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WHAT SOME PEOPLE \YHO USE FOOD BANKS THINK ABOUT THE 'TASTE OF NATIONS' EVENT By Jearl Swamon. 0 1 1 April loth I we~ltto a Varlcouverfood bank line up arzd explained to people that [he 'Taste of Nariom' event was hcryyenirlg, that it was to raise r?zotleyfor food charity. I asked people what fhey thought of rhe idea orld ifthey thought there were berrer \ ~ - a y sto deal with hunger. I also showed them the bandaid leaflet. All of the people I asked said that they agreed ,~,iththe leaflet. I rolked to 7 81-oupsof 3 or 4 people each. Here's some of what they said: "(Taste of Nations) is a good idea. We shouldn't have to eat scraps, but its better than climbing in bins." " W h don't they just give the money to us$ Right now we're stuck."

"Its positive isn't it. Its helping the poor. What else can you do?" "I think its the government responsibility, not charity. They should raise the minimum wage. Do you want people to live like animals?" "I'd say (to the people who attend Taste of Nations) 'I hope it makes j,ou feel better cause it doesn't make

me feel better.' $62 to us is like a penny to them." "If welfare were at a hi her level there would be a better eve1 of respect for all people. "

"If people had a better econonlic base, more would go to school, more would relax and be able to put food on the table. " "The picture (cartoon in the bandaid leaflet) is good. That's what it comes down to." "It would be better if we were like Sweden with free daycare and education." "The economic situation has created a line. If wages are increased, create jobs; more people are abYOU e to consume more." "Tell (the people attending Taste of Nations) its the government's responsibility. " "Profit and greed create these i~nbalancestherefore we have a gap of really rich and poor." "Its a good idea. The only thing is, I can't afford to go."

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3. "Taste of Nations1'was an event held trashing social programs. This is their at the PanPacific Hotel near Canada strategy to become "competitive in a Place on the waterfront. Seems that global economy." the mountains of fancy food 'left over' after banquets and corporate dinners and all manner of swank social events really bothered people..after they had eaten their fill. "Taste of Nations" was a $62 a plate affair where all present were going THE CHARITY BANDAID: to do 'their bit' for charity and make donations to buy a van for the Food *Charity creates a relationship of Bank. This van would then go around power and dependence instead of equalto huge gala dinners and load up all ity and respect; the leftovers and take them to the *Charity makes the giver feel good Food Bank to be included in the next while the receiver feels humiliated; week's distribution. *Charity perpetuates inequality; End legislated Poverty was outside *Charity doesn't end poverty; with about 10 members. A large banner *Charity lets the government off the proclaimed what is stated on the Newshook; letter's cover. Sheila Baxter sat at *Charity creates the illusion that our version of a fancy table, dressed people's needs are befng met when they as a wealthy matron, and while enjoyare not; ing her "fancy" meal, made a show of *Most people fall through the cracks offering crumbs to the poor on the of charity. ground around her and extolling the virtues of her charity. Several of us handed out pamphlets made to purposely look like bandaids, to the passersby and people arriving to go to the "Taste" dinner. They had this to say:

THE PROBLEMS ARE +:High unemployment: no jobs for 180 thousand people in B.C. in March '91; "Low wages: a single person can work full time at minimum wage and still be over $3000 below the poverty line; "Welfare rates at about half the poverty line; ;\Housing is too expensive and hard to find; ;+Free Trade is costing jobs and pushing wages lower; 9:Our governments are purposely keeping unemployment high, wages low, and

THE JUST SOLUTION: *Create decent jobs; *Raise minimum wage to at least $7.50 an hour ; *Raise welfare rates to the poverty line; *Build affordable housing and bring in rent control; *Base taxes on ability to pay; *Say "no" to the free trade deal; +;Base government economic strategies on meeting people's needs, not on playing the game of competitive impoverishmen t .

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

*Write to your MP and MLA and tell them you support the above policies; *Support organizations committed to justice so we don't need charity; *Vote for politicians committed to policies that will end legislated poverty.

End Legislated Poverty Statement at Taste of Nations Event By Debbie Ellison, o member of the Board of End Legislated Poveny "I would like to make a statement on behalf of End Legislated Poverty to explain why we are here this evening. The Board thought that it would be important for a person who uses food banks to be making this statement. I am one of thousands of people in B.C. who use food banks. "First I want to state clearly what we are not doing: We are not attacking the food bank. We are not asking people to stop donating to the food bank. This is what we are saying: We want to end the need foc food bhnks. We want people who are concerned about hunger to join us in fighting to end the need for food banks so that all people can live with dignity & respect. We want to challenge the people who attend this event and the people who read or hear about it through media. "We challenge people who aren't poor to ask hard questions about charity. Does charity meet the needs of poor people? How many people fall through the cracks of charity? How many don't use food banks because they are disabled or beeause they work, or because they are students and can't get there? How many don't use food banks because they would rather be hungry than humiliated? Will charity end poverty? Or will it let people think that the hunger problem is solved when it is grow-

ing instead? Does charity reflect the kind of society we want? Do we want a society where the poor subsist on leftovers from the rich? 11We challenge people who aren't poor to listen to people who are poor. Some of us do use food banks. But it's not because we like to. We don't want to live in a society where one group is powerful and another powerless. We want to have a relationship of equality and citizenship. We don't want handouts and humiliation. We want jobs and adequate incomes. 11We challenge people who aren't poor to join with us in rejecting American style social programs where food and housing are provided for the poor at the whim of the rich. One of the results of privatized charitable social programs is that alienation, violence, crime and drug use become rampant as they have in the U.S. I IAnd we challenge people who aren't poor to work with us to change our system to end poverty. We need jobs, housing, higher minimum wage, higher welfare. Canada has the resources to provide a decent life for everyone. We challenge people who aren't poor to demand that our politicians work for a just society, where people are more equal and where the poor don't have to depend on leftovers from the rich to subsist."

"Right now we can use all the help we can get. It would be better to have higher welfare. We can't go to shows. We can't afford a luxury like a haircut. That's why niy hair is long." "Governnlents could do more. It would be better to increase the minimum wage. " "You don't know what goes through people's minds. Some want to give cause it makes them feel good. Some are genuine. " "It makes me feel like a has-been (to have to receive charity). It makes me feel small. You gotta lower yourself down to this after working SO many years?" "Its a disgrace (to have to receive charity). Its chopping your ego." "I wouldn't want to make (the eople attending Taste of Nations) Feel bad. "

"I want lots of these events. They should be regular. It will alleviate 1 percent of the problem for a short time. I feel rateful. We appreciate it. (Do ou ave any other feelings.) " A little unshy. Do\~ntrodden. All t ose negative feelings come out. But you 80 with your needs and not your feehngs."

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"The cost of housing and food and hydro is too much. Welfare isn't enough. We need more money to live. '

"They say budget, bud et, budget. There's not enough to udget."

"Its not the best way but its better

than nothing. I ' m afraid of s oilage.

