Tag: Berlin

RS#03 2016: Don’t watch this film

This weekend is Easter, which means it is illegal to watch over 700 films banned by the German ratings authority. It includes obvious anti-religious films such as Monty Python’s Life of Brian, but also strange entries such as Mary Poppins. Dan Stern reads through the list to pick out some gems.

The refugee influx has created opportunities for some businesses to make a lot of money. The consulting firm McKinsey found itself in hot water this month for obtaining a big contract from the city of Berlin by employing a former SPD party official. McKinsey quit after the scandal emerged, but mayor Michael Müller has been damaged by the incident.

Special guest Elizabeth Rushe joins us to talk about her interview with a young Syrian athlete and refugee in Berlin who, despite her harrowing ordeal, is still training to swim at the Olympics. Read her full story here: http://bit.ly/1Uvebec

Special guest Craig Schuftan talks about the Culture Club Kino, a new event series in Berlin mashing together a lecture, video and audio to explain the fascinating connections in pop culture. Culture Club Kino takes place on Thurs March 24, 8pm, in the Oval Room at Babylon. Tickets here: http://bit.ly/1LzAE7a

This episode is supported by Clare, which offers third-party liability insurance in English. This insurance protects you in case you damage someone else’s property or person, and it doesn’t cost much. Better still, all of Clare’s information is in English, so you understand what’s going on. Visit http://www.clare.de to find out more.

Thanks to Comedy Cafe Berlin for hosting our recording, and Mobile Kino for the video projection!

 

RS#02: Rigaer Straße & RAF: Is it still the 90s?

Tensions have flared between the police and punks in Friedrichshain, with massive raids on squats and retaliatory car burnings. Our guest John Riceberg explains what’s going on.

A huge music festival will take place at Treptower Park, having moved there after Tempelhof was turned into a refugee shelter. Now there’s a petition against the festival on account of the grass. Can’t the kids enjoy music anywhere?

Should Radio Spaetkauf talk about terror warnings in Berlin? The team has an editorial meeting about whether to discuss the recent alleged threats to Berlin landmarks. Do the warnings help anyone, or just make us all impotently fearful?

Radio Spaetkauf is presented by Joel Dullroy, Daniel Stern and Jöran Mandik, with support from Victoria Linchong and Jocelyn Barre.

RS#01: Bowie, rent increases & refugees

How fancy is your flat? There’s a checklist you can use to fight against rental increases. If your building has a communal party room and video intercom, your rent might go up. But if you don’t have a proper shower or bike racks, you can argue for a rent reduction.

We pay tribute to David Bowie, the ultimate Berlin international temporary resident, who wrote three albums while living here from 1976 to 1978. In “Heroes” he sung the prophetic lyric “I remember standing by the wall… and we kissed as though nothing would fall.” He also wrote a few klangers, like the incorrectly spelt “Neukoln”. Bowie did Berlin before all of us, and better than any of us.us, and better than all of us. We dance in his shadow.

Tempelhof referendum revisited: The city government is trying to re-write the citizen-initiated law preventing development on Tempelhofer Feld, in order to build refugee accommodation. Critics say the law is losely worded and would allow luxury flat development – the very thing the referendum was against.

Council buys back houses: A Berlin city council has found a new tactic to stop house price increases. The Green controlled Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg council used its first-refusal right to prevent a speculative investor from buying an entire building in Wrangelstraße. Instead, the house will be bought by the city-owned housing company Gewobag, together with a non-profit foundation. This will allow the tenants to keep paying cheap rents.

Thanks to our supporters Mobile Kino, Berlin’s traveling cinema. They’re presenting a Quentin Tarantino retrospective from January 15 to 30. Check out their website for more details: www.mobilekino.de

Recorded live at Donau115 on Monday January 11. Presenters: Joel Dullroy, Jöran Mandik and Daniel Stern. Filmed by Victoria Linchong.