SPCC A Casa Amarela

since we moved on digitally, i did too.

i'm keeping a new blog @ http://adotinthemultiverse.tumblr.com/

in it, i gathered all of my stuff: my writings, my pictures, my movies, and things i see around the web that i think they are worth spreading. kind of a google reader, mixed with a personal blog and a portfolio. its not worth to keep numerous pages around in different social networks.

also, facebook is gone. why? to much "i'm taking a shower/dump" kind-of-updates and few interesting stuff, and no, i'm not that interested in seeing others photos and to know what they are doing. i prefer the good ol' email, that people send you when they REALLY want to get in touch. so no excuses for your laziness and no complaints about it. if you want to contact me, go ahead and use [email protected].

see you there

t

Some words concerning some important aspects (to me) about my time building and living in SPCC.

Communnity building and social regeneration:

- First days, even before we find the SPC building,when we started to talk about squatting and making a cultural/social center, i was really skeptical about the team we had by that time. My beliefs where that for that project to work we would need a strong team, based on strong values (similar) and ideologies, to take such project in such a huge space. I loved every single person in the initial team, no doubts about it, i was just skeptical about their profiles to run and work such a project. Since the begging i proved that to my self. Despite the fact that everyone involved in the project were amazing human beings, the group it self didn't had much values in common, ways of working, attitudes, ways of communicating, ideologies, etc. The main idea for SPCC was to make a place where diverse tribes could unite, share (space and knowledge) and create freely. That was the cultural part, and the initial design. Later on, we thought about using that design to regenerate people. How? We thought that people could regenerate if they were exposed to the setting we were building at SPCC. I always thought that everybody should be entitled to have free access to these main things: Education, food, shelter, culture and knowledge. Having all of this, they are then free to work on themselves as individuals, and free to search for their place in this society. We were only providing the tools for them to use freely, without imposing anything. At some point that social part of the center became more strong and important, and for me a priority in some kind of way, since a group of people that we didn't knew from nowhere started to live with us. Although, not included in the project, and despite the fact that we had agreed that nobody else should become a resident in SPCC, the doors were open to them, as we though that they needed what we were providing, and therefor could be part of the regeneration process 24/7. It failed completely, i think. Although everything was provided (me and J, in the beginning and J only from there on, providing food and other supplies, me and our guests building everything up, J building up electricity, plumbing, etc, making everything cozy and comfortable) they did not broke free from their fucked up lifestyles. It failed and i made the huge mistake (again..still learning how to break free from that) to get emotionally involved in this subject. Except from getting free food, free booze (therefor saving more money to have drugs, which also means busk less time in the street), they did not enjoyed, used or learned anything from that house. Hardly tried to communicate with our guests, although i offered my self to teach them english, never attended workshops, never participated in the building process even in if they were seeing me doing something, or J, or one of my guests. Besides the main things that we supplied, we tried that they could feel part of the building process "do something you like, you want to share, if you need anything to do that, we supply". I thought that, since they love concerts, they would love to be part of the building process of the stage. Therefor i started to work on the chill out (the space for workshops, documentaries, free internet and freeshop while J was working) and started to encourage them (by many ways, soft and rough) to participate in something that they enjoy. Only on the last month (in 7) the stage was being built, also because a person from outside came and started to do something with it. In the end, we had only one punk concert, which is a pity i think, against several events we made, related to many sub-cultures. Positively, in that same concert (excluding some misunderstandings that generated some issues) they realized what they could've done in that place (they told that to me and J). And i sincerely hope, even though i don't think we where successful in the regeneration process, that at least with the concert they saw what they can do with squatting. Something that they can do for themselves and others. I also hope that they learned (as well as me, that had that idea for a long time, but in this place it became a strong concept) that when you do something it's not for you, it's for someone that will be enjoying that. Also it doesn't matter how, when, and who did it. Just fucking do it, because someone will enjoy it. Share, because someone will appreciate it and will need it.

I don't think that SPCC was perfect (nothing is). But i think that SPCC missed some more diversity, just because of some social, communication, and personality problems, from in and outside the house. Somehow the punk scene wasn't very much active in the house (ok, they where there and in a big number, the kids cleaned, and helped but never was enough for something more concret to happen, like a concert, or a general public event). The industrial scene proved themselves to be EXTREMELY closed and with a lot of prejudice towards this kind of intervention, which doesn't surprises me considering the path that all subcultures are experiencing, but it's a bit..stupid if we think about the ideological aspects of the industrial scene in the beginning. Mostly, i think this only happened because we didn't had a group of builders strong enough, with diversity enough and with same basic traces in their character such has: being generous, enjoying working and building for others and finally and most importantly being respectful and tolerant towards difference. The majority of the residents have a different vision of what a squat/cultural center is and how should be managed, which is not wrong, because above all, for me there is no right or wrong, there are just different perspectives.

Things done and experiences lived:

- Living there was not only bad things, in fact good things where much greater then the bad things. We had TONS, LOADS, of visitors from around the world. Started with networks like couchsurfing and helpex, some of them from the street, ONE FROM GOOGLE (!!! My favorite, wtf, a google guest!!), mouth-to-mouth guests from Boom festival (amazing surprise here!), the invaders from hitch hiking gathering tour, and no matter from where or how they got there, we sure met some amazing individuals! Most of them were very artistic, extremely intelligent, generous, participative, funny, and in general wonderful human beings, that provided so much for the community, that shared the same vision as we did because it was natural or for some of them because they wanted to know and learn from it and lived that for some days. They told us a lot of stories, interesting facts, participated in such amazing debates. They where from all over the world, from a lot of sub cultures. The parties we made where also great as well as the workshops, the painting days, the barbecues etc, etc. Experiencing that building as a canvas was the most powerful thing to me, specially on the 2nd floor. I pretty much enjoyed being free to use my imagination and creativity without almost any boundaries,to be able to create such communal space, that so many people enjoyed and felt as theirs. And also (not surprisingly) being included in the regeneration process because it's impossible, at least for me not learning anything with such a strong and uncontrollable contact with so many persons, whether residents, friends, couchsurfers, random guests, etc etc.

_____________

I already left this project behind, some days ago mentally and yesterday physically. At some point i could not handle the clashes of personalities, the really hard communication processes, the HUGE lack of respect and tolerance, the violence (verbal and physical) between all of us that were part of the residents in this squat. I support diversity, yes. That doesn't mean that someone is obligated to live with certain facts (not stories as J pointed out in the last post), attitudes, ways of living in a house, hygiene habits, ways of working, etc etc. I could not handle or accept the fact that people that i loved were being fooled on and disrespected in several ways in front of my face or in my back. I chose not to live and cohabit with that. Therefor i left that squat for good. My mind is so wasted right now that i am not handling my emotions and feelings that well (in the next project i will just act as an observer without being emotionally part of it, as i always use to do).

I do respect the way of living, thinking, ideologies, habits, whatsoever of all of the guys that i referred to a lot in this blog. I also do like them as persons, i just did not chose to live with them and share a project with them, for the specific reasons that i pointed out along the way in this blog. Also, that is just my analysis of the subject, of the experience. It's my perspective, my experience, sometimes my emotions (some of the posts were written in high emotional moments, as i am a human being) through my eyes and through my self. None of what i wrote is to be taken personally, or as the absolute reallity by you that is reading the blog. If you are doing so, let me tell you that you will have a problem in your life, if every time this happens you take it too seriously. I am not angry with anyone, i never wanted to kick anyone out, or what others blurbs you might ear or your interpretation of my posts. I also do not care for any bad feelings anyone as for me because of this blog, as we could read in this website, or ear outside, or feel inside the squat. Seriously? It's a blog. It's the fucking internet, dude! It's my perspective spreaded on the internet. It's Big brother okupa! LAUGH! Just that. Be more critical, be more inquisitive and curious. Do not say Black or White, say every color!

