Occupy London publicly repossesses empty nine-storey building in the Barbican

Posted on January 24, 2012 by squat

Occupy London this morning (21/01/12) publicly repossessed Roman House, an abandoned nine-storey office building in the Barbican in the City of London which previously housed companies from the financial service industries. [1] The Occupy London campaigners – part of the global movement for social and economic justice and real democracy – stated that they intend to occupy the building – their fifth occupation – until such time as the City of London Corporation publishes full details of its City Cash Accounts. This is a request that Occupy London has consistently asked off the Corporation, so that it can become a more transparent public body like every other public body in the country. [2] [3]
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London: OffMarket Project Coming To An End

Posted on January 24, 2012 by squat

It is with mixed feelings that we announce the end of the offMarket project. We took disused buildings and try to turn them into open resources for the wider community. We started the project with a big collective. Now there are only a few people left in the collective and we can’t carry it anymore as everyone is becoming increasingly tired. We doubt that we will open a new space in the future, but one can never say never.
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Squatters march through Brighton streets

Posted on January 23, 2012 by squat

Three squats are due in court as the owners of the buildings try and regain possession.

The protest started at 10.30 outside Brighton County Court in solidarity with the squatters in court. Once the last squatters have had their court case heard the protesters will march through the centre of Brighton to raise awareness of the benefits of squatting and the attack on squatting by right wing Hove MP, Mike Weatherly.
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France: ZAD, Eviction document converted into eviction attempt

Posted on January 19, 2012 by squat

The 13th of January, “Les Planchettes”, “Bel-Air”, “Le Tertre” and “La Gaité” received a letter from the baliff announcing that he had come to deliver a “document of eviction converted to an attempt at eviction” on the 10th, but hadn’t found anyone to give it to.

He would also ask the police chief for help from the “forces of order”, but we still haven’t managed to know the response of the police chief.

It seems they are going to try to not apply the “winter truce” (which means no evictions until March 15) that the judge seems to have given. Continue reading →

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Pinheirinho Occupation, Sao Paulo resisting eviction now

Posted on January 17, 2012 by squat

The mega-operation of the police to vacate the Pinheirinho has started. Police helicopters are flying around and throwing leaflets urging residents to retreat without resistance. The residents are firm and organised to resist the eviction.Leaflets from the residents read “A physical presence there is crucial at this time. The campaign of legal moes is very important, but the physical presence there is crucial at this time. Eviction can happen at any time. Tomorrow we want as many leaders and activists in this activity. We call on all organizations and movements to go out tomorrow to the city of San Jose Campos and collaborate in this act of resistance at Pinheirinho. This is our fight. 100% Pinheirinho!”

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Walbrzych (Poland) : Rent strike and mothers’ strike in 2010

Posted on January 16, 2012 by squat

“Mothers’ strike” is a documentary that shows the living conditions of the striking women in Walbrzych in 2010, their struggle against local authorities, conflicts with welfare institutions and their self-organizing attempts. They explain how their living situation relates to the changes in the labour market. It challenges housing and employment relations in a polish Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and the particular situation of women workers who refuse to carry the double burden of wage and reproductive work. These women went on rent strikes, and some of them started to squat for a living.

« Mother’s strike » (22’, 2010, SzumTV and Feminist Think Tank, Poland)
The movie, in polish with english subtitles, is here.

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San Juan City (Philippines): Squatters’ resistance against a police demolition attack

Posted on January 16, 2012 by squat

“Patay kung patay. Hindi kami aalis dito.”
[We’ll die if we have to. We’re not going anywhere.]
A man who lives in Corazon de Jesus, January 11th, 2012

A lot of mainstream media [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5], #sanjuandemolition on Twitter and some local alternative media talked about the events of January 11th 2012, when more than 400 policemen (including at least 100 riot-police) tried to impose a massive demolition operation on Corazon de Jesus, a poor area of San Juan City.

On December 6th, 2011, a demolition warning was given by the City to the Corazon de Jesus’ inhabitants. They had until January 11th to move out. Almost none of them moved.
In this area of San Juan City, about 2 000 homes are concerned by the demolition operations, resistance is going on since June 2010. In one year and a half, 400 homes have been demolished by the State forces. Continue reading →

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