Bias in the printed news media? Absolutely.

This article started as a response to a Jan. 23,2003 column by Globe andMail writer Lawrence Martin, titled "It's not Canadlans who've gone to the right, just their media." Wrote Martin, "'You have a bit of a problem here,' a European diplomat was saying over lunch last week. "Your media are not represen- tative of your people, your values. So many of the political commentators are right-of-centre," the dip- lomat said, "while Canadians themselves are in the moderate middle. There's a disconnect." Who could disagree?

In the intervening time, I pondered the reasons for this. Aside fiom the obvious (the media are corpo- rate controlled, and therefore tend to advance big business's agenda, whch skews to the right), there are other factors. This was made quite obvious re- cently (on Jan. 3 1 and Feb. 1) when the Senate Committee on Communication and Transportation came to Vancouver during a cross country fact find- ing expedition to hear, here, about media concentra- tion in Vancouver.

Accordmg to The Mi'i'sing News: Filfers and Blind Spots in Canada's Press by Robert Hacket and Richard Gruneau (available from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives), there is a distinction between media concentration and monopoly. Con- centration measures the extent to which one or a few companies dominate the industry regionally or na- tionally; monopoly refers to the lack of competition within a given market. As far as I'm concerned, concentration leads to monopoly.

In The Republic, [Feb. 3-1 61 Kevin Potvin wrote ("The Senate came to town, in case you didn't no- tice"). "Editorial monopolization in Canada is most pronounced in the Vancouver media market, now legendary for being the most monopolized not only in Canada but in the whole Western world." Wit- ness both The Province and The Vancouver Sun edi- torializing that the BC Liberals were worthy of an- other term just before the last provincial election, , and you get a taste of this.

According to an article in the online publication, The Tyee (www.thetvee.ca) on Jan. 28 by Donald Gutstein (one of the contributors to The Missing News), titled "Senate Comes to Scrutinize Big Me- dia in BC": "CanWest Global accounts for 28.5 per- '

I cent of total daily newspaper circulation in Canada. I

For Vancouver dailies it is 100 percent - the Sun and Province. Factor in the national papers, the National I Post (also owned by CanWest) and the Globe and Mail (owned by Bell Globemedia), which have little local news, and CanWest still accounts for over 90 percent of daily circulation." Talk about monopoly .

and concentration. I What's the upshot of this skewed state of affairs?

"Media not impartial, majority say" was the title of a June 11,2004 Vancouver Sun article which stated, "An ovenvhelming majority of Canadians believe the news media do not provide impartial facts but are often influenced by powerful people, accordmg to the results of a national survey."

But what's the federal government's take on con- centration and monopoly influencing the news? Kevin Potvin: "The government of Canada, for in- stance, has refused to consider whether there even is a monopoly over editorial content. The competition tribunal considers it the limit of the people's con- cerns that they wony instead only about whether there is an advertising monopoly in the marketplace (which they have decided there isn't because there are advertising markets available on the Internet). [which is utter nonsense-RA]

But maybe not nonsense. Consider the advent into the Vancouver free dailies market of the miniature papers, Metro, The Dose, and 24 Hours. CanWest outright owns Dose, and further owns a share of Metro. Advertising is uppermost in the news me- dia's minds, at least.

From The Missing News: "The most obvious- and the most widely voiced--concern is that concen- trated media ownership potentially puts too much political and cultural power into too few hands."

From the same book, "This argument was later reiterated by Paul Audley, after intensive research into Canada's 'cultural industries.' Writing in the early 1980s, Audley argued that the corporate news media in Canada maintain a 'basic commitment to the business community's views on public issues rather than to a wider range of interests.' Under such circumstances, information that casts business in a bad light is likely to be under-reported in the news. Consider a further implication of profit- oriented media ownership. Competitive pressures, leading to a bottom line perspective, pose significant challenges to any 'public service' component that may be associated with ehtorial content."

Again, fiom the same book, "[Cloncentration mul- tiplies the opportunities for a media owner to impose his (or, very occasionally, her) own agenda on news coverage."

Consider the case of David Beers, founder of The Tyee, and former employee of The Vancouver Sun. Why was he fired? From The Westender, Mar. 3 1- Apr. 6, "Urban Legends": "[in Beers's own words] '911 1 happened, and I began wntmg about 911 1. Some of my themes were that we shouldn't sacrifice our civil liberties in the process of fighting terrorism, and that we should be very careful about that. And I went to the defence of somebody named Sunera Thobani, who was a professor at UBC who was very

angry and who was saying some very critical things about the US. Everybody was angry and attacking her and I said, 'Cool out! This is why we're a great

3 nation, because we have freedom of speech here.' Nine days after I wrote that column, I was fired. I asked them why and the editor said it was for eco- nomic reasons."

What was the Senate Committee told? Here are some examples. Donna Logan, head of the School of Journalism at UBC, and Kirk LaPointe, now the Vancouver Sun's managing editor but at the time working for the Toronto Star each gave presenta- tions to the Committee. Donald Gutstein: "LaPointe fiamed his comments with some broadsweeping, unsupported claims: big media are 'very good,' there's no connection between cross-media owner- ship and declining journalism ["convergence"- RA], and convergence so far has been 'profoundly positive. "'

"Logan appeared before the Canadian Radio- Television and Telecommunications Commission in 2001, offering testimony that supported broadcast license renewals of CanWest and CTV. 'Converged journalism offers an opportunity to . . . (free) up re- porters to do stories that are not being done and are vital to democratic discourse. . . . Two months after her CRTC testimony, CanWest gave $500,000 to Logan's school ofjournalism for a visiting journal- ism professor." Connection? You be the judge.

What convergence has actually done is resulted in fewer reporters, less local news, bias in rewritten wire copy, and dumbed-down news.

According to a Feb. 2 article in The Tyee, by David Beers and Charles Campbell titled "Creating Counterweights to Big Media": "Other speakers to- day, I believe, have detailed the cost. The slashed staffs. The lowered standards. The embarrassing boosterism. The conflicts of interest. The lack of accountability to the public. The stunted civic con- versation that results."

In "CanWest controls too much media, Senate hearing told," The Westender, Feb. 3-9, by Matthew Burrows, "Deborah Campbell, president of the Van- couver chapter of the Canadian Association of Jour- nalists, questioned local media concentration and lack of staff in crucial areas. 'There is a lively ethnic press, but the papers of record are all owned by the same company,' she said. She also cited the lack of

coverage of the leaky condo crisis, [the missing women in the Downtown Eastside-RA], and the ongoing native land claims, adding that the two dai- lies have no reporter in the legislature full time, and nobody dedicated to land claims, labour issues, [so- cial issues-RA], fisheries and forests."

Kevin Potvin: "[Tlhe purpose of this traveling road show was not to learn what changes the people required, but rather to sugar coat for the people the disappointing but familiar news that the government is there for industry as it always was. ~ h e s e types of hearings are only to make the people think the gov- ernment cares."

