SEPTEMBER 15,2005 www.carnnew!.o!]/, carnnews@xcn.bc.ca
604-665-2289
401 Main St, Vancouver V6A 217
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Always Ask Why?! The TD Bank is part of a group called the Task Force on Modernizing Income Security for Working Age Adults (MISWAA) that includes the City of Toronto, the Canadian Labour Congress, the Daily Bread Food Bank and many more . The Bank says it has presented this report to assist the Task Force and "provide insight into the recommendations it is considering."
Here's my take on it: The Bank report makes some observations that do sound "refreshing," especially coming from a bank : · We've had "stagnant wage growth" over the last few years; · The number of unemployed people covered by EI has fallen (it's 22% in Toronto!); · People on social assistance have been hardest hit: · The Ontario [and BC] welfare case load declined' not because people were leaving for jobs, but because welfare rules restricted the number who could get on; · Income from welfare or work is "invariably low and almost certain to fall short of meeting needs" ; · Many working adults can't earn enough to support their families ; · Life on welfare is demoralizing; · It's possible that EI cuts of the 1990s "may have gone too far in raising hours of work requirements." The report makes some assumptions that I don't agree with : · Welfare should provide an "incentive to work ." In my experience this really means , "an incentive to work at low wage insecure jobs." · "People who can work should work" in the paid labour force . I believe with all of this technology, we should be devising ways that people can take breaks from paid work , and that mothers have a right to stay home and raise their children, even if they're poor . And all people have the right to freely choose their work as the UN Declaration on Human Rights says,
even, in my opinion, if it is work that doesn't make a profit for someone else. . "Welfare benefits cannot be adequate to meet needs because that reduces the attractiveness of work." . We can't increase minimum wage substantially because that "risks labour market repercussions." There are many studies that refute this assertion. The Bank makes only one new recommendation about welfare for Ontario: increase welfare asset levels , the amount of money you can accumulate while on welfare or have in the bank and still apply for welfare. It approves of new Ontario welfare rules that allow people to keep half of what they earn and provide, they say, about $1500 worth of extended health benefits to people who leave welfare for work. In my opinion, these recommendations are ok and should be implemented in all provinces. Right wing groups like the Fraser Institute have argued for increasing the earnings exemption because they want people to be able to work for low wages and they can work for lower wages if they are receiving income from welfare too . But having an earnings exemption also decriminalizes a lot of work that people on welfare do because they can declare their earnings without losing them . Of course the recommendation that is crying out to be made after the Bank's analysis of what's wrong, is that minimum wages should go up, especially since profits are surging. But the Bank rejects this and promotes, instead, a working income supplement. In other words, taxpayers should pay what employers won't, to people who have to take low wage , part time , and casual jobs. In the US they have an earned income tax credit that is similar to this . It was promoted as an alternative to increasing the minimum wage . I hope the Canadian Labour Congress can see what's happening here and demand to replace the working income supplement with increased minimum wages. The Bank also wants a refundable tax credit for low income Canadians. lt doesn't say whether or not this would go to people on welfare. I'd need to see some details on this . It could be another form of corporate welfare, ensuring that people can survive on meager wages.
3 The Bank also wants the completion of the National Child Benefit , which , I'm assuming, means that the increased rates planned by the government should be implemented. The Child Benefit plus provincial requirements that parents (mostly women) have to look for work when their children are young is part of a corporate plan from the C. D. Howe Institute to "take children off welfare" so their mothers can afford to work at jobs that pay the same low rate that single people can afford to work at. Most provincial governments also claw back about $80 per month per child of the Child Benefit Supplement from families on welfare . Remember all the campaigning to Stop the Clawback of the Child Benefit Supplement? That's what we need to improve lives for low income families on welfare . The last recommendation from the Bank is to reduce the hOUTS of work required for an Employment Insurance claim so more people will be eligible for EI and fewer will have to go on welfare . This sounds good to me. My hope is that the CLC and anti-poverty groups in the Task Force on Modernizing Income Security for Working Age Adults (MISWAA) can make the others, including the Bank and other right wing members, agree to recommendations that replace the working income supplement with minimum wage increases and stop the Child Benefit clawback and provincial rules requiring mothers on welfare to work at paid jobs. Of course there are a host of other recommendations that would do a lot to reduce poverty : a just settlement of Aboriginal land claims ; increasing welfare rates; ending welfare rules that deny help to people in need; a progressive income tax system ; making labour laws more favourable to unions; building affordable housing ; and so on. But if we're going to get these things we'll have to fight hard for them, and analyze carefully proposals put forward, allegedly on our behalf, by corporate interests . By Jean Swanson swancam @vcn.bc.ca
Fall Concert Series in theCarnegie Theatre On the following Wednesday evenings : September 21 West Vanco uver Conce rt Band October 19 Royal City Conce rt Band November 16 Amble side Orches tra December 21 Metrop olitan Band All concerts are/ro m 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Everyone welcome !
"New e-mail: rika.ut o@van couver .ca Rika Uto Arts & Education Programmer Carnegie Community Centre 401 Main Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 2T7 Tel. (604) 665 3003 Fax (604) 606 2736 Website for DTES Community Arts Initiative : www.heartofthecitvfestival.com
The Vancouver Aborig inal Friendship Centre invites one and all to the
O ur Elder s Speak Wisd om Society Elders Fair and Dance Frida y, Sep 30,20 05,4: 00-10: 00 pm. Admis sion is by donatio n. There wiII be craft tables, flea market tables, inform ation tables, food conces sions and more! Wellne ss provide rs are welcom e. Tables are only $10.00 For tables, contact Jodi at the Center. Her numbe r is (604) 251-48 44, Extension : 311. Volunteers are also welcom e to help out at the raffle table, at the door, conduc ting the cake walk, donatin g a cake.. and especia lly to help promot e the event. The last event was a success and so much fun .
