From October 31 2009 - February 12 2010, the Olympic Torch Relay "A Path
of Northern Lights" will be traveling across Canada. The Olympic
Resistance Network, based in Vancouver Unceded Coast Salish Territories,
is calling on and encouraging our allies to coordinate efforts in over
2000 communities to oppose and resist the Torch Relay.
On October 31, over 400 people gathered to oppose the Torch Relay launch
in Victoria. An Anti-Olympics Festival and Zombie March, organized by
No2010 Victoria, succeeded in disrupting the relay. Security personnel
were forced to extinguish the torch, load it in a van, and reroute it in
order to reach the Legislature. (Visit http://no2010victoria.net or
http://olympicresistance.net for videos)
WHY ORGANIZE AGAINST THE TORCH?
The Olympic torch is a propaganda tool that promotes gentrification,
repression and environmental destruction. The origins of the Torch Relay
lie in the dark history of the 1936 Games in Berlin, where it was devised
as a means to spread Nazi fascism and to promote the Third Reich. (See
Globe and Mail article here: http://no2010.com/node/1113)
The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay is a $25 million publicity stunt to promote
the Olympic Brand, particularly its top sponsors. The Royal Bank of Canada
and Coca Cola are the main sponsors of the 2010 Torch relay. RBC is the
top financier of the environmentally devastating Alberta Tar Sands, while
Coca Cola has been responsible for health degradation as part of the junk
food industry, massive depletion of groundwater and toxic waste pollution
in India, and involved in hiring paramilitary groups to violently repress
union organizers in Colombia.
It is becoming increasingly evident that far from being simply about
sport, the 2010 Olympics is rooted in displacement, corporate greed,
militarization, and repression. While Olympic corporate sponsors are
getting bailed out, Indigenous lands are being stolen, more people are
becoming homeless, thousands are losing their jobs and access to public
services, the environment is being destroyed, and civil liberties are
being eroded as over a billion dollars are being sunk into security and
surveillance measures. While people suffer consequences, the public money
invested by the city of Vancouver, the city of Whistler, the B.C.
government and the Canadian government is now nearing $7 billion.
WHAT CAN I DO?
This Torch Relay will be the longest in-country relay in Olympic history,
giving us the chance to make some anti-Olympic history! You might be
opposing the Torch due to the rally call No Olympics on Stolen Native
Land! Remember the Torch does not represent a sacred fire, it is a
destructive force. Or you might be protesting the Torch because of the
impacts of its corporate sponsors on your community, such as the link
between the RBC and Alberta Tar Sands. Or you are generally concerned
about the overall negative impacts of the Games such as homelessness,
misdirected public spending, attacks on civil liberties, and the general
oppression and repression it represents.
There are many reasons and many ways to oppose the Torch, so whatever your
reason might be, get out there and be visible! Create a leaflet and make
some placards, and you and your group can protest along the Torch route
and hand out information to those along the sidelines. You can lead a
march to disrupt and detour the relay, as Victoria organizers successfully
did without arrests. Setup a blockade through your community and stop the
torch from going through and spreading its false propaganda. Hold
educational events prior to and after the Torch going through to spread
awareness about the impacts of the Olympics (you can contact
olympicresistance@riseup.net for educational materials to assist in this).
Do whatever makes the most sense for your context; most important is that
you organize something!
==> If you are organizing an event or action in your city, town, or
community please email us the details at olympicresistance@riseup.net so
we can compile the information and build strength and unity in our efforts
by having this information available on our website.
Basic torch route
Nov 16 - Nov 28, 2009: through Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Islands, and New
Brunswick: Sydney, Whycocomagh, Port Hawkesbury, Truro, Paq'tnkek,
Antigonish, Halifax, Bear River FN, Lunenburg, Charlottetown, Moncton,
Sussex, Saint John, Fredericton, Esgenoôpetitj, Grand Falls, and others.
Nov 29 - Dec 11, 2009: through Quebec: Rimouski, Baie-Comeau, Les
Escoumins, Saguenay, Lévis, Saint-Georges, Black Lake, Victoriaville,
Sherbrooke, Drummondville, Trois-Rivières, Longueuil, Kahnawá:ke,
Beaconsfield, Mont-Tremblant, Montréal, Laval, Gatineau, and others
Dec 12, 2009 - Jan 4, 2010: through Ontario: Ottawa, Pikwàkanagàn,
Akwesasne, Kingston, Tyendinaga, Peterborough, Toronto, Hamilton, St.
Catharines, Six Nations, Brantford, Oneida, Leamington, Windsor, Sarnia,
London, Stratford, Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Barrie, Huntsville,
Temiskaming, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Red Rock FN, Kenora, and others.
Jan 5 - Jan 20, 2010: through Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta:
Winnipeg, Sioux Valley Dakota, Regina, Moose Jaw, Swift Current,
Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moosomin FN, Edmonton, Wetaskiwin, Red Deer,
Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Calgary, Canada Olympic Park, Stoney Nation, and
more.
Jan 21 - Feb 11, 2010: through BC: Golden, Cranbrook, Nelson, Trail,
Osoyoos FN, Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Kamloops,
100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Prince George, Smithers, Gitanmaax, Fort
St. John, Terrace, Bella Bella, Powell River, Sechelt, Squamish, Whistler,
Lil'wat, Merritt, Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland and others.
* Full route information:
Complete listing by day:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/dl/00/68/42/-/68420/prop=data/119u8t6/68420...
Interactive Map:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/torch-relays/olympic-torch-relay/the-rou...
Provincial and Territorial Routes:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/torch-relays/olympic-torch-relay/the-rou...
The site for the Vancouver local of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.