The Left Berlin News & Comment

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Zeit zu reden

Series of talks on political aspects of the Israel-Palestine conflict which demand constructive discussion


14/05/2025

Zeit zu reden is a series of discussions on political topics that emerged in response to a public debate that, since October 7, 2023, has been marked by a lack of openness, fear, misinformation, and, at times, defamation and hate speech—whether in politics, the media, or on the streets.

Given a debate culture increasingly shaped by populism and hostility, the goal is to foster knowledge-sharing and nuanced discussions. Sensitive and emotionally charged topics are examined from all angles, but always within a human rights framework.

Despite differing viewpoints, participants share a commitment to the rule of law, democracy, and open dialogue. Zeit zu reden brings together scholars, intellectuals, and experts from diverse backgrounds for in-depth discussions on issues that are difficult to address in the German public sphere. Their expertise helps broaden and deepen the debate, challenging entrenched perspectives while encouraging recognition of alternative viewpoints.

This May marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War. Our focus this month is on Memory Culture, with two upcoming events that explore its meaning and impact today.

  • May 16 – Zeit zu reden Memory Culture (1): Gaza and German Memory Politics in a Global Context
    with Mishra Pankaj & Daniel Marwecki
  • May 23 – Zeit zu reden Memory Culture (2): What does “Never again is now” mean? featuring Wolfgang Benz, Asal Dardan, Sarah El Bulbeisi & Gerhard Hanloser

Both events are moderated by Kristin Helberg

Location: Hermannstraße 86, 12051 Berlin-Neukölln
Time: 19:00 – 22:00
No registration required—just come early to secure your spot!

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Disrupt Now

Bike tour: Agriculture in movement


07/05/2025

At the end of 2023, when thousands of farmers took to the streets in Germany to protest against cuts to agricultural subsidies, increasing bureaucratisation and pressure from free trade agreements, the focus shifted to an issue that had long been in the background: food and agriculture.

For progressive left-wing movements, this was a moment for reconsideration: should they get involved in this discussion? But the positions of those involved were too different and the topic, which many had previously only known from the supermarket, seemed too complex.

In the background, however, it became clear that increasing deregulation and market exploitation, coupled with a policy based on the Green New Deal and at the same time propaganda from the right against sustainable agricultural changes, puts us in a dilemma. Issues such as food and agriculture seem almost irrelevant in the face of global crises, the rise of the right and the expansion of power by oligarchs such as Trump and Musk. But it is precisely in this situation that the question of a fair and sustainable food system is more urgent than ever.

The Disrupt. initiative is an alliance of anti-capitalist groups who are convinced that there can only be a good life for all beyond the logic of profit and exploitation. Instead of fighting the shift to the right in isolation and later focussing on other issues, Disrupt. sees food as a central element of capitalist crisis management.

The agricultural industry and EU agricultural policy are at the centre of the criticism. They not only promote the exploitation of people and resources, but also exacerbate social and ecological crises. We need a food revolution that puts people first, not profit. At Disrupt. we agree that the current agricultural policy and existing conservative and right-wing structures are a dead end. They support a system of overcrowded animal factories, depleted soils, poisoned water and poor wages. At the expense of the environment, justice and the future.

Bike tour with many questions

But what could a “food revolution” and a sustainable and fair food system look like in concrete terms?

From 7 to 23 May, 2025 we will cycle 1,000 km across Germany. We want to learn, network and find answers. We will visit places of destruction of today and sustainable projects of tomorrow. The tour ends at the “Wesercamp’ in Brake near Bremen, where people are fighting against the expansion of a huge feed import harbour that imports mainly soya from Brazil – another example of the destructive logic of industrial agriculture.

Taking part

On 9 May, the bike tour will be in Berlin. With a project visit to Weltacker e.V., a rally in front of the BMEL and a panel discussion on “Farming Today & Utopias of Tomorrow.”

Information on the route & programme here:

What’s next

The bike tour is just the beginning: ahead of the climate conference in Brazil, we are organising days of action near Bremen from 7 to 13 October as part of an alliance of groups worldwide! We are protesting against global supply chains that exploit people and nature here and worldwide and invite you to join us as we resolutely oppose the agricultural system.

