Category: Headlines

Events for Saturday, 26 November

November 26th, 2011 · · Events, Headlines, News No comments

We will be meeting at the camp on St Andrew Square to discuss a series of new happenings related to the Edinburgh Occupy Movement:

13:00 – 14:00 – Open discussion on the favourable Edinburgh Council Motion – “What does it mean & where do we go from her?”
14:00 – 15:00 – How to get involved in Occupy Edinburgh – Volunteering and Working groups
15:00 – 16:30 – Discussion on holding the UK Occupy National Assembly in Scotland: advantages, challenges and resources required

16:30 – 18:30 – Open Mic, Music and Chill time

Please feel free to pop over and invite friends who you think might be interested..

Occupy Edinburgh Representatives Travel To London For UK and Ireland Conference

November 22nd, 2011 · · Headlines, News, Press Releases No comments

Occupy Edinburgh Press Release – Occupy Edinburgh Representatives Travel To London For UK and Ireland Conference

Representatives from Occupy Edinburgh travelled to London last weekend to attend the first UK and Ireland conference since the Occupy Movement began. Edinburgh attendees joined others from over 15 occupations, from Glasgow to Cardiff, to Cork and the Isle of Wight gathered to discuss their progress during the first 5 weeks of the worldwide movement.

Occupiers vowed to remain in constant contact and to reconvene every month in different cities. Other attendees from around the UK were from Bristol, Brighton, Bath, Bradford, Norwich, Newcastle upon Tyne, Plymouth, Sheffield, Nottingham, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Exeter and Leeds.

On Saturday, delegates from numerous occupations gave short speeches outside St Paul’s describing the evolution of their camps, which formed after the movement went global on October 15th. The activists re-convened for discussion on Sunday in the “Bank of Ideas” – an empty four-story building owned by Swiss Bank UBS, which members of Occupy London moved into last Friday.

Representatives from Occupy London said:

“We have come together in London this weekend on behalf of our respective occupations. We have created connections, shared experiences and collaborated on our ideas through consensus. We unite to make change. We have resolved to meet again over the weekend of 17-18th December in order to continue building the UK-Ireland Occupy network.”

Safer Spaces policies among camps were shared as well as reoccurring issues experienced by several cities. One particular hardship, which has been faced by many occupations, was the attraction of some disenfranchised members of society who engage in, and suffer from, drug and alcohol abuse. There was a clear consensus from UK and Ireland occupiers that camps cannot be used as safe havens for substance abuse; steps are being taken across the board to immediately implement a more stringent policy.

A comprehensive collection of contact details is being established so that occupations can work together to eradicate common problems faced by almost all camps. Working groups will have immediate contact with one another so that the Edinburgh Love Police could contact London’s Tranquillity Team to discuss camp safety for instance.

Countless occupations in England have received threats of violence from the English Defence League, with Occupy Newcastle’s Camp being attacked by the far-right group. Occupy Edinburgh, also experienced trouble with members of the Scottish Defence League last week, but the many conferring occupations promised to work together to eliminate threats of violence. Advanced communications between camps now mean that occupations can collaborate and synchronise actions and events around the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Motion submitted to Edinburgh Council in support of Occupy Edinburgh

November 17th, 2011 · · Headlines, News 3 comments

The Green Group on the Edinburgh City Council has submitted a motion, asking that the council support our Occupy Edinburgh. The motion will be considered at a full council meeting on the 24th of November.

Occupy Edinburgh are encouraging all their supporters to contact their local councillors to support the motion.

THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL
24th November 2011
GREEN GROUP MOTION

Support for Occupy Edinburgh motion

Council:
Notes that the encampment of citizens in St. Andrew Square, ‘Occupy Edinburgh’, represents one part of a growing, global movement for real democracy, authentic global equality and justice, and a sustainable economic and ecological future;

Notes that this occupation, together with the more than 1000 others worldwide, is not simply a protest, but an effort to bring to life the inclusive, equitable and sustainable systems desired;

Notes that this movement, and its participants in Edinburgh, have significant support in the wider population;

Believes that given the mistakes made by financial traders, the profits of these companies and their shareholders should be tapped before cuts are made to public sector spending. It is unacceptable that bailouts are being paid for at the expense of public services, and this must never be allowed to happen again;

Believes that an economy functional only on top of endlessly growing consumption is causing significant environmental damage and must ultimately deplete our planet’s resources and cause irreversible environmental damage. This must end now;

Believes that these demands are not only fair, but are in fact the only reasonable response in the face of the crisis faced by our current economic system, our communities and our planet;

Believes that, by setting a example, Edinburgh can help our national governments, and the wider world, to finally accept the real and fundamental changes that are so desperately needed to salvage a sustainable future;

Thus supports the values of Occupy Edinburgh;

Supports the participants of the St. Andrew Square occupation in demanding that these values be recognised and acted upon by all governmental bodies in the UK, and worldwide;

Commits to return our democracy to the people, and to work together immediately to create a new, sustainable and equitable Scotland.

Proposed: Maggie Chapman