Upcoming Occupy London events! Come & get involved

Occupy London – part of the global movement for social and economic justice – kicks off 2012 with a wealth of free events and activities for Londoners to come and get involved in.

Thursday 5 January

• 1pm – Would St Paul the Tentmaker have camped with Occupy? With Juliet Kilpin at Earl Street Community Centre. 10 minute lunch-time lecture followed by discussion. Do bring lunch to share. With Juliet Kilpin – pioneer, initiator, creator, reflector, facilitator, trainer, writer, activist, baptist minister. Coordinator of Urban Expression
• 1-2pm – Making MoonRock theatrical workshop at Earl Street Community Centre with Michael Bradley. Theatrical workshop introducing the new dance musical showing on theWest End in 2012. Includes introduction to theatrical techniques, presentation of the ‘Moon’ legacy, music, dance and characterisation and some improv. Daily workshop (3-8 January)
• 5-6.30pm – Nichiren Buddhism – a practical Buddhism for the 21st century at Tent City University at St Paul’s. Find out more about the practice and its benefits. You are welcome to join in with some Buddhist chanting for the success of the Occupy movement and the happiness of everyone involved. Or just relax and listen. There will be a discussion group after, with an opportunity to ask questions about the practice

Friday 6 January

• 1-2pm – Making MoonRock theatrical workshop at Earl Street Community Centre with Michael Bradley. Theatrical workshop introducing the new dance musical showing on theWest End in 2012. Includes introduction to theatrical techniques, presentation of the ‘Moon’ legacy, music, dance and characterisation and some improv. Daily workshop (3-8 January)
• 3-4pm – Narrative For Social Change at TCU at OccupyLSX at St Paul’s. A talk exploring narrative and personal stories for social change. With Dr. Corinne Squire, Professor of Social Sciences and Codirector, Centre for Narrative Research School of Law and Social Sciences, University of East London
• 4-5pm – A Co-operative Economy: an alternative to capitalism at TCU at OccupyLSX at St Paul’s. In searching for an alternative to today’s investor-owned economy, there are limited options. For nearly two hundred years, the co-operative and mutual movement has challenged and sought to provide an alternative to private investor-ownership. In theUK it was decimated in the last quarter of the twentieth century, but since then has made a remarkable recovery, not only with traditional mutuals, but with a growing sector of new mutual organisations emerging from the public sector. But why did traditional mutualism nearly disappear, and why is it making a comeback today? Could it become part of the mainstream economy, rather than being peripheral? What is at the heart of the co-operative or mutual form of ownership, and what does it have to offer the world today? This session will be led by Cliff Mills, who is a legal practitioner working in the co-operative, mutual and public sector
• 5-6pm – Attention Training for Social Change with George Por at Earl Street Community Centre. To affect change in society, we must be ready to change our habitual ways of sensing and thinking and our routines of interacting with others, programmed by past experience. Many change makers are ready to change everything except oneself. Their effectiveness is doubtful. If you want to do better than that and want to learn embodying better the change you want to see in the world, then this training is for you. More details at http://www.bankofideas.org.uk/events/event/attention-training-for-social-change-6/. The facilitator of the programme, George Pór, is the Director of theSchool of Commoning
• 5-6pm – “What is it about ‘Thou shalt not kill’ that they don’t understand?” at TCU at St Paul’s. A talk on the subject embracing Judaism, Christianity, and Islam from the perspective of promoting peace, and enhancing the argument against war
• 6-7pm – Breaking The Siege – The Passage of a Jewish Boat To Gaza at TCU at St Paul’s. Glyn Secker, captain of the Jewish Boat To Gaza, talks about his attempts to break thegaza siege
• 6.30pm – 8.30pm – Radical Theory Reading Group at Earl Street Community Centre. Meeting in occupied spaces around London for over five years, the Radical Theory Reading Group will this month be looking at Shelley’s ‘Mask of Anarchy’. More details at http://www.bankofideas.org.uk/events/event/radical-theory-reading-group-2/
• 7pm – General Assembly at OccupyLSX at St Paul’s looking at political issues of the day. All welcome to get involved and find out more about Occupy’s discussion and decision making process where people vote on policies rather than people

