On November 1 7 t h Vancouver w i l l s e e i t s c i t i z e n s go t o t h e p o l l s , e l e c t i n g a new Mayor, t e n members of C i t y Council, seven commissioners t o form t h e Park Board and seven t r u s t e e s f o r t h e School Board. For t h e 8 o r t e n weeks p r i o r t o t h i s , r i g h t now, two opposing f o r c e s w i l l t r y t o convince v o t e r s t h a t t h e f u t u r e of our c i t y i s a t s t a k e . They I are right. When I sat down t o w r i t e t h i s , i t wasn't my i n t e n t i o n t o f e a t u r e Gord :ampbell. ~ e ' sgood a t l o o k i n g good - l i k e any s o c r e d - and i s a l r e a d y spending hundreds of thousands of i o l l a r s on TV a d s t i g h t l y e d i t e d t o nake him l o o k l i k e God warmed o v e r . Cf you watch almost any s t a t i o n , t h e 'roving camera" format a c t u a l l y t r i e s -: t o brainwash viewers i n t o thinking t h a t everyone t a l k e d t o sees :ampbell a s an 'okay guy who's been loing good s t u f f . ' They make d a m sure t h a t no i s s u e s a r e a i r e d , t h a t lothing about t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of ~ u b l i cp r o c e s s i s even h i n t e d a t . 'well," you s a y , " t h e y ' r e paying f o r he ads. What d'you e x p e c t ? " A s a r e s i d e n t of t h e s e h e r e p a r t s , expect honesty and open government nd d i s c l o s u r e of who i s a c t u a l l y aying f o r our n o t g e t t i n g i t . Seriously.
I n 1988, Campbell l i e d through h i s t e e t h when asked a t t h e Carnegie a l l c a n d i d a t e s meeting how much he had s p e n t on h i s campaign. H e s a i d , w i t h a smirk on h i s f a c e , "$300,000." The s a t u r a t i o n of TV a d s , b i l l b o a r d s , mailed propaganda, l e a f l e t s , ~arnphlets a f i n e example of high-tech ooze - c o s t w e l l over one m i l l i o n d o l l a r s . The s c r a p s of s e l e c t e d f a c t s t o g i v e t h e s l i c k image of a II concerned & committed s e r v a n t " a r e enough t o make your blood b o i l when you can t i c k o f f t h e h a l f - t r u t h s , e x a g g e r a t i o n s and o u t r i g h t l i e s i n each sample. The most i n s i d i o u s l i e (when t h e c r e d i b i l i t y of a n exaggeration s m e l l s l i k e s h i t it's a l i e ) . . t h a t Campbell s t i l l s p o u t s i s how open C i t y Council now is. campbell h a s been s t e a d i l y e r o d i n g t h e hard-won r i g h t of p u b l i c process. There i s now only a n i l l u s i o n of ac-
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cess. Council used co meet every Tuesday night. There were four standing committees. When a committee passed a motion, it would be about 10 days before it came to Council as a recommendation and the public had the right to appear on any issue, at Council, on TV, and make a case either for or against the recommendation. Campbell has reduced the number of scanding'committees to two; every member of council sits on each, one meets at 9:30 am and the other at 2:30 in the afternoon. There is no TV, maybe 2 radio reporters, anyone wanting to speak or appear as part of a delegation has to take time off work, chere are no microphones, seacing for maybe 30 in the Committee Room, and, as soon as this "committee-of-the-whole" has reached a decision, it resolves itself into Council
no public awareness excepL for what appears on the six o'clock news. Campbell has set himself up as the Chairman of the Board. Public for.ums are just information meetings 'where city staff or the Mayor just announce what is going to happen or has already happened. If Campbell figures he can gec political brownie points out of it, he'll allow a specific issue to come to a night session. If something will get flack or public outrage, it's dealt with at one of the 2 committees with the minimum of press. Examples of outrage at che backroom dealings and manipulation of Campbell and the NPA...has your rent gone up? Has the building you or a friend were in been demolished KO make way for a few luxury condominiums? Do all the homeless people and families in one hotel room and communities concern you. The NPA has shown its "concern" with refusing to have a moratorium on senseless demolitions, with a back-
and 5 seconds later the recommendation of the "committee" is passed by I I council". No second thoughts, no further research, no new developments
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Call for Submissions
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TRAUMA/SURVIVAL
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Deadhe. January 15 1991
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Trauma means ordeal, disaster, loss, collapse; its causes ranging from illness, plant closures, separation, rape, and death to war, genocide, and the breakdown of the planet's Ilfe-support systems. Grief and chaos follow in its wake, yet most mdividuals and many communities learn to survive, adapt, even flourish.
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TRAUMAISURVIVAL will be a group exhibitlon encompassmg all medla. The curator, AVISLang (managing editor of Heresies: A Femlnisl Publ~cat~on on Art and P o l ~ k s ) , wishes to Include performance, video, and film as well as work appropriate to a gallery setting The exhibitlon IS open to British Columbia women artists and is planned for the fall of 199 1 Please send a maxlnium of 25 sl~des/photographsor 2 videotapes, plus statements, proposals, outlines of work In progress, resume, SASE etc Detailed gu~dellnesava~lableon request
849 Beatty Street
WOMEN IN FOCUS Vancouver
V6B 2M6
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682-5848 1,
room d e a l w i t h Campbell's f r i e n d J a c k *Poole and t h e Vancouver Land Commiss- ".r q i o n f o r "aâ&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;&#x2122;f o r d a b l e housing" which h a s r e s u l t e d i n Poole promising t h e l o w e s t r e n t s ( f o r a 1-bedroom) a t $800 a month. 4 The P o o l e d e a l was announced t o t h e p r e s s and COPE members of Council ( a t t h e same time. J o n a t h a n Baker, a n NPA Alderman, was o u t r a g e d . H i s own p a r t y was s o o u t - o f - l i n e t h a t he con) s u l t e d l a w y e r s t o s e e i f i t could be I) proved t h a t i t was i l l e g-a l . What's ( l e g a l and w h a t ' s r i g h t a r e n ' t t h e same t h i n g . The f i r e b o a t was s o l d f o r $140,000. " ~ u d g e ," t was Campbell' s reason. L a s t week t h e media found o u t t h a t he had been working f o r 9 months t o g e t t h e C i t y t o pay f o r 4 more f i r e b o a t s . No ) ( one knew and t h e C i t y ' s money i s used t o make t h i s a n e l e c t i o n t r e a t . On t h e '88 b a l l o t s , t h e r e w a s a q u e s t i o n : "Do you want a review i n your neighbourhood on Secondary ) S u i t e s ? " It d i d n ' t m a t t e r what your answer was, you g o t a 11review" any) ( way. Then t h e "review" c o n s i s t e d of b e i n g g i v e n 2 o p t i o n s : A) l e a v e them a l o n e ; and B) s h u t them down. I n eve r y community people were r e a l l y ang r y . " ~ h yo n l y 2 o p t i o n s ; who a r e D you t o come i n h e r e and d e c i d e ; why no l o c a l p l a n n i n g . . I' There was s o ) ( much p u b l i c h e a t o v e r t h i s t h a t i t ' s FELICIDACIONES KIM! caused C a r o l e T a y l o r n o t t o r u n a g a i n ) ( and i s n o t b e i n g mentioned i n any NPA K i m Bolan, a d j u n c c p r o f e s s o r of p o l i c y P a p e r s . A s soon a s t h e e l e c C h i l i cookery a t Carnegie Centre, and ) ( t i o n i s o v e r , i f t h e NPA h a s t h e maja long-time j o u r n a l i s t i c f r i e n d of o r i t y t h e y w i l l do what t h e i r devet h e Downtown E a s t s i d e , h a s some happy l o p e r b o s s e s o r d e r e d i n 1988 - c l o s e news - a new s o n , Liam E r n e s t o d e a l l secondary s u i t e s and f o r c e t h e D a s t i l l o Bolan, born Occober 7th. owners t o s e l l o r l o s e t h e p r o p e r r y . Mocher and son a r e d o i n g f i n e . K e r r i s d a l e r e s i d e n t s had had enough ~ o n ' tt h i n k c h i s new development i s going co slow t h a c human dynamo down, of t h e s e C i t y - a s s i s t e d d e v e l o p e r scams though K i m & ~i~~ plan to l e a v e a f t e r ) ( and h i r e d t h e i r own p l a n n e r , a r c h i t e c t s and o t h e r p r o f e s s i o n a l s and deNew Y e a r t s f o r Central h e r i c a . K i m D ( manded that a B~-Law be passed d e s i g up a News S e r v i c e S O willbe n a t i n g t h e i r neighbourhood as "Prepeople in North herica willreally ( s e r v e Area Number 1. " know w h a t ' s going on down t h e r e .
