I would like to start Occupy Brussels - but I need some help

[BelgianMadCow]

Hello DUers,

I've been thinking it doesn't make sense to not have Brussels, the capital of Europe, in the list of participating cities. However, the coverage of OWS over here has been very meager (much less so in Germany - they got 3 cities already, according to http://www.occupytogether.org) and even though there is a strong buzz it will not be easy.

On top of that, I've got no practical experience organizing - and with facebook following you on every site with a "like" button even when you are logged out, I don't want to use that. I may be paranoid there, but I scrapped my FB account. London has been testing shutting down Twitter in the event of "riots" so...

At this moment in time I'm inclined to just go stand somewhere, take a placard, call myself Occupy Brussels day 1 and tell the invited media that if I've got nobody with me by the time the evening comes, the movement will die. I dream to much I'm afraid.

Any tips would be more than welcome
many thanks in advance
bmc

[Lint Head]

1. Occupy the world! We are all being supressed by the mega rich.

[BelgianMadCow]

10. I agree it is one fight

the Greek isn't our enemy, neither are the chinese. And to be honest, decent businesses aren't the enemy either. Nothing and nobody connected with honest work and real economy is the enemy.

I always say there is no counterbalance to the multinational corporations or the MIC for example - it's about time one was born. I always think of it as a super-union. I'm sure the union's mobilising power is gonna save us, if anything. Yesterday, management of Arcelor-Mittal got taken hostage here in Belgium in a union action.

One fight

:toast:

[mdmc]

20. a union of occupiers

[Lint Head]

29. This is historic!

By the way. I've been to Belgium. It's beautiful.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Here are some links...

hits from simply googling "occupy the world." There may be some helpful links for you to move forward where you are.

http://www.google.com/search?client=gmail&rls=gm&q=occupy%20the%20world

:bounce:

:applause:

[BelgianMadCow]

6. I tried contacting occupytogether - but I figure they are way too busy

just like their site is :-)

thanks!

bmc

:cheers:

[kestrel91316]

3. I love the idea of Occupying the whole world - don't give the bastards any safe havens.

[CTyankee]

4. I would go to Brussels in a heartbeat, but I think I'm too old for the front lines inthis fight.

It would gladden my heart to be there (and in Brugges and in Ghent)...

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. I can't find any particular web pages about organizing an event but there are significant aspects

you can work upon such as

-Social media- Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and others are your friend. Have your friends Share your web pages.
-Ride share web pages so people can link up and more can show up.
-Know your occupation needs. Google around for what the Wall Street protesters have requested and make sure you arrive well-stocked.
-Be prepared to have a Donations web page with links and clear addresses for people to donate (paypal etc.) and get a post box or ground address near your protest site for donation deliveries.
-Get a permit for the area you intend to occupy, if you wish (optional but could save some trouble).
-Live streaming equipment, FLASH drives, batteries, someone to go charge depleted batteries. Have charged batteries ready so you can quickly swap them out.
-Water, water, water. Why not have a large, clean, drum/barrel for central water storage?
-Medical tent. Have medical supplies.
-Food tent. Got any Vegans in your crew? Some may have special food requirements, know them. "Energy bars" are easy to store and carry around.
-A time and space for General Assembly.
-Expecting any bad weather? Prepare...

Go in knowing what you'll need to endure a long stay. All the best to you and all who show up!

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. Oh and most importantly, have lawyers there. Find any associations who will stay on site

and monitor events.

[BelgianMadCow]

8. Some very good pointers there

even though some of these sound kind of hard being just one person without many social/political connections.

But still :-) very good info, thanks Fire! (just watched the 2 seasons in one week)

[Fire Walk With Me]

9. Both seasons in one week!? Wow...is your head spinning? ;)

Just one other person will add/bring a great deal of resources and linking...get four people to go and it branches from there. People want to show up to this and they will when you give them the time and destination. They will bring their own network and you will grow from there. My best!

[BelgianMadCow]

11. Just a little!

:crazy: I had watched his movies one week, then all of Almodovar, then Twin Peaks. Lynch pwns and his films pwn Twin Peaks season 2 (not one). I looved it.

