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View from the West |
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Jan 09 Hamas not interested in lasting peace Feb 09 The world is facing a dystopia of debt Mar 09 From Lotus land to gangland April 09 What has happened to police? May 09 West must re-evaluate its role in Afghanistan June 09 Wonder boy Ignatieff: Not so wondrous July 09 Brian Mulroney: Less than desirable Aug 09 There is no end to this recession Sept 09 A venture not worth the sacrifice Oct 09 2010 Winter Olympic Games look grim Nov 09 New B.C. solicitor general hits mark Dec 09 Where is Canada heading? Jan 10 Can profiling help fight terror? Feb 10 Lack of social cohesion hurts democracy Mar10 Canada shares its heart of gold Apr 10 Arrogance and the existence of God May10 Is the risk worth the oil? June 10 Why is Leonard Peltier still in prison? |
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Thomas Terrio’s |
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Free internet media - news and media - online news magazine - opinion |
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Edition no. 68 |
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July 2010 |
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Anarchists achieve their goal of violence and lawlessness |
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The G20 Summit: Not worth the effort |
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View from the West is a free monthly online news magazine, featuring news and media, news from the west, publication, newsletter, current events, photography, web design and editorial opinions from a Western Canadian perspective, located in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Page concept, photography and design by Thomas Terrio©2010 All photographic images, graphics, concepts, features and design protected by copyright. Any unauthorized use is subject to the remedies provided by law. viewfromthewest.ca©2010 Thomas Terrio©2010 All rights reserved |
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By Thomas Terrio |
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Once again, the G20 Summit has proven to be worth more trouble, social unrest, and disturbance than what it was originally designed for, to bring the largest economies together within a common framework, to resolve critical issues and settle socio-economic problems on a global scale. It’s not only tiresome, but frustrating, to see the results of so many taxpayer dollars wasted away in these difficult economic times for what simply appears to be nothing more than a photo opportunity for world leaders. The Toronto G20 cost Canadian taxpayers a billion dollars in security and policing alone. Downtown Toronto was turned into a mini police state and in the end, a battleground for radical groups competing for the attention of world leaders and the media. More than 900 people were arrested, many innocent, civil liberties put into question, journalists detained and threatened, and private property destroyed. And what was achieved, a mess that will linger on in the courts for years to come. In my view, most Torontonians, the smart ones, kept clear of the so-called security zones over the weekend. The police had clear targets, the Black clothed radicals whose faces were covered and who initiated the violence. How many of these individuals were there? No one is sure, but it was most probably less than fifty. The groups who said they were demonstrating peacefully perhaps should have chosen another day to do so. The idea people are free to do whatever they please whenever they want is a complete falsehood. There are better ways to challenge the system, if challenging the system is what you do. How easy it would have been for the police to arrest those troublemakers dressed in black, if everyone else would have stayed home that day, rather than choose to demonstrate and act as cover for those anarchists, who have nothing more in mind than to destroy what we here in Canada are attempting to build. This exercise in democracy has its weaknesses. The law is only as good as the people enforcing it. Yes, the police overreacted in several cases outlined in the media. Yes, the detention centre was uncomfortable; and yes, there are limits to Canada’s democracy. Without a doubt, Amnesty International and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association both have legitimate concerns. Let’s agree, the whole situation was out of control. The G20 Summit was not worth the time, the effort, or the cost. Furthermore, if leaders must meet on a regular basis, shouldn't every country participating share the bill? In the end, the only individuals who succeeded at the G20 Summit in Toronto were the people without principles and the ones with nothing more to achieve than lawlessness, violence and political disorder—the anarchists. |
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Every anarchist is a baffled dictator. Mussolini |
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Anarchism is founded on the observation that since few men are wise enough to rule themselves, even fewer are wise enough to rule others. |
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Letter to the editor |
Is the Internet the next battleground?
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Venezuela’s media war:
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By COHA Research Associates Katherine Haas & Carly Steinberger
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Journalists, protesters assaulted and detained during massive G20 police clampdown |
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Take a few moments to read past opinions below by simply choosing a date |
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Afterthoughts |