lets discuss how we can grow & develop @occupysydney

an open discussion about growing #occupysydney starts right here ... the system is not working , we demand change. Join us discussing ways to build Occupy Sydney for a better future

Just stumped across this. America centric but pretty interesting.

 

Fascinating notion anyway.

Either way, figure it's about time democratic, caring individuals stood up and argued for a better, caring society that does more to look after all.

Not my thing but good on you guys. Am all for freedom and better government.

A key media criticism of the Oz "occupy" movement is that it is merely an "in sympathy" protest with #ows; everything great in Oz/dont have problems of US etc; and so, lacks a key message/s in terms of relevant local context. Suggest focus on the root economic issue - how "credit" is created, and impacts all levels of Oz society. Specifically, how Govt policy from both L & R such as First Home Buyers Grants, negative gearing tax incentives etc, directly supportive of FIRE sector [Finance. Insurance. Real Estate] has fuelled highest in world private debt levels (thus inequality, poverty, debt servitude, family breakdown, etc) via upward pressure on house prices + easy access credit cards and Home Equity Line/s Of Credit; thus finance sector [and thus, whole economy] is post-GFC entirely dependent on Govt/taxpayer guarantees to access int'l money markets (ie, privatise profits/socialise losses model = sovereign risk). Private Debt affects all strata of society, and it is government policy that supports this "growth" "model" now failing abroad (and v. soon, here too). The World is on FIRE. Your message should be, "No Government Support For FIRE".

interesting analysis from ROOS what does everyone think

I agree that Australia has problems and they're not the same problems as the United States has. But we do still have problems.

It doesn't mean we shouldn't support the US Occupy Movement though - everything that happens to the US eventually hits Aus in one way or another. We were also hurt by their bad decisions, and we'll be helped by any upturn that happens there.

But we need to make it clear that we have demands for Australia, and we want to make sure that people know what they are, why we have these demands, and that we are not going to go away until those demands are met.

so sat we will be doing parramatta

re: ROOS local  context

pardon still learning how this works.  local context =  people being divided an conquered over migration when the concentration of wealth and media is causing the problems. factory mergers in steel by internationals, still mining but hiring on 457s and not jobs for locals, used as excuse for NTER.  rent goes up mortgage goes up wages don't. food more and more expensive and taxes still go to queen.  two words RUPERT MURDOCH and you'll get left right and centre onside.  also people don't see a vision, just desire for change, although some of us agree no wing perspective is GOOD general unrest means potential for future unity.  need to emphasise the source of blame look up New Scientist it has been PROVEN the banks own the world - make it science, not politics - people will listen.  point out its not just socialist/anarchist, this is what is awesome, it is everyone, and together we find the solution but first we must acknowledge the problem, and THOUSANDS of cities around the world are doing this, not to mention the Arabs succeeded and they had it even worse.....

also another science thing DEMAND:  Removal of IP law for scientific findings. ALL published science must be free and digitally available. Not just for scientists, but all human community. No more charging scientists to publish, and readers to reader. Double dipping unfair, halting progress. Answers to our problems can already be found and it's greed that's holding us back.  Scientists will support this.  Students will too. It is an answer we need as much as robin hood tax and solar energy

Hello, anyone here?

So DARTIGEN and co, what are the demands of the Occupy Sydney movement as it stands? The movement in it's current form seems to have two distinct wings with two (equally unrealistic) goals: on one hand Socialist Alliance and militant unionists want old-school revolution, and on the other the Occupy the Mind wing want revolution of the mind (a la the hippy movement - change must come from within, etc). Is there a middle ground between the two extremes or us moderates to support that actually calls for change within the system as it stands?

?

wow.. have some stereotypes

I lay it out that way because I believe that is how the movement is perceived by the wider public. Unfair or inaccurate as they may be if these stereotypes exist then you have a PR issue. You can't honestly expect to make any headway with gaining wider public support if you don't give the public a concrete list of proposals they can either support or reject. Hell, I've been around activist movements for 15 years, spoken to Occupy members, watched GA's on Ustream, read widely and still haven't been able to work out exactly what the Occupy Sydney movement wants. What chance does the 98.95% have if they're being informed of the movement by a 2 minute news report showing protesters getting dragged away by police? I think it's a legitimate concern. Unless the movement isn't actually serious about representing the 99%..

