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Free, not-for-profit newspaper born out of the #Occupy movement. Dedicated to sociopolitical, economic and environmental justice. Enemies of neoliberalism.
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#02 02NOV2011
Campresidentsvoicedangerthisweekasclergyandcouncillorsalikethreatenedlegalactiontoforcethemfromapublicsquare. Between200-300campersfromOccupyLondonStockExchangehaveheldStPaul’sSquareformorethanafortnightafterpolicebarredthemfromtheprivately-ownedPaternosterSquaredirectlyoutsidetheexchange. ButbothStPaul’sCathedralandtheCityofLondonconfirmedlatelastweektheywereseekinganevictionordertobreakupthecampongroundsofobstructingapublichighway.
CityofLondonsaidinastatementtheybelievedprotestwas“anessentialright”inademocracy–“butcampingonthehighwayisnot.”“Webelievewewillhaveastronghighwayscasebecauseanencampmentonabusythoroughfareclearlyimpactstherightsofothers,”itread. MeanwhiletheCathedralsaidonlythatlegalactionhad“regrettablybecomenecessary.” “TheChapteronlytakesthisstepwiththegreatestreluctanceandremainscommittedtoapeacefulsolution,”theCathedral’srulingChaptersaidinastatement.>>
ChurCh & State Seek LegaL aCtiON
RoRy MacKinnon
RelationsbetweenOccupyLSXandStPaul’sCathedraltookanothertwistlastMondaywhentheDeanofStPaul’s,GraemeKnowles,resignedamidthecontroversyofSt.Paul’shandlingoftheoccupation.Lastweekthecathedralsoughtlegalactiontoevictoccupiers,whichhascausedthreeclergytoquit. Inastatement,Knowlessaidhehadresignedto“givetheopportunityforafreshapproachtothecomplexandvitalquestionsfacingStPaul’s,Ihavethoughtitbesttostanddownasdean,toallownewleadershiptobeexercised.Idothiswithgreatsadness,butInowbelievethatIamnolongertherightpersontoleadtheChapterofthisgreatcathedral.” WithKnowlessteppingdown,theCathedralhasaskedtheBishopofLondonDrRichardChartrestoassistinprovidinganindependentvoiceontheongoingsituationatStPaul’s.
TwootherStPaul’sclergyquittheirpostsinsolidaritywiththeprotesters. ThefirstwasthecanonchancellorofStPaul’sCathedral,DrGilesFraser.Hesaidhecouldnotsupportthepossibilityof“violenceinthenameofthechurch”,thentheRevFraserDyer,whoworkedasachaplainatStPaul’s,steppeddownbecausehewas“leftfeelingembarrassed”bythecathedralsevictiondecision. Knowles’announcementcameonedayafterheandChartresmetwiththeoccupierstolistentoandspeaktothemabouttheirconcerns.Atthepublicmeeting,theysaidtheydidnotwanttheevictiontobeviolent,andthattheywerewillingtoopendialogueovertheissuesthemovementwastryingtoaddress.However,manyprotesterstoldtheOccupiedTimestheyfelttheclericswereevasiveoftheirquestions,anddidnotsayanythingofrealsubstance.
Manyinthemovementwereconcernedaboutaviolenteviction,afteritwasannouncedonFridaythatStPaul’sandtheCityofLondonCorporationwereplanningongettinghighcourtinjunctionstoremovetheprotesters. Chartrestoldtheoccupiers“nobodywantstoseeviolence.”MusicianandoccupierBenDoranfeltthemenwerecontradictorywiththeirintentionstoevict,butalsonotwantingviolence. “Anevictionwouldapplyviolence.Asalogicalprocessyoucan’tbeagainstoneandfortheother,”hesaid. OccupierTanyaPaton,whowaspartofaworkinggroupresponsibleforliaisingwiththecathedral,toldtheOccupiedTimesshehadbeentryingtoopendialoguewiththecathedralforthepasttwoweeks,andwaspleasedtheyhadfinallystartedtalkingtooccupiers. However,shewasalsoconcernedaboutaviolentevictionandhopedthechurchwouldcommittoprotectingtheoccupiersfromone.
FearS oF a ViOLeNt eVictiON
Stacey Knott
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“Alltrulygreatthoughtsareconceivedbywalking.”saidoneofCanonChancellorGilesFraser’sfavouriteauthors-FriedrichNietzsche.Inthelightoflastweek’sevents,wecantakethisaffirmationevenfurtherandsay,atleastinthecaseofCanonFraser,thatsomegreatthoughtsareembodiedbywalkingaway. Ittakesmuchintegrityforamaninhispositiontorecognisethevalueofmoralactiondespitetheimplicationsofhisresignationforthechurch,andstillactuponhisreligiousconvictions. Wecannotknowforsurewhathappenedbehindcloseddoorsinthechurch.Butwhatwedoknowisthathisdecisiontoresignsignalledtheseparationofthechurchasaninstitutionalisedentityfromthepersonoffaithwithinit.ManyChristians–whetherservingwithinthechurchbyvirtueoftheirbeliefs,orsimplythoseforwhomtheBible’steachingsresonate–willrecognisethisasacrucialmoment.GilesFraser’sresignationshowstheabilityofindividualstomoralisewhereinstitutionsoftencannot. YoudonothavetobeaChristiantoacknowledgethediscrepancybetweenthechurchandtheman.Bywalkingaway,FraserhashighlightedthedichotomybetweenthereligiousestablishmentandChrist’soriginalmoralteachings.Asanindividual,hehasrejectedtheinstitutionalacceptanceofpossibleviolence.Historically,thechurchhasnotalwaysshiedawayfromsuchmeasuresinpursuit
ofaperceived‘greatergood’,soFraserwasnotobligedtosay:‘Notinmyname’. TheCanon’sdepartureleavesalargevoidwithinthechurch.WithouthisspiritfillingthewallsofSt.Paul’s-givingmetaphysicalmeaningtothesoundofbellsawakeningprotestersnightly-thecathedralissuddenlyreducedtojustanotherbuildingofmarbleandglassinthecentreofthisMeccaforbankers.Itremainsarchitecturallyastonishing,buthasbeenemptiedofthemoralitythatcementsitsfoundation. ItisalsoworthmentioningthewarningthatFraserincludedinhisletterofresignation:“Ifthecampisforciblyevicted,therewillbeviolenceinthenameofthechurchagainstpeacefulprotesters.”Wemustnotfoolourselves;ifallothermethodstocensorourvoicesandremoveourpresencefail,violencewilloccur.Itisimportanttoremindourselvesthatthisprotestisnotafestivalcampsiteofpeaceandlove.Weareseenbymany-especiallythepowersthatbe-asahostilepresence,andinourhostilitytothatwhichisunjustliesourvirtue. Thisprotestprovidesaphysicalreminderofthefailureofthoseinpossessionofsocio-economicpowertoactmorally.ByleavingSt.Paul’sinsympathywiththosecampingoutinthetentsSt.Paulhimselfoncemade,Fraserhasillustratedthatbyforcingthosewithpowerintomoraldilemmasandhighlightingthechasmbetweenpeopleandprofit,wecansucceedinbringingaboutrealchange.
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CREDITSCONTRIBUTORS/ GabrielBalfe MirceaBarbu SamBerkson HannahBorno MikeCzech DonnachaDeLong MartinEiermann FlaminiaGiambalvo TimHardy StaceyKnott TarynLadendorff TinaLouise RoryMacKinnon StevenMaclean MatthewMyatt AaronJohnPeters AdamRamsey NataliaSanchez-Bell StefanSimanowitz BrianWhelanDESIGN/ LazarosKakoulidis TzortzisRallisPRINTRUN/ 2000COPIESWITHSPECIALTHANKSTO/ AldgatePress,E17RQCONTACTUS/ [email protected]
CONTENTSPAGES/02Editorial Listing O.EOakland03 Faith&Finance03TheEndofAtomism04KeepthePeace ThisisRevolution WhoFundsSt.PCathedral? FeedingtheMasses StockExchangeMonopoly05CityVoice ClosetEgalicarians06Thisis‘ActuallyHappening- World(S)inMovement07MoneyTalk WhatWouldJesusDo08TotheOccupier FromOccupyWallStreet- toSt.POccupation09TheOccupationIsOur- RefusalToForget10AFriendIndeed St.PaulPrinciples Poems11 AnarchismFor&Against Pirates 12 UseAsAPlacard
OCCuPieD eLSeWhere OccupyBrightonhasbegun:activistsheldtheirfirstgeneralassemblySaturdaywithanestimated130protestersgatheringatthe16-tentcampinVictoriaGardens.TheTimes’Brightoncorrespondentdescribedthesessionas“fruitful.” AuthoritiesacrossAmericahavecontinuedtocrackdownhardonoccupationcamps:NewYork’sfiredepartmenthadconfiscatedOccupyWallSt’sgeneratorsandfuelastheTimeswenttoprint,citingafirerisk;whilepoliceinOakland,SanDiegoandAtlantabrokeuplocalprotestswithbatons,teargas,flashbanggrenades,rubberbulletsandkettling,endingindozensofinjuriesandarrests. InanOccupiedTimesexclusive,astreetmedicandmemberofAnonMedicsfromOccupyOaklandchecksinwithherownaccountofpolicebrutality. “WearrivedinOaklandbeforethemarchbeganonWednesday”.Betweenathousandtotwothousandpeoplegatheredonthelibrarystepsmakingspeeches.Peoplesaidthe[OaklandPoliceDepartment]attemptedtoforcethelibrarytoclose,butthelibraryrefused. Westartedofffromthelibrary,raucousbutpeaceful,andintodowntowntorallyaroundthejail.Copstriedtokettle,blockbyblock,andthefirstmajoraltercationoccurredwhenoneofthemgot(harmlessly)splatteredwithbluepaint.Atthispoint,batonscame
out,kettlegottighter,theysplitthemarch(mypartnermedicgotcutofffromme),andtheygassedthehalfofusthatgotcaught,includinglittlechildrenandbystanders.Ifoundgasvictimsonthegroundinaparkinglot,andwashedtheireyeswithLAW[liquidantacidandwater]. WefoundtheothermarchersandapproachedOscarGrant,néeFrankOgawa,Plaza.[GrantwasanOaklandresidentshotinthebackwhilepinnedtothegroundinpolicecustodyin2009.Hiskillerservedtwoyearsforinvoluntarymanslaughter.]Theplazawasbarricaded,sothemarchmovedarounddowntown,consensustakenrepeatedlyaboutwheretogonext. Thefirstgas,bullet,andflashbangattackhappenedattheplaza,asweralliedintheintersection.Ithappenedagainandagain—gas,flashbangs,bullets,thecrowdscattering,andwithintenminuteseveryonewasbackatthebarricades,unfazed,everytime.Streetmedicspulledpersonafterpersonoutofthecloud,washingtheireyesandmouthswithLAW,bandagingandphotographingtheirbulletandgrenadecontusions.Somemedics,withoutprotectivemasksorarmor,weregassedthreeorfourtimesandkeptgoingbackin. Thevictimswereshaken,weeping,shockedthattheywerebeingattackedfornoreason,bypeoplewhowepaidtoprotectus.Andithappenedfivetimesthatnight.
