Edited by author 02-14-2007 04:50 PM
Please post messages in this forum in regard to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver

Something to get the discussion going....

One of the things I'm struggling to grasp is how those who protest the Olympics try to make the connection between the games and what's happening with the homeless situation. Stats about declining SRO's, increase in homelessness since the games were awarded etc. are used to support arguments against the games, but from what I've seen are not substantiated? For instance: using those stats implies that all the downtown eastside development which is removing low cost housing in favour of condos and upgrades is a result of the Olympics. I aslo consistantly hear the argument to the effect of "Why are we going to all this trouble and expense for a two week party?" Exactly - a two week party it is. Knowing that, do you think developers are going to spend millions of dollars to build condos for a two week event? No. They are being built because it is prime downtown real estate and the trend of urban revitalization is happening all over North America. In terms of upgrades - are these hotel owners investing thousands of dollars right now to upgrade in preperation for a "two week party" in 3 years? That doesn't make sense either. Perhaps they also see it as prime real estate with a naturally occuring influx of wealth to the area due primarily to its proximaty to the city core. To me that's an issue of zoning which needs to be taken up with city council and not the Olympic organizers. Perhaps I'm just not getting it, but to me if the games were to be cancelled tomorrow or never even awarded in the first place this issue would still exist.

So talking of waste - the only waste I see is the energy to pin these issues on the games, such was the case of those anarchic protesters at the countdown clock ceremony. Such misguided energy, which only detracted from those who are doing truly legitimate work for the homeless in our city. Shameful. No one with even a shred of reason should affiliate themselves with the Anti-Poverty Committee. Those thugs have been at it before. They're the type of people who live on the fringes of the political spectrum and will raise anarchy no matter what the cause - regardless of whether it's right or wrong. If the world was perfect they would find something to protest against anyway. They are no different than their right-wing counterparts - skinheads. Again - I know people are angry but it is a) completely focused in the wrong direction. These people don't use logic and reason to form their opinion - they just need someone to scream at and give purpose to their thugary; and b)anarchy and thwarting the "system" will not solve the problem but working within will.

My rant on the APC aside, I also know that VANOC as a company has initiated programs to help the downtown eastside situation in terms of low cost housing, aboriginal and youth support etc. No one told them they have to do this, they just are as they realize they need to be part of the solution and not the problem. People would be far better served to understand exactly what VANOC is doing beyond just preparing for the games. They'd also be better served putting down their protest signs and joining a program that will truly help the homeless situation. I know VANOC is looking for good people.

First of all, any and all gestures towards helping anyone on the DTES is nothing short of propganda, VANOC are doing nothing whatsoever.

2. Because of the 2010 Olympics, ownership of the ever increasing list of DTES hotels are being sold, renovated and upgraded so that the original tennants cannot afford to live there. The regulation created by the city of Vancouver to stop this process was supposed to be voted on Tuesday night but was put off the agenda for another time.

3. YES the APC are an angry bunch - but then again how would you feel if people you knew [your people] were facing evictions, life on the street and increased poverty. You would want to fight for them, you would want to make as strong a statement as possible in front of the media to get your point across.

3. VANOC and the IOC are nothing but a sham - the Olympic ideal is long since dead if it ever existed in the first place. I competed for Canada at two Olympic events, had I known then what I now know about the Olympics I would never have had the desire to train and become a world class athlete

4. The 2010 Olympics is about one thing - land development, construction contracts. Take a look at who was on the bid committee and on the VANOC board now, namely Jack Poole and David Podmore both directors of Concert Properties - the largerst land developer in BC.

I could go on, there is lots more.

So, if the Olympics weren't happening, the hotels wouldn't be closed?

Edited by author 02-14-2007 06:44 PM
Exactly - and we would not have a skytrain tunnel running down Cambie, it would be running out to the Tri Cities as planned.

I don't doubt we need more public transportation, skytrain may not be the best solution, a ground level people mover along the Arbrutus corridor would have been better, but we all know who's neighbourhood that infringes on....

DTES hotels have a fairly constant rate of being updated and being bought and sold = but not at the rate it is at now. Despite what politicians and VANOC promised people will lose their homes because of the 2010 Olympics.

I blame the NDP for starting the whole stinking process and Libs for perpetrating the mess further.

1. Fair enough. I can't say I've read or heard anything specific on DTES, but I know they have a policy to do their part to contribute to the community and raise the bar in that area within the corporate world. I guess we'll just have wait and see what happens in the next three years.

2. "Because of the 2010 Olympics"? Why because? Why don't you explain the connection? I'm aware of that vote being put-off but again, that's a city council issue not Olympic (for the record I think the stalling on DTES is deplorable, but there's still no connection to the Olympics on that issue).

3. I would feel angry too, but my anger would be directed in the right way to the right people. I don't believe in anarchy as a solution to get your message across. Of course I could be bias as I work for a communications company that does a lot of pro-bono work for various causes, but I believe you shift peoples' behavior by appealing to their emotions and sense of goodness - not by throwing rocks and eggs and disrupting a peaceful and public gathering attended by children. How can you possibly defend their actions??

4. I'm sorry you feel that you've been slighted as an athlete (are you really an athlete? If you're the guy that runs 2010 Watch I know for certain you're not). Anyway, how is it a sham? It promotes the highest in athletics, world peace, fair play, and on and on. Of course you can argue that it's become too corporate like many other things, but the principles are still there. The billions of people who watch it don't think of it as a corporate event and they are certainly uplifted from the performance and participation of their country, as well as the Olympic message of bringing nations together. And unlike Olympics in the past at least 2010 is raising the majority of their money through corporate sponsorship and not tax $$. You can't have it both ways.

4. So what? Construction and development bring jobs and money to the community and they aren't make-shift projects for political gain like fast ferries and the like. The majority of what they're building will be used long after the games are gone (from what I've read they're also taking into consideration "white elephants" from past Olympics such as the ski jump by building those type of events as removable structures). And so what if some people make some money off it...welcome to a free economy. That's like saying we should protest Concord Pacific for building condos in Yaletown. The point is that the 2010 development is NOT detracting from DTES. You've yet to make that connection. You're reverting back to the same methods you use unchallenged on your website and in the media.

