Vancouver 2010 - The Sea To Sky Games

Only 754 day to go!

See you there!!

Forget!!!! We got rid of the commonwealth games but you will remember the olympics long afterwards as you pay for them
< replied-to message removed by QT >

You know, regardless of the protests and the cries, we are getting the Olympics. Why? Becose the average Canadian doesn't have anything against it. Just face it, Canada is a rich country, we can afford things like the Olympics. A rich, and even a not-so-rich household spend money for entertainment. See hosting the Olympics games like going on a trip. Not necessary, but yet we still make it fit into our budget. See it that way: only three countries in the world have an higher HDI that Canada. So complain all you want about lack of suport for the poor, but the fact still remain that we alredy support the poor much more that most countries. We are a capitalist country becose thats what the average Canadian want. If you want a more socialist lifestyle, move to Cuba or Venezuela and see if your life is bether there. Nobody is stooping you.

An Undying Call for Olympic Fanatics?
By Concerned Citizens of Canada


Let your mind be freed from queries. Let your voice be heard everywhere. Aren’t you sick and tired of what’s happening to our surroundings regarding the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics? Lobbying, rallying and boycotts may not be enough to get the attention of the VANOC officials and its elite groups and the greedy and unethical government officials of British Columbia. We have been continuously fooled by these people with their non-reliable and non-existing figures that they used to published in every corners of the mass media.
If you people of Canada are more concern of what will and may happen in the future. On what will and may be the effect to the majority, not only for those people living in the skidrow area of East Vancouver but also for those average families. We are asking you to voluntarily participate in a “MASS CONSCIOUSNESS BRIGADE“, the power of our mind is very effective to use as our weapon to fight this elite group back. The power of intent is a powerful tool to change the weather on 2010. Yes, Vancouver Olympics may happen but if we will join together by using our mind there maybe a huge mass disruption in the outdoor events. We will be having a mild weather in the Whistler area. With these, it will be a great failure to the VANOCs and its allies and a big humiliation to the whole world.
It is effective! This power of the mind has been proved in the year 1998 of July at Northeast of Florida when they were hit by a drought conditions. Upon using the Mass Consciousness they were able to have a downfall of rains. And it was a success!
So people of Canada, let’s give ourselves a chance. We can prove this to everybody. We can make a difference! We can do it!

Hey Larry, I gather we'll be seeing you at the Art Gallery this April 20th, say around 4:20p?

Vancouver 2010 - The Sea To Sky Games

Only 715 day to go!

See you there!!

709 days to go. Big fat fuckin whooptii dooo!!!! As you can tell I'm not happy. I'm getting plans to go away in February 2010. Everyone is saying to me, "You're crazy to leave." Well maybe I am. I don't care anymore! More security tightness, more cost to the games just waisted on ads, would rather see summer games. I could go on & on about it. B.C. was a nice place to live. May as well stay in B.C. except in Vancouver & Whistler. I used to go in Whistler to ski from high school. Now I would rather wait until after the olympics. The NHL is on an olympic break to do their national team. Stick to the NHL, NOT OLYMPICS!!!!!! I disagree that the olympic is using GM Place as a standard NHL rink. It should be bigger. Let the women ski jump!!!!!! It's all about the gender problem!!!! It all comes down to the end that more & more events will be delayed or no go. February 1'st 2010, I'm leaving Vancouver.

Hey kr601 you're leaving Vancouver?

Not soon enough!

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Hey - all you Olympic supporters out there - YES we are getting the Olympics, thankfully we live in a country where we can still complain about things, even after it's a fait accompli.

We will hold accountable the NDP and the Liberals for bringing us the games and leaving us with a debt that we will pass on to our children.

It's your tax dollars at work [or not] folks, you should have a say in where those dollars get spent.

This week's intelligence briefing explains how the Olympic torch relay in San Francisco revealed the way that China's government and intelligence operations work.