You have to eat that kind of ood (leftovers from banquets and restaurants) right away. Food poisoning is dangerous. " "When you've been working all your life and then you're left standing with vour hand out. It cuts you down:"

"Its like we're eating garbage. Its an insult. Its giving the leftovers from the rich to the poor. Its a shame. Why don't they hold these banquets and invite us?' "Its ths rioht way for now but its not a solution?' "The government is the main roblem. We've got to make them &sten. They don't give a shit about US. "I suppose !his ticket (to Taste of Nations) is tax deductible, eh?" From a literary guerilla the End Legislated Poverty Board: "Its so horrendous to be dependent on sonleone's leftovers. Someone's ing to offer me their left over !'on d'he~mlesbecause they're full from gorging themselves on boitef bourgeois. "

Produced bj End Legislated Poverty, #211 456 W. Broadway, Vancouver, B. C. V5Y IR3 Phone 879-1209

C a l e n d a r s move a l o n g ; we s t i l l h a n g a r o u n d . We h a v e r e a s o n t o s t a y ; t h e r e i s romance i n t h e a i r ! W e h a v e known romance b e f o r e - many moons a g o . Romance i s f u n t o d a y ; i t w i l l b e f u n tomorrow; i t i s i n t h e a i r ! More f a i r l a d i e s a b o u t f o r u s t o s e e ; o u r World i s more l i k e i t ! Medical s c i e n c e i s h e l p i n g u s a l o n g - i t c a r e s . W e f i n d b e a u t y i t s e l f s t a y i n g l o n g e r - more o f i t t o c h o o s e i n more p l a c e s ! We f i n d b e a u t y i n p e r s o n a l i t i e s - p e o p l e who c a r e . It i s n o p r o b l e m t o l o v e a s e n i o r y o u n g , o r a b e a u t y e a r l i e r . We r e g r e t t h e c a n e s - t h e a b l e - w a l k e r s a n d w h e e l - c h a i r s . But many a p l e a s a n t s m i l e p e r s i s t s - h a p p y g r e e t i n g s by p e o p l e t o g e t h e r ! Romance i s more t h a n f u n & games - many k i n d s - f o r y o u a n d I t o s h a r e ! K'lem gee!

F i r s t love. Going t h r o u g h t h e p a i n o f l o s i n g someone h u r t s . E s p e c i a l l y i f i t ' s someone y o u ' v e loved. But someday y o u ' l l f i n d somebody new t h a t w i l l make you f e e l b e t t e r a b o u t y o u r s e l f and a b o u t y o u r l i f e ; y o u ' l l have f u n w i t h t h a t v e r y s p e c i a l Person. And y o u ' l l f i n d t h a t i t i s a s f u n a s the f i r s t but y o u ' l l never forget t h a t f i r s t l o v e t h a t you l o s t . Even i f i t i s n ' t t h e s a m e . . b u t l a t e r on i n l i f e , y o u ' l l find t h a t f i r s t love taught you a l o t , i t t a u g h t you t h a t . l a v i n g someone t h e r e t o t a l k t o ;:; v e r y c o m f o r t i n g and s p e c i a l . So d o n ' t e v e r i o r z e t t h e s p e c i a l t i m e s you had w i t h t h a t p e r s o n . Remeltbering i s p a r t o f l i f e .

...

T h i s poem i s f o r a n y o n e who h a s l o s t someone t o a t e r m i n a l i l l n e s s . D e d i c a t e d t o A r t h u r 6 E d i t h Miller COD SAW YOU GETTING TIRED

God saw you g e t t i n g t i r e d , a cure was not So h e c l o s e d h i s a r m s a r o u n d y o u a n d w h i s p e r e d "Come t o m e . " You d i d n ' t d e s e r v e what you went t h r o u g h . h d s o h e g a v e you r e s t . God's g a r d e n must b e b e a u t i f u l , He only takes t h e best. And when we knew you w e r e s l e e p i n g So p e a c e f u l a n d f r e e from p a i n , We c o u l d n o t w i s h you b a c k , To s u f f e r t h a t a g a i n .

The r o s e s are r e d t h e v i o l e t s a r e b l u e h e r e ' s a poem' f r o m m e t o you s o w i s h I may a n d w i s h I m i g h t I h o p e I meet a l o t o f new f r i e n d s t o n i g h t .

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Michael P o t t s I

A couple of newsletters back Tora wrote that full employment is a capitalist plot. This is wrong. Business is always against full employment because it pushes wages up, so working people make more money and business profits go down. High unemployment drives wages down and makes usrpdorer. And since people get less money, corporations get more. The poorer you are the less power you have in society and less say in how things are run. This's one of the basic laws of capitalism and capitalists like it that way. For example, Tora gives the impression that socred welfare policies promote full employment. Not true. Socred welfare is a system to subsidize lowwage employers, many of whom are socred supporters. There are different ways that socreds make it easy for business to pay workers low wage: By keeping GAIN and Handicapped payments lower than the poverty line, by paying for privatized employment skills' programs that stream people into low wage jobs; by paying small businesses that hire people who used to be on GAIN; by forcing people off GAIN into the job market. Even if you pay your employees crappy money, the government will make sure there is a steady supply of people who will take it. They need a high rate of unemployment to do this. L& wages are the opposite of full employment. A full employment society promotes h i g h wages and good working conditions. People only work for low

wages when there are no alternatives. 7. This is the kind of situation that capitalists and their supporters like Social ~redit/~ories/~iberals promote. They don't like full employment because it means that employers have to offer higher wages to attract workers. They also have to offer better working cond i t ions. When there are lots of jobs, we are able to pick and choose which ones we want. This means that some places are left with a shortage of workers. To get people to fill the job, the employer has to up the wages and provide better working conditions. Because wages are higher and corporate profits slimmer, wealth is spread around a little more equally. Corporations are a little less powerful and the rest of us are a little more powerful. There are problems with the system of employment and wage slavery that forces us to work at making other people rich so that we can make just enough to scrape by. Full employment is one direction out of this because it gives working people more power over the direction of society. As wages go up, working conditions improve and people have more creativity, choice and control in their jobs. For those who choose not to have jobs, benefits like UI & welfare are far better than in high unemployment societies, like B.C. So whether you want to have a job or not, we're all better off with full employment. By JEFF SOMMERS

?lulroncy 2 4 Sussex D r i v e Ottawa, O n t a r i o . l < t . }ion. l5.

b e f o r e I can t r u s t o t h e r s I must l e a r n t o r e s p e c t myself

Dear B r i a n :

b e f o r e I can r e s p e c t o t h e r s

How about a r a i s e i n t h e "Baby Bonus"? How a b o u t a n i n c r e a s e i n Federa 1 E q u a l i z a t i o n payments f o r u s chron i c w e l f a r e bums? How a b o u t s u b s i d i e s t o t h e c a n n a b i s growers s o a l l of u s may e n j o y i t s s a l u b r i o u s e f f e c t s i n e x p e n s i v e l y . J u s t a few s u g g e s t i o n s you p a r s i m o n i o u s S.O.B. P.S.

I must l e a r n t o t r u s t myself

And d o n ' t f o r g e t t h e o l d a g e pensioners.

I n t h e downtown a r e a we have a l o o f o l d e r p e o p l e . These p e o p l e do n o t a l w a y s have f a m i l y t o go t o . A s i m p l e h e l l o o r a few m i n u t e s of your t i m e c a n make someone e l s e ' s day. The day I found o u t t h a t my mother had passed on, t h e s t a f f , v o l u n t e e r s & p a t r o n s were v e r y s u p p o r t i v e . Because t h e y p u t a l l p e t t i n e s s a s i d e and h e l p e d s u p p o r t a f r i e n d , I f e e l I am v e r y f o r t u n a t e t o have a p l a c e l i k e C a r n e g i e t o c a l l home. My s p e c i a l t h a n k s t o A t i b a , Dona l d a and C a t r i o n a . Leona B l a c k w e l l WINDSONG Wind Song, t a k e me w i t h you A s f a r as w e c a n s o a r Thru t h e dreams o f b e a u t y and song Of t h e k n i g h t e d r a v e n 6 n i g h t owl And t h e e a g l e ' s c r y of day And t h e f a l c o n o f t h e rainbow Thunder & L i g h t n i n g Suddenly s t o p and g i v e s ~ h y h e a r t and s o u l Wings t o s o a r Thru t h e heavens Above t h e m o u n t a i n s And t h e s e a . Miki

I must l e a r n t o l o v e myself before I can love o t h e r s I must l e a r n t o do m a n y r t h i n g s

b e f o r e I do u n t o o t h e r s Dreamweaver

My F i r s t Love Everytime I s e e you, I burst into tears I s t i l l s e e you now From t i m e t o t i m e Even though y o u ' r e gone and p a s t We made e a c h and e v e r y moment l a s t L i k e Magic.

