Interesting G8/G20 facts

This week Canada is playing host to 2 global summits- the G8 and the G20. The G8 is meeting in Muskoka, June 26th-27th and then making their way to Toronto for the G20 on June 27th-28th. The creation of the G8 and then subsequent formation of the G20 had main objectives around addressing cooperation of the international financial system. Each time a summit is held there are masses of protestors urging to get big issues like climate change and sustainable development on to the agenda.

There have been a couple interesting things going on in Toronto to welcome the leaders. I'd like to issue two disclaimers before I continue. The first being when I say interesting, I mean interesting in a precarious way. Interesting like, 'oh wow that's cool!' But also interesting: ugh. Seriously? Are you sure that's a good idea?'. The second disclaimer is that I am Canadian. Mrs. Ruplen, my grade 3 teacher taught me that its important to state your known biases before you write your opinion on something.

One thing that's quite interesting (in the first sense) is the activities of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition. In addition to planning loads of events and activities and declaring yesterday the day for environmental justice, they've mobilised 'the people's bus' transporting people through shared lifts from the coasts to Toronto. It take a loooong time to get from Vancouver to Toronto via bus (I'm talking days!)

Now, here's something that is quite interesting, in the latter sense. As a way of welcoming world leaders to Toronto, the Summit organisers have constructed a fake lake. It's indoors, cost $2 million dollars and has real water. I just don't understand. A city that sits on the shores of Lake Ontario, one of the 5 great lakes shouldn't need to make a fake one.

It's called a Great lake for a reason. It's special, and massive and despite an influx of invasive species, like zebra mussels, its a great lake.

One last bit of interesting news I've come across is the removal of over 1,000 bike racks in Toronto temporarily. Bike Toronto has reported that:

The G20 Summit security requirements mean that all street furniture within the ’security zone’ must be removed temporarily.  This includes bike parking rings, of which about 1000 must be removed two weeks prior to the event.

The justification for the removal of the bike racks is they pose a security threat as bombs could potentially be hidden in them.

Ironic as it's Toronto's bike month and if climate change issues make it onto the agenda at the summit, people attending can't even practice what they preach- there's nowhere to park their bikes (not that bicycles are the preferred mode of transport for global leaders, but now the option isn't there). Also, Canada's Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas) said “Canada, as always, will lead by example,” said Minister of State Kent. “With the eyes of the world watching, we will demonstrate how leading-edge technologies can reduce carbon emissions and enhance the quality of the environment." Hmmm... interesting.

Hopefully people from around the world will see Toronto as a more than just a place with odd waist height metal poles (missing their rack) and a strange fake lake beside a massive real one. Scout's honour, I promise this isn't the best of Canada.

Ps- If everyone stayed grounded and opted for a strange meeting, there wouldn't have been all of this fuss.

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