c~ rnegi_;B~Y1. 2014 NE \/VSLET l ER camnews@vcnjcca

401 Main St, Van6A 2T7 604-665-2289

/r

carnnews@shaw.ca www.carnnews.org

23ra J\nnua(Women's JWemoria(~arch

Friday, February 14, 12 Noon.

Main and Hastings

March proceeds through the DTES, with stops to commemorate where

women were last seen or found; speeches by community activists at

the court house; a healing circle at Oppenheimer Park around 2:30

pm; and finally a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall.

B RRED

AUA.:it.S. l h·~\ \ '""'-' ~ ·'' k~l' Ull.Cl\\\11\0,.~ l, \, . '"'t~.\.n·llt'

tllllt!QMI: Lit Ll'IIVL: 1\l.ull • ,;1'" :\\INPAYS

t)Ala Ot- l~AK .. ~.mu.lt\' '•" .'lH-' nt't\lt'111'' \

\.QCI\'001:(,1'1\'1 I'N I't\W' t\NII ,.ll'tl Ill 1\\ <'·\l<t:•\ll :·

1-\f'h 1\lll'~· ~~'111•1

~''hS. \ \''"'nt t•fh.l'''" l hH"'"'''''~l . \ .•. f.•·• h t

"··l~~ ,._,, \··:, \t!ll\h•• , ,,, IP•l'"1~__.

~4 ....... 1!~\ """" ~ .. 1 ') ., ~~~lit""''''' ..... ~Ol\J.it A:t;[1QH lnh.•I•U n\,tln h'll\ ·"''' '" ~:~!\("

' I ll\ t e , ,,._,,,~ .. ,~. Ou Nut' •'''' '11

' ' ·'

CRUNCH -cttes HAPPY CHINeS£ N£w 'f£AI?.S ...

Isn't it wonderful! The few people presenting them­selves as Board members of the Downtown Neigh­bourhood Council have aggressively acknowledged their own wisdom, character and territorial rights. The photo above is of one of dozens of such posters taped to trees, poles, doors and so on. With Roland Clarke, erstwhile "in-charge"of the Sunday market at Pigeon Park acting as judge, jury & axe-man, a man has been label led as a monstrous criminal guilty of being a racist, violently disturbing/destroying months of Clarke's hard work. The police were never called, no evidence was ever heard, and the man was given no opportunity to defend himself. Hate seems too tame a word to describe Clarke's motivation and/or obsession in pursuing this man, harassing him and stooping to libellous and even criminal activities. !.Taking the right to refuse a stall at the market to anyone, to declaring such a rejection as justification for judge Clarke making it a punishable insult for the man just being on the street in that area. The man was standing in line for an event or meal at the Carrall Street church and was confronted by Clarke and his crew. He was told that he couldn't be there! Clarke had judged him and wasn't going to tolerate his presence. The pastor, Barry Babcock, came down and put himself between. this man & the gang threatening him. The pastor told Clarke that the man had every right to be in line on a public sidewalk and Clarke was violating his rights. Clarke and crew were given a simple lesson in civics but weren't hearing any of it. One person said, quite matter-of-fact, "Then we'll burn your church down." Despite that crime and the pastor's intervention, Clarke's gang drove the man away from the line and down the alley. 2.The man has talked to law students at a local clinic and is waiting for feedback from their supervising lawyer. He's also gone to the pol ice to ask about the legality of this kind of character assassination, libel and his banning by 'some guy on the street'(Clarke). 3.There is a letter in this issue from Ian MacRae. He is asking about the thousands of dollars given by the City of Vancouver to the DNC (Clarke) and the lack of any hint as to who or how it was distributed. An audit is just the ticket to get the machinations and behind-the-closed-door manipulations being carried out by people who many in this community are sick and tired of.

By PAULR TAYLOR

Roland's letter to the Registrar: Attn: Registrar of Societies Fax: 250-356-8923 Subject: Request for extension to deadline for 2013 AGM

Dear Registrar,

The Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Counci l (DNC) would like to request an extension to the standard 12 month calendar deadl ine of December 2013 for our Annual General Meeting. We feel confident that we can hold an AGM before March 31st, 2014. The reason for the request of this extension is that the Downtown Easts ide Neighbourhood Council has a board that is composed entirely of low income residents of the Downtown Eastside. With extremely limited funding, we have had trouble retaining board members, and with maintaining board cohesion. We had added a number of board members throughout this year and we are in the process of rebuilding our capacity after several previous board members chose not to run again for our board at the December 2012 AGM. In addition, and in an unfortunate turn of events, these same previous board members who chose not to run for the board and are now actively attacking the present board by putting up antagonizing websites, buying anti-DNC Tshi rts, and publishing anti-DNC rhetoric in local newsletters. This s ituation has made the conduct of an AGM extremely risky and problematic for the new board that has very little organ izational experience.

Thank you for your consideration, Roland Clarke Secretary of the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council

Dear LAPP Committee, City Staff & Counci1, FYI: '

Open letter to the BC Society Act registrar and the Downtown Eastside community at-large:

January 23, 2014

Repeal the DTES Neighbourhood Council's society act for breaching its m•embers' constitution & bylaws

We 43 General Members of the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council (DNC) are writing to oppose the extension requested by the current Directors of the DNC for the Annual General Meeting, requested by Roland Clarke in the letter below. We are requesting intervention by the BC Societies Registrar to correct the current Board's undemocratic hijacking of our organization.

