Nabble - Occupy Louisville Web Forum

Update on the Resolution approved by GA to be presented to Metro Council

2012-04-29T19:31:11Z

As some of you may remember George has placed a proposal before the GA which was approved as a Resolution that members of the Occupy Process encourage members of Louisville Metro Council to adopt in acknowledging the less than credible ruling by the US Supreme Court on Citizens United's ability to establish limitless financial resources as Super PAC funding from corporate lobbyists to influence political campaigns independently.

Currently there is a need for a member/s of Occupy to present and propose this language and document to members of council for the sake of offering them the opportunity to follow suit with many state and local legislatures in denouncing the validity of such rulings. Primary to changing the Amendment which compromises our constitution through acknowledgement of corporate personhood, this effort to get local endorsement will set the stage for congress people on the federal level to step forward in confidence and strike down further issues with a change to the language that leaves our legislation open to corporate corruption.

Please feel free to learn more about this process by checking in here or dropping a line to George offering your input or support in whatever way you feel that you can. In the coming weeks documents will be placed in the gallery at this website to ensure that you and other participants can learn more in detail about the national efforts to secure the change that citizens need to protect their vote and unalienable rights.

For up to the minute reading and direct action nationally please check out the pages dedicated to this subject at Public Citizen http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=3306&q=citizens%20united

Man was born into barbarism when killing his fellow man was a normal condition of existence. He became endowed with a
conscience. And he has now reached the day when violence toward another human being must become as abhorrent as eating
another's flesh.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Why We Can't Wait, 1963

Posted in Political Outreach Workgroup

Re: Want to learn/do more?

2012-04-04T17:31:19Z

Would you like to join activities being hosted by the Political Action Work Group? Members of the Educational Work Group have decided to lend their efforts to support the Occupy process to current efforts associated with Direct Action locally to change some of the current conditions associated with legislation and judicial issues.

Specifically there are individuals associated with current efforts to promote creative forms of outreach and educational support as well as to encourage communities in the Louisville Area to identify speakers for upcoming Metro Council Speaking engagements. We hope to bring a better and more clear understanding of recent rulings by the Supreme Court and other legislative bodies to the public record relative to the 'undemocratic truths' methods associated with Citizens United and corporate powers.

Posted in Occupy Faith Workgroup

Re: occupy louisville brochure redux, iz ok?

2012-04-04T17:27:07Z

When does this group meet and how can people attend?? thanks

Posted in Outreach Workgroup

Options for Food Not Bombs Skill Shares

2012-04-04T17:26:10Z

In the past month we have served meals 5 times a week and also delivered Food Not Bombs supplies to the Shelby Park Community as a part of the Really Really Free Market. We thank everyone for their encouragement and assistance as donations. We also would like to shout out to the Greater Community Council of Clarksville for taking over the fiscal agency of the Food Not Bombs work with the Occupy work groups.

Education Work Group continues to meet every 2 weeks and will be at the Brycc House this Easter Sunday at 1pm if folks would like to bring a dish and drop by to say hello... direct actions and skill shares will return to camp on Sundays as well offering simple stencil and silk screen printmaking as well as Sustainability training regarding food security and community gardening. Join us for planning, feeds, and other community-based events by contacting Mashley1@hotmail.com or the brycchousecommunity@gmail.com

Posted in Education Workgroup

Whats to celebrate with JP Morgan Chase Bank??

2012-04-04T17:18:52Z

Posted in Resources

Happy Birthday to Jamie 'JP Morgan CHASE' Dimon

2012-04-04T17:17:53Z

Posted in Resources

Want to learn/do more?

2012-03-15T04:53:04Z

Contact person for this workgroup is Greg
arimus72@yahoo.com

Posted in Occupy Faith Workgroup

Book: Occupy World Street: A Global Roadmap for Radical Economic and Political Reform

2012-03-07T16:27:25Z

Blockbuster Book: Read about everything you ever wanted to know about the economy and the wealthy 1%, including fundamental issues that are at the core of the Occupy Movements list of grievances, all neatly outlined in one book "Occupy World Street" by Ross Jackson, it's aims and purpose and the underlying practices of how the e lite 1% are enriching themselves at the expense of the 99% majority and why democracy has failed in the US, certainly a 'Must Read' for every person in the US, how we all have been doped and exploited by the rich and powerful and how wealthy people control corporations, congress, government and the media and how we continue to damage the planet, all in the name of greed and profits.

As demonstrators worldwide demand reform of a corrupt global economy that concentrates wealth in the top 1% of income earners, Occupy World Street offers a long awaited plan of action for 'the 99 percent'. Ross Jackson delivers one of the most lucid descriptions of how global financial practices are driving economies to the brink of collapse, and making it impossible to deal effectively with climate change, ecosystem damage and peak oil.

He outlines a compelling plan that will allow countries to regain control of their economies, reorganize global trade alliances on a more human scale, and gradually replace WTO/IMF/World Bank with new institutions that support sustainable economies and uphold human rights. Rather than force a direct confrontation with the crumbling 'Empire', Jackson’s innovative strategy would be led by a handful of small nations that are already starting to break away from the contemporary global order, and supported by ordinary citizens around the world.

Jackson has done what few others have dared to do: constructed a specific, implementable plan to reorganize the way economies work. It’s a plan, says sustainable economics pioneer Hazel Henderson, that “has the potential to unite hundreds of NGOs and millions of ordinary citizens behind a simple proposal that could change the current dysfunctional game.”

Ross Jackson explains that the current system is no longer serving the majority of the people in the US but rather the wealthy 1% elite and corporate America. This system is based on exploiting the poor and developing countries in the interest of economic gain for the elite 1% only. These threats include economical, ecological, and social collapse which can widely be attributed to the current reigning financial ideology called Neoliberalism, which is the main force driving society toward this potentially disastrous future.

Even though it addresses these issues, this book does not exude a tone of doom and gloom nor is it chalked up with radical left-wing conspiracies or propaganda, rather, the author backs up all his claims with strong evidence and offers a road map to economic recovery and sustainability and a concrete vision for a new society, which favors not mere economic growth and greed but rather serving all of humanity rather than only the wealthy elite and "the corporatocracy". The author, Ross Jackson, is at the forefront of this transformation- spearheading Eco-villages and offering new models for almost all aspects of civilization It is crucial that we as activists, individuals and citizens rise above passivity and understand the threats human civilization face today so that we can start taking action locally and work towards a solution that will be more sustainable.

This book is neutral and not politically aligned to any party or corporation, the author states facts as they are and reveals many hidden facts that most of us in the US are not aware of, the author is wealthy and has no ulterior motives, this book is set to become a best seller. This book is no urban legend or conspiracy theory, it's all hard facts that is not available to the general public.

*** Note that this book will not be promoted in the US by the mainstream media, because of the tight control that the Wealthy 1%, Corporations, and the Government have on the Press, the wealthy would not want facts that are exposed in this book to me made available to the public.

