Something in the air…

Prenzlauer Berg prepares for traditional “Walpurgisnacht”-riots,  the night before May 1.  Here are some pictures I took this afternoon on Schönhauser Allee / Oderberger Strasse / Mauerpark:

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Der gläserne Deutsche

ZDF documentary by Ulrike Brödermann and Michael Stromper, first shown on April 7, 2009.  In the last two parts Andrej Holm tells about his arrest because he was suspected to be a member of a terrorist group (militante gruppe). Interesting! More about one of the most disturbing cases in recent German history here. See also gret blog Annalist which is written by Andrej Holm’s wife.

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May 1 mobilization

Berlin’s militant left is preparing for May 1 demonstrations. And German press watches every step they do and predicts very bad riots:

“Berlin Police fear May 1 Demonstrations will turn violent” (easybourse online article, April 9, 2009)

“Ein Schritt zu spät” (Tagesspiegel vom 09.04.09)

“Autonome proben den 1. Mai” (Berliner Zeitung vom 09.04.09)

THIS is Revolutionärer 1. Mai-Hompage’s press review

” Der böse Tanz in den Mai” (Berliner Kurier vom 29.04.09)

“Rückzug aus dem Kiez – Innensenator Körting musste in Friedrichshain in Sicherheit gebracht werden” (Berliner Zeitung vom 30.04.09)

“Furcht vor Unruhen am 1. Mai” (Berliner Zeitung vom 30.04.2009)

“Kreuzberger Klassenkämpfer” (Süddeutsche Zeitung vom 30.04.09)

In a way it reminds me of how Italian press frightened the country before 2001 G8 summit in Genoa. What happened during the summit is to be seen here

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Pro and Contra RELI

Next sunday Berlin will vote on whether schools should teach the subject Religion as an alternative to an ethics course. It’s an issue that has split Berlin right down the middle. Should ethics be compulsory at school and religion an optional course, or should there be a clear choice between the two? In the increasingly bitter campaign ahead of Sunday’s referendum both sides claim they are defending freedom of choice.

The debate is only partly about how God fits into the classroom; it is also about how Muslims fit into Berlin. (The Economist March 26)

My position is clear now: I’m fully with Christen pro Ethik

More links on this debate:

Berlins Gretchenfrage (ZEIT)

Religionsunterricht ist Glaubenssache (taz)

Referendum Pits Ethics Against Religion (spiegel online)

… some propaganda:

… and information:

(3Sat Kulturzeit)

(Pressekonferenz Pro Reli am 15.04)

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And Then So Clear

No Comment

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My personal NATO summit on April 3, 2009

I’m a coward. Before I left, I put my daughters cuddly toys in the back seat of the car. Clearly visible. When the police pulled me over 20 kilometres in front of Baden-Baden (how far did I think I’would get with my Berlin number-plate?) I told them I came round accidentally, that I got lost, that I was visiting relatives in the south…  and I really hoped they would see the nice bear, beautiful rabbit and the sheep on the back seat. WHY? Why didn’t I tell them that I was on my way to Baden-Baden to demonstrate against the NATO because I’m a citizen fully aware of  history and therefore,  I could have told them, it’s my duty to go there to tell the world that there are some things about NATO we urgently have to know in order to understand better how western democracies work. I’m not against democracy, I could have told the policemen (most of them were tall, 190 cm and even taller), not at all, but I’m very fond of enlightenment and if we talk about NATO we should at least know that, for example, NATO had secret armies, and that some of them were involved in terrorist acts… but I didn’t. Because I’m a coward I turned round. Instead of telling everybody the truth about NATO I later had a abreak at Baden-Badens famous Autobahnkirche

– and again: policemen everywhere. Well, I should have told them everything but I didn’t. I was much too frightened. Something’s going wrong here, It thought. Why are you too frightened to tell the police that you want to join the demonstration. WHY? What happened?

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Trace of Stones – Die Spur der Steine

Trace of Stones / Die Spur der Steine

Look at the difference of the holes. Remarkable isn’t it? (Found at the SAP Building next to U-Bahnhof Weinmeisterstrasse two days after “the militant left” went by) See also Berliner Zeitung’s articles Autonome proben den 1. Mai (today) and Spur der Verwüstung (yesterday).

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In love with terror

Ben Lewis’ 2002 BBC documentary “Baader Meinhof: In love with terror” provides a unique insight into the notorious terrorist group and includes interviews with former RAF members and leaders of the West German government.

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