Occupy Oregon South Coast adopted a declaration/manifesto on May 19th, 2013. If this manifesto appeals to you and you are interested in being on the mailing list regarding OOSC meetings, or would like further information, please contact Occupy Oregon South Coast by e-mailing to OOSC@msn.com .
Declaration and Manifesto of Occupy Wall Street (OWS) Movement
Taken from the OWS Declaration*:
“As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. We are allies with all people who feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world.”
“As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality: that the future of the human race requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power.”
“This is a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments.
*to see the entire OWS Declaration go to: http://www.nycga.net/resources/documents/declaration/
Declaration and Manifesto of Occupy Oregon South Coast (OOSC)
OOSC is a part of the Occupy Wall Street Movement and not only supports the OWS Declaration and Manifesto, but also encourages direct participatory government of, by and for the governed to protect and enjoy equal access to the benefits of the public commons.
Occupy Oregon South Coast Organizational Principles:
1. OOSC was created as an educational support resource & forum for all occupy groups on the South Coast of Oregon and is not meant to replace other Occupy groups on the Oregon Coast. OOSC wishes to support the actions of all Occupy groups, including diversification of the occupy process throughout all our communities..
2. OOSC was created to model leaderless consensus in replacement of the obsolete hierarchical paradigm that creates patriarchal non-community including separation, violence & war. We realize this is an ancient tradition used in both tribal nations and throughout the world and dates back to the Socratic method and is over 2500 years old. We recognize that we have been entrenched in hierarchical systems, so we are relearning and practicing ways to truly listen to one other.
3. We will attempt at all times to operate with open hearts and open minds, seeking to model how our lives can be enhanced by peaceful cooperation where all have a voice.
4. We agree to operate using a Occupy Wall Street style consensus based General Assembly (GA) for determination of our endorsed actions.
5. We agree to use smaller working groups (which consist of two or more), that also follow the OWS consensus based model, in order to create the specific details for endorsed OOSC actions, and gathering additional information about injustices. This technique is used to accomplish much business in small groups, and thus to save the GA specifically for dissemination of reviews of working group meetings, past actions, agenda items, and announcements for the group. GA’s will last 1.5 hours or less, if possible.
6. General Assemblies (GA’s) are called as soon as possible after the Communications Working Group (CWG) is notified that there are agenda items (actions) awaiting consensus. Anyone who initials this declaration can ask for a GA if they have an agenda item request. The CWG will put out the GA meeting notice for OOSC. Individuals or working groups do not use the OOSC name, unless they have sought and gotten consensus from the GA.
7. To provide a forum for in depth discussion within the group, the soapbox may be used. Anyone who has signed this declaration can call an OOSC soapbox, as long as the Communications Working Group is notified to distribute an announcement to all initialers of this declaration. If time allows, soapboxes will also follow each GA. (The GA is not where we process personal issues or disputes.)
8. Any signer of this declaration may offer to present an OOSC endorsed informational meeting with a guest presenter, videos, art workshop, or other methods of presentation. Since this would be an action for endorsement, the informational meeting concept will be presented at the GA for consensus. The Communications Working group will advertise the event to OOSC after they are given the detailed information for the event. Additional public advertising will be provided by the person or working group that sought the action.
9. Co-opting of this movement is rampant. OOSC does not promote any products, political parties, candidates, or individual personal or business agendas. All of our issues are those that are in agreement with the basic intention of OWS (see full OWS declaration*).
10. We respect that we will be dealing with activist issues that are often controversial in the community and thus we do not use other people’s names, professions, or roles in the community without the expressed permission of the activist.
If I decide that I am not in consensual agreement with the current OOSC declaration/manifesto, I recognize that I, or other prospective signatories or initialers, may wish to suggest changes for consensus in amending the manifesto. This manifesto may be changed as desired, by official OOSC action, if Occupy Oregon South Coast reaches consensus, in a General Assembly called for the purpose of making such amendments.
I realize my association and signature (or initials) is my personal choice, or I might choose to join another occupy group. If I decide I no longer wish to participate with OOSC, I will notify the Communications Working Group in person or send an e-mail to OOSC@msn.com stating that I no longer wish to be a signatory or initialer on this document. If I do not attend a GA for 6 months or more, and do not make special arrangements with the CWG, then I understand that I will be removed as a signatory. (All who regularly attend GAs are encouraged to become signatories or initialers of this declaration in order to be able to call for OOSC endorsed GA’s, Soapboxes, and Informational meetings, and this list will be used for e-mail notifications of OOSC meetings.)
Should you not be interested in becoming a signer of this document, but you do wish to participate in OOSC actions, let the CWG know that you wish to be on the “Actions Solidarity List”.
As we create a consensus process to address the problems we face on the South Coast of Oregon region, our state and our nation, and generate solutions, we are asserting the people power of the 99% and ask you to join us as we make our voices heard. We sign or initial below, in solidarity, declaring we are in consensus with this Declaration/Manifesto.
