Contents
- A Harvest of Inhumanity
- Christmas Wishes, Desperate Dreams
- Cash Registers and Christmas Trees
- get homeless people on welfare
- a yellow something covering his body
- Merry Christmas
- Christmas Eve At Muskrat Lake
- Dear Friends, [Ellen Woodsworth]
- Dear Inspectors Rolls and Petit:
- OF LOVE
- An Old-Time Miner Speaks
- School Holiday
- Humanities 101 Community Program:
- Apples and Oranges
- Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
- Welfare cuts
- do you know
- News from the Library
- “To the People of the Carnegie Kitchen”
- Music Program Random Notes
- “Signs of the Times”
- SAGA OF A DUMPSTER DIVER
- THE GOLDEN BIN
A Harvest of Inhumanity
My community -the downtown east side of Vancouver- has been under siege for many years. But during the last five years, the pounding and unmerciful attack over a community that has endured tough adversities -not only neglected but systematically crushed-, has escalated to the point where people spending the long cold winter nights on the sidewalks -some of them very ill with no food- are now the object of a subtle annihilation. This is nothing but A Harvest of Inhumanity.
Both the general public and media confirm that there are many similarities all over British Columbia. The designers of such an inhuman model should not be proud of their work. That model generally has lead to disaster in other places on the planet. Some of those designers and developers even have the nerve to claim huge hikes to their already high wages and bonuses, and they know they can get more for themselves from more and more cuts to essentials for the poor. Shame. Every once in a while, they express that they are very proud of what they have done.. .and even more proud of what is yet to come. We wonder.
The homelessness rate and the other indicators of poverty have increased considerably. If the proud designers/developers would take the time to walk through our neighborhood, they will clearly appreciate that our community -integrated by human beings- needs help and more resources for health, education, trainings that lead to work and strong programs that will alleviate the situation of people living in clear disadvantage -not the other way around. Furthermore, in some circles of our community there are fears that the attack on social housing, through more cuts or elimination of subsidies, could be the next step of The Harvesters of Inhumanity. That could lead to the obliteration of our neighborhood. Is that the final solution they have for us before 2010?
It seems that the designers of this Harvest have forgotten the values that a place to be called "the best place on earth to live" must accomplish. Those values must accord with international standards of tolerance, compassion and non marginalization. Maybe they should take a look at the definition of those values in the glossary of the United Nations, because to ignore (or the subtle writing off of) the referred values, usually leads to the loss of seats in parliaments. Such sad practice also leads to the loss of business due to insecurity but, more importantly, to the loss of lives of people in need. They talk about globalization; well, if we are to pay attention to that -very globally- some countries are taking to court, indicting, judging and putting in jail those former presidents, prime ministers, premiers, mayors, etc; who, in one way or another, have caused damage, repression and persecution of the poor.
The cost of managing that Harvest of Inhumanity not only may exceed doubtful budget surpluses, but also could generate the very same roots that will surely lead to one more even incredible human society as a whole that eventually will bring more suffering and chaos to everybody, including the Designers and their promoters, and of course to our children's children.
Harvests of Inhumanity have happened in the past; they have put communities under siege. But history has shown that communities under systematic harassment have been able to endure the most well organized and brutal sieges. The total collapse of the Nazi army began on May 9, 1944, with the heroic resistance of the community at Sevastopol. A year later Sevastopol was awarded the title of Hero City. Communities under siege can turn the tables and can be winners. My community is a hero city.
By Jorge Escolan-Suay
[Postscript: This article is dedicated to the person who died very ill, hungry and cold on Hastings Street, on December 4, 2005. He was found dead lying on the ground, beside his wheelchair. It is a harvest of inhumanity.]
Christmas Wishes, Desperate DreamsChristmas Wishes, Desperate Dreams
Glows of red and green in colours seasonally bright
Cause giddy happiness with everyone you love in sight
Nothing else you could think of allows such lovely fun
Lying in glistening snow under the solstice sun.
Can you hear the gleeful cheers –some sing the carols
This time of year I feel little fear, roll out the barrels
Don’t want to rest nor drift off to sleep
Dancing ‘round the yuletide tree, just taking a peek
Sliding down a chimney, old St. Nick sure gets around
He sleighs hither and yon, white-bearded he flies
Everywhere, beyond depression and around despair
Have some rum or eggnog set out with loving care
If you wish hard enough dreams may live as never before
I see the amazing magic reflected in your eyes
You’ve heard the tune where all your dreams are realized
You ache for these days to last forever
The crystal skies and the crisp chill weather
To anxiously wait for the snow drifts to appear
Angels sing while you hush in silence to hear.
