1. Twitter or post about what you are doing or did on the fifth of November.
   In Twitter, address your tweet to us by mentioning “@FifthOfNovember” in the tweet or use the hashtag “#PowerOfWordsDay”. (We’ll also retweet your tweets.)
   Or post it in this posting below as a comment, or on our Facebook page.
2. Remember this idea and this page for 2012.
   We are going to do this again on the fifth of November 2012, obviously with almost one year more time to organize for us all, so together we’ll reach even more people worldwide in 2012.

In addition, for all people living near Erlangen, Germany:
The local Real Democracy Now / Occupy group in Erlangen, Germany, who have voted in their weekly assembly to take part in our event here and to support it, have asked us to inform everybody where and when they implement this event on #nov5 locally in Erlangen:
Fifth of November, 16-18 o’clock (4pm-6pm), Hugenottenplatz, Erlangen, Germany. Details in this posting on their homepage.

The power of words. The power of symbols. The power of the people.
Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power.
Real democracy now.

As of now, the primary hashtag used for this action here is #nov5, since this event takes place on the fifth of November. Additionally, this specific date is integral part of this action, as it is based on the connotations of the fifth of November, especially created by the film “V for Vendetta”. Also in use is #5nov (reversed). Another possible notation could be #5n. The use of abbreviated dates as hashtags has a tradition not only in the Real Democracy Now and Occupy movements. For example, the tag #15o or #15oct was used worldwide as primary hashtag for protests on the 15th of October 2011 in all countries.

But @revolution_info has made a point: In the aftermath of #15o, many different events are started by the people for the people: On the fifth of November it is this event here of course and for example the BankTransferDay event, both using #nov5 (and more). It might indeed have advantages to clarify things up a little and use a hashtag as unique as possible for each event. The main plus could be to establish a new tradition and meme in the course of establishing a new hashtag. Because in any case our aim is to repeat this event again on the fifth of November 2012.

So what specific hashtag would be the best choice? With this event, it all boils down to the power of words. We have a lot of very meaningful texts in this world, one example being the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and a lot more, and more probably every day, but they seem to get forgotten over time and in practice.

To quote from our own call to action here:

• To show to the powerful and to the world (…) that texts are not just lame words but have meaning
• which we will pursue. (…)
• inciting discussion and thinking about that meaning.

So from now on we’ll use #PowerOfWordsDay as specific hashtag. To integrate new people, we’ll also have to make use of sentences like “#nov5 is #PowerOfWordsDay”. Second place went to #Print(Out)ATextDay, which illustrates straightforward how to realize this idea.

The We All Occupy site is generally very interesting as it offers a directory listing of Occupy groups, even internationally, inlcuding contacts, homepage addresses in a structured table-like format. It also contains additional lists with Occupy movement related infos.

For what you can do for this event here in detail, see our current tasks for #nov5.

Short summary of the tips from the article:

• even a single word written on a paper and shown can have big effects
• homemade signs are a way to express yourself
• you can reach a lot of people by placing the sign or text so it can be seen from public spaces
• everything is allowed: from one word to short simple messages to long texts
• everything is allowed: from painted signs using a template and projector to the basic and regular printed out text
• further tips can be found at Freeway Blogger’s page

Also very motivating: a quote from the last paragraph in Waldman’s article:

“I mention these options because it was hearing the story from a friend of what it meant to see a random “We Are the 99%” sign posted at a big corporate bank’s ATM location way out in the boonies that finally inspired me to pull this old diary out and rework it for the Occupy movement.
You can do the same.”

Word! Let’s mark this November the 5th. Words will retain their power.

• Spreading the idea of this action worldwide

• mainly via the internet, but not exclusively
• informing people directly
• contacting existing real democracy now / occupy / similar groups
• boosting distribution by creating media (like YouTube videos) or translating texts
• acting as an individual
• acting as a group

• Posting plans and ideas for the 5th of November in detail here

• what are you going to do on #nov5
• what might be additional good ideas for #nov5
• inspiring others and documenting knowledge in a posting
• acting as an individual
• acting as a group

Feel free to pitch in; support wanted! To contact us, post here or write us a message on Twitter (@FifthOfNovember). Additional details can be found in the Multiply-section.

Each person that takes part will make somebody think.

Their action called “letter storm” was to print out a lot of copies of a text (a letter) they wrote to inform about the worldwide protests, then meet as a group, and then divide up and deliver all the letters into the mailboxes of the citizens of Cologne. Their slogan was: “If they don’t come to the info, we’ll bring the info to them. Delivered free to the door.”

This obviously is one perfect example more on how you could take part in this action here “Print out a text on the 5th of November”, when you are going to take part as a group. But even when you’re going to act as an individual, you could post texts for real democracy in the mailboxes of your neighbours or of the other tenants in your house (the more decentralized way).

