#10 | theoccupiedtimes.com | @OccupiedTimes 08FEB2012 Sun Street Emma Fordham OccStock

& the Snow Mark Kauri A creative collective of Eviction supporters chose February 4th to bring their diverse talents to St NO RESCUE PACKAGE FOR Paul’s Churchyard. The event was billed as ‘OccStock’, a thankyou to A High Court possession order against The eviction saw bailiffs from the into the unused building as a site for the free documentary How to Start a Revolution the hardy Occupiers as well as a ’s Bank of Ideas was Rossendales firm gain entry to the ideas exchange. The founders of the site with a Q&A from director Ruaridh Arrow, a chance to showcase local artists and enforced last week with an eviction of site with the aid of and promised an educational space for the free talk by Moneyless Man author Mark Boyle bring diverse communities together. activists in residence at the free-for-all Metropolitan police, with dozens of trade of ideas and creativity for activists, and a series of workshops by occupiers Co-ordinator Gee knew it would be community space. Protesters behind the protesters resisting peacefully and leaving as well as those who lost their nurseries, from other UK-wide camps converging on cold but didn’t expect to be rewarded ‘public repossession’ of the Sun Street site the building. An arrest was later made community centres and youth clubs to London during the first national Occupy for his gift of entertainment with the were forcibly evicted in the early hours on of a man believed to be a bailiff from the government spending cuts - and began conference in late November. most magical stage-set imaginable 30th January after two months’ peaceful Rossendales firm over allegations of delivering on this pledge within days of the The BoI eviction followed a flurry – a cathedral and an encampment which saw the empty, UBS- assault and criminal damage. Footage start of the occupation on 18th November. of occupation activity across London, blanketed in snow. owned site transformed into an active hub from the eviction reveals the alleged Throughout its short lease of life, the including a brief stay at the eight-story Punks with snow-frosted pink of talks and events, and a refuge for some arrestee accelerating a vehicle into a Bank of Ideas played host to hundreds of Roman House office building in the mohawks like candy cupcakes danced of London’s most vulnerable citizens. crowd of activists and supporters outside talks, workshops, events and conferences Barbican and a subsequent effort at beside joyous lawyers and a bewildered Protesters dropped their case against the BoI; an incident which saw one victim featuring the likes of Caroline Lucas MP, the former Rafidain Bank building on Kosovan intent on explaining that “It eviction on advice from lawyers that a loss carried on the bonnet of the vehicle for comedian Mark Thomas, Tax Justice Leadenhall Street. Protesters at Roman snows one metre in my country, goes to in the courts could set a precedent affecting 50-100 yards. It is also claimed that police Network representative Nicholas House used coverage of the brief stay minus twenty degrees, this is nothing!” the right to elsewhere. Campaign on site cleared the path for the alleged Shaxson, musician Billy Bragg, and a to amplify calls for the City of London It wasn’t nothing to the rest of us. groups Greenpeace and the Campaign for criminal to leave and refused to take memorable Christmas “thank you” DJ Corporation to publish full details of its We danced on a snow-covered artificial Nuclear Disarmament also advised the crime reports from victims of the assault. set by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, City cash accounts. Occupiers soon left lawn laid over the Churchyard cobbles. first incarnation of the Bank of Ideas to The Sun Street site was the third 3D from Massive attack and members the site amid concerns that their stay Snowballs were thrown. Snowmen and cede the battle for the site in light of wider location claimed under the Occupy London of UNKLE. Other events included a would put at risk the jobs of contractors snow-women - and snow considerations for protest rights in the UK. banner, with residents breathing new life packed-out screening of peace protest due to renovate the building. >> characters - were built and given masks. Previously careworn activists gambolled about like chunky children, dressed in thirteen layers of thermals. Musicians and poets mingled with Occupiers and curious city folk between sets. Lexi James Jr, Andy Secret, Robbing Eden , Smoky Love and Anna Savage gave it their all beneath a dressed-up gazebo, glad to share the bone-chill and exuberance of the crowd. The Common headlined with rhythms that made grooving imperative. For a finale Savannah Stone performed a heart-felt poem, confessing after whoops and applause that she’d been “...so scared to do this”. The whoops and applause amplified as Savannah stepped off the makeshift stage into the arms of proud friends. >>

@HeardInLondon >> Music over, hot chocolate was served and tents were shaken to prevent them buckling beneath the weight of the snow. Emergency space-blankets were handed out and Editorial the Occupy LSX Tent City University – newly lined and carpeted to provide It’s early February. There’s snowfall on the tarpaulins a bedouin-style ‘winterised’ space – of the St. Paul’s camp, and chill winds force down the took on its night-time character as temperatures in the City. An unusual sight – normally, a dormitory for those with nowhere white powder in central London only marks the else to go. bankers’ bonus season. St Paul’s Churchyard lived this We are days away from a Court of Appeal hearing night. Public space was reclaimed on the St. Paul’s camp. Offers from the Cathedral - by Occupy, by artists, by the snow for a symbolic, long-term presence at the site look which blurs boundaries between increasingly unlikely. The demonstrated tenacity of the highway and pavement, City land and occupiers has long outlived the offers of dialogue that churchyard. As those behind OccStock were half-heartedly voiced by the Church and the City say “We can start to change society before Christmas. One wonders whether the hesitant for the better by reclaiming our time, embrace of a truce prior to the High Court’s ruling was space and freedom bit by bit and step ever more than an attempt to squeeze and suffocate by step.” As we shovelled snow at the . Former Cathedral canon chancellor midnight, the smiles spoke to that. , writing recently in , raised http://occstock.org concerns about that missed opportunity for the church: ‘With a few tents and shedloads of determination, those media outlets have voiced sympathy for Occupy – who have huddled outside the cathedral in the freezing sometimes sheepishly, sometimes contritely. While cold have acted as sentinels for an idea of social justice they have dismissed the rhetoric of the 99 percent, they that can be found on almost every page of the Bible but have felt the groundswell rise from below. which the church has too often lost sight of.’ Love thy Yet at the same time, the answers they have neighbour, except when she camps outside. provided seem laughably insufficient. Stripping Fred CONTENTS When the first camps were pitched at St. Paul’s Goodwin of his knighthood is like clipping the toe- PAGES/ almost four months ago, mainstream media and party nail of someone with gangrene and hoping that the 01 News 02 Editorial politics were largely dismissive: wasn’t it crazy to think rest of the body has escaped infection. Speaking of 03 Sheffield: One City, Two Occupations that a ragtag group of protesters could become the spark “ethical capitalism” while defending the prerogatives My Tent for your Bonus for change? Today, we can say: the only crazy idea is of the City of London turns our Prime Minister into Occupy Women’s Network the unshaken belief in the status quo. Occupy began as a a viable contender for the honors of being inducted OccupyLSX Supports Syrian Embassy Protests into the Hall of Hypocrisy. David Miliband seeks 04 The Spirit of Co-operation reaction to the nightmare of social inequality, economic Occupied Elsewhere: Austria injustice, environmental looting and political alienation. guidance in the past, and wants to return the country 05 Fighting for Democratic Values: The And as long as no answers have been found, as long as to 1997, when the events that ultimately culminated Hungarian Perspective the future is filled with precariousness and disillusion, in the current financial and debt crisis began to 06 The True Culprit was not in Court Occupy will continue to beat the drum of reform and the accelerate. Policymakers seem to just be going through Preoccupying: Amanda Palmer 07 Our Ethics, Our Future drum of revolution (depending on whom you ask). As the motions. They act on reflex instead of reflection. 08 Growing Pains long as we can set our own beat, we don’t have to march Why? Because the consensus worldview they all shared @HeardInLondon 09 Credit Default Swaps for Dummies: Part One to the beat of others. has collapsed around them. They are lost, yet they Time Crisis Today, even the guardians of the status quo cannot continue to storm ahead into the fog. The City of London & its Offshore Empire 10 Where is the paradigm shift? Where is the impetus 11 Occupy the EU deny that our lone rhythm resonates with many. Of >> At Rafidain Bank, police evicted 12 New Labour for a New Future the major European countries, only Great Britain to think creatively about the economic, social and occupiers on the grounds of trespassing 13 Occupying Everywhere: A Global Movement remains opposed to the idea of a financial transaction political problems we face? It is certainly not to be on diplomatic premises – with claims that In the Lion’s Den: Daniel Ashman tax. The logic of austerity has been questioned by new found in Whitehall, in the City if London, or in the although the bank was being liquidated An Education 14 governments in Athens and Rome as well as by the Houses of Parliament. by Big Four firm PwC, it retained its 15 My Fair London Libel to Change? European Central Bank. Members of all major parties The curtain may fall on the St. Paul’s camp, but it former diplomatic status from its former 16 Asking the Occupiers acknowledge that declining voter participation is a cannot stop or silence the movement. As long as groups incarnation as the Iraq embassy. Three Stalwarts of Occupy: Steve problem. If they are confused about the causes, an of people gather to discuss, debate and demonstrate, arrests were made by City of London On the Soapbox afternoon of “democracy 101” at Tent City University the idea behind Occupy cannot be evicted. If this police after reports of a notable stand-off The Great Debate 17 freezing cold is any measure of the will of the 18 The Occupy Effect might provide a few pointers. Since October, an with the force. Is ‘Is Occupy London an Inside Job’ an Inside Job? increasing number of public officials, academics and movement, there would seem to be plenty to go around. Beyond the effect of these evictions 19 Crossword on protesters’ efforts to highlight Poems and tackle social, environmental and Placard 20 economic injustice, some occupiers and supporters claim that the impact CREDITS CONTRIBUTORS/ of eviction activity falls hardest on the Matthew Myatt capital’s more vulnerable residents. At the Steven Maclean Bank of Ideas, Occupy’s free community Martin Eiermann space was used by families unable to Mark Kauri Natalia Sanchez-Bell secure temporary housing and army Michael Richmond veterans who fell into homelessness Emma Fordham after leaving the forces. With the potential Flaminia Giambalvo criminalisation of some squatters’ rights Kit Marsters Judith Shossboeck under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Ragnhild Freng Dale Punishment of Offenders Act currently Mircea Barbu under government consideration, and Sara Callaway increasing levels of homelessness across Kiki Axelsson the board in the wake of the global Conor Gearty Demand Nothing financial crisis, the need to transform the Tim Jackson UK’s unused buildings is a pressing issue. Dr Michael Harris By the steps of St. Paul’s, beneath Nicholas Shaxson now snow-lined tent canvases, Chris Cook Sam Halvorsen protesters at the heart of the Occupy Melissa Benn London movement await the result of an Matthew Richmond appeal on a High Court eviction ruling. Robert Sharp The appeal will be held on 13th February. Dan Bernhardt Mark Weaver Chris Madden Toni Spencer Clement Van Sea The Milla Network DESIGN/ Tzortzis Rallis Lazaros Kakoulidis PHOTOGRAPHY/ Brian Leli @HeardInLondon Wasi Daniju Ben Cavanna PRINT RUN/ 2000 Copies WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO/ Aldgate Press, E1 7RQ CONTACT US/ [email protected]

© All information in this paper Wasi Daniju is free for non-profit distribution Sheffield: one city, two occupations Emma Fordham

Friday night, the Sheffield encampment, chapel and half theatre, shabbily computer programming, survival in the cathedral grounds. A pink-haired grandiose, this is the perfect venue for a techniques, therapeutic techniques and deacon facilitates the pre-conference national gathering of Occupiers. how to open a squat. All that and we are General Assembly. For those from well- Strategy, sustainability, non- learning faster than a high-speed train. organised but somewhat lacking-in-home- violence, local issues, global , The Citadel of Hope was the former comforts Occupy LSX, it feels like entering online platforms, community, networks, Salvation Army building. Elderly visitors Granny’s house. Tassled rugs, sofas, outreach... these are the words that to the conference remember its heyday sideboards and chairs with all four legs repeatedly echo around the hall. and are overcome with emotion, so intact. Outside, a stack of seasoned logs Downstairs, talks on co-operatives and pleased are they to see the space back in beside a brazier and a tiny field kitchen. chaos theory compete for our attention. use after years of neglect. The Sheffield Halfway through the GA plates of steaming In the afternoon we rally outside Occupiers are in touch with the building’s stew are passed through the heavily Sheffield Town Hall then proceed to owners regarding the possibility of a blanketed doorway. the Occupy camp for a ‘tea, cake and negotiated stay. On Sunday evening Miraculous food, materialised kindness’ outreach event. Consideration The Invisible Circus treats us to a highly and devoured, is followed by comic of tax injustice and the bonkers banking professional cabaret show in the round. entertainment from Madame Zucchini system weaves between plans for an We leave feeling, as one tired but and her performing vegetables. We Occupy ‘caravan’ and an eco-village. exhilarated London Occupier declared, provide the shark music, Jaws is recast In the evening we retire to the most “...that we’d do anything for these other

as Capitalism, Chief Brody is a potato excellent Dove and Rainbow pub for a Occupiers, now we know they too feel Wasi Daniju (or possibly a turnip). Capitalism is gig night featuring Occupy favourites Get this intoxicating hope.” overthrown after a brief tussle between Cape, Wear Cape, Fly. the vegetables. Light relief over, we Sunday morning sees yawning return to talk of evictions, agendas, the Occupiers convening over coffee and laptops while cocooned still in their Christian response to Occupy, our visions Sara Callaway sleeping bags on the semi-industrial of and fears for the future. Kiki Axelsson Saturday, it’s over to the Citadel ground floor of the Citadel. The agenda Occupy Women’s Network of Hope. A crumbling facade in the is bursting with subjects we want to city centre. Bear, previously of LSX discuss but just chatting, getting to The Edinburgh Occupy National Gathering witnessed the 20 women from seven sites including Leeds, Hebden Tranquillity crew, now the Citadel’s know one another, swapping contact formation of the Occupy Women’s Network following a Bridge, London, Hope Valley, Glasgow, Geneva and caretaker, is sweeping the front doorstep details and sharing experiences is Safer Spaces workshop introduced by Women Against Sheffield met to discuss ways to make these sites safer and welcomes us in. A dark entrance where we are at. The business of the Rape, in which participants spoke about their experiences and more inclusive. It was emphasised that women hall lit with low-energy LED lights leads day is shuffled, re-prioritised. We would of dealing with discrimination, bullying and other deserve recognition for our wide-ranging work and into a cavernous room with exposed need a week to fit it all in. A week- disruptive behaviour. Some men are noted to have skills. Examples given at the Sheffield workshop included brickwork and a mildly musty air. In one long summer gathering is suggested. supported women against rape and violence - recognising providing security, technical know-how and caring work corner techies huddle around computers. We look forwards to spending time that in defending women they defend themselves and which crucially was holding people and camps together. Wires snake across the broken floors. together in fields, in sunshine, without our movement. Representatives from Occupy camps from Some women felt that this often went unacknowledged, A smartphone taped to a decaying the fifteen layers of clothing necessary across the UK noted that their sites have adopted some even by those who daily depend upon it. Women were pillar acts as a wifi hub, a projector to camp out through a British winter. or all of the Safer Spaces action points and described energised by the chance to share experiences and left screen displays the day’s agenda, in an Earthian entertains us with a workshop how useful this has been, and how it has helped the determined to ensure that our concerns and demands are ante-room walls are being built around a on tent-monster creation. Gradually we camps to be calmer and more welcoming (including to listened to and addressed. toilet. The kettle’s on in the kitchen. realise the potential to be had once the children). There was general agreement that confronting Proposals for a Safer Space Policy poster at each Mugs of tea in hand, we mount Occupy camps are all linked up online discrimination and violence is a part of (not a diversion camp and banners highlighting women’s work – for concrete stairs, step unexpectedly and through personal contacts. Our skill from) the task of confronting banks, corporations and the example “Women do 2/3 of the World’s Work for 5% of out of the gloom into a bright and airy set is immense. The Occupy hive mind 1%; as a movement we are looking for change - not to the Income” - were agreed upon. An online women’s amphitheatre with wooden floors, knows so much already, from plumbing replicate a violent society. forum was also set up and a more detailed report of enormous windows and an imposing to law, land registry to permaculture, The subsequent Sheffield conference hosted the the Women’s Network and Safer Spaces policy is being stage with lush velvet curtains. Half economic theory to outside catering, second meeting of the Occupy Women’s Network. Around prepared for the next National Gathering.

