Occupation (of a site)

Occupation (of a site) is a (radical) way to directly stop ongoing changes on a site. It is an act of protest in order to take and hold public and symbolic spaces, buildings, critical

infrastructure, etc.

Also referred to squatting (often in urban situations of occupation)

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Examples:

 

1. Occupation of Hainburger Au Wetlands, Austria 1984.

The Occupation of the Hainburger Wetlands in December 1984 marked a turning point for environmental awareness in Austria.The threat against the Hainburger Au floodplain came from plans to construct a hydroelectric power plant, which at the end of 1984 still enjoyed the full support of the Austrian government. With the help of various media channels, the environmental organisations started publicising the threat of impending destruction for a large part of the region. As events unfolded, the nature of the protesters' demonstrations and a mass-occupation of the threatened area (in winter!) changed people’s understanding of democracy as well as national energy policy in Austria.

 

Hainburg: Occupation of the wetlands to prevent construct of a hydroelectric power plant

Movie about the occupation

Occupation of the Hainburg wetlands: 30 years after too many “environmental construction”

 

2. Occupation of Cannobal River, ND, USA in protest of DAPL, 2016.

Occupation of Cannonball River, ND by native tribes and concerned citizens, to protest the

construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. This pipeline is set to cross under the Mississippi River twice, and has the potential to leak crude oil and affect drinking water, croplands, and ancient burial grounds of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.

Protest becomes an occupation as pipeline foes stay put

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