WHAT OCCUPY DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT
DEMAND REAL DEMOCRACY. OCCUPY PARLIAMENT SQUARE.
Our time is now.
In Hong Kong, hundreds of people are fighting courageously for the right to a real vote. They know that a system where candidates are decided by the state is no democracy.
In Scotland, 45% of people rejected Westminster rule. They know that a system that takes the power to make local decisions out of their hands is no democracy.
We know that democracy is not just about having a vote every four, now five years. It is about having the power to make your voice heard. We know that a government that answers to profit before people is no democracy.
In the UK today, record numbers of people are homeless, record numbers rely on food banks to feed their families, and record numbers face fuel poverty as energy prices rise eight times faster than wages.
At the same time, inequality is back on the rise, making us one of the most unequal countries in the developed world. The amount we ask businesses to contribute to our social services in tax is set to be the lowest of any of the G20 countries. Tax evasion and avoidance costs the UK £95bn a year, enough to fund the NHS in England.
Nobody voted to be made homeless, hungry or unemployed. It is clear whose voices are being heard.
We need to start a movement for real democracy. The voices of the majority have been ignored for too long. We need to give ourselves the tools to hold our politicians to account, and to end the corporate lobbying power that drowns our voices out.
To do it, we need a movement that cannot be ignored. That is why we are occupying Parliament Square from the 17th – 26th of October, to begin a fight for a real democracy (see the original call to action). There, in the shadow of Nelson Mandela’s statue, we will transform the Square into a civic space where we can re-envision what our society could be like, with talks, workshops, community assemblies, music and theatre.
There is one thing that every successful social justice movement has had to overcome: the prevalence of the belief that the status quo is how it has to be. That there is no alternative. All of us can feel weakened and ground down by that belief, but all of us must have the courage to overcome it. To imagine a different future for ourselves. To show each other that there is an alternative. Because the current system relies entirely on our believing that there isn’t.
The austerity measures imposed on us for the sake of economic growth, our continued reliance on dirty coal and oil, our hospitals closing, our transit systems worsening while fares rise, our children attending under-funded schools with exhausted underpaid teachers – we only accept these things because we let ourselves believe there is no other way of doing things.
But please, join us for the Occupation. Try imagining there is another way. Do it with people you love, people you trust, with experts and activists and people to be inspired by. If you’re reading this, you’re invited. Your friends, family, colleagues are invited. Now is the time to produce our vision of a sane, workable, inspiring alternative, together. Come to learn, discuss and participate. Dare to believe that there is an alternative.
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
Rise, like lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number!
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you:
Ye are many—they are few!
Our time is now.
In Hong Kong, hundreds of people are fighting courageously for the right to a real vote. They know that a system where candidates are decided by the state is no democracy.
In Scotland, 45% of people rejected Westminster rule. They know that a system that takes the power to make local decisions out of their hands is no democracy.
We know that democracy is not just about having a vote every four, now five years. It is about having the power to make your voice heard. We know that a government that answers to profit before people is no democracy.
In the UK today, record numbers of people are homeless, record numbers rely on food banks to feed their families, and record numbers face fuel poverty as energy prices rise eight times faster than wages.
At the same time, inequality is back on the rise, making us one of the most unequal countries in the developed world. The amount we ask businesses to contribute to our social services in tax is set to be the lowest of any of the G20 countries. Tax evasion and avoidance costs the UK £95bn a year, enough to fund the NHS in England.
Nobody voted to be made homeless, hungry or unemployed. It is clear whose voices are being heard.
We need to start a movement for real democracy. The voices of the majority have been ignored for too long. We need to give ourselves the tools to hold our politicians to account, and to end the corporate lobbying power that drowns our voices out.
To do it, we need a movement that cannot be ignored. That is why we are occupying Parliament Square from the 17th – 26th of October, to begin a fight for a real democracy (see the original call to action). There, in the shadow of Nelson Mandela’s statue, we will transform the Square into a civic space where we can re-envision what our society could be like, with talks, workshops, community assemblies, music and theatre.
There is one thing that every successful social justice movement has had to overcome: the prevalence of the belief that the status quo is how it has to be. That there is no alternative. All of us can feel weakened and ground down by that belief, but all of us must have the courage to overcome it. To imagine a different future for ourselves. To show each other that there is an alternative. Because the current system relies entirely on our believing that there isn’t.
The austerity measures imposed on us for the sake of economic growth, our continued reliance on dirty coal and oil, our hospitals closing, our transit systems worsening while fares rise, our children attending under-funded schools with exhausted underpaid teachers – we only accept these things because we let ourselves believe there is no other way of doing things.
But please, join us for the Occupation. Try imagining there is another way. Do it with people you love, people you trust, with experts and activists and people to be inspired by. If you’re reading this, you’re invited. Your friends, family, colleagues are invited. Now is the time to produce our vision of a sane, workable, inspiring alternative, together. Come to learn, discuss and participate. Dare to believe that there is an alternative.
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
Rise, like lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number!
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you:
Ye are many—they are few!
GET INVOLVED
The planning of the camp and keeping it alive depends on the help of our volunteers. We welcome anybody to join,
and can find something useful to do for any skill set. To find out the
details for our next meeting, or to suggest a way in which you can give a
hand, get in touch via email: occupydemocracy@riseup.net. Alternatively, you can join in the work once the camp has started.
The most recent updates and information can be most easily found through our social-media presence. We have produced a flyer and a poster that can be freely distributed.
Join our Facebook event and share the content
Follow us on Twitter
The most recent updates and information can be most easily found through our social-media presence. We have produced a flyer and a poster that can be freely distributed.
Join our Facebook event and share the content
Follow us on Twitter
PROGRAMME
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?”
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