The t e a r s have f a l l e n And t h e p l e a s u r e & p a i n 6 understanding Have come t o be Now I l o n g t o be With you a n o t h e r t i m e But t h e moments have ceased My h e a r t h a s b r o k e n And we e a c h s o u g h t a new l o v e . Miki I really appreciate the beautiful j a c k e t t h a t I and o t h e r v o l u n t e e r s received a t t h e Volunteer Dinner. The food was s p e c t a c u l a r and music by N a t u r a l Elements had me and o t h e r s c l a p p i n g and stomping! We have o u r army o f b l u e j a c k e t s n e x t t i m e we go on a d e m o n s t r a t i o n o r a t r i p we w i l l be s o o b v i o u s l y u n i t e d . Thank you s t a f f . S h e i l a Baxter

R e a d e r s may know t h a t I have b e e n c a r r y i n g o n a one-man programme o f going o u t t o h e l p Carnegie-area pers o n s w i t h p r o b l e m s t h e y have b e e n h a v i n g w i t h t h e i r TV s e t s . T h i s was a C a r n e g i e - s u p p o r t e d p r o gramme and I r e c e i v e d c o f f e e t i c k e t s , j u s t as d o e s a n y o t h e r v o l u n t e e r , i n accordance with t h e time I spent. So f a r i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e p r o g r a m I w a s c a l l e d i n t o l o o k a t a n d work on a t o t a l o f 26 t e l e v i s i o n s e t s . Of t h o s e , I was s u c c e s s f u l i n b r i n g i n g a b o u t improvement i n 16 o f them. A t t h e o u t s e t , I had p u b l i s h e d a l e t t e r i n t h e s e pages s a y i n g t h a t any o n e c o u l d do what t e c h n i c i a n s d o i n TV s h o p s i n 40% o f t h e c a s e s w h e r e s e t s come t o t h e i r s h o p s - make them work r i g h t by s i m p l y m a k i n g a d j u s t ments t o t h e c o n t r o l s a t t h e f r o n t o f t h e s e t s and t h o s e o t h e r c o n t r o l s t h a t poke t h r o u g h l i t t l e h o l e s a t t h e backs of t h e s e t s . I n f a c t , my f i r s t l e t t e r o n t h e s u b j e c t took t h e form o f a s h o r t c o u r s e i n how t o d o i t . More t h a n o n e p e r s o n expressed a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r t h o s e ins t r u c t i o n s a n d s e v e r a l t o l d me t h e y had k e p t t h e i r c o p y o f t h a t N e w s l e t t e r f o r f u t u r e r e f e r e n c e when t h e i r TV s e t m i g h t a c t up. I n a l e t t e r i n t h e l a s t e d i t i o n of t h e N e w s l e t t e r , I s t r e s s e d a g a i n how I am n o t a TV t e c h n i c i a n , how s o many TV p r o b l e m s c o u l d be c o r r e c t e d by messing around w i t h t h e a v a i l a b l e c o n t r o l s and I s u r e l y t h i n k I h a v e been g e t t i n g t h e i d e a a c r o s s t h a t v e r y many TV p r o b l e m s c a n be c o r r e c t e by t h e v i e w e r . I t h i n k a l o t o f N e w s -

l e t t e r r e a d e r s have picked up on t h i s a n d r e a l i z e d maybe t h e y d o n ' t n e e d h i g h l y paid t e c h n i c i a n s o r even E r i c Erickson. I think they a r e going t o work on t h e i r TVs t h e m s e l v e s . W i t h o u t a n y d o u b t , many o f them w i l l b e s u c ceeding. That is very f i n e with me. 1 w i l l r e j o i c e no e n d i f a l l t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e r s become a b l e t o d o a s much as i s p o s s i b l e t o k e e p t h e i r TVs happening without high-priced help. I n l i n e with that goal, i f the . N e w s l e t t e r e d i t o r p e r m i t s , 1'11 o f f e r l e s s o n s i s s u e by i s s u e on how-to-doi t with a l l those c o n t r o l s t o get good r e c e p t i o n . F i r s t Lesson -----------Suppose your p i c t u r e is t o o r e d o t t o o b l u e o r t o o g r e e n . And y o u ' v e t r i e d without success t o s t r a i g h t e n it o u t by m a n i p u l a t i n g t h e C o l o u r & T i n t b u t t o n s a t t h e f r o n t o r under t h f r o n t edge of your s e t . Your f i r s t move i s t o t u r n o f f t h e Colour b u t t o n o r c o n t r o l on t h e f r o n t o f y o u r s e t . When a l l t h e c o l o u r s are i n b a l a n c e , t h i s w i l l g i v e you a g r e a B & W p i c t u r e . I f t h e p i c t u r e you g e t i s t o o r e d , go t o t h e b a c k o f t h e s e t a n d a b i t a t a t i m e , t u r n up t h e B l u e S c r e e n a n d Green S c r e e n c o n t r o l s unt i l y o u g e t a good B&W p i c t u r e . If t h i s makes y o u r s c r e e n t o o b r i g h t and you c a n ' t c o r r e c t i t by means o f t h e B r i g h t n e s s c o n t r o l , t h e n t u r n down t h e Blue and Green S c r e e n b u t t o n s t o w h e r e t h e y w e r e b e f o r e and t h e n t u r n down t h e Red S c r e e n . Remember a l w a y s , t u r n i n g up t h e S c r e e n c o l o u r g i v e s y o more b r i g h t n e s s , more l i g h t . T r y i n g t o c o r r e c t t h e c o l o u r b a l a n c e by a l ways t u r n i n g them down w i l l make y o u r p i c t u r e d a r k e r and dimmer. ?lore n e x t N e w s l e t t e r . My phone ii i s 253-5187. C a l l me i f you want t o .

11.

NATIONAL C I T Z -i -lI -i -~--~ EPE K . ~ IWI-lS t a t e m e n t by M a r g a r e t M i t c h e l l , M.P. E v e r y y e a r a t t h i s t i m e we c e l e b r a t e N a t i o n a l C i t i z e n s h i p Week. T h i s y e a r esp e c i a l l y w e r e c o g n i z e t h e t r o u b l e and t u r m o i l p e o p l e o f many c o u n t r i e s m u s t l i v e w i t h e v e r y d a y and we a p p r e c i a t e t h e r e l a t i v e s t a b i l i t y and p r o g r e s s i v e n e s s o f o u r own c o u n t r y . A s we work f o r a renewed Cana d a w e s h o u l d t h i n k a b o u t what b e i n g Cana d i a n r e a l l y means a n d t h e k i n d o f s o c i e t y we want i n t h e f u t u r e . F o r m e , b e i n g C a n a d i a n i s n ' t s i m p l y own i n g a C a n a d i a n c i ~ i z e n s h i po r b i r t h c e r t i f i c a t e , although these confer a l e g a l s t a t u s . Many new i m m i g r a n t s who c h o s e t o come t o Canada a n d are n o t y e t c i t i z e n s a r e no l e s s C a n a d i a n t h a n t h e r e s t o f u s . They work h a r d t o a d a p t and c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e i r new c o u n t r y r a i s i n g c h i l d r e n and g r a n d c h i l d r e n as f u t u r e C a n a d i a n s . 1 a m s a d d e n e d t h a t many o l d e r women a r e a f r a i d t o a p p l y f o r c i t i z e n s h i p because of l a r ~ g uage o r l i t e r a c y b a r r i e r s . Being Canadian i s n ' t a n e x c l u s i v e p r lvi l e g e of a dominant g r o u p . S i n c e t h e beg i n n i n g , Canada h a s b e e n a p l u r a l i s t i c s o c i e t y . A b o r i g i n a l p e o p l e have t h e i r own c u l t u r e and t r a d i t i o n s w h i c h a r e a n import a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e Canadian h e r i t age. Immigrants from a l l o v e r t h e world brought a l o n g t h e i r d i s t i n c t i v e appeara n c e s and u n i q u e ways o f l i f e t o e n r i c h o u r c u l t u r a l m o s a i c . We a r e p r o u d t o bc a microcosm o f t h e g l o b a l community where people of a l l backgrounds l i v e t o g e t h e r i n a g e n e r a l l y p e a c e f u l manner. A l t h o u g h t h e p h y s i c a l d i f f e r e n c e s am2ng s t C a n a d i a n s a r e o b v i o u s , what i s more i m p o r t a n t i s t h a t we s h a r e s i n ~ i l i a rv a l u e s and a s i m i l i a r v i s i o n f o r Cnn,lda. We a l l b e l i e v e i n and v a l u e t h e b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s of democracv, j u s t i c e lntl I I U T ~ , ~

