Forum Post: Occupy Wall Street, where do we go from here?
Posted 12 years ago on Jan. 11, 2012, 2:58 p.m. EST by globalstrikeforworldpeace
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This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Globalstrikeforworldpeace.org is dedicated to the proposition that for Humanity to survive and flourish as a species, it is imperative that we find both the way, and the will, to move beyond the inherent limitations of the tribal mindset which predominates the current state of international relations.
We are endangered by antiquated notions of National Sovereignty, by our historically inviolable prerogative to do as we please within our national borders, regardless of the consequence to our neighbors, both near and far, with whom we share this singular planet we all call home. We no longer have that luxury.
Our problems, globally, are too pressing, too complex to solve burdened by parochial self-interest, counter productive market manipulation, monopolistic resource control, and a general disregard by the powers that be, for the welfare, health and well-being of all the Earth's six and a half billion citizens.
To move forward in a fair, just and equitable manner, one which respects the rights of the individual, promotes and protects our cultural differences, celebrates our unique identities, and embraces our shared similarities; one that offers us and our heirs a chance of a future free from want and fear—we must cast aside our entrenched narrow tribal definitions and accept the notion that we are all members of one vast tribe, Humanity, and as such, institute a rational system of Unified World Governance.
The policy-makers in power, left to their own devices and volition, will not, and cannot, make these changes under their own accord. Change of this magnitude will have to come from the bottom up, from the grass-roots, and be borne on the back of our united voices and actions.
A universal, simultaneous, non-violent, and non-confrontational global strike for world peace is our only realistic means of making our shared desire for true world peace heard in the halls of power, and the economic ramifications of such a strike the only leverage we have to garner the attention of the ones who inhabit those halls.
Join with us--what have we got to lose by trying?
"Join with us--what have we got to lose by trying?"
Time.
A nice long term goal. The human family certainly must heal, and come together, or perish. As a wise man said we have to learn to live together, or every one of us will die alone.
But there is little here in terms of short term/direct action goals. People are suffering now, and the system must be changed now, and that change has to begin on the ground at the lowest levels, improving lives as it builds momentum toward a better future.
I don't really think a truly global strike is actionable in the current paradigm. Too many people live in fear for their lives/well-being to stop working for even an hour let alone a day. Look at the recent strike in Oakland. A huge success, by some estimates 70,000 people in the streets and the ports closed for 16 hours. But there are 1,000,000,000 people in Oakland and 70,000 is a drop in the bucket by comparison. The only way to get a legitimate global general strike that isn't laughably small is to educate, agitate, and carry out a series of smaller direct actions and build momentum over a period of say 1 or 2 years, toward a massive labor singularity.
What do we have to lose by trying now? Our Credibility. Poor turn out will be ridiculed in the 1% controlled press, and the numbers would be used to discredit/belittle the movement as irrelevant.
The OWS movement is a small part of the larger discontent and anger which pervades the world. Aggitation and direct action play right into the hands of the power elite. You make yourselves targets for reprisals and give a face to the fear of the general public, who will always, given the choice, opt for the status quo over anarchy--which is, like it or not, what they see when they look at you.
Don't get me wrong, I applaude your actions. I've been talking about the 99% and our potential to induce far-reaching positive change for 25 years. Unfortuantely, there is nothing to be done in the practical short term to alieviate the suffering induced through our present world order.
Asking people to take to the streets is asking for trouble. If done correctly we can co-opt the 1% rather than confront them. It's ultimately about the future of the world in the small window of opportunity that's open to us, not about the credibility of your movement. If we can join our voices together, all the movements throughout the world, we can make a statement they can't ignore.
70,000 people on the streets in Oakland is impressive. Imagine how many more would lend their support if all they had to do was stay home.
There really is nothing to lose by trying...
We loose credibility. There'd be no way to achieve the desired outcome w/o a massive, global, and therefore unavoidable publicity campaign calling on everyone to strike/stay home on a given day. Then, when less than 0.000000001% of the global population participates, anyone involved in that global publicity campaign becomes an immediately target of unending ridicule.
Btw, do you have any idea how many hundreds of millions/billions of dollars it would cost to adequately publicize the event?
That spending would certainly open progressives up to the moral argument that they should be spending the money to feed/house/clothe the poor rather than giving it to marketing firms.
"We are endangered by antiquated notions of National Sovereignty"
This statement alone (much less the rest of your BS) disqualifies your post as anything worth considering legit.