In particular I've watched vlogs of the Melbourne, Australia, Occupy Movement through the eyes and camera of You-tuber Sean Beadlam. Sean is quite a hard hitting comedian whose humor is topical, political and often based on the injustices faced by the oppressed. He also focuses on the media and how they'll beat up a story to get their 'angle' rather than provide balanced reporting of the whole story.
Although not one of his comedy routines this video below from Occupy Melbourne is a good example of Sean's work with several juxtaposes of the Occupy movement with media and Sean's use of technology.
Although Sean isn't the only source of my information, you would think that a guy like him would have more to say about the movement and why you should get involved. But instead he aligns himself with the movement perfectly by not really explaining anything about it at all beyond 'It's not just one reason we're here'.
One of the Occupiers even explains in one of Sean's videos (and I'm paraphrasing) "Why would you Occupy? The real question is... Why wouldn't you?" As if that explains everything clearly. I hate that kind of nothing statement. You can apply it to anything.
"Money, power, greed. The real question is not why would you want these things it's why wouldn't you?"
I get that the core point of the occupy movement is about corporations holding all the power at the expense of real, hard working every day people. Corporate fat cats getting richer whilst the rest of us supposedly struggle just to put food on the table... and I'm sure for a lot of people it is a struggle too.
However there's no way I feel I can join a movement where you just pick something to protest about and suddenly you're a part of it. Which is how it seems to me from my apathetic perch in denial.
An interesting development is a new web meme that lets you Occupy any web site, passively. Just enter a URL into occupytheurl.com and you'll be taken to a copy of that web site where images of protesters will gradually occupy the site. Click here to Occupy my blog (I'd recommend you finish reading before you try it). The meme will give you a link to the Rebuild the Dream web site - a great place to learn more about the original movement.
Whilst the meme site is an interesting way to support the movement online it also seems to capture the lack of focus. You can apply it to any site and then click the links to share your occupation of the site on Facebook or Twitter.
The Occupy movement's lack of focus is a real problem. To me it seems they're too busy setting up tent cities and building communities of like minded individuals who all want to change something. Ultimately what you get is a group that wants to change everything and no consensus on where to start.
Personally I don't want to change everything. That's why I wouldn't get out and protest - there question answered. Why wouldn't you protest? That's why!
Then again, I'm not the kind of person that goes out and protests period. I find it a very negative thing to do despite the fact that protesters probably feel it's a positive action of empowerment.
There are better ways to affect change than sitting in a street marveling at how people have come together and built a real sense of a grass roots movement by pitching tents and holding meetings.
I don't like publicizing Bikie Gangs but those people did what I think is a better way of bringing about change. Fight fire with fire. When South Australia's new Anti-bikie laws went too far they all got together, hired lawyers and challenged the SA Government in the courts and won.
That's the thing about living in a so called 'free' society. All those things the corporations are taking advantage of could also be used against them if you know the system.
Yes but we're all too poor to afford fancy lawyers, legal advice, flash cars... come on. This is the internet. The age of crowd sourcing just about anything. With a bit of focus you can do just about anything. Like the Egyptians did in affecting change in their government through social media.
It's just an idea. You can start a movement from your lounge room. If you really wanted to start something.
Instead of berating all those apathetic people living in denial and not getting out and joining the 'movement' why not actually do something that enables them to support the cause without affecting their day jobs... that they're struggling to keep due to the economic climate.
People power is there to be harnessed by anyone who really knows how to affect change... and it's not building tent cities and marveling at how awesome it is to be protesting.
It's about knowing what needs to be changed and having some kind of plan to actually change it that people can get behind and support.
It is not surprising to find some protests lacking of focus and core objective. Especially in a country that practice democracy, the freedom of expression is a worn out right by every citizen who wants to be heard. Sometimes, these movements are even used as propaganda.
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