idiots......nothing can stop these Games from coming to the city. All they are doing is embarrassing us all and making the Games even more expensive for taxpayers since the pole ($6,000) and 5x7.6 metre flag ($1,600) will now have to be replaced at the expense of the city.
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060228/060228_vancouverflag_hlg_4p.hlarge.jpg



Olympic flag theft and 'crime of anger' — police

Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Vancouver city hall has ordered a complete review of its security after vandals stole the massive Olympic flag that flew outside the building on the eve of an important visit by the International Olympic Committee.

The removal of the 5 x 7.6 metre flag overnight late Monday or early today took place after someone cut a stainless steel cable on the seven-storey flag pole and then ripped the flag off the damaged assembly. They left an accompanying Paralympic flag on an adjacent pole untouched.

It was both embarrassing and costly for the city, which is also having to foot the cost of increased security at the Olympic countdown clock at the Vancouver Art Gallery. In addition to the $1,600-custom-made flag, the $6,000 pole was also seriously damaged and may have to be replaced, according to police.

The theft comes less than a week before the city holds an “Olympic flag lighting ceremony” March 12 to illuminate the emblems at night. More acutely, however, it took place as the IOC’s Vancouver coordination commission begins three days of meetings.

A clearly irritated Mayor Sam Sullivan said the theft was a distinctly “uncivil” thing to do in a city that wants the 2010 Winter Olympics.

“I am very open to protests, to expressions of concerns, but when you cross the line into theft, vandalism and criminal activity, that’s different. We all need to be civil in the way we express ourselves,” he said.

Vancouver Police spokesman Const. Tim Fanning said investigators believe a group of people were responsible but don’t have suspects. The vandals pried a plate off the pole to get at the internal cable, and then didn’t simpy remove the flag when it came to the ground. Instead, they ripped it off with force and left part of the emblem attached to the lanyard.

“This was definitely a crime of anger. There was no intrinsic value to the flag,” he said.

The flag is one of two replicas manufactured in Vancouver. The other will be put up before Monday’s lighting ceremony. The historic Oslo flag, the first Olympic flag flown at a Winter Olympics, and which is on loan to Vancouver, hangs safely inside city hall.
© Vancouver Sun 2007

http://www.rogersradiointernet.com/BC/CKWX/images/2007/city-hall_20070306_flag-poll.jpg
Anti-Poverty Committee applauds theft of Olympic flag

Tuesday, March 06 - 02:43:20 PM Reshmi Nair

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The Olympic flag has been stolen from Vancouver City Hall and the usual suspects are applauding the culprits.

Anti-Poverty Committee activists took part in an Olympic attack a few weeks ago, but while David Cunningham says they're not involved in this, he supports who ever is. "That's not to say that we don't support nearly any action against the Olympics. Given the amount of money that's spent around this flag and the symbolism, it's quite significant that somebody took this flag down."

Constable Tim Fanning says it must have taken more than one person to steal the flag early this morning since it's 16 by 25 feet. "Once they got the flad down, they ripped it, rather than unclipping it, so the flag is now ruined even if we recover the flag"

Police say there's about $10,000 worth of damage, but Fanning says the 'crime of anger' isn't going to stop any plans. "A flag lighting ceremony that's going to be taking place on March 12th at City Hall, that will be going ahead as scheduled.

The APC is promising to be there and to do whatever it takes to disrupt the ceremony.

you know.. we're just embarassing ourselves..
and hurting your pockets..
poverty poverty poverty
if youre so poor,
how come you have the energy to do all these stupid things
and not GO OUT AND FIND A JOB?
not everyone in this country gets money that easily
by having government just giving you money
YOU EARN IT
look at china, if youre poor, too bad, earn it
even if we jail them, its a waste of money of taxpayers for feeding them.

i know its sick

they want to be poor - there is no excuse

the stupid thing is these activists are just exploiting the DTES residents since from what i have seen of the protesters - they do not look uneducated or poor but lost looking for a cause

you know.. we're just embarassing ourselves..
and hurting your pockets..
poverty poverty poverty
if youre so poor,
how come you have the energy to do all these stupid things
and not GO OUT AND FIND A JOB?
not everyone in this country gets money that easily
by having government just giving you money
YOU EARN IT
look at china, if youre poor, too bad, earn it
even if we jail them, its a waste of money of taxpayers for feeding them.

we should dedicate an island in the tropics just for them, preferably surrounded by thousands and thousands of sharks, for all people like them around the world.

i watched a show on a channel once that had protesters and squatters like this and their stance in life was this

soicety is so wasteful that why should we not live off their waste and squat in empty houses? they can get by begging for food and money and get free shelter so why should they work and be a part of a society that is already so wasteful

The thing that gets me is that these people really have no say in the Olympics. They are clearly not valuable contributing members to society, or more specifically the City of Vancouver, so they have no say in what the leaders of Vancouver decide to do - host the olympics. Vancouver is not their city, it belongs to no one really, besides a collection of land owners, of which I highly doubt these people are a part of. They think it is their god given right to have a say in what goes on in this city.

you CHOOSE to live here. if you do not like what is happening here, then move. SIMPLE AS THAT. You do not have a say in events that happen in The City of Vancouver just because you live here. You have an opinion. If you want to turn that opinion into action, EDUCATE yourself, and become a political leader. Not part of an activist group fueled by emotions that cause civil disobedience.

