Amidst growing concerns over the
economy, the Eurozone crisis, the shortcomings for predicted growth, the
downgrading of American financial systems and a lack of united resolve, there
has emerged a global undertaking in a bid to coerce governments to introduce a
swifter and more effective solution.
‘Occupy Wall Street’ began as a
low key protest in its inception; by the time of its enactment, thousands of
Manhattan’s residents and other American flocked to the financial district of
world-wide repute in order to protest, and stage one of the most daring sit-ins
in modern times.
Fervour so pent up is difficult
to restrain for too long a period and in quick succession, similar events have
sprung up throughout Western democracies.
In The City, ‘Occupy London’ has well and
truly taken hold. Saturday morning saw an estimated 2,500 take to the London
financial domain in response to ‘Corporate Greed’ that left many families
unable to provide for themselves amidst the growing fiscal crises.
Whilst there has been a mixed
response to the staged protest, a larger number are coming to acquiesce that
promises made by political leaders are slow to be implemented or otherwise do
little to combat deficit and budget issues in reality.
The stagnation has come to be
referred to as a ‘permafrost’: now so deeply set, it will take a sustained
period before any progress can again be made for growth.
One protester, James Sevitt,
spoke to the BBC about his feeling on the circumstances in hand: “This is about
getting beyond the 'us versus them'. We all live within the same system… We're
really focused on building a community which really demonstrates the
innovation, solidarity and just the human-to-human contact and community that
we want.” The appeal of the protesters is that their numbers are growing in
moral support even if not physically every day.
Saturday and Sunday indeed saw
huge turnouts, but the working week saw the corporation greed, so inbred, that
people returned to their jobs lest they suffer even greater hardships.
It is somewhat paradoxical that
the restriction on demonstration for these activists is their return to the
employs they hate, that don’t pay sufficient amounts, that threaten cuts.
Organising group Occupy LSX later
posted an initial statement on its website in which it said the "current
system" was unsustainable.
It called for:
- Structural change towards "authentic global equality"
- An end to the actions of those causing oppression
- An end to global tax injustice
- Regulators who are "genuinely independent" of the industries they regulated.
In addition, the group called for
further support for the strike movements planned for the end of November. Such
a united stand against both business and government actions sees a revival of
national sentiment not produced on such a widespread scale since the notorious
cuts of Margaret Thatcher. Determination and repeated efforts are essential for
a cause that will have a gradual effect as the tide on the coast.
This notion appears to be hailed
as a modern revolution by some leading innovative politicians: Green Party
leader and MP Caroline Lucas said: “The camp that has been set up a stone's
throw from London Stock Exchange is an opportunity to explore a different kind
of future to the one the mainstream political parties have constructed.”
Of course, this is reflective of
the widespread belief that politicians in the current cabinet are shying away
from public ideas on key issues: from the student tuition fee debate, to the
controversial hike in VAT, and the momentous outpouring of anger in riots,
public control has never been so outlandish yet so unnoticed by those in power.
Concerning statistics emerged
today that the rate of inflation for the country has jumped to a peak only once
before witnessed at the height of the original economic crisis: Consumer Price
Index currently sits at 5.2%. Such a staggering change is contributing to
rising costs of essential gas and electricity, as well as petrol and food.
Whilst this figure is expected to subside come the new year, it is worrying
that this figure goes against the grain of political policies regarding debt
and attempts at cutting the deficit.
Symbolic of the need to
persevere, a crowd now remains resolute on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral in
London. Once the bed place of countless beggars and those in poverty, the
establishment has almost reclaimed its position as church of the spiritually
rich. Whilst businessmen and women hurry on past to the London Stock Exchange,
there passes an intelligible and tangible atmosphere that those sat on the
steps will prove a powder-keg to ignite national sympathy and rebuke of city
greed.
Demonstrations in Greece, in
Italy, in Spain all signal that a new price must be paid in this quest for
recovery: the bailout of government politics and introduction of dogmatic
public involvement.
No economy is to recovery without
the active participation of its citizens. Here, the municipal mood is one of
strike, not cooperation.
No comments:
Post a Comment