Members of Occupy Houston will rally in silent protest at Energy Day on Saturday October 15, 2011.
Energy Day is sponsored the big oil companies responsible for the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and for building the Keystone XL Pipeline, a potential serious environmental disaster running from Alberta, Canada right into our backyard! Valero and other oil refining companies are seeking a tax refund to the tune of $135million to cover the cost of hydrotreating equipment to reduce pollution. This refund is coming from our property taxes. Money meant for schools may go to large oil companies to cover these costs! We need to educate festival goers that there are serious threats to our planet, local tax money wasted, and a serious corruption chain behind big oil!
We will march the perimeter of the festival in white shirts and red bandannas or $1 bills over our mouths. Why do we cover our mouths? Why are we silent? Because the 99% of the citizens in this country do not have a voice in this country! Why do we wear white? It’s the opposite of black, the color of oil, and a symbol of the corruption and collusion rampant in the big energy industry.
Meet at 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at lower Tranquility Park. Show up in your white shirts, bandannas, and bring a $1 bill. After we gather ourselves, get organized, and settled, we march at 12:30pm one block south to Hermann Square Plaza, right outside City Hall. It’s all-right if you don’t show up in a white shirt. We’ll have you covered.
We’d also like to make a call for contributions of white shirts and red bandannas to make sure everyone is ready to go! If you want to paint “99%” on your shirt then please use Krylon indoor/outdoor gloss spray paint, banner red color. We’ve found that shows up best when applied to cotton t-shirts. We need volunteers to stand at the beginning and end of our line to hand out leaflets that educate interested festival goers.
Some of the companies at Energy Day are environmentally conscious. In addition to exposing the facts behind big oil our leaflets direct people to the companies present at the festival who do consider our environment and offer safe, renewable sources of energy.
Stand with us, Houston! Let’s make a showing and get the word out! We’ll see you on Saturday!
71 Responses to “RALLY For Responsible Energy! 12:00 noon, Oct 15”
do you think it would be ok to make photocopies of dollar bills to cover our mouths with so that maybe some not so nice people will be less inclined to snatch them off of our faces?
To my personal knowledge, it is illegal to photocopy US currency. The copy must be wrong in some visible way. E.g., wrong size, wrong color, the word ‘specimen’ or ‘copy’ (or similar wording) emblazoned across it, totally different central image, etc.
Basically, don’t give them a ‘reason’ to arrest or ticket you.
PLEASE DO NOT MAKE PHOTOCOPIES OF U.S. CURRENCY ! It is a state and federal felony (serious criminal violation of the law) to “forge, ” “print,” “reproduce,” or deface U.S. legal tender. Please DO NOT wear, NOR make photocopies of U.S. dollar bills.
The use of genuine dollar bills to tape over the mouth IS LEGAL, so long as this does not deface nor destroy the currency.
Large numbers of people covering the mouth with black-on-red tape— indicating 99% as shown in the above poster— is a powerful exercise of 1st Amend rt right to “free speech.”
–Maria Elena Castellanos
Attorney and Counselor at Law
Please see this website link to “Forum”; then click on “Legal” for additional info from
OccupyHouston- Legal Volunteers/workgroup
Guys I hope you considered putting a simple slogan on those white T-shirts. Maybe pin* an 11×17 inch sheet to the fronts and backs with your grievance(s) stated.
Not eveyone viewing you will get or read your flyer. If you are silent then your visable presence needs to be explained with signage. You might know why you are there, but folks looking at you without taking the time or having the desire to read your flyer will not.
Also people will be taking photos of you and your message needs to be clear visually. Otherwise in a photo you will just look like a bunch of people with their mouths covered and blank white T-shirts.
Think photo-op.
*Pin all four corners. A breeze will make your message unreadable.
PS if you’ve already covered this issue then nevermind and we’ll see you out there with our cameras! If you need assistance with signage, and pins – contact me.
FYI, the small map shows a different destination “B” than the big map.
Can we get a clarification?
This is a terrific idea!!
good comments, keefski. it seems you have experience! see y’all there.
