#08 | theoccupiedtimes.com | @OccupiedTimes 04JAN2012

2.0Mark Kauri The entered the This week will also see the Future New Year in full swing with the launch of Occupy collective go public with and development of new digital the online launch of a virtual library of platforms designed to maintain, propel actionable movement documents, blog and extend the dialogue of social, posts and a platform for a diverse array economic and environmental justice of conversations. The international into the year ahead. initiative at thefutureofoccupy.org aims These developments first caught to support self-reflection on the occupy headlines across the pond as news movement to date whilst providing one- emerged that tech developers stop access to information and insights were working on the international into the future of the movement. Global Square project - which aims Combined with these new services, to redesign social networking for activists are also turning to established activists, outside of the confines of democratic workflow platforms to co- mainstream and commercial online ordinate projects from a digital front. space such as the Facebook network. Platforms in use include BetterMeans. Beyond the blueprints of Global Square com – a tool that differs from hierarchical and other works-in-progress, the New project environments by allowing users Year weekend saw the launch of a to develop project work in a more open plethora of online tools that were soon and democratic way. occupied by activists. The developments in online New online services include: space are in line with wider calls to OccupyList.org – a notably maintain and broaden the dialogue comprehensive global directory of of reform amid continuing threats to occupy contact details and related the movement. With mass evictions media; Occupii.org – a one-stop website and media blackouts falling on some and social network for all to do with Occupy movements across the globe the occupy movement; SayOccupy. – and the possibility of similar attacks com – a global source for occupy here in London - commentators have news, information and resources; The argued that the future of the movement People’s Assemblies Network dedicated requires the solidification of the occupy newswire – a ‘noise free’ channel for networks that have been established communications relating to global at the camps and the extension of the calls for the emergence of citizens’ dialogue on issues of reform to be taken democratic assemblies. to the wider 99%.

Vigilante Justice establishes Criminal Investigations Unit Mark Kauri

OccupyLSX has established the Occupy regarding a reported £19-25bn ‘black Criminal Investigations Unit (OCIU) with hole’ in the accounts of the Royal Bank an initial view to collect evidence of of Scotland; how and why the regulator financial crimes, war crimes, family law has permitted excessive internal crimes and house repossession crimes. bonus payments within banks that are The initiative was inspired by the majority owned by UK taxpayers – and visit of Law of Opposites author Gordon what measures are being taken to Kerr to the steps of St. Paul’s last investigate these concerns; whether the month, wherein the speaker sought regulator will co-operate with OCIU on to highlight the systematic abuse and investigation and accountability charges failure of the banking system and within a forward-thinking solutions discuss his efforts to challenge the environment; and whether the regulator crimes of banks at the heart of the will act under its statutory duties. global financial crisis and the Financial These requests follow an Services Authority in its capacity as the initial meeting between OccupyLSX regulator. Kerr subsequently invited representatives and the FSA, with calls for OccupyLSX representatives to attend a these concerns to be addressed during a select committee in Parliament on the second meeting, wherein the OCIU intends topic of ‘illusory profits’ in the financial to provide evidence of criminal accounting sector, during which he expressed fraud and breaches of the companies act support for the concerns of activists. by the Royal Bank of Scotland. Facilitated by the Private The OCIU will be hosting a one- Prosecution Service, the OCIU is calling day conference at the for the FSA to provide information covering the areas of crime it is on: any action taken by the regulator examining on the 7th January. Emma A Tale of Two Courts Fordham ON TRIAL IN THE ROYAL COURTS bottleneck on the ‘highway’ in question windows opening onto a balcony, OF JUSTICE, FLEET STREET – THE is not even within the camp. The court provide plenty of scope for the OCCUPYLSX CAMP hears that police assessments continually expansion of Occupy London. Squatters’ Through airport-style security into a rate the risk of serious disturbance at the rights have been claimed. A peace flag hallway of imposing arches and mosaic camp as ‘low’. flies from the rooftop. The back yard is Editorial floors, past a glass case containing The CoL Corporation appears big enough to park the Occupy Veterans’ relics of Guy Fawkes’ trial, I push open somewhat confused about what they Tank of Ideas. CONTENTS A New Year is a natural time for November brought tens of thousands heavy doors and enter the gallery above object to – is it the protesters, or the Despite imminent threat of eviction, PAGES/ reflection and planning for change. out onto the streets of New York. But Court 25, where Occupiers are crammed vulnerable and sometimes challenging there’s a strong sense of fun as well 01 Welcome To Occupy 2.0 Time magazine’s choice of ‘The this was not its most important result. onto narrow wooden benches. people who’ve found community in the as outrage here, in evidence at the 02 Editorial Protestor’ as person of the year Crucially, that eviction triggered “All rise!” Judge Lindblom enters the encampment, or the physical tents? It is Occupied Justice New Year Cabaret. A 03 A Tale Of Two Courts owes much to the gallant struggle a period of self-examination court and the day’s storytelling begins. tents they are seeking to remove; our QC theatrical performance sees protesters Stalwarts Of Occupy: Joey of our brothers and sisters in about how the Occupy movement As with all the best stories, there are raises a chuckle when he asks whether it and party-goers thrown into the cells 04 The Great Debate the Middle East and Northern might best move forward, moments of humour and tears too. Pomp is the tents that are getting drunk, making by a wicked ‘Establishment’ Judge, 05 Occupying 2012 And Beyond Africa - but here in the west, we too beyond its signature tents and is kept to a minimum – no big white wigs a noise and committing the crimes that the before reappearing on the grandiose The Occupations Of 2011 Proceed have witnessed civil disobedience into communities, enacting the but a few “M’Luds”. The judge appears City complains of. staircase to juggle, dance and recite Greater Resistance on a scale not seen for a generation movement’s core message through genuinely interested in the peculiarities Dan argues that conventional forms political poetry to a rapt crowd of Asking The Occupiers or more. practical action rather than of the case. He advises the untutored of protest have failed, which is why Occupy visitors. Perhaps the only cabaret 06 What You May Not Be Hearing 2011 will be remembered as the symbolism. It is a journey that has litigants in person, adjusts the schedule to tactics are vital. Pressing social need and where the hecklers call “Process!” and About Egypt year that the people finally stood seen American occupiers leave allow every witness a voice and accepts the desperate importance of the Occupy “Mic Check!”. The grand finale – aerial 07 Changing The World One Step up to oppressive governments and tents behind in favour of defending mountains of paperwork, promising to work are the main thrusts of our defence. acrobatics on ribbons strung from a At A Time financial systems the world over. the homes of those about to be read every scrap of it. Surely these weigh heavier in the scales stained-glass dome above the Hall – Occupied Elsewhere: Roma That struggle will continue into 2012 foreclosed. In cross-examination, Tammy is put of justice than petty health and safety leaves everyone awestruck. 08 Providing Solutions With ‘Puzzle’ and beyond. This journey – one that on the spot about the cleaning of St Paul’s qualms and the minor inconvenience of Tigger’s finale is to lead me up Political Consumerism There is no doubt that the Occupy very much mirrors that of camp before Judge Lindblom’s visit. “That’s pedestrians? spiraling wrought-iron staircases into the 09 How Do You Solve A Problem movement has already achieved the indignados several months normal,” she says. “If I was expecting an Fat files of supporting documents are night sky. Wobbly- legged on the highest Like TINA? a great deal. Though some try previously - was well encapsulated important visitor to my flat, I’d tidy up presented to the judge. He has homework pinnacle of the roof, five storeys above 10 The Mauritius Miracle to dismiss that claim, they often by Noam Chomsky a week ago when before they arrived.” A down-to-earth to do over the holidays. OccupyLSX is neon-lit pavements, I marvel at the view 11 Flee The State, Don’t Seize It do so on false pretences. Is it the he encouraged occupiers: “Don’t answer that pleases his Honour as much granted a Christmas reprieve and now of Canary Wharf all flash and brash, then 12 ‘The Market’ Is Not Enough responsibility of an embryonic be obsessed with tactics but with as it does the rabble in the gallery. Equally awaits an early January judgment day. turn around to see east London bathed in The Wisdom Of: Nick Pickles social movement to provide all the purpose... Tactics have a half life.” believable is Tanya’s assertion that if she the lilac-pink of a winter dawn. It does feel 13 Money Talks: David Ruccio solutions for society? If the problems Thanks to equal measures of wanted to enter a church to worship, ON TRIAL IN THE OLD STREET like a new beginning. 14 Biofuels And The Economics are caused by the ideologies adroitness and serendipity, Occupy nothing would stop her – certainly not a MAGISTRATES COURT OF OCCUPIED about the causes of this - and we Of Deforestation people hold, sometimes the answer London’s initial encampment at in our present situation, it might be few tents. Reminding the court that Jesus JUSTICE – THE 1% 15 Capitalism In Context is to pose those individuals a St Paul’s Churchyard has now far also need to be honest about the worth looking instead for what we was a protester and St Paul a tent-maker, Knock on a heavy wooden door, speak 16 How I Learned To Start Worrying problem of their own. Merely asking outlived in duration. consequences. should be working hard to retain. she shoots down the notion that the right the password, get eye-balled through And Hate Louis Armstrong the right questions - something We have, in the main, enjoyed the That Tranquility find it Our General Assemblies, when they to worship has been compromised and is a spy-hole, hear the drawing back The And Now: A Letter To Occupy modern day politicians seem fair exercise of the rule of law. necessary to wear stab vests in work well, bring a wide number of backed by Reverend Green, who says that of bolts, step into another imposing 17 On The Soapbox unwilling to do - is a beginning. But It would be a bitter irony – and a order to carry out their duties voices together, giving all concerned Occupy brings more blessings than curses. hallway. Tigger, my tour guide, gestures Tim Hardy Asks: Who Pays The Bill? Occupy has already achieved far failure of enormous proportions - if is a sad indictment on the state a real stake in decisions reached. Economist John Christiansen claims to a grand, sweeping staircase. “You 18 Crossword more than this. we allowed our comparative security of wider society, but it is also a Let’s take this further: a network that the public debate stimulated by want to go up to the courtroom or down 19 Poems For decades the ‘left’ has to stop us seeing some of our more reflection of our own failure to set of people’s assemblies across the Occupy is absolutely necessary and must to the cells?” Listings struggled to put equality at the distinctive tactics for what they are: ground rules. We have struggled to country taking politics into their own be given space to continue. Historical use I choose the cells. It’s cold and 20 Placard centre of the political debate. Now, a tool to be employed only for as find an effective counter to hands could transform perceptions of the area around St Paul’s for ‘folk moots’ damp in the basement. Plaster even those who do not identify with long as they remain useful. challenging behaviour, and, in the of what representative government is discussed. Veteran Matthew Horne crumbles, unidentifiable stains hint traditional progressive politics are Useful tactics generate change. process, have become somewhat should be doing. sheds light on what most have never come at previous occupants. The cells are CREDITS calling for a fairer world, one in They inspire others to act. To do that insular. Our working groups are centres close to experiencing – the horrors of equipped with rock-hard sleeping CONTRIBUTORS/ which resources are less dominated we must look outwards. The determination to hold on to of expertise. Some of those warfare – and surprises many by drawing ledges, seatless toilets and metal Steven Maclean by the 1 per cent. Mainstream We have spent much time something that is no longer working networks could move beyond their parallels between the devastation of Iraqi doors with sliding grills. In the corridor Martin Eiermann media around the globe have been looking inwards, without tackling properly has created something of roles within the occupation and citizens’ lives by war and the devastation outside each cell is a blackboard with a Natalia Sanchez-Bell forced to engage with Occupy’s some of the very real problems we a siege mentality and - unlike the begin to see themselves as cells of British citizens’ lives by debt, poverty, name scrawled in chalk. Mircea Barbu agenda and, slowly, politicians and face across our four Occupy London problems themselves - the dangers working towards the betterment unemployment and home repossessions. “JP Morgan”. “Tony Blair”. “Goldman Mark Kauri governments have taken notice of a sites. These are hard things to see in of this have not been properly of society, standing up to socio- George Barda, litigant-in-person, is Sachs”. “George Bush”. These and other Hannah Borno movement doing what they ought to. print, but we need to be honest with recognised. economic injustice and forging their overcome by emotion on more than one members of the 1% - those responsible Emma Fordham We must resist any urge to think each other if we are to move on. Perhaps we are wasting energy own links with groups in our wider occasion as he struggles to articulate the for war crimes, ecocide and economic Flaminia Giambalvo of Occupy as belonging to 2011 Our sites are not the safe spaces that would be better projected community who are doing similarly. enormity of the dangers we face – climate chaos - will soon be under the spotlight Emma Tina Louise Rothery while there is still so much work to we would like them to be. Many who outwards in clinging on to spaces? As a movement of individuals, we change, resource scarcity, mass poverty at Occupied Justice. Fordham Peter Dombi be done. But, just as we make New used to stay overnight at St Paul’s - When our spaces begin to cost us draw our strength from our shared – and to impress on Mr Justice Lindblom “We’ll be putting them on trial,” STALWARTS of OCCUPY: Joey Matthew Horne Year’s resolutions for ourselves, women in particular - no longer feel more than they provide, it’s time convictions. We can stand tall because the urgent importance of the Occupy Tigger explains. “The accused will be Nidia Castro-Rojas we can take this opportunity to able to do so. We need to be honest to be courageous. A movement we know that others stand with us, message. Tears are visible on more than invited along but if they don’t show, Regular OT contributor and full-time occupier Emma Fordham think about how we can be more must move in order to inspire. It even when things are difficult. After David Ferreira one Occupiers’ cheek, as our hands wave we’ll try them in absentia.” speaks to an integral member of Occupy London about life Alia Mossallam successful in future; what our must change itself to change two and a half months out in the cold, in agreement. Rumour has it that legal Stefan Simanowitz strengths and weaknesses are; and minds. We’ve come a long way since noone can doubt our resilience and According to the City of London, professionals are keen to be involved. A on camp and why he is here. Michael Richmond how we should grow to meet the we began but it’s now time to be tenacity: and nothing will do more the Occupy encampment has increased thorough investigation of City of London Judith Shossboeck challenges ahead. brave and ask the question: where to move others out of their comfort crime figures, reduced visitor numbers corruption is promised. The financial Joseph Stiglitz In the US, the eviction of Occupy does the future for Occupy lie? zone and into the realm of action than and caused an untenable narrowing of services industry will be brought to EMMA: When did you arrive at OLSX? EM: Is camping in the city a hardship J: I’d like to see power resting in local Aaron John Peters Wall Street from Zuccotti Park on 15th We can all identify problems, but by taking that leap ourselves. the highway... but their statistics fail to account in this, the Court of the 99%. JOEY: Friday October 28 or a joy? communities. A complete overhaul Neil Howard stick. Our second litigant-in-person, The wood-paneled courtroom is EM: What brought you here? J: I’ve had my ups and downs and the of the banking and financial systems. Nick Pickles Dan Ashman, has been out with a tape grand. A maze of anterooms, including J: I heard about then camp has experienced some problems And an education system that teaches David Ruccio measure and reports that the narrowest one with parquet floor and French followed OccupyLSX through the press but the sense of community is very strong, children to value their own worth, Helen Buckland and internet. I felt drawn to come... I had especially in recent days. People here want rather than teaching them that the Jody Boehnert no home so I was free to come. to help each other and to send a message people in power are above them and David Osler EM: What were you doing before you saying ‘This is how the wider world could more important than them. I think it’s Reverend Nemu came to St Paul’s? be.’ But the wider world doesn’t encourage really important to empower people Tim Hardy J: I was working at festivals throughout community and co-operative attitudes, it from an early age so they know they Thomas Daniell the summer, that took me to the end of needs to be transformed. can make changes rather than Owen Collins September. I was at a loose end after EM: Of all the issues Occupy aims to accepting the status quo. PD Monaghan the festivals so I visited friends and address, what are the most important EM: How long do you expect to stay Daniel Lauand family, then spent a few nights sleeping for you? at St Paul’s? Polyp rough in a park in Yorkshire. I thought J: There are so many. We’re in a J: I’ll be here until the end. Although, Rebecca Michel Support the about going up to Bilston Glen - an recession and the poor people, the if we win the court case and the camp Andy Nicolson anti-mining protest near Edinburgh - but dispossessed, the unemployed and low- stays on for months, I might take Kit Marsters I heard about Occupy and that felt more waged... it’s being demanded of them myself away for a while but I’d still be DESIGN/ immediate. that they put up with cuts and reduced involved and would keep coming back. Tzortzis Rallis EM: What have you been doing while services, when they already have limited EM: Where would you take yourself Lazaros Kakoulidis staying at the OLSX camp? resources. Meanwhile, the bankers and away to? PHOTOGRAPHY/ By donating £1 for your copy you J: My first full day here there was a call executives and financiers who are largely J: I’m interested in Occupy Matthew Myatt will pay for five copies of our next out at General Assembly for help with responsible for the problems continue Edinburgh, which has the backing PRINT RUN/ issue. Alternatively, donate online: recycling so I volunteered. Other people to get fat wages. The current system of the local council. If I went there 2000 Copies www.sponsume.com/project/ who’d been doing the recycling had to obviously works against the majority. It’s I could visit the Bilston Glen anti- WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO/ occupied-times-london leave so I ended up doing it mostly by fundamentally flawed. mining protest camp too. In the Aldgate Press, E1 7RQ myself with some occasional help. EM: Tell me three things about the summer I’ll probably work at CONTACT US/ © All information in this paper I didn’t mean to take on this role... current system that you’d most like festivals again. But I’ll definitely stay [email protected] is free for non-profit distribution it just happened. to change... in the Occupy movement. FOR AGAINST Tina Louise Rothery Mircea Barbu That we sleep in tents on the streets of The space we are occupying in the London or on Wall Street or anywhere heart of London has huge financial The Great else - is not what defines the Occupy value, but we’ve shown that it has a Occupying Movement. value to people beyond money. Most At the outset, Occupy Wall Street property, space and buildings have stated:“We come to you at a time become merely ‘assets’, acquired for Emma when corporations, which place profit their value or used for the production Fordham Debate over people, self-interest over justice of wealth. Occupy is reinstating some 01 & Be ond and oppression over equality, run our y of the human value back into buildings 2 2 government. We have assembled here, as and spaces by making them democratic, Looming evictions are competing with a desire to stay on Finsbury Square may become the first Occupy eco-village. Time to downscale? is our right, to let these facts be known.” inclusive political spaces. and engage more people into kicking the system. There’s There will be solidarity actions alongside unions, low-paid Thousands of us assembled in There are so few ‘free’ spaces left a vertiginous sense of standing on the brink of something workers and students. Tent City Universities will go on tour. London on October 15th 2011 for in which to meet, talk and organise - massive, of making history... and a parallel fear that There may be excursions into mainstream politics. Church Talk has begun on whether we should the very same purpose. Hundreds or even just socialise. We don’t have Occupy could stumble and disappear down a crack leaving liaisons are likely. Temple, mosque and synagogue liaisons take St Paul’s offer to have a stayed and have sacrificed to get our many social centres or youth clubs left only a cyber-echo and a few thousand flyers to remember too and perhaps a strengthening of links with the quietly movement noticed and we have indeed anymore. There are pubs, but they lack AGAINST us by. The one percent would surely like us to shut up radical Quakers. Look out for General Assemblies springing permanent, scaled down camp. Should succeeded in starting a conversation privacy and come at a financial cost Matthew Horne and go home now but in assembly after assembly strident up in town squares and on village greens across the land. we agree? Pack up and leave altogether? that was previously muted. some can’t afford. Time and space in The land we currently occupy is symbolic. voices reject that idea. New Year resolve is strong: “ We’re Occupy London’s Criminal Investigation Unit will be I have slept on site for roughly half which to exchange and develop ideas Its lies between god and mammon, here to stay.” delving into the dirty secrets of the corrupt and greedy Or bed in at our ‘spiritual home’? the week, each week since the first are essential for the type of change metaphorically speaking. St Paul’s has For some Occupiers it’s all about the tents. Symbolic elite. There are plans afoot for an Occupy festival and an day and witnessed the camp develop we’re aiming for. Therefore, we should historically been a place for people to tents, tents for practical reasons, strategic tents, even Occupiers’ Handbook. A diploma in Occupied Economics in many ways; there has been a great Occupy as much as we can and hold the express their dissatisfaction at authority tents as costume for comedic effect. Tents allow a was launched by Tent City University in the last days deal of good but much difficulty has space as long as possible. If we allow which has broken the ancient contracts sustained presence and protest that has proved so much of 2011. Button badges and pop-up debates will tickle come as well. I believe it is now time corporate elites to pressure us in to between the people and crown. more effective than one-day marches and demonstrations. the fancies of city-workers and tourists. Flash mobs, to plan the next phase in Occupy’s packing up camp now, St. Paul’s will Big business has been put before the Tents make Occupy special and there’s no way all the tents street theatre and Occupy Circus will provide generous evolution and for me, de-camping have been a glorified campsite. I say lives of people and as a result we have will be packed up... and yet many envisage Occupy 2012 sprinklings of irreverent frolicsome fun and to balance that is a part of this. Outreach, education we stay until we get the change we chosen to occupy a space that echoes the looking a little different. there’ll be more tough learning and hardship. Dedication and unified local actions across the want to see. collision between the two fragments of Occupy is ingenious, Occupy is branching out in and a commitment to the long-haul will be required for country seem a natural progression society that command great power; the multiple directions. There are so many things wrong with building the kinds of communities we dream of. Everyone along with maintaining a permanent church and corporations. They are, in an the current system; so many methods of protesting and - including the top dogs at the Cathedral but perhaps presence in the place where it started; ideological sense, enemies, but in today’s raising awareness; so many different priorities; a myriad excluding the City of London Corporation – is keen for a non-residential one that provides AGAINST world their ideas have become somewhat of potential solutions. Evolution, revolution, direct action, Occupy to keep a presence at St Paul’s, where we can keep information, education and a place to Nidia Castro-Rojas blurred and difficult to differentiate at an dialogue. There’s no need to choose one route, one tactic, the London Stock Exchange in our sights and maintain a gather for key events and actions. There is something to be said for the atomic level. one answer. Occupy is strong in its diversity. Occupy can steady pressure on the City. This next action does not reflect spectacle element of our St Paul’s Thomas Jefferson said, “When injustice and will mount attacks on all fronts. Peacefully. The Occupy Movement is not going away. On the a failure by the Occupy Movement – campsite. Some might say that with all becomes law, resistance becomes duty.” There will be more occupations, of buildings and contrary, it’s a hydra sprouting new heads daily. Preparing we never set out to create a Utopian the social issues it has highlighted, it is As someone who was sent to promote land. Outreach to schools and community groups will for crisis, planning for utopia. campsite; we set out to discuss and indeed a spectacle, but it is becoming democracy in a foreign land, only to bring expand. Watch Occupy work with Transition communities, Come, join us! reach for deep political and societal a negative one, overwhelming the about oppression and a decade of suffering permaculturists and co-operatives to set up practical, Sheffield will be hosting the UK National Occupy change. Now the day to day demands campers and preventing them from that will become decades more, this quote grass-roots alternatives to current unsustainable systems. Gathering January 21-23. of camping in a major city with a host doing more productive work. I think that means a lot to me personally. It doesn’t of social issues are overwhelming how you frame or define this ‘spectacle’ mean burn the place to the ground, it means the ability of the Occupy movement in is quite important. The issues we have resist until true change is completed. David London to focus on its aims. should not be seen as failings of the 2011 was a symbolic and unexpected Ferreria The ratio has tipped to a point camp, but failings of society at large, of year, but 2012 will be one to go down in The Occupations of 2011 where our energies are ploughed into the system that this government and history for all eternity, we will see a change directly helping or simply surviving others uphold at the cost of a balanced in stance to how the government deals with the situations and individuals who and nurturing community. dissatisfaction, oppression will rise, poverty Proceed Greater Resistance most need the change we demand; the It is true that with all the good will in will rise. We will continue to be told that homeless, the mentally ill, drug addicts the world, we don’t have the manpower they are dealing with it, that it will be fixed. From Athens to Lisbon, Madrid to Portugal, centre right governments the online networking, are the means and alcoholics. These individuals are or the expertise to deal with these But we care not just about our own personal London, Frankfurt to New York, a much have simply radicalised their neoliberal by which a mobilisation of equal or in need of warmth, food, community, problems on a 24/7 basis. So, we admit dilemmas. Great suffering, lies and deceit delayed popular response to the 2008 policies once in power, after concealing greater scale will be deployed on shorter support and all that we bring – but it defeat and pack up right? Wrong. The have begun to shine out of the darkness; we financial crash took shape in 2011. their intentions from the public during notice when they attempt the next bank means we have little time for much charities, organisations and individuals must continue to nurture and steadily fuel Assurances by politicians of a much elections. bailout or the next austerity program of more than camp organisation to simply who normally devote their time to trying these lights. Until all humanity has its basic promised recovery rang hollow, and The assumption breaks down on a privatizations and benefit cuts. cope each day. to alleviate or resolve these problems rights enforced and needs met, unhindered a recovery in the stock markets left second front where it underestimates the In this period between mass Another consideration is our claim should be invited to see themselves by the greed of a tiny proportion of society. almost all of society behind, provoking impact and legacy of the occupations. mobilisations, the movement is to inclusivity as a sacred principal at as part of the Occupy movement. They This is why St Paul’s must be enormous crowds to fill squares and It was never to be a movement of proving its worth to some of the few Occupy; the disabled, the elderly, the are suffering from the cuts too, making maintained. If we lose the case, then the plazas and to occupy them for weeks steadfast occupation, eviction, and people it needs approval from. The FOR very young, the workers, the mortgage already difficult work nearly impossible. historical symbolism of this space will in continuous protest. This year, we continuous escalation. It was, instead, occupations of abandoned homes, the Peter Dombi payers; the parents at home with They have been put to the bottom of the be lost forever. When the government saw the victims turn to the streets the construction of a more permanent defence of families facing eviction, is There has been much discussion recently our other sites) but increase the scale children and those with insufficient list after profits and individual gain for begins to recognise who its truly supposed and to each other to struggle against movement, and its constituent ideas, the movement’s frontline at the point of about the future of our St Paul’s site, of the operation as a site for events, funds to even get to an Occupy site, are the 1% just like the rest of us. If we work to represent and begins tackling big their precarious situation, disregarding that we entirely lacked in 2008 when greatest friction between the financial and whether it is worth hanging on discussions, working areas and publicity. excluded by our focus on maintaining together we could highlight the fallacy of business and financial gambling, then we the old politics insisting on an age of the only plans laying around were to system and its immediate victims. It is to it with possible eviction looming. My recommendation would be for the occupation of tents as a core calling for a ‘Big Society’ whilst pulling will leave and go home. But for as long austerity amid boundless wealth held by recapitalize the banks at the expense of the act of reducing the crisis one house, Other factors apparently against it are an expansion of the TCU, Info and the imperative. the rug out from under society’s feet and as governments continue to be bought the one percent. the victims of the crisis. For months, the block, and neighbourhood at a time. that it is now only one of four central Library, plus erection of a few other Occupy LSX has achieved much; simultaneously come one step closer to and paid for by big business, then we will It would be easy for one to expressions of fear by politicians and Openly confronting the crisis exposes London occupations, numbers there similar sized areas where Working it has generated massive public and creating the kind of community we’d all continue to occupy, and reclaim spaces that immediately question what this year bankers of another “Lehman Moment” it not as some natural cataclysm, but have dwindled due to a combination Groups could put up displays outlining media interest and sparked a national love to be part of. have been taken from us. of protest has achieved. No neoliberal have been audible. But what may not be as the functional choice of market of poor weather and the attraction of what they have achieved, what they conversation about the way we want governments were brought down to be audible to them is the social movement forces that each day repeatedly make indoor accommodation at the Bank of are doing now, plans for the future, to live our lives, the way our economic replaced by a government willing to ask capable of responding to such a moment the decision to evict and foreclose on Ideas, and the difficulty of maintaining and other areas of general interest. I system really works and its deep the weakest to sacrifice last, not first. and to block a repeat performance of the people. This demonstration, of resisting a coherent operation with constant also think there would be real practical infiltration of our government structure. Rather, across Europe, governments are hurried passage of bailouts under threats physically the choices inherit in the ASKING disruption and negative publicity due to advantage in having tents where It has led some in the Church of England composed almost exclusively by center- of calamity. market economy must and will be some of the individuals that have been Working Groups could actually hold their to question the morality and fairness right parties enacting austerity at an Another flashpoint and a greater repeated into 2012. It is the process of meetings. Not only would this lead to of the church. It has exposed the City of attracted there. escalating pace. The assumption could conflagration between the system and containing, even in small isolated ways, THE OCCUPIERS: Mircea greater transparency, but members of London Corporation as a manipulative, I think it is time to think strategically easily be made that ground was lost, not the indignant masses awaits us. The the effect the markets are having on How should Occupy progress in 2012? Barbu about our London occupations and the public could actually observe what undemocratic institution that is a law gained by the movements challenging occupations, the massive protests of communities. what each one can bring to further our we are doing ie. we are all working unto itself and beholden to none. It the neoliberal model. Spain and Portugal sprung out of built up The hegemonic neoliberal program is campaign. In my view St Paul’s remains really hard coming up with ideas for a has attracted the support of many and The assumption would be critically frustration following the 2008 crash and being cornered by foreclosure resistance, Nikki, 32: “I would like to see the to implement changes and pass laws absolutely crucial as it is our flagship better society and not just sitting around allowed some voices in government, wrong on two fronts. First, the neoliberal the recovery exclusively for the wealthy. general assemblies, occupied media and Occupation gone next year. That’s coming out of protests like this.” location, and remains foremost in the ‘protesting’. unions, church and the media to finally economic model is more entrenched, Yet, despite no single provocative by its own perpetual escalation of crisis. because I hope we can sweep away Luciano, 33: “ I don’t know and minds of the media and the general In many cases this could well be have cause to speak about these things. far different from being at its greatest legislation, hundreds of thousands took In this state, it will continue to lash out, capitalism and build a socialist society I’m not worried about it. This will public (in many cases it is the ONLY site just what it takes to inspire them to If we do not choose our next move, strength. Unable to realise the reigning to the streets of Portugal back in March, most imminently on Spain and Italy. that’s better than the Occupation.” go wherever the people wishes to that people are aware of). It is also the join our movement. It is my view that it will be forced upon us and that takes economic model doesn’t work, the and in similar or greater numbers later in 2011 won’t stand out as an anomaly, as Mike, 16: “It could go one of two ways go. By coming here (St.Paul’s) or main place for people to visit if they want transforming the area in this way would away our control. There is a danger that consensus