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VOL. 14, NO. 34 August 15 - 21, 2007 Minutemen to march on City With activists protesting the proposed North American Union trade pact this weekend, Shankar Narayan says don’t listen to the immigrant- bashing of the Minutemen and other citizen groups....See page 5. Photo by Cydney Gillis Cydney by Photo Organ Trade Takes Toll on World’s Poor Sayyed Abou Dief lifts his shirt to show a scar in Cairo. Dief says he entered a hospital for a medical check and woke up to find without a kidney....See page 7 Photo courtesy REUTERS/Nasser Nuri REUTERS/Nasser courtesy Photo Change Agent Vendor of the week p. 3 p. 6 Dan Hawkins Dan Ken Dean Ken Real Change  August 15 - 21, 2007 There’s a reason why hundreds of volunteers spend an evening Real Change is published weekly and is sold by the poor and homeless of Seattle. Vendors looking for those sleeping outside without benefit of shelter receive 65¢ of the $1.00 paid for this paper. Mission Statement: Real Change exists to create opportunity and a voice for low- income people while taking action to end Why we count the homeless once a year and poverty. Real Change By Alison Eisinger, 2129 Second Ave. Contributing Writer woman. “Bellevue!” came the reply, “I acknowledging and tackling the crisis on Seattle, WA, 98121 didn’t think there were any homeless their own doorsteps, and as they do that, (206) 441-3247 his past January 25 was a cold night. people in Bellevue.” Well, what can I say? they strengthen King County’s call for www.realchangenews.org Most people who could be indoors There are. The 2007 One Night Count re- more resources at the local, state, and Email: [email protected] T and under the covers were. Not ported 128 people in Bellevue and parts federal levels. The number of volunteers Board of Directors everyone had the choice, however. Here of Redmond and Kirkland. who make the One Night Count happen President Erica Wiley is how some of our King County neigh- In all, 2,159 people were counted has been rising from year to year, another Vice President Faith Wilder bors spent that night. without shelter during the early morning sign that homelessness is a matter of Secretary Katherine Jakielski Board Wes Browning, Ariana Cantu, John Denooyer, “In my car.” “At my mother’s apart- hours on one January night. A survey of increasingly widespread concern. Public Stephan Fjelstad, Margaret Kae, JoJo Tran ment.” “In a motel with help from people agencies which provide emergency hous- awareness about this crisis is essential in Advisory Board at a church.” “On the streets.” “At an all- ing and transitional shelter within the order to generate heat and light so that Affiliations listed for identification purposes only: night restaurant.” “Camped out with the county took place on the same night and public officials will set priorities and al- Sherman Alexie, Poet, Writer, Filmmaker Nancy Amidei, UW School of Social Work bears and coyotes.” tallied 5,680 men, women, and children locate substantial funds. Kenan Block, Media Consultant Frank slept in the doorway of a store were in such programs. This informa- This is also sometimes called “building David Bloom, Rauschenbusch Center for Spirit & Action Kari Connor, Wongdoody where he sometimes helps the staff. Mrs. tion is in the new report, available on the political will to end homelessness.” In Darnell Dent, Community Health Plan of Washington T., who is in her late-60s, stayed in a van Jim Diers, Author our web site. a representative democracy, building the Lynne Dodson, Jobs with Justice with her son, his wife, and their dogs. Why do we do this every year? One public will is usually necessary before the John Fox, Seattle Displacement Coalition Larry Gossett, King County Councilmember, Dist. 10 The Johnson family managed to pay for political will shifts into gear. Jon Gould, Children’s Alliance a motel after the friends they had been Why do we do this every Will the information from the One Andy Himes, Voices in Wartime Bill Hobson, Downtown Emergency Service Center staying with got into trouble with their year? One important Night Count change how we work to end Naomi Ishisaka, Colors NW landlord for having too many people in homelessness? No. The Count is well-orga- Sally Kinney, Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness reason is that this Sharon Lee, Low Income Housing Institute the apartment. nized, solid, and reliable. It will always be Paul Loeb, Writer Other neighbors spent the small Sarah Luthens, SEAMEC/Allyship.org is how King County incomplete. It is most appropriately used Roberto Maestas, El Centro de la Raza hours of that night walking around Se- to gauge the need around us, rather than Paola Maranan, Children’s Alliance meets state and federal Joe Martin, Pike Market Medical Clinic attle, Renton, Bellevue, and Shoreline in as a finely calibrated measure. No specific Vince Matulionis, United Way of King County small groups, keeping their voices and requirements to information we can gather will change the Carlos Marentes, Comm. for General Amnesty & Social Justice their flashlights low. They were looking document homelessness, fundamental truths and associated chal- Al Poole, City of Seattle Survival Services for people huddled in doorways, behind lenges before us: we need thousands of Wilson Edward Reed, PhD, Seattle University Trisha Ready, Richard Hugo House dumpsters, and sleeping in their cars. and qualifies for millions units of permanently affordable housing, Aiko Schaefer, Statewide Poverty Action Network Peter Schnurman, Retired About two dozen people rode late-night of dollars to help and appropriate and flexible services to K.L. Shannon, Racial Disparity Project Metro buses quietly observing passen- support people in that housing. Bob Siegal, National Lawyers Guild/Center for build housing, prevent Social Justice gers who were trying to catch an hour of We do not need a complete count Rick Simonson, Elliott Bay Book Co. uninterrupted sleep before reaching the homelessness, and help to know that the numbers are too high. Pat Simpson, Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness Hilary Stern, CASA Latina end of the line. Still others counted how people stabilize in new Two years into our community’s Ten Robby Stern, WA State Labor Council many people were sheltering in parking Peter Steinbrueck, Seattle City Council Year Plan to End Homelessness, we Silja Talvi, journalist/essayist lots and greenbelts, or under bridges in housing. The other have nowhere near the needed money Jim Theofelis, Mockingbird Society Marilyn Watkins, Economic Opportunity Institute White Center, Kent, and Federal Way. reason is what I think of allocated to build, retain, and support Bruce Wirth, KSER, and All 735 of these people were volun- housing for thousands of our neighbors. Alice Woldt teers participating in the 27th annual One as Social Change 101. Regardless of its merits and limitations, Staff Night Count of people who are homeless the Ten Year Plan relies on substantial Executive Director Timothy Harris in King County, organized by the Seattle/ important reason is that this is how King and sustained commitments of financial Director of Advocacy & Organizing Rachael Myers King County Coalition on Homelessness County meets state and federal require- support from the non-profit, public, and Acting Editor Philip Dawdy Staff Reporters Cydney Gillis, Rosette Royale (SKCCH). After a long night most turned ments to document homelessness, and private sectors in order to succeed. We Production Manager Rosette Royale in their tally sheets and went home to qualifies for millions of dollars to help have a task for the other 364 nights of Director of Development Joe Bushek warm beds and showers. build housing, prevent homelessness, every year ahead: work with determina- Field Organizer Sam Hatzenbeler We know this about Mrs. T. and her fam- and help people stabilize in new hous- tion to secure enough money to make Vendor Outreach Coordinator Danina Garcia ily, Frank, and the Johnson family because Advertising Sales Rep Patricia Easley ing. The other reason is what I think of real the hope of housing all our neigh- Intern Patrick Reis we interviewed them and others this past as Social Change 101. For years, SKCCH bors in safety and dignity. n Editorial Committee Artis, Mary Andrews, Wes Browning, February at food banks and free community has responded to interest from people Stan Burriss, Morrie Condit, Anitra Freeman, José Ornelas, Alison Eisenger is Executive Direc- meals in south and east King County. in suburban cities, neighborhoods, and August Mallory, F. Roberts, Ruanda, Deb White tor of the Seattle/King County Co- Contributing Writers Amy Besunder, J. Jacob Edel, Julie Starting in October the SKCCH phone parts of unincorporated King County to alition on Homelessness (SKCCH). Fortney, Jess Grant, Lester Gray, Chris LaRoche, Robin starts ringing with inquiries about the expand the One Night Count. First Kent, Lindley, Chris Miller, Emma Quinn, Paul Rice, Rachel The group’s website is at www. Rubinstein, ronni tartlet, Kristi Thorne, Austin Walters One Night Count. “We need another team then the Eastside, then Federal Way, and homelessinfo.org. Photographers & Graphic Artists Ginny Banks, Rob to help count in Bellevue,” I said to one last year Renton. These communities are Casey, Ken Dean, Terry Divyak, Dan Hawkins, Elisa Huerta- Enochian, Brendan Lattin, Sherry Loeser, Justin Mills, Katia Roberts, Elliot Stoller, Mark Sullo, Joel Turner Volunteers This Issue Nell Abercrombie, Artis, Matt Director’s Corner Charles, Jay Clouse, Sara Dooling, Sandra Enger, Susanne Forhan, Pat Fulnecky, Daniel Grindall, JP Gritton, Mara Grunbaum, Leah Heasly, Scott Krager, Armando Levia, Josh Seattle, having McGraw, Michael Malpass, Harriet Morton, Barbara Phalen, distinguished agreement reached several years ago with homelessness. This is why, in the fight Loretta Pirozzi, Hilary Preston, Ariel Snyder, Carrie Wicks itself for sev- the Port of Seattle during negotiations over against Burien, even if we win, we lose. Our The Real Change Homeless Empowerment eral years run- the SeaTac International Airport’s third runway affordability problem is right here in Seattle, Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. slates the 162 units of affordable family hous- where those who profit excessively from Programs include the Real Change newspaper, ning as Forbes the StreetWrites peer support group for homeless magazine’s ing for demolition to make way for commercial the loss of affordability, for the most part, writers, the Homeless Speakers Bureau, and the “Most Over- development. To housing advocates, Lora Lake have not even been named. Have we made First things First organizing project. All donations has come to symbolize the three steps back Burien our affordable housing whipping support these programs and are tax-deductible to priced City in the full extent of the law. America,” has that we take for every hard won step or two for- boy because it’s easier than taking on the now made their ward. For the City of Burien, in which the vast rich and powerful right here in Seattle? We Real Change is a member of the North American Street top 10 “Least Affordable Real Estate Markets” majority of housing is affordable, Lora Lake is can force our problem onto Burien, to their Newspaper Association, the International Network of Street about economic development and having the great resentment, or we can take a closer Papers, and the Greater Seattle Business Association. list as well. This should surprise no one. In recent months, the attention of many autonomy to plan their own city. look at ourselves. Which will it be? Seattleites has been focused on the Lora We need our neighboring communi- Read daily posts by Tim Harris Lake drama that has unfolded in Burien. An ties to be our allies in the fight against apesmaslament.blogspot.com Real Change August 15 - 21, 2007 

