FREE - donatlons accepted

d

401 Main S t r e e t Vancouver V6A 2li' (604) 665-2289

REGISTER FOR THE HEARING SHUTTLE BUS LEAVES Camegie Center (the Main St. bus stop)

Thursday, April 12th 1 Prnt ~ P W 3pm1 4prn Tuesday, April 17th 1 P ~ I 2pm13Pmr 4 ~ m 'Utdnesday, A p l l a t h 1 prn, Ipm, 3pm, lprn Th~irsday, April 19th 1 pn, 2pm, 3pmr lprn

A van w~ l l si-unle 3ecgle to the 3 c a ~ of Var~ance cffice, 453 West 12th Ave, Varcouver, cn -"e &cve dates

Enough is enough is enough ... . ..and it's getting nittier and grittier. Remember thc Dcvclopment Permit Board and the 3 days of hear- ings.. ovcr the 5-prong proposal to sct up addiction scrviccs'? Remembcr how the so-called Community Alliance has been using intimidation, threats, back- room tactics and slcaq stratcgics but I'm gctting ahcad of myscl f. The problcm: addiction and drugs and safety and

health and disease and misery and crime and poverty and kids and seniors and the huge number of people who don't fit into any category other than citizen. Thc problem is also the seeming paranoia, disgust

and non-tolcrance that a small number of people with political connections to the NPA and their own monq/class illusions arc trying to infcct thc wholc proposal with. Over two thousand people havc dicd from drug

ovcrdosc in the last 8 years. This is outrageous. Kids

are being used as drug mules. are getting sucked into prostitution, are our futurc addicts. The Downtoun Eastside is struggling to change while the rcasons for addiction, be they clear or as murky as the public statements of Alliance snobs, m a k any treatment problematic. There is no magic bullet; but the Alliance has made it clear that they want anjthing and everqdung unacceptable - to them - wiped out.

It's diflicult to go ovcr it all again, but that is precisely where the Dcvclopment Permits arc. Once thc DP Board gave unanimous approval to all

five parts, there were 30 days in which appeals could be made. On the afternoon of the 30' day there were appeals filcd. Now it goes to the Roarduf Variance.

Yes, boys and girls, we havc to do it all ovcr again. The Board of Variance is much more strict in its

process, even though the DP Board went out of its way to givc every concession to members of this so- callcd Alliance. The purpose is to givc thcm no legal recourse, to cross all 't's and dot all 'i's, but it's also a reflection of the stupidity of their behind-clssed- doors dcniands and threats to City Council and gross exploitation of city bureaucrats. "We will not be drawn into t ~ i n g to solve the problems." "There will be no compromise. We will not tolerate any more services in our (sic) community." "Quit or Die" - a headline for an article sent to evcry Councillor with the written note by Lynne Bqson (onc of about 4 pcoplc calling thcmsclvcs thc Victory Squarc Property Owners Association) saying "many of us feel this way." "Addicts should all be taken to some remote place, like an island." "If I had niy way I'd take every drug user to Crab Park and drown thcm one by onc."

There are five separate development pcnnits. If you wish to speak in support of one or all five, the pro- cess is to go in person to City Hall on April 17, 18 or 19 between 1 :00 and 4:30. You have to give your address, but no ID is necessary. You have to say which of the five permits you want to speak on, as there are five separate lists.

- 166 E.Hastings is to be a 24-hour service for connecting addicts and street people to existing health services, treatment, counselling, and more - a safe place to go;

- 569 Powell is the new location for the Health Clinic currently across from Oppenheimer Pk. It will expand senices available to everyone.

- 410 E.Cordova will be a skills and reintcgra- lion facility to give training and rclatcd stun,

- 59 w.Pender will be a renewal of much-needed detox and health services

- 40 1 Main is about construction on the comer to change the way the physical space is used.

This is the most bare-bones description yet, but the underlying idea is to begin and work on day-to-day operational challenges. The one point hcrc is the wealth of experience that addiction service providers have and are willing to offer being accessed asap.. . The Board of Variance will hear the appeal on

Wednesday, April 25. beginning at 2: 15 pm until midrught. If it doesn't get through all speakers it will continue hearings on Thursday, April 20. It's everyone's right to be heard, so make time. This

bunch is seriously deficient in common sense, and the DP Board's decision saying that the problems they envision with increased services will likely be affected in the opposite way - more treatment, detox and healthharm reduction will result in less crime, safety fear and open drug use. It will actually make living here a little better. It's been proven to work in cities and countries all over the world.

If all of the above makes you wonder why these people are so dead set against any and all of these proposals, try words like real estate, class, shopping experience, gentrification, genocide.. .

