#09 | theoccupiedtimes.com | @OccupiedTimes 20JAN2012

The High Court this week ruled in favour of the City of London Corporation’s call for the eviction of the Occupy London protest camp outside St Paul’s Cathedral. Mr Justice Lindblom pointed to the extent and duration of the obstruction of the highway at St Paul’s as factors behind his decision u ge Ru es to back the City, as well as the effect J d l of the camp on Cathedral worshippers and visitors, and an alleged ‘private nuisance’ to the church. The High Court ruling comes on the heels of recent headlines regarding the failed attempt by the Metropolitan Police to clear the entirety of the Parliament Square protest camp at AGAinst the start of the week – the site where highly acclaimed peace campaigner Brian Haw spent a decade in protest against British foreign policy in the Middle East. Martin Eiermann With the facts of the latest eviction Mark Kauri case largely undisputed, the argument before the court instead focused on whether the City of London could OccupyLSX prove that an eviction would be a OCCUPIERS TO APPEAL EVICTION VERDICT “lawful, necessary and proportionate” interference with protesters’ right to freedom of conscience, freedom of did not “impose excessive burden” court, stating: “No matter what they reiterated by defence John Cooper QC. expression and freedom of assembly. on Occupy’s right to free speech and say about Occupy, our behaviour has Leave to appeal the ruling is expected According to the court’s interpretation freedom of assembly. He stated that been better than those we are fighting.” to be made on Thursday. Commenting of the European Convention of Occupy had “ultimately [failed]... to put The Judge turned down a direct on the motivation behind such legal Human Rights, any interference right many of the problems caused by request to appeal the decision, action, Ashman stated: “There are still with these rights must present the the camp.” The Judge also ruled that but granted permission to Occupy avenues that can be exhausted. We will “least intrusive way” of addressing the camp cannot simply be moved defendants to take their case to exhaust these avenues to see whether protests and meet the aforementioned to adjacent land, and that the City of the court of appeal. Addressing a true justice can exist.” conditions of lawfulness, necessity and London “had no sensible choice but to courthouse packed with supporters, Barrister Michael Paget proportionality. do what it has”. the Judge ruled that in the event of commented on the High Court’s In his decision, the Judge accepted Judge Lindblom paid tribute to no registered appeal by 16:00 on conclusion with claims that the argument of the City of London the way Occupy London activists 27th January, eviction proceedings proportionality and necessity of an that concerns about safety, cleanliness conducted themselves in this case, and would be permitted to get underway. eviction are far from obvious, stating: of protest must continue to be heard.” and access to public highways stated that his ruling was not intended Defendant Daniel Ashman responded to “The Judge could have said that we are Fraser famously resigned his presented “powerful considerations... to delegitimise protests against greed the eviction ruling by stating outright not allowed to stay overnight. But he position at the Cathedral in the early that easily outweigh factors against and injustice. In avid affirmation of this that an appeal would be lodged with has gone much further than that and days of the occupation site, stating his [an eviction]” and that an eviction fact, mic checks sounded out inside the the Court of Appeal – a position later said that we’re not allowed to go there belief that the church should not put its during the day. That is the ground for name to any course of action that may the appeal.” lead to violence against the protesters. Charges against the Occupy The hearing was followed by a London site were initially brought procession of activists and supporters forward by the City of London from the Royal Courts of Justice to Corporation – the local governing the St Paul’s camp. The mood of the body for London’s Square Mile. This subsequent General Assembly was week’s court activity was a follow- described as “emotional and defiant” up to a five-day hearing ahead of by Occupied Times reporter Mircea Christmas, which saw the City bring Barbu, and activists noted that the legal action against activists, citing Judge made no comment on the concerns about sanitation on site merit of the protest – instead noting alongside allegations relating to safety, that it’s up to Parliament to decide vandalism, the appeal of the site to on the running of the City of London. some of the city’s more vulnerable While some protesters expressed residents and obstruction of the public disappointment in Judge Lindblom, highway. During the earlier hearing, many vowed to continue their protest. Judge Lindblom turned down a request According to one attendee at the by David Forsdick, the counsel for General Assembly, “some people are the City of London Corporation, for a starting to talk our language. We are decision on an eviction order ahead of having an impact”. the festive holiday. Judge Lindblom Speaking at the GA, main concluded that more time was needed defendant Tammy Samede said: “All I to reflect on a final decision, pushing want you to do is carry on Occupying. the ruling back to the opening of the If you’re watching livestream, thank courts in the New Year. you. If you’re doing other things thank During the course of this week’s you. We’re all doing different stuff. hearing, defendants George Barda, Think back to how it was in the first Daniel Ashman and Tammy Samede few weeks. Keep the energy. Stop represented Occupy London. George fighting, we need to be united. Carry Barda argued that protest movements on occupying.” Mark Weaver added: are within the interests of wider “As the Judge said, ‘You cannot evict society, reiterating a sentiment an idea.’ This signals another turning expressed earlier in the day by former point for the Occupy movement. Cathedral canon chancellor Giles Occupy is moving and it will continue to Fraser, who tweeted ahead of the move for many years. This is just one hearing: “Whatever happens, the voice turn in the road.” CONTENTS Editorial PAGES/ As Britain enters its fourth year of conduct of the protesters, his ruling 01 Judge Rules Against OccupyLSX ever-deepening austerity measures effectively terminates our presence 02 Editorial / Interview With George since the onset of the global financial at St. Paul’s and goes far beyond Barda, Litigant-In-Person crisis, the sails of the good ship the restrictions of fundamental 03 And Justice For…All? / Finsbury Westminster seem primed to catch rights allowed under the European SQ Rides Storm / Sheffield To Host only the breath of economic tradition Convention of Human Rights. 3rd National / Occupy Conference / - of unwavering fidelity to the City, This ruling, to us, highlights the No Art For Oil: BP & Tate On Thin Ice unchecked ‘free trade’ and a blind discrepancy between legality and 04 A Diplomatic Occupation / eye towards tax injustice. And on justice. Even if one were to accept 3 Reasons Why The 99% Must Now Wednesday, the proponents of the the High Court’s decision that an Take The Lead On Climate Change status quo received yet another boost. eviction would be covered by the 05 Earth Injustice / The Unac- Fast approaching the 100-day scope of the law and represents countability Of Unmanned Warfare anniversary of activists’ occupancy of a “necessary and proportionate” 06 Diffusing The Iran Time Bomb / grounds outside St. Paul’s Cathedral, restriction of our right to protest, Voices From The US the British High Court paid further the ruling fails to state anything 07 Occupied Elsewhere: ‘Radical’ San homage to the City of London about the justice of such an action. Francisco / Occupy Nigeria Visits Corporation - an archaic governing In practice, the right to protest Nigerian Embassy In London institution unknown to much of has repeatedly been curbed by 08 Workers Co-Operatives the British public and a powerful parliament and sanctioned by UK 09 A Disease Called Workfare / lobby for London’s financial sector - courts; the ban on protests in the Help Us Fight The Welfare Reform Bill granting them the right to evict the vicinity of the Houses of Parliament 10 Rougher Trade: How The 99% Run Occupy London camp. is only the most recent example of reinstating evicted tenants into and it is the reason the movement A Record Label / Preoccupying: Needless to say, we are deeply this long-term trend. abandoned homes. Here in London, continues to exist and grow. Sam Duckworth disappointed with the ruling. While Still, we are not resigning. Over the Occupy movement has already Anyone who doubts our conviction 11 The Tunes They Are A-Changin’ we respect the authority of the the past several months, the Occupy coordinated with student protesters and tenacity should have been at 12 On Waiving Rules & Ruling Waves High Court and Judge Lindblom, movement has outgrown its particular and the “Sparks” demonstrations. We the General Assembly after the 13 Occupation Is A Stinking, Putrid, we sincerely disagree with the localities. It has become, in the best firmly believe that these processes High Court’s decision. Despite the Agent Of Decay / From St Mary’s assessment that the camp has failed sense of the word, a global movement. must continue. The concerns of the disappointing outcome, the mood To St Paul’s: Participatory to maintain safety and sanitation, We are confident that the appeal Occupy movement are the concerns was positive and defiant. After three Democracy In England and that an eviction does not process will yield a different ruling and of a broad cross-section of society. months at St. Paul’s, after many 14 Globalisation For Whom? / How “impose excessive burden” on our reserve the High Court’s miscarriage They transcend each particular camp discussions, countless workshops Can Demand Be Less Than Supply? right to free speech and freedom of justice. But in a way, the ruling has and touch upon the livelihood and and an abundance of lectures, we can 15 Money Talks: Turd Ferguson / of assembly. As the judge himself become secondary to the mission. You everyday experiences of the 99%. decidedly say: We have had an impact Big Brother Is Billing You stated, the tents are “intrinsic to the simply cannot evict an idea whose For too long, policies that on society and on politics. And in the 16 The Great Debate / Asking The protest.” We thus do not accept the time has come. As co-defendent favored the rich and powerful have process, we have had an impact on Occupiers logic that a wholesale eviction of the George Barda put it: “If this movement remained uncontested. We have too each other. We have educated each 17 On The Soap Box / Occupying camp represents the “least intrusive” is really about how we want to live easily accepted neoliberal policies as other, and have helped to educate Occupy 2.0 / Stalwarts Of Occupy: approach and that it does not in the future, it is not down to one inevitable, and Labour compromises society in turn. We have put inequality Janick interfere significantly with our right camp or fifty camps. We will move as necessary. Recent determination back on the political agenda. It is not 18 Crossword to articulate an alternative vision into communities, we need to have by Westminster to bite into values surprising that Wednesday’s General 19 Poems / Listings for our society which presents a conversations with more of the 99%.” such as disability living allowance Assembly closed with a song. Through 20 Placard challenge to the social, economic and In the US, Occupy has already serves to underscore the unyielding the London night, the sound echoed environmental injustices at the heart moved into neighbourhoods. Since preference afforded to the City, and from the walls of St. Paul’s: CREDITS of the method of social orchestration Zuccotti Park was evicted on the failure of a progressive Left to “The higher you build your barriers, CONTRIBUTORS/ under global scrutiny by us: the 99%. November 15th last year, Occupy articulate an alternative to corporate the higher I become. ... There’s Steven Maclean While the Judge has positively activists have taken the protest rule. This is the cause that brought something inside so strong. ... Martin Eiermann commented on the motivations and to neighborhoods around the city, the Occupy movement into existence, Something inside so strong.” Mark Kauri Natalia Sanchez-Bell Mircea Barbu Michael Richmond Kit Marsters Judith Shossboeck Emma Fordham Interview with George Barda, Ragnhild Freng Dale Melanie Strickland William Kherbek litigant-in-person Thomas Youngman Stefan Simanowitz The Occupied Times: What was the this dynamic clearly evident later in away from a high profile camp could be crucial. Getting people to believe in our Judith Amanthis legal substance of the case? the year, around the Olympics and the the opportunity to focus our efforts on goals is easy; now we need to encourage Danny Nemu George: The legal position I Diamond Jubilee. outreach and engaging more of the 99%. them to dare to imagine that we can Warren Richards advanced was that the alleged harms OT: Does the verdict set a precedent for More camps may also spring up and we’ll achieve them. Lisa Egan accompanying the presence of the camp dealing with similar forms of protest? use them to continue learning, improving Occupy is an idea whose time has come. Adam Jung were negligible compared with the actual G: With the passage of the Police Reform and mobilising. We cannot repair the economy without Dorian Lynskey and potential benefits. and Social Responsibility Bill 2010-11, OT: Has Occupy London agreed to a engaging with wider questions about Alan Moore Three brilliant witnesses showed that we’ve already seen the government seek concerted response to the verdict? If so, social justice and the limitations of our Kester Brewin Occupy has benefited society by bringing to empower itself against the encamped what will this be? natural resources. Steve Freeman focus to issues such as inequality and form of protest. We’ve just got to roll G: Our response is and always will Public services have only recently and Turd Ferguson tax havens. We argued that there was with whatever the authorities throw at be a work in progress. It’s likely that partially recovered from the Thatcherite Michael Reiss a “pressing social need” for OccupyLSX the movement; we’ll use adversity to a diversity of tactics will be employed assault of the ‘eighties ... we need to John Sinha to continue and that our continued grow stronger and inspire more people over the coming days and weeks. Some save them now. A stitch in time saves John Bywater presence was “in the interests of to get involved. people are determined to resist eviction, nine, as my granny used to say! William Wallace democratic society”. OT: What does the verdict mean for the others feel that a pre-emptive switch OT: How have you found the experience Luke Shore OT: How does the case relate to recent St. Paul’s camp? Does the verdict have to a new plan would put the 1% on the personally? Jacob Richardson attempts to curb the right to protest, for any implications for other Occupy camps, back foot. My personal preference is G: The opportunity to engage with so Peter Coville example the ban on protests around the such as the camp in Finsbury Square? for hundreds of us to peacefully resist much interest, determination, goodwill Wasi Daniju Houses of Parliament? G: It’s likely that this case will be cited as with just the weight of our bodies. Our and inspiration has been humbling. DESIGN/ G: We need to be vigilant and challenge precedent... but there may be different reasonableness has been our greatest The court case was important because it Tzortzis Rallis further curbs on the right to protest. legislation for parks as opposed to asset and I’d like to see us maintain this. gave us a precious opportunity to register Lazaros Kakoulidis The authorities are focussing on the highways. It seems Islington council has One thing has very clear consensus: this and record the political substance of the KEY PHOTOGRAPHY/ manner and location of protests – the been keen to support the democratic movement will continue! movement, which is largely ignored by the Matthew Myatt City of London Corporation said they right to protest, so fingers crossed that OT: What is the future for Occupy protests? mainstream media. PRINT RUN/ 2000 Copies had no problem with protest, only Finsbury Square will remain. G: Politicians of all major parties are now I feel blessed to have been able to WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO/ with tents and bedding. Similarly, OT: What are the implications for the talking about inequality, financial sector understand via this movement, my Aldgate Press, E1 7RQ people can protest our brutal verdict on Occupy London, looking regulation and executive pay. We still academic studies and my life experience CONTACT US/ military activities, just not publicly in forwards? have enormous work to do if we are to that most of the world’s problems are [email protected] Parliament Square. This trend aims G: We’ll take the lessons learned from turn this rhetoric into political and social not rocket-science to solve... we just to redirect dissent to where it doesn’t the occupation at St Paul’s and come realities. Getting out into communities have to build a compassionate and © All information in this paper inconvenience the powerful and upset back bigger and better. As Noam and organising meetings that give people committed movement of the people to is free for non-profit distribution the status quo. I imagine we will see Chomsky suggested, the enforced move an experience of real democracy will be take back democracy. And Justice For... All? Mark Kauri

This week, following the 3-month anniversary of The second date of court activity will involve the emergence of Occupy London, the former Old Street hearings seeking to highlight the potential operation Magistrates Court in Hackney is playing host to a series of UK courts under the proposed Legal Aid, Sentencing of hearings and trials of corporate bodies, proposed and Punishment of Offenders Bill. Hearings will attempt legislation and individuals alleged to be behind some of to explore the implications of the highly criticised bill the most heinous and unobserved crimes of our time. for the likes of students and the homeless. The Occupy Justice team launched three days of The week will close with with a trial calling in to proceedings in this ‘court of public opinion’ with an question executives at Royal Bank of Scotland over exhibition at the courthouse featuring audio-visual allegations of fraud. This trial comes on the heels of media drawn from witness statements, commentary news that the ailing bank is to axe 3,500 jobs – on top and other items of evidence relating to the alleged of the 30,000+ redundancies worldwide since the onset crimes - which have, to date, escaped investigation in of the global financial crisis – whilst lining up global any other court. The exhibition focuses on the links banking and markets CEO John Hourican to receive a between justice, politics and protest, and will remain potential £4.3m bonus package. The trial considers the open to the public whilst the trials are underway. ramifications of alleged fraud for RBS ‘shareholders’ – The ‘Trials of the 1%’ have been scheduled to run the taxpayers left with an 83pc stake in the bank after at normal court hours between Thursday and Saturday, footing the bill of a £45bn bail-out. with the first date involving a pre-trial hearing focusing Defendants have been invited to have their day on alleged war crimes by the government of former in court with Occupy Justice, and trials have been Prime Minister Tony Blair in the Middle East - where orchestrated with input and proposed participation from the fallout of coalition military intervention is continuing established legal professionals and academics. It is to emerge, with recent footage showing U.S. troops hoped the trials will draw attention to the inability of the appearing to desecrate the corpses of Taliban fighters. established court system to seek justice for these crimes.

