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Private G20 protest planning

It was kind of weird – sweet actually – that in this blizzard of social networking we’re in, activists planning June G20 protests think they can keep the proceedings of their 100-strong organizing meetings secret.

On Thursday night, the Toronto Community Mobilization Network saw fit to expel myself (and a Star reporter) from their meeting in conference room at 519 Church.

Before the final farethewell, the group got itself into a procedural snarl over whether it could “use its structure to decide whether or not to discuss whether or not a decision should be made” on asking us to leave.

In the end, they decided to do both. As I gathered up my things, I couldn’t help thinking – am I sitting in the last room in the world where no one blogs or tweets?

As one participant put it arguing against the press ban, “the way I look at it, media is something people do everyday.” Uh. Yeah.

So here’s what I can report: This is the TCMN’s fifth meeting it’s organized into several committees – action, communications, logistics, etc. From June 18-20, there will be a People’s Summit (hosted by another group entirely) and from June 21 to 27, the TCMN is coordinating a mess of demos. It’s pretty exciting – and supporting all this is nothing short of our planetary duty, really.

TCMN spokesperson Syed Hussan tells me, “We’re not saying stop the G20 – we want to be a movement for, not one against.” I’m down with that.

But just how did the group figure I was going to expose them to risk? By telling NOW readers that the organizing network includes folks with widely different views on matters? Or by sharing the not exactly covert advice on how to behave with police. (“you don’t have to give your name unless you’re arrested”, etc.) Or reporting on the number of billets acquired? Or where the sleeping bags would be stored?

It was so quaintly 1989 – as if we weren’t living through the most leaky epoch ever.

But, as I say, coming down on THE MEDIA was kind of sweet. It kept alive the sense of intrigue and safeguarded a unique togetherness, both of which, heaven knows, are hard to come by these days.

But if someone blogs or tweets about something I missed out on at the meeting, I’m really going to be pissed.[rssbreak]

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