RoRy MacKinnon
>>Thestatementsfollowedtensescenesatthecouncil’smeetinginGuildhall,wherecouncillorsimmediatelyvoted12-4toejectpressandmembersofthepublic-includingtheOccupiedTimes-beforediscussingtheeviction. Upwardsof30protesterssatsilentlyastheresolutionpassed:onlythendidprotesterRonanMcNernbreakthesilenceasthe30-oddprotesterspreparedtoleave. “We’repeacefulprotesters—wehaveajustcauseandwehavearighttobeabletodemonstrate,”hesaidtoapplause. ItisunderstoodOccupy’slawyerswilllikelyinvokea
“lawfulexcuse”forthecamp’sexistenceundertheEuropeanConventionofHumanRights. LegalvolunteerJamesSmith,alawgraduatefromLeicesteruniversitywithabackgroundinconveyancing,toldtheOccupiedTimesthecasewouldlargelycentreonwhetherornottheactofcampingwasitselfaformofprotest. ThecampwouldthenbeprotectedundertheConvention’sbindingrighttofreedomofexpressionandpeacefulassembly,hesaid. ThecamphasalsoacceptedanofferfromhumanrightsmonitorsLibertytomediatetalkswithcouncillorsandclergy.
WEDNESDAY2ND3PM/AntheaLawson,GlobalWitness:“Thedictator/offshorepapertrail”4PM/MikeNeary:“Radicaleducation”4PM/@FinsburySquareWorkshoponpeople’sassemblies5PM/JasperTomlinson:“Monetaryjusticeandtheneedforeffectiveprotest”6PM/ErnestWoolmer,aguideatStPauls’Cathedral“ThehistoryofStPaul’s”8PM/OccupyCinemapresentsBattlefield-BoliviandocumentaryonrevoltinLaPazTHURSDAY3RD10AM/RupertRead:“Greengrowth”3PM/JohnKinsella:“Activistpoetics-usingpoetrytobringpositivechange”6PM/“Tenthesesonscarcity”FRIDAy4TH12-1PM/GeorgeIrvin:“PlanBforBritain”3.30PM/Skillshare:“Improvisingactivism”6.30PM/RadicalTheoryReadingGroupmeetsOccupyLSX
SATURDAY5TH11AM/AnnaMinton:“Groundcontrol-privatetakeoverofpublicspaceandhowtowinbackthecommons”12-1PM/AoifeDaly:“Fightingprejudiceagainstchildrenandyoungpeople”2.30PM/Six-packpolicywith15Mmovement:“Europeaneconomicpolicy”5.30PM/InternationalDemocracyPanel,withJoelLazarus,ClaesBelfrage&RichardSeymourSUNDAY6TH2.30PM/BrianLeslie:“Crisisandfinancialreform”4PM/JohnChristensen,TJN&Rev.MichaelTaylor:“Democracybyandforthecorporation:London’sSquareMile”MONDAY7TH3PM/TomMoriarty,formerbanker:“Thecreationofdebtanddemocraticcapitalism”WEDNESDAY9TH4PM/DayofAction–Solidaritywiththestudentanti-feesprotestSpeakerstoincludeGeorgeMonbiot,PollyToynbee,RichardHall,AlexCallincoss&DaveHill
PleasecheckinatTentcityUniversityformoredatesanddetails,tosuggestaspeaker,ortoletusknowofatopicyou’dliketoseeaddressed.
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TFaiTh & FiNaNCeheOccupyLondonmovementisdirectedagainsttheproverbial“onepercent”–notagainstSt.Paul’sCathedral.Itisdirectedagainst
thedisproportionateconcentrationofwealthandpowerattheexpenseofthemany.Bearingthisinmind,hereare7ofthe10trusteesofStPaul’sCathedralFoundation,thecharityorganisationwhichoverseesalleventsandprojectstodowiththecathedral:ChairmanSirJohnStuttardPartneratPriceWaterhouseCooper’s;formerLordMayorofLondon.DameHelenAlexanderDBEDeputychairoftheConfederationofBritishIndustry,oneofthelargestbusinesslobbyinggroupsinthecountryLordIanBlairofBoughtonFormerMetropolitanPoliceCommissionerRogerGiffordInvestmentbankerGavinRalstonGlobalHeadofProductandleadinginternationalassetmanageratSchroderInvestmentManagementCarolSergeantCBEChiefRiskDirectoratLloydsTSB;formerlyManagingDirectorforRegulatoryProcessandRiskattheFinancialStandardsAuthorityJohnSpenceOBEFormerManagingDirector,BusinessBanking,LloydsTSB Nobodysuggeststhatthetrusteesaregatheringfor
clandestinemeetings,likemembersofasecretbrotherhood.ButButwhatwecanconcludefromtheaboveisjusthowcollusive,howintertwined,theinstitutionofStPaul’siswiththeideologywhichwearetryingtofight.ItwouldbenaïvetoexpectthetrusteestoofferskillsandknowledgetoSt.Paul’swithoutbeinginfluencedbytheirexperiencesandinterests.Theirbiographies,afterall,reflectaveryparticularwayoflife.St.Paul’s,asaninstitution,obviouslylendsgreatweighttotheirviewsandopinions. ThetrusteesofSt.Paul’shavebenefittedenormouslyfromthepresentstateofaffairs.Yettheyarenowdealingwithamovementthatbringsattentiontotheinjusticesembeddedinthatstateofaffairsandtothosewhodonotbenefitfromit. Theeventsofthelastfewweekshaveledtoaveryinterestingdynamic.Atthetimeofwriting,twoclericalfigureshaveresignedoverthechurch’sdecisions.Wearewitnessingtheclashoftwovisionsfortheroleofthechurch.Accordingtothefirstview,St.Paul’sisprimarilyatouristattractionandaproviderofchurchservices. ItiscomfortablysituatedinthecentreofthelargestconcentrationofwealthinBritainevenintimesofeconomiccrisisandhardship.Yetthisviewnowclasheswiththeself-imageofthechurchasthemoralconscienceofsociety.
Untilrecently,StPaul’shaslimiteditselftoareasofactivitywhereithasneverhadtoconfrontthiscontradictiondirectly.Wordssufficedwhenevermoralquestionswereputbeforethechurch.Asrecentlyaslastweek,GraemeKnowles,theDeanofStPaul’s,wroteinastatementthat,“ThedebateaboutamorejustsocietyisattheheartofmuchourworkatStPaul’sandindeedwehopetocontributetothewiderdebateintheverynearfuturethroughaReportfromtheStPaul’sinstitute.” Tous,thevaguepromiseof“aReport”seemsdisappointinglynon-committal.Fedupwiththeinequalitiesofoursociety,peoplehavebroughtthemselvesoutontothestreetstoactuallymanifestchange.OuruniquesituationofOccupyLSXhasnotonlyhighlightedproblemsofinjusticebuthasalsoshonealightontheroleofthechurchasamoralguardianofsociety. Manyclericsarenowfacedwithamoraldilemma:Howwillthechurch(andtheindividualsthatcompriseit)dealwithaprotestmovementwhoseaimsconvergewithcertainidealsoftheChristianfaith?AndhowwillSt.Paul’sfinancialinterestsinfluencediscussionsaboutmoralleadership?TheresignationoftwoclergymembersindicatestheseverityofthedilemmathatmighteventuallyresultintheforcibleremovalofprotestersfromthedoorstepsofSt.Paul’sCathedral.