As a footnote I'd like to say I'd love to support the movement and want to see it grow and make a meaningful difference.

Anyway, I've blogged these suggestions elsewhere, but just to show I'm not all criticism here's my take on how to grow and develop the movement locally..

A – CLARIFY THE MESSAGE: Much hay has been made in the media that the Occupy movements in Australia don't have a clear message, and represent concerns that aren't directly relevant to Australia. Addressing this should be a matter of priority.

• Develop a survey quizzing supporters on their concerns and the issues related to the Occupy movement they feel are most pressing. Make the survey available in person and online (easy enough with gDocs). Collect as many results as possible and study the feedback. Identify the recurring concerns.
• Present these concerns as concrete, achievable targets (ie. 20% renewable energy by 2020 is an achievable target, 'human need not corporate greed' is not).
• Before writing off our democratic system completely as 'broken', try to use the avenues available within it to raise the issues (letter/email campaign, 10,000 signature petition, etc).
• Give all Occupy Sydney media spokespeople talking points before actions. Make sure they can articulate the aims of the movement in a few clear, inclusive, positive sentences using bipartisan, slogan-free language. Stay on message and don't allow other campaigns to piggy-back on the Occupy movement (ie. NT Intervention, free Gaza, etc).

B – BROADEN THE SUPPORT: You've got the radicalised 1% on board, now try to capture some support from the other 98%.

• Compile a list of influential community, religious and business groups (yes, business – they were hit hard in the GFC remember). Invite representatives of each along to a listening day where you just hear their concerns. Get RSVP's, hire a hall, provide refreshments. Don't talk during the day, just listen.
• Afterwards look back over notes of each groups' concerns, similar to the survey step above. Consider common ground between their concerns and the Occupy movements (which you've by now clarified). Draft a letter individually to each group that attended highlighting this common ground, stating that you wish to campaign publicly on their concerns, and would appreciate their presence at future actions.
• Be nice to the police: they're part of the 99% as well and are only doing their jobs. Hell, maybe some of them support your aims. Antagonising the authorities with speeches decrying 'police brutality' or yelling 'Nazi f***ers' to their faces (both of which I saw on 5th November) is counterproductive and tempts a heavy-handed response. To which everyone outside the movement will think you deserved. Do the police have concerns of their own? What are current police union campaigns? Can they be integrated into the Occupy movement? Obey all police directions. If you witness inappropriate police behaviour record it and file complaints or legal action through official channels.

C – MANAGE YOUR IMAGE: Be aware of how the movement is portrayed in the mainstream media, and fair or not every action by every Occupy participant reflects on the movement. The anti-carbon tax rally in Canberra was widely ridiculed by the public and press because of several offensive banners. Don't be so naive as to think the Occupy movement will be judged by a separate set of standards.

• Keep all official press releases, online and print media jargon-free and politically neutral (I think you've been doing a great job on the latter but not the former). Don't refer to vague notions like 'big business', 'the state' or 'capitalism'.
• A few seconds of news footage of a scuffle with police undoes hundreds of human hours of positive, unreported work. The riot police may be spoiling for confrontation but don't give it to them. The Occupy movement has infinitely more to lose by conflict and arrests than the riot police. Make it clear at the start of actions what type of behaviour is unacceptable. Use marshals to keep actions on-route. If conflict does break out between protesters and police, deescalate tensions as quickly as possible. If this proves too difficult publicly distance the movement from the violent protesters and make it clear this type of behaviour is completely unwelcome at actions.
• Remember the people the movement claims to represent and have the self-awareness to realise how the movement looks from the outside. The Masterchef-watching, Liberal or Labor voting majority aren't going to be impressed if they see symbolic funerals, giant Che flags, street theatre or inarticulate humanities students poorly representing the movements' case on the nightly news.
• Confound expectations. Get more suits involved. Shallow admittedly, but it presents an image jarringly at odds with the crude (and incorrect) public perception of the unwashed, dreadlocked, unemployed protester. Present well when publicly representing the movement.