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Category: Letter from the Editors

Letter from the Editors: 6 July 2023

Hello everyone, Friday join a hybrid in-person/online discussion about “Let’s talk about strikes: Inputs about strike movements in France, Myanmar and Bangladesh”. The event will take place in Neukölln but also Online (you will get the exact location and the Video-call link by mail after registration) from 6-9pm, input and discussions in English. Click here […]


06/07/2023

Hello everyone,

Friday join a hybrid in-person/online discussion about “Let’s talk about strikes: Inputs about strike movements in France, Myanmar and Bangladesh”. The event will take place in Neukölln but also Online (you will get the exact location and the Video-call link by mail after registration) from 6-9pm, input and discussions in English. Click here for more details.

Head to Tempelhofer Feld on Saturday at 4pm for a demo against the evermore concerning plans related to Templehofer Feld–led by the new coalition of Giffey’s SPD and Wegner’s CDU. Whether Emmauswald, expansion and further construction of the A100 or the Tempelhofer Feld: The sell-out of the city is to be pushed forward and Berlin is to be sold to rental sharks and large investors. And all this at the expense of the tenants, who can no longer find affordable housing in the city and are pushed out. Meet at the Herrfurthstrasse entrance.

Also taking place at on Saturday at 4pm, Akebi is showing the film “After Sabeen“, based on events that took place in Karachi, Pakistan on 24 April 2015 when a car stopped at a red-light and two men on a motorcycle opened fire killing Sabeen on the spot; and wounding her mother. That same evening Sabeen Mahmud was killed, founder, and director of the well known Karachi institution T2F, hosted a discussion on the unexplained and ongoing disappearances of more than 20,000 activists and civilians in the country. Click here for ticket information. The film is taking place at Segitzdamm 2, 10969 Berlin. The film screening is organised by AKEBI and th ePOC Art Collective, who are our joint Campaigns of the Week.

Sunday evening includes lecture & discussion about the Sonic Memories of the Armenian Genocide hosted by the Ararat Collective and Café Արագիլ. The discussion will be facilitated by Gascia Ouzounian (Associate Professor of Music, University of Oxford), followed by a discussion session moderated by artist Silvina Der-Meguerditchian. The event will be followed by a gathering in the new Armenian café at the Spore Initiative. Read more about the event here and head to Hermannstraße 86 from 5-6pm.

Hope to see you on Monday at the Berlin LINKE Internationals July Planning Meeting taking place at Schierker Str. 26 from 7-9pm. This collaborative monthly meeting discusses the outcome of last month’s events, as well as brainstorming for the upcoming weeks. Everyone is invited.

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, An estimated 13,000 Berliners hopped on their bikes to protest one of the new coalition’s most debated decisions: the plan to freeze all planned new bike lanes, and to even close some of the already finished ones, the techno parade “Rave the Planet” is supposed to take place next Saturday–however the event risks cancellation due to problems securing an ambulance service.

In News from Germany, A recent study reveals skepticism about the functioning of democracy–particularly pronounced in eastern Germany where citizens long for “Authoritarian State”, University of Potsdam used as backdrop for right-wing extremists for a “a clear and disgusting mockery of Pride Month”, The right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) has an elected full-time mayor for the first time, economic proposals estimate 1.5 million immigrants a year to fill the skilled labor shortage–while critics say more can be done to improve the education system for children, and the Finance minister reveals the strict budget for 2024 and among the cuts impacts parental benefits.

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

New on theleftberlin this week, Ribridipix Variegatix provides insight into Silvio Berlusconi’s recent death, reflecting on his career and damaging legacy, Phil Butland optimistically outlines the current context of Palestine and the German Left, Alice Lambert adds transparency to recent budget cuts which will especially harm to Neukölln’s children, the homeless and addiction services, and John Mullen sheds light onto the recent protests and riots in France after the police were caught on video murdering a 17 year old.

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 do encourage your friends to subscribe to this Newsletter.

Keep on fighting

The Left Berlin Editorial Board

Letter from the Editors: 29 June 2023

Hello everyone, Our Campaign of the Week highlights Beyond Equality: Feminisms Reclaiming Life conference. This conference takes place from Friday through Sunday and will focus on war, border politics and revolutions, decolonial ecofeminism and the political economy of “race”, feminist abolitionism, anti-fascism, gender violence, hetero-cis normativity, and investigative journalism. Click here for a detailed program, the […]


29/06/2023

Hello everyone,

Our Campaign of the Week highlights Beyond Equality: Feminisms Reclaiming Life conference. This conference takes place from Friday through Sunday and will focus on war, border politics and revolutions, decolonial ecofeminism and the political economy of “race”, feminist abolitionism, anti-fascism, gender violence, hetero-cis normativity, and investigative journalism. Click here for a detailed program, the events will take place at several locations around the city.

