Events

MO 27/7 - SO 2/8 2009 - Havsstensund, Sweden

On a small Swedish island in the North Sea, a new way of living together is being explored in a unique experiment called SECRET ISLAND NATION.

The festival combines politics and partying on a remote usually deserted island located just off the West Coast of Sweden with an agenda which includes the search for a new form of government and the founding of the utopian micro-state ‘Sweuchland’.

This democratic experiment is not based on national identity, however, but instead on the cross-border consensus of European youth: Of tolerance and electronic music.

Workshops and cultural projects during the first part of the week will focus on how a new, socially-oriented world order is developed and implemented on this uninhabited island. Then in the later stages of the week a carefully selected line-up of live-acts and DJs will serve up electronic music for the closing party which lasts for two days solid.

The tiny isle of Ulsholmen is situated 130km north of Gothenburg in West-Sweden. Entirely treeless and dotted with idyllic coves, the island consists of stark granite rockery with a beautiful beach for swimming amongst North Sea breakers crashing on the shore.

The contrast with the urban environment common to most of Europe’s citizens couldn’t be starker. Literally everything that exists on Secret Island has been imported across the sea, whether it’s an idea, cooking pot or turntable. Intellectual barriers are left behind on the boat.

And unlike the much-cited sometimes destructive energy of young people, hundreds of activists from all over Europe aged from 18 to 35 join forces to dedicate themselves to this year’s EU motto “visionary – creative – innovative”.

In cooperation with external contributors and speakers from various political institutions the Island’s own state is proclaimed. In workshops, scenario games and discussions, the temporary citizens of “Sweuchland” discuss, develop and then realize their own rules for a peaceful social life. On Secret Island everybody may contribute to the process of creating laws and duties and immediately experience their application.

But not all of the agenda is deadly serious. After several days of intense intellectual and practical work the reward is waiting in the form of a national techno holiday weekend. Then, political philosophers turn into hedonistic dancers, chanting their self-composed national anthem to the rhythm of dark techno beats into the overwhelmingly colourful dawn sky.

The first edition of the EU-sponsored event took place last year and was so well appreciated by the networks involved in it, that many mobilised for a follow-up project. Their inspirational experiment is jointly organised by groups of young people throughout Europe. From Germany, Schwedenparty, Politik und Kultur e.V, Hörvergnügen e.V., Pentagonik, 3KS e.V. and from Schweden Society, Genau.25, Superdiskant, Locus Soundsystem, Röda Sten, Win-Win, Kraft, Enfants, The Eye are contributing.
Several more international teams are also joining into this unique happening.