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April 15, 1991, carnegie newsletter

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NEWSLETTER

APRIL 1 5 , 1 9 9 1 . 4

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V a n c o u v e r , 8. C.

(604) 665-2289

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Under- Funded

on ~ h u r s d a y ,A p r i l l l t h , t h e i s s f u n d i n g t h e School Lunch Program came L u C i t y Council. Members of End L e-g i s l a t e d P o v e r t y , w i t h a broad b a s e of s u p p o r t from m e d i c a l , e d u c a t i o n and c h i l d a u t h o r i t i e s , spoke i n f a v o u r of i n c r e a s i n g t h e f u n d i n g and expanding t h e program t o i n c l u d e 4 more e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l s and one f u l l h i g h s c h o o l program. T h i s was i n t h e f a c e of t h e c i t y manager - r e c m e n d i n- ~t h e whole t h i n g be s c r a p p e d . When t h e e x p a n s i o n p r o p o s a l was brought b e f o r e t h e School Board, i t was f o r t e n more s c h o o l s and would have h e l p e d w i t h a b o u t h a l f of t h e s c h o o l s i n Vancouver where c h i l d r e n a t t e n d d a i l y . . h u n g r y . The motion b e f o r e C o u n c i l was t o spend $160,000. E L P I S p r o p o s a l , cut i n h a l f (5 s c h o o l s i n s t e a d o f 1 0 ) c o s t $640,000. The l - v o t e m a j o r i t y of t h e NPA and Gord Campbell s t o p p e d any i n c r e a s e and passed t h e $160,000 s t i p e n d . These c o u n c i l l o r s ' k i d s d o n ' t go t o s c h o o l hungry, s o ' w h a t ' s t h e problem'?


T h e i s s u e of hunger i s a s o l d a s t h e human r a c e . One o f t h e e a s i e s t ways t o e s c a p e any f e e l i n g s o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r hunger o r t h e p o v e r t y t h a t c a u s e s i t i s t o c l i n g t o t h e l i n e h he poor w i l l a l ways be w i t h u s . " The q u e s t i o n I a s k i s , "What p r e s s u r e s were brought t o b e a r on t h e p e r s o n who put t h a t i n t h e s t o r y ? " "Was i t a s i n g l e r i c h p e r s o n o r d i d t h e a u t h o r have a c y n i c a l a t t i t u d e about what would s e l l ? Did a group o f b u s i n e s s p e o p l e demand t h a t i t be a t t r i b u t e d t o J e s u s a s t h e B i b l e was b e i n g p u t t o g e t h e r ? What b e t t e r way t o w e a s e l o u t of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e s u f f e r i n g your d e a l i n g s c a u s e t h a n t o p o i n t t o " J e s u s ' s words", s h r u g your s h o u l d e r s , and s a y , "Hey, t h e man s a y s i t ' s not my f a u l t ! " The p a r a l l e l s a r e s a d . Ending ~ z i s l a t e dP o v e r t y i n v o l v e s d i r e c t s t r u g g l e w i t h s u c h p e o p l e who manipul a t e p u b l i c o p i n i o n - o r who j u s t d o n ' t g i v e a damn about p u b l i c o p i n i o n and l i m i t t h e i r t h i n k i n g t o t h e weight of t h e i r own p e r s o n a l gold. I have a somewhat u n i q u e e x p e r i e n c e w i t h hunger and m a l n u t r i t i o n - u n i q u e a t l e a s t i n s p e a k i n g t o such p e o p l e a s t h e NPA h a s on C o u n c i l . . p e o p l e who have n e v e r been hungry o r l i k e l y gone f o r more t h a n 1 day w i t h o u t i n t h e i r l i v e s . My p h y s i c a l d i s o r d e r was caused by s t a r v a t i o n , m a l n u t r i t i o n , poison, m a l n u t r i t i o n , dysentary, malnutrition..malnutrition, o s t e o p o r o s i s and subsequent f r a c t u r e d s p i n e . I had not h i n g but w a t e r f o r 86 d a y s s t r a i g h t when I was 22 y e a r s o l d . M a l n u t r i t i o n makes food a c o n s t a n t worry f o r anyone who h a s o r i s s u f f e r i n g from i t . Council h a s t o f o c u s on l i v e s - the pot e n t i a l l i v e s of o u r c h i l d r e n which w i l l be s e r i o u s l y a f f e c t e d by hunger and maln u t r i t i o n . Not h a v i n g enough money t o f e e d a c h i l d n u t r i t i o u s food means t h a t t h e y e a t l e s s , and u s u a l l y what t h e y do e a t i s f a r i n f e r i o r t o what t h e y should be e a t i n g . Equal t o t h i s i s t h e s o c i a l t e n s i o n of hungry c h i l d r e n i n s c h o o l w i t h o t h e r c h i l d r e n who d o n ' t s u f f e r from hunger o r

n a l n u t r i t i o n ; c h i l d r e n who have money f o r Sun & games and o t h e r t h i n g s t h a t a r e j u s t ireams t o t h e poor k i d s . Worse is when some l e v e l of government s e t s up a program t h a t f o r c e s t h e s e mallourished k i d s t o s u f f e r t h e humiliation )f having t o i d e n t i f y t h e m s e l v e s a s one ,f t h e 'coupon' k i d s t o g e t a t i c k e t f o r I meal - l i k e t h e program t h a t t h e School Board, w i t h i t s NPA m a j o r i t y , h a s r i g h t now i n t h e one h i g h s c h o o l . C o u n c i l was asked t o l o o k a t t h e need. School l u n c h programs a r e n o t f o r t h e p r i v i l e g e d few; t h e y a r e n o t f o r t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e t o a b u s e and make a j o k e o f . Our c h i l d r e n a r e hungry b e c a u s e t h e v a r i o u s l e v e l s of government r e f u s e t o open t h e P a n d o r a ' s Box of c o r p o r a t e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r c r e a t i n g t h e poverty i n society. 1 t ' s a f r i g h t e n i n g t h i n g when hundreds of t h o u s a n d s of d o l l a r s c a n be s p e n t on a 2 o r 3 d a y d i s p l a y of f i r e w o r k s o r p r i n t i n g 2 o r 3 pamphlets promoting t o u r i s m . . . and t h o u s a n d s of c h i l d r e n a r e g o i n g hungry with t h e p o t e n t i a l of t h e i r l i v e s c u r t a i l ed o r c u t t o n o t h i n g b u t i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z a t i o n . The p o l i c e c a n ' t d e a l w i t h t h e s o c i a l problems b e i n g g e r m i n a t e d by hunger b u t a n a s p e c t of t h e i r t r a i n i n g i s v e r y r e l e v a n t - prevention. The NPA m a j o r i t y c h o s e t o s i g h and a g r e e t o fund s c h o o l l u n c h e s w i t h $160,000. T h i s i s s u c h a mediocre approach. P a t Chauncey from ELP had handed o u t a map w i t h a l l t h e s c h o o l s n e e d i n g food programs a s p a r t of h e r p r e s e n t a t i o n . P a t h a s been t h e r e a l s t r e n g t h and s o u l o f Vancouver's l u n c h program, and on t h e map s h e c i r c l e d 2530 s c h o o l s w i t h s i g n i f i c a n t numbers o f poor c h i l d r e n a t t e n d i n g . ELP'S p r o p o s a l , c u t from a s k i n g f o r f u n d i n g f o r 1 0 more s c h o o l s t o j u s t 5 more, was a b a r e minimum t o meet a b o u t 114 o f t h e need. The need i s r e a l . The l i v e s of thousands of c h i l d r e n i s t h e r e a l i s s u e , and a f i r m , unanimous v o t e by C i t y C o u n c i l would send s t r o n g s i g n a l s t o t h e p r o v i n c i a l and fede r a l governments: The l i v e s o f p e o p l e e s p e c i a l l y c h i l d r e n - a r e t h e most import a n t f a c t o r i n t h i s Council's decisions. By PAULR

TAYLOR


PEACE WALK V a n c o u v e r ' s a n n u a l P e a c e Wal i s S a t u r d a y , A p r i l 2 0 t h . Canadian p e o p l e ' s o r g a n i z a t i o n s meet a t Kitsal a n o P a r k a t t h e s o u t h end o f t h e Burrard S t r e e t bridge. Over 2,500 p e o p l e a t t e n d e d t h e Amer

powerment Advocate P r o j e c t . The C o a l i t i o n and t h e Advocacy Access s t a f f i n v i t e you t o c e l e b r a t e t h i s i m p o r t a n t e v e n t w i t h Angie Dorge and Tracy Moore, Mental H e a l t h Empowerment Advocate T r a i n e e s . Opening ceremonies w i l l commence a t

t h e t e s t i n g of n u c l e a r weapons und

Branch w i l l h o s t a forum on c h i l d r e n ' r i g h t s e n t i t l e d Kids For Kids. The e v e n t w i l l t a k e p l a c e i n t h e Great Robson Square a t 860 Smithe S t r e e t . 1990 p u b l i c a c c o u n t s l a s t week and are (grades h a r d - p r e s s e d Downtown E a s t s i d e r e s i d e n t s t o 9) w i l l p r e s e n t 20 minute performmight b e i n t e r e s t e d t o know t h a t t h e government s p e n t $5.8 m i l l i o n t o a c q u i r e a n c e s d r a m a t i z i n g v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f c h i l d r e n ' s r i g h t s s u c h as racism, l a n d f o r s o c i a l h o u s i n g . The g o v t . had ~~~~i~~ an health care, s t r e e t children, children budgetted $20 million. w i t h AIDS and war. E n t e r t a i n m e n t w i l l o r d a b l e housing c r i s i s they d i d n ' t even be provided by S h e r i U l r i c h and Holly spend a l l t h e money i t had promised. BY t h e way, t h e govt-fs p u b l i c a f f a i r s Arntzen. There w i l l be p a n e l d i s c u s s ions with expert's specializing i n b u r e a u c h a r g e d t h e t a x p a y e r s $5 m i l l i o n f o r i t s Uservices". w i t . , social c r e d i t , children's rights. Complimentary s n a c k s w i l l b e p r o v i d e d . Admission i s p u b l i c i t y appears t o be even more import a n t t h a n r e s u l t s . O r , do words s p e a k $1.00. For more information p l e a s e c o n t a c t t h e United N a t i o n s A s s o c i a t i o n louder than actions? Vancouver Branch a t 732-0448 o r f a x Herman 7\ Y-v-.. -Litsky 736-8963.

