FREE - donal lons accepted .

.JANUARY 15, 1994 .

Vancouver Native Health ... Needle Exchange.. .

Community Organizing! There is t h e development of under- ~t i s t h i s l a s t , a process f o r t h e

development. There i s l e g i s l a t e d and l a c k of a process , t h a t seems t o be planned poverty. There is a process what we as"a community a r e faced wi th f o r t h e l ack of process . more and more.

The p r o j e c t at H a s t i n g s & Main i n t h e o ld Bank of Montreal b u i l d i n g was one where i t was dec ided and p r e s e n t - ed : a s a 'done d e a l '. The community was s t u c k w i t h r e a c t i n g , w i t h f i g h t - ing back t o g e t it back t o a l e v e l of r e s p e c t f o r our needs and i n p u t .

T h i s i s now being done o v e r , w i t h a S t e e r i n g Committee of l o c a l peop le and d i r e c t community i n p u t t h a t w i l l shape and d i r e c t i t .

The Needle Exchange, t a l k e d abou t i n t h i s i s s u e , is a n o t h e r p r o j e c t whose needs and f u t u r e a r e be ing a f f - e c t e d by d e c i s i o n s made e l sewhere .

Now we a r e be ing c h a l l e n g e d a g a i n w i t h an agreement between t h e Pl in is t - r y of Hea l th and t h e C i t y of Vancouv- e r ' s Hea l th Department t o " t r a n s f er funding and o p e r a t i o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i - t y f o r t h e Vancouver N a t i v e H e a l t h S o c i e t y t o t h e Vancouver H e a l t h Dept!'

T h i s agreement i s t h e r e s u l t of months of n e g o t i a t i o n s between t h e 2 g o v ' t bod ies t h a t were c a r r i e d o u t w i t h o u t anyone from t h e N a t i v e H e a l t h S o c i e t y even be ing aware of them.

There was no c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h any c ommun i '

t h i s c o a l i t i o n . VNHS i s one of t h r e e A b o r i g i n a l s e r v i c e a g e n c i e s i n t h e a r e a . Aside from i ts day and evening c l i n i c s , t h e S o c i e t y h a s developed & i s o p e r a t i n g c u l t u r a l l y - b a s e d s e r v i c e which mee t s t h e un ique needs of Abor- i g i n a l peop le . Ra ther t h a n work w i t h t h i s S o c i e t y , t a l k t o t h e peop le i n i t , a d e c i s i o n h a s been made t o t a k e away i t s autonomy and s p l i t up what s e r v i c e s it had developed.

Ques t ions of "why?" Why was a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o a

c l a i m of 'mishand l ing ' g o v ' t money made? Why, when t h e S o c i e t y was found t o be innocen t of any wrongdoing, was t h e f r e e z e on i c s a l l o c a t e d g r a n t n o t immediately l i f t e d & a n apology ,made?

What i s t h e f u t u r e of t h e N a t i v e H e a l t h S o c i e t y ?

The M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h , Hon. P a u l Ramsey, met w i t h a number of r e p r e s - e n t i v e s of s e v e r a l community groups: DERA, Carneg ie A s s o c i a t i o n , DEYAS , t h e C o a l i t i o n , Watari Youth Detox and Ray-Cam Community A s s o c i a t i o n were t h e r e w i t h Vancouver N a t i v e Hea l th . The m i n i s t e r l i s t e n e d t o t h e concerns of a l l t h a t , once a g a i n , t h e v e r y cru- c i a l m a t t e r of r e a l community consu l - t a t i o n and p r o c e s s had been i g n o r e d .

A f t e r much d i s c u s s i o n Ramsey s a i d t h e t r a n s f e r would go ahead anyway. The community r e p s walked o u t .

Mike Harcour t c a l l e d f o r and saw t h e fo rmat ion of t h e Downtown Eas t - s i d e - S t r a t h c o n a C o a l i t i o n . It was t o i s our community. We have needs , i d be "a v e h i c l e f o r t h e two communities t o j o i n t l y t a c k l e common problems as w e l l a s be ing a c o n s u l t i n g mechanism i d e a l . "Gran f o r i s s u e s a s t h e y a r i s e , i n c l u d i n g government i n i t i a t i v e s t h a t a f f e c t e i t h e r o r b o t h communities."

The Vancouver N a t i v e H e a l t h S o c i e t y was one of t h e founding members of

Friends :

SMOKE SIGNALS ENTERPRISES Kenneth Peltier - Krawchuk Vancouver, B.C. V5L 122.

Offices: 1543 Frances Street. 255 - 2094

I feel I'm ready to start a prosperous business here in Vancouver. Therefore I appreciate the opportunity to introduce Smoke Signal Enterprises to the downtown community, with the appropriate finances to the foregoing company.

During the past months I have been studying the feasibility of opening a CoffeeIBannock Shop in the downtown area. It has become apparent to myself, through several different sources, that this type of business would be a successful enterprise.

I believe with the influence and with the relationship I have with the community members and families I would have a 200% opportunity for success.

My background in the food industry and in business began in 1967. I started work at the Canadian Pacific Hotel in Banff Alberta, then worked at Calgary C.P.R. Hotel. From there I was employed by the Regina, Sask. C.P.R. Hotel. I worked at all phases from kitchen, dining room to banquet room. For a period of nine years I worked for the Holiday Inn within Regina. Also at the same time, I managed my own painting business, which later became a company called L. and K. Painting and Decorating, and did very well.

Then I went to U.S.A. to see my mother and family in North Dakota. I completed some more schooling, and achieved a G.E.D., and also an Auto Electronics course.

I moved to Vancouver in the early 1970's fulfilled various employ with Maclean's magazine. Later I got involved with the American Indian Movement (AIM). I helped set up numerous distinctive gatherings and performed fundraising events for the AIM Committees.

After that I moved to Seabird Island Indian Reserve, where I returned to school. I also worked on getting a general store going on the Seabird Indian Reserve, which is now a successful truck stop.

I later returned to Vancouver and built a concession stand on wheels. With the concession stand in a big van, I went to seven different pow - wows. I sold my business, and returned to the U.S.A. where I started helping people set up their own businesses, throughout the United States and Canada.

I intend to start a Coffee\Bannock Shop, Native Art Gallery, and Native family dining-entertainment centre. There is a desire for such an appointment. Already people show a big interest by trying to get a few hours of training in Native Art at the Carnegie Community Centre which has many programmes of its own, and can only spare a few hours a week for the natives.

These are my prior experiences and responsibilities with business relations. Through your support, I know I will accomplish the successful operation of this enterprise.

With gratitude, I thank you for your time and co-operation in this matter. Sincerely yours,

I Kenneth Krawchuk.

Winners i n Smoke S igna l s Enterpr i ses ' S o l s t i c e Draw:

Dream Catcher e a r r i n g s -Colleen Okeymaw Dream Catcher e a r r i n g s -Samantha Kelly Dream Catcher e a r r i n g s -Howard Paul1 Dream Catcher e a r r i n g s -Chante l le P i e rce Dream Catcher Barr ings -Robert Watt Dream Catcher e a r r i n g s - D . Anderson Dream Catcher e a r r i n g s -Laura Newman Dream Catcher e a r r i n g s -Joann Hall Beaded armlrbands -Sarah Brown Beaded b a r r e t t e s G h a i r t i e s -Megan Beaver hand drum -L. Grey Dream Catcher (red) -Robert Watt Dream Catcher ( t a n ) -P. Tigchelaur Dream Catcher (purple) -Robin Russe l l Feather e a r r i n g s (wood) -N. Banks Feather e a r r i n g s (wood) -G . Tobacco Feather brooch -Charles T a i t Bear brooch -R. T i l s t r a Indian head neck lace l ea r r ing s e t -Dale Buffalo s k u l l bolo t i e -Marina Reid Eagle GThunderbird Plaque carv ings

-Hauchecorne Salmon Plaque carv ings -Todd Birch Bent box P . Wonnacot t Woodland design b e l t J. Sandy Mink drum D . McGruer

I have had t h e same doc to r f o r 1 2 years . I l i k e d him, he was r e a l l y good t o me, but he was wrong.

I have had p a l p i t a t i o n s , shakes, sweats, mood swings, speeding mind r ac ing f a s t e r than my body could cope and my eyes were swollen and red.

I t o l d my doc to r I f e l t l i k e I was dying. He s a i d it was i n my mind.. he o f f e red me t r a n q u i l l i z e r s f o r t h e shaking and "panic a t tacks" .

I went t o a new doctor v e r y r e l u c t - a n t l y because I l i k e d my own doctor so much. I was g iven a blood t e s t and it turned out I had an over -ac t ive thyro id . Within 3 weeks I was t r e a t e d wi th r a d i a t i o n and my thy ro id shrank. A l l t h e p a s t symptoms have stopped. I f e e l s o much b e t t e r .

Always g e t another opinion !

S h e i l a Baxter

Under t h e south end of t h e Cambie b r idge They pecked and s t rugg led Where t h e mad bag lady used t o l i v e i even though my i n t e n t was f a i r Her son with h e r Along came a businessman unaware i n t h e w i n t e r ' s f r i d g e of where h i s d e s t i n a t i o n I came across two s t a r l i n g s o r t h e i n c l i n a t i o n t o c a r e

tangled i n s t r i n g s I asked a s s i s t a n c e t o no a v a i l

A-flopping and s t r u g g l i n g Sent o f f on t h e wrong t r a i l

wi th bound up wings H i s p a r t i n g word - ' I hope you succe

S t r i n g s around neck E l egs . .caught up The s t a r l i n g s a r e f r e e and on t h e w j i n garbage r e p o s i t o r y o f f e r i n g s . A song s u i t 6 t i e w i l l . ' n e v e r s ing . I thought t h e y were mating Tom Lewis

a t f i r s t glance, No; it was a b a t t l e f o r escape and l i f e Revolution without r e v e l a t i o n

s u r e l y no romance. is tyranny, bu t Revelat ion without r evo lu t ion I caught them a f t e r a s h o r t chase

To loosen s t r i n g s and send them back i s enslavement.

t o a i r y space Timothy Learey

5.

oEUc\j t he se people go i f you cu t back? P lease g ive t h i s ma t t e r your deep-

Paul Ramsey, Minis te r of Health. est cons ide ra t ion before c u t t i n g any Dear S i r : p a r t of t h e Needle Exchange.

