Christiania - Copenhagen's Drug Commune

This story seems to indicate that a modicum of conservatism does still survive in Denmark. It concerns Christiania, an 840-acre hippie commune in central Copenhagen.

Ever since local hippies, performance artists and homeless people seized a complex of old military barracks and refused to co-operate with the state 32 years ago, conservative politicians have sought to close Christiania down. Now, for the first time in Denmark's recent political history, an alliance of the commune's harshest political opponents has a majority in parliament. A law will be passed within months in effect ending the commune's de facto autonomy. Eviction notices will be issued shortly afterwards.

The eviction and general opposition to the commune is seen as a backlash to massive drug trading involving organized crime gangs. The commune has become a distribution point for drugs throughout Europe.

My take is that Denmark has minimum standards for law and order and, since Christiania doesn't observe the laws, it's way past time to act. It's also comforting to know that some conservatism has survived in largely socialist Europe.