401 Main Street Vancouver Canada V6A 2T7
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What if our governments treated the climate crisis like a real crisis and mobilized the public resources necessary to fight it? How can we organize enough political power to drive this kind of transformative action? A good war? This is the beginning premise of Seth Klein's book. Seth is an adjunct professor of Social Policy with Simon Fraser University and his book covers how we compare what Canada did to meet the desperate challenges ofthe Second World War with how we must rally to deal With the climate emergency. For years' the climate crisis has been met with mostly placid, small-step responses by governments and industry, with little working to slow and certainly very little to reverse the crisis. Klein starts with the pre-war years, likened to our current situation, were governments and the majority of people did not want to commit to being in a war, to the point of avoiding whatever steps were needed to confront reality. A parallel have the first 9 months after declaring war on Germanyreferred-to as.a-vphony war'swhen little -.:.:.was done; the past decades when climate. change is not recognised as an emergency or _ a crisis and the responses .are failing to adequately address the crisis. . ~ The government cif the. day was not pef-,...._. -- - __ ceived as capable of meeting the threat, yet leadership came through with every facet of society engaged: fmance, business, strict limits on profits, the establishment of28 crown corporations to ensure production of
materials and innovation, arts & cultural endeavours to engage and rally the public, social programs and housing and training and benefits to get everyone involved in .both prosecuting and supporting the war effort. Each of these can and must become part of the climate emergency response. He has also drawn parallels to the government response to the COVID pandemic: the outlay of billions in wage subsidies and the CERB happ~ned fast and the addition of other programs were molded III .as the need showed itself. Likewise, the wholescale transformation of industry and social issues can also be done in and on a 'war' footing. The book is not an academic theory but a call to action. In his own words, Klein writes: "Even before the arrival ofCOVID-19, the history ofthe Second World War was making a remarkable comeback. Our movie theatres (remember those?), Netflix streams and bookstore shelves were full of stories about Canada's experience in those trying times. Then, once the pandemic struck, our governments drew upon those wartime lessons as they responded to the health emergency. I spent the last year writing a book about Canada's experience in the Second World War, searching for lessons on how to confront another equally dire emergency - the climate crisis - and how we can quickly transition off fossilfuels (A Good War: Mobilizing Canadafor the Climate Emergency, ECW Press). Since releasing the book in September, lhave frequently been asked in interviews, "How do you know when a government gets the emergency?" Here are my four markers for when you know that a government has shifted into emergency mode: It spends what it takes to win; It creates new economic institutions to get the job done; It shift-s from voluntary and incentive-based policies to mandatory measures; It tells the truth about the severity of the crisis and .communicates a sense of urgency about the measures necessary to combat it. During theSecond W orld WaI, the Canadian government did all those things. Likewise, in response to the pandemic, the Trudeau government has passed all four .markers. But with.respect totheclimateemergency-. thus far at least - our current federal and provincial governmentsare failing on all four counts." . Up to now and for several years there have been incentives, subsidies, tax breaks and so on as the government
has made suggestions and recommendations that were voluntary. It's time for compliance and goalsetting to include mandatory measures. The lack of political will is often cited as the re~on ~or t?e tepid response to the emergency, WIth those III positions of power saying that "you have to offer what people will accept" instead of promoting what has to be done. Klein maintains that the public is ahead of the political parties on this and cites a Vancouver example whereby the City of Vancouver passed a motion recognising the climate .emergency in a unanimous vote. Scores of people spoke clearly and hundreds showed up, making it politically impossible for even the most conservative politicians to vote against it. The real e!fe.cts include it now being illegal for any new buildings in Vancouver to be built that are heated or powered by fossil fuels. This is the kind of activity that is required everywhere. ' In Oshawa, when GM was going to "close its manufacturing plants, many civil· society organisations got directly involved and got both GM and government to commit toretooling the factories to make electric vehicles and personal protective equipment. The Green New Deal is replete with such required transformations. . Klein disJ?els any accusations of being 'pie-in-the -sky' with both sharing references to the dark side of war production -loss of civil liberties, internment camps, the poisoning of Indigenous lands and promoting the need to include social justice issues in meeting the climate emergency head-on. It is not okay to leave matters of racism, gender, violence agairist women, housing, homelessness, . tax reform, inequality or the corporate agenda until after the climate emergency is under control. The very nature of society and the dominant paradigm of profit over people has to change for the better, - with no one being left out or behind . The transfcrmationof allaspectsof our lives 'is ~ called for to meet this emergency and provide a future for our children and grandchildren. As Klein argues successfully, we have done this befo:e and must do it again. Read the book. Connect· WIth any .ofanumber of Climate Crisis organisations and --. networks to learn more. Find out where you can help. By PAULR TAYLOR
Neighbourhood
Small Grants
While we hope this changes in the near future, when writing your grant, please ensure you are following the BC Public Health Orders.: If you know a second language, consider putting in an application to share this skill with others! ZOOM is an .amazing and easy platform to usell Roberta Robertson
Roberta.nsgp@gmail.com
In the spirit of reconciliation, NSG acknowledges that we live, work and play inthe unceded and traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples - xwmaekwayam , , (Musqueam), skwxwu/mesh (Squamish), and selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations. We also recognize that our growing program takes place across multiple Indigenous lands and traditional territories within BC. Acknowledging territory shows recognition of and respect for Indigenous people - both past and present. Recognition and respect are essential elements of establishing healthy, reciprocal relations which are the key to reconciliation. .