Book Details:

Occupy World Street: A Global Roadmap for Radical Economic and Political Reform

Author: Ross Jackson
Publish Date: January 2012
ISBN-10: 1603583882
ISBN-13: 9781603583886

Purchase the book from the comparison shopping site:

http://www.allbookstores.com/book/compare/1603583882

Watch YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgAuD2-syWk

Press Release: www.greenbooks.co.uk/media/OWS_Press_Release_Jan_2012.pdf

Website: http://www.occupyworldstreet.org/ows-the-book

Excerpts from the book:

The period from 1945 to 1980 was, in retrospect a period characterized by relative peace, rapid economic growth, no major financial crisis, a general sense of social cohesiveness in most nations, with the coming to power of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher and the ascendency of the neoliberals, everything changed. The subsequent period from 1980 to the present has been characterized by a deterioration of social cohesiveness, environmental destruction, increasing stress, increasing criminality, a shift from solidarity to individualism, a 'greed is good" mentality, a dramatic widening of the gap between rich and poor, and not least, a series of major financial crisis resulting from the 'financialization' of the world economy, recall, that 1980 was also the point at which the marginal costs of growth began to exceed the marginal benefits, the point at which a global collapse may well have begun. It is as if the dominant culture entered a final stage of frenzy, denial, absurdity and fantasy to stave off the reality that its way of life was coming to an end. Nowhere was this truer than in the field of finance, which removed itself further and further from any contact with the real world. In reality basic financial and accounting principles were ignored.
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Deregulation - The basic problem with removing government regulations from markets was pointed out in the 1700s by Adam Smith, who did not trust the morality of a merchant class that had no concept of restraint or social responsibility. Since human ingenuity is limitless, any relaxation of rules will inevitably lead to unintended and unforeseen exploitation by profit-seeking businessmen, typically at the expense of the non-profit seeking parts of society - local communities, working people and the environment. History has shown that repeatedly that markets are not self-regulating as the neoliberal ideology has shown, on the contrary, unregulated markets tend to go to extremes until they eventually crash. The deregulation and removing of safeguards caused an entirely predictable result as it allowed new profit driven unscrupulous investors to get their hands on the enormous assets built up over several decades from local community savings and engage in an unregulated and irresponsible speculative frenzy as they invested in all kinds of dubious get-rich-quick schemes characterized by conflicts of interests, incompetence, highly speculative investments and criminal activities using other people's money. The ruling concept was: head we win, tails the taxpayers pay.
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Unrestricted Capital Flows - Free capital flow (including free flow of goods across borders) is both the source of strength and the Achilles heel of neoliberal politics. Unrestricted capital flows systemically cause financial crises in two ways, firstly, they allow investor of one country to create a financial crisis in another that would otherwise not have occurred and secondly, they act like a virus that allows a crisis in one country to spread to other countries and example is the US subprime loan crisis. These unrestricted capital flows are also the reason for systemic recurrence of financial crisis, because the foreign markets in which the "players" invest, even though large enough and liquid enough in normal markets are extremely illiquid in a crisis.
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The Financial Crisis of 2007-8 - This most recent crisis had elements of all three "culprits", deregulation, over-gearing of naked derivatives at the national level in the United States and unrestricted capital movements, which spread like a virus to the rest of the world. A major deregulation event that paved the way for the crisis was the repeal of the American Glass-Steagall Act in 1999 under pressure from the financial elite who wanted more freedom to operate, this act was passed originally back in 1933 to prevent the kind of irresponsible and unregulated speculation that was identified at that time as a major cause of the 1929 stock market crash. The administartion of George W. Bush went even further cutting market oversight to almost nothing. The subprime housing market is often cited as the major cause of the crisis, but this is misleading because the problem is systemic. With Glass-Seagall out of the way, the post-1999 financial world became even more of a casino, unrelated to the underlying economy. Money was not being used productively but for naked speculation. the current global financial system is systemically unstable and flawed and continues to be an accident waiting to happen. The only unknowns are when and how the next accident will be precipitated.
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The Kennan Doctrine - The guiding doctrine followed by the American political leadership over the past half century and the reasoning behind it, was formulated in a remarkably clear statement by George F Kennan (in 1948) " We have about 50% of the world's wealth but only 6.3% of its population, This disparity is particularly great between the peoples of Asia. In this situation, we cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships, which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity without positive detriment to our national security. To do so, we will have to dispense with all sentimentality and daydreaming, and our attention will have to be concentrated everywhere on our immediate national objectives......." we see here a classic attitude of the worldview of separation. there is no sense of global solidarity or sharing. Kennan's doctrine is a blueprint for Empire. There is only one wish to control 50% of the world's resources at the expense of everyone else. Other countries might as well be enemies from outer space. But a dilemma is created by this doctrine, because the proclaimed values of the United States for which it has been widely admired the past 200 years are precisely those values that must be sacrificed, and that in practice have been sacrificed, "human rights, the raising of living standards [of developing countries] and democratization", therefore the doctrine must not be announced openly to the American people, who would never accept it if they had choice in the matter. It is the doctrine of the ruling elite (1%).
Thus the US leadership has been forced to be hypocritical, cynical, even schizophrenic, saying one thing while doing another.

