Temporary Autonomous Zones
The Temporary Autonomous Zone (TAZ) is Hakim Bey’s most famous work. It describes the political tactic of creating temporary space that eludes formal structures of control. The essay uses various historical and philosophical examples, all-leading to the conclusion that the best way to create a non-hierarchical system of social relationships is to concentrate on the present. Information becomes a key tool that sneaks into the cracks of formal procedures. A new territory of the moment is created that is on the boundary line of established regions. Any attempt at permanence that goes beyond the moment deteriorates into a structured system that inevitably stifles individual creativity. It is this chance at creativity that is real empowerment.

TAZs are brief occupations of spaces. They vary in size and duration, but are communed by the same criteria: make it fun, make it illegal and above all, invite all of your friends.

Typical examples were the rave parties of the 1990s, where for a number of hours, massive sound systems and rave goers filled abandoned warehouses. Along the same line are doofs, where the reclaimed space is usually some property in the bush. No permission required, no tax to be payed, just let your network know the date, organize the DJs and have fun.

But then there are many more ways to take control of your surroundings. Here are just a few of the Sydney based ones.

Reclaim The Streets (RTS)
www.cat.org.au/rts
RTS is a series of autonomous collectives that exist across the globe who take over the streets and transform them from car traffic zones into free street festivals. There are many reasons for doing this. For some it is a direct form of resistance to the domination of our neighbourhoods by cars and the influences of the oil industry and car manufacturers on urban planning. It could be seen as a major statement against the increasing amount of privatisation and the selling of public lands. For others it is a free space for the afternoon, offering a rare chance to dance on the roads with hundreds of other people. It offers a vision of what our neighbourhoods could be like, with a little collective action.

Since late 1997, the (ever-changing) Sydney RTS collective has put on street parties such as Glebe Point Road, King Street, Enmore Road, George Street, Crown Street, Oxford Street and Addison Road. The streets, which are normally dominated by cars are turned into a much more social and safe space.

Systemcorrupt
www.systemcorrupt.com
Systemcorrupt is a Sydney based collective dedicated to the perversion of culture. Systemcorrupt is a platform for artists who have found it difficult to fit in elsewhere. The group have a sound system and are dedicated to putting on free parties in disused and abandoned locations. These parties push bound-aries and destroy the constraints of genre. Known best for distorted and aggravating electronica, their roots as a sound system were with the Broadway Squats and Reclaim the Streets parties.

SquatSpace
www.squatspace.com
SquatSpace is an artist and activist collective based in Sydney. Since 2000, the group has organised exhibitions, events, and film screenings in abandoned and derelict spaces. The group has a strong social focus, having produced projects about homelessness and the crippling effects of the real estate investment market.