[van-announce] Fri., Feb. 12, 3pm TAKE BACK OUR CITY at the VAG

[alissa w]

Friday, Feb. 12, 3pm at the VAG -
TAKE BACK OUR CITY:
“Welcome” the 2010 Olympic Torch with Free Games, Free Speech, and Free Food!
Join us in a lively public festival at the Vancouver Art Gallery and a parade to BC Place Stadium on February 12, 2010, beginning at 3:00 PM.

As the Winter Olympics begin, we need to show the world the negative impact of the Games on our communities and environment.  Simply marching and speaking out have become more defiant as many streets and public sites are turned over to the Games with restrictions on free speech, protest, and assembly.  This demo is organised by the 2010 Welcoming Committee:  service providers, educators and activists united by a social justice critique of the Games.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE OLYMPICS?

Tens of thousands of police, soldiers, security forces, and spies; exploitation of Indigenous land and resources; crackdowns on visible poverty; crony corporate deals and financial waste ($6 billion and counting); restrictions on public mobility and free expression (assembly, leaflets, street theatre, political signs and our voices); broken promises on social housing and shelter spaces; public video monitoring; gentrification, evictions, and rent increases; abuse of migrant labour; corporate sponsors funded by the tar sands, human rights violations, union-busting, ecological destruction, and arms manufacturing; negative impacts on sex trade workers; commercialization of public space; forcing city employees to work for the Olympics; massive environmental damage and traffic expansion; and more.
MEMO ON CHILDCARE
The 2010 Welcoming Committee is committed to supporting the participation of parents and caregivers in taking back the city on the first day of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The 2010 Welcoming Childcare Committee is composed of individuals who are experienced in providing childcare. We have First Aid capacity in the group; however, we are not professionals.  We will organize activities, play with, supervise and provide nutritious snacks for your children from 3:00 – 6:30pm. The childcare site will be announced closer to the date.
Registration is not mandatory, but it would help us provide appropriate care for each child.  We do need an emergency contact for every child. If your child is under two years old and/or requires specific health, emotional, and/or cognitive support, please get in touch with us at 604-561-9831 or clairew89 at gmail.com by Friday, February 5, 2010.
You can find the registration form at: http://2010welcoming.wordpress.com. Submit completed form in whichever way works best for you:
• by e-mail to clairew89 at gmail.com
• by fax to 604-255-7508
• by mail/drop off at Vancouver Status of Women, 2652 East Hastings St. (near intersection with Slocan St.)
The 2010 Welcoming Committee is endorsed by:
2010 Watch, Alliance for People’s Health, Anti-Poverty Committee, Bridgeview Community Action Group, Building Bridges Human Rights – Vancouver, Bus Riders’ Union, Check your Head, Citywide Housing Coalition, Colour Connected Against Racism – UBC, Co-op Radio Bulland Awaaz, Co-op Radio The Rational, Council of Canadians – National, Delta/Richmond Council of Canadians,  DTES Community Arts Network, East Van Abolitionists, Federation of Iranian Refugees, Food not Bombs – Vancouver, Freedom Socialist Party, GatewaySucks.org, Impact of the Olympics on Communities Coalition, Indigenous Action Movement, Industrial Workers of the World, Iran Solidarity, Justicia 4 Migrant Workers, Latin America Connexions Collective,  no2010.com, No 2010 Victoria, No One Is Illegal – Vancouver, OilSandsTruth.org, Olympic Resistance Network, Pink Resistance, Poverty Olympics, Progressive Nepali Forum in Americas, Siraat Collective,  Progressive Nepali Forum in Americas, Simon Fraser University Public Research Interest Group, Social Justice Centre – UBC, Solidarity Notes Labour Choir, StopWar.ca, Streams of Justice, Student Christian Movement – UBC, subMedia, Surrey Urban Youth Project, Teaching Support Staff Union Social Justice Committee, UBC Network of Sri Lankan Law Students, Vancouver Action, Vancouver Status of Women,  VANDU Womyn’s Group, Warrior Publications, West End Wild Animal Alliance, Whister Watch, Workers Communist Party of Iran, and Work Less Party.
Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=101455116743