#publicspaces — Public Fediverse posts

Making hostile spaces The dispersal of non consumers

* At an intersection of numerous car parks, retail industry and an amusement industrial complex in Coffs Harbour there is a small green space with benches and birds. People and birds rest there and have their lunch.

Some time ago the amusement & drink giant piped ongoing unpleasant, loud music over the small green island and the abundant car parks.

The intention of the outdoor speakers distributing noise pollution is/was to engage in then 'dispersal' of ‘loitering' non customers.

This loud and repetitive ‘music’ is also known as "aggressive" or "defensive" architecture. This design in mostly public spaces is intended as a form of 'organised abandonment' (Ruth Wilson Gilmore) of the poor and the unhoused.

Often the exclusionary design acoustic ('steady-state spam’) is combined with other anti homeless devices (anti-homeless spikes furniture) which function to keep members of the public out of public spaces.

With increasing inequality, that is non spending consumers, the system is increasingly employing hostile practices. Privately owned public spaces such as walkways, plazas, arcades and small parks have to ensure the safety of their customers and staff. Non-consumers have no place in this scheme.

* "Woolworths has installed outdoor speakers at its Darwin city store to play the supermarket's 'Fresh Food People' jingle on repeat in a bid to deter loitering.” >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-25/darwin-city-woolworths-looping-jingle-anti-social-behaviour/107073330
* "The NSW Police Force is currently running an Australian-first trial in Moree (an area with a high Indigenous population) using rooftop drones to "fight crime" in the area, controlled by people hundreds of kilometres away at Bankstown Airport." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-26/automation-and-repression-the-two-go-hand-in-hand-daron-acemoglu/107063582
#HostileArchitecture #PublicSpaces #inequality #privatisation #ShoppingCentres #dispersal #FirstNationsPeoples #biopolitics #surveillance #CCTV #PervasiveTechnologies #UAVs #NoisePollution #IndigenousPeoples #DesignApartheid #governance #CoffsHarbour

A New Wave of Pressure on Cyberspace and Public Spaces: Blocking Social Media Pages and Sealing Cafés

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.en-hrana.org/a-new-wave-of-pressure-on-cyberspace-and-public-spaces-blocking-social-media-pages-and-sealing-cafes/

#Toronto - #EarthMonth 2026

All of April 2026

Free & Low-Cost Programming | Most Events Free

"What is Earth Month at the Brick Works?

For over 15 years, #EvergreenBrickWorks has been Toronto’s demonstration hub for sustainability: a repurposed historic site that proves what’s possible when we reimagine public space for people and planet. Every April, we open our doors to a whole month of programming in celebration of that.

Earth Month at the Brick Works brings together community organizations, environmental educators, artists, local vendors and Torontonians interested in exploring the things that matter:

How do we live more sustainably? How do we create less waste? How do we reconnect with the natural world right here in the city?"

Upcoming events:

April 25th: #LitterCleanUp with Don't Mess with the Don
10am-12pm
Meet at Watershed Wall
Free
Don't Mess with the Don and Evergreen will be leading a spring clean of some of favourite places in the Don Valley. We provide everything you will need including snacks. The clean up is easy to moderate with some brush areas involved. Rain or shine. No need to register - meet at the Watershed Wall at 10am.

April 26th: #EcoFair - Green Neighbours Network & Transition Toronto
11am-4pm
CRH Gallery
Free
EcoFair Toronto is a celebration of the wonderful people, environmental groups, and eco-businesses that are helping to create a greener and healthier planet for all. With fun activities for kids, industry professionals, EV and e-bike test drives, the City of Toronto Hub, and locally produced sustainable products for home, health, fashion and accessories by Toronto artisans there's something for everyone.

April 26th: Drop-in: Seed Planting Demo
12-5pm
Evergreen Garden Market
Free
Stop by the Evergreen Garden Market anytime for a free seed planting demo!

April 26th: WORKSHOP: Exploring #ClimateJustice through Cold Process #SoapMaking | Register here.
11am-1pm
Bricks and Bites Kitchen
$90
Learn how to create soap using plant-based ingredients while exploring the ecological benefits of this traditional method. Take the soap recipe and two lbs of your own soap home with you. Stay for a latte and conversation!"

FMI [includes more events]:
https://www.evergreen.ca/evergreen-brick-work/events/earth-month-2026/

#SolarPunkSunday #SeedPlanting #BuildingCommunity #MakerSpace #SustainableProducts #LocalArtisans #TorontoCanada #GardenMarkets #SpringCleanUps #EarthDay2026 #Workshops #PublicSpaces

Bus Stop Chronicles

I just read that Martin Parr passed away yesterday. He was a giant in street photography circles with a fantastic library of unusual photos showing a slice of life wherever he had his camera.

So, today’s image has to be a street photo. A busy scene on St. Patrick Street, Cork in 2017.

#2017 #BritishHighStreet #busShelter #candidPhotography #Clarks #Cork #documentaryPhotography #everydayLife #GameStop #highStreet #humanInterest #Ireland #MartinParrStyle #observationalPhotography #pedestrians #Photo #Photography #publicSpaces #retail #shoppingDistrict #socialDocumentary #StreetPhotography #urbanPhotography #waiting

Festive Commerce in Cork

Brown Thomas on Patrick Street, Cork, is all lit up again for Christmas. On Oliver Plunkett Street they’ve put up the usual decorations and they look fabulous!

#2025 #architecturalLighting #atmosphericLighting #brownThomas #christmas #christmasDecorations #christmasLights #cityCentre #commercialPhotography #communalCelebration #cork #decorativeLights #departmentStore #festiveAtmosphere #festiveDecoration #festiveLighting #festiveSeason #holidaySeason #holidayShopping #illuminatedFacades #ireland #irishCities #irishRetail #luxuryRetail #motionBlur #nightPhotography #oliverPlunkettStreet #patricksStreet #pedestrians #photo #photography #publicSpaces #retail #seasonalDecoration #shopping #shoppingStreet #sonyA7rv #storefront #streetLighting #streetPhotography #urbanChristmas #urbanRetail #windowDisplay

Could #courthouses provide the #blueprint for #safe #transgender #bathrooms?

As states move to #exclude trans people from using certain #publicspaces, #courtroom #accessibility is key to ensuring that #jurypools reflect the makeup of the country, experts say.

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #Massachusetts #Boston #Inclusion #Accessibility #Representation #Culture

https://19thnews.org/2024/08/courthouses-transgender-bathrooms-jury-accessibility/

#Building and #Designing #EcoFriendly #Homes for #People With #Disabilities - EcoWatch

Concert #venues, shopping #plazas and sporting #arenas are continuously #constructing #accessibility #improvements to make #publicSpaces more #comfortable for people with disabilities. But unfortunately, there’s one place that continues to be a #challenge for people with disabilities to navigate — their own #homes.

https://www.ecowatch.com/eco-friendly-homes-for-people-with-disabilities.html

#Sharjah issues #planning #principles for #childFriendly open #publicSpaces - News | Khaleej Times

Comprising 10 principles, the guide is a global #benchmark based on utilising best #local and #international #practices and aims to support #partnerships that are focused on #designing and #developing #public #spaces.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/sharjah-issues-planning-principles-for-child-friendly-open-public-spaces