Do you recognize this man in civilian clothes?
FOE-TRY Downtown Eastside Poets
Dave Dickson can now be reached
-shit-disturbers -historians I herstorians balladeer! and rappers
at the Neighbourhood Safety Officeas a Community Uasion
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501 EastHastings St, Vancouver, BCV6A 1P9 Down!UWD PH: (604) 687-1772 FAX: (604)687-1776 UfETYOfFICE www.nso.vcn.bc.ca
Free admission Free coffee Open Mike
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dtesnso@te!us.net
Saturday, October 1, 7pm
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Re-aquaint yourself with your Neighbourhood Safety Office (NSO)
mdIm e'fY The Downtown Eastside Nei ghbourhood Safety Office is a storefront community safety office run by the Downtown Eastside Safety Society. The Society and Office's goal is to: Improve community safety, well being, and quality oflife by increasing positive outcomes for inner city residents and workers in the community. We assist in safet y concerns through our programs and meetings with Community Advisors, our agency and resident based Board of Directors. We host regular workshops and gatherings to support the community in strategizing with Vancouver Police, City of Vancouver, and Provincial and Federal agencies to promote and address safetv initiatives for Downtown Eastside ci tizens. • Drop by the Safety Office to speak with Dave Dickson, retired VPD member who is now a community liaison . Dave Hancock, VPD constable has been assigned to work with the NSO and community as an active VPD member. Continued focus on street involved youth keeps our Interim Coordinator Horacio busy, wh ile Interim Coordinator Lyn keeps the office running, organizes meetings, and assists adult residents who visit the NSO . We are open Monda y 1-5,Tuesday to Friday 9-5 . Unfortunately we are closed on weekends, holidays and for meetings . Stay tuned for the interesting history of the Neighbourhood Safety Office, a bona fide example of the DTES community acting together for its own sake and safety !
What is that? the Red Road ? Indian Pride! Hell, all I see is suicide, genocide. Police in a car chase with youth from the Red Ra~ Cars and alcohol are a deadl y combination ~ for our Nation. No winners here . ~ A youth dies , a mother cries in this tragedy ..-. Potentially with so much to offer.. so much to give .. But, sad to say, this child no longer lives . "T'
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" Blame alcohol! " screams one voice ; Another cries, " They had a choice.. Still in the night! Silence! Not a murmur, not a word. What a shame, this deadly game, Famil y and friends numb in their pain, Sorrow is deep , some can 't even sleep No tears , anger, just disbelief filled with grief And answered questions lie. What must we do to deal with this issue ? What must we say for our leaders to figh Our Elders to speak up? When will we begin a new legacy? When will we ever be Stephen Lytton
HOW TO LOVE YOURSELF By Louise Hay STOP ALL CRITICISM . Criticism never changes a thing. Refuse to criticize yourself. Accept yourself exactly as you are. Everybody changes . When you criticize yourself vour changes arc negative . When you approve of yo~self, your changes are positive. DON"T SCARE YOURSELF. Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts . It's a dreadful way to live. Find a mental-image that gives you pleasure (mine is yellow roses) and immediately switch your scary thoughts to a pleasure thought. BE GENTLE AND KIND AND PATIENT. Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be patient as you learn the new ways of thinking. Treat yourself as you would someone you really loved. BE KIND TO YOUR MIND. Self-hatred is only hating your own thoughts . Don't hate yourself for having the thoughts. Gently change your thoughts . PRAISE YOURSELF. Criticism breaks down the inner spirit. Praise builds It up: Praise yourself as
much as you can. Tell yourself how well you arc doing with every little thing. SUPPORT YOURSELF Find ways to support vourself. Reach out to friends and allow them to help you. It is being strong to ask for help when you need it. BE LOVING TO YOUR NEGATIVES. Acknowledge that you created them to' fulfill a need, Nowyo禄 are finding new, positive waysto fulfill those needs. So lovingly release the old negative patterns. TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY. Learn about nutrition. What kind of fuel does your body need to have optimum energy and vitality? Learn about exercise. What kind of exercisecan you enjoy? Cherish and revere the temple you live in. MIRROR WORK. Look into your eyes often.Express this growing sense of love you have for yourself. Forgive yourself looking into the mirror. Talk to your parents looking into the mirror. Forgive them too. Once a day say 'I love you, I really love yOIl ! DO IT NOW. Don't wait until you get wei! orlose the weight or get the new job or the new relationship. Begin now... do the best you can.
COME IN OUTTA THE DARK
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Lost and forlorn, the universe non-existent The time warp is contorted, it suits the reflection That you see in the broken mirror images of ashen gremlins portraying The mediocrity of your mind's eye view of today's society.
This image covers/follows you like a cartoon's black cloud. It follows and interrupts your every thought. Your mind the surveillance eye as in a B movie sci fi flick. A smudge covers the lens and you try to wipe it away but the informant to your resentful heart has given in to the seemingly uncivil norms of those unenlightened who act as a virus to the people, children, men, women and youth.. and those whose hearts are defenseless against the indifferent standards of ' who does not fit. .' In time , those of us who do not because of Race , Place, Bills or Frills Will realize the validity of our own magnificence and rich brilliant colors Of sun-drenched earth.. caramel light or deep brown, red, olive colored burnt sepia dream of sunset brilliance. Open your eyes to the rainbow brilliance of a culture so rich Your eyes smart at the intensity of an exalted people who are not IN the way We are ON our way Comin in outta the dark. Kat Norris, Coast SalishlNez Perce
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.wors TlUS? W OTS stands for W or d on t he Street, the annual one-day' festival held at the Central Library and on the streets bordering it. Come Sunday, Sep1.25, to 360 Geo rgia to celebrate reading and writing with free exhibits, performances, readings and hands-on activities. Last year there were 40 ,000 visitors! FREE Workshops fer-and-by
Aboriginal Women ART OP ENING FRIDAY SEPT.9
1:00 TO 3:00 THIRD FLOOR GALLERY During the course of a day we're bombarded with information, ideas and images from all sides . This can be both stimulating and overwhelming. In an effort to make some sense of chaos, we 're learned to discard a lot of what comes our way . Making a collage is a way of seeing and incorporating " gar bage" and a steady stream of words into a creative art form. It gives those of us who love to collect things an outlet for our obsessive tendencies. Anyone can make a collage - a word which comes from the French word colle which means " glue" . For seven weeks this summer, a group of us have been creating some fabulous art ! take a look at these original pieees and talk with the artists. TIle show ends Thursday, October 20.
