mr.x
September 22nd, 2008, 05:38 AM
First Nations protest groups intend to sabotage the Olympic Spirit Train's trip across the country by having protests at each of its stops:
http://media.canada.com/2de3e3f6-b472-4835-9142-3ead50913788/cp19.jpg
Sprit Train official website: http://www.cpspirittrain.com/
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/6e9fe79e-c481-414d-8db7-5b24ff08866b/prv0921n%20olympicspirittrain.jpg
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.
Protests to trail 2010 Olympic Spirit Train route
Updated Fri. Sep. 19 2008 1:46 PM ET
The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER -- An event designed to drum up enthusiasm for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver is set to begin amid threats of nationwide protests.
Canadian Pacific's Spirit Train is scheduled to leave Port Moody, B.C., on Sunday for a 10-city tour and activists say they'll be at every stop.
"Across the country people have an understanding the Olympics has created (and) perpetuated, displacement, homelessness, destruction of the environment and increasing theft of indigenous land," said Harsha Walia of the Olympic Resistance Network, which is spearheading the call for national protests.
Opposition to the Olympic Games has been constant since Vancouver was awarded the bid in 2003 but some protest groups say their membership is getting stronger as the Games near.
"I think its fair to say that many communities, urban, rural and remote are becoming more educated about the oppression the Olympics brings, especially with all the media coverage in Beijing," said Angela Sterritt of Native 2010 Resistance, which is connected to the resistance network.
First Nations activists have been vocal in their opposition to the Games, saying they are being held illegally on traditional territories.
It's an attitude organizers have worked hard to try and counter.
The federal government has signed agreements worth billions of dollars with the four bands whose traditional territories are home to the Games and with whom Olympic organizers have also built official relationships.
Aboriginal themes weave through much of the 2010 Olympic designs and aboriginal artists will be playing at the Spirit Train events.
But the train is still chugging on dangerous tracks -- blocking rail lines has become a favoured tactic of native leaders, though activists wouldn't disclose the exact nature of any Spirit Train protests.
"Rail right of ways continue to trespass reserves and are the subject of specific claims," said Sterritt.
"It is fitting that a train trip is used to spread the `Olympic spirit,' in that rail was a harbinger of cultural destruction and is today continuing that legacy via the 2010 Winter Olympics."
Both CP and the Vancouver organizing committee said they're prepared for protests.
"We also hope the people recognize the need for peaceful protest if you feel compelled to do that, things that don't disrupt certainly wouldn't disrupt the business of CP or other rail users but don't endanger the people," said Maureen Douglas, director of community relations for the committee.
"This is about bringing the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic movement."
Although the Spirit Train protests could be seen as a test run for potential protests around the Olympic torch relay which will begin late in 2009, activists say that is not the case.
The rail company said it hopes that if there are protests, they remain under control.
"We understand people's right to protest and we hope that they do it peacefully," said Breanne Feigel, a spokeswoman for CP.
"This is a family event and it's a free family event for everybody and really the goal of the Olympic Spirit train and CP's programming is to be all inclusive."
The train will start in Port Moody and stop in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Mississauga and Smith Falls, Ont., before ending its journey in Montreal on Oct. 18.
The day-long festivities around each stop will showcase local and Canadian talents like Colin James and feature mini-Olympic villages where visitors can try out a luge start or get their photograph taken as if ski jumping.
The Spirit Train will make a repeat journey in the fall of 2009 and potentially after the Games as a tour for medallists.
CP Rail, as the official rail freight services supplier to the 2010 Vancouver Games, paid somewhere between $3 million and $15 million for the sponsorship, in exchange for access to tickets and the use of Olympic trademarks for such promotional events.
Do these people have anything better to do? The Olympics, if anything, have benefited the First Nations of B.C. with nearly a hundred million dollars going towards local bands. And the First Nations are being represented very much in 2010.
As well, these Games are happening whether they like it or not.....
Really, these people are losers and we need to re-write our laws into making protests non-disruptive only, not just peaceful protests. It's the same as thinking you can bring in an air horn into a concert and try to disrupt the performance. This is just ridiculous and disgusting:
- 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."
- 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.
- 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.
http://media.canada.com/2de3e3f6-b472-4835-9142-3ead50913788/cp19.jpg
Sprit Train official website: http://www.cpspirittrain.com/
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/6e9fe79e-c481-414d-8db7-5b24ff08866b/prv0921n%20olympicspirittrain.jpg
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.
Protests to trail 2010 Olympic Spirit Train route
Updated Fri. Sep. 19 2008 1:46 PM ET
The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER -- An event designed to drum up enthusiasm for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver is set to begin amid threats of nationwide protests.
Canadian Pacific's Spirit Train is scheduled to leave Port Moody, B.C., on Sunday for a 10-city tour and activists say they'll be at every stop.
"Across the country people have an understanding the Olympics has created (and) perpetuated, displacement, homelessness, destruction of the environment and increasing theft of indigenous land," said Harsha Walia of the Olympic Resistance Network, which is spearheading the call for national protests.
Opposition to the Olympic Games has been constant since Vancouver was awarded the bid in 2003 but some protest groups say their membership is getting stronger as the Games near.
"I think its fair to say that many communities, urban, rural and remote are becoming more educated about the oppression the Olympics brings, especially with all the media coverage in Beijing," said Angela Sterritt of Native 2010 Resistance, which is connected to the resistance network.
First Nations activists have been vocal in their opposition to the Games, saying they are being held illegally on traditional territories.
It's an attitude organizers have worked hard to try and counter.
The federal government has signed agreements worth billions of dollars with the four bands whose traditional territories are home to the Games and with whom Olympic organizers have also built official relationships.
Aboriginal themes weave through much of the 2010 Olympic designs and aboriginal artists will be playing at the Spirit Train events.
But the train is still chugging on dangerous tracks -- blocking rail lines has become a favoured tactic of native leaders, though activists wouldn't disclose the exact nature of any Spirit Train protests.
"Rail right of ways continue to trespass reserves and are the subject of specific claims," said Sterritt.
"It is fitting that a train trip is used to spread the `Olympic spirit,' in that rail was a harbinger of cultural destruction and is today continuing that legacy via the 2010 Winter Olympics."
Both CP and the Vancouver organizing committee said they're prepared for protests.
"We also hope the people recognize the need for peaceful protest if you feel compelled to do that, things that don't disrupt certainly wouldn't disrupt the business of CP or other rail users but don't endanger the people," said Maureen Douglas, director of community relations for the committee.
"This is about bringing the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic movement."
Although the Spirit Train protests could be seen as a test run for potential protests around the Olympic torch relay which will begin late in 2009, activists say that is not the case.
The rail company said it hopes that if there are protests, they remain under control.
"We understand people's right to protest and we hope that they do it peacefully," said Breanne Feigel, a spokeswoman for CP.
"This is a family event and it's a free family event for everybody and really the goal of the Olympic Spirit train and CP's programming is to be all inclusive."
The train will start in Port Moody and stop in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Mississauga and Smith Falls, Ont., before ending its journey in Montreal on Oct. 18.
The day-long festivities around each stop will showcase local and Canadian talents like Colin James and feature mini-Olympic villages where visitors can try out a luge start or get their photograph taken as if ski jumping.
The Spirit Train will make a repeat journey in the fall of 2009 and potentially after the Games as a tour for medallists.
CP Rail, as the official rail freight services supplier to the 2010 Vancouver Games, paid somewhere between $3 million and $15 million for the sponsorship, in exchange for access to tickets and the use of Olympic trademarks for such promotional events.
Do these people have anything better to do? The Olympics, if anything, have benefited the First Nations of B.C. with nearly a hundred million dollars going towards local bands. And the First Nations are being represented very much in 2010.
As well, these Games are happening whether they like it or not.....
Really, these people are losers and we need to re-write our laws into making protests non-disruptive only, not just peaceful protests. It's the same as thinking you can bring in an air horn into a concert and try to disrupt the performance. This is just ridiculous and disgusting:
- 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."
- 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.
- 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.