A group of passionate Canadians suffer out the cold in early November in their peaceful stand against corporate and political corruption. In Quebec City their firewood and candles—which gave them heat and lighting by night—have been removed from their camp. The official reason for this is that these were deemed "hazardous materials". Indeed, there is nothing more hazardous for a city than a potential grassfire in a block surrounded by cement.

And of course it’s better for the protestors’ own wellbeing if they suffer out the cold November nights. If they die of exposure it will be their own fault, not the authorities’. That will be the official story, we can be sure.

We all know why they’re doing this of course: drive the protestors out of the park, force them back into their warm homes. End this embarrassing protest, and to hell with them if they suffer.

Firstly, the Occupy Movement is more than a protest; it’s an emergence of the People (from all walks of life) coming together to resist corporate greed and government corruption. It’s a movement without leadership, political bias or monetary drive. Indeed, it’s something far more difficult for the politicians to truly penetrate and corrupt: it’s an idea.

And the idea couldn’t be simpler: our elected officials are only looking after corporate interests and we’ve had enough, so it’s about time for us to make a stand. Enter the Occupy Movement.

By October 15^th the movement had reached over 1,400 cities in over 80 countries around the world. While American President Barack Obama acknowledged that many people had legitimate concerns Stephen Harper downplayed its gravity, claiming that Canada is in a better economic position. He implied that there was no real need for an Occupy Movement in Canada. He’s been downplaying it ever since, hoping that it’ll just go away.

Without police brutality a peaceful protest just doesn’t make for good television. Harper isn’t above instructing them on what to ignore either, for he silenced the CBC and other Canadian networks on the goings-on in Libya, as with his secret border deal with the Americans. Our media have only been able to report on the border deal at all from American officials who have told their people things (while the Canadian public are meant to stay in the dark.)

Mahatma Gandhi proved the success of peaceful civil resistance by freeing India from British military and colonial occupation. Without weapons, destruction or the threat violence he was able to defeat Great Britain’s army by teaching his people the power of non-compliance. If a nation does not allow itself to be ruled, they are free. Gandhi explained the process of achieving this as follows: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

Of course this isn’t easy, but fighting never is. In Canadian history has there ever been a cause so great? Our elected officials, whose salaries we are paying, are ignoring us. They also ignore morals, common sense, human rights, judicial law and Parliamentary procedure—all to follow the agendas of the elite few heavily invested in corporate empires. They prosper while the people financially supporting their puppets in office suffer.

Not to mention the unjust wars we’re heading into in the name of Democracy but with true the intention of the criminal elite filling their pockets with blood money. Besides the huge profits raked in by banks and production companies, oil companies profit heavily from the spoils of war. Canada has long prided itself on being more peaceful than the United States. It was a common Canadian remark to say: "We’ll, at least we’re not American." But take a closer look at the War on Libya and try repeating that aphorism.

President Dwight Eisenhower, in his Farewell Speech to the Nation, warned the American people: "Beware the military industrial complex." President John F. Kenney made a speech of his own warning his people of a concealed elite power group working behind-the-scenes, above the law and accountable to no one. Two weeks later, he was assassinated.

As Dr. David Suzuki recently stated at Occupy Vancouver, corporations are no "longer bound by national borders, laws or standards." He asked that the government listen to its needs and not its wants, and accuses them of ignoring science as well as basic logic. He continues: "Terrible things have been done in the name of profit, and we need our government to protect us from their degradations. And we are here to ask, how much is enough! Don’t corporations have any social and ecological responsibly?"

So how did things get this bad?

A western Canadian magazine called Adbusters wrote an article calling for the protestor occupation of Wall Street. They didn’t actually expect anything to come of it, but enough people listened and Occupy Wall Street became a reality. The movement quickly spread across the States and around the world, becoming a truly historic protest, the likes of which have never been seen before. The actual occupying of Wall Street—a modest attempt to shut it down—was a peaceful act of civil resistance which spoke of the People’s power in a way that mere protesting doesn’t.

The movement has a long way to go before reaching numbers, and performing acts of civil resistance, large enough to actually shut down corporate powers, but at least it has begun. I would expect a decline as cold winter days come upon us, but my hopes are high that it will pick up again as Spring approaches. Too much has happened, and continues to escalate against the interests of the masses for people not to stand up. I expect this to be a long and difficult struggle. But with passion, unity and numbers we can achieve anything.

We must all join or support the Occupy Movement if we want to see real change in this country. It won’t come from our politicians, or from the corporate elite, or from outcries from a restrained and often-propagandistic mainstream media. No, it can only come from the masses who care enough to speak out and stand up for what’s right.

The movement must push forward with peaceful but bold acts of civil resistance to the public’s attention to draw more supporters in. Do not expect much help from the CBC or any other facet of the mainstream media. Online media such as YouTube should prove far more beneficial to the cause. Speak loud, in peace, until everyone listens. Speak by standing, speak by resisting, speak by occupying. It has a long way to go, but it has begun.

We can do this, and we owe it to our children, and to their children to give it our very best.

Having just written this article I see that a new story has emerged in Halifax, Nova Scotia: Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly has taken it upon himself to sic the police onto the innocent protestors at Victoria Park. Several people have been arrested and the camps are being dismantled. As of PM, fourteen people were arrested for obstruction of justice.

"The time has come for the encampment to end," says Kelly. "Our parks are for all of the public, not an unregulated campground for some."

"Some" as in the 99%? It’s time to remind Mr. Kelly who he’s working for and that the People are not going to back down. I suggest that everyone pays him a visit at his office at Halifax City Hall on Monday and demand some answers. Do not leave until either he has satisfied everyone’s questions or until the police are brought in. Bring cameras and make sure that it’s all on video tape and upload as much as possible online.

The light will protect us. They fear it because it reflects badly upon them. I urge everyone involved in Occupy Halifax to use the Internet to its full advantage: show the world the truth of what’s happening. Stand up for what’s right, do what’s right and let the authorities do what’s wrong for the wrong reasons. Let it all be seen on video tape. The mainstream media may ignore it, but trust me; the Internet will eat it up!

Never forget: this is a battle of ideas. They are the few and they can never win as long as the People stand up and do not back down!