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Occupy Campbell River takes hiatus

Local version of worldwide protests will return to Spirit Square in January

People from the Occupy Campbell River movement who have been gathering at Spirit Square every Saturday morning met last week and decided to adjourn any further protests until mid January.

At that time, anyone interested in carrying on the Occupy protests can meet and decide on future actions.

At the Saturday rallies, people from all age groups had discussions, sang protest songs and carried signs with the central message being to take back democracy from greedy corporate control. Like other similar Occupy protests around the world, Occupy Campbell River protesters wish to participate actively in bringing about changes to the government and systems we live under that do not work for us  - changing them into a more equitable and cooperative way of living with each other and keeping our planet’s environment healthy. This starts with opposing what is occurring in most countries and promoted by most governments: furthering the goals of mega corporations, banks and billionaires – goals to maximize profits for the top 1% of the population at the expense of increasing inequities for 99% of the earth’s population and emphasizing ‘economy’ over ‘ecology’. Occupy movements oppose the lowering of standards in environmental protection, lowering wages and benefits, decreasing access to adequate health care, shelter and other basic human needs and lowering the standard of living – all in the name of maximizing profits for the top one per cent.

In summary, the Occupy movement is about getting involved to make things better in the world. To quote the vision statement from Occupy Wall Street: “… we work together to protect the global environment to ensure future generations will have safe and clean air, water and food supplies…learn to live in harmony and embrace principles of toleration and respect for diversity and differing views of others…secure civil and human rights of all from violation by tyrannical forces and unjust governments.” How to get there can involve everything from examining our own value systems and living more within our means to getting involved in social causes and groups and being the change you want to see in the world.

To ordinary citizens wanting to participate in this global movement and bring these ‘Occupy’ ideas into action, we’ll see you in mid January at a date/time/place to be announced. For further information, check out the Occupy Campbell River facebook site on the computer.

Rich Hagensen

Campbell River