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We are the 99 percent

OWS D18 Round Up

Posted 12 years ago on Dec. 18, 2011, 10:24 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

D18 immigrants occupy

Walmart

(1) D18: CHARAS COMES HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS<BR> Facebook Event<BR>

(2) D18: IMMIGRANTS OCCUPY <BR> Facebook event

(3) D18: OWS-WIDE VISIONING SESSION<BR> Facebook Event

CHARAS COMES HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

For over 20 years, CHARAS (aka El Bohio Community Center) served as the hub of a thriving movement of low-income, activist, and artist communities on the Lower East Side. Ten years ago this Saturday, the community center was evicted, robbing New York's left of one of it's beating hearts. OWS will mark the ten year anniversary of the eviction with music, food, friends, and a community speak out. The day's events will include a GA and performances by Great Small Works, Hungry March Band, Rev. Billy & the Church of Stop Shopping and an open People's Mic. Join us:

CHARAS / El Bohio Holiday Party and Community Potluck<BR> Sunday, December 18<BR> 12pm - Rally at Tompkins Square Park, 8th St. & Ave. A<BR> 12:30pm - Proceed to CHARAS, 605 E. 9th St btw/ Aves. B & C<BR> (6 to Astor, F to 2nd Ave.)

IMMIGRANTS OCCUPY

December 18 is the International Day of Migrants. To mark the occasion, OWS and members of the immigrant community will march to demand immigrant justice including putting an end to wage theft and stopping detentions and deportation of beloved community members. Today, the 1% makes billions of dollars by exploiting resources and labor abroad, forcing millions to migrate, then making billions of dollars detaining immigrants in private detention centers and deporting nearly 400,00 a year. This weekend we will march for a tomorrow in which that doesn't happen:

March Against Deportation/Detention and Wage Theft<BR> 1:30pm, Sunday, December 18<BR> Foley Square<BR> (4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge, J/Z to Chambers, N/R to City Hall, A/C/E, 1/2/3 to Fulton)

OWS-WIDE VISIONING SESSION

On Sunday, Movement Building, in concert with a broad array of working groups from throughout OWS, will facilitate a space for us to step back and reflect on our progress, and try to arrive at a common strategic path forward. It will be the first installment in a series of facilitated discussions in which we ask ourselves questions usch as: "Where are we going?" "What potential do we have as a national and international movement?" "How can we continue to grow?" A lot of great folks have put a lot of hard work into ensuring that this is a dynamic and inclusive conversation that will bring us together and help propel us forward. Promises to be super fun:

Vision, Strategy, Tactics: Where Do We Go From Here?<BR> An OWS Movement Conversation<BR> 2:30pm - 7pm, Sunday, December 18<BR> Pace University, 1 Pace Plaza<BR> (2/3, A/C/E, J/M/Z to Fulton, 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge, N/R to City Hall)

Poster By Colin Smith

73 Comments

73 Comments


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[-] 6 points by isupportoccupywallstreet (38) 12 years ago

Too many events! Please have less events and fewer splinter groups hosting them. This is dwindling into nothing.

[-] 2 points by bpmangan (123) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Splinter groups are the whole point, but I agree I would like to see larger events also. For OWS to have any meaningful effect on the amount of things it wants to change it has to start all the way on the bottom in individual people, and these groups can do it better on a small level than we ever could in a crowd of thousands. Nonetheless its important to have that crowd of thousands every now and then to remind ourselves and everyone else just how much power there is in our unification

[-] 0 points by vets74 (344) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Winter matters. Even George Washington had to take his troops out of the field when ice and snow covered the ground.

Don't be surprised if protests go on the "LOW" setting till St. Patrick's Day next March 17th. And it'll likely be May 2012 before you want to push for thousands of people showing up.

Spring and summer are when the OWS rocket gets re-lit.

[-] 1 points by nth (21) 12 years ago

In New York, there is no winter, we've been robbed of a good winter. this week will be in the 50s.

[-] 1 points by untiedshoes90 (2) from Calverton, NY 12 years ago

The is no winter in NEW YORK? Where were you last winter? We had 3 snowstorms hit one after the other in a matter of weeks. The plows could barely get there fast enough. We had 4+ feet wall of snow on the sides of the road and at street corners on Long Island. Just wait until January. The past two winters we've been slammed with snow in January/February.

