Micro-Action 3: Prefigurativism in post-elections Utrecht by https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo en-us 2023-12-09 10:06:54 UTC 2023-12-09 10:08:08 UTC hello@padlet.com The first one we put up! benteschouwstra https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361396 2023-12-09 10:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361396 benteschouwstra https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361397 We were very pleased with how the micro-action turned out. Although we didn't record any reactions (except the intrigued looks we got on the spot) we do notice that when we go into town, we look at stickers and posters in visible spots and check out what they're about. We managed to put up a lot all throughout the city center. Our hope is that people see the tiny messages, find their first language, and feel encouraged that the Netherlands is, in fact, a place where everyone is welcome- and so is Utrecht.

]]> 2023-12-09 10:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361397 How this connects to the topics of the week benteschouwstra https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361398 Last week, the PVV (Party for Freedom) won the Dutch Elections. Contrary to what the name suggests, the party cares little for 'freedom': its main campaign point was the total exclusion of all (new) Muslim immigrants, which included a ban on hijabs in public spaces and a full stop on all new immigrants coming from Muslim countries.


For this micro-action, Dione and me created stickers that we put around town. The stickers said: 'Utrecht is for everyone' in Dutch, English, Turkish, Arabic and Ukrainian (the languages most commonly spoken by groups from Dutch society that have been critized for their coming to the Netherlands by right-wing parties).

]]> 2023-12-09 10:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361398 benteschouwstra https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361399 The micro-action connects to the themes of prefigurativism and direct action by ultimately reflecting the future Utrecht that welcomes everyone: it is prefigurative in the sense that it is a direct reflection of what Bente and me hope Utrecht will be like in the future, regardless of the influence of the PVV.

]]> 2023-12-09 10:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361399 Reasonings! benteschouwstra https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361401 We wanted to do an action that showed solidarity with those groups that, due to the election results, will face major political and social difficulties in the upcoming four years: in printing out stickers that (in various languages) stated that 'Utrecht is for everyone' we wanted to show that although the election results may suggest otherwise, there are a lot of citizens that do not align themselves with the politically backwards views of the PVV. Seeing reminders of this may aid in the digestion of the election results while also reminding people to fight against the exclusion of important groups of society.

]]> 2023-12-09 10:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361401 One we put up at the Albert Heijn near Neude benteschouwstra https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361403 2023-12-09 10:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361403 benteschouwstra https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361404 2023-12-09 10:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361404 One we put up at the University Library (we wanted to put them at places with a lot of traffic passing by on foot/bike so it would be the most visible) benteschouwstra https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361405 2023-12-09 10:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361405 Before putting them up! benteschouwstra https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361406 2023-12-09 10:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361406 benteschouwstra https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361407 2023-12-09 10:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/benteschouwstra/8eqec5rflm6ewvbo/wish/2819361407