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y ~ h pee o p l e were powerful enough t o make t h e NPA nervous. They had t h e wherewithal t o h i r e a l l t h e s e p e o p l e and i t was K e r r i s d a l e . When low-inFome p e o p l e were v i c t i m i z e d by demol i t . i o n s , che NPA p l e a d e d h e l p l e s s n e s s ( p r a c t i c e d b e i n g s c u p i d ) and a r e v e r y q u i e c when t h e new condo tower i n place of s c o r e s of a f f o r d a b l e s u i t e s o f f e r s 11 s u i t e s - f o r $800,000 each. Monster houses a r e a n o t h e r b l a c k mark..the NPA r e f u s e s t o do a n y t h i n g t o discourage people, e s p e c i a l l y r i c h p e o p l e , from h e l p i n g t h e i r v i s i o n of an " e x e c u t i v e c i t y . I' This is long, but t h e d i f f e r e n c e between what Campbell and t h e NPA s a y s and what t h e y do would f i l l a book. I t could b e e n t i t l e d C a l c u l a t e d Hypocrisy; b u t we'd t i t l e i t SHIT SMELLS & YOU STINK.
The f u t u r e o f Vancouver i s up t o u s . With h o u s i n g t h e c r u c i a l i s s u e , t h e b e s t c a n d i d a t e i n Vancouver f o r changing his c i t y i n t o a "People F i r s t " one i s J I M GREEN. J i m h a s been working f o r 10 y e a r s on e v e r y a s p e c t of h o u s i n g , from f o r c i n g slum l a n d l o r d s l i k e Ralph C a r a v e t t a t o c l e a n up t h e i r b u i l d i n g s t o g e t t i n g a l l k i n d s of government h e l p co make s o c i a l h o u s i n g a r e a l i c y . DERA has f i v e housing p r o j e c t s f i n i s h e d and i s working on a s i x t h . Imagine what i n c r e d i b l e changes c o u l d be b r o u g h t a b o u t w i t h J i m as Mayor and a progressive C i t y Council. I f you h a v e n ' t r e g i s t e r e d y e t , do i t . I f you a r e n ' t r e g i s t e r e d , you c a n ' t v o t e even i f you want t o . If you d o n ' t v o t e t h e n e v e r y t h i n g must b e okay and y o u ' r e happy t o l i v e under a b r i d g e ? I f Campbell and t h e NPA g e t a n o t h e r term i n o f f i c e ( f o r t h r e e y e a r s t h i s time) almost every low-cost o r even s e m i - a f f o r d a b l e room i n t h e c i t y w i l l b e gone i n a m a t t e r o f months. I t ' s n o t enough t o j u s t f i g h t t o h o l d t h e s e r a p a c i o u s expl o i t e r s a t bay, we have t o go i n a new d i r e c t i o n - a community d i r e c t i o n . By PAULR
TAYLOR
Downtown Eastside can be proud Edicor , I n a September 2 6 t h l e t t e r MargareE P r e v o s t s t r e s s e d c h a t t h e news media t o o o f t e n r e f e r s t o t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e a s "Skid Row", r a t h e r t h a n t h e s t r o n g community i t r e a l l y is. I t h i n k r e q u i r e d r e a d i n g f o r e v e r y r e p o r t e r c o v e r i n g a Downtown E a s t s i d e b e a t , and any o t h e r i n t e r e s t e d p e r s o n , s h o u l d r e a d t h e book p u b l i s h e d a c o u p l e o f y e a r s ago by
New S t a r Books c a l l e d H a s t i n g s & Main. I n t h e book, e d i t e d by J. Canningdew, o v e r twenty Downtown E a s t s i d e r e s i d e n t s s h a r e t h e i r p a s t and t h e i r r e a s o n s f o r c a l l i n g h t e a r e a around C a r n e g i e C e n t r e "home." Margaret P r e v o s t was r i g h t on w i t h h e r comments a b o u t Main and H a s t i n g s b e i n g a r e a l community t o b e proud o f . D a r r e n Lowe
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Editor,
Following che recenc news it is obvious that the aboriginal problem became a real national eragedy and our country is on the brink of a fundamental change. In my opinion the different media informations and commencs do not deal with che most important question..namely to analyse the real Editor, cause which forces the native people I was quite surprised to see that to such actions. For them it is a the Socreds are running ads urging must to defend their land, their culeveryone to write to che Senate and ture and their spirit against the tell them to "say No to the GST." whice man's destructive development A friend of mine recently received megalomania. The recent violent aca letter from Finance Minister Me1 tions started because of a stupid Couvelier telling him chac the progolf-course developmenc project in vincial government had yet to decide the Mohawk's sacred burial land. whether co treat the new federal # Violence will never scop until sales tax credits under the GST as forests will be destroyed by logging, income in calculating social assistland and waters will be polluted by ance benefits for citizens receiving excessive mining or other industries. welfare or seniors' supplements. It is unfortunate that even some I find it incredible that the Soc- # native leaders and spokespeople use reds would look for voters by spenda false rhecoric by considering this ing our money on newspaper ads when crisis as a racial struggle and comthey don't even have the decency to paring their effort wich Quebec's say whether or not they are going to self-determination. Quebec's strugpenalize people on welfare under the gle is rather racial and macerialisGST. tically motivated; the native's strThe Grinch and Scrooge Tax (GST) uggle is deeply spiritual. Our buscould cercainly become the Good Sociness-minded political leaders will # red Tax (GST) for many lower income never understand this fact. Bricish Columbians. \ ' In order to save our Canada, we Y must admit the spiritual superiority Herman Litsky of the aboriginal people. We should i@learn from them and imitate their way of life so we will have a beccer chance to avoid the environmental
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As f o r chem who a r e concerned about some economic impacc, I should menc i o n c h a ~a l l t h e b i g i m p e r i a l i s c powers a r e running i n b a n k r u p ~ c ybec a u s e of c h e i r m i l i t a r y build-ups and t h e i r s t u p i d war-games. Furthermore, a t o t a l economic d i s a s c e r i s i n e v i c a b l e wich che c o n t i n u i n g d e g r a d a t i o n of l i f e ' s q u a l i c y and coday's c r a g i c h e a l t h problem. I n c h i s perspective che economic impacc caused by t h e coca1 independence of t h e n a t i v e p e o p l e i s v e r y secondary. .. .
Ecienne Szekely Rossland , B. C. Box 1198 VOG 1YO
Attacks on premier just 'nit-picking' :
I'm sickened by the nit-picking reports
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- and attacks on the personal goings-on of :our premier.
What is of utmost importance is our economy, which is healthy and i i provides us excellent health care, i educational facilities and social services. i Thanks to good government policies, we continue to enjoy these services without constantly digging deeper into our pockets. On the other hand, Brian Mulroney, whose private lifeappears unblemished, is taking Canada down a dangerous economic road. He is wliticalfy unethical and doesn't really give a' damn about you and me.
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Madelehe Hulchlnsor -' ~ e a c hi n a ~rn-
l o o k i n g f o r food c o l d and t i r e d h e climbed i n t o a smithrite & f e l l asleep. The s m i t h r i t e & i c s content w a s h i s company i n death.
A man w a s found dead, mangled. H e was i n a S m i ~ h r i c e . The s m i t h r i t e was picked up and i t s . c o n t e n t s squashed. When chey unloaded i t h i s broken body was d i s c o v e r e d . Many homeless p e o p l e l i v e o f f of s t u f f from s m i c h r i t e s - garbage. C o l l e c t o r s s h o u l d check e v e r y l o a d . Life is valuable. I ' m s u r e t h i s i s n ' c che o n l y p e r s o n who h a s d i e d t h i s way. Once t h e y a r e crushed and i n c i n e r a t e d , t h e r e ' s no e v i d e n c e . Winters are c o l d , i c r a i n s and p e o p l e cake s h e l c e r i n s m i c h r i c e s . L e t ' s h o l d che g a r b a g e c o l l e c t o r s r e s p o n s i b l e . Humans are n o t garbage. By SHEILA BAXTER
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WRITERS' 1990 POETRY CONTEST Sponsors: Hope Writers' Guild
B.C.