OccupyLSX supports Mark Syrian embassy protests Kauri

Protests erupted near Syrian embassies and consulates around the world this weekend after an incident in the city of Homs in which state forces are said to have taken the lives of at least 200 people - in what appears to be the most brutal episode since the uprising began. In London, around 150 protesters gathered outside the embassy in Belgrave Square on Saturday afternoon, hurling objects at the building following reports of the violence. Crowds with calls of “free Syria” attempted to close the embassy in response to the brutal repression of the country’s uprising, prompting police reinforcements at the site. Activists from Occupy London joined Syrian protesters outside the embassy in a show of support, while similar protests were underway MY TENT in Berlin, Hamburg, Cairo, Athens, Istanbul, Washington, New York, Nicosia and Canberra. Emma The protests came ahead of a vote on a UN security council Fordham FOR YOUR BONUS resolution calling for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to step down, which was subsequently vetoed by Russia and China In early January, black-on-white A4 prints Royal Bank of Scotland bonus? Perhaps he amid fears of a potential violation of Syria’s sovereignty, which, displaying a bold and simple message felt he was missing out on the zeitgeist and it is feared, could lead to military intervention or regime change. began to appear amongst the tents in fancied a spot of winter camping. The veto prompted a furious response from other council St Paul’s Churchyard. My Tent for your Honest Occupiers from the St Paul’s members, with claims put forward that the draft resolution did Bonus, the posters declared. The first day camp felt it was important to keep their not permit military action or impose sanctions. just a couple of tents were on offer. side of the bargain, even though it meant Speaking after the vote, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton country – where uprisings last year resulted in the ousting of “I could only afford to print a few losing a precious tent just when the said the international community still had a duty to bring an President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali – no longer recognised the copies,” explained the brain behind this camp was at capacity due to eviction at end to the violence in Syria and promote a political transition Assad regime. campaign. The next day he brandished the Bank of Ideas . towards the departure of Assad. UK foreign secretary echoed this The weekend’s protests follow previous acts of solidarity a sheaf of fresh prints. “Some passers- Four stalwarts of OLSX carried the sentiment, with claims that hope now rested on the Arab League and support between the and those facing by liked it so much they paid for me to erect sacrificial tent through the streets of to pressure the Syrian authorities towards political change. oppression in Syria, including a memorable two-way livestream make more!” London and with due ceremony presented According to the UN, more than 5,400 people have died event connecting demonstrations at St Paul’s Cathedral with Daily, the number of tents available it outside RBS headquarters. Despite the in Syria since pro-democracy campaigners began protesting those in Syria in November. The event in London was attended to be exchanged for bonuses grew. By presence of mainstream journalists keen against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime on the streets last by around 50 UK-based Syrians protesting in solidarity with January 29th practically every tent sported to record Hester’s reaction to this gift, the year amid the wider uprisings. Between 12,000 and actions in Damascus and Homs. An OccupyLSX livestream the offer. Was it pure coincidence that RBS boss chose not to accept it in person. 14,000 are also said to be detained in Syria, subject to torture technician commented on the show of solidarity between the very next day Stephen Hester hit the Will Bob Diamond of Barclay’s also win and abuse. In response to the killings in Homs, Tunisia made the movements, stating: ‘...we feel all our movements are headlines for turning down a £1 million himself a tent this bonus season? moves to expel the Syrian ambassador, with claims that the components of the same thing.’ The Spirit of Ragnhild Cooperation: Freng Dale What the Third National Occupy UK Conference Can Teach Us

Occupy Sheffield hosted the third national enthusiastic show of the jazz hands that Occupy UK Conference over the weekend have come to signify Occupy’s consensus- 20-22 January. Around a hundred process; hands that were actively used Occupiers from the north, south, east and throughout the three days that the UK west of Britain, plus visitors from Geneva Occupiers spent together. and , came together to share Maca’s call for global solidarity was experiences and plan future strategies. The not the only one. London’s International conference was, for many, a much needed Communication working group had been fire-lighter, invigorating and inspiring. A contacted by several other occupations place where passionate individuals, usually - from Barcelona and Frankfurt to New dispersed around the country, could find York and Chicago - and were anxious each other and create networks. to instigate a UK-wide MayDay action. On Saturday the conference kicked The proposal was welcomed. A MayDay off with a discussion of eviction. The fortnight of actions entered the planning camps threatened with removal received stage, the intention being to begin on advice about strategy; the support for 1 May, the traditional workers’ day, these camps, especially the smaller then to build to a series of events on ones, was overwhelming. Attentive 12 and 15 May. Still a work in progress listeners and participants in the wide as the conference ended, the prospect auditorium of the Citadel of Hope of moving forwards with ambitious but understood the severity of their situation realistic goals, regardless of threatened well. Immediately after this first meeting, evictions, brought a glow to the those with experience in eviction matters proceedings and the participants. linked up with novice occupiers from Whilst hiccups are inevitable when a Sheffield, Liverpool and Exeter – all large group of leaderless strangers gather facing eviction in the coming weeks. – agenda-setting, time-management and International updates were next and food co-ordination were slightly tricky the message was clear; the movement – these challenges were handled with goes far beyond the borders of this country. warmth, intelligence and willingness from With visitors from Occupy and the excellent Sheffield hosts and helpful Occupy Geneva at the conference, there Occupiers from elsewhere. was direct affirmation that the world The glow was, in many ways, exactly Brian Leli stands united. Meetings and greetings for what the weekend was about. Discussions the far-flung occupations were captured ranged from direct action, to the autonomy with a hand-held camera by enthusiastic of Working Groups, to community outreach Judith Schossboeck members of the Swiss contingent. and dreams of a changed future. A UK-wide Maca from Glasgow talked independent news platform for Occupy passionately about her home country, was launched. Skill-shares abounded and Occupied Elsewhere: Austria Chile, where the occupations of universities crowd-sourcing was recommended. Flash have lasted seven months. In Chile occupations, teach-outs, assemblies and occupying as a form of protest has been meeting points were plotted. This was Solidarity demonstrations took place used for decades and has brought about change being actioned. A conference to until late in the night. significant change in the past. “We need co-ordinate a revolution, unfolding before Yet in addition to coordination to learn from Chile”, Maca said, to an our very eyes. and harsh temperatures, the Austrian movement faces an additional challenge: Austria’s media landscape is dominated by a few large publishing houses and proprietary media. Newspapers reported that some protest participants belonged to the far- right part of the political spectrum. Some articles addressed an investigation into National Socialist activities. A prominent supporter of the Occupy network, the Viennese economist Franz Hörmann, is as well-known for his criticism of the current monetary system as he is for anti-Semitic. His appearance at an Occupy event was picked In October 2011, the Austrian cooperation and networking among up by mainstream media outlets. Occupy movement formed itself with Occupy and other democratic Hörmann has since decided to concentrations in Vienna and a few movements in Austria. leave the sphere of civic activism other cities. Since then, they have Activist networks have to found his own political party. organized meetings, demonstrations traditionally been strong in German- Occupy Austria has also taken steps and coordination efforts to form a speaking countries. Organisations like to distance the movement from his larger Occupy community. These Attac or anti-racism networks have a views. He will not be invited as strategies had previously been used strong following – which is why some a speaker again. Occupy Austria in 2009, when activists occupied the question whether there is a need for a further declared in a statement: main lecture hall at the University separate Occupy movement in Austria. “We don’t wish to act as platform of Vienna for three months and Others insist that the need exists, for a political party, but to provide held daily assemblies. However, and despite the harsh Alpine winter, space and publicity for people’s continuous working groups with activists set up a small protest camp ideas.” Whilst Occupy is open to frequent and transparent updates on in the city of Innsbruck in November. everyone, it also made clear that activities or general assemblies have Squatters groups have also been anti-Semitism or racist views are yet to emerge this time. Different active throughout Austria. From not tolerated within the movement. interest groups operate under the 14 October to 8 November 2011, The page of Occupy Occupy label. Particularly in Vienna, the Epizentrum in Vienna offered Austria explicitly states that its a lot of different action groups and space for workshops, a kitchen, a administrators distance themselves smaller organisations can be found free university, a cinema, living from fascism, racism and religious taking action at demonstrations. rooms, a library, queer working or other fanatic views. In December, Occupy Christmas groups and ateliers. The emphasis The controversy highlights a organized a demonstration against was on building an infrastructure larger challenge for the Occupy the marginalization of the poor at for a culture of learning and shared movement: as a leaderless and the Vienna Christmas market with experiences. Yet the building was decentralized movement, the Occupy the help of several activist groups. evicted in November when the name can be claimed by others in On January 20-22, a nationwide national police turned up with an ways that undermine the credibility Brian Leli conference was organized to facilitate armored vehicle and a helicopter. and thematic focus of the movement. Fighting for Democratic

Values The Milla Network The Hungarian Perspective

BY THE ORGANIZERS OF THE THE CENTRAL AIMS OF THE new Basic Law in April of last year. The ONE MILLION FOR THE FREEDOM NETWORK ARE TWOFOLD: next important event for parliamentary OF PRESS IN HUNGARY FACEBOOK • To show politicians that active opposition, happened a day before COMMUNITY and informed people hold an important Christmas, when the Hungarian police Hungary’s new media laws have been position of power: If they oppose detained opposition MPs who were criticised for showing contempt for political or popular programmes and involved in a chain protest outside of democratic principles by introducing the concepts, they will take to the streets, Parliament, objecting to the adoption creation of a strong censorship authority write letters and request public of key laws on elections, taxation and and a separation of powers. In particular, information. When citizens know about the central bank. Many Hungarians the law gives the government the power their rights and act on that knowledge, believe that these laws will have large to control the internet, endangering the politicians will know that citizens are and long-term influence on their lives, freedom of speech and journalism in capable of replacing them. People can even if Fidesz should not become the general. Whilst these problems have create an alternative system and act as governing party from 2014. been debated on a European level, mass an opposition if parliamentary ones are There is a long list of questionable media usually do not provide much incapable of doing so. actions by the government. Amongst information on grassroots movements • To create a platform for different them are the so called ‘on-off tango’ fighting these regulations through civil or political interest groups with the IMF; nepotism in relation to activism and protest. One of them is and individual activists. The more the “House of Contemporary Arts” Milla, a network of activists focusing independent and diverse groups there (Trafo), the presence of Christianity in on social justice and media freedom in are, the stronger the civil sphere is. One the new Constitution, and many more. Hungary. Actions are largely coordinated aim is to create a sense of community, Related to the violation of freedom Milla on the 23rd of October and the The credibility of political actions online via social networks, e.g. the so that the peoples’ motives for taking of speech and media freedom, a 15th of March 2011. is undermined by politicians’ attitudes. One Million for the Freedom of Press in action are not only based on the major issue was the sacking of two The protest that followed the hunger If those in political power lie and don’t Hungary and (Milla) Facebook site. individual’s immediate situation. journalists who have been on hunger strike on January 2nd attracted world- resign when they get caught, but even The One Million for the Freedom Currently, Hungary is facing strike since the 10th of December. wide attention. However, Hungarian state come up with misleading statements, of Press in Hungary (Milla) Facebook many problems. On the political level, These employees reported that television reporters somehow “missed” people will lose their faith in justice. site, was established in December the legitimacy of politicians is being pro-government editors frequently the crowd and their report of the protest This could be one of the reasons 2010, right after the first draft of the questioned, the Hungarian President has interfered with their work. Other was based on an empty side road scene. that nearly 60% of Hungarians are new Media Laws was published. Soon, been accused of plagiarism, and many incidents were the close scrutiny By contrast, their subsequent coverage currently not interested in voting. the number of organizers increased. A want to see the PM leave office. In 2010, of Atlatszo.hu, the first Hungarian of the pro-government rally on the Many feel that they have no say or big protest in March 2011 was planned the governing party Fidesz, won 53% of investigative online journalism site same road did not miss the crowd – they cannot imagine being represented by by sixty to seventy people and the fluid the votes, which earned them a two-third that was taken to court just after its even exaggerated its size and the state politicians. As for the social situation, group is now organized into around fifty majority in parliament. According to launch for not identifying a confidential television programme was interrupted the number of poor people increases core members. new polls, they have only achieved 16% source or its informants, or the fact with breaking news on the rally. significantly. Not to mention the The Milla network is not a political recently. Yet their parliamentary majority that a large amount of state media Censorship can be direct or country’s currency troubles and other party and does not wish to support allowed them to pass more than 350 laws workers with anti-governmental views indirect. Whilst direct censorship economic factors. any, it is not even an organization, but in the last 18 months, including a new were made redundant. On top of that, comprises obvious acts like those Many members of Milla and a grassroots movement. “There are constitution - which was not addressed in no broadcast frequency was given to mentioned above, indirect censorship other Hungarian activists feel that many different types of people among the previous election campaign, nor made an opposition radio station to transmit thrives on fear and results in silence. these issues are not only the result us, many of them have never met before subject to any referendum or discussion (Klubradio), and there was no coverage Volunteers participating in the “I don’t of the government’s acts, but based Milla. We are here for the same reason: with experts or the public. or an underrepresentation of anti- like the system” video initiated by on twenty years of apathy that many to defend democratic freedom and The opposition parties did walk government rallies in the news – like Milla, a campaign for the 23rd October are responsible for: anyone who has human rights.” says an organiser. out on Fidesz during voting for the the massive protests organised by protest which reached 660,000 hits behaved and created the conditions, on YouTube, requested to be taken but also anyone who stayed silent and out of the clip afterwards, as their let them be created. boss “wanted to have a word” with The aim of Milla is to put more them. Such things do not only happen energy into this fight and take action at to individuals, but can be found on the next level. “To all the people fighting the organisational level as well. In for their rights around the world we Hungary, many civil organisations are would like to send the same message: funded by the government. Thus, the Stay strong, keep your head up, commit whole system is doomed to failure and yourself to mutual respect and do so in a journalistic autonomy hard to realise. democratic but in the most professional Additionally, modern surveillance way possible. With this attitude, goodwill technologies might play a role. will flow back to you.” The True Culprit Conor Was Not in Court Gearty

