From marthacroberts at netscape.net Sun Jun 1 21:07:23 2003 From: marthacroberts at netscape.net (Martha and Aiyanas) Date: Sun, 01 Jun 2003 21:07:23 -0700 Subject: [Busriders-van] Bus Riders Union Late Night organizing on the Streets of Downtown Vancouver Message-ID: <3EDACD7B.2050706@netscape.net> *** CALLING ALL BUS RIDERS AND ALLIES *** Join the BUS RIDERS UNION in building our demand to restore the Night Owl buses. For night workers, youth and students, women and other transit dependent people, around the clock bus service is essential for our economic wellbeing, our safety and our basic right to mobility. As part of our strategy to Defend and Expand Public Services and to End Transit Racism, the BRU is mounting a massive campaign to pressure the Greater Vancouver Transit Authority (a.k.a. TransLink) to restore the Night Owl Buses Now! Please join us for LATE NIGHT ORGANIZING ON THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER On Thursday, June 5th, BRU organizers and our friends and allies will be walking the streets of downtown seeking out those people who have been negatively impacted by the lack of late night bus service in this region. We'll be talking with folks getting on and off the buses, workers on their way to work and at their jobsites where we can, and others who are suffering under the TransLink imposed curfew on bus riders. We'll be encouraging working class and marginalized people to attend our June 12th public meeting on the Night Owl cuts and upcoming TransLink meetings where the BRU will be taking direct action press our demand for Night Owl Buses Now. On Thursday, June 5th Meet at the main entrance of Granville Skytrain Station at 10 pm Join the Campaign for MORE BUSES! LOWER FARES! for more info call 604 215 2775 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From marthacroberts at netscape.net Wed Jun 4 22:04:12 2003 From: marthacroberts at netscape.net (Martha and Aiyanas) Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 22:04:12 -0700 Subject: [Busriders-van] Night Owl Buses: End the Curfew Now! Message-ID: <3EDECF4C.8080505@netscape.net> BUS RIDERS UNION: Building a movement for social and environmental justice. Night Owl Buses: End the Curfew Now! As part of our major organizing drive this summer, and our campaings to Defend and Expand Public Services! and End Transit Racism! the Bus Riders Union is building pressure for our demand for an immediate and full restoration of Night Owl buses. When TransLink cut Night Owl bus service in the fall of 2001 it was a serious attack on the lives and rights of transit dependent people. For late night workers, disproportionatly people of colour, the cuts meant finding more expensive transportation alternatives, or in many cases sleeping in lunch rooms or wandering downtown until the buses start running or simply loosing their jobs. For youth, women and other groups particularly at risk of violence and harrassment it was an attack on their safety and independence. For all transit dependent people it stripped us of our right to full and equal access to the social, economic and political life of the city by placing us under curfew. Now TransLink is planning to bring back Night Owl buses, but only on a few routes and only on Friday and Saturday nights. This sop to downtown business owners is an insult to the bus riders of the region. It leaves bus riders out in the cold 5 days a week. Over the course of the summer the Bus Riders Union will be taking action to win back the Night Owl buses. On June 12th we will be holding a Public Meeting where bus riders can share their experiences of how the night owl cuts have impacted them and develop strategies for resistance. And on June 25th BRU organizers and bus riders will be taking our demands to the TransLink board meeting. And we don't intend to sit quietly in our seats while TransLink pours the money so badly needed for the bus system down the Skytrain sinkhole! Get Involved in the fight for More Buses! and Lower Fares! Come out to one of these upcoming events and contact us to find out how you can get involved in our movement for social justice and public health. Night Owl Buses: End the Curfew Now! Public Meeting Thursday, June 12, 6:30 - 8:30pm Collingwood Neighbourhood House (5288 Joyce, near Joyce Station) Free Childcare and Snacks povided TransLink Board Meeting Wednesday, June 25, 9 am City of Port Moody, City Hall, 100 Newport Drive, Port Moody, BC Stay posted for info on getting to the meeting Bus Riders Union General Meeting Saturday, May 31, 10 am SFU Harbour Centre (515 W. Hastings) BUS RIDERS UNION 604 215 2775 bru at resist.ca -- We can learn what we did not know. We are not only good at destroying the old world, we are also good at building the new. Mao Tse-Tung, 1949 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bru at resist.ca Thu Jun 5 00:02:04 2003 From: bru at resist.ca (Bus Riders Union) Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2003 00:02:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Busriders-van] BRU Press Release Message-ID: <2072.64.69.83.54.1054796524.squirrel@mail.resist.ca> *** For Immediate Release *** June 4, 2003 TransLink decision leaves 225,000 daily bus riders out in the cold, again! Bus Riders