Occupy London Movement - The Debate

The Occupy Movement started as a way to oppose government rules and regulations regarding the banking and financial institutions, in regards to the banking system that got saved by public money, and where wealth is kept in the top 1%.  

The problem with the movement is the lack of agreeing what the movement is about, its focus, and how it can be solved to end such an occupation. Personally, I don't think that even those who are camping here will come to an agreement that will end it. In the end, this movement is one to stay, an eye sore, more like vermin. If true change is to happen, it is by actions, not camping on a site.





This initial statement was agreed by over 500 people on the steps of St Paul’s on 26 October 2011, a work in progress and is used as a basis for further discussion and debate.

• The current system is unsustainable. It is undemocratic and unjust. We need alternatives; this is where we work towards them.

The above statement is true, but offers no solutions as to how this is done.

• We are of all ethnicities, backgrounds, genders, generations, sexualities dis/abilities and faiths. We stand together with occupations all over the world.

We do not stand together around the world, each occupation movement has different agendas, and as a whole the movement is not united in one common goal.

• We refuse to pay for the banks’ crisis.

 Too late, we already have. Lets move on.

• We do not accept the cuts as either necessary or inevitable. We demand an end to global tax injustice and our democracy representing corporations instead of the people.

What does the movement propose? Who will pay? Camping on a site does not contribute towards making our society better, perhaps the movement could be more politically involved.

1. We want regulators to be genuinely independent of the industries they regulate.

The above statement is true, but in the end it is the people that elect the governments, who in turn, create teh regulators.

1. We support the strike on the 30^th November and the student action on the 9^th November, and actions to defend our health services, welfare, education and employment, and to stop wars and arms dealing.

OK, but what does this have to do with the initial statement of the movement? It loses its initial focus of the Occupy Movement.

1. We want structural change towards authentic global equality. The world’s resources must go towards caring for people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or the rich.

No kidding Sherlock! This has been happening for decades, at least 100 years! At the same time we dont' want to pay for equality - its just too expensive! Ask yourselves, have you bought because of the value/price, or because of ethical reasons. War is business - and America and Britain have done well with it for more than a century.

• The present economic system pollutes land, sea and air, is causing massive loss of natural species and environments, and is accelerating humanity towards irreversible climate change. We call for a positive, sustainable economic system that benefits present and future generations.

For this we have Greenpeace. The Occupy Movement has another purpose, but again ask yourself, have you bought something because of price/value, or ethical reasons? Even the movement is guilty of not following this mantra above, the site is dirty and polluted, the Occupy Movement does not lead by example.

• We stand in solidarity with the global oppressed and we call for an end to the actions of our government and others in causing this oppression.

We are oppressed and have been for more than a decade. It is the people that have elected the governments. The propaganda machine is at work. You believed it in the past, only now you realise we are only puppets in the hands of big players.

• This is what democracy looks like. Come and join us!

If democracy looks like the Occupy Movement, I'll stick with what I have.

I'm not against voicing your opinion, or beliefs. I understand what the movement is trying to obtain, though am unconvinced how this will be achieved. The camp is not pleasant, it occupies a public space. It is dirty and littered.

If the movement really wants a voice, perhaps daily demonstrations, or involvement in the politics is a much better way of achieving the aim of the first goal, a statement that reads;

Find a system that is sustainable, and just, with true democracy of the people. A call for a positive, sustainable economic system that benefits present and future generations.