The CIA is an exciting collective of projects based in Amsterdam, each with diverse ways of presenting alternative non-mainstream information as a catalyst for people to take action.
A central philosophy of the CIA is that the project is in itself a direct action: in the ways we work (non-hierarchical and consensus-based), in the places we are based (squatted buildings), in the principles behind our work (being anti-copyright and using different media to make information non-exclusive), who we work with (diverse people such as artists, activists, performers, local communities) and how the projects relate to each other (autonomous but very closely collaborative).
Our aim is not to 'do' occasional direct actions, but to actually create functioning radical alternative ways of living and working.
A central philosophy of the CIA is that the project is in itself a direct action: in the ways we work (non-hierarchical and consensus-based), in the places we are based (squatted buildings), in the principles behind our work (being anti-copyright and using different media to make information non-exclusive), who we work with (diverse people such as artists, activists, performers, local communities) and how the projects relate to each other (autonomous but very closely collaborative).
Our aim is not to 'do' occasional direct actions, but to actually create functioning radical alternative ways of living and working.
The infocafe is a local project based firmly in the community and providing access to information on global issues.
In this open, squatted free space - a cultural oasis in Amsterdam's increasingly corporatised city centre - we have cheap (sometimes free!) healthy vegan/vegetarian food, we display posters and flyers for upcoming events and local campaigns, our shelves are full of magazines, books and videos and we have regular infonights showing non-mainstream films and videos. The space is used for a range of activities from talks, meetings and workshops to activist training and banner-making.
In this open, squatted free space - a cultural oasis in Amsterdam's increasingly corporatised city centre - we have cheap (sometimes free!) healthy vegan/vegetarian food, we display posters and flyers for upcoming events and local campaigns, our shelves are full of magazines, books and videos and we have regular infonights showing non-mainstream films and videos. The space is used for a range of activities from talks, meetings and workshops to activist training and banner-making.
the Animal Defence League (ADL) are campaigning for a 'fur-free Amsterdam' and the closure of the Biomedical Primate Research Centre among other things.
The Green Pepper is a direct action and alternative lifestyle magazine that challenges accepted perceptions of magazine production: there are no advertisements, no copyright, different prices depending on what people can afford, a consensus-based editorial and production process and no 'professional' writers.
Recent themes have been the global economy, climate change, and the corporatisation of culture.
NOW ONLINE! The Green Pepper magazine now has its own webpage, including the complete "Earth Crimes" spoof newspaper produced for the actions at the COP6.5 climate talks in Bonn.
Recent themes have been the global economy, climate change, and the corporatisation of culture.
NOW ONLINE! The Green Pepper magazine now has its own webpage, including the complete "Earth Crimes" spoof newspaper produced for the actions at the COP6.5 climate talks in Bonn.
contact us on 683-1021 if you have a project and are interested in being part of the CIA...