Everyone says, it's not their fault that they have to seat me at a table with a mask Everyone says, they have to OBEY, . the government said so . Everyone says, it's for their own good, and mine Everyone says the government says I have to be tracked and traced, for eating out and about Everyone wants to knowifI've ever been in contact with anyone who's ever had the flu (next 3 lines blotted ouboooooooooooomx )oooooooOOOOOQOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO( XxKx.v,]Q(X]Q()QQ()cXYXY~'(.'CXXXX10000DOOO(
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Everyone knows our top leaders say you should fuck with a mask Everyone says, it's not our fault; it escaped from a bat Everyone knows you don't want a rat . to tattle her tail Everyone says, the government says International Women's Day was on March 8th but, here But who tells the government in the library, we are celebrating it for the entire month of what to say March! As such, we currently have a display up.Here are in secret meetings a few items from the display. behind closed doors Black Girl Dangerous by Mia McKenzie is about race, in secret meetings . queerness, class and gender; it's an intersectional analysis behind closed doors ofthe multiply-marginalized existence. Consisting of Everyone says, be good and several essays from her blog of the same name, It's both you won't get the flu prescient and accessible to most readers. I work in the Health dept. Violence Girl is an autobiography by the lead singer of and they said so too seminal LA punk band The Bags, Alice Bag. It's the story of the 19700spunk rock movement in Los Angeles, but Everyone says it's taboo it's also the story of growing up as a first generation to meet your Grandma at the zoo Mexican-American. Recommended for those interested in punk and the immigrant experience in 1970's LA. The gov't says, lets kill her .,Last.b11.tnotleast,-SOfnr,thingF:ierce:Me1tlOirsotaftev-,:,-_~~f~~~h~~eJ~Jd-~ pl.d olutionary Daughter by Carmen Aguirre takes the reader inside "war-ridden Peru, dictatorship-run Bolivia, postEveryone she's been in contact with her Malvinas ATgentmaand Pmochef's Chile" between the should be poked years 1979 and 1989. Aguirre's familyfled from Chili to And their temperature should be taken gan<lg~l)n1973.~ft~r.~violentcoup ~gJtv:~y~~~ later __f..nd_!~<:t~~~ "fqB:_~_~Q~! .. __ .. moved to Bolivia to set up a safe house for resistance And don't )OOOOOOOOO( next 2 lines censored members.· )0000000000000000(10000(5 For these books, and many more, you will have to visit And to make shore, we'll update us in the branch. the software on your phone Happy Reading, Daniel satan's little helper
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Michael McCormack March 6, 1947- January 28, 2021
Mike McC6rmack,' d: local artist,-wi-iter,and dedicated Carriegfe"- --, volunteer for many years has passed away on January 28, 2021 at LItTLE MOuNfAINPLACE: He gave-countless hours to the Learning -Centre as a tutor and supported the Computer room as a computer --- monitor. Mike, you will be missed-by your-fellow volunteers; the community, and the Carnegie staff team.
.Joyce Morgan Sep
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1941 - Feb 25th, 2021
The community has lost another everyday angel. Joyce was a complex woman and cared deeply for everyone. A beloved Carnegie volunteer for 24 years, she could be found on the 2nd floor reception mostiy. . Joy'& didn't care how much you had or didn't, she welcomed everyone and believed that everyone hos value. . With Ijdu,she'may have ·sharedan encouragirig word or oneof her maiw jokes. Ifshe had an extra toonie and you needed it, it was yours! Wewill miss her exceptional piano playing, sense of humor and caring. Go in peace, dear one.
