Sarah, didn’t you get the message the press has been screaming at us? Your anger was not endearing. And, personally, I’d hold back on comments like ‘people handed hundred’s to me’ at the VAG…
Dec 29
A Holiday Survival Guide for Occupiers…
I’ve been a bit quiet over the holidays, have been incredibly busy- with the extra burden of moving house- so, apologies for the lack of content here. With the New Year coming I will be once more engaged- and the saga will continue!
Until then, enjoy this video- it gives some good ideas for elevator speeches on the Occupy movement. Great stuff…
Dec 21
Oakland’s Black Bloc Speech to Engage the 99%!
“I’m…tired of people telling me what to do!” “I don’t give a shit what America wants- I don’t care, I don’t even care a little bit…”
Dec 20
My Response to Mr Neil of The Council of Canadians
Me on October 15th, speaking about the campaign to take corporate funding out of politics. This initiative was supported by Joyce Murray.
Dear Mr Neil,
Thank you for the quick response. I have always held your organization in great esteem, and have no expectation the Council of Canadians wants to bring Occupy Vancouver to the point of revolution! This is inconceivable to me, as it always has been of course! Your’s is an organization I’d aspire to be part of one day.
However, Leadership from The Council of Canadians have most certainly taken-up residence in our organization- and have considerable influence. Carrying your organization’s name can have a halo effect that makes people overlook what is in front of them. It is a tool that should be wielded cautiously, and with 110% transparency.
Dec 20
A Response from Garry Neil From The Council of Canadians
This letter is the response to: A Letter to Maude Barlow at the Council of Canadians
___________________
December 20, 2011
Dear Greg,
Thank you for your December 16 email concerning the Council of Canadians and the Occupy movement. I want to assure you that the Council is not in any way trying to “take over” or co-opt the Occupy movement. We are very supportive of the movement because the concerns of the occupiers are ones we share. But, we believe that among the real strengths of this movement are the fact that it arose spontaneously as an expression of outrage and concern about the many inequalities in our society, and it does not have identified “leaders.”
Dec 20
A Letter to Maude Barlow at the Council of Canadians
"Maude Barlow addresses an anti-tar sands protest on Parliament Hill."
I was talking with Ruth Meta on December 16th, when she told me that Bob Ages from the Council of Canadians was going to be taking over mediation of Occupy Vancouver’s moderated Facebook page. We both did some research and felt uncomfortable with the transparency in OV’s relationship.
Ruth wrote the letter below and I decided I would also sent it as my personal request. Here is the content of the letter- my next two postings will include responses.
The response to this letter can be found here: Letter From Gary Neil…
Dec 20
Is Occupy Vancouver a Pawn to the Unions? (and others)
Watching this video makes me feel cheap, used, and taken advantage of in many ways. Like we may have been a sideshow for a union’s aspiration to get ‘cred’ with their membership. Curiously, this event happened at the same time as a hearing about OV at city hall- most of us were either there, or had our eyes glued to the livestream…