GabRiel balfe
a BrieF CritiQue OF the NeOLiBeraL ageNDathe eND OF atOMiSM WhenIwaslittle,mygrandfathertookmeonhiskneeandexplainedthemarkettome.Intheory,itwasawayforpeopletoinvestinbusinessesandcommoditiesthattheysawhadafutureintheeconomy.Forahandfulofbills,wecouldownatinysliceofabusiness.However,inthelastdecadethissimpleacthasexplodedintocomplexity,withover-the-counterderivatives,futurescontracts,currencyspeculation,ortaxcreditdefaultswaps. Marketfinancebecameanewformofworship:Whatwouldthemarketthink?Whatwouldthemarketsay?Withoutevenknowingwhy,thecommonpersonwassuddenlyexhortedtocareverydeeplyabouthowthemarket“felt”aboutsomething.Ifthemarketwasupset,somethingsounspeakablyterriblewouldhappen!Bettertoofferupourfleshandbloodassacrifice,cutsocialspendingandourchildren’sfuturesshortsothatthemarketmightbepleased.Thehighpriestsofpowerencourageustotrustthemandtosimplyletthemactinourbestinterest-whetherornotweunderstandwhatisgoingon. “Why”,mightweask,“isitsoimportanttodevelopanunderstandingofthemarketandofneoliberalmarkettheory?”Therearetwoanswerstothis:First,itisnotdifficulttounderstandwhatisgoingon.Theremightbeveryconfusingtermsthrownabout,buttheconfusionboilsdowntosimpleconcepts.Secondly,the“Occupy
____”movementisamovementdirectedagainsttheneoliberalagenda,althoughitdoesnotalwaysarticulateitsoppositioninthoseterms.Inordertocureanillness,wemustfirstdiagnoseit.Onlythenwillwebeabletoformulatethepropermedicationneededtogetbetter. Neoliberalismcanbeaconfusingterm.DavidHarveydefinesitas“atheoryofpoliticaleconomicpracticesthatproposesthathumanwell-beingcanbestbeadvancedbyliberatingindividualentrepreneurialfreedomsandskillswithinaninstitutionalframeworkcharacterizedbystrongprivatepropertyrights,freemarkets,andfreetrade.”Toputitsimply:themarketmustbefree,withoutgovernmentinterferencebeyondenforcingprivatepropertylaws.Theconfusionsetsinwhenwerememberthatwithallthesebailouts,taxcuts,andslaps-on-the-wrist,themarketisn’treallyfreeatall!Ifanything,itisnowintimatelyconnectedwiththestate.Soneoliberalismissomethingthatisinherentlycontradictoryinitsstatedideology. Yetifweunderstandneoliberalismasanideologythatencouragestheaccumulationofassetsandpowerthroughthefreemarket,stateinvolvementbywayofbail-outsandausteritycutssuddenlyseemsmorereasonabletopreventagrowingimbalancebetweenthemarginalizedmanyandthepowerfulfew. Neoliberalismassumesthatthestatehasanewroleinour
lives.Insteadofitbeingsomethingthatiselectedbyandforthepeople,itisnowaninstitutionthatistheprotector/enforcerofthemarketanditswhims.Inreturnforprotectingthefreemarket,thestategainsanincredibleamountofpower.Undertheauspicesof“protectingprivateproperty”,governmentsnowhavethelegalabilitytointrudeonyourlifeinwaysneverbeforeimagined. Neoliberalismstartedoutbyattackingthemostvulnerableamongus:thosewholivehand-to-mouthinthethirdworld,thepoor,thementallyill,thecold,andthehungry.Yetjustasneoliberalcapitalismdemandsmoreaccesstomarketsinordertoexpand,italsodemandsthatnewpopulationsliveaccordingtoitslogic. TheUnitedStatesisafantasticexample.AreckoningforthesinsofthefathercameupontheUnitedStatesintheformofrottinghousesinNewOrleans,emptyfactoriesinDetroit,andhomelessveteransfreezingtodeathinthestreetsofNewYork.Thewealthgapgrewaswagesstartedtofallandjobsgrewscarce.Suddenly,webegantonoticethatoursocialsafetynethadbeencutfromunderus:Nohealthinsurance,unemploymentcompensationat£120perweek,housesbeingforeclosedon,andretirementaccountsthatsuddenlybecameworthless.Associalsecurityandeducationarehauleduponthechoppingblock,forcesthattheUSgovernmenthelpedtounleashconsumeourfuture.
Yetthemostdangerouspartofneoliberalismisthatispursuesanatomisticviewofsociety.Accordingtothatlogic,societyissimplymadeupofindividualswhoseprimarydemocraticresponsibilityisconsumption.Thisindividualisationofhumankindcreatednotonlyavacuousconsumerculture,butalsoendedupisolatingustoanastonishingdegree. ThetrueachievementoftheOccupymovementhasbeenareclaimingofpublicspaceandhumansolidarity.Whenwasthelasttimeyoustoodaroundandspoketoperfectstrangersabouthowtheworldshouldberun?TheOccupymovementhasbeguntorefocusourattentiononnon-monetaryvalues.Thepotencyofthosediscussionsisevident.ThisiswhyskullsgetcrackedinNewYork,flashbangsandgasgetsthrowninOakland,andwhythepoliceparadearoundwithmachinegunshereinLondon. Itisthesimpleactofgatheringandindependentthinkingthatconstitutesthebiggestthreattothestatusquo.Ifthepeoplehavefoundawaytoexcusethemselvesfromtheirbleakexistencebygatheringandfeedingandcaringforeachother,thesystemofspeculativeprofitbeginstocrack. Thereinliestherealthreattothe1%.Concernsabouthealthandsafetyviolations,aboutfirecodesorthelossoftouristmoneymerelymaskthemuchbiggerjeopardytothestatusquo:Apeoplewhoareself-actualizedanddeterminedtobreaktheendlesscycleofconsumption.Itispreciselyinthoserupturesthatwemayfindacuretothediseaseofneoliberalism.
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Matthew Myatt
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AlessandroPetruzzihasbecomeafamiliarfacetoparticipantsoftheLondonoccupation,whomhefeedsusdaily.Workingfromasmallcampkitchen,atenttuckedontherightsideofStPaul’sCathedral,heprovidesatleast400mealadayusingfooddonatedbysupportersofthemovement. AtrainedItalianchef,Alessandrorunsthekitcheninanunorthodoxbutprofessionalmanner.HeworkedinsomeofMilan’stoprestaurants,andnowlivesinLondonworkingnightsatasecurityfirmandspendinghisdaysrunningthekitchen.Themake-shiftkitchenisinagazebo,withgascookers,longtablesandawashingupsection.Andit’snotonlytheoccupiershehasbeenfeeding.
Alessandrohashadhomelesspeopleandtouristsaswellasbusinesspeoplestoppingbyfornourishingmeals. Thekitchenusuallyhassnacks,likebread,spreads,fruitorbiscuitslaidout,andthestaffareoftenseenbentovergascookersmakingricedishes,lentil,soupsorpastawhentryingtoprovide3hotmealsaday.Asheisfullytrainedinkitchenhealthandsafety,thekitchenmeetsalltherequirementsneededtooperate.“Safetyinthekitchenisveryimportant,wehavedangerineverycorner,wehaveknives,wehavefire,everything,”hesaid.Acityhealthinspectorhascomearoundtocheckoutthekitchenafewtimessinceitsinceptionandhasfoundituptostandardeach
time,somethingtobeexpected,Alessandrosaid. Healwayshasaneyeonwhatallhisvoluntarystaffaredoing,andcoordinatesthemasneedsbe.Healsoenforcesrulesthatarefoundinanyprofessionalkitchens,likethenosmokingrequirement,haircoveredandtiedbackandcleanandtidyclothing.“Idon’twanttomakemyselfresponsibleforevictionbecauseofthekitchen;thekitchenissafe”,AlessandrotoldOccupiedTimes.Thekitchenisalwaysinneedofdonations,andtheyaregratefulforalloffers. IfyouwanttomeetAlessandrooranyofthededicated,hard-workingvolunteersworkinginthekitchencomedowntoSt.Paul’sSquare.We‘eopen!
FeeDiNg the MaSSeS Stacey Knott
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SomeofLondon’sbestundergroundhip-hopartiststurnedupatOccupy LSX foran impromptu concertonFridaynight.Followingtheroutinegeneralassembly,St.Paul’ssquarebecameanoutdoormusicvenueasartists tackledsocialissueswithrap. Justminutesearlier,protestorshadbeendebating whether ornottoadoptresolutionsregardingthebio-sphere andglobalactionintoaplannedsetofdemands. RapartistsSunnyGreenandRobertProverbzwerejusttwoofahostofperformerswhotookthedebatetoanewlevelwiththeirsubversivelyricsaboutgovernment,policeandinequality.
