GROUND BREAKERS INSIDE THE INNOVATING WORLDS OF
DJ HUNT
YOUNG
& ERICA LAM
ENTREPRENEURS ADVICE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STRIVING ENTREPRENEUR AMIDST THE RECESSION
LIFE WITHOUT BORDERS
Learn how you can change lives, both others & your own
DENIM
OBSESSION
WHY ALL THE HOTTEST STARS ARE LOVING THE NEW DENIM LINE
BLACK ORCHID
EXIT THIS SIDE
EXCLUSIVE LOOK INTO VANCOUVER’S HOTTEST POP-ROCK BAND
03
contents Cover Story
07 09 15 18
Young Entrepreneurs: Toiling Against the Recession Take a look into the future of young entrepreneurs amidst the ongoing downturn. Words by Sharlene Mendiola
DESIGNER FOCUS
Black Orchid: A Rare Form of Denim
Julien Jarmoune, the creator of the famous J and Company Jeans, gives us an inside look into his new creation. Words by Amanda Eland Photographs by Mike Chatwin
INTELLIGENT DESIGN Innovation Hunter
Hunter Pearson gives insight on creativity, setting standards, and what it is to be an entrepreneur. Words by Sharlene Mendiola Photographs by Mike Chatwin Produced by Dex Texier
A Flair for Style & Business
Erica Lam sets the stage for women in social media marketing as the queen bee and mastermind behind StyleSpy.com. Words by Sharlene Mendiola Photographs by Mike Chatwin Produced by Dex Texier
SOCIAL ISSUES Arendt Commentary
19 21 24 25
Hannah Arendt’s 1958 work “The Human Condition” is used as a framework to analyze the recent events that took place in the Gaza Strip. Words by Sylvia Nicholles
Life Without Borders: Living and Working as an Entrepreneur in the Development Sector Glynnis Hawe spends four months in Ghana as a representative of Engineers without Borders. She details her experiences for ReachMag. Words by Glynnis Hawe Photographs by Glynnis Hawe
THE RED CARPET The Lowe-Down
Vancouver-born actress Crystal Lowe gives ReachMag the lowdown on who she is and what she is all about. Words by Sophia Chea Photographs courtesy of Crystal Lowe
Exit This Side
ReachMag has a “One Night Stand” with Vancouver’s new hottest rock-pop band, Exit This Side. Words by Amanda Eland Photographs by Mike Chatwin
04
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Dammy Ogunseitan CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Sharlene Mendiola
CREATIVE/ART DIRECTOR Jelyssa Madrid SENIOR STYLE EDITOR
CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Amanda Eland Mike Chatwin
Intelligent Design & Social Issues
Producer
Managing Editor
Dex Texier Sharlene Mendiola
Editors Calvin D’Souza James Durante Correspondents Sylvia Nicholles Glyniss Hawe Sharlene Mendiola
Photographer
Creative Director Photographer
Mike Chatwin
FASHION & red carpet
Creative Director Stylist
Mike Chatwin Amanda Eland
Correspondents Sophia Chea Amanda Eland
Stylist Assistant
Models
Nery Monzon Muum Productions
Hair/Makeup Artists Carolynn Collyer Marleyna Pincott Atefeh Shojaie
PRODUCTION
designer
associate Designer
Publisher
Jelyssa Madrid Era Pogoson RAYACOM Inc. Paragon Ideas Group
HOW TO CONTACT US
more information learn more about us
reach@reachmag.ca
www.reachmag.ca
team 3 Words To Describe Yourself...
Commited
fun
inspired
Dammy Ogunseitan, BA Poli Sci, SFU Reach Editor in Chief
artistic
Spontaneous
Bossy
Jelyssa Madrid, Graphic Designer Reach Creative/Art Director
determined
clumsy
independent
Sharlene Mendiola, SFU Student Reach Chief Operating Officer
Editors Note Just in case you don’t know what you’ve picked up, or what you just downloaded, allow me to welcome you to the first issue of Reach Magazine. Reach Magazine is one that focuses on entrepreneurs. It takes something special to become an entrepreneur. Their will to leave their mark on this world through their products is an inspiration that is not lost on us here at ReachMag. How did this (the magazine) all come together – is a question that has been posed to me a lot. Every product and service was an idea
focused
Visionary
lively
Mike Chatwin, Photographer Reach Chief Photographer
at first. Ours was to showcase “the entrepreneur” behind these products and services. We first got together in December 2008. Since then, we have added different individuals, professionals and entrepreneurs to our staff to create what is before you now. In this our first issue, you will find amazing entrepreneurs from different industries; their only goal is to challenge the status quo, thus leaving their mark on their industry. We’ve also spiced things up by documenting different social issues – and as young as these writers/correspondents are, their cause was too important not to showcase them in our glamorous pages. All in all, we believe that we have started
reliable
fashionista
creative Amanda Eland, Fashion Stylist Reach Senior Style Editor
Have a passion for photography or design? Or are you a writer with a knack for reporting? Do you want to have the opportunity to share your thoughtprovoking ideas? Then contact us at reach@reachmag.ca and you could be a member of the Reach team!
something special here. We have room for writers, photographers and editors. We also would like you to keep nominating entrepreneurs for us to feature in our magazine. Some of the entreprenuers featured in this issue were nominated and they (those nominated) will also be in the running for our entrepreneur of the year 2009. They will be recognized in our last issue for the year 2009, and the first issue of 2010 for their work. Keep checking our website (www.reachmag.ca) for more behind the scenes pictures. From us at Reach Magazine, WELCOME, and Thank You.
