February 1, 1991, carnegie newsletter

I\

401 H a i n

FREE

st.,

- donations accepted.

--Vancouver, R.C.

...

.......

*

(604)665-2289

The C a r n e g i e N e w s l e t t e r b e l o n g s t o t h e members o f Lhe C a r n e g i e C e n t r e . The C a r n e g i e C e n t r e , t h e m o s t u s e d communi t y c e n t r e i n Canada, i s l o c a t e d i n t h e downtown e a s t s i d e o f Vancouver, o n e o f t h e c i t y ' s o l d e s t communities w i t h a r e s i d e n t i a l p o p u l a t i o n o f t e n thousand citizens. The n e w s l e t t e r , a l l 24 t o 32 p a g e s o f i t , i s p u b l i s h e d t w i c e a month. Seven h u n d r e d c o p i e s a r e p r i n t e d , and t h e s e are d i s t r i b u t e d by hand. The p a p e r i s f r e e t o r e s i d e n t s o f t h e downtown e a s t side. I n t h e C a r n e g i e Newsletter t h e p e o p l e o f t h e downtown e a s t s i d e a r e e x e r c i s i n g t h e power t o d e f i n e t h e i r own r e a l i t y . Consider, f o r example, t h e f o l l o w i n g s m a l l p a r t o f a c h a r a c t e r s k e t c h by Anne R a y v a l s a b o u t a s i x t y - t w o y e a r o l d woman l i v i n g i n a h o t e l room: I1 o h i know i t ' s n o t much o f a room b u t i p u t my t h i n g s a r o u n d and i t ' s k i n d o f homey what i l i k e t h e b e s t t h o u g h i s t h e window w h e r e i g o t my c h a i r and i s i t h e r e l o o k i n g out at the parking l o t i get t o s e e a l l t h e n i c e new c a r s p a r k e d s o now i d o n ' t g o o u t there much s i n c e i b e e n l i v i n g h e r e b u t i d o l i k e my window t o be h o n e s t a b o u t i t t h a t ' s a b o u t a l l i do l i k e

-

heart

.... s o u n d s g r e a t e h w e l l i t ' s n o t so great damn t h e r e ' s a n o t h e r o n e o f them b u g s w h e r e ' s my s h o e who'd h a v e e v e r t h o u g h t i ' d end up h e r e a l l by m y s e l f l o o k i n g o u t t h e window a t t h i s s t i n k i n g p a r k i n g l o t " T r a d i t i o n a l l y , t h e woman i n t h i s s t o r y h a s b e e n s i l e n t , b u t now s h e s p e a k s , and h e r v o i c e c h a l l e n g e s t h e myth o f a j u s t s o c i e t y . The C a r n e g i e N e w s l e t t e r o v e r f l o w s w i t h t h e l i b e r a t i n g power o f s e l f d e f inition: I I C a r n e g i e d i d n ' t j u s t happen a l o n g l i k e some f l o w e r - g i r l i n the beer parlour smiling and s e l l i n g teddy b e a r s . Y e a r s o f h a r d work went i n t o forcing p o l i t i c a l dragons t o g i v e up d r e a m i n g a b o u t b u s i n e s s m e n ' s c l u b s and p a r k i n g l o t s Y e a r s o f h a r d work to turn t h i s stone building i n t o something l i k e s u n r i s e . " T o r a , f r o m h i s e p i c poem " C a r n e g i e " . T h e r e ' s p a i n on a v o y a g e o f s e l f d i s c o v e r y . We know t h a t w e ' r e n o t t h e p e o p l e t h e y s a i d we w e r e , a n d we a r e n o t y e t t h e p e o p l e we know we c a n become : "1 f e a r t o f e e l p a i n ' c a u s e my h e a r t i s not a s t o n e and b l e e d s

The C a r n e g i e N e w s l e t t e r i s p o l i t i c a l b e c a u s e i t h e l p s p e o p l e f i n d t h e power t o d e f i n e who t h e y a r e , a n d b e c a u s e o f i t s p r o p h e t i c s e n s e of j u s t i c e - t h e c o n c e r n w i t h what o u g h t t o b e . No o n e i s more c o m m i t t e d t o j u s t i c e t h a n t h e e d i t o r of the Carnegie Newsletter, Paul T a y l o r . Whether t h e s u b j e c t b e housi n g , p o v e r t y , unemployment, p o l l u t i o n , when t o u c h e d u n k i n d l y " M i c h a e l D u p u i s o r t h e GST, P a u l s p e a k s s t r o n g l y i n deWith t h e p a i n t h a t i s f a c e d i n t h e f e n c e o f t h e human r i g h t s and d i g n i t y p a g e s o ~ t h e C a r n e g i e N e w s l e t t e r comes o f t h e p e o p l e o f t h e downtown e a s t s i d e . anger: The C a r n e g i e N e w s l e t t e r , h o w e v e r , i s " s i g n i n t h e window n o t p o l i t i c a l i n t h e t r a d i t i o n a l way s a y s Learning Front f o r r e n t f o l l o w e d by many who a r e c o m m i t t e d t o a n d you hand me a b u t t o n p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e . You w o n ' t f i n d f o r l i t e r a c y d a y and I s a y many a b s t r a c t r e f e r e n c e s t o s o c i a l i s m o r capitalism. You w o n ' t f i n d much i n stick it t e l l e c t u a l d i s c u s s i o n a b o u t who i s l e f t i n y o u r own l a p e l o r r i g h t o f whom. Well, what w i l l you w h i l e you b u r y o u r p e o p l e find? i n p r i s o n s and p s y c h e w a r d s . " "You d o n ' t h a v e t o h a v e a d e g r e e i n Mike Kramer - on t h e c l o s i n g down o f English L i t e r a t u r e t o w r i t e f o r the t h e Learning Front, a s t o r e f r o n t l i t e r Carnegie Newsletter" - S h e i l a Baxter a c y c e n t r e on Main S t r e e t , d u r i n g t h e i n a n a r t i c l e commemorating t h e f o u r t h i n t e r n a t i o n a l y e a r of l i t e r a c y . a n n i v e r s a r y of t h e n e w s l e t t e r . "Just With t h e p a i n a l s o comes c o m p a s s i o n : w r i t e from t h e h e a r t a b o u t y o u r on day I wenL t o t h e h o s p i t a l Lo own e x p e r i e n c e . " t u t o r George C h i e f , a C a r n e g i e mem"The v a l u e s o f t h e h e a r t a r e d a n g e r b e r who was on d i a l y s i s ; h i s k i d o u s Lo s y s t e m s " w r i t e s T o r a . n e y s d i d n o t f u n c t i o n . I was shockD a n i e l w r i t e s w i t h compassion from e d when t h e y s a i d h e had d i e d on h i s experience : Saturday. "Depending o n w h e r e we s t a n d , i t i s He was a r e a l n i c e man. I r e a l l y sometimes v e r y h a r d LO s e e ourl i k e d him; h e had s o many i n l e r e s t s e l v e s a s we r e a l l y a r e . I f we l o o k i n g s t o r i e s . We had p l a n n e d t o b e h i n d , we s e e a t r a i l t h a t i s w r i t e them. I w a s r e a l l y u p s e t when marked with errors. I f we l o o k t h e n u r s e s a i d he chose t o d i e . " a h e a d , we c a n s e e n o t h ing but disS h e i l a U a x t e r , a u t h o r o f No Way To L i v e It i s d u r i n g t a n c e and u n c e r t a i n t y . With :ompassion comes c a r i n g , and i t t h e s e t i m e s t h a t we s h o u l d l i s t e n i s t h i s c a r i n g w h i c h Lurns t h e C a r n e g i e L O o u r h e a r l s ." C e n t r e from a c o l l e c t i o n of i s o l a t e d What a r e t h e " v a l u e s o f t h e h e a r t " ? i n d i v i d u a l s i n t o a community: I n h i s e s s a y , The Power o f t h e Power"1 came L O C a r n e g i e t o t e a c h i n t h e l e s s , Vaclav Havel, t h e P r e s i d e n t of L e a r n i n g CenLre, b u t what happened C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , w r i t e s o f t h e impori s t h a t I l e a r n e d s o much from s o t a n c e of d i s s e n t i n c h a l l e n g i n g t o t a l i many p e o p l e who come h e r e . I dist a r i a n s y s t e m s . H e s a y s t h a t between c o v e r e d t h a i f r i e n d s h i p s go beyond t h e aims o f a n i d e o l o g i c a l s y s t e m (comt h e c l a s s r o o m , and p e r m e a t e t h r o u g h m u n i s t , c a p i t a l i s t , o r w h a t e v e r ) and out the building." K a t h i e Leroux

1

1

t h e aims o f l i f e , t h e r e i s a n a b y s s . A system s e r v e s people only t o t h e e x t e n t necessary t o ensure t h a t people w i l l s e r v e i t . For H a v e l , l i v i n g within the system without s e r i o u s l y a s k i n g who and what i t i s we s e r v e and obey, i s l i v i n g w i t h i n t h e l i e . In order to stop living within a l i e , we must b e g i n t o l i v e w i t h i n t h e t r u t h , Havel s a y s . By t h i s he means l i v i n g from t h e c e n t r e of o u r most authentic s e l f - o r l i v i n g with the v a l u e s of t h e h e a r t a s S h e i l a , Tora, and D a n i e l have s a i d . Havel t e l l s u s t h a t l i v i n g w i t h i n t h e t r u t h h a s more t h a n a n e x i s t e n t i a l dimension. I t h a s a p o l i t i c a l dimension because i t i s t h e f u n d a m e n t a l t h r e a t t o t h e system. This is the p o l i t i c s of t h e h e a r t . Don't e x p e c t t o be t o l d what t o t h i n k by t h e C a r n e g i e N e w s l e t t e r . I' "l'he answer i s f o r t h c o m i n g . Garry G u s t , a p o e t and c a r t o o n i s t . There i s a h e a l t h y s k e p t i c i s m i n t h e n e w s l e t t e r - "a s e n s e t h a t n o t h i n g i s what i t seems any l o n g e r , and t h a t t h i n g s must be done e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t l y . " (Vaclav Havel) It i s r e f r e s h i n g t o d i s c o v e r a p a p e r w i t h t h e p a s s i o n and s e n s e o f j u s t i c e of t h e C a r n e g i e N e w s l e t t e r . It is i n f o r m a t i o n , e n t e r t a i n m e n t , and i n s It i s c e l e b r a t i o n a s Thomas piration. , M e r t o n d e s c r i b e d t h e word - c e l e b r a t i o n a s the c r a z i n e s s of not submittI i n g even though t h e y , t h e o n e s who make l i f e i m p o s s i b l e , seem t o h a v e It i s a joyous expresa l l t h e power. s i o n of the p o l i t i c s of t h e h e a r t , and i L i s a f u n d a m e n t a l t h r e a t t o any ideology. The C a r n e g i e N e w s l e t t e r b r i n g s hope. By SANDY CAMERON

II ELP

DOWNTOVYN EASTSIDE "3"

JANUARY

..

I

3.

FREE OR LOW COST GOODS

1.

SHELTER 6 HOUSING

3.

HEALTH SERVICES

4.

COUNSELLING, SUPPORT, INFO

6.

LEGAL SERVICES

8.

ADVOCACY RESOURCE LIST

8.

SOCIAL, DROP-IN,

RECREATION 10.

YOUTH SERVICES

1 1 , 12.

