Economics @ Occupy Sydney Anniversary

  Of Course Economics and its place in society has always been front and centre of the Occupy discussion worldwide. It would be remiss of us not to continue the discussion as part of our anniversary events. And who better to be our keynote speaker than Prof Steve Keen who has kindly accepted our invitation to participate.  . Professor Keen is one of the worlds most acclaimed economists -also one of the few to correctly predict recent Global Economic Events. Heres his website for the 2 people left in Australia unfamiliar with his work.

 Keynote Economics & Issues speakers will be interspersed with the entertainment at the Occupy Sydney Anniversary Event on Oct 13 . There will also be an economics Forum (more details as they come to hand)

The Wind of Truth : Occupy Sydney: 4 Winds Convergence

Shoutout to our Wikileaks / Assange / Manning / Internet Freedom / Anon Family. 

The Occupy Sydney Anniversary 13 October will start with a convergence of 4 Marches representing the 4 Winds. 

 The Australian Government has been remiss in its duty to protect its imperilled citizens in foreign lands. Julian Assange and Austin G Mackell received almost no support from our government which seems more interested in preserving its relationship with an increasingly questionable American State than protecting the rights of its citizens.

 The callous indifference to truth of Australias government is borne out by Prime Minister Gillards personal indifference to commitments she made to the electorate. Julia Gillard sold out solid election commitments in the name of Party Political Power and expedience. 

 In developing Wikileaks Julian Assange took the view that the people deserve to have 100% of the information required to make informed decisions. That is a reasonable proposition. From Wikileaks efforts and the sacrifice of ethical people like Bradley Manning we were able to learn about incidents like Abu Ghraib- Human Rights abuses and War Crimes perpetrated by the very countries many believed were working ethically for peace. Thanks to Wikileaks that wilfully constructed fabrication has far fewer believers today.

 This week Australia passed into law legislation which forces Internet Service Providers to hold ALL of your communications information for two years. There is no guarantee that your personal information (including emails) will not be sold to commercially interested parties or is in any way secure from, for example cyber criminals or worse, agencies of government with an interest in shutting down political dissent.

The Wind of Truth will march from Circular Quay (British Consulate) via DFAT & US Embassy then to Occupy Sydney. You are welcome to set up info tables as part of the event @ Occupy. 

Occupy Sydney Anniversary

On 13th October Occupy Sydney will begin our 1st Anniversary Celebrations.

The Four Winds Convergence

The Event will start with a convergence of 4 Winds which will March to Occupy Sydney at Martin Place. The Winds of  Truth Earth Humanity and Family will each bring their own unique mix to the central Occupy celebration at Martin Place.


 Novakayn will headline an array of entertainers at the Original Occupation site Martin & Macquarie.

 A Housing and Affordability Forum will be the Focal point of the Central Events platform Martin & Philips.

A collection of affinity groups will disseminate information around the Economics Forum at Martin & Elizabeth.

There will be Free School

There will be a Legals Event.

there will be what your work input and energy bring to Occupy

There are so many problems and for as long as we allow others to decide for us those problems will only become greater.

 Occupy Sydney has been bringing issues to your attention since October 15th 2011. We have helped you come to the present public understanding on issues such as the impacts Woolworths and Coles duopoly have on everything they touch.And you have responded. We established our (and your) right to protest at a time and public place of your/our choosing. When confronted by police wind sleet and cold we stayed Occupying. Today is a cloudless clear day and still we occupy. We have much work to do and can but be what you choose Occupy to be. If you are silent and still other people will make the choices and we urge you to be neither. We urge you to not see wrong and do nothing. We urge you to not see right and be silent. Only by us all doing both will our grandchildrens generation live in a better world than we.

 To know something is wrong and do nothing is to consent and this we must never do. Occupy is a platform where we keep discussions going until we reach a mutually acceptable understanding of an acceptable way forward. It is not our ideas -it is your solutions to the problems others have foisted on us all. And unless we address them we will never see change for the better.

