By Paige Hoblak (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: March 7, 2012
I feel confident that everyone knows, more or less, about the Occupy Wall Street Movement that swept through North America this fall. The movement caused much controversy in mainstream media and even in the city streets of our beloved Vancouver. The movement was generated by Adbusters, a Vancouver-based corporation and inspired by the Arab Spring revolution.
News companies have provided heavy coverage of the events from the movement across North America and the rest of the world. Much of the controversy stems from police-occupier relations and questions about police crossing boundaries of authority. Over the winter, this coverage has faded with many Occupy camp closures. In spite of this, the movement has not died. It has, however, transformed itself.
Encampment proved a level of success for the Occupiers, although it is obviously not sustainable. The movement has taken on a different approach to advocate the centralizing “We are the 99 per cent” message. It has been the driving force behind activities such as Occupy homes, movie theatres, and some workplaces.
Occupy Vancouver in particular lacked the focus that New York’s Zuccotti Park and London’s St.Paul’s Cathedral Occupiers displayed. Despite the recent closure of London’s Occupy encampment, protesters say they are just beginning. The legality of these encampment closures is currently being debated. No details have been specified as to what is next for the protesters.
Many blogs and websites have been created for protesters and those in favour of related change. Some sites have been used for public discussion, while others are intended to address the present situation and the next steps being contemplated. (If you are interested in the movement and want to find out more about upcoming events try these websites: http://occupylsx.org/ and http://occupywallst.org/.)
The conversation has started, and I agree with the London protesters when they say this is only the beginning. Attention has been drawn to the issues surrounding the 99 per cent of the world’s population, and this is definitely a good step in the right direction. With that said, it is simply not enough. I am not entirely sure what the Occupiers have up their sleeves next, but what I do know is that a ripple in an ocean can only carry for so long; drastic action must be taken in order for real change to exist.
