NEWS FROM BERLIN

Berlin Greens want to invest in “heat transition”

Berlin’s Green Party wants to invest two billion euros in modernizing and expanding the heat supply for the city. The aim is to use the money to promote climate-neutral heat supply by the end of this legislative period (2026). For instance, the party plans on setting up a bonus program for the installation of heat pumps. They also plan to renovate buildings, making the state-owned housing associations accountable for their cost efficiency. However, such plans are waiting for the results of the February election. Source: rbb24

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Pistorius “wants to make the Bundeswehr strong”

The future Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius (SPD), to be appointed on Thursday, wants to involve the members of the Bundeswehr “very closely” in the modernization of the troops. On Tuesday in Hanover, the politician assured the public he would stand up for the soldiers. He said he was very happy to take on the office and was aware of its importance in difficult times. The tasks for the troops are enormous. He acknowledged that the resigning minister, Christine Lambrecht (SPD), had made a start on the reorganization of the Bundeswehr. Source: taz

Raid on journalists

Police in Freiburg searched “Radio Dreyeckland” (RDL) on Tuesday morning. According to a press release, several search warrants issued by the public prosecutor’s office in Karlsruhe were executed. The background is a preliminary investigation on “suspicion of a violation of a ban on association.” The reason for the search was an article written under the abbreviation “FK” from August 2022 which linked to the “criminal organization” Linkunten Indymedia. After Fabian Kienert, RDL´s editor, outed himself as the author of the article and handed over the laptop used for it, the officers left. Kienert sees this as blackmail and an “unprecedented intrusion into editorial secrecy.” Source: nd

Lindner writes off East

On Tuesday, the Federal Fiscal Court (Bundesfinanzhof, BFH) heard the case of a married couple from Bavaria who consider the so-called solidarity surcharge unconstitutional and want to see it abolished. Originally, the federal government wanted to send a delegation to the appeal proceedings in Munich to defend the “Soli.” However, nothing came of it: the previous week, Lindner decided to keep his department out of the dispute – to the annoyance of the SPD and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, who want to stick to the levy. The outcome of the case is considered open. Source: jW

Minimum wage shows its effectiveness

Raising the statutory minimum wage to twelve euros was a key promise of the SPD in the last federal election. “People who work all day must be able to live from their work without additional support.” Previously, the trade unions and the Left Party fought for a significant increase in the statutory minimum wage. Before the rise, many warned that employers would reduce workers’ working hours because of it, which is why they would not necessarily earn more money in the end. According to a study from the Hans Böckler Foundation, employers did not react in this way for the most part. Source: nd

Greta Thunberg in Lützerath

Police briefly took Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg into custody during new protests near the evacuated West German village of Lützerath. Journalists watched as three police officers carried the 20-year-old away and set her down after a good 50 metres to conduct an identification check. The police confirmed Thunberg was part of a group that had moved towards the edge of the Garzweiler II open-cast lignite mine. After the operation, Thunberg and other activists were released. Coal-fired power plants played a major role in Germany’s failure to meet its own climate targets last year. Source: dw

Scholz: the future belongs to renewable energies alone

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) affirmed the compatibility of the green transformation with Germany’s preservation as a major industrial nation. “Whether you are a business leader or a climate activist, a security policy specialist or an investor – it is now crystal clear to all of us that the future belongs to renewable energies alone,” he said. By 2030, around 400 billion euros would be invested in renewables in Germany alone. The Chancellor also contradicted the impression the success of German industry in the past had largely depended on the purchase of cheap gas from Russia. Source: faz

NEWS FROM BERLIN

The new election and the “ex nunc effect”

Parties are again allowed to distribute flyers in Berlin, because on February 12^th the vote for the Abgeordnetenhaus will be held for the second time in 18 months. The reason is well known: the first attempt in September 2021 was botched. Missing ballot papers, closed polling stations, and far too long queues – the list of mishaps was so long that the Constitutional Court of Berlin declared the elections invalid last November. Nevertheless, the Federal Constitutional Court declared the invalidity has an ex nunc effect: “It does not apply to the past, but to the future.” Source: ntv

Berlin takes over costs in case of energy disconnections

Sharp increases in energy costs are causing payment difficulties for many people in Berlin. Starting next week, however, those affected can get money from a hardship fund. This fund is intended to help people with low and medium income who can no longer pay their electricity or heating bills because of current price developments. Affected private households can apply to have their energy debts taken over. This applies to both threatened and already executed energy disconnections. The entire procedure can only be completed digitally, via an online form on the state portal berlin.de in the service area. Source: rbb24

Why small wind turbines are rare in Berlin and Brandenburg so far

Small wind turbines have so far led a shadowy existence in Berlin and Brandenburg. Ambitious projects on high-rise buildings or radio masts have failed due to difficult building laws. Approval is often complicated because building law makes no distinction between large and small wind turbines. However, Mowea GmbH, a spin-off start-up of TU Berlin, has two wind turbines on the roof of its headquarters at Storkower Straße 115A, coupled with a solar system. And a pilot project, at Frankfurter Allee 218, is about to start: its four planned small wind turbines on the high-rise roof are expected to receive approval soon. Source: rbb24