in circles of power is that the year in Spain, Greece, and Italy. a brief fight back against an encumbering . It can be wiped out by ignorance or get anywhere where people are voicing to find out more about our movement greatly increase our reach to the general we will simply be driven from the camp the model hasn’t been implemented These protests, and the occupations tide. But 2012 can’t be the year when even better. It all depends whether we their frustration at the current state of (only Finsbury Square could possibly public, while at the same time downsizing (by the authorities or our own individual militantly enough; an extremist lurch to in the U.S. and U.K. soon after, have the alternative remains in waiting. It can can stay here or not.” things we can all shape the future of the compete as most members of the public the overall size of the site could possibly inability to cope with the conditions). inject fresh energy into their ideology. demonstrated the scale of resentment no longer be delayed. More importantly, Clive, 41: “Engaging more and more Occupation.” are unlikely to ever feel comfortable get us around the problem of eviction. We need to choose now if we are But it is a model making its last stand, both inside each country and across the the families facing foreclosure can no with the general public towards real Manny, 43: “The Occupation should entering a repossessed building), and the It would also almost certainly mean going to remain and just continue to a last defence in which it has shed developed world. They have left physical longer wait on it, nor can the Greeks and economical and political reforms to focus more on connecting with other setting is utterly iconic. the departure of some of the more draw attention to the problems of any trace of democratic legitimacy. organisations of activists in large Portuguese wait through more structural benefit as many people as possible. “ Occupation across the world. By being Therefore it is my firm view that we disruptive elements of the camp. The only society (and risk being over-run by Where it hasn’t effectively suspended numbers who themselves are connected adjustment programs demanded by Rosa, 27: “I want this to become aware of each other we can find global should downsize the site as a residential permanent residency of individuals there them or evicted as a result of them) – or representative democracy like it has in to broader movements that have an ever creditors. The escalating protests thriving community as diverse as the solutions fitted for each community.” area (ie remove most of the small private would be whatever is deemed necessary get out into society and start making Greece and Italy, it has won elections increasing following on social media. and outrage set for 2012 must align whole of London.” Anna, 31: “I would love to see more tents, and possibly the kitchen and to ensure overall security and particularly the solutions. It is not without some by abandoning any sort of concept of This activist infrastructure, both the with an alternative ready to displace Sharon, 27: “It should start focusing people occupying more public space and tea areas too – these can all move to protection for the camp at night. sadness that I choose the latter. a political mandate. In the U.K. and physical general assemblies as well as neoliberalism. on putting pressure on the government re-claiming democracy.” What you may CHANGING THE not be hearing WORLD ONE STEP

about Egypt… Alia Mossallam AT A TIME Stefan Simanowitz s headlines roll protesting military rule. According to Noam Chomsky, the Arab immediate aftermath of the dismantlement In November, both the parliament’s with stories This revolution, however cannot Spring did not begin in Tunisia with the self- of the camp there were violent clashes in Budget Committee and the Development of ‘deadly be limited to the stride towards immolation of a market-seller, but instead the cities of El Laayoune and Dakhla, but the Committee recommended that the fisheries clashes between emancipation nor the struggle towards can be traced back to the massive protest situation in Western Sahara soon settled. agreement be stopped and the 2010 protestors and democracy that ‘Arabs never had’, camp that appeared in Western Sahara in Whether or not there is any direct publication of a confidential legal opinion the military’ because we, like you, are pushing for a October 2010. causal link between what happened at showed that the European Parliament’s on the 26th of system that serves us. The camp, at Gdeim Izik, lasted Gdeim Izik and what followed across North Legal Service viewed the fishing by February, 9th of On the first day of the Occupy LSX for a month and attracted thousands of Africa and the Middle East, the Arab Spring European vessels in Western Sahara’s AMarch, 9th of April, 28th of June, 1st sit-in, Julian Assange paid us a visit. Saharawi protesters from across the clearly represents an opportunity to break waters to be in violation of international law. of August, 9th of September, 9th of He reminded us that “We are all being territory. UN estimates based on satellite the deadlock in this most protracted of This view supported that of the UN October, 19th of November and 16th held hostage to the rule of law...” when imagery suggest that at its height, the camp conflicts, and find a resolution that accords Legal Adviser, Hans Corell, whose 2002 of December; one wonders if anything in fact we should be concerned with contained around 6,600 tents. Like the with international law. Although there has legal opinion for the UN Security Council on is happening in Egypt beyond the creating a rule of law; a law that serves later demonstrators in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya been no indication that Morocco intends Western Sahara’s natural resources made shooting and continuous arrests. us, and doesn’t restrict us. Laws that and Syria, the people at Gdeim Izik were to shift its policy on Western Sahara, and clear that exploitation of the territory’s The truth is that escalating ensure the resources and bounties of protesting against unemployment, high food eight recent rounds of UN-sponsored resources could only be considered legal violence is a reaction to the growing our nations benefit us as citizens. prices and political disenfranchisement. informal talks have failed to make any if the Saharawi population were consulted realisation that the Egyptian people are That is, after all, what we hire But they were also protesting against the progress, the Arab Spring has shown and benefited. This consultation had not gaining ground and the ruling military governments for. ongoing Moroccan occupation of their that the voice of a strong-willed people is taken place and, according to human rights junta are unable to stop them. In that light, our plight is no country, which began in 1976 when the difficult to suppress. activist Aminatou Haidar speaking earlier The movement’s is made up different than yours. It is to change Spanish colonisers departed. Whilst grassroots popular movements this year, “The Saharawi do not benefit at of battles being fought every day well a local and international order that Under international law, as set out within Western Sahara are key to changing all from this agreement. Instead it only beyond the centre we’ve known as abuses and marginalises us, the people. in a 1975 Advisory Opinion given by the the political landscape in the country, intensifies their oppression.” OCCUPIED Flaminia Giambalvo Tahrir, or the capital, Cairo. Since the revolution, we have used International Court of Justice, the people of international pressure is also vital. Under UN General Assembly resolution It may not make the news that the sarcasm, jokes, chants and graffiti to Western Sahara have an inalienable right to Western Sahara’s vast natural resources 1514 (XV), the natural resources of Western people of Damietta, a northern port chip away at the military’s power and self-determination. Following a 16-year war – in particular phosphates – may have Sahara should belong to the Saharawi ELSEWHERE: ROMA city, had been protesting the expansion diminish its credibility. But we have against the Moroccan occupation, resulted in complacency or complicity people. General Assembly Resolution of a toxic plant for months leading up also started experimenting with new 63/102 of 2008 called on member states UK and US occupations seized the and debate the role of culture as a tool to November. When they were made to forms of governance. to take “Legislative, administrative or other headlines of global media, making for education and emancipation. sound like rioters by the media, they Perhaps some of the strongest Western Sahara may be the forgotten measures in respect of their nationals and their tent communities a symbol of a Fernando, one of the occupiers, made posters reading “Stop polluting revolutionary initiatives since January the bodies corporate under their jurisdiction new wave of resistance. In other parts explains “It has become not only a site our Skies”. have been the “popular committees”, country of the Arab Spring but Stefan that own and operate enterprises in of Europe however, Occupy is taking of convergence for people, but also It makes the news that a pipe-line or neighbourhood groups. They Simanowitz takes hope from its latest the Non-Self-Governing Territories that different shapes and creating many a meeting point among institutions delivering natural gas to Israel has sprung up on the 28th of January to are detrimental to the interests of the diverse realms of the possible. and citizens, without opportunistic been bombed 10 times this year by a protect neighbourhoods when police victory in the European Parliament inhabitants of those Territories, in order to In Rome, the initial group of intermediaries”. He then adds, “it has ‘terrorist’. But you may not have heard forces disappeared. Since then, the put an end to those enterprises.” This has roughly 200 people that camped in also breathed fresh air into the area that the ‘mulatham’ (masked ranger) committees have become more not been done, and despite many attempts Santa Croce square was not able to (a relatively degraded area of Rome), wrote “Stop selling our gas cheap to politicised, playing the role of local a UN-brokered ceasefire promised the among the international community, to break the long-running diplomatic insert itself into the broader social bringing the square to life once again Israel” – in fire, on the desert sands. councils, pressuring existing councils Saharawi people a referendum on self- but a recent landmark decision by the stalemate, progress towards a resolution context and gradually vanished. “. There are now several occupations You may also not have heard of to perform certain tasks, mobilising determination. But over 20 years later it has European Parliament to end a fisheries of the conflict has been tortuously slow. Yet, the powerful occupy banner of cultural spaces in Rome and the university professor who walked people for campaigns, monitoring still not taken place, leaving the Saharawi agreement that allowed European boats The rejection of the fisheries has triggered several initiatives and throughout Italy. into his class in the small delta town parliamentarians, and of late, shaming to live either in desolate refugee camps in to fish Western Sahara waters, shows that agreement by the European Parliament is galvanised others, which are infused Simultaneously driven by the of Mansoura, scribbled “Down with members of the Military Junta. the Algerian desert or under occupation in economic interests do not always take unlikely to have any real economic impact with the values of the movement. issues of welfare and privatisation, military rule” on the blackboard, and Their current campaign - “Liars!” Western Sahara. precedence over political considerations. on Morocco but its political significance On the 15th of October, the date students and precarious workers walked out. This was the 17th of - has involved projecting videos On the morning of 8 November, The decision taken by MEPs on is enormous. Not only does it send a of the global uprising, a direct action have taken over disused buildings. December, a day into the latest and pictures of military crimes and Moroccan forces arrived in force to 14 December was an historic one. The clear message about the need to respect group “Draghi Ribelli” (Rebel Dragons), These spaces are being used to deadly clashes. violations on walls and buildings human rights NGOs are being raided junta by liberating our streets and in check. And let us make sure that dismantle the Gdeim Izik camp and were Fisheries Partnership Agreement between and uphold international law but it also launched a three day occupation experiment with new models of society He taught his students a lesson all over Egypt, sparking discussions and threatened by the ministry of institutions, one after the other, we we are never held hostage by that met with resistance. Violence erupted and the European Union and Morocco, signed demonstrates that a small group of outside the Italian National bank, by providing free accommodation, they’d never forget; that university is a of ‘alternative governments’ after interior’s Special Forces. Our battles remind ourselves that it’s important which is perceived supreme, the rule there were reports from both sides of large in 2005, had officially expired at the end committed activists can help change a in which over 500 people took part. providing Italian classes for migrants place for politics; that without freedom, the show. One of today’s screenings are bitter, and most of our wins to count our wins. It is important to of law. For the rule of law abides by numbers of injuries and fatalities. With of February, and a one-year extension to situation no matter how deadlocked it Following that, through a horizontal for two euros, free Wi-Fi areas and education amounts to very little. was in front of the Supreme have been paid for with the lives of see our struggle as part of a global those who write it, and no law should international journalists and observers the agreement was approved by a small may seem. decision making process of open many other services useful to the Three days later, the students Court in Cairo. un-armed protestors. That is not to struggle, that we no longer see be above justice. banned from the area, the details of what majority in the Council of Ministers in Stefan Simanowitz is a writer, assemblies, the group decided not to community. These new projects go of Ain Shams, one of Cairo’s biggest Our reality is far from being fully mention a vicious media campaign by ourselves as Islands, occupied with our Let us write our futures, as we happened remain hard to establish but the March. However, pressure for the European journalist and broadcaster. He chairs the embrace the ‘tent city’ format. beyond the traditional concept of a universities, announced a strike, and triumphant, however. As I write this, the military against the revolution and own concerns, that we exchange ideas believe they should unravel. Let’s make incident attracted widespread attention Parliament to reject the extension had Free Western Sahara Network. Visit www. Instead of one prolonged social centre. The open and accessible the university’s president led a march seventeen local and international protestors. for keeping these governments we hire them up as we go along. internationally and across the region. In the been building. freesahara.ning.com occupation, Draghi Ribelli are nature of these buildings & sites Still, we grow by the day. organising several flash occupations makes them places where the global Alaa Abdelfattah, the blogger with different themes. An example is struggle is internalized into the daily who I quoted in my last article saying Occupy Christmas, for which actions are lives of ordinary citizens. ‘the dream’ was necessary for the focused in traditional Roman shopping Occupy has taken many and varied revolution, was finally released on areas. These would serve as a reminder shapes in Rome, conjugating a global Christmas day, after 54 days in jail. of the surprise that awaits all Italians desire to territorial specificities. As Alaa was jailed for refusing to be underneath the Christmas tree: a argued by Jin, one of the activists questioned by a military court, with spending cuts package no one voted for. involved in Puzzle, “If one determinate regards to a massacre the military Simultaneously, different citizen format works in Spain it doesn’t itself was implicated in. After much groups have begun to reclaim necessarily need to work in the same pressure (including two solidarity abandoned spaces and turn them into exact way everywhere else”. statements from Occupy LSX) sites where ideas are not only shared, After all, what is the most powerful Alaa was finally transferred to a but put into practice. attribute of occupy the tents or its civilian court, and released pending A case in point is the occupation of underpinning values? investigations. an old theatre building. This building, The notion of self-empowerment. Maikel Nabil on the other hand, once a cornerstone of Roman culture, The idea of not waiting for change a blogger who has received a two- had fallen into disuse and was being from above, but being the first in year sentence for his blog entry “The co-opted by private companies taking action. This has allowed army and the people were never one involved in money laundering scandals people to bypass traditional hand” has been less fortunate. to create bingo rooms. hierarchies, creating a struggle He is held in solitary confinement The group, who have now taken focused on a democracy of common and has been on hunger strike for 3 over this space, not only restored its goods. This is what has made Occupy months. It was his courage in refusing public cultural role, but turned it into so powerful. Allowing for the creation to be questioned before a military a space that serves the community. of inclusive and fluid spaces whose court that inspired Alaa and many of The building now hosts several character is continuously evolving; us, to transform our words of defiance cultural events (all absolutely free), shaped by the variety of people into action. a radio station and also an array of traversing them and transforming As we struggle against a military workshops, in which people analyse those people at the same time. Flaminia Providing Solutions With ‘puzzle’ Giambalvo In one of Rome’s degraded suburbs, the the rehabilitation of degraded spaces nothing worked from toilets to heating.” renting issues, on the other it offers the HoW do you Tufello neighbourhood, project ‘Puzzle’ to supporting disadvantaged citizens, The once decaying premises now boasts opportunity to enter an ‘occupation list’ was born. In areas like this one, local through the services provided. two working kitchens, three working through which people can request to politicians are unable or unwilling To passers-by, the five-storey toilets, freshly painted walls, ten occupy the rooms at Puzzle. Moreover, to provide the community with basic graffiti-covered building hosting Puzzle furnished rooms and a common area. the project offers Italian lessons for services and leave residents to fend for appears amenable to any other social The objective of Puzzle is immigrants and private tutoring to themselves. The