All flourishing Christian organisations given as Giles Fraser was later to say on now (as they had always intended), the need to steer a careful course between BBC Newsnight ‘nice cups of Anglican Institute’s report on the city would be a mammon and morality. tea … and a warm embrace’, a camp widely admired and much read document, On the one hand there is the wealth, such as this might well have grown into a and the church’s commitment to power and influence that flow out of such benign witnesses to the need for radical economic justice would have been given a success, especially if it is millennia old change, as the anti-nuclear Greenham tremendous boost. (as with the Roman Catholic church) or Common women had done a generation Instead, we have this spectacle of backed by the state (as with Anglicanism): before. And what a gift this would have a great cathedral acting not as a focus how can one bite the hand that feeds if been to a Church about to launch its for Christian action but as a grand the food is so good and one’s corpulent critique of City capitalism. religious NIMBY. body now so dependant? On the other Faced with an open goal, the senior The chance to undo this damage will hand there is the unsettling example of church authorities promptly turned tail not come about - opportunities of the Jesus himself – uninterested in money; and shot into their own net. sort offered by the Occupy movement are contemptuous of luxury and of worldly The talk was suddenly all of health rare. No doubt there will be many more power; devoted to the needy (or as we and safety and of the risk of fire. The remarks such as that of the Reverend would say today the disadvantaged). advice of professionals in these fields Michael Hampel, Canon Precentor, who Some churches solve this problem was immediately accepted, leading first commented of the Value and Values by assimilating mammon to morality to closure of the Cathedral (soon shown report that “Action is a crucial goal of the - the good are good because they to be quite unnecessary) and then to a protest camp outside St Pauls Cathedral. are rich, and vice versa. This is too legal action launched with the intention of We hope that the telling findings of this obviously special pleading for the more expelling the protestors. When the latter report can provide a solid foundation for thoughtful faiths for whom, however, action was suspended the more hard- future engagement and highlight issues the problem remains: how can they be nosed Corporation of London, took on where action might be of mutual concern rich and radical at the same time? the job of clearing out the protestors, the for all sides of the debate.” This kind of These churches usually manage custodians of the Cathedral whispering comment is so within the comfort zone to side-step this dilemma by using encouragement while trying to look the of the Church to be indistinguishable their knack of fine rhetoric to call upon other way. By then the Cathedral had from complacency. others to act. A prime example is the lost both Fraser and the Dean himself, During Mass at the start of January, Report Value and Values: Perceptions Graeme Knowles. celebrating the Epiphany, Catholic of Ethics in the City Today issued by The law appeared stacked against the Christians listened to Psalm 71: the St Paul’s Institute in November protestors from the outset and the court ‘For he shall save the poor when last year, an excellent critique of the judgment can have come as no surprise, they cry and the needy who are ethical emptiness of global capital out with both highways and planning law being helpless. He will have pity on the weak of the mouths of financial services deployed by the City to legitimise its effort and save the lives of the poor.’ practitioners themselves. to get the protestors removed, not just What kind of an epiphany has St But by the time this Report came from the areas all around the Cathedral but Pauls offered the world this Christmas out, the Occupy LSX camp had arrived at from the Cathedral land as well. season? St Pauls, sparking a crisis of identity for Of course the protestors pleaded Conor Gearty is Professor at the the great Cathedral that supports this the right to freedom of expression London School of Economics and the ‘challenging and well-resourced space under the Human Rights Act, but that former director of the LSE Centre for for conversation’ (as the Archbishop of measure was always unlikely to greatly Human Rights Studies. Canterbury had described the Institute to assist. The European Court of Human in June 2010). Rights has been reluctant to extend its With eviction proceedings to remove protection to those who invade private the camp having recently produced a property in the effort to get heard, and judgment against the occupy group, the same has now proved to be true things are likely to get worse before they (so far as this case is concerned) of Preoccupying: Amanda Palmer get better for the cathedral. At the back deliberate efforts to obstruct the highway of everyone’s mind will be the feeling that for the same purpose. Lindblom J, had Occupied Times: Amanda, you have been playing quite a few OT: What effect, do you think, did your music have on the a rare opportunity has been missed for a the job of assessing the proportionality Occupy camps - how come? occupations? heroic religious engagement, for action as or reasonableness of the disruption as Amanda Palmer: I play free outdoor gigs for my fans AP: I hope that in my own way I brought joy? Distraction? And well as words. against its value as speech - and here anyways when I tour. Occupy started up just as I was leaving fuel? To the movement - or at least to the moment. Yet it had all begun so promisingly. again the background hostility of the for a tour and so I decided to play Occupy Spaces instead of OT: What was your best experience with Occupy? The camp had only arrived at St Cathedral was likely to weigh heavily random parks: it seemed like a perfect wedding of events. AP: Playing “The World Turned Upside-down” in various cities and Pauls in October last year when the against the Camp. A lot of my fans knew about Occupy but only from what they’d hearing people across the country cheering at the same points in stock exchange proved impenetrable. With this ruling handed down, the read online and in the news but hadn’t actually been on site. the song. Pretty inspiring, that words strike a universal soul chord. The police did not initially act, and case is already shaping up to resemble I gave them a reason. Musicians can be handy that way, they OT: Was there any bad experience? the Cathedral itself – in the ebullient the Dale Farm debacle, with endless always have been. They act as umbrellas under which people AP: Sure. Plenty. One of the worst: a dude at Wall St came up and civil libertarian form of the Canon litigation, media summits, appeals, can physically gather and connect. I truly love that part of my while I was playing and starting haranguing my site contact, Chancellor Giles Fraser – was positively further clarifications of court orders job: being a human megaphone, acting as a spotlight to shine complaining that I was “hijacking the movement”. He wasn’t supportive. Services continued. The and - eventually - a nasty moment when on what might be dimly lit. listening to what I was playing or noticing what people were talk was of a presence until Christmas. the camp is physically dismantled by the doing (a lot of my fans brought donations and help). It was Early compromises allowed visits to authorities. sad. That moment spoke volumes about the problem of the the Cathedral to continue. The peaceful If and when this does come about, Amanda Palmer, lead singer movement in general... the “ownership” problem. Who owns this nature of the protest was acknowledged the Cathedral will have been primarily and composer of the Dresden movement? Who can claim that? by all, the atmosphere good. Treated responsible. Had it adopted Fraser’s line, OT: Do you think this movement will have a long-term effect with respect and properly self-regulated, the protestors would probably be gone by Dolls duo, has been visiting on society? protest camps around the AP: God I hope so. OT: Do you see yourself as an activist artist, or is art mostly world. We asked about her independent from politics? experiences with Occupy, take AP: I always say the personal is political. I kind of detest the word “political”. It carries so much bullshit baggage. And if I’m away full-stop at the end. an activist artist, then every artist is an activist... of something or other. I always used to say to journalists that my job wasn’t OT: Where have you been and what were your impressions of to tell people what to do, or who to vote for, or how to think. the different sites? My job was to provide them with a safe space to become who AP: Well, I started with , which was a few they already are. The band was always really dedicated to a blocks from my house. Then I went to Wall St about a week kind of radical honesty and radical acceptance... having been later... this was back in the early fall. When my tour started, I outcasts as kids, we didn’t want to perpetuate that kind of hit all the cities I was touring in: Oakland, LA, Seattle, Portland, clique and exclusive mentality. Vancouver. I’m going to play a free gig at Occupy Christchurch in OT: What do you think is wrong with today’s society? New Zealand. It’s like having a floating pop-up venue... perfect. AP: Honestly? That we live in fear of each other and are Every site had it’s own character and energy. LA felt slightly terrified to non-judgmentally love and help each other. hostile; Oakland felt more solid and peaceful. Portland felt OT: What can we as individuals change? homey; Vancouver felt somber... someone had just died in a AP: Our attitudes towards each other and the possibilities of tent. I think my impressions really depended on the moment I human kind. It isn’t hopeless: the whole world is changeable. It just dropped in on the camps. It’s like visiting a person. You’re never takes a certain kind of faith that the status quo is not the king. going to find them in the same mood twice. OT: What does “Occupy yourself” mean to you? OT: Did you want to express a particular message for people? AP: It means that before you can occupy an outside space, you AP: Yes. Do shit. And don’t forget you have the power to have to be standing on solid ground with yourself - which is hard, create your own fucking reality every single day. The fact that but necessary. Nothing will destroy real human progress more we’re alive and human beings on planet earth is a ridiculous than people trying to make a progressive change that comes from fucking miracle. Rejoice. a place of fear, lack and anger. That’s what will take us down. Our Ethics,

Demand Our Future Nothing “Don’t fall in love with yourselves, with the nice time we are having here. Carnivals come cheap - the true test of their worth is what remains the day after, how our normal daily life will be changed. Fall in love with hard and patient work - we are the beginning, not the end.” - Slavoj Žižek

order to abolish to work hard. However, its process of the present state of consolidation of power to enforce these things, revolution ethics reduces the laws and motivations is a certainty. of the state strictly to a functional ethic. Reformism and This other, functional ethic is the ethics pleading with of austerity propagated by the likes of those who have Moody’s AAA ratings and the focus on power will not gross domestic product. In(as if it ever could!) accomplish our This coalescence of power is only egalitarian goals. Similarly, we must maintained through our subjugation under not fool ourselves into thinking that the instruments legitimised by this ethic of we can resist from outside the system, austerity. Therefore, our first and foremost especially considering how widely and task is to oppose austerity and oppose deeply capital has saturated our lives. those that practice and preach its methods. Our culture is sponsored by Exxon Mobil Our forms of resistance should be for art and Tennent’s for music. As of our own creation, and should not be Antonio Negri and Michael Hardt write in those safe-routes espoused by liberals their book “Empire”, “[It] is not to simply who, through either their inexperience [enough to] resist these processes but or a desire to co-opt, reduce our [necessary] to reorganise them and movements to images, devoid of redirect them towards new ends”. concrete revolutionary effect. When we Occupy has placed itself as at the say forms of resistance should be of our centre of radical action in the UK. It is a own creation, we do not preach ideals place and an event. A place for flowers and utopias. We say that resistance to grow and to blossom. However, the must be based on the material analysis process of revolution must take a more of peoples’ lives. concrete form. It is not enough to just In the first world, we are no longer wait for the revolution and it is not solely alienated by capitalists who enough to occupy space. own the means of production. We are I. RESIST oppressed in a more unstable and The economic and political are abstract sense. Today, in the UK, we dovetailing together once more. On are valued in our capacity to produce the one hand, we are rediscovering the networks and circuits of communication.

economic sphere as a political project It is in our capacity to service our lefteris pitarakis - something that can be altered and debt through labour, produce more shaped by our hands. Yet on the other of it through consumption, and to hand, the oppressive constitution of communicate circuits of debt (“I like II. REORGANISE itself to move beyond press statements, the abhorrent, shambling form capital politics and the global economy are this post on Facebook, and that book Capital is ‘a motley painting of music albums, and directionless actions. takes. When we challenge austerity, being used to support each other under on Amazon - and don’t you too?”) that everything that ever was’, a process It should organise around the proposal we also challenge the ethics that are the rationality of functionalism. Our our value is created. With this new and that flows, shifts and changes. We must of an aim and gather allies under that built on top of the state. We challenge state is constituted of two contradictory open form of valuing the people, new change and shift to combat it; otherwise aim. We are not just anti-capitalists but, it all or we do not challenge it at all. ethics: the state stands for justice, and open ways are required to organise we will remain politically stagnant instead, pro-revolutionaries. Simply removing austerity will create peace, prosperity, security, and life. It and direct action. Strikes, marches and and neutralised. While Occupy stands III. REDIRECT spaces for movement but you will just be proclaims family values and motivation sit-ins are not enough! still, the state moves and adapts. It is Occupy has set itself up to challenge encouraging a vacuum. attempting to find ways to push through the functional ethics of our state. We see The state has more power and Occupy using the police force and the words for fairness and redistribution. resources to occupy that vacuum than the laws to try to stamp it out. The news Everyone has to pay their way to protect Occupy movement. We must forge our own cycle has moved on as well, leaving each others’ rights: the rights of the ethics and our own future. This is an ethic behind a memory of a revolt that seemed worker, the rights of the exploited, and opposed to rights and wrongs and fairness. to promise the renewal and the re- the rights of everyone. By challenging This is an ethic that says, “end all debt,” invigoration of resistance in our society. austerity with this ethic, we shake the and the other concrete material conditions Occupy is an open space - but so is state. By itself, however, shaking the of our existence that oppress us. We must the state. Occupy is not localised - but state is not enough. stress a revolutionary character. Dispense neither is the state. There seems to This is not a question of fairness with the ideals and concentrate on what be a belief amongst the multitude of and rights - this is a statement for matters: the cancellation of all debt, and participants within the Occupy movement the eradication of debt and the wage the end of greed. that openness and egalitarianism is system for all. We do not believe, or This piece was written by the people to allow all voices an equal volume. care, about taming Capitalism. We do behind the Demand Nothing website. Through which consensus and conference not call for stitching a human face to www.demandnothing.org progress is made. This consensus approach can open up problems as Occupy members, such as in Glasgow, use their open approach to negotiate their way out of taking responsibility for events in their camp or we engage in dialogue with the likes of the EDL, an organisation that is fundamentally opposed to the actions of Occupy and its supporters. Consensus is only a tool to help achieve concrete aims and is not exclusive to egalitarian resistance. The state aggregates consensus to exert its power as well through policing, law, government, and appeals to our wallets. We must match it. We think a positive and proactive response that is more than an advert Wasi Daniju is necessary. Occupy should challenge Growing

