October 15, 2013, carnegie newsletter
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Transcript of October 15, 2013, carnegie newsletter
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October 15, 2013 [email protected] [email protected]
401 Main Street, Vancouver V6A 2T7 604.665.2289 w w w. car nne w s. or g
II DOWNTOWN EASTS n~ 1-JEART T~J£ CiTY FI~S lYAL
,
) ~· ·. OCT.23-NOV.3
·& NOV.S-10
1oth Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival Wed October 23 to Sun November 3, and November 8- 10, 2013
(1-r) Sandra Pronteau, Paul Decarie, Dalannah Gai l Bowen, Priscillia Tait, Rosemary Georgeson, Isabelle Ramirez. Photo: David Cooper
Festival Picks between Oct. 23 and Nov. 1
1. Oppenheimer Park Community Art Show- Fun &. Games: The sixth annual community favourite kicks off at Oppenheimer Park with a sidewalk procession, led by Brad Muirhead and the Hastings Street Band, jiving down Hastings Street all the way to the opening reception at Gallery Gachet. Fun and Games features self-taught, new and emerging local artists from the creative community of Oppenheimer Park. Ttlis exhibition offers an incredible range of accomplished visual art, and the Festival is thrilled to share their works. Oppenheimer Park, 488 Powell. Thurs Oct 24, Procession starts 5:30pm. Free
2. Hot Jazz at the Carnegie: Finger snappin', toe tappin ', head boppin' hot music with the Carnegie Jazz Band, comprised of enthusiastic amateur jazz musicians and premiere vocalist Dalannah Gail Bowen, under the wonderful tutelage of multi-instrumentalist and composer Brad Muirhead . Join the band for an evening of original music from the community with arrangements by Brad, with special guest, veteran jazz trombonist Dennis Esson. Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main. Fri Oct 25, Spm. Free
3. listening to Truth, Seeking Reconciliation: Following BC Reconciliation Week we ask "what does reconciliation mean to you ?" Join Angela White of the Indian Residential School Survivors Society for a "talkumentary" evening with documentaries, guest speakers and discussion on how to move forward to reconciliation. One of the short films being shown is The Language of Love, directed by Marie Clements, featuring DTES artist and activist Stephen Lytton. Musical guests Iskwew Singers wi ll perform songs that tell stories of our connection to the earth, the Creator and one another. Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main. Sat Oct 26, 6pm. Free
4. Women In Fish: The Festival is proud to partner with urban ink product ions to present Women In Fish, a stunningly beautiful and evocative multi-media production. Women in Fish shares the powerful personal histories and memories of women who lived and worked in the West Coast fish ing industry. The heart of Women in Fish is a tough and touching survival story of the 1962 sinking of the fishing packer Loretta B. Originally conceived and directed by Marie Clements and Kathleen Flaherty this version features First Nation collaborator Rosemary Georgeson, with Mary Galloway as an on-stage wit ness who listens and remembers. Carnegie Gymnasium, 401 Main . Sun Oct 27, 3pm & 7pm. Fre e
5. DTES Front and Centre: Love on the Piano: DTES Front and Centre presents a select ion of the many incredible performing artist s from the neighbourhood. This year we have invited singers and musicians whose work springs from the keyboard, wit h the m usic of love. The line-up features mezzo-soprano A.S. Naomi Narvey with Chansons d'Am our: Edith Piaf, accompanied by pianist Elaine Joe; extraordinary pianist and loca l favourite Stan Hudac; in her first Festival appearance pian ist and Carnegie regular Joyce Morgan ; and special guest Dalannah Gail Bowen accompanied by the awe-inspiring Michael Creber on piano. Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main. Wed Oct 30, 7:30pm. Free
6 . Barrio Flamenco: Flamenco for the People: Celebrate the spirit of t he Downtown Eastside with an unforgettable evening of live flamenco music and dance! Flamenco is an art form by and for the people~ danced and played with spirit, ferocity , joy, laughter and tears. Hosted by flamenco dancer Kelty McKerracher, Barrio Flamenco features some of the most compell ing flamenco artists in the city . An annual theatre-packed favourite! Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main. Fri Nov 1, 7:30pm. Free
7 . DTES Taiko Roots!: I nspi red by a taiko performance at the 1979 Powell Street Festival, members of Vancouver's Asian community came together to form their own taiko group as a means of exploring and celebrating their heritage through the Japanese dru m. One of those members was John Endo Greenaway, long t ime Vancouver Moving Theatre designer and artistic associate. As a t ribute to Vancouver as the birthplace of taiko in Canada and in recognition of John's immense contribution t o the taiko community, the Fest ival presents an evening of ta iko. Immerse you rself in the beats, in the rhythms, in the excitement of Sansho Daiko, Vancouver's newest taiko group, of which John is a founding member. Stay tuned as other exciting artists are confirmed! Bar sa les. Vancouver Ballroom, 456 Prior. Fri Nov 1, Spm. Suggested donation $10
Produced by Vancouver Moving Theatre with Carnegie Community Centre, Association of United Ukrainian Canadians and a host of community partners.
A Day of Poetry Saturday November 2nd
First: In anticipation of Carnegie's 151 Poetry Slam! Sho Wiley, creative writing instructor and long-time slam poet, leads a workshop where she'll share advice and techniques. Bring two of your favourite poems or write one in the workshop; you'll get an opportunity to try out your slam poetry ideas and with one-on-one mentoring you'll be ready to step up to the mic and go for it! "Poetry is meant to be heard, poetry for the people!" says Sho and who knows that better than the poets of Carnegie! Space is limited so please pre-register with the Carnegie 3rd floo program office. Drop-ins only if space available. This workshop commences at 12:30 in Carnegie. Free
Next:
0 B.Y s ' •
The first ever POETRY SLAM starts at 3:00 in the Carnegie Theatre . . . . be a slam poet, be a judge, be amazed (maybe appalled)
And last but not least:
Carnegie's monthly Poetry Night begins at 7:00.
