I have been waiting eagerly for a response to the provocative message from
Graham Gardner attached below, but no one has taken up the challenge.
Considering that the header included a 'mail delivery failed' message, it
might not have gotten posted properly. Perhaps I missed something, but the
questions posed seem to be right on target. This quote from the RTS
website (http://www.gn.apc.org/rts/), for example, begs the question of what
the dissolution of power means, as well as how and for whom fighting 'power'
will transform the streets...
Ultimately it is in the streets that power must
be dissolved: for the streets where daily life
is endured, suffered and eroded, and where power
is confronted and fought, must be turned into
the domain where daily life is enjoyed, created
and nourished.
I find myself quite ambivalent for the reasons outlined in by Graham's
questions. Although I am in basic agreement with the principles of
challenging the control asserted by global capital over public spaces, I am
not sure what 'taking back the streets' accomplishes. What I witnessed in
Prague's take back the streets gathering two years ago was problematic to
say the least. I wonder if those who seemed to be in such strong support of
the N30 plans could respond?
These are just disjointed thoughts, but I hope that someone might take them
up in some form. The events of November 30 will be fascinating to be sure,
but I am struggling with how to frame them.
------------
J Ted Kilian
School of the Environment
University of Brighton
Cockcroft Building
Lewes Road
Brighton BN2 4GJ
UK
tel:01273 642387 fax:01273 642285
[log in to unmask]
------------
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask] [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, October 21, 1999 3:10 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Mail delivery failed: returning message to sender
>
> >Okay, I'll start, and be delibarately provocative: how 'public' is the
> >space occupied by RTS on 30th November going to be? Which groups are
> THEY
> >going to EXCLUDE by their presence and actions? Which Others do they
> claim
> >to be speaking for?
> >
> >Graham Gardner, UWA
> >
> >>Perhaps it would be worthwhile to open up this debate in terms of access
> to
> >>public space (Lefebvre, de Certeau etc), or in terms of representations
> and
> >>geographies of dissident 'political' groups through the media, rather
> than
> >>discussing what most of us already know?! Andy Wallis
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>School of Cultural Studies
> >>King Alfred's University College
> >>Winchester
> >>England
> >
> >
> >
> Reviews Editor - Agricultural History Review,
> Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences,
> University of Wales,
> Aberystwyth.
> SY23 3DB.
>
> Voice 01970 622600
> Fax 01970 622659
> Email [log in to unmask]
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