Cross-Canada Rebellion Against the G8
anti-G8 | 28.06.2002 19:47
Cross-Canada Rebellion Against the G8
In Calgary, the closest city to Kananaskis, more than 5,000 marched through the streets on Sunday the 23rd as part of a Solidarity March which included union workers and anarchists.
On the night of Tuesday the 25th anti-capitalists and others oppossed to the G8 met in Calgary for the "Showdown at the Hoedown", a demonstration against the $300,000 dinner for G8 summit delegates. A Black Bloc briefly attempted to dismantle a security fence there, but no major confrontation occurred.
June 26th, 2002, was the main day of action against the G8. More than 2,000 demonstrators snake-marched through the streets of Calgary for 4 and a half hours, starting at 6am, blocking traffic and causing economic disruption. The march was called by the Calgary Anti-Capitalist Collective and hundreds of union workers joined in. After this march ended, 200-300 anti-capitalists, including a Black Bloc, broke off and marched to a McDonalds where an attempted blockade or occupation took place. Police on bicycles blocked and locked the doorways of the store, while those eating inside were trapped. Police raised their bicycles as the Black Bloc linked arms and pushed forward, and scuffled briefly with the Black Bloc. According to reports, the Black Bloc decided to leave after the police escorted those eating inside the McDonalds out the back door, considering their action a success. Many corporate stores in Calgary had boarded up their windows long in advance of the summit. Later in the day a caravan of vehicles tried to make their way from Calgary to Kananaskis, but were stopped by police.
In Ottawa about 3,000 people snake-marched through the streets, hurling paint-bombs at banks, spray-painting anti-capitalist slogans on walls, smashing the window of a police car and spray-painting another, trashing a Global TV van, and rallying in front of the American embassy, where an American flag and an effigy of George W. Bush were burned. Several large corporations boarded up their windows or closed down for the day. Snake marchers eventually stormed the grounds at the Parliament buildings and rallied there. Afterwards a march and squatting action took place. The house is still occupied and the squatters intend to hold onto it. Canada Day celebrations were moved from Ottawa to Charlettown since police feared that anti-G8 demonstrators would trash anything with a Canadian flag on it.
In Vancouver about 200 people snake-marched through the financial district for several hours, starting at 8am, tying up traffic and causing disruption, and stopping at a Starbucks, as well as the American Embassy, where police blocked the doorways.
Demonstrations also took place in Edmonton and Montreal.
The second day of demonstrations in Ottawa, on June 27th, included a march of 4,000 people with the theme of "No one is Illegal - A Thousand Flags of Resistance", the continuing occupation of the squat, and a large Critical Mass bikeride.
The G8 summit in Kananskis, Alberta is the biggest peace-time military operation inside Canada ever. Securtity costs are estimated to be $300,000 million, and equipment included anti-aircraft tanks. 4,500 soldiers worked along side police from across Canada.
From an insurrectionary viewpoint, and contrary to media reports, the G8 demonstrations across Canada displayed a growing level of militancy, given the huge distance between Canadian cities and the difficulty of mobilizing and transporting people to Calgary and Kananaskis, the lockdown at the Canadian / American border, and simultaneous Black Block and anti-capitalist actions in several major Canadian cities. The G8 demonstrations showed an increase in localized agitation, economic disruption, and cross-country coordination of efforts. The momentum gained in Seattle, Quebec City and Genoa has not been lost!
While the G8 retreats, the people move forward!
from The Ottawa Citizen -
Friday, June 28, 2002
"Alex is "sick of the rich controlling the poor ... sick of the government." The fervent anti-capitalist protester was just one of approximately 4,000 that police say marched through Ottawa's streets for the second consecutive day yesterday, but he stood out nonetheless...
...Eric Schwartz, owner of Ottawa Leather Goods on Sparks Street, accused the city of giving protesters the "key to the city" while leaving businesses to deal with the fallout. He said his store made only $550 on Wednesday, compared to its usual $3,000 in sales.
"For small businesses, that's a substantial unrecoverable amount," Mr. Schwartz said.
Gerry LePage, executive director of the Bank Street Promenade Business Improvement Area, said downtown businesses lost "millions of dollars" during the protests."
anti-G8
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imc newsblast
27.05.2003 14:03
Wed, 03 Jul 2002 09:17:51 -0700
"G-8 Summit in Kananaskis, Protests in Calgary & Ottawa - The Struggle
for Global Justice Continues"
Compiled by the Indymedia News Blast Team
Breaking news:
IMC Alberta ~
IMC Ottawa ~
------------------------------------------------------
IMC NEWS BLAST: a selection of important news summaries, stories,
opinions and media found on a variety of the Independent Media Center
websites.
An online version of this NEWS BLAST is posted here:
Translations will follow and will be posted as comments
to the online version.