Leaving Amidst Sorrow? Jubilation?? Good Deals?!!! . . . Robert. nefarious proprietor of the ' hood's den of intrigue & gnashing of teeth. IS departmg for d1s~ant shores. Fame and fortune have lured him into the enterprise of brewing beer in Saskatchewan, so October IS th~ last monthly for Solder & Sons, great coffee, great used books and curiosities at 247 Main Str_eet. D,rop 111, say l fond farewell and take advantage of incredible prices as Robert divests himself of the collectiOn. It sa SALE!
• United Way
Help with Grocery Shopping? Help with House Cleaning?
Transportation to appointments? Have your say into what services should be provided
to Seniors in your neighbourhood. We want to hear from you.
Where: Carnegie Community Centre Theatre When: Thursday, October 24 at 2 p.m
Coffee and cookies will be served! Questions?
Contact Ron at r [email protected] Or M~ry Ellen at Camec~e Centre, 604-665·3005
for MICHAEL GUPTUL wherever U R )
skin, so much shit about skin I'm a prisoner in the skin I'm in hell bruther Michael had skin how he set the mattress on fire locked up as a kid in N.B., torched it all when the guards finally fought their way in, his skin was melted in staggered out to the washroom at the mirror laughed the laugh of the truly insane 3 weeks later he came outta the coma to fi nd his blotched body covered like purple & pink pancakes a ll over his torso and legs; when he'd swim had the most psychedelic skin, you'd expect the raised blotches to move like protoplasm but no just changing colours, blood rushing in that boy had some skin never had no twin j im brass balls bigger' n a monkey and twice as funky I miss him
Ambles ide Orchestra is a not for profit community orchestra that performs concerts in a variety of venues primarily in West Vancouver and North Vancouver. Most of the members live on the North Shore, but they welcome musicians from across the Lower Mainland. Under their motto "Take the music to the people" and the leadership of Conductor N icolas Krusek, they offer a "Boston Pops" style of repertoire that combines c lassical and more modern orchestra l and chamber music, inc luding occas ional original compositions. We welcome Ambleside Orchestra back for their 8111 year at Carnegie!
AMBLESIDE ORCHESTRA CONCERT Wednesday, October 16th, 2013
7:00-8:00 PM, Carnegie Theatre
5CffUJ writi11-lj wCTr1ufwJ'
witk. J)Pv!PvnnPvk gA-it J5.CTwen October 17, 24,31
6:00- 9:00 PM Classroom II, 3n1 Floor
Join Dalannah for a song writing workshop in which you will explore: .... t he tools for expressing in the context of a song .... how to develop a theme . ... what kind of story you are telling .. .. putting your words to music Maximum capacity is 12 participants.
Dalannah is a recording artist who has taught song writing at the renowned Hornby Island Blues Workshop.
Word V3NcotJver Carnegie Community Centre and its Association had
a table at this year's event. We get smiled upon, having a location inside on the large, curved part of the Central Branch, Vancouver Public Library (E.Gcorgia).
Knowing the importance of feedback for organisers, the irascible E (supposedly working here on Thursdays & Sundays) created an interactive scenario with all people whose eye she caught.
The act: A sparkling blob- a 'meteorite'- smashed into the globe of earth, killing all the dinosaurs represented by 3 rubber ducky dinos from her private collection. They were ignobly toppled with no thought for their feelings. The R:ibe passerby was then brought from emotional despair byE saying "only one dinosaur survived to the present day: TheSaurus" and, after groans and eye-rolling, each person was asked to contribute to the creation of a Community Thesaurus and write a synonym for the word Home. SooooHOME =apartment; appreciation/love; babies; baby chicks in the warming oven; bed; books; Chocolate; comfort(5X); comforting refuge; comfy; Disaster; Earth ... our shared planet; Ease; e lectricity; Escape; Family(6X); Food; God; Gurucakra; Happiness; Haven; Heart; heart and soul way beyond the stars, galaxies & universes; ts where the heart is; Heaven; hockey; house; kitchen; life; love(8X); mommy and daddy(2X); Mother Earth; noise; non-existent; pad; pajamas; Parent; peace(3X); quiet; rainbow; renoviction; Respite; Rest; the rink; roof; Safe; safety(2X); Sanctuary; security(2X); shelter; sti llness; sunshine+ warmth; sweatpants; sweet; Vancouver; view; warm fire, glass of wine & warm bed ; warmth; a freaking zoo!!!
.Jim Dewar has been publishing his Crunch cartoons in the Carnegie newsletter for a few years and has compiled a book of his favorites. He also will have a calendar of his work for sale in the coming weeks .
"THE CRUNCH"
Each of his cartoons examine the issues that are specific to the downtown eastside and totally express the humour of living in this neighbourhood. Be sure to get a copy of these unique publications while they' re hot( If interested please email him at [email protected] or call 604-569-4310 or see Adrienne . Make sure to watch for his work in the upcoming Oppenheimer Art Show in the Gallery Gachet at the end of October .
Hello From 1:he Library! No book or DVD reviews this time- although 1 can' t resist mentioning that we've just received the fat 2-volume set of the definitive Elvis biography Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love. Instead of reviews, I want to call your attention to some news and upcoming events. C hapbook FOLLOW UP Saturday October I 9, 1 :00 pm in the Learning Centre. This session is **ONLY** for those who attended the chapbook-making session on Thursday Sept 26 and did not have a chance to complete their book. It is not for starting new chapbooks. Please try to come if your chapbook is incomplete. Completed Chapbooks- if yours is complete, but you didn't get it back from Word Vancouver, note that all the un-sold chapbooks are now at the Word Vancouver office at #901 - 207 West Hastings St. Rebus Creative, 604 684 8266. [email protected]
Author Talk with Timothy Taylor Wednesday Oct. 23, 2:30pm in the f" Floor Gallery. Come share a reading and conversation with Timothy Taylor, a multi-award winning author who thoroughly enjoys his craft. Mr. Taylor will talk about his unusual road to becoming a writer, how he currently practices his craft, and what it's like to teach creative writing. Best of all, ·he will read from both his fiction and nonfiction and will allow plenty of time for questions and discussion. Many thanks to Teresa from The Heart of the CityFestival for helping to coordinate this event with the library.
