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
Provos. 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 Bicycles - 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 History
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
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave@bikecollectives.org To manage your subscription, plase visit: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave@bikecollectives.org To manage your subscription, plase visit: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...