This account of police abuse, the use of rubber bullets, and details of detention during the G20 summit was recorded in downtown Vancouver demonstration on July 17th, 2010. The demonstration called for a public inquiry regarding police actions at the Toronto G20.
This video was posted by LooLazer
Migrants arriving in G20 countries are treated as exploitable labour, forced to do precarious work, and often live in fear of detention and deportation. Many marched for migrant justice during the G20 protests. El Contrato is an award winning documentary that looks to the life and experiences of migrant workers in Southern Ontario.
El Contrato, a documentary from the National Film Board and directed by Min Sook Lee (Tiger Spirit) follows a poverty-stricken father from Central Mexico, along with several of his countrymen, as they make their annual migration to southern Ontario to pick tomatoes. For 8 months a year, the town’s population absorbs 4,000 migrant workers, who toil under conditions, and for wages, that no local would accept. Yet despite a fear of repercussions, the workers voice their desire for dignity and respect. 51 min, 11 sec. 2003
This is a song that was performed by Richard Underhill in Kensington Market in 2008. Perhaps this can become the theme song for those of us who are concerned about the direction this government is taking our country in. Hopefully, it will inspire those who are not happy with the leadership of the Harper government, but haven’t gotten involved yet, to get active, get organized and get involved!
For more videos by Michael, visit his YouTube page.
To watch the following parts of film, please visit LibertyDefender84′s YouTube page, or blog Toronto G20 Exposed
On July 22nd, the members of the public gave their input to the Toronto Police Oversight Committee regarding their inquiry into police conduct during the G20 protests in Toronto.
Video by The Real News Network
The G20 has identified national deficits as a key concern in the wake of the global economic crisis. To take care of this deficit they have decided to institute global austerity measures. These measures make for a time where, as Naomi Klein writes, the G20 governments are Stinking the Public with the Bill for the Banker’s Crisis. Funding for public funding and public services, including education and health are being cut, in order to make up for the deficits created by dolling out stimulus packages to banks and corporations.
There are some excellent posting on austerity measures and critiques of G20 policies on this website, including the article by Naomi Klein. Below are three videos that are dedicated to the explanation, analysis and implications of the austerity being imposed on us.
The issue of mining has particular resonance in Canada, the country that houses the head offices of over 60% of all mining companies in the world. Contingents within the G2o protests demanded that Canada take responsibility for the severe environmental damage and human rights abuses caused by its mines – which have offices here, but exist as open chasms, all over the world.
The G20 has come and gone, but the work of anti-mining activists continues. July 22nd was the International Day of Action against Open Pit Mining. On this day activists in Toronto protested Goldcorp, a mining company that refuses to shut down its operations despite being ordered by the UN commission and the government of Guatemala, where it is located, to do so.
The following is a video of an activist explaining the importance of protesting Goldcorp. A more detailed article on the event follows below.
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Open-pit mining is a method of extracting rock or minerals from the Earth by their removal from open pits or borrow pits otherwise known as a sand box. There are open-pit mines in at least 18 nations, including Canada, Australia, Colombia, Chile, Peru and the United States. Materials such as gold, coal, diamonds, nickel, limestone, marble, and others are extracted from open-pit mines. Activists and critics say open-pit mining poses a dangerous threat to the environment. According to CTV News, a recent federal independent review panel concluded that a proposed open-pit gold-copper mine near Williams Lake, British Columbia would cause environmental damage to fish, habitat, cultural heritage and the future use of lands and resources.
Thursday was the second annual International Day of Action against Open-Pit Mining, which took place in Latin America and in Canadian cities, including Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa. Organizers planned demonstrations in front of mining corporate offices and consulates in Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina and other parts of Latin America. A march also took place in front of the Toronto Stock Exchange earlier in the afternoon. Activists dressed as corporate zombies protested “the most brutal form of mineral exploitation.” Other members of the protest spoke to people interested in the purpose of the demonstration and explained the deaths and environmental harm that has transpired from open-pit mining. “We’re corporate zombies because Goldcorp in Guatemala is killing people in Latin America and other places. They’re contaminating the water,” stated Megan, an activist at the rally. “Goldcorp in Guatemala has actually been ordered by the UN Commission and the Guatemala government to shut down but the people from the company are saying, ‘you can’t just come here with a bunch of soldiers to shut down a mine’ but they actually came there with a bunch of soldiers to open up the mine in the first place.”
Megan further added that the local villagers, who own the land, are not receiving any forms of compensation. They will also, according to Megan, be forced to live with the agricultural and environmental effects “forever.” According to the Committee for Human Rights in Latin America, Canadian open-pit mining companies have been responsible for human rights violations and environmental damage for the past several years, which has been reported in the media. “As more than 60% of the world’s mining companies are Canadian, the aim of this action is to recall Canada’s role and its close ties through grants, diplomatic and consular support, investments in the Canadian Pension Plan, tax benefits, etc., with this industry heavily tainted by scandals,” states the organization in a press release.
Both video and article appeared on Digital Journal on July 22, 2010
A self described indigenous feminist reproductive justice freedom fighter, Jessica Yee gives a powerful talk at the Opening Night Launch of the 2010 People’s Summit which took place in Toronto in the week leading up to the G20 Summit. More speeches from the opening can be found at B Channel News.
The vigilance and the vengeance of Constable Adam Josephs, the cop who threatened to arrest Courtney Winkels, an activist, for blowing bubbles during the G20 protests, has been immortalized through Officer Bubbles, our animated protector of the law.
Videos by: ThePMOCanada
To read more on Constable Adam Josephs, the bubble incident and its follow up visit:
Harsha Walia from No One is Illegal touches on economic disparity and exploitation, the absence of a democratic process and the illegitimacy of borders. She urges people to find out more about why people are resisting the G8/G20.