In the subsequent 200-plus years, the power struggle between the "opulent minority" and the great majority has continued unabated. Though the trend has been towards democracy in the past, the coming of neoliberalism in the 1980's, the trend has been reversed, evolving into the situation, as we know today, with the minority owners of great private wealth enjoying unprecedented influence while a frustrated majority experiences disempowerment and a constant deterioration in their freedoms and quality of life. Most observers would agree that merely having elections every four years is not sufficient evidence that a nation is democratic. Do voters have real choice or are we looking at a one-party system? There are serious questions about the degree of true democracy present in twenty-first-century United States.
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On 1 % - Inequalities - Increasing inequality is not just a moral issue, there is a causal link between capitalism and inequality on the one hand, and between inequality and social problems on the other that is critical to our understanding of the role of the economic system in social breakdown. The single most important cause of inequalities is the 'private ownership of income-generating property'. Unemployment is identified as the second important factor, and has been linked to increased rates of mental illness, suicide, homicide, divorce, heart attack deaths, stroke deaths, aggression etc.
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Assault on Nature - Today, crisis is all around us. We are living right on the edge of breakdown, our well being, if not our survival, is threatened by climate change, resource depletion, toxic pollution, social breakdown, genetically modified foods, hunger, environmental degradation and a rate of species extinction not seen in 65 million years. Powerful forces are driving our civilization to a deep abyss, behind all of them is a simple reality; ecosystem overload. Too many people with too-powerful technologies are undermining the basis of our existence. As a global population, we are living beyond our means, living off our natural capital, consuming more than Nature can replenish.
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Energy Descent - the peak in global oil production and the subsequent decline in oil supplies is not a threat to our survival as such, but is going to cause a more immediate crisis that is a threat to our whole way of life, we are consuming more oil than we are discovering, it is just a matter of time before demand exceeds supply, when this happens, the consequences will overshadow everything else on the political agenda.
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The Collapse of Civilizations - why is our civilization threatened? an example is where the tendency of civilizations to destroy the ecological foundation of life by cutting down forests and destroying topsoil which results in short-term gains but inevitably leads to long-term disasters. Another example is the human failure to adjust populations to match the level that is sustainable, an example is Ethiopia, which has one of the world's highest death rates and a devastated environment yet population continues to rise, driven by each family's attempt to survive. In he's book "Collapse" Jared Diamond states that from our lessons of history, environmental degradation is a prime cause of collapse. Historian Joseph Tainter on the other hand states that the overriding reason for collapse is economic, more specifically, collapse is an example of the law of diminishing returns i.e. declining benefits to the population. Another reason is the role of energy, it is only energy that can sustain a civilization, every time a civilization increases complexity, more energy is required to maintain the same level of benefits, we are reaching that stage of post cheap-oil era, with substantially higher costs and correspondingly diminishing returns.
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The evidence strongly suggests that our global civilization is undergoing a collapse that will continue to play out over several decades. There can be little doubt that we are on a journey toward a different world for the simple reason that this one is on an unsustainable path.
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So what is driving our civilization toward ruin? Ecosystem overload, over-population, unsustainable growth, species extinction, growing inequality, global injustice, global warming, peak oil - we are so familiar with all these things that it does not occur to us to ask ourselves if there is a common thread linking them. The so-called Cartesian/Newtonian worldview came to dominate the way Western civilization looked at the world from roughly the seventeenth century to the present, and not without good reason. The reductionist, mechanical approach to problem solving inspired by Newton and others, combined with Descarte's concept of the separation of humankind and nature, proved to be a powerful tool in the development of the Industrial Revolution and modern science. It is generally considered to have been a resounding success as on of the key factors in increasing the general standard of living, particularly in industrialized countries. However, it successes have not come without costs. Often these costs appear elsewhere in the global system than we might intuitively expect, for example, in damage to the environment and human settlements from, and outside the field of vision of, the centers of the industrialized world of the west. In this regard, it is important to realize that, until recently, the vast majority of people in the world were far less influenced by this worldview e.g. China, India, Africa, the Middle East and South America. Many of these peoples experienced only the negative effects of this paradigm through colonialism, environmental degradation and commercial explanation. Our civilization has held the Cartesian/Newtonian worldview for too long. The strategies of this paradigm, which work so well in a "new frontier" society, work no longer in a "spaceship
Earth" society. In a world where man is considered to be separate not only from nature but also separate from other humans, it is no wonder that a civilization has evolved that is based on the exploitation of nature and the weaker parts of human society.

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The Role of Economics - Central to this evolution is the role of economics. Indeed, if the objective of someone was to drive our civilization to ruin, then nothing could do it more effectively than the invention of the currently dominant economic system - neoliberalism. Since roughly the end of the Second World War, the primary goal of almost nations has been to maximize economic growth, without the least regard for either ecological overload or peak oil. There are two fundamental flaws in the reigning version of economics. The first one is the treatment of the environment as a subset of economics. rather than the reverse, treating economics as a mechanism of resource allocation that operates within the physical restrictions of ecological space. In other words, economists perceive the environment as a collection of
resources for humanity's use rather than seeing humanity as an integral part of, and inseparable from, a living and complex organism we call Nature. The consequences of this error are enormous, a direct conflict with one of the most fundamental and irrefutable laws of physics, the second law of thermodynamics This law states a fundamental fact about the irreversibility of nature. The nonrenewable resources of our world, once used up (oil) then they are no longer available to do any work.
This flaw allows economist to ignore problems of limited resources , ecosystem overload and energy descent. Economists can literally not see these problems because they are not included in their differential equations. It is as if or civilization is sailing down the Niagara River, and our economic guides, who are servants of the political leadership, have neither compass nor map. They will not see the problems unti w go over the waterfall. The second major flaw is he way in which economist model growth. This is especially dangerous because the ruling elite tends to pay more attention to economists than to physicists. The political power of the business community has been increasing steadily for two hundred years to the point tht today, we can no longer separate politics from business, particularly in the world's dominant economy, the United States. The combination of powerful business interests, political allies and popular support makes it almost impossible to stop the growth bubble from bursting either when the ecosystem can no longer take the pressure, or more likely, when the reality of the coming period of energy descent hits the
financial markets.
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International Monetary Fund - IMF - how does it exploit and put a stranglehold on developing countries ? - IMF loans to developing countries were made conditional upon acceptance of policies of neoliberal ideology (no wonder poor, developing countries, remain in an endless spiral of debt and under-development) For the typical developing-country client, this meant they had to (1) reduce their tariffs on western industrial products without compensating tariff cuts by the industrialized countries; (2) devalue their currency and expose it to short-term speculation by gigantic Wall street hedge funds far larger than their central banks; (3) sell off key public facilities to western corporations at ridiculously low prices; (4) raise interest rates, throwing hundreds of companies into bankruptcy; (5) remove food
subsidies to their poor while being forced to accept the right of the West to dump subsidized food products on their market, destroying their small farmers in the process (6). charge fees for school, resulting in massive school-dropout rates. (7). cut social welfare programs in order to force an unnecessary balanced budget and pay interest on their debt to the IMF (8). switch from import substitution to production of export-oriented materials of value to the West (North). What we see here is a conscious attempt by the IMF to impose on client states an ideology that was by no means universally accepted, and in most cases not even appropriate. The result was nothing less than a crude transfer of sovereignty from member states to the IMF, and hence to the United States, not de jura, but de facto.
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World Bank - supported by associated donor countries and elite organizations like the Paris Club imposed on developing countries by granting them loans that were not really needed by making alliances with wealthy elites and corrupt political leaders in developing countries, who were allowed to pocket a sizable chunk of funds for personal use and for their companies, which were awarded lucrative contracts for unnecessary prestige projects. Most of the money actually returned to the West in the form of contracts with American and European engineering consultancies (Middle Eastern countries are prime examples of this). US Treasury officials openly admitted that two dollars came back for every one dollar contributed to the World Bank in the form of procurement contracts for US exporters. The prime goal of the World Bank and G7 countries is to use developing countries as a cheap source of labor and raw materials and to keep them in an endless spiral of debt.

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World Trade Organization - WTO - The WTO has a Charter written by corporations for corporations, a charter that puts commercial interests above all, a charter to allow the strong to exploit the weak. Constitutions of countries are generally based on the sovereignty of people and countries, every constitution has protected life above profits, but the WTO protects profits above the right to human life and other species. The WTO "free trade" regime is in reality a "forced trade" regime, because developing countries are forced to accept exploitative conditions that put high tariffs on their otherwise competitive exports, while allowing subsidized Western products to undercut local production, this gives the country with the strongest capital base and smallest social and environmental costs a competitive advantage, in this case the United States. The WTO does not support any environmentally friendly practices, example taxes on CO2 emissions, in reality, the WTO system encourages destruction of natural capital, the vey basis of human existence. (profits at all costs).
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Growth is good, not really, only ecologically sustainable growth is good, but an economic system that treats ecology as a subordinate rather than the other way around can never be sustainable. Thus, neoliberal economics confuses capital depletion and return of capital, treating depletion of natural resources as part if it were part of the economic return, an elementary error in basic investment theory.
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"Free markets benefit all, including the poor" - nothing is further from the truth, the last thing that neoliberals want (Western countries) is competitive developing countries, they want cheap labor and cheap raw materials for their industrialized countries and a market for their finished industrial products. The current system is rapidly creating greater inequalities in the world, more poverty among the poorest and more wealth among the wealthiest.
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On Colonialism - as US Secretary of State John Foster Dulles claims to have said "There are two ways of taking a society's economy, one is by armed force, the other is by financial means.
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Posted in General Discussion

Who is the 1 Percent???

2012-03-07T16:25:25Z

The new meme cheerfully propagated by the mainstream media (MSM) is the 1-percent-versus-the-99-percent conflict, which fits perfectly into its strategy for maintaining strict political divisions of Left versus Right. This bipartisan strategy is absolutely critical for advancing the agenda of the “1 percent,” which, simply stated, is to own and/or control the world’s natural and economic resources, including land and mineral rights, water sources, food and energy production, transportation, money supply, and most important of all labor.

Glaringly absent from this current meme is a proper definition by the MSM of exactly who composes the 1 percent. This, too, is absolutely essential, because if the 1 percent is actually identified, broad-based consensus is achievable and solutions can begin. Instead, the 1 percent is left to the imaginations of the 99 percent, allowing for a wide variety of culprits responsible for society’s woes, and no possible consensus – hence no solutions, either.

If you pay attention, you’ll find that solutions are never proffered in any of the MSM’s endless dialogue permeating the broadcasts, and rarely in print. The very last thing the 1 percent wants are viable solutions emerging to upset the status quo.

So who is the 1 percent?

The 1 percent can accurately be described as a discrete, highly exclusive group of individuals, cherry-picked from the top echelons of global corporations, including banks and financial institutions; the most influential politicians and bureaucrats, at home and abroad; private- and public-sector union bosses; not-for-profits’ executive leadership, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), associations, foundations, and churches; and prominent stewards of the most prestigious academia.

Think of the 1 percent as a triad that requires a three-legged collaboration for any one leg to succeed. Leg one comprises global banksters and captains from strategic mega-industries, including finance, food, pharmaceutical/health, energy/utilities, transportation, communications, and military. Also included in this leg are leaders from the largest private unions, foundations, associations, and academia. Leg two comprises the most influential politicians and bureaucrats who control legislative process, implementation, and enforcement. In other words, Congress, executives from government’s largest agencies, and the courts, including judges and attorneys with specific competencies. Bosses from the public-sector unions, NGOs, and publicly financed foundations and associations, as well as academia, are included here. What should also be noted here is the ever-growing influence of foreign governance, specifically the United Nations, World Trade Organization, World Conservation Commission, and the International Atomic Energy Agency, for starters, most of which have treaties/compacts/memorandums of understanding with the United States that not only oblige U.S. taxpayers but constrain our own use of our resources.

Leg three is the highly consolidated, thereby compromised, mainstream media.

It is important to understand that the 1 percent, while few in actual number, already controls the majority of economic resources globally. The rest of us, the 99 percent – which includes most corporations’ stockholders, small-business owners, and the vast majority of private- and public-sector employees (whether union or nonunion), including the workforce for foundations, associations, and academia – unwillingly subsidize this agenda with our tax dollars as a result of this tightly controlled triad of collaboration.

The 1 percent banksters, most of whom answer to the global-central-banks cartel, need to be especially noted because their cross-pollination of all other industry and governments puts them at the top of the 1-percent heap, so to speak. Central and world banksters’ reach resembles a spider’s web, enveloping countless interests at a time, which includes sovereign nations’ finances, all the while being instrumental in consolidating control of resources into fewer and fewer hands.

The MSM is the most egregious of all the legs. Without the mass manipulation of information across the “news” spectrum, regardless of political bias, the corruption that infects economies and politics would not be possible.

The MSM’s mission as the Fourth Estate and the people’s watchdog is to provide the checks against such corruption via investigation and dissemination of such news. Those days are long gone thanks to legislative permission to consolidate ownership of media organizations. Such consolidation would normally be considered a violation of anti-trust laws. But like most of the legislative and judicial permissions contrived from either favored exemptions, administrative procedural law, or the actual repeal of existing laws, special interests – in this case media organizations – are given legal dispensation from the common laws in place that protect we the people. This subversion is occurring with profound regularity, quietly transforming our republic as it was founded.

The MSM are corporations, too, whose CEOs and majority owners are part of the 1 percent, including an elite group of national editors, anchors, and publishers. What was once thousands of independently owned media companies is now a consolidation of six umbrella corporate owners: AOL-Time Warner-CNN, Disney-ABC, General Electric-NBC-MSNBC-CNBC, Rupert Murdock-Fox News-Fox Business, and Simon & Schuster-CBS. These six mega-corporations own hundreds of TV affiliates, radio stations, magazines, and newspapers nationwide. Also of note is Mitt Romney’s Bain Capital, which owns Clear Channel – among the largest consolidations of radio stations.

Consider that the lion’s share of all campaign funds is spent on media – billions of dollars these days. It is obscene but worth protecting because it is big business, dwarfing the average individual corporate spend on advertising. Forgetting any 1-percent agenda for the moment, with whom do you think the MSM’s loyalty will lie? Most definitely with the highest bidder, and if the MSM can contribute to the bottom line via content, well that is just good business, in its corrupt view.

The politicians also greatly benefit, regardless of political affiliation, because the MSM controls the message for these chosen individuals. The fact that the politicians make the laws that allow for not only this collusion, but for every other corporate subsidy, bailout, exemption, variance, and favored status that ultimately corrupts capitalism, deftly places the success or failure of entire industries in the hands of the 1 percent.

Most Americans are bitterly aware of the MSM’s conspiracy to manipulate American thought for myriad pre-defined outcomes, whether elections, intervention and war, legislation that would diminish our constitutionally protected rights, social and fiscal policy, militarism of our police departments – the list is endless. For the 1-percent agenda to succeed in these collective goals, it is critical for the MSM to keep Americans dumbed-down and married to the Left-versus-Right political mentality. If Americans ever wake up to the deception of the single-party-posing-as-two-parties system, it would seriously jeopardize the well-honed machine of usurpation of both resources and authority over those resources.

The 1 percent is completely nonpartisan. There is no Left-versus-Right conflict among them. Left-versus-Right is strictly a strategy for controlling voters. We are given a limited choice, but a choice nonetheless, and by making that choice at the polls, we absolve ourselves of any additional responsibility for what ensues. In fact, we eagerly blame the same politicians we re-elect time and again, always blaming one side or the other for the troubles that both create.

It is a never-ending loop. But for the MSM, regardless of the bias preferred, voters might connect glaringly obvious dots regarding today’s issues. Instead, we are bombarded with memes, language, opinions, underreporting, misreporting, and even fabricated reporting – everything but comprehensive factual reporting without bias – designed to confirm whose fault it is: the other side’s, of course!

If truth be told, it is our own fault. We the people are to blame for tolerating the MSM’s manipulation masquerading as news. For how much longer remains to be seen. At some point, shame must set in and force us to recall ourselves. Just pray it won’t be too late.

Critical thinkers need to get involved with civics/politics, regardless of how daunting it appears. Start at the local level by quietly attending council and county-supervisor meetings to observe, then share your observations with others. Trust me, the 1 percent is actively restructuring your local governance with programming such as Agenda 21 and America 2050, both of which threaten your private property rights. (Recently, County Supervisor Larry Minard denied the very existence of Agenda 21, even though it is extremely well-documented and is specifically opposed in his own party’s state platform!)

If you can’t get involved civically with your own local government, then you are a lost American. My guess is many of you would find it empowering, rewarding, and even fun on some levels. If not for yourselves, then do it for your children and grandchildren. What we the people accomplish today civically/politically will make all the difference for their future.

But as long as we remain divided along Democrat and Republican lines, maintaining our allegiance to this faux political system – whose survival depends on that division – America will continue to decline. The leadership of the two parties has zero interest in we the people. Its allegiance is to the 1 percent, whose agenda falsely promises those individuals’ future prominence.

It is time to recommit to America’s republic under the rule of law. (Have you said the Pledge of Allegiance lately? Recall the phrase “and to the republic for which it stands.”) The single, overarching principle is that by protecting an individual’s rights, everyone else’s rights are automatically protected, too. It is a bottom-up principle, starting with the lowest common denominator – the individual. Most other forms of government operate to protect the rights of the group, whose individual members’ rights are expendable if the group requires it. This is often accomplished via majority rule, best described as democracy or mob rule, and is tyrannical by its very nature. Which type of governance do you advocate? Because this question is at the core of how America will fare moving forward.

Posted in General Discussion

Current Activity

2012-02-27T04:51:51Z

Our recent efforts are focused on the influence of big money in creating laws and regulations which favor corporations and the 1% to the disadvantage of ordinary citizens in the 99%. In particular we have supported an action protesting the Citizens United decision by which five Justices erroneously invented a constitutional principle that corporations and super PACs can spend unlimited amounts to influence elections. We held an action which got national AP coverage of a mock marriage of government and big corporations. And we are supporting nationwide efforts to reverse the Supreme Court’s decision by adopting a Constitutional Amendment to abolish corporate interference with the rights of citizens to govern our nation.

Posted in Political Outreach Workgroup

Re: flyer for Feb 25?

2012-02-14T04:06:25Z

Hi Jesse, This looks fabulous. If you send me the handbill file I will
try to print some of them. Thanks! Mandy

> http://occupy-louisville-web-forum.2314866.n4.nabble.com/file/n4384739/CHASEFLYER.png
>
> Robin and I worked on this, what do you all think? pdf here:
> https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B6-BheDQahe2MzA5YTJjOGEtYzE0MS00YzIzLWJlZDAtN2ZiOGIzMTg4NzAy
>
> Jesse
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________
> If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion
> below:
> http://occupy-louisville-web-forum.2314866.n4.nabble.com/flyer-for-Feb-25-tp4384739p4384739.html
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Posted in Stop Foreclosures! Workgroup

Re: flyer for Feb 25?

2012-02-13T11:46:37Z

PDF of B&W version : https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B6-BheDQahe2Zjg1NjkwNGMtZDQ0Yy00ZGU5LTk2N2EtOTFiOGE1YmNmNDVj

Posted in Stop Foreclosures! Workgroup

flyer for Feb 25?

2012-02-13T10:26:40Z

Robin and I worked on this, what do you all think? pdf here: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B6-BheDQahe2MzA5YTJjOGEtYzE0MS00YzIzLWJlZDAtN2ZiOGIzMTg4NzAy

Jesse

Posted in Stop Foreclosures! Workgroup

Tell Congress to End Congressional Campaign Fundraising While In-Session

2012-02-12T05:22:02Z

Hi,

I've started an online petition that focuses on Congress and their despicable behavior while in-session. Reports reveal that members of Congress spend between 25-50 percent of their time campaign fundraising while in-session. Essentially, their lack of focus on the job at hand promotes outsourcing their actual work to lobbyists and the special interests. This is one of the reasons that nothing gets done, because their concern stands more towards financing their next election bid and less towards deliberating legislation and its effects on the country as a whole.

Help me by signing my online petition, letting Congress know that we won't stand for campaign fundraising while in-session. Because, quite frankly, we should show the same concern for their careers that they do for people struggling and out of work.

http://signon.org/sign/end-fundraising-while?source=c.em.cp&r_by=2465474

Thanks for helping!

Posted in General Discussion

Re: Online Donatons Go! Now With Transparency!

2012-02-10T10:49:06Z

Looks like the website is down?
Here is a direct link to our public financial disclosure form on Google Docs:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0Aq-BheDQahe2dFJKVkQ0XzVpOGlzMjByNFpDc3FzRmc&single=true&gid=3&output=html

Posted in Finance Workgroup

Online Donatons Go! Now With Transparency!

2012-02-09T21:17:30Z

We are again able to collect online donations! http://occupylouisville.org/needs/
I set up a finance tracking Google spreadsheet for internal tracking and public display of our finances.
The public copy is on the Finance Work Group Web Page - http://occupylouisville.org/working-groups/finance/ .
Also there is a password-protected link to a form that people in the finance work group should use to record all of our financial transactions. People in the work group can contact me for the password, and for access to another spreadsheet with names and contact information of contributors.
Let me know what changes anyone wants made to this process/presentation!
Jesse

Posted in Finance Workgroup

A Direct Action Going on NOW Feb 9 @ 3:30pm

2012-02-09T13:02:48Z

The Teamsters are protesting the Mayor Greg Fischer for his refusal to bargain with EMS Workers.
They would appreciate it if anyone from Occupy would like to stand in Solidarity with them. The event is going on now at 3:30pm fora couple of hours, in front of the court house on 5th and Jefferson.

David Barfield

Posted in General Discussion

Recent Discussions and Options for Food Not Bombs Skill Shares

2012-02-06T18:57:54Z

Members of the camp and a few Direct Action Folks have been coordinating efforts to redesign what is currently considered the 'kitchen' into a service area which will accommodate visitors with information and some refreshments such as coffee or tea. Slow progress has made a big difference. Off site donors are now regular and supportive as a means of both outreach and extending service to all Occupy activists equally.

