Protesting the Protesters
Protesting the not so peaceful protesters on Vancouver Island
Blog, March, 2012
About:
I am a firm supporter of resource based industries on and around Vancouver Island. I have friends who work in these industries and I am tired of seeing the bullying done by these so called “peaceful protesters.” My main focus will be on the fish farm protesters because they are very active in my community.
The “I’m Right and You’re Stupid” Argument
13 Mar
The word protest can be used as both a verb and a noun. As a verb it means “to object to,” especially in a formal statement; as a noun it means “a formal declaration of disapproval or objection issued by a concerned person, group, or organization or an individual or collective gesture or display of disapproval.” (thefreedictionary.com)
Protesting is no longer just sit-ins and picket lines. Social media has changed how protesters share their views. On any website published by any industry that allows for comments to be shared there will be protesters posting their strong opinions against that company or industry’s practices and or products.
Some of these comments are factual and reason-based and can be beneficial to the company. Many of these comments, however, fit into the category of “I’m right and you’re stupid.”
The people who post these comments believe so strongly in their causes that they are not willing to look at any information that disagrees with their opinion, whether it comes from the industry, a company, government or independently-reviewed scientific papers.
I will use the example of the fish farming industry because I have done the most research into its practices and the criticisms against it....To read more Click Here
Protesting Vs. Bullying
10 Mar
Where should the line between protesting and bullying be drawn?
March 10, 2012
A protest is defined (on dictionary.com) as an expression or declaration of objection, disapproval, or dissent. Peaceful (as in peaceful protest) is defined as characterized by peace; free from war, strife, commotion, violence, or disorder: a peaceful demonstration.
On Thursday March 8, 2012 a Norwegian delegation visited Campbell River to meet with First Nations leaders to talk about fish farms in their territories. Their plans to meet on Quadra Island had to be changed in light of threats made by protesters from the group Salmon are Sacred (SAS). For safety, the meeting changed venues to a golf club in Campbell River. The SAS protesters learned of the venue change and met the delegation at the club. The SAS claim that they put on a “peaceful protest” but their own photos, posted on their Facebook site, paint a very different picture.
Do these images look like a group of people who are all free from strife, commotion or disorder? To read more Click Here
