Anti-Olympics statement, anti-violence conference, and tenant action
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Common Action
Feb 28, 2009, 1:45:48 PM2/28/09
to nwcommonactio...@googlegroups.com, nwan...@lists.riseup.net, cascadia...@lists.riseup.net
Common Action recently endorsed the statement "Solidarity and Unity in Opposing the 2010 Olympics," written by the Olympics Resistance Network. Read on below to see the full statement, and to learn about two events of interest in Seattle on Saturday, March 7.
1) Solidarity and Unity in Opposing the 2010 Olympics - February 2009
2) Saturday, March 7: Break the Silence Conference: Shattering the Culture of Violence
3) Saturday, March 7: Seattle Solidarity Network: Back up a sister confronting a rotten landlord!
1. Solidarity and Unity in Opposing the 2010 Olympics - February 2009
The Olympics Resistance Network is based in Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories and exists as a space to coordinate anti-colonial and anti-capitalist efforts against the 2010 Games. Our organizing is based on the recognition that the Olympics is taking place on unceded Native land, and exists to create a movement for all anti capitalist, Indigenous, anti poverty, labour, migrant justice, housing, environmental justice, civil libertarian, anti war, and anti colonial activists to join forces. We come together on the basis of anti-oppression principles and with a respect for diversity of tactics. In addition to building ongoing educational and resistance efforts, we are working towards a convergence between February 10th-15th 2010, based on the call by the Indigenous Peoples Gathering in Senora, Mexico to boycott the Games.
We recognize that we, the Olympics Resistance Network, represent part of a wider movement opposing the 2010 Olympics. Therefore this statement aims to encourage solidarity and unity amongst the diverse groups, communities, and movements who are opposed to and/or critical of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The negative effects of the upcoming 2010 Winter Games are already quite clear:
- Expansion of sport tourism and resource extraction on indigenous lands. There are over $5 billion worth of resort plans since the Olympic bid, despite significant grassroots Indigenous opposition for example around Kamloops and Mount Currie. According to the Native Youth Movement, “The Olympics opens up our land, our sacred sites, and our medicine grounds to big corporations, but we want them to know that our land is not for sale.”
- Increasing homelessness and gentrification of poor neighbourhoods especially Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. It is projected that the number of homeless in Vancouver will triple from 1000 homeless people since the Olympic bid in 2003 to over 3200 people by 2010. According to a report by the Geneva-based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, the Olympic Games have displaced more than two million people around the world over the last 20 years.
- Unprecedented destruction of the environment. This includes massive deforestation in the Callaghan Valley to build the Whistler Olympic Center, clearcuts of Cypress Mountain which is a designated 2010 venue location; massive sand and gravel mining operations to build construction materials; and the destruction of Eagleridge Bluffs due to the Sea-to-Sky Highway construction. In 2007, 71-year old Pacheedaht elder Harriet Nahanee and 78-year old environmentalist Betty Krawcyzk were two of the arrestees at a blockade opposing construction at Eagleridge Bluffs. Harriet Nahanee contracted pneumonia at the Surrey Pre-Trial Center. She died a few days later, while hospitalized, on Feb. 24, 2007.
- More privatization of public services and ballooning public debt. The total cost for 2010 and related construction will be close to $6 billion, with Olympic venues alone costing over $4.5 billion. For example, taxpayers are on the hook for $875 million for the 2010 Olympic Athletes Village’s construction costs alone.
- Union busting through imposed contracts and vulnerable working conditions especially for migrant labour. There are an estimated 3,000-5,000 temporary migrant and undocumented workers in the Olympics-fuelled and speculation-driven construction industry.
- Increased funding (up to $1 billion) for the police, military, and border control agents in the name of so-called national security. Sociologist David Lyon has dubbed Vancouver 2010 "the Surveillance Games" since security operations will include over 13,000 RCMP, military & other security personnel as well as joint US-Canada military & North American Aerospace Defence Command operations.
- Criminalization of the poor: Sam Sullivan has written “I believe we have a tremendous opportunity to use the upcoming 2010 Games as a catalyst to [solve public disorder problems].” Plans to “cleanse” the city’s core of the poor include increased funding for private security initiatives such as the Downtown Ambassadors; passing of the Safe Streets Act which prohibits sitting or lying down on city sidewalks; banning dumpsters from the downtown core; and more.
Given this devastating reality, we are aware that there is wide-spread opposition to the 2010 Winter Olympics. This ranges from those who are opposing the negative impacts of the Games to those who seek to boycott the Games; from those who desire to raise public awareness about the Games to those who choose to engage in direct action against the Games and its sponsors; from those who are concerned about single issues surrounding the Games to those who are concerned about the overall impact of the Games.