OTHER SERVICES

13.

c w CARNEGIE NEWSLETTER

665-2289

-

El

UNLEARNING RACISM We a l l l e a r n t h e same r a c i s t c r a p , b u t t h e impact i s c o m p l e t e l y d i f f e r e n t f o r a p e r s o n who i s l e a r n i n g t h e s e messages a b o u t someone e l s e , and f o r a p e r s o n who i s l e a r n i n g t h e s e messages a b o u t t h e m s e l v e s . The p e r s o n who l e a r n s a l l t h e s e d r e a d f u l t h i n g s a b o u t o t h e r p e o p l e h a s one s e t o f problems. The p e r s o n who, l i k e me, learns a l l these dreadful things about o u r s e l v e s , our f a m i l i e s , our communities and anyone who l o o k s l i k e u s - we have a l o t t o c o n t e n d w i t h . . a l o t of p a i n and c o n f u s i o n and r a g e we d i d n o t a s k f o r , do n o t d e s e r v e , and have t o d e a l w i t h (no o p t i o n ) i n order t o survive. For a l l o f u s , whatever o u r a n c e s t r y , racism h a s been and i s a c a t a s t r o p h e i n o u r l i f e . The p u r p o s e of U n l e a r n i n g Racism workshops i s t o p r o v i d e a s p a c e f o r p e o p l e t o r e a l l y l o o k a t t h e impact o f r a c i s m on o u r l i v e s , t o s h a r e ours e l v e s with o t h e r people so they can s e e what i t l o o k s l i k e from h e r e , and we can s e e what i t l o o k s l i k e from t h e r e . .and t o l o o k a t (and p r a c t i c e )

some o f t h e ways we c a n be o f h e l p t o one a n o t h e r . One o f t h e t h i n g s we do t h e f i r s t n i g h t i s o r g a n i z e o u r s e l v e s i n t o supp o r t g r o u p s f o r t h e weekend. We u s e a co-counselling o r peer counselling model, which means t h a t a l l of u s c a n d e v e l o p s k i l l s as b o t h a c o u n s e l l o r ( a b l e t o l i s t e n , a b l e t o t h i n k about and r e a c h f o r someone e l s e ) , and a c l i e n t ( a b l e t o speak your t r u t h , a b l e to trust). People a r e n ' t expected t o a l r e a d y know how t o do t h i s , though many do. What I have s e e n i s t h a t t h e work i s much e a s i e r f o r p e o p l e who a r e a l r e a d y c l e a n and s o b e r . So, p a r t of t h e t i m e we spend i n s m a l l g r o u p s (support groups, t h r e e t o f i v e people) and p a r t of t h e t i m e i n l a r g e g r o u p s ( u s u a l l y around f o r t y ) . I f d e b a t e s change a n y t h i n g , e v e r y t h i n g would be changed a l r e a d y . . s o one t h i n g we d o n ' t do i s d e b a t e , o r a r g u e . We o f f e r some t h e o r y and e x e r c i s e s , ways o f l o o k i n g and working w i t h people. I n t h e workshops we do make space f o r p e o p l e ' s f e e l i n g s , because w6 b e l i e v e t h a t o u r f e e l i n g s a r e o u r t r u t h s , and p u t t i n g o u r f e e l i n g s a s i d e means p u t t i n g o u r s e l v e s a s i d e . We l e a v e l o t s of t i m e f o r p e o p l e t o t a l k w i t h each o t h e r about w h a t ' s going on, what t h e y t h i n k , and how t h e y f e e l .

Racism i s o n e o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l oppressions i n t h i s society, along with s e x i s m , c l a s s , homophobia, d i s l a b i l i t y . A l l of the oppressions operate i n much t h e same way, a n d a l t o g e t h e r t h e y weave t h e f a b r i c o f o p p r e s s i v e s o c i e t y t h a t we w e r e a l l thrown i n t o a t b i r t h , a r e formed b y , a n d d e a l w i t h e v e r y d a y i n o u r s e l v e s and w i t h o t h e r s . U n l e a r n i n g Racism w o r k s h o p s o f f e r a n alternative to despair. By JOANNE ARNOTT

dear Sam S l a n d e r s ,

Do you h a v e a n y p u l l a r o u n d h e r e ?

I'm h a v i n g h u g e p r o b l e m s w i t h Lhe bozo who e d i t s t h e C a r n e g i e N e w s l e t t e r . Yours, Dinwidd i e

H i Paul,

Dear D i n w i d d i e ,

Thanks f o r t a k i n g t i m e o u t f r o m your busy s c h e d u l e t o always keep u s p o s t e d t h r o u g h t h e Newsletter. I r e a l l y must a p o l o g i s e f o r n o t p u t t i n g a n o t e i n t h e N e w s l e t t e r bef o r e t h i s t h a n k i n g every one f o r t h e Great s u c c e s s o f o u r A n n i v e r s a r y Dinner. But as you h a v e p r o b a b l y h e a r d by now, G e o r g e h a s b e e n d i a g n o s e d w i t h l u n g c a n c e r a n d t h e y a r e now w a i t i n g f o r t h e f i r s t a v a i l a b l e bed f o r him f o r t e s t s a n d f u t u r e p l a n n i n g . ( I t r e a l l y looks serious) but of c o u r s e my p r a y e r i s t h a t t h e y a r e a l l wrong i t c o u l d n ' t b e t r u e . So i f you c o u l d j u s t d r o p a few l i n e s i n t h e n e ~ c s l e t t e ron o u r b e h a l f I would really appreciate it. Hope t o see you i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e though. Say H i t o e v e r y o n e . Bye f o r now, L i l l i a n & George H a r r i s o n Box 892, Logan L a k e , BC VOK 1 W O

~ ' m s o r r y p a l , b u t t h e r e ' s n o t much I c a n d o a b o u t t h a t p a r t i c u l a r 3020. However, i f you c o n e up w i t h a good p l a n t o g e t r i d o f him, l e t me know and I ' l l t r y t o h e l p o u t . Y r s . Truly Sam S l a n d e r s

SAFEWAY

PETER A L D E N h j A G O W A N

Oaklaxd, Calif:

415-891-3000

-

hlAHKET VALUE. $1.1 bil. D Hor114/5/42, New York, N . Y.;'\N (Amer.

I would l i k e t o t h a n k Tora and t h e Carnegie Newsletter f o r the a r t i c l e " F a l l i n g from Grace" ( J a n u a r y 1) Reading a b o u t ~ o r a ' sy o u t h , I recogn i z e d a p e r f e c t s i m i l a r i t y w i t h my own s L o r y . FurLhermore, I n e v e r r e a d a b e t L e r and c l e a r e r d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e Native Indian people's s i t u a t i o n . Long ago I t h o u g h t t h a t I was a l o n e w i ~ hmy i n d i v i d u a l , unorthodox p h i l o sophy. Today I s e e t h a t t h e number of p e o p l e , t h i n k i n g l i k e Tora and me, i s m u l ~ i p l y i n gl i k e mushrooms everywhere i n t h e world and t h e a t t i ~ u d eof t h e Indian people is primordial t o t h i s changing. I t i s v e r y much p r o b a b l e t h a t changes i n t h e c o n s t e l l a t i o n of s t a r s i n f l u e n c e human b e h a v i o u r . I n my o p i n i o n t h e r e i s a p e r f e c t intercommunication sysLem between t h e d i f f e r e n t atoms of the universe. Those atoms a r e t h e e l e m e n t a r y b u i l d i n g s t o n e s of e v e r y thing. T h i s means t h a t e a c h atom i n t h e s t a r s can communicate w i t h e a c h aLom i n a human b r a i n . Consequently, d i f f e r e n t k i n d s of s t a r c o n s t e l l a t i o n s can i n f l u e n c e d i f f e r e n t l y o u r m e n t a l and s p i r i t u a l system. The mechanism o f Lhis a ~ o m i ci n t e r c o m m u n i c a ~ i o n i s exp l a i n e d i n my book h he L i v i n g Atoms" (Les ALomes v i v a n t s ) . With t h e h e l p of t h i s new c o n c e p l , t h e a r t of A s t r o l o g y w i l l become a r e a l i s t i c s c i e n t i f i c ~ o o ls e r v i n g humanity. Anyway i t may b e , now w e s h o u l d l o o k i n t o t h c f u t u r e w i t h more o p ~ i m i s m . We can hope t h a t t h e p r e s e n t world-wide c h a o s w i l l end i n a fundamental change o f human b e h a v i o u r .

.

Adding s o m e t h i n g t o T o r a ' s e x c e l l e n t a r t i c l e , I would l i k e L O m e n t i o n t h a t t h e upcoming f u n d a m e n t a l change was p r e d i c t e d long-ago by some w e l l known philosophers. F o r example, t h e o u t s t a n d i n g French h u m a n i s t A l e x i s C a r r e l (1873-1944) w r o t e t h e f o l l o w i n g sent e n c e i n h i s book "Man t h e Unknown": " I n o r d e r t o r e c o n s t r u c t our pers o n a l i t y we must b r e a k t h e frame of t h e s c h o o l , f a c t o r y and o f f i c e , and r e j e c t t h e v e r y p r i n c i p l e s of the technological civilization." Etienne Szekely Box 1198 Rossland, B.C.

To Diane MacKenzie..

.

The p a i n came r o l l i n g and smashing - d e b i l i t a t i n g

t

She s t o o d a s a woman t o f i g h t the pain

I

T r y i n g e v e r y weapon she could f i n d

i

I n t h e end of c o u r s e s h e won. As every t r u e warrior Who h a s ' l e f t ' on t h e i r side w i l l . Get w e l l we l o v e you. S h e i l a Baxter

I

i

I h e war i n t h e Middle E a s t came on t h e b a s i s of New Y e a r ' s r e s o l u t i o n s . The Ame r i c a n s w i t h t h e i r v a s t armada of p l a n e s swooped o v e r t h e c i t y of Baghdad and loosed a well-planned m i s s i l e a t t a c k on i t . Ply p e r c e p t i o n of Baghdad h a s always been f i l l e d w i t h e x o t i c s t u f f - T a l e s of Arabian N i g h t s , a c i t y of camels and baza a r s and Arabs d r e s s e d i n embroidered tun i c s and baggy s i l k t r o u s e r s , shoes w i t h c u r l e d up t o e s and t u r b a n s , of c o u r s e . T l ~ ep i c t u r e s we s e e on TV of Saddam Husse i n don' t match my v i s i o n a t a l l . He l o o k s a l i t t l e l i k e somebody you might s e e i n a movie s e t i n t h e back s t r e e t s of C a i r o , maybe a c h a r a c t e r from Casablanca, a s e l l e r of d r u g s , a m y s t e r i o u s d a r k stra n g e r who d e a l s i n sudden s i l e n t d e a t h . And s o he i s a d e a l e r i n d e a t h , t h e d k a t h of h i s own p e o p l e , and t h e s l o p p y haphaza r d m i s s i l e - d i r e c t e d d e a t h s of r e s i d e n t s i n l'el Aviv and S a u d i Arabia. Now he can be accused of k i l l i n g t h e environment too - a l l t h o s e b i r d s covered i n s l i c k b l a c k from t h e gushing o i l r e l e a s e d o u t of-Kuw a i t . We a r e t o l d t h a t t h e w a t e r supp-ly i u t h e Gulf could be a f f e c t e d f o r up t o t e n y e a r s a f t e r s e t t l e m e n t of t h i s war. We a l l thought i t was g o i n g t o be a s h o r t war. We were a s s u r e d of t h i s b e f o r e we g o t t r i c k e d i n t o i t by P r e s i d e n t Bushs anthem of " ~ e t ' sk i c k a s s " went i n t o p l a y . A symbolic war, we were t o l d , a c l e a n p a i n l e s s war, l i k e Nintendo o r a hockey game--just a few s h o t s w i t h a s t r a i g h t wllite s t i c k and a powerful puck and t h e game would be o v e r . "Let t h e r e be war," d e c l a r e d M r . Bush and b e f o r e you could b l i n k an e y e , t h e r e was. L i k e t h e t i t l e of a romance n o v e l , o r maybe a h u r r i c a n e , U p e r a t i o n D e s e r t Storm was born. A t 3:50 on J a n u a r y 16, I s a t i n my c a r , w a i t i n g f o r i t t o warm up and I a c t u a l l y peard tile bombs e x p l o d i n g on Baghdad. Amazing. And s o i t h a s been e v e r s i n c e . But i n t h e b e g i n n i n g , we b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e w i g s i l e s were s o d i r e c t e d t h a t they wpuld ~ , n l yh i t t a r g e t s l i k e m i s s i l e s t o r a g e . warehouses and communications c e n t r e s . d o t peopLe -- heavens, no. Now we know t h a t we s e e and h e a r o n l y what t h e U.S. waqts u s t o s e e and hear. News i s f i n e l y