Friends and family ties that will never sever
And warm memories that will live on forever
“Please come again – you’re always welcome
It hurts to part, we see you so seldom
Never mind the time or day of year when you knock
I will always be here for you my dear.”
Hearts do go longing when separated and woebegone
And to still love someone when things do go wrong
As we sit silent and close in this heartwarming hour
With the blazing hearth so warm and near
Know I’ll always cherish you as I hug you hard
In the intensive fire’s hot & infectious afterglow.
Robyn Livingstone
Cash Registers and Christmas TreesCash Registers and Christmas Trees
For the guy huddled in dirty blankets
his bearded chin resting on the pew
sleeping in the morning making up
for wandering the night away again
for the guy yelling at some bureaucrat
he won’t have a Christmas this year
for me and a thousand other bums
tryin to repel all the Xmas hype, music and ads
for the daughter missing Dad and all the other dads
We wonder where this joyful season is
not here on the forgotten streets of Nowhereville
maybe for those lucky folks who have jobs, money
the spirit is easier to come by, but even
the well-intentioned miss the mark
the destitute despise this time of year
just a reminder of who we are not
just who we don’t share time with
and the mountains of material stuff
we can neither give nor receive
I keep looking for the happiness of Christmas
but all I see is a dull gray ache in the eyes
of the old men time forgot
and the women no one really remembers any more
R. Loewen
get homeless people on welfareCarnegie participates in pilot project to get homeless people on welfare
For the last six weeks or so Carnegie street workers have been participating in a pilot project of the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance and the City of Vancouver to get homeless people off the street, onto welfare, and into housing.
The idea of a pilot project was a recommendation in the City's Homeless Action Plan last June. Then, in his speech in the legislature on November 21st Claude Richmond, the Minister in charge of welfare, acknowledged that 70 per cent of homeless people may be eligible for welfare but are "not applying."
For the last few weeks the welfare office in the Downtown Eastside was open an hour early for two days a week.
When a person goes to the welfare office in the middle of the day, "There are 15 people in there; there is a line up; people are sleeping; there's tension," explained Bob Moss of the street worker program. But when the street workers went in with people to apply for welfare early, it was calm, "The whole feel of the office changed and it made a big difference," said Moss.
Ministry staff seemed to relax rules a bit. "They didn't throw them out the door but they delayed the timing of them. People didn't have to wait 3 weeks for their first cheque, but they all had to find a place to live and get a bank account. They still have to do employment plans. Some are capable of starting right away and some not."
Moss said the whole project was rewarding for all involved. "About 80 per cent of the homeless people were just dumbfounded that we could do this," he said. Carnegie workers got a lot of satisfaction out of being able to take part, and it was much easier for them to approach the Ministry as a team member than as an advocate. Moss said Ministry workers were very co-operative and bent over backwards to help out. Some people got extra money for clothing, furnishings, diet, and even the Christmas bonus.
Virtually every person who was taken to the welfare office by the street workers got on welfare and into a room. Unfortunately, the project was limited to about 4 people per week.
The pilot project is now over. It will be reviewed by city and provincial officials next month. They want to see if people stay in their rooms or go back out on the street. Now we're waiting to see if it will be continued or not after the review.
In any event the success of the project seems to prove that people want to live inside if given a chance, and that welfare rules and procedures are so cumbersome they exclude some of the most vulnerable people from getting assistance.
The Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) has called for an immediate expansion of this pilot project to improve the health and save the lives of homeless people. In the longer term CCAP wants welfare rules and processes that keep people in need
from getting assistance to be ended.
By JEAN SWANSON
a yellow something covering his body Last night a person passed away on
Needless to say I am very upset ... Please take a moment and post the below places that are available during the night. Don't let another person die in this cold weather.
Thanks M
Tonight these Extreme Weather Shelters will open:
Aboriginal Friendship Centre.... 1607 E
8:00 PM
Aboriginal Mother Centre..........2019 Dumas
8:00 PM
Kitsilano Community Centre.....12th and Larch,
9:00 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
Evelyn Seller Centre................320 Alexander...
12:00 AM
Merry ChristmasMerry Christmas
I thought I would get into the hype of the craziness during this month of the year.
I would like to take this time to thank all of our Carnegie members, especially those who volunteer in order to make things happen at Carnegie; REMEMBER you are doing a great job and for that I would like to thank you personally.
Without a helping hand we wouldn't be where we are today. I am pleased and moved with all of our hard working volunteers.
Carnegie’s staff have done a swell job this year; some left us and some stayed - Michael left and was replaced by Ethel - who will be running the show with everyone's help. A HUGE thank you to everyone for making my life simple.
Without Volunteers, I can not imagine what it would be like. However, I can tell you that many people have approached me and thanked me from the littlest to the biggest problem.
