Year of the Dragon 2012

2012 is year of the dragon. The dragon is considered a symbol of good fortune in Asian cultures.

Although Japanese and Chinese share the same 12 animal zodiac, they celebrate New Year’s on different days. The Japanese celebrate New Year’s Day on January 1st according to the Gregorian calendar. The Chinese celebrate according to a lunisolar calendar so the day varies year to year, but it usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. For 2012, the lunar new year will be on January 23rd.

I’m a fourth generation British Columbian. My family came from Japan in the 1800′s and 1906 and is spread out across BC. During the Xmas holidays, we put up the Xmas tree and have turkey, cranberries, stuffing and all the trimmings just like any other family, but for New Year’s Day we have Japanese food. It’s a family tradition.

However you celebrate the holidays I think it’s wonderful to embrace the diversity of cultures. What’s really important is that it’s about caring.

Wishing you a year filled with love, hope, optimism, and working for a more equitable, safe, healthy, inclusive society for all.

Happy New Year!

2011 Xmas Deer

In the middle of the night, two days before Xmas, a grinch cut the ties to our deer in the yard and made off with it. The deer has been a regular presence in our yard and on our street for years and we’re quite attached to it.

I figured it was lost for good and hoped whoever had took it would actually appreciate it and not trash it. Others in my family were not so hopeful.

My family decided that perhaps it was an inebriated person who stole our deer and they would not want to carry it for long. A search of the neighbourhood ensued and sure enough our deer was found stuffed in some shrubs in someone’s yard.

Our deer returned home just in time for Xmas. The order was restored in our neighbourhood and there was a sense of hope that anything is possible in this world.

I hope you and your loved ones had peaceful and happy holidays.

The forum had been put together quickly by a dynamic young activist Harsha Walia and I was honoured to be asked to participate and speak on the labour perspective. The panel included Seth Klein (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives), Lorene Oikawa (BC Government & Service Employees’ Union), Glen Coulthard (UBC First Nations Studies & Political Science), Harjap Grewal (Council of Canadians), Jean Swanson (Carnegie Community Action Project in the Downtown Eastside), and Richard Porteous (Occupy Vancouver).

I must admit I was a bit concerned that not very many people would show up on a Friday night with so many competing interests. The auditorium at the Vancouver Public Library was packed and as more people arrived they were standing at the back and some sitting on the floor on either side of the crowd.

Harsha gave a great introduction and recognized that we are on unceded Coast Salish territory.

Seth started off by asking that we dedicate the night to two great activists who recently died: Ben Swankey and Bob Rosen. Seth then gave the economic case for dealing with inequality and provided facts and analysis. He shared that inequality may be greater in the US, but that it’s growing faster in Canada. Glen spoke about the need for supporting Aboriginal self determination. Harjap spoke about the negative impact of trade deals. Jean spoke about the case for housing and shared some of the descriptions of the homes available to the 1% richest contrasted with the housing that is sometimes available to the poorest in the Downtown Eastside. Richard shared his experience of being involved in Occupy Vancouver and how it has empowered him.

I spoke about the growing gap between the haves and have nots and how the richest 1% of Canadians pay a lower tax rate than the poorest 10% and how we’re being pummelled by a deficit message when really it’s about a revenue problem since there isn’t tax fairness.

I shared information about the work of BCGEU – NUPGE to get out the message about public services and tax fairness through the All Together Now campaign as well as one possible solution, a Robin Hood Tax. It’s a proposal for a tax as low as 0.05% on trades in stocks, bonds, currencies, derivatives and other financial products. The tax wouldn’t affect ordinary consumers and it could generate billions globally to fight poverty, fund health care and mitigate climate change. The tag line is “small change for the banks. A big change for the rest of us.”

This idea for a tax is not new and has been promoted for awhile and is supported by the president of France. The Robin Hood Tax was also promoted as part of the rallies and marches that took place on October 29, 2011 in Vancouver and at other Occupy locations. It’s all about a people’s solution for fair taxation.