So go on and on. You really haven't substantiated any of your arguments, and quite frankly unless other people join this thread it's not worth my time to continue one-on-one as you'll just come back with loose arguments void of facts. I've got to get back to work

Edited by author 02-14-2007 07:51 PM
Don't let him off the hook on that one "*?".

You still haven't addressed his/her or my questions about how the Olympics are causing the reduction in SRO's with any kinds of facts. Again, do you actually think these hotel owners are spending thousands for upgrades in anticipation for a 2 week event 3 years from now?

And now you're throwing skytrain into the equation?

Now I totally agree that a ground level people mover might have been a better and less expensive option, but you can't possibly blame the Olympics for that. And as far as I know the tri-city plan is still on the table. Yes the airport route may have gotten moved up because of the olympics, but who cares...it was going to happen sooner or later. For my part I'm glad it's sooner and that they have the pressure of deadlines...it increases efficiency and get's the job done faster so people on the Cambie corridor aren't inconvenienced longer than they could have been otherwise, plus all the money saved for meeting early deadlines. Perhaps you should be thanking the Olympics for that fact and not blaming them.

Edited by author 02-14-2007 09:27 PM
Vikrim:

We don't have to wait 3 years to find out if VANOC will fulfill their empty promises, they have already shown us in a number of areas that their promises don't mean anything.

There are many ways to make change, sometimes it can be abrupt and violent, sometimes it can be long and peaceful and everything else in between. People general prefer tha latter, but when the changes to be made are abrupt and have imediate effect I can guarantee there will be a imediate response in some unpleasant way.

I've not been slighted as an athlete, what I have done is researched my subject matter and come to a logical conclusion. Most athletes I have come across don't have the inclination or are too self centred hwo many homeless people are created due to the 2010 Olympics. And YES I have accomplished what I said and NO I am not Chris Shaw - try a google search under Ian Gregson.

As for my basis in fact, please check t he 2010watch website for in depth details, particularly the PIVOT report on increased homelessness on the DTES. The facts are out there, it simply whether you choose to believe them or not.

The people who are making decisions about the Olympics are the same people making decisions about expanding the freeway, running the skytrain down Cambie and wreaking environmental havoc at EagleRidge Bluffs. The owners of the DTES hotels are opportunists out to make a buck, the Olympics has given them an excuse to do so even more, tie that in with a city gov't unwilling to enforce their own by-laws - the result is more peope out on the streets.

Vikrim - here's a recent message from Phil le Good

Despite Furlong's quoted statement to the media, "...VANOC continues to
discuss housing matters with some of the protesting groups, and has promised
250 permanent units of social housing will be provided from the athletes'
village, once the Games are over", there has NEVER been a promise made by
VANOC or its predecesor, 2010 Bid Corp, to provide 250 housing units after
the 2010 Games.

The actual agreement states that the Vancouver City Council of the day will
do its best to provide 250 units of "non-market housing" from the athletes
village after 2010. And, if the current housing market price is any
indication of what may lie ahead in 2010, non-market housing could cost well
over $500,000. Hardly social housing and hardly a firm promise. Jack
Poole, one of VANOC's directors is associated with a major development
company, however, they are not involved with the construction of Vancouver's
Athlete's Village (at least not yet).

VANOC and Furlong have no responsibility for housing, nor is their mandate
to provide anything else but the 16 day expensive 2010 circus on behalf of
their boss, the International Olympic Committee. They are contracted by the
IOC to provide the Games on time, at venues in Vancouver and Whistler.

If Mr. Furlong continues to provide this level disinformation, how can the
public ever trust him with over $600 million in public funds for venue
construction?

Here's a link for a circle/ (no to 2010) logo & a label template for Avery #5293 stickers.
http://rapidshare.com/files/19621978/NoTo2010.zip.html
Leave 'em on newsstands, stick em wherever around the city, give 'em to friends & loved ones...I'm sure it'll piss VANOC off.
Civil disobedience?

I'm not an athlete to these games. It's not going to be like Expo 86, when evryone including the public is going to do these exibits. Only the public is going to do is watch it live at each venues or on T.V. For me it's going to be a local blackout on my T.V. set, just like the C.F.L. (Canadian Football League) home games.

I'm no interested in these games in Vancouver. If anyone is sick & tired about these games, then make lots of money & go on vacation in February of 2010.

If you don't want the paralympics to come here, then extended to March, 2010. I'm hopeing that there will be an "Olympic Runaway Sale" from any Travel agent stores in the lower mainland or on the web sites. If you don't like what's happening in Vancouver beyond 2010, MOVE!!!!!!

The Premier of B.C. is telling the people are comming back to B.C. Sorry Mr. Premier, but I'm leaving on Feb. 2010 when the games are on.

One of my family member is trying to tell me if I do stay for these games, I would go on a trip after the games. It's a nice offer, but I can't do that while these games are on. After all one of my family member who is a big fan of figure skating.

When Vancouver has their plans set to 2010, I've got my plans to leave Vancouver both for Feb & March of 2010.

Protests must get louder!, by using Whistles, call it the
 "2010 Whistle Blowers."
Put a logo on the whistles, hand them out/sell them, at events.
Lets get LOUDer!!!!!
:)

You think you're so hardcore protesting an ageless world event for some bums that have no self control? Go die in a hole you evil godless communist freedom hating assholes.

Peaceful protests are encouraged, but the anti-olympic protests are embarrassing. This is why you aren't getting free handouts, you act like children.

I live in the Greater Vancouver area. I don't want another Atlanta, Georgia explosion during the summer games. Remember in September, 1996 there was a bomb explosion near the city.

Vancouver could be another terrorist attack. If a big event comes along, Vancouver could be their next target. Maybe a 1'st Canadian terrorist after the U.S. terror in Sep. 11'th, 2001. Anyone in the games could be a terrorist. The security is giving it's 0 torrerance policy on terrorist.

In reality, here are some questions everyone in British Columbia should know:

How much money are we going to spend on security?

How much money of our tax Canadian dollars to host the games that we are going to pay?

And how much money are we wasting adds to introduce those games to the world?