Life is so good - keep it up. VOLUNTEERS become best of friends eh ~
My heart goes out to those who passed on to the other side; for me many of them are in a safer place.
Margaret D Prevost, CCCA President
PLEASE Remember today is just another and my needs are very simple. PLEASE pass on a smile - say hello to those staring at the sidewalk. The world is so BEAUTIFUL, so walk,talk and be proud!
Christmas Eve At Muskrat LakeChristmas Eve At
On Christmas Eve
the entire village
went tobogganing
on the sloping banks
of
Everyone was bundled up
in mukluks
parkas
mitts
and scarves.
Some came to watch,
others to ride
on this festive night
of clouds and stars.
Some toboggans scooted down
like otters.
Others slid sideways, and
still others turned over.
Tiny children
with wide eyes
were held firmly by parents
who rode with them.
Everyone who wanted a ride
found a place on a toboggan.
No one was left out.
Jeremiah, who was six,
tugged on my arm.
Come for a ride, he said,
and I rode with Jeremiah
and as many of his friends
as would fit on the toboggan.
Down the hill we went
with shouts and screams
and the toboggan skidded sideways
and we all fell off
and Jeremiah jumped up
eyes shining,
and ran after the toboggan.
Big, fluffy flakes of snow
began to fall
from the dark sky.
Children tried to catch snowflakes
on their tongues,
and older folks stood still
and let the large flakes
land on their heads
and outstretched hands.
Gradually people started
to go home.
There were children
to put to bed,
and hands and feet
to be warmed.
It stopped snowing,
and stars were visible
among the clouds.
In the distance
a wolf howled,
and the dogs at
took up the call.
Sandy Cameron
Dear Friends, [Ellen Woodsworth]Dear Friends, December 1st, 2005
Tuesday, November 29th was my last day in the Vancouver City Council Chambers. It has been an incredible three years of which I am very proud. We as COPE ran on a very strong platform to make this city work for all neighbourhoods and all people. We opened up City Hall to all the diversities, and implemented innovative policies that made this city sing. We made sure that all our projects worked socially, environmentally and economically. We listened to neighbourhoods and responded.
See my website www.ellenwoodsworth.com for some of our achievements.
Sadly I was not reelected as a City Councillor. There was much more that I wanted to do for
I would like to thank my supporters and all the citizens who were active in this election. Unfortunately the voter turn out was low. This always hurts us. We need to do so much more to get people interested in and active in municipal politics for the next election. Please do contact the new Council after they are sworn in on Dec.5/05 to make sure they implement Council decisions and don't cut away what we have accomplished while maintaining
It has been an honour to have served as a Vancouver City Councillor Thank you so much for all you have shared with me, support that you have given me in so many ways and suggestions that you have made as to how I could improve this City.
If you would like to remain active please do email me at ewoods@vcn.bc.ca
Sincerely,
Ellen Woodsworth
Dear Inspectors Rolls and Petit:Dear Inspectors Rolls and Petit:
The Neighbourhood Safety Office and DEYAS have been alerted through the media that the VPD is now actively "encouraging" (through arrest) drug addicts to use Insite [supervised, safe injection facility].
. While there are many arguments that can made against this type of action, our immediate concern is that the resources that serve these addicts, primarily Insite and DEYAS, were not notified of this action.
It would seem that to best serve the neighbourhood, as well as street addicts, the few resources that are available should be notified so they will be prepared for extra traffic. It would also be helpful that there be some communication to ensure that the expected load of service can be borne by existing resources. Perhaps we all agree that the worst outcome would be to arrest and negatively compel addicts to use resources that may not be available to them.
Thanks for your attention..
Lyn Cutshall, Interim Coodinator
Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Safety Office
OF LOVEOF LOVE
Lying here alone
Atop of the covers
Staring up at the ceiling
Thinking of you
Memories passing
In my mind
Listening to the songs
Each one about us
I’m missing you
I soak up each one
They fill my soul
With longing for you…
I remember the love
And I often wonder
Does he think of me
As I still think of him
When I hear the songs
That we claimed as ours…
The soft-spoken words
We once shared
That meant that we cared
Long hours on the phone
Passing by like minutes
Hanging up anytime
Was too soon –
too hard to say good-bye
I couldn’t get enough of you
You couldn’t get enough of me
And all our friends said…
That we made a good pair
Each time we were together
Was like living a dream
Then…I shut my eyes…
As you open the door
“Hi babe’, I whisper in my mind
A warm mist touches my skin
As steam escapes into the room
A nice tangy scent follows…
aftershave
I hear you walk softly,
slide open a drawer…
My eyes flicker open…
Your head perks up
Together we hear a voice
A little voice calling us
From the other room….
