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Month: September 2023

Live and Love without Paternalism. Take to the streets for sexual self-determination for all

Day of Action for Sexual Self-Determination 16th September 2023


10/09/2023

(see below for the Call to Action in Portuguese, Spanish and German)

On 16th September 2023, Christian fundamentalist and right-wing nationalist opponents of the right to sexual determination are once more staging a so-called “March for Life” in Berlin-Mitte. They are demanding a total ban of abortions and are agitating against non-heterosexual couples or families, and the diversity of sexual identities.

The Anti-Choice movement is represented in parliament by the Christian-conservative CDU/CSU and the AfD (which is developing into a Nazi party). They are part of an international network and in Germany, Europe and currently particularly in the USA, they are putting pressure on governments to pass reactionary repressive laws.

These forces want to deny us all the right to self-determination over our own bodies and lives. We cannot surrender the streets of Berlin to them! Our day of action for sexual self-determination will be taking place under the motto “Live and Love without Paternalism.”

This day is also the kickoff for a national week of action for sexual self-determination, which will end with various meetings and actions throughout the country on 28th September, the international day for the decriminalisation of abortion.

12 noon Brandenburger Tor – 13.50 Bebelplatz

Programme for the 16th September

12 noon, Brandenburger Tor / Pariser Platz Kick-off rally with:

  • Music from HEARTCHOR.Love. Part 1 begins at 11.50.

  • Welcome and speech about the Day of Action (Annika, Bündnis für Sexuelle Selbstbestimmung)

  • Speech from Martina Regulin, head of the GEW teachers’ union in Berlin-Mitte

  • Speech from Stephanie Schlitt (national leadership of Profamilia) on the current demands to remove abortion regulations from the criminal code

  • Feminist hymn by Queen Bees & the Beat – “Powerful “omen”

  • Isabel Sophie (from Dyke* March Ruhr / FLUID Bochum – Centre for queer culture and secular education) on the human rights backlash in the USA regarding abortions and the lives of queer people.

Demonstration from Brandenburger Tor to Bebelplatz

13.50 Bebelplatz Final rally

  • Demands for a self-identification law (Trans, Inter, Queer e.V.)

  • Kurdan (intercultural women’s group ROSA) on self-determination over your own body

  • Arian Darat (Iranian community) on the revolution of self-determination. The role of the queer community in Iran, their visibility, and how the woman*-Life-Feedom movement can make new alliances.

  • Phillipp Möller from the central council of non-believers on the influence of Christian fundamentalist organisations on politics)

  • Astrid Lück (policy officer for families, women and girls for the Paritätischen Wohlfahrtsverband (parity welfare organisation) on cuts in the national budget in 2024/2025 for the financing of pregnancy counselling.

  • Songs from the Ukrainian-Russian A Capella group perepjolotschki

  • Acknowledgements and good-byes by Ines from the BfSS

15.00 End.

This call for action was issued by the Bündnis für Sexuelle Selbstbestimmung. Translation: Phil Butland. Reproduced with permission.

Viver e Amar sem Paternalismo. Tomar as ruas pela autodeterminação sexual para todas as pessoas

No dia 16 de Setembro de 2023, fundamentalistas cristãos e nacionalistas de direita que se opõem ao direito à determinação sexual estão mais uma vez a organizar uma chamada “Marcha pela Vida” em Berlin-Mitte. Exigem a proibição total do aborto e fazem agitação contra casais e famílias não heterossexuais, e contra a diversidade de identidades sexuais.

O movimento Anti-Escolha é representado no parlamento pelo partido cristão-conservador CDU/CSU e pelo AfD (que se está a transformar num partido nazi). Fazem parte de uma rede internacional e na Alemanha, na Europa e atualmente, particularmente nos EUA, estão a pressionar os governos para que aprovem leis reacionárias repressivas.

Estas forças querem negar-nos a todos/as/es o direito à autodeterminação sobre os nossos próprios corpos e vidas. Nós não podemos entregar-lhes as ruas de Berlim! O nosso dia de ação pela autodeterminação sexual acontecerá sob o tema “Viver e Amar sem Paternalismo”.

