Anti-2010 protesters aim to disrupt Olympics beginning with Opening Ceremony

[racc]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

That is what I find so funny, protesters who demand vandalism and arson are not protesters anymore, they are terrorists.

This type of over the top rhetoric is ridiculous. Yes, these acts are illegal but are in no way terrorism. To suggest they are is an insult to the people who have lost their lives to real acts of terrorism.

[Spork]

They are treading a pretty thinly veiled line: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism

The second it turns against regular people in a violent way (e.g. volunteers, as some have noted), it becomes terrorism in my opinion.

[Policy Wonk]

Special Deputy?


Wikipedia

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by racc

This type of over the top rhetoric is ridiculous. Yes, these acts are illegal but are in no way terrorism. To suggest they are is an insult to the people who have lost their lives to real acts of terrorism.

You don't have to kill thousands of people, or any, to be a terrorist.

Terrorism is defined as (well, one of the many definitions of course! One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter, as they say):
"The calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious in nature"

These people, however, have the ideology that you're only a terrorist if you don't win. And believe me, they'll try to win (as completely futile a that is).

Now, do I think they will go this far? Probably not. But are there fringe elements who would be willing to? You best believe it. And that's why we need the security we have.

These activists shout to the world that police are violating their democratic rights. Hello? The website, part of the Olympic Resistance Network (ORN), advocates arson attacks and has pictures of bombs on its website. Of course the cops are going to investigate the people involved. They'd be derelict in their duties if they didn't.

This is all part of the militants' plan. Just like the little brother who pokes and pinches his older sibling until he gets smacked and then goes running to mommy, the ORN deliberately provokes authorities so they can run to the public and say, "Look what Big Brother is doing!"

They reap short-term publicity while contributing to what they purport to be fighting -- costly authoritarianism.

It's clear the ORN is spoiling for a fight. In addition to the drawing of five bombs arranged like Olympic rings, and a passage that hypes arson as an effective way of attacking Games-related corporate profits, the site includes links to videos of rioting, stone-throwing protesters from the 2007 G8 Summit in Rostock, Germany.

Violent protests get widespread publicity on issues that may be otherwise ignored, and we can expect some anti-Olympic activists to act in accordance with that reality. However, those who plan to protest peacefully, perhaps engaging in civil disobedience, now face another reality: The militants in the protest movement have given police reason, and public support, for a heavy-handed response.

The Olympics represent a high-profile and legitimate venue for political expression. And the ORN and other groups have identified a host of issues worthy of protest. Many Canadian First Nations live in abysmal poverty. Homelessness has skyrocketed in Vancouver. And we are spending billions on a sporting event that will likely produce few lasting economic benefits for anyone but Olympics executives and the event's corporate sponsors.

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Arso...810/story.html

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by racc

This type of over the top rhetoric is ridiculous. Yes, these acts are illegal but are in no way terrorism. To suggest they are is an insult to the people who have lost their lives to real acts of terrorism.

These people are trying to use terror to achieve their goal, by sending threats to those directly involved with the Olympics and by threatening possible chaos (such as riots, vandalism & arson) to drive fear into the average citizen. Again, in hopes of making the event a bust. That is terrorism, not protesting. The same way that the KKK and gangs are terrorist IMO.

They have the full right to protest and display their point of view, but the average citizen has their right to partake in Olympic events without fear if they decide to do so. These people have no right disturbing public events with threats and violence.

When you start using the average citizen as a puppet, you are no longer a freedom fighter, you are a terrorist.

That is usually how I separate a freedom fighter from a terrorist. A freedom fighter is looking to bring more freedom and choice to the average person without the use of fear mongering, while a terrorist uses fear as a primary tool to realize their agenda and wishes to control the people (essentially restrict choice).

Again, protesting the Olympics in a peaceful manor is OK! Using fear, threats and possible arson and vandalism = terrorism.

Terrorism is not simply killing people, in fact that is a very small part, that is open war, terrorism is simply striking fear into the public, creating mental prisons, which is what these radical demonstrators are trying to do.

[Millennium2002]

agreed.

[WarrenC12]

If you see a masked man with a crowbar beating on protesters, it wasn't me.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Why the Vancouver Sun published such a long article about the anti-2010 lunatics is beyond me...though it speaks quite a bit about the state of the media and its rather cynical and delusional world view..

That's just a little thing called a fair and balanced media. Pretty important to democracy actually.

Originally Posted by mr.x

What makes Vancouver such a factory for hippies, delusional leftist individuals, radicalists and anarchists?

Whew, somebody's channelling Tom Campbell this morning.

The protestors will likely just piss everyone off, kind of counterproductive to their cause(s) actually.

[IanS]

Originally Posted by whatnext

The protestors will likely just piss everyone off, kind of counterproductive to their cause(s) actually.

If the protesters do manage to disrupt anything, it will be counterproductive to whatever cause they are protesting at the time. However, IMO, the "cause" is pretty much secondary for most of these people. They just want to protest and disrupt. It doesn't matter why.

