urban cookbook for direct action

The concept of the blog was conceived by me and Sander about a year ago and we were quite thrilled to hear that Regina had come to a similar idea. It is meant as a user-updated archive and forum for urban activists who want to creatively address problems of public space, planning, exclusion of minorities, "invisible" groups and their social problems and so on. Our plan of the site's development is divided into two periods

At first stage we thought of a news roll or blog type possibility to enter new or past events that had taken place in any city with the aim to offer a solution or to address a certain problem. The site would contain an entry-page where it is possible to submit one's stories (they are reviewed by administrators), then displayed on the website with the possibility of commenting (for registered users), adding pictures, video clips and links to media coverage of the event. Another part of the website is a forum for general and theoretical discussions for example on the causal effectiveness of the projects, different ways of making problems visible (art or action or both, doing something about it or complaining to public officials or both etc), implementing similar projects in different contexts and so on. It would be strictly in English hoping to attract a possible wide public.

The second stage is implemented, when enough data is collected and experience gained through trial and error. Different sections are created and a search engine added for users to find the topics that they are interested more easily. A map with all the cities and actions that have taken place there created. At final stages a rating function added (if a critical mass of constant users is accumulated) and hopefully the need for administration will dissipate as daily users and visitors become critics with the power of voting out irrelevant events. The site should become a self-regulating open forum for anyone who wishes to change the cities for the better.

Text by Rasmus Kask