FREE JUNE 1, 2012

·~· .NEWSLETTER

401 Main Stt:eet, Vancouver. V6A 2T7 (604) 665-2289

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Get rid Of rats Downtown Eastside residents want developer Marc Williams to get rid of garbage, debris and numerous, disgusting large and small rats that have overrun his property at 138 E. Hastings for almost~ year.. . At a news conference this evening, residents Invited the media to see rats that come out after dark and swarm over the property. The property is directly next to two huge residential

Let the Rats Speak! Poindexter, the scuttling superhero and chief

spokesrat (or at least their media liaison) is holding a Press Conference as close to the street outside the site ofYe Olde Pantages Theatre ass/he feels safe. Oh. yeah. it's at noon on Saturday, June Two. The Carnegie Newsletter, through unnamed but

credible sources, has gotten an exclusive on the gist of the rats' top points.

-"At first we were worried that Marc Williams, the

hotels, the Regent and Brandi z. About I 00 residents, who have only one window each, have only 1 view: a garbage dump full of rats, mold and debris. "I rarely move my curtain anymore," said Ben Smith who lives at the Asia Hotel, directly across the alley from the dump. "I don't like to look out after the sun goes down cause it looks like the ground is moving with the amount of rats that are out there now. I've seen vehicles drop things in this lot and nobody did anything. It's not tolerated in other neighbourhoods and we don't want it here either."

Residents took the media to the alley between Hast­ings and Pender St. to see numerous rats swarming over the garbage and debris.

The developer wants to build 79 condo units on the site. "Would you buy a condo from someone who keeps a rat filled garbage dump in a neighbourhood for nearly a year?" asked Herb Varley, co-president of the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council.

The Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) says Williams should clean up the property and sell it to the city for social housing. "This would make a great site for social housing," said Jean Swanson of CCAP. "Rats and garbage are illegal and the city should force Williams to clean it up fast. If he won't do it, the city should do the work and bill the owner, as the Standards of Maintenance Bylaw sets out."

owner of this Bagdad-ish mess, was telling the truth. It would've been a first (as far as we know, but we're just rats). He said he's workin to reduce our numbers and cleaning up his year-old mess, but he lied. Whew! -"The ,Rat consortium worked very hard for over a

year to,make this pile of smashed bricks and concrete something we can be proud of. There are plans to spread out, certainly, but our underground complex includes so many birthing condos that the population has gone up almost 5 times the normal overrun for dumps.

-Poindexter will then allowed his true developer' s nature (at least for the DTES) to shine when s/he tells the gathered media that "our underground is also home to sex Dungeons and rats from far & wide are scurrying here to avail themselves of our chief income earners WHO NEVER USE BIRTH CON ­TROL!!!" "Vwe are proud ofthe sleaziness of Marc Williams

& how he's manipulated the C ity's strings. We hope he keeps lying nd s lip-sliding whenever the media (present company excepted of course) says some­thing true or uncovers the misinformation he and his backers keep trying to spoon-feed the public with.

-One major problem Poindexter plans to point out is the ongoing association of drug users with the noble rat. "I mean their sickness makes them compete with rats for the food people throw in the garbage. Dealers go to other neighbourhoods only when their wired rag­pickers get dispersed. Gentrification is always good for rats, but [Vwe] guarantee you'll not find any ad­dicted rats (at least not to drugs) in this blasted land­scape." Poindexter will end the Press Conference on a high

note, shouting "Rats Will Rule!" Special to the Newsletter

City homeless recommendations won't end homelessness

The City's recommendations for reducing home­lessness are inadequate and discriminate against SRO residents who desperately need decent housi ng. That's the Carnegie Community Action Project's

response to yesterday's presentation to City Council on the 2012 Homeless Count Results. The report says that there were more homeless peo­

ple in 2012 than in 20 11 and that almost double the number were s leeping outside instead of in shelters. It also says that about 400 shelter beds are scheduled to close next year because their funding ends. One problem, says the city report, is that new supportive housing is being filled by SRO residents instead of homeless people. "The city is right to be mad about the lack of fund­

ing for shelters," said Jean Swanson ofCCAP. "But SRO residents should be allowed into new social housing. The city itself says that only 27% of SRO rooms rent for the welfare shelter allowance of $375.* That means if SRO residents get into social housing where their rent is $375, they have money left out of their welfare cheque for food. Otherwise, there is no way people on welfare have enough to eat. In addition, conditions in SROs are often terrible

Religious commentary (Part !I) Subject; eaSter

The pagans celebrated re-birthing in the spring time. Their goddess was called 'Astarte'. They celebrated this day on the sam e day that (according to the bible) christ rose from the dead [and vice-versa]. The pagans used eggs and bunny rabbits to celebrate

fertility. Hence, the very name easter with eggs and rabbits are all derived from this pagan festival! Also; the reason easter is on a different date every

year, is because at the council ofNicaea (in 325 AD in Constantinople) the different christian sects came together in a historic session, and decided to have easter on the fi rst Sunday following the first full

moon following the spring equinox! Again, more pagan influence. If I may also point out ... The jewish and muslim

calendars follow the moon cycle too

Research by Larry Mousseau

'

with bedbugs, rodents, no private kitchen or bath, 3 and only a I 0 by I 0 foot room. Many SROs are not safe, especially for women." ''Rents are increasing in the SROs because of gentri­fication promoted by the city. Some SROs are now renting for $600 to $1 000 a month, far more than people on disability and welfare can afford," added CCAP's Wendy Pedersen. CCAP says a good plan to end homelessness should

include: * Stopping gentrification in the Downtown Eastside at least until the SROs are replaced and homeless people are housed; * Pushing senior governments for a national housing strategy and money to build social housing; * As an interim measure, pushing senior gov­ernments for funds for shelters; * Allowing SRO residents to move to new social housing; * Speeding up construction of the remaining 9 social housing buildings that were first announced in 2007;

* Using city funds to buy land for social hous-mg now. For CCAP's reports on SROs and Gentrification oo •t:>

to http://ccapvancouver.files.wordpress.com

Slr#.lU~ tg.NIN q,J,#. su~-Opens at The Fireball Arts Centre

June 1 to 9, 2012 Talkback June 5

8pm Tuesdays through Saturdays 2pm Saturday & Sunday matinees

lpm Wednesday matinee BUY T ICKETS NOW

Rick w~ one of thousands of young men who sought refuge tn Canada to escape the Vietnam draft. But, "~hen he takes in a traumatized young American sol­dter who is deserting his post in Iraq, Rick begins to understand how much our country has chanoed in forty y~ars. Set in Tofino, BC, Shelter jrom

0

t/ze Sto~m IS a play about love and loss that questions our not10ns of courage and cowardice.

r:t ~ * * * * * * * ~~ ~"' * .. *"' * - - - * *"' * * * * '8J ... * * *"' * *

Carnegie Theatre Workshop

- PLAYREADINGS ~ Read a part or j ust come to listen. Attend one or all workshops.