It seems like a good thing to protest because it’s got economic relevance, but this:
“We will march the perimeter of the festival in white shirts and red bandannas or $1 bills over our mouths. Why do we cover our mouths? Why are we silent? Because the 99% of the citizens in this country do not have a voice in this country! Why do we wear white? It’s the opposite of black, the color of oil, and a symbol of the corruption and collusion rampant in the big energy industry.”
You guys need to cut the theatre from the protests, it diminishes the seriousness and the impact. At minimum, don’t trite props. Seeing protesters with something taped over their mouths evokes a common frame for almost everyone, as much as silly signs or tired 60s chants (hey hey ho ho). That particular tactic also symbolizes weakness and powerlessness, which may be an accurate emotion, but isn’t a powerful one to display in such a manner. Don’t walk into expectations, defy them. The strongest message you’ll send is one of strength, solidarity and visual uniformity, but adding theatrics to that translates visually into pretense, especially to John Q. Refineryworker, who is looking for things he already thinks about you to allow him to ignore you.
I have to say that I agree with the above opinion. Slapping a dollar over your mouth just reinforces the concept that we have no voice. I’m tired of feeling that way. What better way to show the world that you want to be heard than to MAKE SOME NOISE?
Please deemphasize the symbolism of white shirts.
Crude oil varies greatly in appearance depending on its composition. It is usually black or dark brown (although it may be yellowish, reddish, or even greenish).
What do you think about passing out flyers for the Energy Day protest at Houston community colleges?
Wonder how many of you bozos drove a car to the protest of Oil in your white shirts?
IRONY, don’t you love it?
I keep waiting for the Occupy Corpus Christi team to organize. That way I don’t have to hide behind the anonymity of the keyboard and I can insult you losers to your face!! Seriously, get a job……
Again Jim, with the posts at 2:05pm during working hours??? Where do you work that allows you to post during working hours? I’ve never seen a wal-mart greeter at the door with a lap top.
I wonder how many of your brain farts you’ll post before you get that hard on.
You’re right, Jim. No one can go anywhere in this country without a car, usually that runs on oil. That’s the problem. The solution is not to swear off automobiles, its to stop subsidizing oil companies, fund research into alternative energy, slap some mileage standards on car manufacturers, fund decent mass transit alternatives, make the road safe for bicyclists, and in general stop letting oil companies and car companies run the government. It is the rightwing that wants to stop any of this from happening. Oil companies are happy with things just the way they are, no matter who is getting hurt and no matter what the long term damage to the USA will be.
Jimbo, I think you are missing the point.
Well to the comments above me ill be riding my bike to this event not driving a car
and to Jim i have a full time job and I am still going to this haha not everyone that protests doesn’t have jobs.
You all realize you will be protesting an event that over half of the participants are renewable energy companies right? There are 80 sponsors of this thing including representatives from the nearly 100 solar and wind companies that have relocated to do business in Houston. Seems to me if your beef is with oil you should protest a location/event dealing solely with oil. Not an event with a large renewable presence where kids will be there with their families to celebrate these kinds of technological achievements. Do what you want but at the end of the day this seems like a pretty dumb idea. Statements can be made loudly, softly or without any impact at all. Often times the only thing making a difference b/w the three is location and strategy. Seems you have neither in this undertaking.
Energy Day is the oily part. The Green Energy Fair is across the street at Tranquility Park. Yes it is deliberately designed to confuse.
Check out the Energy Day organizer:
http://consumerenergyalliance.org/
They are a front group for the Koch brothers. The solar part was co-opted by the CEA. And you’re right, big dirty Energy Day is going to hide behind your children.
Check out the Energy Day website. Then check out the Green Fair website and note how they are trying to separate themselves from dirty energy. http://www.houstonsolartour.com/the-tour/solar-social/
And where are you getting 80 sponsors, 1/2 renewables? Hell there’s barely a dozen renewables present. There are only 23 booths on the renewable side, at the Green Energy Fair in Tranquility Park, and of those 11 are organizations like Habitat for Humanity and then restaurants.
See how the 1% are duping you here? I am so grateful the organizers of OccupyHouston see through this too! I hope their flyer says it all!
…and timing – very important. Today is the day the whole world should show their dissent
Who owns the majority of the “renewable” energy businesses? And who will swallow them up?
Seriously? Oil industries bring in a ton of jobs, without the oil industry this city would be shut down. I think you’re all on the coat tails of Al Gore and need a good reality check, I will be there to protest right back in the face of what you claim is the 99%, your 99% is false and you spread propaganda that is false.