Just Heard... Change Agent Putting ICE on ice At Seattle’s City Hall, a coalition organizing in solidarity with Seattle’s undocumented immigrants called for a national moratorium on all ICE ( US De- partment of Immigration, Customs and Enforcement) raids on undocumented workers’ homes and job sites. The coalition included groups as disparate as CASA Latina, the Tenants Union of Washington, and the NAACP. Though representing a variety of social interests, each organization’s core message was the same. As a city, Seattle can not tolerate raids on the homes of illegal immigrants without comprehensive and workable immigra- tion legislation on a federal level. Were a national moratorium on raids to prove impossible, the coalition called on Gov. Christine Gregoire and the state’s Congressional delegation to make Washington a place of sanctuary for immigrants. The Church Council of Greater Se- attle’s the Rev. Sanford Brown pointed to the nation’s 3.1 million children with at least one unauthorized immigrant parent. “[These children] are part of us,” he said. “And they are guaranteed a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” —JP Gritton

Nightlife rules get life Dr. Lester Pittle, right, discusses treatment options with patient Freddy G. Robinson. Photo by Dan Hawkins A year after Mayor Greg Nickels pro- any who know him would describe Dr. Lester Pittle as healthcare costs go to the administrative costs of insurance posed draconian new regulations for Ma saint. As a doctor of internal medicine at Pike Market companies,” Pittle says. “If we could get rid of that 30 percent, nightclubs and bars in the city, City Medical Clinic, a community health clinic, Pittle has been an we could insure everyone.” Council passed a final version of the advocate for universal healthcare for over 30 years. He has Pittle has done a lot to campaign for a bill that would cre- new rules on Aug. 13. Nickels had treated low-income and homeless patients for conditions such ate a tax-based trust fund which would act as universal health originally wanted any venue serving as AIDS, mental illness, and substance abuse, as well as many insurance. The system would eliminate the administrative costs alcohol with live music--from mom low-income elderly. Pittle has been an active member of the of private insurance companies and was deemed effective by a and pop taverns to large clubs--to be Community Health Council, teaming up with other doctors University of Washington analyst. forced to obtain a new license from to work for achievements like $250,000 grants towards better The bill has not had the political backing to be passed, but the city and to police areas away treatment for low-income diabetics. Pittle is convinced that this is simply due to lack of awareness from the venue for noisy patrons and Pittle believes that community health clinics are “band- and hopes that people will become educated and vote toward litter. Club owners protested, public hearings were held and City Council aids for a broken system,” and that a person’s income should an improved healthcare system. finally agreed to watered-down set of not define where they receive health care. “Thirty percent of —Hilary Preston ordinances that would include a newly- created position of nightlife regula- Smoking out the poor Mary Selecky, Washington State Secre- to the dynamic. “Tobacco companies tor. Council has yet to pass Nickels’ tary of Health. “Perhaps it is because have been busy marketing to minority licensing provision and has tabled the they’re under more pressure, including and LGBT communities, as well as to matter for later this week. ashington State smoking rates Whave hit a new low, but you economic pressure, or have less ac- the low-income population. They go wouldn’t know it by looking at the cess to cessation support systems.” places where they can get in through Time to vote state’s low-income population. Sev- Smoking rates also differ along lines a crack in the door. They market to enteen percent of Washington State’s of ethnicity and sexuality. African- those who have vulnerability.” Selecky notes that the state plans Next Tuesday Aug. 21 is primary elec- general population regularly smoke American and American-Indian/Alaskan to target low-income communities in tion day in Seattle and King County. tobacco products, but 31 percent of There are active, competitive races those with annual incomes below cessation efforts through several me- for Seattle City Council, King County $25,000 and 29 percent of those with Since 2000, smoking diums, including a partnership with Prosecuting Attorney and the Port of a high school diploma or less light up rates among all the Head Start program to include Seattle. Remember to vote. regularly, according to a study released tobacco education programs in parent earlier this month by the Washington Washington residents education programs, funding cessation --Philip Dawdy State Department of Health. And the have dropped over 5 services for low-income women who gap is growing. Since 2000, smoking percent, smoking rates are pregnant, and expanding free ac- rates among all Wash- cess to nicotine replacement drugs. ington residents have among less-educated Locally, Public Health Seattle-King dropped over 5 per- and lower-income County has plans to help low-income cent, smoking rates smokers who are trying to quit, by con- among less-educated Washington residents tracting with non-profits who operate and lower-income remain unchanged. inside high-risk tobacco communities, Washington residents according to Scott Neal, Interim Tobacco remain unchanged. Prevention Manager. “The socioeco- “ L o w - i n c o m e Native individuals, as well as lesbians, nomic gap in smoking rates is something smokers try to quit gays and bisexuals, all smoke at signifi- we’re working hard to remedy,” Neal as frequently as oth- cantly higher rates than ethnic whites. says. “We take studies like these as in- ers, but have a lower According to Selecky, advertising dicators of where to move next.” rate of success,” says by tobacco companies contributes —Patrick Reis Real Change  August 15 - 21, 2007 Several candidates criticize Port commissioners for doing too little, too late “I think everyone should remember that the Port is a major King County citizen in and of itself,” she adds. But, “it did not Port candidates speak out on Lora Lake show the kind of leadership that it should have shown, that it could have influenced By CYDNEY GILLIS, Staff Working toward that goal today, she better and cheaper if the existing units a way of thinking about its responsibility Reporter says, could include the Port providing remained in use. to the cities of King County.” he pleas to save the Lora Lake some funding, assistance or even real The Port bought Lora Lake’s 21 build- Today, Tarleton says, she would rec- Apartments were impassioned. So estate to replace the 162 units -- an idea ings from a private owner in 1998, paying ommend all the parties, including the Twere the demands to tear down the that challenger Tom McCann, a former to relocate tenants from what originally Port, county and mayor and city council affordable housing complex to make way restaurant owner who was once a ten- was a high-end apartment complex with of Burien, sit down and work out a deal for an air cargo warehouse and SeaTac ant of the Port’s, endorses if the current a big gym, two pools, and a playground. -- before Lora Lake is lost. International Airport’s third runway. apartments cannot be saved. But, in the wake of delays with the third “[They can] decide ‘We are going to But, for both sides, last week’s hear- “The King County Housing Author- runway, the Port agreed in 2000 to let the have 162 affordable housing units when ing at the Port of Seattle was all for show: ity and the Port should have identified a housing authority lease and operate the Lora Lake comes down,’” she says, “and After hours of testimony on Aug. 9, the complex for five years. stop talking about who should have done Port’s board voted as expected, 3-2, to Last week’s hearing at In 2004, the lease was extended to what when.” reject a proposal put forward by Com- June 30, when the last of Lora Lake’s Other candidates for Position 2 and missioner Bob Edwards to leave 162 of the Port of Seattle was latest tenants were forced to move out. Commissioner Alec Fisken’s Postion 5 the 234 Burien apartments standing for at all for show: After hours In July, the housing authority and King seat did not return messages or could least 10 days. The Port, which owns the of testimony on Aug. 9, County Executive Ron Sims offered not be reached. n property, must raze the rest to create a to buy the 162 units for $18 million. buffer zone for its new runway. the Port’s board voted as When the Port refused, the housing The next day, a Superior Court judge expected, 3-2, to reject authority sued. granted an injunction that stops the In the vote taken on Aug. 9, Commis- demolition until at least March, when a proposal put forward sioners John Creighton, Pat Davis and a trial is set to determine whether the by Commissioner Lloyd Hara voted down Edwards and King County Housing Authority -- which Bob Edwards to leave Alec Fisken, saying it was more impor- had operated the units as moderate- and tant for the Port to keep its commitment low-income housing for the Port for 162 of the 234 Burien to the City of Burien, which plans com- seven years-- can take the property under apartments standing mercial redevelopment in the area where eminent domain. Lora Lake stands. While that’s good news for affordable for at least 10 days. The Edwards, who wants to see the Port housing, the emotion and legal drama Port, which owns the sell the 162 units to the housing authority, could have been avoided, say two of says it didn’t occur to him to advocate Edwards’ opponents in the upcoming property, must raze the for replacement housing in 2004 because Aug. 21 primary, if Edwards and the Port rest to create a buffer the City of Burien was still in the midst Commission had simply thought ahead. zone for its new runway. of revising its comprehensive plan two “I would have voted in 2004 to show years ago. the leadership that the Port should have But 2004 “was the exact time the City shown, then recognized that it was place to build more inventory if they’re of Seattle had been working with King not enough to demolish the units, they going to be taking inventory off the mar- County in looking at increasing popula- should have started a plan for replacing ket,” McCann says. “I think that was the tion densities,” Tarleton says. “There was them,” says Gael Tarleton, a fund-raiser real problem.” a commitment made in 2004 to look at af- for the University of Washington’s Office Position 2 candidate The-Anh Nguy- fordable housing across the Puget Sound of Global Affairs and former defense en, a Seattle Parks Department atten- area under the Puget Sound Regional industry executive who is running for dant who also runs a computer repair Council, and the Port was supposedly a Edwards’VIEPGSQQYRMX]VEHMS Position 2 seat. business, agrees, but says it would be key player in that.”

