“I was teaching Dylan Ratigan some meditation…”

An incomplete activism roundup:

Deepak Chopra at Occupy Wall Street: “No problem can be solved at the level of consciousness at which it was created.” Indeed.

Last night saw a swell of people, as tens of thousands marched from Foley Square to Zuccotti Park, renamed “Liberty Plaza,” the site of the protest encampment where hundreds have been sleeping since Sept. 17. Despite it being another peaceful march, police later beat a handful of protesters with batons. Yes, the group was attempting to march down Wall Street after they toppled a police barricade. But I’m not convinced beating with batons were warranted. Police say a total of 28 people were arrested. Democracy Now! has had some great coverage, including an interview with Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine.

Klein joined the protest last night, and also talked about the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline, which would carry oil from Canada’s tar sands field to Gulf Coast refineries. Environmentalists and just about anyone frustrated with the U.S. government’s continual selling out of citizens’ health and rights have been vehemently opposed to this project. According to the group Credo, “In a stunning conflict of interest, the State Department hearings this week have been run by a company called Cardno ENTRIX, a contractor working for the Keystone XL pipeline developer TransCanada.” Tomorrow is the last day the State Department will accept public comments on this issue; you can send yours in here.

Meanwhile at Occupy Boston, The Massachusetts Nurses Association / National United Nurses union joined the march in solidarity during the first day of their convention, arriving in five full buses. The Massachusetts Teachers’ Association has expressed solidarity, and so far cabaret-punk chanteuse Amanda Palmer and noted author, historian and Princeton University professor Cornell West have addressed the crowds.

Over on the Left Coast, Seattle protesters have shrunk in number, following a police sweep yesterday in which the cops and park officials made arrests and forced Occupiers to take down their tents. According to The Seattle Times, “Protesters said that about 30 people spent the night in sleeping bags, in boxes lined with aluminum foil and in other makeshift shelters set up to replace the now-banned tents.” A spokeswoman for Seattle Parks and Recreation said that protesters can seek a permit for a food tent and a first aid tent; the question is, of course, whether such a permit will be granted.