From AFP via Yahoo News, October 30:
Germans to join Europe's youth protest wave
Tens of thousands of young Germans are set to demonstrate on Saturday, the latest in a wave of protests across Europe led by youths who complain political elites are ignoring their concerns.
From France to Italy and Spain, young protesters have taken to the streets in recent weeks to make their voices heard, with demonstrations sometimes degenerating into serious violence.
In Germany, about 150,000 people have so far registered to turn out Saturday in around 30 cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Cologne, for protests led by a group dubbed "GenZ regelt!" (Gen Z has got this!).
While the movement has stressed it rejects all violence, police are taking no chances and are deploying thousands of officers, while some luxury jewellery shops and clothing stores are boarding up their windows to ward off potential looters.
The protest movement has a range of complaints, from high cost of living to poorly maintained schools, government spending cuts and, more broadly, what it sees as politicians deciding on policies with apparently little regard for the younger generation.
"We are young people who no longer want to sit back and watch while decisions are made about our future without us being heard," said a statement from the group, which describes itself as a non-partisan alliance.
"Wherever we look, we see crises and hardly any prospects for us."
Spending cuts are being made in areas ranging from education to culture and healthcare, they say.
"The cuts are being made at our expense, while big corporations continue to profit and billions flow into rearmament."
They are also unhappy with Germany's bid to boost its military through a new voluntary service model, and fear that mandatory conscription could be reintroduced....
....MUCH MORE
Although many of the pictures floating around the internet are of the haute establishments on the Ku'damm the preparations are going on in quite a few areas.
From The Berliner:
Berlin Prepares for Gen Z Protests
Several shops on Kurfürstendamm have boarded up their premises in advance of the demonstrations this weekend.
Berlin security authorities say they have no information regarding specific calls for violence at this Saturday’s protest, but they are preparing for a major operation. This is due to a call to protest by the initiative ‘Gen Y regelt’ (Gen Z rules), which is planned to take place all day on Halloween. As a result, approximately 1,500 additional police officers will be deployed on October 31. According to operations manager Stephan Katte, water cannons will also be on standby....
....MUCH MORE
I wonder if our Afghani refugee ever made it to Berlin:
"Uganda receives 51 out of expected 2,000 Afghan refugees"
Oh dear. You can just imagine the conversation:
"What's this? Kampala? There must be some mistake, I signed up for the Berlin package: Ku'damm, techno, Tiergarten, last of the hipsters. Not Uganda."
Earlier today:
Probable Berlin Mayor Slips Up, Sends Private Thoughts To Der Spiegel