In the end i just think that there is tons of space for each one of us. For the Eco-activists, the capitalists, the democrats, the nazis, the punks, the hippies, the gipsys, etc, etc. Although, for me there is no need for someone to put up with anything. Yes we can learn from each others (there is no perfect or super-duper-stereotype of human being) as we are as one, and everybody makes the whole. That's what's so interesting in human beings, and that's what i'm interested in knowing, learning and understanding. There is no right or wrong. There are perspectives of reality. As i'm used to say, everybody is in a little mountain in very different places looking towards different directions. The interesting exercise is to view through each one's eyes, and get a wider perspective of reality. But well, you don't need to live with it 24/7. Just pay a visit to each mountain every now and then and take whatever you think it's the best of that perspective, get back to your mountain and think about turning your head to some other direction...

J talked with the guys on the working site today. They said we have 2 weeks, more or less.

Also today everybody gathered and talked about their issues and opinions. That's way more positive. Although we still have to different visions going on in the house. But that's also fine, everybody's entitled to their own opinion and thoughts about something, the hard part is to put them building something together. For that, i still don't have an answer. I just know that with this kind of political system it doesn't work.

These to groups with different opinions are not going to work together anymore. They found another place to squat, and J and me are going to take a break (of squatting) and continue to run a nomad base somewhere else, like J did with escotilha8.

Thats all for today!

<3

lately i have been laughing my ass out with the "kids".

apparently, now my dog hasn't been fed by the kids. the dog food is over, and the last person to buy dog food was R. so, instead of putting the dog food in the living room, like he usually does, and we all do. He put it in his room, hidden.

there were already two times, in which i'm in my room and i ear him ask O "did kikas already eat?" without including Durga, or this other time that they were cooking some rice with tuna, O asked from his room to the living room if Kikas and Durga had eat, and R answers "Yeah, kikas did". hahah dude, since WHEN i live with 10 year olds? the curious fact is that, his actions are not gonna do much, to me, or my dog, or J. if we need food for the dogs, we can buy it, what next? hide the recycled food? because for now, it's not the first time that they do not call me when lunch is ready. Or do not say "good morning" or act like we were not in the living room. really funny.

on another, and more interesting, note topographers are on the field today! and they are working on every area, not only on the white factory that was recently closed. they are working everywhere, including the road in front of us. yep, the signs are getting clearer and clearer, and we do not have much time, but for sure we will continue to do stuff here.

i noticed these topographers because i went to meet a lady from the City Hall. J had that problem with the garbage and ended up paying more than 50€ because of the garbage we have on the street because there is NO container, nor does the city hall truck comes by to collect garbage. so this lady, really nice, polite, without prejudice, talked to me and we arranged that until we are evicted they are gonna place a container on top of the street for us. when filled up, we just need to call for them to collect the garbage and empty the container. personalized service from the city hall to the squat? haha! this is really nice to see, and only proves that city hall workers, general government workers, are just regular human beings that do their best to survive in this society. that's why i do not share the same angry thoughts on police mans. they are like us, just workers, doing their jobs. like puppets, unfortunately.

the punk kids want to resist the demolition, i honestly will not share that action with them. we did tons of amazing things here in so little time. we shared so much with so many people, from all over the world. we learned a lot from each others, even with the angry punks from the house. the house is going down on its own, mainly because of the childish "problems" we are having and because everything has some limit offer. everything is ephemeral and it doesn't need a bulldozer to be over and gone. these kind of projects are self-destructive, like bombs, with a timer we can't see. and i like that. so i will be celebrating, dancing and cheering when the demolition starts.

meanwhile i'm thinking that we can do an event only on a documentary, The Century of the Self. i've been watching it - i'm on the 3rd of 4 episodes - and its really interesting. it explains on how psychoanalysis (specially from Freud's family) have an important role on how governments, public relations and marketing, major companys rule the masses..Brilliant.