Around one in five of those arrested in Berlin are minors

Almost 150 people were arrested by police in connection with disturbances in Berlin on New Year’s Eve. According to the police, one in five of them was a minor. A total of 355 criminal and administrative offence proceedings have been initiated. In 89 cases, investigations are underway for violation of the Weapons Act, in 47 cases for dangerous bodily harm. Because many of the attacks happened against the fire brigade and police, politicians understand the social structure of the perpetrators as one of the sources of violence and demand better integration efforts for migrants in Germany. Source: rbb24

NEWS FROM GERMANY

The fight for every metre begins

The announcements of the Aachen police, who are responsible for the operations in the Rhenish lignite mining area, sounded reassuring: from January 2^nd, there would be an increased police presence around Lützerath, but the eviction would only start from January 10^th. But this Monday, the situation for the squatters in Lützerath turned out to be quite threatening. Several hundred police officers had taken up positions around the site of the Garzweiler II open-cast lignite mine. Journalists reported difficulties in getting to Lützerath, which was hindered by the police. Attacks by the police on arriving activists were also alleged. Source: nd

Long investigation against Björn Höcke

Two experts in criminal law have criticized the slow investigations by the public prosecutor’s office in Halle against Björn Höcke, the leader of the AfD party in Thuringia. The public prosecutor’s office has been investigating the right-wing extremist for around 19 months because he used the banned SA slogan “Alles für Deutschland” (All for Germany) in 2021. It is important to note that, according to section 86a, the use of signs of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations is punishable by a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine. Source: taz

Beetles against the motorway

It is not only in Lützerath in North Rhine-Westphalia that an occupation by climate activists could be evicted next week. Environmentalists are also facing decisive days near Frankfurt am Main. They have long been protesting a transportation project that has its origins back in the 1960s. The Riederwald Tunnel, a project from the Autobahn Era, was planned to relieve congestion in the city, but this is considered uncertain, not to mention the loss of life quality: local recreation areas such as the Fechenheim Forest, the Teufelsbruch and the Riederwald would be destroyed or massively damaged by the motorway project. Source: nd

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Berlin judge and former AfD MP resigned from civil court after arrest

Among the suspects arrested in the nationwide raid against the far-right “Reichsbürgerszene” (Reich citizen movement) is Berlin judge and former AfD member of parliament Birgit Malsack-Winkemann. Due to her arrest, Malsack-Winkemann is for the time being no longer performing her duties of the Berlin Regional Court. According to a spokesperson the Judge resigned on Wednesday from Civil Chamber 19a, which is responsible for construction affairs. AfD leadership has said it knew nothing about the alleged activities of former Bundestag member in the so-called `Reichsbürgermilieu’. Source: tagesspiegel

Expropriation of real estate corporations in Berlin possible says expert commission

The expert commission for the implementation of the referendum “Expropriate Deutsche Wohnen und Co” (DWenteignen) considers the expropriation of large real estate companies to be possible. This is the conclusion of the “interim report” produced by the commission, which was set up in April. The 13 members of the committee have said the proposed law is financially feasible and the state would have the ability to implement it. In addition to the legal feasibility, the interim report also deals with the question of financial compensation for the real estate groups potentially affected. Source: tagesspiel

“Reich citizens” in Brandenburg and Berlin

In Brandenburg and Berlin the Reich citizen movement gained new followers during the Corona pandemic. Police and constitutional protection authorities estimate a total of 1,300 “Reichsbürger” and self-governors live in the region. The danger posed by this radicalised movement and its affinity for weapons had been known for a long time and had been pointed out again and again, said Berlin Senator of the Interior Iris Spranger (SPD) in the Interior Committee on last Monday. Spranger also named a whole series of groups that belong to the movement such as “Staatenlos.info”, “Gelbe Westen Berlin”, “Verfassungsgebende Versammlung” and “Vaterländischer Hilfsdienst”. Source: rbb

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Fired because of Palestine trip

The media and political hunt against public figures in Germany who stand up for Palestinian rights has claimed a new victim. The former presenter of the children’s channel (KiKa), Matondo Castlo, announced the channel has decided to no longer work with him. “So I’m out” wrote Castlo on Instagram. Since 2021, the actor and social pedagogue has entertained viewers of the channel for children and young people operated by ARD and ZDF. The 29-year-old’s “undoing” was his participation in a youth festival organised by the left-wing Palestinian People’s Party in the village of Farkha near Nablus on the West Bank in July this year. Source: jW

Who might benefit from simpler naturalisation

Compared to other European countries, Germany lags behind in naturalisation. With the proposed reform, Syrians and Turkish people living here could apply for German passports. Up to now, conditions such as having lived in the country for eight years, and being financially self-supporting, among others, are necessary for naturalisation. Also, as a rule, new Germans must renounce their previous citizenship. But the country is reconsidering some requirements, such as the latter. In particular, it means it would be possible for migrants of Turkish origin, who make up the largest share of the German population with a migration background, to obtain dual citizenship. Source: dw

