PUBLISH OR PERISH!?!?! ..... well, maybe. It's Friday afternoon on the 11' and the launch of our long-awaited book (not quite a year, but it feels like ten) is happening on Monday, as early as yesterday for all you reading this, BUT one little item is missing right now --- the actual book.

People have been told about the launch, some are taking time off whatever they usually do on Monday afternoon, the media have been asked to come and everything's ready to go, but New Star Books (the publisher) hasn't called yet to say "It is here, so relax," or similar soothing words.

So! Following is a letter from Libby Davies, MP, who can't be here Monday. Before you read it, a correction for last issue: Carl had a piece about shitty hall and his website was at the end but I copied it wrong and gave it as an email address. The website is: W ~ ~ . g r i n g o s t a r l . t ~ i ~ ~ d . ~ ~ ~

Dear Paul, What a tremendous project and labour of love! 1

send you all my best wishes and look forward to an enjoyable read of everything that has counted in the Downtown Eastside and our city. The C'arnegie Newsletter is the best - and truly represents a voice for people who otherwise would not be heard. Thank you, Paul, for your tireless work!

The Heart of the Community: The best of the Carnegie Newsletter.

available a t the following (and other) bookstores: People's Co-op Bookstore, on Commercial Drive

Blackberry Books, Granville lsland

Duthie Books on West 4th Avenue

Spartacus Books, Downtown

Granville Books, 800-block Granville

32 Books, North Vancouver

Bolen Books, Victoria

PB Cruise Bookseller, Nanaimo

Miners Bay Books, Mayne Island

Lakota Wisdom: How to Flog a Dead Horse Lakota tribal wisdom says that when you discover you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount. However, these other methods have also been used.

1. Get a b iae r whip.2. Change riders.3. Say "This is how we have always ridden this horse."4. Appoint a committee to study the horse. 5. Arrange to visit other sites to see how they ride dead horses. 6.Lower the standards for riding horses. 7. Appoint a focus group to revive the dead horse. 8. Create a training session to increase our riding capacity. 9. Compare the state of dead horses in today's environment. 10. Declare that "This horse is not dead." I I . Blame the horse's parents. 12. Harness several dead horses together to improve the horses' performance. 13. Declare that "No horse is too dead to flog." 14. Provide additional funding to increase the horse's performance. 15. Do a study to see if con- tractors can ride the horse for less money. 16. De- clare that the horse is "better, faster and cheaper" dead. 17. Form a quality circle to find uses for dead horses. 18. Revise the performance requirements for horses. 19. Say that the horse was procured with cost as an independent variable. 20. Close the horse farm on which the horse was born. 21. Promote the dead horse to a supervisory position.

Submitted by Gena Thompson

FIFTEEN 110 you remember being 15 in the summer? that fabulous new freedom running wild to think a moment ago I was slapping her tiny feet togetl1t.r kissing her tiny toes. You think you've lost them but it's just life blowing up in that explosion of teenage horlnCrnal typ1loons. Nathing'll ever be like being 15 i n ttle sulnnler apin We all visited that place, eacll in our own way

This tunnel of time tbrever changes us to watch her open and spread her wings Soon she'll take off Ibr

ilying fiec and 1'11 stand earthbound, transfired by the beauty.

Abraxas Books, Denman lsland

bb LAZY" I n the last two issues of this Newsletter there has

been information about a showing at the Gallery Gachet, 88 ECordova, called STICKS AND STONES. . ... . .-".

Opening night was I*'riday. July 4'". and the lead-up urgings for everyone to come sometime between July 4'" and July 20'" were humble in the face of the incredible artwork and social impact of the subject.

Hach piece shows the heartfelt drive of the artist, each of whom has been demeaned over time by the names and epithets that the title of the show enshrine

Diane Wood put this together and has heard the slimy cursing that goes with talking about poor peo- ple and/or mental health consumers and/or women andtor street people and/or Aboriginal people and/or immigrants and/or refugees and/or people who use and abuse different substances.

People in the Downtown Eastside get creamed with abuse, with names and likened to whatever is most despicable in the abusers' minds all the time.

The tirst of four workshops happened on Saturday afternoon. called "LAZY: The f'olitics of Poverty." 'l'he homegirl 'expert' fhcilitator was Jean Swanson, anti-poverty activist for over 25 years, founder of the provincial coalition End L,egislated Poverty and au- thor of the highly intuitive and powerful book Poor- Bushing: The Poliiics of' Excluvion.

Jean and the people attending talked about personal experiences with poor-bashing, looked at the various stereotypes behind it, and how this affects the recipi- ents. Jean reviewed the history of poor-bashing and the cold capitalistic or classist notions that perpetu- ate it. Common preconceptions brought the youngest person there to ask, "What do I say when someone accuses a woman on welfare of having babies to get more money?!" Good question; the kind that well- off people always feel justitied asserting to state categorically that poverty is the fault ofthe poor. (For anyone interested, or with a shred ofcommon sense, children are far more expensive than any additional stipend that welfare gives for enlarging one's family.)

We ended the workshop with words of encourage- ment and the need to be tireless in educating people about the real but hidden excesses of very wealthy and/or vested interests which consciously perpetuate the myths, the 'sticks and stones' of poor-bashing.

By PAtJ1.R TAY I.OK

DWELLING IN SPAC'L

Just get rid of that small mind

That is called 'self. And there is nothing in the universe That can harm or hinder you.

How delightful i t is To make all space

our dwelling-place! Our hearts and minds Are perfectly at ease.

Sengstan

Public Rally for Police Misconduct & Accountability

I '1111 c V C I I ~ . I regret my absence from t h i h very i111po-1, AI; 111ost of you knon 1 ;1n1 t h ~ ~nolllcr of ~nurdcrcd Angela Jardine. Angela rehided i r ~ the dountour~ eastside of Vancouver t0r eight years. I he ea\t\~de was her community. her home. and her fimily.