Fridays 1:OOp m t o 3:30p m from May 13th, t o S~p t~mb ~ r 29th. 2005 Downtown Eastside Women ', Centr., )02 Columb ia 5t For In fo rma t ion
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regIstrat ion
call urol at 604 681 &480e)(t.233 l ight snac ks and bus tICkets p fo Ylde d
Seulon 18 Fa mily Law lUgha ol .-ndodl>mlly. ~lf.200S
SessIon 19 Legal resources fo r Aborig ina l worMn s . p _ U,200S
Ses510n20 Celeb rati on ,.............,.,.2005
From an activist in Ottawa:
d~5m~d;a video librar!J/Iounge:
Attached is a copy of the bylaw quietl y passed on August 24 prohibiting all street vending with or without a license except for Hotdog Stands , Chip Wagons and Ice Cream Peddlers . Arts and crafts even displaying one 's arts and crafts is illegal as well as distributing street newspapers, "
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flowers , busking and street theatre. I was arrested at the Human Rights monument for mischief on July I . I was engaged in a small , quiet peaceful protest where I was trying to warn the p.ubIic of this street vending bylaw. No charges of nuschief were laid nor was I told what I was to have done to be charged with mischief. I was handcuffed and placed in jail and all the protest material and signs were confiscated. . I was released 6 hours later with a trespass ticket and a letter from the city that I was not allowed to enter Citv Hall until September 2. The city obviouslv did not want the public to know about the bylaw; prohibiting street vending they were about to pass August 24. . . The city did not properl y consult WIth the public on this by law change as they advertised it as vending on highways instead of vending on all streets and sidewalks. -- Jane Scharf, Anti-Poverty activist , Ottawa [This is here to mirror Mayencourt ' s stupidit y in foisting the Safe Streets Act on Be. An old saying: " It' s not a crime to be poor but it might as well be."]
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A collection of collaborative videotapes made in the weekly desmedia (downtown eastside media) workshops, including a selection of unedited interview tapes from our DTES (Downtown Eastside) video archive. The archives are conversations/oral histories of residents of the downtown eastside and members of the community who have passed through our doors . We think of this project as a living archive as it records the experiences of people and gives them the time to reflect upon the past in the context of the nresent state of things . The individual accounts make evident and become part of the narrative of the DTES as a whole , revealing links that exist between community and individual or self, both inextricably connected. The archive also consists of conversations with individuals from various organizations - people who have lived and worked on issues central to the Downtown Eastside and who arc often invisible and unrecognized by the general public . The dominate media 's over-arching image of the DTES is one of drug induced disfunctionality, when in fact the area is a confluence of thriving communities dynam ic issues , and interests . It is represented by the rest of Vancou ver as a separate and distinct holding ground of the disenfranchised when, in fact, many are empowered and have articulate voices which we work to present. We are interested in the intense stratification of systems of survi val at work in this community of communities recent , established, and disappearing. The recordings document some of the diversity of lives and the active history or history of actions in the DTES .
INTERURBAN Hastings & Carrall (Southwest corner)
The Shadows Project A shadow play for the Downtown Eastside
Til t~ SIIADOWS I.R().J.~cr Sunday October 9, 7-10 pm Carn egie - 3 rd Floor We are looking for a cast and crew of 26 peo ple: 12 ac~or puppeteers, 8 narrator/si ngers, 4 production assistants. Performers and crew will be paid hono rariums during rehears als and perform ances which take place days and some eve nings Oc t. 18 - Nov . 5.
UPCOMING EVENT: 2005 Heart ofthe City Festival Outreach & The Shado ws Project
Giving Voice: Poems andLetters to the DTES
Writers'WorislTop led by Rosemary Georgeson Two-sess ions on a theme of addiction and recovery Thu rs d a y s Sept. 22 & 29, 7:30 - 9:30 pm Ca rnegie Commu nity Centre - J,d Floo r No registration required. Free All Welcome.. Rosemary Georgeson has been working with Maria Clements and u rban ink for five years, where she co-facilitated the " Downtown Eastside Women ' s Writing Group" . From that group were created two books Scape... ofthe DTES and Ritu als ofRock. They went on to create Rare Ea rth A rias - a play wri tten by six participants in the writing group. After Ra re Earth Arias Rosemary went on to outreach work for The Downtown Ea stside Community Play in 2003. As a writer in residence and community liaison, she worked with Marie Clements creating Women in Fis h Serie..., Ho ur... of Water . Presently she 's wo rking with The Galiano Community School he lping gra des 5-7 learn about their family history and helping to get First Na tions education into school. She 's a co mmunity d irector for urban ink's Fathom Labs Project - a developm ental laboratory for aboriginal and diverse new work. Rose mary is also wo rking on her solo theatre pieee and is a co-writer on The Shadows Project. For f urther information please call Rika at 665-3003 Thanks toVanCity Savings for theirsupport of this workshop.