To S h e i l a B a x t e r , I ' d l i k e t o a p o l o g i z e f o r my extreme l y a g g r e s s i v e a s s a u l t a g a i n s t you a t t h e CCCA Board Meeting. I t was j u s t s o s t u p i d of me t o be s o h a r s h a t a p u b l i c meeting and s i n g l e one p e r s o n o u t . A t f i r s t I wanted more "informa t i v e " o p i n i o n s from you i n t h e ELP Newsletter. Donald M. set me s t r a i g h t a f t e r w a r d s and Muggs s u g g e s t e d t h a t we s t i c k t o g e t h e r t o f i g h t t h e i s s u e s and I agree. I f o c u s t o o much on c r i t i z i n g and n o t enough on working t o g e t h e r . J I ' m s o r r y f o r any o f f e n s e caused t o , you and t o ELP. I ' m g r a c e f u l t h a t an o r g a n i z a t i o n l i k e ELP i s o u t t h e r e . . d o i n g something. Those o f u s who c r i t i c i z e should t h i n k of t h a t point more o f t e n . Thanks. S t e v e Rose
Open t o B.C. P o e t s o n l y , i n two :ategories: - E s t a b l i s h e d Writers: Having f i v e )r more p u b l i c a t i o n s ( p o e t r y ) . - Emerging Writers: Having less t h a n five publications. L)Submit no more t h a n t h r e e previousl y u n p u b l i s h e d poems up t o 100 Lines i n t o t a l . Manuscripts t o b e ~ y p e w r i t t e n . Author's name must n o t 3ppear on t h e m a n u s c r i p t ; e n c l o s e ~ i t he a c h poem a s e p a r a t e s h e e t w i t h : - Chosen cacegory - T i t l e of poem and f i r s t l i n e - Auchor's name and a d d r e s s - Phone number ( o p t i o n a l ) !) E n t r y f e e $3.00 p e r poem, cheques o r money o r d e r s p a y a b l e t o Hope ~ r i t e r s 'Guild. 3) Deadline: Postmarked no l a t e r t h a n J a n u a r y 31, 1991. Winners n o t i f i e d ,y May 31, 1991. i) E n t r i e s w i l l be judged by members o f Hope Writers' Guild, who a r e aot e l i g i b l e t o e n c e r t h i s c o n t e s t . q a n u s c r i p t s w i l l n o t be r e t u r n e d ; a l l r i g h t s w i l l remain w i t h t h e a u t h o r . 5 ) A l s t , 2nd and 3 r d c a s h p r i z e w i l l be awarded i n each c a t e g-o r y., t h e 3mouncs depending on t h e number of z n t r i e s r e c e i v e d . Honourable Mention z e r t i f i c a t e s may a l s o be awarded. The h i l d r e s e r v e s t h e r i g h t t o withhold prizes should e n t r i e s f a i l t o reach required standards. 6) Mail m a n u s c r i p t s t o : Hope W r i t e r s ' Guild Box 1683 Hope, B.C. VOX 1LO
sponded wlrrti an " e x p l a n a t l o n u . It you w e r e p e r s i s t e n t , you would g e t a n o t h e r e x p l a n a t i o n a f t e r w a i t i n g a few weeks b u t n o t one word of what t h e FTA s a i d i n b l a c k & w h i t e . Three samples of I I e x p l a n a u i o n s " would be y o u r s u n t i l ,
GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA RIDES AGAIN! I n d a i l y and community p a p e r s a l l a c r o s s Canada, t h e f e d e r a l T o r i e s have p l a c e d n o t i c e s of "complete inf o r m a t i o n packages" soon t o be s e n t t o e v e r y p e r s o n i n Canada w i t h a m a i l i n g a d d r e s s . They a r e g o i n g t o e x p i a i n t h e Goods and S e r v i c e s Tax (GST) i n t h e i r own words. The same Tory l i n e t h a t rammed t h e "Free" Trade Agreement (FTA) t h r o u g h 'even though a t l e a s t 57% of p e o p l e v o t i n g were a g a i n s t i t ) w i l l b e beh i n d t h i s l a t e s t misuse of t a x p a y e r s ' money. To q u o t e from a s e c r e t 1985 government communications s t r a t e g y paper : "the higher the p r o f i l e the i s s u e a t t a i n s , t h e lower he deg r e e of p u b l i c a p p r o v a l w i l l be Our s t r a t e g y should r e l y l e s s on e d u c a t i n g t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c , t h a n i n g e t t i n g a c r o s s t h e message t h a t t h e t r a d e i n i t i a t i v e i s a good i d e a . I n o t h e r words, a s e l l i n g j o b . . I'
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When t h e s e l l i n g job began i n e a r n made pube s t , t h e a c t u a l ETA was I f you wanted a copy of t h e lic. a c t u a l Agreement, che government r e -
f i n a l l y , you would g e t a copy of t h e r e a l ching. Now, l e s s t h a n 2 y e a r s s i n c e t h e ETA became law, a l l of t h e p r e d i c t i o n s o f t h o s e opposed t o i t a r e f a c t s : l o s s of o v e r 100,000 j o b s ; f i s h i n g , mining, m a n u f a c t u r i n g and f o r e s t r y a r e a l l i n d e c l i n e a s corporations e i t h e r cutback, layoff o r j u s t move s o u t h . The n e x t s t e p f o r t h e U.S. i s t o expand " f r e e " t r a d e t o i n c l u d e Mexico. The b e s t - p a i d workers t h e r e g e t l e s s t h a n $4.00 a DAY. Attempts t o form u n i o n s a r e m e t w i t h v i o l e n c e , even k i l l i n g s . The o v e r a l l s t r a t e g y i s t o g e t r e s o u r c e s from Canada, cheap l a b o u r from Mexico, and p r o f i t s f o r b i g business. The government, r i g h t a f t e r t h e ETA became l a w , s t a r t e d a m a s s i v e s c a r e campaign a b o u t t h e d e f i c i t . ~ h e y ' dj u s t l o s c b i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s i n t a x and t a r i f f revenue, c o n t i n u e t o r e f u s e t o make c o r p o r a t i o n s pay t h e i r f a i r s h a r e , and now t h e n e x t phase w i t h t h e GST i s b e i n g pushed through. Mulroney i s t r y i n g t o make i t sound l e g i t i m a t e : "An u n e l e c t e d body ( t h e S e n a t e ) h a s no r i g h t t o s t o p a n e l e c t e d government from c a r r y i n g o u t i t s f i n a n c i a l program. I t To i n c r e a s e t h e snow j o b , we a r e a l l going t o g e t t h e government's ( s i c ) e x p l a n a t i o n of how g r e a t and f a i r t h e GST w i l l b e . The main c r o c k w i l l be t h e e l i m i n a t i o n of t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r ' s t a x (13.5%) and how much b e t t e r a t a x of "only 7%" w i l l be. A l o t of u s have g o t t e n a n o t i c e from Revenue Cana d a s a y i n g t h a t w e ' l l g e t a cheque f o r $55.45 e v e r y 3 o r 4 months a s a " t a x credit". So f a r i t sounds okay. But think: i f you a r e i n b u s i n e s s t o make money and suddenly g e t a r e d u c t i o n i n
your t a x e s , w i l l you p a s s t h a t on o r j u s t p o c k e t i t f o r t h e f u t u r e ? Can we h o n e s t l y e x p e c t b i g b u s i n e s s t o lower p r i c e s ? Come on. The " t a x c r e d i t " i s a n i l l u s i o n t o s t o p p e o p l e from s e e i n g t h e l a r g e r p i c t u r e . P e o p l e have s a i d t h e y won't be a g a i n s t t h e GST because i t means a c r e d i t f o r them. I f you have $55, how f a r w i l l i t go when e v e r y c h i n g you buy c o s t s m o r e . . 7 ~ on e v e r y d o l l a r you spend. A l l payments made f o r a TV and c a b l e , phone b i l l s , r e n t , stamps, h a i r c u t s and s o on, t h e p e o p l e who run businesses providing these w i l l have t o pay t h e GST and e x t r a bookk e e p i n g c o s t s and t h e $55 w i l l be gone For t h e r e s t of i n less t h a n 2 weeks. t h e 3 o r 4 months, a l l of t h e t a x e s w i l l come o u t of your own money. The Oka s i t u a t i o n g o t t h e same t r e a t ment w i t h a n "information" package. The government p a t t e d i t s e l f on t h e back w i t h a h i s t o r y s t a r t i n g from 1717, when t h e l a n d i n d i s p u t e w a s "granted" t o a French r e l i g i o u s o r d e r . The N a t i v e s s t a r t e d t h e i r p r o t e s t t h e n b u t Canada c l a i m s t h a t t h e g r a n t by k i n g s of France & England and t h e rep o r t t h a t some I n d i a n s came w i t h t h e Order from Montreal t o Oka means t h a t none were t h e r e b e f o r e and t h e N a t i v e s t h e r e f o r e w e r e n ' t t h e r e from "time immemorial". And c h a c ' s i t . The government u s e s v e r y s k e t c h y , s e l e c t e d i n f o r m a t i o n and b u i l d s a c a s e based on what t h e y want you & me t o b e l i e v e . ( t o be t a k e n w i t h a mountain of s a l t ! ) By PAULR
TAYLOR
CARNEGIE MUSICIANS PERFORM IN A ~ ~ A J O R ~ SHOW !
During t h e l a s t week of S e p t e n b e r a number of Carnegie m u s i c i a n s and Easts i d e p o e t s took p a r t i n a major m u l t i media e v e n t a t t h e Art G a l l e r y . C i t y on t h e Edge was a six-performa n c e e v e n t symbolizing l i f e i n t h e b i g c i t y . With t h e H o t e l Vancouver, t h e Toronto Dominion bank s k y s c r a p e r and t h e i r p e e r s l o o k i n g down on u s , we danced, r e c i t e d , sang, a c t e d and portrayed our r e p i t i t i o u s existence i n t h e Inner City. E a r l e Peach, Barb G. Mike Dupuis and myself and o t h e r s p a r t i c i p a t e d . I t w a s B a r b ' s f i r s t p r o f e s s i o n a l performance and l i k e l y a h i g h p o i n t of h e r s i n g i n g c a r e e r . The s t a g e was 40' h i g h and 60' wide and resembled t h e d i s s e c t i o n of a n a p a r t m e n t b u i l d i n g w i t h a l l i t s i n h a b i t a n t s d o i n g t h e i r t h i n g i n The. . C i t y on t h e Edge. A t t i m e s i t was q u i t e c h a o t i c , b u t t h a t ' s che way i t is i n the c i t y . We were honoured co a p p e a r w i t h some of Vancouver's b e s t j a z z m u s i c i a n s , d a n c e r s , a r t i s t s , a c t o r s and s u r r e a l i s t s . The Dance S o c i e t y , Kakoro Danc e r s and s e v e r a l i n d i v i d u a l i s t s c o a l e s c e d t o c r e a t e a C i t y on t h e Edge p o p u l a t i o n of a t l e a s t 100. We had a g r e a t t i m e and were a b l e t o do what we do b e s t - s e t up, perform & have fun! By STEVE ROSE
LOTTERIES Can Money Buy H a p p i n e s s ?
