A revolution begins with an idea. A thought that travels across all means of connectivity and spreads inspiration at an exponential rate. Local Winnipeggers brought together by one unifying concept:
In solidarity with the aims of the “Occupy Wall Street” protest in New York City, citizens of Manitoba will participate in an “occupation” of the Legislative Grounds beginning Saturday, October 15th 2011.
Winnipeg grassroots organizers have responded to the call of American protesters for solidarity centering on issues of economic justice. It is expected that several hundred people will join in a protest assembling at 10am at the Legislative Grounds to begin marching at 11am.
“We are peacefully rallying against the greed & corruption that has perverted what we call democracy.” Statement from “Occupy Winnipeg” Facebook Group.
Local issues around economic justice and government accountability include:
• Aboriginal and northern communities right to adequate housing and water.
• Urban child and family poverty.
• Control of water and natural resources by government for the benefit of all citizens.
• Government accountability to communities without corporate interference.
• Multi-national corporation Veolia’s secretive contract negotiations for the City of Winnipeg waste and water services.
• Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) with Europe that threatens to have a significant negative effect local contracting allowing European corporations to bid and trade shares on essential services like Manitoba Hydro and adding $2.8B in pharmaceutical costs.
• Potential dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board and our further loss of local food security and erosion of family farms.(Costing Canadian tax payers $500B to shut it down)
The “Occupy Wall Street” protest now in its 5th week, has spread to over 900 cities across North America and in over 82 other countries around the world. Protests are also planned to begin on Saturday in other Canadian cities such as Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and many more are now running strong!