Union demands justice for bus riders! TransLink?s recent decision to borrow up to $700 million dollars for expansion of the regional Skytrain system, starting with the Richmond/Airport/Vancouver Rapid Transit Project, will make it even harder for bus riders to get badly needed improvements in bus service, according to the Bus Riders Union (BRU). ?This is a slap in the face to bus riders?, says BRU organizer Beth Grayer. ?In the last two years bus riders have faced increased fares, service cuts and a TransLink imposed curfew. Meanwhile TransLink is spending hundreds of millions of dollars building a Skytrain system that, even with the rerouting of buses, accounts for less than 20% of public transit users. You have to wonder about what?s driving the priorities at TransLink when they are spending all this money on state of the art Skytrain system, but they don?t seem to give a damn about the 225,000 daily bus riders paying high fares, riding overcrowded, polluting buses, and living under curfew.? The Bus Riders Union is calling on TransLink to immediately restore seven day/ week late night bus service. ?It?s a social justice issue and a public safety issue?, says Yang Chang, an activist with the Bus Riders Union. ?When they cut the night owl buses it left night workers scrambling to find a way home. Most janitors and hotel and restaurant workers don?t make a lot of money. They can?t afford to keep a car going or take a cab. But if they have to in order to keep their jobs, they?ll spend the money, or walk ridiculously long distances, or just spend long hours waiting for the first bus home. Its criminal that bus riders are forced to endure these hardships so that the bureaucrats and politicians at TransLink can pursue their privatization agenda or their Olympic dreams or whatever it is that?s driving the agenda down there, because it certainly isn?t the needs of public transit users.? The Bus Riders Union will host a public meeting on Thursday, June 12, where bus riders are invited to share their experiences of the night owl bus cuts and join together to develop strategies to fight for their transportation needs. The Bus Riders Union also plans to take its demands for Night Owl buses to the next TransLink board meeting on June 25. ?The TransLink imposed curfew is an assault on transit dependent peoples most basic rights to mobility?, says Bus Riders Union spokesperson Martha Roberts. ?It limits our options in terms of employment and recreation, it puts the safety of women and youth and other groups who are at risk of violence and harassment in jeopardy, and it inhibits our full and equal participation in the economic, political and social life of the region.? BRU Media Contacts Martha Roberts and Aiyanas Ormond 604 215 2662 Bus Riders Union (604) 215-2775 http://bru.resist.ca/ bru at resist.ca From count3030 at yahoo.ca Thu Jun 12 09:59:32 2003 From: count3030 at yahoo.ca (Mike Krebs) Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 12:59:32 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Busriders-van] Reminder: ANTIWAR CONFERENCE THIS SUNDAY: 'War, Occupation, Resistance: What we have Learned' Message-ID: <20030612165932.20957.qmail@web13003.mail.yahoo.com> *Please Distribute Widely* *Sorry for any cross-postings* Fire This Time Presents "War, Occupation, Resistance: What we have learned" An Anti-war Conference Sunday June 15th 2:30 PM ? 8:30 PM Doors at 2 PM Collingwood Neighbourhood House 5288 Joyce (2 blocks south of Joyce Skytrain Station) Program This conference will consist of two parts. For each discussion there will be presentations made by different speakers for the first half hour, followed by discussion. The topic that we will discuss in the first part is 'War and Occupation,' and the second part of the conference is called 'Which Way Forward for the Antiwar Movement.' This conference is an opportunity to discuss and debate a variety of topics related to the antiwar movement for which there are too few outlets. We hope to have as enriching and diverse an event as possible that will contribute to building a longterm, effective antiwar movement in the Lower Mainland. We welcome all to come and participate in this conference. Program Itinerary 2 PM Registration 2:30-4:40 Part 1: 'War and Occupation' 4:40-5:10 Break 5:10-8 Part 2: Which way forward for the antiwar movement 8-8:10 Closing There will be coffee, tea, and light refreshments provided. Childcare Provided. Please call in advance if you will need childcare. Space is limited, Pre-registration preferred. Email info at fire-this-time.org or call (604) 322-1764 to register. Endorsed by Stopwar.ca, Youth-3rd World Alliance, Simon Fraser Student Society, and UBC Social Justice Cenre For more information contact Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice http://fire-this-time.org info at fire-this-time.org 604) 322-1764 PO Box 21607 Vancouver BC V5N 5T5 ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca From marthacroberts at netscape.net Wed Jun 18 22:54:30 2003 From: marthacroberts at netscape.net (Martha and Aiyanas) Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 22:54:30 -0700 Subject: [Busriders-van] BRU Night Owls Campaign Update Message-ID: <3EF15016.10708@netscape.net> BUS RIDERS GETTING