VIEP On KBCS hear the `B’ sides and genres found nowhere else on the dial, programmed by volunteers driven by their passion for the music. From jazz to reggae, folk to modern global, hip-hop to blues to electronica, you’ll hear it on KBCS. GSQQYRMX] We air social justice-focused programs like Democracy Now!, along with locally produced public affairs shows Voices of Diversity and One World Report. KBCS covers issues, places, and people who don’t always make it to the front page of the mainstream media. It’s radio that’s handcrafted here at home, by hundreds of volunteers tuned into what’s local and what’s relevant.

Listener-supported, Non-commercial VEHMS Community Radio Our purpose is to entertain, educate, and involve. KBCS is the only station in the greater Seattle area offering ongoing training [[[OFGWJQ opportunities. Become the media at KBCS. Real Change August 15 - 21, 2007  Activists of every stripe are against a new economic pact, but with competing political agendas Protest versus protest

By CYDNEY GILLIS, Wurster with Staff Reporter Oregonians to t’s not unusual for different factions Stop the North of a political march to disagree on American Union. the issues, particularly in Seattle. But “It’s not about I Mexicans versus the participants in an anti-globalization march planned for Aug. 18 from Seattle Americans. It’s Center to the Federal Building are so far here’s what’s go- apart that they talk like Dr. Jekyll and ing on and let’s Mr. Hyde. do something The dividing line between them is il- about it.” legal immigration and who’s responsible. What’s go- The “Jekels” say undocumented work- ing is the final ers aren’t the problem -- border-eroding planning for the treaties such as NAFTA are. But some of Security and the “Hydes” they’ll be marching with call Prosperity Part- brown-skinned border-crossers “drug nership of North dealers, terrorists and thugs” who will America, or SPP, “do anything they can to the point of a trade and se- mayhem and murder.” curity initiative That’s a quote from a press release is- with and sued in April by the national Minuteman led by Civil Defense Corps., a self-appointed, the Bush Admin- armed border patrol with an active chap- istration. The ter in Washington state. activists say the Members of Washington’s Minuteman talks are laying chapter, the John Birch Society, Grass the groundwork Roots of Yakima Valley and California’s for an eventual Save Our State plan to march through North Ameri- downtown Saturday to protest the forma- can Union that Shankar Narayan, of the Hate Free Zone Washington, says that an upcoming Aug. 18 march downtown tion of a much larger NAFTA called the would have open — involving the Minutemen, the John Birch Society and others — to address the “struggle against global- North American Union, which all of the borders and a ization” ignores the struggle of all disadvantaged workers. Here he’s seen at a 24-hour vigil that occured event’s participants say will throw open single currency at the Northwest Detention Center outside of Tacoma last month. Photo by Cydney Gillis the borders between the U.S., Canada like the Europe- an Union’s -- something the U.S. Depart- event organizer Jonnie Crivello, a Seattle the real issue is Americans losing jobs ment of Commerce denies. high-worker and founder of March for to those coming in. Members of Washington’s On Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, President America, says is not the case. Shankar Narayan of Hate Free Zone Minuteman chapter, Bush, Mexico’s President Felipe Calde- “We are not pointing our fingers at immi- Washington calls that a myth -- one of ron, and Canadian Prime Minister grants,” Crivello says. “They’re being used the biggest perpetuated by groups like the John Birch Society, Stephen Harper will hold their third as a vehicle for the goals of a deep North March for America. Grass Roots of Yakima summit on the Security and Prosper- American integration as well as a bountiful “They’re couching the march in the lan- ity Partnership in Montebello, Quebec, supply of human resources who are willing guage of the struggle against globalization, Valley and California’s where thousands are expected to gather to work for a lot less than Americans are.” which is unfortunate because there are real Save Our State plan in a WTO-like protest. “I don’t want to be mistaken for issues in that struggle where all workers The partnership “is a mechanism to someone who doesn’t like other people are being disadvantaged,” he says. “Pitting to march through kill three countries,” says Connie Fogal, who aren’t like me,” Crivello says. “That’s immigrant and native workers against each downtown Saturday to leader of the Vancouver, B.C.-based just not the case. This is something com- other is not the way to combat that.” n Canadian Action Party. “It’s a mecha- pletely different.” protest the formation [Event] nism to remove democracy in the free With 500,000 to 1 million illegal im- March for America’s protest against of a much larger migrants coming into the country each countries, to remove the rule of elected, the North American Union starts Sat., year, she says, “When we look at a figure NAFTA called the accountable people” and put power “into Aug. 18, 1 p.m., at the Space Needle. the hands of the corporate, military and of 20 million, the American public is be- Marchers will proceed to the Federal North American Union, financial elite.” ing asked to absorb a population equal Building for a 2 p.m. rally and return to which all of the event’s But pitting people against people, to that of a whole other country.” Seattle Center’s Fisher Pavillion around participants say will she says, “is being an instrument of “If you’re against that,” she says, 3 p.m. For more information, go to www. the new world order” -- something that “you’re labeled a Nazi or racist” when mfawash.org. throw open the borders between the U.S., wins the Homeless World Cup and maybe more Canada and Mexico. and Mexico and further erode wages We are the champions By Laura Kelly and Clare and national sovereignty to the benefit the summit that every sportsman which won 12 out of 13 games over Harris, The Big Issue in of corporate elites. dreams of. On Aug. 5, in , the course of an intense seven days in Scotland It’s there the agreement ends. Par- he won the Homeless World Cup. . “You know, me and the boys ticipants from the Canadian Action Party ’m shell-shocked…” Stuart Melvin “It was just amazing, life-changing. said it must be fate,” he says. The team and Oregonians to Stop the North Ameri- looks up to the grey sky above Ed- The best time ever,” says teammate we had was so tight.” can Union even say they’re dismayed to “I inburgh airport and smiles. Sunburnt, Alan Wilson. He’s got all the reason in Some naysayers have protested that learn that some of their fellow partici- knackered and elated, he speaks for the world to be excited. in a just world such an event would pants tend to scapegoat Hispanics. every one of his seven teammates as he Allowing just 36 goals to more than “I really hope some of these groups sets foot back home after he received 100 scored, Wilson was part of the team SOCCER, Continued on Page 10 don’t talk like that up there,” says Todd Real Change  August 15 - 21, 2007