I b e l i e v e t h a t money c a n n o t buy happiness. Winning a l a r g e sum o f money c o u l d v e r y w e l l happen t o a p e r s o n who n e v e r had a n y money..a p e r s o n who had t o s c r a p e by from payday t o payday. Suddenly, t h r o u g h a n i n c r e d i b l e s t r o k e of l u c k , t h i s p e r s o n now h a s a s i z a b l e f o r t u n e . T h i s i n d i v i d u a l w i l l need t o b e a mature, s e c u r e person t o r e s i s t t h e i m p u l s e t o go on a s p e n d i n g s p r e e . I f i n v e s t m e n t s seem t o b e t h e p r e f e r r e d c h o i c e , a thorough s e a r c h f o r j u s t t h e r i g h t T r u s t Company w i l l res u l t i n anxious, s l e e p l e s s n i g h t s . The f l u c t u a t i o n s o f t h e s t o c k mark e t w i l l cause f u r t h e r worries. This p e r s o n can become i n v o l v e d w i t h uns c r u p u l o u s a c c o u n t a n t s , r e c e i v e bad a d v i c e from money m a w g e r s and t h e like. F r i e n d s would want t o be i n c l u d e d i n t h i s sudden w e a l t h . They c o u l d c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e i r b i l l s s h o u l d be p a i d f o r by t h e i r r i n h buddy. This c o u l d l e a d t o e x p l o i t a t i o n by them of t h e u n s u s p e c t i n g , newly r i c h one. Family members would d e f i n i t e l y want t o be c o n s u l t e d on money m a t t e r s . I f g i f t s of money a p p e a r t o be s l o w i n coming t h i s c o u l d r e s u l t i n fami l y s q u a b b l e s , l e a d i n g t o b i t ~ e rarguments i f i t wasn' t "enough." To make t h i s p e r s o n want t o w i s h t h e money away, c o n s i d e r t h i s : Governments ( f e d e r a l and p r o v i n c i a l ) would make s u r e t h a t t a x e s a r e p a i d on any i n t e r e s t g e n e r a t e d by t h e capital.
- R i l l 'I'rembley
cU
I ? !
HOUSING & CHILDCAKE From ENGLAND t o che DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE S i n c e j o i n i n g r h e Team of F i r s t Uni t e d Church a s a n i n t e r i m community worker, i t h a s become e v i d e n t t o me how e a s y i t i s f o r t h e most v u l n e r a b l e i n o u r communities t o end up i n t h e s l e a z i e s t h o t e l / r o o m i n g houses imaginable. Worse s t i l l , many become homeless a l t o g e r h e r , e n d i n g up on t h e s t r e e t s o f t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e . My p r e v i o u s work e x p e r i e n c e w a s i n s o c i a l and h o u s i n g i s s u e s i n B r i t a i n . Although t h i n g s are n o t p e r f e c t , B r i t i s h C e n t r a l Housing L e g i s l a t i o n s t a t e s t h a t m u n i c i p a l i t i e s have a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o house t h e homeless. This l e g i s l a t i o n does n o t p r o t e c t everybody, b u t i t d o e s g i v e s u p p o r t and a s a f e t y n e t t o t h e most v u l n e r a b l e i n s o c i e t y . It covers f a m i l i e s w i t h c h i l d r e n , t h e p h y s i c a l l y and m e n t a l l y d i s a b l e d , t h e e l d e r l y and o t h e r s deemed t o be a t r i s k . I t i s a r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t m u n i c i p a l i t i e s prov i d e h o u s i n g t o p e o p l e i n need and on low incomes. They b u i l d and manage thousands of h o u s i n g u n i t s . On t h e o t h e r hand h e r e i n B.C. t h e r e i s no apparent support o r s a f e t y n e t t o s u p p o r t t h e most v u l n e r a b l e i n o u r communities from becoming homeless. Municipalities a r e doing very l i t t l e t o h e l p p r o v i d e more a f f o r d a b l e housi n g u n i t s . The F e d e r a l and Provinc i a l government h o u s i n g programs a r e b e i n g c u t back o r a r e i n a d e q u a t e . A s a r e s u l t community workers on t h e f r o n t l i n e , l i k e a t F i r s t Church, a r e f a c i n g more and more d e s p e r a t e p e o p l e n e e d i n g housing. In C h i l d c a r e i s a s i m i l a r problem. England, m u n i c i p a l i t i e s a r e r e q u i r e d t o provide c h i l d c a r e c e n t r e s i n every community. They g e t a t r a n s f e r o f t a x r e s o u r c e s from t h e c e n t r a l government t o h e l p pay c o s t s o f t h e s e and o t h e r s o c i a l s e r v i c e s . C h i l d c a r e is considered an e s s e n t i a l s e r v i c e ;
II
a g a i n t h i s s e r v i c e h a s i t s inadequac i e s . . b u t it does provide support f o r t h e most needy. However i n Vancouver w e see many f a m i l i e s desperate f o r adequate childc a r e s e r v i c e s , and no l e v e l of government i s r e a d y t o meet t h e need. I f i n d my work a t F i r s t U n i t e d Church r e a l l y i m p o r t a n t t o meeting some of t h e immediate problems f a c i n g t h e community. Hopefully I can u s e my e x p e r i e n c e from t h e U.K. t o s u g g e s t some l o n g t e r m s o l u t i o n s as w e l l . By CHRIS DOWNING
w
s aycum.4
-
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER
RESOLUTION ON MINIMUM WAGE WHEREAS a s i n g l e person can work f u l l time a t t h e B.C. minimum wage of $5 an hour and s t i l l be $2000 t o $3000 a year below t h e poverty l i n e ; and WHEREAS i n 1975 a s i n g l e person working a t t h e minimum wage earned 122% of t h e poverty l i n e ; and WHEREAS today a s i n g l e person would have t o e a r n $7.50 an hour t o r e a c h 122% of rhe poverty l i n e ; and WHEREAS low wages cause poverty and poverty c a u s e s s i c k n e s s , h i g h e r i n f a n t and a d u l t m o r c a l i t y r a t e s ; and WHEREAS h i g h e r wages w i l l i n c r e a s e purchasing power and e n a b l e b u s i n e s s e s t o have customers who can spend more money; THEREFORE BE I T RESOLVED THAT ( t h i s group, union, church, m u n i c i p a l i t y ) endorse t h e p r i n c i p l e of i n c r e a s i n g t h e minimum wage t o $7.50 an hour, and t h a t w e urge t h e Premier and t h e Prime M i n i s t e r t o i n c r e a s e t h e minimum wage t o $7.50 an hour. RESOLUTION ON WELFARE RATES WHEREAS over 200,000 B.C.
c i t i z e n s depend on w e l f a r e i n B.C.;
and
WHEREAS over 75,000 of t h e s e people a r e c h i l d r e n ; and WHEREAS over 30,000 a r e s i n g l e p a r e n t s ; and WHEREAS w e l f a r e r a t e s a r e about h a l f t h e poverty l i n e (47 t o 6 4 % ) ; and WHEREAS t h e average poor family i n B.C. l i n e ; and
i s $4000 a y e a r below t h e poverty
WHEREAS poor people s u f f e r from more s i c k n e s s and e a r l i e r d e a t h s than o t h e r people, and poor b a b i e s have t w i c e t h e i n f a n t m o r t a l i t y r a t e a s o t h e r b a b i e s i n Canada; and WHEREAS i n c r e a s i n g w e l f a r e r a t e s would h e l p b u s i n e s s e s i n low-income communi t i e s ; and WHEREAS money f o r reducing poverty could come from t h e f e d e r a l government, h i g h e r t a x e s on wealthy people and c o r p o r a t i o n s , and s a v i n g s i n h e a l t h careducation and j u s t i c e syscem programs; THEXEFORE BE I T RESOLVED THAT ( c h i s group, union, church, m u n i c i p a l i t y ) endorse t h e p r i n c i p l e of r a i s i n g w e l f a r e r a t e s t o t h e poverty l i n e , and t h a t w e urge t h e Premier t o do t h i s .
e k
RESOLUTION ON FORCED EMPLOYMENT OF SINGLE PARENTS WHEREAS s i n g l e p a r e n t s on w e l f a r e i n B.C. MUST l o o k f o r work, r e g a r d l e s s of t h e number of c h i l d r e n t h e y h a v e , u n l e s s one c h i l d i s under 6 months o l d , o r t h e r e i s s i c k n e s s i n t h e f a m i l y ; and WHEREAS d e c e n t j o b s and c h i l d c a r e a r e n o t a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y of s i n g l e p a r e n t s ; and WHEREAS r a i s i n g c h i l d r e n i s v a l u a b l e and i m p o r t a n t work, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ( t h i s group, u n i o n , c h u r c h , m u n i c i p a l i t y ) e n d o r s e t h e p r i n c i p a l c h a t s i n g l e p a r e n t s on w e l f a r e s h o u l d have c h o i c e r e g a r d i n g employment o u t s i d e t h e home, and t h a t we u r g e t h e P r e m i e r t o change w e l f a r e r e g u l a t i o n s t o p r o v i d e f o r c h i s .
!
These r e s o l u t i o n s can b e p a s s e d a t any m e e t i n g o f any group and s e n c co Vanderzalm. The p a r t below c a n be f i l l e d o u t by any p e r s o n and c o u l d go i n t h e same e n v e l o p e . P e o p l e a l l a c r o s s B . C . a r e g e t t i n g c h e s e a n d , w i t h a n a v a l a n c h e of m a i l , t h e NDP and t h e s o c r e d s w i l l b o t h r e a l i z e povercy i s an u n r e s o l v e d i s s u e . The f o l l o w i n g page i s f o r your own s t o r y . Names a r e n ' c r e q u i r e d b u t , by w r i t i n g i t ( o r t a p e r e c o r d i n g i t , o r drawing i t , o r a s k i n g someone e l s e t o w r i t e i t f o r you) you become p a r e of a broad movement of low income p e o p l e . W e a r e f i g h t i n g t o g e t governments t o end p o v e r t y . End L e g i s l a t e d P o v e r t y p l a n s t o make a b o o k l e t o u t of a l l t h e s t o r i e s w e get. I f you send a copy t o #104-2005 E. 43rd Ave., Vancouver B.C. V5P 3W8 w i t h a c l e a r r e t u r n a d d r e s s , a copy of t h e b o o k l e t w i l l b e s e n t t o you when i c t s done. T h i s b o o k l e t w i l l b e t a k e n t o V i c t o r i a i n t h e w i n t e r .
DEAR MR. PREMIER AND THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, I a m a p e r s o n who t r i e s t o s u r v i v e on low income. T h i s i s n o t e a s y , as d e c e n t j o b s a r e n o t p l e n t i f u l , and w e l f a r e r a t e s a r e f a r below p o v e r t y . I want you t o r a i s e t h e minimum wage t o a t l e a s t $7.50 a n h o u r and t o r a i s e welfare r a t e s t o t h e poverty l i n e .
I am r e g i s t e r e d t o v o t e . In t h e next provincial e l e c t i o n I w i l l vote f o r t h e p a r t y t h a t i s committed t o end p o v e r t y and shows t h i s w i t h t h e i r a c c i o n s .
(signed) (address)
DEAR MR. PREMIER AND LEADER OF THE O P P O S I T I O N , HERE I S WHAT I THINK ABOUT HAVING TO L I V E ON RIDICULOUSLY LOW WELFARE RATES OR WAGES :
Mail e v e r y t h i n g t o : P r e m i e r B i l l Vanderzalm, Parliament Buildings, V8V 1x4 V i c t o r i a , B.C.
(signed) (address)
co be s t e r i l i z e d . Implications aside, S e l i c k i n v i t e s r e a d e r s t o d i s c a r d any q u e s t i o n o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y b e i n g asked of p e o p l e who a r e n o t poor. "Blame t h e Victim" i s f a r and away t h e e a s i e s c cop-out f o r t h e m i n o r i t y of p e o p l e who a r e d o i n g q u i c e w e l l w i t h t h e p r e s e n t s o c io-economic s y s tem. S e l i c k is one b e n e f i c i a r y who r e f u s e s co c o n s i d e r how its unfolding adherence t o t h e corporate agenda widens t h e gap becween "haves" and "have-nocs" Governments r e f u s e t o c o l l e c t back t a x e s from m u l c i n a c i o n a l c o r p o r a t i o n s t o pay che b i l l s i n c u r r e d by t h e i r b u s i n e s s pracc i c e s . Rather t h a n b e i n g f a i r , t h e y c u t back on che v e r y s o c i a l programs made nece s s a r y a s a r e s u l t of such practices. The p o o r e s c p e o p l e a r e made even p o o r e r . In che l a s c 30 y e a r s t h e p r i c e s o f f o o d , c l o t h i n g , s h e l t e r , m e d i c a l a i d and e d u c a t i o n have i n c r e a s e d 8-10 times. Wages, especi a l l y t h e minimum wage, and w e l f a r e r a t e s have i n c r e a s e d t o a b o u t 3 t i m e s what t h e y were i n 1960. P r o f e s s i o n a l and b u s i n e s s p e o p l e c a n r a i s e t h e i r f e e s , p r i c e s and commissions t o keep pace - t o "compete" w h i l e t h e poor a r e l e f t p o w e r l e s s . S e l i c k c i t e s an i n c i d e n t of a mother s a y i n g s h e had a l r e a d y g i v e n up enough when a s k e d t o g i v e up smoking. Nothing i s s a i d a b o u t thousands o f o t h e r mothers who d o n ' t smoke o r d r i n k o r go t o movies.. who c r y co g e e t h e i r k i d s t o d r i n k powder-, ed m i l k , co make do wich 2nd-hand c l o t h e s , co have no a l l o w a n c e because c h a t money may buy food f o r a day, co endure che m i s e r a b l e e x i s t e n c e of a f i x e d income. She
.
Editor:
Vancouver Sun
RE: "DoMRIGHT IRRESPONSIBLE"
(2/10/90)
KAREN SELICK ("Ontario l a w y e r and magaz i n e c o l u m n i s t " ) h a s been a l l o w e d , t h r o u g h t h e e d i t o r i a l board o f t h e Vancouver Sun, co have h e r o p i n i o n o f poor p e o p l e and p o v e r t y a p p e a r i n a f e a t u r e d p l a c e on t h e ~ p i n i o n / ~ d i t o r i apage. l I f t h i s was done " i n e x p e c t a t i o n o f g e t t i n g a f l o o d of l e c t e r s r e f u t i n g h e r poornographic prose, + t h i s one may be o n l y a d r o p i n t h e b u c k e t . L I E i t was done t o r e f l e c t t h e o p i n i o n s ( s i c ) of t h e e d i c o r i a l board, then perhaps enough r e a l i t y w i l l f o r c e i t s way i n c o your minds K O make you c o c a l l y ashamed chat you permicced s u c h la b i g o t t e d , d i s c r i m i n a t o r y p i e c e of c r u d co be p r i n t e d . The e s s e n c e of d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i s co cake one i s o l a t e d i n c i d e n c and a p p l y i t co everyone e l s e . I f one b l a c k , n a t i v e , o r i e n t a l , Jew d o e s somerhing and i t ' f o l l OVIY ' ctiac a l l b l a c k s , n a t i v e s , o r i e n c a l s , jews w i l l do clie same..then a l l f u t u r e i n c e r a c t i o n wich any p e r s o n s s o c a t e g o r i z e d i s now p r e f a c e d wich t h e d & m s drawn from t h e o r i g i n a l i n c i d e n t . Selick e d i t s her experiences with a minuce number o f "poor people" and condemns a l l p e o p l e on low incomes f o r h a v i n g ~ I ~ i l d r e nf ,o r g o d ' s s a k e ! By implication, myone n o t b l e s s e d w i t h i n v i o l a b l e f i n a n : i a l s e c u r i t y and a r o c k s o l i d m a r i t a l r e l a t i o n h a s co j u s t a c c e p t t h e i r p o v e r t y regardless of t h e s o c i a l , p o l i t i c a l o r m p l e f a c t o r s forming t h e noose. An ex.reme i m p l i c a t i o n may be t h a t a l l nonr e a l t h y p e o p l e s h o u l d have t h e good s e n s e
i m p l i e s t h a t t h e system i s open t o everyone . . t h a t anyone can 'make i t ' . A b i l l i o n a i r e would a g r e e ; winning i s a f o r e g o n e conclus i o n when you c a n f i x t h e game. The c o r p o r a t e agenda, e x p r e s s e d i n terms of " t a r g e t t i n g s o c i a l programs", h a s s o f a r produced r e l o c a t i o n of c a p i t a l and f a c i l i t i e s t o a r e a s of h i g h e s t unemploynient , l o w e s t wages, no u n i o n s , l a x O K non-exist e n t e n v i r o n m e n t a l l a w s ; che transformat i o n of t h e d e v e l o p i n g world i n t o war-corn d e b t o r s , a s l o a n s f o r weaponry l e a d i n d i g enous b u s i n e s s t o back m u l t i n a t i o n a l s ' u s e of food l a n d s f o r e x p o r t a b l e c a s h - c r o p s l i k e c a r n a t i o n s and c o f f e e . The commodity p r i c e s a r e c o n t r o l l e d by che same m u l t i n a t i o n a l s , and t h e t r i c k l e of f o r e i g n cap-
i t 6 1 g o l n g back t o t h e d e b t o r s must be used t o s e r v i c e t h e l o a n payments. Naci o n a l l y , t h e c o r p o r a t e agenda h a s s o f a r produced c u t s i n Unemployment I n s u r a n c e , Medical i n s u r a n c e , h i g h i n t e r e s t r a t e s c o u p l e d w i t h a " s t r o n g " d o l l a r , and h i g h unemployment t o keep wages low. C o r p o r a t e thinktanks l i k e the Fraser I n s t i t u t e e t a1 pushed "Free" Trade and now t h e GST b o t h p a r t of t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f t h e n e x t p h a s e i n t h e game money-in~o-power-intomoney ad nauseum. The m o t i v a t i o n i s a mental d i s e a s e c a l l e d greed. The g o a l i s p r o f i t and ascendency. C a p i t a l i s m makes humans b e g g a r s ; com~nunismmakes t h e b e g g a r a beast. S e l i c k , a s a l a w y e r , i s i d e a l l y a media t o r between t h e s y s t e m and t h e p e o p l e . For h e r t o admit f a u l t i n any o f t h e above would c e r t a i n l y e r o d e h e r s e l f - s a t i s f a c tion. She must have some k i n d of motivat i o n but is not s o b l u n t (or honest) t o s t a t e i t . She i s n e i t h e r n a i v e , i g n o r a n t n o r u n e d u c a t e d , y e t s h e p r e s e n c s a r g-u m e n t s and l o g i c t h a t most p e o p l e c a n j u s t s h a k e t h e i r heads a t i n d i s b e l i e f , b o r d e r i n g on Is s h e s e e k i n g p o l i t i c a l o f f i c e disgust. o r m e r e l y on a p r i v a t i z e d r o a d t o w e a l t h / It's not t h e i n t e n t of t h i s l e t t e r t o i n f o r m o r even e d u c a c e h e r . She i s a l a y e r and i s w e l l - v e r s e d i n t h e need t o do r e s e a r c h b e f o r e making a c a s e a g a i n s c a n one o r a n y t h i n g . S e l i c k knows t h a t what Robbie Marantz drawing from What Is Cod?: a saccharine theology s h e 's s a i d i s crud ; t h e one remaining q u e s t i o n i s . .why?
