Looking back on Olomouc's campaign against economic power and affordable housing
---- As a local AF group, we already decided last year that it would beappropriate to take a closer look at the topic of unaffordable housing and try toawaken the public's interest in this pressing issue. So we prepared a projectthat included the compilation of a more detailed thematic text, its publicationand processing into a printed brochure, and finally the implementation of eventsdirectly in the streets of Olomouc. ----We have completed a successful five-daycampaign entitled "Stop economic power, support for developers does not solve thehousing crisis!", which in itself suggests that its content was focused onanalyzing the reasons why we do not see support for interests in Olomouc oranywhere else developers as a path to affordable housing. On the contrary, theirsupport only deepens the housing crisis. At three points, the document wepublished also outlined visions of how positive changes in this area can beachieved from below.Hundreds of people are already homeless in Olomouc and many others are at risk ofthe same situation. As we verified in our study from open sources, all majorplayers in the real estate market, i.e. the state, the city and developers, payvery little attention to this issue in the long term. They do not deal much withthe construction or other provision of affordable apartments. The seriousness ofthe situation is evidenced by the data in our study: "According to the KnightFrank index, one of the world's largest real estate consulting companies, theaverage price of residential real estate rose by more than 7% from March 2020 toMarch 2021... The Czech Republic is on a global scale with an increase pricesincreased by an average of 8.9% among the 15 countries with the highestincrease." (source) You can read more in the study itself, which we prepared witha thematic emphasis on Olomouc, where our local group operates. It is availableon the AF website and also in the form of a brochure, which we had printed inlarge quantities at our own expense. It was primarily intended for distributionto the public during the campaign at several locations in Olomouc.The campaign was launched on Monday, April 10, when activists put up banners intwo locations that included the name of the campaign and a message to the city'sresidents in one. One of the signs was placed on the street on November 17 tocover part of a long advertising banner of the development company REDSTONE,which is trying to tell the public that they are thinking of her. This part ofthe city was, is, and will continue to be continuously flooded with REDSTONEprojects, such as the Galerie Shantovka shopping center, which has been inexistence for several years, or the office building that was put into operationin the second half of 2021 and is located nearby - on Kosmonautu avenue. The samemessage, this time divided into two smaller banners, was placed on one ofOlomouc's frequented bridges.The following day, the above-mentioned article was published on the website ofthe Anarchist Federation. During the day, the contact part of the campaignstarted in the city center and demonstratively also in front of the entrance toGaleria Shantovka, when we offered brochures to passers-by. Activists continuedto distribute for the next three days until Friday, when the last passer-by tookthe last copy out of a total of three hundred pieces intended for the campaignitself, effectively ending it. Another fifty pamphlets were earmarked for laterplacement in various public places for disassembly. We are happy that some of thepeople approached not only took them, but also showed an interest in thediscussion and had questions. Most of those who discussed agreed with ourpositions. Some admitted that, unfortunately, the problems with maintainingliving space also affected them. Among those who did not take the offeredbrochure, the argument was sometimes heard that the housing difficulties did notconcern them.A member of AF Olomouc evaluated this experience: "As one of the participants ofthe event, I was unpleasantly surprised that it was not a completely uniquereaction. One of the ambitions of our campaign is to raise awareness in societyabout the shared responsibility of each of us for the overall shape of the systemand life in it. Probably, some of those who denied the problem with housing wereeither lucky in acquiring their own housing at a time when it was moreadvantageous to buy, or lucky to find an acceptable rent. In addition, a smallpercentage undoubtedly belongs to the economically privileged strata of thepopulation. The loss of a well-paid job, unexpected expenses, long-term healthcomplications, a change in mortgage interest, an increase in rent, energy prices,the prices of many other commodities, or anything else can make their ownsituation worse for some of them. We believe that the principles of solidarityand joint solutions to problems from below, including that of unaffordablehousing, are rational and moral, as opposed to selfish and short-sightedindividualism."We hope that after five days, when we spent intensively in the streets of Olomouceducating, discussing and trying to arouse interest in a topic that does not onlyconcern the residents of this city, we can expect at least some reflection on ourproposed solutions from below or on other options. In the best case, after thiscampaign, those who have been approached by this issue will contact us andactively participate.https://www.afed.cz/text/7931/za-mesto-pro-lidi-nikoli-zajmy-developeru_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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