Rendezvous in Kananaskis
2002 G8 Ministerials
- February 8-9, 2002
G7 Finance Ministers meeting, Ottawa (more details...)
- April 12-14, 2002
G8 Environment Ministers ministerial meeting, Banff, Alberta
- News Items (moved to a new section since they are numerous)
- April 25-27, 2002
G8 Labour Ministers ministerial meeting, Montreal, Quebec
- Acquittement de 115 manifestants arrêtés le 26 avril 2002 (25 sept., 2004 / CMAQ)
- Patched Over (June 6, 2002 / Hour) It looks like a concession has finally been wrenched out of the Montreal police. "A name patch will be worn on the arm [of riot gear] from now on," police chief Michel Sarrazin is quoted as saying.
- A chat with that lovely André Durocher (June 6, 2002 / Hour) Martin Patriquin pursues the case of the missing gun further, trying to get André Durocher to come clean on the 9mm lies he fed the media shortly after April 26. Durocher responds that if he managed to dupe the media, that's the media's problem. What is most amazing is that, with the very serious implications involved here, the larger media continues to ignore these follow-up developments.
- Guilt by proximity (May 23, 2002 / The Hour) Investigations by reporter Martin Patriquin reveal that, contrary to police claims, a 9 mm gun was not seized from protesters on April 26. There was, in fact, no 9mm gun. Patriquin also discusses the SPVM's dubious practice of recycling garbage for forensic purposes.
- Recommendations pour la défense
des arrêtéEs du 26 avril (15 mai, 2002)
- Audio Report: G8 Labour Ministers Protests, Montreal April 26, 2002 (May 14, 2002 / CLAC Radio)
- The Riot Act (May 9, 2002 / The Hour) Police claim to have confiscated a 9mm gun during the mass arrests of April 26, but something doesn't add up....
- Canada labours to update skills (May 6, 2002 / Montreal Gazette)
- Freedom to Protest, Montreal Style (May 2, 2002 / Centre for Global Research) - eyewitness account and commentary by Kate Forrest
- Protesters' anger provoked by police (May 1, 2002 / Montreal Gazette) - published letter written by protester Yves Engler denouncing police crackdown
- le dernier prisonnier politique du G8 enfin libéré après quatre jours de prison!
(April 30, 2002 / Montreal Indymedia) The last political prisoner of the G8 is finally released - after spending four days in prison!
- Répression de la manifestation anti-mondialisation au Carré Dominion (April 29, 2002 / Le Devoir - posted at Montreal Indymedia)
- Tickets contested (April 29, 2002 / Montreal Gazette)
- Coup de force de la police avant le début d'une manifestation (April 29, 2002 / Montreal Indymedia)
- Appel urgent à tous les arrêtés du square Dominion!!!! (April 28, 2002 / CMAQ) Urgent call to Dominion Square arrestees to meet in order to formulate strategies to contest the 'illegal assembly' charges, and to contest the law itself.
- Déclaration du PCC(M-L) à propos des arrestations lors du G-8 du Travail (April 28, 2002 / CMAQ)
- Photos -Manifestation contre le G8
- CLAC's response to the police brutality and arrests during the G8 demo in Mtl (April 28, 2002 / Montreal Indymedia)
- Gazette G8 reporting: taking the 'demos' out of Democracy (April 28, 2002 / Montreal Indymedia) Critique of the two Gazette articles below.
