Surveillance Watch

Who else is reading this email? The recent controversies around PRISM and Edward Snowden have sparked debate about how comfortable we are living in a surveillance society and in the new issue of Megaphone out today we discuss its implications for all Canadians.

Prying Eyes: In light of news that the Canadian and American governments are collecting your online data, Megaphone sits down with Josh Paterson of the BC Civil Liberties Association to talk about when governments play net nanny.

Failing Grade: The first national report on homelessness finds 10 per cent of us have no room of our own. But cities with a housing first model, like Vancouver, provide inspiration for the rest of the country to follow.

Don’t Inhale: The future of a proposed safe smoking room in Vancouver’s safe-injection site faces more uncertainty with the impending passage of a bill that puts more restrictions on harm reduction.

Street Worker: Vendor Suzanne Kilroy traces her route from a kid with a perpetual runny nose, to survival sex worker, to success as a Megaphone vendor.

Also in this issue: Megaphone vendor Mark ‘The Spark’ Irvine talks about how volunteering brought him out of his shell and got him a fiery nickname; Cool City, Brot-shirts celebrate Vancouver’s neighbourhood pride; a DTES housing project wins an award for its work supporting vulnerable young women; arts listings; poetry from our writing workshops; and more!