🙌 We are excited to announce the list of selected participants for the research fellowship of the «Truth to Justice» project:
- Tatiana Cojocari
- Veronika Solopova
- Yehor Brailian
- Anna Romandash
Starting this fall, selected participants will take part in an online fellowship mentored by Dr. Dmytro Iarovyi, an Associate Professor at the Graduate Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Kyiv School of Economics.
With the support of experts, fellows will develop policy papers or research proposals to counter disinformation and present them on the Truth to Justice platform and conference in December.
Project in cooperation with Kyiv School of Economics
Funded by Auswärtiges Amt.
Stay tuned!
#CivilSocietyCooperation
We are excited to announce the selected participants for the interdisciplinary laboratory “A Journey from the Dangerous to (Un)Safe”:
- Katarzyna Łukasiewicz,
- Anna Ivchenko & Kyrylo Shum,
- Yun Xuan Yang,
- Vasylysa Shchogoleva.
Starting next week, the participants will take part in a week-long curated laboratory. The program will explore urban life, migration, fears, borders through immersive workshops and lectures led by tutors Stefanie Eisenhuth, Ksenia Malykh, Zuzanna Mielczarek, Kate Tarabukina, Eva Yakubovska, and Max Smogol.
The residency will culminate in the creation of a collaborative soundscape for Berlin’s Bus Line 100.
Stay tuned!
The interdisciplinary laboratory “A Journey from Dangerous to (Un)Safe” is a part of the international project “Networks of Support” organized by the National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning (NIAiU) with partners from Ukraine (Lviv Center of Urban History), Poland (“Autoportret” quarterly), Czechia (VI PER Gallery) and Germany (Vitsche).
Organizers:
- Vitsche
- Narodowy Instytut Architektury i Urbanistyki (NIAiU), Warsaw
Partner:
- Pilecki-Institute Berlin
The project is financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland within the framework of the “Inspiring culture” program.
Besides all the human suffering and the massive destruction of populated areas and infrastructure, the Russian war against Ukraine has also led to colossal damage to the ecology and the environment in the country. The scale of this devastation can hardly be estimated so far. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam on 6 June 2023 was the single most visible environmental war crime with vast consequences not only for the irreversibly damaged ecosystems up- and downstream but for the entire wider region, its economy, and European ecology as well. Large shares of agricultural land cannot be irrigated any longer. There was a huge lack of freshwater as its supply depended on the dam as well. The loss of the electric capacity of the dam’s hydropower plant destabilizes the supply all over South Ukraine. The decrease of the lake’s water level poses a danger to the reliability of the cooling for the Zaporizhia Nuclear power station.
The US based non-profit “Project Expedite Justice” and the Ukrainian NGO “Truth Hounds” have published the report “Submerged” on the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam and its impacts on the residents, the ecosystems, the agriculture and its implications for international justice. Researchers and authors of the study will present main findings and discuss further perspectives for the region.
At the same time, the event kicks off the broader “Ukrainians for Ecology” campaign of the Berlin based NGO “Vitsche”, aiming to draw more attention to environmental effects of the war in general and to create and spread expertise.
Speakers
- Kateryna Demerza, Curator of the project Ukrainians for Ecology, Vitsche
- Pascal Turlan, Legal and Program Director at Project Expedite Justice, Adjunct Professor at ScPo
- Shaun Burnie, senior nuclear specialist with Greenpeace Germany
- Myroslava Markova, Junior Investigator and Documenter at Project Expedite Justice is the author of the chapter of the report describing the economic impact of the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam
- Andriy Bilenkyi (online), Agricultural expert at Project Expedite Justice,
- Roman Koval, Head of Research at Truth Hounds
- Andrii Latsyba, a Lawyer at Truth Hounds
- Maria Sahaidak, Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security
Moderation: Robert Sperfeld, Heinrich Böll Stiftung
Language: English with translation into German
Further Readings: The Report “Submerged”
Contact:
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung:
Anna Antonina Łysiak
lysiak@boell.de
Vitsche e.V.