t was a sunless and sterile day in July “I pretty much just stand there, Iand I was on the corner of Union and smile, and hold up the paper,” he says. Vendor of the Week 2nd thinking about the questions I was “I think this is pretty much just a streak going to ask Gary Kaufman. About 15 of good luck.” minutes earlier, I’d realized that this Though a native of Bremerton, day in July in Seattle was like a day in Kaufman came to Seattle via Glendale, mid-March anywhere else in the coun- California, where he’s spent most of his try, only it was a day that lasted for life working in the restaurant industry. nine months of the year. For a second Kaufman returned to Seattle in order I believed that Seattle was Newark in to be closer to his family, but became late March forever. homeless after his arrival. It was a strange Luckily enough day and my inter- “I pretty much just for him (and Real v i e w q u e s t i o n s smile, Change), Kaufman turned out kind of stand there, was introduced to stupid: 1) Is Gary and hold up the the paper by a friend. Kaufman related to paper,” he says. “I Nowadays, you can Andy Kaufman?; 2) find him selling pa- What kind of name think this is pretty pers across from is “Kaufman?;” and, much just a streak the Seattle Library’s 3) What is the secret of good luck.” Central branch. to Gary Kaufman’s Kaufman’s earn- success? ing a pretty decent Luckily, Kaufman is a nice guy. He income— enough, in fact, to feed Gary handles bad interviews with patience himself and his wife of four years. But and a half-grin. Kaufman doesn’t mind that he’s also Kaufman Gary Kaufman is not related to working toward spreading awareness Andy Kaufman; Kaufman is a German of political and social issues facing name; Kaufman, this week’s vendor of Seattle’s homeless: the week, doesn’t know the secret to “Spread the word!” he tells his cus- his success. tomers. —JP Gritton

Who’s the special person who offers you Real Change? Nominate them for Vendor of the Week: [email protected] Photo by Ken Dean Ken by Photo

Progress On our walks around the city I thought of her just today this girl i used to date seeing a fresh empty lot would recall something just destroyed what went where: its pieces already piled up in a green dumpster erased from the corner and ready That used to be a dog kennel. for the next thing. That was once a record store. Over there used to be a Thai restaurant. Last week something stood there and i had walked by as i walked by now I wasn’t as fascinated by the history what it had been was already lost to me. as with her ability to remember. She was still in her 20s Whatsherface would have remembered. but her recall was that of an ancient elephant. —Larry Crist Real Change August 15 - 21, 2007  There’s a growing trade in human organs, and residents of the poorer nations often seek to make ends meet by becoming donors for richer western clients The organ trade

By Tan Ee Lyn, Reuters But even where the trade is banned, laws are often muddled or laced with - loopholes, which are sometimes de- aul Lee got his liver from an ex- fended by vested interests. ecuted Chinese prisoner; Karam in PEgypt bought a kidney for his sister EASIER for $5,300; in Istanbul Hakan is holding And the unregulated route is much out for $30,700 for one of his kidneys. less complicated for the recipient. Any They are not so unusual: a dire transplant procedure involving a living shortage of donated organs in rich donor carries risks for the donor - espe- countries is sending foreigners with cially for liver transplants which involve end-stage illnesses to poorer places removing part of the donor’s liver. like China, , Turkey, , The complications can include bleed- and the to buy a ing, infection, even death. new lease on life. In the transplant trade, the recipient Lee, a 53-year-old chief subway tech- need not worry about, for example, ex- nician in Hong Kong, was diagnosed with posing a living relative to that risk. liver cancer in January 2005 but doctors “It is cheaper and your next of kin is denied him a transplant because they not taking the risk and you don’t have to feared the tumor would spread. care for someone you don’t know. Once A friend told him about a transplant you pay, it is discarded in a way, it is dis- hospital in China’s north eastern Tianjin pensable,” said Luc Noel, a Geneva-based city and he signed up for a place. That coordinator for Clinical Procedures at April, he paid 260,000 yuan (US$34,380) the World Health Organization. for a transplant that saved his life. China recently banned the sale of hu- “The hospital has connections with a man organs and restricted transplants for lot of prisons,” Lee told Reuters. “Mine foreigners, saying it must first meet de- came from an executed prisoner from mand at home for 2 million organs a year. Heilongjiang. I thank the donor deeply.” Only 20,000 transplants are carried The World Health Organization out in China each year. Of these, 3,000 (WHO) estimates that 21,000 liver are liver transplants and 95 percent of transplants are carried out annually, but them use livers from dead donors. medical experts put annual worldwide China defended its use of organs from demand at 90,000 at least. executed prisoners, saying consent was Demand for kidneys also exceeds sup- obtained from convicts or their families. ply, and that has given rise to organ traf- A transplant operation using the liver ficking and a black market for rich people of a dead donor costs around $33,000 in China. Only 20,000 transplants Sayyed Abou Dief lifts his shirt to show a scar on his right side in Cairo. Dief says “What is important is the transpar- he entered a hospital for a medical check and woke up to find himself without a are carried out in ency, it has to be open to scrutiny ... if kidney. If he had consented, Dief may have gotten up to $2,700 for the kidney, which China each year. Of China makes its current system open to is the going rate in Egypt. Photo courtesy REUTERS/Nasser Nuri these, 3,000 are liver scrutiny and very transparent, that would do good,” said the WHO’s Noel. from Europe, Saudi Arabia and , ensure the trade continues with secret transplants and 95 pay about 500,000 rupees ($8,500) for payment to donors, Naqvi said. percent of them use “KIDNEY BAZAAR” a new kidney, he said. Donors are paid livers from dead donors. In Asia, a cultural obsession with $300 to $1,000 and often get no medical 15 DAYS keeping the body of the deceased in- care after the surgery. Stories of people selling their organs, tact has stymied public organ donation There is no consent in some cases. especially kidneys, are not uncommon programs. and “transplant tourists” who travel to poor In May police arrested nine people, four in Egypt, where more than 30 percent Excluding China, Asia has fewer than of them doctors, for abducting people, of a population of more than 73 million countries to buy body parts from people 200 livers donated by people ahead of with few other routes to a better living. drugging them and stealing their kidneys people live below the poverty line. their death each year, said Lo Chung- Karam, who asked to be identified A donor in receives $700 man, professor of hepatobiliary and Stories of people selling for a kidney while in the only by his first name because organ pancreatic surgery at the University of especially trading is illegal, said it took him only the fee - not paid to donors - is around Hong Kong. their organs, $30,000, according to WHO estimates. A 15 days to secure a kidney for his sister Pakistan, where trade in human kidneys, are not who was suffering from kidney failure. lack of transparency and little protection organs is not illegal, is turning into a for donors has spurred calls by interna- uncommon in Egypt, He said a doctor found him a man will- “kidney bazaar”, said the chief execu- ing to sell his kidney for 30,000 Egyptian tional bodies to crack down on, or at tive of Pakistan’s Kidney Foundation, where more than 30 least regulate, the trade. pounds ($5,300). Jaffar Naqvi. percent of a population “The fees of the doctor were 5,000 There are no con- of more than 73 million pounds. Both his money and the fees of firmed figures for the the hospital were deducted from the mon- number of foreigners people live below the ey the ‘donor’ received,” said Karam. coming to the country poverty line. He said doctors usually help in finding for new kidneys but people willing to sell their organs from Naqvi said there were for transplant operations. their patients’ lists. 13 centers in Lahore In the pipeline is a draft law aimed at Abdel-Kader Hegazy, head of the alone which reported banning the trade, but a powerful lobby disciplinary committee at the Doctors’ more than 2,000 trans- bent on preserving it is trying to ensure Union, said Egyptian law lacks clear plants last year from it allows kidney donations for a non- bought kidneys. relative, with no payment. Such a clause Patients, mostly allowing “altruistic” organ donations will ORGANS, Continued on Page 11 Real Change  August 15 - 21, 2007

