Coming home today I passed Poughkeepsie’s Hulme Park. It was with a sinking feeling I noted the Occupy tents and tenants had vanished over night. Of Occupy Poughkeepsie left were only a few the signs with Occupy and one that asked, ‘Who are you protecting?’
Once home I decided to watch videos on the Occupy Poughkeepsie (and Oakland, CA) Movement at http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20111207/NEWS01/312070057/What-will-become-Occupy-Poughkeepsie- From them I learned that last night the tenants of the park had been evicted and any belongings left, including some tents, were confiscated. Also I learned that once evicted, Occupy had marched to the Sheriff’s Office to protest the sale of foreclosed homes in the area.
As for the videos, they featured a number of regular-talking people of a variety of ages and backgrounds from the Occupy Movement whom I rather liked. Each spoke to his or her main concern: Some were concerned about repaying student loans and finding jobs after college. A mother advocated for more support for the education of children. Some advocated for a jobs bill, blaming both sides of the isle and not the President because we had none.
A returning warrior sought to end war.
There were also those who asked for a tax on the rich.
As for Alva the Indie, she was no where to be seen. At last news, she had left Plattsburgh, NY, to join those gathered on Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. It was they who had picketed the US Chamber of Commerce asking if there was also an office to work for the 99%? Something Alva would definitely want to do.
As for me, I’ve been feeling rather at sea–on the one hand wanting Alva back and working in the office as we spearhead our publicity campaign for Jolt: a rural noir.
(As you well may know, Jolt: a rural noir is a 2011 Living Now Awards Medalist in Inspirational Fiction. You can find Jolt available at http://alvapressinc.com in traditional and Mobi (Kindle) and ePub (Nook) eBook formats.)
On the other hand, I’m with those at Freedom Plaza in many ways–especially in my concern for the environment which includes the outlier possibilities for nuclear meltdowns, nuclear accidents, and dirty bombs. That’s why I think it is so important that everyone reads Jolt: a rural noir: not only is it a great story wonderful characters, it’s an easy way to become informed on the emergency nuclear response and therefore–in a worse case scenario–simply stated–safer.
I suppose it’s raining in D.C. tonight. I can only hope that Alva has shelter. And as for Jolt: a rural noir, if you haven’t read it yet, you should do it real soon. Those that have have appreciated the depth of the research that went into it and the usefulness of the information provided by this passionate novel of post-apocalyptic survival.
Roberta in Po-Town, Feelin’ torn
robertamroy 