Fast forward, future uncertain
A whole half a year since the last entry. In August and September I got more involved with the DWE (Deutsche Wohnen und Co Enteignen) campaign and did three doorstop conversation actions, some community postering and outdoor canvassing. This was small beer compared to the tireless efforts of others but I was moved and inspired by the way we were able to interact with fellow renters in Berlin to push for a better, securer future and ultimately more say over our communal space and city. In late September all our actions came to fruition when the referendum took place alongside multiple elections both local and national. The referendum for more affordable secure housing was overwhelmingly successful with an average of almost 60% YES across the city. In my constituency it was 80%. Around the same time it became clear that Franziska Giffey was going to become Berlin Mayor and she’d been vocal in her opposition to the whole idea. As it happened she said she’d respect the result. These are slippery words in that her respect only extends to having an expert commission spend a year assessing what has already been assessed that such an action can legally take place. The suspicion is that Giffey seeks to placate her property rich supporters while demoralising the activists who campaigned so hard for such a successful result. Turning euphoria into weary despair in other words. There is no sign the latter is happening, with groups still vocal about holding politicians to their word, to honour democracy, despite Die Linke regrettably falling into line with Giffey’s plan so as to get seats on the Senat. We shall see. I spied this artwork not long after voting on 26th September. Precarious housing, reflecting reality through a glass darkly:
And what of our companion Corona? After a summer of almost normality, the Delta variant appeared. Not many adjustments were made but figures went up and up. Masks were still mandatory on public transport and in shops and well, most places people got together. But though people still wore them, the distancing regulation had gotten slack. This made for ever more risky feelings on the U-Bahn and S-Bahn. I’m not sure if this gate graffiti at Samaritestraße predates COVID 19 but it kind of summed up a vibe:
I found another guy under Nollendorfplatz U-Bahnhof who surprised me. There since 1904, so pre WW1, pre the last pandemic of Spanish Flu and well before Mr Isherwood lived round the corner, he’s been welling up from the depths for over a century. Is it he who’s petrified or us? Just shows, there are always monsters lurking, their fish friends swallowing up our boundaries
In November it first began to be mooted that only fully vaccinated or recovered people would be allowed to enter certain shops, certainly restaurants, cafes and bars. Pressure of course on those who weren’t vaccinated to do so and an unpleasant implication that they and only they were responsible for the painful ongoing of the pandemic. No mention of the over-stretched hospital staff who should be supported by further recruitment, have to look after fewer patients, make the hospitals places that have ampler room for care and aren’t so easily at breaking point. The other illogical aspect which was ignored was the inconvenient fact that the Delta variant was responsible for breakthrough infections in already vaccinated people so only excluding those not vaccinated (even after a test and weraing masks) didn’t make total sense. In December, a choral event in Potsdam proved this point in that half the singers got infected despite the event being 2G+ (vaccinated, recovered + a test). The vaccination figures did go up however.
At least Schnelltests (lateral flow tests) became free again, or at least one a week was free, down from two in the earlier days in the pandemic but one up from earlier in the year.
Then in December, in many parts of the world, the new Omicron variant appeared, its spread in South Africa giving weight to the argument that the majority of the world needs access to vaccination, not just in individual, predominantly rich, countries. As I write, Omicron seems not to have made much impact here yet, unlike the vertical spikes seen in other countries. It will surely come and I know I’m not alone in hoping that it will prove early findings right, that it is much milder, requiring very few hospitalisations and will immunise those who get it after nothing more serious than a cold. Having had a cold recently that lasted 10 days, I wouldn’t be keen to try out any of those assumptions but heartfelt wishes are palpable that 2022 will see an emergence from pandemic.
I don’t quite agree with the sentiments in this grafitti but as Berlin heads for its second Silvester (New Year’s Eve) without the usual hooley, I can understand the assertion.
More than fun, I wish light and hope for us all.
On the way 