The Fight for Wisconsin
A great post about the current protests in Wisconsin, I don't know much background on this one, any more information anyone has would be great!
So for 12 days now the Capitol of Wisconsin, USA has been occupied by the most interesting mix of college age cooperative living types, “professional” hippies, and other counter culture types – many of whom I recognize by sight, if not name, from permaculture projects and talks I have been to. They are a fascinating group that I have begun referring to as the “freegans” – though they call themselves Freedom, Inc. In 12 short days they have formed medic cooperatives, organized highly effective and informative signage for the protestors to navigate the Capitol (bathrooms, phone charging stations, food), set up advanced and effective live video feeds of the rotunda and coordinated twitter sites. They have coordinated food stations for donated food, cordoned off an entire wing of the capital hallways for a “family” area complete with extrememly well stocked diaper changing stations, play areas, kits for young and old to make signs, and quiet areas for nursing, napping, or just resting. They have slept on air mattresses and piles of coats for a week and change. They have done an amazing job of organizing chaos into a functioning micro-cosm of society based on donations, volunteerism and cooperative spirit. They have also formed the most incredible alliance I have ever seen – with the Capitol Police. More on that in a bit. In the Freegans there is HOPE.