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Crazy?
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I spoke co God once and h e spoke t o me Is t h a c c r a z y o r whac? So I p r e t e n d e d co b e a dunce And t h e y s a i d I w a s o u t of my c r e e Is t h a c c r a z y o r what?
IRunfor the car!
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I was s e a r c h i n g f o r myscery and romance They s a i d I was h i s c o r y t So I l e a r n e d how t o dance. I Is t h a c c r a z y o r whac? Shakespeare p l a y e d t h e dominant r o l e C Buc h e was o n l y p l a y i n g C Is t h a t c r a z y o r what? C I used K O watch r e p e a t s on T.V. C Is chac c r a z y o r whac?
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I f The T r u t h B e Known
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Iâ&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;&#x2122; t h e t r u c h b e known why i s innocenc blood shed? I f t h e t r u t h be known why a r e s t o n e s b l e d ? I f t h e t r u t h be known why d o e s your memory s t a y i n my head? I f che t r u t h be known. I f t h e t r u t h be known why a r e h e a r t s broken? I f che t r u t h be known why i s t h e t r u c h s o r a r e l y spoken I f t h e t r u t h be known by t h e same token Why i s t h e t r u t h s o r a r e l y known?
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I f t h e t r u c h b e known why am I s t i l l s e e k i n g ? I f che t r u c h be known why am I s t i l l n o t s e e k i n g ? How many i n i t i a t e s does i t cake t o l o v e t h e world? On1y one. One t o l o v e t h e world and one .4 7 n o t t o l o v e t h e world.
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I f t h e t r u t h b e known why must I hedge? - 1 f t h e t r u t h be known why do s o many people l i v e on t h e edge' y I f t h e c r u t h be known why t o o n l y a ' f e w ? I f t h e t r u t h be known why does my b e s t n e v e r do? I f t h e t r u t h b e known Why can I n e v e r p l e a s e you? I f t h e t r u t h be known a s k me no more q u e s t i o n s . I f t h e t r u t h b e known why s o many d i f f e r e n t r e l i g i o n s ? lCe I f t h e t r u t h b e known why i s e a r c h ' s law l o v e y e t n o t l o v e ? I f t h e t r u t h be known why i s i t above? Who can s a y t h e y a r e above t h e law? Who can s e e my e v e r y f l a w ? Who can c a l l t h e c o n c e s t a draw? Who always wins a t t h e game of law? I
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E l i z a b e t h Thorpe
The r e c e n t d e c l a r a t i o n by t h e world Leaders t o p u t a n end t o s t a r v i n g : h i l d r e n by t h e t u r n of t h e c e n t u r y g a s h e a r t warming. The l o n g e r I thought about i t , t h e wider che s p a c e s between the l i n e s became. My warm h e a r t t u r n e d bone c h i l l i n g :old. To me what was b e i n g s a i d by t h e Leaders of t h e "have c o u n t r i e s " t o t h e Leaders of t h e "have n o t c o u n c r i e s " gas l e s s humane t h a n what was a l r e a d y ~appening I n s i m p l e terms t h e " d e c l a r a t i o n " neant t h a t a l l s c a r v i n g c h i l d r e n would Look t h e same by t h e end of t h i s cent u r y , no macter where t h e y l i v e d . No f l e s h on t h e i r bones, swollen stomachs, sunken e y e s and coo weak t o s t o p t h e bugs f r o m c r a w l i n g up t h e i r n o s e s and i n c o c h e i r empty mouths. Dying would now t a k e l o n g e r f o r some and t a k e l e s s f o r o t h e r s .
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A r t Van-Lane
THE V I E N FROPI TENT CITY -
By BOB STALL I J l ~ i t e sa r e l a z y . They d o n ' t c l e a n up a f t e r t h e m s e l v e s . They f i g h c . They d r i n k t o o much. They c u s s and c a r o u s e . There i s no p l a c e f o r them i n p o l i t e s o c i e t y . P a r t i c u L a r l y m a l a d j u s t e d a r e Canadian w h i t e s w h l a p p e a r u n a b l e t o cope w i t h t h e c o n i p l e x i t i e s o f modern u r b a n l i f e . Yes, i t i s u n f a i r t o g e n e r l a i z e b e c a u s e most w h i t e s do indeed p o s s e s s a c e r t a i n d i g n i t y i f you r e g a r d them w i t h c h a r i t y . But t h e l a t e n i g h t downtown view from Tent C i t y f u e l s t h i s s t e r e o t y p e of ~ a n c o u v e r ' sw h i t e p o p u l a t i o n .
''Excuse me ," Nonnie s a y s . They d o n ' t h e a r h e r . The guy i n t h e t a n k t o p is g u z z l i n g s h o w i n g l y , h i s hand a huge f i s t around t h e can. H e belches. "Excuse me," s h e s a y s a g a i n . She i s a t l e a s t a f o o t s h o r t e r t h a n t h e men. She h a s no o b v i o u s a u t h o r i t y , e v e n t h a t o f a p p a r e n t a g e . Though s h e ' s a grandmother and e l d e r of t h e t r i b e , s h e l o o k s m i d d l e a g e and a l m o s t s u b u r b a n . She w e a r s rhinestone glasses. " ~ x c u s eme, t h i s i s a n o n - d r i n k i n g a r e a . Y o u ' l l have t o l e a v e , ' ' s h e s a y s . Tank Xop f r e e z e s i n mid swagger. "What t h e f-- and h e u s e s t h e F word y e t a g a i n . " Y o u ' l l have t o l e a v e . " Both men s t a n d r i g i d f o r s e v e r a l s e c o n d s t h e n walk o f f . One f i r e s a p a r t i n g s h o t abo u t coming back w i t h a t e n t . They b o t h The t e n t s d e s c r i b e a c i r c l e around t h e lawn of the a r t g a l l e r y ' The site is a t the very heart downtown - 23 t e n t s a t G e o r g i a and Howe, s t a n d i n g q u i e t l y on t h e a r e a ' s o n l y p a t c h o f g r e e n , r i n g e d by t h i s h i g h canyon o f g l a s s and
...
