[OccupySheffield] Fwd: [info at occupysheffield.org.uk: Which Side Are You On?]

[Chris]

Hi

The following article has been added to the web site:

- Sheffield Cathedral: Which Side Are You On?
  https://occupysheffield.org/2011/12/08/which-side-are-you-on/

All the best

Chris


----- Forwarded message from Occupy Sheffield <info at occupysheffield.org.uk> -----

Subject: Which Side Are You On?

After some debate internally, and individual reflection, we have 
reluctantly concluded that it is appropriate to publish for public 
consumption a letter from Peter Bradley (the Dean of Sheffield 
Cathedral) to parties unknown (although we assume them to be banks and 
other businesses in the immediate area of the Cathedral — it makes 
specific reference to the Cathedrals "major commercial partners... 
Barclays Bank, HSBC and the Cutlers Company").

What we believe we are seeing in this letter is a manager, with many 
stakeholders, attempting to maintain good relationships with those 
stakeholders, in challenging circumstances - a situation which will be 
familiar to many people and is not unusual. We do not find fault with 
this.

It is not, and never has been the intention of Occupy Sheffield to take 
on a battle with Sheffield Cathedral. The camp is set up - literally - 
if not figuratively - with the Cathedral at our back, and facing towards 
the banks.

What saddens us is that having been very close to the great work that 
the Cathedral do with the Archer project, and with the small window on 
the experience of homelessness that our time in the camp has allowed us, 
we are saddened that it is necessary for him to have to go cap-in-hand 
to the very people who have promulgated this crisis, which will see many 
more people in poverty, and many more people lose their homes.

Occupy Sheffield is there to have the conversation 'how can we do 
things differently', and we invite Peter Bradley to further continue the 
discussions that were started last week.

Occupy Sheffield


Here is a transcript of the letter dated 5th December 2011

Dear Neighbour,

I am writing to thank you for your forbearance. We understand that many 
of our partners locally are being inconvenienced by the protest 
currently taking place on the Cathedral forecourt. I want to assure you 
that we are doing all we can to bring the protest to a peaceful 
conclusion.

The Cathedral deeply values its long-term partnerships with many 
companies, banks and other agencies in the city. I hope you will be 
reassured to know that on the very first day of the protest I publicly 
thanked our major commercial partners, including Barclays Bank, HSBC and 
the Cutlers Company. Whatever questions the protesters may be drawing to 
our attention, our experience of these and similar institutions has been 
of their consistent professionalism and committed support of our work.

If there are any issues arising out of the protest that concern you 
particularly, do please get in touch with me.

With all good wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Peter Bradley

----- End forwarded message -----