"NON-VIOLENTLY sending a message to the financial sector worldwide. Australia too is under the same bind of freedom because of monetary policy and corporate greed. Show your support for Occupy Wall Street! Occupy Australia!!!"
Dear all,
I am writing as a call to action for the International Day of Protest due globally on October 15th 2011.
As you may well have heard by now, the Occupy Wall St protests have gained attitude and momentum, and have spread virally across the United States, and now the world, calling for an end to corporate greed and injustice, and a real democracy for all human beings on this planet.
As a part of this movement we are hoping to plan a peaceful, passive protest somewhere in Melbourne CBD, Federation Square has been mentioned as an ideal target. Simultaneous protests are currently being planned in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney.
Of course we expect: non-violence towards all, co-operation with police, commitment to clean occupational space, liaising with local business and acceptance of different views whether they be left, right or otherwise.
With great respect to the fact that this is quite short notice (just over a fortnight...) we would ask that you consider this protest and that you should be a part of it. This is a call for us as Australians and citizens of this planet to stand up in solidarity without narrow political ideals for our rights to co-exist free from the bonds of political interests swayed heavily by high-end corporate greed and intentions. Jobs are being lost and the poverty line is being pushed further down as a result of the "1%" gearing the financial and political systems towards their own best interest.
We of course are a small grass roots movement with no attachments to any political or religious parties, we feel this is a part of a global movement and a fantastic oppurtunity for all to stand up and let their voices be heard. Any opinions, input or help are of course greatly appreciated and encouraged. And of course if you feel this is a worthy
I ask you to please consider and visit the following link:
http://facebook.com/occupymelb t_athanasopoulos@hotmail.com
Myself: oo.agar@gmail.com
Occupy Melbourne: occupymelbourne@gmail.com
thanks for your time
Comments
It's time RMIT Unversity started functioning properly
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=167124456709539 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_education
"The right to education is recognized as a human right and is understood to establish an entitlement to education. According to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights The right to an education is an obligation to develop equitable access to higher education in particular by the progressive introduction of free higher education."
'Thousands protest as student anger boils over'
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/30193
(700 students stormed into the main building of the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) on March 31. The protest was part of a national day of action organised by the National Union of Students (NUS) against attacks on higher education.)
THE OCCUPY MOVEMENT NEWS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8o3peQq79Q&feature=player_embedded
RMIT IN THE PRESS
RMIT's 2010 Annual Report - $78.6 million profit and senior executive salaries
http://www.nteu.org.au/library/view/id/1575
Facebook causes page: http://www.causes.com/causes/537740-save-art-from-rmit
Front page of The Age, april 14th 2011: http://www.theage.com.au/frontpage/2011/04/14/frontpage.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoDVKa7om9g
http://www.youthwork.biz/
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/rmit-seeks-to-silenc...
http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/12/03/fine-mess-looms-in-fine-art-at-rmit-...
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/art-school-altercati...
http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac;jsessionid=94B6F27A...
http://www2b.abc.net.au/science/k2/stn/newposts/5090/post5090880.shtm
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/nationalinterest/stories/2011/3193018.htm
___
Anonymous: Mass Protest Survival Guide (As applied to Wall Street)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOit6CzX6M8&feature=related
support the war against the New World Order!
We are with you brother, support the war against the New World Order!
time to stand up and say 'No More'!
For too long have the masses been acquiescent to the multiple injustices that have been done in their name. time to stand up and say 'No More'!
ensure our grievances give birth to clear demands
I think that mobilising the people for a good cause is certainly worthwhile. No doubt. Much of the current global economic woes can be attributed (put simply) towards a) greed, and b) lack of accountability insomuch as being able to thwart such greed.
But my reservations lay with what exactly the FOCUS is, ie. plan of action behind the movement? I sense there exists the obligatory rhetoric (buzzwords such as 'curruption' and 'corporate greed' etc.), but little concrete demands? We cannot be seen as yet another student/hippy movement that wants to express anger towards the status quo without putting forward some real, worthwhile and rational demands?
If we intend to win the hearts and minds of the ‘general public’ (the ones that vote, remember), then we have to ensure our grievances give birth to clear demands; ie, have 5 simple points on which we implore our government (and the Australian public at large) to act upon appropriately… I have formulated some ideas of my own but I am interested in hearing what others think first.
