rabble.ca - Olympics

Transit Forum 2012

Anita Krajnc — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:01:33 -0400

Kevin Konnyu of Occupy TTC makes the case for public transit.

Smash the State Report: November in review

dan kellar — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:37:29 -0500

The Smash the State Report takes the @mediacoop's November in review, adds some comments, and focuses on anti-Olympic actions and the use of Western spy-tech against the freedom fighters of Syria, Bahrain, Iran and more.

Olympic social housing hit with huge hidden bills

Paul Ryan — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:12:36 -0500

Scott Bernstein explains why Pivot is representing low-income tenants from Vancouver's Olympic Village housing complex who are receiving huge heating and water bills they were not told about before moving in.

Occupy Vancouver: The big move

rabble staff — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:21:47 -0500

Occupy Vancouver complied with a court injunction on Monday by moving to a new site: the B.C. Supreme Court lands.

Almost 500 people marched in solidarity with Occupy Vancouver at noon and helped the Occupiers move to their new location. Occupy Vancouver took over the streets with giant geodesic domes in one hand and a feeling of injustice in the other. The mood today was one of intense nostalgia, reflection and excitement as we dismantled our structures only to set them up across the street.

Canada, still colonial

ProgressiveVoices — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:25:46 -0400

On this week's episode of Progressive Voices, we speak with Dr. Hayden King, professor in the Indigenous Studies program at McMaster University, on Stephen Harper being named honourary chief of the Blood Tribe of Alberta, Canada's residential school system, the annexation of Six Nations land in Caledonia, last year's Winter Olympics on stolen Native territory, and more.

Spectacular Vancouver conquers itself

The Mainlander — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:38:52 -0400

"The spectacle is not a collection of images, but a social relation among people, mediated by images." - Society of the Spectacle, Guy Debord

After the Stanley Cup riot of 1994, a Georgia Straight article, titled "Stupidville" pondered: "[Vancouverites] had better decide what we want this community to be about, besides pretty vistas when it doesn't rain. What shared tasks can we undertake whose achievement will fill us with civic pride? What conditions are needed to come to unconditionally love this place, not for where it is, but for what it is?" But after 15 years of more pretty vistas and nature fetishism, we have failed to produce "something nobler than a mob heading to Stupidville," as the Straight hoped.

Vancouver's 'veneer-reform' government a throwback

The Mainlander — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:58:15 -0400

"Hegel remarks somewhere that all great, world-historical facts and personages occur, as it were, twice. He has forgotten to add: the first time as tragedy, the second as farce" - Karl Marx, in The 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte

Mayor Gregor Robertson and Vision Vancouver were thrown into power in the fall of 2008 by a populace demanding change. Robertson talked about ending homelessness, creating affordable housing, and even tackling real-estate speculation. Many residents, inspired by Barack Obama's contemporaneous campaign for President, knocked on doors for Vancouver's would-be change-maker.

Vancouver's fake policy hides disappearing low-income housing

The Mainlander — Sat, 28 May 2011 17:36:00 -0400

This month more buildings were added to the list of disappearing affordable housing in Vancouver. On May 1 the Colonial and Seaview hotels were privatized, with rents now scheduled to increase significantly in the coming months. For two years the buildings were run by the Portland Hotel Society on a non-profit contract with the private owners. According to the new building manager of the Colonial Hotel, the $375 rent in the 170 units is now scheduled to increase by a minimum of $50 in smaller units and "exponentially more" for larger units.

Vancouver homelessness numbers spun out of control

The Mainlander — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:36:38 -0400

According to Metro Vancouver's Homelessness Count released Monday, the number of homeless folks in Vancouver increased from 1,580 to 1,605 over the last three years. [i] But you wouldn't realize it from Vision Vancouver's press release and fundraising callout. Neither would it come across in any of the articles found in the mainstream press, which praised the government for "plummeting" rates of street homelessness. Nothing is further from the truth.

Tent city challenges Olympic Village housing

redeye — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:31:06 -0400

Redeye speaks with one of the people involved in setting up a tent city in the former Athletes Village on the anniversary of the tent city set up during the 2010 Olympics. Activists were asking -- among other things -- that the promise of low-income housing units in the Athletes Village be honoured. Sarah Stevenson is with Vancouver Action.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

Will Olympics return to Whistler in 2014?

