Posted on 10/22/2011 9:28:31 AM PDT by mdittmar
NEW YORK - They put on a gritty war face and insist they are more determined now than ever, but the Occupy Wall Street campers now face the slow advance of an unrelenting enemy: the New York winter.
As freezing winds blew Friday over the epicenter of their protests, Zuccotti Park in Manhattan, the demonstrators were already huddling in significantly reduced numbers.
At night, the several hundred people who sleep on site in the financial district bundle up as best they can under plastic tarps, hunkering down in sleeping bags and emergency blankets as tents are forbidden on the plaza.
Many sleep with bonnets and scarves. But the worst has yet to come.
"So far, we have been extremely blessed," said Cynthia Villarreal, who has slept at Zuccotti for 18 days.
Ever since the anti-corporate protest movement began on September 17, OWS has only battled a handful of rainy days. At night, temperatures are still above freezing.
But New York winters often see frigid temperatures that drop below 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 Celsius).
"The cold affects us already," admitted Maria Fehlig, a volunteer nurse at the protesters' makeshift infirmary, a small blue tent marked by a cross that is the only structure so far tolerated by owners of the park ensconced between skyscrapers.
She noted there had been several cases of hypothermia and respiratory problems. An online petition is asking Mayor Michael Bloomberg to allow protesters to erect tents on the plaza, though it has not yet been sent.
It is unlikely to succeed.
"The Constitution doesn't protect tents, it protects speech and assembly," Bloomberg said in a press conference Monday amid growing frustration by some New Yorkers as the protesters continue camping out in the heart of global finance.
Bloomberg has also predicted that the weather would play a role in determining how long the movement will last.
But Fehlig, who has been helping protesters learn basic methods to resist the cold, insisted that they formed "a determined group that plans to stay until it changes."
She tells demonstrators to stay dry, wear hats, layers of clothing and good pairs of socks and gloves.
The protesters' kitchen, which serves at least 2,000 meals a day, according to cook Chris O'Donnell, offers warm food ordered from nearby businesses or cooked by volunteers with the help of donations.
"We use a soup kitchen in East New York," explained O'Donnell, an OWS supporter known as a "point person" as the group does not recognize any official hierarchy.
But he also acknowledged that there is a definite lack of abundance on cold and rainy days.
And OWS has yet to organize a major protest since thousands of people gathered in Times Square on October 15 chanting "We are the 99 per cent."
The movement that denounces global greed and the richest one per cent continues to broadcast its protests online, often live, but the number of people watching has markedly dropped, along with the number of tweets about the site.
The next stage for this leaderless movement, which sees itself as independent of political parties and claims no particular demands, remains unclear for now.Winter woes threaten Wall Street occupiers
"What do we want" ... vermin repeat, 'What do we want'
"Heat" ... vermin reapet, 'Heat'
"When do we want it?" ... vermn repeat, 'When do we want it' (droning, they do not sound it as a question)
"Now" ... vermin repeat, 'Now' (cue cards held up to the vermin exhort 'With loud voices, shouting')
It's amazing that he can make a classic Christmas song sound EVIL.
Not a problem. Just a mini BBQ grill with some briquets will warm a tent nicely.
You know what George Washington humbly requested the Continental Congress to secure for his troops,shoes.
Maybe they will construct some lean to-s or cement park tree houses and have an Obamaville. Redirect electricity from the street lights, start trash can fires, they will be fine.
An exercise in political suicide.
They are ‘expendable”.
That's what really bothered me as well. Trust fund useless eaters taking food out of the mouths of the homeless
That’s just “mean spirited”;)
meanwhile, Wall St. executive slept quite well, warm and toasty in their penthouses.
On monday morning they’ll be fresh and ready to go....earning that money, and paying the taxes that fund the programs these whackos feed off of.
Solar powered or wind powered? Don’t want any of that “stinkin” coal power, now do we? /s
I’m sure there be free clinics where they can go to get their pneumonia treated.
OMG! I LOVE THIS!!! Thanks!
and yes, the occupy wall street guys will just have to scurry home to their mommy’s paid by capitalist money home.
Any idea re: numbers now?
In short, once the first “Nor’easter” snowstorm hits New York City, this crowd will disperse in no time flat.
"I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
Todd Rundgren - Bang on the Drum All Day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZclddLcOYYA
The best way to stay warm in a northern winter is to wear single layer fabric clothing and make sure it is wet at all times. The water will seal the pores in the fabric and will help keep the wind out and the heat in. Also, when ice forms on clothing, this is even better since ice is a great insulator.
Hats, ear covering, and gloves are a bad idea. They absorb heat that the body needs to keep warm. You just need a few minutes to get used to the cold air. Remember, the Indians walked around naked and barefoot even in the snow. Birds, dogs, and cats don’t wear shoes or boots even in the coldest weather. Natural is best! Don’t be a wimp!
And don’t burn wood, coal, or any kind of gas to stay warm. It kills the planet! Electric heat is even worse, since some electricity comes from nuclear power plants!
Another tip: do not eat much food or drink liquids, especially warm ones. The food requires energy to digest and this saps your strength. Also, liquids make you pee, and this causes more loss of precious body heat.
Snow is a good insulator, so it is great to sleep on. Nice and soft, too, if you sleep naked. If you feel cold, rub snow all over your skin. When your skin turns red, that’s a sign that your are too warm. If it is uncomfortable, keep rubbing the snow on until your skin turns white or gray. You will notice that any pain goes away! This is the best part about snow massages.
So, with all of these outdoor winter survival techniques, you should be able to take on the worst weather NYC can dish out!
They shouldnt have protested against global warming. Now look where they are.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