O n Novenher 30. I998 Angela disappeared aticr attending a meetirlg at Oppenhci~ner I'arh called " Out ol'tlarm's Wac". Angela was not to been seen or heard about again until the f'ickton pig t'arn~ mur- ders. I;ach missing woman tiom the downlown ca\t- side has become a part of me. As a grieving mother I underhtand Ilow the lo\\ ol a loved one aftkcts tinlilj. friends and a conlr~~ur~itq

under normal circumstances. l3ul the families o f the missing women have not been allowed normal po- lice procedures and protocol involving a missing person. We did not have diligent people in office trying to solve each woman's disappearance.

Angela's parents we were not extended the coni- mon courtesy o f being notified by the Vancouver I'olice she had disappeared. They deemed i t unnec- essary to contact Angela's next o f kin. We havc never received an apology, or any type ol'compas- siori or empathy t iom the~ i i i n regard to Angela.

Angela did not have any timn o f investigation until I intervened in January 1099. I then began my own search from my home (while injured) from the other end o f the province. We did not have the financial means to hire private investigators or to retain law- yers. I eventually did the job o f a police ol'ficer con- ducting a missing persons investigation. I networked from my home in southeastern British Columbia and was able to forward pertinent inti)rniation to the missing persons detectives lbr Angela's l i le. liach time I volunteered infbrrnation I was met with resis- tance. 'l'he strange thing was that I didn't understand how I could help find my daughter il 'thc police re- fused to let nie?" I tracked down Angela's dentist, her appointments, requested her entry into the RCMI' V iC I .AS database, and located a female that they had continually niistaken li)r Angela. I was not treated as a mother o f a missing daughter and the total disregard l i)r Angela was paintidly obvious.

I filed three I:ormal ( 'on~plaints wit11 the Police Complaint (:onimissioners Ofl ice with arnple evi- dence to prove my allegations o f Neglect of ~)u ty .

The responses I received from the Internal Investiga- tion Section were not valid facts but rattier flimsy excuses. I re-filed once again requesting a review of. my complaint challenging the detectives to answer relevant concerns I had. Once again my complaint was summarily dismissed. In my personal opinion tiom the extensive inthr~nation I have collected since Angela's disappearance the Vancouver I'olice have been grossly negligent.

It is astonisliing how dramatic your liSc can change because o f a violent crime. This has been a lik alter- ing experience fbr me, one o f which has lef i me emotionally and physically exhausted. l 'he trernen- dous griel'and ovcrwliclniing sadness wciglis heav- i ly upon nie. When I do have peace and quiet my thoughts d r i l i back to Angela. 'l'he job to find her was thrust upon me and I hi led. The guilt o f how I m y havc been able to do something different to help her and I failed. I t would have been so much easier i f. I had help from the Vancouver police. After all, they are the professionals we depend o n for as- sistance when there is a crime. Sometimes I feel I must be sul'fering from depression, but I think it's because of this entire trauma I have lost myself. When I think buck I hear Angela's voice from the last tilne she phoned rile early in November. I ler bubbly laughter still echoes in my head, and her spoken words of" I love you Mom" tear me apart inside. I cannot be at peace nor rest until there is justice for Angela.

We are the ones who know the truth - we are the ones who can help others thcc what we have faced. We have the truth to teach others. We must speak out and voice our concerns. We niust try to stay strong and steadl>st i n our efforts.

Vancouver Police Ot'ticers have taken an oath to protect and serve. It is their sworn duty to uphold the law; they must be made accountable tbr their con- duct and actions. 'I'hey have the honor o f wearing a badge and no one, not even they are above the law.

Thank you and (;od 13lcss. Respect t i~ l ly ,

1)eborah Jardine

"We are al l o f us in the gutter, but some o f us are looking at the stars."

- Oscar W ildc

heard him speak are really impressed with hi5 wib- News from the Library July 2003 dom and compassion. t ie gives us lessons on what Where stuff comes from: How toasters, toilets, we can learn from our dying fiiends and how peace cars computers and many more things come to be and meaning can be fbund in our common destiny of' as they a re. Liv Harvq Moloth Cull # 620 Mol death Did you know that "planned obsolescence" was not coined by a Marxist critic but by a design pioneer L I F E IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE 5 who thought that implanting in consumers the desire to own something new was a "good thing" to quote Martha Stewart. It is about how these items were imagined into existence and made a part o f the American material culture. We are guided through the worlds o f technology. design. corporate culture and popular culture.

Dan te Clu b ty Matthew Pearl Cull # 813.6 Pea A historical fiction which imagines gruesome hill- i n g ~ modelled on Dante's Inferno. This thriller1 mys tery gives period detail. historical fact (the Dante Club did indeed exist), complex character studies, and nail-biting suspense. Rogue Nation: the America the Rest of the Worlc Knows Bv Peter Sco wen a l l # 32 7.73 SC'O Peter Scowen is a Canadian journalist and broad- caster whose sister escaped the 54th floor of the World Trade Center's south tower barely moments before it collapsed. 'l'his shock left Scowen wonder- ing why the twin towers and innocent Americans were the terrorists' target. As he investigated what the American government had done in the people's name, he meticulously documented America's cov- ert and overt operations over the last fifty years k'or those who may have illusions about America's role as benevolent superpower this book will be a rude awakening. Cash: The Autobiography by Johnny Cash Vull# Y2IMOR An insightful look back by the man in hlack. May not he as gripping as when our own "John the Man' releases his "Rockin" (;u.ysw tell it all mem- oirs but should appeal to those interested in a wide variety o f musical styles. What Dying People Want by David Kuhl Call # 155.937 KlJH Dr. Kuhl. who lives in Vancouver, states. " l h i n g and dying well involve enhancing one's sense of sell; one's relationships with others. and one's under- standing ofthe transcendent, the spiritual, the super- natural. And only in confronting the inevitability of death docs one to emhrace life." Staffwho have

Carel Moiseiwitsch's artwork speaks with a strong, punky, political voice. In F'ebruary and March 2003 she spent time in Palestine with the International Solidarity Movement. a Palestinian-led movement of international activists who use nonviolent direct ac- tion to support the Palestinian struggle f,r freedom and an end to Israeli occupation. She was at the memorial fbr Rachel C'orrie. the

American ISM member who was killed hy an Israeli army bulldozer. when that same bulldozer threatened the mourners. and talked o n ('0-op Radio about how truly fiightening i t was to accept that realimtion shc might die, like so many other peacel'ul observers and journalists. She has produced works on paper comprising draw- ing, lbund images and photos. which we can all see at the Grunt (iallery tioni July I1 August 2. 'l'he Grunt is an artist-run gallery at 1 16 - 350

?'ld

Ave. in Vancouver. just up Main St. Phone fi)r gal- lery hours (604)875-95 16 or visit ~ ~ ~ w . g r u n ! . b ~ . c a .

