2010 Olympic Resistance!

[Eastside Revolt]

All out against the 2010 winter olympics!

The 2010 Winter Olympics will take place in Vancouver & Whistler, on unceded Indigenous land, from February 12-28 2010. We call on all anti-capitalist, Indigenous, housing rights, labour, migrant justice, environmental, anti-war, community-loving, anti-poverty, civil libertarian, and anti colonial activists to come together to confront this two-week circus and the oppression it represents. We are organizing towards a global anti-capitalist and anti-colonial convergence against the 2010 Olympic Games.

Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 12:00 - Monday, February 15, 2010 - 21:00




Covergence Schedule: http://olympicresistance.net/calendar-date33/2010-W07

For more information go to www.no2010.com (http://www.no2010.com)

[commiesinger]

I like your Concern for native Issues because I am half native from a well known native Family, Many are right in the fight for Native issues. when it comes to us native people what we want most is to have our own self government(run by our people) for our reserves and people off reserve to assist us Working Class native people break the poverty cycle. I find most care little for the land issue because if that were the case we'd take all of North America. Most care for the protection of our culture, language, and The Right to live above poverty.

I can feel for your Protest against the Canadian Olympics but I think the problem is Money not Land the focus should be on the fact that the Olympics are draw our tax dollars away from the people. How many Working Class people are losing much needed services because of the Olympics. How much money must go to building Highways, hotels, arenas,not to mention all the set up for the grand shows and sports they'll have. This must go into to the millions if not billions. Sure there are sponsors would pay a good chuck of that but the rest is up to our government to pay with OUR Tax Dollars. Which we don't have much of because of those Harper Tories and their Tax Cut. Taxes is where the government gets money to do what it does but now we don't have the money to hold even essential services. Most likely if the Government can't meet the Olympic Bill, Then we the Working Class will have to pay for it.

Thanks for posting though someone has to say something about the Canadian Olympics.

[AGITprop]

The issue of Native rights, and their right to self-determination is an interesting one. I think the struggle of the Natives in Canada against the State is the same struggle the workers fight in the cities.

I just recently visited Tyendinaga, in Mohawk territory to show solidarity with the Mohawk living there during there fight with the OPP. They've been in a bitter land dispute for the last year and a half. Some capitalist claimed to own land that was actually theres and dug a huge quarry on it.

These were really great people, and I'm happy I went to visit them. I don't see how any communist can ignore these people who have been marginalized and oppressed for hundreds of years.

[Circle A]

. Aswell there is a torch run that will soon be going from Halifax to Vancouver, which will be possible to disrupt, or even stop, before ever reaching Vancouver.

For more information go to www.no2010.com (http://www.anonym.to/?http://www.no2010.com) or goole no2010.
The Torch relay had no ancient precedent, but was introduced by the Nazis for the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
The games will do to the working class sections of Vancouver, just as Expo 86 did.....further displacement of the working poor through gentrification.
Gentrified=genocide.

[Eastside Revolt]

The State's looking a bit nervous.

This is a recent "activist scare" article that was released by CBC.



Activists' tactics pose serious threat to 2010 Games: analysts

Changing tactics by Canadian activists pose a serious threat to security at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, security analysts say.
The usually fragmented, single-issue groups are converging and organizing in ways never seen before in Canada, said Tom Quiggan, a former security consultant with the RCMP.
Where there's usually a lull in protest activity in the years leading up to mega-events like the Olympics, the last year has seen at least 20 violent acts directly connected to the 2010 Games.
"I'm not aware of, nor have I seen in the past, this kind of organization that's … this far ahead of the actual event," Quiggan said.
"There is some commonality of thinking here between anarchist groups, social activists groups that happen to have a violent agenda and then I see native groups. When you see that kind of convergence coming up, it makes you a little nervous."
Platform for activism

The Olympics is a perfect unifier for Canada's disparate activist community, said David Cunningham, the spokesman for the Anti-Poverty Committee, one of Vancouver's leading activist groups.
"Once you have an anti-colonialist, anti-capitalist analysis of the Olympics, you see that … this analysis or the targets or the demands are easily incorporated into what you're protesting within your own community," he said.
From Vancouver to Halifax, anti-Olympic slogans are popping up at rallies of all political stripes.
Even among international activists, there's traction for opposition to Vancouver's Games. At a recent convention in Mexico, the famed Zapatista protest group, along with native groups from Central and South America endorsed an anti-Olympic resolution and called for protest.
The Anti-Poverty Committee and other B.C.-based activists now go on speaking tours to drum up support. For example, earlier this year, two First Nations activists went on a three-week speaking tour to underscore their demands.
Though opposition to the Games comes from environmentalists, social rights advocates and taxpayer watchdogs, Cunningham said his hope is that everyone unites under the banner of indigenous rights for the 2010 Games.
Vancouver's Olympic Organizing Committee, known as VANOC, has spent time and money trying to include aboriginal people in the planning and execution of the Games, but there are still some who feel the entire event is illegitimate as it's being held on "stolen land."
Others — including the head of the Assembly of First Nations Phil Fontaine — say native leaders will use the opportunity provided by the Games to focus attention on aboriginal poverty.
Convergence of groups

Quiggan said Olympic sponsors like the Royal Bank of Canada have particular reason to be concerned about the convergence of activist groups.
Co-operation among various groups has seen RBC banks targeted for anti-Olympic vandalism at least nine times by activists in Vancouver, Ottawa and Victoria, and calls-to-action circulating on the internet explicitly propose RBC president Gordon Nixon as a target.
RBC declined to be interviewed on its response to being a target of attacks, citing security concerns.
One private security company that has worked with RBC said company officials are well aware of the ongoing threats and are taking extra precautions as a result.
The Anti-Poverty Committee has also explicitly threatened VANOC board members, going so far as to attempt to evict them from their offices and threatening their homes.
Anti-Olympic activists are taking a page from the protest efforts of animal rights groups, said Michel Juneau Katsuya, a former Canadian Security Intelligence Service agent who now runs a private intelligence firm.
In England and in the U.S., those groups have specifically targeted researchers and executives of companies believed to be harming animals through their use as laboratory subjects.
"That has been a demonstration that there is more and more fringe groups that are starting to make a statement, not with the intent to kill people, but definitely to destabilize certain things," he said.
"The Olympics? That would be like a beautiful platform for them."
Security officials need to be a step ahead of all of them, said Quiggan.
Direct monitoring 'essential'

Direct monitoring of these groups is essential to avert potential disaster, he said, and it appears right now that the security infrastructure in Canada is taking its time putting in place preventive measures to protect the Games.
Quiggan said the appointment in October of Ward Elcock, the former director of CSIS, to the post of head of Olympic Security, was a sign that things weren't going well and someone was needed to start moving plans along.
"Two years before, a year-and-a-half before, you shouldn't be planning, you should be doing," he said. "You should have sources in the field, you should have agents in the field."
But Juneau Katsuya said it's likely surveillance is already being carried out on activist groups and though the planning might not be obvious, it's definitely underway.
The challenge, he said, comes from finding a balance.
"More security increases the budget, rather than better security. Better security doesn't equal automatically more money spent."
Cunningham said the change in tactics are a direct response to heavier policing and people are drawn to subversive action out of a feeling that disruption is the only thing that works to effect change.
Quiggan and Katsuya both said that's all the more reason a cohesive security plan needs to be in place.
"The point is to pre-empt the problem," Quiggan said.

[Abluegreen7]

Good luck. I wish you look for your cause. Though it is personally a cause I cannot share.:(

[Eastside Revolt]