I heard some ve ry d i s t u r b i n g news Thank you. I remain, on t h e r a d i o t h e o t h e r day t h a t you Verna Beaudin people plan cut back On the Need- P.S. : Anyone wanting t o w r i t e --- l e Exchange. If t h a t happens you'd PAUL RAMSEY, be doing a d i s s e r v i c e t o t h e people Min i s t e r of Health, on t h e Mainland. I know t h a t AIDS Room 310 would r i s e a t an alarming r a t e Parliament Buildings,

When people a r e addic ted 6 c a n l t VICTORIA, B.C. V8V 1x4 <di>\-".,- : "" ge t a c l e a n needle , t hey don1 t c a r e

,: ,, c i > + ~ *?. -. ,-.-$; $-- .",s .", y c -,-- /&..,a, -,

0 $% *, *?./ ,I ,.? .:;. .. ,. #-' .".. 2 9 .

i f t h e l a s t person who has used a , A &d/:! needle has HIV p o s i t i v e bloodl..they y'' The DEYAS Needle Exchange,,from i t s use t h a t d i r t y needle anyway. I can .h, i ncep t ion t o t h e end of November '93, no t s t r e s s enough what could then !%' has d i s t r i b u t e d almost 2.5 mi l l i on happen t o t h a t person. as

syr inges . A s we l l a s proviiding o t h e r When young people can g e t condoms 3 supp l i e s such a s bleach, water b o t t l e

they can have s a f e sex, f r e e of AIDS ' and a lcohol wipes t o I V drug u s e r s , 6 s y p h i l i s , gonorrhea, herpes. I f

\ t h e Exchange a l s o provides condoms t o you c u t back on t h a t ou r c h i l d r e n - I V c l i e n t s and t o Vancouver sex t r a d e w i l l experience sex with devas t a t ing !==, worker-. Condom d i s t r i b u t i o n i n 1993 e f f e c t s ... unwanted pregnancies , no t . t o t a l l e d approximately 300,000. t o t a l k about babies born wi th AIDS The Needle Exchange i s extremely o r even born b l i n d due t o gonorrhea. "3 e f f e c t i v e i n prevent ing t h e t ransmis-

The h e a l t h b i l l be a l o t h ighe r t o s ion of H I V , t h e v i r u s be l ieved t o t h e B.C. t axpayer t han what you p lan ' cause AIDS. Provinc ia l s t a t i s t i c s t o c u t back on t h e Needle Exchange. k+, show t h a t of t hose t e s t e d f o r H I V

I have been volunteer ing f o r f i v e /.{ whose s o l e r epo r t ed r i s k is I V drug years at Carnegie, f o u r days a week -- use, on ly 2.1% t e s t e d p o s i t i v e . This a t 8:45 am, and I pas s by t h e Needle * compares with 5.7% i n Toronto, 16% i n Exchange on Main S t r e e t . I have seen - Montreal and 60-70% i n New York. Most more 6 more people o u t s i d e wai t ing 2, of B C ' s e s t imated 15,000 I V drug us- f o r it t o open a t 9 am. When I come e r s l i v e i n t h e a r e a se rv i ced by t h e home 4 hours l a t e r t h e Exchange room1 Exchange. i s f u l l of people so t h e s e people This s e r v i c e p reven t s n o t on ly t h e

(' * a r e concerned about t h e i r hea l th . I g t ransmiss ion 0.f H I V bu t a l s o h e p a t i t - am s u r e t h a t AIDS i s not on t h e up- ' ( is, s y p h i l i s , gonorrhea and o t h e r in - r i s e i n Vancouver l i k e i n o t h e r '' ' f e c t i o n s . North American c i t i e s thanks t o t h e The exchange r a t e f o r needles i s Needle Exchange. now averaging 98% t o 99% p e r month.

I t a l k e d t o t h e supe rv i so r of t h e Exchange a f t e r I heard t h e news and \, It c o s t s t h e Minis t ry o f Health

$157,000 i n acu te ca re h o s p i t a l she s a i d t h a t t hey handled 200 more costs per IV drug user who gets ca ses i n 3 months than when they

opened. The Needle Exchange i s open 7 days a week because sex 6 add ic t - Above a r e some of t h e f a c t s t h a t ion don ' t t a k e a day o f f . Where w i l l : have been presented t o t h e government

t o convince them t h a t t h e Exchange i s a c r u c i a l s e rv i ce i n need of more funding. The problem is t h a t t h e Min- i s t r y has decided t o cont inue funding a t the 1992 leve l , d e s p i t e t h e almost 100% increase i n t h e need.

Cutbacks i n t h e e x i s t i n g s e r v i c e s a r e a shor t - s ighted and shor t - te rm saving. Le t t e r s t o t h e Min i s t e r of Health, a!nd t o your,MLA, newspapers, Ci ty Council, a r e one way t o respond. Cutt ing back on t h e Exchange w i l l lead t o increased c o s t s i n h e a l t h s e r v i ces and an inc rease i n human misery.

- from a submission by J. TURVEY (Note: To be c l e a r , i f 4 people g e t

AIDS due t o having t o u s e a ' d i r t y ' syr inge , t h a t w i l l c o s t t h e Health Minis t ry 4;x$157,000 = $62%;000-

over t h e yea r ly budget f o r t h e DEYAS Needle Exchange now.

Third f l o o r F I R E S I DE program One of Carnegie ' s s t o r y t e l l e r s ,

Grant H i r s t , kep t a spellbound audi- ence a t t h e Learning Centre i n susp- ense l a s t week with a two-part rendi - t i o n of h i s own t a l e "Blind J u s t i c e f ' .

The new FIRESIDE program on t h e 3rd f l o o r f e a t u r e s s t o r i e s , poems, songs and humour by s t u d e n t s and l o c a l story- t e l l e r s . Free, i t ' s h e l d each evening between 7pm and 8pm.

Bring your mug and g e t s e t t o r e l a x and l i s t e n t o some new and v a r i e d c r e a t i o n s .

Dai ly p r e s e n t a t i o n n o t i c e s a r e pos t - ed on t h e f i r e p l a c e i n t h e Learning Centre .

Coming up a r e FIRESIDE program s t a r s *DORA SANDERS *GRANT HIRST *ISMAE~ ISMAEL *ERNIE DUSCHARME *MARTIN LAU "KELSEY WEBB *JIMMY ROADKNIGHT *NICHOLAS OLSON

and o t h e r s ... Everyone welcome.

Around Carnegie G i n t h e neighbour- hood you w i l l sometimes meet people who a r e involved i n s t r a n g e mental processes . . . some c a l l it o t h e r s c a l l it Ifmentally chal lenged," 6 s t i l l o t h e r s s ay t h e s e people a r e j u s t p lay ing mind games G f r e e l o a d i n g on t h e system.

These unusual mental G emotional s t a t e s (not r e a l l y so much %nusualff a s l funacceptablel ' ) a r e not always dangerous t o o the r s . Sometimes they a r e c r e a t i v e F, benevolent, a l though t h e r e is d e f i n i t e l y a danger t o o t h - e r s t p o t e n t i a l i n some of them. What t h e s e people a r e going through i s now l a b e l l e d "schizophreniaff , "mania", "depression", "paranoiaff , "obsessive- compulsive p e r s o n a l i t y d i so rde rw e t c . - but r e a l l y , i t v s a s o l d a s t h e h i l l s - o r , more accu ra t e ly , o l d e r than t h e h i l l s , s i n c e i t ' s been around a s long as human beings have l i v e d on t h i s p l a n e t . What many of u s a r e go- l n g through today, t o n i g h t , tomorrow, i n t h e personal "madness" o f our own p r i v a t e thoughts , i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y an i l l n e s s o r d i s e a s e . . i n f a c t , it might be more accu ra t e t o s ay it nev- e r was an i l l n e s s o r disease..however t h i s i s how t h e "exper t s f f r e l a t e t o it today, E God knows they 've i n s p i r - ed many un fo r tuna te i nd iv idua l s with t h e idea t h a t t h e workings of t h e i r own minds a r e s i c k .

I ' v e had people r epea t t o me word f o r word what t h e doc to r s a i d about them. They seem t o be l i eve completely i n t h e d o c t o r ' s t heo ry E have obviou- s l y adopted t h a t r e a l i t y j u s t a s t h e doc tor descr ibed it. Of course I know these people a r e on drugs as thev a r e

va r ious mood-altering p i l l s f o r t h e d a i l y use of t h i s unlucky c i t i z e n E t h e g o v t t has pa id f o r it i n advance.

So, i t ' s hard t o r e a l l y know i f t h e drugs a r e making them t h ink t h i s way, o r if they a r e j u s t "be l iev ing i n t h e exper t advice of medical s c i - ence". In e i t h e r case , t h i s whole way of dea l ing with what we c a l l i n s a n i t y is ques t ionable ... nobody knows t h e whole s t o r y on t h i s s t u f f , because everyone is more o r l e s s involved i n it; a t a deeper l e v e l it r e p r e s e n t s an unconscious agreement t h a t manif- e s t s t o some minds a s a s e c r e t cons- p i racy . The p s y c h i a t r i s t s , s o c i a l workers o r "care-givers" a r e a l l p a r t of t h i s i n t e r a c t i o n a s is, of course, t h e p a t i e n t , c l i e n t o r sub jec t of such experiments,..what e l s e could you c a l l diagnoses & t rea tment under such condi t ions? . . . t h e "care-givers" a r e experimenting on t h e "mentally chal lenged " . . . I Yry ing t o h e l p them", i t ' s c a l l e d .

