Archive for October, 2011
This video documents the “first street meeting of “Occupy Wall Street – Hartford” on Oct. 5, 2011 — Planning an occupation, supporting Black contractors and construction workers who are demanding jobs from MDC” [Metropolitan District Commission]. Produced by The Struggle Video Media (TSVM)
~ thanks to Mira Schor for sharing this video
Nova Scotia's Mi'kmaq close to establishing their own democratic government within province with their own House of Assembly. . . would be first of its kind in Canada.
Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq May Soon Be Self-governing / Indian Country
~ gratitude to Stephanie Elliott for sharing this article
Patti Smith, Cherub, Fountain, San Severino, 2008, black-and-white photograph, 10 x 8".
In this medieval comune, whose land tells a human history dating back to ancient times, there is a small museum (the Pinacoteca Civica “Tacchi Venturi”) that houses the holy slippers and cap of Saint Celestine V, the reluctant pope who died in a small stone cell for seeking freedom from the church. The relics are quite moving, but I return again to see the humble winged cherub, draped in ivy above the courtyard fountain. Part Puck, part Raphaelesque child, the little fellow seems the embodiment of love. The original bronze in the Palazzo Vecchio is flawless, but this weathered twin, with his bemused and benevolent smile, is the one that truly captures the heart. – ArtForum
Wadsworth Atheneum’s Patti Smith Exhibit “Camera Solo” Top of Top Ten
“Camera Solo” Catalogue from Yale University Press in association with the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Patti Smith’s “Camera Solo” to Open / Word Pond
The task of our time is to insist that we can afford to build a decent society — while at the same time, respect the real limits to what the earth can take.
Naomi Klein
~ thanks to Scott Watson for sharing this
‘Occupy Wall Street’ comes to Hartford | The Connecticut Mirror.
On October 4, 2011, I read this quotation of Gustav Landauer, from Dave Rozza:
“. . . to overcome capitalism and the state, individuals must unite into community. If this were to happen, the creation and renewal of a real organic structure could begin and in time destroy the State by displacing it.”
That word displacement tolled in my ears as I thought how the law that gave personhood to Corporation must be rescinded. Yet, prior to #OccupyWallStreet I thought that would be the first and prerequisite step to take before all others, and this way of thinking surely led me to despair. I then found Landauer’s concept of displacement which has helped me understand how #OccupyWallStreet, over time, in the myriad ways it now nonhierarchically assembles, discusses, meditates and self-governs daily is based on the real human needs for food, shelter, clothing, health, safety, transparency, equality, fairness, and justice that our country has proved incapable of protecting. #OccupyWallStreet is the direct democracy we seek. It will displace pretenders. ~ yours truly, df
Keith Olbermann reads the first collective statement of Occupy Wall Street.
#OccupyHartfordCT has adopted this #OccupyWallStreet collective statement
word pond 
