與會者:
素人之亂 (東京)、Indie Space AGIT (釜山)、直走咖啡 (臺北) 、活化廳（香港）
Panel:
Amateur Revolt (Tokyo) , Indie Space AGIT (Busan), G Straight Café (Taipei), and Wooferten (HK)
日 期 Date：28.4.2012
時 間 Time：2：00 - 6：00 P.M
地 點 Location：佔領中環 (滙豐銀行總行大堂) Occupy Central (HSBC lobby)
時 間 Time：2：00 - 6：00 P.M
地 點 Location：佔領中環 (滙豐銀行總行大堂) Occupy Central (HSBC lobby)
Please roll down for Eng version
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o 源起：都是因為喝酒
有一次在釜山的Indie Space AGIT，大家喝得臉紅耳赤，我們談起那些笨蛋國家元首常常在世界各地開高峰會，行動者在場外示威，裡面卻在風花雪月，這真是一個沒趣的狀態！倒不如我們這些搗蛋份子也來一個高峰會，討論大家各自最關注的本土社會問題，讓這些國家元首也來為我們頭痛一下。於是大家約定前來香港，那就促成了這次「東亞諸眾峰會」的誕生。
第一節：自主 x 空間 x 抵抗
李俊峰（主持）：
這個網絡始於09年在釜山遇上Indie Space AGIT的朋友，他們是一個推動獨立創作文化的藝術空間，也參與當地不同類型的社會行動。那時我知道當地一些保衛鄉郊的運動，回港數個月後便發生了「反高鐵」和「保衛菜園村」。08年底台灣發生了「野草莓學運」，實踐年青一代對社會公義的關注，遙遙呼應90年代的「野百合運動」。後來「野草莓運動」也間接影響後來我和朋友發起，同樣提問年青一代身份問題的「80後六四文化祭」。08年，周思中等朋友到日本參與反世貿會議行動，認識了「素人之亂」的朋友，他們在《獨立媒體》上寫了一篇報道，讓我們認識到他們有趣的實踐。另一方面，各地社會運動的張力亦持續上昇，也同時出現藝術界主動參與到社會運動前線的現象。
於是，我開始留意到亞洲各地正面對一些相近的社會問題，新生代有著近似的想法，並體現在相近的行動方式。然而，各地的問題看似相近，背後卻有著複雜的脈絡，而我們卻不太了解中間的異同。今天的主題是「革命後的世界」，我希望能討論一下以下四點：
革命好像是一件遙不可及的事，各地朋友的實踐正指向或追求一個怎樣的世界？怎樣的生活狀態？怎樣的社會？
文化、藝術、創意等美學元素愈見在社會運動上出現，其重要性在哪裡？這次四組朋友的共通點之一就是大家都希望實踐跟以往社會運動不一樣的方式，特別是以文化藝術的手法感染更多人參與，這種行動方式到底有什麼價值？
自主的社群生活是什麼？如何成為可能？這次四組與會者都是一些因著相近理念而走在一起，共同實踐一種生活態度，這又是否一個「革命後的世界」？
最後一點， 若我們把剛提及的問題放大到一個較大的地區，這一網絡能否幫助大家更深入地了解這些問題？長遠而言，這一網絡是否能發展出相互合作和支援？
長話短說，今天首先發言的是來自韓國的「 Indie Space AGIT」，然後是來自台北的「直走咖啡」，接著是「活化廳」和「素人之亂」。先請 AGIT 的大哥－柳成孝。
Indie Space AGIT // 圖片來源： 柳成孝 Image: RYU Sounghyo
// Indie Space AGIT ：創造我們的「次文化」
柳成孝(RYU Sounghyo)：
大家好，我是柳成孝，Indie Space AGIT 的策劃人。其實 AGIT 是空間的名稱，我們的組織應叫做「對抗悶蛋城市的惡搞報復」（Funny Revenge To The Boring Society）。在90年代後期，釜山出現很多「反主流／非主流文化」運動（原文為Subculture，下作：次文化），但沒有太多人留意。因此我們希望組織起來，一同策劃街頭音樂會、音樂節，重奪公共空間 。當時我們結連不同類型的「次文化」，如搖滾、街舞、塗鴉、獨立電影等，2003年，聯合超過20個組織來做音樂節 。2004年，我們成立了一個新組織來支援其他「次文化」組織，也替他們連結到一些非營利組織，促進他們的合作，並開始在公共空間舉辦與社會議題相關的活動，提出解決辦法又或讓更多人了解。之後，我們嘗試與其他韓國城市及外國城市交流。因為釜山的藝術社群非常小，為了合作籌辦不同活動，我們需要與其他城市建立聯繫。
2008年，我們開始營辦藝術家工作室。我們之前非法佔領大學裡一個小小的地方作工作室，沒有得到批准。雖然已佔領了一段很長的時間，但這空間很小，我們需要一個更大的空間辦不同類型的活動，如駐場計劃、工作坊、討論會等。所以我們有了營辦一個空間的想法，這一個空間就是AGIT。我們約每個月辦一次街頭音樂會，方式是佔領街道，搭台，然後開始音樂會。有時也會辦展覽，但不是在畫廊，而是在公共空間、街道、公園、地鐵站等。 此外，我們也會進行釜山「次文化」的研究和出版。