Emma No Art For Oil: Mark Kauri Finsbury Sq Rides Storm Fordham BP & Tate on Thin Ice Ragnhild Freng Dale

Storms of an intensity rarely Plans are in motion to turn Finsbury has included environmental justice in its Following reports that a number of the Paul’s and across the Millennium Bridge experienced in London ripped Square into an eco-village powered by common statement. Since the storm, all UK’s biggest cultural organisations - to Tate Modern, recipient of the BP through the Occupy site at Finsbury renewable energy, with solar powered rebuilding at Finsbury Square has been have renewed millions of pounds worth sponsorship, where the artwork was set Square two weeks ago. Information, lighting and laptops, a bicycle generator undertaken with sustainability in mind. of sponsorship deals with BP, Occupy down in the turbine hall, accompanied library and tech marquees were and permaculture gardens all rolling out Walkways are to be built from reclaimed London collaborated with art activist by a caption entitling the artwork ‘Floe flattened by the gale force winds and on the site. The cycle generator will keep wood and will prevent erosion of the land collective Liberate Tate to stage a Piece’. The caption condemned the Tate residential tents were swept away. residents fit and warm as well as charging beneath (as well as keeping camper’s mourning over the environmental for its recent sponsorship arrangement The storms struck after weeks of phones and 12-volt batteries. Come boots clean!). New structures are being destruction propelled by the oil with the oil giant, which also extended work to transform Finsbury Square Spring, the plan is for food to be grown in erected, including a geodesic dome which industry - with an art installation and funds to the British Museum, the into a sustainable, long-term site. raised beds and small polytunnels. will provide a solid, hygenic kitchen and subsequent happening involving a National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Rather than being disheartened by the Luke, a resident at the camp since its a circus marquee to be used as a lounge melting block of Arctic ice. Opera House. destruction, occupiers at the site chose inception, has been crucial in implementing a and volunteer centre. As the weather The 49 kg ice block, which played the The unauthorised artwork was to view it as an opportunity. Speaking to greener footprint. “We’ve recycled Christmas improves, Finsbury Square residents lead role in two interactive art exhibitions temporarily appropriated by Tate the OT, occupier Ed, 28, said: trees by using the needles to cover pathways intend to build picnic tables and benches by KryoLab artists, Anna Dumtriu, Antti authorities, but was returned to its “It was gutting but the reaction has and the trunks as building materials,” he for local workers to be able to join Tenetz and Dave Lawrence in 2009 – at previous owners later. A section of been brilliant. When the storm hit it was said. “Much of the food we eat is given to us campers for lunchtime discussions. The State Museum of Contemporary the ice ended its days in the Thames all hands on deck and we pulled the by caterers who would otherwise have to At present, there are no plans to Art (Thessaloniki, Greece) and at Rondo River at the request of the artist, whilst important stuff out of the tents within throw it away. At Finsbury we’re working evict the Finsbury Square occupiers. It Gallery (Katowice, Poland) - went on the last chunk returned to form the minutes. The crisis has demonstrated to minimise resource use and maximise would seem that in the current economic a freezer-strike in solidarity with the centrepiece of a subsequent Occupy what we can do when we all work sustainability. The idea is to create a micro climate Islington Council believes funding occupy movement. Dave Lawrence, who London general assembly. Supporters together. There’s been a great vibe version of what we’d like to see in towns and court cases and evictions would not be donated the ice from KryoLab to Occupy remarked on a ‘very touching event’, around the camp ever since and things cities across the country.” the best use of its resources. Campers London, hoped the act would remind and university student Rebecca said ‘It are running even more smoothly than Earlier this month an environmental consult regularly with the council and people how close our society and the is inspiring and touching to see Occupy before! We’re replacing the tents we analyst calculated that the entire St Paul’s attempt to maintain good relations environment are to the brink, but also so engaged and inviting’, expressing lost with solid structures built from site had a carbon footprint of just two with their neighbours. This could be a send a message that we still have time her respect for what the movement has natural materials.” domestic houses, while Occupy London recipe for longevity. to avoid falling over the edge. achieved to date. With the meltwater The exhibit ran through Saturday from the ice trickling down the incline afternoon, coinciding with a plethora of the Turbine Hall, occupiers used the of events focusing on the Corporate GA to discuss the aims of the movement Occupation of the Arts at the Bank in light of the looming court ruling Sheffield of Ideas. Members of the public, and and the insecure future of a fragile but rd amongst them several families, gathered invaluable environment. round to touch the ice and listen in as Reflecting the message from to host 3 Charlie Kronick from Greenpeace, Pete speakers at the steps of St. Paul’s, there the Temp, Cat Brogan, Danny Chivers and was a shared concern but also a sense National Grassy Noel, amongst others, joined in of determination amongst the occupiers to support and bring across the message leaving the GA - with hope that their in spoken word and performance. actions can help to turn the tide before Occupy As night fell, four veiled figures clad the tipping point - towards sustainability, in black from Liberate Tate carried the social and economic justice for current Mark ice on an illuminated platform - from St and future generations. Conference Kauri

Occupiers from various UK sites will converge on Sheffield this weekend for the 3rd National Occupy Conference. The gathering will use sites including the city’s Occupy camp and ‘Citadel of Hope’ – a former Salvation Army building recently brought into public repossession by Occupy Sheffield - for discussion, entertainment, debate and networking events with a focus on alternatives to corporate rule. A programme of speakers is scheduled for Saturday, with representation from the likes of campaign groups UK Uncut and Positive Money. The weekend will also involve workshops on issues including outreach, media engagement, non-violence and the future of the occupy movement. The conference follows the issuing of court papers revealing efforts by the city’s Cathedral to take Occupy Sheffield to the High Court in search of an injunction on the grounds of trespass. Activists in Sheffield are putting queries to legal advisers on the issue, but have stated their belief that legal action does not present a solution to the situation. A statement from Occupy Sheffield made an appeal on the issue for compromise over conflict. A Diplomatic 3 reasons why the Occupation: 99% must now take reclaiming the debate the lead on Thomas Peter at the UN climate talks Youngman climate change Coville

We are sawing off the branch on become emblematic of this institutional which we are sitting: our own economic failure. At the latest conference at Durban activities are threatening the very support in South Africa in late 2011, states systems upon which human and non- agreed to postpone meaningful action human life depends. Some people think until 2019. Yet scientific studies from the that the scientific facts about climate International Energy Agency tell us that change are simply too complicated or else urgent action within the next five years too depressing for ordinary people to take is required if we want to stabalise global on board, and that they will just switch temperature rise below a safe level of off. But there is something paternalistic 1.5 degrees. The problem here is one in the idea that ordinary people are of global governance: existing nation- incapable of separating fact from spin, or states try to broker deals that favour putting aside their immediate concerns their own populations, represent a to think about the long-term. If the risks minimum sacrifice and delay real action. are clearly explained and the options No institution is capable of acting in the are laid out honestly, people are quite interests of humanity as a whole. Add in capable of understanding the risks – powerful interest groups from the energy extreme weather conditions and massive sector (who are doing their best to block disruptions to the global economy – and necessary changes), and we can begin to assessing the measures needed to avoid understand why little gets done. them. This is especially true if we make The third reason that the fight against it clear that alternatives could actually climate change is down to the 99% is that contribute to economic recovery and a there is hope in this gloomy picture, and better quality of life. that hope is us. The Occupy movement There are three reasons that “the fight has the potential of building global popular against climate change is now down to support for urgent action, and for pushing us – the 99%” (Naomi Klein). First, solving for the radical solutions that are necessary climate change is in our interest. It is in our to tackle the problem within the next five interest, and in the interest of our children years. It has illustrated that people are On 9 December 2011 we came, we saw, and although we didn’t two hours, the voices echoing through the conference centre and descendants that the earth continues conquer the United Nations, for two hours it felt as if we had. were those of citizens of every nation, amplified by fellow to be able to provide us with food, water, Towards the end of last year I travelled to the United Nations citizens. We did not conquer the UN, but we did occupy it. and a safe living environment. So far, the climate talks in South Africa. I had received funding from people Our actions, however, did not prevent the Durban lives of the vast majority of inhabitants in my local community and went to push the negotiations conference from delivering a largely empty agreement. of developed countries have not been forward, not to obstruct them. I am 18, and I joined hundreds For me, the problem of climate change is bound affected in any major way by climate of young people of a similar age at these negotiations, all of us integrally to the political and economic injustices at the change – hence, environmental policy looking for a political solution to climate change to match the core of our society. Carbon emissions have always been has often been reduced to a secondary technical and social ones that already exist. funded by the 1%, by over-consumption, governmental and concern. Everyday pressures seem to Young people attending the 17th Conference of the Parties corporate greed, even when produced by those subject to matter more than climate change. But (COP17) climate talks ran an open, inclusive, consensus- them in less wealthy nations. While political power is still this could change very quickly: extreme based process, meeting every morning and working to distributed by that same unjust global economy, I doubt weather events will become more frequent actively facilitate new participation. Teams of experienced a lasting, equitable solution to climate change will be as the effects of climate change bite. In activists spent hours one-on-one with those entering, implemented. While a lasting, equitable solution to climate 2003, over 50,000 vulnerable people died unprepared into the perplexing world of international climate change is left unimplemented, the vulnerable will suffer and in the heat wave across Europe – by 2050 politics, building in them the confidence and skills needed to the existing imbalance of power will be reinforced. A solution this kind of weather phenomenon could enable full participation. to climate change requires Occupy - and Occupy requires a be a common occurrence. In addition, This could not have been in greater contrast to our solution to climate change. crop failure, due to rising temperatures ready to shed their passivity and demand governments’ behaviour at these negotiations. The final But that balance of power is changing. Be it noisily, with in certain regions of the world, would a different future – and that they are well- hours of negotiation saw an intense huddle in the plenary occupations, or more quietly, with Transition groups and lead to price rises in basic foodstuffs. The versed in the principle of non-violence hall, which very visibly represented international circles of community projects, people everywhere are opening space prices of grain, soya and other foodstuffs and the tactics of direct action to make it power. At the centre negotiators from the USA, the EU, the for discussion and action on the fundamental iniquities are determined on international markets, happen. The root causes of economic and UK and other grand old economic powers debated with India, in society. At COP17 the occupation, for a time, made the and serious price-hikes of these would social injustice and climatic degradation China and Brazil. Around them were a second tier of large, voice of the 99% the loudest in the room. Even if we couldn’t rapidly plunge large numbers of relatively areidentical: an economic system for which middle-income countries. On the outside, peering in but with salvage a global deal on climate change, we reclaimed the well-off Europeans into unexpected levels people and planet are no more than raw no hope of having their voices heard, were delegates from debate. We will be what politicians, diplomats and the media of poverty. And why just think of “our” materials in a machine driven by short- Africa, from small island nations and from civil society. At remember from the conference. All over the world, the 99% interests? As climate change starts to term gain for a few. We absolutely need no point in this critical stage of negotiation, taking place at are reclaiming the debate. affect people in the poorest parts of the to change our systems of governance and 3am, was anyone outside the central elite consulted. International politics is shaped by the paradigm in which world today through famine and drought, economics, but it’s climate change which Let us return to the 9th of December. From apparently it operates, and as local movements subvert and transform we must show our solidarity for those who imposes a deadline: we only have a five or benign crowds in the lobby a single call of ‘mic check’ structures of power, so international politics will shift. Each are directly affected. ten years for our economies and societies spawned a protest of power and numbers, as hundreds filled year bright young people will travel to the United Nations Second, existing institutions are failing to make a significant change of direction. a tight conference centre corridor designed for only dozens. seeking to find a political solution to climate change; and one to solve the issue of climate change, and The 99% can no longer afford to wait When, minutes later, we were penned in (still blocking the year soon they will succeed. will continue to fail unless the 99% make for the governing elite and international corridor) by security, it was not an activist or academic that their voices heard. Dangerous levels institutions to take the initiative. As the spoke first - it was a politician. We echoed Mohamed Aslam, of global warming are not going to be only genuinely global popular movement the Environment Minister for the Maldives, when he called for avoided by the lamentably inadequate of our time, and committed to peaceful action to protect his country’s ‘right to live’. To get his voice actions of existing institutions. A global direct action, we are in a unique position heard in these negotiations, he turned to civil society, and we problem requires a global response. Thus to take a leading role in building support turned to the human microphone. far, this response has been depressingly for the demand for urgent and substantial In the negotiations’ final hours, delegates from Africa inadequate. The United Nations action on climate change as a core part of and island nations were nearly as locked out as we were. The Framework Convention on Climate Change our wider goals. Climate change is already familiar dynamic of the 1% excluding the 99% clearly exists (UNFCCC) has worked to address climate hitting the 99% the hardest around the in international diplomacy. Although the conference went change for almost 20 years now, and has world, and will continue to do so. This is on openly for twelve days, attempts at facilitating progress hosted 17 major international conferences. why climate change must become the were reserved for closed meetings after the conference was Yet despite the vast quantity of resources, cause of the 99%. supposed to have finished. energy and hope invested in this process, On 5th February, from 2-4pm We brought the fight to the 1% in those halls. The Occupy the international community continually at Occupy LSX (or other venue if movement has sought to reclaim public space. Here, we did and consistently fails to agree to take the necessary), a panel of speakers the same, but we reclaimed a debate. Usually, TV screens measures which the scientific consensus including George Monbiot, energy throughout the conference centre repeated images of requires. Meanwhile, global CO2 experts and representatives of NGOs, politicians and professional negotiators delivering messages emissions continue to rise. The failure of will discuss “Why the 1% are trashing that, more often than not, they had no mandate to make. For the Copenhagen Conference in 2009 has the planet and selling your future”. E arth in justice why our legal system Melanie is failing the 99% Strickland

ur legal system is failing the 99%. and flourish. This approach is yet to be tested in the UK, but it’s Within this term coined by the Occupy an exciting possibility. Eco-centric law gels well with ecological movement I include the myriad of economics too – which, to paraphrase Herman Daly, recognises non-human species humanity has co- the economy as a subset of ecology – not the other way around. evolved with over millennia. Injustice A global example of an eco-centric law is the Universal for the Earth has become the norm Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth, which was agreed as the legal system in most Western by 35,000 people at the World People’s Conference on societies consistently prioritises the Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth in Bolivia in Ogrowth of the industrial economy. April 2009. This conference was called following the failure Securing more environmental regulation or the better of the Copenhagen climate conference to produce any fair enforcement of current law is not going to save our planet. and meaningful deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions The injustice being systematically perpetrated against the and avoid dangerous climate change. The Declaration environment is an inevitable consequence of our legal system. acknowledges that all life is interconnected and that human For example, in the UK at least, company law requires beings are responsible for living in harmony with the Earth. directors to maximise profit for the shareholders. This It also acknowledges the right of other beings to exist and imperative will always be incompatible with the preservation to be respected, among other fundamental rights. There is of the environment. By contrast, environmental law, even in now a global campaign to get the Declaration adopted at UN its most protective form, simply regulates the destruction level but there are powerful forces at work that are trying to of the environment – think of the system of ‘permits’ and block this being on the agenda at the Earth Summit in Rio in ‘licences’ there are for corporations and persons to carry June 2012. Occupy has much in common with the movement out environmentally harmful acts. The primary purpose of to recognise Earth rights – our struggles are the same – environmental law is not to protect, but to facilitate harm including the fight against the imposition of market-based within a weak regulatory framework. ‘solutions’ to systemic problems like climate injustice. But there are “Earth-loving” lawyers who are advocating a Another example of eco-centric law is the Eradicating Ecocide completely new approach to law. For example, an organisation campaign being waged by pioneering lawyer Polly Higgins. called Wild Law UK is advocating ‘eco-centric’ law – that is, Ecocide is the environmental equivalent of Genocide. Think the tar laws that promote the health and well-being of our planet as a sands are bad? Wondering why BP was allowed to get away with whole. Eco-centric laws could also be used as a consciousness- deepwater drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico in circumstances raising tool, to encourage people to respect nature and that seem incredibly hazardous from an ecological point of view? strengthen community links to their local environment. A US If Ecocide was made the 5th international crime against peace, non-profit organisation called the Community Environmental as Polly Higgins proposes, this would deter corporations from Legal Defense Fund is having success in drafting Community embarking on ecologically reckless acts in the first place. Rights Ordinances (ie. local laws), for towns in the US. These We need deep change in our society, and the law is one Ordinances entrench the right of the community to local self- place we can begin because it is one of the primary ways our government, they limit the legal rights of corporations, and society governs itself. recognise the rights of communities and ecosystems to exist www.wildlawuk.org

