And doomsday e n t e r s my mind.
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O f f s p r i n g t i c k e t s soon become r u i n W r i t i n g up famous kind of woven. Only one S t o r y a f a l c o n need f a l l The c y a n i d e l a d d e r w i t h Pope Paul Come, s t a n d a t t h e e a r t h ' s b e d s i d e And watch i t s q u i r t i n f e a r ' s p r i d e ; The f o u r t h i s b u t a whisker Away from doomsday m i s t e r . The f i f t h i s t h e f i n a l day of l i f e Of McCavity and a l l doomsday's s t r i f e : When r e d l e a v e s f a l l i n h i s s p r i n g And b l a c k n e e d l e s p i e r c e h i s r i n g But have no f e a r f o r God i s h e r e With a l l H i s wondrous c h e e r ; The f i f t h goes down t h e d r a i n A s doomsday's power r e i g n s .
Come t o m e weapons of r u s t And show m e t h e s c a t t e r of d u s t ; Blood r i v e r nightmares soon a r e t r u e ' n b i l l me f o r o n l y t h e t r u s t Tends t o t u r n man - even you and m e ; That one b l i n d man had i n u s I n t o Manson, Capone and Hoffa blend F o r h a t e h a s defended f o r a w h i l e I n a grey t u r m o i l t h a t cannot end 'Hades h a s extended i t s s m i l e ; Jacob's ladder s t a r t s t o cry Beginning h a s drawn t o an end Down ~ i t l e r ' sr e d dragon w a r ' s e v i l eye; And doomsday's upon u s - my f r i e n d . The t h i r d comes on t o look A t t h e Doomsday H i s t o r y book. J o e Ringer
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MOLY CAT George and L i l l i a n H a r r i s o n w e r e married 2 y e a r s ago on t h e s p i r a l s t a i r w a y i n Carnegie. These two wond e r f u l p e o p l e have been p a r t of o u r Centre b o t h b e f o r e and a f t e r t h e y t i e d t h e knot and have been s p o n s o r s of many dances and d i n n e r s . On Dec.20 they had t h e i r 2nd Anniversary Dinner and many of t h e i r f r i e n d s w e r e t r e a t e d t o food and music. A f t e r t h e g r e a t meal, b o t h L i l l i a n and George thanked a l l p r e s e n t f o r t h e h a p p i n e s s t h a t Carnegie p e o p l e have brought t o them. Danny Korica p r e s e n t e d them w i t h a g i f t on b e h a l f of t h e A s s o c i a t i o n and made a h e a r t f e l t speech of a p p r e c i a t i o n .
Cat went dancing i n Kalamzoo, Dressed i n gingham faded & b l u e , She s i p p e d h e r bourbon ti1 h a l f p a s t two, Then b i d h e r f r i e n d s a j o l l y a d i e u . Cat k i c k - s t a r t e d h e r p e r s i a n r u g Yawning, s h e l a i d down cozy & snug. She l i c k e d up t h e cream from h e r Milky Way mug, Then p u r r e d t o a c l o u d , lease g - i v e m e a hug
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Cat got home and meowed a t t h e door, T h a t ' s what s h e k e p t h e r master there for; t o l e t h e r i n was h i s t r e a s u r e d chore, And t h u s , t h e y l i v e d h a p p i l y e v e r more. Garry Gust
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Everything you always
wanted to know about...
why bother? JUNK HAIL CREATES TOXIC GARBAGE AND COSTS US 100,000 ACRES OF FORESTS ANNUALLY. THAT'S A LOT OF TREES.
because quality matters. LOCAL JUNK MAIL ORIGINATES I N THE COMMUNITY AND MUST BE DEALT WITH AT THAT LEVEL. HERE'S WHAT YOU COULD DO:
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1. STUFF I T p u t I t back I n t h e mall box.
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2e WING I T FREE OF CHARGE t o ENVIRONMENT MINISTER, Lucien Bouchard, Ottawa, K I A 0 ~ 6 .E n c l o s e a b r i e f note. Limit t o 8 x 10 e n v e l o p e 3/4" t h i c k p e r malllnq. DEMAND ACTION. 3. SOCK I T
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some l o c a l 4 . PRINT I T newspapers i n c l u d e junk mall w i t h t h e news. i r l t e a Letter t o the Sditor.
A SUCCINCT LETTER TO THE
FOLLOWING ADDRESS SHOULD REMOVE YOUR NAME PROM THE MAILING L I S T FOR OUT-OF-; TOWN J U N K MAIL: DIRECT MARKETING ASSOCIATION, 607-#1 CONCORD GATE,
RECYCLE T a I 5 POST33 PLEASE.
