There’s been a great deal of discussion about the Occupy Wall Street movement this month. But just as it appears that the New York sparked protest may soon be coming to an end, Vancouver’s protester community are just getting amped up to occupy “Howe Street”.
Set for this Saturday, the Vancouver “occupation” is predicted by many to have a big turn out – at least if CTV’s recent coverage of last weekend’s organizing meeting is to be believed. We’ll soon likely see if the organizers are really as organized as they claim. If so, expect downtown Vancouver’s Art Gallery to become jammed with tents, lean-tos and dozens (hundreds?) of assorted bodies. As the rain and cold start to show their teeth (after all, this is the Pacific Northwest) it’ll be interesting to see how long a critical mass of protesters stick around.
I’m hopeful, like the organizers, that this whole thing stays peaceful. But I’m not going to hold my breadth on that one. With such a large mass of people with such an anti-corporate agenda, it seems likely that at least a couple anarchists will be drawn Downtown like bees to honey. I wouldn’t be surprised if at least a few “members” of the OWS movement take the mass protest as an excuse to trash some stores.
While I’ve been curious about the whole movement, one thing that continues to perplex me (and frustrate me) is the apparent decision among many organizers (on both sides of the border) to abstain a general purpose/goal or demand. There’s a terrific story in the Huffington Post, which lays out how OWS movement’s decision to not put forward some simple and targeted demands will hurt their ability to affect real change.
While many people agree that those who lost their life savings due to the economy-wrecking hijinks of a few high-level financiers, just being pissed off isn’t going to do anyone any good in the future.
In my mind, saying “Enough!!” just isn’t enough. You need to articulate what you would do differently and be prepared to have these ideas judged accordingly. Otherwise, change will stay pushed to the margins and you’ll never engage the vast majority of people. Right now one per cent (activists) is taking on another one per cent (super rich). Until they get the other 98 per cent (everyone else) engaged, I don’t know how much headway will be made in making a difference/change to how things run.
The key to getting this silent majority on side and engaged is to develop a goal(s) and some strategies to accomplish those goals. Set out some basic demands so everyone is clear what you stand for. Everything runs from the goals that are created. Only once this is outlined can organizers hope to accomplish something more prevalent than some big media headlines and some funky signs.
Header photo courtesy of Collin David Anderson.