In the next photos and video, Dave Murray of VANDU in Vancouver DTES thanks Lady Gaga and MAC AIDS Fund for grant donations to help VANDU continue to educate about Harm Reduction and AIDS Education in our neighbourhood
On a clear Thursday, VANDU members scribed chalk messages in front of their office on Hastings Street in Vancouver Downtown Eastside
Join best selling author and physician, Gabor Mate for a special fundraising event in support of Pivot, co-sponsored by W2 Storyeum, VANDU and the Portland Hotel Society.
Gabor will be joined by Pivot Legal Society Litigation Director, Katrina Pacey and Lorna Bird of the Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society and Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users for an evening of discussion on the multi-layered issues of addiction, mental health, law enforcement and justice.
March 31· 6:30 p.m.
W2 Storyeum, 151 E. Cordova Street, Vancouver, B.C.
Media release -- October 22, 2010 DTES residents make surprise appearance at Mayor Robertson's Terminal City Club City budget consultation "Our priority is housing." Slogan from the October 22 surprise action for housing. On Friday a group of DTES residents and housing activists rallied at the 100-year-old clubhouse of Vancouver big-business real estate to demand housing be built above the new Hastings Street Library. Surprise action organizer Tami Starlight, elected Steering Committee member of the DTES Neighbourhood Council said, "It's incredible that city council can pretend that building social housing or not is a technical issue. This is the same council that brags about having the lowest property tax rate in all the G8 countries, and the mayor is holding a budget consultation with big business at the Terminal City Club? Of course we're here to raise the issue of social housing. The solution is simple: raise taxes on business and the rich. We want the city to buy or designate 10 sites for social housing in our neighbourhood before the next election. They can start with putting social housing above our new library." On October 7th, many from the same group had visited city hall to oppose a recommendation from City Staff that the new library at 720 E. Hastings be built as a stand-alone, without social housing as part of the infrastructure. While council voted to send the recommendation back to the city manager to see if funding could be found, they placed harsh restrictions on their request -- that any housing addition must not disrupt the timeline of the library's construction. Tami Starlight continued, "City hall is playing political dodge-ball with people's lives. This is a great opportunity to build two critical resources for our community -- housing and a library. Council is squandering this opportunity through political favoritism to a handful of property owners who discriminate against poor people." Richard Cunningham, board member of VANDU and elected steering committee member of the DTES Neighbourhood Council said, "I am tired of promises, promises, promises. I’m tired of being treated like a 3rd class citizen in a 3rd world country. There’s all this money at Olympic village. I don’t care about the politics of it but I do care about my brothers and my sisters. You are spending money of frivolous things but hey, we are human beings, so treat us with respect.” About city council's claim that the promised 14 sites of housing will solve the so-called "street homelessness" problem in Vancouver, Dave Diewert of Streams of Justice said, "There were only 280 actual new social housing units built in BC in the last 5 years, when you look through the smoke and mirrors of announcements and there is not much there. The DTES is the place and the priority to purchase land for housing. When mayor Robertson says that he will solve the problem of 'street homelessness,' we know he means 'visible' homelessness. We need enough social housing to end all homelessness.” Nathan Compton, a member of VANACT!, speaking about the surprise action and hinting at more to come, said, "We should have no faith in the future when the city can’t guard and protect existing units. Council gave a token 6 units at the American hotel, approving the eviction of the tenants and the profiteering flip of the building. Council has no plan for after 2013 even though they know it takes 4,5,6 years to bring more housing on line. We're making our own plans for more actions to fight for housing.” Finally, Dave Murray, CCAP volunteer and DNC member wrapped up the intent of the surprise action by unveiling the full list of ten sites DNC is demanding the city buy for housing before the next election. Murray said, “I have been homeless, lived in hotels, I’ve slept in a few doorways and parks and some laneways in Strathcona. This is really a no brainer. We want you to buy 5 properties a year for social housing and you don’t even have to buy the library site. This would be 1 down and 9 more to go." The other DTES sites Dave Murray unveiled for the city to buy or designate as 100% social housing were: 1) Library on Hastings City owned 2) Buddhist Temple Prov owned empty building 3) Pigeon Park Savings Prov owned empty lot 4) 58 W. Hastings Empty lot 5) 549 and 553 E Cordova Empty lots 6) Pantageous Theatre Empty buildings 7) 148 E Cordova Empty lot 8 Stadium Hotel on Cambie SRO for sale 9) 334 Carrall Empty building 10) 780 Main Empty lot -30- For more information, contact: Dave Murray, Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council, (778) 320-5823 Nathan Crompton, VanAct! (778) 628-6252 Tami Starlight, Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council (604) 790-9943
Below is a video of the Homeless Action at Terminal City Club in Vancouver
Below is a video of the View of Police protecting Mayor’s guests at Terminal City Club in Vancouver
Below is a video of Richard Cunningham speaking for Social Housing at Terminal City Club in Vancouver
Below is a video of Ivan Drury and Richard Cunningham on Homeless Action at Terminal City Club in Vancouver
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:
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***
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