Saturday provides sunshine and a walking tour led by Izzy Choksey, who will highlight the relics of German Colonialism around the city and explains how colonialism shaped and continues to shape the city. The tour will meet at 2pm at Martin Luther Statue near Alexanderplatz. Based on the tour’s content, please bring one Berlin AB Ticket for public transport or a ticket than enables travel on the BVG network. There will be one bus ride during the tour to our final stop at Treptower Park, around 5pm. Please note that the tour is free, but donations to the guide are strongly encouraged. Click here to for free registration.

On Sunday, trans activist, Alexia Metge will talk about her experiences and struggles in and against the prison system. Meet at Oyoun (Lucy-Lameck-Straße 32), 12049 Berlin at 5pm.

Jumpstart your Monday morning with a bike demo on Hermannstraße. We want to prove that the bike is an important means of transport. Stopping the bike path construction by Manja Schreiner puts us in danger on our daily routes. Meet at 8:15 am at Anita-Berber-Park at Hermannstraße (height U-Leinestraße). Join in!

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, Deutsche Wohnen & co Enteignen’ campaign remains hopeful as the Expert Commission publishes confirm that expropriation is possible, flats located on Rigaer Straße risk being sold off, The “Last Generation” activists managed to block traffic and end the event “peacefully and without disturbances”, and the city of Berlin is met with a growing number of lawsuits due to the two-year long waiting period for citizenship.

In News from Germany, The AfD candidate Robert Sesselmann secured the recent district council election in the Thuringia, as AfD national leader proudly announces “This was just the beginning.”, Muslims end up fearing racist attacks averaging two racist attacks a day, assuming more cases go unreported, German Defence Minister wants to station 4,000 soldiers in Lithuania, grossly understaffed staffing 1,719 hospitals as talks of drastic hospital reforms are underway.

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

New on theleftberlin this week, Phil Butland and Helena Zohdi share the final part of The rise and fall (and rise and fall) of the Egyptian Left, Rob Ferguson explores Israel, the US, and imperialism, Hebh Jamal raises the question: What does Israel’s government mean for Palestinians?, Hari Kumar provides insight into What just happened in Russia?, and Inês Colaco captures an interview with Elif Sarican, one of the organizers of the The Beyond Equality: Feminisms Reclaiming Life conference.

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 do encourage your friends to subscribe to this Newsletter.

Keep on fighting

The Left Berlin Editorial Board

Letter from the Editors: 22 June 2023

Hello everyone, Friday kicks off the first day of the “ARTIVISM: The Art of Subverting Power” conference, including panels, workshops, and artistic productions. The event explores questions of how can art and activism be combined to tackle burning social issues, surveillance, unethical corporations and corrupt governments? ARTIVISM offers streaming options, as well as in-person events […]


22/06/2023

Hello everyone,

Friday kicks off the first day of the “ARTIVISM: The Art of Subverting Power” conference, including panels, workshops, and artistic productions. The event explores questions of how can art and activism be combined to tackle burning social issues, surveillance, unethical corporations and corrupt governments? ARTIVISM offers streaming options, as well as in-person events at Studio 1, Kunstquartier Bethanien, Mariannenplatz 2 at 5pm. Access tickets here.

Also taking place on Friday, the Deutsches Historisches Museum offers discussions about “Colonial and Anti-Colonial Thinking in German History: From the Enlightenment to the 20th Century”. Discussions include interdisciplinary historians, philosophers, political scientists and sociologists taking place in German and English, simultaneous translation. The event begins at 9am-6pm at Hinter dem Gießhaus 3: ground floor. For those who can’t make it, sessions will be recorded and released later! Click here to register for free.

On Friday evening don’t miss a panel discussion at 7pm, hosted by the SAOT Festival. Panelists include members of the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Palestinian activists and journalists. They will will provide insight into the political context surrounding our struggles and critically assess growing anti-Palestinian racism in Germany. The aim is to enable attendees on how to successfully push back against these attacks and support/empower the artist, activist, scholar, journalist, and all those who advocate for freedom and justice. Come to Haus der Statistik, Otto-Braun-Straße 70-72. Entry is free!

Saturday through Sunday H48 hosts the “Endangered Species” event series. Join us in our attempt to build communities. Joining us in our fight for houses and neighborhoods that enable and nourish human life and our relationships with one another – this includes the production and exchange of things that we call “art”. The event takes place at Hermannstr. 48, ring the bell at “Project Room”.

Get your groove on this Saturday at the Western Sahara cultural fest, celebrating 50 years of the Frente Polisario. The event includes live music, dance, henna, tea ceremony and much more. The cultural fest takes place in Mauer Park from 3pm-10pm.