David Beers and Charles Campbell (concluding comments): "I am sure about one thing. You can have diversity of ownership in the media and it won't matter a whit if the owners are all wearing the same suit and belong to the same club. The Senate committee needs to put forward concrete mecha- nisms to promote different lunds of ownership. The simplest and most promising opportunity is to pro- mote the development of new media on new terms. It might even be politically possible."

By Rolf Auer

..,An0 so* W THE EXTREMELY RICH

EUTK,NS A6RU TO FIND A N ENVlROEIMUSTALLY

FRIENDLY WAY TO CARRY ON BEING

I PIVOT LEGAL SOCIETY t 6 1 I Downtown Eastside Photography Contest 1 k j B I

First prize (1 winner): $500 cash 1 ( Second prize (5 winners): $100 cash each 1 1 Third prize (10 winners): $50 cash each $

Every contastant will gd5 cash when they turn in their cameras. I I Winning photos may be used in the I

% Free Cameras and Training provided 6 he theme: 8 a ( community and relationships f B f f The rules: f

f j Each contestant will be given a black & white dis- # B posable camera at the beginning of the contest. All 1 pictures must be taken with an oficial contest cam- 1 6 $ era. You enter y o u photos by turning your camera f $ in - we take care of the developing and printing! 1 a

Pick up cameras 10.30am Monday July 4 Interurban Gallery (1 East Hastings).

Contest ends 5pm, Thursday, July 7th. Space is limited to 150 contestants.

$ Thts contest 1s open only to low-mcome res~dents ; 5 of the Downtown Eastside. $ t

The Abyss

Ghosts wandering through the ruins of shattered minds Lives slipping through the crack falling into nothingness Homeless hopeless helpless as the centre unwinds What chance What choice What change could bring an end to madness?

The Bass Player

Larry Campbell, Mayor; Stephen Learey, Executive Assistant; Vanessa Geary, Executive Assistant

Re: Conditions at the doors of Carnegie Centre and on the sidewalk to the east.

Dear Stephen, Vanessa and Larry, 16 June 2005

This letter is addressed to the three of you in hopes that either Vanessa or Stephen will be able to get Larry's attention. The sheer number of letters, "Pri- ority" 'For [His] Eyes Only' 'For the Immediate

- Attention of -' etc., to say nothing of email volume, makes being lost in the pile a real menace. Coming into Carnegie on any given day, it is almost always a dirty sight with excessive amounts of litter and trash on the sidewalk, on the street around the curb and blowing around. This condition is extant on both the northwest and southwest comers of Main & Hastings. It seems to be no one's job to pick up this stuff, even though it could/should/is needed 4+ times a day, every day. Perhaps United We Can could be contracted to have workers thefe do the work several times a day, in line with their alley and sidewalk cleaning service. The next issue is the returned use of the sidewalk to

the southeast of M & H by dealers and users as a kind of turf. Much of the litter and obstruction to pedestrians passing there is due to perhaps 6 to 10 people who sleep, set out blankets to party on, deal and generally cause unease to passersby. Litter is continuously generated from this location. The tem- porary presence of police persons may cause a tem- porary dispersal only The most disturbing and dangerous situation is now

unfolding on many mornings. The first Building Service Worker (BSW) arrives at 6AM. He is now confronted by 10+ people who have spent the night camped out directly in front of the main entrance.

There is much litter, but the hassle he receives from those unwilling to move to allow him entry makes that a consideration for SAM or later. Most recently, once inside, he reports observing drug deals happen- ing, weigh scales being using, drugs being cut up and packaged for street sale, and of course money changing hands. The dealers have made this covered and higher-up public space into their office. And it is this aspect that presents the most dangerous implica- tions. If stoned &d/or hyper/paranoidpeople f&l threatened by those coming in to work - who ask them to move all the paraphernalia involved in cut- ting and packaging dope for sale - helthey may be assaulted or even stabbed with a needle (the odds- on-favourite for freaking out anyone even mildly critical of such activities). The Kitchen Programmer is now on a 7am-4pm

shift, and the most recent arrival at Carnegie before 7am, when the drug-marketing set-up was in opera- tion, scared her too badly to enter on time. She had to wait until the first Security person arrived almost an hour later to have an escort past or through this ad hoc 'office'.

As with many other letters on safety and drug con- cerns in the Downtown Eastside, I mention and cite the fact that this would not be tolerated anywhere else in the entire GVRD for an hour. I ask that Mayor Campbell meet with the VPD and community representatives to find respectable solutions, both to the litter problem and the much more serious matter of the front stepslentrance of Carnegie being used as a -eking office. I'll print this letter in the July 1 issue of the Came-

gie Newsletter as an open one to you three. Hope- fully I'll have an encouraging response. To repeat the words of a longtime Security employee, after hearing of the Mayor's statement that "We've cleaned it up down there and now the nay-sayers are tying to find somethmg else wrong,." (or words to that effect), "It just isn't so Larry. He should come down here without fanfare and suited entourage and just look around. The street scene is coming back with a vengeance."

Respectfully submitted,

PaulR Taylor, volunteer editor.

What can we learn from Claude Richmond's past?

CBC CHAIR [more convergence] Taylor quit over board appointments

CBC insiders have told Our Public Airwaves that the corporation's chair, Carole Taylor, quit out of un- happiness over government appointments to the CBC's board of directors. With two years left on her appointment, Taylor

resigned suddenly in mid-March to run as a star can- didate for the British Columbia Liberals in last month's election. Last week she was appointed B.C. 's finance minister.

Corporate governance was one of Taylor's pet pro- jects at CBC. With a large number of board seats about to become vacant, Taylor and a board commit- tee established criteria, hired a headhunter and set about looking for the best candidates. That was what the government had asked them to do.When it came time to make the appointments, not one of the eight new CBC directors came from the list submitted to the minister by Taylor's committee. Among those appointments was a real estate tycoon (a close ffiend of the Prime Minister) and a woman whose husband is an active supporter of the right- wing Fraser Institute that often attacks the CBC. Please visit the Our Public Airwaves website regu- larly for the latest news and views about public broadcasting. www.PublicAirwaves.ca

It is impossible to simultaneously protect, and print on, ancient forests.

Paul Taylor gave me the idea of checking out End Legislated Poverty's old newsletters for some Claude Richmond history. Richmond is the new minister in charge of welfare in BC. The newsletters start in June, 1987 when Richmond was the Social Credit Minister of Social Services and Housing. The dates in tlus list are the dates of the newsletter.

June, 1987: Welfare workers start asking people who turn 60 to apply for early Canada Pension so it can be deducted from their welfare.

July, 1987: The BC Human Rights Council says that the provincial government does discriminate against people under 26 years old when it makes their welfare cheques $25 less than older peoples' cheques.

