Freetown Christiania

[Bandito]

Christiania is a social experiment with self-government and a democracy based on dialogue replacing majority voting. Christiania was started in an abandoned army baracks in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1971.

Christiania, also known as Freetown Christiania (Danish: Fristaden Christiania) is a self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood of about 850 residents, covering 34 hectares (85 acres) in the borough of Christianshavn in the Danish capital Copenhagen. From an official point of view, Christiania is regarded as a large commune, but its relation to the authorities has a unique status in being regulated by a special law, the Christiania Law of 1989 which transfers parts of the supervision of the area from the municipality of Copenhagen to the state.

Christiania has been a source of controversy since its creation in a squatted military area in 1971. Its cannabis trade was tolerated by authorities until 2004. Since then, measures for normalising the legal status of the community have led to conflicts, and negotiations are ongoing.

Among many Christiania residents, the community is known as staden ('the town'), short for fristaden ('the freetown').

http://www.denmark-pictures.com/images/freetown-christiania-denmark-02.jpg http://www.domnik.net/topoi/commons/DK/copenhagen/christianshavn/05s_christiania1.jpg http://www.re-moto.com/photos/15133-DNK-Copenhagen-Christiania.jpg

[Q]

By posting it inhere I thought for a second that Christiania was closed down. You evil person :)

[Bandito]

Haha!
No, but eviction is waving around their heads ever since it was established, so it wouldn't be a surprise if they close it soon. I really didn't know where to post it, since it is still active, but I think it does belong in History. :)

[Red Commissar]

I've heard about this but I'm not too familiar with it. How do people in Denmark treat it?

[Bandito]

From what I heard from my friends who visited Christiania, Copenhagen residents are cool with it, since they made perfectly clear that they don't want heavy drugs in their "free land".
They actually don't serve alcohol in their coffee shops, because they don't want drunk behavior in their neighborhood, but they'll offer you to some a joint as a replacement. The only thing that is forbidden, besides cocaine and heroine, is tourist behavior. People literally went in residents' houses and took photos like it is some kind of a Zoo.
But, to adress your question, Kobenhavn people are more open-minded than rest of EU and most of them are proud to have an "aritstic-hippy commune that acts like a separate country" within their city.

[Red Commissar]

How do utilities work in this commune? Water and electricity particularly. Do they own the utilities like a co-op or something?

[Bandito]

I don't know for sure, and that is a very good question. Maybe some other member here knows? Q?

[Uppercut]

I don't have much to add, but a while back I watched a short documentary on Freetown Christiana and it should still be on youtube. I'm in school right now so I can't access the link. But from what it said, very little, or if any outside help is used. I'm guessing they had their co-ops utilities and workplaces to cover most of their needs. However, I don't think Christiana is entirely self-sufficient. It's only 85 acres, after all. There's only so much they can do.