- Occupy Glasgow
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Occupy Glasgow Part of the Occupy protests Date From 15 October 2011 Location Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom Status Ongoing Occupy Glasgow is an ongoing peaceful protest in Glasgow, Scotland, a part of the global Occupy movement with the intent to resolve economic and financial inequality. The protest started on 15 October 2011, opposite the City Chambers in George Square,[1] but due to possible conflict with Remembrance Day events, Glasgow City Council granted an eviction warrant, in force from 7 November, and protesting was moved to Kelvingrove Park in agreement with the council.[2] This is a first in the Occupy movements that a government has reached a compromise. It has been set up with the safety and welfare of campers.[3]
Contents
Statements of Intent
The occupation currently taking place in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow collectively agreed the initial statement below, based on the statement agreed by 500 people on the steps of St Pauls at OccupyLSX [4]
- "The current system is unsustainable. It is undemocratic and unjust. We need alternatives; this is where we work towards them.
- We are of all ethnic backgrounds, genders, generations, sexualities, dis/abilities and faiths. We stand together with occupations all over the world.
- We refuse to pay for the banks' crisis.
- We do not accept the cuts as either necessary or inevitable. We demand an end to global tax injustice and our democracy representing corporations instead of the people.
- We want regulators to be genuinely independent of the industries they regulate.
- We support the strike on 30 November and the student action on 9 November, and actions to defend our health services, welfare, education and employment, and to stop wars and arms dealing.
- We want structural change towards authentic global equality. The world's resources must go towards caring for people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or the rich.
- We stand in solidarity with the global oppressed and we call for an end to the actions of our government and others in causing this oppression.
- This is what democracy looks like. Come and join us!"
— Occupy Glasgow: 9 Statements of Intent
Controversy
Woman raped in Occupy Glasgow camp in George Square
A woman was raped in a tent at Glasgow's George Square, on the 26th of October 2011, which is the site of an anti-capitalist protest camp. The 28-year-old is understood to have been attacked in the tent in the early hours of Wednesday morning, approximately 12.45am. Police have said they are looking for two suspects they believe are known to the victim.[5] Following this, the protestors have moved from George Square and taken a new place in Kelvingrove Park. They have moved just in time for the preparations for Remembrance day and the Christmas lights taking place. Police are continuing to investigate.
Glasgow Council orders anti-capitalist camp to disband
It said the camp was illegal under park management rules and ordered the group to leave "with immediate effect". Glasgow City Council has issued a "letter of expulsion" to activists who set up tents there on 15 October. It said the camp was illegal under park management rules and ordered the group to leave "with immediate effect". The council said the timing of the letter being issued was not connected to the rape.
New Site - Kelvingrove Park
Kelvingrove Park is one of the dearest green places in the Dear Green Place, enjoyed by citizens and visitors from all walks of life. As of Thursday 3rd of November, Glasgow City Council has given over a section of this beautiful park to be a protest camp, setting up amenities, fresh water, flood lights and fencing to facilitate the protest.
The move from George Square to Kelvingrove Park was agreed after talks with the local authority. :[6] The council said that the occupiers had been offered space at Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow Green or on the Broomielaw to continue their protest.The site was adduced as part of a deal to vacate the square before Remembrance Day events. A spokesman has said that this would allow them “to maintain a presence while minimising disruption to the people of Glasgow”. The new site has floodlights and toilets. Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello used a radio interview to publicise the protest. Occupiers in Glasgow and Edinburgh have had been subjected to cold winter weather, sometimes as low as -3 degrees Celsius. It has been said that the Occupy Glasgow camp in the city's Kelvingrove Park will cost the city council at least £4000. In response to a request from councillors, Robert Booth, executive director of land and services, revealed that the set-up cost of the camp, including providing fencing, toilets, lighting and a water supply, ran to £1800. Weekly running costs are expected to add up to around £160, bringing the total over three months to £4040 - on average £45 a day. The protesters have been issued with a list of conditions for the occupancy. These include requirements that other park users are not harassed or annoyed by activists handing out flyers, all litter is put in bins and the level of noise is kept to a minimum. The group has been given total responsibility for stewarding the occupation, and the license grants them use of the space in Kelvingrove Park until at least February 2, 2012.
Occupy Blythswood - Glasgow campaigners set up new protest camp - Blythswood Square
While authorities in London start eviction moves against St Paul's protesters, a few members of Occupy Glasgow have decided to leave the camp on Kelvingrove Park which the city council established for them. They've set up a "satellite camp" on private property in Blythswood Square. In the dark, smoke from a small fire drifts across Blythswood Square in Glasgow.
Previously campaigning with permission, at Kelvingrove Park after moving from a corner of George Square, a small group of tents looks completely out of place in Blythswood Square. As do some of the protesters,wearing high visibility jackets and vests.
The campaigners say that although some have moved camp there isn't a split. They are only looking for different people to talk to. They say their new satellite camp is close to financial businesses, bank call centres, and lawyers and accountants involved in winding up businesses.
See also
Social movements portal 
Scotland portal References
- ^ "BBC News, Occupy protests across the UK as St Paul's demonstration continues". 2011-11-01. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15540224. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
- ^ "BBC news, eviction of Glasgow Protesters". 2011-11-03. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15569255. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
- ^ "Occupy Glasgow". 2011-11-14. http://www.occupyglasgow.org/. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ "Occupy Glasgow, Statements of intent". http://www.occupyglasgow.org/about/statement-of-intent.html.
- ^ "STV news, women raped at camp". http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/276301-woman-raped-at-glasgow-george-square-protest-camp/.
- ^ "Occupy Protest group agrees to move". http://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/occupy_glasgow_agrees_to_new_site_1_3213393.
External links
Categories:- 2011 in Scotland
- Occupy movement
- Protests in Scotland
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