failures of institutional centre. However, those who dare to straightforward: offer services to those support youths struggling in school. solve a probLem politics leave buildings which could venture onto its premises can discover a who need them and create a juridical However, as explained by provide essential services for the much more complex reality. precedent and a model that can be Giannmario, “It is not a free for all. community empty and at threat of decay The project began nine months exported in an immediate future. If you request to sleep at Puzzle it’s and speculation. ago, when a group of over 100 people The idea was initially brought because you believe that affordable In the framework of a political and occupied an abandoned building. As forward by Horus, a nearby social housing should be everyone’s right and Michael Richmond and economic crisis, Puzzle offers a explained by Gianmario, a medicine centre, though the project encompasses thus you also take over the broader Like TiNa? new, self organised model of welfare, student involved in the project from a variety of people with diverse political project. Even a family taking For decades leading up to 2011, the mainstream media (some vociferous, the ‘Great Moderation’ but an almighty seen as a common good truly accessible the outset, “when we first entered the backgrounds. Gianmario explains, their kids here for tutoring needs to be year of great occupations, there has some tacit), almost all thinktanks bubble. And it didn’t lead to greater to all. The political project goes from estate the walls were falling apart, and “Since its very beginning this project conscious that their decision is not just been a different kind of occupation. and the vast majority of university prosperity for all; instead it has now wanted to go beyond the conventional one of convenience, but a political one Our collective imagination has been economics departments are destroyed much of the wealth it had idea of a social centre, starting from its as well.” In this sense it also becomes a explained by Raffaele, “Even if the occupied by a lie. We have internalised ideologically wedded or owe their ever created (the vast majority of very name: ‘Puzzle’; the intersection space through which to mobilise people practical manifestation differs - i.e. the mantra of the status quo – “There existence to neoliberalism and financial which was always concentrated in the of different realities and people with who would usually not be involved with we have not occupied a big square and Is No Alternative” – that is continually interests. This has spawned a mass hands of a small minority.) different backgrounds.” As a matter of an occupied site. are having to maintain our presence repeated, both explicitly and financialisation of society, in which But in a sense this doesn’t matter. fact, groups involved with Puzzle range Raffaele, a medicine student with tents - the key word is the same: subliminally, by the 1% who directly our public services are infected with a The only show in town no longer from Hours, engineering students, living at Puzzle since June, explains Occupy. In the sense of occupying, benefit from the political and economic market ethos before eventually being bothers to advertise itself, to say how medicine students and neighbourhood how being involved in the projected or rather taking over the things that settlement they claim is the only privatised, and our language has been much everyone will enjoy it; the only associations.” Each of these different impacted upon his life. “It has been concern you the most - for example show in town. corrupted by meaningless buzzwords argument it is left with is an uncaring organisations sought to build a form of an experience of emancipation and the society in which you live. From that This lie has now reached such and management jargon. shrug and a reductive sneer: “What’s There are choices to be made in Economics Foundation could be self government of the area from below political growth at an exponential level, derives the demand for change and epic proportions that it has become Politicians of all parties have your alternative?” This has been an political economy, not that you’d know introduced to pricing and the transition and this building became the place from which begins with everyday tasks. democracy.” easier to imagine the wholesale chosen to retreat from intervening incredibly effective way to control it from most politicians and the media. they propose towards a steady state which to do it.” You not only imagine how to change Despite the innumerable hurdles, destruction of the earth’s remaining in the economy other than to ensure or eliminate debate, but things are In taxation, a progressive tax system and sustainable economy could begin. One of the most notable services a reality, but by dealing with the Puzzle is growing and gradually taking natural resources than to envisage an that there is an amenable business beginning to change. could include a Robin Hood tax, land Inequality could be tackled head provided by Puzzle are the student practical side of things such as building shape. Though, as said by Giannmario alternative means of organising human environment for financial interests Odd figures on the right like Peter and property taxation, the closure of on, across society by the introduction dorms, which currently host eight your bed or painting a wall. You realise “you won’t change the world through society. How can this be? How, after and that public assets be opened up Oborne and Charles Moore are having loopholes and tax havens and enforced, of pay limits in the public and private people. These work in conjunction with how to do it with your own hands”. a building.” But perhaps, by linking a global economic disaster caused to market forces. And at the centre of neoliberal nightmares and recanting transparent reporting. sectors so that a CEO can earn no the info point. The info point is held once Besides its highly particular and up and comparing national and by financial capitalism, can tired old this system are the banks, allowed to their faith in Friedman’s bible; the A Green New Deal could be more than 10 times as much as his/her a week at the Sapienza University and territorial aspects, the spirit of the international efforts, we can start TINA still be rolled out without a hint grow into behemoths with the power to Financial Times, Daily Telegraph and instituted, with investment in long-term lowest paid employee. serves a twofold purpose. On one hand project is very much in line with the putting together the particular pieces of irony? crush nation states, to direct economic Daily Mail have offered qualified praise growth, knowledge and infrastructure in These kinds of things are not it provides legal counseling regarding values of other global movements. As for a global alternative. The first thing to note is how policy and to bring the world to its for UK Uncut or Occupy; inequality is universities, high-tech manufacturing, communism, or romantic well-wising; this has been done. Since Thatcher, knees. This system has failed. It has an issue that is beginning to make its solar and wind technology and public they happen in well-functioning, neoliberal ideology has conditioned failed most human beings on earth, as way onto the agenda because, as Kate transport. Stronger unions could bring developed democracies in which the almost every area of our society it always had even before the crisis. Pickett and Richard Wilkinson show in democracy to the workplace, just as population don’t live in penury without and of the way that individuals see the But now it has failed even on its own The Spirit Level, it affects the whole of they do in Scandinavia and Germany. iPods. And there is no reason that they world and their lives. All of the main terms. It is not free-market capitalism, society and can’t be solved by wealth The banking system could be cannot be implemented here. Judith political parties, practically all of the it is monopoly capitalism. It was not trickling down or by some tax credits genuinely broken up and tightly TINA is a dishonest argument Schossboeck regulated to eliminate moral hazard; from an establishment that has never Political Consumerism those majority-owned by the tax-payer honestly acknowledged what the could be nationalised and made to neoliberal settlement entailed for the We are what we buy. how much we care by giving a special A strategy for the 99%? market-based political strategies. develop political consumerist toolkits. operate in the public interest, bringing 99%; this pernicious ideology has Political consumerism as brand or status gift. Time to act as Another frequent point of criticism Social movements are fundamental to One central aim should be to raise down the high street banking costs occupied our entire country like an everyone’s business conscientious consumers, to challenge is that political consumerism in Western providing such signals to the public, awareness in individuals (including of their competitors in the process. invading army, transferring wealth At the heart of the global Occupy the power of corporations and to fight Europe is an activity that belongs to but also to producers, who otherwise ourselves) to take responsibility for Also, the function of creating money from poor to rich, silencing dissent and movement is the call for radical against an ethically blind society. high-resourced people. Being outside would not know too much about their ecological and ethical footprints. must be stripped from private banks leaving a huge trail of social problems change based on a rethinking of our Buycott vs. Boycott of the labour market certainly excludes consumers’ preferences. Strategies to Reflective consumer action is not who recklessly create money as debt, in its wake. TINA’s biggest success current system’s priorities. A central Political consumerism combines from such practice. However, as a form put breaks on consumerism through self-oriented, but based on concern destabilising the entire economy. has been to create perhaps the largest concern in this regard is to reveal the the rationalities of two subsystems: of individualistic political action it is symbolic or visual signals are flash for society as a whole. If Occupy is Advertising could be regulated obstacle to change: our own self- hidden economic and ecological costs the homo economicus and politicus. particularly attractive to young people mobs, mall sit-ins, community events a mechanism to change the way we much more tightly to ensure it does not doubt. of a consumerist society and related The concept originates from the Brent as many youngsters are more likely or walks of shame as extended boycott think about what we as individuals impoverish our – and our children’s – The actions of the Occupy individual lifestyles (particularly those Spar conflict involving Shell in the to engage in this form of participation (a funny way of raising awareness want, it will have the power to influence aspirations. movement, UK Uncut and others have of the 1 %). Political consumerism Northern See in 1995. Often considered than in demonstration or protest. Whilst of which companies not to support). collective values as well. So far, the Learning from the long-term shown us how to fight back: reclaim is one way of rethinking our own as a kind of individualized and global- these facts point towards the potential We occupy, as the motto of Buy movement has been immensely success of John Lewis and the public space, subvert the tired old consumerist behaviour and to influence oriented action, it stands for the choice to evolve into a more widespread Nothing Day emphasizes, the “very successful in provoking discussion and Mondragon Cooperative Corporation in arguments and make fun of them. the public agenda. of producers and products with the phenomenon, there’s also a less paradigm that is fueling our eco, social getting people thinking about methods the Basque Country, co-operatives and How can we be the unrealistic ones Naomi Klein, author of No Logo aim of changing politically or ethically positive side: political actions within the and political decline”. Fasting from of resistance. In the best case, it will other democratic workplace structures when their economic model leaves and The Shock Doctrine, gives on objectionable market practices. The marketplace seem to be more attractive hyper consumerism and rethinking initiate profound change in society could be positively incentivised. A us with no planet left to live on? explanation of why it can be fruitful values of political consumerism match to the majority than visual action and consumer decisions, we can confront towards an ethical assessment of system of environmental and social Michael Richmond is author of the novel to address companies rather than those of Occupy: issues of justice, protest. (This corresponds with the transnational corporations, demand business and government practices, ‘goods’ as advocated by the New Sisyphusa. He tweets under @Sisyphusa politicians. To her, it is a question fairness and social well-being. Similarly, notion of life politics (Anthony Giddens) more transparency in commodity including consumption practices on the of strategy and corporations are ethical consumerism (sometimes or sub politics (Ulrich Beck)). And how chains, inform about greenwashing or individual level. not real targets, but a doorway that named green consumerism) is the do we challenge a consumerist society activists deliberately choose to wake intentional purchase of products and if individuals have more power as up politicians and citizens. Effectivity services that we consider to be made consumers than as citizens? of actions is boosted by the growing with minimal exploitation of humans It is with no doubt that economic importance of corporate image that or the environment. It can be practiced prosperity and individualization go made companies more vulnerable to through either buycott (positive buying) hand in hand. Consumption orientation even small groups of activists and or boycott (negative purchasing). If can thus push a decline in civic the rise of the internet as a platform companies like Ben and Jerry’s are participation. On the other hand, for shared discourse among political solidarizing with OWS, they are actively political consumerism is always taking consumers. Corporations are mostly seeking to convey an activist-friendly place on the intersection of individual targeted because they epitomize image and to initiate buycott strategies choice and collective action. Historically, general problems in society. of sympathizers. consumer boycotts were often realized Occupy is supported by fellow Although the concept is fairly by groups and collectivities, like women campaigners across the globe, in new, the usage of the market as arena (who, to borrow the cliché, are in particular by anti-corporate, networked for political activism is quite an old charge when it comes to shopping). movements and organisations. The phenomenon. Well-known examples Apart from the youngest, people aged anti-consumerist and pro-environment include campaigns against Nestlé between 35 and 55 as well as students organisation Adbusters is showing or countries like France or the U.S. and (probably less desperate) house solidarity with Occupy Wallstreet (OWS) because of their position on the Iraq wives are most likely to be amongst by listing it as one of their campaigns, war. Whilst boycott is used to express political consumers. A higher degree of and recently, by marrying the annual political sentiment, buycott is supporting global orientation and a sense of global Buy Nothing Day (BND, 25th and corporations that represent values like solidarity is significant. 26th December 2011) to the message fair trade, sustainable development Occupying the paradigm of of OWS. Indeed, some seasons or environmentalism. However, both consumerism are predestined for focused action boycotts and buycotts can also be Enforced political consumerism questioning the basis of a consumer- problematic, for instance when used should be considered as serious driven society. Particularly around against particular groups or minorities instrument in the occupation toolbox. x-mas, advertisements try to convince (e.g. the “Don’t Buy Jewish” boycotts in One role of Occupy movements us how we can show our loved ones Europe at the end of the 19th century). around the world is to inform about The MaUritiUs Flee the state,

Joseph Miracle Stiglitz don’t seize it! Suppose someone were to describe a were its prospects as it approached Third, Mauritius recognized that small country that provided free education independence from Britain, which came without natural resources, its people A response to the idea of ‘citize n through university for all of its citizens, in 1968, that the Nobel Prize-winning were its only asset. Maybe that transportation for school children, and economist James Meade wrote in 1961: appreciation for its human resources Aaron Peters free health care – including heart surgery “It is going to be a great achievement is also what led Mauritius to realize politicians’ in UK government – for all. You might suspect that such a if [the country] can find productive that, particularly given the country’s country is either phenomenally rich or on employment for its population without potential religious, ethnic, and political ndreas Whittam- and ideologically bankrupt’. This is a impotence... emancipatory thought does trade agreements imposed on us which the fast track to fiscal crisis. a serious reduction in the existing differences – which some tried to Smith recently basic point. Those contributing within not look to seize the state apparatus have implications for public services After all, rich countries in Europe have standard of living….[T]he outlook for exploit in order to induce it to remain a wrote about the piece, myself and vast swathes of in order to implement change; rather, (such as GATS) but which have been increasingly found that they cannot pay for peaceful development is weak.” British colony – education for all was the possibility the British population share a common it looks to flee those sites, to renounce negotiated by the European Commission. university education, and are asking young As if to prove Meade wrong, crucial to social unity. So was a strong of ‘a group of ground – that something has to change. instituting any centre or centrality.” Simply put, Westminster is not the locus people and their families to bear the costs. the Mauritians have increased per commitment to democratic institutions like-minded This is an increasingly evident point, But what do such words mean and of political change or management of the For its part, the United States has never capita income from less than $400 and cooperation between workers, citizens running but also a basic premise upon which what is their relationship to the demands economy. Not unless there are immense attempted to give free college for all, and around the time of independence to government, and employers – precisely for election for meaningful social and political change of those new movements which changes and pressures, both from above it took a bitter battle just to ensure that more than $6,700 today. The country the opposite of the kind of dissension Aone term only’ in order to bring about can and might be built. The institutions seem, for now at least, to be beyond and below. As Manuel Castells wrote America’s poor get access to health care has progressed from the sugar- and division being engendered by the requisite change that is patently which govern, rule and represent us are the parameters of centre-left political well before the Great Recession of 2008; – a guarantee that the Republican Party is based monoculture of 50 years ago conservatives in the US today. needed within British politics and failing at every turn. parties. What do such words mean in “The nation-state, defining the now working hard to repeal, claiming that to a diversified economy that includes which, it seems increasingly clear, is The idea of a virtuous citizen(ry) relation to ‘Real Democracy Now’ and domain, procedures, and object the country cannot afford it. tourism, finance, textiles, and, if current not forthcoming from career politicians intervening and resolving a political ‘Occupy Everywhere’ movements and of citizenship, has lost much of its But Mauritius, a small island plans bear fruit, advanced technology. within the bowels of the palace of crisis is nothing new. As Guy Aitchison how they engage with the ‘legitimate’ sovereignty, undermined by the nation off the east coast of Africa, is During my visit, my interest was to Westminster. His proposal, therefore, points out, in Republican Rome the political process in Washington, dynamics of global flows and trans- neither particularly rich nor on its way understand better what had led to what was one in which a better group of ‘Dictator’ was given extraordinary power Whitehall and Madrid? organizational networks of wealth, to budgetary ruin. Nonetheless, it has some have called the Mauritius Miracle, persons would in part replace the current to lead the republic for six month terms The relationship is this. The new information, and power. Particularly spent the last decades successfully and what others might learn from it. cohort, as inept and frequently corrupt during periods of crisis. According to the movements, based as they are on direct critical for its legitimacy crisis is the building a diverse economy, a There are, in fact, many lessons, some as they seem to be. This would be in the historian Livy it is the humble Cincinatus, action and direct democracy and with state’s decreasing ability to fulfil its democratic political system, and a of which should be borne in mind by hope that improved personnel might be a farmer from Hispania who is called on a proclivity to regard themselves as commitments as a welfare state because demands and ‘instead re-conceiving our strong social safety net. Many politicians in the US and elsewhere as more effective ‘problem-solvers’ while to lay down his tools and lead Roman creating spaces within which one can re- of the integration of production and own political agency are neatly summed countries, not least the US, could learn they fight their budget battles. also mediating a crisis of confidence in forces on the Italian peninsula during the imagine social relations and even ‘politics’ consumption in a globally interdependent up in a statement written by local from its experience. First, the question is not whether our democratic institutions which are, we Second Punic War. itself, seem almost in direct opposition to system, and the related process of activists specifically aimed at ‘Occupy In a recent visit to this tropical we can afford to provide health care or are often told, of central importance in As well as the honourable citizen institutional actors as they are currently capitalist restructuring...to the crisis of Baltimore’: British public life and whose redemption redeeming the body politic, another constituted. This includes those actors legitimacy of the nation-state we must “We’re not asking for better wages is seemingly necessary. trope frequently alluded to during times within the political establishment, the add the crisis of credibility of the political or a lower interest rate. We’re not even As was the case with Guy Aitchison’s of crisis is that the system, no matter economy and the media. system, based on open competition asking for the full abolition of capital, response to the piece I am certainly how evidently degenerate, is not to be In contrast to the sentiments between political parties. Captured in the because we know that whatever’s sympathetic with the basic proposal blamed for its structural failings. Instead of Andreas I would advise the new media arena, reduced to personalized next will be something we make, not and it is clear that, as Guy writes, ‘...the it is those individuals ensconced within it movements to view themselves in leadership, dependent on technologically something we ask for.” British elite stand politically, morally that are morally suspect and ultimately opposition to existing institutions. sophisticated manipulation, pushed into The context of the new movements This is not to say that Mauritius culpable. It is a greedy and avaricious is the end of globalisation 2.0 and is without problems. Like many minority, acting from private vice rather an emergent global culture built on other successful emerging-market than the destructive principles of the ubiquitous and distributed digital countries, Mauritius is confronting a system, that are to be condemned. This networks. These new networks catalyse loss of exchange-rate competitiveness. is an evident inclination in how the media an information abundance that leaves And, as more and more countries popularly portray the ‘individual, moral institutions such as representative intervene to weaken their exchange failings’ of Fred Goodwin at RBS, Alan parliaments (as well as retail stores) that rates in response to America’s attempt Greenspan at the Federal Reserve and were created within a context of previous at competitive devaluation through ‘greedy bankers’ more generally. Such information scarcity increasingly quantitative easing, the problem is a position is also tacitly implicit within anachronistic. It is clear that there is a becoming worse. Almost surely, Andreas’ proposal. need for new institutions to match new Mauritius, too, will have to intervene. I would respectfully disagree however cultural realities. This would include an Moreover, like many other countries that those involved in anti-austerity appreciation of personal identity over around the world, Mauritius worries struggles, which have only just begun the imposition of social homogeneity, today about imported food and energy within the context of a pronounced and new and more complex understanding inflation. To respond to inflation by intensified period of attack after May of emancipation - replacing the idea increasing interest rates would simply 2010, should see election to the House of liberty as the antithesis of equality compound the difficulties of high prices of Commons as a suitable conduit for - a recognition of the ‘limits of growth’ with high unemployment and an even aspirations for social change. After all, we and of course the need for ecological less competitive exchange rate. Direct have seen with Blair in 1997 and now Nick sustainability. interventions, restrictions on short-term Clegg in 2010 that even those holders While I would never castigate capital inflows, capital-gains taxes, and of public office who seem to all intents anyone who attempted to work within stabilizing prudential banking regulations a better ‘sort’ to their parliamentary institutions as they stand, within the will all have to be considered. contemporaries almost inevitably current context such endeavours seem The Mauritius Miracle dates to disappoint those who put faith in them. futile. These will, inevitably, be the last independence. But the country still Barack Obama is a prime example systems to recognise the necessity of struggles with some of its colonial of an elected representative who failed to change – this would after all, require them legacies: inequality in land and wealth, deliver on promises made when seeking to abolish themselves. Better, surely, to as well as vulnerability to high-stakes election. Since charisma alone cannot renounce those sites and build our own global politics. The US occupies overcome the inertia of the American cultures, tools and systems for sustaining one of Mauritius’s offshore islands, political establishment, the only solution ourselves - from housing to education archipelago of 1.3 million people, I had a education for all, or ensure widespread Diego Garcia, as a naval base without is to change that establishment rather Such institutions are systems that, unlawful financing, driven by and toward and childcare. Such a task seems utterly chance to see some of the leaps Mauritius homeownership. If Mauritius can afford compensation, officially leasing it from than perennially investing misplaced hope as many well-meaning individuals scandal politics, the party system has lost necessary - the good ideas about how has taken – accomplishments that can these things, America and Europe – which the United Kingdom, which not only on yet another ‘candidate for change’. (such as Barack Obama and perhaps its appeal and trustworthiness, and, for we live after the crisis and possibly, the seem bewildering in light of the debate are several orders of magnitude richer – retained the Chagos Islands in violation No to Westminster, or why we Don’t even Nick Clegg) have shown, change all practical purposes, is a bureaucratic ‘end of growth’ - from urban farming to in the US and elsewhere. Consider home can, too. The question, rather, is how to of the UN and international law, but Need a British Nestor Kirchner participants within them well before they remainder deprived of public confidence.” localised, open source manufacture will ownership: while American conservatives organize society. Mauritians have chosen expelled its citizens and refuses to allow We have also seen how movements themselves are changed. Furthermore, These two basic points – the end of not be coming from Westminster. For say that the government’s attempt to a path that leads to higher levels of social them to return. very similar to those we now see to pursue the route of legislating at the the nation-state as an effective mediator such exciting movements and individuals extend home ownership to 70% of the cohesion, welfare, and economic growth – The US should now do right by in Europe and the US behaved in national level within the current system of citizens interests within a globalised, to allocate their energy exclusively there US population was responsible for the and to a lower level of inequality. this peaceful and democratic country: Latin America during their own debt is insufficient for two reasons. First network society and the demise of the would be a tragedy indeed. financial meltdown, 87% of Mauritians Second, unlike many other small recognize Mauritius’ rightful ownership crisis amid the genesis of the alter- of all the nation state is no longer the parliamentary party as popular conduit After 2008 we now know another own their own homes – without fueling a countries, Mauritius has decided that of Diego Garcia, renegotiate the lease, globalisation movement. One particular primary locus of political or economic for democratically backed social change world is possible. The task then is to housing bubble. most military spending is a waste. The and redeem past sins by paying a fair group within those struggles, Collectivo endeavour. Secondly, one should not see and intervention in the economy allude create the tools and culture(s) to bring Now comes the painful number: US need not go as far: just a fraction amount for land that it has illegally Situaciones wrote several years after the ‘politics’ as a realm that is detached from to why the new movements – in my that world about – while this may Mauritius’s GDP has grown faster of the money that America spends occupied for decades. crisis had somewhat ebbed; ‘economics’ and in control of it. Indeed opinion rightfully so – choose to not occasionally involve the input of existing than 5% annually for almost 30 years. on weapons that don’t work against Joseph E. Stiglitz is University “At long last we have learned that social management within the ‘Network engage with parliamentary parties or institutional actors, in the main it will not. Surely, this must be some “trick.” enemies that don’t exist would go Professor at Columbia University and a power – the state, understood as a Society’, for better or worse, simply does participate within the existing political Aaron Peters is a P.hD candidate at Mauritius must be rich in diamonds, a long way toward creating a more Nobel laureate in Economics. His latest privileged locus of change – is not the site, not work like that. Politics no longer apparatus. From such institutions they Royal Holloway, University of London oil, or some other valuable commodity. humane society, including provision of book, Freefall: Free Markets and the par excellence, of the political. As Spinoza exercises oversight over the economy often demand nothing and instead base investigating the changing nature But Mauritius has no exploitable health care and education to those who Sinking of the Global Economy, is available stated long ago, such power is the place and civil society. After all we now have their politics on real, direct democracy. of social movements and political natural resources. Indeed, so dismal cannot afford them. in French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. of sadness and of the most absolute the IMF, the EU, bond markets, the WTO, Both sides of this culture, not making contention in the ‘Network Society’. ‘The market’ is not enough Neil Howard hese days, if you sit ‘trade or manufacture’ would engage fastest and most equally-distributed rise indicate, we no longer see ‘the market’ down to watch the in ‘conspiracy against the public or in in living standards in European history. as short-hand for one of the many news, you’re almost some other contrivance to raise prices’, But that all changed in the 1970s. mechanisms through which government guaranteed to since business interest ‘is always in In the context of crisis, a new group provides for society. Today, ‘the market’ hear someone talk some respects different from, and even of politicians and business leaders is conceived as a thing in itself, a living about ‘the market’. opposite to, that of the public’. Marx began promoting the idea that an entity that ‘threatens’ us and our leaders ‘The markets are and his followers went further, arguing economy could only function ‘efficiently’ and which determines how we live. down today’, they’ll that some of what we value cannot be in the absence of any government It is time for this to change. As is Tsay, or ‘the market won’t like that’. translated into monetary gain and thus ‘interference’. In their narrative, profit now becoming clear, faith in the ability of More and more frequently it’s that ‘the will not be provided in a world run solely alone guarantees economic and social a de-regulated and privatised economy markets demand action’, as the threat of on the basis of profit (health-care for the well-being, while regulation stifles has been badly mis-placed. Over the past recession looms. poor being a good example). economic activity. Their diagnosis has 30 years, inequality has risen faster than In this context, it is somewhat Over the next century, economists been the removal of legislative barriers at any other time in our history, while surprising that no-one asks: what developed mathematical models to to the free flow of business – including real wages have stagnated. As it stands, exactly is ‘the market’, and why are we explain how else markets ‘fail’. One taxes, environmental protection and we find ourselves on the brink of an so beholden to it’s mood-swings? example concerns the problem of labour laws – and the privatisation of economic crisis so deep that it threatens In the classical days of political ‘externalities’. These are side-effects that publicly-provided services. the very fabric of our society. It is time, economy, Adam Smith and David arise from the process of production. It is against this backdrop that therefore, to put ‘the market’ back in its Ricardo conceived of ‘the market’ as a Ordinarily, the price of what I sell reflects ‘the market’ has been loosened from place. We must once again conceive of it government-regulated mechanism for what it cost me to produce. In some its metaphorical moorings. As the as a means and not an end. Because put the promotion of human well-being. As cases, production generates side-effects statements at the start of this piece simply, ‘the market’ is not enough. MONEY TALK$ men who’d grown up under the shadow that are costly for others but not for OT: You’ve been following Occupy Wall this movement. in the distribution of income and wealth of 17th Century bread-riots, both saw me. In this scenario, unless I am forced Street, what are your thoughts on it so far? OT: We hear rumours of a more profound within and across countries, that had price-fixing as futile and at times by government or those who pay for DR: My first reaction was: this is the economic collapse in the Spring... been largely ignored within mainstream even counter-productive. They argued these side-effects to change my mode movement we’ve been waiting for. DR: I do think there’s another collapse on discourse. that if government could guarantee of production, the drive for profit means We’ve been expecting it because of the horizon, especially given the mounting And if you pushed me a bit further, I’d say I certain basics – property rights and that I’ll continue producing, irrespective The Wisdom of: Nick Pickles the deteriorating economic and social costs of austerity policies and the failed want one thing: a growing commitment to contractual exchange – then the of how bad this is for others. This is conditions since the economic crisis attempts to stitch together a solution for the idea of engaging in a “ruthless criticism ‘invisible hand’ of profit-driven human what happens with pollution, described first struck in 2007-08. How much sovereign debt in the euro zone. of all that exists.” interaction would lead to a balance of by the government’s ‘Review on the Privacy isn’t dead. But technology longer, we thought, were the 99 percent Even if that collapse doesn’t occur, we’ve OT: Some people say the system is supply and demand and a more stable Economics of Climate Change’ as ‘the is changing our perception of what is supposed to put up with growing poverty, already lost a generation to increased broken, others say it’s working just fine (for distribution of bread for all. most spectacular example of market private. At present, technology takes unemployment, home foreclosures poverty and unemployment (and all a very few) - what’s your feeling on this? In his discussion of ‘Capital’, Marx failure we have ever seen’. power away from the user to control and budget cuts, while large financial the attendant costs on people’s health, DR: My own view is that the system is built on this analysis. He argued that It is of course against this backdrop their privacy – in exactly the same way institutions were bailed out and corporate schooling, family life, and general social broken precisely because it’s only working the division of production into investors, that government regulation and as blanket CCTV does. profits soaring? welfare) and