Take the space while we can at the Occupy LSX

Last night I finally went to the Occupy the London Stock Exchange camp in St Paul's churchyard after almost 2 weeks of occupation. So much has been said on the media about the occupy movement...that  discredited  the political effectiveness of  the camp in the middle of city that I thought it is time to go and judge by myself.

Climate Camp or the “do it yourself” approach

When I arrived at the camp in St Paul's I recognised the made of Climate Camp. I entered a "hot drink" tent, sit down with the people there and felt at home almost immediately.  One of the people in the tent confirms that climate camp was the force behind.... They have a long history of occupying fields across the country and therefore very practical skills he said. A Russian musician attracted by the sound of the piano gave us some news on other occupied places in Europe...reminded us that in UK with all  its repressions we can still speak out that's more than they can do in Russia. Later I asked a young guy in his twenties if people really leave their tent at night as the media was insinuating. He admitted that some did. Most people have a job to go to he said. 

Jesus was threatening the Temple income as much as the camp is today at St Paul’s

On Friday 28th November St Paul's cathedral reopened after citing health and safety reasons for its closure because of the Occupy London camp outside. According to some people I spoke to at the camp all the health and safety measures have been discuss with the council and addresses. So what was the real reason to remain close!? What the safety inside the church as to do with tents outside in the churchyard ? I wonder!  I know I am not a safety expert but it sounds absurd! From a PR perspective it looks pretty bad.  Charitable clergies expulsing unarmed and peaceful protestors! The fact that they are re-opening shows that they are losing the battle and acknowledge that the camp is here to stay. St Paul's lost £20,000 per day since its closure. Why did they close in the first place?

This current situation reminds me of when Jesus raided the Temple and attacked money-changers for defiling a holy place. The leaders of the Jewish establishment realise that he threatens their power, and so do the Romans, who fear that Jesus has the charisma to lead a guerrilla uprising against Imperial Rome.
The religious and political establishment at the time of Jesus are not much different from today's institutions that collude with power for some favours and obscure interests.  Jesus was threatening the temple income just as the camp is today. 

Conclusion:

Whether or not the cathedral authorities take court action to evict the camp, it will have a disastrous publicity on the church. Even if they manage to evict them it will take at least 3 months for a court order to be acted upon. In the meantime, the movement strengthens...

The End of Poverty film

“End of Poverty?” a good question. It is the title of Philippe Dias documentary that received numerous awards and recognitions. This week The Tipping Point Film Fund organised the screening at the Lexi cinema.

I always wondered how people can be hungry and poor when nature can produce anything we need to at least not to be hungry.

One of the most striking scenes was a group of Kenyan farmer showing their devastated land and dying animals. Just two miles away, a foreign corporation has just opened. A recent built dam has destroyed all their cultures bringing cholera and other forms of deceases. To make things worse, the rice produced in their land is sold abroad and does not even nourish their own people.

The economical system and financial institutions created by the west keeps developing countries under-development.  This neo-liberalism system is the continuation of colonization. It sucks all the wealth produced in poor countries in debt repayment to the West creditors.

Through the imposition of debt, the countries lose their sovereignty…. letting external vested interests dictate the country policies.

It is happening here:

Until recently Europe was protected from the side effects of the market. Now it is happening here! The financial crisis has justified savage cuts in the welfare system and the selling of public service units (Gaz, Water, Electricity, Telecommunication….) to private interests. There is no real political alternative, the “right” says large fast cuts and the “left” says cuts but not so fast. Their argument is we have too much debt! Non sense! We always had debt! It is part of the functioning of the capitalist system.

Critics:

From the floor – in the audience someone pointed out that English subtitles were only use when black speakers were speaking when American-Asians clearly had an accent. I think it is a pity that the film director did not challenge his own prejudice. In my point of view, the film is a bit too long partly due to the large quantity of interviews. Philippe Diaz could have cut on few speakers. Some discourses were repetitive and did not add further information. Moreover, some historic explanations about the colonisation were simplistic.

Conclusion:

The “End of Poverty?” is very rich and triggers many questions that need to be investigated separately. A long debate about aid followed in the audience.The successful role of UKUncut in the organisation of grassroot spontaneous protests to expose tax-doding corporations.

Further reading that reinforce the idea of western economies responsibility in the extreme poverty of the South.

http://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2011/02/pilger-fascism-bahrain-egypt

Panel discussion speakers:

Andrew Simms - the New Economics Foundation

The New Economics Foundation is an independent think-and-do tank that inspires and demonstrates real economic well-being...

John Hillary - War on Want: 

War on Want fights poverty in developing countries in partnership with people affected by globalisation. they campaign for human rights and against the root causes of global poverty, inequality and injustice.

This film is supported by:

Share the world resources

STWR advocates for essential resources such as food, water and energy to be shared internationally under the agency of the UN in order