The Unaccountability of Unmanned Warfare William Kherbek

The Occupy movement seeks to present Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, and the 16-year-old son of the extremist a radical democratic critique of the Somalia). The recent crash of a drone cleric Anwar al-Alawki (himself present self-destructive economic in Iran suggests they are at work in assassinated by a drone a few days and political climate. It also expresses an intelligence gathering capacity in before). Such strikes have become so a demand for accountability and many other countries. The vehicles common the UN’s Special Rapporteur legitimacy on the part of the institutions are launched from an archipelago on Extrajudicial Killings, Philip Alston, of economic and political power. of bases throughout the world, has suggested that his office may open Therefore it is necessary to consider not including countries such as Djibouti investigations into the use of drones. only issues of economic and domestic and Seychelles. The recent incident in The 99% should not wait for Philip accountability, but to take a broader which an American airstrike in Pakistan Alston to take action to oppose the use view as well. A key area where the killed 24 Pakistani soldiers resulted in of unmanned warfare. The dangers kind of accountability and legitimacy the exposure of a drone base in that presented to civilian populations by that the Occupy movement demands is country. A further base is believed to be such assassinations are clear enough, particularly relevant is in addressing the under construction in Eritrea. and the suggestion by drone engineers expansion of unmanned warfare in the One of the most attractive features that a new generation of drones may be so-called ‘War on Terror’. of drones, from the perspective of the developed which are ‘self-targeting’— company Dessault to pioneer a new contribute to the further erosion of For those who are unfamiliar militaries which use them, is that they requiring no human involvement in generation of drones. This expanding accountability in second-order state with the term ‘unmanned warfare’, are ‘piloted’ by remote control, thus the targeting of specified individuals— market suggests, even necessitates, practices like warfare. Though the the phrase refers primarily to the use creating a virtually risk free strike represents a truly frightening, that new uses for drones be found. Occupy movement is not explicitly of pilotless vehicles for the purposes capacity . The control of the drones Terminator-esque scenario of a future of While manufacturers go to great an anti-war movement in the sense of surveillance, reconnaissance, and/ in the conflicts noted above is remote skies filled with lethal robots deployed lengths to stress the peaceful uses of of previous, more incident-specific or attack. The archetypal weapons of indeed; drones operating in Afghanistan without recourse to international law, or drones, for example in environmental radical democratic movements of unmanned warfare are UAVs (unmanned are frequently ‘piloted’ by soldiers in national boundaries. monitoring or in addressing natural recent years, the issues raised by aerial vehicles), more commonly Nevada. The ‘risk-free’ mentality of Beyond the battlefield it is also disasters like forest fires, the purchase unmanned warfare resonate strongly referred to as “drones”. Though the drone warfare means not only that the important, if unsurprising, to note that of drones by police departments in the with the aims and concerns of the use of drones continues to be highly weapons are more likely to be used drones are proving to be a bonanza for American state of North Dakota and the movement. Occupy activists in secretive—there are a number of public than weapons that put actual soldiers at companies that profit from warfare. The aggressive lobbying by the ASTRAEA countries which produce or use drones officials who refuse to even use the risk, but that the drones will ultimately current market for drones is estimated (Autonomous Systems Technology who are interested in addressing word ‘drone’ as they feel it is somehow create a kind of ‘ecological niche’ of to be worth at least $14 billion. The Related Airborne Evaluation and issues related to unmanned warfare intrinsically pejorative—a fair amount their own in wars, special missions for notorious UK weapons manufacturer, Assessment) Programme to enable the have the opportunity not only to is known about their uses. Very little of which only drones are suitable. The BAE, familiar from the biggest use of drones in ‘all classes of airspace’ ask serious, necessary questions what is known is encouraging for those most worrying such niche is the high fraud case in UK history never to be suggests that less benign uses are about the purpose of a ‘post-Occupy’ who seek a more democratic world. profile ‘targeted assassinations’, which investigated—a deeply corrupt deal with envisaged for drones within democratic economy for the high-technology At present drones are known to have become increasingly common the Saudi Government to provide the societies in the near future. industry, but also to demand a rethink be, or to have been, in use in combat in the last three years of the Afghan Saudis with warplanes—has recently The erosion of democratic space of the geopolitical policies that affect in at least six countries (Afghanistan, and Iraq war, and includes that of agreed to a project with the French in political and economic life can only an even larger portion of the 99%. D efusing the

Stefan I rAN time bomb Simanowitz Stefan Simanowitz assesses ways in which the latest tensions with Iran might be resolved.

it is true that America having no formal diplomatic “received further information related Mossadegh, and just last week the become a nuclear-armed nation is not to wars begin in the engagement with Tehran, future to possible past or current undisclosed disclosure of British political documents isolate Tehran, but to revive discussions minds of men then negotiations with Iran are set to become nuclear-related activities that seem to from 1981 revealed that Thatcher’s around the fuel-for-fuel swap and Iran and Western significantly more difficult. point to the existence of possible military government was covertly supplying reinstate the IAEA’s rigorous international powers have been It is all a far cry from 2008, when a dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program” military equipment to Saddam Hussein monitoring activities. Rhetoric on both at a state of war for newly elected President Obama showed Tehran announced that it would shift its during the Iran-Iraq war. Whilst Iran sides should be toned down and the some time. Martial a determination to engage directly with production of higher grade uranium to has clearly has reasons to mistrust the parties should be encouraged to move rhetoric has been Tehran. In his broadcast to Iran he publicly an underground bunker and triple its Western powers, Western concerns about back towards the negotiation table. Only Ifaccompanied by steady military build-up acknowledged Iran’s right to enrich production capacity. Iran’s possible nuclear weaponisation then might war be prevented from spilling and unprecedented diplomatic shut- uranium and in October 2009 he held In the meantime, the U.S. has programme are also genuine. from the minds of men and onto the down as each side throws away their direct talks with the Iranians in Geneva. reinforced its military force in the With tensions escalating, this should bloody canvas of the battlefield. steering wheel in this most dangerous of Commenting on these talks at the time Gulf, carrying out large-scale naval be a time for increased diplomatic activity Stefan Simanowitz is a journalist, games of chicken. the Financial Times noted that President maneuvers in the Atlantic with the rather than a diplomatic shut down. The writer and broadcaster. He chairs the Last weekend’s news that President Obama “got more out of Iran in eight British and French and allowing Israel to best way to ensure that Iran does not Westminster Committee on Iran. Obama had signed new sanctions against hours than his predecessor’s muscular use NATO bases for exercises. NATO’s Iran was swiftly followed by reports that posturing did in eight years”. But Geneva missile defense system has been Iran had test-fired shore-to-sea and was to prove a high-water mark in good deployed across the region and reports Danny Nemu surface-to-surface long-range missiles U.S.-Iranian relations. In the intervening suggest the U.S. has shipped hundreds close to the Strait of Hormuz. The missile years Iran has accelerated its enrichment of ‘bunker-buster’ bombs to military tests came at the end of a massive 10-day activities and President Obama has long bases on the island of Diego Garcia and VOICES FROM THE US Iranian military exercise in the Gulf and since withdrawn his “hand of friendship”. supplied 55 of the bombs to Israel. accompanied a reported threat by Vice At the Geneva talks a proposed In Iran the ratcheting-up of nuclear President Ahi Rahimi to close the Strait agreement devised by the U.S. would tensions has had a negative impact on the For years, it seemed like news the 99%, and we held our banner should further sanctions be imposed have seen Iran exchange most of its beleaguered Green Movement, diverting from across the pond was going over it. Not just till 8, but till 9, on Iran. In response spokespersons for current stockpile of low-enriched attention from demands for greater from bad to worse, but as protests when they gave us another hour, the Pentagon and the U.S. Navy’s 5th uranium (LEU) for fuel rods from Russia democracy. Hopes that the movement began springing up in the US, it till 10 when they said they would fleet stated that any disruption of traffic and France. This “fuel-for-fuel” swap would be reinvigorated by the Arab became clear that the Americans take me or the tent, till 10.15 when through the Strait of Hormuz oil route was largely accepted by President Spring have not been realised and with its were out-doing us. We caught up they said, “We’re supposed to be “will not be tolerated.” On Tuesday Iran Ahmadinejad, but he proposed that the leaders under house arrest and activists soon enough, and the movement patrolling the city, we should go.” warned a US aircraft carrier to stay away IAEA assume control of the LEU in Iran and intellectuals imprisoned or forced went global, but many of our tactics And the tent stands. from the Gulf. The U.S. military response until the fuel rods were delivered. The to flee abroad, the Green Movement has (such as mic checks) were born in CORY IN LONDON: “I would was that “the deployment of U.S. military Americans rejected this proposal. been largely contained. the US. Among countries we once guess that the difference between assets in the Persian Gulf region will The following year Brazil and Turkey With elections looming in America called Western democracies, and the homeless community in the UK continue as it has for decades.” negotiated a deal with the Islamic and the U.S. in the midst of economic which we might do again in the and the US is at least fivefold. You Diplomatic relations between Iran Republic where LEU would be taken to troubles, Obama will not be keen to get future, the battle rages hottest in have those who have let their lives and Western nations hit an all-time low a neutral country. The deal was almost involved in another unpopular military the US - with nearly 6,000 arrests, be destroyed by any number of following the storming of the British identical to one put forward by the U.S. adventure in the Middle East. However, media blackouts, and an armoury circumstances, but what is growing embassy by hardliners in Tehran at the in Geneva, but rather than welcoming it he may well be coming under increasing of non-lethal weapons deployed. So is those people whose lives haven’t end of November. The attack precipitated Washington responded with scepticism pressure to take a harder line against Iran, what do the Americans have to say been destroyed. They don’t choose the withdrawal of British diplomatic staff and imposed new sanctions on Iran. In not just from Congress but from within for themselves? that lifestyle, but can’t afford and the expulsion of Iranian diplomats September, whilst attending the UN his own party. Like the conservative BILLY AT THE OAKLAND PORT anything else. As foreclosures from London. Whilst there may have General Assembly meeting in New York, Iranian leadership, neo-conservatives BLOCKADE: “I think what is going continue to rise, as rent keeps been sound security reasons for the President Ahmadinejad hinted that he and policymakers in Washington are to happen is all the connections going up, families continue to lose withdrawal of diplomats, the breaking would be willing to revive the fuel swap concerned by the unprecedented rise that formed at the occupation are places to live. I also believe, as this off of diplomatic relations has severed deal, saying that Tehran would stop of people power sweeping the Middle going to explode, creating a chain movement keeps growing, we give an important channel of communication producing 20 percent enriched uranium East and the resulting loss of strategic reaction in their own neighborhoods, people another option.” which has remained intact throughout if it was guaranteed fuel for a medical influence. The withdrawal of U.S. troops directing it in their own way, There is a woman in New York the Iran-Iraq war and the 1979 research reactor. Whether or not this was from Iraq has only helped to extend Iran’s utilising this concept throughout the known as Queen Mother, who has revolution. The possibility that Germany, a serious offer or political brinkmanship sphere of influence in the region. city, and eventually the entire world. been doing activism for about 40 France, Holland and Italy - all of whom we will never know, since the offer was Western anxieties about Iran’s There were 100,000 people years now, and her whole apartment recalled their ambassadors from Iran never followed up. influence are nothing new. In 1953 the CIA easily at the first port occupation. building got evicted. Through her for consultations following the attacks – Last June following IAEA chief and British secret services orchestrated The reaction has been a lot of fear actions - in solidarity with Occupy might follow Britain’s example and with Yukiya Amano’s statement that he had the overthrow of Iran’s President from the 1%. We scared them - they were able to get heat, and so much that they had to have a get the families back into that backup plan. They shifted to smaller apartment, and that had been going ports, and were shipping extra for 2 months before I left. (ed. heavy beforehand. The second Occupy 477 had an eviction order on one doesn’t have as strong ground January 11th) support, as it wasn’t technically And in East New York, there backed by the labour unions. It does was a family that had been evicted, wind up saying that we’re here to and Occupy helped them get them stay, and that there are many of back in, with the supplies they us, about 25,000, and they seem to needed. The community shut down be all Occupy supporters, not other and threw them a huge block groups. This is Occupy, shutting party, and even the kids at the down your port.” elementary school were yelling NICK IN SAN FRANCISCO: and cheering out the windows, “My name is Former Corporal because this family was able to Nick Antony Shaw. I am now a get back into their home. This veteran for peace. Today is Bradley community was so grateful for the Manning’s birthday. He was unfairly actions that the Occupy movement incarcerated overseas, and he is one were involved with, standing in of the heroes of Occupy, one of the solidarity with this family. reasons why this started. He was You know, the police, all these tortured and abused, and we are officials, whatever they want to do, fighting for his release. We took his if they want to take a park, I say birthday as reoccupation day, and let them have it. Because there set up 20 tents in this park. is no way that any one location The police said at 8pm they represents the Occupy movement were going to raid us. A lot of as a whole. It turns us into a mobile people who have had their tents Occupy. It gives us the opportunity torn down before removed their to reach out and do other actions, to tents, in fear or obedience to the attack on other fronts. We just keep police. My tent stood and I stood growing. This is not a movement by it. It is our tent, and the tent of that is going away.” Occupied Elsewhere: Judith ’R adical’ San Francisco Schossboeck

Since the overnight police raid on December 17th, SF Housing Coalition, as well as other supporting when the camp at Justin Herman Plaza was cleared and organisations such as Jobs with Justice, Code Pink, SF around fourty people taken into custody, Occupy San Labor Council and California Nurses Association. Francisco has been preparing for days of mass action. The action is strongly supported by the local Occupy Tactics are diverse here, and not all actions qualify Justice group that tracks people in jail and provides as ’peaceful protest’. Many announcements clearly state: “know your rights” information and training, with direct “If you identify as a peaceful protester, this action might action training planned before the event on the 20th. not be for you,” and activists are encouraged to wear These two-hour training sessions cover both tools for black. Occupy Oakland is known locally as, “the only site escalation and de-escalation, and all the basics including that fucked the police.” hands-on skills, information about nonviolent direct There are plans to move into a building on January 28th action and legal consequences. and a “Fuck the Police March” each Saturday, but there are San Francisco’s General Assembly last Thursday - many other ways to participate without risk of arrest, like held at 101 Market St. beside US bank skyscrapers and the Occupy Wall St. West mass occupation on January 20th. the main road in the financial district - was attended The San Francisco Financial District has long been by around fifty occupiers and lots of noise. As well as nicknamed “Wall St. West” and is known as a major planning the January 20th event, the GA also discussed centre of corporate power and wealth. Many of the banks housing issues and an international meeting in Brussels and corporations that were key players in the economic aiming for international consensus. melt-down have a presence in San Francisco; Goldman After an informal discussion on the vision of post- Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Capital International and Merrill capitalism the evening gently faded away, although police Lynch are all here, and now activists have mapped occasionally disrupted the peaceful gathering by referring financial institutions for occupying in an effort to disrupt to the sit/lie law which was enforced in November. The ’business-as-usual’. law makes it illegal to ’hang out’ on sidewalks between “It is important to re-gain the public visibility of our 7am and 11pm, meaning protesters need to come by foot actions”, says Ian B, a young protester who lives in an to avoide hassle from police. Fines start at $50 going up art community in San Franciso. “With the camp it was to $500 or even jail, with people even asked to remove easy to stay in the centre of attention, but other visual bikes from the “private property” railings in the area. actions are equally important.” “Since December 17th, they started doing these Leading organisers are Occupy SF GA, Action things,“ says Ian B. “With less people, authority tactics Council, Occupy SF State University and the Occupy work. With more they certainly wouldn’t.”

