Berlin goes happy pride

Every year the biggest Christopher Street Day in Germany takes place in Berlin. Next weekend the event is coming up again!

CSD will turn Berlin into one big street party again – including a political background.
The march starts at 12 pm at Ku’Damm/Joachismthaler Str. and runs via Wittenbergplatz, Nollendorfplatz and Lützowplatz to Siegessäule and Brandenburger Tor. The final party takes place between Siegessäule and Brandenburger Tor from 2 pm onwards and offers party, music, entertainment as well as politics, speeches and actions.

“Thanks for nothing” – This years’ rather radical theme aims at raising awareness that it is still a long and winding road to achieve full gender equality. Marriage; adoption for everyone, rehabilitation of condemned based on §175? – not at the moment, therefore this year sets an and to being thankful for minor changes.

Find more information

Berlin Green Market

The „Green Market“  in Berlin takes place on 18th and 19th of June this year.

The 2-day lifestyle market in Berlin offers street food, fashion, cosmetic and little gifts all without animal components. This year special vegan market opens its doors in the area of the “Alten Kindle Brauerei”.More than 30 market trader offer beside regional food and drinks also little gifts, fashion and cosmetics. All presented products are without animal components. You will find international vegan food specialties and live music.

The Green Market will open on both days from 12 am to  22 pm.

New City, new country: Relocation – do it yourself!

This entry is part 3 of 6 in the series Relocation

You want to move with your family?

First, there is a difference between moving with infants and moving with teenagers. However, no matter how old your children are, you get child benefit in Germany.
For infants it is important to join a kindergarten, after moving to a new country. This makes it easier for them to integrate and to find new friends. They learn the new language fastest while playing with children of their age.
In Germany it is compulsory for children between the age of 6 and 16 to attend school.

If you are moving with teenagers – involve them in decisions from the beginning. It will be difficult for them to leave their friends behind; therefore, they need to identify themselves with the decisions taken related to the move.

Important decisions for them are:
Which school to attend?
Where to live?
What sports to do?
Other leisure activity clubs to follow?

Your integration will be successful only, if your children feel integrated as well.

Outlook for the next part of the series: Relocation with a Blue Card EU

Berlin ePrix- Formel E in Berlin

Formel E the Berlin ePrix starts on sunday 21st of May. It’s venues is switched for this second race. Last year Formel E race was at Tempelhofer Airport. But today for season two, a new track has been created in the Mitte district of the German capital. The 2-kilometre track, which has historic Alexanderplatz and the TV tower as a stunning backdrop features 11 turns and winds its way around Strausberger Platz and towards Alexanderplatz with the pitlane on Karl-Marx-Allee.

The tickets for the race are almost sold out. There are only a few standing tickets left. .

The season one race was won by Lucas di Grassi on the road, but he was disqualified for a technical infringement, handing victory to Jerome D’Ambrosi.

Adventure Europe

Europe easy to understand in 30 minutes

New exhibition in „Europäischem Haus“ in Berlin. The exhibition is called „Europa verständlich in 30 Minuten“ and is designed by  European Parliament and European Commission.
The exhibition “Erlebnis Europa” – adventure Europe – gives you insights of work and history of the European Union and, day-to-day life in other EU-countries.

The European Parliament and European Commission founder of this exhibition, want to help inhabitants of European countries to understand the EU better. Issue date is Mai, 14th in “Europäisches Haus”.

Exhibition venue: Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin
learn more: www.erlebnis-europa.de

Europe Day – Europe Week in Germany

Europe Day commemorates 9 May 1950, when the then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presented his proposal on the creation of an organised Europe, to help maintain peaceful relations between European countries. This proposal, known as the ‘Schuman declaration’, is considered to be the act that created what is now the European Union.

In Germnay the Europe day is celebrated from 30th of April to the 10th of May. In many cities different activities and events are organized. In Berlin the main event will happen on May  6th and 7th . More than 200 Europeans living in Berlin are invited to discuss about Europe in city hall of Berlin “Rotes Rathaus .

The main event in Stuttgart will be at May 6th.   A big cultural and political event called “Europaaktionstag” will be organized on the “Schlossplatz” of Stuttgart.

Munich celebrates the “Europa Woche” with many different events which will inform about Europe. Opening event is called “Europe must not break up”.  The Bavarian Minister of European Affairs Dr. Beate Merk invites to a discussion in a festive venue.

International Festival of Animated Film in Stuttgart

 

In the spring of 2016, Stuttgart will once more become the centre of the world with regards to animated film for six days and nights. The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) is one of the most outstanding events for animated film worldwide. The Festival takes into its scope the whole spectrum of current productions in the animated film sector, including the intersections between games, architecture, art, design and comedy. With Game Zone, the ITFS takes an especially close look at transmedia and the convergence of animation and computer games.

The Festival offers directors as well as production and distribution companies a platform to present their films to an interested and large audience as well as countless members of the industry.

Vegan Burger in Berlin

“Dandy Diner” is the first restaurant offering vegan burger in Berlin.

The restaurant opened in Neukölln two days ago. Before the owner posted on their Instagram –Account “Join us for free burger, booze & beer”. This invitation initialized a run on the restaurant. The police had to come because hundreds of people tried to get a vegan burger. More than 300 hundred visitors were waiting inside the restaurant, another 200 hundred were waiting outside, 10 policemen tried to appease them, but they didn’t have any chance. They all wanted the “vegan burger” and cake.

At 10 p. m. the police sent all visitors home and stopped the party on the street in front of  “Dandy Diner”

Berlin International Games Week

The annual Berlin International Games Week will start at the 18th of April. For seven days Berlin will welcome representatives  from the digital industry as well as games enthusiasts.
More than 10,000 visitors – developer, publisher, investors and gamers are expected. There are more than ten events in one week at different venues in Berlin, ranging from conferences and recruitment events to games festivals and championships.
Different events will happen. There will be events for games enthusiasts, development conferences open to professional visistors only, a recruitment day for job seekers. Furthermore will happen this year a special recruitment event “Womenize” for female talents.

Opening Bank account in Germany

The European Parliament has decided to introduce the basic account between the start of 2016 and September 2016 at the latest. A non-discriminatory application should then legally be possible for every EU citizen.

To date it has not been possible for every citizen to obtain a current account in Germany. There had to be fullfilles some condition until the end of 2015:
Stipulation of the permanent place of residence
In order to personally identify yourself, production of an identity document containing your surname, forename, address, date of birth and a biometric passport photograph
Proof of creditworthiness/solvency.

To date there has been no legal right to a current account in Germany! Salary payments, welfare benefits, rent payments, etc. become a problem for affected persons. With effect from 2016, however, EU citizens will have a national right to a current account through the basic account.
What does a basic account include
Objective of a basic account is to fundamentally allow the holder to take part in cashless payment transactions. This will probably involve a current account on a credit basis. You can therefore dispose of the money which is actually in your account.
The basic account will enable you to
– make deposits and payments (salary payments, receipt of welfare benefits, etc.),
– transfer money and make payments by direct debit (rent payments, invoices, etc.).
The cash card with the basic account
You will normally receive a cash card (Maestro or giro card) with your current account.