By PAULR TAYLOR

The 2001 Vigil of Honour Saturday, May 5, 11 am - 5 3 0 pm

Oppenheimer Park

..In the spirit of inclusion, \ve invite all comniunit~~ groups and individuals to join us in this exciting pro.ject ." The Circle of Hope Coalition is a grassroots group

of citizens dedicated to orchestrating the pressuring of local & provincial governments to address the serious addiction problems in our communities.

. Far too many people have died as a result of add- ictions, and far too many more arc forced to stay in their addictions for lack of adequate treatment and services. Communities have been destroyed and far too many families have lost loved ones.

The basic idea is Treatment on Demand. This means that enough services are available so that when someone with a drudalcohol dependence requests treatment it can be accessed with 48 hours. Inuiiediate access is essential becausc the "window '

of oppoflunity" for man>. people is just that narrow. The people in the Circle of Hope recobmise that the

drug & alcohol problen~ in our societ?,. especiall~. in the Downtown Eastside, didn't just 'crop up.. Vested interests and govenuiient inaction have led inexorably to the present situation of lack of adequate detos, treatment and supportiw recover). services. Addicts seeking same nced and dcsen~e access to treatment facilities on rcqucst. The lack of action severely restricts the addicts'

treatment opportunities and impacts directly on the non-addicts in our and even community. Common sense dictates that establishing new facilities and enhancing the scope of existing senices will make "t~eatmenU' much easier to start.

The schedule of events on May 5Ih: 1 1 am - Opening Ceremonies. Gathering of Drums l2;W - Walk of Honour

1 :30 - Hot lunch and tributes to those who have died or can't get proper help.

2:OO - Multicultural and Multi-Agency Events 5:30- Dinner, Closing Circle, Candlelight Ceremony

For more information about the Xgil or to volunteer your help, cull 21 5-2287.

coffee & Ideas Thursday, April 19, 7:30-9:30

Genocide in Canada - Past and Present

Rev. Kevin Annett will speak of his investigation into church-run residential schools.

All Welcome!

On Keeping Eyes and Ears Open I used to spend a lot of tinic dodging the n~isen of others.. . . .walliing around \\ ith e!.es shut.. .seldom

My Journey My Time 5 As I journey in ni! t i m I watch and espcrience total demise of all that I learned and was taught as the Righteous Belief

I feel the!. didn't journe~. my time

The espcrience is aRer all mine as 1 see the ongoing and changing bel~efs i t is all for onl!. me lo decide \\hat is mjt Righteous Belief

Mc belief is that I nil1 be free at IIIJ dcn~ise

Andrea P

Eleanor Roosevelt

Many people wi l l but only true frien heart.

wrote - walk i n and out of your life,

ds will leave footprints in your

To handle yourself. use your head; To handle others, use your heart.

Anger i s only one letter short of danger.

I f someone betrays you once, it i s his fault; I f he betrays you twice, it i s your fault.

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events;

Small minds discuss people.

He who loses money, loses much; He, who loses a friend, loses much more;

He, who loses faith, loses all.

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, But beautiful old people are works of art.

Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't Ine long cnough to make them all !ourself

Fncnds jou and me You brought another frrcnd And then there ucrc 7 Wc started our group

Our c~rclc of fr~cnds And 11kc that clrclc Thcrc 1s no beg~nnmg or cnd Ycstcrda! 1s li~stop

Tonlorron IS mksten Toda~ 1s a grft

hearing a cry But nliracles do happen . I stunlbled on a new life .... learned the hard way about trust and caring ... .discovered guts and spirit.. . . .found sight and for a donation of $515, which will be used to hearing restored.

Sam Roddan

All interested People

The Carneqie CD Project is holding an importanl roundtable \\ith Lisa of Carnegie Front Desk Fame and band promotion

company BRATTMANAGEMENT.COM Monday, April 23,Z-4 pm, Classroom #2

In order to promote the ( ' I ) and o w own careers a s mtr.sicinn.s '

TOPICS T O BE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: Developing a Press Kit Making Contacts to play around town Developing a Web Page - create more publicity Writing your own Bios

You don't have to be in the Music Program to help W e need Web designers, talkers, graphic artists, writers, promoters and musicians: whether you

are on the CD or not.