Stay tuned for the next chapter of big brother okupa and other things more important like events, and demolition news, etc!

<3

So yeah, here i was sitting in our living room when i heard some machines, and trucks. They already closed up in fences the building next to ours.

Everybody is thinking that we can last more 6 months. I honestly am pointing out for 2 months or so. Although i still have no response from RAVE (company entitled to the works)on how much time we have, the signs are clear, shouldn't be much longer.

I might go there in some minutes to ask the workers for some information.

<3

Since i came back to lisbon it has been a huge learning process. It has been a really hardcore one here at SPCC. I met a lot of amazing people, from which i learned a lot. The most positive balance i can make and i also learned is that we can take things more lightly when you are facing a problem, conflict, a misunderstanding. We had a LOT of problems so far. Most of them will continue. But none of them stopped any of our ideas and plans to happen. It took a long time for me to realize it. I had become a more negative person here, when i always were the opposite.

Yesterday we had an amazing day. Everybody was going crazy painting or making something to color up and make the squat more fun and comfortable, others were coking some really delicious meals. Danilo, our "google guest" turned to be an AMAZING painter. He did a couple of paintings in the first floor,they were nice but the one outside it was really fucking good. It looks like he gave everything to that wall...Isa (japan) did some amazing "mobiles" in the "war zone" with garbage, including mirrors, Karina painted a welcoming message in the stairs before you reach the hosting floor, moura painted the anarchist flag and wrote some political phrases in the front of the building. Now the building as a peace from a lot of people from all over the world.

On another note, i've been re-amazed with the kind of people that attend to events like Boom. When i was younger and still at school i met and was friend with a lot of persons from the psy trance movement (i also started to enjoy trance since that time), and somehow (not really sure why) i broke my contact with that "tribe". It's really refreshing to see that most of the values are still there, and there are a lot of interesting people from all over the world to meet. We had a lot of people from boom, a lot of them came out of the blue (without request, or came with CS'rs along the way, heard about the place in boom, etc) and the amazing thing was that they where all so different from each other but in the end respectful and tolerant towards difference, something really hard to see and feel in other "tribes" (i kinda don't like this word, but i need to use it). Really refreshing persons.

The guys from GAIA are really nice. They came by and droped their stuff from the freeshop because they had to move from they old place. I would like to work with them somehow.

I'm organizing more photos, not only mine but from some of our guests. And tomorrow maybe i'll post them on the gallery.

<3

So yeah, today i went out in the area to speak with the locals to know more about what's going on with the demolishing thing.

A cinema company, 3 (or 4) residential houses and a junkyard are being cleared out or have been (cinema and junkyard). I asked some locals if they knew something about it, and confirmed that it was what we knew since the beginning: TGV (high speed train) works are starting soon. Also some news on the web and newspapers that i checked confirm it: works will start in September. This only means that we have to work faster to make few of our initial goals to happen.

We need to speed up the stage to have concerts and bigger (and more open) events. A lot of people are contacting us to cooperate with us:

-Chapitô students return from holidays with full energy;
- Epiderme project contacted us to use the space for their project (check it here, they seem really cool http://www.epipiderme.blogspot.com/);
- Chili Com Carne will have their intervention in late september: color up the first floor with their AMAZING artists;
-- Gaia also lost their place, and they are going to give us stuff from their freeshop.

We don't know the future yet. If we will try to squat again, or rent a warehouse, or whatever. For sure we will continue to do our things, so expect soon some more hardcore activity (i hope).

Stay tuned folks!

