October 31, 2011

WWW.OccupyIowaCity.org writes principles

General Assembly Approves Statement of Principles

Submitted by frodopwns on Mon, 2011-10-24 22:32
The Occupy Iowa City General Assembly approved the following statement of principles over the course of a two part discussion on Oct. 23 and 24, 2011.


In the fierce urgency of now:

We observe the destructive power of militarism throughout the globe, increasingly spurred on by national and corporate greed, fear, and desire for complete domination over people and resources.
We witness the greatest disparity in the distribution of wealth since the Great Depression.
We observe corporate and individual greed on an unprecedented scale, resulting in the upward flow of capital, the impoverishment of the working class, and the dismantling of the democratic process.
We witness the exploitation of the Earth and its natural resources, and its disastrous effects on climate, agriculture, food, waterways, and all living beings.
We witness concerted efforts to criminalize and oppress human beings on the basis of ability, age, class, gender identity, gender expression, sexual identity, religion, race, ethnicity, and nationality.
We witness political repression and incarceration of dissenting voices and political ideologies.
We witness the degradation of public schools which do not provide the skills needed for creative and free thought, or for full participation in economic or political systems.
We witness the infiltration of the profit motive into all spheres of life.

Therefore, Occupy Iowa City, based on the material and social conditions of the world today, and aware of the particular responsibility we bear as people who reside in the United States, articulates the following principles:


We stand in solidarity with the brave people participating in Occupy Wall Street and other Occupy movements throughout the world.
We affirm inherent human rights and recognize the utility of the United Nation’s “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” as a model for the articulation of these rights, but additionally affirm the need for protection of diverse and indigenous cultures.
We affirm the need for safe and affordable housing for all human beings.
We affirm the right of human beings to choose where they live and work, and to engage in these activities free from intimidation or harassment from the state, employers, employees, financiers, or the community.
We affirm the need to protect the environment and believe that a just world requires all people and organizations to take full responsibility for the ecological implications of their actions.
We affirm the right of all people to have access to appropriate health care as well as clean and nourishing food and water.
We affirm our commitment to peace and the belief that entities, including nations, states, and private capital, should never pursue war or brutality of any kind.
We affirm transnational interdependence, which rejects colonization, military occupation, and economic and cultural imperialism.
We believe in the equitable and just distribution of all resources, opportunity, and wealth.
We affirm the necessity of affordable public education for all people, so that they may be fully informed, creative and curious participants in a just society.
We affirm our commitment to the process of democratic decision-making, and believe all people deserve an equal voice and vote.
We affirm the interconnectedness of these principles and seek new paradigms to bring about systemic change.
This is a living document and is not all-inclusive.

Meeting type:
General Assembly

Elizabeth Warren on class warfare.

"I hear all this, you know, 'Well, this is class warfare, this is whatever,'" Warren said. "No. There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own -- nobody.

"You built a factory out there? Good for you. But I want to be clear. You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You were safe in your factory because of police-forces and fire-forces that the rest of us paid for. You didn't have to worry that marauding bands would come and seize everything at your factory -- and hire someone to protect against this -- because of the work the rest of us did.

"Now look, you built a factory and it turned into something terrific, or a great idea. God bless -- keep a big hunk of it. But part of the underlying social contract is, you take a hunk of that and pay forward for the next kid who comes along."1

I ask you to Check out her videos on "class warfare". She misses those who inherited millions and billions but don't forget, without our countries' regulations or lack thereof, the rich wouldn't have had it so easy, either. China demands joining forces with another company already established there before any other country can move in and take over corporate productions. That way, at least the Chinese profit, too. Now could that have something to do with the fact we are a debtor nation to China!? Mmm, government regulations and how it can help the economy....now that is a topic for discussion!

October 24, 2011

Chicago Substance News: Newsletter supporting Public Ed reports

The arrest of Occupy Chicago peaceful protesters demonstrates that some laws are more important to civil order for the top 1% than others. Rahm Emanuel runs for mayor without a home residence to live in. Mayor Daley funnels more than $3 million in taxpayer TIF money to his favored charities including his wife's. Between 1972 and 1991, 135 African-American men and women were arrested and tortured by former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge and officers at Area 2 police headquarters, and Dick Daley as State's Attorney refuses to investigate. The city has paid out tens of millions of dollars in the last couple years to settle a variety of police abuse cases, but reforming Police Chief Jody Weiss – while improving all public safety numbers – run out of town on a rail because the police don't like his reforms. Daley destroys Meigs Field runways breaking federal laws and leading to $330,000 in fines for the taxpayers to cover. Last year, CME makes nearly $1 billion but gets $15 million in taxpayer TIF money to spruce up its building at 30 S. Wacker, and now Rahm is lobbying Springfield for CME to get more tax breaks while jacking up taxes on the rest of us. All of this waste and corruption is accepted by the powers that be. But Saturday’s arrests show that if you demonstrate peacefully against these iniquities you will be arrested for disorderly behavior. Do not let greed, corruption and unprincipled leadership silence our consciences and voices as taxpayers.

