Freetown Christiania: Denmark’s Controversial Commune

The Christiania area within Denmark’s capital is a place both reviled and celebrated. It is a controversial community considered a successful social experiment by some, a lawless drug den by others. Christiania’s shift from military base to hedonistic commune can be seen as the ultimate flower power siege, but four decades on it’s certainly not all peace, and its future hangs in the balance.

Fashioned from city ramparts built by King Christian IV in 1617, and the military barracks of Bådsmandsstræde, Christiania (also called Freetown Christiania) is an autonomous 850-strong community. It began after the barracks were abandoned in 1971 and local residents broke-in to use the base as a playground for their children, complaining about the lack of affordable housing in Copenhagen. (The shed above was used for executions, with 46 civilians sentenced to death for crimes committed in Denmark during World War Two.)

On 26 September 1971, journalist Jacob Ludvigsen proclaimed Christiania “the land of the settlers”, adding: “The objective of Christiania is to create a self-governing society whereby each and every individual holds themselves responsible over the wellbeing of the entire community. Our society is to be economically self-sustaining and, as such, our aspiration is to be steadfast in our conviction that psychological and physical destitution can be averted.”

And thus a community was born, the spirit of which has become synonymous with the hippie movement, collectivism and anarchy – in contrast to its disciplined military past. The neighbourhood is governed by the Christiania Law of 1989, which transfers parts of its supervision from the municipality of Copenhagen to the state, which owns the former base.

Christiania’s relationship with the authorities is complicated and controversial. Residents govern themselves by concensus, but pay taxes for water, electricity and waste disposal. Acceptance of drug addicts and other social misfits has helped build Christiania’s identity, to the point where they are considered as important to the community as the “entrepreneurs” who run it.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Abandoned Hotel in Switzerland Hotel Belvédère, a hotel in the Furka Pass of the Swiss Alps, was once the perfect spot for travelers looking to explore the Rhône Glacier. But as the glacier receded, so did its number of visitors. Since the finish of the nineteenth century, when the Furka Pass street was fabricated, visitors have rushed to the inn for its all encompassing perspectives over the frigid scene. The ice sheet was once just a 600-foot stroll from the lodging and a 300-foot long cavern cut into the ice sheet enabled visitors to travel inside. Tragically, the Rhône Glacier has lost very nearly a full mile of inclusion over the most recent 100 years or something like that. The 11,000-year-old icy mass has been referred to retreat as much as 10 centimeters in multi day, and reliably loses around 130 feet every year. The cavern, which goes back to as right on time as 1894, can never again be safely cut into the diminishing ice.

Untouched and Unlooted 4,400-yr-old Tomb of Egyptian High Priest Discovered Archeologists in Egypt have made another tomb revelation — the last resting spot of a consecrated cleric, immaculate for a long time, brightened with hieroglyphics. The secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, portrayed the find as "exceptional in the most recent decades." The tomb was discovered covered in an edge at the antiquated necropolis of Saqqara. It was immaculate and unlooted. Authorities state they expect more disclosures when archeologists further uncover the site in the months to come. The very much safeguarded tomb is embellished with scenes appearing imperial minister close by his mom, spouse and different individuals from his family, the service said in an announcement. Photograph by Khaled DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images The consecrated cleric was committed to his mom, proof shows. "He makes reference to the name of his mom w...

CITY DISPOSES OF ABANDONED BOAT IN CAMPBELL RIVER CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – A pontoon that was discovered missing along Duncan Bay Main Line Road in Campbell River has been discarded. Inhabitant Jo-Ann Latta found the vessel last Monday, Dec. tenth. RELATED: Woman finds relinquished watercraft along Campbell River trail She said it was the second vessel in two years that she's seen surrendered along the trail between Highway 19 and Highway 28 (the Gold River Highway). Campbell River's chief of arranging Peter Wipper said a report was reviewed, and authorities went on the look for the vessel's proprietor. RELATED: City of Campbell River examining surrendered vessel Be that as it may, on Friday he noticed that authorities were not able recognize the proprietor. "Since that time, our activities team has grabbed the vessel and taken it to the landfill," Wipper said. "That is the finish of our document, an...

Abandoned

Search This Blog