#OCCUPYWALLSTREET campaign - September 17

[eyeno]

Occupy Wall Street: The Most Important Thing in the World Now

Naomi Klein

I was honored to be invited to speak at Occupy Wall Street on Thursday night. Since amplification is (disgracefully) banned, and everything I say will have to be repeated by hundreds of people so others can hear (a k a “the human microphone”), what I actually say at Liberty Plaza will have to be very short. With that in mind, here is the longer, uncut version of the speech.

I love you.

And I didn’t just say that so that hundreds of you would shout “I love you” back, though that is obviously a bonus feature of the human microphone. Say unto others what you would have them say unto you, only way louder.

Yesterday, one of the speakers at the labor rally said: “We found each other.” That sentiment captures the beauty of what is being created here. A wide-open space (as well as an idea so big it can’t be contained by any space) for all the people who want a better world to find each other. We are so grateful.

If there is one thing I know, it is that the 1 percent loves a crisis. When people are panicked and desperate and no one seems to know what to do, that is the ideal time to push through their wish list of pro-corporate policies: privatizing education and social security, slashing public services, getting rid of the last constraints on corporate power. Amidst the economic crisis, this is happening the world over.

And there is only one thing that can block this tactic, and fortunately, it’s a very big thing: the 99 percent. And that 99 percent is taking to the streets from Madison to Madrid to say “No. We will not pay for your crisis.”

That slogan began in Italy in 2008. It ricocheted to Greece and France and Ireland and finally it has made its way to the square mile where the crisis began.

“Why are they protesting?” ask the baffled pundits on TV. Meanwhile, the rest of the world asks: “What took you so long?” “We’ve been wondering when you were going to show up.” And most of all: “Welcome.”

...

cool, thanx

[Luther Blissett]

This is an awesome move, but just to clarify a few things: Manhattan was Lenape land, not Algonquin. Lenape were part of the Algonquian language group. And lastly, the man in the photo is Scabby Bull, an Arapaho

wouldn't that make it an un-awesome move?

“I had it all. Even the glass dishes with tiny bubbles and imperfections, proof they were crafted by the honest, simple, hard-working indigenous peoples of … wherever.”

It's an awesome concept. In line with JP Montano's essay posted a few pages back.

A native friend of mine described this as using a picture of a Chinese guy to encourage Filipinos to get the Irish out of Egypt.

[sunny]

Lovely speech by Ms. Klein.

[ninakat]

^^^ absolutely sunny!

I'm almost afraid to say it, but I'm finding this movement so incredibly inspiring! (Haven't felt this way since the 60s, when I was a child). Real hope with the possibility of real change?

[Nordic]

http://www.businessinsider.com/imf-advi ... ks-2011-10

IMF Advisor: Could See Eurozone 'Meltdown' in 2 Or 3 Weeks

Simone Foxman | Oct. 6, 2011, 5:07 PM | 8,572 | 35

In an interview on the BBC (via ZeroHedge), IMF advisor Robert Shapiro said some incredibly alarmist things.

He tells broadcasters that if eurozone leaders don't address the crisis properly we will see a meltdown as soon as later this month.

In his words:

"If they can not address [the financial crisis] in a credible way I believe within perhaps 2 to 3 weeks we will have a meltdown in sovereign debt which will produce a meltdown across the European banking system.

We are not just talking about a relatively small Belgian bank, we are talking about the largest banks in the world, the largest banks in Germany, the largest banks in France, that will spread to the United Kingdom, it will spread everywhere because the global financial system is so interconnected. All those banks are counterparties to every significant bank in the United States, and in Britain, and in Japan, and around the world.

This would be a crisis that would be in my view more serious than the crisis in 2008.... What we don't know the state of credit default swaps held by banks against sovereign debt and against European banks, nor do we know the state of CDS held by British banks, nor are we certain of how certain the exposure of British banks is to the Ireland sovereign debt problems."

And Shapiro is not just some random guy living with his girlfirend.

Aside from being an advisor to the IMF, Shapiro is the co-founder and chairman of Sonecon, LLC, and was formerly the U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce. He has a Ph.D. from Harvard, among other degrees, oversaw the Census Bureau, and has been a Fellow at Harvard, Brookings, and the National Bureau of Economic Research.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/fina ... -says.html

World facing worst financial crisis in history, Bank of England Governor says

The world is facing the worst financial crisis since at least the 1930s “if not ever”, the Governor of the Bank of England said last night.

Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England Photo: PAUL GROVER

By James Kirkup10:00PM BST 06 Oct 2011 865 Comments

Sir Mervyn King was speaking after the decision by the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee to put £75billion of newly created money into the economy in a desperate effort to stave off a new credit crisis and a UK recession.
Economists said the Bank’s decision to resume its quantitative easing [QE], or asset purchase programme, showed it was increasingly fearful for the economy, and predicted more such moves ahead.

Sir Mervyn said the Bank had been driven by growing signs of a global economic disaster.
“This is the most serious financial crisis we’ve seen, at least since the 1930s, if not ever. We’re having to deal with very unusual circumstances, but to act calmly to this and to do the right thing.”

But to Herman Cain, the protesters are there because, well, they're losers.


BTW this picture speaks volumes:

[eyeno]

http://www.businessinsider.com/imf-advisor-could-see-eurozone-meltdown-in-2-or-3-weeks-2011-10

IMF Advisor: Could See Eurozone 'Meltdown' in 2 Or 3 Weeks

Simone Foxman | Oct. 6, 2011, 5:07 PM | 8,572 | 35

In an interview on the BBC (via ZeroHedge), IMF advisor Robert Shapiro said some incredibly alarmist things.

He tells broadcasters that if eurozone leaders don't address the crisis properly we will see a meltdown as soon as later this month.

In his words:

"If they can not address [the financial crisis] in a credible way I believe within perhaps 2 to 3 weeks we will have a meltdown in sovereign debt which will produce a meltdown across the European banking system.

We are not just talking about a relatively small Belgian bank, we are talking about the largest banks in the world, the largest banks in Germany, the largest banks in France, that will spread to the United Kingdom, it will spread everywhere because the global financial system is so interconnected. All those banks are counterparties to every significant bank in the United States, and in Britain, and in Japan, and around the world.

This would be a crisis that would be in my view more serious than the crisis in 2008.... What we don't know the state of credit default swaps held by banks against sovereign debt and against European banks, nor do we know the state of CDS held by British banks, nor are we certain of how certain the exposure of British banks is to the Ireland sovereign debt problems."

And Shapiro is not just some random guy living with his girlfirend.

Aside from being an advisor to the IMF, Shapiro is the co-founder and chairman of Sonecon, LLC, and was formerly the U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce. He has a Ph.D. from Harvard, among other degrees, oversaw the Census Bureau, and has been a Fellow at Harvard, Brookings, and the National Bureau of Economic Research.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/fina ... -says.html

World facing worst financial crisis in history, Bank of England Governor says

The world is facing the worst financial crisis since at least the 1930s “if not ever”, the Governor of the Bank of England said last night.

Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England Photo: PAUL GROVER

By James Kirkup10:00PM BST 06 Oct 2011 865 Comments

Sir Mervyn King was speaking after the decision by the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee to put £75billion of newly created money into the economy in a desperate effort to stave off a new credit crisis and a UK recession.
Economists said the Bank’s decision to resume its quantitative easing [QE], or asset purchase programme, showed it was increasingly fearful for the economy, and predicted more such moves ahead.

Sir Mervyn said the Bank had been driven by growing signs of a global economic disaster.
“This is the most serious financial crisis we’ve seen, at least since the 1930s, if not ever. We’re having to deal with very unusual circumstances, but to act calmly to this and to do the right thing.”

But to Herman Cain, the protesters are there because, well, they're losers.


BTW this picture speaks volumes:

I'm gonna say this one more time because I believe it. Most likely Syria is on its way out. Probably after that Saudia Arabia too maybe. The Euro crashes and then the Dollar crashes after that. Time frame? Who knows. But I think its coming. After that? Global/multi regional currency...that is the goal...

[Nordic]

Really? That Euro thing ain't working out too good right now.

[elfismiles]

http://twitter.com/#!/OccupyPics4u

[Bruce Dazzling]

I stole the (awesome) slogan from wintler.

[slimmouse]

http://www.businessinsider.com/imf-advisor-could-see-eurozone-meltdown-in-2-or-3-weeks-2011-10

IMF Advisor: Could See Eurozone 'Meltdown' in 2 Or 3 Weeks

Simone Foxman | Oct. 6, 2011, 5:07 PM | 8,572 | 35

In an interview on the BBC (via ZeroHedge), IMF advisor Robert Shapiro said some incredibly alarmist things.