They c r u i s e down G e o r g i a S t r e e t , two men i n t h e i r 2 0 s , one i n a m u s c l e s h i r t , t h e o t h e r i n a s w a g g e r i n g l y t i g h t T - s h i r t . They a p p r o a c h t h e c i r c l e o f 23 t e n t s on t h e f r o n t lawn of t h e Vancouver A r t G a l l e r y . They exchange b i g , dopey g r i n s . and neon. The s i g n s announce t h a t I n d i a n s a r e enClockwise from t h e a r t g a l l e r y , t h e s e a r e camped h e r e t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h e i r s u p p o r t t h e b u i l d i n g s t h a t loom and e n c i r c l e : b he and s o l i d a r i t y f o r o t h e r t r i b e s i n Canada. H o t e l Vancouver, Royal Bank, Hong Kong Bank T h i s i s t o o much f o r o u r w h i t e hunks. "What t h e f-- does tilac mean?" demands t h e o f Canada, G e o r g i a H o t e l , Four S e a s o n s Hotone in clle T-shirt. lie has c u r l y blond h a i r . e l , P a c i f i c C e n t r e , T o r o n t o Dominion & E a t o n s He d o e s n ' t l i s t e n t o t h e answer. Tnstead, i n a s l u r r e d v o i c e , h e s a y s t h e army s h o u l d b e c a l l e d i n t o " t e a r down t h e f - - i n ' t e n t s . " He b r a y s w i t h p r i d e & t h r o w s an empty c i g a r e t t e pack on t h e g r o u n d , t h e n t a k e s a -wig from t h e C a r l i n g s c a n d a n g l i n g c o o l l y from h i s f i n g e r t i p s . That ' s when Nonnie h a s had enough. The man can badmouth h e r p e o p l e . H e c a n speak v i o l e n t l y and a b u s i v e l y . He c a n make physical threats. She w i l l be b o t h e r e d by a l l t h i s buc a t what p o i n t d o e s s h e o b j e c t and move t o s t o p him? When t h e i n t r u d e r l i t t e r s . When h e d r i n k s i n a p u b l i c p l a c e . The I n d i a n s a t "Our t r i b a l p e a c e v i l l a g e i s i n t h e b e l l y Tent C i t y a r e c o n f r o n t i n g t h e w h i t e m i d d l e says sally o f the c l a s s on i t s own t e r m s . The c a r s r o a r p a s t on G e o r g i a . A b l a c k "Nonnie" means grandmother i n Haida and T ~ ~ slows ~ ~ and - aA man ~ leans far the c h a t ' s what e v e r y o n e c a l l s h e r . S h e ' s one window, b o t h elbows h a n g i n g o v e r t h e d o o r , his a wide oval. of two grandmothers h e r e . There a r e no l e a d e r s i n t h i s camp, b u t Nonnie - r e a l name "Hey, d i r t y I n j u n s , I ' he s h o u t s . "Gonna B e r n i c e Browne - i s i n a b s o l u t e c h a r g e . t r y a l i t t l e g e n o c i d e on y a , ha-ha-hall' The two w h i t e men d o n ' t know t h i s . The d r i v e r f l o o r s i t o u t of s i g h t . Tense C i t y . -3
camp i s a s t r i k i n g p r e s e n c e , nor j u s t : b e c a u s e of i t s c o n t r a s t wich che m e t r o p o l i s b u r b e c a u s e of i c s n e a t n e s s . NO w h i t e p e o p l e ' s campground h a s e v e r been c h i s c i d y . More chan 50 p e o p l e l i v e , ear. and s l e e p h e r e b u t t h e r e i s no C l u t t e r ) I and n o t a s i n g l e s c r a p of l i t t e r . They almosc a l l smoke c i g a r e c t e s b u t n o r @ one b u c t c a n b e found on t h e ground. This Indian campsite i s c l e a n e r than Disneyland. It i s what t h e f r i e n d l i e r whice f o l k s )( - c o m o n e n t on most. I t ' s what s t o p s many p a s s e r s - b y and d r a w s them o v e r t o c h a t . ( They have been t r i g g e r e d by Oka and a t - ) ~ r a c t e dby n e a t n e s s , and t h e y a r e s u d d e n l y open t o l e a r n i n g a b o u t n a t i v e i s s u e s . These c o n v e r s a t i o n s p r o v e c h a t a r t g a l - ) ( l e r y d i r e c t o r W i l l a r d Holmes was r i g h t . H e s a i d p r i n c i p l e s o f f r e e s p e e c h governed h i s d e c i s i o n t o i n v i t e n a t i v e s t o camp on h i s lawn. The mayor and p o l i c e c h i e f a g r e e d . ) L o t s of p e o p l e s t o p and t a l k . They c a n b e s e e n t o p o s s e s s a c e r t a i n dignity.
O u t s i d e r e p o r c s have i t t h a t some n a t i v e W a r r i o r s and o t h e r I n d i a n s & t h e i r s u p p o r t e r s have been beacen and h a r a s s e d and t o r t u r e d . That ' s why I s a y OKA AIN'T OVER. Therets g o i n g t o be a day o f c e r r i b l e and j u s t accounting f o r army punks and queD bec " p o l i c e " o f Bourassa & Mulroney. Not L O be f o r g o c c e n i s one O u e l l e t , the may0r Oka. It i s and always been w i t h i n t h e power of d e e p l y concerned p e o p l e t o exact j u s t i c e f o r the chronic a s s a u l t s by t r e s p a s s i n f r i n g e d on n a c i v e l a n d s and people. Lessons w i l l b e t a u g h t and l e a r n e d i n c o u r t s t h r o u g h o u t CanD ' ada. H i s t o r y g i v e s u s names l i k e 4 R i e l and Lemay and even Cuscer t o remind u s o f c e n t r u i e s - o l d persecuc i o n s of Natives, y e t t h e d e n i a l of r e s p e c r and f a i r t r e a r m e n r c o n t i n u e s D coday. Now w e have Canada's Wounded ( Knee! The rock-throwing a s s a u l t s on Nat i v e e l d e r s , women and c h i l d r e n , who wera l e a v i n g p e a c e f u l l y i n t h e i r c a r s . i s proof o f che mob-violence t h a r t h e 4 Quebec " p o l i c e " a l l o w s , even a p p r o v e s ! T e l l me, j u s c who a r e t h e real criminals??! (I
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HOODED SEAL Adults to 3.5 m and 400 kgs. Dark gray to black on back, lighter on the sides. Male has inflatable sackon topof head which is inflated when angry for a formidable look. Spends much time migrating. Litter of one young born on ice.
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HooHoo
disappeared Sept. 14
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Valerie call home! By Fabian Dawson Staff Reporter
My name i s K a r r i e Smich. I r a n away from home when I was t w e l v e y e a r s o l d . I r a n away b e c a u s e my mother was n e v e r home. She made me v e r y a n g r y and I c o u l d noc h a n d l e i t . When my mocher found me I clammed up. I w a s n ' c s u r e what co t h i n k . I c o u l d noc b e l i e v e what s h e d i d chen. She t o o k me s h o p p i n g and g o t me new s h o e s .
- s t o r y by E l a i n e Black
The table will be set for an extra Thanksgiving guest a1 the Ryan household in Agassiz this weekend. The Ryans are hoping the guest will be their 16-year-old daughter Valerie. who disappeared on Sept. 14. "We hope s h e will come back soon because we all miss her," her father, John, said yesterday. "Please come home Valerie." he pleaded. Agassiz RCMP Const. Steve Rayworth said he believes she is in the Vancouver area. Anyone who knows where she is should phone him at 796-2211.
685-4488 F r e e d o c t o r s on s i t e 223 Main (confidential)
Wed. e v e n i n g : 5 t o 8:30 D r . AL VENNEMA T h u r . e v e n i n g : 5 t o 8:30 D r . COLIN HORRICKS STD n u r s e s a r e on s i t e t h r o u g h t h e weekdays. -
TlllS I N S U I T E 1 I S A r I R L I U I I O I O r THE CAUEC~L C O W I ~ m u s s n c l A l t n n ~ I C I . . r.pr.mmc c o o t n l b u t o t . -1
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DONATIONS SINCE INCEPTION : Bruce T.-$200 Yanum S p a t h -$200 Nancy W.- .$300 W i l l i s s .-$I 10 George B . - $ I 5 Rich P .-$41 Taum D.-$3.33 Robert S. -$80 J a n c i s A,-$45 Tom - $4.02 Dave C.-$5 L u i s P.-$20 L.B.T. - $ l o 0 Nancy - $ l o Marg S.-$20 S h e i l a B.-$2 A l e t -$25 Ted B.-$5 L i l l i a n H.-$25 James M.-$50 I.MacLeod -$200 K e l l y -$6 J . East - $1 Nancy 5.-$70 Sue H. -$45 S t e v e R.-$10 Next i s s u e ' s B . & B . -$8 I a n - $5 DEADLINE : N e i l M.-$2 CEEDS - $ l o P e t e r E.-$4.57 E t i e n n e S.-$40 29 O c t o b e r Linda F.-$50 K e i t h C.-$20 Mendel R.-$15 W i l f r i d B.-$17 K'lem G.-$5 Anonymous - $56.73 The F i r e Bug -$250 Terry t h e T e r r i b l e -$lo0 HELP ? 'L - A r c h i e M.-$100 Linda K.-$100 Mau Sandy C.-$40
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any w e l f a r e problems U I C problems getting legal assistance unsafe living conditions i n hotels o r apartments disputes with landlords income t a x
DERA i s l o c a t e d a t 9 E a s t H a s t i n g s o r phone 682-0931
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D E R A H A S BEEN SERVING THE DOWNTOWN E A S T S I D E F O R 1 7 YEARS.
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money f o r l e a v e s . A t t h e conference a H e a l t h Department s t u d y w a s c i t e d w i t h a minimum o f $566.61 needed by a f a m i l y o f f o u r t o g e t t h e minimum n u t r i t i o n a l requirements. Socreds t h i n k t o g e t p o l i t i c a l brownie p o i n t s by c a l l o u s l y p u t t i n g a c e i l i n g o f $494 a month on c h e s u p p o r t p o r t i o n . It must b e a good l a u g h f o r t h e s e b l a n k s , when t h e y know t h e s u p p o r t p o r t i o n pays f o r hydro and a phone 6 food. and c l o t h e s and s h o e s Kids who go hungry u n d e r a c h i e v e a t s c h o o l , d e v e l o p h e a l t h problems, have s e v e r e l y r e s t r i c t e d o p p o r t u n i t i e s and poor s o c i a l s k i l l s . H e l l o t o i n c r e a s e d s o c i a l problems. S o c r e d s a r e g e n e r a l l y quick with "budgetting t i p s " t h a t a r e obviously designed by someone who h a s n e v e r been poor. An a w f u l f a c t : W e l f a r e payments can n o t meet n u t r i t i o n a l needs.