s t r a i n e d through a s i e v e by t h e g e n e r a l s and George ~ u s h ' sgroup of f i l t e r e r s . But t h i s i s o l d i n f o r m a t i o n now. I w a s s t r u c k by t h e immediacy of t h e war when i t f i r s t beganbut now I s e e i t l s no: a s immediate 'as I o r i g i n a l l y t h o u g h t , d e s p i t e C N N ' s P e t e r A r n c t t who v a l i a n t l y t r i e s t o g i v e u s t h e news from Baghdad. A r n e t t w i l l be a b l e t o d i n e o u t f o r y e a r s on h i s s t o r i e s of t h e time he h a s s p e n t t h e r e . "Lone R e p o r t e r Faces I n c r e d i b l e Odds t o Bring t h e News t o t h e Western World". J o u r n a l i s t s i n I r a q , Kuwait, Saud i Arabia and o t h e r p a r t s of t h e Gulf have been glamorized, a s war r e p o r t e r s have always been. Romantic f i g u r e s ' d o i n g t h e i r j o b ' i n t h e f a c e of t e r r i b l e danger. W e admire them. S e c r e t l y , we want t o BE them. And a l l of u s have i n t h e backs of o u r minds t h e f a n t a s t i c t a l e s of t h e Arab i a n N i g h t s t h a t j u s t won't go away, desp i t e t h e r e a l i t y of chemical w a r f a r e and scud m i s s i l e s and i n s t a n t a n a l y s i s by war specialists. T h i s war seems t o b e happening i n o u r l i v i n g rooms and i n o u r c a r s . But where a r e t h e dead and dying? Where i s t h e blood? A l l c l e a n e d up and p u t away s o o u r e y e s a r e n o t o f f e n d e d by a n y t h i n g n o t c o m p l e t e l y s t e r i l e . We have been f o o l e d i n t o t h i n k i n g we a r e t h e r e . But i t i s n o t o u r b o d i e s who implode. Our h e a r t s do n o t s t o p . Canada i s p a r t of t h e k i l l i n g machine. Saddam Hussein r a n t s ' p u b l i c l y a b o u t t h e need t o s t o p t h e ' i m p e r i a l i s t i n f i d e l ' . Bush s a y s t h e U.S. is a g a i n s t aggr e s s i o n . The h y p o c r i s y is s i c k e n i n g when we watch m i s s i l e s launched by t h e thousands day a f t e r day on h e l p l e s s c i v i l i a n s i n Iraq. I n the recent Iran-Iraq q a r , I r a q used U.S. weapons. And t h e r e was no o p p o s i t i o n v o i c e d by t h e U.S. when I r a q l o o s e d chemical w a r f a r e a g a i n s t t h e Kurds i n a n a l m o s t t o t a l l y s u c c e s s f u l a c t o f genocide. Everybody i s t a k i n g a c u t . The arms d e a l e r s a r e h i g h on t h e l i s t . Think of t h e money t h e y have made. The s t o c k mark e t i n b o t h t h e U.S. and Canada i s d o i n g v e r y w e l l . I r e a d somewhere t h a t a coupl e o f movies a r e soon t o be r e l e a s e d

'

u s i n g t h e Gulf a s a theme, and somebody h a s a l r e a d y produced a war-game, s e t i n t h e P e r s i a n Gulf. Even flag-makers a r e making a buck. P a t r i o t i s m i s i n f a s h i o n again. I d o n ' t know why I am u p s e t because we a r e n ' t s e e i n g any blood on t h e s c r e e n . A f t e r a l l , we a l l know t h a t t h e A l l i e s (who, by t h e way, t h e A l l i e s when you l e a v e o u t t h e U.S.?) are t h e good guys. It would be t o o h a r d t o s o r t o u t t h e men i n t h e w h i t e h a t s from t h o s e wearing b l a c k i f we s a w p i c t u r e s of dead Iraquis. During t h e f i r s t World War, a r t i s t s o a i n t e d war a t r o c i t i e s f o r p o s t e r i t y , b u t t h e s e p i c t u r e s , now i n g a l l e r i e s and w a r museums, w e r e n ' t shown u n t i l a f t e r t h e war. Then d u r i n g World War I1 we watched o u r g l o r i o u s t r o o p s marching i n t o l i b e r a t e still another country. This we saw i n n e w s r e e l s a t movie t h e a t r e s . And we a l l c h e e r e d . I n t h o s e days i t was o k a t t o s e e dead enemies ( a f t e r a l l we were a l l a g r e e d ' t h a t o u r s was a h o l y war a g a i n s t t h e German and J a p a n e s e d e v i l s ) b u t we w e r e s p a r e d t h e s i g h t o f a l l i e s w i t h m i s s i n g l i m b s and dead f r o z e n f a c e s . U n t i l t h e y came home.. o r didn't. Vietnam brought u s c l o s e r through t h e medium of TV. But Canadians were d i s t a n ced from Vietnam. W e watched w i t h dismay and h o r r o r , b u t w i t h a c e r t a i n kind of smugness. It was n o t o u r war. Not u n t i l t h e r e l e a s e o f a f l o o d of f i l m s i n t h e 7 0 ' s & i 8 0 1 s d i d w e become aware t h a t t h e now d e f u n c t w a r i n t h e Far E a s t was EVERYBODY'S war. Apocalypse Now and Good Morning Vietnam seemed t o do i t when t h e news c l i p s d i d n ' t.

are

.

9. D e s e r t Storm i s Canada's war too. Our government h a s decided t o become p a r t of t h e move t o d r i v e Saddam Hussein o u t of Kuwait. So w e a r e involved whether we want t o be o r n o t . D e s p i t e a s t r o n g wave o f anti-war d e m o n s t r a t i o n s and l o b b i e s , t h e government p r e v a i l e d . ~ a n a d as' :at war. As I: s i t h e r e w r i t i n g t h i s , o t h e r wars r u n through my mind. A s a c h i l d I rememb e r l i s t e n i n g t o Lorne Green's v o i c e of doom on t h e CBC d u r i n g WWII, watching my a u n t s k n i t t i n g f o r t h e Red Cross. L a t e r , I r e c a l l b e i n g p a r t of a s t r e e t c e l e b r a t i o n i n small-town O n t a r i o when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed and t h e war w i t h Japan ended. Not one of u s i n thaL jubi l a n t crowd had any concept of t h e t e r r i b l e a t r o c i t y which had j u s t been comm i t t e d on t h e J a p a n e s e people. By us. And I can remember t h e anger I f e l t d u r i n g t h e Cuban c r i s i s . What r i g h t , I f e l t , had a n American p r e s i d e n t t o make d e c i s i o n s t h a t would a f f e c t t h e l i v e s of MY c h i l d r e n ? That was an imminent t h r e a t which s e n t waves of f e a r through t h e h e a r t s of Canadians. More r e c e n t l y we remember t h e i n c i d e n t i n Tianamen Square, where c h i l d r e n were gunned down i n f r o n t of o u r e y e s a s we watched t h e news on TV. We could a c t u a l l y s e e t h e l o o k of b e t r a y a l and unb e l i e f on t h e f a c e s of t h e young s t u d e n t s f l e e i n g from t h e t a n k s t h a t lumbe r e d i n t o t h e i r midst. This moment was s h a r e d by a l l of us. We were t h e r e . And even w i t h t h e censored news we g e t from t h e Gulf, we a r e almost t h e r e f o r t h i s war too. I f e e l a t e r r i b l e

The study of war has taught me that almost every war was avoidable and that the outbreak was most often produced by statesmen losing their heads or their patience, and putting their opponent in a position where he could not draw back without serious loss of fact - Captain Basil Liddell Hart

p e r s o n a l a n g u i s h f o r t h e dead and dying, and t h e i r f a m i l i e s , today i n Baghdad. I t might sound l i k e a f o o t b a l l game when P r e s i d e n t Bush s a y s " ~ e t ' s k i c k a s s , " and i t may sound l i k e a h o l y war when Hussein s p o u t s h i s r h e t o r i c . But t h e war i s widening, i f I might borrow t h e j a r gon used by t h e U.S. The U.S. h a s j e t s i n Turkey and now I r a q h a s p u t down p l a n e s i n I r a n . What does i t a l l mean? Could we be c r e a t i n g o u r own Armeggedon? Is t h i s ' i n s t a n t r e p l a y ' war sowing t h e s e e d s of o u r own d e s t r u c t i o n - - o f t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e world? The poor s e a b i r d covered w i t h b l a c k o i l I was y e s t e r d a y on TV s t a y s i n my mind. Of c o u r s e I know i t ' s supposed t o s t a y i n my mind. I ' m aware t h a t I ' m supposed t o h a t e Saddam Hussein a l i t t l e more than b e f o r e because of t h e o i l f i l l i n g t h e ocean and k i l l i n g t h e environment. Well, a s I s e e i t , Saddam Hussein i s a s i n i s t e r thug who h a s p u l l e d o f f a major h e i s t . George Bush a p p e a r s t o be s e e i n g himself as t h e policeman of t h e world. He i s on a c r u s a d e t o r i g h t t h e wrongs begun by t h e i n v a s i o n o f Kuwait. But do we know f o r s u r e who p u l l e d t h e p l u g on t h e o i l t h a t i s f a s t c r e a t i n g t h e b i g g e s t s l i c k of them a l l ? Do you know? Do I ? I have g r a v e s u s p i c i o n s t h a t we've been had. I t h i n k t h e AmericanI s r a e l i a l l i a n c e h a s dragged B r i t a i n & Canada & t h e o t h e r s i n t o t h i s war under t h e seeming u m b r e l l a of t h e United Nat i o n s . But what i f i t ' s a l l a b i g con? What i f t h e u n d e r c u r r e n t of g o s s i p we h e a r whispered i s t r u e ? So, w i t h m i l l i o n s of o t h e r Canadians, I w a i t . . i n f e a r and t r e p i d a t i o n . . t h e c o n t i n u i n g r e p l a y of D e s e r t Storm. By ANNE RAYVALS

He's beginning to distinguish fact from fantasy. I kissed his boo-boo and it didn't get better.

Don't Get :i '

Forward, Joe Soap's Army, Marching without fear, With our old commander , Safely in the rear!

