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Forum Post: Demand Sustainability!

Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 8, 2011, 12:36 a.m. EST by Marchelo (67)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

If the Occupy movement continues to grow as it has, the possibility of a general strike becomes more and more apparent. As more unions and individuals opt out of the current system, the desire to grind that system to a halt will be overwhelming and may well be inevitable. What will a general strike look like? Well, if its revolution scale, it will be a complete shut down of the basic functions the 99% of society provides. This means food production, power generation, server maintenance, and transportation systems will be rendered inoperable. Stop everything and see who we are.

Sounds kinda nice right? What if they are counting on it? How might the 1% profit from such chaos? The same way anyone in power benefits from a strike or a boycott- they count on people caving in once their standard of living has been lowered to the breaking point; they wait the strike out. I promise you, the 1% we protest is betting with all their money that the 99% will cave once society falls into chaos. If you think about it, its not a bad bet. If you can indefinitely provide for yourself from the fortune you have amassed, why bother with any of the movement's demands? Let the 99% crash the system. The 1% can provide all the basic necessities for their chosen lifestyle for themselves, they don't need our utilities and will not miss them when they are gone. The best way to profit from such a collapse is quite simply to wait it out. Let the children have their tantrum. In their eyes, they hold all the power and we only have demands. Should the chaos of a general strike become a reality, people may soon long for the former comforts of their middle-class indebted servitude if their quality of life reaches the breaking point. They will gladly except whatever terms necessary to restore the unsustainable life they once enjoyed. We can not let this happen.

The answer is beautifully simple, but profound in its effect: We must create a sustainable occupation. A sustainable occupation does not rely on the current system whatsoever. If they cut power or if a strike shuts it off, we must be able to generate our own sustainable electricity. Even if it comes down to taking shifts riding a modified stationary bike to generate pedal power (and warmth come winter), we must be ready and creative with our solutions. A sustainable occupation has a network in place to provide an uninterrupted source of food. We can start gardens, and connect with local farmers or urban homesteaders to build a working relationship (send volunteers to work the farm- they send food). Plan on grocery stores and pizza shops no longer being available. A sustainable occupation can provide its own internet connectivity. Set up a network of mobile servers, expand non-electronic communications and create a reliable chain of information between each movement to provide assistance should they need it.

We must create a sustainable occupation, not only to outlast the 1% when basic services fail, but to create an example for the world that can serve as a model for the society to come. A society of individuals who have chosen sustainability over linear growth. A society of people who recognize that unsustainable practices must, by their very definition, come to an end.

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