October 18, 2011

Op Ed in Press Citizen/Occupied by 99% of us and proving it

The following account is embarrassing to share, but I feel there is something instructive in it. About three years ago, I was laid off from my $65,000 a year job. At the time, my wife and I had credit card and other debts approaching $48,000, this in addition to a home mortgage of $151,000. In the eight months that it took me to find a new job, we went through most of our liquid assets to pay off many of our debts and to stay afloat while foregoing personal bankruptcy.

We cut every corner that we could and we availed ourselves of the Crisis Center's food bank because we literally didn't have grocery money. Unemployment compensation helped us too, but at about a third of my then normal take home, it was barely paying the mortgage. I'm not going to lie, it was a dark time for my wife and I, but not without moments of grace from caring friends and the gift of shared time together while I interviewed for jobs.
When I found a new job in town, it was nearly $30,000 less than what I was being paid and with less benefits. But I was (and am) grateful to have a job, to be able to continue living in Iowa City, and to keep our home.

Since then, I very much enjoy my job in that I can assist others in their job search and career planning, And believe me when I say that I have a lot of empathy for the people I have a chance to help. Also, I have been able to take on part-time work and our income is back up to 80% of what we used to bring home. Most recently though, I've seen the money in our retirement account decrease by 14% while witnessing corporate profits skyrocketing.

I support the College Green campers and other protesters across the state and the US because there is something fundamentally wrong with the way that unscrupulous organizations are able to continue to profit astronomically on people who play by the rules, try to be personally responsible, and still find themselves barely making ends meet.

Beyond Wall Street, state and national politicians who supposedly represent us on Main Street, have let us down. Too many people I know are also trying hard to keep it all together. I regret to say that I do not trust most politicians to make a difference for me, not when they benefit from corporate underwriting to win and keep office and allow those interests to write the rules that we have to live by. On the other hand, I trust that things can change through people paying attention and protesting in their way.

In the past, I have put a lot of energy into actively changing politics, but find that I have so little left in the tank because of the day-to-day worries of paying the bills and meeting obligations. To those who are camping out and marching, I hope you can understand why I'm not out there with you. My wife and I thank you for your sacrifice. To those of you who don't think that this occupying movement is the right course of action, what are you doing?

Garry Klein is a current board member of PEACE Iowa, and an Independent voter.

October 14, 2011

March ON!

Occupy Wall Street Marches Saturday, October 15, in Iowa. Meet at College Green Park at 10AM in Iowa City. Check sites for Des Moines and Dubuque!

October 13, 2011

Occupy Wall Street

Occupy Wall Street hasn't made specific demands yet but they've already won their first big fight -- big banks and their right-wing allies in Congress have taken notice... and they're scared of what they see.

Occupy Wall Street has inspired occupations in hundreds of cities across the country -- from Atlanta to Boston to Los Angeles. Now, it's time to expand the fight beyond major cities and into the suburbs, the countryside -- everywhere.

The problem is local occupations outside of major cities may never be able to reach the kind of critical mass that will turn heads and force elected leaders to respond. Yet small towns and rural areas standing up and getting involved is the most likely way to help build this movement to the next level.

So we've spent the week asking members of Occupy Wall Street and DFA what's the best thing we could do right now to help build the movement for the long term. The answer was clear. Help us show support for Occupy Wall Street everywhere -- including our own front yard. That's why we put together "We are the 99 percent" lawn signs so Americans everywhere can join the movement.

Iowa City and Des Moines have an Occupy Wall Street. We use the one in Iowa City to promote peace.

Get an Occupy Wall Street yard sign right now.


Normally we give merchandise away for free, but yard signs are expensive.

It costs $1.29 to print each sign. It costs $2.50 to package them. It can cost up to $9.75 to ship them, depending on where you live. And when buying signs in large quantities, it costs up to $1,000 just to add a second color to the sign.

When it's all said and done -- each sign costs $13.76 to print, package and ship directly to your home. So, we're asking for a contribution of at least $16 to help cover all the costs. If you contribute more, we'll use the additional money raised to support our continued involvement, spreading the message, and supporting the people on the ground in New York and beyond who started this bold movement.