We still get cold nights. It was 9 degrees here last night. As vets74 said, they are going to have to 'fall back' for awhile. However, just because they may be 'hibernating', does not mean they are asleep.

[-] 1 points by GypsyKing (8708) 12 years ago

That's why we have come to the point we need a leader. Please check out Russ Feingold.

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[-] -2 points by mee44 (71) 12 years ago

Message to all O.W.S.'ers.....

You are NOT entitled. You want it, you work, save and struggle like everyone else.

That is all.

[-] 3 points by vets74 (344) from New York, NY 12 years ago

And the OWS 99%ers are suffering from the $7.3-trillion in direct thefts from the criminal class within "The 1%" just like everybody else.

And we're watching nothing getting prosecuted.

Example: banks are foreclosing houses, then abandoning them. This delays the posting of losses to banks' books, which maximizes salary+bonus for bank executives and keeps bank stocks artificially high.

These are exactly the central crimes that brought the most of 2,500 prosecutions/convictions in 1991-1995 S&L Crisis. Laws have not changed. Crime is crime.

Prosecutorial capture ??? You betcha. And OWS is anti-crime and fundamentally nonviolent. Not anti-work... not a bit... though today's 4:1 ratio of unemployed to open job postings is an historical all-time record for the period after WW II.

[-] 1 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

HEY!

Now hear THIS!

I liked this post by vets74, and it aint getting counted. I don't like that.

[-] -2 points by mee44 (71) 12 years ago

OWS 99%ers are suffering from laziness and bad judgement.

You want to get a degree in basket weaving, of course you won't get a job.

You want to sign up for a mortgage you can't afford, of course they're going to foreclose.

You want to max out your credit cards without the where with all to pay, of course they'll stop lending to you.

You wanna be stupid, of course there will pain for you.

You want to talk about "delays"? Banks TODAY are delaying foreclosure proceedings on houses for anywhere from 12 to 48 months. People are living in their homes and not paying their mortgage for up to 48 months while everyone else continues to pay their monthly mortgage. So if you are smart and play by the rules, you get screwed. If you're stupid and take on a house you can't afford, you get rewarded. What about that????

The "direct thefts" are from OWSers who largely pay NO federal income taxes to begin with today, but enjoy all the social services that everyone else does. You see problems? Well look in the mirror, slackers.

You aren't the 99%. You are the 51%:

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/05/51-of-americans-pay-no-federal-income-taxes/238329/

BOTTOM LINE: STOP MAKING YOUR PROBLEMS EVERYONE'S PROBLEM AND GROW UP.

[-] 1 points by vets74 (344) from New York, NY 12 years ago

I pay huge Federal income taxes, state taxes and city taxes.

The people who give OWS the most support are the long-time worker bees of the financial industry. We know what crimes are committed by the criminals.

These kids ??? Hell, if every open job was filled tomorrow there would still be 6.45% unemployment.

And banks are abandoning homes and leaving them worthless, so's to exploit a reporting glitch in calculations for their Annual Reports.

It's fraud.

[-] 0 points by mee44 (71) 12 years ago

Uh huh. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. You pay zippy, anonymous.

No, the "kids" would be creating their own jobs through entrepreneurship in addition to filling open reqs. It isn't a zero sum game ending in 6.45%. When they work instead of protesting, they earn money to spend. Get it?

I hope they kick more people out of homes who don't pay their mortgage. Clean out the deadwood. That's the only way this economy recovers; when housing prices fall due to lack of demand and people start to repurchase homes at lower prices driven by the market by homes that are empty. That takes time. Screwing with it and allowing people to stay who don't pay only drags this whole mess out longer. Learn economics.

Now get back to your Starbucks Bold Pick of the Day and iPhone.

[-] 1 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

I know plenty of very well off people who are glad this thing is targeting the central banks and bought politicians.

You'd have to be ignorant not to be sick of the two.

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[-] 0 points by vets74 (344) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Consider wealth, too.

Not income. Just wealth. The rich make their money by investments that are not reported to Social Security because they're under capital gains taxation.

[-] 0 points by mee44 (71) 12 years ago

Of course they (banks) are guilty.

And so are the people who signed mortgage papers with overstated income and other gimickry. No one put a gun to their head forcing them to buy a house they couldn't afford.