r i g h t s which f o r m t h e p i l l a r s o f o u r s o c iety. W e want a f a i r and j u s t s o c i e t y f r e e of p o v e r t y , hunger and v i o l e n c e where e v e r y o n e , i n c l u d i n g women a n d o t h e r d i s a d v a n t a g e d g r o u p s , c a n h a v e e q u a l oppo r t u n i t i e s t o develop t o t h e i r f u l l potential. W e want a c l e a n , h e a l t h y e n v i r o n ment f o r o u r c h i l d r e n and a p e a c e f u l world f o r o u r s e l v e s a n 3 i o r o t h e r s around t h e world. However, we c a n n o t deny t h a t we a r e a l o n g way from a c h i e v i n g o u r g o a l s . Elany problems t h a t have been around f o r y e a r s a r e s t i l l w i t h u s i n c l u d i n g unen~ployment, p o l l u t i o n and v i o l e n c e . A t t h e same t i m e new p r o b l e m s a r e a r i s i n g which r e q u i r e immediate a t t e n t i o n . The t r e a t m e n t o f aL1-o r i g i n a l people remains a n a t i o n a l d i s g r a c e . T h e i r s i t u a t i o n h a s n o t s i g n i f i-c a n t l y improved. Francophone C a n a d i a n s f e e l t h a t t h e i r c u l t u r e i s t h r e a t e n e d a~:d t h e i r r i g f ~ t sa r e s l i p p i n g away. V i s i b l e m i n o r i t i e s a r e s t i l l s t r u g g l i n g t o be e q u a l p a r t i c i p a n t s i n Canada where r e c i s m is on t h e i n c r e a s e . T h e i r s t r u g g l e is hampered by t h e l a c k o f government a c t i o n t o f i g h t r a c i s m . Women c o n t i n u e t o b e t h e v i c t i m s of v i o l e n c e and t h e a b i l i t i e s o f d i s a b l e d people a r e f r e q u e n t l y undermined, During t h e s e d i f f i c u l t t i m e s , i t is e a s y f o r u s t o blame o t h e r s who seem t o b e b e t t e r o f f f o r o u r problems. R e c e n t l y NDP l e a d e r Audrey McLaughliil s t a t e d t h e following seven p r i n c i p l e s which we b e l i e v e a r e f u n d a m e n t a l t o a renewed and u n i t e d Canada where c i t i z e n s h a v e e q u a l r i g h t s al;d o p p o r t u n i t i e s : f u l l elnploymmt and e l i m i n a t i o n o f jlovert y ; a comni tnient t o i n t e r n a t i o n a l p e a c e t h r o u g h common s e c u r i t y ; a b o r i g i n a l s e l f government; r c c ~ g n i t i o nof two o f f i c i a l l a n g u a g e s and d i v e r s e c u l t u r e s ; a u n i q u e Quebec b a s e d on s e l f d e t e r m i nation; a d v a n c e r m n t o f women and m i n o r i t i e s ; t r u l y democratic i n s t i t u t i o n . Canadian c i t i z e n s h i p in t h e f u t u r e w i l l have n d e e p e r meaning a s we work t o g e t h e r t o :I( 1 1 i t . v ~t l ~ c s ef;oal<,.

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Free trade--a key part of the New World order George Bush, Brian Mulroney, and Caros Salinas are working for a new world order. In their vision, transnational corporations should have more rights. Corporations should have the right to move to any country where labour is cheap, taxes are low and pollution regulations are lax or non-existant. In the Bush/h.Iulroney vision corporations, accountable to shareholders, will be "frce" to make crucial decisions about job creation, production of food and housing, wages, investment, the environment, culture, and social programs. Free trade is a key part of this New l\'urld Order.

Free trade-more lost Jobs Over 200,000 Canadian jobs have already been lost l ~ c c a u ~ofe free trade with the U . S. Many of these jobs have m o ~ e dto low wage U . S. srdteh, and eve11 to hlcxico.

CAHMA C U S W&iES TU COMPETE WITH JAPAN. W H O CUT5 WAGâ‚Ź 5 T U C Q M T E

Free trade--more low wages We know in our guts that Canadian workers, with a minimum wage of $5 a n hour, cannot compete with Mexican workers who often get less than $5 a day. Canadian workers are already being told to accept lower wages so their employers can compete.

Free trade--more trashed social programs Already, the hlulroney government has leveled Canada's Unemployment Insurance donq towards the U. S. standard. With Bill C-69, the Tories have started a process that will effectively end family allowances, old age pensions, and universal medicare unless we elect another government to repeal this law.

Free trade--more corporate co~ltrolof the enviro~lme~lt Free trade lets corporations move to countries where there are virtually no cnvironniental standards. This helps polluting corporations produce cheaper products and undercut responsible companies. Part of free trade negotiations involves harnionizing environmental standards d o ~ mto the lowest common denominator.

Knocking 'em Dead Hey, i t ' s SIIOWTIME i n t h e T h e a t r e o f War ! The one s u r e time t h e poor g e t f r e ~t i c k e t s - even though t h e y ' d n e v e r asked and t h e r i c h a r e d e v a s t a t e d i f t h e poor d o n ' t come. Bush i s h o l d i n g a s u p e r b i g blow-out, no expense s p a r e d ; T h i s show c o s t s Canada a l o n e , n i n e t y m i l l i o n bucks a month! It's got everything - t h r i l l s , s p i l l s , and a l l t h e body bags you c a n g r a b b e f o r e t h e b e l l r i n g s , you l u c k y , l u c k y people! And h e r e , s t r a i g h t from h i s s t a r wars programme, a t g r e a t p e r s o n a l s a c r i f i c e , comes s u p e r s t a r George Bush, your k i n d e r , g e n t l e r v e n t r i l o q u i s t w i t h h i s dummy B r i a n Mulroncy. Yehhhh! And George and B r i a n w i l l open w i t h t h e i r theme song, t h e number one h i t i n t h e Gulf. Take i t away, B r i a n and George!

Now., , vou a .- and -. - I - have - .- . - a1 --r- e-because we s e t t h i s war u .

