March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter by Carnegie Newsletter

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When the federal budget was being televised, a camera crew was in Carnegie to see what people here had to say about it. The TV in the Seniors Lounge was tuned to a movie and no one made any move to switch it; the reporter wanted to film the editor of the Newsletter handing out the paper but that would've been an obvious sham and it didn't happen; no one reacted with the frightened look or righteous indignation expected It's so hard for people who get paid every week or two, who have cars and TVs and groceries and pick and choose for entertainment and so on..for the middle class, who are at least comfortable, to realize what people at the lower end of the economy live with on a day-to-day basis. The reporter began asking individuals why they weren't seemingly interested in this "major announcement" and the answers were brutally honest: "Why bother? ~hey'll just doubletalk about 'a need to do this and having to do that1, add a lot of crap about it being for the good of the country's future, then cut all of the stuff that they said they woudn't cut."

...

"The ones doing it won't feel any worse; they all make good money and pay for private, special services. They cut all the public ones and refuse to make their buddies with big businesses pay anything. Those guys will just keep ripping the public off and pay lawyers to make sure it isn' t against any law." What happened with ~ilson's speech bore all of this and more out to a T. Now the provinces will say they "have to" cut public services while tax breaks and low-interest or interestfree loans (or out-and-out gifts) to corporations continue. A very informative paper was received recently. It shows the "INCOME ASSISTANCE RATE INCREASES" for people on welfare from 1984 to 1989.

Family Unit S i z e A

Date P

1 2(couple) 2(1 parent11 c h i l d ) 3 4

0 c t 186 1 2(couple) 2(1 parent11 c h i l d ) 3

INCOME ASSISTANCE RATE INCREASES Support

% Incr.

Shelter

% Incr.

Total

% Incr

430 675 675 805 905

230 335 335 395 450

June187 1 2 (couple) 2(1 parent11 c h i l d ) 3 4

230 335 352 415 473

4.5% 4.7% 4.7% 4.6% 4.6%

439 691 691 824 926 439 691 708 844 949

2.1% 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 2.3%

-----

~ec/87 1 2(couple) 2(1 parent11 c h i l d ) 3 4

230 370 370 435 497

19.6% 15.7% 15.7% 13.3% 10.5%

480 782 782 92 1 1023

A~I-189 1 2 3

480 782 921 1026

230 370 435 500

4 July189 1 2 3 4

243 391 460 529

10.0% 8.3% 5.8% 6.5%

518 837 974 1089

NOTE : The r a t e s used a r e t h e unemployable r a t e f o r t h e s i z e o f t h e f a m i l y and assumes maximum l e n g t h of t i m e on a s s i s t a n c e f o r t h e f a m i l y t o r e c e i v e t h e maximum rate.

THE FACTS ARE IN. I n s i x y e a r s a s i n g l e person has enjoyed t h e l u x u r y of a $13 i n c r e a s e a month f o r l i t t l e t h i n g s l i k e food, c l o t h i n g , e t c . ; you know, t h i n g s t h a t never go up i n p r i c e . A t t h e same t i m e , t h e s h e l t e r p o r t i o n - t h a t goes d i r e c t l y i n t o a l a n d l o r d ' s pocket has gone from $200 t o $275. It took 5% y e a r s b e f o r e t h e f i r s t i n c r e a s e happened ( t h e $13) b u t i n f l a t i o n i s low i f i t ' s below 5% a y e a r . And n o t e t h e NOTE: t h e s e r a t e s a r e t h e h i g h e s t i f you a r e unemployable, b u t t h i n g s l i k e u t i l i t i e s and a phone a r e o v e r and above t h e r e n t s charged by 95% of a l l l a n d l o r d s . A l o t a s k a t l e a s t $10 more t h a n t h e h i g h e s t s h e l t e r p o r t i o n s o people have t o e a t l e s s i f t h e y want a roof o v e r t h e i r heads. I f you a r e c l a s s i f i e d as "employable1' (and remember t h a t Clod Richmond made thousands f i t i n t h i s c a t e g o r y a t t h e s t r o k e of a pen) t h e n you g e t l e s s . I t ' s n o t a c a s e of running on a t e v e r y t h i n g . Poverty i s k e p t going because i t means a l o t of j o b s ; i t ' s good f o r b u s i n e s s . It a l s o s t o p s a l o t of people from becoming s o c i a l l y a c t i v e because t h e y have t o s u r v i v e ; t h a t t a k e s more energy t h a n a l o t have. When Richmond c u t r a t e s by $7 r a t h e r t h a n r a i s e t h e r a t e s of t h o s e under 26 t o be e q u a l t o t h o s e o v e r 26 he showed t h e a t t i t u d e of t h e "haves" t o t h e "have-nots" - I'VE GOT MINE; WHAT'S MINE I S MINE AND WHAT'S YOURS I S ALSO MINE." -Anger can have i n t e r e s t i n g consequences; m o r a l l y d e c r e p i t people always do t h e wrong t h i n g . Look a t t h e budget, t h e w e l f a r e r a t e s and t h e e f f e c t of F r e e Trade on u s . . . how much r e n t do you pay? By PAULR

TAYLOR

Editor, With March 8 , I n t e r n a t i o n a l Women's Day, f a s t approaching I thought your r e a d e r s might b e i n t e r e s t e d i n taki n g a q u i c k look a t how women f a r e i n Canadian p o l i t i c s and e s p e c i a l l y i n s e r v i n g i n c a b i n e t , where t h e r e a l decision-makers of govt. e x i s t . A s of today t h e r e a r e 266 c a b i n e t m i n i s t e r s s e r v i n g i n Canada among t h e f e d e r a l , p r o v i n c i a l and t h e two t e r r i t o r i a l governments. Of t h e s e 266 people, a mere 37 a r e women. And of t h o s e 37 female c a b i n e t m i n i s t e r s 1 7 , almost h a l f , s e r v e i n h e a l t h c a r e , s o c i a l s e r v i c e , tourism o r culture portfolios - positions that many people would term a s being more "female" o r i e n t e d . There h a s never been a female premi e r . There have only been two female o p p o s i t i o n l e a d e r s - Leonne Bagnall (PC-PEI) and Sharon CarThere have only s t a i r s (LIB-Man .) been t h r e e female a t t o r n e y g e n e r a l s o r j u s t i c e m i n i s t e r s - K i m Campbell (PC-Can.) , Margaret J o e (NDP-Yuk.) and Lynn Verge (PC-Nfld.). There h a s been o n l y one female f i n a n c e minister - B e t t e Stephenson (PC-Ont There i s , a t p r e s e n t , only one f e male economic development m i n i s t e r L i s e Bacon (LIB-PQ)

.).

N a t i o n a l l y only K i m Campbell ( J u s t i c e ) and Barbara McDougall (Employment and Immigration) a r e t h e minis t e r s of a f u l l : c a b i n e t p o r t f o l i o . The o t h e r f o u r female c a b i n e t minis t e r s s e r v e a s j u n i o r m i n i s t e r s , rep o r t i n g through a n o t h e r c a b i n e t mini s t e r . In the e n t i r e history(hers t o r y ) of Canada i t was n o t u n t i l 1957 t h a t a woman was named t o t h e f e d e r a l cabinet - Ellen Fairclough (PC) and s i n c e then only t h r e e wome n have s e r v e d a s m i n i s t e r s of a n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e p o r t f o l i o - Jeanne Sauve (LIB), Judy E r o l a (LIB) and LEADBELLY S t i l l r a i n i n g s t e e l b a l l s coming down t r a f f i c swish g l i d e s by r o a r of d i e s e l bus g e a r i n g up f l i g h t s p a s t my window on t h e s i d e

a morsel of food and t h o u g h t s of you t h e t h i n g s we s a i d , w e s h a r e d t h i s poetic grace seeks i n s p i r a t i o n when t h e words won't come, d o n ' t come

P a t Carney (PC). A t p r e s e n t o n l y f o u r women s e r v e i n n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e p o r t f o l i o s i n Canada. What i s a l s o i n t e r e s t i n g , and perhaps s u r p r i s i n g , i s t h a t when t h e nine ministers responsible f o r the s t a t u s of women meet one of them happens t o b e a man - Nova S c o t i a ' s Dona l d McInnes (PC). For women t h e job of g e t t i n g e l e c t ed i s d i f f i c u l t b u t once e l e c t e d i t i s even more d i f f i c u l t t o have r e a l i n p u t i n t o p o l i c y making a s a c a b i n e t m i n i s t e r . Some may wonder whether we even need t o have m i n i s t e r s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r women's i s s u e s . I wonder i f Sharon C a r s t a i r s , should s h e b e s u c c e s s f u l i n Manitoba's next e l e c t i o n , w i l l have a m i n i s t e r r e s p o n s i b l e f o r men' s i s s u e s . And w i l l i t perhaps b e a female m i n i s t e r ?

