Minutes GA, 27.03.2012

Minutes Occupy Utrecht General Assembly March 27, 2012

Location: Ganzenmarkt, Occupy Utrecht

Overview
1. March 31: European Day of Action Against Capitalism
2. May 21: Festival a/d Werf, Occupy and Public Space
3. May 12: Global Action Day
4. Should we stay or should we go?
5. Scooter incident
6. Points of Action

1. March 31: European Day of Action Against Capitalism

Ron helps in organizing the demonstration next Saturday 31st of March. Ben asked him in the ACU to say something about it here.

The demonstration has three goals:
- To protest against the troika: International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank, and European Commission
- Express solidarity with Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain
- Get rid of the capitalist system

The demonstration starts 14.00 at Overvecht Station. Along the way there will be talks about the impact of capitalism. We walk towards the Schouwburgplein, where there will be an assembly at the end about what further steps to take. Ron doesn’t know how many people to expect. We promised to keep it nice and quiet, we don’t want a May 1st like last year. Some people heard that fascist people will come, but the police said they will really try to prevent fights from happening. There were talks with the council of Utrecht. The police organize the traffic regulation. Many media are invited and the critiques of ESM (European Stability Mechanism) will also be addressed. In Belgium a referendum voted against ESM and they now want to sue the government. In Germany the government refused to sign it.

We meet at the Occupy Utrecht at the Ganzenmarkt 13.00. Occupy logos can be brought to the demonstration. An e-mail list will be made for making banners. If you have paint, please bring it to the camp!
For info on ESM see: http://www.courtfool.info/
March 31 has a website and Facebook: http://march31.net/event/nl-utrecht-demonstratie/

2. May 21: Festival a/d Werf, Occupy and Public Space

Liesbeth works in Theatre Studies at Utrecht University, Mathijs is a student there. For Festival on the Werf, they are organizing a program on public space. It’s about ‘what is public space?’, different uses of public space, and public space as a place for debate. There are lectures and a program in different public spaces in the city. They would like to visit Occupy on Monday 21st of May between 12.00 and 14.00. The assembly is positive about that!

Patrick is contact person. He can reply their e-mail from the Occupy Utrecht mailbox. Everyone can mail Patrick for ideas on what to do on that day. Ideas for now are introducing people to the hand signs or discussion.

3. May 12: Global Action Day

Pieter Jan wants to bring May 12 2012 to our attention. De Standaard (‘the intellectual newspaper of Belgium’) has announced this date already as the new May 15.
A workgroup of three people was made to think about what to do on this date. Pieter Jan will set this up.

4. Should we stay or should we go?

The mayor has said that the 30th of April we have to leave. On Wednesday 28th of March there is a talk with the mayor. The question is whether we want to return to this location after Queens Day or go to an alternative location.
Demien has prepared some alternatives:

a. Occupy Picknick: with music and an info stand and debate area. We invite people to talk about the problems in their lives and relate this to Occupy.

b. Occupy Eco: we have permission from the council to choose a space and start an ecological square there (like a farm). An advantage is that this is outside of the city and there will be less problems with drunken students. It also shows that Occupy is really looking for alternatives and can show how it works to have consensus in a little village.

c. Occupy Wijk (Neighborhood): take one neighborhood at a time. We can ring doorbells and invite people to talk about problems in their lives. This can connect them to bigger problems and solutions. An advantage is that this could make the base of Occupy much bigger. We also speak to a different public, not just to people shopping in the center

d. Occupy Info: with a mobile info stand we can keep the dialogue on the street and hand out information. We need people who can talk well and know what is going on. We should also make posters and stickers.

It is decided that these are matters for later discussion. The people who decide to leave will come together to talk about further plans for alternative locations.

There are many different opinions about whether to leave or not. Some say that now we have the chance to leave with the goodwill and help of the council. If we decide not to leave now we lose all credit both with the council and with the public. Now we almost have carte blanche from the municipality to pick another place. But we need good legal back-up if we make arrangements, because many people do not trust the council just for their words. Others say that this place is very important for Occupy. Many Utrechters do not make appointments at the ‘stadhuis’ or ‘Ganzemarkt’ but at Occupy: Occupy has become a symbol here. Some think that if we go here, we go completely, and it is too early to close down because Occupy could go on for years. But many say that we can still stay here with an info stand and have regular meetings here when we have an alternative place. How will this be done if we cannot find enough people to help with many things now? We need more people at the table in the daytime at the table. Many people agree that for the manifestation it would be strongest to stay here, but that given the circumstances moving may be better.

It is often said that the council must do something about the homeless problem. There are different ideas about this. Some say that the council could grant some of our demands, some say that this problem is too complex.
There is agreement that we decide what to do through voting. Everybody present has the right to vote.

The vote: 1 (Zacharias) is against leaving. All others are either neutral or in favor of leaving.
This means that all those who voted in favor of leaving are going to think about alternatives and want to break up the tents. The people who want to stay here can do so, but on their own initiative. They can still call themselves Occupy, because who is to decide what Occupy is. It has not been clearly decided what the relation will be if there is a split. Many people think it is really strong if the stayers persist here longer and they support that. Everybody agrees it is important to be constructive towards each other while we are still here.
A working group should be made to discuss the options for different locations. They should also actively look for these places and visit them to see if it is nice there.

5. Scooter incident

Last week a girl with a scooter fell over a cable of ours. She and her friend said it would cost around ninety euros to fix this. People disagree whether we are responsible for this. But we don’t want to be like a bank who says that she can contact our lawyer. Also, we don’t want a bad reputation or bad publicity because of this. We do not make a collective decision on this, but people who want to can give some money (around three euros) to Florian. He will call the girl and give here the money with a note that we are sorry for her and collected this for her among ourselves.

6.Points of action:

- Everyone: Meet next Saturday 31st at 13.00 at Ganzenmarkt or 14.00 at Overvecht Station for European Day of Action against Capitalism
- Patrick: contact Liesbeth and Mathijs for the 21st of May
- Everyone: e-mail Patrick if you have an idea about what to do on the 21st
- Workgroup May 12: discuss plans for Global Action Day
- Everyone: plan discussion about alternative locations and look for different options.
- Florian: ask who wants to give some money for the scooter accident, and pass this on to the girl with a note from us.