As part of the #OccupyWallStreet protests people have been talking about moving their money. Moving their money? Yup, let’s close our accounts at the big corporate banks that are screwing the 99% over and open up an account at a small bank.
Why do it? From Move Your Money:
“The Move Your Money project is a nonprofit campaign that encourages individuals and institutions to divest from the nation’s largest Wall Street banks and move to local financial institutions. Little has changed to prevent another financial crisis or to end ‘Too Big To Fail,’ and with Congress unwilling to act, we are encouraging individuals to take power into their own hands by voting with their dollars and no longer contributing to a financial system that has led our country astray. We are a campaign that gives people real, concrete actions they can take to create a more sane, stable and localized banking system.”
There have been incidents where people have been turned away and arrested for trying to close their accounts (story here)so it’s best to plan ahead. Open up a new account at a small bank first. Make sure you update your account information wherever necessary (like your Audible account for example). Make sure any automatic payments are transferred.
Mr. Radical and I have a Wells Fargo account we’ll be closing in solidarity. What we plan to do is take out most of the money via ATM machine. Then with a small balance remaining we’ll go in and close it. Just in case they refuse us we still get our money out.
Now I love protest marches as much as the next rebel but actions like Move Your Money are hugely important. This hits the banks where they are the weakest-their pocketbook. The official day is November 5th but that’s a Saturday which is kind of inconvenient since most banks close early. I say take your money out as soon as possible and move it to a small bank.
In Colorado hundreds are already doing this in an action called the Mile High Showdown.
As Move Your Money says “If you leave your money with the big banks, they will use it to pay lobbyists to keep Congress from fixing the system.”
However, the decision doesn’t mean the nationally known political science scholar is out of hot water.
It’s a move that buys the D.A. and the police more time to analyze evidence and the build their case against Garcia and other men busted in what police call a prostitution ring.”
I’d been hearing some NM rumors that the case against Garcia was falling apart. I don’t like this whole “buying time” bit. If prosecutors don’t have a case then they shouldn’t file charges in the first place.
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From the Advocate: A Gay Grandson to an Evangelical Empire
“Ten years later, Potts sits in front of an emotional crowd — many of them Oral Roberts University alumni — inside the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center to speak about his perspective on faith and sexuality, as he often does as a member of the Liberty Education Forum’s speakers bureau. He shakes his head, smiles a honeydew grin that belies memories big enough to break through stained-glass windows, and then begins sharing them. Potts continues to measure his former self — the closeted grandchild of televangelist Oral Roberts — against the one we see onstage: a proud, openly gay man.
(snip)
Oral Roberts pioneered TV evangelism, conducted more than 300 crusades on six continents, and founded Oral Roberts University and the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association —a holy empire that was worth more than half a billion dollars. He would also achieve worldwide notoriety after he claimed that God “would take him home” unless his followers raised $8 million in cash.”
Congrats to Randy Roberts Potts for speaking his truth!
As United States Ambassador to the United Nations under the Nixon Administration, President George H.W. Bush (the first President Bush) wrote a letter to Alan Guttmacher (founder of the Guttmacher Institute) congratulating him on creation of a “family planning” stamp commemorating (gasp!!) Margaret Sanger.”
Considering how many anti-choice laws are being hurled Planned Parenthood’s way these days it’s important to remember the Bush’s family one time spot on their board.
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Found via Tits and Sass: Get on the bus: St. James Infirmary’s new sex worker PSAs are
“St. James Infirmary has been providing free, non-judgmental medical and social services for sex workers since 1999. This week, it’ll take the next step. The clinic is putting ads up in Muni buses throughout the city this month meant to educate and inspire Muni riders throughout the city.
From Planned Parenthood’s Facebook:
“Oct. 16th, 1916: The first birth control clinic in America opens. Today Planned Parenthood marks its 95th Anniversary! We are proud to be celebrating nearly a century of service to women and families in the U. S., as well as 40 years of service worldwide.”
They then link to this slideshow to show then and now pictures.
I love Planned Parenthood. Back when I was on birth control I went to them for my pills. I still go to them for my under the hood exams. Plus they’re the one medical place that always took my childfree status seriously.
If you’re in the mood to donate to a charitable cause they’re always a good choice. You can do that here.
A statement from New York City Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway explained that the park’s owners were “postponing their scheduled cleaning of the park, and for the time being withdrawing their request from earlier in the week for police assistance during their cleaning operation.”
“Our position has been consistent throughout: the City’s role is to protect public health and safety, to enforce the law, and guarantee the rights of all New Yorkers,” Holloway explained. “Brookfield believes they can work out an arrangement with the protesters that will ensure the park remains clean, safe, available for public use and that the situation is respectful of residents and businesses downtown, and we will continue to monitor the situation.””
Wow did Occupy WallStreet go viral! Are you following this?! It’s crazy, inspiring and revolutionary.