b i r d s i n t h e sky f l y by l e a v i n g t r a i l s i n t h e wake o f p a s s i n g b u i l d i n g n e s t s of g r a s s and mud s a f e f o r young from p r e d a t a t i o n a l o f t , t h e wheels of i n s p i r a t i o n Airborne communication oops! s h e dropped one s h i f t s e c r e t s dropping t o t h e ground s q u e e l i n g sounds of v i b r a t i o n Only t h e y can know why So a b a l d e a g l e g e t s r e p a i r e d and s h o t down a g a i n d o n ' t you know t h e y ' r e p r o t e c t e d h e r e ? Probably under B r i t i s h p r o t e c t i o n t o o ( a s w e l l ) B r i t a i n i s more t h a n England, S c o t l a n d , I r e l a n d and Wales I saw i t on TV from Aukland a n endangered s p e c i e s f a c i n g e x t i n c t i o n l e g i s l a t e d t r a c t s o f wasteland f o r b r e e d i n g (Parks) and gun c o n t r o l groups s h o o t l i v e b u l l e t s i s n ' t that a surprise! DanYCreag

I I

Darren Lowe

Editor, L a s t v i s i t t o Carnegie Community Centre I found a Carnegie Newsletter. It's a g r e a t find! P o s s i b i l i t y of g r e a t write-ups a r e t h e r e . Humanity - who f r e q u e n t t h e Centre - mostly have c o l o r f u l p a s t . ~ h e ~ ' vs e e n h i s t o r y on t h e make i n d i f f e r e n t i n t e r v a l s of t h e i r l i v e s . And i f more of t h e same should happen nearby, they'd b e a t i t more t h a n l i k e l y . Carnegie N e w s l e t t e r could t a p i n on even a few of t h e s e c o l o r f u l humanity and make good write-ups. Being a v i s i t i n g old-timer myself, I remember t h e o l d - t i m e r s when they w e r e young r i d i n g t h e f r e d g h t t o O t t awa b u t o n l y g e t t i n g t o Regina, hopi n g t o beard Tory M r . Bennett i n h i s den. Younger people ( l a t e r ) j o i n e d t h e S o l i d a r i t y movement when a n o t h e r Bennett (Socred) w a s r a i s i n g h e l l w i t h t h e workers of B.C. Not as w e l l known by way of e x c i t e ment i s t a k i n g p a r t w i t h many l o c a l unions i n o p p o s i t i o n t o s t a r v a t i o n w a g e s - i n a s t r i k e s i t u a t i o n . Most oft e n t h e poor d i d n ' t win b u t a t l e a s t worker's p r i d e was mostly k e p t int a c t . But some combined e f f o r t s p a i d o f f l i k e winning Carnegie H a l l as a community c e n t r e . Some people who fought a g a i n s t i t a t C i t y H a l l a r e no l o n g e r i n p o l i t i c s . The people have spoken. The b a t t l e i s n ' t a l l o v e r of c o u r s e . C i t y H a l l i s n ' t working f o r u s , b u t we do have COPE r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s t h e r e t o speak f o r t h e poor. They g o t t h e r e w i t h g r e a t a s s i s t bymany who f r e q u e n t Carnegie H a l l . I t ' s o n l y f a i r t h a t t h e Carnegie Newsletter r e member t h e s u p p o r t e r s of "good times f o r a l l " who f i n d Carnegie C e n t r e a good p l a c e t o v i s i t and a l s o t a k e p a r t i n some a c t i o n t h a t h e l p make i t a Centre. G r a t e f u l l y yours f o r now,

em em

Gee

Beginning on March 5 , Carnegie w i l l open i t s doors a t 9:00 A.M. & c l o s e a t 1 1 : O O pm. A f t e r t h r e e y r s . of continuous submissions of reorganization ideas, the City f i n a l l y approved an e x t r a two hours of time f o r Carnegie t o be open. To comp l e t e l e a r n i n g what hours b e s t s e r v e t h e u s e r s , t h e Centre w i l l now a l t e r t h e hours and s e e t h e d i f f e r e n c e .

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE

kip's KLVD PROGRAM

Meet o l d f r i e n d s , make new f r i e n d s and s h a r e a fun i f l l e d w i n t e r w i t h t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e K i d ' s Klub Program. Ray-Cam has h i r e d q u a l i f i e d recr e a t i o n a l s t a f f who w i l l a r r a n g e a v a r i e t y of s a f e and e n j o y a b l e a c t i v i t i e s . Your c h i l d r e n w i l l be p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n o u t - t r i p s , swimming, a r t s and c r a f t s , s k a t i n g , toboganing s p e c i a l e v e n t s p l u s much, much more! A l l program a c t i v i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g a d a i l y n u t r i t i o u s snack, a r e f r e e . PLACE: ----- RAY-CAM CENTRE 920 E. Hastings DAYS: Monday t o Friday (Closed weekends) TIME: 2:00 pm t o 6:00 pm. AGE: 6 t o 12 y e a r s o l d . To j o i n , g e t a r e g i s t r a t i o n form from Carnegie o r Ray-Cam, f i l l i t out and r e t u r n i t t o t h e r e c r e a t i o n worker. We w i l l be a s k i n g a l l pare n t s t o s i g n a consent form which w i l l i n c l u d e medical numbers and a l l a p p r o p r i a t e information. I F YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL 251-2141.

a chorus of j a y s and then t h e sound of mahjong p i e c e s almost drowns o u t t h e c h a t t e r a g a t h e r i n g of women c o n s t a n t harmonization here the c o n t r a l t o drawing o u t t h e l a s t l o n g n o t e holding i t on and on t h e r e a soprano picks up where t h e a l t o l e f t o f f a high e x c i t e d tremolo and then begins a blending from t h e ensemble a p a i n t i n g by i n t o n a t i o n a mode o r i e n t a l s l i d i n g triumphantly up t h e s c a l e culminating i n a s i n g l e p i e r c i n g aria d i coloraturo which breaks and f a l l s t o a glassando a w a t e r f a l l of osund ending i n a t r i c k l e and then a tympani of mahjong p i e c e s f i l l i n t h e gap a symphony of t h e Sacred Nine a cacaphony of bones.

BY THE RICH, OF THE RICH, FOR THE RICH! W E THE POOR PEOPLE?

Let t h e s e h e a d l i n e s s p e a k f o r thems e l v e s , oh Canada, y e t as we s t a n d f o r t h e e i n a l l t e n p r o v i n c e s and Yukon & North West T e r r i t o r i e s . A s you r e s t f u l l y r e c l i n e w i t h i n t h e l u x u r y and c o z i n e s s o f a n e x p e n s i v e Lazy-Boy swivel c h a i r , smugly s a v o r i n g t h e b e n e f i t s of your l a b o u r s by a glowing f i r e s i d e , p u f f i n g one o f your f i n e s t Havana c i g a r s . . h a s t h e thought e v e r passed through your mind t h a t some n o t - s o - f o r t u n a t e Canadians are having t o s l e e p under b r i d g e s , a r e homeless, l i v e ( o r r a t h e r e x i s t ) on t h e s t r e e t s , s u f f e r t h e d e p r i v a t i o n of adequate nourishment, endure t h e undeserved h u m i l i a t i o n of u n b e a r a b l e poverty amidst t h e b o a s t e d g r e a t w e a l t h we were a l l t o l d i n s c h o o l w a s o u r l o t under t h e maple l e a f f l a g ? The s t i g m a of back a l l e y foodbank l i n e u p s imposed on t h e l a i d - o f f h o n e s t workers of t h i s c o u n t r y , which now ext e n d s from c o a s t t o c o a s t , i s a shamef u l example of t h e worst d e g r e e of c a l l o u s n e s s r e s u l t i n g from f e d e r a l and provincial policies that denigrate the worth of s o many r e s p e c t a b l e , worthy c i t i z e n s , of a l l walks, i n c l u d i n g t h o s e a b o r i g i n a l s , o u r proud n a t i v e s who a r e double-talked and rebuked a t t h e i r l a n d c l a i m s a t every t u r n . T h a t ' s t h e way I see i t . HOOHOO