I spoke about the work of union members particularly BCGEU members in their communities and the value of quality public services as the great equalizer. I urged the audience not to buy into the pandering that seek to divide us. We must continue to have conversations and seek opportunities to work together. We have a commonality that is greater than any differences: We want healthy, safe, inclusive communities for all.

Fair taxes fund our public services

People had an opportunity for questions and comments, and then were invited to stay for break out sessions to allow for deeper conversations. Again I was inspired and awed at the majority who stayed and wanted to share, discuss and plan for how we can continue to move forward.

I sat in on one group and heard a person with a disability who was so inspired by the first Occupy Vancouver gathering that he made a sign for his wheelchair which he swore he wouldn’t do. He spoke about the fear of many persons with disabilities and his role as an advocate. I shared my hope that we continue to support and speak up for those who are marginalized and for those equity members (Aboriginal, lgbt, People with Disabilities and People of Colour) who are fearful or unable to voice their concerns.

I am also grateful for the help from those who were live tweeting the event. I had accidentally forgotten my phone at the office so was suffering from social media withdrawal. I asked for assistance since I wasn’t able to live tweet and people responded. It’s not a surprise because as I told the crowd, it was social media that first brought to our attention many of the world events such as Wisconsin and the Occupy movement and social media is keeping us informed even as the corporate media is now joining in.

So who is the 99% – I think we already knew. We want to stop the growing gap and stop the inequality. We must not forget the message. And the movement is the message.

Mike Old, Lorene Oikawa, Dr. Vincent Mosco on MDD 2011 panel

Know the media. Be the media. Change the media.

Media Democracy Day 2011 in Vancouver took place November 11-13. The first MDD took place in 2001 in Vancouver and Toronto – and I may have been in attendance. Ten years later and I had the honour of participating in a panel with Dr. Vincent Mosco and Mike Old with Irene Lanzinger as the moderator.

Our panel was called Resistance and Renewal: Unions and Public Opinion in a “Crisis Economy.” Dr. Mosco spoke about how the good work of unions is not reported on in mainstream media. Mike spoke about the challenges to organize for unions. And I spoke about getting our (labour’s and BCGEU‘s) message out in creative ways such as using social media*, using film (Canadian Labour International Film Festival) and developing campaigns such as the All Together Now campaign for public services and tax fairness.

The room at the Vancouver Public Library was packed and people had to be turned away. I asked who were union members and discovered most were not and also it was a predominately younger crowd. I was pleased to have this opportunity to speak to a new, diverse audience. They asked some great questions and were very interested in the work of unions.

Judy Rebick was a keynote speaker for this year’s Media Democracy Day and I had the good fortune of hearing her speak at the events and also afterwards at a Rabble media event hosted by David Chudnovsky and Ruth Herman. I was absorbed in both her and David’s amazing stories of some of the events and activism they have been involved in.

A bonus was having Raffi who is well known for his children’s songs to sing to us. One of his songs was about “embracing an economy in service of humanity” and  ”measuring equality as a true measure of prosperity.” I tweeted that he was singing adult songs, but perhaps I was wrong: It’s a message we should be sharing with our children otherwise we may be still fighting to get our messages out on the 20th anniversary of Media Democracy Day.

*Interesting to note that I was live tweeting from MDD and all the live tweets were being projected on a wall in the main hall. You can see it in the photo for this post on my home page and in the Media Democracy Day 2011 album in Photos.

We are the 99%

From babies to seniors, people gathered by the thousands at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Saturday, October 15, 2011. The fountain side of the art gallery was packed with people and overflowing on to the sidewalks. Signs proclaimed “People before Profits” and pointed out the unfairness of corporations receiving huge tax cuts while the majority face income inequity and attacks on public services.

The over 4,000 listened to some speakers and then took to the streets of Vancouver in a peaceful march with music and chants.

Social media provided live streaming, tweets and facebook postings. And alternative media provided some great coverage.  Mainstream media was also present and provided some coverage of Occupy Vancouver as well as other Occupy gatherings across Canada and around the world.