Dammy Ogunseitan
YoungEntrepreneurs Toiling Against the Recession
cover story Young Entrepreneurs: Tolling Against the Recession
I plan on graduating within the next few years. My student loan has been growing exponentially over the course of my undergrad, and I only make enough money to survive. School can be excruciating, but I get through it. The image of myself being debt-free, paying the bills on time, and earning the ‘big bucks’ are my means of motivation. Then the Recession’s face presents its ugly self and its power to shatter this image. Suddenly, I see myself with a university degree and still struggling to pay off my loan and credit card bills. The economic crisis presents considerable disarray in terms of the job opportunities that will be obtainable. Of course, I am not the only one concerned. I have witnessed fellow students straying away from pursuing entrepreneurship degrees due to the potential instability it may bring. I understand why a young person may feel this way. I can relate to the thought process: You are afraid of seeing your aspirations shattered. A negative energy starts to surround you and pessimistic thoughts begin to flood your mind. “Why am I spending thousands of dollars on my education? Will the sacrifices I make now pay off in the end?” The questionable health of the economy only heightens your doubts. All of a sudden, the “easy” way out becomes very attractive. You look at your peers who ditched the education route and are making money, while you are still pulling all-nighters and can only afford to take homemade lunches to school. Why waste time when you can make money now working a full-time job? At least some sense of stability can be achieved during these uncertain times, right? The true cost of an education is not reflected in just tuition and books; it includes everything you give up in order to get that degree. This ‘opportunity cost’ includes the money you forfeited by going to school, or the large portion of your social life that had to be sacrificed. If you are or were a student working towards a set goal, it is likely you have gone through some version of this thought process at least once. However, amidst the ongoing recession, it is the ambition of young entrepreneurs that will distinguish them as leaders of the pack. If you are interested in entrepreneurship, it is likely you possess the drive and sheer determination to succeed. Do not let these uncertain economic times hinder your ambitions. In fact, the recession may bring about surprising advantages for the striving entrepreneur in any industry.
What Advantages? Why? How? Naturally, when the future of the economy is uncertain, both individuals and firms alike become increasingly aware of the pressing need to make more money. Those who displayed previous disinterest in your business will suddenly be looking for new financial endeavours. Furthermore, freelancers and independent contractors may become preferred. During a recession, large companies lay out strategic business plans that will help them get through the uncertain times in the most cost-effective manner. Both short-term and long-term costs are cut when hiring freelancers and independent contractors as opposed to having a full-time employee on the company’s payroll. Another natural effect caused by recessions is the overall reduction of prices. Remember that you are not only a business, but a consumer as well. During a recession, certain leverage is created in the buyers’ market. Prices are reduced, but less people are buying. Take hold of this leverage and use it to your advantage. Opportunities to negotiate prices are presented in a way it had not been before. As a consumer, your bargaining power dramatically increases in a down-economy and buying property, equipment, and other essential materials becomes cheaper for you. As a result, your overall costs are lowered.
07
In 2002, McKinsey & Company, a reputable management consulting firm, presented a report called Learning to Love Recessions by R.F. Dobbs, T. Karakolev, and F. Malige. This report demonstrates that historically, small businesses may come out on top at the end of a recession. The company studied approximately 1,000 US companies over an 18-year period (1982-1999), which includes the last major recession of 1990-1991. During the 1990-1991recession, the majority of larger, more established companies decided to play it safe and keep transactions and acquisitions at a minimum. Conversely, lessestablished firms proved to be successful as they made relatively few changes in transaction plans and continued to push further deals and acquisitions aggressively. In comparison to their competition, these companies also increased their spending on advertising. Also, to enhance their positions through product and service innovation, these companies also devoted higher levels of spending to R&D. These action plans helped spell out success for these smaller companies during periods of economic decline.
It is okay to give in to the corporate beast! Many entrepreneurs do not like the idea of working for a corporate organization. However, it may not be conventionally wise to rule out the notion completely. Working with a larger corporation will provide you with the tools needed to succeed on your own. This is especially a good option for young graduates making the transition from backpacks to briefcases. It also provides a perfect outlet to demonstrate your skills and develop your innovations. Perfect networking opportunities are also presented to you. Meeting the right people in the right places with the right connections is vital for success. Working for a business is always a smart idea when working towards your own business.
Advice on
HOW TO BE
SUCCESSFUL IN SPITE OF A
RECESSION
Back to Basics When the economy is going through troubling times, companies cannot afford to invest in business ventures that provide products and services that are not essential. In addition, consumers simply do not have the disposable income available to purchase things they do not need. Don’t start up your business during a recession selling expensive pieces of art from around the world. It is sad that culture takes a hit in the name of business, but that is the harsh reality. Demand for luxury items decrease drastically during a recession. Look at the faltering ticket sales and mass layoffs at Ballet BC at the end of 2008. Fashion stylists as well as interior designers have also seen better days as more clients are taking the DIY route. Businesses specializing in services that focus on upgrading and maintaining existing equipment and products see a substantial increase in their revenues. This is due to the fact that people are looking for ways to cut their personal costs, therefore focusing on what they already have as opposed to buying something new.
Use our techno-centric world to your advantage
Consider branching out your business into a variety of fields such as marketing, advertising, consultancy, development, and design. The increased variety of services offered to other companies, the better. As a result, you create new sources of revenue for your business.
I
Words by Sharlene Mendiola
Business Diversification
We currently live in a techno-centric world. Use that to your advantage. Internet businesses will prove to be the less affected by recessions. The Internet allows for you to reach the largest amount of potential clientele, in the most cost-effective way. This is because different worldwide currencies may be used. Therefore, the ailing Canadian dollar does not have to affect your business. You can cater to a greater number of world markets with your products and services and reach markets that aren’t as affected by the recession. Furthermore, you can eliminate costs that come when running a regular business (such as rental costs, maintenance, etc.).
n the past, many potentially successful entrepreneurs may have made the mistake of letting a recession lower their morale and scare them off. Do not let this ongoing recession do that to you. The recession can prove to be advantageous and favourable to start-up businesses. Many of you may not know this, but 16 of the 30 companies that make up the Dow industrial average were started during a recession or depression. Included in that list are companies such as Procter & Gamble, Disney, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, and McDonald’s.
Seize the day, the youth are the future. Without the youth, the economy would only prove to worsen in the long run. Feed the economy your talent and innovations; you will see it progressively grow. Deprive it by holding back and playing safe; you will see it increasingly falter.