Contact us on social media

Support local activist in DR Congo

Fundraiser for Daniel Kalalizi


30/04/2025

Daniel Kalalizi is a Congolese climate justice activist and physicist. He was born and raised in Goma, from where he had to escape because of the attacks by M23 rebels. He now lives in the area of South Kivu, which is also heavily affected by the terror of the M23. He works on the ground with the local population and risks his own life daily by just staying there. Climate justice activists are heavily targeted by militant groups and by the government, and are under threat to their lives.

To be able to continue his work, Daniel needs money, which will most of all be used to provide food, clothing and other essentials for the local population.

If you want to know more about Daniel and his work, you can reach out to him over

and read this interview he recently gave on how the climate crisis and environmental degradation threaten livelihoods in the DRC.

You can also read this interview that Daniel gave to The Left Berlin.

Please donate here if you can and share this call for donations with everyone.

Thank you!

Exposing Zalando

Initiative by pro-Palestine employees in the company


23/04/2025

On October 9th, 2023, Zalando’s Management board publicly took a staunch pro-Israel stance to the objection of many of the company’s employees. Those employees were not only repressed, but some of them were actively persecuted. Despite the genocide in Gaza getting worse, pro-Palestine voices in the company, specifically those of Muslim background, were threatened, smeared, and in some cases outright fired, creating an atmosphere of intimidation inside the firm.

After traditional guardrails (HR, compliance, Works Council etc.) failed to protect these employees’ labor and civil rights, a group of employees has worked on exposing Zalando’s anti-Palestine censorship and retaliation campaign.

“Zalando cannot continue to deceive (and make money out of) its customers, shareholders, and employees with this DEI gimmick”, says Mohamad S., an ex-employee who was fired for pro-Palestine speech and is now heavily involved in this effort. “Either they actually commit to these values or the stakeholders have the right to know of the grotesque discrimination taking place on the inside”, Mohamad continues.

After Zalando ignored requests to de-escalate the dispute, Mohamad and his colleagues started an online campaign (See @exposingzalando page on Instagram) to publicize the results of an investigation they conducted by gathering current and former employee testimonies, leaked communications, legal documents, and employee questionnaire results.

“We don’t comment on individual cases” is the line that Zalando’s management has been using internally when asked about this issue, most recently by the CPO (Chief People Officer, the main person responsible for Human Resources) in a panel discussion called (unironically as far as we can tell): “How can businesses drive an inclusive democracy?”

Zalando’s management, in the backstages, are expressing expectations for this news to just “fade away.” They seem to focus their discussions on how to deny the facts and smear some of the people involved in the campaign, rather than addressing the actual issue.

Mohamad further comments: “While we recognize the ubiquity of these incidents in Germany, we urge everyone not to let Zalando normalise them. Despite what the pro-Israel elites, such as Zalando’s management board, would like you to think, our observation is that the German legal system has proved reliable in defending the rights of pro-Palestine advocates. The repulsive tactics that Zalando uses to intimidate its employees only work if they remain clandestine. We will make sure they are uncovered.”

Save Peppi Guggenheim

Save our extra class cultural events with the laissez faire factor!


16/04/2025

Peppi Guggenheim in Berlin is much more than just a neighborhood bar—for 15 years, it has been a one-of-a-kind meeting place for music, art, and community in the heart of the district of Neukölln. Peppi has an extensive cultural program: Outstanding jazz concerts and performances take place on Fridays and Saturdays, DJ evenings on Thursdays, and PeppiOke every first Monday in the month. All of this takes place on a donation basis, which would not be possible without the volunteer engagements of the numerous culture lovers who regard Peppi as a home away from home.

But Peppi’s existence is now at stake: Corona and an onerous tax debt have brought the bar to its knees. The tax office has now decided to Peppi’s disadvantage in connection with losses at the bar due musicians, artists, and volunteers receiving free drinks. While Peppi’s program has never generated real financial profits, it has attracted the support and huge dedication of a passionate, multinational team. 

We now need you to help save Peppi—and thus our motto: come, enjoy, drink, donate!

Why is the Peppi that important?

  • Culture for Everyone – Our events—whether international jazz or performances—are and will remain admission-free so that truly everyone can enjoy them.
  • Cultural Legacy – The concerts are professionally recorded and filmed, live-streamed, and archived so that they are accessible for everyone—something that the bands highly appreciate.
  • Neighborhood Hotspot – Peppi is a social anchor point in Berlin-Neukölln. A lively place for encounters, where openness, tolerance, and coexistence are lived.

You can donate to Save Peppi Guggenheim or find out more information here.