GEORGE: Yes, we've s a c r i s o now w e ' l l p a s s t h e t a b t o t h e unemployed and tho: and c u t t h e i r payments r e , g i v i n g them t h e o p p o r t u n i ~ of c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h i s g here's s o d a r n many of tl t h a t w e ' l l r a i s e t h a t monc

GEORGE AND BRIAN ( t o When I r i s h Eyes Are S m i l i n g ) T h i s g u l f war i s conducted, f o r the highest p r i n c i p l e y e s , t h e whopping p r i n c i p l e and i n t e r e s t on American o i l s h a r e s Come on now, e v e r y o n e , j o i n i n t h e song and dance - keep t h o s e arms and l e g s f l y i n g (off, that is

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BRIAN: G o t t a hand i t t o you, George - when t h i s w a r ' s o v e r t h e r e ' s g o i n g t o be a bonanza of c o n t r a c t s ! GEORGE: I t h i n k I t h o u g h t of e v e r y t h i n g . A l l t h o s e r o a d s t h a t ' l l need r e b u i l d i n g ! A l l t h o s e houses blown down! A l l t h o s e h o s p i t a l s blown up! Not t o mention p r o t h e s i s f i r m s h a v i n g a b a l l fitting f a l s e limbs t o a l l t h o s e I r n a u i s miss in^ a limb o r two and t o o u r own boys and g i r l s t o o , Brian BRIAN: And d o n ' t f o r g e t f r e e t r a d e , George - g e e , George, I c o u l d k i c k myself! Why d i d n ' t t h i n k of t h i s war e a r l i e r ! I d i d promise Canadians j o b s , j o b s , j o b s and now t h e y c a n ' t c a l l me l y i n ' B r i a n anymore because a f t e r t h i s war, w e ' r e gonna have f u l l employment!

GEORGE AND BRIAN: With a hey and a ho and a hey nonny no a war i n t h e g u l f i s t h e way t o go, With a hey and a hum and a bloody b i g gun e c i b i n u c s a b c t i o n s a i n ' t h a l f a s much f u n a s blowing I r a q u i c h i l d r e n t o Kingdom Come t GEORGE: Gee, i t ' s t o o bad, B r i a n , ,-,* a l l t h e b e s t p a r t i e s g o t t a end sometime and someone h a s t o pay t h e p i p e r . BRIAN: Don't worry, George, Canada i s a democracy where everybody s h a r e s e q u a l l y .

!y done o u r b i t )

!iced a l r e a d y , B r i a n

; e p e o p l e on w e l f a r e 11good, t h u s :Y :eat c o u c t r y of o u r s . lem, George, ?y i n no t i m e a t a l l !

GEORGE AND BRIAN: Oh, d o y o u r we1 f a r e mums k e e p low, c a n you swing them t o and f r o ? Can you t i e ' e m i n a k n o t , Can you t i e 'em i n a bow? Can you throw them o v e r y o u r s h o u l d e r t h e way you d i d t h e i r w e l f a r e f o l d c - d o y o u r w e l f a r e m u m s k e e p low? GEORCE: Say, B r i a n , d o you know why t h e I r a q u i c r o s s e d t h e r o a d ? BRIAN: I d o n ' t know, C c o r g e , why d i d t h e I r a q u i c r o s s t h e r o a d ? GEORGE: Why, B r i a n , ' c o s h e was c h i c k e n and d i d n ' t want t o g e t f r i e d ! ! 1100 1100 hoo BRIAN: 1100, hoo, hoo - Oh, George - g e e - you k i l l me GEORGE: E r - o o don' t s a y t h a t , B r i a n , d o n ' t say t h a t BRIAN: Gee, George, I ' v e had s u c h a g r e a t t i i n e , I j u s t t i a t e h a v i n g i t a l l come t o a n e n d , and Big B u s i n e s s e s p e c i a l l y h a s been s u c h a g r e a t a u d i e n c e and we've had s u c h w o n d e r f u l r e v i e w s , h a v e n ' t we, George, j u s t w o n d e r f u l - a l l t h o s e b e a u t i f 111 supper r i v e e d i t o r i a l s i n tlic Globe & F l a i l and t h e Vancouver SUI and on r a d i o & t e l e v i s i o r ~GEORGE: W e s u r e h a v e , B r i a n , and t h a t was a g r e a t i d e a of y o u r s t o c h a n g e t h e s l o g a n "Support Big B u s i n e s s i n t h e Gulf" t o " S u p p o r t y o u r t r o o p s i n t h e Gulf!" c o u l d n ' t have done i t b e t t e r myself, And I won't f o r g e t t h i s , B r i a n , when t h e t i m e comes f o r t h o s e Mexico f r e e t r a d e t a l k s I ' m making a p e r s o n a l commitment r i g l i t h e r e , boy, t h a t y o u r i n d u s t r i e s c a n move s t r a i g h t down t o !lexica and t h o s e heart-warming wages o f t h r e e d o l l a r s a day and none o f t h i s e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c t i o n r u b b i s h , B r i a n BRIAN: Oh George, t h a t ' s s o b e a u t i f u l - g e e , i t s o r t o f g e t s me r i g h t h e r e I f e e l I s h o u l d make a r e c i p r o c a l g e s t u r e l i k e c u t t i n g Medicare o r something GEORGE: S u r e , B r i a n , I g o t a f a v o u r i t e g e s t u r e r i g h t l ~ c r c ! (Makes t h e Nazi s a l u t e ) BRIAN: Er - g e e , George - maybe n o t gesture GEORCE: Oh! Oh, s o r r y , s o r t a f o r c e of h a b i t there! ( p l a c e s hand on h e a r t ) BRIM: T h a t ' s b e t t e r ! Now how a b o u t a f i n a l c h o r u s for the nice folks George, g e e , t h a t hand on t h e l i e a r t s t u f f , i t makes you l o o k s o good - s o r t of - h o l y GEORGE: " [ J e l l , t h i s a h o l y w a r , E r i a n ! Okay, p a l , t h a t ' s a good n o t e t o end on

. . ..

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GEORGE AND B R I A N : ( l a s t b a r s of 1.Jlien I r i s 1 1 Eyes Are S m i l i n e ) Oh, Big B u s i n e s s i s s o happy and t h e g e n e r a l s u s do t h a n k and t h i s i s a 110-ly m r - a r because p r o f i t s a r e sacrosanct! I ) I I ~ ~, I

Iree t rade--more power fbr corporirt ions f:rce trade gives corporations more rights like these: *the right to take profits and dividends out of a country; *[he right to bid on Government contracts of othcr countries and create jobs outside of Canada with taxpayers money; *the right to buy energy even if we need to consenie it; *the right to take over more and more Canadian companies; *the right to dominate Canadian culture; *the right to keep governments from providing uni\fersal public programs like daycare or auto insurance.

Free trade--an end to effective democracy In a democracy, politicians ~ h make o decisions are accountable to the people u,ho are affected by the decisions. With free trade, multinational corporations nil1 make most of the decisions that affect people's livelihood and en\ironnment. They will make decisions on all the things listed above and more. Corporations are accountable to sl~areholdersu h o upantprofits, not to the people affcctcd by their decisions.

Free trade--a chance to unite people to work for a just aild democratic society Canadian polls show that most of us don't like the free trade deal with the U. S. and don't support a deal with hlexico. The Action Canada Net\i.ork (formerly Pro Canada Netu,ork) is uniting groups representing over 10 million Canadians to stop these deals and to work for a society of social and economic justice and democracy.

I n B. C. the Coalition Against "Free" Trade is working to educate people about the trade deal with Mexico and to stop the deal. CAFT also %,antsto start the process of naming constructive alternatives to free trade. For example, u.e \,ant trade deals only 14.henthey: *improve the living standards of all workers in all countries; *set strong cnvironmentd protection standards; *c.nsure that democratically elected governments can dc.\elop policics and programs hich mcet the needs of their citizens: *protect human rights. --

Prinird by a non pro$[ grorrp

You can find out more:

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Get a copy of Que Pasa, the most up-to-date information on how free trade with Mexico will affect people in B. C. Call Jim Sinclair at 255-1336 or Jean at 879-1209. Subscribe to the Action Canada Dossier. It's up to date information on the work in Canada to stop the free trade deals and to build a future shaped by people, not profits. Write to Action Canada Dossier, 251 Laurier Ave. West, Suite 901, Ottawa, Ontario KIP 556. Subscriptions are $20 for individuals.

