NEWS FROM BERLIN

Gas shortage: Berlin Bäderbetriebe’s saunas remain cold

The saunas of the “Berliner Bäderbetriebe” will remain closed this autumn. “This is the Bäderbetriebe’s reaction to the impending gas shortage and the requirement to save as much fossil energy as possible,” said its spokeswoman Claudia Blankennagel. Customers are asked for their understanding. Already in Spring, the Berliner Bäderbetriebe took first measures to reduce the energy demand. Initially, the water in the summer pools was only heated to 24 degrees. In the indoor pools, the water temperature has been 26 degrees since opening in August/September. Exceptions to this are therapy pools, where it is warmer. Source: Berliner Zeitung

Criticism on repeating elections in Berlin

Because of numerous electoral glitches, the coalition government wants to have the Bundestag elections repeated in about 300 of the nearly 2,300 polling stations in Berlin. The chairperson of the Bundestag’s electoral review committee, Daniela Ludwig (CSU), criticized the proposal of the traffic light coalition to have the Bundestag election in Berlin repeated in only 300 polling stations. “We actually parted company in the summer with the proposal by the traffic light coalition to have over 400 polling stations repeated. Now this will be reduced further,” mentioned Ludwig. Source: rbb

Senator of Justice: Berlin’s neutrality law discriminates against Muslims

The Berlin Senate wants to take stronger action against anti-Muslim racism. It is a matter of recognizing and eliminating the “structural discrimination” against Muslims, explained Justice Senator Lena Kreck (“die Linke”) in the House of Representatives. “An important step towards this is the abolition of the neutrality law.” Berlin’s neutrality law largely prohibits the wearing of religious symbols in parts of the public service, especially in the police, judicial service and education. It is the most far-reaching regulation in this area in Germany. In 2020, the Federal Labour Court declared the blanket headscarf ban for Muslim teachers unconstitutional. Source: islamiq

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Germany sends arms to Saudi Arabia

The German government has approved arms exports to Saudi Arabia – despite Riyadh’s war in Yemen. The decision is said to have been made shortly before Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) travelled to the Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and to the United Arab Emirates. The two leading members of the war coalition against Yemen are receiving arms worth a total of 37.4 million euros from Germany. Although Angela Merkel’s cabinet officially stopped all arms exports to Saudi Arabia in 2018 after the murder of exiled journalist Jamal Kashoggi, exceptions for European joint projects were made from the beginning. Source: jW

Inflation in Germany at highest level in 70 years

Following the abolition of the nine-euro ticket and the petrol discount, consumer prices in Germany rose massively in September. Inflation in Germany has jumped to its highest level in about 70 years. Driven by rising energy and food prices, consumer prices increased by 10.0 per cent in September compared to the same month last year, the Federal Statistical Office announced in a first estimate. According to a survey by the German Retail Association (HDE), 60 percent of consumers are already cutting back on shopping, and, as many as 76 per cent of respondents are preparing to shop more sparingly in the coming months. Source: DW

Reunification anniversary – Protest instead of party

The anniversary of the annexation of the GDR to the FRG has always aimed at countering social division with a black-red-gold celebration. But some people just don’t want to be in a jubilant mood. “We don’t feel like celebrating, we feel like protesting,” said Uwe Hiksch of the Naturefriends Germany. He was one of the organisers of the demonstration “Heating, Bread and Peace – Protest instead of Freezing!”, which marched through Berlin on 3 October. Meanwhile, a look at the statistics is enlightening: after 45 years of contributions, pensioners in the east received an average of 1,329 euros a month in 2021, while in western Germany it was 1,527 euros. Source: jW

Eurowings: pilots’ union calls strike for Thursday

The pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit has called for a full-day strike at the airline Eurowings on Thursday. The VC announced the negotiations on the collective wage agreement at the Lufthansa subsidiary has failed. It was not initially known how many flights would be affected by the strike, but a spokesperson said the strike would affect the flight operations of Eurowings Germany, but not those of Eurowings Europe. A central demand is the relief of the employees, for example by reducing the maximum flight duty times and increasing the rest periods. Source: jW

Will there ever be a nine-euro successor ticket?