Tim Pains Jackson he fault lines to borrow and spend – even to within modern mortgage their own financial future if capitalism are necessary – to carry on shopping. widening. What Let’s be honest, it’s pretty easy once seemed to find these people. Novelty matters tiny fissures, to us. Through novelty, for instance, barely visible to we tell each other stories about how the Western eye, important we are. Status is just one Thave now become deep chasms of the social dynamics that thrives threatening to engulf entire nations. on novelty. Novelty also signals Between the fall of the Berlin progress. It offers hope. A brighter Wall in November 1989 and the shinier world for our children and rise of the financial crisis in their children. And if we’re ever September 2008, capitalism’s star inclined to forget or forgo that desire, had never seemed brighter. There there is a host of canny advertisers, was, to echo Margaret Thatcher, marketers, investors and politicians no alternative. Debates about on hand to help us remember it. To the variations of capitalism were persuade us, in very simple terms, more or less academic. The Anglo- to spend money we don’t have, centric nations trumpeted the on things we don’t need, to create virtues of ‘liberalised markets’. impressions that won’t last, on Germany and France championed people we don’t care about. the ‘social market economy’. In short, there appears to be an Communist China even developed uncanny fit between the demands its own particular brand of centrally of capital and the restless soul of planned capitalism, triggering the consumer. Armed with this a mixture of anxiety and quiet rationale, and with economic growth satisfaction in the Western mind. as its mantra, capitalism itself All of these forms of capitalism seems unstoppable. ‘Accumulate, rely inherently on the assumed accumulate, that is Moses and the insatiability of human needs: prophets’, as Marx once put it. By the confident expectations of a beginning of this century, the global relentless growth in consumer economy had already expanded five spending. Across the world, times over the size it had been in the capitalism advances by seeking out middle of the last century. new consumer markets for new The default assumption is that – Wasi Daniju consumer products. The continual financial crises aside – growth will throwing over of the old in favour of continue indefinitely. Not just for the the new, together with the intrusion poorest countries, where a better This unprecedented ramping Across the Eurozone, country The only remaining moral of the market into ever more quality of life is desperately needed, up of economic activity is without after country is facing rising deficits, framework for capitalism is one in personal areas of our lives. but even for the richest nations historical precedent. It is totally at unwieldy sovereign debt, and down- which ecological and social justice go In the beginning, this process can where the cornucopia of material odds with our scientific knowledge graded credit ratings. Austerity hand in hand. Prosperity for the few be immensely productive, leading to wealth is beginning to threaten the of the finite resource and the policies, brought in to protect these founded on ecological destruction manifest improvements in our real foundations of our wellbeing. At fragile ecology on which we depend ratings, have failed to solve the and persistent social injustice for the standard of living. But to keep the the historical rate of expansion, by for survival. And it has already been underlying problems. Worse, they many is no foundation for a civilised process going in perpetuity as the the end of this century the global accompanied by the degradation of have created new social problems of society. One of the most fundamental system requires, we need people economy will be 80 times the size it an estimated 60% of the world’s their own. The withdrawal of social errors of capitalism is to mistake resolutely hooked on stuff, prepared was only 50 years ago. ecosystems. investment has bred an increasingly citizens for consumers. Another is For the most part we tend agitated public. to mistake prosperity for income. to ignore the stark reality of In London, during August last Living well on a finite planet cannot these numbers. The reasons for year, a spree of rioting left the simply be about consuming more this ‘collective blindness’ are streets in chaos, buildings burning and more stuff. Nor can it be about easy enough to find. Expanding out of control. Not all of that accumulating more and more debt. demand is the default mechanism unrest can be attributed to political Prosperity, in any meaningful for achieving economic stability. protest. But the injustice of bailing sense of the term, is about the When demand falters, bad things out the architects of the crisis quality of our lives and relationships, happen. Businesses struggle to at the expense of its victims has about the resilience of our survive. People lose their jobs become plain for all to see. The communities, and about our sense and sometimes their homes. A conditions for wider social unrest of individual and collective meaning. spiral of recession looms. In these are palpable. In the United States, Prosperity, as the word itself circumstances, questioning growth that unrest is now playing itself suggests, is about hope. Hope for the is deemed to be the act of lunatics, out in the form of the Occupy Wall future, hope for our children, hope idealists and revolutionaries. Street protest, later mirrored by for ourselves. Maintaining this hope But question it we must. The Occupy London in the UK and over remains a task worth engaging in. collapse of Lehman Brothers on 15th a thousand others under the Occupy Capitalism must adapt to it or perish. September 2008 signalled more banner worldwide. Civil action is Tim Jackson is Professor of than the onset of a cyclical liquidity striking at the living, beating heart Sustainable Development at the crisis. The pallid light of recession of capitalism, expressing resistance University of Surrey in the UK and illuminated crack after crack in the and rage at the injustices carried author of Prosperity without Growth shiny surface of capitalism. It is now out in its name. – economics for a finite planet. apparent that these cracks run right to the heart of the model. Leaving aside for the moment that a system built on continually increasing demand is ecologically illiterate. The financial crisis revealed that it is also structurally dangerous. Relentless expansion of demand requires rising levels of debt. When the debts become toxic, the system collapses. Since September 2008, governments have committed trillions of dollars to bail out the banks and re-stimulate the global economy. But fiscal spending financed through government borrowing has only precipitated a Brian Leli further crisis. CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS FOR DUMMIES: PART ONE

It pays not to stare too long at the Credit can lose value, markets can plummet, Default Swap system, in case your earthquakes can flatten power stations, brain melts and your eyebrows fall off companies can fail, loans can go bad, into your lap. This issue, the Occupied homeowners can “default” on their Times is going to dip a careful toe into mortgage. And if scientists prove a link the maelstrom; next issue we’ll look between the consumption of orange juice closer at the darker secrets and the and the occurrence of athlete’s foot, then unsettling trillion-dollar scale of the the value of my orange juice speculation derivatives insurance market. Holding is likely to fall through the floor. our hand through the pain will be Tony Say I get nervy about the risk, maybe Crawford, speaker at TCU & the author of I want to buy a little peace of mind. Here’s Contaging, and the broadcaster & financial where a credit default swap comes in. For commentator Max Keiser. a fee, the seller of the CDS underwrites or Let’s begin by looking at some of the guarantees the credit-worthiness of my basic terminology. Deep breath. Ready...? orange juice contract. You could describe a A Credit Default Swap or “CDS” is a CDS contract as a kind of “insurance policy” contract in the credit derivatives market against the falling value of an asset. that transfers risk from one party to Your CDS insurance contract buys another. The risk of a default. It’s a kind of you compensation (or the promise of insurance - a derivative insurance contract. compensation!) - in exchange for a fee Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan the credit-worthiness of my orange In a crisis, what happens is this If you’re lost already, it’s probably (which could be monthly, yearly, whatever once said: “Regulation of derivatives juice speculation, so he goes away and “unholy chain” breaks, and the Ponzi best to take a step back and ask: what’s the terms of the contract). The agreement transactions that are privately negotiated approaches yet another CDS seller and pyramid collapses. a derivative...? A financial derivative is that the compensation is paid if the by professionals is unnecessary.” enters into further “insurance” contract. MAX KEISER: Brokers and bankers is a contract, relating to an underlying asset has lost value by a certain time. So TONY CRAWFORD: “A credit default This other party is free to approach who sell credit default swaps flood the asset: e.g. currencies, commodities, if everything goes pear-shaped, the seller swap is treated as a standard contract yet another investor, and take out yet market with them to garner the fees, stocks or bonds. Let’s say, for the sake of the CDS – the protection seller – picks agreement between private parties that another insurance policy – creating what and in so doing increase the likelihood of argument, orange juice. If I speculate up the tab. That, at least, is the idea. financiers argue need not be regulated risk consultant Satyajit Das - author of a financial meltdown caused by a on the future price of orange juice (let’s The CDS transfers the risk associated and are too numerous for oversight.” of Extreme Money: The Masters of the cascade of sell orders tied to a market say I bet that the price of orange juice will with a derivative without actually One of the main problems with the Universe and the Cult of Risk - has termed swamped with uncollateralized and be higher than it currently is in 6 months’ transferring the ownership of the CDS system is that one agreement can an “unholy chain”. The risk doesn’t go impossible-to-honor CDSs. We saw time), the value of my speculation is underlying assets. The contract happens, lead to another can lead to another. away, it just gets passed on. The bottom something similar in 1987 when the CDS “derived” from the price of orange juice at as it were, ‘above’ the underpinning layer Here’s what happens. Suppose the party line, as Das says, is that: “if the seller of product of its time – ‘portfolio insurance’ a particular time in the future. of asset-value. that sold me my insurance against the protection is unable to perform then the – was oversold into the market, setting Derivatives ‘derive’ their value It also happens off the balance collapse in orange juice price drinks two buyer obtains no protection.” up the stock market crash on October from the value of this underlying asset. sheets, and out of the prying eye of litres of orange juice and gets athlete’s But never mind that now! Tucked 19th of that year. Here’s where the risk comes in. Assets regulation. As the former head of the foot. Maybe he gets nervous about away happily off the balance sheet, and One way of describing the CDS joyously free from regulation, the risk problem is that it’s a problem of value. gets chopped-up and passed on, with Things are being sold as having value, fees being picked up along the way, until where in reality they have precious a chasm has grown between the last little. What’s “real” are the fees being CDS contract and the original underlying charged for every breath that blows up DR Michael asset value (the price of orange juice). the bubble. This bubble of swapped and Harris My original derivative (my speculation) re-swapped risk, floating around above Time Crisis has essentially vanished from sight. As the ‘real world’, has become utterly The 1 per cent solution to the economic crisis includes the is not the way to build a flourishing economy, cut carbon and has the scale of the debt (and debt- abstracted from the layer of asset-value prescription to work harder. The 99 per cent caused the crisis by improve human well-being. Work, now damages our health, our guarantees) which are floating around which actually determines the value their insolent attitude to work and their debt-fuelled greed, now economy, our society and our environment. It’s not a symptom of above the assets... of the derivatives. they need to recognise it’s payback time. Young people will work the crisis, it is the crisis. TONY CRAWFORD: The CDS credit TONY CRAWFORD: In around 2002, longer for fewer rights and it will be easier to retire older workers. Some of us will instead have to trade some money for time derivatives market hides debt in off- financiers discovered they could sell The unemployed – of whom there will be more for the purposes of in order to live more sustainably. For all of us, a permanent the-balance-sheet accounting methods: third-party “Nonbank Notes” (essentially productivity – will work for free or be punished. And when people move away from our long-hours and micro-seconds culture tucked away behind misleading co- functioning as legal tender) that had no get sick from too much or too little work they’ll have to meet more would produce a rich mix of social, environmental and economic dependent loans in the complex workings trace of property ownership. In such stringent tests to prove they’re unable to work. benefits. Redistributing paid and unpaid time would improve of SIVs – Structured Investment Vehicles. a case, purchasers are said to buy The 99 per cent solution should include less work for work-life balance, narrow gender inequalities and free up time Remember we called a CDS “a ‘naked’. However, ‘Naked’ CDS makes many and work for all who want it. Reducing normal working for us to be parents, carers, friends, neighbours and citizens. It derivative insurance contract”? Maybe no financial sense except to profit from hours and sharing work more equally across society could be would allow us to live. we were overstating the value of the certain failure in default. a critical path out of the crisis and towards a healthier, happier, The 1 percenters, or rather their apologists, hate this guarantees that are being traded: This is where it starts to get really fairer society. We here at NEF (the new economics foundation) argument. But the way they hate it is instructive. They say that MAX KEISER: As was discovered nasty. If you think you’ve got your brain published a report outlining the many benefits of a 21 hour people should have the right to choose what hours they work. If during the AIG scandal, these so-called around the basics of credit default swaps, working week last year. only. Nearly 1 in 10 people would work fewer hours for less pay, insurance policies should not be called get ready to have your head twisted off In a slump, cutting the working week is one way of but can’t. Most of us don’t have any real choice about our working insurance because they have no actual next issue, when we’ll talk more about managing a low (no) growth economy. The longest working hours, and at the request of corporate interests the Government collateral backing them up, only theoretical planned defaults, and “Naked Credit hours in Europe, contrary to stereotype, are found in Greece, is working to narrow this choice further. It’s another of those collateral that, as we have seen, does not Default Swaps”, and plunge deeper still not Germany, and Italian workers are not far behind the Greeks. real-life demonstrations that neoliberalism isn’t about choice, it’s work in a crisis – which is exactly when the into one of the foulest corners of the One of the reasons that German workers are more productive about compliance. Opponents of a shorter working week don’t CDSs are supposed work best. global financial pit. is because they work less and in the first phase of the crisis, believe in freedom because they fear we might make the wrong unemployment fell in Germany, partly because the government choice. They stand opposed to a free market in time. supported shorter working hours. In the US and the UK, by The debate about working time is not just about time contrast, we cling stubbornly to the traditional notion of full- at work. It raises questions that matter to all of us. Why are time hours, which is part of the reason why unemployment and housing, food and transport so expensive and how can they be underemployment are so high. Shorter working helps to spread a made more affordable and sustainable? How can we improve diminishing amount of paid employment around more people and public services to enhance social justice and wellbeing for all? cuts the benefits bill. It makes it easier to create more jobs, since How can we achieve gender equality within households and each job requires less capital to fund it. It’s only controversial to across society? No wonder the opponents of shorter working conventional economists. hours don’t want it to become more popular. But this is not just a temporary response to crisis, and A 99 per cent government would support us to work less. this is not just a temporary crisis. Alongside the economic and Nearly half of all employed people in the Netherlands work what environmental crisis, we are experiencing a time crisis – how we we in the UK would consider ‘part time’, but only because in the use and trade the hours we are granted and the consequences 1980s their government embarked on a long-term plan to reduce of this, even how we experience time. The post-war work-time and share working hours. Increasing productivity was taken in bargain is long gone. Working hours stopped declining for most slightly less wealth but in much more free time. A 99 per cent people long ago, and now wages are stagnant. We have entered government would also help to redistribute work by making the into the era of the ‘end of work’ but clung onto a historical idea welfare state fairer, not least by providing more support for low- of full-time employment. ‘Productivity tools’ make it harder to income earners and better childcare. A more equal distribution of work and play in any way productively, which is to say mindfully. paid and unpaid work represents a different kind of recovery for Our increasingly fragmented time is less our own, but not really a different kind of society. It is a vital part of a new economics of anyone else’s either. We have no real time for anything. work – one that creates meaningful and sustainable employment Fewer and fewer of us working harder and harder, and that serves human needs, instead of abstract economic theories spending more and more, is unsustainable both individually and from a time that has long past. collectively. Spending our diminishing free time going shopping Dr Michael Harris, New Economics Foundation. The City of London & its offshore empire Nicholas Shaxson

