Statement for Legal Team

[Iain Marjoribanks]

Hey guys,

Legal Committee has requested a statement from Occupiers regarding how they were effected by the loss of the VAG space. I would like to ask the Librarians to collaborate on a statement that we can all sign. What do you all think of this?

Iain

[PM]

Iain,

Thanks for staying so on top of this.

Here's my feelings on the loss of the VAG space:

The loss of a public site in which we are free to speak, learn,
listen, discuss and debate our hopes and dreams is a sad reflection on
the level of fear that has overtaken our political process. One
politician used the press to spread false stories about the VAG site,
using it as a weapon against another and in the process, the access to
the space was damaged . The VAG site is central, downtown, open - as
the former courthouse it seems perfect to host this forum on
democracy. Often, sitting on the steps I looked up at the shaded
mirrors of the surrounding buildings and wondered how soon the people
looking down would be joining us. It is only a matter of time.

The People's Lovely Library was not the first place I connected to
Occupy but it has proved to be the strongest as an ongoing community.
I love books. Being able to re-distribute books out of private unused
collections into people's hands and encourage people to read them and
discuss their thoughts brings me joy. So I was pleased by the
public's response to the library - in terms of donations and visits
and creating a quiet, safe space for dissemination of ideas. Occupy
(for me) is about creating new communities that are based on
collaboration and equity and empathy.

Food, shelter, and health care are required to sustain the body and
these were all provided at the VAG site, through a gift economy.
Libraries, art and now the internet, are required to sustain the mind,
the culture of our society and these forms too are under attack. They
were provided, again free and onsite, at the VAG and they continue
through our winter branches and hopefully will re-bloom in an outdoor
public space in the spring. Take good care and see you all again soon.

Pia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“In the course of history, there comes a time

when humanity is called to shift

to a new level of consciousness to reach

a higher moral ground. A time when we

have to shed our fear and give hope

to each other. That time is now.”

~ Wangari Maathai

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[Iain Marjoribanks]

Being a part of The People's Library was one of the proudest achievements of my life. It began on the 15th, with me sitting at a card table with a dozen articles from my course readings and research at UBC. The readings covered a range of topics, from neoliberalisation of British universities to First Nations claims to lands in Stanley Park. Why was it important for me to do this? I realized that a lot of people were going to have unanswered questions when they heard buzzwords like "unceded Coast Salish land," or "neoliberalism." I realized that free speech isn't meaningful if you can't support it with evidence, and so I brought well-documented scholarly articles about many of the issues I expected would be brought up at Occupy Vancouver. 

By the end of the first day, a few people had brought their own books to share. By the next day, the table was piled with books. Within a week, we had several bookshelves, two large metal tables, furniture and several pieces of original art on the walls. There was a point where I had attempted to curate or limit the books that I was "representing" at the Library, but I soon began to realize that we were doing more than simply providing evidence; we were providing a space for Democracy to happen. The very domesticity of having a space such as the People's Lovely Library in the middle of a protest rally brought the most diverse individuals into contact with each other. College professors shared conversations with young children; businessmen debated housing and tax policy with those living on assistance. Most surprising to me, was that there were people reading, in the cold and dark at all hours of the night. 

What I learned at Occupy Vancouver is that The People's Library is more than a political statement: it is an essential service. What is the value of Democracy if we don't know how Government truly effects the lives of the citizens we never come into contact with? We all live in neighborhoods and communities, but we have ceased to live in public. Communities are not a sufficient replacement for the public sphere, because we commonly exclude people from them. When we never hear of the daily experiences and challenges of our countrymen, how can we judge whether our Government is Good? 

Iain

Perhaps add something about the legal foundations of the public sphere, how the internet is not a public sphere, the challenges we've had since losing the space, etc. But my brain is tired, and I'm getting emotional....

--
ATTENTION LIBRARIANS!

If replying to a message sent from someone outside the group, please copy-paste their name into the "TO" field of your email client, and put "ovpeopleslibrary@googlegroups.com in the "CC" field.
Why? It's a gerry-rigged system, until we build an email system that's designed for flat organizations.

[PM]

your words are so true and just and loving, Iain.

glad we've met.

PM

[Iain Marjoribanks]

Glad you're a part of my life, Pia! Let's keep it that way!

--Iain

[gareth davies]

I think collaborating is an excellent idea...are they planning on filing an appeal?   see you on sunday gadeth

-- ATTENTION LIBRARIANS!   If replying to a message sent from someone outside the group, please copy-paste their name into the "TO" field of your email client, and put "ovpeople...@googlegroups.com in the "CC" field.