What's going on?
On September 17, just weeks ago, people from all across the United States joined the social movement that has been spreading throughout the world against the blatant injustices perpetuated by the 1% (economic and political elite) whose actions affect all of us, the 99%. They spoke out, resisted and successfully occupied Wall Street, New York, along with more than 50 other cities in the United States.
Today they proudly remain engaged in non-violent civil disobedience while building solidarity based on mutual respect, recognition and compassion. On October 15 people in all corners of the world will unite in a global demonstration to claim our right to a true democracy and the power to determine our future.
Why Occupy Melbourne?
We face similar problems with our democracy here in Victoria and Australia as people face in most other developed nations. Our democracy is unwell. Our elected representatives no longer represent their constituents, instead their ears are turned by wealthy lobby groups, whilst the common interests of the people they were elected to represent, are ignored. Some levels of our government are also rife with corruption.
It's time our elected representatives actually started representing the 99% of the population who don't have enormous wealth and political influence. Who suffer the social, economic and environmental consequences of corporate greed. Who work to generate enormous wealth for a mere 1% of the population.
Inspired by the actions of those striving for democracy in North Africa and the Middle East, and similar demonstrations throughout Europe and more recently, in the United States. From these events, "Occupy Together", a global social movement for real democracy, has grown. It is from this global movement that Occupy Melbourne has grown.
How will it work?
The people of Melbourne will begin occupying the public space of City Square from October 15 onwards.
Some of them will drop in for an hour, others will stay for a workshop or a bite to eat, others might stay for a General Assembly, many will camp and spend the night, others will call City Square home for weeks, months, as long as it takes.
The people of Melbourne will be running a Speakers Forum, there will be General Assemblies based on the Occupy Wall St model, we will be running Workshops where we can have broad discussions on politics, education, equality, the environment, and Working Groups will facilitate media, logistics, food, equipment, and other tasks.
This will be a peaceful occupation of public space. It will be alcohol and drug-free.
City Square is our square. The streets of Melbourne are our streets. They will be our home within our home, as we strive for a more equitable and representative democracy, capable of progressively taking us beyond the 21st century.
Will this be a defining moment for the western world in the 21st century? It's up to you.
Who got this started?
The people of Melbourne. Occupy Melbourne is not affiliated with any political party, Adbusters, Anonymous or any other organisation. We come from a wide range of beliefs, ideas, opinions, political ideologies and backgrounds, young and old. Occupy Melbourne was directly inspired by Occupy Wall Street and other movements inspiring us to Occupy Together, like Democracia Real Ya in Spain, though Occupy Melbourne exists independently from these movements.
Isn't Australia being illegally occupied already?
It certainly is. When European settlers first declared ownership of the continent of Australia, it was declared "Terra Nullius" or "land belonging to no one", despite the fact that millions of people already sustainably occupied the continent for tens of thousands of years prior to European arrival.
Occupy Melbourne recognises that this demonstration will take place on the land of the Wurundjeri people, of the Woiwurrung language group, of the Kulin nation, who are the traditional owners of the land which Melbourne occupies. We encourage Melbourne's Indigenous community to join in our efforts to peacefully occupy City Square, and to share their grievances and hopes for the future so that we might unite and build a more just Australia together.
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Occupy Melbourne riot police - 1st counterproductive move, Friday AM, 21/10/11by salamandaable7,357 views
@bommer5454 hmm-mm im the fucking shit head am I ? just drop it mate this argument is older than white dog shit, you're a funny guy , just think, would he give a shit about what im about to say? your the type who would bubble-wrap their child from all the nasty things in the world, dumbarse
Countersniper707 1 month ago
@hunterkiller432 why the hate? oh btw wrong person hahahahahah dw mate.
Countersniper707 1 month ago
what i find the most hilarious feature of this video is that it has no originality whatsoever.
it piggybacks some fantasy movie's slick presentation in a feeble attempt to appear sophisticated.
you idiots.
form is a poor substitute for function.
TheDarwiniser 1 month ago
@bommer5454 No they don't
Judging by the commnet on this video the majority of the popuilaiton do not support the protestors
badpanda84 1 month ago
@bommer5454
"oh is that why your country has millions out of work you have the highest child poverty in any developed countryso "
I would like to see the stats proving that is the case -- I highly doubt that Australia has the highest child poverty.
Besdies it depends how you define poverty --
badpanda84 1 month ago
@badpanda84 oh is that why your country has millions out of work you have the highest child poverty in any developed countryso if your the 1% then all the money you have you would be able to solve all the starving people of the world and feed them and get them clean water so how about it 1%? you up to the challange or are you to fucking greedy to do anything to change things? Fucktard.
bommer5454 1 month ago
@beno2367 Yep im a retard but to be politically correct its mentally challanged.and oh just so you know i have a 6 digit income from buisnesses i own not to bad for a retard eh moron
bommer5454 1 month ago
@badpanda84 yea but you noticed them didnt you! And they majority do support them but they are just afraid to get beat up and pepper sprayed Rome wasnt built in a day either but its still there
bommer5454 1 month ago
@badpanda84 yep thats right the ones who support the police also were and are braindead just as the 1% want sooner or later you just might wake up too!
bommer5454 1 month ago
@Countersniper707 gee you should go to iraq afganistan and places where you could have a great time what a fucking shit head
bommer5454 1 month ago