Connecting Edges Breaking Barriers to Community

An Exhibition by members of Gallery Gachet

On-Site Artist At Work Sunday mornings, 9am-12pm

Bring your tea and meet. talk or watch Gallery Gachct member. artist Solomon Fagan at work on a painting in the Exhibition Hall: "My work draws on the history of art, mythology and religion in developing a visual lang- uage for symbolically depicting beauty. horror. humour and the mass psychosis of contemporary society.'

humanities storefront ! i Performance Art Workshop

april I April I 8th 7 - 9 pm -

themes; globalization, art, and architecture

april4 ... rebecca murdock . . . labour lakver with teamsters Local 31 ... trade unions and globalimtion april 1 1 . . . ihn but probably bruce alexander . . . s h sociology., the globali~ation of the dnig scene april 17 . . . arthur allen . . . architect .. . tour of the orpheum theatre . . . nlect at thc orphcum theatre on granville street .. bag lunch provided . . . 10 am. april 18 . . . arthur allen :. architect . . . slide show on vancouver architecture april 25 ... arni haraldsson ... photographer, ... a discussion of his photography of Vancou~er,

jerusalem, india, paris

free university lectures wednesdays @ 7pm 4Ow hastings

Join Gallery Gachet artists and Dean Fogal, Founder and Artistic Co-Director of TooBe

Physical Theatre Centre, for a movement-based Performance Art Workshop. Come and view past

performance works video and be present as Gallery Gachet artists explore new performance art pieces for the Vancouver Performance Art

Biennale (October 200 1)

Outsider Art Forum April 25Ih 7-9 pm

Come into the Exhibition Hall and meet artists from Gallery Gachct and art and community vidcos made at Galleq Gachet. This event is an open discussion on art and particularly on Outsider Art -- an area of major interest . Vicw videos and share some Spoken Word, ask questions. and participate.

An Earth Day Celebration 5

To the people of your community,

A few weeks ago. we gathered to look at the video of the memorial for Jean-Marie; later we received the memory b o d .

How touching it is, how consoling for us. We are so grateful to all of you of the community who loved and apprcciated Jean-Marie.

He probably spent the best years of his life with you all, bcing sober, being creative, helping other people and living in such a community. Thank you, thank you so much to all of you.

Sunday, April 22,2001

Circling the Earth.. .

A free, public cclcbrat~on ~nvoking the spirit of the Earth and ourselves in a spring ritual of community renetval, inspiration and the affirmation of life.

Through prayerful song & dance and spoken word participate in the bringing together of our common intention to heal the fractures ~vithin oursclvcs, our comnlunities andd our shared Earth 7711s Earth Day Celebration will culminate in an

Earth Run, a mo~ing mandala of peace, dedicated to the continuance of life. weaving a web of solidarity, creating a strong culture of peace to benefit all liv~ng beings

m: 1 1 :00 am to approsimatcl! 2:OOpm Location: Womcn's Monument, Main and Terminal -- (bctucen Main Strcer Skytrain Stalion aid Bus Depot)

- Dress for all wathcr cond~t~ons. bear sens~ble shoe . bring ~\atcr , a drum ~f jou \%ad to be a part of the drum c~rcle, and, most of all. )our creat~re spmt and des~re to find harmon) among and bettcccn people of the Earth

For mformation. contact Salk Abbott at 258-271 0 The Boileau fanlily

It's a street market! (Maybe, hopefully, in 3 places at once ...)

The first began a while ago with the Downtown Eastside Residents' Association running with the idca of having a place where local craftspeople could display and sell their art, where community entrepreneurs could generate interest and have fun in the vibrant open market genre that has been and still is, for centuries, the norm in most of the world

Conunon Concerns, reccntly established at 1 1 W Hastings with the opening of Clothes Encounters, a laundromatkafc, has entered into sponsoring the Rwe Gauche event, along with Beatrice T o u ~ e (Web Designer); Magnctude Media; Marpole Online; Pattison Outdoor; the Parking Corp of Vancouver; PRlDE Training Centre; BEST; Uprising Bahery; and Small Potatoes. The seemingly unbridled enthusiasm comes from

Cathzrinc Merlin as Vendor coordinator and Ruth Meta as Promotions coordinator. Catherine writes that she has 16 tables taken so far ($10 per Saturday) and there is always room for more. Thc headline above follows the hope that there will

be 3 venues - at Pcnder&Carrall near Chinatown. one in Blood Alley near Water & Carrall. and of course one in Pigeon Park at Hastings & Carrall Local entertainers are being showcascd on each market day and Earle Peach coordinates this aspect

The first one is MAY 51h from 2-6, I t will open to the sound of Native Drummers and song. They will be hcld ever) second \ w A until July, then every week during the summer.

"Wc start this with little moncy It's all creatiwty and innovation. anothcr place to gather, meet our friends, our community. This is worth bcing noted!"