A successor for the nine-euro ticket remains vague. After a direct follow-up solution to the million-selling ticket failed at the end of August, the new planned start date of 1 January is now also in danger. It is still completely unclear what the ticket will cost and what it will achieve – but above all, who will pay for it: the “Länder” only want to agree to it and pay half of the total costs of three billion euros if the federal government also increases its local transport funds substantially. Meanwhile, city states like Berlin and Bremen are presenting new local transport tickets. Source; Süddeutsche

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Left wants “electricity shield” for municipal utility customers

Berlin’s Left Party (“die Linke”) has many ideas on how people could be relieved of high costs. In the debate about relief in the face of exorbitantly high energy prices, the party has put a new proposal on the table: it calls for an “electricity shield” for customers of public utilities. Around 40,000 people now get their green electricity from Berlin’s public utilities, said Left Party leader Anne Helm at a state party conference. If there is a possibility to at least create an “electricity umbrella” for that group, this should be used, Helm said. Source: rbb

Berlin might repeat election

The Berlin Constitutional Court began its hearings on appeals against the elections to the House of Representatives a year ago. According to a preliminary assessment, it is considering a complete rerun of the elections for the Berlin House of Representatives as well as the district councils to be necessary. According to the court, the preparation of the election has probably not met the legal requirements. The state election administration organized the election in such a way that every eligible voter had the opportunity to cast a complete and valid vote under reasonable conditions on election day. In last year’s election, however, the number of options available was probably not sufficient. Source: rbb

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Nord Stream pipelines: pressure drop

Following the drop in pressure in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, the German government is concerned that this could be a targeted attack. The Danish navy said that there were indications of sabotage. Also, a leak in Nord Stream 2 was discovered on Monday by Danish F-16 fighter jets. According to the Danish Energy Agency, ships can lose propulsion when they enter the area. There is also a possible risk of ignition. Lastly, there has also been a climate hazard risk in the escaping methane. However, the composition of the gas in the Nord Stream pipes is not known. Source: Spiegel

Russian deserters – welcome or not in Germany?

Because of Putin’s mobilisation, conscientious objectors are fleeing abroad. Germany is open to welcome them. But the Ukrainian community is skeptical. Katerina Rietz-Rakul, who looks after Ukrainian fellows at the Humboldt Forum, cannot understand this. Giving asylum to Russian deserters is a clear political mistake. ” They had no problem with Russian politics until a few days ago, and now they have woken up. But it is not the West’s job to protect these people.” More than a million people from Ukraine are already registered in Germany, mostly women and children – many fled from Russian soldiers. Source: dw

Energy situation in retail: close the door, turn off the lights

Retailers’ energy costs have risen by 150 percent since the beginning of the year. The industry now relies on energy-saving measures to get through the Winter, and is considering shortening opening hours. Illuminated outdoor advertising must now be switched off between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and shop doors may no longer be permanently open. Carina Peretzke from the North Rhine-Westphalia Trade Association is particularly critical of closed entrance doors: “If the door is closed, fewer customers come in.” To continue to lure people into the shops, the climate offensive of the HDE has launched the poster campaign “Door closed, shop open.” Source: dw

Germany to return Benin statues to Nigeria

Germany is set to return hundreds of bronze busts from the Kingdom of Benin to Nigeria. More than 400 statues and a myriad of other artefacts are currently on display at the Ethnological Museum of Berlin. Such collection is one of the largest in the world. Apparently, only the British Museum has more items. Now, the construction of a museum in Benin to house the pieces is being planned, and around a third of the artefacts will remain in Germany, for a loan period of 10 years; Forty of these will be on display, while the rest will be studied by researchers. Source: iamexpat

LKA and public prosecutor’s office search AfD party headquarters

The public prosecutor’s office and the police have been searching the AfD’s federal headquarters in many cities in Germany. Search warrants were executed at seven search locations in Berlin, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia in two preliminary proceedings against former party leader Jörg Meuthen and former federal treasurer Klaus-Günther Fohrmann on suspicion of violating party law. According to the Berlin prosecutor’s office, there are facts to suggest the AfD made false statements in the accountability reports to the Bundestag in the years 2015 to 2018. Documents such as the confidential minutes of the meetings of the federal executive board are considered to be taken along. Source: rbb

