Two local activists this week said Whistler likely won’t see any anti-Olympic protests, unlike the demonstrations that have taken place so far in Vancouver. But that doesn’t mean local groups will stop trying to get their message out about the negative impacts of the Games on Whistler.

On Monday (Feb. 15), members of Whistler Watch, the local chapter of the Council of Canadians and AWARE (Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment) gathered for a press conference near Whistler Medals Plaza. The group outlined environmental and social impacts of the Olympics such as energy use, loss of biodiversity, housing issues and restrictions to civil liberties.

Only a small group of journalists gathered at Monday’s event, and aside from a handwritten sign attached to a bike trailer there were no placards or chanting.

Longtime local resident Sara Jennings, who was there to represent Whistler Watch, said though she participated with about 2,000 others in a peaceful march in Vancouver on Friday (Feb. 12) she’s not planning to stage any protests in Whistler during the Games.

“I will be handing out leaflets to people to inform them about the environmental and social costs of these Games,” Jennings said.

The response to her pamphlet distribution during the torch relay events in Whistler was “extremely positive,” and Jennings said she thinks “most people actually get the message and agree that there needs to be change.”

But Whistler locals aren’t really the type to stage protests, Jennings added. As for people who may be visiting to speak out against Games, they’d likely take part in the organized protests in Vancouver, she said.

For Pina Belperio, the level of Games security and “in your face” police presence in Whistler is a deterrent for would-be protesters. Belperio is a Council of Canadians (COC) board member who actively writes critically about the Games in her rabble.ca blog Word of the Rings. She also marched in the Opening Ceremony protest in Vancouver on Friday.

“The amount of security in this town does bother me to a huge extent. I think it’s way over the top,” she said. “How can anyone really protest here when the cops would be on you in a minute? There really hasn’t been that much for them to do here.”

Having officers on every street corner is “overkill,” she said. In a recent blog entry, she referred to the black tents being used by police as “Pigloos.”

“I don’t know if that’s their way of showing taxpayers this is where your money’s being spent, but to me it’s a big source of intimidation,” Belperio said of the street corner police presence.

Jennings said Friday’s protest in Vancouver “went well” and there were no issues with police. She questioned why the march didn’t receive more media attention with 2,000 people, when Saturday morning’s (Feb. 13) vandalism and violence by fewer than 200 got so much play.

Protesting is designed to reach out to an audience with a message, Jennings said. “The message is people aren’t happy with these Games.”

AWARE is not a protesting body, said Claire Ruddy, vice president. The group is working to spread information about the environmental impacts of the Games, based in fact and solid research, she said.

“Whistler’s valuable natural assets have been irreversibly damaged,” Ruddy said. “These Games are not green.”

Ruddy cited deforestation, loss of biodiversity and potential threats to grizzly bear habitat for Whistler Olympic Park development, destroyed wetlands for the Highway 99 expansion and new Whistler transit depot, and energy use at the sliding centre, among other issues.

“We do completely agree that these Games may be the greenest Games ever, but the bar has been so low previously that that really isn’t hard,” she said.

The IOC needs to “demand” the highest environmental and sustainability standards from future host cities and consider changes such as returning to previous hosts and eliminating sliding sports, Ruddy said.

Jennings cited local social impacts such as no scheduled Whistler council meetings for almost three months, the library being closed to the public for a month, and people being kicked out of rental housing by landlords looking to cash in on the Games.

Belperio outlined concerns with Games sponsors, such as Coca-Cola’s efforts to commodify water and RBC’s financial support of the Alberta tar sands.

“We firmly believe that the Games will have a negative impact on the area in B.C., Vancouver and Whistler especially, when it comes to the environment, social programs and to fiscal accountability,” Belperio said.