[ This is copied from the Occupy Vancouver forum on 'Demands' -- apparently the working group meets every day at 5:30pm at the Ice Rink @ Robson + Howe. These demands will be ratified by the General Assembly sometime soon. I'm hoping to check it out in the next few days to confirm the support for this list. ]
Rough Draft of Demands
There has been a call for a broad over-reaching demand that sums up the rest of the demands and is easily quotable in the mass media:
We demand the creation of a just and sustainable society.
Of course people will want to know the specifics of such a demand.
With that in mind we have created this list of “sub-demands” which more clearly outlines what exactly we mean by our one demand.
Economic demands
1. We demand that the wealthiest 1% pay their fair share by the closing of tax loopholes such as dark pools of liquidity and employer-side payroll taxes. Progressive taxation principles must prevail, income from capital must be taxed at the same level as wage income.
2. We demand that the banks be nationalized and limit interest payments to 1%. The Board of Directors of the Bank of Canada and top tier of management must now include at least 50% representatives for Labour/wage earners and the balance must contain a mix of academics, as well as business people. The mandate of the Bank of Canada must now include the pursuit of low unemployment in addition to low inflation. (An alternative demand to nationalization of the banks is: “We demand a cap on interest rates at 5% plus prime.”)
3. We demand that crimes committed by banks and corporations be prosecuted more rigorously – a dedicated justice fund for white-collar crimes must be created. Canadian corporations must also be held accountable for crimes (such as bribery and pollution) committed abroad.
4. We demand that all income tax for those who make less than the living wage be eliminated.
5. We demand that a “ministry of whistle-blowing” be created with the power to protect any whistle blower – corporate or otherwise – from harm of any kind. We need to be able to safely call attention to injustice. Previous failed attempts to do this should be learned from.
6. We demand a higher minimum wage – one that equals a living wage. Those unable to work due to disability or infirmity should have a guaranteed income which will allow a dignified existence.
7. We demand that Canada pulls out of all free trade agreements – including repealing NAFTA – which are actually “investors rights” agreements and have little to do with trade. We demand an end to future attempts at “free trade” agreements and/or the North American Union. All monopolies – national or international – must be prohibited.
8. We demand that EI payments for people not eligible to receive from the program be eliminated.
9. We demand that supply management of agricultural products be ended.
10. We demand that the federal government keep out of private sector union negotiations.
11. We demand the prohibition of self-regulation by large-scale industries.
Political demands
12. We demand the influence of lobbyists and influence peddlers be reduced by requiring all lobbyists and corporate representatives conduct all meetings with representatives out in the open, with records of what was said and what was spent easily accessible to the public.
13. We demand the electoral playing field be leveled by limiting each political party to equal small amounts of taxpayer money. We demand the elimination of campaign contributions entirely.
14. We demand the installation of a proportional representation system in all municipal, provincial and federal elections. We demand the adoption of Swiss-style direct democracy and Nunavut-style consensus-decision-making into all political processes.
15. We demand an immediate end to Canada’s role in the war in Afghanistan. We demand Canada pulls out of NATO.
16. We demand the government makes sure the CBC is independent from influence by powerful groups by getting enough funding so it can go commercial free so it no longer must depend on big business for advertizing, and that it becomes immune from future budget cuts.
17. We demand the elimination of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001, which criminalizes activities similar to the ones conducted by the French Resistance in WW2 and Nelson Mandela’s ANC in South Africa.
18. We demand Canada pulls out of the SPP – the “Security and Prosperity Partnership” – the military and economic harmonization between Canada and the United States. Canada must remain sovereign.
19. We demand the return of the long form census and an end to the practice of outsourcing census work to multinationals such as Lockheed Martin.
20. We demand that Statistics Canada and the Parliamentary Budget Office be made arms-length organizations outside the direct jurisdiction of partisans.
21. We demand that publicly funded science be made available to the public. No tax-payer-funded scientists should be gagged or censored in any way.
22. We demand that the science minister be replaced with an MP who recognizes the realities of evolution and global human-caused climate change.
