Für eine linke Strömung (FelS)

De precarity webring

1. Group name (in original language):

Für eine linke Strömung (FelS)
[For a left current, magazine 'Arranca!']

2. City/geographical area:

Berlin

3. Short description (including brief history):

Fels was founded in 1991, the magazine Arranca in 1993, following a debate in the Berlin/German autonomous left around the question of how to intervene into society. Members of Fels critized the autonomous left for its subcultural and secluded manner of poltical work. Almost since then the group consists out of four committes. They embody the focus of the group regarding its political practice: Antifascism/Antiracism. Social resistance. Internationalism. Editorial Board Arranca!. Additionally exists a smaller committee for organisational purpose. Together with lucha amada (music&concerts) and the ALB (Antifascist Left Berlin) we do also the social space/shop "FUSION", Skalitzer Strasse 67, 10997 Berlin-Kreuzberg

4. Type of group: (e.g. assembly of several groups, trade union, magazine/alter media, social centre, militant research group, immigrant support group, queer action group etc.):

We are a group of around 50 people, many have an academic background or are still studying. It's a political project based on the voluntary committment of its members. We expect our members to participate in at least one committee.

5. Issues addressed (e.g. migration, call centres, care, universities etc.):

War, Migration and deportation, Actions against the far-right and around Germanys Nazi-history, Privatisation and cuts in the (local) welfare state, Change of working conditions and precarization, International solidarity and mobilizations to the different summits (G8 etc.)

6. Repertoire of practices (e.g. direct action, information & assistance, support, performances etc.):

The instruments that we use for our political actions range from classical forms as rallys, events and publications of the groups' opinion in the Arranca to more unusual forms as collective metro-rides and fun-based actions against the increase of entrance fees in public pools.

7. Initiatives and open political processes:

see 8 and 9

8. Struggles you are involved or you know in your city (if possible, including contact):

Building of a local alliance to organize the Euromayday parade 2006 (http://berlin.euromayday.org) and mobilisation to the parade. Involvement in the plannings of counteractivities to the G8 summit taking place next year in Germany. Involvement in activities against fascist rallys taking place in Halbe, a small town near Berlin.

9. Networks in which the group is participating and/or links with other groups:

Dissent network (G8); Interventional Left (network of a dozen colectives, some magazines and inviduals in Germany, actually prepairing the anti-G8 activities for 2007 and publishing the G8-Extra-newspaper); Act! (http://act.so36.net/); BuKo (http://www.buko.info); Social Forum Berlin (http://www.sozialforum-berlin.de); die Überflüssigen (http://www.ueberfluessig.tk); european precarity network

[Dissent network, Interventionistische Linke, Act!, Bundeskoordination Internationalismus (BuKo), Berliner Sozialforum]

10. Brief explanation of involvement in the MayDay mobilizations:

We’re following the EuroMayday process since two years and were supportive of the initiative in Hamburg 2005. Despite some difficulites in Berlin attached to the history of the Mayday in the city, we decided to organize a parade in Berlin 2006. Fels tried to push the idea of the EuroMayday and is committed to include very different groups into the process.

11. Research developed (in case you have any, present the issues and method):

Due to the fact of being occupied with the mobilization to the parade we haven't found time to open up a field of research.

12. Contact e-mail:

fels@nadir.org

13.Website and/or weblog:

http://www.fels-berlin.de http://arranca.nadir.org/