Attended the Occupy LA pre-May Day GA In DTLA last night.
I'll be live blogging the May 1st General Strike today at: suicidegirlsblog.com
Around Thanksgiving I spent some quality time on the phone with investigative journalist and longtime friend of SG Greg Palast. The topic of our conversation was his new book, Vultures' Picnic, which chronicles his investigations into big oil and the unbelievable corruption he uncovered. And I don't use the word "unbelievable" lightly. They say truth is stranger than fiction; Greg's book is a fine example of this. The dirt he finds on the energy corporations and various governments is so outrageous, it's hard to conceive that it's true. Even Greg is aware of the problem. Indeed, he starts his book off with the following sentence:
Everything that happened here, happened.
I know it happened the way he tells it, because I know and trust Greg (and I did a lot of my own fact checking as I was editing the interview). As if to underline this though, as I was double (and triple) checking my transcription while traveling back from London to Los Angeles after the Christmas/New Year break, I bumped into two very pertinent individuals.
I met the first while waiting for my flight at Heathrow Airport. A chap who was sat opposite me in a lounge saw me typing away on my laptop and asked me what I was working on. I explained it was an interview in which an investigative journalist talked about how he uncovered a prior, almost identical blowout to the Gulf Deepwater Horizon one. It occurred in the Caspian Sea but was covered up. My inquisitor then revealed that he was a helicopter pilot that worked for a private aviation company based out of Azerbaijan. He said he'd frequently flown low over the Caspian Sea, and had observed the resulting oil slicks - the ones that weren't supposed to be there that Greg had written about in his book.
My second accidental Vultures' Picnic-relevant encounter happened after boarding. I was sat in the middle of the plane, sandwiched between two gentlemen. I introduced myself to the person on my left, who it turned out wrote code for an LA-based computer games company. The person on my right however, by some coincidence, said he was a nuclear safety inspector and that he was flying in to inspect a facility just south of Los Angeles. (I wonder if it was this one!)
I explained to him that I was currently working on an interview with a writer who had also done some private investigation work for the nuclear industry, and that he had written about the real cause of the Fukushima meltdown in his latest book; That the emergency generators that were meant to kick in, but failed, would never have been capable of functioning in the way they needed to - and everyone knew it. My flight companion confirmed that this was something he was aware of, and that it was absolutely the case.
And thus, it seemed like the universe was conspiring to independently corroborate two key aspects of Greg's Vultures' Picnic story. So, if you read this interview and a voice in your head tells you it can't possibly be true, just know, unfortunately, it's not only possible, it's 100% truth...
More truth than you want to handle maybe, but truth nonetheless.
#JustSaying
Let me introduce you to a lovely lady I met on October 7th at #OccupyLA. She was there simply to tell her story. Like many people in this economy, she had been finding it difficult to make ends meet, so when Obama's Loan Modification program began it seemed like a godsend. Little did she know, it would be the start rather than the end of her problems.
She duly completed all the paperwork her bank, Wells Fargo, asked her to, and was told what her reduced payments would be. She continued to pay her mortgage, but at the adjusted rate, as she'd been instructed to by Wells Fargo. She never missed a payment, and was not in arrears.
However, months later, out of the blue, she found out her application, for whatever reason, had been rejected. At this point, Wells Fargo treated her like she had been in arrears, because she'd been paying reduced payments on a mortgage that had failed to be modified. To add insult to injury, Wells Fargo then slapped her with a slew of interest charges and fees, because they in effect retroactively considered her account to be in default because of the Loan Modification decision.
Her bank then suggested she reapply, which she did - twice. Two more times, exactly the same thing happened. Following the third failed application, Wells Fargo began proceedings to repossess her home, even though she had made all her mortgage payments in exactly the way the bank had prescribed.
Turns out, the Loan Modification process is notoriously flawed and has been accused numerous times of causing foreclosures, as was the case here. Richard Gaudreau, attorney, explains in an essay for Huffington Post exactly why the Loan Modification process fails to help troubled homeowners while lining the pockets of banks (surprise, surprise!):
The government pays mortgage servicers $1,000 for each "loan mod" application. Studies have shown though that mortgage servicers stand to make far more in fees from a foreclosure than they ever will from a loan modification request.
Obviously this kind of behavior is unconscionable. It's hard to comprehend that a "trusted name" like Wells Fargo would want to force a loyal customer and her family out onto the street in order to make a quick buck on a few fees. But this is happening to untold numbers of people all across our nation, at the hands of nearly all the major banks.
My #OccupyLA friend had done everything required of her to meet her obligations, but somehow that wasn't enough - Is that remotely fair? But these days we don't seem to require fairness and common sense, never mind empathy and understanding, from the financial institutions in which we entrust our wealth, our security, and our futures. Clearly this was not an institution worthy of the trust this lady had been placed in it. Is it worthy of yours?
If you need to put a human face to the reason why you're being asked to move your money on November 5th -- Bank Transfer Day -- let my #OccupyLA friend be it.
