Profile: People of Occupy Boston: Mike Kostigan

BLAST Magazine: What do you do?

MK: Within Occupy Boston I work with the Direct Action working group. We help to plan marches, as well as try to keep everyone safe during the marches. We also help to coordinate different relevant trainings. With-in my Affinity Group (a group of 6-12 people who you really really trust) I helped to build and maintain our sleeping quarters. We had one of the best sleeping areas within the camp. We had two tents, a porch, couches, bike generators and lighting. We all worked hard to build that place, and it showed in that it was one of the last tents standing.

http://blastmagazine.com/the-news/local-news/people-of-occupy-boston-mike-kostigan/

Imperial Rome was slightly more equal than the U.S.

Since too much inequality can foment revolt and instability, the CIA regularly updates statistics on income distribution for countries around the world, including the U.S. Between 1997 and 2007, inequality in the U.S. grew by almost 10 percent, making it more unequal than Russia, infamous for its powerful oligarchs. The U.S. is not faring well historically, either. Even the Roman Empire, a society built on conquest and slave labor, had a more equitable income distribution.

http://persquaremile.com/2011/12/16/income-inequality-in-the-roman-empire/

Britain draws up evacuation plans to rescue expats if the banking systems of Spain and Portugal collapse

Evacuation plans for British expats stranded in Spain and Portugal if their banking systems collapse are being drawn up by the Foreign Office.

The contingency plans are being put in place to help thousands of Britons if they were unable to get to their money in the event of a catastrophic banking collapse in two of the most vulnerable eurozone economies. Around one million British expats live in Spain, particularly around Marbella and Malaga, and some 50,000 in Portugal.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2075721/A-financial-Dunkirk-Britain-draws-plans-rescue-expats-Spain-Portugal-hit-financial-oblivion.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Continue reading “The OB Media Rundown for 12/18/11” »

Video: Mel King tells Occupy Boston: “You have the right to revolution”

King Mel is a long-time Boston community activist and civil rights leader who served as State Representative and ran for Mayor of Boston in 1982.

King told the Boston occupiers, “You have the right to alter and change. You have that right. You are deserving, and no change comes to any individual or group until they assert themselves that they are deserving?Your message is getting into peoples minds and you’re saying ‘we are deserving.'” Waving in his hand the second issue of “The Boston Occupier” (the local counterpart to the “Occupy Wall Street Journal”) King added, “You have the right to revolution.”

http://blastmagazine.com/the-news/local-news/video-mel-king-tells-occupy-boston-you-have-the-right-to-revolution/

“Home For The Holidays”: Housing Activists Announce Successful Relocation Of Evicted Family

According to a City Life press release issued Thursday, mortgage holder Deutsche Bank’s foreclosure of the Fowler Street home was discovered by housing advocates to be “faulty.” The owner, said the release, will rent the house rather than move back in.

http://www.openmediaboston.org/node/2134

[City Life/Urbana Vida is a 38-year-old activist organization focusing on issues of economic and social justice, especially around housing. In 2007 it launched a Post-Foreclosure Eviction Defense campaign, and has recently invited Occupy Boston to join in its direct action efforts, including occupying foreclosed homes to return them to their rightful owners. While other occupations around the country may act alone to occupy foreclosed homes, many within Occupy Boston aspire to work in alliance with experienced activists such as those at City Life/Urbana Vida. Occupy Boston will join with City Life / Vida Urbana for an”Occupy our Homes” rally and march on Monday, December 19, 2011 at noon at 10 Causeway St. in Boston, the Boston Regional Office of HUD.]

‘Occupy’: Helping to restore the Greenway

The Occupy Boston encampment took a toll on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Officials estimate the clean-up bill could total $60,000. On their own initiative, the protesters have raised about $3,500 toward defraying clean-up costs – a welcome gesture. Occupy Boston made accountability a key theme, demanding that financial firms should be responsible for messes they’ve made. The protesters made their point powerfully, and helped change the national dialogue. Now they can lead by example.

http://bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2011/12/16/occupy-helping-restore-greenway/2l6uuYVvTHRKzKUNYKwMeN/story.html

Continue reading “The OB Media Rundown for 12/17/2011” »