Sign of Our Dystopian Times (VPD Edition)
The Thorn on “Thursdays” | Aug 2 2021
The Editors of the Thorn have been quite busy & thus are bringing you this issue a bit later than usual. We should resume our normal schedule with the next issue!
Local
Happy Pride, Vancouver!
Pride Week in the City of Vancouver kicked off on Monday with the annual Pride Week proclamation and flag raising outside city hall. Due to ongoing COVID restrictions on large gatherings, some of this year’s events will be virtual, while others will take place in shifts of small numbers of people outdoors. Highlights are the Pride Art Walk, the Dyke March, the Virtual Parade, and many outdoor lounge and parking lot events. A Pride Magazine full of events can be found on Vancouver’s queer community website What’s On Queer BC.
New VPD billboards use fear mongering to distract the public from the real issues of police violence against marginalized communities
A number of new Vancouver Police Department billboards have been erected in the Downtown Eastside, Strathcona, and Hogan’s Alley, warning the public to be cautious of strangers getting too close or asking for help. Vancouver resident Laura Stannard wrote the following letter to Vancouver’s mayor and city councillors, about the billboards:
Dear Mayor and Council,
Please think about the reasons the VPD has erected these billboards. I have not seen them outside of the Downtown Eastside/Strathcona/Hogan’s Alley. It's clear to me the “strangers” they refer to are the homeless, ill and poverty-stricken people who live in those neighbourhoods.
Who is paying for these billboards? Who will benefit? The VPD is creating a campaign of fear in the hopes that voters will believe they need more police protection. "Be cautious of strangers getting close or asking for help” is now being promoted as Vancouver’s new tourism slogan.
This is not the kind of city I want to live in.
OneCity Vancouver Councillor Christine Boyle wrote the following in opposition to the billboards:
These billboards miss the mark, and I hope they get taken down.
Be thoughtful and aware of your surroundings, of course. But also be compassionate and helpful. We are all safer when we care for and about one another.
During the pandemic, and the recent heat dome, we've learned how much our safety and well-being depend on the well-being of those around us. And Vancouverites have stepped up, caring for and about those around them. As we face increased extreme weather events due to the climate crisis, we need that social solidarity and support to continue.
Further: Billboards warning of distraction and theft promote fearfulness, says city councillor
Rawhide municipal politics takes NIMBYism to a new level
Move 'em on, head 'em up
Head 'em up, move 'em on
Move 'em on, head 'em up, Rawhide
According to a group that calls themselves Save Our City, Vancouver sits at the precipice of serious social and economic decline and it’s all due to a well-organized group of left-wing ideologues which dominate city politics at the expense of working and middle-class taxpayers. Their solution to the issues of addiction, homelessness and poverty in Vancouver is for the Province (not the City) to head ‘em up, and move ‘em all out to a huge medical treatment and mental health centre outside of the city.
It’s not clear where this huge center will be located (or in whose city …). Nor do they discuss the criteria for being someone that needs to be moved out of the city.
But apparently that’s not important. What’s important to Save Our City is that they all be gone. Just ... gone. No more poverty. No more homelessess. No more addiction. No more crime.
It’s also not clear what kind of Rawhide posse will do the ‘move ‘em out’ for Vancouver. But this is a mindset that could lead to another significant increase in the VPD’s budget. It could also lead to a repeat of the one-way bus tickets that were used to get homeless people out of Whistler and Vancouver during the run-up to the 2010 Olympics.
Seriously. Yes SOC, we would all like to resolve the many desperate issues facing Vancouver during these pandemic years. But stating flatly that your ‘solution is to just not deal with them anymore, that Vancouver should focus on “Police, Fire protection, Sewer. Water, Garbage pickup, Streets, Sidewalks, Lighting, Libraries, Parks, and Recreation and THAT”S IT” begs the image of a child with their hands over their ears singing ‘lalalalalala’ while adults try to explain the facts of real life.
