Protest this

[Nebula]

From CTV:

Olympic protestors converging on Vancouver

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

Is there really a point to this or are these people just out to cause controversy?

[Liberty and Truth]

"while the majority of people in Vancouver continue to suffer"



yes every time I am in Vancouver I get bummed out because of all the people suffering everywhere I go - all those people suffering at the Canucks games, at restaurants, at concerts, at BC Lions games - all of that suffering. A majority of people continue to suffer in Vancouver - good grief - why is the media even bothering to pay attention to these clowns?

[grammafreddy]

why is the media even bothering to pay attention to these clowns?

They make good "above the fold headlines". I bet there's more than one media giant who will have a reporter assigned to them. If I was still a journalist, it would be the one I'd want - not the Olympics themselves.

[steven lloyd]

... yes every time I am in Vancouver I get bummed out because of all the people suffering everywhere I go - all those people suffering at the Canucks games, at restaurants, at concerts, at BC Lions games - all of that suffering.

When you choose not to look, you're not going to see.


p.s. I'm not saying that because I'm supporting the impending protests (or the protesters methods), but it really is naive to completely disregard the points they are trying to put across.

p.s.s. At the same time I am also not opposing people's right to protest, and their right to try a wake up some sheeple. I love living in a (relatively) free democracy.

[Captain Awesome]

Bring out the ray gun (or whatever they call it).

[Liberty and Truth]

... yes every time I am in Vancouver I get bummed out because of all the people suffering everywhere I go - all those people suffering at the Canucks games, at restaurants, at concerts, at BC Lions games - all of that suffering.

When you choose not to look, you're not going to see.


p.s. I'm not saying that because I'm supporting the impending protests (or the protesters methods), but it really is naive to completely disregard the points they are trying to put across.

p.s.s. At the same time I am also not opposing people's right to protest, and their right to try a wake up some sheeple. I love living in a (relatively) free democracy.

SL - I have been through East Hastings, and I have "looked" and "seen" the suffering there. However, East Hastings is not "the majority" of Vancouver. Everyone has a right to protest, I agree, and have their own opinion. I just hate it when people basically lie when they get in front of a camera to further their protest. The "majority" of people in Vancouver are not "suffering". That is ridiculous. If these fools want to see "suffering" there's plenty of places in Africa and India I could take them, and show them what "suffering" really is. The cameras should have been shut off right after that protestor made the "majority" comment as it's clear these guys are just another group of lazy bozos who think that lying and making sensationalist comments is the way to get attention. I also thought it was extremely low class that one of the protestors behind her had "F___ the Olympics" written on the kerchief or whatever he had on his face - that kind of crudeness just turns people off and makes them think these people are totally nuts.

[eyepop]

From CTV:

Olympic protestors converging on Vancouver

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

Is there really a point to this or are these people just out to cause controversy?

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

[Liberty and Truth]

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

and the world will say "thanks for educating us but you think you are the only one with problems? Oh you Canadians, you are so cute when you are angry."

[grammafreddy]

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

and the world will say "thanks for educating us but you think you are the only one with problems? Oh you Canadians, you are so cute when you are angry."

Well, I am angry as allgetout about the Olympics so I guess that makes me cute, too.

IF I was intending to go to Vancouver during the Olympics, it would be to protest - maybe not their way, but in a much quieter, less radical way.

These people, however, would get their message across much better than I would. The Olympics aren't worth a bad reputation and going to jail over. These protestors won't make a difference. The message may get out but people from other countries or elsewhere in Canada don't really care and so it would be a fleeting thing.

The only thing that will make a difference to the Olympic folly and expense is when the people stop going to the Olympics, stop buying tickets for events and expensive hotel rooms, don't travel to the games, turn off their TVs or change the channel to something else, not buy the promo merchandise ....

Until then, the IOC is in control and governments commit to hosting them.

[GordonH]

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

and the world will say "thanks for educating us but you think you are the only one with problems? Oh you Canadians, you are so cute when you are angry."

Well, I am angry as allgetout about the Olympics so I guess that makes me cute, too.

IF I was intending to go to Vancouver during the Olympics, it would be to protest - maybe not their way, but in a much quieter, less radical way.

These people, however, would get their message across much better than I would. The Olympics aren't worth a bad reputation and going to jail over. These protestors won't make a difference. The message may get out but people from other countries or elsewhere in Canada don't really care and so it would be a fleeting thing.

The only thing that will make a difference to the Olympic folly and expense is when the people stop going to the Olympics, stop buying tickets for events and expensive hotel rooms, don't travel to the games, turn off their TVs or change the channel to something else, not buy the promo merchandise ....