April 23, 2008 The April 9 Olympic torch relay in San Francisco opened a window into the organizational capabilities of the Chinese government and its intelligence collection apparatus inside the United States. From the coordinating efforts of the city's Chinese Consulate, down through local Chinese business and social organizations, and on to the pro-China supporters who photographed the event, the operation showed an efficiency and organizational capability not seen among the anti-China demonstrators. The run also revealed a high level of sophistication, planning and control in the pro-China camp.

A Day of Confusion
The torch relay in San Francisco proved a mixed bag of anti-China and pro-China demonstrators, as well as spectators simply hoping for a glimpse of the symbol of the Olympic Games. Pro-Tibet and other demonstrators altered their tactics in San Francisco following clashes surrounding the torch run in London and Paris—where pictures of a protester with a Tibet flag trying to snatch the torch from a handicapped torchbearer left the protesters looking worse than China. As a result, the demonstrators in San Francisco planned to impede the progress of the relay rather than attempt to extinguish the torch or interfere with the actual torchbearers. The massive gathering at the beginning of the torch route, and the blocking of a bus carrying Chinese security officials and items related to the torch run, triggered the organizers of the relay to change the route completely. In part, then, the protesters interrupted the relay effectively, though not in the manner they had hoped.

The on-the-fly changes in the torch relay route, which left many spectators waiting down near the piers when the torch was running along the hills several blocks away, allowed the relay to progress relatively smoothly, interrupted only a few times by protesters attempting to block the route or by a few demonstrators bearing little sign of affiliation with the Tibetan or Darfur causes who threw water balloons at the torch. The heavy police and Diplomatic Security Service presence around the torch runners largely kept demonstrators on the sidewalks, while the moving roadblocks and the unclear torch route left demonstrators unsure of where they could amass to intercept it. The security organizers, then, were relatively successful in their efforts to allow all planned participants to carry the torch with minimal interference.

In the end, neither protesters nor security "won" the day. Amid the confusion, however, the groups that showed a very strong sense of organization and planning were the pro-China demonstrators. Their coordination demonstrated the ability of the Chinese government, via its local consulate and its association with overseas Chinese organizations, to rally and coordinate large-scale activities inside the United States—and to use these activities for intelligence collection.

Pro-China Preparation
By 8 a.m. April 9, the pro-China demonstrators were taking up positions along the planned torch relay route, pulling in groups carrying Chinese, U.S. and Olympic flags, and equipped with cases of food and water. However, these were not spontaneous gatherings of overseas Chinese supporting the motherland, as Beijing media have portrayed them. Rather, there was a coordinated effort between local Chinese business and social associations and the consulate to attract, equip, deploy and coordinate the large pro-China turnout. This is in contrast to the Free Tibet, Save Darfur and other anti-China protesters—who often seemed disorganized.

By some estimates, as many as 50 busloads of Chinese from other parts of California were brought to San Francisco. Many of them paid (by some accounts $300 each) to come out for the day in support of Beijing. They were placed in groups along the anticipated torch relay route and given Chinese and Olympic flags, as well as American flags (the latter a tactical move to show they were not anti-U.S., but rather pro-China—a distinction made all the more apparent by the fact that most anti-China protesters did not carry U.S. flags, and some also were critical of the U.S. government).

In addition to those bused in from out of town, many of the local Chinese business and social organizations were involved in fielding groups of pro-China supporters, and these were similarly equipped. Most groups also were supplied with cases of water and food—something not seen among the anti-China demonstrators, who appeared more a gathering of individuals than prearranged groups. One local Chinese organizer was overheard saying they had spent some $30,000 on food and water for the day of the torch run—perhaps not a large amount overall, but a clear investment to ensure that there was group cohesion among the pro-China demonstrators.

