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ca rnnews@vcn.bc.ca ~.carnnews.org
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Why was the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre closed for two days? On March 30 th two weeks notice [exact text following] was given to the board of directors of a special meeting of the DEWC: to pass a resolution to remove said board ofdirectors. Special Meeting ofthe Members ofthe Downtown Eastside Women's Centre Association Tuesday, April 13, 2004, 5pm-7pm At the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre. 302 Columbia Street, Vancouver, B.C.
A Special Resolution to be proposed and voted on by the membership Whereas, we the members ofthe Downtown Eastside Women's Centre Association, voted the current Board Members into their respective positions with the expectation and confidence that they would represent the interests ofthe Society and Membership in a responsible, consultative, and responsive manner; but instead * programs and services have been drastically reduced or eliminated such as evening groups, camping trips, weekly outings, laundry, showers, tobacco without any communication or consultation; * funding for a long term, full-time position was lost; * there where no Christmas presents or Christmas hampers for the first time for women this year; * a decision by the current Board of Directors was made to sell the IS-passenger van which was a gift to the women; * a BC Hydro notice to disconnect was posted on the front door ofthe Women's Centre but no communication was ever forthcoming to the membership; * the volunteer program has been reduced and detrimental rules put in place without any consultation; and Whereas, the Board of Directors has received communication notifying them ofthe members' dissatisfaction and they have failed to consult or communicate with the membership in an attempt to rectify the concerns; Therefore, be it resolved that the entire Board of Directors be removed from their respective positions (Sasha) Leah Fink, Edna Nyce, Marlene Gervais, Anita Opoonechaw, Cindy Zhang-Yurong, Joan Morelli, Eunice McMillan
An Ordinary Resolution to be proposed and voted on by the Membership Whereas, the following list of women have experience living and/or working in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and are committed to ensuring women of the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre receive programs and services that reflect the mission ofthe Society and that their needs and wishes are considered and respected wherever possible; and Whereas, the following list of women have come forward with the desire to work together to rebuild the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre where it will be respectful and responsive to the women of the community and where programs and services can be brought back; Therefore, be it resolved that the following list of women replace the current board of directors immediately and hold office until the next Annual General Meeting to be held no later than June 30/04. Mable Nipshank Julia Marks Marlene Trick Marg Scott Carol Rosset Debbie Ramage Anne Carlson Debbie Miller Eunice McMillan Joan Morelli Amy Many Guns Suze Kilgour This Special Meeting is being called by Joan Morelli and Eunice McMillan and is in accordance with the By-Laws ofthe Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, which states under Article 111(4) The Board ofDirectors or any two members ofthe Board ofDirectors, or ten per cent ofthe membership, but in no case less than three members ofthe society may call a special meeting ofthe society for any purpose.
(Signed) Eunice McMillan, Board Member-
Joan Morelli, Board Member
On Tuesday April 13, 2004, the membership of the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Special Resolution. That (Sasha) Leah Fink. Edna Nyce, Marlene Gervais, Anita Opoonechaw, Cindy Zhang- Yurong, Joan Morelli and Eunice McMillan be removed from the board of directors because they could not answer many critical questions from the membership about service cuts and funding losses - NOT DUE TO LIBERAL CUTS·- at the Women's Centre.
Why did we do this? Because of serious financial and programming concerns that have been brought to the attention of the current Board of Directors, but who have consistently ignored our request for investigation. Over the past two years, the operations ofthe Women's Centre have gone down hill. A few ofthe "Red Flags" that have come to light: • Legal Advocacy position lost as a result of failure to provide standard reporting requirements for over 9 months. • Members no longer having access to Board minutes • The Administrator and Bookkeeper position left vacant for nearly a year • Evening Groups have been reduced from 7 per week to 1 per week. Many other services decreased while government funding to the Women's Centre has not. • No more weekly outings, No more camping trips for women or volunteers • The Board made a decision to sell the Women's Centre Van - a donation to the women ofthe community • No more bus tickets to attend medical, welfare, MCFD, RTA appointments • Hydro disconnection notice posted on the front door • 2001 surplus of$191,000 reduced to a deficit of $50,000 by 2003 • Coffee available for only 4 hours per day • Showers, Laundry, services regularly cancelled. • Creditors showing up asking for seriously overdue payments A vote was also held to elect an interim board [ordinary resolution] to help with the operation ofthe Centre BUT, due to a technicality about which set of bylaws of the Society are current, that vote doesn't count. THE CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS CLOSED THE CENTRE FOR 2 Y2 DAYS, DEPRIVING COMMUNITY WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF A SAFE PLACE, FOOD AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES!!! The women who came forward to act as the interim board attempted to get the centre operations restored as quickly as possible. The people of the downtown eastside community signed a petition, with over 1500 signatures gathered over these two days, to demand that the board of directors and the executive open the women's centre immediately and that an AGM be held as soon as possible, preferably before May 30, 2004.
Women of the Downtown Eastside deserve better!!! Keep making your voices heard!!! Through the course of this lockout ofthe membership, a number ofthings happened to the women who were sitting outside the DEWC protesting the closure and asking the current board to resign. To demonstrate what the women ofthis community have been enduring from the centre management and the board of directors, following. is the unaltered document issued by the DEWC board of directors on Thursday April 15th to women outside the women's centre::
Welcome Backlll DEWC re-opens tomorrow, April 16, at noon, and ordinary programming resumes then. However we cannot reopen the DEWC if there are people clustered around the door. It is not safe for members or for staff. In order to be able to use the centre you must leave today before 5:00. Anyone who is still outside by 5:00 will be given a three month suspension from the centre. And if anyone congregates outside the Centre after the Centre re-opens, she will be given a 3 month suspension.
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To ensure the safe and orderly operation of the Centre, we will be making some guidelines for the Ceotre's operation. If you have any questions, someone will be on hand tomorrow to answer them.
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Downtown Eastside Women's Centre Board of Directors
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Women of this community and members of the DEWC did not leave as directed at 5:00 PM. At 6:40 PM Barbara FiHtflay Q.C., lawyer for DEWC and Karyn Atlin, Executive Director, came out ofthe women's centre. Barbara Findlay began taking photos of the women who were still gathered outside of the women's centre on the sidewalk while Karyn Atlin handed out letters to women, on DEWC letterhead, which read (unaltered):
April 15, 2004
Suspension notice You are hereby notified that you are suspended from coming into the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre effective from today till July 15, 2004, because you did not disperse from the doorway of the Centre on April 15, 2004 by 5:00 p.m. If you wish to address this suspension please send a letter to the Board of Directors at the Centre. Until then, your name and photo will be on a list at the door and you will not be permitted in the Centre. Signed Karyn Atlin For DEWC Board Through the course of this melee women were trying to cover their faces with their jackets and whatever they could use to hide their identities for fear they would not be able to use the services ofthe DEWC. Many women fled the scene crying and those that were left were adamant that this abusive and terrorizing treatment of women should not be allowed to continue. When we met with our lawyer our position was that we were willing to recognize them as the board and that they should open the women's centre doors immediately, and that there should be no repercussions against any woman or staff member that participated in the illegal lockout. The doors remained closed. The women ofthe community continue to have organized meetings within the DTES to strategize and regroup to use the Societies Act to oust the board. On Friday at noon the Centre re-opened with a security guard hired to welcome the women back into the centre. Women and children in this community have been impacted by the 2 Y2 day centre closure in the following ways: - No access to a safe drop-in space - No access to food, clothing, showers, telephone - Missed appointments with social workers to see children in care - Access to mail was denied (GST cheques) - No access to files advocates were working on with women - Other agencies could not contact advocates working with women The Mission Statement ofthe Downtown Eastside Women's Centre states:
"Our missionis to providefor basic needs and worktowardpositive changefor women and children in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. "
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• As of Friday April 16, 2004 the DEWC Board of Directors suspended, with pay, three staff members: One Mental Health Advocate, the Stopping the Violence Counsellor and the HlV/AIDS outreach worker. How is this providing services to women? Is this the reasonable act ofa responsible board? Is this the treatment women of the dtes deserve? I think not! None ofthese actions would have been necessary ifthe DEWC board of directors were acting in accordance ofthe DEWC Constitution & By-Laws and statutes of the Societies act in carrying out their responsibilities and duties to women ofthe dtes. If this is the mission of the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, then as a board of directors do the right thing for woinen in this community: RESIGN NOW. Please support the efforts of women in this community by signing petitions, attending information meetings, becoming a member ofthe DEWC, and attending the upcoming special meeting called for the purpose of removing the board of directors, writing DEWC board of directors to let them know that as an organization you do not co done the threats to women in this community for standing up. In Sisterhood,
Edna Brass
Sit-In at the DTES Women's Centre
ONE HUNDRED & TEN PERCENT 44 Water Street New works by graduating students from Emily Carr Institute April 30 - May 18 2004 Daily from noon - 6 pm
The purpose of this article is not to deal with the issues that led to this line of action, but to show that we can affect changes in our lives. Women in this area have been for too long victims of men, the welfare system, the police, courts and society in general. What happened between April 12 and 16 shows that we have the power within us to say "No more." Many of us have felt our spirit was dead, after so many years ofabuse and violence physical, social and sexual - like a plague affecting you for the rest of your life. We thought nothing could break the cycle but we did! We, as women, found a spark in our deepest self, and began to fan it into a sacred flame. Alone, we can only go so far in battling injustice, but together magic happens! For thousands ofyears our power has been crushed by a patriarchal mode that keeps us down (with the complicity of some "real" women). We underwent a metamorphosis. By sitting together, signing, drumming and creating a strategy ofaction, we proved to all - and to ourselves - that we can be heard and, in a totally nonviolent way, force the perpetrators to stop abusing and exploiting us for their own benefit. We have begun to win the greatest battle - against ourselves! Christiane Bordier 5 J
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basketball
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Everyone We/come Spring Season ends May 23 rd !!!
To Infinity and Beyond
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Love is stronger than death Because love can last forever Death and lift are but moments Struggling together Love goes on and on
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Love is stronger than death Lookingforward into the future Loving those to come Looking back into memories Loving those who've gone
Old Warrior Dedicated to my friend, elder John Thomas Old warrior, it shows on your face The years you gave to your peopleWanting them to help themselves. We know when we see your medals You fought for your people in the war Youjumped out of planes You packed a gun for your people.
Love is stronger than death Because love can remember And love can forgive Givingforgiven andforgiver Another chance to live
You learned the old ways- the songs - the ceremonies You carry the pipe . You teach your people the great law of peace. John Thomas, it is you who teaches us honour, respect, and comp?ssi~n We learn from you the way ofthe Medicine Whool- the Four Directions And Mother Earth. John, we learn from you that we must share the earth, the water, the fire. If they are dirty for you, they are dirty for me. Red, Black, Yellow, White. Colour means nothing. We are all equallythe creations of the Creator. All My Relations, Fred Arrance
Anger stops Hate stops Death stops Life stops Love goes on and on To infinity and beyond Leith Harris
I've learned that I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.
"4' Vancouver Public Library presents
Mary Barry Lady Drinks the Blues Mary Barry performs her one-woman stage show with puppets and music "Lady Drinks the Blues", which tackles the issue ofalcohol and musicians. Barry has studied voice, piano, puppetry, theatre and dance. Her music has been described as a gold mine of nuggets for collectors oforiginal jazz and blues.
Look everyone it's our friend, the Ho - up & down she goes into her hole ofsorrow and pain wave at the beautiful victim isn't she fun picking through the garbage bag of rags Look everyone is she dead? is she okay after her tweakfest? you can do her for as little as five dollars Look everyone her persecutors ofGod spitting fire and waving their fists for decadent purity and kapitalist rage isn't she popular, exploited in ways that would make any other human crawl under a rock and hide Look everyone once a Ho always a slut. How is she going to survive this? We all see her; we know. She's playing with her twinky-winky - isn't she a pervert! she's using again; watch her, she's a threat. Look, everyone's perception of her is distorted, twisted and bent out of shape. she's crying out for help while we laugh at her, riding the so-called beast Look everyone why does she smile and laugh and is preserved why is she full-blown demonized, running around darkened alleyways in search of the money rod, of those men in need of drainage, exploiting her because they can Look everyone we made her a movie star without a contract or her permission and intruded on her with authority figures who use prohibition - this so-called "war on drugs" - as an excuse for public floggings is she having fun yet? peek-a-boo! TinkerHell
Friday, April 30, 7:30 pm Carnegie's Theatre. Admission is {reel PLEASE be on time!! Artist has requested that no one be admitted once the performance has begun.
Sorry don' t cut it this time, fool Sometimes my mouth should be sown shut and my hands tied so there's no possible way I could say or convey some stupid thing This morning I could cut off my tongue for saying something downright offensive to the loveliest person I know, stupid me not realizing how stupid the words were not realizing the words weren't a joke but a slur a slap an insult Once you've said something derisive even ifyou, in all your ignorance, think it's funny in an off-hand way, you can't take it back you have revealed to the whole world what a jackass you really are No amount ofapology can change what you said The only thing left to do is shut up and go home beating yourself up about it doesn't change the fact you're an asshole and the whole world knows especially the one person you wanted so badly to care a little for you. Are you happy now? Bum down the house & cry about where to sleep. fools belong alone so the contamination stops somewhere
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At the first annual Downtown Eastside Volunteer Recognition Awards, Carnegie's Volunteer-o.f-theYear - GERALD WELLS -, gave the following address to the invited audience Good Evening ladies, gentlemen•••• honored guests. I am indeed honored to be here to represent Carnegie Community Centre as the Volunteer of the Year. This is not a position to be strived for with a deadline in mind. It is awarded because the results of your labors have been summed up by your peers and they wish to say thank you. I live in the downtown eastside of Vancouver in a low rental unit (designed and built by local residents) and have spent a good deal of time volunteering at the Carnegie community centre. Here I have met, mingled with and worked with many unfortunate persons, many of whom are like sleeping giants in terms oftheir abilities. I have the privilege to interact with a tireless board of directors three years in succession, as well as working in various departments throughout the building. Our clientele poses quite a challenge because they are such diverse cross-sections in the evolution of political correctness. Our task is complicated by such things as substance abuse and the very fine lines that make it tolerated ..or not. Aside from these complications, or maybe even because of them, many people have used Carnegie as a resting place away from the hussle and bussle of life and its realities.(not that we are isolated but rather that we are a welcome oasis) Here they are in transition, honing their tools or improving their skills in order that they may return to the flow of society. It is a real treat when you have inadvertently pointed someone in the right direction and they return especially to say thank you.
Carnegie (as we like to call our centre) has come to earn the fond nick name "the living room ofthe downtown eastside" - this with the collaboration of both staffand volunteers. I like to think that nobody need feel inhibited or intimidated by another human being ... but that is perfection and we haven't quite achieved that. .. at least not yet. although, lately, together we've come through a year full of mega projects to celebrate the hundredth anniversary ofour grand building. Who knows what we may accomplish in future?! These are but a few highlights into the Carnegie centre, of which I am proud to be a part. Thank you for your time and kind attention.
Strangers at GaUery Gachet It is a pleasure to invite you to celebrate the opening of"Strangers". our latest show at Gallery Cachet. As the title suggests, the exhibition ofsculpture, painting and giclees explores, observes and renders the strangers among us. It's been an honour to work with Youngsin Lee and Kelsey Webb; both oftheir artworks are insightful narratives of the human condition. My own work does not so much identify with the stranger but rather documents the outsider and questions our perceptions of who they are. "Strangers" is a common role with which we can all identify and it is intended to spark discussion perhaps with a friend you haven't even met yet. As the three of us have experienced, the simple act of participating is exactly what helps to make that which is strange familiar. So don't be a stranger!
Friday May 7th, at 7:00 pm, 88 E.Cordova Shelley Lavell, Curator and Artist I had minutes with a cello one day, sistah boy, what a time time with a cello, sistah, is like marmalade in heav'n zing stringed the winged dreams in our magenta clouds over thea sistah in west vancouvah Isabella J. Mori [An impromptu 3-minute poem]
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9:45PM In the greenhouse room "under my thumb" is the radio's tune Felt a pleasant wind all around me A warm loving feeling what could it be Got me out my pen and paper Wrote this out some 10 minutes later
(for Mike Guy) carl macdonald
MIKE GUY I feel the main thing to remember is the way Mike touched all our Hearts and our lives. I have seen Mike "talk" -not walk -people that were not welcome for one reason or another or were barred at the Carnegie. He would explain why they were not allowed in the building. One was outside before one knew they were out. The man knew how to treat people without hurting them. As i write this my cat is being extra sucky. The same as when I dreamed of Mike and found out the next day he died. It is weird but both my cat and I knew something was wrong. In the afternoon of Good Friday I was finally aware of Mike's passing and went to toast him in the Savoy bar. As I sat there I had the urge to try the Pulltab machine. I put in 3 quarters -of course equals 75cents. I then put another quarter in the machine that should equal $1. The coins registered 50 cents. I thought maybe the machine was screwed up so I just put the rest of my coins in. I went to push my selection only to find one was already pushed even though I hadn't touched any buttons. When I opened the pull tab I had won $1.00. I believe that was Mike's way of saying to have a beer on him. Carl MacDonald carlrnacdonaid.tripod.com
No Disease Kills me the way some honky twits always figger that they're better than you just 'cause you're dirty you scare 'em, 'cause you look like the boogeyman self-proclaimed schizo neighbor puts on grumblin airs when my bottle-collecting buddie comes up for water lily-o-th-valley suburban spoil middle-class nancy boy gets all huffy puffy 'cause someone's clothes are soiled people doin' work offends the silly twit from Oshawa class judgement goin' on in Nancy's brain . I'm offended by people with Better Than Thou disease wrecks my whole day when they put on airs . takes just one word and out comes the condemnation yet if you were ever to be so unkind as to say '. "Hey Wacko Boy! how's it goin'?" he'd be sulking in his room sucking on a stellazine 'no one understands us white middle-class neurotics there is a conspiracy afoot for sure' iffor just once the high and mighty could see themselves thru the eyes of those they dare despise ... but that'll never happen, will it? I wish they could see the shit on their shoes before they go tromping everyone else's potato patch AI
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MOVE TO THE GROOVE
Friday, May 7,2004 7pm - 10pm Carnegie Theatre WORDS TO LIVE BY Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue. Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them. Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it. Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker. If you can't be kind, have the decency to be vague. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others. Never buy a car you can't push. Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you don't have a leg to stand on. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. The early worm gets eaten by the bird, so sleep late. When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane. Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live. You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person. Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened. We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors but they all have to learn to live in the same box. A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour. Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open. Have an awesome day, and know that someone has thought about you today....
Come out and have some fun with Cody and his unique blend of tunes and dance away the night.
Refreshments served to the thirsty
KARAOKE WITH Gerald!!! Friday, May 14, 2003 7pm - 10pm Carnegie Theatre Wanna exercise those pipes? Have your voice be heard? Come and join us with Darrell to show us Refreshments served to the brave willing souls. 'VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH' APRIL 2004) Maria Teixeira: Maria joined us ten years ago. She volunteers in the Learning Centre as Receptionist and helps out on many projects and events. Her diligence with setting up the weekly student/tutor meetings ensures that things run smoothly. Maria's established presence with us is highly valued; she is a vital part ofthe community. Audrey Hill: Audrey joined us this year and quickly endeared the community to her with her upbeat sunny personality. She donns her apron working her buns off in the kitchen helping out however she can....smiling and singing all the way. Thank you Audrey, for helping to keep the wheels turning. Thank you, your contribution and hard work is appreciated! Colleen
VOLUNTEER FOR THE HEALTH OF IT!!! Volunteer Committee Meeting Wednesday, May 19 th, 2004 Classroom II @ 2:00pm Volunteer Dinner an opportunity for the staff to serve you for a change! Wednesday, May 19
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Theatre @ 4:30pm
If you have 16 volunteer bours in this month, please pick up ticket from Kai or Colleen
Did you know that Volunteer work has health benefits? A study shows that people who volunteer have improvements in their own mental and physical health. (If you thinkl'mjoshin ya, look up the report by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist) Colleen
P.S. June is almost upon us, which means it is also time to gear up for our Cultus Lake Club Fed trip (J une 14-18). Start boning up on your laughatives, fishing, bingoing, crib, hiking now. I look forward to sharing this time with you all.
