Will Vancouver’s open house force the homeless off the streets of the Downtown Eastside?
Vancouver has been hard at work beautifying the city for the Olympic Games but the Downtown Eastside (DTES) still looks the same.
No matter where you are downtown, the problem is evident. Vancouver has a visible homeless and drug problem in the DTES. It has already attracted the attention of international media networks such as the BBC.
On September 18, Arlene Gregorius, of the BBC, wrote an article that depicted the DTES neighbourhood as “a sewer of humanity” as well as “the worst slum in Canada.”
However, homelessness has been a problem for other Olympic hosting cities like Sydney and Atlanta. During the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games the New South Wales State Labor Government and the Sydney City Council followed through with plans to remove the homeless from the city in order to create an artificial sanitary presentation.
Although their efforts to hide the homeless during the Olympic Games were successful, the New South Wales government and Sydney City Council failed to create a definite long term solution to their homeless problem.
Even though it is extremely difficult to assess the number of homeless people in the DTES, there is evidence that the homelessness problem is getting worse.
“It is known that wait lists for social and supported housing have increased significantly, shelters are operating over-capacity, and evictions are on the rise,” says Dr. Michelle Patterson, an active participant of the 2008 Vancouver homeless count and a professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University.
“The fact that services and supports for homeless people are experiencing such pressure corroborates findings from previous one-day counts that homeless numbers are increasing significantly. Studies in other Canadian cities have shown that families and children are the fastest-growing populations among the homeless.”
“Hiding homeless people outside of the city will not address the problem of homelessness,” says Patterson. “This community is very resistant to being swept under the carpet. Addressing its plight involves acknowledging and accepting its scope, and taking concrete steps to address it.”
Critics of the 2010 Olympics now have reason to suspect that Vancouver is attempting to follow the examples of the past and sweep the homeless under the rug. Last month, the B.C. government confirmed a legislative plan that allows police to force homeless people off the streets during periods of extreme weather like freezing rain and snow.
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association, along with other oppositional voices, was quick to respond to the government’s proposed law.
“Last year, on thousands of occasions, individuals were turned away from emergency shelters because the shelters were full,” said Robert Holmes, President of BCCLA.
“The government ought properly to focus upon providing necessary social services to those most in need instead of thinking up ways of treating the poor like criminals.“
According to a BCCLA newsletter issued on Sept. 22, Vancouver has 1,300 shelter spaces available during the cold weather season whereas the last homeless count put Vancouver’s street homeless population just over 1,500 people.
Rich Coleman, B.C.’s Minister of Housing, responded to the public outcry on an episode of The Current, aired Sept. 24 on CBC radio. Coleman reassured civil right defenders and government critics that the homeless will not be forced off the streets during the Olympic Games. Furthermore, Coleman states that during the periods of extreme weather, the homeless that are sleeping on the street will be advised to accompany an officer to the closest homeless shelter.
During the same interview on The Current, Coleman also denied that Vancouver’s homelessness is getting worse.
He insisted that his, “government has invested more money than any government in the history of this country per capita. There’s never been any jurisdiction anywhere that has a more aggressive housing strategy and investment in housing than Vancouver. I think visitors [during the Olympic Games] are going to find that this city doesn’t have the homelessness that that media wants to trumpet.”
Vancouver City Councillor Geoff Meggs has faith in Rich Coleman and the B.C. government’s plan to aid the homeless.
“Since this Vancouver City Council had been re-elected in 2008, we have been working with the provincial government to a solution to the homeless problem and making sure that not one of the homeless will be dislocated during the Olympic Games,” says Meggs.
“Hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested by the government in order to expand on housing and aid for the homeless in Vancouver.”
Despite the millions of dollars invested into social housing and government aid, it is expected that the Olympics will have a significant impact on the lives of the homeless. Vancouver will be drastically altered to accommodate the athletes, the festivities and Olympic ceremonies but what is the expected fate of the homeless in the Downtown Core?
“Traffic patterns and space will be altered,” says Meggs. “There will be changes that will make things difficult for the homeless.
“For example, B.C. place will be fenced off and the premises will not be accessible to the general public. The homeless people who live in the area will be forced to find shelter somewhere else. But there will be groups closely working with the homeless and, of course, business in the area will be big.”
The city claims to be calculating for the expected turmoil but their main focus is undoubtedly centered on turning an economic profit during the Olympic Winter Games.
For years, homelessness has been a prominent problem in Vancouver but there is no way to completely fix this problem in time for the Olympics.
What will happen to the homeless during the Olympics is a, “dangerous question and, at the moment, it’s anyone’s guess,” says Patterson. “If the Olympics left a legacy of affordable housing and galvanized efforts to provide housing and supports for people who are homeless with addictions and mental illness, the results would be positive and constructive rather than divisive.”
