March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

24
FREE - donations accepted. When the federal budget was being televised, a camera crew was in Car- Lounge was tuned to a movie and no one made any move to switch it; the negie to see what people here had to say about it. The TV in the Seniors reporter wanted to film the editor of the Newsletter handing out the paper but that would've been an ob- vious sham and it didn't happen; no one reacted with the frightened look or righteous indignation expected ... It's so hard for people who get paid every week or two, who have cars and TVs and groceries and pick and choose for entertainment and so on..for the middle class, who are at least com- fortable, to realize what people at the lower end of the economy live with on a day-to-day basis. The reporter began asking individ- uals why they weren't seemingly in- terested in this "major announcement" and the answers were brutally honest: "Why bother? ~hey'lljust double- talk about 'a need to do this and having to do that1,add a lot of crap about it being for the good of the country's future, then cut all of the stuff that they said they woudn't cut." "The ones doing it won't feel any worse; they all make good money and pay for private, special services. They cut all the public ones and re- fuse to make their buddies with big businesses pay anything. Those guys will just keep ripping the public off and pay lawyers to make sure it isn't against any law. " What happened with ~ilson'sspeech bore all of this and more out to a T. Now the provinces will say they "have to" cut public services while tax breaks and low-interest or interest- free loans (or out-and-out gifts) to corporations continue. A very informative paper was re- ceived recently. It shows the "IN- COME ASSISTANCE RATE INCREASES" for people on welfare from 1984 to 1989.

description

 

Transcript of March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

Page 1: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

FREE - donat ions a c c e p t e d .

When the federal budget was being televised, a camera crew was in Car-

Lounge was tuned to a movie and no one made any move to switch it; the

negie to see what people here had to say about it. The TV in the Seniors

reporter wanted to film the editor of the Newsletter handing out the paper but that would've been an ob- vious sham and it didn't happen; no one reacted with the frightened look or righteous indignation expected ... It's so hard for people who get paid every week or two, who have cars and TVs and groceries and pick and choose for entertainment and so on..for the middle class, who are at least com- fortable, to realize what people at the lower end of the economy live with on a day-to-day basis. The reporter began asking individ-

uals why they weren't seemingly in- terested in this "major announcement" and the answers were brutally honest: "Why bother? ~hey'll just double-

talk about 'a need to do this and having to do that1, add a lot of crap about it being for the good of the country's future, then cut all of the stuff that they said they woudn't cut."

"The ones doing it won't feel any worse; they all make good money and pay for private, special services. They cut all the public ones and re- fuse to make their buddies with big businesses pay anything. Those guys will just keep ripping the public off and pay lawyers to make sure it isn' t against any law. " What happened with ~ilson's speech

bore all of this and more out to a T. Now the provinces will say they "have to" cut public services while tax breaks and low-interest or interest- free loans (or out-and-out gifts) to corporations continue. A very informative paper was re-

ceived recently. It shows the "IN- COME ASSISTANCE RATE INCREASES" for people on welfare from 1984 to 1989.

Page 2: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

- INCOME ASSISTANCE RATE INCREASES

Family Uni t S i z e Date

A P ~ 1 2 (couple) 2(1 p a r e n t 1 1 c h i l d ) 3 4

0 c t 186 1 - 2 (couple) 2(1 p a r e n t 1 1 c h i l d ) 3 4

June187 1 2 (couple) 2 (1 p a r e n t 1 1 c h i l d ) 3 4

~ e c / 8 7

1 2 (coup le ) 2(1 p a r e n t 1 1 c h i l d ) 3 4

A~I -189

1 - 2 3 4

July189

1 2 3 4

NOTE :

Support

230 335 335 395 450

230 335 335 395 450

230 335 352 415 473

230 370 370 435 497

230 370 435 500

243 391 460 529

% I n c r . S h e l t e r % I n c r .

4.5% 4.7% 4.7% 4.6% 4.6%

19.6% 15.7% 15.7% 13.3% 10.5%

10.0% 8.3% 5.8% 6.5%

T o t a l

430 675 675 805 905

439 691 691 824 926

439 691 708 844 949

480 782 782 92 1

1023

480 782 921

1026

5 18 837 974

1089

% I n c r

2.1% 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 2.3%

--- ---

The r a t e s used a r e t h e unemployable rate f o r t h e s i z e o f t h e f a m i l y and assumes 1 maximum l e n g t h of t i m e on a s s i s t a n c e f o r t h e fami ly t o r e c e i v e t h e maximum rate. I

Page 3: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

THE FACTS ARE IN. I n s i x yea r s a s i n g l e person has

enjoyed the luxury of a $13 i nc rease a month f o r l i t t l e t h ings l i k e food, c lo th ing , e t c . ; you know, th ings t h a t never go up i n p r i c e . A t t h e same t i m e , t h e s h e l t e r po r t ion - t h a t goes d i r e c t l y i n t o a l and lo rd ' s pocket - has gone from $200 t o $275. It took 5% years before t he f i r s t i nc rease happened ( t h e $13) but i n f l a t i o n i s low i f i t ' s below 5% a year .

And no te t h e NOTE: these r a t e s a r e t h e h ighes t i f you a r e unemployable, but t h ings l i k e u t i l i t i e s and a phone a r e over and above t h e r e n t s charged by 95% of a l l landlords . A l o t a sk a t l e a s t $10 more than t h e h ighes t s h e l t e r po r t ion so people have t o e a t l e s s i f they want a roof over t h e i r heads. I f you a r e c l a s s i f i e d as "employable1' (and remember t h a t Clod Richmond made thousands f i t i n t h i s category a t t h e s t r o k e of a pen) then you g e t l e s s .

It 's not a case of running on a t everything. Poverty is kept going because i t means a l o t of jobs; i t ' s good f o r bus iness . It a l s o s t o p s a l o t of people from becoming s o c i a l l y a c t i v e because they have t o surv ive ; t h a t t akes more energy than a l o t have. When Richmond c u t r a t e s by $7 r a t h e r than r a i s e t h e r a t e s of those under 26 t o be equal t o those over 26 he showed t h e a t t i t u d e of t h e "haves" t o t h e "have-nots" - I'VE GOT MINE; WHAT'S MINE I S MINE AND WHAT'S YOURS IS ALSO MINE." -Anger can have i n t e r - e s t i n g consequences; moral ly d e c r e p i t people always do t h e wrong th ing . Look a t t h e budget, t h e we l f a re r a t e s and t h e e f f e c t of Free Trade on us . . . how much r e n t do you pay?

By PAULR TAYLOR

E d i t o r ,

With March 8 , I n t e r n a t i o n a l Women's Day, f a s t approaching I thought your readers might be i n t e r e s t e d i n tak- ing a quick look a t how women f a r e i n Canadian p o l i t i c s and e spec i a l ly i n s e rv ing i n cab ine t , where t h e r e a l decision-makers of govt. e x i s t .

A s of today t h e r e a r e 266 cabinet min i s t e r s se rv ing i n Canada among t h e f e d e r a l , p rov inc i a l and the two t e r r i t o r i a l governments. Of these 266 people, a mere 37 a r e women. And of those 37 female cabine t min i s t e r s 1 7 , almost h a l f , s e rve i n hea l th c a r e , s o c i a l s e r v i c e , tourism o r c u l t u r e p o r t f o l i o s - pos i t i ons t h a t many people would term a s being more "female" o r i en t ed . There has never been a female prem-

i e r . There have only been two fe- male oppos i t ion l e a d e r s - Leonne Bagnall (PC-PEI) and Sharon Car- s t a i r s (LIB-Man .) . There have only been t h r e e female a t t o rney genera ls o r j u s t i c e min i s t e r s - K i m Campbell (PC-Can.) , Margaret Joe (NDP-Yuk.) and Lynn Verge (PC-Nfld.). There has been only one female f inance minis- ter - B e t t e Stephenson (PC-Ont .). There is , a t p re sen t , only one fe - male economic development min i s t e r - Lise Bacon (LIB-PQ) .