Despite our differences in analysis and strategies we believe we have a significant opportunity to come together and voice our opposition to the 2010 Olympic Games. This statement of unity does not call for us to fully agree or stand by each other’s tactics or ideas, although we believe we have much to learn and understand from one another. Rather, this statement calls for a basic unity in expressing our critique of the 2010 Olympics Games and committing to finding ways to work and support each other in our complementary efforts to expose this two-week circus and the oppression it represents to so many communities and sectors.
Leading up to the 2010 Olympics, police and security forces already have and will continue to surveil, target, infiltrate, repress, and attempt to divide our movement (http://www.no2010.com/node/614). We realize that we may have many differences in analysis and tactics and such disagreements are healthy. However we believe such debates should remain internal and we should refrain from publicly denouncing or marginalizing one another especially to mainstream media and law enforcement. In particular, we should avoid characterizations such as “bad” or “violent” protestors. We respectfully request that all those in opposition to the 2010 Olympics maintain our collective and unified commitment to social justice and popular mobilization efforts in the face of massive attempts to divide us.
Please share this statement with others. We ask that if you agree with this statement and the basic principles outlined within it, to please email your endorsement to olympicr...@riseup.net.
In solidarity, Olympics Resistance Network.
Endorsed by Endorsed by Native Youth Movement, St'at'imc NYM, Anti Poverty Committee, No One Is Illegal-Vancouver, Industrial Workers of the World, UBC Colour Connected Against Racism, Alliance for People's Health,
Teaching Support Staff Union Social Justice Committee, No One Is Illegal-Toronto, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, Oil Sands Truth, No2010 Victoria, Vancouver Island Community Forest Action Network, Sudbury Against War and Occupation, The Grey Tigers Seniors Group, Common Action.
2) Saturday, March 7: Break the Silence Conference: Shattering the Culture of Violence
Saturday, March 7th, 2009 ~ 9AM-4:30PM
Student Center 160 at Seattle University
901 12th AVE Seattle WA 98122
Sights, stories, or experiences of violence are part of our everyday life. Violence takes many forms and has become so prevalent that some see it as a cultural phenomenon. How can we explore, confront, and most importantly, effectively challenge our culture of violence?
Break the Silence is a student-led conference for members of the Puget Sound Region to explore and confront the culture of violence. The conference will examine the systematic ways in which people are subjugated and silenced within a culture of violence. This conference aims to provide attendees with the opportunity to develop strategies for addressing the pervasiveness of violence in our communities.
Workshop topics include: Male Identity and Sexual Violence, Gang Related Deaths and Violence, Native Women's Responses to Violence through Writing, The Dynamics of Clergy Abuse, Behind Closed Doors: Domestic Abuse, Transformative Justice with Communities Against Rape and Abuse (Cara-Seattle.Org), Can Feminism Be Sexy?, Self-Defense with HomeAlive, and Transphobia and Criminal Justice. There will also be caucuses on identity, privilege, and allyship and poetry slam performances.
Please visit our website at http://breakthesilence09.wordpress.com for more information including workshop updates and descriptions, and registration. For the registration fee, there is a sliding scale cost of $5-20. All proceeds will go to providing money for the community organizations facilitating workshops.
Please contact us regarding any questions or concerns at breakthe...@gmail.com
This event is sponsored by ASSU, the Black Student Union of Seattle University, the Diversity and Equity Education Programs of Seattle University, First Nations of Seattle University, the Trans and Allies Club of Seattle University, the Latin American Studies Club of Seattle University, the Multicultural Programming Fund, the Society of Feminists at Seattle University, M.E.Ch.A. of Seattle University and Communities Against Rape and Abuse (Cara-Seattle.org)
3) Saturday, March 7: Seattle Solidarity Network: Back up a sister confronting a rotten landlord!
------------------------
Action: Saturday March 7th
Gather: 9:30am, 718 21st Ave, Seattle
------------------------
For months, Daljit (or 'D') and her family have been living with major heat/ventilation, gas, and water problems which have harmed their health, and which their landlord has refused to fix. On top of all this, when a gas leak -- due to owner negligence -- resulted in a massive energy bill, she was told she had to pay for it. She has tried reasoning, arguing, and complaining (once to the City), but has received very little in terms of either repairs or respect. Instead the landlord has told her to vacate the house, even though the lease extends through the end of June, and D's kids are in the middle of their school year.
She's prepared to fight back, but she needs our support. On Saturday morning, March 7th, she will knock on the landlord's door and deliver her demands. Given the history of this conflict, she is asking for a substantial number of people to come stand with her to help make sure the message is taken seriously. If it is not, more action will be necessary.
Please be there! This will be a fully peaceful action, nothing dangerous or illegal, but your presence could make a big difference.
Action details:
Date: Saturday March 7th
Time/place: Gather at 9:30am in front of brother Matt's Central-District house: 718 21st Ave, Seattle. We'll carpool from there to the landlord's place in Kent. We should be done and back by 11am or 11:30 at the latest.