center in Gulu, , caring for for- mer child soldiers and assisting in their Slavery, without shackles and chains psychological recovery. With the skill of a gifted storyteller, Batstone engages n Not for Sale: The Return of the dignity, providing enough detail to show hopes and dreams, their struggles, and readers with these stories of the personal Global Slave Trade— And How We Can the full measure of their suffering, but how they became slaves (sadly, often and dramatic, then intercuts with short Fight It without sensationalism. He then deftly as a result of a combination of these sections of history and background that By David Batstone, HarperSanFrancis- weaves the stories of these victims same struggles and dreams). We meet provide a fuller understanding of the situ- co, 2007, Softcover, 301 pages, $14.95 with those of people and organizations Srey Neang, sold as a house servant at ations specific to the culture or region that have arisen to fight the modern 7-years-old by her desperate, starving in question. By Kimberly C. Lundstrom, slave trade. In each of his six chapters family in , and eventually sold Not for Sale concludes with a chap- Contributing Writer focused on a region or country, Bat- again, this time into prostitution. And ter entitled “Ending the Slave Trade in wenty-seven million slaves exist in Maya, whose entire family found them- Our Time,” in which Batstone entreats Tour world today. David Batstone offers the selves in debt bondage after trusting the readers to believe that they can make a With this startling statistic, journal- word of their new employer. We meet difference. He cites actions, large and ist David Batstone introduces his book intensely personal stories Charles, a 10-year-old boy kidnapped small, that can be taken by ordinary Not for Sale: The Return of the Global of individual slaves on his way to school in Uganda and individuals— from pressuring one’s em- Slave Trade—And How We Can Fight forced to fight in that country’s brutal ployer to ensure its products or services It. He goes on to outline the depth and — people from all over civil war. are not created or carried out through breadth of the problem in his introduc- the world, including the Not for Sale does not give way to any form of slavery to volunteerism and tion, citing such sources as the UN, the United States — with handwringing, however. The author political action. This is followed by an U.S. Department of Justice and the In- offers hope in the form of anti-slavery alphabetical listing of anti-slavery orga- ternational Labor Office. But this book both pathos and dignity, organizations and individuals, telling nizations, each with a detailed descrip- is no mere litany of facts and figures, providing enough detail their stories with no less personal en- tion and web address. statistics concerning other people far gagement than that given to slavery’s Overall, Not for Sale is eminently away. Batstone quickly brings readers to show the full measure victims. Abhorring the exploitation of readable, as well as highly informative face to face with the human beings of their suffering, but young women on the streets of Bangkok, and actionable. I would recommend it to languishing in captivity — and the without sensationalism. Pierre Tami offers shelter and living wage anyone concerned with promoting social modern abolitionists working to free employment to these women through his justice in our world today. n them — today. Hagar project. Florence Lacor, whose Batstone offers the intensely person- stone introduces us to a real person ownYour child book was purchases abducted by can the rebels,benefit Real Change. For more informa- al stories of individual slaves — people (or sometimes persons) kidnapped, servestion, as go a counselor to www.realchangenews.org at a children-of-war , click on the Powell’s button, from all over the world, including the sold or tricked into a life of slavery. We and browse the books recently featured in our pages. United States — with both pathos and learn of their lives before slavery, their

ends up with a full sized model of Don- key Kong. Looking online, he discovers that this arcade game has an official WORTH SEEING high score and he sets out to beat it. He succeeds, recording the event on Now Available on DVD: videotape. Then as in an episode of the Reviews by Lester Gray, Contributing Writer Twilight Zone, he is transported into The Cat another world, a small pond if you will, where there’s one too many big fish. n I lay in the sun, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox Bronner’s top executive makes no Two men arrive unannounced at his Directed by Sara Lamm covering my paws, more than five times that of the lowest house, persuading Steve’s mother-in- blink at robins n measuring the viability of a political paid full time worker, with company law, at his house babysitting, to allow hypothesis not amenable to formu- them to enter. They dismantle and stretch my tail I wide yearly bonuses from $10,000 to laic proof, durability, by default, serves examine the circuitry of the machine licking my fur. $30,000. The company gives away 70 as an alternate metric. But when one percent of its profits. on which he registered the score and considers the myriad opposing theo- While the documentary is a bit long, examine other materials in the garage. My smile floats ries that continue to flourish, the test it, nonetheless, rewards with an inspir- On the basis of this investigation, in the air of time proves a faulty, if not specious ing and curious story, set apart by the Steve’s score is disallowed. and I feel litmus. Hence the only arbiter becomes certification of its uplifting political and Although Steve is upset about the in- demonstrative success. By these crite- trusion, he maintains his upright manner, in my throat economic message. ria, the late and virtually unknown Dr. even through additional impediments an oncoming purr. Bonner would have to rate among the Opens 8/17 at the Grand Illusion that follow. Twice traveling back east, most insightful thinkers of all time. this now science teacher sets to right So dissolute, Dr. Bronner, a self-made philoso- the wrong and finally gain some needed pher and scientist, promoted his theo- n King of Kong: A Fistful closure. As King of Kong heads toward a my belly rubs itself of Quarters hoping my dear ries through an organic soap, that ac- climax, the story, unbound by the codes cording to testimonials in this film, can Directed by Seth Gordon of fictive story telling, could end up just for more be used for just about anything from teve Wiebe, the central charac- about anywhere, which makes for a sus- than a mouse. bathing and brushing the teeth to an Ster in the documentary King of penseful and fun offering. n —Michael Magee enema solution additive. This natural Kong epitomizes “good guy.” That he Opens 8/17 at the Varsity product, claims to be invigorating as would crowd in line, well as cleansing, serves as a model for litter, or flip off any the Moral ABCs, a lengthy disquisition but the most offensive on living spelled out on every label. The driver is inconceivable. Bronner Company, started in the 1940s, When the powers that still walks its talk. be put the screws to The documentary, Dr. Bronner’s him, he responds with Magic Soapbox introduces you to the good old tenacity and a world created by a free thinker and smile. As noble as this sustained by his progeny. The essence stance may be, at times of this creed is an ecumenical and it leaves him sucking egalitarian philosophy underpinned on the hind tit. by his code for living and what he calls Fired from his job constructive capitalism. at Boeing, he somehow Photo courtesy www.mtvgames.typepad.com Real Change August 15 - 21, 2007 9

