Protest The Greenwashing Of 2010 Olympics: March 30

"Protest the Olympics’ “Sport and the Environment” Farce – Resist the Corporate Green Wash!

** Please post this event widely and help use this chance to highlight the ecological destruction and corporate hypocrisy behind the ‘Green Games.’

Monday March 30, 6pm at Canada Place (Canadian Exhibition and Convention Centre)
780 – 999 Canada Place (north end of Burrard)
(There is vehicular and pedestrian access along the foot of Howe and Burrard streets and easy access from the Waterfront SkyTrain Station, SeaBus Terminal, and West Coast Express.)

On March 30-31, the International Olympic Committee, along with VANOC and corporate sponsors, are hosting the 8th World Sport and the Environment Conference in Vancouver, Canada. Their goal is to promote the 2010 Winter Games as making positive contributions for "social, economic and environmental benefit." In reality, the Olympic Industry causes large-scale environmental destruction and negative social impacts, as do many of its corporate sponsors. Many politicians (mayors of Vancouver and Whistler, BC Premier Campbell, and BC and Federal Environment Ministers), VANOC/IOC officials, and executives of major corporations (such as Coca-Cola, Teck Cominco, BC Hydro, RBC, and GE) will be speaking.

The 2010 Games will be one of the most ecologically damaging in history, featuring clear cuts, mountain blasting and destruction of vital habitats, road construction (and expansion of traffic), gravel mining (major damage to fish stocks), massive consumption of steel, plastics, cement, water, wood, etc., threats to animal populations, unnecessary luxury buildings, and expanded infrastructure (with accelerated approvals) for mining, logging, oil and gas exploration, ski resorts, and tourism. Construction, air travel, local traffic and other activities for the BC Olympics are expected to generate more than 3,700,000 tons of carbon emissions (that is about 5% of what all of British Columbia would produce in one year). At least 100,000 trees have been destroyed for a 17-day event. VANOC and the BC government also violated the International Olympic Committee’s stated requirement that the host city carry out environmental impact studies before starting work. This damage and waste is occurring on unceded Indigenous land and the environmental and financial costs will burden future generations.

The RBC (Royal Bank) is a major financier of the destructive Alberta tar sands projects and the 2010 Olympics. The mining giant Teck Cominco operates the largest open-pit copper mine in Canada (located on unceded Secwepemc territory), damages communities and the environment across Canada and into the USA with mine waste, and also funds the tar sands. General Electric is a major manufacturer and exporter of security technology and weapons systems and is invested in controversial hydroelectric projects in BC’s Toba and Bute Inlets. BC Hydro is facing strong community opposition to the $3.5 billion Site C hydroelectric project which would flood out large sections of the Peace River Valley. Coca-Cola factories violently repress workers and union organisers, deplete ground water, and contribute to environmental waste and destruction. These companies, and more, will be represented by executives at the World Sport and Environment Conference.

Join the Olympic Resistance Network (ORN) and other concerned groups and individuals to oppose the corporate green wash of the Olympic Games. ORN asks that this event be widely distributed throughout the Indigenous, environmental, and anti-Olympic movements, as it is a chance to focus on the community and ecological damage and corporate irresponsibility that marks BC development, especially during the Games. We plan to address issues on Eagleridge Bluffs and other Games construction, Gateway projects, water and energy in BC, tar sands and BC pipelines, proposed dam construction, and Olympic corporate sponsors with a diversity of speakers.

Stand with your community and for your environment on March 30 as we protest during their 'gala' dinner reception! FREE FOOD and FACEPAINTING! WEAR GREEN and CAMO!

Email alissawt@shaw.ca for the ORN event poster or make your own.

Promotional info, schedule and full speakers list for the Sport and Environment Conference is available at: www.wcse2009.com

OLYMPIC RESISTANCE NETWORK - www.no2010.com - olympicresistance@riseup.net"

ORIGINAL SOURCE: Facebook