Recently activists from 30 countries met in Copenhagen’s Christiania to discuss strategies for activism during the COP15 conference in December. In response the Justice Ministry has decided to increase punishments against protesters, such as a 40 day jail sentence for hindering police work, and a proposal for a 50% increase of prison time for vandalism. This seems to be making a clear path towards Copenhagen becoming another Seattle. I agree with Stine Gry Jonassen, the spokesperson for Climate Justice Action, who said, “They’re criminalising the global climate movement being created by assuming beforehand it will be violent.”

Freedom of speech is the tool by which the people can truly try to set agendas themselves. I’m sorry but in modern politics agenda setting is about protecting more than just the constituents, but powerful partners (corporations, other politicians, etc.) as well. The only way to make change that really counts is through the people using the power of the mass, giving demands for what they want with pure physical presence. Therefore entering a pseudo-police state that inhibits this is a clear infringement on the right of free speech. Politicians and the media are adept at creating rhetoric that vilifies protestors they are against, making them seem like the overzealous radical “other”, which have hidden agendas.  Watch This is What Democracy Looks Like? and learn the lesson of Seattle in 1999. We need major change and the only way to get that is through active participation of the people throughout the world. Make a stand, don’t take your 1st amendment right for granted.

“Can’t waste the day when the night brings the hearst,
So make a move and plead the fifth cause you can’t plead the 1st”
-RATM

Comments (3)

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written by Milan Sova , November 17, 2009

Oh and I spell right write all the time

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Hopefully Not!
written by Milan Sova , November 17, 2009

As I right this Christiania is being raided, but the conference held there wasn't prominent in the media. I think the Danes that don't like it are satisfied with turning a blind eye while the government just wants to show its power every once in awhile...

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written by A. Wesley Ballantyne , November 06, 2009

Ahh Denmark and Christiania the struggle continues! When I was abroad in CPH, Christiania was definitely one of my favorite places to spend a sunny afternoon, for a variety of reasons. However, I was always weary of what seemed to be a police sweep every time we went there. I was there in spring of 2007 and have continued to hear mutterings that Christiania was being shut down, etc. Are things going to finally reach their height do you think in the upcoming months? Could this conference unintentionally be the end of Christiania do to its overexposure?

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