June g Fri, 12pm-Spm* - "Romeo and Juliet " by William Shakespeare

June 15 Fri, 12pm-Spm - "Twelfth Night, or, What You Will" by William Shakespeare

June ZO Wed, 6pm-10pm - Public Reading- we'll choose a play that we read this season

~Note: this is a change from the previous schedule

All readings in the Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main Advance copies of the plays may be found at the Main library.

Photocopies will be available at individual workshops. Workshops led by Teresa Vandertuin

No registration necessary. EVERYONE WELCOME! See you there!

Special guest teacher

June 6 Wednesday, 6:30pm

PLAY WITH SHAKESPEARE! with Mike Stack Carnegie Theatre

A wonderful introductio n to acting in plays by William Shakespeare. Mike Stack is an actor, teacher, director and is coordinator of

the Young Shakespeareans program at Bard on the Beach.

Free , but space is limited Please pre- register at the Carneg~e 3rd floor program office

for the CCCA Board T hese are the committees:

fDR:1 *****'@'81*****

Volunteer Committee meets the Wednesday after the Board meeting. It is held in classroom 2, 3rd floor.@ 4 pm Oppenheimer 'Park Committee meets on the Thursday after the Board meeting in the park house@ 3:30pm Education/Lib>rary Committee meets on the second Wednesday after the Board meeting in C lassroom 2@ 3 pm Seniors ' Supp~rt G roup meets on the second Thursday after the Board meeting @ 2 pm in the theatre Community Relations Committee meets the Thursday before the Board meeting in the Association Office@ 4prr P r ogram Co.-amittee meets the Tuesday before the Board Meeting in the Association Office @ 4pm Finance C om01ittce meets the Wednesday before the Board meeting @ 4pm in the Association Office. C CCA Board Meetings are always he ld on the first Thursday of every month @ 5:30 in the theatre

As you can see: it is a big commitment to be on this board, but having been on the board for 4 years I personally find it well worthwhile. l enjoy working with the other board members and teaming about how this place is run.

~n nn Th••r"dw" l 11nt~ 7th. 2012 come out to our AGM in the Theatre and vote for your favorite board members!

THE ELECTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL TAKE PLACE 5 THE ANNUAL GENERAL lVIEETING ·

ON THURSDAY, JUNE 7TH' 2012@ 5:30 IN THE CARNEGIE THEATRE . 401 MAIN STREET, VANCOUVER BC V6A 2T7

•!• IN ORDER TO VOTE AT THIS MEETING YOU MUST HAVE A MEMBERSHIP CARD WITH A DATE NO LATER THAN MAY 24TH' 2012

Adrienne Macallum has been a board member since · June 2009. During that time she has attended many meetings and has served as Corresponding Secretary and Chair of the Library/Education Committee and Volunteer Committee. She has also volunteered as a tutor in the Learning Centre since 2002. She loves the Carnegie and hopes to continue to serve this wonderfu place for another year. /,'\

Adrienne

\ "Thank you Carnegie members for lettin~e serve as your president this past year! I look forward to having the opportunity to be on the board of directors next year as well, helping to ensure Carnegie programs meet the needs of the people who use the centre.

Please come to the AGM and have your say!

Gena Thompson

I'm Phoenix Winter and I have been homeless and mentally ill. I want to use my experiences to benefit the community.

My name is Lisa David and I have lived in the Down­

I am James Pau, a long-time volunteer and resident of the DTES. A big thank you to those who sup­ported me to the Carnegie Board & Carnegie Sen­ior's Support Group for the past 14 & I 5 years. l wi ll keep serving the DTES community when the com­munity members support me again at the upcoming AGM & election. I enjoy working for the seniors, drug-addicted persons, poor people of all colours and persons with disabilities. Hope to see you there.

PRISCILLIA TAIT - I am from the wit'suwitim territory and would like to run for the CCCA board to give back to the community. I have been volunteer­ing for Carnegie off and on since 1999 to the present.

First stint on Carnegie's board was as treasurer- this was right after hundreds of members rose up & threw out the entire board in 1987. A one-vote majority (8/1 5) were using the board and Carnegie to further their own financial and political ambitions. It's been about a decade since last being a director; vacation's over. If you think I'll do okay, vote for me .. if you don't, don't.

PaulR Taylor

town Eastside for about 16 years. l volunteer with the .--f7 Carnegie Newsletter; helping Paul with layout and his 71 1

fundraising efforts. I have been honoured to serve on the Carnegie Board for the past few years and hope to continue with this work.

the poorest 3.5 billion human beings (out of7 billion) on the planet.

It comes then, as no surprise, that the logical out­come of neoliberalism is the inexorable growth of financial inequality, which will culminate in corpora-

To the editor, tist neofascism, its foreshadowing being corpora-Re: "Rich-Poor Gap A Concern: Report": tions' current systemic rape of the Earth's finite re­

sources, with no organizations or countries able to The rich-poor gap, in my opinion, is more than just stop them.The effete, elitist scheme known as neolib-

"a concern." eralism only benefits the few at the expense of the It is the leading indicator that neoliberalism, the

d db many. world's economic system that was first a opte y And, in the final analysis, it is not merely "a con-the United States in 1972, has left the world economy cern": If left unchecked, it is the death knell of man-s liding towards a precipice. lt will probably-as the kind. article correctly states- take us to "the kind of ceo-

Yours sincerely, 0 \r A i nomic instability that led to the 1929 financial sector f\o ~ ue. ITimothie6:IO •

.crash." There'll be a corresponding consequential " For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while depression so deep that finance ministers wi ll be so some coveted after, they have erred from the faith , and broke that they'll have to obtain second-hand shoes pierced themselves through with many sorrows." on the cheap from Salvation Army Thrift Stores _ _,=o/,;;.;,;,;,;;,;;,;:,.;;.;.;.:.;.;;.;.~;;..,;;....;;.;~__;-...;...~-------

whenever they try to foist off yet another exploitative poem

budget on an unsuspecting general population. when my mama moved across the state line Neoliberalism is ethically twisted cap ital ism up- into Michigan from ohio

holding greed as its primary tenet, such as was tri- she had no income umphantly trumpeted by the movie character Gordon so she got on the telephone Gecko in 1987's Wall Street (a sotto voce echo of late one afternoon key e lements of interminable speeches by so-called to the local welfare office " 1976-Economics-Nobei-Prize-winning" unfettered and was told free-market apologist Milton Friedman). Adam it was too late in the day to apply Smith and Ayn Rand (pristine capitalists) are un- and besides doubtedly spinning in their graves. The Harper gov- there was a long complex screening process ernment deftly demonstrates its excessive arrogance to go through anyway in its steadfast mass ive misunderstanding of theCa- but my mama's friends were with her -nadian economy by all along prescribing neoliberal- several members of a black motorcycle gang ism for its shortcomings as the final solution. and they all From Murray Dobbin 's book, The Myth of the Good rode down on that welfare office

