Issuu

Povettv is-violence aaain'st children

"'The most i m p o r t a n t t h i n g low income p e o p l e need t o know i s t h a t p o v e r t y i s n o t our f a u l t . We need t o know t h a t low w e l f a r e r a t e s and wages a r e i n t e n t i o n a l . P o l i c i e s fi l e g i s l a t i o n l i k e p r i v a t i s a t i o n , low i n comes, c u t b a c k s t o s o c i a l programs, & f r e e trade d i r e c t l y affect our l i v e s

- Pam Fleming (E. L. P. )

r.oral s u p p o r t f o r going t o school and,soon f S t a r t l i n g , h o p e f u l , h o p e l e s s , profound, c h i l d r e n a r e having b a b i e s , dropping o u t o f s c h o o l , becoming a l c o h o l i c s o r drug s u r p r i s i n g , s e n s i t i v e , hard h i t t i n g . . a r e i some of t h e a d j e c t i v e s t h a t b e s t d e s c r i b e u s e r s , sometimes dying. 1 I t makes me f e e l angry because of t h e a new photography e x h i b i t i o n being h e l d ' a t t h e Carnegie Centre G a l l e r y (3rd f l . ) , ' g i v i n g u p ' . Even if y o u ' r e Poor, g e t a j o b ; i f y o u ' r e an a l c o h o l i c , go t o AA; i f u n t i l November 1 5 t h . This e x h i b i t i o n , e n t i t l e d An Experiment you have p e r s o n a l problems from t h e p a s t , s e e a c o u n s e l l o r . Don't g i v e up. Try u n t i l i n Power P i c t u r e s , t a k e s p h o t o j o u r n a l i s m you f e e l good about y o u r s e l f and r e a l i s e away from t h e s t e r e o t y p i c a l F, i n t o t h e your g o a l s . " realm o f r e a l i t y . T h i s i s s t r e e t l i f e by - Honey D e s j a r l a i s s t r e e t p e o p l e . Jody B a i l e y , O l i v i a Clen+= d a l e , S t a c e y McMillan, Denise McMillan, I David Morales F, Joanne Smith a r e 6 i " s t r e e t youthn r a n g i n g i n age from 14 t o 2 2 who were u n f a m i l i a r w i t h photography. They were given cameras 6 f i l m & p a r t i c i p a t e d i n a 10-week long photography workshop conducted by p h o t o j o u r n a l i s t Robert Semeniuk under t h e guidance o f John Turvey, who d i r e c t s t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e Youth A c t i v i t i e s S o c i e t y & North America's l a r g e s t Needle Exchange program. There a r e e i g h t e e n ll"x14" p h o t o s , images HOMELESS BUT NOT HELPLESS

of Vancouver s t r e e t l i f e 6 d e a t h from t h e p o i n t o f view of s i x young p e o p l e who l i v e there. For new k i d s on t h e b l o c k , t h e g a l l e r y i s s i d e - b y - s i d e w i t h C a r n e g i e ' e Learning Centre. One o f many a s p e c t s 6 s e r v i c e s i s an E n g l i s h 11 c l a s s . C i ~ n s t a n c e B r i s s e n d e n , suggested t o t h e l e a r n e r s i n h e r c l a s s i t h a t t h e y look a t t h e s e photographs, t h e n w r i t e down t h e i r t h o u g h t s & f e e l i n g s .

"I saw t h o s e p i c t u r e s . These a r e v e r y d i f f e r e n t from what h a s liappened i n my l i f e . They have no house s o I d o n ' t know how t h e y can s u r v i v e . O u t s i d e i s v e r y c o l d " I t shows how u n f a i r l i f e can sometimes be. b u t where would t h e y s l e e p ..where would t h e y make food?? I t makes me f e e l sad and (mad a t t h e same In one p i c t u r e a guy i s bleedingllftom hi: time. I'm sad because t h e y weren't g i v e n a f a c e b u t nobody i s t a k i n g c a r e o f him. I1 chance l i v i n g i n p o v e r t y ; e s p e c i a l l y t h e ' I g e t h u r t my p a r e n t s worry about me and c h i l d r e n , who l e a r n from t h e world around them. They s e e t h e i r p a r e n t s a s a l c o h o l i c s , g i v e me medicine. I am v e r y s o r r o w f u l l f o r t h e s e guys!' peophe [ b e i n k (abused. There i s n ' t enough - Manoj Kwnar

have someone t o t u n t o b u t t h e s e p e o p l e 9. d o n ' t . From what I ' v e h e a r d , S o c i a l Servi c e s can be overwhelming; it might n o t b e able t o help. People a r e d y i n g everyday from d r u g s G gang f i g h t s . White cops h a s s l e c o l o u r e d p e o p l e , s o t h e nickname " p i g s t t i s g i v e n t o them. They seem t o g e t a k i c k o u t o f k i c k i n g t h e s e p e o p l e a r o u n d . . i t makes them f e e l big. They've been moved o r thrown o u t o f a p l a c e t h e y f o r some r e a s o n found comfort i n , b u t once on t h e s t r e e t can be h a s s l e d o r h u r t , even by t h o s e asked t o h e l p . I t ' s obvious t h e y c a n ' t h e l p t h e m s e l v e s b u t t h e y j u s t need a l i t t l e hand. Some o f t h e p i c t u r e s show l o v e even when t h e r e were "1. One p i c t u r e i s o f a baby, a l i v e F, f u l l d i f f i c u l t t i m e s . " - R~~ Gill of hope. T h i s makes p e o p l e f e e l happy. 2 . Another p i c t u r e i s o f a dead p e r s o n . He " L i f e i s v e r y p r e c i o u s . T h e r e ' s a p i c t u r e of a baby, n o t knowing i s s o young. He l i e s i n t h e c o f f i n , j u s t : l i k e h e ' s s l e e p i n g . He d o e s n ' t know p e o p l e what l a y s i n t h e f u t u r e . T h e r e ' s a p h o t o o f a young guy t h a t i s i n "round him a r e sad. a c o f f i n . How o r why d i d he d i e ? I f e e l s o 3 . One p i c t u r e i s about a p a r t y . People d e p r e s s e d . T h i s i s an everyday, r o u t i n e a r e v e r y happy and 1::Eeel h a p p y ' t o o . : 4 . This p i c t u r e i s about two p e o p l e d e a l - l i f e s t y l e where s t r e e t gangs a r e f i g h t i n g i n g with d r u g s . They a r e k i l l i n g themselv- each o t h e r o v e r who s e l l s d r u g s t o t h e s e young c h i l d r e n . t o runaways, i n v o l v i n g e s ; t h e y a r e committing crime. 5. Another p i c t u r e i s o f two guys k i s s i n g them i n p a y i n g f o r d r u g s w i t h t h e i r b o d i e s . C h i l d r e n r u n away from problems, such a s each o t h e r . They may be homosexuals. an a l c o h o l i c p a r e n t . They c o u l d n ' t f i n d I f e e l t h e s e p i c t u r e s show more s a d n e s s l o v e a t home and end up i n d e e p e r problems, than happiness i n t h i s ,society." by l e t t i n g t h e m s e l v e s g e t i n v o l v e d w i t h - Rosamai Wong pimps G d e a l e r s . My s o l u t i o n would be t o g e t out of t h e s i t u a t i o n before it drags you down. I t reminds me o f al,poem I wrote: "These p i c t u r e s t e l l me some t h i n g s . They g i v e o f f f e e l i n g s , I have some emotions, b u t i t ' s funny.. I ' m n o t s u r e what. Some o f t h e p i c t u r e s make me s a d , b u t o t h e r s make me happy - l i k e i t ' s a wonderful world. I have o p i n i o n s on w h a t ' s shown, b u t i n s i d e my h e a r t s a y s g e t a c t i v e and do something. T h i s i s i m p o r t a n t . "

" L i f e S t y l e o f t h e Unfortunate'' No way t o l i v e ! No way t o l i v e ! I s t h e outcry of o u r people. Why a r e we p o o r ? We c r y f o r o u r c h i l d r e n , We c r y f o r o u r e l d e r s , We c r y f o r o u r homeless. No one seems t o c a r e . 'I Each p i c t u r e demonstrated o r showed t h e No one w i l l s h a e . v a l u e o f l i f e when l i v i n g on t h e s t r e e t s . Where a r e t h e h a r t s o f o u r p e o p l e ? To me e a c h p i c t u r e was an eye-opening ex- We have n o shame p e r i e n c e b e c a u s e I ' v e n e v e r been u n f o r t u n - We might a s w e l l have no name. a t e enough t o have t o l i v e ( o r make a l i v - Bonnie S t e v e n s i n g ) on t h e s t r e e t s . I ' v e been l u c k y t o

Also by Bonnie S t e v e n s My H e a r t Something i n my h e a r t i s a c h i n g Is i t sorrow W i l l tomorrow b r i n g my dreams t o r e a l i t y Would i t s h a t t e r i t My h e a r t t e l l s me a l o t o f t h i n g s My s o u l i s t e l l i n g mc n o t t o worry of it I t w i l l be a b e t t e r day what you.make Your dreams w i l l come t r u e CITIZEN'S GROUP PLAYS ROLE I w i l l no l o n g e r be b l u e . Love Love i s l i k e a r i v e r I t f l o w s and f l o w s No one knows where it goes I t h a s i t s twists and t u r n s Love can be s p l e n d i d S h a r e i t w i t h one you l o v e Reach f o r your dreams I t may be j u s t down t h e s t r e a m .

A c a n d l e b u r n s i n Pigeon Park Five people s a t t h e r e watching The shadows, f l o w i n g , y e t f l e e t i n g The b r e e z e d a n c i n g with t h e candle i n Pigeon Park

The l i g h t f l o w i n g The shadow p l a y i n g The b r e e z e s i g h i n g through The t r e e s Dancing w i t h t h e c a n d l e i n pigion park A c a n d l e b u r n s i n Pigoen Park A small l i g h t i n t h e d a r k n e s s Shadows dancing on t h e w a l l s Light f l i c k e r i n g from f a c e t o f a c e Dancing w i t h t h e c a n d l e i n pigeon Park Dreamweaver

Members o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n f o r Vehicle Movement S a f e t y a r e e l a t e d a t t h e i r succe s s i n t h e d e f e a t o f s o c r e d S o l i c i t o r Gene r a l Ivan Messmer i n t h e e l e c t i o n . While t h e y admit t h a t many f o r c e s l i k e l y c o n t r i b u t e d t o h i s 3 r d p l a c e f i n i s h (Jim B e a t t y (NDP) won) t h e y s t r e s s t h a t t h e i r e f f o r t s t o e d u c a t e v b t e r s l ) a b o u t Messmerfs f a i l u r e t o e x e r c i s e p u b l i c c o n t r o l & acco u n t a b i l i t y o f h i s M i n i s t r y were w e l l r e c e i v e d . There were d e m o n s t r a t i o n s i n Messm e r ' s c o n s t i t u e n c y & hundreds of h a n d b i l l s were p o s t e d around t h e r i d i n g , d e t a i l i n g problems w i t h t h e new P r i v a t e V e h i c l e Ins p e c t i o n Program and ~ r o a d b l o c k s l . "This p r o v e s t h a t p e o p l e a r e n o t a s powerl e s s i n t h e e x e r c i s e o f government a s some choose t o b e l i e v e , " s a i d spolaesman S t u a r t Meade. "For 2 2 months t h e y s t o n e w a l l e d o u r attempts t o o b t a i n t h e d a t a proving t h e need f o r t h i s program. A l l we've asked f o r i s t h e i r d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f t h e need t o f o r c e automobile owners t o make r e p a i r s t o s e a t c o v e r s , weather s t r i p p i n g , r u s t & numerous o t h e r q u e s t i o n a b l e items. I t appeared l o s t on Messmer t h a t , a s o u r p u b l i c r e p , we a r e e n t i t l e d t o a s k t h e s e q u e s t i o n s o f him. He j u s t a c t e d a s an a p o l o g i s t f o r t h e bureauc r a c y , " e x p l a i n e d Meade The A s s o c i a t i o n i s c a l l i n g f o r mandatory t e s t i n g o f v e h i c l e s f o r i t e m s t h a t can be s t a t i s t i c a l l y j u s t i f i e d 4 demonstrated t o improve road s a f e t y . "Roadblocks have proven t o be a v e r y t h o r n y i s s u e . We s e e them both a s a t h r e a t t o our t r a d i t i o n of f r e e movement & p u b l i c s u p p o r t o f s a f e t y measure s . Mandatory t e s t i n g i n g o v t . t e s t i n g s t a t i o n s w i l l remove t h i s a s p e c t o f e n f o r c e ment ," s a i d bleade.

