Welcome to Christiania!
My Name is Hans. I am a nutty guy,
and I know it.
Meet Hans.
He has been an actor with the Solvognen theater group for more than quarter of a
century. He is against nuclear weapons, environmental waste, the
government, the European Community, the FBI, hypocrisy, hard drugs and
violence. He is for recycling, solar energy, autonomy, freedom, Green
Peace, soft drugs, peace and love.
Hans lives in the free-to-be-you-and-me town of Chrisitania
which sits smack dab in the middle of Copenhagen, Denmark. While
Christiana, one of Copenhagen's most visited tourist attractions, is best known
for its "Pusher Street", where hash and cannabis of all type is openly
sold and enjoyed as if at a vegetable market, there is much more to this
thriving community.
Christiania was established in 1971 by 700 individuals who
squatted on an abandoned military barracks. The founders, who were mainly
hippies, anarchists and idealists, wanted to create an alternative life based on
communal living and freedom. Hans describes the political system as a
Democratic Anarchy.
Hans came to Christiania 25 years ago when the whole existence
of Christiania was being threatened. His theater group was willing to
dedicate their lives to saving the spirit of the free city and everything that
it stood for.
The police tried to remove the people of Christiania, but they
were out-numbered. The Danish parliament threatened to clear out the area,
but nothing ever happened. Instead, the government decided to declare
Christiania an "experiment" in exchange for the promise that the
citizens of Christiania would pay for the use of electricity and water.
Hans and his theater group are largely to thank for this peaceful
agreement. The Solvognen theater group staged many situations which
brought public attention to the good intentions of the people of
Christiania. For example, one year the group dressed as Santa Clauses in
front of the finest department stores in Copenhagen and handed out free
gifts. The police assumed that the gifts were taken from the stores and
they arrested the Santas. All over the front pages the next day, the
public saw the mean old police beating up the generous people of
Christiania. This helped to bring sympathy for the people and their
cause. Hans put it best when he told us that the answer to the question
about why Christiania has been left alone by the government is: "How can
you hit a clown in the face?"
While marijuana and hash are permitted and sold openly in the
streets of Christiania, the city is about so much more than that. The
population of Christiania is currently made up of 900 people. 650 are
adults and 5 people are over the age of 70. The city tries to be as self
sustaining as possible. Many of the citizens are artists and
carpenters. A Buddhist monk from Tibet also resides in the city. He
is Han's next door neighbor. Rich and I were delighted to see a Buddhist
stupa again.
Hans tells us that for 18 years, Christiania was like the wild
wild west. The citizens were in constant fear that they would be removed
by the government at any time. Their homes were on wheels so that they
could move immediately, if necessary. Now that there is an agreement
between the people and the government, the people can actually build homes that
will remain in Christiania. However, it is very important to note that the
people of Christiania do not own their property. They borrow it. If
someone decides to move from the town, they must leave behind their house for
someone else to "borrow".
So, can anyone move into Christiania? "No",
explains Hans. The only way that you can move in is to make an
application. When someone leaves Christiania, the committee reviews the
applications and decides who can take that person's slot. The other option
is to find a Christianian sweetheart. In this photo you can see the
Christiana flag hanging proudly.
The objective goals and laws of
Christiania. In 1979, hard drugs were outlawed in order to keep out the
really bad people. Possession of hard drugs is reason for immediate
expulsion. Only drugs from the hemp plant and magic mushrooms are
permitted. The other prohibitions are: guns, violence, cars, biker
clothing and bullet proof vests (to keep out the biker gangs), ammunition or
fireworks and theft.
So, if you ever come
to Copenhagen, you must visit the magical city of Christiania.
And when you do, give Hans our love.
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