[OccupyComms] CoR Meeting Report

[Mark Barrett]

So sorry for the delay in this quick report.

As some of you will know i met with John Rees of CoR a few week's ago
about their People's Assembly against the cuts on June 22nd. Here is a
brief note of the meeting:

I shared:

(1) Some individual concerns from Occupy GA discussions and
individuals in the People's Assemblies Network regarding
non-horizontalism of assembly, price of entry and use of the name
People's Assembly.

(2) Paul Feldman's comments regarding the need to take Assemblies
forward as an alternative to ensure a dual power situation [see *
below]

(3) Positive comments regarding, for example use, and encouragement of
the rhetoric of (if not the direct democratic ideal) the assembly
model.

(4) Links to
(i) the 2006 Interim Statement by the Campaign for a 21st Century
Constitution: http://www.peopleincommon.org/archive/C421.html
(ii) the origin of the People's Assemblies Network from (i) and also
in the UK anti-cuts movement : http://www.peoplesassemblies.org/about/
(iii) the initial statement of Occupy London in particular point 1
"The current system is unsustainable. It is undemocratic and unjust.
We need alternatives; this is where we work towards them." and the
centrality of horizontal assemblies to that end.
http://occupylondon.org.uk/about/statements/initial-statement

(5) My hope that the event could take forward the aim of having a
follow on assembly-based anti-cuts and wider democratic movement [ie a
resolution calling for follow on aim eg 'uniting to build a
decentralised,
direct democratic local assembly based movement against cuts, privatisation,
corruption and the corporate state, and ensuring the anti-cuts movement is
genuinely driven from below']

And he shared

(1) his understanding that the entry cost is based on the need to pay
for the hall and generally make the movement sustainable, also that as
most local affiliated union groups will subsidise transport to the
country from around the country this much bigger cost  which would be
of far greater concern to most attenders was covered so that people
who they are trying to get in one meeting together are not generally
excluded
(2) the meeting if everyone signs up will be an unprecedented assembly
of all the sectors of resistance
(3) if enough people and a decent enough representation of the
movement sign up it will allow their to be a spring board to autumn
strikes walk outs marches
(4) his hope is that because the meeting will be representative of all
the groups, the desire to form local peoples assemblies in each town
to build strength and stop the cuts in their tracks will come out of
the gathering and that from there policies and ideas can come from the
local assemblies
(5) his openess to the development of a resolution calling for such
and also (in response to my suggestion) to things like the separation
of the state from corporate power as part of the anti-privatisation
agenda (cf barnet anti-privatisation battled and their desire for a
standing people's assembly)
(6) desire to get as many people signed up as possible. They are doing
well with union affiliation but also in particular he asks if it's
possible to reach out to tenant federations in order to connect with
the local resident struggles.
(7) a general welcome to come along and, to the extent possible in the
admittedly non-horizontal format, have a platform
(8) his view that this stage is needed as a first step in order to get
to the point where assemblies, which in his view are akin to soviets /
workers councils can actually have a chance to take root - need this
and follow on strike action organised in local communities to get a
head of steam.

I think that's everything, sorry again for delay. And here are Paul
Feldman's words i shared with John also at the meeting, and if people
want to take any of these ideas forward please contact CoR.

Cheers

Mark

* Paul's words: event should .. 'call for the creation of
PAs around the country on a PERMANENT basis:

PAs
- should be open to all sections of the community to send representatives
- discuss why there is a global economic crisis
- should draw up, with the help of experts, alternatives to austerity/cuts
that go beyond the profit system
- debate the crisis of democracy, where our voices/votes count for very
little
- consider alternative forms of government in all parts of the UK based on
PAs that would introduce democracy throughout society - in ownership and
control of workplaces, land, etc
- consider a plan to deal with the eco-crisis, by acting in their community
- start to consider themselves as an alternative, legitimate authority

PAs must not become talking shops, but rival centres of power."


-