A few weeks ago Westminster MP Mark First, take a look in a little more Field, one of Britain’s most prominent detail at this British web of tax havens. cheerleaders for tax havens and the City In the inner ring of the British web of London, cited a couple of interesting lie these three Crown Dependencies: statistics, to bolster his argument that Jersey and Guernsey in the English people should go easy on tax havens. Channel, and the Isle of Man between “The UK has a constitutional relationship the UK mainland and Ireland. The next with half of the top 30 offshore finance set of links in the web are the Overseas centres,” he said – implying that this Territories: the remnants of the British is a good thing. He added, for good Empire which resolved to remain measure, that just the three island tax constitutionally attached to Britain after havens closest to the UK – the Crown most of the rest of Britain’s empire Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and achieved independence. The Overseas the Isle of Man – provided net financing Territories include some of the world’s to UK banks of a staggering $332.5bn biggest tax havens: the Cayman Islands, in the second quarter of 2009. Jersey British Virgin Islands and Bermuda – Finance, the promoters of the profoundly along with Gibraltar, Turks and Caicos, corrupt tax haven of Jersey, puts it Anguilla and Montserrat. in plain English: “For many corporate The spider analogy may seem treasurers, institutional bankers and unnecessarily sinister, but it is quite treasury specialists, fund promoters, apt. The tax havens will generally focus brokers and other corporate financiers, on hoovering up money flows from Jersey represents an extension of the nearby jurisdictions: so the tax havens City of London.” in the Caribbean will focus heavily on These statements are all quite attracting money flows from North and bubbles, corrupting football clubs, These tax havens love to declare how correct. In my book Treasure Islands, South America, for instance, while the hiding ownership patterns in the stock clean they are – but they can be shockingly, I describe the City of London as the Crown Dependencies will focus heavily markets, and on and on. even terrifyingly corrupt. Anyone visiting spider at the centre of a web of tax on Europe, and so on. These places The whole relationship between Jersey on a summer holiday might be havens scattered around the world, are often merely serving as booking the UK and its tax havens plays out as forgiven for thinking that this is simply feeding vast tides of money, and the centres, entries in an accountant’s an elaborate charade. These territories another part of Britain: apart from the business of handling money, to the City. computer that allow a company to are partly inside, and partly outside, the different-looking ten pound notes, the If you are worried about the pretend that it is really located in the UK. They have their own local politics, high street in St. Helier looks and feels just political and economic might of the City especially mucky Overseas Territory of with all the fun of the fair, and they like any other in Britain. But look into the of London and want to know how to the British Virgin Islands while the real love to say they have full independence politics in enough depth, and the difference confront it, you cannot make serious business – the hammering together when it comes to setting their own is staggering. People won’t believe you progress without tackling tax havens. of that banking syndicate, the legal laws. But probe into the constitutional when you explain how corrupt Jersey is. And tax havens make an excellent target, work for that giant property deal, and relationship, and it becomes clear In an affidavit signed in May 2011 especially for the Occupy movement. so on – gets sent up to London. “If I that responsibility falls to the UK. Lenny Harper, Jersey’s former Deputy In November I said in a speech on the have money to spare, I pass it to the Smokescreens come wafting out of Police Chief, said: “I went to Jersey in 2002 steps of St. Paul’s that I believe Occupy’s father,” said Martyn Scriven, secretary London and the tax haven capitals full of expectation of the challenge that greatest strength – the key to its ability of the Jersey Bankers’ Association in whenever the relationship is probed lay ahead. I soon learnt that it was like to resonate with ordinary people around 2009. “Great dollops of money go into – ‘there is nothing we can do’ is the nowhere else in the British Isles. . . . There the world – is in its focus on two things: London from here.” Vast, secretive and typical response to those who say that are no checks and balances on power and extremely high and rising inequality, often dirty financial flows wash into the UK cracks down on the criminality, the abuse of it. This is obvious each time and the corruption of capitalism. In both the stock markets and football clubs abuse and corruption run out of these one tries to make a complaint against any respects, tax havens are right at the very and financial institutions in the City places. And behind it all lies the City of member of the government. With such an heart of concerns about both. And Britain every day from tax havens. Whatever London, anxious to preserve its access absence of controls, such an absence of is right at the heart of global concerns this offshore money touches, it causes to the world’s dirty money. accountability, the ordinary decent people about tax havens. harm: blowing up unproductive property In both the Crown Dependencies of Jersey are helpless.” Stuart Syvret, a and the Overseas Territories, the former health minister, is less diplomatic, Queen appoints the governor, domestic and he is worth quoting at some length. legislation is given royal assent and “Jersey is governed by a crypto- the United Kingdom is responsible for feudal oligarchy which, of itself, is their good governance, defence and captured by the international offshore international relations. It is also the banking industry. It is a gangster regime, guarantor of these territories’ debts. cloaked with the “respectability” of the Given that many of the tax and secrecy trappings of the British establishment. . facilities provided by these places . . As the local elites of these tiny islands constitute acts of economic warfare continue to provide a loyal service to the against the revenue authorities and rich British elites – for example, enabling taxpayers of other countries, and is them to dodge taxation – then the an aspect of the governance of these miniature oligarchs of places like Jersey islands, this puts the responsibility for are guaranteed protection. No matter just their tax haven activity firmly in the UK how nakedly lawless their own conduct.” government’s hands. As I say in Treasure The media – both the Jersey Evening Islands, the British spider’s web “is a Post, as well as the Jersey arm of BBC money-laundering filter that lets the – are captured by the finance industry. City get involved in dirty business while They parrot the pro-tax haven line providing it with enough distance to daily – sometimes almost to a comical maintain plausible deniability.” degree – and dissidents are only quoted The City of London Corporation loves rarely, and usually highly disparagingly. its tax havens. Although it did not appear Syvret has been thrown in prison more on his official itinerary (why not?) the than once. The dominance of the finance Lord Mayor of the City of London visited industry in Jersey is nearly absolute. And the Isle of Man last month, where he few people in Britain care. praised its “longstanding and much- We should all care. As the British valued partnership” with the City. The web of tax havens around the world feeds City of London Corporation has called the City, pumping up its already mighty the Isle of Man a “core asset” for the powers, Britain is turning into more and City. The Lord Mayor roams the world more of an offshore island in the world with an official mandate to expound – and the City of London is turning into the “values of financial liberalisation” more and more of an offshore island around the globe (what a strange role within Britain. If we don’t stand up to the for the head of a municipal authority). City and its tax havens, we face a future The more that other countries liberalise that looks increasingly like Jersey’s. But their economies, the more financial without such nice beaches. activity there is buzzing around, ready to Nicholas Shaxson is the author of

Wasi Daniju be caught by the nearby tax havens and Treasure Islands: Tax Havens and the Brian Leli funneled up to the City. Men Who Stole the World Chris Occupy the EU Cook I stood on this platform only a year TAKING STOCK - OCCUPY THE EU! THE VACUUM we have become accustomed to think ago and said that Europe could recover Chris Cook, a former director of the The European Central Bank (ECB) is the that the source of credit is the banking its dynamism. I still believe we can. International Petroleum Exchange and Black Hole at the heart of a monetary system, rather than the Treasury on But only if we are bold. Only if we new member of the Economics Working system which is based exclusively upon behalf of the people. fight for our prosperity. Get to grips Group, takes issue with David Cameron’s interest-bearing debt. The € consists The € is based on a pyramid of debt with the debt. Take bold decisions on analysis of the financial crisis... of credit created and lent or spent into built upon pyramids of debt. In order to re- deregulation, on opening up the single Perhaps the most striking statement circulation by private credit institutions base the € we must in a parallel process market, on innovation and trade and made by David Cameron in his speech (also known as banks) and by the ECB. resolve unsustainable debt, and transition address the fundamental issues at the at Davos this year was right at the end... Private bank credit is essentially to a sustainable credit system based heart of Eurozone crisis. “But there is nothing about the current a pyramid scheme of credit based only directly upon value, rather than claims All these decisions lie in our own crisis that we don’t understand.” upon a tiny sliver of bank capital. The over value manufactured by a bank. hands. They are the test of Europe’s This may come to be seen as one of ECB is just a private bank writ large, and leaders in the months ahead. Yes, the most staggeringly complacent, blithely the public credit it creates as currency RESOLUTION - EURO STOCK the stakes are high, incredibly high. arrogant and completely and utterly wrong has no basis on any underlying value – Every EU national Treasury – or their But there is nothing about the current statements in political history. such as tax revenue – and is supported Central Bank on their behalf – could issue crisis that we don’t understand. The Mr Cameron’s speech is a classic text by confidence and trust alone. undated Stock to the ECB at a discount, problems we face are man-made and in the Shock Doctrine genre. The € patient Credit is a Latin word meaning in much the same way that government with bold action and real political will is bleeding to death from the effects of ‘he believes’ and the problem is that branches issued Stock to each other. we can fix them. disastrous neo-liberal fiscal and monetary belief in the € system has been lost So a €1.00 Unit of € Stock sold for Prime Minister David Cameron, policies, and the apothecary’s remedy is a because the pyramid of debts upon 80c gives a 25% absolute return: the rate at Davos 2012 combination of the application of leeches which it rests is unrepayable which in of that return depends upon the ability to and the removal of healthy limbs. turn means that the banks are almost return the Stock in payment of taxation, There is unfortunately nothing without exception insolvent. or to sell it to a tax-payer. The ECB in turn about the current crisis which Cameron could then issue a undated Consolidated or his audience in Davos understands THE MYTHS € Stock (Euro Consols?) at a discount to since the € system is based upon a Firstly, Banks do not take in deposits and investors in exchange for both ECB and vacuum, and his rhetoric upon myths. lend them out again: that is the Fractional domestic EU member debt. The amount Reserve Banking myth. As stated above, of € Stock exchanged for a particular banks create modern ‘fiat’ currency national debt issue would reflect the value upon the basis of a small amount of of that debt in the market. capital when they lend or spend and this The outcome – at a stroke – is to currency is simultaneously deposited into resolve all dated Euro debt into undated the system. Bank creation of money is Euro Stock, the value of which would not constrained by reserves of cash (ie depend upon the flows of taxation liquidity); but by the bank’s reserves of within member countries. This top capital (ie solvency). down process would give a breathing Secondly, Treasuries do not collect space – since there is no longer any taxation and then spend it: that is the debt repayment – and would stop the Tax and Spend myth. For 500 years our bleeding. But it will not put the € patient sovereigns were able to spend and invest back on his feet, since it addresses only in public assets by issuing Stock (in the public sector debt. form of half of a wooden tally-stick) to Transition to a sustainable EU those who provided value to them. economy will take place bottom up This Stock was then returnable to the through resolution of private housing Exchequer in payment of taxes. Indeed, debt, and networked community based the very phrase ‘rate of return’ described investment in housing; renewable the rate over time at which stock-holders energy and – the cheapest energy of all could return stock to the Exchequer for – in energy savings or NegaWatts. cancellation against taxation. But that is another story. Unfortunately, from 1694 onwards, Chris Cook is currently working on when the (then private) Bank of England networked, resilient markets and non-toxic started to manufacture credit with market instruments. His blog is: www. which to purchase government Stock, nordicenterprisetrust.wordpress.com

Brian Leli ‘N ew’ labour for a new future Occupy London’s working groups

o long as the headlines that felt and still feels, revolutionary. the assembly. That statement and of mainstream and We appointed five people to be the ensuing coverage had definitely kicked corporate media wordsmiths and then met half an hour us off with some excellent coverage remain the dominant later. Satisfied that the wordsmiths had but people were devastated that it had billboards adorning done a good job, we took the statement seemed to come in the name of the the motorway of our to assembly and found full and cheering camp even though the camp hadn’t been media landscape, consensus. -Jamie Kelsey-Fry able to engage with and endorse the S the prospects and statement first through assembly. achievements of Occupy London will ECONOMICS WORKING GROUP In that fact alone, something else remain stories untold to all than those The overriding focus of the was being shaped: the importance of who were here - venturing off-road. Rarely Economics Working Group has been the assembly being responsible for comprehended – and not often discussed - to consider and propose the changes whatever the camp says as a whole. by red tops, broadsheets and broadcasters, that need to be made within our current The group met around five times, are the movement’s many working groups economic system to better the lives with around ten people on average hammering away on keyboards and crafts, of the majority. This is the common meeting each time. The variety of plans and discussions. Beneath the bells of denominator of all discussions within expertise was intoxicating; from a St. Pauls and through the wires of e-mail the group. It is both about the reform young man who had just left a local groups and message boards, dozens of of existing structures and the adoption COLC secondary school, to a man working groups are continuing to pursue of new economic paradigms. It is not who had lost his house in the crash their respective goals towards social, about ‘isms’, it is about ideas. of 2008 and had connections with economic and environmental justice. The beauty of the Occupy movement COLC, as well as the author of the first Here is a glimpse at some of their is that it has brought together people ‘unofficial’ statement and an Imam. achievements to date. from all walks of life and backgrounds, That was back in the days when Ye where a shared motive is to better the Olde London was packed with working INITIAL STATEMENT lives of people beyond ourselves. We groups downstairs. We eventually WORKING GROUP have considered views and ideas from drafted the first statement of the From the first peoples’ assemblies across the ideological and political COLC working group that could go to on October 15th, people were being spectrum. Without changes in banking, assembly for consensus. By then, it asked to articulate “why are we here?” the majority will be one day at the mercy had grown in importance as COLC had There were several assemblies on this, of a financial meltdown the likes of which made their demands on the camp - so usually using break out groups. All in has not been seen. We have looked at our statement became Occupy LSX’s all, I estimate 3,500 different people changes to taxation, regressive taxes, counter demands. The statement had their voices involved in this process Land Value Tax. And of course we are passed in one hearing at assembly, after over two days, all ages, all nationalities, looking at the ecosystem of money; how the 75 people had the time to scrutinise all backgrounds, all abilities etc. it is created, distributed and what is the and amend. -Jamie Kelsey-Fry On October 16th, at around 4pm, the true ‘cost’ of money. Without changes assembly asked for the spokespeople in these and other areas we will see THE CORPORATIONS Wasi Daniju from each of the working groups to have a widening of the chasm of economic WORKING GROUP a separate meeting to draft the statement inequality, which will destroy the society This was one of the first groups set outs for the meetings were made at ‘reformists’ were clashing. Eventually, based on all that had been said. A dozen of which we are all a part. -Tom Moriarty up with the specific focus on creating assemblies, continually underlining that one blocker stood aside but the other of us sat in a circle outside Blacks tent an initial statement to voice the camp’s this was not a call out for middle class remained firm and the statement didn’t shop and met for two hours, drafting CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION position on a given issue. The first people with degrees but to all people go through. the statement. It was a well facilitated WORKING GROUP meeting was in Ye Olde London Pub who want to have their voice heard At first this was depressing as meeting and had a wide span of voices This group was hurriedly put with only five people present. The group about corporate behaviour. Minutes we had put so much work into the represented. By the end, we had an together, in the very early days of rapidly grew to being a regular fifteen at were taken regularly and, as with all document. However, the next day, the eight point statement. Then, someone the camp at St Paul’s. The process of a time. Again, the mixture of voices was groups, meetings were facilitated tightly group met with the blockers. We had suggested a last point which received working groups was still being shaped intoxicating; from a Norwegian student to ensure all voices heard equally. an eight hour meeting but still hadn’t crazed jazz hands from all: “This is what at that time but the group had to form to a London care worker, an ex-fireman We met around eight times until we found consensus in the group. Two democracy looks like, come and join us!” as a reaction to a statement from the to an expert on Deleuze. drafted an initial statement. We had the days later, we met again and had a four Because, at the time, we knew that we camp regarding the COLC which had From then, the process for working proposal put up online thanks to John and a half hour meeting and this time, were all practising a form of democracy been released without consensus from groups was more set. Regular shout Bywater, four days before the assembly, came up with a statement that made and printed 200 copies of the proposed the reformists and the revolutionaries statement, leaving a stack in the Info happy. In my opinion, this was a tent, distributing on the days leading up massive improvement on the original to it and having fifty kept back for the document (it starts with stating that assembly itself. corporations can be defined as being When we went to the assembly for psychopathic!) and profound testament the first reading, there were around to the real democracy that the peoples’ 200 people on the steps - as this was assembly represents. the weekend when the first national A week later, this statement was conference was being held at London. passed: It was covered by the Guardian We were very excited indeed. Only days and influential economic websites Forbes before, the legendary Bear had brought and Motley Fool. -Jamie Kelsey-Fry through a new process that meant that if there was a continual block on a proposal brought to assembly, then the blockers had to go with the working group to see if they could rewrite in a way that the blocker feels represented too. This had been brought in to ensure that people who were blocking for the hell of it would have to be responsible for their choice and follow it up with the group. It was a brilliant idea of Bear’s, in my opinion. So- we ended up being the guinea pig for this new aspect process. The meeting was at least an hour. To begin with, people were really happy about the proposal - but were coming up to the mic to make minor amendments, while there were two people who were

