fascism

In The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot, Wolf takes a historical look at the rise of Fascism, outlining the 10 steps necessary for a Fascistic group (or government) to destroy the democratic character of a nation-state and subvert the social/political liberty previously exercised by its citizens:

1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy.
2. Create secret prisons where torture takes place.
3. Develop a thug caste or paramilitary force not answerable to citizens.
4. Set up an internal surveillance system.
5. Harass citizens' groups.
6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release.
7. Target key individuals.
8. Control the press.
9. Treat all political dissidents as traitors.
10. Suspend the rule of law.

Maybe except for 8 and 9, all of these things happened in some degree during the G20 summit here in Toronto a few months ago. Now, can you see why we must speak up?

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1. Some poor dude had a stroke in the middle of Inception, weird shit always happens when I see movies at Rainbow Cinema, one time my friend and I went to see some cheesy movie for middle aged folks but instead they showed Saw 4 by accident. I try on Amy K's "Rolex" while we wait for the ambulance to arrive. 2. Fajitas and $3 beers with the Ryerson fashion girls, Tortilla Flats on Wednesdays, you should go. 3,4. Smoke's poutinerie with Amy K, trying on her vintage sunglasses, she always gets the sickest shit from Kitchener. 4. Tasseomancy at Poor Pilgrims, a free concert series on Toronto Island. 5. Hipster spotting during Poor Pilgrims, dog backpack? I say cool. Mark Peckmezian says lame. 6, 7. Picastro and Jeff Garcia's art installation Buried Boomboxes at Poor Pilgrims. 8. Creeping on my boss's baby. 9, 10. Nature walks and suit + longboard shopping with Tim, we check out the Share Your G20 Stories Wall on Oxford St. across from Longboard Living Gallery.

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1. Really creative flyers being handed out during the Toxic City march I went to during G20. 2. Raging Grannies during G20, everyone should really inspire to be a raging granny. 3. Doggy umbrella, belonged to some kid on Toronto Islands. 4. I carved my highschool boyfriend's name into the sand. 5,6. To The Lighthouse we go with my couchsurfers Lara and Fritz, then I see a swan. 7. Cantonese style steamed fish with my other couchsurfer Dona. 8. My boss's cat Jake, fat and lovable as all cats should be. 9. Espana wins, insanity ensues on College St.. 10. Soupe au Pistou, David Lebovitz style, shared on the patio with my lovely friends Markus and Avary. 11. Beef patty on the way home from work, delicious indeed, probably best in the city, come one come all to the bakery inside Islington station.

shoot

G20 portraits by talented Toronto photographer Mark Peckmezian.
He also did some sweet shots of some pieces from my thesis collection, see them here and here.

shame shame shame

The police charged at peaceful protesters singing O Canada. I was present at the demonstration in the second video where a similar situation occurred, we danced and we sang, we told them they were sexy and they were cute and to take off their riot suits, we had the right to be there, but what did they do? They stormed us, kicked us with their heavy boots, riot shields and metal batons on our bare bodies of unprotected flesh and bones.

ETA: The second video doesn't seem to be showing up. Watch it here.

bullies

Police state.
Queen and Spadina this weekend.
Police had the gear and manpower to stop the vandalism on city streets but instead they chose not to. Publicity tactic to justify security spending? You decide.

My couchsurfer has been arrested, my thoughts are with him and all the hundreds of others who are being detained unjustly at the moment. Is this Canada? Release them, we want justice.

Via Twitter.

release them.

500 people were arrested last night, hundreds from peaceful protests.

If you are looking for more information about what is happening or happened last night, be weary of what mainstream media is reporting, they have too much to lose, sponsorships from major banks and advertisers to please. I'm finding lots of great articles on Rabble so check them out.

G20 police let rioters run amok and then struck back hard on all activists

Toronto is burning? Or is it?

shame

Today as part of the peaceful protest happening in Toronto for G20 I experienced and witnessed a shameful amount of police brutality. I'm going to write more about it on my next blog post.

Photo via Toronto Star.

ruin

"But those tools are not our tools, and that business is not our business. For us those conventions are ruin, those tools are death."

- Virginia Woolf, Mr. Brown and Mrs. Bennet

I just sat with a bunch of G20 protesters at Tent City for 4 hours. We smoked, we laughed and we sang. At one point I almost got into the oil wrestling rink with this greasy dude, I truly felt like I was living in it.