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-N EWSLETTER
ANNUAL WOMEN'S HOUSING MARCH
5th
Immediate!J followed by a...
l)'TES BLOCK PARTY To ~CK. CONDOS ON 100 B
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Saturday Sep 17@ around 4 Main and Hastings Music, food, and the last bit of summer sun!
Organised by: Aboriginal Front Door, Carnegie Community Action Project, Citywide Housing Coalition, DTES Neighbourhood Council, DTES Power of Women Group, Streams of Justice, Gallery Gachet, Vancouver AJea Network of Drug Users. AFD; CCAP; CHC; DNC, DEPOWG, SoJ ; GG; VANDU.
We want 100% social housing, not condos, at the old Pantages site. The Downtown Eastside isn't for developers to make millions; it's for our vibrant and vital low-income community.
Artists Boycott Pantages Condos Vancouv~r's v ibrant arts community is under threat by the growmg housing crisis. Nowhere is the lack of accessible housing more obvious than its Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, where condo development is outpacing socia l hous ing affordable to residents at a rate of II to 1. Despite that, the City of Vancouver's housi ng policy states I: I replacement of units, and their supposed motto for their DTES plan is "Revitalization Without Displacement." Property developer Marc Williams plans to build a condominium called Sequel 138 on the grounds of the recently gutted Pantages Theatre onE Hastings. The proposal includes 79 condos at $227,000 (and up), a token 18 units for social housing (as required by the current Downtown Eastside/Oppenheimer District zoning), and 12 commercial units, one of which .W:il.liams is pitching as an "art space". Although the Initial proposal c laimed the support of The Art Space Action Society -a group with no history or direct relationship with the DTES community - ASA has since stated that they a re not involved in the controvers ial Sequel 13 8 condo development project. However, like most Vancouver neighbourhoods, an overwhelmin g majority of artists and residents of the DTES cannot affo rd to buy condos and would likely experience barriers to accessing an art space designed for condo owners. It is clear that the proposed development is not intended for these tow-income residents The development's marketing efforts suggest otherwise and have been intentionally misleading in this respect. As artists, c ultura l workers and arts oroanizations 1:> ' we support the DTES Community Resolution in opposing condos in the heart of this neighbourhood. Yes, Downtown Eastside artists are in desperate need of studio, gallery and housing space- an unaddressed need that is long overdue - but it is clear that th is does not come with the development of condos on the I 00 Block of East Hastings. We do not want to ~ct as co.mpl icit in a project that will further displace, 1mpovensh a nd harm residents of the Downtown Eastside and make people feel increasingly excl uded in their own neighbourhood.
Furthermore, contrary to wide spread myth, artists do not b~nefit from gentrification and we reject being exploited by developers in order to further their marketing objective. Rather artists (among countless other residents!) have been evicted to make way for such developments, and the arts community has already suffered the loss of numerous DTES cultural spaces due to land speculation and draconian cuts to cultural funding. On the choppi ng block as this is written are Red Gate, Dynamo, and possibly Gallery Gachet as their lease comes up next year. They and many others may join a long list of art spaces based wi thin the DTES who have shuttered their doors or had to relocate in recent years .. including Access Seamrippers, The Peanut Gallery, 69 Pender, the' Crying Room, Hellen Pitt, Spartacus Books, The Church of Pointless Hysteria, WRKS DVSN and many more. Any benefit to artists comes in the shape of short term opportunistic projects with little legacy, or no sustainable development or equity for local artists or local arts organizations. Ultimately, artists do not benefit from, nor are the agents of, these incredibly harmful processes of gentrification. Therefore, we demand that existing artists' spaces be protected and supported, and that under-resourced and underrepresented artists in our community who do not already have spaces for developing their practices be provided with space which is accessible to them: affordable, low-barrier, low-income friendly spaces. We demand that these spaces be protected and provided for without displacement. We refuse to be coerced into choosing between homes and cultural space. We demand access to both. We who are artists and cultural workers living in the Downtown Eastside and throughout Vancouver, oppose any condo development on the Pantages site (Sequel 138). We hold the proposed development to be ~nethical due to its active role in gentrification, pavmg the way for future, similar projects to profit off of the poverty of other. Such challenge the fabric of the Downtown Eastside community by insisting that those who already live and work in this neighbourhood are unwelcome here. The DTES has one of the highest ratios of artists per population of any neighbourhood in Canada and deserves respect for our ability to understand and plan for our growth and success. Peter Hewlett and others
Kid
Daughter of Mine
There's a dealer on the next block kinda dude makes the mommas talk Up Down Powder Rock got a .22 in his sock Daddy's gone, can ' t help me now 15 and I'm dyin' ohh 15 and I'm dyin' Mama told me don't go down the block on skid row take what you got, tomorrows too 15 and I'm dyin' ohh 15 and I'm dyin' Sister Sweet on the corner lookin' real neat for the customer can't stand the heat call the Coroner We tried but she never heard We tried warnin' her Daddy never even knew you were gone 15 and I'm dyin', how long can I go on? 15 and I'm dyin', not for long
Down the block in a shop T-shirt sez 'the DTES it's all it's Cracked out to be' and the East Van cross all stylized & clean Irony is no one in this ' hood 's got 35 bucks f'- \ to advertise the fact we live here ( ./' down here where daughters like mine call just to make sure you're alive, still ballin' daughters like mine deserve better than what they've been given, the life we're livin' better ' n me who sometimes dives into the spoon just to forget for awhile what a mess they've made out of life -theirs, mine & hers deserve better'n having to worry if the old man got home OK? be OK okay?
