Check out some of the images and video from the coordinated demonstrations earlier today. Big thanks to all the people that came out and showed solidarity! Please send us your images/videos to post!

Here's a link to some great pictures from the Rally for Democracy in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador this afternoon, organized by Friends of the Grand River/Mistashipu and Grand Riverkeepers. Here's their rally handout.

Solidarity with demonstrators in Labrador. More pics here.

There was coverage of the People's Assembly St. John's protests of the undemocractic handling of the proposed Muskrat Falls mega-project in the CBC, the Telegram, and even coverage in the Vancouver Sun!

Where's the power? People power!

Special report from Z News and NL's favorite tiny reporter, Zoe. (Thanks Gordon!)

UPDATED YET AGAIN... Photos coming in from friends we met at Confederation Building and another demonstration in solidarity, Boil Up For The Big Land! Solidarity across Newfoundland and Labrador. Keep the pics coming folks

Join us for a huge Casseroles (Pots and Pans) Night on Sunday July 22 at 8 pm, in solidarity with students in Quebec and Canadians throughout this country who have had enough.

WHY: Because the fight is about more than tuition, debt, and fundamental rights. It is about demanding a future where the rights of people and the health of the environment are MORE IMPORTANT than the health of the economy and the rights of the elite.

This is a demonstration first and foremost about community, joy, solidarity, togetherness, and creating a democratic space for people beyond the ballot box.

It's about building grassroots connections and meeting your neighbours. Building the revolution from the bottom up!

It's about voicing your rejection to the policies of the federal and provincial governments that have repeatedly made us the greatest embarrassment in the global community.

UPDATES (videos)

Concerned citizens gathered once again at Harbourside Park and marched up Water Street in a show of solidarity with the student movement in Quebec (and to denounce the plethora of undemocratic, unconstitutional, and draconian laws that have been passed recently). The omnibus bill c-38, Charest's Loi 78, and Newfoundland and Labrador's access to information Law 29. Get informed, get activated, and get in the streets. The time is now!

Hello everyone! In case you missed the Mega Casseroles pot bangin' protest on June 22nd, here are a few photos and some video footage of what went down.

To show solidarity with the Quebec student strike and opposition to Quebec's Law 78, as well as to show opposition to the federal government's Bill C-38 and the local Bill 29 (read more about Bill 29 here, here, or here), close to thirty people showed up at Harbourside Park to bang on pots and pans.

We marched down Water Street and made our way to George Street, waving red flags, carrying banners, and respecting most traffic laws and crossing streets safely for the entirety of the march.

We did block George Street, but please don't let that bit of civil disobedience discourage you from coming out and taking part. For some reason, we also found ourselves with a police escort. The police were parked across from Harbourside Park before we started, followed us down Water Street and George Street, and followed us back to Harbourside Park. This means that we were very safe, or perhaps one jay-walk away from being fined. It's hard to say, really.

I've put together a pamphlet explaining Bill 29 (available here).  Nice to have on hand if you are collecting signatures for a petition.  Comments are welcome.

The NDP are circulating a petition calling for the repeal of Bill 29.  An electronic version can be downloaded here.  In order for the petition to be accepted, all signatures must be in the original ink and each page submitted must have a minimum of three signatures on it.   Signatures should me mailed to the address at the bottom of the page, or sent to one of the NDP MHAs.

Remember, petitioning gives you the opportunity to engage the members of your community on this important issue.  The more people know about Bill 29, the less likely they will tolerate this attack on our right to know what our government is doing.

Close to a hundred people turned out on a cold and windy June afternoon in Support of Access to Information.  Check out this lead story on CBC (unedited footage here), some videos shot by Jennifer McCreath, and photos taken by participants. News coverage links below.

Occupy NL is calling on concerned citizens to protest against the provincial government's Bill 29. This Saturday at 1 pm we will meet up in front of Confederation Building to voice our discontent.  Bring a sign (and maybe even your pots and pans) to show how important government transparency and accountability is to you!

THE ISSUE...

Bill 29, a new bill just introduced, will make sweeping changes to Newfoundland and Labrador's access to information laws. News reports have raised concerns that this will put more power into the hands of cabinet ministers to give the public access to information or not.

"Proposed legislative changes will allow the provincial government to keep ministerial briefings secret, ignore requests for information that cabinet ministers deem to be 'frivolous,' and bar the auditor general from a wider array of records," CBC reports.

 Interesting turn of events from a government whose campaign platform assured voters of openness and transparency.

 The CBC article continues: "But since taking office, the Tories have worked to erode the act, filing lawsuits to restrict the powers of the watchdog tasked with investigating citizens’ complaints, and adopting narrow interpretations of the information that can be released to taxpayers."

More resources: