adam's blog

Natalie Alcoba, National Post, February 22, 2010
http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/toronto/archive/2010/02/22/g8-g...
The G8 and G20 summits this summer will be the largest security event in Canadian history, officials said today.

The federal government announced last week it would host the G20 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre June 26-27, despite the city’s expressed wishes that it be at Exhibition Place. It will be preceded by the G8 in Huntsville, Ont.

For Immediate Release

PRESS RELEASE - February 25th, 2010

The Olympic Resistance Network celebrates success of convergence and promises future action

VANCOUVER - The Olympic Resistance Network (ORN) has declared the
success of the Convergence and protests against the 2010 Winter Olympics as a victory both against the Olympic industry and for local struggles for social and environmental justice. In spite of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) attempts to cover up the human rights and environmental violations of the corporate sponsors and host governments, the mobilization of communities across the country has forced the issues of homelessness, colonization, policing, public debt and environmental destruction into the public debate.

As a part of the Anti-Olympic Convergence called for February 10th-15th, taking place on Coast Salish territories BC, a “Heart Attack” March was called for the 13th to “clog the arteries of capitalism”. The result was a black bloc action of 200 members of the anti-Olympic movement who had come for the convergence, winding its way through the streets of Vancouver and engaged in targeted property destruction against the Hudson’s Bay Company and Toronto Dominion Bank, as well as anti-Olympic graffiti.

Setting the Record Straight on Violent Protest and the Olympics
Nat Marshik
Posted: Feb 7th, 2010

“Will you go on record denouncing violent protest?”

You can bet that any member of the Olympic Resistance Network, and most anyone publicly opposed to the Olympics, has heard that question at least once -- whether it's from newscasters, neighbors, family, or co-workers. In the lead-up to the Anti-Olympic Convergence in Vancouver this February, it's understandable that people want some solid answers.

Unfortunately, they are asking trick questions.

Olympic Torch Relay Began as Nazi Ritual
October 25, 2009 - 00:32 — no2010
Berlin Olympics Torch Relay

The Olympic flame was ignited for Vancouver 2010 at a classically styled ceremony this week. But there was no torch in ancient Athens - that myth was created in Berlin, 1936, as Nazi propaganda. John Allemang examines the dark facts behind the glowing ideals

JOHN ALLEMANG, Globe and Mail, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009

For the ancient Greeks, fire was a potent symbol of purity.

In the modern world, where antique pagan symbols generally don't have much staying power, the flame still has the ability to purify: Witness the Olympic torch relay, now making its patient, painstaking way from the ruined temples of ancient Greece to the stunning Winter Games facilities of Vancouver 2010.

CALL OUT – Peaceful Protest: This Thursday at 5 pm

October 24, 2009 by hcbpoccupation

Hey Folks!

So, we recently found out that the City is planning on having a ‘ground breaking ceremony’ for the Hanlon Creek Business Park at 5 pm Thursday October 29th at the Downey Rd entrance.

But we are here to say that:
NO MORE GROUND WILL BE BROKEN ON THIS BEAUTIFUL LAND.

Please join us for a
Peaceful Demonstration
Thursday October 29th 5 pm
–say NO to the proposed HCBP!

Where: Meet at the VIA station at 4:00, last ride leaves at 4:30. Gather at Downey Rd close to entrance at 5:00.

Instruments and Street Theater are welcome and encouraged!!

You will find a pdf of a flyer attached, please feel free to distribute it.

Extinguish the Olympic Torch! Callout from Olympic Resistance Network
October 13, 2009 - 07:16 — no2010

CALL FOR CROSS-CANADA MOBILIZING:
EXTINGUISH THE OLYMPIC TORCH!

* Route details below *

From October 31 2009 - February 12 2010, the Olympic Torch Relay “A Path of Northern Lights” will be traveling across Canada. The Olympic Resistance Network, based in Vancouver Unceded Coast Salish Territories, is calling on and encouraging our allies to coordinate efforts in over 2000 communities to oppose and resist the Torch Relay.

No Olympic 'Truce' for Canadian Troops in Afghanistan
September 21, 2009 - 01:02 — no2010

Olympic truce tradition hard for Canada to swallow

Organizers say they have no intention of asking troops fighting in Afghanistan to lay down arms during the Games

ROD MICKLEBURGH, Globe and Mail, Saturday, Sep. 19, 2009

Canada may be in an awkward "do as I say, not as I do" situation next month as it prepares a resolution for the United Nations General Assembly calling on all nations to observe an Olympic truce during the 2010 Winter Games.

NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION AGAINST 2010 OLYMPIC SPONSORS:
DIRTY MONEY FOR DIRTY OIL

In the lead up to the 2010 Winter Games, host communities have been organizing to expose the impact of the Games on indigenous communities, low-income and homeless populations, public services, and the environment. While we continue to expose the impact of the Games themselves, anti-Olympic organizers in Vancouver want to make sure that the spotlight is directed at the social and environmental crimes of the corporate sponsors as well.

“Protect Mother Earth, Don’t Settle For Less”
Direct Action Stops Development at the Hanlon Creek Business Park

by Adam Lewis
The Dominion - http://www.dominionpaper.ca

On July 27th, 2009 more than 60 people occupied the Hanlon Creek Business Park (HCBP)in south Guelph, effectively halting all construction. These land defenders from Guelph, Kitchener, Hamilton, Kingston, London and beyond entered the site in order to stop construction on an ecologically sensitive area, adjacent to one of Southern Ontario’s last remaining old Growth forests. The forest is home to trees estimated to be over 500 years old and the surrounding habitat may contain the federally protected Jefferson Salamander.

We Did It! HCBP cancelled for this year!!!!

September 3, 2009 by hcbpoccupation

We just learned from a City press release that the City is cancelling the HCBP for this year, due to losing a “critical month” of summer work. In other words, the main goal of the occupation – stopping the HCBP for this year – has been achieved! The larger goal of stopping the HCBP as a whole, has yet to be accomplished. But we have a hell of a lot more time and energy to work towards that.

September 1, 2009
-from Collectif de Solidarité Lac Barrière

Algonquins place bodies in front of logging machines: prevent logging until Quebec and Canada respect agreements and leadership

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory /– This afternoon members of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake will peacefully block the machines of Abitibi-Bowater forestry workers, preventing logging in their territory until Quebec implements agreements covering forestry on Barriere Lake's lands, and the Quebec and Canadian government’s recognize the First Nation’s legitimate leadership.

Torch relay sparks heat at meeting

August 19, 2009 - Brantford Expositor

The people of Six Nations are questioning whether the Olympic torch is a symbol of sports excellence or native oppression as they ponder whether to support its passage across the territory.

At a public meeting held to hear different views on the traditional Olympic Torch relay, much of the sentiment expressed was decidedly anti-torch.

August 24, 2009

The Dominion - For the Water: Opposition to Site 41 unites Natives, farmers
by Dan Kellar and Alex Hundert

SIMCOE COUNTY, ON—It has been nearly four months since a group of Anishinabe women from Beausoleil First Nation set up a protest camp across the road from a construction site where a new garbage dump is being built. More than 20 years have passed since members of the local agricultural community started the fight to protect what has become known as the world’s purest water.

Tomorrow, August 25, Simcoe County Council will meet, and the agenda includes a vote on a one-year moratorium on development of Dump Site 41. Many Canadians outside the county are familiar with Site 41 because of recent public protests.