Yeah I maybe crazy, but what I'm doing is a "what if" game. What if the olympics goes terrably wrong for the 1'st time since 1972 in Munich, West Germany?

These are the questions that we have to remember about. Also I didn't get a straight answer from the VANOC. I talked to them about to prefer the summer games instead of the winter games. I love watching Sailing, Rowing, Kayaking, Baseball, Swimming, Diving, Track & Field, Volleyball & Beach Volleyball on T.V. & on live events. The only winter games that I love are Skiing, Snowboarding & Speed Skating. That's 8 summer games I love to see & 3 winter games I would like to see, but summer games are better. Sadly the VANOC wants to talk about is the winter games, not the summer games.

I'm very disapointed to see the city of Vancouver doing this event.

"I'm very disapointed to see the city of Vancouver doing this event."

Yes, so lets protest the 2010 clock, and vandalise it, effectively wasting more tax dollars.

You people are retarded, stop protesting over something so stupid. Even if this clock is actually a 'big issue' -- much like the 2010 games in their entirity -- it would mean much more money to halt the process, than to continue with it. End of fucking discussion, stop protesting, you slutty vandalizing attention whores. You people are so bloody ignorant it's sad to know that people like you live in the same city as me.

Gee I protest about,business people wanting real money to host games, and I'm retarded. Lets see, 3 persons in my family, so my share/cost out of my pocket is about $1,500 for these games. I told my Daughter that if the 2010 money was spent on kids, every child in BC could have gone to Egypt for a life changing moment of their lifes.
Is it true that each Metal Canada wins, will costs taxpayers $40,000,000.00 a peice.
Before you call me retarded could you please look in the mirror, then go ask one of your mushroom friends, what kind of drugs your on today.
Thats my rant for the day, get Whistles. No need to reply, and I will not stop yelling at people with there hands in my pockets.
My guess is we'll be $4 1/2 Billion in the hole by the end of this, and my child will end up paying this back for tyhe next 30 years like 1976 Quebec games.

If I was retarded, I wouldn't be on this computer explaining about the olympics. I'm not protesting.

I've never gone out to those events & protest to the city of Vancouver nor the VANOC. The police would be there to arrest me. I'd be scared the shit out of those fuckin' police if they'd tear gased me.

I don't care if we have a countdown clock to the games. It's a waist of our tax dollar's money. Nor anyone bringing down the flag of the olympics.

When that clock reaches down to 0, I'm leaving until the whole olympic games are finish. Sure the people will tell me "Ohh! You'd missed out there little buddy. Vancouver had a blast of fun. Oh well. Too bad little buddy!" I won't even care if anyone will say that to me. All for those 16 days of fun will be on holidays.

get a life..your all wasting ur time

fucking retards...leave the clock alone

Get a life, leave the clock alone!

Who cares about the clock. I don't care. I've never seen it with my own eyes. I've haven't been to downtown since.

I completely agree with kr601. I hate all sports including hockey. Whats the point of wasting our money to bring prestige to Vancouver. We should all boycott the winter olympics and go home and watch sailing. For the record I also hate Ice cream.

All these douchebags spammed this message board because they are all part of this group on facebook: http://langara.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2256589215

I would love to give these guys a press conference so the city can see how hateful, vitriolic, ignorant, and under-educated they are.

"Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. "

-Frederick Douglas
(a Republican)

you are all a bunch of dumbasses. enough said.

If I had a sign, I had the olympic symbol on below it will be crossed out with a circle around the symbol & it would say "2010 Olympic games? I'm LEAVING!!!!" & I would walk all day around that countdown clock. If I was in a friendly protesters climate, I would have that sign to go anywhere where there will be a peaseful demonstration. I hate protesters who can do more damage to the city & disobeying the law.

Thanks for the heads up Sean I've contacted the admin at facebook to have them shut down.

I guess that is what cuts to Richmond school board budgets gets us...

Watch out for my upcoming article about Olympics. It will be posted soon. To all the radical Olympic activists your idea is good but please have concern with what we are really fighting for. We shouldn't put our dignity down and be spoiled by bad criticisms of everybody.

bahahha. protesters are lame/ no fame. weak.

There was an interesting debate on Facebook regarding the Olympic, the removal of the single-occupancy hotel rooms, and what not on Facebook, and I was linked to this site from that group.

I have a lovely post on my blog regarding this.

http://blog.jeffkee.com/2007/03/28/2010-va...l-estate-vandalism/

Edited by author 04-02-2007 12:30 AM
I was watching a documantary on C.B.C. on July 1, 2003 the day before the announcement was made. Looking back on the olympic bid, I was hopeing that Toronto would get the 2008 Summer games, but as it turned out that Toronto lost to Bejing.

Just days before Febuary 22'nd, 2003 when Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell announced that there was going to be a referendum, the referendum was only going to he held in Vancouver & NOT Whistler or the Greater Vancouver area.

When I was visiting in Vancouver, there were lots of "yes" campaigns & 0 "no" campains on the streets, but on the news on the night of the referendum there were some "no" people sanding outside on Burrard Street Bridge corner of Cornwall Avenue.

I've counted more than 10 "yes" ads in 1 week. Many of them were in the newspaper ads, on T.V., on Radio & on the internet. It was saying "It's our time to shine. Vote 'Yes' on February 22'nd."

Where were the "no" campaign ads? I didn't see any ads on the streets, on newspapers, on T.V. & on Radio. I may have missed it on the internet, because the internet does do indipendant news. But in the media, there were zero "no" ads. WHY? My guess was that the "no" campaign didn't have enough money or that they wanted to do it indipendantly & not speak out with the media. These were my guesses.

Let me know if there were other reasons why the "no" campaign failed the referendum.

I applaued Chris Shaw on his hard work. It sends a strong message that we don't want the olympics here.

I still have the results from that referendun Yes 64%, No 36%. The national voting phone pole voted more than 90% support of the 2010 winter games.

On C.T.V.'s Local news at 6 on the night of the referendum, I called in their C.T.V. pole not in favour of having the olympics.

There was a major difference in budget, I think the NO campaign ran on a budget of $1500, whilst the YES campaign spent in the region of a $1 million. You know what they say about money and how it walks.

