Only 'virtual protests' allowed at North American summit

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Agence France-Presse

Only 'virtual protests' allowed at North American summit

Agence France-Presse
Last updated 00:12am (Mla time) 08/18/2007

OTTAWA -- Protesters will be "seen and heard" when North American leaders meet next week in Montebello, near Ottawa, but only virtually -- via an audio-video feed set up by organizers.

And the heads of the United States, Canada and Mexico may opt to change the channel.

The arrangement is "in compliance with (a Canadian) court's decision that protesters have a right to be 'seen and heard,'" said Sandra Buckler, a spokeswoman for host Stephen Harper, the prime minister of Canada.

However, the novel plan to give protesters a voice, while maintaining strict security for the talks, has riled protesters being kept out by a fence, three meters (10 feet) high and 2.5-kilometers (1.5 miles) around the meeting place.

"It's a travesty of democracy," Sophie Shoen of People's Global Action told Agence France-Presse. "We must be allowed to directly confront political leaders where and when we choose, not virtually."



Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=83264

[ananda]

1. In my view..

It's not a protest if the ones being protested control
the venue of protest.

[Solly Mack]

4. I agree

It's controlled protesting - those with the power tell people when, where, and for how long they can protest...it still looks like people are allowed(as in granted permission to engage in a right) to protest - (even though every aspect of the protest was controlled by the very ones being protested)- and government, businesses, and entities still do what they want to do anyway.

It's a win-win for government. They can say the people's right to protest is protected and then continue to ignore the people's complaints.

It's the appearance of democracy...the illusion

window dressing

[rodeodance]

9. with each protest-----it gets placed farther from view.

[rosesaylavee]

2. Maybe they will think of another way to protest...

The Summit organizers may not like whatever that may be.

[dipsydoodle]

3. I'm sure George will step in

on behalf of the protestors to further is cause to "spread democracy". :sarcasm:

[zabet]

5. Free Speech ain't free if you have to compromise it to say it. n/t

[Autumn Colors]

6. Getting the Canadians conditioned to "Free Speech Zones" (nm)

[Posteritatis]

17. We're not all conditioned

Bush was here in Halifax a few years ago, largely for legitimate if overdue reasons (thanking the locals for hosting so many stranded travelers on 9/11). The local police defied his handlers and set the "free speech zone's" forward cordon right at the front doors of the building he was speaking in instead of blocks away or whatever.

I worked in that building the year before this happened. It's a bigass, ill-insulated, 70-year-old immigration shed that's basically a couple of really really big rooms with lots of really really big windows. The acoustics are ... well, let's just say they were protestor-friendly that day.

[Autumn Colors]

19. That's why I said they're GETTING them/you conditioned....

Just an introduction of what's to come.

[Theres-a]

20. Frog boil. nt

[krkaufman]

7. Fences may make for better neighbors ... but not better democracy.

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. So when will Harper get the boot?

When are the next elections?

[Spazito]

10. Because harper has a minority government, it depends on whether

he brings forward a bill that can be classified as a "confidence" bill and it is defeated. If that happens, an election is held soon after. If his government doesn't fall on a confidence vote then the next election will occur in March/April of 2010, four years after he was sworn in as PM.

[gulfcoastliberal]

11. Citizens shouldn't be involved in our corporate overlords plans.

If that means dismantling the constitution and eliminating the sovereignty of the US Canada, and Mexico, we should just get with the program, ok? We need that NAFTA superhighway to transport the goods from the superport the Chinese are building down in Mexico to bypass unionized American ports. No public debate or input is desired or needed.

[annabanana]

12. That sounds to me like a big invitation to hackers. .

They want to take the fight online?

[Yurovsky]

13. The goose-step to the right continues...

soon we'll be unable to dissent electronically as well.

I figured we were screwed in this country, but Canada? OMG...

[Fredda Weinberg]

14. I can't wait to see this on Royal Canadian Air Farce

It will be worth waiting for the link

[MatrixEscape]

15. I always think of Frank Zappa when these situations come up ...

This lucid and insightful quote appears to apply even more today than yesterday, (but not as much as tomorrow?) Oops, I was having a Stevie Wonder moment!

"The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way, and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theatre."

~ Frank Zappa, 1977 ~

[stlsaxman]

18. or from Patrick McGoohan of "The Prisoner" series-

"Freedom Is A Myth"

[snot]

16. How about "virtual protests" outside

the private homes of doctors who perform legal abortions . . . that would make more sense.