“Its Complicated”

OCCUPY TORONTO

This weekend the energy from occupy wall street has emanated through Canada and across the world. It’s a powerful energy of solidarity and the voice of the 99% of people that don’t own the majority of the worlds wealth. It is time for accountability and the power of the people can make that happen. There is global inequities and a growing gap between the rich and the poor that is only getting bigger.  Money is filtering from the bottom up and not the top down, causing major cuts in social spending to bail out corporations, banking systems and over paying CEOs. The income inequities in Canada have been acknowledged by both Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty as legitimate concerns that are growing quickly.

The event was well organized from the march starting in the financial district to St James park, the space that is to be occupied. Here the energy was positive and powerful. In one corner was a mike open to anyone that wanted to be heard, whatever massage they had to convey. At 5pm the general assembly came together and volunteer facilitators reviewed the process and general guidelines of the meetings and introduced the committees, which included food, medical, health and sanitation, media, logistics leaving room for others that there might be need for.  There were no established leaders but collective decision-making and open inclusion.

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

Jimi Hendrix

In Toronto there were a wide range of people and diversity of messages ranging from corporate greed and anti capitalist notions to promotion of the environment, human rights and a number of other very relevant social issues. Despite the diversity there is a common theme. People want justice and they want to be heard.  This is the voice of the 99% and they envision a better world.

But was it really the voice of the 99% because according to my calculations the turn outs at most event across Canada calculated to roughly 1% of the population of that city. So 1% own most of the worlds wealth but only 1% actually care enough to stand up and do something about it. That’s the bell curve I guess… It’s a start.

98 of old growth forests are gone

99% of the prairies are gone

80% of the rivers on the planet do not support life anymore

Lierre Keith, Author – The vegetarian myth

"I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there." - Mother Teresa

So what are the solutions??? There seemed to be few offered. There was a lot of finger pointing to the source of the problem but what is needed to fix it. Yes, there needs to be accountability, on both ends. We need to “be the change”. This is really where we need to start. I saw a number of contradictions to the message throughout the demonstrations. As illustrated by this photo taken by my friend, Hadas Parush.

Consumerism of “the people” give the corporations power. As much as I question the true democracy of our nation there is a democracy in our spending. Every dollar we spend is a vote in favor of the producer and the ethics behind the product. If you don’t like oppression, don’t buy nike. If you want environmental sustainability… don’t buy McDonalds, or eat meat, support local farmers markets or grow your own food. Defend our right to clean drinkable water, don’t support the bottled water industry. Ride your bike. If your want human right respected don’t drink coke products or ask for a diamond as a sign of commitment. You can’t find a job, stop buying clothing and produce from overseas. If you don’t like corporate greed…stop over consumption putting money in their pockets. You are not happy with the quality of education that your children receive… educate them and write letters to your MP. If you don’t feel you are being rightly informed by our media… throw out your TV, support independent media, do your own research and start a blog. It is the responsibility of each and every individual, not to be the face of this revolution, but to be educated and be the heart of it. Know the ethical practices behind everything you purchase, understand our connection to everything. We are the consumers of the world. To see change, we must stand with integrity in our words and actions. 

And of course these suggestions are just skimming the surface but if you don't see a direct connection between the social issues mentioned and the corporations or institution, PLEASE educate yourself and be an informed consumer. 

Anyone that has looked at the capitalist system will realize it is not a sustainable one. In the idea of neo-liberalism, everything is a commodity to be bought and sold and profited from…. EVERYTHING… that includes you and me. As the resources go down, according to the principal of supply and demand demand goes up as do profits, which is why capitalism will continue until it collapses. It is up to the 99% to remove the wind from the sails of this inequitable system by voting with our dollars. And think…offer a solution and walk the walk.

There is no question that this movement has started a buzz and has gained great support from every tier. In coffee shops strangers are talking, people are engaging with each other on subways and neighbours are discussing it. Networking has begun. I think it has helped that there is not a clear set of demands because that is what is creating dialogue and wonder. See in this world we no longer have to wonder. All answers are at our fingertips. Smart phones can tell us everything we need to know but they can’t tell us how to resolve this. We have to wonder we have to have discussions and we have to really think about it.

We are mobilized. We acknowledge there are problem that need solutions. We demand accountability.

First they ignore you

Then they laugh at you

Then they fight you

Then you win