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PLEASE NOTE Volunteer meal tickets cannot be redeemed by staff, members or any other non-volunteer at the Carnegie Food Concession.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERAnON Effective: August r', 2003
Fanuja A documentary poem Fires are burning on the highway on the highway to Falluja trucks, oil tankers, tanks are burning Resistance fighters hold the roads Last night I was told of children children with their limbs blown off in the hell that is Falluja US soldiers circulating "leave now or be killed" they said Aid is desperately needed Blankets, bandages and dressings, plasma, drugs and medicines wheels to take the wounded out In a bus now, with Iraqis as a passenger I'm useful Speaking English helps at check-points manned by angry US troops On the way towards Falluja passers-by are giving food throw it through our open windows to hand out to the people there. Surprisingly our bus gets through We are in Falluja now at a doctor's makeshift clinic Red Crescent aid is far away. Another casual war-time crime: US air-strikes have destroyed Falluja's biggest hospital. A ten year old is being treated and a smaller child beside him hit by US sniper fire also hit was their grandmother when they tried to leave the town The lights dim out, a flashlight shines the operation carries on "It's no use" the doctor tells us, "these children are not going to live." Some said we're mad to come to Iraq Falluja? You must be insane! to risk that deadly sniper fire to pick up sick and injured people. But if we don't then no one will. The ambulance we have is damaged snipers shot at it four times no one dares to get the wounded
Arab speech makes bullets fly but English voices may get through We drive in a ferocious silence under our red crescent flag through this deadly no-man's-land We stop and I shout out: "Hello" "Is anybody there ?" I yell "We are a first-aid team," I shout "Can I get this wounded man?" "Yeah," a soldier gives permission Slowly with our hands held high we walk towards the wounded man as we lift him blood pours from a bullet hole drilled in his back through his blue-black football shirt less than twenty years ofage we take him back, but he is dead We wash the blood off from our hands and set off in the ambulance to the only hospital standing in Falluja now there are many patients trapped there leaving in our bus to Baghdad is their one and only hope Siren screaming, lights all fla.hing Somehow we get safely through and fill the ambulance with wounded returning safely to the clinic A doctor rushes out to meet me "A pregnant woman needs our help can you get her?" Offwe set Azzam drives; Ahmed directs him I am the passport US face A bullet hits the ambulance We stop at once, tum off the siren our blue light flashes overhead We can see US Marines Silhouettes among the shadows We lie low, and more shots come red lights whipping past the window close by my head; I start to sing What else can you do when shot at? A big bang and a jerk together means they hit one of our tires I am outraged: We're trying to save a woman who is giving birth there is no medical attention there is no electricity
MAY 15: Anti-War Con Building a Move Self-Oeterminat In Iraq, Afghanistan Haiti, and Indigenou in Canada
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MAY 29: March and r SELF¡DETERMII Sovereignty for Indigene in Canada!
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Falluja's in a deadly siege our ambulance is clearly marked and now you're shooting at us? How dare you do this crime, how dare you! Azzam shifts into reverse just as they burst another tire and with smell of burning rubber we scrape and clatter on the rims somehow safely round a comer and all the time the shots kept coming what could 1do? I kept on singing. We get back to the clinic safely in our ruined ambulance and somewhere out there in the darkness a woman's giving birth alone The ambulance is wrecked, besides my face at night is no protection. So we sit around and listen planes are overhead all night the thumping helicopters and the frantic thrash of bombing jets explosion follows each explosion as Falluja is destroyed Haggard doctors in the morning. Little sleep in this past week. We go again, Dave, Rana, me, We're in a pickup truck this time There's sick who need evacuation Marines are on the building tops shooting anything that moves Saad fetches a white flag and tells us "Don't be afraid, I've checked the road the Mujahedin will not fire at you" says this eleven-year old, our guard his AK-47 beside him almost equal's him in height his face obscured by his keffiyeh except his eyes, so brown and bright. We shout up to the soldiers, saying "Thirteen women and children live in the building underneath you some are sick and all lack water will you let us help them now?" "We're clearing houses" said a soldier "doing a weapons search, but soon there'll be air strikes in support you'd better get your work done quick." We go down the street before us
There's a white-clad man, face down, a small red stain spreads on his back. from the round that blew his heart out again, the flies have got there first there is no weapon in his hand. All at once, his sons come, crying, "He was unarmed, they scream, Unarmed!" He just went out the gate, they shot him. No one dared to come out since. He was unarmed, shot in the back. His little girls come whispering "Baba. Baba." Daddy, Daddy They'll never hear his voice again. The people pour out from the houses in hope that we can take them out But "men of fighting age can't leave" says a Marine. "What's fighting age?" "All under forty five," he says. It is appalling that these men will be trapped in a city which will soon be blasted and destroyed. Not all of them are fighters, few are armed. It's going to happen out ofsight far from the Media in Falluja safe, embedded with Marines The bus is going to leave and take the injured people to Baghdad, Rana says she'll stay and help. Dave and I don't hesitate: We tell them that we're staying too "and if we don't," we ask, "who will?" this has become our motto now. But Azzam says we have to go His contacts with armed groups are loose The wounded must go to Baghdad If we are kidnapped or shot dead it will cause problems, better that we just get on the bus and leave and come back with him later on. It hurts to climb aboard just when the doctor said: Evacuate more people from this hell. I hate the fact that medics who have skill can't ride a truck in safety, while I can, because I might look like the sniper's sister, but that's the way it is today and that's the way it was yesterday and I feel like a traitor leaving now.
Jassim IS scared. He constantly harangues Mohammed, tries to pull him from the driver's seat while we are moving. The woman with the gunshot wound is on the back seat and the man with the bums in front of her, being fanned with cardboard from an empty box, his intravenous drip swings from the rail along the ceiling of the bus. The heat must be unbearable for him. Saad comes up on the bus to wish us well He shakes Dave's hand and then shakes mine. I hold his hand in both of mine and say: "Dir balak," You take care, and know just how inane this sounds to this pre-teen Mujahedin with his Kalashnikov held in his other hand Our eyes meet and stay fixed, his full offire and fear. Why can't I take him far away? back where he can be like a child again? Why can't I find the one who put the rifle in the hands of this small boy and tell them what this does to a small child? The long road back is tense, as people make escape in anything, piled on the trailer of a tractor, long lines of cars, pick ups and buses ferry all these people to the doubtful safety of Baghdad, While meeting us and heading back towards Falluja, men who took their families out to safety and who now, return to fight or help evacuate those who remain. Now back in Baghdad we can watch the news by satellite which says the cease-fire in Falluja is still good and Bush is saying to the troops on Easter Sunday that he knows what we are doing in Iraq is right. Shooting unarmed men in the back outside their family home is right? Shooting grandmothers with white flags is right? Shooting at women and children who are fleeing their homes is right? Firing at ambulances is right?