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Borrow a copy of Dirty Business, a video about Mexican wages, working conditions and environmental pollution. Call Jef Keighley at 522-7911. Show the video at a meeting of friends, your union, church, or group. *

Get a copy of "We can say no" and "Fighting Back", two hard hitting, lively videos about the trade deal and what you can do. Available in May. Call Jef at 5227911 or Jean at 879-1209. 7:30 pm.

Buy a ticket for a night of entertainment and information with a speaker from hfsxico, Utah Phillips, and others. Call Mayworks at 324-8821 for tickets.

You can get involved:

Get the Coalition Against "Free" Trade's Proclaniation on the trade deals with the U. S. and Mexico. Get your church, union, or group to pass the proclamation. Organize an event to use it. Call Jean at 879-1209 for your copy. Available by May 1st.

Come to a rally and short march on June 1st at the Trilde and Converition Centre, foot of Howe St. at noon. The Coalition Against Free Trade will post our proclamation against the trade deal. Produced by the Coalitiot~Agititlst "Free" Trade, #211 456 W. Brocltht~~y, V c u l ~ v u i w B. , C. V5Y fR3. Pllorw 879-1209'875-[769.

CONCISE OXFOIII) L)IC'l'IONARY: Poor: 1. Not h a v i n g means t o p r o c u r e comf o r t s o r n e c e s s i t y s of l i f e ( p o o r i n s p i r i t ) , ill s u p p l i e d , d e f i c i e n t ( i n a possession o r quality)(of s o i l ) unproductive. 2. Scanty, inadequate, l e s s o r l e s s good t h a n i s e x p e c t e d ( t h e c r o p was p o o r ; had a p o o r n i g h t ; i s a poor d r i v e r ; i n poor s p i r i t s ) p a l t r y , s o r r y ( t l i a t is a poor c o n s o l a t i o n ) ; i t i s a p o o r l o o k - o u t i f t h a t happens) s p i r i t l e s s , d e s p i c a b l e ; (he i s a p o o r c r e a t u r e ) humble; i n s i g nificant (often ironic o r jocular; i n my p o o r o p i n i o n ) t a k e a p o o r view o f ; regard w i t h d i s f a v o u r o r pessimism. 3. ( E x p r e s s i n g p i t y o r sympathy) unf o r t u n a t e , h a p l e s s , (poor f e l l o w ; t h e poor c h i l d is unconsolable). 4 . Poor b o x ; money box, e s p e c i a l l y i n church f o r r e l i e f of t h e poor; p o o r h o u s e ( h i s t o r i c a l ) workhouse; p o o r l a w ( h i s t o r i c a l ) law r e l a t i n g t o s u p p o r t of paupers; poor man's, i n f e r i o r , o r cheaper s u b s t i t u t e f o r

P o v e r t y is n o t as s i m p l e & one-dimensio n a l a s t h o s e who wage " w a r on p o v e r t y " b e l i e v e i t i s . The image o f p o v e r t y o f f e r ed by p o l i t i c s & t h e media i s f a r f r o m bei n g t h e whole t r u t h . S e l f - a p p o i n t e d "exp e r t s " on p o v e r t y d e c r y t h e " e v i l s " o f i t - b u t t h e m i d d l e c l a s s v a l u e o f "more i s b e t t e r " - t h e i d e a t h a t money i s t h e magic remedy t o a l l p r o b l e m s , & t h a t , d e e p down, a l l ' p o o r ' p e o p l e must c l i n g t o t i l e same v a l u e s 6 economic a m b i t i o n s a s t h o s e who

(cabbage, e t c . ) poor r a t e ( h i s t o r i c a l ) r a t e o r assessment f o r r e l i e f o r s u p p o r t of t h e poor. Poor r e l a t i o n : ( E i g u r a t i v e ) i n f e r i o r o r subo r d i n a t e member o f t h e g r o u p ; p o o r s p i r i t e d , t i m i d , cowardly; poor wllite ( e s p e c i a l l y of negroes - d e r o g a t o r y ) member of s o c i a l l y i n f e r i o r g r o u p of w h i t e p e o p l e . PZiddle E n g l i s i l & Old F r e n c h : pov ( e ) r e , poure; 1,aL i n : p a u p e r .

P o o r l y : 1. S c a n t i l y , d e f e c t i v e l y , w i t h no g r e a t s u c c e s s , m e a n l y , contemptible. 2 . Unwell; (He i s l o o k i n g p o o r l y ) P o o r n e s s : D e f e c t i v e n e s s ; l a c k of some good q u a l i t y . Poverty : fieing poor, ind.igence , want, ( e c c l e s i a s t i c ) r e n u n c i a t i o n of r i g h t t o i n d i v i d u a l o w n e r s h i p of property; scarcity, deficiency, i n f e r i o r i t y , poorness, meanness; P o v e r t y l i n e : minimum income l e v e l needed t o g e t t h e n e c e s s i t i e s of l i f e ; Poverty s t r i c k e n : poor ( l i t e r a l o r f i g u r a t i v e ) a poverty-s t r icken language.

t a l k a b o u t " l i e l p i n g " them, i s l a r g e l y untrue. Altliough t h e r e i s much t a l k a b o u t h e l p i n g t h e p o o r by i n c r e a s i n g t h e i r income, t h i s n e v e r h a p p e n s . A s we a l l know, t h e p u r c h a s i n g power of s u b s i s t e n c e incomes d e c r e a s e s y e a r by y e a r , 6 t h e " a u t h o r i t i e s " on p o v e r t y c o n t i n u e t o p i l e on h o r r o r s t o r y s a b o u t how d e g r a d i n g L e v i l t h e c o n d i t i o n of n o t h a v i n g enough money i s . They o f f e r i n s t e n d of money - "services"

which t h e y s a y w i l l h e l p a l l e v i a t e t h e s u f f e r i n g of " t h e poor". I n o r d e r t o obt a i n s u c h " s e r v i c e s " t h o s e who " s u f f e r " from a l a c k of money must show some i n t e r est i n f i n d i n g a j o b , a d o p t i n g middlec l a s s values, o r a t l e a s t say they a r e t r y - i n g t o " c l e a n up t h e i r a c t . " Most of t h e p e o p l e who go t h i s r o u t e don't r e a l l y believe i n i t - they a r e j u s t t e l l i n g t h e w e l l - h e e l e d b u r e a u c r a t what t h e y know h e w a n t s t o h e a r i n o r d e r t o g a i n t e m p o r a r i l y a l i t t l e of t h e "help" he says they a r e e n t i t l e d t o . I n order f o r " s e r v i c e s " t o k i c k i n , t h e y know t h e y must d e m o n s t r a t e a d e s i r e t o j o i n programs, a t t e n d c l a s s e s , f o l l o w t h e d i r e c t i o n s of d o c t o r s , h e a l t h n u r s e s , p s y c h i a t r i c teams,

