utopian non-prohibitional congress

10th - 13th of April
Alternative conference, Vienna

“Seventy euros for the bus. We stay with squats or something there.” Billy was asking me at Desmet Studios, Club Lek was not over, a lull between bands. I reached in my pocket and pulled out exactly seventy euros and handed it to him. “It’s not for sure man. Only fifty places on the bus.” “Fine with me, Billy, just let me know where and when.” “I put a paper in your mail box.”

Sure enough the flyer, “Legalize! 5 dagen Wenen voor slechts €70,-“ gave me two websites to follow: www.legalize.net and www.legalize-wenen.tk . I found out about the protest march about to happen in Vienna, they say Wenen. It was cold in Amstel Station, the flyer misinformed some with Amsterdam Sloterdijk, not the same place, Billy was already there. Outside in the cold he told me, “They made me go out. I didn’t have a ticket. Imagine that, my own station,I live right around here. I fix them, get a ticket to carry.” I had a back pack, Billy said he needed to go back for more. His carry on cart was full, several bags nested against. I put my pack next to his and watched people filter into the bus station, some clustered where I was, unloading costumes and props on the pavement. Nine o’clock rolled past and still no bus, I spoke to several people, introductions for me but familiar faces to each other, these were activists in the best sense of the word. The new flyer handed to me promised a peaceful demonstration to show the need to decrimalize all drugs; “Ludieke Acties in Wenen”. The title, “Ludicrous Activities in Vienna” were the only Dutch words in the handout that described sixteen activities we hoped to accomplish along the way.

The website, www.u-n-o.org , describes the serious alternative course to punishing drug offenders. The opening paragraph gives its purpose;

To create an anti pole to the unacceptable, narrow-minded views (and resulting policies) of the UNO (especially the USA), we plan on holding an alternative conference between the 10th and 13th of April in Vienna, with discussions, speeches, workshops, movie presentations, partys and concerts.

The eighteen hour bus ride brought us within walking distance of the podium discussion scheduled for eighteen hundred hours. Food and drink, simple fare, served outside the amphitheater, welcomed inside, our group drifts in and out, meeting others from around Europe. Legalize Amsterdam is our group, our sticker fits well on poles, we distribute our swag, look for sources of info, blend in with our smiles. Contacts are made for our lodging and we split all thirty one of us into three uneven groups. Picking up our stuff, we walk to our apartment, a young man living large in the heart of the city welcomes us with a joint. A sense of purpose for Friday, April 11, 2003, drifts us off to sleep, five in the living room. The morning comes too soon.

Friday flys by, the demonstration on Saturday is planned for each task. We arrive at the University of Vienna at ten o’clock, ready to help; to prep for our performance, to gear ourselves up for the task of showing the people of Austria what we believe in. Gay costumes and good cheer rouse sympathies from pedestrians, police to make us conform, sunny weather for our ally. Three thousand ballons follow us to the starting point. I wear a “flying brain helmet”, a double of the one it’s inventor, Aja wears, a banner held between us, slogans running down banner strips hanging around our shoulders. Groups from Italy, Germany, and Spain mill around us, our music van pumping energy into the masses. Happy smiles greet the police, they avoid eye contact, formal containment is our protection. But the spectators are curious, some smiling, all looking at our smaller bus, a camper painted with love by Jeremiah. We have to push it to jump start it each time we move. The parade starts slowly, making its way along beautiful boulevards, a city of splendor and Spring. Volunteers are enlisted to help with props and signs, supporting us by their presence, amused at our nerve.  We smoke pot openly, enjoy our drinks, pass out beer to the thirsty, safe within the phalanx of stern police who make no comment, reveal no emotion, stay a safe distance from us. We set the pace; a lovely stroll to the Danube. Ours is a happy aspect of drug use, we mean no disrespect, “Look at us! We are responsible people who love life, live our convictions out in the open; we exist without repression and abhor laws that do. To be sure we are human, have flaws all the same, but without shame we alter ourselves into something new and stay happy and sane. How about you?”

Onlookers are invited to try the vaporizer, a smokeless THC transport, they toke our good vibes, smiles and good cheer, join us for awhile and help out. Billy tells me, “We are responsible for the trash.” I start picking it up, at the end of the parade, the line of police just behind me looking on. Pretty soon I am tired and others start helping, the street is left cleaner than when we found it! We reach the long span that arcs over Danube and stop. The balloons are released, each one sports a tea bag of marijuana seeds dangling below it, “We spread our seed over Austria! May we have a bountiful harvest soon!” By now the police are smiling, looking at us and reacting to our fun. The beautiful late afternoon sun dips below the wall of a plaza we end at, our walk is now over. The music blares rhythm that people start dancing to, the street performers claiming their space, groups open and close with new faces, talk centers around accomplishment and direction.