On behalf of Occupy Gala St Reserve Invercargill

The intent of the Invercargill occupation is to provide solidarity and encouragement to the Occupy Wall St (#OWS) group of individuals who are currently in residence in New York’s financial district. The only plan the occupiers of Gala St have is to remain in place as long the occupation of New York and other cities, at last count 2,310 worldwide, continue.

There is no single demand or politic platform that can be negotiated to end the Gala St occupation and it will remain as long the individuals involved feel it necessary to express their frustration with global situation and solidarity with #OWS.

The #OWS movement speaks on behalf of 99% of the population against the wealthiest 1%. The 1% act in a way that is not in the interest of the remaining 99% and the #OWS movement want this to change.

After receiving a bill for occupation of the Reserve, those involved in the occupation would like to bring the following points to your attention.

Firstly the occupation does not have any leaders or recognized spokespeople so there is no body who has authority to sign a tenancy agreement, and none has been signed with the Invercargill City Council.

The Occupiers are expressing their democratic right to freedom of speech and assembly.

Homeless people have joined the camp and are able to live in greater comfort than they otherwise would.

The Park is still open to the public, the camp is still open to public, in fact there is now a weather proof meeting place where residents of Invercargill can meet to discuss politics and economics and get a hot drink and some food.

The occupiers are picking up rubbish around the park.

$7.50 has so far been paid for power, and the occupiers are willing provide further funding for power, we are not using ICC power currently.

The camp is abiding by the fire ban.

The occupiers are using their own toilet paper and public toilets.

Due to incidents of drunkeness and people using bushes and trees as toilets the decision has been made to make the camp an alcohol free zone to discourage intoxicated visitors from drinking at the camp.

The camp cannot however prevent the public from drinking or relieving themselves in the park nearby the camp as Gala St Reserve remains open to public, but all attempts will be made to non-violently discourage such behavior.

There are many residents of Invercargill who are donating money and food to the occupation that is being distributed to the local population who visit the camp.

The decision has been made that occupation will not pay rent, this is because #OWS is a protest group and the Invercagill branch paying rent would violate the protest nature of the camp.

Other points we would like to address were discussions of a house to occupy, while the camp does want to leave it is also not in anyone’s best interests for things to turn nasty. In the interests of an open dialog any proposal for alternative sites will be discussed at general assembly of all occupiers, and you can be assured the occupiers will openly and objectively discuss any alternative sites.

For further information Gordon Campbell and Bernard Hickey have begun to engage in discussion of the New Zealand occupations, using the platform to open discussions on the current economic situation. To quote Gordon Campbell writing about the mayor of Wellington and Auckland on Scoop.co.nz “The test for Len Brown and Celia Wade-Brown in the coming weeks will consist in whether they choose to allow themselves to become the enforcement arm of the money lenders” He hopes they will not and the occupy Gala St group would like to say the same of you Mr Shadbolt.

Bernard Hickey has written on interest.co.nz “The way Wall Street investment bankers took control of economic policy in America and Europe over the last 20 years was shocking and disastrous. The populace are only now waking up to the fact that all (yes 100%) of the economic growth created in the last 2 decades went to the wealthiest 1%, most of whom were bankers or hedge fund managers, because regulations were eased to allow banks to grow massively”. You may disagree with the tactic of occupation but economic commentators in New Zealand are also concerned with same issues. It is not just the residents of 154 Gala St who are concerned with the current direction of Global capitalism.

Finally Gordon Campbell asks why the occupations cannot stay indefinitely, can you offer a reason?

There is a Chinese curse that says “May you live in interesting times.” We choose to see this curse as an opportunity for change, and the times are certainly interesting.

ENDS

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