The Occupy Wall Street DemosDr Giles Jackson an American based academic and long time supporter of the anti capitalist movements worldwide has come up with a novel way of uniting those who support this cause under a tartan banner. He has registered a tartan called 'Liberty Square' which he hopes those who support the cause will wear. The tartan has this gold lines which he says reflect the uneven distribution of wealth. The tartan is one of a series that his 'Liberation Kilt Company' have registered that support global causes such as climate change, water aid, and political freedom of expression.
Dr Jackson, an associate professor at Shenandoah University in Virginia was born in the UK and has Scottish roots, he was inspired to design a tartan for the movement after wearing a kilt to a protest in 2008. He said: "I'm tapping into a long and glorious tradition. Long before tartan became the garb of royal subjects it was a badge of dissent." His first design was a tartan for the climate change movement but from there it expanded into many other causes. A percentage of the profits from the sale of products produced will go towards helping the relevant causes.
The notes on the Liberty Square tartan on the Public Register of Tartan's website reads:
Image: Liberty Kilt CoLiberty Square (fictitious name) symbolises the golden rule of capitalism: 'Those with the Gold make the Rules'. In a throwback to the gilded age, the spoils increasingly go to a protected class of global profiteers (represented by the gold stripes), while the ordinary citizen (centre) is gradually stripped of their freedoms, money and dignity. In the US, real wages for average workers are slightly below their 1970 level, whereas the top 0.1 per cent has increased its share nearly fourfold, with the 400 richest people now having assets equal to the poorest 140 million. Many democracies are becoming virtual plutocracies designed to prolong, protect and intensify the wealth and influence of those who already have wealth and influence, sapping entire nations of their vitality. This tartan honours the Occupy protesters around the world who have recognised the danger and stepped up to demand transparency, reform and a return to democratic values.
The occupy movement has divided opinions and its foray into tartan is no exception. Many online discussions have become heated with some in support of the idea but just as many condemning it. We would love to hear your opinions on this.
