In Wetzikon, Switzerland. They say that: “The Culture Factory is a former foundry, which is a place for cultural encounters and cultural production today.
The culture - one hand understood as performing and visual arts, on the other hand as human needs such as housing, work and meet each other - intended as a unifying element, the various parts of the Kulturfabrik together.”
Their site states: “La Via Campesina is the international movement which brings together millions of peasants, small and medium-size farmers, landless people, women farmers, indigenous people, migrants and agricultural workers from around the world. It defends small-scale sustainable agriculture as a way to promote social justice and dignity. It strongly opposes corporate driven agriculture and transnational companies that are destroying people and nature.”
In the UK, its linked organisation is called the Land Workers’ Alliance.
Agriculture, conscious living, protest. This is:
A 50 year-old campaign of resistance against the construction of a second airport near the city of Nantes, in western France. This resistance culminated in the establishment of a self-organised autonomous zone, known as the ZAD. Over 40,000 people have taken part in creative acts of disobedience to defend this zone.
Links to their official site and a film about the resistance.
Founded by Vít Jedlička. Liberland motto is: “To live and let live”.
On the borderlands of Croatia and Serbia, this self-proclaimed micro-nation of Liberland has no residents and is in effect disputed territory. But it has excited much interest from around the world. A ‘playful’ free state – perhaps!
Links to the official site with links to lots of articles from media around the world. And a short video from Vit.
Living in the Future. The personal website of Helen Iles, with lots of links to intentional communities, eco-villages and participatory film-making (she used to work with ‘Undercurrents’, and more.
Based in LA, in the USA, they are no longer a brewery. They say that they are:
"...are one of the oldest and largest artist colonies in the world.
Covering 23 acres in 14 buildings of live-work spaces, 500-700 artists and businesses call The Brewery their home.
Twice a year, the LAB opens its doors and invites the public to enjoy our open studios at The Brewery Art Walk."
Check them out.
Lovearth claims to be: The most important site for "important news and direct actions.” See what you think. US-focused. Lots on conspiracy theories and ‘shadowy’ groups such as Bilderberg.
An organic farmland area near Schiphol airport – squatted, but under threat from airport business developments.
A major ‘contested’ site at a time of climate change and environmental concerns. Demos and festivals to support the site are continuing.
There’s a fair bit of evidence that ‘hippy/hippie’ type lifestyle and counter culture can be traced back to 5th and 6th century Persia and the ideas espoused by Mazdak. As a philosopher and leader he argued for vegetarianism and communal living. He argued that people needed to fight against the: ‘Five Demons’ that turned men from Righteousness – these were Envy, Wrath, Vengeance, Need and Greed.
Inevitably, he was murdered for his heresies…
It’s always nice to know a bit more about the origins of ideas and human behaviour. Being hip, originally meant ‘being aware’.
So here are some links to check out Mazdak beliefs.
Hard to describe or define, micro-nations include large self-governing free spaces such as Christiania and Uzupis, but also quasi temporary autonomous zones. Some are more or less imaginary!
Links to the Wikipedia Hub list and an interesting, but tongue-firmly-in-cheek ‘Independent’ article about the concept and some of the realities! Handle with humour and caution!