Kat Norris
An Old-Time Miner Speaks
"When I talk, I am liable to do some tall running off at the mouth. I am a long distance talker, and for all I know I may take you for a long ride in the wrong direction. I am a miner for forty-five years, and I have been tunneling a shaft straight into the poor house. You can't call that very good mining.
"I am a hard rock man, and I learned my business at
"You would think that mining your life away was enough of a gamble, but no. A miner wouldn't have it that way. He had to buck the tiger and sweat out hole cards (gamble at roulette and cards) right along with his other prospecting. Sometimes they'd hit (win), but not very often. One poor Cornishman came into one place with not enough clothes on him to flag a handcar. He walked up to the (roulette) wheel and put his last dollar on the double O. He was drunk, and it pays 86 to 1, and damn me if he didn't hit pay dirt (win). The dealer knew there wasn't no double O coming up twice in a row so he says, "Leave her lay, Jack." Well, the Cornishman left his winnings on the double O, and by damn, here comes the old double O again. The house only had $1,800 dollars, and he took it all. In three days I saw the Cornishman and all he had was the jimmies (shakes) and no breakfast. The next time I saw him, he was bull cook in a Mormon camp and happy as hell. He said that as soon as he made a stake, he was going out prospecting.
"I guess that if a man has miner's blood in him, he can't never make it on top of the ground. He's like a mole: he can tell his way around by the kind of rock he's in, but the wind don't make no sense. I quit my last job because I was too cold, not too old. It was up in
Hank Simms
Hank Simms was born in 1852. He was interviewed in 1938 when he was a vigorous 86 years old. People were hired as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930's to record the stories of old-timers.
These stories are kept in the Library of Congress.
School HolidaySchool
Hi again. I’ve been pretty busy (kinda sick and doing a hellofalotta readin and I haven’t written anything lately for the newsletter. I thought you might want to know how school is going. We are on our Christmas break until early January 2006 and I thought I’d give a little report. Fittingly enough our last 2 classes were called The Historical Jesus. It was a very interesting class and it was nothing like I thought it was going to be, you know religious stuff. The instructor, Robert Cousland made it very interesting and it wasn’t only me who thought so. I think it was one of the liveliest discussions our class has had since the beginning of school last September. Rob talked about The DaVinci Code, a work of fiction by Dan Brown. (I’m presently reading the book.) We also talked about other things including the Dead Sea Scrolls, Nag Hammadi, Josephus, a writer from 90 C.E. (Common Era for those not comfortable with A.D.) and a movie called “Spear of Destiny.” I’m not gonna try and repeat everything that was said or even try to give an explanation of ir. You just had to be there and I’m glad that I was.
Rob tried to give us an idea of how history is kept by asking us to write something about our great-grandparents. I think there were 3 people in our class of about 20 who had something to say about their great-grandparents. Try as I might I could only get about 2 or 3 lines down. I knew something was up when he said it was okay to write down that we didn’t know anything about our ancestors. His point was: How could we believe something that had taken place 2 millennia ago and believe that it was true?! Then he went on to talk about other things. As I said it was a lively class.
Before that we read the book “Jarhead” by Anthony Swofford and then we went to see the movie which I felt was a lot better than the book. The instructor, Michael Zeitlin, was pretty intense and I learned quite a bit about the American war machine. We also did some classes on Gender Studies with Chris Shelley, another interesting and fascinating instructor. Prior to that we did some children’s literature with Michelle Superle. We read and discussed 2 children’s books. (The
Before that there was Media Studies and Semiotics. Both were interesting and the teachers (Tomasz and Margo) were again very good. Nicola showed us the way through the elements of Literature with 2 readings: “The Painted Door” and “Nature of Pure Evil.” Both had their good and bad points. I don’t know where they are getting all these wonderful teachers, but I hope they keep getting them. I know I left out a few teachers but it gets boring trying to fit everyone into a little story. Sorta like thanking everyone I knew when I won an “Oscar” for Best Screenplay. ;<)
I sure am learning a lot in this class called Humanities 101. Now I’m looking forward to the next 3 or 4 months and I just hope they are as interesting as the last 4.
With that I wish you all the best in 2006. I hear it’s gonna be the best year yet. Oh yeah HAPPY HOLIDAYS and,for those of you who believe, Merry Christmas.
hal
Subject: October 15 newsletter.
Date: Tue, 08 Noy 2005
From: Arthur Allen
Dear carnnews
On October 15th you printed a nice note from "Hal", about sketching and greeting in the city. [the assignment was to make a sketch, either rough or finished, showing detail or just an outline, of architecture that really caught your eye and/or intrigued you].