Goodbye User Fees & Zalmita S k i s l o p e s & g o l f c o u r s e s a r e a good s i g n o f where t h e Unsocial C r e d i t loya l t y l a i d . Ski slopes E golf courses a r e n o t f o r t h e unemployed 4 poor. Well, t h e r e a r e o n l y 7 noses l e f t i n t h e p u b l i c trough. The b i g moncy boys now w i l l have t o p u t t h e i r hands i n t h e i r own pockets. The c o r p o r a t e p i r a t e s w i l l form ano t h e r c o a l i t i o n of p o l i t i c a l p r o s t i t u t e s , while t h e right-wing v o t e r s keep howling l i k e wolves f o r f r e e e n t c r p r i s e . They a r c f o r government g r a n t s f o r themselves but a g a i n s t a s s i s t n n c c f o r t h e poor. Right-wing f r e e enterprisers u s u a l l y pay t h e minimum wage o r l e s s . Thcy have no s o c i a l conscience. Thcy w i l l s e l l war weapons t o poor c o u n t r i e s where d i c t a t o r s h i p s e x i s t s . Thcy l j kc h i g h unemployment f o r i t h e l p s them t o e l i m i n a t e union j o b s ; i f t h e y had t h e i r way everyone would be s e l l i n g popcorn a t English Bay. .pay would be on a commission b a s i s . The s a l e o f t h e Expo l a n d s was a good example o f c o r p o r a t e p i r a c y . By BRIAN WACGET

TO ATTEND ...

ON RACISM 1 h i s \ \ l l i p b e a ' n o f i x e d thcme' m e e t i n g . D i s c u s s i o n , q u e s t i o n s , a n s w e r s . . a five-person p a n e l w i l l a d d r e s s t h e t o p i c of racism - i t s causes, e f f e c t s , and what we c a n do t o l i b e r a t e o u r s e l v e s G o u r s o c i e t y from i t .

- b l e t i s , a u t h o r of " P r i s o n o f Grass"; f o r m c r p r o f

Pnne 1 : HOWARD ADME

,tt

Davis, h i s t o r i a n . NIlALIA DORIGONI - L a t i n American Aids Awareness Worker, C e n t r a l American c i v i l r i g h t s a c t i v i s t . SADIE KUEHN - A f r i c a n C a n a d i a n , managing e d i t o r a t I,egal S c r v i cc.\ S c h o o l Race R e l a t i o n s Committee. HAYNE lVAI - Communications O f f i c e r a t Canatljan llumnn R i g h t s Commission. B A R B A k I FINDLAY - Lawyer, Canadian ' wasp' backgrouncl, founclcr o f A1 1i a n c c o f Women A g a i n s t Raci snl Ktc. (AliAllF) I t ' s on November 3 r d i n C a r n c g i e ' s t h e a t r c from 7 - 1 0 . llcfrcshmcnt s c i c r ~ c t l --

I~1:1~I,I:(:'1'IONS6): '1'11E liLIXTIOk. . . . . h'e11, I ' v e bccn l i v i n g h e r c i n L o t u s I,and, c x c c p t f o r a s e l f - i m p o s e d e x i l e i n 1990, f o r n i g h on f i f t c e n y e a r s . And I'm a l m o s t r c a d y t o t h r o w i n t h e towel and conccdc t h a t 1 ' 1 1 n e v e r plumb t h e d e p t h s o f t h e p o l i t i c a l spyche o f t h o maverick t h a t c a l l s i t s e l f B r i t i s h Editor: Columbia. ~ n response t o Keven's c o n t r i b u t i o n What i s w i t h t h e i n h a b i t a n t s h c r e ? t o t h e l a s t i s s u e o f t h e Newsletter enDo t h e y n o t t o l e r a t e a n y t h i n g more p r i t i t l e d I'Religious Truths". . . m i t i v c than a p o l a r i z e d two-party sysThese s o - c a l l e d r e l i g i o u s t r u t h s i n tcm? O r i s t h e p a g e a n t r y G h o o p l a c i r t h e c o n t e x t of how I have i n t e r p r e t e d cus so firmly entrenched i n t h e s o c i a l t h e word " s h i t " can o n l y l e a d me t o conclude of t h e word " s h i t " a s an e v e n t . f a b r i c t h a t t h e white hat facing o f f But l e t u s now t a k e t h e word " s h i t " w i t h t h e b l a c k a t h i g h noon i s t h e o n l y : 1 ; i n t h e l i t e r a l s e n s e and l e t me pose 'a I game i n town, h e r e i n t h e lvild West? you s h i t . m . . ? Of 1 u s u a l !8 q u e s t i o n t o you: \vcll f o l k s , 1 v o t e d L i b e r a l . And t h e n l e t me pose another a course! l y do v o t e Liberal h e r e b e c a u s e I b e v i a b l e t h i r d p a r t y ; one t h a t q u e s t i o n : What i s t h e cause of You havin ing a s h i t . . . ? Obviously an e v e n t , torw i l l a t t r a c t v o t e r s and g e n e r a t e i d e a s , , r e c t ? T h e r e f o r e we c r e a t e o u r o m s h i t ; w h i l e t h e o t h e r two p a r t i e s f i g h t o v e r 1f you a r e i n t r i g u e d by t h e concept t h e bone o f c o n t e n t i o n , s t o p p i n g Only of t r u t h i n t h e s p i r i t u a l sense 1 would lorlg enough t o s t e a l any goods of t h e h i g h l y recommend t h a t you read t h e third party. w r i t i n g s o f Spinoza. I v o t e d L i b e r a l a n d , f o r o n c e , my There a r e o t h e r i n t i m a t e l y connected 'lorsc at l c a t p l a c e d . I t ' ' not news p h i ~ o ~ o p } l i c a l / s c i e n t i f ipcr e m i s e s t h a t any morc t h a t t h e y form t h e n e x t o f f i c l e a d t o a very convincing argument: i a l o p p o s i t i o n t o Moderate Mike and h i s 'when you see shit i t is untrue; what gang o f NDPers. i s r e a l l y happening i s t h a t t h e s h i t I was g l a d t o s e e t h a t happen t h o u g h , is seeing you.' and I hope M r . I l a r c o u r t g o v e r n s w i s e l y , I would h i g h l y recommend t h a t you p l a c a t e s enough a n d prunes away r e a d some of B e r t r a n d l ~ u s s e l l l s t h e v i n e s t h e s o c r e d s f e l l from. I hope sophy, as it may shed some light. Look i he makes i t mandatory f o r a l l p o l i t i c a l f o r the volume entitled Enquiry p a r t i e s t o d i s c l o s e a l l s o u r c e s of i n into ~~~~i~~ and ~ ~ ~ ~also h , , , come a t a l l t i m e s ; I f u r t h e r hope no R u s s e l l , s Philosophy on t h e d e a l s a r e f o r t h c o m i n g w i t h t r a d e u n i o n s . Theory o f Knowledge,,. I f Mr. I l a r c o u r t d o c s t h e s e t h i n g s , h e Keven, I h a v e had many e n j o y a b l e w i l l e n s u r e c r e d i b i l i t y and Mikey w i l l hours o f / i n thought as a r e s u l t of bc l i k i n g i t f o r a l o n g , l o n g t i m e . :p a s t p h i l o s o p h e r s ' c o n t r i b u t i o n s r e was sorry t o the sOcreds g a r d i n g t h e s e issuesand h o t e t h a t i t destruct so probabl)' may l e a d t o f u r t h e r p ~ i l o s o p h i c a l / be a third party, perhaps t h e o l o g i c a l correspondence in t h e t h e y were p o l i t i c a l deadwood. future. Let t h e games b e g i n ! Thank you Kevin.

*wpm'2

By JOANNE HAMEN

Mark/Us

CARNEGIE'S FESTIVAL

(JrM USlC

and much much more Friday, November

ou get two books for the price of one when you take a trip Under the Viaduct with Sheila Baxter. You get a concise reference work for housing activists, crammed with statistics and documentation on the problem of llomelessness in B.C. and beyond. It is

A blmilar to Baxter's previous work on poverty among women, No Way to Live, which is now an assigned text in university courses across Canada. The other half of Under the Viaduct is more for the uninitiated - a deeply personakquest by a woman (Baxter) who found herself homeless as a child and again as a single mother with two daughtcrs, and is now trying to figure out whv.

hahen io you?

15th.

Baxter is a fixture in Vancouver's lowincome Downtown Eastside as an unpaid advocate of the poor and a battler of bureaucracies. She's on welfare herself, and she knows her way around the mean streets of Main and Hastings, but she doesn't pretend to know it all. In fact, it's her wry and self-deprecating sense of humor that makes this litany of poverty, sexual abuse and mental illness so access- .' ihle to the ordinary reader. i In one instance, Baxter tries to interview the street nurses about housing for A1 DS sufferers, but the nurses are so busy treating patients, she is stuck in a corner of the clinic for hours under a safe sex sign. "I figure it must look like this grandmother uses a helluva lot of condoms," she comments. Later, she meets a guy who sleeps in his car. "He scratched the whole time I was interviewing him, so I didn't get too close. Book or not, I do have my limit." She passes a bag lady every day on Main Street, a woman who lives in doorways and keeps all her possessions in plastic bags in a supermarket cart. Baxter is too shy to approach the woman, so she pours out her feelings in a poem: T h q tell me you choose this life that you prefer your

aloneness. When I'm home in bed, zcarm

UNDER THE VIADUCT: Homeless in Beautiful B.C. By Sheila Baxter

New Star Books, $12.95 paper, $24.95 cloth

The United Nations defines homelessness as not having security of tenure. By that definition, there are 10,000 homeless people living in hotels in the Downtown Eastside alone, many of them children. Baxter lets the experts give the solu..., tions. They all cost money.- for social ,$.. .::.;:. . . housing, for higher welfare rates and .;?$+j;: ,8s" minimum wage, as well as for a radical . . -.. ,.: . . .,...... ,.;:. :rP change of attitude in society. , ,.. , . ,:. :,:**:,, '. ,.,&!:.:. A good way to start would be to make . .::.:.. : . .-.. . -.. , . :,; .!.:$,:,.,... sure this compassionate book finds its -,'&';;.;: : ; ~ @ p .:. ;~ $ $ ~ way into the hands of those with the ,;,:. ;,. -, ...-: , ..,;.+ ' . .*....,:5:;:,,,.,.,+?. : ,; . -,. ,-. power to make those changes0 r..,,.l. r

LI..