All people need to take responsibility for their actions.

[-] 1 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

They are both guilty, yes. One is a professional at it, and the other is the consumer.

Its not just the mortgages. The credit card debt, the student loan debt, the national debt, the mortgage debt, the derivative debt, etc. Its outta control.

The only other group I know that lends money without any intention of people paying it back? The mob.

[-] 0 points by mee44 (71) 12 years ago

And at the same time, the government is now in the business of student loans for everyone. No feedback mechanism as to ability to pay, so that's the next industry to go t1ts up. You see, when Obama and do-gooders get involved, things go south, because they aren't financially literate and have no concept of willpower and the human nature in the way people will act to unlimited money.

[-] 0 points by mee44 (71) 12 years ago

And yet I hear very little outrage towards the "fairness in housing" crowd like Obama, Clinton, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, La Raza and ACORN, who pushed for and put these foolish policies into place decades ago under the guise of relaxed "minority lending" standards.

Why is that?

[-] 1 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

President Bush Signs American Dream Downpayment Act of 2003 . Ownership Society, etc.

These politicians always sign onto this shit, because A) they dont have a choice, and B) its good PR for them.

They all lie, they all take orders from the money. Plain and simple. And the big push for all this money in housing came in 2002. No one had seen anything like this before that.

[-] 1 points by Concerned (455) 12 years ago

Subprime lending began in the '90's and continued to grow through 2008. Its easy enough to read up on this IF you don't only rely on those who seek to blame it all on Bush.

[-] 0 points by vets74 (344) from New York, NY 12 years ago

That is absolutely NOT where the losses came.

[-] 1 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

You are right, its not Bush. It was the Fed. And as I have already stated, being involved in real estate and construction for many many years, none of us ever saw anything like the run from 2002 to 2008. It was all created in that time. Sorry, but politicians had nothing to do with it, just happened to happen on Bush's watch.

[-] 0 points by vets74 (344) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Greenspan did what Bush wanted. The Big Boom 2003-2008 was predicated on avoiding a post-9/11 major recession.

Kinda overshot.

[-] 1 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

If you think the central banks are taking orders from a sap like Bush or Obama, um....

[-] 1 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

Because anyone in the biz, like me, in the biz of real estate and construction, knows this was all the scam by the Fed.

Sure the politicians tried to capitalize on it in 2002, hence Bush's Ownership Society, but everyone knows its the banks that push this shit.

A house with a mortgage is producing money. One thats paid off isnt. The country went from almost 1/2 paid off to only 10% paid off. Banks win, politicians play along.

[-] 0 points by vets74 (344) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Money chasing borrowers. Yes, indeed.

But then the Mob got involved and 80% of the Countrywide Financial mortgages were done fraudulently.

(Citi covered up for it. Just as guilty.)

[-] 0 points by vets74 (344) from New York, NY 12 years ago

You're echoing a lie.

The low-income mortgages are called CHCs. These were only let by qualifying CHC banks. They total 6% of all the subprime mortgages - not a significant factor.

As well, the CHCs are on working class area houses. They did not have huge prices. Also, the paperwork on every one of the CHC loans was checked out.

No mystery that the CHCs are the best performing part of the subprime pool. (They're barely subprimes, a half-point higher than prime.)

The lies that get shit out over the radio are still lies, no matter how many times the paid liars repeat them.

Btw: there were also out-and-out fraud mortgages. Most were generated by Organize Crime operations such as Countrywide Financial. Forgery was rampant. Identities of inmates were among the mortgage recipients. These were basically boiler room scams.

Not prosecuted.

[-] 1 points by Concerned (455) 12 years ago

CHC's? I googled that and got nothing.

[-] 0 points by mee44 (71) 12 years ago

What is a "qualifying" CHC bank? What is the significance of that? Do they have a magical unicorn in the vault that makes them all powerful?

If a bank didn't have a percentage of loans to low income applicants, their FDIC charter was threatened by HUD (aka, Uncle Sham). Those rules were pushed by lobbying organizations like ACORN and La Raza. Them's the facts, like it or not.

Boiler room scams? At the end of the day, did the consumer sign the loan papers or not?

Did anyone put a gun to the mortgagee's head to sign for a loan? Be honest and answer the question.

