I was invited by Matthias Böttger from raumtaktik to participate in the future workshop #3 at DAZ, which is an ongoing experimental research project by BMVDI and BBSR  about the possible futures of Germany in 2030 and 2050.
It was an inspiring and eye opening day with amazing input by a couple of experts from different backgrounds talking about sustainability, energy, environment, society and technology. I feel very honoured having been a participant and contributer to this exciting project and look forward to the publication of the results.

>> my statement (german only)

After the recommendation by Prof. Dieter Raffler back last summer to read the book “think yourself – instructions to oppositions” by Harald Welzer I was grateful to have finally found a public figure who speaks the truth about the failure of our system, the need for each single person to start and get our hands dirty and especially to become active opposers of obvious manipulation that only serves the profit of the few while destroying our environment and resources. And so of course, I had to go and see him in person in the old library at UdK. Welzer is a very smart and eloquent social scientist who knows how to lead (and win) a discussion. However, the victory went to one student who pointed out that while we all sit here and talk about sustainability, why do we need to have all the light bulbs turned on in the room, this said, he turned half of the light off and earned a big applause. I highly recommend to read this book and spread the word. My students in Dessau were very inspired as well.

>> Prof. Dr. Welzer at Futurzwei

As I was going to move to Schillerkiez in Neukölln, which is a hot spot of gentrification right next to the Tempelhof air field I very soon realized the intense atmosphere in the neighborhood. Being inspired by the meetings with the EdgeRyder’s community I decided to start a local initiative to find out what the neighborhood needs and wants. The first events we did were some meetings with people from a community building background where the major problem already became obvious. Nobody from the neighborhood turned up although I had spend several hours to walk around cafés, markets, the church, supermarket – you name it – to spread the word and invite people to come. As a local action we then spread the poster campaign by Litekultur around the neighborhood hoping to get in touch with curious people. Dead loss. I did apply for funding via Projekt Neue Nachbarschaft with the idea to make a book which presents the people and their initiatives especially through one of the things that connects us all: food. So it was supposed to become a Schillerkiez cooking book with personal stories and background information of the neighbors and their  effort to support the neighborhood. Unfortunately the project wasn’t selected for funding and I really hope to find other ways to support the approach of giving something back to the Kiez.

>> SHARiNGtheCiTY

Very excited to travel to Brussels and see my dear friend Nadia, co-founder of the Council of Europe’s project “Edgeryders”, who is one of the main organisers of our second get together. Besides the usual creative barcamp days we will have some appointments at the council and discuss our questions and suggestions with a couple of politicians. With this conference the official part of Edgeryders will come to an end and it very much looks like the community has grown together so intensely that we will continue anyhow.

>> Edgeryders