©Dr. Wes: Canary in a coal mine

thurs., July 31. 1 p.m.,fourth ave. and say they weren’t retreat mining at the repeatedly in the jaw, at that time, but Pike St. Officers stopped suspect, a tran- Adventures time. He said, indeed they were, but it you never talk about the 90 per cent of sient white male aged 39, on a stop/lie in Irony wasn’t the retreat mining’s fault. It was the time I trip him and give him wed- violation. During a routine name check an earthquake’s fault. Like, “Yes, I was officers discovered an outstanding war- ©Dr. Wes Browning gies. That could break a tooth, too, you rant. This was verified via radio, and the punching Jimmy repeatedly in the jaw, know. I am not culpable.” suspect was arrested and booked into ometimes I read stories in the but that wasn’t what broke his tooth. You know I have to relate this all back King County Jail. mainstream papers that call into Another tooth maliciously hit it. I am to homelessness, don’t you? I could point thurs., aug. 2. 11:46 a.m., Boren St. and question this whole enterprise. not culpable.” out that in the United States roughly 50 Pine St. The Seattle Police Department S and the Department of Corrections (DOC) An example of that occurred this week. coal miners die each year in mining ac- were working together in a joint operation After the coal mine collapse in Utah we cidents out of a total of about 80,000 coal to clean out the transient camps on the found out that the plan at that mine was I could point out that miners. Meanwhile, out of any 80,000 eastside of I-5 at Boren St. and Pine St. to conduct an activity called “retreat in the United States homeless people in the country roughly Suspect, a transient white male aged 37, mining,” which involves, among other 400 to 500 die on the streets each year. was contacted sleeping under a tree. Sus- roughly 50 coal miners pect was removed from the camp along things, a practice of miners “pulling” But homeless people don’t get the with his backpack. He was checked and mine pillars to deliberately collapse part die each year in mining respect that coal miners do, because found to be on active DOC supervision, of the mine. So they can get more coal accidents out of a total people say homelessness is due to bad and it was discovered he had failed to from the rubble before doing it again! life choices. report to his DOC officer when he was of about 80,000 coal released from jail in July 2007. Officers You can’t make this stuff up! Now I’m told coal miners stick with placed suspect under arrest per DOC, and I’ve been reading background sto- miners. Meanwhile, out a job that entails retreat mining, and searched his backpack. They found sev- ries about this, trying to wrap my head nobody but me is going to be the jackass eral syringes, one of which tested positive around this. Maybe I have it wrong, I of any 80,000 homeless who says “bad life choice?” for heroin. Subject was transported to the precinct and asked for a urine sample. He thought. Surely, that’s it, I have it wrong! people in the country I was discussing the public response to declined, saying he had just urinated. He Nobody would do anything this crazy, roughly 400 to 500 die coal miners who die versus the mostly non- was given a bottle of water so he could just to make money! Ha, that’s it, I’m not response to the 10 times as many deaths produce a sample, and booked into King a good reader, I read it wrong. So when on the streets each year. among homeless people with activist Brigid County Jail. the Salt lake Tribune story referred to “Just Because It Rhymes Doesn’t Mean I fri., aug. 3. 11:41 p.m., 125th St. and the retreating and the mining of rubble Besides, it’s not fair to blame retreat Am” Hagan, and I suggested it’s because aurora ave. Officers were working the Greenwood/Aurora emphasis patrol in full as “cut-and-gut,” I failed to notice that mining for coal mining deaths because coal miners get paid. People respect that uniform, and were in the area of 125th the subject had changed from coal min- it’s been used successfully for over 70 as a clear indicator of good intention. I said St. and Aurora Ave. when they observed ing to off-shore fi sh processing. When I years and statistics show it only causes prostitutes who get $3 a blow job get more the suspect, a transient white female thought they said that the shaking of the three times the rate of fatalities per work respect when they die on the street than aged 20, walking northbound on Aurora Ave. They observed two separate vehicles earth that accompanies the collapses is hour as any other method used. “Yes, I homeless people do, because they’re clearly following her, and saw them pull into a routinely called the “bounce,” I neglected was punching Jimmy repeatedly in the putting effort into getting on their feet. parking lot near her. Once the vehicles to notice they were now talking about jaw, but that was only three times more It was Brigid, not I, who then said, observed the police officers they exited good and bad mattresses. likely to cause a tooth to break as giving “Well, on their knees, anyway.” I am the area. Officers recognized the suspect as a prostitute they had contacted before, But no, I appear to have read cor- him a noogy, so I am not culpable.” not culpable. n and they believed she was on a Stay Out rectly. When the operator of the Utah Besides, retreat mining is only of Areas of Prostitution (SOAP) order. She mine protested as news media sug- used to obtain 10 percent of all the Sound off and read more: was stopped, and she immediately stated gested that retreat mining caused the coal mined so it’s not like it’s done all drwesb.blogspot.com she was on a SOAP order from Shoreline. Officers verified the order, which expires in miners to be buried or trapped, he didn’t the time. “Yes, I was punching Jimmy April 2009. She was arrested and booked into King County Jail. fri., august 3. 3:15 p.m., S. Main St. Po- lice responded to a report of trespassers Bus Chick: Back door! inside a fenced area behind the Diamond Bus Chick, Parking Lot off the alley on S. Main St. Transit ing) about getting off at the back door. rider--”Back door!”--who never questions They located three subjects sleeping Will the driver notice you and open it whether the request will be granted. behind some plywood in a storage area Authority of an unoccupied building off the alley automatically, or will you have to --gasp! There is the red-faced, whispered en- and parking lot. The building has “No Carla Saulter -- draw attention to yourself and your treaty -- “Back door?” -- the one that begs, Trespassing” signs posted across the need to disembark? If you do speak up, “Please don’t look at me!” and apologizes top. Two of the subjects checked clear n my way home the other day, a will you be able to get the driver’s atten- for the inconvenience. Sometimes, this is and were given warnings at the scene and moved along. The third suspect was woman who apparently needed tion (along with everyone else’s), or will a silent entreaty. Instead of speaking up, detained for trespass, and for possession Oto get off at 23rd Ave. and Union you fi nd yourself stuck on board, embar- the rider just stands there and hopes to of an access device not belonging to him. St. waited until all the other passengers be seen by the driver. When asked, he stated he found it at the getting off at that stop had disembarked There is the polite request. “Back scene. He was also found to be under There is the red-faced, DOC supervision. Suspect was placed before moseying toward the back door whispered entreaty door, please.” under arrest for trespass, and transported and mumbling something inaudible in the There is the shouted, indignant de- to the precinct. He was then interviewed general direction of the driver. The oblivi- — “Back door?” — the mand of the entitled. “Back door!” (Sub- and released. ous driver proceeded to pull away from one that begs, “Please text: “Do as I say, public servant!”) Sun., aug. 5. 1:35 p.m., 100 yesler the stop. “I want to get off,” she called out, There is the shouted, indignant, Way, Pioneer Square Park. Suspect, a don’t look at me!” and demand of the panicked. “Back door!” transient white female aged 49, was louder this time. The bus kept moving. Be- spotted by officers sitting on a bench in fore the driver had made it halfway down apologizes for the (Subtext: “Didn’t you hear me? Please Pioneer Square Park, a Zone 4 park. She the block, she was screaming, “I want off! don’t drive away yet!”) was known to officers as a chronic tres- I want to get off!” at the top of her lungs. inconvenience. My favorite “back door” of all time, passer that was currently banned from all though, was by a young man who was ac- city parks and all Zone 4 parks. She was Thankfully, the driver pulled over and let arrested for trespass in the parks and her off. My ears wouldn’t have survived rassed and forced to hoof it back to your tually trying to get on the bus at Montlake booked into King County Jail. the ride to Marion St. original destination? Or, will you make a several months ago. He stood in front of Then, recently, on my way to work, a mistake and make the request on a “pay the closed doors, resigned, and muttered man who got off at my stop asked for the as you leave” route, and then have to (more to those of us lined up behind him back door so quietly (and for some reason, hustle to the front and pay while the rest than to the driver), “Back door, dude.” n listlessly--it wasn’t that early), I’m surprised of the passengers wait impatiently? Compiled from incident reports of he heard himself. Like I said to Bus Nerd, I’ve made something of a hobby of Got something to say about public the Seattle Police Department by Emma who witnessed it with me, it was the weak- observing and categorizing back door transportation in Seattle? Email Bus Quinn. Got your own experience to est “back door” I have ever heard. requests. Chick at: [email protected] or relate? Call us at (206)441-3247 ext. There’s something thrilling (and, for There is the casual, confi dent, open- blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/ 207 and we’ll get the scoop. us shy types, at least, a little bit terrify- sesame-style command of the experienced buschick Real Change 10 August 15 - 21, 2007