Ps. I should announce that I am indeed of the far-left persuasion (I do not wish to reveal anything more on myself). However I would argue that even the supposedly insurmountable distance between the left-right dichotomy can be overcome when it comes down to what we face today; a situation so clearly WRONG that those of either end of the spectrum would recognise this very basic, yet crucially important fact. 1% should not control 40%. That has never been ANYONES idea of global utopia.
unreasonable rent increases I'm suffering for years now!
I will be joining you young ones, protesting against the unreasonable rent increases I'm suffering for years now!
17.5% every year in the last 2. How on earth can that be justified when interest rates have not changed for at least 12 months?
I am outraged, and I protest!!! GREED IS NOT GOOD!!!!
Love to keep my job and pay less tax - how will this help me?
I'd love to keep my job and pay less tax. How will this protest help me do that?
I also really like the house this rich family up the road lives in. Will you teach me how to rise up and take it from those greedy people? Even just for a few weeks? (I'm not greedy myself).
Rock on.
People at this protest are nothing more than jealous freeloaders
You want to know how you can take the house from the rich (greedy) guy up the road, how YOU can keep your job and pay less tax. YOU are the most greedy person. You can take the house, with hard work and determination like the rest of us. Life is simple. If you live in a city there are 1000 other people just like yourself wanting that house. Move to the country. Supply and demand. Do you know what you get for free, NOTHING materialistic, just love, nature, the planet, the best most important things. People at this protest are nothing more than jealous freeloaders. Life will never be free, sure education should be more affordable although it is not free. Someone has to pay for it with their taxes. Think about it. Start a business and sell lemonade. If your lemonade is sweeter and everyone wants it you make $$$. If your lazy, you sell your lemonade and it's sour, no one buys it, why should you have the same as the other guy. If a large corporation sells his lemonade cheaper to destroy you, it's simple, adapt to change, b smarter, think how you can outsmart your opposition, that's what they do, so do it to them. If you can't it's probably because you are not smart enough. Most people with wealth accumulate it because they are smart. The rest of the sheep like the people at this protest are not smart enough, just having a cry because they dont have the same material as the guy next to them. I feel sorry for the protesters, stuck in the rat race, if they really understood life and what it's really about they wouldn't give a crap about 1% having 99% of the crap in this world. Go back to your job and do what you want. And remember if your not rich tough luck, try something else you communist jealous bastards. By the way you can't change anything so go back to work and enjoy your life, it's very short.
Capitalism is broadening the gap between the haves and have nots
With your lemon stand analogy, ok so you end up with the smart guy, with a monopoly of lemonade stands. To increase profits, he avoids the minimum wage laws by employing 99 overseas students who find it difficult to get work in Australia. He has them working for $10 per hour. Any competition he squashes by reducing price to make it unprofitable for anyone else to enter the market. Then he decides reduce the amount he pays to his lemon supplier because he is the largest purchaser of lemons in the country. He also puts the lemon suppliers on 6 month payment terms..because they have no choice. The lemon suppliers try to meet the demands and stay profitable by skimping on the quality of the lemons and the lemons start to become more bitter. Meanwhile, the owner of the lemonade stand starts to slowly increase prices because there is no competition and people have no other choice.
The end result:
1. 1 rich person
2. 99 employees living below the poverty line
3. expensive and bitter lemonade
This is the reality of capitalism.
I think we need to step back and think is capitalism enhancing or destroying the way we want to live.
Capitalism itself is blind. It is a tool to achieve a purpose. If unguided (as it is) it will and is broadening the gap between the haves and have nots. It is not about fairness or equality, but survival of the fittest. It achieves wealth (not happiness or contentment) for the strong and few, poverty for the weak and many. It promotes greed as an ultimate virtue rather than love, compassion, kindness, honesty, integrity etc.
FYI, I was not part of the protest, but it did spark my interest to think about these issues and because they achieved that, it was successful and I say well done.
Protests often about middle Australians yelling for free money
But it’s the end consumers, left, right, middle and anywhere in between that opt to purchase the cheaper lemonade, rather than paying for the minimum wage paying lemonade in the first place... and if the lemonade business was paying minimum wage, given that no one is willing to pay for it, that lemonade business will no longer be there which will result in more unemployed people than previously... I'm people's money to the poor people, someone would already have done it... but not saying that the disparity of wealth is right or should be ignored, but these protests are often about middle Australians yelling for free money... step back and look at the economy as a series relationships and consider the impact on each sector and provide solutions. If it was simple as giving rich unfortunately, all people, including the left, like electricity, iphones, soy lattes - and only corporates are able to provide these and they won’t provide them from free, and the key point is, neither would you.
We need a strong Right Wing Government before it's too late
Amen to that...The majority of the great unwashed attending these rallies seem to be either those that are "serial students" that apply for any useless Uni course year after year (employment dodgers) or lefty ferals living off the backs of the tax-payers, these are the real free-loaders of society and it's a pity the police didn't bring out the water cannons to rid the streets of this lefty scum.The hard working tax payers of this country, obviously arent working hard enough to support these ferals because the monetary benfits they are receiving just isnt high enough.We should return to the "If you dont work, you dont eat" simple...stop all the handouts! We need to return to a strong Right Wing Government before it's too late
how is that remotely similar to the monetary policy in Australia
Ahem, monetary policy in the US has them printing money and lending it at zero interest rates. Ahem, how is that remotely similar to the monetary policy in Australia?
Get some coaching, or so some research the next time you try and rally the troops to support a "cause".
Banks turn a profit of more then 600 billion dollars
We live in a country where banks turn a profit of more then 600billion dollars..
I am the 99%
Where is the melbourne livestream ???
Where is the melbourne livestream ???
Banks can lend out many times the amount held in reserve
Funny how some people think that the banks in Australia are not the same as the banks in America when they both use fractional reserve banking which means that they can lend out many times the amount held in reserve, if that multiple fails due to speculation then the share value of the bank falls. It was this speculation that caused the GFC which is still failing and begining to rob the taxpayers of the world untill they revolt, Australia is part of this system our insulation was no debt and raw material sales, holes in the ground, gas in the water, carbon tax,lending from China, yet if America and Europe don't buy China's goods we can not sell iron ore and coal it will be then we see that all western banks are the same.
POLICY IS TO CHANGE FROM CHAOS/ORDER to GRATITUDE/SERVICE
It has to be this simple.
POLICY IS TO CHANGE FROM CHAOS/ORDER to GRATITUDE/SERVICE.
There should be no created entities as they are without Conscience but as there are companies, which wont go away easily, it is clear that no corporation should be able to operate without a Conscience and thus the Conscience of all companies must become Gratitude /Service policy in ALL things. If the company is not Greatful for ALL and AT the Service of others in its pursuit of profit, it should be wound down for the benefit of the collective. The office of Human Evolvement Logical Progress HELP Pty Ltd is run the G/S :)c way.
What is G/S :)c ?
G/S :)c stands for Gratitude and Service (with a smile to Our Collective acknowledging that we practice G/S :)c for the sake of a stable creation, irrelevant of the individual or circumstances).
G/S :)c is knowing that You are an evolving Soul, guided by Conscience (God)in a physical Unit for the purpose of evolvement; and all that happens to Your Unit,all that it thinks and does and all of its emotions are simply a temporary experience for Your Soul. The emotional turmoil that Your Unit is designed to expose Your Soul to maybe overridden with the conscious intention of Being Greatful for ALL experiences (as they are all for the purpose of evolvement so that the Infinite Intelligence may know of its infinite potential), and being AT the Service of others not self (others being God, who is the Universe in which we ALL evolve, self being the Unit).
:)c ...smile to Your collective acknowledging that we practice G/S:)c for the sake of a stable Creation, irrelevant of the individual or circumstances.
Enjoy the ride!
You are a Soul with a body not a body with a Soul. You are in Your physical Unit to be exposed to experience so that You may develop as a Soul. Your physical Unit is designed to cause you to become upset in the flow of energy between love and fear, and it will become aggressive in the flow between chaos and order. To maintain the soul's perspective so that You may watch the emotions of the Unit without feeling trapped in it, consciously be Greatful for ALL and AT the Service of others:)c
I am AT Your Service :)cin
http://gscounseling.webs.com/
The needs should be free or at the very least tax free
Just because a person is a politician, banker or doctor doesn't mean they're less likely to steal than a cleaner or a bar-person...
We are all prone to being weak at times, we are human, the difference being a cleaner steals a ream of plain paper while the paper the politician steals has dollars printed on it...
This (occupy 'the world') is a good start in the right direction. Firstly u need a completely transparent government then the people themselves also need look at themselves, within themselves, because greed is something we are all guilty of....
What do you need? What do you want? The needs should be free or at the very least tax free.
HEALTHY FOOD TAX FREE: Fruit, vegetables and lean meats. Incentives should be given to people who wish to diversify small areas of land for vegetable, fruit and animal production on a sustainable an local level.
WATER TAX FREE: We build a desalination plant when every person should be given a free water tank plus lets be honest we do waste a lot of it. Recycled water should be a first option then desalination should come in 2nd. Its not a debt it just common logic.
FREE EDUCATION. It should be the most gifted and determined that are given the best opportunities not those who's parents have the highest income, every person has the right to an education.
I am a construction work only because the idea of a $24,000 loan at the end of 4 years and the idea of earning minimum wage for the next several years upon completion of uni stopped me from going.
I earn $150,000 dollars a year and I am largely uneducated and unskilled, there is no fairness in this world if those who educated our children and paid peanuts while those who make the decision that keep the poor poor are paid hundreds of millions of dollars.
I say quiet politely fuck the 1%!
Collective conscious awakening - Utilise your energy
It is time for all of us to search within ourselves, holistically... to search for our higher self answers. Not the answers that govern our ego, our 'told' belief system. Search for how to change our world, to be mindful of not telling other people 'how to live their lives', what belief systems to hold... even if the intention is coming from the purest place. Our stand would be successful if we communicated, exchanged love energy even if the opposing idea (corporate or not) is not on the same flow.
I wish that for tomorrow, we all speak, learn, grow and understand further.
Look towards corporation buildings and emit your pure love energy... talk to police of love and change, maybe collectively if we focused our electromagnetic energy in the love direction it could emit a love change... a change within corporation.
I know I speak of hippie things... and silly love tales... but from what I know.. others using forces opposing love ie... hate... war... death... destruction... pain... fear... has only allowed the 'other' side (whatever that means) to feed off that energy and make things worse.
Peace to all protestors around the world...
Power to the People for holistic, karmically shifting OPTIMUM, positive, beautiful change.
Love
Why don't newspapers tell you why you're protesting!
Don't you love how the news is suppose to be non opinionated. Then where is the evidence of them talking about why you are protesting. I agree this new world order is scary and will eventually come to pass but we can speak up. The problem is money talks and protestors simply make a mess. How non opinionated is that! How are we suppose to be noticed when all around the world we are only told what they want you to hear. Start looking and you will find the answer.
Wealth tax for all countries so there's no place to hide
i noticed one of the speakers called for a wealth tax. but said that in countries like france where such a proposal has been slightly introduced, the wealthy elite have simple uprooted their money and moved to another exotic accountability free island. how then will a wealth tax in australia not result in the same reaction? I am not trying to be pessimistic. i simply trying to refine what can be done against the global wealthy elite. will it be possible for every country in the world to initiate a comprehensive wealth tax so that there is nowhere to hide for the elite?
Many see competing in a world of "Scare-city" as inevitable
ps. the arguement i constantly get when spouting (my often unwelcome hehe) leftist or rather humanitarian views is that money and competition is inevitable and neccessary. So many people bought into the idea of social darwinism in the 80s that now the concept that you have to compete and make money in a world of scarcity is seen as just the way the world is. maybe we need to say to people with this mentality that if so much of the worlds profits were not owned by the 1% (or less) then none of us would have to "compete" in a world of "Scare-city"
ps can one of the policies of this movement be to DECREASE employment and INCREASE fun (or rather employment in your works of passion)
Yeah we all need to contribute to mobilising the resources of the world so that we can all get our basic needs met, but work shouldnt be five days a week (or more) on the job, so that you can spend the other two forgetting about those five. 5:2 THOSE ARE SOME BAD ODDS.