- G8 meeting wraps up in shroud of secrecy (April 28, 2002 / The Montreal Gazette)
- Riot police justify sweep (April 28, 2002 / The Montreal Gazette)
- Le G8 se défend de se réunir à huis clos (April 28, 2002 / La Presse)
- Accueil houleux pour les ministres du G8 (April 27, 2002 / La Presse)
- Le G8 à Montréal pour étudier les problèmes de l'emploi
(April 27, 2002 / La Presse)
- a26 montreal photos & report (April 27, 2002 / Ontario Indymedia)
- a26 montreal - photo (April 27, 2002 / Montreal Indymedia)
- la fuite / the escape (April 27, 2002 / Montreal Indymedia) - in French and English
- Mass arrest was NOT provoked by violence (April 27, 2002 / Montreal Indymedia)
- g8 demo (April 27, 2002 / Montreal Indymedia)
- anti-g8 demo gets squashed before it even gets started
(April 27, 2002 / Montreal Indymedia)
- URGENT: Manifestation contre la précarisation du travail par les ministres du G8. Des centaines d'arrestations sans avertissement (April 27, 2002 / CMAQ)
- Une arrestation de masse fait avorter la manif contre le G8 (April 27, 2002 / CMAQ)
- Prévention à coups de matraque (April 27, 2002 / CMAQ)
- Manif empechee sur le G8 (April 27, 2002 / CMAQ)
- Quand manifester son désaccord devient "Mission Impossible" (April 27, 2002 / CMAQ)
- Une Ville POLICIÈRE (April 27, 2002 / CMAQ)
- L'État policier (April 27, 2002 / CMAQ)
- Riot cops move in to quell protest (April 27, 2002 / Montreal Gazette)
- Advocacy groups denounce police tactics (April 27, 2002 / CP)
- Police defend arrests of demonstrators
(April 27, 2002 / CP)
- Eye Witness Testimony to the Montreal G8 arrests, April 26, 2002 (April 27, 2002 / Scott Weinstein)
- Protesters Arrested As G8 Labor Ministers Meet (April 27, 2002 / Reuters)
- Union leaders suspicious (April 27, 2002 / Montreal Gazette)
- Do not separate skills from workers' rights and employment, Georgetti told G8 Ministers (April 26, 2002 / CLC)
- Une arrestation de masse fait avoter la manif contre le G8 (April 26, 2002 / Montreal Indymedia)
- police arrest hundreds (April 26, 2002 / Montreal Indymedia)
- Riot police quell Montreal protesters who oppose G-8 labour ministers meeting (April 26, 2002 / CP)
- Secrecy shrouds G8 talks (April 26, 2002 / Montreal Gazette)
- communiqué de la CLAC sur le G8 du travail (April 25, 2002 / CMAQ)
- Montreal anti-globalization protesters promise to oppose low-key G-8 meeting (April 25, 2002 / CP)
- G8 ministers meet at McGill (April 25, 2002 / Montreal Gazette)
- G8 Labor Exploitation Ministers... (April 23, 2002 / Montreal Indymedia)
- TORCH LIGHT MARCH (scheduled for Friday, April 26 at 16:00... click for more details)
- May 2-3, 2002
G8 Energy Ministers ministerial meeting, Detroit, Michigan
- G-8 moves to secure energy supplies (May 4, 2002 / Calgary Herald) - longer version of the following article
- Energy ministers agree on need for stable supply (May 4, 2002 / Windsor Star) - "Speaking at the end of a two-day conference of the world's leading industrialized nations, the G8 ministers agreed stability of oil prices could be achieved by all countries establishing "clear and transparent" investment rules. This would allow oil companies to have confidence to develop untapped resources and reduce dependence on traditional sources now subject to disruption." The NEPAD / petroleum connection is fairly explicit here, although it should by now be obvious to anyone paying attention (see: U.S. Officials Cite Importance of African Oil to U.S. Economy - Feb. 1, 2002 / US Dept. of State - in which it is stated that as tensions in the Middle East mount and non-OPEC production falls, the U.S. plans to develop African sources, upping its reliance on African oil from the current 15% of total supply to 25%). It is also reported that Herb Dhaliwal "said Canada wants to be regarded as the major single supplier of reliable energy to the United States." With Dhaliwal cheerleading for continuing U.S. efforts to grab Canada's energy resources, it is not difficult to see what motivated Canadian G8 organizers to make an exception to protocol and hold the meeting outside of Canada.
- G8 revisits nuclear power (May 4, 2002 / Globe&Mail) - In addition to this ominous return to overt promotion of nuclear energy, there were further indications that 'energy security' will be added to the various excuses for increased militarization, especially in Africa: "The G8 countries, and the EU in particular, called on countries to beef up protection of power infrastructure from terrorist attacks...." European Union Energy Commissioner Loyola de Palacio was quoted as saying: "Today we need to throw open the whole concept of energy security to cover the physical security of our energy installations . . . in a phrase, we need to secure energy from the drill to the grill."
