Elba stays! Demostrations and a show to keep the squat alive.

As reported, Warsaw’s Elba Squat may be under attack tomorrow. The crew, along with all the squat supporters in the area, has organized a demonstration to keep the fire burning.

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Here’s the official word issued by “A coalition of groups supporting ELBA”:

GONNA KEEP ELBA’S FIRES BURNING! ELBA STAYS!
Enough of turning lodgers and independent culture into the street!

It seems so natural. A corporation buys a ground and can do whatever it wants on it. Build a work, an office or a golf course. Nobody and nothing can stop that process…

But what if there is a cultural centre used by thousands of people and known all over Europe placed on that premises? What if social welfare is in conflict with company’s egoistic plans? A company, which piously advertises itself as “producing in conditions safe for the society and conducting dialogues with every side concerned”. Where is that dialogue? There’s no dialogue, there is, still, the rule of money. Stora Enso corporation is known for its uncompromised profit policy at the cost of people and the environment.

Actually, being natural begins when urban processes coincide with social welfare. ELBA is an answer for a housing problem which has been present in Warsaw for many years. The housing problem begins with Warsaw authorities’ lack of vision on housing policy and ends with a criminal process of gentrification. The most blatant example being constant exmissions of Warsaw’s lodgers. Methods – forcing doors, tenement houses arsons, burning lodgers. Jolanta Brzeska will never be forgotten! The attempt of Elba’s eviction is nothing else but another attack on ‘cheapness and roughness’ which Varsovians simply have problem with. “First profits, then people” logic is a leitmotiv of city authorities policy. It need to be reversed!

Warsaw – as every city in the world – needs some space for alternative culture. ELBA creates that kind of space and the city shouldn’t ignore culture-creating and social potential of Elba’s operation. The attempt of evicting Elba is an attempt of destroying one of the biggest fields of alternative culture in Poland. It need to be stopped!

That’s why we’re off on the streets! The fight for Elba squat is the fight for social justice – that’s why WE ARE ALL ELBA! THE TOWN IS NOT A SUPERMARKET! Elba is not a stale product which they can scrap!

WE’RE GOING TO KEEP ELBA’S FIRES BURNING!

DEMONSTRATION IN DEFENCE OF ELBA SQUAT
Plac Bankowy, @Ratusz/Town Hall 5 p.m.

Today at 15:00 GMT London, UK will hold a demonstration at the Polish Embassy to support Elba:

DRIP OF LIES, HARD TO BREATHE, BAGNA, LIFE SCARS and BACKFIST will be doing a show tomorrow evening at Elba in Warsaw, Poland: