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I f y o u ' r e f e e l i n g s a d and l o n e l y And you have t h e P o v e r t y B l u e s Your w e l f a r e cheque i s l o n g t i m e s p e n t The r e n t ' s two weeks behind Come on down t o C a r n e g i e Meet a f r i e n d o r two P l a y a game of c h e s s o r c a r d s The l i b r a r y i s f r e e Kick a b a l l around t h e gym S i n g a song o r two E n d l e s s s t u f f t h a t d o n ' t c o s t money A l l you spend i s t i m e So come on down I f you a i n ' t g o t a dime. Sheila naxter

Sunday, J u n e 2 , i s t h e day t h e memb e r s of 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 g e t t o r e v i e w what t h e i r A s s o c i a t i o n h a s been d o i n g f o r t h e p a s t y e a r , and t o c h a r t t h e c o u r s e f o r t h e next year. The A s s o c i a t i o n i s a d e m o c r a t i c o r g a n i z a t i o n , and i t ' s t h e members who have f i n a l s a y . So come o u t t o t h e Annual G e n e r a l Meeting. You c a n a s k a b o u t t h e f i n a n c e s o r t h e a c t i v i t i e s , and you c a n e l e c t a New Board. To v o t e , you Everyone i s welcome. must have been a member f o r 1 4 d a y s ; t o r u n f o r t h e Board you must have been a member f o r 60 d a y s . The m e e t i n g s t a r t s a t 1 p.m. ( v o t e r r e g i s t r a t i o n s t a r t s a t noon). The f o l l o w i n g i s t h e r e p o r t of CCCA P r e s i d e n t Muggs S i g u r g e i r s o n on o u r year's a c t i v i t i e s . PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT, 1990-91 .................................. Many t h i n g s happened i n t h e p a s t y e a r a t C a r n e g i e , b u t p e r h a p s t h e most s i g n i f i c a n t f o r t h e f u t u r e was t h e s t a r t of o u r r e n o v a t i o n s . Yes, a f t e r more t h a n f o u r y e a r s of d i s c u s s i o n s , m e e t i n g s and o p i n i o n s u r v e y s , when i t m i g h t have seemed l i k e t h e p r o j e c t was n e v e r g o i n g t o g e t o f f t h e g r o u n d , t h e much-needed e x p a n s i o n of Carnegie's f a c i l i t i e s is f i n a l l y going ahead. The A s s o c i a t i o n p l a y e d a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t i n t h i s p r o c e s s . We o r g a n i s e d t h e public opinion surveys t h a t t o l d u s what c h a n g e s C a r n e g i e p a t r o n s wanted; we l o b b i e d C i t y H a l l f o r t h e bond i o s u e and e x t r a f u n d i n g t o h e l p pay f o r them; we worked w i t h Diane MacKenzie and s t a f f t o a p p l y f o r f o u n d a t i o n g r a n t s f o r e x t r a f u n d s ; and two memb e r s o f t h e Board met r e g u l a r l y w i t h s t a f f and a r c h i t e c t s t o p l a n c h a n g e s .

The r e n o v a t i o n s a r e r e q u i r e d i f we a r e t o continue t o s e r v e our evergrowing p o p u l a t i o n of p a t r o n s . We were e s p e c i a l l y p l e a s e d t h a t we c o u l d i m prove t h e k i t c h e n without having t o s h u t i t down f o r a t i m e - a t r i b u t e t o t h e c o - o p e r a t i v e s p i r i t of t h e work crew and of C a r n e g i e s t a f f , v o l u n t e e r s and a l l of u s . The A s s o c i a t i o n w a s busy t h i s p a s t year with other a c t i v i t i e s , too. A s t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of C a r n e g i e p a t r o n s t h e Association p l a y s an a c t i v e r o l e It h e l p s s p o n s o r i n t h e community. and fund t h e V o l u n t e e r program, t h e L e a r n i n g C e n t r e and Oppenheimer P a r k , buys new equipment f o r C a r n e g i e and c o n t r i b u t e s t o v a r i o u s community o r g a n i z a t i o n s . A s w e l l , we have a c t i v e l y campaigned f o r i s s u e s t h a t b e n e f i t o u r p a t r o n s . And we p u b l i s h t h e Carnegie Newsletter - a unique p u b l i c a t i o n t h a t p r o v i d e s a much-needed v o i c e f o r o u r community. I would l i k e t o m e n t i o n one o t h e r a r e a where t h e A s s o c i a t i o n h a s been a c t i v e : b i n g o a t t h e S t a r Bingo l l a l l on E a s t H a s t i n g s . Bingo i s o n e of o u r major s o u r c e s o f income, b u t t h e b i n g o i n d u s t r y i s g e t t i n g more c o m p e t i t i v e , w i t h more h i g h - t e c h h a l l s b e i n g e s t a b l i s h e d . We h a v e been working c l o s e l y with t h e o t h e r east-end groups ( l i k e

3. Ray-Cam, S t r a t h c o n a Community C e n t r e a n d t h e C h r i s t m a s B u r e a u ) t o make s u r e t h e p r o c e e d s from b i n g o a r e s p r e a d o u t more e q u i t a b l y , and where t h e y a r e most n e e d e d . F o r t h e coming y e a r , we need t o comp l e t e t h e r e n o v a t i o n s program - a n d t h e n go a f t e r more f u n d i n g t o r e a l l y c o m p l e t e t h e j o b , e s p e c i a l l y on t h e third floor. Working w i t h t h e C a r n e g i e Board h a s been a r e a l p l e a s u r e i n r h e p a s t y e a r . The Board i s a r e a l Downtown E a s t s i d e a f f a i r . Everybody on t h e Board h a s s t r o n g l i n k s t o t h e neighbourhood e i t h e r t h e y l i v e h e r e o r t h e y do t h e i r u n p a i d community work h e r e ( o r b o t h ) . I n t h e coming y e a r , we a l s o need t o O n building Ihe

welcome. You c a n r e a l l y make y o u r voice heard. No a n n u a l r e p o r t would be c o m p l e t e w i t h o u t a thank-you t o t h e C a r n e g i e s t a f f f o r a l l t h e i r h o u r s and e f f o r t s t o make C a r n e g i e t r u l y t h e " l i v i n g room o f t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e " . And c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s t o t h e Carnegie Senio r s , who, a s a g r o u p , a r e o u r Volunt e e r s of t h e Year. I t c a n ' t be s a i d t o o o f t e n t h a t t h e V o l u n t e e r s a r e who make C a r n e g i e t i c k . Thank you f o r making t h e p a s t y e a r s o r e w a r d i n g and productive.

i e C.C.C.A.

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t i m e a n d s e r v i c e s i n t h e P o o l Room i n c l u d e d Wednesday n i g h t Bingo a n d

b o a r d member I was a b l e t o t a k e p a r t i n o t h e r people's concerns f o r t h e i r t h a t n o t e v e r y problem could f i n d a s a t i s f a c t o r y c o n c l u s i o n . For myself I found t h e s e e x p e r i e n c e s t o have t h e i r rewards and d i s a p p o i n t m e n t s b u t f o r t h e m o s t p a r t j u s t t h e e f f o r t was g r a t i f y i n g and h e l p e d me l e a r n . I w a s f o r t u n a t e t o h a v e met a n d worked w i t h a number o f f a s c i n a t i n g i n d i v i d u a l s . For t h a t I a m t h a n k f u l a n d I would b e h o n o u r e d t o a g a i n s e r v e a s a member o f t h i s b o a r d i n t h i s community. H e a l t h & Happiness t o a l l . Wayne K e l l a n d

New-Born

, and something happened t o my h e a r t . Now, I t h i n k o f you as a small, new b l a d e o f g r a s s s p l i t t i n g stone. Dusty

Concealment wait! wait here ' t i 1 I throw a c o l o u r f u l canopy o v e r everything dishevelled discordant i n my l i f e . Look a t i t now bright striped f l a g r a n t l y camouflaged w e l l , n e v e r mind a l l t h a t . Sweep t h o s e p a p e r s o v e r o n t o t h e f l o o r - t h e y d o n ' t weigh v e r y h e a v i l y t o me. a t t h i s p r e c i s e moment o f your b e i n g r e s t o r e d t o me. No!

...

I had n o t d a r e d e x p e c t a moment i n which t o f i n d you s o c l o s e a s t o be l i k e old times. Welcome. Welcome! my o l d f r i e n d , welcome You c a n s i t anywhere you l i k e . '

T h i s used t o b e your h o u s e , t o o , c a n you remember? ABirthistle

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i t ? Poverty advocates & s e r v i c e professi o n a l s s h o u l d be v e r y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e answer t o t h i s q u e s t i o n , s i n c e t h e i r purp o s e of h e l p i n g t h e poor depends on i t . You c a n ' t t e l l j u s t by l o o k i n g a t p e o p l e b e c a u s e some d r e s s up & some d r e s s down, some l i k e t o be c l e a n & some d o n ' t l i k e i t s o much. You c a n ' t t e l l by l i s t e n i n g t o them b e c a u s e sonie a r e a r t i c u l a t e & sonie a r e n ' t & some who c o u l d be d o n ' t b o t h e r ; otliers j u s t adopt t h e language p a t t e r n s of t h o s e a r o u n d them. . i n o t h e r words, images & appearances t e l l us nothing & a r e not t o be t r u s t e d . Who a r e tile r e a l p o o r ? The o n e s who r e a l l y need tile h e l p t h e s e w e l l - f u n d e d s o c i a l agencys claim t o g i v e ? I n a s o c i e t y t h a t equates poverty with l a c k o f money, t h e o n l y way t o r e a l l y meas u r e p o v e r t y i s t o compare how much money e a c h p e r s o n l i v e s on - b u t t h i s i s t h e b i g s e c r e t . I t h i n k i f we a l l r e v e a l e d t h a t , t h e r e a l f a c t s of t h e s i t u a t i o n would come t o l i g h t . P l y s e l f , I manage t o e x i s t somehow on a w e l f a r e " l i v i n g a l l o w a n c e " of $200 a month. I manage t o d r e s s q u i t e w e l l by s e l e c t i n g s t u f f from t h e c l o t h i n g f r e e b o x . I h a v e n ' t bought a s i n g l e p i e c e of new I c l o t h i n g i n s o m e t h i n g l i k e 20 y e a r s . c u t my own l l a i r & manage t o s t a y r e a s o n ably c l e a n & healthy, although I guess, by some p e o p l e ' s s t a n d a r d s I ' m a l i t t l e u n d e r n o u r i s h e d & somewhat t o x i c . Sp I ' m s i t t i n g a t a t a b l e on t h e second f l o o r , l a s t week b e f o r e c h e q u e d a y , p i c k i n g b u t t s o u t o f t h e a s h t r a y & t h e guy a c r o s s from me i s smoking t a i l o r - m a d e s & t r y i n g t o keep them o u t of s i g h t . l i e ' s g o t b e a t up cowboy b o o t s o n , p a n t s t h a t d o n ' t f i t , an o l d s t a i n e d smelly s h i r t & h a i r a l l o v e r h i s f a c e . It l o o k s l i k e he c u t h i m s e l f t r y i n g t o s h a v e . His mouth i s k i n d of h a n g i n g open i n a s l a c k , s t u p i d e x p r e s s i o n , h i s eyes a r e a l l glazed & bloodshot & h e ' s mumbling away a b o u t s o m e t h i n g I

c a n ' t u n d e r s t a n d . So I a s k him how much money h e g e t s t o l i v e on & h e m u t t e r s t o h i m s e l f a l i t t l e more. I r e p e a t t h e quest i o n & suddenly, c l e a r a s a b e l l , he says, "$800 a montht'. Then I t h i n k t o myself a b o u t t h e d i f f e r t h i s is exclue n c e between $200 & $800 d i n g r e n t . . . j u s t l i v i n g e x p e n s e s . T h i s guy i s r i c h compared t o me. I a s k him i f h e ' d buy me a cup of c o f f e e & h e s a y s h e ' s g o t no money. Then a f r i e n d o f mine s i t s down & s a y s " H O W ' S i t g o i n g ? " . ."okay, b u t I s u r e c o u l d u s e a cup o f c o f f e e . " "Here," h e s a y s , "I d o n ' t need i t , " & hands m e a l l t h e c h a n g e i n h i s p o c k e t . I know h e ' s on t h e same w e l f a r e r a t e I ' m on ( s i n g l e employable) - t h e poorest of t h e poor but h e ' s a n i n t e l l e c t u a l , reads a l o t , & c o u l d a r g u e most l a w y e r s u n d e r t h e t a b l e . I buy c o f f e e s f o r t h e t h r e e o f u s , & t h e $800-a-month guy j u s t d r i n k s i t & d o e s n ' t e v e n s a y t h a n k you. My i n t e l l e c t u a l f r i e n d s t a r t s r e a d i n g a book - h e d o e s n ' t c a r e a b o u t money, j u s t i d e a s . The r i c h guy w i t h t h e p o o r image smokes a n o t h e r TM & d o e s n ' t o f f e r anybody a smoke. He c o n t i n u e s s t a r i n g o f f i n t o space & s o r t of d r o o l s a b i t i n h i s coffee. I t h i n k about r i c h & poor & look around t h e room & wonder what i t would l o o k l i k e i f e v e r y b o d y had t h e i r m o n t h l y income stamped on t h e i r f o r e h e a d . I t r y t o f i g u r e o u t what i s t h e i l l u s i o n h e r e & what i s r e a l i t y . S u d d e n l y i t a l l comes c l e a r 'l'here's two $900 s i t t i n g i n t h e c o r n e r t a l k i n g t o e a c h o t h e r , a $700 o v e r by t h e window, t h r e e $200 a t a n o t h e r t a b l e & a $300 & two $400 w a l k i n g by. . . t h e r e l a t i v e l y r i c h a l l t a l k i n g a b o u t how p o o r t h e y a r e , a c o u p l e o f well-known p o v e r t y a d v o c a t e s come up t h e s t a i r s . They've g o t $950 & $1200 stamped on t h e i r f o r e h e a d s . A l e a r n i n g a d v o c a t e shows up. She h a s $1200 stamped on h e r f o r e h e a d & h e l p s p e o p l e t y p e up resumes. A c o u p l e o f 2ndf l o o r v o l u n t e e r s have g o t $850 & $750 stamped between t h e i r eyebrows. I t ' s a b i z a r r e scene l a s t i n g o n l y a few seconds; s u d d e n l y e v e r y t h i n g ' s b a c k t o "normal". I g i v e my head a s h a k e & head o f f f o r t h e sandwich l i n e , s t i l l wondering what pove r t y r e a l l y means. TORA

...

Well i t ' s f i n a l l y happened! A f t e r 5 y e a r s of t a l k & m e e t i n g s , p l a n n i n g and d e b a t i n g - on May 2 4 t h t h e new c o n c e s s i o n opened!! C e c i l was t h e f i r s t v o l u n t e e r on t h e j o b and P a t Kendall & Bharg G. were t h e f i r s t customers. "It w i l l c e r t a i n l y make s e r v i n g d i n n e r s e a s i e r w i t h a l l t h e new equipment," e x p l a i n e d J e r r y Sentino. The new c o u n t e r f e a t u r e s a microwave oven, a 3-pan steam t a b l e and even a kitchen sink. The k i t c h e n h a s been c o m p l e t e l y m o d i f i e d w i t h a new c o n v e c t i o n oven, new s l i c e r , new dough m i x e r , new d i s h washer, new steam k e t t l e , new sandwich c o o l e r , a new walk-in c o o l e r , new t i l e f l o o r , new s h e l v e s , c o u n t e r s and even some new u t e n s i l s . Diane MacKenzie, our D i r e c t o r , says, "It's a d e l i g h t t o come t o work everyday and s e e t h i s b e a u t i f u l k i t c h e n . We must t h a n k t h e Vancouver Foundation f o r t h e i r donat i o n , and n o t f o r g e t t h e e x c e l l e n t work done by t h e c o n t r a c t o r s . They've done e x c e p t i o n a l l y w e l l and g e t f u l l p r a i s e from me." The new c o n c e s s i o n i s q u i t e n i c e but i n my o p i n i o n i t t a k e s away from t h e I do u n d e r s t a n d t h a t character a b i t . t h e p e o p l e w i l l be f e d & s e r v e d much q u i c k e r s o t h a t makes up f o r i t ! Bruce J a c k s o n i s p r o b a b l y most t i c k l e d by t h i s new k i t c h e n / c o n c e s s i o n : "I'm a b s o l u t e l y d e l i g h t e d f o r t h e volu n t e e r s and p a t r o n s o f Carnegie t o have s u c h a s t i m u l a t i n g work place!" The b e s t t h i n g i s t h e r e a l i t y t h a t t h e changes a r e f o r r e a l 6 C a r n e g i e i s t a k i n g on a new v i s a g e . I guess t h e r e w i l l b e a r e a l ceremony when t h e ent i r e concession i s f i n i s h e d . By STEVE ROSE

33 W .

C O R D O V A STREET

On Monday, May 1 3 , D E R A 1 s foods t o r e ALICE opened i t ' s d o o r s . ALICE (A Low Income C o o p e r a t i v e Endeavour) i s p a r t o f DERA's SHIPSHAPE S e n i o r s ' Program. They i n t e n d t o keep t h e c o s t of b a s i c f o o d s t u f f s a s low a s p o s s i b l e . They have a good s u p p l y of canned and packaged goods, t o i l e t and c l e a n ing supplies. A s well, t h e r e is a l i m i t e d s e l e c t i o n ( f o r now) of good, n u t r i t i o n a l b u l k f o o d s such a s granol a , o a t s , cream of w h e a t , d r i e d f r u i t such a s a p p l e s , r a i s i n s , e t c . , a s w e l l a s n u t s and mixed n u t s . 1 l i t r e a p p l e j u i c e - .79 Bee Cee honey 250 g r . - 1.22 1 l i t r e s p r a y window c l e a n - 1.63 1 l i t r e VIP dishwash l i q . - 1.69 Chunky beef soup 540 m l . - 2.08

Honey Nut g r a n o l a 100 g r . .29 Thompson r a i s i n s 100 g r . - .24 Quick r o l l e d o a t s 100 g r . - .19 Cream of wheat 100 g r . - .12 Nut Mixture 100 g r . - .49 Go o v e r and have a l o o k . You're s u r e t o f i n d good p r i c e s and suggest i o n s a r e always welcome.

Dear p e o p l e ,

THE SLIDE

1 would l i k e t o be on t h e m a i l i n g

list f o r your e x c e l l e n t n e w s l e t t e r . P l e a s e send t o : OFFICIAJ, OPPOSL'I'ION 2nd f l o o r 110 - 1 0 Avenue, N . W . Calgary, Alberta. T2M O D 3 Attn: Annette Ruitenbeek (New D e m o c r a t s form t h e o p p o s i t i o n here i n Alberta.) I ' v e enclosed a donation t o cover some o f y o u r c o s t s . Thank you! Annette Editor, Recent newspaper a r t i c l e s n o t i n g t h a t " O f f i c e s p a c e t o l e a s e " , a famil i a r s i g n , o r "The downtown o f f i c e v a c a n c y r a t e i s bad news f o r a r e a ' s l a n d l o r d s " h i g h l i g h t e d t h e almost 11% v a c a n c y r a t e i n Downtown o f f i c e s . A s a t e n a n t i n Vancouver i t i s h a r d t o h a v e s y m p a t h y f o r p e o p l e who a r e s u f f e r i n g because of a n 11% vacancy rate. I t ' s a shame r e n t a l h o u s i n g i s n ' t b e i n g b u i l t s o t h a t we t e n a n t s c a n a l s o s u f f e r from a n 11% v a c a n c y rate. D a r r e n Lowe

When I g a v e up on l i f e , I t h o u g h t I could f a l l c l e a n l y i n t o t h e abyss. One s h e e r d r o p i n t o o b l i v i o n . . b u t i t I t ' s more d o e s n ' t work t h a t way. l i k e s l i d i n g down t h e s i d e o f a m o u n t a i n , and a l o n g t h e way you r e c e i v e c u t s & b r u i s e s t o o numerous t o mention..the h u m i l i a t i o n of being o u t on a l i m b and h a v i n g i t b r e a k o f f . Everyone l o o k s a t you as i f you were p l a g u e - s t r i c k e n and b l i n d a s w e l l ; g o i n g i n t o s t o r e s t o a v o i d you, making up u r g e n t a p p o i n t m e n t s , e v e n c r o s s i n g t h e s t r e e t h a l f a b l o c k away a s i f you w o n ' t n o t i c e . When you f e e l s o down anyway, t h e s e r e b u f f s o n l y s e r v e t o j u s t i f y your At times I feel sanctified decline. by l o n e l i n e s s . O t h e r p e o p l e w e r e somehow i n c o m p l e t e ; t h e y h a d n ' t t h e d e p t h and b r e a d t h o f human e m o t i o n automatons. I t h i n k I was hooked on m i s e r y .

Editor, I t h a s b e e n b r o u g h t t o my a t t e n t i o n t h a t 1 s t U n i t e d Church h a s b e e n h a x i n g ' s t a f f problems. '

1 . One w e l f a r e a d v o c a t e was f i r e d (Chris) ; 2 . Alan A l v a r e , an a d v o c a t e f o r 10 y r s , had t o r e s i g n o r l e t employer-stress d i s a b l e him; 3. ?!?!

.....

Welfare advocacy i s always a h i g h p r i o r i t y i n t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e . Does anyone know what ' s h a p p e n i n g ? S h e i l a Baxter

Television adjustment

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The p i c t u r e o f f e r e d by many t e l e v i s i o n s e t s , e s p e c i a l l y o l d e r model blacktiwhite s e t s , c a n o f t e n be improved by working w i t h t h e F i n e Tuning adjustment. That i s t h e r i n g - s h a p e d c o n t r o l found on t h e f r o n t of t h e s e t behind t h e c h a n n e l s e l e c t o r . Whether on c a b l e o r r a b b i t - e a r s , you c a n t r y s p i n n i n g t h e F i n e Tuner q u i t e f a r - f a r enough s o t h a t you l o s e t h e p i c t u r e - f i r s t i n one d i r e c t i o n and t h e n i n t h e o t h e r , , f i n a l l y r e t u r n i n g i t t o where you g e t t h e b e s t p i c t u r e on t h a t c h a n n e l . Do t h i s on e a c h c h a n n e l on which you g e t p i c t u r e . Many TV's, o v e r t i m e , go m a r g i n a l l y out of adjustment s o t h a t they a r e tryi n g t o r e c e i v e on a c o l l e c t i o n of f r e q u e n c i e s and t h e above c o n c e n t r a t e s them back o n t o one p r o p e r f r e q u e n c y . The F i n e Tuning c o n t r o l i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t i n o b t a i n i n g a good p i c t u r e . However, i f you h a v e a t t a c h e d a s e p a r a t e c o n v e r t e r t o your s e t , b e f o r e t r y i n g t o a d j u s t t h e F i n e Tuning r i n g , you s h o u l d d i s c o n n e c t t h e c o n v e r t e r & connect t h e c a b l e d i r e c t l y t o t h e s e t . Your c o n v e r t e r w i l l have i t s own F i n e Tuning c o n t r o l . More modern s e t s , e s p e c i a l l y c o l o u r TV's, have a t w o - s e t t i n g s w i t c h c a l l e d AFT (Automatic F i n e Tuning). For tuni n g w i t h t h e manual F i n e Tuner, s w i t c h t h e AFT t o t h e Off p o s i t i o n , do your t u n i n g , t h e n engage and r e l e a s e t h e

AFT t o l o c k i n t h e improvements you have made. You c a n r u n t h e TV w i t h t h e AFT i n whichever p o s i t i o n g i v e s you the best picture. T h e r e a r e s t i l l s e t s around t h a t have t h e V e r t i c a l Hold and H o r i z o n t a l Hold b u t t o n s on t h e f r o n t o r s i d e of t h e c a b i n e t . The V e r t i c a l Hold i s what you r e a c h f o r i f your p i c t u r e s t a r t s f l i p p i n g up o r down. I f your p i c t u r e suddenly t u r n s t o nothing but wide b a r s i n d i f f e r e n t s h a d e s o r c o l o u r s r u n n i n g a c r o s s t h e s c r e e n , adj u s t i n g t h e H o r i z o n t a l Hold s h o u l d correct it. The Colour c o n t r o l s e t t i n g d e t e r m i n e s how i n t e n s e t h e c o l o u r s a r e . I n s e t t i n g t h e T i n t c o n t r o l , pay a t t e n t i o n t o "skin tones" - the c o l o u r s of t h e f a c e i n t h e p i c t u r e . When t h e y l o o k r e a l i s t i c , your s e t i s p r o b a b l y a d j u s t e d c o r r e c t l y . Don't t r y t o adj u s t Colour o r T i n t c o n t r o l s when e i t h e r a commercial o r a news c l i p from o u t s i d e t h e s t u d i o i s on. ~ h e y ' r e o f t e n o u t of whack and when t h e News Announcer comes b a c k , you may f i n d t h e a d j u s t m e n t i s wrong. I f your s e t i s i n good c o n d i t i o n , once you have e a c h c h a n n e l p r o p e r l y a d j u s t e d , you s h o u l d have t o a d j u s t i t v e r y seldom. I f you have t o go t o f u s s i n g o v e r i t e v e r y t i m e you t u r n i t on, i t may be a s i g n of t r o u b l e l y i n g ahead. I f you t u r n o f f your s e t by unplugg i n g i t , you d e f e a t i t s " I n s t a n t On" f e a t u r e and i t w i l l t a k e some t i m e t o warm u p , I ' m s t i l l a v a i l a b l e t o come and have a l o o k a t your s e t i f i t ' > g i v i n g you problems. J u s t l e a v e a n o t e f o r me a t t h e Main F l o o r I n f o r m a t i o n d e s k . itext i s s u e , w e ' l l s t a r t on t h e v a r i o u s c o n t r o l s and a d j u s t m e n t s a t t h e back of t h e TV. By ERIC ERICKSON

I ' v e l o s t my l o v e , my l o v e I ' v e l o s t Oh s u c h woe a t e t e r n i t y s ' c o s t No arm c o u l d r e a c h h e r v a c a n t d i s t a n c e No t h o u g h t c o u l d charm s u c h a p a i n f u l i n s t a n c e Alone I b r e a t h e and e n c o u r a g e my c e n t r e By Mercury a b i d which I h a v e s e n t h e r 'Compose w i t h me a s o f t r e l a t i o n o f p a r d o n Thus redeeming compassion s o i t own't a g a i n h a r d e n Though ' t i l l t h e day I p a c e h a p h a z a r d l y The o u t s i d e world w i t h I s h a r e t r a g e d y A frozen essence i n t h e sunless f r o s t For I ' v e l o s t my l o v e , my l o v e I ' v e l o s t The strAnGer GOOSIES THE WAY I T GOES

One l e g t o s t a n d on f a c i n g West i n t o t h e s e t t i n g s u n (down t o ) 3 G o s l i n g s l e f t now o u t of a brood of s e v e n r e c l a i m i n g t h e l a n d f o r t h e band

My b u d d y ' s a l o n e r He l i v e s on Homer But he a l w a y s g i v e s h e ' s a c h a r i t y doner H e ' s g o t some money and i t a i n ' t funny 'Cause h i s h a i r ' s n o t c l e a n and h i s n o s e - a l w a y s r u n n i n g He t h i n k s h e ' s a s u c c e s s but h e ' s r e a l l y a mess Powders, smoking k i l l and more p i l l s t h a n E l v i s Never knows what happens from day t o day When you t e l l him what h e I he s a y s "No w a y . . I W m s u r e I s t a y e d home y e s t e r d a y . ' I MAN. I t was n i n e - t h i r t y - f i v e j u s t a f t e r d a r k , and you were bouncing round P i g e o n P a r k And everybody r a n c a u s e t h e y saw t h e n a r c s , b u t you s t o o d around and h t e y shook you down Told you t o g e t o u t of t h i s s i d e of town.

Expose t h e c o n c r e t e s h o r e l i n e l a n d f i l l s p o u t i n g o r a n g e o o z e , muskeg i n S e c t i o n two woodchips, o r g a n i c s and m e t a l s f i l l e d i n , paved o v e r , dug o u t Remediation - t h e R.A.P.P. Group s o i l p l a n and t h e Geese r e c l a i m w a s t e l a n d ' it's a landfill, pile d r i l l on s i t e , o v e r - s i g h t , r a i l r o a d e d , l a n d scam Taum

What i s i t l i k e t o f l o a t on a c l o u d , o r t o f l y t h r o u g h t h e c l e a r b l u e sky? What i s i t l i k e , t o r u n l i k e t h e wind, O r t o s w i m l i k e a f i s h under s e a ? What i s i t l i k e t o s i t n e a r s t i l l w a t e r o r p l a y among g i a n t t r e e s ? What i s i t l i k e t o s e e c l e a r t o heaven o r l o v e l i f e w i t h a l l your h e a r t ? What i s i t l i k e ?

Bobby, Bobby, Bobby, I know y o u ' l l mind but I ' m t e l l i n g you now t h a t s h i t makes you b l i n d Get y o u r s e l f t o g e t h e r , t h e s o o n e r t h e b e t t e r y o u ' l l be a n i n e t y day wonder a t a treatment c e n t r e JBL

imagine Dreamweaver

The a d v e r t i s i n g s h e e t a b o u t a p u b l i c meeting had t h e above t i t l e , and was subt i t l e d "Corruption i n High P l a c e s - The I n c r e d i b l e S t o r y of One Man's F i g h t Aga i n s t t h e Mulroney Government. I' The t e x t of t h e f l y e r i s i n t r i g u i n g :

"The s t o r y b e g i n s i n 1988 when RCMP o f f i c e r s , a c t i n g on a c i v i l c o m p l a i n t , i n v e s t i g a t e d and uncovered a massive Tory k i c k b a c k scheme. The t o r y - b l u e p l a n was massive and s i m p l e : a 5% kickback on all o f f i c e and warehouse s p a c e l e a s e d by t h e f e d e r a l government w a s channeled i n t o a f o r e i g n bank a c c o u n t . T h i s bank a c c o u n t , a t t h e time o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n , w a s e s t i m a t e d t o c o n t a i n a b o u t $100 m i l l i o n . The scheme was managed o u t of t h e Prime P l i n i s t e r ' s o f f i c e by ~ u l r o n e y ' s t h e n p e r s o n a l s e c r e t a r y Bernard Roy and Mulroney ' s Ion, t - h e f r i e n d , Sen. Niche1 Cogger. Halfway i n t o t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n , RCMP o f f i c e r s received o r d e r s t o s t o p gatheri n g e v i d e n c e and t h e n t o c e a s e t h e i r i n v e s t i g a t i o n a l t o g e t h e r . The o r d e r s came down from t o r y - a p p o i n t e d commissioners, i n c l u d i n g Plulroney p a l Norman I n k s t e r . Glen Kealey, one of t h e o r i g i n a l p l a i n t i f f s and v o l u n t e e r i n v e s t i g a t o r i n t h e c a s e of t h e k i c k b a c k s , had provided much of t h e e v i d e n c e qnd now kneq a l l t h e o t h e r e v i d e n c e g q t h e r e d up t o t h a t p o i n t , Unlike t h e 8CbJP o f f i c e r s , Kealey c o u l d n o t be f i r e d o r d i s c i p l i n e d f o r blowing the whistle. When t h e media r e f u s e d t o make a n i s s u e o u t of n e i t h e r t h e k i c k b a c k s n o r t h e RCNP cover-up, and w i t h a l l o t h e r avenues exh a u s t e d , Kealey f i l e d c r i m i n a l c h a r g e s h i m s e l f a g a i n s t t h e T o r i e s i n November 89 I t h a s been w e l l over a y e a r s i n c e Kealey f i l e d h i s c h a r g e s . I t h a s been dec i d e d t h a t t h e c a s e w i l l be h e a r d "In Camera", i . e . behind c l o s e d d o o r s w i t h no r e p o r t e r s o r p u b l i c allowed. The c o u r t d a t e h a s been pushed back and d e l a y e d r e p e a t e d l y . I f t h e T o r i e s have t h e i r way, i t w i l l never take place a t a l l .

P a r l i a m e n t a r i a n s and r e p o r t e r s f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e c a s e s a y t h a t t h e T o r i e s might n o t l a s t two weeks i n power i f t h e p u b l i c were made f u l l y aware of t h i s s t o r y . I t remains b u r i e d because l a r g e c o r p o r a t i o n s t h a t c o n t r o l most of o u r media have a v e s t e d i n t e r e s t i n m a i n t a i n i n g t h i s government t h a t t h e y h e l p e d p u t i n o f f i c e . Should t h e Kealey p i e r c e t h e e d i t o r i a l f i l t e r s of t h e media, t h e r e would be an a v a l q n c h e of l e t t e r s t o e d f t o r s & MPs demanding t h e r e s i g n a t i o n of t h e T o r i e s , r a d i o t a l k shows would be fnundated w i t h angry phone c a l l s , t e c . The major newsp a p e r c h a i n s would e v e n t u a l l y be f o r c e d t o s a c r i f i c e t h e i r f r i e n d Plulroney ( a s t h e y r e c e n t l y have done w i t h Vqnderzalm), n o t o u t of b u t r a t h e r f o r f e q r of l o s i n g what l i t t l e c r e d i b i b i t y t h e y have l e f t . "

"Free" T r a d e p r i v a t i z a t i o n , d e r e g u l a t i o n , c u t s i n lie CBC, V I A R a i l , o f f i c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n t o k i l l Fledicare, s l a s h o u r n a t i o n a l s o c i a program f u n d i n g (Canada A s s i s t a n c e P l a ) w i t h B i l l C-69, d r a s t i c c h a n g e s made t o U . I . , and Lhe r e a s o n i n g i s t o make Canada " C o m p e t i t i v e i n t h e new g l o b a l economy." I t ' s a n i n s i d i o u s underm i n i n g o f o u r social/economic/political hopes, a c o r p o r a t e b l u e p r i n t . Keeping a b r e a s t o f c h a n g e s , t h e m o t i v e s and agenda t h e y ' r e p a r t o f , w r i t i n g and t a l k i n g a b o u t i t , making e x p e r i e n c e d guesses about r a m i f i c a t i o n s one of t h e c h i e f d a n g e r s is t o l a p s e i n t o r h e t o r i c , t o a v o i d t t i i n k i n g by spewing dogma.

...

(Dogma:

Bad t l i e o r y p r e s e n t e d a s t r u t h . )

I t ' s d o g m a t i c f o r t h e c u r r e n t governm e n t s ( T o r y , S o c r e d , NPA) t o s t a n d by t h e t h e o r y t h a t what b e n e f i t s t h e r i c h w i l l ' t r i c k l e down' and e v e n t u a l l y h e l p p o o r people. R h e t o r i c a l garbage surrounds t h e l a t e s t boogyman - t h e DEFICIT - dealing -

with i t w i l l e n t a i l " s a c r i f i c e " . Nothing w i l l help but t o continue with a l l t h e economic m e a s u r e s (!) t h a t I s t a r t e d l i s t i n g i n the beginning, according t o t h e p o a i t i c a l g e e k s and t h e i r m a s t e r s . here's no m y s t e r y a b o u t who g i v e s t h e o r d e r s ; t h e r e ' s no m y s t e r y a b o u t what t h e " s a c r i f i c e s " a r e d o i n g . Look a r o u n d . p o v e r t y , homelessness, hungry c h i l d r e n , drug abuse, crime, violence.,.an increase o f 25% i n t h e W e l f a r e b u d g e t w i t h no i n c r e a s e i n r a t e s . . i t l s a l l on t h e r i s e as t h e c o r p o r a t i o n s and m u l t i n a t i o n a l s cons o l i d a t e t h e i r g a i n s and p l a n t h e i r n e x t moves. And i t ' s n o t l i k e e v e r y o n e i s b l i n d o r s t u p i d ; p e o p l e i n g e n e r a l have been cond i t i o n e d over t h e y e a r s t o respond i n c e r t a i n ways t o c e r t a i n k i n d s o f b u l l s h i t and t h i s s t i n ~ u l o u s / r e s p o n s e s t u f f - w i t h p e o p l e - i s f a s t becoming a s c i e n c e .

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" ~ m!" ~ t Well, a l o t of people d o n ' t v o t e , o r v o t e i g n o r a n t l y ; t h e y d o n ' t t r y t o see

what's going t o r e s u l t . Look a t "Free" Trade: t h e p r e d i c t i o n s o f t h o s e opposed t o i t have come t o p a s s , one by o n e . The GST: t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e go t o t h e U.S. e v e r y day j u s t t o buy g r o c e r i e s and g a s . Okay. A l l o f t h e a b o v e was k i n d o f a n i n t r o d u c t i o n t o what f o l l o w s . On Tuesday, May 2 8 , t h e Vancouver & D i s t r i c t Labour C o u n c i l had a m e e t i n g w i t h r e p s from l o c a l u n i o n s and community g r o u p s t o d i s c u s s t h e p o l i c y s t a t e m e n t of t h e Canadian Lab o u r C o n g r e s s - A NEW DECADE: OUR FUTURE. The document was f i r s t w r i t t e n i n May ' 9 0 and c o n t a i n s p o l i c y o n a m u l t i t u d e o,f i s s u e s . Then i t ' s d i s t r i b u t e d a c r o s s t h e country f o r input, revision, etc. A copy o f t h e document came t o C a r n e g i e from J o h n F i t z p a t r i c k (VDLC) a s k i n g t h a t we go o v e r i t and come t o t h i s m e e t i n g . The same went t o End L e g i s l a t e d P o v e r t y , o f which t h e C a r n e g i e A s s o c i a t i o n i s a member, and t o g e t h e r t h i s was p r e s e n t e d : "End L e g i s l a t e d P o v e r t y i s a c o a l i t i o n o f 2 7 B.C. g r o u p s w o r k i n g t o g e t governm e n t s t o r e d u c e and e n d p o v e r t y i n BC. P o v e r t y , as r e f e r r e d t o i n p a r a g r a p h #6 of t h e policy s t a t e m e n t , is a r e a l i t y f o r 3.7 m i l l i o n C a n a d i a n s . The document was w r i t t e n some months a g o ; t h e number i s f a s t a p p r o a c h i n g o r , by now, l i k e l y i n e x c e s s of 4 m i l l i o n people. The p o v e r t y l i n e i s t h e amount o f money needed a y e a r t o h a v e t h e p u r c h a s i n g capac i t y f o r t h e minimum n e c e s s i t i e s - f o o d , clothing, s h e l t e r , medical & education and o f t h e s e 4 m i l l i o n a t l e a s t 1 i n 4 a r e c h i l d r e n . T h e r e are s i n g l e p a r e n t s , s t u d e n t s , s e n i o r s , p e o p l e who are p h y s i c a l l y o r m e n t a l l y d i s a b l e d . . p e o p l e who work a 40 h o u r week a t minimum wage and a r e s t i l l $3000 a y e a r below t h e p o v e r t y l i n e . The e f f e c t s o f Tory p o l i c i e s l i k e s o - c a l l e d "free" t r a d e , p r i v a t i z a t i o n , deregulation, and i r r a t i o n a l t a x a t i o n a r e a d d i n g hundr e d s o f t h o u s a n d s more t o b o t h w o r k i n g and non-working p o o r .

I t ' s n o t my i n t e n t t o t a l k doom & gloom. What I hope t o d o i s h a v e t h i s p o l i c y statement amended u n d e r t h e s e c t i o n c a l l e d ECONOMIC ISSUES OF THE 1 9 9 0 ' s . P o v e r t y i s t h e f u n d a m e n t a l economic i s s u e . A s t r a d e u n i o n i s t s f i n d t h e m s e l v e s underemployed, w o r k i n g b u t n o t making enough, unemployed and n o t making enough t o p u r c h a s e t h e minimum n e c e s s i t i e s , c o m p e t i n g f o r bad j o b s a t d i s m a l wages, t h e n on w e l f a r e a n d t a k i n g a n y work a t any wage... The r e a l i t y of l i v i n g below t h e p o v e r t y l i n e t a k e s a l o t o f e f f o r t and c o - o p e r a t i o n . A working p o l i c y i s r e q u i r e d a r o u n d many a s p e c t s o f l i f e i n poverty p o l i c i e s t h a t w i l l d e t a i l a c t i o n to, a s s t a t e d at t h e beginning, g e t g o v e r n m e n t s t o r e d u c e and end p o v e r t y . -

. . . on

income

A p o l i c y s t a t e m e n t on income would c a l l . f o r t h e i n c r e a s e of minimum s o c i a l assista n c e r a t e s t o e n s u r e t h a t s u p p o r t i s no l o w e r t h a n t h e S t a t s Canada P o v e r t y L i n e and i s i n d e x e d t o t h e c o s t o f l i v i n g . Imm e d i a t e c h a n g e would i n c r e a s e t h e amount of e a r n i n g s one can keep w h i l e r e c e i v i n g w e l f a r e . I t would i n c l u d e t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f a g u a r a n t e e d a n n u a l a d e q u a t e income f o r C a n a d i a n s - a minimum wage o f $ 7 . 5 0 / h o u r . Both o f t h e s e g o a l s would r e s t o r e t h e purc h a s i n g c a p a c i t y t h a t p o o r p e o p l e had 1 6 y e a r s a g o and i n f u s e l o c a l b u s i n e s s e s w i t h new l i f e . Such g o a l s would be f u n d e d by f a i r and r a t i o n a l t a x a t i o n .

jobs A p o l i c y s t a t e m e n t on j o b s would s p e c i f y j o b c r e a t i o n programs - l i k e b u i l d i n g lowc o s t h o u s i n g , r e f o r e s t a t i o n , salmon enhancement & a v i a b l e m e r c h a n t m a r i n e , m u n i c i p a l works p r o g r a m s , e n v i r o n m e n t a l c l e a n - u p and q u a l i t y p o l i c i n g , c h i l d c a r e , e l d e r c a r e , education & t r a i n i n g . Also included i n t h i s a s p e c t would be t h e r e c o g n i t i o n of c h i l d r e a r i n g a s l e g i t i m a t e work d e s e r v i n g of a d e q u a t e income a b o v e t h e p o v e r t y l i n e . T h i s would e l i m i n a t e t h e c u r r e n t p r a c t i c e of f o r c i n g s i n g l e p a r e n t s , m o s t l y women, t o s e e k a n y work a t a n y wage a s s o o n a s t h e i r y o u n g e s t baby i s 6 months o l d .

. .. m e a n i n g f u l ?

work

J o b c r e a t i o n would be p a r t of a b r o a d e r p o l i c y - n n a t i o n a l program f o r f u l l employment t h r o u g h c o n v e r s i o n of w a r l d e f e n c e i n d u s t r i e s t o c i v i l i a n production i n such f i e l d s a s t r a n s p o r L a t i o n and e n e r g y e q u i p ment; development o f s o f t - p a t h e n e r g y a l t e r n a ~ i v e ,s i n c l u d i n g i n c r e a s e d s u p p o r t f o r community c o n s e r v a t i o n and development of r e n e w a b l e r e s o u r c e s ; r e d u c i n g o u r dependency on t h e e x p o r t o f raw r e s o u r c e s and d e v e l o p i n g new models o f o w n e r s h i p and c o n t r o l - i n c l u d i n g p r i v a t e , government, j o i n t v e n t u r e , employee and community owned, a l l w i t h t h e e x p r e s s purpose of provid i n g m e a n i n g f u l work. Poor p e o p l e s u f f e r most from b e i n g s t e r e o t y p e d as l a z y o r s t u p i d o r p a r a s i t e s . . l i e s and e x a g g e r a t i o n promoted by t h e r e a l w e l f a r e burns - t h e c o r p o r a t e w e l f a r e bums.

...

on s e r v i c e s

A p o l i c y s t a t e m e n t on e s s e n t i a l s e r v i c e would i n c l u d e f r e e m e d i c a l , d e n t a l and a bus p a s s f o r a l l w e l f a r e r e c i p i e n t s and pensioners, a s well a s quality c h i l d care a c c e s s i b l e t o a l l low income p e o p l e . Funding f o r much of t h e s e b a s i c s would be from r e c o v e r i n g t a x w r i t e - o f f s and a r a t i o n a l and f a i r s y s t e m o f t a x a t i o n i n the future.

...

and on p o v e r t y

A p o l i c y s t a t e m e n t on p o v e r t y would adm i t t h e good i n t e n t i o n s o f c h a r i t i e s b u t recognize t h e f a c t t h a t c h a r i t y , per s e , i s a b a n d a i d - n o t a s o l u t i o n . I t would n e g a t e t h e p r e v a i l i n g p r a c t i c e o f blaming t h e v i c t i m - t h e poor p e r s o n - and s t a t e t h a t p o v e r t y i s t h e outcome o f government & c o r p o r a t e a g e n d a s . I t would recommend t h e c r e a t i o n of a new p o s i t i o n i n e v e r y u n i o n l o c a l i n t h e c o u n t r y . The p e r s o n f i l l i n g t h i s j o b would e n c o u r a g e co-opera t i o n and u n i t y between w o r k i n g and nonw o r k i n g p e o p l e . She o r h e would: - a s s i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n s r e p r e s e n t i n g low income and unemployed p e o p l e t l ~ r o u ~ h

i n f o r m a t i o n s h a r i n g , development o f jolllL13. campaigns and a c t i o n s , and e d u c a t i o n on t h e need t o end p o v e r t y arid c r e a t e d e c e n t jobs ; - a s s i s t i n o r g a n i z i n g u n o r g a n i z e d low income and unemployed p e o p l e ; - h e l p c r e a t e , e n c o u r a g e and be a p a r t of community-based c o a l i t i o n s ; - t h e y would be e a c h l o c a l ' s l i n k w i t h a network o f i n f o r m a t i o n s h a r i n g and a c t i o n s aimed d i r e c t l y a t t h e c o r p o r a t e agenda. The c o r p o r a t e a g e n d a h a s , a s i t s p r i m a r y g o a l , t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a soci e t y where h a v i n g a s o c i a l c o n s c i e n c e i s a l i a b i l i t y . T h i s union person's job would i n c l u d e r a i s i n g t h e a w a r e n e s s o f t h e l o c a l ' s members a s w e l l a s t h e publ i c ' s a b o u t t h e m o t i v e s , p l a n s and b l u e p r i n t s of t h i s a g e n d a . A p o l i c y s t a t e m e n t on p o v e r t y would t a k e a s t r o n g s t a n d on i s s u e s o f c h i l d p o v e r t y and o u r f u t u r e . Poor c h i l d r e n a r e s t i g m a t i z e d & h u m i l i a t e d when f o r c e d t o i d e n t i f y t h e i r need p u b l i c l y i n s c h o o l rooms t o g e t l u n c h coupons. A u n i v e r s a l p o l i c y would e l i m i n a t e t h i s i m m e d i a t e l y . I n c l o s i n g I would l i k e t o t h a n k t h e Vancouver & D i s t r i c t Labour C o u n c i l f o r i t s s u p p o r t of End L e g i s l a t e d P o v e r t y and i t s r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e f a c t t h a t poverty is j u s t one m i s s e d paycheque away f o r t o o many p e o p l e . Should a d e c i s i o n be r e a c h e d t o amend t h e p o l i c y s t a t e m e n t o f t h e C.L.C. t o i n c l u d e a n e n t i r e s e c t i o n on p o v e r t y and t h e p o l i c i e s / a c t i o n s o u t l i n e d , a few m i l l i o n p e o p l e - many o f t h e p e o p l e we a l l know and s e e e v e r y d a y - would h a v e new hope t h a t t h e s t i g m a o f b e i n g e c o n o m i c a l l y poor would be on i t s way o u t . We a r e a l l p a r t o f t h e s t r u g g l e f o r a s e n t i e n t peace. Thank you f o r y o u r k i n d a t t e n t i o n . Respectfully submitted, PaulR T a y l o r , E d i t o r , Carnegie Newsletter. Canada i s $400 B i l l i o n i n t h e h o l e ! Corporations & wealthy people g e t t a x b r e a k s and d o n ' t pay t h e i r f a i r s h a r e f o r p u b l i c s p e n d i n g . Some o f what t h e y do i s o u t l i n e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g p i e c e from Act i o n L i n e :

would come from low and middle income people who will have to give up the universal family allowance. Wouldn't it be fairer to get the money for poor children from corporations and the wealthy?

[.rate lour fax number mtd ne'll Ict )ou Lnon.

Hidden agendas By Jean Swanson

When government or big business say one thing, sometimes they mean something else. Here are two areas I've run into recently where government or big business could have hidden agendas that will increase poverty.

Still another article indicated that the Tories are planning a meeting in June with the provinces to discuss the Canada Assistance Plan and its relation to this Benefit. Right now the federal government contributes to provinces half the money it spends on welfare through the Canada Assistance Plan. CAP is not perfect, but it does guarantee some rights for poor people. It forbids work for welfare. It says that welfare must meet basic needs. If the feds use the Child Benefit to get out of CAP, then rights for poor people will depend on provincial governments. With regard to topping up low wages, MP Green has already said that one of the benefits of the Benefit is that "the minimum wage would not have to cover the costs of raising children, just the adult."

2. The Bank of Canada. The Bank of Canada ' has an important role in Canada. It can create a lot of poverty. Or it could reduce poverty. The Bank of Canada is a Crown Corporation. Theoretically it is accountable to the government 1. The child benefit proposal. No one knows and the people of Canada, regardless of whether exactly what this is. Three articles in the Globe we are rich or poor. and Mail this month seem to indicate that the Tories are considering a Child Benefit. On first The Bank's power is in setting interest rates. If glance, this would seem to be a proposal that the Bank sets interest rates high, this is what benefits children, right? Wrong. happens: People can't afford to borrow money to buy cars, or houses, or washers and dryers. So From what I can see, expect a plan that uses poor they don't. And the people who make these things children as an excuse to get laid off. They go on UI. Then, after a while, --reduce the deficit these workers might end up on welfare. --further destroy universality --top up low wages so that corporations won't This is actually what the Bank does. It has stated have to deal with higher minimum wages or pay that it purposely keeps interest rates high so that equity. unemployment will be high. Something else --end protections for poor people that now exist happens when unemployment is high. Lots of in the Canada Assistance Plan people are competing for a few jobs. So some people agree to work for lower wages. After all, One Globe story quoted Tory Barbara Greene they NEED the 'work. So high unemployment saying that the government planned to save $1 causes low wages. That's what the Bank wants. billion with the Child Benefit proposal that is supposed to provide $3400 per year per child to certain low income families. Another article suggested that some of the money for the Benefit

Only when the Bank of Canada keeps interest rates high, it doesn't call this their Poverty Creation Policy. The Bank calls high interest )ales their Inflation Fighting Policy. Only guess who bas to do the front line fighting? The unemployed and the poor. If we had a different government, one that was on our side, it could tell the Bank of Canada to push interest rates down. That would h e l ~crcate lots of jobs. It would also reduce the deficit a lot.

caused by tax breaks t o corporations and the 50Y by high interest rates 6; only 6z by spending. Russell notes

that has the highest rate of torporate in the world. One b e r of t h e B C N I c o u l d e a s i l y f i n a n c e b o t h major p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s . . t h e i n t e r e s t s of huge c o r p o r a t i o n s are d i f f e r e n t from t h e interests the nation'

Now here's where the hidden agenda comes in. Lately the business papers have been calling for changes in the Bank of Canada. A guy named David Laidler from the C. D. Howe Institute wants a stronger bank with only one job: maintaining the value of money (not jobs). Laidler is talking about changing the structure of the Bank of Canada so that a govcrnment wouldn't have this power to tell it what to do. An editorial i n the Financial Post says that changing the Bank's structure would "further insulate it from political Another word for political interference. " [ interference is democracy. Hcavcn forbid'that we had a bank that could help create jobs and reduce I ; the deficit! a t We're Up A g a i n s t :

(The F i x Is On)

The B u s i n e s s C o u n c i l on N a t i o n a l I s s u e s (BCNI) i s made up o f t h e c h i e f e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e r s of Canada's top (mostly multinat i o n a l and many U.S. owned) 1 5 0 c o r p o r a t i o n s . They a d m i n i s t e r c l o s e t o $1 t r i l l i o n i n a s s e t s . They s a y o f t h e m s e l v e s : "the Council is t h e chosen v e h i c l e through which s e n i o r C a n a d a i n b u s i n e s s l e a d e r s c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e shaping of n a t i o n a l p r i o r i t i e s . " I n t h e Winnipeg F r e e P r e s s Franc e s R u s s e l l w r i t e s t h a t " t h e BCNI's p u b l i c s p i r i t e d n e s s always c o i n c i d e s with corporate self-interest Russell notes t h a t t h e BCNI'S multim i l l i o n d o l l a r a d v e r t i z i n g campaign h e l p e d g e t a t o r y v i c t o r y and f r e e t r a d e i n 1988; t h e y wanted t h e GST; t h e y a r e now s t u d y i n g the constitution. The B C N I i s a l s o on a c r u s a d e t o conv i n c e C a n a d i a n s t o c u t s o c i a l s p e n d i n g bec a u s e of t h e d e f i c i t . B u t , a c c o r d i n g t o R u s s e l l , 44% of t h e growth i n t h e d e b t i s

From B.C.

.. .

The c u r r e n t g o v t . ' s r e c o r d #1.2 b i l l i o n d e f i c i t - and t h e a t t e m p t t o c o v e r i t up is only t h e l a t e s t a d d i t i o n t o a 4 year r e c o r d o f s o c r e d d i s h o n e s t y , s a i d NDP f i n a n c e c r i k i c Glen C l a r k d u r i n g h i s o f f i c i a l response t o B C ' s budget speech. "From y e a r one t o y e a r f o u r , B r i t i s h Columbians have s e e n a s o c r e d g o v t . o f d o u b l e s t a n d a r d s , d o u b l e d e a l i n g and doub l e t a l k , " s a i d C l a r k (Vancouver E a s t ) . "From B i l l 19 t o t h e Knight S t r e e t Pub t o t h e Expo s e l l - o f f t o p o l i t i c a l i n t e r f e r e n c e i n t h e j u s t i c e s y s t e m , t h i s government h a s c o n s i s t e n t l y t w i s t e d t h e t r u t h f o r i t s own p o l i t i c a l p u r p o s e s . "And n o t h i n g ' s changed w i t h t h i s y e a r ' s budget. This i s a govt. t h a t continues t o

be d i s h o n e s t , a govt. with a t a x f r e e z e t h a t i n c r e a s e s t a x e s , a government w i t h a debt reduct ion plan t h a t i n c r e a s e s debt. " Clark s a y s t h a t i n a d d i t i o n t o pushing i t s d e r e c t d e b t t o $9 b i l l i o n , t h e socr e d s ' budget d o e s n o t h i n g t o p r o t e c t working p e o p l e ' s j o b s and paycheques o r get B C ' s spending p r i o r i t i e s r i g h t . " T h i s budget r e v e a l s t h e p r o v i n c e ' s d i r e c t d e b t h a s more t h a n d o u b l e d s i n c e t h i s government came t o power i n 198b - i t ' s now $9 b i l l i o n . " "And i t d o e s n ' t h a v e one s i n g l e i d e a on how t o p r o t e c t j o b s and p a y c h e q u e s , a t t h e v e r y t i m e t h e C o n f e r e n c e Board o f C ~ ~ c disa p r e d i c t i n g B . C . w i l l have t h e

w o r s t economic p e r f o r m a n c e of any provi n c e i n Canada." C l a r k a d d s t h e s o c r e d s stiould have p u t money away d u r i n g t h e good t i m e s t o a l l o w BC t o w e a t h e r t h e bad t i m e s w i t h o u t unnecessary job l o s s e s , t a x i n c r e a s e s , o r cutbacks i n e s s e n t i a l s e r v i c e s . I n s t e a d , h e s a y s , t h e y embarked on two s t r a i g h t years of record e l e c t i o n - s t y l e spending, h i k i n g i t by a l m o s t 13% o v e r e a c h of t h e l a s t two y e a r s . "This government engaged i n h i g h spendi n g and d e f i c i t f i n a n c i n g i n t h e m i d d l e of an economic boom, l e a v i n g n o t h i n g f o r a r a i n y day - and now t h a t r a i n y day i s h e r e . "- lark s a i d .

( cover) I am t h e p r o u d m o t h e r o f 3 w o n d e r f u l little girls. I'm n o t going t o preach t h e hardship o f s i n g l e p a r e n t i n g , b u t r a t h e r I hope t o make a c l e a r s t a t e m e n t o f some e c o nomic f a c t s . B a s e d u p o n C a n a d a Manpower j o b a v a i l a b i l i t y , I q u a l i f y f o r a $7/hr. job. At t h i s r a t e , t h e g o v e r n m e n t s u b s i d i z e s i n 2 ways, f o r income and f o r c h i l d c a r e . These s u b s i d i e s a r e f o r a o n e y e a r maximum. Group c h i l d c a r e r a t e s f o r my 3 c h i l d r e n are f i x e d a t $ 1 , 1 5 6 p e r m o n t h . T h e s u b s i d y i s $744 p e r m o n t h , l e a v i n g a s h o r t f a l l o f $412. A s s u m i n g I g e t my $7 a n h o u r j o b a n d w i t h t h e s u b s i d i e s previously mentioned I am l e f t w i t h $ 7 3 2 t o s u p p o r t my family. A f t e r p a y i n g my r e n t o f $ 7 2 0 , I am l e f t w i t h $12 t o f e e d my f a m i l y f o r a month.

T h e BC g o v e r n m e n t w i l l p a y $ 1 4 , 7 1 2 i n s u b s i d i e s f o r a period of one year t o e m p l o y me f u l l t i m e o u t s i d e t h e home The BC g o v e r n m e n t w o u l d p a y , a t c u r r e n t w e l f a r e rates, $13,728 f o r m e t o r e m a i n a t home w i t h my c h i l d r e n . W i t h a $7 a n h o u r j o b , i t w i l l c o s t t a x p a y e r s $984 more a y e a r t o employ me o u t s i d e t h e home, a n d I w o u l d h a v e $144 t o f e e d a f a m i l y o f 4 f o r a n ent i r e year. W i t h t h e s u p p o r t o f End L e g i s l a t e d P o v e r t y I h a v e t a k e n l e g a l a c t i o n aga i n s t t h e BC g o v t . t o s t o p f o r c e d employment o f s i n g l e p a r e n t s on w e l f a r e . As a r e s u l t I h a v e b e e n c a l l e d e v e r y t h i n g f r o m p a r a s i t e t o baby machine. I would hope t h a t t h e economic f a c t s I h a v e o u t l i n e d w i l l p r e s e n t a more r e a l i s t i c p i c t u r e of a s i n g l e parent on w l e f a r e . Bv THERESA T R E S I D D E R

C o u s i d e r l n g tile b r u t a l i t y t h i s woman i t ' s not s u r p r i s i n g she would t h i n k t h i s . . . b u t i s i t a f a c t ? A s I s a y , I ' v e n e v e r met a woman who seemed t o spend e v e r y waking m i n u t e of h e r l i f e i n a c o n s t a n t s t a t e of f e a r . . . b u t Dusty s a y s women " i n e v e r y c o u n t r y " ( t h i s seems t o i n c l u d e e v e r y f e m a l e on t h e p l a n e t ) "have t o " l i v e i n f e a r t w e n t y - f o u r h o u r s a day not only t h a t , but she i n c l u d e s a l l f e m a l e babys & e v e r y b o d y ' s "Granny" i n t h i s c o n s t a n t f e a r o f s e x u a l a t t a c k . She s a y s t h e y "have t o " d o t h i s b e c a u s e of men. hat's a l i t t l e b i t d i f f i c u l t t o accept. Maybe I'm r e a c t i n g t h i s way b e c a u s e I was born male - t h r o u g h no f a u l t of my own, I hope -.,maybe i f I was a woman I would be a b l e t o a c c e p t what Dusty s a y s . . t h a t I "have LO" spend e v e r y nwnlent of my l i f e i n c o n s t a n t f e a r o f men. I f t h e s i t u a t i o n i s a s bad a s Dusty s a y s i t i s , we s h o u l d a l l be d o i n g somet h i n g t o make men l e s s v i o l e n t , & t o h e l p i s Dusty d o i n g women d e f e n d t h e m s e l v e s a n y t h i n g t o h e l p men become more g e n t l e , i n t e l l i g e n t & c a r i n g ? She q u o t e s h e r unknown r a p e v i c t i m a s s a y i n g : "Plen a r e unl i k e o t h e r a n i m a l s , i n t h a t t h e males of o t h e r s p e c i e s do n o t k i l l t h e i r females." (No m e n t i o n o f t h o s e f e m a l e s who e a t m a l e s a l i v e a f t e r h a v i n g s e x w i t h them) 113s e x p e r i e n c e d ,

I d o n ' t know who Dusty i s - b u t h e r a r t i c l e i n t h e l a s t i s s u e s t r o n g l y suggests t h a t a l l women l i v e i n c o n s t a n t t e r r o r o f men. I t ' s h a r d f o r m e t o b e l i e v e t h i s , s i n c e I n e v e r met a woman who was a c t u a l l y l i k e t h a t . Dusty d o e s n ' t s a y t h i s d i r e c t l y - b u t s a y s t h a t a n unnamed woman who was brut a l l y raped b e l i e v e s i t . I c a n a c c e p t t h a t s u c h a woman m i g h t b e l i e v e t h i s but t h e w r i t e r g o e s on t o r e i n f o r c e h e r i d e a w i t h images t h a t p o r t r a y men a s v i o lent perverts as i f m a s c u l i n i t y i t s e l f c o n s i s t e d of n o t h i n g more t h a n a gang of s a d i s t i c k i l l e r s waiting f o r its next female v i c t i m . She r e c o u n t s t h e n i g h t m a r i s h s t o r y of a v i o l e n t r a p e which t o o k p l a c e i n a p a r k i n g l o t i n b r o a d d a y l i g h t b u t was n o t reported t o p o l i c e & t h e r e f o r e not invest i g a t e d . No one c a n deny t h a t s u c h t h i n g s do happen - b u t d o e s t h i s mean any woman i s l i a b l e t o be a t t a c k e d by any marl a t any t i m e ? ?'he woman is unnamed, t h e l o c a t i o n , t i m e & d a t e o f t h e a t t a c k a r e unknown i n f a c t i t a p p e a r s a s i f no one knows a n y t h i n g a b o u t t h i s t e r r i b l e c r i m e exc e p t t h e w r i t e r , t h e unnamed f e m a l e v i c t i m & h e r unknown male a t t a c k e r . .'The d e t a i l s t h a t 5rz g i v e n , however, d e s c r i b e v i v i d l y t h i s unknown woman's f e a r , a n g e r , r e v u l s i o n & t r a u m a t i c shock which, u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s d e s c r i b e d , would e l i c i t compassion from any l~uman b e i n g , male o r f e m a l e . Dusty s a y s t h i s h o r r i b l e e x p e r i e n c e c a u s e d t h e woman t o b e l i e v e t h a t . ."Won~en i n every c o u n t r y have t o l i v e w i t h f e a r twenty-four hours o u t of twenty-four, & no f e m a l e i s s a f e , e v e r , i n c l u d i n g t h e one month-old baby i n h e r c r i b & t h e n i n e t y y e a r - o l d woman i n t h e n u r s i n g home"

...

i s Dusty h e l p i n g women t o d e f e n d thems e l v e s a g a i n s t r a p e ? The c o n s t a n t o f f e a r s h e seems t o recornmend would e v e n t u a l l y r e s u l t i n s u i c i d e o r i n s a n i t y . Docs Dusty r e a l l y l o v e women & h a t e I I I ~ I I .? . o r i s s h e working a g a i n s t b o t h s e x e s ? A t t h e end o f h e r a r t i c l e s h e o f f e r s a g u i l t y p r a y e r t h a t some o t h e r woman b: raped i n s t e a d of h e r , a s i f v i o l e n t r a p e was t h e u n a v o i d a b l e r e s u l t of s t a t i s t i c s j a n d e d down by s o c i a l w o r k e r s & p o l i c e dep a r t m e n t s . I f we f o l l o w t h i s k i n d o f t h i n -

king, i t ' s e a s y t o s p i r a l down i n t o t h e On S u n d a y s p s y c h i c t o r t u r e chambers t h a t e x i s t i n In the flametoss e v e r y o n e ' s p a r a n o i d i m a g i n a t i o n . We c a n of sunset t h e shore a l l g e t down i n ~ 1 i emud & t e a r e a c h o t h e r catches f i r e t o p i e c e s - b u t nobody w a n t s t o l i v e t h a t way - nobody can_ l i v e t h a t way. and t h e s u n b l i n d s i t s e l f So how can men & women l e a r n t o l o v e , w i t h found b e a u t y r e s p e c t , t r u s t & communicate h o n e s t l y w i t h o f i t s own r e f l e c t i o n ; each o t h e r ? C e r t a i n l y n o t t h r o u g h t h e f e a r and t h e burning water l a y s & l i a t r e d Dusty e m p h a s i z e s ... i n f a c t , t h e hardly respiring, solution t o rape & violence l i e s i n the o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n . F e a r & h a t r e d may be a aware n a t u r a l r e a c t i o n Lo v i o l e n c e , b u t i f maint h i s f i e r y moment t a i n e d a s a " d e f e n s e " , a s Dusty seems t o w i l l p a s s and h e r n a t u r e recommend, i t c a n o n l y add more f e a r , w i l l grow d a r k a g a i n . hatred & violence t o our l i v e s . Boys must be t a u g h t t h a t g e n t l e n e s s d o e s not c a n c e l o u t manhood. G i r l s must be taught t h a t f e m i n i n i t y is not being a cute victim. I But we a r e f i g h t i n g a l o s i n g b a t t l e agI feel a i n s t o u r own governments & b u s i n e s s m e n I am a l i v e when we t r y t o d e s t r o y t h e images t h e y u s e I l i v e f o r now t o m a n i p u l a t e u s . . .Rambo i s a h e r o t o them I c a n p l a n f o r tomorrow . h e ' s t h e h o m i c i d a l maniac t h e s y s t e m u s e s t o t e r r o r i z e i t s c i t i z e n s i n t o subI a m now w i t h God a l w a y s mission. Barbie is t h e blonde babydoll I a m a l i v i n g book o f f o r e v e r t h a t s e l l s c a r s , b e e r & c o s m e t i c s f o r them. I a m a t h o u g h t i n t h e L o r d God What would t h e economic & law e n f o r c e I am w i t h ~ ~ d and t h a t i s f o r e v e r , amen ment s y s t e m s d i w i t h o u t t h e i r s e x u a l s t e r I see all t h e g l o r y t h a t i s l i f e e o t y p e s ? The k i l l e r m a l e & h i s f e m a l e sexI feelall t h e love t h a t T s h e r e slave a r e t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l p i l l a r s of I sense a l l t h e l i f e a r o u n d me society . . . g i g a n t i c archetypes t h a t reinI c a n h e a r God's Voice f o r c e t h e w o r s t i n u s . Why a r e we s u r r o u n I am a l i v e now ded by t h e s e i n f l u e n c e s 2 4 h o u r s a d a y ? I am h e r e Because t h e y a r e s p o n s o r e d & p a i d f o r by I am l a r g e c o r p o r a t i o n s which have a v e s t e d i n t e r e s t i n our emotional confusion. I Rape, v i o l e n c e & d e g r a d a t i o n a r e n o t caused by s e x u a l d i f f e r e n c e s ; t h e y a r e t h e s e c r e t l y agreed-upon v a l u e s of s i c k m i n d s , & we a r e n o t b o r n w i t h s i c k minds b u t i n h e r i t t h e s i c k n e s s from a s o c i e t y d e s i g n e d t o p a s s i t on from one g e n e r a t i o n t o another. Can we r e - d e s i g n o u r s o c i e t y t o p r o d u c e g e n t l e , c a r i n g males & proud, i n t e l l i g e n t females? . I hope s o .

TO RA ( L c t ~ c r st o t h e E d i t o r

. .. . j

d o l l o w i n g i s a n open l e t t e r w r i t t e n c o l l e c t i v e l y by a group o f c h i l d r e n , aged 12-15, P a r e n t s and t e a c h e r s a t a C o n f e r e n c e on P o v e r t y h e l d i n A l b e r t a . To Bob Hawkesworth, PlLA ( A l t a . ) We a r e r e s p o n d i n g from t h e P o v e r t y workshop a t t h e G l o b a l Awareness ' 9 1 Conference h e l d a t S i r John F r a n k l i n J u n i o r High S c h o o l t o y o u r i n v i t a t i o n t o t a k e o u r c o n c e r n s a b o u t t h e w e l f a r e of women and c h i l d r e n t o Edmonton and Ottawa; Mountain Views , Vo1.2, No.1, Februayr-March 1991.

government e x p e n s e s f o r M.P.'s s h o u l d b e c u t . They a r e t o o much. More g r a n t s g i v e n t o o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h a t h e l p p e o p l e who a r e poor. Give more t o s i n g l e p a r e n t s who a r e on s o c i a l a s s i s t a n c e . Have more s h e l t e r s f o r women, a l s o men, r e g a r d i n g Family V i o l e n c e . B r i n g back t h e money t h a t i s f o r c h i l d r e n u n d e r S o c i a l S e r v i c e s t h a t was c u t t h i s y e a r . - Give more f u n d s u n d e r S o c i a l S e r v i c e s . Give e v e r y o n e on a s s i s t a n c e more money wishful thinking! - Have l u n c h 6 s n a c k programs i n s c h o o l s i n t h e poor a r e a s of t h e c i t y .

...

***

- government s h o u l d do s o m e t h i n g a b o u t p o v e r t y . - Family a l l o w a n c e s s h o u l d be h i g h e r . - More s h e l t e r s . * A * *

- We want t o change t h e t r e a t m e n t o f poor p e o p l e and g i v e them homes. * * A *

- We want t o make them h a v e good l i v e s . - I t h i n k young o f f e n d e r s t h a t a r e poor s h o u l d be g i v e n homes. - Poor p e o p l e s h o u l d g e t t h e same amount. ;: " a.

-0.

- C i v e p e o p l e a c h a n c e t o work and p r o v e t h e m s e l v e s ,

t h a t they a r e worth l i v i n g . Make community s e r v i c e s t h a t may h e l p them g e t back t o g e t h e r .

- The p e r c e n t a g e o f p e o p l e on w e l f a r e s h o u l d b e l o w e r .

They s h o u l d g e t more money t o l i v e on. P l u s t h e government s h o u l d f o c u s more on w e l f a r e fraud (1.)

- More programs s h o u l d be d e v e l o p e d f o r t h o s e k i d s who f i n d t h e m s e l v e s i n

a s i t u a t i o n where t h e y have l i m i t e d c o n t r o l o v e r t h e i r d a i l y l i v i n g f o o d , s h e l t e r , c l o t h i n g . The Fovernment n e e d s t o p r i o r i z e t h e n e e d s o f s u c i e l y - i . e . s h o u l d we be f o c u s i n g on o u r p r i s o n s and m o d e r n i k i n g

basic needs of many of our unfortunate youth who are our future???

,: <,,

J-

"Women who are able and who want to work deserve better than poverty". Mountain View Women who are unable to "work" also deserve better than poverty. (Women who choose not to be gainfully employed but choose to work in other areas shcb as raising children and volunteer positions also deserve better than poverty.) 1

'Teenage

mothers contribute to higher rates of poverty because these young mothers are often poorly equipped to compete in the workplace". Mountain View Teenage mothers do not cause poverty. Poverty contributes to the problems of the teenage mother. With a negative birthrate in Canada how can we condemn teenage mothers or any mothers? Children are our future.

-L

.,. -8-

As a speaker at the Global Awareness ' 9 1 Conference I must add that I agree with most of the comments that participants made. The comments about welfare fraud are an exception. Despite the obvious inhibiting factor to anyone needing help seeking help and the humiliation of being treated like a criminal, the worst moral fraud is to believe that one can live any decent life or deserves toa.liveat any level below the poverty line. Any program, government or private insurance, accounts for and expects at least a 4% fraud rate. Alberta is so rigourous that we have a 2% rate. Persons from all walks of life like to tell stories of how they found a bargain, tricked a system, a boss, their taxes and government. Many of these stories are bravado and perhaps untrue exaggerations. However, the untrue exaggerations by the government about welfare fraud is intended to deflect attention away from the millions and billions given in grants and loan guarantees to business. Unfortunately this attention creates hardship and suffering to the most vulnerable in our society. Can governments put their suspicions onto the business/corporate sector and provide opportunities and decent lives for citizens. We hope you find our comments useful and are able to take them to the government. Thank y-u for your concern about women b children in poverty.

Sunshine echoes retreat Sunshine Sunshine i n t h e s p r i n g Sunshine Sunshine l i v e s i n our s m i l e s Mar i o n a g d Angie

Idlieu we a r e s m a l l Ide f e a r t h e d a r k p l a c e s Ugly f a c e s 4 The boogyman

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the high places f o r our l i v e s t o l o v e somebody t o get hurt about s t r a n g e r s t o g e t mugged f o r our job losing winning trying lying truth dying

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INFINITE WAR w a r was o n , t h e b u t t o n s pushed r o c k e t s f l a r e burned b r i g h t boys were s i t t i n g , e a g e r r e s u l t s t o t r i c k l e in.

The w o r l d was s a f e , t h e h e r o e s won, The t a r g e t s , a l l d e s t r o y e d Gone w e r e t h e c i t i e s w h e r e p e o p l e l i v e d J u s t t w i s t e d , mangled j u n k The b o y s w e r e o l d e r And w i s e r t o o They had t h e i r f u n a l r i g h But a g e was c r e e p i n g up

Our p a r e n t s t e a c h u s t o f e a r Our s u r r o u n d i n g s t e n d t o b a c k those f e a r s God c r e a t e d t h e u n i v e r s e With l o v e , n o t f e a r

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God c r e a t e d l i f e With l o v e , n o t f e a r God c r e a t e d t h i s w o r l d With l o v e , n o t f e a r

boys a l l d i e d met t h e i r m a t e s r e - u n i o n was c u t s h o r t g i r l s were a l l p i s s e d of

cod c r e a t e d you and me ldith l o v e , n o t f e a r

You d i r t y s c o u n d r e l s They would s a y You b l e w me up and t h e n , You come h e r e f o r a k i s s

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A l l h e l l broke l o o s e And h e a v e n t o o The boys found o u t t h e h a r d way H e l l h a t h no f u r y l i k e a s o u l m a t e bombed. Dreamweaver

Dreamweaver ).

For b e t t e r . . . o r w o r s e ?