Back i n t h e e a r l y days of psychia t - r y , any b i z a r r e behaviour on t h e p a r t of I fpa t ien ts" was welcomed a s a pos i - t i v e s i g n o f f e r i n g t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of s e l f -hea l ing . S t range thoughts o r be- haviours were r e f e r r e d t o i n t h e w r i - t i n g s of Freud, Jung Adler e t c . a s "emergence of unconsciousness con- t e n t s " - usua l ly , t h e wproblem'f o r whatever it was t h a t made t h e p a t i e n t s u f f e r , was considered t o be locked up as childhood trauma i n t h e pa t i en - t ' s body, E t h e emergence o f "con- t e n t s " was considered t o be a s i g n t h a t t h e t ime was r i p e t o r evea l E r e - experience t h e s e t raumat ic memory

t r a c e s o r complexes, t hus providing an opportuni ty f o r t h e i n t e g r a t i o n of l o s t information i n t o t h e conscious personal i ty , causing a harmonization o r heal ing e f f e c t .

Over t h e years t h e s e o r i g i n a l ideas, which a r e probably c o r r e c t , have be- come a t h r e a t t o t h e s o c i a l system. The die-hard o l d - l i n e establ ishment does not l i k e t h e s e ideas because t h e source of "trauma" (extreme anx ie ty causing a s t a t e of shock) was discov- ered t o be ex t e rna l - t h a t i s t o say , it was t h e a c t i o n s of pa ren t s , teach- e r s G s o c i e t y l s a u t h o r i t y f i g u r e s on t h e ind iv idua l t h a t produced t h i s mental lldis-order1'.

Today t h e s e s o c i a l a u t h o r i t y f i g - u r e s (moms, dads, p o l i t i c i k n s , lawy- e r s , business persons, e t c . ) have t a - ken over E l i t e r a l l y run t h e psychia- t r i c profess ion by providing it with research g r a n t s , expensive h i - t ech equipment, l a b s , s a l a r y s e t c . The ' I

work necessary t o develop hundreds of thousands of new drugs - most of them mood-alternating - psycho-act ive chem- i c a l s used t o induce G maintain c e r t - a i n ' ldes i rab le l f mental s t a t e s i n ind- i v i d u a l c i t i z e n s , was almost complet- e l y funded by government money ( i f you ' re a taxpayer, you con t r ibu ted t o t h i s process) .

Now, of course, our so-ca l led medi- c a l p rofess ion no longer r e l a t e s t o b i z a r r e behaviour as an oppor tun i ty t o h e a l ... it i s today c l a s s i f i e d a s a "symptom" - t hus providing f u r t h e r proof of " insani ty t1 . Automatically, sometimes j u s t by consu l t i ng a l i s t , t h e "community care-g iver f1 p r e s c r i b e s a drug he o r she has prescr ibed hund- r e d s of t imes before but has never a c t u a l l y t r i e d themselves ... Usually

t o c o n t r o l o r s eda te t h e ind iv idua l f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e i r l i f e .

The t a k i n g of t h e p re sc r ibed medic- a t i o n then becomes a symbol of hope- l e s s n e s s t o t h e "pat ient" , who comes more 6 more t o be l i eve i n themselves a s a h e l p l e s s mental c r i p p l e depend- e n t on t h e S t a t e . This r e a c t i o n o f t e n warms t h e h e a r t s of "care-givers" E males them th ink they have-done some- th ing worthwhile. TORA

t o b e n e a r e r you

d inne r l a s t n i g h t u n f i t f o r two wiccans i n t h e n i g h t buying a worn out shoe

I

t h a t was supposed t o s a t i s f y no t mor t i fy t h e f l e s h of me and you

over a i ' m i n

cooked up love with

shoe YOU

but down t h a t l one ly road we went your money spent tlwas t h e thought, thank you no t t h e shoe t h a t kept me i n love with you t h a t kept me i n love with you \

a i r p l a n e s comin a i r p l a n e s goin t h e wind blowin boa t s a movin spray a f l y i n i l m a d i e i n t o be n e a r e r you

l e t ' s do it aga in t h a t over t u rkey over stew

t h i s drug is p re sc r ibed f o r t h e l i f e - i ' m i n love with you

time of t h e p a t i e n t - t h a t i s t o say, Murray Fenwick t h e tak ing of t h e drug i t s e l f depends upon t h e a t t i t u d e t h a t no cure is poss ib l e , E a l l t h a t can be done i s

ON SOCIETY'S FRINGES The Vancouver Sun, ~o"day, December 27, 1993

Street trans facing ROBERT SARTl Vancouver Sun

Cold cuts and soda pop. That's Christmas dinner on the bottom rung of the social ladder.

Dozens of transsexuals working on downtown streets run more risks and enjoy fewer perks than any other cat- egory of street people. say members of a new self-help group for indi- viduals seeking to change their sex- ual identity.

"We live on the margins of soci- ,ety - according to Statscan, we're not even a gender, we don't exist," says ,Jamie Hamilton, a community worker who runs the weekly support sessions for transsexuals a t First United Church on East Hastings.

"We're outcasts even within the street community."

Christmas dinner this week at the drop-in was cold cuts and soda pop, wh~ch the members contributed themselves.

As some members got dressed or put on makeup to go out to work on the street, others exchanged gifts.

"I just spent $9,000 on surgery. so don't expect much (for Christmas)," said a woman named Caress, handing out gift- wrapped packages oftalcum powder, shampoo and cologne.

Caress said she experienced so much red-tape and delay from the R.C.,Medical Plan that she finally decided to pay for the operation in Montreal herself, tak- ingout an ad in a weekly newspaper offering sex for sale to raise money.

"I'm a recovering alcoholic, so it was hard to go back to the street," she said.

Now she plans to get her Grade - . . . . --

greater risks 12 diploma ana g<into a aitterent Transsexual kind of business. prostitutes suffer more violence than

About adozen transsexuals attend most other sex-trade workers - the self-help sessions. All a re in mainly from irate johns who have process of changing from male to discovered their true sexual iden- female, and are considered at risk tities. for AIDS, because they are involved Thirty-four-year-old April Wick- in prostitution or drugs. ford said street transsexuals need

The group also maintains a hot- their own "safe house" or drop-in, so line (254-9591) for crisis counselling they can get counselling and health and information. care from people who understand

Group members cited a host of their special problems. problems not encountered by other Transsexualism is considered a street people, such as: medical condition in which an indi-

0 Women's and children's cen- vidual with the sexual characteris- tres in the area restrict their atten- tics of one gender identifies psy- dance because of their masculine chologically with the other gender. energy and physical size. Surgery and hormone therapy are

The medical establishment used to bring about the sex change. wants them to find a husband and get Wickford started her life on the married once they have their sex- street as a 14-year-old male prosti- change operations. tute. She first gave up drugs 18

months ago, fell off the wagon twice, the A I D S - s u ~ ~ o r t g o u ~ s but is now enrolled in a Grade 12

are "predominantly male-tme"orm upgrading program and undergoing nizat~ons. more comfortable dealing hormone therapy. with homosexiials. "I've known all my life what I was

0 Even the regular prostitutes' -a trapped in a body,w drop-in allows them space only once she said. . . - - . . a ween. 0 A parking garage that was an

informal bunkhouse for transsexu- als was invaded by drug addicts who left a big mess, forcing the owner of the garage to clear out the site just a few days before Christn~as.

0 A drop-in for street transsexu- als closed earlier this yearnhen too

mans other s t reet people showed up for free meals and provincial fund- ing could not be obtained to con- tinue the pro- gram.

"There's a lot of insensitivity out there. When I'm in school, I'm still called by my male name."

A SENIOR CITIZEN' S LAMENT

Thought I ' d l e t my doctor check me, 'Cause I d i d n ' t f e e l q u i t e r i g h t . A l l those aches and pa ins annoyed me And I couldn ' t d e e p a t n igh t .

He could f i n d no r e a l d i so rde r , But he wouldn't l e t me r e s t ; What with Medicare and Blue Cross, I t wouldn't h u r t t o do some t e s t s .

To the h o s p i t a l he s e n t me, Though I d idn l t f e e l t h a t bad. He arranged f o r them t o g ive me Every t e s t t h a t could be had.

I was f louroscoped and cytoscoped, My aging frame d isp layed . S t r ipped upon an ice-co ld t a b l e , While my g izzards were x-rayed.

I was checked f o r worms E p a r a s i t e s , For fungus and t h e crud; While they p ie rced me with long needles Taking samples o f my blood.

Doctors came t o check me over , Probed and pushed and poked around, And t o make su re I was l i v i n g They wired me f o r sound.

They f i n a l l y concluded ( t h e i r r e s u l t s have f i l l e d a page) , What I have w i l l someday k i l l me... I t ' s c a l l e d o l d age. 1

Canadian Press - - CORNWALL, Ont. -A Royal Canadian Legion

official who criticized Sikh officers for wearing turbans in the legion hall has been banished from the veterans' organization pending a disciplinary hearing.

Angelo Lebano, branch president, caused a p u b Iic uproar earlier this month when he said that if Sikhs "feel they have to wear turbans, then let them go back to their country."

