Newsletter - Contact Us

AUGUST 15,2003
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401 Maln Streel, Vancouver
sweet - seventeen
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is
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Take-off day
It was the start of the week. Monday morning! Paul
was a bit concerned. The books for the book launch
hadn't arrived. The press and everyone who is anyone was going to be here in a couple of hours. It had
taken SIX long and lonely years to compile the book
from all the stories he had had a hand in publishing
in the Newsletter. Today those years would come to
an end at 2PM PDT with a book launch and a bit of
a reunion of some of the past contributors to the
publication. Now all that was needed was the
DAMN BOOK.
I had stopped by on Friday to see when the next
newsletter publication day was. I sometimes help
with getting the publication together and I don't like
to miss because of my forgetfulness. Don't laugh! 1
have missed because I forgot about it. I now write it
on my calendar so I can see when it arrives and can
get to Carnegie to help out. Friday 1 had stopped by
to check with Paul and found him a bit miffed because THE BOOK hadn't arrived and the publisher
was closed for the weekend. We had a bit of a laugh
about having a book launch without a book. I hadn't
guessed that it was a bit of a nervous laugh. On
Monday 1 could see that the nerves had set in a bit.
Still no books!!! DAMN PUBLISHER!!! Another
nervous laugh?
I asked if he needed any help. He said they were
going to the theatre to set-up about 1 PM and I could
help out if I wanted. I said okay and left. It was
around 1 :15 PM when I went to the theatre to help
. out. There were a number of people setting up chairs
and tables, but no one was getting out the mikes and
stuff. Paul asked me to look for Egor who usually
handled that. He wasn't in the building. I knew Gerald was in the building and I thought that he had
knowledge of setting up. He didn't but said he'd get
Egor. Gerald came back about 10 minutes later and
said he couldn't find Egor. My next choice was Kai
but Gerald said that he had asked Kai and that
wasn't a solution either. Just about then I noticed
Rudolf sitting patiently in the Learning Centre. Him
being a musician, I figured he could do the mike
stuff. When I told him the problem he said he'd be
glad to help and went down stairs. He had been waiting for the event to begin and was glad to contribute.
I followed downstairs to help with the setup figuring maybe to learn a bit about setting up a mike. It's
a little harder then it looks. I was too shy to speak
into the mike for a voice level check. Some of the
audience helped out by talking into the mike. All I
had to do was count and I couldn't even do that. I
guess I could do a kinda poor job of setting up if I
had to. The place was starting to fill up. I met a few
friends and visited for while. The books finally arrived!
Then the show started. First up was Julia Mark to
thank the Coast Salish people for being on their
land, and to introduce the publisher, Rolf Maurer of
New Star Books.. Then Paul said a few words. Next
came Michael, Carnegie's director, who read a poem
he had submitted a few years back which had been
published and was in the book. Margaret, President
of the Board, followed him. Then a talent laden lineup of poets and storytellers, who had had stuff pub-
lished in the Newsletter, came up and spoke or recited their work out of the book. 1 knew some of
them, but most were a mystery to me. There was
Diane, Rudy, Sheila and Shawn. Each read or recited
something from the book. What an honor.
Last but not least was big brother, Sandy. He must
be part farmer. He had planted the seed of Paul writing a book and had hung around to reap the harvest its launch. That must have been some journey. I say
brother because this was clearly a Carnegie family
effort. From Mike and Margaret to Sandy and all the
others in between, including the audience, they were
all there to help and share in the joy of the day. What
did that guy say, "You can't choose your family but
you can choose your friends." I think he's wrong.
Everyone chose to be here and it was a family effort.
There was a TV cameraman and reporter who interviewed Paul. I heard it was broadcast on the news
that evening but I missed it. I congratulate Paul on
his book but even more, on his Carnegie family who
were proud to be with him at this special time.
harold
MS. Prevost:
To walk disjointed
Somewhere in the psychobabble
I've lost track
of who you are
just another panic attack
wonder if I'll ever come back
serenity or a sense of ease
too hard to conceive
too hard to believe
I'll ever stop shaking
a walking earthquake
a disaster leftover
they say it's a chemical imbalance
ya right
and cars go fast at the Indy
L. Kabong
July 18,2003
53 today
Hip Hip Hooray
Brains I got
Money not
Can get loans
for ice-cream cones
Got lots of friends
Defend to the end
Special Friend not a honey
I just call her "Snuggle Bunny"
dealing
dealt
unfinished
working nights
keep well
for the road
lord
god
as mighty
never again
or so you swore
i'm sixty-eight
and i'm still rocking
politics
religion
and death
one third of the moon
i'll save this for later
no cop shows
our son's killers
charles fortin
3
This is in response to your email of June 16,2003 to
Mayor and Council.
My apologies for taking so long to respond to this
email. I manage the branch that deals with sidewalk
patios, and I wanted to outline our policies around
the use of public space by restaurants.
The City encourages the use of some public space
by restaurants for sidewalk patios as this improves
the ambience and liveliness ofthese public spaces
and supports local business. Subject to our approval,
restaurant owners may put up tables, chairs and a
railing to define the area of their sidewalk patio. We
have the ability to require the removal of sidewalk
patios if the City requires the space for other uses.
Sugar and Sugar applied for and met the guidelines
for placement of sidewalk patios and were allowed
to put up their patio in June. The area, at the northwest comer of Columbia and Powell has a corner
cut-off and results in a triangular public space at this
location. There are a few trees and the surface is
consistent with the brick pavers in the rest of Gastown. From a public use perspective, it is the same
as other sidewalk areas of the City.
This comer is part of the former CPR right-of-way.