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WRITER ALERT Dear C a r n e g i e F r i e n d s , So many o f you have l i v e d d i f f e r e n t So many o f you have k i n d s o f livess t o r i e s t o tellYou d o n ' t have Anyone c a n w r i t e . t o s p e l l , j u s t write i t and c h e c k t h e s p e l l i n g later W h a t e v e r h a s h a p p e n e d t o you, w r i t e a b o u t i t - i t h e l p s h e a l i n g happen. Our s t o r i e s are t h e t r u e h i s t o r y . I write. I ' m n o t a good s p e l l e r e i t h e r . J u s t write y o u r t r u e f e e l 4 n g s . Come t o t h e L e a r n i n g C e n t r e i f you want t o t a l k a b o u t i t . So t a k e a p e n c i l a n d p a p e r and j u s t d o i t ;a n d i f i t f e e l s good - Do It Again! S e e you. Sheila Baxter

Y u p p i e Lament s i t t i n ' o n t h e r i v e r bank f a r from t h e t h i n k t a n k f e e l i n g s u n o n my f a c e f a r from t h e s i l l y p o s e l a y i n ' on t h e sweet g r a s s t h i n k i n ' of yuppie days l i s t e n i n ' t o the breezes I hear t h i s i s a l l I ' l l e v e r need comes a l o n g a l o u d c l a t t e r BOSS s a y s 'Well, l e t ' s g e t a t 'er" down t o e a r t h w i t h a s c r e a m w o u l d n ' t you k n o w . . j u s t a d r e a m

Della B

GROOVING AS CHANGE

Grooving as change E n g l i s h measurements squared l o g s of wood l o g l e a p i n g a t low t i d e e y e i n g down on me a s e a g u l l f l y s by and (I) f e l l o f f t h e l o g though r o c k i n g on a l o g r i g h t a n g l e s always c h a s i n g g l o b a l movement s c a t t e r i n g s u n ' s r a y s c l o u d s a c r o s s t h e h o r i z o n t h e mountaintops a s e a l l i o n bobbing on t h e wave waves of t h e ocean l o g s f l o a t i n g i n t h e bay s h o r e l i n e e r r o d e s r o c k s and s t o n e s f l u n g a l o n g t h e shore t r a i n s t r a n s p o r t pulled over the shore Can you do me a f a v o u r ? Can you l e n d me 1 5 ~ ' . Sure Longshoremen t a l k i n g i n g r o u p s of t h r e e s s a i l o r s on s h o r e l e a v e , r u s h i n g s from t h e se; where a r e t h e g r e e n l e a v e s ? Looking f o r t h e r i g h t o n e s responsible for solutions' R e l i e f f o r t h o s e who s e e k the mightier f r i e n d l i e r d i e here e a s i l y t h e crowned heads of Europe t h e blood i n motherhood t h e anger and d e a t h of t h e middle n a t i o n s h e a r s t h e o l d owrds custom and l o g i c of t h e o l d n a t i o n s h r o u d s on a l l we have known al.1 a l o n e on t h e ground i n t h e i a r and a t t h e w a t e r t o do what (we c a n ) how under i t s s p e l l I r e f u t e you bouncing views of I l o v e you b a r b w i r e s , I h a t e you! block d i r e c t a c c e s s e d i t s d u r e s s t o t h e beaches! ~ t ' s c o n t r o l , s u r v e i l a n c e and g a i n . , . . Taum "Let t h e g r e a t world s p i n f o r e v e r , Down t h e r a g i n g groover of change." A l f r e d , Lord Tenny son


D r . Diana Ralph, who t e a c h e s i n t h e S c h o o l of S o c i a l Work a t C a r l e t o n Univers i t y , h a s a n i n t e r e s t i n g e x p l a n a t i o n of w e l f a r e p o l i c i e s . She s a y s t h e r e a r e r e a l l y two k i n d s . One k i n d i s d e s i g n e d t o h e l p p o o r p e o p l e . The o t h e r k i n d i s a c t u a l l y Who I S WELFARE FOK? d e s i g n e d t o h e l p b u s i n e s s , and i t u s e s p o v e r t y and p o o r p e o p l e as a t o o l t o h e l p W e have w e l f a r e t o h e l p t h e p o o r , r i g h t ? b u s i n e s s make more p r o f i t s . W e l f a r e k e e p s p e o p l e from s t a r v i n g when Ralph s a y s t h e r e a r e s e v e r a l ways t h a t t h e y c a n ' t work, I t p r o v i d e s money f o r w e l f a r e p o l i c y c a n be d e s i g n e d t o h e l p r e n t s o w e d o n ' t h a v e s o many h o m e l e s s b u s i n e s s . The s y s t e m c a n t r y t o f o r c e people. It f e e d s those l i t t l e c h i l d r e n of p e o p l e t o work by h a v i n g v e r y l o w r a t e s , s i n g l e p a r e n t s . L a t e l y t h e s o c r e d s have by r e q u i r i n g p e o p l e t o l o o k f o r j o b s e v e n been s a y i n g t h a t a n o t h e r p u r p o s e o f t h e when t h e r e a r e n ' t enough o f them and e v e n w e l f a r e system is t o g i v e people t h e i f t h e y a r e o f no b e n e f i t t o t h e p e r s o n o r " i n c e n t i v e " t o work. t h e f a m i l y , a n d by c o n v e y i n g t h e message The p e o p l e who a r e o n w e l f a r e , o r d e a l t h a t p e o p l e who d o n ' t work a r e l a z y and w i t h t h e s y s t e m a l o t , have a h a r d t i m e iishonest. f i g u r i n g something out. I f t h e w e l f a r e W e l f a r e p o l i c y c a n a l s o h e l p b u s i n e s s by s y s t e m i s s u p p o s e d t o h e l p t h e p o o r , how p r o v i d i n g d i r e c t wage s u b s i d i e s t o employcome i t d o e s s u c h a l o u s y j o b o t i f ? 3rs and d i r e c t r e n t s u b s i d i e s t o l a n d l o r d s . Why are t h e r a t e s s o low t h a t t h e S o c i a l S o c i a l C r e d i t a c t i o n on w e l f a r e p o l i c i e s P l a n n i n g a n d Review C o u n c i l o f BC docunakes more s e n s e when you l o o k a t i t from m e n t s t h a t a s i n g l e p e r s o n h a s enough t h i s p e r s p e c t i v e . I n S o c i a l C r e d i t BC, money t o s u r v i v e t h r o u g h a b o u t 14 d a y s o f the purpose of welfare is t o h e l p business a month, and a s i n g l e p a r e n t w i t h two m d h e r e ' s how i t owrks. t e e n a g e r s h a s enough t o l a s t f o r o n l y A w e l f a r e system t h a t is designed f o r a b o u t 16 d a y s ? Why i s i t s o d e g r a d i n g t o m s i n e s s w i l l f o r c e p e o p l e t o work a t low c o l l e c t welfare t h a t people o f t e n l o s e l a i d j o b s . The s o c r e d s h a v e managed t o t h e s e l f - e s t e e m t h a t i s n e e d e d t o compete I s s u r e t h i s i n s e v e r a l ways. R q t e s r a n g e f o r j o b s when t h e y are a b l e t o ? Why i s i t Erom a b o u t 4 5 t o 6 5 p e r c e n t o f t h e p o v e r t y t h a t t h e amount o f money o n e g e t s f r o m Line s o t h e y are l o w e r t h a n s u b s i s t e n c e w e l f a r e makes i t v i r t u a l l y i m p o s s i b l e t o Level. T h i s means t h a t v i r t u a l l y a n y low do a p r o p e r j o b s e a r c h u n l e s s o n e w a n t s {age j o b l o o k s b e t t e r t h a n w e l f a r e . t o s c r i m p o n f o o d ? Why i s i t t h a t e v e n 'eople a r e threatened with being c u t o f f when we manage t o g e t o f f w e l f a r e , i t i s elfa are i f t h e y d o n ' t l o o k f o r and a c c e p t u s u a l l y o n l y f o r a s h o r t t i m e and w e ' r e my k i n d o f j o b r e g a r d l e s s o f pay, s a f e t y , n o t r e a l l y a n y b e t t e r o f f money-wise? ~ n db e n e f i t t o t h e p e r s o n and h e r o r h i s Low income p e o p l e know what c h a n g e s are iamily. needed s o t h a t t h e w e l f a r e s y s t e m & t h e Government s t a t e m e n t ' s l i k e Vanderzalm's employment s y s t e m would a c t u a l l y h e l p 'amous s h o v e l s t a t e m e n t convey t h e message e need a d e q u a t e income, poor people. W h i g h e r wages, d e c e n t j o b s t o go t o , a f f o r - : h a t p e o p l e a r e on w e l f a r e b e c a u s e t h e y I r e l a z y and d i s h o n e s t . S o c r e d m i n i s t e r s d a b l e h o u s i n g a n d c h i l d c a r e . We h a v e t o l d . e l l t h e media t h a t "everyone who i s c a p a t h e s o c r e d g o v t t h i s numerous t i m e s So i t i s somewhat p u z z l i n g . I f w e l f a r e i s ) l e o f w o r k i n g s h o u l d b e a b l e t o f i n d a ob," i n s p i t e o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h e unems u p p o s e d t o h e l p t h e p o o r , why i s n ' t i t bloyment r a t e i n BC i s now o v e r 10%. The h e l p i n g u s ? And i f t h e government knows .mplication? People on w e l f a r e a r e l a z y . how t o c h a n g e t h e s y s t e m s o i t would h e l p ' h i s form of d i s c r i m i n a t i o n would b e i l l e u s , a s t h e y d o , why a r e n ' t t h e y making ; a 1 i f i t were d i r e c t e d a t a n o t h e r c a t e t h o s e changes?

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, t o r y 01 [ ~ c O p i e- a r e l i g i o u s o r r a c i a l g r o u p , f o r example. But p e o p l e on w e l f a r e a r e f a i r game f o r d i s c r i m i n a t o r y comments and a l l u s i o n s by p o l i t i c i a n s and o t h e r s . 111e e r i e c t of a l l t h e s e p o l i c i e s i s t o i n crease t h e supply of d e s p e r a t e people w i l l i n g t o u n d e r c u t t h e wages of o t h e r working people. '1 h i s i s a n e x t r e m e l y i m p o r t a n t dynamic t o u n d e r s t a n d . O f t e n p e o p l e who work, e v e n i n l o w paying jobs, g e t q u i t e angry a t t h e i d e a ol p a y i n g t a x e s t o s u p p o r t p e o p l e o n w e l f a r e . But we l i v e i n a p r o v i n c e where we r o u t i n e 1 y h a v e o v e r 130,OOO:people (now o v e r 200,000) s e e k i n g j o b s t h a t d o n ' t exi s t . The more f o r c e t h a t i s a p p l i e d t o t l ~ e s ep e o p l e t o work, t h e more l i k e l y t h e y a r e t o u n d e r c u t wages of p e o p l e who h a v e jobs now. l'he whole v i c i o u s c i r c l e c r e a t e s more p o v e r t y f o r w o r k e r s and more p r o f i t s f u r I ) u s i n e s s which g e t s c h e a p s t a f f . A welfare system t h a t is designed t o h e l p business w i l l a l s o help employers with wq;e s u b s i d i e s . R i g h t now, f o r example, t h e s o c r e d s h a v e a n "Employment P l u s " program t i n t p a y s up t o $ 3 . 5 0 a n h o u r t o e m p l o y e r s i f t l ~ e yh i r e a p e r s o n on w e l f a r e . On t h e s u r f a c e t h i s seems ok. But remember we s L i l l have t e n s o f t h o u s a n d s of p e o p l e s e e k i n g work who a r e n ' t on w e l f a r e . llow many e m p l o y e r s w i l l f i r e a c u r r e n t employe e o r n o t h i r e a new o n e , s o t h e y c a n g e t t h e wage s u b s i d y ? Wouldn't i t be c h e a p e r f o r tile t a x p a y e r s if government s i m p l y r a i s e d minimum wage t o $7.50 a n h o u r t o keep pace w i t h t h e v a l u e t h a t i t has l o s t s i n c e 1975? b u t r a i s i n g mininiurn wage t o a r e a s o n a b l e l e v e l w o u l d n ' t be p a r t o f t h e p h i l o s o p h y o f w e l f a r e f o r b u s i n e s s . I t would c u t i n t o p r o f i L s. 'Tilere a r e o t h e r ways t h a t t h e s o c r e d w e l f a r e s y s t e m h e l p s b u s i n e s s . P e o p l e lockedo u t o r on s t r i k e , f o r example, a r e n o t e l i g i b l e f o r w e l f a r e . T h i s makes i t more l i k e l y t h a t t h e y ' l l h a v e t o g i v e up demands f o r wages and working c o n d i t i o n s i f t h e i r f a m i l i e s h a y e no r e s o u r c e s t o c o n t i n u e paying necessary expenses. O f t e n when t h e s o c r e d s d o r a i s e w e l f a r e r a t e s a m e a g r e amount, t h e y r a i s e t h e s h e l t e r p o r t i o n t h e m o s t . T h i s means t h a t l a n d -