Moby Dick Sinks The Oil Industry

"1 huve r rill en u wickcd hook " I lerman Melvil le in a letter to Nathaniel 1 lawthorne

Why would I lerman Melville, the author o f "Moby Dick", call his book wicked'? On the surlhce, the story is about a whaling ship that hunts whales for their oil. f:rom 1800 to 1850, hunting whales for oi l was the o i l industry in the I Jnited States, and huge. personal fbrtuncs were made from it.

A whaling ship was an o i l f'actory. 'l'he captain was a corporate executive officer (C'tiO). and the crew were exploited labour - otien people o f colour. 'l'ashteego, the first harpooner on the I'equod, ('ap- tain Ahab's ship, was an American Indian. Que- equeg, the second harpooner, was f iom the I'acific Islands, and Ilaggoo, the third harpooner, was from Ali-ica. In Nantucket, around 1840. a section o f the town was called New <; uinea because o f the large number o f I'acific Islanders who worked in the o i l industry as crew on whaling ships. ( I ) Wages were low. The food was terrible, and working and l ivir ig conditions were abysnial. Melvil le called his book "wicked" because he looked into the heart of' America through the lens o f the o i l industry, and he saw exploitation, greed, k a r of'Na- ture (think of' Moby [ l ick, the white whale, as Na- ture), and a violent doniinatio~i 01' Nature and peo- ple. I le considered domination to be a major trait of' the American character, and he expressed this domi- nation most li)rccfully in the person o f Captain Allah who pursued Moby Dick, a source ol 'oi l and wealth, with demonic self-centredness and unfeeling ruth- lessness. Captain Ahab was a mono~naniac who was wi l l ing to sacrifice the lives o f everyone around him in order to reach his goal. Today George Bush is a monomaniac in his willingness to sacrifice the lives of people around the world in pursuit of' his ideo- logical dreams o f domination, and his pursuit o f the modern white whale - the o i l o f the Middle lSast and Central Asia.

Our unhappy world has had many dominators. In the tirst century A.11.. the rebel general, ('algacus, described the Roman I h p i r c just belbrc his fatal encounter with it i n northeastern Scotland:

"Robbers o f the world. If their enemy have wealth,

they have greed; i f he be poor, they are ambitious. '1'0 plunder, butcher, steal, these things they mis- name empire; they rnahe a desolation and they call i t peace." (2) C'algacus could have been talking about (ieorge I3usli and the American Empire. IJ.S. Marine Corps General Smedley I). l3utler did talk about the American I h p i r e . Just b e h e his death in 1040, lie said: "I spent 33 years and 4 months i n active military

service, and during that period I spent most o f my time as a high-class muscle man for b ig business, Wall Street, and the bankers. In short, I was a rack- eteer, a gangster for capitalism." (3) 'l'his characteristic o f "domination" was inherited by

America from the 500 year history o f European im- perialisrn and racism. From the years 1492 to 19 14, "l.;urope's most important export was force. A l l over the rest o f the world we (Europeans) were regarded as nomadic warriors in the style o f the Monguls and the Tartars," Sveri Lindqvist wrote in his book "13x- terminate A l l 'I'he Brutes." (4)

'l'here is more to the book, "Moby [lick," than C'ap- tain Ahab's mono~nania, as there is more to Anierica than empire-building. Ishmael, the homeless one who tells the story o f the I'equod and its encounter with Moby I l ick, survives after the whale rams into the ship and sinks it. Instead ofdrowning, Ishmael rises to the surlace of'the ocean l ike Jonah being vomited forth from the whale, and lie speaks unwel- come truths to those with wealth and power. (5) The way o f empire is the wrong way, and if you abuse Nature and the peoples o f the world, they w i l l sink you as Mobv [ l ick sank the I'equod.

The BC Liberal regime is dead-set on destroying any rights and protections many o f us once took for granted. Alongside the cuts of budgets and the re- structuring o f infrastructure is the malicious attitude in which the Liberals cany out their new era. The changes to the employment act, the disability review and the racist referendum around aboriginal land claims are just a few examples o f how the Liberals are carrying out their agenda. Equally as disturbing is their lack of action regarding the conditions o f poverty in British Columbia.

One o f the first tasks o f the Liberals when they came into power was to place a moratorium on

funding towards low-income housing. Campbell and his cronies put 1700 units o f social housing under review. 650 units not yet allocated at the time were abolished. I'here has been a freeze on all new social housing projects including those previously approved. Al l this while the number of homeless expands, overtaxing a shelter system that is totally inadequate (at least 500 people turned away each month by the 4 largest shelters). The net result of the actions o f the Liberal government i s that individuals and families are being forced into the streets, abandoned by social services that have been gutted by funding cuts.

We say any government that attacks the people in such a way is a government that must be defeated!

We have erected the Tent City to draw awareness to the assaults upon poor and working people in this province We make two demands from this Tent City to governments federally, provincially and municipally:

It i s deplorable that so much money and publicity Our federal government has not created one unit of was given to the Olympic bid at a time when the BC Liberals are doing everything in their power to undermine the dignity and lives o f the poor. Going ahead with the notion Vancouver would win the Olympic bid the attack on the poor intensified. increased policing, welfiire cutbacks, rent increases all to make this province appear to be safe. But so long as protit for the few i s more important than the lives o f the many no one i s safe with this government in power.

social housing since 1993 although 25010 o f Vancouver's population qualifies for it. Our municipal government applauds the Olympic bid while at least 85 residents of hotel room is thrown out yearly due to tourist conversions. Our provincial government, that with the two year time limit will force former welfare recipients into a depleting job market in order to undermine collective bargaining in thc I.iberils' favour

We call on all levels of government:

* The federal and provincial governments must begin funding social housing and build over 2000 units o f housing a year in BC

* The city must develop an anti-vacancy by-law to seize and convert privately owned abandoned buildings and property into social housing

* The province must re-open all closed residential tenancy offices and make no changes to the resident~al tenancy act that would negatively affect the rights o f renters.