It's just in time when I heard the news yesterday and read the newspapers today. Please read my article entitled, "Behind the Glittering Gold and the Secret of the Flaming Torch" (A Call for the Re-Awakening of the World on the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics) at cloudbusters@yahoogroups.com. It's out already! Hope you like it! Thanks!

Behind the Glittering Gold and the Secret of the Flaming Torch
         (A Call for the Re-awakening of the World)
                                          By Concern Citizen of Canada

     “What comes first in your mind when you hear the word Olympics? Is there any excitement? Are you anxious to see the event? Will you set aside a certain amount of your savings just to witness the event? Is it still practical and will you be in favor to organize an event like this?”
     During the early ancient times in Athens, Greece – Olympics is an event where people always look forward to. An event where prestige, dignity, virtue and dedication is being offered to someone who gave an honor for a victorious control of the world, rejoicing for a successful marriage and paying tribute to their religious belief.
     Today, Olympics can be considered to be one of the major causes of mass destruction and poverty. It is no longer adulation and a great haughtiness for a country to participate and give any significance to this kind of event. Failures are to be expected. The Olympics are a gamble, a bet that a tremendous outlay of public money on semi-useless athletic facilities will eventually return dividends. Some of those dividends involve other public funds – federal money that would not have spent in B.C. were it not for the Games. Are we ready for another embarrassment? As the saying goes, history always repeat its ignominy, to name a few, the 1972 Munich massacre, Russian, American and Congolese-led boycott, the over budget 1976 Montreal Olympics where it took them 30 years before they were able to pay all their $1-billion debt, lets include Lake Placid 1980 ($11-million), Calgary 1988 ($910-million), Barcelona 1992 ($1.4-billion), Sydney 2000 ($2.3-billion loss), I’m sure the 2006 Turin Olympics had pushed themselves on the edge too, because of an enormous security budget by asking the help of the “NATO” (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the very controversial judging in 2002 Salt Lake City’s Figure Skating and many others.
     Vancouver 2010, three years from now the city will be hosting the Winter Olympics and they are all busy doing the preparation in marketing, advertising, promoting tourism, looking for more sponsors, disturbing the homeless - the first nations and fooling the citizens of British Columbia with their powerful and convincing artificial lies. Look everywhere, read the newspapers, hear and watch the news on television and radio. What and how do you feel? Can you still comprehend to do your daily activities? Can you still greet with a smile? Can you eat your meals, take your rest and feel comfortable while others are in the adversity of their lives wrangling for everybody’s wellness? Or you pretend to see, hear and feel nothing because you don’t care? Are you commodious living a life in a city, in a province and in a country full of misery and black propagandas?
     Some people might be felicitous to know that the appraisal of their house had increased its value. Apparently to others, percentage growth of realties means hopelessness. An average family who is earning and receiving a minimum wage will no longer be capable to have a dream house where they can live a better and healthy lifestyle for they can’t afford and pay its mortgage and amortization. But what can we do, we need a place to live-in; so we are forced to take the consequences of working two or more jobs for almost 24-hours just to surpass our debts.
     According to 2006-2007 Global/World Cost of Living Survey (conducted by Mercer Human Resource Consulting), Vancouver is placing 13th for most expensive city, 3rd most expensive homes (by RBC Financial Group) and out of 215 cities Vancouver merged to be on the 3rd best to experience a quality of life ( referred by the Mercer Human Resources Consulting) in the world. Are these reports are things we can be proud or be ashamed of? Is this what we really want to endure and appear in public? As for me, these data are indistinct strategy – “numbers game”, because they want to encourage people from other nations to come to Canada and live a worthless and inconsiderate life. This country is desperately in need to increase its population and produce funds through tax payments so that the government would have budget to buy a pizza for their snack worth more or less $20,000 in a month while our brothers and sisters from the eastside are starving to death.
     We must admit and accept that this can be one of the reasons why are we living in a society with fear; most especially at night. Why do we have drug addiction, crimes, assaults - why our fellows mostly are young always in trouble? Because both parents are too busy earning for a living just to pay the monthly bills. They don’t have time anymore for their children even for themselves. We can’t steer to monitor what is happening inside our home. Do our children still have proper nutrition? Do they make good in school? Do we still know them? Our society has a major factor in our everyday living but we should not blame the influences happening within. We should take a look what’s behind this – the reasons. We are responsible to look for an answer. We have criminals, drug traffickers, sex offenders and others. These are human beings lacking and seeking for special attention. These are our children who have been neglected by our own home. And since no one and nobody attend to their needs – giving enough attention, they themselves have to search and find ways to get this. In the early years, only our father can be seen working – raising his family while our mother stays at home doing the household chores, taking care and supervising us.
     One day, I went to visit the eastside of Vancouver and it was so overwhelming to witness our homeless countrymen – sleeping in a hollow night, famished and suffering because of government’s negligence. I have learned that they are on the least level of Totem poll meaning they are the least priority in the society. I was surprised that a first world country like Canada most especially its government is being ingenuous with this people. You can only find this in third world nations, for all I know. The state should bestow the benefit of
Continuation page 2

