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UPDATE: Occupy National Gathering Kalamazoo

by indyradio.nu
I publish this update as a warning to all who may consider becoming involved. The supporters listed in the press release attached have mostly vanished, thanks to the disingenuous behavior by those who controlled the "organizing" of this "event".

(UPDATE: June 16, 2013) On June 4th, 2 days prior to this press release, the City of Kalamazoo turned down the proposal to use Butler Park for the event. The release (dated June 6) says use of the 49 acre park in Kalamazoo "is being negotiated". The planners were unavailable for several days after the press release, and one left town for a full week. I've not seen any concrete plans for a venue. What is being wished by some of the "planners" seems a bit ambitious for what is now a non-permission event. I leave you to ask "Occupy Kalamazoo" any questions you may have.

I completely disown any connection with the "organizers" and only regret my excessive trust and lack of due diligence.

see also: http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2013/06/occupy_kalamazoo_planning_nati.html

 

MEDIA ALERT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 6, 2013

 

PRESS RELEASE FOR THE OCCUPY (INTER)NATIONAL GATHERING AUGUST 21-25

KALAMAZOO MICHIGAN

 

Who/What

OCCUPY (Inter)National Gathering 2013

Attendance encouraged by all Occupiers and interested parties. Occupy Kalamazoo will be hosting the second round of Occupy National conferences, August 21-25, 2013, following the wildly successful Occupy National Gathering that took place in Philadelphia, PA, July 2012.

We, the National Gathering Working Group 2013 (NGWG2013), propose a National Gathering of the Occupy Movement, and peoples’ movements worldwide, in Kalamazoo Michigan, to collectively assemble and embrace our different ideologies and perspectives; to find our common visions; to share our strategies and actions; and to leave this gathering with steps we can all take in both agreement and diversity; for ourselves, our communities, our nations, and for all of us all over the world.

We further propose that our convergence begin on Aug. 21 and continue for five days of Community and Movement building exercises including speakers, teach-ins, and free-flowing open discussion at a location to be determined by the Occupy Kalamazoo General Assembly (UpJohn Park is being negotiated).  We believe it’s time the people of the world spoke to each other about how to make a better world. We ask you to converge with us, to bring your ideas, your struggles, and your voice and come to Kalamazoo!  There will be a special focus on indigenous peoples, race, gender and class throughout the convergences.

Occupy National Gathering working group (NGWG2013) is a coalition of Occupy movements from cities around the world, uniting in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and with Occupy and peoples' movements worldwide.

 

Where

Many people ask why Kalamazoo? Bill Moyer said it best on a planning call, that Michigan is a hotbed of activist activity at this moment in history.  Environmental issues plague the state and the Great Lakes; the political situation rallied tens of thousands as Rick Snyder eroded the state's unions;  there are Drones bases and a solid anti-war base, and Kalamazoo has a reputation for being the sixth-meanest city in the country towards its homeless population.  A homeless Bill of Rights is being worked on by Occupy Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo is a Pottawatomie word that is said to mean "the Land of Boiling Water". On July 25th, 2010, the Kalamazoo River was destroyed as over 1 million gallons (a publicly stated figure) of Tar Sand Oil, along with 40% of that volume in Benzene, was pumped into our river at high pressure for more than 17 consecutive hours, killing everything in the river for almost 40 miles.  The Tar Sand Oil (literally the most harmful kind of oil possible) is so dense that it sank to the bottom of the river.  There most of it now sits, loosely covered by sand in the bed of the Kalamazoo.  More than 60 people and countless animals and plants are dead because the Oil Company Enbridge found a cover-up to be more cost efficient than addressing their mess. Whereas Enbridge employees were covered in protective gear and would be sent home the spill breached a 500-yard perimeter, trailer parks and homes within 500 yards were told to simply shut their windows.  During Christmas Week 2011 alone, 5 trailer-park residents died as a result of health complications controversially linked to the Tar Sands Oil spill.

Why/Theme

The focus of the Occupy National Gathering will be leadership building and people powered training, education, and actions. To empower people with trainings to take back to their community and spread positive and effective change in their communities.

Aug 21st:  Renew Kalamazoo and your community.
Aug 22nd: Making and Supporting Free, Unfettered Media
Aug 23rd:  Fixing Fossil Fuels and Creating an Environmentally Sustainable Future.
Aug 24th:  Economic and Trade Justice, Equal Access and Ending Corporate “Personhood”,   Asserting the People’s Sovereignty.
Aug 25th:  Ending War and Our Police State, Building Peace and Cooperation.