* The city and the province develop the Woodward's building with all units to be social housing

immediately. * The province recognizes that welfare is a right and must be available for a1

asked, no exceptions made. I in need, no questions

The Anti-Poverty Committee and the Housing Action Committee with the solidarity of our supporters wi l l continue tighting back by all means necessary against this government. When the BC 1,iberals open the

legislature this fall, we wil l all be there standing together to shut them down. We call on you to join our common front and defeat this government.

The Anti-Poverty Committee i s an organi~ation of poor and working people who fight for poor people, their rights and an end to poverty by any means necessary. The poor face constant attack under the capitalist system and these attack have only intensified under the BC Liberal government.

The BC Liberals' brutal policieb the cuts to welfare, the six dollar training wage, the privatization of public services, the cuts to social programs, the restrictions of democratic and human rights - all are designed to transfer wealth from poor and working people to the rich and powerful.

APC is committed to fighting the brutal policies o f the BC Liberals through direct action, mass mobilization, and casework. APC in an independent and democratic organi~ation open to anyone who agrees with our basis o f unity. We are committed working in solidarity with the struggles of other progressive movements - locally, nationally and internationally - to end poverty and in.just~cc.

Our Mission Statement The llousing Action Committee (HAC) is an oranisation of poor people fighting back against poverty. We understand that

Our conditions and positions within this system are constructed by people with power. Those who abuse their power to exploit and discriminate against us must have their power removed by us.

0 We must empower ourselves as well as our brothers and sisters so that we can struggle against in.justices and have real control over our own lives.

b The housing crisis, which marginalizes and dehumanizes us, is only one aspect o f the class war. llomelessness i s no accident keeping the poor in destitute and miserable living conditions i s key to keeping them oppressed and silent.

We refuse to remain silent. We know that only together can we tight back and win, so we organize in our streets, in our shelters and in our hotels. We fight against racism, classism, sexism, homophobia and all fbrms o f oppression. We will pick our tights and win them by every means necessary.

COME ONE! COME ALL! JOIN IN PREPARATIONS FOR THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE COMMUNITY PLA Y!!

- - -- - -- - - Hand Drummincl Workshop for youth ten and up Sat. July 19 - noon to 2 pm

led by Russell Shumsky Mclean Park

Drop-in Lantern and Musical Instrument Making Workshop Sat. July 26 - 1-3 pm

led by Dana ~ o n g and ~loe-uhl is Chinatown Cultural Center ( "Sounds of Art" Day: the Chinatown Arts and Cultural Festival)

I An ActinalMask Workshop for Strathcona Day Camp vouth fled bv Doua Vernon)

A Mural Project for the Strathcona Community Center Seniors Group: they are creating an 8' x 12 ' fabric mural celebrating DTES families and grandparents and good fortune for all the

generations (led by Teresa Vandertuin) -

I

Russell Shumsky, Dana Wong, Doug Vernon and Teresa Vandertuin are all DTES residents

According to the Ilnited Nations Food & Ab~iculture Organization, approximately 35,600 children died from conditions of starvation on September 1 1 , 2001

Slide Show As part of the Postcards from the Global Village

series of events presented by Bob Sarti, there will be a Slide Show in the Theatre on

Thursday, July 17''" at 4 pm TUNISIA: An oasis of Ancient History

Presented by Terry Carr from Vancouver Public Library. Terry will take you on a journey through Tunisia with its Roman Ruins, Ancient Mosaics, Walled Cities, and Saharan Oases.

"Devils can bc driven out of the heart by the touch of a hand on a hand, or a mouth on a mouth."

- Tennessee Williams

"If it were all so simple! I fonly there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them tiwm the rest of. us and destroy them. Rut the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of' every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?"

- Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn

DOWNI'OWN EASTSIDE NEEI)I,E EX<'IIAN<;E - 221 Main; 8:30am - 8pm every day

YOtl~I ' l l NICI<I)I,E: E:X<'IIAN<;IS VAN - 3 Routes: A<'TIVII ' IES <'itm - 5:45pm - I I :45pm SO<'l ETY Overnight - 12:JOam - 8:30am

Ihwntown Eastside .- 5:30pm - 1 :30am 2003 1)ONATIONS 1,iI)l)y 11.-$00 I h r r y for Sam H.-$50 Eve I.,.-$18 Nancy 11.$30 Marg:~ret I).-$25 Ilultla K.-$5 Val / \ .$ I8 W m 18-$20 M a r y ('-$50 Paala H-$15 Rolf A,-$55 llruce J.-$50 IK 'TF-$ I 0 Wes K . - $ I 5 (:barley H-$5 Ray('an~-$25 (;ram -$ I00 J I I I Mun ';I. Vnna,orrr VI,A 2 171 (*I4 1,115 ? ? R 1 )

I'aclcly -$50 Sarah E.-$ I 0 < 'harks F.-S I 0 Rosemary 2.-$20 Joanna N.-$20 I 11k: ~k.1vS1.k: 1'1 k:lt 1s A I ~ ~ ~ I ~ I , I ( ' , ~ 1 ION OF I I I~ : J im <;.-$I 50 (i len I).-$75 John S.-$100 ('AUN#X;lk: ( 'ohl%!l INi l ' \ ( 'EN I UF. ,\SSO(.I,\'I ION,

Penny (;.-$20 L i z S.$5 Jenny K.-SIX Articles represent the views of individual C'clcste W$30 Sandy <'.$ZO I h r a ('.-$20 confrih~~tors and not of the Association.

Ellen W.-$150 Nancy C.-$25 Rockingguys -$25 Joanne 11.-$20

I (Itfor I ' a ~ ~ l l < 1;nlor. ('over art & l ; ~qou~ Ihane Wtwd

'I'he Edge Community l ia ison ('11 -6200 Jay 11 -$25 ISoh S -$25 <'hridopher I< - b 3 Anonvmous -64 02 r I .

