cannabisnews.com: Politicians Lay Siege To Copenhagen Hippies 





Politicians Lay Siege To Copenhagen Hippies 
Posted by CN Staff on May 30, 2003 at 20:55:55 PT
By Clare MacCarthy in Copenhagen 
Source: Financial Times 
Less than a kilometreaway from Copenhagen's austere parliamentary complex, the 1,000 residents of Europe's last bastion of flower-power idealism are living on borrowed time.The self-styled "Free Town" of Christiania, a former military barracks in the heart of the city, is a lively community hosting eclectic individuals, wacky architecture and a libertarian ethos reminiscent of the freewheeling days when "peace and love" was a political slogan.
But that is about to change, as Denmark's centre-right government plans to close it down because of concerns over drug pushing."It's a town within a town where lawlessness rules and hash is freely traded," said Lene Espersen, the justice minister.Her ministerial colleague from the department of defence said: "The experiment has failed."The village is home to a score of thriving businesses including an award-winning restaurant (the Eating Flea), a top-notch concert hall (Bob Dylan played here) and a workshop producing exquisite handcrafted bicycles for export.But Christiania, on land owned by the department of defence, is also home to northern Europe's most open marketplace for cannabis.Its central thoroughfare - Pusher Street - contains more than a dozen market stalls with everything from hash cookies to ready-made marijuana cigarettes on open display and sale.Ministers say the hash stalls on Pusher Street will be bulldozed. Buildings lacking planning permission will be demolished and roads built in what is now a leafy car-free zone. Recreational areas will be established for the benefit of the outside community and some 300 homes will be built for new residents.Christiania's residents are appalled. They fear that their unique way of life is facing extinction and say the crackdown is not just about cannabis. Christiania's 34-hectare site is one of Copenhagen's most valuable open spaces.Sites on an adjacent former military area, Holmen, have been sold off by the government to developers of luxury waterfront apartment buildings. One such 10,000 square metre site fetched DKr60m ($9.6m, €8m, £5.8m)."Property prices around here are exploding and Christiania would be a goldmine for developers," said Peter Plett, another resident.Christiania, however, will not be giving in without a fight. Residents have planned an unprecedented open day in June when outsiders can visit their homes, businesses and kindergartens. "People will see that we're real people with real families in real homes and not just a bunch of hippies," said one resident.With Christiania's estimated 1m visitors a year, rivalling the Little Mermaid statue as Copenhagen's most popular tourist attraction, the residents may find they can muster a lot support.And not just from tourists. One recent Gallup poll said 75 per cent of Copenhageners did not want the place to close down.Complete Title: Politicians and Property Prices Lay Siege To Copenhagen Hippies Source: Financial Times (UK)Author: Clare MacCarthy in Copenhagen Published: May 31, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Financial Times Limited Website: http://www.ft.com/Contact: letters.editor ft.comRelated Article:Denmark's Hippies Hit Their Golden Yearshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7469.shtml
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