Corporate Citizen, (2nd edition, 2003, p. 123), and convinced the case workers closing up " In 1995 there were 'only' 357 billionaires. Their net to stay open long enough worth was $760 billion, more wealth than the bottom foOr my mother . 45 percent of humanity. That is, 357 people in the to call the governor of michigan's office world owned more combined wealth than 2. 7 billion and get hold of an assistant other people." According to a March 11 , 20 I 0 article who actually put my mother in The Globe and Mail headlined, "The New World onto the welfare roll that very day Order," there were then more than 1,000 billionaires. in what I've always thought of A little research on the Internet at that time showed as a magnificent example of that their net worth then was $3 trillion. radeical The Communications Director of the BC Canadian welfare Centre for Policy Alternatives told me that their advocacy value was equivalent to the net worth of more than Bud Osborn

ANNOlJNCI~G · for the Carnegie Newsletter:)

A Crude Cash Concert - A fundraiser extraordinaire

Music: -Fraser Union -Dalannah Gail Bowen

-Solidarity Notes Choir -Carnegie Jazz Band

Presentations: by contributing Poets & Writers

A Silent Auction of Amazing Aboriginal Art by Garnet Tobacco

Where: StJames Community Square, 3214 W lOth Ave When: Sunday, June 17, 7:30 - 9:30

Tickets: Top price is $100 with a sliding scale based on what you can afford. No one will be turned away for lack offunds but this is a Fund- RAISER! !!

[There might even be a Bake Sale©]

This is the presentation that Colleen Boudreau plans to make to NDP leader Adrian Dix on June 5th:

I'm a s ingle mom on d isabili ty. My daughter and I have Tourette's Syndrome. I also have spinal cord dis­ease and walk with a cane. I' ll probably be on disability for life because these conditions don't get better.

I want to talk about why higher welfare and disabil ity rates are needed as well as more social housing.

I' d like the government to raise welfare and di sabili ty rates a lot and bu ild at least 2000 un its of social hous­ing a year. Alberta is a good example fo r d isability. They just raised we lfare to $1588 a month. That would make the difference between survival living and having a half decent life.

My spinal disease and Tourette 's too, require a special diet. I like to avoid opiates and cortisone shots and therefore I need vitamins and creams that aren' t covered by the government. Last week I had to spend about $50 on these, which I don't have now fo r other essentials. I have older boys who are in care who vis it sever­a l times a week and I don' t get any extra money for them. So I'm trying to pay for myself and my daughter as we ll as part of what it takes to raise my sons, but I' m only getting the disability rate for myself and my daughter. I pay for my son 's birthday a nd Xmas presents, food when they come over for visits . I wou ld love to be able to take them to the aquarium on Family Day, like Chri sty C lark suggests, but I don't have an extra $78 do llars which it would cost- witho ut any treats. When 1 can' t do things like this my kids j udge me as an inadequate parent cause this is what other parents do. The lack of money adds to tens ions within the fam ily

My daughter would love to take gymnastics and needs it for her physica l development. But it would cost $200 a session. She has a bowed leg and an inverted foot and 1 can' t a fford the proper orthotics. When she eats processed foods she gets hyper and can' t focus and gets mood swings and extremely emotional. She has a diffic ult time with transitions to and from school for example. So I have to buy more expensive unpro­cessed, nutritious food.

If we had enough money to meet our needs, I think my daughter would flourish. I could get her activities and nutrition that would meet her needs . It would he lp with our self esteem. We wou ldn 't feel so inade­quate. It's stigmatizing to have to re ly on charities to get her and my needs met. Sometimes, we'd just ra­ther do w ithout the stigma. I also think I' d have a better relationship w ith my sons.

We are very lucky that we are in BC Ho using now. We only pay 30% of our income for rent. When my daughter was younger we lived in a bachelor apartment and my rent cost me an additional $150 a month that had to come out of our food budget. It took us 5 years on the waiting list to get into BC Housing. There are so many people out there who need safe, subsidized housing. Without it, their rents are not secured and they are in survival mode for food. Places are not properly maintained. As Jagrup Brar said after his experience "on welfare," "Hous ing, Housing, Hou s ing."

ln conclus ion, I'd like the government to ra ise welfare and disability rates a lot, and to build at least 2000 units of social hous ing that people on welfare can afford : Housing, housing, hous ing.

Thank you for taking the time to meet w ith us. I think if the NDP came out for housing and welfare it would encourage a lot of low income peop le to vote. I am an NDP member and would be proud if you do this.

Vancouver Moving Theatre & DTES Heart of the City Festival 1n partnership Wtth Vancouver Aboriginal ~riendsnip present the r1 Storyweavinq Team

Nick Joseph, Alex Watts, Frank Edes, Terry Hunter, Brenda Prince, Jeff Harrison, Sam Bob, Victor Guerin Raeanne Elkins, Stephen Lytton, Angela Wh1te, Rosemary Georgeson, Susan Tat oosh,

Bob Baker, Loni Williams, Priscillia Ta1t, Marge C White, Muriel Williams, Woody Morrison, Renae Morriseau Sue Blu, Wes Nahanee, Jennifer Brousseau, Savannah Walling, Quelemia Sparrow, Liisa Hannus

(absent : Teresa VandertUtn, M tke Dangeli, M tque'l Dangeli, Ntck Dangeli, Natasha Smtth and Rachel Smtth)

Story weaving ... Theatre in the round. Script by Rosemary, Randy Morrisfao and Savannah.

