Call out to all groups concerned with equality, social justice, and environmental sustainability; join Occupy Vancouver in a 12-hour Shut Down the Ports! action next week!
On December 12th Occupy Vancouver will join in solidarity with Occupy movements up and down the west coast of North America to shut down the ports and send a strong and clear message to the global 1%: this economy belongs to ALL of us—not just those who disproportionately profit from trade.

In the United States, Longshoremen are fighting a long and difficult battle for wages and rights against the global elite. Why should we stand in solidarity with them here in Canada? The answer is simple. The economy is global, and our neighbour’s fate will soon be ours. Studies show that the gap between the richest and poorest families in BC has grown “dramatically” in the past 30 years, while other studies note the relationship between increasingly open and “free” trade and income inequality. This gap is growing faster in BC than anywhere else in Canada, and faster in Canada than in the United States.

The Port of Vancouver trades 75 billion in goods annually, and generates 10.5 billion in GDP. It is the largest port in Canada, and the fifth largest in North America. Who benefits from our port’s traffic? We all do...but not equally.

There are numerous environmental concerns surrounding the port, from it's impact on local ecosystems to its contribution to global climate change. The proposed expansion of Kinder Morgan's Westport facility on Burrard Inlet could see in increase in Tar Sands oil tanker traffic from 22 vessels a year in 2005 to 288 in 2016.

Our ports are where the global economy opens its doors. But not everyone is invited to the party. We want to slam those doors shut for
a day, and send a resounding message. We are calling out to every individual and organization that believes people should come before profits to join us in Occupying the Port of Vancouver. We are seeking endorsements from unions, community organizations, prominent individuals, local businesses, policy institutes and other organizations.

We are also asking all community groups, unions and organizations, anyone with a stake in this action, to attend a spokes council assembly on Thursday Dec. 8th at 6 pm at SFU Harbour Centre room 3000 to bring endorsements, get information, raise questions and concerns.

We need your support; this action won’t be successful without community support

In Solidarity,
Occupy Vancouver Direct Action Committee

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Vancouver, British Columbia, November 23, 2011:

The Honourable Christy Clark

Premier of British Columbia
Dear Premier Clark:

You have said on a number of occasions that Occupy Vancouver "has made its point and now it's time to move on." Occupy Vancouver did not set out to "make a point." Our commitment is to change a corrupt and destructive system that serves less than 1% of the people and disadvantages the rest. It is a global system with serious local consequences. We won't be moving on. The Occupy movement is here to stay.

You said that you agree with many of the points Occupy Vancouver has raised; that you want to narrow the gap between rich and poor and that you want to grow the middle-class. Your record shows the opposite. You were an important cabinet minister and Deputy Premier of the Liberal government in British Columbia that presided over a tax shift that privileged the wealthiest 1%.

This tax shift took $3.4 billion out of the government’s revenue stream. This week British Columbia had the dubious honour of winning first place in Canada for the number of children living below the poverty line. The connection is clear.

The provincial government diverts billions from ICBC and BC Hydro into general revenue instead of taxing the wealthy. People in BC pay more in MSP premiums than corporations pay in income tax.

This is narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor?

Premier Clark, you stated several times this week that Occupiers “violated the spirit of the law."

This is something with which you and your government should be familiar. In 2002, the Liberal government broke its contract with the Hospital Employees Union, violating not just the spirit but also the letter of contract law.

When you were Minister of Education in 2002, you violated the contract provision with the British Columbia teachers on class sizes. The BC Supreme Court ruled against your action in April 2011.

You were intimately involved with the sale of BC Rail, which broke your government’s promise not to sell it. The provincial government could not afford $1 million to fund concerned parties in the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry but paid $6 million in legal fees to former government aides in that scandal. The priorities of the government are clear.

These are clear examples of one of the Occupy movement’s main charges. The corruption in your government and in your own office indicate that you are spending too much time worrying about our exercise of democracy and not enough looking in your own.