Word of the Rings — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:16:41 -0500

As Whistler, B.C. prepares to celebrate its one-year Olympic anniversary this weekend, the mood in the resort is less than celebratory, despite assurances from the Resort Municipality of Whistler that, "it's time to re-live the magic and embrace the Olympic and Paralympic spirit."

Last year, Whistler couldn't get enough of the world's media, and now it wishes that most of the camera crews would go home, especially in light of the sled dog massacre and VANOC's luge track irregularities.

It doesn't help that hotel room nights are down, luxury real estate has taken a downward spiral, retail stores are closing and Whistler has been in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Patriotism on parade in advance of Vancouver's Olympic anniversary

Chris Shaw — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:37:18 -0500

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel," as Samuel Johnson aptly noted over two hundred years ago. American writer Ambrose Bierce later added, "... I beg to submit that it is the first." H. L. Mencken had the final word: "But there is something even worse: it is the first, last, and middle range of fools."

Indeed. The patriotism on parade is that allegedly of Canadians, particularly Vancouverites, in regard to last year's Olympic Games, in which the impulse for flag waving came before, during, and now after the Games have departed.

Whistler local reflects on sled dog killings

Word of the Rings — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:12:03 -0500

By now, the tragic story of the 100 sled dogs killed in Whistler last April has made its way around the world, much to the chagrin of Outdoor Adventures Whistler, Tourism Whistler, and local residents and businesses.

One year later, Vancouver plans another Olympic circus

Chris Shaw — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:00:15 -0500

It is a likely truism that there's a sucker born every minute, but only in Vancouver would those so defined revel in their "sucker-dom." Or worse, even pay to re-brand themselves as such all over again. Yet this is exactly what some Vancouverites will be doing when the city celebrates the one year anniversary of the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Games.

Much of the world is focused rightfully on a street revolution in Egypt about human rights, a revolt that could utterly change the status quo in the Middle East. Meanwhile, our politicians and those enamored of last year's Olympic circus obsess about recapturing the golden moment. When not so distracted, the corporate press zero in on the massacre of shed dogs in Whistler.

Arrogant Campbell ruined lives, his caucus should follow him out

rabble staff — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:23:34 -0500

The Communist Party of British Columbia issue the following release on the resignation of B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell:

The three terms of the Campbell Liberals have been characterized by implementing the lowest taxes for the wealthy and corporations in North America at the expense of the standard of living, wages, and social programs of B.C. residents. His forced resignation is a compliment to a tenacious and awakened electorate who has had enough.

Naomi Klein and Harsha Walia on activism in Canada

alex — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:56:00 -0400

Naomi Klein and Harsha Walia discuss the culture of Canadian social activism in the context of the Olympics and the G20 Summit. Filmed at the 2010 Under the Volcano Festival. Video production by: Ty Snaden, Julia Aleynikova, Kerry Hall, Paula Cole, J Peachy. Music Courtesy: Watasun. Vcommunity.tv broadcasting on Shaw cable 4 Vancouver and soundtherapyradio.com on CJSF 90.1 FM Burnaby.

Olympic host town of Whistler logging old growth trees

Word of the Rings — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:27:33 -0400

Mention old growth trees and logging and most people think British Columbia and Clayoquot Sound. Mention Whistler and most people envision skiing and pristine wilderness.

But a new plan to log Whistler's existing old growth trees could soon see Whistler moving away from eco-tourism and into the old growth logging business.

The B.C. government has downloaded the responsibility of managing B.C.'s forests from the Ministry of Forests to the local municipalities and First Nations, in what has been termed a ‘Community Forest.'

A Community Forest is defined as 'a forestry operation managed by local government, community group, or First Nation for the benefit of the community.'

Something is rotten in the state of Whistler

Word of the Rings — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:49:05 -0400

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" - Hamlet Act 1, Scene 4,

Something's rotten in the state of Whistler and the stench is emanating directly from municipal hall and the illegal asphalt plant operating in the Olympic Athletes Village.

