Bericht @en

This was our Arab Film and Discussion Event about Libya

Our sixth Arab Film and Discussion Event was again very well attended – on the 2nd of April 2014 at 6:30pm every corner of the Filmrauschpalast was taken by almoust 80 people to watch the film “Libya, the revolution and me”and to subsequently discuss the film, the Libyan revolution of 2011 and the current political and social situation in Libya. The film approaches the revolution from the perspective of the film maker Nicole Nagel, who arrives in Libya for work and starts portraying the rebels and their fight against Gaddafi. She conveys her personal impressions, shows families, women and children surrounding the rebels and creates an emotional picture of the revolutionaries' situation. The film gets closer and closer to the insurgents, accompanying them until the front lines. After the revolution she returns to Libya, meeting again with her old companions. In spite of the euphoria caused by the victory, one of the young fighters provides a thoughtful end to the film, uttering that in the face of the lack of a new constitution the real fight for Libya's freedom was only about to start. Consequently, the reform of the Libyan society was the main topic of the following discussion. With the audience’s lively participation the film maker Nicole Nagel, media scholar and Libya expert Dr. Carola Richter (FU Berlin), and the president of the Libyan Community in Germany Same Ghati provided lots of information and different points of view regarding various questions. Complemented by personal impressions from a young Libyan in the audience a very broad picture of current developments arose. The conversation's topics were for instance the financing of the rebels in 2011 and of the militia today, the hard–to-develop democracy, security issues and unstable power structures, freedom of speech and press, the Libyan cinematic culture, the comparatively high standard of welfare and education, and the influence of the Europeans before and after the revolution. The event was presented by Andreas Fricke (14km e.V.). Thanks go to Mai Micklisch (intern at 14km e.V.) and Johanna Kramer (14km e.V.) as well as the Filmrauschpalast team for their organisational help and support. Photography by Helena Burgrova. We thank the audience for their participation! In regular intervals we screen films which deal with different Arab countries and subsequently discuss the films and the current social and political situation in the respective countries with guests from Berlin Moabit as well as with country experts, always aiming to make links to North-South relationships. The next Arab Film and Discussion Event will take place on 13th of May 2014 at Zille-Haus Moabit. The project receives financial support in the context of the quarter management Moabit Ost through funds from the Programme Social City (EU, Federal Government, and Federal State of Berlin). Carola Richter commits herself to international dialogue and a scientifically sound perspective on Islam and the Arab World at eurient e.V. German newspaper article about Same Ghati and the Libyan Community of Berlin during the revolution against Gaddafi (Tagesspiegel 02/03/2011 "Libyer in Berlin: Im Widerstand zusammenwachsen" by Karin Christmann)


Conclusions of expert meeting “youth migration council” now available online

In November 2013, 14km e.V. participated in an exciting project – Johanna Block from 14km took part in a meeting of experts, the so-called youth migration council, which aims to help young migrants from North Africa in migration and integration issues in Europe. The report on this meeting of experts is now available online. The main aim of the meeting in Hattingen was to discuss how a “culture of welcome” can make life easier for young migrants in Germany. Experts from Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, France, Italy, Spain and Germany participated in the event. The ethical aspects of immigration were at the centre of the meeting. For example, the participants discussed how immigrants can be treated with dignity and how the impression can be prevented that immigrants are just receivers of social support. The report states that “the greatest appreciation and acceptance is enjoyed by those people who are living in regular working conditions”. Thus, hindrances to taking up regular employment need to be removed. 14km has gained a lot from the meeting: We got to know many great organisations from North Africa, among them two organisations from Cairo and Fez with whom we are now co-operating in the context of our volunteer programme and to which we will be sending the first volunteers soon. Next to that we are planning further project on the topic of migration and North Africa. The complete report on the expert meeting can be read here.


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