Friday, July 12, 2013

Susanne Ikekpolor

Secrets of Death Avenue Walking Tour (Spectra Pipeline), May 5th, 2013
Photo: Stacy Lanyon

I came to learn about Occupy Wall Street when I was on the plane coming back from Austria. It happened while I was gone, and I read about it in an Austria newspaper. I was just in a little capsule before.  I was angry about how things are. I talked with my friends, but I didn’t know that there were people who were actually trying to do something about it. Through a friend, I found groups like Freegans and Times up or permaculture groups before Occupy, but people at Occupy Wall Street were actually willing to sit the streets. It was very powerful. 

I didn’t find a lot of time at the beginning to go down to the park. I was working. I first went the second week of the occupation. There were different working groups, and there were those computer stations. There were drums and a a spiritual section. People were coming by to donate things. I really liked the kitchen. Then, at the front there were people standing there and holding signs. I know people that really spent a lot of time there had really great discussions, but I didn’t know anyone there. I felt it was very positive. The first thing I went to was the medical tent. Eventually, the medical tent got so crowded that I didn't feel that they needed me, so I started to go to the environmental solidarity group meetings, and I went to demonstrate with them. A year later, Occupy the Pipeline started. For one demonstration, two of the members were building a puppet, so I started to go to the puppet meetings and got involved there.

I’m from Austria. In some ways, the citizens are treated better than they are here . Maybe there is still this, “I live my life and try and be in my paradise,” and that happens on the back of people in other countries. It’s easy to look away, I guess. I think it’s important because of the injustice that exists. I feel it’s part of this system that abuses people and the environment to also make the people it doesn’t abuse busy with entertainment and busy following their dream. There is nothing against enjoying yourself and having something you want to create in your life, but I think we can’t have a better world if people don’t try and work for it. Everybody’s heart bleeds when they see a photograph of a child that dies of hunger, but the only way that doesn’t happen is by changing the world as it is, and part of it is stepping out of your life and saying, "I don’t need all of these things." I don’t think that really makes people happy. What’s really important is the people you relate to, basic food and shelter and time and freedom. It's not satisfying to be part of this huge system where you are abused and your true needs are ignored to create false needs just to keep the industries running. The environmental problems are the most important reason why this is so important. If we don't fix those, we won't be here to work on the other stuff. 

I hope for a world where people really have a true chance to live a life that really fits their inner truth, a world where we don’t get so caught up in survival and gratifying our false needs, where we can hold still and look at the things that are more important, like the feelings of other people and helping each other, and that includes non human beings too. We need more good endings. I guess I want a world were there are more good endings for everyone, and for the world itself too. I think that when we achieve that things will be more localized. I think a big part of our time will be used to make the things that we really need and to spend more time with others. I read a book called 12 by 12 Project, which talks about how it’s totally important to be able to sit down and just look at what’s happening around you, even if not much is happening. Idleness is important. It’s like getting back to nature, so I see us spending a lot more time being idle in that way in the future. I’d also like to see a world where if you’re different, it’s okay. 

 Interview by Stacy Lanyon
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