[-] 0 points by vets74 (344) from New York, NY 12 years ago

It's just a little early in the morning to be drunk.

The Federal low-income mortgage programs have covered the working poor for decades. All the paperwork gets done, always has. There's no fraud there. And those houses did not have their prices go sky high. And the traditional income-to-payment ratios were observed (by statute.) And none of them were ARMs.

The private Mortgage-RICO scam operations such as Countrywide Financial ran to 80% fraud paper. Their OC office soldiers forged documents by the millions. Their ARMs are falsely entered into MERS - every one of them from 2006 on.

Sober up before you try defending criminals such as Angelo Mozilo and his whole offices of gangsters.

[-] 0 points by mee44 (71) 12 years ago

I'm not defending Mozilo. I'm simply stating you're very selective in your outrage and a lot of people signed BS papers and did not care about what they signed. Their eyes were way bigger than their wallets and they never thought the economy would go through cycles, so they left the tax payer holding the bag. And we continue to bail them out. And you continue to spew all your venom at banks, leaving individual responsibility off the hook. That's BS, plain and simple.

This isn't rocket science, dipschit:

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/07/top-senate-recipients-of-fanni.html

[-] 0 points by vets74 (344) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Normal economic conditions had been producing 900,000 foreclosures a year. Of those, over 500,000 were related to medical bankruptcies.

For five years that makes 4,500,000 "normal" foreclosures. There's also been no observed Black Magic spell cast on Americans that made them go insane.

Now we have seen 12,570,000 foreclosures for the latest five years of data.

That's 8,070,000 artificial foreclosures. Same population. Same employment pattern for 95% of mortgagees. Whay happened was fraud:

  • Illegal "friendly" insider appraisals.
  • Posting false text in the MERS references for ARMs. With falling interest rates, these frauds generated increases to monthly payment demands - totally criminal due to reliance on inaccurate forgeries.
  • Bank failure to adjust their asset holdings to comply with current values of houses. This results in the foreclosure-abandonment-derelict pattern.

The latter fraud is exactly what we prosecuted bank and S&L officials for in 1991-1995.

2,500 of them including the co-conspirator appraisers and mortgage brokers.

Now ??? Prosecutorial capture is what rules. A sad situation.

[-] -2 points by ropeknot (359) 12 years ago

Ditto !

Where is the movement leader ?

I went to the O.W.S.G.A. and asked a question and there is no response !

What has happened to O.W.S.?

[-] 3 points by struggleforfreedom80 (6584) 12 years ago

There is no leader, and that´s the way it should be!

struggleforfreedom

[-] 1 points by ropeknot (359) 12 years ago

Then how do I , or anyone , get information from a person that is in the G.A. , ( meaning the ones who supposedly have their finger on the pulse of the O.W.S. movement ) ?

[-] 3 points by struggleforfreedom80 (6584) 12 years ago

You´ll get lots of answers to your questions by just going out and talking to the ones involved in the movement.

struggleforfreedom

[-] 1 points by ropeknot (359) 12 years ago

If I'm elderly or not able to go out for some reason, why can't I talk to the supposed finger pulse people via e-mail or internet or this O.W.S. site ?

[-] 3 points by struggleforfreedom80 (6584) 12 years ago

You´re talking to lots of people here on this website, arn´t you? Many Occupiers are active online. Again, talk to the people involved - then you´ll get lots of answers to your questions.

struggleforfreedom

[-] 2 points by ropeknot (359) 12 years ago

I have been !

That's why I tried the O.W.S.G.A. , to no answers or avail !

My point , question , was ; Who do I talk to that represents the O.W.S. movement as in 1 person who speaks for all ?

"[-] struggleforfreedom80 1 points 1 hour ago

There is no leader, and that´s the way it should be!"

Then how do you make a decision that holds water ?

[-] 2 points by Courtney (111) from New York, NY 12 years ago

The General Assembly makes decisions. No one person speaks for everyone, they just speak for themselves.
Some people have had training to speak about the movement, or are involved with Press or Media teams, and some people like speaking about it more than others, but there is no one person who speaks for everyone else. It seems weird at first, and then you realize it is actually a really good idea. If we are working against inequality and the abuse of power, a system where everyone has the same power and everyone's voice is equal starts to seem like a decent model. It seems confusing to a lot of people because it is the opposite of the world we are used to.

[-] 1 points by ropeknot (359) 12 years ago

I think I understand the concept , but when was the last time anything got done because of everyones opinion being aired , having both sides heard , and a resolution being handed down ?

If that could be , some "1" would have to step up and announce it ,right ?

[-] 0 points by vets74 (344) from New York, NY 12 years ago

You got it. There's no Commanding Officer, no Orders of the Day, not much in the way of hierarchy. Parallel processing for parallel objectives.

"Primal scream" against Wall Street corruption - not a bad summary. Those *&^%$#$%^& stole trillions and wrecked more than the short term economy. And the country keeps investing in the military and tax giveaways instead of building for the future. Of course these kids want jobs.

[-] 1 points by vets74 (344) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Yep, that's what you are doing here and now. OWS NYC maximizes bandwidth by parallel multiprocessing - using multiple brains.

And are you familiar with Bill Gwatney of Arkansas ???

The right wingers have been recruiting wack-job fully-armed crazies for decades. No need to put somebody at OWS in danger.

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[-] 0 points by mee44 (71) 12 years ago

===========> I'm the O.W.S. leader! <===========

Which way did they go ???

[-] 1 points by ropeknot (359) 12 years ago

If you find out who they are , let me know please !

If you find out where they are , please let me know !

P.S. If you're the O.W.S. leader , you're not being very responsive !

[-] 1 points by Fiveltalk (1) 12 years ago

hi ropeknot,

what people are trying to tell you is that there is no single person who speaks for the movement, so it is not possible to tell you a single place to go.

when there was an occupation, there was an info table that would have been the best place to direct you. we no longer have an occupation in NYC, hence that is no longer available.

in the present situation, i might suggest speaking to the outreach working group. you can find them online here: http://www.nycga.net/groups/outreach/

try posting in their forum that you have questions, the nature of your questions, and ask there if someone can help you get them answered. they also have twice-weekly meetings you might be able to attend. i'm not affiliated with that group, but it seems like a good place to start.

hope that helps

[-] 1 points by ropeknot (359) 12 years ago

Thanks to all of you for your efforts with me ! I'll try that Fiveltalk . Good luck !

[-] 2 points by struggleforfreedom80 (6584) 12 years ago

These are all great initiatives.

Discussing strategies and tactics is very important. Please read my contribution on where we go from here: http://struggleforfreedom.blogg.no/1321101669_the_transition_phase_.html

And watch Noam Chomsky´s good speech at Occupy Boston:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZbNT62aprM

and his recent comments on The Occupy Movements: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDojDrNqoxg

Solidarity! struggleforfreedom

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[-] 1 points by BarbGantt99 (14) from Mexican Hat, UT 12 years ago

SANTA ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS

3 things: 3 things for Occupy Wall Street and all of U.S. 99%. 1. This is what I have looking for a very long time. I would like to see occupy wall street embrace this self sustaining and self sufficient movement. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/19/wiki-diy-civilization_n_1157895.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/19/wiki-diy-civilization_n_1157895.html?1324310724 http://opensourceecology.org/

We can lead self-sustaining lives without sacrificing our standard of living "It's not reinventing the wheel; it's open-sourcing the wheel." Marcin Jakubowski is open-sourcing a set of blueprints for 50 farming tools that can be built cheaply from scratch. Call it a "civilization starter kit."

The Global Village Construction Set (GVCS) is a modular, DIY, low-cost, high-performance platform that allows for the easy fabrication of the 50 different Industrial Machines that it takes to build a small, sustainable civilization with modern comforts.

the 50 machines that it takes to build civilization from scratch and scrap. Marcin Jakubowski: Open-Sourced Blueprints For Civilization 2. THE ROOT OF ALL OUR PROBLEMS: getmoneyout.com petitions for a 28th Amendment; Stop Corporatism Amendment; to overturn Buckley v. Valeo and eliminate all private finance from the electoral process and lobby. See: Republic Lost written by Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig. http://republic.lessig.org/

3. Criminal Prosecution of Wall Street for their ponzi voodoo weapons of mass destruction and crimes against humanity and crimes against national security.

