A Million Eyes

"The Twin Squirrel helicopter rattled over southern England, its shadow printed on the autumnal fields like an ominous ever-present harbinger of potential disaster. The uncertain and unseasonable weather of the past week was continuing. From time to time the black clouds curdled above them, then dropped their load with such concentrated force that the helicopter seemed to be bumping through a wall of water."

"This body had at least left a memorial to its existence, but even that rich legacy of imagination and verbal felicities seemed a childish bagatelle in the face of this ultimate negativity."

PD James, The Lighthouse.


Time traced a finger across our own dawns; introverted, quivering inside; all those natural states, irritable, restless, discontent; while the soldiers checked their equipment and there were police everywhere. They boasted of their own prosperity; but he wasn't part of it. Things couldn't be explained. A teasing solution was no solution at all. He could only pass through the circumstances of the day; and emerge as intact as possible out the other side.

President George Bush is now in our city; and security is no doubt extraordinary. The people who live here; thousands of us; caught in cubicles; stuck in traffic; all of this was gratifying? We were all taxed within an inch of our lives; the country celebrated success and narrowed its focus; those eyes were more about peaking out of a cave, a protective hole, rather than surveying the domain. Looking for danger; hoping not to be seen.

It was such a gift; their certainty. The filthy passing of our own uncertainties were not for them; tall, handsome, fit, their guns in clear view. I hoped for renovation; revelation; to be transformed in the clear planes of the city's architecture; the harbour light adding confidence to our many traits; these disembodied eyes; the cold calculation; the observation; as each hour passed disaster grew closer; and we were all here, simply to watch. That's what it felt like; how was it possible for all these people to come here and for nothing to go wrong? Or was it just going to be like the Olympics; suddenly this chaotic city in which we all labour; and sometimes have fun; will work like it's meant to work; there will be no major incidents; the rioters will make their point and depart peacefully; and the concrete wall dividing the city won't be necessary at all.


THE BIGGER STORY:

Stuff.co.nz

Sydney police want to ban a planned protest march as fears of violence escalate during the Apec leaders' summit.

Water cannon and armed police will be on standby if Saturday's protest by anti-war and climate change groups gets out of hand.

But police want an urgent Supreme Court order to stop protesters marching through a declared security no-go zone.

The arrival of United States President George W Bush for the summit is a rallying cry for protesters. He was due to fly into Sydney late last night from Iraq.

His entourage occupies three 747 planes. US secret service agents have a special exemption to carry weapons into Australia.

His 20-vehicle convoy is expected to cause traffic gridlock this morning and tomorrow. He has a military helicopter, and US fighter jets are in Australia on standby.

Sydney went into lockdown on Monday, when Apec week started, though fears of widespread disruption have yet to eventuate.

Armed police patrol city streets emptied of tourists and residents.

Protesters and civil liberty groups say tough new powers of arrest brought in for the summit and a 2.8-metre-high vehicle-proof steel fence encircling part of the central business district go too far.

Australia will not say if it has received a specific security threat. But the symbolism of a strike against Mr Bush while visiting one of his most loyal allies, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, means nothing has been left to chance.

The summit comes as Mr Howard is under increasing pressure over his commitment of Australian soldiers in Iraq, and domestic issues.

A poll issued yesterday had more bad news for the Australian leader, who might have hoped a showcase event such as Apec would revive his flagging fortunes. It showed the gap between Mr Howard and his Labor rival Kevin Rudd has widened.

When New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, also polling poorly at home, flies in on Friday, it could be one of their last official meetings as prime ministers.



Google: Tuesday morning 5 September 2007:

Apec tension grows with arrival of Bush
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand - 23 minutes ago
Sydney went into lockdown on Monday, when Apec week started, though fears of widespread disruption have yet to eventuate. Armed police patrol city streets ...
Bush arrives in Australia for APEC summit Euronews.net
Bush's APEC challenge to China The Australian
APEC protest fizzles out Melbourne Herald Sun
Melbourne Herald Sun - Xinhua
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Cay Compass
Apec seeks climate change consensus
Bangkok Post, Thailand - 6 hours ago
by Sid Astbury Sydney (dpa) - Before Apec leaders began arriving in Sydney, Australian Prime Minister John Howard was being pilloried for promising that the ...
Australia: APEC should agree to long-term emissions goal International Herald Tribune
Australian FM backs India joining APEC AFP
APEC to review corruption progress Economic Times
Bloomberg - AFP
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Where are the APEC demonstrators?
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 5 hours ago
In the first sign of APEC action, barely 50 people turned out for an anti-Bush, anti-Iraq war rally in Railway Square, outside Sydney's Central Station. ...
Sydney protest peaceful ahead of Bush's APEC visit Reuters South Africa
Anti-APEC demonstration in central Sydney NEWS.com.au
Police to target APEC truant protesters The Age
Melbourne Herald Sun - ABC Online
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Xinhua
The APEC forum lacks a meaningful role
International Herald Tribune, France - 4 hours ago
But APEC as a grouping has scant competence on any of these issues. The participating leaders have their own agendas, which have nothing to do with the ...
Walker's World: APEC's golden eggs United Press International
China's Hu departs for Australian state visit, APEC summit Economic Times
APEC can prove its global value The Canberra Times
China Daily - Xinhua
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Servihoo
APEC on track to promote clean, efficient energy
Xinhua, China - 14 hours ago
The Secretariat, in a report on climate change, said APEC has launched initiatives to promote clean and efficient energy production and use. ...
ABAC leaders slam Doha inertia The Australian
Romulo: RP growth ready for competitive world trade INQ7.net
Business lines up for APEC Melbourne Herald Sun
Voice of America - The Age
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Earthtimes.org
Russian businesses seek resource deals at APEC
ABC Online, Australia - 9 hours ago
Russia joined APEC 11 years ago but still does a smaller proportion of global trade within the group than any of the other 20 member nations. ...
Bush, Putin urged to talk nukes at APEC ABC Online
Australia wants India to join APEC; seeks consensus on climate plan domain-B
India fails to win seat at APEC Radio Australia
The Age - ABC Online
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Brisbane Times
Roads close as APEC gets into gear
The Age, Australia - 11 hours ago
The city's Macquarie Street off-ramp from the Cahill Expressway has also been closed on Tuesday until the end of APEC on Sunday. ...
Police in APEC truancy blitz Sydney Morning Herald
Chaos descends as APEC leaders land Daily Telegraph
Traffic snarls expected during APEC The Age
The Age - Daily Telegraph
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