Occupy Wall Street coming to Providence?

Occupy Providence Voices for Environment

By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News staff

PROVIDENCE —The number of participants in the daily meetings of the Occupy Providence movement has been growing along with the causes it promotes, including environmental issues.

About 100 activists gathered at the Burnside Park statue downtown to plan for a rally on Oct. 15. Groups discussed how to keep the event peaceful amidst a tense environment, even what to do if hit with the pepper spray.   

The green movement gained attention with the Occupy Wall Street movement on Oct. 5 when the climate change advocacy group 350.org joined a march in New York. Corporate spending to block U.S. climate change legislation is one of the main rallying points for the international protest group to take part in the Occupy Wall Street movement. They stand against the corporate influence against environmental legislation, like the $500 million spent by coal and oil industries and political action committees to defeat the Clean Energy and Security Act. 

Environmental causes are also gaining support within the Occupy Providence movement. Christina Warren, a wildlife biology student at University of Rhode Island, facilitated Thursday's group planning sessions at Burnisde Park.

While the rallying cry for change varies among participants from the economy to union rights and war in the Middle East, Warren says she's there for the planet and green jobs.

"People need to understand what it means to be involved with the eco-economy," she said. The current economic system "is killing all our natural resources." Adding, "That makes me want to be here and do more than talk about it in class." 

Members of the fair trade farming organization Equal Exchange were helping plan for the Oct. 15 occupation of the park. In Providence, as well as Boston, the West Bridgewater-based organization plans to supply coffee and food for demonstrators while advocating for reform beyond the banking system. "For 25 years we've known that unfettered markets work badly for the average person including small farmers," said Rodney North, a Providence resident.

Organic farming, fair trade and a conscientious global economy can help undo the power of big corporations and big banks. "Therefore, we welcome initiatives like the Occupy movement where average people say 'Enough' and try to realize power over the marketplace," North said.