the doubt. Not sweeping them away like dirt and hide them in a place where there is no life. Remember, what they did at Atlanta, Georgia, USA, they transferred homeless and vagarant people that are visible in the population of the said city. They were given a one-way bus ticket out of town and the others were rounded-up and shipped-out by bus to temporary detention camps. So that tourists will not be able to see them. It’s a cover-up and we can’t conceal them from the façade of slackness leadership of the government.
     I’ve seen some of the affordable single-room hostels, apartment buildings and areas that are being sold to these covetous multi-millionaire investors so that they can have them for development in preparation of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. And who will benefit on this? It will be the Olympic performers – the athletes, the sponsors, the people in authority and the elite group. While homeless people in the skidrow area of Vancouver are striving hard and looking for security, these athletes will be receiving a royal treatment. Organizers will provide them a village where all the luxury can be found. They will provide a secure place where the international guests can relax under protective eyes. Do our guest athletes pay the same tax as what the Canadians are?
     In B.C. province there are other areas that are being developed where events will nearly be held. In Richmond, the fun had been stolen from the youth who’s engaged into outdoor and indoor sports like football, soccer and ice hockey after some venues had been overthrown. The local municipal government had deep-in into their reserve funds to pay for the cost-over runs of the Olympic Ice Skater Rinks. On my way home, I took a cab. In the middle of nowhere, I asked the driver on how he reacts about hosting the Olympics. He said, “Olympic is a big burden to everybody. People of British Columbia will shoulder the big burdens - paying debts after the event”. “He even added that in Whistler, the city known for skiing resort where major events will be held on 2010, some residents were forced to leave their homes for its too harsh for them to pay their mortgage. Aside from this, basic commodities had also increased”.
     Protests and rallies are bound on every street. Environmentalists try to protect and save our natural resources from the greedy developer. We’ve seen on the news that some of them had been forced to be pulled and smashed-out by the RCMPs. Near Horshoe Bay, the Eagle Ridge Bluff where the government is flipping the bill for the upgrading of the sea to sky highway had touched the ecological sensitivity of the area. Instead of tunneling underground they will build and construct highway over top of the bluff because they will save more money. Many believe that this construction had not been planned thoroughly. Government seems not to care about the affected trees, animals and any other living things and the future effects that may cause like major landslides. Then why are they spending too much for the restoration of the Stanley Park? I think we must not waste money through contribution and donation. The issue here is not that Stanley Park holds the card key as one of the tourism capital and Eagle Ridge Bluff is just an ordinary thing where people used to pass by. Both resources are important. No need to sacrifice the other just for convenience. I’m sure when an unexpected time comes; the law of nature will ask for retaliation and there will be more people and other living things to suffer and would cost more.
     Last year, two women had been the hot-spot of the public-eye. These are the unsung heroes who are fighting for other’s rights and wretched victims of the insensitive judiciary and edacious government and its corporation. Who can forget the name stenciled at the Olympic clock “FREE Betty”? Betty Krawczyk at her age of 78 was sentenced to be in jailed for 10 months for civil disobedience after blocking bulldozers trying to build a new Olympic highway through West Vancouver. Of much more serious consequence was the death of native elder Harriet Nahanee, age 71, after being sent to jail for refusing to apologize for her contempt of court. She was sent to Surrey Pretrial Centre, a prison for men and a noted hell-hole for women in poor health. People believe that she didn’t die in vain.
     Months ago, the 16 ft. x 25 ft. Olympic flag flying at Vancouver City Hall was stolen. Authorities suspected that DERA (Downtown Eastside Residents Association) and APC (Anti-Poverty Committee) had something to do with it. This incident has a damage cost of almost $10,000, (the hand-sewn Olympic flag is $1,600) as per Const. Tim Fanning reported. As a raided home in Shaughnessy based on a tip was ridiculous and accused the police of grandstanding by waiting until the late evening before serving the search warrant. This whole incident was a smear tactics and all politicize, for they can go there during normal business hours and it’s so funny to know that they were not able to do it because of the reason that the place is unsafe. What are they afraid of? They have the authority. The thing is, they are afraid to accept the reality of being a puppet by the gluttonous people from the government and by the elite group. Later on the Native Warriors Society claimed the responsibility of pilfering the Olympic flag. According to this group they would want to give justice to one of their first nation’s member Harriet Nahanee.
     At News 1130, they conducted a poll entitled, “It is not important for the police to find the Olympic flag?” And according to listener’s poll result last March 30, 2007, 41% said YES and 59% said NO. This data only shows that our citizens don’t agree with what our authority is doing. Why find the stolen flag if we can create a new one? They are just wasting their time and efforts and even money wherein there are still some things to prioritize.
     The 2010 Olympics has a major threat to our vigorous economy. We have been warned by the Royal Bank of Canada. Long-term growth is also threatened by the pine beetle epidemic, volatile commodity prices, rising of the construction costs and labor shortages. We might have seen a boom-bust scenario in the future. According to VANOC the event has an
Continuation page 3