Robert Sarti is a Vancouver Sun reporter. *

Now You Are T e l l i n g Me Now you a r e t e l l i n g me you a r e d i s c o n t i n u i n g your correspondence w i t h me. And I , l i k e t h e inmate i n t h e p e n i t e n t i a r y o r t h e o l d man i n t h e i n f i r m a r y o r the soldier i n the f i e l d who w a i t s , h e a r t -expectant, f o r the daily post f o r t h e word o f t h e one h e a r t he l o v e s - l e f t t o wonder what w i l l I use now a s a l i f e l i n e , t h a t you a r e p a t i e n t l y e x p l a i n i n g t o me: "Postage has gone s o expensive." ABirthistle

s t i l i have my b i g $400 p l u s f r e e l a n c e cheque t o p a s s around. Who knows, i t might a l l g e t wasted on a p o l i t i c a l I donation o r something. But t h a t ' s what I want t o t a l k about.' A couple o f y e a r s ago we had a bye l e c t i o n up h e r e i n t h e Cariboo. I r e a l l y l i k e d t h e NDP c a n d i d a t e who was running, s o I j o i n e d t h e p a r t y E made I a couple of p o l i t i c a l d o n a t i o n s t o h e l p him o u t . One o f t h e r e a s o n s I became so generous f i n a n c i a l l y was t h e promise t h a t you g e t 3/4 of t h e donation back i n t h e form of a p r o v i n c i a l t a x c r e d i t . That meant my $50 c o n t r i b u t i o n would o n l y c o s t me $12.50. Well s u r e l y I could a f f o r d t h a t I thought. So I helped o u t and so d i d l o t s of o t h e r people and, l o E behold, David Z i r n h e l t won by a l a r g e m a j o r i t y . I was g l a d about t h a t and t h e n went about f i l l i n g o u t my t a x forms t o c o l l e c t on my p o l i t i c a l d o n a t i o n . In April, however, when I g o t my t a x refund, my p o l i t i c a l donation was o m i t t e d . My $37.50 o r whatever it was t h a t I was e x p e c t i n g back had vanished i n t o t h i n a i r . Three d i g i t zero was a l l I g o t . Eventually I g o t around t o t r a c k i h g down t h e t a x people f o r an e x p l a n a t i o n . I thought maybe t h e y made a m i s t a k e o r I gave them t h e wrong r e c e i p t o r .

- p o l i t i c a l & economic theory of s o c i a l organisation which advocates t h a t ~0-unity as a whole should own & control means of production, d i s t r i b u t i o n 6 exchange; policy o r p r a c t i c e based on t h i s theory.

g e t a refund i s t h a t I d i d n ' t pay any p r o v i n c i a l t a x so t h e y had n o t h i n g t o deduct my c o n t r i b u t i o n from. i Oh, I s a i d , t h a t ' s i n t e r e s t i n g . So now e l e c t i o n time has come again (maybe gone byl)the time you get, . t h i s ) . Once a g a i n p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s a r e s o l i c i t i n g me f o r cash E yes, t h e i r s a l e s 7 p i t c h i s of course t h a t 75% t a x r e b a t e 4 you g e t . I h a v e n ' t coughed up any p o l i t i c a l c o n t r i b u t i o n s y e t , b u t I may break down and do s o . But f i r s t I thought you guys should g e t a c u t . A f t e r a l l I ' m s u r e you understand what i t ' s l i k e t o count your pennies and .Be a b i b thrifty. I d o n ' t t h i n k t h e p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s k. - even t h e NDP o r t h e Green - a r e halfb clued i n . T h e y ' l l h o u n d t ~ t h e i rf r i e n d s ., and s u p p o r t e r s f o r f i n a n c i a l support because t h a t ' s what it t a k e s t o b e a t fl o u t mega-bucks' s o c r e d s who seem t o have a bottomless p i t o f funds, b u t I wonder i f t h e y r e a l i s e t h a t t h e people who can l e a s t a f f o r d t o p a r t with 50 o r 100 bucks end up paying t h e whole / A shot. T h e r e ' s no t a x refund f o r a person who doesn' t make enough income t o pay

1t 7

ti1 spring, so i t ' l l be a long cold wiriher of speculation. How many promises w i l l they t r y t o f u l f i l l ? Legislative debate i s t e l evised l i v e now.. .we'll see i t a l l , or a t

l e a s t w e ' l l s e e how they p l a y it when t h e y know we' r e watching. The o f f i c i a l d i c t i o n a r y d e f i n i t i o n of t h e word s o c i a l i s m i s easy t o f i n d , but t h e N.D.P. has been l a b e l l e d s o c i a l i s t by t h e i r enemies, who used t h e word t o f r i g h t en businessmen. Apparently t h a t d o e s n ' t work a s well a s it used t o . Does Mike Harcourt consider himself a l l s o c i a l i s t t l a s t h e Oxford Dictionary d e f i i n e s i t ? I d o n ' t s e e how he could s i n c e no community ownership & c o n t r o l seems t o be 90% o f t h e game. 'Things l i k e r e a l e s t a t e a r e beyond government o r comrhunity c o n t r o l So-called community p r e s s u r e groups can r e g i s t e r approval o r disapproval through t h e media, but t h i s has very l i t t l e e f f e c t i n t h e long run. S t i l l , t h e r e a r e t h e long term problems, i s s u e s , t h a t j u s t won't go away, & g e t more s e r i o u s day by day. Abori g i n a l claims, t h e environment, i n t e r n a t i o n a l investment v s . s e l f - s u f f i c i e n c y . Hou w i l l a New Democrat ( s o c i a l i s t ) govt. deal with i t ? Meanwhile back i n our own wild & wooly Downtown E a s t s i d e g l o r i f i e d d r o p t i h centrc (a. k. a. community c e n t r e ) , we s i t wonderir i f t h e y w i l l r a i s e w e l f a r e . . f o r who & by how much? Well, t h e p u b l i c l y recorded promise i s t o r a i s e t h e l'GAINft r a t e with a view t o e v e n t u a l l y l i f t i n g it t o t h e "Pov- e r t y Level". .when & how t h i s w i l l be donc i s o f f t h e record a t t h i s p o i n t . A long s p e c u l a t i v e winter indeed, but with a maj. o r i t y it should be NDP Agenda a l l t h e way, W i l l t h e y favour f a m i l i e s , s i n g l e moms & l a n d l o r d s & l e a v e t h e s i n g l e employable welfare r e c i p i e n t o u t i n t h e cold again? Where w i l l t h e l i n e be drawn between acce p t a b l e & unacceptable behaviour? The NDP has o f t e n i d e n t i f i e d i t s e l f a s t h e p a r t y of t h e 'lworking peopleH..by wor king t h e y don't mean unpaid v o l u n t a r y wor o r spontaneous l i f e s t y l e i n t e g r a t i o n with t h e surrounding community. The "working man's party'' means job hol ing, c a r e e r - o r i e n t e d union members mainly, but w i l l t h e y s t r e t c h t h e i r d e f i n i t i o n t o include o t h e r ways of being, o r w i l l t h o s e who d o n ' t want jobs be c u t out & c r u c i f i e d economically? A long cold winter of specu-

Beyond o u r own s e l f i s h concerns f o r a l i t t l e more cash, most o f u s would a l s o enjoy t h e i d e a of t u r n i n g around t h e i n d u s t r i a l i s e d t r e n d t o a used-up t o x i c environnent. Can anybody do i t , given t h e weight E momentum o f p r o f i t motivation? In t h e i r f i r s t term, some say t h e NDP won't t a k e any chances snnce t h e media is poised t o ambush t h e s l i g h t e s t r a d i c a l move. Play it s a f e . . om pkay it i:straight??Whht w i l l I i t bb? W i l l t h e Newsletter 6 o t h e r l e f t i s h publ i c a t i o n s become unquestioning comfortable s u p p o r t e r s o f a m a j o r i t y government? Who w i l l continue t o demand honest benevolent government from e l e c t e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s ? W i l l any c r i t i c i s m of t h e NDP i n power be seen a s b e t r a y a l by t h e a l r e a d y e s t a b l i s h ed community groups who a r e hoping t o be well-funded i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e ? W i l l i n d i v i d u a l s follow t h e i r own h e a r t s & minds r a t h e r than worship t h e sacred poli t i c a l cow? W i l l demands f o r honest d i r e c t a c t i o n t o s o l v e s o c i a l problems be responded t o ? W i l l t h e r e continue.:to b e p r e j u d i c e f o r perceived f r i e n d s & a g a i n s t perceived enemys? What about t h e f a r l e f t - s q u a t t e r s , blockaders, p r o t e s t o r s , a n a r c h i s t s & r a d i cal thinkers w i l l t h e y be c u t out o f t h i s l e f t w i n g power sweep - o r w i l l t h e y gain power from i t ? So many q u e s t i o n s & such a long w i n t e r before any o f them begin;)to be ankwered.,:

...

I must t e l l you, expose my v a n i t y , 1 e t t h e ego walk s o t o s p e a k . I ' v e e a r n e d my f i r s t h a r d c a s h money :ram w r i t i n g , t h a n k s t o DERA-SHIPSHAPE LIDS e s s a y . I was awarded $100, a s { e r e 4 o t h e r Downtown E a s t s i d e w r i t e r s . I must a l s o c o n f e s s s p e n d i n g $220 : e l e b r a t i n g t h e s e winnings; w e l l a f o o l md h i s money . Thanks DERA-SHIPSHAPE; t h a n k s w a i t e r s I bartenders 6 dancing girls 6 excellent Haida fishermen I partied But t h a n k s m o s t l y t o t h e Carnewith. gie Newsletter 6 the Downtown Poets, where I l e a r n e d w h a t e v e r s m a l l c r a f t I

... .

I '

Halloween S u r p r i s e 11. I t ' s Halloween of 58. I ' m s t i l l t o t t l i n g a s images d i d n ' t q u i e t f u n c t i o n g u i d e l i n e s . Trick o r Treat k i s s my f e e t halloween adv e n t u r e s of ghosts & g o b l i n s I d i d n ' t meet! Never even r e a l i s e d t h a t candy's f a t e was t o c e l e b r a t e a f a n t a s y of youth t h a t w i l l come 6 go f o r e v e r i n my s o u l . "Seasons f a l l w ; time counts a s a r e c a l l . . The b e s t time of year t o . s e e t h i n g s through I n s p i r i n g & h e a r t warningly t r u e . Halloween n i g h t 6 a l l t h e l i t t l e k i d d i e s . . I was s o u p t i g h t I couldn't h a r d l y wait! THE BLACK ORPHANS Tickling i s naughty & nice..aging cannot t h e r e i s no orphanage f o r any of US be a right function, each o f o u r p o s s i b l e e n d s I s o a r through a d u l t times i n c e r t a i n curl l i k e a r t h r i t i c fingers night's of f l i g h t h i . f u l l moon shadows with a hung t o n g u e s d r y d r i f t i n g cloud making haunting i.just r i g h t . i n t h e d e s o l a t e insomnia of r a a W ~ a h tMinds send cold s h i v e r s down t h e spine. l i k e s t r a w bedding Shovelling gold c r a c k l i n g l e a v e s , sudden breezes a r e followed immediately by images probing cloud shy s k i e s of witches plaguing my mind. promiscuously Laughing a t me a s f e a r f u l n e s s s i n k s down a hunkered g r e y s c r a p e s d e e ~ e rt o a shimmering knot. a g a i n s t t h e chimneys of your unmoving p a i n l i k e a disembowelled h a r v e s t born i n t o a dead c o n t i n u i t y a f i s t e d c r o t c h i n t h e hunched h e a r t o f an a s s a s s i n a t e d widow t h e s t a r s had hands t o wring t h e b l a c k phlegm o f i m p a t i e n c e i n t o a n uncompromisingly f r o a e n s u i c i d e of motherless f a c t s t h e depopulated s e l f is ubiquitous a s t h e l o s t gods o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s now u n a b l e t o number t h e dead by which we know o u r s e l v e s a l i v i n g sore spot in the shuffling progression o f p a s s i o n a t e c u l t u r e i n t o d i s p a s s i o n a t e memory l i k e wilted grain uprooted orphanages c o l l a p s e i n t h e i r w i l d e r n e s s o f arms and l e g s where a s t o n e wept among t h e s t o n e f i e l d s moon-made, s i l v e r w i t h c a r n a g e D a n i e l Feeney

I r e c a l l , my good morning. Albert John, a Sioux would s a y " I t ' s a good d a y t o d i e . " Examining t h e r e j o i n d e r one f i n d s " 1 . A good d a y t o l i v e . . I f I n t h e e s s e n c e , communication disguises thought p a t t e r n s , Does one e v e r comprehend? L i f e i s good, So i s Death. Cast y o u r v o t e , There may b e no more g r e e t i n g s

Tom Lewis

R e l i a b l e f o s s i l evidence imprinted i n t h e rock beds of t h i s world t e l l s u s t h a t cockroaches have been around f o r a t l e a s t 350 m i l l i o n years. A t t h a t long-ago time, cockroaches were e i g h t inch long f l y i n g i n s e c t s which l i v e d outdoors i n warm climates. Evolution caused them t o a d j u s t t o a s m a l l e r s i z e i n o r d e r t o s u r v i v e and i t robbed them o f most o f t h e i r powers o f f l i g h t . However, i f you c a t c h an a d u l t cockroach i n your hand and then open your hand, you a r e l i k e l y t o s e e t h a t i t s kind s t i l l r e t a i n v e s t i g e s o f t h e power o f f l i g h t because t h a t one i n your hand i s l i k e l y t o spread i t s wings and whiz down t o t h e f l o o r l i k e a landing h e l i c o p t e r . We t h i n k o f dinosaurs a s c r e a t u r e s of a n t i q u i t y , o f a n c i e n t p r e h i s t o r i c time. But t h e cockroach saw t h e dinosaurs come, saw t h e dinosaur go, and was an a n c i e n t s p e c i e s when t h e human r a c e came on t h e scene. Cockroaches, i n t h e i r enormously long h i s t o r y , have learned many t r i c k s o f survival. Female cockroaches do not d e p o s i t a bunch o f eggs and l e a v e those eggs t o chance. They l a y t h e i r eggs i n a s a c which remains a t t a c h e d t o t h e i r r e a r ends where t h e eggs hatch. A t about t h e time of hatching, t h e female cockroach places t h i s s a c i n some hidden s p o t and very soon perhaps 100 t i n y white cockroaches emerge, every one o f them ready f o r t h e t a s k o f foraging f o r food. I f you k i l l a l l t h e male cockroaches i n a given l o c a t i o n , t h e remaining f e males w i l l continue t o produce young i n t h a t way..but t h e young s o produced w i l l a l l be females, a l l g e n e t i c a l l y i d e n t i c a l t o t h e mother from which they came; c l o n e s , s o t o speak. When a male does come along, we may imagine, he i w i l l f i n d a multitude of females a v a i l a b l e f o r breeding and t h e subsequent mixing o f genes. Therefore we s e e t h a t t o k i l l o f f t h e male cockroaches only slows down t h e e v o l u t i o n of t h e i r race. I t doesn't slow down t h e i r m u l t i p l i c a t i o n

Denied any o t h e w i l l eat paint o r t b s t a y a l i v e . They w i l l even o t h e r q u i t e a s happily. S u r e l y most r e a d e r s have ob t h a t even i n t h e living quarters, i f ever seen on, i n o r n e a r t h e bed where t h e human s l e e p s . Persons who ' have observed t h i s but who lack i n s i g h t i n t o t h e ways of cockroaches d e c l a r e t b a t t h i s i s because cockroaches do n o t l i k e t h e smell o t human beings. That i s riot t r u e . Cockroaches s t a y away from human beds because t h e y have learned through t h e ages t h a t t o t r e s p a s s t h e r e d r i v e s human beings i n t o a f u r y agains them and many cockroach d e a t h s r e s u l t from such i n c i d e n t s . Therefore. i n a prudent s p i r i t o f s e they s t a y away from human beds. An entomologist i s an e x p e r t on i s e c t s . In t h e above ered Newsletter r e a d e r s information t h a t is well known t o those entomolog i s t s . In t h e next i s s u e , i f t h e e d i t o r permits, I w i l l o f f e r information about cockroaches t h a t t h e not y e t know. I t h i n k be i n t e r e s t i n g t o a1 By t h e way, I ' m st with TV1s, o f t e n g e t properly. I f you a r e with yours, l e a v e a t h e information desk downstairs a t Carnegie.

Tory C o n s t i t u t i o n w i l l i n c r e a s e p o v e r t y When you s e e t h e word l l c o n s t i t u t i o n ' f , do you: a ) B l u r o u t ; b ) Thinla " t h 8 t : 8 d o e s n ' t a p p l y t o me"; c ) Groan; d ) Ask y s u r s e l f ,"what a r e t h e y up t o now?"

I find that constituitional issues are t h e most complex I ' v e e v e r t r i e d t o und e r s t a n d . Many p e o p l e t h i n k t h a t t h e cons t i t u t i o n i s about Quebec & A b o r i g i n a l people & t h e i r r i g h t s w i t h i n Canada. I t I is. But, a s u s u a l w i t h t h e Tory g o v ' t . , i t ' s a l s o a b o u t t r y i n g t o change r b l e s o f our c o u n t r y t o h e l p r i c h p e o p l e & c o r p o r ations. After studying t h e proposals & reading t h e a n a l y s i s d i s t r i b u t e d by t h e Action Canada Network & by Claude Giraud o f t h e National A n t i - P o v e r t y O r g a n i s a t i o n , I ' d - a g r e e w i t h Claude t h a t t h e Tory c o n s t i t u tional proposals w i l l "constitutionalise" p o v e r t y & unemployment. The g o v t ' s p r o p o s a l s a r e i n 2 g l o s s y documents: s h a p i n g Canada's F u t u r e T o g e t h e r , 6 Canadian Federalism & Economic Union, Partnership f o r Prosperity. Here a r e some ways t h a t t h e g o v t ' s proposals w i l l increase poverty: Property Rights: -- -----------The g o v ' t wants p r o p e r t y r i g h t s i n t h e C h a r t e r o f R i g h t s & Freedoms. According t o an a n a l y s i s o f t h e P o l i c y A l t e r n a t i v e s " c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o p e r t y r i g h t s would s e r v e t h e i n t e r e s t s o f p r o p e r t y owners, & b e n e f i t m a i n l y t h e m i n o r i t y o f Canadians who own l a r g e amounts o f p r o p e r t y . " Prope r t y r i g h t s can be used i n ways t h a t "exp l o i t p e o p l e , d i s c r i m i n a t e a g a i n s t them & harm t h e environment. 'I I1Many laws have been c r e a t e d t o p r o t e c t . people from t h e e x e r c i s e o f p r o p e r t y r i g h t s . These i n c l u d e laws r e l a t e d t o c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g , workers h e a l t h & s a f e t y , pay e q u i t y , employment s t a n d a r d s ( l i k e minimum wages), d i v i s i o n o f m a r i t a l property, landlord & tenant r e l a t i o n s , & consumer p r o t e c t i o n . l1 I f p r o p e r t y r i g h t s a r e ~ u itn t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n , p r o p e r t y owners w i l l be a b l e t o c h a l l e n g e many laws t h a t h e l p poor p e o p l e

"The doctor said sleep on your stomach tonight and he'll see you first thing tomorrow."

- laws l i k e r e n t c o n t r o l , minimum wage, pay e q u i t y . People who a l r e a d y have a l o t o f r i g h t s w i l l have even more. Poor peopbe w i l l have l e s s . I t c o u l d a l s o make i t h a r d e r f o r :,Native i People t o c l a i m i t h e i r l a n d , & f o r govt. t o r e g u l a t e p o l l u t e r s . Changes t o t h e-------------Bank o f Canada ---- ------- -Act: --~ i g h now t t h e Bank o f ~ a n a d ai s supposed t o r e g u l a t e money & c r e d i t i n t h e "best i n t e r e s t of t h e economic l i f e o f t h e nat i o n . " T h i s means t h a t t h e Bank i s supposed t o u s e i t s power o v e r money t o keep unemployment low. The T o r i e s want t o change t h e purpose of t h e Bank o f Canada. They d o n ' t want it t o have any r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r employment, only f o r c o n t r o l l i n g i n f l a t i o n (the cost o f l i v i n g ) . T h i s i s v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g because one o f t h e main ways t o keep i n f l a t i o n low i s t o keep unemployment high. The Bank can (F, does) keep i n f l a t i o n low by keeping i n t e r e s t r a t e s h i g h , meaning t h a t working people c a n ' t borrow money t o buy t h i n g s l i k e washers & d r y e r s , houses 6 c a r s . I t means t h a t t h e p e o p l e b b i l d i n g t h e s e t h i n g s g e t l a i d o f f because fewer a r e buying. T h a t ' s how high i n t e r e s t r a t e s c r e a t e unemployment & p o v e r t y .

