During the last four months the Occupy movement has raised awareness of global problems and has also found broad agreement across society, both locally and globally, that these urgently need addressing: Inequality, unsustainabilty and dysfunctional democracy.Those at the Haymarket have had positive and mutually enriching conversations with literally thousands of people during this time. Aside from the Haymarket camp - which now has its own working party - Occupy Norwich is moving on to a new phase of wider community and direct actions, educational projects, and a continued public forum for discussion.
This month we are planning a People's Assembly - basically an alternative form of government, where people from Norwich have the opportunity to discuss their interests, form working groups and basically make their own politics based on the consensus system Occupy Norwich use. Many people do not feel represented by the existing government anymore, including local councils. The idea of a Norwich People’s Assembly is to gain some influence over our own lives, practise real democracy and help the community and ourselves.
Many more activities have been carried out and are planned, like the Occupy Festival last weekend (3-5 February) that took place in venues situated across central Norwich and an on-line survey (for interim results see here).
Please do get in touch with us if you have inspirations, would love to contribute but don’t know how, want to get active or just express your opinions – we are here to listen to the 100%! Vanessa Buth
Further information about Occupy Norwich can be found at their website, on Facebook or Twitter.
Picture of Occupy Norwich assembly from Article on Occupy Movement through Pragmatist Glasses by Olaya
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