By not buying from them they lose power..
Hey Everyone..
If politicians did what was really needed to be done
they get voted out by the voters.Society has become
lazy and expects too many handouts.Too many
cheaters at all levels so corporate companies need to cover for
this But sadly their a large corporate organisations just being Greedy
to line shareholders pockets.This in itself wont work
for much longer as we are seeing..so they are desperately
trying to stop the inevitable...Global Financial Crash....
The greedy operators will suffer ....Gravity of their greed is and will
fall and this will bring on realistic balance.
Its happening as we speak..if you want to really
make them hurt, and learn..protest against supporting corporate control
by not buying from them..thats when they lose power..
No cash ..No power..Make it policy to not buy corporate because
society greed on a bargain supported their empire..
So protest and promote this..Supply and Demand.
People demand ..They supply..we buy...
Whos fault is it now..they are smart and the human is part naturally
greedy..We know need to grow in Not supporting corporate greed orientated companies supplying
shareholders who dont want to work..Your right about that it is wrong and I Agree.
But be smart..learn the competitors weak spot..
Dont buy and support corporate greed..It has taken them years to get this strong and it
will take a few to weaken them..Sadly this greed will mean many suffer from their greed.
But if they accept reality and readapt they will be ok like
we all always have been..Hope I make sense.
Dont be angry at your enemy..Dont be revengeful.
A constant ,silent but visual message and pro active decisions and
patience will provail..The media is corporate run and the ceo,s
wont approve of promoting a reality that could cost them their
corporate future..We humans gave them power..Slowly take it
back one by one until they fall...or adapt in a realistic manner.
Also remember,some wealthy are wealthy because they give back
this wealth and so they are weslthy..This is good..
The wealthy spend there money and there money creates jobs.
So its not all corporate greed however it has got
ridiciously out of hand by a greedy Few CEO's..and their shareholders..
Anyway .A Good Start People...Be safe and enjoy the goodness
in our world and dont support corporate run organisations that
dont give back.
I am confused about what you want??
To the occupy protesters:
This is a 'noble' and society changing cause, but realisticly, the two questions are "what do the occupy protesters specifically want?" and "how will it be solved?". General and vague sentiments are usless. To simply say we're fighting against 'corporate greed' and 'we are the 99%' is ambiguous and really doesn't help advance your cause.
More specific requests and demands coupled with SOLUTIONS will clarify your cause and hopefully, for your sake, advance your cause.
In these modern times of high living expenses of course young people are frustrated in the knowledge of the huge profits of large corporations. Habitating public spaces may be an effective means of gaining News coverage, but it does diminish your credibiblity and argument. This is due to the portrayal, to the general public of an image of low class, freeloading bums. Not to mention the trespass and disruption to everyday '99 percenters' who are trying to live their life and fulfil aspirations.
I get the feeling that the occupy protesters are the greedy in this circumstance, wanting change, reform and things to go their way, with little or no work on their behalf. In a democracy, personal desire for change can be pursued via participation in political or commercial ventures.
If this is such an issue run in a political election (if a political party is too 'mainstream' or 'authoritarian' then run as an independant). I have a growing suspicion that many protesters do not seek this option as they in actual fact do not represent the sentiment of the 99% and would face political failure.
IF this is such an issue then enter business, gain power and reform the system from the inside. This may face a problem for the protesters however, as Universities are evil (or something like that) and education is so unattainable in Australia despite being subsidised by the Government using tax payer money. The occupy particiapants may also not choose this option as gaining influence in business requires time, hard work and dedication.
It seems the protesters would rather throw a tantrum and expect somebody to listen.
To all occupy protesters: Don't be worried about money or material goods or worldly posessions. Surround yourself with people you love doing what you love, be happy with your aspirations and enjoy this wonderful life To the occupy protesters:
This is a 'noble' and society changing cause, but realistically, the two questions are "what do the occupy protesters specifically want?" and "how will it be solved?” General and vague sentiments are useless. To simply say we're fighting against 'corporate greed' and 'we are the 99%' is ambiguous and really doesn't help advance your cause.
