The Left Berlin News & Comment

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THE BIG CHILL

One-Day Symposium


02/10/2024

THE BIG CHILL, One-Day Symposium, Spore Initiative, Berlin-Neukölln, 5 October 2024, 11h00 – 18h00

At the invitation of Candice Breitz, symposium guests Michael Barenboim, Daniel Bax, Yasmeen Daher, Alexander Gorski, Pauline Jäckels, Nadezda Krasniqi, Jerzy Montag, Michael Rothberg, Nahed Samour and Charlotte Wiedemann will discuss the modes of silence and array of silencing mechanisms that constitute the chilling effect that has settled over German public discourse in the wake of the horrific atrocities of 7 October 2023 and the unspeakably grotesque and disproportionate violence that Palestinians have been subject to both leading up to and since that date.

Since 7 October, despite the International Court of Justice having ruled that it is plausible that Israel has committed acts that violate the Genocide Convention, much of German civil society has opted for silence in relation to the catastrophic death toll in the occupied Palestinian territories, a silence that to some extent betrays the fear of being branded antisemitic under the vague logic of German Staatsräson and/or the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism. Parallel to this broad display of anticipatory obedience, Palestinians, progressive Jews and their allies have been muted, de-platformed, stigmatized (and at times even criminalized) with voracious frequency. A series of anti-democratic measures have been applied (or are currently being drafted) to the ends of curbing and censuring non-violent opinions that lie well within constitutional parameters yet run counter to the increasingly dogmatic discourse that has been perpetuated by Germany’s political class (and reproduced, with ominous consistency, across much of its press landscape).

Symposium participants will consider how perceived and/or actual restrictions on freedom of speech, freedom of political opinion, freedom of assembly and academic freedom have led to the normalisation of repressive attitudes and policies towards a range of racialised minorities that are too often cast as ‘other’ to white Germany—as well as towards intellectuals, artists, activists, journalists and students.

Silence can signify in a variety of ways. It can be imposed or self-chosen. It can be a consequence of social, ideological or legal coercion. It can betray deep apathy or cloak deep empathy. It can be a necessary tool of self-preservation. To what extent have silencing mechanisms and related discourses of exclusion gained support under the cover of political initiatives that promise to afford greater safety to Jewish life in Germany and beyond? To what extent have communities that are already deeply impacted by prejudice, become increasingly vulnerable as heated discourse pertaining to Israel-Palestine continues to polarize the public sphere? How can we collectively work towards the breaking of repressive silences?

The Big Chill’ is curated by Candice Breitz. The symposium is funded by the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig, with immensely generous support from Spore Initiative.

Decolonoize

A place for alternative BIPoC culture in Berlin


25/09/2024

BIPoC musicians and artists are still very underrepresented in music and art scenes. They are under-appreciated by labels, broadcasters and booking agents, both in terms of recognition and financial terms. From a historical point of view alternative music has mostly associated with white British and white US-Americans acts. The music’s originally black roots have been actively concealed for decades. Although Black people invented rock and roll, BIPoC artists in this scene are either comparatively less well known or invisible, as the audience doesn’t know and acknowledge that they are BIPoCs.

In order to counteract this discrepancy and give a diverse artist community its rightful space, DECOLONOIZE, a Berlin collective of BIPoC musicians and music lovers, organizes concerts and events in the old punk way: From The Scene – For The Scene.

Follow the Decolonoize Blog for interviews with your favorite bands & articles about topics surrounding the influence of artists of color to modern music. Decolonoize is also on Instagram and instabio.

Summer Camp 2024

21st – 22nd September, Naturfreundehaus Hermsdorf


18/09/2024

Every year, theleftberlin invite you to our Summer Camp – a week-end of discussion, culture and networking in the Naturfreundehaus Hermsdorf on the edge of Berlin. Participation is free, as is accommodation.

Highlights of this year’s Summer Camp include Ferat Koçak and Asma Rharmaoui-Claquin (NPF candidate in the last French Elections) on the Far Right in Europe, and a panel on Palestine Solidarity in Europe with Palestinian laywer and activist Nadija Samour and representatives of the Irish Bloc and the Bloque Latinoamericano.

In other workshops, campaigns like Right2TheCity (Deutsche Wohnen & Co Enteignen), Sudan Uprising, and the Bloque Latinoamericano introduce themselves. We look at India under Modi, Palestine and the surrounding Arab States, Gender and Disability, Where the German Left is going, and the Ecology of War. And a panel of artists will look at Art and Resistance.

There is also a culture programme, including a live performance by As Per Casper.

Summer Camp is free, but we do ask for a donation to cover food costs.