Love <3

We went to the Utopia after boom this last weekend and entremuralhas. For me it was cool to be able to step back a bit from the squat. It's a bit exhausting to spend all of my days here at the squat, and handle everybody's problems, questions, and emotions. I knew that Utopia would be a great bet (although not as interesting as boom it self) because i know what i can generally expect from people that are attracted to events like Boom. Although it was even better than i expected, and i'm not talking about the conditions, line up, whatever that the festival offers. Being there reminded me that people can naturally be positive, nurturing, generous, tolerant towards difference and smiling without expecting something back. The variety of skin colors was amazing, a lot of interesting and beautiful persons, and way different than me. It was also cool to realize that i could contact the organization without any problem, and i was treated like someone they knew before and i actually set with them for some hours just talking and sharing some ideas about different subjects. I also ended up helping them because of some fire in the camping area, and a Japanese boomer got hurt. I also found my self picking up garbage from the tables on the chill out area, just because, without thinking and i also saw other boomers doing the same. In the dancefloor was amazing, music and smiles are the most cool drugs ever. Everybody was dancing, and you could feel the steps on the floor and the ground shaking. Everybody was smiling: some were using drugs, others alcohol, others neither one of those. Nobody was looking to how you dress up, how you dance, whatever. Just smiling and enjoying the music like a whole.A huge fucking tribe made of tribes. Meeting this place and these persons, gave me more energy to continue to do what we are doing in this squat.

I also notice that the "kids" are improving. Reaaaaaaaaaaaaally slowly, but better than nothing. Let's see. Personally i will continue to give everything that i can to this house and to everybody that comes in.

<3

Less people, more easier to maintain, share, learn, etc. Back on track we are, Our kids (R,S,I) are now more calm because their issue disappeared. Good. Old business is the same i think. The only thing that changes here is my behavior. I'm not going to scream more at anyone, even if they are disrespecting me. I'll ignore. Some time ago i knew this so good - ignoring is the worst thing you can do to someone that disrespects you. I re-learned again, mostly thanks to my private talks to J.

So for instance, i'm going to ignore the fact that they don't say thank you, or are not even polite (saying good morning when you see someone in the room is nice, and they always did it). I'm going to ignore the fact that they told us that we do not include them, and that they feel that we need a meeting and do not act according to what they say and instead close them selfs in their rooms and act as if nothing happen - i am not going after them asking if they still want a meeting. Etc...etc...and etc.

I will continue to do EVERYTHING i did since the beginning: work in maintenance, create new stuff, improving old stuff, helping guests feel comfortable and participative, being there if someone asks for help, being that my PRIORITY. But whenever someone disrespects me, i'll ignore that, and keep moving, instead of trying to talk to someone that does not tolerate or respects something or someone if they are not included in their ideologies or life style.

Besides that, today, me , D and our guests gather spontaneously together in breakfast, and in five minutes decided and volunteer for simple tasks on cleaning and constructing things, to recover from the hitchhiking invasion. Altogether in few hours we cleaned the building and transformed some stuff: bigger table in hosting floor, and other tables went to chill out, new fireplace outside that is perfect for pizzas or bread.

<3

Today, one of our guests came up with a cool game for everyone to do.

I got them cool points in the city that they should see. They are going to make a race/collecting points by doing several things. Basic principle is do sight seeing while collecting stuff for the squat, and also make it funny.

Goals are:

- dumpster dive cool items for the freeshop
- collect free booze
- get your hands dirty
- scare tourists and get media attention
- get to specific touristy points and take pictures to prove that you where there
- drink something with a local (if its an old lady, get extra points)
- create stuff for the squat

On another note, the desperate behavior to show off some work still goes on. Obviously they are working on something which they will use later: place for concerts. Just can't wait for the talk and see how it goes.

Today we are clearing out the back of our building. Me, Fabien, our Spanish guest that is staying in his van, and a hitch hiker cleared the spot where the water from the kitchen falls in only 1h and something.That's the fucking difference in having people whiling to work and get their hands dirty or having lazy parasites. So today we are going to have a completely clean landscape in the back of our building!

<3