Some economists s a y t h a t t h e o n l y way t o would n o t have t h e r i g h t t o demand t h a t keep i n f l a t i o n a t z e r o would be t o have a b e e r companies produce i n t h a t p r o v i n c e i f c o n t i n u a l l y r i s i n g unemployment!~rate,~ The t h e y want t o s e l l i n t h a t p r o v i n c e . Could a good p r o v i n c i a l h e a l t h c a r e program be r a t e i s a l r e a d y a phenomenal 10%. considered a r e s t r i c t i o n t o t h e flow o f The Tory changes t o t h e Bank o f Canada would e n s u r e more p o v e r t y by t e l l i n g i t t o c a p i t a l from p r o f i t m a k i n g h e a l t h c a r e c o r p o r a t i o n s from o t h e r p r o v i n c e s o r t h e US? keep i n f l a t i o n down ( p e r i o d ) . S i n c e t h e The c l a u s e on t h e f r e e flow o f c a p i t a l main way of doing t h i s i s by keeping i n t e r e s t r a t e s & unemployment up, more p e o p l e w i l l make it i l l e g a l f o r ' e l e c t e d g o v l t s t o u s e many powers t h e y now have t o c r e a t e would be unemployed 6 poor. j o b s 6 reduce p o v e r t y . The economic union: -----------------F The Canadian C e n t r e f o r P o l i c y A l t e r n a t - -e d-e-r-a-l -Dower: -- - - ives c a l l s t h i s section of r i g h t s ' The T o r i e s want t o g i v e t h e f e d e r a l g o v ' t I f o r b i g b u s i n e s s . The T o r i e s want t h e Con- a new Power t o P a s s laws t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e "more e f f i c i e n t f u n c t i o n i n g of t h e e c s t i t u t i o n t o f o r b i d any "laws, programs o r p r a c t i c e s o f t h e f e d e r a l o r p r o v i n a i a l gov- onomic union." These laws w i l l have t o ernment t h a t c o n s t i t u t e b a r r i e r s o r r e s t r - have t h e s u p p o r t of 7 p r o v i n c e s w i t h 50% i c t i o n s . . .t o t h e m o b i l i t y o f p e r s o n s , cap- of t h e p o p u l a t i o n . What would t h e purpose o f t h i s law b e ? I t i t a l , s e r v i c e s & goods.I1 In a s e n s e , t h i s c l a u s e would make it un- could be used a g a i n s t g o v ' t s l i k e O n t a r i o (NDP) which decided t o have a d e f i c i t r a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l f o r e l e c t e d g o v ' t s t o do t h e r t h a n s l a s h p e o p l e ' s programs d u r i n g a 1 even l i t t l e t h i n g s t h a t h e l p manage t h e economy i n t h e i n t e r e s t s of r e s i d e n t s . I t r e c e s s i o n . I t c o u l d be used t o f o r c e Ontwould make i t h a r d e r f o r p r o v i n c i a l g o v ' t s a r i o t o reduce i t s d e f i c i t n o m a t t e r how t o c r e a t e j o b s , t o promote small b u s i n e s s , many p e o p l e ended up on t h e s t r e e t . I t t o p r o p e r l y c r e a t e t h e k i n d of development could be used t o impose wage c o n t r o l s on workers, o r t o s t o p a p r o v i n c i a l g o v ' t want h a t communities need. ting t o tax the rich & take taxes off the Here a r e some examples: Quebec h a s a poor. "Caisse do d e p o t u t h a t u s e s g o v ' t p e n s i o n money t o h e l p p e o p l e who i n v e s t , c r e a t e , j o b s 6 p r o t e c t communities i n Quebec. T h i s i s e x a c t l y t h e kind of i n s t i t u i i o n ptovinc e s need t o p r o t e c t t h e i r r e s i d e n t s from t r a n s n a t i o n a l c o r p o r a t i o n s t h a t have no l o y a l t y t o any c o u n t r y o r r e g i o n . But t h e "Caisse de depot1' could be a b a r r i e r t o t r a d e under nbw a o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o p o s a l s . BC h a s p u b l i c a u t o i n s u r a n c e which keeps j o b s 6 investment i n BC. T h i s c o u l d be a b a r r i e r t o t h e f r e e flow of p r i v a t e auto in. s u r a n c e companies t o BC. The s o c r e d s r e c e n t l y d e c i d e d t o b u i l d a new f e r r y i n BC. I f t h e s e new c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o p o s a l s went through, t h e g o v ' t would n o t be a b l e t o deDON'T GET MAD ".. GET EVEN! mand t h a t t h e f e r r y be b u i l t i n BC. They'd have t o a c c e p t t h e lowest b i d d e r , r e g a r d l e s s o f how many BC r e s i d e n t s would have t o go on UI o r w e l f a r e . Hundreds of union j o b s i n t h e b e e r i n d u s t r y would be l o s t i f t h i s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l ALL INCUMBEHTS OUTl p r o p o s a l g o e s t h r o u g h , because p r o v i n c e s

One i n t e r e s t i n g a s p e c t o f t h e s e cons t i t u t i o n a l t h i n g s i s they a r e being used p a r t l y t o entrench t h e corporate agenda; t h e o t h e r p a r t i s t o d i v e r t p u b l i c a t t e n t i o n away from t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e Canadian economy E t h e e x i s t e n c e b f Canada as a n a t i o n . The Canada-U S j -Mexico " f r e e t t t r a d e t a l k s a r e proceeding but corporateowned media downplays o b j e c t i o n s E a l t e r n a t i v e s . The n a t i o n - w i d e day o f act i o n on O c t o b e r 2 6 t h saw a few t h o u s and p e o p l e t u r n o u t a t e v e n t s E demos i n e v e r y p r o v i n c e E e v e r y major c i t y . On t h e news, it was "a few hundred h e r e 'f, t h e r e . . "

'1f we ever e l e c t e d an N D P o r o t h e r f e d e r a l g o v t t t h a t wished t o manage t h e economy t o help people g e t decent jobs, t h i s fede r a l power would, again, make it hard f o r the g o v ' t t o a c t because it would need t h e The message i s c l e a r : consent of 7 provinces with 50% of t h e pop. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Get informed by In s h o r t , t h e proposals would make it c a l l i n g Action Canada BC a t 879-1209. virtually unconstitutional f o r federal o r C i t i z e n s Concerned About F r e e Trade [ provincial govt t s t o promote employment & h a s a Vancouver o f f i c e a t 207 W . H a s t i n ~ s , development, while making i t e a s i e r f o r i n t h e Dominion B u i l d i n g . (683-3733). federal gov'ts t o require policies t h a t take from t h e poor .G middle & g i v e t o t h e rich.

- - ---- --

The proposals would g i v e provinces more power i n t h e s e a r e a s of providing needed services t o t h e i r own r e s i d e n t s . And t h e federal gov't could abandon t h e s e areas. But a l l of t h e s e s e r v i c e s c o s t a l o t o f money. The proposals would g i v e provinces r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r programs t h a t people think a r e important, but t a k e away t h e provinces' r i g h t s t o manage t h e economy t o c r e a t e t h e f u l l employment & t a x e s t h a t pay f o r these s e r v i c e s . There i s a l o t more t o understand i n these C o n s t i t u t i o n a l Proposals. The 28page CCPA a n a l y s i s goes i n t o t h e D i s t i n c t Society c l a u s e , t h e Notwithstanding Clause 4 t h e impact of t h e proposals on Aborigina l Peoples..& o t h e r i s s u e s . I f you would l i k e a copy, c a l l ELP a t 879-1209. By J E A N SWANSON (End Legislated Poverty i s a c o a l i t i o n of 2 s ~ ~ ~ r o tuh ap t swant g o v ' t s t o reduce and end poverty.)

My m w c o ~ t i t U t & pposal has the un+nimp12s support of calnntt

the s y s t e m is: The p r e s i d e n t o r chairman o r c h i e f l e e c h o r whatever h e ' s c a l l e d o f t h e F r a s e r I n s t i t u t e appeared w i t h two o t h e r p e o p l e on some TV program FJ gave a c l a s s i c example o f how someone, i f t h e y s a y something o v e r & o v e r & o v e r a g a i n , convince t h e m s e l v e s i t ' s t r u e . T h i s was t h e Monday a f t e r t h e e l e c t i o n , t h e s o c r e d s g o t blown o u t o f t h e w a t e r , and t h i s guy, who's s o r i g h t - w i n g he makes Ghengis Khan look l i k e a l i b e r a l , kept babbling t h a t people d i d n ' t v o t e for t h e NDP, t h e y v o t e d a g a i n s t t h e s o c r e d s ! " I t ' s n o t a change i n p o l i t i c a l w i l l , " he s a i d . " I t ' S n o t a t r e n d , " h e s a i d a g a i n . " I t ' s not a r e j e c t i o n of t h e corporate e t h i c ! ( e t h i c ! ? ? ) . !!.The C o r p o r a t e i d e a i s sound. l1 ( a g a i n ) ( ( a g a i n ) ) ( ( ( a g a i n ) ) ) ) ) ) He was f r e a k e d r i g h t o u t o f h i s t r e e . But h e p r o b a b l y wiped a g a l l o n o r two cf sweat o f f 6 w r o t e a MEMO t o everybody & t h e i r dog: "If Harcourt blows h i s n o s e I want e v e r y p a p e r i n bhe c o u n t r y t o make it sound l i k e a s i g n a l t o t h e commies t o k i l l anyone who makes more t h a n $25,000 a y e a r . . . p i c t u r e s showing him w i t h hammer & s i c k l e t a t o o e d on h i s f o r e h e a d charts & g r a p h s & p o l l s up t h e a s s t h a t U n i v e r s a l Armageddon i s a t hand!! ! " . . o r something like that. I can s e e now t h e r e a s o n f o r n o t c a l l i n g an immediate l e g i s l a t i v e assembly; e v e r y time t h e f l e d g i n g government hiccupped t h e c o r p o r a t e media would scream c o n s p i r a c y . The NDP g o v l t . i n O n t a r i o h a s been r e g u l a r l y c r u c i f i e d i n t h e right-wing r a b i d i t y o f kxcuses l i k e Conrad s l a c k i n t h e Financ i a l P o s t & Diane F r a n c i s $ornewhere e l s e a l l foaming a t t h e mouth o v e r t h e a u d a c i t y o f t h e NDP t o e v e n 1t h i n k t h a t t h e lllower c l a s s f 1 (everybody e x c e p t t h e m s e l v e s ? ) & p e o p l e d f w e a l t h , p o s i t i o n & power have a n y t h i n g i n common - l i k e wanting a d e c e n t job, good e d u c a t i o n f o r t h e i r k i d s , a c c e s s t o good h e a l t h c a r e , s e l f - e s t e e m , d i g n i t y , w e l l , when t h e l a s t f a i r taxes, justice 3 o r 4 were used i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h NDP p o l i c y ( o r any p o l i c y anywhere anytime) these blanks were.!tbtatly l o s t & They keep coming back a g a i n 6 a g a i n t o t h e f i r s t y e a r ' s r e c o r d d e f i c i t o f $9.5

...

b i l l i o n , n e v e r c o n s i d e r i n g one i o t a o f complicity f o r t h e Liberals (or before f o r t h e C o n s e r v a t i v e s ) i n g e t t i n g t h e economy and work s o p o l a r i s e d t h a t b l e e d i n g t h e p e o p l e was a l m o s t a law o f n a t u r e f o r them. The NDP a r e n ' t m i r a c l e - w o r k e r s ; t h e y d o n ' t have a g i a n t magic wand t o j u s t waive o v e r a l l t h e s h i t & c o r r u p t i o n o f l i b e r a l s o r c o n s e k v a t i v e s o r s o c r e d s . They s h o u l d n ' t (& won't h e r b ) b e a p o l o g i s e d f o r ad nauseum by community groups & a c t i v i s t s . R a i s i n g w e l f a r e r a t e s t o t h e pove r t y l i n e , r a i s i n g t h e minimum wage t o the- poverty l i n e , s t o p p i n g t h e f o r c e d emp l o 6 e n t o f s i n g l e mothers on w e l f a r e . . t h e b a s i c s . . a r e n l t plums r i p e f o r p i c k i n g . A s John C l a r k e , o f t h e O n t a r i o C o a l i t i o n A g a i n s t Poverty, s a y s : " E l e c t i n g an NDP Government d o e s n ' t mean t h a t t h e s t r u g g l e i s o v e r , b u t o n l y t h a t it h a s t a k e n a new t u r n . Don't s i t back & l e a v e t h i n g s t o t h o s e you've j u s t e l e c t e d . Get o u t on t h e s t r e e t s 4, a c c e p t i n g no e x c u s e s o r h a l f measures, demand an end t o p o v e r t y now!" By PAULR

TAYLOR

LA P R I S O N N I E R E

--- --.

DE L'AMOUR

Kazutoshi Wakatsuki

'De lui, est-ce que vous vous souvenez comrne toujours?l

l~ienear, je m'en souviens tr6s bien

111 y a bien longtemps qu'il m'a dit: Pou j'ai 6t6 tellement attrayante lui, j'ai 6t6 son espoir; j'ai 6t6 toute sa vie

, Pour moi ,

il a il a Pour moi, il a mais 11 Pou

Pou

6t6 tellement amical; 6t6 tellement gentil 6t6 pourtant inhabituel; ' "9 il a 6t6 pourtant le s6ducteur9

a bien longtemps qu'il m'a dit: "Je me rappellerai de toi pour toujour lui, j'ai St6 la femme fatale; j'ai 6t6 la &ductrice lui, j'ai 6t6 pourtant l'espoir; j'ai 6t6 pourtant toute la vie d'avoir 6t6 faite prisonnisre de son amour?'

