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| Outside the Vancouver Art Gallery |
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| Who knew MLA Harry Bloy would be there? |
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| Mainstream media don't get it? Helpful hints! |
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| Marching up Howe Street - our Wall Street - all Bill Tieleman photos |
Up to 5,000 people attend the Occupy Vancouver event in a lively show of support for Occupy Wall Street and opposition to corporate greed and growing income inequality in Canada.
The Vancouver event was one of dozens held around the world.
The crowd was a wide mixture of people - young and old, political veterans and newbies, union members and business owners, from a huge variety of causes.
The event was peaceful and, unfortunately, under-amplified - making it hard for a large portion of the crowd to hear a rather long list of speakers.
But no matter - the sun was shining and old friends were reconnecting. Vancouver police were in good humour and barely a Vancouver Canucks jersey was to be seen.
Whether this movement amounts to anything long term remains to be seen but what is clear is that people are angry with an age old problem - the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer.
I'll have more to say about that - and some of the contradictions in our society - in my 24 hours newspaper/The Tyee column on Tuesday October 18 - watch for it!
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19 comments:
This gentleman attended the rallies in Victoria. Hopefully these gatherings are just the beginning of People Power as shown in the HST election.
Even the little town of Victoria managed a sizable crowd of over 1,000 and counting
Thank you to all that participate in democracy! Good on you!
Did you ever imagine you might get arrested for wanting to make a withdraw from your bank?
http://www.twitvid.com/ZUYXO
"...Up to 5000 people" ???? No way! I got reports of crowd estimates of at least 10,000 people. Other than that, good to see real democracy in action!
Wow, finally an article about a real issue! I'm actually impressed. Good on you, Bill.
Now when you talk about "contradictions in society" in your next article I truly hope you'll tackle actual issues such as corporate greed and the gap between rich and poor, and not revert back to tired Liberal-bashing. As tabloidy as it is, the 24 has a huge audience and your articles are read by a lot of people. Use them to confront real problems. Dare to explore new horizons. At least for one week!!
Best way to estimate a crowd, just take the number claimed by the organizer, compare it to what the cops are using and split the difference.But its early days and more and more people will start to realize that big business has the ear of government and always seem to get what they want.Saw a neat Utube item of the Guardian last evening on the event in front of St.Paul's in London. Looked like a sizable crowd.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2011/oct/15/occupy-london-st-pauls-cathedral
I didn't include it in my comments but figure it's worth watching
Good post as usual Bill.
We citizens too far away to attend, "occupy Vancouver" and other cities, really appreciate the bloggers. We are also grateful to the people who did attend.
Many of us don't believe the media anymore. The bloggers are my newspapers and TV news channels.
Thanks a bunch to everyone.
I was at the Vancouver march. It was very exciting to see so many people that understood that we are being lied to by corporations, bought politicians, and corrupt media. This is our last chance to change the world before it is destroyed by greed. Just look at Fukushima. You'd think it was all ok now, if you only read the MSM, when in reality it is far worse than Chernobyl and the west coast of north america is being covered in radioactive particles....but, we must not think about that because the big nuclear corporations want to build more...thanks to everyone that got out to any of the protests. Your voices are needed...
360,000 children in Japan being tested for thyroid problems, thyroid problems caused by radiation exposure!
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FUKUSHIMA, Japan – Japan's Fukushima prefecture began health checkups of 360,000 children amid worries that radiation from a crippled nuclear plant exposed them to the risk of thyroid abnormalities.
Many parents demanded the tests, drawing parallels with the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, after which locals reported thyroid disorders -- a problem sometimes associated with radiation exposure.
The screenings began after a recent unofficial survey reported that 10 out of 130 children evacuated from Fukushima had hormonal and other irregularities in the thyroid glands. The doctors who conducted the survey, however, said that they could not establish a link between the irregularities and the nuclear accident.
Officials said they would test some 360,000 children under the age of 18 and provide follow-up tests during their lifetimes.
The March 11 earthquake triggered a tsunami that tore into Japan's northeastern coast, leaving 20,000 people dead or missing and sparking meltdowns and explosions at the Fukushima nuclear power facility. It was the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl.
Radiation fears are now a daily fact of life, with reported cases of contaminated water, beef, vegetables, tea and seafood due to the Fukushima crisis.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/10/10/japan-starts-thyroid-tests-for-fukushima-children/#ixzz1b26oty00
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Good Day
The ten comments posted show support for the movement. I am sure the vast majority of the population also are supporters. Due to today's conditions of a busy life,they are unable to attend but would like to. Politicians will take note and the voters will govern themselves accordingly. The business friendly liberals are toast. Community Living policy, do need to state more.
Hypocrisy everywhere and not really a strong unified message.
BC Fed's signs were a bit of a joke.
The BC federation of Labour does not represent 100% of the 99%ers in British Columbia.
Many of us don't believe the media anymore. The bloggers are my newspapers and TV news channels.
Kinda of one sided, since some blogs are censored and do not represent all views. If contrary views are presented, some contributors act like they "own the turf". Many blog debates are more emotional than factual.
A better way is to actually use mainstream media and blogs and blend together.
600 attended in tiny tony Nelson, BC, the union job center of the Kootenays. Union backed workers are part of the 1% not the 99%.
@DPL 12:05
The best way to take an estimate of the size of the crowd is to use Google Map/Earth to determine the square footage of the space and then allow for two square feet per person if its really crowded or three square feet as it was on Saturday.
360,000 children in Japan being tested for thyroid problems, thyroid problems caused by radiation exposure!
So complain to the Japanese Power authority. What does that have to do with Vancouver? There's no active nuclear power generating sitesm within 500 miles.
Anonymous 12:08:00 the radiation from Fukushima HAS and IS coming to BC everyday. One fellow went through BC testing for radiation in our rainwater....he measured 1.4 micro severts per hr in Chilliwack and higher than that in Lake Louise AB. Those are above the levels that radiation detector instruction manuals say "high radiation. Leave the area". This is a world wide problem. The pacific ocean is being radiated to extreme levels and most of those changes will not go away for hundreds or thousands of years. Be a denier if you wish, but don't expect anyone who has taken the time to learn about this travesty to sit idly by while our children are being given a death sentence sometime in the future...
Anonymous 12:08:00 the radiation from Fukushima HAS and IS coming to BC everyday. One fellow went through BC testing for radiation in our rainwater....he measured 1.4 micro severts per hr in Chilliwack and higher than that in Lake Louise AB. Those are above the levels that radiation detector instruction manuals say "high radiation. Leave the area". This is a world wide problem.
There was no dangerous levels of radiation from the Fukishima Plant detected anywhere along the North American coast. There is more radiation emitted by the sun on weeks of sunny days than would be equated to the radiation from the plant occuring here. Anything can be measured if applicable criterion is used.
And what instruction manuals? for what? Geiger counters? What models?
Under what environments are they used to test for radiation levels here?
"but don't expect anyone who has taken the time to learn about this travesty to sit idly by"
Even if it is panicky?
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