estimated cost of $600 million and will generate $10 billion after. In addition to this, 228, 000 jobs will be propagated. This figure is just an illusion for there is no modern game in any country that held the event earned and gained profit. Until now, they are still paying their debts. It is not the government and the elite groups who will take the responsibility when this happens - it is the tax payers. Are we going to believe in all the financial reports that they are divulging for public knowledge? Of course, things are being manifested and manipulated. There are hidden costs. This Hippocrates are creating and projecting a good imagery – a public trust.
     You cannot really keep a secret to the public as we learn that Premier Gordon Campbell’s special adviser Ken Dobell who’s receiving a $250-an-hour, topping out at a maximum $230,000 a year is wearing two hats. He is one of the parasites benefiting from the Olympic. Dobell is lobbying Campbell and at the same time was hired by the city as a project manager on a planned “cultural precinct” for downtown Vancouver which aims to enhance the city core as a hub of cultural activities, including the “Olympic Live Site”. This $5-million project is funded by the provincial government. Meanwhile, Dobell is also the finance chairman of the 2010 Olympic Organizing Committee. It is very clear that this person is overlapping jobs that create double trouble – a double-dipping into the public purse and being in a conflict of interest. But as expected both offices claims nothing for the report. Should we consider that Mayor Sam Sullivan is another bottom feeder? Yes, because he is a right-wing free enterpriser.
            As I am writing this article, many of us might not convince and oppose with my words. Before, I am always looking forward to watch the Olympics even on TV. I am even kindle to witness the event here in Vancouver on 2010. But this feeling had changed, after every moved, every words and every drops of tears and perspiration had seen to our indigent, ravenous and homeless people. As I go along my research, there wasn’t homelessness in 1970’s, we even don’t use the word; and more than 30 years ago we can say that the situation today is worse than we’ve ever seen. Everything changed when the federal government cut funding to build social housing in 1993. In the 20 previous years Ottawa helped fund up to 30,000 housing units a year, about 2,000 of which were built in B.C.. Then what happened! I truly believed that we are living the consequences of that disastrous decision. Homelessness has spilled back into the suburbs. This has been a massive failure of public policy.
      I would like also to address this message to the anti-Olympics protestors. You may have a valid point, but those who rebuff the games need to find a better way to express yourselves. Radical activism is not the answer. When people see activists seizing microphones at public events in order to spew profanity, they understably conclude that the profanity is the message. In some television coverage, we have seen the violent anti-police rally succeeded in convincing thousands of Lower Mainlanders that what we need is more police. Most of what passes for anti-Olympics protest is really the same mindless anti-authoritarianism that reinvents itself in response to every public projects. Let us create a more inspiring howls to the public and not being submerge by our hatred and wrath to the government and its corporation that leads to an impression by the public that anti-Olympics group are sprinkled with idiots and morons who have been handed out by a cover story for its moronic behavior. We don’t want to be recidivistic. We don’t want the media to sensationalize what the anti-Olympics is fighting for. We should use them more constructively. We can even use the on-line system. Our vision and mission is to address the issue directly.
     Whether we like it or not, this event will be pushed through. Different nations from all over the world will be here wearing the best and the sweetest smiles of making their country be on top of the medal podium - vying and fascinated for gold. Excited and exalted with what is at stake for them. On the opening ceremony whoever will carry the flaming Olympic torch would feel egoistic - a once in a lifetime experience that adheres his belief and ideology. For the athletes, Olympics are valor and endurance of their life-long dreams. And behind the glittering gold and the flaming torch is a secret filled with stratagem, atrocious, obnoxious and ferocious act of people.
     I am now calling the concern citizens of Canada to create a mass consciousness so that the mountains will have a tough time of maintaining the snow on the slopes. We have to create a great spectacle that on 2010 we are hoping and wishing for a good and warm weather – a record mild weather. The key now is to ensure that the 2010 Olympics will leave behind the legacy of shame. Olympics and social justice need not to be an either/or proposition.
     I am also encouraging you to visit, read and participate in any web-sites of the anti-Olympics organization.
     Subsequently, I am, therefore, appealing to all nations of the world to wake-up and make the most out of it to support and apprehend what is really our concern. The main movers and the most affected victims here are not just the homeless but us. We are calling for a BOYCOTT! We must not support all the activities of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Now is the time for us to buckle down to work and exercise our freedom – our rights to unite and forget our differences to stop this lucrative organization. Don’t be deceived by the colorful and unique emblems, the rhythmic sound of music and the well-endowed publicity. These are all the faces of hippocracy with the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell and his cabal.
     Let your voice be heard not on streets and blood-shedding but in a most extensive and decorous manner using the power of modern technology. Let us prove to each and every one of us that society can count on us.
     No to Homelessness…! No to Poverty…! No to Olympics forever…!

Edited by author 04-11-2007 01:19 AM
Thanks for your input, Ian. With the no campaign had about $1,500.00 & the yes brought over $1 million it's not wonder that we were wasting our tax dollars on these adds. I feel sad that the no campaign could have done better. It's like loosing to a referendum in quebec the 2'nd time.

Marketing suggestion - you guys should join forces with the environmental groups that want to boycott due to the baby seal slaughter (or encourage them to promote a boycott to their members). That would enable you to take the protest internationally, get way more press, and possibly at least make a financial impact on the games.

When exactly did we start caring what self-appointed 'watchdogs' think??
Why is the media so hell bent on giving people with no more importance than being the loudest mouth a forum??
Thank God for all of you we live in probably the most left leaning part of North America if not the world. Not even Toronto would put up with all of these 'left-wing extremists'. Finally, can someone please tell the APC that until they clean up their image and at least exercise some degree of social decorum no one will ever take them seriously. There is something to be said for presentation and method and by ignoring that fact you're doing your own cause a great disservice.

Further more, regarding the whole homeless issue. When did it become everyone else's fault these people are homeless?? I've met many new immigrants to Canada and they work two, or three jobs to make ends meet, but they do it. Why can't we talk about that?? When did people's 'self-made' addictions somehow alleviate them from their responsibility to themselves?? Granted not everyone is an addict, but the downtown eastside's problems will never be cured with social housing. The last thing an addict needs is everyday freedoms, for to this point these freedoms have only lead to their self-inflicted downward spiral.

John - you oversimply the social issues to make your point.

You personally have no responsibility to help people less fortunate than yourself, its all a matter of having the need within you to do so.

No one is claiming ALL the DE issues will be solved by housing alone, the problems are far more complex and far reaching than just homelesness.

As for the APC you might want to send them an email directly, however my guess is they know their own cause better than you do. The fact they make you feel "uncomfortable" tells me they probably doing the right thing.

Immigration, homelessness, addictions are all separate issues, I'm not sure why you want to link them with immigration and immigrants.

I really don't care if the APC does what they do. They make a mockery of people with real concerns. Sometimes I wonder if they're simply addicted to attention. Making people feel uncomfortable once again does them no good, but as you say that's something that should be said to them. Although, they may be the most stubborn, inflexible group of miscreants I've come across in a long-time. As for oversimplifying social issues, I'll leave that to all the people who tear apart the Olympics as if it's the overriding factor in the plight of the downtown eastside. Oh ya, and it killed that woman. Nothing else. It was the Olympics. Oversimplification....here's looking at you kid.

Belittling the APC for raising issues that you don't agree with is something you should take up with them - tell them how it is as you see it - what are YOUR real concerns ?

You cannot disagree that when we got the Olympics courtesy of Glen Clark and the NDP the priorities changed. All of a sudden we needed an expansion of the Sea to Sky, a rapid transit link to the airport [when all along the NW sector of the GVRD was the priority]. Sure enough priorities change, I can accept that and in this case they changed because of us getting the 2010 Olympics.

If you are talking about the death of Harriet Nahanee then YES the highway expansion over Eagle Ridge Bluffs was a direct result of us getting the 2010 Olympics, Harriet protested at the Bluffs and was subsequently jailed and subsequently died. Had she not gone to jail she might have lived longer. However her death has been a focal point for many people and I think indirectly most people can see the link between the 2010 Olympics and her death - if they choose to do so.

