Break-out discussion: Three members.
John Veitch:
The young people in the Christchurch Occupation are faced with a reality check. Tents, bedding, food, water supply, hygiene, public relations, communication, forming work groups.
Then they are placed in a hothouse of ideas, often political ideas they have never really thought about before. They begin to realize how much they don't yet know. This is good grounding, life changing stuff for the young leaders of tomorrow.
Rob Wheeler :
Involved in weekly vigils locally. There is an occupation in Harrisburg.
Duane ?
Most people get their information from mainstream media. That source is very critical of the Occupy Movement. There's no deep inquiry about what's going on here.
10 years ago we organised an electronic town meeting. There were many questions and discussion, and a scientifically selected voting panel. The panel was asked to vote at appropriate times during the discussion. That vote allowed the discussion to proceed quite quickly in new directions.
We have the technology to do that now.
There is a media Group forming according to Rob Wheeler.
John Veitch added that young people (Those in the park) lacked the experience and the confidence in dealing with political ideas, to be effective in traditional media. They were still exploring their own views, and they needed to explain their ideas to small trusted forums father than to large groups.
Duane ? :
Mixing television and the Internet has great potential. It can allow both private or small group conversations and media conversations. There are ways to make what people say in small conversations count.
Rob Wheeler:
I see a strength in the mixture of age groups involved in the Occupy Movement. There are many similar things happening around the world and they seem to have a similar direction. It's inspiring to see the level of commitment, the exercise of responsibility and the quality of the conversation.
These notes prepared by John S Veitch, Christchurch, New Zealand.