Since these current Directors came to power in December 2012, the DNC has ceased to function according to its constitution and bylaws. Under this current board, DNC General Members have lost our sovereign direction over our organization. We are asking that the registrar rule that the society is defunct unti l it can ei ther elect a board that can follow DNC's established constitution, bylaws, and polic ies, or reapply for status under a different consti­tution and a different set of bylaws that it, as a new group, can follow. A list summarizing the most significant of the current Board 's constitutional and bylaw violations is appended below.

DNC's current Secretary-Treasurer Roland Clarke is primarily responsible for the division in the organization and for its paralysis regarding engaging its membership. Since driving his opposition off the board thirteen months ago, Mr. Clarke has pursued his own agenda and not the agenda voted on by the General Membership. Faced with a split and a widening political division within the DNC, largely over the question of whether to fight against or collaborate with business forces of gentrification, the General Membership voted, near unanimously, three times for DNC Directors to implement a neutral, third-party Mediation Process. All three times the current Directors failed to implement the process as directed. Instead, Mr. Clarke and a handful of his supporters created a host ile environment where many board members fe lt unsafe, discriminated against, ridiculed and, as a result, stopped going to board meetings. Since purging the Directors who disagree with him, Mr. Clarke has stacked the board with unelected replacement Directors through processes never ratified by the DNC's General membership.

We General Members of the DNC have been blocked from all democratic avenues with in our organization to

speak out against, or even discuss and vote on these sea-change turns orchestrated by the current DNC board. We fee l that the current Board has hij acked the DNC and betrayed its constitution and bylaws. making it into an unac­countable and unrepresentative organization. The DNC is now a DTES resident's organization in name only. We call on the Registrar of BC Societies to withdraw DNC's society status until the DNC can be shown to be act­ing w ithin the rules of its bylaws, constitution, and policies. We a lso call on the DTES commun ity, and communi­ties, individua ls and groups citywide, to support resident democracy in the DTES & w ithdraw support & recogni­tion from the hijacked DTES Neighbourhood Council.

S incerely, Alan O'Day, Ali Lohan, Beth Malena, Britta Fluvog, Brody Williams, Bruce Clarkson, Cassandra Tina Eastman, Charles Sanford, Colleen Boudreau, Dalannah Gail Bowen, Dave Diewert, Dave Hamm, Diane Wood, Dianne Tob-in, Egor Ma­rov, Fraser Stuart, Gena Thompson, Gordon Roe, Gwen Lagimodiere, Haro ld Lavender, Herb Varley, lan MacRae, Ivan Drury, Jennifer Allen, Karen Ward, Kelvin Bee, Lambert August, Lani Russwurm, Leith Harris, Maria Wallstam, Maxine Gadd, Patrick Foley, Page Turner, Paul Martin, Rolf Auer, Sid Tan, Stacey Bonenfant, Stephen Blumstein, Tami Star­light, Therese Lulf, Tom Delvecchio, Tracey Morrison, Victoria Bu ll , Wendy Pedersen. For more information contact: Tam i Star] ight, Founding Director, 604-790-9943

DNC board's major constitution & bylaw violations I. Undermining DNC general member sovereignty: Bylaw #2, introduction: "Membership is the sovereign

body of the DNC and elects the board of directors at the AGM. The members at the AGM or other speci­fied meetings can make decis ions on policy and actions. These decisions must be consistent with and in the best interests of the DNC mandate as outlined in the constitution." Very few of the current board's ac­tions are consistent with actions of past boards or in the best interest of DNC as outlined in the organiza­tion's constitution.

2. Stopping general meetings and member decision making: By law #16: The Bylaws do state that General Meetings are to be held according to the Society Act, which only requires one meeting a year, but they also state that the members may set a General Meeting schedule. DNC membe rs long ago set a schedule of monthly rather than yearly meetings and this practiced schedule, lmving bee n followed for three years without deviation (except for a break once a year), has established a rule of expectation. Addit ional to monthly General Meetings DNC members have also come to expect broader, town hall meetings on spe­cific topics that concern the broad commun ity. These meetings have becort)e a critical part of DNC's de­cis ion-making processes over the years. The current Board broke with both of these General Member­decided practices, effectively hijacking the organization. DNC's monthly meetings are how our organiza­tion functioned as a society for our members. Stopping these meetings is akin to denying the members any ro le or voice in our organization. Bylaw part 3, section 16 says that meetings can be held ·'in accor­dance with regular schedule set by the membership."