Got you strung out double quick Steal all day for a pin-prick Now you an addict gettin' s ick 15 and I'm dyin' real quick 15 and I'm dyin'
the silver lining of my life is my daughter reminds me of what I do wrong and what I oughtta makes the sun shine on a rainy day always takes my pain away and to her I'd just like to say I love you girl, don't ever go away only damn thing I ever did that was totally beautiful I gotta soulful AI
My Grandson Garrett T Stevens I'm so very proud of him He has opened my eyes To realise you can be a success in all of your endeavours He is teaching me you don't need drugs or alcohol To become in whatever you do.
Thursda~;:t 11\1riting Collective begins the fall session on Thursday, September 15. We meet every Thursday, 2-4pm, in the third floor classroom at Carnegie. Join us for two hours of free, drop-in creative writing discussion and writing prompts.
Everyone is welcome! www. tlzu rsdayswritingcollective. ca
I just want to thank him for being in my life I hope you all the best in whatever you will become. Proud of you Love you Grandmother, Bonnie E Stevens
Defending the DTES by any Legal and Moral means Necessary Part VII *The End of Charity, And the beginning of Love: The Evo lution ofthe Revolution begins .. *A rchbishop J Michael Miller says No Food for 500 Let them eat cake! " God is love .. the heart of the Christian faith: the Christian image of God." (Benedict XV I) Similar to Louis XVI the self-proclaimed Sun-king, married to Queen Marie Antoinette *(Judy Graves city advocate fo r the homeless worries about the hung ry eating cast-off dough-nuts and pastri es, instead of nutritious food -as what the Sisters of
Atonement once provided.)[And the Catholic Church ended the myriad services provided for decades with the quiet expedient ofnever assigning new personnel .to the order - i.e. posting nuns. This decision was made perhaps 15-20 years ago when a virulently subservient bishop went along with directions from his wealthy developer deacons and supported the demise ofthe downtown eastside. -Ed.] Please forgive the anarchy of this writing as it is an example of non-linear perception ... *Marc Will iams emphasized: "This half-block of Hastings is a dead zone. Apart from drug-deali ng, it has seen no activity for 30 years. There will be no displacement of anyone. No one lives there now. Not one person. Only rats. No one w ill be displaced" King Marc Williams of Worthington properties and proposed Sequel 138 Condos (King Williams also cruell y promised to feed 400 DTES protesters with milk and cookies at the launch of our Boycott of Sequel 138 Condos-he wants to place an Abomination( Sequel 138) at the Heart of our Community... "Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law." Romans 13 " He who oppresses the poor shows contempt fo r their Maker" Proverbs " I want Dr. King to know that I didn't come to Selma to make his job difficult. I really did come thinking I
could make it easier. If the (oppressor) realizes what the alternative is, perhaps they wi ll be more willing to hear Dr. King." Malcolm X "Nonviolence is fine as long as it works." Malcolm X I was at the church of the holy rosary cathedral when Archbishop Miller gave the send-off to the Sisters of Atonement. Archbishop Miller, who used to have his office down the hall from Pope Benedict (Vatican Cy) said, I quote" Individuals pass on, missions pass on, and communities pass on".(Again, see Ed.] Given the context I take that as a direct threat. Near Pigeon Park, new condos called 21 Doors are about to open in November. The developer has said he hop~ these "good" people will drive off the "bad" elements in the area. One would conclude that with the help of City Hall the days of our Street market fair are numbered. We now face an unprecedented encroachment, " rape" and "pillaging" of our Downtown EastSide. It's foolhardy and deadly to pretend otherwise. All of us will have to take the myriad of pacifiers out of our mouths and fight with all our hearts, souls, minds and spirit. We do not have the option offailing. So much of the blood of our peoples, male, female and trans has been spilled. Was it all for nothing? Will we honour their Spirit and their lives? Will we allow the system to put the final stake into our heart? If Sequel 138 condos is built, it wi ll be the most important domino -that will be the beginning of the end of our community. These things that I have written, I said in more detail last Tuesday at a special City Council hearing on the Vancouver Riots. There were only 5 public speakersitself a travesty of open democracy and justice. You can see it at Vancouver city council website on the videotape-it is towards the last quarter of the tape. The End of Charity, And the beginning ofLove. It is time to remove the crutch of charity and open our hearts and beings to what is just, equitable and right. Sisters of Charity-i speak to you-long ago when Mother Teresa was just starting out, a long deceased Franciscan monk who worked with her confessed to me that they did terribly wrong things. They to ld the masses of the poor if they converted to Christ, they will be given a meal and a blanket. They understood nothing of conversion but everything of a meal and a blanket. This is an opportunity for redemption. Please 1 take it... Love, homeless dave and Anonymous Zero
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A Community Aware presents a new workshop series
Effective Protest Then what? Six Tuesdays 7:30 to 9:30 pm starting October 18, 2011 in the MOSA IC meeting room, 1720 Grant Street, a few steps east of Commercial Drive. All sessions for $ 15 total! To register contact communityaware@gmail.com T ommy Douglas, Martin Luther King, Gandhi and many others have created social change. We want to explore how to create effective change. A Community Aware (ACA) is composed of a group of local residents who have organized & participated in 12 years of workshops in the Commercial Drive community. Workshop topics have included add iction, First Nations issues, the current financial collapse, personal finance and economic alternatives.
