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We Invite You To Talk About the Issues in Freedom Plaza
One of the beautiful aspects of the occupation is that it has brought people out into the open to talk about the issues. Everywhere I look right now as I sit in the media tent and gaze out at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC, people are engaged in conversations. Some are standing in groups, and some are sitting in circles in the assembly area or between the tents.
Throughout the day, people wander through Freedom Plaza to read the signs scattered about "Human Needs not Corporate Greed," "We are the 99% and so are you," and " Money for people, not for wars."
This is the first step in this evolution to a more peaceful, just and sustainable planet. For too long we have been focused on divisions. Now we are finding what unites us.
We are experiencing increasing numbers of people who are unemployed, uninsured, losing their homes or pensions or dignity. Students are dropping out of college due to cost or graduating with lifelong debt in a deteriorating job market. The days of sitting in silence and blaming ourselves for not working hard enough are over.
The first step in the process of change is awareness of the problem. We are encouraging all people to come out of their homes. Join us in the streets either through your local occupation or on the local playground. Talk to those around you. Talk about the way things are with increasing wealth disparity and poverty. Talk about the way you want things to be - a society based on openness, acceptance, honesty, transparency and kindness.
We invite you to join us in Freedom Plaza each evening during the General Assembly. It begins at 6:00 pm eastern time. You can join us in person or via livestream on the website. We are going to devote a portion of each meeting to a discussion of one of the fifteen issues and the solutions we would like to see.
The schedule is below. Join us, talk about it and share what you learn with your family, friends and colleagues. This is the first step in the nonviolent transformation of our country.
Wednesday, Oct. 12: Corporatism
Thursday, Oct. 13: Militarism and War
Friday, Oct. 14: Human Rights
Saturday, Oct. 15:Worker Rights and Jobs
Sunday, Oct. 16: Government
Monday, Oct. 17: Housing
Tuesday, Oct. 18: Dinner, music and teach-in focused on Iran
Wednesday, Oct.19: Criminal Justice and Prisons
Thursday, Oct. 20: DC Statehood discussion
Friday, Oct. 21: Elections
Sarurday, Oct. 22: Education
Sunday, Oct. 23: Environment
Monday, Oct. 24: Dinner, music and teach-in on Iraq
Tuesday, Oct. 25: Wars and Militarism
Wedneday, Oct. 26: Finance and the Economy
Thursday, Oct. 27: Healthcare
Friday, Oct. 28: Food and Water
Saturday, Oct. 29: Transportation
Sunday, Oct. 30: Media
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Someone out there said that the protesters would not be able to mount a campaign had it not been for the materials provided by the very corporations they are criticizing, namely the cars, laptops, cell phones, tents, etc.."
This is a commonly used attack against protesters but this "criticism" evaporates as soon as we take two seconds to think about it and shine some analytical light on it.
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We have similar events occuring in London - and offer you our solidarity in bringing these issues to public attention.
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I appreciate and agree with Avadhoot's point on a spiritual/cultural shift being necessary, including a shift from "competition" (read: _antagonism_ towards one another) being the main organizing principle of the economy, toward a saner, healthier one based on cooperation.
But I wanted to comment on:
"..someone out there said that the protesters would not be able to mount a campaign had it not been for the materials provided by the very corporations they are criticizing, namely the cars, laptops, cell phones, tents, etc.."
This is a commonly used attack against protesters but this "criticism" evaporates as soon as we take two seconds to think about it and shine some analytical light on it.
Suppose someone said to those protesting against the Soviet Union, or criticizing it, "but you could not protest if you did not take the Soviet bus, or rode the Soviet-made bicycles, and you could not even _write_ if you had not gone to our Soviet Elementary and high schools! So how can you possibly criticize the very system that created the bicycles and buses and school system without which you could not read and write or travel much less protest!?"
We'd all laugh out loud at such a criticism by some pro-Soviet hack...assuming disgust did not hit us before the laughter..It's an absurd 'criticism' and the fact it's made so often in the US in particular as well as other pro-Corporatism talking heads (and often more innocently, by those regular members of the public who have had the wool puller over their eyes by the fast-talking defenders of Corporatism)..the fact this ridiculous 'criticism' is so common tells us about the knee jerk defensiveness of the system and how like a fish that cannot see the water because it's everywhere, all around, and thus 'invisible' we do the same to the Corporate run system.
