Tom :
Thanks for sending the informative articles about East Asia.
You are quite right about how Left and Right parties still are
operating on yesterday's ideological assumptions in their
approach to the Occupy movement.
There are dangers, of course, and it remains to be seen if the
movement has staying power. But so far this looks like a genuine
populist uprising --viz grassroots, motivated by economic injustice,
and anti-establishment. Plenty to criticize but , for me, the larger point
is that criticism of the Establishment is greatly needed and that it is
high time that Wall Street underwent a number of essential
--and drastic-- reforms.
The Democrats , the way they are "playing" this, look pretty bad,
but the main political story is how ludicrously the GOP is dealing with
the movement. Free traders simply are out of touch with justice issues
because their ideology is what it is, one dollar one vote, rather than
one person one vote.
Plenty of Occupy people are VERY unhappy with the BHO admin
and the Democrats. But all out attacks against the movement could
backfire to the extreme disadvantage of the Republicans. To be sure,
there is ample time for the Occupy movement to self destruct.
With so many young people involved, including a significant %
of Leftists and some Anarchists, there could be a major mess
that could discredit the movement, at least to some extent.
But short of that, another scenario is very thinkable.
This still could morph into a third party.
Good idea be highly skeptical of any such thing,
but the idea no longer is wildly speculative.
Billy
=====================================================
10/16/2011 8:58:13 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected]
writes:
(http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/common/more_list.asp?CategoryCode=113)
Whatever the reasons this movement seems to be gaining ground world wide.
China is calling the protests anti_Capitalist and naming the participants
the same. They have avoided saying that a great part of these
demonstrations are not anti-captalist but rather anti-corporatist and that a
great
many of the demonstrators are decidedly anti-corruption and consider that the
purpose is to rid us of government corruption. Obviously that is a
condition that is world wide. Both the right and the left are trying to use
this
movement to further their own aims but that probably won't happen.
Tom
Occupy hits East Asia.
Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011
As in New York, protesters use chance to attack wide list of issues from
nuclear energy to trade
Hundreds turn out to 'Occupy Tokyo'
By _TAKAHIRO FUKADA_
(http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/JTsearch5.cgi?term1=TAKAHIRO FUKADA)
Staff writer
The Occupy Wall Street protests spreading across the United States landed
in Tokyo on Saturday, as hundreds of people gathered to protest against
corporate greed and social inequality.
In addition to decrying the widening wealth gap between the nation's
haves and have-nots, demonstrators spoke out on a variety of unrelated topics
ranging from nuclear power to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, a
free-trade pact promoted by the U.S.
Marching behind a large "Occupy Tokyo" banner, about 300 protesters
proceeded to the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Co., owner of the
radiation-leaking Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. "Dissolve Tepco," "Stop
nuclear
power plants," they chanted.
The various signs, written in both Japanese and English, highlighted some
of the issues apparently agitating the public.
"Let's firmly oppose the TPP that only makes 1 percent (of the population)
happy," "No to Radioactivity," "The 1 percent who are stained with their
greed for profits should disappear for the sake of the world's happiness,"
the Japanese signs read.
One of the organizers, Mie Yasuda, said many people in Tokyo are
indignant about the way Tepco and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
are
handling the nuclear disaster.
Nevertheless, she left the demands to the demonstrators.
"It is fine (to protest about) any absurdity in the world that angers
you," she said Friday.
Kazuko Hirano, an 80-year-old pensioner from Setagaya Ward, said she
decided to participate because she strongly believes Japan should eliminate
nuclear plants.
"(I joined to get) as many people as possible angry about nuclear power
plants and to make demands to the state" to halt them, she said.
Masashi Hayasaki, an employee from Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, decided
to show up because he is concerned about the TPP talks.
Joining the free-trade negotiations will see the country "swallowed by
global capitalism" and "destroy Japanese tradition and culture," he said.
"I just want to tell pedestrians not to be indifferent" to the TPP and
nuclear power plants, he said.
Passers-by had mixed feelings about the protests.
"Although it would be good if (nuclear power plants) did not exist, it is
impossible to make them disappear immediately," said a 23-year-old
employee from Kawasaki who was shopping in the area.
The man, who would only give his last name, Azuma, said one of the key
issues that needs to be resolved is the cost of fully making the conversion
from nuclear power to wind, thermal and other renewable forms of energy.
Another man from Saitama, who came to see what the protest was like,
said, "We should consider" whether to hold onto nuclear power plants.
"Japan is peaceful since people can speak with various opinions," said
the man, 52, who declined to be named.
A separate Occupy Tokyo event was also held in the Roppongi district.
>From "The Korea Times".
10-15-2011 12:22
(http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/common/more_list.asp?CategoryCode=113)
'Occupy Wall Street' protest hits Seoul
A group of activists rallied in the streets of Seoul Saturday to protest
what they called the greed of conglomerates and the widening income gap in
Korea, joining the "Occupy Wall Street" movement that began in the United
States.
Despite an autumn downpour, around 250 activists in raincoats gathered in
front of the headquarters of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the
country's top financial regulator, located in Yeouido, Seoul's main
financial district.
The crowd, consisting of civic activists and supporters, carried placards
bearing English messages, including ones that read "I am not your
automated teller machine" and "Taxes to the financial capital, jobs for
workers."
The rally was part of two-day "Occupy Seoul" protests being organized by
an association of 30 civic groups on Saturday and Sunday.