September, 1987: Richmond attends a Downtown Eastside Residents' Association meeting and tries to justify welfare cuts of $7 a month to a hostile crowd. Richmond cut the $7 from the cheques of people over 26 years old to get the money to increase the cheques of people under 26 so he could comply with a Human Rights Council decision.

December, 1987: Welfare rates are raised for peo- ple who have been on welfare more than 9 months. The new rate is $1 80 for support and up to $250 for shelter for a single person. The increase costs the government $44 million. Half came from the federal government through the Canada Assistance Plan.

April, 1988: The socred government announces that it is going to change the definition of "unemploy- able" in October. They want to exclude single par- ents who don't have a baby less than 15 weeks old. At that time people who were "unemployable" got $50 more than "employable" people so this was a sneaky way of cutting $50 a month from single parents. End Legislated Poverty decides to fight for the $50.

May, 1988: Mothers on welfare got angry. They wrote letters to the editor, started a petition, went on radio talk shows, and met with the Opposition. They

held a rally at Robson Square with 200 people. One minute before the rally began the Socreds announced that some parents would be able to keep the $50: mothers with a baby under 6 months or 2 children under 6 years. But other mothers would still be cut.

June, 1988: ELP organizes a group of single moth- ers to go the Legislature in Victoria. When the NDP introduced the women, some of the Socreds said "oink, oink." This made the women fighting mad.

July, 1988: Mothers from the Child Poverty Action Committee went to Victoria and met Richmond. Richmond thought that taking the $50 from single parents would make them get a job. Mothers said losing $50 would make it impossible to find work.

September, 1988: Welfare advocates report that more bureaucratic hurdles are being created for peo- ple on welfare: the planned $50 cutback to single mothers; a requirement that unemployable people have to get a letter from their doctor; no welfare for a 1 1 1 month if you apply part way through the month; people over 60 are told to apply for CPP; a new policy for a home visit for everyone within 3 months.

November, 1988: The $50 cut goes into effect but ELP asks people to appeal it and Legal Services helps out.

December, 1988: Victory! Richmond says that "public attention" to the roblem'caused the govern- ment to review the needs of single parents. The $50 will be restored to welfare cheques by January or February.

February, 1989: Richmond, also the Minister of Housing, appoints Peter homas as Chairman of the BC Housing Management Commission. Thomas is Chair of the Board of Century 2 1 Real Estate. Anti- poverty advocates ear Richmond is getting ready to privatize public housing.

May, 1989: ELP is concerned because single par- ents are forced to say that they are looking for work in order to get their cheques. ELP tells parents that it has a letter from Richmond saying, "Mothers will not be forced to accept employment."

July, 1989: Richmond announces new welfare rates. If you are a single employable, you get $193 for support and up to $275 for shelter for a total of $468. (For a person on welfare to have the same purchasing power now as they did in 1989, welfare would have to be $672.)

August, 1989: Richmond sends a letter to 49,000 "employable" people saying they have to fill out job search forms or they won't get a cheque.

November, 1989: On October 20th, just before leaving the ministry, Richmond signs new laws to make it harder for people on welfare. A part of the law that said the Minister could give people in need "any other allowance" that he thought necessary was deleted. People on UI, CPP and WCB were no longer able to get the annual bus pass available to people on provincial handicapped assistance.

Note: on August lst, 1990 welfare rates went up - again to $200 for support and $300 for shelter for single "employable" people.

Lessons that I learned from lookinq at this list: Rich- mond had poor-bashing attitudes, but he was vulner- able to pressure and did raise the rates a titch every once in a while. Maybe we could use the difference in purchasing power of welfare when he was Minis- ter compared to the purchasing power now as the basis of a campaign for higher welfare rates.

By Jean Swanson

TYCOON

You create such lovely labels for your pernicious poisons. You purvey a paradox by Y O U mere presence.

Before We worshipped in beautifid Cathedrals where all were welcome. We lit candles and prayed am id scents of burnt wax and incense.

but Your temples are more exclusive only a select few are chosen and given security cards and 1.D. passes; certified to rise above the masses.

Outside . .

your gated city of glass and steel we gaze on your monuments and agree to make a deal to buy and sell your product; complicit in enabling Your transcendence.

I'm still waiting for a miracle; a Medjugorie: a Visionary;

but You just give me a supersized ii-ies a cold cola and a Heartburn.

~rish &yes, an, ~ g e c t w u s smile To Mary Ann Cantillon

During your reign over the past four years as Car- negie's Librarian, you certainly have been a model of strength in the very heart of this community of ours. You have shown us through your commitment the qualities and character that you bestow - very fine role model qualities for anyone.

In solidarity you walked in marches with sisters in the 'hood - the annual Valentine's Day March for one. Addressing issues of injustice against women, the missing and murdered women, International Women's Day, and so many other initiatives -just naming a few.

You've seen the devastation caused by government cutbacks, witnessed the impact and end results on our community: death, memorials for friends and friends of fiiends or family.

Those Irish eyes have cried, laughed, danced; you've read poems and heard poems read; you've seen and felt the pain and still shared in our victories and losses equally; you've been through the trenches and valleys - "Man, what a war.. ." - as we stuck together through thick and thin. You held true at ow weakest moments and with our strongest assets; to the real character of the community.

You believed in this Community! Breaking down barriers, building bridges, changing attitudes; the little things we take for granted, seen or unseen. Yeah, I know you'll say (as you often did) "but it's

my job!" I can only respond by saying that it's in the manner you did your job that was truly special.

In closing, our lives have been touched and en- riched; our experiences with you will be etched in memory until time immemorial.

In Friendship, Stephen Lytton

Sustainability In The City Strathcona & Cottonwood Community Gardens

Annual Open House & Plant Sale

On Sunday, July 10, both of these community treasures invite all to come and see! An added joy is the celebration of the City of Vancouver's Heritage Award to the Strathcona Community Gardens (in its 20" anniversary year!) for its heirloom apple trees. On Sunday from loam-2pm, rain or shine, there

will be tours, bee-keeping demonstrations, Plant & Honey sale and a native plants &splay. Master Gardeners from VanDusen Gardens will be

on hand involved in &ee workshops. If this map is obscured in the printing process, the

Cottonwood Gardens are at 800 Malkin (at Hawks); the Strathcona Gardens are at 700 Prior (at Hawks). A great way to spend a Sunday!!

LUCKY OLD HOBO

The homeless lucky in a way sometimes wake up in orchards only sound is birdsong as the sun melts between the branches of an overhanging apple.