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Dear Mark: Aretha Franklin
The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time
1 | Aretha Franklin
by Mary J. Blige
Rolling Stone Online
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/greatestsingers
Who: Mary J. Blige, the author of the article, is a hip hop and soul singer who owes a lot of her inspiration and success to Aretha Franklin. The article focuses on Franklin's music and how it had an emotion influence on Blige and her mother. "As a child, I used to listen to Aretha's music because my mom played "Do Right Woman" and "Ain't No Way" every single day," says Blige. "I would see my mother cry when she listened to those songs, and I'd cry too."
What: The article is an ode-to-Aretha and how she is a "gift from God." Blige lists Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Aaron Neville and Annie Lennox as some of the many musicians who have been influenced by Aretha Franklin and her commanding voice. "She is the reason why women want to sing," says Blige. "Aretha has everything — the power, the technique. She is honest with everything she says," and this is what makes Aretha one of the top 100 singers of all time.
Where: There is no location for this article. We could say that it takes place in Music Land; a place that has no limit to imagination and no sense of time. Music Land is a linear history of talent and sound crammed onto the hard drive of a 32GB iPod.
When: Once again there is no date we can put on this article. The fact that Aretha Franklin is a great singer and performer is something that cannot be changed. Aretha’s music will always be relevant to musicians. People will continue to look back at the elements of successful pop culture and they will take tid-bits here and there to produce something that evolved from the past.
However, Mary J. Blige's article was written quite recently.
Why: As said before, this article is like an ode-to-Aretha and Blige wishes to honour the talents that have inspired her to record and sing. We are living in an age that has so many avenues of music. There are rock-and-roll purists, metal heads, underground indie hipsters, hip hop singers switched on to auto-tune, ect...
Blige, as well as Rolling Stone, is honouring a monolithic artist who helped make music what to it is today. Sometimes we have to look back in order to move forward and Aretha Franklin is one reason to keep looking back.
1 | Aretha Franklin
by Mary J. Blige
Rolling Stone Online
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/greatestsingers
Who: Mary J. Blige, the author of the article, is a hip hop and soul singer who owes a lot of her inspiration and success to Aretha Franklin. The article focuses on Franklin's music and how it had an emotion influence on Blige and her mother. "As a child, I used to listen to Aretha's music because my mom played "Do Right Woman" and "Ain't No Way" every single day," says Blige. "I would see my mother cry when she listened to those songs, and I'd cry too."
What: The article is an ode-to-Aretha and how she is a "gift from God." Blige lists Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Aaron Neville and Annie Lennox as some of the many musicians who have been influenced by Aretha Franklin and her commanding voice. "She is the reason why women want to sing," says Blige. "Aretha has everything — the power, the technique. She is honest with everything she says," and this is what makes Aretha one of the top 100 singers of all time.
Where: There is no location for this article. We could say that it takes place in Music Land; a place that has no limit to imagination and no sense of time. Music Land is a linear history of talent and sound crammed onto the hard drive of a 32GB iPod.
When: Once again there is no date we can put on this article. The fact that Aretha Franklin is a great singer and performer is something that cannot be changed. Aretha’s music will always be relevant to musicians. People will continue to look back at the elements of successful pop culture and they will take tid-bits here and there to produce something that evolved from the past.
However, Mary J. Blige's article was written quite recently.
Why: As said before, this article is like an ode-to-Aretha and Blige wishes to honour the talents that have inspired her to record and sing. We are living in an age that has so many avenues of music. There are rock-and-roll purists, metal heads, underground indie hipsters, hip hop singers switched on to auto-tune, ect...
Blige, as well as Rolling Stone, is honouring a monolithic artist who helped make music what to it is today. Sometimes we have to look back in order to move forward and Aretha Franklin is one reason to keep looking back.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Dear Mark: Obama's Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Surprise
by Hendrick Hertzberg
October 19, 2009
from the New Yorker:
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2009/10/19/091019taco_talk_hertzberg
Who: President Obama and Nobel.
What: Last week, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to President Obama for his attempts to open up diplomatic talks between Middle Eastern nations. Many people believe that it is too early to award Obama with a Nobel Peace Prize because he has only been in office for eight months as well as there is still conflict within the Middle East.
When: Obama was awarded with the peace prize just over a week ago. However, the Nobel Pace Prize has been awarded since 1901 and there have been changes to the requirements of why the prize should be awarded. The award was first given out as according to Alfred Nobel's will, “for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” After the Second World War the judging committee evaluated recipient’s actions based on more of a "political art."
Where: The article has no focus on one location. Hertzberg mentions numerous places around the world, such as Norway, the Middle East and America. The article has interests that concern the world.