The family will update when plans for a memorial are arranged. Blessyou Joyce, you made a difference in the world!
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM UPDATES We are continuing to run returning volunteer orientations and welcome back a number of volunteers back to Carnegie Centre. Volunteer opportunities will be limited to start, to ensure the health and safety of all community members, volunteers, and staff. The roles and positions will also look quite different than they have in the past. We have new training requirements, including health and safety protocols, that all volunteers will need to know and follow in order to return to volunteering at Carnegie. Here is what you need to know: ' We are inviting people that have volunteered at Camegie in the past for training sessions first, before opening opportunities to new volunteers New and updated "Volunteering at Carnegie" training, which includes new mandatory health and safety protocols, is required for all new and returning volunteers Only Food Preparation time - other positions will be added as Centre capacity allows Only scheduled shifts are being offered at this time - drop-in volunteering opportunities will be added as Centre capacity allows Sign up for an upcoming "Return to Volunteering" orientation and training session if you: Were previously an active Carnegie Community centre volunteer Are able to commit to 1 regular scheduled shift (3 hours) per week, the shifts available will be mornings 9am, and afternoons 1Apm (no drop in volunteering) Are able to commit to the full 4 hours of "Volunteering at Carnegie" health and safety orientation and site tour (2 hours) and role training (2 hours) r: Agree to follow the health and safety protocols that are in place for volunteers, which includes a daily health check-in with a staff person before starting your shift, wearing a mask and gloves while onshift, and not coming to Carnegie Centre if you are sick Upcoming training 1BA. Once again, these training sessions are currently being offered to RETURNING VOLUNTEERS only, additional orientation dates for NEW VOLUNTEERS will be announced at a later time. ' FOOD SERVER TRAINING UPDATE! Server OH&S Orientation and training is delayed based on capacity and training curriculum for staff, so we WIll be announcing dates 'towards the end ofMarch20:if, so we Will continuetokeep youpostedl '" CARNEGIE CENTRE UPDATES Tax Clinic 2021: This year, due to COVID-19, the tax preparation is being done using a drop-off system, where patrons drop off their materials at Carnegie; they're taken off site and prepared by H&R Block tax specialists; returned to Carnegie for patron review; and submitted for filing by H&R Block. In order to be eligible for this opportunity, you must: ,Jf~ve earned les~,t~3J1,~~5,gOQin.~O~O ',,~~>;." '." Be a CCCA member Have a form of eligible ID (there are a number of options for this, including copied ID that's stamped by the-Ministry, 'fof examplel) ,C,~
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If you or someone you know meets these qualifications and would like to sign-up to drop off your taxes for , , COmPletion,please -checICiii'iiHhiIIiformation tC;-}Jookaarop-:'offliIDe1\I[onday 150r Wednesday March 17. Follow-up check ins to review the packages prior to submission are one week later and you'll be able to take your documents home.
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Community Centre Hours are open 9am-11 pm. We are looking forward to seeing you. Here are some important things you should know about our program and
service updates. • Entry and exit from the building will continue to be from the patio. • Take-out meal service will be moved from the patio, back to the 2nd floor Cafeteria. Check out our expanded menu and updated pricing! • Free coffee with Al & the Oppenheimer Park team will now be available in the community only (no patio service). . • The Theatre drop-in space will be closed, except during specific program times. Other spaces to rest, use the Wi-Fi etc. will be available on the main floor and the gymnasium on the 2nd floor. • Library services will now be available from the Carnegie branch with a limited capacity. • The lane level and 3rd floor will remain closed to the public. .. . • The building will be closed from 11 am-12 pm and 4--5 pm for cleaning. Patrons are encouraged to maintain physical distance when in food lines up. We have maintained our current meal times of Breakfast 9am-11 ami Lunch 12pm-4pmIDinner 5-8pm. LEARNING CENTRE in the Theatre Monday and Tuesdays One on one tutoring/ Assistance 12:30-3pm -Upgrading, Getting stuff done, ESLimprovement, Digital Skills Thursday Classes _ 9am tolO:45am-Digital Skills Course 12:30pm to 1:45pm- Art and Learning Series 2pm to 3pm- Thursdays Writing Collective CULTURAL SHARING Regular sessions are on Monday evenings from 6 - 8pm. Contact Nicole Bird at Carnegie for information. If you are an Indigenous elder, please consider volunteering for an Indigenous Advisory Council being formed at Carnegie CommunityCentre. Contact Nicole Bird for information and to put your name forward.
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