De lui, vous Gtes la prisonnisre volontaire comme toujour

d Stra elementary

September 18 was a record day at 5trathco1la elementary school: The c u s t o d i a ~lound ~ seven discarded needles. up I'rom the usual two or Lhrre. on the grounds that morning. 'I'iw event is caretully recorded in the school's daily record book, which lists the numbers of condoms, needles, knives and bagged drugs found on the property each morning. The blue ledger also lists intruders. strangers, drug dealers and prostitutes lunging around the school. "M'e're intu crisis management." pl.incipal Soel Herron said. R e p r e ~ e n l a t i v eof Strathcona and Seymour elementary schools asked the \'ancouver school board's

safety and security committee this week fbr increased security. Strathcona elementary is on East Pender and Seymour elementary is on Kerlkr, both east of the downtown core. Tiley want additional poliCin& n1ol.e vice-principals and an updated phone system with emergency phones for staff and students. They've also reyuested increased lencing, afternoon needle and cond o m pickups, photo identification for all staff and volunteers, and t r a i n i n g o n how t o h a n d l e intruders. Sunrise a r e a superintendent . Alastair Fraser said the Vancouver school district's senior management lean1 will look at the issue over the next two weeks and report back to i the trustees. "This is the reality of the inner: city school area," Strathcona viceprincipal Kari Arnott said. "We need help." Herron, who is in his fifth year at Strathcona elementary, said students have found condoms and needles on the school grounds for several years. But last year a child Iound drugs in a small piece of plastic on the school grounds and took them home. "That was the first indication we had (of drug dealing on school grounds)." Herron said. Dealers go into the Strathcona school grounds, wrap a chunk of cocaine or other drug in plastic, bury it beside a fence post and go elsewhere to make the deal. The buyer is given directions to the drugs. Strathcona staff find people "shooting up" drugs a t all times of day on the school grounds. TWO

weeks ago, a teacher discovered a prostitute and her customer having sex under an outside staircase at 4:30 p.m. Staff call a special code over the public address system if an intruder enters. One elderly woman regularly wanders into the school and wishes anyone she meets "Happy New Year." From her office window, Arnott looks out to the corner of Princess and East Pender, usually worked by a transvestite prostitute. "He must be i n jail," she guessed from his absence Tuesday.

The administrators are dealing with unusual circumstances, but they're reluctant to discuss them. "It could reflect on the school program," Arnott said. "People will say: 'Oh, I'm not going to send my child there.' " As s h e a n d H e r r o n walked through the school they proudly point out student a r t work and murals on every wall, a brightly colored dragon costume hanging in one hallway, the two computer labs, and the family room for parent discussion and craft groups. In the cafeteria. hundreds of chi]-

dren laughed and chatted as they lined up. A Terry Fox Run banner attests to the school raising more than $4,000 in pledges. But there are also photos of a car that was blown up and burned in the school parking lot last year. Arnott and Herron tell stories of two rapes - not involving anyone from Strathcona - that took place on school property last year. Besides academic, art and sports programs, the students are taught what needles and condoms look like, and what to do if they find one.

An Invitation t o

THE 1991 LEFT GREEN CONFERENCE Where can t h e power be a p p l i e d t o o f f s e t t h e power o f t r a n s n a t i o n a l c o r p o r a t i o n s ? What forms of p o l i t i c a l / s o c i a l o r g a n i s a t i o n would be most e f f e c t i v e ? P a r t i c i p a t o r y Democracy - Bioregionalism - Radical Municipalism

Saturday, November 1 6 t h , Sunday, November 17th.

1991 a t RUSSIAN HALLS 600 Campbell Avenue, Strathcona, Vancouver Registration 9 : 0 0 a.m. (Child Care provided with advance notification by November 4th. Please call 2 5 3 - 7 6 2 8 or 2 5 3 - 0 3 0 4 ]

Cost f o r t h e weekend: $6 - $15 s l i d i n g s c a l e . Bring your own cup f o r c o f f e e .

New Day This i s t h e f i r s t r e a l day of "acceptance". The day o f t h e abandonment of any prolonged hope. This i s t h e day of t h e beginning of a r e c t i f i c a t i o n , when t h e r e a r e vacuum s t r i p e s mown over wake crumbs, o r l i k e a f i r s t day of o l d age. ABirthistle

BEWILDERED LOVE Two l o v e r s t o g e t h e r , But worlds a p a r t ; Vowing not t o s e v e r , T h e i r new s t a r t . But with confusion However; In t h e i r h e a r t s They wonder i f I t v s forever o r Are t h e y soon To p a r t ? Tracey S.

t'iIL)S :

\+'hat I t I s 4 \ k i t I t I s n ' t

from petrochemicals & t h e s c i e n t i s t s f e e l m a t it i s i s deadly. I f you a r e "HIV i t ' s a dead-end t o pursue such r e s e a r c h , positive", you a r e a c a r r i e r E can i n f e c t t h e funding can F, h a s been stopped. An a r someone e l s e . I t i s n ' t l i k e a cold t h a t t i d l e i n t h e most r e c e n t other Jones can be passed on with a sneeze; i t ' s n o t d e a l t w i t h e x a c t l y t h i s p o i n t i n an i n t e r picked up from a t o i l e t s e a t . The AIDS view with a d i s a f f e c t e d r e s e a r c h e r i n Engv i r u s has t o e n t e r your body by way o f a land. Another l i t t l e t i d b i t : D i r e c t o r s of mixture o f b o d i l y f l u i d s - through sexual t h e Ford Motor Corporation, having b e f o r e c o n t a c t with a c a r r i e r o r using an u n s t e r them s t a t i s t i c a l evidence t h a t n o t i n s t a l i l i s e d needle a f t e r an i n f e c t e d person ha: l i n g an $11 p i e c e of equipment i n a l i n e used it. of c a r s would r e s u l t i n over 200 t r a f f i c What it a l s o i s i s t e r r i f y i n g . Health f a t a l i t i e s , chose t o save t h e money. c a r e p r o f e s s i o n a l s now t a k e extreme preAIDS has met with i n g r a i n e d p r e j u d i c e cautions t o ensure t h a t blood o r b o d i l y a t s e n i o r l e v e l s o f government (Vanderzalm discharges from p a t i e n t s do n o t come i n while p l a y i n g premier) & warped s p e c i a l d i r e c t c o n t a c t with them. Paramedics, eve] i n t e r e s t groups (REAL Women) because it p o l i c e E s e c u r i t y people, wear gloves whe~ has i t s l a r g e s t dominance i n s o c i a l l y undoing examinations o r s k i n searches. a c c e p t a b l e groups - homosexuals E i n t r a I t can s t o p you cold. venous drug u s e r s . Note t h e media a t t e n t Anyone knowing someone who has died f r o ] t i o n given t o 'innocent1 v i c t i m s who, AIDS can d e s c r i b e t h e r e s u l t s of having through no f a u l t o f t h e i r own ( s i c ) d i e d a l l of a body's defenses rendered i n e f f e c o r a r e dying because o f a t a i n t e d blood I t i v e . . t o t h e p o i n t where you a r e n ' t a b l e transfusion..born t o an i n f e c t e d p a r e n t . . Icure' for the a visit to t h e d e n t i s t . Behind the obstacfight is drink plenty liquids, l e s to acquiring adequate funding fj reget a lot of rest, & in a week search facilitiesis t h i s 'blame the vieOr youVre strips tim't h i n g IF you were pure in thought, you of your c a p a c i t y t o f i g h t back: a cold becomes t h e f l u becomes pneumonia becomes 6 deed you have - except these victims. h e a r t dysfunction becomes i n f e c t i o n i n t h e I t ' s h i g h l y t h a t AIDS is a lungs/blood/brain you d i e . AIDS allows ly-sourced scourge. Increases i n a l l major any breach of b o d i l y integrity to run w i l d d i s e a s e s l i k e cancer, d i a b e t e s , h e a r t d i s and, at the present time, once full-t,lown On are AIDS has developed o u t of being HIV posi- o r d e r s , r e s p i r a t o r y a i h e n t s f~ d i r e c t l y a t t r i b u t a b l e t o o u r e v e r more d i s t i v e it i s i n v a r i a b l y f a t a l . t r e s s e d , processed E c h a o t i c s o c i e t y . pointless to go on about all the What we a s i n d i v i d u a l s can do i s follow gory d e t a i l s . What needs t o be examined b a s i c p r e c a u t i o n s t o ensure t h a t AIDS does a r e t h e r e a c t i o n s o f governments E people not become o u r personal executioner. Collof wealth, position power. The painstake c t i v e l y , we can apply constant p r e s s u r e ing research t o f i n d a c u r e f o r cancer has fj acquire sufon governments '0 tax been going on for decades. Many observers f i c i e n t funds. The most p r e s s i ng thing i s wonder why, i f so much time E energy & f o r a l l of u s t o i n c r e a s e o u r awareness, t o money h a s gone i n t o curing cancer, no c u r e make s u r e AIDS i s n ' t j u s t t h e f i r s t of has been found. The cynicism i s p a l p a b l e technologically-spawned k i l l e r s . i n a r t i c l e s w r i t t e n on i n t e r v i e w s with r e search s c i e n t i s t s who s t a t e t h a t v a r i o u s By PAULR TAYLOR a r e a s o r avenues of r e s e a r c h a r e a c t i v e l y discouraged, even =lased, due t o t h e i r n o t ( E d i t o r ' s n o t e : c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s t o t h e involving t h e product o r f i e l d of t h e fun-winners i n SHIPSHAPE'S c o n t e s t f o r w r i t i n g oil on AIDS. Of t h e 18 of US who e n t e r e d , f i v e ding source. i . e . ~f a m u l t i n a t i o n a l were awarded $100 p r i z e s . )

A C 1 ' l V I T I E S N.A. m e e t s e v e r y Monday n i g h t a t 223 Main S t r e e t . s0c113y N a r c o t i c s Anonymous (NA) m e e t s a t Dueout. 59 P o w e l l . 7 : 3 0 F r i . i 9 9 1 DONATIONS: c h a r l e y B . - $ 3 0

Hazel M.-$25

M a r i l y n S . -$36 Flendcl R . - $ I 5 l l c n t h c r M . - $ I 5 D a r r e n L. -$SO F o r e s t Lawn -$20 llerman I,.-$10 E t i e n n e S. -$20 K c i t h C.-$30 Nancy W.-$75 Sandy C . -$35 A l b e r t H. - $ l o T e r r y T. -$200 V i s h v a A . -$IS Brenda - $ I 5 C l t y I I I ~ I Be l a f f c a n ' t accc!pt I ~ I I I I Ilollti ~ for l h l n tleueleller , so E l l e n -$5 J a n e t B . -$20 I f y o u colt I l c l p . I l r d I ' r r c ~ l Inylur L i l l i a n H. -$20 Sue H.-$50 UIIII h e ' I I g I v e you a r e r e l i ~ t . Colleen E. - $ Z S Donald M. - $ l o next i s s u e I l ~ r b ~ r l cosv o ~ y l ~ o t l y B i l l T. -$20 Dave - $ l o 12 November A n n e t t e R. -$3O Nancy J . - $ I 0 William B.-$20 Rhinos -$3.03 . Laughing Bear -$200 A r t VL -$5 S a l v a t i o n Army C h i l l i w a c k -$30 Lcgal S e r v i c e s First U n i t e d Downtown E a s t s i d e R e s i d e n t s ' A s s o c i a t i o n Yanum S p a t h -$200 can h e l p you w i t h : Anonymous -$38 * any w e l f a r e p r o b l e m s

* i n f o r m a t i o n on l e g a l r i g h t s * d i s p u t e s with l a n d l o r d s

* unsafe living conditions * income t a x * UIC p r o b l e m s

* f i n d i n g housing * o p e n i n g a bank a c c o u n t Come i n t o t h e DERA O f f i c e a t 9 E a s t l i a s t i n g s o r 1067 G r a n v i l l e , o r phone u s a t 682-0931.

