Open letter to the Lord Mayor of Melbourne

Dear Lord Mayor,

I am a student in your city and I am very supportive of the Occupy Melbourne movement. I study in the CBD and go in frequently now, more so every day, to see what they're doing, see what has changed, and how they are taking care of themselves. These past five days have been impressive: the people there, the organization, the cleanliness of the square, the way these strangers have connected. While you may be thinking you have the point, I am wondering if you really do, if you can clarify what point you believe you have gotten from the people.

On the 15th of October hundreds of cities in 82 countries and hundreds of thousands of people stopped and gathered together with this same awareness. These people didn't have anything in common- different languages, cultures, belief systems, political affiliations, yet they're gathered together, and are sitting there now in these countries, talking together, each Occupy movement connecting with others, and the movement has tons of donations from supporters who can't take place. The message is always the same: "This world's system doesn't work anymore and everything's falling apart... but we haven't given up hope- it's not too late." It's not because they're depressed, not because they're trying to save some tree that has been around since Bart Simpson, or that there's some specific tax or law they hate, and I understand how that's confusing for people. They aren't there just for me. Or you. It's not about our neighborhood, our shires, our state, not even our country.. The problem is far larger than this and this is why so many people in so many different countries occupied their local cities and refused to state any specific goal, target or demand. They're all there because there is something wrong with this world and the world is reaching a crisis that only the rich can survive.

Australia has Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Perth while New Zealand has four Occupy movements taking place. People have been so impressed by Melbourne City Council's reaction to the Occupy Melbourne camp so far, I have been watching twitter and facebook posts discussing it by people from all different countries and states around the world. People are coming from all around Victoria, NSW and QLD to take part in the Melbourne movement.The media's been much more negative and have been causing problems, for example, they were caught tipping garbage from a can into one of the fountains on the site and taking photos of it. (This was caught on numerous camera phones and makes me very grateful that we're able to film these things now.)

If you really don't care so long as you get a cushioned ride to the moment where we're too knee deep in it to wade out then I respect your choice to live life how you like, and to keep that choice as long as its open for you. No one's trying to change you or tell people how to live. But if you're uncomfortable by this, if this makes something in you feel restless and even irritated, stop and think about why you're reacting this way. Is it really the protesters that provoke this or is it the problem they're willing to sit with? What is this elephant in the room that they're now willing to address anyway? You're welcome to come down and share a meal with the people at Occupy Melbourne and they'd gladly listen to you, if you will listen to them too.

Could I suggest that rather turning this into a potentially hostile situation or a 'Mayer vs peaceful protesters!' type situation, you try something different? Occupy Melbourne have a nightly meeting called a General Assembly where everyone may speak. Anyone. Why don't you organize a meeting with the camp and explain your position, then sit down and listen to the protesters that want to respond to you? It can have a time limit, such as an hour, but this may be more productive and proactive than complaining to media without even bothering to address the men, women and children in City Square. Offer them a better position, a park or some place with toilets, showers, running water, and showers that is also in a central position... but please stop behaving like a put off teenager- whispering behind backs, third parties, not being brave enough to go to the City Square yourself. They will gladly welcome you, feed you, even give you clothing if you need it, and you will find them receptive to your point of view.

It might feel too overwhelming to stop and think about the whole problem but that doesn't stop the problem existing. Think about how big this problem will be in five, ten years, at what point does it get past the point of no return? Don't be remembered for ignoring it- be remembered for having the balls to be apart of this phenomenon. This Occupy movement is going to be remembered.

Response to statement 'premium prices are worth paying for, with organic food, and there's no excuse to not pay it.'

I disagree in part about what you were saying about the financial cost of organic food. Yes- long term, the nutritional value will make it cheaper, but that doesn't change the facts for many people. I come from below the poverty line, and I naturally have many friends and neighbors who are in the same boat. Unemployed, pensioners, students, young adults, ect. We literally can't afford to make that choice. I know people, and I've done it too, who will skip a day or two of meals because we don't have enough food to last us a fortnight. Or we'll go for a month without buying any groceries because there's no money for it. My mother and I depend heavily on a food bank at the moment, and many people there rely on this food bank too as their primary source of groceries. This may seem all very dramatic and emotive but it's not- it's the reality and we deal with it.

It's a strange contrast- in third world countries poor people starve. In our country; the poor can only afford the cheapest food- convince food, fast food, chemically altered vegetables. You will find that those of us below a certain income threshold will have the greatest percentage of dis-ease, illness and obesity. This brings me to the really big problem, the one that needs to be fixed somehow, and what I intend on shattering with my community/health retreat/earthship community.

Over the past few days I've come to understand that the Wellness movement, as I'll call it, is so essential to the future of everyone. It really is. It provides education, support, and the right food. The problem, however, is that the Wellness movement, all aspects of it, is only accessible to those who can pay. The Healing Hotels of the World, for example, would be an incredible source of support and education. Only customers who can afford to pay for premium services and travel can access these services. It's the same problem. This then only targets and assists a very tiny percentage.