3. Breach of Board of Director appointing and electing process: Bylaws #62 and #51 and #.J: The Current Directors has not had quorum of 7 duly Elected Directors (Bylaw #62) pres'ent at Board Meetings for most of 2013. Only 5 duly Elected Directors remain on the Board today (Roland C larke. Jacek Lorek, James Oickle, Richard Cunningham and OJ Joe). Directors Roland C larke, Jacek Lorek and James Oickle created a climate of hostility and, after attempts to address and correct these issues, seven directors stopped going to Board meetings early on in 20 13 (Tami Starlight, Herb Varley, Kelvin Bee, Shannon Bundock, V ictoria Bull , Patrick Flegel, Tracey Morrison). Behind closed doors, this Board appointed seven new D irectors in the months since (see chart), and have been making decisions about the direction ofDNC. These new directors have never been ratified by General Members as called for in Bylaw #51: "the Directors shall appoint a Director to fill the vacancy from those applic~nts and then get their decis ion ratified at the next General meeting." And some of these appointees are not residents of the DTES and have not been accepted as " natural community members," nor have their appointments been approved by the membership as required by Bylaw 4: "a natural community member who has applied for membership

r ·

!"'

& has been admitted by a vote at a regular General meeting( ... ) may not run in Board e lections, but may be appointed to the board of directors as 'at-large' directors by the elected board & ratified by the General membership.''

4. Not all new board members are even members ofDNC: Bylaw #4: Debbie Krull, a newly appointed Di­rector, does not live in the Downtown Eastside and has not been ratified by the General Membership as called for in bylaw #4: "Natural Community members may not run in Board elections, but may be ap­pointed to the board of directo rs as 'at-large' directors by the elected board and ratified by the General Membership." There may be other newly appointed Directors who do not live in the Downtown Eastside, as well.

5. Incorrect procedures to remove directors: Bylaw #55: The seven purged Directors were not given notice that they would be removed, nor opportunity to defend themselves as Directors, as called for in bylaw #55: "A Director subject to a vote for removal by a vote of the members or Directors shall a. be given at least 7 days notice ofthe meeting where the vote will take place and be given a brief description of the reason and b. be given an opportunity to provide a defence prior to the vote being taken."

6. Stopping members from voting on a new board of directors: Bylaw #17: If their request for an extension for their AGM is granted then it will be another violation atop all the others that disenfranchise DNC General Members. The last AGM was held in December 2012. Bylaw #17 states: "Annual General Meet­ing shall be held at least once every calendar year and not more than 15 months after holding the last pre ceding AGM."

The current Board has violated the following points in the DNC constitution and DNC policies: 1. Collaborating with businesses and property owners and speaking out against anti-gentrification activists:

Constitution point #5 and DNC policy against market development in the DTES: The current Board is violat ing DNC Constitution point #5, which does not just compel the DNC to oppose gentrification in words, but through actions: "We strive to stop gentrification and the involuntary displacement of DTES residents." The current Board has aligned with business and property-.owner interests against the low­income community by issuing public statements and taking part in a news conference denouncing a low­income community-led picket of a gentrify ing business, "Pidgin Restaurant". In response to the expan­sion of that picket campaign to another gentrifying restaurant, "Cuchillo," the current Board invited the manager of the hotel rooms upstairs to a board meeting to strategize the future of the neighbourhood to­gether. This manager was accused by residents and advocates of act ively harassing and pushing-out low­income tenants. These actions also violate DNC's January 8, 2011 resol ution against market development in the DTES: "The Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council (DNC) resolves to oppose any new mar­ket housing developments in the DTES until nobody is homeless or at risk of homeless ness. We oppose any non-profit agency collaboration with real estate developers for any market housing development in­cluding so-called "social mix" developments and including the negotiation of "Community Benefits Agreements" for market housing developments in the DTES."

2. Hostility, disrespect, and abuse towards DNC members: Constitution point #13: "We aim to honor, re­spect and celebrate the members of our community, including the racially oppressed founding communi­ties of the DTES- Coast Salish, Black, Chinese, and Japanese- and our community's history of working for social and economic justice by continuing this work with care, love and camaraderie as our guiding principle."

• First, the current board refused to set up a confl ict resolution process, as thrice decided by DNC members, and instead harassed individual board members and used invective and insult instead of the kind and careful leadership needed to heal widening division in the group.

• Second, the current Board has attacked DNC founder Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) by denouncing them to their funders and joining with a public s lander campaign- carried out by

•

3.

'·Gastown Gazette" calling for CCAP's funding (and even all of Carnegie Centre's funding) to be can­celled.

Third, they undemocratically purged DNC's delegate to the City's Local Area Planning Process (LAPP) co-chair seat. Herb Varley. a Nisga'a I Nuu"Chah'Nulth youth with life-long DTES involvement. was elected by DNC members in the fa ll of 2012 to represent their interests at the Planning table, and Herb worked constantly and c losely with all low-income delegates to this table in a low-income caucus, while the Board remained indifferent to the goings on at LAPP. Suddenly, the current Board's interest in the process was piq ued and they held a closed meeti ng with exc lusively City and non-low-income com­munity LAPP co-chairs, and purged Herb without a consultation or word of thanks for all his countless hours of work in the process and without ever consulting DNC members. Funding and fund raising policy: In the spring of 20 13, the DNC board received $5,000 in funding suppo11 from VanCity Credit Union. $5,000 is a significant sum for DNC, which had never received such a large amount of money before and operated on a shoestring through all three previous years. The current Board never held a General Meeting, or any consultation with members to decide how this money shou ld be spent, which projects or campaigns it should be dedicated to, or even if it should be spent on board main­tenance. However, the current Board did spend this money. Members do not know what it was spent on, who received it, nor how much was spent on the Board itself. Board mi nutes posted in the Fall of 2013 indicate that the money is nearly all depleted, and that at least some of it was shared amongst board members as honorariums. Although the funding has since been renewed with an addi tional $ 10,000 from VanCity, DNC members have still not been engaged about how to dedicate these resources. This secre­tive Board fund spending violates the DNC Funding policy point 2 under "transparency," adopted March 5, 2011 by the DNC membership: "All funding received by the DNC must be announced and funding de­cisions must be discussed and ratified by the DNC membership at a General Meeting."