It \Vas a cold wet blustery spring day in the early afternoon on an almost desolate East Hastings street when I headed up towards the Vancouver Aboriginal Centre, anxiously looking to catch the final perform­ance of"STORY WEAVING". Polishing off the last few drags of a cigarette, I happily stepped through the front door of the Centre , and was quite pleased to see that the foyer of the building was crowded with peo­ple waiting to go in. Then 1 got a little bit worried, as the usher jotted my name down near the bottom on a standby list. Oh oh,

But: No worries! Terry Hunter, the executive di­recter of Vancouver Moving Th eater, and also the producer of Story Weaving was at the front of the house, directing people into the theatre (better known as the Chief Simon Baker Room). Terry made sure no one was turned away; every last person who showed up got in. Even if some of us had to stand up in one

spot for two hours, it was a pleasure and an honour to do so, on what seemed to me and the audience li ke a sacred, ancient, hallowed space. In fact it certainly was, being a small segment of Coast Salish Territory.

As we rirst entered the room, bright green fragrantly scented cedar bows brushed our heads gently as we passed by. As the audience we felt more like special, welcome guests! After Terry gave some announcements, we were of­

ficially greeted with a strong opening prayer per­formed to perfection by Mike Dangeli of the Git Hayetsk, fi ll ing in most ably for Leonard George of the Tsliei-Waututh, who could not make it. After the prayer was delivered, a sudden feeling of calm carne over me and spread throughout my entire body; at peace with myself as if ! and the others, in the perfect setting of the Chief Simon Baker room, were being somehow being suddenly and magically transported into a sunshine-fi lled, enchanted ancient world. What a privilege, for all those in attendance!

The stories and oral histories are multi-layered and

interactive throughout. The centre piece of the set is a Hugh medicine wheel, depicting one of the stone wheels of the past, some hundreds, some thousands of years old. "To be fully within the centre of the wheel" [Renae Morriseau, the directer of Story Weaving states that] "is to be physically energized, emotionally attuned, mentally focused, and spiritually aligned to the needs outside your own."

Directly beside the medicine wheels are four direc­tional storytellers, representing the four directions of our mother earth. Throughout story weaving they ad­vise and direct the main character, the old man, por­trayed with an overwhelming exuberance and tenac­ity, all with overwhelming emotion. The person in this role is s imply uncanny in his accuracy with th is portrayal! The speakers, situated at intervals, periodically leave their area to travel and move around the medicine wheel, guiding the o ld man through-out his past into the NOW, showing him his past rights and wrongs, and that he's not really to blame. Considering what tremendous burdens others of indigenous dissent have been inflicted with over the centuries (whom the old one represents, along with all his brothers and sisters, stolen families, friends and relations ... Whether it be from the European Colonialsts. ripping off their land and territories with false and fraudulent peace treaties, contaminated and contagious disease-ridden blankets, corrupt "trading post" with almost universal unfair bargaining, conditions, not to mention the introduc­tion to First Nations of addictive, alcoholic beverages and firearms. The old man however is a good natured soul, a survivor, struggling with his life, never giving up; with a sweet mix of persistence and exhilaration that is utterly profound, encouraging, compelling and enthralling throughout.

During the ongoing yet gradual progression of Story Weaving, we are pleasantly introduced to many in­triguing and exciting characters. Niece Nicole, played actively by Priscilla Tait, Sue as the old man's s ister, delivered with cutting truth by Blue, and finally his other sister, authentically delivered by Quelemia Sparrow. They remind him of temporarily forgotten memories, reminisces, as well as long suppressed, horrifying, and debilitating memories ... they are all trying hard to soothe the old man, and encourage him to retain his gifted spirit and not give up the fight in the battle of his emotions, also interspersed and elec-

tric. All is done in an electrifying way of dance in authentic regalia and costumes, traditional songs with exact rep I icas of ancient instruments, that resonate more than ever in importance today.

This exactness and accuracy make this production come to life for the audience, right before our very eyes. The script and lyrics of Story Weaving seem to jump right off the pages. The dancers and singers are shaking and breaking the shackles of seemingly end­less oppression and discrimination: Government ban­ning pot latches & pow -wows, suppressing languages and mother tongues, not to mention the stolen arti­facts and destroyed relics, art and totem poles. This outrageous treatment and hateful behaviour, was in­flicted on all indigenous peoples all throughout North America and yet these First Nation Warriors and peo­ples never gave in, never gave up hope, refused to relinquish and discard their rights, traditions, dances, music and languages.

Day by day and year by year they are gradually re­claiming what is rightfully theirs with no conditions, or strings attached. This is the larger picture of Story Weaving encompassing every single aspect of these ancient, sharing, benevolent societies, with an unar­guable, no-holds-barred scope of truthfulness and ultimately triumph! The old one recalls with a clarity that sings with im­

agery, an exciting moving soli loquy and unpredict­able surprising action of purpose and deep meaning. He recalls fondly his canoe culture -tribal canoe journeys perhaps, from so long ago, paddling as a child through pristine waterways abundant with teem­ing & bountiful creatures such as elk, beaver, caribou, grizzly, deer and of course fish .. just to name a few.

Bald eagles and birds flying high in the sky, all year round, all with seemingly endless supplies and liveli­hoods, enough -with care and conservation- to last forever and a day. The old man, characters, speakers, drummers and dancers, deftly and with authentic emotion, realistic feeling and truth, transport us back to these simpler, less complicated, ore happier times in their lives, as well communicating and connecting us to similar recollections so we, the audience, can experience it somewhat and empathize with them, and feel bonded and at one with them, all empowering! ---All Our Relations.---One of my favourite sequences was probably the

most intricate in acting and movement, in the directo-

rial sense of craft. It was utterly riveting, spontaneous, and exciting: the sholal game, a.k.a. lahal, which is a traditional stick and bone e:ame olaved in the Pacific North West as oral history says since before the ice age. It is allegedly a way to settle disputes, a friendly way and alternative to going to war. The game almost disappeared but as with many other traditions, it has been reclaimed rightfully. It consists of two teams, six people; sometimes betting is widespread and prizes include trades. Facing each other each team has two pairs of bones [one white and one marked with a stripe, with a Talleystick to keep score]; the rules go on and on and it's enthralling! You have to believe

. and understand it. It was great to watch in live, realistic action for the

guest; as well you see and feel the absolute joy and connections the performers were expressing, includ- · ing the singers and dancers and directional speakers. With theatre in the round, everyone in the room had a prime and eye popping vantage point - there wasn't a bad seat in the house.

It was high honour for us to be welcomed so kindly ~ into this previously unknown and misunderstood 1 world of treasured traditions and the resiliency of the ~ human spirit. The Story was bestowed on all of us in

one way or another, by the grace of the Creator. One of the valuable earthy resources s was the coqualeeta fellowship. A group of coqualeeta Methodist school graduates, who came to Vancouver in the deep dark depression of the 1930's, felt so lonely away from their reserves that they set up a safe meeting place for others to go, to share and to heal.. a gathering place to discuss and ultimately reclaim their past and espe­cially their lives. Many at one time were (and are) extremely broken in hearts and minds.

