I think it maybe important to clarify some of the things about which Occupy is
and isn't. Perhaps the best (and shortest) definition came from my father's
girlfriend.
I live in Turners Falls (or, as most of us would prefer, Great Falls), with my
Dad (89, presently at Buckley recovering from a broken hip, but expected to be
home in a few weeks); and his girlfriend, Lynn Hoffman (91, a retired Family
Therapist and teacher).
Lynn has followed Occupy since the beginning, and summed it up in one word:
rhizone: noun, Botany. a rootlike subterranean stem, commonly horizontal in
position, that usually produces roots below and sends up shoots progressively
from the upper surface.
That one word, rhizone, sums up Occupy. There is no vertical structure, only
horizontal. We have been accused of having no goals and of being leaderless,
but the opposite is true: we have one goal (equality for all), and we are
leaderful! Each one of us has the power when we, the people, rising up to
create a democracy, a republic, an utopia, an eden, or whatever....where all
people are valued. It's what Gandhi spoke of and starved for, what Dr. King
marched for, and what Bernie Sanders wants to make happen. (Forgive me my
political plug, but he is the only candidate in opposition to this pipeline.)
It was during Occupying the NE Gov. Conference (with their Canadian
counterparts) in Burlington, Vt. in Nov. 2011 that I first 'met' Bernie. I
heard both Bernie and Bill McKibbens speak (before Bill's "Do the Math"
Tour)...and it was at the same conference that those 'leaders' decided that we
needed more natural gas (shame on Deval Patrick). Then, later, in April 2014,
Kinder Morgan made their first 'pitch' in Montague.
Things will happen very quickly this Spring, so we need to concentrate on real
issues, and rapid response. I am so excited that five contractors came to the
very first meeting...these will be our leaders...and the artists who came, and
the others to become involved...we will make beautiful statements with
everything we create together!
Agenda:Mary King from Orange will facilitate.
Short go round with introductions (remember you only have one and a quarter
hours for the whole meeting).
1) Set up working group to organize a hot line....VERY IMPORTANT!! Jenny?
2) Decide how to set up an email list. Miryam?
3) Report about Property owners: besides the Markens of Ashfield, and a couple
of folks Will Elwell knows, Polly Ryan of Plainfield would like an occupation
on the pipeline path crossing her property...and she has spots outside of
utilities' easements. I spoke with her at the Berkshire Gas protest. Is there
a working group for this yet. If so, I'd like to join it.
4) Report from contractors. What kind of support would they like from the rest
of us?
5) Next meeting (please avoid 3/9...2nd Wed. of each month is Greening
Greenfield, which a number of this list's recipients attend).
Are there be additions to this meeting's agenda? And will someone volunteer to
be Scribe?
Please share, so our numbers grow. I'm sorry to miss our second meeting (but I
hope warm temps prevail in Austin, Tx...lol), and I look forward to our future
work together. We have every reason to believe that we will defeat this
assault from a government controlled by corporate interests...that's really the
bottom line.
In solidarity, Diane