even a quick recovery won’t for a tiny minority at the top. Even more: land-holders and workers, and the state welfare-state capitalism developed and Our biggest challenge is making solve that. it’s broken to such an extent that fixing guarantee of competitive exchange flourished. Aware that ‘the market’ is people realise that their privacy is OT: Have academics & professional it — which is what the elite is trying to between them, underpinned a period of really just a term we use to describe important – and to realise that the slow economists been slow in getting to grips do right now — involves imposing costs innovation and growth the likes of which the imperfect set of rules, regulations trickle of authoritarian and intrusive laws The Occupied Times meets leading with Occupy? of austerity on the 99 percent that are so human beings had never before seen and and institutions that sometimes fail will have consequences for their families. non-orthodox economist, David Ruccio, DR: Many of them haven’t wanted to be onerous it’s time to think about making from which many derived great benefit. but which often facilitate economic “I’ve got nothing to hide, so why should identified with ideas and activities they some fundamental changes. Neither Marx nor the political exchange in the service of human I care what people know?” When I hear Professor of Economics at the University think are perhaps well-intentioned but OT: These austerity measures: are they economists saw ‘markets’ as perfect, well-being, post-war governments that argument, I ask: “How many cameras of Notre Dame, Indiana. His Occasional ultimately wrong-headed. This is part of working? Are they a way forward? however. Adam Smith, wrongly tightly regulated business practices would you like in your bedroom, and which a much larger problem. It stems from the DR: Austerity measures have not worked, cited as the father of free-market and used high income-taxes to fund the is your partner’s good side?” Suddenly, Links & Commentary blog can be found at emergence of the corporate university, in in any region or sector in which they’ve economics, constantly cautioned service provision that the profit-motive people then discover they do care about www.anticap.wordpress.com which academics are encouraged to focus been tried — from Michigan to Greece, against the unregulated power of big alone would never guarantee. It is no privacy after all. on publishing in specialized journals and from education to healthcare. There are business, warning that unchecked coincidence that this period saw the The UK has roughly 1% of the ignore what is going on in the world, and, simply no examples of austerity success. world’s population and 20% of the Deliberately evading public scrutiny the battle for freedom of expression and in the particular case of economics, from Austerity creates economic contraction, world’s CCTV – the result of a uniquely only undermines the wider trust in privacy online. OT: Has Occupy got legs? Or will winter the arrogance of mainstream economists, and therefore makes it impossible to lower unaccountable bureaucracy that has the police. Ultimately, this undermines The best weapon is a more informed kill it? who pontificate on the truths stemming government budget deficits. That’s because largely won the argument that everyone public safety far more than not having consumer. Take contactless paying – DR: Yes, the movement has legs. The from their elegant, formal models and austerity leads to lower government is suspect. the technology in the first place. I don’t the danger is where it’s used for tracking winter won’t kill it. My sense is that the who regularly attack the economic ideas revenues from reduced economic activity. The “Big Brother society” is about have a problem with the police having and storing our behaviour (for example, movement will morph and change in the that are produced and disseminated At the same time, there are increased trusting nobody and monitoring access to the best equipment and tools journeys made using an Oyster card) coming months but it won’t be going away by noneconomists, within the world of demands on government services from the everyone. It speaks to a vision which to protect the public. What I object to without our knowledge or consent. There is anytime soon. Already we are seeing some “everyday economics.” newly poor and unemployed. is more about suspecting citizens than is the watering down of the threshold a real risk that consumers will be forced to of those changes, with the emergence OT: You say that maybe it’s time to “occupy OT: Do you think society has lost control respecting them. It fosters a climate of when it can be used. Fine, retain sacrifice privacy in the name of convenience. of extensions of the movement, such as the teaching of economics” - what of its banks & corporations? fear, which has exacerbated the wider communications interception capabilities If you’re not paying for something, the Occupy Student Debt and Occupy Our do you mean? DR: It’s not clear that society has ever breakdown of society because people are for dealing with a terrorist threat, but you are the product. Your personal Homes campaigns. DR: For the most part, economics is had control of its banks and corporations. told by authorities that they should not don’t then try to argue that something information is valuable and expect OT: Do you sense anything new about taught as a singular method and set of There have been moments, such as during trust their neighbours and should regard like the Occupy protest or the student people to be intent on profiting from its the movement, or is it an age-old howl of conclusions, mostly having to do with the regulations imposed during the New everyone as a potential threat. fees demonstration are terrorist threats. exploitation. protest against injustice and exploitation? the individual and social benefit created Deal in the United States, when society had In all likelihood, the budget of If I could be Justice Secretary for Keep it simple is a good way to protect DR: In many times and places, the by private property and markets. In other a bit more control. Such regulations, like GCHQ exceeds £1bn. We know that a day – I’d set in law that no innocent your privacy - using cash, paper tickets masses are the ones who have made words, in the name of Science (in the those contained in the Glass-Steagall Act the figure of £2bn has been mooted person’s details, photograph or biometric and only filling in information on forms history, when they stood up to protest singular), the teaching of economics has of 1932, were created in order to protect around a project to massively increase material can be held by the police once that is needed, not everything that is injustice and exploitation. They did it in become a celebration of capitalism. banks from themselves, and to protect monitoring of UK internet and digital they have been acquitted or not charged. asked for. In practical steps people should Paris in 1871 and again in North Africa What I mean by “occupy the teaching of the rest of the economy from the banks. communications. GCHQ does essential You can only be fined for breaches of think carefully about any time they are in 2010, to choose but two examples. economics” is opening up the courses to The problem was, the Act left in place work keeping the public safe, and that the Data Protection Act. Big Brother asked to hand over personal information So, in that sense, the Occupy Wall Street contending perspectives; different economic the interest and means on the part of the work is only undermined if we start Watch is calling for custodial sentences - assume everything you write down will movement is a continuation of, as you methodologies and notions of justice, banks to work to repeal those regulations, asking them to watch out for people to be available to courts. There have be stored and available for inspection by put it, an “age-old howl.” instead of asserting that economics is based which they finally accomplished in 1999. looking at porn or Lady GaGa MP3s, as been cases of bank employees prying someone, somewhere. Whether it’s using What’s new, at least in terms of recent on a singular methodology and is divorced Other regulations were stripped away with some people would like. into people’s bank accounts and it’s clear a loyalty card, signing up for a library or U.S. history, is that people are coming from ethical concerns. Instead of forcing the ascent of free-market or neoliberal The police rely on the public’s trust to the punishments don’t currently reflect using social media, think twice about how together, beyond a issue, to express their students to learn in an uncritical fashion conceptions of capitalism. The proponents do their job. The case of the Metropolitan the scale of intrusion. much information about yourself you resentment at something larger and more the very economic theory that created the of neoliberalism, such as Margaret Police Authority not knowing about the The Digital Economy Act – introduced hand over. abstract — the power of Wall Street and conditions for the Global Financial Crash and Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, even went force’s purchase of a £3m spy plane is the potential for people’s internet Someone once said it is poor civic large corporations to force the 99 percent the Second Great Depression. so far as to argue that society doesn’t a classic example of an accountability connections to be disconnected for hygiene to leave the next generation to pay the costs of the decisions made by, OT: If you could have Occupy achieve one exist — only individuals and their families. failure. Sadly it is not unique. Forces are behaviour which is not a criminal offence. a state with the machinery of an and on behalf of, the 1 percent. thing, what would it be? Under such conditions, social control over reluctant to disclose their capabilities, The Coalition has not yet brought into oppressive regime in place. I think This raises the stakes: it indicates there’s DR: I think the Occupy movement has banks and corporations became virtually but there have been numerous cases of force those powers but the lobbying that’s a fair summary of why I believe something fundamentally wrong with the already achieved what I wanted: it’s impossible, and we are now paying technology and police powers being used voices are desperate for them to be. that protecting privacy and civil liberties system as it is currently constituted, and disrupted and changed the terms of the the costs. for purposes a democratic society would What’s more, they are also calling is important for the preservation of that new forms of democracy — political existing discourse. The opposition between OT: Will the 99.999% ever overthrow the not approve of. As a result, the police’s for website blacklists, Government- freedom today, and society tomorrow. and economic democracy — need to be the 1 percent and everyone else has put plutocracy? reaction seems to be focused on avoiding sanctioned censorship and with the Nick Pickles is Director of civil liberties invented. It’s a kind of break, a qualitative a whole host of items on the agenda, DR: The lesson from history is that all scrutiny, rather than a public discussion of added pressure of morality campaigns, and privacy campaign group Big Brother leap, which challenges and transcends especially the increasingly stark and plutocracies, when their time is up, get the problem. 2012 is looking like a defining year in Watch (bigbrotherwatch.org.uk) business as usual. That’s what’s new about actually grotesque levels of inequality overthrown. Jody Biofuels & the Economics Capitalism in Context Boehnert While corporations are busy marketing environment or society. Due to this basic disaster capitalism; neo-liberal free market system’. The political neutralisation of eco- sharply on solutions. Disaster capitalism themselves as environmentally responsible constraint, corporate public relations will policies imposed on shocked populations social movements is nothing new. This is a achieves its ends by means of techno-fixes, Helen global citizens, scientists warn that always aim to legitimise corporate power by (even when the disasters themselves are central challenge for the occupy movement. centralised control and state violence. Buckland global ecological systems are severely attacking an ecologically informed critique of caused by capitalism). The illustration accompanying this Ecological transition works towards of Deforestation destabilised. The confusion created by the industrial exploitation of the environment. The occupy movement emerges out of article displays discursive positions decentralised power, social change and gap between frightening scientific reports In 2005 Sir Nicholas Stern warned the recognition of the integral exploitative and the relationships between green bottom-up solutions. This discursive model Forests for people saved annually by using the palm oil as and reassuring messages from advertising that climate change is ‘the greatest market dynamic of capitalism. In contrast to occupy, capitalism, sustainable development, is an analytical tool to help occupy resist 2011 was the International Year of a biofuel. Carbon emissions from peat and corporate media provides an excuse failure the world has seen’. When even green capitalism and even sustainable disaster capitalism and ecological transition appropriation. Forests, with the theme ‘Forests for fires in Indonesia, linked to oil palm to continue shopping, watching TV and conservative officials describe the market development discourses continue to - including associated organisations Dramatic social change happens when People’. I think more and more people plantation expansion, have on several generally ignoring escalating social, political as responsible for the destruction of the legitimise corporate power. While many or corporations. Green capitalism and society decides that its dominant values are coming to understand the role that occasions been higher than the UK’s and economic crises (that is, so long as you stability of the climate system it would environmentalists may identify with green sustainable development both create a and priorities are no longer fit for purpose. forests play in the health of our planet, entire annual CO2 emissions. happen to be privileged enough to avoid the appear as if the ecologically damaging capitalism, the occupy movement is helping discourse of reassurance while tending Occupy has kick-started this process. In but I am not convinced that the threats Public consultation immediate impacts). dynamics of capitalism could finally be to expose the manner in which resistance to to look towards either technological an effort to avoid reaching a point where are abating yet. And yet, in the UK, our fuel bills Business as usual continues because addressed. Yet it remains impossible to capitalism itself is increasingly essential to innovation (green capitalism) or social entrenched interests are threatened, At the beginning of 2011, we actually subsidise the burning of capitalism denies its own ecological (and stop the relentless destruction of ecological stop ecological meltdown. change (sustainable development) as a corporate spin aims to convince us that a were supposed to see the $1 billion biofuels such as palm oil for heat and social) context. Communication processes systems by capitalism due to the structural Without a strong anti-capitalist critique, means of addressing global problems. Both future consumerist utopia is possible - while deforestation moratorium deal power. The government is undertaking directed by the market obscure the dynamics of capitalism itself. Capitalism has occupy will be appropriated by capitalism disaster capitalism and ecological transition quietly eclipsing evidence to the contrary . between the Norwegian and Indonesian a public consultation on this very issue, environmental consequences of industrial evolved to what Naomi Klein describes as like all the other historical challenges to ‘the recognise crisis conditions but diverge http://www.eco-labs.org/ governments come into effect. 12 until 12th January. We are urging months later, there is still confusion people to contact their MP to call for an surrounding which forests are available end to these subsidies (for details, go to to be turned into oil palm or pulp orangutans-sos.org). and paper plantations, and illegal UK and EU renewable energy targets deforestation continues apace. are sending strong signals to industrial There is little confidence in the scale agriculture companies that we Indonesian Government’s ability to regard biofuels as part of the solution to enforce the moratorium – recently the our energy needs – a dangerous driver Governor of Aceh province in Sumatra for the expansion of biofuel plantations. was accused of granting permission And as food production is displaced to for a palm oil company to convert grow fuel crops, demand for biofuels 1,600 hectares of the Tripa peat swamp also causes indirect land use change as forests, which are also protected under more and more forested land is opened several other national laws to grow food. and regulations. Fundamentally, increased demand Deforestation diesel for palm oil to supply our energy needs processes. The failure to recognise ecological Palm oil has earned the title here in the UK will drive an increase in context creates a basic schism between the of “deforestation diesel” with good the area under production in Indonesia, environment and the market economy. reason: in Southeast Asia, oil palm and will push development into high When markets determine what development has led to the conversion conservation value forests. Burning information is available in the public of huge tracts of lowland forests, and palm oil for energy is a potentially sphere, ‘knowledge’ comes to reflect the primary driver for the expansion massive new demand, and will lead what is profitable for those with economic of the palm oil industry is the huge, to new plantations and indirect land power. This representation of the truth and growing, global demand for this use change as the industry expands to rarely takes the Earth’s needs into account. cheap vegetable oil. Indonesia and capitalise on the growing market. Though efforts are made by hopeful Malaysia produce the vast majority of Threat to the orangutan environmentalists to create a basic the world’s palm oil, and deforestation Promoting the industrial scale use understanding of environmental context, in both countries is linked to the of palm oil for energy is just another their efforts are vastly overshadowed by the destruction of peatlands and the nail in the coffin for the forests of the onslaught of corporate advertising and spin. emissions of vast quantities of carbon. world, and the countless species, We have removed over 6,000 oil One local farmer, Sucarman, has said: cultivation. It has been estimated that Advertising is omnipresent and its In February 2008, Science including the orangutan, which depend palms, and have been working with “The forest has been cleared in every the amount of land growing oil palms visibility marginalises environmental magazine reported that using palm on them for their survival. the community who live adjacent to direction. We are coming to understand in Indonesia could quadruple without concerns to the point of obscurity. Truthful oil grown in