Posts by Hilary Stace
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Merging Occupy with the above mention of libraries reminded me to mention this:
Occupy Libraries: Keeping free public libraries on the agenda
Owners of Wellington Libraries (OWL) will hold a special event on Saturday 29 October to keep the pressure on for free public libraries.
The group of local library lobbyists is inviting Wellington library users to a stall near the central library between 11 am and 2 pm on Saturday, and offering a chance to send a message to MPs and election candidates, about the importance of free public libraries.
‘Central government does not run public libraries – they are the responsibility of local Councils’, said Marie Russell of OWL. ‘But we are asking central government to enshrine the free public library in legislation, as happens in other countries, to ensure citizens continue to have free access to the world of information and quality leisure materials that public libraries contain.’
‘Sadly, during recessions, Councils often try to reduce library services and opening hours or to charge for borrowing – at the very time people need high-quality free public libraries more than ever. For people on low incomes, or those trying to learn new skills, free public libraries are extremely important as a resource. And being free civic spaces, public libraries bring all kinds of people together as equals.’
The purpose of Saturday’s event is to give library users a chance to write a letter to their current MP and local candidates - to tell them how important free public libraries are in our communities.
OWL supports the ‘Keep Public Libraries Free’ campaign of LIANZA, the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa; see
http://www.lianza.org.nz/news-events/keep-public-libraries-free -
Hard News: Occupy: Don't call it a protest, in reply to Sacha,
Not so much about actions as reflecting the rapidly changing times.
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I think the Dame Anne Salmond piece was wonderful, and reflected what many people (particularly women?) are thinking and feeling but who do not have her talent for expressing it, and access to the media for op-ed commentary. And so do many others from the number of times it has been shared and commented on in Facebook and other networks.
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An example of the generosity of spirit of the Occupy Wellington group - offering face painting and cups of tea for the RWC parade crowd. BTW the weather in Wgtn is appalling today - gale force northerlies and rain threatening.
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Hard News: Occupy: Don't call it a protest, in reply to Russell Brown,
My understanding is that the group planning to occupy the Reserve Bank are an entirely separate group who had been planning this for Guy Fawkes day since before the NZ Occupy movement started. I'm not sure of the relationship between the groups these days but the Occupy movement seems pretty inclusive so they have probably come under that umbrella - and for many people one bank is much the same as any other oppressive financial corporate. I think Alex's anger might be partially due to personal association with the RB.
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Hard News: Occupy: Don't call it a protest, in reply to Russell Brown,
I would say the average age at OW is quite young, or at least they certainly look it. They are making a virtue of not being a spokesperson for anyone or anything apart from themselves. I think they debate these issues quite extensively at their twice daily general assemblies. There seems to be a lot of discussing going on, face to face or in groups, which almost seems a lost art.
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I went to visit the Wellington Occupy yesterday. They have just put out the first edition of the Occupied Dominion Post which reveals that many of them are about to sit university exams, or are employed, unlike some of the media stereotypes.
It had grown since the last time I visited and tents covered the little grassy bit off the City to Sea bridge and about a third of the nearby Ilott green (where there is the most hideous statue you have ever seen and this is why the rugby supporters want to go there). A blackboard advertised the times for today's discussions (eg politics at 2.45 and the role of the university at 3.30). There was quite a strong gale and some of the bigger tents were being taken down in a very cooperative manner. I don't know why anyone thinks the Occupiers are in any way soft. Camping in Wellington's spring weather is very challenging.
There are lots of chalk messages everywhere but no party political or union banners to be seen. It all seemed very well organised and responsible. A large group returned from a march around Wellington and then they all got into a large circle on the grass for communal catch up. They have started using a human mike (when everyone repeats the previous few words that one person has said) which Occupy Wall Street developed when amplification was banned, and there is a great youtube clip of Michael Moore addressing them using that method. To onlookers the whole effect is almost primary school like, until you hear what is being discussed. When we asked what we could do to help they said that it would be good if we could tell the council that they aren't causing any harm and are happy to cooperate with them, such as sharing the space with the march. The police are just across the road and there are concerns they they could do the Sydney thing and raid without warning.
I know I'm a child of the 60s and I find this whole global movement pretty heartening but there definitely is something very positive and happy about the Wellington Occupy, as if a lot of gentle little elves have come to visit, and as a result the city is somehow blessed.
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Just been reading Margaret Pope's autobiography. As the PM in 1987 David Lange had no interest in rugby at all (personal or political). But rugby was still seen then as a shabby unprincipled sport tainted by the Springbok and Cavaliers tours.
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My late uncle was in the NZ team for that Empire games (and/or possibly the 1954 ones too). He was in the billiards, pool or snooker team or whatever version of that game was the official one. He had a monster pool table in his garage in Auckland and a large collection of newspaper cuttings pasted on the walls. Not being the least bit interested in sport I never appreciated any of it.
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The other alternative is just to get two big brains together and sort of interview them about their ideas in this 1971 Chomsky Foucault discussion http://www.openculture.com/2011/10/chomsky-foucault_debate_1971.html
I mention this because I got two good friends together finally and they had a nice chat in the rain in a Cuba Street carpark about Foucault and Marx, because the topic was so interesting and there are not many people who share the passion.