~ o r d sg e t all t h e e x t r a money, n o t p o o r leople. A welfare system t h a t w a s r e a l l y designed ro " h e l p t h e poor" would p r o v i d e a d e q u a t e r a t e s t h a t would meet b a s i c n e c e s s i t i e s Eor a l l . A government t h a t wanted t o " h e l p t h e p o o r " wouldn' t t h r e a t e n p e o p l e i n t h e It d e l f a r e s y s t e m t o f o r c e them t o work. ~ o u l dc r e a t e i n c e n t i v e s i n t h e employment s y s t e m s o t h a t work would b e a v a i l a b l e and ~ o u l dpay wages t h a t b e n e f i t u s . we'd h a v e

' i I

i u l l employment. Wages and b e n e f i t s would ,e enough t o s u p p o r t f a m i l i e s i n d i g n i t y . ~ e ' dh a v e pay e q u i t y s o t h a t women as j e l l a s men would h a v e a c h a n c e o f e a r n ing a f a m i l y wage. And we'd h a v e l a w s :hat make i t p o s s i b l e f o r u n i o n s t o o r g i n i z e more w o r k s i t e s and t o b a r g a i n s u c : e s s f u l l y f o r d e c e n t wages and w o r k i n g : o n d i t i o n s . We'd h a v e good q u a l i t y c h i l d : a r e and a f f o r d a b l e h o u s i n g . Then t e n s o f thousands of s i n g l e mothers c o u l d a f f o r d t o work o u t s i d e t h e home i f t h e y wanted t o . There is something else t o c o n s i d e r . I f mr w e l f a r e and employment s y s t e m s r e a l l y i i d h e l p low income p e o p l e , b u s i n e s s would h a v e c u s t o m e r s w i t h more money. Renember Henry F o r d ? He w a s s m a r t enough t o dant h i s employees t o be a b l e t o a f f o r d t o buy t h e c a r e t h e y p r o d u c e d . Should o u r w e l f a r e s y s t e m b e d e s i g n e d t o help b u s i n e s s i n t h e narrow s e n s e of k e e p i n g wages low, o r s h o u l d i t h e l p low income p e o p l e ? I f we a n s w e r t h a t i t s h o u l d h e l p b u s i n e s s pay low wages, we w i l l head toward a d i v i d e d t w o - t i e r s o c i e t y - t h e kind t h a t has developed i n T h i r d World c o u n t r i e s , and are i n c r e a s i n g l y e v i d e n t i n G r e a t B r i t a i n and t h e US These a r e s o c i e t i e s where p o o r b a b i e s h a v e h i g h i n f a n t m o r t a l i t y r a t e s , where a l i e n a t e d people g e t involved i n drugs, and v i o l e n c e e r u p t s i n t h e s t r e e t s . Who i s w e l f a r e f o r ? ~ e t ' sg e t b e h i n d a w e l f a r e s y s t e m t h a t would be p a r t o f a l a r g e r s t r a t e g y t o end p o v e r t y . hat's what would r e a l l y " h e l p t h e poor.'' By JEAN SWANSON End L e g i s l a t e d P o v e r t y 211 - 456 W. Broadway (879-1209) Vancouver, V5Y 1R3


I t ' s s i n c e come t o l i g h t t h a t h e (Roger D o u g l a s ) announced i n J a n u a r y 1990 t h a t he w o u l d n ' t be s e e k i n g r e I n 1986, g u e s s who s a i d t h e f o l l o w e l e c t i o n . H i s p a r t y was 20 p o i n t s i n g a f t e r b e i n g sworn i n a s P r e m i e r ? behind t h e o p p o s i t i o n i n t h e i r p o l l s " A S tlle l e a d e r o f government, I beand t h o u s a n d s upon t h o u s a n d s o f New l i e v e i t is c r i t i c a l t o t h a t p r o c e s s z e a l a n d ' s p e o p l e wanted him hung. t h a t a l l B r i t i s h Columbians h a v e f u l l One d i r e c t e f f e c t o f ' ~ o g e r n o m i c s ! . c o n f i d e n c e i n t h o s e who s e r v e i n my was d o u b l e d i g i t unemployment, banka d m i n i s t r a t i o n . I want t o e n s u r e t h a t r u p t f a r m s and b u s i n e s s l e a v i n g t h e t h o s e who a r e e l e c t e d l e a v e no country f o r Australia. d o u b t s w h a t s o e v e r i n t h e mind o f t h e H e r e , w i t h a m i r r o r image, Mulroney 1 ) u b l i c a s t o t h e e t h i c s and i n t e g r i t y and h i s i n n e r c a b i n e t h a v e c o n t r o l o f o f t h o s e who s e r v e i n p u b l i c o f f i c e . . t h e c a b i n e t v o t e s ( l i k e D o u g l a s and I must be f r a n k . I c a n n o t - and I h i s c r o n i e s had i n N.Z.) a n d a r e , as w i l l n o t - p r o m i s e you p e r f e c t i o n . Douglas d i d , i g n o r i n g t h e l o u d v o i c e M i s t a k e s w i l l be made." of t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y o f t h e p e o p l e . I n 1 9 9 0 , g u e s s who s a i d t h i s : Lo and b e h o l d , unemployment i s now "I d i d n ' t know I owned F a n t a s y Gardens" i n d o u b l e d i g i t s , b a n k r u p t c i e s are I n 1991, g u e s s who d i d n ' t s a y t h i s : s k y r o c k e t i n g and b u s i n e s s e s r e l o c a t "I d i d n ' t know I was t h e P r e m i e r . " i n g i n t h e US & Mexico h a v e c o s t Canada hundreds of thousands of j o b s . D a r r e n Lowe The r e s u l t i n t h e O c t o b e r 1 9 9 0 v o t e i n N . Z . was a l a n d s l i d e v i c t o r y f o r t h e o p p o s i t i o n t o Douglas & f r i e n d s . Maybe t h e y d i d n ' t h a v e enough money; t o t h e b r a i n w a s h i n g t h a t Mulroney & f r i e n d s p u l l e d o f f , t h e y c a n o n l y adm i r e w i t h c h a g r i n w h i l e we c a n o n l y feed our rage. I f you are p e r v e r t e d enough t o enj o y t h e m i s e r y p r o m i s e d by Mulroney j u s t wallow i n i t when t h e s o c r e d s s t a r t t h e i r e l e c t i o n campaign s o o n . ~ h e y ' l ls a t u r a t e t h e media w i t h a s much b u l l s h i t a s a n y o n e h a s e v e r s e e n and u s e e v e r y s l e a z y s t r a t e g y e v e r It thought of t o con BC's v o t e r s . worked i n 1986 when t h e y s w i t c h e d B i l l B e n n e t t f o r B i l l Vanderzalm. So, A L i t t l e T i d b i t from New Z e a l a n d i f you l i k e t o t h i n k o f y o u r s e l f as a Grade ' A ' mark and a s u c k e r , y o u ' l l Back i n 1 9 8 8 , when t h e T o r i e s were v o t e s o c r e d w i t h your e y e s wide open! s p e n d i n g $54 m i l l i o n on t h e g r e a t Oh, a n d i f you d o n ' t v o t e a t a l l , " F r e e T r a d e " con j o b , t h e y b r o u g h t a you must t h i n k e v e r y t h i n g i s j u s t as New Z e a l a n d p o l i t i c i a n o v e r t o s p o u t f i n e as p aint. What p l a n e t d i d you o f f a b o u t how g r a n d / g r e a t / w o n d e r f u l s a y y o u ' r e f r o m ? i t was i n h i s c o u n t r y . Lditor,

...

...

By PAULR

TAYLOR


Jeanette Campbell

Della B


A CHANGING Two lectures by Dr. Sun Lung Kee: April 12, 1991. 7:30 p.m. (Friday) at Strathcona Community Centre Ideology of Communism and Motherhood April 16, 1991. 7:30 p.m. (Tuesday) at International House, UBC. The Symbolism of Yellow and Blue Dr. Sun is originally from Hong Kong. He obtained his B.A. and M.A. in History from National Taiwan University, another M.A. from University of Minnesota and Ph.D. from Stanford University. He has done research at Fudan University at Shanghai and taught at University of Kansas, Washington University at St. Louis and Unlverslty of Alberta. Dr. Sun holds a teaching position at Memphis State University and currently touring Canada.

Organiser:

Tiananmen University of Democracy Foundation Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement Federation of Chinese Scholars and Students in Canada

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"Search For Roots" movie series: 330 p.m. on Sundays at Strathcona Community Centre.

-

April 21. 1991 '

Bamboo, Lions and Dragons National Film Board of Canada A Great Wall Director: Wayne Wang

May 5, 1991 A series of movie presentations on laserdisc and video tapes sponsored by the Strathcona Community Centre and the TAMUD Foundation. It hopes to provide entertainment and to further our understanding on China. The series will begin in April 1991, with four movie presentations focusing on the life experience of early Chinese immigrants in North America. All are welcome. Free of Charae

Search For

.May 19,1991

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China Mission: Chester Ronning A Canadian Missionary (Part 2) National Film Board of Canada Dim Sum Director: Wayne Wang

June 2, 1991 To Be Announced

Roots

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China Mission: Chester Ronning A Canadian Missionary (Part 1) National Film Board of Canada Eight Taels of Gold Director: Yuen Ting Cheung


f u t u r e , and I ' m h e r e i n y o u r p a s t , and w e b o t h e x i s t a t t h e s a m e t i m e , which o n e of u s i s i n t h e h e r e 6 now?" 11 I a m , " she said with certainty. 11You a r e dreaming, and i n s l e e p t h e r e

ATTACKING F I Z I C S or I HAD AN EERIE DREAM I n a d a r k room I s t a r t e d d i a l i n n t h e phone, p i c k i n g a n e n d l e s s s e r i e s o f numbers a t random. I did t h i s for what seemed l i k e y e a r s , when s u d d e n l y a s o f t , Nun-like v o i c e s a i d , "Transit i o n I n f o r m a t i o n , May I h e l p you, please?" "No," I s a i d . "I j u s t wanna t a l k t o someone. Where a r e you? "Why I a m a t t h e f i n a l f u t u r e , " s h e s a i d , sounding h a l f s u r p r i s e d a t t h e It question Where a r e you?" " I ' m a t home s l e e p i n g . I j u s t happened t o d i a l y o u r number by m i s t a k e . T e l l me, i f y o u ' r e from t h e f i n a l f u t u r e , w h a t ' s gonna happen t o t h e World c a l l e d Earth?" II L e t u s s e e , E a r t h . . . Oh, y e s , a b o u t 40 c e n t u r i e s ago H a l l e y ' s comet f i n a l l y crashed i n t o Earth; r i g h t i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e P a c i f i c o c e a n , and t h e whole P l a n e t i s now e n t i r e l y c o v e r e d w i t h w a t e r nad f o s s i l f u e l s . A l l l i v i n g t h i n g s were f a z e d i n t o a i r l o c k s a t t h e d e e p e s t p a r t of t h e aquaworld. Humans q u i c k l y a d a p t e d t o l i v i n g under w a t e r by d e v e l o p i n g t h e a b i l i t i e s t o b r e a t h e t h r o u g h t h e i r e a r s and t a l k t h r o u g h t h e i r n o s t r i l s u s i n g t h e 26 b u b b l e system." "When d i d a l l t h i s happen?" II What y e a r a r e you i n now?" "1991." "Well, i f y o u ' r e s t i l l l i v i n g when H a l l e y ' s comet comes around a g a i n , you s h o u l d i n v e s t i n soem good s c u b a gear. " "So t e l l me, i f y o u ' r e t h e r e i n my d

....

a r e no t i m e o r s p a c e l i m i t a t i o n s . When you awake, I w i l l n o t have been born f o r a n o t h e r 4,000 y e a r s o r s o , and you w i l l r e g a i n t h e h e r e and now." "Hold i t ! I f I w a s born 4,000 y r s . b e f o r e you, I would b e i n your f u t u r e ! " 11Nonsense," she said with s a i n t l y p a t i e n c e . "Your s t a t e of h e r e and now i s c o n s t a n t , whether you a r e l i v i n g o r i n t r a n s i t i o n . Hence, b e c a u s e I come a f t e r you, I w i l l l i v e i n t h e f u t u r e o f your c o n s t a n t , n o t i n i t ' s p a s t . Got i t ? " I g o t i t a l r i g h t ; r i g h t between t h e spare r i b s - I was i n love with t h i s v o i c e t h a t sounded l i k e a thousand m i n i a t u r e chimes, and t a l k e d w i t h t h e u r g e n t f a s c i n a t i o n of n e c e s s i t y . "What a r e you d o i n g tomorrow n i g h t ? " I asked pangingly. "Well," s h e s i g h e d , " i f you a r e awake I won't be d o i n g a n y t h i n g , b u t i f you a r e s l e e p i n g , you c a n phone t h e same number and I w i l l be h e r e . . ." I woke up and q u i c k l y w r o t e down t h e m u l t i - d i g i t e d number. But t h e n e x t n i g h t I was s o e x c i t e d I c o u l d n ' t g e t t o s l e e p u n t i l a b o u t 7 i n t h e morning. I c a l l e d b u t s h e w a s o f f d u t y by t h e n . So I j u s t l a y t h e r e s l e e p i n g , f e e l i n g d e e p l y d i s a p p o i n t e d , when a l l of a sudden t h e most b e a u t i f u l woman imagi n a b l e walked i n and s a i d , "Sweet It w a s h e r ! dreams." A f t e r , I a s k e d h e r how i t w a s possi b l e t h a t s h e , not being born y e t , c o u l d b e s l e e p i n g i n t h e f u t u r e and s t i l l be s h a r i n g t h e same dream a s me. She l o o k e d a t me w i t h h e r e y e s gleaming b l i s s f u l l y and s a i d , "DO you r e a l l y want t o t a l k a b o u t t h a t r i g h t now?" DEside J o e

;


13. LUCK EASE

P e t t i n g t h e fawns ( t h e f o u n t a i n of youth) t o u c h e s o u t t h e h e a r t what i t ' s a l l a b o u t S e a r c h e r s and t h e L e a r n e r s When t h e mouth s p e l l s o u t t a k e i t ) e a s e the Christians (too kinds) o f t h e s e I r e a d t h o u g h I w i s h I hadn' t t h e d r e a m e r s and t h e a r t i s t s c a u s e d a sLir t h e s e words o f y o u r s 1 ' m ndnmnnt Hookers a n d t h e P o e t s down a t t h e F i r e Rock t h e c i g a r e t t e s c r u s h o u t a n a n c i e n t custom s e t t i n g s u n on t h e m o u n t a i n t h e t a s t e o f t h e n e x t b r e a t h I make a s k i f f f l o a t i n g i n t h e water s t a l e a i r i t h JubaLee o u r l o v e we gamble Deer and a n t l e r s s m a c k i n g i n t h e woods o u r l u n g s a t s t a k e s l a m on t h e b r e a k s Slugfest i n t h e garden t h i s h a b i t ' s n o t broken i t ' s s t o l e n New words o f t h e s p e c t r u m , i n s i d e - o u t Boo R a d l e y , Rad-ly, r a d i c a l l y towering i n t h e d a r k n e s s Moonlight on your s m i l e s t r e n g t h i n your c a r e s s

G h o s t s p a r a d e summon memory f o r t h I knew I ' d need my n o t e s F r e d '11 Itnndy ' n W i l l i s and t h e o t h e r s t o Heaven o r H e l l I t o a s t

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l i t t e r e d w i t 1 1 c o r p s e s . The o l d form experiences death but does not a c t u a l l y cease t o e x i s t since i t is reborn i n the next generation. Of c o u r s e we a l l e x p e r i e n c e c h a n g e s i n our emotional l i v e s & a r e q u i t e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e f e e l i n g o f d e a t h when r e l a t i o n s h i p s f a i l . We a r e a l s o f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e f e e l i n g of waking up newborn, w i t h a f r e s h s t a r t a t l i f e , when t h e a c c e p t a n c e of a new r e a l i t y f i n a l l y t a k e s h o l d . Coming t o t h e end o f o u r waking c y c l e e v e r y d a y e x I ~ a u s t e d , we f a l l a s l e e p & l i e t h e r e as iE dead u n t i l awareness r e t u r n s t o open our e y e s & r e f o c u s them. I n t h a t moment, we s e e t h i n g s d i f f e r e n t l y - more d i r e c t l y as c h i l d r e n m i g h t s e e t h e w o r l d . IJe a l l go t h r o u g h a l i t t l e b i t o f t h i s newness e v e r y morning o f o u r l i v e s , b u t o u r f r e s h n e s s o f \ J i t h tlrc world f a c i n g c r i s i s a f t e r , I i h - s p e r c e p t i o n s o o n f a d e s as w e remember & o n so many f r o n t s t o d a y , i t ' s o b v i o u s what b e g i n t o repeaL a g a i n l e a r n e d s e q u e n c e s we need is a p r o f o u n d l y r a d i c a l c h a n g e i n from t h e d a y b e f o r e , & t h e d a y b e f o r e t h a t . tile way we t l r i n k , , t h e way we make money, I n a s o c i e t y composed o f economic ways our l i f e s t y l e s , pl~ilosopliys, s t y l e s of o f t h i n k i n g , l e g a l ways o f t h i n k i n g , m i l i co~nnrunicati o n , p e r s o n a l v a l u e s . just t a r i s t i c & a c a d e m i c ways o f t h i n k i n g , a l l a b o u t e v c r y a r e a of l i f e i s s c r e a m i n g f o r k n i t t e d togetherby a n e l a b o r a t e technologclrange. Year i n & y e a r o u t , f o r a s l o n g as i c a l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , w e must come t o s e e anyone c a n remember, t h e t r a g e d y s , m i s t t h a t a p r o c e s s o f c h a n g e as t r a n s f o r m a t i o n akcs & s t u p i d i t y s of h u m a n i t y k e e p r o l l i n g i s not t h e same as making new l a w s f o r i n , & e v e r y r:ew d i s c l o s u r e i s accompanied new c r i m e s , new wars o n new enemys, new by ct c a l l f o r c h a n g e . . . w e must c h a n g e t h i s m a r k e t s f o r new p r o d u c t s , e t c . law, t h a t i d e a - w e must b r e a k a l d h a b i t We keep on b e l i e v i n g t h a t c h a n g e c a n be p a t t e r n s . Our number i s up. c r e a c e d by methods t h a t t h e n r s e l v e s need So l e t ' s examine t h i s t h i n g c a l l e d t o be hcanged, b u t i t ' s c o n s c i o u s n e s s it" c l i a ~ ~ g c" n o t s p a r e c h a n g e - b u t a colns e l f - t h e t h i n g t h a t c a u s e d t h e s e methods pleCe t r a n s f o r ~ n a t i o nfrom w h i c h t h e r e i s t o e x i s t i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e - t h a t needs no t u r n i n g back. t o c h a n g e . Each i n d i v i d u a l ' s way o f viewClrange a s t r a r i s f o r m a t i o n i s a d e a t h i n g t h e e v e n t s of day t o day e x i s t e n c e r e b i r t h p r o c e s s . When tile need f o r c h a n g e must c h a n g e . N o t h i n g less t h a n a d e a t h & i s i n t e n s e on many l e v e l s , a s i t i s t o d a y , r e b i r t h o f y o u r own mind w i l l d o - w e a l l a n enormolls & v e r y d i f f i c u l t d e a t h t o t h e must c h a n g e o u r m i n d s , e v e n o u r s e l f o l d ways I x x o ~ n e sn e c e s s a r y . The f i r s t o u r a c t u a l i d e n t i t y must i n d e r g o a r a d i c a l s t a g e o r clrange i s d e a t h - n o t h i n g new & transformation, since we identify with the t l r o r o u g h l y d i f f e r e n t c a n be b o r n w i t h o u t way w e see t h e w o r l d , he removal of t h a t which k e e p s i t from I d e n t i t y i s o f t e n assumed from r o l e being born. p l a y i n g i n s o c i e t y . A businessman l o o k s a t Wc s e e c h a n g e a s t h e p r o c e s s o f t r a n s ct Lrec & C I t l k s how c a n h e make money o f f f o r m a t i o n most c l e a r l y i n i t s o r g a n i c form. i t , politician tt,iIlks can he use i t to Trees & p l a n t s produce s e e d s before they get e l e c t e d , a poet t h i n k s how can he d i e , salmon g i v e b i r t h t o new l i f e i n t h e w i t h i t , a TV repairman is m i d s t o f d e a t h . . f i g h t i n g t h e i r way uppletely indiffernt t o it unless it inters t r e a m t o spawning g r o u n d s t h a t become f e r e s with receiption, a t o u r i s t thinks

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MAKING

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PROGRAM OF EVENTS


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The overwhelming success of Carnegie comes from the contributions of i t s volunteers. The volunteer program i s the foundation, the very heart, of the Carnegie Centre. This year we honour a1 1 our volunteers and we pay special t r i b u t e t o those of long term standing. Thank you, Carnegie vo lunteersl

Di ane MacKenz ie Di rector

Muggs Si gurgei rson President, C.C.C.A.


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Sunday, April 14

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Volunteers Party 2: 00 to 4: 00 pm on the 2nd floor.

Monday, April 15

lfMaking It Happen" Photo Display of Carnegie's Volunteers. 2:OOpm on the 3rd floor (cake and coffee). All Welcome!

Special Honoring of Volunteers at Cultural Sharing. 7: 00pm in the Theatre. Tuesday, April 16

"Recognition Burgers" Free hamburgers for Volunteers a t 4 :00pm in the Concession. (TICKET REQUIRED)

Special Feature Cabaret 7:OOpm in the Theatre. Free coffee and snacks. (Door prizes. ) Wednesday, April 1 7 Annual Awards Luncheon Vancouver Hotel at Noon. Carnegie's Volunteers of the Year for 1990 (Seniors' Support Group ONLY) Thursday, April 18

Evening Videos In the Theatre.

Free coffee and snacks.


E MAK ING

Wednesday, April 17

V E N T S IT HAPPEN

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Carnegiels Annual Awards Banquet Thea Celebrating Carnegie's 1990 Volunteers 4: 00 to 6: 00pm (Limited seating. ) Sponsored by the Association.

Thursday, April 18

Learning Centre Tutors Recognition 7: 00pm on the 3rd floor. Coffee and cake.

Friday, April 19

Volunteers Bowling Trip 1:30pm at Commodore Lanes.

Special Dance "ZaZa and the Limousines" 7:00 to 10:30pm in the Theatre. Door prizes and snacks. Sponsored by the Seniors' Support Group Saturday, April 20

Pool Tournament (Volunteers Only) 10: 00am.

Prizes.

(TICKET REQUIRED)

Recognition Pizza Free Pizza for Volunteers. 5:30pm in the Concession. (TICKET REQUIRED)


he must take a picture of it, a plumber thinks its roots might slog up the drains As children, our view of reality is free - stupid examples, no doubt, but things of prejudice & preconception. Every mornlike this shape our reality every day. So ing of our lives a little bit of that we can see how a believed identity.. .I childhood is there in us, causing us to a businessman, I a,a lawyer, I am a poet see things differently. We got that way by etc colours, if not actually creates per- giving up, getting down, falling asleep & sonal perceptions. Our state of conscious- virtually ceasing to exist the night beness is intimately tied up with who we fore. Death results in rebirth. The rethink we are. newal of society our higher instincts long There is an old Zen saying that goes for can only take hold when the death of "You can't fill your cup until you first the old social order, which freezes us in empty it", which expresses in a very sim- the present, becomes inevitable. ple image the emptiness of death as a preAll forms of life flee from death or condition of birth - refilling the cup fight it off, until it becomes impossible or, in effect, giving it a new identity. to escape. Only when the ancient process 'he cup outside remains, but its insides of transformation overwhelms us, do we are removed & replaced with a new form of cease struggling & slide into the abyss of consciousness. unknown realities - that vast invisible Since death is the first step toward potential which surrounds us & exists change, we must consider the meaning of within us. 'giving up' - both as surrender & sacriHuman minds can die & be reborn in the fice. Giving away or giving up possessions, same body, in the same lifetime. Such pro as difficult as that may be for most peofound change is our greatest human reple, is nothing compared to giving up your source. It's the basis of adaptation to way of viewing the world. But unless we new circumstances - the source of evolu*, begin right now to do just that, in a big tion & survival. It can happen to you, way, the problems we've seen so far will but only when your present state of being seem tame compared to the horrors we will becomes completely intolerable...when you pass on to future generations. just cannot put up with the way things If you are concerned enough to want to are anymore. change your state of awareness radically, In spiritual traditions from ancient the direction of focus you must take is cultures which were created to deal with down, not up. All those Christian saints these matters directly, there were always in religious paintings pointing up to hea- two paths to transformation; the long ven forgot about what was sacred right slow path, which was less dangerous, prohere under their own two feet. duced gradual awakening through a progresImages of Buddha point downwards towards sive series of death-rebirths that requirthe earth - shamans touch the earth & tra- ed longterm dedication & stubborn persisvel to the centre of the earth in their tence; & the shorter, more dangerous path dreams. A seed falls by grace of gravity which required a direct all-out assault into the earth to be reborn, birds return by a passionate & totally desperate indivto the nest to lay their eggs. Returning idual, resulting in one sudden lightning to the beginning is a process of letting bolt of complete conversion. go - giving up - getting down. Re-arranging what we already have, no The return of an adult to a child-like matter how intelligently or efficiently, state of mind is a sure sign of transforis not hte answer. What is necessary is mation. Every form of religion, every that many individuals dedicate themsleves form of philosophy, & every method of to dying & being reborn in this lifetime, psychological science points in one way & to teaching their children by example or another to the importance of childhood how to do it in theirs. as a state of mind. TORA

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review on those exports is completed. Western Canada Water - because of a unique deal it has with the ministry of crown lands - is the only company to escape the environment ministry's freeze of bulk water export licences. While other potential exporters will have to wait for the outcome of an environmental review, WCW will be free to continue negotiations with the US giving them an unfair advantage. John Cashore, NDP environment critic made this scam public. "The socreds have left a loophole big enough to steer tanker after tanker of BC water through. We need to see a thorough environmental review of bulk water exports first,and then a level playing field if these exports are approved." 1l The environment minister must immediately instruct the Comptroller of Water Rights to apply the bulk export moratorium to Western Canada Water until the review is complete." Cashore says the deal with WCW has far-reaching implications for BC because it gives the company access to 43,000 acre feet of water from Link Lake - enough to meet the demands of 430,000 people for a year. "The socreds are suspending the little guys, then turning around and allowing the biggest water user to possibly negotiate the export of tanker after tanker of BC water," Cashore said. "Western Canada Water has access to enough water to serve almost half a million people for a year. hat's a lot of water that could go south before we even know whether it's environmentally safe for BC." SOCREDS MUST PLUG LOOPHOLE THAT Funny that the identity of stockholCOULD ALLOW BULK WATER EXPORTS ders in Western Canada Water is legally protected. It'd be even funnier to The socred government must plug a loophole that could allow the bulk ex- find out how many socred (cabinet) minport of more than 40,000 acre feet of isters are stockholders. BC water to the U. S. - before a govt.

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(From A d b u s t e r s - Vol. 1 , #3) ' Tobacco k i l l s . We've known t h i s f o r two g e n e r a t i o n s . The m a s s i v e c o r p o r a t i o n s which m a n u f a c t u r e t h e s u b s t a n c e c o n t i n u e t o wage e x p e n s i v e , b r i l l i a n t media w a r f a r e t o c l o u d o u r m i n d s t o t h a t grim f a c t . Their s o c i a l engineeri n g h a s c r e a t e d two more g e n e r a t i o n s o f a d d i c t s - a n d c o s t m i l l i o n s more l i v e s . fiut t h e t o b a c c o m u l t i n a t i o n a l s h a v e , a l l a l o n g , been f i g h t i n g a r e a r g u a r d a c t i o n . l'lleir o p t i o n s have been gradua l l y diminishing: c i g a r e t t e a d s were banned f r o m T V i n t h e 7 0 s ; f i e r c e a n t i smoking g r o u p s s p r a n g u p ; laws w e r e p a s s e d t h a t banned smoking i n p u b l i c p l a c e s ; t h e number o f N o r t h American s m o k e r s h a s d e c l i n e d s h a r p l y . I n Canada t h e v e r s a t i l e , c y n i c a l minds b e h i n d tob a c c o p r o m o t i o n w e r e s t y m i e d by f e d e r a l B i l l C-51, which s h a r p l y c u r t a i l e d their advertizing activities. But t h e c o m p a n i e s s t i l l h a v e a n a d v e r t i z i n g s t r a n g l e h o l d over magazines i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . They c o n t i n u e t h e i r image-boosting s p o n s o r s h i p i n s p o r t s and t h e a r t s . They know t h e y ' r e b a c k e d up a g a i n s t t h e w a l l , and t h e y ' r e g e t t i n g exceptionally devious. LJitness i n g e n i o u s B i l l o f Kir,llts Philip MorrisVs campaign, which t i e s t h e i r murderous product t o fundamental i d e a s of freedom and democracy. T h i s i s what you c a l l f i g h t i n g d i r t y . I t ' s time t o f i g h t back.

Every day I smoke 20 Viscount E x t r a Mild, f i l t e r - t i p p e d c i g a r e t t e s . Purchased by t h e c a r t o n , t h a t c o s t s me a b o u t $1,387 p e r y e a r . C o n s i d e r i n g I ' v e been smoking f o r 20 y e a r s - and more o r less t h e swe number p e r day - t h a t would be a b o u t $27,740 worth of c i g a r e t t e s s o f a r . D i s c o u n t i n g compound i n t e r e s t , t h a t would be enough f o r a down payment on a house i n Vancouver. Counting compounded i n t e r e s t , t h a t would be enough t o buy t h e house o u t r i g h t and e q u i p i t f o r w a t e r S p o r t s . On t h e p l u s s i d e , I l o v e what smoking d o e s f o r me. here's n o t h i n g q u i t e s o r a k i s h a s a man who s m e l l s l i k e a n o l d bus f l o o r , a man who r o u s e s h i s sweeth e a r t e a c h morning w i t h t h e f e r v e n t overt u r e of m o i s t , t u b e r c u l a r hacking. The n e g a t i v e s ? Well, I d o n ' t own a house, and am considered by most people a f i l t h y and c r e t i n o u s p a r i a l l . With t h e s e v e n m i l l i o n o t h e r smokers i n t h i s n o t - s o - t o l e r a n t c o u n t r y , 1Im banned from a l l t h e n i c e r p l a c e s , and even some of t h e not-so-nice o n e s . A i r l i n e s p e r m i t me no r e l i e f on a five-hour white-knuckler t o Toronto ( f i g u r i n g smokers l a c k t h e s a w y t o d i s c o n n e c t t h e smoke d e t e c t o r s i n t h e t o i l e t s ) . MY employers b a n i s h me and t h e f o u r o t h e r in 40-person o f f i c e t o t h e s t a i r w e l l s where we puff c o n s p i r a t o r i a l l y f e e l i n g much a s I imagine l e p e r s might were t h e y c a r r y i n g t h e Black Death i n t h e form of l a r g e l i v e r a t s . We know i t w a s n ' t always t h i s way. Once upon a cigarettes were endorsed by d o c t o r s , smoked by t o p f i l m s t a r s , g i v e n t o i n f a n t s t o make them s t r o n g , e t c . My dimmest memories a r e of b e i n g passed a r ound b ~ r e l a t i v e s smoking c i g a r e t t e s . Sometimes t h e y burned me ( n o t d e l i b e r a t e l y , I ' m s u r e ) , b u t t h e s ~ n e l lof c i g a r e t t e smoke h a s always c a r r i e d w i t h i t warm, d o m e s t i c images. To me i t ' s t h e s m e l l of p e o p l e t a l k i n g , e n j o y i n g t h e m s e l v e s , and a c c i d e n t a l l y burning babies.

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These days, the current hysteria over second-hand smoke ("sidestream" smoke, I believe our medical scolds call it) in full wail, I'm not allowed near my twoyear old daughter with a lighted cigarette. When I smoke in the car, passenger windows are rolled down with a political gravity that's never pretty in one's own family. Second-hand smoke kills, they tell me, smugly: what kind of hag-bred cur would put his own family at risk? Eyes straight forward, I exhale smoky obscenities windoward and try to figure out how Bogie would have reacted (before he died of cancer). I know of people who forbid my smoke inside their pristine, yuppie abodes, lest it foul the fabrics or taint their overbred children (whose growth, generally speaking, needs a bit of stunting). There are people out there (vexedly scribling to me right now) with nothing better to do than to lobby for tougher federal regulations to keep us smokers down. Not satisfied with the current crop of warnings on cigarette packs, they yearn for the Swedish approach (why do all of ~anada's schoolmarms prostrate themselves before the Swedes?) of placing cancer ward horror stories there, such as: WARNING: STOCKHOLM GENERAL HOSPITAL IS A NON-SMOKING AREA.

We're being systematically eliminated. Genocide. Twenty years ago, more than 40% of western Canadians smoked. Now it's less than 30%. Cigarette sales dropped by about 7% in each of the last two years. A lot of this has to do with sadistic tax hikes (61% in February) and Byzantine anti-smoking laws. In the past decade, in every major western city, smoking bylaws have not only been passed, but relentlessly amended to the extent that in some places, if one person in an office is a non-smoker and the rest smoke, the office must be designated non-smoking. This latest strain of "workplace'' regulations, like AIDS, emanated from San Francisco. em em be ring the earthquake, one cannot but help get the impression that God's a two-pack-a-day man. So, are we smokers manning the ramparts, erecting barricades, burning babies? Apparently not. There have been precious few rebellions. A guy was fined $20 in Winnipeg after refusing to butt out in an arena while watching a ringette game in 1988. A few businesses here and there have been fined a few hundred bucks for failing to post no-smoking signs. And restaurant owners in Regina lobbied to prevent 50% of their floor space from being designated non-smoking, keeping it down to 15% initially. Beyond that, nary a whimper. Smokers just don't appear to have the belly (maybe the lungs) for a good fight. The problem, of course, is that ours is not the good fight. To argue that we have an inalienable right to fill someone else's lungs with noxious smoke and fumes is difficult. To admit to our addiction, emasculating. Intellectually, it's much easier to quit than fight. So all we smokers are left with is bullheaded belligerence. And in Canada, that sort of thing is probably illegal as well. So we cringe and huddle as our numbers diminish, wondering how many times we can be called revolting before we actually revolt. By RIC DOLPHIN (from "WEST" magnz ine)


- Monday t h r u F r i d a y , 9am - 5pm. FREE P1EL)ICAL CLINIC - Mon. , Wed. & F r i 5 :30-7 :3 0 YOU'l'I1 NEEDLE EXCHANGE - - 221 Main , e v e r y d a y , 9am - 5pm. AC1'IVI'I'IES N e e d l e e x c h a n g e van - on t h e s t r e e t Mon - S a t e v e n i n g . N . A . m e e t i n g s e v e r y Monday e v e n i n g a t 223 Main S t r e e t . SOCIETY N a r c o t i c s Anonymous (NA) m e e t s a t D u g o u t , 57 P o w e l l , 7 : 3 0 F r i . I)O\JNrl'OWII EASTSIIIE

1991 DONATIONJS: O l y ( S v e n ) -$20 Plendel R.-$15 l l e a t h e r M.-$15 Ilerman L - $10 C e - c i l l e C.-$10 Sandy C.-$20 ~ b r r yT.-$200 Brenda - $5 J a n e t B.-$20 L i l l i a n H . -$20

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S1'D -CLINIC

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C h a r l e y 11.-$30 Cement E4asons - $ I 7 5 M a r i l y n S.-$36 D a r r e n L.-$50 F o r e s t Lawn -S20 E t i e n n e S.-$20 Nancv W.-$75 A r t VL -$5 V i s h v a A.-$15 E l l e n -$5

NEWSLETTER

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C l t y 111fo a t a f f c a n ' t accept d ~ ~ ~ m t l ufur ~ l othin N e u e l e t t e r , so I f you c o n I l e l p , f l n d Paul Taylor a114 he' 11 g l v e you a r e c e l l ~ t .

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NEED HELP? D E R A can help y o u with:

any welfare problems UIC problems 2 getting legal assistance +: u n s a f e l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s in hotels o r a p a r t m e n t s :: d i s p u t e s w i t h l a n d l o r d s A income tax

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D E R A is located at 9 East H a s t i n g s o r p h o n e 682-0931. D E R A H A S B E E N S E R V I N G T H E DOWNTOWN FOR 1 7 YEARS.

EASTSIDE


The Communist s y s t e m w a s t h e "company town" a p p r o a c h expanded t o t h e n a t i o n a l l e v e l . The p e o p l e a l l worked f o r t h e o n e company, t h e y r e n t e d t h e i r homes from t h e company and e v e r y s t o r e t h e y shopped i n belonged t o t h a t same company. One-company c a p i t a l i s m a c r o s s a whole n a t i o n . I n t h e Company-town s c e n e a s i t t o o k p l a c e i n North America, t h e few owners of t h e company l i v e d w e l l from what t h e y c o u l d sweat o u t o f t h e workers. The same was t r u e i n t h e S o v i e t Union and a l l o t h e r s o - c a l l e d "Communist" c o u n t r i e s . A few t o p p e r s o n s i n t h o s e owning companies l i v e d w e l l w i t h cavi a r and n i c e c a r s and summer homes and t h e b e s t of e v e r y t h i n g w h i l e t h e worki n g p e o p l e worked and sweated and d i d without. It was c a p i t a l i s m i n t h e S o v i e t Union b u t a r o t t e n s o r t o f c a p i t a l i s m , worse even t h a n what we have h e r e . Thank goodness M i k h a i l Gorbachov p u t a n end t o i t . By ERIC ERICKSON

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I n t h e s e days following t h e c o l l a p s e of Communism i n E a s t e r n Europe, I n o t e t h a t much o f t h e w o r l d ' s p o p u l a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g t h e American S t a t e Department, s t i l l d o e s n o t u n d e r s t a n d what I hope t h e f o l l o w i n g Communism was. w i l l enlighten a t l e a s t Newsletter readers. Earlier t h i s c e n t u r y , company towns were v e r y common. I n a company town, the workers worked i n t h e i n d u s t r y , u s u a l l y b u t n o t always a mine. They lived i n houses owned by t h e company and p a i d r e n t , a g a i n t o t h e company f o r which t h e y worked. They bought t h e i r food a t a company s t o r e , o f t e n on c r e d i t c h a r g e d against t h e i r f u t u r e pay cheques. How many remember t h e mining song: "You l o a d s i x t e e n t o n s / and what do you g e t / a n o t h e r day o l d e r and d e e p e r in d e b t / S t . P e t e r d o n ' t you c a l l m e 'cause I c a n ' t go/ I owe my s o u l t o the company s t o r e . " The "company town" s e t u p was a means whereby c a p i t a l i s t o p p r e s s o r s completely e n s l a v e d working-class f a m i l i e s and extended t h a t s l a v e r y from g e n e r a t i o n t o g e n e r a t i o n . The v i l l a g e o f Clayburn i n t h e Fraser Valley was one company town. The company w a s Clayburn-Harbison, quarrying c l a y and making b r i c k s . The r i s e o f t h e Labour Union movement s p e l l e d t h e end of t h e company towns, much t o t h e d i s a p p o i n t m e n t of capitalists.

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well -fair A FLAW i s a F r o n t L i n e Advocacy Worker...someone who h e l p s w i t h g e t t i n g t h o s e o f u s on w e l f a r e what w e ' r e ent i t l e d t o and a p p e a l l i n g d e c i s i o n s of s o c i a l w o r k e r s and f i n a n c i a l a i d workers (known a s F. A .lJ. s ) . FLAWs h a v e t o keep on t o p of e v e r y c a s e t h a t may e x p o s e a p o l i c y o f MSSH as u n f a i r , t h a t may r e f l e c t a d e c i s i o n -?iolatlng a r e c i p i e n t ' s r i g h t s o r d i m i s h e s t h e meagre incomes even more. FLAWs from v a r i o u s o r g a n i z a t i o n s a l s o have s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t s , and i n t h e s e a r e exposed t h e s u f f e r i n g t h a t p e o p l e go t h r o u g h j u s t t o e a t and s l e e p e v e r y month. FLAWs meet o n c e a month a t C.L.A.S. (Community L e g a l A s s i s t a n c e S o c i e t y )


and s e e what h a s happened w i t h e a c h o t h e r , what arguments have won t r i b u n a l s , who i s c u r r e n t l y b e i n g i n t i m i d a t e d o r t r e a t e d u n f a i r l y - be i t a n i n d i v i d u a l o r a group of p e o p l e w i t h common problems. A t t h e most r e c e n t FLAW meeting, a FAW ( f i n a n c i a l a i d worker) donned h e r BCGEU h a t (union) and came t o d i s c u s s v a r i o u s areas of Income A s s i s t a n c e and p o l i c i e s and t h e d i r e c t i o n t h e s o c r e d s seem t o be t a k i n g s o c i a l s e r v i c e s . - F i r s t of a l l , computers are now i n f o r c e and e n f o r c i n g G A I N r e g u l a t i o n s . An FAW no l o n g e r h a s t h e power t o u s e h i s o r h e r judgement i n many a r e a s . T h i s system a l s o a l l o w s them t o know w i t h i n seconds i f any a p p l i c a n t h a s a p r e v i o u s f i l e anywhere i n BC. It l e a v e s them wide open t o b e i n g monitored by V i c t o r i a ; any d i s c r e t i o n e x e r c i s e d may l e a d t o d i s m i s s a l , as t h e s o c r e d s c o n t i n u e t o move t o remove t h e human element A measure of t h e s e n s i t i v i t y of t h e ministry's bureaucrats is f e l t r i g h t now by wheelchair-bound r e c i p i e n t s . MSSH h a s t a k e n a l m o s t a l l h e a l t h rel a t e d i t e m s and, on paper anyway, s a y s t h i n g s l i k e w h e e l c h a i r r e p a i r s and i n d i v i d u a l p r o s t h e t i c s a r e t o be p a i d f o r by t h e M i n i s t r y of Health. Lo and behold, t h e M. of H. h a s no system t o pay f o r i n d i v i d u a l i t e m s u n l e s s t h e y a r e p a r t of t h e equipment owned by a n institution. C l i e n t s have gone f o r up t o 7 months w a i t i n g f o r some sacred t o make up h i s / h e r ( i t s ) mind. Home v i s i t s a r e on t h e i n c r e a s e a s t h e "random" s e l e d t i o n of names h a s i n c r e a s e d . S o c i a l workers and FAVs have huge c a s e l o a d s , y e t t h e m i n i s t r y t a k e s a t l e a s t 2 workers e v e r y day and h a s them go around and check i f p e o p l e a r e l i v i n g where t h e y s a y . P a r a n o i a r u n s rampant among s o c r e d s - t h a t people a r e a c t u a l l y s u f f e r i n g and

b e i n g h o n e s t , i n s t e a d of f i t t i n g i n t o f h e s t e r e o t y p e of " w e l f a r e cheats',!. FAWs a r e b e i n g s u b j e c t e d t o v i o l e n t o u t b u r s t s as more and more p e o p l e f i n d themselves a p p l y i n g f o r w e l f a r e . In t h e 3 months s i n c e December ' 9 0 t h e r e a r e 20,000 more p e o p l e on w e l f a r e i n BC a l o n e . O t h e r "job" programs a r e i n t a i l s p i n s , as t h e p r i v a t e companies r u n n i n g them j u s t c a n ' t cope w i t h t h e numbers. The Family Maintenance Enforcement Program i s b e i n g c h a l l e n g e d i n c o u r t . S i n g l e mothers have been t h r e a t e n e d w i t h no a s s i s t a n c e u n l e s s t h e y b e g i n p e r m i t t i n g t h e government t o t a k e t h e f a t h e r of t h e kid(s) t o c o u r t . This looks reasonable, u n t i l r e a l i t y creeps i n . Many s i n g l e mothers l e f t t h e i r s p o u s e d u e t o b a t t e r i n g and f a m i l y violence. T h i s program f o r c e s h e r t o a g a i n come i n d i r e c t c o n t a c t w i t h t h e p e r s o n t h e y t r i e d t o g e t away from. Another s o r r y a s p e c t of t h i s i s t h a t once a c o u r t o r d e r s r e g u l a r payments t h e y u s u a l l y d o n ' t come f o r months a t a t i m e ; a second c o u r t c a s e i s necessa r y t o o r d e r payment o f missed month's and t h e mother w i l l g e t a s i n g l e lump sum. T h i s i s i n v a r i a b l y more t h a n t h e $100 p e r month t h a t G A I N r e g u l a t i o n s a l l o w and t h e M i n i s t r y t r i e s t o c l a i m a l l money o v e r t h e $100 l i m i t EVEN I F SHE HAD TO DO WITHOUT IT FOR 6-8 MONTHS. A s t o the direction the socreds a r e going i n w i t h s o c i a l s e r v i c e s , t h e y have been moving s t e a d i l y t o a n " e l i g i b i l i t y " system, r a t h e r , t h a n a s o c i a l s e r v i c e system. The i d e a l seems t o be p r o c e s s i n g any a p p l i c a n t i n l e s s t h a n 5 m i n u t e s ; ' y e s o r no' black o r white good o r bad' w i t h no g r a y a r e a - no humap c o n s i d e r a t i o n s - a t a l l . Socred slime w i l l t r y t o say t h a t a l l ' s well w i t h Zalm gone t h i s kind of c r a p h a s been going f o r y e a r s . L e t ' s bury 'em!

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Car C l a s s i c ' s

Coke C r u i s e i . .

S t e e r C l e a r of f e a r , ~ ) o n ' t l o o k i n t h e rear-view m i r r o r ' c a u s e t h e n y o u ' l l know i t ' s t r u e For Uncle and Auntie C r y s l i e r t o o The whole 'uNIFARCAL' f o s s i l zoo You must s e l l u s booze and c a r s , And r o o d s t h a t c o u l d s t r e t c h from h e r e t o Marz! Immaculate motors and pavement promotors, I n t e r n a l combustion, ad i n f i n i t u m

I have been t o t h e Ise of dreams; l i g h t b e i n g s swam i n s t r e a m s ; and dove through rainbow f a n s of w a t e r f a l l s and moonbeams. Touched a g i r l and melted h e r b r e a s t , Read my name w r i t t e n w i t h t h e r e s t , Played w i t h b i r d s whose c o l o u r s t o o k my b r e a t h , And watched t h e m i r a c l e s o f d e a t h . But never thought a n o t h e r ' d s e e , machinery of i n s a n i t y , Not from t h e o u t s i d e l o o k i n g i n n o r from t h e i n s i d e watching o u t But i n t h e same s e r e n i t y , t h a t s e n s e of i n n e r p u r i t y , O f a g n o s t i c m a t u r i t y , t h a t s e e k s what Love's about. By g r a c e & f a i t h t o f i n d T r u t h h o l y beyond a m o n o t h e i s t i c doubt. Breath h o l d s c e n t u r i e s . Death u n f o l d s i m m o r t a l i t y . Thought a l l p o e t r y . One b r u s h s t r o k e e t e r n i t y . We a r e t h e b r e a t h of memory, l e a v e s of w h i s p e r i n g g a l l e r i e s , Wandering e m p t i l y s h o r e s of fancy f l i c k e r i n g shadows on songs of s t o n e . Seeming t o be born of p i n i o n e d v i s i o n , Seeming t o d i e i n f a t h o m l e s s foam, Storm t h e c i t a d e l of heaven, Where t h e wings of l o v e have flown L i f e and Freedom peace and wisdom Love and Reason peace a l o n e .

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John Hussey

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f a c t i s , few p e o p l e r e a l l y c a r e a b o u t what I s a y , e x c e p t t o sometimes b e o f f e n ded by i t - & what I have w r i t t e n h a s made no d i f f e r e n c e a t a l l t o t h e r e a l situation. I'm s o r r y , Sandy - b u t t o s a y I ' v e made "an enormous c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e b u i l d i n g of a c o r n u n i t y a t C a r n e g i e N i s j u s t n o t t r u e . . . I would have l i k e d t o do s u c h a t h i n g , b u t t h e o n l y r e a l b a s i s o f whate v e r "community" may e x i s t f o r u s r i g h t now i s o u r m u t u a l p o v e r t y . To p u t i t b l u n t l y - i f we d i d n ' t s h a r e h a r d t i m e s we p r o b a b l y wouldn't even g i v e a damn a b o u t each o t h e r a t a l l . I n my o p i n i o n , i t ' s o n l y b e c a u s e we s e e o u r own e x p e r i ences r e f l e c t e d i n o t h e r s t h a t t h i s sense o f " c o m u n i t y " seems t o exist. "A f i n e p o e t & a r t i s t " I may b e , b u t t h e s e a r e s k i l l s t h a t c a n be developed by anyone who p u t s enough t i m e i n t o i t , & i n my own c a s e , t h e y a r e r e a l l y j u s t t h e r e s u l t of b e i n g r e p e l l e d by c o n v e n t i o n a l soctal activitys, Youtre x i g h t a b o u t a n e t h h g , though t h e v a l u e of t h e t a l k f n g ~ t f c kT t h e c i r c l e i n which a l l a r e e q u a l , A l l I d i d was a t t e m p t b r i e f l y . t o show how much b e t t e r t h i s t r a d i t i o n a l N q t i v e wqy of meeti n g i s t h a n t h e imported European v a r i e t y ...p e o p l e s a y t h e y u n d e r s t a n d t h a t but a l l t h e meetings a t Carnegie continue a s u s u a l i n t h e same o l d p a t t e r n , s o what i s t h e i r understanding r e a l l y worth? DERA m e e t i n g s , h e l d monthly i n t h e Thea t r e , a r e a c l a s s i c e x m p l e of t h i s r i g i d agenda-dominated way of d o i n g t h l n g s , a s a r e t h e monthly m e e t i n g s of t h e Carnegfe Board & j u s t a b o u t e v e r y o t h e r f o r m a l i z e d m e e t i n g h e l d a t Carnegie. When c h a l l e n g e d on b h i s p o i n t , t h e s e g r o u p s c l a i m " ~ o b e r t ' s Rules" a s t h e i r guide- This is an enomously complex old-fashioned r u l e book of I f p a r l i a m e n t a r ~ ~ r o c e d u r e " t h a t c a n be used by anyone who u n d e r s t a n d s i t , a s a n a r s e n a l

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up t o your ass i n a l l i g a t o r s i t t s h a r d t o remember your o r i g i n a l ob(anon) jective was t o d r a i n t h e swamp"

II


More power t o those who r e f u s e t o play the agenda game i s what I say - i t ' s such hypocricy f o r t h e s e meeting f r e a k s t o pay l i p s e r v i c e t o t h e t a l k i n g s t i c k method . & s t i l l c a r r y on a s usual. One can only assume they do t h i s because they l i k e t o play games of power t h a t put one p e r s o n ' s opinion a g a i n s t a n o t h e r ' s , d i v i d i n g u s up into "winners" & :?losersM. The person who gets t o be top dog i s a l w a y ~t h e most s k i l l f u l game player - t h e b e s t a t d i v e r ting, ignoring o r d e f e a t i n g t h e i d e a s of others & p r e s s i n g h i s o r h e r agenda f o r ward t o dominate t h e scene. These a r e t h e ones who a r e i n c o n t r o l of'rule-making a t Carnegie & everywhere e l s e i n a game-dominated s o c i e t y . The humility of a c i r c l e of equal human h e a r t s & minds i s beyond them. A s much a s they try t o "organize a community" - r e a l common u n i t y eludes them, simple because they b e l i e v e i n t e c h n i c a l changes & ignore t h e obvious n e c e s s i t y of profoundly r a d i c a l changes i n t h e b a s i c method of I doing things. Such r a d i c a l changes can only come from a complete transformation i n t h e i r own personal s t a t e of conscious& of course they know t h e f i r s t t h m g t h i s would mean would be t h a t they ne? I must g i v e up power t o o t h e r s . According t o t h e dominanf European mod' e l , which motivates t h e i r way of t h i n k i n g t h i s would mean surrender t o " t h e enemy". Ottawa's method of d e a l i n g with Oka was a c l a s s i c example of t h i s , but nobody r e a l l y seemed t o l e a r n any l e s s o n s from i t , e x c e p t maybe Native people who learnec only t o f u r t h e r d i s t r u s t Canadian s o c i e t y - a l e s s o n they've had too many times before. There's r e a l l y nothing new i n a l l of t h i s . "Business a s usual" i s t h e s t y l e of i t , even a t Carnegie & throughout t h e soc a l l e d " l e f t wing". When t h i s system has f i n a l l y "cleaned up t h e neighbourhobd" . & g o t r i d of t h e !%?wlif esr.&:malcontent b" who a r e t h e i r o n l y oppositton, they w f l l say they have c r e a t e d a "cormnunityo', but i t w i l l be t h e i r community, not ours.

I

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TORA

Some r e a d e r s may know t h a t 1 ' m d o i n g a one-person C a r n e g i e programme aimed a t helping persons i n t h e Carnegie a r e a w i t h t h e i r TV s e t s . A s t h e s i g n on t h e C a r n e g i e s t a i r s s a y s , i f your TV s e t s t o p s working o r i s even g i v i n g you a f a u l t y p i c t u r e , your b e s t move m i g h t b e t o l e a v e a message f o r E r i c E. a t t h e C a r n e g i e I will d o w n s t a i r s I n f o r m a t i o n Desk. I come around and see what I c a n do. won't t a k e y o u r set away. T h i s i s a v o l u n t a r y programme, based on a s t a t i s t i c t h a t of a l l TV sets s e n t t o TV s h o p s f o r r e p a i r , 40% o f them c a n be r e p a i r e d by b e i n g a d j u s t e d w i t h o u t t h e t e c h n i c i a n t a k i n g t h e back o f f b u t s t i l l t h e set owner c a n be c h a r g e d I don't take f o r extensive repairs. t h e b a c k s o f f them e i t h e r b u t I know as w e l l as t h e t e c h n i c i a n s , how t o c o r r e c t some wayward TV sets w i t h o u t t a k i n g them a p a r t and t h a t i s what I do. Sometimes. The s c o r e a t t h i s t i m e i s 11 sets o u t o f 20 e i t h e r g r e a t l y improved o r made t o o p e r a t e j u s t as f i n e as sets of t h e i r era c o u l d b e made t o work. I n t h e C a r n e g i e area t h e r e are s o many v e r y o l d sets, t u b e models, hyb r i d s , e a r l y S o l i d S t a t e s . Most of t h e few t u b e sets s t i l l working are RCA'S; d i t t o t h e h y b r i d s , t h e sets w i t h some t u b e s and some t r a n s i s t o r s . But t h e y , and even t h e e a r l i e s t - b u i l t " S o l i d S t a t e " sets c a n b e worked o n , and o f t e n brought t o new l i f e . The r o t t e n o n e s are Z e n i t h s and H i t a c h i s , which are made t o b e s e l f - a d j u s t ing. They :-are t h a t u n t i l t h e y go

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o u t of adjustment o r whatever happens t o them. Then t h e r e a r e no knobs t o t u r n i r adjustment screws o r a n y t h i n g , even i f you t a k e t h e back o f f . And then Z e n i t h s and H i t a c h i s prove t o be f a n t a s t i c a l l y expensive t o r e p a i r . Avoid them! I ' d l i k e t o have a b e t t e r s u c c e s s r a t e t h a n 11 o u t of 20 but w e must remember t h a t some of t h o s e T V ' S I ' v e been c a l l e d i n on were hauled o u t of S m i t h r i t e dumpsters. I d o n ' t mind t h i s goodness knows, t h e TV i n my k i t c h e n , I ' f o u n d i t i n a back l a n e w i t h t h e txash. I brought i t home, messed w i t h i t a b i t , and Voila! - It h a s worked w e l l f o r two y e a r s s i n c e .

The n e x t day, everyone who heard abo u t i t c a l l e d m e a s k i n g what t h e y could do, and J a c k wanting t o come and p i c k me up i f I wanted t o go t o Carnegie. It was a ' w a i t & s e e ' game; a l l t h a t could have been done was done, p l u s g e t t i n g p o s t e r s up everywhere p o s s i b l e , and E r i c E r i c k s o n d i d a l l t h e pawnshops and second-hand s t o r e s , making i t IMpossible f o r the thieves t o s e l l the c h a i r . Also a n o t h e r s o u r c e of h e l p was' It was O l i v i a S c o t t from The Province. h e r s t o r y t h a t made i t p o s s i b l e f o r m e t o g e t n o t one but two motorized c h a i r s u n t i l mine was r e t u r n e d o r r e p l a c e d . Thanks t o G.F. S t r o n g and B i l l Reid of t h e Lookout t o 6 . It was overwhelming t o s e e o u r conunu n i t y come t o g e t h e r a s a team. My c h a i r was r e t u r n e d (!) t h a n k s t o t h e a r t i c l e s i n The Province and t h e Many a good, workable 'I'V i s s e n t t o t h e garbage dump because someone d i d n ' t p o s t e r s everywhere. The t h i e v e s t r i e d t o s e l l my c h a i r t o a n a n t i q u e d e a l e r know how t o c o r r e c t what was wrong on Main S t r e e t . The q u i c k - t h i n k i n g with it. So... TV t r o u b l e ? Leave a message . s t o r e manager (Robin Brooke) g o t my c h a i r home. The t h i e v e s g o t away, b u t f o r E r i c E. a t t h e I n f o Desk. No guarantees. No charge. Being on j u s t i c e w i l l p r e v a i l i n t h e end. w e l f a r e m y s e l f , I know how important I ' m proud t o be a member of t h i s famt e l e v i s i o n can be t o t h e Downtown East- i l y (Carnegie). Many many t h a n k s f o r your h e l p and s u p p o r t . I hope one day side individual. I can do t h e same f o r you. Have A Nice Day! ( J u s t t o t h i n k : My c h a i r i n a n Antique Store!. I guess t h e y d i d n ' t r e a l i z e my To Members of ' ~ a r n e ~ i e c h a i r i s i n a c l a s s by i t s e l f ! ) MP From Margaret P r e v o s t

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thanks

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When my wheelchair was s t o l e n on I ' Friday t h e 5 t h I was t e r r i f i e d . thought t h e world had come t o an end. r But you know what k e p t me from f a l l i n g a p a r t was~li1.el o v e , concern and support you a l l gave me. From t h e momerit we a l l saw i t was gone, t h e s e a r c h w a s on. Bob, Muggs & J e f f went c r u i s i n g along Hastings S t . and t h e b a r s a s k i n g everyone t o keep a n eye open.

B i l l Vander Zalm is gone. H e leaves behind him a government overrun by p o l i t i c a l chaos of i t s own making, unable t o c a r r y out t h e peoples' business and do Something a s basic and e s s e n t i a l a s presenting BC with a government budget. L e t ' s look a t t h e impact of Vanderzalm's long overdue departure:

1


STRATHCONA STREETSCENE B r i t i s h ColumbiCalling a l l Strathcona residents and w i l l now have and anyone else who a d m i r e s t h e funky a chance t o take a c l o s e r look a t t h i s l i t t l e neighbourhood j u s t e a s t of govt. without Zalm. What w i l l they f i n d ? Carnegie Centre. A s e c r e t i v e govt., hiding t h e t r u e s t a t e Strathcona artist Carole Itter is of our province's f i n a n c e s and p l o t t i n g presenting a highly imaginative v i s i o n behind closed doors t o t r y and buy reo f t h e neighbourhood i n a n e x h i b i t a t e l e c t i o n with your t a x d o l l a r s . An u n f a i r government t h a t has f o r g o t t e n whom they t h e Vancouver A r t G a l l e r y . work f o r - they t h i n k they work f o r them1 t ' s a huge, room-sized "assemblage" selves. A govt. t h a t long ago l o s t i t s o f thrown away i t e m s t h a t I t t e r found sense of what's r i g h t and wrong. i n t h e l a n e s , l o t s and second-hand * K----------------------------On socred caucua .& . p a r t y leadersh hi^: s t o r e s of S t r a t h c o n a , e v e r y t h i n g from . en Vanderzalm resigned i n shame, rek i t c h e n u t e n s i l s and i r o n i n g b o a r d s i fusing t o admit he d i d anything wrong, t o p i e c e s of f u r n i t u r e and t r i m o f f h'is p a r t y ' s board of d i r e c t o r s greeted houses. him not w i t h condemnation but with appThe-whole t h i n g i s s p r a y - p a i n t e d i n lause. When t h e socred caucus met a f t e r g i l t - an i r o n i c reference repeated his r e s i g n a t i o n they responded t o media i n t h e t i t l e of t h e show: "Where t h e 1 q u e s t i o n s about h i s a c t i o n s not with d i s S t r e e t s Are Paved With Gold: A T r i b u t e approval but with s i l e n c e . When t h e socred t o a Canadian Immigrant Neighbourhood" caucus were given a f r e e hand t o choose a 1t's s o r t of l i k e t h a t g i a n t r e l i e f I new l e a d e r , they r a l l i e d behind Rita John1 s t o n , Vanderzalm's staunchest a l l y who map of BC a t t h e PNE t h e one where with blind f a i t h defended h i s a c t i o n s f o r you c a n see a l l t h e m o u n t a i n s and t h e p a s t 4% years. river v a l l e y s . Only i n t h i s c a s e i t ' s On t h i s e l e c t i o n : The e t h i c s of a r e l i e f map of a n i n n e r c i t u neigh& bourhood. ' h i s government can be judged Vanderzalm by one l i n e I t t e r sees t h e work as a c o m e n t o n from t h e Hughes' r e p o r t on t h e premier's t h e excesses o f consumer s o c i e t y . As conduct:,..the premier's problem stems s h e s a y s : " ~ h e s eu s e l e s s wooden artnot j u s t from h i s i n a b i l i t y t o draw a i c l e s , r e m n a n t s o f o u r s o c i e t y ' s del i n e between h i s p r i v a t e and public l i f e t e r m i n e d o v e r - p r o d u c t i o n , are f a k e but i n h i s apparently s i n c e r e b e l i e f thay g o l d and q u e s t i o n t h e s p l e n d o r o n c e 1 no c o n f l i c t e x i s t e d s o long as t h e p u b l i c promised t o newcomers. My ' s t r e e t ' i s I wasn't aware of what was going on." T h a t ' s " n o t h i n g b u t j u n k , c a s t - o f f s from a the legacy of Vanderzalm and may w e l l c o u n t r y h e l l b e n t on d e s t r o y i n g n a t u r a l ' / serve a s t h e epitaph of S o c i a l Credit. When a group of people applaud dishonesty resources. " o r r e f u s e t o condemn abuse of public t r u s t The show r u n s t o May 20. The a r t i t ' s time f o r a change of government i n ~ a l l e r yi s a t Robson S q u a r e . B e s t I 1 BC, A s one former socred c a b i n e t m i n i s t e r t i n e t o go i s Thursdays from 5 p.m. s a i d , t h i s i s an e l i t i s t and s e c r e t i v e to 9 P.m., when a d m i s s i o n i s "what government preoccupied with s p e c i a l d e a l s you c a n afford"!' for its friends. I B i l l Vander Zakm i s gone, l e a v i n g a govt. grown s t a l e and arrogant from too long i n o f f i c e . For B C ' s sake, t h e y now need time in opposition - t o s o r t themselves out.

* O------------n t h e socred govt.: ---

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By MIKE HARCOURT


caught 5APR 91 I.


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April 15, 1991, carnegie newsletter by Carnegie Newsletter - Issuu