Indonesia as a biofuel is There is complete consensus this area of the park to plant hundreds the consequences of forest destruction. impacting any more forests, enabling information on the state of the Earth’s up to 420 times as damaging to the amongst conservation experts that the of thousands of indigenous tree We must respect and preserve nature. the industry to grow whilst drastically systems cannot compete with advertising, climate as the fossil fuels it replaces. single greatest threat to the continued seedlings. They suffered severe water We want to recreate the lost habitat.” reducing its environmental footprint. which characterises nature as infinitely A fundamental prerequisite of biofuels survival of the orangutan in the wild shortages when the palm oil company We’re seeing some exciting results Nobody would disagree that a exploitable. The endless greenwashing of being classed as “sustainable” is is the conversion of high conservation began operating in the park – oil palms – some trees are now more than major increase in renewable energy products and brands reassures citizens that that they lead to a greenhouse gas value forests to oil palm plantations in are very ‘thirsty’ trees, and absorbed four metres tall, wildlife is returning is essential. However, the use of business as usual is morally sound while emissions saving. However, the carbon Indonesia and Malaysia. On Sumatra, the groundwater for miles around to restored forest areas, including biofuels for transport or for heat scientific reports indicate that our industrial equation doesn’t quite add up. there is more than 4 times as much the plantation. The local people were orangutans, and camera traps have and power generation must not be systems are the cause of dangerous and Soils and plant biomass are the land covered with oil palms as there unable to dig deep enough wells to find captured fantastic images, including promoted where their production unprecedented environmental damage. largest stores of terrestrial carbon. is orangutan habitat left standing. water, and their crops were failing. Sumatran elephants, pig-tailed and is linked to deforestation, peat The UK advertising industry was When forests and peatlands are Even national parks are not safe from Forest restoration long-tailed macaques, leopard cats, drainage, biodiversity loss, pollution worth £17bn in 2008 (1.2% of GDP). In converted to biofuel production, vast development. One of our flagship The community have established a wild boar and porcupines. or human rights abuses. The key is contrast, the total expenditure for three quantities of CO2 are released. When projects in Sumatra involves removing group, calling themselves ‘Protectors We have established a network to use existing agricultural land more main campaigning environmental NGOs in a hectare of primary rainforest is oil palms that have been illegally planted of Leuser’, who are responsible of seven villages next to the Leuser efficiently, and for better land-use the UK (WWF-UK, Friends of the Earth UK cleared and replaced with oil palms, inside the Gunung Leuser National Park, for managing the tree nurseries, forests, where the communities are planning, which must of course also and Greenpeace UK) was £66.9m in 2010. this releases around 65 times as much the last stronghold for the Sumatran planting seedlings and maintaining developing conservation action plans. ensure that the rights of indigenous Estimating that 10% of this is available for carbon into the atmosphere as can be orangutan, and restoring the rainforest. and patrolling the restoration site. Our team is providing specialist people are upheld. communication, these three groups have training in projects such as diversified It’s reassuring that so much good less than 0.04% of the gross UK advertising organic farming, ecotourism, biogas work is being done to put a value on the expenditure to establish a visibility in an energy development, fish farming, ecosystem services provided by forests. advert-dominated public domain. tree nursery management and I strongly urge readers to take a look Corporate social responsibility (CSR) forest restoration. One thing all at an excellent report released recently practices appropriate a language of values these activities have in common is by the United Nations Environment to describe consumerism and corporate that they support the protection of Programme, entitled ‘Orangutans and culture. The fundamental problem with CSR forests and biodiversity, as well as the Economics of Sustainable Forest is that it must always work within the context the communities’ livelihoods. Local Management in Sumatra’ (available of increased profit and economic growth – support is an absolutely vital aspect to download from www. grida.no). It rather than what is genuinely good for the of any conservation effort. Our vision provides a roadmap for recognising and is to equip communities with the tools protecting the extraordinary value of and motivation needed for species forest ecosystems. If managed properly, and habitat protection, empowering the value of ecosystem services the people of Sumatra to become provided by intact forests can far exceed guardians of their forests. the short-term revenue generated Alternatives by converting the land to agriculture to deforestation and other uses. If the report’s Research has revealed that more recommendations were to become than 80% of agricultural expansion in policy in Indonesia, there could indeed the tropics between 1980 and 2000 be a brighter future for orangutans and came at the expense of forests. But the myriad species which share their there are alternatives to deforestation. forests. While precious ecosystems are being Helen Buckland, UK Director, devastated, millions of hectares of Sumatran Orangutan Society degraded land lie idle, available for (orangutans-sos.org) How I learned to start worrying

& hate Louis Armstrong Mark Kauri On the Soapbox

press powerhouses of an extreme Media Lens founders David his hypnotic tune beneath our feet lulling minority. In print, the News Corporation- Edwards and David Cromwell suggest us away from the facts of our world – The Reverend owned tabloid The Sun dominates the the corporate interests of mass media on the environment, foreign policy and daily press in terms of circulation, with players subverts the interests of honest political concerns. As passive spectators other wide-reaching tabloids including reporting, resulting in an active crafting we are drawn towards the particular Nemu on Prophecy The Mirror and The Daily Mail. On of media output – beyond the facts at interests of the piper’s tune; a lullaby television, the BBC, ITV, Sky News and the heart of stories. Their qualms echo with an escapist vibe reminiscent of the Channel 4 are all big players. In the ever- the concerns raised decades earlier by comfort of Louis Armstrong’s words: we for Profit expanding and dominant online space of George Orwell, who, writing in the early have all the time in the world. mass media, big UK players include the years of the second world war, questioned So, what’s the solution? One day, every child learns that Father archeology fused with a rather cinematic BBC, The Guardian and the Daily Mail. the commercial interests of the press It has long been asserted that the Christmas doesn’t exist, but how do you understanding of Biblical prophesy, with The news from these storytellers, we and the implication here for the potential media audience of today must grasp a recover from discovering that he was put the veneer of Father Christmas rewarding must hope, is a factual account of the most distortion of information. These concerns sense of intellectual self-defence in order to work as a Coca-Cola poster boy? Hark good little children, but then I believe some important events of our world; told, in some were further cemented with research to construe the facts beneath the stories ye! It wasn’t singing angels heralding the pretty nutty things myself. I think we are sense, with a view to providing citizens with undertaken by Professor Noam Chomsky of news media - a weary, but necessary, birth of our lord but dancing Santas, festive in the middle of “an” apocalypse (rather the knowledge to be able to engage as well- and economist Edward S. Herman, who task. Coupled with this, there is a bargains and Christmas number ones, than in the lead-up to “the” apocalypse). informed, democratic participants in society. famously presented the propaganda model growing sense that a discerning audience followed by specials on weight loss plans The veil (kalyptein) is falling (apo), and One glance at these dominant storytellers, of corporate mass media; demonstrating need not maintain the role of mere and detox tea. new technologies and new possibilities however, and their proficiency at fulfilling through a series of tests that corporate passive spectators, but become active I can cope with shattered dreams as are coming into focus. New ideas span this task falls into doubt. news reportage is consequential of profit participants in storytelling. Technological well as the next man who grew up in the new networks from Tahir Square to Time Consider the Daily Mail. Described motives. With market forces compelling developments in social media in recent 80s, but what about dreams repackaged Square, new fusions give hope to the by investigative journalist Nick Davies in storytellers to retain profit margins and years serve to underscore the fact that a and sold back to me? Look closely, outcasts of old empires. Finally we can 2009 as the most powerful newspaper out-do rivals, how much accuracy can we hands-on approach to news storytelling children of the nightmare. Shining lights in see what democracy looks like. We can in Britain - but tipped by some former expect from the media? is within our grasp. Whereas once toy shop windows guide wide-eyed wonder broadcast it as well. senior Labour politicians to be a rag ‘The story’, it would seem, is far less we could only spectate, today we can to plastic tack moulded in toxic sweat And happily, for a reverend with a running an editorial line built on ‘absolute a trustworthy staple of a supposedly participate. The tools of storytelling and shops. We adore children with kingly gifts, poetic approach to scripture, most of the and unaccountable power’. DM editor democratic society, and far more a series the alternative press are at the fingertips making a pilgrimage into debt as we seed portents are straight out of Revelations: If the festive season is any indication, and consenting PR. Paul Dacre, it has been asserted, is of distorted paintings of the world for of the 99%: online, in broadcast and them with our greed. This is mythology at military proliferation and weapons of mass storytelling would seem to play an History, they say, is a story written ‘accountable to no one’. With such power sale - with the commercial interests in print. The task now is to reclaim the mercy of the market, folklore flogged destruction, food price instability and important part in our lives. In keeping by the victors - while the story of the of information, we would hope that this of the ‘artists’ at heart. The audience the story from the pre-occupation of by Snow White Barbie and the seven systemic oil addiction, electronic wallets with tradition, Christmas Day was, for future lives in the hopes and dreams of us staple of storytelling is a trustworthy of news (‘the 99%’) are subject to the minority powerhouses of storytelling Disney dwarves, Satan’s claws deep into and pin numbers, polluted waters, ozone many, a time for reflection on a mythical all; tamed by futurologists, economists, source – but facts of the paper’s output questionable storytelling practices of and occupy media with the voices of the Santa Claus. depletion, and international corporate Tim Hardy asks: story of humankind. A story of outlandish town planners and the environment would suggest otherwise. During a an extreme minority. It is as though we many: subvert, testify, poeticise, tell, Our yearly celebration of unbridled greed. (Rev 6:2-4, 6:5-6, 13:16, 16:3-4, characters and unlikely happenings. Of perpetuating our very existence. But what recent ten-year window, the Daily Mail wander forwards like the many children occupy. capitalism leaves Xmas trees discarded in 16:8, 18:11-15) You can read poetry vice, virtue, struggle and hope. A tale about the story of the present? received PCC complaints at just over hypnotised by the lone Pied Piper, with So, what’s the story? You tell me. the street. It generates enough wrapping however you like, of course - that’s the ‘ Who Pays the Bill?’ cherished by many, rejected by others. Anthropologists of the future may three times the rate of other national paper to cover Guernsey. It generates point. Note that the good book sets no A story of events some feel are too look to the resolution-centric narrative titles, highlighting the failure of the enough moolah for British toy companies date, and cautions against seeking one. You are at dinner, feeling self-conscious. cash. “Don’t worry about calculating it,” your fit to endorse companies charging interest fictitious and flawed to warrant serious of Hollywood as a defining feature of title to publish sound and trustworthy to be registered in Guernsey, but not (Dan 12:6-8). You haven’t been out in months - it’s a friend explains over her shoulder as she rates well in excess of 1000%. consideration. Indeed, the Eastenders the stories told by humankind today, journalism. enough goodwill for them to pay British Perhaps there is something to luxury you cannot afford since you struggle breezes past. “We couldn’t be bothered to They ignore the economic reality Christmas Special stole the day’s ratings but dwindling cinema ratings have seen The Daily Mail, however, is not alone tax. Mary trekked to Bethlehem to pay her the Mayan story, and to other ancient weekly to meet your living expenses - but work out who had what. We’re splitting it.” that savage cuts are not going to bolster for the third consecutive year; the daily television trump cinema as the conduit in its failings. The problems of distortion, taxes, and gave birth in a stable. Tesco prophesies, who knows? Terrence it’s an old friend’s birthday who you haven’t Does this remind you of austerity economic growth. Worst still, so far, mundanities of London’s mythical of choice for the popular storyteller. In falsehood and so-called Flat Earth News trekked offshore to evade taxes, and NHS McKenna had a brilliant mind, and there seen in over a year and you’ve been feeling Britain? everything they have done supposedly urbanites spilled out from the cathode- recent years, a flood of stay-at-home (where, it is said, the story is until our maternity beds will be cut in 2012 as they may be something in his 2012 novelty guilty about this. When the coalition government in the name of saving money turns out tube glow of nearly 10 million television boxsets has altered our home-viewing observation proves otherwise; like the ‘flat were in 2011. explosion, but he and his brother (and But you are already regretting your announced that the party was over and to be more expensive than the systems sets and into the living-room pews of habits in the consumption of stories. But earth’ theories of our ancestors) are rife in “When thou makest a dinner... call not co-author) never agreed on what it might decision. we’d all have to pay the bill, writer Neil they replace, such as their devastation of congregating, turkey-stuffed worshippers. framed on either side of televised and the printed press medium which has been thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy be, and the maths looks a bit shaky. What She has a good job now, earns a Root quipped, “What party? Well nobody further education. Storytelling, it would seem, is a part cinematic fiction and occupying many facing increasing pressures to shift copies kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; … call is clear, in both scripture and history, is that high salary, has flash new friends. The invited me.” Only a deluded zealot could look of who we are - and it is all around us. The minds during the commuting space of as advertising subsidies fall in line with the poor, the maimed” (Luke 14:12-13). false prophets are not harmless. All six restaurant looks uncomfortably expensive. The phrase “we’re all in this together” at a country in which people are cutting street preacher points the megaphone to the daily grind - whilst also rolling on the a preference for visual media, and news This, surely, is the real Christmas spirit, failed Jehovah’s Witness predictions led the You decline a starter, pick the cheapest was coined by George Osborne while back on food because they cannot afford the sky and testifies. The anchorman and 24-hour channels - is another form of habits have undergone a tectonic shift, so why are Orlando police arresting Food faithful to postpone life saving operations, item on the menu as main - ignoring the announcing we’d all have to tighten our to meet their basic needs, where people his digital newsroom are scrambled into storytelling grasping the largest audience giving preference to television and online. not Bombs for running soup kitchens in a to blow their pensions or neglect to plant thought that you could feed yourself for a belts - then he jetted off to go skiing in are committing suicide in despair as their broadcast signals and transmitted from of the twenty-first century: the news. Some commentators have tipped these public park? Why does the biggest share of their fields. We have NHS cuts, rapacious week for the amount it costs - and ask for Klosters. benefits are cut off – and, seeing all this, satellites into our homes. Taxi drivers So, what’s the story? commercial concerns of news storytellers Christmas pudding go to banker bonuses, politicians and common agricultural a glass of tap water to drink. We are not and we never have been continue to insist that market forces philosophise. Barflys rant. The printed In the UK, news storytelling finds as a prominent factor behind the failure leaving thruppence for the poor man who policies to do that for us now, so we can No such austerity for her new friends all in this together. ensure the best outcomes. press spins yarns of celebrity secrets its way into the hearts and minds of the of the wider media to tell the story gets the lucky slice? “If ye have not got a safely ignore our prophets. however! They are clearly determined to Conservatives - most of whom have What kind of a sick individual could drawn from hacked phones, conjecture masses from the broadcast and printed- with accuracy. groat, ye can go and cut your throat, and The 2012 myth isn’t convincing, but it enjoy themselves: aperitifs, the best wine, never known and will never know what it is look at a country in which millions are ne’er have any figgy, figgy duff”. is well marketed, and that is why people starters, side dishes, dessert, coffee, like to live in financial dread - love to take the priced out of home ownership and private David Osler So 2012 begins with more austerity buy it. Wishful thinking and Hollywood brandy? Why not! Hell, it’s a shame they moral high ground when it comes to debt. rents are soaring then decide that the after the binge. Experts predict another special effects combine to make good don’t sell cigars! The nation’s debt, they tell us, is a appropriate response is