Monday, September 03, 2007
Spot the hypocrite.
Prime Minister John Howard says many people who plan protests against this week’s APEC summit are hypocrites because the international meeting will help cut global poverty.
He said anti-globalisation protesters “hate” economic growth and capitalism.
“Stop and think for a moment. Are you really going to alleviate poverty by killing economic growth?” he said at a news conference in Sydney.
Yes John, it certainly is those protesters who hate, and are killing economic growth.
Some business owners at Sydney’s Circular Quay say they have suffered a drop in trade of around 75 per cent because of the security measures that have been put in place for the APEC summit.
“Are you really going to alleviate poverty by killing economic growth?”
A five-kilometre fence surrounds most of the north of the CBD to protect delegates at the meetings.
There is also a noticeable police and security presence in the city, with squads of uniformed officers patrolling declared zones.
The owner of a Circular Quay cafe, Nick Svinos, says he has already lost thousands of dollars and is considering closing until after APEC.
“Are you really going to alleviate poverty by killing economic growth?”
“If it’s going to cost us money to stay open, paying staff and the rest of it, we’ll just wear the cost of the rent and electricity and every other running cost we can’t avoid,” he said.
“We’ll just close the doors.”
“Are you really going to alleviate poverty by killing economic growth?”
Mr Svinos says he is angry with the Government because people are avoiding the area.
“Thanks very much boys – you’re doing a great job. What can you say?” he said.
“There are so many other places that could have had [APEC] and it wouldn’t have affected so many people but they want to show the city off, I suppose.
“Are you really going to alleviate poverty by killing economic growth?”
“That is more important than looking after small businesses and people that are struggling and trying to make a dollar.”
“Are you really going to alleviate poverty by killing economic growth?”
Labels: The Rodent
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
