Derrick Jensen & Lierre Kieth at #OccupySeattle - #OWS - #DGR - #EarthFirst! - #OpESR - #A99

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A discussion with Occupy Seattle, Derrick Jensen, and Lierre Keith. December 3, 2011 7pm.

We have been too kind to those who are destroying the planet.
We have been inexcusably, unforgivably, insanely kind.

— Derrick Jensen (*1960), www.derrickjensen.org

The task of an activist is not to navigate systems
of oppressive authority with as much integrity as
possible. The task of an activist is to confront and
take down these systems of oppressive authority.

— Lierre Keith


—————————————————————————————————-
Dance of World Destruction

In order for us to maintain our way of living, we must…tell lies
to each other, and especially to ourselves. It is not necessary
that the lies be particularly believable. The lies act as barriers
to truth. These barriers to truth are necessary because without
them many deplorable acts would become impossibilities. Truth must
at all costs be avoided. … And so we avoid these truths, these
self-evident truths, and continue the dance of world destruction.

— Derrick Jensen, “A Language Older than Words”, 2000
—————————————————————————————————-

————————————————————————————————-
Psychiatrist R. D. Laing formulated three rules, by which a
pathological family [or society] -one plagued by..severe abuse-
can keep its pathology hidden even from its members themselves:
Rule A: Don’t.
Rule A1: Rule A does not exist.
Rule A2: Do not discuss the existence or non-existence
of these rules.
—
If the first rule of a dysfunctional system is “Don’t talk about
it,” then our primary goal should be to tell the truth, to be as
honest as we can manage to be.
— David Edwards (author of “Burning all Illusions”)

—quoted in Derrick Jensen’s “The Culture of Make Believe” 2002

Source: youtube.com

Umbrellas Are Now Illegal In Seattle Thanks to Mayor McGinn - Seattle News - #OWS #OccupySeattle

As basic human rights go, the right to take shelter under an umbrella is about as basic as it gets, especially in drizzly Seattle. It’s also a right that, at least for the Occupy Seattle protestors in Westlake Park, seems to have been revoked, thanks to Mayor Mike McGinn.

This evening, Seattle police notified the 70 or so hearty souls sleeping downtown that if they weren’t actually holding their umbrellas then they couldn’t lay or sit underneath them.

Sound weird? It is! But it’s also the law.

Because to the city, an unattended umbrella is technically a “structure.” And structures, like the tents that were taken down earlier in the week, aren’t allowed in city parks.

Of course, McGinn has the power to change those rules, temporarily lift them, or laugh and say “what a stupid rule”. But seeing as how he’d prefer the protestors move to the plaza outside of City Hall — where he’s offered them the right to set up tents (warm, dry tents) and the use of two Port-a-Potties — it’s in his best interest to make life miserable enough so that any alternative looks better.

Which leaves the Occupy Seattle protestors where exactly?

Well, they’re not completely screwed. If they want to stay dry, they’re still allowed to sleep under a tarp, so long as it’s not tied up to anything (thereby making it a structure).

And if things get really bleak, they can always warm themselves with the knowledge that the protest has only been going on for a few days, and if today’s illegal umbrellas are any indication, things are only going to get more absurd.

Source: blogs.seattleweekly.com

#occupy_SEATTLE encampment grows at Westlake Park

occupy seattle

Demonstrators upset with the current economic climate hold signs and yell slogans expressing their feelings towards the banks and corporations in America. Many Demonstrators have set up camp at Westlake Park on 4th Ave and Pine St. with tents, packaged food, and rain soaked signs. Some demonstrators plan to stay there throughout the week. (Photos by Joe Dyer, seattlepi.com)

CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO VIEW PHOTO GALLERY

Similar to the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations in New York City, people in Seattle have taken to the streets to protest corporate greed, lobbyists, and America’s economic situation.

What started last Saturday as a small protest with 20 people at the Federal Building downtown has now transformed into a makeshift tent village at Westlake Park with over 60 people spending the night in tents.  Using Facebook they announce their needs —tarps to rainproof tents, food, tape, signs, and whatever else is needed to run a demonstration.

Initially the encampment was allowed in the park but organizers are reporting that they have received orders from the city to leave the park.

Albert Postema brought food from his farm in Snohomish to support the protesters. “All day all week,” he said when asked how long he would stay at the demonstration, his voice hoarse from yelling all day. He participated in the Occupy Wall Street protest in New York and decided to help with a similar protest here in Seattle.

Organizers are hoping the Seattle version of the Occupy Wall Street protest movement will continue to grow.

Here are photos from the Occupy Seattle protest at Westlake Park.

- Joe Dyer

Visit seattlepi.com’s home page for more Seattle news. Contact Joshua Trujillo at joshuatrujillo@seattlepi.com or on Twitter as @joshtrujillo.

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