ICYMI

Aid ship to Gaza Attacked Near Malta

‘Conscience’, a humanitarian aid ship bound for Gaza, was bombed off the coast of Malta on 1 May. The unarmed ship was carrying 12 aid personnel and four civilian passengers, along with supplies and donations. While on route to Malta to pick up activists including Greta Thunberg, the vessel was attacked by two drones, striking the engine and leaving the ship at risk of sinking.

Although there were no casualties, this attack reflects the ongoing blockade of Gaza by the Israeli government. No humanitarian aid has been allowed to enter the Gaza strip for two months, with agencies reporting widespread malnutrition and starvation. The UN reports that a “worst-case scenario” is unfolding, “threatening mass starvation” across Gaza. A joint statement by several European Foreign Ministers reads, “Palestinian civilians - including one million children – face an acute risk of starvation, epidemic disease and death” due to the Israeli blockade.

An aid blockade is a violation of international law.

Landback Wins - Reclaiming Indigenous Ancestral Land

The Landback movement – a global effort to reclaim ancestral lands stolen through colonialism, made several wins in April: Sacred lands will be returned to a local-led organization in Dakota, 1500 acres will be returned to Band Potawatomi Nation in the Prairies, 680 acres will be returned to the Spirit Lake Nation, and Santa Monica plans to initiate a Landback and Reparations Taskforce. As well, Māori communities in New Zealand celebrated the restoration of 20 official names from English to Māori.

Restoring indigenous sovereignty in this way ensures that decision making is in the hands of indigenous communities, protecting land from ongoing contamination and degradation from oil pipelines, hazardous waste sites, deforestation, etc. As such, landback goes further than land stewardship – it allows for Indigenous communities to restore relationships with the land itself, reconciling colonial practices to reclaim a core part of indigenous culture and identity.

Military Spending Hits All Time High

Global military spending reached a new all-time high in 2024, with a total of $2.6 trillion allocated to defence and weaponry, according to a recent study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Germany moved up to fourth place in the overall list, with $88.5 billion spent in 2024, the largest amount within the European Union. Only China, Russia and the US spent more.

German spending was enabled by the Bundestag’s coalition parties, who approved a suspension of the constitutional debt brake (“Schuldenbremse”) to fund additional military investments. Despite record-high military spending, the government simultaneously cut funds to many other sectors, including cultural, educational, and social budgets. In Berlin alone, the culture budget was cut by €130 million. The incoming government, to be led by a CDU-SPD coalition, is anticipated to further boost defense spending.

Nakba Day

On 15 May, Palestinians and allies around the world commemorate Nakba Day – the anniversary of the “Nakba” or “catastrophe”, marking the mass displacement and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their homeland during the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948.

In Berlin, a demonstration will be held to honour the memory of the Nakba and to protest ongoing injustices. Despite intensified policing and bans on previous Nakba demonstrations, activists continue to challenge the German government’s stance and military aid to Israel by mobilising in the streets and making their voices heard.

The 77th anniversary of the Nakba stands in the context of Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, which has displaced over 1.2 million people since October 2023. The “Nakba77” demonstration will aim to remember those lost, resist ongoing repression, and demand justice and liberation for Palestinians. The protest, organised by Palestine Speaks, PA Allies and other activist groups, is scheduled to begin at 16:00 at Südstern in Berlin.

UK Supreme Court Ruling on Trans Rights

In April, the British Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that legally defines “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act of 2010 as referring exclusively to so-called “biological sex” – the sex assigned at birth. The decision means that trans women, regardless of their gender identity or whether they possess a Gender Recognition Certificate, are no longer recognised as women by UK law. In practice, the ruling constitutes a blanket ban on trans people from accessing spaces relating to their gender. Trans women, for example, will be barred from using women’s bathrooms, changing rooms, shelters, and sports teams. The judgment was passed unanimously by all five Supreme Court judges and has been widely celebrated by trans-exclusionary groups and public figures, including author J.K. Rowling, prompting renewed calls to boycott all Harry Potter-affiliated products.

Human rights advocates, Queer activists and LGBTQIA+ organizations warn that the decision sets a dangerous precedent amounting to a significant rollback of trans rights in the UK, further endangering trans women, who are already the target of harassment, abuse, and hate. Thousands of protesters took to the streets in the UK to urge lawmakers to respect and protect the human rights of trans people. In Berlin, a protest for trans rights will be held on 17 May with details tba.

Far-Right Candidate Wins First Round of Romanian Elections

In re-elections held this weekend in Romania, ultranationalist and far-right candidate George Simion has taken a strong lead. Simion, who is part of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), is known for his alignment with US President Donald Trump and his opposition to military aid for Ukraine. After scoring a win in the first round of elections, he will face the runner-up and Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan in a runoff vote, scheduled for 18 May.

The original elections in Romania held in late 2024 were annulled over concerns of Russian interference in the ballot and on the campaign trail. Călin Georgescu, the Moscow-friendly candidate who emerged as the winner of the previous elections, was barred from running for office in the re-elections and is currently under investigation. Simion’s win in the Romanian elections would mark another gain for conservative nationalist movements in Europe.

Black Therapists Fund

The Black Therapists Fund has been launched by two Black psychologists, Patiani and Latoja, aiming to provide anti-racist and trauma- as well as discrimination-informed counseling for Black and racialized people. Psychotherapy and psychology have long histories rooted in racist stereotypes, continuing to be fields largely dominated by white practitioners, many of whom lack knowledge and training in anti-racist practices. As a result, BiPoC clients are often retraumatised or do not receive adequate support when seeking mental health care. In addition, BiPoC professionals remain underrepresented in the field, with systemic racism and high education costs acting as significant barriers. Patiani and Latoja of Black Therapists Fund want to change this and seek to provide informed, anti-racist, and professional mental health support to BiPoC. They are raising funds to pursue training in systemic therapy - a psychotherapeutic qualification that costs between 20,000 and 60,000€, and is often only accessible to those receiving financial backing from family. You can find out more about Black Therapists Fund and donate here.