------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. SUMMARY
2. KEY ARTICLES
* Eyewitness accounts and other reports
* Historical and Political Analysis
3. IMC COVERAGE
* Photos
* Audio
* Video
* General
4. SOLIDARITY DEMONSTRATIONS
* International solidarity protests
5. MEDIA CRITICISM
* Critiques of corporate media coverage
6. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
* Other Alternative Media
* Activist resources
7. FEEDBACK
8. SUBSCRIBING / UNSUBSCRIBING
------------------------------------------------------
1. SUMMARY
While the leaders of the G-8 held their annual meeting in a heavily
militarized, isolated mountain resort in Kananaskis, Alberta,
international activists converged in Calgary and Ottawa for several
days' worth of teach-ins, creative direct actions, street marches,
daily press conferences, and independent media coverage. Protestors
of diverse backgrounds and affiliations voiced their opposition to
corporate globalization and their support for human rights, labor
rights, and environmental protection. The peaceful protests, marked
by color, art, humor, passion, and public meals, starkly contradicted
the fear-mongering messages repeatedly forwarded in the preceding
months from government officials, the police, and the corporate media.
Few arrests were made, in either Calgary or Ottawa, after several days
of direct actions. The presence of over 3000 police stationed in
Calgary, continual police surveillance, and an extraordinary sum of
$300 million spent on security measures, created a pall of
intimidation. Protest actions in Calgary included: a 3-hour snake
march of 4-5,000 protestors through downtown Calgary; a symbolic
"Di-In"; a global "Knit-In"; a soccer play-in, where anarchists
challenged the local police to a match; and a car caravan to
Kananaskis, to challenge the security perimeter. "Take the Capital!"
Protests in Ottawa included: a 2.5-hour snake march of over 3000
protestors through downtown Ottawa; establishing a squat in an
abandoned house; and the Bikeshevik Velorutionaires ride from
Montreal, joined by Critical Mass.
------------------------------------------------------
2. KEY ARTICLES
~ Eyewitness accounts and other reports ~
Refusal of Visas for African Participants Parallels G-8 Process of
Exclusion • by G6B
Critical Mass Bike Brigade • by spyder
Peaceful march opens week of protest against G-8 agenda • by Greenpeace Canada
Another world is possible - Calgary, June 24 • by Greenpeace Canada
J23 INFO BULLETIN from the Calgary Legal Collective • by Calgary Legal
Collective
Alberta Independent Media Press Center Opens • by Peter Smith
Border Crosser on the way to the G8 Summit Turned Back • by Rob Waite
Local impacts of G8 agenda exposed • by Greenpeace Canada
People's Security Perimeter Established... mostly • by People's Security
Perimeter Team
'Noone is Illegal' March - a protestor's perspective • DnA
Despite the rain • DnA
They'd rather wear nothing than wear Gap • by mcnuts
J26 - Snake March and Die-In report • by spyder
G8: unjust, undemocratic and unsafe • by Greenpeace Canada
June 26th G8 Disruptions Succeed • by Movement
Cross-Canada Rebellion Against the G8 • by anti-G8
IMC Ottawa wraps up three days of Take the Capital - full archive • by
Julien Lamarche
~ Historical and Political Analysis ~
Canada Preps for G8 Summit • by Dan Rubinstein, AlterNet
Open Letter to Prime Minister Chrétien • by Kairos Canada
A Short History of Neoliberalism • by Susan George
The G8 and Thunder Bay • by Mel
The G8 - Breaking it down! • Julien Lamarche
G6B Recommendations for G8 Leaders • by Tammy Lea Meyer
G-8 Summit Sidelines Africa • by Ross Crockford, AlterNet
G8 fails people and the planet • by Greenpeace Canada
A Wake-Up Call for the G-8 • by Mark Weisbrot, AlterNet
G-8: Failing Model of Global Governance • by Tom Barry, Foreign Policy in
Focus
Anti-Globalization: Why they protest. • by Shane Nelson
Understanding the G-8
------------------------------------------------------
4. IMC COVERAGE
~ Photos / Calgary & Kananaskis ~
G8 cycle brigade • by Yuill Herbert
Kananaskis Village - 'ghost town' before summit • by Richard Paszkowski
Militarization of Kananaskis • by yuill herbert
Checkpoints en route to Kananaskis • by Concerned Canadians
Barricades in Calgary; Speakers at G6B (6 Billion) Conference •
by Valdamere
5,000 march through Calgary with puppets and banners • by humble
More photos of the Calgary march • by yuill herbert
Police at the G8 Community March, Calgary • by Jonathan Stade
June 23rd Parade Shots • by mcnuts
CRAP (Corporate Rule Advances Poverty) @ the June 23rd Parade • by mcnuts