The homeless lucky in a way aren't stuck with the same walls same neurotic neighbours sharing their own brand of locked-in madness it's never the house that makes you move it's the neighbours you try to flee some places you're lucky to leave at any cost, you're glad to be gone leaving the neighbours with their continuous bellyaches and rumours

as you loll in city parks' green grass drinking in the sunlight marveling at the freedom only the wanderer knows so don't feel so sorry for the homeless old guy he's better off in some ways than the landed immigrant the slum dweller with all your keys

............................................................................................................................................................ I ASK MR. SUPI3-STY1.E 1

SUNGLASSES FOR EVERY HEAD SHAPE

uise some con

llDUH0 HEM L1100SE. Squarr I r .mrs ICI Icnd your spherical face .i few mttrh-ncrded ;w~le- . ....................................................

;' ,

............................................ Elm-HEIVY H O D ~ 8 0 1 ~ s - S T R I P H~IO

................................

Economics As Profit-Making Is An Ideology Of Death

Millions of people around the world are fighting the corporate global economic system. The fifth World Social Forum took place in Porto Alegre, Brazil, from January 26-3 1,2005. One hundred and fifty thousand people attended this forum which called for an alternative to the domination of the earth by huge corporations. We didn't hear much about it be- cause Canada's corporate media didn't cover it, but the people's media did cover it. Some pessimists say that the anti-globalization movement is dead, but the fact is that the global movement for justice is still in its beginning stage. It's the fanatical, unrestrained, profit-driven world of the Bush Administration and the Gordon Campbell Administration in B.C. that is dying. (1)

Most human beings want to live in peace. They want to raise their children in healthy communities. They want meaningful work, adequate income, a circle of friends, the resources to live with dignity and respect, and the opportunity to participate in the life of their country. The peoples of the world are not asking to be obscenely rich. As a peasant woman from the province of Palermo, Sicily, said during an 1893 peasant uprising: "It will be enough to share with justice what is produced." Yet we are faced with a plague of greed and selfish-

ness that sickens our lives and our environment. In his important book, "Small Is Beautiful," the econo- mist E.F. Schumacher wrote, 'Wature abhors a vac- uum, and when the available spiritual space is not filled with something higher, it will be filled with something lower - by the small, mean, calculating attitude to life of economics as profit-making." (2) I believe that if ordinary people really understood how ow mean-spirited, avaricious, and violent eco- nomic system pits poor and workmg people around the world against each other in a downward spiral of competitive impoverishment, they would throw it out in two minutes.

"We are living by an ideology of death, and are destroying our humanity and killing the planet," the economist H.E. Daly and the theologian J.B. Cobb said in their book "For The Common Good." (3) "It (unrestrained global capitalism) is an evil system

by all fully human standards," the cultural historian

Raymond Williams said in his book "The Year 2000." He went on to say, "The most aggressive marketing and militarist societies will destroy the world if their accumulative policies continue." (4)

The economist Barbara Ward had this to say about the Scrooge-had-it-right economic policies that are sucking the life out of mother earth, and making us feel that we are losing control of our lives: "Rich nation philosophy has still, in the main, to get past 1840. The market will provide. The growth of the rich will pull up the poor in its wake and if the result turns out to be misery for the many and well-being for the few, that is simply the way in which the laws of economics work. For a century or more we have been modifying ths stupid, unworkable and danger- ous philosophy within our economies." (5) Our economy is the way we organize the resources

of our society to ensure that everyone has a decent life and that no one is excluded. Our economy does- n't belong to the transnational corporations. It be- longs to the citizens of Canada. Citizenship is not a role we adopt in order to get rich. Citizenship is an expression of our deepest need for each other and for the land. Citizens in a democracy believe they can build their community in such a way that all persons

will have the opportunity and resources to live fully. Citizens uphold the common good, and they exercise their political judgment to carry forward their vision of liberty, equality, and community. Capitalism creates great wealth alongside great pov-

erty. It fails to distribute wealth in a fair and equita- ble manner. Citizens have to regulate private power in order to distribute wealth and income fairly. This is a democratic process that the Scandinavian coun- tries are better at than Canada. Rather than a society based on competitiveness, we long for community that lifts being-in-the-world beyond the predatory stage of human development. We do not want our success to depend on another's failure, nor our prosperity on another's poverty. We want to be in control of our lives, belong to our land, and live in peace and justice with ow neighbours.

By Sandy Cameron - (1 ) See " Tkc Collrrpse of Glob* And the Reinvention of the H'orld," by John Ralston Saul, Viking, 2005. (2) "Small Is Beautayul - A Study Of Economics As IfPeo-

... ple Mattere4 " by E.F. Schumacher. ( 3 ) "For The Common Good," by H.E. Daly and J.B. Cobb, Beacon Press, Boston, 1989. (4) "The Year 2000," by Raymond Williams, Pantheon Books, 1983. (5) "Progrew For A S d Plnnd," by Barbara Ward.

Dear Jill Davidson (City of Vancouver); I am sending you list of what our Senior's Commit-

tee identified as the most relevant Ministries to ne- gotiate with [on implementing the Homeless Action Plan];

1) Ministry of Health; Minister Responsible; George Abbott 2) Ministry of Family & Children Development; Minister Responsible; Stan Hagen. 3) Ministry of Aboriginal Relations & Reconcilia- tion; Minister Responsible Tom Christensen. 4) Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism and Attorney General; Wally Oppel 5) Ministry of Community Services & Responsi- ble for Seniors and Womens Issues; Minister Re- sponsible; Ida Chong 6) Ministry of Education and Minister Responsi- ble for Early Learning and Literary and Deputy Premier; Minster Responsible; Shirley Bond 7) Minister of State & Responsible for Child- Care; Linda Reid 8) Ministry of Labour and Citizens Services & House Leader; Minister Responsible; Mike De-Jong 9) Ministry of Public Safety & Solictor General ; Minister Responsible; John Les.

The Speakers who make comments and statements in the Public Consultation to City Council made it abundantly clear that the Ministry of Family & Chil- dren Development must be held accountable for its atrocious and disturbing record over the past few years especially under the Liberals. Since there is now a far stronger Official Opposition. I sincerely hope to see a major turn-around in trans- parency, efficiency, more humanity & care, and con- siderably more accountability in the way govern- ment has been treating its most vulnerable citizens as no one should ever be considered disposable. In closing, I think more of us in the community will be watching a lot more closely to ensure our valued citizens are treated with respect, with dignity and as humanely as possible especially our Senior and Eld- erly both men and women but especially our women and in addition we must wipe out our countries shameful record on the increase of child poverty in increasing public support systems. It is fundamentally imperative to restore those social programs immediately that have suffered being cut to smithereens over the past decade, now that the Federal Budget 2005 has finally been passed. I'd be interested in being kept up-to-date on the City's pro- gress in this very worthwhile, important initiative. Thanks;

Marilyn Young

DANCING YOUR EDGE with Delayne

goes monthlv I 2O" Sunday of the month, 2-4pm 1

Carnegie's Gym 1 War on Drugs or War on People: Human Rights and Plan Colombia

San Jose de Apartado is a community in the south- western [province] of Cauca in Colombia, where Indigenous peace communities use methods of non- violence, including unarmed indigenous guards, to defend themselves and their land from the opposing armed actors. A February 2005 massacre in San Jose de Apartado, has led the U.S. government to delay its human rights certification of Colombia. This has contributed to an important window of opportunity and calls for a new policy on Colombia, rather than an extension of Plan Colombia funding.