Page 4: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

Nat iona l ly only K i m Campbell (Jus- t i c e ) and Barbara McDougall (Employ- ment and Immigration) a r e t h e mini- s t e r s of a f u l l : c ab ine t p o r t f o l i o . The o t h e r four female cab ine t mini- s t e r s s e rve a s j u n i o r m i n i s t e r s , re- po r t i ng through another cab ine t min- i s t e r . In t h e e n t i r e h i s to ry (he r - s t o r y ) of Canada it was no t u n t i l 1957 t h a t a woman was named t o t h e f e d e r a l cab ine t - El l en Fairclough (PC) and s i n c e then only t h r e e wom- en have served a s m i n i s t e r s of a n a t u r a l resource p o r t f o l i o - Jeanne Sauve (LIB), Judy Ero l a (LIB) and

LEADBELLY

S t i l l r a in ing steel b a l l s coming down t r a f f i c swish g l i d e s by r o a r of d i e s e l bus gear ing up f l i g h t s p a s t my window on t h e s i d e

a morsel of food and thoughts of you the t h ings we s a i d , w e shared t h i s poe t i c grace seeks i n s p i r a t i o n when t h e words won't come, don ' t come

b i r d s i n t h e sky f l y by l eav ing t r a i l s i n t h e wake of pass ing bu i ld ing n e s t s of g r a s s and mud s a f e f o r young from p reda t a t i on a l o f t , t h e wheels of i n s p i r a t i o n

Airborne communication oops! she dropped one s h i f t s e c r e t s dropping t o t h e ground squee l ing sounds of v i b r a t i o n Only they can know why

Pat Carney (PC). A t p resen t only four women se rve i n n a t u r a l resource p o r t f o l i o s i n Canada.

What is a l s o i n t e r e s t i n g , and per- haps s u r p r i s i n g , is t h a t when t h e n ine m i n i s t e r s r e spons ib l e f o r t h e s t a t u s of women meet one of them hap- pens t o be a man - Nova S c o t i a ' s Don- a l d McInnes (PC).

For women t h e job of g e t t i n g e l e c t - ed i s d i f f i c u l t but once e l e c t e d i t i s even more d i f f i c u l t t o have r e a l input i n t o po l i cy making a s a cab ine t min i s t e r . Some may wonder whether we even need t o have m i n i s t e r s res - pons ib le f o r women's i s s u e s . I wonder i f Sharon C a r s t a i r s , should she be succes s fu l i n Manitoba's next e lec- t i o n , w i l l have a m i n i s t e r r e spons ib l e

' f o r men' s i s s u e s . And w i l l i t per- I haps b e a female min i s t e r ?

I

Darren Lowe

So a bald eag l e g e t s r e p a i r e d and sho t down aga in don ' t you know they ' r e p ro t ec t ed here? Probably under B r i t i s h p r o t e c t i o n too ( a s we l l ) B r i t a i n is more than England, Scot land , I r e l a n d and Wales I saw i t on TV from Aukland an endangered s p e c i e s f ac ing e x t i n c t i o n l e g i s l a t e d t r a c t s of wasteland f o r breeding (Parks) and gun c o n t r o l groups shoot l i v e b u l l e t s

i s n ' t t h a t a s u r p r i s e !

DanYCreag

Page 5: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

Edi tor ,

Last v i s i t t o Carnegie Community Centre I found a Carnegie Newsletter. It 's a g r e a t f ind!

P o s s i b i l i t y of g r e a t write-ups a r e t he re . Humanity - who f requent t h e Centre - mostly have c o l o r f u l p a s t . ~ h e ~ ' v e seen h i s t o r y on t h e make i n d i f f e r e n t i n t e r v a l s of t h e i r l i v e s . And i f more of t h e same should happen nearby, they'd be a t i t more than l i k e l y . Carnegie Newslet ter could t ap i n on even a few of t h e s e color- f u l humanity and make good write-ups.

Being a v i s i t i n g old-timer myself, I remember t h e old- t imers when they w e r e young r i d i n g t h e f redght t o O t t - awa bu t only g e t t i n g t o Regina, hop- ing t o beard Tory M r . Bennett i n h i s den. Younger people ( l a t e r ) joined t h e S o l i d a r i t y movement when another Bennett (Socred) w a s r a i s i n g h e l l with t h e workers of B.C.

Not as we l l known by way of exc i t e - ment is t ak ing p a r t w i th many l o c a l unions i n oppos i t ion t o s t a r v a t i o n wages- in a s t r i k e s i t u a t i o n . Most of- t e n t h e poor d i d n ' t win but a t l e a s t worker 's p r i d e was mostly kept in- t a c t . But some combined e f f o r t s paid o f f l i k e winning Carnegie H a l l as a community c e n t r e . Some people who fought a g a i n s t i t a t Ci ty Hal l a r e no longer i n p o l i t i c s . The people have spoken.

The b a t t l e i s n ' t a l l over of course. Ci ty Hal l i s n ' t working f o r us , but we do have COPE r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s t h e r e t o speak f o r t h e poor. They got t h e r e wi th g r e a t a s s i s t bymany who f requent Carnegie Hal l . I t 's only f a i r t h a t t h e Carnegie Newsletter re- member t h e suppor t e r s of "good times f o r a l l " who f i n d Carnegie Centre a good p l ace t o v i s i t and a l s o t ake

Beginning on March 5 , Carnegie w i l l open i t s doors a t 9:00 A.M. & c l o s e a t 1 1 : O O pm. Af te r t h r e e y r s . of continuous submissions of reorg- an i za t ion ideas , t he City f i n a l l y approved an e x t r a two hours of time f o r Carnegie t o be open. To com- p l e t e l ea rn ing what hours b e s t s e rve the u s e r s , t h e Centre w i l l now a l t e r t he hours and s e e t h e d i f f e r ence .

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE k i p ' s K L V D

4 PROGRAM

Meet o ld f r i e n d s , make new f r i e n d s and sha re a fun i f l l e d win ter with t h e Downtown Eas t s ide Kid 's Klub Program.

Ray-Cam has h i r ed q u a l i f i e d rec- r e a t i o n a l s t a f f who w i l l arrange a v a r i e t y of s a f e and enjoyable a c t i - v i t i e s . Your ch i ld ren w i l l be par t - i c i p a t i n g i n ou t - t r i p s , swimming, arts and c r a f t s , ska t ing , toboganing s p e c i a l events p lus much, much more!

A l l program a c t i v i t i e s , inc luding a d a i l y n u t r i t i o u s snack, a r e f r e e . PLACE: RAY-CAM CENTRE -----

920 E. Hastings DAYS: Monday t o Friday

(Closed weekends) TIME: 2:00 pm t o 6:00 pm. -

AGE: 6 t o 12 years o ld . - To jo in , g e t a r e g i s t r a t i o n form

from Carnegie o r Ray-Cam, f i l l i t out and r e t u r n i t t o t h e r ec rea t ion worker. We w i l l be asking a l l par- e n t s t o s i g n a consent form which w i l l inc lude medical numbers and a l l

p a r t i n some a c t i o n t h a t he lp make i t appropr i a t e information.

a Centre. I F YOU HAVE - ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE

Gra te fu l ly yours f o r now, CALL 251-2141.

em em Gee

Page 6: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

a chorus of jays and then the sound of mahjong p i eces almost drowns ou t t h e c h a t t e r

a ga ther ing of women constant harmonization here t he c o n t r a l t o drawing out t h e l a s t long no te holding i t on and on there a soprano picks up where t h e a l t o l e f t o f f a high exc i t ed tremolo and then begins a blending from the ensemble a pa in t ing by in tona t ion a mode o r i e n t a l s l i d i n g triumphantly up the s c a l e culminating i n a s i n g l e p i e rc ing aria d i co lora turo which breaks and f a l l s to a glassando a w a t e r f a l l of osund ending i n a t r i c k l e and then a tympani of mahjong p i eces f i l l i n t he gap a symphony of t h e Sacred Nine a cacaphony of bones.

BY THE RICH, OF THE RICH, FOR THE RICH! WE THE POOR PEOPLE?

Let t h e s e head l ines speak f o r them- se lves , oh Canada, y e t as we s t and f o r t hee i n a l l t e n provinces and Yukon & North West T e r r i t o r i e s .

A s you r e s t f u l l y r e c l i n e w i t h i n t h e ' luxury and coz iness of a n expensive

I I

Lazy-Boy swivel c h a i r , smugly savor ing t h e b e n e f i t s of your l abour s by a glowing f i r e s i d e , pu f f ing one of your f i n e s t Havana c iga r s . . has t h e thought ever passed through your mind t h a t some not-so-for tunate Canadians are having t o s l e e p under br idges , a r e homeless, l i v e ( o r r a t h e r e x i s t ) on the s t r e e t s , s u f f e r t h e d e p r i v a t i o n of adequate nourishment, endure t h e un- deserved humi l i a t i on of unbearable poverty amidst t h e boasted g r e a t weal th we were a l l t o l d i n school w a s our l o t under t h e maple l e a f f l a g ?