To the Editor (Vancouver Sun): Re: "Family members decry closures of group homes for developmentally disabled," by Evan Duggan 2918 Congratulations to Mr. Duggan and the Vancouver Sun on excellent reporting. This story is another in a long line of travesties of social justice in BC. It is yet another reason w hy the BC Liberals should never again be elected to govern. Sincerely, Rolf Auer
Family members decry closures of group homes for develo disabled
Jenny Kwan speaks at a media gathering in Vancouver regarding disabled families and community living. Photograph by: Wayne Le idenfrost, PNG
Advocates for the developmentally disabled are renewing calls for the B.C. government to stop closing group homes, forcing long-term residents to move to less supportive environments. A group of disabled residents and concerned family members gathered with members o~the NDP in front of Vancouver General Hospital on Montlay, to draw attention to budget cuts and highlight the closure of a group home in Richmond that will force four residents to relocate against their will. Since 2009, funding to Community Living British Columbia (CLBC), the Crown agency that handles assisted living, has been steadily eroding, according to information provided by the NOP. In 2006 and 2007, each client of CLBC received annual
funding of $51,183. In 2011, that dropped to $45,320, and it is expected to decrease to $41,449 by 2014, the NDP said. According to the CLBC, however, the province has increased its operational funding every year since the agency's creation in 2005. For 2011-12, its budget increased from just over $690 million in 2010-11 to $701 million. Paul Sibley, the CLBC's director of regional operations for Vancouver Coastal and the North, said the number of those in need of assisted living continues to increase each year, which means fewer dollars per person. That budget crunch has led to the closure of an estimated 63 group homes across the province since 2009, MLAs Jenny Kwan and Nicholas Simons told reporters. In many cases, residents are being relocated to home-share arrange ments, in which private households host disabled residents. Letters and calls from families troubled by the closures have been flooding in, said Simons, MLA for Powell River and the Sunshine Coast, and critic for community living. "The government said very specifically that they would not torce moves, ana they would consult with families," Simons 路 said. "They didn't consult with families.... They're displacing adults from their homes." Some of these residents have lived in their group homes for 20 years, he said. One of those slated for closure is the Williams Road group home in Richmond. Earlier this month, officials from CLBC told residents and their families that they would have to apply for accommodation in home shares- private homes that provide no on-site health care or social workers. Family members say their concerns have fallen on deaf ears, and they want the government to restore fund ing to the organization that runs the home, which provides longterm accommodation for developmentally disabled adults in addition to 24-hour assistance, security and supervision. There is concern that private hosts, who may not have the training to deal with complex developmental challenges, could be overwhelmed by the needs of people with severe disabilities, said Lynette Pollard-Eigert, whose daughter Aurora (Rory), has resided at Williams Road for 19 years. Pollard-Eigert and her partner, Cheryl Bucar, don't know where their 41-year-old daughter will end up when Williams Road closes. "I was told ... that we need a plan in place by Aug. 21 ,' Pollard-Eigert said, noting that no fixed date has yet been set for the closure. "I want Rory to stay where she is," she said, adding that she's not comfortable putting Rory in a home share and fears her daughter will miss her friends. and lose the sense of community she's developed over two
decades. She and Bucar wrote a letter to the Minister of Social Development, Harry Bloy, when they heard that their daughter would be uprooted. They said they were not consulted or provided any other option, save for a home share, which they consider unsafe and unreasonable. Bloy did not respond to a request for an interview by deadline. "It's premature" to make conclusions about where residents like Rory will end up, said Sibley. "We don't want them [the residents] to lose their friends," Sibley said. He said CLBC is starting to consult with families who are troubled by closures at group homes such as Williams Road. Sibley said home shares are administered and monitored on behalf of the agency by "a combination of non-profit and private organizations." Those operating a host home require references, are interviewed, complete home study, and undergo criminal record checks, he said. According to the NDP, the shift to home shares is a costcutting measure because CLBC is required to trim its budget by $22 million this year. There are nearly 2,400 adults with developmental disabilities living in CLBC group homes, and about 3,000 in home shares across the province, Sibley said. He said CLBC takes care of 13,600 people with developmental disabilities province-wide. By EVAN DUGGAN
yoga at: Qppenheitner Join Kelsi for a gentle Hatha Yoga class followed by a healthy snack. Class will be every Thursday at llam Mats will be provided and class will include a series of gentle, relaxing stretches that are suitable for all people of all ages.