As for the immigrants, you probably realized my point was anyone with meager skills, or financial means can make enough money to get their ass off the street. If hard work doesn't get you out, then work harder, but don't walk around asking people for change and then calling them names when they don't give you any. I'm just fed up with downtown being taken over by lawless hordes of homeless who are drinking the Kool-Aid and just waiting for someone to come save them. I realize I'm probably not as informed as all these groups, yours included, but I simply am giving the view of a regular person from my own personal experience. If those experiences mean nothing, then they mean nothing. It seems like regular people get lost in these dialogues so frequently it's as if THEY don't exist. I apologize for the sarcasm at the end of my last post. Anyone dying is a tragedy, but we can't simply put that on anyone in particular it's just not fair. The systemic causes of anything really just sends us down a never ending path. It all depends on where you, or I decide to stop walking. Finally, I enjoy this discussion and believe it's not only healthy, but required for everyone to understand each other more clearly. I think where my whole problem with the APC and other like minded groups comes from is my view they seem to all been very committed to creating an adversarial dialogue, which can become so bad neither side listens to each other and thus nothing productive can ever come of it. In my view, insults just beget more insults, but rarely create solutions. - John

Edited by author 05-08-2007 06:30 PM
It sounds like you have a run in with an agressive pan handler or two. I have never had a problem with them, if I have change I try and give it, but I don't belittle anyone for asking for money, just carry on walking.

The APC do the things they do because they beleive all other methods to be ineffectual. If I believed the same I would probably be out there with them, however I am content with running the 2010watch site and talking to the media. There are several groups using various methods to make change in regard to the Olympics, vocal protesting, stealing flags and spray painting are other methods.

Consider that people like Betty K and Harriet were put in jail for protesting the Eagle Ridge Bluffs and a lot of the anger out there was triggered by their unjust sentancing. To a lot of people the BC gov't and the developers Jack Poole and David Podmore will stop at nothing and that is why the protests have turned for the worse - no response so far. There was no response when the protests were quiet and well behaved, so the level had to be upped to get a response.

The reasoning may be sound, but the results are probably the same which are no results at all. That's my perception. We all see things differently and that's just human nature. I'm sure we'll talk again soon. - John

To many people an increased police presence at various Olympic related events could be percieved as a victory - it goes to show what lengths and expenses the organisers of the games are willing to go to protect their own assets....

Fuck David Cunningham and the APC!!

What a loser in life.

Edited by author 05-25-2007 01:41 AM
Homeless people are completely useless. If they had any value to society at all they would have dug themselves out a long time ago. OH BUT THEYRE STILL PEOPLE! Yeah theyre people. So was Hitler. But I would still punch him in the face if I saw him.

The anger you show towards the homeless is the same anger people face when being evicted. Your angry comments show the need for the APC to exist and fight for the rights of the downtrodden in society.

We often think we live in a perfect society when we are happy with our own lives. When we see people on the streets, people selling drugs, people panhandling, it reminds us that life is not perfect. Some respond by helping and some respond with anger. The anger does not help directly, but it does show many people that our society is even less perfect than we thought and that people who are angry often have more barriers in their own lives than someone who is homeless.

Dean - Hitler hated the homeless just like you do, he also hated gypsy's jews, catholics and just about anyone else that was non arryan. What do you suggest ? Maybe Mein Kampf has inspired you, if not maybe read it and see if it resonates with you in some way - my guess is it will.

Edited by author 06-25-2007 06:05 PM
You know what grinds my gears? Rich People. So, to protest, I'll vandalize their homes and evict them myself. You know what else grinds my gears? The government. So, I'll boycott their public schools. That sounds reasonable, that will show how bad a life I've had. Wow the Olympics are partly Government funded, so maybe I'll go ruin that for everyone.

An Undying Call for Olympic Fanatics?
By Concerned Citizen 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!

Vancouver 2010 - The Sea To Sky Games

Only 932 days to go!

See you there!!

You won't see me, I'm taking a vacation out of the city at that time, probably out of the province also....

I just got a type-written letter from Betty Krawczyk in jail - it's posted word for word at Orato.com at http://www.orato.com/node/3359. If anyone on this site wants to write about the 2010 Games, I encourage you to check out the site. I'm curious to know how the issues are evolving as we get closer to the date - any thoughts? Thanks, Robyn.

Where does it all end? We were successful in stopping Halifax's bidding on the Commonwealth Games but it goes on and on and on.
How many billions of Canadian tax dollars go into elitist international and national games annually? While doing research into the Commonwealth Games I discovered a list of competitions as long as your arm. The Summer and Winter Olympics, The Canada Summer and Winter games, The Commonwealth Games (summer but they are looking at adding winter games I've heard), The Pan Am games, The Paralympics, The International Children's Games, The Gay games, The Native games, The Acadian games, The Francophone Games, the University games and the recent FIFA cup series to mention a few that Canada is involved in. These games have one thing in common. The athletes are supported predominantly by our tax dollars. Either directly through grants and training allowances or indirectly through donations from companies who then write it off against their taxes. Listen to the sports news almost any day and somewhere in the world Canadian athletes are there is one competition or another. As well, staging these games is financed almost exclusively by the tax payer, building facilities, paying travel in some cases, feeding and housing the athletes and in many cases donating millions to training programs for other countries. A dozen accountants and their computers probably couldn't come up with even a close figure but the total cost has to be horrendous. Add to this the fact that the tax payer is now the banker who builds the facilities for many pro franchises and the total costs is that much greater.Look at London and China both over $20 billion USD for the next two Summer Olympics. Where does it end? Governments around the world have no problem finding cash to support these events while education, medical care all the basics of life are slipping in many countries and almost non-existent in many more. How did we get into this eternal games scenario and, more importantly how do we get out of it? Government has to get back to looking out for the basics, the every day needs of the population not financing what has become one eternal sporting event. Not since Nero's Rome has so much money been spent staging games for the population to sit and watch.
 
Bruce DeVenne

I confirmed this with the organization that runs the site. This is a list of "carded" athletes from just a part of one sport, track. 32 of them are "international" "senior" medical" or maintenance" These people receive $1500 a month from Ottawa in training allowances.
There are also 14 listed under development. They get $900 per month.
That is a total of $727,200 annually for just a few from just one sport what is the total of tax dollars annually spent like this?
Bruce DeVenne
http://www.athleticscanada.com/files//Nati...PRIL2007FINALEN.PDF

Britiannia Community Centre Rink as olympic practice venue!!!!

