Agenda

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Memorias de resistencia: la Flor de Mayo

30/07/2013 admin 0

La historia de Barcelona puede contarse a través de sus transformaciones urbanísticas: de sus Planes de Ordenación, de sus proyectos y obras, en definitiva, de los cambios que se han producido en ellas. Pero también se puede contar a partir de lo que permanece: de aquellos elementos que sobreviven, que subsisten en medio de la vorágine originada en las luchas por el territorio. Algunos elementos – sean parques, plazas, edificios, esquinas – como decían los sociólogos urbanos clásicos, mantienen una identidad, unas relaciones y un significado popular enorme. Es el caso de la Flor de Maig, emblemática sede de una de las grandes cooperativas obreras del siglo XIX y XX, que vehicula la memoria del Poblenou: no una memoria cualquiera, sino la memoria de una resistencia. Desde 2012, algunos vecinos y vecinas del barrio han recuperado sus instalaciones para convertirlas en un espacio de denuncia frente a la definición de Barcelona como ciudad neoliberal o, como dice su web, para “dar respuesta a las necesidades, a los retos y los deseos no satisfechos en la sociedad capitalista actual”. ¿Lo lograrán?

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Memories of the resistance: the Flor de Maig

30/07/2013 admin 0

The story of the city of Barcelona can be told focusing on its modifications: its urban plans, projects and transformations, i.e., on what changes. But the story of the city can also be told focusing on what remains, through what survives, what resists on the great void created by the struggles over the territory. Some elements – parks, places, buildings, corners – as classic sociologists said, maintain an identity, some relationships, and an enormous popular meaning. This is the case of Flor de Maig, the emblematic building of one of the big workers’ cooperatives of the XIX and XX century, which conveys the memory of Poblenou: a memory of struggles and resistance. Since 2012, some residents recovered the building, and transformed it into a place of denunciation against the neoliberal direction that the city of Barcelona is undertaking, or, as their website says, to give an answer to the needs, the challenges and the unsatisfied desires of the contemporary capitalist city. Will they succeed?

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Memorie di resistenza: la Flor de Maig

30/07/2013 admin 0

La storia di Barcellona si può raccontare a partire dalle sue trasformazioni: dai piani urbanistici, i progetti ed i lavori, insomma, concentrandosi su ciò che muta. Ma si può anche raccontare a partire da ciò che rimane, attraverso gli elementi che sopravvivono, che sussistono nella voragine originata dalle lotte sul territorio. Alcuni elementi – parchi, piazze, edifici, angoli – come dicevano i sociologi urbani classici, mantengono un’identità, delle relazioni ed un significato popolare enorme. È il caso della Flor de Maig, la sede emblematica di una delle grandi cooperative operaie del secolo XIX e XX, che è portatrice della memoria di Poblenou: non una memoria qualunque, ma la memoria di una resistenza. Sin dal 2012, alcuni abitanti del quartiere ne hanno recuperato l’edificio, per trasformarlo in un luogo di denuncia contro la direzione di Barcellona come città neoliberista, o, come dice la loro web: per rispondere ai bisogni, alle sfide ed ai desideri insoddisfatti nella società capitalista attuale. Ci riusciranno?

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De qui són els grans esdeveniments?

