Occupy Boston Update!
Aria Littlhous
Greetings!
This edition of mostly a “Heads UP!” about a few things that you would hate not to miss and the latest on Occupy Boston’s General Assembly. Details below.
1. National Day of Mourning, Nov. 28, Plymouth, MA
2. Pass Mass:DEADLINE 11/20/13: to prevent Corporate Personhood from coming to MA
http://passmassamendment.wikispaces.com/PRINT+THE+PETITION+FORM
3. Occupy Boston GA Minutes, 9/13/13:http://www.occupyboston.org/
4. Survey of Occupy Strategy Group 10 Objectives. https://www.facebook.com/groups/576832645723664/
5. Hidden Faces of Courage, theatre production of voices of women in prison thru 11/17 AND Resisting Walls and Bars, 11/16/13.http://www.commonstruggle.org/radicalizingreality, http://www.broadwayworld.com/boston/article/Fort-Point-Theatre-Channel-to-Stage-HIDDEN-FACES-OF-COURAGE-118-17-20131107
And, don’t forget the Veterans for Peace demo, this Monday, 11/11/13, 2:30 Sameul Adam Park, see below.
peace and love,
Aria L.
1.
National Day of Mourning Plymouth MA 2013
Hosted by Mahtowin Munro
(Non-native welcome, I checked. A.)
Thursday, November 28 at 12:00
Carver St, Plymouth, Massachusetts 02360
Since 1970, Native Americans have gathered at noon on Cole's Hill
in Plymouth to commemorate a National Day of Mourning on the
US thanksgiving holiday. Many Native Americans do not celebrate
the arrival of the Pilgrims and other Europeean settlers.
Thanksgiving day is a reminder of the genocide of millions of
Native people, the theft of Native lands, and the relentless assault
on Native culture. Participants in National Day of Mourning honor
Native ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to survive
today. It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection as well
as a protest of the racism and oppression that Native Americans
continue to experience.
Join us as we dedicate the 44th National Day of Mourning to our
brother, Native political prisoner Leonard Peltier. Add your voice
to the millions world-wide who demand his freedom. Help us in
our struggle to create a true awaren of Native peoples
and demonstrate the unity of Indigenous peoples internationally.
Help shatter the untrue glass image of the Pilgrims and the unjust
system based on racism, sexism, homophobia and war.
United American Indians of New England/LPSG
Best contact method via email: in...@uaine.org
facebook group: United American Indians of New England
Absolutely No Drugs or Alcohol Allowed
Pot-luck Social to Follow
Basic Schedule outline with tentative times:
12 noon prayers (no photos during this time plz)
12:20pm Native speakers
2pm march with rallies by plymouth rock and the site of the Metacomet historical marker
3-5pm indoor potluck social
2.DEADLINE NOV. 20, ‘13
Over the last century and more, the people have been losing their influence over our democratic process. We believe that the roots of this issue is the corrupting influence of money in our political process. For educational resources, click here.
We have asked our legislators to rectify this. Recall the "Clean Elections Law" passed in 1998 by a 2 to 1 majority by ballot initiative. Our legislators refused to fund it and then ended it by voice vote.
As a result, we believe that it's time for citizens to act to amend (clarify) the Massachusetts Constitution ourselves.
In 1917, a Constitutional Convention was called for in Massachusetts because of the concern that "invisible government" (their words) had taken over the General Court and citizens needed a way to "keep government in check". The Convention proposed the "Initiative and Referendum" Amendment which was subsequently passed by the public. The I and R Amendment makes it possible for citizens...you and I, to "reform, alter, or totally change" the government as stated in Article VII of our Constitution.
As such, we are embarking up on a BALLOT INITIATIVE to amend (clarify) the Constitution of Massachusetts. See this page for our legal discussion. This was submitted to the Attorney General's office, as part of the process to get the question on the ballot.
From 9/18 to 11/20 is "petitioning phase", whereby we have to gather 70,000 signatures from the registered voters of Massachusetts.
Even though this is an uphill battle, we have opted to embark upon it. Because we feel that we are left with no other option.
Please help by signing the petition, petitioning, and/or helping us coordinate. There is lots to do. Everyone can help. We need drivers, trainers, people to help find in-kind and financial donations. If you are a lawyer and want to help us with administration, or have a constitutional law background, please let us know.
We have people from all walks of life helping. We have church leaders, business people, union members, Tea Party members, social justice activists, and people who also work for employees helping. We may not agree on everything. But there's one thing we agree on. We believe that Big Money has taken over our government, and it's time to make sure that the rights afforded by our Constitution are for "natural people".
Please help...
Contact:
Terra Friedrichs, terraf "at" compuserve dot com, (petitioning team coordination, press/media, etc) Acton/MetroWest
Nick Bokron, nbokron "at" gmail, (finance, legal, administration, etc) (Nahant/NorthShore)
3. GA Summary – 3 September 2013
September 5th, 2013 · Steve · General Assembly, Passed Resolutions2 comments
Most of tonight’s GA focused on revisiting (and amending) the disbursement proposal from July 9th.
