Is this a conversation where the effects of the moment on the rest of the world can be had? Im from Dunedin Aotearoa/New Zealand, we followed the O15 global occupation day and now are wondering where things are going on the global level. We are just starting to formulate or national vision statement but because this is a global occupy, we are wanting to know where the global movement will be going.

We are running out of people to occupy 3 of our 4 locations across the country and are having the what happens next conversation now.

i am sad to say that i won't be able to participate in the conversaiton later today as i have been scheduled to work, but i would like to weigh in on what's been said already.

GLOBALLY:

as far as it relates to global issues i think we should be looking at an end to war(!), fair trade policies, preservation of natural spaces and sustainable energy/clean air and water. truth be told, i am not an expert in international affairs, but as an American i feel that our foreign policy has the most massive effect on global issues and other countries' reactionary policies....i am interested in cleaning up shop herein the US with the hope that other nations would see that we won't abuse them for doing the 'right' thing....that's as far as i am with it.

IN THE US:

i agree with Mr. Blue to a large extent although i think a more comprehensive plan should be drafted (and regularly edited in response to circumstance and the political climate) that prioritizes potential demands. that may be a more ambitious undertaking than i could accomplish alone but i am planning a discussion-style, web-based show to talk in more detail about these issues.

the list may look something like this:

broad support general thought of as non-partisan issues

-an end to corporate personhood (through a constitutional amendment?)

-campaign finance reform (possibly through constitutional amendment? possibly publically funded? possibly privately funded with caps on donation amounts?)

-reinstatement of glass-steagel act (so clearly tied to the "too big to fail" situation, so tied to current economic situation, i don't think that most right leaning people automatically assume that effectively regulated capitalism is the same as socialism?)

-higher transparency (blah blah)

second tier  demands (a little more contentious)

-tax reform (broad support that something needs to be done but a lot of debate as to what...more progressive/more flat...broad support that corporations and the wealthy need to "pay their share")

-health care reform (seems widely agreed that something needs to be done, reformed medicare for all? private insurance more effectively regulated? blah blah)

-end of the irresponsible use of our armed services (blah blah)

-etc

-etc

third tier (things that would currently be really difficult or impossible to reach consensus or broad support on in the general public either because opinion is divided or people don't really understand the subject well)

-etc

-etc

-etc

all the question marks are points that i have some uncertainty about, but what i'm really talking about is having an organization of demands and trying to attain critical mass by working together on what we  all agree on. people could "get off the ride" anytime but come help us work on, saaaay, ending corporate personhood....or whatever the agreed upon, policy-specific demands are.

i know it sounds like im talking about opinion polls here, and maybe on some level i am, but i just feel that if A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE refuse to budge on a more narrow list of issues....well, then we would feel really empowered to continue uniting on subsequent issues and really mold the society we live in as a continual way of life.

am i out in deep space 9 here? please comment.

see what i'm getting at here?

Correct me if I'm way off base in my perception of your intentions but I think what we are faced with now is the challenge of working on two different levels here, and hopefully with a vision to the same ultimate goals. When we start talking about micro vs macro change, it becomes confusing to bounce back and forth between tactics, process and goals or demands. Process often opens our eyes to new vision and the refinement of goals.Tactics are the means to educate each other, to spread our message and to engender the support and ideas that other people can offer. I think, and this is just my opinion, that we are now at the point where we need to be very creative and thoughtful as we plan actions and create communities that can provide a firm foundation upon which to work toward out larger, more global goals.

Peace,

jeny