釜山有很多社會問題，我們會在公共空間舉辦一些活動來回應。很多藝術家也願意無償地幫助我們。我們辦過很多藝術活動來反對政府的政策，如反對韓國政府對美國食品的進口政策。我們也會辦一些活動來聲援韓國的燭光集會和工人罷工。近年，我們亦嘗試建立海外連結，如有次和日本、韓國的藝術家一同合作音樂會，抗議當時日本政府派兵伊拉克。去年，我們策劃了一個公共藝術計劃，釜山政府一般只邀請著名的藝術家，不太照顧年青藝術家，令年青藝術家都跑到首爾發展，所以我們特意辦不同活動來培育年青藝術家。
峰：
補充一下，韓國的文化有中心和邊緣的地域差距。大家都知道韓國的文化工業很強，如 K-pop，於是連帶「次文化」也有不錯的發展，但都集中在首爾。柳成孝原本在首爾工作，後來去到釜山發展是因為他覺得首爾的「次文化」只是另一種主流，所以希望在釜山開發另一種新的可能性。十年下來，他們確是建立了相對不錯的成績。之後是「直走咖啡」的朋友來介紹他們在台灣的活動。
Nuclear Free World Festival@Busan, 2012 // 圖片來源：柳成孝 Image: RYU Sounghyo
什麼是我們？What is “We”? // 圖片來源： 直走 Image: Rules
// 直走咖啡 ： 直走下去的基地實驗
陳炯霖：
因為「直走咖啡」在四月三十日（三天後）就要關門，這次我們來香港想要跟大家介紹「直走咖啡」，但它卻要關，真想哭 ~ 我先介紹自己，我是陳炯霖，「直走咖啡」辦活動時，我都會參與。「直走咖啡」的成員有很多，這次來的只有我們三人。
林祐丞：
大家好，我是祐丞，也是來自台灣「直走咖啡」。
蔡奉瑾：
大家好，我是蔡奉瑾，我算是在「野草莓」時期便一直參與的。雖然「直走」會在四月底關門，但還是很重視今天來跟大家見面。雖然要關，但活動不會停止，一些行動還是會持續做下去。今天，我會先從「直走」是如何開始、為什麼有這樣的想法開始談起。
我們一開始時是在「野草莓學運」，那時因為有中國的官員來台灣，警察出現過度的維安事件，很多人走在街上披國旗或什麼，就會被暴力對待。於是就莫名地在行政院前聚集了一堆人，後來移到廣場上。集會從11月到年底，維持大概兩個月。當時大家只是在那邊靜坐，但這是二十年前「野百合運動」時一些前輩用的方式。現在的年青人又在這裡靜坐，有些參加者覺得奇奇怪怪。當時，如在集會時講話聊天就會被叫不要講話，只要靜坐，氣氛很嚴肅，說要給大家一個嚴肅認真的印象，但是那可能不是我們真正的樣子。我們其實想在廣場上做些什麼，好像打羽毛球，但不大可能實現。所以，我們想創造一個地方，讓大家做自己想做的事，表達我們想表達的話，而不是只維持一個樣子，讓大家以為我們就是怎樣。
然後，我們有一些人還是辦了「野莓開唱」，邀請了很多地下樂團或較激進的朋友來表演，在音樂祭前後我們也討論了很多，但只有在音樂會現場才見到大家，之後還有沒有繼續見面的機會？後來我們移到「野空間」，存放帳篷和物資，但那是一個在一樓的房子，是一個辦公室，很難有新的朋友進來參與。於是，我們在2009年組成了Rules，有一個成員籌了八十萬台幣就租了一個空間，然後開了一間咖啡店。其實這是經過很多很複雜的討論過程，開了很多次會，問大家是否覺得這地方應繼續下去？繼續下去應做什麼事情？最後，就有了想要來經營這店的一群人。
Rules是我們團體的名稱，裡面成員由不同背景的人組成，有些做創作，有些讀社會學。我們希望以「直走」這空間作為組織方式，繼續見到大家。我們的成員同時也是店員，大家要負責營運這個店；但我們也是行動者，參與不同社運或行動，是類似公社的想像。大家讓這地方持續營運，建立一個自主的社群，而且是能長期發展的，所以賺錢對我們而言有一定的重要性。對外的話， 會讓客人了解定價怎樣來，如一杯飲料的空間成本（租金、水、電）是55元，材料的成本是30元，那價錢就大概是80元左右。在其他咖啡店，如是特別調製的飲料，因為較花力氣，所以會特別貴，但我們賣的每一杯都是空間成本加上飲料成本。如果我們能賺到錢，便會用這些錢辦活動。所以我們希望這些消費的過程能變得透明。
「直走」位於師大一個寧靜的住宅區，因為要抽煙的關係，外牆直接打通，外面掛彩虹旗，這也是鄰里不太爽我們的原因。我們在外面種百香果，試試自己栽種一些東西。外面的牆可以讓人塗寫，店裡的桌子和椅子也是經過幾次討論才變成現在的樣子，一般咖啡店不會這樣，因空間是可以流通的，都是一區一區隔好，讓你不可以打擾到別人。
店裡還有一個小房間供人自由借用，我們有一個友好的團體是台灣的LGBT的團體，每月會來這小房間裡練習綑綁，就是SM。Youtube影展是找一些有趣的朋友來播放他心目中Youtube影展的清單。我們還有一個地下室空間，試過辦一個日本反核運動的展覽。接下來就是我們成員主要投入的兩個行動，一個「諾努客」（No-Nukes），另一個是「士林王家」，一個關於都更的行動。