If Whistler's mayor has his way, post-Olympic tourists will soon be flocking to Whistler to visit its newly expanded 60-acre basalt quarry, logged old growth forests and the world's first Olympic legacy asphalt plant, as the resort positions itself as a key player in the mineral extraction business.

Whistler municipality gaining more opponents as asphalt plant controversy escalates

Word of the Rings — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:30:00 -0400

A group of Whistler homeowners took to the streets on July 24 to vent their frustration with Whistler council's refusal to relocate a toxin-belching asphalt plant, just metres from their new homes in Whistler's Athletes Village.

This is one of several Olympic-related protests held in Whistler to date. In 2009, residents protested the clearing of Whistler's last remaining urban forest to construct the 2010 Celebration Plaza and destruction of a rare, red-listed wetland to house the new "green" hydrogen bus refueling station.

Like the now-infamous Love Canal neighbourhood in New York State, Whistler's latest community was also marketed as a "dream" community, nestled between Whistler's pristine mountains, lakes and natural areas.

Diversity of Tactics, February 13 and the Black Bloc

Cathryn Atkinson — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 03:40:29 -0400

On the morning of February 13, a group of marchers in downtown Vancouver were taped by mainstream media breaking windows at the Hudson's Bay, tipping news boxes and dumpsters into the street, and in at least one case hitting a Vancouver cop with a stick.

Coles Notes on Olympics, World Cups and human rights

amjohal — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:59:46 -0400

Just after the 2010 Olympic Games closing ceremonies took place, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing Raquel Rolnik, submitted a comprehensive report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2010 on the impacts of mega-events that went largely unnoticed.

Paralympics - the last 'bastion' of pure sports and international competition

Word of the Rings — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:15:28 -0400

After attending the 2010 Paralympics alpine events last week, it became evident just how different the Paralympics are from the Olympics.

Gone were the security restrictions, blimps, pigloos, military helicopters and police officers/military on every street corner. Paralympic spectators were not subjected to airport-style security screening, despite visiting VIPs such as Prime Minister Harper, B.C. Premier, Gordon Campbell and Prince Edward.

All instances of the IOC's five-ring logo had been replaced with the three agitos (or semi ovals of red, green and blue). Tickets for the Olympic alpine events were priced at $150, while tickets to the Paralympic alpine events were only $15, but still delivered the excitment of a world-class event.

#102 - Olympics and epic struggles

meagan perry — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:34:08 -0400

In this podcast: talking election violence in Manila, a little more Olympic activism, fish farming on vacant city land in Toronto. We also bring you the music of Caracol and Alejandra Ribera, and you could find out who has called 360-566-2214 to tell rabble radio just what they think of us!

Talk - Action = Zero. an interview with D.O.A.

dan kellar — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:00:42 -0400

AW@L radio was lucky enough to catch up with Joey Keithley of DOA before the band played their anti-olympic show at the Rickshaw theatre in Vancouver on the 20th of February as anti-olympic protests were continuing through the city. Discussion includes the new album, the olympics, and tent city.

Also included in the show is an interview with Harjap Grewal who discusses the historic nature of the convergence, impacts on the environment, and the impacts of the olympics on migrant labourers. Finally, Stella August of the Power of Women addresses the crowd at the February 20th rally for a national housing program where she talks about the tent city and expresses solidarity with the black bloc.

Paralympics: An enjoyable alternative to the Olympics

Word of the Rings — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:19:49 -0500

It's been almost two weeks since Whistler co-hosted the 17-day sporting extravaganza. Immediately after the closing ceremonies, the Five Ring Circus and its security entourage left town.

While our Olympic hangover slowly subsides, the stage is being set for the 2010 Paralympics -- a more relaxed and less intrusive event than its over-bearing cousin, the Olympics.

While the Olympics had over 5,500 athletes and officials from 80+ countries, the Paralympics will only have 1,350 athletes and officials from 40+ countries. The games will run from March 12 to 21, and events will include biathlon, sledge ice hockey, wheelchair curling, and cross-country and alpine skiing, for a total of 64 medal events.