Closing this wonderful afternoon of Story Weaving history was a completely transformed "old one". He'd come to a revelation of his importance in the universe and of everyone, creatures and relations, living in harmony for the greater good of mother earth, family, loved ones .

it was a beautiful touch having volunteers periodi­cally wandering around the room with boxes of nap­kins for any of those who were emotional, teary eyed and in dire need. It was especially required at the talk. back session afterwards.

Story Weaving eventually ended in a robustly ener­getic, joyous way with the Speakeasy Slalom dancers

and singers with Rousine, They, along with Githayet­sk singers and dancers, performed a truly majestic

rendition of the ancient and traditional Eagle dance ... along with all the cast and crew! The magic that been unfolding before us, splendidly and tearfully, ended. I was crying tears of joy. Later, I mentioned to Terry Hunter and Savannah walling, both founders of Vancouver Moving Theatre, that I'm always impressed with high standards of accuracy, authenticity and content, along with a sharp edge and fine writing skills. Respect, Honour, reverence, are all included in their standards. They always set the bar very high for themselves and others who want to achieve true artistic merit. Those two never fail to reach for the top. We will be hearing much more storytelling, with

dancers and singing, along the long and winding trails of life and journeys in the very near future. I can hardlywait to see it again and see how and when Story Weaving, expands and evolves in its next incarnation. Again. All my Relations, and this certainly includes, you out there, wherever you may be.

By Robyn Livingstone

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Award recipient Stephen Lytton (centre) and friends (photo: Debra Vollbrecht)

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LIBBY DA VlES, M.P. VANCOUVER EAST

Room 542-N Centre Block

House of Commons, Ottawa, ON KIA OA6

Tel: (613) 992-6030

Email: libby.davies@parl.gc.ca Web: www.libbydavies.ca

COMMUNITY OFFICE 2412 Main Street

Vancouver, BC V5T 3E2 Tel : (604) 775-5800

Nomination opens for Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medals

On February 6, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth marked the 601h anniversary of accession to

the Throne as Queen of Canada. To celebrate Her Majesty's 60 years of service, the Queen Elizabetl: II Diamond Jubilee Medal has been announced as a way to recognize 60,000 outstanding Canadians of all ages and from all walks of life. These medals provide an opportunity to honour exceptional Canadians for their contributions to their fellow citizen, to our communities and to our country.

There are many outstanding people in East Vancouver who have made significant and meaningful contributions to the community, province, and abroad. I am pleased to be able to take part in recognizing the exceptional individuals who strive to make a difference every day in our community.

Up to 30 medals are available to eligible constituents of Vancouver East. A selection committee will identify and recommend eligible candidates. To be eligible for this honour, a person:

- Must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, but need not necessarily reside in Canada; Must have made a significant contribution to a particular province, territory, region or community within Canada, or an achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada; Must have been alive on February 6, 2012, the 6rJh anniversary of Her 1\1ajesty 's accession to the Throne; and Our selection committee will give particular emphasis to those who have made outstanding contributions in East Vancouver.

The nomination format is a two-page (maximum) letter that must include the following: ( L)

nominator's name, address, phone number and I or email; (2) nominee's name, address, phone number and I or email; and (3) the reasons why the nominee is deserving of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Nomination can be submitted by email to libby.davies.cl @parl.gc.ca, or by mail to 2412 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 3E2 (postage free), or fax 604-775-5811. The deadline for nomination Friday, November 2, 2012 at 4 pm. The presentation ceremony will be held in January 2013. Details of the presentation ceremony will be announced later.

If you have any questions, please contact my office at 604-775-5800.

lt is very exciting to see the wonderful new collec­tion of works from Carnegie's very own Thursdays Writing Collective. V6A: Writing from Vancou­ver's Downtown Eastside (820.8 Vllm) Edited by John Mikhail Asfour and Elee Kraljii Gardiner it's an anthology of the Downtown Eastside in the present day (and recent past). The book presents a clear, sympathetic picture of the real DTES, in contrast to the one-dimensional version often portrayed in the media, by relying on the diverse voices of the people who live, work, and pass through the neighbourhood. V6A 's editors didn't specify a theme when soliciting works for the collection, but most of the fiction, po­etry and essays by the 32 writers depict the neigh­bourhood directly. There are certainly some promi­nent names in the collection, but many of the writers in V6A are previously unpublished or else got their start through Thursdays Writing Collective, a weekly workshop at the Carnegie Centre facilitated by Gar­diner. As Jennifer Croll from the Georgia Straight writes "the book's strength comes from the indelible image the stories and poems leave when experienced as a whole; together, they present a neighbourhood that, despite its problems, is very much alive" Cong­ratulations to all the writers in this very moving book

Anyone who remembers the Gastown Riot in 1971 or has seen this amazing art installation in Wood­ward's will enjoy the book, Stan Douglas: Abbott and Cordova, 7 August 1971 (779 D736a) It has es­says by Stan Douglas, Alexander Alberro, Nora M. Alter, Sven Lutticken, and Jesse Proudfoot The Tyee describes this powerful book "as a collection of es­says that pries open the iconic 30x50-foot translucent photo mural, depicting a decades-ago clash between police and protestors that defined Vancouver's Gas­town neighbourhood, and which now hangs in the atrium of the city's Woodward's complex. From Nora M. Alter's analysis of the image as a 'moving still' to Jesse Proudfoot's history of the politics of representa­tion in the Downtown Eastside, these essays help

fulfil Douglas's intent to keep conversation about the riot -- and the photograph that 'condenses' it -- evolv­ing." Stan Douglas has exhibited widely, including at the Venice Biennale, Whitney Biennial, and documenta. He is the subject of numerous books, including Stan Douglas (Phaidon Press). The next book offers a fresh view of addiction which may offer long-sought answers. Intervention and treatment strategies can be made more effective, maintains veteran addiction educator and psycholo­gist Gary L. Fisher, through identification of addict subtypes. That is the goal of Understanding Why Addicts Are Not All Alike: Recognizing the Types and How Their Differences Affect Intervention and Treatment. (362.29 F53u) Tne book provides an in-depth, research-based anal­

ysis of three specific subtypes of people who over­use substances: addicts who fit the disease model, addicts with antisocial personality disorder, and func­tional addicts-those who lead otherwise successful lives. Particular attention is paid to the latter two groups, which have not been adequately studied pre­viously. Characteristics of the three subtypes are il­lustrated through case studies that clearly demon­strate how subtype impacts prevention, intervention, and treatment. Most important, the book recommends practical intervention and treatment strategies that will enable concerned parties to identify-and help­each of these distinct groups. Experts including Brian Cox, Richard Dawkins, Pat­

rick Moore and Marcus du Sautoy explain their nom­ination for the most important discoveries ever made 100 Ideas that Changed the World (509 083o). This fascinating book explores 100 of the most for­ward thinking, far-reaching, and downright inspired ideas and inventions in history. The essays cover top­ics as diverse as the Big Bang, vaccination, comput­ing, radioactivity, human genomes, the wheel, and more. Each essay looks at the logic behind such great inventions, discoveries, theories, and experiments, studying the circumstances that brought them into being and assessing the impact that they had on the world at large. From the earliest understandings of our place in the solar system, via Darwinism, DNA, neutrons, and quarks, right up to the theories that are pushing the boundaries of our knowledge today, we are forever propelled forward by our most gifted sci­entific minds.