L

r

-

~

- A Soldier's Song

Get Smarter

;

I

I

ORPHANS

To be l e f t f o r l o r n abandoned e a r l y on L i f e ' s t r a i l . To f a c e a l o n e t o learn Life alone by chance, by e r r o r a t t h e d a n g l i n g end o f t h e raw broken c h a i n . that continuity lost. My mother, who a r e you? What a r e you? My daddy, who a r e you? What a r e you? Every l e s s o n , l e a r n t t h r u p a i n . Every p i t f a l l , s u r e t o I step. Unwarned, unprepared my Gramma, who a r e you? What v o i d i n my h e a r t would you f i l l ? What h e i g h t s o f L i f e Would you have l i f t e d me? What i s t h a t S i l e n c e you would have f i l l e d That s p a c e o n l y e c h o i n g i n t o itself.

The C a r n e g i e G a l l e r y , 3 r d f l o o r , i s a v a i l a b l e a t no c o s t f o r i n d i v i d u a l s who would l i k e t o p r e s e n t a c u l t u r a l d i s p l a y o r showing. I f you a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n having a showing a t t h e G a l l e r y , p l e a s e c o n t a c t DONALDA VIAUI) - Monday t o Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm i n t h e t h i r d f l o o r program o f f i c e , o r l e a v e a message f o r h e r a t t h e I n f o Desk on t h e 1st f l o o r . A sample of your work i s r e q u i r e d b e f o r e a time s l o t w i l l be approved.

Not knowing What p a i n of L i f e Am I m i s s i n g ? My momma, my daddy. Why d i d you p u t me i n t h i s S i l e n c e ? I f my h e a r t c o u l d b r e a k might I c a t c h a glimmer o f what t h e y c a l l L i f e ? My momma, e v e r y t h i n g i s s o empty and s o s i l e n t . My momma, i f my e y e s could open i f my e a r s could h e a r Beyond t h a t , they s a y t h e r e ' s a heart. And t h a t h e a r t c o u l d open My daddy, what d o e s t h a t mean? My daddy, i f I had a h e a r t and maybe i f i t c o u l d b r e a k Would t h e n my h e a r t be opened? Where are you? What a r e you? Tearless I sit dreamless I s l e e p

...

William Dominic

w*

T h i s i s a r e p l y t o S t e v e Rose's " P l e a s e , someone h a s g o t t o h e l p me!" T h i s p i e c e of v e r b a l d i a r h g a , t o Mr. ~ o s es' c r e d i t , b r i n g s t o mind some c . ~ o i c e words of wisdom - " l i s t e n t o o t h e r s , even t h e d u l l and i g n o r a n t , t h e y too have t h e i r s t o r y " . Our d e a r E d i t o r must have had t h i s i n mind when he c o n s i d e r e d p r i n t i n g t h i s r a b b l e . He (Rose) probably does need h e l p , b u t I q u e s t i o n h i s c a p a c i t y t o " l e a r n and understand" i f h i s p r e v i o u s t i d b i t i s any i n d i c a t o r of ' v o i d ' a r e a s . 1 must extend s p e c i a l t h a n k s t o o u r Edi t o r f o r e d i t i n g o u t some v e r y d e r i s i v e a d j e c t i v e s t h a t M r . Rose had i n c l u d e d . Something l i k e " p i s s e d drunk" i n r e f e r ence t o N a t i v e s on t h e c i t y s t r e e t s . ~ e t ' spray t h a t a l l p e r s o n s working i n t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e do n o t become a s c a l l o u s and i n s e n s i t i v e t o t h e i r neighbours a s M r . Rose o b v i o u s l y has. C e r t a i n l y a b o r i g i n a l Canadians want t o c h e r i s h and m a i n t a i n t h e i r " h e r i t a g e , c u l t u r e and language". The v a l u e of t h e s e t h i n g s i s immeasureable, and cannot be mistaken when viewed i n comparison t o t h e h i s t o r i c a l l y i l l u s t r i o u s "WHITE1' c u l t u r e , with i t s preoccupation with m a t e r i a l gain and t h e r i g h t e o u s n e s s of i t s Manifest Destiny rationale. The movie DANCES WITH WOLVES a c c u r a t e l y d e p i c t s t h e v a l u e s and c u l t u r e of a p e o p l e t h a t "WHITES" could " l e a r n " from. Not o n l y "WHITES", but peop l e of e v e r y c o l o u r , i n c l u d i n g ' N a t i v e s ' who have l o s t touch w i t h t h e s p i r i t u a l s i d e of t h i s e a r t h l y e x i s t e n c e . Rose seems t o t h i n k t h a t when F i r s t NaLions make p r o g r e s s i n t h e Land Claims p r o c e s s , t h a t he w i l l be l e f t w i t h o u t a p o t t o p i s s i n . That f e a r undoubtedly stems from h i s p r e s e n t p o s i t i o n , which i s w i t h o u t a p o t t o p i s s i n , a s a n "oppressed white". W e n o n e ' s own p e o p l e d o e s n ' t a l l o w one any d i g n i t y , I suppose i t ' s a b i t much t o e x p e c t t o be t r e a t e d any d i f f e r e n t l y by t h e new l a n d l o r d . However, kose s h o u l d n o t a t t r i b u t e t o F i r s t Nat i o n s m o t i v e s t h e common and p e r v a s i v e c u l t u r e (which t r a i t s of h i s own "WHITE" he seems t o have abandoned, o r been abandoned by!). C e r t a i n l y F i r s t Nations would be wrong t o assume t h a t one "WHITE" Asshola i s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h a t e n t i r e

,.

BC

r a c e . Before g e n e r a l i z i n g , i t ought t o understand t h a t dumping them a l l t o g e t h e r i n t h e same p i l e o f s h i t i s n o t c o r r e c t . I do n o t want t o c o n f u s e t h e i s s u e ( o r Rose) by going i n t o a l l t h e f i n e d e t a i l s about Land Claims; whether based on t r e a t y e n t i t l e m e n t o r t h e p r i n c i p l e of a b o r i g i n a l occupancy; o r whether t h e y a r e necessary t o r e d r e s s h i s t o r i c a l grievances and/or a l s o t o s e c u r e t h e c u l t u r a l , polit i c a l , o r economic f u t u r e of F i r s t Nat i o n s ; o r t h a t P r o v i n c i a l governments have been r e l u c t a n t , d e s p i t e l e g a l and o t h e r o b l i g a t i o n s ( t r y moral) t o recogn i z e and n e g o t i a t e l a n d c l a i m s where t h e i r j u r i s d i c t i o n a l , economic and o t h e r i n t e r e s t s a p p e a r t h r e a t e n e d ; o r t h a t prov i n c i a l governments have t o c o n f r o n t demands from p o l i t i c a l l y powerful groups such a s t h e n a t u r a l resource i n d u s t r y , t h e a g r i c u l t u r e industry, outdoor associa t i o n s and o t h e r s who want t o e n s u r e t h a t any d e a l s s t r u c k w i t h F i r s t N a t i o n s do n o t a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t t h e i r own i n t e r e s t s ; e t al. s u c h as t h e t r u s t r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e g e d e r a l government. (The o n l y ones b e n e f i t t i n g a r e t h e lawyers.) What's t h e r e t o " l e a r n and understand"? ? The s i m p l e message behind Land Olaims i s t h a t F i r s t N a t i o n s a r e a b l e t o become a 'conscience' f o r t h e Establishment. F i r s t Nations a r e s a y i n g t h a t governments cannot go on t a k i n g t h i n g s a s t h e y s e e f i t ; and i t i s t h e F i r s t N a t i o n s which a r e s a y i n g t h a t your own l e g a l system i s being used t o prod your memory a b o u t cent u r i e s of promises and " ~ p p r e s s i o n " . F i r s t Nations a r e a l s o s a y i n g t h a t i f 'progress' continues a t i t s present r a t e , t h e same ends w i l l be a c h i e v e d a s M r . Hussein i s a c h i e v i n g by more d i r e c t methods today. F i r s t Nations a r e a s k i n g f o r land entitlement s o t h a t a responsible c a r e t a k e r , n o t owner, w i l l be a b l e t o show some c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r t h e l a n d , and t h e r e s o u r c e s t h a t everyone depends upon. By BOB KIYOSHK

. .

Days of i n s a n i t y down h e r e Misery, p r o f a n i t y , i n s u l t s , Bad l a n g u a g e . E l Salvadorians, Chinese, Natives & much more - on H a s t i n g s S t r e e t . Richman, Poorman, a s q u a r e , a s t r i p . . Got t o be h i p . H a v e n ' t g o t a chance t o l o s e my g r i p . 9 On r e a l i t y down h e r e on o u r s t r i p . W e l f a r e day i s Gonna go t o my So I c a n g e t a f e e l i n g s about ...........empty

T r a n s i t i o n House Opening Doors The Board o f D i r e c t o r s of t h e Helpi n g S p i r i t Lodge S o c i e t y w i s h e s t o announce A p r i l 1 5 , 1991 a s t h e d a t e f o r i t s t r a n s i t i o n home f a c i l i t y t o begin o p e r a t i o n s . This i n i t i a t i v e is t h e f i r s t of i t s k i n d i n t h e G r e a t e r Vancouver a r e a , and w i l l a d d r e s s t h e unique n e e d s o f t h e a b o r i g i n a l commun i t y and v i c t i m s of d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e . The home w i l l o f f e r s h e l t e r and supp o r t f o r t e n women and t h e i r c h i l d r e n . S i g n i f i c a n t l y , t h e home w i l l p r o v i d e o p t i o n s t o remaining i n abusive s i t u ations. T r a i n e d c o u n s e l l o r s w i l l be on hand t o a s s i s t c l i e n t s i n a r e a s of p h y s i c a l , p s y c h o l o g i c a l and s e x u a l abuse. The S o c i e t y i s p r o p o s i n g t o expand i t s s e r v i c e s t o i n c l u d e a b u s e r s and c h i l d r e n , i n a d d i t i o n t o women and e l d e r s . P u b l i c l e g a l e d u c a t i o n and a w a r e n e s s w i l l , of n e c e s s i t y , be a maj. o r f o c u s of t h e s o c i e t y ' s work. For f u r t h e r i n f o , c a l l 872-6649.

gonna make a l l pay l i t t l e room lay..dream..scared.. t h e n e x t 'down h e r e 1 . pockets. Frank J o e

.