08
designer focus Black Orchid A Rare Form of Denim
09
01 Pink Bag: Rocawear 02 White Tee: TNA (Aritzia) 03 White Tank: TNA (Aritzia) 04 Denim: black Orchid 05 Footwear, Jewelry & Sunglasses: Stylists Own
Black Orchid rchid A Rare Form of Denim
Black Orchid:
A Mythological flora or kick-ass pair of jeans? Known as the success behind J & Company jeans, designer Julien Jarmoune has left the bling behind when creating his new denim line Black Orchid. Made from innovative cone-denim with all types of woman in mind, celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz and Eva Longoria Parker can¹t get enough. I sat down with Julian and got the inside dirt on the “classic white tee” of today¹s denim world.
01 gray sweater: h&m 02 boots: uggs 03 scarf: stylist own 04 denim: black Orchid 05 tank top: forever21 06 boxer brief: models own
Who is Julien Jarmoune? He is French, born into a family of design. Being the leading force, creative designer, and developer of the popular brand “Black Orchid”, Julien has received a strong reputation in the denim world for over a decade with popular, successful brands such as J & Company Jeans.
REACH How did you get into the industry? Did you go to school for design? Julien I was born into this industry, it has been a life long passion
of mine and is in my family blood. No school of design could have taught me the amount of life long experience I have.
REACH What is your personal style like? Julien I am pretty laid back, my favorite things to wear are denim (of
course), polos, rolling stones tees, and converse.
REACH If you weren’t designing, what would you like to be doing? Julien Probably laying on the beach, getting some sun, sipping a
fantastic drink, and still designing in my head.... I love design
REACH What are some of the perks of being a successful designer? Julien I get to meet some fantastic celebrities that I have always
been a big fan of, and better yet- they LOVE MY JEANS!!!
REACH You are well known in the fashion industry for J & Company
jeans, are you still working with them?
Julien No, I actually left J & Company to pursue Black Orchid. I had
a vision that felt right, and here we are.
REACH Black Orchid has a cleaner look then J & Company jeans
what brought about this change in you as a designer?
Julien I felt how the fashion world and economy has been going that
people wanted items that they could wear everywhere, all the time, and be able to afford it. Buying novelty, expensive jeans that you can only wear certain places or with 1 or 2 tops- just was not going to cut it in this industry at this time. Black Orchid offers so much more to my customers and gives their wallets a rest. I feel good that I am able to create quality stylish clothing that anyone can afford.
REACH Black Orchid is made from, S Gene cone denim can you
explain what this is and why it is beneficial to your customers.
Julien S Gene is probably the most incredible fabric I have ever found.
It has a body-conforming stretch and can remember its shape. It is incredibly soft to the touch, and has a wonderful resistance to the radical finishing techniques that I put into the jeans. It¹s simply wonderful.
REACH What advice would you give to young people who are trying to
break into fashion design?
Julien Be prepared to work your butt off!! It can be very rewarding
if you are motivated, smart, and stay focused on the important elements. Also, network, network, network.
REACH Black Orchid is loved by celebrities like Kim Kardashian,
Jessica Alba and Selena Gomez to name a few, how did you get that hook up? Julien I got very lucky that they liked them, we sent them some jeans as gifts-and before I knew it- they were wearing them all over the place!!
REACH Why did you choose Black Orchid as the name? Julien The Black Orchid is a rarity of a flower (if not a, mythical
one!) Every image I saw of one was beautiful, alluring, and simple. I thought this was the strongest name to give to such a unique brand.
01 denim: black orchid
14
Photographer/creative director Mike Chatwin Words/stylist/creative director Amanda Eland stylist assistant Nery Monzon hair stylist Carolynn Collyer makeup artists Marleyna Pincott & Atefeh Sojaie models Suzie, Alicia, Harold (Muum Productions)
Innovation
15
HUNTER
intelligent design Innovation Hunter
“ Put in the time to get your foot in the door”
Hipposonic Studios is where you can find Hunter Pearson’s own recording studio – it’s also his home away from home. If you’re ever looking for him, chances are you’d find him here. His repertoire includes being an executive producer for the Vancouver based hip-hop show Pass Da Mic, currently having his own production company HYPE Productions as well hosting his radio show hunt.FM. For someone who just turned 25, Pearson has quite a bit under his belt. Also known as DJ Hunt, Pearson is part of an industry that has been receiving an increasing amount of bad rap. For years, the media has fed us stereotypical images of the music industry. Consequently many tend to associate it with wealth, partying, flash, fame, glitz and, glamour. These things could not be farther from what music inherently is. But when you look at today’s industry, it’s hard to see otherwise. You’d have to dig deep within the surface and look past what the tabloids and Entertainment Tonight is showing us. But many can’t be bothered with doing that. So as I was walking up the stairs that led to Pearson’s studio, I didn’t really know what to expect. What I didn’t expect was to meet someone so down-to-earth. His studio immediately gave off a welcoming vibe as Pearson relaxed on his couch with his Mac on his lap and a hoodie and jeans on. No flash. No glitz and glamour. “It’s hard to pull inspiration from the music industry these days,” Pearson said about working in an industry with a failing image. “I find myself getting motivated more when I look at people working in the tech industry”. Pearson believes that one of the key ingredients to his success is being able to utilize growing technology to his advantage; applying it to his work and love of music. With a strong technical background, Pearson was able to incorporate the rising technology of podcasts to his radio show, hunt.FM. Calling podcasts the ‘next-generation mixtape’, hunt.FM allows its audiences to listen, download to their personal computer, and/or transfer these podcast shows onto their portable mp3 players. Pearson demonstrated his humble qualities when Reach asked him how he felt about setting standards in his field. “I don’t think that I’m doing anything extremely innovative, but I’m doing something different. I admire tech people because they can start with something so small, and make it huge. Podcasts can seem