Of _course_ they used Soviet made bikes and buses (and rarely, cars) to get to the protest..that's because they were the only ones (under _that_ system) which were available! Of _course_ the protesters criticizing the Soviet Union learned how to read and write in Soviet schools...that's because that was the only schools available!
In any system where some sector dominates, then by definition, due to that domination, guess what the protesters are going to have to use? That's right, they will have to use the machines and tools created by that system...that makes them about as 'hypocritical' as those hypothetical (and more than a few past, very real) protesters..in other words, not remotely "hypocritical" at all, to anyone other than some prof-Soviet party Hack.
For more, see
http://www.freak-search.com/en/thread/1496688/is_michael_moore_a_hypocri...
Is Michael Moore a Hypocrite? About as much as Sakharov was; Not at all
Hey! Congratulations! You've done a great job, and have provided such a fantastic service for all of us. The taste of freedom and glory of our nation is almost at hand. I admire your will and courage to fight for peace. Blessing to this movement!
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If we were following a strict interpretation of the US Constitution, I don't think the idea of business being recognized as an individual, i.e. Corporatism, would ever have been allowed in the United States. It absolutely astounds me when corporations get to influence policy, laws, and the electoral process. The only true interest these "entities" has is to maintain profit for shareholders. Anything they do links back to it, whether benevolent or not.
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In any system where some sector dominates, then by definition, due to that domination, guess what the protesters are going to have to use? That's right, they will have to use the machines and tools created by that system...that makes them about as 'hypocritical' as those hypothetical (and more than a few past, very real) protesters..in other words, not remotely "hypocritical" at all.
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I can't find the comment but someone out there said that the protesters would not be able to mount a campaign had it not been for the materials provided by the very corporations they are criticizing, namely the cars, laptops, cell phones, tents, etc..
However, a utilitarian can take anything and use it provided his end game relinquishes it all. That is we ultimately have to see a day when the wholesale production of the world which entails raping Mother Earth, comes to an end. We have to bring things back to simple economics founded on the Earth's production in a small village. This sustainable village concept can be understood by reading Mahatma Gandhi. He clamored for it and so should we. We have to be done with the corporate spread. Let's be friends and live together cooperatively with a new spirituality that brings consciousness up to a higher level than what generated this whole mess in the first place. When that day comes the level of anxiety and stress in the hearts of the world's people will fall just like a broken bank.
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I think it's great that everyone is uniting and standing up for what they believe. But I do think the media in general is sending a message that this is more like Woodstock and shouldn't be taken seriously. And the authorities seem like their just putting up with it hoping people will eventually lose interest and go home. They definitely do not want the images of a confrontation all over the news. So they're just trying to wait the protestors out, probably hoping for winter and the weather to turn unpleasant. Lighten Skin Naturally
Hey! Congratulations! You've done a great job, and have provided such a fantastic service and keeping us informed.
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Those of us occupying the cities and towns of Florida invite all northern occupy movements to move camp and join us for the winter rather than give the corporate media and their overlords the satisfaction of watching you folks suffer in the cold. The message is universal; it doesn't really matter WHERE you/we all are as long as it's in large enough numbers for it to be a force to be reckoned with! Join us in the Sunshine State. WE would love to have you all....even if our (worst in polling) Governor would NOT!
P.S. I spent the first week of StopTheMach2011 with you folks in DC as a legal observer, and was there for the Air & Space incident. I took all I learned back home with me here to Florida and can tell you, the new groups forming here could sure use your help (experience).
That's not really workable. In particular, those groups that face the most aggressive pressure from police and local governments (e.g. NYC) need to remain in place to avoid the perception of defeat.
It would be preferable to the overall cause that groups simply disband if they can't survive the winter, and contribute instead to the resupply and support of those that persist. These groups can reform in the spring.
How will they survive below freezing temps in sleeping bags? The city is not going to allow fires or generators for heat. They have as much admitted they are counting on the cold to shut you down. As long as the message is being projected, from anywhere, in sufficient numbers it isn't "defeat." In fact strategizing for optimal longevity would be seen as wise (if you ask me).
The main stream media is not really covering this, and when they do the protestors are not taken seriously at all. And the police and authorities are just trying to wait them out hoping that winter will arrive and most of the people will go home. The nights are already getting colder.