The City has long range plans to develop this corridor as a pedestrian route from International Village
to Gastown. The plaza on Powell/Columbia is an
endpoint to the > right-of-way and will warrant special design treatment, perhaps kiosks and signage,
benches, and rail-type elements. We have advised
the restaurant owner of the potential for these fbture
plans and that this may require removal of the sidewalk patio. In the meantime, it would be difficult to
justify the removal of this patio when we currently
permit other restaurants in the area to also have
sidewalk patios. The City must treat all owners equitably under its bylaws.
Sidewalk patios help restaurant owners maintain
viable businesses. This is an important part of the
City's efforts to revitalizing the downtown eastside
where business turnover is high.
Based on the above, we are not proposing to take
any hrther action at this time. Please let me know if
I can be of fbrther assistance.
Tom Hamrnel, P.Eng.
Streets Administration Engineer
ITS TIME TO SIGN UP FOR THE PLA Y!
Things are really moving along and we have some important dates for
everyone to note!
Casting auditions will take place early September. The first 150 people from
the DTES area will get a part. Rehearsals and building begin in mid September at the Japanese Hall at 475 Alexander Street. Eight performances
will take place in the last week of November and the first week of December. Please see below for details.
Whether you want to act in the play, make costumes, play music or build sets, this is when you can sign up. Drop
in at the hours posted below and tell us how you would like to participate. If you want to act most people will rehearse once a week, but you can choose to do more, or less! We can work out a schedule that fits your availability. ,
If you are unable to make it to the cast audition and production call in September - no worries - there are lots of
I
other opportunities to join in. Give as a call we'll find a place for you.
CAST and PRODUCTION CREW AUDITIONS
Wednesday September loth,Drop in Anytime between 6:30 and 9:30 pm,
Strathcona Community Centre, Multipurpose Room.
Sunday September 14'~,Drop In Anytime Between 1lam and 5pm,
Carnegie Community Centre, 3rdFloor.
The$rsl150 people from the DTES area will get a role in the play. Refreshments provided
REHEARSALS
Tuesday September 23rd - November 26"
Tues. or Wed or Thurs. or Friday: Evenings;
Japanese Hall, 475 Alexander St.
Saturday or Sunday: Days
If you want to act most people will rehearse once a week, but you can choose to do more! Refreshments provided
PERFORMANCES and PRE- SHOW FAIR
Performances will take place at the historic Japanese Hall 475 Alexander Street. A preshow fair with community mini- performan~esand roving food and craft sellers starts 30 minutes before show time.
Thursday-Sat. November 27-29 & December 4-6
Fair: 7pm, Performance: 7:30pm
Nov. 3othand Dec. 7th.
Fair 1 :30pm, Performance: 2pm
I
HERE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PLAY
If you want - its optional! - you can circle the areas that interest you, detach the form and return it to Rika at the
Carnegie Community Centre. Or you can mail it Terry and Savannah, Vancouver Moving Theatre, Chinatown
Post Ofice, PO Box 88270 Vancouver BC V6A 4A4.
By sending in this form you are helping us get ready for the cast and production call. Be sure though to the still
come out to one of the casting and production calls listed on the other page.
Name
Address
Telephone
Age (if under 18)
1) Acting: No experience necessary!
2) Music: Instrumentalists, singers. What instruments do you play?
3) Technical: carpentry, electricity, stages and seating, scenery, painting
4) Stage management: help organize rehearsals, gather props and materials, keep things on track!
5) Lighting: rigging lighting and preparing special effects, operating lighting instruments
6) Costumes: work with a group or take work home .... Share your skills
7) PuppetsIShadow Screen1 Masks: we need bodies, hands, faces, costumes
8) Materials: fabric, wood, decorative stuff, paint.. . we'll also need to borrow tools
9) Scripts: duplicating, collating, binding
10) Refreshments: During long rehearsals you will be very popular if you help arrange for this!
11) Transportation: Drive people who don't have wheels to rehearsals and take elderly people to
see the show. We may need occasional use of a van or truck to transport materials to the site.
12) Front of house: ushers, programme sellers, coffee and tea makers, ticket takers ...
13) Back stage: dressers, stage hands ...
14) Secretarial: typing, answering the telephone ...
15) Babysitting: before and during the performance.
16) Publicity: articles, posters, delivering handbills .....
17) Documentation: scrap books, photos, video ....
18) Donations of funds or supplies: Vancouver Moving Theatre is a non-profit society with charitable status
19) Fair preceding the play: each evening a different organization is invited to dress up, sell snacks,
gifts, etc. and keep the proceeds. We will also need music. Would your group be interested?
20) Committees: hospitality, production, publicity, fair, opening and closing ceremonies.
TURN YOUR H
W
Hard to find
A home for me.
On any street
Everybody sleeps.
The lame, the blame,
The game's the same:
World class party
On the backs of the poor.
Turn your head,
Gonna get worse.
At Wastings and Pain
On the Hell-bound train.
Doin' wrong things,
Hopin' it's right,
For the same pain,
The same gain.
Food's gone bad,
Makes me mad,
Turn your head,
It can't get worse.
One way ticket
On the Hell-bound train,
For a bird in a cage,
DERA General Meeting,
10:OO AM Friday, August 22, 2003
Carnegie Community Centre
W W h K "REFORM"
Turn your head,
It's growin' worse.
Empire back
With a baseball bat.
Hope defrayed,
Cost delayed,
We're all gone,
On the run,
People's opposition
To economy of war.
Turn your head,
Look for hope.
An estimated
38,000 people
will lose their
Welfare
Benefits in
April, 2004.
Are you one
of them?
Do you care?
We've invited provincial Minister of Human Resources, Murray Coell
'
Screamin' in rage,
Tears in my eye,
Ready to die,
Rest my soul,
On a farm far away.
ow much housing can people on welfare expect at
Woodward's? Answer: 30 units (is that enough?)
Why are we letting them convert so many hotels for
backpackers and tourists?
Why are hotel owners getting Federal Government
millions to upgrade and jack up their rents?
Why can't we get the social housing we need?
For a place to stay
Overnight.
