Share this
Mister Wong
Digg
Del.icio.us
Slashdot
Furl
Yahoo
Technorati
Newsvine
Googlize this
Blinklist
Facebook
Wikio
Export PDF
Print
E-mail
Victoria Rains on Torch Parade
by C. L. Cook
A day of unnatural warmth ended with evening rains in British Columbia's capital city Friday, soaking the anxious onlookers waiting for the great Olympic torch bearers. A bring down too to the much ballyhooed 2010 launch in Victoria was 500 determined critics of Vancouver's looming winter games.
by C. L. Cook
A day of unnatural warmth ended with evening rains in British Columbia's capital city Friday, soaking the anxious onlookers waiting for the great Olympic torch bearers. A bring down too to the much ballyhooed 2010 launch in Victoria was 500 determined critics of Vancouver's looming winter games.They came out for a day of festivities, and to extol the people, reminding of the serious social crises being ignored by a brainless press and bedazzled business elite, even as B.C.'s governments blithely careen their budgets into a death spiral promising an end for the lot of us: a fiscal Oblivion.
The ghoulish, Zombie March theme, carried out by many in high Halloween style, also reminded: That Oblivion is growing; it's spreading like an escaped fish farmed salmon virus, infecting neighbours, colleagues, and families.
The ghoulish, Zombie March theme, carried out by many in high Halloween style, also reminded: That Oblivion is growing; it's spreading like an escaped fish farmed salmon virus, infecting neighbours, colleagues, and families.
Now, the mere hundreds of thousands of lives discounted as a cost of doing business in the current economic model meltdown are coming into millions and your government's coffers when needed will be bare!
It's capital letter scary stuff.
In Centennial Square, events had gone on since early afternoon. I've been to a lot of these kinds of events, and they've all been entirely orderly dissent. Victoria City Police, (now branded, VicPD) cooperation with various proactive citizen demonstrations over the years has been excellent, and I'm not aware of a single instance of political friction between them, but this event was apparently going ahead without the complete cooperation of the City of Victoria, and with the express cooperation of outside police departments; most notably the RCMP.
Close to fifty police were immediately evident in Centennial Square at 4:30pm, milling in groups within the small square, a pair with camera and binoculars on a roof. Notably absent in Centennial and along the march route, a twisting "snake march," (that is: a procession with a vague route, if not an unfocused destination in mind) was that most effective VicPD bicycle patrol, mainstay of marches here for years. But there were horses, and helicopters, and a lot of cars; trucks and cameras too.
As it turned out, the bicycle patrol was a part of the project to deliver unhindered wholly the torch of the Olympiad, staying tight to the runners and ready to defend against "dousers" along the route's multiple hand-off locales. A closer liaising with the march organizers would have reassured police making such a gesture was never planned or intended.
One such photo op., apparently destined for the tony Cook Street village, was derailed when it ran into the alternative torch parade, a nearly city block-long, 500 strong collection of drum-chanting, bell-ringing, devil may care contrarians and assorted others, replete with a nine foot high wood and paint torch, and tailed by an eight-strong mounted police contingent.
Arriving instead of the official fire, the raucous march received a chilly reception from most of the dampened waiting crowd. Though disappointed, Olympics run supporters did receive a show not seen everyday: hundreds in the streets, accompanied by scores of police, horses, helicopters and about a dozen flashing cruisers, SUV's, and trucks.
These, and the usual suspect hangers-on, agents provocateur, slack-jawed, happenstance participants, and chance initiates marched through, and ceased within, major downtown arteries, tying up British Columbia's second largest city in the middle of a global media event in an attempt to make clear the pernicious damage they feel is done the greater community through the agency of these games, and the bills due it will inevitably leave behind.
Though the proactive manifestation managed to P.O. a lot of commuters, and provided the six o'clock lead to local electronic media, the torch marched on to plan B, leaving some soggy torch relay fans disappointed on Cook Street, it failed to slow the momentum moving steadily still towards February's Olympics games in Vancouver.
I'm not aware, as of this writing, of any arrests or incidents between law enforcement and proactive elements, or other participants of the Zombie March, and did not witness any; but I can acknowledge the sensible approach taken by police during the event which, despite efforts by some determined jerks in the crowd to amp up the situation with idiotic foul-mouthery, remained calm and professional.