Some links:
From Adbusters:
“#OCCUPYWALLSTREET is a people powered movement for democracy that began in America on September 17 with an encampment in the financial district of New York City. Inspired by the Egyptian Tahrir Square uprising and the Spanish acampadas, we vow to end the monied corruption of our democracy … join us! We’re now in DAY 22.”
The above link also has a live stream of Occupy WallStreet.
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From Occupy Together:
“Welcome to OCCUPY TOGETHER, an unofficial hub for all of the events springing up across the country in solidarity with Occupy Wall St. As we have followed the news on facebook, twitter, and the various live feeds across the internet, we felt compelled to build a site that would help spread the word as more protests organize across the world. We hope to provide people with information about events that are organizing, ongoing, and building across the U.S. as we, the 99%, take action against the greed and corruption of the 1%.”
Occupy Together has a lot of info on their site.
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From Reddit: OWS: The US vs International Media
“The limited coverage the Occupy Wall Street protest has had from US media has been dismissed on the claim that the protesters “lack a clear objective” other than to protest. This line is widely parroted.
AP via CBS, NPR, ABC, Forbes, Newsday, MSN Money, and many others.
(snip)
vaslittlecrow made a great post that spells out why the US media coverage is currently dismissive, what to expect next, and how this movement may survive becoming the next “Tea Party”.
The media in the US is lying. The protesters are diverse, but have some general unifying objectives. The non-US media sees that.”
This is a great post to see how the international media is covering the protests.
From Forbes: Some Say Occupy Wall Street Protesters Aimless; Facts Say Otherwise
“There has been a lot said about the lack of vision, lack of specific demands, and a disparity of beliefs and goals among the Occupy Wall Street protesters in the media in the past several weeks. A survey of the protestors shows that none of these criticisms are true.”
There are some good statistics in this post.
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Is there a protest near you? Click here to find out.
From Daily Kos: UPDATE-Anonymous YouTube video censored
“This video was originally uploaded early this AM. I know, I watched it and bookmarked it to post later. When I went looking for it, it was… gone.
Anons have re-uploaded it, but it may well be taken down again. If you have the ability and will to do so, please copy and re-upload.
Below the orange solidarity squiggle, the transcription,and an UPDATE.”
The link above has the video transcript. Here’s a direct link to the video which may get pulled.
The weather forecast for tomorrow is partly cloudy skies and highs of 68°F. Nighttime temperatures will reach a low of 52°F. There is a small chance of rain later in the week. Bring, at minimum, warm clothing, sleeping bag, food, water and a tarp.
Saturday’s occupation begins at noon in Bowling Green Park. The first people’s assembly will start at 3 p.m. at One Chase Manhattan Plaza and continue until our one demand is agreed upon by all. Check out the full schedule of events.
A leaked bulletin from the New York Police Department reveals that they expect at least 5,000, and maybe even 20,000 people to swarm Wall Street tomorrow. That just might be enough for us to pull this off!
A telephone support line has been set up by occupywallst.org. For directions or help call (877) 881-3020 to speak with a local activist. For legal advice, or to report an arrest, call the National Lawyers Guild at (212) 679-6018.”
Personally I think the “one demand” should have been decided beforehand. The chance that informants will infiltrate this group is much higher once people are on the ground. Add to that various police beatdowns, tear gas and media pressure to the event and trying to decide something important just got that much harder. I’d vote for the revocation of corporate personhood myself.
Can’t make it to WallStreet? There’s solidarity protests happening worldwide. See the link above for details.
Super cute! I think the heart shape is clever. SWAAY is currently having difficulties with the billboard project. Long story short-no LA billboard company will take their business. I’ll post any updates as soon as I get them.
Yesterday I was sick so didn’t make a 9/11 post on time. But a day late isn’t bad. I’ve blogged several times about 9/11. Mostly I focus on questioning the official story. This year though I want to shift focus. Of all the commentary Reverend Billy’s video stood out the most. He’s asked “What happened to peace?” What happened indeed.
Here’s older footage from Rev. Billy in the days after 9/11. His words still ring true. I love his phrase “our grief is not a cry for war”.
Can we get back to that state-people gathered together trying to figure out how to deal with tragedy in a peaceful way? Ten years of war painfully show us how much it’s not working.
The last article Ms. Magazine sent me to review was When Feminist Art Went Public. From the story:
“Young woman artist, Jazzmin Meins, entered the large room on roller skates, her body wrapped neck-to-knees in medical gauze. As she skated around in front of the audience, she slowly unwrapped the gauze—until she stood before us naked. Then she went into a crouch and laid an egg. Literally.
That was my introduction to performance art at the Woman’s Building in downtown Los Angeles, the first public center in the U.S. devoted to feminist art. It was 1974, a revolutionary time for the “second sex,” and when art met feminism the results were unlike what most of us had seen before: brash, raw,
in your face, stripped-down (performance artists often disrobed, the metaphor of self-revelation inescapable) and all about the brilliant and messy realities of being a woman.”