It's October. In New York, Boston, and even Atlanta, Occupy Wall Street needs sleeping bags, blankets, medical supplies and so much more. Making a contribution today not only gets you a yard sign so you can show your support, it will help us deliver more of the resources that people on the ground need right now.

Get your "We are the 99 percent" yard sign right now.

Thank you for everything you do.

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Political Director
Democracy for America

P.S. Our lawyers say we need to make it clear that the total amount of your purchase is a contribution to Democracy for America under the Federal Election Campaign Act. Please contribute now and get your lawn sign today.

October 4, 2011

Support Labor in Egypt

The Egyptian revolution last winter was an inspiration to the whole world. And workers were at the heart of it. Their strikes brought down the Mubarak regime.

But today, Egypt's military rulers continue to criminalise strikes.

That hasn't stopped Egyptian workers from walking off the job in their hundreds of thousands. Today, a major strike wave is sweeping the country, with schools, hospital and public transport systems shut down.

Those workers face the risk of brutal repression unless the country's military rulers start recognizing their basic human right to join and form trade unions, and to strike.

Egypt's new independent unions and the International Trade Union Confederation have today launched a major campaign to pressure the new regime to enact a labour law that recognizes workers' rights.

It's extremely important that you and other members of your union act today by sending off a short message. It will take you less than a minute to do this.

Click link below to send off your message.

Please pass this message on to other members of your union.

Thank you!



Eric Lee

Link to support Egypt Labor

http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1120
www.labourstart.org

October 3, 2011

Come to Chiapas!

Support those who need your help!
Join us in the misty mountains and steamy
rainforests of the Mexican southeast!
J Help build freedom-loving Zapatista schools.
J Live and learn in indigenous Maya communities.
J Experience a profound people’s movement.
J Make friends with rebels from all over the world.

Chiapas Trips 2012
* Zapatista New Year’s Anniversary Celebration
Tues., Dec. 28, 2011 until Sun., Jan. 1, 2012
* Fruit Orchards & Reforestation Nurseries
Sun., Jan. 1 until Sat., Jan. 7, 2012
* Alternative Spring Break: Rainforest Ecology
Various dates during March 2012
* Mayan Corn and Organic Agriculture
Sun., July 29 to Sat., Aug. 4, 2012
* Zapatista Health and Education Systems
Sun., Aug. 5 to Sat., Aug. 11, 2012
* Special Chiapas Travel ~ You choose the date!
Chiapas Trips 2012
* Zapatista New Year’s Anniversary Celebration
Tues., Dec. 28, 2011 until Sun., Jan. 1, 2012
* Fruit Orchards & Reforestation Nurseries
Sun., Jan. 1 until Sat., Jan. 7, 2012
* Alternative Spring Break: Rainforest Ecology
Various dates during March 2012
* Mayan Corn and Organic Agriculture
Sun., July 29 to Sat., Aug. 4, 2012
* Zapatista Health and Education Systems
Sun., Aug. 5 to Sat., Aug. 11, 2012
* Special Chiapas Travel ~ You choose the date!
Chiapas Trips 2012
* Zapatista New Year’s Anniversary Celebration
Tues., Dec. 28, 2011 until Sun., Jan. 1, 2012
* Fruit Orchards & Reforestation Nurseries
Sun., Jan. 1 until Sat., Jan. 7, 2012
* Alternative Spring Break: Rainforest Ecology
Various dates during March 2012
* Mayan Corn and Organic Agriculture
Sun., July 29 to Sat., Aug. 4, 2012
* Zapatista Health and Education Systems
Sun., Aug. 5 to Sat., Aug. 11, 2012
* Special Chiapas Travel ~ You choose the date!
Chiapas Trips 2012
* Zapatista New Year’s Anniversary Celebration
Tues., Dec. 28, 2011 until Sun., Jan. 1, 2012
* Fruit Orchards & Reforestation Nurseries
Sun., Jan. 1 until Sat., Jan. 7, 2012
* Alternative Spring Break: Rainforest Ecology
Various dates during March 2012
* Mayan Corn and Organic Agriculture
Sun., July 29 to Sat., Aug. 4, 2012
* Zapatista Health and Education Systems
Sun., Aug. 5 to Sat., Aug. 11, 2012
* Special Chiapas Travel ~ You choose the date!
www.SchoolsforChiapas.org
Call 619-232-2841 or email
pedrocafe@schoolsforchiapas.org