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Protest planned for London's Olympic torch arrival
A group calling themselves the Olympic Resistance Network Ontario is planning a protest at the entrance of Victoria Park, just in time for the torch's arrival. Protest organizers are calling the gathering a "peaceful rally" to take place during the Olympic Torch celebration, which they say is a farce. The protestors are looking to send a message to Canada and the Vancouver Olympic Committee "that they can neither whitewash the ongoing colonization of First Nations, nor can they greenwash this country's abysmal environmental record. We will use their Olympic circus as an opportunity to shine the international spotlight where it belongs, on the truth." The protest is aimed at shining the international spotlight on what protestors call Canada's "shameful relationship" with its indigenous people, noting that this country is one of only three yet to sign the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In addition, protest organizers said Canada is attempting to use the 2010 Olympics to promote itself as "green" global citizens – another farce, they say. "Canada has made the least progress of all developed countries on our Kyoto Protocol commitments, and Canada has been one of the most disruptive and uncooperative countries when it comes to international climate change talks – such as those currently taking place in Copenhagen," said protest organizers. The protest is being tagged as "family friendly" "educational and festive." Those planning to attend are urged to bring warm clothing, banners, placards, noise makers and "lots of energy." |
| lets hope that if the radical protesters cause any disturbance that disrupts the celebrations, they are all thrown in jail |
| By: rh on 12/20/2009 |
| Instead, let's hope that those who poison the environment, displace the homeless, and continue to misappropriate aboriginal land in the name of the Olympics are thrown in jail. |
| By: tc on 12/20/2009 |
| Oh just be quiet and enjoy the celebration of the athletes representing our great country. Merry Christmas! |
| By: a r m on 12/20/2009 |
| It's not the fault of the athletes that are competing in the games, which most have trained their entire lives to reach this point, and I don't think these protesters should be able to take that away from them. I understand they have a point to communicate. Do it at the END of the celebration!! Have some respect for our local athletes! |
| By: wb on 12/21/2009 |
| I could not agree more - wb. While there is some merit in the issues the group plans to protest against, marring the Olympic Torch celebration is inappropriate. |
| By: S. Peckinpaw on 12/21/2009 |
| Yes, please only communicate your message at the end of the Olympics when no one is listening. |
| By: dt on 12/21/2009 |
| This is called a farce? I am sorry, but what happened to our ancestors (no matter who they where) may be shameful but it was my ancestors not me. Protesting does not promote harmony or learning. Learning from the past is great but being stuck there is pitiful. Move into the present and do something that will actually make a difference. This is a once in a lifetime event. |
| By: dcr on 12/21/2009 |
| Those are some pretty stupid reasons to protest the Olympics, but they're certainly free to do so. My problem with the Olympics is how they tend to push the homeless and other undesirables under the rug for the duration. You will get an extremely good demonstration of that during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. My other problem is that they showcase sports nobody really gives a crap about until this thing rolls around. Oh, the nationalist fervour is also a little annoying. |
| By: Steve H on 12/21/2009 |
| What does an international sporting event have to do with the environment and Indigenous people? Do they forget that the Canadian Olympic Committee has special programs for Aboriginal Olympians? If they don't want to support the cause and they don't appreciate our attempt to single them out as Olympians, then lets stop supporting them. |
| By: Keith on 12/21/2009 |
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