Modern People are consumed by their own lives. They have needs which must be satisfied. They are busy with family, work, pursuits, and leisure activities. Their priorities and interests are urgent and seemingly separate from larger global pressures which concern the world they live in. Is this about to change anytime soon? In the modern … Continue reading
“Amazing day of #tentmonsters today, highlights: mini TM (7 years old!) and mic checking Westfield and bemused xmas shoppers. #osyd #omel” @Iamversmart The Digest is looking for contributors: fiction, news, poetry, drawings, photography; you name it, we’ll probably take it. Email questions@wgwallace.id.au Good morning, hope you slept well. Some of you may have noticed that … Continue reading
It’s a hot, humid, Saturday afternoon, and I’m trying to keep a professional, critical first-aid eye on the crowd but I can’t stop laughing. The fantastic absurdity of trying to keep a flock of Tentmonsters within the lines of the tram tracks in the middle of the road, while they sing, dance and spin about, … Continue reading
Who Is Occupy Melbourne? We are a group of individuals who no longer accept the concentration of power and control of resources in the hands of a few. We are developing a conversation with the broader public about what we can do about this. Our actions embody the changes we wish to make. Who do … Continue reading
“Mic check! Mic check! My name is Erin. I’m from First Aid and Care. I want to talk to you today about institutionalised misogyny and rape culture. What happened to our sister Sara didn’t happen in a vacuum. It is symptomatic of the sexism enshrined in our police, military and government. It is symptomatic of … Continue reading
Recently, Occupiers at Flagstaff Gardens have had to deal with far from ideal conditions. Chief Commissioner Ken Lay admitted that Victoria Police is now acting with a view to shut down Occupy Melbourne and so has authorised a 24/7 police presence at our Occupation. After the Baron was arrested for wearing a Tent Monster costume, … Continue reading
Last night, as I began to write this article, news had just come through that the Big 4 banks had all agreed to pass on the rate cut announced by the RBA (0.25%). Up until about two years ago, announcements that banks were acting according to the advice of the RBA were not all that … Continue reading
Strategies for avoiding burn-out (and things that will help you if you are feeling burnt-out or very-nearly-burnt-out): Practical tips: « Be honest with yourself and the group about what you can and cannot do. If you sign up for something, but feel you can no longer do it- be sure to say so (it’s actually … Continue reading
The Occupy movement thrives from individual and collective energy, passion and commitment. This is its strength, however if we don’t take care of ourselves and others in this process, people can end up feeling burn out, overwhelmed and exhausted. Looking after yourself and each other is important in sustaining the movement. Self care is also … Continue reading
Dear Australians, I do not Occupy but I support Occupy Melbourne. I am a hard working “Middle Australian”. I cannot attend protests that extend for weeks on end. That is not to say I do not respect the right to protest. In fact, a protest that draws attention to corporate greed and the failure of … Continue reading
Robert Doyle is currently an Ambassador for the White Ribbon Day. The White Ribbon Day is the largest day in the year to publicise Australia’s campaign to stop men’s violence against women. He is the current mayor of the Melbourne, Australia, who with the support of the Victoria Police has been ordering Council staff to … Continue reading
One of the most powerful weapons that can be used against Occupy Melbourne is silence and our enemies know it. Since January we have seen fleeting snippets of news in the Australian media about protests in the Maghreb, America and Europe, several of which formed the inspiration for the global Occupy Movement. It says something … Continue reading
In the face of their humiliation, the Council’s lawyers got together and combed through the dusty tomes of old laws to find something to pin on our Tent Monsters and believed they found a winner with two by-laws that prevent people from even bringing tents to public parks in Melbourne. When the Council attended Flagstaff … Continue reading
Castlemaine may be a name that is familiar to only a few Victorians and that would probably be entirely unfamiliar to those from outside the state. It is a small town about two-thirds of the way between Ballarat and Bendigo where employment is centred around KR Castlemaine’s bacon factory and the Victoria Carpets spinning factory. … Continue reading
I smiled. I was about to instinctively reply but the passer-by turned his back to me and continued walking. Ahh, that feeling of frustration when you cannot have a decent and fair discussion. I took a deeper than usual breath and assured myself the commenter was probably under the pump, in a rush, deadlines/kpi’s to … Continue reading
Here is the first Digest video, made with film and photos contributed by occupiers as well as audio from Faine vs. Doyle. (No copyright infringement intended, published as personal use/research)