1. PHOTO BY I. VALLEY Occupy camp at
Vancouver Art how to get involved
Gallery ends, but General Assembly Spokes Council Join a Committee
the movement Wednesday’s at 7pm Tuesday’s at 7pm Find meeting times
Satuday’s at 1pm Sunday’s at 1pm and descriptions @
continues to gain
@ W2 Media Cafe @ W2 Media Cafe occupyvancouver.com
momentum >>4
what’s next? the future of the occupy vancouver movement
up ied
occ
MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012 | OCCUPYVANCOUVER.COM
WHERE HAVE ALL THE
OCCUPIERS GONE?
BY STEVE COLLIS
D on’t worry — we haven’t gone
far. If 2011 was the “year of
revolutions”, 2012 will be the
year of our thoughtful and creative
evolution. We’re behind the scenes now,
organizing, planning, and building the
story that will carry all of us forward.
Every social movement needs an
initial burst of emotion and indignation
to get it going. We had that this past
fall. To keep going, we need ideas, we
need a story, and we need relationships.
This part takes a bit of time.
At Occupy Vancouver, since being PHOTO BY IAN MACKENZIE
evicted on November 21, we have been
resting up and assessing what we have Occupy Vancouver re-groups in preparation for a new year and a new beginning
accomplished — really, the beginning
we have made. We’ve been talking, What lies ahead for Occupy Vancou- exploitation and self-destruction. Now,
reading, writing, filming, and planning ver? There will undoubtedly be — most we the 99% must take matters into our
for the future. We have re-structured likely by the spring, when the whole own hands and fashion a world we can
our governance model by reducing world moves into its phase of renewal all share and prosper in — an economi-
general assemblies to a more manage- — a return to the public sphere in a cally and environmentally sustainable
able schedule of twice a week and very noticeable way. The claim for an world shaped by love and mutual aid.
adding a “spokescouncil” which will “agora” — an open space of public But we need your help. Come lend
free up more time for discussion of debate at the heart of our cities and a hand. Come change the world with
big ideas at the GAs. We are working our lives — is why this movement has us. We can only do it one committed
hard within our committees and on our been called an “occupation.” Really, it is person at a time. We can only do it by
relationships with each other and with a reclaiming of our social agency, long putting our collective shoulders to the
other organizations. We are gearing ceded to the wealthy and influential. We wheel. But we can do it — that’s what
up for the work ahead — the work of can all see where the world is headed we’ve learned so far. Another world is
social transformation that a time of now. We see that those in positions possible, and it’s lying right ahead of us
economic, ecological, and political crisis of power and influence are unable in 2012.
demands. and unwilling to change the course of
|| THE OCCUPIED VANCOUVER SUN ||

2. 2 || UPDATES MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012 | OCCUPYVANCOUVER.COM
Occupy Vancouver at Work
Committees and working groups continue to collaborate for change
general assembly
Now that OV has approved the creation
of a Spokes Council which will handle
much of the day-to-day business that
was previously handled by the General
Assembly, there will be a need to rede-
fine the role of the GA. The General
Assembly Committee (GAC), in taking
this on, will address the following ques-
tions:
1. What is the function of the General
Assembly?
2. What processes should be modified
and/or developed in order to sup-
port the newly defined function of
the GA?
3. How should the structure of the
GA be modified to support the
newly defined function of the GA?
The GAC will submit a proposal (or
PHOTO BY JONATHAN DY proposals) to the GA suggesting modi-
fications as a result of answers to the
“Break out groups” allow for small group discussion during large assemblies above questions.