I hope you will print a thank you note and tell Hal that in all the years I have been urging people to sketch, and to really look closely at things, I have never thought of the social benefits of simple art.
Thank you Hal.
Arthur Allen, [Architect]
Humanities 101 Community Program:Humanities 101 Community Program:
events and educational opportunities
"Community Reading & Study Groups":
Humanities 101 organises small groups that meet at the Carnegie once a month. These are like reading groups or book clubs: a small group of 6-15 people get together in the third classroom with one of our UBC student facilitators in a friendly learning environment to talk about a reading or topic (a story or poem, a philosophy or argument, etc). These are free & open to everyone, but they are not informal drop-ins. Students must make a commitment to attend, read the material and participate. Please call us if you are interested, or speak to the facilitator there.
Creative Writing Group: Friday December 30th 10am
Literature Reading Group: Saturday January 7th 10am
Study Group in Economics, Politics & Community: Saturday January 7th 12 noon
Existentialist Reading Group: Saturday January 7, 2pm
Rock and Roll Study Group: Sunday January 8, 12pm
The Shakespeare Reading Group: Sunday Jan. 8, 2 pm
"People’s Education: A Humanities 101 Community Mini-Course":
In January 2006, Humanities 101 will offer a free mini-course in education taught by Sarah Mills, who is completing her Masters degree in adult education at UBC. Classes will be held every two weeks, for two hours on Sunday afternoons. The theme of the course will be education in the service of reducing oppression.
"Financial Literacy Training Workshop"
Do you want to get control over your personal finances, learn more about banking & credit, and get a certificate in the process. In conjunction with Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Humanities 101 offers this FREE Financial Literacy Training course to low and limited-income people who want to gain better control over their personal finances, build their skills and access information to effectively manage their money and plan for their future. It aims to educate participants in the workings of the financial system and how their personal finances fit within it. This course will run for four consecutive Friday evenings, 7 - 9pm, at the Belkin House,
"Humanities 101 Free Public Lecture Series
at the Carnegie":
Kristiana Clemens of Co-op Radio 102.7
The Community Radio Movement
Facilitator: Henry Flam, Humanities 101
Friday January 13th 7pm, third floor
To reach Humanities 101: 604-822-0028 or hum101@interchange.ubc.ca
Our website: http://humanities101.arts.ubc.ca/
Apples and OrangesApples and
I first mainlined heroin when I was 15, back in ’72. It was novel but nothing compared to the MDA we were all blowing our minds with. The ether rush, the speed drug mixed in with the “love drug” was irresistable. By 1975 the world had changed and the old time ‘DA was gone for good.
Ski to the 80’s and the cocaine was laced with ether – you could smell it in the spoon. The rush was indescribable and came close to the ecstasies of MDA.
Skip to the late 90’s and China White: people were ODing on 2 papers (sometimes even less). The body count in a year was in excess of 500 deaths.
And now the new century where crack is king. I’ve known heroin addicts since the 80’s who haven’t really changed mentally.- older, more beat up, but basically the same people. These days the cocaine is a little stronger but no ether rush so it’s not the same drug anymore.
Crack is a modern-day curse unequalled by any drug I’ve taken in 35 years of getting high. The rapid deterioration, both mental and physical, is totally mind-numbing. No drug in my experience has proven to drag a person down to gutter-level as quick as rock does. Crack addicts can’t function beyond scoring the next toke. Any moral capacity goes out the window with just one toke.
Junkies have a shitload more integrity than crackheads. Junkies even help each other out when one is sick and brotherman’s got some to spare. That just doesn’t happen in the rock world. I’ve seen people turn from reasonably reliable dope fiends into animals quicker than you can say free base. Ripoffs are an integral part of the rock game. Junkies who rip-off either get “hot capped” or disappear but ripoffs are rare among full-blown addicts. A certain brotherhood and sympathy exist in the junk world; no such humanity exists in rock heaven.
Living in the DTES we see the effects every day: heroin does not bring on the apparent retardation we see in the cocaine aerobics of the staggering crackhead. The “monkey walk” of crackheads is a dead give-away to the practiced eye.
I know it seems like comparing apples and oranges but I, for one, feel the world was a lot better off with heroin being the big evil of society.
The younger generation of druggies has grown up with rock. One wonders – if they seem retarded now, what will these people be like in 10 or 15 years? You can function for a lifetime using opiates but crack destroys mind, body and soul at such an alarming rate it scares me. I never thought I’d look back fondly on the days when heroin was the No.1 evil in the drug world. Only time will tell what new monsters the future will produce.
