|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
Denmark: Christiania, you have my heart
Lezgetreal Monday 05 Sep 2011 The history of Christiania started in 1970 when a group of hippies began to exhibit their art including pictures and theater. A consequence of that exhibition was the creation of an alternative newspaper called Hovedbladet. Jacob Ludvigsen was one of the journalists of the newspaper. In 1971 he wrotes about an abandoned military barrack that could be used to help for young people that were unable to find accommodation. At that time there was a lack of housing in Copenhagen. In the same article Jacob Ludvigsen also mentioned a place "where all the seekers of peace could have their grand meditation – and yoga center" (Civilians conquered the 'forbidden city' of the military – Jacob Ludvigsen, Hovedbladet). This idea was then made concrete with a massive immigration which led to the creation of what is today called Christiania. Of course, from a political point of view, the Government and the police were against this Freetown. Therefore it became a political issue that ended in an agreement between the Christianiates and the Government. The people from Christiania would pay for water and electricity in exchange for the politicians accepting them as a "social experiment". Depending on which political party is governing in Denmark, Christiania's acceptance changes. The left-wing parties accepts to see Christiania as a social experience. Meanwhile the right-wing parties, which are actually governing in Dan mark, wants to clear the area. The problem for them is that Christiania is now very deep-rooted in Copenhagen. It is an organized Freetown with around 1,000 citizens. They even have their own flag, which is red with three yellow circles representing the three "i's in Christiania. Christiania has four unbreakable rules: "No hard drugs, rocker badges, weapons and violence”" The community is also maintained through several more flexible rules. The political shape of Christiania is that everyone has its voice heard. Christiania is split up into 14 local areas where the residents of every areas decide for their own district. Those meeting are called "area-meetings". If no decisions has been taken there it's taken to the "community-meeting", which is the highest authority. The decisions that are taken there has to be followed by everyone. Christiania is also very famous for its open trade of cannabis. To re-ensure the preservation of Christiania in the eyes of the Government the citizens do no longer allow hard drugs in the town. That since the many problems in the 70?s related to heroin abuses. At that time several people had died by overdose and therefore the Christianites wanted to get rid of all junkies. They asked for help from the police, but instead the police took down the hash market and left the heroin market unaffected. As a response to that the Christianiates initiated the "junk blockade" in 1979-1980. The aim was to get rid of all junkies. Now only hash is tolerated in the town. Nevertheless, there are still several drugs issues, because of its important economic income. The Freetown has already been victim of several attacks from outside groups that wanted to take control of the drug market. In addition to that the police is organizing raids in an attempt to take down the hash market. Christiania has also, since 1970, a Gay House called "Bøssehuset", which is a center for gay activism, parties and theater. But since the original pioneers has been aging or dying the house has became less used. All the history of Christiania and its spirit of love and freedom is very accurate when you visit it. My visit to this Freetown was for only one day, nevertheless it now has my heart. When you come from the center of Copenhagen you have to pass a bridge where you enter in the borough of Christianshavn. It is still very similar to the rest of Copenhagen: modern buildings combined with old fashioned style of houses. A couple streets away there's the entrance for a parc which is the entrance of Christiania. The town is surrounded by trees, grass and houses. Christiania itself resembles a enormous parc, which is very unexpected to be found in a big city like Copenhagen. Once inside you first see a couple of shops and art galleries. There the artists can exhibit their art. Further away there's a market that sells every kind of clothes, jewelries and drug-related objects. After the market there are signs everywhere to tell us that we're not allowed to take any pictures. As a matter of fact that's when we enter the street where hash is sold in stands and they don't want any problems with the authority. As a matter of fact, one of the dealers tells me that the police often to raids and they have to be careful. Some of the stands are decorated with camouflage, as an ironic way for the dealers to "hide" from the police. The streets has all kind of businesses such as bars, restaurants, a fruit and vegetable shop and also bike shops. Christiania is like all other cities, but only on a smaller scale and also in a more "peace and love" spirit. At the end of the streets there's wooden stairs that takes you up a hill with a view of Christiania. On the other side there's a huge lake. Everything is green, and there you can sit and enjoy the environment. Along the path there are wooden houses that looks like if they have been made by their own hands. Some of them seems to be leaning on the side, and the windows aren’t straight. Along the path there's benches and places were you can sit and hangout. There’s also a kindergarten just in front of the lake. Many signs along the path reminds us the rules to follow. For example, no camping is allowed, if you do a barbecue you have to make the fire on stones, you have to clean after yourself, etc.. Because the city is biased on the self-management and self-organization Christianites expect people to follow those rules. And actually, all places I've seen has been left clean. Before leaving Christiania I go and sit outside a bar, on a place with tables and a music scene. The place is full with people from every age and from every corner of the world. People next to me plays backgammon while drinking beers and smoking hash. Music is fulling the place with sound, and people seems happy and at ease in a good spirit. You can truly feel what Christiania is all-about and what the aim of the city is. It is definitely a place I would go back to and that I would advice. The success of the experiment of Christiania is noticed by the amount of people there. As a matter of it is the second biggest tourist attraction in Copenhagen. http://lezgetreal.com/2011/09/christiania-you-have-my-heart/
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!