I JANUARY 19 - Health: A t 2pm i n t h e Author unknown. 2nd-f loor non-smoking r m

HOMINUM - f o r gay men coming out from OPPENHEIMER PARK COMMITTEE t ime E da te

a marriage, fram a gay r e - t o be announced ... l a t i o n s h i p o r j u s t coming ou t . We meet JANUARY 27 - Community Rela t ions corn-'

weekly. For f u r t h e r information c a l l m i t t e e ; 4pm

684-6869, 7-10pm any day. FEBRUARY 1 - Mult i -Cul tura l Committee FEBRUARY 1 - Program Committee; 4pm

I f you ' r e i n t e r e s t e d ... FEBRUARY 2 - Finance Committee; 4pm. t h e r e ' s a mess o1 meetings t h i s FEBRUARY 3 - Board of D i rec to r s ; 7pm.

month. I f you want t o know what it :*,$- Those of you i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e means, ask God. Library , Education, Kitchen Volunteer

JANUARY 18 - Seniors Annual General and/or Volunteers have a l r e a d y missed with reports January ' s meetings. Check wi th t h e

JANUARY 18 - Anniversary Events!!! Newslet ter i n February f o r d a t e s o r Carnegie' 14th birthday s e e t h e s t a f f person. . . j u s t ask. so look f o r s igns .

There is a pervading sense of discouragement and frustration among the people of this country who feel powerless a s individuals to bring about change. There are, however, ways in which all of us as individuals can contribute to finding a solution to this problem.

. . . We can join together to raise the consciousness of this country to a level where people will no longer tolerate the tragedies which have taken place.

- The Doobie Brothers

MacPHAIL STICKS UP FOR PEOPLE ON GAIN

Joy MacPhail is t h e new Minister of Social Services. She has been deal ing with a l o t of media hype and quest ion about welfare fraud, and a l o t of we& fare-bashing by the media.

Surrey po l i ce a r e accusing people of f a l s e l y r epor t ing l o s t o r s t o l e n cheques so t h a t they can g e t them r e - placed by t h e Ministry of Social Ser.

MacPhail refused t o t r a s h people on welfare i n h e r responses t o t h e media According t o t h e Vancouver Sun, she "cautioned t h a t p o l i c e have t o t r e a t people on welfare t h e same a s anyone who r e p o r t s a t h e f t n r l n s s ..."

"A t h e f t is a t h e f t , " MacPhail sa id , "whether it be a s o c i a l a s s i s t ance cheque o r your paycheque ..."

MacPhail i s a l s o refus ing t o t r a s h people from Alberta who have been cut o f f welfare by t h e Alberta g o v f t and thrown t o t h e wolves. Some of them a r e evident ly moving t o B.C. t o look f o r work. MacPhail has maintained t h a t they have the l e g a l r i g h t t o welfare i n B.C. (Note: This a r t i c l e was i n t h e ELP Newsletter. ELP i s having a 2-day conference on Jan.14-15; MacPhail i s the re on t h e 14th, Smallwood on 15th.)

The Bat And The Ratt lesnake

A Love Story

The whole t r u t h i s too good t o be l i eve unless we da re t o be naive

Le t ' s have a p lace f o r h e a r t s t o be Forgiving i n a t i c k of time Where we a r e innocent and f r e e And our mistakes a r e a l l d iv ine

Let us f i n d a s t a t e of mind Where everyone i s counted i n And we continue t o be kind Where o the r forms of l i f e begin

L e t t s t r a v e l through an i n n e r space Where everything t r u e love redeems And we w l l come a l i v e with grace And joy beyond our wi ldes t dreams

The u l t imate miracle of being Is a l i v e and present Within u s and a l l around us I n f i n i t e l y knowing and ca r ing Now and fo reve r t h e source of a joy Which is l i f e i t s e l f

And though we a r e u t t e r l y f r e e (even f r e e t o be l i eve it o r no t ) S t i l l it is t r u e S t i l l we s w i m i n an ocean of love S t i l l we bask i n t h e warm u l t r a l i g h l Of an i n v i s i b l e sun. We a r e s t i l l I n c i d e n t a l l y immortal, Fear less On white water highways of l i f e .

One day the ba t and t h e r a t t l e s n a k e went f o r a walk i n t h e country. They were i n love and they sang a song -

"How sweet it i s t o be i n love When our h e a r t s a r e f a i t h f u l . I t

They were very happy but soon :. storm clouds approached and it began t o r a in . The b a t and t h e r a t t l e s n a k e found s h e l t e r under a t r e e . They made a f i r e , huddled c lose toge the r f o r warmth, and began t o chat .

Itoh, i f only I weren't bald,It s a id t h e b a t , who was sometimes c a l l e d t h e ba ld mouse. t t I ' v e t r i e d a l l k inds of l o t i o n but without success. Being ba ld worries me and makes me unhappy!'

" I f you weren ' t bald, you wouldn't be a ba ld mouse," s a i d t h e r a t t l e - snake. "You'd be a mouse, and I e a t mice. I ' m g lad t h a t you're t h e way you are.Ir

The love r s s a t t oge the r i n s i l e n c e f o r awhile, and then t h e r a t t l e s n a k e spoke. "Oh, i f only I d i d n ' t have these r a t t l e s , " he sa id . " I t ' s very annoying a s everyone can hea r me. I t r i e d t o s e l l my r a t t l e s a t a church one day, but when I crawled through a window a l l t h e people ran out t h e 'door. I ' m very unhappy.

" I ' m bl ind," s a i d t h e b a t , "and I c a n ' t s ee you. I f you d i d n ' t have those r a t t l e s I wouldn't be a b l e t o f i n d you. I ' m glad t h a t you're t h e way you are."

i "I guess i t ' s a l r i g h t then," s a i d

t h e r a t t l e s n a k e . "I guess so," s a i d t h e ba t .

Soon t h e r a i n stopped and t h e sun came out . The love r s could f e e l t h e warmth of t h e sun, and t h e r a t t l e - snake saw a rainbow which he descr ib- ed t o h i s f r i e n d . Together they cont- inued t h e i r walk.

By SANDY CAMERON

TOUCH

When I get out I'm going to ask someone

to touch me very gently please and slowly, touch me I want to learn again how life feels.

I've not been touched for seven vears

fc I ' 0

a tc t' U

Un touc I can cc that ha

One: fists At the beginning

fierce mad fists beating beating till I remember screaming Don't touch me please don't touch me.

rears of paws .Y paws, searching up, shoes off rt - g paws, systematic ndifferen t away ICY.

sts and paws

to be touched

~ c h , o feel alive

o say :et out

I a m ;e touch me.

I , South Africa

I t ' s t h e name of a p l ace . On t h e 1st of January people t h e r e s t a r t e d t o be k i l l e d by t h e Mexican Army.

People t h e r e a r e mostly Mayan; t h e i r first language is no t Spanish and they a r e abo r ig ina l , j u s t a s Native Peoples i n Canada a r e .

For years t h e v a s t ma jo r i t y o f Mayan people have l i v e d i n a b j e c t pover ty been subjec ted t o continuous abuse by well-to-do Mexicans who 'have r e fused t o even cons ider any kind of land claims. Over t h e p a s t 5 yea r s , a s poor Mexican people have l o s t land, work E hope with t h e s e l l i n g out by t h e i r gou ernment t o t r a n s n a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t s (NAFTA), t h e s i t u a t i o n f o r t h e Mayan people has grown worse. People began t o organise r e s i s t a n c e . . . t h e Mayans re fused t o be ground down any f u r t h e r . . s t a t i n g t o t h e world t h a t t h e r e was noth ing l e f t and nowhere t o go.

I t ' s easy t o s i t thousands 06 mi les away and analyze, bu t what t hey d i d i s b r u t a l l y c l e a r - dea th by s t a r v a t i o n o r dea th by machine gun.

On t h e news t h e r e was a f r o n t pu t up by t h e Mexican g o v l t showing a few of t h e Mayan ' l e a d e r s 1 saying they were okay and t h e r e b e l s were j u s t malcon- t e n t s ; f o r t u n a t e l y they were r i d i c u l e d by almost every o t h e r Mayan in te rv iew- ed and t h e r e p o r t e r concluded " there i s widespread support f o r t h e reasons they a r e f i g h t i n g E dying for" .

A s Ron George, n a t i o n a l p r e s i d e n t of t h e Native Council of Canada, s a i d , "Mr . Chre t ien should t e l l PresidenO Sa l inas (of Mexico) t h a t bombing v i l l - ages is not an appropr i a t e way t o neg- o t i a t e l h d claims."

Miriam Pa lac ios , a Guatemalan work- ing with Oxfam Canada s a i d , "There were many more people massacred than t h e 100 s t a t e d by t h e Mexican g o v l t . These people a r e t h e f i rs t c a s u a l i t i e s of NAFTA."

News s t o r i e s w i l l keep l a b e l l i n g t h e j a c t i o n s of people " in su r rec t ions" o r

1 " rebe l l i onsM. What w i l l t hey c a l l it ; when it happens i n Canada?

By PAULR TAYLOR

The above a r t i c l e was w r i t t e n with very sketkhy information. Thanks t o Salvador Peniche, a member of t h e Mexican Coa l i t i on Against "Free" Trade i n Canada f o r 6 months, what fo l lows i s a n a t i v e understanding of what has caused t h e r evo lu t iona ry s p i r i t t o grow.

In 1524 t h e Conquistadores invaded Mexico. Mayan people fought them. For t h e next 500 years one army, one con- queror a f t e r another has invaded, t o r - tu red , raped, murdered and p i l l aged . The Mayan people and o t h e r indigenous peoples have fought, been decimated E s c a t t e r e d , then kept more and more t o themselves t o surv ive .

