Occupy Montreal – Day 29

By: Paula Monroy

November 12, 2011 – Place des Peuples

With the sun hiding behind rain clouds, security and itinerants were addressed in discussion groups prior to the GA. Among what was said, it was pointed that more people need to volunteer in the security team and receive non-violent intervention training. Contrary to what the city suggests, itinerant individuals are not the source of violence in the camp, they are also part of the community. In addition, social workers will be contacted and, finally, security is responsibility of everyone.

The Whole World is Watching: Solidarity with Occupy Halifax

“The  Canadian Civil Liberties Association made a statement yesterday at midnight, worried about the reaction of the Halifax Municipality toward the occupation.” shared Angèle, an activist from Halifax, to the GA. The reason being the dismantling by police of Occupy Halifax on November 11, which resulted in shoulder dislocations and concussions of participants when making a human chain. Their personal belongings were thrown in the public garbage by police, she informed.

Angèle asked the GA to evaluate the situation for they have plans on starting a national concern, she asked “What does what happened in Halifax mean for the rest of the occupations?” The GA divided in small groups to come up with strategies.

Preventative initiatives were made. One of them is to start an online petition in support of Occupy Montreal – thus protecting it from being evicted by the city authorities. Another idea is to “have telephone and text lists of associations to contact them if we need help”, as group four explained.

Discussions concluded with the creation of an intervention team spread in other occupations in Canada. It aims to help occupations that might be in threat, “we are fighting for peace, so any shock action has to be pacifist” said Joel, representing group six before the proposal was accepted. The first intervention will be in solidarity of Occupy Nova Scotia, but the group has to be formed and organized first.

The talking stick

It is calculated that around 300 people are camping in the square, but an average of 75 participate in the GAs.

“I propose there should always be a discussion group parallel to the GAs with the talking stick, where everyone shares their experiences, frustrations, etcetera.” said Sara, high school student and activist.

The talking stick is used to impart democracy in a talking group, allowing everyone have a say regardless of the timidity of some participants. The stick is passed from person to person, and only the one holding it can speak.

She added, “It should always be open, encouraging that every working committee should do it. Those who don’t like how the GAs work can join the talking stick.”

The proposal was accepted, of course.

Discussions with the city continue

According to recent updates on the issue, the city is okay with the occupation as long as security and salubrity are prioritized.

After the GA, the walk of indignation began. It’s been one month since October 15, one month.

Occupy Montreal – Day 25

By: Paula Monroy

November 8, 2011 – Place des Peuples

With the stratosphere clogged with thick clouds, the GA starts.

“We thank the earth, those who live and those who lived.” Five seconds of silence proceed.

It turns out the municipality is concerned with the security of occupiers, so wooden structures that will prevent them from freezing to death are not allowed.

Marc from the Juridical Committee informed the GA that early in the day they had a meeting with people from the city, police and fire departments, “they talked about our wonderful homes built for and by the people” he said, adding “They say they will not tolerate them being built for security reasons.”

A young man asking for clarification was concerned and commented that “Just as we have seen it in Quebec and Vancouver, the strategy on the part of our municipal leaders is to find a loophole to justify lifting the occupation”.

The Juridical Committee will continue discussions with the city.

Natasha, Marc-Andre, Fred, Felix, Nicolas, Jamie, Patrick and Martha

The Finances Committee presented Natasha, Marc-Andre, Fred, Felix, Nicolas, Jamie, Patrick and Martha as the key holders. Their role will be to ensure the donated money is secure and keep a record for it, information that will be available for anyone to check. Their IDs will be displayed at the info booth, as well as their contact info, which will be also online.

The first four (Natasha, Marc-Andre, Fred and Felix) will have two of the keys, and will be responsible for counting the money once a day and manage it. $100 will be the limit they can allow to be spent, and for every purchase the person who asked for the money must bring back a receipt with her/his name written on top. For purchases that require more than $100, the GA will have to authorize it.

The other four (Nicolas, Jamie, Patrick and Martha) will have two keys, too, and their role will be to keep a weekly balance of the funds.

