Gig Report

WE ARE THE CORPORATIONS
(Tune:  Glory, Glory, Hallelujah)
Words by Granny Pat

We are the corporations and we want to rule the earth
We know the dollars and the cents that everything is worth
And every life means money from the moment of its birth
So let's all cheer for greed!

We just want to make the money
we just want the milk and honey
Every day will be so sunny
when we get the SPP!

We corporations buy the politicians by the score
They need to get elected; That's what all the money's for.
And they do what we tell them, they will even go to war
for the corporations' greed.

Now you know who runs the nations
Just the biggest corporations
Laws are only botherations
here comes the SPP!

This song really explains what the SPP is all about--corporate power. Because we were singing as corporate bosses instead of grannies, we needed some props.  These were cigars (chocolate) and Hitler-type mustaches. Alas, the chocolate melted (or was devoured) and the mustaches failed to stick!  But no one seemed to mind! 

Leafleting (Several Occasions in July and August, 2007)

Few people knew what the SPP was about, so we had many leafleting sessions where we distributed pamphlets that we created under the watchful eye of Granny Maura.  She believes that less is more when it comes to words.

She wanted the leaflets to be short, with lots of white space so people would really read them! Many did and were totally astonished to learn about this "regulation by stealth!" We made different versions, as we learned more about the actual events.  Download the first leaflet and the last one.

Getting ready to leaflet!

Picket of Thomas D'Aquino (August 11, 2007)

Thomas D'Aquino is Chair of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and the major Canadian spokesman for the SPP corporate agenda.  Only corporate heads were invited to talk to the politicians in Montebello.

After learning that the PGA-Bloc was planning a picket of his downtown condo and receiving reassurances that this demo would be peaceful, the Grannies decided to join the action.  Grannies Jo, Loris, Ria, Rosalie and Shannon came with a great sign by Grannies Rosalie and Ria. 

The police got pushy when some of the demonstrators brought out the sidewalk chalk and things got quite tense.  Granny Ria helped set a better tone and calm things down. 

After the demo was over, two organizers were arrested by the police and made to promise to stay away from SPP demonstrations in order to get released from jail. 

Not the first time we saw this happen!

Our Picket-Appropriate Sign!

A calming voice.

Sunday Demo in Ottawa, August 19, 2007

The Grannies joined thousands of other demonstrators for a peaceful demonstration on Parliament Hill.  We were a large group with Grannies Alma, Hazel, Jo, Loris, Mary Louise, Maura, Pat and Peggy participating.

We did a soft-shoe hokey-pokey dance and sang songs to amuse the crowd while waiting for the speakers to begin. 

THE SPP IS HOKEY
(Tune: Hokey-pokey)
(Song by Granny Alma)

Corporations in; Taking profits out
Making secret deals is what it's all about.
The SPP is hokey, We have to kick it out!
That's what it's all about.

 

The strategy huddle before the Sunday Demo.

Grannies dance and sing "The SPP is Hokey!"

Monday Demo in Montebello, August 20, 2007

We Raging Grannies rode to Montebello in style in Granny Shannon's Lincoln Continental that she decorated for the occasion. Grannies Jeanette, Jo, Loris and Ria hitched a ride with Granny Shannon.  While there, we had lots of chances to do our song and dance routines.  Both the performances and the car were a great hit. Although the biggest hit was a video of the police acting as agents provocateurs! Take a look.

Loading up the Grannymobile outside of PSAC to join the caravan to Montebello.

In Montebello with a dog who is ready to pee on the SPP (but not Shannon's car).

View of the Grannymobile from above.  This is what the military helicopters saw!

Tuesday Flotilla to protect Canada's water, August 22, 2007

What better way to make the point that the Security and Prosperity Partnership threatens Canada's right to control our water than to take Voyageur Canoes down the Ottawa River toward Montebello. 

Many groups participated in the Flotilla, including the Council of Canadians with Maude Barlow participating for a short time, nowar-paix, and voices of women along for the full ride..  Grannies Alma, Jo, Ria, Rosalie, and Shannon all did our share of the paddling. 

It was a media event as well, with photographers and journalists crowded into the front of two canoes. 

Granny Rosalie had worked hard to develop floating banners (for those helicopters again) and the army did not disappoint!  They came and hovered, opening the door of one, probably to better photograph us trouble makers.  Since we were still at least 60 km from Montebello, it seemed a bit silly to us for them to waste the effort.  But 2 helicopters and a police boat did make us feel important!

We never made it to Montebello, but we did have a great day on the water and were able to make an important point--water is a public resource and should not be privatized.  .