Spatial Protest in the Era of Fast Capital

　　A video by Iva Radivojevic and Martyna Starosta exploring how Liberty Plaza is being inhabited by the Occupy Wall Street movement. "This space is our sonogram of potential."
On May 6, 2010, trillions of dollars — about 9 percent of the total world market — sloshed in and out of existence like a clumsy child carrying an over-flowing milk pail. The celebrated capital liquidity that is the hallmark of the wide spreads and cheap trades associated with High Frequency Trading (HFT) turned into hot lava as a result of the automated programming of a few trading algorithms. Traders the world over watched open-mouthed as the second-largest point swing (1,010 points) and the biggest one-day point decline (998.5 points) in the 114-year history of the Dow Jones Industrial Average unfolded over the course of 30 minutes.
Especially jarring for those who pay attention to the world's financial ecology was how the Flash Crash seemed to defy traditional conventions of space and time. Even the traders on the floor were confounded: Their bodies, the frantic voice of the announcer and the space of the stock exchange itself seemed pitifully quaint in comparison to the typhoon of 0's and 1's rocketing back and forth.
The “flash” was no more than a horrific blip only because the Chicago Mercantile Exchange​ was eventually able to pull the plug on the algorithms that were playing hot potato. But it became apparent that capital is hanging by a thread, as lightning-fast trades circle the globe continuously, beyond the average person’s understanding.
Traditionally, trades were executed by humans in close physical contact with each other. Hand gestures, emotional vibes and verbal outbursts ricocheted in the chambers of the Chicago, New York and Tokyo stock exchanges. Capital was moving, but within the context of humans communicating with other humans — even a day trader was in close contact with his or her clients over a phone line. The rapidity of HFT leaves human perspective in the dust, as market trends fall increasingly into an endless loop of responding to their own responses before the human world has a chance to catch up.
But there is another event unfolding that also pushes the boundaries of speed and unpredictability. While millions of trades are executed every second with little human oversight, the world is collectively witnessing — if not participating in — a rapidly evolving gesture that solidifies the power of a particular body in a particular place.
Today's globalized market place and the decentralized claiming of public space through protest are both powerful examples of how unpredictable flow — the gyrations of capital, the rhizomatic distribution of bodies – dictate and restructure ecologies. The collective gathering of human bodies is a different sort of liquid force, one that has the power to dissolve the traditional boundaries of territory and of how community is usually imagined under the umbrella of capitalism. One could see the emphasis on direct action through spatial occupation as a direct response to the mercurial unpredictability of today's robotized financial systems.
As Yves Smith wrote on the blog Naked Capitalism:
“There is nothing to oversee the hyper growth of derivatives or high frequency trading or endless debt games, because there is no global institution that equates with the global markets. It is a clash of the market state and the nation state … The market state is winning, which is probably why we are all on the brink of losing everything."

　　The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement that manifested on Sept. 17, around the corner from the New York Stock Exchange, recognizes the failures of our current systems of government and market-capital. There is a critical misunderstanding on the part of the mainstream media that the people who gather in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Stockholm and hundreds of other cities are a disparate mob of disaffected and powerless individuals.
Instead, what I saw (and participated in) at Liberty Plaza was a quick adaption to change through the decentralized organization of a constellation of groups created on a need-by-need basis. Being able to change quickly, a trait lauded in the financial world, is generating new forms of conversation and possibility within the human network of the OWS movement. Basic needs are attended to by dedicated committees that distribute good food and sleeping bags. The very ground of the plaza is mapped by new territorial alignments, dictated by the overlapping and connected needs of people in close contact and constant communication with each other.
Painting the protesters as directionless individuals becomes a manufactured problem of spatial isolation. We are taught to be bodies that need to be clothed, fed and entertained so that we can function as productive workers, rather than bodies who can move together into a larger network of physical possibilities. The power of this movement lies in the fact that the gatherings of people represent themselves not as consumers, or even as voters, but as bodies in communication with other bodies, actively participating in the creation of a new horizontal community.
The importance of representation by physicality came to a head in the wee hours of the morning of Oct. 14 at Liberty Plaza. Brookfield Properties, the plaza's owner, had expressed worry about the “sanitation conditions” of the park, and a vacate order was issued for that Friday morning. In response, protesters took about $3,000 out of their OWS fund, bought cleaning supplies and washed every inch of the contested space. As of that Thursday, the vacate order remained in effect. It was not until thousands of bodies streamed into the park, despite a torrential rainfall, that the vacate order was “postponed.”

