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Date: Sun, 20 Jun 1999 16:25:38 +0200
From: Maloka Anarcho Collective (maloka@chez.com")
Organization: http://www.chez.com/maloka/
Subject: -URGENT- french squatted social center facing destruction -URGENT-
'Les Tanneries' - squat in Dijon, France - is facing eviction
We need your support !
Hi everyone ! Here's a little text about 'Les Tanneries' which is a
squattted building in Dijon (France) where we - Maloka mostly and other
collectives - organise gigs, conferences, theatre performances and
various workshops.
This place used to be a slaughterhouse and had been
empty for 5 years. We've been using the space (actually not all the
buildings but the offices, the housekeeper's flat and a barrack) for
almost 2 years and have been actually living here for 8 months. We're a
diy-anarchist collective of people running an infoshop and a non profit
mailorder. We're also putting out a newsletter every 2 months or so
about different struggles worldwide (It'll be in English some day
hopefully...) and we're into several activities such as demonstrations
and what's mentioned above.
'Les Tanneries' is about to be evicted. The Council officialy informed
us that they wanted us to leave the place really soon so they can
destroy all the area. This obviouslly includes our house/centre. This
squat is run according to certain principles based upon autonomy and a
rejection of consumerism. We just want to get rid of profit, power and
domination in peoples' relationships. Well that sounds a bit like utopia
but we're trying to have a creative space for all. One can be involved
in any activity or contribution to the squat if s/he cares.
After 8 months we believe that a lot of projects came true. Lots of
people have been involved in all the workshops (painting, reharseal
room, bike repairshop, djembe, photo lab, etc.) and it's been a refreshing experience, mostly at a personal level with everyone's own
initiative - not apathetic consumers like commercial or institutional
culture would encourage us to be.
The council wants the building destroyed in 3-4 months time just
because it's squatted. There's no project behind all that, they just
prefer it to be a wasteland.
And because we owe them nothing for our right to live (because we're so
radical that we use fun sentences !!), because we just need this place
to develop our project, and simply because it'd be a major obstacle to
our activities in general, we're ready to defend 'Les tanneries' against
the Evil Empire.
IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT US :
you can send the following mail to the mayor (fax 0033+3 80 74 52 94 or
go to their website at http://www.ville-dijon.fr/contact/index.htm [URL no longer active?] - write your name, e-mail address and, cut and paste the letter below) to
hassle them a bit and also send a letter to us saying that you (or your
collective) give your support to our centre at Les Tanneries, 15 bd de
Chicago, 21000 Dijon, France.
For any info about the squat, maloka, whatever you want, get in touch
with us at maloka, bp 536, 21014 dijon cedex, france or email
maloka@chez.com
- Thanks a lot, we love you all !!!
http://www.chez.com/maloka/
* * *
A l'attention de Mr le Maire de Dijon,
J'ai appris les menaces de destruction que la municipalité fait peser
sur l'espace autogéré des Tanneries. Je souhaite par cette lettre
exprimer mon soutien à ce centre culturel et social établi depuis le 30
octobre, 13 et 15 boulevard de Chicago.
Il me semble important que les nombreuses activités associatives,
manifestations culturelles et ateliers artistiques qui y prennent place
puissent se poursuivre. Je désire donc marquer mon opposition à ce que
le projet de démolition des Tanneries englobe les locaux administratifs
et remette ainsi en cause l'existence de ce lieu de vie alternatif, pôle
dynamique de création et de communication.
La concrétisation de ce projet me semble d'autant plus criticable
qu'elle signifierait aussi l'expulsion de 10 personnes qui habitent les
locaux depuis 8 mois. D'autre part, il semble que le terrain ainsi
libéré sera laissé en friche pendant une période indéterminée puisqu'il
n'existe pas de projet de reconstructio à court-terme.
J'espère que vous saurez prendre en compte l'importance de cette
expérience unique, soutenue par de nombreux/ses dijonnais/es et
visiteurs extérieurs, et renoncerez à mettre en oeuvre sa disparition.
I have heard of the council's will to destroy the autonous space 'Les
Tanneries'. With this letter I want to give my support to this social
and cultural centre located at 13/15 boulevard de Chicago. It has been
opened since the 30th of October and it used to be the offices of the
former slaughterhouse.
It seems important to me that all the associative, cultural and artistic
activities should still take place there. I want to express refusal to
this demolition plan as long as it concerns all the premises which
includes the administrative part of them. It would imply the end of this
alternative and dynamic place of creation and communication.
The realisation of this plan is to be extremely criticised since it
would also mean the eviction of 10 people who have been living in this
place for 8 months. Moreover, it appears that the land would remain a
junkyard for an undefinite period since there is no plan to rebuild
anything in the short-term.
I hope you will take into account the importance of this unique experience, supported by many people from Dijon or international visitors, and I hope you will think again before making it disappear.
name :
address :
country :
* * *
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