Occupy Nanaimo Ending?

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The above pictures were snapped last Saturday at Diana Krall Plaza which was one week to the day since the occupation began. At the time I wondered how long the occupiers would be welcome to express themselves in the public square before opposition started to their occupation.

Well, it has barely taken much more than a week, and the local Daily News is now calling on the occupiers to dismantle their camp at Diana Krall Plaza and they are doing it on behalf of all residents of the city. (Only mildly presumptuous)

The occupation was acceptable while it was a novelty, but the idea that it might actually be trying to facilitate some changes in society, which likely requires some 'messyness' is not really all that palatable. As Canadians we don't much care for 'in your face' tactics that might disturb our carefully controlled and ordered society. Challenging the status quo via letters to the editor, petitions and the like are acceptable (ineffective but acceptable) by the mainstream media and movers and shakers as they don't actually challenge or change anything.

According to the 'Occupy Nanaimo' facebook page there are no further events scheduled or expected. However, since this is a grassroots movement with no clear objectives, agendas, leaders or spokesmen or identifiable 'end game', only time will tell how this exercise in democracy plays itself out here in Nanaimo.

In the beginning I believe some occupiers said they would occupy until things change. However, there has never been a clear example of what they mean by such a change, one example was to stop shopping at Wal Mart, move all your money from banks to the credit union, support local business, all of which are suggestions that those sympathetic to the 'cause' are likely already doing.

Will this end in the confrontations taking place elsewhere, requiring police in riot gear breaking up these camps? I hope not, as we in Canada are not known for such behaviour.