For morc info call Ruth at 255-4383 or Catherine at 438-36 10.

The Fever-Pitch Game

Election Call, a writ to be dropped What's the big hurrq., there's 3 months to go Will the right win? The)! could be a flop! all the polls arc crcatcd by faceless so-and-so's.

What parties are running'? What do they stand for'? Who are the candidates'? Haw you seen 'em tdo re? Who will you trust? When casting your ballot for the person you know. X marks the spot.

Who'll be on our side whcn push comes to shove'? When the chips are down and off come the gloves? When the race is on, things will get nasty So bring a strong voice and don't speak lastly.

Try to stay above the fray; don't be a zealot. Kcep an even temper whcn you speak your peace. Our cause is positive, it's even a crusade so dig in your heels, there's more gains to be made

There are sectors, spectrums, charts and graphs But this vote's for real, on our personal behall: You know the contestants.. know whcre they stand. So make your section; give them a hand.

Brahms, not Bombs!. . .a concert for (inner) peace

Violinists Bqan King and Ellen Farmgia, violist Martina Smazal, cellist Susan Round, and clarinetist Johanna Hauscr perform.

CFi a Friday, April 20 th

2 p m Carnegie Hall

401 Main Street FREE ADMISSION

Ecology Tramplers 1 \vent through the food line at Harbour Light and

they \\.ere giving juices to each person. 1 collected the containers. asking people for their empties and stacking them. The recycling depot gives 56 each.

The first timc 1 did it the people and stan were Go- operative. even helping IW collect them The 2nd tinlc I \vent I noticed lots of staffwatching me.. one follo\ved nlc around. M)' 3 1 ~ time through (you can go as many times as you like as long as \.ou walk around the building) I was told that that was i t for me . . I could no longer enter.. Would I plcasc leave. There were about six Salvation Army workers at

the front, including the one who'd followed me. I asked to speak to the woman in charge. She said thc containers were Salvation Army property and they did their o m recycling. I told her that they were being put in garbage bags and t h r o w into a Smith- rite that's kept locked. 1 alerted her that our Mother Earth is in crisis and needs our help. 111 my mind standing in the way of recycling breaks the Life Principle, not to mention offending Mother Earth who provides the very food that the Sally Ann gives away. She said she was aware of the ecological issues but had no timc to listen to me or argue and rushcd off.

Arc we going to allow garbage mongers kvho supposedly s e n e the community under the banncr of Christiani& to mahe recycling a crime'? Should locks be put 011 cans to prevent bottle pickers access'?

I'd like to see recycling bins right beside garbage cans in places like this that sewe up to 1000 people a daj.. For me. serving Mother Earth is a # 1 priorit?;.

George C

What are you doing

to stop violence against

9 women.

These women have been murdered in our community Cheryl Ann Jo, Vera Lyons, Lorna Lambert, Rose Peters, Corrine Dagnault, Kandice Mills, Lana Morin, Bernadette Grace Peirce, Susan Jones, Beverley Whitney, Rhonda Gaynor, Nya Rane Robillard, Lou-Ann Stolarchuck (Bonnie), Corrine Sherry Upton La Fleur, Wendy Grace Lewis, Sally Abou, Debbie-Ann McMath, Vicky Buchard, Christine Elizabeth McCrae, Betty Case, Ruth Oliver, Gerry Ferguson, Jeannie Wibe, Debra Foley, Enola Evans, Tammy Lee Pipe, Melody Newfeld, Tracy Olajide, Laurie Ann Rix, Carol Ann Walden, Helen Lessardo (Bowers), Victoria Yonkers, Chantal Gillade, Dana Draycott, Amanda P. Flett (Mandy), Lisa Moosomin, Annie Cedar Jr., Rose Merasty, Maureen Riding at the Door, Meranda Isaac, Barb Mills, Beverley Ann Desjarlais, Debra Lucas, Lori Newman, Mathilda Charles, Clorissa Mary Adolph, Joyce Paquette, Darlene M. Jonston, Florence Isaac, Connie Rider, Connie Chartrand. Edna Shande. Geraldine

Verna Lyons, Jennifer Pete, Lorraine Arrance (Ray), Sharon Arrance, Monika Lillmeier, Mary James, Barbara Charles, Tracy Lyn Hope, Veronica Harry, Susan Presvich, Barbara Larocque, Barbara Paul, Brenda George, Carol Davie, Carrie Ann Starr, Chantal Venne, Christine (Chrissie) Billy, Darlinda Ritchey, Debbie Kennedy, Maryann Jackson, Donna Rose Kiss, Dora Joseph Patrick, Elsie Tomma, Gloria Duneult (Sam), Janet Basil, Julie Mai Smith, Laverna Avivgan, Laurie Schotz, Lois Makie, Loran Carpenter, Lorna George, Lorna Jones, Margaret Vedan, Maria Fergeuson, Margorie Susan Prisnen, Marina George, Martha Gavin, Maxine Paul, Patricia Andrew, Patricia Ann Washams

