Adbusters founder Kalle Lasn worries about Occupy Wall Street movement but remains optimistic despite "loony left elements"; suggests winter break

Occupy Vancouver - Cassandra photo/graphic 

"Kalle Lasn - who founded and is editor of Adbusters magazine, which originated the idea of Occupy Wall Street and spinoffs like Occupy Vancouver - is worried about "loony left elements" taking over the protest and suggesting it may want to take the winter off. 

In a fascinating interview with CBC Radio's Carol Off on As It Happens on November 1, Lasn talks at length about his views on the movement.

As someone who supports the principles behind Occupy Wall Street but is concerned that the protest is in danger of collapsing into a parody of itself, I found Lasn's comments very useful and worth considering.

“Now that winter is approaching, I can see this first wild, messy, crazy occupation phase kind of slowly winding down and the second phase will begin. The interesting times are ahead,” Lasn told Off.

“Some people will continue to sleep in the snow and inspire all of us, but in the meantime many of us will go home and we will resurface next spring.”

Lasn also said he worries that: "I think that there are what I call these loony left elements to this movement. The political left has been bedeviled by this kind of a loony side of us. There is a danger that some of these occupations will turn into rat-infested places where people deal drugs and get drunk and so on.”

"But at the same time.... every movement has its fringe element but by and large this movement is driven by a savvy bunch of young people who know what they are doing and who have their eyes on the ball and have the power of the social media going for them and above all they have this feeling in the pit of their stomachs that they have to stand up and fight for a different kind of future - otherwise they're not going to have a future.”

"So I have a feeling that the loony left will be kept in check."

Lasn predicts a new third political party may arise in the United States.

“Basically, we will try to get the money out of our political systems and start creating a new model of democracy.”

“Permit me to be grandiose for a moment, but I can feel it - I can feel this movement is the beginning of a deep transformation of capitalism. It’s a game changer.”

Adbusters' website's "Tactical Briefing #18" also suggests that perhaps it's time to shut down for the winter - although it offers an alternative strategy to continue occupations and "sleep in the snow" and resist police eviction.

But Adbusters also worries about significant problems.

"But as winter approaches an ominous mood could set in … hope thwarted is in danger of turning sour, patience exhausted becoming anger, militant nonviolence losing its allure. It isn't just the mainstream media that says things could get ugly. What shall we do to keep the magic alive?"


Good questions.

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