Saturday 7 January

• 11am – 6pm – The accountability imperative: What future for our children and beyond? Introducing the First Occupy London Criminal Investigation Unit Conference, which will be held at the Bank of Ideas. OccupyLSX has created a Criminal Investigation Unit (OccupyCIU) which will be collecting evidence of crimes initially in the following areas:
• Financial Crimes: Working with Cobden Partners and Shareholder Groups, initially focusing on the £25billion false accounting of Royal Bank of Scotland
• War Crimes: Working with Veterans for Peace, initially focusing on Geneva Convention crimes by military contractors and their operatives in Afghanistan and Iraq
• Family Law Crimes: Working with the Advocacy Fund and Family Rights Organisations, initially focusing on crimes in family law proceedings
• Programme:
• 11-11.30am – Meet and Greet
• 11.30am – 12.20pm – Introduction, consensus decision-making and introductory film
• 12.20-1pm – The Criminal Justice Framework and Evidence – what is evidence?
• 1-2pm – Vegan lunch
• 2-2.15pm – Can we resurrect Grand Juries?
• 2.15-2.30pm – Outline of crimes: Financial Crimes, War Crimes, Family Law Crimes
• 2.30-3.45pm – Break-out Groups: The crimes and evidence – how we collect it
• 3.45-4.45pm – Groups feedback and next steps
• 4.45-5.30pm – Guest Speakers: Building a future for the generations; Options we can be part of!; “The wise person leaves a legacy for their children and grandchildren.”
• 11am – 2pm – Improv Fundamentals with Ryan Millar at the Bank of Ideas. Like Whose Line is it Anyway? Hate Whose Line is it Anyway? Never seen Whose Line is it Anyway? Doesn’t matter – Improv Fundamentals will give you a taste of improvised comedy. Not just for actors or people curious about improvised theatre this course will access unfettered imagination, create a group mind, and help participants gain confidence speaking on the spot. Mostly though, it will be fun. So come if you like having fun
• Noon – 1pm – A Theory of Freedom at TCU at St Paul’s. A discussion of some contemporary ideas on the concept of liberty, as popularised by Sir IsaiahBerlin, and a criticism of these ideas. Followed by a group consideration of two questions in particular: what the idea of liberty means to individuals and, secondly, what people think the occupations might mean for how we look at the concept of freedom today. With Matthew Edge
• Noon – 9pm – Bike generator demo at the Bank of Ideas. Come and learn how to create a simple bike generator that you can use to generate electricity!
• 1-2pm – Making MoonRock theatrical workshop at Earl Street Community Centre with Michael Bradley. Theatrical workshop introducing the new dance musical showing on the West End in 2012. Includes introduction to theatrical techniques, presentation of the ‘Moon’ legacy, music, dance and characterisation and some improv. Daily workshop (3-8 January)
• 1-2pm Green Spirituality at Finsbury Square
• 1-3pm – Introduction to Integral Activism with Gary Hawke at the Bank of Ideas. Integral Theory has been described as a meta-theory that is able to hold and bring together the views, voices and injunctions of a diverse collective body. The workshops will not only give you a good grounding in Integral Theory but will explore how Integral Theory can support your Activism
• 1.30pm – 3.30pm – The Sacred Circle, Drumming, Singing and Sharing Circle at The Bank of Ideas. More details at http://www.bankofideas.org.uk/events/event/the-sacred-circle-drumming-singing-and-sharing-circle-2/
• 2-4pm – An exploration into Alienation: An Improvisation Workshop with Naomi Green at the Bank of Ideas. Dance improvisation based workshop which explores the many-fold ways in which we the 99% feel alienated by the 1% around the world and the possible impact this has on our sense of identity and Belonging
• 3pm – 4.30pm – Youth Facilitation workshop: ‘what can make an effective occupy workshop in secondary schools?’ At TCU at St Paul’s 
• 3-4pm – We are the 99%! Who are the 90%? With Martin Cross at the Bank of Ideas. This talk introduces the distribution of wealth; the historic reasons for that distribution; what to do about it in the future and what to do about it right now. This talk introduces the distribution of wealth; the historic reasons for that distribution; what to do about it in the future and what to do about it right now. http://www.bankofideas.org.uk/events/event/we-are-the-99-who-are-the-2/
• 3-5pm – Integral Activism – Creating a ‘We’ Space with Gary Hawke at the Bank of Ideas. Through both dialogue, teaching and practical exercises, Gary Hawke will lead an inquiry into how does the Occupy Movement create a shared meaning, that will allow the growth of a collective action in which the variety of passions within the movement are address. http://www.bankofideas.org.uk/events/event/intedgral-activism-creating-a-we-space/
• 4-5.30pm – Mark Boyle (author of The Moneyless Man and founder of Freeconomy) and Nick Rosen (author of How to live Off-grid) at the Bank of Ideas. Mark Boyle will be giving a talk about his life living 100% without money – he’ll discuss the reasons why he gave up using money, why he feels that moving beyond monetary economics is crucial to a future worth having, and the practicalities involved. Nick Rosen will also speak about his experiences of living off-grid, why he feels it could benefit us all on many levels and advice on how to go about it. Both will then do a joint Q&A for 30mins
• 4-5.30pm – Art Therapy Workshop at the Bank of Ideas. Have had a re-current dream that you would like to interpret? Would you like to understand psychological symbols and archetypes? We will aim to work with participants to explore these themes and more through art. Participants are requested to bring their own art materials i.e. paper, pencils, pens, paints, brushes, etc
• 7pm – General Assembly at OccupyLSX at St Paul’s  looking at political issues of the day. All welcome to get involved and find out more about Occupy’s discussion and decision making process where people vote on policies rather than people.
• 7pm – 8.30pm – London Short Film Festival at TCU at St Paul’s. More details TBC

