The Livable Streets Initiative

The Livable Strees Initiative is a brilliant pool of information for those of us interested in urban livability, specifically promoting the redesign of urban spaces with the cyclist in mind. This website is just begging to be the next object of my pure and unadulterated obsession. They have bloggers chiming in from all over the world on how these sustainability projects are progressing, "streetflims" which highlight cities that are making a difference, and a platform for people to organize projects in their own communities.

Their most recent streetfilm provides a glimpse into the busiest bicycle street in the Western world: Nørrebrogade in Copenhagen (be still my heart).

Because really, who does it better than the Danes? I have yet to encounter another culture so whole-heartedly committed to living their lives on bicycles. When living in Denmark, I noticed that the Danes don't have the same emotional, spacial attachment to their beds that Americans do. Their bedding is basic and most sleep on futons so that blankets and pillows are retired to the closet during the day, and the space is put to better use. This was odd, because when I live in the States, my bed is my SPOT. Only later did I realize that Danes have a spot too...on their bikes. They have transferred this attachment to the spot between two wheels.





photos via the spectacular blog: copenhagen cycle chic

Dig elsker jeg

Last night, I assisted in CU's DIS orientation and chatted for an hour about my blissful, Danish semester. Copenhagen has been on my mind all day. The city that I am striving for.

This song pulls at my heartstrings for so many reasons. It was originally penned by Hans Christian Andersen during the Danish Golden Age: a stodgy, gangly, ethnic Dane who embodies Danish national identity and everything wrapped up in feeling Danish. He is the most well-known and stereotypically Danish Dane that has ever walked the streets of Denmark. Here it is performed by Isam Bachiri, a famous Danish rapper who was born in Denmark of Moroccan descent. In interviews, Bachiri describes his attachment to Andersen's piece and his desire to perform it as a response to the white-blonde Danes who constantly pose the question, "Hvor kommer du fra?" ... "Where are you from?"

He responds by singing Andersen's song: "I Danmark er jeg født, der har jeg hjemme"

"In Denmark, where I was born, where I am home."



1st Verse
"I Danmark er jeg født, der har jeg hjemme,
(In Denmark, where I was born, where I am home)
der har jeg rod, derfra min verden går;
(where I have roots, where my world spins)
du danske sprog, du er min moders stemme,
(Danish language, you are my mother's voice)
så sødt velsignet du mit hjerte når.
(in my heart so sweetly blessed)
Du danske, friske strand,
(You, fresh Danish beaches)
hvor oldtids kæmpegrave
(where old-fashioned gravestones)
stå mellem æblegård og humlehave.
(stand between apple farm and hops garden)
Dig elsker jeg! - Danmark, mit fædreland!
(I love you, Denmark, my fatherland)

Not only does his beautiful voice give me the girly giggles, but his interpretation and presentation of Andersen's piece brings up so many issues pertinent to modern-day Europe. From where does one derive their national identity? An attachment to the land? The blood in your veins? A sense of common values? Where your parents were born? Is the EU a threat these identities?

These are questions that spend far too much time rolling around in my head. Where would you say your national identity is rooted?