Parents meet-up at St Pauls/Occupy London?

[zelda200]

Hello all - would anyone be interested in meeting up at St Pauls on Wednesday 26th under a parents-for-change sort of banner?

I went to the start of the protest on Sat 15th (with my two kids, 3.5 and 1.5), and was struck by the need for more so-called ordinary people to be there, as otherwise it might get dismissed as just the "usual suspects" (far-left agitators etc). I think just from talking around that a lot of parents think this is important for our kids' future. I would like to take a stand against the growing inequality in this country.

Anyone interested in meeting?

Thanks

Well, the Times didn't like them. Of course, as all know, the Murdoch press are the gold standard for truthful, unbiased reporting.

Funny you should say that about the Phd, SWC. One of my best friends (best 1st in her subject for 50 years at Cambridge, Cambridge Phd and don) has been one of those at Occupy protests. I know a large number of people with Phds attending, in fact.

But of course you'd know much better - having never actually been to one.

I don't object to the protest particularly - it's a free country. I just object to the location they've chosen. Think it's a PR own-goal.

I don't need to go and listen to what they've got to say because the live debate - Guardian of course - was enough to put anyone off.

If it is really populated by Phd students, academics etc then they are keeping them well hidden.

You seem to know a lot of interesting people breadandbutterfly.

A boffin when you want to illustrate how clever the protesters are, and a top investment banker when you want to illustrate how little they deserve their remuneration.

You're not making it up are you?

I agree again cogito.

OP, not while the protesters refuse to move on from St Paul's, sorry. Actually was going to go down there with the kids this 1/2 term but my intentions have changed. And not because of the Daily Mail

No, disputandum, I'm not making it up. Though I admit to being rather flattered (nay, very flattered) that anyone would think my life interesting enough to bother making it up. :)

My best friend did go to Cambridge (I went to Oxford, by the way, so not so amazing. She's just brighter than me - I'm cool about that. :) ) My DH happened to have 2 best friends who became different types of bankers. Not really earth-shakingly unusual.

If you want me to quote a friend who's a vicar, say, I'll admit I'm not your woman.

Don't you have friends who have different types of jobs, disputandem?

I am surprised the cathedral is not supporting them more strongly and speaking out on the same issues.

Didnt jesus do the exact same thing by protesting in a temple?
Doesnt the church preach about equality and looking after the less fortunate anymore?

Best wishes to all the protesters and thank you for making a stand on this!

There are plenty here on Mumsnet who are part of the 99% as evidenced by this sad thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1324074-For-those-who-cant-afford-to-use-central-heating-this-year-How-are-you-going-to-cope

Double posted by mistake - although also relevant in other topic.

Hello all,

Thanks for the comments, glad to see it provoked some debate :-) I think it's a bit early to tell what effect it is having, or whether it's having an effect. I support it as I feel frustrated by our current democratic system that allows us a vote only every five years, and then there's nothing to hold the winning party to their manifesto pledges... until another five years have passed. Doesn't seem to be very democratic some how!

I agree it's a shame St Paul's has closed but as I understand it it's very hard to find anywhere to have a permanent protest, and church land is one of the few places that can accommodate these things (no proof of this, just hearsay). Letters to MPs are all very well, but do they have any effect either?

The issue is not whether I or anyone I know is squeezed... I believe everyone (the 1%, the 99% whoever) is better off - happier, more secure - in a more equal society.

Best wishes to all!

Absolutely agree, zelda.

zelda200, so it's okay to shut a church down for a 'permanent' protest because it's inconvenient to find another spot? You're not saying it would be okay for St Paul's to be permanently closed for this are you?

And ChickenLickn, St Paul's DID support them, hence the fact that they didn't & haven't asked the police to move them on - they didn't exactly repay that support in kind once the long-term effect on the cathedral became apparent.

The protest is supposed to be against narrow self-interest, but that's exactly what's now being demonstrated.

bob - is the church there to serve the people or are the people there to serve the church?

I don't know - I'm not Christian - but is the answer really only one way?

well it's not there just to serve the protesters breadandbutterfly. The camp doesn't constitute 'the people' in its entirety and how can the cathedral serve the rest of the people if it's shut?

oh and I know you like your polls; there's one on the Standard news site at the moment asking 'Should the protesters leave St Paul's churchyard?'. 80% of respondents agree they should. Now I expect you to argue that the ES is right-leaning so it doesn't count .

The Graun's not asking that question; it wants to know today if readers are happy to see driverless trains on the Underground. Even though the direct inference is that it'll lead to more job losses guess what? 60% of CIF voters are in favour! That surprised me I have to say.

Good luck zelda and any other MNters able to go along tomorrow!

But bob the church has had to shut the cathedral therefore how can they serve the people as a whole? If people want to use the church they can't. Apparently if this isn't sorted soon then the plans for rememberance Sunday will be changed.

They certainly aren't going about things in a way which will help them gather public support.

Sirzy , that's exactly what I said

Sorry meant breadandbutter! :)

I would not, for several reasons:

1. It is not entirely clear to me specifically what those there are trying to acheive. What are their objectives, what change do they want? Unless you have specific aims, standing there for months saying "life ain't fair" is only going to achieve a whole lot of people nodding their agreement and walking on by.

1. If you want to protest about something, you have to protest to someone who is empowered to change things. Sitting outside a church in the city is a nice place to be but not seriously engaging anyone's attention other than the Cof E's. I know it's on the news, but more as an item of passing interest than one requiring the pressing attention of the Government.

Interesting report that last night (according to thermal imaging) only 20 tents had living occupant/s. So the "size of the protest" is misleading, and they are preventing the use of St Pauls so they can have a 900% more pitched tents than occupancy.

I'm sure Finsbury Park could accommodate those 20 tents that are actually in use. And then perhaps the Cathedral will no longer be the sole target which is under pressure as a result of these actions.

Why don't you mention the source of this report meditrina? The Torygraph.

And it's Finsbury Square.

OP started this thread as an invitation to attend tomorrow not as an invitation for the nth polemic from the rightwing knee jerkers on here to get in an nth froth about.

As the radio have just interviewed a protester who admitted most didn't sleep there I don't think that can really be disputeted!

Typing in haste!

No-one's denying it, and some protesters are admitting it.