If you’re wondering what the ongoing “occupy” movement is doing and have noticed that mainstream media news isn’t clearing up any confusion but adding to it instead, don’t despair. There is a cure–it’s the news coming direct and live from the streets of America, London, Greece, Ireland, Canada and around the world. This is not objective, nice or neatly packaged media footage that has been edited to fit a television time slot. It’s real-time with real people dealing with real issues. There are no professional talking heads in this new news media. But there is often plenty of talk to be had–good, bad and ugly all swirling together in a stew of information unlike anything on your television. The people who bring this news online are not suited or hairbrushed fashion plates. Personal imagery is not their priority. Catching the action and information as it comes down the pipe is their goal. No one is paid. These are volunteer journalists from the grassroots. It’s not all 24/7. It’s not pretty. It’s not spin. It’s just what’s happening folks. Often it’s downright messy. Sometimes the police get violent.
Here a few of those who stream news from the concrete streets. This is only a sampling of the folks out there using their phones, laptops and cameras who contribute to the new news evolving right now:
Tim Pool of “we are the other 99%” tirelessly follows the occupy action on the streets of New York City. Appreciative local NYC viewers bring him umbrellas, gloves, food and coffee while he is on a streaming mission with occupy wall street actions. Pool is cool-headed, gives good commentary, has a great eye for the scene and seems to have the endurance of a marathon runner.
http://www.ustream.tv/theother99
On the west coast Spencer Mills aka OakFoSho has been covering the occupy action in Oakland. During his recent stream from LA he shared his decision to quit his job in order to try to cover as much of the west coast occupy movement action on the coast as possible. OakFoSho makes no apologies for his NON violent stance or bias. He seems to have a penchant for chatting up the police whenever possible. One might wish he’d keep a safer distance from the riot gears at times. He has brand spanking new site compliments of a friends web effort at
Oakland is also livestreamed at http://www.livestream.com/occupyoakland by the one and only Jahrastafari and/or legind. And OakFoSho’s ustream is also featured. Most Occupy locations have their own media livestream crews: Seattle, Toronto, NYC, Portland, Nashville, London, Auckland, Los Angeles et al. And each one has its very own flavor. This is real diversity in media.
On the morning of Oakland’s first raid in Oscar Grant Plaza the ONLY news coverage of any kind came from Punkboy streaming via his phone. His efforts got him into the press conference held that day where even the mainstream press tried to ask hard questions like “How is Oakland going to pay for all this police action?” The reply was less than adequate. Those of us who watched that morning thank Officer Bolton for finding Punkboy on the street outside city hall and getting him into the not open to the general public press conference.
In Dublin, Ireland currently one man, Irelandseyes, does marathon livestreams from Dame Street. From the Occupy camp that kettles the Central Bank come scenes of the street, marches, music, and endless talk of the Irish. So far the gardra and local businesses have been very good to Occupy Dame Street. Even the security garda in the 24/7 McDonalds, Moses, has been willing to greet the livestream chatters while Irelandseyes ”recharges.” Other Irish occupy camps are in the process of setting up livestreams and ustreams: Cork, Waterford, Galway, Tipperary.
http://www.livestream.com/occupydamestreetIn
Athens Greece there is the ever energetic voice of multilingual George and his cohorts of StopCarteltv-Gr. When the streets Athens were full of protestors and tear gas, the StopCarteltv crew was in the midst of it all, including the tear gas. They also covered the protest occupation of Greece’s Electric Company when the government told the company to start collecting a new surcharge tax. Their coverage is ongoing and ever evolving on issues. Also, George will get to English at some point in his commentary at http://www.livestream.com/stopcarteltvgr
You can even jump from livestream to livestream with chats at http://occupystream.com/
Travel across the states and europe without enduring TSA.
For information on Europe’s livestreams: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WY3Y4kGnrUV6cEdpqs46R_gOQynCmiwEExBwnrJvKI0/edit?pli=1#
http://www.livestream.com/guide/search?search_tag=occupy%20together
Ustream http://www.ustream.tv/
Livestream http://www.livestream.com/
om mani padme hum jewel in the lotus wahupa qi prana universal life energy
Samanthamj said,
December 6, 2011 at 7:46 am
The network news is such BS these days, I think these links are great. thanks for sharing.