For too long, Wall Street has been occupying. . .

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Draft thoughts/ideas, feelings/opinions re: Occupy Wall Street (Wall Street is Everywhere)

This is mostly intended for the audience of Olympia protest, but can certainly be applied elsewhere as appropriate.

((I kind of got a little wordy perhaps. But here's some of what I think. The most important stuff is probably in the first couple paragraphs or so. Also I write "we" alot, syntax can be changed. anyway. i'm hopeful about this effort to enforce accountability against our predatory economic system. yay.)) I am also including a few more tid-bits at the end (I had previously posted this on Facebook.)

New Stuff

I have a couple new posts on Olyblog, and I posted a note on Facebook about boycotting against states that demonstrate aggression. My blog at OlyBlog can be found at http://olyblog.net/blog/berd and I will post the text of the note from facebook below the fold here.

Protest Trial Update

Wednesday 1 June 2011
Information about trespassing trial, pleaded guilty today. News here: olyblog.net/protest-trial-tomorrow

[The following are thoughts I had the day after:

It's Thursday morning. I woke up with the feeling that I had been railroaded by the prosecution into a guilty plea. I was led to believe that I wouldn't be afforded a public defender because the prosecution was not seeking jail time. However, the judge made it apparent that if we were to pursue a plea of not guilty then, based on financial need, a public defense might be possible.

Now it seems that I have a federal criminal record...but I think most people will understand that my actions were based in altruism, and my actions and those of my co-defendants were also very respectful of humanity and all life on this planet.

Thursday afternoon: The actions of my government leave me feeling depressed. I know this is a simplified way of looking at the situation, because the problem is much deeper and bigger than "the government." The problem is actually socio-cultural. And it is about the political-economic that is built on that socio-cultural phenomenon.

I have thought (many times, and for many years previous to now) of suing the government for inflicting emotional and psychological harm.

As someone who cares about humanity and all life on the planet, the actions and policies of my government leave me feeling depressed.]

Military Submarines are Offensive!

Just a thought I had yesterday while participating with the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action Mother's Day vigil and traditional civil disobedience at the Naval Base Kitsap Bangor. NBK Bangor is homebase for about 8 Trident capable submarines. Trident is an ICBM system. Each submarine is capable of carrying 24 missiles. Each missile can be equipped with 8 nuclear warheads, with an effective range of about 4,000 miles. The explosive potential of the warheads is either 100 kilotons (W76), or 475 kilotons (W88), depending on which of two varieties the particular vehicle is equipped. By contrast, the bombs that exploded over Hiroshima and Nagasaki were about 15 and 21 kilotons.

According to scientists, these weapons are capable of striking virtually anywhere on the planet within about 15 or 30 minutes.

Submarines [military submarines] are an attack weapon. They are designed to lurk undetected near targets. They are designed to intimidate and instill fear. Putting nuclear weapons aboard submarines is just about offensive as it gets.

At the May 2011 protest, in opposition to the weapons, seven people entered the roadway in front of the main gate to the military base. They were cited with a traffic violation before being released on their own recognizance.

Let our hearts and our voices cry out: Trident must be abolished! Military spending must be redirected toward productive and peaceful purposes! End imperialism!

Below, I have posted some photos from yesterday's protest.

Berd

Going to Ground Zero

I am planning to go to the Bangor Naval Base Kitsap today. It is Mother's Day, and the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action has some good stuff going on to mark Mother's wish that their children not be sent to fight in wars.

Here are some words from a few days ago. I think it would be appropriate to share them at this time. Peace!

Saturday, 7 May, 2011
Olympia

I am opposed to all weapons of mass destruction, including all nuclear weapons: and especially as they exist in offensive capacity in the submarine launched Trident missile system.

Policies of economic supremacy are immoral and illegal.

The USA is well along on the way of the Imperial Project. Imperialism does not serve the best interests of anyone, including people from the USA.

Policies of economic and military superiority degrade humanity. These policies degrade and do harm to the well-being of all individuals, including supposed beneficiaries.

Robert Whitlock "Berd"

Moon Over Capitol

People and public interest over profit. Schools not war. Government needs to STOP working for the advantage of some over others! General Strike! No school, no work, until government works for mutual benefit—for the public interest.

End corporate control!

[Thursday 17 March 2011
Olympia, Washington

The Legislative Building dome reflects on Capitol Lake. The Moon illuminates clouds in the sky.

Make sure to check out this blog entry about the 17 March 2011 Rally to Protect Our Future: olyblog.net/photos-todays-rally

Stop the cutting!]

Boycott Protest and Rally at the Co-op

Friday 30 July 2010

This is somewhat of the overall scene on Pacific Avenue, near the entrance to the Olympia Food Co-op, during a protest/rally regard a decision by the co-op Board of Directors to boycott products from Israel due to ongoing human rights violations, illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, and the siege of the Gaza Strip.

more information:
olyblog.net/protest-reportback

More Photos from the Detroit Incinerator Protest

June 26, 2010
Detroit, Michigan

Detroit Incinerator Protest

Saturday, June 26, 2010, Detroit—Protest against Detroit incinerator. We were told that this is the "largest incinerator in the world." It's a privately owned for-profit company that does the job. It's called Covato, or something like that. I'll look it up and make any corrections.

Also, it's hard to see smoke, but there is a nasty odor in the exhaust plume. I wonder if the particularly nasty stuff gets burned at night, or if the smoke has been cleaned up for the presence of out-of-towners with the forum this week. There was a very nasty odor when we walked downwind of the facility.

Detroit doesn't have a recycling program, so waste plastic, styrofoam and other toxics may very well be included in the waste that is burnt at the incinerator. Disgusting thought.

One organizer mentioned the concept of Zero Tolerance: There is no safe, nor allowable level for toxic emissions. Any toxins are unacceptable. For example, if the incinerator releases even one particle of dioxin, then it must be shut down. I agree. Especially if it is run for-profit.

No one deserves to profit from activities that do harm.

It was a great protest, I have a ton of photos. More later!

[more photos from the protest here: //peacepotential.blogspot.com/2010/07/more-photos-from-detroit-incinerator.html]

USSF Opening Day

The United States Social Forum opened today with a march and a ceremony. The theme of the forum is that another world is possible, and another US is necessary in order to make that other world possible. The phrase Another World is Possible comes from Arundhati Roy.

Thousands of activists from all around the USA have converged upon the city of Detroit Michigan for the five days of the forum.

The opening ceremony was marked with great wisdom from a few local organizers and other visitors.

Detroit is an appropriate place to host the forum because the city has suffered in recent times the effects of a boom and bust economy that places profits before people.

Here's a photo from the march that led to the opening ceremony at COBO hall.


I'm tired. Although I wish I had more energy to write more about the march today and the ceremony!

I am looking forward to plugging in and learning more about the work to challenge the existing harmful culture, and to make the world a better place.

Peace,
Berd

Protest in Seattle Today

I am planning to go to Seattle later for a May Day demonstration to support immigrants' rights, as well as workers' rights. The demonstration will also protest racist policies. And I will demonstrate for the cause that all people ought to be treated well. After all, all people are part of one human family. So, considering that, it doesn't really make sense for us to fight, nor to do harm to each other.

I believe in the possibility of cultural change, and creating a society where egalitarianism and reciprocity, and mutual prosperity and health, are the rule...


All People Are One Human Family
Friday, April 30, 2010
Olympia, Washington

A Photo from the 2009 Iraq War Anniversary Protest in Olympia

End All War

Human beings commit war upon each other. Human beings do harm to one another. It isn't right.

There is a better way.

Another world is possible.

Protest to Mark Seven Years of Iraq War

This past weekend (March 19 through March 21) marked the seventh anniversary of the beginning of the Bush Administration's war in Iraq. People rallied near and far. On Friday, people gathered at Percival Landing especially to mark the war. I posted the following on OlyBlog: Protest Marks Seven Years of Iraq War

Human Rights Are For Everyone: Cut the Military Budget

Weekly Friday evening peace vigil at Percival Landing

For most of the vigil I held a sign that read, "Human Rights Are for Everyone."

War is a Government Riot! (Mouseover)

War is a Government Riot!
(this is a mouseover - try it! move mouse over the image—be patient, sometimes it takes a minute for the secondary image to load!)

"Fighting for Peace is like Fucking for Virginity"

Olympia, Washington
Tuesday, December 15, 2009

I must admit that I am not a fan of this particular slogan. For one, I don't like the comparisons between fighting and "fucking", nor peace and virginity. For two, I think it isn't family friendly, nor particularly welcoming.

But I do like the photo, and the person holding the sign.

more information about the protest: Army Recruiting Station Protest

One thing is for sure, we need to end these wars - and we need to end all imperialism - for the sake of the well-being of all people.

The War Stops Here - Olympia, Washington

I love the sign, "The War Stops Here," that one of these vigilers was holding in this photo:

Friday, January 8, 2010
Women in Black - Olympia, Washington Silent Vigil
The War Stops Here!
Olympia, WA

some more recent photos: 01/10/2010 Recent Photos | OlyBlog

Against Imperialism, Against All Wars

Shut Down the War Machine

Olympia, Washington
Tuesday, December 15, 2009

More: OlyBlog | Army Recruiting Station Protest