There were 2 p u b l i c meetings i n t h e S t r a t h c o n a a r e a a week o r s o a g o . On t h e a g e n d a was t h e p r o p o s a l t o b u i l d a "mini-Riverview" k i t t y - c o r n e r from Ray-Cam Community C e n t r e . ( R i v e r v i e w , f o r t h o s e o f you w ho d o n ' t know, i s a psychiatric Hospital that t h e socreds h a v e d e c i d e d t o s h u t down & s e l l o f f . S t . James Church o p e r a t e s a f a c i l i t y called Triage. I t p r o v i f e s emergency and s h o r t - t e r m a s s i s t a n c e t o p e o p l e with mental disorders. S t . James w a n t s t o b u i l d s c o r e s o f housing u n i t s f o r both c u r r e n t psychiat r i c p a t i e n t s and r e l e a s e d m e n t a l h e a l t h c o n s u m e r s . S t r a t h c o n a a n d , by extension, l e t existing services i n the Downtown E a s t s i d e s i m p l y a b s o r b t h e extra clients. Seeming t o jump on t h e bandwagon a r e t h e Canadian Mental H e a l t h S e r v i c e s , t h e M e n t a l P a t i e n t s A s s o c i a t i o n and t h e Lookout. On t h e p o s i t i v e s i d e ( o r maybe i t s h o u l d b e c a l l e d t h e ' i d e a l ' s i d e ) many m e n t a l h e a l t h p a t i e n t s , exc l i e n t s , "consurpers" w i l l g e t a p l a c e t o l i v e o u t s i d e an i n s t i t u t i o n . But a t t h e same t i m e , t h e n e g a t i v e o r 'down s i d e ' h a s t o b e l o o k e d a t . I n S t r a t h c o n a Are many f a m i l i e s w i t h c h i l d r e n who go t o s c h o o l e v e r y weekday amid h o o k e r s p l y i n g t h e i . q . . tr a d e ; t h e

s c h o o l g r o u n d s a r e now swept w i t h m e t a l d e t e c t o r s e v e r y m o r n i n g t o c l e a n them of u s e d n e e d l e s ( h e p a t i t i s , A I D S . . .) ; t h e s c h o o l i t s e l f i s now a l m o s t i n a s t a t e of s i e g e t o keep o u t o r even e s c o r t out weird people approaching k i d s . P a r e n t s and community a c t i v i s t s a r e s a y i n g t h a t b o t h S t r a t h c o n a and t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e a r e a l r e a d y a t t h e s a t u r a t i o n p o i n t f o r p e o p l e who r e q u i r e s o c i a l a s s i s t a n c e / s e r v i c e s and a r e j u s t n o t a b l e t o accomodate t h e e x t r a s e r v i c e s and s u p e r v i s i o n t h a t many mental p a t i e n t s / m e n t a l h e a l t h consumers need. O r g a n i z a t i o n s l i k e t h e Coast Foundation o p e r a t e p s y c h i a t r i c boardi n g homes o r half-way h o u s e s t o s l o w l y i n t e g r a t e p a t i e n t s and e x - p s y c h i a t r i c c l i e n t s back i n t o communities. J u s t p r o v i d i n g rooms f o r p e o p l e w i t h s e r i o u s n e e d s i s a g r o s s d i s s e r v i c e - t o them. Many o f t h e s e p e o p l e h a v e p r e s c r i b e d medications t o be taken a t r e g u l a r int e r v a l s ; without s a f e & e f f e c t i v e m o n i t o r i n g p s y c h o s i s and " a c t i n g o u t " a r e almost assured i n t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y of mental c l i e n t s . T h e r e h a v e b e e n few e f f o r t s t o a s s e s s the services that a r e not present right now i n o u r n e i g h b o u r h o o d s t o a s s i s t I t ' s a crime mental h e a l t h consumers. t o expect people b a r e l y a b l e t o functi o n on t h e i r own t o f e n d f o r t h e m s e l v e s - t o even s u r v i v e w i t h o u t a l l n e c e s s a r y services provided. Another a s p e c t t h a t is c h i l l i n g i s t h e n e c e s s i t y of e v i c t i n g c u r r e n t r e s i d e n t s from t h e b u i l d i n g s t h a t t h e 3 o r 4 o r g a n i z a t i o n s planning t o house t h e i r members i n . Where do t h e o n e s e v i c t e d go? The a n g e r and a n i m o s i t y d i s p l a y e d a t t h e 2 meetings mentioned are j u s t the t i p . Planning before b e a t s t h e h e l l o u t of scrambling a f t e r .

"SiDREFRcT)NT PROJECT" 233 Main Street, Vciinccuver, B.C. V6A 2S7 Telephone: 687-8411 T h s Native Liaison Storefront is dedicated to providing services in the following areas

Tha Reporting of Crime@)by Viciims & Witnesses

Intervention Through Limited Counselling

* Alternative Location for Victiml

Witness Information & Support

Referrals t:, Appropriate Social Sorviees

Crime Prevention EducationlRecruitment Information

N.A.L.D. Nat i o n a l A d ult L i t e r a c y Database .................................... A w h i l e back t h e Carnegie N e w s l e t t e r was p u t on t h e m a i l i n g l i s t o f t h i s It's a literacy project organization. t h a t , a s p a r t of i t s work, s t a r t e d a computer b u l l e t i n b o a r d - e v e r y p r o gram, p r o j e c t , r e s o u r c e and s o on f o r any and a l l a d u l t l i t e r a c y t e a c h e r s 6 students. The r e s u l t s o f what s t a r t e d o u t t o be a l i b r a r y o f s o r t s h a v e amazed e v e n t h e p e o p l e who t h o u g h t o f i t . . a s a minor t a s k . T h i s d a t a b a s e h a s become

one of t h e major t o o l s f o r informat i o n s h a r i n g , c r e a t i n g new l i t e r a c y t e a c h i n g methods and g e t t i n g t o know o t h e r people i n t h e f i e l d - both t h e t e a c h e r s and l e a r n e r s . The NALD j u s t s e n t a " F a c t S h e e t " t o C a r n e g i e , g i v i n g a l o t of h i g h sounding b e n e f i t s of u s i n g t h i s n e t work and e n c o u r a g i n g l i t e r a c y t e a c h e r s and l e a r n e r s t o t a p i n t o i t . One main p o i n t d i s c o v e r e d d u r i n g t h e o r i g i n a l p r o j e c t was t h a t most t e a c h e r s l l e a r n e r s do t h e i r t h i n g i n i s o l a t i o n , n o t r e a l l y knowing o r e v e n how t o f i n d o u t who e l s e and what e l s e i s a v a i l a b l e . The NALD i s s o s u c c e s s f u l t h a t t h e s t a f f t h e r e is w o r k i n g now i n t h e L i t e r a c y Decade t h e 1990's - r a t h e r than j u s t going a t i t f o r t h e one Year of L i t e r a c y . I f a n y o f you r e a d i n g t h i s a r e i n v o l v e d i n a d u l t l i t e r a c y and would l i k e t o f i n d o u t more a b o u t t h e NALD, call or write: N a t i o n a l Adult L i t e r a c y Database, c / o Fanshawe C o l l e g e , P . O . Box 4 0 0 5 , LONDON, O n t a r i o . N5LJ 5111 (519) 452-4446

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I had t o l i s t e n t o you as I stood i n t h e food-line a s you swore and c u r s e d and worse down a t t h e m i s s i o n , t h e l i n e s move s l o w l y and you spewed your f i l t h u n a b a t e d You had a brown l e a t h e r j a c k e t w h i t e s h o e s t o match y o u r w h i t e h a t , a f a d e d PNE p a i n t e r ' s c a p . A s h o c k of grey-brown h a i r and s u r p r i s e , a c l e a n - s h a v e n f a c e !

COMPASSION

i e s t u m b l e d and f e l l on t h e s i d e w a l k , \ man a l l broken a t t h i r t y - f i v e ; J u s t a d e r e l i c t , w h o was w a s t e d , ,dho n o - l o n g e r knew how t o s u r v i v e . Unable t o c o p e w i t h l i f e ' s l i v i n g , So t i r e d o f i t s s o r r o w s and p a i n ; He g a v e a l l h i s l o v e t o t h e b o t t l e , J i t h t h e b o t t l e s h e would a l w a y s remain.

But your t a u n t s and w h i s p e r s of what y o u ' d d o t o h e r ( o r him?) s l a s h h e r t h r o a t t h r o u g h and t h r o u g h much of i t u n i n t e l l i g e n t I said nothing i n disgrace.

The c l o t h e s t h a t h e wore were a l l r o t t i n g , H i s f a c e had been walked o v e r by t i m e ; He l a y t h e r e r i g h t n e x t t o t h e g u t t e r , H i s mouth c o v e r e d w i t h blood and w i t h s l i m e .

Why f e e d h i s e g o ? He e n j o y e d h i s m o n o s y l l a b l e s t h e way t h e y r o l l e d o f f h i s t o n g u e Yah you e n j o y t h e t e r r o r t h e y wrough He s t r u g g l e d t o c r a w l on t h e c o n c r e t e , H i s s a d f a t e now d e c i d e d by c h a n c e ; and 1 was numb w i t h f e a r . The p e o p l e walked by w i t h o u t l o o k i n g , But i t ' s f e a r t h a t f e e d s you With n o t e v e n s o much as a g l a n c e . No, no i t must n o t show O t h e r s t o o looked a r o u n d and The o n l y o n e p e r s o n who n o t i c e d , Shared t h e d i s b e l i e f b e c a u s e most Was a young h o o k e r o u t t u r n i n g t r i c k s ; of u s a r e cowards and y o u ' r e j u s t A drug a d d i c t a t only f i f t e e n , ' a sad joke. With a d e s p e r a t e c r a v i n g t o f i x .

...

Los Companos

Her whole body shook a s i t t r e m b l e d , Her t h i n , h o l l o w f a c e t i g h t l y drawn; Years o f a g e , h e r h a r d e y e s were h o l d i n g , From t h e h e r o i n t h a t s h e was on. While t r a f f i c r o l l e d by w i t h a r u m b l e , Out a l o n g what i s c a l l e d H a s t i n g s s t r e e t ; She k n e l t down upon t h e c o l d s i d e w a l k , And s h e h e l p e d him b a c k on t o h i s f e e t . What seemed t o be a f u t i l e g e s t u r e , He would manage t o s t a g g e r and s t a n d ; I t was t h e n w i t h h e r s h a k i n g f i n g e r s , Her l a s t d o l l a r , s h e p r e s s e d i n h i s hand. T h e r e i n t h e g a r d e n s of P a r a d i s e , The a n g e l s r e s e r v e d a s p e c i a l s e a t ; For t h a t young h o o k e r on h e r o i n , Who showed compassion o u t on t h e s t r e e t . I

M i c h a e l James McLellan

JUNE4 JUIN Count Yourself

Soyez

du nombre !

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