I'm not aware, as of this writing, of any arrests or incidents between law enforcement and proactive elements, or other participants of the Zombie March, and did not witness any; but I can acknowledge the sensible approach taken by police during the event which, despite efforts by some determined jerks in the crowd to amp up the situation with idiotic foul-mouthery, remained calm and professional.
Ultimately, authentic dissent was aired in the face of uncertainty, (over-the-top intimidation via law enforcement's massive display) and with it the airing of issues deserving more serious attention and resources. So far, there seems there were no more injuries than bruised expectations along the spectator route.
Corporate source, 24H cites B.C. Civil Liberties Association's David Eby, one of a team of a dozen legal observers monitoring police saying;
Corporate source, 24H cites B.C. Civil Liberties Association's David Eby, one of a team of a dozen legal observers monitoring police saying;
“Aside from a few isolated examples of police officers being right in the face of some protesters, generally speaking it was low key.”
24H says Eby commented too that many police officers were; "not wearing identification on their uniforms."
[Update: Corporate champion, the Times-Colonist, organ of the insolvent print wing of the Canwest Global conglomerate, published an account of yesterday's march bearing little resemblance to what I experienced from inside it. Low-balling both participant numbers and the police presence, the T-C writers cited a charge made by a police source saying marbles were rolled under the feet of the mounted detachment following the march, suggesting this endangered the horses. I saw no such thing, and the horses looked anything but vulnerable throughout. -ed].
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email This
Comments (10)
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Re: Victoria Rains on Torch Parade , Lowly rated comment [Show]
written by shawn, October 31, 2009
I am one of those "Victorian nutters that feel proud to be a protestor" Sure we met people who courteously extended double middle fingers and uttered various un-inspired opinions (like yours Jon) I have to say, the majority were on board AND the march gathered people along the way who had no idea it was taking place, but were very happy to join. I think, since one of the main objectives was to disrupt the torch realay's route and WE DID IT! the movement was a HUGE success. There is an increasing amount of people getting informed on why the olympics is bad, which YOU should do too and we'll see you at the next rally.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +3
..., Lowly rated comment [Show]
Re: Victoria Rains on Torch Parade , Lowly rated comment [Show]
written by shawn, November 01, 2009
There were people there from all walks of life, to marginalize us and pigeonhole us into a specific group is just wrong and in ways VERY uninspired. I agree there were some 'random beefs', but the overall message was 'we are NOT happy with how our money, land and resourses are being used'. Maybe you should delve into some facts and find out just why we so passionately oppose making rich people even richer (by the exploitation of the people and land that the games will supposedly benifit) while there is so much poverty. The olympics benefit a handfull of the corporate brass and some other already rich clowns. Average Joe Taxpayer won't even be able to afford tickets to this elitist bullshit. Please don't judge us before you get informed and we'll be happy to see you at the next rally, everyone is welcome.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +4
written by Jon, November 02, 2009
I'm sorry but I guess I just don't understand your methods...
I must agree with downtown commuter's comment "This was a small and obviously fringe group of people with random beefs, and varied degrees of relevance to the olympics. I witnessed the generally pathetic scene and am surprised it received press coverage at all. It was anything but a victory. "
Your methods, in my opinion, are not constructive. Lobby the people that oversee the event if you are not happy with it. Lobby the IOC? Put forth proposals to them.
The issue here is really economics. You are not happy that the taxpayer is paying for it. Governments like the the economics as they feel the job and infrastructure creation with add future benefit and they may be able to balance books. If it runs at a loss, well, they still have that infrastructure built which would be paid out of tax dollars anyway. So they do get something out of it.
If you feel that olympics should be funded differently, possibly this could be put forward in a proposal whereby funding come from so-called "have" countries of the world as a universal fund similar to the UN funding? Possibly then a cost-sharing must occur between this universal fund and the government(s)/private sector of the country selected?
Or possibly the olympics could be broken up so that more than one country wins the "bid" and different sports are held in different countries?
Now, please don't think for a moment that the above is the answer. It certainly is not. But it is the start of some constructive thought.
