Uploads from The Blackbird, tagged cdnpol, with geodata

WikiLeaks: US spied on housing activists at Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games

nobody@flickr.com (The Blackbird) — Wed, 04 May 2011 09:01:39 -0700

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Caption for my original Flickr upload of this photo in September 2009 ...

Poor Quatchi has lost his way in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. He's been walking for kilometers and kilometers and is hungry and exhausted, but he has no money. His handlers with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games provide him with food and shelter so he's had no need for a wallet and now he's stuck. Deep down, he wishes he was still gamboling about in the Kootenay forest with mama and papa sasquatch instead of being enslaved by VANOC, like any other circus animal.

Making matters worse, he can't reach the spoiled salmon sandwiches at the bottom of the bin. This Gastown bistro's garbage looks like heaven to him but he knows if he drops in, he might never get out alive. Life in the big city for a young sasquatch can be rough without adequate support services tailored to meet his or her species-specific needs.

WikiLeaks releases US Consular cables on Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

nobody@flickr.com (The Blackbird) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 13:02:53 -0700

The Blackbird posted a photo:

A number of "situation reports" concerning Vancouver's recent Olympic Games comprise a portion of a cache of more than 2200 American diplomatic cables regarding Canada released by anti-secrecy publisher WikiLeaks. The reports focus on protest activity and legal challenges to the city's Olympic By-law. Read the cables.

I've re-uploaded this photo of 2010 Olympic mascot Miga not only to illustrate the current story, but to inform contacts that I've recently donated 50GB of documentary photography taken in the years leading up to the Games to the City of Vancouver Archives where they will eventually be available for use under a Creative Commons (attribution only) license. Only a few representative photos will remain on my photostream after my pro account expires in one month. The same goes for all of my Downtown Eastside related photographs. The donation was made a day before the first of the city's 125th anniversary celebrations were held. Happy birthday, Vancouver!

Original