' I

ILLITERACY AS I was t h i n k i n g about i l l i t e r a c y , i t was l i k e I saw t h i s t r e e and i t was dead o r dying. It was d r i e d o u t

and t h e r e were no l e a v e s on i t exc e p t f o r dead ones. It seemed t o be dead. s t u n t e d , n o t growing Then a l l of a sudden i t began t o g e t l i f e g i v e n t o i t . The s u n s h i n e , the rain, j u s t things that nature p u t s i n . On t h e wind, Mother Nature The t r e e whispers, "I w i l l help." t a k e s a deep b r e a t h and t r u e l i f e I thought, t h i s i s what begins. i l l i t e r a c y is like. You t a k e a c h i l d , o r a n o t h e r human being who i s t o t a l l y i l l i t e r a t e , and g i v e i t f a c t s o r f e e d i t knowledge, and you can s e e t h e growth i t h a s upon a human being, j u s t l i k e t h e t r e e . The t r e e , though seemingly dead, once i t r e c e i v e s t h e n u t r i e n t s i t needs, s t a r t s t o t h r i v e ; t h i s i s e x a c t l y what happens t o i l l i t e r a t e people. You s t a r t t o t e a c h , t h e y s t a r t t o learn. The magic i s i n t e a c h i n g them how t o l e a r n . No m a t t e r how d i f f i c u l t i t seems a t t i m e s , you've g o t t o keep t r y i n g . Show them t h e r e a r e o t h e r ways of l e a r n i n g . Convince them t h a t having s t r u c k o u t once d o e s n ' t mean t h e y a r e doomed t o s t r i k e o u t a g i a n . We must keep t r y ing u n t i l w e a l l g e t i t r i g h t . No m a t t e r how h o p e l e s s you t h i n k it is, I believe t h a t everything t h a t i s l i v i n g i s worthwhile t o keep around, be i t an animal, be i t a t r e e , b e i t a b l a d e of g r a s s . There i s beauty i n e v e r y t h i n g . There i s beauty even i n p e o p l e who a r e illit e r a t e , be i t hidden. People who are i l l i t e r a t e sometimes h i d s behind a n g e r and c r u e l t y , b u t t h e r e i s something t h e r e t h a t w e have t o g e t o u t . Maybe i t i s t h e i r i l l i t e r a c y t h a t i s making some p e o p l e angry.

...

m y b e t h e y a r e shy o r a r e t o o f r i g h t e n d t o speak, because they have been c a l l e d dummies a l l t h e i r l i v e s . m y b e they p l a y t h e clown because i t i s s a f e r . When people a r e l a u g h i n g w i t h you, t h e y a r e not laughing a t you. NO one should have t o f e e l t h i s way. The t r e e t h a t seems dead and i s kiven l i f e s o e a s i l y i s t h e same a s i l l i t e r a c y . Once people l e a r n how t o r e a d , i t ' s l i k e they a r e g i v e n a b r e a t h of a i r t h a t they never had bef o r e . They a r e now a b l e t o unlock doors t h a t were b o l t e d . I n s c h o o l you l e a r n t h i n g s from people t h a t w i l l h e l p you o u t s i d e of school. You t a l k t o p e o p l e i n s c h o o l who you might n e v e r have t a l k e d t o i n your l i f e . But because you a r e i n school w i t h them, you t a l k and l e a r n more about t h e world through h t e i r eyes. You l e a r n from t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e s and what t h e y have l i v e d through, s o you d o n ' t make t h e same mistakes. Try t o imagine a person l i k e you, w i t h a l l your c a p a b i l i t i e s except one: he cannot r e a d . This person i s l o s t i n our world. H e is shunned; c a l l e d d u m y , b u t he is n o t s t u p i d ; he j u s t cannot read! This person begins t o l o s e confidence; he slowly begins t o d i e i n t e r n a l l y ; he b e g i n s t o t h i n k t h e r e i s no hope f o r him u n t i l someone p u t s o u t t h e i r hand and s a y s , "I w i l l t e a c h you t o read." A s he begins t o l e a r n h i s c o n f i d e n c e comes back; he f e e l s l i k e he i s a worthwhile person a g a i n . How many t e a c h e r s p a s s up a f e r t i l e , good mind by n o t c u l t i v a t i n g i t and n o t t a k i n g t h e time w i t h one c h i l d who needs t o l e a r n t o r e a d ? It j u s t seemed t o me a good concept a t r e e compared t o i l l i t e r a c y because i f you g i v e each what i t needs i t t h r i v e s i n s t e a d of w i t h e r i n g and h o p e f u l l y , w i t h l u c k , i t blossoms.

By SHIRLEY DUEMO

ATTENTlON LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME SENIORS

D The housing c r i s i s evictions, d e m o l i t i o n s and s o a r i n g r e n t inc r e a s e s - h a s y e t t o be e f f e c t i v e l y , responded t o by t h e S o c i a l C r e d i t government. A r e t u r n of t h e Rentals- j man, r e n t review o r r e n t c o n t r o l i s : of c o u r s e t o o much t o a s k of them b u t many thought t h a t when t h e B.C. Housing Management Commission i s s u e d i t s proposed c a l l f o r n o n - p r o f i t housing f o r 1990 t h e government would i n c r e a s e t h e number of u n i t s t o b e c o n s t r u c t e d i n t h e Lower Mnld. The c a l l h a s now been i s s u e d and l o and behold 450 u n i t s have been a l l o c a t e d t o b e c o n s t r u c t e d f o r fami l i e s i n t h e Lower Mainland. E x a c t l y t h e same number a s i n 1989. For seni o r c i t i z e n s t h e news i s even more grim. Only 210 u n i t s have been a l l o c a t e d t h i s y e a r . I n 1987, f o r example, 525 s e n i o r c i t i z e n u n i t s were a l l o c a t e d f o r t h e Lower Mainland. I Now i s n ' t t h a t responding t o a housing c r i s i s i n a t i m e l y manner?

We must establish that there are people who need affordable housing. To be successful in providing family housing in your community call now to apply so your local non-profit organizations that we represent can be successful in providing you housing in your community, such as Whistler, Squamish, Abbotsford. Maple Ridge, Mission, Langley, Pemberton, Kamloops, Victoria. Call collect, 530-3887. Mon-Fri. 830 a.m. to 8:00,p.m.,Sat., 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or write to Coventry Management Ltd.. P.O. Box 1701, Aldergrove, B.C., VOX 1AO. All calls accepted up to March 2. 1990.

The above newspaper has been handed i n twice t o t h e Newsletter o f f i c e . "What t h e h e l l i s t h i s ? " P a r t of i t i s a scam. Coventry Management does n o t r e p r e s e n t any n o n - p r o f i t housing s o c i e t y i n t h e downtown e a s t s i d e . The f i r s t l i n e of t h e a d should s e t your warning s e n s e o f f "We must e s t a b l i s h t h a t t h e r e a r e people who need a f f o r d a b l e housing." E s t a b l i s h f o r who? The ad goes on t o s a y t h a t "your community, such a s Whistler, Squamish Abbotsford, Anyone h e r e who wants t o be a number i n some ' s t u d y ' should be very c a u t i o u s . I f t h i s were an honest s e r v i c e i t would answ e r a l l the basic questions f i r s t : 1. Who i s Coventry Management? 2. Who a r e they "helping"? (Why have they s p e n t money on t h e s e a d s and t h e answering s e r v i c e . What i s t h e i r vested i n t e r e s t i n "establishing t h a t t h e r e a r e people who need a f f o r d a b l e housing"? Any h a l f - w i t can s e e t h e answer t o t h i s any day ( o r n i g h t ) of t h e week by going t o p a r k s , b r i d g e s , Who a r e they viaducts, hotels, t r y i n g t o con?

Editor:

Darren Lowe

..."

...

A t t h e DERA monthly meeting, a man and woman s a y i n g t h e y were from "LTD" (Living t h e D i f f e r e n c e ) came and a c t u a l l y asked f o r s u p p o r t from h e r e t o make a l i s t of p e o p l e who could move t o t h e Bosta development a t Main & Terminal. Bosa r e f u s e d t o even t a l k t o DERA o r any housing s o c i e t y based i n t h e downtown e a s t s i d e . Ins t e a d , we g e t people s a y i n g "We want Ask t o h e l p you h e l p yourselves!" any Native person about t h e i r g u t f e e l i n g s when t h e s e words a r e apoken. '

By PAULR

TAYLOR

The following apology arises from a complaint filed with the B.C. Council of Human Rights. APOLOGY Stanley and Henrietta BEEGER, as owners, and John KLOSTER, as Manager, of a laundromat at 5688 Powell Street, do hereby apologise to Miriam WILSON, a native person who lived in the downtown eastside. The apology is the result of an incident.which occurred on June 28, 1989, in the laundromat whereby John Kloster discriminated against Miriam because she is a native person, by refusing her access to the laundromat. Both the owners and John sincerely apologise to Miriam for John's actions. They recognize that it is ggainst the law to discriminate in the provisions of services available to the public and will ensure that such discrimination doesn't occur in the laundromat in the future.