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PUPPET MAKING WORKSHOP AT THE RUSSIAN HALL (600 Campbell St.) Learn to make pup pets, have fun, meet old friends and make new ones!
Shadow Puppet Making with
Tamara U nroe
Monday Sept. 26, 2005, 7-10 pm EVERYONE WELCOMEI
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Storytelling Workshops Saturdays, Sept. 3 - Oct. 22 2 hours from 6 to 8 pm every Saturday except for Poetry Saturdays - from 6 to 7 pm in the Atrium (3 rd Floor). Far.Jar away. in an ancient land. Once upon a time . I remember when. ..
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Who told you your first story? Who told you the . last one? All the time , we are relating stories - it is how we communicate. We are natural tellers of tales; each of us the main character in the story of our lives, and narrators of the lives of others . There are all our attempts to plunge within and soar outwards : the story is our "getting there" . Karenza Wall
St. James Thrift Store Powell Street September 8, 2005 To whom it may concern, I'm in my early seventies and I have been a customer at your St. James thrift shop on Powell for over 20 years. I am writing this letter because I am concerned about the clothing being behind the counter in your shop. My understanding is that because of fear of theft you moved the clothing behind the counter so that customers can not get at it. It makes me feel like I
People-Lending! A verrmy innterrrresttttinggg story was in some daily rag. It reported a rather unique experiment (for lack of a better word) that has had astonishing public appeal in one of Holland, Denmark or Luxemburg . The local librarian started a program whereby people could ' borrow' a live person. The person-on-Ioan would go with the borrower for I hour to the library cafeteria, sit together, and for about 45 minutes answer any questions the borrower had to ask. Simple. The response to the idea was huge. During the first week, hundreds of requests came in from all over the area . Those calling asked to speak to the types of individuals that they would almost never get to talk to and ask what, to them, were deep questions . The ' types' of individuals? Lesbian women ; Gay men; people who had been on social assistance for a long time ; schizophrenics, sex-trade workers , corporate CEOs, drug addicts , professional athletes, abused women , Aborigines and even a genius . The librarian who came up with the idea also reported that he 'd had over 30 requests , many from the ' types' mentioned, to be a volunteer person-on-Ioan. This would be an amazing thing to happen in downtown Vancouver, or with people going to different library branches (depending on who was requested in other neighbourhoods). And I' d bet there would be hundreds of volunteers ! PRT am not being trusted when I have to ask to see a piece of clothing I want. I have noticed that sometimes they let people behind the counter and my feeling is if they let one person they should let everyone do it. It seems to me that much of your clothing is donated and customers should be free to look at it, try it on and buy it if they want , rather than being treated like a possible thief. Every store has as certain amount of stealing going on but you don't see them putting up barricades and hiding everything from the customers. Thank you for your understanding. I'd appreciate it if you took the barricade down . Norma Silvey Long time DTES resident
Back to School September 2005 - well it's back to school time and I feel like a kid again . This is the time of year when most parents can relax because the automatic baby sitter kicks in. Although you love your kids, it's nice to have them back in schoo l. When I was a kid, I used to like this time of year because of the anticipation of seeing old friends and the challenge of meeting new ones (although back then I was kinda scared of strange new teachers ' n things). When I was young, about a million years ago, my mom used to leave us to our own devices during the summer and I loved it. Run around , fish, swim - do whatever I felt like in small town Canada . I guess the old sayin " It takes a village to raise a child" is true. Mom had to work to support her family (us kids). Dad was a year round fisherman and he was gone most of the 4 seasons of the year. School was our babysitter. I imagine mom was pretty happy to have us looked after in a safe environment. Anyway I'm getting off the subject. I just wanted to say that I'm back in school. I was lucky enough to be chosen as part of this years Humanities 101 class . Mom would be really happy now because one of her kids is going to university. I can hardly belie ve it myself. I look at the year ahead and I'm going to be studying Philosoph y, Architecture and a whole bunch of other stuff including Shakespeare. Our first class was on Critical Thinking and that carries over for another class then we move into Plato, Aristotle and Sophocoles. Critical Thinking is about the pros and cons of each side of an argument or as we philosophers might ask, " Is there an argument?" Wednesday was the lSI day of "First Nations Journeys" (Mon and Weds -IPM to 3PM.) It's sorta like going back to school , meet and greet old friends who we haven 't seen all summer. We are making plans for this year's class . You're welcome to come andjoin us. It's a fun and interesting coupla hours .
We like to welcome new people. If you don 't like it you don 't have to come back but should check it out. Friday, I went on another Sarti Walk and we went to Burns Bog down in Delta . The place is hot and full of things to trip over , but Bob made it interesting. An added perk was the different kinds of berries, some of which we got to taste. All day, it was like walking on a deep foam cushion or a marshmallow ("marsh" mellow .) When we left the Bog, Bob took us to a place where the first people (Pebble Tool People - l SI people to settle in the lower mainland) had their village . It's at the foot of one of the pilings of the Alex Fraser Bridge. There 's not even a marker there. Do you think maybe we should go about making one and getting it recognized by the provincial or federal government? We could even say something about the Bog and how important it is too keep it alive or natural. It is about 10,000 years old and we 're destroying it. Oops, getting off the subject again . (UPDATE: Mon. - The Bog is on FIRE this morning. Someone should get more info and write a story on the importance of the Bog.)