Social Resources organizing as Food Not Bombs Direct Action is being structured to accommodate hot nightly meals for camp including options for frozen dinner requests & condensed meals for work groups with entree and sides. Members of work groups are welcome to let the Education or Direct Action Work Groups know if a frozen meal for 3-5 people is needed. Documentation has been created & shared to track this form of donation weekly.

Recent discussions about changing the sort of items requested for the donation/necessity list include how to set up a dry sink cleaning area as well as how to prepare camp food with less perishables and clean up/instant gratification ingredients to discourage hording as well as reduce below freezing clean up conditions.

Camp members were willing to write/teach some recipes for no bake foods as well as learn more about how to use baking soda and vinegar in clean up responsibly. Patterns of rotations for bins and recycle process center were also discussed as a means of how to assess what is to be pitched and/or cycled back into supplies check out.

Posted in Education Workgroup

Media Contacts

2012-02-06T18:27:22Z

Members of the press are building stories on the local Occupy Movement and it is clear that they may have a specific message that they are planning to send out relative to management challenges associated with camp issues. Our concern is that Work Groups are not getting the same representation that newly encamped site members have gotten with these reporters/journalists etc.

Please let us know if you have been contacted by press/local media and try to provide specific details of who/what/when for the sake of tracking the release of these matters equitablely and in a timely manner.

If you feel more comfortable with anonymity then please state this at the beginning of the question session and also at the end of the question session to ensure that the press/media contact respect your privacy.

Posted in Media Workgroup

Camp Considerations and Adaptations

2012-02-06T18:21:08Z

This weekend was another working GA weekend which was poorly attended but accomplished by a group of about 5-6 folks over a 3 day period. Our goal was to clear clutter and remove debris from the service areas.

Members of Camp assisted in rotating stock in the Service/Food Tent, emptying overstock bins and wash/drying them for cold storage. Water collection has been an ongoing task which occurs with some frequency but would be more beneficial if it were associated with specific times for site maintenance of particular areas.

Our friend, the weather, has been pretty cooperative but rather fickle when it comes to completing any particular process of sifting mess and removing waste from around the square. Individuals divesting their tents of personal items are encouraged to snag a recycle bin by the Service tent for temporary portage/process to the garbage bins. Preparing for more rain and inclement weather and generally keeping the site picked up by removing items from the lawn as a part of cleaning/condensing supplies will assist future workers and direct actions.

Returning the recycle bins and/or washing them out is the responsibility of all camp members as needed. Wipe down of stock shelves and microwave/tables in Service area also need assistance at a daily minimum. Bleach cleaner is best for bacterial matter but vinegar can remove a variety of tough to clean substances as well as a dry scrub with baking soda. Donations of baking soda and vinegar are encouraged and will be stored away properly with cleaning supplies to keep the site toxin controlled.

Thanks for all you do and if you have a free day please feel free to come down and ask a camp member what site-based clean up needs your helping hand.

Posted in Encampment Workgroup

Re: Food Not Bombs Feed Options

2012-02-04T17:04:24Z

Good News!!! Donations from the First Unitarian Folk have arrived again. Dinner this past week for Occupy Participants was well attended and camp work was accomplished in accordance including some lunch options.

Members of work groups wishing to reserve a small meal for 3-5 workers can contact Quizz to pick up one of the frozen entree sets from the 12 trays that were condensed and separated into a Camp Meal and 3 reserves also ! Check back for update information on available frozen reserves for your work group or direct action on this page.

Location for dinner is still set for Founders Square unless we happen to be hosting an event elsewhere at which time the alternate location will be announced on this page and our facebook page to remind you!

Posted in Work Groups

Education 2012 ... Planning and Funding Community Priorities

2012-02-04T17:01:31Z

Join us for planning upcoming educational events on a two week cycle that allows members and new participants to learn more about social organizing, sustainable living and the issues associated with Occupy Activism. Members of our community have lots of ideas but now its time to take a long look at the process of cultural change as a means of learning more about how our constituent status can work to our benefit.

Educational Work Group will meet up in the Brycc House tomorrow at 3pm at 825 So. Floyd Street (through the middle door) on the first floor. We welcome ideas, suggestions, visitors and donations to keep Occupy moving towards a community of enjoyable and responsible living without all that multinational corporate confusion.

Posted in Education Workgroup

Re: Occupy Mitch McConnell - 2/3/12

2012-01-31T23:53:01Z

Needs for direct action on Feb. 2

Due to an emergency, Diane and Kevin can't participate. I will take Diane's place as emcee and write script...welcome will be mostly using our press release. I am working on getting a Mitch mask and Curtis has volunteered when mask is obtained. Someone needs to replace me as a detainee.

Personnel needs: 2 detainees; 1 or 2 militaristic enforcers; more drummers and maybe a guitarist who can accompany the "Guantanamo Bay" song; if not, I bought 10 kazoos which can be used as back up for group sing along. (I'll print words to song, along with some handouts and a big "employment terminated" form for Mitch.)

We need 2 or more people to read prepared statements: list of odds of dying from a terrorist attack; the FBI list of "Potential Indicators of Terrorist Activities;" and something that some one should write that is very inspiring, touching on our loss of freedom and the need for ALL of us to stand up and BE HEARD (lots of cheering and noise makers at this point.) Emphasis on McConnell's record of voting against American people.

Props needed: (depending upon whether we have 1 or 2 enforcers) 2 toy military guns; 2 sets of military-type goggles; 2 black knit caps OR helmets (I have one black bike helmet which might work.) I'm going to see if I can find anything at the Goodwill tomorrow.

Will make identifying NDAA signs (1021 and 1022) for officers to wear.

We need LOTS of signs relevant to NDAA to pass out to people who just show up. I'll bring large sheets of paper and foam board, construction paper, etc., and markers to Thursday meeting.

We have 5 black bags which need to have the words taped over and handles taped inside. Will bring to meeting. Will be tucked into officers' belts. We need to practice with the velcro wrist ties at meeting. I am printing some 14x18 signs denoting the Amendments to be worn (sandwich sign style with duct tape shoulder straps) by the detainees. Will bring them to meeting, also.

Linda has volunteered to bring a bull horn to the DA. I will double check with her that it will be there. Can rent one from DooWop, if not.

Girl taking notes at GA tonight is bringing face paint to camp pre-event for anyone who wants their face painted.

Due to comments/suggestions made at GA tonight regarding possibly breaking laws I want to state that I personally feel that the DA created and planned this event specifically NOT to break any laws. Part of the goal is to show that all these things that we will be doing on Friday are currently legal, but under NDAA 2012, they could become illegal actions. And this WILL be stated at the action.

If anyone takes it upon themselves to break a law, I think it should be known that OL is not advocating that.

FRIDAY -
I will be at camp by 11 am, probably sooner. Will recruit "extras." Will march from camp down 5th to Broadway then down Broadway to Courthouse.

When we arrive at Courthouse, I will make a preliminary statement welcoming everyone and announcing why we are there. While I'm speaking, the "citizens" wearing the Amendment signs will stroll past me in a carefree manner, circling back around so as not to get too far off. I will give a quick run down of which Amendments are affected and what rights they cover.

