SS236: People, Power, and Politics: An Introduction to American Government
Kaplan University
February 29th, 2012
The Occupy movements have sprung up all over the world because citizens are fed up with their countries current situation and believe a real change can be achieved through the coordination of non violent actions and self-managed alternatives. They believe for example; that another world is possible, where nobody has to die of hunger while others throw food away.
“We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.” (OWS 2011)
When reading the Declaration of Occupation it does appear to get into different areas but most of the focus is on corporate power. Other subjects are Democracy and what it means today , Economic justice, Environment, Human rights (including free practice of religion, women’s rights), National and ethnic identity (including anti-colonial struggles) and Peace.
Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is part of the global movement that attempts to address the underlying economic issues creating the suffering of the "99%" by the "1%" elite. It began with Occupy Wall Street after the economic downturn and the injustices unknown to the public at the time. The idea was to create public space to air out the people’s grievances publicly and openly. Sometimes the solution comes from the exposure of the problem. OWS attempts to broaden its base, resist manipulation, attacks, and attempts to include various causes of sufferings while highlighting the global profiteering abuses of the 1%.
Occupy Tampa
Being required to do another project on this topic has become a big problem there are only 78 occupy members in Tampa
References: Lang, M. (2011) Police arrest 29 Occupy Tampa protesters after asking them to vacate park. The Tampa Tribune. Retrieved 2/18/2012 from web site; http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/police-arrest-29-occupy-tampa protesters-after-asking-them-to-vacate-park/1204486 Occupy Tampa (2012) Community Rally and March . Retrieved 2/18/2012 from web site; http://www.occupytampa.org/ai1ec_event/community-support-rally-for-west-tampa/?instance_id Occupy Tampa (2012) Rally and March over the Internet. Retrieved 2/18/2012 from web site; http://www.ustream.tv/channel/occupy-tampa-live-feed. OWS NY (2011) Declaration of Occupation. Retrieved 2/18/2012 from web site; http://www.occupytampa.org/announcements/declaration-of-occupation/#more-1024