He tells broadcasters that if eurozone leaders don't address the crisis properly we will see a meltdown as soon as later this month.

In his words:

"If they can not address [the financial crisis] in a credible way I believe within perhaps 2 to 3 weeks we will have a meltdown in sovereign debt which will produce a meltdown across the European banking system.

We are not just talking about a relatively small Belgian bank, we are talking about the largest banks in the world, the largest banks in Germany, the largest banks in France, that will spread to the United Kingdom, it will spread everywhere because the global financial system is so interconnected. All those banks are counterparties to every significant bank in the United States, and in Britain, and in Japan, and around the world.

This would be a crisis that would be in my view more serious than the crisis in 2008.... What we don't know the state of credit default swaps held by banks against sovereign debt and against European banks, nor do we know the state of CDS held by British banks, nor are we certain of how certain the exposure of British banks is to the Ireland sovereign debt problems."

And Shapiro is not just some random guy living with his girlfirend.

Aside from being an advisor to the IMF, Shapiro is the co-founder and chairman of Sonecon, LLC, and was formerly the U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce. He has a Ph.D. from Harvard, among other degrees, oversaw the Census Bureau, and has been a Fellow at Harvard, Brookings, and the National Bureau of Economic Research.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/fina ... -says.html

World facing worst financial crisis in history, Bank of England Governor says

The world is facing the worst financial crisis since at least the 1930s “if not ever”, the Governor of the Bank of England said last night.

Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England Photo: PAUL GROVER

By James Kirkup10:00PM BST 06 Oct 2011 865 Comments

Sir Mervyn King was speaking after the decision by the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee to put £75billion of newly created money into the economy in a desperate effort to stave off a new credit crisis and a UK recession.
Economists said the Bank’s decision to resume its quantitative easing [QE], or asset purchase programme, showed it was increasingly fearful for the economy, and predicted more such moves ahead.

Sir Mervyn said the Bank had been driven by growing signs of a global economic disaster.
“This is the most serious financial crisis we’ve seen, at least since the 1930s, if not ever. We’re having to deal with very unusual circumstances, but to act calmly to this and to do the right thing.”

Its a pity this guy never mentioned Iceland......remember Iceland......that country that told the bankers where to stick their bailouts ?

Whats happened to Iceland since........well youre all smart folks on here......go look it up lest you forgot...


Back on topic. May the force be with the occupants.

Just one other thing......wasnt the original message to get money out of politics ? That always struck me as a good starter.

[Plutonia]

This is an awesome move, but just to clarify a few things: Manhattan was Lenape land, not Algonquin. Lenape were part of the Algonquian language group. And lastly, the man in the photo is Scabby Bull, an Arapaho

[...]

“I had it all. Even the glass dishes with tiny bubbles and imperfections, proof they were crafted by the honest, simple, hard-working indigenous peoples of … wherever.”

It's an awesome concept. In line with JP Montano's essay posted a few pages back.

A native friend of mine described this as using a picture of a Chinese guy to encourage Filipinos to get the Irish out of Egypt.

Ah thanks Luther, I wondered about the Algonquins being so far south and east. We get that confusion around here where, say, the Haida (nation) are identified as Tlingit (language).

I don't know where that image came from but it is being circulated by Native activists on twitter - they are protesting Columbus Day today, and they are all commenting about being left out of the OWS conversation - nothing they are not used to.

If you know (of) someone who is willing to go down there and do a teach in, they are IMO urgently needed.

Here's the contact email: owseducation(at)gmail.com

[Plutonia]

List of occupation twitter feeds is being complied:

