What’s going on?

On September 17, just weeks ago, people from all across the United States joined the social movement that has been spreading throughout the world against the blatant injustices perpetuated by the 1% (economic and political elite) whose actions affect all of us, the 99%. They spoke out, resisted and successfully occupied Wall Street, New York, along with more than 50 other cities in the United States.

Today they proudly remain engaged in non-violent civil disobedience while building solidarity based on mutual respect, recognition and compassion. On October 15 people in all corners of the world will unite in a global demonstration to claim our right to a true democracy and the power to determine our future.

Why Occupy Melbourne?

We face similar problems with our democracy here in Victoria and Australia as people face in most other developed nations. Our democracy is unwell. Our elected representatives no longer represent their constituents, instead their ears are turned by wealthy lobby groups, whilst the common interests of the people they were elected to represent, are ignored. Some levels of our government are also rife with corruption.

It’s time our elected representatives actually started representing the 99% of the population who don’t have enormous wealth and political influence. Who suffer the social, economic and environmental consequences of corporate greed. Who work to generate enormous wealth for a mere 1% of the population.

Inspired by the actions of those striving for democracy in North Africa and the Middle East, and similar demonstrations throughout Europe and more recently, in the United States. From these events, “Occupy Together”, a global social movement for real democracy, has grown. It is from this global movement that Occupy Melbourne has grown.

How will it work?

The people of Melbourne will begin occupying the public space of City Square from October 15 onwards.

Some of them will drop in for an hour, others will stay for a workshop or a bite to eat, others might stay for a General Assembly, many will camp and spend the night, others will call City Square home for weeks, months, as long as it takes.

The people of Melbourne will be running a Speakers Forum, there will be General Assemblies based on the Occupy Wall St model, we will be running Workshops where we can have broad discussions on politics, education, equality, the environment, and Working Groups will facilitate media, logistics, food, equipment, and other tasks.

This will be a peaceful occupation of public space. It will be alcohol and drug-free.

City Square is our square. The streets of Melbourne are our streets. They will be our home within our home, as we strive for a more equitable and representative democracy, capable of progressively taking us beyond the 21st century.

Will this be a defining moment for the western world in the 21st century? It’s up to you.

Who got this started?

The people of Melbourne. Occupy Melbourne is not affiliated with any political party, Adbusters, Anonymous or any other organisation. We come from a wide range of beliefs, ideas, opinions, political ideologies and backgrounds, young and old. Occupy Melbourne was directly inspired by Occupy Wall Street and other movements inspiring us to Occupy Together, like Democracia Real Ya in Spain, though Occupy Melbourne exists independently from these movements.

Isn’t Australia being illegally occupied already?

It certainly is. When European settlers first declared ownership of the continent of Australia, it was declared “Terra Nullius” or “land belonging to no one”, despite the fact that millions of people already sustainably occupied the continent for tens of thousands of years prior to European arrival.

Occupy Melbourne recognises that this demonstration will take place on the land of the Wurundjeri people, of the Woiwurrung language group, of the Kulin nation, who are the traditional owners of the land which Melbourne occupies. We encourage Melbourne’s Indigenous community to join in our efforts to peacefully occupy City Square, and to share their grievances and hopes for the future so that we might unite and build a more just Australia together.

Uploaded by paypaldie on Oct 20, 2011
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U_FNUnuRv8