Dare to share
How we care.
People united
Never defeqted
March together
In time as one.
Turn your head,
Look at me.
Knowid why
The caged Bird sings:
"Cry for me,
Be with me,
Feel for me,
Sets me free,
Spirit uncaged,
Free to be."
Turn your head,
Fly with me.
Savannah Walling
Is anybody gonna do anything about it?
Window Pain Presents:
A Night of
Creative Change and Inspiration
Sat. August 23 at 7 p.m.
In the Carnegie Theatre
Admission by Donation
The Window Pain Group will present a political
cabaret to ignite the community into creative action, to counter government cuts. This event is an
introduction to the show they are planning to hold
this winter at the Gachet Gallery. The Window
Pain Project grew fiom an outraged disabled population, under an attack of astounding proportions,
which the BC Liberal Government has termed a
"re-assessment" In response, 19 Disability Level 1
and 2 recipients have collaborated on an art exhibit
that asks the question; "How has the government
re-assessment process affected your life?"
They are currently seeking closeted soap box
stars, spoken word artists, poets, and performance
artists to create works (or use works you already
have) around the theme of government cuts, focusing on your visions of solutions, what we can do to
counter this attack in a SLAM POET kinda way!!
The evening will end with a Slam Poet event, as
well as artists and writers, Marie Baker, Lizard
Jones, Paul Scheffer, Penelope Verkerk and Joey
Only. Sign up between 6 and 6:45. For more information phone 604-253-0613.
- Lady Di
desmedia
(downtown eastside media) presents.. .
AN EXHIBITION OF COMMUNAL PAINTINGS
AND COLLABORATIVE VIDEO WORK
at the Interurban
Works produced by participants in the weekly desmedia workshops
at the Carnegie Community Centre and Oppenheimer Park since March 2000.
The Interurban - 9 E. Hastings St. (at the corner of Hastings and Carrall)
Opening reception: Friday, September 5,6:00pm -1O:OOpm
In conjunction with SWARM, a celebration of artist-run centres
Exhibition hours: September 3 -20, Thursday to Saturday, 12:OOpm -5:OOpm
Residents and community-involved members of the DTES are invited to come down to the Interurban during
regular gallery hours to share their stories of life and living in the Downtown Eastside on videotape (to be
part of an ongoing desmedia oral histories archive and videotaping project), to participate in the communal
painting, and to have a cup of tea.
Showing throughout the exhibition will be desrnedia 's first videotape produced with participants of the
workshops (2000 - 2001) and a preview of desmedia 2.
desmedia 2 is a video created, in part, to celebrate the Carnegie's 100' Anniversary, and will premiere at the
Carnegie Community Centre Theatre in two separate screenings at 3 pm and 7 pm on Thursday, Sept 25
For more information email [email protected] or phone 604 809 8774
Solving (and Dissolving) Problems
By Larry 'I'runkey
This series of articles looks at the seven
conditions that are necessary for change to occur. We
will examine how these seven "precursors of
change" are relevant to getting a job, keeping that
job, and getting ready for our next job.
The Seven Precursors Of Change
1: A Sense of Necessity
2: Willingness or Readiness to Experience
Anxiety or Difficulty
3: Awareness
4: Confronting the Problem
5: Effort or Will Toward Change
6: Hope for Change
7: Social Support for Change
--
-
In this issue, we will look at precursor #4,
Confronting the Problem. Remember that each of the
seven precursors of change assists and complements the
others.
In the last newsletter we exanlined the importance
of awareness in the change process. When we sustain
our awareness and attention to a problematic situation,
we are confronting the problem. The only problems we
can possibly solve are the ones that we are aware of and
acknowledge. Most employment programs emphasize
the importance of problem solving and teach effective
problem solving techniques. In a previous article, we
mentioned that every work opportunity is problem that
someone wants solved and is willing to pay for the
solution. Likewise, every workday can seem like a
series of problems to solve. The rewarding jobs are
often the ones where we feel the satisfaction of solving
worthwhile problems.
As we prepare to enter the world of work, we will
also encounter problems. We need to apply our best
problem-solving skills to identifying problems, setting
priorities, developing possible responses, and trying out
various solutions to see what works. Ilnfortunately, not
every problem can be dealt with in such a
straightforward way.
Sometimes we've been addressing for a long time a
particular problem that is getting in our way. For
example, maybe you've become an "expert" in what
you can't do and are really stuck, or maybe there is
something "too big" like a criminal record or no
references or being fired from your last job.
Think of a problem in your own life. Is it possible
that the "real problem" is how you've been addressing
the problem? Your efforts may be boxing you in. You
may need to totally rethink the situation. You might
need to get another perspective from someone else - to
ask for help.
At The Job Shop, we help people get out of
whatever box they feel trapped in. In the next
newsletter, we'll look at the importance of using our
will and effort to make changes. This series of short
articles is inspired by research on the precursors of
change by Fred J. Hanna. I hope that this information
will help you to make the changes you want to see in
your life.
I a r y Trunkey is the Program Manager of The Job Shop at Tradeworks Training Society. The Job Shop
supports residents of the DTES in their return to work. Participants develop and broaden the skills they will
need to get and keep a job. Federally funded by HRDC, The Job Shop starts new participants every week.
Program information sessions are held Tuesdays, at 1 p.m. Call 604-253-9355 and ask for The Job Shop.
Need A Chance T o Prove
u
f
.c,
illing & Able To Work?
Call to attend the Job Shop Info session. 604-253-9355
Program funded
by HRDC
An Irhh Whh
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish
farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for
his family, he heard a cry for help coming fiom a
nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.
There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself.
Farmer Fleming saved the lad fiom what could have
been a slow and terrifiing death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the
Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly
dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father ofthe boy Farmer Fleming had
saved. "I want to repay you," said the nobleman.
"You saved my son's life.
"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the
Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer.
At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the
door of the family hovel.
"Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.
"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.
"I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the
level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad
. is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be
a man we both will be proud of." And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools
,
and in time, he graduated fiom St. Mary's Hospital
Medical School in London, and went on to become
known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was
saved fiom the bog was stricken with pneumonia.
What saved his life this time? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.
#
November 20 has been declared National Child Day. This day is meant to
celebrate the lives of children-andyouth across the
country. This is a great opportunity for you to get
involved in your school or community. What will
you do to celebrate the day? Visit the National Child
Day Web site for more details and get involved!
THE DEAL.ORG SCHOOL@VENTURE PROJECT
Are there topics that concern you, that are not currently being addressed in your school or community? Do you want to do something about it? Challenge your students to take charge of themselves,
their future, and their world. The RCMP's deal.org
school@venture project, in partnership with Canada's SchoolNet GrassRoots Program, is looking for
you to participate in a unique classroom project ;
your class could be eligible to receive 600$ in hnding. To find out more, check out www.deal.org !
Endless
For the Community, by the Community
August 22,2003, loam - 7pm
Oppenheimer Park
Oppenheimer Park and Carnegie's Music Program is
organising an all-day event for everyone!
It/terestedirr Performing?
Sign up at Carnegie's information desk or leave a
message for Ken Tabata.
It~feresfed
in Volunteering or having a booth?
Contact Sandy McKeigan: 604-830-2544
Kumiko Murakanu: 604-665-2210
The Impact of the 2010 Olympics
on the Downtown Eastside
What do Provincial Finance Minister Gary Collins
and the Fraser Institute have in common? Aside
from both being consigned to the same circle of The
Inferno for holding the same anti-social neo-conservative ideologies, both doubted the costs and benefits that these Olympics would cause to B. C.
I have to say that in the past month of July, the
alternative media have done a better job of voicing.
dissent over the 2010 Olympics than the mainstream
media, but they haven't done too badly, either. Consider the figures Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn
Palmer assigns for the costs of the Olympics: Bid
process - $34 million; Convention centre - $500 million; Sea to Sky highway upgrade - $1.7 billion;
Richmond/Airport/Vancouver rapid transit line plus
new buses, etc. - $2 billion; Staging the Games $1.3 billion; Security - $560 million (based on Salt
Lake City's costs). Palmer obtained these costs from
the provincial government's own documents. Total
cost: $6 billion. Shortly after this was made public,
Premier Gordon Campbell downplayed the cost,
claiming it would actually only cost BC $600 million. That's where the Fraser Institute and Collins
come in. (Did you know that the BC taxpayers are
legally liable for any debt overruns incurred?) Province columnist Jon Ferry said the cost of the Games
would be double what had been estimated. That's
what I think too, given BC's penchant for ovemmning costs on past megaprojects.
Consider too, what the Sidney 2000 Olympics
games cost, after they had been billed by Australian
politicians as self-financing: a $2.3 billion loss. In
fact, with all things factored in, no Olympics has
ever made any money for the host territory.
So these (potentially) $12 billion Games are going
to benefit the people of the Downtown Eastside
how? It's actually going to end up being detrimental
to them, according to a protest group that struck a
tent city in Victory Square the day after it was announced that BC had won the 2010 Olympics bid.
The protesters wanted to see homelessness ended, a
reversal of the ruthless 2-year limitation on collecting welfare starting next April, and an end to the
bureaucratic restrictions on applying for welfare.
With BC's economy slated to come in dead last in
Canada next year, there doesn't look to be a lot of
hope for jobs for the unemployed, so they are rightfully concerned about cuts to welfare.
A good article to read was written by artist and
writer Diane Wood and published in The Carnegie
Newsletter on February 15,2003 oust before the
plebiscite) titled " 13 Good Reasons to Hate the
Olympics." It's just as relevant now as it was then.
It's one of the few articles that talks about the consequences of the Olympics for the people of the
Downtown Eastside. Letter writer L.S. Clemens in
the July 24 edition of The Republic sums it up nicely
too: "So party on; celebrate sports and health. Celebrate money coming from lost disability benefits,
celebrate money frm the growing number of hungry
and homeless people, dance on the lives of women
who can no longer escape abusive relationships, feel
your joy due to the children and parents who no
longer get the supports they need. Party away in
gratitude to all these people. Dance while the province deteriorates."
Which raises an important question: what is the
government going to do to make up for the massive
debt incurred by the Olympics? Why, continue to
cut social programs and services, of course. And the
first people to feel this will be the residents of the
Downtown Eastside.
Hey, I've got one for you: what does Homer Simpson call the two-week long 201 0 shindig for the
rich? The D'Oh!lympics.
by Rolf Auer
i
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DOWN'I'OI'N
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ACTIVITIES
SOCIETY
NEEIILE EXCIIANCE - 221 Mnin; 8:30am - 8pm evcry day
NI:EI)LE EXCI~AN<XVAN - 3 Routes:
&
C - 5:45pm - I l :&pm
O v e r n i ~ h-t l2:3Oam - 8:30am
Downtown Eastside .- 5:30pm
- 1:30am
20.03 I)ONATIONS Libby I).-$60
Darry for Sam R.-$50 Eve I:.-$18
Nancy 11.$30 Margaret D.-$25
Ilulda H.-$5 Val /\.$I8 Wm I N 2 0
Mary C-$50 I'wtila H-$15 Rolf A.-$55
Ihwce J.-$50 BCI'F-$ I 0 Wes K.-$15
Charley 1345 HayCani-$25 C r a m -5100
Paddy -$SO Sarah E.-$10 Charles F.-$10
Rosemary Z.420 Joanna N.-$20
J i m (;.-$I50 (;Icn IB.475 John S.-S I00
l'cnny G.420 L i z S.$5 Jenny K . 4 1 8
Cclcste W.$30 Sandy C.$20 b r a C.420
Ellen W.-$150 N;lncy C.-$25
Hockinggtrys 4 2 5 Joanne 11.-$20
The Edge Community Liaison Clt -$200
Jay t1.-$25 Ilob S.-$25 Christopher It.-f2S
Anonymous -54.02
'I'IIK Nt:\VSLeTl'ER IS A YIIHI.I(:A'I'ION OF 'I'IIE
('AHNE(;IE (:OhlhlllNI'I'Y (XN'I'RE ASSO(.'IATION.