Ernest Dmitriev
e.dmitriev@vitsche.org
Your Participation in the event
» Participation on site
at the the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Conference Center, Schumannstr. 8, 10117 Berlin
Please register in advance. Unfortunately, the number of seats for this event are limited. If we are at capacity, the conversation will be transmitted via video to other rooms.
» Livestream
Alternatively, you can follow the event via the livestream without registering.
We are excited to announce the list of selected artists for the artistic fellowship of the “Truth to Justice” project:
- Olesia Saienko and Anna Potyomkina,
- fantasticlittlesplash (Lera Malchenko and Oleksandr Hants),
- Valeria Barbas,
- Catenation (Sylvia Hinz and Jeanne Artemis)
Starting in September, these artists will have a two-month online curatorial fellowship. In December, they will present their projects on our platform and attend the “Truth to Justice” conference on disinformation.
Curator: Kseniia Malykh
Project in cooperation with Arta Azi.
Funded by @Auswärtiges Amt
Stay tuned!
#CivilSocietyCooperation
On August 24th, Ukraine’s Independence Day, we came together to send a powerful message of solidarity. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in our event at the Brandenburg Gate.
From 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, we worked together to weave a camouflage net for Ukrainian volunteers operating on the frontlines. It was truly inspiring to see so many people take part in this important task, showing their support for Ukraine.
At around 16:45, however, something unpredictable happened. A man walked up to the stage where our presenters were speaking. It seemed as if he wanted to attack them. However, he was pushed away and while the police were called, he started to harm himself with a knife. The police reacted quickly, disarmed the man and took him away. After a short break, our demonstration continued. Despite the shock, we didn’t let it get us down. It was a classic act of sabotage, designed to stop us from our demonstration and bring it to a premature end. More information will follow.
Between 6:35 PM and 7:35 PM, we held a demonstration where our speakers delivered powerful messages. They called for comprehensive military aid, a halt to russian oil and gas imports, and the release of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war. In light of the dangerous developments in Germany, such as the freezing of military aid and the spread of russian propaganda, it was more important than ever to send a strong signal to policymakers.
Here are some quotes from our speakers that perfectly capture the spirit and determination of the participants:
“The whole world has been witnessing this in Ukraine for the last two and a half years. But it’s been centuries since russia has been trying its best to suppress and “russify” Ukraine with Crimea being its favorite bit.
For centuries russia has been trying to get rid of the Indigenous peoples of Crimea, not only Crimean Tatars but Karaites (or Karaims) and Krymchaks, too.
In 2014 the whole world witnessed how russia annexed my homeland Crimea, and the international community didn’t do much for the sake of not escalating the situation. Today we are dealing with the consequences of such silence.“ – Elnara Nuriieva-Letova.
“These days, Ukraine is trying to gain space, trying to convince people that it needs more support, and this all in a country that owes its freedom to international support. […] And today the Federal Republic of Germany stands silently by and says: “A balanced budget is more important than external security; the delivery of Taurus is an unnecessary escalation; the frozen russian assets must not be legally attacked; and we must find an agreement on interest rates.”
Yes, it is enough for the triumph of evil if the good guys do nothing or little. Every extra euro spent, every extra weapon produced, every better explanation of why we Germans must stand by Ukraine is money well spent.” – Roderich Kiesewetter
“It’s nice to see you today in Vyshyvankas and the Ukrainian flag… but I have one request: wear it every day. Make Ukraine visible. On social media and in everyday life. Make it clear that the war is not over yet.” – Frank Peter Wilde
Once again, a big thank you to everyone who made this event a success with their presence and commitment. Your solidarity with Ukraine means so much to us!
Dear supporters of freedom and democracy,
Dear friends of Ukraine,
On August 24th, Ukraine’s Independence Day, we organize a demo not only to celebrate Ukraine’s freedom and sovereignty but also to express our deep concern about the current political and social developments in Germany. While people in Ukraine risk their lives for independence and the protection of democratic values, we witness developments here in Germany that are not only troubling but also dangerous.
