Your Dunedin

Occupy Dunedin pictures

by Pete George

9 Responses to “Occupy Dunedin pictures”

1. 
   troy
   October 23, 2011 at 11:13 pm

   Actually, the political banners etc show that those people support the change that is necessary and support the occupation, we are not a political party and are well aware of the failures of previous systems, in my opinion there needs to be a massive shift in the way things are done and the general consumerist mentality

   Regards Troy

   P.S. there was a new banner made to clarify the position on the other banners and that they support the occupation and not necessarily the other way around.

   Reply
   • 
     Pete George
     October 24, 2011 at 6:09 am

     What does the banner say?

     I agree there are problems (there always are and always will be), I agree there needs to be some shifts, I just disagree on how to achieve change, and what we should change to.

     A massive shift would be chaotic, and there is no way of knowing what would survive the chaos and what would emerge from the chaos. There would be many competing ideals so the chances of your ideals taking root and growing would be slim.

     Reply
2. 
   Peg Gressland
   October 25, 2011 at 4:47 pm

   They should be tasered, water cannoned and then pepper sprayed.

   Reply
   • 
     Dr Joseph Bennett
     October 29, 2011 at 8:28 pm

     These worldwide protests are an essential part of the process of humanities self awareness. Waking up to the human/social, environmental/ecological catastrophes that corperations and governments co-erced by corperations create. The last century has been a series of brutal assaults and murdering of Indigenous peoples, communites, societies, ecosystems, throughout africa/asia/southamerica north america>Millions killed for capital gain for people who are too far removed to care, to care about the children that are blown to bits for oil, for the millions of cancers created by toxic residues that wont leave the soil for thousands of years, for the departure of species of plant and animals that too have suffered indignant deaths. These protests although being critical are also vitally a source of creativity and exploration of different approachs to living, which already exist in which one or many may live in. It is also a re-awakening to the beauty of humanity and of life, of the wonderous potential all have within to transform and become something new. All of life is in the process of intelligently evolving as is science, any good structure must be ready to change, so therefore must welcome insight. Viva la democracia real

     Reply
3. 
   Strypey
   October 25, 2011 at 4:59 pm

   “A massive shift would be chaotic, and there is no way of knowing what would survive the chaos and what would emerge from the chaos.”

   I expect that’s what the republican revolutionaries in France, Spain, and the Americas were told by defenders of trying to improve things within monarchy. In fact the authoritarians who hijacked the “socialist” revolutions you rightly criticise used (and some still use) the same kind of argument to defend one party rule.

   You agree that a massive change is necessary. Yet you think that it can be achieved by elected people/ parties who will plead for compassionate behaviour from corporations; virtual entities running on legal software which programs them to be psychopaths, totally self-interested with no concern for the wellbeing of others. Political democracy is empty without economic democracy.

   Many people at the occupations would agree with your criticisms of socialist groups, I don’t think any political party should be able to use Occupy as a platform, including non-parliamentary ones. We are a diverse movement, attempting to transcend and include the many different factions within the 99%. We are still finding our feet. I urge you to spend time at the occupation, and argue your case. Consensus will be found.

   Strypey @ Occupy Wellington
   Not a spokesperson

   Reply
   • 
     Pete George
     October 25, 2011 at 7:45 pm

     I have been several times and have had interesting discussions several times there. I have also engaged extensively online. I’m please to see more reasoned and reasonable proposals emerging, and the challenging of some of the unpopular things that have been happening.

     Some of them seem to think destiny has chosen them to lead a fix the world crusade and want it to happen NOW, the reality is if it does pick up steam it is still likely to have limited influence. People saying they don’t like corporations and making major chnages in their lives are very different things.

     Reply
4. 
   Fed Up
   October 26, 2011 at 8:31 am

   I would like to see specific protests and a discussion started about bringing the price of dairy down. It is reprehensible that block cheese has tripled in price in 4 years. This takes food and much needed nutritional value directly out of the mouths of children and families. In a land that is wealthy in green grass and dairy, this is outright robbery.

   The Dairy Barons are raking in a fortune at the expense of the working class kiwi, and it is time for them to be held accountable. They operate here like Oil Barons do elsewhere.

   When will this start to be a specific national discussion? When will Kiwis say STOP!!

   It is inherently unfair to charge people who live in this economy the same price for a product as people who live in stronger economies pay just because you can get it.

   Reply
5. 
   Paul Sayers
   October 30, 2011 at 7:34 pm

   Great to see that people are waking up and active at last.
   Its only natural. Democracy rises from itself to renew itself. That’s what democracy is.
   Attacking the demonstrators would be a facist act and fascists (after a struggle) will be strung up from phone poles. That’s life. That’s the way it is. That’s the way it happens, again and again and again. Look at history, look at the present – Egypt, Libya …
   Lessons from the English Civil War? Not likely. Maybe we’ll have to live it all again.
   Don’t argue with the east wind! Wear a raincoat.

   Reply

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