Consuming more $4.5 billion since it was first passed by Congress in 2000, Plan Colombia has failed to meet its objectives of reducing the supply of drugs in the U.S. and has exacted tragic human costs in Colombia. Approximately 80% of the money has gone to the Colombia military and police.

The recent San Jose killings and other cases illus- trate the urgency of redirecting U.S./Colombia pol- icy at this critical stage. "Peace in Colombia" is a new online Flash-movie

that illustrates the failure of Plan Colombia. It is narrated by church leader Ricardo Esquivia. The video makes it easy to understand the terrible conse- quences of U.S. involvement in Colombia. The video can be viewed at htt~://www.~eaceincolombia.ordcolombiafinal.html

Please urge our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pierre Pettigrew, not to support U.S. involvement in Co- lombia, or, if you are a U.S. citizen, contact your members of Congress and voice your opposition to Plan Colombia.

Just a big

From the bottom of my wallet. Thanks for support- ing my extravagant life of wealth, women, fast cars, eating in the best restaurants, partying with and be- coming one of the richest, most powerful and influ- ential society figures! - by mutilating your bodies and minds and destroying all that was precious in your lives (family, friends, etc.) and, in all probabil- ity, if you continue on your self-destructive course, dying prematurely.. whose only purpose now is to get relief from that all-consuming craving (yeah!) to become a slave to the candy (drugs) I push. We've got to keep that cash flowing! How's it feel to be my puppet? To be my dispos-

able source of wealth?! $900 million of cocaine and heroin sold in BC every year!! ((300+ overdoses in BC every year; 1 in 4 users have HIVIAIDS). So?)

Take a look in the mirror - do you like what you see? OPEN YOUR EYES AND CHANGE YOUR

0

DESTINY! P

We can strengthen our community through the library

! Currently, the Vancouver Public Library is operating ' the Carnegie Reading Room and Strathcona Branch j to serve the Downtown Eastside1 Strathcona (DTESI

STR) area. Cai-niegie Reading Room provides magazines, newspapers, fiction, non-fiction, books in Chinese, internet access, and outreach services to the public. Strathcona Branch is a children's library where the materials and services cater to the needs of preschool and elementary school aged children. To better serve the DTESISTR community, VPL is proposing a full service library in the area. While the Carnegie Reading Room would remain untouched in the same location, with the new branch the library would be able to provide more materials and ser- vices to the entire DTESISTR area including those teenagers and adults not currently being served. In April 2004 the Vancouver Public Library hired a

consultant team to investigate how the library could improve and enhance its services in the area. The team met with many local organizations and indi- viduals to gather input on the kinds of library ser- vices that community members would like to have. Following the consultation, the Library Board has taken a series of actions: 1) Accepted the report and made a new DTESISTR branch its highest priority in the capital referendum. 2) Distributed the consultation report to all the or- ganizations and individuals who participated in the consultation process for comment.

3) Held a community meeting to discuss the report with community members in November 2004 at Strathcona Community Center. 4) Created a DTESISTR Outreach Librarian position based on the belief that an ongoing public consulta- tion process would be essential in order to consoli- date input and amplify community interests. 5) Submitted the capital plan for a new DTESISTR library to the City's capital plan staff review group and the City's Corporate Management Team.

The on-going community consultation that the li- brary is doing has collected a lot of valuable advice from the community. The followings are some of the things that we have learned: 1) Many residents have talents in various areas, but they need resources or services to support them. 2) Children, teenagers and many learners do need a silent study room. 3) People in the area are hungry for books and that book clubs for different groups would be treasured. 4) Aboriginal community members would like to meet with their elders to enjoy storytelling so as to pass their tradition and knowledge to next genera- tion. 5) Art is a very important element in the area and the library should find ways to support its development. 6) Both professional and amateur artists would love to display their work in the library. 7) Community members who can not read would love to have audio visual materials in the library.

The library realizes there are many ways to engage people in its services and we would love to hear from you! Your comments and support would help us to establish a new branch that everyone could call "my libraryW.Together, we can achieve it.

Want to express your library needs? Please contact Gladys Chen, DTES/SiT Outreach Librarian of Vancouver Public Library at 604-331-3826. Or you could simply leave a message/ comment at Carnegie Reading Room or Strathcona Branch.

sou P

'Welfare' Mom

In response to an article in the Georgia Straight, and comments by Jean Swanson reprinted in the Cam- gie Newsletter(June l), regarding Debbie Krull:

I am not surprised with the attitude of the public. I'd like to share a tragedy I witnessed in Toronto in the early '90s - A six year-old little girl named Andrea went missing from her building around Danforth & Coxwell. I was living a few blocks south. Police and volunteers searched the neighborhood for days with- out results; also it became public that her mother was a "welfare mother.. ." The press and the public were relentless with cruel

comments toward her, some even implying that she

killed her daughter. About a week later Andrea's body was found behind the building's furnace. The investigation showed that it was a part-time janitor who had raped and killed the little girl; he was con- victed of the crime. Why is the public so cruel toward welfare recipi-

ents? Society creates a caste of untouchables. The governments know this, yet are willing accomplices in creating a climate of blame. We have within us a depth of cruelty or caring.

Some people who gave big money to the tsunami victims will, in turn, insult and abuse a homeless person in the street. It is truly the human paradox: "good" poor there; "bad" poor here and the vicious cycle continues to spin indefinitely. The other victim in this story was Andrea's mother;

when her daughter was found dead her welfare was cut off. She'd already had to deal with her daugh- ter's death and the cruel bashing by both press and public. She took her own life less than a year later.

I am sure it was not an isolated incident. Human nature being what it is takes a minority group as scapegoats to blame all the problems of society on. Our modem, insane capitalist system will blame the poor for being a burden (undeserving) while letting government give the rich (deserving) big tax cuts. Sooner or later this pyramid will collapse under its own weight. But will we see Trump, Gates, corporate CEO's or

political fat cats in soup lines? They would not sur- vive. They could never adapt to destitution but we, the poor, will. We are strong and creative; we will find ways to survive. It may be the best form of di- vine retribution.

