Merry Christmas to you, too, Canada: G77 to boycott Olympics

REUTRES – In retaliation for Canada sabotaging the climate talks at Copenhagen, the G77 group of nations has announced they will boycott the upcoming Olympic Games in Canada. Said the Indian Prime Minister, “While the Olympic Games have great value in many ways, there is no point spending millions of dollars on sport when we have millions of climate refugees to relocate in the upcoming years.”

The pullout is a major embarrassment to Canada, and certainly means that the Olympics will be a financial disaster. Prime Minister Harper could not be reached for comment, and…

You may have realised by now that this is not true, although you could be forgiven if you wondered. Boycotts have been organised in the past over less. And if you’re in one of the sinking countries, you might think a shot at obstructionist Canada is justified.

I previously wrote that by scuttling a realistic climate deal at Copenhagen, the G8 has essentially declared war on the G77. I urged 5 immediate actions the G77 must take – and I still think they should. To that I add a sixth: If you want the West to take you seriously, you’re going to have to wake us up. Boycotting the Olympics will save you millions better used for fighting climate change, and will send a message to Canadians.

While I opposed having the Olympics here originally, now that we’ve promised to host them we should hold up our end, so I don’t make this recommendation of action against my own country lightly. But principles come before patriotism, and we Canadians are obstructing a climate deal and that’s not right.