Recent events have shown that we are not all in agreement on whether our main goal at MP should be to maintain the site, to maintain an info desk or otherwise. Underlying this of course are different perspectives on what the best strategy and tactics should be more generally and where each one of us fits within it.
I’ve talked this over with Pathi, who has been trying to organise roster for the site/info-desk, Lance and many other occupiers and I feel this topic deserves and is overdue for some open discussion. I’d like to suggest we discuss this in a similar way we did when reviewing GAs, that is to first have open discussion without proposals followed by concrete proposals at a later GA.
I’d suggest we get on to this straight away at this Wednesday’s GA, but also online and in person with the idea of putting forward proposals at a GA the following week. The Occupy Movement is the most inspiring social movement I’ve witnessed. Lets put everything on the table and see if we can’t recapture some of the spirit that brought us together 114 days ago 
In response to an email on this topic Bern put forward the following questions for reflection:
“This is about what people are willing to put into Occupy Sydney, and what they can maintain as ongoing support for Occupy Sydney. It is also about how people have left because their measurements of success are not met.”
How do you measure the success of Occupy Sydney?
How do you receive gratitude for your contributions to Occupy Sydney?
How do you maintain support for a movement that demands change?
How do you hold onto the relevancy of the movement?
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22 Responses to “What Now for Occupy Sydney?”
I can’t believe that what should be the online shopfront of Occupy Sydney has descended to become a personal opinion driving blog. But I should neither be surprised at the person or the timing -perfect – and the police would agree with me too .. http://occupysydney.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/call-to-disendorse-occupy-sydney-endorsed-site/
My agenda is to give you a hug the next time I see you
I’d like to say thanks to all those who try their best to keep this unwieldy site updated with as much info as they can from all aspects of those involved with Occupy, in Martin Place and wherever they may be (there are a lot of you!). I won’t support any motion to dis-endorse this site.
I think research, Free School, campaigns and community building are the way forward. Staying at MP is just not feasible for many people for many reasons. I see some of the most interesting and forward thinking activity happening away from MP, but I also appreciate that the mere being, at a physical protest site, is important, challenging and worthwhile. But its not the centre of everything, and that is shown by what is happening at occupy movements the world over. I’d liek to see more one off occupy sites, underground actions, fun and challenging stuff, culture jamming, engagement with people living way outside of the city centre. I want to see web activity, discussions, information sharing, friendship and network building. We should be challenging, informing and resisting through solidarity. Welcome all levels of engagement, on all forums.
that being said – I do not want MP to be’disbanded’ not at all. I agree that it is one of the strongest enduring occupy spaces in the current movement. I do want however people to be able to be involved without having to physically stay at night. We all give what we can and thats good enough.
A large part of what inspired me to join the movement in the first place was the idea that we were united with other chapters on an international scale.
The OS site at the moment looks small. A small movement talking about global change doesn’t inspire confidence.
I would love to see more coordination with worldwide chapters like we had at the start. I think this should be frequent and regular.
I don’t know that it matters terribly what form that takes – we doesn’t always have to aim for huge rallies. Could be anything from creative action / flash mobs, signwriting, music or other performance, workshops and presentations, educational info sessions… Anything relevant to the issues at hand. The point being that it would be a coordinated effort by all Occupy chapters to engage in the same sort of thing at the same time.
I think if we keep reinforcing how large the movement actually is, and experiencing how well we can coordinate action on a global scale, we may well find that confidence and inspiration that brought us together at the start.
Heh I just read about the International Art Day this Sunday! Excellent news! Glad to hear its happening already
What now for occupy?
I agree the Occupy movement is an inspirational social movement that needs to be supported. However I fear it is slowly tearing itself apart and disintegrating before my eyes.
You have to constantly analyse what you are doing and ask if you are achieving your objectives & adjust processes and tactics to get there, it’s the only way to move forward.
My personal view on this is we should maintain an occupation in MP as long as we can. It’s not an easy thing to do, my great respect to Lance and all the others totally committed to this cause.