1070-1641 Commercial Dr., VsL 3Y3 Phone: n5-0790 tax: ns-088a

Welfare problems; 1,andlord disputes; I lousing problems [Insafe living conditions

last tlastings Street or phone us at 682-0931

T r i p to the Track It was a warn summer morning. The sun was shin-

ing, and it was so nice out that the birds were walk- ing. I was on my way to see my doctor for a regular meeting, hoping to get it over and done with before 10:30 AM. I had just missed the bus and knowing that it would be 15 minutes before the next one came along I decided to walk to Carnegie to drop off the old newsletter that I had been saving to give to Sarah

I had contributed a story about how the Learning Centre had won an award from the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC). 'l'his rec- ognition was the result of a submission by Sarah Evans of Capilano College. At 10:30 some of the Learning Centre people were going to visit Sarah at her job, which was managing the new Learning Cen- tre at the Track. I had met Sarah when I was writing that story and I was impressed by her energy. She seems to radiate something very special. I was look- ing forward to seeing her and didn't want to miss an opportunity. I had decided to drop off the newsletter just in case I didn't get back in time to go on the Track tour. As it turned out I got back to catch them while they were standing on the Carnegie front step just leaving fbr the track. Talk about luckv.

We went to the track and were met at the gate by Sarah. Apparently she had to get us past the guard. She also wanted to introduce us to Peter Ellickson of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Associa- tion of BC. He has been trying to get an educational program started in the backstretch for several years. He was a charming older gentleman who wanted to sell us a horse. I t was his way of making us feel comfortable, and 1 felt comfortable as soon as I heard his laugh. We also met Bryant McAfee, the Secretary-Treas-

urer of the HBPA of BC. Next Peter took us on a fascinating backstretch tour that was very informa- tive, smelly and had lots of stuff to walk around or step over. The one thing I noticed above all else was the number of women working behind the scenes. I didn't get any numbers but they seemed to outnum- ber or at least be on an even par with the men. I found that strange because I had figured this to be a man's job. I guess I'm just a tenderfoot when it comes to horses. We met a number of horse people (trainers, walkers, owners, vets, if they had some- thing to do with a horse we met them).

We met Harold Barroby, one of the top owner- trainers over the last couple of years. He was a very business-like person who stopped to answer a few questions from some visitors who didn't know too much about horses. Very nice of him don't you think? We also met Richard Yates, who is a tutor in the Learning Centre. Richard works as a horse trainer for Dave Millburn, a lawyer whose hobby is horse racing. Richard was another friendly person. Actually everyone we met was very friendly and they all said hello even though they were obviously busy. Most knew Peter and Sarah knew many even though the Centre has only been open about 4 months. Peter finished the tour by taking us to the Learning Centre. What a great place to learn. You can sit outside with

a great view of the North Shore Mountains. A nice breeze seemed to cool us off and this was around noon on a warm day. You should go there just to see this view. Although the Centre is kinda small it is well equipped. It has 6 state of the art computers that are user friendly and also are Web capable. I could give a bunch of data but most people get bored with computer talk. I t has a very small but capable library of resource material. I'm sure they could use more if You want to contribute.

I t was lunchtime and Sarah invited us to Jerome's Restaurant. where we were told to order what we wanted. We also met some of the tutors. Muricl Bowes was a very kind lady who tutors Spanish- speakers in English as a second language. She said she had never taught or tutored before the Learning Centre opened up. but now she is really enjoying it. Muriel's English group on Wednesdays is very popular. The other tutors were Sandra Van Oost- dam, who speaks Spanish and has taught Spanish in Mexico. She teaches Spanish to a group of people from the backstretch. There are a lot of workers there from Mexico and other countries. so the t;ng- lish and Spanish lessons are popular. Jeannie Spence was another tutor. She's a retired teacher who has helped a lot of' people with their English for years in the backstretch, even before the Learning Centre started. Other tutors were Richard Yates, who helps people with their GED and language skills. and Randy Goulding, who helps people on computers and also teaches guitar lessons. Willie Ritson-Bennett was there too. He assists people on computers and is very helpful, doing all kinds of' stuff for the Learning Centre, such as setting up our lunch date in this restaurant. Willie works in the racing Office and was a racing secretary in the Inte- rior. We had a good lunch and met some future friends I'm sure.

The visit to the track was very special and I'd like to go back on a regular basis. I am sure that it is go- ing to be a great place to tutor and to learn. I'd like to thank Peter for being such a gmcious

host and maybe I should have talked a bit more about buying that horse. Sarah provided me with the facts for the story and someone gave us a great lunch. I'd like to thank them all for their hospitality and I wish them great success with their new 1,earn- ing Centre.

Sarah walked us to the bus when we lefi. The Hastings Racecourse Learning Centre is lucky to have her and all the wonderful friendly tutors and I am sure it will be a very successful place. If you would like to learn more the Centre number is 604- 2 16- 16 16 or you can leave a message for Sarah at 604-986- 19 I 1 ext. 4886.

R y f1AKOI.I) ASfIAM

And so bclgun, my Jriends, L)uys ojpcuce und plenty, l1uppine.s.s und heuven, I lntil these duys, too, had pussed. More hitter than deurh is their 1o.s.s.

"Dry, hones. Silencr, drums. Flume, burn to ash. Wild Winds, blow our .steps to dust. f)u.st, return to eurlh. Sull leurs, .s wim lo the s c u . "

Wide us the seu, is thejoy r!f' love, Wider still the .sorrow of'purting, 1,ikc wuters ebbing, breuth '.s,flr)w rushing Kouring on the wings of'timc. Ncwr to rcturn.

Bur u.s long US the rivers run into the seu, As long u.s the mountoins endure, All the duys ( f o u r li/2, we .shuII rcm~)mbcr, Eyes will see, und hearts will heur, And dreums will sin^ in the wind.

Savannah Walling

Update on the Safe Injection Site 327 Carroll.

Currently, the safe site is busy as usual. Every night we see 25-35 people access it to fix and pick up or exchange supplies. Over 70 people access the drop- in portion for coffee and a place to sleep and relax for a few hours out of the night. We are in desperate need of volunteers from 'Thurs-

day to Sunday. If you are interested in volunteering for a 2-4 hour shift once a week, come by the site or call Megan at 25 1-3 127.