Or that old song, Rawhide:
Keep movin', movin', movin'
Though they're disapprovin'
Keep them doggies movin', rawhide
Don't try to understand 'em
Just rope 'em, throw, and brand 'em
Soon we'll be livin' high and wide
Rawhide.
Press Release: Launch of the Coast Salish History Project
Written By Coast Salish History Project
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, Friday July 23rd, 2021
The Coast Salish History Project has launched today, with the goal to create readable, and accessible histories of the Coast Salish peoples. Founded by Squamish Nation leader, Khelsilem, this project will bring together writers from across the region to tell the history of dozens of First Nations and Tribes that make up the Coast Salish people.
Context
This past week, British Columbia celebrated its 150th anniversary as part of Canada, and this history has been noted. But for many in British Columbia, this remains an unknown land. Salish history stretches back thousands of years, and includes all the tragedies, and heroism, struggle, love stories, and victories of the so-called “Old World ''. Many British Columbians feel in awe of the history of places in Europe, Asia, or Africa - all the while walking unaware over the history beneath their own feet.
One of the reasons Coast Salish history isn’t better known is that, until now, these stories have been buried in family lore, First Nation and Tribal archives, academic papers, and old newspapers.
Our Goal
With the Coast Salish History Project, we want to bring all these stories together in a format that people can read, understand, and enjoy. The Project’s goal is to publish 1 new long-form history article each month. Each article will be written by Coast Salish people, and available for free on this website.
To accomplish this goal, the Project is asking the community to donate, and help provide us with funds to operate the website, incorporate as a charity, and pay our writers.
Our First History Article - 98 Years Ago Today
Our first history article tells the story of the unification of the Squamish Nation, from numerous smaller, Indian Act bands. Over the course of nearly a decade, Squamish people worked to bring their different bands together into a confederation of their own - one that was completed on July 23rd, 1923. In honour of that day, Khelsilem has written a detailed account of the reasons why the Squamish came together into a single people. That story can be read online here: ‘A People United’.
More Information
For more information on the need for Coast Salish history, the untold stories of this land, and the Coast Salish History Project, please contact info@coastsalish.org
Provincial
BC still on fire as BC as pro-fossil fuel policies of BC and federal governments continue
As the extreme record-breaking heat through which BC suffered in the last week of June has given way to less unprecedented (though still hot) July temperatures, BC is now experiencing a severe drought, with most of the province having not seen rain since at least June 15.
The severe drought and hot temperatures have fuelled a record-breaking fire season. While the 256 active fires that were reported on Monday is down from the peak of about 300 active fires around mid-month, the 40 ‘fires of note’ is the highest number so far this season. The BC Wildfire Services says that an area the size of Metro Vancouver has already burned.
Meanwhile, construction on the Trans Mountain pipeline, bought by the Canadian government from Texas-based Kinder-Morgan in 2018, continues. This despite the danger posed to the workers by the heat and fire situation, the climate destroying effects of the diluted bitumen which the pipeline will carry to the coast, and the ongoing opposition of indigenous peoples whose unceded territories the project traverses.
National
Net-Zero Climate Accountability Act (Bill C-12) and the politics of the new climate denialism
Just before Parliament recessed for the summer, it passed the Net-Zero Climate Accountability Act. This act is a woefully inadequate response to the climate crisis, and is part and parcel of the Liberal government’s adoption of the politics of the new climate denialism.
The bill promises a woefully inadequate target of net-zero emissions by 2050. The bill intends to rely on the double speak of carbon offsets to achieve a large portion of it’s emissions targets.
Absent from the bill is any mention of the need to get off of fossil fuels entirely, a move which can only be accomplished by nationalizing the fossil fuel companies to wind them down.
The Liberal government also announced earlier this month a plan to ban the sale of internal combustion engine cars by 2035. This is another woefully inadequate move, since we need to be off of fossil fuels entirely by 2030 even under the most optimistic predictions about how long we have to deal with the climate crisis.
