After our weekend picnics were rained out on consecutive weekends Occupy Melbourne's Dare To Share Teddy Bears Protest went off on Friday December 9th without a hitch. About 25 kids, carers and others met up in Treasury Gardens at 10am for a picnic before heading off on a tour of the various bodies involved in cutting $481 million from education spending in the past year. Despite a little interference from Protective Services officers we were able to occupy the lobbies of the Premiers Office, Department of Education and Department of Education (Office of Children and Early Childhood) buildings. At each we engaged in various activities including mic checks linking the big picture (capitalist greed) to the everyday one (cuts to TAFE, VCAL, occasional care, school maintenances, etc), sining the Teddy Bears protest song (lyrics below) and presenting novelty sized Education report cards (small version attached) failing the government for its anti-social behaviour and indicating that it "must do better". A fun time was had by all and we have plans for more kid friendly protests in the near future.
Video: http://youtu.be/80OeJ08Y8v0