Welcome to Emily: please welcome a new-butfam iliar librarian. I will be away for the rest of October and part of November, and Emily Sobool will be acting branch head during this time. Many of you already know Emily, or will at least recognize her she used to work regu larly at the Carnegie library, and has been at Mount Pleasant branch for the past year or so. I know that Emily is really looking forward to a chance to be here at Carnegie again.
so I wonder did he eat someone's stash? now sick and so stoned he forgets to hide - the primal urge to fleeskinny silver rattail sticks out from under the bloated belly run rat run how come you don' t run? rat
now it's late and dark still wonder now at I 0 at night you sick rat -why? didn't I just kill you? li ke any other vermin ... am I so Buddha-like I forget to freak out, grab a rock, bash out the stoned brown eye now I just walk on by how come? why? him too sick or stoned to run me too preoccupied to ki ll the l'il bastard
John Moses
Time Talk My man; you be the man you one B-A-D- muthafucka when you told me all about the 15 years you did in the pen boy I was impressed you my new hero - you da man. hell bro, all that time I spent down at the lake smokin' primo .. swimming with all that fine Canadian ass out in the sunny BC air shit, when I think about how I coulda been locked up like an animal with a buncha blanks best day of your life was when the judge sentenced you ... after that it was all inertia but hey bro - You be the King!
Sal Paradise
One Truth About Truth and Reconciliation
As a former student of the Indian Residential School (IRS) system, my statement to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada is that, from 1867 to the present time, Canada has held to the racist policy of forcibly assimilating the Indian people. This policy was implemented for one hundred years as the IRS system and, for the last f011y years, as the comprehensive treaty process.
The Trudeau government considered that, by I 969, the IRS system had accomplished its purpose ("to kill the Indian in the child"). At that time the partnership between the federal government and the churches, in the operation of the residential schools, began its dissolution. In I 969, also, the federal government tried unsuccessfully, with the proposed White Paper Policy on Indians, to unilaterally extinguish Indians as a distinct people. In 1971 , the federal government initiated the Core Funding Program. The Core Funding Program made applied-for-funds available and was the means by which the federal government created a compliant native leadership. What the federal government wanted the native representatives to do became apparent iri 1973 with the Comprehensive Land Claims Settlement Policy (CLCSP).
The CLCSP existed to strictly circumscribe a comprehensive treaty process that would, by non-negotiable requirements, accomplish the objectives of the withdrawn WPP of 1969. This would be done bilaterally over time, and, by increment, i.e., one native community or one group of native communities, at a time . . The comprehensive treaty process is coercive.
Treaty payments are, in reality, long overdue resources that are withheld from severely underprivileged native communities. In the comprehensive treaties. two non-negotiable requirements are the removal of native communities from the jurisdiction of the Indian Act and their incorporation into Canadian jurisdictions, municipal or territorial,. T he federal government denies that there are non-negotiable requirements in the comprehensive treaty process. Lawyers on the native s ide, however, say otherwise. T he unwavering data of post-treaty results and statements of independent native leaders, also, clearly indicate the existence of non-negotiable requirements. Central to a determination on the validity of comprehensive treaties is the definition of a nation. Treaties are made between nations. So-called First Nations refer to actually existing tribal nations at the time of contact. On the level of nations the treaties of that period, ratified by the British Royal Proclamation of 1763, were bona fide treaties. They were entered into because the British were vastly outnumbered and treaties of alliance with tribes were necessary to defeat other tribes, the French ( 1760), the Americans (1812), and to facilitate British settlement. Genocide in the colonial narrative was, then, responsible for depopulating the tribal nations beyond sustainability.
•
In that period, the tribes ceased to exist, economically and politically, as independent national entities.
In 1867, the settlers took control of the remaining British colonies in North America. The Canadian imperialist settler-state came into being. The survivors ofthe destroyed tribal nations were unified as Canadian Indians into a native internal colony administrated by the Department oflndian Affairs under the legislative authority ofthe Indian Act. The native internal colony is the actually existing national entity:
an oppressed Indian nation within the Canadian settler-state. The ideology, in the terms of which the comprehensive treaties of today are rationalized, raises the conditions of the British colonial period from the dead. Native communities are given false national recognition by the federal government. Comprehensive treaties are made that compel the members of native communities to renounce their nationalities as Canadian Indians, secede from the native internal colony and accept annexation into Canadian jurisdictions, municipal or territorial.
Today, natives on almost one-half of Canada's land area have been subject to comprehensive treaties. As such, they have been deprived of their post-Confederation identity and denied their pre-contact heritage. This legislative extinguishment of Indian identity and Indian rights is the "certainty" that the federal government has been securing for investors since 1973. Comprehensive treaties have been signed in the south, but, primarily in the north, e.g., Nunavut, the Inuit, like the Metis, form a distinct part of the native internal colony that is, by population, mainly Indian. On the strategic level, the native internal colony will achieve self-determination up to and including some form of sovereignty. At that time the Indian Act will be meaningless. In the meantime, however, i.e., on the level of tactics, the Indian Act must be defended. This, because the federal government is now undertaking to deprive native people of their nationality and place them in an even weaker position than that existing in the colonial relationship. The defense of the Indian Act can be viewed as a necessary tactical retreat from the historic enemy initiative that the comprehensive treaty process is. The Canadian government represents an elite of set
tlers who are, also, imperiali sts. The imperialist character of the Canadian settler-state is the political domain of oppressed peoples in the third world. Self determination for the native internal colony will be made practicable, fortuitously, by antiimperialist struggles against Canadian state power and Canadian exploitation. The Canadian governmen makes war on people in poor countries. In this country, the Canadian government seeks to achieve its objectives peacefully i.e., by forcing treaties that totally subvert the Indian people.
Ray Bobb, Seabird Island Band [email protected]
HELP tV~v tV\e
DOWNTOWN
EASTSIDE APRIL *46* is one of a gro\.ving number of Resource Guides now available both online and in pocket-s ized booklets.
1. DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE ARTS Ongoing Community Arts & Culture Calendar
This is laid out in days of the week and gives the many different programs, places and ongoing classes happening in the neighbourhood. Such a guide offers the easiest and best way to keep up and expand personal interests.
2. DTES WOMEN'S RESOURCE GUIDE This is online and has much in comprehensive and
current listings. lt.is updated monthly, a special incentive to use it if you have a computer or access to one. Google Downtown Eastside Women's Centre and click on Partners and Links.
3. DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE LEARNING AND TRAINING SERVICES
This is produced by the DTES Adult Literacy Roundtable, recently updated and revised after the Literacy Conference held in the spring. It's easy to fo llow, using small pictures/art to show what is available where.
It's a tremendous amount of work to compile aresource guide. It has to be easy to use, clear without a lot of unnecessary detail yet with enough information on what's available, where, when and telling almost anyone how to get access to their desired result.
It also amazes almost anyone on what a real community is able to do for itself and its people.
PAULR TAYLOR
Karen Jamieson Dance Company
Creative Dance Workshops September-November 2013
FREE No experience necessary
Workshops led by
Karen Jamieson
Everyone Welcome!!!
Join Us!
All Workshops 3:30-5:30 Wednesdays & Fridays starting September 13*
Workshops take place at: Carnegie Community Centre Gym
Goldcorp Centre for the Arts- World Art Centre - SFU Woodwards
Performance at Heart of the City Festival November 3, 2013
October 18 @ Carnegie October 23 @ SFU October 25 @ Carnegie October 30 @ SFU November 1 @ Carnegie
November 2 @ Carnegie (Rehearsal) November 3-Performancel
* Note-schedule may change
For more information . [email protected] . 604.687.6675
Brought to you by Karen Jamieson Dance Company in partnership with Carnegie Community Centre and SFU's Vancity Office of Community Engagement
www.kjdance.ca
Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP)
NEWSLETTER vancouver.word ress.com October 15.2013
lJYf1j;jJQ~I_0 [J~_tc{j Have you been evicted so your landlord can raise the rent?
It's time to speak out and break the cycle of evictions in the DTESI It's a story that keeps repeating: You're a resident in a privately-owned SRO. Your landlord wants you to leave so that your room can be rented to someone who can pay more.
Sometimes you're given an eviction notice, sometimes you're hara'>sed. sometimes you're bullied into leaving. Sometime'> you're offered a bit of money if you leave, which you take because you know you'l l be evicted anyways. You try to find a new
room in another SRO. but the rents arc higher than what you were paying before.
If this sounds li ke your story. you aren't a lone. We don't know how many people have been ev icted from SROs in the DTES so that their landlords can raise the rent. But we know it's happening.
PIVOT is taking the lead in a new project to collect evidence from people on welfare. disability or with low incomes who have been evicted from SROs. By sharing your story. you will help us break the cycle of renovictions and rising rents in the DTES.
With support from CCAP, PIVOT is holding meeting sessions with legal advocates every Tuesday from 1:30 - 4:00 pm on the thinl floor (in the atrium and/or seminar room) of the Carnegie Centre. Snacks will be provided. Please spread the \vord! - TH
For more information on the "Pushed Our project. come by the CCAP office on the 2nd floor of the Carnegie Community Centre. You can also contact PIVOT Housing
Advocate OJ Larkin at dj@pivotlegal. org
WHY CHARITY IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO POVERTY BY: KlNG-MONG Cl-li\N
On September 26th, around 30 participants, mostly seniors, gathered again at the Oppenheimer Park House for our monthly community meeting in Cantonese. To start the meeting, I asked the group again: "what is one thing that will make your life better?" This time, the most common response was ''good health." The second most common response was all related to housing: "having affordable housing." "for rents to not be so expensive,'' and "stop rent increases." ll seems evident that the high cost of housing is a concern also for seniors, despite them sometimes being viewed as well-off because of the money they receive from the govemment.
Although T had planned to explore other topics at the meeting, the participants focused on the discrimination they were still facing when accessing services in the community. At the meeting they brought up more instances of discrimination, occurring at more than five different locations and groups. This included being pressured to leave ("Go. go, go!") as well as worker~ hiding food from th~m and refuc;;ing to give them food. Having written on this issue in the past, I know this issue is complex because it involves multiple factors, many of which I have already written in the past CCAP newsletter articles.
Another angle to see this discrimination issue is to sec how charity is not the solution to povc1ty and unmet needs. Relying on charity to provide food realistically means that 80 and 90 year old Chinese seniors are expected to wait
2
in line for one or two hours with those who are younger.
fn these food lines and services, people arc pitted against one other as they see each other as competitors 'for the limited amount of food and other donated supplies. This competition results in certain groups becoming ·'othered,'' which then creates further conflicts. For example. the Chinese community as a whole become labelled negatively even if only a few within the community are being disrespectful. Myths also develop and become accepted as truth. such as "all Chinese people are rich and so they are here in our food lines trying to steal our food.''
Tn this article, instead of focusing on the discriminatory actions. let us focus on the source of the conflict, which 1 believe stems quite simply from poverty. Thus, I argue that justice will not only solve pove1ty but will also help to decrease discrimination. When people
hav~ enou~h money through incrca~cd
governme nt income support for --~niors a~ well ac;; tho~c on \\elfare and disability. then no one will need to rd) on food lines in
order to feed themselves. And \\hen they have the means to purchase thc1r food, they
wil l not sec each other as competitors for
photo: robinwoodchurch.wordpress.com
the limited food that 1s donated. Then 111}
hope is that we will embrace and accept nne another a.., one big family and commun ity. So we need JUStice not charit). where
everyone has housing they can afford and where everyone has enough money to meet
their needs.
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'Why iJ m doinS the velf are f oad challense by Tamara \-\erman.
I've been wanting to take more acllon on painfully low welfare rates lor a v.hilc. hut committing to spend no mor~ than S26 on food for one week wasn ' t exactly what I had 111 mind. Yet. hkc dozens of other people in BC, I"ve decided to take the Raise the Rates '\nnual Wei far~ Food Challenge during the week of October 16th.