to cut support to recession – it seems obvious, because capitalism, but bad theology. Looking “Oh, I’m not really hungry,” you lie bad thing, like personal debt, and must those in social housing, refuse to regulate Then & now: A Letter to Occupy no new year’s resolutions emerged from forward to a date is like looking forward several times when queried about your be paid off in full - like a credit card. The private landlords and to criminalise the government, and post-capitalism to an election – nothing changes unless failure to tuck in. homely metaphors of personal finance are ? Ever asked your mum if she did anything The Greenham Common camp activists based themselves on the principles that can possibly have achieved by way of unfairness seemed to be precisely the point is as rotten as ever. However, as 2012 you change it yourself. If we want dignified Towards the end of the meal you intended to disguise the rabidly ideological Each “reform” proposed in the name more constructive in the Thatcher years was established by a small group of of autonomy and self-organisation. putting pressure on Pretoria. of the exercise. rolls around, the world’s first ever global futures, we have to organize our own hide in the bathroom for a few minutes to nature of their policies. of saving money turns out in fact to be than dressing up in ra-ra skirts and pixie women from Wales in September 1981, Being straight, I likewise did not join The honest answer is that taken in Non-payment was for me a matter of uprising is still rising. Oakland’s port presents, because Santa ain’t coming down get away from your empty place setting. Reflect for a moment on the paradox just another transfer of public wealth boots and dancing to Duran Duran? in opposition to the arrival of US cruise the kiss-ins on public transport, organised isolation, the action could not have worried political choice. I was working and could blockade went international, and systemic the chimney, but we can occupy abandoned This has been one of the most miserable that they say this, yet their scheme to into the hands of the profiteers of private It’s a reasonable bet that some people missiles in this country. Media coverage was by LGBT people angry that gay sex was still the racists sitting on top of the goldmines in just about have coughed up. But many greed and is under attack from all sides in buildings and repossessed houses evenings of your life. To add insult to injury, pay off the deficit involves increasing the enterprise. participating in Occupy London today are almost universally hostile, and couched in against the law for men aged under 21. But the slightest. But the simple rejoinder here others simply did not have the money to the media. Occupations are being evicted, ourselves. No one is coming up through you’re still really hungry. personal debt of every household in this This is not about balancing the books sons and daughters of the brave women notably sexist and homophobic language. an equal age of consent is now in place, and is that the incident should not be considered meet the ridiculously large bills that came but a hundred thousand are on the streets the ballot box, but we can hold our own You return to the table to find people country. - it’s about using a crisis to keep the rich who camped outside Greenham Common While the numbers at the camp’s core rightly, too. in isolation. in through their letterbox. Yet whatever our of Moscow, and Chinese villagers have assemblies and organize ourselves. beginning to stand and putting on their They say this, as though personal debt living in luxury even if it means squeezing RAF base all those years ago. were small to start with, they made every Yet I did take part in movements on While each such action was in a sense motivations, we drew courage and support occupied a Communist party office. Occupy was an immaculate conception, coats talking about continuing the evening were a bad thing, yet they refuse to back every last penny out of the rest of us, Looking back on it three decades later, attempt to draw in others, with ‘embrace some of the other big questions of the a one off, they gained in impact from being from each other. Hope is in the air, children of the dream. born of an impoverished body politic in an expensive bar. The bill sits in the schemes tackling extortionate lenders of seeking profit in areas of life that were the parallels between the two seem entirely the base’ mobilisations ultimately drawing period, such as South Africa’s system of part of a co-ordinated worldwide range of The impact of what we did can been Which is why all this talk of 2012 ascension fertilized by a potent spirit, entirely without middle of the table, already smothered in personal credit. Indeed, many of them see once immune to the rapacious demands of obvious, if only on account of the requirement in tens of thousands. state-sponsored institutionalised racism, protests. Again, a comparison can be made seen by the way in which the Tories went on is so troubling. input from our patriarchs - a word made the market such as health, education and to beg, steal or borrow a tent and then pitch it I presume that the idea of calling known as apartheid. with the Occupy camps in so many cities to oust prime minister Margaret Thatcher If you don’t mix with new agers, then flesh. The baby was born completely basic social care. in a symbolic location designed to highlight a solidarity demos has occurred to Occupy Activists staged a round the clock across the planet. and water down the scheme into something let me fill you in: next year Christmas dependent and under persecution of the evil For the privileged in the cabinet, major moral issue of the day. London already. But if not, you should picket outside the South Africa House, Discrimination against the majority of just about more tolerable. comes early, because on December 21st king, its only power to shout its displeasure, austerity means perhaps only spending Direct action, then, is nothing new. think about it. which was highly visible, if only on account the population of South Africa on the basis It would be wrong to portray the 1980s 2012, the Mayan calendar comes to an stumbling as it takes its first steps, and ten days skiing in Klosters rather than two Despite the hoary old claim that there This would be an excellent opportunity of its location next to Nelson’s Column. of skin colour in the end proved untenable. as a string of uninterrupted triumphs, of end. Whilst the modern Maya attach no soiling itself. The St. Paul’s camp will be weeks. For the rest of us it means eating are not any good, brave causes left, each to make common cause with public sector A mass demonstration marked the Only a decade later, the country held its first course. There were all too many defeats, special significance to this date, a popular killed off, sooner or later, but when that less because food costs more, not turning generation has its own good reasons to trade unionists, local government service visit of South African president PW Botha to free elections. not least for miners, printers and dockers, New Age narrative does. There are many happened in New York and Oakland, and our heaters on over winter until it gets protest in innovative ways. users, the unemployed and everybody else London in June 1984. I joined a breakaway Perhaps the most notable direct action and we are still suffering the consequences variations, but generally people who have bloodied martyrs hit the blogosphere, it too cold to move, walking miles to work I have been down to visit both St faced with austerity measures to fund the contingent that held a sit down around the victory of the 1980s was the derailment of of losing those battles today. been nice to each other or “in their hearts” galvanized support. Occupy was reborn on a because we cannot afford transport. Paul’s and the Brighton camp, which has continued privileges of the super-rich. embassy, lasting for several hours. Thatcher’s poll tax through orchestrated But it would be just as foolish to deny or something get sucked up to Sirius different dimension, an idea moving through The question for those opposed to the since been evicted. Although the older me While the Greenham women were We successfully stopped the traffic mass non-payment. Admittedly, this effort the successes. The track record is sufficient or the fifth dimension or somewhere, and empowering far more people than slept current government is this: do we hide in is frankly too attached to carpet slippers, widely derided at the time, they were from circulating round Trafalgar Square, was assisted not a little by a major riot to show that direct action can win, especially whilst everyone else is at the mercy of on the streets, ready to manifest for actions the bathroom and try and duck out of the cocoa, central heating and a comfy bed at ultimately vindicated by events. Ten years not at that time partially pedestrianised, centred yet again on Trafalgar Square. when it is accompanied by persistence, some disaster, which may be ecological, and then disappear. We survived through restaurant without paying - hoping enough night to sign up for a night kipping on the later, in a very different international and thus a major London thoroughfare. Millions simply refused to pay the internationalism and novel tactics. military, or involving earth being hit by a the solstice, and as winter retreats and the people follow us to resist the forces floor of a disused courthouse, I am still glad relations climate, the nukes were gone. Gridlock was the inevitable outcome. equivalent of what is now council tax, So in short, I hope Occupy London planet predicted in Sumerian carvings (and light begins to return, there may be some of the state - or do we demand those someone is doing something on the issues As it was a women-only initiative, I was There were newspaper articles the next levied on a ‘one size fits all’ basis that left both learns from our mistakes and draws covered up by NASA). extraordinary developments to come. complacently walking away from the table Occupy London is raising. Grumpy middle not personally involved with Greenham. day denouncing what we had done, and the poorest as much out of pocket as the a little inspiration from what we did. And Now this looks to me like a tiny Read more from Reverend Nemu at come back and negotiate a fairer deal? aged men are part of the 99%, too. After all, this was a period in which many asking how inconveniencing motorists like very wealthiest. What’s more, such obvious good luck, guys. speck of disputed Mesoamerican www.nemusend.co.uk www. beyondclicktivism.com 1 2

REVOLUTIONARY 3 poet’s corner crossword 4 In Our Futures Past Standing Ovation 5 6 7 We are standing at the crossroads in our futures past, Everyone sits there The route for our survival is a monumental task Thinking the same thing. Across 8 3.Mohandas Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violent resistance. In a system where one planet will never be enough, All it takes is for one person to get to their feet, (10) 6.Decisive battle in American Revolutionary War.(8) We are destroying nature’s beauty with lots of plastic stuff. Start the applause, 8.Spanish Fascists.(10) 9.Attention-seeking cry, a And everyone will follow, What’s needed is for people in their millions to come together and thousand and one about tick.(3,5) 13.First name Like waves crashing against a harbour wall, 9 10 11 12 unite, to stand up for their future and make collective dreams ignite. of anarchist author of ‘Living My Life’.(4) 15.Spirit Suicidal moles in an arcade game. without knight on loud one.(8) 16.Leader of indigenous Our planet is full of wonder and we’re letting it slip away, 13 14 15 Populations will rise, revolution in modern-day Bolivia ____ Morales.(3) Of this world’s freedom and diversity I never want to say… Like the prehistoric genesis of mountains, 19.Engrossed in publicising the message of an era. 16 That we gave up all our rights, but we’ve still got our TV’s, (3,8,5) 20.Nickname of Revolutionary Argentine Released. We swapped some basic freedoms for high securities Doctor.(3) 21.Eastern European philosopher.(5) 17 18 It only takes two palms, one second, of skin on skin. 22.Meeting senior officer making a mess of a messy pound Now the flowers have all gone, there’s no honey, no more bees, inside.(7,8) 23.Veto a safeguard to be.(5) 19 But there are seven billion people, chopping down the trees And on 17th December, Mohamed Bouazizi stood and clapped. 24.Italian car, with daily use gets imaginary money.(4,8) 27.Monarchical dynasty overthrown in 1979 Iranian 20 Because we never raised the power to just provide for human need By Owen Collins Revolution.(7) 28.Suffragette who threw herself under Destroyed by a global order that motivated greed the king’s horse.(5,8) 29.Native North American tribe The art form of taking more than you gave, The Sell-Off which famous warrior chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse To profit from other human graves belonged to.(5) 30.First (used) name of man described 21 The Government have announced as ‘father of modern linguistics’.(4) 31.Duck’s mouth-y To manufacture cheaply to rip people off, That London Bridge is to be sold boast: one thousand sang here.(5,5) 32.The Big To let poor people starve and rich people scoff. Our credit rating’s being trounced, Society’s Revenue and Customs activist group.(2,5) To justify some lives where nothing changed except the cost, In with the new, out with the old. 22 Blaming human nature, for our children’s future being lost. “We need the money for the public coffers - Down 700 grand, or nearest offer.” 1.Author of ‘Declaration of the Rights of Woman’.(4,14) Facing mass extinction, we have to change to get along, 2.Riverside storehouse.(4) 4.The yacht on which the Knowing that the word Universe literally means one song. The Government have put up for sale original 82 Cuban revolutionaries set sail in 1956.(6) 23 Some dust-gathering surplus stock. … 5.Ruling elite, a salesman goes back to little money.(3,7) “The Tower Of London; former jail; Fittings inc; 600 years on the clock. 7.Express deep dissatisfaction in favour of examination. 24 25 26 We’re not going to be destroyed by military forces, Only a few age-old defects (7) 10.Easy to end the demonisation of the working It’s not all going to end in the waste of our resources class in South America.(6) 11.Agreeable musical wave. 2 million quid, buyer collects.” Civilizations are developed by the people’s direct action, (4,5) 12.East Anglian who gave the Roman Empire a The Government have placed an ad 27 To change a culture that feeds on your dissatisfaction bloody nose.(7) 14.Known as the “father of Anarchist In the Evening Standard Classified section. theory”. (7,7) 17.His self-immolation helped spark the We’ll take responsibility for our own existence, “Plenty of fantastic bargains to be had: 28 Tunisian Uprising and other subsequent regional uprisings. We’ll make a rainbow army of global mass resistance Westminster Palace. The General Election. (7,8) 18.Firm pledge by French Constitutionalists; The London Eye and The Millenium Dome, 29 Empower every person to create a world without scarcity, The Turncoat Sin (anagram).(6,5,4) 25.Marxist Part of a set, free to a good home.” Theorist and Activist. _____ Luxemburg.(4) Making wastelands into gardens that celebrate diversity 30 By Owen Collins 26.Agreement of Tory survey, by the sound of it.(9) The growth of a species, the end of fossil fuels, 31 The transformation of a world where people share their tools To say that – working together for every improvement, Privatisation 32 a grassroots climate action movement... The privatisation of British Rail, Replaced the poverty and waste of old economics, Had one destination, a platform to fail. And reshaped the world like plate tectonics Proud working people from Eastleigh to Crewe, … Sorry, sad and feeble with nothing to do. Waving triumphant goodbye to the financial elite, Fast track for the rich, express all the way, When free market capitalism is made obsolete Fires stoked by a bitch, a friend of Pinochet. We’ll reinvent every city so that it can be sustained The driver was a Major, shunted on in time, Grow food and make energy and build efficient trains A buffer to savour lives laid on the line. And we’ll transcend the separation that used to be today, Trains run over sleepers and those who cannot see, Living the transition from all our yesterdays So open up your peepers and whistle loud with me. From war torn and divided, nationalist and apart, profit driven, Buy a one way ticket to realisation, destructive and controlled… And tell them where to stick it, their privatisation. To a borderless, moneyless, one world community, By PD Monaghan Cooperative, peaceful balanced and free. By Thomas Daniell

TENTCITY UNI CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK

WEDNESDAY 4TH with Amber - Bank of Ideas. 12.00/ Art Therapy 14.00-17.00/ Shiatsu and Body Work with Workshop with Claudia - Bank of Ideas. 13.00- Ruth - Bank of Ideas. 16.00-18.00/ The 15.00/ Introduction to Integral Activism with power of the crowd - John Dury - Bank of Ideas. Gary Hawke. 14.00-16.00/ An exploration into 18.00-19.00/ Emotional well-being support Alienation - An Improvisation Workshop with Naomi group-run by Charlotte - Finsbury Square. Green - Bank of Ideas. 15.00-16.00/ We are the 18.00-19.00/ Free University Course - 99%! Who are the 90% - Martin Cross-Bank of Ideas. Contemporary Issues in International Warfare- 15.00-17.00/ Integral Activism-Creating a ‘We’ Bank of Ideas. 19.30-21.30/ Occupy YouTube: Space with Gary Hawke - Bank of Ideas. 21.00- workshop on the video history of Occupy with 23.30/ London Short Film Festival-St. Paul’s. Christopher Fraser - Bank of Ideas. SUNDAY 8TH THURSDAY 5TH 19.00-21.00/ Hula hoop/Poi workshop with 15.00-18.00/ Sound Healing with Voice Edward - Bank of Ideas. and Tibetan Singing Bowls with Bliss Balance- MONDAY 9TH Bank of Ideas. 15.30-17.30/ Clown Workshop at Earle Street - FRIDAY 6TH Bank of Ideas. 16.00-18.00/ Introduction to Wuji: 15.00-16.00/ Narrative for Social Change - A Buddhist Tai Chi-John Tuite - Bank of Ideas. Dr. Corinne Squire from University of East London - TUESDAY 10TH St. Paul’s. 16.00-17.00/ A Co-operative 18.00-20.00/ Free University Course - Economic Economy: an alternative to capitalism - Cliff Mills - Literacy: Introducing Fundamentals of Economics St. Paul’s 17.00-18.00/ Attention Training for - Bank of Ideas. 19.00-21.00/ Hula hoop/Poi Social Change with George Por - Bank of Ideas. workshop with Edward - Bank of Ideas. 18.00-19.00/ Breaking the Siege - The Passage WEDNESDAY 11ST of a Jewish Boat to Gaza - Glyn Secker - St. Paul’s. 18.00-19.00/ Free University Course- 18.30-20.30/ Radical Theory Reading Group Contemporary Issues in International Warfare - with Debbie - Bank of Ideas. Bank of Ideas. 18.00-19.00/ Emotional well being SATURDAY 7TH support group-run by Charlotte - Finsbury Square 11.00-14.00/ Improve Fundamentals with Ryan *Events are subject to change. Updates on hours & Millar - Bank of Ideas. 12.00-14.00/ The Sacred lectures can be found online at http://tentcityuniversity. Circle, Drumming,Singing and Sharing Circle occupylsx.org/ & http://www.bankofideas.org.uk/events/ Daniel Lauand / www.terrapol.com

HAPPY NEW SYSTEM!

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20122

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