Kesiden ~ i 1 aTenancy AcL ....................... The f i g h t Lo have p e o p l e l i v i n g i n r e s i d e n t i a l h o t e l s included under t h i s l e g i s l a t i o n began i n 1 9 7 3 , when DERA ljI.li;i i s tlle 1)owntown E a s t s i d e R e s i was formed. F i n a l l y , i n 1990, changes ~ c , I ; L ~A ' s s u c i a t i o n and DEKAHS i s DEKA were made and l a n d l o r d s h a v e t o d o i t I l o u s i n ~S o c i e t y . The AGM was h e l d a t (rent increases, evictions, renovate, ~ l r cnewes L a d d i t i o n , P e n d e r a , which by-law s t a n d a r d s , e t c . ) l e g a l l y . Debra o l ) e ~ l e di n Flay and h o u s e s o v e r 100 s p o k e o f he n e c e s s a r y l e t t e r s , c a l l s seniors i n a b e a u t i f u l b u i l d i n g a t 1 3 3 and o n - s i t e c o n f r o n t a t i o n s t o e d u c a t e 1J. I'cnder. l a n d l o r d s & m a n a g e r s a b o u t t h e law. I t IJownLowll 1 k l ) o si t P r o j e c t o f t e n i n c l u d e s o t h e r problem a r e a s n o t ........................ s p e c i f i c a l l y u n d e r Lhe RTA, b u t t h e ' 1 ' 1 1 ~ p r e v a i l i n g t h r e a ~t o many r e s i d e n t s , o r b e i n g mugged f o r t h e i r a s s i s t - b r o a d e n i n g n e t w o r k o f DERA s e r v i c e s i s r i g h t aL hand a s p e o p l e l e a r n r i g h t s . ance cheques, is being s u c c e s s f u l l y S e n i o r s Help I n i t i a i i v e P r o j e c t ............................... Opening bank b a t t l e d w i t 1 1 his work. I).E.i:.h./D.E.K.A.H.S. Aniiua1 ( ; e n e r a 1 Flee Ling

~ C C O U I I L S , applying f o r I D , having the I I ~ O I I L(.11eque I I I Y d e p o s i t e d d i r e c t l y , and s t r c 5 e ~ - l e v e la c c e s s f o r o t h e r DERA s e r v i c e s Iras been o n g o i n g s i n c e his projcic.t began. Nunhers - o v e r 1100 c l i e n t s and ;I 1hZ d e c l i n e i n muggings - h a v e (.onv i nccd t h e M i n i s t r y o f S o c i a l S e r v i ( , c > sb l l o u s i n g t o make t h i s a n "on;:o i 11;; program" w i ~ hs e c u r e f u n d i n g . 'I'l~e1)1)P i s now l o c a t e d a t 3 3 I.!. Cordo v a , s h a r i n g s p a c e w i t h ALICE. Staff i s Ikllc Mosely and Sam S n o b e l e n . Advocacy ---

SHIP-SHAPE had a d i s p l a y / i n f o r m a t i o n set-up at t h e P a c i f i c N a t i o n a l Exhibit i o n where s e n i o r s and r e s i d e n t s c o u l d show p e o p l e w h a ~good s o c i a l h o u s i n g was a b o u t . This p r o j e c t is o f , f o r & by s e n i o r s . Members p a r t i c i p a t e d i n 3 c o n f e r e n c e s o v e r t h e y e a r and a r e a c L i v e i n c i v i c and p r o v i n c i a l f o r u m s . On t h e f u n , comniunity l e v e l , t h e r e was a t r a i n e x c u r s i o n , bingo i s h e l d every o t h e r week aL Four S i s L e r s , d i n n e r s were he1 d aL b o 11~ T h a n k s g i v i n g and C h r i s t m a s and Lhe ~ i d s 'ChrisLmas P a r i y was h o s t e d by SKIP-SLiAPE. T h e i r n e x t I;unding from t h e Law F o u n d a t i o n h a s hope i s t o g e t a g r a n t u n d e r "New H o r i 3 f 11 1 1-L imc a d v o c a ~ e si n t h i s d e p a r l s o n s " f o r ALICE. mcut. I k e d a , Tony and Barb have h e l p e d A Low Income Community Endeavour ovcsr 3000 w a l k - i n c l i e n t s i n t h e l a s t . ................................ y e a r w ~ t ha v a r i e L y of d i f F i c u l t i e s , A.L.I.C.E. ( f o r s h o r ~ )i s " j u s t - a r a n g i n g wit11 w e l f a r e , U I , G A I N f o r he b o u ~ - r e a d y " L O open aL 3 3 W.Cordova. I l < ~ n d i c a p p e d ,a p p e a l s , t i b u n a l s , and I t w i l l be a c o - o p e r a t i v e s t o r e f o r income tax/(;Sr1' a p p l i c a l i o n s . With t h e s e n i o r s and l o c a l r e s i d e n L s t o g e t work d o n e o v e r t h e phone as w e l l , o v e r q u a l i t y s u p p l i e s a n d gome f o o d s t u f f s 5000 p e o p l e have c a l l e d D E M f o r advoa t very reasonable prices. cacy a s s i s t a n c e .

, i

? I

Mousing ------DERAHS now manages 5 h o u s i n g s i t e s , 4 of which they were r e s p o n s i b l e f o r f r o m i d e a t o work t o b u r e a u c r a t i c r e d tape t o b a t t l i n g p o l i t i c i a n s t o being f r o m t h e g r o u n d up. The DERA open Co-op ( 6 3 5 A l e x a n d e r ) , Four S i s t e r s Co-op (153 P o w e l l ) , T e l l i e r Tower ( 1 6 E . H a s t i n g s ) , and P e n d e r a ( 1 3 3 W.Pender) a r e o r i g i n a l w i t h DERA and M a r i e Gomez P l a c e (590 A l e x a n d e r ) i s u n d e r DERAHS. A new s i t e f o r f a m i l y h o u s i n g (Union S t r e e t ) w i l l be r e p o r t e d o n s o o n . The Rainbow H o t e l , c l o s e d and e m p t i e d o v e r a y e a r a g o , w i l l s o o n b e u n d e r DERAHS a s i n t e r i m , emergency h o u s i n g . R elocator ---------

...

Stephen Learey and J i m Green, s e e k i n g funding f o r t h i s c r u c i a l job, g o t t h e p r o v i n c i a l government t o fund a f u l l time r e l o c a t o r . Barb D a n i e l spoke of how t h e C i t y o f V a n c o u v e r , a f t e r ref u s i n g t o fund h e r job, g o t embarrassed a s h e l l when t h e y f o u n d o u t t h a t t h e P r o v i n c e was d o i n g i t a n d p u t up h a l f t h e money. B a r b ' s work i s t o f i n d s h e l t e r and f i n a l l y h o u s i n g f o r p e o p l e who l o s e s u c h b e c a u s e o f e v i c t i o n , demolition o r d i s a s t e r ( l i k e a f i r e ) . The l a s t i s t h e h a r d e s t , s i n c e p e o p l e w i l l u s u a l l y h a v e j u s t t h e c l o t h e s on t h e i r b a c k s and i t may b e ( h a s b e e n ) a t n i g h t as w e l l . With t h e Rainbow H o t e l , mentioned above, t h e R e l o c a t o r ' s o f f i c e and work w i l l b e on t h e m a i n f l o o r of t h i s place ( C a r r a l l & Hastings; R ecycling --------T h i s w a s one of t h e most d i f f i c u l t p - r o -j e c L s t o g e t f u n d i n g f o r , b u t t h a n k s t o Tom D u r n i n g i t ' s underway. P a t r i c i a Skye i s i n c h a r g e o f t h i s and t h e 5 DEKA b u i l d i n g s a r e a c t i n g a s " p i l o t projects" for recycling at multi-unit dwellings (hotels, apartments, etc.) Newspapers, 3 k i n d s o f g l a s s , t i n and hard p l a s t i c s a r e t h e main i t e m s and b i n s a r e e m p t i e d o n c e a week by t h e

C i t y ' s Recycling Trucks. Thinking, experiment, t r i a l & e r r o r . . a l l w i l l h e l p t h i s model p r o j e c t b e u s e d a l l o v e r t h e c i t y and o t h e r c i t i e s a s w e l l . Chinese S e n i o r s --------------Ever s i n c e t h e S e n i o r s ' S t r u t began, t h e DERA s e n i o r s ( e s p e c i a l l y C h i n e s e s e n i o r s ) have c o n s i s t e n t l y brought i n more money i n p l e d g e s t h a n a n y o n e ! Anna Wong h e l p s o r g a n i z e t h i s , a s w e l l as t h e a n n u a l DERA d i n n e r , a n d o f f e r s a i d i n c a s e s w i t h w e l f a r e , U I and t a x , t r a n s l a t i n g wherever n e c e s s a r y . Guest Speaker The n e w e s t COPE C o u n c i l l o r , M s . P a t Wilson, thanked a l l p r e s e n t f o r t h e i r h e l p d u r i n g t h e r e c e n t e l e c t i o n , and t o l d o f how Campbell c o n t i n u e s t o r e d u c e p e o p l e ' s a c c e s s t o C i t y H a l l and Council meetings. P a t i s no s t r a n g e r t o t h e NPA's m a n i p u l a t i v e t e c h n i q u e s and p r o m i s e d t o s t a y f r e s h i n t h e f i g h t . A s J i m Green s a i d , "We now h a v e 2 g r e a t s t a r s a t C i t y Hall - P a t b L i b b y D a v i e s " By PAULR

+@P918#9#@

TAYLOR

Community Meeting on OPPENHEIMER PARK Over f o r t y p e o p l e showed up Tuesday, January 15, t o d i s c u s s t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e p a r k . Some Over f o r t y p e o p l e showed up Tuesday January 1 5 . . t o d i s c u s s t h e d i r e c t i o n of t h e P a r k . Some of t h e s e p e o p l e were r e s i d e n t s , o t h e r s were s t a f f from l o c a l a g e n c i e s , l o c a l m e r c h a n t s and P a r k u s e r s . C a r n e g i e h a s two s t a f f p e o p l e worki n g i n t h e P a r k t h i s w i n t e r and i n t h e spring. This i s a unique a s t h e p a r k s i n Vancouver do n o t have w i n t e r program s t a f f . The C i t y h a s funded t h e s e p o s i t i o n s a s a r e s u l t of p r e s s u r e s on t h e P a r k . By h o l d i n g t h i s m e e t i n g , we hoped t o make t h e communi t y aware of Pam Brown and S t e v e J o h n s t o n e . We a l s o hoped t o work w i t h t h e community t o d e a l w i t h t h e drug & a l c o h o l a c t i v i t y i n t h e Park. L i v e l y d i s c u s s i o n and b r a i n s t o r m i n g went on f o r o v e r two h o u r s . Mark G a f f , t h e community r e p . from t h e Vancouver P o l i c e , answered q u e s t i o n s

about p o l i c i n g procedures, complaint response time, e t c . Suggestions s u c h a s Pam and S t e v e w e a r i n g j a c k e t s o r something t h a t s a i d "Park S t a f f t ' a r e p r a c t i c a l and e a s y t o i m p l i m e n t ; o t h e r s u g g e s t i o n s a r e l o n g e r term. The " ~ e i g h b o u r h o o d Watch" ( g e t t i n g e v e r y o n e t o r e p o r t unwanted b e h a v i o u r ) w i l l take longer. The i d e a o f encour a g i n g g r o u p s i n t h e neighbourhood t o u s e t h e P a r k w i t h group a c t i v i t i e s w i l l be e x p l o r e d . I t was p o i n t e d o u t by one o f t h e r e s i d e n t s t h a t t h e problems i n t h e P a r k do n o t s t a r t and s t o p a t t h e b o u n d a r i e s of Oppenheimer. They a r e j u s t more o b v i o u s and sometimes more c o n g e s t e d i n t h e open a r e a . Many o t h e r s u g g e s t i o n s and comments were p u t f o r w a r d . Donalda t o o k n o t e s and w i l l have them w r i t t e n up. Pam & Steve agreed t o d i s t r i b u t e copies. I f you want a copy check w i t h them. We a l l a g r e e d we'd l i k e a few more meetings t o monitor t h e s i t u a t i o n . I t was s u g g e s t e d t h a t we h o l d a n o t h e r one i n March and maybe a g a i n i n June. I f y o u ' r e i n t e r e s t e d , watch f o r t h e n o t i c e s i n t h e N e w s l e t t e r and around t h e Park. By MJGGS SIGURGEIRSON

*

POETRY NIGHT

!