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Well George, I now know just what it looks like when you brutalize a people so they've nothing left to lose. I know what it looks like to see an operation being done without an anesthetic, when the hospitals have been destroyed or hit by sniper fire and all Falluja is under siege and what any city needs is cut off I know what it looks like when tracer bullets pass close to my head, even though I'm in an ambulance. I know that what the USA now does in Iraq is not "right;" it is a crime and is a deep disgrace to all.
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David Morgan, Tuesday 13 April, Burnaby, Be.
Carnegie Community Centre and Vancouver Moving Theatre present
The Making of In the Heart of a City: The Downtown Eastside Community Play
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama Weal5' No Clothes. Is it just me, or is the Tibetan Dalai Lama a blithering idiot? Though lacking the lucre requisite for a coliseum style blessing of his eternal wisdom in person, I did watch his C.B.C. television interview. Through all of his forceful finger-wagging and befuddled attempts to articulate sensible sentences I caught the bit where he espoused the desirability of using violence and "limited war" (?!?) to further the interests of western style democracy. Now confusion or senility in a senior individual is nothing to be criticized, and the perpetual bloody rampage waged around the globe by "the west" is democratically sanctioned by the majority at the polls, (and cash registers.). Problems arise however when a leader responsible for representing the simple tenets of Buddhism to millions around the world uses the support of the faithful for political ends. Certainly, the ongoing genocide ofthe Tibetan people by the Chinese is a horrific tragedy. However, when the Dalai Lama sidles up to the likes of George "arm '0' Jesus" Bush in an appeal to the west for the preservation of Tibetan culture and spirituality, he is pleading for the restoration of his place in the world along side that ofanother colossal assholiness, the Pope. There is nothing in the teachings of the Buddha about placing an individual on a golden throne in a golden palace for all to worship like a goo, or a symbol ofspiritual perfection. The Buddha's teachings deal directly and pragmatically with the critical condition of human consciousness on a personal level. Simply extolling the virtues of compassion and kindness is like putting the cart before the horse because, unless an individual has effectively subjugated the ego, any heart-felt efforts to transcend our quotidian insanity will be discoloured and fleeting at best. It is not terribly esoteric or mystical. Buddhism is about taking practical, concrete steps to abandon our typical state of relentless psychic masturbation and completely embrace reality. Humanities' perfect ideals are then intrinsically realized. Ifmillions ofadmirers idealize the Dalai Lama it is incumbent upon him to be an idealist and stick to the plain truth. As long as he is twisting and turning in political play (while insisting he is not.), he has
strayed from fundamental Buddhism and is swindling his followers. I personally recommend a small booklet entitled "The Buddha's Discourse on the Four Arousings of Mindfulness", and suggest listening intently to the 20th century American composer John Cage's brilliant masterwork, 4'33" repeatedly until you know it completely by heart. Katphysh Berdawg
t "HELLO DALAI" The Dalai Lama's recent visit here received some nasty press, including an article in the last issue of the Carnegie Newsletter, criticizing his tour and visits with world leaders, such as George Bush. The question was raised, ifhe were the Real Thing, and not a "charlatan" would he need to do this? Later I noticed a headline in the mainstream press discrediting him as being "too Hollywood". It seems to me that the Dalai Lama, who is emblematic of the growing global peace movement, is being ridiculed in much the same way as Women's Liberation was 30 - 40 years ago as "man-hating bra-burners". I can't think of anyone who needs to receive a message from a spokesperson for world peace more than George Bush! I seriously doubt that the Dalai Lama jetted there for the free lunch, or to get his picture in the paper! And can you think of a place on this planet that needs the message of simplicity and sincerity more than HoIlywood? Who are we to know whether Jesus or Buddha or Mohammed would have used modern-day technology and the media to get their message out, ifthey had had it at their disposal? I was one ofa handful of Downtown Eastside faces among a crowd ofover a thousand, invited !o the UBC Roundtable Dialogue with the Dalal Lama,
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Desmond Tutu, Shirin Ebadi, Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi and Jo-Ann Archibald on April 20. It was called "Balancing Educating the Mind with Educating the Heart". The programme I was handed explained, "The intention of dialogue is to seek understanding of complex issues from diverse perspectives and multiple horizons of experience. For genuine dialogue to occur, participants are encouraged to suspend assumptions, and to view each other as peers in a spirit of inquiry and openness. To dialogue, we bring our uncertainty and a willingness to explore new perspectives. At the heart of dialogue is listening without resistance, to be present in the moment to the words spoken and to the spaces between the words." The Dalai Lama opened with the words, "Education alone creates many problems." He went on to say, "Essentially we are social animals. We can develop infinite altruism. We have created Faith; we have created Laws". He said that our main concern is humanity - "the human / world community. Each community must develop satisfaction at their own level" (language, culture, religion etc.) and once they have done that they are able to work for the human community. He cautioned us not to reverse our priorities and make our own personal Faith more important than humanity. "People who use the words 'me, mine and I' have a greater number of heart attacks." Desmond Tutu, an Anglican Archbishop, used his experience ofseeing photographs of human guinea pigs at the Nuremberg concentration camp to observe that "the doctors who did the experiments were 'smart'. People can be very clever and also quite evil." He told us that Nelson Mandela was an angry young man when he went to jail, that 27 years in jail taught him in the area ofthe heart, so that he was even able to invite his white jailer to his inauguration ceremony when he took office in South Africa. "When you dehumanize the other, you dehumanize yourself. You can only be free - together. In our African language we say 'a person is a person through other persons'. I would not know how to be a human being at all except I learned this from other human beings. We are made for a delicate network of relationships, of interdependence. We are meant to complement each other." He had the crowd laughing and cheering when he told us, "God is not a Christian. The glory of God is that God is mystery.