We do get positive support from passers by, and the movement has to have more people from the wider community involved.Out main goals should be to grow the occupy support base. It’s easier said than done, but this is the best way we can judge if we are achieving our objective by getting the general public on side turning up to our events.
We have to make it an inviting place to engage the general public. The place should be neat and tidy and welcoming for anyone to come, sit down and have a chat with us.
Baiting police, in a cat and mouse game, is a waste of energies not the core reasons occupy exists.Verbally attacking the Police, calling them PIGS and other names, (who are people just trying to earn a living & probably sick of their jobs as well?) is not going to change the world!?
Do we have police liaison people, can we not get some agreement with them, so they stop harassing us?
Is it a lost cause trying to negotiate with the police?
We have to keep hammering their bosses the sleazy politicians; they are the ones we have to expose as crooks and disendorsed as our representatives.
The current disunity and personal snipes at each others efforts in the occupation is not doing the cause any good. We have to rise above the personality clashes , be united in our objectives, remember disunity is death!
Let’s concentrate on what unites us rater than the divides.
We all agree the system is broken, right!?
If these issues are not ironed out we have blown another opportunity to make a real change in our messed up world.
I find it reasonably insulting that the idea has, and is currently been throw around that we disband the MP occupation.
For starters, Occupy Sydney is one of the longest running and maintained occupations in the world.
This is only due to the dedication of those directly involving themselves within occupy sydney (Not discrediting anyone’s work behind the scenes/screens!) , who see the importance and powerful symbolism of holding space within Sydneys central financial hub, as well as directly engaging with the public.
If there is one thing the public has given us credit and respect for, it is the length of time that occupy has maintained its presence, regardless of crappy weather, woeful journalism and police harassment.
When people start throwing around the phrase “You’ve made your point, maybe you/we should move on”, it becomes a cause for concern. What was the point we were trying to make again? And at what point did we make it?
Was it after 40+ Arrests on day 8,
Or 80+ arrests that have occurred after, that have been a direct result of police action trying to shut down the 114+ day occupation THAT IS STILL BEING MAINTAINED AS YOU READ THIS.
If we drop the occupation, we throw away all that this movement has worked so hard to nurture, and discredit all those who have put so much hard work, long days and sleepless nights into seeing it grow.
As essential as creative action, rally’s and working groups etc. are to this movement, Maintaining a space to organize and discuss has been the motive from the start (*In my opinion).
Without the Occupation, we just go back to “SYDNEY”, and i think it was a pretty dull place before #OSYD came around.
I wholeheartedly support the ongoing occupation at MP but I feel there needs to be a different strategy to having our presence there 24/7…I have suggested this to Lanz and others on numerous occasions. The seeds have been sown…need some more nurturing and watering.
The opportunity will not pass, discontent is growing but people are afraid to engage and see a disorganized and sporadic movement. Which is fine…I believe despite the superficial ideological and ego orientated personality clashes and the teething problems the Occupy Sydney contingent of this truly inspirational global movement has been successful. And all those who have been involved should feel proud!
Stef told me that the other week he had a guy from mt druitt come up to MP with his family to check it out because he didnt believe the way Occupy was being represented in the media. He apparently was very switched on, articulate, up to date on deep politics and much more informed than some of the people Stef explained that he’d come across who tend to be dogmatic in their beliefs because of the rigid structural models they use to understand the social and cultural world. People need to be open, drop the old operating system and expand your perception of what is taking place in the world.
We need militants, we need more planned, coordinated creative action. We need much more organized media…we need teams of rotating people covertly jamming key sites, messages and infrastructure…people who are committed to the idea that the revolution first begins within.
I have been frustrated about the rigidness of peoples operating systems (worldviews or lenses if you will) to adapt to new information…but I let this go knowing many people are not ready in their journey…
I will continue to do what I have been doing for the past few years which is in line with my sense of mission and purpose and will not capitulate to dogma or threat of imprisonment or death. I will continue to support the movement because at the very basis of my soul and sense of truth is that this is meant to happen… a conscious awakening of the masses of people, many who I believe have been enslaved by their own self imposed fear and ignorance.
