Putin Antics

Hungarians protest against Vladimir Putin's visit to Budapest

Moscow Promises Canada's 'Clumsy' Sanctions Won't Go Unanswered (He must still be pissed off at Harper's rebuff at the Brisbane G8 meeting.)

Puttin' The Boots To Putin

Putin leaves G20 after Harper and other leaders press him on actions in Ukraine

Putin to leave G-20 Summit early; doesn't like being criticized over Ukraine

Is there such a thing as a tantrum in international politics? If there is, I think we've just witnessed one.

Atta Boy!!

The proletariat could use it.

Marxist-Leninist G20 protester launches $4M lawsuit

You are going to share it with them, right?

More CBC G20 Coverage

G20 crowds, police engage in standoffs

"At mid-afternoon, police in riot gear began partly surrounding a group of bicyclists who had staged a protest through downtown demanding more rights for cyclists."

[---]

"At one point, plainclothes police arrived, entered the crowd and began to arrest several people.

"They knew who they were looking for," the CBC's Bill Gillespie reported. "These are trained police snatch squads using intelligence on finding suspected troublemakers."

[---]

"According to the ISU, the number arrested in G20-related incidents had risen to 604, with 253 arrests reported Sunday."

[---]

"Seventy people were rounded up after police said they found makeshift weapons, including bricks, and black clothing hidden in bushes. It's believed the bricks were to be used by vandals who had caused widespread damage Saturday."

[---]

"Const. Rob McDonald told reporters it was his understanding that people from across Canada had been arrested: "They were found in possession of bricks and other items that could compromise the safety of the citizens of Toronto."

Four other people were arrested in the early morning after they were caught coming out of a city sewer in the financial district on Queen Street West between Yonge and Bay streets."

Not too much evidence of bias in that one, I will admit, but true to form, loyal CBCers let 'er rip in the comments.

PS: They're even protesting in Vancouver!

So. I was Standing In Front of the Urinal Taking a Whiz, When...

...who should walk in but Japan's Minister of Finance....so we got to talkin'.

Real summit deals happen at dinner

"G8 and G20 leaders will sit down for hours in Toronto and Huntsville this weekend, discussing pressing issues during long formal meetings.

But often the most important conversations at these types of summits happen outside the board room, during dinners, coffee runs, sessions at the gym and even bathroom breaks."

[---]

"U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair bumped into each other at a hotel gym at 6 a.m. during the G8 summit in Kananaskis, Alta.

Running side-by-side on treadmills, they launched into a discussion of foreign policy.

"They hammered out a lot of the agreement on what would happen with Iraq,""

[---]

"While some may argue that summits are too costly to stage, with billions spent to bring leaders together, Graham said the face-to-face meetings and all the informal chances for conversation are invaluable.

Leaders get to know each other and feel they can call one another whenever an issue arises. The same goes for ministers and even staff members. This kind of interaction can't be achieved through a teleconference or over the internet..,"

[---]

"...one Japanese finance minister was able to carry on a discussion of economic policy with his U.S. counterpart in the bathroom..."

G8 Summit Accomplishments

are primarily two-fold.

One is yet another round of condemnation of the usual suspects - Iran and North Korea. We all know how well that works.

The other is a surprise - well maybe not. It's just the latest in a growing outrage regarding The One's propensity to go and play rather than dealing with the crises engulfing his country. Can't say I blame them.  We're told he swings like a girl.

Let's hope the G20 is a bit more productive.

We Interrupt This CBC Hatefest to Bring You This

...From the other side of the world there's a certain athletic competition happening that holds most of the world agog, as it usually does. I think you all know what I mean: The World Cup, being held in South Africa.

In any case, here's an angle to make one pause.

Mumbai Terror Suspect Arrested in ZIMBABWE - Trying to Cross Into South Africa

Wouldn't that have been nice! /sarc

Of course, nothing like that could ever, ever happen in Canada, so there's no need for all this heavy handed security business. /double sarc

Raining in Downtown Toronto

CBC report the early stage of today's massive protest shows rain.

If there is a God, perhaps he could arrange for some hail later on. Of course, that would be Harper's fault.

It's interesting, too, that a fellow driving a car with Saskatchewan plates was caught with some unusual cargo. The police, of course, are "intimidating" him. I dunno. Tennis size hail stones for him should just about do it.

