Hola dears! And here were are after the glorious break that is the Christmas/holiday season. I find myself moving towards weird and innovative methods to wake myself from the lethargy of this period – I’m writing this from the seat of my stationary bike. I don’t really dig on exercise, mind,  but I do kind of hope it’s worth it to shrug off the stupor of meds and turkey.

Of course, while I’ve been lounging, the Occupy movement is still ticking along:

Occupy Wall Street at three months – still going, growing
http://www.bloomingtonalternative.com/node/10882

Understandably, the police have missed the point – you can rip up the camps, you can brutalize peaceful citizens, but they will still find a way to make themselves known. And speaking of brutality, a little pre-Christmas cracker that might have been missed:

Brutal police raid brings Occupy Albany to an end
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/12/24/brutal-police-raid-brings-occupy-albany-to-an-end/

Because yes, squabbling over a tent really calls for  pepper spraying – how was that brutalizing you, oh poor ickle piglets? If you want to see cray-cray attacks on the police, then perhaps you should see the riots and student protests that happened here this year! And you know what? They are talking about upping their game, sure, but they’re also smart enough to say that the brutal methods they could consider using would only cause MORE uprisings, and would be ineffectual at best. Of course, there are those who argue that the British police forces invite/deserve their suffering for not wielding guns – gag. But besides the point – brutality has no place in dealing with peaceful protest – shame shame.

Cities that broke up Occupy camps now face lawsuits over free speech, use of force
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/cities-that-broke-up-occupy-camps-now-face-lawsuits-over-free-speech-use-of-force/2011/12/22/gIQAr192BP_story.html

I think it both fantastic and appropriate that there are lawsuits going on. I think it is vital to force the government to admit that either people have free speech and it’s protected, or that free speech is truly a lie, and deserves to be suppressed. It might seem petty to some, but this is game-changing, world-changing to me. I look forward to hearing what the results of the lawsuits in the States are.

Which of course, brings me to the state of things here in the UK, but most specifically London:

Occupy London activists free to stay at St Paul’s until January
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/23/occupy-activists-stay-st-paulshttp://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/23/occupy-activists-stay-st-pauls

It would be a fantastic birthday present to me if the courts ruled in favor of the London protesters. I’m not going to count on it, but at the least – I am pleased that the judge isn’t rushing into a decision! And while I do feel slightly sorry for the church that the protesters weren’t permitted to go that few extra feet to their goal in Paternoster Square (which is barricaded, and the restraining order extended for another year), I do agree that the church as a whole (all churches) should be fully behind the protesters. They are not greedy by first world standards – they just want fair treatment for themselves and others, a lifting up. That’s what religion is supposed to be about… right?

Anyways, here’s some adorable snark to go out on:

Occupy Everywhere, Tiny Protest Camps in San Francisco
http://laughingsquid.com/occupy-everywhere-tiny-protest-camps-in-san-francisco/

So tiny, so cute! It’s such a good-spirited thing that I hope it makes everyone smile a bit. And on that – see y’all tomorrow!