Fears of violent protests that marred past summits proved unfounded as G-8 2002 ended peacefully yesterday.
Some demonstrators credited the Calgary Police Service with creating a non-confrontational atmosphere, while others suggested Calgary could be a model for future summits.
But an Amnesty International spokesman said the non-violent protests may have had as much to do with geography as good planning.
"Things were pretty tame this week in Calgary; the city proved it could withstand a heavy dose of democratic action in the streets," Joshua Rubenstein said.
But Rubenstein -- a regional director with Amnesty USA -- said the remoteness of the G-8 leaders may have been a major contributor to the lack of confrontation.
"Maybe it was just fortuitous that the Canadian government found a remote location and was still able to say that it was held in Calgary," he said.
San Francisco poet and activist Starhawk credited police for not provoking protesters to violence.
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES SLAMMED
"The difference here is we were not met with police violence," she said before embarking on a 2 1/2-hour march through downtown Calgary.
But Starhawk said the fact authorities expected violence, which never materialized, bodes badly on intelligence sources.
"If the intelligence sources of Canada and the U.S. know as much about al-Qaida as they know about us, we're in trouble," she said.
Prime Minister Jean Chretien told reporters in Kananaskis protesting is "part of the political process."
"But it has to be peaceful," he emphasized. "For me protesting is not a big deal; I organized those things when I was in university -- I did."
The final demonstration involved members of the Pagan Cluster performing a symbolic ritual of an ancient prophecy.
But the downtown march ended up being more of a rain dance when the skies opened up on dozens of protesters caked in mud, playing drums and wearing cardboard wings.
The protesters, including more than a half-dozen women who went topless before smearing themselves with mud, snaked through the core before cleansing at the Bow River. Along the way, the protesters received sneers and jeers from puzzled onlookers.
"What are they protesting? Showers?" one watcher said.
When asked by reporters if anyone takes them seriously, activist Eloise Gaudreau responded: "I take myself seriously ... at least it's fun."
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