issue 54 | MAY 28, 2010

vancouver’s street paper

$2 The World Cup suggested donation Comes to South Africa

What does it mean for the country's poor? 2 megaphone 54 | MAY 28, 2010

sell Megaphone If you are homeless or low-income, you can CONTENTS purchase copies of Megaphone at one of our ABOUT depots to sell on the street. Each issue costs Megaphone is a magazine sold on the 50 cents. New vendors get their first 10 copies for free. streets of Vancouver by homeless and low-income vendors. Vendors buy the become a vendor, visit Megaphone: 054 South Africa's World Cup 7 East Hastings (at Carrall) paper for 50 cents an issue and sell the Monday to Friday, 9 am–4 pm paper to customers for a suggested do- Saturday, 10 am–3 pm nation of $2. All money from the transac- buy Megaphone 6 Highway of Tears 100 per cent of the purchase goes directly to the Controversial cuts made to danger awareness program tion goes into the pocket of the vendor. street vendor. 8 Vendor Voices advertise in Megaphone Vendor Ron on living the street way of life OUR MISSION Your ad will be seen by thousands of people in Vancouver and will help support homeless 9 Drill, baby, drill? Megaphone’s goal is to provide and low-income citizens by helping keep David Suzuki on what we can learn from the Gulf oil spill Megaphone going. economic opportunities to homeless 12 Mother City Makeover and low-income people while building contribute to Megaphone Are preparations for the World Cup putting South Megaphone is put together by volunteers and Africa's homeless at risk? grassroots support to end poverty. welcomes freelance contributions from writers, photographers and artists. 17 Letter from South Africa Megaphone's Amy Juschka reports from Johannesburg Cover Photo by REUTERS/David Gray CONTACT Megaphone Post #611, 142-757 20 Relocate debate West Hastings, Vancouver BC, V6C 1A1 Debate continues over proposed VAG relocation Phone 604 678 2800 Email [email protected]

BECOME A MEGAPHONE VENDOR Thank you supporters & partners

Earn extra cash selling Vancouver’s award-winning street paper.

Meetings for new vendors take place Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 10am and 1 pm at the Megaphone office located at 7 East Hastings.

In this meeting we teach you valuable sales tech- niques and determine good locations for you to begin selling. You will also receive a copy of our business licence, a Megaphone vendor badge and 10 free copies of Megaphone to get you started. 4 megaphone 54 | soundoff | readers' letters Soundoff director'S CORNER MEGAPHONE 054 Readers' Letters Megaphone Magazine is published every two weeks by The Street Corner Media Foundation. Post: #611, 142-757 W Hastings, Coming Together Down It takes a village Vancouver, BC and hungry, even at 3 in the morning V6C 1A1 Under — Last week I was one I am a member of the Power of Women there were snacks! Every evening we Email: [email protected] group. We had a Power of Women group also had entertainment—storytelling, of more than 70 street paper meeting in January 2010 and we sug- singing, drumming, musicians, knit- executive director gested that we should all organize a ting classes and more. Sean Condon delegates from around the world Tent City. I found Tent City to be so special So we set up a Tent City during the and spiritual. What made our grounds Managing editor that converged in Melbourne, Olympics in an empty Concord Pacific so spiritual was that we had a fire with Kevin Hollett lot. Concord Pacific is a real estate de- medicine in it. It was so nice at Tent Australia, to help build a stronger veloper who wants to build large condo- City that I didn’t even want to go home Assistant editor miniums for the rich in our Downtown and I spent many nights at Tent City. Elecia Chrunik global street paper movement. Eastside. It was powerful to realize that we The Tent City was a big success for could unite everyone to take action aD SALES While the International the first week, so we decided to have an- against and make a [email protected] other community meeting and decided strong statement to the government Network of Street Papers, which together to stay together at least until about homelessness in our city. Our Associate Editors the end of the Olympics. homeless people should have come be- Darren Atwater, Lauren Bercovitch, Megaphone is a member of, used I found Tent City to be paradise fore the billion-dollar Olympic party. Sarah Berman, Katie Hyslop, because people on the grounds were We also had success in housing 40- Sarah Stenabaugh, its 15th annual conference as a so happy living together and without plus people in the first two weeks of Daniel Zomparelli, Amy Juschka rules like curfew. All the time that I Tent City and another 40-plus people in chance to look forward, what was on shift, from 8 am to 8 pm, it was the last two weeks of Tent City. Art Director a fantastic environment and commu- I want to thank all the volunteers and Jo Lee struck me most was how powerful nity. Donations were coming, we had a supporters working with us at Tent City. nurse’s station and a legal team, warm DESIGNERS this network has already become. clothes and blankets and incredible Stella August Ginger Sedlarova food. The food was really delicious and Vancouver, BC our people never went to bed wanting photographers Jay Black, Jacob Hopkins, With more than 100 street papers providing employment recognize how important it is to have a vibrant street paper Christopher Bevacqua opportunities to roughly 500,000 vendors in all corners of because of what it can do for the homeless vendors and the the globe (and more papers popping up every year), the move- paper recognizes how important it is to provide a high-qual- Board of Directors ment has never been stronger. As South Africa ity magazine for this project to succeed. Darren Atwater, Jason Bak, director Trudy Vlok told delegates, street papers are now the Not satisfied with simply continuing to maintain the Sean Condon, Bob Dennis, biggest social enterprise project in the world. Every time you status quo, The Big Issue Australia is now finding new em- Helesia Luke, Reza Moosaei, buy an issue of Megaphone, you are participating in an inter- ployment opportunities for women by involving them in a Garvin Snider, Peter Wrinch national campaign to end poverty. subscription project and they are helping to run the country’s Please send your letters, opinions, rants and raves to ‘Soundoff’, Megaphone Magazine, What I most appreciated from the conference was the street soccer program so their vendors can connect on the #611, 142-757 W Hastings, Vancouver BC, V6C 1A1 or ‘[email protected]’. opportunity to learn from other papers on how to improve pitch as well as the streets. their services for vendors. Perhaps no paper best exemplifies What is truly exceptional about the street paper movement the extraordinary accomplishments and potential of a street is how each paper is willing to share their stories and projects paper than the conference’s host, The Big Issue Australia. With and work together so that every paper can move forward. I am Visit us online @ MegaphoneMagazine.com roughly 400 vendors across the country and a monthly circu- proud of what the movement has already accomplished and look Become a fan @ Facebook.com/MegaphoneMagazine lation of 80,000, it has helped create a new kind of commu- forward to the giant steps street papers are still set to make. Follow us @ Twitter.com/MegaphoneMag nity that bridges class, gender and race divisions. The Australian street paper has strong support from cor- porations, public services, local and national governments By Sean Condon and, most importantly, the general public. The paper’s readers Executive Director—Megaphone