Judith Occupy Nigeria visits Amanthis Nigerian Embassy in London

Unbelievably, Nigeria, Africa’s largest relying on kerosene to fuel their generator. on its own terms. Foreign investors, crude oil producer, imports petrol. But Bus and taxi costs have rocketed. which the IMF claims the Nigerian oil Nigeria’s fuel importers aren’t upset Why has the government ‘deregulated’ industry needs, should worry less about by the government’s 1st January cut the fuel import business? Not for the government regulation than about lack of of subsidies to the cost of petrol and reason it’s given, to release funds to security, zero government transparency kerosene imports. They’ve simply passed develop Nigeria’s infrastructure. If the and corporate litigation taking up to six on their ‘loss’ to Nigeria’s 99% by raising government really wanted to help Nigeria’s years in the courts. prices 100% and more. 99%, it would repair the four oil refineries In 2005 Nigerians paid $12 billion Joining furious demonstrators that lie idle or idling. Refined oil products dollars up front to western financiers throughout Nigeria, the UK diaspora were wouldn’t then have to be imported at sky- to write off a $30 billion debt, having outside the Nigerian Embassy in London high prices set by the global market – in already paid them over $20 billion in debt in force on Friday 6th January. Everyone’s other words, by the global 1%. servicing original loans of $17 billion. The families back home are affected, said Who are Nigeria’s fuel importers? 2005 deal included IMF ‘monitoring’ of the demonstrator Genevieve Flight, whether According to London demonstrators, Nigerian economy. By September 2011, they drive a car or whether they’re one they’re entrepreneurs who, along with Nigeria’s debt had resurrected itself to of the many communities and small ministers and government officials, the tune of $5.6 billion, the government’s businesses without mains electricity and constitute the faceless cartel that controls Debt Management Office said. This Nigeria with one aim in mind – to put amounted to a 20% increase since oil money in their pockets. Nigeria’s 1% May 2011. Newsrescue.com reported employ flawless logic: if the four defunct that IMF Managing Director Christine and under-capacity oil refineries were Lagarde visited Nigeria in December repaired, there’d be no profit for fuel 2011 specifically to pressurize Goodluck importers. Government officials and Jonathan to cut fuel subsidies. Jonathan, ministers are up to their elbows in oil. Many according to allafrica.com, promptly own filling stations. Many own oil blocks – assured her that Nigerians had forgotten oil extraction businesses - and are the local all about the bad old days of structural consortia to which companies like Shell adjustment programmes. sell contracts in order to make western oil Nigeria isn’t alone. The governments extraction look less crudely colonial. of Guinea, Cameroon, Chad and Ghana Zainab Hannafi, a post graduate have all been under IMF pressure to cut student at Sussex University, said that fuel subsidies. The Ghanaian government the government’s new year’s gift to the has acquiesced. nation was at the behest of the IMF and Nigerians’ London demonstration the World Bank, long time neo-liberal was angry but peaceful. Anthea adversaries of Africa’s 99%. Omoregbee, resident in the UK for Three months ago, the government 19 years and paying her daughter’s recalled Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, vice Nigerian boarding school fees, said that president of the World Bank, from everyone back home, not just the poor, Washington to join the Nigerian are affected by the fuel subsidy cut. The cabinet. She’s now finance minister. middle classes can’t escape the domino Saharareporters.com claim that she effect of all round commodity and service joined the cabinet on the condition that the price hyperinflation. Prince Oweh Omas, government implemented IMF-directed another UK resident, agreed with her. deregulation. One demonstrator said that This is why, he said, the general strike the World Bank was the evil genius behind that the trade unions started on Monday the subsidy cut. Another demonstrator, 9th January will be successful. Until the Richard Idahosa, a visitor to London, said government changes its mind, no-one will the IMF argument didn’t even make sense go back to work, said Zainab Hannafi. Emma WORKERS’ Fordham CO-OPERATIVES: an escape from the rat race

Workers’ co-operatives are an anomaly. before profit’ message at the heart of to hard work and often require a degree They exist within the current system the Occupy movement. of commitment and responsibility far while embodying its antithesis. Maybe Workers’ co-ops are based on higher than that demanded in more that’s why governments have ignored the idea that a workplace should be conventional employment. The pay-back them. Despite a history dating back controlled by those who actually put comes in making one’s own decisions, to the Industrial Revolution and the the work in and that everyone involved co-operating with like-minded people, existence of over 2,000 UK-based should benefit equally. Only workers being in a work environment that is workers’ co-operatives, there is no may be members of the co-op and all not all about the money. In a workers’ legal definition of a co-op in Britain. members have an equal say in running co-op, the well-being of workers, Recognition may be about to increase the business. Many co-operatives communities and the environment is dramatically - as 2012 is the United use consensus decision making more important than chasing profit. Nations’ International Year of Co- and workers often take turns to do That’s radical in today’s society. operatives. unpopular tasks. While individual skills, “Where most companies put profit, The UN is pouring resources into experience and preferences are taken we put ethics - right at the heart of promoting the co-operative model as into account, attempts are made to what we do. We refuse to compromise an alternative means of doing business, provide training and skill-shares so that for an easy life or a cheap deal.” So while raising awareness of how everyone has a chance to participate in says Weirdigans Cafe Co-operative. invaluable co-operatives are in reducing all areas of the work. What does this mean in practice? It poverty, generating employment, A classic image: Protesters means buying organic ingredients, enhancing social integration and carrying banners demanding jobs. local fresh produce and fair-trade dried increasing sustainability. Perhaps some left school or college goods. It means using a solar-powered, We’re led to believe that only to find themselves stumbling energy-efficient sound system and LED responsible and responsive... We do THAT IS RADICAL ROUTES, A competition is necessary in the market- uncertainly into a no-hope future. lighting. It means working long hours it as ethically as we can, printing on NETWORK OF CO-OPS SEEKING TO place; that business is all about cut Others face redundancy. Some are for minimum wage, then sitting around proper recycled paper, powered by a CHANGE THE STATUS QUO. and thrust and cutting costs; that long-term unemployed, in benefit a campfire with a bunch of workmates genuine green electricity tariff and using “With its relentless pursuit of profit at all bosses boss and workers work and traps, increasingly unemployable. Jobs who are all equal, who care about each the least environmentally damaging cost, the present corporate system fits the former are worth far more than are the obvious answer but they’re other and wouldn’t dream of playing processes we can find. We also give a the definition of a psychopath, driving the latter. Co-operatives challenge not always what they’re cracked up competitive workplace politics. Caring percentage of the money we make to the rapid destruction of our society and those assumptions, being comprised to be. Ask those whose work pays for customers is high on the list of worthy projects.” the natural environment. This is done of voluntary members who jointly the mortgage but drains the soul. priorities, as is supporting campaigns The socially useful and educational only to benefit a small minority and and equally control and contribute to Exploitative McJobs aren’t what against GM foodstuffs and spreading aspects of co-ops come first for many not the needs of the 99 per cent. The the co-op for their own benefit and those marchers really want, but “A the Occupy message. Lining one’s own in the movement. Profit-seeking is way corporations and governments that of their community. Guided by living wage and meaningful, creative pockets doesn’t get a mention. rare. Sales translate into fair wages are intertwined fundamentally values of self-help, self-responsibility, employment that I can be proud of” Footprint Workers’ Co-operative: and are used to improve both workers’ undermines democracy. Corporations democracy, equality, equity, solidarity, doesn’t fit neatly onto a placard. “As we have no bosses we run [our conditions and service provision for are rarely transparent or accountable honesty, openness, social responsibility Workers’ co-operatives are printing business] as we want, doing customers. Successful co-operatives to the people... The current system is and caring for others, co-operatives an alternative to oppression in the interesting jobs for interesting people. often put money back into their unsustainable. It is undemocratic and emphasise the ‘people and planet workplace. They are not an alternative We want to be straightforward, friendly, communities, donate to charities or unjust. We need alternatives...” support other co-operatives through THAT IS OCCUPY LONDON. networks such as Radical Routes. Perhaps co-operatives are one of the The Occupy movement - with its alternatives Occupy is seeking. Occupy emphasis on equality, transparency, and the co-operative movement could democracy and sustainability - is so in co-operate to the benefit of both of their tune with the more radical co-ops that communities and to benefit the 99% it’s difficult to tell their statements apart. currently caught in the lonely rat race “Our world is shaped by the forces of oppression and meaningless or non- of greed, capitalism and materialism, existent work. Key messages coming where maximum production and from the UN reflect this. optimum profits are vigourously “Co-operative enterprises empower pursued, making life a misery for many people... improve livelihoods and and putting us and the environment at strengthen the economy... enable risk. The system is ultimately controlled sustainable development... balance by the rich and powerful, the capitalists social and economic demands... promote and bureaucrats, through the use of democratic principles... [provide] a many mechanisms such as ownership pathway out of poverty... [provide] a of the economy (making people slaves sustainable business model for youth...” to a job) and control of the media The UN slogan for 2012: “Co-operative (creating a passive culture).” enterprises build a better world.” Warren A Disease Called Workfare Richards

The new year had scarcely begun before you. The government intends to extend to celebrate Beveridge's welfare state politicians of all parties were bickering the remit of the scheme to people by destroying it. over who could provide the toughest already in employment who receive A brief lesson in free market clinical assessment of those claiming in-work benefits – all those who are economics: If you can force people jobseekers. Their proposed treatment: part-time, low-waged, self-employed to work for you unpaid (and in doing welfare cuts and a massive dose of or precarious workers will be expected so significantly increase your profit workfare. What does this have to do to earn at least £212 per week. If they margins), then why would you hire staff with the Occupy movement? Everything. fail to meet that goal, they will be and pay them a wage? You don't have Workfare is another example of the referred to the Work Programme. As to be John Maynard Keynes to realise kind of corporate culture that many well as punishing the unemployed, the that workfare encourages a business occupiers want to resist. government wants to punish people in model which takes money out of the The Workfare programme forces work for not making enough money. real economy and leads to a loss in tax people to work without pay, or risk Low paid retail staff are especially revenue whilst giving money to those losing all social security payments damned - their hours are already being with a penchant for tax havens. via 'sanctions'. It is being pushed by cut by the introduction of unpaid staff Yet the Work Programme is such a the government as part of its wider on workfare. Oh, and if you are newly successful £5 billion policy that it recently welfare reform policies and appears in graduated, or under 24, then you saw providers asking for both more a few different guises, be it Mandatory are going to be fast tracked onto the money from the government, and to Work Activity or the Community Action scheme. Degrees are not taken into have their targets for getting people into Programme. The biggest programme is consideration. work decreased. Without such action, the "Work Programme". Unionized public sector workers workfare providers publicly admitted Despite evidence to the contrary, are not immune from the workfare that the scheme would fail. A Nick Clegg the government argues that 'workfare' virus. Even if you are not one of the intervention and billion pound injection helps people into work, increases 700,000 public sector workers faced with later, Christmas yet again came early for employment and cuts government unemployment, the DWP has encouraged corporate CEOs. For a failing economic spending. Yet the government refuses providers to target local and national system on taxpayer-financed life support, to release figures to demonstrate the authorities as places for the unemployed workfare is a corporate drug prescribed to policy's success rate, and it has forced to carry out workfare. This could see remedy plummeting profits whilst leading those organizations implementing the recently redundant public sector workers to ever more illness for everybody else. scheme to sign a contract preventing forced to work unpaid in their old jobs. But Workfare is not terminal. them from doing so either. Closer A few local union branches aside, People have come together to examination of the evidence reveals the union leadership have failed to collectively diagnose Workfare, whether what workfare actually is: a massive respond to the threat this scheme at Tent City University or in the Boycott state subsidy for corporate profit. poses to its membership. If they are Workfare campaign (boycottworkfare. So called 'provider companies', hoping for Labour to reject workfare, org). There are several routes to the (such as Ingeus, which is owned by city they will be disappointed. Liam Byrne cure. The coming year will see them Key Facts About The Welfare Reform Bill financiers Deloitte) are paid millions by strongly advocates workfare and an articulated to overcome the disease the government whilst forcing people American welfare system. Labour want called Workfare. DLA Facts Atos Facts to undertake unpaid work for other big Fraud rate – 0.5 percent Cost = £100 million per year. private companies (Asda, H.M.V and Cost of fraud - £60 million An estimated £50 million per year for appeals. Tescos are among them) - who in turn Official error - 0.8% Unclaimed Benefits boost their own profits by employing Cost of official error - £90 million For the six income-related benefits for which fewer staff and cutting overtime. ESA Facts estimates are available there was between £6,930 After all, they now have a potential Fraud rate – 0.3 percent million and £12,700 million left unclaimed in 2008- workforce of nearly three million Cost of Fraud - £20 million 09; this compared to £38,110 million that was unemployed to tap into. Official error – 1.2 percent claimed and represents take-up by expenditure of If you have a job, you would be Cost of official error - £70 million between about 75% and 85%. wrong think that workfare will not affect

Help Us Fight the Welfare Reform Bill Lisa Egan

This government is about to destroy DLA isn’t the only benefit that is tax payers and then paying themselves the lives of hundreds of thousands – going to be taken from people who millions in bonuses. Oh, no, wait... possibly even millions – of disabled genuinely need it. Despite what you Time is running out to stop this people, and hardly anyone is fighting may read in the papers, DLA is not an devastating bill. Until now the anti-cuts to stop it, because they believe the out-of-work benefit; it is paid to cover movement has chosen to fight to save government when they say, “the most the extra costs of being disabled. If libraries and trees rather than disabled vulnerable will be protected.” It is you need to use a wheelchair or you people. I know that people like me aren’t simply not true. need someone to help you get out of as cool as books and forests but, please, Most of the disabled people who are bed in the morning, those needs stay we desperately need your help. There going to lose so much of their income (or with you even if you find employment have already been at least 5 suicides even all their income) are not fighting the so the benefit to fund that assistance associated with loss of benefits/not reforms because they have been sold as stays with you as well. The income- being awarded benefits in the last 18 “weeding out the fakers.” People haven’t replacement benefit for those too ill months. These cases were admin screw- read the proposals to learn that, actually, to work is Employment and Support ups and overzealous assessors; the list that is not the case. The Welfare Reform Allowance (ESA). The contributions- of suicides is going to explode when Bill has nothing to do with reducing the based element of ESA will be limited to people who had previously been entitled fraud rate and is all about taking money an arbitrary one year under the bill. This to benefits lose their eligibility. from those who need it. means that if you develop a condition The bill is not complete yet. It is at The one statistic that really sums such as cancer and you have a partner the report stage in the House of Lords. up the brutality of the bill for me is that earns more than £7,500pa, you will It has got to finish the report stage and this: They are cutting Disability Living lose your income after 12 months. Could have one more Lords reading before Allowance (DLA) by 20% despite the fact the two of you really get by on so little? all hope is lost and the bill receives that only 0.5% of claims are fraudulent. Especially when one of you has such a Royal Assent. We need action and we One in five of the 3.2 million recipients costly condition? need it urgently. Occupiers have done of DLA will be losing that benefit, even It gets worse: The Lords have amazing work in the last few months though only one in every two hundred already voted to cut benefits for at getting issues of corporate greed is a fraud. That’s not about taking the disabled children in half under the bill, discussed by the mainstream. You set money away from people who don’t despite the fact that 4 in 10 disabled up campsites in the middle of the City bill paused for reflection (much like who are currently disabled and those need it, and there’s no protecting of children already live in poverty. The of London which was ingenious! If us the pause in the NHS bill, but in its 2 will become so in the future, don’t let the vulnerable here. In fact, it’s making government and the opposition are both disabled activists had found a magic months online it’s only garnered 10,476 the welfare state be dismantled. Please people like me even more vulnerable. constantly repeating that we need to be formula for getting the public to pay signatures and it needs 100,000. Please summon up your ingenuity and your At the moment I can manage to do more responsible; that we need to deal attention to the harm welfare reform not only sign it but beg everyone you fresh ideas to help protect people like things like shopping by myself, all with both the “scroungers” at the top is going to cause, the bill wouldn’t be know to do the same. me, people who depend on the welfare thanks to the support that DLA allows. ruining the economy and the “benefit as close to finalisation as it is. We need Signing the petition isn’t enough to state to survive. Once I lose that money I have no idea how scroungers” at the bottom. Yeah, those your help and your “out-of-the-box” get the bill canned entirely, of course. You can find more information I will manage such simple functions. damn disabled kids gambling with thinking to get the bill stopped. Pat We need concrete action and we need it about welfare reform at http:// I will become vulnerable because I have money that wasn’t theirs, causing a from CarerWatch created a petition desperately. Please, for the sake of all wheresthebenefit.blogspot.com or by lost that support. financial crisis, getting bailed out by the on the Number 10 website to get the disabled people out there, both those following @wheresbenefit on Twitter. PREOCCUPYING: ROU GHER TRADE Natalia HOW THE 99% RUN A RECORD LABEL Adam Jung SAM DUCKWORTH Sanchez-Bell

