Connect Conference 2004 - Barcelona.

by @ the whiteboard. Mon Dec 20, 2004 11:44

to building and safeguarding communities.

Our cities are not egalitarian, rich neighbourhoods are seen side by side with those of the poor.
Cities are rarely homogenous, and there is often tension between population groups whose lifestyles are different. This diversity can be enriching provided it is allowed space within the city, and given expression in the community.
Avoiding a "fortress approach" to urban planning, means avoiding a situation where security, (security from violence on the street or in the home, fear of buglaries or muggings, rapes or gender racist or other motivated attacks, or precarious environments and the fear of having no-one to turn to for help, no service providing protection or compensation) are afforded only to the private sector.
Safety and security in all it's forms is a right to which the citizens of Europe's cities do not have equal access.
Fear based on whether or not we are of European origin, native or imigrant, rich or poor, young or old, male or female; inequalities based with respect to dangers faced in cities, of marginalisation, of health problems, of violence, access to regal assistance, access to pensions that guarantee dignity, of the recognition of our fundamental civil rights
.
We cannot simply count on market laws to redress these inequalities.

These are intolerable wrongs.

The okupe movement has this morning opened a squatters advice centre opposite the offices of the Council who are still being pursued through the courts by the social collectives for endangering the basic civil rights of the citizens of the community of the city of Barcelona by allowing rampant speculation and illegal and immoral real estate practises.

It is located at -
the Barcelona's council's office of citizen information. C/Ronda San Pau.

The authorities will probably clear the building later, but the associated project of "Miles de Viviendas" (thousands of homes) which has continuously housed those in economic precarious conditions throughout the city with high profile occupations and subsequent evictions is still open at

C/Joan de Bourbó 11
Barceloneta

(between the port and the beach)

For their part the authorities have moved only a little closer to fulfilling thier obligations under the European Union social contract, and increased funding for social housing and introduced laws to regularise the renting of private property to tourists. It is more than has happened in other richer cities and states of the EU but it is still not enough.

Okupe tu també!