Brian Leli persistently blocking. This was the first time that ‘revolutionaries’ rather than OCCUPYING EVERYWHERE: A GLOBAL MOVEMENT? Sam Halvorsen

Having just spent a week with occupiers, indignants, and on, the whole concept of ‘social movements’ seems to have social movements from across the world, I have been been reified and transformed into an essential and yet at thinking lots about what it means to have a truly ‘global’ the same time completely ignored concept in the forum. movement. I would like to sketch two different outlines of A list of established trade unions, NGO coalitions and long what this may mean based on my experiences as participant standing ‘movements’ are called upon to debate the state in a large social forum on the one hand, and my contrasting of the contemporary crisis and the social response. Doing experience with a local Occupy group on the other. so ignores the wide plethora of activists who are constantly The 24th to 29th of January 2012 saw the Thematic experimenting with responses to crisis, yet do not hold the Social Forum take place in Porto Alegre, part of the flag of any specific organisation. 11 year-old World Social Forum process, which was Speaking to Occupy activists in Brazil, it is clear considered by many to be an integral component to the that for every similarity we have a difference. Crucially, global justice movement that flourished last decade. however, we are united in our commitment to the process Following the explosion of Occupy around the world, they of social change, in which we seek to constantly (re)create decided to invite a few individuals from the movement to open spaces for dialogue and action. Sadly the forum participate in various discussions about the capitalists crisis seems to have forgotten this, and perhaps one reason for and social and ecological justice. Whilst I learned from and inviting occupiers was precisely to give it a new breath shared ideas with numerous activists, in particular from the of life. A global movement for the Forum is based on an global south, I could not help but feel that the Forum itself unproblematic clustering of external ‘social movements’ was an old model for our contemporary ‘world’ movement. that come together for question and answer sessions. A The Forum process was centred around a series of global movement for Occupy however, is to ask what a global panels and talks, in which speakers would sit at a table movement might mean for us, as individuals and collections and talk to their audience, before answering questions. I of individuals. We do not want to find the answer to this participated in numerous of these, and enjoyed responding question, for it is question itself that guides us. to some of the critiques posed about the occupy movement A global Occupy movement, if we can call it that, is a (how can you hope to change the world without taking patchwork of experiences and imaginations taking place power being the most common). However, as I left the air- in the minds and actions of individuals and collections of conditioned rooms and rigid chairs of the Forum’s space, individuals worldwide. It is an open space for direct action and moved into the Occupy camp outside I realised just how that grounds itself in very particular contexts. Constantly (re) limited their process was. territorialising itself in diverse corners of the world, Occupy Wasi Daniju It is not simply the model of panel-audience interaction has taken us beyond the ‘network’ of the World Social Forum in an institutionalised setting, but it is the whole concept of and into a truly global movement, full of very real places. pre-determining who should speak and how they must do The camp in Porto Alegre is one of them, and so is St. Paul’s so. The Forum was set up at a time when the decentralised courtyard in London. These places, which exist as much in networked movements, that spanned the global north and our mind as our actions, are at once together and apart, and south was being celebrated. It was based precisely on the no panel will ever be able to answer what it is that brings us IN THE LION’S DEN: importance of global social movements. However, 11 years together. This is why we occupy. Flaminia DANIEL ASHMAN Giambalvo

Anyone who spends more than a few and many others, feeling “failed” by a way to instill fear into people seeking hours at the St. Paul’s occupation the justice system. However, he has justice, it’s a way of financial bullying”, camp is familiar with Dan’s face. Curly by no means exhausted his hope, Dan responds. dark hair, thin and tallish, with a look determination or resources. When explaining the whole which is permanently enthusiastic yet Despite his relatively young age process, what he emphasises is frazzled. Besides his involvement in the of 27 and legalistic inexperience, his the feeling of empowerment, partly livestream working group he tells me he resoluteness in defending Occupy and bolstered by the opportunity of holding helps out with “the recycling, showing his unwavering belief in the movement’s prominent people within the corporate people around the camp, a few internal core values, make his voice one difficult ladder to account. For example, working groups”. Then he pauses, looks to ignore. He explains to me: “If we Dan was able to directly question at me and says: “What other working concede our physical presence without comptroller Andrew Colvin as to the groups am I involved in? I’m involved in exhausting the route of justice, it reasons why he had not responded to quite a bit really”. In addition,n he has demonstrates a telling underlying belief the counter-offer made by the St. Paul’s stood as a litigant-in-person in the legal that we are unable to genuinely bring occupation. This offer proposed that case brought by the City of London about the change we wish to see”. He the City of London Corporation opened Corporation against the Occupy London then adds: “Non-tokenistic action is of their account to scrutiny, thus making protest camp outside St. Paul’s Cathedral. the utmost importance. Can we believe themselves subject to the Freedom of He is now preparing his appeal. in a politicians “Moral Capitalism”? Do Information Act and publishing their On the 18th of January, Mr Justice they seek peace or believe that there records since 2008. Grinning, he adds, Lindblom ruled in favour of the City should be peace?” “he couldn’t really come up with a of London Corporation, rejecting the While his involvement at Occupy convincing answer”. defences brought forward by Daniel LSX is indisputable, Dan doesn’t define In the span of few months, Ashman and George Barda, the other himself an activist . “I try and avoid Dan underwent a ‘transition’ from litigants-in-person. During the court all categorisation, because labeling ordinary, concerned citizen to full proceedings, Dan had submitted people de-humanises them”, se says. justice and inequality. defending the camp pro-bono. “For me, time occupier. But what has motivated evidence demonstrating “undue influence “I am a human being who is concerned Prior to the start of the London the whole point of being here is speaking such a life change? “The lack of fear” of corporate lobbying, complicity in war enough to take a stand and who occupation, he saw himself as having for yourself. This isn’t about anyone’s says Dan, smiling through his eyes. crimes, corporate and advocates finding a different way”. He two jobs. A remunerated one - which personal greatness. Only if we take a He then explains how the physical disregard for life”, which was rapidly has attended a few demonstrations, the was working with children with stance as individuals with our own power manifestation of St. Paul’s and dismissed by the court, as only the first being the ‘million march’ against autism - and a voluntary one as part can we bring change to our lives”. This the permanent nature of the camp geographical factors were taken into the Iraq war in 2003, but mainly Dan is of a comedy sketch group. It is his has been the beginning of Dan’s journey bolstered his confidence in being pro- consideration. The verdict left Dan, concerned with issues related to social background in contemporary theatre into the unknown. active and finding concrete alternatives. which propelled him to to begin He admits to me: “I am not a legal Now occupiers are bracing researching political issues and write person, and I had never been in a court themselves for a potential forceful plays related to self empowerment. room before.” Yet his tone is neither eviction. Dan, like many others in the He loves both of his jobs, although he agitated nor nervous, but one of playful camp, advocates a ‘peaceful resistance’. has given them up now, feeling that defiance, perhaps peppered with a hint He says: “It does not seem just to impede the most important thing he could of madness. When Daniel initially stood a process that so many have been be doing for himself and generations as a litigant-in-person, he could have waiting for”. But he also recognizes the to come was to occupy. In his own potentially lost a sum ranging between need to keep the momentum alive. The words: “St Paul’s is one of the most £30,000 and £100,000 in legal costs . court verdict pushed occupiers to begin important conversations. The chaos Eventually these charges were dropped, thinking creatively in regards to the future is being exported and we are caught as the City of London Corporation sought of the movement. According to Dan, “if in the storm. We don’t feel like we are to speed up the legal process. In addition there is a eviction it is not the end by any involved and perhaps we aren’t directly, to the possible financial hardship, this stretch of the imagination, nor should it but through our passiveness we give experience has been tolling on the be. The goals we have set are not even tacit consent to these actions”. relationship with his fiancèe, who he close to being realized.” While Dan is He decided to stand as a litigant- now sees once a week. He confesses: still uncertain in regards to the concrete in-person since he was uncomfortable “Initially it was difficult for her. But she future manifestations of Occupy, there being “spoken for”. The feeling of unease knows why I am here and she recognizes is no doubt in his mind about the overall was bolstered when he heard one of the the potential I see in this movement”. But outcome of the occupy process: “I hope to country’s most prominent humanitarian what would have happened in case you see respect for people’s lives regardless barristers, John Cooper QC, was had to pay legal costs? “Costs are simply of their financial value”. For the Tory-led Coalition, many Local bodies should ensure that of whom were educated privately, schools have fair admissions policies, schools seem to be detached from do not unfairly exclude children, and their communities, places that exist foster collaboration, not competition. largely for the acquisition of credentials, Teachers should be highly trained, including many currently low status encouraged to take regular breaks to vocational qualifications - one reason reflect on their subject knowledge as for the supposed success of many well as their teaching skills. No class in academies - and worker-ready the country should be bigger than 20, presentational skills. For the more and substantial resources should be affluent child, meanwhile, school serves directed to schools in poorer areas, and the social purpose of fostering useful or to poorer pupils. even elite networks for the future. Of course, every child should It is a depressingly limited and be literate and numerate. But the short-term view of human potential. acquisition of such skills should be a A return to the values of 19th prerequisite of schooling in the 21st century schooling - complete with century in what is still one of the most ex-soldiers instilling discipline in affluent countries in the world. Brian Leli classrooms in poorer industrial areas BROADER HORIZONS - will not revive our flagging economy, The key to a good education lies or enable us to compete with China or not in narrowing down the curriculum India. In these countries, educational but in opening it up. Finland, which has and economic success is predicated on a far broader, more imaginative and a form of dawn till dusk slavery. personalised approach to learning and Melissa ALTERNATIVE VISIONS the measurement of learning, has some Benn We need to draw, instead, on a deeper of the best results in the world. AN E UC TION vision of human and economic potential. Schools should be places full of D A Here, we could learn from some of the best constant enquiry and spirited debate. Imagine, for a moment, our nation’s war years. growth of powerful educational chains, systems in the world which are admirably They should foster the understanding schools as places of real enjoyment and But the 1944 settlement was are further disfiguring the landscape. simple and yet entirely non-selective, such and enjoyment of all forms of art, stimulation, as proud civic institutions fatally flawed in one important respect. So that although we have many as Finland, or the province of Alberta in music, literature, other languages and where all children - black, white, rich, It divided our children, aged eleven. great schools, teachers and students, Canada, where an excellent school in every cultures and be a place of artistic and poor, Jewish and Muslim - could be The so called ‘clever’ minority were our school system is likely to become neighbourhood gives each child a rich, scientific experiment. educated together. Imagine a school siphoned into the grammars while more segregated than ever. Local rounded education. Qualities such as inquisitiveness, system free from the influence of the majorities were shipped off to authorities and community schools Not only do all children go to tenacity, creativity and risk-taking should business interests and corporate under-resourced and lesser regarded are increasingly struggling with severe school together, it is also made sure be developed and celebrated. Young people values.Utopian dreaming? The Coalition secondary moderns, a division that funding cuts while the new free schools that no child, particularly those from a should be encouraged to deepen their own - and many on the Labour front bench - mostly followed class lines. and academies take valuable revenue. poorer background, is left behind. intellectual and practical enthusiasms, not would certainly have us believe so. Changing attitudes to intelligence EDUCATION PLC The private sector and market merely be drilled to pass exams. The Government are currently in addition to massed parental revolt If we want to see where this values cannot deliver a fair, high Parents and students would respond reforming state education at led to the slow implementation of is leading we only have to look quality, stable system. This depends far more positively to a system that did breakneck speed, posing as a radical comprehensive education. Indeed, to the USA where the growth of on a thoughtful, democratically not rigidly categorise a young person by administration acting in the interests the more idealistic and economically charter schools, backed by powerful accountable national and local state. the time of puberty but instead recognised of poorer families while, in reality, buoyant Sixties and Seventies “philanthropic capital,” has led to National government should her/him as a unique complex moral being returning us to some very 19th produced many positive developments increased testing, a dangerous ensure fair distribution of resources, with enormous potential. The individual century notions: schools as places in primary and secondary education narrowing of the curriculum, yet more aided by increased taxation, and set the and social rewards would be untold. of strict discipline and rote learning, and much rich experimentation. social and ethnic segregation and an terms of a minimal curriculum, thereby Melissa Benn’s School Wars: increasingly run by private interests, But comprehensive reform aggressive assault on the public (state) ensuring maximum autonomy for each The Battle for Britain’s Education is encouraging the separation of children was never consolidated thanks school system. area, school and teacher. published by Verso. on grounds of faith, wealth and so to the ambivalence of successive called intelligence. governments, both Labour and Tory, It has no electoral mandate for and intense media hostility to ‘all in’ many of these changes, just as it has schools that has only intensified. no mandate, beyond the flim flammery The private schools were never of opinion polls, for the current dealt with, a significant minority of dismantling of the benefit system or grammar schools remained, and faith the National Health Service. schools and other forms of subtle and This diminution of democracy - a covert selection were encouraged. growing threat throughout Europe, All this ensured that inequality as the economic crisis grows - is remained inscribed in the system, slowing reflected in the host of speedy, sham educational advance for poorer families. consultations taking place around the 21ST CENTURY INEQUALITIES. country as schools are bribed or bullied As a result, our school system is into becoming academies more unequal than ever. Elite private COMPREHENSIVE REFORM schools, some charging up to thirty But, just as in health and benefits, thousand pounds a year per pupil, there are alternative visions of a continue to thrive. reformed welfare state, one which The eleven plus still exists in some does not reward the already strong or parts of the country, with thousands profit-seeking or diminish the potential of poorer children beginning their of the vulnerable. secondary school life officially told they Michael Gove is right on one thing: are failures, while children from better history is a vital key to understanding off families are often heavily tutored to the present and the future. get through the test. Free universal education was Now the arrival of the so called introduced in the UK after the Second ‘free schools,’ the rapid growth of the World War as an attempt to rationalise academy programme, the rupturing and transcend the unequal patchwork of the link between elected local Brian Leli of provision that characterized the pre- authorities and local schools, and the L ibel to

