Signatures Defend City Blocks

05 July 2007

The action to surround Zagreb�s Donji Grad block between Gundulic and Preradovic Streets with signatures from the �Stop Devastation of the Cvijetni Trg (Square of Flowers) and Donji Grad, held yesterday, June 4, marks the continuation of the campaign against the arbitrary decisions of city administration and private investors.

Nothing seems to stop free capital and private investment. Not even the open and active opposition of the citizens. It is the same old story regarding the changes and the urban plans which, in spite of the public and the experts community, go in favour of big players.

The campaign deals, then, with traffic congestion of the very downtown of the city, of smaller pedestrian zone, of elite housing and accompanying underground garages. What we have is a mindless sale that will have negative effects on quality of living of each individual citizen of Zagreb.

This deals with the petition to stop the devastation of Cvjetni Trg and Donji Grad, organized by Zelena Akcija and Right to a City; and the total disregard for the will of 54,000 citizens that gave their signatures to send a message to the city authorities that they don�t want their city scarred.

The fact that the petition is so obstinately ignored from the moment the signatures were collected, the activists gathered around this initiative felt they have to take out to the streets once again in the effort to warn about the damaging consequences of the recent developments.

About 120 activists made a human chain around the block surrounded by Gunduliceva Str � Varsavska Str � Cvjetni Trg. They stood there for about 20 minutes, connected by cardboard posters that the citizens used to sign their support for the petition, which were originally to be sent to Mayor Bandic. The gathering proceeded in a peaceful manner and was met with approval of the citizens and great interest by the media.

The organizers don�t plan to stop there, but actively plan other routes of action to create pressure until the start of actual works on the Hoto Project. The works are announced to start in August, when the city is emptied of its citizens who use that month for their vacations.

Zelena Akcija and �Right to a City� announce that, once the works start, the cardboard baricated will give way to people of flesh and blood who will be more difficult to ignore.