I see your point about the power of the exponential function. I'm gonna check my relatives if any care to help out, I've been feeling around locally but people are just in shock.

[Fire Walk With Me]

12. Gently lead to into DOING something. No huge initial committments, just a day

then another day, then another :)

[BelgianMadCow]

14. Kaizen - good advice for me

I tend to "run past myself", don't know the proper english expression...

[Fire Walk With Me]

17. That is just fine, you have Very good English. And yes, don't expect everyone

to initially wish to camp out for weeks. Get a few people who will show up for one day at a time. They have friends who might show up. When a few people show up, others will become more interested. You just need to give it all an initial "push" by showing up yourself!

:woohoo:

[inna]

37. not so sure at all about corporate social media like facebook being "your friend". YMMV.

[moondust]

13. Do you have any local discussion boards?

Or elsewhere in Europe?

:hi:

[BelgianMadCow]

15. Yeah I post at two major news sites - just mentioning the possibilty

but they are rather "right" papers - they do leave my comments up, but they aren't real boards, as the discussion fades away with the news story.

There are other newspapers though, and I could try LTTE.
Comment sections on other EU paper websites also show a lot of similar anger - but the news here is clearly filtered.

I've been thinking about pamphlets :D
Yes I'm getting old

[msongs]

16. Brussels sprouts an occupy movement. nice headline lol nt

[BelgianMadCow]

18. LOL that's a great one

please write something somewhere with that title so I can link to it!

Been thinking of buying an appropriate domain name, dunno.

[Snotcicles]

21. Good one. nt

[workinclasszero]

39. LOL nice!

Occupy EVERYTHING!

It needs to be a worldwide movement because the corporations are the tools of the 1% and they are worldwide as well.

Good luck in Brussels OP, and send pics of your protests. :)

[tama]

19. Not difficult

Announce time and place on facebook (etc.) - or in your case, ask friend to do so, and especially here: http://map.15october.net/

15M ("Indignados") and OWS are the same movement - leaderless and decentralized. Or not leaderless, anyone asking who is the leader should take a good long look in the mirror :).

I'm very pleased to hear you are willing and ready to take initiative.

[tama]

22. and this:

http://twitter.com/#!/15MBruselas/status/116574994141679616

[BelgianMadCow]

23. map.15october.net is yet another nice site

I see I can report something going when I've got a URL - which I do but it would crash right away I think.

So I could invest some money of my own in a domain name and a host and take it from there.

I'm gonna ask my sis for the FB thing, risky though for her (employed and all).

Thank you tama
:bow:

[Fire Walk With Me]

24. Duer PeaceNikki just posted this: the #Occupy Handbook.

Didn't look at it yet, hope it helps!

http://www.datafilehost.com/download-143fd316.html

[BelgianMadCow]

25. was gonna cross-post too. Some very good background in that pdf!

thx, Fire

[Fire Walk With Me]

26. DUer Xicano just posted this: Downloadable protest posters.

http://voxcdn.occupytogether.org/downloadable-posters/

[Fire Walk With Me]

27. Are you familiar with the American movie quote "If you build it, (they) will come"?

:woohoo:

[BelgianMadCow]

28. No, but now I do :-)

from "Field of Dreams"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_of_Dreams

:fistbump:

[tama]

30. It's coming, big way

http://www.walktobrussels.eu/en/home.html

[BelgianMadCow]

31. Update: we're gonna start Occupy Bruges on sunday

I've made a pamphlet that I'll distribute at the station and try to get company while I'm in a public park. I've also asked my friends to distribute the message, turns out someone knows an editor-in-chief, hope that helps us against our Corporate Media blackout.

Then I've gotta hope I get help.

Thanks all for your support! :toast:

occupytogether.org
15october.net

[Fire Walk With Me]

36. ...

:woohoo::hi:

[Yavin4]

32. Can I Occupy Jamaica?

It's getting chilly here in the NE.