「直走咖啡」 G Straight café
// 圖片提供：直走 Image: Rules
諾努客＠海洋音樂祭 No-Nukes＠Ho-hai-yan Rock Festival，2011
//圖片來源 Image: www.taiwannonuke.blogspot.com
o 反核：從貢寮到台北
炯霖：
首先，大家看我穿的衣服就知我是反核的。「諾努客」這三個字就是 No Nuke。最初我為什麼會參與反核？那時台灣的第四座核電廠（核四）快要蓋好，年底便會裝上燃料棒。若核電廠安上燃料棒污染便開始產生，那就來不及，於是在2010年夏天，就有了組成「諾努客」的想法。
一開始我們就決定反核的行動應要跑到當地進行，就是「核四」所在地一個叫「貢寮」的地方。其實這地方長期都有反核運動，一些人從三、四十歲開始在那邊反核，到現在差不多五、六十分歲，但核電廠都快要蓋好，他們都快沒力了。當時我們組成「走唱隊」，到貢寮那邊表演，不一定談關於反核的，只是先擺一個地方出來，讓大家來聽，也可以一起唱。貢寮那邊每年夏天都有一個很大型的「海洋音樂祭」，有幾十萬的年青人參與，但明明核電廠就在對面，去的大都不知道那是核電廠。於是我們就做了一個山寨版的音樂祭官方網站，騙大家我們在招募志工，結果來的時候才知道是我們的反核活動。另外貢寮那邊有一個反核自救會，其實已經停頓了一段時間，因為我們年青人參與才重新召開。他們覺得這些都市來的年青人很新鮮，也很有趣。
然後，我們回到台北，在街頭做了一些行動，如在台北熱鬧的東區放一個假的核廢料桶，故意打翻，然後一群人裝作昏倒在地上的樣子。有一個小插曲，我們拿這個桶搭火車的時候，車站的職員很緊張，我們說明是假的，他們還要拿一個測輻射的錶來測，之後這桶放在「直走」讓人家放雨傘，鄰居看見了又向警察投訴，怕真的有輻射。我覺得大家真的怕輻射的話，怎麼不反對這麼一大座核電廠？ 我們開始反核行動不到一年，想不到日本福島的核電廠就發生爆炸。那時在台灣有一個很大的遊行，就是「430向日葵反核遊行」。這是很大型的遊行，幾乎台灣所有的社運團體都有參與，那次我們爭取到一架電音卡車，遊行時我們的一區變成電音搖滾區。之後，我們在日本的反核運動認識了「素人之亂」，便邀請松本哉來台，之後松本哉又邀我到釜山，在那邊認識了李俊峰，於是今天來到這裡。
順帶一提，「直走」為什麼要關？那是因為鄰居認為我們太吵。「直走」在一個很寧靜的住宅區，像我們要準備遊行的物資，由晚上弄到清早，其實真的很吵，結果居民聯合起來要把我們趕出去。所以當我們知道「素人之亂」的時候，覺得他們是非常好的範例，因為他們跟周邊的社區關係非常好。其實做社運的同時，必須看到那些不做社運但活在我們身邊的人。你若不去了解他們，他們也不了解你，所以我覺得把我們的範圍擴得更大是一件很重要的事情。
3.28 士林文林苑強拆事件 Forced Demolishment of Wang’s family on March 28, 2012
// 圖片來源：直走 Image: Rules
o「都市更新」與「家」的想像
祐丞：
大家好，如最近大家有留意台灣新聞的話，就會看到都更案在台北或其他地方都對當地居民造成壓迫，如富爭議性的「士林王家」事件。這房子在一個月前財團讓政府介入，強迫把人民搬走，然後把房子拆掉。按台灣的法案，財團只要拿二十萬台幣出來，就可以請政府來強拆。當晚台北市長郝龍斌在半夜，大概清晨三、四點，調了一千多警力來對付三百多名學生，學生雖組成人鏈，但最後全部都被抬走。
除了想跟大家介紹台灣最近的狀況，也想說參與這次行動的人，有「直走」的成員或平常待在這邊的人。可能因著平時建立的基礎，在王家事件時很多人自動自發來到這裡，共同來對付政府。雖然房子被拆，大家很難過，但有朋友那時就說了一句話：「房子雖然拆了，但沒關係，現在最重要是組織，而不是哀悼。」於是「直走」裡的一群人，有次喝酒的時候，就想到要辦一間都更受害者建設公司，在被拆掉的房子工地一起做工，把已拆掉的家蓋回來。財團、建商只會蓋一些漂漂亮亮的豪宅，然後賣給人，裡面沒感情的。關於家的想像最重要的事情是什麼？是我們應要在裡面生活。這一個行動就是要紮紮實實的透過勞動，一點一點把土翻起來清除掉。每天做到晚上，我們會在那邊一起煮東西。透過共食的方式，大家討論事情，就是勞動、共食、討論，有點像公社的狀況。
奉瑾：
總結來說，「直走」除了是一個咖啡店外，也是一個連結不同團體和行動的基地。 很多人問我們，之後會否繼續開，但有一個現實的問題就是最初投資了四十萬元的朋友現在還沒有回本，所以沒有再多的錢找地方開店。大家都想繼續開店，但不知道什麼時候可以重開。現時有一個可能，就是在一個叫永春的地區，也是即將被都更的地區，做一個「遊擊咖啡館」。那邊雖已經開始被拆，但可能有一個空間可給我們用。雖是短暫的，但可以測試我們到那裡可以做什麼。最後，宣傳一下，雖然我們要關店，五月中前要還原空間，但中間有段時間不用付租金，可以開放予大家使用，我們將會辦了三天「直走告別祭」，有音樂、展演、放映等，應會很好玩。如大家那段時間要來台灣的話，請務必來。謝謝大家。