6 megaphone 54 |news | highway of tears megaphone 54 | My megaphone | MIKE KLASSEN 7 Highway of Tears funding cut MY MEGAPHONE Controversial cuts made to provincial awareness program Mike Klassen’s Vancouver rock encounter of the first kind

uts to a provincial program that raises awareness of in danger of being cut in 2007 and was operating this year on n my teens every white boy ripped piece of envelope, jumped in my Mom’s car and criminal danger along the Highway of Tears has drawn a temporary extension granted by former Solicitor General I knew owned a turntable gunned it to the golf course. Standing on the front steps wait- Ccriticism from B.C. New Democrats. Kash Heed. Iand an assortment of Led ing for me was Tom, who was twitching with excitement. He The NDP, along with victims’ families and advocates, ar- Just how many women have gone missing along the Zeppelin or Kiss records. We pointed inside to a table in the lounge where the band was gue that the decision Highway of Tears is un- all were raised on hard rock, seated with open bottles of Molson beer before them, no to cut the position known. The RCMP has and none of us would dare miss doubt discussing their golf scores. of Highway of Tears 18 unsolved cases, while a chance to see our favourite What do you say to your rock idols without sounding like co-ordinator at Prince Amnesty International acts live in concert at the Pa- an idiot? I remember it went something like, “Hi guys. Great George-based Carrier puts that number at 32. cific Coliseum. show last night. You were really tight.” Tight? Yeah, I sounded Sekani Family Services Erikson suggested this So it was on July 16, 1980, like an idiot. is too early in the face number could be much just weeks after I’d graduated I noticed that their famous guitar player Angus Young of a national epidemic higher. from Killarney Secondary was absent. “Where’s Angus?” I queried. “He needs his rest,” of missing aboriginal “We’ve been vocal School, when I saw AC/DC. The his brother Malcolm quipped. women. about requesting an of- biggest rock act on the planet At my request the boys kindly all signed my little torn “We don’t under- ficial inquiry into the had suffered a seismic setback envelope. “What’s the name of your new record?” Brian mut- stand the govern- highway,” says Erikson, when their colourful frontman Bon Scott died earlier that year. tered the name in his thick Scottish accent I didn’t under- ment’s reluctance to who thought an inquiry With their new singer Brian Johnson, the band was just eight stand. I asked him if he could write the name of the new engage in a multi-year may help draw out hid- shows into a world tour and nine days away from releasing the album down. On the paper that I still have today he wrote in agreement on this den safety and social record that would go on to be the second-highest selling LP in quotes “Back in Black.” position,” says NDP issues. history. Thirty years later that record has sold 50 million copies. MLA Bob Simpson. “It While about 85 per My phone rang the afternoon after the concert. On the And that day for me is still a priceless memory. was short-sighted and cent of murders are line a school chum of mine Tom asked me to guess who was sit- premature to cut it.” solved in Canada for ting in the Pro Shop at Fraserview Golf before he blurted out, Mike Klassen is a communications consultant, a blogger at CityCau- Since 1969, scores the general popula- “AC/DC are here!” cus.com and columnist with 24 Hours Vancouver. Follow him at of women, mostly tion, nearly half of cases My heart racing, I grabbed a cheap felt tip pen and a Twitter.com/MikeKlassen. aboriginal and some involving an aboriginal as young as 14, have female victim remain been murdered or vanished along the 750-kilometre stretch unsolved, according to a Native Women’s Association of of Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Prince George in Canada (NWAC) report. northern B.C. “You can well imagine if there were thousands, hundreds “None of these murders or disappearances have been of thousands of non-native women missing,” says Grand 1985 May 27-29 1988 June 8 solved. It’s important for the public to understand that safety Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian More than 20,000 people greeted Steve The Vancouver 86ers (formerly the is a big issue in northern B.C.,” says Highway of Tears co- Chiefs. “Canada was roundly criticized by the U.N. for contin- Fonyo at B.C. Place Stadium near the end Whitecaps) began an astonishing 46- ordinator Mavis Erikson. The funding for Erikson’s position uing to turn a blind eye to this tragedy. It’s unconscionable of his cross-Canada walk, a trek inspired game (37-0-9) streak without a defeat. ended May 14. for the government to act in such a callous manner.” by Terry Fox. Before entering, he paused The streak would last to August 8, 1989. Simpson said that acting Solicitor General Mike de Jong “This is a national issue,” agrees Phillip. The NWAC report at Terry Fox Plaza to place a single white They won the Canadian Soccer League was evasive during the May 17 debate when the topic was also notes there are 582 known cases of missing aboriginal rose beside the memorial arch. Just after championship this year, and would go raised at the legislature and did not make a clear commit- women nationally with the possibility of many more. The midnight he was on a Canadian navy ship on to win it for three more consecutive ment to the position. largest share of these cases is B.C., with over 160 missing bound for Victoria and the May 29 finish at seasons. “We will endeavour to do everything we can to provide women. THIS FORtNIGHT newly-named Fonyo Beach where, at 4:15 the assistance and support necessary,” de Jong said in the Both Erikson and Phillip say there is also a need for a simi- in a pelting rain, he poured into the Pacific 1928 June 16 session. According to the office of the Solicitor General, they lar co-ordinator position in the Lower Mainland. Many of the IN VANCOUVER Ocean the water he had collected from the In the 1920s, local car owners discovered are providing over $2 million in funding to “support victim missing women of the Downtown Eastside are aboriginal, HiSTORY Atlantic 14 months earlier. He wore out six the scenic loop through Point Grey along services and violence against women with programs in com- and a number of women Robert Pickton was charged with artificial legs and 17 pairs of running shoes newly-paved Marine Dr. and Granville munities along Highway 16.” Carrier Sekani Family Services murdering in 2004 were aboriginal. on his long journey. St. That inspired a young entrepreneur receives about $70,000 as part of the Highway of Tears pro- “There’s no excuse for not supporting this work,” says Phillip. named Nat Bailey to sell snack food gram. 1972 June 3 to motorists off the back of a truck at “We had to take the government to task over cutting the Story by Todd Brayer The Rolling Stones held a concert at the Lookout Point. On June 16, 1928, Bailey position before,” Simpson says, noting the position was also Photo by Jim Malone By Chuck Davis Pacific Coliseum, a riot broke out and 21 established a permanent restaurant in a VancouverHistory.ca police officers were injured. small log hut at 67th and Granville, call- ing it the White Spot Barbecue. 