Olympic industry greenwashing concerns activists

Statement on the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The Council of Canadians, one of Canada’s largest public advocacy organizations, with members and chapters across the country, views positively the Olympic goal of friendly international competition between athletes who excel in their respective sports. We understand and appreciate the pleasure and enjoyment so many around the world share in the spectacle and achievements of the Olympic Games.

However, we are gravely concerned by the increasing evidence that these worthy aspects are being overwhelmed, if not totally supplanted, by an “Olympic industry” focused on real estate development and massive corporate marketing opportunities. An “Olympic industry” founded and based in undemocratic and unaccountable national and international structures, implicated in numerous corruption scandals that undermine everything a truly noble Olympic movement should stand for. [Read more]

Suppressing the voice of the people

On August 7th the British Columbia government in concert with eight Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) directors and a Vancouver real estate promoter launched an attack on democratic process and local autonomy. It was an attack from which the region and the province may never recover.

The attack was in the form of a motion put forth at a RDEK directors meeting by Mayor David Wilks of Sparwood. It states that the regional district should walk away from its authority and responsibility to settle the Jumbo zoning issue by sending it to the provincial government for resolution. [Read more]