ICYMI | #116

Our weekly roundup of stories you may have missed.

Berlin's new coalition

With just a small majority of 54,3%, members of the SPD in Berlin have voted in favour of a coalition with the CDU. There’s now not much standing in the way of Kai Wegner, head of the CDU in Berlin, becoming the party’s first mayor of Berlin in 22 years.

The new government is expected to implement cuts to healthcare and education while significantly increasing spending on police and speeding up deportations. Follow @berlinzusammen, a union of grassroots organisations in opposition to the new government, to find out more.

Make Amazon Pay

Today is the 10-year anniversary of the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse, one of the deadliest industrial disasters in recent history. Make Amazon Pay are calling on Amazon to sign the ‘International Accord’ created in the wake of the disaster to ensure safe conditions for garment workers. Despite being the largest retailer of clothing in the US, Amazon has failed to commit to protecting workers in its supply chain. Find out more about the campaign and sign the petition here.

Crackdown on climate protesters

Climate activists across Europe are facing increasingly tough sentences for peaceful protest actions. Last week, two Just Stop Oil protesters were sentenced by a UK court to 2.5 years in prison each for scaling a bridge over the river Thames. Meanwhile, in Germany, three members of the group Last Generation were given prison sentences of five, four and three months for blocking roads, the ‘harshest ever’ sentences imposed on members of the group so far. 

Sudan

Sudan could be on the brink of civil war and humanitarian disaster after a week of escalating conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group RSF. Hundreds have been killed in the fighting which has spread from the besieged Sudanese capital Khartoum, where fighting continues today despite a newly announced truce, to areas such as Darfur. Tens of thousands of people have already been displaced by the conflict and crossed the border into neighbouring countries.

Beirut Heritage Initiative fundraiser compilation

Past and Future is a new compilation released by Beirut label System Revival, raising funds for Beirut Heritage Initiative, a group of architects dedicated to renovating, rebuilding and preserving the architectural heritage of the city after the 2020 port explosion. The compilation features music from KMRU, Ireen Amnes, Rami Abi Rafi and more. Listen and donate here.

Apartment Project 

This Wednesday, 26 April, we’re teaming up with the artist-run platform Apartment Project to present Parallels, an evening of sonic, visual and spoken interpretations on the theme of resistance. Join us live at Oona, tune in to Refuge Worldwide or stream the event via the Apartment Project channel Chromatic Wednesdays.

Now You See Me Moria poster campaign

Now You See Me Moria is launching a new poster campaign to raise awareness about the imprisonment of refugee children and their families in Closed Control Access Centres (CCACs) in Greece. Artists, designers and creatives can head to the Now You See Me Moria website to find out more about the project, download poster templates and contribute their own designs.

OML Podcasting Course

Calling aspiring storytellers! Tuesday 25 April is the deadline for applications to our Creative Podcasting workshop programme, presented in collaboration with OML and Today at Apple. The programme will run from 15 May and will cover storytelling, interviewing, hosting, recording, production and promotion, with plenty of opportunities to gain hands-on experience. 

Sign up here.

This week on Weserstraße:

Tuesday: Eddington Again, Lunchbox Geoff & Ady Toledano

Wednesday: Apartment Project Takeover

Thursday: Bungalovv - Smoke Signals Release Party

Friday: DJ Westfa, SiSi, Mandel

Saturday: DJ Skain, ELLLL, Llupe, Lavan

---

Cover Image licensed under CC BY 3.0.