R. Loewen
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal NetworkNovember 30, 2005
Dear Mr [Mayor-Elect].Sullivan:
Insite,
It was with alarm that we learned of the VPD's new practice of arresting anyone injecting in public, including outside of Insite, to force all injectors to limit their injection to the safe site. As with all health measures, the use of Insite should be a matter of choice, and police and other public servants should do what they can to refer people to voluntary use of the site. At a hearing on November 22, your predecessor, Senator Larry Campbell, told the Toronto City Council that the
As
Along with many others across
This new police practice also amounts to discrimination against women who use drugs and those drug users who require assistance in injecting. As you are undoubtedly aware, because of unnecessarily restrictive federal regulations, Insite does not allow people who use drugs to be assisted in the act of injection, either by Insite staff or by a friend or partner. Women are much more likely than men to need assistance in injecting, and they are thus less likely to seek to inject at Insite, where they cannot get the help they need. They are thus deprived not only of safer injecting, but also of the other services Insite offers. Recent research indicates that up to 40 percent of people who inject drugs in
Rather than turning a blind eye to overzealous and effectively discriminatory policing, we call on you to support more pragmatic and human rights measures. We call on you to join us in urging Vancouver Coastal Health to rethink the policy of banning assisted injection at Insite. Allowing assistance to be provided by users of the facility to other users may be the first step and may present fewer legal liability issues than injection assistance provided by staff members.
If there is a concern about people having to wait outside the doors of Insite because the facility has a high volume of users, it is clear that effectively coercing larger numbers into seeking refuge in the facility is not a sustainable solution. We hope that the City of
As
We hope that your leadership as mayor will be felt in all four areas of
Sincerely yours,
Joanne Csete, Executive Director
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Welfare cutsWelfare cuts just as devastating to people outside the Downtown Eastside
The Downtown Eastside isn't the only place in BC where people are at their wits end because of government policies that have increased poverty and hopelessness in their community.
On November 29th I went to
People in
Marilyn Evans of the Vernon Native Friendship Centre said, "People need food and housing, even people who have jobs." Evans added something familiar to Downtown Eastsiders, "A lot of needy people can't get income assistance because of the punitive rules governing income assistance.
Diane Brisson, a self advocate, explained that "You can't be productive if you have no roof, no food and you're ill." And she noted that there was a lot of prejudice against people who are women, native or poor. "[People] automatically have an opinion about you," she said.
Pat Burnip of the Vernon Women's Centre assured the people who attended the forums that the groups would work on strategy and actions to tackle poverty in their area. Their first plan is to present a summary of the information gathered at the poverty forums to the
By Jean Swanson
do you knowdo you know
knocking on your door
no answer
peeking into your room
to see if you’re home
permeation of 100 proof
hits the air
bed’s unmade
or at other times unslept in
til 7 or 8 o’clock am
or maybe the night before monday
do you know
what heartache feels like
it hurts you know, when it’s for
someone you love
so much,
someone you thought you knew
so well
can’t get rid of the pain
in my chest
it’s like holding
in this big cry
big boys
big girls don’t cry
be strong, it’ll be okay
you shouldn’t worry
but it hurts to be strong
it hurts to worry, it’s in
the front of my mind
all night, all day, at work
on the bus, at the store
at lunch .. reading my paper
at pow wow night, the dance
getting ready for the dance
getting ready for anything,
even watching my favorite shows
no longer brings joy
talking to my friends is hard
because the only thing in
my heart the only topic
in my brain, in my soul
is my worry for your life
the way you’re leading it
who you’re keeping in it
what you’re doing with it
and the whys
… why?
and my friends talk of
simple things, fun things
that i’m trying to hear and enjoy
with them
yet wondering
why
why
why can’t you tell me what’s wrong
wondering what?
what could I have done?
and why,
you haven’t come home yet
and it’s time for me to leave
for work and i wonder should i call
somewhere before I leave
and can only hope that you’re okay
yet
experience keeps reminding me
you’ll be home before
long like nothing has happened
you’ll walk through the door
to your room
with a wave
and say ‘hi ma.’
then I say, ‘hey son.’
and all i can think and feel is
“thankyou.. thankyou.. thankyou..
thankyou…that’s he’s home okay
for one more day..
and i leave to catch my bus to work
hoping you’ll make it on time for class.
Kat Norris
News from the Library
Street Book Giveaways
Book giveaways take place on
Want to check out something for the holidays? We’ve got a shelf of seasonal books, including cooking, crafts, stories and traditions. It’s just below the New Books Shelf.
New Books:
Listening to Our Ancestors: The Art of Native Life on the North Pacific Coast (979.5) is a gorgeous book in which writers from eleven Northwest Coast communities describe the importance of carvings, weavings and other art to their cultures.