Gillards New Anti Privacy Data Mining Laws

As your Australian Government continue their game of extending their freedoms to deprive you of your rights we wonder at what point Australians will say enough is enough?? Cops get powers to freeze telco subscriber data - Risk -  - Greens Scott Ludlam does a political jig on this feigning opposition while backing anti privacy legislation ...more from SC Magazine Australia -

No Offshoring Telstra Jobs- Snap Action

Postponed (tentatively to 12pm 29 Aug @ request of Townsville & Vic activists who wish to hold co-ordinated action.

Another Major Corporation thinks its okay to increase its already obscene profits by sacking the workers who made them profitable.Telstra made a whopping $3.2 billion in 2011. In days gone by workers would receive a bonus. In Australia where we hear how great the economy is yet ,daily the discards of that corporate gold-rush in the form of jettisoned workers and society becomes more evident.

SNAP ACTION 5pm Wed Aug 22 5pm Sydney!!

Join the event here 

Stuff you too Telstra- We're Hanging up TELSTRA MADE A $3.2billion PROFIT LAST YEAR.NOW THEY WANT TO SACRIFICE COMMUNITY JOBS TO MAKE EVEN MORE-HUMAN NEED NOT CORPORATE GREED - HEY TELSTRA,WHATS YOUR HANGUP?? Occupy Sydney say no to Corporate Greed and Australian based Corporations offshoring work which can be done by Australian Workers in the name of increasing profits. BANNER & PLACARD MAKING TOMORROW ARVO @ OCCUPY SYDNEY MARTIN PL In 2011 Telstra reported a profit of $3.231 billion -a profit earned by is workers. Telstra will sack 422 full-time staff and 229 staff employed through agencies as it streamlines services, with some of the jobs headed offshore. About 235 staff will go from its Melbourne operations, 174 from Sydney and 242 from two call centres Telstra will close in Lismore in regional NSW and Townsville in Queensland. These staff currently work in Telstra's service centres and FOXTEL call centres. Telstra is shifting some of the roles to the Philippines. Business customers will still be served by an Australian call centre. Telstra is part way through an efficiency and restructuring drive. The company says the job cuts are necessary as more customers access Telstra services on the internet rather than through call centres. The closures include two consumer contact centres in Lismore and part of Telstra's Townsville site, with the calls being absorbed by other Telstra and FOXTEL contact centres, a Telstra spokeswoman said. Vodafone customers are already fleeing in droves in part because of the inept call centres they maintain offshore. The service is abysmal. And Vodafone customers are paying.Telstra customers will pay too in frustration and angst if not in devaluation of service quality. View Larger MapDriving Directions

Occupy Frankfurt Eviction

  The overnight eviction of Occupy Frankfurt in Germany sees another lynchpin Occupation shut down (however temporarily) as the State once again moves to repress dissent and reinforce the rights of capital over the needs of people. 

 Frankfurt Police sourced reports misinform the public about the nature of Occupy Frankfurt - widely circulated in faux mainstream media reports saying that "the activists have left and Occupation has been taken over by homeless people is merely an attempt to deflect criticisms of political policing. Doubtless many of the MSM darlings who presented as "The Face of Occupy Frankfurt" are gone- some never really part of the occupation- But according to spokesman Kai Schlicksupp  there are a core of some 81 activist occupiers including homeless people with a very political agenda.

The Occupy Sydney Occupiers know Eviction. Our Mainstream media have reported Occupy Sydney evicted on multiple occasions. We know to the predisposition of Police top brass to use darkness surprise stealth and subterfuge supported by 100 Riot cops to try to impose their wishes rather than apply laws at 5 in the morning. We stand in solidarity with Occupy Frankfurt who have no intention of "going away" and may reoccupy or occupy a Squat.

 Occupy worldwide send the message that the people need to reassert and reclaim their control of Government - if there should be government then it should carry out the will of the people - not impose its , or its corporate friends -will over us.

