VANDU’s action in solidarity with the Students for Sensible Drug Policy who held candlelight vigils across North America to demand an end to the “drug war” declared by Richard Nixon on June 17 1971.
Forty years ago today, Nixon publicly declared war on drugs. Since then, the US federal government has wasted over $1 trillion ruining peoples’ lives and putting tens of millions of nonviolent citizens in jail. Canada is now mimicking US policy.
Tonight, more than 500,000 people across the US will have to sleep behind bars for violating a nonviolent drug offense. That’s more than all of western Europe locks up for ALL offenses. This disgrace is a fiscal and moral nightmare for all of us who care about freedom, responsibility and accountable government. Think about this: locking up one inmate costs about $30,000 per year in the US and $320/day in Canada– way more than is costs to go to college.
We’re fed up with these disastrous policies – Our governments MUST finally end this shockingly wasteful, counterproductive war.
VANDU is a group of users and former users who work to improve the lives of people who use illegal drugs through user based peer support and education
The BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors (BCYADWS) recently had a Fundraiser at VANDU in Vancouver Downtown Eastside
The BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors (BCYADWS) is hosting a “caravan” across BC to:
promote the BCYADWS
connect with communities in BC,
sign up members
collect information about the health needs of drug users across the province and
to develop action strategies with communities to advocate for these established health needs
We are holding this fundraiser and requesting donations to cover the cost of BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors (BCYADWS) activities
Please contact Ann Livingston annlive@telus.net 604 719 5313
Email: Nicole@vandu.org
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Below is a video where Ann Livingston speaks on BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors Fundraiser at VANDU Part 1
Below is a video where Ann Livingston speaks on BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors Fundraiser at VANDU Part 2
Below is a video where Laura and Lorna with Ann Livingston speak on BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors Fundraiser at VANDU
Below is a video where Keith Smith speak on BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors Fundraiser at VANDU
Below is a video where Aiyanas Ormond speaks on BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors Fundraiser at VANDU
All preceeding videos were filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a New Media camera – Panasonic DMC-ZS3. AHA MEDIA is about exploring mobile media production through New Media cameras. For a better quality version of this video or for additional footage, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
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Below is a photo of Ann Livingston and Donald Macpherson
Below is a photo of Lynden B, Board Member of VANDU
Below is a photo of David Murray, Community Advocate
Below are photos of Ellen Woodsworth, Vancouver City Councillor
Below is a photo of Marion Allart of VANDU
Below is a photo of Meg with Mark Haden
Below is a photo of Keith Smith explaining the situation in Abbotsford’s Harm Reduction policy
Below is a photo of Mel Lehan, Ann Livingston and Libby Davis, MP for Vancouver East
***Additional photos and video footage of this event is available upon request***
In this video, Aiyanis Ormond of VANDU, Barry Shantz of BC and Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors and Ann Livingston of VANDU speak on Abbotsford City Council’s “Harm Production” Bylaw and the need for needle exchanges, safe injection sites and Harm Reduction to prevent Hepatitis C on the day before World Hepatitis Day Rally in Abbotsford, BC May 18, 2010
This video was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a New Media camera – Panasonic DMC-ZS3. AHA MEDIA is about exploring mobile media production through New Media cameras. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
In this video, Dave Murray of VANDU introduces Dr John Farley, an infectious disease specialist who has offices in Abbotsford and Vancouver who said Abbotsford has one of the highest rates of hepatitis C in the province, and there are too many restrictions placed on who is eligible for treatment through Pharmacare.at World Hepatitis Day Rally in Abbotsford May 18 2010
This video was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a New Media camera – Panasonic DMC-ZS3. AHA MEDIA is about exploring mobile media production through New Media cameras. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
In this video, Aiyanis Ormond and Ann Livingston of VANDU protest Abbotsford City Council’s “Harm Production” Bylaw and the need for needle exchanges, safe injection sites and Harm Reduction to prevent Hepatitis C on the day before World Hepatitis Day Rally in Abbotsford, BC May 18, 2010
