Diverse housing action groups in London have called for protests against the real estate fair “MIPIM UK”. Hashtag for the campaign is #stopMIPIM. Here is a flyer from the the “radical housing network“.
MIPIM, the world’s biggest property fair, is coming to London, October 15-17th.
MIPIM proudly describes itself as the world’s largest property fair, attracting around 20,000 investors, developers, local authorities, and banks each year.
It usually takes place annually in Cannes, France. This year will see the first MIPIM UK, to be held at London’s Olympia 15-17 October. Billed as ‘the 1st UK property trade show gathering all professionals looking to close deals in the UK property market’ – a gathering of professionals and elites looking to profiteer from UK land and property.
Join affected communities, the Radical Housing Network, the European Action Coalition for the Right to Housing and the City, Defend Council Housing, trade unions and a range of other groups to demand a City for People, not for Profit.
… and here a call from Lewisham Defend Council Housing (“an open group dedicated to resisting any proposals to privatise council housing”):
The MIPIM trade fair is the world’s largest property trade fair. For the first time London will be hosting the event (normally held in Cannes) with an opening address from our mayor, Boris Johnson.
Given the estimated 340,000 households on the housing waiting list across London, the steady rise in homelessness rates and emergency housing in B&Bs and hostels (often for families and vulnerable individuals) it is clear we need truly affordable social housing and effective regulation of the private rental market.
Instead of our politicians looking into a sustainable housing sector, we get the mayor opening MIPIM, with many councils keen to strike up lucrative deals with property developers. MIPIM will be a place to discuss further profiteering from the capital’s housing market, including some great talks such as “Social Housing: What’s the point?” and “NHS Restructuring: Opportunities for the Property Industry”.
We need to send out a clear message: London needs to think of housing as a public right, events like MIPIM promise more of the same profiteering which has given us scandals like the Heygate Estate “regeneration” (http://www.urban75.org/blog/elephant-and-castle-regeneration-outrage-2535-new-homes-and-just-79-social-rented-units/), the almost now almost meaningless definition of “Affordable Housing” (http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2014/feb/03/affordable-housing-meaning-rent-social-housing) and Boris Johnson’s constant siding with luxury private developers against council’s protests (http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2014/jan/29/boris-johnsons-abuse-of-planning-power-is-an-assault-on-democracy).
The surge in homelessness and soaring housing waiting lists doesn’t happen by accident, this is what happens when London only views housing as an asset, never a public right.
Enough is enough, #stopMIPIM , deliver the housing we need.
You can find out more about the #stopMIPIM campaign at http://radicalhousingnetwork.org/
MIPIM UK: 15 – 17 October, Olympia W14 8UX
Opening protest – #blockBoris: Wednesday 15 October from 9am
Alternative conference Cities for People, Not for Profit: Thursday 16th and Friday 17th until 4pm
Closing protest – Paper round the Houses: Friday 17 October from 5pm
Source: http://www.reclaiming-spaces.org/2014/09/enough-is-enough-stopmipim-deliver-the-housing-we-need/
