Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?

Tue Feb 23 00:49:57 PST 2010

Dear Eva, dear all,

knowing that nation states have different laws and traditions - here is a
german (?) approach to potential
space invasion. I am posting this due to a real case below and due to
theoretical discussions we have had in the past years about the possible
benefits of open space to groups with a fascist or right extremist violent
agenda. Would the experience be transformational in a positive way or only
add to their effectiveness?!

We were confronted with the very
possible invasion of an open space by people belonging to right extreme
groups in one of the outer districts of Berlin. The theme was "strengthening
democracy in Treptow-Koepenick" (a city of the federal state Berlin) with
the official sponsors being the local Center for Democracy and one of the
major german political foundations associated with the social demoractic
party. The conference was supported by a local network involving all
democratic parties as well as NGOs, youth & elderly people - a good
representation of the district. The invitation included a note pointing out
that known members of right extremist groups as well as poeple inciting
hatred through discriminatory language will be removed from the conference.
This has actually become a standard note for many conferences dealing with
the issue of right extreme violence. For this particular event the police
was strategically involved upfront to keep the space safe - even though
there was no uniformed police at the conference. This caution is due to
still increasing right extreme violence. Some terrorist groups are
collecting data on people & organizations opposing their activities with the
goal of violently intimidating them.

What led up to this open space:
The district is under pressure to develop strategies to actively live
together as a community in a peaceful & democratic way. In the year 2000 the
National Democratic Party (largest right extreme party in Germany) moved
their national headquaters to this district. Since then there has been an
increase in extremist violence & terror with a rising presence of
individuals connected to terrorist paramilitary groups.
- still a threat, keeping public space safe -
Their strategic presence is a constant threat & intended political
provocation in the capital. For example last November the Berlin group
"Frontbanner 24" was declared illegal because of their right extreme
intentions against the state, they were publicly wearing uniforms similar to
the SA acting in their tradition.

PS. WOSONOS takes place in one of Berlins safest districts. Last week one of
the largest right extreme demonstrations was stopped in Dresden by civil
disobedience - about 10.000 people strategically blocking access to the city
all day in the snow and another 10.000 peacefully demonstrating in the
historic center. Plus 7.000 police preventing violence.

love & peace from Berlin-Kreuzberg

michael

On Mon, Feb 22, 2010 at 9:02 PM, Eva P Svensson <eva at epshumaninvest.se>wrote:

> Dear Lisa and Harrison,
> Why am I not surprised with your answers :) Invite and breath :)
> And I will! The theme is already set and so is the invitation and yes we
> think that some of the people "against" who are organizing the demonstration
> will come as well - and I think that is good - and I do hope that they
> respect the format and don't be "space invaders" - that is my biggest worry
> right now - that some of them will try to invade the freedom to everybody to
> bring forward what is on their heart and mind.
> The meeting is about a proposal from a city about how to develop and
> build/change a part of a city - and it's a "hot potato" i.e a lot of
> feelings against and some pro of course. And the open space will be a step
> in the formal procedure that they have to have - to inform the citizens so
> that they have a chance to react on the proposal.
> So - how do you handle a Space Invader? Any tips there?
> Sooo grateful for you being out there!!!
>
> :o)
> Eva
>
>
> Bästa hälsningar
>
> Eva P Svensson
>
> EPS Human Invest AB
> Member of Beyond Performance Group
>
> "Verksamhetsutveckling genom människor skapar långsiktigt välmående företag
> och organisationer"
>
> Anåsbergsvägen 22, 439 34 ONSALA
> Besöksadress; Norra Allégatan 8, Göteborg
> Tfn: 0300-615 05, Mobil; 0706- 89 85 50
> www.epshumaninvest.se
> Skype: eva.p.svensson
> Besök gärna min blogg; www.epshumaninvest.blogspot.com/
> "Jag kan inte lära dig något. Allt jag kan göra är att ställa frågor till
> dig, och låta dig själv finna svaren." Sokrates
>
> -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
> Från: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] För Harrison Owen
> Skickat: den 22 februari 2010 14:58
> Till: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Ämne: Re: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?
>
> If you really want to blow everybody's mind invite the demonstrators to
> join the circle. When you have conflict (which it sort of looks like you do)
> the solution is to keep opening the space until there is room for everybody
> who cares to come. Of course if the demonstrators don't care to come -- just
> want to stand on the outside and do whatever, that is their choice.
>
> Harrison
>
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
> Potomac, MD 20854
> USA
> Phone 301-365-2093
> www.openspaceworld.com
> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Eva P
> Svensson
> Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 8:41 AM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?
>
> Hi all!
> I'm on my way to hold spAce at an OST meeting where the organizers are
> expecting a demonstration against the proposal that is the theme for
> the meeting! Any of you that have any experience from that??   Would
> be most grateful for advice how to handle a situation like that!!
> Snowy greatings from Sweden
> :o)
> Eva
>
> Skickat från min iPhone
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> ------------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> ------------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>
> *
> *
> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> ------------------------------
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
>

-- 
Michael Pannwitz, boscop eg
++49(0)162 - 90 88 266

michael.pannwitz at boscop.org

www.boscop.org

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20100223/0473589a/attachment-0016.htm>