It’s cold in the Occupation Records together on the label and ideas for The Occupied Times: What first got media because of my music, events like What I’d like to see is the same passion office in a UBS-owned building on Sun the next three albums. Press and you interested in Occupy? today, speaking into the GA, the primary and joy and integrity from this place to Street, now occupied by the activities marketing inform us of their meeting Sam Duckworth: I’d been following role was to bring people here that continue. It would be nice to see another of Occupy London. I drag myself out of with some sympathetic PR firms and Occupy from images and tweets that haven’t been here before. yurt for a women’s safe space too. the warmth of my bed - a half deflated a company specialising in mobile apps came from New York and quite a few of Regretfully it’s hard to try and OT: If St Paul’s were to get shut down air mattress and a bundle of sleeping that would like to support us, as well my friends have spent time out there. balance every element of my life at then another occupation could pop up bags - and reach for my phone, whose as a meeting with another artist, well We’ve had a lot of political and social once… but then again, I think that’s not elsewhere. Do you think keeping this ring has demanded I get up. On the other known for album covers he’s designed. movements, but the one thing that really something that’s been looked site is paramount? end of the line is Tom, who manages The Webmaster discusses separates this is the one thing we’ve down upon by anybody here. My first Sam: I think it’s important because media for Ani DiFranco in Europe. I met possibilities for the distribution platform needed for a while, and that’s legs. worry was “Oh I haven’t been camping the sad thing would be the public with him at Ani’s show the night before and a member from live production Globalisation got us in this mess and here, or I haven’t been here as much as perception; this is what we’re battling while updating her on Occupy London. updates the collective on progress for the fact that the movement is global has I would like to be here, is it a problem?” with. People love to see things fail, and I’m meant to show her around the the first album release gig. Finally, the sparked me up a little bit. The more I and I think as long as you work within I think the perception of the tents going occupation this afternoon but its only 8 in member handling administration shows find out, the more people I speak to, the the confines of including everybody will be taken as a failure. I think that the morning. I’m cold and sick and would us their progress and creating a “how- more involved I want to become. then everybody understands that not would take a bit of steam out of the rather still be wrapped in the comfort of to” guide to the independent collective fringe element to people who haven’t my sleeping bags. model we use to operate. been here regularly to understand After sorting details with Tom There are so many talented and Just before Christmas a special kind of what’s going on and I think it will deflate I plop down at my desk and begin skilled individuals in the Occupy GA was held at St Paul’s with musical some of the people that are here, but running through my inbox: an email movement. Artists, authors, organisers, I don’t think it’s paramount. It’s way from one of the artists working on a professionals, in so on. Due to the interludes between discussion points. Sam bigger than tents, if it was just about album cover, but the specs are wrong; corporate take over of industries that tents then we’d all go to Glastonbury. another one informing me the land we traditionally aligned with and supported Duckworth of ‘Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly’ I think it will continue regardless of were looking at for a music festival is radical and progressive movements, was one of the headlining acts. We caught where it is. It’s about making sure the too small. But then some good news many of these individuals may feel shut radical nature of the inception of this up with him to get his thoughts on Occupy. camp is kept all the way though.

OT: You performed at the Unite Against everyone can be here all the time, but Fascism protest in Tower Hamlets back it doesn’t mean that you don’t have in August, do you see that cause and things to offer. To see youngsters come Occupy as part of the same picture? down for the first time and see direct Sam: I think anything from democracy in action run by passionate homelessness to racism is all intelligent people is something special. symptomatic of an age where we don’t OT: In today’s GA we focussed on 3 really understand the significance of different questions. One of them was “what us all being on the same plot of land do you think Occupy should be focussing together. I think it all stems from this on?” Where would you like to see it go? idea that [some] people are superior. The Sam: There’s a lot of focus on the thing that’s exciting about Occupy is this eviction but sometimes there needs idea of consensus and the kind of almost to be focus on the legal precedent. painstaking approach to democracy We’ve got four occupations in London, that unifies people. It says that actually if we’re allowed to stay because of the these barriers, you know: sex, creed, court case; it changes the whole face race, sexual preference, religious beliefs, of protest politics in London. It reopens whatever… these things unify us because Parliament Square; it allows people to we’re all different. be able to protest in tents on the land OT: People here at Occupy have various that they pay for through taxes and after different skills or resources that they eight weeks of being here that would be can contribute to the movement, how a massive victory. with three more confirmations for out of their chosen field or simply not do you see your own involvement? It’s a real step forward for challenging tracks on the new benefit album. want to deal with the soulless nature Sam: I see my involvement as a sort frontline politics. Look at the legal action Once emails are replied to I head some of the industries have taken on. of mobilisation through social media. by UKUncut taking the HRMC to court, down to St. Paul’s for a meeting with Within the space created by Occupy What’s been interesting about twitter in it was the front page of the Daily Mail the rest of the 45 Revolutions Per these individuals can operate in support particular is people being able to follow yesterday! It’s not often you can start Minute Collective. The autonomous of the movement outside the arbitrary things from hash-tags and I guess that something in the left and a year later it’ll collective of occupiers is made up of requirements of the corporate world. having spent a lot of time using social be on the front page of the Daily Mail. music industry, public relations, and Many artistic industries are ripe to be marketing professionals, and we’re the subverted. Considering the inspirational crew behind Occupation Records. The impact of V for Vendetta, The X-Men, label and the collective behind it have and new developments with iconic been set up to spread the message superheroes (Captain America having of Occupy to a broader audience and been assassinated by the CIA for leading provide a sustainable funding source for a rebellion against the government, the movement. Superman having renounced his US Part of spreading the message is in citizenship) a collective formed around how we operate - organising the label to the distribution of radical comics and embody the values of Occupy. The label’s graphic novels could spread the message operation is very distinct from a traditional of Occupy to a younger audience while label. All key decisions for the label, supporting the movement. from artwork on an album, to production Publishing collectives, design budgets, are made by consensus - and collectives, performance collectives – each member of the eight-person there are many possibilities out there. collective is represented by a union. They provide a way to sustain the In the spirit of the movement, it’s movement, further legitimising Occupy planned for all releases to be offered as an alternative, and providing new digitally on a pay-what-you-can basis outlets for our message. where the customer sets the price. All As we wrap up our meeting I get profits go to support Occupy London, a text from Ani’s manager telling me Occupy camps around the UK and they’re on site. We head down to the info Ireland, as well as the global Occupy tent to meet up with her, her manager, movement. and her tour manager – all fantastic I get to a pub near St Paul’s for people. As she walks around site I the meeting. The last couple days walk with her manager and watch the have been incredibly busy for us and interactions with fellow occupiers. A little there’s a lot to update. We each go later she straps on her guitar and plays in turn. I handle artist and industry a few tunes - but the most poignant relations. A couple days before I’d met moment for me is when she takes a up with Sam Duckworth at his studio, seat in the audience to listen to a poem Sam is a musician that has been by Venus. It’s then that I remember how incredibly supportive of the movement, much I loved working in the industry. getting involved especially with youth And how much more I love making it outreach. We discussed working work for Occupy. The Tunes They Are

Dorian A-Changin’ Lynskey ast November I multimillionaire rock star could bring But there’s another, more localised accompanied Rage to the table. In historical terms real way in which music can function Against the Machine’s anthems are rare anyway. We remember as a tool for activism. Tom Morello Tom Morello to successes like Give Peace a Chance and talks about how music speaks to the OLSX for a music Free Nelson Mandela but recording a “reptilian brain”. The primal appeal of magazine feature would-be anthem that isn’t embraced is singing message songs in difficult times about the movement. as embarrassing as throwing a party and goes back centuries. When things are On the way down we having nobody turn up. going well, they stir the spirit and draw Ltalked about the role of music and the I think the best way musicians can people together. When they are going media’s hunger for an Occupy anthem. respond to Occupy is to see the big badly, songs offer reassurance and Morello, who is as much an activist picture. This isn’t like a march with an strengthen resolve. Vernon Jordan, a as a musician, thought it was a red old-fashioned slogan and an agenda. civil rights activist in Georgia in 50s and herring. “The media likes to quantify Its scope is dizzyingly wide and 60s, observed what happened when things,” he said. “’What’s the anthem?’ rests on two claims: (1) The current frightened protesters began singing Occupy is not an advertising agency system isn’t working (2) We all have a songs such as We Shall Overcome. “The – it’s a social movement. It doesn’t responsibility to imagine alternatives. people were cold with fear, until music speak in soundbites. It’s the 99% in which there’s a wide variety of opinions on a wide variety of matters. I don’t think it needs a Kanye West jam that says ‘let’s occupy y’all’ to bring it all together.… My broader concern is what are we all doing about the problem of gross economic inequality. There aren’t enough musicians making songs? Who the fuck cares?” Having recently written a book about the history of protest songs and visited St Paul’s a few times, I was asked the anthem question by a number of media outlets last autumn and never quite knew how to answer. The 60s model of protest is so established in the popular imagination that a vibrant new protest movement invites nostalgia in many observers: The civil rights movement had anthems – where’s yours? But the point of Occupy is that it represents a new way of doing things, with radically new approaches to structure and strategy, and it renders the question irrelevant. You might as well ask where Occupy’s Martin Luther King is. Over the past couple of months the question has faded away — if something isn’t quickly forthcoming the media doesn’t like to hang around looking needy like a jilted date. But it leaves me wondering where music fits in and if it is of any more than trivial significance. I don’t think any protesters are getting It’s the start of a conversation rather did what prayers and speeches could distracted from their work by thinking, than a roadmap for the whole thing, not do in breaking the ice.” “This is great and all but when are Arcade and that doesn’t lend itself to a punchy When the Occupy Wall Street Fire going to write a song about us?” I’m unproblematic singalong. encampment in Zuccotti Park was convinced there must be sympathetic But that conversation-starter has brutally evicted last November, musicians who would like to sing about permeated the whole culture, whether some protesters were heard to be Occupy but don’t want a sincere gesture you measure it by media coverage, singing Bob Marley songs and, almost to be interpreted as bandwagonning Google search terms or exchanges in inevitably, We Shall Overcome. Cold opportunism. I can sympathise with the pub, and this is slowly manifesting and vulnerable, they found in those old Chris Martin, who briefly joined an itself in songs such as Aloe Blacc’s songs the same comfort and defiance Occupy Wall Street demonstration sometimes maddeningly ubiquitous I that previous generations did. That act that he happened to be passing and Need a Dollar or Everlast’s viral hit I of singing may not have changed what then left, unsure what, if anything, a Get By. These may not be songs about happened but I’m sure it changed, if Occupy but they are songs about the only a little, how they felt. 99%. A pop song is exceptionally That episode made me realise good at relating a political issue to that as much as Occupy is a radical everyday experience. You don’t have to departure from previous protest understand the mechanics of a Robin movements, certain human needs Hood Tax to feel angry that your best remain constant and in that challenging friend has lost her job or your local moment those songs acted as symbolic youth club has closed down. In the 60s, bridges to older struggles, offering both for every protest song that was taken a reminder that there will be setbacks up by civil rights activists or antiwar and a promise that they can be endured. protesters there were many more that The roles that music can play in times spread the message — “The status of crisis and resistance are many and quo is unacceptable” — to the broader varied and if there isn’t one song that public. Social change comes when everyone can slap a label on and call an an idea pollinates from a hardcore of anthem, well, like Morello said, “Who activists to the population at large, until the fuck cares?” it can’t be ignored. It would be crazy to Dorian Lynskey is the author of 33 claim that music, or indeed any artform, Revolutions Per Minute: A History of drives that process but it certainly helps. Protest Songs. O N WAIVING RULES

Alan & RULING WAVES Moore hen the cosy riding up atop them on some kind of physical and customised and gaudily embellished intellectual board. The worst position to be structures that in, conversely, is to be sat in your we used to live governmental beach hut dazedly in are reduced observing the colossal wave’s to matchwood approach. As pointed out above, this debris strewn isn’t individual people half so much Walong the tideline, right about as it is the stupendous spectacle of now might be a good time to give history in its compelling motion. And in some thought to catastrophic wave those exchanges which involve a tidal dynamics. History proceeds in waves, wave we should perhaps remember as pointed out by futurologists Alvin that it is the substance of the wave, the and Heidi Toffler, and those powerful water, that is least harmed or affected species-transforming movements by the damaging encounter, at least usually arise from relatively sudden relative to those fixed edifices that forward leaps in thinking: hunter- were standing in the water’s way. gathering endured until somebody A wave, like a 300lb gorilla, had the bright idea of agriculture, goes exactly where it wants. If one is which unleashed a flash-flood of new bearing down on you then hurriedly- information and new ways of living, concocted legislation ordering it rolling out implacably across the globe to cease or orchestrated tabloid for a few thousand years until today disapproval, realistically, aren’t really almost none of our various populations going to make a lot of difference to it. still maintain themselves by foraging. The same goes for pepper spray and Then, in the eighteenth century, water cannons. While these might our gradually accumulating scientific be temporarily effective in dispelling know-how launched another culture- some localised spillage of dissent or changing tide, this time a sluicing surf scattering some protestors it should of industry that radically transmuted the be recalled that people aren’t the whole human landscape, altering the wave itself but are merely the medium way we thought of time, environment, that it moves through. Suppressing and even our identities. This second individuals does nothing to address torrent of transformative new concepts, the much more serious problem of the much more forceful and immediate motivating seismic force behind them, than the first, took only a few hundred which historically is irresistible and will years to race across the planet leaving not be denied. No tidal barrier or levee vanishingly few of our communities of outmoded ideology can ultimately untouched. The Tofflers’ ‘Third Wave’, stand against it, and whatever he which we might suppose to be the one might have intended by the gesture the engulfing us at present, would appear example set by King Canute, sat on to be occasioned by the dizzyingly the beach in his jute Saxon deckchair rapid surge in information and and insisting that the breakers should communication systems, alongside the return from whence they came appears increases in cultural intricacy that will to demonstrate the sheer timeless unavoidably accompany such advances. futility of this approach. It didn’t work It’s worth noting that these world- then and it won’t work now. transfiguring events don’t have their For anyone who’s out there under origin in any single individual’s mind, canvas, bivouacking on the front lines neither in any pre-existing plan nor of this generation-wasting economic reasoned-through philosophy. Instead, conflict, be assured that tide and they would simply appear to be what Czarist culture being superseded by the medium of an ocean. Similarly, global and bear the full brunt of its crashing, history seem to be on your side, and be happens when our thinking and our more industrially-minded Bolsheviks. social movements such as Occupy unobstructed flow. prepared to ride this deluge for as far consequent technology inevitably The blind and massive forces of are possibly best understood as a Considered from the limited as it may go, into whichever new world reach a threshold of complexity that mathematics, history and causality do socially-triggered wave or impulse perspective of authority, our leaders it sees fit to wash us up in. proves to be a tipping-point. Most of pretty much what they were always that is moving inexorably through the might be well advised to bear in mind With a rush and a push and the great upheavals of the past, while going to do and leave us to make our more unpredictable and complicated that when it comes to monumentally unlimited love from your friend, nominally based upon political or justifications well after the fact. medium of human beings. Individual enormous waves, the best position Alan Moore, The Northampton moral principles, are best considered It also might reward us to consider protestors, regardless of how to be in is to be either part of them or Austerity Crater. as reactions or responses to the tidal that with waves, be they movements personally indefatigable, motivated or shifts in our human condition that of water or of people, we should not heroic they may be, are not themselves were happening anyway. The U.S. confuse them with the medium they the seismic ripple which is shaking Civil War, although purportedly fought are travelling through. The shattering the foundations of our venerable over attitudes to slavery, can be seen phenomenon that we call a tsunami institutions but are better pictured as as a victory for the industrial North is not actually the iron-green wall of the substance in which that dynamic over the agricultural South. Likewise, water hurtling towards our beaches. motion is occurring. the Russian Revolution can be easily Rather, it’s a pulse of devastating Waves, whether we’re speaking of interpreted as a predominantly rustic energy expressing itself through the the tidal or the socio-political variety, result from massive subterranean bucklings and juddering collapses in the very bedrock, geological upon the one hand, economic on the other. Any major structure, when it finally subsides, releases its amassed kinetic force in one astounding burst that will then necessarily reverberate through the entire environment or system, sometimes catastrophically. As basic physics forcibly reminds us, all the energy which is inherent in an earthquake or an international financial cave-in has to have somewhere to go, and in this instance that turns out to be the purlieus of St. Paul’s, or Wall Street, or some several hundred other places. It’s probably better to be harnessing this energy as the protestors are attempting rather than to be an obstacle OccuPation is a Stinking, Putrid, Agent of Decay Kester Brewin