8 megaphone 54 | VENDOR VOICES | ron mcgrath megaphone 53 | david suzuki |Gulf oil spill 9 Rethinking our energy sources voices What the Gulf oil disaster tells us vendor t could never happen here. That was and coastal communities. Alberta oilsands ain’t so bad...” The tar Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s B.C.’s coast, which is known world- sands have been linked to ecological, Iassurance in the wake of the massive wide for its rich biodiversity and vi- social and medical problems, includ- oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, which brant tourism industry, is particularly ing toxic water pollution and excessive he referred to as “an environmental vulnerable to the impacts of an oil spill. greenhouse gas emissions—and none Ron on living the street way of life catastrophe unlike anything we’ve seen A spill would be carried quickly by the of that is altered by the Gulf spill. The in quite a long time”. nutrient-rich currents, possibly wash- disastrous consequences of ocean oil The company behind the spill off the ing up on the mainland, Vancouver spills may be more immediately ap- try not to think of yester- U.S. Gulf Coast, British Pe- parent, but land-based day. It’s a done deal. troleum, has three licences drilling can also cause I Instead, I focus on to drill for oil in the Beau- environmental damage. waking up in the morning fort Sea in Canada’s Arctic. Leaks, spills, blow-outs, and facing the challenges of BP and other companies fires and explosions each day as they come. have asked our federal gov- are more common than I have to beware of people ernment to relax environ- many people realize. and not let my guard down. mental regulations around A more thought- By that I mean I have to Arctic drilling. And B.C. ful response to the spill rely on my own judgment is still pushing to get the would be to recognize of people places and things, federal government to lift a the huge risks associated because they could all end up moratorium on drilling off with the kind of energy getting me into some kind of the West Coast. There’s also we use and the way we trouble. a plan in the works by En- get it. Clearly, the nega- I try to keep a certain bridge to build a pipeline to tive costs of tar sands routine of social interaction, carry oil from the tar sands and deep ocean resources whether it be an AA meeting, to the B.C. coast, where it should point to the need going to a class or sometimes will be put on oil tankers to work toward a carbon- even engaging in social for ocean shipping. free energy future. sports. We’ve been assured The problems are only I stay away wherever there many times that the tech- going to get worse as we is alcohol or drugs. nology is safe, but the Gulf reach peak oil, when the I like to engage in some disaster shows that no most accessible sources sort of work as a way of keep- technology is foolproof. of oil are all but gone and ing myself active. Can we really afford the risk? Island and Haida Gwaii coasts. A spill we must rely even more on the dirtier I like to make friends that President Barack Obama has halted or leak could threaten orcas, salmon, and harder-to-reach supplies in the have good intentions and plans for further oil drilling in the Gulf birds and many other plant and animal deep ocean or tar sands. try to succeed in improving their disposition in life until an investigation is completed (al- species, as well as devastating our fish- We can’t stop using fossil fuels im- (even though they may not do this fully). though, according to the Center for Bio- ing and tourism industries. mediately, but we should see this latest I like people who try very hard to do the best logical Diversity, the U.S. has approved Is this the price we’re willing to pay disaster as an opportunity to look at the that they can. Knowing that I am not perfect my- 27 other offshore drilling projects since for a polluting and diminishing source of costs of our energy use and where we self helps. Keeping a network like this helps me the spill), and California Governor Ar- energy? Oil may seem inexpensive com- should go from here. Clearly we must survive. nold Schwarzenegger has implemented pared to some forms of energy, but if you wean ourselves from oil and gas as we I know I only get out of life what I put into it. I a similar moratorium on drilling off factor in the costs of these real and poten- make the transition to cleaner sources don’t expect anything more than that. that state’s coast. Canada, however, has tial disasters, not to mention the every- of energy. If we were wise, we would go There is always food, companionship and, when no plans to halt East Coast or Arctic day pollution, it’s not such a bargain. more slowly with the resources we do the good Lord allows it, He will put things in front drilling, and the B.C. government con- One surprising response to the spill have—in the tar sands, for example— of me that will lead to change. tinues to push for drilling off the West comes from proponents of the Alberta and use the revenues to fund research All I have to do is recognize these gifts. Coast. When a disaster of this magni- tar sands who see the Gulf disaster and development of clean energy. tude occurs, we should stop to re-exam- as a boon. A cartoon in the Edmonton Ron McGrath sells Megaphone at Cambie and 8th. He is ine the state of our own programs that Journal pictured U.S. President Obama By David Suzuki with Faisal Moola a participant in Megaphone’s community writing program might have similar risks so that we can standing in the Gulf with oil on his for vendors. find ways to avoid harming our oceans hands, saying, “On second thought, the 10 megaphone 54 | writing workshops | poetry CAN’T FIND A VENDOR? Your one-year (26 issues) subscription helps to support Trying SUBSCRIBE TO Megaphone Magazine and its vendors. A $50 subscription guarantees 2 issues per month delivered to your door. For Minute by minute $25 you will receive your copy electronically (as a PDF). Hour by hour MEGAPHONE Somewhere there’s a brother or a sister dying Along with a mother and a father crying So I give you my word Mother and Father, I’m trying. I would like to subscribe. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE I have enclosed a cheque for: Jeff “French Fry” Seeley $50.00 doorstep delivery of 26 issues Megaphone is published bi-weekly by Street Corner Media Foundation. $25.00 electronic delivery of 26 issues Please enclose this subscription form with your cheque, payable to: Why Street Corner Media Foundation name Why do I feel this way? Mailing address: Why do I ponder such things never thought of before? street Street Corner Media Foundation Why does the image of you haunt me so? #611, 142 – 757 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BC V6C 1A1 Why does the thought of you and I swim in my head with the very thought of loving you? city province postal code More information? Why do all beautiful creatures reflect the presence of you? Visit MegaphoneMagazine.com for more details Why can’t our souls intertwine in an existence so divine? email Why must I love from a distance? THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Why does it feel like I’m drowning? phone fax Why never needs to be asked again. You are the reason why. MEGAPHONE #611, 142 – 757 WEST HASTINGS STREET VANCOUVER, BC V6C 1A1 [email protected] WWW.MEGAPHONEMAGAZINE.COM

