Fwd: Report from Occupy LSX

[Mark Barrett]

    *MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011***** *System is 'unsustainable', says Occupy
LSX <http://www.aworldtowin.net/>*



“This is what democracy looks like,” says the first statement agreed by the
mass assembly of 500 held yesterday outside ****St Paul****’s Cathedral in
the City of ********London********.********

****Indeed, the camp in the heart of ********London********’s financial
district has become the site of a mass discussion about the way forward in
the global struggle for democracy against corporate and financial power as
well as the political system itself.

********

****The ****London**** occupation began as one of thousands held around the
world on October 15, including huge rallies and demonstrations in ****Madrid
****, ****Rome****, across the ****United States****, ****Israel**** and ***
*****Palestine********.********

****Inspired by the Wall Street occupation, a large green banner at ********St
Paul********’s pronounced “We are the 99%” and on Sunday a new banner
appeared, saying “Capitalism is Crisis”. The tent village in front of the
cathedral is now drawing into its third day, despite increasingly cold
weather.********

****

Young people from around Britain have joined with seasoned campaigners from
across the world to go beyond one-off protests to assert an alternative to
established political channels which they feel do not represent them. “They
have cut off all our avenues for protest,” as one participant said.

********

****The assembly on the cathedral steps collectively agreed on an initial
nine point statement <http://occupylsx.org/?p=221> which emphasises the
unsustainability of the current system and demands “structural change
towards authentic global equality”.****

****

A call for the setting up of People' Assemblies throughout the country, and
directly for the aim of a new “constitutional settlement so that people were
in control” put by democracy campaigner Mark Barrett was warmly received.***
*****

****

Saturday’s rally of around 2,500 was entirely peaceful as the occupiers
tried to enter ********Paternoster Square******** where the stock exchange
is located. Hundreds of police, including Forward Intelligence Teams and
helicopters circling above, cordoned off access to the square.****
****

****

In the event, the tree-shaded area in front of St Paul’s Cathedral has
provided a dramatic and safe setting, thanks to the intervention of Canon
Giles Fraser who appeared outside the church after a police cordon tried to
force demonstrators away and told the police they were not needed.********

****

The camp is now well-organised with neat streets of individual tents, many
with handmade placards pinned on them. They are backed up by mobile toilets,
a food station with piles of bananas, water bottles, donated tins,
plus information,
media, medical areas and even a “Starbooks” library tent.********

****

Teams are responsible for cleanliness. The occupiers and passers are
entertained by live music. Groups meet in circles to debate what the aims of
the occupation are and how to achieve them.********

****

Organisers include Facebook groups Occupy LSX, 15O Unite for Global
Change, Occupy
London Stock Exchange camp, Take the Square and it is supported by Spanish
Real Democracy Now campaigners, People’s Assembly Network, UK Uncut, A World
to Win, Right to Work campaign and People’s Assembly London.********

****

A flyer issued by United for #global democracy demands “global governance by
the people, for the people, inspired by our sisters and brothers in Tunisia,
Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, New York, Palestine-Israel, Spain and Greece” and
called for regime change.********

****

The #OccupyLSX’s initial statement calls for support for the 30 November
strike and student action on 9 November, but the trade unions, who are in
the Coalition government’s firing line have been noticeable only by their
total absence.********

****

Going outside and beyond the existing political parties and trade unions to
assert an independent democratic movement – and connecting it with the
anti-dictatorship movements of the Arab Spring – is a huge step in the right
direction.********

****

Let the jaded cynics and dogmatists carp as they like. History is leaving
them behind. As one demonstrator
said<http://www.aworldtowin.net/frontline/15October%202011.html>
:



“We are going through a great awakening: everyone is waking up and
discovering the true power of humanity. We don’t need to be treated like
this any more - we are moving into a new age – and we want our futures
back.”********

****

How to achieve this aim is central to the
event<http://www.aworldtowin.net/about/eventOc2211.html>
 this Saturday, *People’s Assemblies to People’s Power*. Everyone is welcome
to join in the dialogue at Passing Clouds Collective.********

****

Corinna Lotz********

http://www.aworldtowin.net/blog/system-is-unsustainable-says-occupy-lsx.html
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/private/diggers350/attachments/20111017/9effddc0/attachment.html>