　　Liberty Plaza is a POPS — a Privately Owned Public Space. In return for tax abatements or increased building height, a developer can construct a space that must be available for public use 24/7. Developers construct these spaces with the intention that they are used by a passive public to eat lunch or as a resting place for a peripatetic tourist. OWS has forced both Brookfield Properties and the Bloomberg administration to examine what it means to create a space for the use of actual people, and not just as a decorative piece for “city beautification.”
The protesters who literally got down on their knees to scrub the plaza clean (which had been maintained from the beginning of the occupation by a dedicated OWS Sanitation Crew) became a powerful example of swiftly enacting ownership by taking responsibility. Brookfield Properties will now have to come up with a stronger pretense for enacting private rules in a public space.
This movement is exciting because it is in a constant flux. This flux is always mediated by the fact that groups of humans are working with the physical limitations of occupying an urban space built with a consumer in mind. This is a movement of anti-stasis through redrawing boundaries and expectations. This is a movement of bodily articulation over the cold manipulations of code attempting to generate capital for capital's sake.
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Searching for Our Metropolitan President

　　
　　In 1967, Carl Stokes​ and Richard Hatcher​ became the first African-American mayors elected to head large American cities, part of a wave of African-American urban leadership that would sweep the North and South alike over the course of the next three decades. African Americans would be elected to head famously black cities like Chicago and Atlanta, famously white cities like Spokane and Seattle, and famously Latino cities like Los Angeles. Since Stokes and Hatcher, African Americans have been elected to head virtually every major city in the United States.
It has not always been an easy ride. African-American leadership has come under fire over the past forty years as cities struggled. Inner-city poverty, much of it African-American, worsened in many places, even as core parts of many cities gentrified with public support that seemed to benefit the growth machine as a whole but not many of its poorest citizens. What we tend to forget is that African Americans won the battle for urban leadership just as the abandonment and denigration of American cities was reaching its apex. The cities they took over were wracked by abandonment, stripped of their power and populace by federally subsidized suburbanization, and ripped apart by the modernist folly of slum clearance and freeway building. Undoubtedly mistakes were made, often in the name of maintaining power rather than using it for the public good, but this merely continued an American political tradition dating back to Tammany Hall and beyond.

　　As protesters occupy the centers of American cities from coast to coast, President Obama would be wise to remember this history — not simply because he shares a skin color with his urban predecessors, or because of any debt Obama owes to African American leaders, but because the story of pioneering African American mayors parallel his current situation in more ways than one. He too broke through one of human history's most famous barriers to take the helm of a polis just as it has reached its nadir; he too has fallen into sad traditions of maintaining power by kowtowing to the powerful rather than using power to reduce suffering or raise up the powerless; he too has taken over a debt-ridden economy beset by rising inequality and redevelopment for profit rather than people, all while under-invested infrastructure crumbles and the core reproductive functions of mobility and education remain inadequate.
In the aftermath of the election, as the full weight of decades of neoliberal economic policy and two generations of terrible or nonexistent urban policy came crashing down on President Obama, I remained more sympathetic than most, in part because of the clear parallels between his situation and that of many of his trail-blazing predecessors. For all the talk in the post-election excitement about Dr. King, my mind was squarely on the bravery and tragedy of Harold Washington​, Chicago's first African-American mayor. He bore the brunt of an obstinate city machine and a brutal urban history and paid the ultimate price. This was going to be exceptionally difficult, and any progressive who felt otherwise was simply blind.
But now the time for empathy has passed, and it is time for President Obama to remember that he was elected by many of us not to be the first black president but to be the first truly urban president in American history. Part of the legacy of the past forty years is that the overblown line between city and suburb has been blurred. When we speak of urban America what we really mean is metropolitan America — those amorphous regions at the heart of our economic innovation and the overwhelming majority of our populace. Eighty-five percent of Americans live in the 376 metropolitan areas in the country, more than half in the top 50 alone. The New York, Chicago and Los Angeles regions account for more than one in ten Americans.

　　But President Obama should not only pay attention to the metropolis because we are the overwhelming majority, but because some of the often-ignored roots of our problems lie in our tragic lack of true urban policy, as do many of our solutions. While Wall Street greed undoubtedly fueled the financial crisis, let us not forget that this whole mess could not have been built on any other commodity than the American home — the only product essential and ubiquitous enough to carry the debt load needed by Wall Street to fuel its speculation. We bought into it because we wanted the American Dream, not realizing that during the past 30 years more and more of that risk was placed on us as individual consumers and citizens rather than backed by the full weight of the country itself. Whereas prior generations could count on federally-backed mortgages and transportation, the past 30 years were built more and more on sub-prime loans, unequally divided local tax dollars and a fragile and ineffective patchwork of assessment districts and impact fees — a splintered urbanism built in reaction to the sins of the postwar suburban boom, which actually made things much worse.
The true tragedy of the past 35 years is that, rather than correcting the true problems of post-war urban development — racism, an emphasis on auto-dependent development, political fragmentation, etc. — we laid blame on federal involvement in this process, crippling its critical role in urban development. We then opened up suburbia to everyone who was denied the first bite at the apple. Except this time, suburbia was being built on bad debt while the gentry slowly reclaimed the core of the city — in part through high incomes generated by a global Wall Street. Now there are more poor folks in suburbs than cities, a foreclosure problem in some of the deepest exurbs you can find, and many of the same people who got screwed by urban abandonment are getting screwed by the new struggles of suburban America.

　　More than ever, we need an Urbanist-in-Chief unafraid to look to the metropolis for solutions to the problems of the 99 percent. Obama needs to channel his memories as an organizer in Harold Washington's Chicago and develop and articulate a true metropolitan vision for America. We need to invest from the federal level, as we once did, in the transportation infrastructure of our nation: everything from inter-metropolitan, high-speed rail to bike lanes, from car-sharing facilities to Bus Rapid Transit, from aging roads to crumbling bridges. We need to invest in housing our working and middle classes and providing the secure tenure that is such a part of the American dream, but this time under the rubric of a retrofitted, denser and more equitable suburbia and a healthier and more affordable city.
And we must build — using the carrot and stick of federal monies — a regional fiscal infrastructure that can sustain future generations of American schools, roads, police officers, parks and social programs. These three actions alone can help put millions of Americans back to work in jobs that can not be outsourced, restore faith in the possibility of government at all levels, break the ridiculous political dichotomy of city versus suburb (which fuels our red versus blue mentality) and undermine the grip of Wall Street on both our wallets and our soul. We now live in an urban and metropolitan world, a world in which urban development drives industry and economy and not the other way around, and we must recognize that economy, community and politics revolve around the spaces and places we occupy.

Some magnificent attractions in Malaysia

　　Malaysia is considered as one of the most beautiful and stunning places in South East Asia. This country is rich in culture, traditions and moral values and provides a lot of beautiful places to visit. It is a popular holiday and tourists’ destination providing some magnificent attractions that include:
Cameron Highlands
Being the hub of tea industry of Malaysia, Cameron Highlands consists of a number of hill stations. It is a popular destination both for locals and foreigners. There are a lot of things to see in Cameron Highlands like waterfalls, dazzling valleys, beautiful gardens and hills covered with wild flowers. Tourists can also enjoy beautiful scenes and jungle walks here making their trip more enjoyable and fun-filled.

Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur offers both historical and modern attractions to visit. It is an international city that attracts thousands of visitors every year. The most worth-seeing place in Kuala Lumpur is the Petronas Towers which is the tallest building in the world. Other attractions in Kuala Lumpur are:
Batu Caves
Kuala Lumpur Tower
Merdeka Square
Malaysia Tourism Center
Thean Hou Buddhist Temple

Malacca
This old town is located in the South of Malaysia offering to see an exciting mixture of Chinese, Dutch, Portuguese and British cultures. It offers some of the most beautiful experiences to the tourists when they visit historical ruins or look at the olden junks sailing on water. There are Chinese streets, temples and antique shops to visit. You can also visit Ethnographic Museum that represents the historical and cultural facets. Another must visit attraction is Chinese temple named Cheng Hoon Teng Temple which provides you an opportunity to watch religious architecture.

George Town
It is located in Penang Island. It is one of the Malaysia’s most important resort areas. It is a compact city so tourists freely wander here and there in the streets. The popular tourists’ attractions in George Town are Chinese houses, vegetable markets and temple ceremonies.

Fraser’s Hill
It is another popular tourist attraction as it is famous as bird-watching place having 250 species of birds. There are also some other attractions for the tourists like Clock Tower; being the middle point of Fraser’s Hill. 5 KM away from the Fraser’s Hill are the Jeriau Waterfalls which are 6 meters far above the ground and fall into a puddle where you can take bath. There are rooms and shelters for those who come here for a picnic. You can also enjoy your visit to Fraser’s hill as you can go on trekking, play golf and tennis, do shopping, eat and drink in lavish restaurants and much more.

These were some must see and top tourists attractions in Malaysia. I hope that this article will stimulate you to plan a visit to this beautiful country.

Which appeal tourists to visit Nepal

Nepal is a country of South-Asia that is located in Himalayas. Nepal is among those countries which are blessed with highest mountains in the world making it an attractive place for mountain-climbers. Apart from this, there are several other reasons which appeal tourists to visit Nepal. Let’s have a look on the factors and reasons that answer the question why should one visit Nepal.
Natural Beauty
Natural beauty of Nepal is worth-seeing and it is hard to describe it in words. Its plain named Terai is always filled with wild birds and most amazingly you can find elephants, rhinos, crocodiles and lions in the forests of Terai.
Nepal is also among one of the countries having high mountains which add to the magnificence of Nepal. It is amazing to know that about 64% area of Nepal is covered with mountains including the world’s highest peak Mount Everest. Many of the tourists just visit Nepal to see this beautiful peak.
Nice People
People of Nepal are very friendly. They are known all over the world for their generosity and etiquettes and because of this fact the lavish hotels in the world prefer Nepali employees over others. There are a number of ethnic groups in Nepal having their own traditions and cultures. This makes Nepal an attractive and worth-visiting place for tourists.
Nepal’s Food
Nepal’s food is another reason to visit it at least once. Its dishes have a rich South-Asian taste. Other edibles making it attractive for food lovers are lentils, pickles, organic meat, tomato sauces and much more. Another dish that has become identification of Nepal is Dhal Bhat which is not only a healthy food but also very cheap.
Exploratory Destination
Nepal is recognized as an adventurous and exploratory place. Nepal has several exciting things to be offered to visitors including river rafting, elephant-back riding and most importantly trekking.
Trekking
Nepal is considered as the best place for trekking all over the world. It has the world’s most stunning mountain sceneries. The most popular trekking destinations are in the regions of Annapurna and Everest.
Temples in Nepal
Nepal is also well-known for its marvelous and splendid temples giving spiritual feelings to the visitors. Most of the Hindu temples are located in Kathmandu valley. Some temples are also located on the tracks in high Himalayas.
The above reasons are good enough to stimulate tourists to visit Nepal at least once in their life time.