Occupiersandpassers-by quicklygatheredtolistentotheartistsexpressing theirsupportfortheoccupation thewaytheyknowbest:throughmusic. 16yearoldSunnyGreenwasfirstonstage.Hiscreativeangerannouncedwhatsoonbecameamemorablenightat LSX.“Weneedtobe taught fromayoungageaboutthe lawful meaningofwords”saidSunny. “Throughmusicwewillchangethings.That’swhythere’smany16year olds downhere,theyknowwhat’sgoingon”. His enthusiasm,energyandcreativitywere remarkable.Theirpotentialtoinspireour
youthtobecomemoreawareoftherealconnotationsofthis movementwasclearasthecrowdrespondedpositivelytoveryspecificlyrics. RobertProverbz,28,followedshortlyafterwithanemotionallychargedperformance,againusinglyricsinkeepingwiththemovementwhichresonatedwiththegatheredcrowd. Theexperiencedrapperwaslessoptimisticthanhisyoungercontemporary,expressinghisdoubtsabouttheoutcomeofthe movementwhilespeakingtoTheOccupiedTimes,“TobehonestIdon’tthinkchangeispossiblerightnow,theagendaisfartoolongin,butthatdoesn’tstopme.
hiP-hoP reVOLuTiON
The“CapitalismIsCrisis”bannermighthavecomedown,butthereisanewcenterpieceof(self-)expressionattheSt.Paul’scamp:Agiantmonopolyboardthatplaysondiscussionsofgreedandbailouts.ThepiecewasdonatedtothecampbyanunnamedartistaheadoftheMonopolyBikeRideonOctober27.Sincethen,severalpiecesofarthavebeenaddedtotheoriginalinstallation,includingamockget-out-of-jailcardwiththetagsofthestreetartistsBanksyandZeus.TheOccupiedTimesspokewithseveralpeoplewhoindicatedthatthearthadindeedbeendonatedbyBanksy. “Monopoly”beganitshistoryasaneducationalgametitled“Landlord’sGame”intheearly20thcentury.Theoriginalcreator,awomannamedElizabethMargie,wantedtousethegametoexplainthebenefitsofasingletaxonlandthatwouldhavemadeitlesscostlytorunindividualbusinessesandmorecostlytoamasslargeamountsoflandinprivatehands.DuringtheGreatDepression,theideacaughttheeyeof
Americaneconomicsstudents.Theyadjustedtherulestoallowplayerstolinkpropertiesandconstructbuildings.Theemphasisofthegameshifted:Insteadofdiscouragingthemonopolizationofland,thesuccessfulgameplaynowdependedontheabilityofplayerstomonopolizecolorgroups.Thegamewasre-named“Monopoly”andfirstsoldduringthe1934holidayseason. Onlyinthe1970sdidsomeonetrytoreturnthegametoitsoriginalidea.EconomicsprofessorRalphAnspachwonanout-of-courtsettlementin1974thatallowedhimtosellhisowngameunderthename“Anti-Monopoly”–whichisjustwhatyouwouldexpect:A“gamewhichisagainstmonopolists”,accordingtoAnspach. Truetoitsmessage,theSt.Paul’sboardhasalreadybeguntoevolvefrominstallationtomessageboard.PoliticalgraffiticoversmostoftheartwhiletheadjacentTentCityUniversityhostsregulardiscussionsandlecturesabouteconomics,politics,andjustice.
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CLoSet egaLicaRiaNS arlierthisyear,theeconomistMichaelNortonfromHarvardBusinessSchoolandDukeUniversity’sbehavioraleconomistDan
Arielypublishedastudywiththetitle“BuildingaBetterAmerica-OneWealthQuintileataTime”.Init,theyaskedarepresentativeonlinepaneltwosimplequestions: 1.WhatisthedistributionofwealthinAmericatoday? 2.Whatshouldthedistributionofwealthbelike? Respondentstothesurveypredictedthatthetop20%ofAmericanscontrolledcloseto60%ofoverallwealth,andthatthebottom40%ofAmericanscontrolledcloseto10%ofwealth.Whenaskedtooutlinetheiridealwealthdistribution,respondentscameupwithanalmostegalitarianschemethatwouldgivethetop20%controlover30%ofwealth,andgivethebottom40%around25%ofwealth. Theresultswererathersurprising,eventothetworesearchers:Bothwealthdistributionswerefaroffthestatisticaldatathattheyhadgatheredaboutactualwealthdistribution.IncontemporaryAmerica-thelandofopportunity,oftheAmericanDream,Hollywoodandsocialmobility-thetop20%controlover80%ofwealth.Thebottom40%controllessthan2%.That’stwopercentofwealth,forfortypercentofthepopulation-astaggeringlevelofinequalitythathasbeengrowingratherrapidlysincethemid-1970s. Whatdoyoumakeofthosenumbers?NortonandArielyconcludethatwetendtobeoverlyoptimisticaboutsocialmobility(especiallyintheUnitedStates)and
oftenunder-estimatethelevelofinequalityintheworld.Atthesametime,weintuitivelyrejectexcessiveinequalities.Whenaskedaboutourmoralintuitions,thevastmajorityofusareclosetegalitarians. ThosenumbersarespecifictotheUSandcannotbesuperimposedontheBritishcontext.Butarecentnon-representativeGuardianpoll(indicatingthat88%ofrespondentssupportOccupyLSX)providesindicationthatourintuitionsarenotallthatdifferent.IntheUK,thetop10%controlonehundredtimesasmuchwealthasthebottom10%,accordingtotheNationalOfficeofStatisticsdata. Here,too,alargemajorityofpeopleareshockedtorealizehowwidethesocioeconomicgapbetweenrichandpoorhasbecome–andisatleastvaguelysympathetictoamovementthathasariseninresponsetotheseinequalities.Theyareconcernedabouttheeffectsofthatgaponthosewhostruggleintheirdailylives,andonsocietyatlarge-aconcernthatisevidentinconversationsaroundtheOccupyLSXcampeveryday,withpassers-by,tourists,bankers,andthescoresofpeoplewhostopforaquickchatandleavewithadeepersenseofawarenessoftheenormousstrainsofinequality. We,too,areclosetegalitarians.Butincreasingly,wearecomingoutofthecloset.Currentlevelsofinequalityhavesimplybecomeeconomically,politicallyandmorallyunsustainable.Someofusareanti-capitalist,someareanti-corporatist,someareanti-corruption,weareparticipatorydemocrats,leftlibertarians,socialdemocrats,liberalsocialists,orenvironmentalactivists.Butonthequestionofinequality,wespeakwithonevoice.
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“Myjobistohelppeoplebecomefinanciallysecure,toprotecttheirfamiliesandincomeandensuretheyarenotjustrelyingonthegovernmentfinanciallywhenitcomestotheirretirements.I’veseenhowsomepeoplehavebeenquitefrustratedwithwhat’sbeengoingoninthelastfewyearswiththemarketsandthewaythingsarerunhere,andreckonitwasonlyamatteroftimebeforeaprotestlikethishappened.Ifyouwanttomakeastatementyou’vegottodoitsomewheretheworldcansee,andStPaul’sisoneplaceinLondontodojustthat.Idobelievetherewillbeachange,toacertaindegree-justlookathowmuchmediainteresttherehasbeen.IfeelsorryforCanonDrGilesFraserthough-becausehe’sbeenplacedunderahugeamountofpressureandheprobablyneverthoughthatsomethinglikethiswouldhappen!Afterallthat’shappened,peoplewhowereundecidedaboutthesesortsofissuesarenowfinallyseeingthatthereisanothersidetothecoin,andthatperhapsthereissometruthinwhatyou’resayingafterall..”KristianWin-Financialadvisor
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In1968,socialscientistsandpoliticiansalikelamentedthe‘endofideology’,andadecliningpublicinterestinpolitics.Likewiseattheendofthe20thcentury,immediatelybeforetheriseoftheanti-globalisationmovementandits‘comingout’partyinthestreetsofSeattlein1999,punditsfocusedontheinstitutionalisationofprevioussocialmovementsintobureaucratisedorganisationsandthe‘anti-political’stanceofanewgenerationthatwassupposedlywithoutprecedent.Society,comingoutofperiodsofrelativequiet,rarelyseesthenextwaveofcontentious‘collectiveaction’onthehorizon. Genuinesocialmovementsinterjectenergyintoanenvironmentcharaterisedbypoliticalinertia.Thestreetsbecomevibrantonlywhenweknowthatinstitutionalpoliticsisfailingus.Thepresentmomentandtheeventswehavewitnessedduringthecourseofthelasttwelvemonthsarenodifferent. Protestmovementshavehistoricallyvariedindimensionandduration.Yetthereareafewcommoncharacteristicsthatuniteratherthandividethem.AsSidneyTarrowwrote,protestsfrequently
coincidewith“aphaseofheightenedconflictandcontentionacrossthesocialsystemthatincludes...aquickenedpaceofchangeintheformsofprotest;acombinationoforganisedandunorganisedparticipation;andsequencesofintensifiedinteractionsbetweenchallengersandauthoritieswhichcanendinreform,repressionandsometimesrevolution”. Allthatonecanestablishattheoutsetofanynew‘cycle’isthatwhatseemedestablishedisonceagaininmotion.Accordingtooneactivistcollective,“...socialmovementscomeintobeingbycreatingproblems;orperhapswecouldsay,movementsformastheymakespecificissuesintoproblemsthatmustbeaddressed.” Theoccupymovementcanbeseeninthislightaswell.Thosewhocomplainaboutthelackofconcretedemandsordeemthemovementirrelevantbecause“itlacksfocus”failtounderstandthatthisispreciselythenatureofprotestmovementsintheirearlystages.Contemporarypublicdebatehaslostitsgraspofrealgrassrootsmovements. Socialmovementsarenolobbygroups,theydonotissuewrits
onthenuancesofpublicpolicyoracclaimcardinalbullsabouthowtorevivifyeconomicgrowth.Theyarenotthinktanksorpoliticalparties.Theyarenoneofthesethings.Instead,socialmovementstransformspecificissues-unemployment,underemployment,privatisationofpublicservicesandspace,highenergyprices,highinflation,over-pricedpublictransport,aferal1percentoffinanciersandpoliticians,tuitionfees,thesurveillancestate,asupremelyundemocraticpoliticalandelectoralapparatus,lowpay-intoproblemsthatmustbeaddressedbyinstitutionalactors. Wemustraiseissues,andwemustraiseourvoices.Problemsofimmediatepertinencetooureverydaylivesandmaterialneedsmustbearticulated.Amidpoliticalandeconomicstagnation,wemustarticulatesharedpublicproblemsthatdemandtobeaddressed. Therectificationofcurrentproblemswilltaketime.Thatisnotnecessarilyabadthing.Afterall,theformulationofdemandsoffersarareglimpseintotheinnerworkingofdemocracy.AsManuelCastellswrites,“politicaldemocracy,asconceivedbytheliberalrevolutions
oftheeighteenthcentury,andasdiffusedthroughouttheworldinthetwentiethcentury,hasbecomeanemptyshell.”AccordingtoCastells,“thenewinstitutional,cultural,andtechnologicalconditionsofdemocraticexercisehavemadetheexistingpartysystem,andthecurrentregimeofcompetitivepolitics,obsoleteasadequatemechanismsofpoliticalrepresentationinthenetworksociety.” Today,wehaverealizedtheshortcomingsofthecurrentsystem.Andinourcollectivememory,weknowtheimportanceofpreventing“tyrantsfromoccupyingthevanishingspaceofdemocraticpolitics.Citizensarestillcitizensbuttheyareuncertainofwhichcity,andofwhosecity.” Theuncertaintyisperhapsbeginningtofade.Thingsareinmovementandtimesindeedarechanging.Wehavereachedahistoricalwatershedmoment.FromAthensandNewYorktoCairo,LondonandOakland,problemsarebeingarticulated.Wehavestartedadiscussionthathasbeenlongoverdue.Andthisisonlythebeginning.Indeed:Weliveininterestingtimes.
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MoNeY taLk$OCCUPIEDTIMES:SoBen,let’stalkmoney.BENDySON:Moneyisattherootofallthesocialproblemsthatwe’refacingtoday:povertyisalackofmoney;thelackofjobsisbecausethere’snotenoughmoneymovingaroundtheeconomy.
OT:We’veseensome‘PositiveMoney’signsaroundthecamp.What’sthePositiveMoneycampaignallabout?BD:Wethinkthere’sahugeproblemwithallowingtheprivatecorporationsthatweallknowas‘banks’tocreatethenation’smoneysupply.Whenyoutakeoutaloanfromabank,themoneyyouborrowdoesn’tactuallycomefromanyoneelse’ssavings.Instead,thebankjustopensupanaccountforyouinitscomputersystem,andtypesthenumbersin.Lastyearalonethebankscreated£110billionofbrandnewmoney,accordingtoBankofEnglandfigures,andpumpedmostofthisintopushinguphousepricesandspeculatingoncommodities(i.e.oilandfoodprices).Andifyoueverwonderedwhythere’ssomuchdebt,it’sbecausealmostallofthemoneyweusetorunsocietyhastobeborrowedfromthebanks.OT:Whatarethesocialimplicationsofthis?
BD:Foronething,inequalityismadeworsebecauseweasthepublichavetopayinterestontheentiremoneysupply,andmostofthatinterestgetsredistributedtothehighly-paidguyswhoarebasedintheCity.Also,becausewedon’thavecontroloverhowouractualsavingsareused,thenoursocietyandtheeconomyendsupreflectingtheshort-termprioritiesofthebanks-sowithoutmostpeoplerealisingit,wehavepacifistsfundingbombs,andenvironmentalistsfundingCanadiantarsands.Thinkwhatkindofimpactitcould’vehadifjusthalfofthatmoneyhadgoneintosay,reducingpoverty,orinvestinginswitchingtocleanenergy.OT:Whatbroughtyoutothisposition?BD:Isimplycouldn’tunderstandwhereallthemoneywascomingfromtofundallthecreditcardsandpersonalloansthatbankswerepushingonpeople.OnedayIstumbledacrossabook,TheGripofDeathbyMartinRowbotham,andthatexplainedhowbanksareabletocreatemoneyoutofnothingwhentheymakeloans.WhenIrealisedthatactuallyallthismoneywasjustbeingcreatedoutofnothing,itseemedlikeahugeproblemthatneededtobetalkedabout.OT:Shouldwebepayingoffourdebts,asDavidCameronsuggests?BD:Well,that’satrulystupidsuggestionfromthePrimeMinister.Thisisanexampleofpeopleinpowernotunderstandinghowthemonetarysystemworks.RememberhowIsaidthatbankscreatemoneywhentheymakeloans?Wellwhensomeonerepaysaloan,theoppositehappens-themoneybasicallydisappears.Soifeveryonestartspayingdownourdebts,itreducestheamountofmoneyinthesystem-it’slikesuckingthelifebloodoutofthe
economy.Whatweneedistoputnewmoneyintotheeconomywithoutincreasingthelevelofdebtatthesametime,andtheonlywaythatcanbedoneisifthegovernmenttakesbackthepowertocreatemoneyfromthebanks.OT:Does‘positivemoney’currentlyexistinanyform?BD:No,unfortunatelythevastmajorityofcountriesintheworldusethesamedebt-based,privatisedmoneysystemastheUK,andasaresultthevastmajorityofcountriesaresinkingundertheweightofallthedebt.Theexistingsystemistriedandtested,andeverytimeit’sbeentested,ithasfailed.Thatsaid,thisideaofstoppingthebanksfromcreatingmoneyhasbeentriedinthepast.Itwastriedonasmallislandabout170yearsago,wherethegovernmentofthedaystoppedbanksfromprintingtheirownpapermoney,andsaidthatonlythestatewouldbeallowedtoprintpapermoney.ThesmallislandwascalledGreatBritain,itwasin1844,anditwasaConservativePrimeMinisterwhopassedthelaw.Sotheremightbehopeforthepresentgovernment!OT:Howwouldthereformsyousuggesthelptoraisepeopleoutofpovertyworldwide?BD:Don’tforgetthatallthismoneyisjustnumbersincomputersystems,whichmeansthatifwecouldreclaimthepowertocreatemoneyfromthebanks,thenwecouldcancelmuchofthis‘third-world’debtwithoutanyofthebigbankslosingevenasinglepenny.OT:So,you’reChancelloroftheExchequerforaday,what’syourfirstbitoflegislation?BD:Simplythis:I’dtakethepowertocreatemoneyawayfromthebanks,andmakesurethatnewly-createdmoneyisusedforthepublicbenefitinsteadofthebenefitofthebankers.
thiS Week, BeN DYSON OF POSitiVeMONeY.Org.uk eXPLaiNS hOW high Street BaNkS Create MONeY theY NeVer eVeN haD iN the FirSt PLaCe...
Christiancamperwrites…PooroldChurchofEngland.Theywerehopingtogetawaywithanother100yearsofnotsayinganythingatallaboutanythingatall,thenOccupyLSXcomesandlandsontheirdoorstep.Whatapicklethey’rein.What’sthatthey’remoaningabout?Injustice?Theft?Somethingaboutthemassiveconcentrationofwealthandpowerinafewhands?Gosh.Shouldwesaysomething...? Ittookawhile,butfinallyacoupleofseniorchurchfiguresspokeout.GeorgeCarey,theformerArchbishopofCanterbury,casthislovingarmsabouttheprotest,andbrandedit “opportunisticandcynical”.Careycriedoutagainsttheinjusticeattheheartoftheoccupation:that“yetanotherblowhasbeenstruckagainstChristianworshippers”whocan’tgetintothecathedraltopray.Because,don’tforget,therearen’tanyotheremptychurchesincentralLondon. HissentimentschimedwiththeBishopofLondon,whosummonedupeverylastounceofcharityinhisbonestosay:“thetimehascomefortheprotesterstoleave,beforethecamp’spresencethreatenstoeclipseentirelytheissuesthatitwassetuptoaddress.”Yes.Wewouldn’twantafewdozententsandsomehomemadebannerseclipsingtheimpendingglobalfinancialcollapse.Goodpoint,Bishop. Tobefairtoboththesevenerableclerics,it’slikelythatintheirbusylivesaschurchmenthey’venevermanaged
tofindtimetoreadtheBible.Iftheyhad,theywouldhaveseenJesustellinghisdisciples:“Sellallthatyouhaveanddistributetothepoor,andyouwillhavetreasureinheaven”(Mark10:21).They’dhaveheardhimsayhehadcome“topreachgoodnewstothepoor”and“tosetatlibertythosewhoareoppressed”(Luke4:18). TomanyChristians,theclosingofStPaul’sandthechillyreceptionfromseniorclergy,hasbeenarealcrisisoffaith–a“scandalon”intheancientGreek.There’saschismgrowing,betweenthosewhowouldcastouttheprotesters,andthosewhoarescandalisedbythemoralweaknessoftheChurch.ChristianTonyGoslingofBristolsaysthat:“manywouldbeshockedthatyouhavetopaytoenteracathedral,sothatthepoor-whomJesus’ministrywasallabout-areexcludedfromthetemple!Extraordinary.” Healsonotesthatironythat“thereisevidenceSt.Paulhimselfwasatentmaker.St.Paul’schapteraresupposedtobestewardingthelandusingChrist’steachingsandlookingafterthesedispossessed.Thepeoplethereinthetentshavecomebecausetheyhavebeenshutoutofthedemocraticprocess.” Andcomingthere,wefindourselvesfacingeviction.AndhaveaformerArchbishopcondemntheir“self-indulgence”forbeingthere.JesusChristmustbespinninginhisgrave.Ohno,hangon...