COCA : Aussie Laws without Boundaries

A meeting in Melbourne Friday of State Attorneys General while being articulated as "anti-bikie organised crime" in fact applies to the entire population. The Attorneys General agreed that  police will be able to enforce court orders interstate, so gangs won't simply be able to move across the border to escape the law. 

• The Criminal Organisations Control Act is Not limited to bikie gangs. It can be applied entirely at the discretion of the Police Commissioner-in secret-for reasons which can be kept secret. 
• COCA can be applied to any group of three or more persons who communicate by any means.They need not reside or be in NSW or Australia. The public has no way of knowing whom the act applies to.
• Any person who provides a service to or communicates with "a controlled person" is guilty of an offence, no matter how diligently they enquire into the persons status. A social media contact or text message constitutes a breach.
• The freezing of assets has the highly desirable effect for police of lessening the defendants ability to effectively mount a defence against police allegations.

Should this draconian legislation survive in any form , we kiss goodbye to freedom and enter the era of Australia, the police state. 

Occupy Sydney Freeschool Sat Aug 4 1-30pm

1.30pm Sewing with Rohan Another part of occupy's appeal is sharing practical skills. Don't stare at the tear in your clothing anymore, mend, repair, re-use, recycle: bring your over-loved clothes and sew with Rohan. Needles, thread and some patches for repairs will be provided 2.30pm eating sharing chatting 3.30pm looking at cops surveillance of protesters with Dale note re Future legals workshops: We face cops and courts too much as occupy. There are many aspects we could be more prepared and know where we stand legally – email or facebook message or write on the facebook wall to Dale with suggestions for legal aspects you are interested in learning more about Join the Facebook Event here

Economics 101: What is Glass Steagall??

 

The Glass-Steagall Act was enacted during the Great Depression. It protected bank depositors from the additional risks associated with security transactions. The act was dismantled in 1999. Consequently, the distinction between commercial banks and brokerage firms has blurred; many banks own brokerage firms and provide investment services.

R

 

‘Shatterer of Glass-Steagall’ calls for its restoration

The former boss of giant U.S. bank Citigroup, Sanford (Sandy) Weill, who possesses a giant wooden plaque listing his accomplishments which includes the line, “The Shatterer of Glass-Steagall”, has shocked the banking world by calling for its restoration.

Weill is falling in with the global push to restore Glass-Steagall long associated with U.S. physical economist Lyndon LaRouche, which some of the leading bankers in Britain recently boosted following the revelations of 16 London banks flagrantly manipulating the benchmark London Interbank Offered Rate to rip off the world.

But it is Weill’s call that has shocked Wall Street, because he was the key lobbyist for the repeal of Glass-Steagall. In 1998 Greenspan granted a waiver to Travelers Insurance Company, then headed by Sanford Weill, to buy Citibank. Travelers owned Salomon Smith Barney, a large investment bank. The Travelers-Citibank merger, for the first time since the passage of Glass-Steagall in 1933, allowed a single bank holding company to own a commercial bank, an insurance company, and an investment bank. This waiver spelt the beginning of the end of Glass-Steagall [repealed a year later through the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which Congressmen variously dubbed the Citi-Travellers Bill, or Sandy’s Bill], and the birth of institutions that are “too big to fail”.

“In the space of a few seconds, Sanford Weill disavowed the work of a lifetime,” reported the July 27 The Australian. “Mr Weill, who built up Citigroup into a banking behemoth … yesterday called for the break-up of the big banks,” the article continued.

“The stunning suggestion from the man who created Citigroup from the 1998 merger of Travelers and Citibank lit a bonfire under a simmering ‘too big to fail’ debate”, continued the Australian Financial Review of the same day. “The Citigroup merger required a waiver of the Glass-Steagall Act—which had prohibited such combinations since 1933—until the law could be repealed a year later, in 1999,” the Review revealed.