[-] 1 points by BarbGantt99 (14) from Mexican Hat, UT 12 years ago

SANTA ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS 2 things for Occupy Wall Street all of U.S. 99% 1. THE ROOT OF ALL OUR PROBLEMS: getmoneyout.com petitions for a 28th Amendment; Stop Corporatism Amendment; to overturn Buckley v. Valeo and eliminate all private finance from the electoral process and lobby. See: Republic Lost written by Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig. 2. Criminal Prosecution of Wall Street for their ponzi voodoo weapons of mass destruction and crimes against humanity and crimes against national security.

[-] 1 points by CarlTilchenSingerSongwriter (3) from Rye, NY 12 years ago

Would you like to view my song OCCUPY WALL STREET at http://www.youtube.com/user/ctilchen What's your opinion? Carl Tilchen Singer/Songwriter

[-] 1 points by devin (1) 12 years ago

You missed the OccupyUnconference which took place at Pace University along with the visioning session. There were about 60 self organized sessions and and over 600 people attended. We sent you a press release but I guess it fell through the cracks...?

References:

[Deleted]

[-] 1 points by mrocklop (1) 12 years ago

Right on point gratefulsteve

[-] 1 points by bpmangan (123) from New York, NY 12 years ago

I was also very disappointed to see nothing done about the NDAA. That's a real mess, even if just for the relatively uncontreversial $662 billion defense budget. Something should absolutely be done to help those homeless and otherwise who came to support OWS in Zuccoti and have nowhere to go now. They are our veterans and its just as sad to see them go without as it is to see military veterans go without.

[-] 1 points by JayWalker (29) from Portland, OR 12 years ago

If you want the most support, I would stick with just that Wall Street thing. There's no shortage of controversial issues and controversial people, some of which can be real deal breakers for your support base.

Ponder this... Treat the symptom or treat the cause?

[-] 2 points by bpmangan (123) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Is Wall Street the only cause? I'd argue that a lack of public discussion of political and economic problems is at least as significant of a cause of many of our current problems.

[-] 1 points by TheScreamingHead (239) 12 years ago

Livestream the event for people who are too broke to come (like me). There seems to be a great deal of support for this idea on the FB page, as many people want to participate but can't. This is also especially important to get support from around the nation for national initiatives. This thing can't be just New York, or else there will simply not be enough organized support for things like the Corporate Personhood Amendment.

Occupy Christmas http://occupyxmas.net

[-] 2 points by ForwardWeGo (99) 12 years ago

Dear The Screaming Head I'm in a helpful mood so I will try to be that here for you now by addressing your thoughts and questions in this one stream.

1.) Livestreams - As one who has spent many hours both as a participant in actions and when I am unable, I try to catch as much as I can on Livestream broadcasts. There is a button at the top of the web site that says "Live Stream" click it and you will see many channels from all over the country and world to visit. The ones with a little red light are typically brodcasting an event live. You will also see how many people are watching each channel. Sometimes they are not live, but you may see hundreds of people there anyway, for example a very popular stream is Global Revolution. Even when it is not live, it has become a very popular meeting place in chat for people expressing their demands, acting silly, acting badly, making friends and in many cases discussing events as they occur. They rarely if ever speak but it is also a place where "The evil doers for the 1%" monitor us so they can plot and plan how to rid the world of us do good type people. In addition there are many streams not represented there, one that I like is "The Other 99%" on Ustream. The moderator/cameraman, Tim Poole does a great job showing up at the right places at the right time to take the viewer into the heart of the actions. He has traveled the US visiting Occupy Camps and has represented himself and the movement quite highly. So get out there and burn some hours watching and learning. There really is no better reality TV than real reality as it happens.

2.) National Initiatives - The best group to follow around the big issues is the Freedom Plaza Occupy otherwise known as October2011.org or Stop the Machine. They have been very active on things like blocking the Kerl Oil Pipeline, Natural Gas Fracking, Civil Rights Issues, Political Corruption and other shared issues. They are generally an older bunch of activists that have been at this a lot longer than the OWS folks. Not to confuse, but they are, IMO (In My Opinion) like the "Parents" of Occupies with higher focus on legal advocacy.

