Photos: Occupy Vancouver Reboot

Date: 12 December 2011
Author: Ian MacKenzie
Category: Feature
Comments: 3 Comments
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Occupy Vancouver protesters met in the city’s Downtown Eastside on Saturday to talk about the future of the movement.

The protest camp disbanded last month, five weeks after the movement began, after failing to establish a new encampment following two evictions.

As about 100 demonstrators reunited on Saturday, the discussion included whether they should bring back the encampment.

“I hope to see and take the temperature of the crowd and find out what people are thinking about that,” said Hugh Stinson, who has been involved in the Occupy movement since the beginning.

“There are different strains of thought on that. We have had some offers of land, we have had some land that we have just considered taking. There are questions around what is the best strategy? What are the best tactics? Is an encampment necessary?”

But Stinson said the protest is not over.

“I think one thing you will see for sure is at least temporary occupations [are] popping up,” he said.

“We have plans for where we want to go — doing more ‘Occupies,’ flash mob-by stuff, and perhaps longer-term encampments. Since we lost our encampment, we have found it difficult to maintain our voice in the public eye.”

Protester Stephen Collis said the meeting was an important opportunity for the collective to regroup and refocus.

“It’s this bumping into each other that we don’t often see because we are on different committees that is so valuable,” he said.

Photos by Ian MacKenzie

Joani Taylor

I have been in the crowd periodically and watch the GA or meetings almost every night on the net. I do not feel that I can be a part of the physical movement or GAs until there is a rules of conduct in place. I don’t want to feel bullied and I got tired very quickly of the personal agendas that were displayed. I realize that there are a lot of growing pains to go through and I watch many of the other Occupies having difficulties as well, but there is a big picture here and I feel that Vancouver isn’t seeing it as much as Portland, Oakland, Austin, New York, SF and a few other places. Can we communicate more and Occupy without boarders? I realize as well that the laws are different in our country so we must be peaceful and safe. I personally feel that an office or warehouse is ideal for at least winter. We can do more flash mobs and show real organization. Then in the spring come out strong but again very systematic and organized. If there is field space donated or if there are further encampments they must Look good to the general public. Everything the Occupy movement does has to be better than anything seen before. So getting sustainable living experts on board and making encampment rules ie No drinking or drugs or aggressiveness of any kind allowed. Cleaner than clean facilities. Beautiful music. PR PR PR. I noticed that New York has their own space and equipment to make their own printed material and buttons and they are putting an album together of music to sell. Now as you must know someone has donated a farm for them. Oh sorry to be a little scattered. I love the communication as in occupyvoice. I think there are a lot of asleep people in Vancouver and it’s not easy to wake them up. I talk to everyone. I post daily on facebook and twitter a lot of posts relating to Canada and the US as I have close to 5,000 fake book friends. I have a small subscribed followers. I think 69. It’s a start. I have cooked for the group only once, chili ,corn bread ,apple crisp and tai noodles. I want to do more. My husband due to his type of work is unable but as an artist/ producer/ award nominated singer I have been spreading the words of Occupy Vancouver. I assure you there are many more supporters out here than you even know just waiting for us to get our shit together to join in. I brought some people down to VAG early on and they were really misunderstanding what was going on. So…. it’s OK, one step at a time. I’m sure you are communicating with cities who seem to be at a more advanced stage and getting help from them. Thank you for this opportunity to speak. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. _/\_ joani taylor

12 Dec 2011 10:12 pm (@Joani Taylor)

Joani Taylor

I just want to mention and I’m sure that some of the groups are already involved in these sort of things, but if the movement can come out in full force to back up other professionals who have disputes with the government or one percent to show compassion and remind them that they are the 99 percent it could better the image of the Occupy movement. I’m specifically talking about two articles I read on the net today about the Anesthesiologists. There are two
pieces, the first of which is where the Anesthesiologists have made the choice to put up $3 million of funding that could go to their own bonuses to help high risk pregnant mothers and their babies. The second as you have probably already read is regarding the fact that these doctors are working up to 100 hours a week and there are longer and longer waits for surgery here. Both are very interesting articles
http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/202463–anesthesiologists-working-up-to-100-hours-a-week-bc-society
I’m saying that we need to bring realization to all the public who really is the 99 percent.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Joani Taylor _/\_

13 Dec 2011 06:12 pm (@Twitter)

3 Comments

Joani Taylor

I have been in the crowd periodically and watch the GA or meetings almost every night on the net. I do not feel that I can be a part of the physical movement or GAs until there is a rules of conduct in place. I don’t want to feel bullied and I got tired very quickly of the personal agendas that were displayed. I realize that there are a lot of growing pains to go through and I watch many of the other Occupies having difficulties as well, but there is a big picture here and I feel that Vancouver isn’t seeing it as much as Portland, Oakland, Austin, New York, SF and a few other places. Can we communicate more and Occupy without boarders? I realize as well that the laws are different in our country so we must be peaceful and safe. I personally feel that an office or warehouse is ideal for at least winter. We can do more flash mobs and show real organization. Then in the spring come out strong but again very systematic and organized. If there is field space donated or if there are further encampments they must Look good to the general public. Everything the Occupy movement does has to be better than anything seen before. So getting sustainable living experts on board and making encampment rules ie No drinking or drugs or aggressiveness of any kind allowed. Cleaner than clean facilities. Beautiful music. PR PR PR. I noticed that New York has their own space and equipment to make their own printed material and buttons and they are putting an album together of music to sell. Now as you must know someone has donated a farm for them. Oh sorry to be a little scattered. I love the communication as in occupyvoice. I think there are a lot of asleep people in Vancouver and it’s not easy to wake them up. I talk to everyone. I post daily on facebook and twitter a lot of posts relating to Canada and the US as I have close to 5,000 fake book friends. I have a small subscribed followers. I think 69. It’s a start. I have cooked for the group only once, chili ,corn bread ,apple crisp and tai noodles. I want to do more. My husband due to his type of work is unable but as an artist/ producer/ award nominated singer I have been spreading the words of Occupy Vancouver. I assure you there are many more supporters out here than you even know just waiting for us to get our shit together to join in. I brought some people down to VAG early on and they were really misunderstanding what was going on. So…. it’s OK, one step at a time. I’m sure you are communicating with cities who seem to be at a more advanced stage and getting help from them. Thank you for this opportunity to speak. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. _/\_ joani taylor

12 Dec 2011 10:12 pm (@Joani Taylor)
- Ian MacKenzie
  
  Hi Joani - there's actually a code of conduct working group meeting this week... check it out here! https://www.facebook.com/events/285308238177064/
  
  12 Dec 2011 10:12 pm
Joani Taylor

I just want to mention and I’m sure that some of the groups are already involved in these sort of things, but if the movement can come out in full force to back up other professionals who have disputes with the government or one percent to show compassion and remind them that they are the 99 percent it could better the image of the Occupy movement. I’m specifically talking about two articles I read on the net today about the Anesthesiologists. There are two
pieces, the first of which is where the Anesthesiologists have made the choice to put up $3 million of funding that could go to their own bonuses to help high risk pregnant mothers and their babies. The second as you have probably already read is regarding the fact that these doctors are working up to 100 hours a week and there are longer and longer waits for surgery here. Both are very interesting articles
http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/202463–anesthesiologists-working-up-to-100-hours-a-week-bc-society
I’m saying that we need to bring realization to all the public who really is the 99 percent.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Joani Taylor _/\_

13 Dec 2011 06:12 pm (@Twitter)