Versus Canada’s Near To One Billion $ for G8 and G20 2010 Global Summits
Vic Towes, Canada’s Public Security Minister, raves, that the price tag for global summits are ‘clearly an expensive proposition’ due to the ‘medium security threat’, with ‘responsibility to ensure the security of the heads of state who come to Canada.’ [1] Blogging ‘bout the billion to cover security costs for 2010 G8 & G20 summits may be redundant; however, I need to
expel, utter,vent. I’m just glad this is ‘medium’ and not a more serious degree of threat.
Global citizens live in times of lawlessness where life is as cheap as the cost of a bullet. A.M.’s news bleats that this hyper-security consciousness is a must as rockets and suicide attackers disrupt a peace assembly being held in Kabul, Afghanistan. Pres. Karzia’s speech was interrupted by a ‘rocket that exploded nearby and by an exchange of gunfire, prompting Mr. Karzai to tell his audience not to worry.’ [2] [3]
Wut me worry? Thus, I do not argue against need for security measures, including food tasters for poisons and billions of footage of barbed wire. However, globally escalating costs bug me. These funds might be re-directed to – well, gee, I’m gonna go wild here – schools, hospitals, libraries, homelessness, disabled persons, hunger, public art, 2010 Olympic Red Mittens for everyone and oil spill fix-it fiascos. [4]
Canada, hence Canadians, may be generous to a fault here with offer to hostess not one but two G-summits. With this 2-for-1 the security costs increased from a paltry $179,000,000.00 (Canadian or $1,178,464,494.69 China Yuan Renminbi with exchange @ 1 CNY = 0.151893 CAD) to $1 billion. [5] I’m all for security. I watch neighbours like a hawk on look-out for careless mice romping in a children’s playground at dusk. Nothing gets by assorted older persons in this community. Why just Tuesday the neigh-bourhood was adither at how Ms. ‘X’ had slashed the tires of her ex . . .. [6]
I propose 3 alternatives to the burgeoning ballooning costs of keeping World Leaders safe at international pow wows:
(1) Given technology available via webcams, Skype, blogging, electronic file sharing, email and conference calls, I vote all the World Leaders stay home and talk/visit and/or chat (or twitter and tweet) electronically. This way the at-home costs of security are already in someone else’s budget and no one country is on the hook for fearfulness, causing one Canadian MP to query in the Canadian House of Commons: ‘Is it fear that has driven the government to take hundreds of times the cost of other countries for this [G8/20 summits], and there is no other word for it, boondoggle? Security will amount to $1 billion.’ [7] [8]
(2) Send less expensive ppl to guard at international events. Rather than risk security breaches and possible death of World Leaders, I think that look-alikes could be flown hither-and-thither for what fun might it be to attack a group of stand-ins? In this manner, World Leaders can stay home and deal with issues of health, education, potholes and BP fix-it oil spill fiascos – which are more a global threat than hideous (and always expensive) public art. [9]
(3) Cost share summits. Whether two or more gather in the name of global tête-a-tetes the costs of food, linens, photocopying, security and public art should be divided equally using the ‘going Dutch’ method of restaurant bills. I mean no offense to persons of Holland but use a colloquialism in use in Canada to indicate equal sharing. With this method securely in place I firmly believe that countries might consider bringing along their own snacks, pillows for pillow fights, rolls of barbed wire and soft drinks.
These are just sketches of ideas but costs of security are too starkly drawn. We have to consider different methods to manage necessary security of persons to conduct global business without boarding at the largesse of whatever feudal Lord/Lady hosts.
© June, 2010. Sharilyn Calliou, 2-3 June, 2010, with some revisions at 1 August, 2010. All Rights Reserved
From Blue Dog Studio
Graphic From Microsoft Clipart Downloads
ENDNOTES
[1] Public Safety Minister, Canada, Mr. V. Towes quoted in: Raj, A. (30 May, 2010, 19:57). ‘Security costs expensive, but necessary: Toews.’ Toronto Sun. Accessed online 2 June, 2010 @ expensivesecurity
[2] Rubin, A. & R. Nordland. (2 June, 2010). ‘Taliban attacks shake Afghan peace gathering.’ New York Times. Accessed online 2 June, 2010 @ notpeacefulgathering
[3] Er, this was a gathering to discuss a process of reconciliation but I guess the attackers missed that press release.
[4] I have yet to blog BP due to seizures of irrationality which cause brain freeze, leaving me unable to speak with humour and/or compassion and/or wisdom. The fact of this . . . ‘scusa, brain freeze. John Stewart’s ‘The Spilling Fields’ seems apt skewering. Also appreciate Pres. Obama’s bill for environmental services, in amount of $69 million (US). Full story at lawyerstellall which is a news feed for lawyers. At 1 August, 2010, this link not operative. Too bad, was informative feed.
[5] I thank http://www.xe.com/ - the world’s favourite currency site – for their accessible tools to convert Canadian dollars into less frightening amounts of moohoolahola.
[6] O!Bazooka!Joe! I am almost guilty of a security breach re. neighbourhood.
[7] MP, Mr. W. Marston (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek, New Democratic Party) speaking to the House of Commons (Canada) 31 May, 2010 at 12:10). Hansard discussion @ HansardYak
[8] Dear MP Marston, I propose it is not fear but reality; hence, I think Canada should downgrade its generosity and just attend as a ‘guest’.
[9] Ah, who can forget the multi-million dollar pieces of public art Canada has subjected her subjects to throughout a vast landscape? For example, Mr. Barnett Newman’s $1.8 million Voices of Fire? Forgotten the two-colour stripe thingey? See: Geddes, J. (21 January, 2010, 09:40). ‘Voices of fire: Are we over this yet?’ Accessed 2 June, 2010 @ http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/01/21/are-we-over-this-yet/
[10] Misc. endnote: A self-quiz for Canadian MPs backbenchers who prefer not to knit. Please click HeyIKnowThisOne
TTFN