info booth media/communicaions inter-city
The Info Booth committee is now Two Media Committee members (work- To date, the Inter-City Committee has
bereft of our booth, but we still provide ing on the project, “Occupy Victory created the map of the 50+ Canadian
factual, friendly, neutral information Media Tour”) have been livestream- Occupy cities, several contact databases
about the Occupation. We monitor ing from #OWS (that’s right, in NYC) for all of Canada, set up a Google group
the chatter on Livestream, Facebook, all week, covering the re-taking (and for updates and discussion of how to
Google Groups, Twitter and Atrium re-eviction) of Zuccotti Park as well facilitate communication between cities,
in order to keep the events calendar as #OWS GAs and committee meet- given updates to the OV assembly of
pruned and accurate. But we don’t do ings. The Communications team scored news from Occupies across Canada,
a very good job of it, so we encourage a victory in late December when our and participated in conference calls. We
you to contact us with any events or response to (and rebuttal of) the City are struggling with setting up a national
meetings we should know about, or to of Vancouver’s cost assessment for the website, but confident in setting up an
volunteer to help us do a better job. occupation was picked up in newspa- email-based B.C. newsletter with basic
pers (and on-line) all across the country, Occupy updates from each city. Current-
We also answer with The Huffington Post calling our ly looking for people to parse updates
questions. Got one? response “brilliant” and a model for the coming from south of the border. As
Occupy Movement as a whole. well, we are planning a trip to Kamloops
Email us: info.occupyvan- to offer workshops to Occupiers there.
couver@gmail.com
|| THE OCCUPIED VANCOUVER SUN ||

3. OCCUPYVANCOUVER.COM | MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012
OPINIONS || 3
WHAT DOES OCCUPY of masculine and feminine forces. If in
“I haven’t really heard much about the first place people come here to fight
MEAN TO YOU? it, all I know is it has to do with… against something, [that] intention will
What the 99% really thinks money…working, jobs, stuff like eventually create wars. If we want to
about this controversial that. Absolutely, it’s also affected me, see a change in the world, we have to
like, with schooling and stuff, jobs. It’s change ourselves first.”
global movement hard to live here by yourself, you know? —YANN, 28, Light Worker
There’s a lot of issues [but] if we’re
BY ANJA NOVKOVIC here to just talk about our issues and “I think that anytime we take time to
nothing really is getting resolved, then reflect on how we live, how our society
T he Occupy Vancouver movement it’s kind of pointless ‘cause we’re doing
–and the Occupy movement in that everyday, you know? We should
general –has gotten a lot of smack definitely get more people with authority
from its critics (those of strong opinion involved [with the movement] so [that]
and those not) but it has also gotten much we have more power to actually take ac-
is structured, what we do with our
wealth and what we at the same time
do with the need that exists within our
society, I think it’s a worthwhile thing.
Exactly how to go about that, I’m not
praise from some of the most unlikely tion. Everyone has things going on, and sure. Some of my pastoral colleagues
places. Many who are involved already all we need is to just help each other, have expressed interest in circulating
with Occupy Vancouver have spent the really, to get together and help.” among the occupy people and expressing
past two weeks defending, explaining, —SONYA, Age 20, Server affirmation and support. I guess that’s
and asserting the movement to individu- about the closest I’ve come to it myself.
als who often are not directly opposed “I see here people are creating a lov- I’ve read various journalists [who] have
to the movement, but rather cannot find ing space, [but] people from different expressed frustration over exactly what
themselves in it. In an attempt to unearth cultures have trouble getting here with the occupy movement is after; I haven’t
the human stories and experiences within us because the way that we speak is the read closely enough or followed it closely
the movement and draw vital connections way that we’ve seen the people speak in enough myself to form my own judge-
between it and those unsure of it, we have the Western hemisphere -which is from ments on it.”
gone to the source: the 99% itself –on the head. This is a discussion for schol- —CLIFF, Lutheran Pastor
site and on the streets. Within their brief ars. But we’re here to be here as human
words there lay passion, conviction, uncer- beings. It would be good to create a way
tainty, fear, and hope: all of the makings that we communicate together in a loving
of a real, inclusive revolution. way and respecting the natural balances
occupy education people’s library strategic planning
Occupy Education is creating an open The People’s Library of Vancouver is After its first meeting in December, the
space for members of the community doing some exciting work this winter. Strategic Planning Working Group is in
to discuss issues surrounding education In addition to setting up a small branch the process of formulating a statement
as well as to plan direct meetings. At at The Dharma Lab, and drop-off bins of purpose. Essentially, its mandate will
the first meeting, we saw representation at Spartacus Books, Little Sisters and be to consult as widely as possible, via
from five schools: SFU, UBC, Cap- The People’s Co-op, we’ve also taken a public listening campaigns and meet-
ilano College, Emily Carr and Douglas small collection on tour, from Seattle to ings with existing activist and social
College, of which members have been Los Angeles and even Las Vegas! Spring movement organizations, with an aim to
meeting on a weekly basis. Occupy promises to be even more exciting as we develop short, medium, and long-term
Education is looking into having regular build a mobile bookshelf system that campaign themes and strategies around
meetings to discuss and coordinate will make us more mobile and resilient which to focus Occupy Vancouver’s
direct action both on a local level as well than ever. We’re always looking for activities.