There was a long debate regarding this proposal because, to make the story short, participants were unsure whether to trust it or not. Nonetheless, the proposal was accepted.

We, the indignant 

There were some changes in the list of indignation Dan Parker introduced to the GA on Saturday, which was adopted. He said that there was a meeting at 5pm with 20 people to verify the context and fix some grammatical errors in both English and French, “the corrected text is posted on Facebook”. It reads as follows,

We, the Indignant of Montreal, are occupying People’s Plaza (formerly known as Square-Victoria) since October 15th for a myriad of reasons. The following is a non-exhaustive list.

We are indignant about the criminal and careless use of our taxes and natural resources.

We are indignant about the endless rise of tuition costs for an education that should be accessible.

We are indignant about lobbyist groups, corporations and other private interests taking precedence over the interests of the people.

We are indignant about income inequality based on age, gender and/or origin.

We are indignant about the profits of a few being valued as more important than the quality of life of most.

We are indignant about the superficial democracy that prevents our voices from being heard.

We are indignant about the place our society gives to those of different sexual identities and orientations.

We are indignant about the rampant disinformation and manipulation of the public opinion by the media through negligence, carelessness and allegiances.

We are indignant about our personal information being merchandised so that we can be sold products that we do not need.

We are indignant about the lack of access to existing technologies that should benefit us all rather than the monopoly of the petroleum industry.

We are indignant about the lack of access to existing treatments that would benefit us all rather than the monopoly of the pharmaceutical industry.

We are indignant about the status of First Nations Peoples on these occupied lands.

We are indignant about useless weapons contracts profiting local and foreign private interests.

We are indignant about the barbarious ways of our mining industry on our environment as well as humans, both here and abroad.

We are indignant about the complete avoidance of our demands ever since listening to public opinion became politically incorrect.

We are indignant about brown envelopes having more weight in our society than the future of our children.

We are indignant about our police forces being the last line of defense of our common enemies.

Together, we can turn the tide.
A people united can never be defeated.

We are the 99%

Dan expressed that he wants it to be stimulating enough so more people can join the movement and emphasized that the list will continue evolving, “it’s still open to changes” he said.

A yellow circle means you support Occupy Montreal

The reason of yellow is because of its representation for joy and positivity. “Poetically, the circle symbolizes the unity and equality of the movement, the planet, wheel-bearing, the living cell, the sun in the night. It’s easy to reproduce.” explained François regarding the shape.

The GA agreed that the yellow circle will be worn as a symbol by anyone supporting the movement.

In addition, the GA concurred in having a tam-tam (drumming) party at noon in Saturday’s march, “we will make a stop at Phillips Square to celebrate one month of the occupation” expressed Kathy, the proposer.

As the assembly ends, an orange spider descends from the secretary chair.

Marion: “Industrial Farming makes a big impact on our health and environment, and it has a connection with workers’ rights. We will meet at 11am on Saturday at the statue to talk about these issues and work on a proposal.”

Occupy Montreal – Day 22

By: Paula Monroy

Saturday, November 5, 2011 – Place des Peuples

Today, the GA decided that “Because the increase of costs reduces the accessibility to post-secondary studies, and because education is a fundamental right for the individual, the movement Occupy Montreal supports students in their fight against the rising of tuition fees.”

To make it official, the occupation will join the students in the National Manifestation Against the Hike in Fees on Thursday, November 10 at 2pm, departing from Place Emilie-Gamelin (metro Berri-UQAM).

Demands of the Movement, the March of Indignation

Dan Parker from the facilitation team, proposes the following list:

We are indignant about the criminal and careless usage of our taxes and natural resources.

We are indignant towards the endless rise of tuition costs, education that should be all but inaccessible.

We are indignant about lobbies, corporations and other private interests that should never take precedence over the interests of the people.

We are indignant about income inequality based on age, gender and/or origin.

We are indignant about the profits of a few being more important than the quality of life of most.

We are indignant in front of the superficial democracy preventing our voices from being heard.

We are indignant about the pitiful place our society gives to those of different sexual identities and orientations.

We are indignant in front of the rampant disinformation and manipulation of the public opinion by the media through negligence, carelessness and allegiances.