Robert Quenville

Scars Vancouver Community College is everywhere. In the classroom and the community, in the office and Tiptoeing around daily on the street. We’re B.C.’s No. 1 college, with 26,000 students Trying not to explode and graduates everywhere. Get the courses you need at VCC. Pretending to be in love Our flexible programs give you the skills and knowledge to Faking I wasn’t abused succeed – from literacy and high school to ESL, upgrading and select first-year university courses. Clothes and items destroyed Take a look. You’ll see. Jealousy and rage upon me Apply now for classes starting soon.

Constant lies and deception Hiding bruises and hiding scars

Trying to catch a breath Should I leave this weakened man?

Instead I feared and smelled the roses For scars that never fade.

Roxanne Beatty VCC is here. www.vcc.ca 604.443.8453

Robert and Roxanne are participants in Megaphone’s community writing program at Onsite and the Rainier Hotel.

D0237 - VCC HalfPgAd2-MP.indd (&pdf) Megaphone 6.75” x 4.6” November 21, 2008 12 megaphone 54 | feature | mother city makeover megaphone 54 | feature | mother city makeover 13

mother city here’s been an “I’m speechless to think that in this denying the plan is a way to outcry—both rid Cape Town’s streets of the in South Africa day and age people can think that homeless during the soccer ex- makeover and abroad— travaganza. Rather, says Ernest somebody will just round people up.” Does World Cup kickoff mean over widespread Sonnenburg, chairman of the reports of city’s Homeless Agency Com- homeless people kicked out? homeless cleanup operations being car- forcibly relocating street people to settle- mittee, it is simply an extension of the tried out in host cities ahead of the 2010 ments such as “Blikkiesdorp” (tin town). same program implemented during the FIFA World Cup. winter months for the past two years in In Johannesburg, human rights group Handling Cape Town’s homeless partnership with local NGOs. Solidarity Peace Trust reports that Zim- “We open the doors of the shelters so Vancouverites are familiar with the changes that accompany hosting an babwean refugees have been targeted “[The relocation allegations are] abso- people can come in freely and provide international sporting event. With just days until the 2010 FIFA World Cup under the city’s “zero-tolerance” cleanup lute nonsense,” asserts Lesley de Reuck, additional funds for extra food and kickoff, Cape Town—South Africa’s mother city—is in the final throes of campaign and are being arrested and Cape Town’s 2010 operations director. bedding,” says Sonnenburg. “The 2010 removed from certain areas on charges of “I’m speechless to think that in this day strategy is exactly the same, but we’ve an extreme makeover. But what does making the city pretty for World Cup loitering. Prostitutes, beggars and street and age people can think that somebody gone broader and approached NGOs and visitors mean for the city’s street youth and homeless? vendors are allegedly also being targeted will just round people up.” shelters in Gordon’s Bay, Brackenfell and by the Johannesburg Metro police. “It’s a totally scurrilous smear cam- other areas. We’re going to need more Despite reassurances last April that paign,” contends JP Smith, chairman of space because we’re going to have an street kids would not be rounded up and the city’s Safety Portfolio Committee and influx of people coming to seek job op- dumped on the outskirts of town, there Ward Councillor for the Atlantic Seaboard. portunities.” have been well-documented reports of That’s not to say the city doesn’t have “Less people on the streets is the end Durban’s Metro police doing just that. a policy in place to deal with the home- result of a systematic and methodical And in Cape Town there’s been a less during the World Cup, and in Febru- program of social development,” adds frenzy of foreign media reports on al- ary it released the “2010 Street People Smith. “We’ve managed to get people to legations that the City of Cape Town is Readiness Plan”. The city, however, is relocate and reunite with their families 14 megaphone 54 | feature | mother city makeover megaphone 54 | feature | mother city makeover 15

and have built a platform of ceived sensitivity training for solutions that help people dealing with street people in get back on their feet and relation to the bylaws and the move on; we help them with Prevention of Illegal Eviction skills training, job placement and Unlawful Occupation of and sheltered employment.” Land Act. “It touched a lot on the legal aspects, the legal Out of sight, implications of dealing with a out of mind… street person, or any person, in an inhumane way.” While the city may have Aldridge says he is all too good intentions when it aware of the bad reputation comes to dealing with home- that law enforcement officers less adults and street kids, have when it comes to deal- on the ground it’s often a dif- ing with homeless adults and ferent story. Allegations of children. He concedes that abuse, particularly by private “90 per cent of the complaints security companies em- 10 years ago were dealt with ployed by improvement dis- hard-handedly”, but main- tricts, continue to surface. tains that there has been a An internal security report complete turnaround. from the Woodstock Improve- Hooper, who has worked