CHAnge? Robert Sharp he protestors at Meanwhile, ordinary people are phone hacking scandal, some politicians the #OccupyLSX finding their right to discuss issues that are concerned about offering the media camp at St Pauls matter to them is being curtailed. The greater freedom of expression through know all about Citizens Advice Bureau recently had reformed libel laws. Could the low free expression to halt the publication of their report public opinion of the mainstream media and censorship. describing the predatory ‘civil recovery’ derail the libel reform process? Let us Their chosen demands of some High Street chains, hope not. A key message of the libel site of protest due to libel threats. The parenting reform campaign is that the high costs Thas been a symbol of free thinking for website Mumsnet was sued by baby- of fighting a case benefit the wealthy, centuries. Dissident pamphlets were raising guru Gina Ford, for comments left regardless of what side of the argument sold in the churchyard, and reformist on one of their forums. Advocacy groups they are on. Rich oligarchs can launch preachers gave their open-air sermons like Human Rights Watch have been sued libel claims, confident that their critics at St Pauls Cross, long before Wren for naming and shaming genocidaires cannot afford to defend themselves. raised his iconic dome. In past months, around the world. The British Medical But wealthy media barons can libel the camp has fought off legal challenges Journal is routinely advised to ‘spike’ individuals with impunity, confident that to their presence and the threat of articles that criticise pharmaceutical they can outspend the target of their eviction still looms. The right to trials, for fear of a libel writ. For years, smears. The proposed reforms place political protest is under constant threat reporting of the harmful effects of a premium on truth, public interest, as was shown by the recent removal of Thalidomide was censored through the and responsible journalism, which protestors from Parliament Square. civil courts, and only a ruling from the would benefit investigative journalists, Matthew Both these protest movements European Court of Human Rights (the biographers, memoirists and scientists, Richmond MY FAIR LONDON have been fighting censorship imposed body criticised by David Cameron this while doing nothing to enable the gutter upon them by landowners and local According to the National Equality However, there are also important government. However, free speech can Panel’s report in 2010, London is the things that can be done at the city and be suppressed in other ways. The libel most unequal region in the UK and one local levels. That’s why the London laws of England & Wales enable a form of the most unequal cities in the world. Equality Group is launching its My Fair of privatised censorship, where wealthy On average, the top 10 per cent richest London election campaign on Saturday individuals can launder their reputations Londoner’s are 273 times wealthier 25th February. We are calling on all in the High Court, and multinational than the bottom 10 per cent. The top 20 candidates for the London Mayoral companies can ensure that negative per cent of earners take home 60 per elections to sign up to our plan of reporting of their business practices and cent of the income, while the bottom action on proactive measures to reduce products never reaches the consumer. poorest 10 per cent of households are inequality in London. These include: The emergence of ‘libel tourism’, just getting by – at retirement age they • Lobbying other employers to make where wealthy interests based overseas have a total wealth of under £3,500. their pay more equal; use the English Justice system as a Economic inequality has risen sharply • Reducing the gap between the weapon of reputation management, since the 1970s and it continues to highest and lowest earners in the highlights the nature of the problem. rise. We at the London Equality Group Greater London Authority (GLA) group to Dr Peter Wilmshurst, a cardiologist from believe this level of inequality is not 10:1 and using procurement powers to Sheffield, was sued by the Canadian only morally unacceptable, but also influence GLA suppliers; pharmaceutical giant NMT for comments damaging – for individuals and for • Monitoring inequality in London; he made at a conference in the United society as a whole. • Lobbying central government to States, and reported on a US-based The Spirit Level, a book by Richard adopt policies that reduce inequality; website. Wilmshurst was talking about Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, broke • Using housing, transport, his research showing that a heart new ground when it was published in health and planning powers to reduce implant produced by the company was 2009. Based on thirty years’ research inequality. ineffective. Publishers Little, Brown and hundreds of academic papers, To support our campaign please: spent several years defending litigation it demonstrated that more unequal • Visit our website www. over Slave by Mende Nazer, a memoir societies are bad for almost everyone – myfairlondon.com where you can find describing her incarceration in London the well-off as well as the poor. Reviewing information on our upcoming launch, by a Sudanese businessman. In both academic studies and statistics, it how to get involved and sign our petition these cases, the defendants prevailed, found that almost every social and to the candidates after spending hundreds of thousands of week) allowed the scandal to emerge... journalism currently under scrutiny environmental problem – ill-health, low • Like our Facebook page www. pounds in lawyers’ fees that they have too late for the hundreds of children at the Leveson Inquiry. Meanwhile, levels of trust, violence, mental illness, facebook.com/pages/myfairlondon and little hope of recovering. This is not free damaged by the drug. changes to procedure, and to the way drug abuse – is more likely to occur in a follow us on Twitter @EqualLondon2012 speech – it is prohibitively expensive However, a window for reform lawyers are paid, would allow individuals less equal society. The evidence has been Matthew Richmond is a PHD student at speech! Other doctors and publishers has been prised open by a genuine – whether they are libel claimants or subjected to close academic scrutiny and King’s College London and part of the see this, and decide publication is not grassroots movement. When the defendants – to compete on a level vicious right-wing attacks but the findings London Equality Group worth the cost. popular science writer Simon Singh playing field with big companies and have proved remarkably resilient. was sued for libel by the British international millionaires. Politicians often claim that voters Chiropractic Association, a large group The Libel Reform Campaign is are not interested in equality (remember of scientists and self-styled ‘geeks’, entering a crucial phase. The coalition Peter Mandelson being ‘intensely relaxed led by the campaign group Sense Government needs to follow through about people getting filthy rich’?). About Science, were mobilised against on its draft legislation, and promise a However, an IPPR (Institute for Public the current laws. Meanwhile, English reform Bill in the next Queen’s Speech. Policy Research) report last year on PEN, the writers association, and Those who believe in free expression, attitudes to high pay showed that three- Index on Censorship co-authored the and in levelling the legal playing field, quarters of Londoner’s say they would report ‘Free Speech Is Not For Sale’, should visit www.libelreform.org and support government action to reduce the highlighting the myriad problems with help the campaign cross the finish line. gap between high and low earners. These the law and offering concrete ideas Robert Sharp is Head of Campaigns results are consistent with successive for change. Jack Straw, the Secretary & Communications at English PEN British Social Attitudes surveys, which of State for Justice at the time, was show that over three-quarters of Briton’s initially sceptical of the need for are concerned about inequality and reform, but changed his mind after the over half feel it is the government’s Libel Reform Campaign brought him responsibility to reduce inequality. evidence of the scale of censorship that Many of the causes of growing was taking place. A motion backing inequality are created at the global reform was signed by the majority of level, for example through the “race to MPs, and all three parties included libel the bottom” in national taxation levels, reform in their 2010 manifestos. The overinflated transnational markets coalition government has produced for CEO pay, and the offshore tax draft legislation, which has since haven system. Others, like unbalanced been scrutinised by Parliament. A regional policies and the erosion of combination of people power, celebrity the welfare state, arise at the national spokesmen, and detailed policy level. Everyone who is concerned about research has taken an obscure legal inequality should campaign for national issue to the brink of legislation. governments to confront its causes Job done? Problem solved? Not Brian Leli Wasi Daniju collectively and individually. quite. Following the News of the World ASKING Mircea THE OCCUPIERS: Barbu What is the biggest current challenge to the Occupy movement?

Julian, 36: “The eviction ruling. We Anna, 30: “It was never about St. Paul’s have to make sure all of these structures for me. I see no challenge in having to are being safeguarded. We need to find move. With over half a million empty a place to store the equipment, solar buildings in UK alone and so many panels,generator, tents and shelves public spaces in London we’ll manage that we all worked so hard to build and to find a way.” maintain in the last 3 months.” Shawn, 44: “So far it’s been really Katherine, 20: “The biggest challenge difficult to start an eviction plan. Next for me is to maintain contact with week we’ll need as many volunteers the people I’ve been interacting and as we can to make sure all these working with on social change. We have wonderful structures and materials a powerful and amazing social network don’t go to waste.” in place but it’s not going to be the same Owen, 31: “The biggest challenge is as being here and talking face-to-face.” tackling the increasing ways in which John, 26: “Finding another place to the 1% is coming down on us. They have occupy is relatively easy. The challenge started a vicious campaign against our will be in engaging with the general public Internet freedom along with social- in the same way we did at St. Paul’s.” economic enslavement.”

STALWARTS OF Emma OCCUPY: STEVE Fordham Occupier and OT reporter Emma Fordham speaks to another of Occupy London’s Wasi Daniju familiar faces

EM: When did you arrive at OLSX? find nature. I don’t feel the cold but I STEVE: At the end of October. Two miss the countryside. I’m not normally a weeks in. city-dweller. In Brighton there’s the sea. EM: What brought you here? EM: Of all the issues Occupy aims to STEVE: I wanted to visit London and address, what are the most important ON the thought I’d check out what Occupy was for you? about. I didn’t expect to stay. STEVE: Trying to make life easier for EM: What were you doing before you the masses. Rev James Lawson came to St Paul’s? EM: Tell me three things about the STEVE: I was living in Brighton. Just living. current system that you’d most like to SoA pbox EM: What have you been doing while change... REVEREND JAMES LAWSON WONDERS IF OCCUPY HAS PRESENTED staying at the OLSX camp? STEVE: Eliminate the rich - well, not A LAST CHANCE FOR CHRISTIANITY STEVE: I do water runs for the kitchen. eliminate them, I’m a peaceful man - It involves loading empty barrels into but eliminate their riches. Redistribute a trolley, pushing them around to the the riches to the poor, and make sure The Occupy London camp outside Saint Paul’s Cathedral is Church leaders there had been taught by the martyr other side of the cathedral and across everyone in the world has enough to unique. No other protest in hundreds of cities across the theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Nazi era that the road, filling them at a public water eat. I’d like to see an even financial world was so passionately engaged with the church. That the words of the church lose their force when it is more fountain then wheeling them back footing throughout the world. gave the church a chance to learn from the movement. In concerned with self-preservation than with service to without losing any precious water. I EM: What do you think Occupy has an essay called “The Judgement of the World” Archbishop others such as the Jews. So they wanted their church help the Shelter Working Group with achieved so far? Rowan Williams writes about the way Christian identity has to be a “church for others,” a church that stands up for looking after the tents and building STEVE: We’ve raised a slight awareness always been worked out in relation to what lies beyond its more than just the faithful. In the 1970s groups began to wooden constructions. Shelter makes of the problems. There’s a long way to go. borders. The church may even find out what scripture itself be founded to oppose the injustice and destructiveness sure all the tents are okay and that the EM: What do you think Occupy should is saying in its confrontations with the world. The Christian of communism not in the name of capitalism but of people and stuff in the tents are okay. do next? community may be enlarged in understanding and even “Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation.” Some were If a tent becomes empty we pack it up STEVE: I haven’t a clue. But I think this in some sense evangelised in such encounters. Christians of these groups were Christian. Many were not. They and store any stuff that’s left in it and movement is important and can’t be rediscover their own foundational story in the parables of still found shelter in space controlled by the church, just allocate the tent to someone else, until stopped. The authorities are trying to the acts and deeds of others. as in London. The Stasi denounced the leaders of these the owner returns. stop it, with court cases and evictions and The Occupy movement seems to exemplify this groups as “fanatics who want to shine politically.” The EM: Why did you decide to stay? changing the rules about camping and “judgement of the world.” Christians could learn from churches of East Germany provided these groups with the STEVE: I enjoy the camaraderie and the protests but hopefully they won’t manage the movement about the injustice and destructiveness use of its roofs and its rooms, and also with protection, chance to help out. it because we’ve got it rolling now. of capitalism. We could discover our own complicity and inspiration, pastoral care, and help with networking EM: Is camping in the city a hardship EM: Where will you go if the St Paul’s complacency. We were reminded that we worship God and communications. Inside the church the seeds of or a joy? camp is evicted? or mammon, not God and mammon. But Christians who a revolution were sown and tended. The church of St STEVE: Somewhere in-between. It’s STEVE: I’d go and find another camp visited the camp could experience more than this kind of Nicholas in Leipzig still has a banner up that says “Open easy to find food in the city but hard to and see if I could help there. judgement. David Graeber, the anthropologist who was to All.” In October 1989 thousands of people lit candles one of the initial organisers of the and prayed there for peace at evening services organized protests, speaks of a prefigurative politics. It’s one by its pastor. They took their candles out onto the streets thing to say “Another world is possible.” It’s another to to demonstrate against the communist system. They experience it, however momentarily. People expecting had an incredible experience of power of a non-violent lists of demands were missing the point of the movement. revolution by candlelight. Prefigurative politics is not about demands. It’s about being Could a church within capitalism imitate this church the change you want to see in the world. And joy, festivity, within socialism? Could a beautiful friendship develop out laughter and desire are a revolutionary impetus that of this chance encounter at St Paul’s when the movement brings an alternative future into the present. The Occupy was unable to occupy the Stock Exchange as it originally camp at St Paul’s could feel like an enclave of Friday night intended? And could the crisis of capitalism and an in the perpetual Monday morning of the City. It could intensifying fear of ecological catastrophe even provide feel like church on a good day. Perhaps its prefigurative “a last chance for Christianity” as the East German Green politics could even enlarge Christian’s understanding of thinker Rudolf Bahro asked ironically? Although he was the realized eschatology of Jesus who brought the great an atheist he argued that these are ultimately spiritual banquet of the future kingdom into the present in the problems that demand spiritual solutions. “No order can festivity of his meals with sinners? save us which simply limits the excesses of our greed. So I hope that the church will not turn its attention Only spiritual mastery of greed itself can help us. It is away from this prefigurative politics after the eviction of the perhaps only the Prophets and the Buddhas, whether or Occupy camp outside Saint Paul’s. I hope that it might even not their answers were perfect, who have at least put the learn something also from the response of the Protestant questions radically enough.” Could occupying faith release churches in Communist East Germany to dissident groups. a power that will change the world? The Great Debate Can Occupy achieve its political goals by remaining outside of main- stream politics? AGAINST Judith Schossboeck What Occupy can achieve outside of mainstream politics depends on how one defines its political goals. I argue that a lot of these goals have already been fully Brian Leli realised, as one of the main functions of social movements is to bring specific, so far underrepresented topics on the FOR political agenda and to provoke change Kit Marsters in people’s mindsets. Who would claim It is becoming increasingly clear that give them a voice. By ticking the Occupy that this has not been the case with mainstream politicians do not always box, it would allow them to affirm clearly Occupy? So far, the movement has been have the public’s best interest at heart. that they are not okay with the way the tremendously successful in provoking Over the last few years dodgy practices country is run. This would give a lot more discussion on the subcultural level and have been exposed, and few would weight to the movement. in public discourses. In a second step, deny the influence of big business on How can we expect the government this could lead to a change of values the political process. The comment to listen to us when those we are meant towards more ethical business and sections of online publications, and to speak for do not know who we are, or government practices. programs such as Question Time, reveal what we stand for? When some do not The function of social movements is the general population’s lack of faith in even realise we are still going? It is far too often mistaken with the one of parties politicians, and in politics as a whole. easy for those in power to cling on to the although both goals and actions differ For many people, elections are misperception that we are just a bunch of considerably. Direct action activities frustrating because there is no real choice work-shy youngsters out of touch with outside of the main political channels and they do not know who to vote for. They the real world and without any meaningful are a significant element of the political feel betrayed by Labour; and the Tories knowhow. They are not worried about us. counter-public. Occupy thus needs target the vulnerable. During the last They have no reason to be. radical visual events and actions to election the Liberal Democrats benefitted Working with the system rather than reach visibility and publicity of its from a willingness to get rid of the against it does not mean we have to sell claims. Public occupations and civil two-party system but now they, too, are out. If the 99% did rise up and vote for disobedience are crucial in this regard regarded as more of the same. Occupy, we could change the system. We and cannot be undertaken while being So who is left? Not many voters would could give it the values we stand for, and bound by the rules of mainstream opt for the BNP, with their questionable create fairness for all. politics. And whilst mainstream agenda. UKIP isn’t considered to be much It would be another tool, another institutions do not provide an arena for better. The Greens? They could be an resource to effect change, not only on a expressing alternative or more radical option, but how much would truly change if national but also on an international basis, political concepts, social movements they were to be elected? The environment because if we could make it work, it might offer a playground for these ideas or may be better off with them in charge, but just get other countries to sit up and pay failures and seek to make them known. what about the UK as a whole? The same attention. It would show people around the I am all for experimenting with Wasi Daniju system and the same flawed processes world that there is another way. new and alternative political concepts would still remain in place. Occupy is NOT made up of the lazy (e.g. the liquid democracy model used It may seem hypocritical to suggest or the work-shy. It is a movement that by some Occupy formations). However, Occupy’s direct democracy procedures consensus would be needed for such a move into mainstream politics when involves people of different ages, cultures, mainstream politics does, at least at the and other principles of the movement. a move, this is very unlikely to happen Occupy protests decisions made by backgrounds and skills who, between moment, not consider these alternatives Occupy should not fall into the trap of in the not too distant future, although mainstream politics. Then again, the them, could certainly come up with an to classic representative democracy. the current political system, in which some endorse the concept of real government has proven that it’s unwilling effective and inclusive manifesto. All we Unless such models are seriously people feel disenchanted with politics as participatory democracy for a new to listen to the 99%, and sometimes you would need to do is get it out there and discussed, Occupy entering the political they think they have no say. Considering society. However, entering the political have to get inside the system in order to prove that change does not always mean a mainstream would interfere with the core alternative models of democracy and mainstream would currently get people achieve desired change. change for the worse. idea of the “Real democracy now!” slogan, delegation becomes particularly relevant divided as the majority does not want When reading the comment sections in international Occupy activities, e.g. to be in a political party or support the in the media, and various forums around international coordination meetings, political system in its current status. the Internet, the same questions are when individuals might have to represent In addition to the lack of support repeated over and over: Who are these a national perspective. In mainstream for such plans, Occupy does also not Occupy people? What do they stand for? politics, individuals are turned into party seem to have the infrastructure or What are their plans? How, exactly, do they mouthpieces while politics becomes simply the money required for political represent me? increasingly populist. Thus, electing campaigns in many countries – let alone At best, Occupy is seen as ineffective. people into the current system and on the global level. This does not mean When the looming eviction was making them a voice of Occupy would be political platforms cannot come out of announced, some were surprised that in itself problematic. One of the frequently some movements, but it should not be we were still there. At worst, those who criticised characteristics of Occupy is priority at this stage. oppose Occupy tell others that it’s made actually one of its strengths: that nobody Occupy is currently entering a up of a bunch of “benefit scroungers” and owns it or can claim the name (although new phase in which ways of gaining “trustafarians” who are jealous of the rich people cannot be prevented from doing more political influence need to be and too lazy to earn their own money. so sometimes). Nevertheless, whether considered. I am not arguing against Another question that comes up, with occupiers decide to stand as a candidate strategies of influencing political parties increasing frequency, is “why don’t they for a political party as individuals is still or even cooperating with them. But stand for election, then? If they don’t like their own business. staying autonomous in this game and the government, why don’t they form a It goes without saying that the influencing the political system from the political party and give people the option to current nature of mainstream politics is outside in unconventional ways is an vote for them?” part of the reason why Occupy exists. often underestimated strategy, although Why not indeed? If Occupy wishes to Right now, the majority of activists are it has been the movement’s mission represent the 99%, why don’t we allow the against turning the movement into a from the very beginning. In this regard, 99% to decide whether or not they want us political platform and most occupiers building permanent civic networks can to represent them? It would offer the public opposition the idea of entering into even be more influential than entering an alternative during elections. It would the political mainstream. Given that mainstream politics. Is “Is Occupy London An Mark Inside Job” An Inside Job? Weaver Poet’s Corner