I'll make the following statement that will be the CUE to start the creative drama:

Lark: Americans have long expected and enjoyed their freedom of speech, their right to speak out on what is wrong with their government. BUT, under the recent NDAA, THIS COULD BE THE AMERICA OF THE FUTURE.....

Officer 1 will block the citizens' path, with each successive person coming to a quick halt bumping into the back of the one in front of them. Office 2 steps to the rear of the line and blocks their retreat.

Citizen 1: Officer, is there some problem?

Officer: [pulling the sandwich sign off, ripping and stomping it] YOU are the problem?

Citizen 4: It our right to know what law we have broken!

Officer 2: You have NO rights! [rips off sandwich sign, rips and stomps]

Both officers "handcuff Citizen 1 and 4 and push them to the ground.

Citizen 2: Hey! You can't do that. We have the Bill of Rights!

Officer 1: You mean - you HAD the Bill of Rights [repeat sign ripping, etc.]

Citizen 3: But we're Americans and this IS America!

Officer 2: Yeah, but next stop is...[pause] Guantanamo Bay! [ repeat sign ripping, Citizen 2 and 3 are "handcuffed", pushed to the ground and all 4 have black bags placed over their heads while song starts:

Singers:
Sitting in Guantanamo Bay
Been sitting since they dragged me away
Was minding my business at home
Got dragged off with no way to phone.

Yeah sitting in Guantanamo Bay
Watching my life wasting away.
Sitting in Guantanamo Bay...wasting life.

Looks likes things had better change
No way they can remain the same
This is not WHY this country came to be!
[CUE for "Mitch" to come forward] Oh Mitch, why can't you see!!?

You could be sitting in Guantanamo Bay
Watching your life wasting away.....fade to humming the verse as "Mitch"struts past detainees like he doesn't notice them....and then Lark yells on the bull horn:

Lark: Hey, McConnell.

Mitch: Turns toward sound and points to his chest

Lark: Yeah, you! Is THIS what you think your country should be?!?

Mitch: [nods head exaggeratedly]

Lark: Well I don't think so and there are LOTS of people who don't think so either. In fact, we've come here today to give you something.

Mitch cocks head sideways in questioning pose.

Lark rolls out the "notice of job termination" printed to look like Bill of Rights. Reads it and shows it to crowd. [Crowd cheers wildly.]

Mitch puts both hands over mouth as if in horror.
"
MANY people run over to detainees and unbind their wrists, help them to their feet. Each one pulls off their own black bag and one by one places it over Mitch's head.

The crowd cheers wildly (again!) and with kazoos and drums and lots of noise as everyone sings:

You might be sitting in Guantanamo Bay, watching your life wasting away,
Just sitting in Guantanamo Bay...wasting life...

as we watch Mitch being "escorted" away by the 4 citizens.

And then we chant 3 times: THE PEOPLE UNITED, WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!!!

First speaker comes to bull horn to read list of odds of dying

Second Speaker reads FBI indicators of terrorist activity

Third speaker or Lark...emphasizing that McConnell is on notice - we are watching and he needs to represent the people he SERVES!

Lark - thanks everyone for participating in today's demonstration and for working to preserve our rights. Announces the march and reminds everyone that we are within our rights and are not breaking any laws (remain on sidewalks and follow traffic signs, etc.) For now....

The March proceeds up 6th, past jail and Hall of Justice, Metro Hall, the Big Bank building, down 5th to the camp.

Would be fabulous if someone could bring some kind of meal and have a celebration.

The end!

Posted in Direct Action Workgroup

Occupy Mitch McConnell - 2/3/12

2012-01-31T21:01:52Z

Direct Action meeting - Jan. 26
Facilitator: Lark
Attending: Mandy, Larry, Kevin, Diane and Jesse

The OL Direct Action working group met at the Main Library branch to plan a protest event for the next National Day of Action on February 3 when Americans across the country will gather outside congressional offices to protest NDAA 2012 (H.R. 1540).

Targeted congressional representative: Senator Mitch McConnell

Location: outside Snyder Federal Courthouse at 601 W. Broadway (between 6th & 7th St.)
Time: 12 noon, followed by a march to past jail and ending aypt Occupy Louisville site (5th & Muhammad Ali)

Name of Event: Occupy Mitch McConnell

Preliminary plan (script to be developed): create a stree drama enactment which will illustrate how the Patriot Act led to the indefinite detainment of non-Americans at Guantanamo Bay prison and how Section 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 will eventually lead to the indefinite detention of American citizens, on American soil, without trial for suspected 'terrorist' activity which has been broadly defined. "ALL are at risk!" [note: need someone to research official source for list of 'suspected terrorist' activities.]

Five people [perhaps strolling in a carefree manner in a wide circle in front of the Courthouse] will be American citizens representing the five Constitutional amendments which have been repealed by the NDAA: the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th and 14th. [Mandy, Lark, Larry and 2 to be recruited - will be dressed in ordinary clothing wearing signs naming the Amendment they represent and its key provisions.]

Two "enforcement officers" [to be recruited and dressed in some sort of uniform or "Men in Black"] representing Section 1021 an 1022 of the NDAA [wearing a labeling sign] will, one by one, snatch the Amendment signs from the citizens, rip them up and stomp on them. When citizens ask 'why?' officers will tell them they have no rights, no right to an attorney, etc. Officers will place black bags over citizens heads, "hand cuff" them and force them to sit on the ground.

Emcee [Diane with megaphone] will come forward and read prepared statement about how/why this has happened, focusing on OUR representative - Mitch McConnell - who voted for this act. The demand will be made for Congress to repeal this act and end this tyranny. Emphasis will made that ANYone could be designated as a terrorist - even Mitch McConnell.

Puppet representing McConnell will be bought forward [by Kevin?] and will be questioned on why he hates the American people. The crowd will be asked if they think that McConnell might be suspected of terrorism against the American people by voting for the NDAA. [loud cheers of agreement]. The detainees will break free and place their black bags over the puppet's head. The crowd will cheer wildly.

Songs will be sung [Larry is writing lyrics to be sung to the tunes of "Howdy Doody time" and "Guantanamera"] Drums, kazoos, other musical instruments needed. [see song lyrics I wrote below.]

A few prepared statements will be given [maybe the list of odds of being killed by terrorist compared to other ways to die.]. Someone will ask everyone to spread the word and to contact McConnell via phone calls, mail or email to keep this topic in the public eye, to work to have the act repealed.

After all activity is completed at Courthouse, a march will proceed up 6th street past the jail and County Courthouse, then to the Occupy Louisville site.

[Look for new slogans/chants specific to this issue]

props needed; megaphone; velcro wrist ties, Amendment signs, kazoos [Lark] howdy doody puppet and BIG sign [Kevin]; black bags [Mandy]; officers' uniforms [possibly Kevin] Will recruit other active OL supporters to assist.