The s t igma of back a l l e y foodbank l i neups imposed on t h e l a id -o f f honest workers of t h i s count ry , which now ex- tends from coas t t o c o a s t , i s a shame- f u l example of t h e worst degree of ca l lousness r e s u l t i n g from f e d e r a l and p rov inc i a l p o l i c i e s t h a t d e n i g r a t e t h e worth of so many r e s p e c t a b l e , worthy c i t i z e n s , of a l l walks, i nc lud ing those a b o r i g i n a l s , ou r proud n a t i v e s who a r e double-talked and rebuked a t t h e i r land claims a t every t u r n .

Tha t ' s t h e way I see i t .

HOOHOO

Page 7: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

ILLITERACY

AS I was th inking about i l l i t e r a c y , i t was l i k e I saw t h i s t r e e and it was dead o r dying. It was d r i e d out and t h e r e were no l eaves on i t ex- cept f o r dead ones. It seemed t o be s tun ted , no t growing ... dead.

Then a l l of a sudden i t began t o ge t l i f e given t o i t . The sunshine, t he r a i n , j u s t t h ings t h a t n a t u r e pu t s i n . On t h e wind, Mother Nature whispers, "I w i l l help." The t r e e ! t akes a deep b rea th and t r u e l i f e begins. I thought, t h i s i s what i l l i t e r a c y i s l i k e .

You t ake a c h i l d , o r another human being who is t o t a l l y i l l i t e r a t e , and g ive i t f a c t s o r feed it knowledge, and you can s e e t h e growth i t has upon a human being, j u s t l i k e t h e t r e e . The t r e e , though seemingly dead, once i t r ece ives t h e n u t r i e n t s i t needs, s t a r t s t o t h r i v e ; t h i s i s exac t ly what happens t o i l l i t e r a t e people. You start t o teach , they s t a r t t o l e a r n .

The magic is i n teaching them how t o l e a r n . No ma t t e r how d i f f i c u l t i t seems a t t imes, you've got t o keep t r y i n g . Show them t h e r e a r e o the r ways of l ea rn ing . Convince them t h a t having s t r u c k out once doesn ' t mean they a r e doomed t o s t r i k e out ag ian . We must keep t r y - ing u n t i l w e a l l g e t i t r i g h t .

No ma t t e r how hopeless you th ink it is, I be l i eve t h a t every th ing t h a t i s l i v i n g is worthwhile t o keep around, be it an animal, be i t a t r e e , be i t a b lade of g ra s s . There i s beauty i n every th ing . There is beauty even i n people who a r e illi- t e r a t e , be i t hidden. People who are i l l i t e r a t e sometimes h i d s be- hind anger and c r u e l t y , bu t t h e r e i s something t h e r e t h a t w e have t o g e t out . Maybe i t is t h e i r i l l i t e r a c y t h a t is making some people angry.

m y b e they a r e shy o r a r e too f r igh - 7

t e n d t o speak, because they have been c a l l e d dummies a l l t h e i r l i v e s . m y b e they play t h e clown because i t i s s a f e r . When people a r e laughing wi th you, they a r e not laughing a t you. NO one should have t o f e e l t h i s way.

The t r e e t h a t seems dead and i s kiven l i f e so e a s i l y is t h e same a s i l l i t e r a c y . Once people l e a r n how t o read , i t ' s l i k e they a r e given a b rea th of a i r t h a t they never had be- fo re . They a r e now a b l e t o unlock doors t h a t were bol ted . In school you l e a r n th ings from people t h a t w i l l he lp you o u t s i d e of school. You t a l k t o people i n school who you might never have t a lked t o i n your l i f e . But because you a r e i n school wi th them, you t a l k and l e a r n more about t h e world through h t e i r eyes. You l e a r n from t h e i r experiences and what they have l i v e d through, so you don' t make t h e same mistakes.

Try t o imagine a person l i k e you, with a l l your c a p a b i l i t i e s except one: he cannot read. This person is l o s t i n our world. H e is shunned; c a l l e d dumy, but he is no t s tup id ; he j u s t cannot read! This person begins t o l o s e confidence; he slowly begins t o d i e i n t e r n a l l y ; he begins t o t h ink t h e r e is no hope f o r him u n t i l someone pu t s ou t t h e i r hand and says , "I w i l l t each you t o read." A s he begins t o l e a r n h i s confidence comes back; he f e e l s l i k e he i s a worthwhile person again. How many t eache r s pass up a f e r t i l e , good mind by not c u l t i v a t i n g i t and not t ak ing t h e time wi th one c h i l d who needs t o l e a r n t o read?

It j u s t seemed t o me a good concept - a t r e e compared t o i l l i t e r a c y - because i f you g ive each what i t needs i t t h r i v e s i n s t ead of w i the r ing and hopefu l ly , wi th luck , i t blossoms.

By SHIRLEY DUEMO

Page 8: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

ATTENTlON LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME SENIORS

We must establish that there are people who need affordable housing. To be suc- cessful in providing family housing in your community call now to apply so your local non-profit organizations that we represent can be successful in providing you hous- ing in your community, such as Whistler, Squamish, Abbotsford. Maple Ridge, Mis- sion, Langley, Pemberton, Kamloops, Vic- toria.

Call collect, 530-3887. Mon-Fri. 830 a.m. to 8:00,p.m., Sat., 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or write to Coventry Management Ltd.. P.O. Box 1701, Aldergrove, B.C., VOX 1AO. All calls accepted up to March 2. 1990.

The above newspaper has been handed i n twice t o t h e Newslet ter o f f i c e . "What t h e h e l l i s t h i s ? " P a r t of i t is a scam. Coventry Management does no t r ep re sen t any non-profi t housing - s o c i e t y i n t he downtown e a s t s i d e .

The f i r s t l i n e of t h e ad should s e t your warning sense o f f - "We must e s t a b l i s h t h a t t h e r e a r e people who need a f fo rdab le housing." E s t a b l i s h f o r who?

The ad goes on t o say t h a t "your community, such a s Whistler, Squamish Abbotsford, ..." Anyone he re who wants t o be a number i n some ' s tudy ' should be very caut ious . I f t h i s were an honest s e r v i c e i t would ans- w e r a l l t he bas ic ques t ions f i r s t : 1. Who is Coventry Management? 2. Who a r e they "helping"? (Why have they spent money on t h e s e ads and t h e answering se rv i ce . What is t h e i r ves t ed i n t e r e s t i n "e s t ab l i sh ing t h a t t h e r e a r e people who need a f f o r d a b l e housing"? Any half-wit can s e e t h e answer t o t h i s any day ( o r n i g h t ) of t he week by going t o parks, b r idges , v i aduc t s , h o t e l s , ... Who a r e they '

t r y i n g t o con?

Edi tor : ! The housing c r i s i s - e v i c t i o n s , D

demoli t ions and soa r ing r e n t in- c r eases - has y e t t o be e f f e c t i v e l y j responded t o by t h e Soc ia l Credi t ,

government. A r e t u r n of t h e Rentals- j man, r e n t review o r r e n t c o n t r o l is :

of course too much t o a sk of them but many thought t h a t when t h e B.C. Housing Management Commission i ssued i ts proposed c a l l f o r non-profi t housing f o r 1990 t h e government would inc rease t h e number of u n i t s t o be cons t ruc ted i n t h e Lower Mnld.

The c a l l has now been i ssued and l o and behold 450 u n i t s have been a l l o c a t e d t o be cons t ruc ted f o r fam- i l i e s i n t h e Lower Mainland. Exact ly t h e same number a s i n 1989. For sen- i o r c i t i z e n s t h e news i s even more grim. Only 210 u n i t s have been a l - l oca t ed t h i s year . I n 1987, f o r ex- ample, 525 s e n i o r c i t i z e n u n i t s were a l l o c a t e d f o r t h e Lower Mainland.

I I Now i s n ' t t h a t responding t o a housing c r i s i s i n a t imely manner?