23. We demand an end to all gag-orders on public servants.
24. We demand an independent investigation into 9/11 which will examine all evidence including that which would support a false-flag explanation.
25. We demand that “none of the above” be an option on all electoral ballots.
Societal demands
26. We demand – as Bertrand Russell suggested – there be two police forces – one to prove your guilt and another to prove your innocence. We demand lawyers be required to work in pairs so that a lack of resources won’t be a factor in deciding a case. (Alternative: We demand increased funding for legal aid.)
27. We demand a majority of the defense budget be redistributed to health, education and housing.
28. We demand massage, dental and eye care be covered under the health care system.
29. We demand an end to gender and racial discrimination in the workplace. We demand pay equity and employment equity. We demand equal pay for different but equivalent work.
30. We demand the right of self-determination for all indigenous nations. We demand a speedy resolutions to all outstanding land claims acceptable to all parties concerned.
31. We demand the repeal of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. All synthetic drugs and hard drugs (including cocaine and heroin) must be distributed by prescription through a pharmacist.
32. We demand that all botanical drugs be distributed like coffee beans. Human medical autonomy must now be respected by all.
33. We demand that all harmless people be protected in the constitution. If a new law is written and a new set of people are to be criminalized, the burden of proof will now be on the government to provide evidence that this new group of criminals is inherently harmful to others. This will end scapegoating.
34. We demand that post-secondary education be free with no hidden user fees. We demand that most outstanding student loans should be forgiven based upon income.
35. We demand that herbalists and naturopaths have their services covered by the health-care system.
36. We demand that judicial sentencing discretion should be preserved.
37. We demand that the omnibus crime bill be eliminated.
38. We demand that prostitution be legalized and regulated as it is in New Zealand.
Environmental demands
39. We demand that subsidies shift from fossil fuel and nuclear energy to renewable resources such as sun, wind, wave, geothermal and cellulose-based ethanol.
40. We demand that GMO’s – extra-natural genetic modification – be banned because there is no consensus that they increase yield, are safe to consume, are safe for the environment and pose no threat to global food security but there is general agreement that they allow seed monopolies and lawsuits based upon pollen drift. The patenting of life must be illegal and terminator seeds banned from sale in Canada.
41. We demand that chemical fertilizers and pesticides be phased out over the next five years while farmers learn to use organic methods because chemical fertilizers and pesticides are unnecessary and kill the soil vitality needed for human survival.
42. We demand that “open-net/open water” fish farming be banned.
43. We demand that environmental laws be enforced more rigorously.
44. We demand that soil vitality be a priority.
45. We demand that the nuclear industry be phased out.
46. We demand that the health and environmental costs be factored into the cost of each product, and taxed appropriately.
47. We demand the shutting down of the Tar Sands project.
48. We demand that fracking – hydraulic fracturing – be prohibited.
49. We demand the removal of all the red tape around the growing of industrial hemp.
50. We demand Canada pull out of the Keystone Pipeline.
51. We demand the prohibition of all off-shore drilling. We demand maximum liability on all oil spills.
52. We demand a national ban on products and packaging that can’t be recycled locally.
53. We demand a ban on factory farming or CAFO’s (concentrated animal feeding operations).
54. We demand an end to all logging in old-growth forests and an end to clear-cutting everywhere.
55. We demand protection of water rights and transparency in all Canadian water deals.
56. We demand Canada adopts the Bolivian Earth Charter.
[I will not editorialize here, other than to say that the 99% need a better marketing consultant. Reduce, refine, simplify. My Occupy brainspace does not have time for a debate on industrialized hemp. Thoughts?]


part of it. Many pirates could have been members of the East India Trading Company or Royal Navy – some were and chose to leave the respective greed of the Merchant Marine (merchant ships were notoriously and unsafely under-staffed, as less sailors meant less overhead and more profit for businessmen in London, New York and Boston) and authoritative culture of the Royal Navy (apparently, you weren’t allowed to throw your captain overboard or take a nap that wasn’t scheduled). If true democracy really allows us to chuck our captains overboard then