Occupy Ottawa

[Transition Ottawa (/jd)]

I went down Sunday afternoon to the Occupy Ottawa event being held at Confederation Park. There were, I'd guess, about 300-400 people there: young, old, from many walks of life. The mood was non-confrontational, even festive, but the signs many held up and the words that were spoken tell the story of disaffection and frustration with the way things are.

Much of the initial discussion was centered around process: how decision making was going to take place. 

 

People's Microphone

In the absence of a PA system, organizers used the "people's microphone" to broadcast their messages, which at first sounds chaotic, but once everyone got used to it, became quite effective, and very participatory. (The speaker's words are repeated by others in the crowd, until everyone has heard them). This short video clip gives an idea of how it works:

 

Eventually, it was ascertained that a PA system could legally be used, which made communications a little faster.

 

Photographs

I took a number of still photographs of the event, which you can see here. 

 

The issues, as you will be able to see from the various signs, are all over the map, from social justice to corporate greed to, yes, even climate change. 

 

Occupy and Transition

The experience at Confederation Park got me to thinking whether and what might be the resonance between the Occupy movement and the Transition Movement. Both, it seems to me, arise from a deep dissatisfaction -- anger even. The Transition movement tends to be largely apolitical, focussing primarily on the things that can be done, steps that can be taken individually, locally, in small groups, at the community level, to encourage and promote sustainability. The Occupy movement is still inchoate and has yet to find a coherent voice. It wil be interesting to watch the progression as the movement appears to be increasing in numbers and reach. 

 

/ jd

 

Related articles:

Ottawa Citizen story on the event 
A perspective by author Robert Wright 

 

 

 

[Janet D]

Great interview by Chris Hedges. Thank you for that! However, I think the Government of Canada

has indeed played the money game as well. It is also linked with the New World Order, and multi-lateral trade agreements.

 

We need to take back control starting on the local level.

 

Janet D.

[Transition Ottawa (/jd)]

Thanks for the vid, Ron. O'Leary is rapidly becoming the Don Cherry of the financial world.

[Ron Rancourt]

Thanks John, nice photos.  I like all the signs.  I notice there were a number that complain about jails.  One of the better analysis of the Occupy movement that I've seen came from Chris Hedges in his 7 minute segment with Kevin O'Leary. Pasting media below.  To me it's about fraudulent behavior by Goldman Sachs & co. rewarded with bailouts, essentially spending public money to prop up banks and corporations.  

 

The transition movement offers an excellent respite from this massive corruption. I'm focusing on the things my small family can do to become more resilient and it feels good.  Low hanging fruit, lifestyle, etc.. things that have direct, obvious benefit.

 

Chris Hedges has a lot of interesting things to say about the liberal class, too.