Assistance rates shame our province] Editorial in the Victoria Times Colonist 30/8/ 2011 , John Barna is disabled. terminally ill and dying in desperate poverty made worse by the provincial government. He is a symbol of the cruelty of income assistance policies in this province, and his case should be an impetus to broad reform. Barna is in the final stages of pancreatic cancer. He's unable to work and, like some 79,000 British Columbians, relies on disability benefits. Benefit levels are set by the government to ensure a life of desperate poverty. A single disabled person receives up to $375 a month for shelter. (MLAs can claim up to $1 ,580 a month for a second home in the capital.) Imagine what kind of accommodation is available for that amount in this region, and living in those conditions with terminal cancer. The government provides $53 I a month for all other expenses - food, non-prescription medications, utilities, clothes and everything else. That is, at most, $18 a day. In reality, it's less for most people as housing consumes more than $375. Barna also received $165 a month in crisis assistance, because of the terminal cancer. As Barna's cancer progressed, he was unable to get proper nutrition on that amount of money. His doctors said he required six cans ofEnsure food supplements a day, which would cost $400 a month. He couldn't afford that on the $700 a month he had for all his expenses. So he asked the Soc ial Development Ministry for help in June. Staff said they would arrange to have the food supplement delivered- but Barna would lose the $ 165 a month in crisis funding. That would leave him worse off, he said, because he would no longer be able to afford food or to pay his utility bills. r Barna turned to his MLA, Carole James, for help. She wrote Social Development Minister Harry Bloy. It took the ministry two weeks to reply, saying that it was working on a response. Only when James contacted the media, and reporters started calling, did the ministry agree to provide the needed food supplement without cutting Barna's benefits. This case is, sadly, not an aberration. And the consequences are devastating, not just for the individuals, but for families. There are, for example, about 5,000 single-parent fami lies in B.C. surviving on disability
benefits. . .d For a parent with one child, the provmce prov1 es $570 for accommodation and $672 for everything else. There is other assistance- MSP and Pharmacare coverage, GST credits and federal child care benefit. But these families are surviving on well under $20,000 per year. T he children are being raised in legislated poverty; the consequences, in poorer health, lower education and greater social problems, will be visited upon them -and society- for a lifetime, or more. Income assistance also condemns desperate families to poverty. A single parent with two ch!ldren and. "multiple barriers to employment" rece1ves a maximum of$660 for rent and $376 for eve rything else. With the child credit, the family's income is about $ 16,000 a year. Certainly, income assistance rates should encourage people to seek employment. Some_ might argue t~at those on welfare are paying the pnce for bad cho1ces. But people do not choose to become disabled. Children do not choose to be born into poverty. And B.C.'s assistance rates are so inadequate as to be destructive. The rates have been increased once since 1994, in 2007. That is also a mark of government indifference to the plight of some ofthe province's poorest people. As John Barna's case shows, we have institutionalized cruelty in the guise of income assistance policies. That is morally wrong, and will have damaging consequences for decades to come.
Ongoing Neglect of Least Well-Off Citizens An editorial, "Assistance rates shame our province," in the Victoria-based newspaper, The Times Colonist, stated on August 30, 2011 that income assistance rates in BC are abysmally low-so low, in fact, as to be an egregious effrontery to the good_ and ~ecent social justice standards hitherto estab~1shed m Canada; particularly, elsewhere than m BC. Quoting the editorial: "Benefit levels are set by the government to ensure a life of desperate poverty. A s ingle disabled person receives up to $375 a month for shelter. (MLAs can claim up to $1,580 a ~onth for a second home in the capital.)" (italics mme) The rates were increased once since 1994, in 2007. On another note, from an article by P?liticaiAtti~ud:,s, "BC Liberals Give Themselves Mass1ve Pay Ra1se,
Near end May 2007, the BC Liberals decided to give themselves a huge pay raise, and simultaneously refused to increase the minimum wage (set anywhere from $6.00/hr to $8.00/hr). At the same time: -BC had the fastest growing gap between the rich and poor in Canada. -BC had the highest poverty rate. -BC had the highest poverty rate for seniors. -BC had the highest overall poverty rate. -Seniors were facing a shortage of long-term beds. -Students were facing massive debtloads. -Prents were struggling to find and pay for child care. Many of these previous points are still in effect today. On August 29, 2011, in The Vancouver Sun, an article by Evan Duggan, "Family members decry closures of group homes for developmentally disabled," chronicled the continued closures of group homes by the BC government. Quoting the article: "Since 2009, funding to the Community Living British Columbia (CLBC), the Crown agency that handles ass isted living, has been steadily eroding, according to information provided by the NDP." A funding shortfall by the BC government, which has led to the closure of 63 group homes across the province, has forced developmentally disadvantaged clients to take up residence in home-share arrangements (that provide no on-site health care or social workers). Often, the result is displacements of clients from their long-time homes, which forces them to leave friends or even family behind. The CLBC looks after the well being of 13,600 people with developmental disabilities province wide. These several instances exemplify a provincial government that is unconcerned with the plight of the poor or of the disadvantaged. Its track record shows it pays much more attention to giving financial benefits to business (the HST fiasco is one example), hoping desperately that somehow these will result in a better economy (even though it has been endlessly shown to be a false premise), and therefore in more jobs (which is the BC Liberals' version of helping people who (for whatever reasons) can't help themselves). As The Times Colonist editorial concludes," ... [W]e have institutionalized cruelty in the guise of income assistance policies. That is morally wrong, and will have damaging consequences for decades to come." By ROLF AUER
Word on the Street a t Carnegie Centre: Saturday, September 24 Free writing workshops, seminars and talks A ll workshops at Carnegie Centre will be on a sign up 路'first come, fi rst served" basis, with a 15 person space limit unless otherwise noted. In th e T heatre: 12:30 -4:30 pm - How to make a Chapbool<: An Info Session and Workshop for controlling the m eans ofProduction. with Mercedes Eng Chapbooks are short, self-published, homemade books. The preliminary 30 minute info session is open to all. This is followed by a 3\.-'2 ho ur, hands-on works hop in which participants will make up to 5 copies of their own I 0- 12 page books. Materials are supplied free of charge. Please bring your work on a memory stick, disc, or handwritten copy. Parti cipants wishing to make books m ust register for the workshop in the office at Carnegie Community Centre. (20 people max.) For questions and info, email event facilitator Mercedes Eng at engmercedes@yahoo.com. 5:30 - 7:00 DTES Poets Open Mic Poetry Night hosted by Diane Wood Come and join Diane, DTES Poets, The Wo rd on the Street Vancouver Poets, and others for a lively nig ht of open mic readings. Sign u p for 10-minute read ing slots on a first-come fi rst-served basis. In th e C lassroom : (3rd Floor) 11 :00 am. Megaphone with Sean Condon Megaphone Magazine is a street paper sold by lowincome and homeless people in Vancouver. Publ ished writers from the "Voices of the street'; literary issue will read their recent poems and prose. 11:30 am. Poetry is Dead with Daniel Zomparelli A ward-wi nning and nationally acclaimed poets fro m the "Vancouver: Influence" issue will read their curre nt work. Featured poets: Billeh N ickerson, Gillian Jerome, Elizabeth Bachinsky .... 12 noon. Ricepaper Magazine w ith Anna Ling Kaye Ricepaper, published by The Asian Canad ian Wri ters' workshop, showcases Asian Canadian artists, writers and perfo rmers. Writers and poets from Ricepaper \.Viii read and share their creative w riting.
