May Day RTS, Dublin

by T Fri May 07, 2004 00:34

It occurred to me that some people visiting this site might come across these RTS pictures but wonder what it is all about.

So here's a basic outline. Anyone with additional info please add.

Reclaim The Streets (RTS) is about reclaiming the public space that is the street. All too often especially in the last 10 years, nearly all events of all types now organised tend to be sponsored by corporates, such as drinks companies like Guinness, Heinkein or other outlets like RedBull and MTV.

This is rarely a problem for the State, when the (commerical) event organisers request to close off streets for a day or two at a time and generally they are always facilitated. In contrast the attitude to events organised voluntarily by people for people with NO commercial element to it tend to be frowned upon. Indeed two years ago at the May Day 2002 RTS, the police beat people off the street, even though there was absolutely no trouble at the event nor did any one provoke them. And even if they had, the violence used could be in no way be justified.

RTS events started a few years ago in London (?) and have since spread to other cities all around the world.

The other main theme of RTS is that you the individual should make your own fun and entertainment. In today's world we are used to being spoon fed for everything (TV for example?) and everything is viewed as a (commerical) service. So the fast food concept of : 'A big Mac + Fries please' has spread into our daily lives. Everywhere things are left to 'experts' and 'professionals'. So we go to a concert, but again are served up enterainment. All of this serves to make us increasingly passive and very handily for the State, thus obedient and serville. RTS is about you becoming an active participant and reclaiming control in your life and doing things for yourself. It is part of the process of waking up and realizing that we don't have to live the life cut out for us by the State and private business. There are other ways and alternatives.

Hundreds of years ago, markets and festivals were a popular part of culture and presumably back in those times people were more socially active and engaged in the community more. This whole side of human nature has been crushed and pushed aside by our current materialist consumerist society

You tend to find that newcomers to RTS are often a little taken back initially because they are not sure what to do and are sort of waiting for someone else to provide the entertainment. However it is usually not long before they get it and join in.

Hopefully that provides some insight. I'm sure some other important points have been left out, so hopefully others will pick up on those.

by D. moore - Indymedia Thu May 06, 2004 19:25

The cork sound system & the beastie boys was excellent

by munchkin(eater) Thu May 06, 2004 18:53

again i managed to evade all photographic record of my ever having been anywhere... i think there's one of the top of my head so i suppose that's something...

by karen eliot Tue May 04, 2004 19:19

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by karen eliot Tue May 04, 2004 19:17

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by Napalm Tue May 04, 2004 18:18

Great day, well done to everybody

by pc Tue May 04, 2004 17:33

what a great day i was well impressed 3 sounds systems easily a thousand ppl

banging music going mad with the 4 days of action its was an amazing weekend....


thanks to those who did they hard work preparing you know who you are!

by redjade Tue May 04, 2004 13:33

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by redjade Tue May 04, 2004 13:32

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by redjade Tue May 04, 2004 13:30

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by redjade Tue May 04, 2004 13:29

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