It should hit the media today: a Global Manifesto, presented "by local Occupy press teams around the world". A clear set of demands crafted by an international organization, of local social movements, including but not limited to Occupy.

This document will get trolled heavy on the net. I hope people read it with open mind and heart. Look to the truths before discarding the whole as utopian pipe dreams. There is truth here. And know that these ideals will set free the free market, such that capitalism and democracy will flourish unlike the world has ever seen. This is not "attack of the socialist anarchist neo-hippy drop outs". This is Global Solidarity! This is human. This is for real. And it is happening now.



The Manifesto preceded by history of the documents crafting:
http://interoccupy.org/please-help-communicate-this-international-occupy-statement-to-media-in-the-us/

A direct link to the document:
http://www.peoplesassemblies.org/2012/05/may-12th-globalmay-statement/

I read/skimmed the second link. I think people mean well, and have some great things to say. However, as strange as it may sound I'm worried about trying so hard to make everyone "equal". I certainly don't think people should have to suffer to get by in life - so things certainly need to change in some places - but (and I'm not sure how to word this) there will always be different income brackets, and I don't think that's a bad thing. More accountability for those who have more wealth, depending on how they use it, is imo a good thing (depending on how they use it), but just because they have millions of dollars doesn't mean they're the "bad guys".

I don't think the manifesto says this, I'm just worried that that's what something like this could lead to. I'm more interested in freedom/freedom of choice and allowing for differences while ending what most of humanity would define as "suffering" (like world hunger).

In essence, I guess I'm sort of concerned about the need for "solidarity"; sure, we're all human beings and we need to be courteous to each other, but what about our differences?

Just some thoughts; I should probably re-skim to see what /I/ said, but not right now... ;)

I'm in agreement tfishell. I'm a proponent of the free market. Seek to expand opportunity for the 99% to earn and excel above the norm. All in balance such that basic human needs are globally meet. We as human know how. As nations we have need. As individuals we all, regardless of social class, rely on our communities to have what we do. It behooves all, for all to be secure in their basic needs. Beyond that is up to the individual.

Second link's dead. But skimming through the first article I can agree with you: utopian pipe dreams. Overall, I'm more than in agreement with the proposal and believe this will happen, but not for another century(ies) or so.

The world has many problems in order to think so globally. Until you plant a more or less functional democracy in every country of the world this will remain an utopia. Now you may say, "But the already democractic(ish) countries of the world could more or less enact this!" NO. Those countries are too busy dealing with the non-democratic (and many of the democratic-ish) ones. And the power groups will of course oppose this movement. And there's a global economic crisis that's still limping on and eating every headline.

Maybe we are lucky and this grows and becomes a lobby big enough to shape some policies, but sadly I don't even expect that little.

"We call for the democratization of access and management of media (MSM). These should serve to educate the public, as opposed to the creation of an artificial consensus about unjust policies."

Isn't that called public broadcasting?

On a side note, where the fuck was everyone from the Occupy Canada movement on election day last year? We could have done with your vote.

The link works for me. It's direct to the source of those who drafted the Manifesto. The first article also includes it. Just in poorer format and preceded by some background info.

Whatever happens as a result of the actions and events over the next four days, we have thus begun a global social movement towards the humane handling of humans and planet. Progress and success occurs all along the way. From unused land being put to best communal use through employing the unemployed to improve communal infrastructure, to reclaiming the power of participatory democracy. Truly a step towards peace prosperity and global solidarity.

1) Drastically downsize government and it's interference in private lives.

2) Institute maximum wage/earning cap.

Profit.

In the metropolitan area I live in, the movement is made up of the homeless, some part time college kids, and a few unemployed.

I know, as I have gone down there, and have seen many I usually only see around Christmastime, when I go down there and do what I do.

Hate to say it for those that believe, but these people here are just having fun camping where they never could, enjoying the media every month or so, and enjoying additional goodwill from people who don't know they are always there (or in the vicinity.)

