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

* 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@dewc.ca or call 778 885 0040. Organized by DTES Women Centre Power of Women Group. Endorsed by over 100 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@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@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.