Organizers said the rally is aimed at galvanizing "99 percent of Koreans"
to stand up against the superwealthy "1 percent" they see in control and
benefiting from a toxic financial environment, echoing claims by anti-Wall
Street protesters.
"The situation is the same in Korea, where the financial institutions
have speculated to earn high profits in a short time,
creating victims," the group said in a statement. The ralliers demanded
compensation for victims who lost money due to banks' risky business
operations.
The group said it also plans to urge the government to strengthen
regulations on financial institutions, create more jobs and curb rampant
housing
prices and cut expensive college tuitions.
During a "free speech session," middle-aged female protesters occupied
the entrance to the heavily guarded FSC building, shouting for measures to
compensate individuals who suffered losses from the government's savings
bank suspensions.
Some protesters handed out statements that organizers said they later plan
to share with demonstrators in the U.S.
"We wish to thank you, our American friends, for inspiring us in Korea to
speak up and act to set things right. We want justice. We want our jobs,"
said the statement, written in both English and Korean.
"Let's put our voices together and shout at those criminal financial
capitalists who have devastated the whole globe," it said.
The protesters included some foreigners.
"It's amazing to see Koreans fighting for a change, especially when we in
our home have been mobilizing for the same purpose," said Carlos Gomez, a
student from Spain. "The whole impression of this, that we want global
change, a better world, should play a role in reducing economic disparity."
The 22-year-old said he followed the protest via Facebook.
"I've been to the demonstrations in my country and now I'm following them
in Seoul, so it's like all of us are following," he said.
Seoul police warned that they will take stern action against protesters
who violate the law during the rallies, such as those who damage public
facilities, occupy roads and assault police officers.
"We will arrest those who stage illegal protests on the spot and also seek
legal action even after the rally ends," the Seoul Metropolitan Agency
said in a news release.
Criticism has been rising over moves by banks and other financial
institutions to pay massive dividends. According to financial analysts, local
banks are expected to post a record 20 trillion won (US$17 billion) net
profit
this year on the back of increased interest income.
Earlier this week, FSC Chairman Kim Seok-dong urged the finance industry
to rid itself of excessive greed and reflect on moral hazard. He suggested
that financial firms should reinforce their public roles instead of simply
maximizing profits. (Yonhap)
_http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/10/113_96705.html_
(http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/10/113_96705.html)
10-15-2011 12:22
(http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/common/more_list.asp?CategoryCode=113)
'Occupy Wall Street' protest hits Seoul
A group of activists rallied in the streets of Seoul Saturday to protest
what they called the greed of conglomerates and the widening income gap in
Korea, joining the "Occupy Wall Street" movement that began in the United
States.
Despite an autumn downpour, around 250 activists in raincoats gathered in
front of the headquarters of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the
country's top financial regulator, located in Yeouido, Seoul's main
financial district.
The crowd, consisting of civic activists and supporters, carried placards
bearing English messages, including ones that read "I am not your
automated teller machine" and "Taxes to the financial capital, jobs for
workers."
The rally was part of two-day "Occupy Seoul" protests being organized by
an association of 30 civic groups on Saturday and Sunday.
Organizers said the rally is aimed at galvanizing "99 percent of Koreans"
to stand up against the superwealthy "1 percent" they see in control and
benefiting from a toxic financial environment, echoing claims by anti-Wall
Street protesters.
"The situation is the same in Korea, where the financial institutions
have speculated to earn high profits in a short time,
creating victims," the group said in a statement. The ralliers demanded
compensation for victims who lost money due to banks' risky business
operations.
The group said it also plans to urge the government to strengthen
regulations on financial institutions, create more jobs and curb rampant
housing
prices and cut expensive college tuitions.
During a "free speech session," middle-aged female protesters occupied
the entrance to the heavily guarded FSC building, shouting for measures to
compensate individuals who suffered losses from the government's savings
bank suspensions.
Some protesters handed out statements that organizers said they later plan
to share with demonstrators in the U.S.
"We wish to thank you, our American friends, for inspiring us in Korea to
speak up and act to set things right. We want justice. We want our jobs,"
said the statement, written in both English and Korean.
"Let's put our voices together and shout at those criminal financial
capitalists who have devastated the whole globe," it said.
The protesters included some foreigners.
"It's amazing to see Koreans fighting for a change, especially when we in
our home have been mobilizing for the same purpose," said Carlos Gomez, a
student from Spain. "The whole impression of this, that we want global
change, a better world, should play a role in reducing economic disparity."
The 22-year-old said he followed the protest via Facebook.
"I've been to the demonstrations in my country and now I'm following them
in Seoul, so it's like all of us are following," he said.
Seoul police warned that they will take stern action against protesters
who violate the law during the rallies, such as those who damage public
facilities, occupy roads and assault police officers.
"We will arrest those who stage illegal protests on the spot and also seek
legal action even after the rally ends," the Seoul Metropolitan Agency
said in a news release.
Criticism has been rising over moves by banks and other financial
institutions to pay massive dividends. According to financial analysts, local
banks are expected to post a record 20 trillion won (US$17 billion) net
profit
this year on the back of increased interest income.
Earlier this week, FSC Chairman Kim Seok-dong urged the finance industry
to rid itself of excessive greed and reflect on moral hazard. He suggested
that financial firms should reinforce their public roles instead of simply
maximizing profits. (Yonhap)
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
--
Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community
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Google Group: _http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism_
(http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism)
Radical Centrism website and blog: _http://RadicalCentrism.org_
(http://radicalcentrism.org/)
--
Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community
<[email protected]>
Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism
Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