In addition to many older overseas Chinese posted along the route, there also were numerous Chinese of college age, many representing several overseas and mainland Chinese student associations. Some carried a large flag representing China's Tsinghua University, which produces many top Chinese officials, and among the others were local chapters of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association. During the run, some of these students challenged the American Free Tibet or Saver Darfur protesters to discussion, asking, for example, whether they had been to Tibet or diverting accusations of Chinese military support to Sudan with counteraccusations of U.S. military activity in Iraq and Afghanistan. In general, the Chinese side kept the confrontations rather civil, seeming to have been well prepared to respond (suggesting they had been provided with materials on how to respond in advance). On numerous occasions, however, the anti-China demonstrators in these one-to-one confrontations would resort to their own chanted slogans or just shout that the Chinese were liars.

The organization of the pro-China contingent was further demonstrated by its self-policing efforts. While the anti-China demonstrators ignored the barriers along the route and moved into the streets, far fewer pro-China demonstrators did so. When one did cross, the pro-China group would shout at them to return behind the barriers and "follow the rules." There was clearly a concerted effort to make the Chinese demonstrators appear as the more controlled, more peaceful and less confrontational participants—part of a broader PR strategy.When confronted by a large group of pro-Tibet demonstrators, for example, the Chinese often simply ignored the repeated cries of "China lies, people die" and instead broke into song, effectively ending the exchange.

Instigation and Intelligence Collection
There was at least one exception to the restraint shown by the pro-China demonstrators, however, suggesting they were not entirely the innocuous gathering they sought to portray. On numerous occasions, individuals or small groups carrying cameras would seek to incite the anti-China demonstrators to acts of confrontation or violence, frequently by parading through the middle of a group of Free Tibet or Save Darfur demonstrators with a large Chinese flag, walking back and forth through the group. In some cases, small scuffles broke out—and pictures were snapped—though the anti-China demonstrators soon deployed individuals to try to keep the two opposing sides separated. The same day, Chinese media ran photos of pro-Tibet demonstrators shoving pro-China demonstrators, "proving" their point that the Tibet supporters are violent.

It was no accident that the photographs appeared so quickly in the Chinese media. In addition to the demonstrators, numerous individuals were sent out with cameras. Although cameras are expected at such an event, many of the photographers were collecting images either for Chinese propaganda purposes or to identify anti-China demonstrators in order to identify pinpoint "troublemakers" who might be planning to attend the Olympics in Beijing. With their pictures on file, Chinese authorities can then either deny their visas or monitor them more closely when they arrive in China.

In addition, Beijing has been trying to locate the organizers of anti-China protests and demonstrations overseas, ones who may be planning action in China, in order to infiltrate their groups and gather intelligence on their planned activities. This is not new for Beijing—as the Chinese Embassy official who defected in Australia a few years ago demonstrated by revealing the details of Chinese infiltration of and spying on Falun Gong supporters in Australia. Beijing also has been seeking out U.S. and other foreign academics for their insights on potential demonstrations in Beijing, hoping to get information about individuals and tactical details of plans in order to pre-empt or at least effectively counter them.

In addition to the intelligence collection efforts and the careful organization and coordination of the pro-China demonstrators in San Francisco, electronic countermeasures also were used to disrupt the communications and activities of the anti-China demonstrators. In some cases, the cell phones of the anti-China organizers were spammed with prank calls and text messages in order to limit their effectiveness as a coordinating tool—particularly as the torch changed routes. There also were unconfirmed cases of limited cell-phone jamming, likely using the short-range cell-phone jammers that were popular a few years ago. These created intermittent and isolated interference with cell-phone reception, further deteriorating the communications and coordination ability of the anti-China demonstrators.

Beyond San Francisco
Furthermore, China did not limit its activities to San Francisco. It also organized a smaller response to the Dalai Lama's visit to Seattle, Wash., a few days later. Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Gao Zhansheng sent a letter to University of Washington (UW) President Mark Emmert urging him and other UW officials to refrain from meeting with the Dalai Lama or from giving him a platform for political or "separatist" activities. Additionally, the Chinese Students and Scholars Association sent an open letter to the UW leadership and met briefly with Emmert and Provost Ed Taylor, asking them to limit the Dalai Lama's opportunity to use his visit for political reasons. Several hundred pro-China students also staged a demonstration outside the Dalai Lama's speaking venue in Seattle on April 14, using the Internet to coordinate banners, chants and actions.