Este dia é também o pontapé de saída para uma semana nacional de ação pela autodeterminação sexual, que terminará com vários encontros e ações em todo o país no dia 28 de Setembro, o dia internacional pela descriminalização do aborto.

Día de acción por la autodeterminación sexual 16.09.2023. VIDA Y AMOR SIN MORDAZA

Salimos a la calle por la autodeterminación sexual para todes.

El 16 de septiembre de 2023, fundamentalistas cristianes y nacionalistas de derechas contraries al derecho a la autodeterminación sexual volverán a organizar una denominada Marcha por la Vida en Berlín-Mitte. Exigen la prohibición total del aborto e instigan contra las parejas o familias no heterosexuales y la diversidad de identidades de género.

En los parlamentos, el movimiento antiabortista está representado por la conservadora y cristiana CDU/CSU y la AfD, que se está convirtiendo en un partido nazi. Están interconectados internacionalmente y ejercen presión sobre los gobiernos para que aprueben leyes regresivas y represivas en Alemania, Europa y actualmente sobre todo en Estados Unidos.

Estas fuerzas quieren negarnos a todes el derecho a la autodeterminación sobre nuestros cuerpos y nuestras vidas. No debemos dejarles las calles de Berlín. Nuestro día de acción por la autodeterminación sexual se celebra bajo el lema “Vivir y amar sin mordaza”. Este día es también el comienzo de una semana nacional de acción por la autodeterminación sexual, que concluirá el 28 de septiembre, Día Internacional por la Despenalización del Aborto, con diversos actos y acciones en todo el país.

Aktionstag für sexuelle Selbstbestimmung 16.09.2023 LEBEN UND LIEBEN OHNE BEVORMUNDUNG

Wir gehen auf die Straße für sexuelle Selbstbestimmung für alle

Am 16. September 2023 veranstalten christlich-fundamentalistische und rechtsnationale Gegner*innen des Rechts auf sexuelle Selbstbestimmung in Berlin-Mitte wieder einen sogenannten Marsch für das Leben. Sie fordern das totale Verbot des Schwangerschaftsabbruchs und hetzen gegen nicht heterosexuelle Paare oder Familien und die Vielfalt geschlechtlicher Identitäten.

In den Parlamenten ist die Anti-Choice-Bewegung vertreten durch die christlich-konservative CDU/CSU und die sich zur Nazipartei entwickelnde AfD. Sie sind international vernetzt und üben in Deutschland, Europa und gegenwärtig besonders stark in den USA Druck auf Regierungen aus, rückschrittliche, repressive Gesetze zu erlassen.

Diese Kräfte wollen uns allen das Recht auf Selbstbestimmung über unseren Körper und unser Leben absprechen. Wir dürfen ihnen nicht die Straßen Berlins überlassen! Unter dem Motto „Leben und lieben ohne Bevormundung“ findet unser Aktionstag für sexuelle Selbstbestimmung statt. Dieser Tag ist auch Auftakt für eine bundesweite Aktionswoche für sexuelle Selbstbestimmung, die am 28. September zum Internationalen Tag für die Entkriminalisierung des Schwangerschaftsabbruchs mit verschiedenen Veranstaltungen und Aktionen bundesweit endet.

Letter from the Editors, 7th September 2023

50 Years since the coup in Chile, No Cops in Görli, and trade unions mobilise against AfD leader


07/09/2023

Hello everyone,

This evening (Thursday), AfD leader Björn Höcke will be speaking in Oranienburg, a town just north of Berlin. Höcke is from the Nazi “Flugel” wing of the party and is a very dangerous man. The trade union IG Metall is supporting a counter-protest: “All together against Fascism”, saying “the AfD claim to be fighting for participation and democracy because they are for referenda. In fact, the AfD want to weaken or even remove these elements of democracy, which are important for defending the interests of opposition and minorities–No platform for Fascists. Stand up against racism and come to the demo against the AfD meeting with Björn Höcke in Oranienburg at 6pm. Come to the meeting point at Oranienburg station.

On Friday from 4pm, there’s a Rally and Concert No Cops for Görli – Protest against the Berlin Security Summit. The action is demanding an end to violence and for Germany to finally implement a right to stay and work permits for everyone, including migrants. It calls on the government to provide appropriate support for drug takers. That will create real security! Come along to the platform in front of the CoLab in Görlitzer Park and show the cops and co, what we think of their work in Görli.