~---~--~~·~ ¥

Songs of the Civil Rights Movement

A Special Concert commemorating Black History Month

with Dalannah Gail Bowen' Marcus Mosely, Will Saunders, Joani Bye and Michael Creber

Wednesday, February 12th 7-8 PM

in the Theatre at Carnegie Community Centre

Last Week a Carnegie member attempted to take a trif' of her life time she bought her ticket. went to the airport, was to change planes in the USA and lly on to another country. The US Customs denied her en­try. I wrote a poem about this. Hope it can be pub­lished in order to put in perspective how things are being run and how the poor are being ruined.

-Colleen Carroll

Welcome mat is out in the USA Operation Paper Clip, The USA invites a ll top Nazi criminals to come.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO THE USA. Iran Contra, Claus Barbie

YOU ARE WELCOME TO THE USA. Fast and Furious, why we even pay your legal fees and offer protection. Give you guns to kill Ameri ­cans and Mexicans with.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO TilE USA. Steal the homes of the American People,? Of course all bankers welcome! You are too big to prosecute.

You may travel in and out every day in any way. YOU ARE WELCOME TO THE USA

Steal billions of dollars with a Wall Street scam. YOU ARE WELCOME TO THE USA.

Steal the food from the poorest in St. Petersburg, causing tens of thousands to die of hunger and our red carpet appears.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO THE USA. Steal the resources from South Africa and we roll out another red carpet. Give you a medal when you come (-"or a visit.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO THE USA Kill over 3,000 Americans on 9-11, tell lies that get over a million killed, no problem you are free to travel the world.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO THE USA. Get caught over 40 years ago, stealing food to feed

your hungry child, or with a joint. "Sorry you can' t even pass through our country. We

want to keep all people with a criminal record out. YOU ARE NOT WELCOME IN TO THE USA. "

You are not the kind of criminal we welcome to even touch down in our country. You MUST have a LOT of blood on your hands before we whip out the wel­come mat. We are US Customs & we like to keep your kind out

WELCOMING THE BIG CRIM INALS IS WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT.

7 Wakey'Wakey Time was, seems like long ago wake up happy wondering what's in store, what good shit

come my way today but li ke the song sez life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone with those words in that song now I wonder where d'it all go wrong?

These days wake up worried what kinda shit they throwin' today? what bug-out-greaseball hafta fight off what menacing psycho gonna lay their never-ending shit on me?

Today hadda comfort ol' El izabeth crazies in the shelter makin it harder than it needs to be, turns to me cryin ' and needing a great big hug Tear~ me up holding an old lady in tears chased out by the bus, no shelter in the shelter, oh no, it's reserved for all the assholes making it impossible for a poor half crazy ol' lady to rest her head in a shelter bed

See the govt too busy take care of people the way they should cry if you have to won't do you no damn good

Here in world's largest outdoor looney-bin way people get treated is a sin Cost too much to harbour the poor they'd like to sec us all dead that's for sure

It's a sick sick world and there ain't no cure don't help to scream stop they don't care just treat us all like we ain't even here ..

AI

Winter Festival @ Oppenheimer

& Parb ~ Fabulous Music! Delicious Meals!

~R~ Great Worbshops and Programs!

Feb 5 - Feb 7 2014 In the ENTERTAINMENT Tent

Wednesda!l' Feb Sth Community Expo 11:30-

2:00pm

Thursda!l' &c Frida!!', Feb 6 &c 7th 12- 3pm

Fun Activities including Food Jeopardy,

Oppenheimer's Got Talent, Story Telling, & Expressive

Arts, Food Charting

Afternoon &c Evening Performance• 3pm- 9pm

All-star lineup including ....

Star Child Drum, Harmony of Nations, Nasty, Brutish

& Short with Haisla Collins, Dalannah Gail Bowen & Michael Creber, Shawn Giroux & band, Carnegie

Jazz Band, Sunshine Choir, City Opera, Ethos

Ensemble with Randy Doherty, Sawagi Tail:?o,

Michael Edwards Nardachioni, Michelle Richards &

Band, Drum circle with Ron Stelting, Stephanie

Swenson, Shannon Bauman, Barrio Flamenco, Still

Waggin', Naomi Steinburg, Henry Charles, Caroline S.

