[van-announce] Support the Olympic Tent Village (Feb 15)

[Harsha W.]

SUPPORT THE OLYMPIC TENT VILLAGE!
No More Empty Talk, No More Empty Lots.

*** To receive breaking news updates about the Olympic Tent Village as of
Feb 15 check http://olympictentvillage.wordpress.com/ and
http://2010.mediacoop.ca/

* February 15th, noon at Pigeon Park (Carrall and Hastings, Downtown
Eastside of Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories). Rally with all our
neighbours and supporters. Food will be served. For information, email
project at dewc.ca or call 778 885 0040.

Organized by DTES Women Centre Power of Women Group. Endorsed by over 75
groups and organizations:
http://olympictentvillage.wordpress.com/rally-endorsers/

SUPPORT THE OLYMPIC TENT VILLAGE!

The Olympic Tent Village, a grassroots and autonomous community effort,
which will be public on Feb 15th will need YOUR support and solidarity to
keep going! We are relying on the determination of the DTES community and
the strength of our supporters during the Olympic period.

1) Stay the evening, night, and/or morning after the rally to protect the
Tent Village, especially the first 24-72 hours. If your organization,
group of friends, or community network can commit to a six hour supporter
shift (6 am to noon, noon to 6 pm, 6 pm to midnight, midnight to 6 am)
with a presence of 8 people, please let us know by emailing
streamsofjustice at gmail.com or call 604-253-1782. We definitely need to
ensure a high presence during night times when we are most vulnerable to
law enforcement activity.

2) Donations of tents, sleeping bags, blankets, foams, non-perishable food
items (granola bars, trail mixes, peanut butter, rice, beans, couscous
etc) are particularly needed. Donations can be dropped off at Baaad
Anna’s: – 2667 East Hastings St., Vancouver. Monday – Sunday (11 am to 6
pm). 604-255-2577. Or alternatively, donations can be coordinated through 
Streams of Justice (Email: streamsofjustice at gmail.com, Phone:
604-253-1782)


NO MORE EMPTY TALK, NO MORE EMPTY LOTS:

The upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics has escalated the homelessness crisis in
Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and the Greater Vancouver area. Since the
Olympic bid, homelessness has nearly tripled in the GVRD, while real
estate and condominium development in the Downtown Eastside is outpacing
social housing by a rate of 3:1. Meanwhile, a heightened police presence
has further criminalized those living in extreme material poverty in the
poorest postal code in Canada.

With the eyes of the world on Vancouver, residents of the Downtown
Eastside and our supporters will be taking the streets to affirm our call
for justice and dignity. We want:
1. Real action to end homelessness now
2. End condo development and displacement in the Downtown Eastside
3. End discriminatory ticketing, police harassment, and all forms of
criminalization of poverty.