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Post by hedgehog on Nov 21, 2011 8:08:59 GMT -7
any news about OUR encampment, joys and sorrows alike.
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Post by hedgehog on Nov 21, 2011 8:29:15 GMT -7
dear diary, i don't know exactly how to do this journal thing. i guess i'll just blab on and on about what's going on in the moment based on my own perspective. my own perspective....HA! this could get real interesting when i figure all the elements involved in and influencing my perspective. oh well, it'll be an interesting read in the future what with all that happens and all the people tramping all over my grass. in the past couple of months, things have gotten REALLY strange. they're calling it an 'encampment'; OCCUPY MISSOULA no less. that's the name of the encampment, but it's also much bigger than that i gather, based on what i've heard. but i don't really understand all that so i'm not going to say anything else about it. my grass is not going to make it in any case if this keeps going on, that's for sure.
the group was bigger, in the hundreds that first week or two. they'd stay all night, in tents or under tarps and boy was there a lot of talking and loud yelling, chanting, and, yes, i think there was whole lot of listening too. i've never seen people listen so much. and they cheered a lot. apparently they liked what they heard. they stayed in one area at first, but they've moved to the gazebo area, tents encircling it, and now they have a really giant tent of a thing and made a double layer effect as there are tents inside of tents! i wondered if they'd last the winter, but now i'm very sure they will altho i don't see 1/10th of the presence as at first there was. sometimes there are raised voices, and sometimes even some crying, but it seems always there is someone to help patch things up and they get friendly again. not to say that there aren't a few individuals that are never welcome but those are the ones who've always been sleeping on or around the lawn, or have been sitting up all night making a lot of noise that isn't even usually real words...not that i can understand even, or they are those words that are mean, i think they are called 'curse words'.
anyway, i wish the masses would mass again, have their GA meetings on my grass again, share huge pots of food, drum and dance and sing like they used to. i rather miss them. i had a new spark of hope last saturday, the day the giant tent went up. sometimes those folks seem to have so much fun! i think i'll just be patient. i have a feeling this is going to go on in one form or another for a very long time.
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Post by hedgehog on Nov 21, 2011 8:31:30 GMT -7
did i mention that there's a port-a-potty again! they'd best get it chained to the tree like they keep talking about before some weirdo tips it over like what happened to the last one. dead grass is one thing i can live with, but crap has always bothered me.
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Post by hedgehog on Nov 22, 2011 10:53:38 GMT -7
i've heard whispers that the GA's are supposed to be on my lawn! or maybe it was wishful 'hearing' because that's what i want. i wonder how and when? i heard there may be a tent specifically for info and GA's, it'll be carpeted, and well lit, even heated a little.....but for today, they say they'll meet at the library instead of the lawn.
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Post by laurlea on Nov 26, 2011 20:36:40 GMT -7
This is my first post, I couldn't find anything on here, and finally found this. Thanks to whoever made this available. I don't camp everyday/everynight. But I try to sleep/hangout for a 12 or so run at a time. I try to make it as frequently during the day just in case anyone has places to go, and things to do. It's very, very cold at night. Even inside the tent. It's a place where, event tho there is propane heat, your hands can get numb, and your feet are freezing, unless you are sitting within just a foot or two in front of it. I have a tent inside the tent, and am thankful, but there are others who still sleep in the straight outdoors. It's an all night job for the shifts to stay up, keep an ear out, walk around outside, and stay awake. It's freezing at nite, in the morning, until the sun starts coming around. Warm gloves, socks are a must. Those caps that have the ear flap things are great.
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Post by hedgehog on Nov 27, 2011 23:23:20 GMT -7
dear diary,
the folks who camp are cold A LOT! it's like that and there's not a lot anyone can do about it. but that big tent helps and they huddle all the time, all bundles up, as near the heaters possible. there's going to be a big event next weekend, there's excited murmuring about it cuz folks from other city places, other OCCUPY camps are going to gather right here, on my lawn! i'm so proud of OM'ers. this will be a big deal for sure.