New York Slimes Writes About G8/G20 Security

Canada Agog at Security Price Tag for Summit

"Perhaps the only corporate resident of the security zone pleased with the arrangement is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The network has a national broadcast center within the zone, allowing it to offer television viewers exclusive live peeks inside. Not that there is much to see. On Friday, before the leaders arrived, much of the largely empty security zone resembled the stage set of a postapocalypse film."

I love it. Keep the mob away from its chief propaganda machine. Apocalyptic for both of them.

CBC Coverage of G8/G20 - Day Four

Friday, June 25th.

Police Powers Expanded for G20

"Police forces in charge of security at the G20 summit in Toronto have been granted special powers for the duration of the summit.

The new powers took effect Monday and apply along the border of the G20 security fence that encircles a portion of the downtown core. This area — the so-called red zone — includes the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, where delegates will meet. The new regulations effectively expand the jurisdiction of the existing Public Works Act to apply to high-security areas of the summit site." (Emphasis mine)

Under the new regulations, anyone who comes within five metres of the security area is obliged to give police their name and state the purpose of their visit on request. Anyone who fails to provide identification or explain why they are near the security zone can be searched and arrested."

[---]

"Ontario's cabinet quietly passed the new rules on June 2 without legislature debate.

Civil liberties groups are concerned about the new regulations, but Toronto police Chief Bill Blair defended the move to add the new powers and denied there was any attempt to deceive the public about how or when they were enacted.

"It was not a secret," Blair told CBC News on Friday. "It was passed in exactly the procedure as described in our legislation in Ontario.

"It was published by the province ... if you go and Google 'Public Works Act Ontario' it's the second thing that comes up. The first will be the act itself."

First of all, good on the CBC for including these details, as there is inevitably a lot of hysteria about police states, charter rights, etc., etc., etc. Not much about responsibilities, though. So, hat's off to CBC for this one. As usual, CBC's loyal readers dish up the hysteria in the comments, though.

There was one major rally and march, the coverage of which was, in my opinion, very evenly handed.

In other posts, CBC actually gets into coverage of what may be the important issues, according to foreign journalists, who may or may not have their respective country's top priorities correctly pegged. The issues are wide ranging, with very little overlap from one region to another. Since there has yet to be an agenda released to the press, the approach taken by the CBC staffers seems fairly creative, to say the least. They must know that the viewing/reading/listening public is getting tired of 24/7 protester propaganda. So, once again, CBC gets a good mark from me for examining an angle that doesn't focus on rabble-rousers and security measures.

Stay tuned to see what the fifth day brings.

CBC's G20 Coverage - Continued (Updated)

More protest stories from June 24th, Day 3 of CBC's coverage of the G20 Summit: It's nearing the end of the day in Toronto, but there's always room for more stories about protests and the intrepid CBC will be right there reporting it for them - er - you.

First Nations' G20 protest peaceful

Complete with a real Indian, Canada's own anarchist king, Jaggi Singh. All the usual Indian Industry talking points were raised during the First Nations part of the protest, but it was up to our cute little Jaggi, whose motto must be "never let a good protest go to waste", to provide the punchline.

"...Jaggi Singh from the group No One Is Illegal hinted that the peaceful protests may soon end.

Standing in front of the newly erected security fence, Singh said, "This [fence] is completely illegitimate and it deserves to be taken down."

He said the $1 billion in security and fences would not stop protesters "from attacking — and I use that word — from attacking the people who are responsible for enormous misery in the world."

Singh said the G20 leaders deserve to be confronted and the protest groups will be begin doing that on Friday."

Okay, we've got the Indians covered. We can hardly wait for more, can we CBC?

By the way, does anyone other than me think Mr. Singh's words are a might over the top, as in - like - incitement? But I guess nothing he's involved in is illegal. It's all those nasty governments that are the bad actors. I'm betting he can hardly wait for the handcuffs to go on, in order to prove it. (I wonder who covers his travel expenses and his bail?)

In fairness, Grandmother's Corpse does cover some other stories as well. There's one on the arrest of a man in possession of a crossbow and other weapons "not believed to be connected to the G20 summit". But heck, we'll put it under the G20 summit heading, anyway. The story is kind of a tear-jerker, being about a homeless man and his dog, so it was useful. We've got unions covered in a story about hotel workers walking out, we've got the frustrations of ordinary Torontonians - road closures and traffic snarl-ups - and even preparations by local hospitals in anticipation of having to treat protesters sprayed with tear gas.