Brian, what the hell does this even mean: “I will be there to protest right back in the face of what you claim is the 99%”???
I was sitting on the couch of someone who works for the government the other day and witnessed the production of a stack of hot checks. I have held a full time job while attending school full time and participating in multiple extracurricular activities and maitainded honest functionality. You tell me: how should I feel when I realize that I have struggled and sacrificed multiple opportunities for ideals of a two dimensional society? Why can’t public university be free? Aptitude testing can step it’s game up and place students in areas and fields that can utilize every aspect of whatever capabilities they posses as opposed to providing ultimate means for failure. The government provides students with a “refund” Which they then go spend on shoes or frills or drugs. That’s dumb.
They forget to realize that in ten years that refund will have accumulated so much interest that there will be no end in sight. Instead, pay the teachers salaries and give students opportunities a chance to make something of themselves and the space to succeed at what they want. So we leave private universities and religion based schools privately funded- deal. To each their own. Also do not forget to analyze the facttgat the university of Houston is currently undergoing construction and ruining our shook year. For those of us who will have already graduated in two years this is ridiculously unfair yet we are paying t triple as much asfuure students will. Also suffering and late to class.
Sorry for all the typos I hope you get the idea.
on October 13th, 2011 at 1:35 am #
[...] of Occupy Houston will rally in silent protest at Energy Day on Saturday October 15, [...]
on October 13th, 2011 at 5:00 am #
[...] post below the jump is from http://occupyhouston.org/rally-for-responsible-energy-1200-noon-oct-15/#comment-399 Wednesday 12th, presumably late in the evening. I'm posting it at about 4:37 AM, the 13th. – [...]
on October 13th, 2011 at 7:43 am #
[...] own Jazz Hands Club is planning a “silent protest” against Big Oil this Saturday, October 15th. I’m a little confused, because one of [...]
For a really dramatic image for the press photographers, let’s pour motor oil over our heads to symbolize the pollution that oil companies are inflicting on the American People.
There’s a lot of anger behind some of the anti-Occupy sarcasm. It should be addressed and acknowledged.
Are you angry because you think the Occupy movement might have real, negative repercussions on official policy? Are you angry because you think this movement consists of freeloaders bent on taking what you have worked hard to gain?
I don’t know if the above is true. And the reason I don’t know is because you’re generally not talking about the reasons for your sarcasm.
If you’re posting because you’re angry and frustrated, please be open about why that is. You’ll find that there are many, many people who want to understand where you’re coming from.
For the record, I am a small business owner and a teacher. For the last 2.5 years I worked on a MA program and held my jobs. I am also a member of Occupy Houston. I’m only on site occasionally, but I support strongly the idea that our polities only run properly when EVERYONE contributes, and that those who have benefited the most from their American citizenship–the 1%–should contribute the most.
I too think that additional theatricality by an Occupy group, which is inherently theatrical anyway, detracts from the ability to get any message out to the most people. But I get why the symbology was chosen. It is a frustrated decision made by bright people because speaking up and making your voice heard, publishing statistics about and precise explanations of economic injustice, seems to have no effect.
So. You can be sarcastic and irrelevant (because OH members will just ignore you), or you can say something real and be a part of creating actual understanding. Up to you.
I cannot personally speak for others who scoff at Occupy Houston’s message or mission nor can I speak about Occupy Houston’s efforts in the past. What I can do is say that this particular protest is completely misplaced, in my opinion.
Energy Day is not a festival celebrating big oil companies or “dirty” energy as many have explicitly stated or implied. It is a children’s festival designed to teach kids about all types of energy which does include oil and natural gas. It also includes a number of exhibits showcasing renewable energy. I believe over half of the exhibits are of the renewable variety. You are entitled to your opinions on what you deem as “dirty” energy, but to protest a festival designed to educate children on ALL forms of energy will prove to undermine Occupy Houston’s stance on future issues.
I’m not angry. This is the best laugh I’ve had in a long time. I hope OH keeps the protest going for as long as you can.
Old poster from the ’60s: “No, you are not paranoid…the Universe really is laughing behind your back.”