Mark Weaver of the Paranoia Working Group reveals Occupy is an Invitation a worrying development lurking deep in the corrupt belly It’s 3.43 in the morning and I can’t sleep… I am woken by a Mic check of Occupy London. [Mic check] “This is just the beginning. Occupy is a process” Fears have recently been raised within the Occupy London Of course, at this level things can get confusing. No one [Mic check] movement. Facilitators using mind control techniques, knows who anyone is, who they are working for or what “Slow it down, secret hierarchies and financial corruption are just some that work consist of. It is entirely possible that the ‘Occupy the issues of our times are urgent. of the theories in circulation. Truth Within The Occupy Truth Movement Group’ contains Slow it down, At first I thought this was natural; something to double agents from the ‘Occupy Truth Movement’ working Your attention is needed. be expected from a fearful society making it’s first big to undermine the efforts of the ‘Occupy Truth Within The Occupy is an invitation move against power. But then I woke up. What if these Occupy Truth Movement Group’. This would mean the To wake up brave, hot headed truth seekers where themselves part infiltrators are trying to co-opt the hidden infiltrators who Join us of a super secret conspiracy to distract people from are themselves unaware of their role in the real conspiracy. Occupy is an invocation the real threat? A plot so murky and abstract that even If you reveal to people this truth they may seem To wake up the agents themselves are in total self-denial of its sceptical, but don’t hate them. Their rational minds are Join us existence. This would mean that the Occupy movement not yet equipped for this kind of quantum logic. They will We the people, are the ones we’ve been waiting for has been infiltrated by the ‘Occupy Truth Movement’, ask for evidence, which is itself known to be part of a We have lost our faith in the leadership of government and big business which has itself now been exposed by the ‘Occupy complex government hoax. We have found our faith in each other Truth Within The Occupy Truth Movement Group’, or Keep asking questions; keep creating answers.The We have found our humanity in the beauty ‘OTWTOTMG’ for short. truth will prevail. and the clumsiness that is Occupy We are finding our way. Occupy is a process. We the people, are so many more than you see here today. We the people, are a voice for peoples and beings who have no voice THE OCCUPY EFFECT Prof DAN BERNHARDT Occupy is process Occupy is community Dan Bernhardt, Professor of Economics and Finance at the Occupy is an invitation To wake up University of Illinois, tells us how he thinks the Occupy Occupy is an invitation movement has influenced the world of economics. To be the change we want to see in this world To be the courage that asks questions To be the patience taking time to find answers The Occupy movement has had a significant impact on how the As to Wall Street / financiers, etc., I think a fair summary of To be the hearts not prepared to wait any longer public perceives the optimal degree of progressivity of taxation the views would be: (a) there was very bad regulation / under- for the madness to end. (more public support to tax very high income earners by more), regulation that influenced individual / firm behavior that underlay For Occupy is an invitation and within the US this represents a significant shift of views from the housing problem, and that this drove the crisis in some for love the simple-minded assessment that all taxes are bad (and that sense; (b) there are some aspects of the system that created very to be made visible the government does nothing for people). Long-term, I suspect bad compensation incentives for some forms of risk-taking by For humanity that this will be the primary contribution, and a healthy one. It financiers; but still (c) there is nothing intrinsically wrong with To wake up probably has a secondary impact on how short-term government Wall Street were adequate regulation in place. For humanity discretionary spending is viewed (more favorably). Beyond that, there is probably a general view that the Occupy To wake up I definitely think that Occupy has had an impact on perception movement does not have a coherent vision, and, in particular, Join us. of inequality, and that one manifestation of this is the attitude a clear idea of what is both feasible and desirable to do; rather toward capital gains taxation. Among many economists there that the movement is reflecting a general unhappiness. There is By Toni Spencer has long been a view, for example, that the description of what a view that it mixes the vague and the difficult to achieve (jobs represents capital gains is inappropriate for many hedge fund creation, etc., beyond a general idea that government spending managers -- these fund managers typically receive 2% of assets might help), and that this lack of focus on what might be feasible, under management plus 25 percent of profits above a benchmark desirable and achievable, has hurt the movement, and has made ONE SOLUTION -- the two percent is roughly risk free, and should not enter it, on occasion, vaguely annoying. capital gains (taxed at 15% in the US), but instead should be I suspect that the social unrest will die out as people get Bankers rule with technocrats, neoliberal leaders taxed as ordinary income (much higher tax rate!). Mitt Romney’s tired, have trouble seeing further progress, and the public Looking after all their own they nonchalantly bleed us tax release highlighted the low tax on capital gains that accrues ceases to view it as new and novel, and goals are hard to No revolution of the mind, the problem is systemic to the wealthy predominantly. articulate, at least in terms of feasibility. How long it will Love can’t cure the ills of a financial epidemic Overall, there is now a heightened sensitivity to equity. continue, I do not know, but needs to stay fresh, which is hard Voting, There is also a heightened sensitivity among economists about to accomplish. Products, the dangers of short-term budget tightening on the economy Media, by many governments (as opposed to fixing long-term budgets, All methods of control. something that is clearly necessary to do), for economic growth/ Either sell your soul to them, or sign up on the dole. job creation, etc.; but I’m not sure whether this is due to the Occupy movement or the negative experiences of economies Class is still the issue now, just Chavs instead of proles, whose governments have engaged in the belt tightening and Occupying They changed the names, the beast evolved, to keep us in our roles have been observed by economists. Distractions of celebrity to keep our minds from thinking We’re staring at the mermaids while the ship is slowly sinking, The Media Stand up, Rebel, Since Occupy began, detractors of the movement have Have agency, continually rolled out the same lazy questions and criticisms. We must take it, not ask kindly. Often these relate to a lack of concrete demands or aims No longer just subordinates to those who lead us blindly despite the messages of social, economic and environmental justice - amounting to the pursuit of greater equality - being The enemy is borderless, a small migrant elite easy to comprehend. But us! We are the 99, together we’d compete By now, anyone who has cared to listen should understand With those who have the power and ideals of exploitation what Occupy stands for, but some still mistakenly think a social Haunted by austerity we pay our owed taxation movement should be about providing answers, when in reality Profits, starting a debate, influencing media discourse and creating a Land, platform to begin putting together new ideas is the first step to Infinite growth, coming up with solutions. A plan of pure delusion. At just four months old Occupy is still an infant in social In worlds with finite resources they sell us an illusion movement terms, but already we have had tremendous success in shifting the zeitgeist and raising awareness about the key By Steven Maclean issues. Here are some facts about Occupy’s media impact: • In the first two weeks of November, over 9% of front page news in British papers was related to Occupy or broader questions of inequality. • Over 54 Comment is Free pieces and 96 news articles on Occupy have been published by The Guardian. • The Tobin tax is now supported by most European heads of state (except Cameron) • Occupy websites have close to a million visitors a month, vastly outranking all other progressive movements. Thanks to Helmut Anheier for supplying some of this information. NEOLIBERALISM crossword: Not Taxing at all michael richmond All clues pertain to the ruinous economic model of the last thirty years

Down 1. Evil Genius. Damn Merit Of Nil (anagram) (6,8) (2 Words) 2. Idea behind public service reforms of the past two decades, based on fallacy that everyone has access to the same information before making a decision. (8,6,6) (3 Words) 4. Hubristic 1989 essay that now looks rather silly. Doesn’t seem to stop its author being invited on Newsnight though. (3,3,2,7) (4 Words) 7. Uber-Libertarian neoliberal Holy Book written by Friedrich von Hayek. (3,4,2,7) (4 Words) 8. A chief architect of American Neoliberalism. Admitted: “I have found a flaw” after the global economy exploded. Earn Penal Snag (anagram) (4,9) (2 Words) 10. Barbaric, neoliberal ritual sacrifice broadcast once a week to an audience of around 12million. (3,1,6) (3 Words) 11. Neoliberalism’s best effort at feminist theory. Day She Extinct (anagram) (3,3,3,4) (4 Words) 12. Neoclassical economic thinking developed in the Windy City. (7,6) (2 Words) 13. This is a conspiracy concocted by socialist scientists. (7,6) (2 Words) 15. Acronym for global institution that has imposed neoliberal economics (mostly)on developing nations. (1,1,1) 16. Acronym for UK “think tank” who claim to support “free markets” but don’t like to reveal how they are funded. (1,1,1) Across 3. Self-satisfied weekly magazine that has been somewhat confused since September 2008. (3,9) (2 Words) 5. Catchphrase from obnoxious 1980s privatisation ad campaign. (4,3) (2 Words) 6. Financial instruments which made value merely notional and as such their combined market value is ten times that of global GDP. Evasive Dirt (anagram) (11) 8. Ultra-Libertarian author of Atlas Shrugged (3,4) (2 Words) 9. Gekko said it was good. (5) 14. Margaret Thatcher’s cul-de-sac maxim of neoliberal exceptionalism. (5,2,2,11) (4 Words) 17. Discredited taxation theory (6,5) (2 Words) 18. Latin American country that was used as a guinea pig for early neoliberal experiments. (5) 19. The theory that wealth (as opposed to disdain and urine) will flow unto poor people if you don’t tax rich people. (7,4) (2 Words)

“They say it’s a loophole in the law, sarge - we can’t evict them now that they’ve converted their ternts from places of habitation into articles of clothing.”

Wasi Daniju World solidarity. in one place. we live in ... Occupied times

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