Pakistan the best place for tourists

Pakistan is located in that part of sub-continent which has rich culture and traditions. Pakistan is such a country which is gifted with all blessings of God Almighty like high mountains, lakes, rivers, ocean, forests, ancient monuments, valleys and fertile plains. All these things make Pakistan the best place for tourists. But it tourism industry is not as flourished as it is expected. There are several reasons behind this. Some of these are given below.
Unfavorable Political Conditions
Pakistan has been one of the favorite places for tourists but now the situation has been completely changed. The reason is its unfavorable political conditions. People think it an unsafe place after the assassination of popular political figures like Benazir Bhutto and Salman Taseer (governor of major province Punjab). Moreover the corrupt leaders don’t pay attention to this major industry which can take its economy to the highest peak.
Lack of Proper Infrastructure
Infrastructure in Pakistan is a great cause of the failure of profitable tourism industry. There are not proper roads, railway tracks and other transportation services. So tourists find it difficult to visit different places in Pakistan. Poor infrastructure is a hindrance in the way of developed and flourished tourism industry.
Inability to Cope with Natural Disasters
Pakistan’s government lacks the ability to cope with the natural calamities. Northern areas of Pakistan have been the tourists’ favorite place but after earthquake of 2005, those areas suffered incomparable loss but nothing had been done for their re-construction and redevelopment. Poor disaster management caused a loss to the tourism industry.
Terrorism
Pakistan has become an unsafe place due to ever-increasing terrorist attacks. That is another major factor that is not only damaging the repute of Pakistan in the world but also causing its tourism industry to a decline.
Changing Weather
Global warming and pollution has caused to change the climate and weather conditions of Pakistan. The northern areas and snowy mountains have started loosing their beauty. So tourists are now attracted towards places having good weather and proper tourism facilities.
Rising Inflation
Inflation is considered another major cause of the failure of tourism industry. The hotel owners have to increase the price of food because of ever increasing prices of goods. High priced food has made Pakistan a place that is beyond the reach and affordability of tourists.
Tourism industry in Pakistan needs special steps to be taken for its betterment because it can serve as a source of developed economy. In spite of the above mentioned problems and factors tourism industry is still surviving as Pakistan has been ranked at 39th place for ground transport infrastructure. It shows that a little bit of attention can make it one of the largest industries of Pakistan.

Planning your tour to Italy

　　Italy is included in those countries of the world which attract millions of tourists every year which has made Italy the most popular travel destination in Europe. The reason is quite clear. Italy has a large number of tourists’ attractions including cultural attractions, ancient monuments, spectacular cathedrals and churches and wonderful sculptures. The country is also gifted with beautiful coasts, stunning mountains and lakes. A tour to Italy can surely be full of thrill and fun. Here a description of some cities and places is given which are truly worth-seeing and you should never miss them while planning your tour to Italy.

Capital City- Rome
This city of Italy has a number of well-known places that magnetize the tourists. Some renowned attractions in Rome include:
The Colosseum: It was inaugurated for gladiator fights but now it is open for all where you can go and see its enormous structure.
Fontana De Trevi: It is another tourists’ favorite place. It is quite interesting as it is said that whoever will throw a stone in Fontana De Trevi, will come to Rome one more time.
Vatican City: It is an independent state of Rome having a large number of tourists attractions including St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museum and the famous Sistine Chapel.
Duomo of Milan: Rome has another very important tourist destination named Duomo of Milan which is the largest gothic structure in Italy. It is popular because it is the second last largest cathedral in world.
Tuscany
It is another popular city of Italy and one of the most beautiful tourist destinations. This city is well-known for the great work done by painters, sculptors and architects such as that of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. So it can be proved to be the greatest place for art loving people.
Uffizi Gallery: This gallery is in Florence that has magnificent paintings by Tiziano, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Rubens and other famous and renowned painters.

Tower of Pisa: This is the most popular and worth-seeing tower. It began to lean on a side soon after its construction. That’s why it is also called leaning tower of Pisa. However it was repaired and opened for general public. More interestingly, it had honor of being one of the seven wonders of world.
Venice
Venice is the most popular and well-known city of Italy as it has beautiful canals and gondolas to attract a large number of tourists. The most beautiful thing which you should never miss in your tour to Venice is the Grand Canal Venice.
Siena
It is another city which is famous for its pizzas including Pizza del Campo.