MANAGER

(The law makes the owner of any business responsible for the actions of any employee of that business. This was brought to the Newsletter office by an Industrial Relations Officer, Employment Standards Branch, Ministry of Labour and Consumer Services.)

BABIES Babies a r e b i t s of s t a r d u s t , Blown from t h e Hand of God.

Lucky t h e woman who knows t h e pangs of b i r t h f o r she held a s t a r .

Jim Kennedy RCNVR (1945)

An Act was passed in Britain that made abortion illegal, except if the pregnancy threatened the life of a woman. Canadian law was based on British law.

Canadian women are legally declared "persons"

British law amended; abortion legal.

.The fetus was considered "protected" after it became "animated," at "quickening" (usually around 20 weeks). Disagrcemcnt: at what point did it become criminal to abort fetus? The Canadian Medical Association, together with the Canadian Bar Association, lobbied Parliament for changes to the abortion law. Doctors wen: increasingly concerned that they could be held legally responsible for perforn.ing an abortion.

Seaion 251 of the Criminal Code passed by Parliament. It became a crime for a woman to havean abortion, and for any pcrson to peSform an abortion, EXCEPT:abortion was NOTa crime if performed by a qualified medical practitioner in an approwd hospital, after the majority ojmernbers of a therapeuticabortion committee had certified that the continuation of tk pregnancy "would or would be likely to endanger her heulth." During the vote in Parliametrt, more MP's were absent than voted yes/no. Dr. Henry Morgentaler starts performing iibortionsin a private clinic in Montreal. In 1970, the clinic was raided and arrests were made.

Roe rs.Wade- U.S SuprenteCourt legalized abortion (at least in the first trimester) throuah" out the U.S. All states must provide equal access to abortion. Morgentaler's Montreal clinic was raided by police; he was charged, acquitted by jury trial. That acquittal was overturned by Quebec Court of Appeal. Morgentaler appealed to the Supreme Courl of Canada. V

Morgcntaler'; appeal to A r Suprmc Court of C n n ~ asks d ~ if Qucbcc's Court of Appcal can overturn the acquittal by jury trial. Morgentaler's defence was that Scction 251, from 1969 amendment to the Criminal Code, was invalid: he felt that the 1%0 Canadian Bill of Rights took pmedcnmovcr thecrimirtsl Cede. Justice Laskin of thesuprcmc Court notcd hisconcern that thc Bill of Rights was not constituiionally entrenched in the Canadian justice system, therefore there was no reason it should take precedence over the Criminal Code Quebec dccisior~upheld by Supreme Courl of Canada. Morgentaler went to jail.

ists start to lobby in favour of "bringing the Charter home." The thcoryis that if thecharter is firmly entrench& asCanadian constitutional law, then JusticeLaskin'sconcern is met and Morgentaler cannot be sent to jail. Morgentaler was tried two more times; acquittd both times. ghts and Freedoms comes home to Canada. From Scction 15: Every individual is equal beforeand under the law ... From Scction 7: ~ v e r y o has k the right to life, liberty, and security of the person, and t k right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. eutic abortions performed in Canadian hospitals. e 1982Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Dr. Henry Morgentaler, in defiance of the "abortion law," opened a free-standing abortion clinic in Toronto. He was charged with performing illegal abortions. He was acquitted by an Ontario jury in 1984. This was appealed by Ontario Court of Appeal, and Morgentder's acquittal was overturned. Morgentaler nppaid to the Suprcne Court of Canada in 1986, arguing that the 1969 law violated clauses in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms: 63,508 therapeutic abortions performed in Canadian hospitals. 63,662 thenpcwtic abortiorls performed in Canadian hospitals. Supreme Court of Canada, in a 5-2 decision, strikes down Section 251, Canada's abortion law. finding it in violation of the Charter's guarantee of life, liberty and the security of the person, in response to the Morgentsler case. Abortion is decriminalized in Canada. A national Gallup poll showed that 71.2% of adult Canadians are pro-choice

U.S. Supreme Court rules that individual states can limit access to abortion. This is contrary to the Roe us. Wade decision which resulted in equal access to abortion everywhere in the U.S. State of Pennsylvania responds in October by placing strict limitations on abortion: a ~narriedwomar. must secure her husband's approval before an abortion can take place. Nov. 3,1989: A bill is introduced to Canadian House of Commons which, if passed, would pmhibit abortions except when a woman's physical, mental, or psychological health is threatened. The decision (of imposed threat of the pregnancy) is to be made by the woman's doctor. The proposed legislation would be an amendment to the Criminal Code. Nov. 16,1989: The Supreme Court hands down their decision o'n the Chantal Daigle case. Daigle's ex-boyfriend sought an injunctionthat would pmhibit Daigle from having an abortion. TheSuprcme Court decided that 1)a father has no rights until the fetus iscompletelybom alive, and 2) the fetus has no rights until it is completely born alive.

I f you should go f i g h t i n g I want you t o know as you march i n your columns t o conquer t h e f o e t h i s j u s t i f i e d madness t h a t you know a s war i s an updated v e r s i o n of t h i n g s gone b e f o r e The people have changed and t h e c h i l d r e n have grown our minds have been molded by t h i n g s we've been shown a s they spew o u t p o l i t i c a l r e a s o n s t o k i l l t h e now-pre j u d i c e d masses succumb. These p l a s t i c e n e people no w i l l of t h e i r own f i g h t i n g g h o s t s of t h e p a s t no new enemies shown a l l you need do i s f o l l o w your f a t e s a l l l a i d o u t go through h i s t o r y ' s pages and r e a d a l l about your d e s t i n y . Close o f f your mind t o t h e t h i n g s you c a n ' t s e e you c a n ' t a l t e r t h e f a c t s y e t you s t i l l d i s a g r e e too a f r a i d t o s t o p f o l l o w i n g p r i n t s i n t h e snow i f a storm blew them o v e r you'd have nowhere t o go you t h o u g h t l e s s f o o l s t e p o f f t h e t r a c k s i n k i n over your head no sound breaking through you a r e deaf t o what i s s a i d No i n s t r u c t i o n s forthcoming no-one t o s a l u t e your new enemies f a c e l e s s t h e r e i s n o t h i n g t o shoo you must choose f o r y o u r s e l f Who s h a l l you choose a s your r e c i p i e n t of h a t e r i d y o u r s e l f of f r u s t r a t i o n i n w a r s you c r e a t e you c a n ' t simply be you t h r i v e on d i s s e n s i o n no problem e x i s t s i t ' s your mind's own i n v e n t i o n you need t o f i g h t Conquer your anger and t h e w a r w i l l b e won t h e v i c t o r y made s w e e t e r when no k i l l i n g i s done h a t e ' s conceded d e f e a t so you now make your own way, t h e p a t h has been c l e a r e d no new enemy c r e a t e d t h e r e i s n o t h i n g t o f e a r you a r e t r u l y a t peace i f you s t i l l t h i n k i t ' s n a t u r a l man w i l l always war a schoolroom of m i l l i o n s and heaven t h e reward l e t me remind you t h a t murder's a s i n you c a n ' t j u s t i f y i t they know where you've been you d o n ' t have t o p u l l t r i g g e r s j u s t s i t back and watch a l l you need t o condemn you is a p a t h y

Consider this, though horrific it seems the existence of heaven is only in dreams your reward in the end will be what you have made there is no ticket out it matters not what you've paid my god what a theory it would blow them away I think we should tell them but I'm too tired today >

1 \

Maybe we should show them the horrors we've made frighten with pictures that revolt and degrade what have we done our poison-filled oceans our skies no escape the land pitted and pock-marked as daily we rape to achieve our means the sunshine a danger we all must screen out what more must be done before someone will shout loud enough to be heard Our children are hardened by image on screen nothing more left shock they've not already seen how can we break through take them out show them the way it once was all will be lost if none carry the cause we must show them the way your detached way of living a slap in the face sure you're causing no problems but killing the race you must understand Nothing else matters and it's all I address if the world crumbles under the weight and the stress of human abuse so thread all your needles well sew up the rent in the fabric of life on which history's spent all those painstaking years let's not spatter the pattern with blood of our own the stains left by those before us so we could be shown the mistakes that were made So much more could be said fewer should be dead but here I must stop Not written for pleasure to be read at leisure no flowery phrase it's a heartfelt devotion to a perhaps ludicrous notion that things can be changed and my hopes seem not futile while the breezes still blow and beauty yet lingers in flowers that grow don't let it end. Shannon Thackray I