.. . . .
End L e g i s l a t e d Malnutrition A n Anti-Poverty c o n f e r e n c e happened i n t h e f i r s t week of O c t o b e r i n Naramata, a s m a l l p l a c e i n t h e Okanagan. A l l manner of i s s u e s t h a t c o n n e c t with and/or c o n t r i b u t e t o poverty were d i s c u s s e d o v e r t h e 5-day e v e n t and t h e most a p p a l l i n g e f f e c t s o f w e l f a r e made page 10 h e a d l i n e s : "CHILDREN G O I N G HUNGRY" i t r e a d . The s t o r y o f thousands of B.C. k i d s going t o s c h o o l hungry was broken o v e r two y e a r s ago by Bob It was t h e n d e b a t e d , p a s s e d Sarti. a r o u n d , s h u f f l e d from one l e v e l o f government t o a n o t h e r . The k i d s , i n t h e meantime, c o n t i n u e d t o go t o s c h o o l hungry. Vanderzalm p r a c t i c e d b e i n g s t u p i d ; he s a i d t h a t maybe k i d s were throwing away t h e i r l u n c h e s , o r
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P.S. : The buck keeps g e t t i n g p a s s e d S u r r e y v o t e r s r e j e c t e d a nonp r o v i n c i a l referendum t o p r o v i d e l u n c h programs i n s e v e r a l s c h o o l s and now t h e l o c a l s o c r e d s a r e t r y i n g t o p i c k 1 s c h o o l ( o u t o f 7 ) where t h e y can have a t o k e n program. The p a r e n t s have been working f o r 2 y e a r s t o g e t t h e s e c r u c i a l food programs g o i n g , and h a t s o f f t o t h e i r p e r s e v e r e n c e .
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~ c ' sl i k e l y some p e o p l e w i l l cons i d e r my criticism of r e c y c l i n g a "cheap shoe", bur: I would remind chem ' of a time-honoured lefc-wing c r a d i tion. a s k i n g r h e tough q u e s r i o n s Tough q u e s t i o n s r e q u i r e cough answers & e h e s e can o n l y be found a t che s o u r c e of t h e problem. Almosc a l l of che non-biodegradable I s u b s c a n c e s chac h u r c che n a t u r a l world a r e forms of packaging. Mosc of c h e s e a r e o n l y u s e f u l d u r i n g che b r i e f cime i c c a k e s t o c a r r y food & household icems from che s c o r e t o che kicchen c a b l e . Every p u r c h a s e req u i r e s a p l a s c i c bag, container o r p l a s c i c - c r e a t e d c a r c o n . Every month we chrow away huge p l a s c i c g a r b a g e bags f u l l of c a s t - o f f convenience ' p a c k a g i n g , i n o r d e r s i m p l y t o main; cain a reasonable d i e c & provide a necessary l i v i n g space...unnecessary l u x u r i e s s h o u l d a l r e a d y have been J r e j e c t e d i f we had any real c o n c e r n f o r t h e f u c u r e . . b u t of c o u r s e t h e y h a v e n ' t been. " The b e s t answer I e v e r found co package o v e r k i l l w a s w r i t t e n by M a r s h a l l McLuhan, t h e s o - c a l l e d "media guru" & p r o f e s s o r of communic a t i o n s a t che University of Toronto b u t i t was i n a c o n t e x t c h a r "env i r o n m e n t a l i s c s " c o u l d e a s i l y overlook. H e s a i d b e c a u s e t h e v i e w i n g loâ&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;&#x2122; television would e v e n c u a l l y c a u s e people t o become p r i m a r i l y c a c t i l e in t h e i r r e l a c i o n s h i p s t o c h i n g s ("couch" would become t h e i r most imporranc s e n s e ) . chey would demand thac produccs be s t o r e d i n b i n s s o that chey c o u l d f e e l che c e x c u r e o f them. T h i s , McLuhan c l a i m e d , would bring back che o l d cusrom o f c a r r y ing & u s i n g c l o c h b a g s , & packaging as we know i t coday would d i s a p p e a r ;from t h e s c o r e s . Needless c o s a y , chis i d e a was noc w e l l r e c e i v e d by the packaging a r c i s c s , designers &
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as t h e w i z a r d of f u c u r i s c i c markecs. I c ' s out-of-cime & o u t - o f - c o n t e x t buc when a l l ' s s a i d & done, i t ' s probably t h e only r e a l s o l u t i o n . Only a few g e n e r a t i o n s o u r grandp a r e n t s c a r r i e d small c l o t h "sugar s a c k s " t o che s c o r e , scooped food p r o d u c c s from b i n s , c a r r i e d them home, s c o r e d them i n m e ~ a l& g l a s s c o n t a i n e r s , & r e u s e d c h e i r "sugar s a c k s " o v e r & o v e r a g a i n . NO p l a s t i c went i n c o che e a r c h . . n o n e ~ h a c s o e v e r ! (When t h e i r " s u g a r sacks'' were worn
ouc chey became p i l l o w c a s e s . ) U n f o r e u n a t e l y , p r o g r e s s descended upon them, f u e l e d o n l y by r h e d e s i r e of greedy i n d i v i d u a l s t o invent n e w , ways of making more money f o r chems e l v e s (che e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l s p i r i c ) . These same i n d i v i d u a l s (businessmen0 t o d a y c e l l u s we "cannoc go backwards' . . t h e y imply t h a t a r e c u r n co anyehing t h a t w a s done i n t h e pasc would mean t h e s h i n i n g image of fuc"failure". u r i s t i c " p r o g r e s s " ( c h e i r g r e a c moneymaker) would b e t a r n i s h e d . I f you don'c know a l r e a d y - e h e s e a r e t h e p e o p l e who a r e determined t o d e s e r o y n o t o n l y t h e e a r c h , buc co undermine & d i s c o r c e v e r y e h i n g t h a e is n a t u r a l , healthy & reasonable. They have a l r e a d y h u r c u s & o u r c h i l d r e n i n ways c h a t a r e h o r r i b l e co s e e , & beyond r e p a i r . The damage h a s been done, & continues e v e r y day t o be done i n t h e name of "progress". Who w i l l wake up from t h e i r hyponoc i c s p e l l s - t h e i r consumerism - c h e i r cursed & f a c a l i s t i c doublechinks?! We, humble & well-meaning humans, w i t h o u r hands-on r e c y c l i n g e f f o r c s , are a d m i r a b l e & i n n o c e n c , no d o u b t , as we d u t i f u l l y s e p a r a e e p l a s t i c , meca l , g l a s s , c a r d b o a r d , f o i l s & polyurer h a n e s & t h i n g s we c a n ' c even i d e n t i f y ..we c a r e abouc t h e e a r ~ h . . w e r e a l l y do But w i l l t h e y e y e r s t ~ p ? . . ~a lr l o w t h i n g s t o change? I wonder. TORA
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Tumbleweeds f l y i n t h e wind The l a k e i s c o l d The a i r and l a n d i s d r y The p r e a c h e r s a y s I ' v e s i n n e d The head of t h e household i s o l d I t r y t o rest b u t I g e t no rest And I begin t o c r y They h e l d m e t h e r e i n t h a t h o s p i t a l For s i x l o n g months f i v e y e a r s ago T h e y ' l l never see my f a c e a g a i n I may f l y t o t h e o c c i d e n t a l No I ' l l never go t h e r e on a t r a i n I ' l l never s i g n t h e i r papers I ' l l never surrender t o t h e i r w i l l Once t h e i r w i l l triumphed But they s h a l l n o t triumph a g a i n Good-bye P e n t i c t o n Good-bye Okanagan Y o u ' l l never be okay t o m e Y o u ' l l never be okay They g o t p a i d t o drug me And d r i v e m e i n s a n e They g o t blood money But c h e y ' l l never g e t me a g a i n . Each person i s a s e n d e r and r e c e i v e r . We connect w i t h someone who opens up t o u s . Most people a r e c l o s e d . We need t o l e t o t h e r s i n t o our minds t o exchange i n f o r m a t i o n
Elizabeth Thorpe
Make b r i d g e s i n o u r minds t o connect w i t h v a r i o u s r e a l i t i e s . Some people have mental c o n s t i p a c i o n , thoughts a r e jammed because they h a v e n ' t l e e choughcs go. Thoughts a r e n o t moving f r e e l y . Clean your mind o u t l e e choughcs go t o o c h e r s f i n d a good l i s t e n e r - s h a r e . Ger y o u r s e l f going your motor c u r n i n g , you w i l l f i n d your f e e l i n g s more f r e e Get r i d of t h e l o g j a m i n your head. Reccv J a c q u e l i n e Robertson
"IT'S A PRETTY 6000 LIKENESSCOACH:'
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