We decided to liquidate Occupy Boston’s remaining credit union funds. Assuming we got the math right, this breaks down as follows:
$4294 for the street medics
-
$908 for strike debt
-
$2000 for Mesob’s food truck (see minutes)
-
$1000 for Bobbi’s Urban Pioneer proposal (see minutes)
-
$492 for Food Not Bombs
-
$492 for E5
GA Minutes: http://wiki.occupyboston.org/wiki/GA_Minutes_Tue_Sep_03_2013.
- See more at: http://www.occupyboston.org/#sthash.6ZBwuvq5.dpuf
General Assembly
WhenTue, November 5, 6:00pm – 9:30pm
WhereCommunity Church of Boston, 565 Boylston St., Boston, MA (map)
DescriptionPotluck @ 6pm
General Assembly at 7pm
4. Ten Strategic Objectives:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thisisoccupycentral/
Occupy Strategy Group's
Top 10 Recommended Strategic Objectives
The Occupy Strategy Group consists of an email list of over 100 people, 6-8 of whom
met in open conference calls for the past year to review input from surveys, research,
emails, articles, and the Draft 2012 Occupy National Gathering Vision documents.
Over 100 proposed items were culled, then reframed into a smaller list, and also
released via an unofficial survey that generated 88 responses. Intense deliberations
and a strong desire to be as inclusive as possible, resulted in these recommendations
– based on urgency, doability, and degree of impact:
The group aligns on the following list of objectives. We envision the objectives as the
first steps on the path to a more peaceful, loving, and sustainable planet.
It begins with a livable ecosystem. Climate change is our timeline.
1. Abolish Corporate Personhood.*
2. Nationalize health care.
3. Establish a strong "commons" to protect the Earth and
nourish community.**
4. Enact a sustainable large scale energy, jobs, and
environmental recovery program.
5. Replace all entitlements with a Basic Income Guarantee.***
6. Stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
7. Discontinue the practice of using federal reserve notes to
back US currency and replace them with U.S. notes.
8. Dismantle the CIA; end private military forces and prohibit
private intelligence agencies.
9. Stop the Patriot Act, NDAA and Drones.
10. Institute a carbon and other natural resource use tax
based on "full resource use accounting" and allocate the revenue
derived from it for a Basic Income Guarantee.****
Thank you for considering our work: please join our ongoing conversation
about current and future studies of strategic objectives:
https://lists.mayfirst.org/mailman/listinfo/occupy-strategy
August 2013
* Abolish Corporate Personhood: Amend the US constitution to declare that inalienable constitutional rights are for natural
individuals only, not corporations
** "Commons" refers to basics: clean air, clean water, healthy food, basic shelter, physical and mental healthcare, urban transit,
land commons, education, communications infrastructure; and all resources necessary for the health of the body politic. http://
*** "The Basic Income Guarantee (BIG) is a government ensured guarantee that no one's income will fall below the level
necessary to meet their most basic needs for any reason." - The U.S. Basic Income Guarantee Network http://www.usbig.net/
whatisbig.php
**** Full Resource Taxation: For information on the fee and dividend, please see http://ossfoundation.us/projects/
environment/economics
Radicalizing Reality Forum: Resisting Walls & Bars
5. Resisting Bars and Prisons
Saturday, November 16, 2013, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
565 Boylston St, Boston, Massachusetts 02116-3601
Locally and globally, struggles against confinement and for freedom of movement are on the rise. Whether it's young migrant folks crossing forbidden borders or prisoners striking for freedom and dignity, the new world in our hearts is visible through acts of defiance and solidarity.
Where do struggles of migrants and incarcerated/policed people intersect? Where are the opportunities for alliances? What are strategic points of intervention and what kind of change are we fighting for? Join us for a participatory conversation on these and other questions. Part of the Radicalizing Reality forum series.
The discussion will be based on a few short readings and videos.
Find them at http://www.commonstruggle.org/radicalizingreality
Wheelchair accessible. Childcare and Spanish interpretation available upon request.
Sponsored by Common Struggle/Lucha Común
Info: bos...@commonstruggle.org
VETERANS DAY, 11/11/13
Samuel Adams Park, Boston
Program:
OPENING
Leftist Marching Band, music
Bob Funke, Member, VFP: Ringing of the Bell
Pat Scanlon, Coordinator, VFP: Welcome
Rev. Lara Hoke, Secretary, VFP: Words of Peace
REFLECTIONS ON ARMISTICE DAY
Dudley Hartung, Korean War Veteran
Bob Funke, Vietnam War Veteran
Michael Spinnato, Iraq War Veteran, member of Iraq Veterans Against the War
Al Johnson, Member, VFP: Chelsea Manning
Leftist Marching Band - Music to Dance By
Bruce Macdonald, Vice-Coordinator, VFP: Closing Thoughts