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Post by hedgehog on Nov 30, 2011 15:33:51 GMT -7
hey diary, some new things have shown up, bought i think, for the camp. there's an inverter so a big ol honking battery can be used so folks can watch streamed sites, check forums, write in forums and otherwise keep up with the greater GA and global occupies. if a non-occupier strolls up to the gazebo they can read all about it, chat with occupiers, and confirm info right then and there, on line. i think there will be solar panels to help keep the battery charged even. and there's heat, soon will be anyway, when a much needed part is acquired for the big heater they have up there in the gazebo. and this saturday there will be some big events going on for MASS OCCUPATION day. i hope lots of people come by. it's getting to be a really happening place again.  |
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Post by hedgehog on Dec 8, 2011 11:18:21 GMT -7
hey,
the info booth in the gazebo is a happening thing as of today. i heard the plan: a battery, solar charger, a laptop streaming what ever is interesting (speakers included...anybody know how to put up a more or less permanent big screen so extra interesting time-sensitive streams can be shown?) the radio is playing democracy now every day 11-12. there are books, info pages, declaration copies, bumper stickers, buttons, HOT COFFEE (and cups), good talk and comradeship. check it out. i love visitors one and all.
and, there's a sign-up sheet for folks willing to cover 2 hour shifts between 10-6 every day.
:-)
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Post by casey on Dec 8, 2011 11:22:14 GMT -7
Good job Becca!
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Post by laurlea on Dec 12, 2011 9:29:44 GMT -7
That would be great about the info booth! We're short a whole bunch of people. Could sure use some help at nite with security. Please speak with Mike, or Carl, and see if someone could help out so they can get some rest. I stayed the nite inside the mostly empty tent, and we would like to move in one, or two more occupiers. Or maybe a tent that could be occupied on a rotating basis? It's hard to sleep at nite, cuz we stay up and visit, but maybe some headphones, or earplugs?
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Post by hedgehog on Dec 12, 2011 23:14:35 GMT -7
dear Diary: all i want for the holidays is...... that wonderful laura! she's a great gal, great ideas, great energy spent....i'm so glad she talks to me in my diary. things are so different today in the big tent and on my lawns. it makes my soil spin. maybe the gazebo is spinning too. i've heard that the GA tomorrow will decide about the encampment and it's image via the camp. it's a biggy issue and many folks want to strike camp altogether! but there are also many folks determined that camp stays. oh dear, it's so difficult it seems...so complicated. i bet they talk about it the whole GA! AGAIN. i hope they decide once and for all this time, i really do. i'm a little biased as i've liked the company this winter so far. if the consensus is that the camp stays i'm sure it'll have to run differently tho. there's been too much arguing the way it has been. if it does stay tho, of course some campers will camp in the big tent. that just makes sense; stay warmer and occupy the tent so certain other non-occupiers don't, and more campers are necessary for security purposes, even just to protect the tent, let alone the wonderful folks who have decided to stay. but, really tomorrow's GA will bring a lot of conversation and my lawn will have to see just what the consensus is and, should it stay-what to morph camp into. like my signs need to be renewed, except the holiday ones, and the whole place needs a face lift. it'll need to be cleaned up shinny and new like, paint the tent perhaps, AND use the big tent for the greater community because everybody needs to feel ownership and that they have a place there. they need to feel welcome, comfortable, and like there is something to do there, even if it's only for an occasional visit on my lawn. so, i have a strong feeling campers ought to expect some changes so i hope laura discuses it with them and if the campers all want to give in put, go to the GA. i've heard it's at the library. becca says she'll be happy to guard the camp so they all can go. heck, perhaps campers can talk the GA into coming on down to gather IN THE TENT TOMORROW! it's going to be strung with holiday lights inside, bright and clear. but, since the GA probably will not come, becca will have her laptop camera on, ready to skype with the GA or something cool like that. it'll be perfect, don't you see! and once it's got a pattern flowing for GA's and work groups in the tent, i bet occupy's sunday GA's could even be in the big tent! GA's in the tent will mean temporarily clearing out