Christiane Bordier

Big brown beautiful bannock stuffed indians sit in smoke filled bingo halls offer silent prayers to bingo god as dabbing numbers to win money to return every night for gamble stomp instead of. feeding hungry cubs who faint and inhale solvents in abandoned school yards

beautiful bannock stuffed indians fuck each other on Friday nights one indian man fathers thirteen off-spring from nine wives who all hate him except for one little boy that loves his daddy and scribbles, "I miss you" with broken crayons, "when you coming home?"

bannock stuffed indians keep warm around a fire under a train bridge that reeks of urine, winos with fresh breath, listerine bottles circle their crippled limbs

as I sit at home eating stale bannock with lard and witness reruns of North of 60 or new episodes of Moccasin Flats those are real indians not the fake kind, but real indians who depict us real-life ones. Anonymous by request

Keep on the Grass

Grass is always greener they always say but you gotta be grateful for all good luck that comes your way, a little bit every day Remember those religious folks used to say He looks after everyone in his own way from sparrow to elephant and all in between Don't put up a fight, it'll work out all right, Just give it some time.

Now I complain and sometimes I should but you know it never does much good but we struggle and we carry on today's problems will soon be long gone You just keep hangin' on You'll make it thru.. I know you will You'll carry on 'cause whether you know it You are that strong Strong enough to keep on keepin' on.

ARTFUL Sundays! Beginning July 10 and every week until August 28

2005, Britannia Community Centre is presenting "Artful Sundays", an outdoor, multimedia arts mar- ket in Napier Square (Napier at Commercial Drive), noon-4pm. Featuring local artists: paintings, photog- raphy, metal works, mixed media, collage, paper arts, sculpture, needlework, glass, etc.etc. Each Sun- day will showcase a different group of about ten artists, plus musical guests and other surprises. To reserve a table interested artists can leave a message for Katherine Polgrain at (604)718-5800 or pick up a registration form at the Britannia Information Centre Artist Diane Wood will be participating July 10,

displaying her handbuilt ceramics, "URBAN ICONS", greeting cards and fabric wall hangings.

THE SHADOWS PROJECT

Hi everyone, Vancouver Moving Theatre is working in partner-

ship with the Carnegie Community Centre to create a shadow play (with images and puppets, storytel- ling and music) for the whole family and the Down- town Eastside about addiction. We need your help. We are writing the play with a large team of DTES

writers. Some of the writers are in different stages of the process of addiction. The following is a ques- tionnaire about addiction that will help us build this play. Please help us write our play by answering these questions. We consider addiction can involve everything from sugar, coffee, nicotine, alcohol and other drugs, to behavioral addictions like workahol- ics, shopaholics, and TV, video, nickel slot machine- aholics

Thank you, Rosemary Georgeson, James Fagan Tait, Savannah Walling (Lead Writers)

Age Range: 0-15 - 15-30 - 30-45 - 45 + - Do you live in the Downtown Eastside?

If not, where is your home neighborhood?

1. How does addiction affect your life?

2. What are some of the most powerful images you've seen or dreamt regarding addiction and/or\ recovery?

3) How is your world affected by addiction?

4) What kinds of images come to mind when you imagine a person - or a community - going through the process of recovery?

5) If there were no addictions, what would the world and/or the DTES look like?

6) How has your life been transformed because of the experience of addiction and/or the recovery process?

7) If you painted a picture of addiction, what would your picture contain?

9) Do you have a story you'd like to share with us about addiction? (Humorous, touching, sad, inspir ing?)

10) What do you want our children and our elders to understand about addiction?

If you would like to be kept informed about The Shadows Project - please leave your name and con- tact information Please drop this questionnaire at the Carnegie Com- munity Centre front desk for The Shadows Project Or mail to: Savannah Walling,

Vancouver Moving Theatre Chinatown Postal Outlet Box 88270 Vancouver, B.C. V6A 4A4

604-254-691 1 (messages)

LONG WEEKEND ART SHOW & SALE - BUY OUTSIDE THE BOX

Support local artists this holiday long weekend and step into Gallery Gachet to see "Member." Gachet's 25 member artists are displaying and selling their artwork in one big long weekend show and sale,

"Investigate outsider art," suggests INvin Oostindie, Gachet's general manager. "These are artists who produce powerful work but are not on the pecking order of Vancouver's art establishment."

Paintings, sculpture, photography, and more - with such a diversity of work from a diversity of artists you're certain to find something to beautify your home and enrich your life. Gallery Gachet is an artist-run centre, and you'll find original work priced more aordably than that which you'll find in a commercial gallery. Oostindie calls it "buying outside the box." Gallery Gachet's holiday long weekend art sale runs from Wednesday, June 29, to Sunday, July 3, noon to 6pm, at 88 E. Cordova. For more information, call 604.687.2468 or visit the website: www.gachet.org.

Explore the Edues of vour Consciousness This is Gallery Gachet's latest, an interdisciplinary

group exhibition entitled Edges which debuts with an opening reception on Friday, July 8, from 7 to 10 p.m. at 88 East Cordova St. The opening reception features a performance and branding at 8:30 p.m. Arhsts Stephen Long, S. Siobhan McCarthy, Danny Wickert and Catherine Pulkinghorn have come to- gether to present this innovative exploration that combines video, mixed media artwork, live per- formances, and branding. "The edges of our lives are perhaps more important

than what they contain," says Stephen Long, whose contribution to the show involves digital video pro- jection. "The edges of our physical space, our Per- ception, and our consciousness describe the possi- bilities for our lives, where they begin and end."

Danny Wickert draws inspiration for his work from numerous sources includmg surrealism, the outsider art movement, abstraction, and the traditional arts of ancient cultures and religions. Wickert's recent work integrates wood, paint and mirrors and attempts to integrate the picture frame into the images contained within it through the exploration of geometrical pat- terns and designs. Visual artist and academic Catherine Pulkinghorn

and S. Siobhan McCarthy of the absolut theatre co. come together in edges, the first phase of their col- laboration integrating arts-based research examining human behaviour and consciousness, identity1 branding, and an exploration of the human psyche. The current stage of the project culminates in a live branding performance and multi-media installation addressing the impacts of projection. "Edges define the content of everything," the artists

explain. "They specify the limits and boundaries. The constant negotiation between self and other ex- poses human behaviour and the question of what is acceptable."

Spiritual dysfunction

The voice of weeping soul Cleaving to the flesh Out on the streets Suffering piles up with time Spiritual dysfunction took hold of him.

Affliction and earthly desires Scornful of man's despair Wise man - His enemy Suffer him not to anger Pain to others is pleasure to his soul.

The Voice of Judgment wails Wisdom wails Spiritual dysfunction Took hold of him.

Ayisha

Located at the Strathcona Community Center 601 keefer st.

Practices are held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights from 6-8 pni.

Monthly club dues are 20$ For more info or general enquires please

contact us at : eastsidejudo@canada.com

Aboriginal Day n

1. Having existed in a region from the beginning: abonginalforests. See synonyms at native

a. Of or relating to aborigines.

naStive (ns'tiv) adj. 1. Existing in or belonging to one by nature; innate: native abilit-v. 2. Being such by birth or origin: a native S C O ~ .