In the FOOD Tent

BREAKFAST sam (No llcheh Required)

LUNCH 12pm/1pm lhurtday, Friday Feb 6, 7 ONLY

DINNER Spm/6pm/7pm

Please Picl:?-up meal ticl:?ets 1 hour prior to each seating

Brought to you by The Carnegie Community Centre and

Oppenheimer ParR. HomeGround acl:?nowledges & honours the fact that our community lies within Traditional Territory

of the Coast Salish People

!!&! up to Volunteer for Ho11eC111111d 21141

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 11-1@ Oppenheimer Park

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3 2- 4 @ Carnegie Community Centre 401 Matn St

on theist floor in front of the Ltbrary

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

11:00-12:30 @ Lifeskills Centre 412 E. Cordova St

1·3 0 Oppenheimer Park

[AN Ode to Life ... ]

l'm gunna start off by asking u a question. Have u ever had that feeling when you wake up and u just wish u were still dreaming, just have one more moment in peace. When you wake up and u think of everything terrible thats happening and nothing good, guilt and fear builds up inside of you that you don't even know what to do with yourself so u just go back to sleep. "Fuck it" is what u say it's just one day I can sacrifice. Then that "one day" turns into every day, and everyday turns the same to you. Nothing exciting nothing changes, but u hope for change and for the better but do nothing about it. You do nothing for yourself but hope u can get better one day and feel happy wi thout the pain to get there. I hate that feeling. It's like you're stuck in the same pattern everyday you're trapped in this delusio n that you think you're going to get better, that maybe today will be different, maybe something wi ll happen today that will excite me, make me feel worth something. Everyday repeatedly getting turned down, shamed o n. Everyone wants the change. But it's up to u in the end, being too much of a coward to face it but you know in your heart only you can make u happy and only u can change your ways. All the help in the world can't make u do anything unless u want to. AI! the inspirat ion is gone now. Doing things you love isn't the same. Forcing yourself to love the things you used to, it doesn't work no matter how much you try. u s it there wondering where your spirit went, where your soul went, it's like you're an empty shel l. Conversations aren't interesting. u can't stay concentrated anyways to talk to someone either, or even look them in the eye. So, U try to talk to yourself, telling yourself everything's going to be oKay as you swallow the lump in your throat. So sensitive that even when someone asks you "how was your day" u just cry, and u can't even help it, it's all that's left . It takes away the better of you, making u feel empty and cold. It changed your ways, your life, your style; your family and friends they can't trust you. You start to make decisions and choices you never even thought you'd make ever or even thought of before. You steal from your mother and fathers, sister and brothers, just to feel it one more time. No limits, even when you know it's wrong, you start to not Care. Your conscience is gone and your spirit is nothing; you're • empty. One thing on your mind constantly, like a headache that doesn't go away no matter how many Advils you take. lt's like a stab in your back what u did to yourself. U can't forg ive yourself and think how stupid I, that l ever had done this . U think of all the things you did at once I ike a current of dirty water rushing through your head a ll at once. Nothing makes u happy. U try to turn to people to talk to but they don't understand what it's like, some call u selfi sh some cal lu stupid. U don't understand what u have clone sou ignore your thoughts and u block it out and convince yourself u haven't done anything wrong. that people are over dramatic. Everyday u slowly start to die, and this t ime u know it. It doesn't bother you though. U stat1 to accept what it does to you, u a lrl'lOst start to enjoy the pain, the g uilt, the troubles you go through. It only takes o ne decision to change it a ll. U feel a spark of hope opening up. But it seems like I in a million that this wi ll go through. That U can get better and that u can heal and dare to erase the damage you've done. I think about this very often. A lmost all day. U start to encourage yourself to change and be a better person. The world needs change and dammit if that change doesn't happen sometimes .. Runawaying from the thoughts once again u make the wrong choice, it becomes a habit, something so hard to break it becomes a patt of your li festy le. What would u do without it u don't know. Nothing is like it. Step by step Little by li ttle u make the change. U start to become desperate for it. Almost as desperate as u were for the drug. Wishing u cou ld do it all in one day. But one day is no time at all for a change li ke that. U hope the pain is quick and easy. But it's not. Remorse, guilt, humility and negativity come back when u try for the first time. A ll the time you've wasted, it comes back to you. U feel what u have done to yoursel r. So u sit and u ask yourself, why?

By Samantha K

Older Women Living in Poverty: Part 2

Anna Maria Tremonti is one of the CBC's most well-known journalists. She was their main reporter in the Middle East. Now she heads up the corpora­tion's weekday morning program called 'The Current'. A few weeks ago l was listening to her interview with Professor Stephen Lewis, who is or was a professor of social policy at Simon Fraser University. Tremonti asked him what was a social program that Canada needed. He said that there should be an early educa­tion program for young Canadians.

I agree but as he talked I thought of the older women I know who are struggling financially. I wrote about two of them in the last issue of this newsletter. Now it's time to talk about a woman I'll call Leanna though this is not her real name.

Leanna is disabled and lives in housing co-op in Metro Vancouver. She has a son and a daughter who she rarely sees. Her former husband is rich but does­n't give her any money. ller two children, now both adults. have sided with their father after their parents were divorced and rarely sec Leanna.

"My son is wealthy," she says. "But he doesn't give me any money either."

Leanna will soon get a pension at age 65. I ler present $905 a month disabled pension will be re­placed by a payment from the federal government of over $1300 a month. Yet the co-op wi ll take nearly 40 per cent of that. Rising medical costs will eat up even more of that cheque.