This video was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a New Media camera – Panasonic DMC-ZS3. AHA MEDIA is about exploring mobile media production through New Media cameras. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
In this video, VANDU members carry a Coffin to represent Hepatitis C deaths during a march for World Hepatitis Day involving BC and Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors around Abbotsford City Hall and Police Station at a Harm Reduction Rally in Abbotsford, BC on May 18 2010
This video was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a New Media camera – Panasonic DMC-ZS3. AHA MEDIA is about exploring mobile media production through New Media cameras. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
In this video, Speeches include Aiyanis Ormond of VANDU, Barry Shantz of BC and Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors and Deb of Hep C Council of BC speak on Abbotsford City Council’s “Harm Production” Bylaw and the need for needle exchanges, safe injection sites and Harm Reduction to prevent Hepatitis C on the day before World Hepatitis Day Rally in Abbotsford, BC May 18, 2010
This video was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a New Media camera – Panasonic DMC-ZS3. AHA MEDIA is about exploring mobile media production through New Media cameras. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
In this video, Richard Cunningham of VANDU speak on Abbotsford City Council’s “Harm Production” Bylaw and the need for needle exchanges, safe injection sites and Harm Reduction to prevent Hepatitis C on the day before World Hepatitis Day Rally in Abbotsford, BC May 18, 2010
This video was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a New Media camera – Panasonic DMC-ZS3. AHA MEDIA is about exploring mobile media production through New Media cameras. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
In this video, a speech from a member of BC and Yukon Association of Drug World Survivors speaks on Abbotsford City Council’s “Harm Production” Bylaw and the need for needle exchanges, safe injection sites and Harm Reduction to prevent Hepatitis C on the day before World Hepatitis Day Rally in Abbotsford, BC May 18, 2010
This video was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a New Media camera – Panasonic DMC-ZS3. AHA MEDIA is about exploring mobile media production through New Media cameras. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
In this video, speeches from VANDU and BC and Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors including Keith Smith speak on Abbotsford City Council’s “Harm Production” Bylaw and the need for needle exchanges, safe injection sites and Harm Reduction to prevent Hepatitis C on the day before World Hepatitis Day Rally in Abbotsford, BC May 18, 2010
This video was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a New Media camera – Panasonic DMC-ZS3. AHA MEDIA is about exploring mobile media production through New Media cameras. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
In the next photos and video, members of VANDU and BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors marched into Abbotsford City Hall Bylaw office and dumped bags, buckets, boxes and plastic containers filled with used needles found in Abbotsford with Abbotsford City Hall Bylaw staff and Police officers standing by
Abbotsford does not have needle exchange program
Dave Murray of VANDU and Barry Shantz of BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors and other members including Richard Cunningham of VANDU speak on Abbotsford City Council’s “Harm Production” Bylaw and the need for needle exchanges and Harm Reduction to prevent Hepatitis C on the day before World Hepatitis Day Rally in Abbotsford, BC May 18, 2010
This video was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a New Media camera – Panasonic DMC-ZS3. AHA MEDIA is about exploring mobile media production through New Media cameras. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
In this video, Aiyanis Ormond of VANDU, Barry Shantz and Keith Smith of BC and Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors give final thougths on Abbotsford City Council’s “Harm Production” Bylaw and the need for needle exchanges, safe injection sites and Harm Reduction to prevent Hepatitis C on the day before World Hepatitis Day Rally in Abbotsford, BC May 18, 2010
This video was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a New Media camera – Panasonic DMC-ZS3. AHA MEDIA is about exploring mobile media production through New Media cameras. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
The Study to Assess Longer-term Opioid Medication Effectiveness (SALOME) will choose a Downtown Eastside location next month and begin taking applications from potential participants in February, according to a Tuesday press release from the Inner Change Foundation, which, along with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, is funding the trial. With selection of participants supposed to last only three weeks, that means SALOME could be underway by March.
