Looming evictions are competing with a desire to stay on and engage more people into kicking the system. There’s a vertiginous sense of standing on the brink of something massive, of making history… and a parallel fear that Occupy could stumble and disappear down a crack leaving only a cyber-echo […]
ON TRIAL IN THE ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE, FLEET STREET Through airport-style security into a hallway of imposing arches and mosaic floors, past a glass case containing relics of Guy Fawkes’ trial, I push open heavy doors and enter the gallery above Court 25, where Occupiers are crammed onto narrow […]
The protest movement that began in Tunisia in January, subsequently spreading to Egypt, and then to Spain, has now become global, with the protests engulfing Wall Street and cities across America. Globalization and modern technology now enables social movements to transcend borders as rapidly as ideas can. And social protest […]
At Occupy we talk a lot about economic injustice, but less attention is paid to how our legal system legitimises and perpetuates the status quo. For example, consider the legal obligation of company directors to maximise profits for shareholders, above all other considerations. Such obligations, ingrained in the status quo of our […]
On March 26th 500,000 people took to the streets to stand up against the cuts which are destroying our lives. One of the protests that day was ‘Occupy for the Alternative’ called by UK Uncut, where hundreds took part in a sit-in protest at Fortnum and Mason – Royal Grocers, and […]
Just over a quarter of all British workers are in a trade union. Up to three million of them will be out on strike on Wednesday, 30th November (N30). That leaves millions of workers not coming out, many of whom might be wondering why public sector workers are striking over […]
November 30th is a milestone. It’s the biggest co-ordinated strike since the 1926 General Strike, which led the then-Tory Government to fear imminent “red revolution”. Up to three million workers from across the public sector will take part in the most widespread form of direct action the Cameron regime has […]
As is evident from events in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya and Syria throughout 2011, some governments make no reservations about using any means possible to kill a protest. By comparison, the UK has a long history of peaceful demonstrations – some of which have played an important role in effecting […]
Some weeks ago, as the novelty started to wear off the Wall Street occupation, media interest was suddenly renewed by reports of mass arrests. Arrests for peaceful protest, arrests for voicing an opinion, arrests for walking on the wrong bit of street. Arrests, even, for withdrawing one’s own money from […]
Lucas Papademos is the new Greek prime minister. He is also the former vice-president of the European Central Bank. A man who would possibly do anything to ensure that Greece remains in the Eurozone, despite public outcry. In Italy, Berlusconi is replaced by an ex-EU Commissioner named Mario Monti. Monti […]