In the neighbourhood of Christianshavn in Copenhagen, Christiania (also known as Freetown Christiania) is a self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood. It’s very special as it’s regulated by its own law. Christiania is 40 years this year. The navy owned the buildings there but, following the social revolts in 1968 (the events began in France, then in the States and it came back in Europe), young people took over it, just occupying it.

The idea was that the rules were based on consensus. "We have a consensual democracy. So we talk and talk until we find a solution. It’s not from the top, it’s from the bottom", explained to me Bjarne, artist and inhabitant of Christiania almost since the beginning, for almost 40 years. "We just have rules for elemental things", says he (it’s forbidden to shoot people, to steal or to wear uniforms for example). All the inhabitants have to go to "meetings".

But these rules don’t forbid drug sale, that’s why drug consumption has developed in Christiania, as well as criminals hiding and then conflicts with the police. The government put more and more pressure on Christiania’s inhabitants over the past few years. For example, the government forbed the inhabitants to build what they want and tried to stop the drug consumption. Last month, there was an agreement for inhabitants to pay the rents of the houses (they never did up to now) and to get rid of criminals.

A painting, at the entrance of Christiania

"Christiania represents what can happen if people have more freedom in the society. [...] For nearly 30 years, we decided more or less whatever should happen here. And that was very successful", says Bjarne. Successful, why ? "Because when people have freedom to decide their own life, everything gets more relaxed, more "round"". I also went talking to Nina, Kia et Anna, who were eating outside on their garden, watched by the tourists (when I asked them to ask them some questions, they told me I was "the third one today"...). Christiania is owned by everybody", state they, " it’s a creative center for all of Copenhagen".

I wanted to know if they consider they protest against anything. "There are so many people here, we are protesting against different things", answered the three women. Bjarne was more specific : "I am protesting against the fact that people have so less freedom in the society than here. [...] the way I live became a kind of protest because I live my life the way I want". But then, he couldn’t resist to add : "I’m not a socialist or something but this capitalism is damned shit".

But I don’t want to describe them as simple rebels because it’s not the feeling I had. I think it’s an interesting experience, even if the result won’t convince us to apply it at a larger scale. It’s nice to find some places like this in Europe that remind us that our political and economical systems are not so obvious.

And, to go back to my favorite topic, the inhabitants, coming from "all over the world" according to Nina, also try to live in an environmentally friendly way. Christiania "tries to show that it’s possible to live in another way. And we are not the best but we are trying to have alternative ways of heating water and to get energy", explains Nina. Hippies from the 1970s probably became, for most of them, the green activists of today.

Next and last Danish stop : Kalundborg.

See you soon, Be green, Ben