I n Memorium: JOSEPH PAUL BONNELL Joseph P a u l B o n n e l l from Nanoose Bay, B.C., p a s s e d away r e c e n t l y . Joseph w a s a t h i n , N a t i v e e l d e r w i t h a c o n s i s t e n t s e n s e of humour. We knew him most b e c a u s e h e w a s a t t h e 1984 Crab Camp-in, a n o c c u p a t i o n o f " f e d e r a l l a n d s " down a t t h e f o o t o f Columbia S t r e e t . Although we were n e v e r o r g a n i z e d t o do a p r o p e r camp-in w i t h s u p p l i e s Joseph P a u l t r i e d t o cook enough food s o t h a t some of t h e 60 t e n t e r s c o u l d e a t . P r o b a b l y t h e few p i e c e s of bannock t h a t h e cooked w a s a l l some of t h e campers a t e d u r i n g some of t h o s e h a r d d a y s . Because o f t h e s p i r i t and s u p p o r t o f p e o p l e l i k e J o s e p h , t h e Camp-In s u c c e s s f u l l y l a s t e d 75 d a y s and w a s a major f a c t o r i n t h e r e now b e i n g a 7 a c r e w a t e r f r o n t p a r k i n t h e downtown e a s t s i d e . J o s e p h u n d e r s t o o d i s s u e s l i k e Nat i v e l a n d c l a i m s and t h e Nanoose Bay p e a c e camp which he s u p p o r t e d . He l i v e d a tough l i f e i n p o v e r t y , but nobody c o u l d l o n g wipe a s m i l e o f f of h i s f a c e . H e w i l l be missed by many, e s p e c i a l l y h i s f r i e n d s B e r t Thomas, Donnie and P a u l Denomie. His body was s e n t back t o Nova S c o t i a f o r t h e f u n e r a l . We s h o u l d f i n d some was o f remembering t h e s u p p o r t J o s e p h P a u l gave t h e underdog I f i t meets s u p p o r t , t h e r e i s a s u g g e s t i o n t o name t h e mini-park a t Alexander and Main, "Joseph P a u l B o n n e l l Park". This mini-park is a p a r t of Crab w a t e r f r o n t p a r k and i s a p a r t of what J o s e p h h e l p e d e a r n f o r o u r lowincome community. Don Larson

A QUIET SERVICE A s you a r e r e a d i n g t h i s a v o l u n t e e r i n C a r n e g i e i s marking a n a n n i v e r s a r y - EGOR MAROV h a s shown o v e r 430 d i f f e r e n t videos i n t h e last year! He began a t a rate of a few a week b u t t h e p o p u l a r i t y o f t h i s f r e e show soon had him i n c r e a s e h i s commitment t o t w i c e t o t h r e e t i m e s a n d more e a c h week, w i t h up t o 4 o r 5 v i d e o s a n i g h t and a l l n i g h t on C h r i s t m a s Eve. The 3 r d f l o o r a t t h e back o f t h e b u i l d i n g was t h e o n l y 'unbooked' a r e a f o r awhile, then, with t h e l a t e r hours t h e T h e a t r e became t h e p l a c e . Egor h a s had a u d i e n c e s o f o v e r 130 f o r a few v i d e o s and many u s e r s o f C a r n e g i e a s k "What's on t o n i g h t ? " as soon as t h e y come i n . Egor was chosen V o l u n t e e r o f t h e Month l a s t y e a r a f t e r p e o p l e r e a l i z e d t h a t h e ' d been d o i n g h i s work f o r months and no one had even a s k e d him i f he had g o t t e n any c o f f e e t i c k e t s f o r h i s time. He a l s o makes d u p l i c a t e t a p e s , b r i n g i n g i n h i s own VCR, upon r e q u e s t (and a l l t h e e x t r a h o u r s t h i s requires). I n c a s e you d o n ' t know who t o t h a n k j u s t l o o k up. Egor i s a b o u t 6'8" & a h e a l t h y 375 l b s . He i n c r e a s e d h i s fame d u r i n g t h e Columbia H o t e l prot e s t ' s and was t h e s t a r o f a TV show on t h a t i n c i d e n t !

; m a l l wonders of t h e world. ) s o many they are y e t a r e s t i l l unseen. rust l i k e t h e mother c r a d l i n g h e r c h i l d ~ r o t e c t e dfrom t h e unwanted, hidden away. . e f t t h e r e t o b e d i s c o v e r e d by t h e wary 1 Jorthy can o n l y one be t o f i n d i t s o . U 1 about u s t h e y are j u s t i n p l a i n s i g h t ;till many d o n ' t s e e o t h e r t h a n t h e o r d i n a r y . ?or t o g i v e l i f e i s t o d i e a l i t t l e ?orever wandering s e e k i n g new abodes To s e e o t h e r t h a n t h e o r d i n a r y i s t o ?ind t h e joy i n l i v i n g . Cn f i n d i n g hope one can f i n d l i f e Cn f i n d i n g l i f e one d i s c o v e r s purpose Cn d i s c o v e r i n g purpose t h e r e i s a r e a s o n o f b e i n g Cn b e i n g one w i t h t h e s e l f , one becomes one w i t h :he u n i v e r s e . For b e i n g one w i t h h i s u n i v e r s e , t h e s m a l l lronders of t h e world a r e now i n p l a i n and f u l l s i g h t a s t h e y always were. Plume DUTCH TREAT A l l i s well i n Wouldn'tville, ~ h o u l d n ' t v i l l e and ~ a n ' t v i l l e . A l l i s a s i t h a s come t o be For one who chose t o w a i t . Nothing gambled on t h e bed Because a running shoe of red Was much a s a f e r even b e t For one who chose t o w a i t . The N i l e Jewel f a i l e d a g a i n To rub a nagging, l o v e l y neck, p a i n , But shoes were s t i l l on and c o u l d n ' t move The one who chose t o w a i t . A f e a s t of sweet meats on a cheesy c r u s t Brought p a s s i o n s b o i l i n g beyond m i s t r u s t But f l a t u l e n c e came demanding t o s i n g With one who chose t o w a i t .

And when t h e evening w a s packed-in The door w a s rushed q u i c k e r t h a n s i n . Walking home w e i r d l y t h o u g h t f u l of f a t e ; Who w a s t h e one who chose t o w a i t . Garry Gust

Mayor and Alderpeople C i t y of Vancouver

I have a t t e n d e d two p u b l i c meeti n g s about t h e proposed garbage p l a n t . Although I was opposed when I f i r s t heard t h e i d e a , I am now angry and adamantly opposed t o t h e b u i l d i n g of a commercial garbage p l a n t i n Vancouver f o r t h e followi n g reasons: 1. There is a need i n t h i s s o c i e t y and i n t h e world t o t i g h t e n and sophisticate our recycling e f f o r t s . 2. Commercial garbage e n t e r p r i s e i n North America has l i t t l e o r no i n t e r e s t i n t h e e n v i r o n m e n t . . j u s t as drug e n t r e p r e n e u r s have no i n t e r e s t i n t h e damage t h a t t h e d r u g s do t o t h e human environment. 3. Such a p l a n t would degrade t h e surrounding l a n d , p a r k s , and r e s i d e n c e s . The continuum of t r u c k s b r i n g i n g garbage f o r s o r t i n g , and t r u c k s t a k i n g away about 85% of what w a s brought t o Burns Bog o r Cache Creek would l e a d t o i n c r e a s e d n o i s e and p o l l u t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y when t h e Expo s i t e and Marathon's Coal Harbour add t h e i r thousands of r e s i dences and accompanying b u s i n e s s e s . 4. The a r e a i s d e s c r i b e d a s 'indust r i a l ' b u t i s encompassed by ap-

