Other spaces which inspire us:

Zapatista Aguascalientes, Chiapas
After the EZLN declared war on the Mexican government, they kicked numerous landowners off their lands and began to self organize as autonomous municipalities, a form of social organizing which favors direct democracy and consensus decision making. An especially important element of this struggle are the Zapatista political and social centers called Aguascalientes, Spanish for hot water places. These centers contain schools, hospitals, economic co-operatives, agricultural co-ops, host conferences, festivals and celebrations, self-defense classes, health care education seminars and other happenings. Though still struggling against the mexican army, the Mexican state and devastating effects of capitalist globalization, the Zapatistas have shown the world that a new world is possible despite all odds.

links : the Irish Mexico Group

the EZLN's page


ABC No Rio
ABC No Rio is a community center for art and activism on NYC's lower east side. Like the 4134 Lancaster project intends to do, it contains a dark room, zine library, computer center, a performance space and art gallery. Also operating out of ABC No Rio are Food Not Bombs, Blackout Books Through Bars (sending books to prisoners), World War III Illustrated (a political comic book). Much of the energy that made ABC what it is today came from the squatting movement.

SQUATS
A movement to reclaim abandoned buildings for use as alternative social and living spaces took much of Europe by storm throughout the 80s and still exist on a smaller level today. Squatters, many of whom considered themselves anarchists or autonomist spontaneously transformed unused spaces to meet the needs of thousands who were fed up with life under capitalism. They created food co-ops, cinemas, living co-operatives, squatter run bars, people's kitchen's and concert halls. Living their theory of anti capitalist direct action, self organization and international solidarity and found themselves clashing with cops to defend their own and others' spaces.

squat.net

Koepi

Cracking the Movement