We’ve just received lots of books to help you improve your English. Take a look at Elementary English Grammar (425), Painless Reading Comprehension (428.4), the Collins Cobuild Learners Dictionary (428.34), the Collins Cobuild Phrasal Verbs Dictionary (428.34) and the Collins Cobuild Idioms Dictionary (428.34).
Or maybe you want to improve your Spanish? Try Streetwise Spanish (468.34) or Spanish Grammar in Context (468.34).
Beth, your librarian
“To the People of the Carnegie Kitchen”“To the People of the Carnegie Kitchen”
by Richard Tylman
A poetry review by David Fraser, editor
Ascent Aspirations Magazine
In “To the People of the Carnegie Kitchen” Richard Tylman writes about places of the heart, of spirit, compassion and empathy. The
It is the people who amaze the poet, not the edifice or its history. It is their gentle nature, their compassion that “remains the exclusive property of people”. His use of “property” not as a possession is juxtaposed to the sense of property that so drives the engines of progress in the Western world, a model condemned by Richard Tylman, and rightly so, for being run by bureaucrats who lawfully take away from the vulnerable through legislative measures.
The poem begins with “It's been years since I have dined/at the Carnegie…” Dined, not merely “eaten” as if the Carnegie is one of those restaurants that traditionally get reviewed with all the stars. He goes on to use the word “offered” and not “given or served.” “Offered” has a religious ring to it, something given freely like an act of kindness. This kindness (although not his word) is what is at the heart of Carnegie Kitchen in its people who give their “invaluable time” day after day.
The poem is part tribute to these volunteers called “miracle workers” and part rant against the systemic forces that appear to wage an uncaring neo-conservative war against the impoverished and the homeless. Richard Tylman asks the reader if he or she would “rub shoulders with the motley crew of prisoners of cocaine” on the way in and knows the answer why so few would find a reason to meet these gentle servers of an evening meal. We see this every day; the more fortunate turning a blind eye, avoiding all the unpleasant images of humanity until “the darkened faces” of the needy become invisible. He invites us in, and tells us why we should pay attention. “The reason being the search for proof/that humanness remains the sole property of people.” He goes on to note that here in the kitchen for an affordable price, patrons have choices; vegetarians, vegans have “garden platters”; they have choice, and they have purchasing power that strips away their powerlessness. The patrons get “more than a taste of normalcy in an/abnormal climate” of government cut-backs.
The Carnegie Centre with the sound of porcelain brings on memories of
In the final stanza the poet comes back to the people who have their own personal challenges, and focuses on how the experience of helping others — as they too pass through this place — has shaped their characters. He says in the memorable line that their “characters are shaped/as gently as the spinach wraps.” He wishes that civil servants and, for that matter, all of the citizens of the Western world who are not so needy could serve behind the counter for a day. But he knows that you can't legislate people to do this, and knows it wouldn't work. He states what we all should realize that “what makes humanity special/depends on those who offer to give/of their own free will.”
“To the People of the Carnegie Kitchen” is a wonderfully poignant tribute to these gentle servers of humankind who “deserve the best of God's blessing,” and also a subtle call to action for many of us to resist the trend toward a new right-wing “systemic hatred” from those with power.
Read the poem at http://www.geocities.com/poetryofrichardtylman
Music Program Random Notes
Music Program Random Notes
"Whatd'ya mean the computer memory is wiped?" I said. 'Uncle Norton's pissed at some hacker, and well, you know the rest..."
* Where wuz I? Oh yeah, crashed computers and Hacking Hacks. Uncle Norton sez is the culprit. But uncle Norton can't restore the lost data, Like my list of people who booked features for the Tue. night Cabaret.... like Who booked Features for Dec. Jan. and Feb. If that's you, please verify, otherwise those Cabarets will be less than organized.
* Speaking of computers, I've lucked into a used one for the music programs to use. All it requires is a hard drive - between 15 and 30 gigs. The operating system isn't a problem. So, if you've recently upgraded, and are wonderin' just what to do with that old 20 gig hard drive......Keep us in mind.
* Big Announcement Time;... No, bats will not be descending on the Cabaret, not even the song circle! No, the big announcement has to do with regularly scheduled musicians’ meetings. Starting in January 2006 we will be having a musician’s meeting every month, and they will be divided into two categories; One: A general musician’s meeting; to address any and all matters that pertain to all of Carnegie’s music programs. These meetings will be held every three months, starting on, (you guessed it) Tuesday January 24th 2006, 11am, Carnegie theatre.
Two: CD project meetings; These will be monthly, and short; 1 hour max, to keep up to date on the project, and have all those people who volunteered to help out with different aspects of the project touch base with each other. The first will be in February, and on the last Tuesday of each month that hasn't been designated a 'General Musician’s Meeting'. This February it's the 28th.
