On the occasion of the current inflation and energy price crisis, the alliance "Not on our backs" is organizing information stands for the "Wesertor against price increases" campaign.. Regular contact points with warm food and drinks are planned for autumn and winter. They want to use this to create a district network. A report on the work in the district network and the situation in the district.
A few passers-by rush past, shake their heads and reject flyers. They don't have the time or the desire to talk to strangers on the street about their problems, or think, something would be sold to them. But others remain standing, are curious and open to conversation. Many immediately answered the question in the affirmative, whether the price increases for food and energy are causing them problems
For a week, four to five young people stood at Wesertorplatz almost every day and wanted to address people on the street with their information stands. It's about the crisis, about price increase, Inflation and the attempt, to find a common answer. Mobilization proved to be a challenge for the group, but they are confident and say: “We first have to become known a little and show our presence in the district.”
The questions are personal: “Also live in the district? Are you also afraid of rising gas prices? How is your family??” A resident of the Wesertor district tells us, that she had already received four different increases in rent and energy costs this fall. Soon she wouldn't know anymore, how she should pay for it. Desperation and helplessness were written all over her face. Because real estate companies are not afraid to increase the basic rent, even though gas prices are skyrocketing and the inflation rate is at its highest since 70 Not for years. The fear is growing, Soon you will no longer be able to pay rent and heating costs. And according to the activists, this must turn into anger, that brings them together.
In the current crisis, the alliance wants to encourage those affected to do so, to become active together: “Sitting at home alone doesn't help! We have to talk to people, we have to organize and show solidarity”, says one of the activists. There are different strategies, that make up the district work. People should become active through one-on-one conversations, so that they come to district meetings and get involved.
The alliance “Not on our backs” consists of different left-wing groups from Kassel. It was already founded in winter 2021, around one to take a solidarity response to the Corona pandemic to the streetsn. At that time too, there were signs of increased inflation, which the alliance addressed in its protest. But it's not just on the streets, but also into the warm: Given that private homes are likely to remain cold for a long time, they also want to offer places to get warm food this fall and winter. A place should be created for exchange, for conversations and a heated room for a short or long time, where everyone is welcome.
“Poor people, who have no reserves, are hit particularly hard by inflation. We can’t all ‘tighten our belts’, because for many of us there is simply nothing left. This fact, which is statistically proven, is repeatedly confirmed to the activists in their conversations at the information stand.”
Initiative activist “Wesertor against price increases”
The current campaign “Wesertor against price increases” focuses on the Wesertor district, which, along with Rothenditmold and Nordstadt, is one of the poorer districts in Kassel. This is where they see the greatest need, Because not everyone is affected equally by the crisis: With their campaign they want to invite people in the Wesertor district to do so, to exchange ideas with their neighbors about the situation and the associated problems. In addition, a strategy should be developed, how to react together politically to the price increases. Whether the alliance is successful, will become apparent in the coming weeks.
There are alliances across Germany on these topics, Groups and campaigns founded, such as the initiative “Solidarity autumn“, an alliance of trade unions and environmental organizations. The “Redistribute now” is an alliance in Berlin, in which left-wing groups call for demos or the campaign “Enough is enough” initially gained attention primarily with an online strategy in social networks . Everyone relies on different strategies and methods, to build solidarity structures in the crisis and to make their demands loud - whether at demonstrations or in the newly discovered district work. Main thing, the crisis will not be carried out “on our backs”..