I met with one of the women who initially put out a call for a Picnic on Poverty at the Dunedin Public Gardens. I asked her about some of the ideas behind POP! (Yes, apparently there’s an exclamation mark!)
She said the idea wasn’t so much about organising something for people as about suggesting a relaxed and friendly space or place, where people could come and share thoughts or ideas around stuff important to them. (People Or Planet and anything in between?)
For reasons that should become obvious, she’d prefer to remain anonymous.
Picnic on Poverty!, if I picked things up correctly, might refer to poor people having a picnic regardless of their poverty. Or it might refer to possible discussions being had by people at a picnic. Or it might simply be the most fitting from a number of possible permutations of the acronym POP! – People Over Profit! (TPP?), Protect Our Planet (climate change etc?).
It might even be all of the above and more – or just an excuse to enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon in the sun and perhaps enjoy some impromptu entertainment.
I’ve looked at the facebook page for the event and read some other possible meanings of POP!, including Piss Off Paddy! (I liked that one)
Anyway. In saying I’d write something to help get word out, it was impressed on me that this is for and about people, and that there are no political organisations calling the shots, and no ideological lines designed to tie people down.
In other words (my words) POP! is like an open book that anyone can write in and that anyone can read from. There is no clique – and there will be no clique – trying to tell anyone what to think, or what to say, or how to talk.
For me, the first steps of organising involve a certain “gathering of thoughts and people”. Without oversight, ideas evolve and set directions in response to various circumstances.
If you’ve difficulties understanding that concept, then maybe the following short video will offer some elucidation.
Why not pop along on the 5th of November? “Let’s begin this!” (h/t Jacinda)
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