ment District (WID) details in the sector for more than a number of incidents from 20 years, backs up this claim March 15 to 21 this year where and says it’s no longer like the “vagrants” are reported as bad old days when apartheid being “removed” from the police used to pick up street area. According to the report, kids and drop them off in the over a three-day period more ing them to Khayelitsha and somebody causing a problem “It’s like a on any complaints regarding their treat- completely outlawed as part of this Karoo [semi-desert region]. “I believe than 30 men and women were dropping them off in the people expect them to engage ment by security. legislation. At the same time, there the DPU works on a human rights ba- “removed” from the WID area, middle of nowhere. Obvi- with the offender. “There concentration The CCID’s social development team have been serious concerns that there’s sis,” he says. most of them for begging, ously we can’t do that.” are clear legal limitations in is also in direct contact with gov- a thin, and often blurred, line between loitering, drinking in public or However, his claim that terms of giving the person an camp... by ernment’s 24-hour social service for enforcing bylaws and criminalizing the Trouble in tin town sleeping in parks. WID’s security does not instruction, that they cannot 10 o’clock you children, as well as being involved in poor and marginalized. Chris Lloyd, a WID man- physically remove people do. A law enforcement officer educating homeless people about their Wayne Aldridge, Senior Inspector Blikkiesdorp, or the Symphony Way ager, insists that the con- from the area is at odds with needs to take it further.” must be inside rights and providing sensitivity train- with the Displaced People’s Unit (DPU), Temporary Relocation Area as it is for- tracted security company, Or- the security log sheet, which To its credit, the Cape ing to CCID security officers. which forms part of Specialised Law mally known, was established in 2008 bis Security, is only enforcing repeatedly states: “Officer Town Central City Improve- otherwise the Enforcement Services, argues that the to house 650 people evicted after il- the city’s so-called nuisance removed him (the male va- ment District (CCID) is one of police and The thin blue line city has invested time and resources legally occupying homes in the N2 Gate- bylaws (which outlaw begging grant) out of the area.” the few improvement districts into ensuring law enforcement knows way housing project. In the two years of and loitering), and that “re- Asked to clarify whether with its own social develop- [volunteer The City of Cape Town and its which side of the line to stay on. its existence, Blikkiesdorp has become moved” does not necessarily private security has the right ment branch, which works improvement districts have made no Aldridge explains that the DPU was known as a dumping ground for those mean forcible removal. to enforce the bylaws, Smith in partnership with various security patrols] bones about the fact that they are en- established in 2001 and officers are evicted from unsafe houses, vagrants “Security will first inform says: “You need to be a regis- shelters and NGOs, such as will hit and forcing the municipal Bylaw Relating trained by the Department of Social and victims of xenophobic violence. them that they’re doing tered peace officer. [Private Straatwerk, a faith-based to Streets, Public Places and Prevention Development on “how to identify social In a fenced off area amid the barren something illegal, for in- security] is not empowered organization that assists kick you.” of Nuisances more strictly in the run- problems on the street and differenti- dunes of Delft, roughly 1,600 metal stance drinking in public,” to enforce the bylaw; they homeless people with job up to the World Cup. And with FIFA ate between the social need and the structures stand in a grid. Rows and he says. “Normally what will observe the transgres- opportunities. A dedicated enforcing its own set of restraints on criminal element”. The DPU works rows of 18m-square units are erected they will do is confiscate the sion and then inform one of team of fieldworkers walk host cities, security is expected to be hand-in-hand with the Metro police. “If on hard gravel; four metal walls with a liquor from them and ask the externally contracted the streets of the Cape Town tight during the world’s largest sport- they come across a social problem they roof, each spray-painted with a number. them to vacate the area im- law enforcement officers who Business District (CBD) daily, ing event. call us,” he says. “If they come across a Some are empty, with no glass where mediately. That’s basically it. will deal with it.” interacting with street people, Many have welcomed the crackdown bylaw infringement they’ll deal with it the windows should be and rubbish It’s not a question of putting At the same time, he notes finding them accommodation on harassment by overzealous beggars themselves.” littering the floor. For every four units handcuffs on them and tak- that if security observes in shelters and following up and unauthorized car guards, who are He adds that the DPU has also re- there is a freestanding toilet and basin, 16 megaphone 54 | Feature | mother city makeover megaphone 54 | feature | letter from south africa 17

