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    Photos from March for Homeless Families

    December 13th, 2012 · · Events, News and Announcements Comments Off on Photos from March for Homeless Families

    by Kate Layzer

    The march was called to protest new restrictive eligibility requirements for family shelter. According to activists, nearly 70 percent of homeless families who apply for shelter are denied, and many are forced to stay in unsafe conditions. The plan was to deliver a symbolic 51-A form to DHCD—in other words, to report them for child abuse, for denying children emergency shelter. About 150 of us gathered at the State House at noon and marched the short distance to the Department of Housing and Community Development on Cambridge St. We had a police escort, as usual. The march was very peaceful. There were no incidents.

    A VISION FOR A DEMOCRATIC FUTURE: Work in progress, Occupy National Gathering Visioning Group

    December 10th, 2012 · · Speak Out Comments Off on A VISION FOR A DEMOCRATIC FUTURE: Work in progress, Occupy National Gathering Visioning Group

    This document comes from the National Gathering Visioning Group.
    For more about where it came from, see the section, “How We Got Here.”

    AN OCCUPY VISION

    When the powers and practices of the prevailing society fail to support our fulfillment as equal participants in life, we the People need to proclaim our shared vision of the world yet to be and reaffirm the values that inform us.

    We affirm the inherent worth, dignity, and potential of all existence and our profound connection to the web of all existence of which we are a part. Therefore, we are guided by a vision that includes:

    • A world where the water, air, and food are clean so that both our planet and its people may be healthy.
    • Free education for all, so that information can be shared and used to benefit and enrich our society.
    • A world without war, so that people of every culture and nation may be free to develop and learn from one another without the distortion and exclusion that results from seeing one another as enemies.
    • A sustainable human society, where people are respected, valued, encouraged, and recognized as our first priority.
    • A culture of direct democracy and universal participation, where political and social decisions are made in a transparent manner for the common good.
    • Free universal physical and psychological healthcare, so that all people may be able to use their abilities and enjoy their lives as fully as possible.
    • Economic equality, so that all people may have the opportunity to have sufficient material resources for their needs, free from exploitation by others.
    • Freedom, so that all people may be empowered and included in the future we envision.

    We recognize that each person is endowed with a unique perspective and potential that adds to the sum total of our world, and that by working together we achieve our vision.

    We invite all to join us, contribute to it, and participate in it as we and it change and grow.

    HOW WE GOT HERE

    Since OWS began one year ago, many individual Occupy groups around the country have developed various statements or declarations of goals, issues, and actions. Some Occupy groups developed vision statements.

    Recognizing the importance of an overall vision, the organizers of the Occupy National Gathering in Philadelphia in July of 2012 included a visioning process. Three days of teach-ins, workshops, and speak-outs on many topics vital to Occupy led up to Independence Day, when about 250 persons at the National Gathering participated in a group vision exercise that resulted in a 7 page list of vision elements.

    Subsequent to the National Gathering, those interested in vision follow-up formed a work group. This group has developed the draft material being shared in hopes of engaging more persons in developing an Occupy Vision, obtaining valuable feedback, and moving forward towards a draft Vision Statement that can be shared broadly for Occupy consideration.

    We welcome you to join the Occupy visioning experiment!

    ILLUSTRATIVE CATEGORY LIST

    Illustrative Vision Categories that were derived from the National Gathering Visioning List. For the complete list, see the National Gathering Vision Hub Wiki at http://interoccupy.net/vision.

    CLEAN AIR, WATER, FOOD: ENVIRONMENTAL

    • Local food production, community gardens, permaculture agriculture
    • access to real nourishing, non-chemical, non-GMO food
    • food supply that is humane and natural
    • environmental justice
    • environmental awareness and respect
    • healthier diets and lifestyles
    • affordable healthy food
    • clean water as a right
    • end hunger
    • connection to earth

    FREE EDUCATION FOR ALL: CULTURAL

    • all airwaves public
    • end to intellectual property, such that there is free and open sharing of information
    • free and open communications
    • real education, free and equal, democratized
    • universal access to data

    NO WAR: PEACE AND SECURITY/POLITICAL

    • peace, nonviolence, no war or death machines
    • no military
    • no need for violent conflict or guns
    • no global us vs them
    • nonviolence
    • friendship, rather than strangership, as the default relationship among people
    • mutual respect between cultures or trading nations
    • nonviolent interpersonal and international conflict resolution
    • world peace

    SUSTAINABLE HUMAN SOCIETY: CULTURAL/ENVIRONMENTAL

    • a world where basic needs are met
    • all cultures respected equally
    • people feel empowered, free, and unafraid
    • a strong sense of community
    • safety for everyone from domestic violence and fear
    • all human life valued equally
    • all decisions considered for seven generations in the future
    • more humanity, compassion, kindness, and selflessness
    • mutually beneficial relationship between humans, the earth, and its inhabitants
    • acting with consideration for the community, world, and everything else

    A CULTURE OF DIRECT DEMOCRACY: DEMOCRACY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE/POLITICAL

    • no money in politics
    • end two-party system
    • local community control
    • consensus based democracy
    • just and fair legal system
    • truth in journalism/illegal to lie
    • minorities have power and voice (rule by diversity)
    • no tax without representation
    • a fair electoral system
    • accountable government
    • democratic process that works for all

    FREE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE: CULTURAL/ECONOMIC

    • healthcare emphasizes preventative and alternative measures
    • free healthcare (accessible and state of the art)
    • full control of our own bodies, including shared ownership of the means of preventative healthcare
    • free therapy and emotional/mental healthcare

    ECONOMIC EQUALITY: VIBRANT AND SOUND ECONOMY/PROSPERITY

    • localized economies
    • no corporate personhood
    • fairness and equality for all beings (including ecosystems, resources)
    • banks and corporations required to act responsibly, answering to many, not few
    • radicalized labor unions
    • international corporate accountability
    • fair trade and fair working conditions

    FREEDOM: POLITICAL/CULTURAL

    • freedom to live anywhere: no borders, no nations
    • freedom of knowledge and press
    • freedom of religion
    • freedom of expression protected
    • free equal access to opportunity

    derived from the Visioning Activities at the OCCUPY NATIONAL GATHERING Philadelphia, PA – July 2012

    Dealing with Debt: Two Upcoming Events

    December 8th, 2012 · · Events Comments Off on Dealing with Debt: Two Upcoming Events

    Occupy Boston is planning two events on debt.