12:30 pm. WHAT WE WANT= Writing a Manifesto Much is said about the Downtown Eastside; less often are local residents actually listened to. This workshop will focus on fram ing what we wantand what we don't want- in the form of a manifesto. Taug ht every semester by Margot Leigh Butler, Director ofthe Humanities 101 Community Programme, this session will be hosted by Evelyn Lau, Poet. 1:30pm. Robert Hough (Toronto) The Day the Rebels Came to Town (Harper Collins) T he book is set in Mexico in 1920. Carlos is forced to make a life or death decision. He does so in a surprising way but spends his life trying to decide if th is makes him a brave man or a coward. Robert Hough's first book Th e F inal confession of Mabel Stark was trans lated into 15 lang uages. 1:45pm Evelyn Lau- Living Under Plastic This volume represents a major departure from the autho r's previous poetry books. Ms Lau is the author of several vo lumes of poetry, non-fiction, short story collections and a nove l. Living Under Plastic won the 20 II Pat Lowthe r Memorial Award for Poetry. 2:00pm Heidi Greco -Shrinking Violets Heid i Greco has two collections of poetry -Siren Tattoo and Rattlesnake Plantain - and her poems have appeared in many anthologies. Shrinking Violets is her first novella and co-winner of the 20 I I Ken Klo nsky Novella Contest. 2:15pm Richard Wagamese - One Story, One Song Richard Wagamese is Ojibway and a member of the Sturgeon Clan. His award-winning career includes work in radio, te levision and newspapers. He has published eight titles of fiction and non-fiction. 2:30- 3:30pm T ell Your Story- A Storytelling Workshop with Richard Wagamese Richard Wagamese will talk about the trad ition and the healing art of storytelling and wi ll help participants share their own stories. 3:30- 5:00pm 100,000 Poets for cha nge 100,000 Poets fo r Change, happening simultaneously in many cities worldwide, begins in Vancouver with a beach cleanup at False Creek East. Afterwards, at the Carnegie Centre, Joanne Arnott, Stephen Collis, Alex Leslie, Garry Thomas Morse and Elaine Woo will read from the Enpipe Line Proj ect, a large collaboration of poetry whose li nes, when laid side by side, will surpass the kilometres of the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Project.
Designs chosen for the buttons to be given away at Carnegie's table at Word on -the Stree-t
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EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SESSIONS - at Carnegie Hall
Sept 21 2pm & 6pm 26 9pm 30 3:30pm Oct. 2 lOam
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3pm
News From 1:he LibrarY
poke's on you tiny insertion take another little piece of my heart part stands in the hole
New Books
The Wicca Bible, by Ann-Marie Gallagher ( 133.4) calls itself, "the definitive guide to magic_ and the craft". The book helps you choose a magical name, put together an altar, and includes det~iled information on rituals, spells, divination techmques and circlework. What makes some ideas take off, while others wilt away? Chip Heath and Dan Heath think they know. In Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die (302.13), they write about wha~ makes_an_ idea sticky, and how to make your own Ideas stickier, using things like "the Velcro Theory of Memory", creating curiosity gaps, and applying the "human scale principle." Two books this week from local writers grace the display case. The View from Here: Writing from the
Downtown Eastside Studio Society Workshops (821.8) is a collection of stories, poems and memoirs by residents of Downtown Eastside hotels ~nd m:mbers of Lifeskills, PEERS, and the Kettle Fnendship Society. Northern Stories, by our beloved Sandy Cameron is a beautiful collection of Sandy's poems and stori~s about nature. As Jean Swanson, Sandy's partner, who compiled the stories, says that Sandy's passion for social jus tice shines through when he says, "We don ' t live up to the beauty of our land." For nearly half a century the pickled brain of Albert Einstein roamed the world in jars and packages and car trunks, part-talisman, part-relic. In Possessing
Genius: The Bizarre Odyssey ofEinstein's Brain (610.92), Carolyn Abraham traces the story ofthe organ and its un likely custodian: the chief pathologist at Princeton Hospita l, w ho swore to protect the brain from souvenir hunters and publicity seekers. All these books will be in the library display case next Monday. Thank you! Just a quick note to say thanks so much to Randy Gatley, the Carnegie librarian this July and August while I was away, and to Elizabeth Bryan, our summer Co-op student. Both Randy and Elizabeth did some fantastic work, from planning the Alley Health Fair to taking patrons on a shopping spree to buy books for the library. And thanks to everyone for the warm welcomes on my return! Beth, your librarian
-Hara
Our Librarian
[well, one of 'em anyway]
"Everyone has a story. You just have to take the time to listen." Beth Davies is an energetic lady, who has been a librarian at the Carnegie Library for the past six years. "I became interested in the Downtown Eastside because it is one of the most vibrant communities in the city. There are different kinds of people with a real sense of community. People don't drive cars and are out on streets, shops and parks seeing their neighbors" she observed. The library is important to the community because of its space. It is safe, quiet and offers services. These include loaning books, DVDS, newspapers in English and Chinese, photocopied crossword puzzles, and the Carnegie Library card. To obtain this card, you don' t have to have ID and there are no dues for late books. Davies, who grew up in Wales, was travelling around the world 16 years ago when she came to Vancouver to work and fell in love with the city. She graduated from UBC with a library degree. She worked parttime and freelanced in website development for nonprofit organizations. Then she became a librarian at Carnegie. Beth likes to travel, cycle with her bike and hike in the mountains. Recently she, her partner and their two sons, 7 and 5, returned from a cycling trip in Austria and Germany路 Nancy M MacLean all flags hallmark our sentimental journeys exotic elsewheres we love the range the rage we can't adm it -Hara
Honourable Bev Oda Minister of International Cooperation and The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada Invite you to the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the national historic s ignificance of the
ASAHI BASEBALL TEAM The ceremony will take place on
Sunday, September 18, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. Oppenheimer Park
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. Contact the Japanese Canadian National Museum to sign up to play ~-=-路,... : 路 -on one of the teams!