Rmse the Rates has calculated that the wclfar~ rate of$610/month kaves pcopk w1th $26/v,·cek to <>pend on groceries Participants in the Welfare Food Challenge commit to spend no more than $26 on groceries for an entire week.
When I think of taking political action against an inju<>tic~. the image that comes to 111) mind Js usually community organizing, holding demomtrations, pressuring politicians, etc. In the case of the campaign to rai se welfare rates, most of this has already bc~n done. There have been some small victories. hut despite years or
~-a )CU oe ,, ·ne ~reltcre •o•t o{ S610 a r.:~ntr., Cou d pJ •e 011 S3 70 c de'f icr feo::"
cnuragcous effort and action, \\dfare rates .trc still abysmal.
that they don't hm c to live off $610 month. I'm planning to write about my experience 011 the \Vclf1trc food Challenge blog, 011 social media, and talk to all my friends and acquaintances about it Then, next time we organize to raise the welfare rates, I'm hoping that all the people who read about my experience will join us.
The Welfare rood Chalkngc i~ a dri' c to raise public awareness about the inadequacy of welfare rates and the costs of extreme poverty. In my case, many of the people I speak with every day in the CCAP office arc alrcad) raking the Welfare food Challenge- pem1anently. and not by choice.
I'm hoping that the Welfare Food Challenge v .. ill allow me to reach out to people who enjoy enough priviledge
If you 'rc 111tcn.:sted in JOining the Challenge, or know someone who would be. contact Bill Hopwood from Raise the Rates at bill50(alvcn.bc.ca or 604 738-1653. For more infonnation, check out www.raisetherates.org and http: l welfarefoodchallenge.org.
A UUICK UPDATE ON THE LOCAL AREA PLANNING PROCESS (LAPP)
. The Local Area Planning Process (LAPP) Committee joined other neighbourhoods from across the city 111 presenting to Council on September 25th- 27th to request an extension. Council agreed to extend the DTES lAPP process until January 22.2014.
The extensiOn means that the committee will have more time to work on the housing section of the plan. It also means that developers have more time to put in proposals before the 60% social housmg 111 the Downtown Eastside Oppenheimer District (DEOO) kicks in.
There arc now two new deYclopmcnt proposals 111 the DEOD: 626 Alexander Street and I 79 Main Street.- TH
The LAPP Low-Income Caucus meets with Councilors Reimer & Tang
By Jean Swanson
Member~ of the Lmv-lncome Caucus that meets to strategitc ahout the DTES Local
Area Plan met \\ ith 2 city counci tors on October 7. Most of the 12 caucus members who attended also have scats on the Local Area Planning Process (LAPP) Commtltcc, but were not speaking on behalf of the
LAPP.
Tan MacRae told Councilors Andrea Retmer and Tony Tang that the caucus supports city staff's plan to rezone the Oppcnhctmer area for 60% social housing and 40% market rental. This measure would prevent condm from gentrifying the hemt of the DTES and pushing up rents in hotels and stores. Reimer told the group that she was willing to defend the 60-40 arrangement
hut that it wouldn't mean anything without a definition of soctal housing.
Karen Ward, who represents Gallery Gaebel on the L \PP. said that the group \vas upset that staff had changed the Terms of Reference in the introduction to the plan. The actual Terms of Reference of the LAPP adopted hy emme t! say that the purpose of the LAPP is to improve the future for all residents, espcctally IO\\ income and
vulnerable residents. But the introduction to the draft plan '>aid the purpose wa'> to improve things for low and non-low Illcome residents.
6
Tami Starl1ght reminded the coum:tlors that the caucus had collected 3000 names on a petition calling for a Social Justice Zone in
the DTES. "We need to keep this alive ," she satd, "all the work that people in the community have done:·
Colleen Boudreau told the councilors that the cit) needs a spec1al definition of social housing for the DTES. So far city staff have said that only 10% of soctal housing in the Oppenhe1mcr area will be afford
able by people on welfare and basic pension. with only 12.5% to 15% or less in the induslri,tl area. The other areas would have no guarantee that any social housing
would be affordable by people on welfare or pension Low income LAPP committee members have been fighting for a definition of social housing that would not exclude
people on welfare and pcnston for months.
"This is such a huge issue. satd councilor Reimer. ··The success of the plan rests on this dcfinition.just to strategize on that one 1ssue." The Caucus agreed to do this.
Tracey Morrison. who rcpr~scnts 200 memhcrs of Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction on the LAPP committee. gave a moving example of why we need more soc ial housing that people on welfare and pension can afford. "5000 SRO units need to he replaced with self contained units. I used to live in an SRO without runnin<r 0
water and even a bed. So I had to live with my boyfriend, which isn't good. I'm a drug addict. I'm an alcoholic. But I work every day to get social housing down here. I've gone through the process for 4 years. Last week I almost died. And because of that I finally got good housing, thanks to everyone here and Janice Abbott. You shouldn't have to have a life threatening experience to get into c;ocial housing". she c;aid. Tracey also said that the indigenous perspectives need to he really concrete in our LAPP process. 'Tve been through this LAPP process and the promise of an aboriginal aspect to all of this and I don't see it," she said.
Gena Thompson. president of the Carnegie Ac;sociation which has 5000 members. told the councilors that the Local Area plan needs to change the SRA bylaw and get the province to change rent control so people won't be pushed out of hotel rooms with higher rents. She gave the example of Stephen Lippman who is buying up hotels lil-.e the Lotus. York. Alexander Court. and pushing out people on welfare, renovating sli ghtly and advertising to higher income
people. Sh~ s<ud the SRA hylaw needs to prevent rent increases. and that rent control should be based on the unit. not the person.
Colleen Broudreau said that we need a process where low income people can approve or deny business applications in order to maintain a low income friendly community. Reimer said that business needs a fair set of rules and can't be discriminated against. She suggested another meeting.
Victoria Bull had another commitment. but made a video to talk about the need for an Aboriginal llealth and Wellness Centre at the Sequel 138 site or Buddhist Temple. "I strongly believe that to have a healthy community and families we need intergenerational housing and also a healing centre."