I was proud to be part of a BCGEU contingent attending Occupy Vancouver. This grassroots movement is speaking out and saying that the huge gap between the haves and have nots is not acceptable. It’s a message close to the heart of the labour movement. We seek to lift people up not push people down. Occupy is bringing a diverse group of people together and labour is there to add our voices to speak out for a better world for all. 

“What we desire for ourselves, we wish for all.”

Lorene chatting with BCGEU Area 02 CCC Chair Stu Seifert

Thanks to the BCGEU Area 02 Cross Component Committee for organizing a wonderful opening event for members, activists and community to check out the new BCGEU area office in Nanaimo.

I enjoyed chatting with everyone and I really appreciated the displays which included some great photos and BCGEU campaign buttons. I understand the CCC stayed late at the office the night before the opening to get everything ready.

The office is a wonderful new addition to the BCGEU area offices around the province and a great resource for our members in Nanaimo and Vancouver Island North.

Display at the BCGEU Nanaimo Area Office Opening

My grandfather Kenichi Doi

The crack of the bat hitting the ball and cheers from the people in the stands at Oppenheimer Park. You can almost imagine what it would have been like in Japantown on September 18, 1941 cheering on the Asahi baseball team.

Seventy years later on the same day in 2011, we’re back in the park for an Asahi tribute game. The game takes place after the unveiling of a plaque to honour the achievements of the Asahi from 1914 to 1941.

The Asahi baseball team wouldn’t know it would be their last game on that day. The government deemed all Canadians of Japanese ancestry as enemy aliens and would physically remove over 23,000 children, women and men from the west coast and incarcerate them in camps. They lost their homes, businesses, property, vehicles, belongings and their rights, but they never lost their determination.

I stand in Oppenheimer Park clutching a photo of my grandfather who was a pitcher for the Asahi. I feel he is here, listening to the officials speak about the plaque to honour the Asahi baseball team and Grace Eiko Thomson speaking about the history of the Asahi and Japanese Canadians. She notes the recent articles about the Asahi in the Vancouver Sun and the Vancouver Courier.

I can hear my grandfather pointing out that he was born in Canada and how he wrote to the prime minister at the time and told him he would not leave Canada. This was in response to government officials who told him he should go back to Japan. He asked them how could he “go back” to a country he had never set foot in. Canada was his country.

After the unveiling of the plaque and the performance of Chibi Taiko, I speak with the two remaining Asahi baseball players.  There is one other, but he is 100 years old and lives in Toronto and couldn’t be here today.

And then I sit in the stands cheering on the Asahi team assembled for this tribute game. I flash back to when I was a child and my grandfather is teaching me to hold the ball and how to throw.

When the game is done, we go back to the fieldhouse for a treat of hot dogs and popcorn. We sit and talk and remember our elders who worked hard, played hard, and endured so much so we could have better lives.

We must never forget, and we must share our history and our stories.

BCGEU at Robson Square, Vancouver for Labour Day 2011

Another year, another Labour Day. While some may consider this day just the last day of summer, many were taking in Labour Day festivities across BC. In the Fraser Valley, the second annual Labour Day picnic in Abbotsford brought out a large number of families who took advantage of the sunny day, food and lots of entertainment. On Vancouver Island, two events were held in north island and one in Victoria. And in Vancouver, a Labour Day festival took place at Robson Square as well as the BC Federation of Labour had a booth at the PNE this weekend.

Wherever the event, the message was one of celebration and the need to continue the fight.  There is important work being done by unions and our members in communities across BC. However, many of our members are hampered in their ability to do their job because of the lack of respect, fair wages, resources & budgets. Now there is a growing attack on workers, their pensions and their wages and benefits.

So while we celebrate today, let us remember those who came before us to win many of the gains we take for granted today and then in their honour, let’s work together to stop the attack on workers and build a better world for all workers.

“When the union’s inspiration through the workers’ blood shall run,
There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun;
Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one,
But the union makes us strong.
Solidarity forever,
Solidarity forever,
Solidarity forever,
For the union makes us strong.”