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5 . DUMP I T st t h e p o s t o f f i c e o r t h e newspaper o f f ice 6. RECYCLE I T UNTIL WE SOLVE I T .
EXCLUSIVELY YOU
JUNK HAIL I S A N ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLZM. WE MUST FIND A SOLUTIONe YOU CAN E L P .
Mrs. L i l l i a n H a r r i s o n
Carnegie Community Centre A s s o c i a t i o n Dear L i l l i a n ,
!
hank you f o r your l e t t e r regardi n g your concerns about t h e Downtown Resource Recovery P l a n t . C i t y Council r e c e i v e d q u i t e a few l e t t e r s on t h i s s u b j e c t , which I t h i n k r e f l e c t i n c r e a s i n g p u b l i c conc e r n and o p p o s i t i o n o t t h e Resource Recovery P l a n t . C i t y Council voted t o proceed w i t h t h e Downtown RRP i n January of 1989. A t t h e time t h e r e w a s n o t much p u b l i c awareness a b o u t t h e p r o p o s a l , a l t h o u g h some communi t y d e l e g a t i o n s d i d appear a t t h a t time t o oppose i t . A s t h e t e n d e r p r o p o s a l s are almost completed now t o go o u t , t h e r e h a s been much more knowledge a b o u t t h e proposal. However, t o d a t e t h e r e has never been any p u b l i c h e a r i n g s o r i n f o r m a t i o n s meetings about t h e p l a n t t o allow r e s i d e n t s i n M t . P l e a s a n t , Grandview, Woodlands, S t r a thcona, t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e and t h e Westend t o p r e s e n t t h e i r concerns. The motion t h a t Alderman E r i k s e n and myself p r e s e n t e d t o Council and debated on December 1 4 t h c a l l e d f o r a moratorium on t h e Downtown RRP. I r e g r e t t o say t h a t t h i s motion w a s d e f e a t e d by C i t y Council w i t h o n l y myself, Aldermen E r i k s e n , Rankin and Baker i n favour of t h e moratorium. Council d i d a g r e e t o hold p u b l i c h e a r i n g s on t h e m a t t e r . But my i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h e d e c i s i o n i s t h a t b a s i c a l l y Council i s proceeding w i t h i t s e a r l i e r d e c i s i o n t o proceed w i t h the plant.
I b e l i e v e t h a t t h e Resource Recovery P l a n t i s a complete c o n t r a d i c t i o n t o t h e c i t y ' s s t a t e d intent i o n t o begin a t - s o u r c e s e p a r a t i o n f o r r e s i d e n t i a l dwellings, allowing t h e RRP t o simply p i c k up garbage from t h e Downtown, Westend and n o r t h of 1 6 t h Avenue area completely negates t h e o v e r a l l d e s i r e f o r a t s o u r c e s e p a r a t i o n . The p r i v a t i z a t i o n of t h e p l a n t a l s o means t h a t t h e r e is a v e s t e d i n t e r e s t i n producing more garbage, n o t less. I r e a l l y a p p r e c i a t e t h e comments i n your l e t t e r and completely unders t a n d t h e concerns t h a t you have put forward. I can o n l y s a y a t t h i s t i m e , t h a t a t l e a s t f o u r of u s on C i t y Council w i l l c o n t i n u e t o oppose . t h e Resource Recovery P l a n t on t h e grounds t h a t 1) t h e p u b l i c does n o t want i t ; 2) i t does n o t m e e t o u r r e c y c l i n g o b j e c t i v e s ; and 3 ) i t w i l l c r e a t e a n e g a t i v e impact f o r t h e f o u r communities a d j a c e n t t o i t . I a m s u r e t h i s i s s u e w i l l resurf a c e i n 1990. I o n l y hope t h a t as more o r g a n i z a t i o n s and i n d i v i d u a l s c i t i z e n s e x p r e s s t h e i r concern, o t h e r members of c o u n c i l w i l l begin t o s e e t h e w r i t i n g on t h e w a l l and review t h e i r p o s i t i o n and a g r e e t o "dump" t h e Plant i n favour of at-source separation. Again, many thanks f o r your l e t t e r .
Yours s i n c e r e l y , Libby Davies Alderman.