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, hundreds of contract workers at Tesla have been let go, trade union ver.di demands that a Berlin aviation security company pay outstanding wages, and Berlin’s transport senator announced the cancellation of already planned cycle path projects with an impact on car traffic.

In News from Germany, Label suspends collaboration with musician Rammstein due to recent accusations of severe sexual violence, tourist dies after vicious attack at Neuschwanstein Castle, Greifswald residents vote against accommodation for refugees, Schwerin remains SPD following a runoff against the AfD candidate and migration increases in Germany as foreigners continue to bolster the population.

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

New on theleftberlin this week, Dimitra Kyrillou walks us through the right wing shift taking place in Greece as elections are on the horizon, Part 4 of the fascinating interview with Hossam el-Hamalawy about the history of the Egyptian Left, Rowan Gaudet interviews Alice Garcia from (ELSC) regarding the definition of antisemitism and how it is used to suppress Palestine solidarity in Germany, check out the photos from this year’s Berlin LINKE Internationals Summer Camp, Goncalo Marcelino takes at AI’s troublesome infusion of biases, and Rohit K. explains how to decolonise Yoga against political exploitation.

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 do encourage your friends to subscribe to this Newsletter.

Keep on fighting

The Left Berlin Editorial Board

Letter from the Editors: 15th June 2023

Remember the British miners’ strike, 70 Years workers uprising in East Berlin, and support unpaid WOLT workers


15/06/2023

Hello everyone,

Today (Thursday), the interior ministers of different German Bundesländer are meeting in Berlin. At this meeting, ministers and senators will decide on the lives, perspectives and futures of people who are not at the table to speak for themselves and their situation. The alliance Courage for anti-racist migration policy is organising a demonstration calling for: the right to stay for refugees, apartments instead of camps, security for all instead of racist police violence, safe escape routes instead of selective admission, and the participation instead of social exclusion. The demonstration is at 5:30pm at the Bundeskanzler*innen-Amt.

An emergency demonstration has been called this eveinng at 7pm following the tragic events in Pylos (Greece) due to the negligence of the Greek coast guard. Approximately 750 people where fighting with their lives on the night of the 13th of June. This led to 79 deaths, 104 rescued people and all the rest missing. We urge for an immediate call of action, a protest against the criminal politics and dispositions of the Greek government that creates unsafe passageways in land and sea for people in need. We won’t tolerate any more deaths! Open the borders now!! The demonstration will take place at Oranienplatz

Tomorrow is the court hearing of the Bundestag 3 For Palestine (BT3P), who are suing Germany for its anti-democratic + anti-#Palestinian anti-#BDS resolution! For more information about the case, see the interview with BT3P member Christoph Glanz, that we published on theleftberlin last November. The court hearing will be at the district court in Charlottenburg, Hardenbergstraße 31. There will be a demonstration at 10am, and the hearing will start at 11am.

Saturday is the Day of the German Army, an annual celebration of this country’s war machine. This year, after Germany’s military budget was doubled–the day has a particular importance. An alliance of LINKE groups, ATTAC Berlin and anti-war groups have called a protest Keine Werben für das Sterben “no recruitment for dying” at the Bundeswehr recruitment centre next to Friedrichstraße S-Bahn at 5:30pm on Friday. On Saturday, there will also be a protest in Brandenburg-Havel, site of one of the Bundeswehr events.

Also on Saturday, the Berlin LINKE Internationals will be showing the film Still the Enemy Within, about the British miners’ strike. Still the Enemy Within is a unique insight into one of history’s most dramatic events: the 1984-85 British Miners’ Strike. No experts. No politicians. Nearly forty years on, this is the raw first-hand experience of those who lived through Britain’s longest strike. Follow the highs and lows of that life-changing year. At this free screening in Berlin, we will be joined by the film’s Executive Producer Mike Simons, who will take part in a Q&A after the film is screened. It starts at 3pm in the Rosa Luxemburg Saal of Karl Liebknecht Haus, Kleine Alexanderstraße 28 on Rosa Luxemburg Platz.

On Sunday, it’s the latest Berlin LINKE Internationals Political Walking Tour. To mark Saturday’s 70th anniversary of the East German Workers’ Uprising, this month’s tour is on the 40 year history of the DDR. “Risen from ruins,” the anthem starts, “and facing the future.” The German Democratic Republic was founded in 1949, and collapsed almost exactly 40 years later. East Germany left behind some amazing architecture, starting with the broad avenue once called Stalinallee. We will start at the spot where a bronze statue of Stalin stood — today, only Stalin’s ear remains. Meet at U-Bhf Strausberger Platz, outside the exit to Andreasstraße (in front of Andreasstraße 46). As usual, the tour will last around 2 hours. Donations for the tour guide are not required, but kindly encouraged.