3.) Big Events - You make a valid point about planning, but the catch 22 here is that many of the Occupy Actions are by nature as spontaneous as possible to attempt to keep the 1% Army otherwise known as the Police (That we pay with our taxes, fines, tickets, etc.) at bay and guessing. It's sort of like poker, never show all of your cards. That said, expect short notices, and as you gain a feel and footing, you will be "In" on some events before they are announced. Once again, October2011.org has a HUGE event announced to Occupy the National Mall beginning Friday March 30th. If planned correctly, this event has the potential to exceed anything ever imagined, like the Million Man March on steroids.

Well I think I've touched on the gist of each point that you raised, hopefully this will help you find your way a bit better. Keep in mind that Occupy as a movement is seriously in infancy and really only 3 months old as of this past Saturday, so be patient, make yourself comfortable, learn, relate, express your story, your concerns and why you feel it important to be part of this amazing shift in how the world's people feel about their place on this planet. God bless, happy holidays, peace, love and light!

[-] 1 points by allrevolt (1) from Vienna, ME 12 years ago

Dear ForwardWeGo:

Thank you for the valuable information in your response to TheScreamingHead. I had some of those same questions which you answered so well.

I live in the backwoods of rural Maine and would like to thank OWS for the inspiration you provide and initiating just about the only hope we have to change things in this nation, which has been ruled by the 1% and the corporate elites for so long.

I read your website and links and learn so much. I had the privilege of spending a day at Zuccotti when I came to NY in Nov. for family visit, which doesn't happen too often. I was so impressed and felt such a great welcome and love from everyone I came in contact with at Zuccotti. I still talk about my experience with friends here in Maine. I was devastated only 4 days later when I woke up and heard OWS had been evicted. I felt pain for my friends at Zuccotti and I had only been there one day!

I work with folks here building Occupy Augusta in our state capitol. We also were recently evicted... a committed civil rights lawyer took our case to federal court under the First Amendment but we lost. We still plan and do actions. If you guys are in your infancy, we are just neo-natal.

Sorry for the long post. Just one question-- I'd like to learn more about building a similar website. Is there a template or software you can share? Can you link me to a source that might help us with our website for Occupy Augusta?

Peace for thre new year and better times in 2012. Bob W.

[-] 1 points by ForwardWeGo (99) 12 years ago

Hi allrevolt This link is at the bottom of these comment pages and will direct you to the website's origin, peace and solidarity this site was brought to you by various radicals this website is free / open source software on github

[-] 1 points by TheScreamingHead (239) 12 years ago

Thanks for being in a helpful mood, Forward. Other than that slightly condescending comment I can appreciate some of this information. I already do Livestreams; matter of fact, I mirror some of them on my site, http://occupyxmas.net, so my viewers can conveniently watch.

I do appreciate the information about big events and October2011.

[-] 2 points by TheScreamingHead (239) 12 years ago

Also, a big event like this one should have a month or so notice to give out-of-towners more time to make plans and come. If this is gonna be a national initiative and not just a local one, you have to give the good folks with classes and kids and jobs some notice.

[-] 0 points by Zealwriter (5) 12 years ago

NO GOVERNMENT PROGRAM IS COMING TO SAVE US! It's time to take ownership of one's own life. This is still the land of opportunity. People sit around puzzled when immigrants come to this country and prosper. There is no magic potion and its not simply tax breaks, it has more to do with mindset. For those that tune their eyes it is obvious the opportunity that we're all surrounded by-perception is everything. There are mechanisms in place where people combine their resources and as they duplicate this process they create WEALTH! These are things that Dems and Repubs lightly touch on, if at all, but it's a proven process for helping people become Financially FREE while in my company people are getting wealthy and healthy at the same time. DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU NEED YOUR WELL BEFORE YOU START TO DIG! Today your job is secure and tomorrow you could get a pink slip but if you build supplemental residual income now it won't matter what your boss does--invest 3-5yrs doing what others won't do and then you'll be positioned to do what they can't do for the rest of your life. Whiners and handout seekers need not bother----- JOIN HERE: http://ceburns.mymonavie.com

Note:This company made a billion dollars faster than Google in just 3 yrs. The company has been around since 2005 and has the strongest surge of growth in its segment of Health and Wellness. Scientifically validated products, all natural and non-duplicatable. CEO recieved Ernst & Young prestigious award two years in a row. Currently in over 20 countries. Debuted in inc500 magazine in 2009 at number 18 (as opposed to Microsoft's debut in 1984 @ #80). Featured on CBS The Doctors, Rachel Ray, The Today Show w/ Kathy Lee, etc.

