We are putting together a 9 day programme of speakers, workshops and assemblies. Each day will have a different theme.
Friday 17 Oct: Overnight Vigil for the Eradication of Poverty – why do billions still want for food, water and basic medicine?
The occupation starts at 5pm on Friday 17 October with an overnight vigil to mark the UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Speakers at the vigil include: John Hillary (War on Want), Ruth London (Fuel Poverty Action), Keith Hebden (End Hunger Fast), Kofi Mawuli Klu (Pan-African Reparations Coalition in Europe). Plus “speakers corner” including Jamie Kelsey-Fry (New Internationalist).
This will be a candlelit event with speakers and acoustic entertainments where we will stand in solidarity with the victims of the widening wealth inequality that we see in the UK today as a result of our broken democracy. We will also stand in solidarity with the victims of our foreign policy which impoverishes and exploits many parts of the world through economic, diplomatic and military means. We invite members of faith and development groups as well as those of no faith to join us.
Bring a candle in a jam jar and, in case of rain, an umbrella (yellow if possible). As a gesture of solidarity with those suffering homelessness we feel we should not have shelters in the square that night.
Friday 17 Oct: Overnight Vigil for the Eradication of Poverty – why do billions still want for food, water and basic medicine?
The occupation starts at 5pm on Friday 17 October with an overnight vigil to mark the UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Speakers at the vigil include: John Hillary (War on Want), Ruth London (Fuel Poverty Action), Keith Hebden (End Hunger Fast), Kofi Mawuli Klu (Pan-African Reparations Coalition in Europe). Plus “speakers corner” including Jamie Kelsey-Fry (New Internationalist).
This will be a candlelit event with speakers and acoustic entertainments where we will stand in solidarity with the victims of the widening wealth inequality that we see in the UK today as a result of our broken democracy. We will also stand in solidarity with the victims of our foreign policy which impoverishes and exploits many parts of the world through economic, diplomatic and military means. We invite members of faith and development groups as well as those of no faith to join us.
Bring a candle in a jam jar and, in case of rain, an umbrella (yellow if possible). As a gesture of solidarity with those suffering homelessness we feel we should not have shelters in the square that night.
Read more about the Friday opening event
Saturday 18 Oct: Why we need a revolution in democracy and what might that look like?
With speakers including Donnachadh McCarthy (former Deputy Chair LiberalDemocrats, author The Prostitute State), David Graeber (Occupy Wall Street, author The Democracy Project), Natalie Bennett (Green Party), Nick Dearden (World Development Movement), John McDonnell MP, George Barda (Occupy London), Richard DeDominici (artist).
Sunday 19 Oct: Money, Tax & Finance – Why the 1% have even more Power & Money than before.
With speakers including Lucy Alright (UK Uncut), Ann Pettifor (New Economics Foundation), John Christensen (Tax Justice Network) and James Medway (New Economics Foundation). Plus: An assembly on the topic of “The 45% plus The 99% – how can we come together to challenge the Westminster elite?”
Monday 20 Oct: Public services 1: Privatisation and the corporate takeover – why they’re murdering the NHS, the welfare state and our public services. With Andy G. (Disabled People Against the Cuts), Dr Louise-Marie Irvine (Save Lewisham Hospital).
Tuesday 21 Oct: Public services 2: Privatisation and ‘trade deals’- how they’re trying to kill democracy before we realise what they’re up to – for good! Education, homes, trade deals.
Wednesday 22 Oct: Life, Environment & Equality – why a revolution in democracy is needed to safeguard our future.
With Speakers including Asad Rehman (Friends of the Earth), Jenny Jones (Green Party), Jeremy Leggett (Solar Century, Carbon Tracker), Jonathan Neale (One Million Climate Jobs) and Mothiur Rahman (Community Chartering Network).
Thursday 23 Oct: Justice, Equality and the Media – why the poor are criminalised and the rich get away with it.
With Hannah Dee (Defend the Right to Protest), Melanie Strickland (Occupy Law) and Nina Owen (Eradicating Ecocide).
Friday 24 Oct: War & Peace – War, what is is good for? Why we need to redefine our national interests and bring an end to resource wars. Featuring Mika Minio-Paluello (Platform) and Dilar Dirik (University of Cambridge).
Saturday 25 Oct: Solutions – what are the answers they don’t want you to know? What would real democracy look like? What would our ideal society look like? Featuring Sarah Allan (Constitutional Convention Campaign), Donnachadh McCarthy (21st Century Great Reform Act) and Josie Long (comedian).
Sunday 26 Oct: Means of change – a better world is nice in theory, but how do we make it happen? We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
A day of assemblies to answer the question: “where do we go from here?”
Saturday 18 Oct: Why we need a revolution in democracy and what might that look like?
With speakers including Donnachadh McCarthy (former Deputy Chair LiberalDemocrats, author The Prostitute State), David Graeber (Occupy Wall Street, author The Democracy Project), Natalie Bennett (Green Party), Nick Dearden (World Development Movement), John McDonnell MP, George Barda (Occupy London), Richard DeDominici (artist).
Sunday 19 Oct: Money, Tax & Finance – Why the 1% have even more Power & Money than before.
With speakers including Lucy Alright (UK Uncut), Ann Pettifor (New Economics Foundation), John Christensen (Tax Justice Network) and James Medway (New Economics Foundation). Plus: An assembly on the topic of “The 45% plus The 99% – how can we come together to challenge the Westminster elite?”
Monday 20 Oct: Public services 1: Privatisation and the corporate takeover – why they’re murdering the NHS, the welfare state and our public services. With Andy G. (Disabled People Against the Cuts), Dr Louise-Marie Irvine (Save Lewisham Hospital).
Tuesday 21 Oct: Public services 2: Privatisation and ‘trade deals’- how they’re trying to kill democracy before we realise what they’re up to – for good! Education, homes, trade deals.
Wednesday 22 Oct: Life, Environment & Equality – why a revolution in democracy is needed to safeguard our future.
With Speakers including Asad Rehman (Friends of the Earth), Jenny Jones (Green Party), Jeremy Leggett (Solar Century, Carbon Tracker), Jonathan Neale (One Million Climate Jobs) and Mothiur Rahman (Community Chartering Network).
Thursday 23 Oct: Justice, Equality and the Media – why the poor are criminalised and the rich get away with it.
With Hannah Dee (Defend the Right to Protest), Melanie Strickland (Occupy Law) and Nina Owen (Eradicating Ecocide).
Friday 24 Oct: War & Peace – War, what is is good for? Why we need to redefine our national interests and bring an end to resource wars. Featuring Mika Minio-Paluello (Platform) and Dilar Dirik (University of Cambridge).
Saturday 25 Oct: Solutions – what are the answers they don’t want you to know? What would real democracy look like? What would our ideal society look like? Featuring Sarah Allan (Constitutional Convention Campaign), Donnachadh McCarthy (21st Century Great Reform Act) and Josie Long (comedian).
Sunday 26 Oct: Means of change – a better world is nice in theory, but how do we make it happen? We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
A day of assemblies to answer the question: “where do we go from here?”