Darren Lowe

A t t h e DERA monthly meeting, a man and woman saying they were from "LTD" (Living t h e Dif fe rence) came and a c t u a l l y asked f o r support from he re t o make a l is t of people who could move t o t h e Bosta development a t Main & Terminal. Bosa re fused t o even t a l k t o DERA o r any housing s o c i e t y based i n t h e downtown e a s t s i d e . In- s t ead , we g e t people say ing "We want t o he lp you he lp yourselves!" Ask any Native person about t h e i r gu t f e e l i n g s when t h e s e words a r e apoken.

By PAULR TAYLOR

Page 9: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

The following apology arises from a complaint filed with the B.C. Council of Human Rights.

APOLOGY

Stanley and Henrietta BEEGER, as owners, and John

KLOSTER, as Manager, of a laundromat at 5688 Powell

Street, do hereby apologise to Miriam WILSON, a

native person who lived in the downtown eastside.

The apology is the result of an incident.which occurred

on June 28, 1989, in the laundromat whereby John Kloster

discriminated against Miriam because she is a native

person, by refusing her access to the laundromat.

Both the owners and John sincerely apologise to Miriam

for John's actions. They recognize that it is ggainst

the law to discriminate in the provisions of services

available to the public and will ensure that such discri-

mination doesn't occur in the laundromat in the future.

MANAGER

(The law makes the owner of any business responsible for the actions of any employee of that business. This was brought to the News- letter office by an Industrial Relations Officer, Employment Standards Branch, Ministry of Labour and Consumer Services.)

Page 10: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

BABIES

Babies a r e b i t s of s t a r d u s t , Blown from t h e Hand of God.

Lucky t h e woman who knows t h e pangs of b i r t h f o r she he ld a s t a r .

Jim Kennedy RCNVR (1945)

An Act was passed in Britain that made abortion illegal, except if the pregnancy threatened the life of a woman. Canadian law was based on British law.

Canadian women are legally declared "persons"

British law amended; abortion legal.

.The fetus was considered "protected" after it became "animated," at "quickening" (usually around 20 weeks). Disagrcemcnt: at what point did it become criminal to abort fetus?

The Canadian Medical Association, together with the Canadian Bar Association, lobbied Parliament for changes to the abortion law. Doctors wen: increasingly concerned that they could be held legally responsible for perforn.ing an abortion.

Seaion 251 of the Criminal Code passed by Parliament. It became a crime for a woman to havean abortion, and for any pcrson to peSform an abortion, EXCEPT:abortion was NOTa crime if performed by a qualified medical practitioner in an approwd hospital, after the majority ojmernbers of a therapeuticabortion committee had certified that the continuation of tk pregnancy "would or would be likely to endanger her heulth."

During the vote in Parliametrt, more MP's were absent than voted yes/no. Dr. Henry Morgentaler starts performing iibortions in a private clinic in Montreal. In 1970,

the clinic was raided and arrests were made. - Roe rs. Wade- U.S SuprenteCourt legalized abortion (at least in the first trimester) throuah- " V

out the U.S. All states must provide equal access to abortion. Morgentaler's Montreal clinic was raided by police; he was charged, acquitted by jury trial.

That acquittal was overturned by Quebec Court of Appeal. Morgentaler appealed to the Supreme Courl of Canada.

Page 11: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

Morgcntaler'; appeal to Ar Suprmc Court of C n n ~ d ~ asks if Qucbcc's Court of Appcal can overturn the acquittal by jury trial. Morgentaler's defence was that Scction 251, from 1969 amendment to the Criminal Code, was invalid: he felt that the 1%0 Canadian Bill of Rights took pmedcnmovcr thecrimirtsl Cede. Justice Laskin of thesuprcmc Court notcd hisconcern that thc Bill of Rights was not constituiionally entrenched in the Canadian justice system, therefore there was no reason it should take precedence over the Criminal Code

Quebec dccisior~ upheld by Supreme Courl of Canada. Morgentaler went to jail.

ists start to lobby in favour of "bringing the Charter home." The thcoryis that if thecharter is firmly entrench& asCanadian constitutional law, then JusticeLaskin'sconcern is met and Morgentaler cannot be sent to jail.

Morgentaler was tried two more times; acquittd both times.

ghts and Freedoms comes home to Canada. From Scction 15: Every individual is equal beforeand under the law ... From Scction 7: ~ v e r y o k has the right to life, liberty, and security of the person, and t k right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.

eutic abortions performed in Canadian hospitals.

e 1982 Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Dr. Henry Morgentaler, in defiance of the "abortion law," opened a free-standing abortion clinic in Toronto. He was charged with performing illegal abortions. He was acquitted by an Ontario jury in 1984. This was appealed by Ontario Court of Appeal, and Morgentder's acquittal was overturned. Morgentaler np- paid to the Suprcne Court of Canada in 1986, arguing that the 1969 law violated clauses in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms:

63,508 therapeutic abortions performed in Canadian hospitals.

63,662 thenpcwtic abortiorls performed in Canadian hospitals.

Supreme Court of Canada, in a 5-2 decision, strikes down Section 251, Canada's abortion law. finding it in violation of the Charter's guarantee of life, liberty and the security of the person, in response to the Morgentsler case. Abortion is decriminalized in Canada.

A national Gallup poll showed that 71.2% of adult Canadians are pro-choice

U.S. Supreme Court rules that individual states can limit access to abortion. This is contrary to the Roe us. Wade decision which resulted in equal access to abortion everywhere in the U.S.

State of Pennsylvania responds in October by placing strict limitations on abortion: a ~narried womar. must secure her husband's approval before an abortion can take place.

' Nov. 3,1989: A bill is introduced to Canadian House of Commons which, if passed, would pmhibit abortions except when a woman's physical, mental, or psychological health is threatened. The decision (of imposed threat of the pregnancy) is to be made by the woman's doctor. The proposed legislation would be an amendment to the Criminal Code.

Nov. 16,1989: The Supreme Court hands down their decision o'n the Chantal Daigle case. Daigle's ex-boyfriend sought an injunction that would pmhibit Daigle from having an abortion. TheSuprcme Court decided that 1) a father has no rights until the fetus iscompletelybom alive, and 2) the fetus has no rights until it is completely born alive.

Page 12: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

I f you should go f i g h t i n g I want you t o know as you march i n your columns t o conquer t h e f o e t h i s j u s t i f i e d madness t h a t you know a s war is an updated ve r s ion of t h ings gone before The people have changed and t h e c h i l d r e n have grown our minds have been molded by th ings we've been shown a s they spew out p o l i t i c a l reasons t o k i l l t he now-pre judiced masses succumb. These p l a s t i c e n e people no w i l l of t h e i r own f i g h t i n g ghosts of t h e p a s t no new enemies shown a l l you need do i s fol low your f a t e s a l l l a i d out go through h i s t o r y ' s pages and read a l l about your des t iny .

Close of f your mind t o t he th ings you c a n ' t s e e you c a n ' t a l t e r t he f a c t s y e t you s t i l l d i sag ree too a f r a i d t o s top fol lowing p r i n t s i n t he snow i f a storm blew them over you'd have nowhere t o go you thoughtless f o o l s t e p o f f t he t r a c k s i n k i n over your head no sound breaking through you a r e deaf t o what is s a i d No i n s t r u c t i o n s forthcoming no-one t o s a l u t e your new enemies f a c e l e s s t h e r e is noth ing t o shoo you must choose f o r yourself

Who s h a l l you choose a s your r e c i p i e n t of h a t e r i d yourself of f r u s t r a t i o n i n w a r s you c r e a t e you can ' t simply be you t h r i v e on d i s sens ion no problem e x i s t s i t ' s your mind's own invent ion you need t o f i g h t

Conquer your anger and t h e w a r w i l l be won the v i c t o r y made sweeter when no k i l l i n g i s done h a t e ' s conceded d e f e a t so you now make your own way, t h e pa th has been c l ea red no new enemy c rea t ed t h e r e is noth ing t o f e a r you a r e t r u l y a t peace

i f you s t i l l th ink i t ' s n a t u r a l man w i l l always war a schoolroom of m i l l i o n s and heaven t h e reward l e t me remind you t h a t murder 's a s i n you can ' t j u s t i f y i t they know where you've been you don' t have t o p u l l t r i g g e r s j u s t s i t back and watch a l l you need t o condemn you is apathy