3. Being one's own because of the place or circum- stances of one's birth: o w native land 4 . Originating. growingt or produced in a certain place or region; indigenous: nplant norive to Asin.

a. Being a membcr of the original inhabitants of a particular place.

b. Of. belonging to, or characteristic of such in- habitants: native dress; the native diet o f Polj~nesia. 5 . Occurring in nature pure or uncombined with other substances: native copper: 6. Natural; unaffccted: native bemr@. 7. Archaic. Closely related: as by birth or race. 8. Riocl~emistry Of or relating to the naturally oc- curring conformation of a macromolecule, such as a protein.

a. One born in or connected with a place by birth: a native of,~cotlandnon~ living in the United States.

b. One of the original inhabitants or lifelong res dcnts of a place.

Now I know what it means. My ancestors were original. I don't know how they got "ab" in there. Because of my ancestry I guess that I'm also original

or at least a native of turtle island. That's where we live, North America to everyone else. We have our own day now (National Aboriginal

Day) and it's the summer solstice, June 21", what a great day for a celebration. Last year I sat at a table at Trout Lake Park and handed out information on Skokum Hub. This year I went to a free breakfast at the Vancouver Native Aboriginal Friendship Center. I got a nice surprise. Brionne, my son, showed up and we had a little visit. I hadn't decided to walk in the parade to Trout Lake but I was thinking about it. My son said he definitely wasn't going to walk. Around 1 lo'clock they asked people to go out to

the parlung lot and get ready for the parade. That's when I decided to go for the walk. Brionne decided to come along for the walk too. It was a good way to spend a few miles together. We walked and we talked and we were careful not

to step in the horse droppings from the mounted po- lice escort we were given. It was pretty warm, some might even say hot out, but it was a good walk. Peo- ple along the street waved and every once in a while the whole parade let out a holler. It felt great to be in the parade. Next year maybe I'll wear some kinda regalia, maybe just a feather. When we got to the park I decided I better get down to Carnegie as I have an afternoon shift in the learn- ing centre, so I said goodbye and went to catch the bus. It sure is a nice way to spend part of the day. Next year I'm taking the whole day off.. .

ha1

Surfing around during the still summer nights, as well as the days all anew, where have you been and did you truly see uncertain things through? And, oh yes, did he bring you down once more..that sad, dreadful, stupid fool? Was he fair to you or was he mean again, uh huh, abusive and cruel?

Try not to tempt the Fates in what now seems an endless go round, and never take any risks in a war that you can't win but can only fall down; What's the point of this futile battle where little ho- mour ever abounds? "Nothing doing," you may say; in the end calling a truce just to hold your ground.

Situations may unravel at anytime, anywhere, with- out notice - can't you see? What's the ultimate re- sult that will satis6 you, since you won't just let it be? Is it really about winning and losing.. but yet will either set you free? I feel I can comment upon and recommend, but why should you listen to me?

Think how many times you've been through this scene, isn't it oh so futile? Yet you continue to per- sist for reasons unknown I say with a smile. Why not take a burden off your racing mind, lie down and chill awhile? Forget all the anger pent up in your heart and make peace with your world. Jump start your new life, all afresh, and do it in style

By Robyn Livingstone

Sarti Walk 1

i I I : English Bay and Bunard Inlet and Nelson

I I

; Creek and Eagle Isle and Fishermen's Cove I j and the Gulf klands 6, a totally awesome free ; ; Camegie picnic lunch! I I

4 I 4 I

I : I Thursday, July 14,9am to 4pm ; 4 Open to all who have Carnegie memberships ; ; Pre-register at 3'df[oor office. I

I bwmmmmmmmmmmmwmmmmm~m,mmmm~mu/mmmrrwmmmmmmmm~

Two Wolves One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson

about a debate that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 "wolves" in us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, re- gret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, seren- ity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, gen- erosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and

then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you

feed."

One for the good guys.

I'm pleased to report that we had an excellent court decision recently on advocates and confidentiality.

Our Victims Assistance Worker was subpoenaed by MCFD [Ministry for Children and Family Develop- ment] who aggressively challenged our resistance to giving information and also aggressively challenged why a Victim's Assistance worker would do advo- cacy.

Fortunately a local lawyer, Patricia Gartner, who values our services highly, took up the issue for free and the provincial court decision today actually noted that among the reasons for granting privilege were that people living in poverty neededparticular support and that the Legal Aid cuts meant that advo- cates were needed more than ever!

[Sent to PovNet by] Tish Lakes The Advocacy Centre, Nelson

Music Program Random Notes

Well, well, well, the first musicians' meeting to discuss a second CD project went off with just the right amount of hitches to make everyone who came, apparently, more than interested in getting this pro- ject off the ground. Thanks to everyone who showed up, and added their 2 cents worth to the ongoing discussion. And, I might add, that it was ameed bv consensus to continue at a future date. as all of the points for discussion people were raising were not addressed and voted upon. And now for something completely different: Just

about every afternoon you could drop into a Carne- gie Music Program afternoon session (Well, the ones I've been at, anyway.) You can find at least one mu- sician, usually a newcomer to Carnegie, who's a tad peeved at the way these "JAMS" are structured. In- variably, the slightly miffed musician doesn't return for a good long while.. . If at all. Why? 'cause our 'JAMS, aren't JAMS!

To a musician, a jam is basically a free-for-all, where what goes on, and who goes on is determined by the unspoken politic of the moment. It isn't a structured thing, as the Carnegie Music Programs afternoon sessions are.

Seems like I'm splitting hairs, right.. . 'cause a name's just a name!? Except for the fact that our community centre might be perceived, by someone who wishes to participate in one of the ongoing pro- grams, as monolithic and stodgy, all because of the semantics of the slang used by people the music pro- gram is directed towards. Really! It's sort of a play on the first impressions thingy, where people who might benefit from the program are subconsciously slightly put off by its structure; it isn't quite as its name implies.

So, for the next little while, could the Carnegie 'regulars' be as patient as they might be with a little name change for the afternoon sessions on Tue. and Wed? It might be something that brings some new blood to the stage.

Yeah, it is after all an open stage, open door con- cept, where anyone who wants to is free to use the facility and equipment. Hmm.. . OPEN STAGE?!

Now that doesn't seem too stodgy, does it?

((1 The Bus Riders' Union 111

I I

Till next time M.

is holding a

PUBLIC MEETING to LOWER the FARES

I I Saturday, July 23,l-3pm. at the Vancouver Public Library

350 West Georgia

I I Get involved in the Bus Riders Union campaign to lower fares for community health & social justice!

There will be snacks, childcare and Spanish translation. This is a child-friendly meeting.

FREE Workshops for-and-by Thanks for asking, Jayce -

Fridays, 1 - 3:30prn Every week to September 29,2005

Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, 302 Columbia St.