We are indignant about our personal information being merchandised so we are more easily sold products we need.

We are indignant about the lack of access to existing technologies that should benefit us all rather than the monopoly of the petroleum industry.

We are indignant about the lack of access to existing treatments that would benefit us all rather than the monopoly of the pharmaceutical industry.

We are indignant towards the status of First Nations Peoples on these occupied lands.

We are indignant about useless weapons contracts profiting local and foreign private interests.

We are indignant about the barbarous ways of our mining industry on our environment as well as humans, both here and abroad.

We are indignant in front of the complete avoidance of our demands since the day listening to public opinion became politically incorrect.

We are indignant about brown envelopes* having more weight in our society than the future of our children.

We are indignant about our police forces being the last line of defense of our common enemies.

*(‘Brown envelope’) A term referring to the practice of politicians receiving illegal payments (in brown envelopes) in exchange for favours. 

The list is praised with some amendments. The sun shines east, bright, powerful. The proposal is accepted.

More, more proposals

Another proposal adopted today is that “any proposal submitted to the GA must be written and signed by at least 5 people supporting it.”

Operation McDonald’s was not accepted by the GA regardless of the long debate it required. The proposal aimed to express disagreement with the company, specially work conditions for employees, by going to one of their franchisees and talking with costumers about such issues.

Part of the reason being that “anyone who comes here in the kitchen can find products from companies which we should also fight against” It concluded, “people who want to do it can do it as individuals, but not in behalf of the occupation.”

Announcement

Valérie Prout, starting Monday, November 7th, 2:30 – 4 PM : “At the request of the ‘Organisation communautaire et action citoyenne’ class teacher, at UQAM (travail social), the AG/facilitation comitee organizes a discussion with the master students. All the persons interested by democratic participation (deliberation modes, decision taking, etc.) can come to this event which is set to share the views, experiences and questions of occupiers and students of the class.”

To read the course’s plan (french): http://cjoint.com/?AKeqNqnN3RP

AG/facilitation comitee’s Wiki: http://facilitationmtl.wikia.com/wiki/En

Occupy Montreal – Day 18

By: Paula Monroy

November 1, 2011 – Place des Peuples

During the evening, an argument between members of the Anarchist group and the Militia led to the stabbing of the hospital that stands North-West of the camp, right next to Rue Saint Antoine. The GA was delayed.

A friendly weather, which allowed the meeting to occur on the surface again, did not seem to be reason for the GA to continue. Because there were not enough people to have a quorum, the GA was changed to a discussion group. No more than 30 people stayed.

The Finances Committee was not happy with this, members had handed out their proposition regarding the security of  the money accumulated from donations.

Their proposition is broken down in three sections: Key holders, Donations and Auditors. The idea is simple, the money will be kept in a float box with only 4 keys available, and two people will be key holders and two more auditors. It reads, “We need two key holders [that]  will be responsible for the daily finances so at least one key holder must be on camp each evening[…]The keyholders are the only people who can remove money from the donations bin[…]All requests for reimbursements and payments are made at Donations[…]Once per week, one auditor, one keyholder, and one witness are responsible to count the total donations”. The committee explained that this is the best they came up with for now, participants thanked them.

Some announcements

Action Committee invited everyone to a march on the 7th at 2pm. “We will go to Hydro-Quebec“, calling for artists to call for the media “so we are broadcasted”.

Another demonstration will occur this Thursday at 5:30pm against imperialism.

Also on Thursday, the city is expected to remove water irrigators under the tents.

An over-expected visit

Offering free coffee and timbits, three fire fighters joined to the meeting. The reason being P-51, a law fire regulation. “Candles and combustion engines inside the tents are not allowed”. They recommended campers to buy propane heaters made for tents with no carbon dioxide emissions.

In reaction, participants asked them to join them on the 14th of November “because we need the fire department recommendation to get a permit from the city to get electricity”.

Regarding peace and the militia

Due to the incident from earlier in the evening, a member of the Juridical Committee suggested the creation of a peace declaration. “We have to react as a collective”, he added.

