Marching Grannies
All photos by Alan Auvaart (see below)
I just came back from filming the Raging Grannies in action at the protest against the CANSEC arms fair in Ottawa. It is the largest event of its kind in Canada, showcasing all the best new ways to inflict pain, cause death and create mayhem. It was held this year in Lansdowne Park inside the city limits. A protest action was organized by COAT – you can find all the information on Canada’s role in the arms trade on their web site. Arms bazaars were banned from Ottawa twenty years ago, but because of municipal fusions this measure has to be adopted again to be valid. Needless to say there is a citizen campaign underfoot to do just that.
On the roll Granny
The Raging Grannies from several cities and Mémés déchaînées from Montreal played a major role at this protest, setting up a Peace Garden and slowing traffic in and out of the exhibition, singing their songs and getting their message across. They sang, among other songs, WAR BUSINESS (you can guess to what tune…)
THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE WAR BUSINESS
THE BEST BUSINESS THEY KNOW!
NEVER MIND THE HOMELESS AND THE HUNGRY
NEVER MIND THE PEOPLE WITHOUT JOBS
WAR’S A STUPID WAY TO SPEND OUR MONEY
IT JUST AIN’T FUNNY! LET’S MAKE IT STOP!
And
Tune: Battle Hymn (Glory, Glory)
THE PROFITEERS ARE COMING HERE
AND THEY HAVE COME TO BUY
THE GADGETS THAT ARE ON DISPLAY
THAT BURN, EXPLODE AND FRY
AND ALL LAID OUT SO THEY CAN SEE
WHICH ONES THEY’D LIKE TO TRY
AT THE CANSEC TRADING SHOW.
For our shoot we had the help of some terrific Ottawa volunteers, including excellent photographer Alan Auvaart. It was his first encounter with the Grannies and he had this to say:’ The resilience of the Grannies to come out in such inclement weather to protest for what they believe in is truly amazing. I hope none of them catch colds!’ Here is his shot of the crew: myself, Martin Duckworth (on camera with assistant Kendall McQueen).
Part of the crew: Magnus Isacsson, Kendall McQueen, and Martin Duckworth
Thanks to Jorge Bustos-Estefan for help with this blog.