What I don't agree with...is the belief you have that hindering a parade will help in any way; your actions are not constructive, they are destructive and they just make people put "their backs against the wall".
Having a NO2010 campaign when the deal has been signed and the product is almost delivered is nothing but a farce with the intentions of? Breaking a contract? Sorry, you are too late, the deal is done. You should have spoken up in 2002? 2004?
Let me ask you this... when the olympics are over:
a) will you or BC'ers use any of the sports infrastructure built for the olympics?
b) will BC benefit from the local municipal infrastructure built?
c) will BC tourism benefit?
d) will you lobby the IOC to try and make changes in the way the games are financed? Or will you just go back to your lives and forget it all happened?
If you feel that the NO2010 is a good thing, then will you act on point d above in future?
Sorry, but I must agree with downtown commuter's beliefs: "fringe group, random beefs, varied degrees of relevance to the olympics, generally pathetic scene. It was anything but a victory."
Those comments sound real to me.
I must agree with downtown commuter's comment "This was a small and obviously fringe group of people with random beefs, and varied degrees of relevance to the olympics. I witnessed the generally pathetic scene and am surprised it received press coverage at all. It was anything but a victory. "
Your methods, in my opinion, are not constructive. Lobby the people that oversee the event if you are not happy with it. Lobby the IOC? Put forth proposals to them.
The issue here is really economics. You are not happy that the taxpayer is paying for it. Governments like the the economics as they feel the job and infrastructure creation with add future benefit and they may be able to balance books. If it runs at a loss, well, they still have that infrastructure built which would be paid out of tax dollars anyway. So they do get something out of it.
If you feel that olympics should be funded differently, possibly this could be put forward in a proposal whereby funding come from so-called "have" countries of the world as a universal fund similar to the UN funding? Possibly then a cost-sharing must occur between this universal fund and the government(s)/private sector of the country selected?
Or possibly the olympics could be broken up so that more than one country wins the "bid" and different sports are held in different countries?
Now, please don't think for a moment that the above is the answer. It certainly is not. But it is the start of some constructive thought.
What I don't agree with...is the belief you have that hindering a parade will help in any way; your actions are not constructive, they are destructive and they just make people put "their backs against the wall".
Having a NO2010 campaign when the deal has been signed and the product is almost delivered is nothing but a farce with the intentions of? Breaking a contract? Sorry, you are too late, the deal is done. You should have spoken up in 2002? 2004?
Let me ask you this... when the olympics are over:
a) will you or BC'ers use any of the sports infrastructure built for the olympics?
b) will BC benefit from the local municipal infrastructure built?
c) will BC tourism benefit?
d) will you lobby the IOC to try and make changes in the way the games are financed? Or will you just go back to your lives and forget it all happened?
If you feel that the NO2010 is a good thing, then will you act on point d above in future?
Sorry, but I must agree with downtown commuter's beliefs: "fringe group, random beefs, varied degrees of relevance to the olympics, generally pathetic scene. It was anything but a victory."
Those comments sound real to me.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: -1
written by shawn, November 02, 2009
Look Jon, I apologize for being on the offensive, I meant no disrespect. My comments at the time came because I was still fired up from the protest and still am, but I am going to lighten my tone. I have been against the olympics since I lived in Toronto and they put their bid for the olympics that ended up being held in Bejing. Toronto's bid cost a lot of money for nothing as did their previous bid just to have the IOC even consider them. A lot of money that could have(in my opinion) been much better spent. I don't believe anyone involved with the games Ie; VANOC, IOC, RBC, COCA COLA (pick a corporate sponsor) are concerned with the future, I believe they are for the 'right here, right now, let's make as much money as possible and move on to next venture' I think if there was ANY concern for the future, the money would have been better spent say...towards education, eliminating homelessness or in fact ANYTHING that was going to help ANYONE. Everyone could benefit from a highly educated population, or politicians could be proud of eliminating homelessness or something other than what will essentially be 16 days in the spotlight. Now the venues....after the olympics, these serve what PRACTICAL use again? they will hold more events i guess, while people are still poor on the streets and YES I realize it is a long road for those people.
