CANADIAN POLITICS:

PROTEST TOUR TO SAVE "INSITE":

For those unfamiliar 'Insite' is Vancouver's "supervised/safe injection site". Originally set up at 139 East Hastings St. in 2003 as an experimental project in harm reduction, as well as providing a portal to addiction treatment, mental health assistance and other medical/social services for Vancouver's large population of addicts, Insite has been the subject of several peer-reviewed studies in places such as the New England Journal of Medicine, The lancet, The British medical Journal and the Journal of the Canadian Medical Association. These studies have shown a reduction not just in harm to the addicts serviced but also a reduction in the "nuisance" that these people provide to others. To see a good review of the studies and references see the Wikipedia article on Insite.

Despite the many benefits this project has become a bête noire to social conservatives. It has "earned" criticism not just from our own Conservatives but even from the offices of the Bush Administration. Our present Conservative government has long waffled about shutting the project down, afraid of the adverse publicity but also ideologically opposed to the whole concept. Temporary stays-of-execution have been extended, but the site is due to close on July 1 unless something is done. Our good comrade, the Vancouver musician Joey Only, is doing something. Here is the announcement for the protest tour he is on to save the site.

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Save Vancouver's Safe Injection Site...speaking & protest tour‏:
--hey friends, Leah and I are travelling across the country in the next two weeks doing this..please come down the the picket,sign the petition, learn about Insite, show the Tories what you think and help us save Vancouver's supervised injection site!!.

.joeyonly

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!!SAVE INSITE!! !!SAVE INSITE!! !!SAVE INSITE!! !!SAVE INSITE!!Vancouver's Safe Injection Site Under Attack by Federal Tories

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SPEAKING & PROTEST NATIONAL TOUR - MAY 13-23

-VISITING THE CONSITUENCY OFFICES OF:

Stockwell Day, Steven Harper, Steven Fletcher, Tony Clement -

LOCATED IN: PENTICTON, CALGARY, WINNIPEG, PARRY SOUND,HUNTSVILLE, BRACEBRIDGE AND OTTAWA PARLIAMENT ...TOUR DATES BELOW...PLEASE MOBILIZE...INSITE SAVES LIVES...

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North Americas only supervised site for injection drug users is under attack, the Conservative government would like to have Vancouver's Insite closed on July 1st 2008. Insite is a national (international-Molly) leader of the harm reduction philosophy. Insite was born in Vancouver's drug riddled downtown eastside in 2003 to treat drug use as a medical problem; it aims to lesson the dangers that addicts face by providing them clean facilities and trained staff.

Insite has proven its worth by the decline in overdose deaths in the downtown eastside and stabilization of HEP C and HIV/AIDS infection rates. The City of Vancouver supports Insite as do the businesses in the neighbourhoods Insite mostly serves. It has been viewed as a success.

The Steven Harper Conservative government views drug addiction as a criminal problem and believes Insite should be shut down. The basis of their position is rooted in politics and ideology while overlooking scientific research. For this reason 'INSITE FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY' has launched a national tour to visit the offices of the Conservative Party members who are directly responsible for the fate of Insite.

To contact the caravan directly call:

LEAH AND JOEY AT: 604-562-6054

Join Insite staff members, organizers and volunteers at rallies in the following places!!!!

-PENTICTON BC: MAY 14: 9AM

STOCKWELL DAYS CONSTITUENCY OFFICE

202-301 Main Street

-CALGARY AB: MAY 15: 9AM

STEVEN HARPERS CONSTITUENCY OFFICE

1600-90th Ave SW, Suite A-203

-WINNIPEG MB: MAY 16: 12PM

STEVEN FLETCHERS CONSTITUENCY OFFICE

3111 A Portage Ave

-PARRY SOUND ON: MAY 20: 9AM

TONY CLEMENTS OFFICE

17 James Street

-HUNTSVILLE ON: MAY 21

TONY CLEMENTS MAIN OFFICE

202 Main Street West

-BRACEBRIDGE ON: MAY 22

ANOTHER TONY CLEMENT OFFICE

169 Manitoba St

-OTTAWA ON: MAY 23

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

CAPITAL HILL

WHERE THE GOVERNMENT GOVERNS

More details to come...

---(www.myspace.com/xjoeyonlyx)(www.JOEYONLY.com)

---SOUND RESISTANCE RADIO & PRODUCTIONS( www.myspace.com/soundresistance )