Page 13: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

Consider this, though horrific it seems the existence of heaven is only in dreams your reward in the end will be what you have made there is no ticket out it matters not what you've paid my god what a theory it would blow them away I think we should tell them but I'm too tired today

> Maybe we should show them the horrors we've made frighten with pictures that revolt and degrade what have we done our poison-filled oceans our skies no escape the land pitted and pock-marked as daily we rape to achieve our means the sunshine a danger we all must screen out what more must be done before someone will shout loud enough to be heard Our children are hardened by image on screen nothing more left shock they've not already seen how can we break through take them out show them the way it once was all will be lost if none carry the cause we must show them the way

1 your detached way of living a slap in the face sure you're causing no problems but killing the race

\ you must understand

Nothing else matters and it's all I address if the world crumbles under the weight and the stress of human abuse so thread all your needles well sew up the rent in the fabric of life on which history's spent all those painstaking years let's not spatter the pattern with blood of our own the stains left by those before us so we could be shown the mistakes that were made So much more could be said fewer should be dead but here I must stop

Not written for pleasure to be read at leisure no flowery phrase it's a heartfelt devotion to a perhaps ludicrous notion that things can be changed and my hopes seem not futile while the breezes still blow and beauty yet lingers in flowers that grow don't let it end.

Shannon Thackray I 1 I 1 1

Page 14: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

I n Memorium: JOSEPH PAUL BONNELL

Joseph P a u l Bonnel l from Nanoose Bay, B.C., passed away r e c e n t l y . Joseph w a s a t h i n , Na t ive e l d e r w i t h a c o n s i s t e n t s e n s e of humour.

We knew him most because he w a s a t t h e 1984 Crab Camp-in, an occupa t ion o f " f e d e r a l lands" down a t t h e f o o t o f Columbia S t r e e t .

Although we were n e v e r o rgan ized t o do a p roper camp-in w i t h s u p p l i e s Joseph P a u l t r i e d t o cook enough food so t h a t some of t h e 60 t e n t e r s could e a t . Probably t h e few p i e c e s of bannock t h a t h e cooked w a s a l l some of t h e campers a t e d u r i n g some of t h o s e hard days .

Because o f t h e s p i r i t and s u p p o r t o f peop le l i k e Joseph , t h e Camp-In s u c c e s s f u l l y l a s t e d 75 days and w a s a major f a c t o r i n t h e r e now be ing a 7 a c r e w a t e r f r o n t p a r k i n t h e down- town e a s t s i d e .

Joseph unders tood i s s u e s l i k e Na- t i v e l a n d c l a i m s and t h e Nanoose Bay peace camp which he s u p p o r t e d .

He l i v e d a tough l i f e i n p o v e r t y , but nobody could l o n g wipe a s m i l e o f f of h i s f a c e .

H e w i l l be missed by many, e s p e c i - a l l y h i s f r i e n d s B e r t Thomas, Donnie and Pau l Denomie.

His body was s e n t back t o Nova S c o t i a f o r t h e f u n e r a l . We shou ld f i n d some was o f remembering t h e suppor t Joseph Pau l gave t h e underdog

I f i t meets s u p p o r t , t h e r e i s a s u g g e s t i o n t o name t h e mini-park a t Alexander and Main, "Joseph P a u l Bonnel l Park". Th is mini-park is a p a r t of Crab w a t e r f r o n t p a r k and i s a p a r t of what Joseph he lped e a r n f o r our lowincome community.

Don Larson

A QUIET SERVICE

A s you a r e r e a d i n g t h i s a v o l u n t e e r i n Carnegie i s marking a n a n n i v e r s a r y - EGOR MAROV has shown over 430 d i f f - e r e n t v i d e o s i n t h e las t year !

He began a t a rate of a few a week b u t t h e p o p u l a r i t y o f t h i s f r e e show soon had him i n c r e a s e h i s commitment t o twice t o t h r e e t i m e s and more each week, w i t h up t o 4 o r 5 v i d e o s a n i g h t and a l l n i g h t on Chris tmas Eve.

The 3 r d f l o o r a t t h e back o f t h e b u i l d i n g was t h e o n l y 'unbooked' a r e a f o r awhi le , t h e n , w i t h t h e l a t e r h o u r s t h e T h e a t r e became t h e p l a c e . Egor has had a u d i e n c e s o f o v e r 130 f o r a few v i d e o s and many u s e r s o f Carnegie a s k "What's on t o n i g h t ? " as soon as t h e y come i n .

Egor was chosen Volunteer o f t h e Month las t y e a r a f t e r peop le r e a l i z e d t h a t h e ' d been do ing h i s work f o r months and no one had even asked him i f he had g o t t e n any c o f f e e t i c k e t s f o r h i s t ime. He a l s o makes d u p l i c a t e t a p e s , b r i n g i n g i n h i s own VCR, upon r e q u e s t (and a l l t h e e x t r a hours t h i s r e q u i r e s ) .

I n c a s e you d o n ' t know who t o thank j u s t l o o k up. Egor is about 6 '8" & a h e a l t h y 375 l b s . He i n c r e a s e d h i s fame d u r i n g t h e Columbia Hote l pro- t e s t ' s and was t h e s t a r o f a TV show on t h a t i n c i d e n t !

Page 15: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

;ma l l wonders of t h e world. ) s o many they are y e t a r e s t i l l unseen. rust l i k e t h e mother c r a d l i n g h e r c h i l d ~ r o t e c t e d from t h e unwanted, hidden away.

.ef t t h e r e t o be discovered by t h e wary 1

Jorthy can only one be t o f i n d i t so . U 1 about u s they are j u s t i n p l a i n s i g h t ;till many don ' t s e e o t h e r than t h e ord inary .

?or t o g ive l i f e i s t o d i e a l i t t l e ?orever wandering seeking new abodes To s e e o t h e r than t h e ord inary i s t o ?ind t h e joy i n l i v i n g .

Cn f ind ing hope one can f i n d l i f e Cn f ind ing l i f e one d i scove r s purpose Cn d iscover ing purpose t h e r e i s a reason of being Cn being one wi th t h e s e l f , one becomes one wi th :he universe .

For being one wi th h i s un iverse , t h e smal l lronders of t h e world a r e now i n p l a i n and f u l l s i g h t a s they always were.

Plume

DUTCH TREAT

A l l i s we l l i n Wouldn ' tvi l le , ~ h o u l d n ' t v i l l e and ~ a n ' t v i l l e . A l l i s a s i t has come t o be For one who chose t o wai t .

Nothing gambled on t h e bed Because a running shoe of red Was much a s a f e r even be t For one who chose t o w a i t .

The Ni l e Jewel f a i l e d aga in To rub a nagging, l ove ly neck, pain, But shoes were s t i l l on and couldn ' t move The one who chose t o wai t .

A f e a s t of sweet meats on a cheesy c r u s t Brought pass ions b o i l i n g beyond m i s t r u s t But f l a t u l e n c e came demanding t o s i n g With one who chose t o wai t .

And when t h e evening w a s packed-in The door w a s rushed quicker than s i n . Walking home weirdly thought fu l of f a t e ; Who w a s t h e one who chose t o wai t .

Garry Gust

Page 16: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

Mayor and Alderpeople Ci ty of Vancouver

I have a t tended two pub l i c meet- ings about t he proposed garbage p l an t . Although I was opposed when I f i r s t heard t h e idea , I am now angry and adamantly opposed t o t h e bui ld ing of a commercial garbage p l a n t i n Vancouver f o r t h e follow- ing reasons: 1. There is a need i n t h i s s o c i e t y

and i n t h e world t o t i g h t e n and s o p h i s t i c a t e ou r r ecyc l ing e f f o r t s . 2. Commercial garbage e n t e r p r i s e i n

North America has l i t t l e o r no i n t e r e s t i n t h e environment . . just as drug en t repreneurs have no i n t e r e s t i n t h e damage t h a t t h e drugs do t o t he human environment. 3. Such a p l an t would degrade t h e

surrounding land , parks, and res - idences. The continuum of t rucks br inging garbage f o r s o r t i n g , and t rucks tak ing away about 85% of what w a s brought t o Burns Bog o r Cache Creek would lead t o increased n o i s e and po l lu t ion , p a r t i c u l a r l y when t h e Expo s i t e and Marathon's Coal Har- bour add t h e i r thousands of r e s i - dences and accompanying bus inesses . 4. The a r e a is descr ibed a s ' indus-

t r i a l ' but is encompassed by ap-

a r tments (Northern Way) and s i n g l e family dwell ings (Strathcona, Mount P leasant , Grandview-Woodlands) and proposals f o r conversion of much of t h e a r e a t o more residential/commer- c i a 1 development. An example i s t h e proposed mul t i -mi l l ion d o l l a r Bosa development a t Terminal and Main, a mere four blocks away.