I have lobbied (and whatnot)the IOC for years and years, same with politicians on all levels as well as others. There had to be well over 100 cops at our PEACEFUL march, with snipers on the roofs of various buildings along our route, I ask you, the money that went into policing our demonstration(which had NO arrests), could that not have been better spent? and if there HAD been something go wrong, what exactly were these snipers going to do? start picking us off? also there were cops in amongst us and some were facetious as hell, almost like they wanted to use more force or at least have some reason for being there. While I agree there were random beefs, mine was and always will be against the olympics and I might not agree with some of the random beefs, the marbles or rocks, I can't condemn them either. They showed up, marched in the rain for hours, they believe whatever their beef is. I felt really bad when I found out that we ruined 10 people's lifelong dream to carry the torch, particularly the boy who had cerbral palsy. I was also mad to hear about the marbles because I love animals, even though I understood it was to slow the cops down, which were literally pushing us along and THEY were the ones who actually stopped the traffic for us. Anyway, once again, I mean no disrespect, I dont think I am right or wrong, nor do I think you are right or wrong, just expressing myself.
PEACE
I have lobbied (and whatnot)the IOC for years and years, same with politicians on all levels as well as others. There had to be well over 100 cops at our PEACEFUL march, with snipers on the roofs of various buildings along our route, I ask you, the money that went into policing our demonstration(which had NO arrests), could that not have been better spent? and if there HAD been something go wrong, what exactly were these snipers going to do? start picking us off? also there were cops in amongst us and some were facetious as hell, almost like they wanted to use more force or at least have some reason for being there. While I agree there were random beefs, mine was and always will be against the olympics and I might not agree with some of the random beefs, the marbles or rocks, I can't condemn them either. They showed up, marched in the rain for hours, they believe whatever their beef is. I felt really bad when I found out that we ruined 10 people's lifelong dream to carry the torch, particularly the boy who had cerbral palsy. I was also mad to hear about the marbles because I love animals, even though I understood it was to slow the cops down, which were literally pushing us along and THEY were the ones who actually stopped the traffic for us. Anyway, once again, I mean no disrespect, I dont think I am right or wrong, nor do I think you are right or wrong, just expressing myself.
PEACE
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +4
written by shawn, November 03, 2009
this is a copy/paste from the British Columbia tourism page. 'The 807 protected areas (provincial parks, ecological reserves, recreation areas and other protected areas), covering 11.4 million hectares, are diverse in their features and facilities. There are 13,302 campsites, 487 day-use areas, 136 boat launch areas and 3,000 km of hiking trails within provincial parks, which serve approximately 24 million park visitors each year.'
in case you missed this point, approximately 24 million park visitors each year! with world class skiing, world class fishing, world class surfing and world class marijuana, I think our tourism is doing alright, I think people have heard of us. Every year there is an increasing amount of cruise ships, which bring OVER a million tourists EVERY year, people know we are here and I don't see the olympics reeeeeally make anyone want to come here any more or any less, other than during the olympics and maybe a couple weeks before and a couple weeks after.
once again, my opinion
peace
in case you missed this point, approximately 24 million park visitors each year! with world class skiing, world class fishing, world class surfing and world class marijuana, I think our tourism is doing alright, I think people have heard of us. Every year there is an increasing amount of cruise ships, which bring OVER a million tourists EVERY year, people know we are here and I don't see the olympics reeeeeally make anyone want to come here any more or any less, other than during the olympics and maybe a couple weeks before and a couple weeks after.
once again, my opinion
peace
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +4
Re: Victoria Rains on Torch Parade, Lowly rated comment [Show]
written by Jon, November 11, 2009
Oh...let me correct a paragraph above if I may...
(correction) "As for BC, the olympics will definitely generate more exposure and tourism will increase, possibly BY up to 1.5 million visitors per year, and possibly increase further in future years?"
(one thing I meant to add in my above rant)
Tourism. I would be happy to see people advertise eco-tourism in BC prior to, during, and after the olympic games. Use the basis of the olympics (and all that money the government spent) for a good PR campaign, don't use the olympics on various negative protest campaigns. Think about the following...
If you look at the various tourist areas in the world, it is easy to see what is wrong with a number of them I believe. Many people (tourists) in this world regard some of these tourist areas as "non-eco" areas. BC has the potential to show it is better at eco-tourism and could also double its eco-tourism in 5 years or less I believe. Advertise green eco-tourism and green adventures; do this while keeping local and world politics / protests away.