The official launch of the CP 'Spirit Train' from Port Moody, BC (a suburb of Vancouver) was successfully disrupted by up to 75 protesters, who took over the front of the stage area holding banners and drowning out event performers and MC's with megaphones, foghorns, pots & pans, and chants. The official ceremony, which was to include government officials, was cancelled. 2 persons were arrested, and one cop car was hit with a paint bomb.
Below are some corporate media accounts:
Protesters disrupt Olympic Spirit Train kickoff
By Ian Austin, Vancouver Province
Published: Sunday, September 21, 2008
Police arrested two people Sunday as protesters armed with placards, air horns and megaphones overpowered the kickoff of the Canadian Pacific Spirit Train in Port Moody.
Shouting "Homes, no games!" and drowning out the scheduled entertainment, the noisy protesters chanted for more than an hour. The performers continually turned up the volume, but were eventually unable to proceed.
"I think the idea is to make some f---in' noise here," said Garth Mullins, a fixture at anti-Olympic protests. "They're trying to drown us out, so let's drown them out."
The Spirit Train is scheduled to travel to 10 communities across Canada, carrying activities and exhibits related to the Vancouver 2010 Games. Vancouver's Colin James is among the performers participating.
As the show began Sunday under the watchful eye of dozens of police officers, the protesters positioned two large banners directly in front of the stage so nobody could see the featured entertainment.
Kelly Worrall, a spectator, intervened and hauled down the sign down so the crowd could see.
"I'm not politically motivated, I'm just trying to see the show," Worrall said. "Freedom only goes as far as when it affects me. You can't accept this type of behaviour."
Colin Hansen, the B.C. minister responsible for the Olympics, huddled with aides and Canadian Pacific staff to decide whether to go on stage with the protesters so close.
"I think it shows the strength of Canadian democracy, that there's room for protesters. It's a shame that a small number of protesters can ruin this for the vast majority," Hansen said.
"They claim to be in favour of First Nations, but they're shouting down an aboriginal band on stage."
Police moved in at 3 p.m., handcuffing a man and carrying him to the back of a police van. Another woman moved in to help the first man. She was handcuffed while protesters shouted that the man had been assaulted by a media cameraman.
The protesters moved over to the Canadian Pacific corporate tent at about 3:15 p.m., where they shouted anti-Olympic slogans next to a table where families were collecting autographed postcards.
Police had to restrain a woman who tried to snatch a megaphone from one of the protesters, but eventually the group retreated and left the event at about 3:30 p.m.
Charges have not been laid against the man and woman arrested.
© Vancouver Province 2008
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Indigenous and local organizers confront the Olympic 'Spirit' Train.
Edmonton – on Monday, September 29th at Wagner School, 6310 Wagner road, the Native 2010 Resistance, a part of the Olympics Resistance Network, in solidarity with concerned citizens of Fort Chipewyan will confront the Canadian Pacific "Spirit Train".
The Spirit Train is crossing Canada and stopping in numerous cities along the way. Preparations for the Games and Tar Sands operations are already having a negative impact on Indigenous, low-income, and marginalized communities and on Indigenous lands.
According to Dustin Johnson of the Native 2010 Resistance, "We are here to expose the ecocide, genocide, and displacement being promoted by this
'Spirit Train' propaganda machine steaming through Native communities."
Johnson's sentiment is shared by other Indigenous peoples across Canada who are fighting to protect their land.
"We are in Edmonton in solidarity with the Native 2010 Resistance to confront the Spirit Train because it embodies the synergies between the
corporate sector supporting the Olympics, and the corporate interests in Alberta's Tar Sands while simultaneously continuing the destruction of
Indigenous lands and livelihoods," explains Mike Mercredi, resident from Fort Chipewyan.
"The Olympics is the world's largest sporting event, brought to us with the corporate sponsorship of some of the largest profiteers from the world's largest industrial development known as the Tar Sands, " says Clayton Thomas Muller of the Indigenous Environmental Network.
Some of the big players in this massive public relations campaign are the Royal Bank of Canada which has 15.7 billion invested in Canada's fossil fuel industry. RBC also has 110 million invested into the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games making them the 3rd largest corporate sponsor. Petro Canada is set to be one of the largest operators in the Tar Sands and has 60 million invested in Olympic sponsorship and is the official energy supplier of the games.
The events in Edmonton will be the third of a series of actions against the "Spirit Train" planned across the country.
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Stop the 'Spirit' Train Calgary Action (Sept.27/08)
There were very few protestors, very few spectators, lots of volunteers and athletes, and tons of police, a fire truck, an ambulance, and the bands in the box cars. We stood on the road between the majority of spectators and the band and held a banner "NO 2010 OLYMPICS ON STOLEN LAND" for about one hour, at which point we moved to the family area and held for almost another hour. We were treated to a lot of interesting remarks from people. As of yet we have no photos, and were unlikely to have recieved any media attention (Teri likely has a media ban). I am a big fan of Betty who was arrested for ten months for protesting the sky train in BC [Sea-to-Sky highway expansion] and the Olympics and still love that, in BC, she said, "It's not about spirit, it's about money!" I couldn't agree more. Maybe not for the exact same reasons but... We managed to hand out 50 brochures
explaining why we resist the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
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Sudbury "Spirit Train" Reportback
On Saturday, October 11, 2008, the Canadian Pacific Railway's so-called "Olympic Spirit Train" came to Sudbury, Ontario as part of its promotional tour. Leading up to this event, Sudbury Against War and Occupation (SAWO) initiated protest activities in cooperation with other people and groups in the community. Responding to the call from grassroots groups in Vancouver, we organized our activities under the slogan "No Olympics on Stolen Land."
Preceding the event, SAWO hosted a media conference on Thursday, October 9, with First nations elder Waubauno Kwe. She spoke out against the Olympics being held on unceded indigenous land and against the ways in which the Olympic organizing committee and the "Spirit Train" are appropriating and misusing indigenous spirituality and culture.
On the day of the "Spirit Train" event, twenty people gathered at Market Square in downtown Sudbury for an informational protest. First Nations elder Winnie Pitawanakwat opened the day's activities and others offered poetry, music, and statements, including William Morin of the First Peoples National Party and Clarissa Lassaline of SAWO (see below).
Following the initial gathering, there was a festive, family-friendly procession to the site of the "Spirit Train" event, which was just starting. Some in the procession marched directly into the concert area to engage those who were listening to live music. Others set up at the entrance to the event with signs and information. In all, we passed out over 300 leaflets to people attending the event and spoke with many of them as well. Some were hostile, but most all took our information.
(See below for the text of our leaflet.)
The police and "Spirit Train" organizers were clearly ready for our presence. Based on some of our interactions with event organizers, it seemed to us that the consistent protests at each of their stops are making them very unhappy. We take some heart in that.
Sudbury Against War and Occupation is a group of Sudbury residents concerned with all forms and consequences of war and occupation. While this includes working against Canadian involvement in war and occupation abroad, SAWO sees it as central to recognize that Canada itself exists
as an occupation of indigenous land and that struggles by indigenous peoples against that occupation must be supported.
We see our protest activities against the "Spirit Train" and the 2010 Olympics more generally as part of our broader work against war and occupation. We will continue trying to root this work in local struggles, such as the recent Atikameksheng Anishnawbek (Whitefish Lake First Nation)
claim on mineral resources wealth in the Sudbury area.
Chris Dixon, on behalf of Sudbury Against War and Occupation
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BREAKING NEWS
For Immediate Release
October 12, 2008
Rail Blockade Disrupts CP Rail’s Olympic Spirit Train
“Six Nations and solidarity activists resist Olympic theft of Indigenous land, ecological destruction, and attacks on the poor”
Toronto, Ontario – Moments ago, a group of activists occupied Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway’s train tracks by locking themselves down to the tracks and hanging banners off of the rail overpass on highway 27 near Elder Mills. The protest was organized in solidarity with the Olympics Resistance Network (ORN) and their call to disrupt CP’s “Spirit Train” that is traveling across Canada. Directions to the blockade site can be found at the bottom of this release.
“We are here today to show the world what the Olympics really stands for; capitalist greed and colonialist theft of Indigenous lands” said Winnie Small. They continued, “In stark contrast to Canada’s cherished reputation as a human rights advocate, our First Nations live in abject poverty; casualties of Canada’s apartheid policy refusal to respect indigenous rights to their own land.”
The “Spirit Train” was launched Sunday Sept. 21, 2008, in Port Moody, B.C. where activists from the ORN, Anti-Poverty Committee, and the Native Youth Movement successfully disrupted it. To the embarrassment of its corporate sponsors, the Spirit Train, still rolling across the country, has been disrupted at several locations with protesters often outnumbering supporters.
“The 2010 Winter Olympics are occurring on unceded First Nations land in British Columbia where they are causing widespread environmental damage, and are resulting in a massive uprooting of homeless and poor people in Vancouver” said Dan Kellar, a spokesperson from [email protected], one of the activist groups involved in the rail blockade. “The Canadian Pacific Railway's (CP) "Spirit Train" is an Olympic propaganda machine spreading the ideals of capitalist colonialism across Turtle Island.”
What: Blockade lock down on train tracks to stop Olympic ‘Spirit Train.’
Where: CP rail overpass on highway 27, just south of highway 73 (Rutherford Rd.).
Visuals: Activists locked down to CP rail tracks, two large banners over highway 27 reading “No Olympics on Stolen Native Land,” and “Resistance 2010 Stop the Corporate Circus,” and Native Unity flags flying high.
Driving Directions: Take 401 to highway 400 North. Take exit 33 off highway 400 onto highway 73 West (Rutherford Rd.). After approximately 6 km, turn South on highway 27. The blockade is on the CP rail overpass on highway 27 approximately 500m South of highway 73.

BREAKING NEWS
For Immediate Release
October 12, 2008
Activists Blockade of CP Rail Tracks Successfully Disrupted Olympic Spirit Train
Rail blockade backs up trains across the country in an escalation of resistance to the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Olympic games
Toronto, Ontario – Moments ago a group of activists from Toronto, Waterloo, London, Kitchener, Guelph, and 6 Nations ended a blockade on Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway's train tracks in opposition to the Spirit Train.
Activist locked themselves down to the tracks at 5:00pm and hung banners off of the rail overpass on highway 27 near Elder Mills. The protest was organized in solidarity with the Olympics Resistance Network (ORN) and their call to disrupt CP's "Spirit Train" that is traveling across Canada.
"Today we shed light on what the Olympics really stands for; capitalist greed and colonialist theft of Indigenous lands" said Winnie Small. She continued, "In stark contrast to Canada's cherished reputation as a human rights advocate, our First Nations live in abject poverty; casualties of Canada's apartheid policies, and its refusal to respect Indigenous rights to their own land."
The activists successfully negotiated a peaceful dispersal after more than three hours. No arrests were made and the activists were able to leave the area without incident. CP Police Officer told the activists' liaison that trains had been backed up "across the country" and that the delay cost the company "millions of dollars."
The "Spirit Train" was launched Sunday Sept. 21, 2008, in Port Moody, B.C. where activists from the ORN, Anti-Poverty Committee, and the Native Youth Movement successfully disrupted it. To the embarrassment of its corporate sponsors, the Spirit Train, still rolling across the country, has been disrupted at several locations with protesters often outnumbering supporters.
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Protests cast shadow on Olympic spirit
Updated: Mon Oct. 13 2008
ctvtoronto.ca
About 30 protesters showed up at a Mississauga train station Monday to cast a shadow over the Olympic Spirit.
Organizers were hoping the Olympic Spirit train would be met with cheers rather than jeers as it pulled into the Cookstown Go Train station, but dozens of students and native activists used the opportunity to speak out against land rights, the environment and capitalist greed.
"The Olympics are happening on indigenous land and it's happening at the expense of the poor being pushed out of the Vancouver Centre," one activist told CTV Toronto.
More than a dozen police officers stormed the crowd of protesters after they refused to move away from the festivities.
The protests have occurred at each train stop the Olympic Spirit has stopped in.
On Sunday night, authorities had to step in when about 25 people blocked a CP rail line in Woodbridge to protest aboriginal, environmental and poverty issues. One woman even chained herself to the tracks.
Police managed to dismantle the blockade after about an hour.
"They listened to reasoning and they're dispersing," Sgt. Mike Sterchele of York Regional Police told The Canadian Press late Sunday night. "We always like to negotiate these things to a peaceful end."
No arrests were made.
One protester said the blockades are a sign of solidarity.
"This is an act of solidarity with those First Nations on the West Coast," Dan Keller said in a telephone interview with The Canadian Press.
"The ultimate aim of this is of course to stop the Spirit train," he said.
Breanne Feigel, spokesperson for CP Rail, said the company is "concerned" about the protests, particularly when activists put themselves in dangerous situations.
"Certainly in this case, we were extremely concerned as this form of protest poses a serious safety risk," she said.
Vicky Sunohara, an Olympic gold medalist who attended the event in Mississauga, called the protests "discouraging."
"It's discouraging because the Olympics have been such a big part of my life and it's a great time for the world to come together," she said.
Despite the disruptions, the Spirit Parties have managed to prevail.
On Monday, Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion greeted the hundreds of people who attended the Spirit party. Locals were keen to visit Spirit Village where they could try out Olympic events and chat with Olympic athletes.
The free event also featured a special performance by Colin James.
"It's all about moving the Olympic Spirit across Canada, making it not as much about Whistler and Vancouver, but making it the Canadian games," Feigel told CTV Toronto on Monday.
CP Rail said in a news release the train is a "mobile ambassador moving the Olympic spirit to Canadian communities."
The train took off from Port Moody, B.C. on Sept. 21 and headed across Canada.
Cooksville station is the train's eighth stop.
With files from The Canadian Press and a report from CTV Toronto's Naomi Parness
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An unofficial report back from Montreal informs us that approx. 100 persons attended the anti-Olympic protest to greet the CP 'Spirit Train' when it arrived in that city on Saturday, Oct. 18. They were able to disrupt the event using a PA system. Among those participating were members of the Mohawk Traditional Council of Kahnawake, and delegates from Barriere Lake (where last week Quebec riot police assaulted a peaceful road block).
The following corporate media account summarizes the 'Spirit Train' tour and the various protests that occurred. The numbers that Vanoc/CP claim (35,000 participants) is a huge exaggeration; at most stops only a few hundred showed up for the free evening concert.
Winter Olympic supporters and opponents both claim success from Spirit Train
CTV News/Canadian Press, Oct.18, 2008
VANCOUVER — Organizers and opponents of the 2010 Winter Olympics have both declared victory after duelling campaigns to raise awareness about the Games over the course of a promotional train journey from Vancouver to Montreal.
The Canadian Pacific Spirit Train wrapped up its 10-city tour in Montreal on Saturday, with an estimated 35,000 people across the country having taken part in activities highlighting Olympic sport.
"It is making a positive impact in communities," said Breanne Feigel, a spokesperson for the railway.
Protesters who organized activities to highlight social issues connected to the Games also were pleased, although the crowds that protested were generally much smaller than those in support of the Olympics.
"I don't know if it could have gone any better," said Dan Keller, one of the organizers of a protest rally that took place near Toronto.
The Spirit Train delivered the message that while the Games are being held in Vancouver and nearby Whistler, they belong to all of Canada, said Dave Cobb, vice-president of marketing for the Olympic organizing committee.
"They had great enthusiastic crowds with children and family, which was our priority - and to start to remind Canadians about what having an Olympic Games in your country is like," he said.
"Having the Olympians there and inspiring children is really what it's all about . . ."
Activists say there are drawbacks to the Olympics that make national protest important.
In B.C., protests centre around the impact the Games are having on marginalized communities and a belief the event is happening on stolen native land, even though the First Nations bands whose traditional lands are home to the Olympics have publicly pledged their support.
"I just keep going across the province, across the country, one after another and the issues that are affecting (aboriginal people) are affecting me," said Will Morin, a resident of Sudbury, Ont., who was involved in the Spirit Train protest in that city.
While the train's itinerary of promotional activity was similar at every stop, the activist response varied along the route.
The biggest crowd was at the kickoff last month in Port Moody, outside Vancouver, where about 75 protesters repeatedly yelled though bullhorns and banged pots, forcing musicians to turn up their own volume to match the demonstrators' noise level.
Scuffles erupted that day as police officers tried to hold back protesters. One man was arrested and carried away.
Some of the demonstrations attempted to link local issues to the Games.
In Edmonton, the protest that met the train was under the banner of No Tar Sands, No Olympics on Native Land.
A group of about 30 people protested there, handing out balloons and flyers. At one point two people scaled the side of the train to drape a Resist 2010 banner over top.
"The development of the tar sands are led by the same corporations that are funding and promoting the Olympics, so it was very important to make those connections and help people understand," said Macdonald Stainsby, one of the organizers of the Edmonton protest.
"We're looking at the same kind of indigenous land loss, we're looking at the same kind of displacement, the same kind of housing problems in Alberta that exist in B.C."
Protests were sparsely attended in Calgary, Winnipeg and Sudbury. In Saskatoon and Thunder Bay, Ont., police said no one turned up to demonstrate.
A group of activists from various causes blockaded the train tracks between Sudbury and Toronto, with police reporting that one woman was tied to the tracks. The fracas lasted about an hour.
The next day a demonstration at the train's stop in Mississauga, outside Toronto, drew about 30 protesters.
The second-to-last stop was in Smiths Falls, Ont., where police reported no protest.
In Montreal on Saturday, about 50 protesters turned out compared to a crowd of more than 1,500 people there to enjoy the event, said Feigel.
"We did have a pretty strong presence here in terms of inidviduals choosing to make their statement, but it didn't dampen the spirits," she said in a phone interview.
Though the turnout was uneven along the way, Keller said he believes the Spirit Train protests are a sign of a growing national mobilization against the Games.
"The growing movement, the resistance to the Olympics especially through these protests, it's motivating people, it's encouraging them," he said. "And hopefully the word is getting out that the Olympics isn't about sports or culture any more.
"It's about development, it's about profit, at the expense of the public at large. We are putting billions of dollars into the Games and the people that are profiting are a small elite of people and we're losing a lot."
Making the Games truly belong to all Canadians is a difficult proposition, said Ann Travers, a Simon Fraser Universiity sociology professor.
"If we were going to hold a massive sporting event that would really be the people's, that would really be Canada's games, what would that mean?"