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WhatIsOccupyLSX?Somethingexcitinghashappened.AwaveoflooselyaffiliatedoccupationsarespringingupacrosstheWesternworld,drawingthousandsofpeopletothestreetsinhundredsofcitiesexpressingdissatisfactionwiththecurrenteconomicorder.Wearecreatinganetworkofunignorablereminderstothoseinchargethatwedemandbetterfromthem,whileatthesametimefindingwaystorelateonadirectandhumanlevel,formingcloserandmoremeaningfulbondsofcommunalcohesionthangovernmentcanprovide.Occupationisthewordofthemoment.Wearereachingapointwheretheideaofoccupationhastakenonamythicalquality,divorcedfromtheactitself,andthemeaningisbecomingdistortedandconfused. Thewordhasspreadfromthestreetstonewdomains,aspeopleheedthecallto#occupyeverywhere.IntheUS,thewebsitewww.OccupyTheBoardroom.orgdeclares“THE1%HAVEADDRESSES.THE99%HAVEMESSAGES”andprovidesthecontactdetailsofvarious‘WallStreetelites’tofacilitatetheirpersonalharassmentatthehandsofthedisgruntled. Perhapsmostimpressiveistheworkofstudentvote.ca,encouragingpeopletoimprovepoorvoterturnoutand‘OccupytheBallotBox’!Thereareveryfewcertaincommonalitiesbetweenthedifferentoccupationmovements,butperhapsthemostobviousisthelostfaithinestablisheddemocraticprocessesandthecreationofnewwaysfortheirvoicestobeheard.TellingthemtoreturntoParliamentaryvoting,evenunderthetrendyguiseof‘occupyingtheballotbox’,istomissthepointentirely. Furthermore,themoreubiquitouslytheword‘occupy’isused,themoreitbecomesthedefaultverbforanykindofpoliticalengagement,themoremeaninglessitis.Putsimply;to#occupyeverywhereistooccupynowhere. So,whatisoccupation?Traditionallythewordoccupationhasbeenusedtodenote;theactofinhabitingandcontrollingaspace;universitybuildings,workplaces,governmentbuildings,shopsoranythingelse(ratherthanjustloiteringinit).Sometimesthisistocauseasmuchdisruption
aspossibleinordertocreateabargainingchipwhenmakingdemands.Sometimesitissimplybecausepeoplebelievetheycanputaspacetobetterusethanthosewhocurrentlyownandrunit.Whenprotestisinspired,asitisnow,bytheeffectsofausterity,andwhenthoseinvolveddonothavetheluxuryoftheirownspace,takingcontrolofnewareasfromwhichtoorganiseisessential.Whetherundertakentodisruptortore-order,occupationisatrulyradicalact.AmongthemanyiconicimagestohavecomeoutofGreeceinrecentmonths,thesixstorybannerdroppedfromtheroofoftheFinanceMinistryinSyntagmaSquarewhichproclaimstotheworldthatitisOCCUPIEDperhapsbestshowstheescalatingpoweroftheprotesters.Personally,whenIheartheword‘occupation’,Ithinkinstantlyofthe2010/11actionsofstudentprotestersintheUK,butwalkingaroundthecamp,veteransoftheanti-warmovementhavebeenquicktoremindmethat‘occupation’iswhattheBritishandAmericanmilitarydidinIraq(ortheNazisdidinFrance). Sowhatisoccupylsx?Thoughdogmaticallypeacefulandavoidingcausinganydamage,Theoccupationisadefiantandantagonisticactionandwe,startedtoproperlyacknowledgethatwhenwedecidedtostayafterSt.Paul’saskedustoleave.TherehadbeenamoodaroundthecampwhilewenominallyhadtheChurch’sblessingtobetherethatwewereguests,makingaprotestwithoutcausinganytrouble. Nowwemorefullyrecognisethattheexistenceofanoccupationisapointofconflictbetweenthepropertyownersandtheoccupiers,andthatweareinarebelliousposition.Duringthefirstdays,Iheardsomeoneadviseusnottoriskourcamp’sfuturebyrespondingtotheprovocationsofthe‘1%’;butthecampisaresponse,andbybeingherewearetakingthefirststepstowardsfightingback.Weareradicals,thoughsomearestillintheprocessofrealisingthat.Themorewerejecttheinterferencesofoutsideinfluences,themoreweresisttheinferenceofauthorities,themorewecontrolthespaceasourown,themoreweareanoccupation.
ofthetypicalprotesterbutthatisbecausetheoccupationdoesnotfitthetemplateofatypicalprotest.Insteaditispartofawiderglobalmovementwhichisarticulatingtheangerandfrustrationsoftheso-called“99percent”whodonotbelongtotheworld’swealthyelites. HavingrecentlyreturnedfromaweekwithOccupyWallStreetIcanreportthatinashortamountoftimetheLondonoccupationcomparesfavourablytoitssisteroccupationinNewYork.Bothhavesuccessfullyoccupiedacentralsitewhichprovidesacrucialpracticalandsymbolicfocalpointforthemovement.Bothareusingoutreachtospreadtheirmessageandareexpandingtomoresitesacrossthecity.Bothhaveestablishedworkinggroupstosupportspecificinitiativesranging
fromfood,medical,andlegalcommitteestomediaandtechnicalsupport.TheOccupyWallStreet’sworkinggrouponAlternativeBankingincludesbankers,aprofessoroffinanciallaw,theheadsofvariouscreditunions,andaquanttrader. BoththeOLSXandOWSarerunbyGeneralAssemby,ahorizontal,autonomous,leaderless,consensus-basedsystematwhichanyonepresentattheassemblycanproposeanideaorexpressanopinionanddecisionsarereachedbyashowofhands.Botharecommittedtonon-violenceandbothareattractingawiderangeofpeopleofallagesandfromallbackgrounds. InLondonagrandmotherhasbeencampinginfrontofStPaul’sCathedralsincedayone.InZuccottiParkImet80year-
’I’vehadenough”saysTimSaunders.“Enoughofthisgrotesquegreedandfraudonamassivescale.Enoughofspirallingeducationcostsandwatchingmymotherscrapingbyonameagrepension.Enoughoftheclaimthatthebanksaretoobigtofail.”Forty-fiveyear-oldcharteredaccountantSaundersjoinedtotheoccupationoutsideStPaul’sCathedralinhislunch-breakandhisdiscussionwithotherprotestersdrewasmallcrowd.Asamiddle-classfatheroftwohiseloquentangerstruckachordandpeoplecheeredhimenthusiasticallyashefinallyheadedbacktotheoffice.“Ionlycamedownforasandwich”heshrugged.“ButI’llbebacktomorrow.”Saunderswasbackthenextday,andthenext,andthenext.Hemaynotfitthetemplate
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urlivesarebasedonforgetting.Weforgetthemiseryoflow-wageworkintheUKwhenwecasuallyspendmorethan
thecashier’shourlywagesonasandwichandacoffeethengetangrybecausetheydidnotsmile.WhenweapplaudtheathletespreparingfortheParalympics,weforgetthedisabledpeopledriventosuicideastheirbenefitsarewronglystoppedbyacruellystupidsystemcreatedandadministeredbythecompanysponsoringtheGames.Wemarvelatourshinynewgadgetsandtheglitteringiconsdistractusfromtheplightofthosewholabourininhumanconditionstomakethesedevices.Allisnotforthebestinthebestofallpossibleworlds.Ourrichesarebuiltonthemiseryofothersandtoomanyofourgoodcausesareusedtowhitewashtheevildonebythosewithwealthandpower.Weareencouragednottothinkoftheseandcountlessotherinjusticeseveryday.Itmakeslifeeasiertodoso.Theoccupationisourrefusaltoforget.Ourlibrariesareclosing,ouruniversitiesarestrippedoffunding,ourhealthserviceisbeingofferedupforsale.Wagesarefrozenwhilethecostofeverythinggoesthroughtheroof.Thepoorestareattackedandthreatenedwithhomelessness.Andoverandoveragainasmallcliqueofobscenelyrichmenandwomensneerandtellusthatwe’reallinthistogetherastheyuseacrisiscausedbythosethatfundthemasanopportunitytofurtherincreasetheirwealth. Thisiswhypeopleoccupy.Theclaimsmadeabouttheoccupiersaremany.Theoccupationhasmanyvoices,manyfaces.Thismakesitalmostimpossibletounderstand.Outsidecommentatorspickthevoicesthatfittheirprejudicesandpretendthattheseviewsalonearewhatitisreallyabout.Someherewantcelebrityendorsements,othersaresickofrichpeoplecashinginontheirfame.Whensomewillbehappytowalkawaywhenaskedtogo,
othersinsistthattheywillhavetobedraggedkickingandscreamingawaywhenthetimecomes. Someareupsettobecalledanti-capitalistswhileothersareoutragedbycallstoremovethe“CapitalismisCrisis”banner.AfewatStPaul’sareinopencommunicationwiththepoliceandhavestatedtheywouldbewillingtohandoverothers“tosavetheoccupation”.Othersviewsuchbehaviourwithtotaldisgust.Thereissomethinghereforeveryonetohate,thereissomethinghereforeveryonetolove.Itismaddening,frustrating,slowandmessy.Anditisbeautiful. Theoccupationismanythings,onethingitcanneverbeisharmonious.Ifthemajoritythemovementterms“the99%”allagreed,thenthosecalled“the1%”wouldneverbeabletomaintaintheirhold.Cansuchmanifestlydifferentpointsofvieweverbereconciledintoasetofdemandsonwhichallcanagree? Theoccupationisachancetoexperiencepoliticsaslivedexperience,asaself-determiningbodyofpeoplelivingtogetherandengagedindiscussingboththethingsthataffectourimmediateexistence,likefood,shelter,healthandsanitation,butalsotodiscussthepossibilitiesofapplyingthelessonslearnedheretothelargerworld. Itisnotaneconomicblockade.Itisnotdirectaction.Itisnotanattempttocreateapositionofcounterpowerfromwhichtonegotiatewithpower.Thisiswhatpeoplemeanwhentheysaytheoccupationisitsowndemand.Evenifthereisnoconsensushereastowhatshouldreplacetheglobalsystemofsystemicinequalitywhoselatestcrisishasprovokedthisandcountlessotherprotestsworldwide,theoccupationisstillacollective“No”tothoseinpower.Itisarefusaltoforgetthatthesolutionsproposedbypoliticiansaremoreofthesamethingsthatcausedthecrisisinthefirstplace. Theoccupationisthebeginningofaconversationthewholeworldneeds.Whateverhappens,wecannotrestuntilwehavebuiltaworldbasedonmutualrespectforallinwhichnooneisforgotten.