There are pictures of protest art: An ice sculpted polar bear, which I am sure is supposed to symbolize the melting on the polar ice caps as it drips away in downtown Toronto, some 4,700 km south of the north pole. And cutesy costumed representatives from Oxfam, which I must admit is kinda funny. A whole new line for the Maple Leaf? Fig leaf, you had your day.  Time to move over. The Maple Leaf on a G-String is now the big rage.  Oh, and finally, there's an interactive map showing where the designated protest area is and the protester detention centre.

The CBC Protester Central. At your service.

In fairness, though, the CBC's website does feature a few interesting bits about the G8/G20 history and organization as well as some of the issues that may be discussed: maternal and child health, the membership and mandate of the G20, and economic policy. But all told, so far, coverage of those angles are pretty scarce.
===========Earlier entry starts here===========
For Thursday, June 24th, the first major headline of the day attempts to move on: G8/G20 leaders begin arriving

But wait, they have to remind their readers that:

a) "The estimated cost of security for the two events is expected to surpass $1 billion."

And, well....it seems they just can't help it:

b)"In Ottawa, the Chinese president was greeted by rival groups of demonstrators as he arrived at Rideau Hall for a meeting with Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean.

Hundreds of Hu supporters, reportedly recruited from around the region by Chinese officials, lined Sussex Drive outside Jean's residence, waving flags and banging drums and cymbals.

Directly across the road, protesters connected to the Falun Gong spiritual movement raised banners decrying human rights abuses in China."

Hmmm. Well, at least we know the Falun Gong have something to protest about. But what about this one: Some protesters "reportedly recruited...by Chinese officials...". CBC, have you ever thought to explore the "recruited" theme with any of the other protesters - you know, the spoiled middle class brats? Like, what and who is behind these organizations? Does their "message" stand up to scrutiny or is it skewed mightily by an ideology? Do they ever attempt to get their message out through other means - writing letters, visiting politicians to explain their issues? And especially, do the groups protesting have aims more lofty than simply protesting and rabble rousing and if so, what are they, and how do their protests ever help, if at all, to achieve any of those aims?

Let's take the poverty one, for example? Have we seen any direct evidence that would show organized mobbery leads to better funding for groups that work with the poor, never mind more money in the hands of the poor, or more to the point, more poor lifting themselves permanently out of poverty? Do these groups actually make a difference in the lives of the poor or are they only a band-ade on an perennial problem that has always been with us and cannot be fixed, in which case, why do their protests get so much attention from you media types?

Have we seen the CBC or any other media outlet or any of these protest groups ever explore the relationship between "protest culture" behaviour, especially at past heads of state or powerful international institutions' meetings, on the one hand, and the need for massive expenditure on security? Duh!! We know you're not into self examination but don't ya' think there might be a link, CBC?

Come on folks. These protests  serve only one purpose, and it's narcissism. The immature little groupies (some of whom may indeed be chronologically challenged, but still intellectually and emotionally immature) who show up to protest simply want to be able to say, "I was there when....and I was sooooo radical chic!"

It's sort of like actually making it to the Woodstock music festival was for my generation, except what they leave behind in their wake is even worse than acres and acres of garbage and a ruined landscape on some farmer's property. There's also a huge bill to pay by the rest of us more responsible types. Perhaps that bill should be deducted from whatever public funds these groups might receive, but I digress.

Here's a word for you to look up, CBC staffers: Enabling. You should stop it. Not next week. Now.

The Fake Lake, Close Up

reveals another hyperbolic media overkill:

After hyping it up beyond all recognition, some reporters couldn't believe what they were seeing.

"“This is it?” was the disappointed reaction from several Canadian reporters who apparently expected a substantial water body and got a modest, centimetres-deep pond smaller than the fountains found in many shopping malls."

G20 fake lake revealed

"The pool, costing $57,000, is meant to simulate the charm of Ontario's cottage country in the heart of downtown Toronto, giving journalists a taste of Huntsville, Ont., where the G8 summit will be held Friday before the G20 begins in Toronto on Saturday."

[---]

"Huntsville Mayor Claude Doughty, who tested out one of the Muskoka chairs, said the exhibit reminds him of home. He wondered if he'd see images of his house on Fairy Lake flash on the screen in front of him.

He figures the display is sure to inspire foreign visitors to travel to the Muskoka area.

"If you're sitting here, how can you not want to go there?" he asked."

[---]

"The lake is part of a $1.9-million tourism pavilion called Experience Canada in the summit media centre that has come under criticism for being too costly."

[---]

"Motosada Matano, a Japanese press officer travelling with the 160 Japanese journalists covering the summit, says the display simply reinforced the image of Canada he already has.

"It's exactly the image I imagine, the beautiful scenery," said Matano, who had never been to Canada before he arrived three days ago.