At a recent meeting at the Bank of Ideas years condemn. He cannot be seen to We fat ourselves for maggots: your I overheard one keen contributor hailing properly die, lest the years that passed fat king and your lean beggar is but the ‘death of capitalism’ - a worthy do condemn him. (Indeed: though variable service, two dishes, but to one aspiration perhaps, even if capitalism there has been recent discussion about table: that’s the end.” (Act IV, Scene III) might have answered back, to borrow whether to bury Lenin, Putin opposes it, Fat kings or beggars, communist Mark Twain’s quip, that ‘reports of my saying it would imply that generations of heroes or economic systems… the truth death have been greatly exaggerated.’ citizens had observed false values during we need to grasp is that the true and We need to be a little wary of 70 years of Soviet rule. Of course, Stalin’s proper end is not just death, but decay too. hankering after death. A cursory look body was also embalmed and lay next The decaying body is a thing of at history shows that it can in fact be to Lenin’s for 8 years; it was removed horror: beauty takes quick leave, and a heroic act that can be used to inspire when people realised what a tyrant he the ‘frozen’ nature of the corpse thaws support for that which has fallen. We had been.) into warm rot. The fear we have of the saw this in the careful preservation of Simple death then, we need to decaying body is this: it is no longer fit Lenin’s corpse: he was dead, yes, but for carefully remember, could stir a blind for transport or use elsewhere. Zombies political reasons death, real death, was hagiography of capitalism. So it must are horrific because, unlike Lenin’s not allowed to take him. His apparently not just be the death of capitalism that pickled cadaver they have paradoxically just-dead body appeared to remain of we seek, but the processes beyond embraced (living) death and moved this world, or at least functionable for too. All of us may fear dying, but we all into the process of decomposition. use in some as-yet unreached far-off too carry a hope that some memorial The terror comes from their refusal to communist utopia, wherever that might will outlive us, and perhaps our real journey on into heaven or hell; like good be. The embalmed body is frozen in time, fear is that we will simply be forgotten. materialists they remain here to rot. still holding the tension between this life We want to be preserved, not wearied Death can smell hospital-clean, and the next. ‘They will not grow old…’ by the further passing of time. Yet or of incense or embalming oil; it is Binyon’s famous poem of remembrance Shakespeare knew that this was decay that has a putrid odour. We recoil been the case. In the carboniferous Our financial systems may yet goes, and this was the Communist aim: impossible. As Hamlet says to his hated from rotting food, and want it out of period, large quantities of wood were commit suicide, or gorge themselves to age should not weary Lenin, nor the uncle, King Claudius: the house as quickly as possible. And buried and not broken down because greedy death; what is vital is how the rich yet the ecologically minded will know the bacteria and insects that could resources that they have hoarded can well that this process of decomposition effectively digest them had not yet be broken down and made fit for re-use. is absolutely vital to the continuing evolved. These fallen trees were laid This is precisely what the Bank of Ideas cycle of life. We remove mouldy food down as coal deposits, dark and cold has begun to do already: a dead physical to our composting bin because we and undying. space has been infested by ‘agents of understand that the process of decay is So decomposition – the transition decay’ who are now preparing it for about breaking down ‘dead’ matter into from death into a new cycle of life – reappropriation. elements that can be re-used. requires the evolution of appropriate However, there is a warning that Without decay vital nutrients would ‘agents of decay.’ Without these agents comes with the adoption of these ideas: be trapped and never be released back – the foul world of maggots, flies, the stench of decay is an anathema. It into the soil. Plants would therefore be bacteria and fungi – nothing could be makes people recoil in disgust. To work unable to grow and every ecosystem reused. To return to the wished-for with what is dead, to be an agent of would collapse, as plants are at the death of capitalism: what we must decay, is to invite ridicule and repulsion. base of every food chain. Put simply, consider very carefully is what happens The Occupy movement has seen plenty the cycle of life would grind to a halt. to the corpse. of this already, but now we can turn the Moreover, if nothing decayed, the dead My belief is that the Occupy insults into inspiration: what the dying bodies of all living creatures and plants movement – which has been sneered as capitalist world needs now are putrid, would litter the globe. a group of unwashed, bottom-feeders – stinking agents of change to bring new Actually, there have been periods should embrace this abuse and begin to life from old corpses. in history where this has (partially) see part of its role as ‘agents of decay.’ @kesterbrewin / kesterbrewin.com

From St.Mary’s to St Paul’s: Participatory Democracy in England Steve Freeman

“I think the poorest he that is in England has a life to live The central feature of our movement is the participatory as the greatest he…and I do think that the poorest man in democracy practiced in the general assemblies. England is not bound in a strict sense to the government that This takes us back to the historic and revolutionary, if he has not put himself under.” These words of the republican largely forgotten, general assembly of the New Model Army Leveller, Colonel Thomas Rainsborough, addressing the Army in occupation at St Mary’s church, Putney. In 1647, the active Council on 28 October 1647 at St Mary’s Church in the Putney, section of England’s young people were armed and organised still speak to us over three hundred years later. in the New Model Army. Each regiment elected its own ‘shop The struggle for democracy has continued ever since, by stewards’ known as the Agitators. As the first civil war revolution and reform, with victories and defeats. ended, discontent with the English “Long Parliament” grew Far from ending the struggle for democracy, capitalism – and the members of the New Model Army decided to form has steadily generalised it across the world. As banks and their own form of representative body that was corporations exploit their power, so people revolt and seek to be comprised of the elected Agitators. With the so-called democratic solutions. International finance and people’s “Army Council”, the army became effectively democracy stand as mortal foes. a people’s parliament inside the defeated Stuart monarchy. The latest phase of the struggle for democracy has played This parliament - or general assembly - met to debate a new out in the Middle East over the past year: First Tunisia, then constitution. The republican Levellers proposed “An Agreement Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and Syria. Most recently, we can of the People” that stood see signs of discontent and democratic dissidence in China in opposition to the proposals put forward by the ‘Grandees’ - and Russia. And starting in September 2011, the Occupy landowning generals - such as Fairfax, Ireton and Cromwell, movement has risen to international prominence. Over ninety- backed by the wealthy City bankers and merchants. History has five cities have seen larger occupations, including New York, shown the Levellers were right, but Cromwell Madrid, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Paris and London. and the City had the might. Soon they used it to suppress the Occupy is no mirror image of revolutions in the Middle Levellers, and the Diggers, who in 1649 began to occupy land at East. It would simply be wrong to contrast the democratic St George’s Hill in Surrey. revolutions of the Arab Spring with the economic demands of Today, England has turned full circle. The young generation the Occupy movement. But while the slogan “We Are the 99 is not in a revolutionary new model army. But students and Percent” refers to the distribution of income, it also expresses ‘redundant’ youth are rebelling in the streets. When the forces of fundamental democratic values. The past year has rightly the Crown barred the route to the Stock Exchange, we ended up been described as a “democratic awakening” in the West as camped outside St Paul’s. Now, like some Macbethean witches’ well – not quite spring yet, but at least the end of hibernation. prediction, it is time for St Paul to meet St Mary. Globalisation

for whom? Michael Richmond an you imagine a current settlement suits the 1% as you’d choices with every budget and manifesto, When Lehman Brothers fell in 2008, The busy, swarm-like movements from globalisation that expect, because they were its architects. and change is the only constant in life. many on the left wondered whether Tahrir Square to Wall Street to here at St would work for the The poorest people on the planet are The crucial problem is not only the it was a moment of paradigm shift, if Paul’s are in direct contrast to the systems 99%? Where need already bearing the brunt of global architecture of the global economy but the Ponzi scheme of macroeconomic they oppose; as Paul Mason terms it, “the is put before greed? problems in the form of climate change, also the corporate media and, as a result, models had been hoist by its own network defeats the hierarchy”. Mason And institutions drug and human trafficking, failed states mainstream culture and opinion are still petard. Instead, we watched in horror writes in his new book Why It’s Kicking Off work to find global and economic collapse. Meanwhile the invested in the old, failed system. as the zombie economics staggered on, Everywhere, “Once information networks solutions to global poor and middle classes of richer nations This means that even if a nation- with ideological contortions allowing become social, the implications become Cproblems? I’ll be honest, I can’t and are being made to cover the costs state were to democratically elect a socialism to be introduced for the massive: truth can now travel faster than that’s because of the globalisation we accrued by a small minority of market government that stood on a platform of financial sector while their debt was lies, and all propaganda becomes instantly have right now. gamblers and negligent political and radical change, if that proposed change shifted onto governments and then the flammable. Sure, you can try to insert spin, Let’s look at what has been globalised media elites through tax-payer bailouts was outside of the agreed parameters of people. Everything that has happened but the instantly networked consciousness to date: tax avoidance is global and for this and reduced services. the existing consensus you would see in since the crash would suggest that of millions of people will set it right. They reason we’re told nothing can be done about In truth, the age of globalisation a very short space of time the full force of a continuation of the status quo is act like white blood cells against infection it; brands and entertainment like Simon has been forged in the image of neoliberal globalisation swing into action. untenable, but those within existing so that ultimately the truth, or something Cowell’s TV formats and Premier League neoliberalism to the extent that the two There would be credit-rating downgrades institutions and power elites will not be close to it, persists much longer than football have gone global, homogenising are now seen as indivisible. The entire from the ‘objective’ agencies who missed the ones to turn the ship around. disinformation.” cultural consumption the world over; capital institutional apparatus that we have the Enron and sub-prime scandals, a And so enter globalisation 2.0, in It may take another crash is freer to cross borders than humans come to associate with globalisation hysterical frenzy among the corporate the form of globalised communications, precipitated by the eurozone crisis or seeking refuge from conflict; toxic financial is as committed to the Washington media, veiled threats from the IMF and activism and dissent. Whilst every the zombie banking system before a products were so ubiquitous that problems Consensus as the radical governments of OECD and, quite possibly, stampeding national uprising in the last two critical mass of people acknowledge the in the US mortgage sector spelled disaster Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. capital flight. Finally, depending on the years has had different local causes need for a new model of globalisation for the entire world economy. Quoted by politicians as if they were extent of the country’s departure from the and manifestations, they share that benefits the majority. But perhaps Now here are a few things that impartial observers, the IMF, World consensus, there would be hostility from certain characteristics: a movement globalisation 2.0 can change the world haven’t been globalised: human rights; Bank, OECD and ‘Big Three’ credit-rating the other neoliberal countries. dominated by youth who are mobile before it comes to that. For all of us democracy; equality; free access to agencies are in fact there to enforce an Just as the spooked monarchs of and technologically savvy; an affinity who already recognise the neoliberal healthcare and a healthy diet; workers’ element of doctrinal obedience. Europe turned on revolutionary France, for direct democracy; a repudiation of globalisation for what it is, it is time for rights; the right to human dignity; I argued in these pages previously that so the governments of the eurozone oligarchy and a shared sense that this us to wake our countries up and Occupy! responsibility to our planet and its future “There is no alternative” is a disingenuous could not allow the Greek people a is their time, driven by a fear that there Michael Richmond is the author of inhabitants. The pattern is obvious: the argument because politicians make referendum over their economic fate. might not be one for their children. Sisyphusa.