Also Lcanna has recently lost two of her closest friends to death. "Loneliness, isolation and sickness are the affliction of the aged in every economic class," wrote the American progressive Michael Har­rington over 50 years ago. "But for those who are 1 poor, they are more lonely, more isolated and sicker." I

This is still true. Some of Leanna's problems as I well as those of the two women I wrote about in the newsletter's last issue, could be solved. In her book

'Small Expectations', published nearly 30 years ago. Leah Cohen called for the federal government to double the Old Age Security payment. The federal government should do this nO\\. Also the provincial government should stop clawing back Canada Pen­sion Plan payments made to older citizens. especially older women living on welfare or disability. This has happened to Leanna . . Also C.P.P. payments should be raised by quite a

b1t. And welfare payments should be raised to older and younger Canadians. These payments are way below the poverty level.

Yet will any of this happen? Not yet, that's for sure. So I'm not against having an early education cour~e for very young children as Professor Stephen Lew1s wanted on Anna Maria Tremonti's show. But 1 hope that one day Canadian governments won't forget the many Canadian women at the other end of the age ladder. They need help roo.

·~

By DAVE JAFFE

Become the Change

I have lied ... Become the change

~have cheated ... Become the change

I have stolen ... Become the change

I have misled ... Become the change

I have envied ... Become the change

I have put down ... Become the change

I have loved ... Become the change

I have realized ... Become the change

I have ... Become the change

Thall hoped for

MKGreen

EDEN Medicinal Society 161 E Pender Vancouver V6A 1 T5 (604-568-9337)

Richard Loewen has been a client with us for some time now and he is one of the people who have benefited greatly from the use of cannabis capsules. Richard approached me yesterday and said that he wanted to get the word out via your small local publication, as he has experi­ence in media and he is passionate about the issue. I fully support Richard to communicate with other community members in any media format he sees fit in regards to the services we provide here at Eden.

-Adolfo Gonza lez C. EMS Director adolfo@myeden.ca www.myeden.ca

The current controversy over med ical marijuana has my hackles up. With our current government getting involved l feel afraid that what is now workable and adequate will be altered to something that will be harder and more burdensome for the clients using any of the establishments now serving medical marijuana to grateful patients. Seems to me that when the feds get involved things get more convulated rather than easy or manageable. You'll have to forgive my cyni­cism. lt probably arises from watching government after government bungle the issues most Canadians care about. The new set of rules (called the MMPR) is a source of consternation for me and most of my fellow medical cannabis users. I throw a big shout to Eden Medicinal Society. They

offer a unique program to allow opiate users to re­ceive a reduced rate on what are referred to as "kush caps"; capsulised I 00% organic plant matter contain­ing specific amounts ofTHC, CBD and CBN. While THC has a beneficial cerebral effect that helps to manage pain, CBD also acts as a natural anti- inflam­matory that actually reduces swelling at the source. From my experience cannabis used in this form has far out-performed a vast array of pharmaceuticals and it does so without any damaging side effects. In addi­tion it improves my mood&, unlike Prozac, Benzo's or most of the other pills I have been prescribed over 1

the years, cannab is capsules come with no with-drawal consequences. Recently I've been walking around with a walnut-sized cavity in my mouth so

you can imagine this causes me a great deal or pain, on top of the long-term chronic pain issues that I struggle with. The 25m! CBD capsu les I have been using kill that pain as well as, say, Percocet but with­out the chance of dependency. So, from both a psychological and a physical stand­

point, the use of medical marijuana has had nothing but positive effects for me. Thousands more like me could be helped. This program is a great help to those struggling with opiate addiction in the DTES & is the kind of initiative that this community sorely needs.

Being Old

being old means that one is forever burdened

Richard A Loewen

by the bullshit of the young the punks who at their zen ith end up pickin scraps ti·om the buffet of life

being old means you know better but still want to murder punks all I see when 1 look at tbem struggle thru life on the streets end up having to defend yourself against those who probably won't ever get to being old

Ralph Dolittle A Proposal for the Post-SO's Set

Way Back Yonder it was all peace signs and Tie­Dye, acid and free love but with Watergate the dream died. Now. 40 years later, us old hipsters are getting beaten, robbed and abused by our offspring. However I can proudly say my kids show R-E-S-P-E-C-T and expect (and get) their own.

What we need is a Seniors Self-Defense League. Surely among us someone could come up with a Zip Gun in a cane. Myself, I'd go for a single 410 shell at the ready in my steel pipe cane. It has come to this my friends. Personally I don't have the slightest in­tention of becoming anyone's victim.

Time to become the antithesis of what we started out as. If and when your ass is in court, just chalk it up to 'OI'Timers Disease.'

Grizzly

A Dance Improvisation Worl<shop

with Helen Wall<leY How does our love of spontaneous motion translate

into vital expression in dance?

This workshop is intended for anyone who loves to

move and is curious about the nature of improvisa­tional dance, the possibility to create and relate movement in the moment.

A warm-up process will connect and mobilize our whole bodies. Improvisational structures will follow to develop dynamic range and spatial relationships.

Tuesdays 3 - 5 pm February 18, 25 and March 4, 11 18 & 25 in the Gym @ Carnegie, 401 Main Street

Maximum number of participants: 12 Please register at the Program Office by February 14

Helen Walkley is a contemporary dance artist, certified Laban Movement Analyst and registered

Somatic Movement Educator who has taught, created and performed for over 30 years in United States, Germany, the Netherlands and Canada. She is currently based in Vancouver.