The 3,700-square-metre Experience Canada pavilion includes the lake display to feature Ontario's northern wilderness and an urban section to promote Ontario businesses and innovations. A reception area offers refreshments, including free beer and wine, from all parts of Ontario.

"The Experience Canada space will host over 3,000 media and other guests, and will serve to highlight Canada's pristine natural beauty, as well as promote leading Canadian businesses and industries," according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office."

CBC Coverage of the G20 Summit

Wednesday, June 23rd starts with some real news:

Man arrested in G20-related incident

"A Toronto man has been charged with explosives and weapons offences in what police are calling a G20-related arrest."

But not to worry though, in the comments CBC fans get back on track.

As_I_See_It

"Not to say that this individual wasn't a threat to general safety and security, but I have to wonder how many of the arrests over the next few days 4 or 5 days will be genuinely warranted.

By making more arrests and publishing stories like this one, this will be the grounds that the government will use to justify the enormous security expense for the G8 and G20 summits."

logic_man

"People seem to bash North Korea and their propaganda machines almost constantly, calling the citizens and military 'brainwashed' and 'zombies'.

Just because it doesn't come out of a bullhorn in a foreign country, doesn't mean it isn't propaganda. And if you have read this article in it's entirety... you have just been subjected to a much subtler, western brand of government propaganda and perception steering. Congrats!

Same monster in a different wrapper with a few more civil liberties thrown in so we believe we are 'free' and different, and above that type of thing.

Being a zombie sucks... question something."

Marlow08

"If you google streetview the Forest Hill address, it is hard to imagine that this is some anarchist dude. Unless uber wealthy Bay Street financiers are intending to blow up their own offices for insurance payments, the Toronto Police are blowing hot air, again."

oxymoron69

"Yet another false flag op, setup by the federal government to justify their spending on security and our upcoming changeover to a full-on police state.

Come on folks, you don't really believe this do you?

Sounds like the guy posted on an internet forum that he hated harper and wanted to blow him up... now he's under full-on investigation.

What's really sad about this, is that now the cons will have all the ammo they need to justify regular billion-dollar boondoggles because of "National security".

Canada is a safe place, the only thing making it a dangerous place to live is the federal goverment."

And that's just the first four at the top of the list as of 8:00 am CST. Well done CBC. All these years of indoctrination have paid off, and paid off handsomely, at that.

Of note, at least two media outlets are covering this story this morning, which actually relates to the objectives of the G20 meeting:  G20 to warn against complacency on economy. If CBC picks it up, I'll let you know.

Stay tuned. I'm sure there'll be more.

More, Tuesday, June 22nd:

G20 protests continue amid security buildup

An alternate more realist headline might read: "CBC continues its free publicity for G20 protests amid security buildup"

From the comments: "It's a great magnet for all the wingnuts and whackjobs - leaves the rest of the country nice and peaceful.... Thanks Toronto."

Why they've even got a blog set up for the event in support of the protesters, of course. And a list of several fine upstanding organizations who are expected to show up.

Kudos for Macleans for actually covering some other angle.

First Up, Monday, June 21st:

Send us you're bitching, whining and complaining street rioters.

All the hard hitting news you could ever want from the rent-a-riot crowd, cause we're just too lazy ourselves to cover any other angle.

Protest. (Funniest question: Who are they and what do they want?)

I Think Everyone Should Follow...

...his lead.

Police make arrest at G20 protest

Maybe we'll get them all off the streets ahead of time.

"The Integrated Security Unit confirmed it arrested Mark Corbiere, an aboriginal-rights activist from the Kitchener-Waterloo area, and charged him with one count of marijuana possession."

[---]

"The arrest happened around 5 p.m. after protest leaders left a short meeting with officials at the Children’s Aid Society on Isabella Street."

What ever are the poor children going to do without him? Who's going to supply them with their weed?

Well, They Tried Their Darnedest

I'll give them that, but it seems after days and days of media "sky is falling" hysteria and fixation, it turns out Canadians are down with the G20 summit after all - 76% of us.

Better luck next time, assholes.

CBC Versus CTV

Two stories today:

The CBC: G20 summit prompts push to house homeless

CTV: Security at G8, G20 summits equally high

Both are addressing real issues but only one is pandering to bleeding heart lefties. Which one is which? You be the judge.

I can almost guarantee you that when the summit begins, CBC will be giving 24/7 coverage to the protesters, to the near exclusion of the issues actually being discussed by the summit attendees.