- G8 ENERGY MINISTERS IN DETROIT: Security issues emerge (May 4, 2002 / Detroit Free Press)
- Subsidy battle looms in gas pipeline race (May 3, 2002 / Calgary Herald) - Herb Dhaliwal plays his role in a nicely orchestrated petro-industry scam designed to siphon yet more tax money into to the pockets of those poor, destitute oil companies. Here - Contentious gas subsidies may still pass (May 4, 2002 / Financial Post) - is another article on the issue.
- G8 Energy Ministers wraps up (May 3, 2002 / GreenPeace)
- Abraham: World energy challenges will become more acute in next 20 years (May 3, 2002 / AP)
- Energy Leaders to Meet Privately (May 3, 2002 / AP)
- Officials Talk New Energy Sources (May 3, 2002 / AP)
- G8 Energy Ministers Gird Against Oil Price Shocks (May 3, 2002 / Reuters)
- G8 energy ministers discuss need to find new energy sources (May 3, 2002 / AP)
- Council slams Dhaliwal for impersonating an Energy Minister at G-8 meeting (May 2, 2002 / Council of Canadians)
- U.S. Won't Lobby Russia for More Oil at G8, But Canada Will (May 2, 2002 / Reuters)
- Abraham Emphasizes Energy Challenge (May 2, 2002 / AP)
- G-8 energy conference kicks off in Detroit (May 2, 2002 / AP)
- G8, GM, Gee-Whiz…Energy Ministers dodge clean energy at crucial meeting (May 1, 2002 / GreenPeace)
- Police practise riot-control techniques for G-8 energy summit in Detroit (May 1, 2002 / CP)
- Russian Energy Min Meets Cheney, US Business Reps (May 1, 2002 / Dow Jones)
- Next G-8 Meeting to Have Tech Focus (May 1, 2002 / AP)
- Les ministres de l'Énergie du G8 se réunissent à Detroit (May 1, 2002 / La Presse)
- Detroit Police Prep For G-8 Summit (April 30, 2002 / WDIV)
- Supply Security to Top Detroit G8 Energy Agenda (April 30, 2002 / Reuters)
- Detroit Committee for Global Justice - G8 Unwelcoming Committee - look here for info on activities happening during or around the May 2-3 G8 Energy Ministers Conference in Detroit
- G8 energy bosses to talk security (April 22, 2002 / Windsor Star) Here is John Kirton, G8 huckster who fronts a pseudo-academic 'G8 research group' at the U of T, being interviewed about the upcoming energy ministerial. Kirton says: "the tone of the sessions will be to forge preventive measures to protect energy security." Meaning, of course, the right of the U.S. to everyone else's energy. So part of the talks will hinge upon moving forward with U.S. plans to expand the exploitation of African oil resources dramatically over the next 10-15 years. And another part will hinge upon grabbing Canada's energy resources. Kirton tells us that the meeting, which normally would have been held in Canada, was moved to the U.S. to facilitate the selling off of Canadian energy. Probably true... and also to minimize exposure to the wrath of Canadians.
- May 13-14, 2002
G8 Justice and Interior Ministers meeting, Mont-Tremblant, Quebec
- Missing: G8 justice ministers (May 16, 2002 / Montreal Gazette) Another non-article from Jeff Heinrich. Once again, we see Heinrich trotting out Désirée McGraw to pose as G8 'critic', when what she is in fact doing is toeing the Kirton line which seeks to lend legitmacy to the G8 as a global governing body.
- Ottawa to introduce high-tech crime bill (May 15, 2002 / Globe&Mail) Justice Minister Martin Cauchon announces to Ashcroft et al that the federal government will introduce new 'high-tech crime' legislation giving police wider access to the electronic information held by Canadian phone companies, banks and Internet providers. Says Cauchon, "There must be increased co-operation with the private sector," while another Justice official chips in, "It's much better for industry because they won't have the embarrassment of police coming to the door." Streamlined repression is so much more preferable to potentially embarrassing inconveniences. Ashcroft must be very impressed by the degree of maturity being displayed here (see May 13 CP article below for context).
