Sorry for the long silence, dear supporters!
Our digital silence does not mean that there hasn't been going on a lot of stuff though. In spring we got some terrible news from the local political parties that we had invited to talk. Now, we're not only threatened by construction plans for rich people, as previously intended by a slim majority of the municipal council. Politicians are now fighting over the class of people they'd like to settle in the buildings they want to place at our site. In addition, we've been subject to severe offenses from different official sides. Offenses, that do not (should not) have anything to do with politics! We are no toys for political profiling!!!
The good news is that since the end of May our town's councilors are forced to re-establish a communal housing company. Given the catastrophic situation concerning the exorbitantly booming prices on the real estate market quite everywhere, also at Osnabrück, this is a huge achievement by us citizens, at most for people who suffer much discrimination when looking for a place to live. This step has been possible thanks to the intense work of a large union of civil organizations, that we also belong to since its foundation. Now the union, including us, is busy to get heard in the process of the company's implementation, since there are many important points several local politicians and (parts of) the municipal administration are eager to omit. Among these points are for example the impossibility to sell the company to private corporations (again), the right of future residents to get involved in decision making, as much as other social and environmental aspects. And that is where our place - and similar projects - might be concerned as well.
While we keep up our work at two battlefields that might end up as one, we have been happy about the support and solidarity we have been experiencing. For example, there was an article published about us and the area of our site in a regional magazine on environmental conservation. And a huge group of local soccer fans brought our topic to the stadium of the VfL Osnabrück (picture). <3 A cute little calendar with photos of our place is being sold at different places (SubstAnZ (Frankenstraße 25A; http://www.substanz-os.de/ Atelier Piro (Rehmstraße 7A; http://atelier-piro.de/ Shock (Records & Coffee / Ars Vivendi e. V., Hasestraße 66; http://shock-records.de/ to raise funds for our fight. And if you happen to be nearby and like loud music, get to Gemeinschaftszentrum Ziegenbrink (Hauswörmannsweg 65) this Saturday, August 3rd, at round about 3 PM to enjoy a little open air hardcore (metal) festival for free. And get there hungry - because vegan food is going to be sold for our cause! <3
Have a nice, color- and powerful summer - or whatever season is up at your place!
Yours,
the WabOS
#FightRacism #NoBorder #StopDeportation!