Happy Labour Day!

BC Federation of Labour Jack Layton button for Labour Day 2011

BC Federation of Labour at the PNE 2011

BCGEU table at Labour Day 2011 Vancouver

BCGEU scarf Labour Day 2011

Jordan likes the BCGEU scarf.

Tucker wearing the BCGEU scarf

Attending the Candlelight Vigil for Jack at the Vancouver Art Gallery

I’m back home from the candlelight vigil at the Vancouver Art Gallery for Jack Layton. The steps and grounds were overflowing with more than 1,000 people. Many brought orange flowers and there were even some cans and a bottle of Orange Crush. People also left messages. Some people started singing O’Canada, Solidarity Forever, and We Shall Overcome. It was comforting to share the loss with other people, but it still feels so unreal. It’s hard to think he is gone. One of my twitter friends just tweeted that he is going to sleep and hopes to wake up tomorrow to find out it was all just a bad dream.

Today I was asked what made Jack so special. My first in person meeting with him was when he came out to BC after he had been elected leader of the Federal NDP. He gave a rousing speech which got everyone standing up and cheering and applauding. Impressive in itself, but what really impressed me was what happened after the speech.

There was a long lineup of people who wanted to speak to Jack and on all sorts of topics. One fellow had a few inches thick pile of papers and wanted to debate the financial system. Jack was able to have a discussion with him and answer his questions. And then Jack thanked him for the interesting discussion and with a graceful wave of his arm commented that it was an education for all of us. The man turned around and realized there was a long line up of people waiting to talk to Jack. Jack assured him that he was interested in the discussion and gave him his card so he could contact him later.

For every person in the line, Jack really listened to what they had to say and was able to discuss whatever topic he was thrown. His intellectual capability was amazing, but so was his easy manner with people. When it came to my turn, I think every topic had already been covered so I pulled out from my memory an article that had mentioned his favourite movie. I asked him if Star Wars was his favourite movie. He laughed and said it was. I said it was mine too. He then told me about his wife Olivia’s favourite art house movie and we had a friendly brief chat about movies. It felt like he had all the time in the world for me.

Jack would continue to come to BC for fundraisers, the Vancouver Pride Parade and then quite a lot of events during the period leading up to this year’s historic election. I met him some more times and in particular there was one fundraiser dinner where he arrived a bit late from multiple events out east and sat at my table which had an empty spot.

We had a great conversation about my experience at the COP15 climate change conference in Copenhagen. I was impressed when he used our conversation in his speech to illustrate a point. But that is the usual for Jack, he was articulate and able to describe his vision in terms we could understand. He was always optimistic and energetic. Even with his cane, he had a bounce to his step and a twinkle in his eye. The crowds roared with approval. He inspired us all.

You could see the “all” visibly represented at the vigil tonight. There were people representing all ages, different ethnicities, different backgrounds, and they wanted to pay their respects to a great leader who brought us together. And isn’t that what great leaders do, bring people together.

We hold you in our hearts, Jack. Our love & thoughts go to Olivia and family. Today we weep. We remember your passion, determination, and hard work to move us forward. We remember your optimism, your hope for “a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity,” and your drive.

Tomorrow, we continue the fight, and yes Jack, we will change the world.

Lorene displaying the BCGEU flag at Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia.

After being re-elected as a provincial vice president for BCGEU, I was back to my usual hectic schedule. Convention ended on Saturday (June 18th). Later that evening, I attended the 50th birthday party for Canada’s New Democrats. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend the federal NDP convention that was taking place at the same time as our convention, but it was great to attend the celebratory event and meet up with some folks I know.

On the Monday, I headed to Victoria for Public Service Pension Plan meetings with the board of  trustees and then I was off to Halifax with the BCGEU Champions for Change (C4C) for the NUPGE All Together Now Conference. The ATN Campaign is all about promoting public services and tax fairness. We had great discussions about what we were doing in BC and heard from the C4C’s in the other areas of Canada. We all agreed that we must continue this important work particularly in light of the increasing attack on public service workers. One of the highlights of the conference was cutting short an evening reception and filling two buses which took us out to the main post office in Halifax to join the locked out postal workers. We participated in a dance party picket line.