Promote BC. Don't negate it.
On a further note...promote and build green secondary industry; get those car manufacturers to start building hybrid/electric cars in BC. Build solar panels, build wind turbines, and import green technology. BC has the infrastructure and possibly the capital subsidies to start-up green industry as well. Look around the world please...other countries are doing this. Wake up.
In other words, the olympics could be used as a good catalyst for a greener future.
And these actions could help make BC, truly, a green province. Now that would be productive...
[Well Jon; you've apparently not kept up with the Olympics PR: the "Green Olympics" was, and remains, one of the features of this circus. It was to be "the greenest" Olympics ever, etc., etc. That was just before they mowed down the mountains at Eagle Ridge Bluffs for a highway to connect high-flying urbanite skiers with Whistler. Do you believe there is anyone anywhere in the world capable of adding to Canada's economic life who are today unaware of the existence of Canada? Do you really believe it necessary to loot the public purse, gut the constitution, and turn the city of Vancouver and environs into a police state for three weeks to promote future tourism? I would argue, that's going a little too far, even if the benefits you cite (and God knows where you dug up those numbers) will someday manifest.
As you felt you have to continue to reiterate to point of tedium your message, paraphrased as: The Zombie March is counter production and makes its participants look foolish. I was there, one of the fools, but I had no intention of disrupting the Torch Relay. Some in the crowd thought that was a worthy goal - for the publicity it would generate (and hopefully prompt questions the corporate and state media refuse to seriously entertain). Maybe it's not the best approach, but it is important for British Columbians, Canadians, and those around the world to know not everyone is happy with the situation here. -ed.]
(correction) "As for BC, the olympics will definitely generate more exposure and tourism will increase, possibly BY up to 1.5 million visitors per year, and possibly increase further in future years?"
(one thing I meant to add in my above rant)
Tourism. I would be happy to see people advertise eco-tourism in BC prior to, during, and after the olympic games. Use the basis of the olympics (and all that money the government spent) for a good PR campaign, don't use the olympics on various negative protest campaigns. Think about the following...
If you look at the various tourist areas in the world, it is easy to see what is wrong with a number of them I believe. Many people (tourists) in this world regard some of these tourist areas as "non-eco" areas. BC has the potential to show it is better at eco-tourism and could also double its eco-tourism in 5 years or less I believe. Advertise green eco-tourism and green adventures; do this while keeping local and world politics / protests away.
Promote BC. Don't negate it.
On a further note...promote and build green secondary industry; get those car manufacturers to start building hybrid/electric cars in BC. Build solar panels, build wind turbines, and import green technology. BC has the infrastructure and possibly the capital subsidies to start-up green industry as well. Look around the world please...other countries are doing this. Wake up.
In other words, the olympics could be used as a good catalyst for a greener future.
And these actions could help make BC, truly, a green province. Now that would be productive...
[Well Jon; you've apparently not kept up with the Olympics PR: the "Green Olympics" was, and remains, one of the features of this circus. It was to be "the greenest" Olympics ever, etc., etc. That was just before they mowed down the mountains at Eagle Ridge Bluffs for a highway to connect high-flying urbanite skiers with Whistler. Do you believe there is anyone anywhere in the world capable of adding to Canada's economic life who are today unaware of the existence of Canada? Do you really believe it necessary to loot the public purse, gut the constitution, and turn the city of Vancouver and environs into a police state for three weeks to promote future tourism? I would argue, that's going a little too far, even if the benefits you cite (and God knows where you dug up those numbers) will someday manifest.
As you felt you have to continue to reiterate to point of tedium your message, paraphrased as: The Zombie March is counter production and makes its participants look foolish. I was there, one of the fools, but I had no intention of disrupting the Torch Relay. Some in the crowd thought that was a worthy goal - for the publicity it would generate (and hopefully prompt questions the corporate and state media refuse to seriously entertain). Maybe it's not the best approach, but it is important for British Columbians, Canadians, and those around the world to know not everyone is happy with the situation here. -ed.]
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +1
Write comment