Q&A:
峰：
接著，由去年曾親身到訪AGIT的黃津珏回應一下。
黃津珏：
我觀察到 AGIT 和「直走」有兩點很有趣。首先，「直走」和 AGIT 都用了大量的藝術和音樂元素來營造抗爭氣氛， 甚至有點取代了以往主流的抗爭模式。兩個組織都是開始時沒有空間，後來變成有空間，但 AGIT 有拿政府的資助，而「直走」沒有。AGIT 現時愈做愈大，一年下來可能有超過一百個活動，也能因著這些資源去做支援社運的事情，而他們說服政府的方法是這些活動能提高釜山的本地文化，拉闊釜山的旅遊吸引力，這其實很值得「活化廳」一類組織參考。另外，對應今天「革命後的世界」的議題，其他地方關注的議題如反核，是一些較長遠的環境議題。反觀香港，較多的是回應當下的議題，這裡有問題發生便往這邊回應，那裡有另一問題又往那行動，其實也蠻累的。我先問一個問題，柳成孝的本科是藝術（Fine Arts），後來轉而推動「次文化」運動，為什麼有這個轉向？兩者有什麼不同？
成孝：
其實我有三個本科，最初是讀工商管理及市場學，之後是純藝術，然後是社會學。在藝術學院的時候，我覺得老師們對藝術沒什麼夢想和理念，他們不知道什麼才是真正的藝術。所以我想連接另一些風格，就是「次文化」，因為他們對我們身處的社會有更強的想法，所以我便辭退藝術相關的工作，轉而推動「次文化」。
珏：
「次文化」本身是一件鬆散的事情，跳街舞和塗鴉是很不同的事情，中間的組織工作怎樣發生？有沒有遇到什麼困難？
成孝：
其實，釜山的人性格友善，很重視友誼，所以要連結不同風格的朋友走在一起時並不困難。大部份釜山的「次文化」團體都很小，他們很需要其他團體的幫助和合作。我們辦音樂節，需要音樂、設計、舞台等不同背景的人幫忙，一定要合作才能成事。另外，我們也投入了很多時間來討論和研究，尤其是一些與社會議題有關的活動，通常是經過許多研究才做出來的。
珏：
如何說服政府支持你們的反核活動？
成孝：
去年二月做了一場很大型的反核示威，資源來自大家的捐款和一些民間團體。那次和超過四十個不同類型的民間團體合作，他們也有幫助我們募款。
Eliz （觀眾）：
想問「直走咖啡」的朋友，「直走」在師大跟附近的社區沒發展很好的連結，之後在永春的遊擊咖啡館是否希望建立更強的社區連結？
奉瑾：
在師大時確實沒有做好跟居民的連結，可能有太多的店務要忙，跟居民打個招呼也沒有，鄰居心裡有投訴也沒有直接跟我們溝通，只是等到我們租約到期時跟房東施壓。永春那邊目前還是在討論階段，那邊是一個不錯的點，議題和王家有點不同，希望可把新的人帶進去。
峰：
「活化廳」的街坊有時會走進來，問我們其實是做什麼生意。這需要花點時間解釋。所以「直走咖啡」和「素人之亂」以消費連結群眾的概念其實很有意思，讓一些激進的想法如公社的生活和做生意結合起來。台灣在這方面的經驗多嗎？你們有從那裡參考？
奉瑾：
在「野莓開唱」的時候，我們對大家的社群已有大概認識，如大家都喜歡音樂，常常去咖啡店討論事情，所以我覺得咖啡店可能是我們的最大公因數。如果我們要讓新的人可以來消費和參與，又讓我們可自己營運下去，那便是開咖啡店。要不然最初大家也想過為什麼不開電玩店，又或釣蝦場（笑）。
黃洐仁（觀眾）：
我認為比較香港的狀況，「直走」不同的地方是他們最先是從一場運動開始，然後從運動中轉到咖啡店這個點，我印象中在香港沒見過。另，想問韓國朋友，我很想知你們為什麼會做現時的事情？你們很多活動都在城市的公共空間進行，你們如何理解公共空間？是否帶著一個開放公共空間的目標？還是不止這些事情？
成孝：
釜山沒太多人有興趣認識「次文化」，所以我們便成立組織來讓更多人認識。釜山的公共空間大都沒有什麼藝術，只在藝術館、畫廊等地方，但大部份人都不會去。所以我們想在公共空間做這些藝術活動， 由我們自己創造另一種風格的文化。
洐仁：
從你們播放的片段看到，因沒有政府阻撓，這些活動辦起來好像很容易， 很難想像在香港可做得這樣大型和長時間，你們經歷過些什麼才得到這樣的空間？
成孝：
韓國市民有權利在公共空間舉辦活動，只需向警察申請，但我們辦活動時音樂非常吵，所以有些人會投訴，然後警察會來，但我們不太理會，只在活動完結後到警局補簽一些文件，有些時候交點罰款，很容易。
鈺：
剛才阿仁問到有關難易的問題，我去年在釜山時，他們辦了一個連續一百天的藝術節，看他們每一天從工作室把器材搬到街上，完結後又再搬回去，我覺得難度在於他們凝聚了很了不起的能量。
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East Asia Multitude Meeting: The World After Revolution (Exerpts)
