Yearly Archives: 2012
Occupy TV Episode 1
Opinion: From Leaderless to Leaderful
Author: Reid Kimball
Editor: OE Communications
This opinion piece was approved by the OE Communications committee by receiving the minimum number of at least 6 votes needed for publication.
The Register Guard’s front page article “Protest Pioneers” written by Edward Russo, stated that people within Occupy Eugene (OE) “dislike calling themselves leaders.”
This is true for the most part. I have heard on numerous occasions talking with my brothers and sisters within OE that “there are no leaders,” and “we are a leaderless movement” because Occupy Wall Street was founded on the principles of being a people-powered, leaderless, non-hierarchical movement.
However, I have a differing opinion I would like to share with you all now. Rather than OE being a leaderless movement, or a movement with a few key people who are regarded as leaders, both inside and out, I suggest the following: Occupy Eugene is a protest movement in which everyone who participates is a leader.
We are not a leaderless movement. We are a leaderful movement. You, myself, and everyone in between are leaders. Think about it for a second.
We are making many sacrifices of energy, finances, and time. The sacrifices we make require leadership.
We are taking a proactive initiative to speak our rage against the economic injustices surrounding us; that takes leadership.
We are actively working on solving today’s most pressing problems; that takes leadership.
I joined Occupy Eugene because for once I felt empowered to do something about the governmental and systemic problems. Our energy and momentum depends on creating and maintaining that feeling of personal empowerment.
Calling ourselves a leaderless movement does not feel empowering to me. When we say, “there are no leaders,” I have to ask, who then takes responsibility for the mistakes that we have made?
Without leaders, how do we make ourselves accountable? How do we push ourselves to improve, to grow, and to win this fight against reckless capitalistic greed?
I don’t believe calling ourselves a leaderless movement gives us the personal power we all deserve. Nothing short of leadership is required of us if we are to improve our healthcare, our global economy, our government, our environment, and more. The job we have willingly accepted is daunting, but we can do it if we all believe that each and every one of us is a leader.
Every single day, each one of us commits a plethora of acts that demonstrate leadership. Some of us may commit more than another, but the quantity matters little. There are no ranks, no ladders, no silly job titles, just you and I, working together as equal leaders.
What if you don’t want to be a leader? That’s fine. But know that when I look you in the eye, what I see is a leader because your presence in the same room as I, tells me you have the passion, the smarts, and the leadership qualities we need. We need more people like you.
Today! Gather at Old Federal Building 4-6 pm for Trayvon Martin
Trayvon Martin Action TODAY, March 26, 4-6 p.m.
Gather at the old Federal Building in memory of the 17-year-old high school student who was shot and killed last month by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman has not been charged with any crime at this time.
Wear your hoody, bring a sign, come stand together in solidarity for true justice.
Derail ALEC!
Cascadia Action Lab Presents – Derail ALEC!When: Wednesday, February 29, 9 am – 5:30 pm.We will be meeting at the Growers Market (454 Willamette St.). From there we will carpool to the target!We will be participating in Occupy Portland’s call for a national day of action against the Corporations who are members of the ( American Legislative Exchange Council ) or ALEC for short. This will be a day of Direct Action and Civil Disobedience! For the latest information Check out http://www.facebook.com/events/238565372897613/ and http://occupyeugenemedia.org/for details.
We will release the time and location of the rally closer to the event date!
In order to be effective you need to be informed so here are some helpful links and PDF’s you should probably check out!
Civilian’s Guide to Direct Action
http://crimethinc.com/tools/downloads/pdfs/direct_action_guide.pdf
Affinity Groups
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affinity_group
Know Your Rights Materials http://www.midnightspecial.net/materials/kyr.html
Blockading For Beginners http://occupywallst.org/media/pdf/blockadingforbegineers.pdf
Creative Direct Action Visuals Manual
http://ruckus.org/article.php?id=305
Ruckus Scouting Manual
http://ruckus.org/article.php?id=676
Security Culture for Activists
http://ruckus.org/article.php?id=789
Ruckus Media Manual
http://bit.ly/q4pNLv
Balloon Banner Manual
http://ruckus.org/article.php?id=364
Occupy Portland calls for a national day of non-violent civil disobedience targeting corporations who are members of ALEC, one of the most successful mechanisms that the 1% uses to control legislation. We are asking people around the country to choose members of ALEC in their home towns and SHUT DOWN BUSINESS AS USUAL.
Occupy Portland calls for a day of non-violent direct action to reclaim our voices and challenge our society’s obsession with profit and greed by shutting down the corporations. We are rejecting a society that does not allow us control of our future. We will reclaim our ability to shape our world in a democratic, cooperative, just and sustainable direction.
We call on the Occupy Movement and everyone seeking freedom and justice to join us in this day of action.
There has been a theft by the 1% of our democratic ability to shape and form the society in which we live and our society is steered toward the destructive pursuit of consumption, profit and greed at the expense of all else.