You can see the full programme here.

Getting there

The Naturfreundehaus Hermsdorf is in Berlin Zone B, a short bus ride away from U- and S-Bahn Wittenau (get the 220 bus to Almutstraße), On Saturday, we will be travelling together from Berlin. Meet at Alexanderplatz at 11.50 on the U8 platform at the front of the train to Wittenau.

LETsDOK 2024

Documentary film festival 2024


11/09/2024

The national documentary film festival LETsDOK 2024 is already underway in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hamburg, Niedersachsen, and Thüringen. In Berlin, the first film will be shown on Saturday, 14th September. This is the fifth year in which the festival has taken place.

LETsDOK 2024 stands in the tradition of equal rights and democracy. Real voices, true stories, lives that are lived — that’s what you can expect at this year’s documentary film festival. Experience emotional high points and deep-reaching narratives that inspire and touch. DIVERSE TOGETHER! Be there and let yourself be carried away by the authentic stories.

LETsDOK 2024 will be showing over 300 documentary films in different cinemas throughout Germany, including in Berlin. Unlike feature films, documentaries offer an unadulterated insight into reality and tell authentic stories from people, who embody courage, determination, and passion. These films show the diversity of human life and inspire you to look beyond your own horizon.

The diversity of films, subjects and perspectives is reflected in the wealth of offers by local initiatives. National coordinator Petra Hoffmann said: “With our choice of content, this year we are once more putting a clear focus on the subjects of the promotion of democracy, diversity, and against antisemitism and racism.”

Together with many other organisations and partners, LETsDOK2024 brings documentary films to villages, gardens, churches, synagogues, stations, mills, barns, monasteries, closed down shops, and even to a circus tent – places where cinema original came from, and to places where it “hurts”.

Experience the art of documentary films in unique locations and let yourself be touched by their authenticity and depths. Follow us on instagram and facebook, so you do not miss any event or venue. LETsDOK’s non-profit organisation docfilm42 aims at making independent documentary films more visible.

Reclaim Your Kiez

We are here again in 2014 fighting Nazis


04/09/2024

For the fourth year in a row, the anti-fascist demo Reclaim Your Kiez will be taking place in Treptow-Köpenick. And it is more important than ever. The AfD has not just become the strongest force in our district in the European elections. It is currently lying ahead in the polls for the East German States Saxony, Thüringen and Brandenburg. We are all noticing how the country and our district are continuing to turn to the right.

The AfD is not just planning the deportation of millions of people in Germany. Through their success in the European elections and their good results in the polls, Nazis are feeling generally stronger in their inhumane ideology, and are increasingly appearing in our Kiezes, whether in the form of Nazi stickers and graffiti, leaflets at schools and S-Bahn stations, or martial arts training in our parks. The Fascists are more self-confident, which has resulted in many attacks on people campaigning for democratic parties, migrants, and anti-fascists.

ALL TOGETHER AGAINST FASCISM!

This is why we need a broad alliance which stands against the Nazis everywhere, resolutely and consistently. But at the same time as building a broad alliance, we must also criticise the current government policy. The demand for and implementation of more and more deportations, the racism of the Centre, the further dismantling of asylum rights, and the deathly isolationist policy of Fortress Europe normalise the inhumane ideology of the Nazis and push forward the shift to the right.

IF YOU SPEAK ABOUT FASCISM, YOU SHOULD NOT BE SILENT ABOUT RACISM!

In this political climate, and this country, with its Nazi history, a debate has been started about so-called “imported antisemitism”, while nothing is said about the Nazi networks in the German security services. The AfD is being presented as a normal party. This is not just hypocritical, but also highly dangerous. If you play the important struggle against anti-Muslim racism and the equally important fight against antisemitism against each other, you give encouragement to the Nazis.

But German politics and the “middle of society” sees the Left and so-called aliens as more of an enemy than the right wing. Increasingly blatant deportation plans and repression of anti-fascists are added to a German history since the Second World War which is riddled with numerous continuations from the Nazis in politics and economics. All this on top of a German colonial history which has only been dealt with superficially.

We declare a fight against all forms of discrimination! We will not accept sexism, homophobia or racism – in particular anti-Muslim racism, as well as antisemitism – either worldwide or in our Kiez! The German complicity in global relations of oppression and exploitation offers the breeding ground from which the fascist ideology of the AfD can thrive and grow.

TOGETHER AGAINST HATRED AND DISCRIMINATION

Let us make a strong signal against exclusion, oppression, and all sorts of Nazis.

Join us on Saturday, 7th December, at 2pm at S-Bahn Plänterwald for the Reclaim Your Kiez Demo 2024