Chicagoans and the NATO Summit MASTER IT

Independent Films, Politics, Documentaries

The NATO Summit will be held in Chicago on 20 and 21 May. The people of Chicago talk about their interest in this event, and also their concerns.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty signed on 4 April 1949. NATO constitutes a system of collective defense in response to an attack by any external party. The NATO headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium.

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Transcripts / Production notes / Scripts

VOICEOVER

Chicago. It’s in this city that the NATO Summit will be held on 20 and 21 May.
An international event animating the streets of the city but also causing the inhabitants some concern. For them one thing is sure – the Summit will put the city in the limelight.

VOX POP


1. « I think it's going to bring a lot of business, a lot of popularity, a lot of people are going be coming in the town. It will bring a lot of attention to Chicago »

2. « I think it's good for Chicago. I just hope that nothing bad happens like everyone »

3. « I think that's it's okay for Chicago. I think that it will definitely be able to showcase what we have as a city. But I do wonder about the security issues just because I think that it might be one of the biggest things to have happened here »


VOICEOVER

So, there is nterest, enthusiasm and anxiety as the Summit approaches. The NATO Host Committee believes it is essential to inform and involve the citizens of Chicago.

SOUNDBITE

« I think the biggest challenge for the Host Committee has been being able to cross the divide between the public in Chicago and the visitors that are coming for the Summit itself and to make sure that everyone understands the mutually beneficial arrangement that they'll have while they are in Chicago. »


VOICEOVER-

To meet this challenge, the NATO Host Committee in Chicago is organising information sessions, particularly for people living near McCormick Place where the Summit will be held.

VOX POP

1. « To see what they have to say and how they are going to handle security »

2. « I am interested in hearing what kind of planning has gone regarding, for example, security and planning about streets closures and managing protests »


VOICEOVER

So experts and the authorities dealing with security in Chicago are regularly answering residents’ questions and explaining what will happen.
Their job is to explain the impact that the event will have on residents’ daily lives.


SEQUENCE

« It will be the entire facility will be secured. So that will include visitors, guests, the protectees who visited and including all the vendors and anyone. So, a fence will go around McCormick Place and it will become a hard check point. »


« If you have to move around the city, I would strongly suggest using public transportation. We have already modelled out multiple alternate routes »


VOICEOVER

The main advice is: don’t panic. The security services have been working for some time on the coordination of the event. Fences and barriers will be put up; the city’s rivers will be watched. The Chicago police force has been trained to deal with demonstrators. Gary Schenkel says that the city of Chicago is ready to host the Summit.

SOUNDBITE

« This city is not afraid to have a party. We're used to running very large activities in the city at all times »


VOX POP

1.« I am much less worried, not worried at all Chicago police will take care of everything»

2. « It's well-planned, it's well organised. It is going to be okay »


VOICEOVER

More than 60 heads of state and government will spend 24 hours in Chicago. The security services hope that the Summit will have only a minor impact on the daily life of Chicagoans. The political impact for the international community, on the other hand, will be considerable.

Laetitia Chadenat for NATOChannel in Chicago

Tags

• North Atlantic Treaty
• NATO organization
• NATO members
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• NATO's purpose
• NATO and Politics