[polldaddy poll=5666532]
Nov 12
A Resounding No!
I’m on my way home after attending the Meet the Candidates at the Kitsilano Neighbourhood House. I submitted a question for all candidates:
“Is it acceptable to use Riot Squads to shutdown Occupy Vancouver?”
My question was lost in the crowd, so wasn’t discussed. So, I Politely insisted my question be answered at the end.
The room stopped, my question was taken seriously, and then, like dominos- no!, no!, no!….
So, there you have it. They were all on video, and not a single person on the board even dared to disagree!
So, can we now ask the Black Bloc to retire! 😉
Nov 12
Some motivational speech from a man who’s words are worth….
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Nov 12
Occupy myself…
Something enormous is happening inside of me, I can’t wait to share it with you all.
But, first, I have to very special girls to take care of. Spent my night building dioramas to remind them both how much they mean to me.
Love you all…
Nov 12
Is The Pope Catholic?
Globe & Mail: “Vancouver fire officials say Occupy site isn’t safe”
Vancouver Sun: “We are co-operating,’ Occupy protesters say – and fire chief agrees”
CBC: “Occupy Vancouver complies with fire chief’s demands”
___________________________________________________________
Dear MSM,
Are you F#$%ING kidding me?
Of course, camping is a risky business for the unprepared. We all understand that. This is what motivated us to engage the VFD to create a fire plan!
You are missing the real story here- that people in our movement are willing to endure great discomfort, and accept physical/social/economic risks in exchange for a free democracy!
What is your personal contribution?
Sincerely,
Occupy Vancouver/Toronto/Montreal/Calgary/Edmonton/Moncton/Victoria/Moscow/Wall Street /Zimbabwe /Mars….
Nov 11
Why Does Media Coop Keep Releasing Agitation?
Why does the Media Coop keep publishing videos that allude to police violence or violence towards the police? Is this sort of subversion not illegal? What is their connection to Harsha Walia? And what is the connection with W2?
Nov 11
Say What?
Folks, I’m scared.
I’ve unwittingly stumbled onto something about Occupy Vancouver that may just be the most important story about this movement yet. If you read my article Titled Yellow Card you’ll know the story. Harsha Walia is the person who injected the term “Uunceded coast salish territory” into our statement of unity- possibly the most divisive issue ever to hit the OV.
Will follow-up more soon but, for now, please have a look at this video. If you have any information that can help me with this, I’d appreciate if you could share. There are still a few missing puzzle pieces missing. If you have any information that you think may be helpful, please let me know.
Nov 10
A Media Tip From the CBC
I ran over to the VAG on Monday afternoon, ran to the bus about 5 minutes after I saw the video from Sunday night’s kerfuffle over a certain ‘sacred’ fire- more about that on my next post…
Ian Hanomansing was there interviewing people for the CBC’s evening news show ‘The National’. He spent some time talking with us after the camera was turned off, and shared a bit of useful advice.
He talked about the Robert Dziekański incident- a situation where the RCMP tazed a Polish immigrant for the crime of not speaking English. When interviewed, before it was known there was a video tape available, the officers fed the press with a lot of BS. Once the video came out, it was obvious they were lying.
His advice was that the press judge people’s integrity by the gap between what they say about the incident, and what the video shows actually occurred. Good advice, and a very sly way of saying GOTCHA to the people he interviewed!
Nov 10
Eye of the Hurricane
I’ve been taking late night visits to Occupy Vancouver 1.0’s camp at the Vancouver Art Gallery(VAG). People have more time to talk at night, so it is a good time to get into more substantial conversations.
Each time I go to the VAG I find something to be different- and today was no exception. Most of the tarps have been removed, a second dome is finished, the fire was not burning. and the demographics have changed beyond recognition.
There was an addict that came to the medical tent while I was speaking with one of the volunteers there. He came for some latex gloves- promised he was walking around the corner, with a buddy, to go shoot up. So, still enabling, but at least they aren’t alone in a tent…
The quiet reminded me of being in the eye of a hurricane- a short reprieve before the next stage of the storm arrives. If only people at the camp could have got their act together before it was too late.
Nov 09
YELLOW CARD: Undemocratic Behaviour?
A serious problem has been resonating in my head since yesterday. I’ve tried to ignore, but it is affecting my ability to sleep…
First, a disclaimer. I have nothing but respect for the people I’m about to criticise – agreeing to facilitate this meeting was a heroic act.
We began our meeting with the agreement we would stick to logistics and planning- not policy.
I was in awe how well we kept to this decision (a major achievement!) Then, right at the finish line, we were led astray with a potentially divisive policy decision – to acknowledge we were standing on land that does not belong to us.
I have some strong views on this issue. It’s my opinion that humanity will never achieve peace until we stop blaming and holding each other liable for the misdeeds of our great grandfather’s. So, it is time to stop blaming each other and to find a way to move on…
I never thought I’d speak in this context- but, I’m left feeling I’ve been oppressed. I’m not angry, only concerned we may have failed here.
The question was thrown at us without warning, there was no opportunity to debate, and I was afraid to speak out- without time to explain my position, I feared being labelled a racist, or that people would mispercieve my intentions.
I’m curious to hear other people’s perception about this incident. Am I over reacting? Did others see the same? If so, how do we avoid such situations in the future?
Peace,
Greg
(Posted on Occupy Vancouver Facebook page on October 9)