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HUM 101 DOCUMENTARIES SEPTEMBER 2011 This is the lOth anniversary of the demolition of the World Trade Centre in New York City. As such this month's documentaries will feature getting behind September 11 , 2001. September 10, 17 and 28th 2011. All Saturday evenings at 6PM Sharp. We will cover the history: from the demolition, to the attempts to get to the bottom of who was behind the events of that day, to the reasons for those events. You will discover, as a result, who is behind September 11 , 200 I, and the cover-up of facts by those involved. And most importantly how those events have effected and cost everyone of us today as well as future generations. Discover who has gained as a result of 9-11, and what we have lost. Most important: Discover how our knowing what actually happened that day can play a part in lowering our future cost and present losses. This month in documentaries we will show you all this and more. Come find out what 9-11 accomplished and for who. Come find out what we as citizens each and everyone of us lost as a direct result of September 11,2001, what it has cost us and what it will cost us. These are documentaries for thinkers, people wanting to be educated in the truth, not indoctrinated by the Mainstream Media.
This should be our best month ever.
A sad Farewell I am writing this with deep sorrow. My brother has passed away, on August 29. His name was David. He worked hard all his life. My brother was very s ick in the hospital. He had many operations; he had dialysis and a weak heart. He was deeply loved by family & friends and will be missed immensely. He was very kind to people. He was only 54. Rest in peace, my handsome brother. Marlene Wuttunee
Watch the Throne Seeing the face in the poster reminds me unless the Canada Council dubs thee you ain't no poet..got no bizness spout~ng poetry see o9l' Fred, the champion of academ1a, showin' us all what a poet is sorry if! don't fit the mold cuz see I see the crack-face ho' see I see the animals see crack is not a beauty aid 'cause crack just makes you more afraid see ol' Fred don' t come down where I live he don't see the leprosy or crack-face kids What it used to be, don't see the ill ones the ones that wanna kill ones throw the baby off the windowsill ones sorry I ain't the perfect me the poet shining in the midday sun see I'm the poet with the real gun take you down and then some see the white poet at the university never seen the calamity what it all means to me I'm the poet you don' t see; do you know me? A Baum
Re: Cover of September 1, 2011
... Hope is a good thing ... committed action, sprung from hope ... tnaY be the beSt thing. DMG.
DTES DE-CLUTTER SUPPORT Monthly Meeting on Wednesday, Sept 281h 7pm, 3rtl-floor Seminar Room 401 Main Street at Hastings Co-facilitated by Ingrid and UBC students
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never been an act of war let alone festive/interactive atrocities a little evil takes time to forget, like swapping up them End-of-the-World lawn chairs their pitiful existence wasted on New Vancouver made me sick and kind of scared though I'm never one to be Arrive at Spm to enjoy a Carnegie dinner for $3.25 in prepared but I always kept my side, still screaming for the 2nd.floor cafeteria. BYO beverage to the mtg. praise your world is about to be raised - let is blow let it blow steady as she goes it's only a time of matter I KEPT MY SIDE (Eunoia v The End) when the Selfishists and their kind shall concede why they didn't join our side, like 2nd-hand cocaine being Welcome to a new reality my very best of friends, I injected into a fall guy to study its strength its strain have been chosen Spokesman as well as putting the smartest monkeys are at it again tell me when! together all The Ends; Eunoia makes one feel as if So many disappointed lives please don't ban me to you've been given the St Minus Touch; we choose by what means to handle problems or the blues and there the land 路of knives I couldn't cut a stickman if I tried, is an amazing variety of many kinds for yur particular the last of the few struggle to get through to Eunoia not is this beautiful thinking or what!! Crutch. They have made WAR a !-syllable metaphor No more 'No Future Shops' - like running an 89-yard no everyday Full Toilet humour, people exist most touchdown but your ego is the only thing caught good likely cuz no TV sets are anywhere near.. no Fear & Obey taught day after day as for couples the one child times for sure if you live for all the ones you've rule is never ridiculed that is to say no Bundy Bunch dropped remember for every completion there is a catch, still getting the hang of a home without abuse, types sponging off what Eunoia holds dear, like a lies or worse, still there are times I beg our burning child looking forward to an Xmas Season full of atmosphere to show off its power and ann ihilate this dental appointments while here they actually pretend it's entertainment the same with birthdays no one here universe. Act One kind of fell apart victims of pocket knows their real age, no computers taking away jobs change are the poorest of the lot unless you're on Hellfare when they start they never ever stop (pity is bank doors left open because no one needs to rob & in such short supply); you have all the time (left) to the very first Selfishist Anonymous opened its doors the very firsy Obsoletist