Why: The "Why" is an important question with this article. It questions whether Obama is worthy of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize when there is internal struggle within the United States.
Obama acknowledged the critics concern in his acceptance speech:
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honoured by this prize—men and women who’ve inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace. But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women and all Americans want to build, a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honour specific achievement; it’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the twenty-first century.
by Hendrick Hertzberg
October 19, 2009
from the New Yorker:
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2009/10/19/091019taco_talk_hertzberg
Who: President Obama and Nobel.
What: Last week, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to President Obama for his attempts to open up diplomatic talks between Middle Eastern nations. Many people believe that it is too early to award Obama with a Nobel Peace Prize because he has only been in office for eight months as well as there is still conflict within the Middle East.
When: Obama was awarded with the peace prize just over a week ago. However, the Nobel Pace Prize has been awarded since 1901 and there have been changes to the requirements of why the prize should be awarded. The award was first given out as according to Alfred Nobel's will, “for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” After the Second World War the judging committee evaluated recipient’s actions based on more of a "political art."
Where: The article has no focus on one location. Hertzberg mentions numerous places around the world, such as Norway, the Middle East and America. The article has interests that concern the world.
Why: The "Why" is an important question with this article. It questions whether Obama is worthy of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize when there is internal struggle within the United States.
Obama acknowledged the critics concern in his acceptance speech:
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honoured by this prize—men and women who’ve inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace. But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women and all Americans want to build, a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honour specific achievement; it’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the twenty-first century.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Dear Mark: The Economist- Banyan - 'From Saigon to Kabul'
“After eight years of flea-bites, the American dog is about to roll over.” Banyan.
In the October 3rd-9th issue of The Economist, Banyan wrote an article that compares and contrasts the Vietnam War with Afghanistan.
The wars against Iraq and Afghanistan have provoked critical debate for most of the 21st century. From Saigon to Kabul addresses the success of guerrilla warfare, or the ‘war of the flea,’ against invading armies.
North Americans are familiar with the similarities between the war in Vietnam and the current war in Afghanistan but Banyan devotes a portion of the article to explain how “A-stan is not ‘Nam.” His argument exposes that the Vietcong had overwhelming support from the Vietnamese in the north as well as China and the Soviet Union. Even though The Taliban acquires aid from Pakistani supporters they have no support from other nations backing the Taliban’s cause. This has allowed a great range of freedom for the allied NATO armies and it has promoted the ‘end justifies the means’ mentality.
The parallels between Vietnam and Afghanistan continue with the fact that neither country ever attacked the United States or their allies. The only difference is that 9/11 was an attack planned by the Afghani based al-Qaeda and this was enough reason to wage a war on the other side of the world.
Banyan’s article was written at a key period during the war in Afghanistan. U.S. President Barak Obama’s stance on the war has produced insecurities among his European allies. The Taliban’s guerrilla war has successfully demoralized the home front and exposed a vast number of people who oppose America’s, as well as Canada’s, involvement in Afghanistan.
In the October 3rd-9th issue of The Economist, Banyan wrote an article that compares and contrasts the Vietnam War with Afghanistan.
The wars against Iraq and Afghanistan have provoked critical debate for most of the 21st century. From Saigon to Kabul addresses the success of guerrilla warfare, or the ‘war of the flea,’ against invading armies.
North Americans are familiar with the similarities between the war in Vietnam and the current war in Afghanistan but Banyan devotes a portion of the article to explain how “A-stan is not ‘Nam.” His argument exposes that the Vietcong had overwhelming support from the Vietnamese in the north as well as China and the Soviet Union. Even though The Taliban acquires aid from Pakistani supporters they have no support from other nations backing the Taliban’s cause. This has allowed a great range of freedom for the allied NATO armies and it has promoted the ‘end justifies the means’ mentality.
The parallels between Vietnam and Afghanistan continue with the fact that neither country ever attacked the United States or their allies. The only difference is that 9/11 was an attack planned by the Afghani based al-Qaeda and this was enough reason to wage a war on the other side of the world.
Banyan’s article was written at a key period during the war in Afghanistan. U.S. President Barak Obama’s stance on the war has produced insecurities among his European allies. The Taliban’s guerrilla war has successfully demoralized the home front and exposed a vast number of people who oppose America’s, as well as Canada’s, involvement in Afghanistan.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Good for Harper
What happened to the Stephen Harper Canadians once knew?
Two weeks ago he was at an Oakville Tim Hortons speeking publicly on boycotting Ahmadinejad's Unitited Nations speech and this week he's preforming in front of the National Arts Council Gala.