11/07/2013 admin 0

Per a qui van ser les Olimpiades de 2012 a Londres? Pels atletes, els spònsors, els organitzadors, el públic? O van ser per a nosaltres? La nostra amiga Gynna Millan (Development Planning Unit – UCL; al 2009 va presentar una proposta per al concurs Repensar Bonpastor) amb un col·lectiu de video-entusiastes, va treballar sobre l’impacte de l'”esdeveniment més important del món” sobre els espais, parcs i veïnats de Londres. El resultat és una recopilació de videos que poden veure’s a la página de Whose Olympics? i un curt [veure trailer]. Dos anys després, ens podem preguntar de nou: la Copa del Món de 2014 a Brasil, per a qui serà? “A copa do mundo nao e nossa“, escriuen uns arquitectes de Río Grande do Sur, citant a Plató. Els mega-events són transnacionals i transversals, així com també ho són les protestes; però el discurs de la globalització, que converteix cada esdeveniment local en un capìtol més de la mateixa història, tampoc és nostre. Com deien durant una trobada recent de l’OACU a Barcelona (on, òbviament, tenim l’antecedent de les Olimpiades de 1992),  més que les similituds, ens interessen les diferències! L’antropologia té un ull sobre les correspondences i les interrelacions a nivell “macro”,  però explora sobretot les articulacions locals, allò que és “micro”: allò que no es pot comparar, les especificitats de cada història, lloc, de cada esdeveniment, i de l’impacte particular que té cada fenòmen sobre cada lloc en particular.

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WHOSE megaevents?

11/07/2013 admin 0

Who were London 2012 Olympic Games for? Were they for the athletes,  the sponsors, the organizers, the global audience? Or were they for us? Our friend Gynna Millan (from UCL Development Planning Unit; in 2009 she presented a proposal for Repensar Bonpastor competition), together with a group of video enthusiasts, studied the impact of the “greatest event on earth” on public spaces, parks and local communities in London. The result is a video archive available on Whose Olympics? website, and a short documentary [watch trailer]. Two years later, we can ask again: who will Brasil’s 2014 World Cup be for? “The world cup is not ours“, write these architects from Río Grande do Sur, quoting Plato. These megaevents are transnational, as the protests they elicit. But the discourse of globalization, that transforms any local event in just another chapter of the same story, it’s not our own either. As we discussed in a recent OACU meeting in Barcelona (where, obviously, we have the precedent of 1992’s Olympics), we are much more interested in differences than in similarities. Anthropology has to keep an eye on correspondences and interrelation on the “macro” level, but it explores mainly the local articulations, what is unmeasurably “micro”: all that can’t be compared, all that is specific to each story, place, events, and to the impact of each phenomenon on every particular territory.

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Di chi sono i “mega-eventi”?

11/07/2013 admin 0

Per chi erano le Olimpiadi del 2012 a Londra? Per gli atleti, gli sponsor, gli organizzatori, il pubblico? O forse erano per noi? La nostra amica Gynna Millan (UCL Development Planning Unit; nel 2009 ha presentato una proposta al concorso Repensar Bonpastor) ha lavorato con un collettivo di video-freaks sull’impatto dell'”evento più importante del mondo” sugli spazi, i parchi e i quartieri di Londra. Il risultato è un archivio di videointerviste disponibili sulla pagina di Whose Olympics? e un cortometraggio [vedi trailer]. Due anni dopo, ci chiediamo di nuovo: la Coppa del Mondo del 2014 in Brasile, per chi sarà? “A copa do mundo nao e nossa“, scrivono degli architetti di Río Grande do Sur, citando Platone. I mega-eventi sono trasnazionali, come anche le proteste; ma il discorso della globalizzazione, che trasforma ogni fenomeno locale in un capitolo della stessa storia globale, nenche questo è nostro! Come riflettevamo in un incontro recente dell’OACU di Barcellona (dove ovviamente abbiamo il precedente dei Giochi del 1992), più che le somiglianze ci interessano le differenze: l’antropologia deve mantenere un occhio sulle corrispondenze e interrelazioni a livello “macro”, però esplorare soprattutto le articolazioni locali, l’incommensurabilmente “micro” – ciò che non si può confrontare, le particolarità di ogni storia, luogo, evento, e l’impatto specifico di ogni fenomeno su ogni singolo territorio.

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¿De quién son los mega-eventos?