Articles represent the views of individual
contributors and not o f the Association.
Submission deadline for the next issue:
Thursday, August 29
-
Introduction to Recovery Workshop
Native Courtworker & Counselling Association
Alcohol and Drug ~ r o & a r n
-
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
*
Welfare problems;
1,andlord disputes;
Ilousing problems
tlnsafe living conditions
12 East Ifastings Street o r phoae us a t 682-0931
"Prevent" Substance Use/Misuse
Learn to State Feelings "Openly and Honestly"
Focus on Negative Consequencesof "Behavior*'
to Promote Change
CALL 604 687-0281 for 30-Minute Interview time.
Someone once said:
What goes around comes around.
Work like you don't need the monev.
-,
Love like you've never been hurt.
-
The Editor, Time Canada
Your July 24 cover story on Canadian Residential
Schools, "A Shameful History", did a fatal disservice to the thousands of aboriginal survivors of a
system of "planned and clear Genocide", to quote a
United Nations Tribunal held in Vancouver in 1998.
I have personally interviewed and counseled nearly
two thousand survivors of the so-called "residential
schools" since 1995, and the crimes they have
described involve not just physical and sexual abuse,
but murder, sterilizations, medical experiments, and
deliberate exposure to tuberculosis by school staff
which resulted in the deaths of thousands of children
Dr. Peter Bryce, the head medical officer for Ottawa's Indian Affairs department in 1907, confirmed
that over half of the children in these "schools" were
dying every year from "a practice of being deliberately exposed to infectious diseases and then left to
die untreated".
His report was quoted on the front page of The Ottawa Citizen on November 15, 1907.
What is remarkable is not only that these deaths can
have remained hidden for so long, but that the very
agencies which perpetrated them - the Catholic,
United and Anglican churches - have been able to
escape any responsibility for this institutionalized
murder.
This is especially remarkable considering that contrary to what your cover story alleges - it was
these churches, and not the government, that were
the legal guardians of the native children in the
residential schools.
Despite the provisions of the Indian Act, Ottawa
actually transferred legal guardianship to residential
school Principals - who were invariably clergymen
under direct church supervision - between 1933 and
1942, according to my research.
This guardianship was legally enshrined by an
"Application for Admission Form" that every Indian
parent was forced to sign - under pain of imprisonment - that transferred legal control over their own
children to the Principal. (A copy of this form can be
found in our book, "Hidden from History: The Canadian Holocaust", found on our website, listed below).
This simple fact makes the Catholic and Protestant
churches of Canada - and not the federal government
- the main defendant and culprit in acts of Genocide.
And yet this responsibility has been deliberately
denied and distorted by these parties, and by the
national media in Canada.
The refusal of our churches to take responsibility for
their crimes of Genocide is part of the ongoing
injustice against native peoples that all the phoney
"apologies" and paltry court settlements will not
erase. Only an international War Crimes Tribunal
will redress this enormous crime.
Rev. Kevin D. Annett, M.A., M.Div.
Secretary, Truth Commission into Genocide in Canada
11759-248 St., Maple Ridge, BC V4R 1H6
ph: 604-466-1804
"Genocide in Canada: Past and Present" -
!
.
i
;
1
A Ten Part Lecture Series by Kevin Annett, MA M.Div
Beginning: Wednesday, August 27 at 7 pm at the
Canadian Autoworkers Hall, 326-12th street in New
Westminster (west of the New West skytrain sttn)
This inaugural lecture will describe the historical
and theological basis of the genocide of New World
native peoples by European states and churches. It
will lay the basis for future lectures on the nature
and development of genocidal warfare against native
nations in Canada: how it happened and why it was
legally and morally sanctioned.
a
Kevin Annett is the author of "Hidden fkom History:
The Canadian Holocaust" (2001), the groundbreaking study of crimes against humanity committed in Canadian Indian residential schools. He is a
former United Church minister who, in 1995, was
dismissed from that church after uncovering evidence of illegal land thefts and murders by church
officers on Vancouver Island.
Since then, Kevin has become a world authority on
religious genocide against indigenous peoples, and
has lectured on this subject across Canada.
Kevin helped organize the first international Tribunal into Residential Schools, sponsored by the UN
agency IHRAAM, in June, 1998. He holds Masters
degrees in Political Science and Theology and hosts
a public affairs program on Vancouver Co-op Radio.
He is the founder and secretary of The Truth Commission into Genocide in Canada, and is an adopted
member of the Metis Nation.
D o you have a cause that no-one knows about?
Are you the victim of racism, police brutality and
legal genocide?
If yes, then listen to "Hiddenfrom Historyu,
every Monday from 1 - 2:30 pm on Vancouver's Coop Radio CFRO, 102.7 FM. our only human rights
radio program run by and for native and low-income
people:
Host: Rev. Kevin Annett
email: kevinannett0yahoo.ca
website: http://canadiangenocide.nativeweb.org,
www. l stBooks.com/bookview/11639
News from the Library August 2003
The Complete Potter : The Complete Reference to
Tools. Materials. and Techniques for all Potters and
Ceramicists by Steve Mattison # 738.15 MAR
This is a great book for all you potters out there. It's
packed with simple instructions and detailed photos to
take you step-by-step through all stages and types
Baghdad Diaries : A Woman's Chronicle of War
and Exile by Nhua Al-Radi
# 956 ALR
A moving account of life in Baghdad during the first
war in Iraq by an Iraqi artst. Witness first-hand the
effects of bombing and embargoes on Iraqi people.