Premier, if you are truly concerned with families and their future, join us instead of criticizing what we are working to accomplish. Occupy Vancouver stands for an end to corporate influence over government, an end to corruption, and an end to the systematic advantaging of the rich over the poor by the powerful. If you truly stand for democracy, we invite you to join us in conversation

Premier, you have stood against democracy and equity with your injunction and comments regarding Occupy Vancouver.  We invite you to join us on the side of true democracy with a meaningful commitment to the people of this province.

Respectfully,

Occupy Vancouver.

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Occupy Vancouver, Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territory, November 17, 2011 —

The Wild Salmon Workgroup, in collaboration with the Direct Action Committee, is planning a Direct Action in support of Wild Salmon; and specifically the call for the immediate removal of all open-net fish farms from BC Waters.

“Open-net fish farms break natural laws and are unsustainable practice,” says J Peachy, Wild Salmon advocate and Occupier at the Occupy Vancouver site. “Open-net, uncontained fish farms pollute our oceans and host disease and pathogens that affect young wild salmon.”

The recent discovery of the ISA Virus in BC Wild Salmon, which has been present in fish farms in Europe and Chile, has destroyed the wild salmon fisheries in those regions. Independent scientists have now discovered this virus in two other West Coast Salmon species, and see this as an ecological emergency.

At noon this Friday, November 18, Occupy Vancouver protesters will march from the art gallery to rally outside of the Canadian Department of Fisheries offices at 401 Burrard Street (at Pender) in Vancouver.

Occupiers will march the streets, and set up mobile tents outside of the DFO offices, in order to raise consciousness around the Federal Government’s support of destructive fish farming practices. We call on the Canadian Department of Fisheries to legislate the immediate removal of open net fish farms from BC Waters.

In addition, as part of an ongoing consumer boycott of farmed salmon in BC, every Sunday, many Occupiers will target retailers, grocery stores and restaurants with the intent of encouraging these establishments to remove the sale of open net farmed salmon products from their shelves.

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If you would like more information or would like to schedule an interview with J Peachy, please contact:

Communications Work-Group,
Occupy Vancouver Media Committee,
communications@occupyvancouver.com
or call: 604-760-5957?

Late Monday night, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg instructed NYPD officers to evict Occupy Wall Street demonstrators from their encampment at Zuccotti Park. Police in riot gear raided the protest at around 2:00am Tuesday morning, forcibly removing protesters and volunteers and destroying their personal property.

Bloomberg was reacting to continuous requests from the owners of Zucotti Park, Canadian property giant Brookfield Asset Management Inc., to have the Wall Street Occupiers removed.

Faced with its own possible eviction, Occupy Vancouver stands in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, as well as many other Occupy sites currently under threat of eviction.

Along with hundreds of other Occupy movements for a Global 'Day of Action', Occupy Vancouver protesters will march on and 'Occupy

Brookfield!' at the company's Vancouver offices in a show of solidarity with Occupy Wall Street.

Occupiers will march on Brookfield’s offices tomorrow afternoon (Thursday, Nov 17) once at 12:30pm and then again at 4:00pm.?

Occupy Vancouver, Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territory, November 15, 2011 – Occupy Vancouver will have its day in court tomorrow at a hearing that will determine the fate of the protest site at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

On Wednesday, Nov. 9, Supreme Court Justice Anne MacKenzie delayed the City of Vancouver's attempt to get an injunction to shut down the site.

Over the past week, Occupiers have been working hard to address what they feel is an ever-expanding list of orders and directives. “Some of us have been trying to comply the Fire Chief’s new requirements, but we have not been able to find out what they are”, said Tom, an Occupier with the media committee. “None of the onsite Firefighters seem to know what those requirements are, and we’ve received no exhaustive official list from the fire department.”

Despite their confusion, Occupiers are confident that the changes made to date will sufficiently convince the courts of Occupy Vancouver’s desire to be safe and cooperative, with many indicating that they look forward to putting the compliance issues behind them and returning to the the work of raising awareness about increasing social and economic inequality.

The three-day hearing will begin tomorrow at 10am and is expected to draw huge numbers  to ‘Occupy the Hearing!’ and rally in solidarity with Occupy Vancouver and many other Occupations which are currently fighting for the ‘Right to Occupy’ as their chosen form of political expression.

The ‘Occupy the Hearing!’ Rally begins on Wednesday Nov 16 at 9:00am at the Supreme Court of BC.