On July 25 American Banker Magazine reported that both Democratic and Republican congressmen were thunderstruck by Sandy Weill's comments, “suggesting a new openness to the argument that the nation’s largest banks should be broken up.” “It is absolutely huge that Sandy Weill has called for the break-up of the big banks,” one Democratic Representative was quoted saying.

The magazine was brave enough to acknowledge the heretofore lone voice of Lyndon LaRouche on the issue: “Supporters of Lyndon LaRouche have recently been distributing pamphlets outside the Capitol calling for the return of Glass-Steagall—a symbol of how politically marginal the debate about breaking up the big banks has been until now. …” [emphasis added] In a video interview, the magazine’s editor-in-chief observed, “One of the things that was really interesting about it was that it seemed that this was the moment that actually the breakup the big banks movement started to get some traction, at least in the popular press, maybe in Washington.”

The July 26 New York Times editorial did their own Olympic-quality backflip on Glass-Steagall, following Weill’s, declaring, “While we are on this subject, add The New York Times editorial page to the list of the converted. We forcefully advocated the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act. … Having seen the results of this sweeping deregulation, we now think we were wrong to have supported it.”

The Glass-Steagall debate has also broken into popular entertainment, featuring in an episode of the new U.S. docudrama Newsroom, in which a character offers the following excellent explanation of Glass-Steagall: “Congress wanted to put a firewall in between the investment banks and the commercial banks. They wanted to make sure that Wall Street could melt to the ground, and the commercial banks wouldn’t be touched. They passed a law, the Glass-Steagall Act: Now, you could be Gordon Gekko [tycoon from movie ‘Wall Street’] or George Bailey [community banker from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’], but you couldn’t be both.” [Emphasis added]

LaRouche affirmed that what began a few weeks ago in Britain, has now exploded onto the front burner in the United States. “These are people who have chosen the future,” he said. “They have changed their direction of commitment, to support Glass-Steagall, when they had been, up to that point, exactly in the opposite direction.”

The restoration of Glass-Steagall is the centerpiece of the CEC’s resolution, The Future of Australia: Develop or Die.As the CEC exposed last week, the corruption of the financial system on display in the manipulation of the LIBOR reaches deep into Australia, through the direct impact of the LIBOR itself and the possible manipulation of Australia’s LIBOR-equivalent, the BBSW. This flagrant corruption goes hand in hand with the deregulation of the economy kick-started in 1983 by Hawke and Keating and continued by their Liberal accomplices. Only implementing the Glass-Steagall principle can reverse the policies that opened up the financial affairs of ordinary Australians and essential government services to undisguised looting by the global banking cartel. 

The banks that were at the forefront of the crisis – Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual, Countrywide – were either pure investment banks or pure commercial banks. The ability to merge the two types was crucial in mounting swift rescues to stabilise the system – such as the acquisition of Bear Stearns by JP Morgan and of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America.

............................................................................

Why I was won over by Glass Stegall….

By Luigi Zingales

There are certainly better ways to deal with excessive risk-taking behaviour by banks, but we must not allow the perfect to become the enemy of the good. In the absence of these better mechanisms, it makes perfect economic sense to restrict commercial banks’ investments in very risky activities, because their deposits are insured. Short of removing that insurance – and I doubt commercial banks are ready for that – restricting the set of activities they undertake is the simplest way to cope with the burden that banks can impose on taxpayers.

The Volcker rule, which prohibits banks from engaging in proprietary trading but allows them to put their principal at risk, is not a good substitute. Proprietary trading is when a bank invests in stock hoping that its price will go up. A bank engages in principal trading when it buys a stock from a client as a service to that client, who wants to unload his position quickly. The difference is therefore one only of intentions, which are impossible to detect, since any transaction involves two consenting parties.

The second reason why Glass- Steagall won me over was its simplicity. The Glass-Steagall Act was just 37 pages long. The so-called Volcker rule has been transformed into 298 pages of mumbo jumbo, which will require armies of lawyers to interpret. The simpler a rule is, the fewer provisions there are and the less it costs to enforce them. The simpler it is, the easier it is for voters to understand and voice their opinions accordingly. Finally, the simpler it is, the more difficult it is for someone with vested interests to get away with distorting some obscure facet.