Megan, your librarian

DO YOU lVIF.AN ... ?

I consider myself quite a sensitive person. At times, when people give me a compliment, 1 interpret it in a negative manner. 1 went to a workshop and learned about a tool called "Do you mean .. ?" It helps clarify what other people mean. I have composed three ex amples and 1 would like to share them with you:

A: Looks like you've lost some weight. B: Do you mean that I am not eating well? A: No. B: Do you mean that I used to be fat? A: No. B: Do you mean that I look better? A: Yes.

A: You look tired today. B: Do you mean that I was out too late? A: No. B: Do you mean that I need to s leep more? A: No. B: Do you mean that you just care about me? A: Yes.

A: Your hair is long. B: Do you mean that 1 need to cut my hair? A: No. B: Do you mean that my hair is not tidy? A: No. B: Do you mean that you like my hair? A: Yes.

You can see that sometimes the message received is not the same as the message sent. Instead of reacting to what other people say, I am learning to take a deep breath first. I'm also learning to take a minute or two to be aware of my own emotions, and manage them. In this way, I calmly use the tool "Do you mean ... ?"

Staying calm is not easy for me, and I believe it requires practice . Hopefully, by using the tool "Do you mean ... ?" we will be able to find out what others really have in mind, and also to open ourselves up to new possibilities.

By Debbie Woon Lee

"I have absolutely no knowledge on anything about these calls, but obviously if there's anyone who has done anything wrong, we will expect they will face the full consequences of the law." - Prime Minister Stephen Harper (2/ 23/2012)

In their own words and on many occasions, the Con­servative Party of Canada has said that if fraudulent calls to suppress voter turnout occurred during the 20 II federal election, it is extremely serious and must be addressed. But their recent actions suggest otherwise.

Lawyers representing the Conservative MPs from the 7 ridings involved in the citizen-led legal chal­lenge to overturn the election results have now tiled motions to throw out the cases. They want to prevent the Federal Court from having a chance to review the sworn testimony of individual Canadians about their personal experiences with the fraudu lent calls, which they are dismissing as "frivolous", and the substan­tive corroborating evidence that shows the calls af­fected the election outcome in those ridings. As you know, the Council of Canadians is supporting these courageous individuals in their legal challenges through the Democracy 24-7 Legal Fund. To all of you who have contributed to the fund so far, you have my deepest thanks. Your donations have been crucial in enabling the challenges to reach the Fed­eral Court.

However, the legal proceedings are now at a critical stage. In the coming days we fully expect the Con­servative Party of Canada will continue to draw upon the substantial resources they have at their disposal to further obstruct the search for truth. Through their legal challenge, these brave Canadians are fighting to defend the democratic rights and prin­ciples of all Canadians. Shamefully, Conservative Party lawyers are now attacking the very character of these individuals. It bears repeating: election fraud is indefensible and cannot go unchallenged. l know you agree this is a fi ght worth fighting.

Thank you for your tremendous ongoing support in this crucial campaign. Together, we will restore our Canadian democracy.

Sincerely, Garry Neil

Executive Director, The Council of Canadians

AUTONOMOUS JONES Like a protester protesting PROTESTS while out on bail with a dozen conditions -give or take- we except all forms of insanity here and now, teachers teaching how to unlearn and then some are you still with me? Are you AWAKE?! Do you really care about this country or is being ignorant enough as you sip your styrofoam lanes & saranwrapachinos as the ALMOST CAN STAND YOU group of2"d grade education thugs don't need you let alone any family and friends .. bad times are about to get horrifically worse 1 if e sure is r ough Now do you honestly expect cops to help you with continued living when you've already been written off? Hey the seltish never forget to stop giving they are the ones who try to tum CANADA into CAN'TADA­- yet the world still loves us- we're not a threat to anyone living or dead now that is enough, like a numerical skin engraving there are Neo-Nazis and their HorTor And Blood sickness which will NEVER be forgotten but could one day [soon] be misread .. This country was SO cool and sti ll is but there are just way too many fuckheads; take Officer Down and his own book of rules I ike keep all information that I find as mine he is his own self-made fool yet a dozen or more lives were picked up then KILLED, He can only see fame let the others share the blame unfortu­nately this ain't a GAME if we had a death penalty that worked right the rope would have been looped around his neck the Live audience would have been oh so thrilled!! I look at other blemishes going on around earth kids with silky hair and alternative clothing being stoned with fragments of said EARTH anyone drawing attention to themselves get to ride under a tank for free, like a team ofGeraldo Rivera's digging up outhouses of the rich-and-long-been-dead by hand or celebrating a certain RIOT where MONEY, TIME and INTEREST from the world who give a smirk as they deal with the Real Deal. lfyou're into potentia l threats LONDON 2012 is sure but you watch them bring up our ONE DAY riot to anyone that can see - guards wi II continue their beat­ings in between Te>..ting and Tweeting that trainwreck you call a conscience doesn't fit in the place I live. CANADA is an awesome place to be born and live and this other thing we have is called being FREE, as in opinions and Marches with plenty of water for mouths and land-patches I'll never know why harsh­ness and hostility seem a necessity:: we have multi-

religion and race your nationality or anti-sexual taste with all our other problems EVERY other country sees us and wishes they were we. I adm it CANADA could be turned into CAN'TADA which scares me more than a bit but if I have to li ve ANYWHERE in this screwed­up world this is it CANADA from life to death. 1 am it.