a r t m e n t s (Northern Way) and s i n g l e family d w e l l i n g s ( S t r a t h c o n a , Mount P l e a s a n t , Grandview-Woodlands) and p r o p o s a l s f o r c o n v e r s i o n of much of t h e a r e a t o more residential/commerc i a 1 development. An example i s t h e proposed m u l t i - m i l l i o n d o l l a r Bosa development a t Terminal and Main, a mere f o u r b l o c k s away. I understand t h a t t h e Engineering Department recommended a g a i n s t t h i s garbage d i s p o s a l p l a n , b u t t h a t t h e Council decided t o proceed t o t h e n e x t s t a g e . I would l i k e t o s e e (and I ' m sure t h a t the general public would l i k e t o s e e ) a s t a t e m e n t from t h e Engineering Department s t a t i n g t h e i r r e a s o n s f o r recommending a g a i n s t proceeding w i t h t h e p l a n . I should a l s o l i k e t o comment on t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e P u b l i c Meeting h e l d a t S t r a t h c o n a School on Feb. 7. About 20% of t h e a u d i e n c e was Chinese and d i d n o t speak English. No i n t e r p r e t e r was provided. F o r t u n a t e l y a b i l i n g u a l woman w a s t h e r e and a b l e t o translate. Is t h e Council s e r i o u s l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e views of t h e c i t i z e n s ? O r a r e , we s e e i n g a p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s j o b of s o l i c i t i n g i n p u t when a d e c i s i o n h a s I I a l r e a d y been made? Ron Hansen

n \ u .,

Radio P r o j e c t Update

POETRY I S MY BOMB

The Radio P r o j e c t had i t s second g e n e r a l meeting on Monday, Feb. 19. We t a l k e d about what we've done s o f a r and planned some workshops f o r t h e f u t u r e . One of o u r p r o j e c t s be an hour 10%p o e t r y program on A p r i l 3rd. Our n e x t meeting w i l l be on Monday March 19, 11 am t o 1 pm. I f you a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n f i n d i n g o u t more c a l l Brenda o r Helene a t 684-8494.

T h i s w i l l be a l i v e , one hour co-op r a d i o show on A p r i l 3 r d , 1 t o 2 pm. Contact Helene o r Brenda a t 684-8494 o r s e e Shannon and Kevin i n Classroom 2 on Mondays o r Wednesdays (3:00 pm) a t Carnegie. Read your p o e t r y , s t o r i e s and stuff on the a i r . BE HEARD! IT'SRADIO SO YOU CAN'T BE SEEN.

On February 7 t h t h e second meeting on Mayor Campbell's " ~ e s o u r c eRecovery Plant" w a s held a t Strathcona Community Centre. The e n g i n e e r s on t h e s t a g e were under o r d e r s t o go through t h e r e s t of t h e s p e a k e r ' s l i s t , w i t h o v e r 25 names of p e o p l e who d i d n ' t g e t t o s t a t e t h e i r views a t t h e f i r s t meeting h e l d a t B r i t a n n i a two weeks p r e v i o u s . The NPA m a j o r i t y on Council had t r i e d t o f o r c e t h i s r e t a r d e d scheme through by simply r e f u s i n g t o open i t up t o p u b l i c h e a r i n g s . Surveys done by d i f f e r e n t p u b l i c i n t e r e s t groups found t h a t t h e l a r g e m a j o r i t y of c i t i z e n s asked f o r t h e i r o p i n i o n d i d n ' t know a n y t h i n g about i t . What flit" i s i s a way t o l e t a l l b u s i n e s s and h o t e l l a p a r t m e n t owners n o r t h of 1 6 t h Avenue i n Vancouver o f f t h e hook as f a r a s b e i n g r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e i r garbage i s concerned. Rather than s e t t i n g up ways and means t o e d u c a t e people on how t o r e c y c l e , how t o s e p a r a t e r e u s a b l e m a t e r i a l s a t t h e s o u r c e , t h e NPA m a j o r i t y s a w t h e b e s t way t o make someone a b i g buck. They want t o p r i v a t i z e t h e e n t i r e waste management system, pay a p r i v a t e company t o skim a n y t h i n g they can s e l l from t h e mountains of r e f u s e , pay them t o h a u l i t t o and from t h e p l a n t (proposed f o r S t r a t h cona l e s s t h a n 1000 f e e t from food w h o l e s a l e r s ( s a y h e l l o t o thousands of RATS)), pay them t o d i g o u t what they want, t h e n pay them t o h a u l a t l e a s t 85% of t h e remaining smelly mess t o a l a n d f i l l . B r i l l i a n t ! ! ! To t h e p o i n t : a t t h a t meeting a 2nd meeting was demanded i n S t r a t h cona a t a time when t h e s e n i o r s of t h e community could come, Also demanded w a s a p u b l i c h e a r i n g i n t h e West End; r e s i d e n t s t h e r e a r e angry t h a t they a r e b e i n g completely denied

a comprehensive community r e c y c l i n g program s o a few b i g c o r p o r a t i o n s can g e t b i g g e r . The r e a l p o i n t i s simply t h a t t h e C i t y has f a i l e d t o hold e i t h e r of t h e s e meetings. Maybe having t o spew t h e NPA's brand of l o g i c anywhere except a t Council meetings (where they a r e ass u r e d of t h e l a s t word) must s c a r e them s h i t l e s s . C r i t i c i s m from t h e p e a s a n t s ( t h a t ' s u s ) must be r e a l l y g a l l i n g when you t h i n k y o u ' r e untouchable l i k e Campbell does. The e n g i n e e r s ' r e p o r t s on t h e 2 meeti n g s h e l d ( p u b l i c i n p u t ) a r e going t o Council. C a l l t h e C i t y Clerk t o appear on Thursday, March 8. 873-7276! A d e l u g e of s p e a k e r s w i l l be GREAT! ! ! By PAULR

TAYLOR

DIVINE LOVE Divine l o v e reaches a s p i r e To shake hands w i t h t h e s o u l ; Radiant a n g e l s j o i n t h e c h o i r To s i t on t h e rainbow Utopia f a l l s i n l o v e w i t h Saul Far above m o r t a l men; A l l t h e s e t h i n g s I ' v e thought A r e i n t h e naked poem. The g e n i u s of W i l l i a m B u t l e r Yeats And a l l t h e men i n c l u d i n g Dylan; John Donne, P r a t t and Blake Bless t h e s e p o e t s , I l o v e them ~ h e y ' r ea t o p t h e golden c h a i n With t h e i r diamond pens; Alas, f o r e v e r y t h i n g i s contained Within t h e naked poem. J o e Ringer

DOWNTOWN EADTSIDE YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

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A r t i c l e a repreaest t h e views o f individual contriburors and not of t h e A s s o c i a t l o n .

t l o r c ~ l l o n si ~ c c o p l o t l . City i n f o s t a f f c a n ' t accept donat i o n s f o r t h i e Newsletter, s o i f you can help, f i n d Paul Taylor and h e ' l l g i v e you a r e c e i p t . FllEE

Tlrrrnlts ovoryl)udy-

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DONATIONS: Yanum Spath-$200 Nancy W.-$300 Willis S.-$110 George B.-$15 Rich P.-$41 Robert S.-$60 Jancis A.-$45 Luis P.-$20 Tom -$4.02 Marg. S.-$20 L.B.T. - $100 Ted B.-$5 Sheila B.-$2 Lillian H.-$20 James M.-$50 1.MacLeod-$150 Kelly - $3 J. East - $1 Nancy 5.-$50 Sue H.-$20 Steve R.-$10 Neil M.-$2 B. & B. - $8 Peter E.-$3.32 Ian - $5 CEEDS - $10 Keith C.-$10 Linda F.-$50 Etienne S.-$20 Mendel R.-$15 Wilfrid B.-$5 ~ ' l e mG.-$5 Anonymous-$43.23 Terry the Terrible - $200

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unsafe living conditions in hotels or apartments disputes with landlords income tax

D E R A is l o c a t e d at 9 East H a s t i n g s o r p h o n e 682-0931. DERA HAS BEEN SERVING T H E DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE F O R 15 Y E A R S ,

