Back from 4 days at OWS in NYC

[PETRUS]

Does anybody else who went (or is there) want to compare notes?

Does anyone who hasn't been (including occupiers from other sites) have questions?

[Frustratedlady]

1. What was your impression? Well organized? Able to withstand the cold? EOM

[PETRUS]

2. Struggling to improve organization...

...while avoiding autocratic decision-making. It's a delicate balance and most of the people involved in the working groups and administrative functions are very aware of that and sensitive to it. By the way, all you have to do to be involved with the decision making is to show up and check the working group schedules. My wife and I inserted ourselves into several meetings and our participation was welcomed.

There's an intense amount of preparation for cold weather. There are about 500 care packages arriving daily via UPS and a fair amount of that is cold-weather gear. There are racks and racks of sub-zero sleeping bags ready to go when the time comes. This morning I heard that the police came and took away the biodiesel generators and the fuel, which were part of the cold-weather plan. But before I left we voted (at the general assembly) to approve funds to purchase a bank of stationary bikes hooked up to generators with battery storage, so perhaps those could be used to provide heat as well as power for the tech equipment.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. Watch out with any batteries --

SFPD just told Occupy SF that batteries posed an "environmental hazard" and had to be removed from the camp entirely. I feel this is less a real environmental issue and more about restricting communications and general hassling.

Thank you for participating! :loveya:

[PETRUS]

8. You are probably right.

And thanks to you too! :)

[Frustratedlady]

6. I'm impressed. Thanks for your comments AND support.

We only have one site in the state that I'm aware of. I may try to join them for at least a few hours. It's 1 1/2 hours away.

[PETRUS]

9. I hope you can manage a trip.

And I'd be eager to hear what your state's site is like. I gather they all have their own flavor/character and somewhat different approaches to "process."

[LynneSin]

10. One thing I learned from my stepfather - you can find exercize bikes for cheap

I'm sure they only need the cheap non-electric ones but usually craig's list will have them for like $50 or less.

Seems alot of people just want to unload them after they spent years using them as coat racks.

[coalition_unwilling]

3. Petrus, wasn't sure you had seen my report from

Occupy Los Angeles last weekend (Oct 22 & 23):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=2175014

My wife and I will be heading down again this weekend. Some potentially ominous storm clouds are hovering, as both Mayor Villaraigosa and Councilman Rosendahl have indicated separately that they are losing patience with the Occupy encampment at City Hall. I left voicemails with each yesterday expressing my unconditional support of OLA. Neither call was returned - big surprise there - but Rosendahl's receptionist sounded stressed out, like she had been getting a lot of telephonic heat about Rosendahl's betrayal.

[PETRUS]

4. Thanks! I hadn't seen that; will read it now. nt

[defendandprotect]

7. kr

[Pacifist Patriot]

11. What are some productive ways people can help who....

may not be in a position to physically be present at OWS in NYC....or elsewhere for that matter?

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Donate to the lawyers guild

Find one of the sites online and spread word.

[PETRUS]

17. What nadinbrzezinski said, and also

...you can visit www.nycga.net and join a group if you want to contribute intellectually. Also check out the "how to help" tab there (http://www.nycga.net/how-to-help/).

Thank you!!!

[Fire Walk With Me]

12. I was wondering where you were. Thanks for participating!

[PETRUS]

16. Thanks, it was intense. nt

[David Ippolito]

13. Did we shoot you?

Are you in this video to give the world a more accurate view of "The People" downtown?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7annSXf7uDo

Hope so. It's an honor to stand with OWS in Zuccotti Park. Thanks for being one of the good guys.

[PETRUS]

18. Fun clip!

I did not see myself, but I did notice a bunch of familiar faces. :) Cameras were everywhere, and I was definitely filmed more than once.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. I was in San Diego ( not for the eviction)

Last night and the night before last. One way to describe it is overtly controlled chaos...but it is leaderless so that ain't shocking.

When not physically there I have adopted them as the to keep du updated with info site.

[Fire Walk With Me]

19. Kick!

[Zorra]

20. Thanks, Petrus.

:grouphug: