Seebrücke (Create safe havens) is a decentralized, international, civil society movement that was formed in 2018. It is directed against the European policy of isolationism and, in particular, against the criminalization of sea rescue in the Mediterranean. The members show solidarity with all refugees and call on politicians to create safe escape routes.[1]
Emergence
editThe movement arose spontaneously after the rescue ship Lifeline, with 234 rescued people on board, had been prevented from entering a port for days in June 2018. It was initially advertised via a satirical campaign by the Peng Collective, which claimed that the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community would accept all people in distress in Germany by 2019.[2] The actor Jan Josef Liefers[3] took part in the video, and the movement was advertised by the entertainer Jan Böhmermann.[4] The band KAFVKA as well as 'Mensch Mensch Mensch e.V.' were significantly involved in the development process of the alliance. Since the 2019/20 season, Seebrücke has been supported by the football club SV Babelsberg 03 who have drawn attention to the movement with print on their Football shirts.[5]
Advancement
editThe movement calls for safe escape routes across Europe, a humane reception of refugees and a decriminalization of sea rescue.[6][7][8] According to the organisers, more than 79,000 people have taken to the streets in over 30 cities in Germany since the beginning of July 2018. 12,000 people took part in the largest demonstrations to date, on July 7, 2018 in Berlin[6] and as many as 16,400 people took part in Hamburg on September 2, 2018,[9] and thousands of people took to the streets in other large cities such as Cologne.[10]
The Seebrücke movement is supported by over two hundred organizations.[11]
Orange vests
editAs a sign of solidarity with sea rescuers and refugees, orange clothes, scarves and balloons are worn at demonstrations as well as in everyday life, in reference to the colour of life jackets.[6]
Orange life jackets have been attached to numerous churches so that they could be seen from the outside.[12][13][14][15]
Safe haven
editMany German cities and municipalities have declared themselves safe havens by means of a city council resolution. According to their own statements, they offer protection and reception to people rescued from distress at sea and actively support sea rescue.[16] However, the federal government must continue to assume the majority of the costs for the refugees admitted and the cities would only incur minimal additional costs.[17]
As of May 2019, 54 cities had joined the movement.[18] By 1 March 2020, 138 cities had joined the movement. As of May 2021, there were 252 such areas.[19]
Demonstrations
editAction groups have formed or negotiations are ongoing in the city council, with particularly notable demonstrations in the following cities:
Nuremberg
editOn March 30, 2019, around 700 people demonstrated for the city of Nuremberg to pledge to be a "safe haven".[20]
Berlin
editOn March 30, 2019, several thousand people demonstrated for the city of Berlin to pledge to be a "safe haven".
External links
edit- Official website
- Felix Keß; Helge Schwiertz. "Zivilgesellschaftliche Initiativen für sichere Fluchtwege – ein Überblick" [Safe escape route initiatives - an overview]. focus Migration 2019.
References
edit- ^ Michaeli, Anja (20 August 2018). "Flashmob gegen das Sterben im Mittelmeer" [Seebrücke: Flashmob against dying in the Mediterranean]. Oldenburger Onlinezeitung (in German). Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ Frankfurter Rundschau (3 July 2018). "Satire "Seebrücke des Bundes": Die Seebrücke nach Deutschland" [Satire "Federal Sea Bridge": the Sea-bridge to Germany]. Frankfurter Rundschau. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
- ^ sz-online. "Liefers spricht für Seenotrettung" [Liefers speaks for sea rescue]. SZ-Online. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
- ^ "Jan Böhmermann sammelt Geld für die "Lifeline"-Crew" [Jan Böhmermann collects money for the “Lifeline” crew]. jetzt.de. 2018-07-01. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
- ^ Spiegel Online (30 July 2019). "Fußballklub schenkt dem Verein "Seebrücke" Trikotfläche" [Football club donates jersey to the "Seebrücke" club]. Der Spiegel. Retrieved 2019-09-12.
- ^ a b c ""Seebrücke"-Demos in Großstädten: Tausende fordern Solidarität mit Seenotrettern" ["Seebrücke" demos in big cities: Thousands demand solidarity with sea rescue workers]. Spiegel Online. 2018-07-08. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
- ^ report-d.de Redaktion (2018-07-20). "Protest in Düsseldorf: "Seebrücke - Schafft sichere Häfen!" / Termine / Düsseldorf Service / - Düsseldorf Inter" [Protest in Düsseldorf: "Seebrücke - Create safe havens!" / Dates / Düsseldorf Service / - Düsseldorf Inter]. report-d.de. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
- ^ Frankfurter Rundschau (2018-07-21). "Römerberg in Frankfurt: Demonstranten fordern "Seebrücke statt Seehofer"" [Römerberg in Frankfurt: demonstrators demand "Sea-bridge instead of Seehofer"]. fr.de. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
- ^ Hanna Zobel (2 September 2018). "Fremdenhass? Nicht mit uns! Tausende Menschen demonstrieren für die Rechte von Geflüchteten" [Xenophobia? Not with us! Thousands of people demonstrate for the rights of refugees]. bento.de. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
- ^ Daniel Taab (2018-07-13). "Solidarität mit Seenotrettern: Tausende Kölner gehen für Flüchtlinge auf die Straße" [Solidarity with sea rescuers: Thousands of Cologne residents take to the streets for refugees]. rundschau-online.de. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
- ^ "How To Sicherer Hafen | Seebrücke". www.seebruecke.org (in German). Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "Rettungswesten an Kirchtürmen zeigen Solidarität mit Flüchtlingen". www.evangelisch.de (in German). Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "Hannover: Rettungswesten an Kirchtürmen bezeugen Solidarität mit Flüchtlingen". www.haz.de (Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung) (in German). 15 April 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "Kirchtürme in Hannover tragen Rettungswesten". www.neuepresse.de (in German). 14 April 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "| Seebrücke". www.seebruecke.org (in German). 14 April 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "Sicherer Hafen - Erklärung der im Bündnis beteiligten Städte und Gemeinden" [Safe haven - Declaration by the cities and municipalities involved in the alliance] (PDF). seebruecke.org.
- ^ "Nachrichten aus Schleswig-Holstein - Bündnis "Sichere Häfen": Bund trägt die Kosten" ["Safe Haven" alliance: the federal government bears the costs]. www.ndr.de (in German). 21 June 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ "54 Sichere Häfen in Deutschland" [54 Safe havens in Germany]. seebruecke.org. Retrieved 2019-05-05.
- ^ "Alle Sicheren Häfen | Seebrücke". www.seebruecke.org (in German). Retrieved 25 May 2021.
Kommunen auf dem Weg zum Sicheren Hafen (252 Sichere Häfen in Deutschland)
- ^ "Demo der Seebrücke: Auch Nürnberg soll sicherer Hafen sein" [Seebrücke Demo: make Nuremberg a safe haven too]. www.nordbayern.de. Retrieved 25 February 2024.