PREDICAMENTS Push, pull, shove; no give, all take; that's the deal what's the pitch? Just stay away from don't bug me don't crowd me do not block me back off get away GO now leave me be ... respect my minimal fragile space. I have been here way longer than you, I was here first. don ' t rush me .. i'm gonna keep moving at my own special pace, like I don't have a care in the world .. (to be) no longer stressed out, disregarding past dark nightmares, a childhood stunted/lost/never to be repeated -sadly stolen

------\\' ho cares about that s ituation but me but that's why it' s especially important: case closed as far as I'm concerned. Our world seems to be shrinking. There's a lot of space worldwide, much of it uninhabited: too hot, too cold, too much water or too little, infertile. What's to be done about all of this turmoil confusion unsustain­ability .. . beats me.. i'm just gonna keep doing my own thing- to fix this massive predicament I sure as heck don 't know so you tell me! Otherwise I'll just leave it up to the so-called '·experts" ...

ROBYN LIVINGSTONE.

THE REACTIONARIES The future is taking hostages applications can be filled out while waiting please read the ransom notes neatly piled on the desk by the door, as you check off life instead of death and emptiness overclutter and mess you seem confused. Don't worry I have seen every scene just do your best I implore, Democracy made entire generations stick up for only oneself others well I guess they must suffer life is a spectators' sport, sponsored by the ones who choose for themselves a race of people running against time once more this means punishment down the road there simply are no rules past, present and further that I can willingly support, the people who labeled you expendable offer a nourishing cup of starbuck's ditch water-flavoured coffee and you say ·'Thanks I needed that" no you didn' t but it is free sort of like a bullet in the head, Expo 1867 made reactionaries of us all tak­ing things not ours to touch then later distanced them­selves from the likes of us -the selfishist trigger fin­gered ones concluded we would be more useful dead, like all us oranges being anarckisted by the sun fresh fruit replaces rotting vegetables anarchy is energy when used correctly all must remember that one sec­ondhand opinion can destroy an entire race, like a world without war or a body without cancer when Santa Claus is shot down and your screaming kids are begging for answers wi ll you lie to ease their pain or just let the deafening silence do the talking Reactions will vary but let them know this is not a world full of evi l tranquility exists even in this lonely place, No more feeding the poor with shredded 100$ bills or building driveways for the homeless and free straight­jackets for the mentally ill as for the depressed a© Happy Face t-shirt one-: trust is gained it's time for us all to be destroyed ... Now stand up opn your own two feet and act like a man who is owed his share of life and all transactions begin by demanding compensation for being dragged into this world you never asked nor cared for yet hold on to your reactions & I'll tell you why the reaction­aries are coming and they are very annoyed, Now throw away the part of you that dies every day and fill up the empty parts that create chaos with the real you even just a little each day -that is very good­you are learning soon you will be the kind of person you've wanted it's not like you are asking for it all , and in times of stress, anxiety and grief think of what

you've done to get this far get up and out moving those invisible chains nothing l repeat nothing further than the closest star but just in case you have their number give the reactionaries a call. That's all.

By ROBERT McGILLIYRA Y

"Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery.'' -Jane Austen

( /"

I [_

In January Gallery Gachet presents­Evan Sabourin's '365 Days'

Exltibition runs: January 31st - March 2nd, 2014 Opening reception: Fri, Ja11 3P'', 7- 10 pm

Evan Sabourin's '365 Days' has been a long time in the making. The exhibit, which includes his spray painted narration of the 12 steps and a new series of paintings, documents Sabourin's recovery from addic­tion, and hi s associated struggles, successes, and fail­ures. With dark w it, Sabourin's text-heavy works de­scribe his navigat ion of the twelve steps, ethos of the AA/Narcotics Anonymous program, a narrative that is all at once funny and sad and politically illuminat­ing. The journey is at times uncomfortable & shame­less, & is relevant to most anyone with a desire for self improvement or an inkling of the lugubrious.

c~rnegiec~ N E ,. J_S_b-ET 1 ER _ '"""'"~s©··· , _,

THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION

Articles represent the views of individual contributors and not of the Association.

WANTEC Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter

oSmaU illustrations to accompany articles and poetry.

" Cover art- Max. Size:17cm(6 .7")wide x 15cm(6")high. .. Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the

Downtown Eastside, but all work considered .

.. Black & White printing only. • Size restrictions apply (i.e. If your piece is too large,

it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit). • All artists will receive credit for their work. • Originals will be returned to the artist after being

copied for publication. • Remuneration: Carnegie Volunteer Tickets.