Need a job?
http://www.oilcareers.com/content/categories/houston_oil.asp
I am in full support of Occupy Houston, but I am a little confused about why we are protesting Energy Day. Isn’t the point of Energy Day to educate the youth about all the different varieties of energy and the opportunities it creates? I didn’t think that it was really “pro” oil or corporations, because of the promotion of alternative sources of energy. Which, I thought, was not normally a “corporation” tendency.
But then again, maybe if I was explained the purpose again. It might make better sense. Instead of deterring kids from learning about alternative energies and cultivating their desire to learn. And discouraging an event that promotes the utilization of alternative sources of energies.
And I am not trying to be sarcastic at all, I just want to learn your perspective. Thank you!
The Consumer Energy Alliance – the contriver of “ENERGY DAY” is a front group for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. It’s blatantly on their website. Look up exactly how this toxic crude is squeezed out of tar sands. TransCanada deforests vast swathes of wilderness, then scraps the earth down to a toxic wasteland. The stunningly beautiful, boreal forests become dead zones, the size of Florida. Please research. Houston is filthy enough with just refineries. WE DO NOT SEE WHERE OUR ENERGY ACTUALLY COMES FROM.
It’s like factory farms stuffed with sick animals and slave labor in China making your iPhones. Go to the scene of the crime to find out the truth.
And half the exhibits are NOT renewables. There are TWO festivals going on that day. ENERGY DAY for big dirty oil and gas to hide behind your children, and then the GREEN ENERGY FAIR which only has a dozen renewable vendors. Look on the websites. The vendors are listed there. No one need guess.
These polluting, regulation-flaunting, congress-owning multinational corporate “persons” are the 1%.
Also supported by many academic programs and schools…
http://energyday2011.org/
I’ll be there. By the way, here’s a key bit of data to keep at your belt:
According to one economic analysis by University of Massachusetts, private investments in renewable energies produce 3x more jobs than private investments in coal and natural gas (source: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/06/clean_energy.html ). Several other analyses have reported similar results. In a June 2011 speech to the Commonwealth Club of California, Robert F. Kennedy remarked that whenever nations launch programs to decarbonize their economy, their society almost always experienced instantaneous wealth.
To answer the honest skeptics among you:
1)I am content serving as an “educational protester” even if we are basically ignored.
2)These exhibitions inevitably talk about alternative fuels, but oil and gas exaggerate how much research they are doing in that area. It’s practically nothing — and mainly of the liquid biofuel types.
3)The new mantra seems to be natural gas — and that has a lot of dangers both short term and long term. I don’t want today’s youth to regard natural gas as benign simply because some PR campaign is touting it. They need to be more skeptical about it.
4)I think it’s appropriate to stress the shameful aspects of the fossil fuel business and make children understand that it is not a typical business.
5)I think it’s important to stress that fossil fuel industries are no longer welcome in this city.
6)I think it’s instructive for youth to see that there is a counternarrative which is being excluded from the sanitized narrative being formed here.
Robert,
I don’t know how you are employed, but I work in the O&G industry. I have for 27+ years, my father for 40 yrs. When I see you say that ‘fossil fuel industries are no longer welcome in this city’, I take that VERY personally. I interpret that as you being willing to take my job from me, my family, my friends, my company that has supported me for 13 years.
According to the Houston Economic Development website, in 2009:
Forty-eight percent of the area’s economic base employment is focused on energy. 48%
There are 49,059 LOCAL employees of JUST oilfield equipment & service companies. 49,059
Houston by the numbers
500+ exploration and production firms
150+ pipeline transportation establishments
42 of the nation’s top 137 publicly traded oil and gas exploration/production firms
23.2% of US crude operable capacity
30% of US jobs in oil and gas extraction
15 of top 20 US natural gas transmission companies have offices in Houston
12 of top 20 oil pipeline companies have offices in Houston
Do you really mean that the majority of Houston workers are not welcome? What is your proposal for what to do with all these unemployed people? I would like a serious answer to that.
From The Houston Chronical Sept 21:
“The nation’s teetering economy can ill afford further postponement of action to put to use the nation’s clean, demonstrably abundant natural gas resources.”
First, my dad and mom worked in O&G for a decade. But O& G in the 70s is different than now. Now we know about the risks.
