A Call to Join the World on October 15th [2011]

I posted this at Znet on October 5th, 2011 with the aim of gathering people to join 'Occupy Toronto' as the world was taking note of the (somewhat surprising) success of Occupy Wall Street. I had been living in New York City for a number of years, organizing on these issues and taking part in some of the precursors to OWS. By September of that year I was staying in Toronto as I was getting ready to move to Tel Aviv. 

I recently stumbled upon this post again. Though our movements look different today, most of the below is still important as we move forward. 

I have to begin this piece with an explanation: I have been politically active for most of my life. I have always believed that radical change is possible and within our reach. Unfortunately, in recent years I have had to contend with an inner cynicism, but as I look around at what's happening right now that cynicism is dying.
I know that there are plenty of people reading this who dream of a better world, but just don't think that reality can catch up to our dreams. I know that feeling. I know now that Cynicism is not truth. Sometimes cynicism can protect us from taking dangerous leaps forward, but it is not truth. Cynicism is easy, and that's what attracts us. The path that we are on is a hard one, but it is not impossible. It is that knowledge that can carry us forward.

This year we have seen freedom struggles in every corner of the world. The fight has been brewing all along, but there is a new spark right now. There is a real fight going on. Fighting against dictators and fighting for jobs. Fighting to end racist policies and fighting to ensure that every person is healthy and able to reach his or her full potential.

(Continued below the gallery)
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