I a t week 1 iealth Canada announced their approval and formal go-ahead for a Supervised Trial Injection site for Vancouver, hopefully to be opened in Sep- tember. Those of us who volunteer and use the Safe Injection Site at 327 Carroll are pleased with the recent decision, however we continue to press for- ward with our demands for : I . A userlpeer run safe injection space. 2. An immediate end to the 5 1 extra police in the 3. Implementation of the other three pillars, Preven- tion, Treatment and Harm Reduction.

July 7/03, was our three month anniversary; over these months we have been bringing our demands to Mayor l a r y Campbell, Council and Vancouver Po- lice Board public meetings. In turn, there has been absolutely no legitimate effort by local government and the Vancouver Police Department to understand our position and to address our concerns. At the last VPD board tneeting we presented two

requests. 1 . The police do not park directly in front of the safe in-jection site and harass people entering and leaving; 2. The police and community liaisons work out a perimeter for the safe site to protect our patrons and work towards rcgular community meetings where people who live in the IITES have a voice in desci- ons made by the city, Coastal Health and the VPD on health and enforcement initiatives. Many other people spoke to the same issues. Shortly, 1,any Campbell and Jamie Graham became frustrated with the speakcrs at this meeting and walked out.

Police intimidation of patrons is detrimental to the health aspect of addiction. Intimidate someone from using ANY Safe Injection Site, you are forcing them

into the alternative: a dark back alley, or fixing in their hotel room alone. In any case, into riskier situa- tions with exposure to violence, untreated overdose,

no access to medical attention, and exposure to health risks.

The Vancouver Police department is exposing it's ANTI- harm reduction stance and it's disregard for

Judy Rogers, City Manager 604-873-7625 judy-rogers@city.vancouver.bc.ca

Randy King (Traffic) 604-873-7372 Chief Jamie Graham 604-7 17-3535 or

jamie-graham@vancouvercity .bc.ca Sgt. Scott Thompson 604-7 1 7-332 1

Words of Freedom

Brothers and sisters. be aware o f loneliness. 'cause forgiveness is emptiness!

Got to know the warning from the sky. that vast heaven without the ozone layer as a curse, i t wi l l become our danger Lone. Until then and for now, the eagles always wi l l tly their wings in full circles as they did before.

Got to know about your past as a dark memory, living as prisoners in those residential schools. 'i'he physical abuses were your daily prayers and you survived through pain and sorrow - now it's the search for the survival bread until your last breath.

Got to know the answer: To whom belongs this land. to the Lord or the landlord'! Just think o f those giant trees who remember the arrival o f C'olurnbus, but don't forget that he did not discover America, I t is your forefathers who noticed him in the first place.

Got to know about your traditions and your people as well Keep teaching to the children the mother tongue; perhaps in return. they wi l l make you forget all that misery and in.justice o f your own childhood. They have the power o f healing when they smile at you: It's the presence of the Creator and mother l:arth!

Got to know about these traditional garments As an armor against modernity and deceit; keep playing the drum when the assemblies gather. So that the next generation wi l l carry on the remembrance ofthe ancestors, perhaps with less enthusiasm than your own fathers. but with gratitude and perseverance

What's right'? What's wrong" Who's to blame'? Meantime. we discover that mother nature is dying from misconception and ignorance. E3y cultivating our friendship and knowledge. by creating in our community harmony and cooperation. we wil l stop that evil spirit (called I'ollution, over-production. mass junk yards and our own wars]. SO that. from you and me; from the wind o f the east. the gale ofthe west. fiorn all tribes and ethnic groups. we wil l give back the trees. landscapes. Pure water in her rivers and oceans and tinally oxygenate her mind called: "The blue planet".

Jean I'revost

Letter of Support for Olympic Tent City

We, the undersigned, are writing this letter to support the Olympic tent city. We support the action being taken by the Anti Poverty Committee and the f lousing Action Committee. As well we support their two demands: Social Housing for all in need; and welfare is a right - end the two year time limit.

We demand that the BC 1,iberals respond to these two demands immediately. We believe it is the government's responsibility, both provincial and federal, to deal with the homeless catastrophe in a dignified manner. Shelters are no solution; we demand social housing now!

The BC Liberals' welfare time limit is the most dangerous policy threatening working and poor people in this province. Forcing welfare recipients off of income assistance into a rapidly depleting job market is an attack on all working people. Welfare is a right. Those in need must be provided for with no exceptions made. The hvo- year time limit must be abolished and welfare recipients must be treated with dignity.

The fillowing groups huve ulreudy conlrihuted to the tent city: BCGEU Component 6 Social & Educational f lealth Services Woodwards Legal Defense Committee Bus Riders llnion No Games 20 10 Coaltion - az x South Asian Student Alliance Z 5 3 UBC Social Justice Centre a Q 9 s: DE;RA 2 w

Committee to Prepare the General Strike a 2 .g

disAbility Coalition to Stop the Cuts w .r No One is Illegal Vancouver Teachers Support Staff Union fiarm Reduction Coalition Equal Chance Club Ethical Environmental; Consulting 1,ower Mainland Coalition for Social Justice Citi~ens Opposed to Police Brutality - Vancouver OCAP Toronto Disaster Relief Committee I,a Clac Logement - Quebec Cornite des Sans Emploi - Quebec Aboriginal Women's Action Network SFPRIG Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty Western Aboriginal Representation Society - WARS

Mayor "turncoat" Campbell has given his blessings to the blackshirts and their armed occupation of our neighbourhood. There are those within the commu- nity who welcome the extreme police presence as the solution to the plague of protiteer drug dealers we've endured for the past several years, but this is a knee-jerk, incomplete analysis that fails to see a classic "getting a tiger to chase away the wolf" blunder.

Instead of being intimidated by assholes with drugs we're intimidated by assholes with guns. Residents who avoided the streets befhre but now feel "safe" are being countered by those who must now stay indoors for fear of the cops. The argument that law abiding citizens shouldn't resist the intrusion of cops is socially irresponsible as i t serves to enable an en- trenchment of society's hscistic tendencies.