The recent proposals from the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Chancellor’s Office to freeze urgently needed military aid for Ukraine and instead rely on russian assets send a fatal signal. These funds are neither available nor is it clear when and to what extent they could be used. Instead of actively supporting Ukraine, this decision conveys indecision and naivety. For russia, this is a sign that Germany is not ready to take decisive action against russian aggression. Such signals exacerbate the situation and make us appear weak in the eyes of the aggressor.
Equally concerning is the growing spread of misinformation and russian propaganda by parties like the BSW and the AfD, which are gaining increasing popularity. These parties use disinformation to divide society and weaken resistance against russia. We also see that far-right groups in Germany are becoming more visible and striking with violence, while russian agents continue their activities unchecked because they are not taken seriously enough. These developments pose a serious threat to our democracy and our shared security.
It is obvious that the responsibility is not being adequately assumed, and the threat from russia and its accomplices is being underestimated. We can no longer run away from this and pretend it is different. Appeasement is not the turning point we need. We cannot again claim we didn’t know what was happening—as was the case during World War II. This time, we know exactly what is at stake, and it is our duty to take responsibility.
Whether consciously or unconsciously, by passive behavior, we are sabotaging international solidarity and enabling russia to continue its aggression. We must act now to prevent this.
Our demands are, therefore, clear:
- Comprehensive military aid until Ukraine wins:
Germany must continue to support Ukraine sustainably with all necessary means. This includes the delivery of modern weapon systems such as missile defense systems and Taurus cruise missiles, which are crucial for the defense of Ukrainian independence. Furthermore, we demand that Ukraine be granted the right to strike russia as far as necessary for its defense and victory. There must be no artificial restrictions that limit the effectiveness of the Ukrainian armed forces.
- End of oil and gas exports from russia:
russia’s “shadow fleet” of old and uninsured oil tankers not only poses an enormous environmental risk but also allows russia to continue its oil exports despite price caps. Despite sanctions, the EU continues to import russian gas, including LNG. These imports must be stopped immediately.
- Stopping the financing of the russian war by foreign companies:
Over 1,000 companies headquartered in G7 countries continue to do business in russia and pay taxes to the Kremlin. These companies must no longer evade their responsibility with flimsy excuses. Their funds finance russian war machinery and must be stopped.
- Halting the import of high-priority goods:
russia continues to import sanctioned dual-use goods and advanced technologies that are found on the battlefield in Ukraine or deemed critical for russia’s military. These imports must be effectively halted.
- Return of deported children:
Thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to russia. We demand their immediate return. This is a clear violation of international law and an unbearable violation of human rights.
- Release of Ukrainian civilian and military prisoners:
Germany must provide more resources to secure the release of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war from russian captivity and increase pressure on its allies.
On Independence Day, we send a clear message: We will not remain silent. We will not stand by and watch as Ukraine’s freedom and independence are jeopardized. We demand decisive action—here and now. Together, we can help Ukraine win this war and ensure that freedom and democracy prevail.
Slava Ukraini!
On 24.8, we call on everyone to participate in the performative demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate. Together, during these 5 hours of the demo, we will create a camouflage net with the accompanying music from Ukrainian DJs and use our voices for speeches and demands.
With this kind of demo, we want us all to unite and show that we know the actual cost of independence and freedom. It requires action, not just words. Let us show Ukrainians who are defending Europe from the russian invasion that we stand by them.
This camouflage net will be made for Ukrainian volunteers working in frontline areas, constantly targeted by russian attacks. It is crucial to protect and shield them. Their safety depends on it.
Click Here: To join the camouflage net weaving group.
No previous experience required, we will teach you the essentials. If you are not weaving the net, just stay for the demo as a participant, bringing your strong voice to demand support needed for Ukrainian victory.
24.08
16:00-21:00
Brandenburger Tor, Platz des 18.März
We invite everyone to come and spend Ukrainian Independence Day together in solidarity and support.
