Page 6 - C.A.L.L. #21 - Spring 2003

Damanhur, Italy Utopia the bolo’bolo way
Update of the multiple activities of this very special commune.
TENCH AT PUNTO VERDE
27/01/03
Work will soon begin on “bolo’bolo” joins a respectable list of anti-
emptying the lakes at Punto globalist literature and crtiticism of neo-classical
down to their chalk base in economics that has been recently translated into
preparation for the Hebrew: Naomi Klein’s “No Logo: Taking aim at
establishment of the fish farm.
Research conducted into local the brand bullies,” Guy Debord’s “The Society of
methods of ecological farming the Spectacle,” and Kalle Lasn’s “Culture Jam,”
has resulted in the choice of among others.
Tench for breeding in the lakes. A system of breeding earthworms
will be necessary augmented by internally produced cereals to
create fish-feed for the semi-intensive farming process. “bolo’bolo,” which was first published in 1983,
was written by a social activist who took part in
THE FIRST PLATFORM IN THE TREES the urban revolts in Zurich in 1981 and chose to
26/01/03 hide behind the pen-name “p.m.” (Swiss
The first platform for the tree house colleagues say that his real name is Hans
village is now in place in the forest
above the Buche. The construction is the Widmer).
result of many experimental attempts to
construct bases for future tree houses This is an anarchist book that packages together
without using nails or disturbing the a sharp and critical analysis of contemporary
balance of the environment. Most of the global society in easily accessible language (with
trees in the forest are too small to
support the weight of a house so emphasis on access for the young), and a guide
alternative solutions have been found by creating a supporting to social activism that is based on a fantasy of
structure of 18 poles. The project to create a new way of living in the alternative human communities.
‘air’ amongst the treetops has provided the group of pioneers with
plenty of problems to resolve in innovative ways. The utopia is based on the establishment of small

PRIMI PASSI 2003 communities, the bolo (plural: bolo’bolo), of 500
15/01/03 men and women (ibu, in the utopian language),
A new international Primi Passi group has begun this month, which that are autonomous and autarkic economically.
for the first time includes an Italian. The three-week intensive A bolo, then, is a community of 500 ibus. The
introductory program to Damanhur for English speakers has proven kana is a sub-unit of the bolo (a residential
to be such a successful formula that it is now being offered
experimentally to Italian speakers. The new group includes a Dutch commune, a small settlement, a group, a clan).
artist-restorer, and English geologist presently working for the WWF, The fudo is a city or region where 400 bolo’bolo
an Italian businessman interested in Damanhur, a German tourist are located. In the kana or the bolo there are
guide presently living in Sicily, an Austrian musician, member of the dwellings, workshops and agriculture. Existing
Findhorn Community and finally, a fine artist from a community in structures are used for housing. The bolo
Canada.
receives guests without payment. There are
PROPOSALS ON PUBLIC AND barter agreements among bolo’bolo and among
PRIVATE TRANSPORT ibus within the bolo’bolo.
13/01/03
Uria, the President of Resources, The basic principle is a minimum of private
presented an outline last night of
plans to reduce national expenditure property. Every ibu has a taku, which is a small
on transport. Savings of 150,000 Euro tin box. The ibu is entitled to put anything he
are envisaged by reducing the number wants into it. The world of private property
of Damanhurian privately owned cars by 50, taking into consists of whatever goes into the box. All the
consideration that the average cost on maintaining a car is 3000
Euro a year. The plan proposes creating a service of 4 mini buses rest is public property. The exchange of gifts will
with full time drivers covering 70,000 km a year. The service would be a major economic mechanism, along with
cover all the main territories, companies and schools. The savings storehouses where surpluses will be kept. The
are expected to be in the region of 50,000 Euro a year. Apart from sumi is the largest geographical unit and it is
the reduction in pollution the new transport system will encourage comprised of about 8,000 bolo’bolo.
new communal rhythms and more socializing, safe transport for the
children, shopping trips to nearby towns, a taxi service, car sharing
and the establishment of a car rental pool.

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