Letter to Mayor Carl Zehr

Sept. 24, 2009

To Mayor Zehr,

In December of this year, the Olympic torch relay will be stopping in Kitchener on its cross-country tour. AW@L, a local education and direct action group, has recently released a statement in opposition to the torch relay, encouraging resistance, and drawing out the links between the negative impacts of the games in Vancouver-Whistler and similarities those impacts share to circumstances here in KW. We are asking that all Kitchener city councillors read our statement, and if they agree that these issues are of concern, be willing to say so publicly. We also request that the City cancel its Olympic torch celebrations on the grounds that hosting the festivities and the torch displays strong support for gentrification, land theft and land destruction, and an intense lack of caring for taxpayers, the urban poor, First Nations peoples and communities, and for the environment.

The impacts in all of these spheres are serious and far-reaching; for the sake of a two-week party, we and future generations are left with these burdens. It is therefore imperative to address the consequences of Games-related decisions and development in order to where possible redress the harm brought upon the citizens of Vancouver, and to guide the processes of future host cities to minimise damage, and to support those who have been so negatively impacted.

These same issues arising from the Vancouver Olympics are ones we struggle with locally—environmental destruction, gentrification, economic issues, and consultation with First Nations are all relevant to Kitchener-Waterloo and southern Ontario. As a city councillor, you have the power to speak out against these injustices, and we urge you to advocate for the City’s withdrawal as a host for the torch relay. If this is not politically possible in your position, we then encourage you to address these issues on the local level, and to at least find a way to support the protests when the torch arrives. We thank you for considering this issue, and welcome your response.

Sincerely,

Alex Hundert and Rachel Avery,
Olympic Resistance Committee,
AW@L
no2010@peaceculture.org