Excessively armed thugs parading through the streets, military checkpoints at traffic lights, police helicopters hovering over the city, a long chain-link fence around the center of downtown, secret snipers on rooftops, urban warfare weapons, bomb-sniffing dogs, sound canons; this is not the sight of the infamous Green Zone in blood-drenched Baghdad, but a picture of what downtown Toronto will look like this weekend when the city hosts the world’s leading heads of states, and government officials.
They are in Toronto for the G20 conference, where they plan to discuss a global economic order, and new austerity measures for heavily indebted nations. It is expected that U.S. President Barack Obama will fearmonger about Iran’s nuclear capabilities and motives, just as he did at the last G20 meeting that took place in Pittsburgh in September, 2009.
The heavy presence of ground troops on the streets are usually seen in war-torn countries, occupied countries, or countries that are on the edge of a violent revolution, so it has come as an unwelcome surprise to many Canadians that the downtown core of its major city, known for its safety and cleanliness, is being transformed into a military fortress to serve the world’s leading politicians.
The billion-dollar expense for all the security gear and gadgets points to a burgeoning police state. Although most people think nothing of it, they know deep down that only leaders who conspire against the people’s interests require the protection of a thousand bodyguards, motorcades, and helicopters. The most famous assassination of the President of the United States was not done by a citizen, but by the C.I.A. and the U.S. National Security apparatus, whose fingerprints all over the current push towards Homeland Security in North America.
Members of the huge military apparatus at the conference claim that their chief role is to “protect the public” but that begs the question, do unpopular world leaders represent the will of the people? Whatever modern poll you look at, and in whatever Western country, the answer is no.
Ahead of protests, the Toronto police visited the homes of some activists, and warned them against protesting. The Toronto Sun reports:
Protestors allege they are being targeted for questioning or sometimes detained by police for helping to organize G8 and G20 demonstrations.Some protestors even claimed the immigration status of some members, or their families, are being threatened by police if they take part in demonstrations.
The actions by the G20’s Integrated Security Unit are reminiscent of the crackdown on protest activities by security forces at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul in 2008. The highly militarized atmosphere is meant to intimidate citizens, and make them avoid future public demonstrations. The establishment of “security zones” and “free speech zones” is another reminder that people’s political will are denied by politicians and the police in modern Western democracies.
full article http://disquietreservations.blogspot.com/2010/06/g20-brings-green-zone-to-toronto.html
Stumble It!
http://pressfortruth.ca/news_dtls.php?rid=125&catid=5
So why aren't they footing the bill for security? Just another corporate subisdy - along with the much-revered photo ops of phoney smiles and handshakes.
And yes! They HAVE arrested some fellow with a "suspicious" box strapped to the roof of his car. Guess they have to arrest someone - to show the billion is worth it.
But do you really want corporate sponsorship of government? I know that the cost is stupid, but I for one don't want that sort of corporate vote buying out in the open. We need to keep it in the back rooms where it belongs.