By ROBERT McGILLIVRAY

So the Evening Descends So evening descends Daylighyt dies the trees close in around us We gather around the table taking Bread and water wine and roasted meats Cheese and onions, lettuce Singing and toasting Remembering I

That other time at the lake Big harvest moon The surface of the water smooth as a mill pond A loon laughs Echoing across from the far shore/

We paddle to the canteen a trout leaps ahead falling back with a fly the dusk is magic And we are caught in its spell

Water drips from my paddle Like diamonds streaming. At the dock we ascend the rocky path to the highway Blinded by the electric light We stumble back down Our treats in hand potato chips and icecream sodas

Paddling back to the cabin The moon has risen more, almost overhead I love this place I lome to myriads of tiny frogs Just now Tadpoles last week.

The return trip hushes and stills us Swish and roll of the waves Gentlng our souls.

Wilhelmina Mary Miles

..

Karen Jamieson Free Dance Workshops June I -July 13

Carnegie & SFU Woodwards Come to both each week!

Every Friday at Carnegie Community Centre Gym 3:30 -5:30 June l, 8, 15, 22, 29; July 6, 13

Every Wednesday at Audain Gallery SFU Woodwards 3:30 -5:30 149 West Hastings Street -Entrance from the street

June 6, 13, 20, 27 ; July 4, II

Free and open to all residents of the DTES of all levels of experience, studying the basic elements of

dance through rhythm and improvisation

All are welcome! Come and discover tbe joy of dance!

Please see Rika Uto in the Carnegie Program office for more infonnation Karen Jamieson Dance at 604.687.6675 -kjdance.office@telus.net -www.kjdance.ca

June 15, 2011 The day, but just hours before my big day l went

through the most god forgiven day of my life - how­ever .. . This day I will never forget because I was amongst

the mayhem of all that went on in Vancouver, the day that Van., B.C. lost the biggest game that they and all of Vancouver will never forget. It was turning 9:30pm, I was picking bottles when Vancouver turned on itself. I was trying to get home but the crowd would not allow nobody to leave its grasp. I was bombarded with pepper spray, some sort of blast that still bothers me, alii remember is this blast that will haunt me to the day I die. However lives goes on what bothers me the most is that when I was trying to get home the· police barricade would not allow me to get to my home even though I was just} Iz block to my house I fe lt so helpless, only when I finally made it in my room that my nerves slowly but surely sub­sided I decided to write a memo to myself and to­ever reads would might understand what I and ever Vancouverite went through and I Rex W. pray that me and Vancouver does not go through again in short Happy Birthday Rex P.S. I will su rvive and Vancouver B.C. I hope on Vans behalf this city wi ll too- peace out - Happy 471

h

PRACTISE RANDOM ANARCHISTIC ACTS Folks don't.like what you do

what you say what you think?

Learn to practice random anarchistic acts daily. Savage any antiquated city by-law. Spit in the bigoted eyf3 of a bully. Goose a humorless overpaid bureaucrat. Comfort the homeless, destitute, afflicted. Afflict those born into unquestioned material wealth.

Thumb your nose at gold-rimmed shitty hall. Laugh in the pallid face of pompous asses. To all effete snobs, be intentionally "crass". Litter around grey mindless public monuments. Encou rage the obese to run much too fast! Tell silly pointless jokes to academics.

Offend those far too easily offended. Practise pratfalls in pristine, clean, city squares . Be excessively nice to abusive people everywhere. Play the hula hoop inside stuffy church services. To tight-ass pseudo-brit royalists, recite Robert service. And don't forget to piss copiously upon all, I mean all Flags!

john alan douglas

.WI Main Street. Vancouver 604.665.2289

THIS NEWSLETTER ISA PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION

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

. .

"Never doubt that a sma\l group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. lndeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

· Margaret Meade

WANTED We acknowledge that the Carnegie Community Centre, and

this Newsletter, are occurring on Coast Salish Territory. Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter

*Small.iRustrations to accompany artides and poetry; *Cover art -Max_size: 17cm(6 7'41widex15cm(61high *Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the

Downtown Eastside but all work considered; *Black & White printing only; *Size restrictions apply (i.e. If your piece is too large it Will be reduced and/or cropped to fit; .. All artists will receive credit for their work; "Originals will be returned to the artist after being

copied for publication; *Remuneration: Carnegie Volunteer Tickets. Please make submissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.

GET CLEAN Shower up at the Lord's Rain 327 Carrall St, just off Pigeon Parle HOT SHOWERS (towel, soap, shampoo & coffee) Monday, 7-10am, Ladies only! Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday: lam

FREE DENTAL HELP 455E Hastings: Monday & Friday, 9:30·12:30 Call604-254-9900 for information. Cleaning only at VCC is $35. Info: 604-443-8499

FREE LEGAL ADVICE Law Students Legal Advice Program All cases checked with lawyers; confidential. Call Carnegie to learn if/when students on site. Call USC for info: 604-822-5791

~ext hl!'ue SUBMISSION D~LINE:

TUESDAY JUNE 12TH 2012 DONATIONS Margeret D-$40, libby D-$75, Jenny K-$25, Sheila B-$100 Harold D-$100, Leslie S-$150, Bake Sale at BC Cancer-$405 Christopher R-$1 50, Phoenix W-$60, Wilhelmina M- $20, Patrick F-$10, CUPE 15-$1000, Robert M-~. Bob S-$200 Megan L-$40, LV -$10, Vancouver Moving Theatre-$150 Michael C-$50, Michelle C-$20, Glenn B-$100, Shyla S-$75 Naomi N-$20, Peak House -$40, Sonia M-$25, Lou -$5 Sharon/Henry/Patty/Mike/Hui ZhenJBijan -$25, Elsie M-$100 Literacy Roundtable -$1000, Sue K-$40, Anonymous $40 Solder and Sons Cafe -$50 Marsha D -To the memory of Sandy Cameron -$50 Lazara Press - To the memory of Richards -$1 00

camnews~haw.ca www.camnews.org http:J(camegie.vcn.bc.calnewsletter http:JJharvesters.sfu. calchodarr

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA WORKING FOR YOU

1070-1641 Commercial Dr. V5L3Y3 604-775-0790

WEAPONS OF lVlASS DESTRUCTION • AIDS

POVERTY

• HOMELESSNESS

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

TOTALITARIAN CAPITALISM

• IGNORANCE and SUSTAINED FEAR

CITY EDITOR (Vancouver Sun)

Dear John, .. an endearing beginning, or at least appropriate,

given the subject matter of what fo llows ...