~ o t to o many of you r e a d i n g t h i s have c a r s . I s s u e s t h a t a f f e c t u s a r e t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of a f f o r d a b l e housing, t h e o b s c e n i t y of corporations g e t t i n g t a x breaks while t h e ,,,inimum wage, U.I. and w e l f a r e keep thousands of people i n p o v e r t y c a r s a r e somebody e l s e ' s problem. In the lasttwo issues, there have been a r t i c l e s from a group based i n Vernon c a l l e d t h e A s s o c i a t i o n f o r Vehicle Movement and S a f e t y managed t o t a k e t h e l i d o f f a s l i m y can of worms and, i n a r e s p o n s e t o t h e i r p e r s i s t e n t q u e s t i o n s , t h e mini s t e r r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a new " s a f e t y " program h a s exposed a n o t h e r p a r t of t h e c o r p o r a t e agenda. Background i n f o r m a t i o n i s f a i r l y simple: t h e socred government h a s from made almost a legal covers t o dirty f o r police t o take c a r s off t h e roa w h i l e p o l i c e i n d i f f e r e n t r e g i o n s of t h e province a r e s a y i n g t h a t t h e y won't e n f o r c e t h i n g s t h a t 'enough people' d o n ' t l i k e . What i t means i s t h a t anyone w i t h a c a r o r t r u c k over a c o u p l e of y e a r s o l d w i l l hav t o e i t h e r pay huge r e p a i r b i l l s o r buy a new(er) v e h i c l e . This whole p i e c e of l e g i s l a t i o n i s g r e a t news f o r c a r d e a l e r s , businesspeople i n ? t o r e p a i r and p a r t s and t h e p o l i c e who can i n c r e a s e t h e i r revenue w i t h i n s p e c t i o n f e e s , f i n e s , e t c . When Vanderzalm t r i e d t o mess w i t h t h e o f f i c e of t h e Attorney General, Bud Smith r e s i g n e d , s t a t i n g t h a t i t was a "matter of honour." Vanderzalm then s p l i t t h e m i n i s t r y i n two and put t h e department of motor v e h i c l e and t h e p o l i c e i n t h e same d e p a r t ment. F i n e s , f e e s and l i c e n c e s now b e n e f i t t h e l e g a l branch w i t h a hug i n c r e a s e i n revenue brought about by t h i s s t u p i d program. Following i s a p r e s s r e l e a s e from t h e Associa t i o n f o r Vehicle Movement Safety:

...

"The S o l i c i t o r General d o e s n ' t know what h e ' s t a l k i n g about i n h i s e x p l a n a t i o n of t h e new P r i v a t e Vehic l e I n s p e c t i o n Program," s a i d S t u a r t Meade, spokesman f o r t h e A s s o c i a t i o n f o r Vehicle Xovement S a f e t y . Meade's comments were i n r e a c t i o n t o a r e c e n t response from t h e S o l i c i t o r General, Russ F r a s e r . I n h i s l e t t e r F r a s e r claimed t h a t no u s e f u l purpose would be served by p e r f o m inga n assessment of the costs and b e n e f i t s of t h i s program, and even adm i t t e d he d i d n ' t know how many people would be a f f e c t e d o r t o what degree. "It o n l y r e q u i r e s a pocket c a l c u l a t o r t o f i g u r e out t h a t i n inspection f e e s a l o n e , $51 m i l l i o n w i l l b e ext r a c t e d from t h e owners of 1 . 7 m i l l i o n I guess v e h i c l e s l i c e n s e d i n B.C. Mr. Fraser i s n ' t c u r i o u s a s t o how much t h i s program i s going t o burden public, II Meade reflected The S o l i c i t o r General attempted t o answer M r . Meade's query a s t o t h e r e l a t i v e s e r i o u s n e s s , as a c o n t r i b u t i n g f a c t o r t o road a c c i d e n t s , of t h e mechanical c o n d i t i o n of p r i v a t e vehies in the province. "He even got t h i s wrong!" s a i d Meade. "Mr. F r a s e r quoted me t h e f i g u r e of 2.44 p e r c e n t of a l l a c c i d e n t s had ' v e h i c l e condition a s a contributing factor.' In f a c t , 1.33 p e r c e n t i s t h e r e a l f i g u r e . M r . F r a s e r ' s c a l c u l a t i o n ignores the 46,762 a c c i d e n t s which have n o t been i n c l u d e d i n t h e c o m p i l a t i o n of "Major . C o n t r i b u t i n g F a c t o r s i n 1988 Accidents." (1988 Motor Vehicle Branch T r a f f i c Acc i d e n t S t a t i s t i c s Manual, pg 1.1 &3.1) Meade observed t h a t , "If he i s ans= e r i n g me w i t h a l l t h e f a c t s he h a s a t and, t h e n he h a s managed t o implement program c o s t i n g upwards of 112 b i l l on d o l l a r s i n i n s p e c t i o n and r e p a i r c o s t s , on t h e b a s i s of f a n t a s y r a t h e r than s t a t i s t i c s . "

I n h i s l e t t e r M r . F r a s e r noted w i t h some s a t i s f a c t i o n t h a t t h i s program w a s implemented a f t e r ' c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h and a t t h e u r g i n g of t h e p u b l i c , safety related organizations, police and t h e automotive r e p a i r i n d u s t r y . ' "While M r . F r a s e r i s busy espousing h i s c a r e and concern f o r t h e motoring p u b l i c , i n r e a l i t y he seems t o be r e s ponding p r i m a r i l y t o s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t groups," s a i d Meade. "What we have i s a program t h a t w i l l b e burdening t h e v e h i c l e owners of t h i s p r o v i n c e w i t h horrendous c o s t s , w i t h o u t any statist i c a l j u s t i f i c a t i o n , while ignoring o t h e r very r e a l h a z a r d s of v e h i c l e movement. Common s e n s e s u g g e s t s t h a t a program of t h i s magnitude, implemented i n t h i s day and age, must have some f a c t u a l and s t a t i s t i c a l foundat i o n - we a r e a p p e a l i n g t o t h e Minis t r y t o s h a r e t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h us!' (Information: 873-5149)

t h e d e v i l made me do i t

and t h e n i r e a d i n t h e paper t h e i o t h e r day about a guy from new west- 1 m i n s t e r who g o t e i g h t y e a r s f o r a ! s e x u a l a t t a c k on a t h i r t e e n y e a r o l d baby s i t t e r t h a t l a s t e d two hours he had o r d e r e d h i s w i f e and f o u r k i d s i n t o a n o t h e r room the sick part is t h a t s h e went i wish t h a t s h e had run w i t h t h e k i d s t o g e t h e l p b u t ins t e a d s h e t r i e d t o h e l p t h e g i r l hers e l f and g o t b e a t e n f o r h e r p a i n s t h e a r t i c l e s a i d t h e g i r l was l e f t a wounded animal and h i s w i f e h a s a scarred face the g i r l was thirteen years do you h e a r me s h e was t h i r teen years old t h e guy who raped h e r s a i d t h a t booze made him do i t i r e a l l y d o n ' t remember what hapi pened he s a i d i f you s a y i d i d i t i must have he s a i d i ' m v e r y s o r r y he said I i guess t h a t means i t ' s probably a l l r i g h t i f you s a y y o u ' r e s o r r y .

Anne Rayvals

IKKTURNAL FLUTTERING Employing t h e mind w i t h i l l u s i o n s of grandeur i s a good job f o r a s l e e p l e s s n i g h t . I t ' s t h e t h e r a p y of Walter Mittyism a s d e f i n e d by John Lennon i n "imaginei'. I t ' s a s o o t h i n g mental massage, r e l i e v i n g t h e let-downs of t h e r e a l world. I t ' s t h e power t o do away w i t h h e r o e s and v i l l a i n s , of c o m p e t i t i o n , and o t h e r unequal c o n c l u s i o n s . I t ' s a seed t h a t blooms o n l y i f n o u r i s h e d by t h e h i g h e s t humane i d e a l s . Alas, i t ' s a l s o u s e l e s s u n l e s s i t h a r v e s t s an eventual action. Garry Gust

r *

o \

Assorted Puzzle P i e c e s on. Paper

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& love p o l i t i c s , r e l i g i o n , sex, e t c . hat's a l l I e v e r h e a r 'round h e r e These days, who's g o t l o n g h a i r Who's n i c e w i t h d a i s i e s - n - r o s e s - n - f l a r e Who's got s h o r t h a i r , who's f a t ? who knows? Who's skinny, who's Who r e a l l y h a s t o t i g h t e n h i s b e l t . . . Even i f he cannot a f f o r d one? Whose b u s i n e s s Gay - Got-Aids-Yet? i s t h i s ? Is i t s e r i o u s ? Is i t r e a l l y s h o o t i n g down people? funny Who's f a u l t ? Love of p o l i t i c s ? Is i t n e c e s s a r y f o r individuals ...p sychologically How does i t t i e t o g e t h e r w i t h r e l i g i o n w i t h people. ..people c r e a t e d r e l i g i o n . . i t l e d i n t o sexism They c r e a t e d p o l i t i c s The b a t t l e of t h e s e x e s . . . t o t h e a r t s . . . t o l o v e , i n g e n e r a l . What's l o v e ? companionship? Self-love? R e l a t i o n s h i p s Romance? Independenceldependence? Anyway..in t h e end w e l o v e t h e sound of s i l e n c e .