[Eastside Revolt]

I hope people from this site that were not envolved in any of actions mentioned above, now have a better idea of where to look for groups in their area in order to stand against 2010.

[LOLseph Stalin]

The 2010 olympics? Sad... They're sponsored by way too many mega Capitalist corporations such as McDonalds(I like to say "McSlavery".) My mom could be volunteering there too! I should attempt to stop her although I doubt I can.

[Eastside Revolt]

November
18th - 21st as 'Days of Anti-Olympic Action'!


NO OLYMPICS ON STOLEN NATIVE LAND!
VANCOUVER, BC - More than 200 representatives from international news
wire
services, photo agencies, newspapers, internet sites and non-rights
holding
broadcast organizations are expected to attend the Vancouver 2010 World
Press Briefing scheduled for November 18 to 21, at the Vancouver
Convention
and Exhibition Centre, Suite 200, 999 Canada Place.
*Dates are as follows:*
Monday, November 17, 2008 - Registration Check-In
Tuesday November 18, 2008 - Vancouver (city) venues tour, City of
Richmond
(site of the speed skating oval) reception
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - Whistler (mountain) venues tour
Thursday, November 20, 2008 - Vancouver 2010 World Press Briefing
presentations, evening reception presented by the Canadian Tourism
Commission, Tourism British Columbia and Tourism Vancouver
Friday, November 21 - One-on-one sessions, Photo Services briefing,
optional venue tours

The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) has planned this event to
further
propell its propanganda towards a global audience: masking the
devestation
and mass local resistance towards the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Olympic
Resistance Network (ORN) plans to counter this attempt by claiming
November
18th - 21st as 'Days of Anti-Olympic Action'!
"The 2010 Games have already wreaked havoc on our communities and
destroyed
traditional unceded indigenous territories. The people feeling the
negative effects of these actions are opposing this
injustice and are calling for mass anti-olympic resistance against all
Olympic venues and sponsors!" -Mary Claremont, Vancouver resident
The ORN takes this opportunity to announce plans to
disrupt VANOC's February 2009 Olympiad celebrations. We are calling for
a
mass convergence to shutdown this event and further our resistance
against
the games.
We invite all community members to help send the message to the world
that the people demand an end to the oppression and corporate greed that
are
the 2010 winter games. We are calling for a wide range of actions by as
many
groups and individuals as possible to fuel upcoming convergence. If
every group covers an Olympic issue in their own realm and
or hits one out of a vast number of Olympic sites around the city this
should take VANOC's glory away once again. We call for a wide range of
actions by different groups and individuals to demonstate to the world media
that active opposition the 2010 circus exists and grows more powerful with
each passing day.

So be creative! Let's turn this media circus away from the corporate
circus!

**Background**
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games are scheduled to take place on
unceded indigenous land from February 12th to February 28th. The
devastating effects of the upcoming Winter Games have already begun to
manifest themselves in the following:
* tourism developments and resource extraction on indigenous lands
* homelessness and the gentrification of poor neighbourhoods
* privatisation of public services
* the exploitative use of migrant labour
* fortification of the national security and military apparatus
All of this is occurring at the public's expensee and to the detriment
of
our local communities and environment.
The Olympics Resistance Network is a group based in Vancouver, Coast
Salish Territories and that exists to coordinate Olympic resistance
efforts.
In doing so, we act in solidarity with other communities across 'British
Columbia' - particularly indigenous communities who have been defending
their land against the onslaught of the Olympics and similar agents of
colonialism long before Vancouver
won the bid to host the games.
While our organising is being done under the slogan of "No Olympics on
Stolen Native Land", we are creating an opportunity for all
anti-capitalist, indigenous, anti-poverty, labour, migrant justice,
environmental justice, anti-war, and anti-colonial activists to come
together to confront this two week event and the oppression it
represents. The goal of resistance is to eliminate the impacts of the
Olympics and to catalyse stronger social movements.
To get involved in the Network or for more information please contact:
[email protected]

[Invincible Summer]

I do not support the Olympics, as I believe it promotes nationalism and simply generates enormous profits for greedy capitalists.

However, I don't really agree with the call to protest 2010 b/c of the fact that it's on "stolen Native land." Yeah, colonialism wasn't cool, but that's just another form of nationalism.

[FreeFocus]

I do not support the Olympics, as I believe it promotes nationalism and simply generates enormous profits for greedy capitalists.

However, I don't really agree with the call to protest 2010 b/c of the fact that it's on "stolen Native land." Yeah, colonialism wasn't cool, but that's just another form of nationalism.

Easy thing to say when you're a beneficiary of imperialism and have not had your people, land, and culture raped and stolen. I understand your sentiment, as an anarchist, but even as an anarchist I am not quick to denounce nationalism of the oppressed, as long as the said nationalism is not too parochial or exclusive. In other words, I find some forms of nationalism to be reconcilable with anarchism. All nationalism does not propose founding a state or getting cozy with a particular nation's bourgeoisie. Many nationalist movements have denounced their nation's bourgeoisie and take them on just as much as the imperialists.

[Dóchas]

i am i the only one who like the olympics? i know it is maily just another advertising chance for companies but it is also the greatest achievement a sports person can achieve, to represent their country at the olympics and it is a great inspiration to young athletes all over the world

[scarletghoul]

I agree with the last post. I dont know if you saw the recent discussion about korean nationalism in the anarchist forum

Anyway the olympics are lame.

[BIG BROTHER]

Well my solidarity with all the natives, activists, students, workers, etc from Canada. I hope to hear news from you guys very soon.

[Invincible Summer]

Easy thing to say when you're a beneficiary of imperialism and have not had your people, land, and culture raped and stolen. I understand your sentiment, as an anarchist, but even as an anarchist I am not quick to denounce nationalism of the oppressed, as long as the said nationalism is not too parochial or exclusive. In other words, I find some forms of nationalism to be reconcilable with anarchism. All nationalism does not propose founding a state or getting cozy with a particular nation's bourgeoisie. Many nationalist movements have denounced their nation's bourgeoisie and take them on just as much as the imperialists.

Fair enough.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the anti-2010/pro-Aboriginal movement also support returning the stolen land back to the Native people? I understand in the larger scope of anti-imperialism it is part of the struggle, but from an anarchist perspective, doesn't it raise some problems for Natives to legally own land?

[FreeFocus]

Fair enough.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the anti-2010/pro-Aboriginal movement also support returning the stolen land back to the Native people? I understand in the larger scope of anti-imperialism it is part of the struggle, but from an anarchist perspective, doesn't it raise some problems for Natives to legally own land?

For something to be reclaimed by those it was stolen from does not pose a problem. I get what you're saying, I just have some qualms with some of your phrasing. While I disagree with land claims and view them as bullshit, more or less, and think it compromises justice and is usually undertaken by elites in First Nations communities, it sometimes has positive effects. There is no strong voice in the Native community for anti-statism, but I can see resistance evolving to that point.

[Eastside Revolt]

Anti-Olympic Torch-Light Parade
--------------------------------------
Thurs. Feb. 12, 2009
Gather at 6 PM at Victory Square
Cambie and Hastings
Coast Salish Territories, Vancouver
* Hot cocoa served in park *
--------------------------------------
Organized by the Olympics Resistance Network
Email: [email protected] or visit: www.No2010.com (http://www.No2010.com)

Help us shine some light on the Olympic Industry and its impacts on our
communities with a festive Torch Light Parade to mark the 1 year
'Countdown to 2010'. In calling for such a parade, we are following in the
traditions of prior torch-bearing resistance marches in Vancouver. Torches
will be provided if you want to be an official Anti-Olympic Torch bearer!
The 2010 Winter Olympics will take place on unceded indigenous land from
February 12-28 2010. Far from being simply about ‘sport’, the history of
the Olympics is one rooted in displacement, corporate greed, fascism,
repression, and violence. Only the political and corporate elite – from
real estate developers to security corporations – have anything to gain
from the Olympics industry.

The effects of the upcoming 2010 Winter Games are already clear to us:

- the expansion of sport tourism and resource extraction on indigenous lands

- increasing homelessness and gentrification of poor neighbourhoods
especially Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

- more privatization of public services

- union busting through imposed contracts and vulnerable working
conditions especially for migrant labour

- increased funding for the police, military and border control agents in
the name of so-called national security

- ballooning public spending and public debt

- unprecedented destruction of the environment.

Resist 2010 ! No Olympics on Stolen Native Land !

[Eastside Revolt]

"There is no strong voice in the Native community for anti-statism, but I can see resistance evolving to that point."

I would tend to disagree. The various indigeonous warrior organizations are about as strong of an Anti-State voice as I see in any communtiy.

Think about Six Nations, Tyendinaga, Oka, Gustavsen Lake. The state is terrified of them.

[JimmyJazz]

I would support this if for no other reason than to stick it to the idiots that protested about Beijing.

[Lost In Translation]

I would support this if for no other reason than to stick it to the idiots that protested about Beijing.

Agreed. But resistance against corporate giants with a history of abuses is also a huge reason. The oppression of natives is something I've heard of, but I wasn't aware that Vancouver was built on stolen native land.

Then again, most of the cities in Canada were built on land once inhabited by natives...

[Eastside Revolt]

Agreed. But resistance against corporate giants with a history of abuses is also a huge reason. The oppression of natives is something I've heard of, but I wasn't aware that Vancouver was built on stolen native land.

Then again, most of the cities in Canada were built on land once inhabited by natives...


All of BC was built on unceded territory. Meaning that most of the land out east was aquired by colonial armed-robbery, British Columbia (with the exception of Victoria and it's close surroundings.) on the other hand was never surrendered, they just went ahead and claimed it for themselves, while the native people were struggling with smallpox, residential schools etc.

Homelessness, and the already formidable 2010 police state are some other reasons to oppose the olympics.

Oh yeah and don't forget that the olympics have historically been a vehicle for white supremecy. Several IOC presidents have been NAZI sympathizers and fascists of all sorts.

[FreeFocus]

"There is no strong voice in the Native community for anti-statism, but I can see resistance evolving to that point."