@OccupyBradenton @Occupy_Ottawa @OccupyAusUnions @OccupySeoul @OccupyTijuana @OccupyNewcastle @Occupy_Mumbai @OccupyNZD @@ccupyPyongyang @OccupyIthaca @occupysyracuse @OccupyHonolulu @OccupyDetMI @OccupyBostonNU @OccupyFrankfurt @OccupyBayStreet @@OccupyABQ @OccupyFortMyers @OccupyNorthCal @OccupyRedlands @OccupySSU @OccupyGvilleSC @OccupyTriCities @OccupyMcAllen @OccupyGR @OccupyCairo @OccupyEgypt @OccupyCV @OccupyALBERTA @OccupyNorman_OU @OccupyMontana @OccupyFRBSF @NEUOccupyBoston @OccupyWelly @OccupySpfdMO @OccupyBerks @OccupyCamden @Occupy_Syracuse @OccupyWRJ @Occupy417 @occupywashdc @OccupyBloomPA @OccupyPhils @OccupyPhil @OccupyPhil @OccupyND @OccupyIowaCity @OccupyMumbai @OccupyJersey @OccupyKern @OccupyCentralCA @OccupySacTown @OccupyLYCO @OccupyAthensGA @OccupyLongBeach @occupykelowna @OccupyGalway @OccupyAustria @OccupyChapleHil @OccupySalemMass @OccupyMinnesota @OccupyDayton @OCCUPYOCALA @OccupyBloNo @OccupyHutto @OccupyColorado @OccupyGTF_MT @OccupyGroningen @Occupy_Orlando @Occupy_Orlando @OccupyFortSmith @OccupyOmaha @OccupySurrey @OccupyFortWorth @OccupyBtown @OccupyRockford @OccupyMadison99 @OccupySpain @OccupyBayonne @OCCUPYAUGUSTA @OccupyLondonOnt @OccupyGreenvill
@OccupyTwinPorts @OccupyWorcester @OccupyMailboxes @OccupyGSONC @OccupyFM @occupyqueretaro @OccupyCO @OccupyMartnsbrg @OccupyCampinas @occupyModesto @OccupyKeyWest @OccupyWSNC @OccupyHGB @OccupyRedding @Occupy_Lawrence @occupyingphilly @OccupyCoSprings @occupyeaton @OccupyFLX @OccupySPI217 @Occupy_StLouis @OccupyRutgers @OccupyFTCollins @OccupyPK @OccupyCville @occupymuskegon @OccupyCornwall @occupy_japan @OccupyTCC @OccupyTheHill @OccupyHeaven @OccupyMercedCA @OccupyCentralFL @OccupyKokomo @occupyitaly @occupyitaly @Occupons3R @occupywilmingtn @OccupyUnivPlace @OccupyBoulderCO @OccupyDameStr @Occupy_LA @OccupyBCN @occupykcmo @OccupyPA @OccupyWMPT @OccupyFTL @OccupyFSU @OccupyFullerton @OccupySV @OccupyMoCo @OccuponsMontrea @OccupyTtown @OccupyMobile @Occupy_Concord @OccupyWarrenOH @OccupyIF @OccupyPocatello @OccupyTNJC @OccupyBHgrove @occupychucktown @occupypcola @OccupyZagreb @OccupyCPH_ @OccupyColumbia @OccupyNFLD @OccupyIndianpls @occupyerie @OccupyMancNow @OccupyPEI @OccupyBerlin @Occupy801 @OccupyFredNB @OccupyCourtSt @OccupyTupperLak @Occupy_duess @OccupyRochester @occupychucktown @occupypcola @OccupyNederland @OccupyChicago @OccupyChitown @OccupyKentucky @occupydallas @occupyhouston @occupyAustin @occupychatt @occupycleveland @OccupyBsAs @occupylexky @OccupyMN @occupysananto @occupyrichmond @occupycanada @occupywichita @OccupyCNN @OccupyAtl OccupyToledo @OccupySuburbia @occupyparis @OccupyCologne @OccupyHumboldt @OccupyCHA @occupyportland @OccupyPdx @occupyamsterdam @occupyventura @OWSAtlanta @occupyamsterdam @OccupyPerth @occupyNashville @occupyMemphis @OccupySD @Occupybuffalo

http://pastebin.com/wteam1Vr

Not listed?

AnonyOps Anonymous
#OWS list updated. Let me know if some are still missing. bit.ly/o1Chj1
5 hours ago

Also:

AnonyOps Anonymous
If you see any *conservative* articles supporting #OWS, please send to me with hashtag #consOWS - we need both sides represented!
20 minutes ago

[Plutonia]

Check out the #OWS message on the amp of Blondie's Chris Stein, on Tonight Show

[Elvis]

Willow, Elvis, et al of the Seattle persuasion, what's going on at Westlake? Anybody know? I was down there last night, passing through from some volunteer time at the radio and there was basically a handful of "hippies", kids really, just hanging out playing drums, running around like flirting teenagers and such. Cops on all ends of the park. Granted, it was late (maybe midnight). Is the "occupy" part only during the day? Have the cops successfully thwarted Seattle's effort in this?

Hi 82, the last I saw in Seattle was late Thursday afternoon, when I had to return home. I expect to be back in Seattle on Sunday for 2-3 days, maybe we can meet up.

Compared with some other cities, I'm a little disappointed with the overall Seattle turnout; Portland put us to shame, and I see cities all over are getting more substantial turnouts.

That said, there's a good spirit at Westlake, and from time to time I was able to leave work and join in. It was the first time I'd been part of a real public protest, first time waving a protest sign. I always felt it ineffective, getting out there just to be ignored or belittles by MSM. But this is one that resonates with me, pointing the finger in the right direction---Wall Street and the banking system. It was a little bit transformative for me. It felt great, and there was no way I could be working right across the street and not participate.

I didn't have a camera, and I haven't yet got the pics my coworkers took, so I copped some images from local news channels (thanks, KING-TV and KOMO)...

The first night after the tents were removed and 25 recalcitrants were arrested, it rained, and some diehards slept under an awning:





The police had withdrawn to pretty much one patrol car at the periphery---with headlights and car-roof-mounted spotlights aimed into the park, all night long:



The next day, Thursday, the park was fairly full again, with food stand operating again.

Here's this fellow again (I'd seen him in a TV clip posted here), I met him and we chatted a bit. You can see me behind him, with the black hat and sign. Note the Chase Bank sign across the street.


I made a big sign, availed myself of one of our store's "V" costumes, and headed over to the opposite curb to join the line:



A uniformed Chase security guard came out and stood on the steps...hahaha, what, they worried? He's gonna stop people from coming in and closing their accounts?

At the time, I didn't realize that when I stood in the spot below, the bank of America logo appeared right above my sign!



btw, that's how you make a sign, imo, folks---big block letters! I chose my two-word slogan based on one of my pet arguments, to drop banks and use credit unions (something everyone can do individually, yet en masse if only they would).

I had some conversations with myself about whether or not the costume was helpful, or just gimmicky. I'm not naturally a public attention-seeker, but the costume was right there so I couldn't resist it. (But damn, I forgot the cool black gloves!) Many people, even some tourist types, gestured for me to pause in their direction for photos, which I did.

Along the curb, the scene was pretty much like this:



Good to note that every time a city garbage truck drove by, the drivers honked their support. Even a few bus drivers honked! (and not just 'get out of the way' honks but in support.)

The visible police presence was again just one patrol can, and here a horse:



This guy, below, was standing next to me for awhile:



I was a little wary of his message---suggesting that some violent response might be called for; I mean, was he trying to make all of us look like we're itching for a physical fight? I almost asked him about it but decided not to get into it just then.

There were a couple of other guys with "V" masks there. One came over to 'high-five' and we stood together for some photos. This other fellow, below, was black-clad (black bloc?):



Another black-clad guy, with full black mask and looking very 'black bloc', walked up to me (in my "V" outfit) and just kind of stared. Later he came by and took photos of me. I didn't find any photos of him. I kept my eye on him.

And here's a side note I found interesting---my boss tells me that someone, in which city he forgot, ordered sixty "V" masks from the online costume store. That's got to be for one of the protests. Our cheap "V" masks weren't in Seattle yet or I'd have bought a few on employee discount and handed them out (one guy, a retired Marine camping out there, did ask me for one).

I can't think of anything else to add right now (I'm exhausted from frantic job-work including one non-stop 17-hour stretch, plus my arms are shot from holding my sign aloft. I didn't think of putting it on a stick...I'm new at this, see.)

Lastly, for now, here's a sign I liked:



I would have stayed but for various reasons had to get home for a couple days at least. I'm planning to return Sunday. Meanwhile I'll try to keep track at occupyseattle.org etc.

Memo to Seattle---get your butts down to Westlake!

[Plutonia]

OccupySamara OccupySamara
by takethesquare
@takethesquare @revolution_info @occupymoscow #occupyrussia #15oct Челябинск с нами! Chelyabinsk is with us! RT Please @occupychel74
10 hours ago

Richard Stallman tell us the reason for taking to the streets on October 15th. #my15oct



Wow! Blondie, Russians, Ubergeeks and Elvis too!

We are winning!!