Show-Down at the Hoe-Down J25! • by Andrew Stern
Early Morning Ritual Before Start of Snake March • by Andrew Stern
Snake March J26 • by Andrew Stern
pictures from snake march • by yuill herbert
Calgary J26 Snake March • by Grant Neufeld • Wednesday June 26
J26 Snake March - more photos • by Shane Nelson
Calgary Black Bloc and Snake March photos • by anti-G8
Caravan to Kananaskis Security Perimeter • by Andrew Stern
G8 K-Country Caravan • by mcnuts
We'd Rather Wear Nothing Than GAP Action • by Andrew Stern
GAP protest • by yuill herbert
gap ATTACK • by Crow
Global Knit-In Photos, Calgary • by Grant Neufeld
Die-In Action J26 • by Andrew Stern
G8 DI-IN - June 26th, 2002 • by mcnuts
Anarcho Soccer! • by Andrew Stern
more fotoz • by A Big Black Bird - caw, caw
~ Photos / Ottawa ~
Taking the Capital: Day 1 • Ottawa IMC Reporters
Best Photos of G8 Ottawa Day 1 • Jake Wright
Ottawa Snake March • by IMC SF Americanadian Crew
Pictures From Ottawa Snake March and Squat June 26 •
Occupation at 264 Gilmour, Ottawa • Carol Hodgson
Taking the Capital: Day 2 • Julien Lamarche
June 27th March, Ottawa • Jake Wright
Protest on the Hill - Banners, Theatre, etc.• Mike Gifford
Thousands of Protestors in 'No one is illegal' march • Julien Lamarche
Pictures from "No one is Illegal" March, Ottawa • Kevin Smith
Bikechévik Vélorutionaire Critical Mass • Julien Lamarche
~ Audio / Calgary ~
G6B Opening Keynote Speech: Stephen Lewis, UN Secretary General
Special Envoy to Africa for HIV/AIDS • by spyder
Kairos's G8 Press Conference • by Kairos Canada
Legal Collective Press Conference • by G8 Legal Collective
Médecins Sans Frontières G8 Press Conference • by Médecins Sans Frontières
Halifax Initiative G8 Press Conference • by Halifax Initiative
Greenpeace Canada G8 Press Conference • by Greenpeace Canada
Asad Ismi talks about the protest, US foreign policy and American
domination of the G8 • klc at ckln
Interview with Austin C. Muneku • by Greenpeace
Revolutionary Knitting Circle G8 Press Conference • by Revolutionary
Knitting Circle
Upfront Media Collective Press Conference, June 26 • by Alberta IMC
Interview with Sarath Fernando, Co-Secretary of the Movement for National
Land and Agricultural Reform in Sri Lanka • by Leigh Robartes
G8 Watch - Response to PM Chretien's Summary • by alberta imc
Interview with Starhawk • by spyder
Interview with Canadian Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) member • by spyder
Interview with Marema Toure - of the Africa Development Consultancy,
Senegal.(French) • by spyder and friends
~ Audio / Ottawa ~
Take The Capital Radio Audio Archives • Take The Capital Radio
Take the Capital! press conference - morning, June 28th • Julien Lamarche
Stefan Christoff, from the CLAC, talks about the J26 snake march and squat
action • klc at ckln
~ Video / Calgary ~
Live video from IMC G8, Epcor Centre • by IMC Alberta
Greenpeace interview with Ralph Klein • by Greenpeace Canada
'Rolling Sunlight' solar truck comes to Calgary • by Greenpeace Canada
J25 Day of Action video (5.2 mb)• by Justin Rhode/Kiran Lerner
Ecological disasters paid by for by public money • by G6B video crew
~ Video / Ottawa ~
Squat - Ottawa G8 • Ottawa
IMC
Take the Capital Press Conference • IMC
Ottawa
Video Documentary From 'Take The Capital' Protests • Matthew Moro
Video Archive - Ottawa Coverage • IMC Ottawa Collective
IWW action at Starbucks, Ottawa G8 • Ottawa
IMC
Interview with spokesperson for GRILA, opposing Chretien's NEPAD initiative
• IMC Ottawa
Ottawa occupation interview with CTV • 501
Productions
~ General ~
IMC Global Website, connected to over 80 local IMC websites
IMC Radio (for special coverage and commentary on recent events)
IMC Print (weekly news summaries in distributable newsletter-flier
format)
IMC TV (ongoing video coverage from various IMCs)
------------------------------------------------------
5. SOLIDARITY DEMONSTRATIONS
Vancouver Action J26: Connecting the Dots to G8 • by Brian Seidman
Activists make anticupola of the G8 in Mali • by infolivre collective
Edmonton Community Solidarity March • by j smith
------------------------------------------------------
6. MEDIA CRITICISM
G-8 Corporate Media Coverage
Giant cable company interprets the G8 preparations • by Media Watcher
AM Radio ad warns of potential 'health emergency' in Calgary • by Thatcher
Collins
Indymedia makes mainstream • by BING
Pictures from the Park • Mike Gifford
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7. KEY RESOURCES
~ activist resources ~
~ other alternative media coverage and analysis ~
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