Monday is the 50th anniversary of the “other” 11th September – the US-backed coup in Chile which removed socialist president Salvador Allende and installed General Pinochet’s brand of fascism and neo-liberalism. There are a number of events commemorating the coup, including:

On Saturday, Rheinmetall Entwaffnen and Berlin Migrant Strikers are organising an International Exchange – The Left and the war. We must act. Including speakers from the RFU (Ukrainian Workers Front) and the Russian RKSM(b) (Revolutionary Communist Youth League (Bolshevik)). This will be followed by a session with two anti-militaristic dockers from Genoa and Jürgen Wagner from the German Information Centre Militarisation (IMI). This networking event will be in different languages. The organisers will try to offer “whisper translation” into English. It starts at 2pm in Mehringhof, Gneisenaustraße 2a.

On Saturday at 3pm it’s the Pride Parade Berlin. Under the slogan Disabled and mad – back on the streets, this is the tenth anniversary of Mad-and-Disability Pride in Berlin! The demonstration starts at 3pm from Hermannplatz, 10967 Berlin. We’ll finish with a stage at Südblock at Kottbusser Tor, Admiralstraße 1-2. Spoken contributions will be held in German spoken language and translated to German Sign Language. The route is about 1.7 km long. The route leads over asphalt roads. At the end, there will be lowered curbs leading to a square with sidewalk slabs. The entire route is step-free and easy to roll on. It has a total of 13m uphill and 9m downhill. Mad and Disability Pride is our Campaign of the Week.

There are many more activities this week in Berlin, which are listed on our Events page. You can also see a shorter, but more detailed list of events which we are directly involved in here.

In News from Berlin, 700 people demonstrate against war in Berlin, and police plan a bigger clampdown on environmental acticvists.

In News from Germany, 27 members of Letzte Generation are jailed without trial in Bavaria, CDU leader Merz wants to increase deportations, the German government proposes a 3 year rent freeze … but landlords will still be allowed to raise rents, 3 million people without work are not officially unemployed, and Bavaria’s Deputy Prime Minister is accused of antisemitism.

Read all about it in this week’s News from Berlin and Germany.

New on theleftberlin this week, John Mullin in Paris looks at Macron’s latest ban of Islamic dress in schools, while Polish socialist Andrzej Żebrowski calls for opposition to all imperalisms.

You can follow us on the following social media:

If you would like to contribute any articles or have any questions or criticisms about our work, please contact us at team@theleftberlin.com. And please do encourage your friends to subscribe to this Newsletter.

Keep on fighting,

The Left Berlin Editorial Board

We Refuse to be their Pawns

Polish socialist rejects militarism East and West


06/09/2023

This article is based on a speech given by Polish socialist Andrzej Zebrowski at the anti-war demonstration in Berlin on Saturday, 2nd September.

Firstly, thank you for inviting me to speak. As the imperial meat grinder continues to churn, international solidarity is the most important tool of resistance that we have. According to US estimates, about half a million soldiers have been killed or wounded since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine – and many more civilians.

What are they dying for? The conflict has become a clash of imperial interests – between Putin’s Russian territorial expansionism and the much more powerful Western imperialism led by the United States. Putin’s part in the war is obvious. After all, it was Russian troops which invaded Ukraine a year and a half ago. This means that many people don’t see the West as having any responsibility for the war. But for decades, NATO has sensed weakness on the Russian side and has been increasing tensions.

This is a wonderful situation for the Western imperialists. They don’t have to send their own soldiers. They are fighting with Ukrainian blood. And they are prepared to fight to the last Ukrainian. As a response to the war, German military spending has doubled. Arms spending in Germany is now 2 percent of the GDP. In Poland, the situation is twice as bad. The Polish government is boasting that they are spending 4 percent of their GDP on weapons.

NATO has used Putin’s invasion to try to clean up its reputation, but NATO is not a protector. It is an escalator of war. NATO is the biggest war machine on the planet. Similarly, joining NATO is not a democratic right. In fact, it kills democracy because there is no democracy in a graveyard. NATO escalation is just ensuring a bloody future for Ukrainians.