The tragedy of working for oil and gas companies is that Houston’s best minds are wasted in trying to make a product which is inherently destructive for future generations. Although many honest and ethical people work for O & G even today, the fact remains that they are contributing to climate change, sea level rise and drought. I saw one estimate suggesting that even under moderate scenarios, that many European countries around the Mediterranean will experience permanent and serious drought by 2060 — leading to droughts worse than any ever experienced here. http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/09/28/330109/science-of-global-warming-impacts/
The economic argument, as I have shown, is a false one. Green energy produces 3x more jobs for the same private investment in fossil fuels. I’ll turn the question around: do you think tobacco industry should be left alone because it happened to provide jobs to some farmers?
The analogy is apt. Why should carbon emitters be awarded an unrestricted right to emit however much carbon as it pleases — regardless of the consequences?
As to the tobacco farmers, unless the crop is illegal, they have the right to plant what they want. Over the years, with education and thought, there has been a transition to other crops such as soybeans, grapes, a fiber called kanef, even echinacea.
The same can happen with energy. Growing up in West Texas, I never imagined that the landscape would one day be covered in energy windmills. There have been many industry improvements and those continue to happen. Evolution, in any form, takes time. We didn’t get to this position overnight and it won’t be improved overnight.
I’d still like a direct answer to my question. Do you want all Houston energy workers to lose their jobs today? What’s your solution to all of us that work in the nasty, evil oil business?
My opinion doesn’t matter, but I’ll answer it in 2 ways:
1)I personally wouldn’t have a problem with gasoline being phased out in automobiles over a 10 year period.
2)I just want the oil industry to pay for the external costs it is causing society and will continue to pay in the future. The climate change which was soundly rejected two years ago didn’t even include cap and trade for transportation, so maybe a carbon/BTU tax is the only way to handle this, or a cap and dividend. No one is talking about abolishing the oil industry. What I’d like is a stripping of public investments to protect the oil lanes abroad and to maximize car usage. For example, I’d love a sizable percentage of highway funds be redirected towards public transit.
I personally would love to see Westheimer converted from an 8 or 9 lane monstrosity and have it turned into a combination bike trail/metro line. Just because I want it doesn’t mean it has a chance of happening.
One other thing. I have been writing a long essay about whether it can be ethical to work for a fossil fuel company. I’m not anywhere close to done, but I think the primary responsibility rests not so much with the industry but with consumers who keep buying and using cars and electing governments which won’t expand mass transit projects.
But make no mistake; oil and gas is a doomed industry, and Houston would be a MUCH better place without it.
I’m not against companies helping with cleanup and trying to figure out ways to do things better.
Who gets to define ethics? I think it’s unethical to force me to work where I don’t want to work, or ride public transportation when I want to drive my car. We will have to disagree on this, as my family would be without food, shelter, clothing, necessities without O&G.
On the other hand, I ran to your site & enjoyed reading your book reviews. I saw some books I want to check out. So we could probably find some common ground if we looked hard enough.
I’m off to watch my son play football. Have fun with your occupying, and I’ll look for you on TV.
Ethics: I don’t think anyone can force you to work where you don’t want to work, but we can regulate industries and require them to pay for the consequences of their pollution. Whether that interferes with the individual-company relationship is not my concern.
I read somewhere if oil were priced accurately to reflect external costs, a gallon of gasoline might not be such a good deal anymore.
A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recommended switching from coal to natural gas combined cycle power plants as “the most practical near-term option for significantly reducing CO2 emissions from power generation.”
When an industry says its short term economic advantage is more important than the viability of Mediterranean nations or Bangledash, they clearly have no sense of what is important.
I understand there are transitional costs to job dislocation, but that is the wrong thing to focus on.