The second Carnegie P o e t r y n i g h t s i n c e V i o l a Thomas began f i l l i n g i n f o r A i c i a was h e l d on J a n u a r y 25th. It wa w e l l a t t e n d e d and V i o l a h a s done an e x c e l l e n t job of f i n d i n g guest speakers. Everyone d i d a m a r v e l l o u s j o b of p r e s e n t i n g t h e i r w r i t i n g and spoke r i g h t from t h e h e a r t . Maria Campbell t o l d u s about t h e problems a r i s i n g when you a r e from two d i f f e r e n t c u l tures. She w r o t e Half-Breed; a l s o J e s s i c a . Maria and a f r i e n d r e a d a few s c e n e s from t h e l a t t e r book. Debra C h a r l i e a c t s f o r a n a t i v e thea t r e c a l l e d S p i r i t Song. She r e a d p a r t of a p l a y s h e w r o t e f o r t h i s p a r t i c u l a r group. L a r r y w r o t e and r e a d a poem about t h e Capilano t r a i l s , which many Carnegie u s e r s have f i r s t - h a n d experience o f . V i o l e t Beston r e a d a poem s h e w r o t e d u r i n g World War I1 and played t h e piano w h i l e r e c i t i n g i t . The a u d i e n c e went w i l d a f t e r s h e completed t h e Ind i a n Love C a l l on t h e piano. V i o l e t thoroughly enjoyed h e r s e l f a s everyone was s o warm and f r i e n d l y . V i o l a h a s booked a p l a y on domestic v i o l e n c e f o r February 15 and 16. Childc a r e i s b e i n g provided by t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e Women's C e n t r e s o we a r e hopi n g f o r a good t u r n o u t . It i s f r e e . By IRENE SCHMIDT

Thank you f o r your l e t t e r of 1011 c o n c e r n i n g t h e f u n d i n g of t h e Carnegie I have a p p r e c i a t e d your Newsletter. s u p p o r t i n p u b l i s h i n g my comments on various i s s u e s over these past years and I am p l e a s e d t o e n c l o s e a c o n t r i bution. The Carnegie N e w s l e t t e r p l a y s an i m p o r t a n t r o l e i n t h e l i v e s of many Downtown E a s t s i d e r e s i d e n t s and I wish you much s u c c e s s a s Carnegie C e n t r e s t a r t s i t s second decade i n s e r v i c e . Should t h e Carnegie N e w s l e t t e r f i n d i t s e l f i n d i f f i c u l t s t r a i g h t s again, please f e e l f r e e t o write. Darren Lowe

*

Thanks f o r t h e n e w s l e t t e r . We apprec i a t e knowing w h a t ' s going on down t h e r e . Happy New Year! ~ & e The , Rubinsons Mendel, P a u l a , E l i and S a u l

*

I e n c l o s e $10 as a d o n a t i o n t o your I a p p r e c i a t e your v e r y worthy paper. a t t e n t i o n t o our L e t t e r s t o t h e E d i t o r and wish you and your paper c o n t i n u e d s u c c e s s i n o u r community.

Herman L i t s k y ps:

1 I m not a r i c h m a a i s t r a t e , only on a f i x e d pension.

El

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

A

STD CLINIC - Monday t h r u F r i d a y , 9:00 - 5:00 F R E E MEDICAL CLINIC - Monday, Wed. 6 F r i . 5:30-7:30. NEEDLE EXCHANGE - 221 Main, e v e r y d a y , 9:00 - 5:00 Needle Exchange Van - on t h e s t r e e t Mon - S a t evening. ------------------N. A. P k 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 .

I--

Wed*

11 February

UI ).I, u.,1-..

8.C.

((OI)U~-l~lf

THE NEWSLETTER I S A PUBLICATION OF TllE CAlPlECIE COUUUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION.

A r t i c l e s represent t h e views of i n d i v i d u a l c o n t r i b u t o r s and n o t of t h e A s s o c i a t i o n .

FREE

-

donations accepted.

City info s t a f f can't accept donations f o r t h i s Newsletter, s o i f you can h e l p , f i n d P a u l T a y l o r and h e ' l l g i v e you a r e c e i p t . Thanks everybody.

C h a r l e y B.-$30 1991 DONATIONS : Mendel R.-$15 o l y (sven) -$20 Cement Masons -$60 Marilyn S.-$36 Heather M.-$15 Darren L.-$50 Herman L.-$10 C e c i l e C.-$10 E t i e n n e S.-$20

N E E D HELP?

ERA c a n h e l p y o u w i t h :

*

* * * * *

any welfare problems UIC problems getting legal assist unsafe living conditions i n h o t e l s o r a p a r t m en t s disputes with landlords income t a x

DERA i s l o c a t e d a t 9 E a s t o r phone 682-0931.

Hastings

D E R A HAS B E E N SERVING THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE FOR 1 7 YEARS.

A Job Like That Say you worked a t m i s s i l e s i t e M-54. The f i r s t t h i n g t o u n d e r s t a n d i s t h a t you a r e a c i v i l i a n , a n d as a c i v i l i a n a r e n o t e n t i t l e d t o any informat i o n beyond what i s c o n s i d e r e d n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e f u l f i l l m e n t of your d u t i e s . You c a n n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s p a r t i c u l a r missile s i t e i s a n y t h i n g b u t a d i v e r s i o n from t h e real m i s s i l e s i t e s , t h a t t h e missiles i n t h e s i l o s are i n f a c t r e a l , o r t h a t , even i f t h e m i s s i l e s a r e f u n c t i o n a l , t h a t t h e warheads are operational. Your e m p l o y e r , who r e f e r s t o h i m s e l f a s a n a d m i n i s t r a t o r , h a s t o l d you t h a t both you a n d h e are employees o f t h e m i l i t a r y , b u t i t i s u n c l e a r whether o r n o t h e i s i n t h e army, t h o u g h you f e e l s u r e you are n o t c o n s i d e r e d t o be s o . Yet, i t seems p o s s i b l e t h a t y o u r b o s s i s i n f a c t a b u s i n e s s m a n o f s o r t s , and p e r h a p s h i s company h a s some k i n d o f a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e army f o r t h e o p e r a t i o n of the m i s s i l e s i t e . Certainly t h e army i s a w a r e o f t h e s i t e a n d h a s o c c a s i o n a l l y v i s i t e d i t , though i n a capacity t h a t appeared e n t i r e l y informal, and a s f a r as you c a n remember t h e r e was no o n e o f any h i g h r a n k i n any o f t h e j e e p s t h a t h a v e s t o p p e d a t the m i s s i l e site. It i s a l s o possible t h a t you a r e , i n f a c t , a company em-

p l o y e e , b u t f o r some r e a s o n t h e company f e e l s you w i l l p e r f o r m b e t t e r i f you b e l i e v e you are n o t a n employee. I t i s q u i t e l i k e l y t h a t M-54 i s o n l y t h e o f f i c i a l name o f t h e s i t e , n o t t h e a c t u a l name. You h a v e o v e r h e a r d c o n v e r s a t i o n s i n which s i t e s M-110 and M-73 h a v e b e e n a l l u d e d t o , and by tile t o n e w i t h which t h e y were r e f e r r e d t o you g a t h e r t h a t t h i n g s a r e n o t done t h e same a t a l l t h e s i t e s , t h a t t h e r e a r e g l a r i n g d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e way some s i t e s a r e r o u t i n e l y r u n . You h a v e been shown t h e p r o c e d u r e f o r launching t h e m i s s i l e s , but whether o r n o t t h i s p r o c e d u r e would a c t u a l l y launch t h e m i s s i l e s is a mystery. Your b o s s h a s t o l d you t h a t h t e army employs c i v i l i a n s f o r c e r t a i n none s s e n t i a l d u t i e s d u r i n g l u l l s between h o s t i l i t i e s , but i t i s hard t o t h i n k of t h e o p e r a t i o n of such a m i s s i l e s i t e as n o n - e s s e n t i a l , e v e n i n a l u l l , i f i t i s a n a c t u a l m i s s i l e s i t e and n o t a d i v e r s i o n a r y semblance o f one. E x a c t l y what h o s t i l i t i e s you a r e employed i n non-essential d u t i e s d y r i n g a l u l l i n i s unknown t o you. What you do know i s t h a t , a l t h o u g h t h e s e c u r i t y i n your country cannot p o s s i b l y be a s t h o r o u g h a s you a r e supposed t o b e l i e v e , i t i s s a f e r t o a c t a s i f i t were. By DAN FEENEY

MIKI'S HAND This hand is meant to be held

This woman has loving hands and a warm heart Nobody can ever express this everlasting love i

_ _ _ _Carnegie C h a r a c t e r P o r t r a i t AL WILSON

A t Grey Nuns H o s p i t a l i n Regina, on June 3 r d , 1918, t h e world saw t h e b i r t h of A l f r e d H e r b e r t Wilson. B e t t e r known a s A l , h i s f a t h e r worked f o r CNR while h i s mother looked a f t e r 6 boys and 5 g i r l s . Al was t h e 7 t h born. H i s f i r s t s c h o o l i n g was i n Knee P a t h , Sask. "I l e a r n e d how t o do c a l l i g r a p h y a t Luxor School i n Knee Path. My p a r e n t s . ,< ., I - I

_'

forced u s t o go t o s c h o o l . We walked i n snow up t o o u r knees. Those were b r u t a l w i n t e r s . The s c h o o l had 2 rooms, one t e a c h e r and t h e s t u d e n t s were a l l ages. The f i r s t time I went t o a movie I thought t h e c a r s i n t h e movie were coming r i g h t a t me s o I ' d duck. Back then movies were 1 0 and ~ were s i l e n t During t h e 1 9 2 0 ' s A 1 worked on many d i f f e r e n t . farms. He s t a r t e d work a t

."