I would tend to disagree. The various indigeonous warrior organizations are about as strong of an Anti-State voice as I see in any communtiy.

Think about Six Nations, Tyendinaga, Oka, Gustavsen Lake. The state is terrified of them.

What I meant was that there is no strong voice to combat statist tendencies within Native communities. Take the dominant strains of Mohawk nationalism, for example, which helped to shape the "self-government" system that mirrors state apparatuses (and turns Native communities into communities run by puppets).

[Eastside Revolt]

What I meant was that there is no strong voice to combat statist tendencies within Native communities. Take the dominant strains of Mohawk nationalism, for example, which helped to shape the "self-government" system that mirrors state apparatuses (and turns Native communities into communities run by puppets).

Sorry but that's exactly what I'm taliking about.

Six Nations and Tyendigana are two recent examples of currents in the native communities that oppose their puppet leaders' attempts at 'negotiaions' with colonial oppression, and with that they act for the purposes of self-determination.

[FreeFocus]

Sorry but that's exactly what I'm taliking about.

Six Nations and Tyendigana are two recent examples of currents in the native communities that oppose their puppet leaders' attempts at 'negotiaions' with colonial oppression, and with that they act for the purposes of self-determination.

I agree on this count, but what I'm saying is, what is the end goal? Free, autonomous communities? It's not possible under capitalism and it's not possible within the framework of the state. What I'm saying is that there currently is no strong voice within the communities proclaiming that, no organized group saying that.

Trust me, I'm not discounting the grassroots struggle, but the movement itself is confused and approaching directionless, I believe.

[danyboy27]

I would support this if for no other reason than to stick it to the idiots that protested about Beijing.

yea, if they acted like assole, we should do the same, and be assole ourselves!

[Invincible Summer]

So I read this recently:

http://www.straight.com/article-198107/olympic-critic-says-vancouver-charter-changes-threaten-civil-liberties


The last of the amendments would provide that “the city may remove illegal signs from real property with limited notice, and may charge the owner for the cost of such removal”, according to the staff report recommending the changes...

...
Fellow COPE councillor David Cadman said he wasn’t concerned about “another APEC” happening, referring to the RCMP’s pepper-spraying of protesters at the 1997 summit in Vancouver.
“That [amendment] is to deal with illegal advertising, not someone putting a sign in their window,” Cadman said by phone, adding that he is of the opinion the city needs greater protection from “ambush marketing”.


Bullshit. The clause is so vague that it could mean anything. Basically, they don't want people to put up anti-Olympic advertising/organizing posters so that the superfluous amount of 2010 Olympic advertising will be pristine.

[Eastside Revolt]

Anti-Olympic Torch-Light Parade
--------------------------------------
Thurs. Feb. 12, 2009
Gather at 6 PM at Victory Square
Cambie and Hastings
Coast Salish Territories, Vancouver
* Hot cocoa served in park *
--------------------------------------
Organized by the Olympics Resistance Network
Email: [email protected] (http://www.anonym.to/?mailto:[email protected]) or visit: www.No2010.com (http://www.no2010.com/)

Help us shine some light on the Olympic Industry and its impacts on our
communities with a festive Torch Light Parade to mark the 1 year
'Countdown to 2010'. In calling for such a parade, we are following in the
traditions of prior torch-bearing resistance marches in Vancouver.

Torches will be provided if you want to be an official Anti-Olympic Torch bearer!

The 2010 Winter Olympics will take place on unceded indigenous land from
February 12-28 2010. Far from being simply about ‘sport’, the history of
the Olympics is one rooted in displacement, corporate greed, fascism,
repression, and violence. Only the political and corporate elite – from
real estate developers to security corporations – have anything to gain
from the Olympics industry.

The effects of the upcoming 2010 Winter Games are already clear to us:

- the expansion of sport tourism and resource extraction on indigenous lands

- increasing homelessness and gentrification of poor neighbourhoods
especially Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

- more privatization of public services

- union busting through imposed contracts and vulnerable working
conditions especially for migrant labour

- increased funding for the police, military and border control agents in
the name of so-called national security

- ballooning public spending and public debt

- unprecedented destruction of the environment.

Resist 2010 ! No Olympics on Stolen Native Land !

[Eastside Revolt]

It's seems this time around the media mostly chose to ignore us.

Anyhow here is some of the minimal media coverage:

http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090212/bc_demo_olympics_090212/20090212/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

[Eastside Revolt]

Better yet check this out:

http://www.no2010.com/node/790

Don't forget to check out the image gallery!

[Eastside Revolt]

PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY:
No Olympics on Stolen Native Land! Shut Down the 2010 Corporate Circus!
Tuesday March 10
12:30pm
Assemble at the Olympic Countdown Clock (Wellington and Metcalfe)
and march to the Chateau Laurier (1 Rideau st.) to Sh(o)ut down VANOC CEO
John Furlong.
Bring banners, noisemakers, and placards!
John Furlong of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic
and Paralympic Winter Games, will be giving a luncheon talk entitled
Vancouver 2010 Winter Games: The Successes and Challenges Ahead.” The
2010
Winter Olympics will take place on unceded indigenous land in two years.
We wish to make it clear to Mr. Furlong and the public that one of the
challenges ahead will be widespread resistance to the 2010 corporate
circus
and all it entails: the expansion of sport tourism on unceded indigenous
lands and increased land tenure to corporations; increasing homelessness
and gentrification of poor neighbourhoods; increasing privatization of
public services; union busting through decisions such as the seven-year
imposed contract handed down to the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union and
the recent Canadian Union of Public Employees contracts; exploitative
conditions for workers especially temporary migrant labour; the
fortification of a security apparatus estimated at $175 million; and
unprecedented destruction of mountains, old growth forests, streams,
hunting and fishing grounds, and delicate ecosystems.
Indigenous communities in the interior and on the coast of so called
British Columbia including the Secwepemc people of Skelkwek'welt, the
St'at'imc of Sutikalh, and the Pilalt of Cheam have been critiquing and
resisting the objectives and activities of the 2010 Olympics since 2000.
In October 2007, more than 1500 Indigenous people representing communities
across this hemisphere held the Gathering of the Indigenous Peoples of
America, on Yaqui territory in Vicam, Sonora, Mexico. They stated in their
final declaration, “We reject the 2010 Winter Olympics on sacred and
stolen territory of Turtle Island–Vancouver, Canada.”
While the Olympic organizers operate with a budget of almost $2
billion(costs for the Vancouver's Trade and Convention Centre alone has
reached almost $900 million) and other costs to government surpassing an
estimated $6 billion, Vancouver is now home to North America’s
fastest
growing homelessness crisis. Dozens of low-income hotels and apartment
buildings are being converted to unaffordable condominiums. Over 126,000
people in 56,000 households in Greater Vancouver are at risk of
homelessness according to the 2001 Canada census. As thousands of people
are forced from their homes, they are then criminalized for being
homeless. Indigenous people account for 30% of this homeless population,
despite making up only 2% of the total population in the province.
The 2010 corporate Olympics circus is apparent by examining the
destructive global record of some of its sponsors. These include:
Petro-Canada, one of Canada’s largest producers of oil and gas,
TransCanada, one of the continent’s largest transporters of oil and gas.
Canadian Pacific Railway, long an integral tool of colonization
Royal Bank of Canada- #3 Sponsor of 2010 Olympics (160 million+)and big
investor in energy projects including the tar sands. 15.7 billion invested
in fossil fuel production representing 15% of Canada’s greenhouse
gases.
For More info: www.climatefriendlybanking.com (http://www.climatefriendlybanking.com)
Hudson’s Bay Company, another company responsible for the
colonization
and theft of Indigenous land,
General Electric, one of the world’s top three producers of military
aircraft engines and major producer of nuclear power plants,
General Motors, long a top contractor for the Canadian military and now
the world’s largest automobile manufacturer,
Dow Chemical, the world’s second largest chemical manufacturer and cause
of the Bhopal, India disaster,
Bell Canada, who’s CEO is one of the top corporate architects of the
Security and Prosperity Partnership.

--------------------------
<<< VICTORIA >>>

** NEW WEBSITE: http://www.no2010victoria.net/
MARCH 21, 2009
11am to 5pm
755 Pandora Street,
Victoria, Coast Salish Territories
THE OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY WILL BEGIN IN VICTORIA!!
HELP BUILD OUR MOVEMENTS FOR JUSTICE AND DIGNITY!!
COME TO A DAY OF WORKSHOPS AND DISCUSSION ON ISSUES, STRATEGIES AND ACTION!!
As the 2010 Olympic Winter Games approach, opposition and resistance are
rising. On the mainland, the Olympics have already resulted in
infrastructure development on unceded Native land, environmental
destruction, gentrification in downtown Vancouver, increased funding for
"security" forces and unethical labour practices. These issues are
intensifying against a backdrop of escalating public debt. But the issues
at stake on the mainland also touch communities on Vancouver Island –
before, during and after the Olympic Games. With the torch relay beginning
in Victoria on October 30, it's time for our movements to come together,
organize our opposition, and make our voices heard!
You are invited to a day of workshops focused on building coordinated
campaigns and actions in Victoria.
A FREE LUNCH WITH LOCAL ORGANIC FOODS WILL BE SERVED.
NETWORKS OF DISSENT: AN ANTI-OLYMPIC TEACH-IN
Featuring Workshop Participants:
The Committee to End Homelessness
Decolonization, Land & Restitution Discussions
Harm Reduction Victoria
Members of the Hospital Employees Union
No 2010 Victoria
P.E.E.R.S. (Prostitutes Empowerment Education and Resource Society
Serena Kataoka: Local Legacies of Our Colonial Inheritances
S.O.L.I.D. (Society of Living Intravenous Drug Users)
Temporary Autonomous Shelter Collective
Zoe Blunt: The Ecocide Next Door
Please check back to see the final line-up of workshops.
Topics under discussion will include:
Homelessness and housing
Health, poverty, homelessness and "harm reduction"
Sex workers' rights
Ecosystem destruction, sacred site protection and environmental justice
Corporatization and privatization
State surveillance, security, militarization and police brutality
Radical labour activism and the public sector
The workshops will be followed by a panel discussion on coordinating
actions and strategies surrounding the 2010 Olympics, the Olympic Torch
relay in Victoria, and ongoing local issues.
If you can help, come to a meeting (see calendar) or get in touch with us
at: [email protected]

--------------------------

<<< TORONTO >>>
We're starting to organize here in Toronto to stop the Pan American
Olympic Games bid (2015). Below is the callout for our first strategizing
session.
In solidarity,
Carmelle Wolfson.
Dear Friends and supporters,
The Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students (APUS) is bringing
together a working group to strategize around the negative effects of the
Pan Am games at the University of Toronto and the community at large. We
will work towards a larger forum on the issue. Please join us for a
meeting on Wed March 11, at 4:00 pm.
The Pan Am games will cost us $1.4 billion and Toronto’s costs are
estimated at $49.5 million. Meanwhile there are children attending Toronto
schools who are underperforming or simply not attending because they live
in poverty. At UofT these public funds are going towards paying for
elitist sports facilities rather than ensuring full access to
post-secondary education. University funds and additional student levies
will also be put towards these expensive, (over a $100 million) projects.
Meanwhile, marginalized students, such as part-time students, often times
racialized, mature students, students with disabilities, students with
children and work concerns, cannot afford to get an education. The UofT
administration wants to expand a high performance Olympic sports facility
onto the current site of the part-time union (APUS), hence displacing the
union. This is a common theme, around the world, where the displacement
of poor and marginalized communities has frequently been the outcome when
these large sporting events take place.
Professor Matheson, who reviewed literature on the impact of sporting
events, from the Olympics to the Super Bowl, writes that these sports
facility projects are touted as a benefit when they are actually a cost,
"Public expenditures on sports infrastructures and event operations
necessarily entail reductions in other government services, an expansion
of government borrowing, or an increase in taxation, all of which produce
a drag on the local economy".
Join us to mobilize around ensuring that our money does not fund this
elitist event, while the government at every level ignores the most
vulnerable in our society.
To RSVP contact:
Murphy Browne
Liason Officer
Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students (APUS) University of
Toronto APUS Administrative Office
Woodsworth College Annex
100 Devonshire Place
Ground floor Toronto, Ontario
Phone: 416-978-0832
Fax: 416-972-1393
Email: [email protected]
web: www.apus.utoronto.com (http://www.apus.utoronto.com)

[Eastside Revolt]

Protest the Olympics' “Sport and the Environment” Farce – Resist the Corporate Green Wash!
** Please post this event widely and help use this chance to highlight the ecological destruction and corporate hypocrisy behind the ‘Green Games.’