So...Tuesday February 28th 2006, 12:00 noon to 1 o'clock. Carnegie Theatre. (CD Project specific.)
** Carnegie Christmas**
"Twas the night before Christmas, and all through Carnegie's House, all the musical creatures were stirring, with new tunes to get out. At a quarter to Seven the creatures descended, into Carnegie's Hall, where a stage sat and waited.
Into the long night of Solstice the harmonies rocketed, and a small envelope of cash each creature soon pocketed. And on, and on still, way past the witching hour, the 25th’s new mornin' means breakfast, then "back at 'er you lazy drummer! The sun's not up yet!"
So if on Christmas Eve you have a penchant to gig, get lots of sleep, 'cause Carnegie's Christmas is an all-night shindig."
* That has to be the worst thing I've ever written, but if you've attended any Carnegie Christmas Eve thingy's in the past, this year appears to be the kind of evening we've come to expect. See you there
...M.
“Signs of the Times”“Signs of the Times”
I had the pleasure of attending the book launch for Bud Osborn's new book, "Signs of the Times", on December 2nd at the InterUrban Gallery. There was a full house for the event and it was wonderful to hear Osborn read his poetry. He delivered with such passion that I was sometimes close to tears. As always, Bud eloquently provides a voice for many in our community who are often ignored.
One thing that I have always appreciated about his poetry is how he balances the anger and sadness with hope and humour. I think that "Signs of the Times" contains some of his best work so far, and the poetry is beautifully complimented with illustrations by Richard Tetrault.
Our elected representative, Libby Davies MP, and former city cousellor Ellen Wordsworth, also spoke during the evening. They each reminded us how important it is to speak out against injustice.
If you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift for someone, or a good book for yourself, I highly recommend that you purchase "Signs of the Times" from your favourite independent bookseller. Not only is the poetry thought-provoking and inspiring, but it is a great way to get the message out about life in the Downtown Eastside.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa David
SAGA OF A DUMPSTER DIVERSAGA OF A DUMPSTER DIVER
(sung to the tune of "The Irish Washerwoman")
My name is Dan Murphy; a binner I am,
I lift up the lids of every garbage can.
Each bottle, each tin, and each jar I retrieve
To take to the depot-for cash I receive.
I work in the wind and the hail and the rain.
My shopping cart holds all that is still to my name.
I'm up with the birds at the crack of dawn.
On
CHORUS:
The beer and the wine, and the glass plastic bottles
All come to the depots without use of throttles.
I wish I were rich and could then get a wife
And never raid dumpsters the rest of my life.
SECOND VERSE:
One day I cut myself on some broken glass
And then I encountered a pretty lass
She gave me a bandage and an oven mitt
And now the sharp objects won't hurt me one bit.
One day I encountered an unruly mob.
They said to me sharply, 'Go get a real job!'
I firmly told them to go take a hike
That having been said, I jumped back on my bike
THIRD VERSE:
I went to a meeting at the city hall
They were planning to build a new depot that fall
The protesters said t it would create more noise
More litter, more clutter, more unruly boys.
I told the protesters they've made a mistake
If they don't like the depot, they can jump in a lake
I then left the meeting and ambled on
To catch a short nap before the break of dawn.
FOURTH VERSE:
I joined the Green party the next November
And ran for election for the mayor's Chair.
By a narrow margin I was voted in
My opponents all muttered a furious din.
From my table of oak and my chair of teak
I'll protect the homeless, the poor and the weak
The selfish, the greedy, the indifferent I'll chide
And tell dumpster divers that I’m still on their side.
Vaughn Evans
THE GOLDEN BINTHE GOLDEN BIN
I pray this year that i will win
The chance to dive that golden bin
The golden bin it holds no tin
Has coffee brass and maybe gin
It just might hold a dream or two
A lotto ticket trips to the zoo
TVs radios computers old
There's just no telling what it may hold
You'll know I've found the golden bin
For on my face will be a grin
A VCR maybe I've found
A brick of gold maybe a crown
One thing I know I'll find no dope
The golden bin has love and hope
It may be thick it may be thin
But still it’ll be the golden bin
The golden bin is full of grace
I's full of love for every race
Te golden bin is never locked
Te golden bin is fully stocked
The golden bin it holds no rocks
From the east north south or west
That golden bin will be the best
Unlike the uncaring city tart
The golden bin gives from the heart
In sun snow sleet or rain
It gives and gives with no pain
The goose that laid that golden egg
Knows that I won't need to beg
No needles in that golden bin
The golden bin someday I'll win
Mr. McBinner
