01 November 2008

A "How To" on Civil Disobedience

Here's a lesson on how to use civil disobedience effectively.

Otto the octopus of the Sea Star aquarium in Coburg disapproved of his surroundings.

We knew that he was bored as the aquarium is closed for winter, and at two feet, seven inches Otto had discovered he was big enough to swing onto the edge of his tank and shoot out the 2,000 Watt spotlight above him with a carefully directed jet of water...

Once we saw him juggling the hermit crabs in his tank, another time he threw stones against the glass damaging it. And from time to time he completely re-arranges his tank to make it suit his own taste better - much to the distress of his fellow tank inhabitants.


Clearly, Otto was expressing his displeasure with the choices his controllers had made for him and had his own, independent views of what they should be.

Might we learn something from Otto about asserting our autonomy? Or the wrenching back of same from the powers-that-be?

Nah!

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