If constructing the future and settling everything for all times are not our affair, it is all the more clear what we have to accomplish at present: I am referring to ruthless criticism of all that exists, ruthless both in the sense of not being afraid of the results it arrives at and in the sense of being just as little afraid of conflict with the powers that be. ~ Karl Marx

From the wake of the Arab Spring, to the Occupy Movement and more recently the ongoing Idle No More protests, one prominent view which has re-awakened in the minds and souls of endless people across the globe is “Dissent!” Alas, for very good reasons. Consumerism, Corruption, Inequality, Religion, Politics and Greed, just to name a few, play a big part in the discord most of us feel today.



For myself, what causes even a greater concern is the rate at which dissent is quelled, for what purpose, and those who are behind it. As more of our freedoms erode in what is touted as a free society, what is to become of the world in which we now live? What is the legacy we will pass on to future generations, if there is to be any? Troublesome still, is the complacency in which we in the face of all the atrocities being committed against mankind and our planet can we allow this to continue. Do we not owe it to our children to educate and inform them that the way to a better world is to fight for justice and equality for everyone and not just a select few? Should their voices not be heard? Have we as a human race become so heartless and out of tune to what is right and wrong in the world the we can not see past our own fortunes? I would hope not… for this in essence would surely be the beginning of the end.

In today’s media, unless one is deaf, dumb and blind, we can discover all that’s wrong with the world, yet the people stand quiet. We can see how our current government has eroded and cast away many environmental protections while muzzling our scientists all in the name of profit. We see how big corporations time and time again give false testimony to the public in order to gain financially and defeat competition. Furthermore we see Big Bank bailouts, unjust wars and the killing of innocents, unfair trade, corruption scandals, extreme famine and poverty, the polluting and degrading of our lands, sea and air and yet amazingly, we still stand quiet.

As for those who do and have spoke out, we see how fast the media jumps in to quell and portrait the dissidents as something other than what is their intended purpose. In the height of the Occupy Movement the media portrayed the movement as a bunch of “pot smoking hippies” with “no direction” who’s only intentions were to squat on public property. We seen it again with the Idle No More Movement when Chief Theresa Spence staged a hunger strike outside Parliament Hill. The media once again were quick to shift focus away from the cause of the movement to the mismanagement of Aboriginal Affairs. For those whose interests are substantially greater, as with the Alberta Tar Sands, we see how the government took steps to muzzle those who may shed some light on the real environmental impact and health issues caused by the seepage of toxic waste into the lakes and rivers surrounding the Tar Sands. Still we have no voice!

The Time Has Come! It’s paramount for all our voices to be heard! As people, if we wish to leave our children with any kind of a future, we must come together and be more involved in what the real issues are facing our world today and not what the media portraits. For the sake of all humanity, it’s time we all speak out and make our voices heard. We must no longer sit idly by why ‘big corporations’ plunder our economy and reap all the benefits. We must change the direction in which we are currently heading if we wish to survive. We must teach our children not to fear ignorance, but to overcome all adversities even in the face of fear. We need to strive for equality in all walks of life and to respect all living creatures.

Perhaps this is all much easier said than done, but if we don’t take that first step, then they have already won!!

If I don't have faith and belief in something much bigger than myself, what then do I have? Here and now, eyes open, one step at a time. ~ Unknown

"It is not a subsidy, it's an investment. Public transportation should not be seen as a subsidy but an investment for the betterment of society."

- Linda Savory Gordon, a member of the Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains

People are largely constructed by capitalism. Their opinions are largely constructed by capitalist media, which will always denounce anything not in the economic interest of the owners, managers, and clients of the capitalist media!

A lot has happened since the beginning of the Occupy movement. With the anniversaries of Occupy Movements around the world now unfolding, the  mainstream media seems to downplay the overall effect the movement has played going as far as to say that the Occupy Movement is dead! Nothing could be further from the truth!  One only has to look back in recent time and to countries around the world to see what can become of mass demonstrations as we have witnessed with ‘The Arab Spring’ in Egypt and ‘The Indignants’ movement in Madrid.


The Occupy Movement is ALIVE and still very active across the globe. Perhaps not yet on a scale which will bring around immediate change, but as the movement continues to grow, people everywhere are starting to take notice, as seen with the recent student uprising in Montreal, Quebec. Now over it’s 100th day, what started out as a protest against student tuitions has morphed into a protest about more  than just the cost of education. It’s becoming more about the financial bailouts of the ruling class (the 1%), corrupt government and their policies,  suppression of the people,  and the passing of unfavourable laws like bill C-10 and C-78, SOPA,  CISPA, along with a host of other bills and policies recently enacted that go strictly against or very own Charter of Rights and Freedoms. As the movement continues to expand across the globe, governments are quick to react trying to suppress the movement which has led to further hostilities arising from police brutality and in some cases the strict use of force. In Quebec alone mass arrests (over 2,500 to date) have so far failed to quell the protests and have perhaps only strengthened their resolve.

Social media has played a big part in helping to unite various movements across the country and  in getting the peoples voices heard. It has given us a glimpse into the inequality around the world and here at home. Through social media we  have seen the images of violence and atrocity currently being committed in places like Egypt and Syria, and other third world countries. Even here at home In Ontario during the protest at the G20 Summit, it has been revealed that Police violated civil rights, detained people illegally, and used excessive force.  Who is to be held accountable? The peaceful protesters exercising their rights to free speech as guaranteed through the Charter of Rights?

Yet without a true following from the main stream of media, it may be hard to determine the exact toll (pro or con), the protests are having on the local economy and policies where these mass demonstrations play out. What is evident is that the movement is far from dead and in some cases may very well be growing momentum.  Solidarity with the 99% across the country will play a big part in determining what if any gain the occupy movement will have in the coming months. As the protests move forward, it may be wise for all to keep in mind that the Occupy Movement is about more than just dollars and cents! IT’S ABOUT CHANGE!  It’s about what kind of future we want to leave for our children. It’s not a movement about the rich or poor, black or white…. it’s a movement more about EQUALITY FOR EVERYONE and not just the 1% or a select few. To achieve these goals, we must ALL STAND TOGETHER! Those who sit on the sidelines only to heckle the movement deserve no better than those who are trying to suppress it!