I facilitate a daily call where people from around the country call in to learn deescalation/nonviolent communication strategies. 4:00 PM EST 7 days a week - (347) 304-9152. Please pass the word.

Based on our suggestions to callers that it is important to say what it is we do want rather than what we don't want, one of our callers created this facebook page - link below - which I think is just a great way to hear what others are wanting and to express your number 1 desire about where the Occupy movment can take us. I know I will use the comments on the facebook page as a resource when I talk with people who say, "We don't know they want." 

Other things we talk about on the call are how to express ourselves compassionately. If we chant "Shame on you," to the police, we don't make an impact. They are trained to withstand angry comments. But if instead we tell them (in chants or just in conversation) what we really want, "We're here because we want our needs to be considered, too." - over and over in a tone of voice that doesn't express blame, but expresses our passions, our motivations, our reasons, we can make a greater impact.

We can say things like: "I'm here because I can't find a job." "I'm here because I am afraid for my children's future security." "This movement really matters to me because I want to live in a world where everyone's needs are considered." These could be chants, too. Again, without blame in our voices, but passion about what we want and need.

These compassionate chants and statements are more likely to impact police and city officials because they talk about shared needs; everyone wants these things. They will make a much greater impact than angry insults will. -

Link to facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-The-Peoples-Changes-and-Solutions/308676709144869