Many, many critiques of OWS have been superficial, targeting the fact that the protesters wear/use/eat corporate products whilst protesting corporate greed.
I have just come up with a solution.
The Gridle$$ Movement. Hit them where it hurts.
Pronounced “grid-less”, the idea is to move off the grid in protest against corporate greed.
Grow your own food. Make your own clothes. Generate your own electricity. Take up the Freegan lifestyle as much as you can.
Buy as little as humanly possible. Avoid brand names. Reduce, re-use, recycle and repair.
It’s possible, even in a city flat.
Information on how to grow crops hydroponically is available everywhere. Start in the public library if the idea of supporting the internet is now off your agenda. It may even be possible to grow clothing fibre in a flat, especially if you have a balcony. I’m not sure, but if it isn’t, ask for permission to grow clothing fibre on your building’s roof.
Make your last corporate purchases sound investments on your Gridle$$ future. Buy hydroponics supplies, pots, eco-fertiliser [AKA “cow poo”, “horse poo” and even “chicken poo”] and a bicycle with cargo capacity. Purchase solar panels and install them in lieu of curtains/blinds. If you’re not allowed to modify your area, place the panels where they get the most sun. Rig them all to charge car batteries.
Purchase a pedal generator for mutual power and exercise.
Support your local farmer’s market.
Learn to knit/weave/sew/cook.
Make shoes using bits of old tyres from the dump and whatever else you can make.
Pay off your credit card(s). Close your bank account(s). Ask your employer (if you have one) to pay you by cash or cheque.
In all things, spend as little as possible on funding corporate greed.
Sure, it means you spend more time working and less time enjoying yourself, but I’m positive you can find some area of equilibrium.
Isn’t it worth it, just to get the corporations out of our government?