End of an era: DDR government building finally removed.

Following last month's ruling from the German Bundestag, work on removal of the former East German Parliament building the 'Palast der Republik' in Berlin is now underway.

The Palast, which previously housed the DDR's Volkskammer and cultural event venues, is due to be completely levelled by Easter 2007.














It will be replaced by a re-worked model of the old Berliner Stadtschloss (city castle) which originally stood on the site - but was destroyed by the Soviets in 1950.

Protests about the removal of the Palast have been frequent in Berlin in the last six months, with many Berliners believing that the money being spent on pulling down the Palast could be better used elsewhere.

André Leslie
Photo: Author's own collection.

Germany's highest court deems Anti-Terrorism law 'unconstitutional'

Germany's new 'Luftsicherheitsgesetz' (try to say that in one breath!) had threatened to authorise the German government to shoot down civilian passenger planes that were suspected of being used by terrorists as airborne weapons.

In a reaction to the September 11 attacks and a similar event in the Frankfurt banking district in 2003, the law authorised the use of a pre-emptive military 'Abschuss' in order to avoid an attack on civilians on the ground.

However in November of last year, a pilot and four other business people (regular civilian airline users themselves) applied to Germany's Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe for the law to be deemed unconstitional.

The decision handed down on Wednesday of last week from the Erste Senat des Bundesverfassungsgerichts deemed the law to be a breach of Artikel 1 (right to human dignity) and Artikel 2 (right to life). al

Berlinale - Berlin's International Film Festival

What’s it all about?
56th International Filmfestival of Berlin – about 350 Films screened around town in 10 days in about 40 cinemas. (An organisational nightmare!!)
One serious competition where 26 internationally selected films compete for a golden or silver bear. Gay and lesbian filmmakers compete for the Berlin Teddy.

Glitzy?
The red carpet is out, limousines are rolling are around and there is a high quotient of American speaking stars – always a sign of success for any german project. The films themselves are mute - with films looking at meaty issues - from Guantanamo Bay to coping with life in a former war zone.

Any Australian representation?
“Candy” (with Heath Ledger, Abbie Cornish, Geoffrey Rush) – talks of a young couple (not Geoffrey!) who use heroin to intensify their intimate experiences with each other. The couple, as you would expect, spiral downwards as they become increasingly immersed in their addiction. A happy picture of Oz for the international public – but of course we wish it well.

An alternative festival (with a similar sounding name) always pops up at times like this... anything on offer?
The alternative Berlinale - Tromanale.
Running in a squatter-occupied building in the middle of town called Tacheles.
- Accepts any film that you send to it.
- includes “Getting rid of your anger” sessions, where you can throw your most annoying electrical appliance off the top level of the building!
Check it out at www.tromanale.de

'Til next week,
A.

Lange Nacht der Museen - 28th January 2006

Hamburger Hauptbahnhof
Exhibition of Joseph Beuys

Parts of this exhibition left me feeling pretty confused.
After looking at this installation for some time I was asked to move on by a gallery attendant who politely informed me that I had been trying to artistically interpret one of the gallery's air-conditioners for the last few minutes.

Euroblog.tk opens to muted acclaim

With the official opening of yet another travelblog today in Berlin, Germany the english speaking world lets out a collective groan. Owner and editor of www.euroblog.tk, André Leslie, promised however that, "This time things will be different. With the money we've saved by registering this new website in Tajikistan, we've been able to fork out plenty of greenbacks towards a considerable staff of editors and reporters". Mr Leslie's attempt to use 'cool' youth slang in the launch of his new website won't be enough to convince all visitors to his site though. Research from a recent poll of American internet users shows that quality is what the new e-public demands ...."