like something simple in itself. But when we use it to reach our audiences, it snowballs into something bigger. I think that’s why hunt.FM stands out.” Pearson came up with the idea of hunt.FM to counter the monotony of mainstream radio. He wanted people to be able to have access to brand-new releases, exclusive remixes, and unreleased songs of the hip-hop and R&B genre. “Here at hunt. FM, we never play the same song more than once,” Pearson said when outlining the differences between his show and mainstream radio. Another reason why Pearson wanted to start hunt.FM was due to the frustration of himself and all DJs throughout the city. “DJs want to play the freshest of the fresh in terms of music. But people only dance to music that they know. They only know what they hear on the airwaves, and these songs become – the ‘clubbangers’. Of course DJs want people to dance to their music, so we’re restricted to what we can play.” In September 2007, he approached Jenno Chand, (his co-host on the show) with the idea and everything fell into place. “There were times when I thought it wasn’t going to work, but I never got to the point of dropping the whole idea. So I got it done.” Hunt.FM has developed a strong fan base, and Hunter credits his success to hunt.FM’s loyal listeners. “We have a core audience that actively gets involved every week. Relationships are formed and it goes beyond the music. It’s one of the main reasons I look forward to doing a show every week. We now have people logging in live during our recording sessions.” Its not hard to see that Hunter is always motivated. 70 shows (which also equals 70 weeks at point of interview) and they are still going strong. When Pearson’s not working on the show, he’s creating music under his production company, Hype Productions. “I first started by doing work at home. I bought all the equipment and built my own set-up.” When asked how he ended up with his own recording studio, Pearson replied, “I started working for Hipposonic Studios. Not the most glamorous job, but it paid off in the end. After a lot of hard work and attempts of persuading the owner, I ended up getting my own space.” What advice does Pearson give to young hopefuls who want to have their own recording studio one day? “Put in the time to get your foot in the door. Sometimes you have to pay your dues, but it will be worth it.”
Words by Sharlene Mendiola Photograph by Mike Chatwin produced by Dex Texier
It’s the early 1900s, and the phonograph is what’s used to play recorded sound. The local phonograph parlour is the place to be to mingle and listen to music. In order to listen, you wind the crank and it releases sound from its large, brass horn. Now flash forward to present-day and the phonograph is now the modern-day turntable. It has evolved into hip-hop’s foremost instrument and DJs have established themselves as the genre’s foremost instrumentalist. It was the distinctive scratching noises of the turntable that first attracted Hunter Pearson and put him on the path he is on today.
So what can we expect from Hunter Pearson in the near future? “I don’t know if I want to disclose anything just yet! But I can say that it’s the biggest thing I’ve ever worked on!” In addition to filling us with suspense and anticipation, he also leaves with some words of wisdom for those who want to chase a similar dream. “Don’t do something just to make money. Don’t sacrifice your passion for in order to make money; find a balance. If you persevere, your passion will eventually lead you to your wealth.”
You can find Hunter doing his thing every week @ www.hunt.fm
16
a flair for style & business Erica Lam sets the stage for women in social media marketing as the queen bee and mastermind behind thestylespy.com
Don’t fool her for a fashionista whose mind works and revolves around looking good! I admitted to Lam that I was pleasantly surprised to find how down-to-earth she was. Erica laughed and said, “Yeah I get that a lot. When people meet me for the first time, they always comment on how I wasn’t what they expected. Don’t worry, I consider that a compliment!” When asked about her fashion background and experiences, Erica replied, “People assume that I went to fashion school. I actually went to SFU and got my Bachelors degree in Communications. I also took an entrepreneur’s class at BCIT.” She didn’t need to go to school to get her fashion-smarts; it was always something that came naturally to Erica. She says, “I was the girlfriend who always had all the style advice. I knew where to shop, what to buy, and what not to buy!” Turning that into a business was Erica’s goal, and it is easy to see that it paid off with The Style Spy. With her natural knack for fashion and style, paired with an educative background in communications and entrepreneurship, Erica had formulated the idea that became The Style Spy. It was something that incorporated all her passions. “After graduating, I had jobs with corporate positions, but I always had the desire to do more,” Erica says, “I knew what I wanted to do, and I did it.” When asked how she put her dream into action, Erica smiled, “It’s funny because people ask me that all the time, and I can never give an exact answer. Everything happened so fast! I think most entrepreneurs can say the same thing. The first thing I did was hire a designer for the website. Once the site was up, the ball just kept on rolling from there! You work on it day-by-day, and soon you see your efforts accumulate into something bigger than you imagined.” While what she does may seem like a hobby for most people, it took a great deal of work to get to where she is today. It is more than just blogging, and many people are not aware of the amount of work that is done behind-the-scenes. The Style Spy also acts as a social media-marketing tool for malls such as Richmond Centre and Metrotown Centre. It is an asset to be able to effectively utilize social media marketing as a tool to reach
Words by Sharlene Mendiola Words by Sharlene Mendiola Photographs by Mike Chatwin Photograph by Mike Chatwin produced by Dex Texier produced by Dex Texier
your target customers or clients. “I was aware of the newfound need for social media marketing across different industries, and with its infancy still in Canada, I knew that I needed to be a part of that.” Erica was also quick to note that public relations firms contact online bloggers to help their clients use the full potential of social media marketing to their advantage. When asked how she was able to work with Metrotown, Erica smiled, “I was persistent. I knew I wanted to work with them, and I have a very persevering attitude! They gave me a chance because they liked how detail-oriented and dedicated I was.” Last year, The Style Spy put together a contest for Metropolis at Metrotown called the “Are You Our Next Style Spy Girl” contest, a mall-wide style competition that saw over 1000 girls enter in nine short days. One of the key ingredients to The Style Spy’s success is that the people behind it are “everyday girls” as well. They aren’t writers for Vogue or fashion designers; they’re your everyday working girl that you see smartly dressed on the street or at your nearest Starbucks. So what can we expect from The Style Spy in the future? “We want to expand out to Toronto,” she says. “Many industries in Canada are Toronto-centric, and being able to reach readers in Toronto would help us hit mainstream in a national sense.” As for Erica Lam’s future, are there plans apart from The Style Spy? She says, “I can see The Style Spy presenting many other opportunities where it can evolve or branch out into different things such as television.” These are all in the future though, in the now, Erica Lam is grounded, working hard and striving for the best everyday. For the many young people out there looking to pursue their own ventures, Erica says, “You have to make your own success, and create your own opportunities. As an entrepreneur, you will face times where you barely have any money. And the money you do have goes into your venture. You have to be willing to sacrifice and work hard. Always over-deliver, do your homework and always educate yourself, it’s important to keep your ears to the ground. Networking is important, work hard, it’s all about connecting with people.”
intelligent design A Flair for Style & Business
Dressed to perfection from head to toe, her BlackBerry chirping – always making sure she is keeping in touch to the sounds of her clients and readers - there is no doubt that Erica Lam has style. However, there is more to her than meets the eye. No one ever said you can’t look good and be business-savvy at the same time! Meet Erica Lam, the founder and “queen bee” of TheStyleSpy.com, a lifestyle blog for the “everyday” girl. “There’s more to style than haute couture fashion runways. One of the goals of The Style Spy is to help realize that style does not have to be unattainable,” Erica notes. “You can find clothes comparable to what the models wear for more than half the price. Who cares if it’s from H&M or Zara! TheStyleSpy.com is where girls can gather and share these great finds. We’re like the go-to girlfriend for the latest scoop on fashion, style and beauty.”
Arendt Commentary There must be some who will denounce violence or oppression as a solution. There is no 2 state solution. Some Israelis should visit with their neighbours in Gaza. 80,000 people could come together at the border in a peaceful protest and say they demand to live in peace in a single united federal Palestine that guarantees equality under the law for both people. There must be reparations. The only security for other people is to invite each other into their hearts and homes. - Anonymous
These two problematics are caught up in one another in the case of the Gaza strip at the moment. The Palestinians (and the Iraqis across the way) are portrayed as prepolitical, as only able to understand violence. At the same moment, through superior ability to inflict harm, Israel holds the cards in being able to determine what is politics, who can participate and how. So what of action? Hamas certainly has its fair share of culpability in perpetuating the current situation, yet, Israel continues to hold the trump card. Perhaps this is where stripping society down to its bare form becomes necessary for articulating a politics based on vulnerability and the complete subjectivity of the common experience of pain. Arendt writes “society is the form in which the fact of mutual dependence for the sake of life and nothing else assumes public significance and where the activities connected with sheer survival are permitted to appear in public” (46). Later, she writes “Pain [is] truly a borderline experience between life as ‘being among men’…and death, is so subjective and removed from the world of things and men that it cannot assume an appearance at all” (51). If there is pain in sheer survival, how can we make it appear? What kind of politics comes from the appearance of pain but vulnerability? The anonymous quote I open which addresses this issue by directing us to the location of the heart – the organ and the emotions attached to one’s heart. The heart, not the brain, is traditionally written about as the centre of affect in common sayings and mythologies, and is deeply attached to the intense subjectivity of pain. The heart is also a mainstay of bodily vulnerability – where one not only feels emotional pain, but also the place where old blood is constantly reinvigorated. This makes it a source of constant action, making possible the question of ‘what are we doing’? What if we were to conceive of action through the heart? Tonight I witnessed an act of spontaneity – an impromptu dance party in the middle of Bastion Square. Most of us had paid some money to see a local band play, but the place was too crowded and hot, and so, with the aid of a drum kit and 2 hand drums, the dancing migrated to the square. There was
The gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello writes of the frustrations associated with not being able to do things like impromptu dance parties in town squares:
Where there’s a music should be coming out of every car There is a silence all over downtown Where community of celebrations should be aroused I walk the sterile gardens where life is on pause No can do this! No can do that! What the hell can you do, my friend? In this place that you call your town I guess you can’t expect much from the hometown Well I don’t know if you can even call it your own When they don’t want you to get near excitement And in protest of them you just stay home No can do this! No can do that! On intersection of all dimensions Where I was stopping by just for a drink I meet a brother from tribal connection And together we began to sing: We gonna turn frustration into inspiration Whatever demons are there, we gonna set them free Such is the method of tribal connection of our fun loving restless breed I wanna walk this Earth like it is mine And so does everyone in our fun lovin’ tribe C’mon, is that really so much to ask from all these goddamn nazi-feudals I’m gonna take it to community Cause I want everyone to see There never was any conspiracy And we are all here simply to sing:
social issues Arendt Commentary
This question is perhaps the more important one, one we should consider when we think through what it means to ‘do’ or to ‘act’. How can we conceive of politics as not tied to a sort of bodily violence? What sort of speechaction can we attribute to politics? Violence does not explicitly speak, rather it just inflicts. So how did we get to this place where violence has become politics? Arendt explains that according to the Greeks, violence was outside of the polis, conceived of commanding instead of persuading (26-27). With the rise of society, “violence becomes the monopoly of government” (31) – no longer pre-political, but a way of deciding who gets to impose what politics is and how it will be enacted.
no need to sell tickets, to check identification or to consume drinks. Rather, the relationality between those dancing to the upbeat drum music was not about a given pre-planned space, but rather in time. The dancing was impromptu, spontaneous, and altogether relevant for the moment. Like when Arendt comments on the magical disappearance of the table, and a loss of the ability to relate in a given space, it was as if there was a replacement way to relate for that 45 minutes or hour – through time, place and music. There was no need to plan a start time, there were no complaints that forced it to end, rather this evening’s Bastion Square dance party invoked a relational moment.
No can do this! No can do that! What the hell can you do my friend? In this place that you call your town! The recognition of the necessity of music as an alternative way of articulating a way of relating in these lyrics was enacted tonight through people enjoying the company of each other through the medium of music, rather than the medium of materiality. To relate this back to the violence we are witnessing in the Gaza Strip, perhaps the momentary pause, and impromptu dance party can be a way of restoring some sort of way to not only open hearts and homes, but also to invoke a sense of togetherness that is not based on space, but rather on time –making Arendt’s problematic of removing the table and having no collective relational ‘thing’ not so much of a problem. I know this may sound naïve, but it seemed to me tonight that the words of one who witnessed this, “I’m from Toronto, and I have to say, Victoria, you give me hope in this moment” ring true.
Sylvia Nicholles is a graduate candidate in political science @ the university of Victoria. Her research focuses on how architecture is used in the city as a political project to secure against unwanted people.
Words by Sylvia Nicholles
Hannah Arendt in The Human Condition asks us the question, what are we doing? By asking this seemingly simple question, she wants us to consider action. Asking what are we doing implies an action of sorts. Over the past month, we have been witnessing an action – of atrocious proportions. The Israelis continue to bombard the Gaza strip with a violent reaction to what they claim are terrorist rocket launchings into Israeli territory. This reaction is nothing new. Violence and military occupation continue to be the normal course of action in Israel/Palestine, and what may seem to us as news is everyday life for those who have to endure it. But when we ask Arendt’s question, what are we doing? The maliciousness of the disproportionate retaliation of Israel becomes extremely troubling. The obvious repercussion is that more people will be driven to join Hamas as they watch the harm done to their relations, neighbours, friends – whether innocent or not, however, the deeper question of what sort of politics comes out this type of violence is avoided.
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Social Issues Life Without Borders
borders While those with the entrepreneurial spirit are sometimes painted with the same brush, life as an entrepreneur simply means that one is more than willing to take risks and try new approaches. In business, entrepreneurs enjoy the reputation of being the greatest successes, but entrepreneurs of a different stripe are also starting to make an impact in the world’s least developed areas.
Organizations (NGOs), small Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and/or government offices. EWB believes that sustainable development requires partnerships with others working towards poverty alleviation, rather than the installation of technologies. To have the greatest impact overseas, EWB focuses on building capacity rather than the delivery of technical goods.
During my first few years in university, I was introduced to development. I discovered that I enjoyed learning about the history and politics of our world, and not so much about interpreting poetry or the skeletal structure of dinosaurs. However, I had always been driven to do something new and exciting and to buck tradition. My papers, while not always A+ material, challenged the status quo and traditional wisdom. After discovering what piqued my interest the most I started searching for ways to be innovative and creative. Engineers Without Borders provided this spark.
While this sounds good in theory, what does this mean in practice? Volunteers are deployed to determine the needs of the community through the operations of their partner(ed) organization. It gives them a clear insight on how they can help the developing communities. For instance, it may involve working at the local government level to increase the ability of government to collect information and make evidence-based decisions on where and how to deliver water and sanitation services. This is an example of the placement that I undertook as a JF this past summer in Ghana.
Engineers Without Borders Canada (EWB) is a non-governmental organization that came into being 8 years ago. Despite its name, Engineers Without Borders is not just for engineers. EWB’s volunteers both overseas and in Canada are from all faculties and walks of life. The defining attribute of EWB is that it has always strived to differentiate itself from the development pack and to define its success in results. While education about development in Canada is a definite priority, the heart of EWB’s development work is done by its overseas team, which has two streams.
As a history and political science student I was unsure of my place in EWB and surprised when I was awarded SFU’s JF placement for the summer of 2008. Though I had traveled in the past, living and working in West Africa was certainly going to be a departure from my norm. Following months of preparation and communication with the other volunteers across the country, I arrived in Toronto to begin a week of intense training that was supposed to prepare me for the next four months. After what felt like the shortest week of my life, my team and I departed for Ghana, Africa’s first independent nation and home to an innumerable number of development projects.
The first is the Junior Fellowship in International Development (JF) program; this allows students who are still in school full time to experience development in the field for four months. The JF program generally sends 40+ university students each summer to four African countries: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Zambia, and Malawi. The second thread of EWB’s overseas work consists of Long-Term Overseas Volunteers. These are generally university graduates, again from any discipline, who have committed to at least a year of work in one of the aforementioned four countries.
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EWB enjoys an established and respected reputation in the countries where it has worked. Volunteers are each placed within an existing organization. These organizations can be large Non-Governmental
My first task upon arriving in my home community of Salaga in Ghana’s Northern Region was to find somewhere to stay. Yep, that’s right – I had nowhere to live. While this might seem like poor planning, it is a hallmark of EWB’s overseas program. Volunteers are required to find a local family to live with for the duration of their placement. Daunted by this task, I approached my new co-workers to help me find somewhere to stay. They drove me down a dusty road on the outskirts of town and dropped me off at the pink and green house that was to become my home for the next four months. Living with a local family is a speedy introduction to regional lifeways, culture, and the challenges faced by those in your home community.
My family also consisted of about 7-10 children, depending on the day. It seemed that my family had a habit of taking in strays, including myself, and so had effectively adopted three children from the area who had been in otherwise dire circumstances. My host father spoke English exceptionally well, though Ajia’s English was about as good as my Gonja. Some of the children in the household spoke English as well, depending on the extent of their education, if any at all. Throughout the course of my stay, I became extremely close with my 15-year old sister, Tahira. She was the eldest of the children still at home and was responsible for keeping the house clean, cooking meals, doing laundry, taking care of her siblings, buying food, and even sold salt on market day, once a week. Tahira was awake before I was, even at 5:30am, and went to bed later than everyone else. On top of that, she attended school as often as she could, which some weeks were every day and others were quite infrequently. After all of the information I collected this summer in the course of my work and the innumerable people I spoke to about all ways of life in Ghana, I still feel that I learned the most from Tahira. My partner organization was the local seat of government, the District Assembly. Ghana is divided into Regions and then further into Districts, so working for the District Assembly was the equivalent of something between local and provincial government. The District Assembly was responsible for coordinating most of the services in the area, including those provided by foreign and local NGOs. In my early days at the Assembly, I observed that they were about to undertake an enormous four-year project funded by UNICEF and the European Union to eradicate a nasty parasite known as guinea worm, which enters through contaminated water and works its way out of one’s body through the lower limbs, causing debilitating pain and usually resulting in crippling scarring. While the project aimed to eliminate the parasite, it also aimed to build capacity at the government level for providing water facilities, hygiene education, and information collection about sanitation facilities and behaviors in the District. Despite the enormity of this project, there was little to no existing capacity at the Assembly to collect the information that was required to start the project. This information included the number of safe water facilities in the District, the number of people falling sick from water and sanitation-related diseases, among many other variables.