Xenophobic attack in Karlsruhe

An unknown man assaulted a 14-year-old with a knife in Karlsruhe in a xenophobic attack last Saturday. According to police, the youth left a shopping mall area near Marktplatz in Karlsruhe with others at around 6.10 pm. An unknown man then approached them, threatening and xenophobically harassing them. The suspect was holding a knife and stabbed the 14-year-old with it. Afterwards, the unknown man insulted and threatened other passers-by on Karl-Friedrich-Straße. The perpetrator was able to flee. The youths informed the police, who are now looking for witnesses. Source: bnn

Letter from a “Last Generation” activist

Activist Miriam Meyer, who is currently sitting in cell 105 in Stadelheim Prison, has written an open letter to us “on the outside”, sharing with us her motivations and beliefs related to the movement. She speaks emotively of “Helplessness and a plan that could work, a lot of desperation and a little hope, an orange high-visibility waistcoat and a few tubes of superglue”. She also criticises the Germany Government: “Chancellor Scholz is currently telling the climate conference what Germany is doing for the climate while at the same time building new fossil fuel infrastructure”. For her, it is imperative to stand against this. In her words, “Not resisting is the worse alternative!” Source: letztegeneration

NEWS IN BERLIN

Second-class refugees

It is a remarkable justification Berlin’s Senator of the Interior gives for why she wants to deport about 600 refugees from Moldova before Christmas: “We need the accommodation.” says Iris Spranger (SPD). The Senate is expecting many refugees from Ukraine and “we have to accommodate them.” With this, Spranger has reignited a debate, not widely reported, held shortly after Russia’s first attack on Ukraine: are there first, second and third class refugees, recognisable by the way the state deals with them? This attitude has infuriated her coalition partners, the Left and the Greens. Source: taz

Election and Referendum on the same day?

The fight against climate catastrophe is one of the most important issues of our time. A Berlin referendum, which would see Berlin carbon neutral by 2030, should be given all the attention it can get. It must therefore take place parallel to the rerun of the parliamentary elections being held on the 12 February. If postponed to after the repeat election, proponents worry about failing to reach the 25 percent quorum required. In view of the challenge posed by the climate crisis, the Senate and the state election administration must face up to this task. Source: taz

Berlin streets with colonial names to be renamed

Adolf Lüderitz and Gustav Nachtigal are considered pioneers of German colonialism. In Berlin-Wedding, a street and a square are named after them. Years of protests are now bearing fruit: they are to be renamed. The new names no longer celebrate the perpetrators, but the resistance fighters. The former Nachtigalplatz will become Manga-Bell-Platz, named in honour of the Duala royal couple who fought against German colonial rule in Cameroon. Lüderitz Street will be named after Cornelius Fredericks, a resistance fighter against German colonial rule in Namibia. On Friday, the new street signs are to be unveiled in the presence of the Cameroonian and Namibian ambassadors. Source: migazin

NEWS IN GERMANY

Chelsea Manning: whistleblower launches autobiography in Hamburg

Chelsea Manning is one of the most famous whistleblowers: she published 750,000 confidential documents of the US military. For this act she was sentenced to 35 years in prison. After serving seven years, Barack Obama finally pardoned her. Now she has written her autobiography titled “README.txt”. In Hamburg, at the release of her book, the internet expert reflected that war has changed, as we see with the conflict in Ukraine. She went on to say “I have more access to information today as a private person than I had back then as a data specialist for the United States Army. We live in an absolute information age.” Source: ndr

19 degrees – Germany freezes at the workplace

“EnSikuMaV” is the abbreviation for a lengthy German phrase translating to: the “Ordinance on Securing the Energy Supply via Measures Effective in the Short Term”. Since 1 September, and until 28 February, the whole country has been turning down the heating to save energy. And because the energy supply is threatened by the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the lack of Gazprom gas, measures such heating to a maximum room temperature of 19 degrees in offices in public buildings have become reality. But it turns out 19 degrees in offices can cause problems related to health risks in the long run and productivity. Source: dw

Immigration by points

The German government wants to attract more workers from abroad and a new concept is supposed to help: a points system is supposed to take more into account than just education. There will also be opportunities for migrants without recognised qualifications. According to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), there were 1.8 million vacancies in the third quarter of this year. “Without more skilled workers, we will not make progress in terms of economic policy” summed up Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) on Wednesday. Source: sz

49-euro ticket likely in May

The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) announced the 49-euro ticket, the likely successor of the 9-euro ticket, may be delayed until May 2023. Oliver Wolff, VDV´s chief, said that administrative preparations were the cause for the delay, mostly related to the reorganisation of the VDV tariff system. There are also some uncertainties about how exactly the ticket will be financed. The leader of the Railway and Transport Union (EVG), Martin Burkert, stressed that six months after the “Deutschlandticket” is launched, the federal government much calculate the cost incurred and provide additional funds to federal states if necessary. Source: iamexpat