Sunday 8 January

• 1-3 pm – DIALEKTIKON 2012 – VIOLENCE AND LIBERATION at OccupyLSX by the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral. In 1967, at a time of brutal war inVietnam, race, riots and revolution in the air, an international group of activists, hippies, intellectuals and artists gathered in inLondon’s Roundhouse at the Congress of the Dialectics of Liberation to debate the wrongs of the current system and how to build a better world. Our political, social and economic systems since then have only slid further into crisis while the collective wisdom of the Congress speaks to us prophetically today. In DIALEKTIKON 2012, we’re recreating five great personalities from the Congress through their revolutionary ideas as our contribution to the great debate that’s once more rising worldwide… Programme includes:
• Introduction by Congress co-organiser and colleague of RD Laing Dr Leon Redler
• Highlights from the key Congress speeches:
• Radical psychiatrist RD Laing looks at the links between destructive psychiatry, obedience and war (played by Harry Myers)
• Black Power leader Stokely Carmichael denounces white society’s insistence on ‘law and order’ against Black demands for justice (played by Kuselo Mandela)
• Beat poet Allen Ginsberg teaches spiritual understanding and a return to tribal wisdoms (played by Niall McDevitt)
• Marxist philosopher Herbert Marcuse analyses the failure of capitalism and conjures up a socialist Utopia  (played by Stephen Greif)
• Visionary scientist Gregory Bateson shows the devastating effects on the planet’s natural systems of our lack of wisdom  (played by Bradley Cole)
• With poetry and song from:
• Jazz troubadour Michael Horovitz (who took part in the original Congress)
• Folk singer Pete Morton
• And finally… an open debate for audience and participants: Can these radical ideas from the ’60’s apply today?
• Producer: Victoria Childs; Writer/Director: Jacky Ivimy
• 1-2pm – Making MoonRock theatrical workshop at Earl Street Community Centre with Michael Bradley. Theatrical workshop introducing the new dance musical showing on theWest End in 2012. Includes introduction to theatrical techniques, presentation of the ‘Moon’ legacy, music, dance and characterization and some improv. Daily workshop (3-8 January)
• 7-9pm – Hula hoop/Poi workshop at the Bank of Ideas

