Solidarity Statement for Network for No Olympics in Tokyo

December 27, 2008

Greetings from Vancouver, 'BC', Occupied Coast Salish Territories. It was informative and inspiring to recieve your letter from Dec. 17, 2008 regarding your efforts to resist Tokyo's proposed hosting of the 2016 Olympics.

Had we known prior to Vancouver's selection as host city in 2003 the impacts of Olympic Games, we would have fought more strongly in the early stages to prevent this from happening. Unfortunately, we did not do this, and the government and corporate elite were able to impose their agenda on us with little opposition.

Only in 2006, as the full extent of the social & ecological impacts of the Olympics became clear, did a resistance movement arise. It was fueled by the beginning of a massive highway expansion, and a rapid increase in homelessness. Since then, we have mounted a vigorous and strong opposition, with scores of direct actions occurring against Olympic organizers and corporate sponsors. Not only in Vancouver, but also in cities across the country. Over 60 arrests have been made by police over the past two years, who regularily denounce us as criminals and hooligans, with dark warnings about 'terrorism' and security threats during the 2010 Olympic Games.

Some people say it's too late, that we can't stop the Games. While this remains to be seen, we know that only through our resistance can the impacts of 2010 be reduced. For example, in response to ongoing struggles against homelessness and its association with the Olympics (“Homes not Games”), the government has been forced to enact reforms and concessions to save some low-income housing. Olympic organizers have been forced to follow through on promises for low-income housing, even if in a minimal way.

Already, Olympic organizers have expressed fears about what we will do to their 'precious' Torch Relay when it crosses the country, beginning in late 2009. The nightmare of the 2008 Beijing Torch Relay still fresh in their minds as they publicly declare their innocence (“Why us? The Olympics have nothing at all to do with politics”).

With our campaign of resistance and disruption, we have revealed to many the truth about the Olympic industry and its real agenda: money, status and power. We hope to use the Olympics as a catalyst for social resistance against capitalism and colonialism, to raise people's consciousness, and to involve them in the fight for a better world.

Although we are trying to make the best of a bad situation, however, it would be better that we never had to deal with the Olympics or experience the oppression and dislocation that is an inherent part of it. Large areas of land have been destroyed, tens of thousands of trees cut, rivers quarried for gravel for concrete, hundreds more people added to the homeless every year, and all along the strengthening of the national security state and its police forces.

For these reasons, we strongly encourage you to organize now and over the next year throughout the IOC bid process, to build a resistance against any possibility that Tokyo is selected as host city for the 2016 Olympics.

No 2010 Olympics on Stolen Native Land!

No 2016 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan!

No More Olympics – Shut Down the Olympic Industry!!!

In Solidarity, No2010.com and Warrior Publications.

FFF - FIGHT FOR FREEDOM!
Check out: www.No2010.com * www.warriorpublications.com