How to join occupy movement in UK and is it worth joining?

[Craig_J]

Pardon me if I have posted this in the wrong section. As a pretty much inexperienced poster I'm not sure where this goes! And I'd happily have it moved if I've got it wrong.:)

Basically, how can I join in with the Occupy movement in the UK? I ask as it seems to be the most popular leftist movement in the world at the moment and I'm happy to go where ever I have to now I've finished my set of A level exams, as long as it's in the UK and I can take a tent to ensure I survive the occupation! Also, I'd be interested in knwoign if there's any Occupy movment debates I could go to.

But at the same time I do have to ask whether it's worth joiing Occupy. From members with expeirnece with the group does it seem to lack direction so much that it's constant squabbling or does it seem like it may eventually (even in years to come)lead to a consensus? Also, is i a truly commited group or would I be better of searching elsehwere for groups advocating true lefist commitment?

[skitty]

http://occupylondon.org.uk/
There are probably numerous surviving groups around the UK. I saw postings from Lancaster not too long ago. It's only what you make it; and who needs a consensus? Why can't it be a many-headed monster?

[GiantMonkeyMan]

Occupy is not a homogenous organisation. As such, it it not explicitly revolutionary leftist although revolutionary leftists have participated and organised within the movement. If your local Occupy movement is still active and postively radical then by all means participate.

[Blake's Baby]

None of us can make the decision for you as to whether you'd be better off finding an 'Occupy' group or a more formal political organisation.

Are there an 'Occupy' groups near Newmarket? Maybe Occupy Cambridge would be your best bet. But if you fancy travelling around... the world (or at least the UK) is your oyster. Though I'm not sure whether there are very many surviving groups, the UK heyday was probably October 2011 - March 2012.

[The Idler]

Occupy is not what it was a year ago. Keep an open-mind about seeking out other groups too.

[The Feral Underclass]

No. It's not.

Here is a good analysis of the Occupy movement: Obituary for a movement yet to be: Occupy UK one year on (http://libcom.org/blog/obituary-movement-yet-be-occupy-uk-one-year-19102012)

[DoCt SPARTAN]

I think occupy is a great movement, it not as numerous as it was last year but has a great following and its better then not getting involved at all!

[Sam_b]

It is not a great movement, and has emphatically been shown not to be a safe movement for women either. An example comes from the shameful sexual violences and rape that happened in Occupy Glasgow, to which occupy members then tried to not only cover up, but went against the wishes of many involved, the activist community in Glasgow and women's organisations to keep going. Similar occurances happened in Edinburgh. It has also been riddled with conspiracy nuts and the politics in general have been awful, and at times has been a real hinderance to the work some of us have been trying to do.

[ellipsis]

I would say check it out. For me, in the US, occupy was a tremendous learning exercise. True, a lot of people have shitty politics, but for this revolution thing to work, we are going to have to persuade a lot of ppl with shitty politics of the advantages of radical politics.

[The Idler]

It is not a great movement, and has emphatically been shown not to be a safe movement for women either. An example comes from the shameful sexual violences and rape that happened in Occupy Glasgow, to which occupy members then tried to not only cover up, but went against the wishes of many involved, the activist community in Glasgow and women's organisations to keep going. Similar occurances happened in Edinburgh. It has also been riddled with conspiracy nuts and the politics in general have been awful, and at times has been a real hinderance to the work some of us have been trying to do.
On those grounds neither was the SWP a safe space for women since around 2008 (around three years before you left).

[ellipsis]

On those grounds neither was the SWP a safe space for women since around 2008 (around three years before you left).

My response to criticisms of OO of this nature was always "so you mean its like the rest of society?"

Patriarchy and sexual violence are found in all of society, including political organizations. While this is obviously wrong and fucked up, I think its unfair to highlight occupy as a relative safehaven for sexual violence.