Throughout my four months, I worked closely with everyone at the Assembly to collect information from the over 600 communities that existed in our District. This information was then collected and analyzed to produce a more accurate picture of where our District stood on water and sanitation facilities and practices. This was no small feat. We had to mobilize people to visit every single one of those communities, some required to fill out a survey that was 50 pages long. We then had to wrangle 30 people for 5 days to enter all of this data into a template that we had formatted to allow us to understand what it all meant. Finally, this data had to be narrowed down to establish the bottom line for our district. While this may all seem technical and boring, consider this. For the next four years, every decision made on about water and sanitation in the District will be made based on the information that we collected. My stay in Ghana and my time with the District Assembly and my host family allowed me to question much of the conventional wisdom surrounding development. EWB’s approach allowed me to question what I was seeing and experiencing and to contribute to our overseas strategy as an organization in ways that I never thought possible. One of the challenges we faced as an organization was communicating our work overseas with our members in Canada. There are a few things that I can say for sure after my experience. You will never see me, or any other EWB member, asking for donations to send us to build a school in some far-flung impoverished region of the world. Why? Put it simply, it doesn’t work. There are millions of educated people in this world, and they are well represented in developing countries. People are capable of building schools, and clinics, and houses just as much as we are. What this approach fails to consider is the systemic problems behind lack of structures. Who will pay the teachers? Who will provide the books? Who will train and supervise the teachers? Can families afford to let their children attend school instead of contributing to income generating activities that keep the family afloat? I encourage everyone to be more entrepreneurial in his or her considerations of the developing world. Try something different – and be more critical about how you choose to help those in need. You might be surprised by your success.
Words by Glynnis Hawe Photographs by Glynnis Hawe
My host family consisted of Zacharia, my father, whom every just called Z, and his wife, whom everyone called Ajia. Ajia in fact meant mother in the local language, Gonja, but she chose not to go by her given name because it was the same as her husband’s mother’s and in his words, “that would have been weird.” Z’s humour was to be a highlight on days good and bad throughout my life in Ghana.
Glynnis Hawe was raised in East Vancouver and is currently completing a B.A. with Honours in History and Political Science at Simon Fraser University. In the future she hopes to pursue a Master’s Degree and to continue to explore the world.
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Meet Crystal Lowe, Vancouver-born model and actress. At 28, the half Scottish half Chinese stunner has already compiled quite the impressive resume. Crystal has graced the silver screen as well as your television set on countless occasions. She probably appears in one of the movies in your DVD collection, so chances are you either know her or recognize her gorgeous face.
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Be prepared to set aside more than a couple of minutes when taking a look at her filmography. Her long list of credits range from TV shows to blockbuster hits. For instance, count her role in 2001’s Insomnia, where she acted alongside A-list actors such as Robin Williams, Hilary Swank, and Al Pacino.
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When asked about her experience working with such iconic actors, some that have been acting even before she was born, Lowe grinned.
CL
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Working with Al Pacino was amazing! He was so lovely and sweet! Also working with Hilary Swank was great, these 2 actors are some of the biggest stars on the planet, yet they are both so humble.
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In addition to Insomnia, her acting credits include Final Destination 3, Snakes on a Plane, and Black Christmas. You’ll notice a certain “deadly” trend when glancing through Lowe’s previous roles.
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REACH How many times have you ‘died’ for the rolling cameras?
CL
Evisu Cezer
Oh my god, I don’t even know, I lost count! I would say at least 10! In fact it’s an ongoing joke in my family. I tell them I booked a role and they say ‘Oh yeah? How far into it before you die??’
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REACH So what is the one trait you would say an actor needs to have to reach his or her goals?”
CL
Five Four
The ability to keep going, because I’m telling you, I always say you have to love acting so much that even when you get rejected, which will be 9 times out of 10, you are willing to just keep going and not take it personal. You have to know it’s not personal, it’s simply business. You were simply not what they were looking for. People ask me how I did it over night and I laugh and tell them I have been doing this for 12 years! I have been turned down a million times but it’s something I can’t let go. So either you have the persistence or you just want to do it for fun and you don’t take it to heart when you don’t get booked.
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While Lowe can revel in the fact that she has a booming acting and modeling career, there is more to her than just her pretty face and acting chops. Lowe is also a busy entrepreneur, boasting a striving business under her belt. She is the co-founder of a Vancouver-based burlesque act called Sneaky Kiki Girlesque. Whether it is stage-handling and acting, or producing and writing the shows, Lowe is 100% dedicated to her successful venture. Founded in 2007, Sneaky Kiki Girlesque has performed numerous shows at various Vancouver venues. Today, Lowe is on tour with the burlesque troupe, but expect to see her in upcoming roles on the silver screen in the near future.
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604.432.9551 19a – 4800 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC
Exit This Side has been a part of Vancouver’s music scene for years now, after experiencing the less than glamorous sides of the music industry, the boy’s are finally getting the credit they deserve. Original members Ben Wootton, Craig McLaren, and Tarek Elneweihi have joined forces with ex-On Holiday member Jamie Garratt and ex-Art of Dying drummer Flavio Cirrillo, a good choice considering the band’s new single “One Night Stand” recently earned a spot on radio play lists across the country. Having just finished recording their album
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with renowned producer Gggarth Richardson, Exit This Side is gearing up for their debut CD release March 13th and a promising 2009.