With many lives of shattered dreams there is still hope
For the greatest sin can be to waste a talent
And not achieve what is in your heart
To feel the pain of misfortune
To feel the grief of loved ones past
Can be the greatest gift that life can give you
Do not despair for success will be in our grasp
We will prevail…
I love all of you!
I agree that the Occupy site needs to be kept. However building totem poles & joining together big boxes which we all know will bring the cops around to take everything again, is’nt the best idea. The cops would be sniffing around even without doing this, but you can’t give them excuses to keep busting the place up. Save these kind of things for direct protests at the banks, corporations. Don’t shit in your own nest. We all know cops suck but you’ve got to be smart & play the game!
Too much time & energy is being consumed in police/court related issues. The 1% are rubbing their hands together in glee as police harrassment wears us all down.
that being said, we do need a refresh.
I don’t have any issue with what Gerry said but it’s not exactly the best place to say it. It has however generated a good discussion. I can’t get to GAs very often and I don’t Facebook so it’s always good to hear peoples thoughts. I think we might need another mailing list
The site certainly needs some work and I have a few ideas that I’ll put forward for discussion. If I’ve just offended anybody I apologise for my thought crime.
The NSW state government and its police have certainly done a good job on trying to close down Occupy Sydney. But having a discussion about where Occupy Sydney goes from here is natural and normal under the circumstances. Its a difficult time for all who have been involved. Rather than find scapegoats within Occupy which is a depressingly negative thing to do after all this time, there have been some remarkable things happen. Occupy’s slogan or main idea has had an effect ‘We are the 99%’ as opposed to the 1% who have screwed us over is out there. Sure it had more response in the US and Europe where the GFC (and now a horrible winter)made just surviving for many very difficult. Occupy has its ups and downs. If there are some who feel its more important to keep the site going, great. If there are others who cannot, don’t want to, can’t afford it and/or want to do other OS outreach stuff, that’s good too. We are inclusive. There are many who cannot sleep over, who for various reasons cannot have that experience, cannot miss work, study, or caring for others. But can do other things, like court support etc. There is cliqueism in every movement. You know the saying ‘people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’. I think that Occupy Sydney has been and done many things, for me too. Are we back to where we started when people, new to each other, made too many assumptions, didn’t listen, made emotional accusations rather than try to understand another’s point of view? I cannot say if Occupy should or should not sustain Martin Place site. The government and the police made the decision to try to get rid of Occupy by (almost) any means necessary. They are the ones to blame.
thanks kerry – very well said
I am suspicous of the AGENDA of occupy Sydney. It does not seem as clear as the other Australian occupations and OWS worldwide. It is like you have some hidden agenda. You also seem to quick to shutout people who try and connect with OccupySydney.
I have had great talks with Occupiers from overseas and other states. What about you guys. Is this somthing you are taking serious or just somthing to pass the time. I am not having a stab at you just curious. Art festival after art festival is not going to help your support. Direct Action on a worthy cause maybe. Stick to it and dont back down. Until you have the numbers try and limit it to battles you can win or change your attitude and accept more peopel into your tiny little group. I myself have awakened a lot of people. And are sick of seeing occupy Sydney do nothing or try and reach WEST SYDNEY. So many people in South West and West Sydney that would support. But it does nor seem like youa re about the ghetto of Sydney just your little trendy inner city cafes. Cmon show some unity and work for the 99% not just your version.
Or maybe 2 Occupation sites. Sydney is Kinda like West and East. 2 sites to bring the City together. Also there are so many empty green fields near busy areas that dont get used at all. Say have MP and a greater west site to encompass the West South west areas as well as that would extend the range of the regional sections such as Picton Appin, Blue mountains. I dont know somthing to think about. I have lived in Blue Mountains, Penrith, Blacktown , Campbelltown Inner city and North Sydney. You need to unify the 2 areas. But that will not happen if you only concentrate on Inner city. Think of Sydney like to separate states. East and West. You need to gather support from West but no Occupation. As the families of these areas will not travel to MP just for a chat. Maybe a Rally. BUT you need the support first.
Hey Anonymous what great ideas, what are you doing to get that started?
rant on –
It is one thing to sit behind a computer and tell people what to do. It is quite another to get up and do it yourself.
I am over reading peoples assumptions and labels of the people that are getting up out of their comfort zones and doing something for Occupy Sydney everyday.
It is never going to measure up to the standards of the people that sit back and talk.
We need people willing to action what they think needs to happen.
There is limits to what can happen with Occupy Sydney. The only limits are the ones I read when people say “little group” – what rubbish.
Get up and action your words. Get up and Do what you Think needs to happen. There is no little group to answer to. There is just the person you look at in the mirror.
/rant
G’day everyone,
I have been leaving random messages of support and throwing in my 2c worth here and there plus sticking it to the doubters and mockers. I even took my kids and partner down to the occupation site last Sunday and had a most enjoyable discussion and exchange of ideas with those that were present on the day. I’ve come in behind the 8 ball but I’m rearing to give it my all.
Sadly though I can see the distension created by an either real or imagined perception of agendas. It can also be seen in the use of occupy across the web in chat rooms and websites. The fact of the matter is that EVERYONE has their own agendas; its each individual’s right and need to have their own agendas. Is that not what we are all doing right now? Following our own agendas separate to that of the agendas of government and corporate power? But unity at the core of all of our agendas should be driving us always forward toward our collective goal. “Kindness, Compassion, Justice, Equality, Truth and every other driving force all the way through to the very perpetuation of the human race.
These issues of greed and control are the direct enemy of each and every Environmental, Humanitarian, Community and Fundraising organizations in the world yet they all operate in anonymity to each other almost silently chipping away at the pillars of greed and injustice making little or no progress.
OCCUPY has the power to change the world, we have the power to change to world…… Its time to use the tools we have at our disposal and make ourselves really heard.
I have been standing at a relative distance and absorbing as much as I can due to the fact that i needed to prepare myself to look at this issue from the simplest perspective possible so as to maximize the collaborative effect of what occupy is. For me occupy is essentially the platform for the first ever “fluid” democracy.
In order for occupy to grow it has to attract more attention, to gain more support and participation from the greater community. But the attention cannot be that of dissention but must be that or decorum and ingenuity, it has to be functional and has to demonstrate the facts driven by the core beliefs for each and every participants individual “agenda”. It may be the case that 80% of people agree with the fact raised within one person’s agenda and the other 20% agree with another’s but if the core issues were caused or are derived from Greed or corruption then for occupy to work the 100% has to support each public protest or action.
Most importantly please someone post after this, the time location of the next GA and subsequent frequency of GA’s.
Can’t wait to see you all there.
Matt
Hey Matt,
GA’s are happening in Martin Place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. 6.30 start time.
In Parramatta there are meetings every Saturday. I think its in the church st mall after 9am and onwards.
There are also people meeting on the Central Coast – best to find them in Facebook (Occupy Central Coast?)
I am not sure of other meetings, but I think if you do some searching on the internet you will find stuff.
Hey Anonymous, check out Occupy Parramatta!
What now for Occupy Sydney?
Pack up and go home. If you haven’t realised by now that you have achieved absolutely nothing, then you are delusional. What have you changed? What difference have you made? Have you presented any credible solutions? Have you saved lives? Have you changed anything in Sydney for the better? No.
You try to provoke our police, run around wearing tents, present free schools that are run by people with no idea what they’re talking about, and stand in Martin Place and shout meaningless, ill-informed dribble while the rest of us (the real 99%) look on in disbelief at your immaturity.
Seriously folk, you’ve embarrassed yourselves enough. Have you no dignity?!