At the beginning of the meeting, someone suggested to exclude the right-wing from the occupation. Nonetheless, it ended with the following, “We are defining what the problems are, we need this before making decisions”, emphasizing, “We are defining who we are”.

So far, the militia have joined the Mediation Committee, responsible to intervene between disputes and bring about reconciliation. In addition, they want to join the movement as civilians.

Someone addressed the fact that the militia is well organized “when they say they are going to do something, they do it…I cannot understand why we are not doing it.”

The meeting ended with music and dancing. The GA dissolved before the end.

Occupy Montreal – Day 15

By: Paula Monroy

October 29, 2011 – Place des Peuples

The GA is moved back to the surface so the public can see it in action. Coughs and sneezes follow each other, a man wipes his nose with his scarf. The GA starts while the agonizing breath of autumn undressed the lining trees around.

Richard Lupien from the Action Committee proposes to read a text about peace, written by journalist Richard Hedges. “Everyone will lie down”, he adds.

The toilets continue being an issue (costs, particularly). According to the Finances Committee, “we are spending $150 dollars a day”. A short debate starts after someone proposes to charge 50 cents to use a facility. The argument ends in an invitation to use the toilets in the camp during the night, “You can go to other public washrooms nearby, maps are available inside of our facilities”, adding “Donations are welcome!”.

Environmentally friendly

The Environment Committee, renamed as the Environmental Group Committee, proposes that the organic waste produced in the occupation be used to create garden roofs. The team emphasized that “the camp is a clear example that change is possible.”

The proposal is adopted and cheered.

The Environmental group also proposed to have the camp officially recognized as a community, naming it People’s Village.

“What does it imply legally?” An participant asks. The Juridical Committee will refer to lawyers and get more information about the possibility.

For sale?

Jamie proposes to avoid selling things in the camp, arguing that money should be avoided. After debating on the reality of money, the proposal was changed and adopted. From now on things can be sold, but profits will be used for the camp.

Police

A last minute proposal concerning the march was adopted with one block from a university student, also member of the Action Committee. The Juridical Committee has been talking with the police, “I talked with a police officer…he asked us to change the direction of the march, just so we are in the same direction of the traffic.”

“We want to be pacifists, not passive”, commented the student opposing the decision.

Mark, from the Juridical Committee highlighted that “the police wants to collaborate with us so the march can be from the people to the people”.

The GA concludes.

More to see

Artists arrive dressed like Robin Hood and bankers giving eggs.

A man from Zacatecas, Mexico, stands with a poncho that reads “Viva Mexico, muerte al neoliberalismo financiero” (Long live Mexico, death to the financial neoliberalism). In his opinion, “It is sad to see that not a lot of people want to get involved in this kind of movements, youth specially”.

The march was directed to the US embassy downtown.

Proposals: Oct.15 – Oct.24

By: Paula Monroy

What has been proposed so far

The complete list of proposals that have been adopted by the movement through the GA from October 15 to October 24, which was originally posted in the official website of the occupation (available in French only), reads as follows:

General Assembly October 15, 2011

Proposals adopted:

1. Adopt a non-violent discipline, no matter the situation. Zero tolerance for any violence, including verbal abuse.

2. The message must be unified through the organizations and individuals. There must be consistency in the message and claims that are issued, and participants should know and share.

3. There must be a coherent and long-term, not just tactics and actions without links between them (regardless of their ingenuity).

4. The security forces / police are seen as potential allies in the movement, not as adversaries. Ultimately, they are accountable to the people.

5. Keep in mind the national and international audience when message is defined. The goal is to include people to the cause, not alienate them.

6. Do not respond to verbal attacks or hostile propaganda using the same language as the opponent. Instead, refocus debate on relevant issues.

7. Victories should be emphasized at every opportunity. This is important for our morals and enthusiasm. We must dispel anger by using humor and integration.

8. Occupy Montreal works through direct democracy.

General Assembly October 15, 2011

Proposals adopted:

1. Look for proposals that address individual and collective principles.

2. Rename Victoria Square to the “People’s Square.”

3. Remain united.

4. A walk (event) after GA.

General Assembly October 16, 2011

Proposals adopted:

1. Any consumption of alcohol or other substances in the People’s Place should be done with discretion, restraint and respect.