I understand t h a t t h e Engineering Department recommended a g a i n s t t h i s garbage d i s p o s a l p lan , bu t t h a t t h e Council decided t o proceed t o t h e next s t age . I would l i k e t o s e e (and I ' m s u r e t h a t t h e gene ra l p u b l i c would l i k e t o s ee ) a s tatement from the Engineering Department s t a t i n g t h e i r reasons f o r recommending a g a i n s t proceeding wi th t h e plan.

I should a l s o l i k e t o comment on t h e organiza t ion of t h e Pub l i c Meeting held a t S t ra thcona School on Feb. 7. About 20% of t h e audience was Chinese and d id no t speak English. No i n t e r - p r e t e r was provided. For tuna te ly a b i l i n g u a l woman w a s t h e r e and a b l e t o '

t r a n s l a t e . Is t h e Council s e r i o u s l y i n t e r e s t e d

i n t h e views of t h e c i t i z e n s ? O r a r e , we see ing a pub l i c r e l a t i o n s job of s o l i c i t i n g inpu t when a dec i s ion has I

a l r eady been made? I

Ron Hansen

\nu,.----

Radio P r o j e c t Update POETRY IS MY BOMB The Radio P r o j e c t had i t s second This w i l l be a l i v e , one hour

genera l meeting on Monday, Feb. 19. co-op r a d i o show on Apr i l 3rd, 1 t o We ta lked about what we've done s o 2 pm. Contact Helene o r Brenda a t f a r and planned some workshops f o r 684-8494 o r s e e Shannon and Kevin t h e fu tu re . One of our p r o j e c t s i n Classroom 2 on Mondays o r Wednes-

be an hour 10% poetry program days (3:00 pm) a t Carnegie. on Apr i l 3rd. Read your poetry, s t o r i e s and

Our next meeting w i l l be on Monday stuff on the air . March 19, 11 am t o 1 pm. I f you a r e BE HEARD! IT'S RADIO SO YOU CAN'T i n t e r e s t e d i n f i nd ing out more c a l l BE SEEN. Brenda o r Helene a t 684-8494.

Page 17: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

On February 7 t h t h e second meeting on Mayor Campbell's " ~ e s o u r c e Recov- e ry Plant" w a s held a t Strathcona Community Centre. The engineers on the s t a g e were under o rde r s t o go through t h e r e s t of t h e speaker ' s l is t , wi th over 25 names of people who d i d n ' t g e t t o s t a t e t h e i r views a t t h e f i r s t meeting held a t Bri tan- n i a two weeks previous.

The NPA ma jo r i ty on Council had t r i e d t o f o r c e t h i s r e t a rded scheme through by simply r e fus ing t o open it up t o pub l i c hearings. Surveys done by d i f f e r e n t pub l i c i n t e r e s t groups found t h a t t h e l a r g e major i ty of c i t i z e n s asked f o r t h e i r opinion d i d n ' t know anything about it. What f l i t " i s is a way t o l e t a l l bus iness and hote l lapar tment owners n o r t h of 16th Avenue i n Vancouver o f f t h e hook as f a r a s being r e spons ib l e f o r t h e i r garbage is concerned. Rather than s e t t i n g up ways and means t o educate people on how t o r ecyc le , how t o sepa ra t e reusable m a t e r i a l s a t t h e source, t h e NPA major i ty s a w t he b e s t way t o make someone a b i g buck. They want t o p r i v a t i z e t h e e n t i r e waste management system, pay a p r i v a t e company t o skim anything they can s e l l from t h e mountains of r e fuse , pay them t o hau l i t t o and from t h e p l a n t (proposed f o r S t r a th - cona l e s s than 1000 f e e t from food wholesalers (say h e l l o t o thousands of RATS)), pay them t o d i g out what they want, then pay them t o haul a t l e a s t 85% of t h e remaining smelly mess t o a l a n d f i l l . B r i l l i a n t ! ! !

To t h e po in t : a t t h a t meeting a 2nd meeting was demanded i n S t ra th- cona a t a time when t h e s e n i o r s of the community could come, Also de- manded w a s a pub l i c hear ing i n t h e West End; r e s i d e n t s t h e r e a r e angry t h a t they a r e being completely denied

a comprehensive community recyc l ing program s o a few b i g corpora t ions can g e t bigger . The r e a l po in t i s simply t h a t t h e Ci ty has f a i l e d t o hold e i t h e r of t hese meetings.

Maybe having t o spew t h e NPA's brand of l o g i c anywhere except a t Council meetings (where they a r e as- sured of t he last word) must s c a r e them s h i t l e s s . Cr i t i c i sm from t h e peasants ( t h a t ' s us ) must be r e a l l y g a l l i n g when you th ink you're un- touchable l i k e Campbell does.

The eng inee r s ' r epo r t s on t h e 2 meet- ings he ld (publ ic i npu t ) a r e going t o Council. C a l l t h e Ci ty Clerk t o ap- pear on Thursday, March 8. 873-7276! A deluge of speakers w i l l be GREAT! ! !

By PAULR TAYLOR

DIVINE LOVE

Divine love reaches a s p i r e To shake hands with t h e soul ; Radiant angels j o i n t h e choi r To sit on t h e rainbow - Utopia f a l l s i n love wi th Saul Far above mortal men; A l l these th ings I ' v e thought A r e i n t h e naked poem.

The genius of W i l l i a m Bu t l e r Yeats And a l l t h e men including Dylan; John Donne, P r a t t and Blake Bless t hese poe ts , I love them - ~ h e y ' r e a top t h e golden chain With t h e i r diamond pens; Alas, f o r everything is contained Within t h e naked poem.

Joe Ringer

Page 18: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

DOWNTOWN 685-4488 EADTSIDE YOUTH Free Doctors on site

ACTIVITIES 223 Main St.

SOCIETY (confidential)

Artic lea repreaest the views of individual contriburors and not of t h e Associat lon.

FllEE - t lo rc~ l lons i ~ c c o p l o t l . City in fo s t a f f can't accept

donat ions for th ie Newsletter, s o i f you can help, f ind Paul Taylor and h e ' l l g ive you a receipt .

Tlrrrnlts ovoryl)udy-

NEED HELP

Wed. evening: 5 to 8:30 Drop in Dr. AL VENNEMA

Thur.evening: 5 to 8:30 or call

Dr. COLIN HORRICKS for an appoint-

STD Nurses are on site through the weekdays.

ment . ....................

DONATIONS: Yanum Spath-$200 Nancy W.-$300 Willis S.-$110 George B.-$15 Rich P.-$41 Robert S.-$60 Jancis A.-$45 Luis P.-$20 Tom -$4.02 Marg. S.-$20 L.B.T. - $100 Ted B.-$5 Sheila B.-$2 Lillian H.-$20 James M.-$50 1.MacLeod-$150 Kelly - $3 J. East - $1 Nancy 5.-$50 Sue H.-$20 Steve R.-$10 Neil M.-$2 B. & B. - $8 Ian - $5 Peter E.-$3.32 CEEDS - $10 Keith C.-$10 Linda F.-$50 Etienne S.-$20 Mendel R.-$15 Wilfrid B.-$5 ~'lem G.-$5 Anonymous-$43.23 Terry the Terrible - $200

* unsafe living conditions in hotels or apartments

* disputes with landlords * income tax

DERA is located at 9 East Hastings or phone 682-0931.