God allows us to misunderstand Her. God gives us the freedom to make mistakes, and God weeps when God sees what we do to each other." Jo-Ann Archibald of the Sto:lo Nation, works with elders and traditional wisdom to create the Aboriginal education programme at UBC. She said, "A circle is never-ending, there's always room for one more. We need a Higher Power to bring the heart and mind together." She got everyone on stage and in the audience to join hands, left hand palm up to receive, right hand palm down to give back. Shirin Ebadi, the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner said we need to find the points of commonality, for example the Sufi Whirling Dervishes dance with their hands in the same position, for the same reason. The speaker who resonated my own beliefs the strongest was the Rabbi, who began his words with a prayer for universality, Gaia consciousness and the healing of the planet. "They want to addict us with mind-deadening distractions. We have been habituated to find the easiest and most immediate answers." He calls on us all to celebrate our creativity daily, outrageously, to get even more weird as we journey into the unexpected, on a quest to create a blueprint for healing the planet. "We can no longer rely on an individual mind; the only way to get it together is together." He said the challenge we face is "like changing the tires while the car is running, and at a great speed." He encourages us to "relearn the technology of blessing, because we live in a world that, with the exception of the poets, doesn't have a vocabulary ofthe heart. Intuition, knowing is mute. We haven't developed a language for these experiences, a language for heart and for soul." His message was so empowering and positive, I couldn't help but smile at everyone around me; it was like we all knew. My initial defensiveness at being in a strange, moneyed environment - the Chan centre at UBC - and the abundance of men-in-suits - was balanced by the great numbers of men-in-reddresses. It was an experience I'll never forget. Now it probably wasn't the same for George Bush or Paul Martin. Maybe for them it was more like getting their picture taken at Disneyland with Mickey Mouse, who am I to say? Or maybe some of"it" rubbed off on them. And that age-old "it" is the message to love each other. Namaste Diane Wood Shalom
Johnny Whitebread Those who live by the syringe die from the syringe; put yourself behind the 8-ball and you'll get snookered every time your promising game ends in a scratch Johnny was always a high-roller or so he thought.. truth was he got rolled a lot when he was high the sharks would snicker to see him coming
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Always the big man, Mr.Wonderbread will die alone as the AIDS progresses who will call? 'Johnny Boy, Whazzup man?' no one will even recognize this bag of bones Johnny Whitebread everyone's pal no one sees im now the gurney pushes what's left of Mr. Big back to his room in the big building where some enter but few leave, none standing
"There's no shortage of people on the Downtown Eastside who would benefit from the study." About 4,000 addicts live in the 15-square-block Downtown Eastside. The area has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. A safe injection site for intravenous drug users opened in the area last year as part of the city's approach to addiction treatment. Mayor Larry Campbell said the heroin study dovetails well with the injection site and has the city's blessing. "The fear comes from lack of understanding and knowledge of what is taking place there," said Campbell, a former coroner and RCMP officer. The study also has the approval of the Vancouver Police Department. NAOMI estimates there are between 60,000 and 90,000 opiate-addicted people in Canada.
Johnny Whitebread who will remember you You were warned and warned, never did listen now the man from the morgue will be your very last good friend AI Loewen
FREE HEROIN CLINIC HAS HOME BUT MUST MEET STRINGENT SECURITY STANDARDSA clinic providing free heroin to Vancouver addicts will be recruiting 158 people for a study to see if prescribing the drug can improve their lives. Jim Boothroyd, project spokesman for the North American Opiate Medication Initiative, or NAOMI project, said Wednesday the clinic has an official site on the Downtown Eastside. but the project has a long way to go before the volunteers are recruited and the clinic opens its doors. City approval has been received, but the study still needs Health Canada's blessing. Government security standards must also be met. The trial is to determine if prescribed pharmaceutical grade heroin - in tandem with methadone treatment - is more effective than methadone alone in treating certain opiate-addicted people. A control group will be given the medically available hydromorphone, a medically available opioid. NAOMI hopes to run 12-month trials in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal with a total of 400 participants, beginning this fall. Participants will be recruited only from established Vancouver residents ..
Eastside wasteland drugs galore 1/2 price sale behind the drug store Train of thought got derailed Cops are trying to fill the jails Chili aroma from carnegie's kitchen Air biscuits flying food tastes bitchin' Outside weather means summer soon Fill the needle pass the spoon Don't matter ifyou o.d. Ambulance take you away for free same old story in eastside port $hitty hall is a pillar short carl macdonald
PRECIOUS PROMISES How "Able" are the Disabled? Thousands of British Columbians suffering from mental illness, alcoholism or drug addiction will soon be forced to draft "employment plans" in order to continue receiving welfare. Changes approved by cabinet, revealed Friday, will impose new regulations on a thousands of vulnerable provincial residents in what the government calls a continued effort to make income recipients more self-reliant. Although the government did not announce the changes, cabinet has agreed to a series of reforms which will affect nearly 20,000 residents. Under the new rules people who suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness or temporary medical conditions such as broken bones must draft and follow employment plans in order to collect welfare. They won't be forced into the workplace, but they must follow the individual plans. "As part oftheir employment plan, they could be working on their resume, developing contacts, networking on the telephone. These could be called employment-related obligations that they could be doing while they are recovering from their medical condition." Those people continue to be exempt from the two-year time limit on welfare. In addition, the government has changed the rules facing refugees, people who have no identification, and those who have no income but may own homes or vehicles. At present, those people receive income assistance that is known as hardship allowances.The government is now going to impose a three-month cutoff period on them. That means more than 5,800 British Columbians will be forced to sell their assets, produce identification, receive landed immigrant status, or face the prospect that their welfare may be cut off. At present, there is no cutoff period for those receiving hardship benefits. The changes come as hundreds of other welfare recipients are about to learn they have been cut off. Next Wednesday more than 300 British Columbians who have collected income assistance for two years won't be receiving their normal cheque. Coalition Against Welfare Cuts I
Do not again pretend to me You've given me your word Please remember that you did I bid you to recall, I plea I see no reason for this omission I felt we trusted one another At least I thought that this was so Is it too much to ask you to come clean to me? And now, I believe you've lied, it quite seems I'm also sure there have been so ma!ly other transgressions And you'll never say you're sorry, and you'll always keep me guessing. By Robyn
DayAfterDay The gray veil descends slowly like a tattered curtain frayed by curtailing winds of decided dissension, bodies march step, disarrayed yet at the same time cohesive in mind and spirit, go forward with hearts pounding, feet aflutter, wearing smiles of grim resolve, commitment and determination, their earthly lifelines torn asunder (but not forever) by despotic dimwitted higher-ups who have no conception whatsoever what it takes to keep the wolves away from our doors, or persistent greedy creditors at bay. They IIine the chewsstrips of pitted rock for stale, sodden sandwiches and maybe a Styrofoam bowl of rancid soup - if early, iflucky, a bag of moldy donuts are heaped, quite unceremoniously, upon you and you feel like a dirty snowball melting through fingers, like small change falling awkwardly to the ground, hitting like a shattered timepiece saying you need these long, lonely, solitary days. Robyn
News From
the Library
We celebrateAsian HeritageMonth in May and the library has purchaseda numberof Asian classics. Checkout display or comeand check the library shelves and discover many award winning authors in translation such as Kobe Abe, Haruki Murami, Ke zaburo Oe, Yukio Mishama,Yu Hua.Lu Tiancheg•• Among the New Titles received this week are:
Firestorm: The Summer BC Burned. This is a pictorial collection of the memorable fire which wreckedhavoc last year in BC. Short Pants to striped trousers: the life and times ora judge in Skid Road Vancouver, by Wallace Gilby Craig. This book may be of interestto those curious about the innerthoughts ofthe judiciary. Craig claims that "crime pays in Vancouver and is without punishment" His opinions may infuriate many but nonetheless intrigue the curious. Many press photosof local people and events are included.
