I wondered if there were going to be any mass demonstrations against Bush when he visits Canada Nov 30/Dec 1.. this story claims there will be:
Thousands of Canadians will be on hand to greet George W. Bush when he visits Ottawa later this month -- and that's not necessarily a good thing for the U.S. President.
There are varied reasons for protesting:
Some will rally against Canada's possible participation in continent-wide ballistic missile defence. Some will join a mass demonstration against the Iraq war. Some will participate in "smoke-ins" organized by Canadian marijuana activists. But they all will be doing their best to make Mr. Bush feel unwelcome.
How many? Organizers right now claim about 20 000 people will protest outside Parliament Hill.. which would be big for a weekday and with little notice.
And what about the claim by some Canadian conservatives that protests will hurt the Canadian effort to lift various trade barriers the US has put up?
Lincoln Addison of Nowar-Paix ("No war, peace") group from Montreal rejects that charge:
"We shouldn't be intimidated by American stick-wagging. We live in a culture of fear and this is largely a manufactured culture of fear. And if we keep succumbing to this, then we're never going to change anything," he said.
Protestors Gear Up to Greet US Leader