The Origin: All Because Of Drinking
One night when we were drinking in Indie space AGIT in Busan, we chatted about the world summits where the foolish heads of state gather. While the activists protest outside the venue, those inside are totally indifferent. Such a depressing situation! So why don’t we, the troublemakers, gather for a world summit and discuss our most pressing social issues (such as the rising prices of cup noodles according to social activist friends from Taiwan)? That’s why we gather in this East Asia Multitude Meeting today in Hong Kong.
Session I: Autonomy x Space x Resistance
Lee Chun Fung (Host): The topic for today’s discussion is “The World Afterafter Revolution”, it It will be good if we can talk about the four points below:
1. Revolution appears to be far from reach. What kind of world, life or society are we pursuing through our different local practices?
2. How important is imagination isin art and cultural movements? As more and more art and cultural interventions are seen in social movements, what are the values and function of these actions?
3. What’s the true meaning of “self-governing community living”? How can it be made possible?
4. If we extend the questions above to a greater region, can this network help us better understand these questions? In the long run, can this network develop and incorporate collaboration and support ?
The discussion today will start with Ryu Sounghyo, Indie space AGIT from Busan.
Indie Space AGIT: Creating Our Own “Subculture”
Ryu Sounghyo:
Hi, I am Ryu Sounghyo, the organizer of Indie space AGIT. The name of our organization is Funny Revenge to the Boring Society, and AGIT is the name of the space. In late 1990s, many subculture movements appeared in Busan, however, they received very little attention. So we decided to get together and curate street concerts and music festivals in order to reclaim our public space. There were different kinds of subculture, including rock, hip-pop, graffiti, independent movies and etc. In 2003, we teamed up with over 20 organizations for a music festival. In 2004, we