After a little digging, I came across thishttp://www.akpress.org/2006/items/provoamsterdamsanarchistrevolt, a book about them put out by AK Press.
The Provos sound pretty damn awesome.
On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 2:57 PM, Anthony Siracusa anthony@riseup.net wrote:
Hey all--
These are fascinating documents you've provided! Thanks so much for the info!
Best, Anthony
On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 9:42 PM, Wendy Monroe wendy.monroe@usermail.comwrote:
Hear hear! The Provos were an amazing social movement from 1966-1968, although disappointingly little of their writings were published in English. Being finally able to read them has motivated me quite a bit to study the Dutch language...
Provo Park ( since renamed Civic Center Park) was the Main Square in front of City Hall in Berkeley, California where I grew up. Until moving to Amsterdam, I had no idea who they were, or what they stood for.
Information about them appears to have been censored, from the Central Public Library in Amsterdam... my theory is that it is because they smoke-bombed Queen Beatrix' wedding procession in Dam Square in 1966. ( and the Central Library was dedicated by Queen Beatrix' son..) There is a small display on the Provo Movement in the Amsterdam Historical Museum... a half block away from the Lievertje statue, the Provo's mascot where the Happenings were held.
There is an anarchist bookstore in Amsterdam, a few doors up from Rembrandt's House that carries one of the only books in English about the Provos that I have ever found.., I think on Jodenbreestraat. Right near Waterlooplein. I think the name of the store is 'Fort Tschakoo' or something very similar.
Here is a scan of the original Provo Manifesto for the White Bicycle Plan, however in Dutch language. Concluding with the cryptic phrase.. ' A bicycle is *something*, but almost *nothing*!' ( Fiets is iets, maar bijna niets!) I will always wonder exactly they meant by that...
*http://www.gramschap.nl/provo/chrono/prpk5.jpg*
Met vriendelijke groet,
Wendy Monroe
On 07 Sep 2009, at 19:46, Simon Z wrote:
If I was in msterdam, I would try to look up local info on the Provoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provo_%28movement%29. They were an Amsterdam based activist/anarchist group in the 1960's that did some pretty amazing, non-violent, anti-authoritarian work, including the initiation of one of the original free bike programs - the White Bicycleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_bicycle- which were the main influence for folks here in Austin to create the Yellow Bike Project in 1997.
The Provos have disbanded but as far as I know their history is fairly well documented in Amsterdam.
International Institute of Social Historyhttp://www.iisg.nl/archives/en/files/p/10817565.php
Cheers, Simon
http://www.austinyellowbike.org
Anthony Siracusa wrote:
Hello all--
I'm in Amsterdam as part of a year long journey across five continents to study bicycle cultures, and I'm wondering if anyone on the list knows about community bicycle programs in the Netherlands--particularly in Amsterdam. Any tips or leads are greatly appreciated!
I found "Smerig" yesterday--a very well organized and 25 year old co-op operating in formerly squatted but now legal space.
Any other suggestions are welcome!
Best,
Anthony Siracusa www.anthonysiracusa.blogspot.com +31 64 75 06 507 Thomas J. Watson Fellow, 2009-2010 People Using Pedal Power: Global Bicycling Communities www.watsonfellowship.org
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-- Anthony Siracusa www.anthonysiracusa.blogspot.com +31 64 75 06 507 Thomas J. Watson Fellow, 2009-2010 People Using Pedal Power: Global Bicycling Communities www.watsonfellowship.org
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