2. Have areas designed for children.

3. Honor the earth that we occupy at each GA

4. All are free to refuse to be filmed

5. Always alternate male / female facilitators in GAs

6. Have a process for GA

7. Have at least one GA per day

8. Have a fixed time for GAs: Monday to Friday 18h and 13h Saturday and Sunday

9. Always have a structured agenda in the GA

10. We do not exclude any group, but do not support violence or disrespectful behavior

General Assembly October 17, 2011

Proposals adopted:

1. Energy interventions throughout every GA

2. Éyptien put a flag on the People’s Square.

3. Have a committee to raise funds to pay a second generator.

4. Make a video of the GA to be shared with Occupy Wall Street.

5. We want this movement to be inclusive, so we want to accept the diversity of tactics. But we want to ensure that children, people without documents and other persons vulnerable to severe consequences of an arrest (job loss), may participate in this movement. If the various tactics made near the square, or on behalf of the movement threatens the participation of different people, we should do consensus.

General Assembly October 18, 2011

Proposals adopted:

1. Two of the Forum on the social economy call for three Forum sessions to be held on the site Let’s take care / Occupy Mtl, and occupant(s) is/are responsible for organizing a place to mobilize people. A person proposes.

2. Do not smoke during the general meetings.

3. Occupy other spaces when People’s Square is full.

4. Everyone picks up his cigarette butts.

5. That OccupyMontreal demands that the government increases the tax on mineral royalties to a minimum of 50%.

6. That the minutes of the GA be posted on the bulletin board and information on the Square. They are already online and will be posted on the board.

General Meeting October 20, 2011

(Note: it was assembled improvise, these are the notes speak of accepted proposals. If you have any other information on proposals that have passed the AG has, please contact us.)

Proposals adopted:

1. A man and a woman together offer a framework of general strategy for the movement Occupy Montreal in four points. They distribute the printed proposal, detailing the four points. 1) Define (description?) 2) Think (exact term and description?) 3) Act (description?) 4) Change (description?)

More positive reactions, a negative reaction on the word “revolution”, as detailed in point 4) of the proposal.

Ammende: The word “revolution” will be removed from the fourth point of the proposal.

The proposal was accepted by consensus (loss of quorum?)

General Assembly October 21, 2011

Proposals adopted:

1. Facilitation Committee:

Proposal on the process of consensus (attached).

2. Mediation Committee:

– Creation of mixed teams of psychological intervention and monitoring – zero tolerance policy and if physical aggression or sexual – possibility of a second chance – expulsion of the person concerned – one has excluded the possibility of return to the scene – The committee reserves the right to make case by case for the reinstatement of an excluded, including the GA in this decision process – Security is for everyone so everyone is responsible to take care of everyone –  Diplomatic expulsions. The committee member will be accompanied by a”big”if the expulsion occurs unexpectedly (refusal of violence).

3. Committee on Aboriginal representation:

We ask:-recognition of indigenous peoples living in the territory of Quebec – the adoption by the National Assembly of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by requiring the federal government to do the same – the updating of the story since the colonization of America in academic institutions in Canada and Quebec to transmit the facts more transparent and fair to future generations in regard to First Nations – a moratorium on the map north – that Aboriginal languages be protected and valued – optional courses on indigenous languages.

General Meeting – Saturday, October 22

1. Committee action:

Given the lack of “space more and more obvious on the place of people, and the end of security and safety, we propose to” occupy new land. Excluding land of the “UN. It proposes to “fill the square Riopel with a minimum of 30 tents (instant action). There is a list for those with no “place to camp or who are ready to move to occupy the square Riopel. When the lists are full, we budge.

2. Aboriginal Solidarity Committee:

Since the movement Larouche, password racist, homophobic, and promotes negative energy, the committee and the Mohawk traditional council proposes to remove their tables, their documentation, their symbols, propaganda of the movement of Lyndon Larouche. This group advocates direct violence to the mother earth and to all inhabitants of planet earth. The mediation committee would deal in a non-violent way.