11/07/2013 admin 0
ara quién han sido, las Olimpiadas de 2012 en Londres? Para los atletas, los sponsors, los organizadores, el público? os años después podemos seguir preguntándonos: la Copa del Mundo de 2014 en Brasil, para quién será? "A copa do mundo nao e nossa", escriben unos arquitectos de Río Grande do Sur, citando a Platón. Los mega-eventos son transnacionales, así como también las protestas; pero el discurso de la globalización, que convierte cada evento local en un capítulo más de la misma historia, tampoco es nuestro.
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Homegrown cities: aquest sí és desenvolupament sostenible!

21/06/2013 admin 0

Els activistes del grup URBZ (dels quals hem parlat a un post anterior), han convocat una campanya de crowdfunding per a desenvolupar un troç de terra a Bhandup, perifèria nordest de Mumbai, on construir un habitatge sustenible i compatible amb els estils de construcciò locals, “home-grown” i realitzada en col.laboració amb els constructors locals. La casa es vendrà en condicions raonables pels habitants, per a generar ingressos de cara a nous projectes semblants. La idea és la de contribuir a la creaciò de millors condicions de vida pels habitants dels anomenats slums, sense dependre ni de l’ajuda internacional ni de les ONGs. Aquest desenvolupament “homegrown” desautoritza la lògica dels grans projectes de desnonaments i reallotjaments promoguts per l’estat, que frequentment acaben desarrelant a la poblaciò i obligant-los a viure en blocs d’habitatges verticals: és a dir, el grau zero del pensament urbanìstic, arquitectònic i social, responsable de nombrosos desastres urbans generats per l’home, tant en els paisos pobres com en els rics.

  • Homegrown cities project a Urbz.net
  • Recolza el crowdfunding d’Homegrown cities a indiegogo
  • Airoots/Eirut, el blog de Matias Echanove i Raoul Srivastava
  • Entrevista amb Amar Mirjankar, uno dels constructors locals amb qui treballen els activistes [video].
  • Documentació sobre la forma local de construir habitatges econòmics: vídeo, i article “The 2,5 lakh rupee house” a Urbz.net
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Homegrown cities: questo sì che è sviluppo sostenibile

21/06/2013 admin 0

Gli attivisti del collettivo URBZ (dei quali abbiamo parlato in un vecchio post), stanno promovendo una campagna di crowdfunding per sviluppare un pezzo di terra a Bhandup, periferia nordest di Mumbai, dove costruire una casa sostenibile e compatibile con gli stili di costruzione locali. La casa, “home-grown” e realizzata insieme a costruttori autoctoni verrà venduta a un prezzo ragionevole per gli abitanti, e con il ricavato si finanzieranno nuovi progetti analoghi.…

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Homegrown cities: THIS is sustainable development!

21/06/2013 admin 0

The activists of URBZ collective (of which we wrote in a previous post) are promoting a crowdfunding campaign to develop a plot of land in the neighbourhood of Bhandup in the northwestern suburbs of Mumbai. Their intention is to build there an affordable house, compatible with local construction styles: “homegrown“, and produced in collaboration with local constructors. The house will be sold at reasonable conditions to residents, thus providing the funds for a new project. The idea is to contribute to develop better life conditions for the residents of the so-called “slums”, without depending on international aid or having to rely on NGOs. This homegrown development works against the logic of the big eviction and relocation projects promoted by the state: as happened too often, these top-down projects end up eradicating the population and forcing them into vertical housing blocks, which represent the degree zero of architectural, urban and social thinking, and have been responsible for countless man-made urban disasters in poor and rich countries alike.

