there are several groups and ppl involved in the organising of the events, the most coming from autonomous spectrum.

there are many reasons to organize such an event. the political and social situation in vienna, the eu and beyond is getting more and more restrictive. there are cuts in the social system, like precarisation, the education system (in particular on the universities). the society is splitted by capitalism, sexism, racism. for example the special laws for foreigners, which are going to be acceptilated during the days of the congress of vienna. clauses for observation show us already how ppl are kicked out from public places not only in vienna.

on the 15th of may, the government is celebrating - 60 years after the end of the nazis, 50 years free (!) after the allied left austria, 10 years eu membership and some more anniversaries will be celebrated in an official way. during this year also lots of activities against this official picture, which still shows austria as the first victim of the nazis and not as a society which was involved in the mass murdering in concentration camps and further bad things. on 15th of may the official celebration will take place and there are plans to make an demonstration on this day during the congress.

one reason for the idea of such a congress was the local situation of autonomous (or free) spaces in vienna.

one example: the communist party sold the EKH, the only squat and autonomous center in vienna. and: they sold the house to nazis!

in austria squatted places are really rare, if u walk around, u will find not many. the most so called alternative places run more and more commercial. people tried to squat a free space last year, but they were evicted several times. also other autonomous spaces like the students pub tüwi possible kicked out from the university. in austria there is also a tradition of official funding to give organisations from the civil society money. during the last years this has been cut more and more. many initiatives couldn't continue there work or have to limit it, because they got dependent of this money. places like the ekh, never took money from the government. they run autonomous with lots of projects inside. for some of this projects it will be the possible end, if they are kicked out. the situation is save until the end of june, what will happen after, is not clear.

we could add more reasons to start an event like the congress of vienna, but that would reach too far. so, let’s tell now what will happen!

beside lots of discussions, workshops, video screenings, exhibitions, concerts, there will also be actions.

to explain who is involved in organizing the congress of vienna is very difficult, because it is based on nonhierarchical, antiauthoritarian structures and the events are organised decent rally by different initiatives or specially formed working groups from a grassroots level. there are really many ppl involved and it is a broad spectrum.

the organization of the event is based on the classical diy concept:

do it yourself ...
...does not mean: everything is done by itself
...but means: everything is possible that is done by individuals in an autonomous and self-dependent way. in demand for the congress of vienna are self-organisation and creativity by the participants to fill existing places and reclaim new ones.

i hope this explains a little bit the involved spectrum. u can find more information on the webpage of the congress, which should be updated permanently with new information and events. now there are more than 50 discussions and workshops already fixed and they are still getting more. i cannot add a list, because it is too much. but have a look on the online program.

but i can tell u some of the subjects:

there will be the topic migration and institutionalised racism. the events will take place at the university and there will be open spaces for ppl who can do there spontaneous discussions, workshops and action plannings there.

further topics are squatting, anarchism, women space, queer & gender, drug policy, animal rights, repression (incl. genova g8 2001 and the aftermath), and so on...

there will also an imc (media center) set up for documentation and live reports as well reports on the local free radio station.

the actions in public space: the discussions should not take place only in closed rooms, it is one aim to go out and continue the discussions with actions in the streets.

on friday, the 13th there will be the traditional F13 action day: the aim is to bring attention to the situation of socially marginalised - with a wide range of different actions. It’s up to the participants themselves to chose a form of action – from humorous forms of counter-information to civil disobedience, from art to street actions… everything is possible. It’s time to reclaim public spaces through new and subversive actions! www.f13.at//

on sunday a demonstration is planed, with the title: eat the rich. it starts at 1 pm @ stephansplatz (city).

on tuesday, 17th there is also a call for an action day, but as i know, the most activities should come out from the congress discussions.

the end will be the tuewi open air concert @ "tuerkenschanzpark" on 18th of may.

we also organized places to sleep, a publix kitchen (vegan) and maps of the city. more information about this you can get at the info points, which are at the ekh and at monochrom (Museumsquartier).

u see, it is really a lot what will happen and it’s very difficult to get together all information. but from 11th on there will be several info points where participants can get a schedule, which should be updated every day with current information.




links/further information:

the webpage for the congress:
wienerkongress.info/
english: wienerkongress.info//html/eindex.htm

for current reports from the congress of vienna check out:
at.indymedia.org/

"historical": first info from january this year on the congress (scroll down, english comes after german version):
at.indymedia.org//newswire/display/49198

ekh webpage (some english info there)
med-user.net//ekh

tuewi
tuewi.action.at/

english feature on the struggle for autonomous spaces in vienna, which explains the current situation of the ekh and links to further english articles:
at.indymedia.org//newswire/display/53425

english information also on the webpage of “freibesetzt”, an exhibition which will take place from 29th june – 23th july 2005 in vienna. the “freibesetzt” exhibition and parallel happenings will explore places and structures where attempts are made to create space for experimental living, working and thinking, paradoxically, both within and as autonomous as possible from the prescribed societal status-quo.
freibesetzt.tk/

squatting:
squat.net/

about the topic of migration and in this context the topics of the working group, have a look at no-racism.net/ - u will find there lots of information, but most in german. most articles on the european camp system are in the category border regime (grenzregime):
no-racism.net//rubrik/38

i think u know sites with english information connect to this reports like no-camps.org/ or nolager.org/, which are also related to no-racism.net (also as part or no border-network, noborder.org/)


you can also view some texts in french and slovensky in:

francaise:

invitation: marseille.indymedia.org//news/2005/01/1837.php
appèl de groupe de travail migration: at.indymedia.org//newswire/display/53845


slovensky:

viď. novinky na: praha.squat.net//


we hope, that this is enough for the moment, if u have more questions on the congress, please ask. the general contact for the congress is: wienerkongress (at) gmx.net