In this episode we met with a tech comrade Bikepunk from France who is participating in the federation of small Internet Service Providers in the country. We will be talking about reasons behind DIY network approach and how simple people benefit from non-commercial network providers.
In second part of the show we talk about Bikepunk volunteering time in wikipedia project and what he learned from it. The challenges and the good sides of such a massive organization striving for free knowledge.
Wednesday, 17.11., 15:00-19:00; @malobeo, Kamenzer Straße 38, 01099 Dresden
Based on an already existing text about a critique of a consumption critique we want to discuss about consumption under capitalism. Is it possible to buy ethically in this economic system? Are fair-trade products really fair? What about supporting local activist collectives? Can you even do something “good” under capitalism? The goal of this gathering is to create a zine* with our short texts, statements being supported by collages, drawings or other art/handcraft pieces. Don’t be shy – there should be something for everybody! The discussion can be in English and in German – depends on the needs of participants. If you want to, you can bring a laptop or some handcrafting material with you, however there will be material available that you can use as well.
For over a month, more and more refugees coming from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and many other crisis-hit areas or from regions where they are persecuted have been trying to cross the Polish-Belarusian border.
As a result of the activities of NGOs and independent activists trying to help legal and illegalized refugees, Poland imposed a state of emergency on the border with Belarus. This state of emergency makes any humanitarian activity impossible due to the actions of the army, police and border guards. As a result, people in the forests suffer from extreme hypothermia and hunger, they need immediate medical assistance.
Both Polish and Belarusian border guards carry out illegal push-backs – they bring apprehended people back to the border and force them to cross the border. To date, 5 people have already lost their lives, or perhaps it would be better to write – they were left to die. . .
Lukashenko, on Putin’s leash, uses people as ammunition for his political blackmail and further destabilization of the situation in Europe. While right-wing ruled Poland looks the other way, the EU pays money for the inhumane practice at the border.
Despite state repression, there are still NGOs and activists in the immediate vicinity of the border, trying to offer first aid to the affected people. The situation is critical, and as the weather worsens, more and more victims are to be expected – so let’s not kid ourselves that politics will change anything – LET’S ACT!
We’re collecting the essentials that will be transported to the border in the near future: Charged powerbanks, empty unlocked phones, warm sleeping bags, NEW winter socks / scarves / hats / gloves, winter clothing, ibuprofen, vitamins, anti-diarrhea medications, heat lamps, high calorie foods with long expiration dates, camping stoves with gas cartridges, water filters, emergency blankets, small tents….
Please donate only fully functioning items!
Monetary donations are also accepted – we will use these for travel expenses, the rest will go directly to the NGOs on the ground.
Close to Dresden there is a forest occupation (Heibo – Heidebogen) which is there to prevent a mine company from expanding an open-pit gravel mine and with this clearing a huge area of trees, contaminating the ground water and destroy the moors in the area.
During the weekend the activists in Heibo are organizing a festival called “Unräumbar”, so we want to collectively travel to the forest by bike and by train.
We are meeting at 16:30 in front of Bahnhof Neustadt, taking our bikes with us and catching a train at 16:49 (direction Königsbrück) to Ottendorf-Okrilla from where we continue biking to Heibo (ca 7km, 30 min).
For many years authoritarian regime of Lukashenko was providing EU with border security. The deal was simple – dictator prevents refugees going through Belarus to EU and for that get’s money and trainings for the border guards. Despite sanctions from 2011 to 2015 Frontex was actively supporting belarusian border regime.