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Homegrown cities: esto sí es desarrollo sostenible

21/06/2013 admin 0

Los activistas del grupo URBZ (de los cuales ya hablamos en un post anterior), han convocado una campaña de crowdfunding para recoger fondos para desarrollar un trozo de tierra en Bhandup, periferia norteste de Mumbai, donde construir una vivienda sostenible y compatible con los estilos de construcción locales, “home-grown” y realizada en colaboración con constructores locales. La casa se venderá a un precio razonable para los habitantes, para asì generar ingresos para nuevos proyecto. La idea es de contribuir a crear mejores condiciones de vida para los habitantes de los así dichos slum, sin depender de la ayuda internacional ni de las ONGs. Este desarrollo “homegrown” desautoriza la lògica de los grandes proyectos de desalojo y realojo promovidos por el estado: muy a menudo, estos proyectos top-bottom los grandes proyectos de realojo acaban desarraigando a la poblaciòn y obligandolos a vivir en bloques de viviendas verticales, que representan el grado cero del pensamiento urbanìstico, arquitectònico y social, y han sido responsables de inumerables desastres urbanos provocados por el hombre, tanto en paìses pobres como ricos.

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Taksim halkindir- Taksim és del poble!

05/06/2013 admin 0

“Quan aquest matí a primera hora em passo per plaça Taksim, la trobo ja repleta de gent en plena activitat, entre les banderes de l’esquerra extraparlamentària i de grups de la societat civil, des de les feministes a les realitats LGBT, des dels anarquistes curds als mussulmans anticapitalistes als marxistes…” Un comentari de la nostra corresponsal a Estambul: [en castellà :: en italià]
[audio: http://periferiesurbanes.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CavBella.mp3|titles=Cav Bella|artists=Grup Yorum]…

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Taksim halkindir- Taksim è del popolo!

05/06/2013 admin 0

“Quando stamattina faccio un salto al parco, trovo Taksim già straripante di gente in febbrile attività, fra bandiere di partiti della sinistra extraparlamentare, di gruppi della società civile, dalle femministe alle realtà LGBT, dai curdi agli anarchici, dai musulmani anticapitalisti ai marxisti…” Un commento dalla nostra corrispondente a Istanbul:
[audio: http://periferiesurbanes.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CavBella.mp3|titles=Cav Bella|artists=Grup Yorum]…

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Taksim halkindir- Taksim belongs to the people!

05/06/2013 admin 0

“Early in the morning I find Taksim square already full of people and fully operational, among the flags of the left-wing extraparlamentary groups, and of associations of the civil society, from feminists to LGBT, from kurdish anarchists to muslim anticapitalists and marxists…” A commentary from our correspondent in Istanbul: [in spanish and italian]
[audio: http://periferiesurbanes.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CavBella.mp3|titles=Cav Bella|artists=Grup Yorum]…

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Anthropology will either go public, or die

23/05/2013 admin 0

“The field that one might have expected to be one of the most useful and productive of the sciences had gone under, not because the people in it were no good, or the subject was unimportant, but because the structure of scientific principles that it tries to rest on is inadequate to support it“. Robert M. Pirsig, Lila (1991).

You wake up one morning and find yourself in the periphery of the Academy. Far from the established paths. It is the experience  Jessica Collier and Rebecca Schuman describe in two recent posts (thanks Cate!), and maybe also the one suffered by David Graeber, one of the best anthropologists around, dismissed by Yale probably for political reasons. As  Graeber itself has argued, anthropology has an innate difficulty to position inside academic contexts: but those of us who keep trying to bring anthropology to the society outside it,  are often pushed into difficult or painful situations (as recently happened in Barcelona). Luckily, there is a new approach that is opening its way, that could draw a bridge among “inside” and “outside” the Academy, towards breaking these annoying barrers. Some examples:

  • “WHY A PUBLIC ANTHROPOLOGY?” the new book by Robert BOROFSKY (Pacific University, Hawaii!) now available for download as an ebook; the first chapter also in PDF.
  • ZERO ANTHROPOLOGY, a blog by Maximilian FORTE (Concordia University, Montreal!): it is a “project of decolonization”, with the aim to transform anthropology into something that is neither eurocentric nor elitistic. HERE
  • Noël JOUENNE (2007) “Être ethnologue et hors-statut: vers une réelle valeur ajoutée?”. Journal des anthropologues (en ligne), 108-109, pp.69-85. [link][PDF]: being precarious, staying outside the Academy, could they be values added?
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