We call on people to target corporations that are part of the American Legislative Exchange Council which is a prime example of the way corporations buy off legislators and craft legislation that serves the interests of corporations and not people. They used it to create the anti-labor legislation in Wisconsin and the racist bill SB 1070 in Arizona among so many others. They use ALEC to spread these corporate laws around the country.
In doing this we begin to recreate our democracy. In doing this we begin to create a society that is organized to meet human needs and sustain life.
On February 29th, we will reclaim our future from the 1%. We will shut down the corporations and recreate our democracy.
Join Us! Leap into action! Reclaim our future! Shut down the corporations!
Occupy Portland calls for a day of non-violent direct action to reclaim our voices and challenge our society’s obsession with profit and greed by shutting down the corporations. We are rejecting a society that does not allow us control of our future. We will reclaim our ability to shape our world in a democratic, cooperative, just and sustainable direction.
We call on the Occupy Movement and everyone seeking freedom and justice to join us in this day of action.
There has been a theft by the 1% of our democratic ability to shape and form the society in which we live and our society is steered toward the destructive pursuit of consumption, profit and greed at the expense of all else.
We call on people to target corporations that are part of the American Legislative Exchange Council which is a prime example of the way corporations buy off legislators and craft legislation that serves the interests of corporations and not people. They used it to create the anti-labor legislation in Wisconsin and the racist bill SB 1070 in Arizona among so many others. They use ALEC to spread these corporate laws around the country.
In doing this we begin to recreate our democracy. In doing this we begin to create a society that is organized to meet human needs and sustain life.
On February 29th, we will reclaim our future from the 1%. We will shut down the corporations and recreate our democracy.
Join Us! Leap into action! Reclaim our future! Shut down the corporations!
Occupying the Heart and Mind
Silent Meditation/Prayer Circle (A bell will be rung at 15 minute intervals signifying an opportunity to enter or exit the space without disturbing others)
Please bring cushions/mats/chairs to share, dress warm and bring a Friend!
Where: Occupy V, 7th & Polk
When: Fridays, 11:45 – 12:30 &/or Saturdays, 2:15 – 3:30
Also available in : Spanish
Media Group
This is a working meeting where we divide up tasks and get busy. We will also shoot several Occupy TV shows before and/or after the meeting. See the Media Group crabgrass page for schedule and more info. Want to help but no skills. No worry, we can teach you.
MAP http://www.earsi.com/zap/
Where: CTV Studio, Sheldon High School
When: Saturday, February 4, noon
Contact: Joe Tyndall, 541-359-2593, joe@earsi.com
Who owns Lane County’s Forests?
Conversations on the Forest
Who owns Lane County’s forests, and how have they changed over time? How does forest management, on both public and private land, benefit and impact Lane County residents? Can we sustain the forest, and all its many benefits?
The forest is central to our regional identity, ecology, and economy. Competing public and private interests have driven growth, decline, and political division for decades. In a series of five discussions, join public interest forester Roy Keene, and ArchitectureWeek editor-in-chief Kevin Matthews as they explore the past, present, and future of our forests with a depth and openness rarely seen.
When: First MondaysFebruary 6, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4
6:00-7:30pm
Where: Cozmic Pizza, 199 W. 8th Ave. in Eugene
Free Class: Understanding the Constitution
Professor John Davidson from the UO will be leading, however it is less of a lecture and more of an interactive discussion.
This weekly class will be held with John Davidson from the UO. The intention is to break the Constitution down so that average citizen can understand what it means and what it means in their lives. Thinking about how a governing document might serve the People better, what mistakes and victories throughout history got us to where we are now, what our rights are to change laws and legislation, and how we might go about making our ideas for change a reality? Any and all ideas for discussion around this topic are welcome. We expect a variety of teachers and community members to be leading these weekly classes as they continue. Open to the public. If you would like to submit ideas for future classes, please post to the forum at: http://occupyeugenemedia.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=551
Where: Growers Market Eugene, 454 Willamette St.
When: Sundays, 12pm-3pm
Housing is a Human Right; Stop the Foreclosures!
POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER AND POOR TRAVEL CONDITIONS!!!!
Where: Reality Kitchen, 245 Van Buren, Eugene.
When: Sunday, January 15, 1 – 3 pm.
In collaboration with Good Grief America and Reality Kitchen, Occupy Eugene Neighborhood Actions will be having a teach-in and discussion on the foreclosure crisis and what it means for residents of Eugene, OR.
The presentation will be provided by Nancie Koerber of Good Grief America, who has been helping families in Oregon for several years.
Eugene residents will learn how the banks make more money foreclosing rather than working with people and how they can keep their homes.
The event includes 80 minutes of interactive teach-in on the foreclosure crisis and how it is siphoning our economy and the strategic actions to stop and hold Wall Street accountable.
The next 20 minutes will be in breakout sessions on issues participants want to work on in their community, and the last 20 minutes will be reports from the groups and calls to action.
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