ORGANIZED TO FIGHT BACK Night Owl Buses: End the Curfew Now! Bus Riders Union and Allies Mass Leafleting Thursday, June 26, 10pm Meet @ Granville Skytrain (main entrance) The Bus Riders Union campaign to get back the night owl buses is heating up as we move into a summer of on-the-bus organizing, mass education, and direct action. At our June 12 Public Meeting, where over 40 bus riders shared experiences of hardship they have faced as TransLink has slashed service, hiked fares and shown a general disdain for the interests of Vancouvers 225,000 daily bus riders for the last two years. Bus riders resolved to fight back, demanding an immediate end to curfew on transit dependent people. Following up on the meeting, the Bus Riders Union will be taking this demand to the June 25th meeting of the TransLink Board, where an action is planned. The BRU is also stepping up our educational work, organizing another late-night mass leaflet to reach night workers and nigh-time bus riders, collecting testimonials from people impacted by the bus cuts, and working towards another public meeting in July and further actions until we end the curfew. Come to one of these upcoming events and get involved in this campaing to expose the racist, sexist and anti-working class policies of TransLink and to build a movement to fight for our rights: UPCOMING EVENTS BRU Challenges TransLink: NIGHT OWL BUSES: END THE CURFEW NOW! Wednesday, June 25, 9am Port Moody City Hall BRU and Allies Mass Leafleting Thursday, June 26, 10pm Meet @ Granville Skytrain main entrance BRU General Meeting Saturday, June 28, 10am SFU Harbour Centre -- We can learn what we did not know. We are not only good at destroying the old world, we are also good at building the new. Mao Tse-Tung, 1949 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From marthacroberts at netscape.net Thu Jun 19 14:58:33 2003 From: marthacroberts at netscape.net (Martha and Aiyanas) Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 14:58:33 -0700 Subject: [Busriders-van] [Fwd: Protest P3 Conference, Hotel Vancouver - June 25th 8a.m.-Gordon Campbell Hosting] Message-ID: <3EF23209.4030108@netscape.net> -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Protest P3 Conference, Hotel Vancouver - June 25th 8a.m. -Gordon Campbell Hosting Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 23:14:20 -0700 From: " LMSJC" Reply-To: To: The Gordon Campbell band of brigands' Crown Corporation "BC Partnerships" is hosting an American PPP Conference at the Hotel Vancouver June 25th, dubbed, "Public Private Partnerships: Focusing on the Nuts and Bolts of Successful PPPs" see url - http://www.partnershipsbc.com/news/ne_events.htm ; The Lower Mainland Social Justice Coalition and the Committee to Prepare the General Strike will be protesting this corporate get-together. Wednesday June 25th Meet at 8AM at the fountain in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery then walk to the Hotel Vancouver If you are against privitization be there! for more information contact lmcsj at resist.ca, and/or come to the Lower Mainland Social Justice Coalition meeting Mon June 23 at 7pm, 65 West Cordova, Vancouver Partnerships BC is the liberal Government's P3 Website your tax dollars at work selling off BC's Public Services if you visit url http://www.partnershipsbc.com/business/bu_opportunities.htm and http://www.partnershipsbc.com/projects/pr_index.htm you also find their tenders for Coquihalla Highway and other things they are up to. To unsubscribe from this group, send email: lmcsj at resist.ca -- We can learn what we did not know. We are not only good at destroying the old world, we are also good at building the new. Mao Tse-Tung, 1949 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From marthacroberts at netscape.net Mon Jun 23 21:58:10 2003 From: marthacroberts at netscape.net (Martha and Aiyanas) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 21:58:10 -0700 Subject: [Busriders-van] Bus Riders Union and Allies Mass Leafleting Message-ID: <3EF7DA62.3060201@netscape.net> BUS RIDERS GETTING ORGANIZED TO FIGHT BACK Night Owl Buses: End the Curfew Now! Bus Riders Union and Allies Mass Leafleting Thursday, June 26, 10pm Meet @ Granville Skytrain (main entrance) The Bus Riders Union campaign to get back the night owl buses is heating up as we move into a summer of on-the-bus organizing, mass education, and direct action. At our June 12 Public Meeting, where over 40 bus riders shared experiences of hardship they have faced as TransLink has slashed service, hiked fares and shown a general disdain for the interests of Vancouvers 225,000 daily bus riders for the last two years. Bus riders resolved to fight back, demanding an immediate end to curfew on transit dependent people. Following up on the meeting, the Bus Riders Union will be taking this demand to the June 25th meeting of the TransLink Board, where an action is planned. The BRU is also stepping up our educational work, organizing another late-night mass leaflet to reach night workers and nigh-time bus riders, collecting testimonials from people impacted by the bus cuts, and working towards another public meeting in July and further actions until we end the curfew. Join us on Thursday as we take our campaing to workers and revellers on their own turf and build mass support for our campaign, getting testimonials, handing out leaflets, and collecting signitures on our "More Buses! Lower Fares!" petition. -- We can learn what we did not know. We are not only good at destroying the old world, we are also good at building the new. Mao Tse-Tung, 1949 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From count3030 at yahoo.ca Tue Jun 24 14:29:09 2003 From: count3030 at yahoo.ca (Mike Krebs) Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 17:29:09 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Busriders-van] UPCOMING FORUM: 'The First Nations Governance Act: Canada's Roadmap for Deceit' Message-ID: <20030624212909.44260.qmail@web13008.mail.yahoo.com> *Please Circulate Widely* *Sorry for any cross-postings* Fire This Time Presents The First Nations Governance Act: Canada?s Roadmap for Deceit A Free Public Forum Monday June 30th at 6 PM IWA Hall, 2859 Commercial Drive (Commercial and 13th) Featuring: Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs Lana Lowe, Indigenous Peoples Grassroots Movement Mike Krebs, Fire This Time Fore more information contact Fire This Time info at fire-this-time.org www.fire-this-time.org (604)322-1764 PO Box 21607 Vancouver BC V5N 5T5 ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca From marthacroberts at netscape.net Wed Jun 25 23:35:38 2003 From: marthacroberts at netscape.net (Martha and Aiyanas) Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 23:35:38 -0700 Subject: [Busriders-van] TransLink Opts to Continue Curfew on Bus Riders Message-ID: <3EFA943A.3080004@netscape.net> *** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *** JUNE 25, 2003 TransLink Opts to Continue Curfew on Bus Riders In a showdown with the TransLink Board of Directors, the Bus Riders Union called on the regional transit authority to lift the curfew on transit dependent people, by reinstating full 7 day/week Night Owl bus service. During today's TransLink Board meeting, as Board members opted to extend night bus service on only Fridays and Saturdays, BRU organizer Beth Grayer rose to condemn this decision which leaves bus riders in the cold 5 day of the week. Following a public statement by Grayer, members of the Bus Riders Union walked out of the meeting in protest. "We demand an end to the curfew now!" said Grayer, 22, who works for a grassroots women's organization. "Bus riders can't wait for studies and these delays when our time, safety, and economic livelihoods are at stake. This curfew is systemic racism in practice, an attack on marginalized people and communities in this region. The Bus Riders Union will not stand by while TransLink perpetuates this injustice against bus riders. Bus riders all over this region are enraged at this complete disregard for their rights and well being, and we will take action. If you do not have the political will to do the right thing, to bring back the night owl buses, there will be no peace in this boardroom!" Earlier in the meeting Bus Riders Union delegates made presentations to the Board, attempting to impress upon them the importance of Night Owl bus service to low-wage night workers, who are mostly women and disproportionately from immigrant and refugee communities. "The central problem here is that TransLink is disconnected from the experiences of actual transit users," said Cameron Dean, a Bus Riders Union delegate and student at Simon Fraser University. "How many of you are enslaved to low-wage jobs? How many of you have no choice but to rely on the bus? How do you engage with the transit users whose lives are affected by your decisions? I'd like to remind TransLink that public transit is a human need in our region and your transportation policy should reflect that." Dean's presentation to the TransLink Board summed up the anger and frustration felt by hundreds of bus riders. "An example of our transit system's failures is the walk home - which seems to be a frequent experience of people who can't afford cars. Walking from Burnaby to Port Moody on the Barnet Highway for 3 hours at night is not fun, I can tell you that myself. I suspect, besides killing our social lives that you are also trying to kill us." "Eighty percent of transit users use the bus exclusively. Before TransLink spends a cent on Skytrain, it is reasonable to argue that they should first allocate billions for buses. It's important to recognize that social justice and public health should be the guiding principles behind transportation policy, not the 2010 Olympic bid. That means more buses and lower fares and it means, today, a vote on a plan for full night owl bus service and public transit that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Otherwise, I'm afraid that TransLink appears to be unfit to be making transportation decisions." Over the next month the Bus Riders Union will be collecting testimonials from people impacted by the Night Owl cuts, gathering endorsements for the campaign, and organizing bus riders for the next TransLink meeting - which they have vowed to attend in greater numbers. BUS RIDERS UNION MEDIA CONTACTS: MARTHA ROBERTS OR AIYANAS ORMOND - 604 215 2662. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: