#398: Festival attacked, Amazon tower protest, Neukölln rat infestation
Smokers at the station: what to do?
Hey 20 Percent,
This morning a man was smoking on the S-Bahn platform within close range of me and my children. Smoking miles away from the “smoking island”. Not nice.
I wanted to say something to the guy, who was sucking on his cancer stick as if his life depended upon it before dropping his butt on the ground instead of dumping in the bin a few metres away.
I didn’t say anything. He had a certain vibe that suggested he wouldn’t react well. I was insufficiently caffeinated to deal with a potential conflict, no matter how minor.
Mostly, I didn’t want to be that German guy who tells off random strangers. I did it once near Hermannplatz (see below) when a kid dumped a bag of takeaway food trash on the ground. He must have been 11 or 12. I yelled, “Ever heard of a bin?” We stared at each other in a ridiculous showdown. A few seconds later I continued on my way, feeling the whole interaction had been pointless.
Coincidentally, Der Tagesspiegel (paywall) has an article today about how the S-Bahn and BVG are powerless when it comes to enforcing no-smoking (and no vaping) rules. Passengers are left to themselves. The S-Bahn suggests “politely asking” people to put out their ciggies. “If a smoking passenger on the platform refuses to comply, the only option is to change location yourself.” In short, they’ve given up trying to make stations smoke-free. I feel like they could do more. Bigger 🚭 signs, for one. Or getting ticket checkers to fine smokers?
🍻In exactly one month, it’s time for our first proper summer party, which we’re calling The Next 20% Summer Pod Party since we’ve teamed up with our friends over at The Next Day Berlin. We’ll be taking over the Berliner Berg biergarten on the borderlands between Treptow and Neukölln for the evening. There’ll be a DJ and a live taping of the 20% Berlin Podcast with Andrew, me and two special guests. Space is limited, so grab a ticket now. Can’t wait to meet you all!
Maurice
Amazon opens, vans burn
On Monday, smack in the middle of left-wing Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, the 140m Edge Eastside Tower aka Amazon Tower opened its doors to 3,000-odd workers for the first time. Leftwing activists were not happy. Protesters altered signs at the neighbouring Warschauer Straße station and gathered peacefully outside the building. “A corporation that systematically pushes its employees to their limits, pollutes our planet and pays virtually no taxes has no place here,” said the organisers, Berlin vs Amazon, in a statement. Taz reports that a left-wing witch had even put a spell on the building every full moon for the past year. To no avail. Other actions were not so peaceful: 19 parked Amazon vans were set on fire Monday night (and 17 Telekom ones, for some reason). Last week, 14 Amazon vehicles burned in Schönwalde, Brandenburg. There are other ways of expressing your dislike for Amazon. Deleting your account, for example.
Diversity festival attacked
Resurgent right-wing extremist youth culture means some areas are becoming more dangerous for queer people, immigrants and other groups: Masked youths rampaged through a street fest celebrating diversity in the Bad Freienwalde, northeast of Berlin in Brandenburg near the Polish border, midday Sunday before being chased off by security guards. Co-organiser Jule Grienitz told RBB: “We were setting up, and 10 minutes before the event was due to start, about a dozen masked individuals wearing weighted-knuckle gloves and carrying batons ran towards us, lashing out and injuring three people,” said Jule Grienitz. Brandenburg interior affair minister René Wilke issued a statement: “Anyone who attacks people who organise or participate in a family and children's festival is acting far beyond what we as a society can and should accept.” Despite the attack, the “Freienwalde ist Bunt” festival went ahead as planned — under a strong police presence. Cops have already identified at least one suspect, according to RBB24. The suspect has been part of similar attacks in the past. Meanwhile, the organisers of Marzahn Pride in eastern Berlin fear their event could be disrupted by a neo-Nazi demo this Saturday.
Rats infest Hermannplatz
The Neukölln district council is sounding the alarm about rats at Hermannplatz. The growing number of rodents present a health hazard as they can transmit all sorts of nasty diseases. The increase in the rat population is thanks to “discarded food and waste, but also the feeding of pets and birds.” Unhygienic food storage at the square’s outdoor market is also to blame, apparently. The authorities say they’ll crack down on that as well as garbage. Feeding animals will be prohibited from July 1. Why not earlier?
🍺 🥨 Germany-wide news 🥨 🍺
🎖️ Germany’s first ever Veteran’s Day
🤖 AI “gigafactory” for Germany?
☀️ One million “balcony power plants”
🎯 Germany beats England in World Cup darts
Events this week, curated by The Next Day Berlin
🎤 Iggy Pop
Thursday, 19.06, 7 pm. Zitadelle Spandau, Am Juliusturm 64. Tickets: €83.50
I still lose my breath every time I see him live. Iggy Pop, the godfather of punk, returns with wild energy and timeless force for an open-air night at the historic Zitadelle.
🪴Mary Jane Berlin – Cannabis Expo & Festival
Fri-Sun, 20–22.06. Arena Berlin & Badeschiff, Eichenstr. 4. Tickets: €25/day
Europe's biggest cannabis event returns with part trade show, part music fest, part stoner utopia. Expect 300+ exhibitors, industry talks and live shows by the Spree.
🔉 Errant Sound at Floating Berlin
Saturday, 21.06, 3–10 pm & Sunday, 22.06, 11 am–9 pm. Floating Berlin, Lilienthalstr. 32. Register for walks & workshops here.
Among wooden paths and calm waters, 13 artists from Errant Sound craft a fragile, immersive web of sonic moments. With performances, installations, soundwalks, and workshops, this is deep listening in dialogue with landscape.
🎸 Kim Deal - Nobody Loves You More Tour
Sunday, 22.06, Columbia Theater, Columbiadamm 9-11. Tickets: €45
The voice behind so many teenage soundtracks, Kim Deal, brings her first-ever solo show to Berlin. "Nobody Loves You More"
🌿 FLORA Festival – Session 4
Sunday, 22.06, 3 pm – 9 pm. TBA – Somewhere in Berlin - follow them on IG. Free entry
A nomadic ambient ritual in nature. Powered by renewables, rooted in community, the festival invites you to slow down and tune in with deep listening. Featuring Toxido Mask, Martina Serra and the Ousia Sound collective.
Factoid
One more event: the annual Fête de la Musique, the free city-wide music festival every solstice, celebrates its 30th anniversary in Berlin this Saturday. Born in Paris in 1982, the celebration of music launched here in 1995 with a gig at Temprodrom. This year, expect concerts at more than 300 venues as well as countless impromptu street performances.
We live in a city that still thinks smoking is cool and rebellious sadly… Despite tobacco companies being responsible for some the worst corporate crimes in history… 🤷♂️
Striking number more rats and crows this year, no doubt due to the garbage strike.