General Meeting – Sunday, October 23

Proposals adopted:

1. Committee action: A walk next Saturday (October 29th) to 15:00 (after the GA).

2. Cans and bottles on the site are used to finance the cost of flushing the toilet and washroom services.

3. That there is a quorum of 75 people for a GA.

4. Upload a petition in support of the occupation, available in the official website of Occupy Montreal. The text must outline:  a non-violent movement; respects the diversity of tactics; a movement that is inclusive and environmentally conscious. It opposes the excesses of financial capitalism and asks for a better democracy.

General Meeting – Monday, October 24

Proposals adopted:

1. The AG will close at 19h to leave in large numbers to council.

Occupy Montreal – Day 13

By: Paula Monroy

Montreal has began removing her autumn garment, soon she will put on her white coat of winter. The morning welcomes us with a chilly breath and a sunny glare.

October 27, 2011 – Square-Victoria metro station

The 13th General Assembly was set underground. Surrounded by the Rue Saint- Jaques, Centre de Commerce Mondial and Place Victoria entrances, people pass by – some ignoring the protesters, others showing curiosity.

Today the dynamic changed. The GAs will happen only 3 times during the week: Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday. These will be days for decision making, the other days (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday) will be informal meetings dedicated for discussion.

There was a proposal to leave Sunday on the loose; nonetheless, because “we want to have as many meetigs as possible for people who cannot be here often” as the girl who proposed the schedule explained, it was turned down.

To arrive to this decision, the assembly was divided into smaller groups. In each group, ideas and opinions were shared concerning the change of the GA’s agenda. Some groups were bilingual, others trilingual. Then, the groups dissolved and only the people who took notes, formed a new group. One by one, each stood in front of the assembly and shared a summary of conclusions made in their previous group. Debate went on.

Communal huts 

Starting on Monday, Housing Committee plans on start building tipis that will replace the tents of Place des Peuples. Each tipi will shelter a maximum of 5 individuals. Today at 9:30am was the first meeting with the campers, “Note, you MUST attend this meeting in order to find a place in a (warm!) hut this winter” was highlighted.

Money?

A total of $10,000 CA were received in donations, half of it is left. At least 25% was spent in the maintenance of washrooms, which seemed to worry everyone. The Finances Committee is looking for options to put the money in a safe place, suggesting to open a bank account – which, of course, was not appealing. “We need to start looking for other alternatives, then.”

Pacifism 

The Security Committee talked about the march that will happen on Saturday. He said “If there are problems, we will sit on the ground.”, this applies in cases of violence. For instance, if someone starts breaking windows or if the police turns violent (in this situation, everyone is responsible of taking photos and record the abuses for proof).

The GA concluded seven minutes after 9pm.

now, now, now, now, now. now, now is the time. now now now.

By: Jean-Pier Goyer

Grand is the time which is spent wisely.

I flew without wings, traveled without moving bravely in a world that wasn’t mine, at first and then I had to find my way through new ideas and back to me. Like a pirate on the high seas, I navigated from above at first, exploring the newly discovered, loosely formed archipelago of hope, just under that massive Greed continent.

From the outsider, this is a fascinating event in history; out of nothing forms tiny islands of love, inhabited with concepts of love and sharing and it’s beautiful, a bright new world, daring and engaging in a myriad of ways, all too strange for an outsider to consider wise to explore, given that I have doubts over the profitability of such a venture. Yet as a true explorer, I wanted to get inside, and feel the essence of those savages. So I got closer to the shores and soon found myself on its beaches and what I saw was beautiful.

A small community of people who shared freely their food and ideas, their time and labour, living in small but warm tents, filled with this human warmth which seem so rare on the Greed continent’s major cities. When these radicals had a problem, they discussed about it on the public place and when the time for decision came, they had no leaders, preferring to debate within their citizenry to come up with the best idea possible, I am not quite sure how they managed to do it thus far.

The food is mostly vegetarian; the people are pacifists and they are so curious about a wide array of topics. After a week of contact, I am not quite certain what they want and it makes me uneasy. It seems that  they have different ways than us but it is so different I can’t explain what it feels like to be part of them, to be part of history and to explore all of which can be explored, even concepts that seem so distant yet within reach.

