*UPDATE* The emergency General Assembly has been canceled. General Assembly will be tomorrow as regularly scheduled. Stay warm, stay safe, and know that in all endeavors you have support with Occupy Boston.
October 28, 2011–Tonight at 7 pm there we will be having an emergency General Assembly to discuss issues dealing with winterization. We encourage as many as are able to attend do. For now the GA is scheduled to happen in the usual spot; if we make any changes to this plan then there will be escorts to the new location. Please dress warmly and be conscious of the weather.
10 Responses to “*update* Emergency General Assembly”
Hi – as an old military veteran who’s spent a lot of time helping homeless people survive cold weather and other adverse conditions, and as an OCCUPY IRVINE, CA member who also outreaches to other OCCUPY Communities to help where I can – you would do well to look at this (FREE) site : http://www.practicalsurvivor.com/urbansheltercoldweather (Note: I have no connection to this site, but it’s very helpful!).
Stay Warm and Safe!
IF you want additional help in area’s of organization, or finding out how we got our City Council (right is right smack in the middle of the richest 1% industrial corporate HQ’s sections in the Country) 2 days ago to give us UNANIMOUS approval to camp overnight (for the foreseeable future w/certain basic safety/health rules) – which they renew every 2 weeks -on their FRONT LAWN -on a busy intersection -(as we have been doing already these past 2 weeks), got a porta potty approved, and the mutual respect of both the City and our local community and the PD, please write – glad to share! JTraveller44 at Yahoo.com (written the other way, it blanks it out).
I also have a Facebook page, same address. If you are serious about wanting to make changes to the State and Federal Constitution – or local ordinances – ask me and I’ll help you see how to do it in your area. – At any rate: GOOD LUCK BOSTON! JT
I cannot be there in person, but do wish that someone passes on my message at the GA. I hope that OccupyBoston will continue as a movement promoting lasting changes in our politics and economy.
THIS IS MY PROPOSAL – just one of the many things that can be done to keep the momentum:
Please start online petitions by topic and distribute broadly via this website as CALLS TO ACTION. I could start a petition but it would not be as effective. If a centralized forum like OccupyBoston initiates the petition to a broad audience since this is a non-partisan movement – maybe they will get someone’s attention over there in Washington. As they say on the website, do not create duplicate petitions with the same message.
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions
Here is an example where the White House did respond recently to a petition by THE PEOPLE:
(OCT 25th, 2011)
Official White House Response to
Forgive Student Loan Debt to Stimulate the Economy and Usher in a New Era of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Prosperity
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/response/taking-action-reduce-burden-student-loan-debt
“Today, the Administration is proposing to offer even more immediate relief to many current college students by giving them the chance to limit loan payments to 10 percent of their discretionary income starting in 2012. In addition, the debt would be forgiven after 20 years instead of 25, as current law allows. For many who struggle to manage their student loan debt – including teachers, nurses, public defenders and others in lower-paying jobs – these proposed changes could reduce their payments by hundreds of dollars each month. Overall, this proposal would provide an estimated 1.6 million borrowers with more manageable monthly payments.” http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/10/25/we-cant-wait-obama-administration-lower-student-loan-payments-millions-b
EVERYONE CAN BE AN ACTIVIST EVEN IF THEY CAN’T BE THERE IN PERSON!!!!!
Thank you.
I did not sign the petition above, but did sign this one for separation between investment banks and commerical banks:
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/re-establish-and-maintain-separation-between-investment-banks-and-commercial-banks/ywCMKDfn
I wish there would be one started for Protection of the Involuntarily Unemployed – just like forebearance of student loans for a certain period of time, the banks should work with folks to allow up to 12 months forebearance of all debt (mortgage, home equity loans, credit card debt). This would give the people a chance to bounce back and not lose their homes as a result of unemployment. It would help from the economics standpoint.
I also think that psychologically, if people were not so fearful of losing EVERYTHING when they lose their jobs, some of the power will shift from EMPLOYERS to EMPLOYEES. Right now they own all of us. They don’t give us raises even if we work 60 hour weeks. They have one person do the job of 3. They without any regard send all the jobs overseas. We spend most of our lives at work instead of with our children, but there is no loyalty or desire on the part of corporations to protect their workers from layoffs. They lay off so many people who are a year away from retirement. It is outrageous…Controlled growth is no longer enough. 4 billion profits are not enough, they want 5B !
They give their CEOs millions even when the company is not performing, while they lay off thousands. It is outrageous and it results in our society decaying with parents not spending enough time with their kids, not focused on their kids education so we rely almost 100% on the schools, and they are not doing a good job. We should NOT be silenced !
Somehow please continue this movement until the influence of money in politics is eliminated, until we have more of a voice and more rights than for-profit institutions (corporations, hospitals, colleges, universities). The GREED is real and impacting so many of the 99%.
A great way to stay warm is to improve the shelters you are using. Get rid of the tents and build yourselves some Hexayurts. Easy to make, incredibly cheap, and very warm.
http://hexayurt.com/
Tents have Zero insulation so unless you are in a winter sleeping bag you will be chilly. A Hexayurt is all insulation and two bodies will warm the interior in no time. Add a plastic bottle skylight, and you are all set to go. http://hackaday.com/2011/03/08/soda-bottle-skylights/
Hope this helps.
There’s a belief that authorities might not allow structures that are too permanent looking. Wood structures may be illegal. Can you make a hexayurt out of cardboard?
emergency sleeping bags made of heat reflective film (like emergency blankets), no personal experience but may be worth looking at for adding performance to light sleeping bags http://www.mcrmedical.com/category/emergency-sleeping-bags.html pretty cheap per unit
We are moving to occupy key west, need two more for full car and to share gas and tolls. Leaving sunday night. Why occupy in the cold? Email me at dragongirltat@yahoo.com
Andy,
There has been some change in plans with the marches?
Just yesterday, it was announced that on Oct 29 from 1 – 3 there will be a march to demand financial reform and …fair economy…
“March for New England Solidarity
WHEN: Sat, October 29, 1pm – 3pm
Description: along with the organizations, communities, and cities who have joined with us in our struggle for economic justice. Members of Occupy New Hampshire, Occupy Worcester, and others will join unions, students, and working families from across New England to demand financial reform and a fair and just economy for all.”
NOW what is being announced is solidarity with Oakland – I thought that OWS called for a walkout on November 2nd.
“On Saturday, Occupy Boston will take to the streets in solidarity with occupations across the nation to show support for Occupy Oakland. ……”
It is a bit confusing.
In most suburban locations Home Depot sells 4’x 8′ sheets of foil covered 1/2″ thick Styrofoam sheets in their insulation section for about $10-15 each.
These sheets of insulation are very light and strong and water proof – the foil really helps protect the Styrofoam. If you take three sheets and duct tape them together along the 8′ side, you can build a three sided tube that is 4′ wide along the bottom.
The foil reflects heat inward. Adding a triangular piece on either end keeps the wind from blowing in. In the morning, its easy to stack them and store them.
I’m in Manhattan supporting OWS here. If I can get to a suburban Home Depot (Manhattan stores don’t stock this item, I just checked) I can do a photo demonstration of how it works.
It would be a lot warmer, stronger and more waterproof than tents yet easily movable.
Michele Moore – Happy1 ~ ReportingWrongdoing.com
@MicheleHappy1
The best material to make a Hexayurt from is 1″ thick foil backed rigid foam insulation. No wood needed at all. Just cut it with a knife and tape it together I linked to instructions earlier. These structures are very popular at Burning Man and in disaster relief situations.