If you have a car, please bring it and help transport others to and from Kent.
If you'd like more info, a ride to/from the gathering spot, or gas money, email in...@seasol.net or call 206-948-8782
--
http://nwcommonaction.org/
1) Solidarity and Unity in Opposing the 2010 Olympics - February 2009
2) Saturday, March 7: Break the Silence Conference: Shattering the Culture of Violence
3) Saturday, March 7: Seattle Solidarity Network: Back up a sister confronting a rotten landlord!
1. Solidarity and Unity in Opposing the 2010 Olympics - February 2009
The Olympics Resistance Network is based in Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories and exists as a space to coordinate anti-colonial and anti-capitalist efforts against the 2010 Games. Our organizing is based on the recognition that the Olympics is taking place on unceded Native land, and exists to create a movement for all anti capitalist, Indigenous, anti poverty, labour, migrant justice, housing, environmental justice, civil libertarian, anti war, and anti colonial activists to join forces. We come together on the basis of anti-oppression principles and with a respect for diversity of tactics. In addition to building ongoing educational and resistance efforts, we are working towards a convergence between February 10th-15th 2010, based on the call by the Indigenous Peoples Gathering in Senora, Mexico to boycott the Games.
We recognize that we, the Olympics Resistance Network, represent part of a wider movement opposing the 2010 Olympics. Therefore this statement aims to encourage solidarity and unity amongst the diverse groups, communities, and movements who are opposed to and/or critical of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The negative effects of the upcoming 2010 Winter Games are already quite clear:
- Expansion of sport tourism and resource extraction on indigenous lands. There are over $5 billion worth of resort plans since the Olympic bid, despite significant grassroots Indigenous opposition for example around Kamloops and Mount Currie. According to the Native Youth Movement, “The Olympics opens up our land, our sacred sites, and our medicine grounds to big corporations, but we want them to know that our land is not for sale.”
- Increasing homelessness and gentrification of poor neighbourhoods especially Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. It is projected that the number of homeless in Vancouver will triple from 1000 homeless people since the Olympic bid in 2003 to over 3200 people by 2010. According to a report by the Geneva-based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, the Olympic Games have displaced more than two million people around the world over the last 20 years.
- Unprecedented destruction of the environment. This includes massive deforestation in the Callaghan Valley to build the Whistler Olympic Center, clearcuts of Cypress Mountain which is a designated 2010 venue location; massive sand and gravel mining operations to build construction materials; and the destruction of Eagleridge Bluffs due to the Sea-to-Sky Highway construction. In 2007, 71-year old Pacheedaht elder Harriet Nahanee and 78-year old environmentalist Betty Krawcyzk were two of the arrestees at a blockade opposing construction at Eagleridge Bluffs. Harriet Nahanee contracted pneumonia at the Surrey Pre-Trial Center. She died a few days later, while hospitalized, on Feb. 24, 2007.
- More privatization of public services and ballooning public debt. The total cost for 2010 and related construction will be close to $6 billion, with Olympic venues alone costing over $4.5 billion. For example, taxpayers are on the hook for $875 million for the 2010 Olympic Athletes Village’s construction costs alone.
- Union busting through imposed contracts and vulnerable working conditions especially for migrant labour. There are an estimated 3,000-5,000 temporary migrant and undocumented workers in the Olympics-fuelled and speculation-driven construction industry.
- Increased funding (up to $1 billion) for the police, military, and border control agents in the name of so-called national security. Sociologist David Lyon has dubbed Vancouver 2010 "the Surveillance Games" since security operations will include over 13,000 RCMP, military & other security personnel as well as joint US-Canada military & North American Aerospace Defence Command operations.
- Criminalization of the poor: Sam Sullivan has written “I believe we have a tremendous opportunity to use the upcoming 2010 Games as a catalyst to [solve public disorder problems].” Plans to “cleanse” the city’s core of the poor include increased funding for private security initiatives such as the Downtown Ambassadors; passing of the Safe Streets Act which prohibits sitting or lying down on city sidewalks; banning dumpsters from the downtown core; and more.
Given this devastating reality, we are aware that there is wide-spread opposition to the 2010 Winter Olympics. This ranges from those who are opposing the negative impacts of the Games to those who seek to boycott the Games; from those who desire to raise public awareness about the Games to those who choose to engage in direct action against the Games and its sponsors; from those who are concerned about single issues surrounding the Games to those who are concerned about the overall impact of the Games.
Despite our differences in analysis and strategies we believe we have a significant opportunity to come together and voice our opposition to the 2010 Olympic Games. This statement of unity does not call for us to fully agree or stand by each other’s tactics or ideas, although we believe we have much to learn and understand from one another. Rather, this statement calls for a basic unity in expressing our critique of the 2010 Olympics Games and committing to finding ways to work and support each other in our complementary efforts to expose this two-week circus and the oppression it represents to so many communities and sectors.