For infor and registralion, call Card at 6818480 ext 233 Light snacks and bus ticketspraided

Session 8 Session 12 Criminal Law Restdentlal Tenancy WhatIneedtoknowK Whattodotflm I am &wed wfth a d m e bdng &ed. (induda Info on how What arc my dghts to apply for pardon). as temnt Julydth,ZW5 August 5th2005

Session 9 Session 13 MHR Child Protection Undentanding a d Praake standards as apply(% forotwelhr~ It relater to Abodglnal duablllty-l a d IL women July 15th2005 August 12th,2WS

Session 10 MHR Role of the fimndal

Gession 14 Chlld Protectlon

aid worker. How to communicate Steps to appealing effectlvcly so y w r soda1 a dedrlon. worker listens.

July 2lndJWS August l9th,2005

Session 11 Session 15 MHR Child Protection Child ax benefits and Leamlng abom the d l d support orden -rocerr and preparing

whenonuS(stlnu JulylPLIL2005 .tZSth,ZWS

I found the quote in our last issue from Subcoman- dante Marcos in a book of his in the Central Library called "Our Word is Our Weapon: Selected Writ- ings". It's put out by Seven Stories Press.

It is a lie. It is not true that we have to take part in this lethal market. It is not true that the only options are between different kinds of war. It is not true that we must take sides with one or an- other stupidity. It is not true that we must renounce intelligence and humanity.

It is possible to have another world, different than what the violent supermarket is selling us. It is possible to have another world where the choice is between war and peace, between memory and forgetting, between hope and resignation between the gray tones and the rainbow. It is possible to have a world where many worlds fit. It is possible that from a "No!" will be born an imperfect, unfinished, and incomplete "Yes!" that gives back to humanity the hope of rebuilding, every day, the complex bridge that joins thought and feel- ing. Viva life! Death to death!

Subcornandante Insurgente Marcos

emerging artists, and encourage intercultural aware- ness and acceptance. The annual Festival is a col- laborative partnership amongst the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver, Carnegie Community Centre and the Downtown Eastside Community Arts Initiative, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gar- den, Powell St. Festival Society and Vancouver Ch natown Revitalization Committee.

We also wish to thank and acknowledge the gener- ous support3om the City of Vancouver and its 0 ice of Cultural Afairs, Now W, and ScotiaBank.

The Festival's cultural showcase includes: July 2: China & Korea (llam - 5pm) A combination of Chinese lion dancing, classical and folk dances, opera and traditional Chinese music as well as Korean dance and music highlight these two countries' unique colors, costumes, and sounds. July 9: Celtic Day (1 - 4pm) In collaboration with the Celtic Connection, an af-

Chinatown Arts & Cultural Festival ternoon of Irish, Scottish, and British musical fa-

Bringing the World to the Heart vourites including the Fraser River Fiddlers, Tartan

of Chinatown Pride Dance Team, pipers, Celtic sports, and more. July 16: Indonesia & Burma (1 - 4pm)

Saturdays in July Together the Indonesian and Burmese communities July 2 - China & Korea ( I lam - 5pm) present traditional songs and folk dancing from

July 9 - Celtic Day (1 - 4pm) Southeast Asia. In recognition of the recent tsunami

July 76 - Burma & Indonesia (7 - 4pm) disaster, we will work with the Canadian Red Cross

July 23 - Japan (7 - 4pm) to educate and promote future relief efforts in this

**Donations are greatly appreciated" region. July 23: Japan (1 - 4pm)

Celebrate Vancouver's multicultural heritage at the An inspiring day featuring the power of taiko drums, 5th Annual Chinatown Arts and Cultural Festi- the Zen of a Shakuhachi quintet, the elegance of val, presented by various community groups at the classical Japanese odori dance, the finesse of or Dr. Sun Yat-Sen PARK Courtyard. Every Saturday gami and the agility of Ailudo martial arts during the month of July experience a different country's history and culture through music and dance on an outdoor stage, shop at the marketplace featuring local artists and craftspeople, make kids' crafts, and sample new foods. This unique festival will enhance tourists' experi-

ences in Chinatown and encourage pedestrianslcyc I 1

listshesidents from neighboring areas including False Creek, Gastown, Yaletown, Strathcona, and the Greater Vancouver area to rediscover Chinatown and the Downtown Eastside. The Festival will con- tribute to the revitalization of Vancouver's oldest For more information or images please contact: neighbourhoods, support economic growth for local Rika Uto at Carnegie Community Centre, 604-665- merchants and artists, offer public exposure for 3003 or rika.uto@vancouver.ca

DOWNTOWN FIXED EXCHANGE SITE - 5 E Hastings '

EASTSIDE KEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN - 3 Routes: YOUTH 604-685-6561 - 5:45pm - ll:45pm ACTIVITIl3S Overni~ht - 12:30am - 8:30am SOCIETY Downtown Eastside - 5:30pm - 1:30am 49 W.Cordova 604-251-331 0

\ ~ \ - ~ " & \ \ % 2 ^ v ~ & ~ \ \ \ "

HATHA YOGA-with Annabelle on Mondays More mats & more space: Theatre 1 1 - l2:3O 2

THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION

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

Editor: PaulR Taylor; cover drt & layout, Diane Wood. - . -

2005 DONATIONS Libby D.440 Barry for Dave McCA50 Rolf A.-$45 Margaret D.425 Christopher R.-$50 Mary C430 Bruce 5.430 U'mista - $20 Heather S.425 RayCam-$30 Gram -$200 Paddy 430 Glen B.450 John S.-$80 Penny 6 .421 Jenny K.420 Dara C.420 Sandy C.$20 Audrey-$20 Wes K.-$50 Joanne H.420 Rockingguys -$20 The Edge Community Liaison Ctt -$200 Pam B.425 Wm B-$20 Janice P.-$20 Michael C.-$50 Anonvmous-$2 51)

Working for You 1070- 164 1 Cmrncrcial Dr. VSL 3Y3

Plmne: 775-0790 Fax: n5-0881

&Gm at The Dugout I Delivered Wednesdays: $2.50 1 dozen

Submission Deadline for next issue: Tuesday, July 12 - -

Here's a rhyme that I found in a Cormac McCarthy play called The Stonemason:

The rain falls upon the just And also on the unjust fellas But mostly it falls upon the just 'Cause the unjust have all The just's umbrellas

Submitted by Sam Slanders

. . . I - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We acknowledge that Carnegie Community Centre, nnd this \ I Newsletter, are happening on the Squarnish Nation's t e n i t o ~ ! . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Downtown Ensbide Resideoh Alsocinlioo

DERI helps with: Wone & S P k Mailborts 1 Wellarc problem; Lodlord dbpuin; I I o u l n g problems

Umafc llving condltloru

I At 12 I? Hnstings Street, or call 6044824931.