So on Democracy Now's blog I noticed today they were reporting Goodman was detained for an hour at the Canadian border...what? Can anyone tell me more about this or source some information? I'm a regular viewer of Democracy Now and it boggles my mind a little bit that the over 50 pacifistic news broad caster would be detained for any reason.
What is going on!
I wish to thank the Canada Border Services Agency for detaining the American journalist Amy Goodman at the Douglas border on Wednesday evening.
Amy Goodman came to Vancouver and Victoria to promote her book "Breaking the Sound Barrier" in which she emphasizes the importance of a free and independent media in a democratic society.
The Canadian border guards detained Amy for over an hour because they were afraid she would be talking about the Olympics (which she wasn't). As a result, 300 people waited for over an hour to hear her.
Amy Goodman's audience and message increased 1000 fold thanks to the Canada Border Services Agency, the CBC (radio and TV, local and national), the Globe and Mail, the National Post, local community radios, web based news and bloggers.
How ironic!
Wow. Boo Canada on that one. Have border guards been given a mandate to screen for this? If so, on who's authority? If she had been here to criticize the Olympics how much longer would she have been detained or would she have been simply thrown back into the US?
Man I'm really ashamed right now.
The NDP has suggested that our vicious pro-USsA toadies in government should apologize to Amy Goodman.
The NDP has suggested that our vicious pro-USsA toadies in government should apologize to Amy Goodman.
That's good news, do you have a link for that? I see the Green Party has issued a press release on this matter: [URL=http://greenparty.ca/media-release/2009-11-29/freedom-speech-fundamental... of Speech Fundamental to a Democratic Society, Greens[/URL].
[url=http://twitter.com/bobmackin/statuses/6145788802]Amy Goodman deserves apology from Olympic host prov, nation: NDP MLA[/url]
Yes, I'd seen that one - it came up in my Google search. Isn't that just one MLA's opinion, or is it more substantial? Have you seen anything from the Federal NDP?
"You're denying you are talking about the Olympics, he said...."
A new fuller look at Amy's interrogation along with intervews from BC Liberties and Christopher Shaw.
It starts at 13:30 minutes into the DemocracyNow report here:
http://www.commondreams.org/video/2009/11/30
Description from the DemocracyNow site:
We begin with a look at Canada’s attempts to stifle dissent. Particularly when it comes to the Winter Olympic Games to be held in Vancouver next year.Last week, I was detained by Canadian authorities while crossing the Canadian border. I was on my way, along with two of my colleagues, to speak at the Vancouver Public Library at a benefit for community radio stations, when Canadian border guards held us for an hour and a half.
For more on this story and to find out why Canadian authorities are so worried about the 2010 Olympics we’re joined now on the telephone from Vancouver by two guests.
Christopher Shaw is a professor of Ophthalmology at the University of British Columbia. He is also a leading spokesperson for the No Games 2010 Coalition and 2010 Watch. He is the author of “Five Ring Circus: Myths and Realities of the Olympic Games.”
And David Eby is the Executive Director of British Columbia Civil Liberties Association.Christopher Shaw, professor of Ophthalmology at the University of British Columbia. He is also a leading spokesperson for the No Games 2010 Coalition and 2010 Watch. He is the author of “Five Ring Circus: Myths and Realities of the Olympic Games."
David Eby, Executive Director of British Columbia Civil Liberties Association..
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/11/30/amy_goodman_detained_at_canadian_...
It would be nice to see Goodman really expand coverage of the harmfulness of the 2010 Surveillance Games. Good of the CBSA to draw attention to them as well. Maybe a thank you note even.