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If you would like more information or would like to schedule an interview, please contact:

Communications Work-Group,

Occupy Vancouver Media Committee,

media@occupyvancouver.com

Occupy Vancouver is a non-violent political movement to transform the unequal, unfair, and growing disparity in the distribution of power and wealth in Vancouver and around the globe.

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Vancouver and District Labour Council Confirms Support of Occupy Vancouver on One Month Anniversary

Occupy Vancouver, Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territory, November 15, 2011 – The Vancouver and District Labour Council issued a statement today in support of Occupy Vancouver, one month into the protest occupation.

The statement, signed by VLDC President Joey Hartman, included a motion that was passed at the Council’s October 18th meeting:

BECAUSE the Occupy Wall Street movement has spread to Vancouver and over 2,000 other cities and communities around the world; and

BECAUSE the Vancouver and District Labour Council executive board decided that the VLDC should support and participate in the Occupy Vancouver events of October 15, 2011; and

BECAUSE Occupy Vancouver is part of a global movement that calls for peaceful actions against social and economic inequality, corporate greed, and the influence of corporations on government; and

Because the objectives of the Occupy movement are in common with those of the labour movement, including the desire for good jobs, fair taxes and strong public services;

THE VANCOUVER AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL WILL support and participate in solidarity actions with the Occupy Vancouver movement to continue the peaceful call for fairness and equality in our society and economy.

“We remain committed to the objectives of this global movement and in support of Occupy Vancouver,” the statement continues, “with the continued expectation that the directives by the Fire Department be met fully and expeditiously, that the Fire Department be able to make inspections if they wish, and that peaceful order be maintained.”

The full statement can be viewed on the Occupy Vancouver website at here.

Other organizations that have endorsed Occupy Vancouver include B.C. Federation of Labour, Council of Canadians and the Canadian Auto Workers Union.

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If you would like more information or would like to schedule an interview, please contact:

Communications Work-Group,
Occupy Vancouver Media Committee,
media@occupyvancouver.com

Occupy Vancouver is a non-violent political movement to transform the unequal, unfair, and growing disparity in the distribution of power and wealth in Vancouver and around the globe.?

Occupy Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territory, November 11, 2011 –

Vancouver Fire Chief John McKearney said after a site inspection Thursday that Occupy Vancouver is close to conforming to Wednesday's court directive to improve fire safety. VFRS officials visited the site again Friday afternoon to order certain tents to be moved six feet away from the art gallery building and to ensure tarps do not span multiple single-person tents.

Every day, Occupiers can be seen working hard to address what they feel is an ever-expanding list of orders and directives. The initial order included only five basic requirements; however, the court order allows the Fire Chief to add to the list at any time – an opportunity Occupy Vancouver says the Vancouver Fire Department has made a point of capitalizing on.

“Some of us have been trying to comply the Fire Chief’s new requirements are but we have not been able to find out what they are”, said Tom, an Occupier with the media committee. “None of the onsite Firefighters seem to know what those requirements are, and we’ve received no exhaustive official list from the fire department. Their lack of communication with us has seriously impeded our efforts. It’s no better than the claims they make about us not being communicative enough.”

Despite their confusion, Occupiers are continuing to respond to the new and changing demands, and are constructing new dome structures which they believe will surpass even the most stringent of fire safety standards.

“The domes we are constructing are far safer than single-person tents in that they maximize heat transfer between multiple occupants. Each dome will be covered with a flame-retardant tarp, and will have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers mounted on the inside,” said Eric Hamilton-Smith, a protester and member of the logistics committee. “In addition, the domes allow for a community-dwelling model which speaks to the nature of what we have created here,” said Hamilton-Smith.

"At Occupy Vancouver, what we've built is a real community that produces a plethora of social benefits and public goods, such as education, skills development, and political engagement."

Hamilton-Smith, who is completing his master's thesis in public policy at Simon Fraser, is working with a team of researchers to uncover the benefits Occupy Vancouver provides society. “If you look at the half-million the City wasted on October 15th due to riot-related paranoia, the benefits we’ve provided the city far exceeds that figure.”

