Film Screening: Squatting and Striking

Hi everyone!

At 6pm on this Sunday, Feb 5th, we will screen two films in the Yellow
Room. One (65 mins) is on gentrification and squatting in Poland and
the other (20 mins) is on striking mothers.

Ralf, who is bringing the films, will be able to answer questions
afterwards. Please send this to any lists that you might think will be
interested.

THE BOURGEOISIE RETURNS TO THE CENTER

* Documentary film
* 65 minutes
* Made in 2010 by SzumTV, Poland
* In Polish with English subtitles

The film "The Bourgeoisie returns to the Center" is about processes of
exclusion and gentrification in Polish cities, and about the resistance
of tenants and squatters against these processes.

In recent years old buildings in the city centers and working class
districts have been demolished and were replaced by new expensive
housing estates. Property developers and local governments both support
this process that causes rent increases for all people in those areas.
Living in the city centers becomes a privilege for the rich. Housing
property deemed valuable is renovated and the poor are displaced. The
bourgeoisie reconquers the city centers – the process of gentrification
begins.

For the labor activists, representatives of tenants' assiciations,
left-wing academics and squatters who speak in the film, having a decent
house to live in is not a priviliege but a right. They describe how the
struggles for good housing take many forms: rent strikes, fights against
evictions, mutual support groups, squatting, etc.

This film is about Poland, but processes of gentrification and the
struggle against them happen in many countries in Europe, but also in
Asia, Australia, New Zealand...