Two local activists this week said Whistler likely won't see any anti-Olympic protests, unlike the demonstrations that have taken place so far in Vancouver. But that doesn't mean local groups will stop trying to get their message out about the negative impacts of the Games on Whistler.
On Monday (Feb. 15), members of Whistler Watch, the local chapter of the Council of Canadians and AWARE (Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment) gathered for a press conference near Whistler Medals Plaza. The group outlined environmental and social impacts of the Olympics such as energy use, loss of biodiversity, housing issues and restrictions to civil liberties.
Only a small group of journalists gathered at Monday's event, and aside from a handwritten sign attached to a bike trailer there were no placards or chanting................
........."Whistler's valuable natural assets have been irreversibly damaged," Ruddy said. "These Games are not green."
Ruddy cited deforestation, loss of biodiversity and potential threats to grizzly bear habitat for Whistler Olympic Park development, destroyed wetlands for the Highway 99 expansion and new Whistler transit depot, and energy use at the sliding centre, among other issues.
"We do completely agree that these Games may be the greenest Games ever, but the bar has been so low previously that that really isn't hard," she said.
The IOC needs to "demand" the highest environmental and sustainability standards from future host cities and consider changes such as returning to previous hosts and eliminating sliding sports, Ruddy said.
Jennings cited local social impacts such as no scheduled Whistler council meetings for almost three months, the library being closed to the public for a month, and people being kicked out of rental housing by landlords looking to cash in on the Games.
Belperio outlined concerns with Games sponsors, such as Coca-Cola's efforts to commodify water and RBC's financial support of the Alberta tar sands.
"We firmly believe that the Games will have a negative impact on the area in B.C., Vancouver and Whistler especially, when it comes to the environment, social programs and to fiscal accountability," Belperio said.
