Reto Thumiger
Puigdemont: The denial of dialogue is not an option in democracy
Carles Puigdemont, former president of the Generalitat [Goverment] of Catalonia, has appeared this afternoon to the press in Berlin for the first time since his release. The overnight and apparently improvised press conference took place in Berlin-Kreuzberg, in a cultural space full of journalists and supporters. Puigdemont gave a… »
False fire alarm shortly before Assange video appearance at DiEM25 event in Hamburg
On Friday evening, the participants of the DiEM25 event entitled “Constructive Disobedience”, had to be evacuated in the Audimax Auditorium of the University of Hamburg shortly before the live connection with Julian Assange. On request, the spokesman of the Hamburg Fire Brigade reported that it had been a… »
Time to go: ban nuclear weapons
This week several demonstrations have taken place in four NATO-member European countries where US nuclear weapons are deployed. The demonstrators demand that their governments get rid of them and call for them to be banned. ICAN activists have organised protests in Germany, Holland, Belgium and Italy under the slogan “Time… »
The East Side Gallery in Berlin should become a living Monument to Joy
Despite the fact that the East Side Gallery is a listed historic monument, it is deteriorating and becoming increasingly hemmed in. The main reason is that private interests are placed above public land rights and the law. People from all over the world, not just within Germany, are committed… »
Peace movement once again strengthened in the streets of Berlin
The peace movement has had a lot of beginnings in recent years. This time it could be a beginning that actually continues. More than 8000 participated in Berlin in a peace demonstration with the slogan “Down with the weapons!!! – cooperation instead of NATO confrontation, disarmament instead of social cutbacks”. »
Civil society must put disarmament back on the international agenda
“The world is over-armed and peace is under-funded”, said Ban Ki-moon, well to the point. This is the great challenge that the Peace Congress in Berlin will face. The question of disarmament should be put back on the international agenda and that can only be achieved by civil society… »
October 1st In Berlin, let’s face the challenge of peace!
First, let’s look at the current veil of tears and then lift it up to reveal a possible better future. The transatlantic defence alliance has been expanding and flexing its muscles. Russia and China feel threatened and are trying to secure their regional influence at any cost. The US has… »
No chance for TTIP and CETA to get the support of German civil society
With the slogan “Stop TTIP & CETA! For a fair world trade” about 250,000 people demonstrated today against the free trade agreement between the EU and the US (TTIP) and Canada (CETA). Never before have so many people gone to the streets in Europe on this matter. The organizers expected… »
People of Berlin send a loud OXI to Athens
On the evening of Friday 3rd July, thousands of people gathered in Berlin for a demonstration under the slogan “Nein! Oxi! No! to austerity – Yes to Democracy!”. Organized by Blockupy Berlin, a broad section of the population and followers of many organizations found their way to Oranienplatz. Despite a… »
A local voice from Sierra Leone
As the world gradually forgets about Ebola, life for people in Sierra Leone continues to be affected in all areas. Reto Thumiger, from the German speaking Editorial Team of Pressenza, writes about the situation from his personal perspective having worked for many years in the development of social projects and… »