- Ministers hit Tremblant for G8 'tryout' (May 14, 2002 / Montreal Gazette) Note how the Tremblant meeting was held at a Fairmont Hotel (see: Fairmont/Delta/Legacy Hotels) The other interesting point here is the appearance of Désirée McGraw, who is described as "a McGill University globalization lecturer who heads the Montreal arm of the Group of Eight Research Group [which] tracks the activities of the G8 and criticizes their secrecy." This group is, of course, John Kirton's well-known cabal at the U of T which basically seeks to promote the G8 by framing critiques such that basic legitimacy questions are not raised. Not surprising, really, because Kirton's coterie is selected precisely for its enthusiastic embrace of the concept of elitism - and the required credentials include an aggressive thirst for upward mobility. McGraw - consummate acquisitor of scholarships, awards, and honorary this-and-thats; director of her own 'consulting firm' with impressive private sector and government connections; protegée of John Kirton; and, most recently, professor with the International Development Studies program at McGill - is a case in point.
- G8 considers child porn databank (May 14, 2002 / Globe&Mail)
- Ottawa promises law to crack down on cyber crime, as G-8 meeting concludes (May 14, 2002 / CP) We've heard some positive sounding talk about fighting child porn, and we might even dare to think that the G8 are turning over a new leaf... until we are reminded in this report that concerns over child porn will mean that "overcoming privacy hurdles will be the subject of months of deliberations by G-8 bureaucrats." Hmm... somehow, considering that internet surveillance legislation is being simulataneously proposed, this begins to look a bit too convenient.
- 'Mature, sovereign' G-8 members can serve each other on anti-terror: Ashcroft (May 13, 2002 / CP) 'Mature' G8 members... as opposed to all those 'immature' poor countries. Ashcroft adds, approvingly, that "There have been times when my colleagues here ... have exercised the sovereignty in Canada to the benefit of the United States in advance of our literally knowing exactly what would be done or how to do it." So the Canadian government is learning how to serve U.S. 'security' interests without even being told - now that's really 'mature'!
- Terrorist funding, organized crime converging, G8 ministers to be told (May 13, 2002 / Montreal Gazette) Heavy security presence in Mont Tremblant is justified with claims of "protesters who had quietly threatened to demonstrate." Oh... did they?? If so, the call-out was done more than quietly - it was done in virtual silence. But these days, even silence can be suspicious - particularly when security agencies can use it to drum up more business in the spirit of the 'New Security Economy' (NSE) (for more on the 'new security economy', see: Retreating to Reach out at Kananaskis by John
Kirton)
- Ottawa fears gang-terror merger
(May 13, 2002 / National Post)
- G8 Justice Ministers Focus on Terrorism, Crime (May 13, 2002 / Reuters)
- Justice Department Press Release Announcing Meeting
- June 12-13, 2002
G8 Foreign Ministers meeting, Whistler, British Columbia
- G8 Whistler Radio Scripts (June 14, 2002 / Vancouver Indymedia) Two radio reports (with scripts) which include some background on how on arms issues link with the situation in Kashmir, and the new American plutonium initiative and how the dangers that MOX fuel presents.
- G8 Foreign Ministers: Day Two (June 14, 2002 / Vancouver Indymedia) A nice summary with links to useful background material.
- Canada not a terror haven: Powell (June 13, 2002 / Vancouver Sun) Like many other Whistler residents, Troy Assaly is concerned that the precedent of the G8 ministerial will be used as a springboard to mount more conferences, such as the annual WEF meeting, which require intense security operations. "Other than the big hotels, I don't know who is pushing for these conferences," says Assaly.
- Canada not a terror haven: Powell (June 13, 2002 / Globe&Mail) ... but Powell nevertheless justifies U.S. insistence on joint security measures because Canada acts as a "gateway" to the U.S.
- G-8 ministers wrap up in Whistler (June 13, 2002 / CP) So, as predicted, the peace conference idea is put on hold. Bill Graham is stuck with having to rationalize this to the media.
- Mideast bedevils G-8 talks (June 13, 2002 / Vancouver Sun) Includes a list of foreign minister bio's which portray all the politicos in the most favorable light possible.
- Police offer free water, not pepper spray (June 13, 2002 / Vancouver Sun) Estimated number of protesters is minimized and a big deal is made about police offering water....
- Powell brings Mideast plan to meeting (June 13, 2002 / Calgary Herald) Calculated ambiguity and incoherence in the U.S. position ensure that constructive negotiations will continue to stall.
