Create a New World! october 2011

[Tabarnack]

Stop the Machine! Create a New World!


A Call to Action - Oct. 6, 2011 and onward
October 2011 is the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan and the beginning of the 2012 federal austerity budget. It is time to light the spark that sets off a true democratic, nonviolent transition to a world in which people are freed to create just and sustainable solutions.

We call on people of conscience and courage—all who seek peace, economic justice, human rights and a healthy environment—to join together in Washington, D.C., beginning on Oct. 6, 2011, in nonviolent resistance similar to the Arab Spring and the Midwest awakening.

A concert, rally and protest will kick off a powerful and sustained nonviolent resistance to the corporate criminals that dominate our government.

Forty-seven years ago, Mario Savio, an activist student at Berkeley, said, "There's a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious—makes you so sick at heart—that you can't take part. You can't even passively take part. And you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop. And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you're free, the machine will be prevented from working at all."

Those words have an even greater urgency today. We face ongoing wars and massive socio-economic and environmental destruction perpetrated by a corporate empire which is oppressing, occupying and exploiting the world. We are on a fast track to making the planet unlivable while the middle class and poor people of our country are undergoing the most wrenching and profound economic crisis in 80 years.

"Stop the Machine! • Create a New World!" is a clarion call for all who are deeply concerned with injustice, militarism and environmental destruction to join in ending concentrated corporate power and taking direct control of a real participatory democracy. We will encourage a culture of resistance—using music, art, theater and direct nonviolent action—to take control of our country and our lives. It is about courageously resisting and stopping the corporate state from destroying not only our inherent rights and freedoms, but also our children’s chance to live, breathe clean air, drink pure water, grow edible natural food and live in peace.

As Mother Jones said, "Someday the workers will take possession of your city hall, and when we do, no child will be sacrificed on the altar of profit!"

We are the ones who can create a new and just world. Our issues are connected. We are connected. Join us in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 6, 2011, to Stop the Machine.


http://october2011.org/welcome

[BuekerC1]

What up? There should be mass posts on this thread? Is there another thread with this topic? Are you going? Do you think it will be a seed of a revolution?

[Philosopher Jay]

Comparing a demonstration in Washington to the revolts in Arab countries is problematic to say the least. One should understand at least the basic facts about a country and situation before comparing them.
Tunisia, for example, has a population of 10 million people, the GDP per capita is $6,000, while the United States has a population of over 300 million and a GDP per capita of around $45,000. Also importantly Tunisia is a small country where 50% of the people live within three hours driving time of the capital Tunis. In the United States, only 5% of the people live within 3 hours driving time of the capital Washington D.C.
While some of the demonstrations in Washington were effective in the 1960's, many were exhausting for the participants and showed little or no effect for the tremendous and costly effort. Rather than a single demonstration in Washington, it makes much more sense to have a number of local coordinated demonstrations in 20 or 30 major cities around the country. When you have demonstrations in 20 or 30 cities that draw tens of thousands of people, then it might be a good time to call for national demonstrations.

[Tabarnack]

We Stand With the Majority of Americans: Human Needs, Not Corporate Greed

A large majority of the American people consistently support the following agenda:

*Tax the rich and corporations

*End the wars, bring the troops home, cut military spending

*Protect the social safety net, strengthen Social Security and improved Medicare for all

*End corporate welfare for oil companies and other big business interests

*Transition to a clean energy economy, reverse environmental degradation

*Protect worker rights including collective bargaining, create jobs and raise wages

*Get money out of politics

The government, dominated by elite economic interests, is going in the opposite direction from what the people want. The American people’s agenda is our agenda.

The broad agenda for Stop the Machine: Create a New World is to end corporatism and militarism and shift power to the people, so necessities can be met. In addition to stopping the machine we also want to show the “new world” we want to see. The seven issues above are part of our agenda, each of these issues are discussed below, primarily in relation to showing that according to polls, large majorities of Americans support each issue and in many cases have done so for years.

more... http://october2011.org/standwiththemajority

[Rusty Shackleford]

What up? There should be mass posts on this thread? Is there another thread with this topic? Are you going? Do you think it will be a seed of a revolution?
response to bolded text: no. whats the impetus? the Arab spring has a totally different context than that of the US. and simply recreating Tahrir Square wont make a revolution, Especially if it is only activists that come by. What would make a revolution is something that in a short span of time, politicizes and sort of "snaps people out of their sleep." something as culturally significant to an american as was the self-immolation was to people in the 'arab world' who have a common culture kind of like the anglosphere.

there is anger simmering in this country though. but you can never know which way people will move until it has already happened.

would i go? yes, if i lived within 2-4 driving hours of it. still worth it even though its not going to make revolution.

[BuekerC1]

Comparing a demonstration in Washington to the revolts in Arab countries is problematic to say the least.
While some of the demonstrations in Washington were effective in the 1960's, many were exhausting for the participants and showed little or no effect for the tremendous and costly effort. Rather than a single demonstration in Washington, it makes much more sense to have a number of local coordinated demonstrations in 20 or 30 major cities around the country. When you have demonstrations in 20 or 30 cities that draw tens of thousands of people, then it might be a good time to call for national demonstrations.

The international day of action is October 15, happening in your local state.

october2011.org/blogs/margaret-flowers/october-15-freedom-plaza-everywhere


response to bolded text: no. whats the impetus? the Arab spring has a totally different context than that of the US. and simply recreating Tahrir Square wont make a revolution, Especially if it is only activists that come by. What would make a revolution is something that in a short span of time, politicizes and sort of "snaps people out of their sleep." something as culturally significant to an american as was the self-immolation was to people in the 'arab world' who have a common culture kind of like the anglosphere.

there is anger simmering in this country though. but you can never know which way people will move until it has already happened.

would i go? yes, if i lived within 2-4 driving hours of it. still worth it even though its not going to make revolution.

We will just have to see. With your kind of thinking, perhaps it will not trigger a transformation change. But, the people going to the occupation think that we can make into a continuation of this global movement. If you are unaware, the first day of the citizen occupation of DC is scheduled like a music festival. There is going to be more than "activists" doing this.

Time will tell. We have a brighter outlook than the one you framed; and it is our vision. Add to the movement!

In solidarity, Christopher