Lots of signs will be encouraged.

Handbills to be passed out at event: "Notice: Termination of Employment" for McConnell on one side [with McConnell's contact info, too], OL info on other.

Publicity: Press release [Lark] to Jesse to press contact person. [David H.] Facebook, Twitter and all local outlets possible. Email lists for Veterans for Peace, LPAC, Interfaith
community, Ky/ Alliance (Lark will ask Eddie for lists of social activist groups.) Radio: Crescent Hill Radio announcement request.

Lark will attend Saturday GA on site to recruit participants. Will print notices for OL kitchen tent and some to hand out at Really Really Free Market on Sunday at Clifton Unitarian Church. Will ask George to hand out some at 1st UU Church.

Everyone in all OL work groups requested to ask all their friends to spread the word. Request that if they cannot attend to ask someone else to be there in their place.

Next DA meeting Feb. 2 - location will be confirmed in follow up email. Signs can be made and rehearsal of script.

Lark

PS. Thinking of songs and slogans, here's one I came up with:

Sitting in Guantanamo Bay
Been sitting since they dragged me away
Was minding my business at home
Got dragged off with no way to phone.

Yeah sitting in Guantanamo Bay
Watching my life wasting away.

Looks likes things had better change
No way they can remain the same
This is not why this country came to be!
Oh Mitch, why can't you see!!?

You should be sitting in Guantanamo Bay
Watching your life wasting away.

-------------------

Posted in Direct Action Workgroup

Kitchen Collective Proposal for Activities beginning January 31st

2012-01-28T18:16:05Z

Recent agreements which will facilitate food as nightly meals will require active involvement by camp members to ensure cleanliness and proper hygiene for each meal. We will need to schedule weekly members for collective action to participate in pantry and service preparation as well as nightly close out in the kitchen.

Meals are set to arrive between 8pm and 8:30pm which would call for preparations to begin at 7:45 including wipe down, service set up, bleach sink and staffing for clean up tasks to be assigned. Everyone is welcome to participate.

Posted in Encampment Workgroup

Direct Action Work Group Basics

2012-01-28T18:04:15Z

Want to get involved with a cooperative group of folks who are working to assist our community to share what it means to be a part of the compassionate 99%. The group meets on Thursdays for planning and activities associated with outreach and demonstration of issues associated with Occupy Activism.

Please leave your questions here or ideas associated with getting involved in this collective effort. Group facilitators for this group can be reached through Info@occupylouisville.com.

Posted in Direct Action Workgroup

Food Not Bombs Partnership Contract

2012-01-28T17:57:54Z

Please do not use this exact copy without securing approval from Brycc House, Occupy Direct Action or Valu-Market

Posted in Resources

Food Not Bombs Feed Options

2012-01-28T17:34:23Z

The Brycc House Community has stepped forward to offer fiscal agency for food support options at the Occupy Encampment as a means of securing a healthy and compassionate community components of nutrition. We have secured a partnership with several donors for hot meals at the camp almost nightly (except on Tuesdays and Thursdays) as well as prepped carry away meals for work groups on the go.

Contributions such as beverages or pies to support the Occupy encampment are always welcomed to compliment these meals. Breakfast and snack foods including coffee, tea, protein bars and vegetarian options are always welcome. Plenty of walk up donations have been received and appreciated as raw and fresh produce as well as pre-packaged entrees and microwavable items. Written notes of appreciation are also welcomed.

If you would like to participate in the organizing or facilitation of this direct action, we welcome you to attend the Thursday Direct Action work group or the Sunday Educational Planning work group at the Brycc House.

Please feel free to email or send a message through this site profile if you have questions or wish to offer some specific proposal. Brycc House is located at 825 South Floyd Street here in Louisville and welcomes non-perishables at their site to be delivered to Occupy Actions weekly.

Posted in Work Groups

Re: Education Work Group Outreach Message

2012-01-25T09:13:56Z

these ideas are near and dear to the hearts of our community

we will be working with facilitators to use our space for teaching and reading as well as a variety of media production based activities... we have made arrangements to work with the Braden Center on West Broadway to install another location for these sorts of activities as well so that constituents have a chance to organize direct action or be involved in sustainable living skill shares in the coming months ... become a member today and enjoy our lending library and freewheel bike program

please contact us at brycchousecommunity@gmail.com or visit us on facebook by typing in brycc or kywac to learn more about Open Studio and other upcoming skill shares

Posted in Education Workgroup

web page update

2012-01-22T11:38:25Z

I made some major edits to the website, wanted to get feedback from folks. The biggest change is the addition of a "General Assembly" section, which contains a proposed agenda for the next GA. It also contains the minutes from past GAs, which I reorganized the format of, the consensus guide that was on the front page, and a guide the hand signals.
Also, I combined the "donate" and "needs" sections, combined the "livestream" section into the "audio & video" section, and moved the "maps" section to "contact." Please let me know if this looks ok, or you would like anything changed! Jesse

Posted in Media Workgroup

Congressman John Yarmuth's Camp Visit

2012-01-13T21:43:27Z

An out of nowhere idea was presented to a group of us at camp late Wednesday night. Hey let's see if we can get Congressman Yarmuth to come to camp and accept an award.
A few of us talked about it and decided to see if he would come and accept the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Occupy A Dream Award, in honor of this weekend being MLK day.
Not thinking he would accept on such short notice, I sent him the invitation late Wednesday night/Thursday morning. To my surprise, he accepted, and will be here at Saturdays 2pm GA.
With his quick acceptance, it would appear that he was just waiting for an invitation to visit us here at Occupy. I may not have gone through all the right channels, but it happened none the less.

David Barfield

Posted in Encampment Workgroup

Re: canvassing materials

2012-01-12T22:26:42Z

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B6-BheDQahe2NDBmMWNiMDQtN2Y3OS00YzUyLWE4NmUtMjkwYjdkYzg3ZWY3

Occupy Homes Brochure with the cover fixed!

Posted in Stop Foreclosures! Workgroup

Re: About This Forum

2012-01-12T19:04:15Z

Hey guys,
Just checking in to say hi. I wanted to apologize to you Lark, if I said something at the GA to make you uncomfortable. It just seems like sometimes, people don't realize that we are doing a direct action everyday by being here. I in no way wanted to take away anything from your efforts. I just wanted to help.

David Barfield

Posted in Feedback/Questions About This Forum

Re: About This Forum

2012-01-11T19:49:38Z

Hey Lark, this is Jesse! I think people here should be welcome to identify themselves or not, this is just the name I usually use for internet stuff. I'm not really worried about anonymity but a lot of people are, and I think we should respect them on that.

Posted in Feedback/Questions About This Forum

Re: occupy louisville brochure redux, iz ok?

2012-01-11T16:52:30Z

Lark - It's a logo from another brochure, I like it, but just used it for lack of another one. I think some people are working on a logo now, I can change it anytime if someone sends me something else that is not a Fleur de lis! Jesse

Posted in Outreach Workgroup