The third reason why I came to support Glass-Steagall was because I realised it was not simply a coincidence that we witnessed a prospering of securities markets and the blossoming of new ones (options and futures markets) while Glass-Steagall was in place, but since its repeal have seen a demise of public equity markets and an explosion of opaque over-the-counter ones.

To function properly markets need a large number of independent traders. The separation between commercial and investment banking deprived investment banks of access to cheap funds (in the form of deposits), forcing them to limit their size and the size of their bets. These limitations increased the number of market participants, making markets more liquid. With the repeal of Glass-Steagall, investment banks exploded in size and so did their market power. As a result, the new financial instruments (such as credit default swaps) developed in an opaque over-the-counter market populated by a few powerful dealers, rather than in a well regulated and transparent public market.

The separation between investment and commercial banking also helps make the financial system more resilient. After the 1987 stock market crash, the economy was unaffected because commercial banks were untouched by plummeting equity prices. During the 1990-91 banking crisis, securities markets helped alleviate the credit crunch because they were unaffected by the banking crisis. By contrast, in 2008 the banking crisis and the stock market crisis infected each other, pulling down the entire economy.

Last but not least, Glass-Steagall helped restrain the political power of banks. Under the old regime, commercial banks, investment banks and insurance companies had different agendas, so their lobbying efforts tended to offset one another. But after the restrictions ended, the interests of all the major players were aligned. This gave the industry disproportionate power in shaping the political agenda. This excessive power has damaged not only the economy but the financial sector itself. One way to combat this excessive power, if only partially, is to bring Glass-Steagall back.

The writer is a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and author of ‘A Capitalism for the People: Recapturing the Lost Genius of American Prosperity’, published this week

Discussion on Economics Solutions at Occupy Sydney aim to identify a peoples solution of acceptable domestic and international economics modeling going forward.24-7 at Occupation

http://www.occupy-sydney.org

occupysydney@gmail.com

Economics , Affordability in Australia & Occupy related pamphlets needed at Occupation

The Occupation is using copy from the Zines and the Zines themselves to deliver our message and stay engaged with the public.
 Your assistance with writing pamphlets (even using articles with currency you find online-quote sources) or printing out Zines is appreciated.

Here are the Zines in printable format.

Issue 14 http://www.scribd.com/doc/100511676

Christine Assange, Lizards Revenge, Lessons from Iceland, Free School, Save Gosford Public School, Hydrofracking Explained

Issue 13 http://www.scribd.com/doc/99906887

Questions of Real Rigour, Indignados, Free School, Sacred Economics, Occupony

Issue 12 http://www.scribd.com/doc/99189037

NAB vs The Farmers, Advertising in schools, 1116  Occupy Sydney Policing, Justice for George, Hand signals, American Autumn an Occudoc

Issue 11 http://www.scribd.com/doc/98525985

Justice for George, Podcast, Occupy New Zealand, Occupy Workflow, Free School, Mathematical argument for the existence of climate change, War on Democracy (2007)

Issue 10 http://www.scribd.com/doc/97806037

Pod Cast – Robbery with violence, Legals fund, Honduras under the thumb of international 1%, Occupy Content Management System, Dreams on streets of Martin Place

Issue 9 http://www.scribd.com/doc/97086655

Building blocks of Freedom, Solidarity with Honduras, Julia Gillard’s criminal history

