"...We should not allow the new wave of racism to force us onto the defensive. The successful struggles of the refugees and migrants have vigorously put the social question on the agenda again. We have to zero in on the full scale of these struggles and in doing so develop new alliances. ..."
Find the Kompass-AntiRa-Newsletter in full text version attached and below the links to the layouted versions in english, french and german.
Best regards,
hagen
English:
http://kompass.antira.info/files/2016/02/46Kompass_Newsletter_feb16_en.pdf
French:
http://kompass.antira.info/files/2016/02/46Kompass_Newslettre_fev16_fr.pdf
German:
http://ausbrechen.antira.info/files/2016/02/46Kompass_Newsletter_Feb16.pdf
Kompass – AntiRa – Newsletter Nr. 46 February 2016
26.-28.2.: Refugee conference in Hamburg +++ Aegean in January: High arrival numbers, many dead +++ 13./14.2.: Several coordination meetings concerning the Balkan Route +++ 1st March: Transnational decentralize action day against border regime and precariousness +++ Stop asylum package II +++ Against the racist-populist discourse +++ reviews: summer of migration, actions in Calais +++ Preview: regional conferences in Frankfurt, Ferries not Frontex campaign, Welcome to stay conference
Dear friends,
in the first newsletter of 2016 we want to emphasize three points:
First: Go to Hamburg!
There will be an international conference of refugees and migrants from 26 to 28 February. “This self organized gathering shall tighten existing networks of refugees and contribute to develop new ones. Furthermore the conference offers the possibility to analyze the current situation in Germany and Europe. Our aim is to concentrate on what we could to together and to give as much space as possible to all the voices, experiences and perspectives.”
Facing the present struggles which coming to a crisis and the polarization within society – from the outer borders until to the countries of destination – we have to very welcome this initiative for a common 'space' of discussion of the anti racist movement. We hope strongly that the precise title „The struggle of refugees. How to go on? Stop war on Migrants“ will become a powerful signal for the ongoing struggle for freedom of movement in 2016 (see more below).
Second: “Upper limit, we don't get it”
This is how the 'Stern', a weekly newspaper, is headlining an article on 28 January 2016. The article describe that it's actual impossible to close the borders around Germany for refugees effectively. In view of the general medial roar which oscillates between “Sexmob” and “use of firearms at the borders” is it a considerable sober analyse. Because at the latest after Cologne (below more) a new and old mixture of “racist agitation and laws” dominates the public discourse. We quote again the 'Stern': “The policy of Angela Merkel might have pushed the stream of refugees, but she neither causes nor initiated it. And by saying yes to an upper limit we can't stop it.” Who wants to know it in more detail: activists from the project moving-europe.org took the efforts to convert the unbelievable successful “long summer of migration” into a detailed chronology. It's very recommended to read it and to remember the dynamics nobody judged to be realistic – and which will keep Europe busy! In January 2016 over 60.000 people arrived with boats in the Aegean, in the middle of winter and as many as in July last year. Simultaneously 250 people died there at sea, more than ever in one month. More intensification at the outer borders, along the Balkan route into the target countries are predetermined for spring and summer of 2016. Highly embattled spaces and Europe 2016 facing crucial decisions! „Orbanisation” with high security fences and firing order at the borders, state of emergency, more right wing governments and racist pogroms? Or new breakthroughs in the refugee movements fight for freedom of movement, transnational de-fencing actions (see below), for an open Europe from below, a new socio-political raise? Everything seems possible…
Third: Solidarity for All - against that racist roaring!
“Will the momentum of the autonomies and fights of migration spread into other social issues? Will the marches of hope bolster to arouse a new dynamic in Europe's social fights? … “Solidarity for all”, seize this slogan of emancipatory networks in Greece, to openly fight all attempts of division and ‚normality of austerity‘, to attack precarity and severe reduction of social contribution. Affordable living space via new residential building programmes, access to health care and education for all, unconditional basic income and higher minimum wages: those social claims may and must be filled with new life, by social acquirement and social strike, local to transnational.”
We already formulated this in our Newsletter of October 2015 and can only reiterate it here. We should not allow the new wave of racism to force us onto the defensive. The successful struggles of the refugees and migrants have vigorously put the social question on the agenda again. We have to zero in on the full scale of these struggles and in doing so develop new alliances. The transnational action day on 1 March offers the first opportunity at a decentralised level “to make several precarious realities visible and bring them together in a joint communication process” (see below). In early March the title of a regional conference in Frankfurt will be ‘Solidarity for all’, similar initiatives will be organized in several other cities, and a big ‘Welcome to Stay’ conference is being planned for May (see below).