\r The Mayan people have gone through

s l ave ry , f i g h t i n g t o expel Spain, then France, t hen t o keep US imperial ism from des t roy ing them. Throughout t h e s e c e n t u r i e s t hey have r e t a i n e d t h e i r i d e n t i t y a s a people with a d i s t i n c t c u l t u r e & language. They a r e t r e a t e d with contempt by both t h e government E army, being sub jec t ed t o i n s t i t u t i o n - a l i z e d racism, d i sc r imina t ion , human r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s and t h e lbare , subs is - tence of extreme poverty. Since t h e 1920's what has allowed them t o s u r - v ive as a people has been a l i t t l e known b i t of l e g i s l a t i o n - A r t i c l e 27 of t h e Mexican Cons t i t u t ion . I t simply guarantees t h e r i g h t of indigenous people t o r e t a i n t h e i r communal land holdings.

This was changed ... t o ab ide by t h e North American Free Trade Agreement. The new r u l e s make everything open t o be taken by whoever can so manipulate o r f o r c e o r t h r e a t e n o r s t a r v e o r k i l l o r DO \BUSINESS i n such a way t h a t t h e proper ty becomes t h e i r s .

The Mayans i n Chiapas grow corn on t h e i r land. I t i s about t h e only crop they do grow, and s e l l what t hey don ' t use themselves. NAFTA opens t h e market t o du ty - f r ee U.S. corn, grown by mul- t i n a t i o n a l ag r ibus ines s , t o f l ood t h e t r a d i t i o n a l market, undercut a l l l o c a l producers, f o r c e them t o s e l l t h e i r land t o pay t h e i r ope ra t ing c o s t s , moving them o f f t h e land i n t o urban slums o r i n t o t h e r o l e of $2-a-day farm workers f o r t h e few(er) r i c h corpora t ions buying up a s much land a s poss ib l e ... land t h a t has been forced onto t h e ' f o r s a l e ' market by t h e

, pr i ce - f ix ing E market manipulat ion of i t he se same corpora t ions . , NAFTA w i l l wipe out t h e land hold- I ings and communities of t h e Mayans i n

Chiapas. They know. They had a choice t o s t a r t down t h e pa th of t h e l and le s s E homeless o r t o r e s i s t . . . t o f i g h t back

On January 1st f o u r towns were 'occ- upied' by armed women, indigenous and peasants t o c a l l t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e world t o t h e i r p l i g h t . . t o break up t h e image t h a t t h e f r a u d S a l i n a s and h i s government keep pushing - t h a t Mexico i s a f r e e , democrat ic , h e a l t h y land eager t o embrace t h e b e n e f i t s o f 'free' t r a d e .

The ho le appeared. The army showed i t s e l f t o ope ra t e as independent ly a s it pleased. In t h e f i r s t 3 days of t h e year over 100 people were k i l l e d .

The Bishops from Tapachula E Tuxtla Gut ie r rez , and Bishop Samuel Riuz from San C r i s t o b a l , c a l l e d (and a r e c a l l i n & f o r a d ia logue t o avoid even more bloodshed.

The army/government responded by':' censor ing t h e p re s s , bombing v i l l a g e s

L b p n Ballplayer wore thigh guards and o thick protective kWIheM~yon ball game rearirnbled barkelboll. Thc ployen hit

d w b b s r boll through a ring with their knees or hips. . . . . -

and ~ a ~ & communities and murdering anyone even suspec ted of being one of t h e " insurgents ." The Globe E Mail had a p i c t u r e of j o u r n a l i s t s l i n e d up with t h e i r "Press" bands ac ros s t h e i r mouth in s t ead of on t h e i r arm... An open let- t e r from t h e Council o f BC Indian Chiefs t o Chre t ien t e l l s o f a r e c e n t i n c i d e n t where seven "suspected insur - gents1' were forced t o l a y on t h e ground i n t h e middle of t h e pub l i c square and were each sho t i n t h e head by Mexican s o l d i e r s .

The "ZAPATISTASI1, a s t h e armed women and indigenous and peasants c a l l them- se lves , have r e t r e a t e d i n t o remote mountainous jungles i n Chiapas. Army f o r c e s have occupied many towns and a s t a t e of m a r t i a l law p r e v a i l s . Food, b l anke t s , water - s u r v i v a l s u p p l i e s - a r e a l l scarce , y e t many people from ou t ly ing farms 6 communities have mig- r a t e d t o t h e towns f o r s a f e t y and f o r whatever food t h e r e may be.

Sa l inas , t r y i n g d e s p e r a t e l y t o keep up t h e t a rn i shed image of "Mexico and Business", has removed Pa t roc in io Gon- z a l e s Blanco Garrido from t h e cabine t

post of Minister of t h e I n t e r i o r . Gar- r ido was t h e former Governor of t h e S t a t e of Chiapas and has a long h i s t - ory of endorsing human r i g h t s v i o l a t - ions agains t t h e Mayan E indigenous people.

The people, non-rich/Mayan/indigenu ous/peasant/Zapatista/Mexican, who w i l l not b e n e f i t from NAFTA a r e f i g h t - ing f o r t h e i r fu tu re . The Mexican gov- ernment has t r i e d t o downplay t h i s by interviews with '!Mayan leaders" i n a cont ro l led press , s tatements of a ' 'willingness t o forgive" i n t h e same press , and s o on. They even want t h e world t o be l ieve t h e i r numbers: under 100 k i l l e d (over 400); 250 people a r e a l l responsib le f o r t h e mess (2,000+

i n Chiapas alone) and t h e vas t majori- t y of t h e Mexican people welcome the b e n e f i t s of NAFTA (86 indigenous peo- p l e s , comprising 57% of t h e population, a r e "the people'' described i n t h e 1st sentence of t h i s paragraph ... excepting very few who have adopted t h e ways of t h e greedy r i c h , these people ark inc- luded i n t h e more than 60 mi l l ion c i t - izens of Mexico who l i v e i n poverty) .

The conclusion here i s the same a s t h a t surmised 5 days ago: t h i s i s not "over". Chiapas is merely t h e f i r s t example of people refus ing t o bow t h e head and accept the New Economic Order a t t h e expense of t h e i r souls .

By PAULR TAYLOR

From 1853, he worked f o r the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Co. and was the man who introduced sleeping cars .

From 1872 he worked i n s t e e l , foun- ding what l a t e r became t h e Carnegie S tee l Company. In t h e 1870s he b u i l t t he f i r s t s t e e l p l a n t s i n t h e US t o use t h e new Bessemer steelmaking pro- cess. Later i n the 1890s he introduc- ed the bas ic open hear th furnace. A s a former steelmaker myself (Stelco, Hamilton) I can say t h e steelmaking process hasn ' t changed too much s ince Carnegie's t ime.

by t h e ~bmestead S t r i k e i n which sev- e r a l were k i l l e d . This was caused by Carnegie c u t t i n g wages.

He r e t i r e d i n 1901 and funded l i b - r a r i e s a l l over t h e English-speaking world ( including our Centre, which was Vancouver's main l i b r a r y u n t i l t h e 1950s).

Carnegie Hall i n New York i s a famous music place. I'm a musician. I haven' t played t h e r e but I have played t h i s Carnegie Centre and t h a t means even more t o me.

Terry Edwards

* J u s t i c e not Chari ty

On December 18th End Legislated Poverty held i t s annual event t o r e s - pond t o t h e pressure of corporat ions ( s e l l i n g ) and t h e media ( ' t i s t h e season t o give) t o make need and pov- e r t y something t h a t only has t o be educates people i n a v a r i e t y of ways acknowleged once a year. t h a t : 1) Poverty is a conscious crea-

h t i - p o v e r t ~ groups have foryed i n t i o n of t h e r i c h , t h e corporat ions dozens of v i l l a g e s , towns and small they own E t he governments they cont- c i t i e s i n B.C., i n l a r g e p a r t because r o l ; 2) The development of underdev- of the organising work of ELI'. I t ' s

A elopment is a planned e f f e c t of every not a mat ter of 'discovering' poverty na t iona l and i n t e r n a t i o n a l a i d prog- in each p lace but f o r those l i v i n g m ; they a r e desimned t o provide the incomes f a r below the poverty l i n e t o b e s t investment cl imate f o r p r i v a t e r e a l i s e they a r e not a lone . . tha t it finance. .no more ; 3) There i s a is poss ib le t o do something. corporate agenda, enhanced by t h e

In severa l p laces ou t s ide t h e Lower recent "free" t r ade dea l s , t o widen Mainland (Kamloops, Shuswap, Vic to r i a t h e gap between r i c h and poor, t o Nelson, Salmon Arm, ... ) people ce le- ,$:transfer more of t h e cos t of doing brated t h e ' Jus t ice not Charity' day E"business , c t o t h e publ ic ( the system with events of t h e i r own c rea t ion , t : of publ ic subsidy/private prof it each t o give support t o t h e individu- known a s f r e e en te rp r i se ) and t o a l s involved and t o t h e many people i, exacerbate t h e des t ruc t ive s p i r a l of who t r y t o keep t h e i r poverty a s in- r: competitive impoverishment. ,.: v i s i b l e a s they can. I t ' s t hese l a s t . A We have only t o sc ra tch t h e surface tha t ant i-poverty work hopes t o reach $, of any Third World country l i k e Braz- - t he r i c h E powerful a r e n ' t s o much :ti1 o r Nicaragua t o s e e t h e t r u t h of ignorant about t h e causes of poverty ,?- ' this , bu t , c l o s e r t o home, a look a t a s they a r e i n d i f f e r e n t . The r i c h '

t h e Maritimes w i l l g ive t h e same pic- f e e l q u i t e honest ly t h a t they have $( t u r e - drained o f i t s resources and so much more than t h e v a s t major i ty i-, abandoned u n t i l something e l s e of by d iv ine r i g h t ... t h a t they deserve &$value surfaces . everything they have and t h e r e s t of 8, Back t o BC; a t t h e event on the us a r e here t o serve them (or a t I ?.. 18th t h e r e were people speaking of l e a s t not t o be so impudent a s t o i m - personal experiences. A Native s ing le p ly , by thought, word o r deed, t h a t mother ta lked of d iscr iminat ion and we deserve our f a i r share o r ( h e l l gov' t l i e s ; a man from Newfoundland forbid) t h a t they, t h e r i c h , have who was i n j a i l over Clayoquot Sound somehow come i n t o possession of more p r o t e s t s ; a d isabled woman spoke of than t h e i r f a i r share!). h e r r i g h t t o d i g n i t y ... Linda Marc-

End Legislated Poverty, i n i t s ac t - o t t e , a member of ELp ' s s t a f f , then i v i t i e s throughout the year and esp- inv i t ed three of perhaps five l o c a l e c i a l l y on ' J u s t i c e not Char i ty ' day,

p o l i t i c i a n s t o speak..They were t o respond t o t h e theme of t h e day and then s i g n t h e i r name t o a pledge t o work f o r h ighe r wel fare r a t e s and a h ighe r minimum wage.

