In this podcast Jana and Helin talk about City Plaza, a former hotel in the middle of Athens that was occupied by refugees and activists during the so-called ‘refugee crisis’ in order to create a safe and self-organised space of dignified living conditions and joint political struggle. We will listen to interviews with activists from City Plaza share with us how they counter a racist border system by living together in solidarity and what that practically means to them.

This episode was broadcasted live on We Are Born Free Empowerment Radio on April 10, 2018, 88.4 MhZ Berlin.

This is the pre-episode to my new series on Migrant and Solidarity Activism, starting with a proper introduction in episode 1.

Pre-episode 0 - We live and struggle together - Solidarity at City Plaza Refugee Squat Athens

This episode is about the situation of migrant domestic workers in Lebanon and their struggle against the Kafala (sponsorship) system. Women organisers from the Alliance of Migrant Domestic Workers and a board member from the Migrant Community Centre share with us, how they built their own support groups, formed alliances and ran successful campaigns to counter the abuse, discrimination and arbitrary detention that they face. While being under constant threat of deportation these women show us how to organise against all odds!

Episode 1 was broadcasted 7 July 2018 on We Are Born Free Empowerment Radio @Reboot.Fm on 88.4 MhZ Berlin.

Thanks to William Mahfoud for the introduction track "Beirut Souls - Rise 1969"

Photo credits: Pat Sy 2018, Anti-Racism Movement Lebanon

With the friendly support of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Beirut.

Episode 1 - Organising against all odds – the struggle of migrant domestic workers in Lebanon

In this episode we are discussing what solidarity, allyship and charity mean when put into practice. How do these abstract words translate into practices and shared values that comply with our political vision? How do we keep the agency of those in place who we want to be 'in solidarity' with? And can an NGO also be part of political movement building? Activists from the Anti-Racism Movement Lebanon share important insights with us.

This episode will be broadcasted at We Are Born Free Empowerment Radio @Reboot.Fm on 88.4 MhZ Berlin.

Thanks to William Mahfoud for the introduction track "Beirut Souls - Rise 1969"

Photo credits: Anti-Racism Movement Lebanon

With the friendly support of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Beirut.

Episode 2 - Allyship and other Abstract words - a discussion with the Anti-Racism Movement

In this podcast series I am speaking with activists from migrant and anti-racism movements around the world to explore the question what solidarity actually means when put into practice. These movements matter at a time when borders are closing, detention centres are proliferating and right-wing parties are on the rise. These movements matter when an inclusive, open and socially just society seems so far out of reach. They matter because they already live an alternative vision of solidarity that is based on grass-roots organising, on networks of support, on self-empowerment and transnational alliance building. This podcast discusses some of the challenges that these movements face when organising on the ground, tackling both internal hierarchies and fighting off state repression; but it also brings to the fore experiences of organising strategies that have worked well and practical ideas that might lead the way forward. With this, the voices of those who are every day struggling for change are made audible.

Special thanks and solidarity goes to “We are Born Free Empowerment Radio”, a self-organised refugee activist radio in Berlin, who is broadcasting this series. Tune in on 88.4 MhZ in Berlin or 90.7 MhZ in Potsdam or listen online on Reboot.fm.

This podcast series was produced with the friendly support of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Beirut Office.


Credits: The title "Movements that Matter" is inspired by the research of Transit Migration Forschungsgruppe (transcript 2007)
Photo Credits: Jana Grieb