List of anarchist communities

Wikipedia has some so-called design flaws that are essential to its design, such as the total lack of fact-checking. Obviously, there are parallel benefits to this (which don't need describing here) but sometimes the benefits are closer still. For example, because there is no fact-checking on Wikipedia, people can use it for a totally uncensored platform for personal reporting, and despite Wikipedia's policy against this, sometimes erroneous information may stay online for years, propped up only by the strength of its own personality.

Consider the following section in the List of anarchist communities:

Christiania was founded in 1971, when a group of hippie squatters occupied an abandoned military barracks in Copenhagen, Denmark. One of the more influential people involved was Jacob Ludvigsen, who published an anarchist newspaper which widely proclaimed the establishment of the free town. The people of Christiania developed their own set of rules—independent of the Danish government—which include the prohibition of cars, stealing, guns, bulletproof vests and hard drugs. Cameras are not allowed, and locals will wave their hands and shout "No photo!" if they see a picture being taken. Famous for its main drag, known as "Pusher Street" as hash was sold openly from permanent stands until 2004. Such commerce is controversial, but cannot be removed without complete community consensus. For years the legal status of the region was in limbo, as the Danish government attempted, without success, to remove the squatters.

The neighborhood is accessible only through two main entrances, and cars are not allowed. Danish authorities have repeatedly removed the large stones blocking the entrance, which have been replaced each time by residents. The authorities claim that the area must be accessible for safety concerns, but the residents suspect that it will instead be used by the police. The town negotiated an arrangement with the Danish defense ministry, the legal owners of the location, in 1995, resulting in resident taxation. The future of the area remains in doubt, as Danish authorities continue to push for its removal.

The inhabitants fight back with humour and persistence—for instance, when authorities in 2002 demanded that the hash trade be made less visible, the stands were covered in military camouflage nets. On January 4, 2004, the stands were finally demolished by the owners themselves (without stopping the hash trade as such, which continued on a person-to-person basis) as a way of persuading the government to allow the Free Town to continue to exist. Before they were demolished, the National Museum of Denmark was able to obtain one of the more colourful stands, and now includes it as part of an exhibit.

Now, I'm interested in the affairs of northern Europe's intoxicated-class as much as anybody, but how else would I find out about a cheeky hippie commune in Denmark? Answer me that, and I'll get you a blog.


BONUS FUN FACT FOR THE POST:
David Bowie is good at being on the cover of good albums.