[OSList] occupy Open Space?!

[Pat Black]

The Occupy Minnesota is happening at the People's Plaza formerly known as
the Government Plaza.  This is a whole range of people that range from
anti-capitalist to Ron Paul supporters.  There were several hundred people
there Friday and Saturday, fewer today.  The mayor of Minneapolis spoke
through the people's mic on Friday and so did Jessie Ventura the former
governor / wrestler.  The police are relaxed and have been ordered to leave
people be within the constraints that have been set up.  There is lots of
learning about process going on.  The participants are mostly young and just
beginning to claim their space but there are a few old timers there as well
and of course the people who live on these streets normally.  They seem to
have their food and logistical pieces functioning well and are currently
looking for ways to get more folks out so that their presence can be
sustained especially when the weather turns.  We have been lucky weather
wise so far but the season will turn before long and when it does it could
be drastic.  I have seen 3 feet of snow and 20- zero on October 30th here,
so this can be a life threatening concern.

It has been great to be out there.  The energy is intense and full of
possibility.  There are lots of sentences that include the word space and
that is exciting.  I am hoping to spend a lot of time out there.  They are
going to create something akin to an agenda wall with the causes that have
brought people there.
Pat Black

On Fri, Oct 7, 2011 at 11:35 PM, Raffi Aftandelian <raffi_1970 at yahoo.com>wrote:

> dear open space and genuine contact friends (aka spaceniki and, perhaps,
> "wheelies")-
>
> Tonight marked the spirited kick-off for Occupy San Diego, one of the many
> local initiatives around the world taking place in solidarity with Occupy
> Wall Street. Speaking as a process artist (OST facilitator and Genuine
> Contact Program certified trainer) and a charmingly flawed co-human with a
> heart who is planning on camping out (occupy?!) on site for  while, I wanted
> to share some thoughts and observations and also extend an invitation.
>
> First off, taking part in all of this- tonight's march or attending the
> General Assembly (I was at last night's assembly- 130 people were there!)-
> really stretches me. I can't align with any of the adversarial language and
> expression here. So, as we marched today I was just silent, holding my
> multi-colored sign which read, "What does a wise, compassionate and glocal
> response to massive economic injustice look like?"  Heck, even calling it
> "Occupy" make me shudder!!!
>
> It is physically just very challenging to be in the presence of all of that
> energy. That said, from the the *moment* I heard of Occupy Wall Street, I
> had an *immediate* intuitive hit that this is something different, that this
> is something that I have to support. And at the very least this initiative
> could be supported by bearing witness-- and the simplest way I could do that
> is just camp there, just sleep there. That's it.
>
> Perhaps the act of sleeping in a public space can be a way of claiming
> *and* opening space, a way of dreaming the New Story into being?
>
> Also, I'm amazed to see how many different people locally have heard of the
> local Occupy San Diego initiative and how many different people I know
> showed up tonight! It's almost as if somewhere deep down there was a part of
> us that knew this is something we need to support.
>
> One of the things that encouraged me while attending General Assembly last
> night was the readiness and willingness of people from disparate points of
> view to hear each other out. What I'm seeing is messy, imperfect, and I know
> and imagine that ball has been dropped. But overall, it's a rather
> encouraging picture. It's also encouraging to see meditation part of the
> picture, too. A 20+ minute flash mob still silent sitting meditation took
> place after the march tonight
>
> And indeed it has a lot of open space feeling to it. The general assembly
> and committees had been meeting at Children's Park (high play and high
> learning anyone??) here downtown. The park is made up of large circular
> patches of grass bordered with concrete. Each committee met in a different
> patch - marked with the name of the committee. And you just went to the
> committee you wanted. And from what i could see, if you wanted to create a
> new committee, you could do that, too! (apparently, there is a process
> committee here, too).
>
> I'm curious if there are other process artists out there on or off these
> lists who are also supporting Occupy... where you are. I'd love to enter
> into conversation (skype call anyone??) on or offlist to explore the ways we
> as process artists can support this initiative. Drop me a line!
>
>
> much warmth from the pacific coast,
> raffi
>
> p.s. to catch some of the flavor of our local "Occupation," see
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/occupysd/
> http://www.livestream.com/occupysd
>
> p.p.s. I look forward to circulating widely this piece by zen teacher and
> peacemaker, Bernie Glassman
> http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/10/we-are-the-100/
>
> p.p.p.s. to borrow a turn of phrase from a fellow spacenik who lives
> DownUnder-- "What can happen?"
>
> powered by ubuntu 10.4
>
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