There we were - a group of (frankly) middle aged, middle class women sitting around a table in Cyprus talking about the Occupy movement. I'm sure you've heard of it. The people who are squatting in St Paul's at the moment objecting to the corporate running of the country and whose aims (at the moment) seem unsure.
I was surprised (and delighted) to hear how much sympathy this band of folk was getting from our little group in Cyprus. Support to the extent that my guests wanted to know what they could do within the framework of their lives: their families, keeping house, being parents, paying the bills - what they could do to support the movement.
I cannot remember a time when the public seemed so galvanised to take action across the planet. And the extraordinary thing for me is that we don't REALLY know what we're taking action for. I mean, to date there is no agenda or consensus on how things need to be changed. But there is such a groundswell of awakening to the fact that SOMETHING needs to change.
At the moment being without an official 'agenda' seems immaterial.
It is incredible to be part of a time in history when people are getting organised, getting together, getting along without a real aim in mind and just with an intention to make things better for everyone (whatever that might mean and however it might look down the line) and a notion that things really REALLY need to change.
This is the advice I was given when asked how we can get involved if we live miles away or have families or commitments that prevent us from joining in ourselves:
"They can donate funds, find speakers/educators to attend and support, just spread a positive vibe"
Courtesy of the Twitterverse, hence the brevity. But that says it all really.
I shall be doing one or all of the above.
Times they are a-changing.
#OccupyLSX #OccupyLondon #BankofIdeas