 

A global conversation
A multi-month building action which many countries may participate in, including a massive digital conference taking place August 22nd-24th.  Each day will also have a global component and conversation based on the needs and issues of the global community, roughly paralleling, but by no means restricted to, the daily themes.  The Global work, like NatGat2 itself, is a work in progress and will be developed by participating groups.  Please join our global partner, Via22, for monthly mumble meetings 22nd of each month on the  server, Via22 room.  More info onand the  and .

Tour of the Kalamazoo River
Home of the Enbridge Oil spill in 2010 "The Largest inland oil spill in U.S. History"

Occupy Summer Support Tour for #OpOK
The Occupy Caravan type Summer Tour for Change has been re-directed to supply much needed support in Oklahoma.  The Occupy Summer Support Tour will begin June 8th in solidarity with UTW’s GLobal “UnFuck the World” Concerts happening in LA, Brisbane, London and others.  Maike Both of UTW has been working with National Gathering 2013 here in Kalamazoo. Local community empowerment with media and training, holding teach-ins, art and education, potential direct actions, and also donation and fundraising for the Occupy Sandy relief effort.

Join the Summer Support Tour for #OpOK!

 

At the Gathering:

Housing/Transport
We hope to be offering multiple housing and recreational spaces. .  We encourage Occupys, individuals and organizations to self-organize Occupy Caravans from your city or region to Kalamazoo.  to help with organizing Housing and Transport.

Food
We are donating time on Co-op farms, and outreaching with local business and farmers, gathering natural and healthy food to provide during the event.  Food and Support teams forming!  

Entertainment
There will be nightly entertainment, including featured artists, poets, musicians, and djs, as well as a campfire and drum circles. Also planning a benefit concert, and encourage artists of all mediums to inquire for space for expression.

Watch the conference on Livestream:
OccupyDetroitOfficialChannel: 

Occupy Kalamazoo: 

Join Our Weekly Planning Conference Call  

Help Plan Events and Activities, Offer to Speak, Teach, Run a Workshop.   to help with one of the many aspects of Support.

 

Participants/Endorsements So Far:

InterOccupy    |   Occupy Bergen County (NJ)   |   Occupy Buffalo    |    Occupy Enbridge    |    Occupy the Environment    |    Occupy Homes    |    Occupy Love    |    Occupy Racism    |    Occupy Raleigh    |    Occupy Sandy NJ    |    Occupy Sandy NYC    |    #OpOK    |    Strike Debt    |    Via 22    |    Air Occupy    |    Global Revolution Media    |    Occupy Global Media (GOM)    |    The A9 Network    |    The Media Consortium    |    Unfuck The World, Featuring the Summer Support/Love Takeover Tour    |    David Cobb and Move to Amend    |    Public Citizen Global Trade Watch: Stop the TransPacific Partnership     |    Bill Moyer and the Back Bone Campaign    |   Idle No More Michigan  |   Dr. Ott    |    Alliance for Global Justice    |    Battle Creek Oil Spill    |    Code Black    |    Dept. of Peace    |     Food and Water Watch    |    Earth First    |    Louisiana Shrimp Alliance    |    Kalamazoo City of Compassion    |    Kalamazoo Non-Violent Opponents of War (KNOW)    |    March against Drones    |    Michigan Ban Fracking    |    Michigan Home Defense    |    Michigan Tar Sands    |    Mutual Aid Dcats    |    National Homeless Coalition    |    National  Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP)    |    New York Against Fracking    |    The Poor Peoples Campaign    |    People United for Sustainable Housing ( P.U.S.H Kalamazoo)    |    Road to USSF 3    |    Shut Down Palisades    |    United States Social Forum    |    Wesleyan Peace Center

 

 

 

More Info:

Websites:

Social:

Occupy National Gathering on 

National Gathering 2013 in Kalamazoo 

#NatGat2  #natgat2  #NatGat2013  #natgat2013#Ng2Kzoo #OccupyKalamazoo

Email:

Join the  for discussion and planning:

Contact:

Chris Whamoff, OccupyNatGat2, Occupy Kalamazoo

Email: 

Phone:

 

Lisa Leggio, OccupyNatgat2, Occupy Kalamazoo, Occupy Sandy, Unfuck the World

Email: 

Phone: 

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