Harper proved to a sold out crowd in Ottawa last Saturday that there is more to the politican than what he has led us to believe.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DCxJm6wod-eg&h=480c4b5e44a0e6c7fa39272f975665f8
With Ignatieff loosing respect in Quebec and within his own party, Harper's preformance of "With a little help from my friends" came at the right time.
It seems like the Concervative Government will stay in power for a little while longer.
Two weeks ago he was at an Oakville Tim Hortons speeking publicly on boycotting Ahmadinejad's Unitited Nations speech and this week he's preforming in front of the National Arts Council Gala.
Harper proved to a sold out crowd in Ottawa last Saturday that there is more to the politican than what he has led us to believe.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DCxJm6wod-eg&h=480c4b5e44a0e6c7fa39272f975665f8
With Ignatieff loosing respect in Quebec and within his own party, Harper's preformance of "With a little help from my friends" came at the right time.
It seems like the Concervative Government will stay in power for a little while longer.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
This is what I will be doing for my journalism class
Every blog entry is due Sunday at midnight.
Title of journal
Source: URL
Author: name blah blah
Synopsis: of an article
What I learned about writing, what tricks did they use?
Title of journal
Source: URL
Author: name blah blah
Synopsis: of an article
What I learned about writing, what tricks did they use?
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Soft Islam
"...six Lira for a cup of coffee? you have to be kidding me?"
I looked down at the black swamp water hoping to see a redeeming attribute within the tiny esspresso cup.
"And 20 Lira for a martini!?" The menu did not lie. I was far from home but my Canadian Dollar was slighty better than the Turkish Lira. "What is this place and why did you take me here? I'm a broke traveller for christ's sake"
Once again, I looked down at my fumbling hands instantly recognizing each and every common feature from wrist to cuticle. The conversation was still. We had hit a natrual plateau where commonality meets comfort. All that we heard was the natural drone of life; cutlery touching diningware, running water, foot steps and foreign tongues. I looked up to see if she was still there, sitting three feet across from me. Sure enough she was sitting right before my eyes.
She was a high school friend caught between two homes that could not accomodate to her ideal standard of living. She had ping-ponged from Vancouver to Istanbul trying to find that middle way of life suspended between the swath of traditionalism and the "I don't give a shit" fotune of individualism.
As for me... I was lost within this new realm. I was still getting use to the six A.M. mosque calls and the 24 hour trains across backward boarders.
All I could think about was how much I needed this girl to be right where she was sitting. After being alone for so long I needed this moment of clairty to wake me up from months of silence. This a new feeling, like pure white energy surging through my veins, charing my soul. It was a feeling can only be describe as not quite love but more innocent than the usual kind of manufactured lust. All I needed was to be there.
"This might seem like a silly question," I said as I looked back down at the cup of coffee cradled within my hands, "but what's the first thing you are going to do when you get back to Vancouver?"
She paused, looked off towards the Bosphorous Bridge spanning the strait, and breathed out a desperate laugh.
"Sushi," she answered. "Definately sushi."
We were no longer alone. We were two confused kids tangled up in someone's reality....
I looked down at the black swamp water hoping to see a redeeming attribute within the tiny esspresso cup.
"And 20 Lira for a martini!?" The menu did not lie. I was far from home but my Canadian Dollar was slighty better than the Turkish Lira. "What is this place and why did you take me here? I'm a broke traveller for christ's sake"
Once again, I looked down at my fumbling hands instantly recognizing each and every common feature from wrist to cuticle. The conversation was still. We had hit a natrual plateau where commonality meets comfort. All that we heard was the natural drone of life; cutlery touching diningware, running water, foot steps and foreign tongues. I looked up to see if she was still there, sitting three feet across from me. Sure enough she was sitting right before my eyes.
She was a high school friend caught between two homes that could not accomodate to her ideal standard of living. She had ping-ponged from Vancouver to Istanbul trying to find that middle way of life suspended between the swath of traditionalism and the "I don't give a shit" fotune of individualism.
As for me... I was lost within this new realm. I was still getting use to the six A.M. mosque calls and the 24 hour trains across backward boarders.
All I could think about was how much I needed this girl to be right where she was sitting. After being alone for so long I needed this moment of clairty to wake me up from months of silence. This a new feeling, like pure white energy surging through my veins, charing my soul. It was a feeling can only be describe as not quite love but more innocent than the usual kind of manufactured lust. All I needed was to be there.
"This might seem like a silly question," I said as I looked back down at the cup of coffee cradled within my hands, "but what's the first thing you are going to do when you get back to Vancouver?"
She paused, looked off towards the Bosphorous Bridge spanning the strait, and breathed out a desperate laugh.
"Sushi," she answered. "Definately sushi."
We were no longer alone. We were two confused kids tangled up in someone's reality....
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