9 (Trish), Patricia Thomas, Peggy Snow, Rose Piapst, Sadie Chartrand, Sally Jackson, Sandra Flamond, Sheila Hunt, Shirley Nix, Tanya Wallace, Terry

3 Lynn, Jayne Hill, Verna Parnell, Alice Hall, Kelly Myers, Cheryle Joyce ~il l iams, Helena George, Karen Anne Baker, Katherine Phyllis ~ u ~ u s t ; as ma .

~icklund, Margorie Mack, Darlene Weismiller, Michelle Lafleshe, Bernadeth Rafay, Saltana Rafay, Kanwaljitk Gill, Ranjitk Toor, Naazish Khan, Harinder Campo, Mary Anne Monroe, Jennifer Moerike, Beverly Wilson, Ruth Knijar, Swaranjitk Thandi, Linda Nelson, Michelle Wing, Peggy Favel, Rita Holy Anderson, Janet Pelletier, Leanna Cupello, Susan Ball, June Hill, Verna Missar, White Man, Deloris Rivet, Ronda Macdonald, Sandra Amos (George), Janice Saul, Sonia Mathews, Mary Ann Charlie, Josephine Johnson, Amy Mcauley, Nadine Jennie Lea Waters, Lisa Leo, Bonnie Lincoln, Debbie Neaslose, Gertrude Copegop, McMillan, Bonnie Pruden, Carol Davis, Mertyl Roy, Fong Min Wong and her Holly Cochran, Ruby Williams, Diane Lancaster, Bernadine Standing Ready, 3-week old daughter, Lisa Marie Graveline, April Reoch, Laverne Jack, Theresa Pauline Johnson, Nancy Jane Bob, Wendy Poole, Charlene Kerr, Cindy Williams, Humchitt, Mavis McMillan

And these women are still missing

Dorothy Spence Diana Melnick Tanya Holyk Janet Henry Kerri Koski Sarah Devries

Sheila Egan Cindy Louise Beck Catherine Knight Marnie Frey Catherine Ganzales Helen Hallmark Stephanie Lane Angela Jardine Olivia Williams Marcella Creison Inga Hall Kathleen Wattley

Elaine Allenback Jacquilene McDonell Julie Young Taressa Williams Ingrid Soet Sherry Lynn Rail Andrea Fay Borhaven Jenny Furminger Jacqueline Murdock Michelle Gurney

and Itow many more?

Break the Silence

Stop Violence Against Women

everyday

one thing you can do is.. . Come out to a Rally on

Tuesday, April 24,2001 10:30am

at Pigeon Park E. Hastings & Carrall St.

part of actions, for Prevention of Violence Against Women Week April 23 to 29, 2001

Breaking the Silence Campaign C/O 509 E. Hastings St, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1P9

Tel: 682-3269, box 8319

Breaking the Silence I-- -

Anti-viole nce film & discussion

Thursday, April 26,2 - 4 pm Carnegie Theatre

"HEY!! Did you hear that people on disability are going to get an extra 300 bucks a month!?!!

Okay, calm down. The NDP government announced it and cited the

work of BC Persons With AlDS Society, Centre for Excellence in HIVIAIDS, Pacific AlDS Network. BC Coalition of Persons with Disabilities, the Kidney Foundation and the MS Society in their long efforts to get the cost of basic medical and living needs met. Until now people suffering from ill health, nlalnutrition and weight loss resulting from a chronic illness or disability had to pay for things like vitamins 8r minerals, water, over-the-counter drugs and prescription fees and even special dietarl~ supp- lements out of their support money. It wasn't a choice, and such lethal diseases require

increased attention as they progress. Those of you receiving DB 2 under BC Benefits

should contact your worker and then go see your doctor. There have to be written authorizations from MDs to be eligible for the extra mane?'. The good side is that about 4000 people now on DB2 will qualif~., but it9s not a blanket increase for everyone. Another important aspect is that people receiving

federal money for medical conditions have to see if the increase in provincial money means a reduction in the dollars from Ottawa. One person got $5 more From the feds and the province reduced his welfare cheque by $40. It's an automatic thing and makes no sense.