Fire alarm system at Tesla does not work

The Tesla car factory in Grünheide (Oder-Spree) apparently does not have a functioning fire alarm system. It is also unclear so far why production was allowed to start in the factory without such safety device. It is also not known whether there was an official exemption for opening the factory despite the lack of fire alarm systems. Independently of this, Tesla must now re-sort its waste disposal on the site and clear out a previously 5,000 square meter storage area for waste. The responsible Ministry of the Interior of the State of Brandenburg has so far refused to make a statement. Source: rbb

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Union calls for all-day warning strike at Berlin’s schools

The Education and Science Union (GEW) has again called on its members in Berlin to go on warning strike on September 28. Teachers and school psychologists are to stay away from school all day. “The aim is to conclude a collective agreement on health protection, in which the ratio of pupils to teachers and thus the class size at general and vocational schools is bindingly regulated,” the union has announced. GEW also announced that it would extend its strike activities beyond 28 September and call for further strikes “in a timely manner”. Around 2,500 teachers participated in the last warning strike on 29 June. Source: tagesspiegel

Berlin pensioner pays almost 900 monthly euros for gas

Due to the energy crisis, many customers are seeing their gas bills rise significantly. This is also the case for Renate Sloma, an 82-year-old who suddenly must pay ten times as much as before. Yet she lives frugally, currently only turning on the heating briefly in the morning when she takes a shower. She gets her gas from Mitgas, which has given her an explanation, saying that the company believes that customers like Renate Sloma have long benefited from a favorable tariff with a fixed price guarantee. The new bill was “calculated at short notice”. In such cases, the consumer advice center suggests terminating the contract. Source: rbb

The €29 Berliner ticket

From October 1, Berlin will have the option to buy a monthly subscription for €29. But this ‘ticket’ has some differences than the popular 9-Euro-Ticket from last summer: it is actually a subscription and is valid only in the Berlin AB zone. Being a subscription, means you need to sign up for it on the website or app. And, quite importantly, that subscription does not end automatically on 31 December. This means you will have to cancel it before January or you will be charged for the month of January at the normal rate. Source: ExBerliner

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Active waiting

It is phenomenal what a communicative blunder the German government has made since the beginning of the war in Ukraine: it supports an attacked country with weapons – and yet it is seen at home and abroad as lacking solidarity and being useless. This is actually incorrect. The fact this support is not adequately realized is partly due to a distorted view of German Ukraine policy. To some extent, the German government can blame itself for the mistrust because of the hesitancy that precedes every new aid pledge, and which has long exceeded the level of justified caution. Source: taz

EU Commission launches infringement proceedings against Germany

According to the EU, national governments must ensure that there is enough time for family life alongside work. Germany has not communicated in time how the directive on the so-called work-life balance, which has been in force since 2 August, should be implemented at national level. Therefore, the EU Commission will send a letter of formal notice to Germany, as well to other 18 EU member states, initiating a so-called infringement procedure. The aim of the new directive is gender equality in labor market participation. The work-life balance directive also targets workers who care for relatives. Source: DW

Deutsche Bank expects a ‘longer and deeper’ recession in Europe

Last Wednesday, Deutsche Bank’s economists argued their previous prediction for a “mild recession” in Europe is no longer valid as the energy crisis has worsened substantially since July. Europe’s energy crisis has wreaked havoc on the global economy since the Ukraine war began, but its roots stretch back to years before the conflict. Even with alleviation measures, Deutsche Bank’s chief economist, Mark Wall, argues that the efforts won’t be enough to avoid economic disaster. Wall’s comments came just a day before Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the “partial mobilization” of some 300,000 reserve troops in a major escalation of the war this week. Source: fortune