DERA HAS BEEN SERVING THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE FOR 18 YEARS

At the On O c t 20, a need f o r s t r a i g h t answers seemed t o be shared by a l l . The s u b j e c t of t h e meet i n g - housing f o r people with mental i l l n e s s e s - i s t h e t i p of broader 6, t o Some, deeper i s s u e s of s a f e t y , l a c k of support s e r v i c e s , c o n c e n t r a t i o n l e a d i n g t o "ghettoisation", treatment a t l o c a l h o s p i t a l s o r lack thereof, the mentally i l l a s v i c t i m s , and SO on. I t ' s n o t my i n t e n t t o d i s m i s s o t h e r concerns with a c a s u a l 'and SO o n ' ; one of t h e main d i f f i c u l t i e s i d e n t i f i e d r i g h t a t t h e beginning of t h e meeting was t o o many s t u d i e s 6 r e p o r t s . No one had a c l e a r p i c t u r e of w h a t ' s h e r e , o n l y t h e knowledge t h a t e x i s t i n g s e r v i c e s a r e inadequate t o meet t h e demand. Marilyn S a r t i i s a courtworker f o r t h e Mental P a t i e n t s A s s o c i a t i o n . She s e e s people with mental i l l n e s s e s d a i l y E h e r e f f o r t s t o j u s t r e f e r them - f o r s h e l t e r , w e l f a r e , support G c o u n s e l l ing - has i n c r e a s e d t o 3 times what was r e q u i r e d a few y e a r s ago. The problems have i n c r e a s e d with t h e c l o s u r e of Riverview H o s p i t a l G t h e p r o p o s a l s f o r mental p a t i e n t housing i n t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e / S t r a t h c o n a . What i s d i s t r e s s i n g t o r e s i d e n t s i s t h e number of p r o j e c t s a l l coming h e r e 6 t h e i n t e n t i o n a l c o n c e n t r a t i o n i n an a r e a a l r e a d y b u r s t i n e". Marilyn was asked what a r e t h e b a s i c needs t h a t need t o be met. She r e p l i e d : 1. Acute - patients . . . . . . .c. .a.r.e. .h. o. .s.p.i.t.a.l. . beds . a r e o f t e n r e f u s e d admittance t o h o s p i t a l , mostly due t o t h e c h r o n i c s h o r t a g e of s h o r t - t e r m beds. 2 . Group homes - many more of t h e s e t o pro;i&-fhe-i?ind of support needed b u t cutbacks i n g o v ' t funding have caused e x i s t i n g ones t o c l o s e . G u i d e l i n e s on o p e r a t i o n s ( c a r e component, r e n t . . ) a r e a v a i l a b l e but t h e same g o v ' t t h a t would fund s t a f f a l s o i s s u e s l i c e n s e s .

3. D ecentralise - stop t h e concentra-----------improve community integration of tion people with mental illnesses. 4 . One-to-one support - r a t h e r than -----------------flwarehouse" people, d e c r e a s e t h e r a t i o

of s t a f f t o p a t i e n t s 6 t r e a t m e n t a l l y ill as hLunan beings. 5. L~~~~~ up care r e s t r i c t i o n s - more drop:;;s;-;~~~-~~t:;~:tfi~:fi~~~ comunit y interaction w i t h G by p a t i e n t s . 6 . Community input- ignorance G s t e r e o typi;g-maIntal;-Fear; self-esteem for mental Datients is oftenlow.leading to

.btuggs --

S i g u r g e l r s o n , p r e s i d e n t of t h e Carnegie A s s o c i a t i o n E on t h e S t r a t h cona Area Planning Council, s a i d t h a t b a s i c i n f o on numbers of people with mental i l l n e s s e s , s e r v i c e s a v a i l a b l e , mental h e a l t h workers, even s o u r c e s from which t o g e t t h i s s t u f f a r e j u s t a s confused now a s 2 y e a r s ago. A l l agreed t h a t launching a n o t h e r s t u d y w i l l o n l y d e l a y any p r o g r e s s i n meeting immediate needs. What i s s c a r y i s t o p r o v i d e mini-Riverviews i n a t i n y a r e a G have vague a s s u r a n c e s from government departments t h a t e v e r y t h i n g i s going t o be okay.

I t ' s n o t p o s s i b l e t o do e f f e c t i v e planning without adequate information; s e e i n g mental p a t i e n t housing i n c r e a s e i n t h e f a c e o f t h i s f a c t a l a r m s many. The s o c r e d - i n s p i r e d b u r e a u c r a c y o p e r a t e s on t h e p r e m i s e "What you d o n ' t know w o n ' t h u r t you u n t i l i t ' s t o o l a t e f o r you t o do a n y t h i n g a b o u t i t . " IVhat's n e c e s s a r y r i g h t now i s cont a c t w i t h t h e f l e d g i n g p r o v i n c i a l NDP gov't G r e q u e s t s f o r s p e c i f i c informat i o n on numbers E S e r v i c e s . . . a s t a r t .

FEDERATED ANTI-POVERTY GROUPS A while back t h e r e was a r a l l y i n S e a t t l e when t h e r e p s from Canada & t h e U.S. got t o g e t h e r on t h e 72nd o r 73rd f l o o r of some h i g h r i s e t o d e a l i n s e c r e t with t h e l i v e s & jobs o f hundreds of thousands o f people. I t ' s c a l l e d North American Free Trade Agreements (NAFTA) A t t h e r a l l y were r e p s from l a b o u r & community groups from a few s t a t e s & BC & everything was planned f o r weeks & what happens - t h e r e ' s a coup i n t h e S o v i e t Union! There goes t h e f r o n t page. Federated Anti-Poverty Groups (fapg) s e t a d a t e f o r t h e Annual General Meeting and Conference l a s t y e a r and what happens a provincial election! Anyway, it was h e l d i n Naramata, about 20 minutes o u t s i d e P r i n c e t o n i n t h e I n t e r i o r , s t a r t i n g on October 16 G going u n t i l t h e 20th. About 4 0 people here t h e r e , repr e s e n t i n g o v e r 25 groups & communities i n BC, a l l t h e r e t o l e a r n & s h a r e & extend the network o f advocacy. Almost any advoca t e worth h e r o r h i s s a l t h a s more t h a n a

few h o r r o r s t o r i e s about t h e s t u p i d i t y & crude mindsets o f b u r e a u c r a t s - a t almost every l e v e l of g o v ' t . (Remember, t h i s was a t t h e end of 16 y e a r s of socreds..) Tearing your h a i r o r banging your head a g a i n s t a wall doesn' t accomplish much o f anything. The e x e c u t i v e of fapg know t h i s a s well a s anyone, & had v e r y i n f o r m a t i v e speakers/workshops on t h e agenda. The f i r s t was with Landlord/Tenanfi Law; updates on GAIN r e g s & advocacy t r a i n i n g f i l l e d t h e a f t e r n o o n . The evening workshop with David Mossop o f Community Legal A s s i s t a n c e S o c i e t y was k e p t s t r i c t l y w i t h i n a time l i m i t - t h e e l e c t i o n r e t u r n s s t a r t e d a t 8p.m. I was r e l i e v e d n o t t o s e e people j u s t l o s e i t w i t h e c s t a s y when Harcourt & t h e NDP swamped t h e socreds. People had l e a r n e d i n t h e h a r d e s t school t h a t hard work b r i n g s change, n o t t h e a t r e . The n e x t day Stephen Owen, B C ' s Ombudsman, t a l k e d about h i s work & took d e t a i l e d n o t e s on problems r a i s e d by people. The a f t e r n o o n was taken p a r t l y by t h e head of Legal Aid f o r BC t a l k i n g about t h e l e g a l a r e a o f advocacy; n e x t was an e x t e n s i v e workshop on an i s s u e s p e c i f i c a l l y asked about a t t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r ' s AGM - c h i l d apprehension. Two Native women l e d t h i s with numbers t h a t made your s k i n crawl something l i k e o v e r 15,000 Native c h i l d r e n taken away from t h e i r f a m i l i e s i n t h e l a s t 10 y e a r s alone. They had a video about one c a s e i n p a r t i c u l a r where a k i d o f 16 had been i n 17 f o s t e r homes and 15 t r i p s t o a number o f i n s t i t u t i o n s - he ended up k i l l i n g h i m s e l f . The s u i c i d e r a t e among apprehended k i d s i s s i c k e n i n g . The advocates 4 r e p s took it i n s t r i d e , channeling f e e l i n g s i n t o p o s i t i v e work t o s t o p t h e e x c e s s e s , t h e n changing t h e s y s t em a l t o g e t h e r . Much informal t a l k among r e p s happened a l l day long on what t o do now t h a t t h e NDP 0 t h e 'good' guys - were i n government. I t was a good time, b u t on t h e Saturday n i g h t people went t o t h e l o c a l pub t o r e l ax, one o f t h e r e p s on h e r way home was i n M e r r i t t a t t h e bus s t a t i o n , came a c r o s s a young mother w o s e k i d s had j u s t been apprehended, c a l l d back t o t h i s pub a t midn i g h t on a Saturday, g o t two Legal Aid lawyers & t h e Head of Legal Aid f o r BC on

t h e phone, t h e y gave h e r numbers o f lawy e r s i n M e r r i t t & P r i n c e George, advised t h e woman o f h e r r i g h t s E n e x t s t e p s r i g h t t h e r e , t o l d h e r what s h e had t o do n e x t t o ' g e t h e r k i d s back a s soon a s p o s s i b l e then o r d e r e d a n o t h e r b e e r . From what I heard, t h a t was one o f t h e h i g h s of t h e whole conference, when t h a t kind o f n e t working can be a v a i l a b l e a t any time, any where. The f a p g E End L e g i s l a t e d Poverty a r e c o a l i t i o n s whose work i s now more focused w i t h a g o v ' t . t h a t i s a c c e s s i b l ~ , E can p r e s s on with r a i s i n g t h e . a w a r e n e s s of t h e p u b l i c . Oh yeah, I almost ' f o r g o t : one r e port established t h e recent recognition given t o low income people a s a d i s t i n c t segment o f s o c i e t y under t h e C h a r t e r o f Rights & Freedoms. Yes V i r g i n i a ! We a r e now o f f i c i a l l y v i s i b l e . A s t h e judge i n t h e FAPG Family Maintenance Enforcement c a s e s t a t e d i n h i s r u l i n g , "(we) g e n e r a l l y l a c k s u b s t a n t i a l p o l i t i c a l i n f l u e n c e & cons e q u e n t l y comprise t h o s e groups i n s o c i e t y t o whose needs & wishes e l e c t e d o f f i c i a l s have no i n t e r e s t i n a t t e n d i n g . " No one wants a s o c i e t y t h a t o n l y works f o r t h e good o f an e l i t e few except t h o s e who count themselves a s p a r t o f t h a t e l i t e . Ordinary people want l i f e t o be good f o r everyone - simply p u t , f o r f a i r n e s s & j u s t i c e t o be t h e o r d e r of t h e day. By PAULR

"Three-piece set in elephant."