Imagine when in your town, on Saturday, the 5th of November, people doing their purchases, going to work, waiting at the train station, notice curious-making texts in the hands of people doing their respective errands in town; on the way home they pass by houses with “Real democracy now”-texts in the windows; and then they come home and find a text about real democracy now or occupy in their mailbox. Now imagine this in every town in the world, some acting decentralized, as individuals, some within organized groups. This would set a lot of people thinking. But even on a smaller scale: Every single person that makes somebody more aware, is a win. Every single person.

The action of Occupy Cologne took place yesterday, on October 23, 2011. We’ll now write them a message to ask about their experience with their action, how it went, and if they want to do it again. And we hope that this posting here inspires other local Occupy or Real Democracy Now groups and supporters to print out texts on the 5th of November and make a “letter storm” (and/or many other ideas how to show the texts), so together, we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never be forgot.

Now we have to spread the info, so the people who want can take part. Everyone who wants to support the action wanted (contact: @FifthOfNovember).

Let’s make the 5th of November the Power Of Words Day.

The power of words. The power of symbols. The power of the people.
Real democracy now.

Drucke einen Text am 5. November aus.

Lasst uns einen Text für echte Demokratie ausdrucken, und diesen am Samstag, 5. November 2011, sichtbar zeigen, wo immer wir sind.

Mehr Infos: http://5november2011.wordpress.com/

Warum?

Um den Mächtigen und der Welt zu zeigen,
dass wir noch hier sind,
dass wir noch über echte Demokratie, Fairness, und Menschenrechte nachdenken, reden, und dafür handeln,
dass wir glauben, dass die Welt verbessert werden kann und muss,
dass Texte nicht nur lahme Wörter sind, sondern Bedeutung haben, und wir diese verfolgen werden.

Wie?

Dadurch, dass wir einen Text für echte Demokratie ausdrucken und ihn sichtbar mit uns tragen und zeigen, überall wo wir sind und wo wir können,
an einem einzelnen Tag, dem 5. November,
und damit die Leute, die uns sehen, dazu zu bringen, sich zu fragen, was dieses Stück Papier ist und bedeutet,
und Diskussionen und Nachdenken anstoßen über dessen Bedeutung und Macht.

Der Aufruf

“Wenn Ihr also nichts gesehen habt, wenn Ihr keinen Grund seht, auf die Straße zu gehen, dann schlage ich vor, dass Ihr den 5. November unbegangen verstreichen lasst. Aber wenn Ihr seht, was ich sehe, wenn Ihr empfindet, wie ich empfinde und danach strebt, wonach ich strebe, dann fordere ich Euch auf, am 5. November 2011 überall neben mir zu stehen, und gemeinsam bescheren wir ihnen einen 5. November, den man nie wieder vergisst.” (Adaptiert von V wie Vendetta.)

Vorteile

• Jeder Mensch, der teilnimmt, wird jemanden zum Nachdenken bringen.
• Man benötigt nur Papier und einen Drucker oder Stift. Und ein bisschen Mut zum Handeln.
• Sei kreativ, wie du den Text am 5. November der Welt zeigst: trag ihn sichtbar mit dir, überall wo du hingehst / zeige ihn an öffentlichen Orten / befestige ihn an sichtbaren Plätzen / wirf ihn irgendwo ein, etc.
• Mach die Aktion als Individuum. Oder in Gruppen.
• Es ist friedlich, ohne Gewalt.
• Es ist durch das Menschenrecht auf freie Meinungsäußerung garantiert.

Siehe auch:

• Vorschläge für Texte zum Ausdrucken
• Warum gerade den 5. November?

Verbreiten und teilen Sie diesen Aufruf sehr gerne, so dass Worte tatsächlich ihre Macht behalten.

(Hier gibt es Übersetzungen dieses Aktions-Aufrufs in andere Sprachen.)

Print out a text on the 5th of November.

Let’s print out a text for real democracy, and on Saturday, November 5, 2011, show it visibly wherever we are.

More info: http://5november2011.wordpress.com/

Why?

To show to the powerful and to the world,
that we are still here,
that we still think, talk and act about real democracy, fairness, and human rights,
that we believe the world can and must be improved,
that texts are not just lame words but have meaning, which we will pursue.

How?

By printing out a text for real democracy, and carrying it visibly with you and showing it, wherever you are and wherever you can,
on one single day: on the 5th of November,
thus getting people that see us to wonder what that piece of paper is and means,
and inciting discussion and thinking about that meaning and its power.

The call

“So if you’ve seen nothing, if you see no reason to go out on the streets, then I would suggest that you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me on the fifth of November 2011, everywhere, and together we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever be forgot.” (Adapted from V for Vendetta).

Advantages

• Each person that takes part will make somebody think.
• Needs only some sort of paper, a printer or a pen. And a bit of courage to act.
• Be creative how you show the text to the world on the 5th of November: carry it visibly with you wherever you go / show it in public places / stick it on places visible / post it somewhere, etc.
• Do it individually. Or do it in groups.
• It’s peaceful, non-violent.
• It’s guaranteed by the human right to freedom of expression.

See also

• Suggestions for texts to print
• Why the 5th of November of all days?

Feel free to share and spread this call to action widely, so words will indeed retain their power.

(Translations of this call to action in other languages here)