In Poland we see the consequences of joining NATO. Poland joined in 1999. Just 12 days later, NATO began bombing Yugoslavia. Poland showed its loyalty once more when NATO invaded Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2003, it was one of the first four states to invade Iraq.

NATO has more support in Poland than in any other country. In the Polish media, the word “imperialist” is only ever applied to Russia. But the imperialists on both sides do not care about the consequences of war. They aren’t bothered that the war is causing famine. They are more concerned in gearing up with a greater conflict with China, and normalising the idea that using nuclear weapons is an acceptable option to be used by imperial powers when they see fit.

Zbigniew Brzezinski, the father of the current US ambassador to Poland, wrote that geopolitics is a grand chess board. But we refuse to be their pawns. In Poland, we have been trying to gather support for the anti-war movement. This has been difficult after even left-wing parties voted for increased arms spending.

The war in Ukraine fosters reactionary politics. In Poland it is used to justify brutal, racist views towards refugees on the Poland-Belarus border. We must say that Ukrainian refugees are welcome and so are all other refugees.

Finally, I’d like to say that two things are important.

Firstly, we must build an international movement against war and not line up with any pole of imperialism. Our allies are the people fighting to stop the war on both sides. People like Boris Kagarlitzky, the Russian socialist who has been jailed by Putin, but also the Ukrainians who don’t want to fight and anti-war activists in all countries.

Secondly, we should understand that capitalist competition inevitably leads to imperialism, and the division and re-division of the world. There will be no end to this as long as capitalism remains.

I will conclude with two quotes from the great Polish-German socialist Rosa Luxemburg on capitalism, militarism and war:

  • “Militarism is indeed indispensable – but for whom? For the present-day ruling classes and the governments.”
  • “Militarism can only be abolished from the world with the destruction of the capitalist class state.”

We must replace this capitalist state and let ordinary people decide what to produce and how to distribute. That is why we must support any fightback against oppression and exploitation.

We say:

  • “Stop the War now.”
  • “Neither Washington nor Moscow.”
  • “Not the solidarity of international war criminals but international solidarity from below.”

Mad and Disability Pride

Celebrate the disabled and mad


It’s already 10 years of Mad and Disability Pride in Berlin! This year we’ll take to the streets again on September 9, 2023, starting at 3pm from Hermannplatz. We’ll finish with a stage at Südblock at Kottbusser Tor, Admiralstraße 1-2, 10999 Berlin. Spoken contributions will be held in German spoken language and translated to German Sign Language.

The “Disabled and Mad Celebrate” Pride Parade was first organised in 2013 on the initiative of the ak moB and the AK Psychiatriekritik. The current planning plenum is made up of individuals, some of whom are active in the supporting organisations. We aim to ensure that a significant number of the people preparing the parade describe themselves as disabled or mad, or are treated as such. We are self-organised, work without pay, and make decisions together.

We often discuss the question of inclusion in the group. We can start with the premise of organising society so that no one is excluded or faces discrimination. This means that society must change fundamentally. The way in which the word “inclusion” is currently used has little to do with what we mean by it. We reject this superficial inclusion. You can find some more thoughts about this in our 2015 statement

We do not use the word “disabled” as a denigratory term. “Disabled” means that people are excluded, disadvantaged, disabled through social relations. Here are a couple of examples: there are still too few ramps and lifts, too little money for sign-language interpreters, virtually no texts in braille or simple language.

Everyone who recognises themselves in what we are saying is invited to the parade, as is everyone who supports the parade’s statements. Above all, people who are, or feel themselves to be “disabled” or “mad”. As are their supporters, companions and friends.

The route of the Pride Parade 2023 is available as a PDF. On September 9, we start at 15:00 at Hermannplatz. The route is about 1.7 km long, and ends outside Südblock, near Kotbusser Tor.

The parade will take place outdoors, where the likelihood of infecting each other with Corona or other diseases is lower than indoors. Nevertheless, there will be a particularly large number of people from at-risk groups at the parade. Therefore, and in general, IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF AN AIRBORNE INFECTIOUS DISEASE, PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE PARADE.

More information is available from our Website.

