Goodnight/Goodmorning
I think I shall head to bed pretty soon. Just a post to say that I am looking forward to going down tomorrow and helping out and hopefully getting this blog some promotion!
My thoughts to those camping tonight, stay warm and safe folks! Keep an eye out for each other and keep yourselves heated and hydrated.
Solidarity,
Ewan
P.S If you are under 25 and interested in writing for this blog, or offering your statements, please do get in touch with me as I am hoping to get a small group of people to blog and not just myself. Give me your stories of being in the 99% and I’ll post them.
Glasgow’s 99%
As I am sure you are no doubt aware, the Occupy Together movement is growing rapidly worldwide. People are waking up in tents and shelters, in cities around the world, to start a new day of protest each morning and this is now true in the city of Glasgow, in the west of Scotland.
At George Square, in the city center, people are pitching their tents and assembling at different times during the day to show their support for other occupations and to voice their anger at being the 99% Mind you, I think people are now proud of it. It’s a community. People are pulling together and helping each other out in any way possible. Even those who are not “occupying” as such are bringing donations of food and tents. The atmosphere is great!
I was at the occupation for the first time today and was completely inspired. Men and women of all ages were smiling, working together, offering space and food. It will soon be a fully functioning site where people can come and go as they please and that is really great to witness.
This afternoon and this evening, I was helping in the kitchen tent. People have been so generous with food donation and we are lucky enough to have 2 fully trained chefs on side to help cook meals and keep food safely and hygenically stored. I also got my hands dirty and started washing up and drying cups and dishes. I would have done if asked but from the moment you step on to the occupied site, you WANT to help! You want to be a part of what is going on!
Possibly the one of the most inspiring things I have seen ever also happened tonight. Homeless people from across Glasgow, came down to George Square and they were given a hot plate of pasta, tea and coffee, fruit and then most of all, with such generous donations of tents, homeless people were given a place to sleep. The people who society forgets about are finally being helped. Talking to a few of them, they were really keen on helping and giving back, which is equally as good as getting to help them. Mr Cameron, here is your big society. Working together for what REALLY matters and helping those who need it most. You are more than welcome to come down and help cook and clean…or would that not be practical for you?
I will be giving more updates about the Glasgow Occupation as time goes on and will hopefully get some pictures and maybe even video footage up.
If you are in Glasgow I highly recommend you pop down for even just half an hour. You will be warmly welcomed with a cup of tea or coffee and a chance to discuss, read about or listen to this great movement. You will be changed as a person by going down and helping out, trust me.
Ewan
An Address to the 100%
Hello and welcome to all!
My name is Ewan McAleer, I am 14 years old and currently living in Glasgow, Scotland. I am the 99%. I have grown up in the capitalist system. I have been brought up around the regime of the right and now I am fighting back. The reason why is really quite simple. It’s not fair. Fairness is important as I am sure 99% of you would agree (see what I did there?!). Society is not functioning in a way that is fair and equal to all. We, the 99% are not free. We are the prisoner to fat cats, bankers, politicians, THE CAPITALISTS! They control society. It is no longer the electorate who make the decisions, it is the cheque book. Now is not the time for apathy and ignorance. Now is the time to stand up, rise up and fight for your freedom, because that is what you must do.
Look at the planet today. First of all, it’s melting! We are killing it! So that is something we need to fix, obviously! But then, you look into planet earth and look at the war, the hunger and starving, the ignorant and non accepting societies, the racism and prejudice. Even the mass labelling and categorisation of people who governments and corporations do, to make controlling us easier. The ruthless and rich don’t care. They are happy in their huge houses, nice cars, large wine cellars and obtuse bank accounts. They are not concerned by the freezing and hungry homeless on the streets. They are not bothered by the young and uneducated people of society. These people aren’t interested. It’s not of their concern and it never will be unless we make it! Yes, it will be a long fight, there will be highs and lows of course! People will be lost and gained but it will be worth it if we overthrow those who are holding us captive to their livelihoods. Put a stop to the in equal society, put an end to the right-wing profit-making agenda held by governments around the world, put an end to mass cutting of essential public services and an end to the corruption of the police, the media and financial system.
It was an Occupy Wall St. protester that said this: “America. This country died in 1913 when they opened the central bank. This green paper is not money. Gold is money. You can’t get your gold back. You paid it in years ago and you can’t get it back because of the system!” This people, is the truth.
I decided to set up this blog to document and publish information on being the 99% from the perspective of a teenager. From a 14-year-old who ISN’T apathetic and does want to make a difference. I am currently involved in the Occupy Glasgow movement and it is truly inspiring to see men and women of all ages, pulling together, working together, fighting for change.
It was said at the assembly this evening, at George Square, by one man whose name I don’t know, “We are all here for unity. We all have our own causes and agendas but the one thing that is mutual is the unity of this occupation. If we don’t have that, we have nothing.”. I couldn’t agree with this statement more. He is completely right. There are people there from different ethnical back grounds, different educational and class backgrounds even different political leanings, however, unsurprisingly I think everyone is on the left. I wonder why?!
Any way, Please keep checking the blog for up to date and relevant reports of the Glasgow occupation and stories I can gather from around the world in terms of the youth of society mobilizing and making a stand for what they believe in. Just think, if you are struggling now, what will it be like for us? I have no hesitation in saying that we, we the young and 99 are a new lost generation. I, along with millions of others, are going to fight to change this.
Peace and Solidarity to all,
Ewan.