The Town That Forgot How to Breathe by Kenneth
J. Harvey
FIC H
In an isolated village in Newfoundland, the people start
coming down with a terrible breathing disorder. The
cod fishery is closing down, and fisher's nets are filling
with strange and magical creatures from local legends.
Oldtimer called Eileen Laracy gradually sees what is
happening - the people of the town are losing their
identity so much that even breathing is not natural.
The Poetrv of Peace edited by David Krieger
Call Number 821.8 KRI
A collection of winning poems from the Barbara
Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Awards. Poets from all
over the world write about Hiroshima, September 1 1,
Guatemala, and the threat of nuclear war. The poems
express the sorrow and loss that war and violence bring
but also find peace in relationships with each other, to
other living things, and to the earth.
Alzheimer's A to Z :Secrets to Successful Careeiving by Jytte Lokvig
#616.8 LOK
A simple guide to make living with Alzheimer's or
caring for a person with the disease less stressful.
Arranged under helphl alphabetical headings like baby
talk, exercise, incontinence and personal space.
Are you reading Stanlev Park? Want to talk about it
with other book lovers? Our "Main and Hastings Book
Club" meets at the Learning Centre on Thursdays at
noon - newcomers are welcome.
Your librarians, Beth and Natalie (Mary Ann is on
vacation)
Transition
...
I am currently enjoying freedom from the enslavement of drug-addiction, which is not to say that I
have stopped using drugs (although such is implicit
for hardcore drugs), rather that 1 am free of the obsession to use drugs and am in a healthier place
wherein simply existing from moment to moment,
joyful or not, is preferable to getting polluted.
This is significant in distinction from periods of
abstinence that are essentially breaks between binges
by a general state of being that now more honestly
affirms life itself, and although I spend just as much
time in fantasy, it is devoid of the usual fare of how
and when I can do more dope. Actually, I am quite
consumed by thoughts of one incredible woman who
has captured my heart and my imagination. This
event has been a strong determinant in the profound
change I'm experiencing.
The other component enabling change (away fiom
spending endless hours on my hands and knees picking through the filth of the alleyways in blind psychosis) is "Daytox" an outpatient detox program that
has been available for the last two years at Vancouver Detox. This program is valuable in that it allows
one to participate up to full-time in recovery oriented workshops without having to be institutionalized into a recovery house or treatment centre. It is
innovative, exploring more holistic therapies for
addiction, and is non-punitive towards relapse. It is
providing me with a daily routine that is flexible
enough to allow for a gradual integration into a more
respectable, healthy lifestyle, replete with a growing
capacity to face personal responsibilities.
The Daytox program is twelve-step compatible, but
is not based on twelve-step dogma itself, thank Allah! Although countless multitudes have benefited
fiom AA and NA participation, it has worked for me
only in conjunction with institutionalization and extreme neurochemical stimulation, (e.g. bicycling up
to 200kms. per day). This worked tine until I developed a close personal friendship outside of the "fellowship" and began to contribute back to the community, at which point the lifestyle became time
prohibitive and I relapsed. I shall not begin to criticize AA\NA and its cult nature here because its
dedicated adherents do tend to stay clean and sober,
which is the whole idea behind it. Suffice to say its
size doesn't fit all.
Gettine
" back to the aforementioned beautiful
woman, I fell in love like a child, and like a child I
am compelled to grow up. My amorous sentiments
are all neatly rejected (possibly due in some part to
bumbling ineptitude.), and I am left face to face with
the old stark realities that drive me to mood alter in
the first place. Feelings of being vulnerable, unlovable, inadequate, and shameful; of neediness and
hopeless desire; of despair for the fundamental
aloneness of existence; of growing old and ugly. My
instinct is to defend myself against my beloved's
scorn by rejecting her in turn fiom my heart, but 1
am endeavoring to transcend myself and own my
feelings. They are after all a warm and blissful glowing that 1 experience in my breast, and that can only
be a good thing. It is a colossal challenge: to heal a
lifetime of heartache and heartbreak, and to learn
that it is possible to love unconditionally without
measure dependant on reciprocation.
1 have no idea as to where this is all leading, but for
the moment it is working well for me. My sweetheart has (thankfully) offered me her (very) casual
friendship, and I look forward to seeing her again
like a beacon to guide my behavior and my thinking
by. She inspires me to be better -and 1 certainly
need the improvement. I suppose this is in accordance with the twelve-step philosophy of surrender
to a higher power; my capacity to love.
By Shawn Millar
Expressions of Interest: Woodward's Redevelopment Project
The City of Vancouver invites Expressions of lnterest from the following groups to participate in the
redevelopment of the former Woodward's store site
located at 101 West Hastings Street:
developers able and willing to develop all or some
of the site andlor building;
commercial tenants and retail businesses able and
willing to pay a market rent or price for space;
noamarket housing sponsors able and willing to
develop at least 100 units of non-market housing;
non-profit societies and other groups who have a
program they want to include in the redevelopment
but may not be able to pay a market rent or price
Streetscape Scenes
Carousing down the byways, alleys and lanes no tears
Perusing the dim bazaar through a cracking mirror
Sashaying woman roams in circular curves
Star-streaked sky is pressing down, hard yet deep
T aimless n homeless trickle down on knees they weep
Spotty puddles are sidestepped as they ripple and foam
Far-off music is causing frenzy, sadness and fear
Skipping supper: there just aint none to be had.
Blocks to line up for grub, may be good, maybe bad
Where to sit and rest a daily and growing concern
Trying to be calm, serene, not to fall, crash, and bum
Do you think about chucking it, throwing in the towel
Is this trip just tragic or a dreary dark dream
Do you wake, middle of the night, cold sweat, scream
I realize it's jarring and conhsing to be so extreme
But that's life on these streets -they are mean.
Is the end in your sights, have you devised a plan?
..in a haze of colourfi~ldolls and steeped teas
Take and make it upside down or sideways,
as you wish, as you please
Robyn
i
Learn Something about Desktop Publishing!!
Come see how it's done at the Learning Centre on
Thursdays from 1 - 2 pm
Take part in producing the book "How to Play
BOMBS For Peace & Profit" by L.F. Blomskog
Get it ready for the printer and a WebPage on the
Internet.
The Woodward's building has long played a pivotal
role in our city and it's time to re-energize the site
and the surrounding community. The redevelopment
of Woodward's will be a catalyst for firther economic revitalization in the area, providing employment opportunities for local residents and fostering
growth for business.
Expression of Interest doctlments are ACdilable at
the Citv of Vancouver Real Estate Setvltes ofice
at Suite 300 515 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver,
BC, starting August 11,2003.
Completed Expression of Interests must be received
by 4 p.m. PDT, September 19,2003. Faxed submissions will not be accepted. Please mail your submission to City of Vancouver Real Estate Services
453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1V4.
Developers are required to submit an Expression
of Interest in order to be considered eligible for participation in Request for Proposals (RFP).
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Michael Flanigan, Manager, Real Estate Services
michael flanigan~citv.vancouver.bc.ca
Phone: 604-873-7422
Thank you!
-
****p***************
Celine Mauboules
Central Area Planner, City of Vancouver
Tel: 604.871.6198 Fax: 604.873.7045
Learn more about the Woodward's project:
www.citv.vancouver.bc.c ~ o o d w a r d s
Nike loses case over freedom of speech
The US supreme court yesterday dismissed a claim
by the footwear maker Nike that a publicity campaign to counter allegations that it uses sweatshops
to make its products was protected by the right to
free speech.
The media, advertising and public relations industries had eagerly anticipated a ruling by the supreme
court in what was viewed by many as a crucial case.
A Californian anti-globalisation activist is suing the
company for allegedly making false claims and the,
refusal to rule on Nike's rights under the US constitution means the case can now proceed.
In the advertising and PR statements in question,
Nike defended the wages and conditions at its plants
in Asia where workers make trainers and other leisurewear. The company has issued various press
. releases and fact sheets about its use of overseas
labour and said that the statements were protected
by the First Amendment right to free speech. The
supreme court did not make a judgment on the case
but ruled that the claim had no place in the court.
About 40 large media companies formed a coalition
with conservative legal groups, the US Chamber of
Commerce, the American Civil Liberties Union and
other organisations to back Nike.
They argued that corporations would become reluctant to discuss sensitive issues such as the safety of
products, racial discrimination or environmental
concerns if they feared that those comments could
lead to a lawsuit. The Bush administration had also
backed Nike in the case, arguing that defeat would
give too much power to private corporate critics,
turning them into de facto censors.
Nike's critics said the company's defence hoodwinked consumers.
The San Francisco-based activist Marc Kasky sued
Nike in 1998, under a California consumer law
aimed at eliminating unfair competition and false
advertising. He said yesterday: "We now have the
opportunity to go to trial to determine if Nike's
comments were true or not. It could have been resolved very quickly five years ago by just going to
trial. Nike chose instead to seek protection under thc
First Amendment. l1
In the mid-90s Nike became a poster-child for the
anti-globalisation movement and faced a barrage of
allegations that it was exploiting workers, especially
women and children. The lawsuit claimed that Nike
knew workers were subjected to physical punishment and sexual abuse, endured dangerous working
conditions and were unable to earn a living wage,
despite often working 14 hours a day. It further alleged that the company, based in Beaverton, Oregon,
falsely portrayed itself as a "model of corporate responsibility" in an effort to boost sales. Nike said the
suit should be dismissed because the statements
cited were protected as free speech and were part of
a debate in the media.
By David Teather
A Tale of Two Soccer Moms
Everyday storiesfrom Main and Hustings:
Great Hearts Share their wealth.
Sometimes when I walk after midnight, I have the
hunch that Rod Serling - creator of the original version of the Twilight Zone- will be smoking his cigarette beneath the Four Corners Clock. Why? Because our neighbourhood is a parallel universe of
Paracelsus. . . among us it is possible to witness the
whole human drama: from tough-hard visions, to
portraits of the most humane mercy, so rare.
It happened two weeks ago, when I went to one of
the 'open late' corner stores to buy some bread, but
whoops.. .closing time had come and when the last
customer exited, that door was shut and the "sorrywe-are-closed" sign was turned facing the street. 1
knocked but knew it was beyond business hours. I
started walking away... and then noticed the last customer who was leaving the store (a woman maybe in
her fifties) was standing still there, looking at me. ..
"Trying to get smokes? she asked me. "No, just
some bread," I said.
She looked to me very serious. Her face was the
face of all the ages, and all the Peoples, the face of
the incredible resistance of human beings against the
every day predatory establishment. She opened her
bag, pulled out the loaf of bread she had bought, and
gave me a half ofthe whole thing. Amazed, I tried to
give her the toony I had in my hand; first she pretended to be upset, and then she laughed saying: "No
way, bread is free!" Quickly she said good night and
left. Suddenly I was walking on my own with a fresh
bunch of 100% wheat slices in my hands!
Next morning, when I was preparing my middle-of
the-day sandwich, I thought ofthe woman who gave
me her bread: a true Lady, far beyond the whole
theatre of European royalty. A very old story my
mother used to tell me long ago came with astounding clarity to my mind. Here is the story:
Once upon a time, a teacher of an all girls class, decided to celebrate "the day of the gift from the secret
friend". Every one of twenty five girls was to bring a
gift to give and exchange it with all her classmates.
The day came, and after the pompous teacher gave
her styled speech, every student got a gift and proceeded to open it After a few minutes of scratching
wrap paper, one of the girls complained: "this is the
worst ugliest teddy bear I've ever seen."The teacher,
who seemed very upset and on the verge of a nervous breakdown (the recipient of that unusual gift
was the city's mayor's daughter) asked in a grave
voice: "Who is the villain that brought such a horrible thing?'!Mence reigned for a couple of seconds
and then a firm little voice answered: "It is me!"
The teacher yelled: "How dare you? You should be
ashamed of what you have done!"
In less than a second the little lady got the teddy she
had given, and went on to say this:
"I am responsible, but not ashamed at all. My Mom
has been out of work for almost a year. With my
brother and my younger sister, we are barely surviving, and I did not have money to buy a present for a
secret friend. . .so I decided to give away my old
teddy. It was the most precious gift I have ever had.
To give it away was extremely hard for me, because
I loved it with all my heart: My dad gave it to me
when I was six, and now seven years have passed,
since he was killed, As a matter of fact, the price of
giving away my teddy did not match anything at any
store, but still I have been willing to give it to my
classmate. Now I think probably I'm going to be
expelled from this school, but that is better, because
from now on, I will help my mother to face the hardships of life, and to feed my family as my Father
would be doing if he were alive. It is very expensive
to be poor."
This article belongs to my neighbour, the Lady who
shared her bread with me, on that night in The Twilight Zone.
By Jorge Escolan-Suay
new element
Rummy at the Pearly Gates:
Donald Rumsfeld (U.S. Secretary of Defense) died
and went to heaven. As he stood in front of St. Peter
at the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks
behind him. He asked, "What are all those clocks?"
St. Peter answered, "Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on Earth has a Lie-Clock. Every time you lie the
hands on your clock will move."
"Oh," said Rumsfeld, "whose clock is that?"
"That's Mother Teresa's. The hands have never
moved, indicating that she never told a lie."
"Incredible," said Rumsfeld. "And whose clock is
that one?"
St. Peter responded, "That's Abraham Lincoln's The
hands have moved twice, telling us that Abe told
only two lies in his entire life."
"Where's Bush's clock?" asked Rumsfeld.
"Bush's clock is in Jesus' office. He's using it as a
ceiling fan."
The National Research Council (NRC) has recently
announced the discovery of the heaviest chemical
element yet known to science.
The new element has been tentatively named Governmentium.
Governmentium has I neutron, 12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy neutrons, and 224 assistant deputy
neutrons, giving it, an atomic mass of 3 12. These 3 12
particles are held together by forces called morons,
which are surrounded by vast quantities of leptonlike particles called peons.
Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert.
However it can be detected as it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute
amount of Governmentium causes one reaction to
take over 4 days to complete when it would normally take less than a second.
Governmentium has a normal half-life of 3 years; it
does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and
deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time,
since each ieorganization will cause some morons to
become neutrons, forming isodopes.
This characteristic of moron-promotion leads some
scientists to speculate that Governmentium is
formed whenever morons reach a certain quantity in
concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred
to as Critical Morass.
An apology and an Anniversary
This issue marks the 1 7Ihanniversary of the CarIt seems a fitting time to promote
the just released book
negie Newsletter.
The Heart of the Community
The Best of the Carnegie Newsletter
giving expression to the sight, sound and power over
15 years of a miracle at Hastings & Main.
It is at this point, at the beginning, that I admit and
apologise for a mistake that has violated the integrity
of one of the paper's most staunch supporters and
regular contributors, Sandy Cameron.
Anyone reading Sandy's articles ovef the years will
be impressed by his literary integrity in citing source
material and providing short bibliographies at the
end of most writing. One of hs rare submissions
without such numbered references was written following the death of Bruce Eriksen; Sandy wrote
from his heart and his long acquaintance with both
Bruce and his family - Libby Davies and son Leif.
This piece was selected for inclusion in The Heart of
the Community.
My mistake was not an accidental instance. Near
the end of this article I added two sentences, early in
the creation of the book while still in the selection
process. Memory has me wanting to include something about the so-called "Friends of Dera" but
space limitations and contextual requirements precluded dong so. 'Here's an article about Bruce adding 2 sentences will give air to his statements at
the time..' and on I went.
Having this brought to light now, by Sandy, has
shown me what such lack of respect can do to the
writer offended.. as I would be if such was done to
my work without my knowledge.
The added content begins with "Bruce came back
to.. ." at the bottom of page 110 and ends with "just
too stupid for words." at the top of page 111. (Even
the page number reference for Bruce's painting is
wrong, so correcting this lapse in judgment was
missed several times in subsequent drafts as well.)
Sandy, your contributions to and solid support of
our Newsletter have had profound effects on many.
Please accept my apology and rest assured that if
there is a 2ndPrinting, your work will be restored.
On a lighter note, the book is taking many people
by surprise! I was to contact everyone whose writing
or poetry was being included. Jancis Andrews got
back in touch after Libby's Mom heard Jancis was
back in Canada and tracked her down. Brenda Price
wrote a beautifid poem for Janice Saul but I never
knew her last name until Leith told her she was in
the book. Christine Puder had "no objection" to using her late husband Gil's writings while maintaining her family's privacy. And on and on and more!
The book retails for $24 and may be purchased at:
- Granville Books (850 Granville);
- People's Co-op Bookstore (1391 Commercial)
- Spartacus Books (3 1 1 West Hasting)
- Blackberry Books (Granville Island)
- Dutbie Books (2239 w.4Ih Avenue)
For those of you seeking a simpler way to get your
very own (even signed) copy, y
e
s
- you can come to
the Newsletter Office on Carnegie's 2ndfloor and,
for a donation of $24 ($1 2 if you're on welfare or a
pension) it happens. Get your fiiends, family, neighbours, strangers on the street or bus or train or ferry
to acquire one as well!! (Even DaVinci has one!)
"Not another one?!" Gawd, it's like a bad habit!!!"
By PAULR TAYLOR