age 8 , grooming c a t t l e 6 h o r s e s and worked w i t h a team of h o r s e s s t o o k i n g hay. "3 sheeves of hay i s one s t o o k and a f t e r t h e b i n d e r would t i e 2 s t o o k s t o g e t h e r , t h e y ' d f a l l on t h e ground s o you had t o l e a n them t o g e t h e r s o t h e y wouldn't r o t , on a 40-45" a n g l e . You n e v e r worked a l o n e though. People from a l l d i f f e r e n t farms worked t o g e t h e r . " When t h e d e p r e s s i o n h i t wheat was 2 9 ~a b u s h e l . Al was p a i d $5.00/month t o work. He s t a y e d r e n t - f r e e 6 s p e n t most of h i s money on smokes -"smokes were 1 0 a~ deck, t h e y were l i t t l e bugg e r s !" I n '35 A 1 moved from Knee P a t h t o Saskatoon where h e worked f o r Broadb e n t ' s C h e s t e r f i e l d House. He s t u d i e d a t P r i n c e s s Alexander. "I saw Gordie Howe p l a y a t S a s k a t o o n ' s A l l S t a r Game. H i s t e a c h e r ' s name was M r . Trickey." Come W . W . 1 1 , Al e n l i s t e d w i t h t h e A i r Force i n 1941. "I was l i s t e d a s a f a b r i c worker. E a r l y i n t h e war we used t o p u t f a b r i c on k i t e s , l i k e t h e Sesna. I went t o bombing & gunnery s c h o o l i n Moss Bank, j u s t o u t s i d e of Moose Jaw, i n ' 4 2 , and t h e n was s e n t t o t h e RCAF AirSea Rescue a t Sea Isl a n d , Vancouver. Sea Is. is where Vancouver I n t e r n a t i o n a l A i r p o r t now l i e s . " I t w a s n ' t u n t i l 1944 t h a t A 1 s a i l e d from H a l i f a x t o England aboard t h e Y i l l a d e France. I n Wickathiness Scotl a n d , A 1 was l i s t e d a s a S a f e t y Equipment Worker packing p a r a c h u t e s , dingies and a n y t h i n g e l s e needed f o r s u r v i v a l . He d i d t h a t work f o r t h e r e s t of t h e war. "I n e v e r saw a c t i o n i n Europe b u t I d i d v o l u n t e e r t o go t o I t a l y on an a i r l i f t t o h e l p l o a d equipment. The Canadian boys were happy a s h e l l t o g e t out of I t a l y . " When A 1 r e t u r n e d t o Canada, h e saw h i s mother i n Kenora, Ont., and was d i s c h a r g e d i n Winnipeg. "They gave u s 6 weeks t o d e c i d e whether t o s t a y o r go. I d e c i d e d t o l i v e i n F l i n Flon, Manitoba, working i n t h e mines n e a r Thompson Lake. I was a mucker - j u s t

s h o v e l l i n g rock i n t o t h e minecars which went t o t h e s m e l t e r . The work was e x t r e m e l y t r e a c h e r o u s . I saw a few p e o p l e g e t h u r t down t h e r e and I g o t c l o s e t o g e t t i n g k i l l e d a c o u p l e of t i m e s fro.2 b e i n g t o o c l o s e t o t h e exp l o s i o n s . For b r e a t h i n g w e had t o u s e mask r e s p e r a t o r s - i t w a s v e r y f i l t h y ; ' e a s i l y one of t h e f o u l e s t j o b s e v e r . " ~~i~~ fed up w i t h mining, ~1re-enlisted with the Air F~~~~ as LAC, one s t e p beâ&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;&#x2122;o r e c o r p o r a l . H e l e f t Winnipeg i n ' 5 3 o r '54 and was a g a i n s t a t i o n e d a t Sea I s l a n d . In 1956 he'd had i t w i t h Air Force life and was discharged. He went from p i l l a r t o p o s t t h r o u g h o u t Western Canada l o o k i n g f o r work, d o i n g d i f f e r e n t j o b s , and wound up i n C a l g a r y . I n 1971 A 1 f i n a l l y s e t t l e d i n Vancouv e r . "I l i v e d on W.lOth and g o t by on w e l f a r e u n t i l 1984, when my p e n s i o n came. I u s e d t o do v o l u n t e e r work a t 411 Dunsmuir. Back t h e n t h e p r e s i d e n t was Ruth Armstrong. One day I went f o r a walk and came a c r o s s 401 Main and someone d o i n g s e c u r i t y s a i d "Welcome!" That was i n 1980 when J i m McDowell was Director. " By 1980 A 1 had l e f t W.lOth and l i v e d a t t h e L o t u s H o t e l , t h e n l a t e r moved t o t h e M e t r o p o l e "where t h e y d i d n ' t change y o u r s h e e t s f o r e i g h t months." A 1 ended up a t t h e P a t r i c i a H o t e l I1 where, t h e y t o l d u s t o g e t o u t b e c a u s e of Expo ' 8 6 . They s e n t u s a l e t t e r sayi n g t h e y had t o r e n o v a t e and t h e day I g o t i t a n o l d man jumped o u t t h e window from t h e 4 t h f l o o r . We had 5 o r 10 d a y s t o g e t o u t s o I went t o Glory Rooms. I ' m s t i l l t h e r e . Things h a v e n ' t changed s i n c e Expo." I n t h e 11 y e a r s A 1 h a s v o l u n t e e r e d a t C a r n e g i e , h e h a s become famous f o r h i s b a n n e r s and c r a z y c a r d s , n o t t o m e n t i o n t h e world famous B u l l s h i t C h a r t ( " I t was a n i d e a I came up w i t h t o repr e s e n t a l l t h e p e o p l e who come & go.

On t h e main c h a r t t h e r e ' s 1 5 r e f e r e n c e s and l o t s of p h o t o g r a p h s g o i n g back t o lg80. l 9 9 l Mug@ r e p l a c e s Nancy a s t h e #1 S w e e t h e a r t & Marty w i l l be #2. Nancy w i l l go down a s t h e a l l - ~ i m e Sweetheart!" For h i s v o l u n t e e r work a t C a r n e g i e , A l Wilson h a s r e c e i v e d recommendations from Ald. L i b b i e Davies, Mayor Gordon Campbell, Jean Swanson, Ald. H a r r y Rank i n . . n o t t o mention a l l t h e p e o p l e a t 'irnegie. Coming t o C a r n e g i e i s something t o bugging a t Carn e g i e l i f e would be h e l l . Those B u l l s h i t Charts a r e a l l I ' v e g o t , those & Carnegie." By STEVE ROSE

AT THE SPEED OF EVOLUTION So much snow came. A r e a l w i n t e r b e c a u s e t h e promised warming of t h e Greenhouse E f f e c t i s b e i n g soaked up by t h e o c e a n s , which w i l l c o n t i n u e f o r t h e n e x t 300 y e a r s . Then t h e i c e w i l l h i t t h e f a n as t h e b o i l i n g ocean d i s s i p a t e s t h e E a r t h ' s h e a t , and most of t h e world w i l l be a giant i c e ball. The o n l y i n h a b i t a b l e p l a c e s w i l l be t h e Grand Canyon, t h e North of Madag a s c a r , and t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e . Why t h e DEside? Because n o t h i n g can happen t o t h i s a r e a u n t i l t h e C a r n e g i e R e n o v a t i o n s a r e completed. Ho, ho, ho. Woodrow ~ ' l o o s j a w ( e x semi-func t i o n a r y )

came a spider and s e t beside her

f e e l i n g u p l i f t e d , simply by o p e n i n g my mouth I merge i n t h e a i r above w i t h many o t h e r p e o p l e : we move, we s i n g , we l i f t our v o i c e s o u t of enchantment o u t of t h e p r i v a t e p r i s o n s o u t of t h e shadows of He! our b o d i e s remain o u r minds remain our w o r l d s remain joining i n celebration: remembering realigning renewal e v e r y t h i n g i s t h e same, b u t i t ' s okay now. Joanne

0 my goddess

i am h e a r t i l y sorry f o r having stumbled over forgive

b

8b

US

our trespasses

we forgive t h o s e who have trespassed a g a i n s t u s and

we are b r e a k i n g t h e chains o u r other who a r t t h e e a r t h holy be 'he ground of

Our

being Joanne

Once upon a t i m e , t h e r e were a l o t o f c o u n t r i e s r u n by dumb p e o p l e and o n e o t h e r c o u n t r y r u n by p e o p l e who were more bad t h a n dumb. I n some of t h e b i g bunch of c o n n t r i e s t h e r e were g r e e d y p e o p l e who t h o u g h t i t would be n i c e t o make a l o t o f money by s e l l i n g guns and bombs t o t h e c o u n t r y r u n by bad p e o p l e . In a few of t h o s e c o u n t r i e s , t h e g r e e d y p e o p l e who f e l t t h a t way were t h e same o n e s who were r u n n i n g t h o s e c o u n t r i e s . So everybody k e p t making money by d o i n g t h a t u n t i l t h e c o u n t r y r u n by t h e bad p e o p l e was chock-a-block f u l l o f guns and bombs and r o c k e t s and a l l s o r t s of n a s t y s t u f f . When t h e c o u n t r y r u n by bad p e o p l e had enough n a s t y t h i n g s i t s t a r t e d t o jump on o t h e r c o u n t r i e s and t r e a t them b a d l y . The dumb p e o p l e r u n n i n g t h e b i g bunch of c o u n t r i e s d i d n ' t l i k e i t when t h a t one c o u n t r y s t a r t e d t o jump on c o u n t r i e s t h a t had s o m e t h i n g t h e i r g r e e d y p e o p l e wanted s o t h e y g o t t o g e t h e r and d e c i d e d t o do s o m e t h i n g a b o u t t h e c o u n t r y r u n by bad p e o p l e . Which t h e y d i d w i t h t h e i r own guns and bombs and r o c k e t s and o t h e r n a s t y things. But t h e dumb p e o p l e r u n n i n g b i g bunch o f c o u n t r i e s w e r e n ' t s o dumb a f t e r a l l . A t l e a s t , they weren't dumb enough t o a d m i t t h a t i t w a s t h e i r

own g r e e d and s t u p i d i t y t h a t had c r e a ted t h e s i t u a t i o n . I f t h e y had admitt e d t h a t , t h e n t h e y would h a v e had t o t e l l t h e i r greedy people i t wasn't a good i d e a a f t e r a l l t o make money by s e l l i n g guns and bombs. They d i d n ' t want t o do t h a t b e c a u s e t h e g r e e d y p e o p l e were t h e i r v e r y good f r i e n d s and sometimes t h o s e r u l e r s t h e m s e l v e s were t h e g r e e d y ones. But when p e o p l e a s k e d t h e not-sodumb-after-all r u l e r s of t h e c o u n t r i e s t h a t had made a l l t h e money by s e l l i n g n a s t y t h i n g s t o t h e bad p e o p l e why t h e war w a s b e i n g f o u g h t , t h e y were s t u c k f o r a n answer. They made up t h i n g s l i k e "It's a g a i n s t aggression," o r "1t' s f o r a New World," and one even s a i d "When you come r i g h t down t o i t , i t ' s about jobs." But s o t h a t t h e y c o u l d k e e p on b e i n g t h e r u l e r s and s o t h a t t h e i r g r e e d y f r i e n d s c o u l d k e e p on making money by s e l l i n g n a s t y t h i n g s made f o r k i l l i n g people t o s t i l l o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , a l l of those r u l e r s t r i e d very hard n o t t o t e l l t h e people t h e t r u t h . The t r u t h b e i n g t h a t i t was t h e i r own f o l l y and g r e e d t h a t had g o t them i n t o t h i s mess and now a l o t o f peop l e were g o i n g t o h a v e t o s u f f e r and d i e t o g e t them o u t of i t , s o t h e y c o u l d go on d o i n g what had g o t t e n them i n t o t h e mess i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e .

,oOO~oY

War o n c h i l d r e n

/

/

I

The t h r e e y e a r - o l d c h i l d w a s s c a r e d . The b i g p e o p l e a r o u n d h e r t a l k e d o f She d i d n ' t war - b o m b s - t a n k s - g a s know w h a t i t m e a n t . S h e knew t h e y w e r e s c a r e d b y t h e i r f a c e s a n d t h e way no o n e s m i l e d . S c h o o l was S u r e enough i t happened. i n a c e l l a r w i t h b r o k e n u p windows, She w a s g i v e n a g a s mask - s h e d i d n ' t know w h a t g a s w a s . . o n l y t h a t i t a n d bombs w o u l d k i l l h e r , h e r p a r e n t s , her f r i e n d s e v e r y o n e . The l o u d s i r e n u s u a l l y came a t n i g h t - t h e n t h e bombs-the r o c k e t s - t h e g u n s -the f i r e s - t h e death.. One man , t h e y never found h i s head j u s t p a r t o f h i s body i n a t r e e . So n o t h i n g h a s c h a n g e d ; L h e r e m u s t be o t h e r c h i l d r e n , j u s t l i k e I w a s , What d i d we d o ? bombed-shot a t - k i l l e d T h i s new w a r h a s new t e c h n o l o g y b u t - t h e w o r d s a r e t h e sameI h a v e b e e n d e p r e s s e d f e e l i n g powerl e s s . . I see a l l t h e s e b a l d i n g w h i t e middle-year m a l e s t a l k i n g of war and its victories.. Who s p e a k s f o r t h e c h i l d r e n ? I t ' s l i k e i f a f a m i l y is b e i n g b e a t e n by t h e f a t h e r - d o y o u s a v e t h e m b y s h o o t i n g them a l l ? i s t h a ~l i b e r a t i o n ? S h e i l a Baxter

I h d L e g i s l a t e d P o v e r t y (El,!?) i s a c o a l i t i o n of 26 g r o u p s i n BC whose work c o v e r s a l l a s p e c t s o f l i I e below t h e poverty l i n e . A t ELP'S most r e c e n t m e e t i n g , M s . P a t Chauncey r e p o r t e d , w i t h h e a r t f e l t saLi s f a c t i o n , t h a t t h e school lunch o r i grams i n 13 Vancouver s c l ~ o o l sa r e now "cllerished". ' I P a t r i c i a and Linda Marc o t t e began o r g a n i z i n g and l o b b y i n g , g o i n g t o e v e r y l e v e l of governmenl and t o t h e s c h o o l s and even p a r e n t s a t t h e same t i m e a s Bob S a r t i b r o k e t h e s t o r y of k i d s goirig t o s c h o o l hungry. . i n t h e Vancouver Sun. P a t r i c i a r e c a l l e d t h a t when s h e f i r s t went t o t h e Vancouver S c h o o l Board, t h e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t , Alan FlcLeod, s t a t e d L t i e i d e a of a s u b s i d i z e d food program was "impossible." AfLer t h e j o k e i n Victo r i a , Zalm, t r i e d t o blame p a r e n t s f o r n o t g e t t i n g o u t of bed o r t h e k i d s f o r " t h r o w i n g t h e i r l u n c h e s away". a r Ler s c h o o l b o a r d s c r i e d of t i g h t b u d g e t s making a n y t h i n g b u t a token " a f f o r d a b l e " and a f t e r w a t c h i n g t h e buck b e i n g p a s s e d a g a i n and a g a i n , P a t r i c i a and Linda and a l l members of ELP h e a r t h e o f f i c i a l word from t h e same N a n 1.lcLeod: "?he Food Program i s a c h e r i s h e d p a r t of o u r i n s t i t u t i o n s and w i l l remain a s l o n g a s t h e c h i l d r e n need i L . " P a t r i c i a reminded t h e p e o p l e a t t h e m e e t i n g , and reminds a l l of u s , t h a t i t i s n o t o v e r . Each c i t y , e a c h d i s t r i c t i n BC..each h a s i t s own s c h o o l board. Each one h a s t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e need f o r a f o o d program a s p o v e r t y i s n o t i s o l a t e d t o Vancouver. Once we have a d e c e n t government i n V i c t o r i a , food f o r k i d s won't even be a question. By PI?UI,II 'I'AY LOU

..

From o n e s t a r t o a n o t h e r -

S O many N e w s l e t t e r r e a d e r s t o l d me l~ow 111ucl1t h e y a p p r e c i a t e d my a r t i c l e l ' i s ~i s s u e on lluw L O F i x Your Own TV S e t , I /lad t o r e a l i z e llow i m p o r t a n t a w e l l - w o r k i n g TV seL i s t o Down~own L a s ~ s i c l er e s i d e n t s . 'Thinking a b o u t i t , 1 d e c i d e d t o s t a r t my own l i t t l e pro);ram i n which I would o f f e r t o come 'iround and a d j u s t 1 ' V s and g e t them w o r k i n g r i g l ~ tf o r N e w s l e t t e r r e a d e r s . If y o u r t e l e v i s i o n i s n ' t q u i t e d o i n g w l ~ a t i t s l i o u l d be d o i n g , what t o d o ? Simply l e a v e a message f o r me a t t h e All Plain F l o o r I n f o r m a t i o n c o u n t e r . tlie message h a s t o s a y i s "TV" a n d A phone t l ~ e ny o u r name and a d d r e s s . number would be n i c e s o I c a n c h e c k i f you w i l l be a t I~ome, b u t i t i s n o t J must. I have a buspass, s o i f I d o n ' t c a t c h you on t h e f i r s t v i s i t I c'ln come a g a i n . I ' v e been t o l d , "With 'SV's, E r i c , y o u ' v e g o t Magic F i n g e r s . I ' O n e man p a i d a t e c h n i c i a n from a strop t o come work on h i s c o l o u r TV. 1I1c e x p e r L mucked a r o u n d w i t h i t f o r a n Ilour a n d Llicn g a v e up w i t h t h e s e t 110 b e t t e r t t ~ a n i t was b e f o r e . 'Sl~e s c ~ ' sowner c a l l e d me i n . 'I'l~et e c l m i c i a n had c l l a r g e d llim $32 f o r t l ~ eu s e l e s s e f f o r t s . For n o c h a r g e I s e t t h i n g s L O r i g h l s and t h e man s a i d , "'l'lie p i c t u r e i s b e t t e r e v e n tlian when I bouglit tlle d a r n e d t h i n g . " S o , l e a v e a message a t t h e Informat i o n Desk i f you wanL. I w i l l come a r o u n d and s e e what I c a n d o . No c o s t . No g u a r a n t e e s .

E r i c Erickson

On J a n u a r y 1 9 , t h e d a y b e f o r e o u r l l c h anniversary celebrations, an old f r i e n d o f C a r n e-g i e d r o p p e d i n . L i b b y l a v i e s , o n e o f t h e f i g h t e r s who made t h e " p o l i t i c a l d r a g o n s g i v e up t h e i r lreams o f p a r k i n g l o t s / m e n l s c l u b s / f o r Carnegie zxclusive nightspots/ ...'I and h e l p e d make t h i s t h e m o s t s u c c e s s f u l community c e n t r e i n Canada, h a d been a t some evenL t h e d a y b e f o r e a s A c t i n g Mayor. A t t h i s event, the people present had g i v e n h e r a huge r o l l o f g e n u i n e Ger-man b a l o n e y , f o u r f e e t l o n g a n d about f o u r i n c h e s t h i c k . A s Libby s a i d "I t h o u g h t i t w a s a j o k e ' c a u s e t h e y s a i d t h e y want-ed t o g e t t h e B a l o n e y o u t o f C i t y H a l l . When I unwrapped i t I saw t h a t i t was r e a l German s t u f f , n o t t h e s t u f f you g e t i n t h e s t o r e . " Libby b r o u g h t i t t o C a r n e g i e ' s k i t c h e n a n d , s l i c e d u p , was more t h a n enough t o h e l p f e e d o v e r 200 p e o p l e who w e r e h e r e on t h e 2 0 t h f o r o u r p a r t y ! THEN, on J a n u a r y 24~11, t h e f o l l o w i n g l e t t e r came: Dear D o n a l d a , I r e c e n t l y spoke a t a d i n n e r meeting a n d t o my s u r p r i s e w a s h a n d e d a $ 2 5 . 0 0 c h e q u e f o r s p e a k i n g ! I d i d n ' t want L O k e e p and t h e r e f o r e am s e n d i n g i t t o t h e C a r n e g i e Community C e n t r e A s s o c i a t i o n as a s m a l l d o n a t i o n . I w a s n ' t s u r e who t o d i r e c t l y address t h i s t o s o ihought t h a t you would be t h e b e s t p e r s o n t o make s u r e i t g o t t o he r i g h t Committee o r whatever! Libby Davies, Councillor.

Thanks f o r t h i n k i n g o f u s L i b b y . I t ' s n i c e t o h a v e f r i e n d s l i k e you.

A BUDGET SCORECARD The Key ElementsofTheAlternative Budget 'Check ifthey're in Wilson's 1991 Budget)

YES

I

C C C C C C

Scrap the Goods and Services Tax (The GST) Increase taxes on corporations and the wealthy 3 Lower interest rates 4 Invest in public works, education, envirmnent cleanup 5 Introduce a national non-profit child care systern 6 Restore the previous level of UI benefits 7 Increase the federal minimum wage C 8 Halt all privatization and deregulation C 9 Restore funding of CBC, Via Rail, R & D 1o Fund social advocacy groups and shelters for women [I 1 1 Increase the refundable child tax credit C 12 Fully cost-share the Canada Assistance Plan r 13 Withdraw cuts to federal transfer payments C 14 Provide more social and non-profit housing 15 Increase overseas development assistance C 1 6 Speed up settlement of native land claims 1 2

c c

1

c

( Afi~ier-albudget thatfails to contairl at least 10 of these 16 provisions c m m t be called a People's Budget. The extent to ~phichyour- "No" checks outtnmzber your "Yes" checks will irldicate the e-xtentto which the 1991 federal budget. fails to meet the basic needs of nzost Canadi, ans.) '

We s a t down and p r a y e d t o t h e Creat o r f o r twenty m i n u t e s , t h e n went t o school. For t h e l a s t t h r e e h o u r s o f s c h o o l t h e e a g l e s c i r c l e d . When s c h o o l w a s o u t w e went t o t h e s t o r e , t h e n home t o eat s u p p e r , and t h e e a g l e s were s t i l l c i r c l i n g around me. The n e x t morning I woke up and e a g l e s were c i r c l i n g around t h e house, b u t now t h e r e were n i n e o f them. I s t o o d on t h e p o r c h and s a i d i n my mind, ' t h e s e e a g l e s must r e a l l y l i k e me'. I s t a r t e d w a l k i n g t o p i c k up a l l f o u r of my c o u s i n s , t h e n we t o l d my A u n t i e Her name i s Helen b u t we c a l l h e r Happy Helen b e c a u s e s h e i s always happy. She walked t o s c h o o l w i t h u s - then t h e e a g l e s s t a r t e d c i r c l i n g W e f e l t the strength i t a l l of us. w a s g i v i n g u s . We a l l f e l t s t r o n g , t h e n I f e l t l i k e I was g o i n g t o f a i n t . . b u t I w a s n ' t g o i n g t o b e c a u s e I had t h e ~ a g l e ' sPower.

.

A l l about Eagles

V'

A coup, l e of months ago I s a w e i g h t V e a -g l e s c i r c l i n g - around when I was w a l k i n g home from t h e s t o r e . I looked up and t o o k a p i c t u r e o f t h e e a g l e t h a t was c l o s e s t t o me, t h e n I s a w my b r o t h e r s . They asked me what I had t a k e n a p i c t u r e of and I s a i d , I ' I took a p i c t u r e o f e i g h t e a g l e s t h a t were c i r c l i n g around me." "There t h e y They b o t h looked up. a r e , s t i l l c i r c l i n g around!" We went home t o t e l l my Mom. She came o u t and looked a t a l l e a g l e s t h a t were s t i l l c i r c l i n g . When I went i n t o e a t t h e y were s t i l l t h e r e , and when we went o u t t o p l a y t h e e a g l e s were c i r c l i n g around t h e house. Wherever I went t h e y f o l l o w e d me. We went t o p i c k up my c o u s i n s f o r s c h o o l and when we d i d , t h e y looked up and saw t h e e i g h t e a g l e s . One s a i d , " ~ o o kup t h e r e . " I s a i d , "NO, I know t h e y a r e t h e r e . " My c o u s i n a s k e d me why t h e y were c i r c l i n g me, and I s a i d , "They must be my g u a r d s . " Then we a l l looked.

By ALEX SCOW