Monday March 30, 6pm at Canada Place (Canadian Exhibition and Convention Centre)
780 – 999 Canada Place (north end of Burrard)
(There is vehicular and pedestrian access along the foot of Howe and Burrard streets and easy access from the Waterfront SkyTrain Station, SeaBus Terminal, and West Coast Express.)

On March 30-31, the International Olympic Committee, along with VANOC and corporate sponsors, are hosting the 8th World Sport and the Environment Conference in Vancouver, Canada. Their goal is to promote the 2010 Winter Games as making positive contributions for "social, economic and
environmental benefit." In reality, the Olympic Industry causes large-scale environmental destruction and negative social impacts, as do many of its corporate sponsors. Many politicians (mayors of Vancouver and Whistler, BC Premier Campbell, and BC and Federal Environment Ministers), VANOC/IOC officials, and executives of major corporations (such as Coca-Cola, Teck Cominco, BC Hydro, RBC, and GE) will be speaking.

The 2010 Games will be one of the most ecologically damaging in history, featuring clear cuts, mountain blasting and destruction of vital habitats, road construction (and expansion of traffic), gravel mining (major damage to fish stocks), massive consumption of steel, plastics, cement, water, wood, etc., threats to animal populations, unnecessary luxury buildings, and expanded infrastructure (with accelerated approvals) for mining, logging, oil and gas exploration, ski resorts, and tourism. Construction, air travel, local traffic and other activities for the BC Olympics are expected to generate more than 3,700,000 tons of carbon emissions (that is about 5% of what all of British Columbia would produce in one year). At least 100,000 trees have been destroyed for a 17-day event. VANOC and the BC government also violated the International Olympic Committee’s stated requirement that the host city carry out environmental impact studies before starting work. This damage and waste is occurring on unceded Indigenous land and the environmental and financial costs will burden future generations.

The RBC (Royal Bank) is a major financier of the destructive Alberta tar sands projects and the 2010 Olympics. The mining giant Teck Cominco operates the largest open-pit copper mine in Canada (located on unceded Secwepemc territory), damages communities and the environment across Canada and into the USA with mine waste, and also funds the tar sands. General Electric is a major manufacturer and exporter of security technology and weapons systems and is invested in controversial hydroelectric projects in BC’s Toba and Bute Inlets. BC Hydro is facing strong community opposition to the $3.5 billion Site C hydroelectric project which would flood out large sections of the Peace River Valley. Coca-Cola factories violently repress workers and union organisers, deplete ground water, and contribute to environmental waste and destruction. These companies, and more, will be represented by executives at the World Sport and Environment Conference.

Join the Olympic Resistance Network (ORN) and other concerned groups and individuals to oppose the corporate green wash of the Olympic Games. ORN asks that this event be widely distributed throughout the Indigenous, environmental, and anti-Olympic movements, as it is a chance to focus on the community and ecological damage and corporate irresponsibility that marks BC development, especially during the Games. We plan to address issues on Eagleridge Bluffs and other Games construction, Gateway projects, water and energy in BC, tar sands and BC pipelines, proposed dam construction, and Olympic corporate sponsors with a diversity of speakers.

Stand with your community and for your environment on March 30 as we protest during their 'gala' dinner reception! FREE FOOD and FACEPAINTING! WEAR GREEN and CAMO!

Promotional info, schedule and full speakers list for the Sport and Environment Conference is available at: www.wcse2009.com (http://www.wcse2009.com)

OLYMPIC RESISTANCE NETWORK - www.no2010.com (http://www.no2010.com) - [email protected]

[Eastside Revolt]

ANTI-CAPITALIST ANTI-COLONIAL
CONVERGENCE February 10 – 15 2010,
Vancouver BC Coast Salish Territory

Building on the call by native warriors - specifically at the Indigenous
Peoples Gathering in Senora, Mexico in October 2007 – we will be working
to coordinate the logistics to host all those converging on Vancouver,
Whistler, and surrounding unceded native land during Feb 2010.

We are asking groups and individuals planning to travel to the convergence
to contact us now so that we are able to assess potential numbers and the
logistical support that will be required in terms of housing, food, and
other forms of support.

We need your help too. Please let us know if you can help with:
• Food organization and preparation
• Medical support
• Independent media
• Fundraising
• Legal

If you are planning to organize events to coincide with the 2010
convergence in your own communities, please inform us of those plans as well.

Over the course of the next ten months, we encourage communities to
fundraise, raise awareness, and organize in preparation for the
anti-2010 Olympic convergence. We hope to see you all in 2010 to
demonstrate our indignation and resistance!

In solidarity,
The 2010 Convergence Logistics committee
[email protected]

[Hoxhaist]

All of BC was built on unceded territory. Meaning that most of the land out east was aquired by colonial armed-robbery, British Columbia (with the exception of Victoria and it's close surroundings.) on the other hand was never surrendered, they just went ahead and claimed it for themselves, while the native people were struggling with smallpox, residential schools etc.
I'm curious, do you think all land not in reservations for First Nations people are stolen?

[Eastside Revolt]

In one way or another.

Reserves are like interment camps. Indigeonous people were forced onto them, as well as into residential schools, while their land was taken from the.

"BC" in particular has few treaties around the land, and the Government is trying to trick the band councils into legitimizing that theft.

[Eastside Revolt]

A new 15 minute video has been released about the resistance to the 2010 Olympics. "Resist 2010"

http://no2010.com/node/1003

[Eastside Revolt]

Another good short video.

This one by Native Youth Movement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukvx3_ZwRHs

[Eastside Revolt]

HALLOWEEN Convergence October 30-31, Victoria BC
NOlympic Torch Relay
Coast Salish Territory
[email protected]
http://no2010victoria.net (http://no2010victoria.net/)

Get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the spotlight with the world's biggest circus of misspent public resources! Deliver a message to the world for justice and equality in Canada! Exercise our right to free speech and free association in the face of a police clampdown and come PARTY on Halloween! Ninjas, zombies, pirates, and superheroes welcome! Plan your own surprise party!

The official 2010 Olympic Torch Relay begins Friday morning, October 30 in downtown Victoria. On October 31, the relay goes through Sooke, Metchosin, Langford and beyond. Stay tuned for event announcements. Media convergence organizing is underway. Everyone welcome! Canada is a Free Speech Zone! View the relay route on an interactive map here: http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/torch-relays/olympic-torch-relay/the-route/interactive-map/-/58040/17ckajb/index.html

Next No 2010 meeting is tomorrow: 5 pm, Thursday, August 20 at Camas Books, 2590 Quadra Street in Victoria. RSVP to [email protected]
Check our site for updates: http://no2010victoria.net (http://no2010victoria.net/)

[Eastside Revolt]

Six people were charged with mob action today for yanking an Olympic banner from the Daley Center's Picasso statue and tossing it into the "eternal" flame, authorities said.

Charged are brothers Jeremy Hammond, of Chicago, and Jason Hammond, of Glendale Heights, both 24; Brian Brown, 22, of Itasca; Jeremy Sorkin, 21, of Chicago; Johnathan Clark, 21, of Rocky Mount, N.C.; and Anna Stafford, 20, of Wheatfield, Ind., said Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman for the Cook County state's attorney's office.

The six were arrested just after 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, but weren't believed to be a part of an anti-Olympics bid rally that took place in front of City Hall earlier that day, police said.

After gathering in the Daley Center, the six pulled down a banner -- valued at thousands of dollars -- from the statue and burned part of it in the flame dedicated to veterans, Chicago Police Lt. Charles Flynn said.

The alleged vandals then got into a confrontation with police officers, who took all six into custody.

They are expected to appear in bond court Thursday, Simonton said.

--William Lee and Jeremy Gorner

[Eastside Revolt]

“Our struggles come from before 2010 and will reach beyond!”

This is a call out for direct action and solidarity. At the end of
October, the Olympic Torch will come from Greece to Canada.

As we've seen here in BC, the true project of the Olympics is the
enhancement of capitalism, colonization and social control. New
surveillance infrastructure and the training of police and security
forces in counter-insurgency here will be exported around the world.
The Olympics effects us all, the world over.

Direct action, disruptions or confrontations generally and against the
torch relay can be part of a strategy to discourage economic
development, exploitation and destruction of people and the land in
"British Columbia.”

Between October 29-30th, (and beyond) we welcome acts of solidarity in
the form of whatever makes the most sense for your context.

From everywhere in the world let these acts strengthen our common rebellion!

Information about the Torch Relay:

A convergence is scheduled in Victoria, British Columbia to counter
the launch of the cross-Canada torch relay.

The 2010 Olympic Flame will be lit in Greece on Oct. 22, 2009 and
handed over to a representative of Canada, in Athens on Oct. 29 before
coming to Canada - (if it makes it that far!).

The torch relay of modern times which transports the flame from Greece
to the various designated sites of the games had no ancient precedent.
The torch was introduced at the Hitler's 1936 Berlin Olympics to
spread the spirit of fascism throughout Europe. Still, the torch is a
symbol to spread the ideologies of nationalism, colonization and
economic progress.

The cross Canada Olympic torch relay begins in Victoria BC, Coast
Salish Territory, the morning of October 30. It will spend five days
on Vancouver Island before flying to the Yukon, crossing the Northern
region of the country to the Atlantic coast, then proceed westward
across all provinces, to arrive in Vancouver for the opening
ceremonies on Feb. 12, 2010. The relay will last 106 days and cover
45,000 km. It will pass through 1,000 communities.

http://victoriatorch.wordpress.combr> http://no2010.com/node/1053

For Reading and Distribution (printable pfd's):

HITTING THE WHOLE OLYMPIC TARGET (new):
http://ottawa.indymedia.ca/en/2009/09/10742.shtml

RIOT 2010? RIOT NOW!
http://www.no2010.com/Resources/riot-2010-riot-now-printversion.pdf

ANTI-2010 BOOKLET
http://no2010.com/Resources/Anti-2010%20Booklet.pdf

[Eastside Revolt]

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

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.

On October 31, over 400 people gathered to oppose the Torch Relay launch
in Victoria. An Anti-Olympics Festival and Zombie March, organized by
No2010 Victoria, succeeded in disrupting the relay. Security personnel
were forced to extinguish the torch, load it in a van, and reroute it in
order to reach the Legislature. (Visit http://no2010victoria.net (http://no2010victoria.net/) or
http://olympicresistance.net (http://olympicresistance.net/) for videos)

WHY ORGANIZE AGAINST THE TORCH?

The Olympic torch is a propaganda tool that promotes gentrification,
repression and environmental destruction. The origins of the Torch Relay
lie in the dark history of the 1936 Games in Berlin, where it was devised
as a means to spread Nazi fascism and to promote the Third Reich. (See
Globe and Mail article here: http://no2010.com/node/1113)

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay is a $25 million publicity stunt to promote
the Olympic Brand, particularly its top sponsors. The Royal Bank of Canada
and Coca Cola are the main sponsors of the 2010 Torch relay. RBC is the
top financier of the environmentally devastating Alberta Tar Sands, while
Coca Cola has been responsible for health degradation as part of the junk
food industry, massive depletion of groundwater and toxic waste pollution
in India, and involved in hiring paramilitary groups to violently repress
union organizers in Colombia.

It is becoming increasingly evident that far from being simply about
sport, the 2010 Olympics is rooted in displacement, corporate greed,
militarization, and repression. While Olympic corporate sponsors are
getting bailed out, Indigenous lands are being stolen, more people are
becoming homeless, thousands are losing their jobs and access to public
services, the environment is being destroyed, and civil liberties are
being eroded as over a billion dollars are being sunk into security and
surveillance measures. While people suffer consequences, the public money
invested by the city of Vancouver, the city of Whistler, the B.C.
government and the Canadian government is now nearing $7 billion.

WHAT CAN I DO?

This Torch Relay will be the longest in-country relay in Olympic history,
giving us the chance to make some anti-Olympic history! You might be
opposing the Torch due to the rally call No Olympics on Stolen Native
Land! Remember the Torch does not represent a sacred fire, it is a
destructive force. Or you might be protesting the Torch because of the
impacts of its corporate sponsors on your community, such as the link
between the RBC and Alberta Tar Sands. Or you are generally concerned
about the overall negative impacts of the Games such as homelessness,
misdirected public spending, attacks on civil liberties, and the general
oppression and repression it represents.

There are many reasons and many ways to oppose the Torch, so whatever your
reason might be, get out there and be visible! Create a leaflet and make
some placards, and you and your group can protest along the Torch route
and hand out information to those along the sidelines. You can lead a
march to disrupt and detour the relay, as Victoria organizers successfully
did without arrests. Setup a blockade through your community and stop the
torch from going through and spreading its false propaganda. Hold
educational events prior to and after the Torch going through to spread
awareness about the impacts of the Olympics (you can contact
[email protected] for educational materials to assist in this).
Do whatever makes the most sense for your context; most important is that
you organize something!

==> If you are organizing an event or action in your city, town, or
community please email us the details at [email protected] so
we can compile the information and build strength and unity in our efforts
by having this information available on our website.

Basic torch route

Nov 16 - Nov 28, 2009: through Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Islands, and New
Brunswick: Sydney, Whycocomagh, Port Hawkesbury, Truro, Paq'tnkek,
Antigonish, Halifax, Bear River FN, Lunenburg, Charlottetown, Moncton,
Sussex, Saint John, Fredericton, Esgenoôpetitj, Grand Falls, and others.

Nov 29 - Dec 11, 2009: through Quebec: Rimouski, Baie-Comeau, Les
Escoumins, Saguenay, Lévis, Saint-Georges, Black Lake, Victoriaville,
Sherbrooke, Drummondville, Trois-Rivières, Longueuil, Kahnawá:ke,
Beaconsfield, Mont-Tremblant, Montréal, Laval, Gatineau, and others

Dec 12, 2009 - Jan 4, 2010: through Ontario: Ottawa, Pikwàkanagàn,
Akwesasne, Kingston, Tyendinaga, Peterborough, Toronto, Hamilton, St.
Catharines, Six Nations, Brantford, Oneida, Leamington, Windsor, Sarnia,
London, Stratford, Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Barrie, Huntsville,
Temiskaming, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Red Rock FN, Kenora, and others.

Jan 5 - Jan 20, 2010: through Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta:
Winnipeg, Sioux Valley Dakota, Regina, Moose Jaw, Swift Current,
Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moosomin FN, Edmonton, Wetaskiwin, Red Deer,
Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Calgary, Canada Olympic Park, Stoney Nation, and
more.

Jan 21 - Feb 11, 2010: through BC: Golden, Cranbrook, Nelson, Trail,
Osoyoos FN, Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Kamloops,
100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Prince George, Smithers, Gitanmaax, Fort
St. John, Terrace, Bella Bella, Powell River, Sechelt, Squamish, Whistler,
Lil'wat, Merritt, Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland and others.

* Full route information:

Complete listing by day:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/dl/00/68/42/-/68420/prop=data/119u8t6/68420.pdf

Interactive Map:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/torch-relays/olympic-torch-relay/the-route/interactive-map/-/58040/17ckajb/index.html

Provincial and Territorial Routes:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/torch-relays/olympic-torch-relay/the-route/provincial-and-territorial-routes/-/58046/wk4d42/index.html

[Eastside Revolt]

Expose the Olympic Circus! Block the Olympics Torch!


- a massive street circus you don't want to miss -


DETAILS OF MARCH IN HONOR OF HARRIET NAHANEE FOLLOWS

Pull out your brightest (and warmest) threads! Put on your shiniest (and fastest) shoes and wheels!

17 December 2009
5:15pm
North East Corner of University and College

WELCOME the OLYMPIC TORCH in STYLE.

The Olympics Torch is about colonial theft of indigenous land, corporate profit grabbing, ecological destruction, militarization and migrant exploitation.

We say: NO OLYMPICS ON STOLEN NATIVE LAND!
Take up the fight for Indigenous Sovereignty! Migrant Justice! Climate Justice! Income Equality!


((Wondering why we must block the torch? Read here: http://torontotorch.blogspot.com/2009/12/why-we-must-block-torch.html))

Dress up as your favourite rejected Olympics mascot Sassy the Stolen Ceremony, Bitie the BedBug, Dean the Deforester, Gary the Green Washer. Bring music, food and friends.

If you are not from Toronto and wondering if you should come, you SHOULD.

Toronto is seeing massive cuts to housing, social services, and increased attacks on poor, migrant, unemployed and underemployed communities. It is also hosting the 2010 G8/20 Leaders Summit and the 2015 Pan-Am Games, all projects to attack people's sovereignty and self-determination. All attacks that we resist. Olympic Resitance is part of that struggle.

COME to the Costume/Prop/Silk Screening/Banner making day: Dec 13 (2-6pm). 100 Devonshire Place – email [email protected] ([email protected])


For more info, visit no2010.com (http://no2010.com/) and http://olympicresistance.net/


On facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=190692249817


===============

March in Honour of Harriet Nahanee to Resist the Olympic Torch (http://torontotorch.blogspot.com/2009/12/march-in-honour-of-harriet-nahanee-to.html)

SEE LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZZ0ZV_XoJY

On December 17th, in Toronto (Mississauga Territory) Indigenous women will march in the streets in honour of Harriet Nahanee, the Pacheedaht elder and activist who died as a result of being jailed for refusing to apologize for resisting the olympics.

Her death gave birth to a movement, and sounded the call for thousands to join in what is becoming a uniting struggle against colonialism, fascism, injustice, poverty, land grabs in urban centres and in sovereign territories, civil rights violations, and violence against women.

When women become empowered, a struggle becomes a movement. When Indigenous peoples unite, movements gain momentum. When Indigenous women are empowered in unity, the human narrative changes course.

So here's the plan: This is a call for Indigenous women, and supporters to come out on December 17th, 5:15pm at the northeast corner of College and University, to honour her resistance with a peaceful convergence on the olympic torch as it is "celebrated" by the city of Toronto.

Wear the colour red: the colour Harriet wore on the day she was arrested, and one of the four sacred colours which represents Indigenous peoples. Bring a picture of Harriet (you can print one out) or a picture of any woman who has sufferd violence for her political actions, or just for being a woman.

We stand in solidarity with the many marches which protest violence against women, especially the "Women's Memorial March" that is held annually in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver each year on February 14th to honour abused, missing or murdered women, and which even now, is being threatened and harassed by VANOC and the City of Vancouver, because it coincides with the olympics.

We stand in solidarity with Mapuche women in Chile, fighting to resist the destructive takeover of their traditional land by EU-Chile free trade agreements, political prisoners, hunger strikers, our sisters in struggle.

We stand in solidarity with the youth of Six Nations, the traditional peoples of the unceded and unsurrendered St'at'imc nation, Secwepemc youth fighting the Sun Peaks Resort development on their sacred mountain, Skwelkwek’welt, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and Sharbot Lake, the Zapatistas, and all other Indigenous peoples all over the world resisting the rape of our mother earth, and the land and water sustaining us.

Come join us on December 17th, at the northeast corner of College and University in Toronto, at 5:15pm. Wear something red (and warm!) and bring a picture. Banners, signs, drums, etc. welcome. Peaceful protest only, children and families are welcome.

Video call-out is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZZ0ZV_XoJY

[Eastside Revolt]

Protestors disrupt the Olympic Torch Relay in Montreal

Soumis par PatC. le ven, 12/11/2009 - 00:28.




MONTREAL- December 10 2009- In response to a call sent out by the Olympics Resistance Network in Vancouver, more than two hundred anti-olympics protestors noisily disrupted the celebration of the passage of the Olympic Torch Relay in Montreal. The group, made up of indigenous solidarity activists and other groups and individuals affiliated with the Montreal chapter of Peoples Global Action (PGA), an international anti-capitalist movement, heckled and disrupted for several hours the planned activities of the celebration, despite a massive police presence and a tense atmosphere at Place Jacques-Cartier, in Old Montreal.
The protestors held many banners and placards, and chanted the slogans “No olympics on stolen native land!,” “Shame the flame!”, and “Homes not games.” They also threw thousands of pieces of confetti into the crowd – the confetti had the words: “Why celebrate colonization of native land, gentrification, and corporate subsidies? Shame the flame!” They had a sound system and a marching band played. Before the flame arrived (an hour late), the police brutally attacked the protestors, forcibly cordoning them off in order continue the official spectacle. Several protesters were thrown to the ground and insulted, while others were pushed and hit with batons. The Nazi-era Leni Riefenstahl film was shown on the big screen, that the cordoned-off demonstrators were forced to watch while they had shields and batons pointed at them by the police. Despite the police brutality the disruption was a success.
“There is no shortage of reasons to oppose the Torch relay », said Pat Cadorette, one of the organizers. “The Olympics are first and foremost a nationalist and capitalist power play. It is an opportunity for the political and financial elites to capitalize on people’s patriotic fiber and competitive drive. They are always organized by and for rich people, and it is always the more oppressed segments of the population who are negatively impacted by it: indigenous people, the poor, the migrant workers, etc. It is a colonial tradition of forced displacement, social cleansing, environmental devastation and repression. In fact, with regards to the Torch relay itself, it is often forgotten that it was first introduced by the Nazis to promote the Third Reich! The CIO and Olympic sponsors like Coca-Cola and the Royal Bank won’t brag about this, but it is nonetheless a historic fact!”
“At the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler, the only ones who will profit are the already rich developers and sponsors”, explains a sympathizer of the Olympics Resistance Network. “At the same time, it is $6 billion of public funds that are shoveled into this. They chase the poor from the downtown area to make room for the tourists, they pass new laws to criminalize poverty, they install cameras everywhere, they spend at least a billion on security. At this point, it is illegal to post anti-olympics signs in Vancouver! This is insanity!”
According to the Olympics Resistance Network, the Games are taking place on stolen native land in British-Colombia. The vast majority of territory in this province was never formally ceded by treaty, contravening the Royal Proclamation of 1763. Therefore, the private interests that occupy these territories illegally profit from the extraction of natural resources.
Ironically, eight years ago, on December 10th 2001, employees from the SunPeaks ski resort were hired by BC Assets & Land developers to demolish the traditional residences and sacred sweatlodges of the Secwepemc people at McGillivary Lake, BC. The RCMP provided supervision and security for the demolition. The Secwepemc have since called for a boycott of Delta Hotels, the hotel chain that was the principal funder of the $40 million expansion of the ski resort.
“This is exactly the type of colonial and capitalist expansion that characterizes the Olympic machine,” said Billie Pierre, a Secwepemc activist who participated in today’s demonstration in Montreal. “That’s what the Olympic Games represent: contempt for indigenous peoples, environmental devastation, and forced displacement.”
Information : : [email protected]
http://olympicresistance.net/ - http://www.amp-montreal.net/ - http://no2010.com/ - http://www.dominionpaper.ca/olympics/
-30-
Olympic torch protested in Montreal
CBC News, Thursday, December 10, 2009
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/12/10/protests-torch-montre... (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/12/10/protests-torch-montreal.html)
Riot police had to intervene Thursday night to push back protesters at celebrations marking the arrival of the Olympic torch in Old Montreal.
More than 100 protesters gathered in front of the stage, carrying placards, and chanting "No Olympics on stolen native land."
No violent incidents were reported, and officers were on hand to make sure the event went smoothly, said Const. André Leclerc of the Montreal police.
The Vancouver Olympics have been the target of protests by native communities and anti-poverty activists, who are critical of what they said are misplaced priorities and the forced evictions of low-income earners.
On Monday, a group of Mohawk traditionalists in the Kahnawake reserve, south of Montreal, threatened to block the torch if the RCMP - officially escorting the flame across Canada - were part of the caravan.
Torch relay organizers finally agreed to allow the community's police force, the Kahnawake Mohawk Peacekeepers, to take over the security detail.
On Tuesday morning, the torch arrived at Montreal's Olympic Stadium to commemorate the city's Olympic connection.
The torch then visited other regions of the province, including Mont-Tremblant, before returning for a tour of the Island of Montreal on Thursday.
Earlier Thursday, Canadian figure-skating legend Barbara Ann Scott carried the torch into the House of Commons in Ottawa.
The torch run officially was to arrive in the national capital region on Saturday. However, an early side trip to Parliament was scheduled during the torch's Montreal leg because the House was expected to break for the Christmas recess on Friday.
The Olympic flame's cross-country route, at 45,000 kilometres, was planned to be the longest domestic torch relay in Games history.

[Eastside Revolt]

Disrupt the Olympic Torch in Stratford!




Date: Sunday, December 27, 2009
Time: 8:00am - 3:00pm
Location: front steps of Stratford city hall

DECLARATION OF THE ONKWEHONWE OF GRAND RIVER TERRITORY ON THE 2010 OLYMPIC
TORCH RELAY

Sunday, December 13th, 2009

Being Onkwehonwe (people) of the Grand River Territory, we strive to
uphold our responsibilities as stewards of the land and to the coming> faces.
In accordance with our responsibilities we declare:

This land is not conquered. we are not canadian. Our ancestors have fought
for 500 years to ensure this. Therefore asserting our sovereignty we
declare that canada and their six nations band council has no authority
over our territory. This authority rests with the Onkwehonwe (people).

On August 20th at a Six Nations Parks & Recreation department led
community meeting, Onkwehonwe present reached consensus that the torch was
not welcome through our territory. Canada has ignored the voice of the
Onkwehonwe, but this decision has not been forgotten.
As supporters of the people and with respect to all our relations we
hereby affirm our peaceful opposition to the entry and progression of the
2010 olympic torch into and through our territory. In accordance with the
Two-Row Wampum treaty we further invite any progression of the torch to
proceed around the boundaries of the heart of our Grand River Territory.

The 2010 olympics and torch relay do not reflect the principles of the
Great Law of Peace; a law that prioritizes life and land. We honor Etinoha
(Mother Earth) because she gives us life and we are bound to sustaining
that life cycle. Due to the corporate and state led destruction of
indigenous lands and life, we acknowledge the impacts the 2010 olympics
are having on the Onkwehonwe (people). We honor the call for solidarity
with those Onkwehonwe (peop0les) of the territories affected by the
olympics and the destructive legacy of manifest destiny.

This is not an attack on athleticism or sports; we feel that our legacy of
athleticism is not being honored, a legacy which has been rooted in our
traditions and spirituality for time immemorial. Onkwehonwe participation
in the olympic torch relay affirms canada's attempt to hide the negative
image they have in the international arena for their treatment of the
onkwehonwe (peop0les). This has been proven in canada's refusal to sign
the UN declaration of the rights of indigenous peoples, refusal to uphold
our treaties including the Two Row Wampum, ongoing land claims, the
effects of the residential school legacy and the continuing issues of
violence against our women and children.

Through our opposition to the torch relay, we seek to enlighten and
educate others of the corruption created by this facade of peace and unity
with the Onkwehonwe (peoples) that the olympics exhibit. We recognize that
the benefit of any participation in these olympics is temporary, however
the impacts will be longlasting and destructive.

In the spirit of peace and in honor of our Coming Faces.

[Niall]

"For those that are unaware, the city of Vancouver is located on stolen native land, the coming Olympics pose to further devastate and plunder the land, as well as to further empoverish native people as well as the whole poor polulation of Greater Vancouver. "

just happened upon this thread. I dont know anything in regards to canada really, could someone explain this statement to me please

[FreeFocus]

"For those that are unaware, the city of Vancouver is located on stolen native land, the coming Olympics pose to further devastate and plunder the land, as well as to further empoverish native people as well as the whole poor polulation of Greater Vancouver. "

just happened upon this thread. I dont know anything in regards to canada really, could someone explain this statement to me please

Canada is a settler state, surely this much is not new information. Vancouver is located in British Columbia, which is notable in Canadian imperialism because unlike in other provinces, no treaties whatsoever were agreed upon with any First Nation.

Natives in Canada suffer from poverty and disease as a result of capitalism and Canadian imperialism. The Olympics exacerbates this by leading to more corporate land confiscation, repression against the poor, etc.

[StoneFrog]

TBH how does protesting on the grounds of stolen land help in the class struggle? I mean say if socialism in what ever form where in place in canada, what would be said then that all non natives have to suffer a penalty of some sort (i.e leaving, pay some sort of fee)? I kinda feel that its not the point that needs to be made from a the left. I do live here in vancouver, im not from canada only been here few years. I do know that in the original canadian constitution majority of the west was designated native land, only when the gold rush hit is when Europeans started taking land in the west.

The point IMO that need to be focused on is that vancouver city has the biggest homeless issue among the "first world nation cities". Yet they spend millions on the Olympics and all they seem to be doing about the homeless problem is move them to different locations. They don't want the image of all the homeless people, yet they won't spend the money on the people who need it but just move them. In the last year homeless people has spiked, i know of a charity that can't even cope any more because there are more and more homeless and people who have fallen below the poverty line for them to provide for.

I am not saying what happened/happening to the natives was right, but i don't see how using the argument of stolen land helps promote equality and socialism. I feel is drives a wedge deeper in the division of natives and non natives. I guess i feel that claiming land is just away of stating ownership, i don't believe in any sort of ownership of land.

[Eastside Revolt]

TBH how does protesting on the grounds of stolen land help in the class struggle? I mean say if socialism in what ever form where in place in canada, what would be said then that all non natives have to suffer a penalty of some sort (i.e leaving, pay some sort of fee)? I kinda feel that its not the point that needs to be made from a the left. I do live here in vancouver, im not from canada only been here few years. I do know that in the original canadian constitution majority of the west was designated native land, only when the gold rush hit is when Europeans started taking land in the west.


Further coporate plunder and destruction of the earth certainly don't help in the class struggle either.

Recognizing who's territory we are on, is absolutely necessary, to building links and solidarity that could create a movement powerful enough to take on the ruling class.

[Eastside Revolt]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8 ARRESTED DURING BLOCKADE OF OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY ON TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY

ORN-O Blockades Olympic Torch Relay, 8 People Arrested During Shut
Down of Trans Canada Highway

For Immediate Release, January 2, 2010

Aboriginal protesters counter Canada and VANOC’s claims that the 2010
Games are supported by First Nations
Nairn Centre, Ontario—Today just before 1pm a group of aboriginal
youth and allies briefly blockaded the Trans Canada Highway bridge
over the Spanish River (west of Espanola), disrupting the Olympic
Torch Relay on its way from Sudbury to Sault Ste Marie. Youth from
several different First Nations attempted to erect a 20ft tripod to
block the Torch Relay. All eight have been arrested by local police.

Today’s blockade was to draw attention to the real injustices being
perpetuated by VANOC and the IOC for the 2010 Olympics; to draw
attention away from the sanitized and greenwashed version of Canada
that the government and the Games are trying to present. Olympic
Resistance Network protests across the country have highlighted the
ongoing colonization of unceded Indigenous territories, environmental
destruction caused for the Games, and the displacement and
criminalization of the urban poor in Vancouver, the squandering of
public resources to pay for the Games, and the instigation of a
contemporary police state to secure them.

Anishinabe youth Mark Corbiere, said that, “VANOC and the government
of Canada can no longer whitewash Canada’s brutal legacy of ongoing
colonialism, nor its abysmal environmental record; these are the
things Canada and VANOC really represent, and we will not let them use
the Olympic spotlight to put their lies unchallenged before the global
public.”

This peaceful blockade, conducted in solidarity with communities
affected by the Olympics in British Columbia, comes on the heels of
direct actions across southern Ontario, including at Torch Relay stops
in Kingston, Toronto, Hamilton, Six Nations, Oneida, London,
Stratford, Kitchener, Guelph and Barrie. At all of these stops, one of
the main messages has been, “No Olympics on Stolen Native Land.”

The group explains that this anti-Olympic slogan counters recent media
claims that Canada’s aboriginal communities support the Games: “VANOC
and the government of Canada want Canadians and the world to believe
that they have worked with First Nations people in allegedly
meaningful ways to create a so-called joint partnership for the
Games,” said Corbiere. “However,” he continues, “the reality is that
the organizers of the 2010 Games have taken every opportunity to
profit from the destruction of Indigenous lands, appropriate
Indigenous culture, create division within Indigenous communities, and
generally forward the destructive myth that First Nations are treated
with respect and dignity by the Canadian government; we resist against
these lies, we resist against Canadian colonialism, and we support
those who say no to the tidal wave of Olympic development on our
lands.”

All Eight people have already been released. ORN-O’s legal and media
teams are waiting for updates.

[FreeFocus]

TBH how does protesting on the grounds of stolen land help in the class struggle? I mean say if socialism in what ever form where in place in canada, what would be said then that all non natives have to suffer a penalty of some sort (i.e leaving, pay some sort of fee)? I kinda feel that its not the point that needs to be made from a the left. I do live here in vancouver, im not from canada only been here few years. I do know that in the original canadian constitution majority of the west was designated native land, only when the gold rush hit is when Europeans started taking land in the west.

The point IMO that need to be focused on is that vancouver city has the biggest homeless issue among the "first world nation cities". Yet they spend millions on the Olympics and all they seem to be doing about the homeless problem is move them to different locations. They don't want the image of all the homeless people, yet they won't spend the money on the people who need it but just move them. In the last year homeless people has spiked, i know of a charity that can't even cope any more because there are more and more homeless and people who have fallen below the poverty line for them to provide for.

I am not saying what happened/happening to the natives was right, but i don't see how using the argument of stolen land helps promote equality and socialism. I feel is drives a wedge deeper in the division of natives and non natives. I guess i feel that claiming land is just away of stating ownership, i don't believe in any sort of ownership of land.

As a Native, I'm surely not interested with organizing with people (descendants of settlers) who are unable to respect my culture or history and have the typical arrogance that is embedded in a settler state society.

It's easy to say you "don't believe in any sort of ownership of land" when your ancestors weren't killed for it and your people ethnically cleansed. No one is suggesting sending non-natives back to Europe or wherever. What's being suggested is acknowledging Canadian settler imperialism, history, and making a real effort to build bridges between peoples. That can't be done when white supremacy and settlerist attitudes prevail.

[Eastside Revolt]

TO ALL LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS EDITORS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UPDATE # 2 OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY BEING DISRUPTED ACROSS CANADA!

Anti-Olympic Protesters bring their message of resistance across
Canada; Olympic Torch shamed.

January 7, 2010, Vancouver Unceded Coast Salish Territories- Protesters
are bringing their anti-Olympic message with chants of “No Olympics on
Stolen Native Land”, “Get your torch off our land, we don’t want your
Olympic scam” and “2010 Homes not 2010 Games” across Canada. In many
instances, activists have successfully disrupted the Torch Relay, forcing
delays and route cancellations, with at least ten arrests associated with
anti-Torch related actions.

The torch is currently in Manitoba. In Winnipeg, the torch parade was
blockaded for fifteen minutes, forcing the relay team to extinguish the
torch and be transported forward in a truck. While passing through Treaty
One territory, Roseau River Anishnabe First Nation Chief Terry Nelson made
clear “we cannot allow those athletes to go home believing that Canada is
a bastion of human rights. We, as indigenous people, are not terrorists.
There is no list of over 500 murdered and missing white women killed by
indigenous men, there is however a list of over 500 murdered and missing
indigenous women, most of those women were killed by white men.”

