Canadians Moon the Sky in Protest



(Sarnia, Ontario) A large helium-filled surveillance balloon called an Aerostat has been hovering over the city of Port Huron, Michigan, for the past month as a demonstration project for the Department of Homeland Security. Carrying a high-tech payload, the Aerostat monitors activity on the St. Clair River, adding to the existing patrols along the Michigan-Ontario border.

Unfortunately, surveillance of the border is a sore subject to some Canadians who express concerns about privacy. Consequently, a "Moon the Balloon" protest was organized through a Facebook page and held yesterday.

A group of demonstrators descended upon Sarnia, Ont., Saturday to drop their pants and moon the sky to protest a U.S. surveillance balloon that was hovering near the border city recently.

Organizers said between 200 and 300 people took part in the mooning protest, although a local Sarnia radio station said the number was closer to 100.

"We got a fellow with a loud voice to shout out a countdown . . . everyone lined up and held it for a couple of seconds, pulled up, and that was that," said one organizer, who would only identify himself as Eli.

Interestingly, the Aerostat was damaged by winds last weekend and was grounded. Therefore, the mooners were displaying their displeasure to the empty sky over Michigan.

All in all, it currently appears that objections to the balloon lack wide-spread support and the public mooning was more a media event than an expression of dissatisfaction by the citizens of Ontario.

As a recommendation to garner increased interest, I suggest that Canadian community organizers go into Michigan and put together a counter protest. Then the media could report on the first international "Moon-Off" with U.S. butts mooning an "Oh, yeah! Take this!" at the Canadians on the other side of the river.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.