In this frame of mind: the struggle goes on!
Your Kompass Crew
P.S.: On the occasion of the Hamburg Conference, this Newsletter will also be available in printed form and in three languages (English, French and German).
Current appointments and tips for February until March 2016
13 and 14 February in Ljubljana, Sofia, Göttingen and Berlin:
Four strategic meetings concerning the situation on the Balkan Route
No less than four parallel meetings will take place in the same weekend in February on the subject of the Balkan Route. Apart from improved networking by the day-to-day support groups for the refugee and migrant movements (against tightened controls and the selection of Non- Syrian/Iraqi/ Afghan refugees) the question of transnational mobilisation will also be dealt with. De-Fencing Action Days against the fences at the Slovenian-Croatian border and/or also a NoBorder Camp at the Greek-Macedonian Border? An effort is also made to create a coordinated communication for concerted arrangements between these meetings
Concerning the meeting in Ljubljana: https://www.facebook.com/WelcomeToSlo/posts/731343253667947
Concerning the meeting in Sofia: https://www.facebook.com/FrontaBrezMeja/posts/1053230314749313
Concerning the meeting in Göttingen :
https://openborder.noblogs.org
Concerning the meeting in Berlin there is no information available yet.
26 to 28 February in Hamburg:
International Conference of Refugees and Migrants
Refugees, migrants, supporters and activists from several backgrounds will get together in the Kampnagel Theatre in Hamburg for three days and discuss, network and share their knowledge about self-organisation. The title: ‘The struggle of refugees. How to go on? Stop war on migrants! – INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS’. This self-organised meeting aims at strengthening existing networks of refugees and at contributing to the development of new networks. It furthermore wishes to offer the opportunity to analyse the current situation in Germany and Europe. It is our aim to concentrate on what we can do together, as well as to give room to as many voices, experiences and perspectives as possible. Apart from rounds of discussions prepared by the organising groups (see below) and Open Spaces for spontaneous workshops and gatherings, the conference program also reserves time for proposals of various participants, which will be compiled in the next few days and inserted in the program.
All this, as well as info concerning registration, journey, accommodation, meals etc you will find at:http://refugeeconference.blogsport.eu/
Prepared podium discussions (Fr/Sa): 1: Reasons to flee, to fight and to support | 2: Welcome to Europe? | 3: Moving beyond welcoming | 4: Self-organisation and solidarity
About 1 March: Decentralised transnational action day against border regime and precarisation
The ‘Platform for a Transnational Social Strike’ consists of a network of activists and precarious employees, of trade unions and antiracist initiatives from several European cities. The planned protests and meetings will show that exclusion and exploitation go hand in hand and address the theme of the connection between the crisis and border regimes. The precarious working and living conditions, in particular those of migrants and refugees, will be discussed and the persons concerned will be supported and encouraged in their claims and resistance strategies.
So far actions have been announced in various city in Italy, UK, Poland, France, Sweden and Greece. There is also an interest among groups on the balcan route between Slowenia and Croatia to get active the 1st of March. In Germany we know about planned actions at least in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Bielefeld. In view of the current tightenings at the outer borders,the balcan route and also due to the tightening laws in Germany there is reason everywhere to take actions against the border regime, the 1st of March is a great reference frame for that.
Who got more interest concerning this process, who wants to join the current mobilizations of the named cities, who wants to start something in another city and / or wants to sign the call can get in touch with kmii-hanau@antira.info or via the contact adress of the mutual transnational website on which also the call can be found in many languages:
http://www.transnational-strike.info
In german:
http://www.transnational-strike.info/2015/12/05/24h-ohne-uns-aufruf-fur-einen-1-marz-gegen-grenzregime-und-prekarisierung-fur-einen-transnationalen-sozialen-streik/
Aegean Numbers in January, Alarmphone Brochure came out …
UNHCR statistics shows more than 60.000 arrivals for January 2016 on the greek islands. There have never been before such a high number, it is about the same like in July 2015.
Watch http://data.unhcr.org/mediterranean/country.php?id=83
At the same time, January 2016 was the month so far with the most dead ones in the Aegean. According to offical numbers (IOM) more than 250 people died, Watchhttp://missingmigrants.iom.int/mediterranean
Last year a total number of 850.000 people arrived and more than 800 died (because they are not allowed to take a ferry).