Monday 9 January

• 3.30pm – 5.30pm – Clown Workshop at Earl Street Community Centre
• 4-6pm – Introduction to Wuji: a Buddhist Tai Chi with John Tuite at the Bank of Ideas. http://www.bankofideas.org.uk/events/event/introduction-to-wuji-a-buddhist-tai-chi/
• 4-6pm – Film Screening: Just Do It: A Tale of Modern Outlaws at TCU at St Paul’s. For one eventful year, Emily James was allowed unprecedented access to film the secretive world of environmental direct action. Two years later, Just Do It – a tale of modern-day outlaws hit the big screen. This is how it happened… Emily James spent over a year embedded in activist groups such as Climate Camp and Plane Stupid to document their clandestine activities. She went over fence, through mud, in daylight and twilight, to capture over 300 hours of footage. That footage was lovingly crafted, moulded, pushed and pulled by Emily and editor James for over a year before the film you see today emerged. What would make you cross the line? Just Do It lifts the lid on climate activism and the daring troublemakers who have crossed the line to become modern-day outlaws. Documented over a year, Emily James’ film follows these activists as they blockade factories, attack coal power stations and glue themselves to the trading floors of international banks despite the very real threat of arrest. http://justdoitfilm.com/thefilm
• 6-7pm – ‘Squatting for community benefit’ with Transition Heathrow/Grow Heathrow at TCU at St Paul’s. Come to meet and hear from members of Transition Heathrow who have been squatting a market garden site which lies in the path of the now-cancelled Heathrow 3rd runway. The successful campaign against airport expansion at Heathrow airport shares roots of inspiration with today’s Occupy movement. With the runway now scrapped, the ‘Grow Heathrow’ squat continues to be used as a vital community resource and has support from the local residents, local council and the local MP. Combining a local sustainability transition town method with a more confrontational direct action approach, Grow Heathrow remains defiant nearly 2 years since the project began, despite numerous attempts to evict them from the land. http://www.transitionheathrow.com / http://www.transitionheathrow.com/grow-heathrow
• 7pm – Working Group Feedback at OccupyLSX at St Paul’s.  Representatives from across Occupy London’s working groups, occupations and media platforms provide feedback and updates on what they are up to

Tuesday 10 January

• 6-8pm – FREE UNIVERSITY COURSE – Economic Literacy: Introducing Fundamentals of Economics at the Bank of Ideas.

Further event listings

• At Finsbury Square and at the Occupy London Stock Exchange occupation at St Paul’s Churchyard see http://occupylsx.org/?page_id=176
• At the Bank of Ideas (taking place at Earl Street Community Centre just beside BOI from 4-6 January) - http://www.bankofideas.org.uk/events/
• Occupy Justice are being prepared

Notes

[1] Facebook page for Occupy London’s Stock Exchange site just by St Paul’s (OccupyLSX) is https://www.facebook.com/occupylondon. Overall Occupy London twitter Occupy London hastag is #occupylondon. OccupyLSX Twitter is https://twitter.com/#!/OccupyLSX ; hashtag#occupylsx. Twitter for the Finsbury Square site is https://twitter.com/#!/OccupyLFS; hastag #occupylfs. Twitter for Bank of Ideas is http://twitter.com/bankofideas and facebook is http://facebook.com/bankofideaslondon. Occupy Justice information coming soon

[3] Nearest tubes for the Occupy London Stock Exchange (OccupyLSX) site are St Pauls, Mansion House and Canon Street; buses 4, 11, 15, 23, 25, 26, 100, 242; do check Transport For London website. The Bank of Ideas (19-29 Sun Street) is just down the road from theOccupy London Finsbury Square(OccupyLFS) space, which is near Moorgate; buses 141, 153, 205, 21, 214, 43. Occupy Justice is based at the Old Street Old Magistrate’s Court on Old Street in Shoreditch (just opposite Shoreditch Town Hall)

Read more at Occupy the London Stock Exchange