News from Berlin and Germany, 6th September 2023

Weekly news round-up from Berlin and Germany


NEWS FROM BERLIN

Antimilitarism and antifascism belong together

“Class struggle instead of war and rearmament” reads the large banner in front of the Brandenburg Gate. Those holding the banner are part of the demonstration against war and rearmament, where around 700 people gathered in Berlin last Saturday. Many young people are among the demonstrators, including a group from the communist organisation Rote Wende Leipzig. “We take part in anti-militarist actions because the fight against war and militarism is of central importance to our work,” explains one of the Leipzig activists. Anti-militarists have also come from Oberhausen in North Rhine-Westphalia. The party Die Linke and the Solid Left Youth are also clearly represented at the demonstration with flags and banners. Source: nd-aktuell

Last Generation: Berlin police want to intervene faster

“Arrogant hubris”. Burkard Dregger (CDU), chose severe words against the members of the Last Generation, calling for a harsh treatment of climate activists last Monday. His wish could come true. After the group announced they would “paralyze” Berlin in September, October and November, the interior administration presented their proposed counter-measures to the Berlin Senate. Vasili Franco (Greens), feared disproportionate action against the blockers. He also spoke out against the so-called ‘pain grips’, saying these violent tactics cannot be justified and should neither be used nor taught. He referred to a 2005 publication of teaching materials by the Berlin police themselves. Source: nd-aktuell

 

NEWS FROM GERMANY

27 climate activists in Bavaria arrested preventively

According to the group “Last Generation”, Bavarian authorities have jailed a total of 27 supporters of the group without trial or judgement. This means that the number of activists in “preventive detention” has almost doubled. They are in the prisons of Stadelheim and Memmingen and many of them were apparently taken into custody in connection with the International Motor Show IAA, which is scheduled to take place in Munich from 5 to 10 September. The Munich police confirmed that ten of them were taken into custody during a raid on Friday. Source: Zeit

CDU leader Merz wants to facilitate deportations from Germany

The number of asylum applications in Germany has risen sharply this year. CDU leader Friedrich Merz wants to counteract this with faster deportations. To do so, Merz has said that more countries should be declared “safe countries of origin”, thus allowing for more deportations. “The fundamental right to asylum has limits when it comes to considering valid reasons for asylum,” he said. “Moldova, Georgia, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and India are countries of origin with recognition rates in the thousands. These countries must be recognized as safe countries of origin so that we can immediately return them [asylum seekers].” he added. Source: dw

Germany calls for 3-year, nationwide rent freeze

The German government is proposing to bring in a three-year, nationwide rent freeze, in the hope it will help to control the country’s housing crisis. Landlords would still be allowed to raise rents, but there would be stricter rules about the hikes. “We need a rent cap for the next three years,” deputy parliamentary group leader for the SPD Verena Hubertz said in an interview published by the magazine “das Bild”. Under such new rules, landlords could raise rents by a maximum of around 6 percent over a three-year period and indexed rental contracts, where rental costs can fluctuate depending on inflation rates, would be made illegal. Source: iamexpat

Three million unemployed: The “hidden reserve”

In these times of a shortage of skilled workers, unemployed and well qualified people, who would like to work, have come into focus. Indeed, three million unemployed people in Germany want paid work. However, these people between the ages of 15 and 74 are not available for the labour market for a variety of reasons, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office. This group of people is referred to as the “hidden reserve.” For example, some are not available for work at short notice due to having to do care work for relatives. A great part of such reserve is represented by women, with a share estimated at about 57 percent. Source: tagesschau

Söder stands by Deputy Aiwanger

At a press conference scheduled at short notice in Munich last Sunday, Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) said he had thoroughly examined and weighed up the allegations made against Hubert Aiwanger (“Free Voters”), and concluded that a dismissal from office would not be proportionate. Some days ago, the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” first reported that Aiwanger had written an anti-Semitic leaflet during his time at school, citing anonymous witnesses. Nevertheless, the Bavarian Prime Minister criticised the crisis management of his deputy. Aiwanger should have clarified the allegations earlier, more decisively and more comprehensively, Söder said. A new state parliament will be elected in Bavaria on October 8th. Source: dw