As the global economy grinds to a halt so too do the big capital development projects, luxury apartment blocks and shopping complexes that have threatened us with displacement for so long.

Meanwhile, this new round of crisis capitalism leaves thousands out of work, buried in debt and facing immanent home repossession. Instead of housing the homeless in these empties or canceling the debts of millions governments pump billions into the banks to save this rotten system and violently repress those that resist.

As a movement we have been on the back-foot for too long – now its time to start taking things back – to kick capitalism while its down and liberate the land from privatised enclosure; to take housing and create space where we can live outside of monetary exchange, share skills acquired through struggle thus far and reach out beyond our practiced modes of resistance to a proactive attack.

From Dijon to Berlin to the thousands of places where actions took place in defence of squats and autonomous spaces in April 2008 a process has begun, new groups have formed, networks grown, and more people have become involved. As a movement we recognise that power and domination must be contested at multiple sites – this is beauty of our mode of struggle and why we call for decentralised, coordinated and confrontational action on the on the 18th & 19th of September 2009.

ORGANISE YOUR RAGE – OCCUPY, RESIST, CREATE!

From the UK National Squatters Meet-up Bristol 14th/15th March 2009.

Mortimer House, Clifton Down Road, Clifton, Bristol. BS84AE

Map is here:

Directions:

By Train:  From Temple Meads stattion you can get a train to clifton down railway station. Map & Directions here.

On Megabus: Get off the megabus at Colston Street. Map & Directions here.

On National express: From the main bus station follow these directions.

By Car (but may also be useful for walking as route basically the same and unlike google directions the below has landmarks):  Coming into Bristol on the M32 follow road straight past the Cabot Circus shopping centre. At first roundabout take second exit. Go past the hospital on left and follow road through 2 sets of traffic lights. After 2nd set bear right. See war memorial on right and take a left up Queens road. Follow past student union bulding, past victoria square to ‘T’ junction with Clifton down road. Take a right, pass mini-tesco, small shops and building is immediately on right. Has a crecent driveway, is set back from the road and boarded up windows.

Any problems give us a call on 07790073015

See you soon. X

The last round of capitalist growth profoundly reshaped our cities forcing many from the centre to the outskirts as the yuppie flats went up. Now as that economy falters possibilities emerge to start taking things back!

Even as recently as the last National Squat Meetup in Leeds, and before that the international gatherings in Dijon and Berlin, the threat of corporate expansion, to squats and autonomous spaces, was top of the agenda… now its time for us to start expanding. Of course this doesn’t mean for a second that the repression will cease (perhaps quite the opposite) but it’s a good reason to get our heads (and hearts) together to think about how to move forward.

THIS IS A CALLOUT

This is a callout for all those involved/interested in squats and autonomous spaces across the UK and beyond, to meet and share ideas, stories and practical strategies and discuss issues that affect us all as a community. Following on from the Leeds meetup last year to discuss the april2008 days of action, many smaller local gatherings and actions have taken place and ongoing processes have begun. As thousands face homelessness whilst half the city sits empty we want to keep thinking about ways of strengthening our network in defence of autonomous spaces, share success stories from last year’s days of action and formulate future plans and schemes for creative chaos!

THE MEETUP

This year’s meet up will be in the Bristol area and will run over the weekend. If you can arrive a few days early to help secure and create the space that would be great also. All the usual tat will be helpful – esp. blue pipe & connectors, seating, food, heaters – whatever you think may be useful – most of all positive energy, enthusiasm and thoughts to share skills and engage in open dialogue.
The agenda will be decided between us all on Friday evening – if you’ve got any ideas you can leave a comment below. You can also email comments/ suggestions/mad ideas to squatmeetup [at] googlemail[dot]com.

POSSIBLE ITEMS OF DISCUSSION…

How to better link up nationally/internationally
Another big day of action?
Skillshares
Feedback
International call out?
Current trend of illegal and police supported evictions
…And lots of fun!

***LET’S MAKE THIS YEARS MEET UP MORE INTERACTIVE AND VISUAL****

…how about making visual representation of the last years events and activities, successes and failures?  Lets bring old flyers, posters, newsletters and photos of the different autnonomous spaces and events you have been involved in during the past year.  We can paste it all together for all to see!  Also bring paint and creativity to decorate the space and bring it to life!

This was the flyer:

Blurb from youtube post “The 11th & 12 of April 2008 were international days of action in defence of squats and autonomous spaces (see http://april2008.squat.net ). In Bristol enraged creatives took a building in the centre of town turned it into an exibition and music space and did a carnival parade to contest the impending grip of corporate interests on our city – the luxury flats, displacement of social housing, eviction of squats, closure of clubs and shopping centre expansion to name but a few elements. This film was shot on a normal digital stills camera set to video mode – I hope it gives a flavour of what went on.”