Leading up to the 2010 Olympics, police and security forces already have and will continue to surveil, target, infiltrate, repress, and attempt to divide our movement (http://www.no2010.com/node/614). We realize that we may have many differences in analysis and tactics and such disagreements are healthy. However we believe such debates should remain internal and we should refrain from publicly denouncing or marginalizing one another especially to mainstream media and law enforcement. In particular, we should avoid characterizations such as “bad” or “violent” protestors. We respectfully request that all those in opposition to the 2010 Olympics maintain our collective and unified commitment to social justice and popular mobilization efforts in the face of massive attempts to divide us.
Please share this statement with others. We ask that if you agree with this statement and the basic principles outlined within it, to please email your endorsement to olympicr...@riseup.net.
In solidarity, Olympics Resistance Network.
Endorsed by Endorsed by Native Youth Movement, St'at'imc NYM, Anti Poverty Committee, No One Is Illegal-Vancouver, Industrial Workers of the World, UBC Colour Connected Against Racism, Alliance for People's Health,
Teaching Support Staff Union Social Justice Committee, No One Is Illegal-Toronto, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, Oil Sands Truth, No2010 Victoria, Vancouver Island Community Forest Action Network, Sudbury Against War and Occupation, The Grey Tigers Seniors Group, Common Action.
2) Saturday, March 7: Break the Silence Conference: Shattering the Culture of Violence
Saturday, March 7th, 2009 ~ 9AM-4:30PM
Student Center 160 at Seattle University
901 12th AVE Seattle WA 98122
Sights, stories, or experiences of violence are part of our everyday life. Violence takes many forms and has become so prevalent that some see it as a cultural phenomenon. How can we explore, confront, and most importantly, effectively challenge our culture of violence?
Break the Silence is a student-led conference for members of the Puget Sound Region to explore and confront the culture of violence. The conference will examine the systematic ways in which people are subjugated and silenced within a culture of violence. This conference aims to provide attendees with the opportunity to develop strategies for addressing the pervasiveness of violence in our communities.
Workshop topics include: Male Identity and Sexual Violence, Gang Related Deaths and Violence, Native Women's Responses to Violence through Writing, The Dynamics of Clergy Abuse, Behind Closed Doors: Domestic Abuse, Transformative Justice with Communities Against Rape and Abuse (Cara-Seattle.Org), Can Feminism Be Sexy?, Self-Defense with HomeAlive, and Transphobia and Criminal Justice. There will also be caucuses on identity, privilege, and allyship and poetry slam performances.
Please visit our website at http://breakthesilence09.wordpress.com for more information including workshop updates and descriptions, and registration. For the registration fee, there is a sliding scale cost of $5-20. All proceeds will go to providing money for the community organizations facilitating workshops.
Please contact us regarding any questions or concerns at breakthe...@gmail.com
This event is sponsored by ASSU, the Black Student Union of Seattle University, the Diversity and Equity Education Programs of Seattle University, First Nations of Seattle University, the Trans and Allies Club of Seattle University, the Latin American Studies Club of Seattle University, the Multicultural Programming Fund, the Society of Feminists at Seattle University, M.E.Ch.A. of Seattle University and Communities Against Rape and Abuse (Cara-Seattle.org)
3) Saturday, March 7: Seattle Solidarity Network: Back up a sister confronting a rotten landlord!
------------------------
Action: Saturday March 7th
Gather: 9:30am, 718 21st Ave, Seattle
------------------------
For months, Daljit (or 'D') and her family have been living with major heat/ventilation, gas, and water problems which have harmed their health, and which their landlord has refused to fix. On top of all this, when a gas leak -- due to owner negligence -- resulted in a massive energy bill, she was told she had to pay for it. She has tried reasoning, arguing, and complaining (once to the City), but has received very little in terms of either repairs or respect. Instead the landlord has told her to vacate the house, even though the lease extends through the end of June, and D's kids are in the middle of their school year.
She's prepared to fight back, but she needs our support. On Saturday morning, March 7th, she will knock on the landlord's door and deliver her demands. Given the history of this conflict, she is asking for a substantial number of people to come stand with her to help make sure the message is taken seriously. If it is not, more action will be necessary.
Please be there! This will be a fully peaceful action, nothing dangerous or illegal, but your presence could make a big difference.
Action details:
Date: Saturday March 7th
Time/place: Gather at 9:30am in front of brother Matt's Central-District house: 718 21st Ave, Seattle. We'll carpool from there to the landlord's place in Kent. We should be done and back by 11am or 11:30 at the latest.
If you have a car, please bring it and help transport others to and from Kent.
If you'd like more info, a ride to/from the gathering spot, or gas money, email in...@seasol.net or call 206-948-8782
--
http://nwcommonaction.org/
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