10/14/11

Occupied - What Now?

Occupy Wall Street has been an extremely hot topic in the recent weeks so I thought of no better topic than this to blog about. Occupied – What Now? by David Swanson on The Smirking Chimp is a great blog about what comes next in the Occupy Wall Street protests. The participants of the protests are mainly protesting against social and economic inequality, corporate greed, and the influence of corporate money and lobbyists on government, among other concerns. He suggests ways on how to nonviolently keep the protests alive and in new ways. He suggests setting up permanent encampments in town squares with free medical clinics and legal services. My favorite suggestion of his was his idea that instead of closing down public roads, which would be disruptive for the daily lives of the 99% not being targeted, that they block driveways of the 1%. Set up at their homes with breakfast and coffee and do not allow them to leave until they answer some questions regarding what direction they will take out country. All nonviolently, of course!

I believe that the big question when it comes to protests like this is always, what’s next? This gives good suggestions on how to keep the movement going. I feel that a lot of times things like this can almost become a “fad”. Will we be talking about Occupy Wall Street next week? Next month? Hopefully this read will be a good way to let people know that there is a next step.

He also talked about that Saturday, October 15th is International Day of Action.  “This is an opportunity to build an international movement to oppose the international corporations that fund the elections of U.S. politicians, write our trade policies, and set our national course toward that cliff just up ahead. Let's make this into a show of brotherhood and sisterhood across borders. Let's do this without politicians or parties. Let's make this a people's demand for global social justice.”

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