The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene. For all the Science 101 students this book is a compulsiveread which brings us close to understanding how the universe works. Greene is a PulitzerPrize winnerand this work is now major new series on US Public Television (NOVA). Stephen Hawking: A life in Science by Michael White A life and timesof the modem genius whose name is a household word and whose famous work A Brief History ofTime is popular, it beingthe most purchased but least read bookof its time. Am I my Brothers Keeper?: A study of British Columbia's Labor & Oriental Problems by Agnes C Laut. An example of the shocking and repulsive bigotry that was published in British Columbiajust before the outbreakof the "Great War". At a time when we have been visited by the Dalai Lamaand other luminaries teachingus to follow the road of peace, compassionand the heart, it is worth revisiting the past to recognize the evils of racismand how quickly it can be rationalized in times oflabour unrest such as the present. The Heart is an Involuntary Muscle by Monique Proulx This Canadian best seller is on the selection for Canada Reads .Proulx asks someserious questions in this book. How do we connect as people? Does this bookanswer the questions? You be the judge.
Mary Annyour librarian
THE BURNABY MENTAL WEALTH ART SALE
May 21 st 1-5 pm 6112 Sussex Drive (1/2 block North ofMetro Town)
Looking for somewhere to show off your artistic talents and make some money? Do you know of artists in the mental health system that would like an opportunity to show &sell their work? IF SO PHONE 604 433 4829 FOR DETAILS
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For more injormatiolf)1jJhub'ilinail da"en_kitchen@novus-tele.net or see or www.redwaybc.ca i'.ddll' I iii" \
Vancourt'r Pu hI ic r.ihrary
Downtown Eastside/Strathcona Public Library Community Consultation Process The Vancouver Public Library is initiating a community consultation process to explore ways to enhance library services in the Downtown Eastside/Strathcona neighborhoods, and we need your input!
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Downtown EastsidelStrathcona Residents: A Series of Workshops consisting of roundtable discussions, interactive brainstorming sessions and the opportunity to fill out questionnaires will be held at ~'l/::f.:mv~ locations in your community in May. Some Topics for Explorations are:
What type of library services does the community need? What hours of service are needed? What kinds of services would you like to see and how should they be delivered? For example: ~
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What kinds of educational programs such as literacy skills or ESL would you like? Would you like to have access to more childrens' services like Storytimes and early childhood education programs? Would you like to see employment/training programs like job skills or resume and job search? What kinds of arts and cultural programs and services could be available to you? Would you like to see programs and services for seniors? What categories of books and other resources do you want? Would it be beneficial to have access to things like computers/Internet or public meeting rooms?
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What other ideas do you have? Posters advertising the time and place for the Workshops will be up soon! Come out and tell us about what you would like to see happen.
Community Oq:anizationsILocal Businesses: A Series of Roundtable Discussions will be created to brainstorm ideas on how various types of service can be delivered. Social enterprise models, employment/training initiatives, and arts/cultural programming are a just a few of the areas open for discussion. I
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DOWNTOWN NEEDLE EXCHANGE - 221 Main; 9:00am - 7pm every day EASTSIDE II NEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN - 3 Routes: YOUTH I, (' '-S~ City - 5:45pm - 11:45pm ACTIVITIES ·f '0 J):.f '4.. 604-685-6561 Overnight - 12:30am - 8:30am . .~ '-c SOCIETY "f'f!' q,,,, ! From tbe Publications Committee 49 W.Coniova '4",:,,~ (April 19, 2004) 604-251-3310 f!',.. .~ ~ ' \ Apology
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THE NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICAnON OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIAnON.
Articles represent the views of individual contributors and not of the Association.
Editor:PaulR Taylor; cover art & layout: Diane Wood
Submission Deadline for next issue:
2004 DONATIONS Libby 0.-$40 B.rry lor D.ve McC.-$SO Roll A.-$4S
M..... ret D.-S2S Wm 8-S20 M.ry C-S30 Bruce J.-S30 V'mlst. - $20 He.ther S.-S2S RayCam-S30 GnDl-SIOO Paddy -S30 Gte. B.-$SO Joll. s.-sao PeR.y G.-S21 Je••y K.-S20 Dan C.-S20 SaDdy C.$20 Audrey -S20 Wes K.-SSO JOiDDe H.-S20 Christopber R.-S2S
Tuesday, May 11
Contact Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA
Working for You
Tbe Edge COJDDlUDlty LI.lsoa Ctt -$200 Peter T.-S20 PG lor PB -S2S Anonymous-S2
Get your taxes done for Freel See Peter at DERA, 11 E.Hutina. Mon, Tues & Tbunday: lOam-4pm Friday lOam-3pm Closed Wed and daily for lunch 11-IDID.
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1078-1651 Commercial Dr, V5L3Y3 The Downtown Eastside Reslden.s AS~~CI~~~~r\i Pbone:775-0790 Fax: 775-0881 OERA helps with: Phone & Safe Mailboxes J1 ~ 1~1!I1J!~".".1PII. ~ Welfare p~blems; ~ Landlord d15pul..; J. ~ Housing problemds . v ~ . ~ Unsafe living con i 'Ions A. 12 East Hastings St. or phone 604-682-0931 . "t, \
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In the April lsiedition of the Carnegie Newsletter the editor published an e-mail exchangebetween ' himselfand Charles 'Carlos' Herbst. Mr. Herbst did not initiatethis exchangenor did he give his permission for his subsequentcorrespondence to be published in the Newsletter. For this, the Committee expresses its regrets to Mr. Herbst on behalfof the Association. In addition, the Association does not approveor supportsuggesting that individuals be recipients of unsolicited e-mails for any reason
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CELEBRATE MAY DAY IN THE EAST END WITH MAYWORKS Friday night Concert / Cabaret and Family Dance - April 30 7 pm $7 - $20 admission, at the Ukrainian Hall, with the Flying Folk Army, Hugo Rojas, The Gibran Theatre Group, poet Joanne Arnott, the Running Dog Lackeys and Mecca Normal WORKSHOPS - SATURDAY MAY 1 10 am - Art and Resistance @Wise Hall 10 am - Differing Positions Community Social Forum @ Dogwood Centre 12:30 - 12:30 -Universal Childcare Is A Woman's Right @ Wise Hall 12:30 - The War On Terror@ Dogwood Centre 1 pm - How To Incite the Masses: Public Speaking 10 1 @ Grandview Park 3 pm - South Asian Youth Alliance Film and Discussion @ Dogwood Centre 3 pm - Bus Riders' Union @ Wise Hall 3 pm - The Art of Class Struggle in Iran @ Wise Hall May Day MARCH and RALLY from the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza at 11 am to the Vancouver Art Gallery, music by UHF (Shari Ulrich, Bill Henderson & Roy Forbes) May Day In The Park Sat May 1, 2:00-4:00 pm Grandview park on Commercial Drive: Music, theatre, speakers, info tables, jugglers & more! Saturday Night All Ages Punk Show at the Cambrian Hall $6 - $10 admission SUNDAY WORKSHOPS 12:30 - Culture and Art in the Era of the Occupation of Iraq @ Skating Rink 12:30 - Using Public Libraries for Activist Research @ Dogwood Centre 3 pm - Political Art in Public Places @ Dogwood Centre 3 pm - Israeli Capitalism and Labour in Palestine @ Skating Rink The Art of Resistance - a working class art show, at the Purple Thistle Centre April 30 - May 2 For addresses and information, pick up a Mayworks brochure, or contact Mayworks at www.resist.ca mayworks@resist.ca phone (604) 255-2765