was "What's In Your Wallet" drop negative thoughts murderous cops and the rest of & "Give me everything or you're dead!" are lines left that lot and join us is there a WORSE you know abo ut even the kid under the lee Cream truck wants bubble back beyond the maps. gum flavour he is in luck take a lick son your living 'member you traded that before this for a monsoon's days are over but the SatanGodllceCream Family will wet kiss tinged with lead there's no Statute of Liability nor no one questioning. Disabilities poverty and take care of you from here on ... hate are also gone, like an Ethiopian Agriculture Min- Have you heard anything I've said or has Mr Death ister; there are lefty scissors for those born sinistergotten inside your dead Eunoia could have been your handed (that's me plus one-tenth of the population) next home, just because people die don't take forever left is right and right is always wrong, newspapers to cry and asking why is asking for it and that age-old two-word suffocatingly "Who gives a shite" pit where telling the truth opinions vary but so many phonebooths the Global Positioning System hasn't got me the fallen scream final goodbyes yes why didn't you yet, no pitiful faces on your multiple screens don't stay at home; no more book-burning nights as the know where I'm going but it's not where I've been Days of the Roundtable will be scheduled for another have you forgotten I have the SatanGodlceCream night just remember I KEPT MY SIDE - kind of tried Family always holding the net (rope that catches you) maybe I lie but until the enxt adjournment I've always not the kind you bloody savages get; kept my side. The people in Eunoia are very cheerful and pleased .. By ROBERT McGILLIVRAY Q. "Half of what I say is meaningless." John Lennon Darwin the Apostle.tells me more is too much so try P.S.: Violators will perish in a sea of molten agony! to say the least no ancient codes of silence there has
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Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House ..., Annual General Meeting *** Important Dates ***
September 1, 2011 --7 Nominations for Board of Directors opens October 31,2011 -7 Last day to become a member in order to vote at the AGM November 18, 2011 --7 Last day to submit Board of Directors nominations December 1, 2011, 6pm --7 Annual General Meeting @ 573 East Hastings Membership is free of cost. To become a member or submit a nomination for the DTES NH Board of Directors visit the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House at 573 East Hastings (@Princess) or our office at 501 East Hastings (@Jackson). L.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................;
An Investigation in Motion with Helen Walkley How does our love of spontaneous motion translate into vital expression in dance ? This workshop is intended for anyone who loves to move and is curious about the nature of improvisational dance, the possibility to create and relate movement in the moment. A warm-up process will connect and mobilize our whole bodies developmentally from the ground into the air. Improvisational structures will follow to develop dynamic range and spatial relationships. We will create maps in space in relation to the forms in our bod ies, each other and our location in the stage space. The expressive nature of space will blossom, come alive. We will mine our dynamic range, how and where it is sourced from within and outside ourselves. In turn, we will play with phrasing, how our movement "sentences" inform each other and communicate to a public. An attention to breath will cu ltivate the presence of our minds in moti on. Our process together will conclude with an informal studio showing open to family, friends and the neighbourhood in the Heart of the City Festival.
October 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 25: 2:30- 4:30PM In the Carnegie Gym Studio showing: October 27 (Participation in the showing is completely voluntary) Maximum number of participants: 12 Please register at the 3rd Floor Program Office by October 3rd. Helen Walkley is a contemporary dance artist, certified Laban M ovement Analyst and registered Somatic A1ovement Educator who has taught, created and performedfor the past 31 years in United States, Germany, the Netherlands and Canada. She is currently based in Vancouver.
cari1egieC NEWSLETTER
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Meade
401 Main Street. Vancouver 604.665.2289
THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PU~LICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Articles represent the views of individual contributors and not of the Association.
WANTED
We acknowledge that the Carnegie Community Centre, and this Newsletter, are occurring on Coast Salish Territory.
Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter *Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry; *Cover art -Max.size: 17cm(6 %")widex15cm(6")high; *Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the Downtown Eastside but all work considered; *Black & White printing only; , *Size restrictions apply (i.e. If your piece is too large t will be reduced and/or cropped to fit; *All artists will receive credit for their work; *Originals will be returned to the artist after being copied for publication; *Remuneration: Carnegie Volunteer Tickets. Please make submissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.