Each spoke; n o t one of them would s ign , Emery Barnes, who responded t o

Do not adjust. . . a cha l lenge of ELP1s a few yea r s ago and l i v e d f o r one month on a wel fare income, sounded t h e most honest and s i n c e r e . He s a i d t h a t s ign ing t h e p i ece of paper wouldn't make t h e changes it t a l k e d about, bu t t h a t he would cont inue t o do what he could.

Others sounded okay but I was s i t t- ing behind them be fo re t hey got up, The Libera l MLA had a good chuckle when t h e o t h e r L ibe ra l MLA poin ted t o ELP1s information t a b l e and s a i d , "A1 1 t h e i r propaganda i s over t h e r e . l1

Fac ts about poverty, documented ev- idence of t h e systemic causes of need and i n j u s t i c e , b a s i c information on organis ing ou r se lves . . .p ropaganda?

J u s t keep learn ing . When you know a l i t t l e , t h e r e w i l l come a t ime when you t a l k about it t o someone e l s e , . . t h a t person might t e l l someone e l s e o r one of you might i n v i t e a t h i r d person t o sha re what you know... .... and you have t h e P res iden t , Vice- p r e s i d e n t and Sec re t a ry /Treasu re r of your o rgan i sa t ion r i g h t t h e r e !

PAULR TAYLOR

Welfare safety net isn't for life Of course the federal and prokln-

cia1 governments are refusing to release separate, but equally damn- ing reports, regarding welfare fraud (Ottawa won't release welfare fraud reports, Dec. 31).

To let the public see what a mess our welfare system is in and how easy it is for criminals to bilk it would be tantamount to admitting the wel- fare state is not working for the ben-

. efit of anyone except the criminals. The people who really need help

-the sick, the disabled, the unfor- tunates who really can't find a job despite searching every day - are not getting it.

Meanwhile, we fritter away bil- lions nationwide on layabouts and thieves.

The working people of this coun- try a re being robbed by this sys- tem, while the people who refuse to work expect all the rights and priv- ileges that society has to offer.

We cannot continue to spend bil- lions more than we make every year. A social safety net should be just that - something to catch you if you fall, not something to carry you around in for the rest of your life.

Of course, the politically correct answer will not be to stop this insan- ity. But it would be the correct

answer. GARY TUPPER

Langley

I see that Ron Rapley, director of public rights administration, has decided that the public is not to be made aware of the three reports on welfare fraud by refugees.

Since we the public a r e taxed heavily to, among other things, pro- vide the funds for welfare payouts as well as pay the salary of Mr. Rap- ley, I fail to see how he can make this decision for us.

HELENA SMITH Surrey ,

KEMANOGATE

... a l a Watergate, meaning t h i s i s becoming one of t h e b igges t scandals unearthed i n Canada (so f a r . . t h i s year . . . ) . There w i l l be more informat- ion next i s sue , a f t e r a complete pack- age of r e p o r t s and covered-up a c t i o n s i s de l ive red t o t h e Newslet ter by t h e cou r i e r from Greenpeace.

1

- - &

-u A & -

----a The synopsis s o f a r goes l i k e t h i s :

ALCAN wants # t o p r i v a t i z e a r i v e r . They want t o d i v e r t it t o use 88% of i t s water t o genera te power. The r i v e r i s a major t r i b u t a r y of t h e F ra se r and i s t h e spawning ground of a major po r t ion of t h e salmon each year .

ALCAN has h i r e d s c i e n t i s t s and f i s h "experts t1 t o propagate t h e i r grand de- s i g n and, i n conjunct ion wi th t h e pro- v i n c i a l E f e d e r a l governments, i s hold ing "hearings" i n a couple of towns i n t h e i n t e r i o r . 1) The f i r s t dea l was c u t i n p r i v a t e

by t h e Tor ies , under Mulroney, t h e Socreds under Vanderzalm, and ALCAN. 2 ) The Department of F i s h e r i e s d i d a

h o s t of s t u d i e s from 1980-1986. The s c i e n t i s t s 6 f i s h lvexperts l ' working f o r them s a i d ALCAN's p lan c a n ' t work. a ) The 'lhearings" a r e being h e l d out -

s i d e t h e Lower Mainland t o make them somehow not worth media coverage b) The ma t t e r s t o be d iscussed ex-

c lude anything done be fo re 1987, meaning a l l t h e s t u d i e s done by the Dept. of F i s h e r i e s i s no t acceptab le . Any s tudy done on w i l d l i f e and ecolo- g i c a l f a c t o r s has t o be done over a

few years , but because t h e s e a r e a t odds wi th ALCAN's p l an , t h e y a r e now i r r e l e v e n t . c) Harcourt could pas s l e g i s l a t i o n

r e q u i r i n g a l l s t u d i e s t o be consi- dered. . t o s t o p t h e e n t i r e p r o j e c t . . t o make ALCAN abandon t h e e n t i r e mess He's s a i d ' ' t h i s would make f o r a neg- a t i v e investment c l ima te i n BC" so bus inesses l i k e ALCAN (and MacBlo i n Clayoquot Sound) wouldn't want t o in- v e s t i n BC resources t o make maximum p r o f i t s out of p o l l u t i n g t h e environ- ment and des t roying t h e ecology. d) Chre t ien promised a complete re -

view during the e l e c t i o n . Now no Liberal w i l l say anything. e ) Dept. of F i s h e r i e s workers a r e not

permi t ted t o t a l k about t h i s t o anyone anywhere.

3) Someone a t some l e v e l of government s a i d t h a t ALCAN d id no t have t o go

through an EARP..an Environmental Assessment Review Process . This was r u l e d both i l l e g a l and uncons t i t u t ion - a l , meaning t h a t ALCAN d id and does have t o go through an EARP. 4) ALCAN can r e g u l a t e t h e flow of

power when it has con t ro l over t h e flow of water. I t can then export t h i s power t o t h e S t a t e s . This w i l l t hen be p a r t o f what t h e S t a t e s w i l l expect ; should ALCAN dec ide i n t h e f u t u r e t h a t it needs t h e power i t s e l f , it could shut o f f t h e S t a t e s quota, t h e Canad- ian g o v ' t would s t i l l be r equ i r ed t o supply t h e S t a t e s with t h e same amount they had g o t t e n f o r t h e next 3 yea r s r ega rd l e s s of what t h a t d i d t o energy needs i n Canada, and a t t h e same cos t ... a l l cou r t e sy of t h e r u l e s of NAFTA.

ALCAN could then b i d t o b u i l d t h e now necessary second power p l a n t t o supply Canada and s t a r t t h e whole round over .

ALCAN has one of t h e b e s t r eco rds of corpora te i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n t h e world. I t has been involved i n s t r i k e

breaklng, c o n s i s t e n t bad management p r a c t i c e s E labour r e l a t i o n s and is known throughout t h e world as a major p o l l u t e r . I t s co rpo ra t e credo i s "Di lu t ion i s t h e s o l u t i o n t o p o l l u t i o n l ~ and j u s t t r i e s t o spread i ts c rap over a wide a rea . . .

Okay. I f you a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e complete s t o r y and what you can do, t he re is a p u b l i c meeting on Monday, JANUARY 17, 7pm, a t t h e Maritime Lab- our Centre (1888 Triumph S t . ) . Go.

The t i c k e r t a p e and o f f i c e towers Saw t h e l e a d e r s smile a t t h e hour.

Compassion f o r a Vet

Ear ly one morning while I was mak- ing my usua l t r i p t o t h e War Memori- a l i n Vic tory Square, I saw an o ld v e t s i t t i n g on a bench. He was 'shiv- e r ing . . t he look he gave me t o l d me everything. I s a i d t o him, I1Need a drink?" He bobbed h i s head about t e n times. I s a i d , I1Follow me."

Once i n my room I placed a h a l f b o t t l e f o wine i n f r o n t o f him. Aft- e r a few dr inks , he t o l d me war

, s t o r i e s ... by t h e t ime he f i n i s h e d t h e b o t t l e he f e l t h a l f )human. I s a i d

hto him, "Here's some change t o jang- The v i c t o r y won ' g a i n s t v i o l e n t aggression l e i n Your deep s e a pockets." Showed s i l v e r c louds end of oppression. 1 To t h i s day we have been f r i e n d s . But a c lock was s e t , and. runnkrs r ead ied On c a r s f o r gangs t e r s t h e r e a -p len ty Upon t h e sidewalks of a town.

And t h e booze flowed i n b a r s where j i g s Were danced i n s i d e t h e town's b l i n d p igs . And some played g igs t h a t calmed t h e cops, But t o o much j i g , t h e gloves would drop. Woe t o t h e t h i g s t h a t took poor f i r l s And showed them t o t h e d i r t y world Upon t h e sidewalks of a t o h .

Guns they c a r r i e d , and t h e y would d i e , Jus t c a r r i o n , one could descry them, While gambling hidden i n smoky rooms Sent poor f a m i l i e s t o t h e i r doom. And c h i l d r e n r a i s e d i n f e a r of hunger Grew t o l i v e and f a c e with anger empty d a y s Upon t h e s idewalks of a town.