    (1) Monday Dec 10th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm. Book Study at the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, 38 Ash St., Boston (near the Tufts Medical Center stop on the Orange Line). Room 501.

    StrikeDebt.org, an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street, has created a timely and well-researched publication: The Debt Resistors’ Operations Manual (available at http://strikedebt.org). Join us for a discussion and study of this publication, and a planning session for the Dec 17th community gathering.

    (2) Monday Dec 17th, 6:00 – 9:30 pm. Community gathering at the Community Church of Boston, 565 Boylston Street (near the Copley Square stop on the Green Line)

    Join us for an Occupy Boston Community Gathering to discuss further building of a debt resistance campaign in Greater Boston. Dinner at 6pm, meeting from 7:00 – 9:30.

    Notes from our previous community gathering on debt are available at
    http://wiki.occupyboston.org/wiki/Debt_Community_Gathering_-_19_Nov_2012.

    Please contact Rich (richlevyus@yahoo.com) for more information.

    You are not a loan, and you are not alone!

    Flyer: Dealing with Debt.pdf

    Caste, Class and Sexual Violence in India

    December 4th, 2012 · · Events One comment

    Dec 5 7PM MIT 4-237 – Caste, Class and Sexual Violence in India

    Boston South Asia Center presents Caste, Class and Sexual Violence in India, a Panel discussion on the Rapes of Dalit women in Haryana

    • Rama Srinivasan, Brown University
    • Padma Balasubramanian, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
    • Kritika Chandrasekhar, South Asia Center

    When: Wed December 4 2012
    Where: MIT Room 4-237
    77 Mass Ave Cambridge MA
    Map: http://whereis.mit.edu/?go=4

    Rape has been used as a way of punishment/revenge on Dalit women for a long time but the recent incidents of the heinous crime in the state of Haryana (India), with close to 19 rapes reported in the month of September alone, makes it imperative to seek answers and actions. This panel intends to look for answers behind this increased victimization of women, especially Dalit women, in Haryana and will endeavor to formulate some practical responses.

    See also:
    http://act-ma.org/pipermail/act-ma_act-ma.org/2012/006307.html

    Benefit Concert for those affected by Hurricane Sandy

    December 3rd, 2012 · · Events Comments Off on Benefit Concert for those affected by Hurricane Sandy


    Benefit Concert for those affected by Hurricane Sandy
    Featuring members of The Mystic Chorale
    And The Family Folk Chorale
    Sunday December 16, 2012, 3:30 pm
    First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington

    Arlington, MA – A benefit concert to help those adversely affected by Hurricane Sandy will take place on Sunday, December 16th at 3:30 pm at First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington (630 Mass Ave, Arlington at the intersection of Mass Ave and Pleasant Street/Rte. 60). Suggested donation $10 at the door, additional donations are encouraged. Doors open at 3:00 pm.

    The fundraiser will bring together two Arlington based choral groups. Each is part of a growing movement of alternative choruses, groups that do not sing the standard classical repertoire. Both groups invite their audiences to sing along as chorus and audience become a living community. The Mystic Chorale directed by Nick Page will celebrate folk songs by Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Holly Near and others. The Family Folk Chorale led by Chris Eastburn will lead us all in beloved Beatles songs, including the children singing a mesmerizing version of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” The fundraiser will end with a rousing Gospel-style rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” in celebration of the hundredth anniversary of his birth. With a hundred and seventy voices plus a full house of fellow souls, our voices will be heard and through our contributions, change will be made. You don’t have to be a singer to attend, but you may find yourself singing along anyway.

    For twenty-two years, the Mystic Chorale has thrilled many thousands with their concert-sings. In addition to their three seasons a year performed in Boston, they have toured to Costa Rica, Ireland, Germany, as well as several trips to New York City. Their founder/director Nick Page is a choral composer with over eighty published works, including premieres at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. More info at www.mysticchorale.org.

    The Family Folk Chorale is a multi-generational chorus with members aged 3-89, who bring together the spirited energy of children, the honesty of teenagers coming of age, and the experience of adulthood and elders as they all come shining through and raise their voices in harmony. More info at www.familyfolkchorale.org.

    Proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated to Occupy Sandy, a coordinated relief effort to distribute resources and volunteers to help neighborhoods and people affected by Hurricane Sandy. For more information or to volunteer, visit www.occupysandy.org.

    If would like to make a donation to the Occupy Sandy relief effort, you may either donate on-line at www.occupysandy.org or send a check, made out to Occupy Sandy/AfGJ (addressed to Alliance for Global Justice, 1247 E. St, SE, Washington, DC 2003.) You may use the receipt from your on-line donation for admission to this event.

    This benefit concert is co-sponsored by Occupy Arlington www.occupyarlingtonma.org and members of First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington. For more information, please email Oakes at plimag@comcast.net.

    Media Contact:
    Mystic Chorale, Inc.
    Mindy Benson
    Mindy@MysticChorale.org

    (Posted on behalf of Occupy Arlington)

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