DONATIONS 2013: (Money is needed & welcome)

Sheila B.-$259 Jenny K.-$25 Elsie McG.-$15(1 Terry & Savannah -S100 RobertMcG.-$100 Leslie S.-$125 Laila B.-$65 Dave J.-$38 Christopher R.-$100 Anonymous -$25 Bob S.$200 Laurie R.-$70 Penny G.-$60 Yukiko-$20 ' Ellen W.-$23 Eleanor B.-$60 Nathan E.-$50 Maxine B.-$20 Tom W.-$25 Michelle C.-$100 Janet W.-$100 Renee S.-$23 Barb & Mel L-$150 Gail C.-$25 Michael C.-$50 Susan S.-$50 Ron C.-$25 In memory of Sandy Cameron(Mary R) -$100 Amy V.-$25 Shyla S.-$200 Maureen 0.-$50 { Muggs & Bob -$300 Donald G.-$50 BCTF -$200 Harold & Sharron D. -$100 Barbara M%-$150 Marga•·et 0.-$40 Lisa & Jason 8 .-$50

Craig H.-$500 Glenn B.-$200

··Never doubt that a small group of thoue:htful committed citizens ..:an chan~e the ··wid Indeed it is the only thing that ever I; as." -Margaret Meade

Vancouver's non-commercial listener supported community station.

Next issue: SUBMISSION DEADLINE TUESDAY,_ FEBRUARY 11TH

: make submissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan 1\lfLA Working for You

1070-1641 Commercial Dr, V5L3Y3 Phone: 604-775-0790

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTIO~

http://chodarr.org/taxonomy/term/3 lnde_, carnnews@shaw.ca email

www.camnews.org website 60.J-665-2289

DNC: Past and Pleasant

M) experiences at past DNC meetings were topical, relevant and energetic when it came to discussing issues of interest to Downtown Eastside residents. I looked forward to each one knowing that people who normally don't have a voice and whose opinions are not sought get the opportunity to speak out and join other like-minded individuals in developing strategies to improve the outcomes for poor people in this community. (I remember a meeting at Carnegie some years back when a member raged against Ivan for cancelling just one membership meeting in August because of the heat without approval of the member­ship). At that time, meetings were held monthly and a cohe­sive bond was struck between the leadership and the members at large.

l am such a member; I carry a card in my pocket but can no longer believe I'm quite sure why.

In the Jan. 24 Vancouver Sun, an article appeared describing the value shift between some dedicated activists and the current Board --a board which never calls meetings and , for a ll intents and purposes has shrunk the membership down to a handful of self­promoting functionaries who meet with City of Van­couver officials; collaborate with resident associa­tions in False Creek and Strathcona that don't speak positively to issues that matter to poor people, take policy decisions like endorsing the ?roposal to r~­move the viaducts which wi ll gentnfy the area ltke an avalance, all in the name of the DNC, whose membership was never consulted on any of these matters. In the article Roland Clarke mentions in one sentence that certain "extremists" were ousted from their posi­tions yet later on suggests they stepped down from their positions in 2012. Which is it? 1 suggest the lat­ter as the membership at large was never asked to "oust" anybody.

Roland Clarke claims that his board is striving to be a moderate lot with a business friendly agenda. Wel­come to Pleasantville. I was at the AGM when this current crop of appeasers was elected and I don't re­call any of them promoting these kinds of measures. Had they done so--it's called being above board and is considered an honourable approach to democratic politics at any level-- I doubt the membership would

have seen the wisdom of sell ing the low-income community down the river by electing any of them in the first place.

When any organization disrespects its own member­ship by refusing to hear from them, that is the time for ousting to begin in earnest.

Ian MacRae.

\,\~ .... ·-~--=~~

--~ J li( \ -- ~-~~~ \ / r -~ ~.r~~---1 ((\~ '~~-

FrOm the LibrarY Hello! I have two quick library updates, then a per­

sonal message to share. Blu-rays are now here! At the moment, we only have a small number of them, but the collection of Btu­rays will grow. You can always ask a staff member to place a request on a Blu-ray title - the Library system owns several hundred titles in btu-ray so far. Come see our new display: StaffPicks. In addition

to our weekly display in the glass cabinet, we have just started a display of"staff picks." Sometimes we pick 'em because we love 'em. and sometimes we pick 'em because - well, we think someone else will. Guaranteed, there is an ongoing variety for you!!

Instead of book reviews for this issue. I'd like to share a personal message. I want to extend a really big, really heartfelt THANK YOU to all the staff, volunteers and patrons who make the Carnegie Cen­tre such an amazing place to work. (Yes, dear Li­brary staff, this message includes you, too). As quite a few of you already know, my mother passed away in early January; and when I returned to work I felt such incredible support and acceptance for whatever I might be experiencing. This made my retur~ to work so much easier than I ever expected. So agam, thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts or listened to mine. It helped remind me how much kindness is constantly, actively floating around this building.

See you in the library, Stephanie (Carnegie Librarian)

. . ·. · .Organized by~· · The· LAPP Low-Income ca·ucu~ · & the ·Carne~ie· Community Action ProJect:

·· ·aa·· • • 0

. . . . ~ . . ·, . ) . . . •. . -' .. . • - -~: ·, . l - ' - ~- ~ .. ··· .. ·· ... •. l\\ f.l1 '>

. - ' • • • ; . ; • • . ~· • • ., • . ... • • • • • ;_. • ' . •. • • ,J.. • . . • • • . • ?··

TELL US IF YOU THINK THE LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY SHOULD SUPPORT THE CITY'S PLAN FOR THE DTESI

TAMARACCAP@GMAil.COM 604-665-2105 WWW .CCAPVANCOUVER. WOR DPRESS.COM