letter from but on closer inspection it becomes knowledges that street people from the Iris Davids, a young mother of two, and clear that some are not working. Open- Sea Point area have been moved to Blik- soft-spoken Reney Thomas, were living ing a toilet door reveals a broken toilet kiesdorp but she maintains this was of with their families under bridges on the south africa littered with bottles and plastics; fetid their own free choice. R300 road. They say they were moved to Former Megaphone managing editor Amy Juschka is currently undertaking water pools in the sand beneath an “There is no wholesale collection of Blikkiesdorp by Law Enforcement and a six month work placement in South Africa with Madulamoho Housing open water pipe. people who may be living on the street the Council and put in one shack, hous- Association—a social housing company based in Johannesburg’s inner Residents Jane Roberts and and dumping them in Blikkiesdorp,” ing eleven people. Badroneesa Morris, members of the stresses Hatton. “It’s completely volun- They allege that after speaking out city neighbourhood, Hillbrow. We asked her for her observations on what’s Western Cape Anti-Eviction campaign, tary...The allegation that this is related about the cramped living conditions happening there in the lead up to June’s World Cup. say many of the units are overcrowded to the World Cup is completely untrue.” they were evicted on a rainy weekend and there are high levels of unemploy- Smith, who oversaw the Sea Point and dumped on the pavement outside ment, largely because residents don’t street people move, insists that “they the settlement. Davids explains that have money for transport to go and went on their own volition” and pointed the Western Cape Anti-Eviction cam- eople feared it would seem to be nothing out of the ordinary. “We have had a tough job with the seek work. out that the process involved trans- paign negotiated with City on their be- happen in the run up Last August, as part of a campaign to prostitutes—everyday they are warned “It’s like a concentration camp, porting goods on their behalf. “If you’re half and, after three weeks, the families to the Vancouver 2010 tackle homelessness, the City’s human or arrested,” she added. especially over weekends,” fumes Mor- ‘dumping’ somebody, would you make were moved into individual units. Olympic Games, but it’s development department took to the Reports claim that here in Johannes- ris. “By 10 o’clock you must be inside five trips for them carting furniture “I’ve got a roof over my head now and happening today in cities streets on a mission to stop people from burg more than 800 people have been otherwise the police and Bambananis that somebody’s donated?” he argues. know I can close the door. I can say this across South Africa. With the 2010 FIFA giving money, food, clothes or blankets removed from the inner city area sur- (volunteer security patrols) will hit you Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has is my house. We don’t know how long PWorld Cup looming, reports have surfaced to the 3,000 or so homeless people liv- rounding Ellis Park, where seven games, and kick you. They take us for nothing; also been quick to deny reports of forced we’ll stay here but we’re so grateful to that homeless people are being rounded up ing in Johannesburg’s inner city. including a quarter-final, are to be held. they take us for animals.” removals and says the city has been have a place of our own,” she says. and forcibly removed before the eyes of the “Their presence violates the city The campaign to remove homeless Morris and Roberts both allege that inundated with requests from people world turn to look upon South Africa (see bylaws and we arrest them,” Edna Ma- people from the public eye is defended people have been forcibly moved to wanting to move to Blikkiesdorp: “No Story by Brendon Bosworth our feature beginning on page 12). monyane, spokeswoman for the Johan- by officials as being in line with the Blikkiesdorp from the streets, but say one is forced to stay. It is an informal Photos by Andrew Raeburn Though the international media has nesburg Metro Police, said at the time. city’s bylaws, which prohibit begging many of them move back. “They’re not settlement with full services.” picked up on the story with some vigour, “This is a normal police exercise, but we at intersections, as well as sleeping in free here,” says Morris. “They don’t feel And some residents are grateful to Originally published in from what I’ve observed working in Johan- have intensified our efforts because of streets, parks or any other public space. there is a living here for them.” have a roof over their head, no matter The Big Issue South Africa nesburg’s inner city these street sweeps the World Cup.” Related to the forced removal of City spokesperson Kylie Hatton ac- how dire the circumstances. Last year, © Service 18 megaphone 54 | feature | letter from south africa SUPPORT