Until then, the IOC is in control and governments commit to hosting them.

[Liberty and Truth]

I think that we are arguing two different points here - am I in favor of the Olympics? You bet - but the way they used to be - before it became a trillion dollar shake down. The Olympics are an awesome way for the world to get together in a spirit of goodwill in ways that promote friendship among nations and peoples - unlike the horrid corrupt UN which just serves to legitimize gangsters like Chavez and Mugabe. But the commercialization of the Olympics has gone too far - we've lost the true meaning of why these games were founded - and it bugs me that we BC tax payers have to take it up the hoop because of the way the Games are now.

GF - these idiot protestors with their foully-worded mouth scarves aren't really protesting about the Olympics - they are just the same crew of poverty protestors you see on the news in Vancouver that protest anything and everything whenever money is spent on anything by the government. I could get behind them if they actually had a plan other than whenever they are asked why they are protesting and what their solution is they say "We are against poverty" and "the money should go to the poor" - well that's nice - but unless you are Muhammed Yunus (http://www.muhammadyunus.org/) and actually have a plan for how to "get this money to the poor" I can't support you. Just handing billions of dollars to people doesn't cure poverty. Giving them a chance to pull their way out of poverty utilizing their own devices pulls people out of poverty. But that's just my opinion, based on what I have seen, read and experienced.

[Al Czervic]

I think protesting has become a joke here in Canada, not to mention a glorified waste of time. Personally I would like to organize a protest the protestors movement just to laugh at some of these losers.

[Liberty and Truth]

I think protesting has become a joke here in Canada, not to mention a glorified waste of time. Personally I would like to organize a protest the protestors movement just to laugh at some of these losers.

Having seen "real" poverty around the world, I have to laugh when I see these kinds of protests and hear this rhetoric about "educating the world about Canada's problems". When you've seen the standard of living that 70% of the world lives in - we really have no problems. And those aren't just my words, it's words I hear everywhere I go - "you people in Canada don't even know what suffering is" and when I see what they mean by "suffering" I see what they mean. It's just so ridiculous.

A charity I support in East Van took some "poverty stricken" teens who had been fed all the BS by these kinds of East Van poverty "activists" down to Mexico City a few years ago on a volunteer mission - to help the local residents there erect housing units in a Mexican slum. I was happy to help sponsor this trip, as I knew exactly what would happen. Let's just say, after seeing real poverty like those people live in, that the kids no longer felt sorry for themselves, or wanted to listen to the brain-dead activists telling them they should be angry at everyone here in Canada for not giving them more. Suddenly, their "situation" wasn't really that important anymore as they got to coexist with people who truly had nothing, and were struggling every day just to survive.

I don't want to "protest the protestors" but I would like them to get a dose of reality and see how good we actually have it here in Canada comparatively. Here at least there is help available, and if you want to work, you can find it. If you can't find it, there are programs to help you - but if you truly want to help yourself, you can better yourself. But I know this goes against the credo that these "activists" are trying to push on everyone - they just want everything given to them - too many vested political interests are at stake here to ensure the sheep never think for themselves and stay addicted to the steady diet of government hand-outs.

[GordonH]

I think that we are arguing two different points here - am I in favor of the Olympics? You bet - but the way they used to be - before it became a trillion dollar shake down. The Olympics are an awesome way for the world to get together in a spirit of goodwill in ways that promote friendship among nations and peoples - unlike the horrid corrupt UN which just serves to legitimize gangsters like Chavez and Mugabe. But the commercialization of the Olympics has gone too far - we've lost the true meaning of why these games were founded - and it bugs me that we BC tax payers have to take it up the hoop because of the way the Games are now.

How far back would you have to go find it: the bribery scandal 2002, Overrun in Montreal, the killings in Munich etc etc .

I am all for the ideals of the games.

[Liberty and Truth]

I think that we are arguing two different points here - am I in favor of the Olympics? You bet - but the way they used to be - before it became a trillion dollar shake down. The Olympics are an awesome way for the world to get together in a spirit of goodwill in ways that promote friendship among nations and peoples - unlike the horrid corrupt UN which just serves to legitimize gangsters like Chavez and Mugabe. But the commercialization of the Olympics has gone too far - we've lost the true meaning of why these games were founded - and it bugs me that we BC tax payers have to take it up the hoop because of the way the Games are now.

How far back would you have to go find it: the bribery scandal 2002, Overrun in Montreal, the killings in Munich etc etc .

I am all for the ideals of the games.

The killings in Munich? Eesh - I can't believe you are pinning that on the Olympics and not on the real cause.