Simply complain on blogs like this one and be accused of loitering rather than occupying or Join a growing movement and return here to lead others to water!

Footnote: I've sent this to Occupy Amsterdam, Boston, Austin, Seattle, College, Wall Street, Italy,etc. With no response even after offering a webinar to show how this would be HIGHLY profitable for those presented to and create wealth that a conventional job is not designed to do. A residual income opportunity would clear the Corporate Stables of the Cattle that await slaughter through out sourcing and allow ppl to spend more time with their families while their wealth builds 24hrs a day everyday. If you agree with this tactic Please Contact your local "Occupy movement" or Occupy Colleges @(323)642-8102 and tell them to use their energies efficaciously rather than redundantly and ask them to contact Charles Burns...they have my number :)

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[-] 0 points by zootsuit (34) 12 years ago

3 arrests at charas.

[-] 2 points by JadedCitizen (4277) 12 years ago

US prison population dwarfs other nations. Add 3 more. The numbers should make any sane person stop and wonder why?

[-] 0 points by garybob (3) 12 years ago

Fix Wall Street......everybody gets T3, uptick rule, no naked shorting, computers have equal speed, etc etc etc. Also homeless are allies help them. In general democratic leadership is more compassionate to the poor than Republicans.

[-] 0 points by sufinaga (513) 12 years ago

we face a CHASM OF CATHARSIS as we realise we have been brutalised and that in OUR COMMUNITY we have been healed! we have been brutalised by lies. the main danger is external organisations swamping us with their brainwashed activists. we need to examine LIES that we have been told and in which many CANNOT FACE THE TRUTH, but that is what catharsis is about. we need to examine every concept that is in our minds. we must preserve unity and strive for consistency. for example we are a NONVIOLENT movement yet the PC brigade refuse to openly reject the VIOLENT IMAGES in christianity. putting images of crucifixion in children's minds is unacceptable. we must face the 911 TRUTH that it was an INSIDE JOB and be aware of the freemasons among us falsely claiming it was a terrorist attack. we believe in ABSOLUTE EQUALITY so we must not accept titles such as "archbishop" or "queen" who is the fascist tyrant, the whore of babylon.who is behind the DHS police brutality and the FEMA concentration camps. we must only associate with organisations which openly condemn the DHS police brutality, the FEMA concentration camps and the BS christian muslim war. we must have a continuous revival of our COMMUNITY SPIRIT and exclude those recruiting for their own communities and calling us sinners or infidels because we will never believe their BS. we must go through this catharsis by sticking to NON-VIOLENCE and ABSOLUTE EQUALITY.

[-] 0 points by jomojo (562) 12 years ago

"we're all doing what we can" John Lennon Thanks

[-] 0 points by TheScreamingHead (239) 12 years ago

?? Is that meant to dismiss my comments? Umm...I'd rather have direct communication, thanks.

This is exactly the kind of isolated response I'm talking about. Someone wants to help here and gets the cold shoulder. Not cool. And taking Lennon out of context...uncool, man!! LOL

Occupy Christmas http://occupyxmas.net

[-] 2 points by jomojo (562) 12 years ago

I'm so sorry for not adding a reason for my attempt to quote from a Beatle song. I truly appreciate your posting. In fact it's one of the few "where the rubber meets the road" type of comments to be found. My reasoning is: There's so many agendas, and each should do what they can since individuals can't be advocates for everything, (the list would take the whole page). I think each event should take your advice, and John's. Thanks, hope to see your opinions again.

[-] -1 points by marga (82) 12 years ago

I used to have a T-shirt that read 'Don't follow don't lead, just do something or get the hell out of the way'. Not trying to be mean or something but I have things to do, places to go, so that's for the religious fanatics "get out of my face' and listen to what the world is trying to tell you. No one has to believe what others believe. If you don't like it you can leave. America was build on logic and reason, not God and money. Before America was born it was merely some one else idea and others supported it. It grew, it grew and it grew. It took over the world and some people just don't like it. That's ok. they don't have to. You can always change it and create something new, but don't blame us for everything that is wrong with the world. We all create our own problems. Take some responsibility. We don't owe the world a living and the world doesn't owe us. So why are we supporting the world? Who are we and what's wrong with that picture?