NEWS FROM BERLIN

More than 3,800 students waiting for a place in in Berlin

In no other federal state there are so few available places in student halls of residence as in Berlin. The Senate promised to create more affordable housing. But three weeks before the semester starts, rooms in shared flats are rare – and very expensive. The Studierendenwerk Berlin, which offers halls of residence, has a very long waiting list: this year, more than 3,800 students are on it, and the number is rising. Those in the queue are likely to get a place there… in two to three semesters. Also, because of rising energy costs, the Studierendenwerk recently announced it would increase the rents in its halls of residence. Source: rbb

Day care centre: additional fees and child separation

700 euros in extra fees in a private day-care provider in Berlin-Lichterfelde – and if you can’t pay, your child must go into an extra group, bringing its own food and not having age-appropriate toys. This was confirmed by the Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family. According to the senate administration, the Berlin day-care centre supervisor has already made an unannounced visit to the facility in Drakestraße on Tuesday and sought talks with the management. The education administration by the Senate threatens to withdraw the operating licence if the situation does not change. Source: rbb

Berlin police officer allegedly racially insulted woman on duty

A couple from Berlin reported a police officer after an operation in their home because he allegedly made racist insults to the wife. According to the report, the police came to the woman’s flat because she was confronted with a threat. Her husband, against whom an arrest warrant has been issued for fraudulent payment of benefits, was also there. After his arrest, the threat assessment was carried out. During the operation, one of the police officers allegedly said in a condescending manner the woman should return to her home country. The couple submitted a video documenting the insult. Source; Spiegel

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Energy prices – Redistribution from the bottom to the top

Energy prices continue to explode. But the federal government is sticking to its gas levy, which means that citizens will have to fork out even more money. This redistribution from the bottom to the top orchestrated by the federal government is in no way alleviated by the “third relief package” presented this week. Christoph Butterwegge, a researcher about poverty, complains the package is a “poking around at symptoms”, but does not solve any problems. Furthermore, according to a study by the Bertelsmann Foundation recently published, three out of four adults agree with the statement the state should “ensure a reduction in the difference between rich and poor”. Source: jW

Germany’s green card plans

Germany wants to make it easier for non-EU citizens to enter the country and combat the shortage of skilled workers: with a green card variant, the so-called “opportunity card”. The German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) estimated that Germany lacks about 250,000 skilled craftsmen. To get that card, the skilled workers must meet at least three of four criteria: a) university degree or vocational qualification; b) at least 3 years of professional experience; c) language skills or previous residency in Germany; and d) age below 35 years. Those conditions are though criticized by experts, not to mention some challenges to be faced such as the German bureaucracy. Source: DW

Municipalities warn of blackouts

The German Association of Towns and Municipalities warned of widespread power cuts in Germany because of the energy crisis. “There is a danger of a blackout,” mentioned Chief Executive Gerd Landsberg. On the other hand, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) assured at the weekend about the energy crisis: “We have prepared ourselves.” A power grid stress test by the federal government recently concluded: “hourly crisis situations in the power system are very unlikely in winter 22/23, but currently cannot be completely ruled out”. Still, experts reaffirm the German power grid to be well prepared. Source: taz

Brandenburg Greens call SPD position on nine-euro ticket a ‘mistake’

As part of the latest relief package, the federal government is seeking a successor to the nine-euro ticket for 49 to 69 euros per month. Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) had held out the prospect of a temporary, regional successor offer. She is planning a bridging solution from October to December 2022 for the capital until a nationwide ticket arrives. The Brandenburg state government has so far rejected a transitional solution, affirming it has less money than the federal capital. The passenger association IGEB criticised the attitude of the Brandenburg state government. Source: rbb

Fridays for Future calls for 100 billion euros for energy transition

The climate movement Fridays for Future is calling for a special fund of 100 billion euros to accelerate the phasing out of fossil fuels. The sum could be raised through a combination of excess profits taxes and a relaxation of the debt brake, spokesperson Luisa Neubauer said. The roughly 65 billion euros in subsidies for fossil fuels could also be used for this purpose. The movement is also calling again for a global climate strike on 23 September. “The is a direct consequence of a policy that has refused for too long to establish true energy independence based on renewable energies,” Neubauer said. Source: Berliner Zeitung

