[OccupySheffield] Fwd: [info at occupysheffield.org.uk: Occupy Sheffield Statement – 28th December 2011]

[Chris]

Hi

Passing on the following statement for info, it's also up
here:

- Occupy Sheffield Statement – 28th December 2011
  https://occupysheffield.org/2011/12/29/statement-28th-december-2011/

All the best

Chris

----- Forwarded message from Occupy Sheffield <info at occupysheffield.org.uk> -----

From: Occupy Sheffield <info at occupysheffield.org.uk>
Organization: Occupy Sheffield
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:46:37 +0000
Subject: Occupy Sheffield Statement – 28th December 2011

Occupy Sheffield has taken possession of the former Salvation Army 
Citadel (at Cross Burgess Street, Sheffield) on the basis of a so-called 
'Section 6' notice[1]. The building has lain idle since 1999, and has 
been open and unsecured for over two months. Occupy Sheffield will make 
the building safe and secure and will then open it for public use. 
Occupy Sheffield will be inviting any community groups that have lost 
the ability to pay for a space due to funding cuts to come and make use 
of the building. The building has been renamed 'The Citadel of Hope'.

The original Occupy Sheffield encampment outside Sheffield Cathedral 
will remain in situ. 'The Citadel of Hope' will not be an open 
residential occupation, but will be crewed at all times. People wishing 
to join the residential encampment at Sheffield Cathedral should 
continue to do so. Until such time as the building has been made safe, 
Occupy Sheffield will make all decisions relating to the building 
through the General Assembly meeting held daily at 6.30pm on the 
Cathedral forecourt. All are welcome.

The Citadel of Hope will operate the same 'Safer Spaces' policy[2] that 
is in place at the main encampment - among other things, the Citadel 
will be alcohol and drug free, and those who transgress this policy will 
be asked to leave.

In addition to facilitating community groups suffering at the hands of 
government cuts, The Citadel of Hope will provide a further platform the 
Occupy movement in Britain to campaign for economic justice, and will be 
host to the National Occupy Conference on the 21st and 22nd of January 
2012.

Occupy Sheffield would like to make clear that it is protesting against 
the casino capitalism that has laid the real economy low; it is 
protesting that those who created this crisis have so far got away 
without legal sanction and continue to do so; it is protesting that this 
same tiny minority ('the 1%') are continuing to enrich themselves while 
the rest of the population ('the 99%') are made to suffer their 
failures[3]. Occupy Sheffield would like to make clear, that it is not 
protesting against any Church or Church group.

We believe that there is an alternative to the tired mantras of 
Thatcherism, and that the evidence for the need to change is playing out 
in front of our eyes.

The Citadel of Hope is a place where you can come and be informed, be 
inspired and be involved in a global movement[4] which is advocating for 
a more just society, run for the benefit of all.

Occupy Sheffield is a transparent, non-hierarchical, volunteer 
organisation which is made possible by people giving their time and 
energy in support of a cause in which they believe. Most people have 
jobs, and most people are not able to be involved all the time.

If you believe that it is time to articulate an alternative to this 
destructive turbo-charged capitalism then The Citadel of Hope needs you.

Occupy Sheffield / The Citadel of Hope

[1] A section 6 notice governs the legal status and civil proceedings 
that an unoccupied building is subject to. These are civil matters. No 
act of criminality has occurred in possessing this building.

[2] Safer spaces policy 
https://occupywiki.org.uk/wiki/Sheffield/Safer_Spaces_Policy

[3] 
http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2011/12/child-poverty-to-increase-following-autumn-statement-warns-ifs/ 
and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10604117

[4] www.occupybritain.org  www.occupytogether.org  www.occupylsx.com 
www.occupywallstreet.org


www.occupysheffield.org.uk
www.facebook.com/OccupySheffield
www.twitter.com/OccupySheffield
www.twitter.com/Citadel_Of_Hope
www.facebook.com/pages/Citadel-of-Hope/265723403482084

----- End forwarded message -----