TAYLOR

Cicatrice They h a v e gone way way away and I c a n n o t r e a c h them now; They h a v e j o u r n e y e d s o f a r t h a t I ' l l n e v e r f i n d them, t h a t I ' l l n e v e r f i n d them, o n l y I can remember e a c h p r e c i s e moment o f an a x e f a l l i n g of a blade entering of a c l o t gathering: t h e s c a r i s forming p r a c t i c a l l y u n s e e n , b u t , f e e l : how i t p u l l s a s it h e a l s . 0 well. "Great t r a g e d i e s " G i b r a n s a y s , "en 1a r g e t h e h e a r t .

OR RECOVERING FROM MEETINGS If God were p r o c e s s - o r i e n t e d , t h e Book of G e n i s i s would r e a d something l i k e t h i s :

I & Inthet h ee abr tehg.i n The n i n g , God c r e a t e d t h e heavens e a r t h was without form &

void; s o God c r e a t e d a small Committee. God c a r e f u l l y b a l a n c e d t h e Committee v i s a-vis r a c e , s e x , e t h n i c o r i g i n G economic -status i n order t o i n t e r f a c e pluralism with t h e h o l i s t i c concept o f s e l f - d e t e r m i 1 nation a c c o r d i n g t o a d j u d i c a t o r y guidelines. Even God was impressed, & s o ended t h e f i r s t day. And God s a i d : "Let t h e Committee draw up a mission s t a t e m e n t . And behold, t h e Com1 mittee d e c i d e d t o p r i o r i t i s e & s t r a t e g i s e . k And God c a l l e d t h a t p r o c e s s empowerment. And God t h o u g h t i t sounded p r e t t y good. h d evening & morning were t h e second day. And God s a i d : "Let t h e Committee d e t e r mine g o a l s & o b j e c t i v e s , & engage i n longrange p l a n n i n g . I 1 U n f o r t u n a t e l y , a d e b a t e as t o t h e s e m a n t i c d i f f e r e n c e s between "goals" & l f o b j e c t i v e s Mpre-empted almost a l l o f t h e t h i r d day. Although t h e q u e s t I ion was n e v e r s a t i s f a c t o r i l y r e s o l v e d , God thought t h e p r o c e s s was c o n s t r u c t i v e . And evening & morning were t h e t h i r d day. And God s a i d : "Let t h e r e be a r e t r e a t i n which t h e Committee can e n v i s i o n f u n c t i o n a l o r g a n i s a t i o n , engage i n p l a n n i n g , be o b j e c t i v e . " The Committee c o n s i d e r e d adjustment o f p r i o r i t i e s & c o n s e q u e n t i a l a l t e r n a t i v e s t o program d i r e c t i o n s , 6 God

saw t h a t t h i s was good. And God thought i t was even worth a l l t h e c o f f e e & d o n u t s He had t o s u p p l y . & s o ended t h e f o u r t h day. And God s a i d : "Let t h e Committee be i m plemented c o n s i s t e n t with long-range p l a n n i n g & s t r a t e g y . " The Committee c o n s i d e r e d guidelines 4 linkages & s t r u c t u r a l sensit i v i t i e s 6 a l t e r n a t i v e s & implemental mode l s . And God saw t h a t t h i s was v e r y democ r a t i c . & s o would have ended t h e f i f t h day, e x c e p t f o r t h e u n i n t e n t i o n a l renewal o f t h e d e b a t e about t h e d i f f e r e n c e s between t t g o a l s " & l f o b j e c t i v e s w . On t h e s i x t h day, t h e Committee agreed on c r i t e r i a f o r a d j u d i c a t o r y assessment F, eva l u a t i o n . T h i s w a s n ' t t h e agenda God had planned. He wasn't a b l e t o a t t e n d however; He had t o t a k e t h e a f t e r n o o n o f f t o c r e a t e day & n i g h t & heaven 6 e a r t h & s e a s 6 p l a n t s & t r e e s & s e a s o n s & y e a r s & sun & moon & b i r d s 6 f i s h 6 a n i m a l s & human bei n g s , which He h a d n ' t had time t o do bef o r e because He had been so busy a t t e n d i n g meetings o f t h e Committee. On t h e s e v e n t h day, God r e s t e d (good f o r H i m ! We s h o u l d a l l r e s t a f t e r g r e a t l a b o r ) & t h e Committee s u b m i t t e d i t s recommendat i o n s . It t u r n e d o u t t h a t t h e recommended forms f o r t h i n g s were n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l t o t h e way God had a l r e a d y c r e a t e d them; s o t h e Committee p a s s e d a r e s o l u t i o n commendi n g God f o r . H i s implementation a c c o r d i n g t o t h e g u i d e l i n e s . There was, however, some o p i n i o n e x p r e s s e d q u i e t l y t h a t man s h o u l d have been c r e a t e d i n t h e Committe e ' s image. And God caused a deep s l e e p t o f a l l on t h e Committee.

'fhe e n t i r e p o l i t i c a l s t r u c t u r e of t h i s c o u n t r y we s t i l l c a l l Canada i s based on an a n t i q u a t e d p r o c e s s of f a u l t y " p a r l i a m e n t a r i a n i s m " o r i g i n a l l y i n i a t e d by t h e IOld Boys' c l u b back i n t h e 1 4 0 0 ' s . In 1 4 9 2 t h i s l a n d was l i t e r a l l y invaded 6 i t s o r i g i n a l i n h a b i t a n t s massacred by gold-hungry p a r i a h s commanded by Columbus. No b e t t e r was t h e C h r i s t i a n c a r t e l of "holy ( p r o f e s s i o n a l ) black-robed c o n v e r t e r s " who kidnapped Native c h i l d r e n and e n s l a v e d & t o r t u r e d them, t r y i n g t o b e a t a l i e n European m i s s i o n a r y language i n t o t h e i r s o u l s w i t h c l u b s . These governmentsponsored r e l i g i o u s b a s t a r d s have, t h r u t h e years, i n f l i c t e d anguish, confusion G d i s o r i e n t a t i o n upon Native youth, even whipping them f o r d a r i n g t o speak t h e i r mother tongue. I am i n f u l l agreement w i t h B i l l Wilson who, i n r e t r o s p e c t , s a i d of t h e b a n d i t s from t h e Nina, P i n t a & ~ a n ' t aMaria: "We Remember should have k i l l e d them a l l Oka? Well, t h e f i n a l c h a p t e r h a s n o t y e t been w r i t t e n . Sooner o r l a t e r r e a l j u s t i c e w i l l p r e v a i l . A l l of Canada was, i s & w i l l remain a b o r i g i n a l l a n d . I t i s my o p i n i o n t h a t we e l d e r s G you yuppies have reached a p o i n t long overdue where s e r i o u s a t t e n t i o n must be p a i d now t o t h e youth o f t o d a y . The c o r p o r a t e bottom-line-profit ideology only provides s h o r t - t e r m monetary s e c u r i t y . . o u t r a g e o u s s a l a r i e s , f a t c a t p e r k s , e x t r a - a d d e d goodi e s . . a t t h e expense o f p e o p l e who pay unf a i r t a x e s 6 watch t h e c o u n t r y go t o h e l l . There h a s t o be a new h o r i z o n i n t h i n k ing t h a t a l l o w s f o r f a i r r a t e s o f compens a t i o n & j u s t remuneration. P a r t y p o l i t i c s have come t o resemble t h e f t , with 6 y e a r s on government benches enough f o r a l i f e pension. Proper p r i o r i t i e s n e e d , t o be s e t t h a t w i l l e n s u r e e q u i t a b l e d i s t r i b u t i o n of wealth. T h i s a t t i t u d e i s a l r e a d y b e i n g evidenced by o u r youth, who a r e t i r e d of monetary domination by e l e c t e d , r h e t o r i c a l f d o - n o t h i n g s l t . Two d i r t y words - LIBERAL and CONSERVATIVE. IlooHoo,

.l,s i l v e r , b l u e A myriad t e c h n i c o l o u r hue

When you d a n c e d i n my d r e a m Performance i s an i l l u s i o n A game i n t h e m i r r o r o f t h e e y e But t h e e y e knows b e a u t y Which awakens t h e mind A dance is a dance i s a dance But h a s i t s e n d i n g s B e a u t y g o e s on b u t s h o r t l y While a d r e a m l a s t s t o I n f i n i t y Dance on i n y o u r b e a u t y F o r e v e r l i v e i n my d r e a m s Tom Lewis

FUC'S SYSTEM STINKS A s a n o w - i n a c t i v e member of t h e U n i t e d Church and a d i s i l l u s i o n e d b e l i e v e r i n One of t h e many c r i t i c i s m s of t h e welt h e p o s i t i v e r o l e t h a t t h e church could f a r e s y s t e m h a s been t h a t t h e r e i s t o o p l a y i n s o c i a l r e f o r m , I am o u t r a g e d by much b u r e a u c r a c y and t h a t many who a r e F i r s t U n i t e d C h u r c h ' s (FUC's) d e c i s i o n t o e n t i t l e d t o t h e h e l p under G.A.I.N. regumake f o o d a i d c o n d i t i o n a l on a p p e a l i n g l a t i o n s do n o t r e c e i v e t h e much-needed the ministry's decision not t o give a a i d b e c a u s e of t h i s b u r e a u c r a c y . Rent r e c r i s i s g r a n t . While some c h b r c h e s g i v e c e i p t s , t h r e e e s t i m a t e s f o r any c l o t h i n g o u t f r e e food only a f t e r a church s e r v i c e o r furniture requests, incredible hassles ( w h a t e v e r happened t o t h e C h r i s t i a n d o c t t o g e t f u n d i n g f o r e d u c a t i o n (and even r i n e o f f r e e w i l l ? ) , t o demand t h a t one t h e n o n l y g e t t i n g f u n d i n g i f you choose t h e s e x - s t e r e o t y p e d c a r e e r t h e y have cho- a p p e a l b e f o r e FUC g i v e s o u t f r e e food i s even more d a s t a r d l y ; it makes t h e v i c t i m s e n : a u t o mechanics f o r men, and s e c r e t f e e l even more v i c t i m i z e d and l e t s them a r i a l s c h o o l f o r women) many who need s t a r v e u n t i l t h e y jump t h r o u g h t h e burh e l p would r a t h e r s t a r v e t h a n a s k f o r i t . e a u c r a c y ' s hoops. I f t h e b u r e a u c r a c y i s n o t t o o much t h e n FUC c l a i m s t h a t t h i s measure w i l l make t h e r e is t h e e v e r - p r e s e n t t h r e a t of admit h e m i n i s t r y more aware of t h e inadequacy n i s t r a t i o n ; i f t h e y t h i n k you c a n ' t manof t h e system. But a l l p a r t i e s i n v o l v e d a g e on t h e money you g e t , t h e y w i l l t r e a t know how i n a d e q u a t e t h e s y s t e m i s : t h e you l i k e a c h i l d and d o l e o u t y o u r a l l o w r e a s o n w e l f a r e r a t e s have been k e p t s o low a n c e i n weekly i n s t a l l m e n t s . is t o f o r c e r e c i p i e n t s t o t a k e s t a r v a t i o n Is i t any wonder t h a t many do n o t appwage j o b s , and t h e f o r m e r s o c r e d governe a l even f l a g r a n t l y u n j u s t d e c i s i o n s o f ments have known t h i s a l l t o o w e l l . t h e uncaring bureaucracy? Not o n l y w i l l t h i s measure b e t o t a l l y i n e f f e c t i v e b u t it o n l y s e r v e s t o v i c t i m i z e the victim. 11FUC s h o u l d re-examine t h i s p o l i c y and t r y t o l i s t e n (from on h i g h ) t o t h e v o i c e of t h e p e o p l e i t i s t r y i n g s o u n s u c c e s s f u l l y t o serve. By BRIAN HETHERINGTON

....