Pre-Occupied London PT 2: Occupy movement has legs

[“Those who study social movements in Canada and the U.S. say the Occupy movement has just begun and has already had greater success than expected.” Nov. 16, London Free Press]

Tents have been taken down in some cities in Canada but the movement doesn’t seem to be going away.

This causes some to gnash their teeth and say, “They should go get jobs!”

Others hope for positive change to come out of the movement.

In perfectly average, pre-occupied London, the city in which tents were dismantled first, Occupiers’ general assemblies still take place in Victoria Park daily and a citizen-based panel has formed to take discussions a step farther by inviting Londoners to Wolf Performance Hall at the Central Library for a series of discussions re relevant issues beginning Dec. 13., 6:30 p.m. [Link to citysymposium.com for more details.]

While the Occupy movement has relatively young legs, those legs appear to be sturdy and may be ready for a long-term march.


["Some have the spirit of persistence.": photo GH]

When asked about the possibilities of success with the panel discussions in London, panel chair Glen Pearson (Director of the London Food bank and former MP) told me the following:

“There is a chance this might not be a successful process. Citizens at large across the country aren't revealing a collective yearning for change - yet. I want to help my community to respond to the present economic and environmental challenges effectively, but it will be a long struggle. You do these things because they are the right thing to do, not because you are assured of success. I have a responsibility as a citizen - we all do - and I only seek to fulfill it.” (Nov. 19)

Like Mr. Pearson, individuals and groups who believe in doing the right thing are often not easily dissuaded from pressing forward. Believing that “the present economic and environmental challenges” are great keeps them in the game even though “it will be a long struggle.” And like Mr. Pearson, many feel a sense of personal responsibility as a citizen of Canada to face challenges head on and not back away.

Occupy Toronto doesn’t seem to be going away either.

A blog post entitled ‘Occupy Toronto Day 35: Labour solidarity rally’ by John Bonner shares the following:

At the C.D. Howe Institute, protesters filed into the building and walked to the second floor where they were met by building security who temporarily prevented them from entering a corridor outside the room where the roundtable assembled.

"It was you and the policies that you guys advocate that actually caused the economic collapse speculating with our futures," said Joel Duff, Communications Director, Ontario Federation of Labour.

"Why doesn't the C.D. Howe Institute want to listen to the people whose lives you are affecting with your policies?"

With the assistance of police, the protesters were allowed to enter the room in order to clear the fire exit.

"You can't just arbitrarily take away rights of workers and not expect any push back," said Sid Ryan, President, Ontario Federation of Labour, referring to Minister Raitt's "political interference" during the Air Canada and postal workers strikes.

"There's a price to be paid when you take away the right to free collective bargaining, the right to strike," said Ryan. "When you (Lisa Raitt) use bogus excuses to try and take away the rights from workers, you will find that we will dog you every step of the way across this country." rabble.ca, Nov. 19

[Please click here to read the full article.]

Perhaps in the face of government interference legs grow a bit stronger in order to push back. I think we’ll see more of this type of action. For example, I won’t be surprised if our federal Conservative government, confident in the light of its first majority, interferes in other ways, i.e., in other labour negotiations, hoping to take away the rights of workers, the powers of unions, etc. Other groups may also push back, so to speak, as the government strips environmental and social programs to reduce the deficit and pay for the next scheduled round of corporate tax cuts.

And, in my opinion, as more Canadian citizens see or sense injury to families, communities and natural surroundings, see the emptiness of an excessive consumption-based lifestyle, the more sturdy legs will appear in direct or indirect support of the Occupy movement.

C’est la vie.

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Please click here to read Pre-Occupied London PT 1.

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