Riding with Victoria's Annual New Year Levee Tour
by Janine Bandcroft
hey friends; i attended the 13th annual poor peoples' levee tour on new year's day, rode the bus with lots of interesting folk, and visited four different government parties. thanks to art farquharson and rose henry for organizing this again!
here are two short videos about it:
Its an annual event, organized by local activists Art Farquharson
and Rose Henry, an opportunity for homeless or low-income residents to
shake hands with some of those who are paid to represent us.
The
2010 New Years Day Poor Peoples Levee Tour, the 13th annual, visited
the Municipalities of 60+ Million Bridge, Who Knows How Much Walmart
Mall Calamity, and 30+ Million Overpass. (Victoria, Saanich, and
Sidney, respectively.) We also shook the hand of BCs Lieutenant
Governor at the mansion where visiting royalty stays (but which is
otherwise unoccupied), touted on their website as the Ceremonial Home
of all British Columbians. Last I checked, about five years ago, the
upkeep of this building was half a million tax dollars a year. And they
depend on volunteer gardeners (who do a fine job). We talked about its
potential as an international hostel .
Despite being astounded
at the priorities maintained by local and provincial governments, as
Canadas sacrosanct social safety net is systematically dismantled and
increasingly numbers of people are subjected to the harsh northern
winters, we were extraordinarily respectful guests.
happy new year!!!
namaste,
janine
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