This was my favorite article of the three. I get nostalgic for the 70s even though I was just a little girl back then. But it’s things like the Feminist Studio Workshop that make me feel this way. How cool would it have been to hang out there-a bunch of female artists hanging out, supporting each other, encouraging each other to push their artwork? The article made it sound like a women’s artist cooperative, or at least that’s how I envisioned it while reading. In my non RV and non sex work life I’m an artist and this story inspired me. There’s several women artists I network with and like the women in the story we support each other. The article makes me want to do more with our small network.
The only downside to the story is the FSW closed down in the 90s. When I was reading it I got all excited-I wanted to visit this place. But then I payed attention and no it’s gone. But there is a retrospective happening that sounds awesome:
“If you missed those early days of feminist art—or if you miss them—you can catch up at “Doin’ It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman’s Building,” the retrospective that will fill
the Ben Maltz Gallery at L.A.’s Otis College of Art and Design from Oct. 1, 2011 through Jan. 28, 2012.”
This article is in the current issue of Ms., the Sex, Lies & Hush Money issue. You can subscribe here. More information on the retrospective can be found here.
The Sex Worker Billboard fundraiser-sweet! I’m so excited about this project. I want to see billboards like this all over the US. Hey, a girl can dream right?
Did you donate? You might be eligible for free swag. From SWAAY’s Twitter:
“Free stickers! $100+ from an adult provider? Free trial of Safe Office.”
I was tempted to go with the Safe Office trial but don’t think I’d use it. (I’m curious about it though so if a reader goes for that send me an email review and I’ll post it.) I’m looking forward to posting the stickers!
I blogged about the Sex Worker Billboard last month but forgot to pledge myself. D’oh! I remembered today, panicked and was relieved to find I didn’t miss the deadline. I pledged my amount but the goal amount hasn’t been met yet. So far $5,950 has been raised of the $7,300 goal.
It’s getting there but there’s only three days left to go. Can you pledge some cash their way? You can do that here.
Ms. Magazine sent me a few articles to preview for their upcoming issue. I was happy to see they wrote an article on the recent Slut Walks.
From Taking Slut for a Walk:
“And so the SlutWalk was born. Since the first march in April of this year, it has reached 45 U.S. cities and 13 other countries, including Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and, most recently, India.”
I love that the Slut Walk is now up to 14 countries. How cool is that? I’m excited about participating in my first Slut Walk later this year and am already brainstorming what my sign will say. (I love the “Consent matters NOT clothes pictured above.) This new protest has caught on so quickly! It’s so inspiring to see younger feminists and activists joining the cause for sexual freedom.
“While thousands have joined the cause, the SlutWalk movement has also created some controversy in feminist circles because of the word slut.
(snip)
But marchers do believe they can reclaim the term. Said organizers of SlutWalk Seattle in an online statement: “One of the most effective ways to fight hate is to disarm the derogatory terms employed by haters, embracing them and giving them positive connotations.”
As a Pagan I hesitated calling myself a “Pagan” in the past. Like slut, the word pagan has so much stigma and negative propaganda attached to it. In college a lesbian friend decided to identify herself as a dyke to reclaim the word. Others may have still judged the word but her action really inspired me and I decided to start identifying as a Pagan. Previously I had identified as a Wiccan because it was more accepted and less of a shocker religious word. I found a freedom and exhilaration in reclaiming labels. It made me more comfortable with my often uncommon religion and made me a stronger activist.
I support activists and fellow feminists who want to reclaim the word slut. Why should we let anti-sex people shame us for our sexual activities and the way we dress? The more we use the word and shout our solidarity the less it can be used to shame and blame. Yes it may take some time. But over the years when I’ve identified myself as Pagan I’ve noticed less and less shock. Yes I still may have to explain it and debunk some myths but more people have heard of the word and are open to hearing a different definition. It’s my hope that the more slut is used positively and the more slut pride is claimed that one day the positive connotations to the word will outweigh the negatives.
From Epic Step: SWAAY’s Sex Work Definition Billboard
“SWAAY’s mission is simple: to grow the American sex workers’ rights movement through real public outreach and providing accessible information about sex work to general audiences. Through our educational web site, we aim to draw in people who are new to sex workers’ rights issues and help them understand what sex workers do and who we are, give them information about how to be respectful allies and ethical customers, and motivate them to support sex workers in changing the bad laws and social stigmas that affect our lives.
In response to increasing pressures from anti-sex worker campaigns this summer, SWAAY would like our friends and allies to help us put up what would be the first sex workers’ rights billboard in America. We’re starting with answering the first question: what is sex work? (Note: you will not be billed at the time you pledge, but at the end of the 30 day fundraising period if the campaign is successful.)”
I love this billboard idea. Let’s make this happen!
