“Brakkebygrenda is an autonomous wagonplace (were trucks, buses and caravans serve as living units) on squatted land, in Gamlebyen, Oslo. We have been here since 1999, Focusing on city-ecology; recycling, less consum, and a more social housing-politics. It is important for us to be an active participator in this city, to claim our rights to have a voice in the development of it, and to prove in action that there are sustainable, functional and positive alternatives to consumerism and apathy.
Squatting: consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land and/or a building.
Author Robert Neuwirth suggests that there are one billion squatters globally, that is, about one in every seven people on the planet. Yet, according to Kesia Reeve, «squatting is largely absent from policy and
academic debate and is rarely conceptualized, as a problem, as a symptom, or as a social or
housing movement.
It is about taking your situation in your own hands, either being tired of status quo and lack of
alternatives or out of pure necessity. Be it foodproduction, housing, or social/cultural meetingplaces.
Housing-politics: There is an anti-social housing-politics in Oslo. Governmental and communal property is beeing sold out in a big scale, on the private market, which gives these people the possibility to
continouisly higher the housing prices and maximize their economical profit. This in the end excludes
young, old, unemployed, artists, poor and immigrants out of the housing market. This are forcing them to
use most of their time and resources just to provide a decent place to live, and forcing them out of the
city center. It is a human right to have a place to live, and we do not agree that this city is going to
be only for people earning a certain amount of money.”
-call for solidarity published yesterday (on Sunday, May the 11th):
“Brakkebygrenda is creating an alternative in a town where everything looks more and more the same.
Eariest tomorrow morning (monday) the police might stand at the gate using what force they feel necessary to make people leave there homes. If you support the idea that people have the right to live in a different way and create something together NOW is the time to organize !! Our strongest weaponagainst authoritys is to be as many as possible showing that we do not support how the government are treating initiatives of the people.
get your ass out of the couch and get down to gamlebyen and see how you can help. This is about what kind of city we want to live in tomorrow. Do it NOW, do it TOGETHER !!”
http://brakkebygrenda.wordpress.com/
brakkebygrenda(at)gmail.com
Brakkebygrenda
St. Halvardsgate 27
0192 Oslo
P.S. – there’s no any news on English about current situation, but if my Norwegian serve me well the court resolve that squatted land must be evicted but there is now an ongoing discussion in city council about Brakkebygrenda should be allowed to stay in St Clair Ave 27, or have a new place to continue developing the project.. the next meeting is scheduled for May 21st.. the residents won’t gave up on they way of living regardless the eviction and they are finding a new ways for resolving their problems..
but this is not officially, just based on my translation from Norwegian using google translator..
I’m sure that there will be some news soon on their site so check it there..