Anti-2010 protesters aim to disrupt Olympics beginning with Opening Ceremony

[mooks28]

The funny thing is, seasoned reporters are going to recognize the usual suspects protesting globalization, capitalism, etc. They've seen it a hundred times before. It's frankly not very interesting, and not much of a news story.

If you actually go talk to the poor, often mentally ill and addicted people on the DTES the story is very different. The question will be about what resources are available and what the government is doing -- and how it got so bad down there. And voila, media information centre in the big, new, woodward's experiment.

[mr.x]

This is quite worrying:





Olympic protesters converging on Vancouver

By: ctvbc.ca

Date: Thursday Feb. 4, 2010 6:31 PM PT

The Olympic Resistance Network, which represents a coalition of social-activist groups in B.C., says it will do whatever it can to disrupt the journey of the torch when it reaches Vancouver and inconvenience supporters of the 2010 Winter Games.

Representatives of the network told reporters Thursday that they are inviting protesters from around the world to come disrupt the Games.

They said billions of dollars are being spent on the Games to entertain the world's elite when the money could have gone to help the poor.

They said they hope to educate the world about Canada's poverty, homelessness and addiction issues.

"The Olympic Games are a capitalist industry, it's a corporatized industry whose gains and profits are sought only by a few, while the majority of people in Vancouver continue to suffer," said network member Harsha Walia.

Members of the resistance network have already disrupted the Olympic torch run in several places.

They say protesters from Ontario have arrived in Vancouver and more are expected to come from the U.S.

They say if things turn ugly, it won't be their fault.

"If there is violence it is not coming from us. The only violence I have seen in these sorts of things has come from the police," said high-profile anti-Olympic activist Chris Shaw.

The group is preparing for violence anyway.

It is planning to set up its own medical clinic in the Downtown Eastside. And protesters have been advised to wear goggles and bandanas soaked in apple cider to counteract the effects of pepper spray and tear gas.

With files from CTV British Columbia's Peter Grainger and The Canadian Press




http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/l...ritishColumbia





Why does this remind me of the "Battle in Seattle"?

[invisibleairwaves]

I smell media sensationalism.

What are you afraid of? There's only been about a billion dollars spent on security, surely your enjoyment of a sports event won't be too disrupted.

[NetMapel]

They had to prepare this many police precisely because of these protestors. They are not peaceful protestors but people who want to cause violence. They should blame themselves for the extra security we got here

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by NetMapel

They had to prepare this many police precisely because of these protestors. They are not peaceful protestors but people who want to cause violence. They should blame themselves for the extra security we got here

Not really, I think there would have been this same level of security regardless of protesters...it's more or less on par with what Torino and Salt Lake had. But there's no question that protesters are making the security job much, much harder to do.

But what's really different is these protesters are making the RCMP/security forces redirect their attention to violent protesting instead of the real and much more serious threat: international terrorism.

[invisibleairwaves]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Not really, I think there would have been this same level of security regardless of protesters...it's more or less on par with what Torino and Salt Lake had. But there's no question that protesters are making the security job much, much harder to do.

But what's really different is these protesters are making the RCMP/security forces redirect their attention to violent protesting instead of the real and much more serious threat: international terrorism.

Okay, that's just paranoid.

It's amazing what 9/11 has turned us into.

[SpongeG]

Internet sites being used to recruit anti-Olympic protesters

Jim Goddard Feb 04, 2010 15:30:37 PM
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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Will planned protests during the Olympics disrupt the Games? Organizers for the Olympic Resistance Network say they have 50 to 100 people using Internet sites and social media sites to round up support from across Canada and the U.S.

Organizers say they have no official estimate of how many people will be protesting on the day of the Opening Ceremonies and the first day of competition (February 13th). However, they have heard of groups planning to arrive from Ontario, and from south of the border.

...

http://www.news1130.com/news/local/a...pic-protesters

[SpongeG]

they have some pictures of them kinda sad looking bunch

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by invisibleairwaves

Okay, that's just paranoid.

It's amazing what 9/11 has turned us into.

It's not paranoia, it's logical. The security threat for international terrorism at Athens and Torino was deemed as low, but everyone's main concern was only on international terrorism. There was no distraction. The same threat has been deemed as low, but the main focus here in Vancouver is on violent protesters. The security forces could be saving money and/or refocusing their efforts on a much more serious threat than quelling anarchists.

[GeeCee]

They will not be successful. Protesters will be few and far in between. The will of the majority will be heard and we will hold a fantastic Games, showing our city and country to the rest of the world.

[SpongeG]

i think supporters outnumber those against and they will and should drown them out and probably will

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i think supporters outnumber those against and they will and should drown them out and probably will

Don't count on it. They'll probably be left alone, and think they are in the majority like the people on the CBC comments.

Just because non-kooks don't show up, doesn't mean they don't exist. Unless you have their mindset.

[SpongeG]

what?

I think people who support the olympics will be just as vocal as those against and they will drown out the anti ones if it comes down to it

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Don't count on it. They'll probably be left alone, and think they are in the majority like the people on the CBC comments.

Just because non-kooks don't show up, doesn't mean they don't exist. Unless you have their mindset.

Yea, they don't care...and if they think they're being ignored, they protesters will probably start acting up.

[SpongeG]

you two are confusing me

who will be quiet? and who will start acting up?

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

what?

I think people who support the olympics will be just as vocal as those against and they will drown out the anti ones if it comes down to it

I think this would be the average person's reaction:

"Yea, I'm getting outta here before the police show up. I want nothing to do with this. What's wrong with these people?"


But security forces will likely let the protesters walk all over them...unless attitudes on how police have handled anti-Games protests have changed from tolerant to Olympic-mode zero-tolerance.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

you two are confusing me

who will be quiet? and who will start acting up?

Protesters will act up.

[SpongeG]

its not going to come down to a riot

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

its not going to come down to a riot

It's hard to tell...read their stuff, these people are lunatics.

[invisibleairwaves]

Originally Posted by mr.x

It's not paranoia, it's logical. The security threat for international terrorism at Athens and Torino was deemed as low, but everyone's main concern was only on international terrorism. There was no distraction. The same threat has been deemed as low, but the main focus here in Vancouver is on violent protesters. The security forces could be saving money and/or refocusing their efforts on a much more serious threat than quelling anarchists.

The excessive security and suspensions of civil liberties are creating protesters, not the other way around.

Sure, there were always going to be a few nutjobs (looking at the native extremists and anti-capitalists...) but VANOC created more of them every time they made it clear that the IOC and its corporate sponsors superseded the rights of Metro Vancouver residents and taxpayers.