DERA HAS BEEN SERVING T H E DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE FOR 15 YEARS ,

Page 19: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

~ o t too many of you reading t h i s "The S o l i c i t o r General doesn ' t have c a r s . I s s u e s t h a t a f f e c t us know what h e ' s t a l k i n g about i n h i s a re t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of a f f o r d a b l e explana t ion of t h e new P r i v a t e Vehi- housing, t h e obsceni ty of corpora- c l e Inspec t ion Program," s a i d S t u a r t t i ons g e t t i n g t a x breaks while t h e Meade, spokesman f o r t h e Associat ion ,,,inimum wage, U.I. and we l f a re keep f o r Vehicle Xovement Safe ty . thousands of people i n poverty ... Meade's comments were i n r e a c t i o n ca r s a r e somebody e l s e ' s problem. t o a r ecen t response from t h e S o l i c i -

In the last two issues, there have t o r General, Russ Fraser . I n h i s l e t - been a r t i c l e s from a group based i n t e r F ra se r claimed t h a t no u s e f u l Vernon c a l l e d t h e Assoc ia t ion f o r purpose would be served by pe r fom- Vehicle Movement and Safe ty ing an assessment of the costs and managed t o t ake t h e l i d o f f a s l imy b e n e f i t s of t h i s program, and even ad- can of worms and, i n a response t o mi t ted he d i d n ' t know how many people t h e i r p e r s i s t e n t ques t ions , t h e min- would be a f f e c t e d o r t o what degree. i s t e r r e spons ib l e f o r a new "safety" "It only r e q u i r e s a pocket ca lcu la- program has exposed another p a r t of t o r t o f i g u r e out t h a t i n i n spec t ion t h e co rpo ra t e agenda. f e e s a lone , $51 m i l l i o n w i l l be ex-

Background information i s f a i r l y t r a c t e d from the owners of 1 .7 m i l l i o n simple: t h e socred government has v e h i c l e s l i censed i n B.C. I guess made almost from Mr. Fraser isn't curious a s t o how covers t o d i r ty a l ega l much t h i s program is going t o burden f o r p o l i c e t o t a k e c a r s o f f t h e roa public, II Meade reflected while p o l i c e i n d i f f e r e n t reg ions of The S o l i c i t o r General attempted t h e province a r e saying t h a t they t o answer M r . Meade's query a s t o t h e won't enforce th ings t h a t 'enough r e l a t i v e se r iousness , as a contr ibu-

I people' don ' t l i k e . What i t means t i n g f a c t o r t o road acc iden t s , of t h e i s t h a t anyone wi th a c a r o r t r u c k mechanical condi t ion of p r i v a t e vehi- over a couple of yea r s o l d w i l l hav es in the province. "He even got t o e i t h e r pay huge r e p a i r b i l l s o r t h i s wrong!" s a i d Meade. "Mr . F raser buy a new(er) veh ic l e . This whole quoted me t h e f i g u r e of 2.44 percent p iece of l e g i s l a t i o n is g r e a t news of a l l a cc iden t s had ' veh ic l e condi- f o r c a r d e a l e r s , businesspeople i n t i o n a s a c o n t r i b u t i n g f a c t o r . ' I n ? to r e p a i r and p a r t s and t h e p o l i c e f a c t , 1.33 percent is t h e r e a l f i g u r e . who can inc rease t h e i r revenue wi th M r . F r a s e r ' s c a l c u l a t i o n ignores the in spec t ion f e e s , f i n e s , e t c . When 46,762 acc iden t s which have not been Vanderzalm t r i e d t o mess w i th t h e included i n t h e compilat ion of "Major . o f f i c e of t h e Attorney General, Bud Cont r ibut ing Fac tors i n 1988 Accidents." Smith res igned , s t a t i n g t h a t i t was (1988 Motor Vehicle Branch T r a f f i c Ac- a "matter of honour." Vanderzalm c iden t S t a t i s t i c s Manual, pg 1.1 &3.1) then s p l i t t h e min i s t ry i n two and Meade observed t h a t , "If he is ans= put t h e department of motor v e h i c l e e r i n g me wi th a l l t h e f a c t s he has a t and t h e p o l i c e i n t h e same depart- and, then he has managed t o implement ment. Fines, f e e s and l i c e n c e s now program c o s t i n g upwards of 112 b i l l - bene f i t t h e l e g a l branch wi th a hug on d o l l a r s i n i n spec t ion and r e p a i r increase i n revenue brought about c o s t s , on t h e b a s i s of f an t a sy r a t h e r by t h i s s t u p i d program. Following than s t a t i s t i c s . " is a p re s s r e l e a s e from t h e Associa

;i t i o n f o r Vehicle Movement . Safe ty :

Page 20: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

In h i s l e t t e r M r . F raser noted wi th some s a t i s f a c t i o n t h a t t h i s program w a s implemented a f t e r ' consu l t a t i on wi th and a t t he urg ing of t h e pub l i c , s a f e t y r e l a t e d o rgan iza t ions , p o l i c e and t h e automotive r e p a i r i ndus t ry . '

"While M r . F raser is busy espousing h i s c a r e and concern f o r t h e motoring publ ic , i n r e a l i t y he seems t o be res- ponding p r imar i ly t o s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t groups," s a i d Meade. "What we have is a program t h a t w i l l be burdening t h e veh ic l e owners of t h i s province wi th horrendous c o s t s , without any statis- t i c a l j u s t i f i c a t i o n , whi le ignor ing o the r very r e a l hazards of v e h i c l e movement. Common sense sugges ts t h a t a program of t h i s magnitude, imple- mented i n t h i s day and age, must have some f a c t u a l and s t a t i s t i c a l founda- t i o n - we a r e appea l ing t o t h e Mini- s t r y t o sha re t h i s information wi th us!'

(Information: 873-5149)

t h e d e v i l made me do i t I I

and then i read i n t he paper t he i o the r day about a guy from new west- 1 minster who got e i g h t yea r s f o r a !

sexual a t t a c k on a t h i r t e e n year o l d 1 baby s i t t e r t h a t l a s t e d two hours he had ordered h i s wi fe and fou r k ids i n t o another room t h e s i c k p a r t is t h a t she went i wish t h a t she had run wi th t h e k ids t o g e t he lp but in- s t ead she t r i e d t o he lp t h e g i r l her- s e l f and got beaten f o r h e r pa ins

t h e a r t i c l e s a i d t h e g i r l was l e f t a wounded animal and h i s wi fe has a scar red f a c e t h e g i r l w a s t h i r t e e n years do you hear me she was t h i r - t een years o ld t h e guy who raped her s a i d t h a t booze made him do i t ,

i r e a l l y don ' t remember what hap- i pened he s a i d i f you say i d i d i t i must have he s a i d i ' m very s o r r y he s a i d

i guess t h a t means i t ' s probably I

a l l r i g h t i f you say you're so r ry .

Anne Rayvals I IKKTURNAL FLUTTERING

Employing t h e mind wi th i l l u s i o n s of grandeur is a good job f o r a s l e e p l e s s n igh t . I t 's t h e therapy of Walter Mittyism a s def ined by John Lennon i n "imaginei'. It 's a soothing mental massage, r e l i e v i n g t h e let-downs of t h e r e a l world. - It's t h e power t o do away wi th heroes and 0 r * v i l l a i n s , of competi t ion, and o t h e r unequal conclusions. o \ It 's a seed t h a t blooms only i f nourished by t h e h ighes t humane i d e a l s . Alas, i t ' s a l s o u s e l e s s un le s s i t h a r v e s t s an eventua l a c t i o n .

Garry Gust

Page 21: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

Assorted Puzzle P i eces on. Paper

p o l i t i c s , r e l i g i o n , sex, e t c . ... & l ove hat's a l l I eve r hear 'round he re These days, who's go t long h a i r Who's n i c e wi th dais ies-n-roses-n-f lare Who's got s h o r t h a i r , who's f a t ? Who's skinny, who's ... who knows? Who r e a l l y has t o t i g h t e n h i s b e l t . . . Even i f he cannot a f f o r d one? Gay - Got-Aids-Yet? Whose bus iness is t h i s ? Is i t s e r i o u s ? Is it r e a l l y funny ... shooting down people? Who's f a u l t ? Love of p o l i t i c s ? Is i t necessary f o r i n d i v i d u a l s . . .p sychologica l ly ... How does i t t ie toge the r wi th r e l i g i o n ... with people. . .people c r ea t ed r e l i g i o n . . They c r e a t e d p o l i t i c s ... it l e d i n t o sexism The b a t t l e of t h e sexes . . . t o t h e a r t s . . . t o love , i n genera l . What's love? Self-love? Rela t ionships - companionship? Romance? Independenceldependence? Anyway..in t h e end w e l ove t h e sound of s i l e n c e .