As announced last newsletter now the brochure from the alarmphone came out (in english, beginning of March in german as well). It includes several reports and impressing documentation about the Aegean. As the hotline received last xear morethan 1000 cals from the Aegean Sea.
Watch http://alarmphone.org
Asylum package II beliongs into a shredder!”
And again next tightening laws are rushed through with the new so-called asylum package II. From summary proceedings in new deportation centres and the rejection of protection against deportations due to illness to biennally delays concerning the right of family union as well as the extention of safe countries of origin to Marocco, Algeria and Tunesia, the asylum law is broken down. More than 200 lawyers sent an open letter to the minister of justice who ends after an analysis:
“We appeal to You to put the daft laws there where they belong to: Into the shredder.”
Watch http://www.fluechtlingsrat-bayern.de/offener-brief-rechtsanwaeltinnen-asylpaket-ii.html
Pro Asyl concerning this topic
http://www.proasyl.de/de/presse/detail/news/das_asylpaket_ii_menschenrechte_in_gefahr/
http://www.proasyl.de/de/presse/detail/news/pro_asyl_zum_asylpaket_ii_es_darf_keine_rechtsschutzfreien_raeume_geben/
“After Cologne” - Against the racist-populistic discourse …
During the night of New Years Eve many women were exposed to sexualized violence in Cologne and other german cities. What happens after that in order to a racist instrumentalisation is hardly to outdo: In mass media, smear campaign on facebook in group of regulars also to the tightening of asylum laws. We recommend the following links to read:
#ausnahmslos
Against sexualised violence, racism. Always. Everywhere.
http://ausnahmslos.org/
“Stop legitimating your racist tightening of laws and deportions in order to defend womens rights!”
from Women in Exile
https://www.women-in-exile.net/?p=2972
“It always deals about the men”
Mely Kiyaks Theater Kolumne
http://kolumne.gorki.de/kolumne-46/
„Our Sexmob“
A column from Thomas Fischer
http://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2016-01/sexmob-koeln-kriminalitaet-strafrecht-fischer-im-recht
Reviews
Recomanded reading list: Moving Europe – Summer Of Migration
In six parts to download (pdf):
http://moving-europe.org/download/
– preface
– part 1: in the swamp of Bulgaria
– part 2: Idomeni – Gevgelija
– part 3: Welcome to Serbia
– part 4: March of Hope
– part 5: minefields
– part 6: The ‚humanitarian corridor‘
Calais – solidarity manifestation and ferry occupation
On saturday 23 January a solidarity manifestation and a temporarily ferry occupation took place. Over 2000 people participated in the manifestation, there were also several busses from England. The protest action and the following occupation of the ferry “Spirit of Britain” within the harbour was joined by 500 persons, although the CRS and the fence defended the entrence.
http://www.labournet.de/internationales/frankreich/menschenrechte-frankreich/die-fluechtlinge-in-der-hoelle-von-calais-faehre-besetzt/
Outlook
From 4 to 6 March 2016: „Solidarity for all – For equal rights and a good life“
Regional Noborder last forever Conference in Frankfurt
The current situation with the many new arriving refugees also emphasizes the Social Question in the Rhein-Main area: lack of humane accommodation, lack of access to language courses and for many there is no safe future prospects ….
Read more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1513791582250594
Ferries not Frontex
The transnational network of Alarmphone is trying to reactivate the Ferries not Frontex campaign. In progress there is an english four pages newspaper which demands the abolishment of the visa-regime and access to “ferries for all”. Background is the current situation in the Western, Central and Eastern Mediterranean. Beside the newspaper there are t-shirts, posters, stickers. Also it is planned to participate in the No-Frontex-Days in Catania/Sicily in Middle of April.
More information soon: http://alarmphone.org
„Welcome to stay summit“ in preparation! In May in Leipzig?
Since several month there are thoughts about a big conference on the part of the “Welcome-Movement”. From an invitation text for a preparation meeting in February: “The basic idea is: We organize a nation wide summit with the name „/Welcome 2 Stay/“. In the ideal case over the Ascension weekend in Leipzig. The summit should give the possibility to exchange, network and connect for joint actions. The movement of practical anti-racism and solidarity are heterogeneous, diverse and colorful – that's great! So it's most important to think now about the “sustainibility” of our diverse engament and speak about the structures. How can we be a visible political power? How can we organize such a brilliant gathering?
Contact for interested persons: mail@welcome2stay.org
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