Blackstone is one of the largest private equity firms world wide. It also is used to “invest” the money it collects into speculation with housing and mortgage in many countries, the U.S., Spain, Germany forinstance. Recently it bought up parts of the publicly bailed out Catalunya Bank. People from the orgnaization of those affected by mortgage (PAH) in Barcelona as well as groups in New York City and San Francisco did some parallel action of protest.
See the PAH movie and statement:
Blackstone, the world’s largest real estate private equity fund bought part of , a Spanish financial institution that received 12 billion euros ($15.4 billion) of taxpayers’ money as a bail out. Blackstone buys non-performing loans at huge discounts but these loans are actually families, families who have lost their jobs and are now about to be evicted from their homes. Everyday citizens receive no aid or solutions to social problems while global financial billionaires profit from bailed out banks. For PAH activists this is abusive and unjust to all citizens. These homes belong to people not to financial profiteers. Foreclosures and evictions are rapidly escalating in Spain under Blackstone’s pressure, but the PAH has a message: this is a global fight for the right to housing, we won’t stop, and we will win. Si Se Puede
MIPIM, the world’s biggest property fair, is coming to London, October 15-17th.
MIPIM proudly describes itself as the world’s largest property fair, attracting around 20,000 investors, developers, local authorities, and banks each year.
It usually takes place annually in Cannes, France. This year will see the first MIPIM UK, to be held at London’s Olympia 15-17 October. Billed as ‘the 1st UK property trade show gathering all professionals looking to close deals in the UK property market’ – a gathering of professionals and elites looking to profiteer from UK land and property.
Join affected communities, the Radical Housing Network, the European Action Coalition for the Right to Housing and the City, Defend Council Housing, trade unions and a range of other groups to demand a City for People, not for Profit.
MIPIM UK: 15 – 17 October, Olympia W14 8UX Opening protest – #blockBoris: Wednesday 15 October from 9am
Alternative conference Cities for People, Not for Profit: Thursday 16th and Friday 17th until 4pm Closing protest – Paper round the Houses: Friday 17 October from 5pm
… and here a call from Lewisham Defend Council Housing (“an open group dedicated to resisting any proposals to privatise council housing”):
The MIPIM trade fair is the world’s largest property trade fair. For the first time London will be hosting the event (normally held in Cannes) with an opening address from our mayor, Boris Johnson.
Given the estimated 340,000 households on the housing waiting list across London, the steady rise in homelessness rates and emergency housing in B&Bs and hostels (often for families and vulnerable individuals) it is clear we need truly affordable social housing and effective regulation of the private rental market.
Instead of our politicians looking into a sustainable housing sector, we get the mayor opening MIPIM, with many councils keen to strike up lucrative deals with property developers. MIPIM will be a place to discuss further profiteering from the capital’s housing market, including some great talks such as “Social Housing: What’s the point?” and “NHS Restructuring: Opportunities for the Property Industry”.
The surge in homelessness and soaring housing waiting lists doesn’t happen by accident, this is what happens when London only views housing as an asset, never a public right.
Enough is enough, #stopMIPIM , deliver the housing we need.
