Sunday, November 20, 2011

a healing circle from the people's assembly vancouver

Police pepper spraying and arresting students at UC Davis

From US Uncut:   


Lt. John Pike pepper sprays unarmed, seated, nonviolent UC Davis student protesters during a violent #Occupy crackdown. Call/skype/email him and his chief, ask what it feels like to violently oppress young American citizens peacefully expressing their constitutional rights to free assembly.

Work: 530-752-3989
Cell: 530-979-0184
Email: japikeiii@ucdavis.edu
Skype: japike3

Annette M. Spicuzza,
UC Davis Police Chief
(530) 752-3113


For more on this story click here.



david rovics' new song set to video thanks to chris chandler & jen

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Murder Inc.: Then as Now

by Terence Stone

As the Peoples Assembly Of Victoria gains confidence and leverage, despite the chess game the City of Victoria plays with the complicity of mainstream media to undermine it all, I’ve thought much about my own narratives in the larger story unfolding.

I declare myself a well-educated senior citizen who has led a relatively privileged life. I’m a counsellor by profession, but began my working career serving ten years in the British military, mostly overseas. We would receive week-old newspapers from the UK with reports of our military involvement during a decade of withdrawal from colonies too difficult to hold. The reports were all white, grey, or black propaganda—lies by any standard of truth-telling. We were in fact ensuring that dictatorships we could rely on to perpetuate British interest were installed and capable of taking control of colonial systems of power that were changed in name only by the proxy despots who would reap personal benefits as colonial middle-men.



Monday, November 7, 2011

People's Assembly of Victoria (Occupy Victoria) stays open



by Joan Russow


As one enters the People's Assembly (OccupyVictoria), there is a message written on at tent; declaring “War is Expensive, Peace is Priceless”. The supposed reason for closing down OccupyVictoria is to decorate the large redwood Christmas tree which has been cordoned off from the area of Occupy Victoria.. Ironically the usual Christmas slogan- “let there be peace on Earth, seems to be lost on the officials.


At high noon, the police had been instructed to close down Occupy Victoria. Just before noon  a few hundred people formed a circle and waited. Many were prepared to be arrested  and were given instructions about their rights.  Suddenly  there was an announcement that OccupyVictoria would not be closed  down today. I was told by one of the policemen in the area that there was to be reprieve for today. I asked him about tomorrow and he said he only follows orders- presumably from Council.

Will the Police cowardly slip in and close it down out of the view of the media and other citizens?

It appears in New York and Oakland the Occupied areas can stay open because  the officials recognize the Constitutional rights of citizens whereas, in Canada, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms does not appear to guarantee such rights.

Those opposed to the Occupy movement in Canada often cite the cost.but ignore the 35 billion cost of F 35 striker jets and 33 billion cost new vessels.

Today on CBC there was a discussion about closing down the Occupations.  Tom Flannigan a Harper cohort , stated they should have been removed long ago. He claimed freedom of speech does not include what he describes as  assembly. Judy asylcia – Leis, former, NDP cabinet Minister, said it was important to try to understand the movement  and if there was no danger to the public ….we should learn from the movement.

Chris Hall, the national affairs editor for CBC News, opined that the Occupiers message is scattered. Their message is being lost as time passes.

I think that there is a clear message from the occupied movement that everything is just wrong  which is a powerful message. The message is almost reminiscent of the Network film: “I am as mad as hell and I am not going to take this anymore”

I attempted to compile 95 items that I believe are just wrong and that must end – and there would be many more than 95. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION  about  People's assembly of Victoria  go to forum.paov.ca.

photos by Janine Bandcroft available here.

months of resistance, still no corporate confessions

Sunday, November 6, 2011

back to the future ... until victory, forever!

RESOLUTION, Statement of Intent and Action for Decolonizing Victoria & Memorandum of solidarity and support with Indigenous peoples of this land and all Indigenous peoples in what is commonly known as British Columbia and Canada.

WHEREAS, that as a signal to the “Occupy Together” movement and Indigenous peoples here who have felt excluded by the colonialist language of occupation used to name this movement, we meet under the name: The Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.


daylight savings time - white men's attempts to control the universe


Young woman, Ashley, dies at Occupy Vancouver People's Assembly


photo - October 16th, Chris Shaw and others at Occupy Vancouver's medical tent - by Janine Bandcroft


Within hours of Ashley’s unfortunate death November 5th, at last report an overdose of bad heroin injected in a tent at Occupy Vancouver, Mayor Gregor Robertson announced (via the corporate media that serves his ilk) his intention to order the camp dismantled.  Shortly thereafter, Victoria’s Mayor Dean Fortin parroted the call.

Once again the corporate media’s powerful thought control propaganda machine was successful in evoking the required pavlovian call to which so much numb grey matter responds, and the Twitter was glowing with loathing condemnation for the occupy encampment.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

the revolution will cross generations!

People's Assembly (Occupy Victoria) Statement of Purpose - to be discussed and possibly ratified Sunday Nov 6th

The Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, 3 November 2011

RESOLUTION, Statement of Intent and Action for Decolonizing Victoria & Memorandum of solidarity and support with Indigenous peoples of this land and all Indigenous peoples in what is commonly known as British Columbia and Canada.

WHEREAS, that as a signal to the “Occupy Together” movement and Indigenous peoples here who have felt excluded by the colonialist language of occupation used to name this movement, we meet under the name: The Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.


war vets join the revolution

Friday, November 4, 2011

blatant poor bashing - camping is tolerated for protest, but never for homeless

i'm guessing that the revolution in every city is challenged by the drug element

power to the mic check!

mayor dean's 2008 campaign promises

conan crew on wall street

Occupy the Language - The Song Remains the Same


by Janine Bandcroft.  photo of Billy Bob at Cridge Park, 2005, thanks to Pete Rockwell.

Remember back in 2005 when the Cridge Park homeless encampment was shut down by police and fire officials after it degenerated into a filthy prostitution and drug den?  That’s when many of us, who watch the street scene with caring eyes, realized a bit about how city politics works.  With a bit of help the camp could have succeeded.  It did succeed in providing a safe place for homeless people to gather, create community, and support each other.  After a couple of weeks, it began to attract some, shall I say, more difficult inhabitants.  And that’s when its troubles began.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

a letter to victoria's city council


i've been following, with great interest, the global people's revolution since it began in tunisia and egypt earlier this year.  i've also been an advocate in favour of simple living, and a big fan of creative and environmentally friendly solutions like portland's dignity village, for many years.  the people currently creating an inclusive community in spirit/centennial square ought to be applauded and supported for their courage and determination to create environmentally and economically sustainable ways to live in the world.


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Homeless Man Enters Two Month Hunger Strike Against Camping By-laws

by Tavis Dodds

David Arthur Johnston was today sentenced to sixty days in jail for six counts of erecting a tent within the hours of seven and seven. The court heard how David's recent appeal was rejected on October 18th and David pled guilty for camping at the Centennial Square at City Hall with the Occupy Victoria movement of several dozen people that have been breaking the by-law for nearly a month. City lawyer Troy DeSouza argued for the maximum sentencing of six months and/or ten thousand dollars for each count of erecting a tent in the daytime. The judge said, before he gave his sentencing, that he enjoys camping and the fresh air.


paul manly's gone to the dark side