On Monday, more than 100 migrant workers who worked for WOLT will be protesting under the slogan WOLT owes us money and rights. The workers are still without pay since six months! In response, they have organised a campaign, starting with a petition. On Wednesday, they will hand over the petition. They need your support. Assemble in front of Rossmann’s at Kottbusser Tor at 3pm. The Wolt protest 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, policeman being investigated for drugging a female colleague and offering her for rape on a dating website, and water in Berlin may be rationed.

In News from Germany, study shows that one third of German men find violence against female partners acceptable, Rammstein singer accused of sexual abuse, church exhibition on the Nakba banned, AfD candidate in Thuringia may become mayor, and doctors arbitrarily change the medication of an imprisoned anti-fascist.

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

New on theleftberlin this week: in Part 3 of his interview Hossam el-Hamalawy talks about the importance of Palestine for the Egyptian Left, the Bloque Latinamericano Berlin look at Germany and the Ukraine war, and we publish a 2-part article by Joseph Choonara, editor of the International Socialism Journal on trade union struggle today. Part-1 is on the current wave of strikes around Europe, and Part-2 focuses on the role of the trade union bureaucracy.

The Video of the Week is footage of the recent meeting that Ilan Pappe gave in Berlin at the Marxismuss Conference on 75 Years Nakba: The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine

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 do encourage your friends to subscribe to this Newsletter.

Keep on fighting

The Left Berlin Editorial Board

Letter from the Editors: 8 June 2023

India’s relationship with Israel, and Summer Camp is Here!!


08/06/2023

Hello everyone,

Tomorrow (Friday), Azad Essa will be presenting his new book Hostile Homelands: The New Alliance Between India and Israel in Berln. Hostile Homelands examines India’s relationship with Israel in its historical context, looking at the origins of Zionism and Hindutva; India’s changing position on Palestine; and the countries’ growing military-industrial relationship from the 1990s. Lucid and persuasive, Essa demonstrates that the India-Israel alliance spells significant consequences for democracy, the rule of law and justice worldwide. The Book Presentation tomorrow starts at 7pm in Gerichtstraße 45, Wedding. It is jointly organised by Hopscotch Reading Rooms, the Berlin LINKE Internationals, and the India Justice Project, who are our Campaign of the week.

The Die Linke Berlin Internationals Summer Camp is this weekend, with many workshops, discussions, and opportunities to meet international socialists in Berlin:

  • On Saturday, at 2pm, Katalin Gennburg, Deputly Leader of die LINKE Berlin, will be asking What’s Happening in Die Linke?, Dominic Bunnett will be looking at the EU and Africa, and the Campaign Berlin Autofrei will be introducing itself.
  • On Saturday at 5:30pm, refugee activist Magda Qandil will be talking about Refugee non-protection in the EU: exploitation, torture and murder.
  • On Sunday at 11am, Ingar Solty from the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung will be moderating a discussion on Imperialism, Fine will be reading from her comic on Western Sahara, and Right2TheCity, the Deutsche Wohnen & Co Enteignen working group for non-Germans will be introducing itself.
  • On Sunday at 1:30pm, Hanna Grześkiewicz will be talking about the use of art in protests, Ibrahiim Jirefawi from Sudan Uprising will be talking about repression and resistance in Sudan, and Ben Rassback from the Ararat Collective will be talking about Armenian resistance in Artsakh/Karabakh and Rojava.
  • And on Sunday at 3:30pm, Ramsy Kilani from Nakba75 and Palestinian journalist Farah Maraqa will be talking about 75 Years Nakba.

There is a description of each workshop here. We will be publishing descriptions of the two keynote meetings on theleftberlin.com soon.

A mail was sent yesterday to everyone who is registered for Summer Camp with more information. If you didn’t get this mail, don’t worry but please fill in this form. This is to ensure that there is enough food and accommodation available for everyone.

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, an art organisation withdraws from the Long Book Night because of the involvement of real estate firms, 50,000 cyclists demonstrate for more safety, security guard working with the police incites against refugees, and the Re:publica conference talks about money.

In News from Germany, AfD support is polling at 18% – as high as that for the SPD, several women accuse Rammstein singer Till Landemann of unconsensual sex, LINKE politician arrested and Children’s Day demo, long sentences for Lina E and 3 others for fighting Nazis, and celebrities sign open letter against German asylum politics.

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

New on theleftberlin this week, Jaime Marrtinez Porro analyses the recent elections in Spain, in the second part of our interview with Hossam el-Hamalawy, Hossam looks at the 1968 movement in Egypt, we interview Azad Essa about his new book about India’s relationship with Israel, the Antifascist Music Alliance call on the German music industry and Berghain to stop working with a known Nazi, and Russian socialist Sasha Talaver looks at a new law threatening to ban feminism.

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 do encourage your friends to subscribe to this Newsletter.

Keep on fighting

The Left Berlin Editorial Board