set up a new organization to support other subculture groups and lined them up with other non-profit organizations for cooperation. We organized events on social issues in public space to suggest solutions and increase people’s awareness on these issues. Later on, we tried to establish exchanges with other cities, both inside and outside Korea. The art community in Busan is rather small, so it is important for us to establish exchanges with those in other cities in order to co-organize different programmes.
We have been operating the artist studio since 2008. Prior to that time, we occupied a small space in the university without official approval. Though we had occupied the space for a long time, the main problem was that the space was really small and we needed a larger space to accommodate different programmes, like residency, workshops and seminars. So we came up with this idea of operating a space and that’s AGIT. We organize a street concert almost every month by occupying the streets. We build a stage and start the concert. Sometimes we also have exhibitions, not in galleries, but in public space like streets, parks and even the subway. Besides, we also do research and publication on subculture in Busan.
There are lots of social issues in Busan and we organize events in public space in response. Many artists are willing to help us on a pro bono basis. We held lots of art events to protest government policies, including the policy in favour of imported food from USA. Even though that was an anti-USA event, many American friends came to support us. We also organized activities to support Korean candle night vigil and worker strikes. Sometimes, we link up with the outside. We once collaborated with Japanese and Korean artists for a concert to denounce the Japanese government for dispatching troops to Iraq. Last year, we set up a public art programme aiming to groom young artists. Young artist development is often overlooked by the Busan government which usually only invites renowned artists., forcing many young artists to leave for Seoul.