This is happening and from a pirate vantage point, it feels like I am a renegade from all this corruption, and lies and greed and war and deceit from my native land and I feel myself going rogue, into this new world, not of land but of ideas, of change and hope and I have come to meet, through extensive exploration that I am not alone. There are people investigating these new islands of solidarity, of human feeling and common something that pushes us forward into the great unknown of the future.

The bounty had always been luck because some pirates have access to very fast motorboats, which can circle the world swiftly while we are stuck in a loosely formed archipelago that forms a global power to be reckoned with. But because of its pacifist nature, it instil the weird sensation that it just might be the way. Something toward a better future for all of us, something like an escape from consumerism into a bold new land where food and thoughts are free. Where human dignity is on the agenda and where decisions are done by the people and by consensus.

Instead of booking your night into a lonesome watching television, come watch what’s happening worldwide, come explore the brave new world that is forming upon us, the new world that 99% of us can embrace. A world that is being built with our hands and with our minds, reflecting the many, giving a voice to the voiceless.

Occupy Montreal – Day 11

An apology to the readers for the delay. I was unable to be in yesterday’s meeting, and the summary was just sent to me a few minutes ago by the Environment Committee (To the Environment Committee: Thank you!).  For that matter, this post won’t have the literary richness of the previous ones (sorry).

October 25, 2011 – Place des Peuples

The following proposals were accepted:

• By the Sunday Events Committee – Funds raised on the 23 of October will be used to “hire a vehicle to transport materials, generator, sound system (also for rent) etc”.
• Action Committee – Collaboration with the municipal police for the next march, this in order to keep a good relationship with the municipality.
• Environment Committee – There will be an attempt to build a composting toilet and get materials for free.
• “It is proposed to make a list of application deadline for the future without declaration of the movement.”, proposed by Maya.

Other than that:

Solar panels just arrived and Richard Bergeron, leader of Projet Montréal and city councillor, will be present today from 5:30pm to 6pm.

Occupy Montreal – Days 8 and 9

By: Paula Monroy

A few changes were made during the weekend. First of all, there are about 250 tents occupying the square. The megaphones no longer play a role in the meetings, now replaced by an echoing chorus. When the speaker speaks, everyone else repeats in one clear voice what she or he has said; thus, the speaker is compelled to speak clearly and concisely. When “Mic Check!” is said, everyone repeats it to reorganize the collection of voices any time it gets messy. Regarding this decision, Emily explains, “If you have 400 to 500 people, we lose more time to do the people’s mic.”

A board with detailed graphics of hand gestures by a volunteer, these gestures are mandatory during the assembly (just as it was agreed on day 1) in order to articulate an opinion. Those taking names for proposals and amendments carry with them a sign, too. So does person in the info role, with a big interrogation mark followed by “info”. Translations were switched to the right side of the assembly, and the point to speak was moved to the center.

“There was more dynamism” expressed Leonardo, a University of Montreal political science graduate. Indeed, decisions were made faster and a sense of complete equality was visible.

Three policemen dressed like civilians were present on Saturday’s assembly.

Some of the proposals that were accepted are:

• Occupy Riopelle Square with 30 tents as immediate action. Moving also on to the grounds of the UN at St-Catherina E,  Phillips Square and the Israeli Embassy were also considered. Nonetheless, the police did not agree with the UN option and suggested to camp in nearby parks instead.
• The expulsion of the LaRouche group. “It is not against the people but their ideas, which are xenophobic, racist, homophobic and anti-ecological … What we exclude is their table but not the individuals.” stated the Indigenous Solidarity Committee.
• A  march next Saturday (October 29) at 3pm (after the GA)
• An online support list for the movement Occupy Montreal

There was a proposal on Sunday prompted from the expulsion of the LaRouche group on Saturday, in which it is suggested to allow certain groups with a philosophy that favours the occupation “to avoid censorship, to include everyone”, specified Andrea. People was not sure and it is expected to be reconsidered on Monday.

<<More details on all of the adopted proposals will be coming soon in one single manifesto by the end of the week. Stay tuned!>>