Trail_tramp, you did provide a source, but I’m pretty well-read on natural gas (for a layman that is). My conclusion based on reading the material is that 1)natural gas has modest environmental advantages over gasoline for transportation in ozone/particulate pollution and 2)natural gas for electric power plants hasn’t been shown to improve on the carbon footprint over coal for power plants. (I recently read an analysis indicating that even if the industry managed to reduce its methane emissions from fracking, that any advantage on temmperature would be trivial over the long term (maybe a tenth or two tenths of a degree). I’m not sure which research this is (I’d have to look it up), but I think it was something linked to on DeSmog Blog, maybe this : http://www.desmogblog.com/fracking-the-future/
Trail_tramp I remember the study now. that was comparing natural gas plants vs. the oldest and dirtiest coal plants. If you compared it vs. the latest coal plants (with the scrubbers), natural gas had no real advantage. And certainly, renewable energy would be oodles better. http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/06/10/242168/june-10-news-coal-to-gas-shift-could-be-quick-and-effective-mit-study-says-canada-will-not-renew-kyoto-protocol/
Here’s why we’re targeting family-oriented Energy Day.
Its dominant sponsor is the Consumer Energy Alliance, a “non-profit, non-partisan” organization that talks about having a balanced view and then gives deeply biased information. For example, they discuss the Keystone XL pipeline, but only favorably. They never mention the NASA scientists who say that burning the tar sands oil will lead to the extinction of 20-40% of the species alive today.
CEA is using Energy Day to sell a lopsided business-at-all-costs message, which is disguised as “reasonable” because of renewable energy components, to vulnerable children. This is how entire generations are controlled. These kids will grow into adults with mental schemes that favor economic expansion over ensuring that our only home continues to be livable.
I don’t vilify anyone who works in the O&G industry. You’re just making a living. The O&G companies simply need to commit to the inevitable process of converting their infrastructures towards renewable sources. O&G will fight as hard as it can not to change until after every drop of oil is burned and the planet is wrecked, and as long as business controls our government, they’ll win. Hence Occupy Houston.
Natural gas is realistic. Alternatives are still years away.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bifueltech.shtml
Where will Occupy Houston be after 8 pm on Oct 15th???
I wanted to address your fueleconomy.gov link about natural gas. There is a bit of truth in it, but it is misleading.
When compressed natural gas is used for transportation, it does emit 30-40% less GHG than plain gasoline. So in the 1990s it may have been a good alternative — and unfortunately it never took off. In the last decade car makers have emphasized hybrids, and now we have electric cars to bring that GHG reduction. So uncompressed natural gas is unlikely to offer any comparative advantage.
But now here’s the very important point. The main way natural gas is used is for electric power plants. And in terms of carbon footprint they are not much better than a modernized coal plant. Yes, it’s true that natural gas-powered fuel plants are better than old coal plants, but a lot of coal plants in Texas are relatively modern — compared to those in the South or West Virginia or Ohio.
But now, here’s the key thing: Electric plants in Texas (population 25 million) emit as much CO2 as electric plants in the COMBINED states of New York, California, Florida, Massachusetts and Oregon (population: 86 million). And I guess that about half of Texas CO2 comes natural-gas powered electric plants. http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/2011/09/how-to-choose-a-texas-electric-provider-the-wrong-way/
on October 14th, 2011 at 5:06 am #
[...] #OccupyHouston has a major rally scheduled. Click on this link to get details. RALLY For Responsible Energy! 12:00 noon, SATURDAY, Oct 15 [...]
Hello,
Been following but can’t be present (across country right now). Given the concerns expressed regarding any protest may be sending (especially to children), why not be more specific? Have banners decrying the pipeline, for example. That would help make more folks aware of the issue, at least (I’m still finding folks that don’t know about it!) Form improv discussion groups to explore how renewables better serve us, economically, and highlight those hidden (health) costs that the corporations are not paying. You could even have a not-silent but “invisible” protest: all of OH infiltrates the Energy Fair and spreads the knowledge, at ground level, of all of the above.
To see an example of how old school O&G gives lip service to renewables while “educating” children about energy, go to the Museum of Natural Science. There’s an exhibit that might as well be called the Temple of Oil and Gas! (it’s kinda scary…)
Mr. Nagle, I applaud your ability to encourage rational and meaningful exchange. Please keep on.
Lastly, organizers, please don’t ever encourage spraypainting! We have enough air pollution! Look for ways to reuse/collage! The pin-on idea is awesome!
I appreciate Mr. Nagle, too!
and also this idea from snowbird to engage in dialog while also making a visual counter-narrative to the fair. Yes to specific banners about the pipeline! Yes to looking for opportunities to mix and talk and break down barriers between the people participating in OH, and those who are not yet! If we want 99% to really come together we have to use this opportunity to reach out as well as protest. I have to be in a class until 2, but then I’ll try to catch up with you all. . .