Issue 8 http://www.scribd.com/doc/96295378

Free School – Mic-Check Party – Occupy the Courts – Police Brutality

Issue 7 www.scribd.com/doc/95304967

Montreal - Lizards Revenge – World’s largest open cut uranium mine

Issue 6 www.scribd.com/doc/94676699

Police brutality – Iceland – Free school – Activist self-care

Issue 5 www.scribd.com/doc/93913747

15-M – Inequality - Monsanto - GMO

Issue 4 www.scribd.com/doc/93102483

COCA – Why the system isn’t broken – Story of your enslavement

Issue 3 www.scribd.com/doc/92236157

City Talks – Meditation at a riot – Tax

Issue 2 www.scribd.com/doc/91521570

How Police subvert the judiciary – General Strike

Issue 1 www.scribd.com/doc/91520868

Guide to staying overnight – Occupy Haikus – ALEC, Big Phama and the Medicalisation of Poverty – Occupy DnD

Video & Photos from October 23rd Eviction Wanted for Federal Court Case

The Occupy Sydney Legal Team are in the Midst of presenting a High Court Case and urgently require your published or unpublished images of the October 23rd eviction. If you were at the eviction your recollections and feelings about the eviction may also be relevant.Please send if you are prepared to present as a witness. Send all relevant info to occupysydneylegals@gmail.com

The Euro: Why default is preferable to rescheduling-Prof Steve Keen

By Steve Keen on July 24th, 2012 at 1:42 pm

Peter Switzer interviewed me last night on his Sky News program. We discuss the Euro, why default is preferable to rescheduling, fiscal austerity versus deficit funding, Nobel Prize Winner Prescott saying that the Great Depression was an extended holiday, Australian property, what is a house price crash (comparing Japan and the USA to Australia), how does Australia’s housing market really differ from the USA’s, what really makes house prices rise, stock market performance in the next decade, the Credit Accelerator and the ups and downs of a down-trending market, the pain in Spain, and what it might lead to.

Peter and I go back a very long way–we did our Masters degrees together at the University of New South Wales in the late 1980s. I then followed the academic route, while Peter successfully pursued a career in journalism, and then formed his own company focusing on business advice, and we have remained in touch since as friends and professional colleagues. It’s always a pleasure to speak with him, as I think shows in this 14 minute interview.

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Docsbusters Mondays

 Docsbusters Mondays start early every Monday at the Occupy Sydney Occupation site in Martin Place (corner Elizabeth St)... The Docsbusters Movement is a convergence of Children concerned parents, carers and outraged citizens who have come together to End State Terrorism of our Families, End State Child Abduction and reinstate the family to its rightful role as the principal building block of Australian communities and society.

 Below is a proposed platform which will be put to Docsbusters meeting on Monday. 

1. We The Docsbusters Movement call for the immediate repeal of the NSW Childrens and Young Persons Care and Protection Act 1998 and all its State and Federal counterparts. 
2. We The Docsbusters Movement call to End New South Wales Department of Community Services reign of Terror. We the Docsbusters Movement call for the immediate closure of All NSW Department of Community Services (or the current evolution of that department) functions, especially (but not limited to) its role in families children and dealing with the elderly.
3. We The Docsbusters Movement call for the immediate termination of all services and functions of DOCs NSW, with an independent transitional body funded to facilitate the repatriation of children and their natural families (where possible practical and desired).This body should NOT include ANY staff or service providers from within the current DOCs system.
4. We call for the immediate dismissal of all DOCs Staff and Contract service providers including staff of those contractors : a public inquiry into their actions and their disbarment from EVER working with children again.
5. Docsbusters call for retrospective legislation enabling the prosecution of any past or present DOCS or partner organisation worker minister volunteer or mandatory reporter who has misused their position to obtain the unnecessry removal of children. 
6.  We support all Calls for closure of similar government organisations in The UK Canada New Zealand and The United States of America.

More info at Docsbusters.org

Big Grocery regulator & Fed Govt: 3 in a bed

In another example of  inherent dishonesty waste and ineffective management by the current Australian Federal Labor Government, a report just tabled slams the ACCC Grocery Choice website on so many issues that one needs reassess the real purpose this site was meant to serve.