SALOME will enroll 322 hard-core heroin addicts—they must have been using at least five years and failed other treatments, including methadone maintenance—in a year-long, two-phase study. During the first phase, half will be given injectable heroin (diacetylmorphine) and half will be given injectable Dilaudid® (hydromorphone). In the second phase, half of the participants will be switched to oral versions of the drug they are using.
The comparison of heroin and Dilaudid® was inspired by unanticipated results from SALOME’s forerunner, NAOMI (the North American Opiate Medication Study), which began in Vancouver in 2005 and produced positive results in research reviews last year. In NAOMI, researchers found that participants could not differentiate between heroin and Dilaudid®. The comparison of success rate among injection and oral administration users was inspired by hopes of reducing rates of injection heroin use.
SALOME was also supposed to take place in Montreal, but Quebec provincial authorities effectively killed it there by refusing to fund it. SALOME researchers have announced that it will now proceed in Vancouver alone.
With an estimated 5,000 heroin addicts in the Downtown Eastside and a municipal government that has officially embraced the progressive four pillars approach–prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and law enforcement—to problematic drug use, Vancouver is most receptive to such ground-breaking research. It is also the home of Insite, North America’s only safe injection site.
The NAOMI and SALOME projects are the only heroin maintenance programs to take place in North America. Ongoing or pilot heroin maintenance programs are underway in Britain, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland.
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In the following 7 videos, Sam Sullivan, former Mayor of Vancouver talks about SALOME – Vancouver’s New Heroin Maintenance Trial and other things to Members of VANDU and Ann Livingston in Vancouver Downtown Eastside
Videos by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a New Media camera – Kodak Zi6. AHA MEDIA is about exploring mobile media production through New Media cameras. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
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Below is a photo of Sam Sullivan – Former Mayor of Vancouver, Richard Cunningham of VANDU, Peter Davies of AHA MEDIA, Robert Vincent – President of VANDU, Hugh Lampkin – Vice President of VANDU
AHA MEDIA attends part of the “Sites of Empowerment Tour” by CCAP in Vancouver Downtown Eastside on Saturday Oct 31, 2009
Walking Tour
SITES OF EMPOWERMENT
with CCAP
Saturday October 31, 11:30am1pm
Meet at steps of Carnegie Community Centre, 401 Main
This tour with researcher Wendy Pedersen and volunteers of the Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) will start at the front steps of the Carnegie Centre and visit some of the best loved places in the area according to the stories of low-income DTES residents.
Contemplate how these key sites give us clues as to how to build a vision for a safe, healthy and affordable low-income neighbourhood and how this future is threatened by gentrification.
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Below is an aerial photo of the tour of about 50 people which included Vancouver City Councillor George Chow while they stopped at the corner of Hastings and Carrall Street in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside
CCAP is building consensus within the low-income community for a vision of the Downtown Eastside that hopefully the city will adopt. Visioning reports and information on gentrification can be found on their blog:http://www.ccapvancouver.wordpress.com. All proceeds to CCAP. $10 for non-residents, pay what you can for local residents
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Below is a close up of an aerial photo of the tour of about 50 people which included Vancouver City Councillor George Chow while they stopped at the corner of Hastings and Carrall Street in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside
Part of the Heart of the City Festival in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside
In the next photos and video, Hendrik Beune, Director of AHA MEDIA and Wendy Pedersen of CCAP speak at Sites of Empowerment tour in Vancouver Downtown Eastside on Saturday, Oct 31, 2009
This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a Nokia N95 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media production through the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
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In this video, Wendy Pedersen of CCAP and Ann Livingston of VANDU speak at Sites of Empowerment tour in Vancouver Downtown Eastside on Saturday, Oct 31, 2009
This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a Nokia N95 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media production through the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
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In this video, Ann Livingston and Dave Diewert speak at Sites of Empowerment tour in Vancouver Downtown Eastside on Saturday, Oct 31, 2009
This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a Nokia N95 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media production through the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