as in solidarity with future national and volunteers, so please feel free to drop
international days of action. For more into our weekly meeting every Sunday Contact information for
information go to OccupyEducation on at 11:30am at the Central Library Food committees & working
Facebook. Court. Look for us at ovpeopleslibrary.
wordpress.com and contact us at
groups can be found at
ovpeopleslibrary@gmail.com. occupyvancouver.com
|| THE OCCUPIED VANCOUVER SUN ||

4. 4 || LEGAL MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012 | OCCUPYVANCOUVER.COM
THE INJUNCTION OF and others in an attempt to find ways of
sharing the space.
OCCUPY VANCOUVER: In the end, Justice Mackenzie took
MOVING FORWARD no more than five minutes to make her
decision. She stressed that constitutional
arguments had no part in her decision as
BY KALEEN MCNAMARA &
these would have to be heard in a trial.
MATHEW KAGIS According to her order, all structures
had to be removed by Nov. 21 including
O n Nov. 18, Justice Anne Mack- the stage and information tents. When
enzie ordered the 37-day-old
encampment off the Vancou-
ver Art Gallery grounds by Nov. 21
and gave the city the power to remove
Monday arrived the occupiers moved
to the grounds of the Provincial Court
and the province sought an immediate
ex-parte injunction, eliminating the need
occupiers’ property. During the hearing for a hearing, which was granted by the
leading up to that decision, the city’s court.
lawyer argued that the occupiers had This brings us up to date, so what’s the
broken city bylaws and should therefore next step? Quite simply, Occupy Van-
be forced to leave. Any arguments about couver, the ball is in our court. The city
the whether the bylaw infringes the right and the province both have their injunc-
to protest were outside the scope of the tions. It is not in their interest to have a
hearing, the city argued, and should be trial. It is in the interest of Occupy.
left for a separate trial. We now have to put our legal house in
Occupy Vancouver’s lawyers argued order. This means gathering affidavits,
that the constitutional question ought to witnesses, statements, and evidence.
be considered and that there is conflict- Then, challenge the constitutionality
ing evidence in the affidavit materials of the city’s bylaws in court. Currently,
of those involved with OV and those lawyers Kathryn Campbell and Mike
submitted by the city. The first-hand ac- McCubbin have agreed to work on this PHOTO BY I. VALLEY
counts from Occupy participants chal- for free. Sadly, free help combined with
lenge the city’s claim that OV had not the speed of the courts, means this pro- Last day at the Vancouver Art Gallery
attempted to comply with fire orders; cess will move slowly. What can you do
that the protesters did not seek a protest to help this process move forward? Tell
permit; and that the occupation was your story in writing and tell it in chron- vancouver events
blocking other groups from using the ological order, focus on your activities
CORRUPTION IN
grounds. Evidence included e-mail con- with OV and how the shutting down DEMOCRACY
versations showing they had attempted of the camp impacted those activities. When: Sat, Jan 21
to comply with the city from the begin- These may be used as affidavits in court. @ 15:30 - 16:30
ning, but realized current permitting Start telling your tale, be factual and Where: Vancouver Public Library
precise and send it to legal-committe@ (atrium area)
excludes events such as this and that
What: Discussion topics - election
the city did not supply any alternatives, googlegroups.com. finance, conflict of interest & more
and communication with groups such A trial may just be our chance to get
as the Grey Cup, the Santa Claus Parade our story out to the 99%. ECO ARTS SALON
When: Wed, Jan 25
@ 19:00 – 21:00
COMIC BY EZRA FULFORD
Where: Roundhouse Community
Centre
What: Environmental artists present
their work and hold discussions
DISMANTLING EMPIRE
When: Thu, Jan 26
@ 18:30 – 22:00
Where: W2 Media Cafe
What: Skype Q & A with Derrick Jen-
sen, author of Endgame, Deep Green
Resistance, & Lives Less Valuable
|| THE OCCUPIED VANCOUVER SUN ||