GET CLEAN! Shower up at the Lord's Rain 327 Carrall Street, just off Pigeon Park HOT SHOWERS (towel, soap, shampoo [the works!] &coffee) · Monday: 7 -10am Ladies only; 11am- 3pm; :. Friday: 11am-3pm; Tues. Wed, Saturday: ?am English, Francais, Espanol
FREE DENTAL HELP 455 EHastings; Monday & Friday, 9:30·12:30 Volunteer dentists: Fillings, crowns, root canals etc. Cleaning at VCC: 604-443-8499 FREE LEGAL ADVICE UBC Law Students' Legal Advice Program All cases are checked with lawyers. Confidential. Mondays & Thursdays: 10am-4pm (Lunch brk 12-1) Tuesdays: 2pm-Bpm
Next Issue SUBMISSION DEADLINE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH ' 2011 DONATIONS: Libby D.-$50, Margaret D.-$50, Rolf A.-$50, Brian H.-$100, CEEDS -$100, Barry M.-$150, Leslie S.-$50, Savannah WfTerry H -$200, Jenny K.-$25, Barbara M.-$200 · Vancouver Moving Theatre -$300, 'The Edge -$200, X' -$52, Wilhelmina M.-$25, Sheila B.-$100, Christopher R.-$175 Michael C.-$50, 0, Bonnie F.-$100, CUPE 15 -$1450, W2-$100 Rhizome Cafe -$25
~lien W oodsworth City Councillor "Working with you, for you and for strong neighbourhoods" 604 873 7240 l :lrwoodsworth@vancouver.ca ••• carnnews@shaw.ca www.carnnews.org http://carnegie.vcn.bc.ca/newsletter http://harvesters.sfu.ca/chodarr Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA WORKING FOR YOU
1070-1t:N 1 Comrneroal Or. V5L 3Y3 Phone· 604-n.S:0790
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Solder & Sons 247 Main Street Coffee & Tea, Used Books Curious Audio Recordings
Dear Sir [Harry Bloy, Minister of Social Development] Thank you for what you are doing for people who are poor and marginalized in this society. I am one of the unlucky ones who have an education and would like to work, but I also have health problems that make it impossible for me to hold down a full-time job. I was turned down for disability because the powers that be think my disability is going to improve (it's been 13 years I've been trying to heal fibromyalgia-chronic fatigue and it's not likely my clinical depression will improve with the fin an- cial problems generated by increased costs of living and cuts to welfare!) So I'm writing you to explain something. The Categories of Social Assistance Groups and Discriminatory Cheque Differences First I must say that it is highly discriminatory to give permanently disabled persons what you think they need to get through a month and then take the other two groups "Regular Welfare" and "Persons with Multiple Barriers" (my group, which sounds a lot like losers and leftovers) and with the same intelligent brain, decide that we don't need as much to live on in a month. huh? The Truth About Rental Needs Let me ask you, do you think a maximum $375/mo. is enough for people to cover their rent? Sir, I respectfully challenge you to find even downtown eastside rooms at that cost- it won't happen. The rent is now $425- 5475 for a room and so your intelligence and mine says that up to $100 for the landlord must come out of the support portion, which is for my group, $233/mo. That leaves a lot of people with $133/ mo for groceries and all else including the Shaw bill, for 4-5 weeks' needs! Please place a few calls to the cheesy roach hotels with pet mice and see for yourself the rental costs for the worst places--$425$475/mo. Then look at the cost .of living increases in the last 7-9years and ask yourself why we didn't get any. Now ask yourself how anyone can remain honest on the system when they have three weeks with no money! I'm not talking about criminals and drug addicts; I'm talking about the ones who start thinking like a criminal in order to survive the month because the powers that be don't care how we survive on so little! With all due respect sir, this I know-the system creates criminal behavior by pretending we don't need any more money then we get while at the same time, the administrators continue giving themselves inflated wages, yearly raises, and unbelievable expense accounts while working on our behalf? Hello? And they never ask the people how we feel about giving themselves raises while cutting services to the poor--this attitude can only breed hostility! Why don't we get a cost of living increase yearly- if we had one, we might be able to live through a month without having to worry for three weeks how to make it. Many people borrow and can't pay back. They end up getting rejected by their peers and possibly beaten up for it. Others steal and eventually get caught and so join the criminal element trying to survive. Some start renting their bodies to survive which is dangerous and dirty and humiliating to say the least. Some take to drinking or drugs out of sheer disillusionment with life. Still others are so thin and emaciated looking because they barely eat all month--and it's all because we don't get enough support! To sum it up, please understand Sir, that we on social assistance do not all fit into 3 slots-regular welfare, persistent multiple barriers, or disability--the groups chosen by decision makers who aren't sick and can work. I believe these categories are more about saving money than helping the poor. The fact is, we all need the same money for groceries, rent, utilities and support to live on in a month and most of us need the same health benefits that are given only to the permanently disabled. We should have the option of eating healthier and being able to buy vitamins and natural supplements needed which are not covered presently. Do you care? Does it make sense to you to cut support down for those who are not able to get disability to where they don't have enough to live on? Sir, I appeal to your common sense when I say, please see that the decision makers pay the actual minimum cost of rent for us instead of giving us what they think we should be paying; how delusional and inhumane to make up an amount they want to pay instead of facing the reality of rent charges! And please Sir, will you see that the decision makers understand the need to raise our support to cover the actual costs of living so we can spend our time learning and growing as individuals, which is our purpose in life instead of focusing on the next meal or where we can get a bra that fits for under $50? It is wrong to expect us to have to use our grocery money for shelter! Why do you think there are more and more homeless people? They didn't make it. I appeal to you that we must have $475 for rent and up to $75 for at least two out of cable, phone and/or internet for those who use them, and a full $50/wk for groceries, supplies, bus fare and coffee money which should be a minimum support for a single person. This would mean a cheque of a maximum 5475+75+200=$750/month on a 4 week month, an amount which the average career person makes in a week! Another issue I have to mention is that we should get $50 more in a 5 week month then we do in a 4 week month for the extra week's support.. but the decision makers decided we aren't entitled to support those 3 weeks a year! (Intelligent decisions, or just budget cuts without forethought about consequences to the unhealthy poor?) The extra week every 3 months, is, believe me, a genuine hardship. Thank you for your time and consideration. I need you to forward this letter to all who care to help and make changes on our behalf. I hope you will care enough to do so. I'm counting on you. We need people to do the right thing for those who can't work for whatever reason (and who can't type as well as I can.) Will you help us this year to get an increase? Respectfully yours, E.V. Peltz, BA
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DownTown EastSide Smudge Ceremony September 24, 2011 All are Welcomel For more information: www.wavaw.ca