[mobglob-discuss] Olympic Tent City

[Ingrid van der Kloet]

On July 2, the Anti-Poverty Committee and the Housing Action Committee will 
be constructing a tent city to call attention to the homeless crisis in 
Vancouver. July 2 is the day the the IOC will be announcing the result of 
the Olympic Bid, and we are protesting against the bid process, regardless 
of the result. We view the Olympic Bid as directly connected to the BC 
Liberals' agenda of privatization, neo-liberalism and poor-bashing. We 
believe it is unconsciencable that the Liberals are attacking the most 
vulnerable of the working poor in order to undermine collective bargaining 
and public services. In particular, the impeding catastrophe next April, 
when 38,000 people are to have their welfare benefits terminated, is a 
crisis that calls for a sustained fight-back. The two demands of the tent 
city will be: SOCIAL HOUSING FOR ALL IN NEED; and WELFARE IS A RIGHT - END 
THE TWO YEAR TIME LIMIT.

The march to open the tent city will begin from Victory Square at 6pm, and 
proceed from there to another location.

In order to make this event successful, we need broad community support, 
both in terms of people attending the march and acting in solidarity with 
the squatters and in terms of in-kind and financial donations.

Currently, the items we need the most are:

Tents
Tarps
Rope
Banner-making materials
Non-perishable Food donations
Mattresses
Blankets
Sleeping Bags
First Aid Supplies

These items can be dropped off at the APC office  - Suite 108 - 119 West 
Pender Vancouver BC V6B 1S5. It is open Monday to Friday between 10am-5pm. 
Financial donations can be deposited directly into our VanCity account or 
can be brought to the office. If you have any more questions about donations 
or becoming involved phone the APC office at 604 –682 – 2726 or email  
apc at resist.ca.

Please forward this message widely. The APC and HAC are seeking endorsements 
from community groups, unions and student organizations. If you belong to an 
organization that would like to endorse this event or contribute on an 
on-going basis, please contact us.

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