- Mideast dominates G-8 talks (June 13, 2002 / Edmonton Journal)
- Mideast peace conference faces obstacles of hatred, distrust (June 13, 2002 / CP) The G8 continue to pursue aggressively the usurpation of the U.N. security council as the global-level arbiter of international conflict (in spite of the G8's lack of legitimacy in this regard as per international law). Regarding efforts to settle the Palestine-Israel conflict, even in might-is-right 'realist' terms, U.S. domination of the G8 makes it unlikely that the group will be able to offer anything other than biased outcomes which favor the close strategic relationship the U.S. has nurtured with Israel. Thus, as the U.S. makes gestures suggesting it is moving towards backing the creation of a Palestinian state, it hedges with efforts to influence who will speak for such a state.
- G8 Foreign Ministers: Day One (June 12, 2002 / Vancouver Indymedia) Thatcher Collins checks in from Whistler
- Mideast conference up for discussion by G-8 foreign ministers (June 12, 2002 / CP)
- More cops than protesters at Whistler G8 (June 12, 2002 / BCTV)
- Powell to press for counterterrorism cooperation at meeting of G-8 foreign ministers (June 11, 2002 / AP)
Colin Powell will be making sure his G8 foreign minister cronies are in step as the U.S. administration seeks to advance a policy of preemptive bombing for the sake of 'security'.
- Graham warns Iraq as G-8 foreign ministers set to meet (June 11, 2002 / Edmonton Journal)
- Whistler braces for G8 (June 11, 2002 / The Province) I've heard of conservative estimates, but the projections of protester numbers here are ludicrous (for the main G8 event in Alberta, the author talks about "the 1000 expected protesters").
- War on terror will dominate G-8 foreign ministers' conference at Whistler (June 11, 2002 / CP)
- Vancouver Mobilization for protests at Whistler G7 ministerial (June 9, 2002) Contact info for buses
- Dress rehearsal at Whistler (June 9, 2002 / The Province) By the way, the "one Internet site" which the writer takes pains to avoid specifying is Vancouver Indymedia.
- Powell to attend meeting in Canada to discuss global issues (June 5, 2002 / AP) News brief
- Violent group will show up in Whistler: Report (May 13, 2002 / Province) This article adds a bit of imagination and extrapolation to the CSIS report released a few weeks ago (see April 27 Calgary Herald article in the news archives) in order to fuel fears of violence in Whistler (and to set the stage for exaggerated police presence).
- Venue announced: Fairmont Château Whistler (May 1, 2002 / DFAIT) See: Fairmont/Delta/Legacy Hotels for background on the G8's favorite high-end hotel chain.
- DFAIT announcement of meeting
- June 14-15, 2002
G8 Finance Ministers meeting, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Police hit with tear gas complaints (July 12, 2002 / Daily News)
- G-7 activist arrested during Saturday demonstration granted bail (June 19, 2002 / Halifax Herald)
- Watching overtime (June 19, 2002 / Maritimes Indymedia) The third comment is interesting in that it suggests that a 'plant' may have been used to provide the police with their alleged 'slingshot video'.
- Kelly defends actions of metro police force (June 18, 2002 / Halifax Herald)
- Activist wants protest inquiry (June 18, 2002 / Halifax Herald)
- Aid groups pan G7 debt-relief plan (June 17, 2002 / Globe&Mail) "Finance Minister [John] Manley dropped the ball here in Halifax," Oxfam spokesman Oliver Buston said, referring to the lack of sufficient commitment to fund the Millenium development goal of universal primary education by 2015.
- Police, protesters do battle in Halifax (June 17, 2002 / Globe&Mail) Said the father of one protester afterwards: "It makes me profoundly sad to see my own son gassed for demonstrating in front of police. . . . They gassed him twice for no reason. I'm just heartbroken to see the way police in our city will react when people are protesting economic policies that are hurting us."
- Halifax Herald Photos: Plain clothes officer makes arrest while other officer crouches with weapon drawn; Another plain clothes arrest (same officer dressed in teal jacket); Protesters marching down Barringston Street; Protester on ground after being zapped by taser
- What happened? (June 17, 2002 / Halifax Herald) Police have stated that a live weapon was drawn by one officer, that tasers were used on six protesters, that an undisclosed number of pepper balls were fired, as well as three volleys of tear gas.
- Police response 'wildly inappropriate' - MLA (June 17, 2002 / Halifax Herald)
- Stun gun hurt worse than shock therapy (June 16, 2002 / Halifax Herald)
- Police, protesters stage running battle (June 16, 2002 / Halifax Herald)
- Police arrest 34 (June 16, 2002 / Halifax Herald)
- Police defend use of tear gas, stun guns during G-7 meeting in Halifax (June 16, 2002 / CP)
- Police defend action at G-7 meeting in N.S. (June 16, 2002 / CBC)
- legal update (June 16, 2002 / Maritimes Indymedia) - Call for witnesses / Arrest updates
- Are police justified in dispersing a protest? (June 16, 2002 / Maritimes Indymedia)
- Video from: Saturday protest (June 16, 2002 / Maritimes Indymedia)
- Video from: Friday protest (June 16, 2002 / Maritimes Indymedia)
- Photos from Saturday protest: 1; 2; 3 (June 16, 2002 / Maritimes Indymedia)
- Police wield painful tazers to quiet crowd (June 16, 2002 / Daily News) Protesters report that about 10 people got 'stunned', but the tasers only “seemed to aggravate people more....”
- Protest ignites: Cops use tear gas, stun guns to quell G-7 demonstrators (June 16, 2002 / Daily News)
- Yesterday was brutal and ugly (June 16, 2002 / Daily News) Commentary article which comes off fairly even-handed.
- Tunnel was secure, security insists (June 16, 2002 / Daily News)
- Feds pick up tab for cops (June 16, 2002 / Daily News) The federal government continues to subsidize the expansion of police repression.
- Protesters' rush through mall wasn't peaceful (June 16, 2002 / Daily News) Allegedly, protesters stole items in a mall. Names of the stores involved and the witnesses quoted are witheld, making the veracity of the story very difficult to substantiate.
- Canada brokers compromise (June 16, 2002 / Daily News) More on the funding deal for the International Development Association, an arm of the World Bank, which was reached on Saturday. The U.S. pushed for a large percentage of aid 'grants' which will be linked to structural adjustment conditions, thus offering further leverage over target economies.
- Ministers made progress in development - Manley (June 16, 2002 / Daily News) The ministers reached an agreement on contributing to the World Bank’s 'Education for All' program, however in the view of Oxfam spokesman Oliver Buston, it is largely a sham. “The G-7 finance ministers have failed to deliver on their repeated promises to the world’s children,” he said in a release.
- Jail solidarity!!! (June 15, 2002 / Maritimes Indymedia) Meet at 7:30 am in the convergence center ( Brunswick St. United Church, 2107 Brunswick St.)
- Blue Bloc runs amok at G7 (June 15, 2002 / Maritimes Indymedia) This account of the protest on Day 2 really succeeds in getting the picture across... you're there, so to speak. Notice the bit about rubber bullets which were more like "bath beads filled with noxious pepper" - that's a new one, I think. And note how the corporate media accounts are challenged.... This one definitely deserves reading.
- Police, protesters clash outside G-7 meeting in N.S. (June 15, 2002 / CBC)
- Halifax G7 protest (June 15, 2002 / Maritimes Indymedia) This report appears to exaggerate actions taken by protesters to block corporate media cameras. Nevertheless, the debate which follows which is of interest.
- G7 Photos at Yahoo! News
- G-7 finance ministers endorse compromise on aid for developing countries & more grants instead of loans (June 15, 2002 / AP)
- Reported Arrests at G7 Protests (June 15, 2002 / Maritimes Indymedia) "The latest word has it that at least a dozen people have been arbitrarily arrested by the police. Banners have been confiscated, running matches with the cops have taken place throughout downtown Halifax, and an exchange of projectiles has taken place as well. Earlier a barricade was torn down, and water ballons (which are now called 'ball bearings' and 'golf balls' by the media) were hurled at the police. Protesters used relatively peaceful means of opposition, while holding control in most circumstances, or any street area taken over. Militant actions (thankfully) were used in the Brunswick / Grafton area. Demonstrators held their ground despite being shot at by the police with a variation of tear gas, and having stun guns used on them...."
- Give Africa more of a say in its own future: coalition (June 15, 2002 / CP) A coalition of about 40 international groups condemn several aid projects at the centre of G-7 talks in Halifax, and have doubts regarding the top-down NEPAD initiative.