Throughout the United States there have been reports of other group actions by Chinese students and activists, from Internet-based activity promoting boycotts of French goods following the Paris torch relay to a push to "correct" foreign media coverage of the Tibet riots and the Tibet issue overall. But there also have been more aggressive instances. For example, at least one Chinese student at Duke University received threats after attending a pro-Tibet rally, while others have had their personal information, including their phone numbers and Chinese identification cards, posted on the Internet bulletin board hosted by the university's Chinese Student and Scholar Association (the association denied responsibility, saying those postings were the actions of individuals). The students' concern, however, is that the information will get back to Chinese authorities and thus undermine their future prospects in China or even lead to further harassment of themselves or their families.

China has had a long reach into the Chinese community in the United States for quite some time, and frequently uses this community for espionage, both within the community itself and against American companies, the military and the technology and political spheres. Also, Chinese consulates in the United States have helped facilitate pro-China gatherings in the past. However, while it already was known that China was anxious to restore its image after the Tibet unrest and the trouble with the torch run in London and Paris, the effort and coordination Beijing exhibited in San Francisco, through the consulate and local Chinese business and social organizations, was rather impressive.

There are no estimates of the number of pro- and anti-China demonstrators at the San Francisco event, though the former easily totaled several thousand. Additionally, the actions of the pro-China camp, along with the supporters' placement along the anticipated route, demonstrated a much more centralized and coordinated organization than the anti-China groups—and revealed the depth to which the Chinese government can organize and deploy its overseas population, even in the United States.

PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY!

OPPOSE THE OLYMPICS AT BRITANNIA - MOBILIZE FOR BRITANNIA MEETING!
  
Monday May 5th - 7 pm - Britannia Auditorium

We've just found out that the Britannia Community Centre Board has
 organized a
community meeting (on very short notice) for Monday May 5th (7 pm) in
 the
Britannia Auditorium to consult with the community about having
 Britannia as an
Olympics hockey venue. Given the short notice and lack of publicity
 from
Britannia, please call/email your friends, contacts, etc., and ask them
 to come
out and voice their concerns about Britannia as an Olympics venue.

VANOC is pressuring Britannia Community Centre to become an Olympic
 hockey
venue, regardless of how you feel about having your community centre
 taken from
you. Please come
 out and have your voice heard! The Britannia board
 will be
voting on whether or not to have the Olympics at Britannia after
 this
 meeting.

Sunday Action:

To let people know this is happening, we'll be having a creative
 theatre/street
action on Sunday May 4th (10:30 am) - meeting at Charles and
 Commercial. We've
done the action twice now, and it's been fun and people were supportive
 and
interested.

For more information:
thetorch@resist.ca

Concerns about the Olympics at Britannia:

Security and Surveillance:
 
More than 12, 500 police, military, CSIS, and private security will be
 used for
the 2010 Olympics (Globe and Mail) we are concerned about:
- increased police/military/security presence at and around Britannia
- the size of a
 "security perimeter" around the community centre
- the use of checkpoints, special ID passes and heavy surveillance

 including
closed-circuit cameras and satellite surveillance (Industry Canada
 website)
- that security would be set up at Britannia long before the actual
 Olympics and
remain long after
- the impact on homeless people including "sweeps" by police and
 harassment
- increased racial profiling and targeting of indigenous youth
- heavy weaponry (guns, lasers, tear gas, pepper spray, helicopters)
 near our
schools, libraries, and daycares
- the constant threat of police violence and repression of opposition
 and dissent

Community Values:

The Britannia Board represents our community centre, and
 demographically, this
community voted against the Olympics coming to Vancouver in the 2003
 referendum.
 If you voted "no" in the referendum, this process at Britannia is in
 essence
the same
 vote (referendum was "No to Olympics in Vancouver," this vote
 is "No to
Olympics" in our community centre). This
 project will take place on
 unceded
Coast Salish territory and will impact urban indigenous people.