Dave Hamrn represents about 3000 members of VANDU on the LAPP committee. Hamm said it is important for the city to acquire the 138 E. Hastings s ite. Hamm fears that with new federal regulations allowing community input to be considered for safe injection sites, new condo owners could complain about Jnsitc and it could be closed by the fcds.
7
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Van city Support for this project does not
necessarily imply Vancity's endorsement of the findings or
contents of this newsletter
Photo c:Jbove: CCAP at the very rainy Annual Women's Housing March. Thanks to the DTES Power of Women Group for organizing a great march! Check our our web
page to read Jean Swanson's speech. www.ccapvancouver.wordpress.com
HAVE YOU BEEN PUSHED OUT SO THAT YOUR LANDLORD CAN RAISE THE RENT?
• PIVOT LEGAL IS COLLECTING EVIDENCE AROUND EVICTIONS. PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORY AND HELP BREAK THE CYCLE.
SROs are meant to be low-income housing that protects DTES residents from becoming homeless. In reality, landlords are pushing out residents on welfare, disability and other low incomes so they can raise the rent. If you've been bullied, harassed, evicted, paidoft or locked out so your landlord can rent to higher income earners, come talk to us.
SPEAK WITH A LEGAL ADVOCATE TUESDAYS between 1 :30-4:00pm on the 3rd floor of the Carnegie
Community Centre (Atrium/Seminar Room), Main & Hastings
Organized by PIVOT Legal with support from the Carnegie Community Action Project For info visit CCAP or contact DJ Larkin at [email protected]/(604) 255-9700 ext. 146
Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territories
.:.
How Green is Green
Henry David Thoreau may have been the first white North American Green or environmentalist.
In March 1845, the New England-based Thoreau hoisted his axe onto his shoulder and went into the nearby woods to build a house. 1-l e finished his task right on July 4th, the U.S. Day of Independence and settled down to live in his new home.
"We need the tonic of wildness," Thoreau said. He even wrote a book about his time in the woods called 'Walden' and it became a runaway best seller over time.
The United States and then Canada plunged into industrialization. Factories, farms, cities, and suburbs spread across the land. As this took place. new environmentalists or greens popped up. They urged governments to tum vacant natural land into parks for the people and sometimes governments did this. But by the 1950's, the environmental movement had faded but not vanished. Then along came a whole new crop of environmental writers like Rachel Carson, Barry Commoner, Paul Ehrlich and Murray Bookchin (writing under the name Lewis Ferber).
So soon politicians responded to this new wave of theorists. Along came Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin Democratic senator in the 1960's. He proposed that the U.S. have an 'Earth Day' every spring to push for preserving the environment. The first 'Earth Day' happened on April 22, 1970. Thousands of Earth Day events sprung up across the U.S.
Millions of young Americans, inspired by the civi l rights movement and anti-war marches, took part. The modern U.S. environmentalist movement was
born. ln Canada, the modern environmentalist or Green
movement emerged at about the same time .. Tens of thousands of people demonstrated across the country against the United States exploding nuclear weapons at Amchitka in the Gulf of Alaska. The Greenpeace organization was born in 1971 in Vancouver to protest the nuclear tests. Activists like Paul Watson and
. Bob Hunter got on a boat in 1971 and set sail to Amchitka to stop the nuclear tests.
They fai led to stop the tests. But their actions triggered the rise of Canadian environmental ism and the Green movement. "Without Greenpeace," one activist said year later," there wouldn't be a Green movement." True or not, for the next 40 years, the Green movement just kept on growing.
Activists leafleted, churned out books, essays and articles, and lobbied governments and businesses. They marched, and demonstrated in favor of cleanim up the earth, the air and the water. Media stars like · biologist David Suzuki hammered home the same message on t.v. and in books: We're destroying the environment and we must stop doing this.
Millions of Canadians took this message to heart and demanded that government clean up the environment. Many governments responded to this pressure and passed laws to protect the environment.
In Europe and then in the Americas green political parties sprung up. They demanded strong measures that went beyond what governments were doing They usually lost elections but they sometimes won. Elizabeth May became Canada's first Green Membe1 of Parliament. Andrew Weaver is B.C.'s first sitting Green M.L.A. And Adrian Carr is now a Green cour cillor on Vancouver City Council. The Canadian Greens have only put down political roots on Canada's west coast.
Greens were not too strong on social policy. "I sometimes think that Greens care more about wolve: and trees than poor people," an anti-poverty activist once remarked. Greens didn't always see homelessness as an outrage to be cured. They didn't protest when governments slashed unemployment insurano payments and welfare rates.
Still, they were true to their original vision to sa¥ the earth. Then came the fake greens .. of which mo1 next time.
By dave jaffe
Right now, ordinary people across the country are fighting fracking. Alberta farmers who live near drill s ites are up about their tap water- it's so contaminated with methane, they can light it on fire. The Fort Nelson First Nation in northeastern B.C. is protesting massive withdrawals from its local watershed - which then cause earthquakes when the fracking wastewater is injected underground. Southern Ontarians are raising concerns about the serious risks of fracking to the Great Lakes. And communities across Atlantic Canada are demanding a ban on fracking to protect their drinking water.
Will you join them? Fracking - also known as hydraulic fracturing - is
one of the biggest threats to clean water. It's a process to extract natural gas or oil trapped in shale rock and coal beds. Using millions of litres of water, thousands of kilograms of sand, and thousands of litres of unknown chemicals, fracking companies blast apart rock formations. They then have to dispose of the toxic wastewater, potentially jeopardizing our c lean water and our health.
C lean water and sanitation are a basic human right. The UN General Assembly and the Canadian government have recognized it as such. Now it's time for us to uphold this right by banning fracking. Tell the federal government to ban fracking and pro
tect the human right to water in Canada. And it's not just Canadians who are fighting fracking - it's the whole world. On October 19, be part of the Global Frackdown, a global day of action to ban fracking. To organize, register or participate in an event in your community, visit globalfrackdown.org.
Together, we'll create a future without fracking.