Fung:
The cultural scene in Korea also shows differences between the centralized and the marginalized. We all know that the cultural industry in Korea is very strong as seen from the prominent K-pop phenomenon. Even the underground music scene is benefited by it. However, such vibrancy mainly centralizes in Seoul. Ryu Sounghyo used to work in Seoul, but he moved to Busan as he thought that subculture in Seoul was only another kind of mainstream. So he decided to explore a new possibility in Busan. After experimenting for a decade, they did a pretty good job. Let’s now welcome G Straight Café to share their experience in Taiwan.
G Straight Café: An Experience That Keeps Going
Tsai Fong-Jin:
Hi, I am Tsai Fong-Jin. I joined G Straight Café since the Wild Strawberries Movement. Even though the café will be closed in late April, we still cherish this chance to meet you all today. Some of our activities will keep going even though the café is closing. Let me first introduce the history of G Straight Café.
We began in the Wild Strawberries Movement when some Chinese officials visited Taiwan. At that time, when people carried the national flag in the streets or did something deemed inappropriate, the police would treat them with violence. As a result, many people gathered in front of the Executive Building, and later moved to the plaza. The assembly lasted for about two months, from November to end of the year. It was a sit-in protest, similar to what activists did in the Wild Lily Student Movement 20 years ago. Now, the young people came for a sit-in again, making some participants feel weird. Participants were told to remain silent during the assembly in order to impress the others that the assembly was solemn and serious. But that might not be what we truly were. We wanted to do something else in the plaza, playing badminton perhaps. But it seemed impossible. So we want to create a space where we can all do whatever we want, and say whatever we want, instead of presenting only one static impression to the public.
We later moved to “Wild Space” where our tents and materials are stored. But that is an office on the first floor and therefore not very welcoming for newcomers. We founded “Rules” in 2009, and rented a space to open the café with TWD800,000 raised by a member. The decision was made after many meetings. We went through some very complicated discussions on whether we think the space should keep going and what we should do if the answer is a yes. At last, those who would like to run the café stayed.
“Rules” is the name of our organization, formed by people from different backgrounds. Some are artists. Some are studying Sociology. We hope to maintain the relations built in the movement with G Straight Café. Our members are shopkeepers, so we all need to take care of the café. Meanwhile, we are also activists participating in different social movements or actions. It’s an imagination close to the idea of commune. As we want to build an autonomous and sustainable community, profit making is certainly part of our agenda. We inform our customers about price setting details. A drink is sold at around TWD80 as the spatial cost (rental, water, electricity) amounts to TWD55, and the ingredients cost TWD30. We then use our profit to organize events. All in all, we hope to make the whole consumption process transparent.
G Straight Café is located in a quiet residential area near ShiDa District. As we need to smoke, we open up the outer wall and hang a rainbow flag outside. It actually annoys our neighbours. We also try planting outside and we have been planting some passion fruits. We let people doodle and paint on the outside wall. Even the arrangement of the tables and chairs are set after many discussions.Different from other cafes, our space is being divided into different zones so that you won’t bother the others. There is also a small room available for rent in the café. A local LGBT group comes to the small room for their monthly bondage exercise. The Youtube Festival invites some interesting people to share their own Youtube Festival playlist. We also held an anti-nuclear exhibition in our basement. We will now introduce two actions in which our members took part: “No-Nukes”, and the action against forced demolition of Wang’s family, a case related to urban renewal.
o Anti-nuclear: From Gongliao District to Taipei
Tan Keng-Lim:
As you can read from my T-shirt, I am anti-nuclear. Why did I start participating in anti-nuclear movement? At that time, it was said that Lungmen Nuclear Plant would be completed with nuclear fuel rods by the end of 2010. Once nuclear fuel rods were set, pollution would begin and that would be too late. So we came up with the idea of “No-Nukes” in the summer of 2010.