The torch has just passed through Ontario, where a series of high-profile
actions and blockades have taken place. Six Nations community activists
succeeded in diverting the Olympic Torch from the heart of the Grand River
territory. Instead, torchbearers took turns running it around a parking
lot. "It's the first time where any person who has stood up against these
torch and Olympics has actually had a success in being able to move the
celebration,'' protest spokeswoman Missy Elliott said. A Declaration
stated “This land is not conquered. We are not Canadian… We hereby affirm
our peaceful opposition to the entry and progression of the 2010 Olympic
torch into and through our territory.” (Visit:
http://6nsolidarity.wordpress.com).

A day later, a blockade in Oneida First Nation, near London, forced the
torch to re-route off the reserve entirely. Citing so-called safety
concerns, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic Winter
Games said they would not be visiting Oneida as there were members
pledging to disrupt the relay and prohibit the flame from entering their
community.

Ringing in the New Year, Algonquin, Anishnabe and Haudenosaunee youth were
arrested by OPP while setting up a blockade of the Olympic Torch Relay on
the Trans Canada Hwy as it travelled from Sudbury to Sault Ste Marie. Mark
Corbiere, a member of M’Chigeeng First Nation said that the point of the
blockade was “to challenge the idea being rolled forward by VANOC that
Canada has a respectful and progressive relationship with Indigenous
people and their nations.” The activists were released without charges.
(Press releases at: http://peaceculture.org)

In Guelph, a torch bearer fell to the ground, dropping the torch after the
protest and torch had a collision. Protestors in the streets of Guelph met
the torch as it was approaching the downtown area and turning a corner. A
scuffle occurred between the torch security/entourage and the protesters.

The torch bearer and one of their escorts fell to the ground, dropping the
torch. One person was arrested and is being charged with assault.
In Toronto over 250 people took to the streets on December 17, blocking
major intersections and forcing the cancellation of the Torch in parts of
downtown Toronto. A banner dropped directly across the stage read “Gego
Olympics Da-Te-Snoon Nishnaabe-Giing Ga-Gmooding” (“No Olympics on Stolen
Native Land” in Anishinaabemowin). (Visit
http://torontotorch.blogspot.com)

In London, a group of protestors, who rallied and handed out over 1000
flyers, succeeded in having Torch relay volunteers join the protest
instead. (Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEkO04VL334) . In Barrie
Ontario, shortly after unrolling their "No Olympics on Stolen native land"
banner, one of the protestors was attacked by an attendee. In Kitchener,
over 150 people participating in a snake march, consisting of two banner
drops across from RBC and within the public torch ceremonies. Protestors
converged in Stratford City Hall to vocalize their opposition, to be met
with a heavy police presence.
For full torch relay updates from Ontario:
http://peaceculture.org/drupal/node/439

At least four communities in the province of Quebec have opposed the Torch
Relay: Sept-Iles, Montreal, Kanahwake First Nations, and Quebec City. In
Montreal, over 200 people converged and delayed the relay as well as the
main ceremonies and concert. (Visit: http://www.amp-montreal.net).

On October 30, over 400 people gathered to oppose the Torch Relay launch
in Victoria. An Anti-Olympics Festival and Zombie March succeeded in
disrupting the relay. Security personnel were forced to extinguish the
torch, load it in a van, and reroute it. (Visit
http://no2010victoria.net).

Actions have also occurred in cities as diverse as Comox Valley, Halifax,
Ottawa, Kingston, and St. John's. With the number of protesters equaling
or exceeding spectators, dissatisfaction to the 2010 Winter Olympics is
growing across Canada. According to a November 2009 Angus-Reid poll, over
30% of B.C. residents feel the Olympics will have a negative impact and
almost 40% of residents support protesters.

Protesters note that the Olympics are not simply about the athletes;
rather the corporate Games are leaving a legacy of displacement,
militarization, and repression. Public funds invested by all levels of
government are nearing $7 billion. According to the Olympic Resistance
Network, “While Olympic corporate sponsors are getting bailed out,
Indigenous lands are being stolen, people are becoming homeless, thousands are losing their jobs and access to public services, the environment is
being destroyed, and civil liberties are being eroded with almost a
billion dollars sunk into surveillance. The negative Olympic legacy is
turning into an anti-Olympic legacy of resistance across the country.”
Social justice activists also believe that the Olympic Torch is a $25
million propaganda tool for corporate sponsors who have some of the worst social and environmental practices. The Royal Bank of Canada has been under fire for its financing of the environmentally devastating Alberta
Tar Sands, while Coca Cola has been responsible for massive depletion of
groundwater and toxic waste pollution in India.

[Eastside Revolt]

****Update The Original Post****

[Eastside Revolt]

Native Youth Movement Confront Olympic Torch in Secwepemc Nation
January 27, 2010

The Olympic torch was confronted by Secwepemc and their supporters in the
Secwepemc Nation, in the invader (settler) town of Chase, so-called british
kkkolumbia, KKKanada. With the message "Secwepemc Say No Olympics"
and "Olympic Torch Not Welcome in Secwepemc Nation"
Secwepemc have a long standing fight with the government of KKKanada and british kkkolumbia because of the fight for Secwepemc Land and Freedom. Secwepemc have never signed treaties or they have never ceded or surrendered their Secwepemc Nation. Secwepemc say NO to the BC treaty process, the modern day treaty wants get rid of the Native Peoples and take control of the last remaining lands and water (so-called resources) from their Territory. Historic Dispute with Olympics Secwepemc Land and Freedom Fighters travelled to Europe in 2002 to hand deliver a formal submission to the International Olympic Committee and let the IOC and the World know that the Olympics is not welcome here in so-called KKKanada, because of the long standing Indigenous land dispute and continued violations of Indigenous and Human Rights. KKKanada does not permission to be here and is currently illegally occupying Indigenous Nations.

Where ever the Olympics sets foot they wage war on the Earth and the
Indigenous Peoples. No Olympics On Native Land.

Native Youth Movement Says:

The Olympics and KKKanada is using it&#39;s global spotlight to market our
Indigenous Territories for sale, but we want the World to know "OUR LANDS
ARE NOT FOR SALE." KKKanada is here illegally and "This is all Native
Land". This is simply not just another "issue", We are fighting for our
Freedom to continue to exist and live as true Secwepemc on our Lands without any foreign invader occupation on our Lands. Major corporate sponsors like Coca-cola and RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) are destroying Indigenous Territories all over the World, including the Tar Sands (the most
destructive project in the history of humanity). We are now in the IV World
War, the war against the Earth itself.

We stand in solidarity with all Indigenous Peoples fighting for their Lands
and Freedom Worldwide.

Defend the Earth. No Olympics on Native Land. No Trans Canada Hwy
expansion through Secwepemc Nation. No CP Rail expansion through Secwepemc
Nation.

Shut Down the Tar Sands. Solidarity with the Zapatista. Solidarity with the
Mapuche. Get the Shell Out of Sacred Headwaters -Tahltan Nation.

Native Youth Movement
[email protected]
http://nativeyouthmovement.org

[Eastside Revolt]

Native Youth Movement Confront Olympic Torch in Secwepemc Nation
January 27, 2010

The Olympic torch was confronted by Secwepemc and their supporters in the
Secwepemc Nation, in the invader (settler) town of Chase, so-called british
kkkolumbia, KKKanada. With the message "Secwepemc Say No Olympics"
and "Olympic Torch Not Welcome in Secwepemc Nation"
Secwepemc have a long standing fight with the government of KKKanada and british kkkolumbia because of the fight for Secwepemc Land and Freedom. Secwepemc have never signed treaties or they have never ceded or surrendered their Secwepemc Nation. Secwepemc say NO to the BC treaty process, the modern day treaty wants get rid of the Native Peoples and take control of the last remaining lands and water (so-called resources) from their Territory. Historic Dispute with Olympics Secwepemc Land and Freedom Fighters travelled to Europe in 2002 to hand deliver a formal submission to the International Olympic Committee and let the IOC and the World know that the Olympics is not welcome here in so-called KKKanada, because of the long standing Indigenous land dispute and continued violations of Indigenous and Human Rights. KKKanada does not permission to be here and is currently illegally occupying Indigenous Nations.

Where ever the Olympics sets foot they wage war on the Earth and the
Indigenous Peoples. No Olympics On Native Land.

Native Youth Movement Says:

The Olympics and KKKanada is using it&#39;s global spotlight to market our
Indigenous Territories for sale, but we want the World to know "OUR LANDS
ARE NOT FOR SALE." KKKanada is here illegally and "This is all Native
Land". This is simply not just another "issue", We are fighting for our
Freedom to continue to exist and live as true Secwepemc on our Lands without any foreign invader occupation on our Lands. Major corporate sponsors like Coca-cola and RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) are destroying Indigenous Territories all over the World, including the Tar Sands (the most
destructive project in the history of humanity). We are now in the IV World
War, the war against the Earth itself.

We stand in solidarity with all Indigenous Peoples fighting for their Lands
and Freedom Worldwide.

Defend the Earth. No Olympics on Native Land. No Trans Canada Hwy
expansion through Secwepemc Nation. No CP Rail expansion through Secwepemc
Nation.

Shut Down the Tar Sands. Solidarity with the Zapatista. Solidarity with the
Mapuche. Get the Shell Out of Sacred Headwaters -Tahltan Nation.

Native Youth Movement
[email protected]
http://nativeyouthmovement.org

[Eastside Revolt]

Native Youth Movement Confront Olympic Torch in Secwepemc Nation
January 27, 2010

The Olympic torch was confronted by Secwepemc and their supporters in the
Secwepemc Nation, in the invader (settler) town of Chase, so-called british
kkkolumbia, KKKanada. With the message "Secwepemc Say No Olympics"
and "Olympic Torch Not Welcome in Secwepemc Nation"
Secwepemc have a long standing fight with the government of KKKanada and british kkkolumbia because of the fight for Secwepemc Land and Freedom. Secwepemc have never signed treaties or they have never ceded or surrendered their Secwepemc Nation. Secwepemc say NO to the BC treaty process, the modern day treaty wants get rid of the Native Peoples and take control of the last remaining lands and water (so-called resources) from their Territory. Historic Dispute with Olympics Secwepemc Land and Freedom Fighters travelled to Europe in 2002 to hand deliver a formal submission to the International Olympic Committee and let the IOC and the World know that the Olympics is not welcome here in so-called KKKanada, because of the long standing Indigenous land dispute and continued violations of Indigenous and Human Rights. KKKanada does not permission to be here and is currently illegally occupying Indigenous Nations.

Where ever the Olympics sets foot they wage war on the Earth and the
Indigenous Peoples. No Olympics On Native Land.

Native Youth Movement Says:

The Olympics and KKKanada is using it's global spotlight to market our
Indigenous Territories for sale, but we want the World to know "OUR LANDS
ARE NOT FOR SALE." KKKanada is here illegally and "This is all Native
Land". This is simply not just another "issue", We are fighting for our
Freedom to continue to exist and live as true Secwepemc on our Lands without any foreign invader occupation on our Lands. Major corporate sponsors like Coca-cola and RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) are destroying Indigenous Territories all over the World, including the Tar Sands (the most
destructive project in the history of humanity). We are now in the IV World
War, the war against the Earth itself.

We stand in solidarity with all Indigenous Peoples fighting for their Lands
and Freedom Worldwide.

Defend the Earth. No Olympics on Native Land. No Trans Canada Hwy
expansion through Secwepemc Nation. No CP Rail expansion through Secwepemc
Nation.

Shut Down the Tar Sands. Solidarity with the Zapatista. Solidarity with the
Mapuche. Get the Shell Out of Sacred Headwaters -Tahltan Nation.

Native Youth Movement
[email protected]
http://nativeyouthmovement.org