Oh, what p o l i c e f o r c e could c o n t r o l A thousand drunken, rowdy s o u l s . And what young na t ion could ab ide A c i t y by cops t e r r i f i e d Upon t h e s idewalks of a town.

Passed i n c i t i z e n days o f f e a r , And n i g h t s of sorrow met with t e a r s . Sad wives of poor ou twi t t ed men Looked on t h e dawn, t h a t ro sy hope,

r i s i n g then Above t h e s idewalks of a town.

- -Carten

There was a f ac to ry which employed , thousands of people. I t s production l i n e was a miracle of modern eng inee r s,

ing, turning out thousands of mach- ines every day. The f a c t o r y had a

, I

high accident r a t e . The complicated \. -- \ machinery of t h e production l i n e took I

L': l i t t l e account of human e r r o r , fo r - 6

$.'

get fu lness , o r ignorance. Day a f t e r , day people came out of t h e f a c t o r y j with squashed f i n g e r s , c u t s E b r u i s e s Sometimes a person would l o s e an arm o r a leg.

L!

Occasionally someone was e l e c t r o - A- i\

cuted o r crushed t o death. Enlighten- ed people began t o s e e t h a t something

l?

needed t o be done. F i r s t on the scene 2 were t h e Churches. An e n t e r p r i s i n g P minis ter organized a small f i r s t - a i d i :

t o prove i t s e l f enl ightened, gave the hosp i t a l i t s o f f i c i a l backing, with u n r e s t r i c t e d access t o t h e f ac to ry , a small annual g ran t , and an ambu- 1

lance t o speed se r ious cases from workshop t o h o s p i t a l ward.

But, year by year , a s production increased, t h e accident r a t e contin- ued t o r i s e . More and more people were hur t and maimed. And, i n s p i t e of everything t h e hosp i t a l could do, more and more people died from the i n j u r i e s they received.

Only then d id some people begin t o ask i f it was enough t o t r e a t peoples' i n j u r i e s , while leaving untouched the machinery t h a t caused them.

This s t o r y is i n a book Between the

t e n t outs ide the f a c t o r y gate . Soon, Lines. I t ' s an inc red ib le p i c t u r e of . - with the backing of t h e Council of j much of what passes f o r s o c i a l ac t ion Churches, it grew i n t o a proper ly " i n t h e news ... well-meaning people,

bui l t clinic, able to give first-aid 2; exper ts , profess ionals , even t h e usu-

to quite cases, and to t rea t 4 a l do-gooders a l l doing t h e i r p a r t t o

minor i n j u r i e s . The town council be- b? apply a bandaid t o a bleeding wound. came in te res ted , together with local /!I of t h e work of community g r a s s

1 ' r o o t s organisa t ions is done by volun- bodies l i k e t h e Chanber of Trade and i., t h e Rotary Club. The c l i n i c grew into 4:! t e e r s , but being paid a wage doesn ' t a small hosp i t a l , with modern equip- 1; automatical ly open the doors t o s t o p ment, an opera t ing t h e a t r e , and a t: t h 5 causes of i n j u s t i c e .

" - Never s top learning. Many of us see fu l l - t ime s t a f f of doctors and n u r s e s ;!' Several l i v e s were saved. F inal ly , , - ' learning as ha rd . . th i s i s a mental

the factory management, seeing the ? block. Learning i s easy if you begin st :

good t h a t was being done and wishing " See every as an Oppor-

'\ '1

\,

DOWNTOWN STD C l i n i c - Monday through Fr iday, 9am - 5pm. EASTSIDE FREE MEDICAL CLINIC - Mon, Wed, Fr iday, 5:30-7 : 30 pm.

YOUTH NEEDLE EXCHANGE - 221 Main; every day. 9am - 5pm. ACTIVITIES Needle Exchange Van - on t h e s t r e e t evenings, Man-Sat.

SOCIETY N.A. meets every Monday n i g h t a t 223 Main S t r e e t .

Out-To-Lunch Bunch meets d a i l y a t 59 Powell, loam - 2:30pm.

Eleanor 11.-$25 Adbuntera 4 5 0 Wayne H . - $ 4 . 5 0 Legal Aid -9% n a q c.-$25 Paula R.-$ZO Steve Te-$15 Eric Le-$10 Anonymous -$7 5

Joy T , 4 2 0 Colleen E. 4 2 0 W i l l i a m F .-$SO Adult Ed.-$16 Roberts ALC 4 3 0 CEEDS - $50 Emil E.-$20 Mike H . - $ 1 0 0

NEED HELP ?

THE NEWSLETTER A PUBLICATION O F THE ACRNECIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION.

Articles represent the views of Individual contributors and not of the Association.

Submission Deadline

NEXT ISSUE 1 28 January

. Friday 0 The Downtown Eastside Residents' Association

can help you with:

any welfare problem * information on legal rights

dis~utes with landlords unsafe living conditions income tax UIC problem finding housing opening a bank account

Come into the DERA office at 9 East Hastings St. or phone us at 682-0931.

DERA HAS BEEN SERVING THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE FOR 20 YEARS.

Y&T b e also know youd like to Improve uality of your life wi thog

Van.SUN enter ta inment s e c t i o n This i s a p rep - d e f i n i t e l y . Akind

Plugged-In (video) P lay Good Prep of educat ion t o prepare anybody's

For Life" - k i d s f o r wars t h e i r governments w i l l

. . " s i t t i n g i n f r o n t of a sc reen r e q u i r e them t o f i g h t wi th money, . s e x & machines. A chance t o p lug p re s s ing bu t tons & g e t t i n g t e n s e is

probably t h e b e s t r e a l l i f e prepara-

fi t i o n any pa ren t could provide. l1

... l e t ' s j u s t s t e p back, ca t ch our b r e a t h a moment, & t h i n k about t h i s s e r ious ly . . . it says : It the b e s t any parent could providef1. . .

I guess t h e w r i t e r means t o s ay t h a t s i n c e technology depends on people being hooked i n t o keyboard- screen behaviour, c h i l d r e n a r e b e t t - e r o f f being processed now t o meet t h a t s tandard i n t h e f u t u r e . In o t h - e r words, s t anda rds s e t by machines i n o r d e r t o produce more machines i f

w i l l cont inue t o provide a s c a l e of va lues agaubst which pe r sona l exper- ience w i l l cont inue t o be measured ( o r something l i k e t h a t ) .

So, what we have i s f u t u r e fami ly va lues based o n the insa t iab le drug- sex-violence syndrome t h a t cah be o f f e r e d a s a reward f o r k i l l i n g , bea t ing up, o r o therwise d e f e a t i n g bad guys who a r e u s u a l l y f o r e i g n dark-skinned, o r have b i g noses.

This , then , is a s o r t o f t r a i n i n g ground f o r t h e kind o f d e a l s drug- induced bus ines s men & women w i l l have t o make i n t h e f u t u r e t o keep on t o p o f more new technology pump- ing out f a s t e r & f a s t e r orgasms f o r mr & sma l l e r b r a i n s .

a l l f u t u r e experience i n t o t h e mean- 7 i n g l e s s snap c rack le 6 pop of world- c l a s s imagery i n o r d e r u l t i m a t e l y t o 4 f r y t h e human b r a i n completely, once & f o r a l l . ... of course, once it i s deep-f r ied by technology, t h e market va lue o f , t h e human mind i s increased enormous - l y . A s f a r a s long-term educa t iona l oppor tuni ty f o r investment i n t h e f u t u r e of young Canadians i s conc ed, our t a r g e t d a t e seems t o be 20 o r 30 yea r s down t h e l i n e , where ex- t remely e n t e r t a i n i n g forms of mental E emotional r e t a r d a t i o n may o f f e r u s t h e f i n a l answer t o a ques t ion no- body asked. This may be t h e u l t i m a t e conf iguar t ion necessary f o r medical & m i l i t a r y e x o e r t i s e i n t e s t i n g new drugs & thought co-ord ina tes r e a c t - i ve t o e l e c t r o n i c s t i m u l a t i o n over- load e s s e n t i a l t o a new world order . I

So. . . "Plugged- In Play Good Prep Fo Lifef1 i s t h e exact information loop we need now t o s u i t up t h e nex t gener- a t i o n f o r t h a t i n e v i t a b l e walk i n space, where t h e r e l i g i o u s experience of f i t t i n g machine p a r t s t o g e t h e r i n a weight less s t a t e w i l l des ign i t s e l f t o occupy t h e mind e t e r n a l l y . ... a v i r t u a l r e s u r r e c t i o n o f metal e l e c t r i c i t y i n t h e w i l l i n g r e c e p t of human f l e s h . Of course , t h i s w I

eventual ly n e c e s s i t a t e a te rmina t ion >. TOMMY BURNS of s t r e e t - e n d views. Indiv idua l l i f e - 5% times, personal freedoms, e t c . w i l l i , Burns was Vancouver's on ly have t o b e r e l inqu i shed i n favour of ''6; h e a v ~ e i g h t boxing champion. He was i n t e r n a t i o n a l acces s codes t h a t prog- born Noah Bmsso, June 17, ram E pathway t h e f l e s h f o r p o l i t i c a l 1881, i n Habover, Ontar io (about 125

economic renewal. mi les northwest of Toronto). He be- Fu r the r t r a i n i n g i n keyboard- sc reen came champion on Feb. 23,

r eac t ions provides u s with t h e oppor- lgo6 when he won a 20-round dec i s ion

t u n i t y t o perform a kind of r i t u a l >.Over Marvin Hart i n L.A. He defended

lobotomy on human experience i t s e l f . . t8,4his t i t l e 11 t imes u n t i l ~ e c e m b e r 26, something t o fu r the r "revolutionizett . '$1908 (one of h i s t o r y ' s i r o n i e s - box- the way we th ink , f e e l & a c t . . some- ,Yi ing Day) when he l o s t t o Jack Johnson thing as warm 6 wild a s a barbedwire ,// i n 14 rounds i n Sydney, Aus t r a l i a . teddy bear . From 1900 t o 1920, Burns had 60