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The evening h e s i t a t e s on t h e windowsill A b u r g l a r caught i n moment s t i l l Then e n t e r s i n a t h i e f of days The sun drops t o i t s knees and p r a y s f o r darkness And t h o s e who have l o s t t h e day and more With h a t and c o a t w a i t by t h e door I n Q u i e t pause from i n c e s s a n t c h a t t e r Search f o r meaning t h a t goes natter, natter, and pray for silence On t h e r i v e r t h e boatman w a i t s S i l e n t s a i l s sloughing winds of f a t e While shadows l e n g t h e n i n the h a l l Wonders why we w a i t ..why a t a l l prays f o r a s a f e voyage

Tom Lewis

BAN THE KNIVES

I n t h e l a s t i s s u e a p o s t c a r d was reproduced. It was a d d r e s s e d t o then-Minister of J u s t i c e Doug Lewis, stating: Dear M r . Lewis, On , 1990 a person was a t t a c k e d and i n j u r e d / k i l l e d with a k n i f e i n t h e E a s t s i d e of Vancouver, B.C. I would l i k e t o know what you are going t o do about i t . Since t h e n former Socred MLA and now Tory MP K i m Campbell has become M i n i s t e r of J u s t i c e . Mulroney hopes t o s i l e n c e h e r pro-choice views on a b o r t ion. I n t h e e a r l y 8 0 1 s , Sue H a r r i s began a g r a s s r o o t s campaign t o change t h e law a l l o w i n g k n i v e s . A f t e r f i v e o r s i x y e a r s and thousands more crimes i n v o l v i n g k n i v e s , a ban on c a r r y i n g knives i n b a r s came i n t o e f f e c t . Needless t o s a y i t ' s had l i t t l e e f f e c t . On February 22 ( l a s t week) t h e r e were 5 s t a b b i n g s i n one night i n t h e s u n r i s e Hotel. K i m Campbell has t o h e a r from u s every time a k n i f e i s used i n o u r 1t's n o t a c c e p t a b l e neighbourhood. f o r - h e r t o j u s t l i v e h i g h & mighty a s a f e d e r a l m i n i s t e r w h i l e people i n h e r own home town a r e t e r r o r i z e d d a i l y . Blank p o s t c a r d s c a n be picked up a t DERA ( 9 E.Hastings), a t 1st church, a t t h e Deposit P r o j e c t on C a r r a l l , a t t h e Women's C e n t r e on Cordova, . . . p o s t a g e i s f r e e .

ownt town

Smoke ( t h e i n v i s i b l e enemy) I f I o n l y had money Then t h i n g s wouldn't be t h e same My awareness would b e a l t e r e d And a s e n s e of w e l l being Would pervade my s e n s e s And I ' d s k i p t h e food l i n e . My v i s i o n would c l e a r I ' d see i n t r i c a t e d e s i g n s on my bucks I ' d p u t them i n p i l e s And d i v i d e them just right. Each one a m i r a c l e and A l l t h e same I'd f e e l b e t t e r physically Confident t h a t I could h a n d l e The day I ' d have no enemies That money c a n ' t buy So I ' d buy them and Then I ' d have f r i e n d s Ain't l i f e a gas? Greg

THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT

A r i c h woman wanted t o buy h e r mother a b i r t h d a y p r e s e n t . She went t o a p e t shop and s a w a b e a u t i f u l b i r d . The b i r d c o u l d s i n g . The b i r d could a l s o speak seven languages: Chinese, Japanese, I t a l i a n , French, Spanish, Vietnamese, Czech & English. She bought t h e b i r d . It c o s t $5,000. She s e n t t h e b i r d t o h e r mother. The n e x t day, s h e c a l l e d h e r mother on t h e phone. She asked h e r mother, "DO you l i k e t h e b i r d ? " H e r mother answered, "Yes, i t ' s d e l i c i o u s ! I ' m e a t i n g i t r i g h t now!"

kung hay f a y c h o i i t ' s 20 t o n i n e now and maybe t h e sun wi 11 s t a y up t h e r e b u t i ' m notC t h e r e ' s a crow cawing l i k e sure i mad i n a tree a c r o s s t h e street h a t e how i t sounds and i wish t h e g r a n v i l l e bus would h u r r y up and come oh t h e r e i t i s s o i g e t on i have t o and i t ' s packed as u s u a l s t a n d u n t i l i g e t t o broadway and then i g r a b a seat q u i c k when a l o t of s k y t r a i n people g e t o f f you have t o be f a s t because t h e r e ' s a whole i get bunch more w a i t i n g t o g e t on one o f t h o s e s i n g l e s e a t s on t h e l e f t s i d e i ' m lucky t h e r e ' s s o many p a s s e n g e r s on t h e bus today t h a t t h e windows a r e a l l steamed up and i t i s n ' t even r a i n i n g f o r a change s o people have t o r u b t h e a windows t o see where t h e y are couple of m e n t a l handicaps g e t on the and one o f them g e t s a seat o t h e r one l e a n s o v e r h e r and t h e y t a l k l o u d about someone named jessie *---

.#.\-.-.-. CULTURAL TEACHING

3-4:30

Carnegie T h e a t r e

i guess they don't l i k e j e s s i e much t h e n f o u r c h i n e s e women a r e pushing through a 1 1 t h e people who a r e s t a n d i n g s o t h e y can s a y h e l l o t o t h e i r f r i e n d s who a r e s i t t i n g near the b a d t h e y ' r e a l l happy it's and c a l l i n g o u t t o each o t h e r c h i n e s e new y e a r today and t h e n a r e a l l y o l d man climbs up t h e s t e p s and t h e bus d r i v e r t a k e s o f f t o o f a s t and t h e man f a l l s and c r a c k s h i s head h a r d h e ' s b l e e d i n g oh look a t a l l t h e blood and i h e a r t h e d r i v e r swear under h i s b r e a t h and h i t t h e brakes t h e guy i s h u r t maybe a f r a c t u r e i h e a r somebody s a y and a woman r u n s t o c a l l a n ambulance t h e n a b i g guy l o o k s l i k e a biker is hollering at the driver h e ' s r e a l l y mad and h e ' s t h r e a t e n i n g t o push h i s f a c e i n and t h e woman a c r o s s t h e a i s l e i s t l a k i n g t o h e r f r i e n d about how t h e y a r e goi n g t o r e p o r t him f o r t a k i n g o f f t o o f a s t and making t h e o l d guy f a l l i am u p s e t t o o i don't l i k e a l l t h a t blood h e r e comes t h e ambulance and t h e y t a k e t h e guy away we a l l have t o g e t o f f a t t h e n e x t s t o p and move t o a n o t h e r bus probably t h a t bus w i l l go t o t h e g a r a g e t o g e t t h e blood c l e a n e d up s o i g e t o f f i n f r o n t o f woodwards and s t o p t o watch t h e pigeons and a couple o f street people sucking on something t h a t ' s covered by a paper

SOCIAL HOUSING IN THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE DERA Housing Co-op, 638 Alexander St., Vancouver, B.C. Apply at DERA Housing Society, 9 E.Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C., Four Sisters Housing Co-op, 153 Powell St., Vancouver, B.C., Apply at DERA Housing Society; Same as above.

Ph.669-5499

Ph: 662-8574

Mavis/~c~illan Place, 436 E.Cordova St., Vancouver, B.C. Apply at Downtown Eastside women's Centre, 44 E.Cordova St., Van. ** Only women but men allowed with spouse.

Ph: 681-8480

Bill Hennesey Place, 370 Jackson St., Vancouver, B.C. Apply at First United Church Housing Society, 501 E.Hastings, Vancouver, B.C. Phone: 253-2838 Jenny Pentland Place, 520 E.Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. Apply at First United Church Housing Society; Same as above. Rose Garden Co-op, 853 E.Pender St., Vancouver, B.C., Apply at this same address.

Ph: 253-5342

McLean Park, 705 Jackson and 350 Keefer St., Vancouver, B.C. Contact B.C. Housing, /I1701 - 4330 Kingsway, Burnaby, B.C.

Ph: 433-1711

Ray-Mur , cdnpbell and Hastings St., Vancouver, B C. Contact B.C. Housing, Same as above.

"CELEBRATION IS CRAZY: THE CRAZINESS OF NOT SUBlITTIfJG EVEN MOUGH ''THE', 'TIE OTHERS", THE ONES WHO M LIFE IMPOSSIBLE. SEEM TO HAVE ALL THE POWER, CELEBRATION IS THE BEGINNING OF CONFIDENCE, T t fREFORE OF POWER, MTE., W !E P W OUR LIVES JOY BY LOVING, BY SHARIPK;, THEN If , WE CAN BE llf ARTISANS OF A JOY *

BY,

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~ R T O N , MONK,