The Future of #OCCUPY
ADBUSTERS TACTICAL BRIEFING
The initial phase of the #OCCUPY movement was marked by several weeks of viral growth that peaked on October 15 with a global day of action. In the next phase, there will be a turn towards addressing the deep philosophical and strategic questions of how to escalate this democracy moment into a revolutionary people's movement. Across the nation there are clear signs that the #OCCUPY movement is simultaneously maturing and growing more militant.
Of the many questions swirling around #OCCUPY, the most challenging is how to gel into a global movement without sacrificing the decentralized, leaderless model. There is a widespread acknowledgment that there are challenges that can only be dealt with on a global scale, such as a climate change accord and overturning international casino capitalism, and that we must therefore forge a globally united people's movement. However, there is also a growing recognition that the general assembly model that has worked beautifully thus far may be fundamentally limited on a structural level.
A breakthrough came on Friday from the New York City General Assembly where the structure working group has proposed, and the general assembly has accepted, the adoption of a modified spokes council model that will work in conjunction with the general assembly. This lays the foundation for a regional, national and potentially international spokes council, something that both #OCCUPYPHILLY and The 99 Percent Declaration have been pushing for. We are beginning to see how the #OCCUPY movement will elevate itself into an international force.
Meanwhile, the power center of the movement is shifting away from the East Coast towards the West. On Wednesday, #OCCUPYOAKLAND is organizing a General Strike that is already finding support within the local community. Solidarity actions are planned in occupations nationwide. Within the movement, there is a sense that this may be a turning point as militant tactics come to the fore and direct confrontation with the structures of the corporate-state becomes the norm.
Other sparks on the horizon include the November 5 Transition Day/Bank Transfer Day, the November 25 Buy Nothing Day kick off to #OCCUPYXMAS and the December 10 Global Day of Action which was proposed this week by the international network behind the blast on October 15.
Hang in there!
for the wild,
Culture Jammers HQ
370 comments on the article “The Future of #OCCUPY”
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Anonymous
Useful idiot. Keep spewing, honey. Nobody pays me to comment on Internet discussion boards. I *have* a job. I don't sit around smoking pot in my mother's basement for a living.
"Stand down of police and military"? Really? You're kidding, right? Or, are you just trying to make your pretend "movement" seem like it has tentacles that reach further than they do, so that the other useless fools are more likely to sign on?
In the Middle East, the people toppled brutal, murderous dictators, who had physically oppressed them for decades. The children of OWS are pissed off that they're expected to work for a living and will probably never achieve the level of success enjoyed by those who innovate, create, build, and contribute constructively to society. Those are two very, very different things!
No, even though it's apocryphal, the comment of the Japanese military leader who supposedly said that an invasion of America was doomed to failure, because there was a rifle behind every blade of grass, had it exactly right.
You Fifth Columnists think that you're time has come. Well, the fact is - except for that whole slavery thing - things in this country are not and never have been as bad as you seem to think. Comparisons to the Arab Spring are simply ridiculous.
Face it: You're just jealous that some people, who take risks, work hard, and provide products and services that people want and are willing to pay for, have more stuff than you.
Are you willing to die for that childish position? Well, if you decide to go the violence route, I certainly hope so, because there are millions of us in this country who are armed and quite willing to help along in your quest for martyrdom.
Anonymous
Useful idiot. Keep spewing, honey. Nobody pays me to comment on Internet discussion boards. I *have* a job. I don't sit around smoking pot in my mother's basement for a living.
"Stand down of police and military"? Really? You're kidding, right? Or, are you just trying to make your pretend "movement" seem like it has tentacles that reach further than they do, so that the other useless fools are more likely to sign on?
In the Middle East, the people toppled brutal, murderous dictators, who had physically oppressed them for decades. The children of OWS are pissed off that they're expected to work for a living and will probably never achieve the level of success enjoyed by those who innovate, create, build, and contribute constructively to society. Those are two very, very different things!
No, even though it's apocryphal, the comment of the Japanese military leader who supposedly said that an invasion of America was doomed to failure, because there was a rifle behind every blade of grass, had it exactly right.
You Fifth Columnists think that you're time has come. Well, the fact is - except for that whole slavery thing - things in this country are not and never have been as bad as you seem to think. Comparisons to the Arab Spring are simply ridiculous.
Face it: You're just jealous that some people, who take risks, work hard, and provide products and services that people want and are willing to pay for, have more stuff than you.
Are you willing to die for that childish position? Well, if you decide to go the violence route, I certainly hope so, because there are millions of us in this country who are armed and quite willing to help along in your quest for martyrdom.
Anonymous
Oh those horrrible "brutal, murderous dictators, who had physically oppressed them for decades." What's different about this system? Sure theres no pubic hangings-theres the death penalty, in a super advanced democratc society, that has branded anyone thats doesn't side with he US as a "dictator." and then theres people like you that believe everything that they are spoon fed. Try thinking OUTSIDE the mainstream.
And another thing: everyone should work hard for a living. That's why we're pissed at the corporations that abuse their postitons and live off the backs of other people.
Anonymous
Oh those horrrible "brutal, murderous dictators, who had physically oppressed them for decades." What's different about this system? Sure theres no pubic hangings-theres the death penalty, in a super advanced democratc society, that has branded anyone thats doesn't side with he US as a "dictator." and then theres people like you that believe everything that they are spoon fed. Try thinking OUTSIDE the mainstream.
