L.K. 37 squat (Athens) under repression – No pasaran !

 

  L.K. 37 squat (Athens) under repression – NO PASARAN!

 


Since the end of July, the squat of L.K. 37 is confronted with a repressive project that, not accidentally, is taking place in the middle of the summer and within a period of intensified state terrorism and guided “anti”terrorist hysteria cultivated by the media. The chancellors’ council of the university, commissioned instruments of state policies, decided to cut off the water supply in the occupied building, while they gave same orders for the electricity. The aim of this cheap action is to render intolerable our living in the squat, so that we will abandon it, besieged by thirst, and in case we refuse they threaten with a police operation of violent eviction. This is happening in the name of utilizing the building for the speculative business enterprise which is called “Olympic Games 2004”.

The building of L. Karayanni 37 was bequeathed to the University, the Polytechnic and the Beaux-Arts Schools of Athens, with the inviolable condition to make it house for homeless and poor students. Despite that, it was abandoned since 1960, until April of 1988, when it was occupied by a collective of young students, workers and jobless, who transformed it into a place for housing and self-organizing, in a city suffocating by the blackmail of survival and alienation. >From then on, more than an answer to the unbearable economic and social status that turns housing into merchandise, the squat became a collective self-managed space that works in the base of comradeship and solidarity, against the dominant model of property relations and isolated private lives in the apartment-cages, against the slogan of authority “everyone for himself”. Far from restricting ourselves in organizing life inside the squat, L.K. 37, through open assemblies, publications and social interventions became a workshop and base for radical criticism against the housing issue that thousands of people have to deal with, but also against all aspects of social and class oppression. As an antiauthoritarian and anti-institutional project it was found in the sight of state repression, in 1994 and 1995, resulting in cops’ invasions in the house and arrests of the squatters.

L. Karayanni squat may be the most recent but it’s not the only social space that is threatened by the storm of the Olympic Games; by this operation to upgrade capitalist exploitation and state control, and to construct a sultry land-planning and social environment that affects every aspect of our life. So, let’s talk about these Games that represent the new “national idea”.
– About this skilful state propaganda that presents them as a social property, in order to extract the consent of those who are only going to pay for and suffer them, while the only ones profiting will be the multinationals, contractors, advertising and construction corporations, state officials who will manage the subsidies, the traders of any useless consuming product and of course those who trade security equipment…
– About cementing everything, about the “huge construction works” and the foreign and local workers who continue to die there, in so-called “working accidents”, when the bridges collapse or due to insufficient security measures in the worksite of the olympic village, expendable people who are sacrificed in the name of spectacular capitalist achievement. About their colleagues go on strike after every such “accident” and then they get back to work again, under the same lousy working conditions, because nobody is allowed to demand, to strike and revolt, otherwise the “national goal” will fail.
– About transforming the city into a sterilized and dead place. About police “sweeping” operations against immigrants and the overall expulsion from the center of every spontaneous, uncontrolled element of life. About the permanent occupation police army in every central street and installing new surveillance cameras everywhere in the name of law and order.
– About the entire speculative market with all the appropriations and subsidies that will be absorbed by the public sector, in the name of covering the needs of 2004 Olympics. About the case of the Students’ House in Ilisia suburb that the rectors’ council demand all students should leave in order to use it for the journalists’ accommodation in the Olympics, and about the struggle of the students who have refused and occupied the premises for more than two months.
– About the “anti”terrorist crusade and emergency laws, the criminalization of every social and class struggle and the well-designed cleansing operation against any space of resistance, in the name of realizing the grand “national idea”.

We, the squatters of L.K. 37, having created for years such a space of resistance against the exploitation of our housing and other social needs, which is now under repression, we have every reason to defend it, categorically rejecting the vile blackmail and the speculative pursuit of the university authorities. This choice of struggle is not only about defending the squat itself as a living attempt of self-organization and direct action, it’s also because through this fight we want to contribute to an attempt to expand and intensify every form of resisting to the overall attack of the state against society within the project of the 2004 Olympics.

HANDS OFF THE SQUAT OF LELAS KARAYANNI 37

 

SOLIDARITY WITH THE TWO OCCUPIED STUDENTS’ HOUSES AND WITH ALL SQUATS

RESIST THE OLYMPIC GAMES OF PROFIT, CONTROL AND REPRESSION

NO PASARAN!