In a paper in the last I 0 days or so, The LOWER MAfNLAND section had the headline 'Cash infusion into Skid Road fails to stop the bleeding'; promi­nently pictured is a female addict and, less promi­nently, a staff person s taring at a bottle of rice wine . Immediate reactions amongst community resi­dents/activists/ordinary people were predictably unanimous: outrage. The author has taken a very narrow view, used the stereotyping common to much of the Vancouver S'un 's coverage of our neigh­bourhood, and warped a plethora of issues into a swan song for the "tried and failed" scenario played out in the minds of those hoping to decimate Van­

couver's oldest community. Denigration of res idents has been an ongoing pas­

time fo r those intent on promoting (the one correct po int in the article) gentrification. Epithets of"urban wilderness" .. "locals are an eyesore" .. "wasted and pathetic scum" .. "revitalise/c lean up/better people needed to set an example ... " ring out in the squinted gazes of people now lay ing claim to their community -rheir neighbourhood after putting in almost 6 Months in the trenches. Condos are playing to buyers as the cutting edge of this wave, and prospective residents are told plainly that conditions on the streets (specifically these disgusting people) will both and all be gone in 2,3,4, ... years so just s ign here ... First it was Brad Holme, that charming originator of the condo-buyer's favourite exclamation - "How can 1 get my hands on that sorry s.o.b. !?! '"-endearing him­self once again to C ity Council, squeezing and squirreling every concession possible to construct the Van Home (named, appropriately enough, after the blank who tried vehemently to privatise Stanley Park around the turn of the century) and it's c lone across the street at the comers of Cordova and Carrall .. then had to buy 35 of the unso ld units himself(and his mom got stuck with another 5 units) before disap­pearing (sorry, re-locating) again in Toronto. He was the edge of wedge or the first barbed bit on the hoped-for Juggernaut ofbasicalltyy bulldozing the Downtown Eastside. He's dead now. So it goes.

Unfortunately for many of these colonizers, the people of the DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE can't

overcome being a major inconvenience to their fan­tasies. You see, that mythical Valhalla known uni­versally as "somewhere else" is still just a figment o f the imagination. All the better people, seeing the futility of showing residents how to be nice poor people, are sti ll us ing "somewhere else" as a mantra to answer questions pertaining to the disposal of current locals; politicians spinning bureaucratic crud (a synonym for the word used to describe the product of a bull' s bowel movement) keep their relation to "somewhere else" relatively secret whi le talking of property rights and the non impact oft\vo and a half thousand more condos in a three-block area. This last, incidentally, is part of the doublespeak being phased in as the Victory Square "neighbourhood", one o f about five neighbourhoods never heard of before in the annals of recorded history. Now, and the fodder for different armchair pundits,

is the vicious stupid ity with which Marc Williams and his a) Vis ionary-ness or b) greed-driven bigotry & classism or even c) ' make a ll I can and get the hell out' press coverage. Several people, not quite up to the basic bottom for being identified as Journalists, have quoted him in many articles and in many con­texts, a ll giving their dubious bless ings to his crimi­na l mindset regarding local res ide nts, health, safety, vermin, not fo llowing the ruloes (oh it's okay, it's just Skid Road .. . )

Okay, the cynicism is getting worn. The difficulties inherent in Ian Mulgrew's piece start with him talking of everything in terms of money. Community centres cost so much, medical aid costs so much, income assistance costs so much , etcetera. It is sad that nowhere e lse in the Lower Mainland are programs, centres, assistance of any kind evaluated almost exclusively - and in such prominence - as the same in the Downtown Eastside. If the Dunbar Community Centre or (Xasp) the West End Com­munity Centre or (gasp in spades) the Roundhouse thing have programs and services, they are expl icitly not shredded on the basis of the dollars spent. Rather, each is evaluated in terms of its clientele, the ef­fortlresearch/ indivi- duals involved in delivery and numerous other criteria just to get an idea of "what is this thing doing?" Mulgrew, on the other hand, is edited in such a way (if at all) to give credence to a purely political stance: "This area, this Skid Road, is sucking up money better spent on anything else.'' And all those who, by default, are among the Best and

the Brightest- who have a few thousand/hun- dred thousand/million/hundred million can then feel righteously justified in treating local res idents as they would treat a fungus in their Jacuzzi.

The problems of this neighbourhood a re real, but not that different from problems in inner c ities throughout the world. Money is not being thrown away but it can be better directed into affordable housing, drug and alcohol treatment programs, de­toxes, counselling and safe houses for the youth coming here by the hundred s and finding litera lly nothing but the dregs. Everything we do have here is the result of years of fighting - with land lords, petty bureaucrats, politicians sitting to the far right of Genghis Khai'l, and .the stifling inertia of our he loved society. The Downtown Eastside Residents Associa­tion- DERA- began in 1973 to force land lords to install sprinklers, to rent rooms with doors that closed and windows that opened, to take out the trash now and then ... The beloved stereotype of ill iterate scum has gone the way of most Theme Parks.

Successes, strangely not mentioned in Mulgrew's tirade( not sexy enough?) include the Carnegie Community Centre (the most successfu l commun ity centre in Canada), the Evelyne Saller Centre, Op-

Starving Poet Purples

Megan 'tis not just food I crave ' tis socia l j ustice, gender equality

worldwide end of all wars equal distribution of money, property.

I ' brave new world' mostly crave, that each hoping person

shall somehow find the love or loves (for I be a large heart) of their unique life.

So proudly call me a "starving poet" let my nourishment be love,

and fai rness for a ll human kind.

John Douglas

penheimer Park, CRAB Park, the Four Sisters Housing Cooperative (an international model), the Women's Centre, CrabTree Comer, and now we have community-wide input with the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council, a Local Area Planning Program, and the hard work of the Carnegie Com­munity Action Project... . enclosed is a booklet [onl ine at www.carnnews.orgl called Help in the Downtown Eastside that runs 20 pages and just lists what's been achieved here in the past 25 years. It's just a begin­ning, but it is the work of a community, a small town in Vancouver.

There is little hope that this will see print - as just a lluded to, it's hardly sexy enough to warrant a place in the new lean mean Vancouver Sun. You speak of questioning everything. Try turning that spotlight on yourself and see how brightly the parts labelled "journalistic integr ity" and "fairness" shine out. Here in the Downtown Eastside, questioning the conclu­sions of unending and dubious analyses is as natural as breathing.

Respectfully submitted, PauiR Taylor,

Vo lunteer Editor. Carnegie Newsletter.

j~

J ~~(l_; A HEALING PRAYER

MOTHER EARTH FATHER SKY

SISTER WIND BROTHER SEA

~ CRYSTAL OF STONE FEATHER OF EAGLE

WAND OF LIGHT HELP SET US FREE

Larry "Two Bears" Mousseau

"We need to have an open and democratic discuss ion about the direction of our society. The current model , where governments give billions in tax cuts to profit­able corporations and high income earners, and then plead poverty as they slash our social programs, is broken." --Derrick O'Keefe, Vancouver activist and organizer