This provides large corporations, like McDonalds, with a very large and open group of people below a certain fiancial threshold, the one I was just talking about. They have grabbed this chance and are running with it. As long as the natural food industry, the organic food industry, and even the wellness movement, continues to make their services so inaccessible to those under 30k a year, this is going to keep happening. If you ask someone in my target consumer range, will they pay $15 for lunch that is yummy, healthy and has high nutrients, drink is extra, or $5 for a complete meal, drink as well, they will have to go for the $5 choice every single time. It's not a choice that is available to them.

I guess that's why I am so passionate about getting this community underway, with H.O.M.E. starting soon after. It seems strange that, in the Wellness movement, we're not able to provide homes, good food and good education in all areas of natural health and spirituality to anyone regardless of their history or financial situation. I really want to make sure it's there for everyone, and if they can't pay me for it, they can provide a few hours help around the community instead. There's always something that needs doing, after all. I am so inspired by the earthships- they will assist me in making sure that everyone gets every aspect of health, food, shelter, warmth, ect.

Sydney Competition

Thursday

6am

Good morning! It's a late 6am and we are almost at the airport. I got up at 4am- was supposed to get up at 3 but somehow missed the alarm- and got a panicked text from Louise that she'd also slept in an hour. Great minds think alike!

I don't feel anything yet, not nerves, not excitement, it doesn't feel quite real yet!

7:20am

A delayed flight! At least it gave us time to get some breakfast and coffee. Louise and I are on the flight now though and suddenly I'm feeling the whole set of emotions, excitement, fear, nerves, impatience... come on, let's go!

10am

Urrrggh... brains... coffee... shower... air conditioning... sleep! Two zombies sit in the lobby, looking much less energetic than a few hours ago, with green tea and latte failing to re-energize us. Sydney is overcast and warm! Our flight was a bit hairy too; turbulence and a jumpy landing. But we're here! The lobby has taken one look at us and taken pity. We'll get into our room early.

12:30pm

We got into our room about an hour ago and, however nice Sydney looks, however excited we are about this afternoon,the first thing we did was admire the beds. Nice beds Really nice. Did we think we had time for a catnap? The air conditioning was very much appreciated as well. Photoshoot? That suddenly didn't compare to lying down in a cold room and getting another half hour sleep!

Of course we could only really lie down for half an hour because the more rested we were, the more our excitement returned, and soon Louise and I were too restless to lie down. So we explored the room. A bathroom! A minibar! (And expensive minibar items!) Was that a garden we could half see from outside our window? And free coffee? Thrilling! You'd have thought we'd never seen a hotal before. Susie comes to get us in about an hour. That's not enough time to get ready, is it? Where has the time gone! Time to shower!

1:45pm

Louise isn't ready! Susie will be here soon! Panic! Pa... oh, that's a relief, Susie will be late. Suddenly she's our very best friend in Sydney. Hurry up, Louise!

2:20pm

The three of us, Susie, Louise and I, hopped into a taxi and headed down to a strange exotic location in Sydney... which turned out to be a sporting area in Newtown. A very regular one with grafetti and dogs getting their daily walks on a footy ground. It could be the one I live near, it's so alike. Anyone seen three really good looking guys, a camera crew, a limo maybe, and security guards? Anyone? This looks like an average sports ground to me. There's a slight crowd over there but not a big set...

Oh, there they are, at the basketball court!

It's really small crew, and everyone is relaxed. One of the guys cut his foot and it seems everyone's chilling out till he sorts that out. Fair enough. You can't get a 'casual' photo with one guy grimacing in pain all the time. I'm suddenly feeling really shy and it's hard not to. But it didn't take long to feel more at ease- all three of them are really nice guys, really friendly, and it's hard to not warm up to them. I think I'll have to start watching Home and Away more.

We stand around and watch the photoshoot as it starts up again. This isn't as boring as it sounds- I have always loved photography and I think seeing the way it comes about is more interesting to me than the end result. The guys are so relaxed in front of the camera by now, so second hand at it, that I envy them a little bit! Louise has started to chat to them in her usual way, a way that eases people, and before we know it we're all talking like we've always been mates. We shared some munchies and water, found out where each one had come from and what they'd done beforehand. I found out one of them,Lincoln, is a local eastern Melbourne boy and Dan was the black power ranger. Fantastic! I also got some tips on good beaches to visit while in Sydney.

We got a photo with the boys as well and suddenly I was all shy again. Who can blame me? Sitting in the middle of the three of them! I'm not the kind of person to be starstruck, fame never phased me, but even I can't help but notice three good looking guys. I wish I had their ease in front of cameras at moments like this.

They had to change for a basketball shoot. Louise got busted taking photos during the basketball 'game' and can any woman say she wouldn't try the same thing in Louise's position?

But the shoot was over far too quickly and we all started to get ready to go. With the shoot was over we sort of wished we'd have thought to ask them out for drinks later, and Louise is convinced that they were hinting at the idea! We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways and into the city itself.