“Elba lives! Elba stays! Stora Enso burn away!”
– report from the solidarity demonstration
A demonstration was organized in Helsinki, Finland on Thursday 22th of March against the destructive business of Stora Enso, and in solidarity with the squatters in Poland.
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GONNA KEEP ELBA’S FIRES BURNING! ELBA STAYS!
Enough of turning lodgers and independent culture into the street!
It seems so natural. A corporation buys a ground and can do whatever it wants on it. Build a work, an office or a golf course. Nobody and nothing can stop that process…
But what if there is a cultural centre used by thousands of people and known all over Europe placed on that premises? What if social welfare is in conflict with company’s egoistic plans? A company, which piously advertises itself as “producing in conditions safe for the society and conducting dialogues with every side concerned”. Where is that dialogue? There’s no dialogue, there is, still, the rule of money. Stora Enso corporation is known for its uncompromised profit policy at the cost of people and the environment. [Read More]
On the 16th of March around 11am a group of workers from “Skrzecz” security agency entered unlawfully the premises of Elba, an alternative social centre in Warsaw. The security was hired by the landlord, the Finnish company Stora Enso. At this time there were several people on the ground who were beaten and forced out of the buildings. The security agents left a path of destruction inside the buildings and took away belongings of the residents of the squat. In the course of actions of the secutity agents money disappeared. This unlawful raid and illegal actions were actively supported by a group of police officers. As a matter of fact they made it impossible to defend against the agression of the security agents and did not react on countless incidents of breaking the law.
Today/now.., without warning, Elba squat in Warsaw is being violently evicted. Elba is the longest running and largest independent cultural center in Warsaw.
This is a part of a Polish live report, translated with g00gl, source: http://poland.indymedia.org/pl/2012/03/55240.shtml
Please share info if you know more!
There’s an alarm call [in polish language] about eviction on their website : http://elba.bzzz.net
Elba was established in autumn 2004 and is run by collective of people who decide about the place by consensus. The collective include both people living here and people organising events and running workshops, all taking part in decision making.
They are involved in series of social and political actions, and we try to make our squat an active place, open for many different ideas. Among other things you will find here freeshop, bike workshop, rehearsal room, screenprinting workshop, climbing wall, skatepark, cafeteria and concert/perfomance room.
Hopefully more detailed information in english language soon.
See also here for more background information about Elba : http://www.spottedbylocals.com/warsaw/squat-elba
Soli rally with Polish squats (wednesday, 3pm)
SQUATS IN POLAND STAY! SQUATS EVERYWHERE STAY!
SQUATS IN POLAND STAY! SQUATS EVERYWHERE STAY! 6 of May (Wednesday), 3 p.m.
SOLDARITY RALLY WITH ROZBRAT AND ELBA SQUATS FROM POZNAN AND WARSAW
The Hague, in front of Polish Embassy (Alexanderstraat 25)
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