Concerns include:
- security perimeters will cut off or severely restrict access for our
 seniors,
students and children
- increased in traffic and rents, due to the proximity of an Olympic
 venue, and
general increased gentrification
- That rink upgrades would be carried out at the expense of more
 pressing
upgrades at Britannia
- That needed upgrades shouldn't be tied to the Olympics. Britannia
 and its
strong community-based history should be a leader in demanding that
 community
centres need better funding and upgrades in general
- The Olympics machine (which includes corporate sponsors like
 MacDonald's)
targets youth and children with mascots, advertising, and school

 curriculum

Services Disruptions:

- lack of access to the rink and other services such as the seniors
 centre,
 the
pool, the library, teen centre, etc.
- possible room rental disruption at the centre
- disruption to surrounding services and their clients including the
 Kettle
Friendship Centre and REACH clinic
- the effects on bus routes/services, traffic, and pedestrians
- the displacement of kids and adults in the hockey and skating
 programs

Accountability and Transparency:

Although private talks have reportedly been held for close to a year
 between
Britannia and VANOC, the community has not been consulted about
 Britannia being
used as an Olympics venue. The details of these talks have not been
 made public
 We are concerned that:
- The use of the Britannia Community Centre was not included in the
 Olympic Bid Book
- VANOC has repeatedly been described in local media as
 "undemocratic"
- VANOC is not subject to freedom of information legislation
- VANOC holds meetings that are closed to the public and of
 which no
 official
minutes are kept

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Vancouver 2010 - The Sea To Sky Games

Only 628 days to go!

See you there!!

No way you'll see me there. I've got better things to do with my money than watching a bunch of elitist tax dollar burning athletes at play.
Bruce DeVenne
Stop the HRM Commonwealth Games (mission accomplished I'm happy to report and so are the HRM Tax payers)
< replied-to message removed by QT >

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Edited by author 06-25-2008 11:50 PM
Beautiful British Columbia – The Best Place on Earth?
By Concerned Citizen of Canada


     This year, British Columbia will celebrate its 150th year. It has been said that its beauty made it to be the best place on earth to live. Is this for real or just a fact?
     People came to Canada with full of dreams thinking that this is the land of promises. Promises that will give them chance to fulfill their aspirations in life. In reality, this is not the best place to live. Everybody here is busy making ends meat. Trees here are not bearing money to pick it up. In as much as possible you must have three to four jobs to pay your taxes, mortgages, car loans and others. You don’t even have time to enjoy. And mind you this situation will become worst after the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. If you have heard and seen those statistical data through our modern technology such as; internet, television, radios and newspapers, those were just factual information that hasn’t been proven throughout the Olympic history. Many of those countries who’ve hosted this kind of event suffered from deep debts. To name a few are Montreal who just happened to pay their debt after three decades, Salt Lake City who’s until now on their way of solving the economic downfall, Turin, Italy and many others. It’s the taxpayers who are handling the problems created by bureaucracy and managed by the greediness of the government officials and the elite groups who happens to be part of the International Olympic Committee.
     What’s happening now to China is an eye opening for all nations. Demonstrations on streets can be seen around the world, mass killings and many others. These were the results of abusive empowerment of people in position. In Vancouver, you can see more of the result of the Olympic preparations in the east-side of the city with many homeless citizen. With these, people should be aware of the false impressions created by the VANOC officials on Olympic venue sites. Human deficit has been created by unscrupulous government officials of British Columbia who have failed in social policy on its inhabitants.
     People of all nations, it’s time for us again to fight back. We don’t need high explosives or heavy devices. We only need “MASS CONSCIOUSNESS”, the power of mind intent. This is the most effective way to prove our worth. This is a tool to change weather patterns. Yes, February 2010 will be rainy, foggy and windstorms may occur to southern coastal regions of British Columbia if we will join together using our mind. We could completely wash-out Olympic Organizers and its allies. This will be a great humiliation to the whole world.