CNG does offer another distinct advantage…it’s available. It’s not a dream.
on October 14th, 2011 at 9:53 am #
[...] the pdf event map If you’re still wondering why OH plans to be there, here’s a terrific comment in a different OccHou post that folks may’ve missed. Spot on! (Thank you, Amy!)Here’s [...]
FYI the people at this event are all volunteers – there will be no company CEOS or anyone who this organization is really supposed to be targeting. Its just a bunch of lowly peons that what to help kids start thinking about energy alternatives and get them interested in doing something about the current dirty O&G byproducts. This is how we will change the future. There will be no “coal can be clean” nonsense being taught. This event is directed at the real youth of american – the kids – not the lazy college grads that have nothing better to do all day than lounge around in a park whining about how no one will hire them. All your protesting is going to do is to scare the kids. They will forever identify protesters with fear.
Hey EVERYONE lets NOT dignify this with a reply…thanks
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for alternative energy and for the end of corruption in the energy industry, but…well…to put it simply, it’s not the reason why I’m pissed. It’s not the reason why I feel oppressed. It’s not the reason I feel like my voice is being stifled. I finally get the money to get water/food/gas to make it out to the protest tomorrow to stand with my fellow brothers and sisters on “15October” all around the globe, only to find out that it’s not really something I can completely get behind at this point in time (or even something that I consider myself invested with enough research into in order to make a well articulated opinion over). Regardless, I will support you all, but I just wanted to make a simple point I suppose for future reference. I’ve been keeping up to date with OWS NY since they were only 14 or so people strong on the first day and against all odds they have still managed to maintain a single (albeit “loosely defined” as is the way of a consensus of large groups of people) general purpose. I just hope we can do the same. So yeah…let’s fight against all this corruption in the energy industry, sure. But only after we can properly maintain the integrity of our own rights to not be oppressed as a nation and as a species first, please. I guess my viewpoint is this: How can we truly hope to save the rest of the planet, if we can’t even save ourselves yet? One step at a time
Regardless though, if the protest on Energy Day happens tomorrow, PLEASE realize the severity of the lasting psychological imprints that are common in young children who will inevitably be attending the festival. PLEASE refrain from doing anything that will make them look at us in fear or will give the parents an opportunity to lash out at us in front of them, because that memory will last. I don’t want future generations scared to protest injustice because of the same reasons some of my friends look upon other protesters in their adulthood with disgust. Stay peaceful, stay kind, and regardless of what the adults around say, let every child see only inherent beauty and look upon us with a healthy exploratory curiosity if at all possible.
Keep strong <3,
Blaize
on October 15th, 2011 at 3:51 am #
[...] Plan: “RALLY For Responsible Energy! 12:00 noon, SATURDAY, Oct 15: Background information: Occupy Houston will be conducting a Silent March to demonstrate against the interests behind Energy …, or Facebook event [...]
I thank Amy for being so open-minded toward those who make their point by insult. Anger and fear are natural and useful, but I’m not so sure that those incapable of using rationality to guide their emotion will ever be able to engage in productive discourse.
I have worked with energy companies and I do not agree with many “green” ideas, but I believe our society has gone the wrong way. I believe that “big money” (not the corporations, but the people in them who make the decisions) have too much control over decision making. I believe that money making money is wrong. I believe the social contract we have established to protect ourselves as a whole should not be driven be profit. I believe in the right to free education and health. I believe people don’t need leaders, but civil discourse. I believe the occupy movement embraces these ideas and for this reason I want to show my support – P.S. I’ll be driving there.
i work for a military contractor I am insulted by yall.. ill go by there at noon hold down a black flag tell yall im 1% throw up ck tell yall white draggin black flaggin
on October 17th, 2011 at 12:53 am #
[...] as a part of the Occupy Houston protests. Yesterday, a group was gathering for their “Silent March” – their protest – around City Hall during the “Energy Day” [...]
on October 18th, 2011 at 10:33 am #
[...] minute? Apparently, just give them the idea that the best way to protest something is to have a “rally of silence.” Members of Occupy Houston will rally in silent protest at Energy Day on Saturday October [...]