Ask your worker, then get an ad~ocate at BCCPD or DERA or one of the AlDS organisations. Part of the reason why this extra cash is here has been the nuiuber of victories that these advocates have won at the Appeal Board over is being unfair to make the most vulnerable recipients spend their food money on medicinc that they can't live without.

PRT

Not Good Enough

When you're young, you never expect To end up 45, single, living in a flop on Vancouver's famous skid row . . Yet here I am. Exactly where 1 didn't want to wind up.

My daughter wants a normal Dad - One with a Ventura or a Windstar, short hair, job, money, some straight-laced mutha with all the trappings. She's ashamed of her skid row father. Won't return mJ. calls; She's 14 and expected more. Her mother and her live-in boyfriend are both w m d No wonder she hates dope.

Breaks mq heart not bang good enough for one I low w ~ t h eveq fibre of mj bang

damn shame / A1 Loewen

In Iiope of a Better Past

My phone rings, A friend is thinhing about family lost; Not by natural disaster, But by unnatural misunderstanding. She leads me down the rocky road of my own past, Through doors of resentment and lonel~ness long closed. Together we pick at mutual scabs of lost love, Till it assaults afresh. Struggling back to present acceptance of past wrongs. 1 say: the dead must fight their own fights, We must put away the past Lest it infect the future. 1 Wihelmina Miles

Free Leonard Peltier Leonard Peltier opened his book Prison Writings:-

MY Life Is MY Sun Dance, with this prayer:

"Sacred One. put our feet on the holy path that leads to you. and give us the strength and the will to lead

ourselves and our children past the darkness we have entered. Teach us to heal ourselves, to heal each

other and to heal the world.''

Many people hoped the former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, would grant clemency to Leonard Peltier before leaving ofice on January 20, 200 1. Peltier's name, however, did not appear on Clinton's list of clemencies.

For over ten years Peltier has been eliglble for parole. Prior to each parole hearing the FBI meets with the Parole Commission to voice objection to Peltier's release. M e r every hearing, parole is denied without justification. The FBI has consistent- ly obstructed justice in this case, and must be held accountable. The deaths of their agents were indeed tragic, but the imprisonment of an innocent man cannot be tolerated. The huge number of individuals and groups that

support the struggle to free Leonard Peltier includes the Oglala Lakota Nation, Nelson Mandela, Dalai Lama, Amnesty International, Rigoberto Menchu, the National Council of Churches, Ramsey Clark (former U.S. Attorney General), the European Parliament, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Hurricane Carter, B e St Marie, the international Longshore- men's Union, Robcrt Redford, U2, Coretta Scott

King, Rev. Jesse Jackson. Barbara Streisand, Gloria Steinelll, the Belgian Parliament, the Assembly of First Nations, the National Congress of American Indians, and the U.S. National Association of Social Workers.

The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee is urging the U.S. Congress to hold hearings on the Peltier case, and to pass an act to declassifL the 6000 docu- ments still being withheld by the FBI for reasons of national security. The Defense Committee believes the information in these documents could overturn Peltier's conviction. The Defense Conlnlittee is also awaiting a ruling on a pending lawsuit filed against the Parole Commission for unjustly denying Peltier's release.

For more information, contact the Leonard Peltier Defense Conunittee, PO Box 583, Lawrence, KS 66044, USA. Telephone: 785-842-5774; Fax: 785-842-5796. Email The Leonard Peltier Defense Con~mittee has a web site: http://w.freepeltier.org The struggle to free Leonard Peltier is far from lost

and far from over.

By SANDY CAMERON

MONTHLY HEPATITIS SERIES AT CARNEGlE

with Darlene Morrow and Ken Winiski from

APRIL 24, Tuesday 1 1 :30 - 1 :30 Theatre

Introduction: Living with Hepatitis, an East Side Approach

This workshop introduces the series. It will explain what the liver does, what hepatitis is, how the

disease progresses and standard treatment options (includes a question and answer session).

EVERYONE WELCOME. REFRESHMENTS Weekly Hep C Support Group meets Mondays

1:30 6:00 in Classroom I 1

DOWNTOWN STD CLINIC - 2 19 Main; Monday-Friday, loam - 6pm EASTSIDE NEEDLE EXCHANGE - 221 Main; 8:30am8pm every day YOUTH NEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN - 3 Routes ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

2001 DONATIONS Libby D.469 Sam R.-$30 Nancy W.44 Eve E.44 Margaret D.-$30 Shyamala G.-$2 Joy T.-$14 Val A.$20 Wm B-$4 Harold D.-$7 Pam-$6 Mary C-$30 Rolf A.-$75 Bruce J.-$34 Peggy -$25 Kettle -$2 Sonya S.-$120 BCTF-$9 Nancy H.-$19 Bill G -$I30 Wes K.414 DEYAS-$150 Raycam-$ LSS-% Wisconsin Historical Society -$ Heather S.-$2 John SB34 Paddy -$60 Rockingguys -$30 Anonymous -$lo3 The Edge 6200

City - 5:45 pm - 1 l:45 pm Overnight - 12:30 am - 8:30 am

Downtown Eastside - S:3Opm - 1:30am,,

THE NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION

Articles represent the views of contributon and not of the Association.

I Su brnission Deadline fcr next issue ,

Friday, April 27 1

Welfare problems Landlord disputes Housing problems Unsafe living conditions

I

We offer many services as well including a , 'FREE PHONE and VOICE MAIL for $3.00 a month (or less)

1- - - Come to the DERA office at 425 Carrall Street or phone us at 682-0931 11 f

DERA has been serving the Downtown Eastside for 28 years! 1

Downtown Eastside proyorma With Postscipts

Perhaps the most ridiculous clichl current, that par- ticularly ir~ane favourite of newspaper columni ;ts. is to begin an article with I h ~ i Y get me wrong, ,4111 . . . , ostensibly to warn the so-called reader that some out- rageous opinion will presently be conveyed - either a piece of so-called common sense, which, the colum- nist, no doubt taking the world of newspapers ill gen- eral as the world in general, will declare, as if the columnist were the first to say it, is in fact unconlmon, or a vent full of what the columnist considers vehal magic (calisthenics), by which, of course, in an ;ippar- ently more constrained forni, the columnist ~nakes whatever it Is we refer to when we say a living - but in fact to boost the columnist's reputation of being quite apart from the newspaper world, of which the columnist is an essential component. (The teleT4sion world, incidently, abuses us in an identical manner.) Naturally, far from it being a whim for the columnist (ornery talk show host) to appear to step out of the role of newspaper person, it is all they are paid for. They must make the newspaper's (network's) trickery and essential mendacity less evident, or more so-called palatable, by providing so-called opinion and outrage, in comparison to which the outrageous and menda- cious so-called hard news seems reasonable and even believable. It is neigh impossible for newspaper columnists to step out of their roles. certa'nnly in their columns, just as it is impossible for newspapers to step out of their mendacious and misleading roles, and just as i t is impossible for us to step out of whatevtr it is we refer to when we speak or think of our so-called roles, or what we wodd have to refer to as or roles if we found it necessary to consider ourselves as having them.

What we can express about our roles is certainly the extent of what we so-called know, of what Re cart know. according to, for example, the academics who have recently invaded the Downtown Eastside, proflu- ent with proformcr so-called comn~unity access pro- grams (referring to, in all cases. /heir access to fund- ing and whatever educational victims they can find

among the people of the Downtown Eastside who both know they exist and don't contientiously ignore them), so-called research projects, preliminary, follow-up, and continuing studies, surveys, trials, whatnots, all in an attempt to do, or appear to mean to do, something I cannot (nor can they) possibly imagine, but which everyone seem to be sure weds to he done Now that they are here in numbers, as they say, however, it would be dangerous indeed to remove, attempt to remove, or even, in all cases, criticize, faintly or harsh- ly, them We would thereby embody the ungrateful that we most certainly represent anyway. were we to question, if we were ever offended enough to set aside our pessimism and express anything to them at all, this or that about their expertise Yes, it is certainly now dtrrlgerorr.~, quite literally dangerous, to challenge the academic invaders who are teaching us how to appear exactly as they always knew us to be anyway, as the mendacious photographers and videographers who recently went about making (are making, and will make) sure we still look c7.v diey k w w HY rmllj~ are pictured us, acclaimed and tinanclally rewarded as they were for t h ~ s intellectual and photographic, this spectacular travesty Not only are these academics trained and right-thinking (as in missionary) paid emissaries of people in so-called high places, who grade, lecture and recommend them, but they have choice and voice, lots of voice, even to the extent of being operatic with voice. of being almost entirely composed of voice, an aura of voice surrounding them (etc ), pen and paper (and a place to use them), books (and shelves to store them in), computers, associa- tions, advisors, grants, sweets to stick to their resunles,

