Victoria Independent Media Center
Report From The Poverty Olympics
Last Updated (Monday, 08 February 2010 22:00) Written by ORN Monday, 08 February 2010 05:45
The third annual Poverty Olympic Torch arrived in vancouver today six days ahead of the opening of the winter games. The torch bearers were accompanied by the three poverty olympic mascots itchy, creepy and chewy, a marching band and a group of hundreds of concerned citizens and community groups who oppose the 2010 Winter Games. Organizers say that public dollars could be more justly spent on ending poverty and homelessness, and the annual event is meant to highlight this.
Canada is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. And the province of British Columbia (BC) is among its most prosperous regions. But some people are being left behind.
Street Art Up, Traffic Flow Down.
Last Updated (Monday, 08 February 2010 21:59) Written by IMC Sunday, 07 February 2010 17:49
Olympic Organizers Can Expect Resistance
The streets of downtown victoria were filled with dissent saturday as protesters carrying banners and noisemakers clogged the streets paralysing traffic.
The Victoria Coalition Against Poverty (VCAP) and No2010 Victoria called for the event, stating that years of unaffordable housing, abysmal welfare/disability rates, and a lack of accessible health care have created a dire situation in Greater Victoria. Throughout BC, people are outraged at the spending of public funds on the Olympic Games while necessary social services suffer. On it's own, the Olympic Torch Relay in Victoria, a one-day extravaganza for corporate sponsors coke and RBC, had a price tag of nearly $500,000, and the Olympics themselves have a budget totaling over $6 billion dollars. Meanwhile 1000's of people across the province continue to exist in substandard conditions and struggle to stay alive.
Off The Street and Onto the Farm (video)
Friday, 22 January 2010 21:25
By Chris Johnson, Victoria Independent Media Collective
A dream is taking shape on the Saanich Peninsula. Inspired by the work of the San Patrignano farm in Italy, Richard LeBlanc and a team of dedicated volunteers are converting a piece of farmland in Central Saanich into a therapeutic community that will become a refuge for people experiencing homelessness.
Cooking For Peace
Last Updated (Monday, 18 January 2010 00:23) Written by FNB Sunday, 17 January 2010 23:45
Food Not Bombs is one of the fastest growing revolutionary movements in the world. There are hundreds of autonomous chapters sharing free vegetarian food with hungry people and protesting war and poverty.
Our belief is that the war industry and waste generated by our capitalist economic model are responsible for the conditions of starvation and malnutrition that are a problem facing billions in a world with the industrial capability to far exceed these basic human necessities.
Food Not Bombs is not a charity. Rather than ask for money we encourage people to take an active role in making this energetic grassroots movement happen. This attitude has spread FNB throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, organizing for peace, sustainability and justice in your community and around the world. For over 25 years the movement has worked to end hunger and has supported actions to stop the globalization of the economy, restrictions to the movements of people, end exploitation and the destruction of the earth.
This current incarnation of FNB Victoria has been serving free vegan food on the street every Sunday for almost 15 years! as well as supporting various social justice, anti capitalist, environmental and anti-war movements with food logistics. Food Not Bombs is a community based volunteer driven organization, it doesn't happen with out your help. So please come down and enjoy a free vegan meal, spread awareness of a healthy, sustainable lifestyle & come cook for your community 3:30pm every Sunday @ the corner of Vancouver and Pandora.
Homeless In Wonderland
Last Updated (Tuesday, 29 December 2009 05:56) Written by Tavis W Dodds Thursday, 10 December 2009 21:52
Where the lie becomes the truth and then a lie again
The BC Supreme Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling protecting the rights of homeless to sleep in parks.
Tavis Dodds arrested for erecting shelter
Charter Champion Irene Faulkner is quoted in the Vancouver Sun as saying that those who were arrested are happy with the ruling. I was arrested about a dozen times in connection with this, but I still have no convictions or record, and I am not happy with the ruling. The wording has been changed to read that we have only the right to “overnight” camping and only if the city has no shelter space to offer. At the same time that the ruling came down on December 9th, BC’s law enforcement began enforcing the Assistance to Shelter Act that allows police to force homeless into shelters, an act in total compliance with Faulkner’s case in Victoria vs Adams. David Johnston, one of the original applicants in this case, has been fasting in jail since Nov24th when he was sentenced to 45 days for continuing to put up tents.
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