First of all, the headline focuses on the small number of people arrested at the demonstration: 1000 out of 100,000 participants. Further, it only notes at the very end that 600 of these people were arrested as "a preventative measure" by police because they were all dressed in black (Ooooo, a sure sign of trouble!). The article does not mention at all that Danish police have considerably more powers than Canadian police, particularly when it comes to managing demonstrations and that people can be arrested for simply being part of a crowd, even when that crowd is not being agressive or violent. Update: all but 3 of these people were released on Sunday morning without charges.
Second, they say police estimated the number of participants at 25,000, while demonstration organizers put it at 100,000. As someone standing on the ground, (where, by the way, I saw a bunch of cbc reporters, so I know they heard this info too) the conference organizers told us that the number police gave them was 100,000. Further, no one who was there could possibly believe that crowd was at 25,000. It went on for blocks and blocks - tell me this is 25,000:
I hate to say that this is a deliberate attempt to downplay the scale of the action, or to deligitimize the groups that were there by associating it with arrests in the headline, but it is somewhat difficult to draw any other conclusion. This demonstration was massive, it involved people from all over the world and from all walks of life and it was non-violent. I saw cbc reporters there, some friends we were walking were even interviewed by them, I know that these individuals know this story is factually inaccurate and written with a lot of spin. I can not even discribe how distressing it is to see it reported in this way to the Canadian media.
While I`m ranting, I`ll also add that after talking with people from all over the world this past week about climate change, the need for political leadership, and our decision to come from Canada to participate - I will also blame the Canadian media for the complete lack of knowledge of most Canadians about the embarrassing and disgraceful reputation our government is perpetuating for us (sadly, it seems that many non-Canadians are more aware of our government`s position - mostly because it is so out of whack with the rest of the world). The Tar Sands is one particular example of this knowledge disconnect: while most Canadians seem to know little about the Tar Sands other than it`s going to make us a lot of money, the rest of the world knows that Canadians are currently allowing government and business to move ahead with what is widely considered to be the worst climate crime in the world.
Because I talk to them everyday, I know many Canadians want better - they want strong leadership that will make Canada a leader for the climate change action that will literally save our planet, as well ensure a future for Canada`s farmers, Inuit, fishers, coastal inhabitants and the many others who rely on a stable environment for their livelihoods and well-being. The provinces have taken action - implementing things like Ontario`s Green Energy Act; cities and municipalities are the sites of some of the most inspired changes, like Toronto`s lake water cooling system in the downtown. There are a number of truly green businesses waiting for the regulations and legislation that will allow them to launch their technologies and establish themselves in the market without fear that doing so is tantamount of financial suicide. So many people see the urgency and they want action, whether it is out of concern for your children`s future, economic well-being, reliance on natural resources, or a simple love and respect for the natural world. What frustrates me the most is the number of people who still just don`t know - they don`t know the science, they don`t know the threats and they don`t know the changes that are already killing people and other natural beings. I know some of them don`t want to know and aren`t interested in listening, but so many of them don`t know because they aren`t told. I often think of a great book called `Gag Rule` by Lewis Lapham. In this book, Lapham discusses the failure of the American media to uphold its public duty to critique and question the stories they are provided with by government. I feel this is happening in Canada today. Our media is not reporting on what is possible the greatest threat to face humankind (or our government's shameful role in creating and perpetuating the cause of our demise). Instead, they choose to sensationalize what stories they do run by focusing on the number of people arrested or, as we saw with 'climategate', to present them as though they provide a realistic counter-position to what is considered by scientists to be a settled point. This type of reporting not only cripples the ability of the general public to become informed about these issues and thus act accordingly, but also demoralises those that do know into thinking that they are alone in their anger and that there is simply nothing to be done. Perhaps the biggest lesson I've learned here this past week is to never believe that I am alone, or that the vast majority of people who have actually taken the time to turn their minds to this issue aren't with me (or that I am not with them) and that the only mistake I could ever make would be to believe that I should compromise and settle for anything less than the deep system changes we need.
end rant.
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