Thursday, May 08, 2003
IT'S ALIVE!!!
Yes, I'm back from the land of the living dead, thinner somehow, and a little dizzy.
Let me first of all advertise my new feature: my guestmap, which I'd love people use. Pin yourselves in, guys!
Secondly, I must draw your attention toward Denmark. Why, oh, why, can I hear you asking, isn't it just, like the smallest place in the world, the, ehm, capital of Holland? Or is it in Norway?
Well...
No. Denmark is not only lovely and clean and quite fashionable, we also have splendid cheese (although we're not allowed to call it Feta) and rather exciting designers (Arne Jacobsen and Hans Wegner to name but a few). We also have Christiania, which is a large commune of sorts in the heart of Copenhagen. For many years squatters, hippies and whoever else were initially interested, have lived together there. They are generally accepted, although every couple of years the government decides to deal with the 'problem' and raids the place. So far they are still there, though, and, in my opinion do a lot of good, both within their own environment and for tourism in Copenhagen. However, now it seems that the government mean business and the people are in serious danger of being kicked out. What it means is that there will be a lot of homeless people (Christiania is a place that accommodates the poor quite well) and a lot of shops will close which means a loss of income for many + a loss of many splendid gigs! What it all comes down to, though, is probably the sale of hashish in Pusher Street. As we all know, this is strictly speaking illegal and can therefore not be condoned by the government. I can understand that. But in many people's opinion the troubles will not end with closure of Christiania, no, this is where the trouble begins. People who live in Christiania have always been very good at dealing with class A drugs, as in: they don't want them around. By somehow 'releasing' the soft drug trade into the city, there are great dangers of a falling quality of drugs (and I don't mean that in a leisurely way, but as in: quality must be good otherwise it may do great harm) and it will spread uncontrollably. As it is now people know where to go if and when and they know that the quality is going to be good so they have nothing to fear. I don't support Christiania unconditionally, but I do think that they themselves are capable of dealing with whatever problems they may have and I certainly don't think that 'regenerating the area' is going to do any good in this respect.
Their web-site is a bit funny, a bit in Danish but a lot in English, so please check it out - you can also sign a petition to keep Christiania on its feet and I urge you to do so.
Thanks for your time.
*Bows and leaves*
Yes, I'm back from the land of the living dead, thinner somehow, and a little dizzy.
Let me first of all advertise my new feature: my guestmap, which I'd love people use. Pin yourselves in, guys!
Secondly, I must draw your attention toward Denmark. Why, oh, why, can I hear you asking, isn't it just, like the smallest place in the world, the, ehm, capital of Holland? Or is it in Norway?
Well...
No. Denmark is not only lovely and clean and quite fashionable, we also have splendid cheese (although we're not allowed to call it Feta) and rather exciting designers (Arne Jacobsen and Hans Wegner to name but a few). We also have Christiania, which is a large commune of sorts in the heart of Copenhagen. For many years squatters, hippies and whoever else were initially interested, have lived together there. They are generally accepted, although every couple of years the government decides to deal with the 'problem' and raids the place. So far they are still there, though, and, in my opinion do a lot of good, both within their own environment and for tourism in Copenhagen. However, now it seems that the government mean business and the people are in serious danger of being kicked out. What it means is that there will be a lot of homeless people (Christiania is a place that accommodates the poor quite well) and a lot of shops will close which means a loss of income for many + a loss of many splendid gigs! What it all comes down to, though, is probably the sale of hashish in Pusher Street. As we all know, this is strictly speaking illegal and can therefore not be condoned by the government. I can understand that. But in many people's opinion the troubles will not end with closure of Christiania, no, this is where the trouble begins. People who live in Christiania have always been very good at dealing with class A drugs, as in: they don't want them around. By somehow 'releasing' the soft drug trade into the city, there are great dangers of a falling quality of drugs (and I don't mean that in a leisurely way, but as in: quality must be good otherwise it may do great harm) and it will spread uncontrollably. As it is now people know where to go if and when and they know that the quality is going to be good so they have nothing to fear. I don't support Christiania unconditionally, but I do think that they themselves are capable of dealing with whatever problems they may have and I certainly don't think that 'regenerating the area' is going to do any good in this respect.
Their web-site is a bit funny, a bit in Danish but a lot in English, so please check it out - you can also sign a petition to keep Christiania on its feet and I urge you to do so.
Thanks for your time.
*Bows and leaves*
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