Pivot Legal Society Executive Director John Richardson smugly sits in front of his latest publicity stunt.

The Pivot Legal Society specifies its mandate as taking “a strategic approach to social change, using the law to address the root causes that undermine the quality of life of those most on the margins.”

And when employing the law as “a critical tool for social change,” encompassing:

• Legal education projects

• Strategic legal action

• Reforming laws

they can serve as a powerful agent of social change.  A few examples include fighting for the rights of protesters around the Woodward’s building in 2002, participating in a Charter challenge on decriminalizing sex work in Canada, and advocating on behalf of keeping the InSite safe injection site open.

But where I have an issue with the tactics of the society is in their tendency to allow cheap publicity stunts to overtake the causes they are fighting for.

Their latest “Red Tent” campaign is a perfect example.

The initiative is little more than a way to exploit the homeless for attention in front of the world’s media.

The society’s Executive Director John Richardson admits as much in the above-linked article:

“We want the media to experience the most liveable city in the world and also see the contradiction — that this is a city that has a chronic problem with poverty and homelessness.”

How exactly do red tents (of course intimately branded with Pivot) help to raise the profile of such a contradiction?

Despite fear mongering to the contrary, hiding the homeless away is not a option that has any basis in reality.  No politician,  no law enforcement official and no social advocate can solve nor shield from public consumption.  The homeless are unfortunately going to be a part of Vancouver that the world witnesses whether we like it or not.

The fundamental question boils down to what exactly these red tents are going to do towards solving the problem of homelessness.  Is it going to shame the Conservatives into acting?  I highly doubt it.  If the Copenhagen experience has been any kind of indication, this is not the kind of government that bows to the weight of international pressure and/or scorn.

This cannot be about the provision of shelter out of concern for the 500 who are left on the streets even after the HEAT shelters have been opened (to full capacity I might add).  Why do I suggest this?  Because it would have been rolled out much earlier if that was the motivating factor.

There is no doubt that the federal government needs to do more.  And, speaking out about such a troubling void in responsibility is something that I would expect Pivot and others to do as much as media will care to carry the story.

But using the homeless as props to get their point across and also raise profile (and subsequently donations) for the organization is something that I find sickening quite frankly.  The sole purpose of the campaign is to leave a black eye on the city and in the process position their organization as global media darlings fighting the good fight.

Some might argue that this is social engineering at its most provocative and effective.

I call it cheap tactics that does little to nothing to improve the situation of the vulnerable that Pivot claims they are trying to help.

David Miller is ranting against the Conservative government's piss-poor environmental record.

One of the political luxuries of announcing retirement a year in advance is the freedom to comment on a wide array of issues without consequences, as evidenced here.

Fresh with a fossil award in hand, Miller said the following:

“I think I speak on behalf of all Canadians when I say it’s an embarrassment to us that our government’s being singled out as one that’s not acting on the most important issue the planet is facing.”

Miller speaks with much more authority in consideration of the fact that he is the current chair of a climate change association made up of the world’s 40 largest cities, known as the C40.

Meanwhile, the humble Mayor from Vancouver only walks into Copenhagen with North America’s most impressive performance on controlling emissions.  Now while that might be golden in terms of his status within the climate change talks and in his ability to attract business interest in Vancouver (an objective that I am told the Mayor is also aggressively pursuing in his efforts over in Europe), it also represents constraints when it comes to making a political statement with regards to Canada’s environmental record.

Unlike Miller, or former Mayor Larry Campbell, whose utterance about the Conservatives in the midst of an election campaign secured his exit from municipal politics, Gregor is going to be around for a while and going to have to work with his federal counterparts for some time to come.

On the other hand, the contrast between Vancouver’s record on emissions when compared to the country as a whole is quite compelling, meaning that maybe Gregor doesn’t have to say a thing to emphasize the city’s attractiveness to foreign audiences.

Still, I would have loved to have seen the diplomatic, mild-mannered Robertson turn into a political beast for one moment, if for nothing else but to castigate this clueless bunch of neanderthals we currently have in Ottawa on his favourite public policy issue.

So, without further ado, here is today’s version of:

• The delays associated with the East Fraser Lands development as described in this article and this City of Vancouver administrative report seem relatively innocuous, as the cost of building supplies is allegedly the cause for a shift in the order of construction.  But I cannot help but feel for the Southeast Vancouver Seniors’ Arts and Cultural Centre Society (SVSACS), which as mentioned before, has been petitioning all levels of government since the early 1990s for a dedicated seniors centre on the land next to the Killarney Community Centre.  This development was going to be a major part of the argument for governments to pony up and fund a home away from home for southeast Vancouver seniors.  Any further delays and or doubt regarding this development could further frustrate the efforts of the Society, which has nearly run out of patience with the political games of hot potato that both the provincial and federal governments continue to play.

• David Cadman is absolutely ridiculous with his claim that “Metro Vancouver is cheap, malicious, and can’t be trusted” in this article regarding his refusal of funding for his trip to Copenhagen.  Refuse David Cadman for a trip within his role as President of the International Council for Local Environmental initiatives (ICLEI), and that indicates that Metro Vancouver’s 22 municipalities don’t care about sustainability?  What a load of crap.  Metro Vancouver Chair Lois Jackson is similarly as humourous: “By having more local representatives will help to make a bigger impact.  If Metro is going to come onto the plate…we can’t do it half-measure.  Nobody would be able to speak, but by being there we would be able to forward materials for the senior level government.”   Hmm…I guess that these “materials” can only be handed to senior government representatives in person…in Copenhagen, rather than say sending a courier package before departure.  It is time for both of these “local” politicians to grow up and realize where their priorities lie…or should lie.  The taxpayers are tired of funding useless junkets.

• A false “story” full of speculation has now morphed because of little to no real facts.  These guys’ efforts are just unbelievable, and getting very old, very quick.

• This is a substantial investment once again made by the city.  Now, it can most definitely be handled better than last year with regards to community relations, and by no means is this any kind of permanent solution.  However, the City of Vancouver and the Vision administration have made a commitment to giving people the option (hello Rich Coleman?) of shelter on those bitterly cold nights where it is unsafe to sleep on the streets.  The Mayor is also expanding the reach of his efforts – look for a press conference later today involving faith leaders and their efforts to assist in tackling homelessness (as a side note, what a typical, attention grabbing headline from the Province).

• Greenhouse gas emissions in Vancouver have been reduced by 11 per cent from their peak in 2000 to 2.7 million tonnes a year, and the city has reduced emissions from its own operations by 33 per cent through retrofits and the construction of more efficient buildings.   What is even more impressive is the 27 per cent population increase since 1990 and the 18 per cent growth in employment in Vancouver since 1991.  These results come as a result of the efforts of many successive councils and all deserve credit for contributing to such an achievement.

That’s all for now.  Will check back in later in the day.