4th General Assembly – Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Dario – speaker from Milan
Report on violent protests in Rome on Saturday 15th October 2011
Explanation of process
Facilitation team announce political affiliations
Proposal that we spend a minute talking to the person next to us about our vision for the camp, and then spend half an hour presenting different ideas
Speakers called for and against
James speaks against
Purpose of assembly is to pass decisions, time to sort out ideas is beforehand. Questions idea of productivity. Not appropriate or general assembly
Paul speaks for
Old habits die hard. This would be a good start to the process.
Vote taken – consensus not reached
Announcements
The meeting of the economics discussion group from Monday will now be held at 4:30pm Wednesday 19 october 2011 – website omeconomicdiscussion.wordpress.com
Group hug
Reports back from working groups
Indigenous working group
Has information about campaigns
outdoor indigenous film festival starting on Saturday at 8:30 with special guests
Saturday – our generation
Sunday – bastardy
Monday – wrong side of the road
Promotions group
Costa
We need more people for promotions
Proposal to spread news in suburbs, posters to Brunswick or Footscray or other places, volunteers called for
Educational workshops during the day – call for instructors in art, permaculture, self-sufficiency etc
Call for graphic designers
Note – area is alcohol and illicit drug free
Education group
Baron
Report from second meeting.
Have started to build education centre
Spanish classes, yoga, economics and indigenous iissues classed are running
Announcement from kitchen group
Dianne
permaculture food empowerment workshops will be run
community and union liaison
emma
“towers of power” march to happen on Friday 20 october
maritime union, ETU, CPU, CFMEU, unite, IWW
leaflets are being made to be distributed at march on friday
close to reaching consensus on three sites to visit – ANZ, Australia Post, BHP
first aid group
request for any volunteers with medical training
media and police liaison
nick
we have a commitment from the police that they won’t be evicting us for at least a couple of days. We are maintaining a good relation with police and authorities
“can we reciprocate that we won’t evict them for a couple of days either”
The Queen is arriving next week, police are happy if we demonstrate as long as we remain peaceful and don’t do anything stupid
Request for anyone with experience talking to media, or public speaking.
Report on need for a media centre needing to be built
Report on 15 minute successful live stream from evening of Monday 17 october 2011
Public and media perception of the camp is a worry because outside media have expressed that we seem to be hippies just sitting around banging drums. We need to reach out to the broader community.
Direct media on site to people wearing pink arm bands
Individual proposals
James
Proposal
That we declare ourselves unequivocally against all existing and future “austerity programs” of the world’s governments and
Send it’s love and solidarity to all people currently fighting against austerity programs, both inside and outside the global occupation movement via the appropriate channels
Passed by unanimous
Kids and parents working group
Report back
Want to get children’s activities happening on the weekend, notice has been put up for sugestions
Call for volunteers to help co-ordinate
Positive feedback on occupied wall street school
Carl
Proposal to have a n aboriginal walking tour on streets on Thursday 19th October 2011 from 4pm to 5:30pm
Report from Robbie Thorpe who gives examples of how the streets of Melbourne are named after genocidal murderers.
Will be a walking protest handing out flyers. About education not aggravation
Passed unanimously
Sam
Works for friends of the earth (politics)
Proposal to set up an internet radio station where anybody is free to record a podcast to create a record that can go out to the world on what we want to say
Like to have something in place where ordinary people can become spokespeople to the media on various subjects.
Passed by consensus
Jeremy
Bring the plight to the homeless people
How about we all help the homeless people who are stuck living on the streets
Proposal that we declare in solidarity with the homeless
Passed by consensus
jeremy
Proposal that we compile a list of grievances
Action – to media team
Shannon talks to idea, report on media working group
Vote taken, dissent shown
Passed by consensus
Cat
Note about rubbish and overflowing bins
Proposal to take personal responsibility for rubbish
Passed by consensus
Katie
From socialist alternative
Proposal – That we call for people in the unions to put proposals to their unions for statements of solidarity with occupy Melbourne
Delegate of NTU branch committee welcomes occupy wall street movement
Jerome
Representative of CFMEU
Proposal that we declare solidarity with CFMEU against ABCC
Declare solidarity with unions
Support of construction unions specifically
Passed by consensus
Arthur
Proposal – That we resume the discussion that we sort out a list of general demands
If we can’t tell people what we want, then they won’t listen to us
Dissent shown
Speakers for and against called
Speaker against
Wasn’t enough of a feeling to support that
James speaks for
The motion is ONLY that we resume the discussion. It is not something to be decided by subcommittee
Jeremy speaks against
A working group has just been set up for this exact process
Vote taken
Consensus not reached
Manu
Proposal that emotional education should be part of the curriculum from ages 5 to 15
Dissent shown
Speaks against
Current Victorian curriculum does include emotional components
Andrew Speaks for
There’s more to life that money
Vote taken – consensus not reached
Rachael
Proposal to endorse
Rally on dec 3 in Sydney against homophobia
sex agenda diversity conference Friday dec 2 in Sydney
Sunday dec 4 general assembly – marriage conference
Passed by consensus
Kitchen
Amy
Note – breakfast from 7 to 10
Lunch 1 – 3
Dinner 7 to 10
Volunteers called for
Wants to continue to expand
Will run workshops on knitting, composting, etc
Andrew
Proposal that we have minimal to no swearing at general assembly
Dissent shown
Speakers against
Seems to be a beurocratic control
Speaker for
There are legitimate fines for public indecency
Speaker against
Language is formed by upbringing. We should not be using the same rules as the government
Speaker for
Swearing not necessary to convey a message
Censoring is ridiculous
Vote taken
Consensus not shown
Direct Action
Report from franca
Tomorrow – walk to Circo – gather at 12:15 at city square to start at 1pm
Brandon
Tulley
Endorse national day of opposition to bhp on Thursday 20 october 2011
BHP AGM opposition
Proposal that occupymelbourne
Passed by consensus
Baron
Proposal that the government take a more active role in investigating and acting on the situation affecting the homeless and mentally ill
Passed by consensus
Rally for mentally ill people on 30 october – check facebook
Nicola
Proposal that occupy melbourne request a clear outline of all tasks carried out by each working group that are then ratified by general assembly
Report back tomorrow with a list of tasks specific to their mandate
Passed by consensus
Announcement from promotions
Nick
Security people have said that anyone staying tonight music attend security and safety briefing
AVAAZ wants to put OM on live feed
Seedlings have been donated, we can start a farm
Promotions meeting 12:30pm Wednesday 19
First aid and info looking for volunteers
you guys should occupy a shower!