[Yume-sama]

Considering half (if not MOST) of them probably don't even know why they are protesting, or the REAL ideas behind it and the "No Games on Stolen Land" slogan. On their website, they claim that ALL of BC should not exist (they refer to Vancouver as Coast Salish Territories, not Vancouver). It, in their view, can not legally exist, nor should it legally be part of Canada. All of BC should belong to the native people, still. So, in OTHER words, everybody protesting stole land to live in a house from the natives.

Now, it is obvious Chris Shaw does not actually believe in anything he says, but this was a rather interesting angle to go at.

[vansky]

great admiration to their passion, rebellious attitude and guts, imagine if anti-view cone ppl can do sth like that....

[SpongeG]

this is one of the many anti-olympic groups on facebook

i just wanna scream on their wall

Smile Gently Against the Olympics--Post your gentle smile here.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...1684629&ref=nf

[Yume-sama]

Of the 31, I count 2 dozen really homely looking females.

This is fun, too. The ORN Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38879607775

Once again they don't seem to know what they are protesting. The first item is "STOP THE G8". Ok....?

[SpongeG]

those types are against anything yet they all blog from the apples and listen to ipods about it talk about sheep

[Yume-sama]

lol I like how the email is "devourtherich@gmail.com"

Somehow they manage to be able to afford computers, cameras, and all that. Presumably made by some very rich people.

I really think at least 2/3 of the people at these protests won't even be protesting the Olympics, as is usual in Vancouver.

I have my bets on anti-fur, anti-war, anti-prorogation, anti-capitalism, anti-meat... and any other pet cause you can think of. I think the city has the attention span of a gnat.

[ckkelley]

^
Plus apparently the fact that Facebook is probably one of the world's biggest multi-national corporate-like entities escapes them.

[Yume-sama]

Oh damn, I didn't even think of that. Organizing anti-globalization (and capitalism) protests on the largest global for profit website, that they all happen to be members of.

That's irony you can admire.

[proudcanuck]

Originally Posted by mr.x

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgur...a%3DG%26um%3D1

LOL ... Mr. Plow... that is freakin awesome !!!

[Yume-sama]

Domestic threats biggest Olympic security concern: expert

A University of Calgary expert in modern terrorism says small disruptions by domestic groups are the most likely security threat to the upcoming 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, but organizational issues are also a critical concern.

Vancouver is set to capture the world's attention for 16 days when the Olympic Winter Games begin later this month. But with that global spotlight comes some of the world's biggest problems and a heightened risk of terrorist attacks, according to Michael Zekulin, a PhD candidate researching contemporary terrorism in the U of C's political science department.

"In today's world, the Olympic Games represent a very real target for terrorism. It provides groups with the potential for large casualties and immediate global attention," said Zekulin.

"While the likelihood of a sophisticated, large-scale attack carried out by an international group like al-Qaeda is unlikely, disruption to the Games by domestic groups remains a possibility," he said in a statement released on Tuesday morning.

Anti-Olympic protesters have already been a thorn in the side of Olympic torch relay organizers, and have promised to disrupt the Games when they open in Vancouver on Feb 12.

"Organizers trying to prevent … attacks are faced with a logistical nightmare including countless potential targets, thousands of people involved and limited resources," said Zekulin.
Organization headaches

Olympic organizers also face challenges trying to secure not only the event sites located in Vancouver and Whistler, but also 125 kilometres of the Sea-to-Sky Highway connecting the two areas.

The $1-billion security plan for the Games will also be challenged by organizational and co-ordination issues because of the large number of agencies coming together for the 16-day event.

The massive effort led by the RCMP involves the Canadian military, several local police forces, border security forces, as well as international support from countries like the U.S. and military partnerships like NORAD.

"There's a real potential that should serious issues present themselves, people and agencies may start acting on their own instead of in a co-ordinated fashion," said Zekulin.

While volunteers traditionally add to the security of the Games by providing ears and eyes on the ground, Vancouver organizers might face challenges if some of those 25,000 volunteer stop showing up for their shifts, as has been the case in previous Games, he said.
Camera's aimed at protesters, not terrorists

The nearly 1,000 surveillance cameras in place for the Winter Olympics won't do much to deter a terrorist attack and are really just useful for zeroing in on protesters and hooligans, says Andre Gerolymatos, a Simon Fraser University history professor with an interest in security issues.

"They will be useful in terms of catching potential troublemakers, vandals, people selling dope on the street, but in terms of terrorists, in a way they are playing into their hands — the terrorist will simply look into the camera and blow himself up," said Gerolymatos.

He said cameras are overrated because they can only record events, and it would be better to have more police and soldiers on the streets where they could react to trouble, Gerolymatos told CBC News.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-col...#ixzz0eQbLeF3Y

[ForestryW]

IMHO these protests are less to do with any well-thought-out cause and more to do with teenage angst. I wouldn't be too concerned.