And another thing: everyone should work hard for a living. That's why we're pissed at the corporations that abuse their postitons and live off the backs of other people.
Anonymous
Oh those horrrible "brutal, murderous dictators, who had physically oppressed them for decades." What's different about this system? Sure theres no pubic hangings-theres the death penalty, in a super advanced democratc society.
So, you consider the death penalty to be on par with the mass exterminations of Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, etc.? That's what your statement entails. You make it impossible to take your arguments seriously.
Anonymous
Oh those horrrible "brutal, murderous dictators, who had physically oppressed them for decades." What's different about this system? Sure theres no pubic hangings-theres the death penalty, in a super advanced democratc society.
So, you consider the death penalty to be on par with the mass exterminations of Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, etc.? That's what your statement entails. You make it impossible to take your arguments seriously.
Anonymous
Relax. Nobody is going to take away your two chickens and a mule.
Anonymous
Relax. Nobody is going to take away your two chickens and a mule.
Anonymous
Are fucking serious? I totally appreciate the need to defend your way of life, that should be the driving force behind every action that is taken towards a positive change. But that's just the thing; this CURRENT way of life SHOULDN'T be defended! THATS what the Occupy movement is all about; changing a capitalist system that has brought everybody to the brink of destruction-and now we won't let them rebuild that SAME flawed system!
Sure, there a people getting high and being idiotic, just as there will always be. But the majority are fighitng for a better future-isn't that as futre that you should be defending, as you said "we are ready, willing, and able to do whatever it takes to defend the country and the way of life we love. And, yes, I mean with violence. Extreme, unmitigated, merciless violence." Defend a better future with that violence, IF NEED BE but remember-if this movement becomes violent it will give the government the perfect excuse to shut it down, if the cold doesn't get us first.
Perhaps you don't want a change and are comfortable with your way of life, maybe your family, your kids, your little seculded unaffected life uninterrupted by everything else. I understand that you may hate that change is occuring because it disrupts your calm way of life. But change WILL happen whether you "like it" or not. Hopefully for the better, as we're pushing for that, because we all want a future where we can live happy peaceful lives like people should be living from the start.
Don't draw a line in the sand with the "us and them" mentality. We should UNITE, we want the same things, and if things get messy, we need people like you to fight FOR us, we need that passion. I'm only a 17 year old girl but I'm fighting for a better place to live in, for an oppurtunity to HAVE an oppurtunity, for a place free of corporations and an oppressive government breathing down your neck. Not just for myself, but for a happy, peaceful life I plan to share with my own family someday, like the life you probably are leading since you don't want this particular change.
And lastly, fuck this "democracy" and how America, the whole fucking CONTINENT of North America is trembling at the thought of horrible, scary, "OPPRESSIVE" socialism/communism/ any other form of government other than the one they currently have. I live in Canada, and I can tell you, the ILLUSION of "roghts and freedoms" is great, but open your mouth to voice what you REALLY think and you're screwed. Stop deluding yourselves and fighting with that bloody violencce for your precious "democracy" that's nothing but a farce and embrace a NEW form of government, EDUCATE yourself outside of the fucking mainstream, and open your mind and eyes to a change. Lrrd knows it's been a long time coming.
Anonymous
Are fucking serious? I totally appreciate the need to defend your way of life, that should be the driving force behind every action that is taken towards a positive change. But that's just the thing; this CURRENT way of life SHOULDN'T be defended! THATS what the Occupy movement is all about; changing a capitalist system that has brought everybody to the brink of destruction-and now we won't let them rebuild that SAME flawed system!
Sure, there a people getting high and being idiotic, just as there will always be. But the majority are fighitng for a better future-isn't that as futre that you should be defending, as you said "we are ready, willing, and able to do whatever it takes to defend the country and the way of life we love. And, yes, I mean with violence. Extreme, unmitigated, merciless violence." Defend a better future with that violence, IF NEED BE but remember-if this movement becomes violent it will give the government the perfect excuse to shut it down, if the cold doesn't get us first.
Perhaps you don't want a change and are comfortable with your way of life, maybe your family, your kids, your little seculded unaffected life uninterrupted by everything else. I understand that you may hate that change is occuring because it disrupts your calm way of life. But change WILL happen whether you "like it" or not. Hopefully for the better, as we're pushing for that, because we all want a future where we can live happy peaceful lives like people should be living from the start.
Don't draw a line in the sand with the "us and them" mentality. We should UNITE, we want the same things, and if things get messy, we need people like you to fight FOR us, we need that passion. I'm only a 17 year old girl but I'm fighting for a better place to live in, for an oppurtunity to HAVE an oppurtunity, for a place free of corporations and an oppressive government breathing down your neck. Not just for myself, but for a happy, peaceful life I plan to share with my own family someday, like the life you probably are leading since you don't want this particular change.
And lastly, fuck this "democracy" and how America, the whole fucking CONTINENT of North America is trembling at the thought of horrible, scary, "OPPRESSIVE" socialism/communism/ any other form of government other than the one they currently have. I live in Canada, and I can tell you, the ILLUSION of "roghts and freedoms" is great, but open your mouth to voice what you REALLY think and you're screwed. Stop deluding yourselves and fighting with that bloody violencce for your precious "democracy" that's nothing but a farce and embrace a NEW form of government, EDUCATE yourself outside of the fucking mainstream, and open your mind and eyes to a change. Lrrd knows it's been a long time coming.
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