We are a community of impoverished, marginal- ized, and oppressed people who have to struggle hard for our basic rights. We struggle against the police in our actions to demand adequate housing. to demand safety for our women, to demand justice fiw our aboriginal people, to demand humanity for our sick and addicted, and to demand our right to live together as a meaningful community. We struggle against the police because that is who the corrupt and greedy powers use to keep us down. With the drug dealers gone the only heads left to bash in will be the ones on our shoulders, as we resist the busi- ness interests trying to rob us of our home.

I must mention in closing that in my fifteen years of being on the street in the Downtown Eastside, I have many times witnessed the very worst of people in the way of needless. unwarranted cruelty and vio- lence against the weak. 'I'he most disturbing of these instances have been perpetrated by police officers against innocent by-standers, and I have concluded that the police like any group of people come with all different characteristics and personalities. Unfor- tunately, the sicko's on the force use their privileged Position of trust and power to indulge their various Psychoses.

Shawn Millar

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." - Mahatma Gandhi

Excuse me. Did you know that 'she' is a drug pusher and the city is allowing 'her or him' to traffic outside my home and in my community. I would call the police but it might take awhile just because. 'I o know why is to ask the Mayor and Council because they are the ones who run the city.

The majority of our community is behind the VPI) doing their jobs. I am asking you to write a letter to the Mayor and Council, if you are in agreement with the crack down in the Downtown Eastside. Today I see tourists coming into our neighbourhood

to see what we are all about. Along with many peo- ple who have not left their homes in awhile. because they were tired of being hassled and/or beaten up. Now their coming to Camegie and finding their way to the comer store. The joy of walking on tlastings is like walking on the beach and picking up sea shells. Go with it. i t is a dream and a good one.

I t is okay to watch our people die right in front of u \ and we can not do a damn thing about i t , other tharl say a prayer .- because the (iovemment has its priori- ties backwards. 'l'hey feel the Olympics are more important than 'l'reatment Centres for women and l o r our native youth. Day Cares and schools fo r our kids. plus seniors homes. are being closed. What i\ going to happen to our kids who are tired ol'bc.ing pushed around and told their edtlcation is not impor- tant? We hear the athletes saying to our kids to \lay i n school and i t is important to read. Everyday we are told to stand tall and be strong.

We need to have equal energy. time and money put into prevention. treatment and harm reduction 1 want to personally thank the police fbr their ef'l'orts in enforcement (the f:ourth Pillar) and hope we can continue to count on them.

Margaret Prevoqt

PRINT Such stellar company I keep Profbund artists excluded from print that impressioned minds unseasoned remain. Why, to amuse with insouciant naive16 Childlike arousal ride the carousel

o f escapism, a movie that never ends.

1 lumiliatcd sycophancy extolling contempt o f the greedy Right this Ixf t ist newsletter marches to the same bias beat - political correctness Righteous rage o f select enforcement or rejected like premature ~jaculitt ion -~

an obsequious I'ate.. an insipid cartoon.

True words spoken but unheard, unread 1,ike the burning of'books "Contaminated knowledge' Hrihing censors with hypocrisy Dirty evidence sprayed with I,ysol I lomosexual marriage blessed by an old hooker So traumatized their duplicitous list 1ransli)rms a dirty needle into com fi)rt.

This sick corrupt culture enthroned by Ilnholy religions

Shall die in the ashes o f desire's volcano (:riminalization of' love in sex, art or drugs

is the septic symptom of'denial the paralyzing nausea of' nature is resisted ' t i1 you age right before my eyes!

A l l great artists receive homage in print eventually

Timid editions expose themselves and we flush for shame

l ' o stride forward pull ing Noah's Ark ful l o f those who can't swim

is what future generations revere; Recognizing emotional maturity in a cultural vacuum.

So have a toke and explore the Universe beyond the law

For laws are refuted in art before the Judge is informed

Experience if you dare the gross smarm o f monogamous tribalism;

Subverting sense to nonsense. arousal to aggression ecstasy to dementia

courage to humility l i fe to death and defeat to new generations; Remember us as victims, Pawns i n a dynastic orgy o f dreams

instead o f reality that shall surely become the grossest nightmare yet Genealogical mistakes shall arm babies, Love shall like a canker grow Fester like an infected toe

f i l l veins like freezing snow and deny you the strength to come and go.

A. Kostynuik

The Internet in Action Classes in JulyIAu~ust

These classes are for computer users who have a basic understanding of how to use a computer and want to learn how to apply that understanding to using the Internet. The course wi l l be made-up o f 4 se~arate classes: Class I (July 19): What is the Internet and how do I navigate it? Class 2 (July 26): How do I search for things on the lnternet'? Class 3 (Aug 2 ) What is t h i a i l , how do I get an E-mail account, and how do I use it? Class 4 (Aug 9 ) What is Word Processing and how does i t help me use the Internet'? tach class wi l l be Saturday morninp from 10:OO am to 12:OO noon in the Computer Room. Classes are free, but you must have a valid Carnegie Mem- bership to attend. Priority seating wil l be given to those who have at- tended previous classes, but general seating wil l be on a first come basis. Class s i ~ e wil l be limited to a maximum o f 7 people.

The prerequisite for this course is knowing -How to turn a computer on. What a program is. -1iow to use a mouse. -How to point and click. -What single clicking versus double clicking is. - I low to open and close windows.

~ ..

- t low to p;operly shut a computer ofT.

economy can

Whoop de do. Another opportunity for Canadian

C r y Baby figure skaters

I you notsee the bigger pidue? nk d the thanands d jobs

tt will kr ueated by Twenty

wealthy people from all over , , rvaddwill b e c a i to 1

T H E M E M O R Y OF SOUND ......gg Off and on, he was always there, I n the background o f parties Wi th good vibes to share.

The Back Street Boys, New Kids On The Block, En Sync, and E l Squeako, M J's high squealed talk - How thin they were, compared to the sound Of masculine pitch, So solid and round.

He always was there, adding bass to the night, Now the love boat has sailed; Bon Voyage Barry White ...

he Conversings OF

MI-IUR DECO & AOUY KRUSCHEF y Gary Gust (cJZ003

I Molly! How can you be so cynical? I am sure that all our athletes adopt the

sportsmanships. But, even still. ,

i k h i n k of what ! i this means to the Bee Cee

NOTICE

Carnegie VOLUNTEERS ONLY

May exchange volunteer tickets for Concession purchases.

