'ORN Ultimatum: Convergence 2010 Logistics Communique
COMMUNIQUE FROM THE LOGISTICS COMMITTEE OF THE OLYMPIC RESISTANCE NETWORK
Vancouver BC, Coast Salish Territory
The 2010 Winter Olympics are set to take place on unceded indigenous land from February 12-28. In addition to building ongoing educational and resistance efforts, we are organizing toward a convergence in 2010, called for between Feb 10th-15th. Building on the call by native warriors - particularly at the Indigenous Peoples Gathering in Senora, Mexico in October 2007 – we will be working to coordinate the logistics to host all those converging on Vancouver, Whistler, and surrounding unceded native land during Feb 2010. To that end, we are asking groups and individuals planning to travel to the convergence to contact us now so that we are able to assess potential numbers and the logistical support that will be required in terms of housing, food, and other forms of support.
=> Please email the 2010 Logistics Committee at 2010logistics@riseup.net to let us now if you are planning to come to the convergence, and include any information about specific forms of logistical support that you might require such as housing needs, travel, border crossings and visas, etc. Alternatively, if you are planning to organize events to coincide with the 2010 convergence in your own communities, please inform us of those plans as well.
=> Interested in actively organizing or coordinating anti-2010 Olympics resistance efforts in your own community? Please email us at
olympicresistance@riseup.net with your location and affiliation and specify that you would like to be added to the cross-continental network list to coordinate anti-Olympics efforts and communications.
=> If you are interested in receiving weekly announcements and news related to anti-olympics from a low-traffic, moderated list, please email us at olympicresistance@riseup.net and ask to be added to the ORN-announce list.
Over the course of the next ten months, we encourage communities to fundraise, raise awareness, and organize in preparation for the anti-2010 Olympic convergence. We hope to see you all in 2010 to demonstrate our indignation and resistance!
~BACKGROUND~
Far from being simply about ‘sport’, the history of the Olympics is one rooted in displacement, corporate greed, fascism, repression, and violence. Only the political and corporate elite – from real estate developers to security corporations – have anything to gain from the Olympics industry. The effects of the upcoming Winter Games have already manifested themselves- with the expansion of sport tourism and resource extraction on indigenous lands; increasing homelessness and gentrification of poor neighbourhoods; increasing privatization of public services; union busting through imposed contracts and exploitative conditions especially for migrant labour; the fortification of the national security apparatus; ballooning public spending and
public debt; and unprecedented destruction of the environment.
The Olympics Resistance Network is primarily based in Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories and exists as a space to coordinate anti-2010 Olympics efforts. In doing so, we act in solidarity with other communities across 'BC' - particularly indigenous communities who have been defending their land against the onslaught of the Olympics since the bid itself. Our organizing is largely being done under the banner of "No Olympics on Stolen Native Land", while creating an opportunity for all anti-capitalist, indigenous, anti poverty, labour, migrant justice, environmental justice, anti war, and anti colonial activists to come
together to confront this two-week circus and the oppression it represents.
In solidarity,
The 2010 Convergence Logistics committee
www.olympicresistance.net