[IMC-UK-Features] PROPOSAL - Days of Action Feature for UK and FreeSpaces

Wed Apr 9 03:28:48 PDT 2008

Title: Days of Action for Squats and Autonomous Spaces
Image: http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/images/2008/04/395939.gif

Late last year, following a preparation and coordination meeting in the
autonomous space "Les Tanneries" <http://squat.net/tanneries/>, located in
Dijon, France, there was <a href="
http://april2008.squat.net:8080/index.php/category/english/call/">an
international call out for two days of decentralised and autonomous actions
of all kinds, demonstration, direct action, public information,
street-party, squatting… in defence of free spaces and for an
anti-capitalist popular culture</a>. The aim of the days of action, Friday
the 11th and Saturday the 12th of April 2008, is to develop interconnections
and solidarity between squats and autonomous spaces and help create more
visibility for them as a european/global political movement.
People use squats and autonomous spaces to take control of their own lives,
a tool, a tactic, a practice, and a way for people to live out their
struggles. For decades, squat movements across Europe and beyond have fought
capitalist development, contributing to local struggles; providing
alternatives to profit-making and consumer culture and participatory
activities outside of the mainstream economy. Demonstrating self-organising
without hierarchy, providing bases for meetings and projects, for the
creation and distribution of subversive culture, for the non-monetary based
exchange of goods, resources and knowledge, for experimentating with new
ways of living, for collective debates, for recycling and construction, for
the production of independant media - these spaces are crucial to us as part
of a movement for social change.

<a href="http://april2008.squat.net/wiki/Agenda">Public actions are planned
all over europe</a> - in Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Dublin
in Ireland, Eastern Serbia, Sweden, Prague, Hamburg and as far away as New
Zealand. In Copenhagen things have already kicked off with an advance action
in support of creating <a href="
http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/02/391288.html">a new Ungdomshuset
'Youth House'</a> took place with <a href="
http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395701.html">5000 people taking
part in a demo followed by a massive street party</a>.

In the UK, <a href="http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395928.html">a
family friendly occupied/reclaimed/squatted space will be opened in Leeds
City Centre</a>; in Reading <a href="
http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395926.html">the Common Ground
Squatted Community Garden will be re-opened</a>, and a privatised area of
the Town Centre will be reclaimed for a free cafe; <a href="
http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395896.html">Manchester is up for
space invading</a> with a demonstration, street party and much more;
Nottingham will see a new squatted space opened up to host two days of food,
workshops, films, discussion, zines, free jumble stalls and partying; <a
href="http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395638.html">London also
has a new squatted space opening</a> with a timetable of <a href="
http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395938.html">art exhibitions,
squatters estate agency, skill sharing and more</a>. There will also be a <a
href="http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/03/394434.html">benefit gig
for the Advisory Service For Squatters</a>.

Throughout the weekend there will be coverage of actions, video and radio
reports from around Europe.

Links, UK:

Birmingham http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395252.html
http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395249.html
London timetable http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395938.html new
squat http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395638.html ass benefit
http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/03/394434.html
Leeds http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395928.html
Reading http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395926.html
http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395245.html
Manchester http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395896.html
http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/03/394429.html
Nottingham http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395723.html