- Canada-brokered deal frees up development aid for poorest of the poor: Manley (June 15, 2002 / CP) The deal will link aid money with much larger amounts in loans, thus further indebting poor countries. And regarding debt relief, John Manley brought it up ... but in terms which make it clear that he intends to use it as leverage to implement neoliberal 'conditions'. Manley tactfully phrases his predatory position as follows: "You don't create (economic) sustainability just by eliminating debt."
- G7 protest in Halifax is over (June 15, 2002 / BN) "A riot squad used stun guns and police dogs to clear the street in front of historic Citadel Hill this afternoon. At least one person was arrested during the demonstration by at least 200 people...."
- hfx G7 communique - Day one of the G7 finance ministerial (June 14, 2002 / Maritimes Indymedia) "Upwards of 500 people took the downtown of Halifax in
a 'mobile street party', buttressed by eloquent and uncompromising
spoken-word from some of Halifax's hardest working activists, as well as
Njoki Njehu of the 50 Years is Enough Network...."
- Pictures from the Friday Night G-7 Protest Rally: 1; 2; 3; 4 (June 14, 2002 / Maritimes Indymedia)
- Halifax says G-7, Whistler says G-8 (June 14, 2002 / The Daily News)
- WTCC, hotel workers get security checks (June 14, 2002 / The Daily News)
- 7's-UP: G-7 finance ministers gather in metro beginning today (June 14, 2002 / The Daily News)
- Cops, protesters mum on plans
(June 14, 2002 / The Daily News)
- Carrying our fair share of the defence burden (June 11, 2002 / National Post) "You can't just sit at the G8 table and then, when the bill comes, go to the washroom," says John Manley, trying to fabricate reasons for Canadians to spend even more on defence (and this is coming in the wake of an increase of about a billion dollars in military spending in the last budget). For the rest of us, it is just one more reason for Canada to dump its unsavory association with the G8 protection racket.
- Few protesters expected (June 10, 2002 / Halifax Daily News) The journalist is using Quebec City as his measure of comparison (!!). Putting things into their proper perspective, with a few hundred people coming in from out of town added to the local activist contingent, it appears that there will be a strong turnout for protests against this G7 ministerial.
- All business, no play for visiting delegates (June 10, 2002 / Halifax Daily News) Hmmm... the big focus on debt relief promised by Paul Martin back in April (see April 21 Reuters article below) barely makes it onto the agenda here. Looks like the G7 is on track for its usual empty gestures regarding debt relief come ministerial time.
- Halifax won't get same exposure as last time (June 10, 2002 / Halifax Daily News) 'Economic spinoff' propaganda (indirect G7 porkbarrelling).
- Open Letter to the G7 Finance Ministers (June 4, 2002 / 50 Years is Enough) - an open sign-on letter, initiated by the Halifax Initiative
- A message from the Atlantic G7 Welcoming Committee (May 31, 2002 / Maritimes Indymedia) - update including calendar of actions
- Halifax police gearing up for finance ministers' meeting (May 14, 2002 / CBC) There is also a link to a RealMedia version TV version of this report, which includes some extra info. The piece focusses primarily on the possibility of confrontations between police and protesters, including the use of large scale riot police formations and their various accoutrements, which would be a first in Halifax. Police Chief David McKinnon's key spin line is that "many protestors plan to use the event to test police readiness" (i.e. in Kananaskis). But the assertion, besides being based on no evidence at all, is also ridiculously gratuitous. Such claims seek to justify the use of preemptive repression - such as was seen recently in Montreal (see the many reports above on the April 26 police crackdown).
- Canada's Martin to Push Debt Relief at Next G7 (April 21, 2002 / Reuters) "Debt relief will take the spotlight at the upcoming Group of Seven finance ministers meeting in Halifax in June if its host, Canada's Finance Minister Paul Martin, has anything to say about it...." More empty promises? We'll see....
- Atlantic G7 Welcoming Committee: Mobilization Call Out
- Halifax to host June G-7 meeting (April 19, 2002 / Toronto Star)
- G-8 finance ministers coming to Halifax (April 19, 2002 / Broadcast News)
- G8 sets sites for finance, foreign minister meets (Feb. 6, 2002 / Reuters)
Contact me (Eric Squire) at: g8alert@yahoo.com
