Ever since the announcement of the G-8 summit's location for this year, my fair hometown has gradually been turned into something less than a city. I live about 100km outside of the G-8 Summit location of Kananaskis Village, and even here in Calgary we're feeling the effects. Just on Sunday, there was a huge solidarity march downtown. Some people think the inevitable protests may turn violent.
What do you guys think of the G-8? Eight rich countries (Canada, United States, England, France, Germany, Japan, Russia & Italy) deciding what the rest of the world will do, or at least come up with a vague plan that probably won't get followed.
Let's talk 'bout this stuff, people, because if my fair hometown gets blindsided by protesters or terrorists or whatever, I at least wanna know what the hell it was all for.
Bart: Hey, immigrants! Beat it! Country's full! Sailor: OK people, you heard the lady. Back into the hold. We'll try Canada. [the immigrants moan] -- "The City of New York Vs. Homer Simpson"
"That's what the Internet is for, slandering others anonymously" Banky Edwards (Jason Lee) in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back
I swear...if ONE of these protesters blocks my way to work this week, I will run them over.
I lived in Halifax when we had the G7 Summit back in '95. There was not one protest, or march, or protester to be found back then. It was the biggest party of the summer...
Now, apparently, the "globalization" of the world upsets these people so much they feel the need to protest. All the "corporations" running the world these days must be brought down, according to the pamphlet I was handed earlier today. Of course, that same protester had a pair of Nikes on, and couldn't seem to answer me when I called him on it...
Feel free, I say...but do NOT ruin our beautiful city in ANY way.
Do you need hockey helmets and gas masks at a "peaceful protest?"
Go read Naomi Klein's "No Logo," then get back to me.
The G-8 is from June 25-28 (I believe), and then the Stampede is for ten days beginning July 5th...so, we'll clean up all the KOed protesters, then Stampede like nobody's business!
Bart: Hey, immigrants! Beat it! Country's full! Sailor: OK people, you heard the lady. Back into the hold. We'll try Canada. [the immigrants moan] -- "The City of New York Vs. Homer Simpson"
"That's what the Internet is for, slandering others anonymously" Banky Edwards (Jason Lee) in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back
Having lived in DC for two years, where I had to walk through the National Mall (where all the marches, rallies, etc are) and Downtown to get to work, I have to say that I donīt have a lot of sympathy for you folks in Calgary
Seriously, itīs a tradeoff. You get all the business that the G-8 summit brings, and you get the hassles that go along with it also. Complain to City Council if you donīt like it, they were the ones who wanted the conference and brought it to Calgary (unlike in DC, where the Feds bring all the trouble, and the local govt. and citizens have to pay for it).
Calgary and its politicians want nothing to do with the G8 summit. In fact it's not even being held in Calgary but in a small resort town about an hour away. The protestors on the other hand have decided to protest in Calgary because access to Kananaskis is severly limited and there is more media in Calgary. So the city gets no benefits only stupid protesters.
Oh and much like in Washington, the Feds will be doing the arresting but the city and province will have to pay for court costs and such.
I think Kananaskis/Calgary was mentioned by PM Chretien at last year's summit, without even fully consulting the city, if I recall correctly. It touched off a little brouhaha.
Thanks, Chretien.
What's sad is that I(along with the organizers, I guess) thought that with the location being so remote, it would cut down on protests. But now they're protesting in Calgary. That sucks.
I was leaving work at 4:00 this afternoon, and as I walked to my car a convoy of helicopters flew over. It must have been Dubya or Blair or someone important being ferried to Kananaskis from the airport.
Being a Canadian with our incredibly wimpy military, I haven't seen firepower like this in my entire life. Two smaller recon copters first, then three BIG troop carriers at high altitude, then three attack helicopters at LOW altitude. These ones scared the shit out of me ... no wonder the Afghanis rolled over so quick. I felt like an eight-year-old standing with my mouth open watching them and feeling the rumble of their engines in my chest and gawking at their missile launchers. They gave off such an evil vibe that I was ready to drive to the local American consulate and surrender.
As for the G8 summit ... well the rich and powerful nations have always got together in back rooms and talked trade. At least this way some of it is out in the open, even if it is more for P.R. than anything else.
Let me put you in the picture, let me show you what I mean; The Messiah is my sister, ain't no king man, she's my queen.
Hell, Canada's always had a good military...it's just that we don't have any money to fund it. We're not ALL just Canucks with hockey sticks...we have guns, too. And helecopters. But our subs suck.
Bart: Hey, immigrants! Beat it! Country's full! Sailor: OK people, you heard the lady. Back into the hold. We'll try Canada. [the immigrants moan] -- "The City of New York Vs. Homer Simpson"
"That's what the Internet is for, slandering others anonymously" Banky Edwards (Jason Lee) in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back
I have to laugh at all the preparations for the G8. Any Calgarians here visit the downtown core over the past four days? How about a huge fance surrounding the Telus Convention Centre...the closing of the Centre C-Train Station...huge cement blocks around City Hall...
Yet the entire week went off without a hitch. I viewed some sort of rally at the Olympic Plaza two days ago...some people thought that a good idea to protest something would be to lie in the centre pool area (which was drained) in 30 degree celcius weather. Yeah...that's smart. There were also some hippies banging a drum in a while...I guess the 70s didn't end...they transcended generations.
I was luckily away from the downtown core during the Sunday parade...
Anyhow, it's time to enjoy life again...Stampede is coming! I've never attended it before, so I'm looking forward to it.
=Steven=
Proud resident of Lance Storm City, Alberta, Canada...
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