Don't try it unless you like dying

From Subtopia, the Chinese are readying their police and military response to any ruckus anyone might decide to cause during the Beijing Olympics: "Earlier in June, China launched a week-long series of anti-terrorist drills called Great Wall 5, in preparation for the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games. The drills involved emergency responders, police forces, the People's Armed Police, the People's Liberation Army and the health, environmental protection, meteorology, & transportation departments, according to China's Xinhua news agency."
As usual, they're investing in overkill: "China has created a special 100,000 anti-terrorist force for the Olympics, reinforcing the impression that the Games will be dominated by tough security measures. They said that an elite commando unit, known as Snow Wolf, had been practising anti-terror drills. The 300-strong unit was tasked with counter-terrorism, riot control and other special tasks, such as hijacking and bomb disposal. Each officer of the unit was outfitted with 300,000 yuan (US$42,900) worth of equipment. The anti-terror squad will be backed up by 400,000 city volunteers and a million social volunteers. These include the regular army of bus stop assistants and pedestrian crossing monitors. The capital also has 150,000 security personnel and more than 290,000 volunteers patrolling every corner of the city to ensure terrorism-free Games."

Rico says they're a very serious bunch, the Chinese; he would suggest that protesters take a pass on these Games and wait for London in 2012. Much safer with the Brits.

"It has been reported that over 1.25 million people have been forced to move because of Olympic construction; it was estimated that the figure would reach 1.5 million by the end of 2007. No formal resettlement scheme is in place for the over 400,000 migrants who have had their dwelling places demolished. Twenty percent of the demolished households are expected to experience poverty or extreme poverty. In Qingdao, the Olympic sailing city, hundreds of households have been demolished and many human rights activists as well as 'civilians' have been imprisoned. Similar stories come from other Olympic cities such as Shenyang, Shanghai, and Qinhuangdao."