three or even more laundry loads worth of clothes, apparent mental health (which I S mental health), the pall of competance, a place to eat and cook as well as stuff to eat and cook there, and whatnot, all of which serves to hake them powerful, influential and danger- ous Yes, 1 am talking about more than academics and the Downtown Eastside - 1 am talking about the rather ridiculwg blind faith, a faith entirely contrary to every experience everywhere, in every big and small case, at all times, that we have i n so-called expertise and knowledge, or the concept of expertise and knowledge -but I an4 talking about academics and the Downtown Eastside quite literally (The unconditional lack of response t got to the three pages 1 submitted to the so- called Mission Statement committee at Carnegie, a criticism of the anti-historical and superficial approach

the comdittee took to the process, for example, only re-enforc d my own pessimism, and convinced me that the i 1 ea of expertise is so ingrained as to be indis- tinguishabie from, say, breathing ) The rules so-called down here are - jobs for academics (and enforcers), and as for the rest of us, we contrary and irritating, or, to use a more realistically patronizing tenn, feisty folk, we get to either listen or be studied, or hoth, try their computers, and, incidentally, have our pictures taken (but don't bother asking for a copy).

If you are happy in spite of i t all, they'll either think you simple, easy to work so-called with, and try to execute whatever it is they execute when they think they are providing help, or else they'll think they son1,ehow contributed, and take i t as proof of their validity. Of course, if you're: sad, you'll only prove

their necessity, and they might try to be of so-called assistance even so N o wonder so many di'sappear fre- quently into their SKOs or wherever

Some of the art programs that are happening here are also burdened with this heirarchy of so-called expertise, and a Gachct ad elsewhere in this issue even assures us that so-called Outsider Art is "an area of major interest." for, no doubt, the academics, whose primary functioh is to come up with, and enforce, these labels. It's just that 1 wish people here (or any- where) would stop repeating as absolute everything someone with a degree i n this or that says, usually to obtain funding or to increase marketability, to reduce discourse to a set of concepts an which only academics have fluency and by which they maintain their appar- ent expertise etc.

On a different topic, and for those to whom this day and the history i t represents has an ucknowleclged, or evert not entireb II nrrcknovvledgetl sign i ficance, Yom Hashoah, the 27th of Nissan, falls this year on Tuesday, April I9

Dan Feeney

Wives Tales Thcrc's a ncu hmd of e\ 11 It-s called thc SLX CRIMES W ~ t h thc SPIES c \ c ~ w h c r c Slmon sa! s thron sonic salt O\ cr ?our shouldcr for luch Thc b~ds arc on thc balconlcs Ofhotcls u lth thc b~noculars Hang~ng out on top of bolts Along thc w x t s o f the c ~ t y The? has c got all aficrnoon And the? 'rc loohlng to find out All that thc? can about SEX Thcrc-s not cnough cducatlon In thc publ~c schools thcsc da? s Wlth thc probation oficcs lull K~ds that nc\ cr got to grou up So nhcn a shccp dog gets up And shahcs h ~ s fur. 1s ~t RUDE''

Daniel Rajala

May 1" is an international celebration of \vorkcr's tights. Born out of the campaign for the 8 hour workday. May Day conlnicmoralcs thc world-wide stn~gglc for bctter working and living conditions.

Rcccnt protests against the WTO and the FTAA signal a revitalized global niovcmcnt for liberation. In British Columbia, we may soon be confronted with a grim change in the idcolog? and practices of our provincial govcrnrncnt. This situation crcatcs an opportunity to dcvclop new labour/comniunity alliances. Whcn you participate in May Day celebrations, your organization stands in solidarity with all kvho engage in ~vorking class struggles around the world.

This year, the MAY DAY Carnival against Capitalism will be held on Tuesday May 1" at Victory Square (Cambie & Hastings). The celebration starts at 11:OO a m

That night, a MAY DAY CABARET will be hosted by Mayworks Festival of Working Class Culture & Politics - 7:00 p.m. at the

WISE HALL (Adanac at Victoria).

GET INVOLVED! - Mobilize your group and join in the MAY DAY Carnival - Creatc leaflcts and banners to promote your issues - Lct us into your classcs/unions/organizations/communitics to tell you about "Why May Day'?" - Donate money, printing. P.A systems and gcncrators. and legal services. - Reproducc May Day flyers and postcr the streets

There will be a food service for the hungry - food donations are welcome *

Thc MAY DAY "('ornivol Agcrinst ('crpitoli.\m " ' has already been cndorscd by dozcns of groups including the Vancouvcr District Labour Council, Dountoun Eastsidc Women's Centre. the Senior's Nctwork of B.C.

Vancouvcr Rape Rclicf, and the Radical Checrlcadcrs. Add your group's namc to this prestigious list

For more information, contact: D'Arcy Pocklington, Secretary, May 1" Organizing Committee Phone; (604)875-6577 Email; mayday604@hotmail.com