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e.t.s
WITH
INTERVIEW
exit this side
REACH What’s the story behind your band name? ben We were on the sea bus ten minutes away from our first
terek
show and nameless! Having given up on being deep we began franticly looking around the boat and shouting out things we saw around us. It sounded a little like this, “LIFE JACKET! GUM ON THE WALL! MUSTER STATION 3! Then with luck I noticed the illuminated sign above the doors, “EXIT THIS SIDE”, and when I say with luck I mean it. If I didn’t find that sign we’d be called Muster Station 3 right now! Our name can also have many less literal meanings. I think it is best left to individuals to come up with their own personal meaning(s).
REACH What inspired you to make music together? Craig Each other, we were all good musicians and we have fun
writing and playing music together! Tarek soloed like he was possessed by the devil, Craig made his base fart like the thunder of the gods, Jamie’s WWF Blue steel stare downs stole my soul, and I guess I squeezed and squelched pretty enough for them to get me. flavio I had never really played “Exit style” music, so the inspiration was the challenge of playing fast, aggressive, hooky pop!!! terek Fate. Our common interest in music. Our common interest in girls.
ben
REACH What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Craig Awesome ben The good kind terek I’d say rock, with a little bit of pop punk thrown in there.
And a little bit of opera.
Beatles, Guns n Roses, Greenday, U2, and Stone Temple Pilots. Recently I’m more influenced by great songs, whether it falls under rock, pop, country, hip hop, or R&B; I get inspired by trying to figure what makes a song great! ben Beatles, Motley Crew, Green Day, GNR, kiss, U2, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, NWA, Three Fly, and most of all EXIT THIS SIDE. flavio Oh man.... I can’t get into that! I don’t have the time!!! terek The bands/artists that really inspired me to pick up the guitar and play music were Corey Hart, Def Leppard, Guns n Roses, and Metallica (in that order). The guitarists that have influenced me the most are Slash, Zakk Wylde, Kirk Hammet, and James Hetfield. However, there are probably literally thousands of more musical influences for me but I won’t bother listing them all.
REACH Have you toured with any major bands? ben We’ve played with. Theory Of a Dead Man, Hedley, Default,
SNFU, Billy Talent, Goldfinger, GOB, Wide Mouth Masion, DOA, Swollen Members, Day Glow Abortion, and the big ones THUNDER HAMMER!!!
REACH
LEFT 2 RIGHT craig tarek ben flavio jamie
Congratulations on beating out Akon, Eva Avila, Snow and Lil Wayne on the battle of the beat 94.5fm. How did that feel? Craig It feels good knowing that we can write and perform music that competes with the some of the best acts in the world! We are very thankful to all our Vancouver fans that voted for us and The Beat 94.5 for spinning “One Night Stand”! ben It felt like Christmas had decided to move to February. flavio Thanks! Felt pretty cool! terek Like butter.
Words/styled by Amanda Elands Photographs by Mike Chatwin
REACH Who/what are your major influences in your music? Craig I grew up listening and trying to emulate bands like The
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REACH What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have REACH What’s your craziest band story? you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? Craig Bret Lindros’s house party in Toronto! Eric Lindros was there among some other hockey players, we ended up air Craig The biggest challenge we have had is getting recognized
ben
terek
at an international level. There are a lot of bands out there and while we have made it further than most, we still have some work to do! It’s not a challenge when you love what you do, but sometimes you can forget that if you’re distracted by the stresses of life. If you truly have that rock n’ rolla of the soula disorder, all you need is the taste of a good show and it reminds you of what it’s all about and why you’re there. Don’t forget why you’re here, its fatal. There are many challenges, I don’t know which is the biggest.Trying to stay sane while dealing with the business side of the “Music Biz” maybe? I’m not sure if we’ve succeeded at that. Ask my psychiatrist.
ben
guitaring with Brett’s hockey sticks for hours to AC/DC and Metallica, it was ridiculous! Nope, not going to do it. My lawyer has advised me to refraim from answering questions of that nature. HAHA! Ask Tarek or Ben. What goes on the road stays on the road.
flavio terek REACH Any advice for someone wanting to be in a band? Craig If you want to be in a band, pick one that is already signed
ben
to a major label and very well established, U2 would be a great choice! Just kidding, getting there is half the fun, just be prepared to do a lot of “getting there”! Dream big. Dream very big, but remember you can’t get anything accomplished when you’re asleep dreaming. Well, I’d say go at it at 150%! That’s what you need from everyone in a band! If you enjoy your sanity, then don’t do it.
flavio REACH How would you define the word “success”? Craig Success is when you achieve your goals! terek ben Finding my keys in the morning. flavio “Success”.... so many forms of it. One is when you’re REACH Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for helping exit driving around in a Ferrari! this side on it’s way? terek In my eyes or in the eyes of others? In my eyes it’s feeling Craig There are a few people who have helped us immensely happy with where I’m at at this moment. In the eyes of over the last few years and we would not be where we
society I would say that the definition would include things such as the attainment of fame and money...and bitches.
REACH Who writes your songs? terek Ben, Craig, and myself. For this album the tendency was for one of us to come in with a “rough draft” of a song, and then the others would help pretty it up into its final form. However, some of the songs were collaborations from the start. Neil Diamond wrote two of the songs.
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REACH What inspires you when writing? Craig People and the silly things we do and don’t do! ben Silence, so the song can sing itself. terek Whatever I’m feeling at the time, or sex.
ben
are today with out there help: Garth Richardson and Ben Kaplan our production team, Jaxon Hawkes and Holly Conway from The Beat 94.5, our promotion team, Barry Jorgens, Dave Arnold and our management team Honorable Mentions to Sir Barry Jorgans for his love, friendship, and support. Garth Richardson and Ben Kapland for their trust, guidance, and the best album everrecorded in the history of music. had to say that, “Just in case the world ends” Oprah Winfrey.
terek REACH Any last words? C Enjoy Yourself! b Pooh. f Live long & prosper! t Word.
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