L i l l i a n H a r r i s o n , Vice-president Carnegie Community C e n t r e A s s o c i a t i o n . Dear M s . H a r r i s o n : Thank you f o r your l e t t e r of November 27, 1989 concerning t h e proposed r e s o u r c e r e c o v e r y p l a n t . Your concerns r e s p e c t i n g t h e p r o c e s s seem w e l l founded and I w i l l do my b e s t t o a s s u r e t h a t t h e thorough p u b l i c h e a r i n g p r o c e s s you r e q u e s t t a k e s p l a c e . I a p p r e c i a t e your t a k i n g t h e t i m e t o w r i t e and i f I can be of any a s s i s t a n c e p l e a s e do n o t h e s i t a t e t o c a l l .
Sincerely yours, JOHNATHAN BAKER, Alderman.
ResourcebFf Ald. Libby Davies, supported by'h Alds. E r i k s e n , Rankin & Baker, made a motion f o r a moratorium, t o p u t a hold on t h i n g s u n t i l what w e do w i t h garbage i s sound from s t a r t t o f i n - ' i s h . Mayor Campbell & c o h o r t s saw i t a s COPE v s . NPA , ignored everybody and d e f e a t e d t h e motion. Every s p e a k e r a d d r e s s e d t h e l a c k of i n f o r m a t i o n , p u b l i c p r o c e s s and impact s t u d i e s around t h i s i s s u e . A s t r i k i n g example of c i t i z e n u n i t y was e v i d e n t i n t h e r a l l y i n g of neighbourhood a s s o c i a t i o n s . Representatives from Grandview-Woodlands, M t . Pleas a n t , S t r a t h c o n a and t h e Downtown Eastside a l l s t a t e d t h e i r support of a moratorium on any c o n s t r u c t i o n o r d e c i s i o n t o proceed u n t i l Council holds appropriate public hearings i n t h e a r e a s a f f e c t e d and environmental impact s t u d i e s a r e done. I n February o f 1989, t h e f i r s t dec i s i o n on t h i s m a t t e r was made a f t e r 25 of 28 s p e a k e r s spoke a g a i n s t t h e proposed means of d e a l i n g w i t h waste management. The NPA m a j o r i t y chose t o ignore a l l c a l l s f o r information and s t u d i e s and a p p l y a band-aid s o l u t i o n t o t h e e v e r i n c r e a s i n g problem of garbage d i s p o s a l . The c i t y ' s Engineering Department suggested, i n February and a g a i n on December 1 4 t h , t h a t t h i s p l a n t ' s cons t r u c t i o n be delayed pending t h e p u t t i n g i n t o p l a c e of a City-wide waste d i s p o s a l system. Every s p e a k e r spoke of a l t e r n a t i v e s t h a t would make waste d i s p o s a l a p o s i t i v e s t e p i n d e a l i n g w i t h o u r "throw-awayw soc-
.
iety The p o i n t was made o v e r and o v e r t h a t everybody h a s t o be involved and r e s p o n s i b l e , t h a t no one can be exempted. The NPA m a j o r i t y chose t o i g n o r e t h i s . The l o g i c t h e y p r e s e n t e d was so convoluted and o b s c u r e t h a t i t brought many i n t e r r u p t i o n s and s t a t e ments o f d e r i s i o n from t h o s e p r e s e n t . Each s a i d "I a g r e e w i t h you. I know garbage c a n ' t keep b e i n g b u r i e d i n l a n d f i l l sites. End of l o g i c . E n t e r s t u p i d i t y . "People won't r e c y c l e i n multi-dwell i n g buildings (apartments)." ( I n S e a t t l e , they had o v e r double t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n of t h e most o p t i m i s t i c p r o j e c t i o n of r e c y c l i n g involvement .) "We have t o do something now." (The 10-year l i f e s p a n of t h i s p l a n t , t h e e c o l o g i c a l and environmental res u l t s , t h e known e f f e c t s and procedure used a t o t h e r such p l a n t s , a l t e r n a t i v e and e c o l o g i c a l l y sound p r o p o s a l s a l l i g n o r e d i n f a v o u r of a p r i v a t e company whose economic i n t e r e s t s demand more, n o t less, waste.) "Burn's Bog ( l a n d f i l l s i t e ) i s good f o r a n o t h e r 30 y e a r s . " (And i n 31 y e a r s t h e r e w i l l be no garbage a t a l l . ) J u s t a s garbage i s p a r t of l i f e , s o i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s of i t and ways t o d e a l w i t h t h a t a r e good f o r t h e world o u r c h i l d r e n w i l l i n h e r i t . Everyone concerned, meaning everyone on E a r t h , has t o be c o n s c i o u s l y and conscienco u s l y involved. L e t ' s t u r n t h e proposed ' e x p l a n a t i o n meetings' i n t o t r u e P u b l i c Hearings and demand a working s o l u t i o n f o r o u r c h i l d r e n ' s children's children.
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