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I finished off the week by going to " The Fringe ." (Vancouver Fringe Festival-Granville Island - over 700 performances) I'm volunteering there for the l" time . I got to see 2 very good shows because I was the Usher at Venue 10. " The Fear ofGoing Down" is an inspired performance. Its about 3 people stuck in an elevator. My opinion is " 2 thumbs up" and if they can be compared, another even funnier show " Timmy 's Sexual Adventures." This show is a one man riot ' n he does the work of 4 or 5. You'll love
it. I think they still need volunteers (volunteer@ vancouverfringe.com) so get on down, have some fun and watch a play or two . I have a coupla more shifts this weekend and I plan on going to a few more shows. (UPDAT E: seen another reall y good shoo this evening (Sat) called " Girls Like Me" another one person riot , but this time it was woman or after watching the show you might want to call her a Femme Fatale. WARNING : some partial nudity ) Oh a friendl y reminder that our book club will be reading " Monkey Beach" by author Eden Robinson st starting on Wednesday, September 21 • Come and join us at 1130AM on Wednesdayshal
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Hi All, I just finished reading A Short History OfProgress. by Ronald Wright, a condemnation of the direction our civilization is headed (i.e., self-destruction). Here's a quote that I thought would interest: "Marx was surely right when he called capitalism, almost admiringly, 'a machine for demolishing limits.' Both communism and capitalism are materialist Utopias offering rival versions of an earthly paradise. In practice, communism was no easier on the natural environment. But at least it proposed a sharing of the goods. Capitalism lures us onward like the mechanical hare before the greyhounds, insisting that the economy is infinite and sharing therefore irrelevant. Just enough greyhounds catch a real hare now and then to keep the others running till they drop . In the past it was only the poor who lost this game ; now it is the planet." Submitted by Rolf Auer
Art Against Brutality is history. September 10,2005, proved to be an amazing day in Oppenheimer park. Over the course of the morning, people gathered, bringing their displays and helping to haul out the things that had been gathered and stored in the park 's breezeway. Berndt the Neon Wizard arrived and transformed the video room , highlighting the art already on the walls . DES Media grabbed a couple of tables and immediately set up a craft area, preparing the canvas for the group mural that would unfold over the course of the day . When Kxx from Radha Yoga was finished helping with that , she organized The Pavilion of the Healing Arts , where her group olTered an oasis of calm, moving closer to the centre as the day progressed. Heroic measures were called for and given as folks who had never worked together before accomplished things that had never been imagined. From bits and pieces of donations, cast-offs and magnificent finds , the ways of brutality were mapped out with their street signs. Chaos reigned, and out of it emerged the labyrinth. Stacy's triumphal arch of sheep was erected and the Path of Least Resistance was delineated with a double row of clothesline hung with the trophies of modern consumerism . Desolation Row took minutes to create while the gallery of Lost and Found Objects grew slowly over the day and was never completed. VANDU set up at the intersection of the Boulevard of Lost Dreams, with PIVOT close by and DERA , Anti-Poverty Committee, and various women 's groups including DAAMS and Atari ...and the Gallery Gachet. In fact, those tables hosted leaflets from various groups that could not be there but sent some literature, or giveaways. We even had the new poster and hot olTthe press teaser catalogue sent to us by the Vancouver International Film Festival, thanks Niko. The Downtown Eastside Women 's Centre was a great hit , running in with a full bin of bannock that took 3 minutes to disappear. THANK YOU CAROL! The Falon Gong People arrived; their beautiful presentation was also the most graphic. Corinne arrived without her rocking chair: I had forgotten I had
promised to get it for her. She grabbed another chair and quickly set up and began to tat. Only two hours behind schedule, the main stage burst into sound. Delanye welcomed the crowd and shared the story of her beating by the police for protesting their rough treatment of a woman in custod y. Gloria La Roque brought one of her incredible panels commemorating the Missing Women and shared the story of their creation. Maggie deVries then shared some more of her and her sister Sarah's story. While she was speaking , I noticed that the picture of Sarah that Maggie had placed on the memorial pole had flipped over so that it was facing the stage. Then Jean Swanson spoke about poor-bashing, tying everything all together with her broad perspective. At last there was live music . The Carnegie Irregulars kept the beat going as we enjoyed first the irrepressible Aboriginal Duo, The Genetics . They knocked our sox ofTas people came running from all over the park to catch the sound. Mary Sue then mesmeri zed us with her elegant keyboards. Elizabeth Fischer and Ron Samworth challenged us to wake up, and Damian made sure that we did, joining in with the Carnegie crew and some talent in the audience to play requests . As always, Peggy made me cry with her heartfelt gusto . The day passed too quickly, full of surprises and some disappointments that morphed into opportunities. There were those who had been committed that couldn't be there, and people that I had never before seen who suddenly threw themselves into doing whatever it was that needed to be done to keep the day flowing. So many thanks are due, that listing them all would have me miss this newsletter's deadline. First and foremost is the financial support we got from the Vancouver Foundation through the Neighbourhood Small Grants Project that funded us. Carnegie Centre supplied coffee and tea, DERA donated photocopying and sponsored the insurance and park permit. The Powell Street Festival Board of Directors sent us a huge message of support and Miko especially went out of her way to give us some crucial, tangible help with lattice .
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Most special thanks to Lilly and her crew for her miracle that produced a great meal for everybody Thanks go to those places that donated prizes . Darcy from VANDU won for the best cart display a lunch for four at Franny's Delicatessan on Cambie (between Hastings and Cordova). Ray won the lunch for two at Cooks Studio on Cordova (he said he'd take me if I could find him). Rudolf won the backpack from 3 Vets on 6th Ave. We will have to make other arrangements for the fellow who won the RIME gift certificate for $25 as he doesn't yet feel safe in places that sell liquor. Weare grateful to all these people and places and to the learning centre which helped with computer glitches and is closing in five minutes . I guess this will have to be continued. 'one ofmany'
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2.. I 7 TIM E co nsumes me since I began within this Unive rse creating my own rhym e + reason to ex press mysel f as this wo rld revol ves aro und the SUN
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mak ing Day + Night a reality for all one Revolution completed this plan er' s time ord ered + del ivered Now all (h)ours how to usc it best is decided by us each and every day unt il there is no more Ti me for us Death is the End or co ukd be if we let it 2 B continued ?
Register now for our next orientation session Call the EWMA Coordinator at 604 -331-1407
MENTAL HEALTH FILM SERIES OPENS WITH FREE SCREENING Step into a realm of the unreal Friday night at Gallery Gachet (88 E. Cordova) and attend a free film screening of In the Realms of the Unreal, the firstin a series of films presented bythe gallery along with Pacific Cinematheque, USC Department of Psychiatry, and the ArtStudios. The series, Madness of the Muses, will examine the links between creativity, artistic temperament, and mental illnessfrom both a psychiatric and aesthetic perspective. Opening night. with a reception at7pm and screeningat 8pm, features this film about the life of Henry Darger. He spent his childhood in Illinois's asylum forfeeble-minded children and his adulthood working as a janitor. He lived a
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quiet, nearly solitary existence, but his imaginary life was exciting, colorful and sexually provocative. When he died in Chicago in 1973, his landlady discovered in his room 300 paintings, some over 10 feet long, and a 15,OOO-page illustrated novel. The concept of the "mad artist" iscommon in society One of the arguments forthe relationship between creativity and madnessis the importance to the creative process of those experiences that can becaused or intensifiedby psychiatricillness. The validityof this link remains an intensely controversial topicwithin academic circles. For more information, stop by88 E. Cordova St. (WedSun, Noon-6pm), call 604-687-2468, orvisit the websiteat www.gachet.org.
U.S. Poverty Rate Rises to 12.7 Percent WASHINGTON (AP) -- The nation's poverty rate rose to 12.7 percent of the population last year, the fourth consecutive annual increase , the Census Bureau said Tuesday.The percentage of people without health insurance did not change.Overall , there were 37 million people living in poverty , up l.l million people from 2003. Asians were the only ethnic group to show a decline in poverty -- from 11.8 percent in 2003 to 9.8 percent last year. The poverty rate among the elderly declined as well, from 10.2 percent in 2003 to 9.8 percent last year. The last decline in overall poverty was in 2000, when 31.1 million people lived under the threshold - 11.3 percent of the population. Since then, the poverty rate has increased steadily from 11.7 percent in 200 I , when the economy slipped into recession , to 12.5 percent in 2003. The number of people without health insurance grew from 45 million to 45.8 million. At the same time, the number of people with health insurance coverage grew by 2 million last year . Charles Nelson, an assistant division chief at the Census Bureau , said the percentage of uninsured remained steady because of an "increase in government coverage, notably Medicaid and the state children's health insurance program that offset a decline in employment-based coverage." The median household income, meanwhile, stood at $44,389, unchanged from 2003. Among racial and ethnic groups blacks had the lowest median income and Asians the highest. Median income refers to the point at which half of househol ds earn more and half earn less. Regionally , income declined only in the Midwest, down 2.8 percent to $44,657. The South was the poorest region and the Northeast and the West had the highest median incomes . The increase in poverty came despite strong economic growth, which helped create 2.2 million jobs last year. "I guess what happene d last year was kind of similar to what happened in the early 1990s where you had a recession that was officially over and then you had several years after that of rising poverty," Nelson said. "... These numbers do reflect changes between 2003 and 2004. They don't reflect any improvements in the econom y in 2005"
Tim Smeedi ng, an economics professor at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University, says the nation has experienced a shift from earnings income to capital income and capital gains, which aren't reflected in the Census Bureau's latest numbers. "Most of that growth in the economy over the last couple of years has gone to higher income p:cople and has taken the form of capital income -- interest, rents, dividen ds," Smeeding said. The poverty threshold differs by the m~keup and size of a household. For instance , a family of four . with two children was considered living in poverty If income was $19,157 or less. For a family of two with no children, it was $12,649. For a person 65 and over living alone, it was 9,060. The estimates on poverty, uninsured and income are based on supplements to the bureau's Current Population Survey, and are conducted over three months , beginning in February, at about 100,000 households nationwide. The only city with a million or tnore residents that exhibited a significant change in poverty leve~ last year was New York City, which saw the rate 10crease from 19 percent to 20.3 percent. 1*As an addendum to this article. almost a!l ofthe people left in New Orleans when the Hurricane struck were too poor to buy transportation. rent a room in a hotel. or transfer any assets to safety. Lo almost all shown on the news are black people. What is really telling is that two almost identical photos, one ofa young black man in chest-deep water and one ofa young white couple in chest-deep water had the following explanations below them when they were published: I) A black man after looting a local grocery store ; 2) A couple after finding bread and soda left In the ruins ofa corner store . Ed)
+ This page was blank As I was Now it's future Is mine Lei me exp lain If possible Being blank is internal, personal The year before I was born There was blankness That I belonged to Then from that, like everybody else I appeared Once we were all blank Yet Here we are All Not blank For a brief time We are not blank ...
Winners aren't claiming prizes! Some days you just can't give things away . Pathway Information Centre held a successful "Trades Training and Jobs" expo at 390 Main Street back in July . At that time we had a number of great door prizes including, at the last minute , a 2-day fork lift course donated by Hunter Industries. [The gasp of the winner was worth the whole day!) However, there are a number of smaller prizes that no one has claimed. Every day I catch someone fondling the great gear provided by LogoTech and wondering ifit is for .the taking. We have hats, tote bags, and a fleece pullover. i So.... last chance. If your name is on this list comet 1------ - - --- \ ~A.clai~J.:~~~-c .And bring som~_!:_'!~we _4~t!.~ ,- - --- -- -- - ----- -- - ------- ------ -- -- - -- - --- - - - - -- ----- - ----- --- ---~-I
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We are alive What you do Is your choice Teresa Gray
Celebrating Our Journeys The Downtown Eastside Womens' Centre invites you to our 2nd Annual Street Party on Columbia between Hastings and Cordova
Hi Carnegie: I know 65 is considered elderly by D.E. standards but I j ust wanted you to know I spent the summer swimming lengths (to escape the heat and humidity) Also I just purchased icc skates for the cold , cold winter. Joanne
In recogn ition and cele bration of the women in this community - their struggles, accompl ishments and survival. Men are welcome.
