We usually hold our workshops in German spoken language, but can organize a translation into other languages. If requested in advance, we can also hold workshops in English spoken language. Here’s the workshops we currently offer:
1. Justice beyond state, police and prisons: An introduction to Transformative Justice & Community Accountability.
2. Anarchism?! What‘s that? – Lecture and discussion
3. Smash patriarchy!? Feminist perspectives on violence in and against the patriarchy.
4. A short introduction to the critique of penalty
5. Letters to prisoners
6. Let’s talk about gender! A short introduction to feminism, gender and antisexism.
7. Choose Your Dependencies – Why we all should live in shared economies
8. Lock up, manage, deter – how prisons work and utopias beyond them
9. Critique of the police
1. Justice beyond state, police and prisons: An introduction to Transformative Justice & Community Accountability.
Workshop can be held in German spoken language with simultaneous translation or held in English spoken language
How can we deal with conflict and violence in our communities without relying on the patriarchal institutions of the state, courts and police? How can we put our criticism of those institutions into practice? In the workshop, we want to discuss with you what we need to be able to react to interpersonal violence in anti-authoritarian communities and in the long run end (patriarchal) violence for good. We don’t offer a master plan, but room for interaction and debate. There will be an English spoken language whisper translation if needed.
// short version 3 hours, long version 5 hours
2. Anarchism?! What‘s that? – Lecture and discussion
What is anarchism? And (how) is it different than “anarchy”? We start with a brief introduction of anarchist principles and anarchism itself – a social movement for the liberation of all living beings in solidarity and autonomy.
We will then look at basic mechanisms of domination and how they work. What, for example, is the difference between governance, power and authority? Also, we will look at what ideals and ideas anarchists live and act by and talk about examples where these very principles are already being put into practice. Afterwards, we look forward to an exchange and discussion with you.
The lecture will be held in German, but whispered translation is possible. In the discussion, contributions in English are very welcome.
3. Smash patriarchy!? Feminist perspectives on violence in and against the patriarchy.
Workshop can be held in German spoken language with simultaneous translation or held in English spoken language
A three hour workshop about patriarchy, feminism and the roles of violence inside these. We’ll discuss different feminist perspectives, queer and trans* politics, anti-racism and critique of systemic and state oppression. We want to point out that (sexualized) violence is fundamental to the system of gender oppression.
Further on we want to talk about feminist strategies trying to tackle sexism and interpersonal violence in cooperation with the state and why this might by problematic, followed by a short overview on alternatives.
In the end: it’s possible and important to reclaim the discourses about violence beyond machoism to use them against this sexist system. Antisexism needs to become practical! We’re are looking forward to discussing what that might look like.
// approx. 3 hours
4. A short introduction to the critique of penalty
Workshop can be held in German spoken language with simultaneous translation or held in English spoken language
Penal logic is deeply interwoven into our society. It has become an essential part of the justice and prison system and just as well our education and relationships.
In our workshop we will be looking at our understandings of justice and penalty. Following this we’ll present a short introduction into the history and logic of the ideas behind penalty.
Together with you we want to see where in our daily lives penalty can be found, why it is so deeply ingrained in our society and so heavily romanticized. We want to question the logic of penalty including the penal system of the state and its role in oppressive systems.
We see penalty as systematic harm in the name of ‘justice’ and as a central cause of violence and systemic oppression.
We want a world without domination. That includes a world without penalty. We want communities freeing themselves of coercion, obedience and oppression and are looking for alternative ways to organize and live together.
Let’s explore together, how to get there.
// approx. 2 hours
5. Letters to prisoners
Workshop can be held in German spoken language with simultaneous translation or held in English spoken language
The goal of the prison system is to isolate people from their social environment. In prison, a small piece of the outside world like a letter can help a lot. There is a lot of uncertainty about writing letters to prison, so we want to clarify the most common questions in a short input. We also bring materials needed for writing letters as well as current addresses of prisoners.
Until all prisons are smashed: Write letters!
// Workshopdauer 30min
6. Let’s talk about gender! A short introduction to feminism, gender and antisexism.
Workshop can be held in German spoken language with simultaneous translation or held in English spoken language
We start the workshop with a short introduction to the basics of feminist theories and history. Our aim is not to read out a long list of names and dates, but to create a basis to think about gender hierarchies in this society, in the left scene and our relationships. We will roughly outline different feminist currents and introduce intersectionality as a broader discrimination-sensitive analysis. Beyond theory, we are also concerned with very practical questions such as: Who has resources and contacts? How do we distribute roles in our groups? Who makes first line in a demonstration? Who builds infrastructure? Who takes care of others? Who does the dishes? Who speaks to the outside world? Whose bodies are the subject of discussion?
