I love the Occupy movement. I love seeing people stand up and say, this isnt right, this isnt working. Im not going to say much because so many people have said it better then I could. But I will share this great article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-berger/what-if-the-occupy-moveme_b_1072174.html
One of my favorite lines from the article: "I
believe the Occupy movement is united by our shared desire to move from
being a thing-oriented society to becoming a people-oriented society;
to build a society based on love, instead of greed."
Something I want to add is, Occupy your yard. Plant food. Plant a fruit tree. Plant habitats for birds and butterflies, bees and frogs. Start small. Plant one fruit tree and watch it grow. Even if you rent, that tree will be there for someone, someday. Start the process of reclaiming our food, our health, our planet.
I bought a pear tree at the flea market for $14 a few weeks ago. Next year I will have a couple pears. In three years there will be buckets of pears. Meantime, I get to watch it grow and blossom out my kitchen window. My children and I get to watch hummingbirds rest on its branches. And one day, when Im gone from this place, someone else will enjoy the bounty.
"What is paradise, but a garden?" Grow your own.
Kristin, I thought that you were writing the beginnings of my story! No wonder we are kindred sisters.....bookstore Jen.
ReplyDeleteYeah! This makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteHi Kristen! I came by to see you happen to write something new...and here you are! We have a small group of this movement here in my city...they were on the news the other night because the city decided they couldn't camp out anymore and a few of them got arrested. But they are still there...not camping anymore....but being heard.
ReplyDeleteHi Kristen,
ReplyDeleteI love your "Occupy your yard" concept! I like it more than the other "occupy________" I've witnessed. (I work across the street of the Portland movement.) I support the cause, (things have got to change) but I saw a beautiful beginning turn into chaos, anger, violence from within. (Not to mention the damage to two beautiful Portland parks...sigh...)
But your idea! We can all impact our little piece of the world and watch it spread. Garden boxes instead of grass, fruit trees, natural plants to attract native species, and most importantly, a new mindset. A light breaks over the horizon and it's coming our way!... Nice.
Mark, Thank you. "We can all impact our little piece of the world and watch it spread." Love it! Exactly. "Be the change". I have not been to our small Occupy movement here in Florida yet. I want to, I really do. And Im loosely planning to go tonight. However, somehow I keep feeling my place at the moment is to keep gardening, composting, being with my children, making art, educating myself, and spreading the word. I closed my bank account, back to banking strictly with our local credit union. Trying to do my part. That said, Hugely grateful for all the people that are out there getting maced in the face (undeservedly), arrested, marching, camping and bringing a huge voice to the discontent that is wide spread and until now largely unacknowledged. Within any movement or organization there will be the people that dont truly get it, that tarnish the image.. I do believe the majority of the protesters to be peaceful. Peaceful in the face of anger, violence and corruption is a tall order. The damage to the parks is unfortunate. And often times we have to lose something to gain. This is not a perfect movement. But what about the damage to our economy, society, freedom and our beautiful planet? There will be losses, but in the end I believe what we have to re-gain is so much greater.
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