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>>oldJoanDaviswhowastherebecausesherememberstheGreatDepression.“MysisterandIwouldoftengotobedhungryandIstillrememberthelookonmydad’sfacethedayhewasforcedtosellourfarm”shetoldme. Sofar,themovementhasnosetsolutionsorconcretelistofdemands.Whilethesemayemergeintime,thereisnosenseofurgencytofocusonanythingotherthangrowingthemovement.AddressingthegeneralassemblyinNewYorkonSundayOctober9,thepoliticalphilosopherSlavojZizekacknowledgedthat:“Therearetrulydifficultquestionsthatconfrontus.Weknowwhatwedonotwant.Butwhatdowewant?”ButforZizek,thecentralmessageisaclearone:“Weareallowedtothinkaboutalternatives.”
“the StruggLe OF huMaNitY agaiNSt POWer iS the StruggLe OF MeMOrY agaiNSt FOrgettiNg.” Milan KundeRa
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“Idon’treadnewspapers,andIdon’tlistentoradios.I’vejustbeenlivingafreespiritlife.Ispoketoachaplateronwhoexplainedaboutthecuts,andtaxdodgingandthegamblingofthebanks.Anythingthatneedstobedone,theyshoutthisthingcalled‘miccheck’andtheneveryonegetsinvolved,” “Theyallrunround,gettogether,andit’sdonewithinminutes.Itdoesn’tmatterwhatitmaybe,it’sdoneinaloving,humbleway,togetherasacommunity.” WhileSt.Paul’sconsiderthe‘community’thathassprungupinitsshadowaninconvenience,forJamesithasbeenaleaseoflife, “Formetorefusetobepartofit-I’dbeafool.They’resolovingandunderstanding.I’veacceptedmostofthemasfriends,” Butitisn’tjustnewfriendsJameshasfound,“WorkinginthekitchenshowsmewhatI’mcapableof.It’sbeenagracefulpathformetoplaymypartandbeinvolved.”Theexperiencehasn’tbeenentirelypositivethough,“IthinkoverthecourseofthisweekI’vebeenabitstressedout.” Hundredsofrelativelyprivilegedstrangerssuddenlypitchinguponyourpatchwouldcertainlyagitatemostofus,butthatisn’twhatismakingJamestense.Instead,it’ssomeofthegeneralpublic“passingcommentsastheywalkby,” “Ifthey’dcometoageneralassemblythey’dreallyunderstand,”Jamesfeelsthechurch,despiteitskindness,alsolackssomeunderstandingattimes,“theChurchhasbeenkind,butnotsokind.”“Theyknowofmesleepinghere,butIthinktheyareannoyedtoseeme
stheCathedralcaretakerexplainedtheimpacttheoccupationwashavingtothegatheredcrowd,hewasonthe
vergeoftears.Wewere,hesaid,disruptinganumberofplansandactivitiesthatnormallytookplace,includingachildren’sfairandaweddingcompletewithhorseandcarriage. Suchinconveniences,theflockofprotestorstentativelyargued,couldnotbeputonaparwiththesufferingofthe99%theywereheretorepresent.Justthen,thecaretakersawafamiliarfacewithintheexpandingcrowd,“IknowyouJames,we’vebeenfeedingyouforyears”Hesaidtoatallred-hairedman. “Yes,”camebackthereplyinadistinctlyLiverpudlianaccent,“andyou’veneveronceaskedmehowIam.ThenallthesebeautifulpeopleturnedupandnowI’mnotaloneanymore.” ThelocalamongoccupyingactivistswasJamesMcMahon,48.Homelessforovertwelveyears,he’sspentthepasttenlivingaroundSt.Paul’s,andisnowafamiliarfaceatthecamp,“IsplitupwithmywifeinLiverpoolandcametoLondononacoach.Aftersleepingroughindifferentlocations,IcametostayatStPaul’s” Whenwefirstarrived,Jameswasn’tinitiallysurewhatwewerealldoinghere,“Ithoughtyouweresomethingtodowiththechurch.Ididn’tknowitwasademonstrationatfirst,”
inasense.Theycometomovemeatsixthirtyinthemorningtocleanthestairsandotherpeople’smess.Theycouldcleanaroundme,” “Itsnotthecommunitychurch,itsacathedral,atouristattraction.Idon’tthinktheywantpeopletoseeme.Londonisawonderfulcity;Idon’tthinktheyactuallywanttoacceptthatthere’shomelessnesshere.Peoplehaveofferedmemoneyinkindness,butIwouldratherthemsitdownandtalkwithme,oranyoftheroughsleepers.” Thehomelessareatthefootofthe99%eitherignoredorabusedbysociety’ssocio-economicelite.Thoughnewtothismovement,thewords“involved’and“understanding”pepperJames’rhetoric, “IwishpeoplewouldunderstandwhoIwasandwhatIam.I’vebeenwritingabookforfourandahalfyears.Ifpeopledon’tknow,howcantheyreallyhelp?” Jamesknowsexactlyhowhe’dlikeoccupierstohelp, “I’dlikeyoualltostaythereuntilChristmas.IfyoustayhereuntilChristmasitmeansI’llhaveabeautifulbigfamilytohaveaturkeywith. “Wecouldcrackafewcrackers,maybehaveafewglassesofwineinthepubbeforewegobackfordinner.” So,whatdoesJameswantasaChristmasgift?Nothingmaterial.Whathewantsisoffargreatervalue:empowermentandcompanionship, “I’llbeinthekitchenonChristmasdayifwe’reabletostayhere.I’llcookaroastalloncamp.ItwillbelovelytohaveyouallthereforChristmasdinner.”
St. PauL PriNCiPLeSThesefourprinciplesweredevisedbyAmericanactivistsresistingthe2008RepublicanNationalConvention.1. Oursolidaritywillbebasedonrespectforadiversityoftacticsandtheplansofothergroups.2. Theactionsandtacticsusedwillbeorganizedtomaintainaseparationoftimeorspace.3. Anydebatesorcriticismswill
stayinternaltothemovement,avoidinganypublicormediadenunciationsoffellowactivistsandevents.4. Weopposeanystaterepressionofdissent,includingsurveillance,infiltration,disruptionandviolence.weagreenottoassistlawenforcementactionsagainstactivistsandothers.
POeMSKARIZMAH-OPENMINDSInasidealleyoflifetwounsuspectingmindsembraceheretheyenteravacuumlostintimeandspaceamongsttheirthoughtsordinaryconstraintshavenoplacefeelingsareeffortlesslyliftedastheyexchangefacetofacebantergiveswaytopassionwhichnoticeablyoverflowssimilaritiesbecomeobviousandtheirimaginationgrowslifemovesforwardwhichdrawsthismomenttoaclosebutitwillliveoninmeaningtobefrozemetinadifferentmomentthesepeoplemaynothaveconnectedwithopenmindswecanallbeaccepted
LONDON2012TheshardloomslargeNewflatsgrowfromtheMarshes,Sweatshoptreatsinnewconsumerpick-a-mixOverseenbyLordSebCoeoftheLondonOlympics,Newlawsinplace,adyingwelfarestate,DidtheMayanspredictthis?
ToriesbackinpoweragainDissidentsintheToweragain,BangBang,Duggen’sdead,Policebulletsinhishead,Theywanttoblametheblacksagain,Takeusbacktothatagain,Trapuslikelab-ratsagain,Experimentinhowtotakethepiss–Fuckthepoorandhelptherich,Evictthegypsies,taxthebarges,RelieveChelseaofcongestioncharges.IwanttoslaptheseelegantMachiavellians,AllthePRmenandtheshitthey’resellingthem,Moralmessageswithtwistedpolicy,Libertycostsmoney,forgetequality,Nofraternity,it’sbeenlikethisforfuckingeternity.
Butit’saconditionofmyexistenceTodenythemmycomplianceIamthescienceofresistance,Thecrashofthunderanddread,Iamthebloodredunderyourbed,Iamthescorpioninyoursheets,ThescreamingskullbeneathyourmoisturisedsheenTheskeinoftruthunderyourperfumedcleavages,
Thepilesofsqualorandthesumofourgrievances.Ireadaboutthesepharaohsintheirsummerpalaces,ErectingorientalchaletsofMarakeshfantasies,Thelocalshittheroad,workasguardsattheirhomes,KeeptheirownawayfromthistastelessopulenceMakesmewanttoburnthewholecrewintheirpigstymonuments.
Pleaseunderstand,Ineverhadaproblemwithauthority,Butauthorityseemstohaveaproblemwithme,Can’ttaketherejectionItchecksonmeanddemandsmyattention,CosIknowofaworldwherewedon’tneedlaws,Worktogether,notforprofit,buildforthecause.Itdoesn’ttakeageniustoknowwhytheyfeelthreatenedTermitesintheiroakpanel,ivyintheirwalls,Thehumofthemosquito,thetapewormintheirbowels.Iknowwe’veallheardwhatthemeekwill,Andmissionseemsimpossible,ButnumbersAREunstoppable,tyrantsAREtoppable,CombinedandcollectiveImmunetotheirrhetoric,We’veallseenthefilmandlearntfrompastlessons,Invincibilitylessoned,Seewheretheirweaponsgetthem.