NEWS FROM BERLIN

SPD blocks haven for refugees

Although Franziska Giffey (SPD), the mayor of Berlin, welcomed 108 Syrians in Berlin in June through the state reception programme for people in need of special protection from Lebanon, reality show her party excuses itself and uses delaying tactics. For example, the SPD-led interior administration has refused since July to implement the increase in the state’s Lebanon admission programme from 100 places per year to 500, as agreed in the coalition agreement. Source: taz

Lieferando tries to sack people who set up a union

The Berlin branch of the food delivery service Lieferando has only had an elected workers’ representation for 25 days – and already it is being threatened with being broken up. As Sebastian Riesner from the Berlin-Brandenburg branch of the Food, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (NGG) confirmed, the company has initiated dismissal proceedings against 14 of the 17 committee members. The management’s accusation is those affected had fraudulently wasted paid working time in their function as election committee members in the preparation of the works council election. Martin Bechert, a labour lawyer representing the Lieferando works council, says that Lieferando has used “criminal methods”. Source: jW

Breakthrough in case examining arson against Ferat Kocak

Only two of 70 alleged right-wing extremist attacks in Neukölln are blamed on ex AfD member Tilo P. (39) and his alleged accomplice. For the rest, there was not enough evidence. This means that a new statement by the ex-girlfriend of Tilo’s btoher can be devastating. The neo-Nazi allegedly committed an arson attack on the car of left-wing politician Ferat Kocak four years ago. According to the report, the 47-year-old from northern Germany accuses Tilo P. of having carried out the attack. Even worse: In an overheard conversation, P. also announced that he wanted to murder the public prosecutor in charge. Source: bz

NEWS FROM GERMANY

We need now a €0 ticket!

The €9 ticket “experiment” has proved to be a huge achievement. The only people who were surprised by this success, apparently, were the managers of public transport companies. This is what happens when millionaires oversee the transport system. After this summer, we know we need more vehicles, more routes, and better conditions for workers. We need a €0 ticket. The S-Bahn is a basic need for everyone, just like a sidewalk or a park, and shouldn’t require a ticket. I’m confident that not a single working-class person would vote for the expensive chaos we have today. Source: ExBerliner

New initiative will cover your public transport fines if you pay €9 a month

Due to high demand, politicians are discussing a successor solution to relieve citizens in the energy crisis and give them cheap access to public transport. While several proposals have been made for a nationwide ticket between 9 and 69 euros, some federal states and transport associations already have successors. Meanwhile, until the government comes to an agreement, a private initiative has launched a temporary solution: at 9eurofonds.de you can pay nine euros per month (or more if you wish) into a fund and if you are then caught fare evasion, the “increased transport fee” is paid from the fund. Source: Deutschland Funkkultur

Massive jump in gas prices

The last pause in Russian gas deliveries has caused the price of gas to shoot up. The price of the TTF futures contract (considered a benchmark for the European price level) for Dutch natural gas climbed by about 72.5 euros to 281 euros per megawatt hour at the last count. It is the fear of a severe recession caused by energy shortages and high energy prices that is worrying investors. In such a situation, investors shy away from the risk of investing in the euro, as a recession would further weaken the common currency. Source: Tagesschau

How prepared is Germany for the impending gas shortage?

People keep talking about how quickly the various gas storage facilities in Germany are filling up. The first 85 percent mark was already exceeded at the beginning of September. Nevertheless, this is roughly only about two winter months’ consumption. Beyond that, other challenges come up: for instance, for many households it will be a blind flight until the heating bill arrives. Although economists still consider it unlikely that Germany will really run out of gas in winter, gas-intensive industries such as glass production, which are based in states such as Bavaria, Thuringia and Saxony, are expected to face more challenges. Source: rbb

Germany starts to run out of water

Water is a scarce commodity, and its value has multiplied lately as well as the competition for it. Although Germany has always been considered a country rich in water, climate change makes summers hotter – and drier. As a result, wetlands are drying out, and forests are burning. Rivers fail as traffic arteries because they do not carry enough water for shipping. And just as groundwater levels are sinking, there is growing concern about the water of tomorrow. Water conflicts between cities and their surrounding areas, as well as with industries, already happen – and they tend to further escalate. Source: dw