Christiania Long Live!

I know that everybody is talking about the UK wedding these days, which by the way is lovely. I’m not going to lie…

However, today i want to emphasize the concept of ‘Freedom’! A word I will live and die by. And if you do not believe me, Try me! Since 2004 or so the Danish government has put pressure on one of the most beautiful, liberal institutions in my home country of Denmark called ‘Christiania’ to close it down.

Christiania is a community established by hippies in the early 70’s, who were tired of capitalism and who disregarded the conform society. Christiania is in it’s pure ideology a community of freedom, where anyone can live and settle if they come in peace, pay taxes, like organic gardens and home made architecture.

When I still lived in Copenhagen I loved my morning jogs around the lakes behind Christiania. Running around the community I felt like I was in a time bubble where nature is still king and love for humanity still matters. (The unspoken law in Christiania is that you cannot run in the actual community, so after my run I’d always walk through the community catching all the smells and sights from vendors, people, restaurants and happenings).  I am aware of the fact, that the reason the Danish government is closing down Christiania is because of the drug sales going on there. And yes, there is a street called ‘Pusher Street’ where wheat is sold. But so what? I live in Los Angelels where you just need a prescription from your doctor and then you can buy wheat legally and travel with it everywhere in the World. And believe me, to get a prescription is easier than ‘1-2-3’. I’m not a smoker, so this is not a personal ‘wheat issue’. But being a Dane living abroad and watching all the drama taking place since the so called drug trading was closed in Christiania, drug sales have spread out to the rest of the country and to many, many hands and it is beyond scary how this situation  has ignited and led to so many gang fights, deaths, threats and horrible crazy situations for innocent people living in Copenhagen. The city that I was so proud to call my home town is suddenly a war zone with police state regulations. Really now????

Danish Government, please explain! Give me one single, good reason why it does society or anybody good to close down Christiania? This place is even more famous than our amusement park Tivoli, and has so may visitors every year from tourists who want to experience the hippie feeling of a ‘city within a city’ that has maintained the feel from the 70’s when humanity was still around so it brings income to the city. Wanting to close Christiania is one of the stupidest things I have encountered that my home country has ever done.

I’m not sure how to go about this. I guess I always thought that no matter how right wing the government was they would comprehend how much value Christiania brings to Copenhagen. If not for humanity then as a monetary industry where they can allure more tourists to town and thereby earn more money.

Now, learning that a shut down is closer than ever I don’t know what to do other than to reach those in society who can actually make a difference. It is a huge, huge mistake to close down the old hippie ville. Please rethink it and spend the energy on something that really deserves it.

I’m sorry for this shout out, but I’m really upset about the situation in my home country.

Peace out and love from a Dane living in California

xoxo KK