So they think acting like children and taking part in petty crime will help them with their cause. Yeah right...

I agree with westcoast604. I feel people that live here but don't own should still have a say though, as not everyone can afford to own. The problem with these people is they don't beleive in democracy. The people voted for the olympics. The people voted for this government. If you don't like what your neighbours have chosen, then move. That's what some americans did when Bush was elected a second time.

Protesters threaten to disrupt Olympic flag illumination


Damian Inwood, The Province
Published: Wednesday, March 07, 2007

A protest group that disrupted last month's unveiling of the Olympic countdown clock is threatening to "shut down" an Olympic flag-illuminating ceremony at Vancouver City Hall next week.

Mayor Sam Sullivan lashed out at the threats as being "against the rules of civilized behaviour."

While the Anti-Poverty Committee denied it stole a $1,600 Olympic flag from outside city hall early yesterday, spokeswoman Mary Claremont said the group wished it had.

"In fact, this upcoming March 12, we will do whatever it takes to shut down the city's Olympic event being held at city hall," added Claremont.

The committee helped organize a rally at the Olympic-clock unveiling Feb. 12. Since then, round-the-clock security has been mounted to protect the clock at Georgia and Hornby.

Sullivan and Olympic and government officials will turn on the lights to illuminate city hall's Olympic and Paralympic flags at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

"That is completely against the rules of civilized behaviour and that is very irresponsible for them to talk in that way," fumed Sullivan after being told of the APC protest plan. "We all pride ourselves on having a city where we accept and support people's right to protest. When people take advantage and cross the line with vandalism and destroying public property, I think they hurt themselves."

City spokeswoman Jennifer Young said security will be there to deal with any protesters next week.

"The replacement flag is about $1,600, but there was damage to the flag pole and the faceplate to access the halyard was ripped off," she said of the stolen flag.

Canadian Olympic committee president Michael Chambers was disappointed that the flag was stolen. "It's frustrating to think that someone is so skewed in their view of all the good things the Olympics are about that they would go and do something like that," he said.

Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee spokeswoman Renee Smith-Valade said the stolen flag is a replica and not the one brought back from the Turin Olympics by Sullivan.

She said the city will pay for the damage and the flag will be replaced by next week. dinwood@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Province 2007

This stupid group (refuse to dignify them by giving them a name), is running unchecked throughout town. The city or police can get up and do something anytime now. Recently I went to a building auction for a property on the DTES. These morons were allowed in the venue where the auction was held, and were handing out pamphlets to perspective owners advising them that they should pass on the property because squatters were likely to occupy the site. (kind of a veiled threat sort a thing).

I was appalled that such a thing could occur. I wish they would handle such matters they way they used to in Vancouver. This would usually involve a billy club to the head, followed by a choice between 1) obeying the law, 2) a one way bus ticket to Edmonton 3) A stay at Riverview. MOST took option 1.

in my eyes , Vancouver is showing the intire world they are not up to the challenge to properly secure the olypics . Every time there is an event to do with the olympics , the security FAILS .

They just put up a new one. It looks like there are people protesting the new one being put up (I hear some yelling from that area)

While I may not agree with everything they do, dissent is important. I'd rather have some protestors running around than censorship and some of the other authoritan suggestions that are cropping up. The suggestion that only property owners should have votes is quite a throwback—something that you might find in the Victorian era, and something that belongs there.

This thread is unfortunate, and the posts in it illustrate why ssc will remain the mecca for people banned from ssp, and little else.

While I may not agree with everything they do, dissent is important. I'd rather have some protestors running around than censorship and some of the other authoritan suggestions that are cropping up. The suggestion that only property owners should have votes is quite a throwback—something that you might find in the Victorian era, and something that belongs there.

This thread is unfortunate, and the posts in it illustrate why ssc will remain the mecca for people banned from ssp, and little else.

They are not protesting, they are interrupting the events and stealing/vandalizing property.
So you are saying people who own property in Vancouver should not be allowed to decide what goes on in the city that encompasses their property?


This thread is unfortunate, and the posts in it illustrate why ssc will remain the mecca for people banned from ssp, and little else.

So you find it ok to go and beat up the protesters with brass knukles, but not giving landowners the right to vote? :ohno:
No wonder I was never able to stick around that forum, I guess you need to stoop to a new low in order to qualify to be a member. If you want a polarized North American forum, go ahead and stay over there...

wtf?!!!! there are rumours the countdown clock was vandalized earlier in the week, with graffiti. they say the concrete base was painted by the city's graffiti squad. if true, it's disgusting and quite hard to imagine considering the clock is guarded 24/7.....did the guard leave for the washroom or something?

can somebody confirm this?

have you seen the guard?

when i walked past one night

he was standing there with tourists helping take pictures and talking chatting etc. and he was old

it woyuld have been very easy to do something as he wasn't really paying attention

i imagine a masked person could get in there and do some damage quickly - have one person to distract him and the other goes does the deed and takes off

have you seen the guard?

when i walked past one night

he was standing there with tourists helping take pictures and talking chatting etc. and he was old

it woyuld have been very easy to do something as he wasn't really paying attention

i imagine a masked person could get in there and do some damage quickly - have one person to distract him and the other goes does the deed and takes off

and yet, in three years, countdown clock security will cost us more than $270,000......and this is the kind of security we get.

yep the security continues to FAIL , FAIL , FAIL . I love how the hippy can band togeather when it comes to destroying things ,Then others defend them and try to say that us the ones who work , and contribute to society are to blame . When was the last time you saw a Protest lead by professionals or anyone NORMAL .