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InMay1724,inasmallbookshopjustastone’sthrowfromStPaul’s,CaptainCharlesJohnson’sAGeneralHistoryoftheRobberiesandMurdersofthemostnotoriousPyrateswentonsale,andbecameaninstanthit.Thoughpirates’bodieswerehungingibbetsalongthebanksoftheThamestofrightenthosewhothoughtofmutinythecrowdsthatgatheredtowatchthesehangingsweretherelesstojeeratcriminalsmeetingjustpunishmentthanforthespectaclesthattheseeventsoftenwere.OnesuchspectaclewasthehangingofthenotoriouspirateWilliamFlyon12thJuly1726.Flywasgivenanopportunitytospeak.Havingcomplainedatthepoorworkmanshipoftheexecutionerandre-tiedhisownnoose,hewenttohisdeathunrepentant,usinghismomenttospeaktowarnthat‘allMastersofVesselsshouldpaysailorstheirwageswhendue,andtreatthembetter.’Wethinkofpiratesasthieves,yetthetruthisfarmorecomplex.SailorsaboardRoyalNavalshipsandmerchantvesselsweresomeofthesorriestmenalive,‘caughtinamachinefromwhichtherewasnoescape,bardesertion,incapacitation,ordeath’asonewriterofthedayputit.Thesemerchantshipsweretheenginesoftheemergingglobalcapitalism,yetthesailorsthemselveswereutterlyexcludedfromthewealththeyworkedtogenerate.Thedecisionto‘turn
pirate’wasthusadecisiontowrestlebacksomeautonomy,andwhentheydid,lifeonashipchangeddramatically.Officersweredemocraticallyelected.Foodwassharedequallyamongmenofallrank.WhenbootywascollectedtheCaptainonlytooktwoshareswherethelowesttookone–incomedifferentialsthatwouldmakemodernCEOsfaint.Lossofalimbaboardwouldbemetwithapaymentofaround£20,000intoday’smoney–anamazingformofearlyhealthcare.So,farfrombeingsimplethieves,pirateswereperhapstheoriginalanti-capitalistprotesters.Thereasontheywerehunteddownandsufferedsuchsavagepublicexecutionswasbecausethepowersofthedaywerepetrifiedoftheconsequencesofthepirates’ethos.HistorianMarcusRedikerwrites:‘Piratesabolishedthewagerelationcentraltotheprocessofcapitalistaccumulation.Soratherthanworkforwagesusingthetoolsandmachine(theship)ownedbyacapitalistmerchant,piratescommandedtheshipastheirownpropertyandsharedequallyintheriskoftheircommonadventure.’Itisthis‘equalsharing’thatthebanksdonotwant.Yes,theywanttonationalisedebt,butprofitsmustremainprivateandenclosed.Interestingly,thisistheviewoftheAnglicanChurchtoo–the38th‘Article’ofwhichreads:‘TheRichesandGoodsofChristiansarenotcommon…ascertainAnabaptistsdofalselyboast.’
Appropriately,piratesemergewhenever‘thecommons’isunderthreatofenclosureintoprivateproperty.Theyroseuptobattlethecrown-censoredpublishingmonopoliesofthe17thcentury.TheyroseupasLevellerstodefendthepoorastheywereturfedoffcommonlandandforcedintovagrancy.Theyroseupinthe1960’saspirateDJswhentheBBCrefusedtoplayRockandRoll.Lookaround.Piratesareeverywhere.TheJollyRogeristobefoundonbabybottles,t-shirts,children’sclothes,skateboards.Why?Whydowesendourchildrentopirateparties,butnot‘aggravatedrobbery’ones?Thereason,Ibelieve,isthis:deepdown,weknowthatpiratessaysomethingtousaboutfreedomfromoppression,aboutstandinguptosystemicviolence,andabouttakingbackfreeaccesstothatwhichhasbeenenclosedandprivatisedbythewealthy.Wearenotmuchbrutalised,noroftenbeatenorleftunpaid,butourlivesarenolessreduced,narrowedandcontrolledbypowerfulforcesfarbeyondourcontrol.Sonow,morethanever,weneedpiratestoriseupagainagainsttheprinces,thecaptainsandmerchants,raisetheJollyRoger,andrestoretolifesomedemocracy,somefairness…andnotalittlemerriment.That’sexactlywhatOccupyisabout,so,avastoccupiers,staystrongandmutiny!KesterisateacherandwriterfromSouthEastLondon.
St. PauLS, aND the rOOtS OF aNti-CaPitaLiSt PrOteSt KeSteR bReWin
aNarChiSM:FOR & aGaiNStTheGreatDebate:lastweekweweighedupthe‘for’and‘against’argumentsforbeingportrayedasanti-capitalist.Thisweek,anarchismisourtopic.Aspoliticalphilosophiesgo,anarchismisoneofthemostmisunderstood,butcoulditcontaintheanswerstotheworld’sproblems?
FOr / donnacHa delonG
Doyoulikebeingtoldwhattodowithyourlife?Doyouappreciateitwhenpoliticians,bossesandexpertsseemtothinkthattheyknowmoreaboutwhatyoushoulddothanyoudoyourself?Ifyoudo,thenstopreadingnow. If,ontheotherhand,youthinkyouarethebestpersontodecideaboutyouandthatthesameisprobablytrueofmostpeople,you’reonyourwaytobecomingananarchist.Anarchismisbasedontheideathattruefreedomisonlypossiblewherepeopleareincontroloftheirownlives. Anarchistsarguethatourlivesarecontrolledbycoerciveauthoritiesandimposedhierarchiesthatcontrolourlivesbothpoliticallyandeconomically.Thatiswhymostanarchistsopposeboththeexistenceofthestateandofcapitalism.AsBakuninargued,“Libertywithoutsocialismisprivilege,injustice;
and[...]socialismwithoutlibertyisslaveryandbrutality.” Anarchism,asitsdevelopedasapoliticalmovementoverthelast150yearsorsohasbeenakeyelementofthefightforwomen’srights,forgayrights,againstracismandotherformsofdiscriminationandhelpedbuildtheradicaltradeunionmovementsthatgainedworkersthebasicrightstheynowenjoy.InspirationalfigureslikeAlbertandLucyParsons,LouiseMichel,EmmaGoldman,RudolfRocker,ErricoMalatesta,BuenaventuraDurruti,HowardZinnandNoamChomskyarejustsomeofthenamesintheanarchisttradition.Unlikeotherpoliticalviewpoints,anarchismisaconversationovertheages,nottiedtospecificdoctrinesoronethinker. Anarchismhasabadreputation,misrepresentedasaviolentcreedstereotypedbybomb-throwingterroristsinthepastandblack-cladvandalsinthepresent.Theseaspectsdoexist,bytheyhaveneverrepresentedthemajorityofanarchists–whocanbefoundeverywhere.Someanarchistsareteachers,doctors,tradeunionists–thepeoplewhospendtheirtimeworkingtomakelifebetterforeveryoneinspiredbyanideaofafuturefreefromoppressionandinequality,aworldbasedonfreedistributionofthethingsweneedandfreeassociationofautonomousindividuals.
agaiNSt / bRian o’faolain
Theanarchistscan’tsaveusnow.Astheglobaleconomywentintomeltdownin2008aBritishanarchistgrouptooktothestreetsandcalledforthesystemto‘collapsefaster’. Formethiseventcapturedalltheworstaspectsofamovementthatincreasinglyhasnothingtosayaboutimportanteventsbeyondglibslogans. Theanarchistmovementisamorphous,madeupofvastandcontradictorygroupstogetherunderonebanner,unitedbytheirideologyofoppositiontothestate.Therearemanypositiveelements,Iwon’tdealwiththemhere. Thisyear’sLondonanarchistbookfairposedthequestion‘IsCapitalismdestroyingitself?Andcanwereplaceit?’.Theunfortunateanswerisno. Ascapitalismteetersoursocietyfacesachoiceofsocialismorbarbarism,yetmanyanarchistsstillplacetheirfaithinspontaneousinsurrections,naivelyhopingcapitalismmighttoppleitselfsotheycanpickupthepieces. Theypraisedtherecentriotsasasignofasocietyfightingback,whereamoreappropriateanalysiswouldseethemasneo-liberalriotsagainstabackdropofadefeatedworkingclass. Elsewhereanarchists,lackingarealanalysisofthecurrentsituation,haveblamedthefinancialcrisison‘thebankers’,missing
atrickbyallowingtheinherentfailuresofcapitalismoffthehook. TherearehugeparallelstobedrawnbetweentheanarchistsandtheOccupymovementandseriouswarningstobeheededtoo. TheOccupymovementhasuncriticallytakensomeoftheworstaspectsofanarchistpracticeonboard,adoptingtheconsensusdecisionmakingprocessandfetishisingformovercontent. Theusualfailingsoftheconsensusmodelareclear;meetingsdragon,informalleadershipsemergeandfrustratedactivistsdriftaway.Itisahangoveroftheworstpartsofthelate60’scounterculturallibertarianmovement. Theanarchistfocusondirectactionhashelpedtokeepthemovementinterestingbutalltoooftenleavesthemstuckinacycleofactivityforthesakeofit. IfthegoaloftheOccupymovementistotakeadvantageofaperceivedhistoricruptureandbegintheworkofchangingsocietythenyourfirstjobshouldbetopackupthetentsandgobacktoyourcommunities. Learnthehistoriclessonsofanarchism,stoppetitioningthecityandgodothehardworkofbuildingarealpoliticalmovement.AdebateisscheduledatTentcityUniversityaftertheGAonWednesday,Nov2ndforustocarryonthisdebateinperson.Seeyouthere!
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