OCCUPY WALL STREET

[dykeumentary]

I'm a member of Alternatives credit union in Ithaca. I really like it, because the little bit of money I have there gets loaned out -at a fair rate- to people in the community, rather than leaving the town and going to a million dollar bonus of some executive.

I hate capitalism. I don't think that that people's labor should be sold to the lowest bidder. I think that exploiting labor and the earth are criminal acts, and shouldn't be financially rewarded.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by dykeumentary

I'm a member of Alternatives credit union in Ithaca. I really like it, because the little bit of money I have there gets loaned out -at a fair rate- to people in the community, rather than leaving the town and going to a million dollar bonus of some executive.

I hate capitalism. I don't think that that people's labor should be sold to the lowest bidder. I think that exploiting labor and the earth are criminal acts, and shouldn't be financially rewarded.

Do most credit unions keep money within the community? I'm not entirely sure how they operate but that seems like a great thing.


I see a lot of activity and a lot of people standing up but I don't see any action. Its time to see action.

[dykeumentary]

Originally Posted by Sachita

Do most credit unions keep money within the community? I'm not entirely sure how they operate but that seems like a great thing.


I see a lot of activity and a lot of people standing up but I don't see any action. Its time to see action.

Here are some thoughts from my credit union's website:
"Many bank at Alternatives because of our community focus and social change philosophy, while others have chosen us simply for our services. Our social mission is integrated into our economic mission, so for whatever reason, joining Alternatives is making a choice towards a more economically just community.

We take pride in our services, policies and procedures because they contribute to a better society, a healthier community or a financially sound member. Some of our more innovative programs include: Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), Business CENTS (our small business development program), Student Credit Union, the Free Tax Preparation Program, lending for minority and women-owned businesses, affordable mortgages, and much more."

And regarding action, Sachita, I know that you and I as rural, sustainable people know the value of patience! I see all these "occupy" actions as big compost piles. Sure they don't look like much now, and they have all kinds of disorganized elements that don't seem to go together well, but give that organic matter a chance to hang out together long enough with the right conditions, and in time you get some kick-ass compost that will fertilze, nourish and support even more life! I don't know yet what the result of these actions will be, but nature would suggest that it will be positive in the long run.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by dykeumentary

And regarding action, Sachita, I know that you and I as rural, sustainable people know the value of patience! I see all these "occupy" actions as big compost piles. Sure they don't look like much now, and they have all kinds of disorganized elements that don't seem to go together well, but give that organic matter a chance to hang out together long enough with the right conditions, and in time you get some kick-ass compost that will fertilze, nourish and support even more life! I don't know yet what the result of these actions will be, but nature would suggest that it will be positive in the long run.

I know I know... I admit I'm inpatient. I know change won't happen overnight but I sure would like to see some big politicians jumping on this bandwagon and making public speeches about it. But it's also going to be a huge agenda, perhaps perfect timing for elections, during voting. I worry thought that we'll get a lot of lip service as we have in the pass.

So other then people moving bank accounts from banks what other strong actions are people taking?

[SoNotHer]

I talked to a couple people today including a colleague with whom I immediately bonded with about the protests. We're going to hook up and go into Chicago. I had him laughing when I compared the bloated corporatocracy to the "Death Star" (we're both SF/Fantasy geeks), and he responded, "Yeah, and I don't see any Luke Skywalker around ready to fire the shots to blow that thing up." We laughed hard.

Anyway, I've got a line on a credit union. Thanks everyone.

[atomiczombie]

I worry about just how long the protests can go on with winter coming.

[Corkey]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

I worry about just how long the protests can go on with winter coming.

My hope is that it spreads further than just the east, Occupy the US entirely.
Winters can be brutal out here.

[Ebon]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

I worry about just how long the protests can go on with winter coming.

Yeah I was thinking about that.

[nowandthen]

Here is some good thoughts on the relationship to power and movements. Rethinking how language arrives with meaning. Thinking how "decolonize" is a more inclusive term vs. how "occupied" is positioned in relations to indigenous communities around the globe.

http://oaklandlocal.com/posts/2011/1...r-struggles-co

[Cin]

Mayor Bloomburg is asking protesters to clear out for a clean up. The NY Post says they won't be allowed back in.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/m...fXamvvwkvSbHbM

There is a petition that will be presented to Mayor Bloomburg that anyone interested can sign at moveon.org

http://www.civic.moveon.org/defend_ows/

Another article about the attempt.
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews...es/#paragraph3

[Dominique]

Originally posted Oct. 01, 2011
Street rights: The Wall Street police clash sends a message
Saturday, October 01, 2011
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
As protests go, the march from New York's financial district to Union Square last Saturday should not have been a big deal. Although the protesters, a loose coalition of anti-capitalism activists, did not have a permit for the march, their demonstration was generally peaceful and harmless.
Their numbers fell far short of the thousands they would have liked to muster for their ongoing protest, Occupy Wall Street. Still, it was a day for chanting slogans about financial practices that hurt the poor and the middle class, and for waving placards denouncing capitalism, free trade agreements, bank bailouts, the rich and corporate greed.
Because the marchers, who had confined their previous protests to Wall Street, lacked a permit, there was fear in the New York Police Department that the expanded event could turn violent, like the demonstrations that greeted the Group of 20 in London two years ago and the World Trade Organization in Seattle in 1999.
The New York police moved in to stop the marchers. Video of the operation showed rough tactics being used on unarmed and nonthreatening demonstrators. Marchers were thrown to the ground and dozens were arrested. Four women who were standing behind orange netting were pepper-sprayed by a deputy inspector.
The police insist that the dozens of arrests and the pepper-spraying were done according to procedure. Others on the scene beg to differ. On Wednesday the police commissioner said the Internal Affairs Bureau will look into the pepper spray decision.
Meanwhile, the protests in the financial district are expected to continue because the demonstrators have permission to picket there. Our advice to the NYPD comes courtesy of lessons learned here when Pittsburgh hosted the G-20 in 2009.
There are rights to be balanced out on those streets. A right to peaceably protest. A right to have access to streets, sidewalks and buildings. A right to feel safe.
It's not too much to ask the police to observe those rights. And it's not too much to expect the demonstrators to deliver their message while respecting the same rights as well.

First published on October 1, 2011 at 12:00 am



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11274...#ixzz1abEwstQ4