Correction: Last week’s article, “Preparing for Gridlock,” incorrectly attributed a statement to King County Transit Letters spokesperson Linda Thielke regarding the implementa- [email protected] tion of translation software by King County Metro Transit. The statement came from Cathy Blumenthal, King County Rideshare Coordinator who was referring to Rideshare’s Here’s the answer The problem is the clients that are on drugs or have plans for new software, and not to transit as a whole. mental issues. Over the years, I have seen guns, knives Dear Real Change, Metro Transit has no plans to implement translation and even a chain saw come into the shelter. Human software, although translation services are available for The answer to homelessness is housing. Until there services have cut health programs for the mentally those who call customer service. Real Change regrets is enough housing, there will be shelter. Living in ill, among other programs. Although the clients do the error. shelters is getting worse, more dangerous. The stab- have problems, they are human beings and should be bing of a staff member at Angeline’s should not have treated as such and not as a disposable commodity happened [“Violence...” RC, Aug. 1 - 7].The staff at that can be thrown away. The bottom line is, where Angeline’s are a caring group to the clients needs. is the service for the poor! There are a lot of clients in Angeline’s that are work- Estella Wallace ing and some others are looking for work every day. Seattle

SOCCER, Continued from Page 7 he didn’t realize his house was on fire. He was revived in hospital but it wasn’t until several weeks later that not exist. However, homelessness is a fact, and the he realized what he was doing to himself. sheer size and success of the Homeless World Cup All of the players say they felt Danish society -- in which players are no longer statistics on a gov- looked down on them, but have turned their lives ernment check sheet but talented men and women around through playing football. “We were nothing,” with a challenging but exciting future ahead of them says Clifforth, “but now with the Homeless World -- speaks for itself. Cup we are local heroes.” Amid the high-octane excitement of the Home- The problem remains for the people outside less World Cup, so big now it is supported by giants the pitches whether it’s behind Copenhagen’s town Nike and draws stars such as Eric Cantona, it is square, in the favelas of or in the hostels of sometimes easy to forget the gravity of what these Scotland. While vast percentages of former Homeless hundreds of players from nearly 50 nations have World Cup players attest to the experience changing lived through. For the players, Scots included, com- their lives -- nearly 80 percent of players surveyed ing to the cup and playing represents the culmina- after the 2005 event said they had found jobs, homes tion of an effort to stabilize their own lives. or entered training -- the challenge now must be for In Denmark, just outside the pitches where all the event to spark a change for homeless people the excitement, heartbreak and jubilation of the everywhere, with or without a ball. Homeless World Cup is taking place, there are After shaking hands with Denmark’s Crown groups of rough sleepers who are still battling to Prince Frederik, the real event gets going. Scotland is get together enough food to keep going. The Danish immediately on the attack in a match against , team, brought together by the Ombold street soccer and the Scots score early goals. Refusing to back league, recognize their problems all too well. Most down in the face of the much larger team, one player of them were sleeping rough not too long ago. “For took a fall and looked in real pain, but the crowd’s me it was when I wasn’t taking responsibility for applause pulled him up and soon Scotland was back my life,” says goalie René Bo Nielsen. “I had a drug in control. Thanks to their greater skill, the Scottish problem, so all the bills weren’t paid. It started small, dominated throughout. and then it got bigger, bigger, bigger and I was on “It was in the bag,” says Paul Smith, who was the street.” named best player of the tournament. Frank Clifforth, the player who designed the Top scorer Frank Brodie gives a massive grin as logo for the Nike-produced T-shirts for this year’s he leaves. “Words can’t describe how good I feel,” tournament, had a similar experience. “It started he says. n with alcohol,” he says, “and ended with heroin.” Reprinted from The Big Issue in Scotland Clifforth, explains Tina Juul Rasmussen who is Ombold’s press officer, actually “died,” so doped up © Street News Service: www.street-papers.org Adrift This Concrete Land a cupped smoke, can or bottle just out of sight Change, dollars, apathy, contempt, disgust wearing that mask of loss, need, ill health . . . trash, cigarettes, stale sandwiches, advice a blunt sharpie carved into creased cardboard shrugs, excuses, old peanuts . . . something about god, service, kids, hunger . . . pass through these idling windows mercy or the lack thereof They continue on an excuse, a line, variations bordering cliche as this denizen finishes their shift everything but the truth, or real story ambles on toward the 7-11 with that would demand too large a sign their acquired booty

Cars back up at the light The light changes as this corner person as a new itinerant closes in with apparently no home to go to Traffic flows by like a river plays the current like a violin You can’t step in the same road twice loud enough for the fat car in back —Larry Crist and the one running up behind it to hear its cash-strapped refrain Real Change August 15 - 21, 2007 11