enough tents to accommodate everyone, but that'll be easy enough if campers haven't 'moved in' the way the 'kids' did. carl calls them that left 'the kids'. i think that's funny. the GA will have to bring their own stools or chairs. holiday lights lining the ceiling will provide light, a special propane tank saved for GA's and double burners for heat, thermos of coffee, there's sugar and creamer, hot water for tea and cocoa. someone may bring holiday cookies! folks should bring their own cups i suppose. hey just today i heard a RUMOR that occupytheoval IS THINKING to start serving food on sundays with food not bombs folks! oh this all gets me so excited. there'll be PEOPLE on the lawn again, like the good old days! picketers on the sidewalks, chatter, and hugs, smells of coffee and tea, nutritious cookie crumbs on the grass floor in the tent, bread crumbs and bits of noodles outside for the morning birds to clean up. maybe some of the people will do some of that lovely chanting and singing. oh how i wish for that kind of community on my lawn again! ALL I WANT FOR THE HOLIDAYS IS GA'S AT THE CAMP AGAIN! |
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Post by hedgehog on Dec 25, 2011 15:39:45 GMT -7
here we are dec 25, 2011, it's a sunday and the camp yet stands! four campers tents are in the big tent and there are several more tents being used outside. lately inside, there are more people dropping by to warm a chair in the circle of chairs, and sharing meals or filling the food table with holiday foods and sweets. there's a lot of light and music by way of radio, and with the fully charged battery outside colorful flashing x-mas lights are blinking. there's waves of laughter and cheer and plenty of honking on the street. with dinner starting at 2pm i believe a big christmas turkey is being shared and well wishes are spreading to far reaches of OM members and their families, to the county's houseless communities, and those working in the free food and shelter establishments, to union members and the various broad and focused activists working for real societal, financial, and political changes endorsed by Occupiers around the globe, and all other people of missoula including the county commissioners and city officials and other staff. all are welcome at the encampment so i hope more and more people stop by and share in the holiday cheers.
and, a call to all those who signed up for the "first night working group" as there are only 7 days left to transform the encampment into the welcoming work of art it will be december 31, noon to midnight, with the cultural council.
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Post by crystal on Dec 26, 2011 15:07:39 GMT -7
Hi Hedgehog,
Yes, the news is we're trying to get another porta potty before first night, and are in the process of getting the working group together to decorate, make food, entertain, educate, etc for the big event.
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Post by laurlea on Dec 28, 2011 23:20:03 GMT -7
Checking in. Rain. Muck. Sorry, courthouse lawn. I hope you can forgive us, from, the encampment.
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Post by hedgehog on Jan 6, 2012 10:48:15 GMT -7
hey! there's a work party today at 11am to dismantle the big tent! ALL are called to come help pack it and everything else up and take it all to storage, rented by ray the terrific and laura the wonderful, both hero's to be sure.
but who knows, does anyone, an occupier know for sure: does it really need to come down? can the commissioners pass a LAW, really? do they have the power as county commissioners to pass an 'ordinance'? or can they only pass a resolution, which has no power to arrest anyone?
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Montana Code Annotated 2011
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*7-5-103. Ordinance requirements. * (1) All ordinances must be submitted in writing in the form prescribed by resolution of the governing body.
(2) An ordinance passed may not contain more than one comprehensive subject, which must be clearly expressed in its title, except ordinances for codification and revision of ordinances.
(3) An ordinance must be read and adopted by a majority vote of members present at two meetings of the governing body not less than 12 days apart. After the first adoption and reading, it must be posted and copies must be made available to the public.
(4) After passage and approval, all ordinances must be signed by the presiding officer of the governing body and filed with the official or employee designated by ordinance to keep the register of ordinances.
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someone in the know should look into this before we give up our rights as a peaceable assembly on the courthouse lawn. sorry i don't know more.
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