In other areas, coverage seems to make it a legitimate protest, but it isn't here. [Here is where a few bought fake c4 from the fbi trying to bring down a bridge.] Should have put their money into pork and beans, concentrated real hard, and hoped the little piggy, in the back of their pants, could blow it down instead; idiots.

Have a hard time believing this is serious at all, and maybe time spent smoking dope in some tents might be better spent filling out resumes.

I see otherwise Dischord. I see it globally in real time, live from within the crowds, camps, teach-ins, et all. You can to. Here is just two sources, you will find no shortage on the net....

Two standout citizen journalists with heart and true grit:

http://www.ustream.tv/timcast

http://www.ustream.tv/user/OakFoSho


When learning about Occupy, one will be presented with a wide variety of "types" of people. At any one moment, on any live channel you will find people you don't relate to, and people whom you share topical thoughts with. Is like going into a massive public event such as a World Cup tourney. You'll find all sorts.

Only speaking about what I've seen here, no idea of the other.

Will check links, thanks.

Looked, didn't see anything compelling from my perspective.

Guessing over ddos attacks and the like are kind of normal, dod gets them all of the time, so I see these as no more sinister. Could they be, yes, but could also be kiddies at play just as easily.

There is nothing inherently injurious to anyone in the messages, so why waste any effort?

I like that first one! I'm more cautious with the second, as that's rather interfering.

Is that all it took to come to conclusion about a diverse and global social movement? Seriously. You saw but a tiny piece of the lives of a few free minded individuals, doing something upon one tiny point on the globe.. and after one or a couple archived shorts are somehow granted an understanding of the whole?

Those links led to two guys who go out and stream live over the internet, that which they see. Look to them when an event pops off near them. Follow their twitter to receive alerts when they're live. Search the net for many more. And youtube and beyond. You can also dig through Tim Pool's and OakFoSho's archives and see protester police clashes, see the faces of those in protest (see for yourself they are young and old, and blue collar and white, red and blue, ++), and all the rest.

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FIXED:

One of the big flaws, in my opinion, is that you're never going to get everyone to agree on what is fair and just. If you've got a country with thousands or millions of people, let's face it, most of them don't mind being led.

In more "civilized" countries there are large numbers of people who are happy to be concerned about whatever the media and big business tells them to be concerned about - get this new smartphone app! It'll make all your problems go away. Don't look over there, look over here at this shiny new toy for you!

In less progressed countries, you have tons of people starving while a few individuals hold power with violence and corruption. I don't really see any way to change their mindset; they're firmly in the physical world and they only care about themselves. Sadly, you can't make people care about other people.

Look at our elections - all they are is name-calling and blaming. Everybody says they have the answers, and they don't do anything. Look at all the years this has been going on. "It's the other guy's fault; I'll fix everything." And nothing ever gets fixed. That tells me that none of them have the brains or balls to do anything that really matters.

Sure, it would be great if we were somehow able to see everyone else as a brother or sister and actually show concern and compassion, and put our hands out to help instead of for a hand-out, and stand up to the morons who insist on running our lives, but I really don't see any way that's going to happen unless there was a sudden shift of consciousness all over the place at once, and for as long as humans have been around, that seems unlikely.

I see that you are passionate so I hate to break this to you but that "manifesto" is absurd. You want everything for free. Who will pay for it? I think you overestimate the quantity of wealthy people willing to work hard just to pay for a gaggle of people who don't want to work hard.

Also, please understand that nothing listed in that manifesto is a right. You do not have a right to a retirement pension. You do not have a right to free universal healthcare. You do not have a right to a guaranteed minimum income. What you DO have is an opportunity to make yourself valuable to your economy, your country, your world and EARN what you wish to have.

Private enterprise and profit is a very, very good thing. It drives innovation and responsibility. It is the reason why most privately-owned areas of America are so nice while brand-new public housing here and in socialist/communist countires is dilapidated within 18 months of construction. If nobody owns it, if nobody paid for it, then nobody cares to maintain it or appreciates that they have it. The former USSR was a fantastic example of this. And guess what: that entity collapsed due to economic burden and for absolutely no other reason.