Although the team has only just begun its research, initial projections of those benefits already exceed a million dollars. This projection includes the benefits from housing, food, clothing, medical care, a loaning library, education and skills development, socialization for marginalized people, and political engagement. “Many of those benefits are easily quantifiable by finding market substitutes and comparing the costs of those with the services offered at Occupy,” said Hamilton-Smith.

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If you would like more information or would like to schedule an interview, please contact:

Communications Work-Group,
Occupy Vancouver Media Committee,
media@occupyvancouver.com

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Occupy Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territory, November 13, 2011

Occupy Vancouver has issued a challenge to all municipal candidates to disclose the source of all contributions greater than $100 by midnight, Thursday, November 17, or be held to account by voters on Election Day.

Occupy Vancouver's General Assembly condemns the influence of corporate money on Vancouver's elections and municipal decision- making. “Corporations are effectively buying elections," says Eric Hamilton-Smith, a protester and organizer at Occupy Vancouver, "As a result of this influence, elected officials tend to create policies that benefit their financiers’ interests rather than the interests of the people who elect them into office. This is particularly problematic here in Vancouver, where big developers have contributed to an affordable housing crisis.”

According to Tristan Markle, author for The Mainlander and Occupy Vancouver organizer, “The big developers need prices to stay high in
order to ensure maximum profits. To protect these donors, the NPA and Vision will go to great lengths to maintain the unaffordable status quo.”

According to data from the Vancouver Sun , the lion's share of campaign contributions received by both the Non-Partisan Association (NPA) and Vision Vancouver come from big developers. In 2008, approximately two- thirds of campaign money raised by Vision Vancouver was from corporations, including half a million from developers. The NPA also raised half a million from developers that same year

At the November 13th 2011 General Assembly, Occupiers agreed by consensus to the following two proposals:

1. Removal of the influence of corporate contributions from municipal elections so that citizens—not corporations—are put at the forefront in municipal decision-making.

In order to achieve this, Occupiers suggest the following reforms:

• Establish limits on the amount of money candidates can spend while campaigning
• Establish limits on the amount of money any one person can donate to a candidate or political party
• Prohibit corporations and other entities from donating money to election campaigns
• Prohibit donations from non-BC residents

2. Establishment of real transparency in municipal campaign finance by requiring candidates and parties to reveal their donors and amounts before, not long after an election is over as is current practice.

Occupy Vancouver is giving all candidates until 11:59pm Thursday, November 17th to make their campaign contributions publicly available online or be held to account by voters on Saturday.

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Occupy Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territory, November 11, 2011

The Occupy Vancouver movement announced that it will be hosting a rally and march on Saturday to bring attention to the city’s social housing problems. The rally comes after weeks of criticism against the occupation site for housing people with nowhere else to go. 

“Although not originally expected or intended by any of us, Occupy Vancouver has actually done a better job of housing, feeding, and caring for many of the city’s marginalized population than the City of Vancouver and the Province of British Columbia have, despite their immense resources,” says Eric Hamilton-Smith, a protester and organizer at Occupy Vancouver. “The key difference between the housing situation at the Occupy Vancouver site, and the housing provided through city shelters and social housing units is that people at our site feel part of a community, many for the first time in their lives.” 

Occupy Vancouver has been partnering with non-profits and community organizations to host a number of speakers and discussions on housing. In addition, the Occupy Vancouver General Assembly will be advocating for a number of practical solutions to immediately address the current housing crisis. 

The City of Vancouver has said they will have BC Housing on site to ensure that all homeless occupiers receive proper housing – housing Occupy Vancouver says is provided by displacing people who are already on a waiting list for housing. 

“Many Occupiers have no interest in moving into the squalid conditions of the city’s social housing units,” says Hamilton-Smith, “especially if it means displacing the thousands currently on the waiting list.” The theme of the rally is “Housing is a Right, Not a Commodity!” and will take place on Saturday, November the 12th, beginning at 12:00pm at the Vancouver Art Gallery. 

If you would like more information on this event, or would like to schedule an interview with Eric Hamilton-Smith, please contact: 

Communications Work-Group, 
Occupy Vancouver Media Committee,
media@occupyvancouver.com ??

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