Sunday. September 18, 12 - 4 pm.. Free Food, Entertainment, Games, Activities, Workshops, Presentations
& A Special Artisans Market Supported by : Camegie Community Centre, Cheam Fishers, DAMS, DERA, Downtown Eastside Food Co-op, PHS, Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House, Positive Women's Network, Powell Place, Vancouver Native Health and YWCA Crabtree Comer.
Guess Who Is 65? Joanne Hamen (Smyth) Lots of love and admiration from your entire family. Rock on Joanne!
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Bv and large thats the way life will go at certain times To take a chance or maybe 10 play il safe. either riskv or sublime Do YOU have sonic goal within vour reach, in your liie of calm and strife or arc they lost - 10'bc found - don 't waste your time. do not lose your hallowed ground. As this spinning earth rotates around. go oul and reach from sea 10 sea within your brimming eyes I lear . I cnn almost sec your soul so ncar . With your flowing gown and softly lighted hair in braids . I catch my breath as you leisurely sip from a cup of Mandarin tea did I ever mention or drop you a linc 10 apologize for feelings hurl. with you left in tears' if. maybe not , please consider this now . Who 's 10blame when situations go awry " hold 10 your strong thoughts : choose whether 10 live or die lor thcm as the moon tides ebb slowly away You know you mentioned 10 mc once , I think as I recall , about certain demands on your time, both before and after thc fall I should have listened 10you more carefully when you spoke 10 me heart 10 heart, of your inncr veiled secrets or ~ ct was it a pica" Alwavs in a hurry. that 's my nature , as you do this wcIl know and vet no onc exists who is so perfect as purc as windswept driven snow I fc II it to be necessary at this time .. just thought to ICI you know about mv being wrapped up in the cocoon of your love as il ever will glow . as it surely will warmly burn, slowly yc: forever moving inside of my being as you know I always go with the 110\\ 10 live or 10 die for the love of you . a love that never 110ws I just felt I had 10 Ict you know. • • Robyn Livingstone
the disasters COIllC quicker and harder onc day the world is one way. then tomorrow its forever changed and we're adrift in a river moving 100 quickly, 100 fast we race over the edge into the Apocalypse Seems like its always teetering on the brink Since I was a child: before that even people lived with a sense of foreboding always in a rush 10 do it all before the whole universe blows itself to hell Never enough time time 10 relax enough, 10justlivc
To play thc hand as deal! One chance, slim odds cry foul ""!!I Forsaken, appeal the One. yet [clt No reason. purpose, a soul Reckoning fate, futilily . the future Whims and whyfors. woes untold Become bitter bane, a trickle Swollen upon hate. too bold Embracing deceit. deception , lies Rampant , raging "gainst all ' Iii reproached, rueful , remorseful flies To Faith, last refuge of a scoundrel
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We all then headed for the Pebble Tool People Homestead (the underpart of the Alex Fraser Bridge) one of the oldest settlement sites unearthed in North America. Sarti pointed out that after it was proven to be one of the earliest settlements, it was quickly made into an offramp for the bridge. I had no idea of such history in Vancouver and was most thankful to have learned this . It's the day after and I can hardl y walk, but the experience was well worth my having gone . It does one good to reconnect with nature. I highly recommend this kind of trip and am looking forward to the next one. Thank you all very much, _~ ~ Colleen Carroll
/ " , iactuatly burning as this is readied f or the Newsletter) I was reading the September I, 2005 issue of the Carnegie Newslett er and found this announcement of a Sarti Walk through Bums Bog. So up to the third floor I went and signed up. I was the last one to ~I " r~ //;~ get a space but I wondered just what I was in for? It\.~~ ~~ \~ " " " \(ll.I'\~\' (r'~'f-:~ .~''''1''-tl[ . '!tBecause 0 f great dI'ffiICU Ity wa lki ung, I had a Iways ....~ " .~. :'i '~'f , - ~ yl ..u.,,, ~ ;:: "f" ::'{ "f ~'\, ~ ~ , J' , . Ik passed up these wa ts. ,,~ /. )"'\" ~ '\\ ' ~ ¥( " " > The big day came, and we all got on the bus for a NY .!'\J <Yo most enjoyable ride out of Vancouver, thru Rich~ II ~{' I mond and into Delta. The bus finall y stopped at a (. .~ landfill site. All were issued a bag lunch as we dis. ~\ .{ ~ , embarked (and I thought: The cooks at the Carnegie \,\'0:.1-. • . r .( think of everylhing) and I was so thankful for the .=>" ",- ' .~,\ / "r-l+-+--+-+--f~~"'--~:rll bottle of water. Ilf 11 As we walked along a power line path we picked j uicy, ripe blackberries and enjo yed the feeling of walking on something besides cement. It is so much Ocean of Humanit!Jr;--r....,....,. nicer to walk on the forgi ving bog . We passed an historical place where well over a century ago a felAn ocean of humanity low who lived in the bog had been murdered in his Come , embark on a journey with me, home there and the case has never been solved. Travel into the world of the unknown Time for Cold Case Files to step in I'd say . perhaps the twilight zone Shortl y thereafter we turned into the bog . It was a world of fantasy , reality, insanity. high and dry (for a bog) and very eas y walking for Capture the hearts ; shake the very core these old knees and hips on the sponge like moss . of our being. Paint your collage We made our way past stunted bonsai-like trees Examine your innermost fears, picking muscatels, a small blue berry , and as we or even an ocean of tears , went along admiring the coral-like growth of mosses Colour Your World . in red , yellow, orange, light green and grey. We fiGive us a taste of sanity, pain, or even beauty nally arri ved at our destination - an old peat-mining Reach into the very depths of our souls area that was in operation before WWII. There, silence is not golden.. We ate, talked and even took a bit of a nap, but all maybe touch the darkest comer of our lives too soon it was time to gather up what we had taken Where dreams are real or maybe not in with us, and go further down the trail. The flora Escape is the only way : run ! run! run! and fauna continued to be fascinating and many of Easy but bittersweet. us filled our lunch bags with wild berries on the way Stephen Lytton back to the bus .
