Emilie, Nicole, Karoline and Signe L

Summary of do it yourself for society (self-administration)

Right now, Spain is in a big economic crisis. Almost a third of the Spanish people are unemployed, and especially the freshly educated young people are desperate to get a job. In order to solve some of the big problems, a lot of people choose to cooperate through the crisis. With no help from the local authorities and the government, they try to solve the economical problems and provide jobs. The citizens of Can Battlo, Barcelona has come up with a solution to avoid a total breakdown of the town. By teamwork and great initiative, they have arranged a bar, a library with over 10.000 books and a concert place without economic support from the local authorities. It all started when the local authorities wouldnt renovate some of the most worn out places in the town for example the local park, a social housing and a school. The citizens of Can Battlo protested, and gave them an ultimatum. If the politicians wouldnt do anything, they would occupy the area and finally the politicians reacted. Well, they didnt really do anything, but they gave Can Battlos citizens permission to some old buildings in town. The citizens have come a long way. Different workshops have already been set up, and a printing house and motorcycle factory is in the plans they will be able to provide many jobs in the future. Another example of this self-administration is described in the text. In Calafou, settlers and activists dream of founding a new social order. A social order dethatched from the capitalist economy. But that is going to be a challenge, says a local man both according to economic and practical challenge. It takes a lot of patience, time and commitment to achieve a selfadministrating town. But they are on their way some years ago, about 50 permanent residents moved into an old paper mill and textile factory to found an eco-industrial and postcapitalist colony. About 200 people have moved in, and they now live dethatched from societys support in the old factory. But its not always as unbelievable as it sounds. The old factory is bought and not occupied. A fire damaged it badly, and the residents struggle every day to keep the whole thing going.