 The election promise of cheaper groceries remains absolute spin for as long as big business remain free to gouge profits while applying the thumbscrews to suppliers in order to grow profits... more

US imposed aux peace in Iraq

While most of the Western media portrayed Saddam Hussein as a tyrannical dictator and there is clear evidence that sectors of the Iraqi community were persecuted , clearly the freedom and peace delivered by the USA and Australia is a very strange beast indeed ... today in Iraq

Melbourne Landmark Protest Ruling with Occupy Implicatins

A High Court ruling in Melbourne today confirmed the right of Max Brenner protesters to enter privately controlled public space for the specific purpose of protesting. The case swung on the technicality that there was no evidence that protesters heard directions by police and Centre Managers to leave the premises. .....more

Save La Perouse Market Gardens: Petition

Many of us are across the negative nature of creeping duopoly control of our food supply. In inner City Sydney there are just two remaining commercial market garden precincts. This is one of those precincts. The La Perouse Market Gardens are adjacent to a large cemetery which wants to expand. In land critical Sydney there are questions over this land usage when there is a perceived shortage of land for the living. There is also the issue of locality sustainability - the growing of local food. Cities should do all they can to retain raw food production and here is your chance to incentivise Randwick City Council to do so.

Many of us are across the negative nature of creeping duopoly control of our food supply. In inner City Sydney there are just two remaining commercial market garden precincts. This is one of those precincts. The La Perouse Market Gardens are adjacent to a large cemetery which wants to expand. In land critical Sydney there are questions over this land usage when there is a perceived shortage of land for the living. There is also the issue of locality sustainability - the growing of local food. Cities should do all they can to retain raw food production and here is your chance to incentivise Randwick City Council to do so.

Change.org|Online Petition Form

FREESCHOOL: Photography & Law July 14

Occupy Sydney 
SPECIAL FREESCHOOL 
Saturday 14 July 1pm 
BRING YOUR CAMERA IF YOU HAVE ONE.
HOSTED By Glenn Lockitch  
starting at the Martin Place Occupation (cnr Martin Place and Elizabeth St .( About recording protests police & photography techniques )
 Join our Occupy Sydney photographers citizen media peepz and those who want to stay in the loop as Glenn takes us through the rich tapestry of strategies and experiences of his broad experience as an Activist photographer (Sea Shepherd, FOE etc)  , photo-journalist (numerous awards citations) , professional photography tutor http://spw.net.au/tutor/glenn-lockitch and involvement with the Australian Media and Arts Alliance to deliver the best advice and solutions available for professional or amateur photographers and citizens who are interested in knowing their rights to record officials (usually police).


  Please join the event here to give the conveners a sense of how many people to cater for ( note: non facebook people please consider the privacy implications BEFORE signing up and your possible decision not to will be respected-you will be welcome anyway.)


 Light refreshments, nibbles will be served. (Occupy Sydney has a drug and alcohol free event space protocol and we do ask all attendees to respect this.)

What Canberra DIDNT DO This Week

Of Course Julia Gillard and unelected Macquarie Bank Foreign Minister Bob Carr gloat about securing the release of the Australian Human Rights lawyer detained by the Libyan puppet government while steadfastly maintaining a Nelsons telescope view of Austin G Mackells continued denial of Freedom to leave by Egypt. And Australia's foreign ministry seem to have become a repeater station for the US on Wikileaks too, parroting the US line that it is not seeking to arrest Julian Assange.

 Climate Minister Greg Combet expresses moral outrage about Corporate price gouging -while part of a government and bipartisan political monopoly which have for decades enabled Monopolist behaviour by Telcos Banks retailers and Corporate profiteers. All talk but no action here.

  A battling multi generational farming family from out Walgett way at risk of falling victim to slick debt marketing masquerading as financial planning by the National Bank (along with a myriad of similar cases Australia wide) goes completely unaddressed by either government or opposition at State or Federal level as your elected representatives cringe in awe of the power they have vested in economic monoliths. Who do they represent?

