What do people know about Reclaim the Streets?

[mentalbunny]

I've just finished reading No Logo and I found it very interesting, and also inspiring, but I don't really know where to start. If anyone has any connections with anyone involved in RTS or similar groups, or has read No Logo and has some advice for me it would be greatly appreciated. if you haven't read No Logo I recommend that you do. :)

[guerrillaradio]

I remember the derision I got on here when I started raving about No Logo...Vox called me loadsa words I didn&#39;t understand. :o <_< I didn&#39;t care, it&#39;s an excellent book.

I&#39;m reliably informed that RTS went bankrupt but they&#39;re starting a new group, of which I know very little. I forget its name.

Alan :ph34r:

[Hegemonicretribution]

Great book yes, I read it a year or so ago and have passed it on to a few people since then.

RTS, I don&#39;t know for sure, I will re-check their site. I guess that it would be better to attend the spontanious parties, when you find out, rather than get majorly involved. I know that with A-levels and all coming up, it isn&#39;t the best of times to take on to much.

rts (http://rts.gn.apc.org/)

Just checking over now things have changed quite a bit, I hadn&#39;t checked for a month or so.

[Hegemonicretribution]

It seems that what happened is the idea spread beyond them, and they weren&#39;t always in the know of other groups doing similar. There is an open one planned for the 10th sept, in London. On the site check the whats up link.

[honest intellectual]

RTS are a bunch of jokers. Their political aims are very very fuzzy. "Yeah, streets for the people, not the cars" and so forth. As far as I can see, it&#39;s little more than an excuse to fuck shit up.

[Hegemonicretribution]

Fuzzy aims don&#39;t have to be a problem. Ruckus for example don&#39;t have aims, but ar there to co-ordinate protests and train protestors, should a cause come up (which of course it wil). RTS is a good way of getting the young involved in an alternative way of looking at things, it is a nice concept, and because they aims seem slack it can be used as a means of expression.

[mentalbunny]

Thanks for the info, hegemonicretrobution.

[Saint-Just]

Originally posted by honest [email protected] 15 2003, 02:03 AM
RTS are a bunch of jokers. Their political aims are very very fuzzy. "Yeah, streets for the people, not the cars" and so forth. As far as I can see, it&#39;s little more than an excuse to fuck shit up.
In my view they have clear and precise aims. Although I hardly agree with their political ideology on the whole, certain aspects of their ideas should make sense to any leftist. I am a Marxist-Leninist, a nationalist and relatively with many authoritarian ideas. In terms of my ideology I would probably be the least likely on the left to agree with them. As a result my agreement with them, in my opinion, shows their ideas have aspects to them that should appeal to the vast majority of the left.

"Yeah, streets for the people, not the cars" is not a particularly good interpretation of their views. They want to expand public access and push against the tide of private ownership that restricts public access in areas that the entire public, as part of a society, has the right and need to access.

Our own streets are becoming dominated by commerce. This is a problem for obvious reasons. As a socialist I view that I should be given the respect and freedom to utilise everything produced by our society. This is as far as it does not compromise my safety and individual privacy and that of others.

Their is surely some bad elements to Reclaim The Streets. But, nevertheless, they do have ideas that should be on the agenda of many on the left.

[mentalbunny]

Thanks for that great post Chairman Mao, it was very helpful.

[Conghaileach]

RTS in Dublin are throwing together a Repaint the Streets day on Sept 22 for European Car-Free day.

Indymedia Ireland story (http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=60776)