a draft proposal for an occupy calgary statement

I wrote this yesterday and am hoping someone will take it to a GA to discuss possible adoption as a statement. this could also be amende and used by other groups or even publised as an unofficial statement for any group

 

We are “occupy Calgary” and our movement is bigger than demands.

 

The moment we make one demand, is the moment we narrow the discussion with ourselves and everyone else within the Canadian and world body politic. We want to be an example of an inclusionary movement not an exclusionary one. In order to do this, our examples and experiments in living need to transcend the current exclusionary, market dominated status quo.

 

The moment we make a demand, is the moment we open ourselves to negotiation with the state. The moment we start negotiations with the state is the moment we claim to have ownership over the ideas that “occupy Calgary” represent. By requesting dialogue with all rather than demanding negotiations with a few, we will assure the inclusive nature of our movement.

 

The moment we make a demand, is the moment we claim the problems within the governing institutions of our society are not systemic. This would not only be a wrong claim for us to make, it would also be elitist and paternalistic of us.

 

The moment we make a demand, is the moment that we become a lobby group. We have no interest in lobbying the state and capital for more crumbs to be distributed to the masses. More crumbs by the powers that be will not create the change we are working for in society; it will only make the oppression, exploitation, tyranny and fascism in our current society a little more tolerable.

 

We at “Occupy Calgary” do not claim to have all the answers. What who do have is a passion to build dialogue with Calgarians, Canadians and all of humanity across the globe.

 

We are experimenters who are providing an example of how we all can work together to respect ourselves and the biodiversity of this earth we share with all other life.

 

We are workers who have chosen to work on a project together where we collectively own what it is we are producing. We are producing a safe community for ourselves by cooking food together providing security together, providing therapy together, having fun together, governing together and providing an example together that others can choose to follow. We are creating a new method of producing goods and services that puts people before profit and that is the antithesis of the antiquated production relations of Capitalism.

 

We are experimenters who are experimenting with a material exchange system whereby choice replaces the dictatorship of the capitalist “market”. We are experimenting with integrating barter and gift economies with a more equitable version of the current currency markets.

 

We are experimenters who are experimenting with ways to network in voluntary association with other groups who wish to work with us in building a greater worldwide experiment in living

 

“Occupy Calgary” is not just one, two or more geographic locations. It is a place that also exists in our hearts. Wherever you are, you can join us and together we can be the change that is created in society.

We are “Occupy Calgary”!! We don’t make demands, we are too big to fail and we will not be moved!!!!

Aaron Doncater