How can demand

be less than supply? Michael Reiss

There are some economists who believe A clash of ideas: The idea that without some companies getting into that total demand in an economy must demand must equal supply clashes trouble. The problem is that the fall in equal its total supply. The argument with the notion of the “paradox of thrift” demand will inevitably be uneven and goes something like this: When people whereby attempts by too many people nobody will want to lower their prices sell their produce, they must, almost by simultaneously saving, leads to a lack unless they get a clear and sustained definition, receive enough money to buy of demand and a downward spiral of signal that they need to do so. You the equivalent value of other people’s recession and unemployment. This idea never see a restaurant adjusting its goods. Or to put it another way, the was popularised by Keynes though it prices up and down a few percentage sum total of what people earn from seems it was known of since antiquity. points depending on the previous night’s producing their stuff, must be enough So who is right, the Austrians or demand and you would never see an to purchase the sum total of all the stuff Keynes? The answer is undoubtedly arrangement where a shopkeeper could produced in the economy. So the idea Keynes. There are in fact two separate have his rent reduced by 2% because of a lack of demand being a cause of mechanisms that can lead to a shortfall the takings over the previous week unemployment is seen as nonsensical. of demand: had been below par. Both of these The obvious potential flaw in this MECHANISM 1. mechanisms can occur to some degree, argument is that people may choose A FALLING MONEY SUPPLY: Not but it is not quite slick enough to occur not to spend all of the money they just many people are aware of the fact without some companies going bust earned from selling their produce. The that the money supply can fall as in the process. counter argument to this though, is that well as rise, but it most certainly can. At this point we must address if people choose not to spend a portion This is because our monetary system the question of why there aren’t piles of their earnings they must instead save was designed such that most money of unsold goods building up in the it. But savings are simply used by banks has a certain lifecycle. It comes into process. Surely everything that is made for investment. Savings can therefore be existence when banks make a loan, has to be sold, so even if the money seen as simply spending on investment and it expires back out of existence available in each round of selling is projects like building new factories or when the principal is paid back. During less than in the one before, prices buying new machinery. Thus saving is depressions the desire to take out new must fall. Indeed this is true. Virtually simply spending on different types of loans (creating money) falls below the everything will get sold, but a portion produce. New plants and machinery are rate at which existing loans are paid of them will be at newly distressed still the fruits of people’s labour and so back (destroying money). This state prices by people whose companies are that require work to be done in the IS THERE ANY WAY TO REPAY can provide just as much employment of affairs can go on for years, even in the process of being liquidated. present. So with a constant, or even DEBTS WITHOUT THE MONEY as any other type of produce. This is decades. During the great depression, MECHANISM 2. rising money supply, there can be a fall SUPPLY FALLING? In a word yes. You an argument often used by economists the money supply in the US fell by PURCHASING NON PRODUCTIVE in the money available for items that may have noticed that earlier on I said from the Austrian school. I shall be around a third. ASSETS: Another problem with the require current labour. “most money has a certain lifecycle”, this returning to this point later, so I will The fact that there may be a small Austrian argument is the notion that HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT FOR is because there is a small fraction of the summarise it as follows: net expiration of money interferes with savings must be spent on something YEARS TO COME: Politicians money supply that does not expire. So THE AUSTRIAN ARGUMENT… the “Austrian argument” made earlier. that requires work to be done, like everywhere are proclaiming that we called debt free money. Our monetary ALL EARNINGS MUST BE SPENT In a falling money supply environment, building a new factory. There are in fact must all reduce our debts and they system can work perfectly well with ON SOMETHING, EVEN IF THAT not all earnings will be spent on many things that can be purchased as a acknowledge that this process may either type. If new debt free money is SPENDING IS IN THE FORM OF something. A small net flow of earnings form of savings that require almost no take many years. What they don’t seem injected into the system at the same rate INVESTING IN NEW PLANT AND will be given back as loan principal work to be produced. Land, traded gold, to realise is that the money supply and or faster than there is net debt-money MACHINERY. So if the Austrians are repayments where the money will shares purchased on the secondary our levels of indebtedness are almost expiry, then the money supply can be right, there is no way for demand to be expire out of existence. This is where market. All sorts of financial products one and the same thing. Under our held constant even as loans are repaid. less than supply. things get a little more complicated. correspond either to work that was current monetary system reducing debt Unfortunately, EU regulations currently Another argument in favour of The thing is, if everyone adjusted their completed in the distant past, work that necessarily means reducing the money forbid the creation of additional debt free demand keeping up with supply is that prices downward perfectly in step with will be done at some point in the future, supply. The employment outlook money... but in the current environment if it weren’t true, there would be huge the falling money supply, then demand or even no work at all. An aggregate for the coming years is therefore we may need radical solutions. It is time amounts of unsold goods building could once again be matched to supply. increase in the flow of spending on rather bleak. This is on top of the to change the regulations. up continuously. There would be Unfortunately, the economy is not quite these types of product will naturally unemployment that will necessarily Dr Michael Reiss is the author of mountains of the stuff! capable of coordinating a fall in prices result in a fall in spending on products come through public sector cuts. ‘What Went Wrong With Economics’. MONEY TALK$ OCCUPIED TIMES: You say that current fiat currencies, the answer is: it has devalued the dollar by almost 97%. we’re witnessing “the end of the Great won’t. There will be corrections in the Creating fiat money is, essentially, a tax Keynesian Experiment”, what exactly do fiat price from time to time but, with fiat whereby money, savings and worth are you mean? devaluation the only possible course of transferred from middle income, average TURD FERGUSON: To me, action for debt management, gold will people to the wealthy, scheming political Keynesianism is an idea that you can continue higher. and financial class. Think about it. Do you centrally control an economy through OT: What got you into precious metals? enjoy the life your parents had? Why does fiscal stimulus and management of TF: The realization in 2008 that there it take two income earners to support the money supply. Eventually, debt is no possible way that the current fiat a family today where 40 years ago it becomes so great that you can’t “grow system will survive. only took one? Taxes have skyrocketed out of it”. Further money supply growth OT: Why is this “fiat system” doomed? in an attempt to fund the government only exacerbates the problem and the TF: Politicians use central banks to and wages haven’t even come close to entire system eventually collapses. create infinite amounts of unbacked keeping pace with the inflation brought about by endless fiat money creation. The Fed and all central banks, at the behest of THE OCCUPIED TIMES POKES THE CORPSE OF politicians trying to secure power and buy votes, have done this to us. KEYNESIANISM WITH ENTREPRENEUR OT: What lies the other side of “the AND PRECIOUS METALS GURU, TURD FERGUSON, coming economic chaos”? TF: I wish I knew. A positive resolution EDITOR OF tfmetalsreport.com would be some kind of continuation of the current global order where regional OT: Is it time up for the Bretton Woods paper currency. Eventually, the debt reserve currencies rule the day and institutions, or are they just finding and the money supply needed to fund global commerce re-starts and growth their teeth? it become so great that hyperinflation and prosperity is shared amongst the TF: The powers-that-be will fight like ensues. This leads to war, insurrection, producers through a global, asset- hell to retain their power and, if allowed chaos and mass suffering. backed unit of exchange. On the to, they will retain their power in the new OT: So, happy times ahead... negative side, complete global chaos, system that will replace the current one. TF: The coming hyperinflation will societal breakdown and war. OT: Can we ever build a self-aware hurt middle-income homeowners a OT: Which particular financial injustice financial & political system that guards lot. But the catastrophe won’t start most infuriates you? BIG BROTHER against this? there. It will be the lower income folks TF: The global economic oligarchy of Nick TF: I’d like to think so, but power is now - the people who can barely afford to statists and crony capitalists that poison IS BILLING YOU Pickles so entrenched that only a complete, feed their children now - who will be the system and stifle growth and free global fiasco and calamity could hurt most and will likely rise up first. trade through their greed and power. Nick Pickles, head of the pressure group possibly cause a reset. Frankly, I’m not When you are broke and hungry and OT: What one economic reality do you sure I’d like to live through that. your children are starving, you don’t wish more people were aware of? Big Brother Watch, counts the cost of the OT: What happens if the holders of the have much left to lose. The attendant TF: That the supposed prosperity brought UK’s surveillance cameras. vast global debt suddenly find the debt crime and social unrest will be what about by the unlimited creation of fiat becomes valueless? ultimately awakens them. currency is nothing but a myth, a mirage. TF: Debt may vanish but power will OT: Do you think this “Occupy” Every dollar or euro or pound created Back in 2010, Big Brother Watch with this continued spending, not. Global financial power must be movement is a sign of a deeper malaise? from the thin air dilutes the current supply conducted the first study of the true running into potentially half a billion retained. Look at US bankruptcy law. It - is it the start of something bigger? of dollars, euro and pounds, thereby cost burden of CCTV to local councils pounds in just four years, councils was changed in 2007 in order to make TF: Yes. I believe it is the beginning of making them less valuable. in the United Kingdom. The 342 local are choosing to value posturing derivative holders superior (and first in a much larger movement of disaffected OT: You’re given a magic wand to pass a councils who disclosed figures had and rhetoric over evidence and line at a bankruptcy) to even bondholders. and disenfranchised people who are single law. What law do you pass? spent a total of over £320 million results. When decisions have been Who owns the derivatives...? awakening to the wealth destruction TF: In the U.S., I would mandate term between 2007 and 2010. The exact considered about shutting cameras OT: When you look at the global that has been brought upon by the limits on all federal office holders. A figure was £321,331,453.1 -- the down, local authorities have only economy in 2012, what do you see? central banks and bankers. Protesters single six-year term for the president. true figure is certainly much higher. considered the costs - with one even TF: A mess. All of the major, must understand, though, that central A single six-year term for Senators, In an age of squeezed budgets, suggesting they might charge the ‘developed’ nations are heavily indebted planning and socialism is not the and three two-year terms for councils continue to pour huge police to use the footage. and all of the major ‘developing’ nations answer. The answers lie in freedom and Representatives. amounts of money into technology When a camera is being installed, are creditors. When the developed truth, self-reliance and responsibility. OT: Recommend a book and a blog for that indiscriminately monitors us all and when decisions are being made nations finally collapse under the OT: We are being sold on the idea, right our readers... as potential criminals, while the actual to replace them, all we are asking is weight of their debt, they will take the now, that central bankers & technocrats TF: I just read a book called “How Do causes of crime go ignored. Britain that the evidence be considered. If, developing nations down with them. are our salvation. Will larger western You Murder 11,000,000 People?” by has become one of the most ‘watched’ as we found recently with Transport OT: Will we ever be allowed to get out economies follow the lead of Italy and Andy Andrews. Please read this book. societies in the world, far outstripping for London, 9 in 10 cameras are not of debt? start bypassing democracy in favour of It will only take you 20 minutes but it some authoritarian regimes, and used by the police, then there can TF: No. The only possible solution is to the technocrats? is extremely important. And everyone the fervour with which some groups be little justification for continuing devalue your currency in an attempt to TF: The leaders of western must read ZeroHedge every day defend their ‘right’ to monitor us all is to divert significant resources away manage it and/or pay it off. economies will likely be coerced into (zerohedge.com). a social ill that few would recognise as from alternatives which would do OT: You’re a precious metals expert. exchanging sovereignty and freedom OT: Name and shame someone in the a sign of a healthy, civil society. more to improve public safety without How long before gold starts heading for the supposed gains of “debt world of finance. It is impossible to put a price the wholesale invasion on our privacy downwards? management”. The central banks TF: To single out one person is almost on our privacy or our safety. But that CCTV entails. TF: If you mean in relation to the are desperately trying to preserve impossible as there are literally the euro because all of the European thousands of villains. I’ll say the U.S. banks are buried in each other’s president Woodrow Wilson. He signed debt. Of course they are going to try the Federal Reserve Act in 1913 started to convince you that they are your this whole process. “salvation”. Maintenance of the status OT: And who is your economic hero? quo preserves their power and helps TF: I am a big fan of the “Austrians” but them avoid the guillotine. I’ll go with Kondratiev, I suppose, simply OT: On your blog, you talk of ‘The Cartel’ because he died in a Soviet prison. - who are they, and what do they do? OT: What does 2012 hold? Should we be TF: The Cartel is a collection of major storing tins of tuna...? bullion banks through which the central TF: 2012 is going to be a very volatile banks of the world influence and and dangerous year. As a precaution, suppress the prices of precious metals. yes, you should have some extra food, JPM and HSBC are the two, primary water, cash, precious metals and cartel members. medicine on hand at all times. The OT: Is there such a thing as a free market? danger doesn’t have to come from TF: Somewhere, I suppose, but not financial collapse, either. Right now, in the U.S. I’m confident that the Fed our countries are actively preparing now actively intervenes in the currency, for war with Iran... a war that looks bond, equity and commodity markets as inevitable. Remember, war always they attempt to “manage” perceptions raises “unintended consequences”. and growth. It’s possible Iran could then activate OT: So you’re not a fan of the Fed. What terrorist cells all over the world. bugs you most about it? OT: What’s your ambition for the TF: The endless creation of money coming year? since 1913 and particularly since 1971, TF: To see January 1, 2013. FOR REFORM WILLIAM WALLACE Nearly every activist has a place for remembered by descendants of the revolution in his or her political toolbox. original participants or those who view The Great Some treasure it as their most precious them as the stuff of legend. This is not tool, constantly polishing it up and to say that there haven’t been struggles yearning for the day when it can be put or that Australians are totally apathetic; to good use; others hide it away at the we have a long history of dissent and bottom of the deepest drawers and protest. Instead what it means is that we Debate instead choose to use strikes, lobbying or have found reform a more accessible and legislative change to achieve their ends. effective tool for effecting change. The appeal of revolution is Reform is a slow and painstaking Revolution or Reform? obvious: We can dream of smashing process - but the small steps it takes the system, destroying the structures can help to direct cultural changes that confine us and rebuilding our that will, in turn, drive further reform. Occupy is based on a few basic principles of economic, social and society for the betterment of all its Reform is useful for those who want environmental justice. But some of us want to tweak the system members. Yet revolution is an unwieldy to effect change because the process tool and indiscriminate in its manner. of gradual reform softens the blow of while others want more sweeping change. This week we ask: do we need As Godwin said, “Revolutions are the change – this is something the Right produce of passion, not of sober and knows and has put to great use to a revolution, or should we follow the path of systemic reform? tranquil reason.” support the 1%. The Big Four banks One might also suggest that for (the major Australian banks) are also a revolution to provide a satisfactory employing reform as a technique to FOR REFORM FOR REVOLUTION result for all would require a level of trick consumers into accepting their KIT MARSTERS JACOB RICHARDSON unity and common purpose that is not extortionate business practices. It is Revolutions tend to be messy. It’s tempting Societal and economic reform is populism: More than fifty per cent of the usually found in human societies. It clear that the Big Four are enjoying a lot to think a group of intelligent and sensible inherently revolutionary. This applies to population voted with their feet in the might be possible to unite the masses of success in this endeavour. people can steer a revolution down the whatever reform the Occupy movement last election and did not even bother to depose a brutal dictator or an unfair For reform to be effective for right path and bring beneficial change to a might argue for, and however the turning up to cast their vote. Contrast policy, but when they come together the progressive cause we must take country, but sooner or later it will spiral out movement may seek to see it realized. the general apathy with the democratic afterwards to define the new state the the reins and direct it in favour of the of control. Some people will always have Being revolutionary does not merely appeal that has been expressed through dream can too easily be destroyed by most disadvantaged and disaffected, an agenda of their own. indicate a wish for drastic action for its the Occupy movement in the past factionalism and ego. rather than the 1%. We can make Revolutions tend to be chaotic and own sake. The principle of standing for months! In Australia there is not much major reforms to address serious and can easily lead to bloodshed. When chaos revolutionary reform can be a response A revolution is a matter of of a culture of revolution: the few immediate problems and we can chip breaks out, civility is the first casualty. to political, social and economic immediacy. If we rely upon electoral incidents that resemble anything close away with smaller reform; either way Looting, burning buildings and fights are hierarchies that offend basic human “democracy”, how privatised will our to revolution (the Rum Rebellion and we need to utilise the cultural change regular occurrences during revolution. decency. The injustices that currently National Health Service be before the Eureka Stockade) came early in inspired by the Occupy movement to The damage done could make people lose occur are examples of these hierarchies. real change occurs? How many more our history and are only celebrated and help the 99%. their homes and livelihoods. And the coalition government under children will be forced into poverty? Sometimes the citizens of a country David Cameron seems intent on causing How many more elderly or disabled are left with no other alternative: further destruction to the welfare people will die as a consequence of Revolution becomes the final option state until at least 2015. It will pursue welfare cuts? How many young people when all other measures have proven to an irreversible institutionalisation of will be condemned to the status of be ineffective. Yet the loss of even one neoliberal ideology. debtor wage slavery? How much more life would mean that the people starting Like Czechoslovakia’s Velvet untenable damage and endangerment the revolution have blood on their hands. Revolution or Ukraine’s (unsuccessful) to the natural environment will This is not to be taken lightly. It should be Orange Revolution, we have reached occur? How much more corporatism avoided at all cost. a clear consensus that our political will implement its domination of our Reforming the system will be difficult. establishment is almost wholly corrupt communities and lives? It’s true that there will be resistance from and illegitimate. This is not mere These inhuman injustices are the ones who benefit from the current set- happening right now. The choice we up, and the big corporations and individuals have is to either tolerate them while who pull the strings are powerful. True looking forward to a slightly less worse reform won’t come easy, but it can be “Labour “ government, or to call for achieved if the right approach is taken. fundamental and therefore radical The structure for a fair society is there. political reform. It is buried underneath an Orwellian surveil- A revolutionary movement would lance state, media propaganda effecting coordinate itself in the same way the people’s daily lives and corruption that has Egyptian and Tunisian revolutions did: become increasingly evident with every Through mutual cooperation between investigation of the halls of power. Yet there trade unions and dissidents, through are gems that could be preserved – the direct action, through citizen journalism NHS, for example, and the basics of justice. and general strikes. Consider the Beneficial reform needs to start by metaphor of someone drowning: Should FOR REVOLUTION changing hearts and minds. The current we dive straight in to rescue them from LUKE SHORE system has split the nation into the death, or should we wait until we can The system is fundamentally broken. At its decisions of elected representatives for ‘deserving’ and the ‘undeserving’, the take a poll to decide which ineffective heart lies the concept of private profit, an their own financial ends. ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’. It has made lifeguard can rescue them? It would all powerful nation-state and continuous As the Democracia Real Ya movement it acceptable to see others as disposable be the same lifeguards who attached growth (which subsequently necessitates stated in its manifesto in May 2011, the and unwelcome, and it has alienated chains to their limbs. continuously increasing production and inalienable truths that we should abide by humans from the world around them. therefore consumption). These systemic in our society include “the right to housing, The British people are shackled facts create wage slavery and cultural employment, culture, health, education, through fear – fear of others, fear of hegemony, while rampant consumerism political participation [and] free personal change and fear of the unknown. The destroys the very planet that sustains our development”. Yet all of these are thrown media feed this fear through a daily drip of ASKING existence. Our system of representative aside by our society in the pursuit of material overblown scaremongering. This can only ‘democracy’ may try and make small gain. As human beings we must prize these be fought by opening our minds to new adjustments and improvements here and basic rights and cultivate them as crucial ideas. Change doesn’t necessarily lead THE OCCUPIERS: there in an attempt to make the system concepts that comprise our humanity. ‘fairer’ – but small patches cannot fix a What we need is a complete change to setback. In fact, life could be healthier, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN THE EVENT Mircea system that is corrupt at its core. of course, a radical transformation, an happier and far more rewarding if change OF AN EVICTION? Barbu were welcomed. We can live in harmony The current structure of social ethical revolution. If we aspire to be free, we with the environment and with the other. organisation manipulates our priorities to must come up with another way to try and People aren’t powerless. There is NANCY, 33: “We would like to see the all this gone to waste.” the process of accumulating objects and reconcile our society and system of political always a choice. Whilst the actions of camp continue but in the event we get SIMON, 27: “I plan on staying here no the capital to purchase them with little organisation with individual freedom, free of an individual may seem futile, there is evicted I don’t plan on resisting. I will matter what.” regard for the needs of others. The financial the malign influence of markets. strength in numbers, and a single voice move peacefully to another location.” PETRA, 21: “I’m not camping here, but crash of 2008 demonstrated the ubiquitous Occupy encampments across the world can turn into a mighty roar when more DAVID, 20: “I don’t know yet. I’ll react I’ll keep myself updated and if the day cupidity and rampant egotism that drives so have created a meeting place for minds join in. If British citizens wake up to this as things evolve when the day comes.” comes I’ll be coming here to show my many at the heart of modern capitalism. and ideas where we may come together to fact and see that they can reject the ANDREA, 40: “I’ve seen how things got support in a peaceful way.” Even if we label it so, the system of think, debate and discuss. A forum where system one deed at the time – refuse really bad in Athens. I would not like to SHAWN: “I come from Cardiff where political organisation in our society is not a we may build and develop social, ecological, to buy from greedy companies, oppose see that here and I don’t believe that’s our occupation got evicted pretty quick. democracy. Real democracy belongs to the and democratic alternatives in an effort to measures they feel are immoral, write going to be the case. I’m sure the police With that in mind I’ll try to save as much people (demos = people, krátos = power), so guarantee fundamental rights and freedoms to their papers, their MPs, and, above will be much nicer, but I’m planning on as I can from the materials gathered government is comprised of every one of us. for all. Through a system of inclusive, all, shed the ridiculous idea that the resisting peacefully.” here for past few months.” To abdicate our democratic responsibilities horizontal consensus-based decision only options they have in an election ROY, 28: “We have a working group NIRAJH: “I’ll be playing my banjo while to a tiny minority every five years makes making and participatory democracy we are Labour, the Tories or the Lib Dems, in place to discuss logistics. It’s really this is happening. Someone needs to our system of governance little more than should conceive, develop and implement reform can start to take place. important to try and save as much as sing when the ship sinks.” an elective dictatorship. This is further radically new, freer, more equal systems to We don’t need a revolution on the we can from the equipment we have JENNY: “Prepare for the worst but exacerbated by the influence corporations organise ourselves as human beings that streets. We need a revolution of the mind. here [at St.Paul’s]. I would hate to see hope for the best.” and other financial powers exercise over the guarantee fundamental rights for all. On the Soapbox JOHN SINHA SAYS “BUILD, DON’T BOYCOTT”