conver,f t h e p o o r , & "save" them from t h e p e r s o n a l i n t e g r i t y t h e y have developed o u t of rough e x p e r i e n c e , b u t s p a c e i s l i m i t e d , & t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e r e a l f a c t s of p o v e r t y ( a s opposed t o t h e p o l i t i c a l l y e x p e d i e n t image) we must spend some t i m e e x p l o r i n g t h e more d i f f i c u l t p s y c h o l o g i c a l & e t h i c a l f a c t o r s involved. I n a s o c i e t y t h a t rewards c o n f o r m i t y t o w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d economic v a l u e s , "poor" p e o p l e a r e t h e u l t i m a t e non-conformists. To s a y t h a t t h e y a r e "trapped" i n f a i l u r e , " s u f f e r " from low s e l f - e s t e e m , o r s u g g e s t p r o b a t i o n o f f i c e r s , e t c . who a r e a l l t r y t h a t t h e i r v a l u e s a r e " p e r v e r t e d " simply i n g t o c o n v e r t them t o m i d d l e - c l a s s v a l u e s . because t h e y r e f u s e t o f o l l o w t h e dominant Poor p e o p l e a l s o know t h a t t h e s a l a r y s of theme of s o c i e t y , r e v e a l s a s e l f - r i g h t e o u s t h e s e " s e r v i c e " p r o f e s s i o n a l s a r e enormous sadism t h a t permeates t h e a t t i t u d e of soby t h e i r s t a n d a r d s - and s o t h e i r c y n i c i s m c a l l e d " h e l p e r s " . i s honest. N e g a t i v e moods, - low s e l f - e s t e e m , deBecause most "poor" p e o p l e seem t o l a c k p r e s s i o n & d e s p a i r , a r e no more p r e v a l e n t t h e a m b i t i o n n e c e s s a r y t o "promote" themamong t h e poor t h a n t h e y a r e among t h e selves - t o dress i n clean, fashionable r i c h . They a r e j u s t l e s s well-hidden. I c l o t h e s , p r e s e n t resumes, & a d o p t t h e have l i v e d t h e m i d d l e - c l a s s l i f e & t h e l a n g u a g e & mannerisms of l ' s u c c e s s " . . . t h a t l i f e of p o v e r t y , & I c a n t e l l you t h a t ami s because they l a c k t h e ambition t o m i s ong t h e e c o n o m i c a l l y s e c u r e , j u s t a s much r e p r e s e n t t h e m s e l v e s , & deny t h e f a c t s of craziness, despair & depression e x i s t s a s t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e , t h e i r v a l u e a s human beamong t h e poor & I t h i n k i t ' s f a i r t o a s i n g s d i m i n i s h e s i n t h e e y e s of t h o s e who sume, from what we s e e r e p o r t e d i n t h e I f n a t u r a l hua r e p a i d t o "help" them.. media a b o u t t h e a n t i c s of t h e v e r y r i c h , man v a l u e s were a p p l i e d t o s u c h a s i t u a t i o n , t h o s e who were h o n e s t enough t o r e f u s e t h e s o c i a l l y acceptable l i e , should be rewarded f o r d e m o n s t r a t i n g a l e v e l of truthfulness t h a t is d i f f i c u l t t o achieve & u n f o r t u n a t e l y r a r e i n humans today. Those who r e f u s e t h e l i e a r e i n s t e a d s t i g m a t i z e d & f r o z e n on "guaranteed f i x e d " incomes & g r u d g i n g l y a f f o r d e d t h e few e s s e n t i a l " s e r v i c e s " t h a t might be n e c e s s a r y d u r i n g l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g emergencys. Much more may be s a i d a b o u t t h e "war" b e i n g waged on p o v e r t y i n t h i s f a s h i o n by " s e r v i c e p r o f e s s i o n a l s " who a r e h i r e d t o

So where d o e s t h i s l e a v e t h e "war on poverty"? - i n much t h e same s t a t e a s t h e "war on drugs" o r t h e "war on hunger1' o r t h e "war on p o l l u t i o n " . . These a r e n o t r e a l undertakings - but convenient slogans & images t h a t d i v e r t a l t r u i s t i c i n t e n t i o n s i n t o w e l l - p a i d c o m f o r t a b l e posi t i o n s . These j o b s c r e a t e t h e paperwork that adds an o f f i c i a l " r e a l i t y " t o t h e image, & documented " e x p e r t s " a c h i e v e p r o f i t a b l e employment. A s t h e "war on p o v e r t y " c l a i m s s u c c e s s , poverty i n c r e a s e s & i s l e s s w e l l understood. A s t h e "war on d r u g s " c o n t i n u e s , hard d r u g s become more & more a v a i l a b l e . A s t h e "war o n hunger" p r o g r e s s e s , f a m i n e s & r e f u g e e camps p r o l i f e r a t e . A s t h e "war on p o l l u t i o n " j u s t i f y s i t s e l f , enormous & c a t a s t r o p h i c p o i s o n i n g s of t h e environment go on. There i s , p e r h a p s , u n d e r l y i n g t h e image of p o v e r t y a s " f a i l e d humanity", a d e e p & a b i d i n g f e a r o f t h e t r u t h s t h a t have been d i s c o v e r e d by t h o s e who have l e a r n e d t o survive without t h e e l a b o r a t e m a t e r i a l s u p p o r t s s o c i e t y deems s o n e c e s s a r y .

D e f i n i t i o n : Middle C l a s s Values P h i l o s o p h y s & r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s maint a i n e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e of s u p p o r t i n g economic s e c u r i t y , a d d i n g t o t h a t secu r i t y , and a v o i d i n g economic l o s s .

Human b e i n g s , of whatever s t r i p e , a r e a f r a i d of change. They c l i n g d e s p e r a t e l y t o what t h e y have, & s e e k t o add more o f t h e same. They c l a i m t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t "more i s l e s s " , t h e n t u r n around & u s e i t a s a s l o g a n t o s e l l compact c a r s . The l e s s o n s o f p o v e r t y , which t o d a y a r e probably t h e most i m p o r t a n t l e s s o n s i n t h e w o r l d , go u n l e a r n e d & u n r e c o g n i z e d , because s o many " w e l l - i n t e n t ioned" i n d i v i d u a l s have accumulated s o much s o c i a l r e s p e c t & economic b e n e f i t from t h e i r professional socialism that t o reveal the inadequacys of t h e i r s u p e r f i c i a l a p p r o a c h would r o c k t h e b o a t . T h e i r c a r e f u l l y c r a f ted image of "poor" p e o p l e would be knocked o v e r b o a r d , & drown i n a s e a of t r u t h . Undeniably, l a c k of money i n a s o c i e t y

t h a t w o r s h i p s t h e s t u f f makes l i f e a h e l l o f a l o t more d i f f i c u l t - b u t t h e t e r r i b l e t w i s t s & t u r n s of p s y c h o l o g i c a l thumbscrews - t h e inhuman & e x c r u c i a t i n g l y s u b t l e s o c i a l s t i g m a t a t h a t abound everywhere, behind t h e s c e n e s o f t h i s game of "helping" t h e p o o r , a r e f a r more d e s t r u c t i v e & e v e r l a s t i n g t h a n a mere l a c k of money. The "poor" a r e proud of t h e i r l i f e t i m e s - a s w e l l they should be, & t o characteri z e them a s g r o v e l l i n g i n t h e d i r t f o r h a n d o u t s o r f o r c i n g them t o p r e t e n d t o b e l i e v e i n t h e q u e s t i o n a b l e b e n e f i t s of jobs & education j u s t t o get a bus p a s s , is perpetuating l i e s & s t u p i d i t y s t h a t continue t o maintain an insidious place i n our history.. We a r e r e s p o n s i b l e , & only i n f u l l experience & understanding of what we a r e d e a l i n g w i t h , i s t h e r e a n y hope f o r m e a n i n g f u l change.

TORA

"The f i r s t g o l d s t a r a c h i l d g e t s i n s c h o o l f o r t h e mere performance of a n e e d f u l t a s k is i t s f i r s t l e s s o n i n graft

"...goods

a d d l i t t l e r e a l ease t o l i f e

& t h e t o t a l worship o f goods, i n t h e e n d , t a k e s away a l l p e a c e & s e c u r i t y .

I n a world t h a t i s engaged i n t h e r e c k l e s s r u s h f o r m a s s - p r o d u c e d materi a l o b j e c t s - whatever t h e form o f government - t h e r e w i l l b e no s e c u r i t y b e c a u s e s e c u r i t y comes f r o m m a n ' s t r u s t o f man - m a n ' s c o n f i d e n c e i n man - & t h e m i l l s cannot manufacture i t & t h e S t a t e c a n n o t g u a r a n t e e i t . Only e a c h man, w o r k i n g w i t h i n h i m s e l f t o t h e b e s t o f h i s a b i l i t y , c a n create tempo r a l security. s o l o n g as t h e few b a s i c h u n g e r s i n man are c o n t e n t e d , m o r e g o o d s cann o t add a n y t h i n g t o t h a t s e c u r i t y . "

...