* To Rhino a " Hippie " or a "david suzuki lover" or "Tree Hugger" , are people who are of absalute NO value , hate society , and " the Man " . The tend to wear hemp shirts and rastafarian hats , play Hacky sacks , and listen to Bob Marley ( all though I like Bob Marley and have some of his C.D.s ).

Most dream of working in the rock and smoke shop , have at least 5 percings and hate thier parents yet still live in the moms basment at age 27 .

I don't think 'hippie' is the right word. Hippies tend to be more peaceful in their approach.

Hooligans is more like it. Or a bunch of bitter social misfits with a grude against society looking for trouble and attention.

and yet, in three years, countdown clock security will cost us more than $270,000......and this is the kind of security we get.

How about putting the clock OUT OF REACH? That way everyone can view it but not touch it. But I guess that would make things too easy.

How about putting the clock OUT OF REACH? That way everyone can view it but not touch it. But I guess that would make things too easy.

a 100 foot electrical fence?

How about putting the clock OUT OF REACH? That way everyone can view it but not touch it. But I guess that would make things too easy.

If there's a way for the maintenance crews to get to it...

According to CTV, the flag was stolen by......get this.......a First Nations militia. They were holding the flag hostage, and there was a picture of them with the flag behind them and they hid their faces and bodies, very much like videos of hostages in Iraq. it's sickening.

a 100 foot electrical fence?

I'm in. (As long there is barbed wire on the top and rabid dogs surrounding it). :)

Here's the story on the culprits.

The Globe and Mail

Trio claim they stole Olympic flag

Canadian Press

VANCOUVER — Thieves claiming responsibility for stealing the Olympic flag from outside Vancouver city hall earlier this week have apparently come forward to explain their actions.

In a photo e-mailed to some news outlets, three people are posing with what appears to be the flag that symbolizes the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Global TV reports that the supposed thieves call themselves the Native Warriors.

They say they stole the flag in honour of a native elder who was jailed for protesting the expansion of a West Vancouver highway that's being upgraded for the Olympics.

Harriet Nahanee died of pneumonia-related causes last month after serving a 14-day jail sentence for civil contempt but was also suffering undiagnosed lung cancer.

Const. Tim Fanning of the Vancouver police department says investigators will be taking a close look at the photo to determine if it's legitimate.

Police say those responsible for stealing the flag can expect to face criminal charges for theft and mischief.

Tewanee Joseph, executive director of the Four Host Nations, says he's not familiar with the group and hopes they'll drop off the flag.

Just found the letter they sent to the police and the photo.

http://i16.tinypic.com/4dy3c7s.jpg

March 7th, 2007 Coast Salish Territory [Vancouver, Canada]

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 6th, 2007, we removed the Olympic Flag from its flag-pole at Vancouver City Hall. We pried open the access panel on the pole with a crowbar, using a bolt-cutter, cut the metal cable/halyard inside, cause the flag to fall to the ground.

We claim this action in honor of Harriet Nahanee, our elder-warrior, who was given a death sentence by the BC courters for her courageous stand in defending Mother Earth.

We stand in solidarity with those fighting against th destruction caused by the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

No Olympics on Stolen Land!

Native Warrior Society

ok, i'm a little more sympathetic if they did it because somebody they loved died (rather than some loser wanting gov't handouts).....but otherwise, what they did was still very wrong.

I have no sympathy for people that break the law like this, but in this case their reasoning was at least not as sinister as first made out, though still foolish. What they don't realise is that they or someone else could have been injured during their late night activities. And what next? Is their little mission going to create larger visions of extremism?

Doesn't City Hall have better security or cctv cameras? Vancouver really needs to get with the programme with this.

<<<wow, post 500 finally after 2 years.:cheers:

They're dissidents even within their own Native community.

The Squamish band is actually looking forward to the Olympics, according to a spokesman of theirs on the evening news.

:lol:
This seems like one big prank more than anything.

You know you have issues when you have a giant flag as a hostage.

No offence but all these Games haters are pissing me off. The OG are coming and there really isn't anything they can do about it, so just enjoy it. I hope Vancouver won't make me think that the OG should've gone somewhere else.

these Fucken lossers should get real jobs and quite playing Terrorist.


We claim this action in honor of Harriet Nahanee, our elder-warrior, who was given a death sentence by the BC courters for her courageous stand in defending Mother Earth.

What is this supposed to mean ? fucken lossers , maybe we as British Columbians should start a Minuite Man type thing for the 2010 games.