 

 

 

http://www.geocities.com/lelas_k

 

http://www.athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=23482

Lead by the energy of passions, the only one able to upset the old world and give back to the forces of life their creative freedom, we threw ourselves into this adventure. It is perceptible that our cause was not a philological school, neither an expressional renewal nor a modernism. It is a matter of a way of life that passes through many explorations and transient shapes and by itself it tends to be experienced only in temporariness. The nature of this project prescribes us to work collectively and to reveal ourselves only a little, to wait for many people and events that will come. We also have this other great source of strength: to wait nothing from a crowd of known activities, individuals and institutions.

http://www.geocities.com/lelas_k/gr/af_lk10x.htm

http://www.geocities.com/anar_gr/en/s_13.htm

http://www.geocities.com/lelas_k/gr/af_lk06x.htm

OUR NAME IS OUR SOUL, ANARCHY

Comrades from the occupied grounds of L.K.37

 


Canada, Toronto, Pope Squat Friday report, August 2nd, 2002

 

  Canada, Toronto, Pope Squat Friday report, August 2nd, 2002

 


Pope Squat Friday report, August 2nd, 2002

On Friday evening, 7:00 pm, various union locals and supporters rallied at Masaryk Cowan park before beginning a march to 1510 King street.

Approximately 150-200 people showed up for the march and many different unions were represented by the colourful display of union flags. Of the unions that came out to support the action, I noticed the flags of the Auto Workers, Steel Workers, Elementary School Teachers, Catholic Teachers, Secondary Teachers, and CUPE. There was even a Public Service Alliance Canada (PSAC) member in support. And the Toronto and York Region Labour Council was well represented by John Cartwright, Helen Kennedy, Margaret McPhail, Carolyn Egan and others.

Steve Watson (CAW) addressed the crowd and lead the group down Queen street and then to King. As we marched down the street many people waved and honked their horns in support as bicycle cops and two squad cars escorted the group.

When the group arrived, the large group of squatters, volunteers, and OCAP supporters greeted the union contingent and joined them at the front of the building. With the aid of a megaphone, Steve Watson and John Cartwright addressed the enthusiastic audience, and Sue Collis (OCAP) updated the crowd about the status of the building and the current state of affairs. The crowd in front of the building was big enough that it spilled onto the road.

To symbolically christen the site, Alex (CUPE) and Jim (CAW) hammered the new “1510” address plaque onto the front of the building; this was greeted with a resounding cheer from the crowd.

After the official addresses, union folks chatted with squatters and walked around the building to check out the scene in the backyard. As people interacted, there was a realness to the solidarity and understanding that community and union were showing each other. As the sun began to set, many of the marchers headed home and a couple of films were shown in the backyard. It should be noted that union locals did not just bring moral support, but they also came bearing gifts as many necessary supplies were brought and donated to the location.

Since the initial occupation, which was a little over a week ago, the backyard has been transformed into a tented common area where food, water, and various supplies are stored. The couches are now all arranged under the tarps so that it kind of feels like you are in a summer beer tent, or a theatre, because the couches are arranged in rows facing the projection screen that adorns the back of the building. And at the very back of the area, the CAW porta-potty resides. Overall, it kind of feels like a cross between a campground and a community centre.

In terms of improvements made to the building, Chris said that the backdoor frame was fixed yesterday, and that the door itself was hung today by a volunteer carpenter. As well, the old back steps were torn down and rebuilt anew. This now permits safe access and ventilation from the rear of the 2nd floor, and it also facilitated the thorough final cleaning and vacuuming of the 2nd floor. The overall mold and air contamination is now greatly reduced. All that remains is the debris on the 1st floor which continues to be closed off.

A plumber also came to assess the plumbing situation. It seems the pipes are in good shape and can easily be serviced; some sections need to be replaced and other pipes can be capped. However, what stymied the plumbing group was “how to turn on the water?”. It seems the water pipe switch found on the 1st floor did not seem to do anything, so this either means the water is turned off to the house from the line coming in from the street, or, that the actual water main in the basement has yet to be properly identified. This is a an important issue to be resolved in the coming days since water is essential to the continued renovation and occupation of the building.

In the near future, there is also a proposed plan to properly fix up one room or one unit –much like a model home. The proposed unit is to have new linoleum tiling, new dry-wall, and new fixtures so as to demonstrate to the city/province that a proper renovation can realistically be achieved.

Overall, it was a great week. With Buzz Hargrove publicly appearing at 1510 King to support and financially endorse the action on Wednesday and with the week ending with a great show of support from a broad coalition of unions it really feels like things are happening. It is almost unbelievable!

Oh…. my friend told me a wry little saying this week. She said: “Housing cures Homelessness.”

With humour and solidarity, union out,

mike

Mick <mickblack47 [at] yahoo [dot] com>

 


 

Toronto: CLAC Radio – Pope Squat!

CLAC Radio – Pope Squat!
“When the government refuses to build housing, people have no choice but to take it themselves.”

This program focuses on the Pope Squat an action organized by OCAP (The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty). The Pope Squat was opened on June 25th while the festivities of World Youth Day & the Pope’s visit were occurring and the eyes of the world were focused on Toronto. The Pope Squat highlights the brutal realities of homelessness & poverty in the City of Toronto.

