more surveillance from the government

**'trane** · 02-16-2012, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Federal security services have identified Greenpeace and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals as the kind of “multi-issue extremist” groups that pose a threat to Canadians, documents obtained under Access to Information show.

In a series of documents from 2005 to 2009, the RCMP and CSIS assess “threats from terrorism and extremism” and report growing concerns about environmental and animal-rights groups, as well as militants from first nations.

“Multi-issue extremists and aboriginal extremists may pursue common causes, and both groups have demonstrated the intent and the capability to carry out attacks against critical infrastructure in Canada,” says a November, 2008, assessment prepared by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

Critics say the Harper government is blurring the lines of counterterrorism to target legitimate opponents of resource developments such as the Northern Gateway project, which will bring bitumen pipelines and massive oil tankers to British Columbia’s rugged coast. And they worry that new legislation designed to give police access to individual Canadians’ personal Internet information will increase surveillance of environmental groups that support acts of civil disobedience.

“With a lot of the government’s rhetoric around Gateway and the government’s frequent use of ‘radicalism’ and ‘extremism’ to characterize opposition, these kinds of [counterterrorist] categories are used to justify a surveillance campaign,” said Jeff Monaghan, a Queen’s University sociologist who co-authored a paper on the threat assessment after receiving the documents under the Access to Information Act.

“Certainly from what we’ve seen, a lot of political opponents – and vocal political opponents like eco groups – have been classified this way, and it did legitimize surveillance campaigns against them.”

Quote:

They cite an effort by Greenpeace Canada to block the gate at Ontario’s Pickering nuclear power plant, and its trespassing at the Muskeg River bitumen mine owned by Royal Dutch Shell to protest oil sands development.

CSIS analysts also highlight PETA’s opposition to the Canadian seal hunt and report the organization’s plan to launch a website that portrays the mascot of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics as “bloodthirsty seal killers.” And they note PETA’s threat to boycott Canadian maple syrup.

Security services deem environmental, animal-rights groups 'extremist' threats - The Globe and Mail

**Benzo** · 02-16-2012, 11:21 AM

Grrrrrr.

More gov't makes Benz a angry righty

Superjudge · 02-16-2012, 11:23 AM

wtf Benzo.,.. thats what righty's do.....

**Benzo** · 02-16-2012, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superjudge

wtf Benzo.,.. thats what righty's do.....

Untrue.

Thats what some "Conservative" governments do. Often the 2 are confused. I am not blinded, and don't just support parties outright.

If they are doing something fucked up I have no problem calling them on it. This news is not a representation of my political views..

Superjudge · 02-16-2012, 11:28 AM

I hate party politics in general.

Lame.

I have better answers though

Shadowfax · 02-16-2012, 11:34 AM

Canada's not quite "Red" yet...but it's steadily becoming a darker shade of pink every day

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02-16-2012, 11:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Benzo is hibernating Retired Administrator Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,285 Representing:	Grrrrrr. More gov't makes Benz a angry righty

02-16-2012, 11:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
Superjudge is pounding the rock! Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 17,593 Representing:	wtf Benzo.,.. thats what righty's do.....

02-16-2012, 11:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
Superjudge is pounding the rock! Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 17,593 Representing:	I hate party politics in general. Lame. I have better answers though

02-16-2012, 11:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
Shadowfax is playing the dude disguised as another dude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 5th Dimension Posts: 8,251 Representing:	Canada's not quite "Red" yet...but it's steadily becoming a darker shade of pink every day