We want to discuss these and other questions with you and talk about how we can transform these power dynamics through anti-sexist practices.
No prior knowledge is needed. We will try to use generally understandable words in the workshop or, if necessary, explain technical and scene terms. If you need a translation into another language, please let us know in advance. An English whisper translation will be available if needed.
// approx. 2 – 3 hours
7. Choose Your Dependencies – Why we all should live in shared economies
What are our dependencies? And which can we change, which do we want to change? Together we want to ask ourselves those questions.
// 2-3 Stunden
8. Lock up, manage, deter – how prisons work and utopias beyond them
Workshop can be held in German spoken language with simultaneous translation or held in English spoken language
“Stell dir vor dir würde von einem Tag auf den nächsten die Kontrolle über dein Leben genommen werden. Viele Entscheidungen, beispielsweise wann du isst, wann du schläfst, wann du andere Menschen treffen kannst – und welche anderen Menschen –, ob und welche Bücher du lesen darfst würden von anderen Menschen für dich getroffen. Stell dir vor, du würdest gezwungen werden, für einen Tageslohn von rund 8 Euro zu arbeiten und irgendwer würde dich trotzdem zwingen, einen Teil dieses Geldes zu sparen.“ (kaos muc)
Das Gefängnis ist eine zentrale Institution des Justizsystems, es wirkt dabei nicht nur auf Gefangene ein, sondern auf uns alle. Die Drohung eingesperrt zu werden, lässt uns zweimal nachdenken, bevor wir uns nehmen, was wir zum Leben brauchen, bevor wir die Regeln der Herrschenden überschreiten. Denn Knäste sind einer der krassesten Ausdrucksformen des repressiven Herrschaftsapparates. Sie sichern Eigentum, Ausbeutung und Unterdrückung.
Daher ist es nur logisch, dass ein Großteil der Eingesperrten wegen „Eigentumsdelikten“ im Gefängnis sitzen. Wegen Vorwürfen wie Diebstahl oder ohne Ticket fahren. Ohne ausreichenden Zugang zu für sie notwendige materielle Güter und Dienstleistungen, werden sie für den Versuch, sich diese anzueignen, hinter Gitter gebracht. Mehr als ein Drittel der Eingesperrten sitzen in Deutschland, da sie eine Geldstrafe nicht bezahlen konnten. Somit ist die Ersatzfreiheitsstrafe eine der krassesten Ausdrücke der Bestrafung fürs arm sein. Währenddessen verdient eine ganze Industrie rund um Gefängnisse prächtig daran. Von überteuerten Dienstleistungen wie Telefonieren im Knast zu Knastarbeit für Löhne, die eigentlich nur ein Hohn sind. Die gesamtgesellschaftliche Konditionierung wird uns dabei als Notwendigkeit dargestellt. Nur so könnte Chaos vermieden werden. Das Argument der Knast wäre nötig um Gewalt zu verhindern, ist allerdings mehr als fraglich. Selbst das Justizministerium kam in einer Studie zu der Schlussfolgerung, dass Haftstrafen gegenüber nicht einsperrenden Strafen, die Wahrscheinlichkeit eine Gewalttat wieder zu begehen eigentlich erhöhen. Nicht wirklich erstaunlich, dass ein so gewaltvolles System wie Gefängnisse, Gewalt eher fördern. Warum also ist ein System, dass die gewaltvollen Zustände in unserer Gesellschaft eher verschlimmert eine so zentrale und scheinbar unabdingbare Institution?
Darüber wollen wir mit euch diskutieren und uns fragen, warum gibt es Knäste, was ist deren Funktion? Wie hängen soziale Konditionierung, staatlicher Machterhalt und die Idee des Einsperrens zusammen? Und was sind unsere Utopien einer freieren Gesellschaft?
// Workshop Dauer ca. 2 – 3 Stunden
9. Critique of the police
Workshop can be held in German spoken language with simultaneous translation or held in English spoken language
As a result of the murder of several People of Color by police in the USA in early 2020, racist police violence and demands for reform or dismantling of the police have moved into the focus of political and media debate worldwide. It demonstrated once more that for many – People of Color, queers, drug users, sex workers, people without a permanent residence or legal residence permit, people criminalized or traumatized by police – the police are not a “friend and helper”, but a source of systematic discrimination and violence. We therefore want to take a look at the origins and ideology of the police, show different perspectives on criticism of the police – historical and anti-racist, anti-patriarchal, ideological, anti-militarist… – and ask ourselves more broadly what “violence” and “security” mean to us.
// approx. 2 hours