Can you hear that approaching racket? The clamour outside the gates?
For weeks now, Canadians - especially those living around Toronto - have braced for the G20 on June 26-27 and the G8 summit a day earlier. Nothing is more a topic of conversation on the streets of the city than the potential disruption the summit will cause.
Well, except for in little Italy during a world cup soccer game.
Tension builds. The cost of security is more than 1 billion dollars. With each passing day the downtown core becomes more of a fortress.
Heck, we even spent 2 million dollars on a fake lake to use as a backdrop for the media scrum . . . because apparently Lake Ontario, one of the biggest lakes in the world, sitting at the doorstep of the convention centre, just isn't 'lakie' enough to serve as backdrop for the world's media.
Workers have been told to stay home. Offices shuttered. Banks closed with private security guards posted at the doors. Today my coffee shop had a guard!
If some hooligan tries to take out the espresso machine they will answer to ME, oh yes they will!
Schools in the downtown core will be closed. Buses canceled.
Even the LCBO and Beer stores in the security zone will be closed. This is hellish behaviour indeed. If one can't open a bottle of rum after a day of mayhem then we may as well give up.
Those who are prone to excessive worry have had a good deal to fret about - anarchists who promote violence and destruction.
Those who like to poke those who worry a bit too much have had fun sending a barrage of e-mail G20 updates. I wonder who might be firing off this steady stream of e-mails? hmmm . . .
We're told even small trees may be used as weapons, so they've been removed. Pulled from the ground to ensure that no cop gets clobbered with a sapling.
Anything else not bolted securely in place has been removed - trash cans, bus shelters, bike racks, flower pots . . .
Hell, even the giant bronze elephants from Commerce Court was removed yesterday although for the life of my I can figure out what threat a 300 tonne elephant sculpture might pose. What do I know, I am not into mayhem.
The police have purchased water cannons.
This announcement was immediately followed by a newscaster waggishly commenting on how it will be a hot weekend and a cool shower may be a welcome thing on the barricades.
We're reminded of past riots - including last September's melee during the G20 in Pittsburgh's Little Italy and a confrontation with a police officer during the London summit earlier in the year that took the life of an innocent U.K. newspaper seller.
So we prepare for the hordes.
But not the hordes who will stay away. Both the UK and the US have issued travel advisories telling their citizens to stay away from Toronto - good news for the beleaguered travel industry, indeed. One British couple is reported to have canceled their visit to Toronto and decided to go to Chatam instead. Dear lord, will the inhumanity ever end? I'd take my chances with protesters over a long weekend in Chatam any day.
Numerous groups are planning protests. They include established relief organizations, peace protesters and religious charities hoping to be heard.
Today 200 gay and lesbians kissed on the street to protest all those countries where they might be flogged or killed for doing this.
Torontonians yawned and went about their day.
People will gather for prayer groups and others at a planned puppet-making event. Frightening stuff.
There are environmental watchdogs, labour supporters and social justice organizers. Then there will be the hangers-on, the spectators, the action junkies and the curious.
Yet we know from previous summits that others tend to use the spotlight to cause mayhem.
Which is why Toronto can't help but sweat the approaching racket.
Clearly Stephen Harper hates the city that has resisted his political advances for years (and made me proud each and every time it has done so!)
Jerry, I must say I was waiting for this blog post after I read about the US posted travel advisory and the creation of the fake lake! :)
Posted by: Eden | June 23, 2010 at 07:56 AM
did you and the few others in Toronto feel the 5.0 earthquake about 1:45pm today?
A little extra excitement in the city under siege.
Posted by: chiaro di luna | June 23, 2010 at 03:51 PM
Trees? They are talking about having some big sort of international conference here next year some time. I think I may need to schedule a vacation somewhere during that event! I can just see them now removing all the palm trees on the island!
Posted by: girasoli | June 25, 2010 at 03:57 AM
Sure did chiaro - just what we needed!
It would be a smart time for a vacation girasoli!
Have I become predictable Eden? LOL
Posted by: JDeQ | June 26, 2010 at 10:25 AM