[A-List] Resistance Without Reservation!

[Macdonald Stainsby]

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=30&ItemID=5996


Resistance Without Reservation!
Part 1 of 2

by Harsha Walia and Stefan Christoff; August 05, 2004

As hundreds of thousands gather in New York to protest the Republican
National Convention at the end of August, a smaller and less historic but
perhaps more profound convergence will be taking place in the interior of
British Columbia. More profound in its demands. More profound in
representing over 500 years of struggle.

Sun Peaks resort and Delta Hotels are built on Secwepemc territories that
have never been ceded or surrendered. Land and Water BC disregarded the
Secwepemc, who said NO to expansion in stakeholder meetings and in June
2001 obtained a court injunction to forcibly remove the Secwepemc from
their homelands. The Skwekwelk'welt Protection Center, at the resort's
entrance, claims aboriginal title and rights. For this exercise of rights,
54 arrests with charges ranging from criminal contempt and intimidation by
blocking a road to resisting arrest have been made.

In honour of the front-line struggles of this land that have been in total
resistance for centuries, a convergence is being organized on Secwepemc
territories on August 28-29. Hundreds will travel from Vancouver and
surrounding areas to escalate the fight against state and corporate
occupation.


FIGHTING CORPORATE COLONIALISM: SUN PEAKS AND DELTA HOTELS

Empire-building and colonization has sprouted other more seemingly-benign
heads, more subtle, yet as violent and vicious -- nationalism, terrorism,
and the project of corporate globalization. The political arm of the state
and the corporate arm have increasingly become merged to protect the
interests of the elite. Whether on a local, national or global level, the
assault on genuine democracy and markets are intrinsically related. Their
roots lie in the power of corporate entities that are totalitarian and
increasingly interlinked and reliant on powerful governments.

Sun Peaks resort, Delta Hotels and Nippon Cables has for four years now
been forcibly pushing ahead with their expansion, "corporatizing the land
that bears our medicines and plants, the water we drink, the air we
breathe, and the dreams we dream." (Janice Billy, spokesperson of
Skwekwelk'welt Protection center).  The $70 million expansion plan is mind
blowing: clear cut of a total of five mountains for ski%2


-- 
Macdonald Stainsby
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
In the contradiction lies the hope
		--Brecht.