Mother's Day 2004 March & Rally Universal Childcare is a Woman's Right! Sunday, May 9,2004 11 am Rally at Victory Sq. (Cambie & Hastings) 12 - 3 pm March to Vancouver Art Gallery (Georgia Street) Program will include speakers, music, childr~n's activities & Lunch. Everyone Welcome: Brmg your strollers and pots and pans for noise makers Childcare is a fundamental social responsibility. It is an issue of social justice, human rights and women's equality. Currently Canada has no national daycare program. The regulated childcare system only has space for less than one in ~en ~hil足 dren. It is generally unaffordable for margmahzed, working class women. Childcare programs are.being hard hit by the neo-liberal agenda ofglobahzation. Existing program subsidies and wages for childcare workers are being cut to appease those who can afford it Canada maintains the Live-in Caregiver Program to bring Third World Women here as domestic workers. But it is not a solution to the growing childcare crisis. For more information, contact Grassroots Women at 604.682.4451 or grassrootswomen@telus.net
-:rhe Job Shop supports reside~ts of the DT"ES in their return to work. Participants develop and broa~C!l the skills they will need to get and keep ajob. Federally funded by HRDC, The Job Shop starts new participants every week. Program information sessions are held Tuesdays, at I p.m. Call 604-253-9355, Ext.238. Need A Chance To Prove You're Ready, Willing & Able To Work? ,......
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you deserve!
Find out what your next step needs to be. Call to attend the Job Shop Info session. 604-253-9355 Program funded bV HRDe
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Human Resources Developpement des Development canada ressources humaines Canada
WARDS vs. Class War
- It seemsthat little has an effecton the hacks in Victoria. -It seemsthat much is made of technology in the campaign to bring a Ward system to Vancouver. The simplestway to explain it is that the City is divided into areas/districts with various neighbourhoods/communities lumped together in what should be relativelyequal (the blank is for whateverpasses as a fair way to divide- by size, by population, by "special" criteria (remember one ~it who demanded special consideration from Council for some nonsense becauseshe and her peers were the "creme de la creme" of Vancouver?!)) City government was in the hands ofthe NPAwhich spawnedGordonCampbell and George Puil, to namea few -and membership consisted of almost exclusively wealthy and business owners who hailed from the West End, Shaughnessy and Point Grey. It was Gordo, in his moremodest time, who got all hot and squirmyabout making Vancouver into an "executive city" - where you could affordto live if you were on an executivesalary, I guess. No one thought to ask, but it's also a guess that people who do useful work would apparently commute in (hitchhike?) daily, from the hills, to perform said work as serfs to this newly establishedaristocracy. It was kind ofspacedout - apparently someblank let his imagination get the better of his sanity and Voila! - a complete redesign of downtown Vancouver with buildings gettingbiggerand higher the closer you get to water, view corridors being completelyblocked and suites or offices with a north or
west view goingto the highest bidders. It was a 2 or 3 page spread over 2-3 days and dismissed as "piein-the-sky" crud; the usual suspects from Gordon Campbell to Michael what's-his-name from the Fraser Institutemadethemselves laughingstocks by backingthis dream- but then Gordofired the senior city bureaucrat whosejob it was to look at such plans with an un-biasedeye. This personmadepublic statements sayingthat it was a nonsensical idea, given that 'no one except executives would be able to afford ; 'view corridors would be completely blocked ' 'those doingusefulwork... (no, the last one is my opinion) ... Wards! Seems that the NPA is workingovertime to stop a clear statement of public preference from getting to City Council for a vote. They are using email to jam a commission's addresswith negative messages and irrelevantstuff- a commission set up to get a pictureof what the majority of citizenswant If you are interested in registering your voteon whether Vancouver shouldor shouldnot have a Ward system, get to a computer, w\Vw.cooe.bc.ca and say what you want. If computers aren't your thing, call City Hall and ask the receptionist to connect you to the commission on Wards. Ify~u.want .to jam it to Gordon Campbell and others of hIS 11k, this is a good place to start. ByPAULR TAYLOR
I've learned that the less time I have towork with, the more things I get done.
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CELEBRATE MAYDAY AT THE CARNEGIE 5 pm - Carnegie Caribou Capers The Gala Opening of a photo exhibit documenting the Downtown Eastside Poets , the Mild Men, and other Carnegie role models at the CEEDS organic farm in the Caribou. Video, speaker from CEEDS and poets , in the third floor art gallery.
7 pm - Poetry Reading in the Theatre with the Downtown Eastside Poets. Free coffee and munchies. Open mike. Free Admis sion All welcome!
Sure, I remember the Cariboo I remember sittin' ' round campfires, brandin' calves, smokin' grass, stokin' fires, I remember singing "garbage garbage garbage" I remember sleeping in my own wooden cabin, gettin' a fright in th' middle of th' night. when I slipped out to pee, the bush was a shakin' and a rattlin', but it was just Sheila B. taking one too. I remember roadie Bob Sarti driving the van and hauling our asses all over BC, keeping our spirits up
with bad jokes and equally bad coffee. (Conspiracy or coincidence? Or maybe yajust had to be there ...) I remember other poets Dave Moondoggy, Tom, Taum, Bud, Cuba, Diane, Stephen, Jancis, Tora I remember readings under stars, Northern Lights, at parties, 'round kitchen tables. I remember taking it all home with me tucking it in the hopes stuck between the walls of my rooming house in Strathcona (with buddies who are junkies in the bathroom fights in the night and the murder of the guy who lived down the hall) I remember writing about CEEDs in the Carnegie Newsletter (thanks to Paul). I remember Rod, Jerry (his legacy), Diana. I remember the Hippy Manifesto, lambing. weeding, and gettin' my hands dirty. I remember the seeds of the dream. I remember sowing them into my own life cultivating them into our own farms harvesting the bounty In Scotland, the Kootenays, now Whitecourt Alberta I remember being on the lam from urban strife to stewarding the land, the greatest privilege I will ever know growing good food, keeping the birds well fed tilling the earth, working for the organic economy sustainability our very Future. I remember because I am still there. p.j. flaming