  Ineffective Federal environmental and heritage protection laws again failed aboriginal people and sentient beings in North West Australia as Courts in Western Australia threw out the latest cases seeking to protect pristine James Price Point (and the Ningaloo Reef ) from the ravages of Shell/Woodside. Not a peep from Canberra here either as once again their laws which articulate protection manifest devastation.

 Another day and another expose of The Catholic Church as a den of paedophilia . This all too common occurence on a worldwide scale should be viewed in parallel with government perceptions on organised crime gangs and criminal associations. If Churches are breeding grounds for paedophilia why are these laws not applied to them? Why are they not subject to anti criminal organisation legislation? Who would say that the protection of children is less important than controlling "organised crime?" And if it is the view of governments that an "isolated few" church goers are responsible, isn't it also the case that an "isolated few" bikies are responsible for criminal behaviour within those groups? Canberra certainly must have one rule for gangs another for churches as we dont see any attempts to apply COCA to The Catholic Church. Nor do we see its subsidiaries stripped of their role in fostering and providing care and protection for children.

  Fortescue and Rio have both issued statements flagging a fall in their iron ore input prices - Rio guesses 85 dollars a tonne while Forrest is comfortable at 100. What do they really think? And if they said so would it send their share prices into a tailspin? What if China decides to pay $65pt? What does that do to their gearings? How does that impact the property purchases of mining industry workers and what will the flow on effects be? Are Publicly listed companies a protected species in Australia? Are your elected leaders protecting your right to know. Oh, and do they even care that these corporate multinationals are mere conduits through which the value extracted from Australia's natural wealth flows irretrievably offshore??

 These are just some of the perceptions and concerns which make this mornings occupiers fail to notice the rain the cold and the general unfavourable weather conditions as we forego comfort for change...

Introducing The Docsbusters Movement

Introducing http://docsbusters.org/ We at Occupy Sydney ( http://twitter.com/occupySYDNEY out of Sydney Australia are partnering with existing like groups Anonymous Family, Concerned Citizens, affected Parents and State Child Abductees in #OpDocsBusters / #OpStopDocs - A movement pledged to end the role of State Childrens Services and the surrounding NGO NFP & Court construct .. these State Funded organs are destroying The Family as the basic building block of community and society while seeking to replace family with government / church/ business based control of community and ultimately society. Judged in the same way as parents are it is incomprehensible that any Church or Childrens Services related Care manager would be considered fit to even be near children -far less to provide their moral compass.

The Docsbusters Movement aims to Shut DOCs Down 

starting with Weekly Meetings at Occupy Sydney Occupation -Martin Pl.

 Docsbusters meet and promote weekly Each Monday (Early until late) at the Occupy Sydney Occupation cnr Martin Place and Elizabeth St SYDNEY - On Twitter Docsbusters are http://twitter.com/DocsBusters & their site is http://docsbusters.org/

Proposed DocsBusters Demands,

ratification to be sought at Mondays Meeting (4-30pm)

1/ We The Docsbusters Movement call for the immediate repeal of the NSW Childrens and Young Persons Care and Protection Act 1998 and all its State and Federal counterparts. 
2/ We The Docsbusters Movement call to End New South Wales Department of Community Services reign of Terror. We the Docsbusters Movement call for the immediate closure of All NSW Department of Community Services (or the current evolution of that department) functions, especially (but not limited to) its role in families children and dealing with the elderly.
3/We The Docsbusters Movement call for the immediate termination of all services and functions of DOCs NSW, with an independent transitional body funded to facilitate the repatriation of children and their natural families (where possible practical and desired).This body should NOT include ANY staff or service providers from within the current DOCs system.
4/We call for the immediate dismissal of all DOCs Staff and Contract service providers including staff of those contractors : a public inquiry on publicly determined terms into their actions and their disbarment from EVER working with children again.

5/ We seek the closure of Childrens Courts and the abandonment of the Childrens Court Clinicians.
6/We support all Calls for closure of similar government organisations in The UK Canada New Zealand and The United States of America. 

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