8th July 2009, 1:26 PM
Here's the link: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbi...areas.html
What does this even say about a democracy when the right to free speech is only guaranteed within certain designated areas? Assistant RCMP Commissioner weighed in on it, saying "anywhere you participate in lawful protest is legal and lawful in Canada. It doesn’t have to be in a free speech area." Then why even create "Free Speech Areas"? Is it because any protest taking place outside FSAs won't be considered "legal" and "lawful" for the duration of the Olympics?
Potential threats convienently contained in the FSAs? Also, whether or not they'll actually be removed... we'll see about that.
Oh Jesus. All to create the illusion to the rest of the world that Vancouver is a clean and perfect city, free from poverty, homelessness, and danger. I hope that none of the tourists who visit during the Games don't accidentally find themselves in East Hastings, one of the worst and most notorious drug-markets in North America (think West Baltimore in The Wire), as well as being the first location in North America to start a needle-exchange program and the first place in North America to create a government-sanctioned, legally supervised area for narcotic injections (the wonderfully aptly named Insite). That'll shatter the illusion pretty damn quickly.
I love the Olympics. Every two years I'm glued to the TV whenever they're on. But I could do without all the bullshit that accompanies them. "Free speech area" my ass. I shouldn't have to be told where I'm allowed to excercise my Charter-guaranteed rights. And a memo to Vancouver: the alarming homeless rate will still exist in your city during the two weeks where you try to convince the world that it doesn't.
Quote:Olympic security officials have rolled out plans to create so-called free speech areas during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, similar to the protest zones used in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
What does this even say about a democracy when the right to free speech is only guaranteed within certain designated areas? Assistant RCMP Commissioner weighed in on it, saying "anywhere you participate in lawful protest is legal and lawful in Canada. It doesn’t have to be in a free speech area." Then why even create "Free Speech Areas"? Is it because any protest taking place outside FSAs won't be considered "legal" and "lawful" for the duration of the Olympics?
Quote:The Integrated Security Unit will also monitor potential threats, using more than 900 closed-circuit cameras, which Mercer promised would be removed when the Olympics are over.
Potential threats convienently contained in the FSAs? Also, whether or not they'll actually be removed... we'll see about that.
Quote:Vancouver police will also monitor the movements of the city's homeless, some of whom will have to be moved in the interest of safety, said deputy chief Steve Sweeney.
"We currently have a few homeless that are residing within very close proximity to some of the venues. And those people, we will assist them in relocating elsewhere," said Sweeney.
Oh Jesus. All to create the illusion to the rest of the world that Vancouver is a clean and perfect city, free from poverty, homelessness, and danger. I hope that none of the tourists who visit during the Games don't accidentally find themselves in East Hastings, one of the worst and most notorious drug-markets in North America (think West Baltimore in The Wire), as well as being the first location in North America to start a needle-exchange program and the first place in North America to create a government-sanctioned, legally supervised area for narcotic injections (the wonderfully aptly named Insite). That'll shatter the illusion pretty damn quickly.
I love the Olympics. Every two years I'm glued to the TV whenever they're on. But I could do without all the bullshit that accompanies them. "Free speech area" my ass. I shouldn't have to be told where I'm allowed to excercise my Charter-guaranteed rights. And a memo to Vancouver: the alarming homeless rate will still exist in your city during the two weeks where you try to convince the world that it doesn't.