I was back briefly for executive and executive-administrative committee meetings and then I was in Ottawa with a BCGEU contingent attending the Women’s Worlds (WW) 2011 Congress. It was the first time in the 30 year history of WW that it was held in Canada. The first WW congress is described as a modest gathering of academics in Israel in 1981. WW2011 was viewed as a convergence of academics and activism where women from a diversity of experiences and geography would examine and discuss provocative questions on globalization and women’s issues. The theme was expressed as “inclusions, exclusions, and seclusions: Living in a globalized world.” The approximately 2,000 women from 92 countries attended plenaries, workshops and evening arts and culture events at the University of Ottawa, the Ottawa Convention Centre and in downtown Ottawa venues. The opening night reception actually took place in Gatineau Quebec at the Museum of Civilization and included a performance by Tanya Tagaq, an Inuit throat singer which she repeated at the opening plenary. One of the BCGEU activists and I walked from the University of Ottawa through downtown Ottawa and across the Alexandra bridge to the museum – and  gleefully pronounced that we walked from Ontario to Quebec. I connected and conversed and took copious notes of the academic research and grassroots knowledge that was shared by the women. I also enjoyed some of the informal conversations that took place during breaks and the evenings. Two highlights for me were the women’s labour caucus and a solidarity march to parliament and a rally demanding justice for murdered and missing women and their families. I proudly carried a placard showing BCGEU solidarity and identifying particular support for Walk4Justice (W4J) . The W4J walkers left Vancouver on June 21, Aboriginal Solidarity Day, and are making their way to Ottawa. BCGEU has been working closely with and providing support to Gladys Radek and Bernie Williams who founded W4J. The congress was inspiring and invigorating from the opening session to the closing plenary (and at the Farewell Street Party featuring hip hop artist Eternia). I think the women left with a renewed commitment to work together in solidarity and a recognition that we have so much more in common than our differences. I know the women at the labour caucus were determined that we should stay in touch with each other.

Back to BC with a day to catch up and then I headed for a day trip to Victoria to participate in the pride parade. The BCGEU Area 01 Cross Component Committee organized support for the parade including a band and swag to give away. While we were waiting for the parade to start I also had the opportunity to meet up with the members of the Victoria Labour Council. There were great crowds with lots of tourists who enjoyed the parade and then more people joined us at the festival at MacDonald Park.

Last week was the first meeting of the Provincial Executive with the new executive members and new Component representatives. We had great discussions particularly about the upcoming bargaining and we know we have lots of work ahead of us.

The rest of the week was filled with cheque signing and more meetings and then Friday night I headed to Langley for BCGEU night at the Whitecaps Women’s final game of the season. I and two other BCGEU activists gave away BCGEU lanyards to the first 500 Whitecaps’ fans. It was a great opportunity to make BCGEU more visible in the community and it’s also part of our support for the Whitecaps Foundation for accessible sport, fitness and health for children and for supporting women’s soccer through the Whitecaps women’s program. BCGEU sponsored tickets which were given to disadvantaged children so they could the attend the game at no cost. The event was family oriented with many parents and children attending and children were very much a part of the game’s proceedings. During the game, the children were quite enthusiastic and their voices could be heard chanting “go Whitecaps.” The women put forth a good effort, but ended up in a 3-3 draw with the Colorado Force.

Saturday was a ferry trip to the Sunshine Coast. The locals inform me that the rain is unusual for this time of year. The BCGEU Area 03 Cross Component Committee hosted a barbeque for BCGEU members and their families. The rain did start to taper off and despite the rain we had some great food and some laughs.

That’s my summer so far. You can see some photos in the gallery: Summer 2011. I hope we get some summer like weather soon. But if we don’t, a little rain won’t stop me or our dedicated BCGEU activists.