THE LE
COUNCIL "'·. :( CONSEIL 0~ CA'IIADIA'IIS Oi:S CAI\A[) J[ \15
A(TW<; FOR SOC IA l JUSTICF AGIR POUR LA. JUS TIC£ SOCIAl r
The drive of the Harper (and C lark) governments is to maximize resoorce extraction and export regardless of the environmental consequences. Tar sands oil pollution is j ust the most obvious example but the billions of offshore money being readied for purchase of the liquefied natural gas industry will use "free" trade agreements to claim their right to frack, extract and pipe this stuff to port. That the land and livelihoods of our people will be devastated in the process is a relatively minor consideration, dealt with by Public Relations and slick advertisi ng. A US company is already threatening to sue the Canadian government if they are not allowed to exercise their right to frack under the St. Lawrence River bordering Quebec and New Brunswick. If the riverbed shou ld collapse or be rendered unusable by an earthquake, that will effectively devastate international shipping anywhere along the Great Lakes and all the livelihoods attached to it. The corporation will just walk away.
Get as much as possible as fast as possible at the lowest cost possible, maximize profits by any means possible and screw whoever & whatever gets affected. This kind of axiomatic thinking is psychotic.
PRT
WANT TO EARN SO ~E EXTRA MONEY?
ESS
Where:
Pivot Legal Society & Megaphone Office 121 Heatley Ave. (between A lexande r & Powell)
It is the blue building behind the Strathcona welfare office.
When: ' .
Wed Oct 16, 1pm
Thur Oct 17, 1pm
Mon Oct 21 1 pm
Mon Oct 28 1 pm
HopelnShadows.com HOPE H\ SHitDOWS
Flamenco Dance Workshop~ with Kelty McKerracher at
Carnegie Community Centre!
Saturdays
October 19, 26
3:30 - 5:30pm
Carnegie Theatre Want to move your body in a new way, build
self-confidence, and practice your intense flamenco stare? Come and learn the art form of
Southern Spain! We will explore the exciting • and proud tradition of flamenco music, dance,
and rhythm. No dance experience necessary, just curiosity and a desire to try something new Open to all genders and ages . Look_ forward to
seeing you there - Ole!
3:30- 4:30pm This wi ll be an beginner class in the a11 of So lea, building on the foundations learned in the spring. So lea means 'solitude' and is a slow, deep and emotional dance. This form is considered by many to be the heart of flamenco. We will focus on rhythm and palmas, postura, body movements, and working towards learning a dance to be presented at Barrio Flamenco in early November. Please note that participants are invited but not required to perform. New students to flamenco are welcome to join in: be prepared for a challenge and for a lot offun!
4:30- 5:30pm In this class Pat and new students will have a chance to practice the dance of Sevi ll anas, famously danced at the April Fair in Sevilla. We will work towards learning the second 'copla' or verse and focus on style and arms as we dance together in pairs.
Thank you to Face the World Foundation for their generous donation.
STEOFIT CLASSES Tuesdays 1 0-11 am, in the Gymnasium. Oct 15, Oct 22, Oct 29 . Movement warm-up exercises, strengthening, stretching ~nd relaxation. Increase your mobility and ability in daily life activities!
If we want change how will we bring it How will we be better than the cunent s ituation Nelson Mandela had time
All abilities! Everyone welcom For additional information, contact Mary Ellen (Lane Level Office) at 604
to learn from others Rock powder down The precious writers that are the chant on the street truly your s isters & brothers only needs drums He learned to say he to make the song complete would make his own fate d D d J"b
· Rock Pow er own an 1 He let go of a ll h1s fear k p d D d fb and learned how not to hate Roc ow er . 0.w~ a~1 1
Courage and calm with knowledge Hey Papa gdot 10t ng t edreJ.b
h d . h d Rock Pow er own an 1 an m an alllll you want papa Brought about change fi I r
in a harsh uncertain land or as ong as you lYe
So from example we learn Rock Powder Down and must try really smart every hungry wolf chants To achieve our best dreams fill your head ' fore you so close to the hea1t fill your pants Whether it's homelessness or .. hangin' around your knee~ miss ing women or the fact Jezeus Pleeze that we are actually alive Let us show the whole world that we can really strive For what we think is absolutely right And that we will keep on striving Every day and every night.
Chorus: You are the master of your own fate You can learn to live without fear & hate You can bring it each and every day And make the right things really go your way
Darren Morgan The Tuesday night Carnegie Cabaret is open to all for live performances of singing, drumming, guitar & bass playing for all interested. There is also free coffee at 8pm for all music lovers. Cheers!
AI
Go Figure, Wigger
There, but for the grace of God, go I ask y6urself how would you feel? if you smelled of urine all the time so much you never noticed the scrunched up faces of people nearby imag ine hearing "here comes the piss-man" every time you stray thru the door imagine your gut-bag bursting leaving the outsides out on the floor and people scrambling for the door get out you piss-boy you don't even belong in a public place your dirty face get tired of washing when it don't help the constant barrage you feel from everyone damn near who have no idea what it's like to be the man who smells of piss tell me how long would you smile with the abuse of all you come near ask yourself sometime what if a sudden stroke made me the piss mar
Xii Warhorse
SURFACE THEN EXHALE Now I am not here t do you harm the Arctic sets its sons. Please don't be alarmed faces are not my business but you look full up P lease surface and inhale, various ways to re lease the steam every nitemare holds a piece of a dream that's it forget yesterd~ys_ tomorrows now exhale, mankind has been unwmdmg since plunging into time those random acts of mankindnes is madness more defence or design hesitation marks are their stock 'n trade, another decade or two and the new breed will have litt le use for us and what we do once forgotten highrises and big spenders will compromise the surface we created man they are so positive they've got it made, now how many times have you been to ld ' until something bet1er comes along' 75 billion human beings have danced to the repulsively cruel song " Just Grin & Bear u·· I don't think so I fire might with figh t if I've got1en your at1ention there are plays to be made, separate paths must eventually m uster strength that silence we know a ll too well brings blessings from Hell to all global positioning leaches hae some universal very evil i~ their length surface upon surface is that clever obli terate our past we are united in our hatred how dare you try to touch, those new leaches will be the talk of the town put on your crown of thorns and inhale the stench of a future that one day brings you face to face with the ground say he llo to the worms and slugs they adore you so very much. Clearly we must meet a verbal tunnel o r requirements say no more as the thunderous days that lay ahead bring with them the bodies of dead cats and dogs when it pours it really pours, an affliction called "spotless" will kill all dom estic pets like an animal black plague obsolete go a ll the Vets as cl: ildren lea.rn a vital lesson called 1-o-s-s as so do we th1s surface IS
slanted like a pentagon ish constellation of stars that arctic moon sure knows the score, like the last page of your bible stating "all names have been changed to pro tect the innocent" ... sounds a little sketchy t? me but then again the sequel sounded good at the tune ... What can I say only to delete every word I have said, li ke surviving yet another war then waking up to a barrage of gunfire in a foxhole is this one real or am I at Hell's door? Armistice Day is as good as any to wind up dead, long-stemmed flowers shaped like the surface of the sun longer sawed-off weapons are always in style now wipe that face off your grin today
our time has come and to celebrate that I have Listerine cocktails let ourselves enjoy. Now that I have seen every possible ending I will take my share and the surface I am on is mine 'til death even the nucleus of an embryo knows this lifething will never ever be fair now I have four eyes two ears and my nails-on-a-blackboard sounding voice, in times like these I know bad things & worse people will try thei r best to screw you up your ground is your stand yet never underestimate your friends or enemies, time to exhale the bitter and inhale the better if such a fragrance exists from chemicals to nuclear to our surface and its mists all will soon just be fil ed under X for memories. Have a g reat day if poss ible enjoy.
By ROBERT McGILLIVRAY
Free Flu Shots
provided by Vancouver Coastal Health
MONDAY OCT 21st 1-3:45pm
THURSDAY OCT 31st 9-12pm
Carnegie Lobby-1st Floor
car·negie t:. NEWSLETTER carnnews@vc;oo be ca
THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION
Articles represent the views of individual contributors and not of the Association.
WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter
Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry. Cover art- Max. Size:17cm(6 .?")wide x 15cm(6")high. Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the Downtown Eastside, but all work considered. Black & White printing only. Size restrictions apply (i.e. If your piece is too large, 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.
DONATIONS 2013: (Money is needed & welcome) Sheila 8.-$100 Jenny K.-$25 Elsie McG.-$50 Terry & Savannah -$100 Robert McG.-$100 Leslie S-$75 Laila 8.-$40 , Dave J.-$23 · Ch-ristopher R.-$100, Anonymous -$25 ~· .......,_~,.___~, Bob S.-$200, Laurie R.-$70 Penny G.-$60, Yukiko -$20 Ellen W.-$23, Eleanor 8.-$60
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
-Margaret Meade
Vancouver's non-commercial, I istener-supported, community station.
Next issue: SUBMISSION DEADLINE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29TH
make submissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.
Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA Working for You
1070-1641 Commercial Dr, VSL3Y3 Phone: 604-775-0790
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
Gentle Readers October 2013
Let's call this an annual appeaL even though it's been well over a year since the money-crunch of 2012. That one, the first so dire, was precipitated by the withholding of approval, by the BC Gaming Commission, of funding for the Carnegie Newsletter. When called directly by the curious and concerned alike, the Public Relations Department outdid itself by saying, "We haven't cancelled anything; it's entirely up to the Carnegie Community Centre Association where they spend the money awarded to them.(!)" -Only after the Gaming Commission voided any possibility of spending it on "Community Communications;" perhaps in the great non-paper world such things as hand-held newsletters are a thing of the past. The obvious, to me/us here anyway, was that the decision-makers were acting on or succumbing to pressures brought to bear by the forces engaged in gentrifying the neighbourhood and driving out all the poor (read low-class) individuals calling the Downtown Eastside home.
The appeal went nowhere so the application for 20 13 was re-written to highlight the necessity of having a forum for the writers and poets of the ' hood ... and the GC 'graciously permitted ' $4000 for this. The cost of print ing the Carnegie Newsletter is -$8500; the cost of volunteer tickets is - $2000: and the petty cash for mailing, office supplies, various online fees and miscellaneous is - $1500. A total needed to function without undue constraints is about $13,000 annually. The funds raised in the Spring last year, including the one fundraising event with entc1tainment and a silent auct ion, brought the newsletter to about the end of 20 13. It is about the coming year that this lener is to address.
The Newsletter is needed and valued in this community. Help in the Downtown Eastside, its little sister, is a resource guide for everyone from transients to long-time residents. lt contains a wealth of information to aid anyone in securing the basic necessities of food, clothing, shelter, medical aid and education, as well as a myriad of resources avai lable to people in different parts of the city. Money to pay for its printing must be raised every year, separately, as there is no government assistance. (Odd in itself, as staff at a number of agencies have continually lobbied to impress on their respective adm inistrators that their jobs would be much more difficult (or could not be done) without having the latest Help booklets on hand.)
In 2013 there has been one updated, revised edition, #46 APRIL 2013, and twice a year has been the best schedule to keep up with changes and with demand. There is, as yet, no money for another edition this year.
An application has gone in to the Gaming Commission for funds in 2014, but it is a fact that $13,000 will not be approved.
Th is is where you can and hopefully wi ll come in. Any amount is welcome and the state of many people's personal finances is a matter of concern. Ce1tainly you w ill ask yourself what, if anything, you can afford. All donations above $20 wi ll get a tax-deductible receipt.
Please be as generous as you can be. It is vital that the voices of the low-income, marginalised, beneath (someone's) notice individuals in the Downtown Eastside must have a non-censored forum. All aspects of our lives amid the many pressing issues need to see the light of day.
Respectfully submitted,
PaulR Taylor, volunteer editor s ince 1986
The Carnegie Newsletter is published twice monthly, 23 times a year. To donate, go online to www.carnnews.org or send a cheque, payable to The Carnegie Newsletter, 401 Main Street, Van6A 2T7.
CRUNCH~ cites - /; $ 'M So~~ Y ~4PI'c, wc-}q.
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