This is the attitude we are facing at OV. This video is recent, and by the same person who made a threatening message about October 31st. We know who you are…
Permanent link to this article: http://www.genuinewitty.com/2011/11/17/a-video-about-ninjas-from-a-guy-who-hangs-around-with-the-black-bloc/
Nov 17
@VancouverPD: We need some answers!
VPD on Day 1
Dear Chief Chu,
Your officers know me; I’m the one who has been fighting to ensure Occupy Vancouver live up to our anti-violent commitment. I’m the one who stood up on Oct 8th and yelled out: “Are the police not members of the 99%?” We’ve coexisted at OV for over a month now, and the relationship has been fruitful.
When a crazy guy threatened to ‘de-occupy’ OV (he threatened fire tonight) I came to Seargent Argent and asked for his assistance. Your force helped do a risk assessment for us, and made sure we are safe. Thank you!
I’m also the guy who was talking at a GA and said “Police violence only exists because the people allow it!” The moment when two of your undercover’s exposed themselves to me and nodded in solumn agreement. That moment changed my feelings on the VPD forever- you are all members of the 99%.
Then, it was one of you who told me that OV may have been hijacked, by “Highly organized people”, and they told me these people could be violent. I’m in a mess now because of it, and I need your help to get me out of it.
Can I ask you for a favor?
You need to come out of the closet now, and speak about this in public. We need some questions answered, or our movement will be damaged. You are part of this thing – like it or not – so, you have a responsibility to help too:
1. What political manipulation have you experienced during this election? If you respect us, you will not keep secrets about what happens in the background.
2. New York had some problems like ours, as may have Oakland. In NYC, there is a strong belief that the NYPD sent disadvantaged people towards Occupy Wall Street in a cynical ploy to hurt OWS. Can you please confirm nothing has been done like this by you, or any other influential force in this city?
3. Tell us the whole story about your suspicions. If there are idiots in ninja costumes, there can’t be too many. By exposing them together, we can all be winners.
I’ve worked hard the past few weeks to make OV peaceful. This has benefited you- so, can I please ask that you do this for me? If you can, I will love and cherish you as brothers forever…
Respectfully,
Greg Renouf
Permanent link to this article: http://www.genuinewitty.com/2011/11/17/vancouverpd-we-need-some-answers/
Nov 16
Occupy Vancouver: A modern Agora…
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/2011/11/15/occupy-vancouver-geography-modern-agora
I’ve been keeping a collection of great things to say about Occupy Vancouver since it began- just waiting for the right reporter to share them with. This opportunity came last week when David P. Ball showed-up at the food tent. He was explaining to someone next to me that he was writing a “good news” story about our movement- so, I jumped on the opportunity and threw it all at him.
He took three of my favorites:
- “We come here to break mother’s golden rule: ‘Don’t talk to strangers'”
- “This place is a modern agora. We have people from every order of society coming here — and we talk.”
- “It’s okay to talk about politics in Vancouver again!”
Thank you David, of all the reporters I’ve met at OV, you are the only who is a true gentleman…
Permanent link to this article: http://www.genuinewitty.com/2011/11/16/occupy-vancouver-a-modern-agora/
Nov 16
Forget the Past, Look to the Future!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI83Qxwp8DI
I feel the need to apologize to Mi Jung Lee about this incident. Despite the fact I find most of CTV’s news coverage abhorrent, and I’m sure deep inside she agrees, it was incredibly impolite for this man to treat her this way.
I’ve met the man in the video- he runs a business selling things about the 9/11 ‘conspiracy ‘. I went up to him one evening on a peacekeeping mission- trying to bridge the gap between the 9/11 conspiracy camp and others who saw them as a negative impact on the the movement. I too was rather effected by what happened on that day, so felt I could fix the disconnect…
If there is one commonality between all the people at Occupy Vancouver it is that all of us feel so hurt and disillusioned by the system that we were compelled to join the movement. For some, the issue is the racism/sexism/’other-ism ‘ they felt in their lives- others are driven by economic issues and poverty. And, still others are motivated by the feeling an encroaching ‘nanny state’ that is making too many rules- this explains the strong representation of ‘raw milk’ on our first day. For this man, it is the perception the government and media are feeding him lies about everything.
For me, as a centrist, it is a mix of all-of-the-above. I hate injustice in all of its forms, I see the economy failing miserably, and as an ethicist I am deeply disturbed by the narratives I hear from the government and media. When we centrists stand out and take a risk to speak about about things- there can be no doubt the world is a mess.
But, if we want to change the world, we can’t stay focused on the past- that only results in our movement treading water. We need to shed our anger and look to the future. Forget about the who, what, why, how, and where: look for solutions to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
So, Mi Jung Lee, on behalf of our movement, I apologize to you. But, I also leave you with a challenge. Use your position inside of the system to make change- don’t accept the lies, and structure your work so that you can stop them. Show us that you can be respected, and it is likely that people will respect you too…
Permanent link to this article: http://www.genuinewitty.com/2011/11/16/223/
Nov 16
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
Perhaps I am just naive but, when I joined Occupy Vancouver, I truly never thought people there would believe stuff like this. Nor did I believe that 15 of them would re-tweet it!
Can someone please explain to me how one could imagine such a statement as being valid?
Permanent link to this article: http://www.genuinewitty.com/2011/11/16/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/