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OWNTOW N EASTSIDE YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY 49 W.Cordova
FIXED EXCHANGE SITE - 5 E Hastings NEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN - 3 Routes: 604-685-6561 City - 5:45pm - 11:45pm Overnieht - 12:30am - 8:30am Downtown Eastside - 5:30pm - 1:30am O~~, Q)
604-251-3310
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Editor: PaulR Taylor; cove r a rt by Diane Wood, layout by Lisa David & Stephen Lytton.
Tuesday, September 27
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.~ IuIppmlnl: on th~ Squambh Nation'. t~nitory.
Contact Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA
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2005 DONATIONS
Submission Deadline for nest issue: w~ .('knowlrdll~ tIuIt Ca meKl~ Co mmmdty Cent re, llI1d thb
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Definition (if"cha r it y": (pre-socialist usage) <in an exp loi tative soc iety> [a we ll-to-do person or institution J which gives donat ions to sel ec ted 'poo r people' in a humiliating manner while usi ng philanthropic and rel igious slogan s in order to con ceal the necess ity of radical soci al cha nges .
THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PUDLICATION OF TH E CARNEGIE COMM UNITY CENT RE ASSOCIATION Articles represent the views of individ ual
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Libby 0 .-$40
Barry for Dave McC.-$50 Rolf A.-$45 Margaret 0 .-$25 Christopher R.-$5 0 Mary C-$ 30 Bruce 1 -$30 U'mista - $20 Heather S.-$25 RayCam-$30 Gram -$200 Paddy -$30 Glen B.-$50 John S.-$80 Penny G .-$21 Jenny K. -$20 Dara C.-$20 Sandy C.$ 20 Audrey-$20 Wes K.-$50 Joanne H .-$20 Rockingguys -$20 The Ed~e Community Liaison Ctt -$200 Pam B.-$ 25 Wm B-$20 Janice P.-$20 Michael C.-$50 Sheila 8.-$ 25 Beth 8 .-$20 Anonymous-$2.50
DO YO U HAVE A LEGAL PHOULEM ? Come to our FREE CLINIC On Carnegie 's 3rd tl~or US C Law Students ' Legal Advice Program You must make all appoilltment.
Working for You 1070 -16-11 Commc:n:ia l Dr. VSL 3YJ Ph one: 775 -0790 Fax : 775·08SI
The Downt own Ea~t.side Residents Association
At 12 East Hastings St. or caJl 604-682-093 1
Tuesdays
7pm - 9p m.
Articles represent the views of individual contributors and not of the Association. Contrbutorsarenotpermitted to malign Of attack Of relegate anyperson Of gr~ or class, indoong adcicts and poor people, to a Jevel referred to or imp ying 'less than human'..
She's back!! ! Margaret Prevost, who has been vacationing in sunny locales for months, has returned to pick up her duties as President of the Carnegie Community Centre Association. She actually started a stay in Vancouver General Hospital in November 2004 , went home as 'better' just before Xmas, checked herself back in two days later and had to spend the next Eight Months fighting all manner of infections, complications, allergic reactions to powerful antibiotics, seizures, even loss of the ability to feed herself. .. but Margaret, as always ,just spit in the eye of the Man with the Sythc and is now looking and feeling better than she has in years .
Day-pass outrages ('"You let all my plants die!") were mostly like water off a duck s back. They usually got one or more people scrambling but the diehards (us) are used to The Wrath of Margaret. After being transferred to G.F.Strong for rehab, she tried to convince visitors that stories of escapades from there were about stufT that had happened years ago. Yeah , fat chance. If you know Margaret you won't even blink when she says sortees of her and fellow patients (all disabled and confined to wheelchairs or even bed) varied between Safeway, the bowling alley and even the local pub (and then having to all sneak back in so nurses wouldn't read them the Riot Act) . Maybe her timelines are accurate as the photograph here is Margaret at her AA birthday party . Welcome home to the Downtown Eastside! By PAUL;R TAYLOR
TAKE BACK THE NIGHT
Wheelchair pushers will be available. Women are asked to come prepared and imagine what this space could be used for if none of us had to fear violence, especially as the evening on any day deepens into night. Male supporters are asked to call Vancouver Rape Relief & Women's Shelter for information on how your respectful support can be best util ized.
Women Take Action Against Rape. Create Safety & Freedom by being Together in Public Space.
FRI DAY, SEPTEMBER 16,2005 - 7:30PM LOSY LAG O ON, STA NLEY PARK (ALBERNI & C I-IJLCO) Come walk , run , cycle, yoga, stargaze . â&#x20AC;˘. in Stanley Park. Call to sign up.
Wear black to accentuate your experience of the night. free childcare available IW " . please call to register, 604-872-8212 B1 ...
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