SCAN - The Balloon Factory

SCAN is the Social Centre Autonomous Network, an international movement of squatted social centres. The Sydney group have been without a base since the Midnight Star in Homebush was taken back and fenced off by the owner and/or his minions. This weekend we squatted the Balloon Factory, a big old shop in Newtown that's been empty for quite a while now while the owner tries to get permission to rebuild it. Art has gone up, spaces have been cleared and cleaned, and we've started doing free film nights.

SCAN occupies property to have political space to organise against capitalism. The Social Centre is a self managed use of space through autonomous decision making (see decision making over) Social Centres are the result of occupation movements that reappropriate property for activist and working class community space. These kind of Squats are part of an international matrix of squatting movements with histories of supporting worker, peasant, student and community uprisings critical of private property systems and government inequity. Globally, and in Sydney the activity of squatted social centres ranges from organising alternatives to the monopoly of the money system (i.e. world bank), to pursue campaigns such as local anti- racism, anti- fascism/police, anti-border control and housing equity. We appropriate spaces outside the control of the state and market for info shops, gallery space, free/cheap cafes and bars, independent film nights, forums, theater, parties and free recycled multimedia access centres. Providing social services such as free food and resources to people increasingly disenfranchised by the stripping of the welfare state is prioritised. We exist to demonstrate the capacity of people to organise themselves outside the systems of state and market which increasingly control our lives. By providing our own social and political spaces we are empowered to express marginalised voices and take control of our communities.

Check out squat.net for more on squatting,