The Net-Zero Climate Accountability Act and related government measures are part of the politics of the new climate denialism. Under the new climate denialism, governments no longer deny the reality of climate change and the need to address the issue. Instead they fully acknowledge that climate change and the threat it poses are real. They then proceed to draft and implement climate plans that do not come remotely close to addressing the scale of the problem, all the while claiming that they are doing everything necessary to solve the climate crisis.
PHOTO: Kshama Solidarity Campaign website.
Resolution in support of Kshama Solidarity Campaign
Since being first elected to Seattle City Council in 2013, Kshama has been an unwavering fighter for working people and socialist policies. Her victories fighting for the $15 minimum wage, landmark renters’ rights, and the Amazon Tax were inspirations for similar campaigns here in British Columbia.
In the past year Kshama has been steadfast in supporting the Black Lives Matter and Justice for George Floyd movements, marching with workers, fighting in City Hall against police brutality, and building a movement to win passage of first-in-the-nation legislation to ban police from using tear gas, rubber bullets, and other so-called “crowd-control” weapons.
As a result of her and the socialist movement in Seattle’s success, big business (including rich Republicans and Trump donors like billionaire Martin Selig) are behind an insidious, undemocratic effort to unseat Kshama through a recall campaign.
We recognize this recall campaign is not just an attack on Kshama, but is an attack on all working people and socialist movements, not just in Seattle, not just in the United States, but around the world. An injury to one is an injury to all.
Democratic Socialists of Vancouver endorses the Kshama Solidarity Campaign to fight the right-wing, anti-worker recall campaign, and to join with her and other allied forces to continue fighting for affordable housing for all, for an end to police brutality, for Black Lives Matter, and for the Green New Deal.
Democratic Socialists of Vancouver encourages its members to volunteer for the Kshama Solidarity Campaign and help out in any way that would be practicable, since the recall is an attack on all working people.
Upcoming Events
SUA Monthly Meeting
Sunday, August 8, 2021
7pm-9pm
Join members of socialist action groups from across the Lower Mainland at the Socialist Unity Assembly. These monthly meetings are a place to share projects, events, and to ask for help. Become a member of our FB Group to learn more and keep updated on events and news.
This month’s Host: Socialist Action
A discussion has been.organIzed on a socialist approach to the municipal elections of 2022. Speakers from SA, ESV and Red Braid will.present 3 different views followed by discussion.
This will be followed by a normal agenda.
Please suggest items for the agenda and mark the meeting date on your calendars.
How to be involved:
Join our Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/socialistunityassembly
DSOV Summer Social
Join your DSOV comrades for an in-person Summer Social at Trout Lake.
DATE: Saturday Aug 7
TIME: 1:00 - 4:00 pm
LOCATION: Trout Lake, green area next to East Parking Lot and Community Centre.
DEETS: Bring your own chair, water, and masks if you need ‘em. We may have packaged snacks. And there’s a Farmers’ Market and food trucks nearby.
RIDE SHARE: If you need a ride to Trout Lake, please contact us at democraticsocialistsyvr@gmail.com
See you there!
DSOV Reading Group
Thursday, August 12, 2021 7-8pm
On Agitation: Building Our “Vancouver Program” Moderated by Joe Stilwell
Readings and meeting link available here.
Vancouver Ecosocialist Group Events Page
Roundup of events by other groups.
Media Roundup
To Praise Ginger Goodwin Is To Revere A Radical -- Mark Leier in The Tyee
Campaign against new Canadian fighter jets takes off -- Bianca Mugyenyi in Ricochet
Quebec rejects $14B LNG project over environmental concerns -- John Woodside in The National Observer
After the Heat Dome Killings, What Is to Be Done? -- Text of the speech given by Vancouver Ecosocialist Group member Gene McGuckin at the Socialist Action webinar Heat: BC on Fire.
End the Sanctions Against Cuba -- Ben Burgis on Jacobin Magazine’s Youtube channel
Bill C-12 passes and becomes law - Canada finally has a climate accountability framework — now we need to implement it.
Far right rallies behind Annamie Paul - far right is increasingly vocal in their support for Federal Green Party Leader Annamie Paul.