Megaphone’s Writing Workshops for homeless and low-income writers.

For the past six months Megaphone kind of context to help us understand Your donation helps pay for: has been leading a series of writing what it’s like to be homeless, addicted • writing materials workshops in the Downtown Eastside to drugs or to live with a mental or • stipends for homeless and and downtown Vancouver for home- physical illness. low-income writers less and low-income writers. Many of • printing and publishing costs their stories and poems have ap- In order for Megaphone to be able peared in the pages of this magazine. to continue to publish these stories, Donating is easy: we need your support. We are asking Please take a moment to fill out the Our writers are not used to having our readers to help us raise $5,000 so donation form below, or go to: anyone listen to them. They are often we can keep this program running. By MegaphoneMagazine.com/Donate told to keep quiet, or worse, are simply making a donation to Megaphone’s ignored. But their stories are full of the writing workshop program, you will same beauty and pain that fills all of be ensuring that these stories can be us. And their stories help provide the heard across the city.

“[Street sweeps] could have drastic and placate any concerns drivers to police to social justice workers, ordinary South Africans and is rooted in legacies of colonialism consequences for homeless people may feel for the homeless. and apartheid. The street sweeps are just once World Cup fans return home.” Significantly, much of one way the country’s institutionalized Johannesburg’s homeless xenophobia is playing out, and it could population is made up of have drastic consequences for homeless homeless people is the corresponding foreign nationals from other African people—whether actual or perceived campaign, among the South African countries, and there have been mount- foreign nationals—once World Cup fans media and government officials, to ing concerns among the city’s NGOs that return home. vilify and dehumanize the homeless, in xenophobic violence—like that on May In the weeks leading up to the Van- particular foreign nationals, in the run 2008, when 62 people were killed and couver Olympics, I was touched by the up to the World Cup. hundreds of thousands of others dis- way community and social justice groups Carte Blanche, a popular South African placed—could erupt after the World Cup. united to protest the province’s Assist- investigative television series, recently With its porous borders, its reputa- ance to Shelter Act. As the countdown to aired an exposé alleging that homeless tion as Africa’s powerhouse and its close the World Cup continues, I can only say women are renting babies for R20 per proximity to the ailing Zimbabwe, South that the lack of concern shown by local day (about $3 CAN) in order to earn more Africa is a melting pot for other African social justice groups and the general money begging at intersections. immigrants—both legal and illegal. But powerlessness of the homeless here in On any given day, an estimated with such a large number of South Afri- South Africa have been genuinely trou- 300 mothers—many of them Zimba- cans living in poor and destitute condi- bling. We can only wait to see what the bwean—stand with their children at tions, intolerance and contempt towards next few weeks, and importantly, the intersections across Johannesburg, the country’s foreign nationals, who are weeks after the World Cup, bring. begging from passing motorists. The often considered to be a drain on the exposé, like a number of other stories country’s resources, is endemic. Story by Amy Juschka negatively portraying the homeless, Xenophobia is prevalent among all Photos by Andrew Raeburn serves to legitimize the street sweeps, levels of South African society, from taxi 20 megaphone 54 | arts | debating the Vag's Future megaphone 54 | arts | debating the vag's future 21

of gravity is drawn away from the neo-classical building at 750 Hornby Street? Would the gallery be willing to share a space with a concert hall or other cultural niche that also needs larger and updated facilities? The debate is also divided amongst the city’s cultural elite. Media coverage has focused on the tension between influen- tial art collector Bob Rennie, who wants the gallery to stay The debate put, and Kathleen Bartels, VAG’s director and the driving force behind the move. Panelist and internationally renowned artist Ian Wallace had his first showing at the VAG in 1965. He called the gal- to relocate lery’s collection a “supreme treasure”. He is in support of a new home and said that “too much planning and hesitation Does the Vancouver Art Gallery need to move? interfere with the momentum [of the relocation]”. Wallace is certain that the public and the city should be bold in making the decision to build a new “iconic building” that will secure Vancouver’s reputation in the art world. Others, like architect Joost Bakker, caution that more questions and planning are exactly what’s needed to make the right decision, and that the city’s “cultural aspirations are still unfolding”. If the pieces do fall into place and the gallery does end up in the paved lot at the corner of Cambie and Beatty, what was decidedly missing from the discussion was any foresight into the impact that the relocation would have on the community it would be joining. When asked if whether the move might impact the sur- rounding community was being taken into consideration in relocation talks, Michael Audain, philanthropist and chair of the VAG’s relocation committee and avid supporter of the move replied, “No, frankly.” As the public owns the collection, an audience member brought up the point about the gallery’s exclusivity—it costs $19.50 to see the art collection and the price will increase to $22.50 on June 5. (Though admission is waved on Tuesday evenings after 5 p.m.) Money will be a major factor in any decision. Estimates for a relocation range from $300-450 million, with $50 million secured from the province and $40 million already raised in private pledges. With only one-quarter of the building cost in the bank, and on the heels of the $6 billion Olympic party in February, gathering public support for another big expendi- ture might be difficult. The audience was full of alternative suggestions and solu- tions, mostly involving expanding the existing space that was converted specifically for the Vancouver Art Gallery in he Vancouver Art Gallery is many things to many peo- of the city and gallery officials about why the VAG’s Board The audience was assured that the intended move to the 1983 by Arthur Erikson; redesigning the Robson Square plaza ple—the cultural heart of the city to some, a place to of Directors is actively pushing for a new gallery space. The old Larwill Park site, once a great gathering space for outdoor came up a number of times. Ttoke up in a huge crowd every April 20 to others. It’s the gallery’s shortfall is its size in relation to the collection it sports, protests and festivals and now a parking lot, was not Whatever the outcome of this debate, Vancouverites of all most popular gathering space in the city for protests and the houses; the city’s largest gallery is only the fifth-largest gal- a done deal. The city has yet to donate the lot next to the Q.E. socio-economic brackets should remain included in the dis- meeting point for the monthly Critical Mass bike ride. lery in Canada and only shows around 300 pieces from the Theatre and plans can’t move forward until the location is cussion; not just the ones who can afford to be a supporter of It also houses around 10,000 pieces of publicly owned art collection at any given time, the rest packed away in storage secured. the gallery, but the people whose lives will be impacted if the and that the collection needs a more spacious home is the one rooms below. The public forum was held on May 20 at Robson But many of those present at the forum expressed concern location changes. thing most people can agree on. How, where and when to do Square and, after a series of panelists laid out the pros and rather than support for the relocation. A range of questions it are questions dividing Vancouver’s art community. cons of the debate, the audience was able to voice concerns were asked: Does Vancouver need a new iconic piece of archi- Story by Elecia Chrunik The public was recently given a chance to hear from some and opinions or ask questions. tecture? Will public gathering space be affected if the centre Photo by thedarkerside

22 megaphone 54 | mega-fun | there's a koala in the tree

Poetry Is Dead magazine horoscopes by Poncho ‘Party’ Sanchez

Aries (March 21 – April 19) Leo (July 23 – Aug 22) Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21) Poetry A childhood fear will resurface this Someone may be worried you will be- Your career is quickly becoming an em- week. Let’s hope it’s not the bedwet- tray their friendship. Probably because barrassment. You’re probably a poet or a ting, or that other type of bedwetting, you keep sleeping with your friends’ visual artist…or a horoscope writer. is if ya know what I mean. husbands and wives. Whoever thought that would come back to haunt you? Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19) Taurus (April 20 – May 20) You will drink a mysterious liquid from This week will be about challenging Virgo (Aug 23 – Sept 22) a mad scientist while writing a horo- dead— yourself. Maybe try the difficult level on You will want to blame a parent for all scope and aghh, bllurg, ggrrrllrllll ME Solitaire, or stop playing “Rock, Paper, your failures this week. Don’t worry, IS HULK!!! Scissors” with yourself. your parents are also thinking you’re their biggest failure. Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Gemini (May 21 – June 20) One of your friends will be a Debby You’ve been working a lot this week, and Libra (Sept 23 – Oct 22) Downer this week. Try mocking them the fun has been lacking in your life. Don’t rush into things this week. The by fake crying, or playing a violin, or Probably because you don’t have a soul as last time you rushed into something you better yet, make that sad noise when you’re a lawyer, or politician … or blogger. ended up with a divorce, a dead dog, an someone loses on The Price Is Right. insubordinate child and a hit country A magazine for Cancer (June 21 – July 22) song. No one likes country songs. Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20) contem porary poetry. Don’t shy away from responsibility this This week you will find yourself an- www.poetryisdead.ca week. Even though you’re a lazy jerk, Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21) noyed by people enjoying themselves. you should still do something once in Someone will push you to your limit this You know that that makes you? A dick. a while. week. Just remember, leaving burning bags of poop is a victimless crime. Vic- timless…crime.

Sudoku c 6 1 3 2 a 6 8 5 4 9 r 2 4 4 9 3 8 t 2 1 4 3 T 7 2 5 1 7 2 o 2 3 8 4 6 o 6 5 4 2 n by H. Chase by Moskusokse We Pack & Ship • Worldwide Courier Services • Custom Packaging • Packaging Supplies • Shipment Protection • And much more!

Located in the Sinclair Centre (Lower Level) #142 – 757 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1A1 T: 604.688.8848 F: 604.688.2247 [email protected]