The realities of poverty & homelessness are outlined on the OCAP website; Toronto is in a housing crisis. The cost of rent is out of control. Landlords are not being forced to make repairs. The minimum wage has been frozen for more than 5 years. Families are falling deeper into poverty and more and more people are dying in the streets.

This program features an interview and speech given by Sarah Vance an organizer with the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty. This program gives an overview of the day the Pope Squat was opened, the activities & events which have been organized around the Pope Squat and the plans for the future which OCAP and those living at the Pope Squat are working toward.

– -> You can listen to CLAC Radio’s feature on the Pope Squat at: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=5120

– -> Previous CLAC radio programs can be accessed at: http://www.quebec2001.org/audio_en.html

– -> To find out more information about the Pope Squat & OCAP visit: http://www.ocap.cahttp://www.ontario.indymedia.org

La Convergence des luttes anti-capitalistes (CLAC)
The Anti-Capitalist Convergence
La Convergencia de las luchas anti-capitalistas
A Convergencia das lutas anti-capitalistas
clac [at] tao [dot] ca — 514-409-2049
http://tao.ca/~clac

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Support needed for KRZYK squat in POLAND…

 

  Support needed for KRZYK squat in POLAND…

 


As we already informed, the squat “krzyk” in Gliwice in Poland is now under a threat of being closed. On the 23 July the inhabitants of the squat had a meeting with the President of the City and now they know, that the builduing of the squat will be destroyed, and that nowbody wants to give them another place. The City Council permanently ignores the demands for the house, thet the squatters introduced several times to the city hall. The members of “krzyk” collective ask everybody for support, especially for writting mails/ fax to the city municipalities/ local representatives of polish authorities with demands for a new place for the squatters , who made a lot of social work for the local people. We give you an example of a letter, but of course any other creative letters are welcomed!!

I would like to express my solidarity with the members of the collective “krzyk”, who would like to continue its social and cultural activities in Gliwice. I cannot understand, why the local authorities try to ban the democrative groups of people who help to local inhabitants by organising things for the youth and who prepare the meals for the poorest, to mention just few of their iniciatives. I want to signalise, that the municipalities shoud support this kind of activities instead of banning them.

nazwisko:name:

adres:address:

organizacja:organisation:

Adresy Urzêdu Miasta Gliwice:The fax number to the Municipalities in gliwice:

fax (0-32) 231-27-25 – centrala urzedu miejskiego

pm1 [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – prezydnet Zygmunt Frankiewicz
turejkom [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – I zastepca prezydenta miasta Ryszard Trzebuniak
zp2 [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – II zastepca prezydenta miasta Janusz Moszyñski
wroblewskat [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – III zastepca prezydenta miasta Andrzej Jarczewski
zp4 [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – IV zastepca prezydenta miasta Andrzej Pañczyszyn
zm2 [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – cz-onek zarzadu miasta Andrzej Tomal
se [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – sekretarz miasta W³adys³aw Sobczyk
sk [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – skarbnik miasta Andrzej Lorek
boi [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – biuro obslugi interesantow
biuro_prasowe [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – biuro prasowe urzedu miasta
tokareke [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – biuro rady i zarzadu miasta
au [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – wydzial architektury i urbanistyki
so [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – wydzial spraw obywatelskich
edu [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – wydzial edukacji
fin [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – wydzial finansowy
pu [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – wydzial przedsiewziec gospodarczyc i uslug komunalnych
rp [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – wydzial radcow prawnych
ir1 [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – wydzial inwestycji i remontow
na [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – wydzial nadzoru wlascicielskiego
zd1 [at] um [dot] gliwice [dot] pl – wydzial zdrowia i opieki spolecznej

soja

 


 

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Ljubljana: News from AC Molotov squat

Molotov is still standing! After we got a lot of support from media, the owner (Slovenian Railway Company) had to evict us on legal way – court. They still insist that nobody was living there for 6 moths and that we were breaking in the house and destroying it. We are charging them because they are violating basic human rights – right to live in living conditions and right to cultural and political activities. If we prove we were living there, which I think is not so hard, they were the first ones who were breaknig the law.

The city offered us a new house, but we refused it, because it’s too small. We would have to do a lot of work and the house would be just for a year or two. We think they offered us the house because they want to get rid of us and to show to the public how good they are (votings are coming soon). We will insist on our demants – we want the house that has the same conditions as A.C.Molotov. If they don’t give us, we will take it by ourselves and stay in Molotov untill we find a new squat. What we want and will try to do is also to put a law to defend squatters, because there are only in Ljubljana (400.000 inhabitants) at least 30 people who want to squat. That means, we need more squats and we need them also in other parts of Slovenia! [Read More]