h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well. We've all heard about the farce of the Olympic torch and the professional thugs who are accompanying it on its way to a propaganda triumph for a distasteful regime.

Now the thing is, the whole bloody circus will be happening here on 24 April. Police have been given special powers to prevent people approaching the torch while carrying water-bombs or eggs or other potential projectiles. Chinese students (who sound remarkably like Hitler Youth) are planning to come to Canberra to protest about 'Tibetan lies' . The local Tibetans are of course planning peaceful protests.

The route is subject to change for 'security reasons'. At the moment, it's actually scheduled to go past my office. I'll be able to see the bloody thing without leaving my desk.

The question is - should I go outside to join in the classic Australian protest of simply silently turning my back on the thing, or should I stay inside where I'm at no risk of getting embroiled in events?

Oooh! You would be far safer inside

Safe inside, or joining the silent majority outside? It's a tough call.

Yeah

After the fracas in London, I wouldn't want you to be caught up in anything rough.

Silent majority I reckon. Didn't Rudd say the thugs in blue weren't welcome in Australia? Yet again raising my opinion of him

There will still be some thugs apparently - most of 'em confined to a bus, but two or three out in the open. It is said that they'll be barred from any sort of crowd-control functions, but who knows?

(And Kevin's the best thing that's happened here in years.)

The more I think about it, the more certain I am that I should be outside with my back turned.

So you should. Can you leave the office for that purpose?

We'll have to see about that. If I'm not wearing any official ID badge, and I'm on my lunchbreak, there will be no problem. If I'm simply taking a teabreak, there's only a slight problem. If I can convince the boss to join me, there's no problem at all.

I wonder if the route will be changed before Thursday. I also wonder about the time it'll all happen. Neither of these things is clear at the moment.

Yup I'd be doing the back-turning thing too, Ivan. I like the fact that we have the right to demonstrate, but I don't like the violence that's surrounding some of the demonstrations.

I think Rudd may have just blotted his copybook for me slightly... nothing to do with this thread though, so I'll start a new one



Fb

The latest on the torch business is that some of the main roads in central Canberra are being lined with barriers, even though there's still five days to go. The Canberra Times also reports that they'll be publishing a revised route on Monday. These two facts together make me think that nobody has a clue what's going on or where the glorified firelighter will be. Or is this a trick to confuse people who are trying to organise trouble?

I'd like to think that someone will drop the blasted thing into the lake.

Ivan!

They were erecting the fences along Northbourne this morning......

flimsy ugly little things that will fall over if given the slightest push, they make the roadside look very untidy.........

what we need is a good strong wind...........

Good idea, Helly. Maybe I could trip and fall into a couple of them...

The Canberra Times also said there would be a community celebration after the flame departs for Nagano. Yes, I dare say there will be, one way or another.

Go out and protest Ivan .... I've been to my fair share of protests and they're good for the soul.


Don't know what the Olympic Committee were thinking giving the games to China anyway - so get yourself a placard and ask them.

No placards for me, thanks. If I am out there, I'll simply turn my back on the thing. That's all that needs to be done. As for the IOC - I wouldn't waste my effort on those cretins.

You go and rock the boat .... I'll be right behind you .... or in front of you if you're turning your back. I think.

You could just be alongside instead...

Yes we'll stand shoulder to shoulder - assuming you're no bigger than 5/4

Shoulder to midriff, then. 5ft 11-and-three-quarter inches, me. Oh, for an extra quarter of an inch...

Anyway. The revised route should be released today - let's see where the blasted thing is going, and when.