The evening h e s i t a t e s on t h e windowsill A bu rg l a r caught i n moment s t i l l Then e n t e r s i n a t h i e f of days The sun drops t o i t s knees and prays f o r darkness

And those who have l o s t t h e day and more With h a t and coa t w a i t by t h e door I n Q u i e t pause from incessant c h a t t e r Search f o r meaning t h a t goes n a t t e r , n a t t e r , and pray f o r s i l e n c e

On t h e r i v e r t h e boatman wa i t s S i l e n t s a i l s s loughing winds of f a t e While shadows lengthen i n t h e h a l l Wonders why we wai t ..why a t a l l prays f o r a s a f e voyage

Tom Lewis

Page 22: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

Smoke F BAN THE KNIVES

In the l a s t i s s u e a postcard was reproduced. It was addressed t o then-Minister of J u s t i c e Doug Lewis, s t a t i n g : Dear M r . Lewis, On , 1990 a person was a t t acked and i n j u r e d / k i l l e d wi th a k n i f e i n t h e ownt town Eas ts ide of Vancouver, B.C. I would l i k e t o know what you are going t o do about i t .

Since then former Socred MLA and now Tory MP K i m Campbell has become Minis te r of J u s t i c e . Mulroney hopes t o s i l e n c e he r pro-choice views on abor t ion.

In t he e a r l y 801s , Sue Har r i s be- gan a g ra s s roo t s campaign t o change the law al lowing knives. Af t e r f i v e o r s i x years and thousands more crimes involving knives, a ban on car ry ing knives i n b a r s came i n t o e f f e c t . Needless t o say i t ' s had l i t t l e e f f e c t . On February 22 ( l a s t week) t he re were 5 s tabbings i n one n ight i n t h e s u n r i s e Hotel .

K i m Campbell has t o hear from us every time a k n i f e is used i n ou r neighbourhood. 1t's not acceptab le for -her t o j u s t l i v e h igh & mighty a s a f e d e r a l min i s t e r while people i n her own home town a r e t e r r o r i z e d da i ly . Blank pos tcards can be pick- ed up a t DERA (9 E.Hastings), a t 1st church, a t t he Deposit P ro j ec t on C a r r a l l , a t t he Women's Centre on Cordova, . . .p o s t age i s f r e e .

( t h e i n v i s i b l e enemy) 3

I f I only had money Then th ings wouldn't be t h e same My awareness would be a l t e r e d And a sense of w e l l being Would pervade my senses And I ' d s k i p t h e food l i n e .

My v i s i o n would c l e a r I ' d see i n t r i c a t e des igns on my bucks I ' d pu t them i n p i l e s And d i v i d e them j u s t r i g h t . Each one a mi rac l e and A l l t h e same

I ' d f e e l b e t t e r phys i ca l ly Confident t h a t I could handle The day I ' d have no enemies That money c a n ' t buy So I ' d buy them and Then I ' d have f r i e n d s Ain ' t l i f e a gas?

Greg

THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT

A r i c h woman wanted t o buy h e r mother a b i r thday present . She went t o a p e t shop and s a w a b e a u t i f u l b i r d . The b i r d could s ing . The b i r d could a l s o speak seven languages: Chinese, Japanese, I t a l i a n , French, Spanish, Vietnamese, Czech & English. She bought t h e b i r d . It c o s t $5,000.

She s e n t t he b i r d t o he r mother. The next day, she c a l l e d he r mother on t h e phone. She asked he r mother, "DO you l i k e t h e b i rd?" H e r mother answered, "Yes, i t ' s de l i c ious ! I ' m e a t i n g i t r i g h t now!"

Page 23: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

i t ' s sun wi s u r e

kung hay f a y cho i

20 t o n i n e now and maybe t h e 11 s t a y up t h e r e bu t i ' m notC

t h e r e ' s a crow cawing l i k e mad i n a tree a c r o s s t h e street i h a t e how i t sounds and i wish t h e g r a n v i l l e bus would hur ry up and come oh t h e r e i t i s s o i g e t on and i t ' s packed as usua l i have t o s tand u n t i l i g e t t o broadway and then i grab a seat quick when a l o t of s k y t r a i n people g e t o f f you have t o be f a s t because t h e r e ' s a whole bunch more wa i t i ng t o g e t on i g e t one of those s i n g l e s e a t s on t h e l e f t s i d e i ' m lucky t h e r e ' s s o many passengers on t h e bus today t h a t t h e windows a r e a l l steamed up and i t i s n ' t even r a i n i n g f o r a change s o people have t o rub t h e windows t o see where they are a couple of mental handicaps g e t on and one of them g e t s a seat t h e o t h e r one l e a n s over he r and they t a l k loud about someone named jessie

i guess they don ' t l i k e j e s s i e much then fou r ch inese women a r e pushing through a11 t h e people who a r e s t and ing s o they can say h e l l o t o t h e i r f r i e n d s who a r e s i t t i n g near t h e b a d they ' r e a l l happy and c a l l i n g ou t t o each o t h e r i t 's ch inese new year today and then a r e a l l y o l d man climbs up t h e s t e p s and t h e bus d r i v e r t akes o f f too f a s t and t h e man f a l l s and c racks h i s head hard h e ' s b leed ing oh look a t a l l t h e blood and i hear t h e d r i v e r swear under h i s b r ea th and h i t t h e brakes t h e guy i s h u r t maybe a f r a c t u r e i hear somebody say and a woman runs t o c a l l an ambu- lance then a b i g guy looks l i k e a b ike r i s h o l l e r i n g a t t h e d r i v e r

he ' s r e a l l y mad and he ' s threaten- i ng t o push h i s f a c e i n and t h e woman a c r o s s t h e a i s l e is t l a k i n g t o h e r f r i e n d about how they a r e go- i n g t o r e p o r t him f o r tak ing o f f too f a s t and making t h e o ld guy f a l l i

- am upset too i don ' t l i k e a l l t h a t *--- .#.\ -.-.-.

blood he re comes t h e ambulance and they t a k e t h e guy away we a l l have t o ge t o f f a t t h e next s t o p and move t o another bus probably t h a t bus w i l l go t o t h e garage t o g e t t h e

CULTURAL blood cleaned up T E A C H I N G s o i g e t o f f i n f r o n t of woodwards

and s t o p t o watch t h e pigeons and a couple of street people sucking on something t h a t ' s covered by a paper

3-4:30 Carnegie Theatre

Page 24: March 1, 1990, carnegie newsletter

SOCIAL HOUSING IN THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE

DERA Housing Co-op, 638 Alexander St., Vancouver, B.C. Apply at DERA Housing Society, 9 E.Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C., Ph.669-5499

Four Sisters Housing Co-op, 153 Powell St., Vancouver, B.C., Ph: 662-8574 Apply at DERA Housing Society; Same as above.

Mavis/~c~illan Place, 436 E.Cordova St., Vancouver, B.C. Apply at Downtown Eastside women's Centre, 44 E.Cordova St., Van. Ph: 681-8480

** Only women but men allowed with spouse. Bill Hennesey Place, 370 Jackson St., Vancouver, B.C. Apply at First United Church Housing Society, 501 E.Hastings, Vancouver, B.C. Phone: 253-2838

Jenny Pentland Place, 520 E.Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. Apply at First United Church Housing Society; Same as above.

Rose Garden Co-op, 853 E.Pender St., Vancouver, B.C., Ph: 253-5342 Apply at this same address.

McLean Park, 705 Jackson and 350 Keefer St., Vancouver, B.C. Contact B.C. Housing, /I1701 - 4330 Kingsway, Burnaby, B.C. Ph: 433-1711

Ray-Mur , cdnpbell and Hast ings St., Vancouver, B . C. Contact B.C. Housing, Same as above.

"CELEBRATION IS CRAZY: THE CRAZINESS OF NOT SUBlITTIfJG EVEN MOUGH ''THE', ''TIE OTHERS", THE ONES WHO M LIFE IMPOSSIBLE. SEEM TO HAVE ALL THE POWER, CELEBRATION IS THE BEGINNING OF CONFIDENCE, T t f REFORE OF POWER,

MTE., W !E PW OUR LIVES JOY BY LOVING, BY SHARIPK;, THEN If

, WE CAN BE llf ARTISANS OF A JOY

BY, T w s ~ R T O N , MONK, *