Kids l i k e u s can hug a bear l i k e ' bouts , winning 45, 35 by knockout. Af-

t h a t a l l n i g h t long, o r a t l e a s t un t - t e r r e t i r i n g he became a Downtown il t h e j o l l y o l d gentleman from t h e '?\ Eas t s ide a l coho l i c , reformed and be-

International Monetary Fund shows came an ordained m i n i s t e r i n 1948. When he does, you can be s u r e t h a t h e \ He d i ed i n 1955 i n Vancouver.

w i l l p e r s o n a l l y walk on ho t c o a l s t o I used t o box i n t h e o ld Western appease t h e god of r e a l e s t a t e t r a n s - Spor t s Centre (near t h e Balmoral..you

actions - a virtual r e a l i t y i n i t s e l f can read t h e s i g n on t h e s i d e of t h e t h a t has become a popular passt ime bu i ld ing ) around 1979-80. This p l ace

f o r emotional ly d i s t u r b e d bus ines s has s i n c e been c losed . Even though I p e r s o n a l i t i e s t h e world over . have s i n c e decided I don ' t l i k e box-

Chains.. . TORA ing, I wonder i f Burns eve r boxed o r ce), /:# z--- >/ ( . 1 - - L i ', t r a i n e d t h e r e . Often I walk along East

ST~RIKING Dif ferences Hast ings and f e e l h i s s p i r i t .

Some Do a Terry Edwards Some Don't

Some a r e w i l l i n g Some

Some wander S t r i k i n g d i f f e r e n c e s

S impl i fy o u r course Amplify our Ambitions

L ibe ra t ing our Learning

P r a c t i c e is P r a c t i c a l Purpose is P rov inc i a l

People a r e People S t r i k i n g d i f f e r e n c e s

Sat 15: YELLOW BELLYS World Funk Jazz 8:00 smoking s e c t i o n

Mon 17: La Quena Workers Meeting Input from & d e c i s i o n s by t h e vo lun tee r s . 7:30

Tue 18: Canadian Cinema n i t e a t La Quena t l I ' V E HEARD THE MERMAID SINGINGtt Po l ly i s awkward, shy and d e l i g h t f u l l y funny; she has won t h e h e a r t s of audi- ences & c r i t i c s i n t h i s h igh ly acclaimed f i lm . 8pn donat ion non-smoking.

Wed 19: v ideo FROM THE HEART OF THE WORLD Documents mountain people "The Kogi", t h e only v i a b l e pre-columbian s o c i e t y s t i l l i n t a c t and a c t i v e . 8pm f r e e .

Thu 20: NATURAL MYSTICS Reggae band. Benefi t f o r Mystic Celebra t ion Product ions and Sound of Vision. 8pm $5/7 smoking sec t ion .

Fre 21: KAREN MILADY UNPLUGGED Songs and Poetry. 8pm $5 non-smoking event . ~ Sat 22: COZY BONES High energy funky groove. $4/.6 smoking sec t ion . ,

Sun 23: ARABIAN MUSIC 6 DANCE One Night i n a Thousand Bel ly dance, music from I

t h e middle e a s t . Arabian songs. And l o t s of madness. 8pm $5/7.

Tue 25: Canadian Cinema n i t e a t La Quena '11' Two hero in a d d i c t s , Michele and Snake, s t r u g g l e t o withdraw coldturkey. Nailed i n t o t h e i r apartment t hey become hos tages of each o t h e r ; t h e i r r e s o l v e ebbs E f lows a s t hey d i g deeper i n t o themselves. Sensa t ions f l a r e u n t i l Snake d i scove r s a fo rgo t - t e n s t a s h hidden i n t h e apartment. 8pm donat ion non-smoking event. I

Wed 26: HOWLING FULL MOON POETRY NIGHT Open s t a g e poe t ry n i t e . 7:30 pm

Thu 27: MOM'S THE WORD At t en t ion Moms! Women In View and Eas ts ide Family Place present a s p e c i a l pay-what-you-can oerformance of Mom's t h e Word. This "ki tchen t a b l e cabare t t1 f e a t u r e s performer-moms Linda Carson, J i l l Daum, Al l i son Kelly, Robin Nichol, Barbara Po l l a rd and Deborah Williams sharinl ' s t o r i e s , humour and o t h e r coping s t r a t e g i e s i n a behind-the-scenes peek a t t h e i r toughes t r o l e . Doors open a t 2:30. Performance s t a r t s a t 3pm. Free c h i l d c a r e is a v a i l a b l e by c a l l i n g Eas t s ide Family P lace a t 255-9841. Ca l l e a r l y a s i t ' s l imi t ed . Advance t i c k e t s : 685-6800. Non-smoking.

Thu 27: Open Stage Come one, come a l l 6 p l a y o r j u s t hand out . 8pm donat ion.

F r i 28: La Quena Cabaret f u n d r a i s e r with JOHNNY 0 QUENA 6 THE CROONETTES Come on out f o r p i r c a b a r e t f u n d r a i s e r , i n s p i r e d by t h e vo lun tee r s1 performances a t one of our vo lun tee r p a r t i e s . YO;' 11 have a r i o t . $ = s l i d i n g sca l e ($$ )

Sa t 29: La Quena b e n e f i t Cabaret Ton igh t l s c a b a r e t w i l l inc lude v a r i o u s l o c a l performers. 8pm.

Callinp all volunteers, please drop in, and become a La Ouena volunteer. I!

LADY X Garry Gust I We first heard about her several years ago when newscasters told us that a woman living in a makeshift tent near the Mary Hill bypass was being harassed into moving away by well- meaning local residents. A year or so later it was reported that she had taken up residence in the relative tran- .quillity of Stanley Park.

And now. Lady X has returned to the "stomping grounds" of her youth, having erected her home between a walking path and a roadway near a hotel where Howard Hughes himself stayed over two decades ago.

Her shelter consists of some boxes covered with rainproof tarps and upright forklift pallets giving the structure some four feet of height.

When asked how she liked her new neighbor- hood, Lady X replied: "Oh, I've livedaround tall buildings before." She then continued to landscape her tiny yard by gathering up stones and putting them in a neat pile. ................ The one significant characteristic of both Howard Hughes and Lady X is that he was,. as she still is, a recluse. Whereas Mr. Hughes, as one of the great proprietor kings, was forced into self-exile by those around him whose behavior drove him

1 WINTER CELEBMTTONS G . Gust

Passed away autumn leaves lie in state fueling the soil of the Strathcona Gardens.

Three wild cats sternly sit on hind legs guarding the wishing well's perfect ice crown.

Nothing moves but one cat heading for birds in the compost and 'drinks :from' the. pond.

1 A11 the plots whisper in wonderment 1 where are the humans this twenty fifth day.

tb distraction, Lady X was driven to her - alternative life-style by landlords and their "ever changing rules. "

Take away the vast economic differences of these two individuals and what remains is their tremendous resolve to be left alone, "to not hurt anyone, and to not be hurt by others. I' It's these uncompetitive values that blunt the mundane ambitions of acquiring creature comforts for the long cold winter ahead, and leaves an undeniable spiritual contentness that few of us will ever understand.

If left alone by disgruntled guilt merchants and squeaky clean land developers, Lady X will still be there when Spring rolls around. However, it would be socially gratifying, in Vancouver style, if someone could quietly leave one of those inexpensive Army & Navy comforters at Lady X's door.

FOR LINDA MAY

We spoke b r i e f l y , on a cloudy windy afternoon The wind swept your h a i r a s you pul led your jacket c l o s e r t o you Your words were anxious and searching, l i k e your eyes In to which I looked with f a sc ina t ion . . . f o r I knew That the s p i r i t wi th in would somehow touch my l i f e .

In t h e following days you dropped by unannounced You su rp r i sed me by voicing your a f f e c t i o n s . I was f l a t t e r e d and nervous and happy, because I f e l t t h e same And we laughed ahd t a lked and hugged ... then we k issed While i n s i d e I was torn .

I don ' t want t o say no, y e t I ' m scared t o say yes Because I ' ve grown t o love you... And you say "you don ' t even know me" i n t h a t s inging voice Yet I f e e l I know your s p i r i t wi th in , t h a t gazes out through those brown eyes. The s p i r i t t h a t speaks t o me a s a b e a u t i f u l woman with a

l i t t l e g i r l ' s l augh te r and a l o v e r ' s embrace. And I ' d give up my world f o r t h e chance t o know t h e s p i r i t

t h a t beams through your laughing eyes.

1'11 no longer pretend i t ' s a gen t l e wind, a whim... no... I t ' s a welcome warm breeze, i t ' s t h e b r i g h t morning sun. . . I t ' s t h e sky t h a t I pray t o and gaze a t with awe The s p i r i t , t h e you, t h a t I ' v e come t o love.

- submitted anonymously -

The American Indians are the original ecologists. The way they lived for centuries was in total harmony with their environment. I think the concept of an ecological balance is relatively new to our own society.

It has a lot to do with respect. Respect for life. Respect for Creation. If you respect your own life, you can respect the life of another.

It's easier to ignore the threats posed by the nuclear power industry if there's nobody you feel responsible for. I suppose the person who made it possible for me to focus on this issue was my son. I want my son to be able to have his own children without being afraid that the increased levels of radiation in ?he environment could cause them to be born deformed.

We're going to have to think about what we need and what we want. About what's important.

-Jackson Broic~ne