G20: Toronto in Flames

[metallicat]

Oh sorry, I forgot the green text. Yes, I am actually advocating mass shooting of people with shotguns.

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Oh sorry, I forgot the green text. Yes, I am actually advocating mass shooting of people with shotguns.

hahaha! ok, my bad, didn't catch the sarcasm!

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Why are they even having this ridiculous summit in Toronto? Absolutely insane that tax payers are on the hook for 1 billion dollars worth of security. It's obvious that the leaders need to meet, but does it have to be such a publicized event? Look what happens. This is a complete joke.

Screw the water cannons, bring out the shotguns.

Well it's not, it's in Huntsville Ontario a good 220 KM outside of Toronto, but just like 2002 when it was held in Kananaskis, the protests were in Calgary...although without any real violence

[metallicat]

But they are housing reporters in Toronto and all that, no? Obviously TO would be the primary spot for the protesters. Maybe I'm way out to lunch, but could a meeting like this be held somewhere in the ocean, on a big ocean liner or something? Have it protected by an aircraft carrier already in the area? I don't know. All I know is that it's asinine that Toronto is burning because some leaders are meeting to discuss important business.

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

Well it's not, it's in Huntsville Ontario a good 220 KM outside of Toronto, but just like 2002 when it was held in Kananaskis, the protests were in Calgary...although without any real violence

The G8 was held in Calgary as well as Huntsville, however the larger G20 is being held in Toronto at the convention centre there. We hosted both events simultaneously

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

But they are housing reporters in Toronto and all that, no? Obviously TO would be the primary spot for the protesters. Maybe I'm way out to lunch, but could a meeting like this be held somewhere in the ocean, on a big ocean liner or something? Have it protected by an aircraft carrier already in the area? I don't know. All I know is that it's asinine that Toronto is burning because some leaders are meeting to discuss important business.

Nope, you're right the G20 is being held in Toronto. I hope that the leaders learn from this and like you said, get a cruise ship or something. Or just hold it at the UN building.

[GirlySports]

or just dont tell anyone where you're meeting?

We know Harper's working, do we really need to know where he is?
They could all be meeting in Jabukistan. Why do we need repoters?

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

or just dont tell anyone where you're meeting?

We know Harper's working, do we really need to know where he is?
They could all be meeting in Jabukistan. Why do we need repoters?

Well, they do need to be held accountable. They are meeting to come up with goals on certain topics. If we don't know what the goals are, how can we as the public tell if they deserve our vote or not? Need reporters to give us the news I guess right?

[metallicat]

That's what we elected them for, and they are being held accountable by either being re-elected, or not being elected. We are talking about countries like Canada and the US, who despite many people's opinions, actually have some pretty good intentions. I don't think the destruction of a city is worth it.

Edit- But the truth is, they aren't going to learn from this. This happens all the time.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

I can tell you that the vast majority of police officers there DO NOT want a confrontation. You think they look forward to getting bags of urine and feces thrown at them? Marbles, ball bearings, bottles, rocks, molotov cocktails? I agree with you that this is a huge mistake by the government to decide to hold the event in the middle of the city, but the police don't exactly have a choice in the matter. They have to react to the situation at hand. And by the way, it is pretty much impossible to not discriminate at some level. If I'm a cop on the street and I see a family with two little kids walking or a group of 4 younger males walking around, who do you think poses more potential for trouble? Take off your utopian glasses and be realistic. I'm not saying that police don't overstep their bounds sometimes but the vast majority are there for the right reasons and they have very difficult decisions to make with very little time. You're right, these summits should have been held at CFB Petawawa or Borden where they could have done their business without being bothered.

I can also guarentee you that most protestors don't want confrontation either, but some of them still get it. Nothing takes attention away from the issue faster than a confrontation with police. Can anyone remember what the protestors in Montreal were protesting against a few years ago when they had their big clashes? No, I bet most don't... all people remember are the clashes.

In a lot of ways, having the police get into confrontations with protestors serves a political gain if you don't want the issue being protested to get attention.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

Well, they do need to be held accountable. They are meeting to come up with goals on certain topics. If we don't know what the goals are, how can we as the public tell if they deserve our vote or not? Need reporters to give us the news I guess right?

They could run Taliban style video tapes! Or have press releases on an official G20 website. Today we're doing this this this this, and later in the day a report saying we achieved this this this this. Here's a video on youtube of our new policies, or Ok let the major stations send one reporters who can twitter it or send reports back home.

[Red Ice Player]

Lots of smug little punks poking cameras in the faces of riot police. The entitlement generation acting so brave in the face of our fascist police state. Plenty of backpacks in view, containing black clothing. Oh, but its only a few dozen criminals creating this problem.....Keep believing it.

[Red Ice Player]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

In a lot of ways, having the police get into confrontations with protestors serves a political gain if you don't want the issue being protested to get attention.

So the police started this?

[Resolute 14]

The next time the G8/G20 is held in Canada, they should hold it in Iqaluit or Rankin Inlet - in January. You wanna come destroy stuff? Enjoy doing it at -40!

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Red Ice Player

So the police started this?

I think he was refering to counter-protesters rather than the police.

[HotHotHeat]

Can someone tell me why they continue to put these events in the middle of urban centres? Holy mother of ######ed organizing.

[Red Ice Player]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think he was refering to counter-protesters rather than the police.

Fair enough, but that implies that the troublemakers are tools of the establishment. In the end, these morons may have served that purpose. If the legitimate causes represented by these protest groups are to be seen as legitimate, then these groups have to condemn the anarchists in their own ranks and purge them from their protests. I don't see this happening. Will the labour groups that had the black block charge from their midst to set fire to police cars turn in any of the criminals? It won't happen. But they'll whine that their message has been hijacked. Blah blah blah. Cry me a river.

Originally Posted by TRIX

I have been watching CTV Newsnet (or whatever its called, you know the station)

You know what would stop this stupid violent random meaningless destruction...one phone call pre-summit meetings

"Hi, Hells Angels, here's the proposed perimeter we want to secure, how much do you contract out for?"

Gonna guess a hell of a lot less than a billion dollars

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altamont_Free_Concert

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by fotze

I'd ask what they are protesting, but when someone replies it will get into some conspiracy mumbo jumbo and I'll stop reading after the second sentence, so I won't bother.

I asked that in the OP!

[jschick88]

A CTV producer just got detained by police.