It is telling that the violent death of Tracey, a homeless woman in Vancouver, who burned to death after attempting to keep warm after constructing a small fire in a downtown street corner, has resulted in national headlines while the freezing death of another unidentified homeless man in Montreal the very next night has resulted in only a passing mention in Montreal newspapers. It is beyond cynical to point out that when a homeless person burns to death, it is a national tragedy, whereas when a homeless person freezes to death, it is scarcely even news.

By Dean Baker - December 18, 2008

The Bush administration is packing its bags and about to head out the door. As they leave, we should insist they take the garbage with them. Among the items in the garbage pile should be the "ownership society."

Everyone's Downstream II: Stop Playing Games With Our Lives
To be held November 22nd, 23rd at

The Edmonton Native Friendship Centre
11205 101 Street NW

This event is co-presented by OilSandsTruth.org [OST] with the Indigenous Environmental Network [IEN]

And on Friday November 21, 2008 at the University of Alberta:

And remember, “the same people you abuse on your way up, you might meet up with, on your way down” – Lowell George.

Perhaps that is the problem. We renters are the “dudes you misused” on your “way up,” and we are still watching, on your “way down” and our sympathies are equal to the sympathies extended to us during economic woes, which would be …nil. My sympathies and allegiances remain with the low income renting class, who should be bailed out long before land owners. We are the ones who have been paying for their houses, land, and the French manicures on those in the middle class. And funding for the poor, the low income renting class, will now be taken away to bail out these “poor” home owners. Apparently, only middle class suffering registers on American social radar.

Climate Cafe Presents: Building Better - Better Buildings

Have you ever thought of building a kitchen countertop with recycled paper? How about putting clay on your wall instead of paint? What, exactly, is ecotimber?

HOUSING JUSTICE:
A Panel on Homelessness and Systemic Poverty

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Friday, October 24th

Dinner served at 5 pm
Panel from 6-8 pm

DTES Women Centre: 302 Columbia
1 block west of Main, corner Cordova

All (including men) welcome!
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SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

****Please Distribute Widely****

CONCORD PACIFIC GET OUT!

Saturday,October 11th
2:00 pm
Victory Square Park (Cambie & Hastings)

Judy Graves (Vamncouver Housing Advocate) along with other housing advocates will join us to present this documentary about homelessness in Vanocuver.

On September 29, 2008 around 30 protesters greeted the Canadian Pacific Railway “Olympic Spirit Train” as it brought its propaganda machine through Edmonton. Highlighting that the train and the Olympic Games are interlinked with the same corporations carrying out the largest industrial project on earth known as the Tar Sands, protesters disrupted the “spirit train” celebrations with the spirit of resistance. Under the slogan of “No Games, No Tar Sands on Native Land!” demonstrators from the the community of Fort Chipewyan in “Alberta” came in solidarity to act with Native 2010 Resistance, the Olympics Resistance Network, Edmonton Anarchist Black Cross and the Indigenous Environmental Network to let the public know what’s wrong with the Olympics and the Tar Sands.

Next Olympics Resistance Network Meeting

Sunday, September 28th at 7 pm
Centre for Socialist Education (aka the Dogwood Centre), 706 Clarke Drive, Vancouver

* The Olympics Resistance Network Basis of Unity:

While it is still 18 months before athletes competing in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games start arriving on Canada’s West Coast, last week’s closing ceremonies to wrap up the Beijing Paralympic Games signalled that the eyes of the Olympic-watching world would now fully shift focus to Canada.

And just as China discovered in the months leading up to the Beijing Olympics, while the Games may bring a flood of corporate sponsorship, new athletic infrastructure and international media attention, they are also inextricably linked with the politics of the host country and rife with controversies about who benefits and who suffers as a result of preparations to host the sporting world.

By FRANKLIN LAMB - September 23, 2008

The fundamental consequences of the 1982 Massacre at Sabra-Shatila and the founding of Hezbollah are two seismic events from the same time and place which some argue are locked in an embrace that will return Palestine to the Palestinians.

September 23, 2008 - Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

OTTAWA — Today the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) released The Harper Record, the most comprehensive analysis of the Conservative minority government’s record to date..."Contrary to the general perception that this has been a moderate government, this book reveals that it, in fact, has taken significant steps to transform Canada in a very short time. Harper's very conservative vision has been advanced across a broad range of policies. It is a deeply troubling prelude of things to come"...

About 50 people showed up to protest the "Canada Pacific Spirit Train" event Sunday in the Vancouver suburb of Port Moody. Taking a position in front of the main stage, the group carried signs and placards, and a large banner that read "Resist 2010: No Olympics on Stolen Native Land."

When people hear about the U.S. government’s Section 8 voucher program for low income housing, they think it sounds idyllic. The program boasts it pays going rates on rentals, and that the renter may choose the unit, and the low income renter only pays one third of his income as rent, with the Section 8 program paying the remainder. But in reality, many times Section 8 vouchers aren’t worth the paper they are written on in the housing market...