More specific requests and demands coupled with SOLUTIONS will clarify your cause and hopefully, for your sake, advance your cause.
In these modern times of high living expenses of course young people are frustrated in the knowledge of the huge profits of large corporations. Habituating public spaces may be an effective means of gaining News coverage, but it does diminish your credibility and argument. This is due to the portrayal, to the general public of an image of low class, freeloading bums. Not to mention the trespass and disruption to everyday '99 percenters' who are trying to live their life and fulfil aspirations.
I get the feeling that the occupy protesters are the greedy in this circumstance, wanting change, reform and things to go their way, with little or no work on their behalf. In a democracy, personal desire for change can be pursued via participation in political or commercial ventures.
If this is such an issue run in a political election (if a political party is too 'mainstream' or 'authoritarian' then run as an independent). I have a growing suspicion that many protesters do not seek this option as they in actual fact do not represent the sentiment of the 99% and would face political failure.
IF this is such an issue then enter business, gain power and reform the system from the inside. This may face a problem for the protesters however, as Universities are evil (or something like that) and education is so unattainable in Australia despite being subsidised by the Government using tax payer money. The occupy participants may also not choose this option as gaining influence in business requires time, hard work and dedication.
It seems the protesters would rather throw a tantrum and expect somebody to listen.
To all occupy protesters: Don't be worried about money or material goods or worldly possessions. Surround yourself with people you love doing what you love, be happy with your aspirations and enjoy this wonderful life while you can. (If you feel so caught in the rat race then I suspect that you've not spent enough time out of the city. Get away, go on a holiday in the middle of nowhere and appreciate life for what it is)
Oh and lastly, occupy protesters, if you believe that corporate greed is SUCH a systemic issue in our society then stop playing into their hands. Consumers are the fuel for business success.
If you feel so strongly then stop shopping at coles and woolworths, get off your Iphones, Ipads and Macbooks. Get off Facebook, Twitter and Myspace. Cancel your mobile phone and internet plans and stop consuming their products and succumbing to their marketing.
Bottom line is, If you give these companies your money, then aren't they totally within their rights to use it AS THEY PLEASE??
while you can. (If you feel so caught in the rat race then I suspect that you've not spend enough time out of the city. Get away, go on a holiday in the middle of nowhere and appreciate life for what it is)
Oh and lastly, occupy protesters, if you believe that corporate greed is SUCH a systemic issue in our society then stop playing into their hands. Consumers are the fuel for business success.
If you feel so strongly then stop shopping at coles and woolworths, get off your Iphones, Ipads and Macbooks. Get off Facebook, Twitter and Myspace. Cancel your mobile phone and internet plans and stop consuming their products and succumbing to their marketing.
Bottom line is, If you give these companies your money, then aren't they totally within their rights to use it AS THEY PLEASE??
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle
Anyone wishing to contact Lord Mayor Robert Doyle (or include him in any worthwhile online subscriptions), be advised: lordmayor@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Drain on public purse, negative image to our beautiful Melbourne
I wonder if you so called "Occupy Melbourne" protesters usually threaten to have a go at 85 year old women? Numerous folk I know have been super late for work or to get home to commitments, including their children because of you people not to mention the drain you are causing on the public purse and negative image to our beautiful Melbourne. Get some respect "protesters" and go home!
Join our new cause!
We are starting a new cause, and hope you will gather behind us for support!
It will be called "Get a Job Melbourne!"
We are hoping to organise protests on the date of... umm... next... gee this is awkward. You know what, we'll probably all be too busy with work or spending time with our families to have time to protest.
But you guys have fun protesting!
And while you do that... I guess I'll go... find something to spend some of the money that I work hard for on...
Oh... and by the way, I'm 25 and if it wasn't for my... what's that word you guys use... uh... "Greed". Well if it wasn't for my "greed" I would never have saved up enough to provide 120 Australians with the jobs they have today.
But... if Australians want to complain so much, I'm sure myself and other "greedy" employers in my situation are more than happy to outsource!
Your lack of appreciation may just save us a little bit more $$$!
Go Aussies! ;)
HAHAHAH!! That's pretty freaking funny dude!
HAHAHAH!! That's pretty freaking funny dude!