Vancouver, Canada: New Book on the Woodsquat

“Woodsquat” – a special issue of West Coast Line (240 pages, $12) Info: 604.682.3269 ext. 7567 / free [at] woodsquat [dot] net / http://www.woodsquat.net

Who popped Woodwards on September 14th 2002? Why? What happened on the inside? Who were The Woodwards 54? How did they defend a street encampment for 92 days & nights in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver? Who stayed? Who left? Who ended it? What happened afterwards? Will Vancouver ever be business-as-usual again? Which buildings are next?

Writing & interviews on daily life at the squat. Poems, speeches, statements & reports by residents, witnesses & supporters. Call-outs from affinity groups & support organizations. Police reports & the confidential city government memo planning the quiet final eviction. Reproductions of video stills, posters, flyers, graffiti, linocuts, photographs & an 11-page comic. Critical essays on squatting as a tool, gentrification & social housing, electoral politics, addiction & class war, media distortion, legal strategies, the use of demands, and the ongoing struggle.

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London: call to the creation of a female-based squat

THE SHIFTING SISTERHOOD

I am a young woman looking to set up a female based (although not exclusive) squat in London, over the next month.

I am looking for energetic and responsible women to form a practical, active and caring group, in order to empower ourselves individually.

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London: new squatted social center provides a number of public activities

Below is the transcript of a message from Allan <allanednei [at] riseup [dot] net>

Hello everyone

Our new squat in London is the winner of the flashiest squatted building ever award. It is in an ex-wine bar and is a great space with lots of room. We are getting a lot of interest from the people living near the squat, especially local kids and youngsters. We have been providing things they have asked for, including cheap schooltime lunches. We are trying to provide a variety of events and make the space as pleasant and welcoming as possible for everyone. The squat is easy to find, 156- 158 Fortess Road, next to Tufnell Park underground station. We have a lot of things happening, here is a summary-

Every day- open for coffees and infoshop lunchtime onwards.

Tuesday – Wombles meeting 7:30pm

Wednesday – social centre meeting 7:00pm Free English class 7:00pm

Friday – Cafe 8:00pm short political films 8:30pm current Hollywood blockbuster 9pm

Thursday – DJ workshop 7:00pm

Saturday- Music night

Sunday- screen printing and tshirt making 2pm

Some special events:

Sunday 11th – Queer cafe 6pm

Monday 12th- installation about refugee camps in Nablus (Palestine)

Thursday 15th – Quiz night 7:30pm

The squat has lost its case in court and may be evicted at the end of April so hurry on down!

To get uptodate info go to http://www.wombles.org.uk

Allan <allanednei [at] riseup [dot] net>

Barcelona: “La Hamsa” squat threatened with eviction, not yet evicted

Today, March the 29th, at 9:30 a.m expired the closing date for the inhabitants of l’Hamsa to set out of the house by themselves. At 6 a.m, there were at least 30 people standing beside the front door of the centre, that was also guarded by their inhabitants. People continued coming during the dusk, so they gathered at least 300 in case the police decided to evict early in the morning.

At 9:30 a.m, a civil servant turn up to witness if the volunteer eviction had taken place. What he found was a crowded street pack of people that were supporting the inhabitants, as well as some journalists. he realised that people there were not going to evict by themselves, so, as it’s been usual currently, he decided to paralise the eviction, but without giving any oficial paper that stated this.

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