Just wanted to let folks know that a group of us from The Torch (a new anti-olympics ZINE) are holding a meeting at Britannia on Sunday Dec. 2, from 2-4 to discuss the push from VANOC to have britannia be a practice venue. Every single person I have talked to is appalled by the idea and is horrified at the security apparatus that this decision could bring to our local community centre.
Everyone welcome and any questions just e-mail us at thetorch@resist.ca

Hi all,

I am a doctoral student doing my dissertation on policing/security aspects of the Olympics. I'm looking to speak with people who have experience or insights into the consequences that the Olympics will have in terms of security and policing, so if you think you have something to offer, I'd love to talk with you - please don't hesitate to get in touch!

- Phil Boyle
phil_boyle007@yahoo.ca

Vancouver 2010 - The Sea To Sky Games

Only 803 day to go!

See you there!!

http://www.hightechharassment.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antichrist

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http://novanewsnet.ukings.ca/nova_news_3588_13109.html

http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/07_01.pdf

http://www.nlectc.org/techbeat/summer2000/LookWallsSum2000.pdf

http://www.akelainc.com/pdf_files/SPIE0405.pdf

http://www.blackcommentator.com/70/70_cover_white_terror.html

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http://www.discovervancouver.com/forum/ind...819&TOPIC_ID=211819

http://politics.propeller.com/story/2006/1...media-ignores-story

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http://www.democracynow.org/2005/6/13/fbi_...remacists_are_major

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http://tabacco.blog-city.com/western_media...ts_ignored_alja.htm

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http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0938888020071110

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Canada

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http://www.canadaimmigrants.com/forum.asp

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http://www.justlanded.com/english/canada/t...n_rights_violations

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http://www.rmc.ca/academic/gradrech/millimeter-e.pdf

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http://www.nlectc.org/techbeat/summer2000/LookWallsSum2000.pdf

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No Olympics on Stolen Land! Great Lakes & East Coast Speaking Tour
With Kanahus Pellkey from the Native Youth Movement and Dustin Johnson


With the 2010 Winter Olympics scheduled to occur on unceded Coast Salish, St’at’imc and Squamish territory in two years, the spectacle surrounding them continues to wreak havoc on Indigenous people, poor people, and the Earth. In the spirit of resistance to colonialism, with the 2010 Olympics as a main target, Kanahus Pellkey of the Native Youth Movement and Native youth Dustin Johnson are touring throughout the Great Lakes and East Coast in January and February 2008.

“By them choosing to have the Olympics here, it’s opening up our land, our sacred sites, our medicine grounds,” says Kanahus Pellkey. “We want investors to know our land is not for sale.” Pre-Olympic fever occupies the province of BC, and the economic excitement has massively accelerated gentrification and the building of highways, resorts, and condos. The construction of infrastructure for the 2010 Olympics itself is adding to extensive destruction of traditional homelands of the local Indigenous peoples.

In October 2007, more than 1500 Indigenous people representing communities across this hemisphere held the Gathering of the Indigenous Peoples of America, on Yaqui territory in Vicam, Sonora, Mexico. They stated in their final declaration, “We reject the 2010 Winter Olympics on sacred and stolen territory of Turtle Island–Vancouver, Canada.” This speaking tour is strengthened by this momentum, and by the knowledge that hundreds, if not thousands of Indigenous people now plan to attend the Olympic Games, not in celebration, but in resistance to the danger the Olympics poses to Indigenous lands, identity, culture, health, livelihoods, and to future generations.


The Native Youth Movement is a Movement of Native youth that works to revive traditional knowledge and inspire Native youth to defend their Peoples and Territories.

Kanahus Pellkey is a Secwepemc and Ktnuxa Warrior and a spokesperson
for the Secwepemc chapter of the NYM. She has been jailed before for fighting against the illegal occupation and theft of Secwepemc Lands for the Sun Peaks ski-resort, and is active in opposing the 2010 Olympics.

Dustin Johnson is a member of the Ts'mkiyen nation and is active in organizing anti-colonial resistance to the 2010 Olympics.

The Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement-Guelph did much of the core organizing of the tour. IPSM-Guelph works in solidarity with Indigenous struggles for self-determination and control of their traditional territories.

To get involved, help out, or ask questions, contact healingtheearth@resist.ca.


Tour Dates:

Windsor Saturday January 19
Guelph Sunday January 20
Six Nations Monday January 21
Toronto Tuesday January 22
Hamilton Wednesday January 23
Six Nations Thursday January 24
Peterborough Friday January 25
Tyendinaga Saturday January 26
Sharbot Lake Sunday January 27
Kingston Monday January 28
Akwesasne Tuesday January 29
Kahnawake Wednesday January 30
Kahnasatake Thursday January 31
Ottawa Friday February 1
Montreal Saturday February 2
Penobscot Sunday February 3
Portland Monday February 4
Boston Tuesday February 5
Binghamton Wednesday February 6
Ithaca Thursday February 7


More information:

The Olympic organizers operate with a budget of almost $2 billion, and other costs to government surpass $6 billion. Despite all the Olympic-related mega development, Vancouver is now home to North America’s fastest growing homelessness crisis. Indigenous people account for 30% of this homeless population, despite making up only 2% of the total population in the province.

Dozens of low-income hotels and apartment buildings are being converted to unaffordable condominiums. As thousands of people are forced from their homes, they are then criminalized for being homeless. Private security firms are hired by the city to further police the streets, long-running squats are shut down, and social services are more stressed and threatened than ever. The solution of the municipal and provincial governments and the police is to ignore the root cause, and instead pay people to leave Vancouver and repress those who stay.

The darker side of the 2010 Olympics is further apparent by examining how their sponsors and supporters are some of the most destructive companies on Turtle Island. These include:

• Petro-Canada, one of Canada’s largest producers of oil and gas,
• TransCanada, one of the continent’s largest transporters of oil and gas,
• Canadian Pacific Railway, long an integral tool of colonization,
• Hudson’s Bay Company