Right from the start of the action, we decided that the anti-nuclear action must be held locally, at where the nuclear plant would be built. Lungmen Nuclear Plant is located in the Gongliao district. Actually there have always been anti-nuclear movements in Gongliao. Some people started the movement there when they were in their 30s or 40s, and now they are almost 60 years old. The nuclear plant was about to be completed, and the activists were getting old. So we formed a band to perform in Gongliao. Not all the songs are related to anti-nuclear, but what’s important is to gather at a place, ask everyone to listen and maybe sing together. There was another anti-nuclear group in Gongliao, but they had been inactive for quite a while. They started their activities again as we joined . They thought that young people from the city were refreshing and interesting.
We then returned to Taipei and initiated some actions on the streets. We put a fake nuclear waste container in the busy eastern district, spilled it intentionally and had a bunch of people pretending to be fainted on the floor. There was an interesting interlude: when we took the container to the train, the staff at the station got very nervous and tested the container with a nuclear meter even after we told them it was fake. Later, the container was put outside our café for people to put their umbrella. Our neighbours complaint to the police as they were afraid of nuclear radiation from the container. If they are really afraid of nuclear radiation, why don't they protest against the big nuclear plant? Within a year after we had started the anti-nuclear movement, the nuclear plant at Fukushima exploded. There was a huge march in Taiwan at that time named “430 Sunflowers Anti-Nuclear March”. Almost all social activist groups in Taiwan participated in the huge march. We managed to get a truck with music appliances and turned our zone into a rock-and-roll zone during the march. We met Amateur Revolt in an anti-nuclear event in Japan. So we invited Hajime Matsumoto to Taiwan. He then invited us to Busan, where we met Lee Chun-Fung. That’s how we get here today.
Why is the café coming to close? It is because of the noise we made. Our neighbours find it annoying. The café is located in a quiet residential area, but when we have to prepare for a march, we work from evening to early morning making lots of noises. So as a result, our neighbours get together and force us out of the residential area. Amateur Revolt really sets an excellent example as they establish a very friendly relationship with the local community. In fact, when you start engaging in social movement, you ought to pay attention to those living around you who are not engaging in social movements. If you do not understand them, they won't understand you either. So I think to broaden our scope is actually a very important thing to do.
o Urban Renewal and Imagination of Home
Lin You-Cheng:
If you read the recent Taiwan news, you will get to know about the suppression on local people due to urban renewal cases in Taipei and some other districts, for example the controversial ShiLin Wang Family incident. One month ago, the land developer let the government step in, forcefully evicted the people and demolished the house. According to Taiwan Laws, the land developer can ask the government to step in for demolition by paying only TWD200,000. In order to drive away around 300 students, the Taipei mayor Hau Lung-Bin mobilized over 1,000 policemen at around 3 in the morning. Even though the students formed a human chain, they were all lifted at last.
I mentioned this case not only to update you with the recent situation, but also to point out that the members of the café and those who hang out here were among the protesters. Because of the base that we have built, many people went there voluntarily when the Wang family incident happened. We were all very sad as the house was demolished. A friend said so at that time, “even though the house is destroyed, what’s matter now is not to mourn, but to organize.”Once when we were drinking, we came up with an idea to set up a construction company of the victims of urban renewal. We would build a new house in where the house was destroyed. The land developers and construction companies only build luxurious but emotionless apartments and sell to the people. What’s crucial in the imagination of a home is that we have to live inside. This action is to turn and clear the soil bit by bit through down-to-earth labour. We work till evening and cook in the site. We eat together and have discussion. So it’s work, food and discussion, a condition similar to the commune.
Tsai Fong-Jin:
To conclude, the G Straight café is a coffee shop and at the same time a base connecting different groups and actions. Many people come and ask if we will reopen the café. One practical problem is that our friend who invested TWD400,000 has yet to recover the cost. So we simply don’t have any extra money to find a new place. We all want to keep running the café, but we are not sure when we can do it. There is actually an opportunity now. We may have a “Guerilla Café” in the Yongchun, a district that will go through urban renewal process. Demolition in the Yongchun district has already started, but we may be able to use a space. Even though the “Guerilla Café” will be short-lived, we can still try and see what can be done. A promotion at last, as we will need to restore the current space by mid-May, there will be a brief rent remittance period. We will be holding a 3-day “G Straight Café Farewell Fest” with concert, exhibition, screening and etc. It should be fun. Do drop by our café if you are coming to Taiwan around that time. Thank you!