ORGANS, Continued from Page 7 and tests for me.’ I went with a friend of WHY? first heart transplant in 1967. mine called Alaa to the office of the man - Human-to-human transplantation HOW MUCH? punishment for those involved in illegal and his associate ... They said we would of cell tissue and organs is recognized - Commercial living donors, mainly transplants, making it easy for doctors not have to pay anything.” as the best and often only treatment for poor and vulnerable individuals in need to repeat the offense. “I did some tests ... then he said I had end-state organ failure, such as liver and of money, are thought to supply 10 per- “The law says it is illegal to trade in or- to stay at an apartment downtown and heart failure. cent of the world’s transplanted kidneys. gans but does not specify the punishment. wait for the final heart check ... he sum- WHO? Here are the WHO’s most recent (2003) We at the union suspended many doctors moned me to a hospital where I met a doc- - The general flow of organs from estimates for the price of one kidney: and closed their practices, but they have tor who placed me under a ‘heart-testing live donors is from poor, undeveloped - South Africa: $700 appealed before courts and won their machine’. I was given a sedative.” countries to rich, developed ones. - India: $1,000-$1,200 licenses back,” he told Reuters. - The majority of transplanted organs - Manila: $1,200-$2,000 “It is an annoying and a regrettable come from live, often unrelated donors, - : $2,700 situation. Well-known doctors and pro- “I woke up later feeling rather than using cadaveric organs. In - Egypt: $1,700-$2,700 fessors are doing this. They are rich an acute pain. I was the United States, the number of renal - Turkey: $5,000-$10,000 people but they do it because they have throwing up and crying. or kidney transplants from live donors - : $8,000 no moral values.” exceeded those from deceased donors - United States: $30,000 and up The union has been pushing for legis- The nurse beside me for the first time in 2001. WHERE? lation to regulate organ transplants, with said ‘Thank God, the WHAT? - Some countries that are well known a draft bill including heavy fines and a - Kidney transplants are by far the most sources of donors - such as Brazil, India and prison sentence for those involved and surgery went fine.’ frequently carried out, the WHO says. It Moldova - have banned buying and selling of a ban on transplants between people of I asked her ‘what estimates there about 65,700 kidney trans- organs. Iran is the only country in the world different nationalities. surgery?’ and she said plants, 21,000 liver transplants and 6,000 where it is lawful for one citizen to sell an But the draft law has been languish- heart transplants carried out annually. organ to another for transplantation. ing in parliament for several years be- that I had just had my - To date, the kidneys, heart, liver, cause of differences between doctors kidney removed.” lungs, pancreas and the small bowel can Courtesy of Reuters and senior Muslim religious leaders on all be transplanted. The first successful © Street News Service: www.street- whether Islam allows organ transplants kidney transplant was in 1954 and the papers.org in the case of clinical deaths. “I woke up later feeling an acute pain. I was throwing up and crying. The INTERNET POSTINGS nurse beside me said ‘Thank God, the In Turkey, students, unemployed surgery went fine.’ I asked her ‘what young men and struggling fathers post surgery?’ and she said that I had just advertisements on the Internet selling had my kidney removed.” their kidneys, listing their drinking and “The chair was next to me. I picked it smoking habits and blood type. up and hit the nurse with it on her head. These would-be donors say they have Then - I don’t know how - I stood up and had inquiries from , and smashed the window that was also close Turkey with asking prices going up to to me. I don’t know how I stood up. The 50,000 lira ($38,760). nurse passed out and I passed out right Hakan, a 27-year-old security guard away too.” in Istanbul with two young children who “I called the man and told him that also requested only his first name be I will never let him alone. He told me published, told Reuters he received five to meet him ... He told me ‘you had a or six offers from Turkey and Germany, problem with your kidney and I had it offering 10,000-15,000 lira ($11,600), but removed for you. You should thank me.’ he’s holding out for 40,000 lira. He then gave me 4,000 Egyptian pounds “Of course it’s frightening but there’s ($706) and said ‘you have no proof that nothing else to be done,” he said, adding I have done this to you.’” he hadn’t told his wife as he knew she “I went with my father and filed would object. a police report. Forensic examiners “I’m doing it because of my family, if proved that I had lost a kidney ... but I was alone it wouldn’t matter. I’ve got I do not have any proof on paper that two children ... there’s nothing else I can these people have done this to me ... do for them.” the hospital denied that I had an op- eration there.” “They stole my kidney.” “The case has been with the office An Egyptian man tells his story: this of the public prosecutor since then. case study is part of a report on the The men I have accused have denied transplant trade. any wrongdoing.” “I have been unemployed since then AN ACCOUNT because I cannot work long hours. My CAIRO - father pays me money but he cannot ayyed Mahmoud Abou Dief is a 26- afford my medication as well. My only Syear-old unemployed Egyptian man, kidney is functioning at 85 percent.” who says three years ago a man posing as “I still have hope. But I want to say a businessman promised to secure a job that the government is unjust because for him in Libya after a medical check-up it has not helped me. How come the at a Cairo hospital. government cannot do me justice? Am He says he was sedated and woke I supposed to claim my rights with my up hours later feeling acute pain on his hand? I am willing to do so if the govern- right side. He then found out he had lost ment won’t help me.” a kidney. A shy, thin dark man, Abou Dief “I went to the Presidential Palace talked to Reuters in Cairo about his case. three months ago and told them I want He removed his shirt to reveal a long to meet the president ... I took my shirt deep scar on his right side. off and showed them my scar. They said This is his story: ‘go away or we will detain you.’” “This man overheard me asking about a vacancy as a waiter at a coffee shop. FACTBOX He told me ‘I will help you get a job in Here are some facts about organ traf- Libya but you have to do some X-rays ficking and transplantation. Real Change 12 August 15 - 21, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS Rain Barrels - Fully assembled, Seattle Hempfest’s All-Volunteer well-designed, black 60 gallon Staff is looking for YOU! We need rain barrels for only $65 plus tax. volunteers 24 hrs/ 6 days during Contact Dan Borba at (253) 272- Set- up, Hempfest and breakdown, 8173 or email at naturalrainwater@ Aug. 16 - 21. Sign up online at www. yahoo.com or visit www.naturalrain- hempfest.org/staff. water.com. Harvesting the rain locally since 1999. Mention Real Change Reach 30,000 loyal readers and receive free delivery. Call (206) 441-3247, or email [email protected]

No use staying home when the lights are shining when Seattle’s Chinatown-International District Night Market is open. Come enjoy lanterns, live entertainment, games, and delicious food. Admis- sion is free. Sat., Aug. 18, 6 - 11 p.m. Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S. Info: 206-382-1197 Calendar This Week’s Top Picks

Wednesday 8/15 The United Africa Day Festival, complete with Abderrahmane Sissako’s film Bamako tells a cultural fashion show and African food from the story of an ad hoc trial in which African noon to 1 p.m. There will also be music, dance, Civil Society sues the IMF and the World and art. Translation will be provided in Amharic, Bank. The trial is seen through the eyes of Mel Oromiffa, Somali and Tiginya, noon to 5 p.m. and Chaka, a couple whose marriage is rapidly Rainier Community Center, 4600 38th Ave. S. falling apart, in part due to Chaka’s growing de- Free. spair at his inability to find work. The film can be seen through Aug. 16, with 6:30 p.m. and Tuesday 8/21 9:15 p.m. screenings. There will be a panel Don’t forget to vote!!! King County Primary composed of academics and activists after Elections. Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. the Aug. 16 6:30 p.m. screening. Northwest Vote on candidates for Seattle City Council, King Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave. $8.50. Info: www. County Council, King County ballot measures, nwfilmforum.org or 206-329-2629. and more. www.metrokc.gov/elections/ or call Thursday 8/16 206-296-VOTE (8683) for more information. Two cyclists, Bill Bradlee and David Kroods- Thursday 8/23 ma from Ride for Climate, rode cross-country Celebrating EarthCorps World Night. Enjoy free talking with Americans about global warm- music, performances and plenty of delicious ing. Riding since April 21, the pair has just foods from the countries and cultures of Earth- arrived in Seattle, and will be presenting their Corps’ international participants. Countries findings at a brownbag lunch at the Triad Ur- represented include Bolivia, Brazil, , ban Center. Come hear what Americans of all Panama, and the Philippines, from 6 - 6:45 p.m., walks of life have to say about global warming, with a presentation detailing the experience of as well as see a slideshow and participate in immigrants journeys to Seattle from 6:45 p.m. a discussion. Noon. Dexter Horton Building, to 8:45 p.m. Community Activity Center, Mag- Third Ave. at Cherry St. Info: 206-443-9570 nuson Park, 6344 NE 74th St., Building 406. x23 or www.rideforclimate.com. Free. Info: 206-322-9296 x 224. If you’re one of the three people in Seattle who hasn’t heard that this is the 100th Anniversary Saturday 8/25 of Pike Place Market, well, you have now. Cen- tral Library is showing the Pike Place Market: Ever wondered what America looks like from the The First Hundred Years, a documentary with top, what the men and women who inhabit the rare and never before seen footage and pho- spires of our society see when they look down? tos. Catch up on your local history. 6:30 p.m. How would it feel to rub elbows with the likes of Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle Central Library, Howard Schultz or Warren Buffet? Randy Cepuch 1000 Fourth Ave. Info: 206-386-4636. has done it, traveling to major corporate share- holder meetings and watching corporate heads humble themselves in the presence of anyone Saturday 8/18 with enough cash to buy a couple shares of Join the celebration with the Central Area stock. He will be at Elliott Bay Book Co., discuss- Community Parade and Festival. Featuring art ing his new work, A Weekend with Warren Buffet and cultural exhibits, games, crafts, food and and Other Shareholder Meeting Adventures. entertainment, the festival goes down Saturday 2 p.m. 101 S. Main St. Info: 206-624-6600. and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m., with the parade beginning Saturday at 10 a.m. The festival Calendar compiled by Patrick Reis. has free admission and will take place at the Have a suggestion for an event? Garfield Community Center and Playfield, 2323 Email it to calendar@realchangenews. E. Cherry St.