PHILIP WYLIE G e n e r a t i o n o f V i p e r s (1942)

We s t a r t e d t h e r a n c h up i n t h e e a r l y summer o f 1947. By mid-summer a l l o u r h o r s e s up & d i e d from suns t r o k e . So we looked f o r a h a r d i e r breed of animal t o s t o c k t h e s q u a r e with. F i d d l e S t i c k s was o u r f i r s t m a t u r e P i female e l e p h a n t , and s h e was a r e a l p a i n i n t h e b r i t c h e s u n t i l we t o o k on a r o g u e s t u d by t h e name o f Dandy who seemed t o p r e f e r g e t t i n g i t on w i t h t h e f e n c e p o s t more t h a n he d i d F i d d l e S t i c k s , who became s o h o s t i l e t h a t s h e r a n Dandy o f f t h e p l a c e & we a i n ' t s e e n him s i n c e . So, w e modernized and went i n t o art- 7'0 i f i c i a l i n s e m i n a t i o n , which h a s not h i n g t o do w i t h r e p l a c i n g P a l e s t i n i a n s . No, i t means g r a b b i n g a p l a s t i c b a l l o o n - l i k e v i a l and d e l i v e r i n g i t t o t h e i n n e r r e g i o n s of F i d d l e S t i c k ' s p r i v a t e concerns. Well, S i r , from t h a t h u m i l i a t i n g e x p e r i e n c e came t h e huge h e r d we have t o d a y , which i s some of t h e f i n e s t s t o c k t h i s s i d e of N e c e r v e r o l i a . So me & L u c r i c i a , t h a t ' s my o l d g a l , a r e s i t t i n g p r e t t y h i g h on t h e p i l e , especially since the elephant s e l l i n g market h a s n ' t always been t h a t h o t a commodity. So me & Lu, t h a t ' s my o l d g a l a g a i n , have d e c i d e d t o s e l l s h a r e s i n t h e h e r d a t 250 Kopics p e r . I f you g o t any i n t e r e s t i n g e t t i n g i n on t h i s d e a l , w r i t e me, HUSKY SMITHRITE, c / o The P r e m i e r s O f f i c e , New Old South L i v e r p o o l , N o r t h e r n Songs, Africa. 401 DSJ

Red-Faced 1. The Newscaster's contrite voice A tone so... not here we're O.K. It's not so bad as some may say Ohl

tread carefully...

Dirt is my God Blue Eagle says with stretched palm Iwill go back to my God the voice prodaiming the importance of business investments stocks bonds

...

red-neck where only the sun can touch from a formed prison read red 2. Red round Angora Mother behind 19 coats of lacquer over wood telling me of the world's finest engineered ovens delight and design looks plastic

P!?

3. Red face

eyes through sell right red-neck horror we'might be all so familiar fear so fundamental nasty alligator snapping and yawning at intervals rolling over; itching to belong 4. Red skin making the lone fight

to belong go to plays fix teeth Red face Red skin making the lone fight 5. Fury a red funnel swirling blowing random picking a path to smash

So close and never touch Hang on there,s one them, they Fury directed to them gathering momentum sucking more air those so low as to rise up through the fury of the red funnel

I n A l b e r t a t h e Aryan Nat i o n s demonstrated i n Prov o s t . They a d v o c a t e genoc i d e , a t t a c k e d a female r e p o r t e r and s h o t guns i n the a i r . Phil Frazer, Alb e r t a ' s Human R i g h t s Commi s s i o n e r , s a i d t h e r e was n o t h i n g h e could do about t h e i n c i d e n t . A t t h e same time a t t h e Oldman Dam d i v e r s i o n s i t e Milton Born With A Tooth, a l o n e f i g h t er p r o t e s t i n g t h e dam, shot 2 shots i n t h e a i r when t h e R.C.M.P. came on h i s l a n d . Milton was j a i l ed 4 months and denied b a i l b e f o r e h i s t r i a l . He h a s now been charged and given a s e n t e n c e of 18 months. Milton does n o t advocate genocide. This is racism i n t h e j u s t i c e system, i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e d racism.

pregnant round and red fine and fuzzv marble plastic countertops reflected in 19 coats of lacquer over wood shine to blind

Marilyn Seelye

XE:

MAY

FREE OR LOW COST GOODS

SHELTER & HOUSING

HEALTH SERVICES

COUNSELLING, SUPPORT, INFO

LEGAL SERVICES

ADVOCACY RESOURCE LIST

8. SOCIAL, DROP-IN, K E C R E A T I O N 10.

YOUTH SERVICES OTHER SERVICES

11,

12.

13.

EXCESSIVE ABSENCES ------------------

Due t o t h e e x c e s s i v e number o f abs e n c e s from work, t h e f o l l o w i n g r u l e s and p r o c e d u r e s w i l l be p u t i n t o e f f e c t immediately. S i c k n e s s : No e x c u s e . We no l o n g e r acc e p t your d o c t o r ' s s t a t e m e n t a s p r o o f , a s we b e l i e v e t h a t i f you a r e a b l e t o go t o t h e d o c t o r , you a r e a b l e t o go t o work. Death ( o t h e r t h a n your own): T h e r e i s n o t h i n g- you c a n do f o r them, and we a r e s u r e t h a t someone e l s e w i t h a l e s s e r p o s i t i o n can a t t e n d t o t h e arrangements. However, we w i l l be g l a d t o l e t you o f f a n hour e a r l i e r i f t h e f u n e r e a l can be h e l d i n t h e l a t e a f t e r n o o n , p r o v i d e d you c a n come i n a h a l f h o u r e a r l i e r , work t h r o u g h your l u c h p e r i o d and s k i p b o t h c o f f e e b r e a k s . Leave of Absence ( f o r a n o p e r a t i o n ) : We a r e no l o n g e r a l l o w i n g t h i s p r a c t i c e . We wish t o d i s c o u r a g e any t h o u g h t t h a t you may need a n o p e r a t i o n a s we b e l i e v e t h a t a s l o n g a s you a r e an employee h e r e , you w i l l need a l l of w h a t e v e r you have and you should not c o n s i d e r having anything removed. A l s o , we h i r e d you a s you a r e , and t o have a n y t h i n g removed would c e r t a i n l y make you l e s s t h a n we bargained f o r . Death ( y o u r own): T h i s w i l l be a c c e p t ed a s a n e x c u s e , b u t we would l i k e two weeks n o t i c e a s we f e e l i t i s your d u t y t i t e a c h someone e l s e your j o b . Also E n t i r e l y t o o much t i m e i s b e i n g spent i n t h e restrooms and, i n f u t u r e , we w i l l f o l l o w t h e p r a c t i c e o f g o i n g i n a l p h a b e t i c a l o r d e r . For i n s t a n c e ' A ' w i l l go from 8 : 1 5 t o 8:30 and t h o s e whose names b e g i n w i t h ' B ' w i l l go from 8 : 3 0 t o 8:45 and s o on. I f you a r e u n a b l e t o go a t your a p p o i n t e d t i m e , i t w i l l be n e c e s s a r y t o w a i t unt i l t h e n e x t day when your time comes around a g a i n . The f u l l c o - o p e r a t i o n of t h e s t a f f i n t h e s e m a t t c r s would b e a p p r e c i a t e d .

Modem sex: balancing

and fidelity 'Sex that is not an evidence of a strong human tie is just like blowing your nose; it's not a c a splendid -

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