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I believe this is a good start for me in changing the world for the better. At least in a little way just like this and I want to come to Freedom Plaza and attend this invitation. buy gold online
Quotes from a second article about Australian solidarity occupations:
In Sydney, about 500 people set up camp in Martin Place to protest against corruption and corporate greed.
They held up banners reading "you can't eat money" and "we are the 99 per cent".
Organiser Josh Lees said the protests are inspired by the activists who have been occupying a park in New York for more than a month.
"We are here as part of the global movement, the occupier movement, we are here with a similar message that we want a world for human need, not corporate greed," he said. "The people at the moment that are running the world, that 1 per cent clearly have no solutions for the economic crisis.
"All they've done is bail themselves out, line their own pockets, while millions more are thrown into unemployment, austerity measure after austerity measure trying to make the poor and the working class pay for a crisis they did not cause."
Mr Lees say some protesters plan to set up camp indefinitely, but the location is yet to be determined.
Mark Goudkamp, another Sydney organiser, told the Martin Place rally: "The planet can't continue to go on with this unsustainable level of inequality."
"There needs to be a fundamental overhaul of how our economy works; we need to challenge those who are the most powerful who control the global economy and have an enormous influence on elected politicians," he said.
these quotes are from
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-15/anti-wall-st-protests-in-australia...
see the article we posted 3 minutes ago, for a different article, one which unlike this one, has a VIDEO link, worth seeing that video!
There definitely needs to be a fundamental overhaul of how our economy works. And an overhaul of the entire banking system. Nobody even talks about the millions of people who are denied fundamental things like a basic checking account due to the company Chexsystems.
"My father would have supported this" - quote by Martin Luther King the 3rd, see below!)
Check out the video below about Occupy Sidney and Occupy Melbourne in Australia; the last 60 seconds has glimpses of occupations from Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Hong Kong and more:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-16/sydney-protesters-vow-to-hold-firm...
Scroll down and there is a text story, including also photos such as one of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaking to demonstrators from the steps of Saint Paul's Cathedral in central London on October 15, 2011.
Also stated there:
"Portugal was the scene of Europe's biggest reported protest action outside Italy, with more than 20,000 marching in Lisbon and a similar number in the country's second city Oporto, two days after the government announced a new batch of austerity measures.Elsewhere in Europe, around 2,000 people gathered for a march to Madrid's Puerta del Sol, and demonstrators gathered peacefully in Paradeplatz, the main square in the Swiss financial centre of Zurich."
Notice the twenty-thousand was in Portugal, which on a per capita basis, well, Portugal has about 10 million people so multiply by 30 to get U.S. equivalent: the equivalent of 600,000 occupiers!
Here in the U.S. it is harder to get large number..we have been isolated from one another, atomized...but on the positive step we can say that this time, the U.S. (not the Corporate/government regime but the U.S. as a nation of human beings) has been not just inspired by others but also an inspiration to others who look at Occupy Wall St and Occupy D.C. as inspiration.
Final quote:
In Washington, between 2,000 and 3,000 people assembled at the National Mall on the eve of the inauguration of a memorial to slain Nobel peace laureate Martin Luther King Jr.
"We have bailed out the auto industry, and we should have. We bailed out Wall Street. Now it's time to bail out working Americans. That's what this is about," the civil rights leader's son, Martin Luther King III, told the crowd.
"I believe that if my father was alive, he would be right here with all of us involved in this demonstration today."
Again for the video, very much worth watching those few minutes, see the very top of
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-16/sydney-protesters-vow-to-hold-firm...
(it takes a few seconds for the page to reload to display the video..be careful not to have several tabs of such ABC australi pages with video as it somtimes crashes my browser, open one url at a time, watch, and navigate to other ABC Australia pages later if you want)
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I think it's great that everyone is uniting and standing up for what they believe. I wish I could be apart of this, but I can support from afar!
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You know, if people were to realize what they can achieve when they group and stick together a lot more good things would happen in this world
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"Capitalism has made of work a purely commercial activity, a soulless and a joyless thing. But substitute the national service of the Guilds for the profiteering of the few; substitute responsible labor for a saleable commodity; substitute self-government and decentralization for the bureaucracy and demoralizing hugeness of the modern State and the modern joint stock company; and then it may be just once more to speak of a ``joy in labor,'' and once more to hope that men may be proud of quality and not only of quantity in their work."
- Bertrand Russell - Proposed Roads to Freedom, 1917.
Please know that plenty of well paid federal workers stand with this movement and OWS.
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