To find a credit union in your area visit: moveyourmoneyproject.org
Also managed to make it to Tuesday morning without wearing anything daft, which is a major win as far as I'm concerned. It's not that I don't like dressing up. I'm happy to do it the rest of the year. Just don't like feeling forced to do it on Halloween - not into social pressure or expectations.
Anyhow, last night far exceeded the expectations I on principle didn't have. If you want a taste of the nourishing pumpkin soup I experienced, watch this ->
Went down to @OccupyLA for the fourth Saturday in a row.
Again, a lot has changed in a week.
The camp now has a grand entrance, and has expanded to all sides of City Hall:
And the tents have expanded to multi-room bijou residences - welcome to Chateau OWS West:
Some of the grander dwellings even have sculptures in their "front yard."
Inside things could do with sprucing up though. While awaiting a major intervention from ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition, I'm putting myself in charge of the @OccupyLA interior design committee. Need air beds, fairy lights, shag pile rugs, and disco balls ASAP.
Otherwise, life is good. The #OccupyLA activity schedule is always packed:
There's lots of opportunities for education:
A newly established theater company:
The live music is pretty good too (just be wary of the dodgy drum circles, which are currently causing more trauma to the #OWS movement than anything the 1% can do).
There's a pumpkin patch for seasonal fruit -- and political and corporate vegetables:
There's lots of places to meditate on the finer points of campaign finance reform -- like here:
And here -- though a yoga instructor is wanted:
There's a creche:
Because it's important for kids to learn how democracy works:
Pets are welcome:
Though the onsite kitchen is temporarily shut down while awaiting permits, there's still some pretty stylish dining opportunities. Today, someone donated the remainder of a wedding buffet, which came complete with exceedingly high class waiting staff:
There's also an onsite coffee truck for latte liberals (like me):
The Bike Repair Shop is apparently where all the cool kids hangout:
And the media tent has gone solar (panels modeled by the lovely Gia):
Just one (minor) criticism: Protesting doesn't make tie dye OK. You'll never get taken seriously wearing that shit.
Despite the odd dodgy fashion faux pas, every #OWS protester looks beautiful today:
I pity the fool that don't fight for his [or her] rights:
And for financial reform - such the reinstatement of the Glass Steagall Act:
Many thanks to the fabulous Gia (a.k.a. @MissBrass) and all my friends @OccupyLA for everything they're doing on behalf of all us 99 Percenters.
Love You
XOX
Which is why, even though this chap sounds lovely, he's not the man for me.
Added benefits to this protesting business: Marching is pretty much the same as hiking, but with more signs + you can walk the dog.
Another four-legged protester. If corporations can claim citizenship, dogs can too! #JustSaying
Protesting is thirsty work though.
The LAPD continues to be lovely...#Shame the same can't be said for the NYPD. In New York today they arrested a group of Citi Bank customers -- for trying to close their accounts -- for realz! Later, 74 protesters were arrested in Times Square. Meanwhile in Denver, riot police broke things up again, and in Chicago they're trying to evict protesters.
In NYC police have also been detaining protesters for violating an obscure law dating back to 1845 which was intended to stop tenant farmers from covering their faces during a peasant uprising (well I guess #OWS really is one of those!). Meanwhile, in London, Julian Assange was asked to remove his mask by police there. Things are going to get really confusing come Halloween. #JustSaying
Fortunately, in LA, protesting is a family affair.
Lovely weather for it too!
Imagine what the world would be like if the rich and corporations paid their fair share.
To clarify: What part of shared sacrifice don't you get?
Contrary to what the 1% owned mainstream media would have you believe, we are not rebels without a cause.
The 99 percent are fighting for <3, =ity, & abundance 4 all. I think you should join us!
Because this junior 99 percenter would like a future worth looking forward to.
Dear 1%, Are you getting it yet?
So last weekend I went to DTLA for the start of OccupyLA (see pics), which was a truly enlightening experience. People taking to the streets to protest the complete shit storm we've been weathering for way too long has been so overdue, and there's almost a sense of relief now that the silent majority is silent no more, and is finally standing up to say enough is enough. As a result, the sense of shared purpose and community among the 99 percenters down there is almost overwhelming. I strongly encourage you to experience it by visiting an #OCUUPYWALLSTREET event in your area.
Went back down there yesterday afternoon; what a difference a week makes. The site is now a highly functioning tent city (see pics). More infrastructure has been put in place there by organizers in the past week, than our government has managed in three years...
There's a library:
An arts center:
A health service:
Lots of committees to join:
Abundant food for all:
A fresh and free organic juice station:
A zero-waste recycling station:
A sense of purpose:
And a whole lotta love:
Going to be heading back down there later on today.
You might want to too - around 4 PM perhaps *hint* *hint*
Also, this Sunday (Oct 9) #OccupyLA will #OccupySGRadio for a very special show, which will be broadcast on Indie1031.com and livestreamed via OWSLosAngeles from 10 PM til Midnight PST (full details here).
