Interesting post from Occupy Glasgow. Much for us to discuss here. PROPOSAL FOR…
Interesting post from Occupy Glasgow. Much for us to discuss here.
PROPOSAL FOR STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO OCCUPY GLASGOW CAMP FOR A CONSENSUAL VOTE ON TUESDAY 24TH OCTOBER GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
(This document was collaborated on by people who have been closely involved in the occupation from the beginning and with input from many others including core occupiers who have been camping out every night and campaigning all day).
Due to conditions within Glasgow’s George Square at night, we have come up with a proposal for structural changes to the Occupation Camp in order to safeguard it as a serious Occupation for global change and keep all our core Occupiers happy, friendly and well rested. Much of what we are saying here has already been discussed and agreed at the General Assembly but now needs emphasising.
Our presence in George Square has brought us face-to-face with significant poverty-related social problems in the city – alcohol and drug abuse, anti-social behavior and mental ill-health. While we want to tackle and change the issues at the heart of these problems we cannot begin this if we our camp is insecure, occupiers feel threatened or those visiting the site get the wrong idea about who we are and what our aims are. We also cannot build a representative group if women feel unsafe to stay overnight at the site. This means sexist, threatening or offensive behavior must be dealt with swiftly.
Without a solid strategy for dealing with this the camp’s future is under threat from losing core campers and damaging our reputation in the press and across Glasgow.
CONDITIONS OF STAYING AT CAMP
We require everyone staying overnight on site to:
be over 18;
support and contribute to the aims of the occupation;
read, agree to and follow the Safer Spaces Policy at all times (which has zero tolerance to drink, drugs, weapons, aggressive and threatening behavior). See below.
Those who cannot do this must leave. We will contact the police if necessary.
We have the numbers and names of multiple outreach programs who are set-up to deal with drink, drug and homelessness problems and they should be engaged with further to improve this situation. We are also aiming to have, once a week, a homeless outreach soup kitchen for 2 hours (9pm-11pm) at night – so that we can still show a display of solidarity with them. We would love to work with Glasgow’s charities in this space to improve our provision.
If you have a drug or alcohol problem, and would like to come back when you are sober, you are very welcome. We do not have the expertise to help you now, but welcome your support and will welcome you at the camp in the future.
We are a nonviolent, democratic and creative movement geared towards the restructuring of society; in part of that is the idea that we can change these circumstances, but that does not go to say we’re able to try and do it right now. Restructuring the camp to reflect this will reflect well on us, and our movement. We must remember why we came here, and why we stayed. To make change. And making change means making changes.
CAMP MAP
We are drawing up a camp map which will restructure the site better for safety, security and best use of what we’ve got.
SUGGESTED DAILY SCHEDULE
Having a daily schedule will help focus activities and make sure those at the camp are part of it! Below is a proposed schedule to be discussed further:
8am – Wake up call if you want to eat breakfast with the camp
8.30am – Communal breakfast.
9am – An hour of yoga, meditation or reflection on the day ahead.
10am – Camp cleanup, group effort.
11am – Two hours of Action Group meetings/decisions.
1pm – Lunch, Discuss Action Group decision.
2pm – Engaging with the public and community workshops.
5pm – An hour and half of talking to people.
6.30pm – General Assembly & nightshift arrive. Dayshift ends after GA.
8.00pm – Dinner (Communal both nightshift & dayshift together)
9.00pm – Reflective Time.
10.00pm – Reading group/ Quiet time.
Full article http://www.occupyglasgow.org/news/16-proposal-for-structural-changes-to-occupy-glasgow-camp.html
Proposal for Structural Changes to Occupy Glasgow Camp
www.occupyglasgow.org
Occupy Glasgow website, covering all the news and providing information for protesters.