Thank you for your cooperation

Effective: August I", 2003

Iteady, Willing, and Able to ('hangc. 134 I . m y I r u n h c y

I his series t r fo r l i c les looks at the seven c o ~ i t l i l i o n s that are wcc \sarq l i ) r c l iangc t o occur. W e w i l l e x a n i i t ~ e ho\v tliese scvcn "precursors 01' c l~ange" arc r c l c v n ~ i l t o get t ing a job. hceping that joh. atid ge l l i ng ready l i w o u r nest job.

The Sc\rcn I'recursors Of Change 1 : A Sense of Necessity

2: Willingness or Readiness to Experience Anxiety or I)ifficulty

3: Awareness 4: ('onfronting the I'rohlcni

5 : Effibrt or Will 'I'owartl <'hange 0: Ilope for Cl~ange

7: Social Support for Change

r- - -

Need A Chance To Prove You're Ready, Willing & Able To Work?

Get the <m* you deserve! A w - -

Find out what your next step needs to be. 0 Call t o attend the Job Shop Info session. 604-253-9355

'T3, rd Program funded

by HRDC

Dear Friends, www.libbvdavies.ca

The Market Basket Measure (MBM) is another cop- out by the Federal government and its refusal to ac- tually eliminate poverty in Canada! The Federal government has created a "market bas-

ket" of goods and sewices. 'I'he contents of the bas- ket were decided upon by bureaucrats and finali~ed by Ministers who make more that $150.000 annu- ally. Items in the basket include amounts required for food, transportation, clothing and other basic costs of living. Households that cannot afford the basket are deemed to be living below the poverty line. The goods i n the basket are limited to minimal physical necessities. This approach doesn't address that poverty is coupled with social exclusion. The Low-Income Cut-off (LICO) developed by Sta-

tistics Canada is currently widely used as a credible method of measuring poverty. LIC'Os, unlike the Market Basket Measure, compares spending on ne- cessities of low-income families to typical families. I,ICOs, although not perfect recognises that poverty in a country as wealthy as Canada is relative. If we want to ensure that low-income kids have access to opportunities and are not just having their basic needs met, we must acknowledge that poverty is relative to average incomes in Canada.

The introduction of the Market Basket Measure comes three years afer the anniversary of a 1989 resolution to end child poverty by the year 2000. Census data released this month for the year 2000 indicates that 19% of children are growing up in low-income families.

In late May, I arranged tor witnesses to be heard at the tiuman Resources Development Committee of Parliament, on the new MHM. Witnesses from the anti-poverty movement all expressed their concerns that the Market [lashet Measure has been developed without the involvement of low-income people. Lin- da Lalonde, President of the National Anti-Poverty organization (NAPO), brought a bag of groceries with her and graphically showed how 213 of a bag of rice was meant to feed a family of four! . .

I he IJnited Nations tluman Poverty Index - a nluch more comprehensive measure of poverty and social exclusion - ranks Canada 12'"! A shamefi~l record for a country as weaithv as Canada!

I will continue to deiand that the new MfZM must be updated regularly to respect the real cost of'living and that the so called "basket of goods" must be opened up to ensure that i t includes items and her- vices for a standard of living based on social inclu- sion.

If you have ideas or feedback on the Market Basket Measure, I'd really like to hear from you. I will be pursing the matter at the Committee and want to draw greater attention and visibility to the ongoing

discrimination against poor people. The worst form of poor bashing is when i t come5 from government policy.

Yours Sincerely, I,ibby

Feel free to drop me a line (rememher it's postage free) Or ernail me at: daviel~~!oarl.gc.c_a 483 West Rloch, tlouse of Commons Ottawa, ON. K I A 0A6

Ph. (613) 092-6030; Fax (613) 905-74 12 24 12 Main Street, Vancouver, t3C, V5'1 312 Ph. (604) 775-5800; Fax (604) 775-58 1 1

Introduction to Recovery Workshop Native Courtworker & Counselling Association -

Alcohol and Drug Program

50 POWELL ST. VANCOUVER

Various Start dates as follows: Group #6 August 5 - August 2 1.2003 Group #7 September 2 - September 18,2003 Group #8 September 29 - October 16, 2003 Group #9 November 3 - November 20,2003

TIME: 8:30am - 12:30pm

"Prevent" Substance IJseIMisuse Learn to State Feelings "Openly and tlonestly" Focus on Negative Consequences of"'~3ehavior" to Promote Change

C A L L 604 687-0281 for 30-Minute Interview time.

DOG GONE BLUES

WEll my dog has fleas Yes, my dog went an found some fleas and I thought that's o.k. cause that's what dogs doo doo yeah, we went through that too you know what I'm saying yeah my dog done found some fleas and I thought that's o.k. but when he brought them home the little buggers, jumped all over me yeah they bit me on my back my anns my legs, an even bit my is there no end I asss kkkk. any other situation and I might have found it sensual. It didn't really hurt but it sure did itch some. well how do you get rid of them l asked. some told me soak them in gas. spray them with in-sect-ti-cides how about you and the dog sit outside in the sun to tan an toughen your hides I walked away thinking there must be an easier softer way where I didn't have to do my dog, and myself away. You know what I mean. well now we just sit there looking at each other my dog and I strumming away and I think to myself If only we had a guitar to play you know what I mean

Poppa Sam

Work~ng together f o r a healthy commun~ty

W l N A NIGHT IN STANLEY PARK.. HORSE DRAWN CARRlACE RIDE & SPE- CIAL DINNER WITH TIMOTHY TAYLOR

AUTHOR OF" STANLEY PARK" OR OTHER GREAT PRIZES

..... HOW? BY PARTICIPATING IN OUR "MAIN AND HASTINGS BOOK CLUB

One Bonk, One Vancouver reading evenl.

WE MEETAT LEARNING CENTRE ON THURSDA YS A T NOON WHERE WE ARE

HA VING FUN READING' AND CRI TIC'IZING

"Stanley Park "(the bonk)

Newcomers Welcome Maty Ann your librarian