Consumer boycotts have a long and honourable history that pensioners or a family suffering from fuel poverty in social movements: The bus boycott of the US Civil should cut down the energy usage? How are we going to Rights Movement succeeded in desegregating buses persuade the richest 0.01% from boycotting the use of in the South; the campus-based boycott of Barclays their private jets? At a time when austerity is causing Bank was a successful campaign of the Anti-Apartheid a decline in living standards for many, what sort of movement and a factor in helping to isolate Apartheid message do we send out to the 99% if we are targeting South Africa. their Christmas shopping? At Occupy LSX, we tried to But these were very specific campaigns with very celebrate Christmas positively without sending an anti- specific and limited objectives. The question today is consumerist message. whether consumer boycotts can help to bring about a The other problem is which companies would be more fundamental change: A society which works for targeted. The problems we are facing a too multifaceted the 99%. Take a look at the Common Statement agreed to be reduced to a few companies, issues or products. to by the General Assembly in the first weeks of the Is it labour standards, disparities in corporate pay, or London occupation: We need alternatives to the current environmental destruction? Agreeing on a single issue to system. But does targeting corporations through anti- focus on would not be easy. consumerism boycotts offer us strategies to bring about The boycott tactic is based on the idea that the only the sort of change we want to see? form of power we have is the power of being consumers. One needs to distinguish very carefully between But we are not just consumers, many of us are producers consumer boycotts and boycotting consumerism. The too. The massive public sector strike on N30 showed former can work as a tactic while the latter does not what effect we can have when we withdraw our labour. offer us a viable strategy. Consumerism is the symptom, The next step for the Occupy movement might thus be rather than the cause, of the problems we are seeking to bring our message into the workplace and spread the to address. Consumerism has no purpose without model of democratic deliberation and decision-making an economic system which encourages the focus on that marks our General Assemblies. If we were to have perpetual growth regardless of our needs and of the real democracy in the workplace, it would lead to a STALWARTS OF consequences for the planet. After all, the debt-fueled radically different economic system. consumer booms of the past three decades have been Not all of us have jobs, some of us are students, exposed as unsustainable. If we focus our energies unemployed or retired - but we could apply the same idea OCCUPY: JANICK on attacking consumerism, we are approaching the to occupying our job centre, university or old peoples’ problem from the wrong end. Consumer boycotts can day centre. Our Common Statement explicitly mentions EMMA FORDHAM: Where are you from? J: Immediately before, I was cycling in still be a good tactic in specific cases – but boycotting support for the N30 strike, and we were as good as our JANICK: I’m from France but I’ve been France. For years I’ve alternated working consumerism is not a good strategy. word when we organised a large and colourful feeder living in London on and off for 17 years. in London with travelling. I’ve worked as There are other problems as well. A focus on march from the steps of St Paul’s on that day. We need My name is Breton... old Celtic. a bicycle rickshaw wallah and in kitchens. consumerism discourages inclusive forms of protest: Not to strengthen and deepen that commitment. Instead of I’ve picked fruit and worn a sandwich all consumers are equal. Some consumers are the poor focusing on boycotts, our strategy must be one of building board. I’ve travelled to countries like struggling to make ends meet. Are we really suggesting alliances within the workplace. Regular OT Nicaragua, Iran, China and Russia, all the contributor & full- time trying to learn from my experiences, to discover how things work in these time occupier Emma countries, to grow and educate myself Fordham speaks to and gain new perspectives. A long time OCCUPYING OCCUPY 2.0 John Bywater ago I worked in International accountancy an integral member in a bank, so I know that world too. CONNECT / Occupy began activities become more challenging. A Plans are regularly reviewed and of Occupy London EM: What have you been doing while as an original, direct, popular and vicious circle develops as more people remade. All processes are placed under staying at the OLSX camp? spontaneous response to a world crisis drop out and fewer people join in. continuous incremental development. about life on camp J: I’ve been helping in the kitchen, doing that is destroying individual lives and the Although the productive work New issues are added to an open & why he is here. a little bit of everything. Preparing food, natural environment. Occupy challenges becomes increasingly crowded out by the backlog of issues. Everything is as washing up and cleaning, sorting out the the inequality and the division by which harsh (perhaps insurmountable) realities simple as possible, but no simpler. EM: When did you arrive at OLSX? rubbish and recycling, providing hospitality unfathomable wealth is accumulated of camping in a megacity, broad public New processes evolve and new J: Mid-NovemberMid November to visitors... Talking to people and by a few and untold miseries are faced support is established and sufficiently technologies are developed to facilitate EM: What brought you here? welcoming them, offering cups of tea... by the many. Occupy connects with productive relations are constituted for a this evolution. Processes become J: The politicians’politicians trickstricks disgustdisgust me.me. EM: Is camping in the city a hardship the mood and the understanding of way forward to be found. Imperceptibly, approachable and inhabitable again. We pay tax and they spend it on war. or a joy? the general public who are looking for a threshold is crossed. Occupy becomes Democratic methods for conceiving I’ve been convinced for a long time that J: I’m a mountaineer, so camping is fine! I alternatives to the current system (and reflexive. Occupiers talk about moving positive alternatives to the status quo something like this needed to happen. gave up my flat to camp because I wanted often trying to create them). on, and about moving the movement on. are constituted, sustained and secured. Occupy LSX felt like the right thing, at to be a real part of the Occupy community. Each one begins by occupying The term “Occupy 2.0” appears. Cracks in the current system develop the right time, in the right place. The EM: Of all the issues Occupy aims to a public space, operating in an open Inevitably, Occupy breaks with the into fatal fractures. The parts of the old camp is in the perfect location between address, what are the most important manner, and by attempting to conduct damaging forces that are attracted to order are pushed to the margins of a the Cathedral and the Stock Exchange. I for you? simple, consensus-based discussions the camps. Occupy looks beyond the newly democratic system. The desire to wanted to be part of it. J: We need to sort out the shameless before making any decisions. Camps are original tactic of camping in city centres reproduce society is fulfilled. The crisis EM: What were you doing before you speculation of the ‘golden boys’... when created which provide meeting places for and moves into neighbourhoods. Occupy passes away. came to St Paul’s? they make mistakes they should pay for people to gather and hold debates about camps are redesigned as eco-villages. the mistakes, not us. They fabricated the crisis. Hope is generated. The causes MOVE / Occupy continues by money and created a financial bubble of the crisis are illuminated. Declarations connecting with the analysis, the that crashed and now they expect us to are made about constructing alternatives meaning, the personal networks pay for their greed. They should be in to the current system. Experience and the practices developed in the court, not us. and activities are recorded and made camps. Occupy also begins to connect EM: Tell me three things about the available so that others can join in and with the wider incremental and current system that you’d most like to repeat the process elsewhere. The cooperative processes of production change... cracks in the system are taken up as which continue to bring new things into J: Stop corruption – break the link opportunities for escape. existence, despite the crisis. between politicians and finance. Throughout the process, existing Occupy becomes able to challenge Implement real policies for social technologies and practices are adopted. the conditions which nurture inequality housing. Make banks work for the BREAK / Occupy camps suffer from and division. It moves forward with a people instead of against them. the conditions inherent in organising detailed and deepening analysis of the EM: How long do you expect to stay at openly whilst operating in an outdoor failed system. At every turn, positive St Paul’s? urban environment. Forces are alternatives are formulated for living J: As long as the camp is here – fingers unavoidably admitted which dissipate individual lives whilst operating within crossed! energy, consume resources, and the constraints of a finite natural world. EM: Where would you go if the camp weaken the operation. As the operation Occupy becomes increasingly was evicted? becomes weaker, the environment cooperative. Issues are prioritised J: I’d go to the Finsbury Square camp, becomes less habitable, and productive roughly. Achievements are tracked. or another Occupy site. REVOLUTIONARY 1 2 crossword 3 4 5

Down 6 1.______Goldman. Renowned Anarchist who famously said:”If voting changed anything they’d make it illegal.”(4) 7 8 2.Shuffling lark sounds like it leaves indents.(4.4) 3.Famously mutinied at the height of the 1905 Russian Revolution.(10,8) 4.For a quiz to dislpay 9 10 11 dissatisfaction.(7) 6.Life comes before the revolution. Cryptic.(4) 7.Student who led protest movment in Chile 12 last year.(6,7) 8.Reversing French Christmas puts horse walk in the clouds.(4,7) 10.Put back togheter a alternative for change.(6) 11.Marxist theorist who established the concept of “Cultural Hegemony”(7,7) 14.They usually come first but he came second as US leader.(5) 15.Leader of Medieval English revolt. Trawl Yet (anagram) (3,5) 16.Month of the Bolshevik 13 5 15 revolution.(7) 19.Son of a peasant farmer who wrote:”Seek truth from facts.”(3) Across 5.Target of an unsuccessful attack in 1953 in what turned out to be a pre-cursor to a successful revolution six years later.(7,8) 9.Jose, 19th century revolutionary 16 17 philosopher from Cuba.(5) 12.Short-lived self-governing occupation in 1871.(3,5,7) 13.Novel written by an Englishman set during the French Revolution.(1,4,2,3,6) 17.Leader of a slave rebellion in Ancient Rome.(9) 18 18.Country where democratically elected socialist government was overthrown 1973.(5) 20.Untamed feline withholds labour.(4,3,6)

19

20

Daniel Lauand / www.terrapol.com TENTCITY UNI CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK

SATURDAY 21ST TUESDAY 24TH 10.00-20.00/ Housing Workshop with David 14.00-15.00/ Subversive texts - reading the Kroll - Bank of Ideas. 11.00-12.00/ Allysob Bible from the bottom up - St. Paul’s. 18.00- Pollock to speak on the NHS - provisional date 19.00/ How to start a Housing Association with - Bank of Ideas. 15.00-17.00/ Introduction to Stephen Slate - Bank of Ideas. 19.00-21.00/ Participatory Society Event with Conor - Bank of Free University Course: Right to the City?-Debbie- Ideas. 19.00-21.00/ HULQ HOOP/Poi workshop Bank of Ideas. 19.00-21.00/ Hula hoop/Poi - Bank of Ideas. workshop - Bank of Ideas. SUNDAY 22ND WEDNESDAY 25TH 11.30/ It’s the community, stupid: challenging 17.30-19.30/ ”The Arts of Occupation” - Bank the power of the psychological status quo - Philip of Ideas. 18.00-19.00/ Free University Course Thomas&Jocelyn Chaplin - St Paul’s. - Contemporary Issues in International Relations: MONDAY 23RD Unmanned Warfare - Bank of Ideas. 18.00- 15.30-17.30/ Clown Workshop - Bank of Ideas. 19.00/How to start a Housing Association - 19.00-21.00/ Free University Course - Thinking Stephen Slater-Bank of Ideas. about Fundamental Problems with Nicholas *Events are subject to change. Updates on Maxwell - Bank of Ideas. 18.00-20.00/ Free hours & lectures can be found online at http:// University Course - Economic Literacy: Introducing tentcityuniversity.occupylsx.org/ & http://www. Fundamentals of Economics - Bank of Ideas. bankofideas.org.uk/events/

The Digger Songs

WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN (DIGGERS) FROM A BALLAD HISTORY OF ENGLAND, PALMER (LEON ROSSELSON) RECORDED BY DICK GAUGHAN You noble Diggers all, stand up now, stand up now, In 1649 You noble Diggers all, stand up now, To St George’s Hill The wast land to maintain, seeing Cavaliers by name A ragged band they called the Diggers Your digging does maintain, and persons all defame Came to show the people’ s will Stand up now, stand up now. They defied the landlords Your houses they pull down, stand up now, stand up now, They defied the laws Your houses they pull down, stand up now. They were the dispossessed Your houses they pull down to fright your men in town Reclaiming what was theirs But the gentry must come down, and the poor shall wear the crown. We come in peace, they said Stand up now, Diggers all. To dig and sow With spades and hoes and plowes, stand up now, stand up now We come to work the land in common With spades and hoes and plowes stand up now, And to make the waste land grow Your freedom to uphold, seeing Cavaliers are bold This earth divided To kill you if they could, and rights from you to hold. We will make whole Stand up now, Diggers all. So it can be Theire self-will is theire law, stand up now, stand up now, A common treasury for all. Theire self-will is theire law, stand up now. The sin of property Since tyranny came in they count it now no sin We do disdain To make a gaol a gin, to starve poor men therein. No one has any right to buy and sell Stand up now, Diggers all. The earth for private gain The gentrye are all round, stand up now, stand up now, By theft and murder The gentrye are all round, stand up now. They took the land The gentrye are all round, on each side they are found, Now everywhere the walls Theire wisdom’s so profound, to cheat us of our ground Rise up at their command. Stand up now, stand up now. They make the laws The lawyers they conjoyne, stand up now, stand up now, To chain us well The lawyers they conjoyne, stand up now, The clergy dazzle us with heaven To arrest you they advise, such fury they devise, Or they damn us into hell The devill in them lies, and hath blinded both their eyes. We will not worship Stand up now, stand up now. The God they serve The clergy they come in, stand up now, stand up now, The God of greed who feeds the rich The clergy they come in, stand up now. While poor men starve The clergy they come in, and say it is a sin We work, we eat together That we should now begin, our freedom for to win. We need no swords Stand up now, Diggers all. We will not bow to masters The tithes they yet will have, stand up now, stand up now, Or pay rent to the lords The tithes they yet will have, stand up now. We are free men The tithes they yet will have, and lawyers their fees crave, Though we are poor And this they say is brave, to make the poor their slave. You Diggers all stand up for glory Stand up now, Diggers all. Stand up now ‘Gainst lawyers and ‘gainst Priests, stand up now, stand up now, From the men of property ‘Gainst lawyers and ‘gainst Priests stand up now. The orders came For tyrants they are both even flatt againnst their oath, They sent the hired men and troopers To grant us they are loath free meat and drink and cloth. To wipe out the Diggers’ claim Stand up now, Diggers all. Tear down their cottages The club is all their law, stand up now, stand up now, Destroy their corn The club is all their law, stand up now. They were dispersed - The club is all their law to keep men in awe, Only the vision lingers on But they no vision saw to maintain such a law. You poor take courage Stand up now, Diggers all. You rich take care The Cavaleers are foes, stand up now, stand up now, The earth was made a common treasury The Cavaleers are foes, stand up now; For everyone to share The Cavaleers are foes, themselves they do disclose All things in common By verses not in prose to please the singing boyes. All people one Stand up now, Diggers all. We come in peace To conquer them by love, come in now, come in now The order came to cut them down To conquer them by love, come in now; To conquer them by love, as itt does you behove, For hee is King above, noe power is like to love, Glory heere, Diggers all.