[BelgianMadCow]

33. Only if u send some smokes n/t

[Yavin4]

34. Deal n/t

[JrMC]

35. Some help

Stumbled into chief editor of progressive French-speaking newspaper in Belgium today and we talked about getting some more press coverage on 15.10 and the build-up to it such as today.

There was commitment and the paper is already actively following OWS and its European expansion - he was also convinced, as so many others on this site, that it could start small but would gain momentum. Stories like the current 100 bn state guarantuee for Dexia (+-60% for Belgium) should only add momentum.

JuniorMadCow :-)

[Fire Walk With Me]

38. Welcome to DU! Best of luck with your protest!

:toast::hi:

[BelgianMadCow]

40. THX!! yes there's gonna be hell about Dexia - Fortis shareholder meeting pt.2

Thanks Jr, that's very encouraging. At least having some media aware is good news to me - and it's not an accident (of course) that it's coming from "the south". They were screwed first and hardest.

I actually stood in a rainy park for 8 hours today, and looked a wee bit odd with my drooping pancartes (photo soon).

Many young ppl listen though - and a lot nod quiet agreement but say "what are u gonna do".

I replied "well I'm standing here alone" :D

10 out of my 15 discussions were with people who got and get hit the hardest: the "poor". Several were old ladies with very low pension after working 45 years and such things.

While it rained so hard that there was nobody on the sidewalks I went to stand at a roundabout - but my signs were (too) small for that really. Then I stood where they stop, and ppl do read and nod (we're a country of sheep, what say you Jr?). Now, of course with a BIG sign and "honk if you agree" that could have been a different story. Baaad preparation on my part.

I have got to consider whether this isn't too tall an order though, maybe I should join an existing group like the Indignados (whom I referenced along with OWS - but people go "huh" whey you mention OWS. :sigh:

What made me choose Bruges, is that Brussels = Europe, and always some protest. Bruges = Belgium, and events are rare. Then we could go team up in Brussels on the 15th.

occupytogether.org
15october.net

:hi: :toast:

[renate]

42. good for you!!

You are wonderful! It is SO inspiring to read your report!

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:
:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:
:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[BelgianMadCow]

41. Note: I chose to start in Bruges since Brussels is unpractical

for me, if I want to be there regularly. Also, "protest in Brussels" is seldom news - there is ALWAYS protest there. Plus, I wanted Belgium to be on the map, and Bruges = Belgium. Now that I grudgingly reopened my Facebook account so I could create a group, I can file a report on 15october.net I believe.

Now to learn how to use Facebook :cry: ....

[JrMC]

43. Occupy Bruges = Belgium

I'm wondering if Ghent would be a better pick than Bruges - big university crowd, so more options for mobilising the future sheep? Writing out to student orgs of the more progressive study fields might give you a good head start.
Have a look at the below link for a list of organizations. There even is one called 'De loeiende koe' or in English 'the mooing cow' :-)

Apart from the obvious ones that have been politicized, there seem to be quite a few which are not. And most probably, they're on FB too so easy to contact and gain momentum.

Bruges I fear may have to many settled sheep or to many tourists to acquire a crowd quickly.

The link:
http://www.gent.be/docs/Departement%20Onderwijs%20en%20Opvoeding/Studentenambtenaar/Erkende%20studentenverenigingen%20Gent%20werkjaar%202010-2011.pdf

I'll try one already to see if I make some sense - keep you posted.

JrMC

[Edlit]

44. Ghent

To me also Ghent sounds more interesting than Bruges, lots of students and all... and a socialist mayor who welcomed the Indignados in a friendly way :)

[BelgianMadCow]

45. Scheduled a meetup sat 15th

Twittertag #occupybruges
http://www.meetup.com/occupytogether/Brugge-BE/

handed out some pamphlets at a political debate - my intervention in the debate isn't covered (press calls debate "boring") but some people do respond & come talk to me.

[renate]

46. rock on!

Be sure to tell us how it goes!

:thumbsup:

[BelgianMadCow]

47. A picture and the #OccupyBruges Facebook page

Facebook page (any love or comment more than welcome)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-Bruges/302142016469116

:hi:

hmm I'm gonna see what happens on #du or #democraticunderground