Three days in Berlin
This year's Berlin trip took place at the end of September, at the invitation of Dr Kirsten Kappert-Gonther of Bündnis90/Grüne, a member of the Bundestag from Bremen. Twenty Bremen alumnae and alumni were part of an approximately 50-strong travel group that spent three days exploring historical and political Berlin. An exciting excursion, during which Bremen and Berlin alumni met for an evening together in a traditional, cosy Berlin restaurant.
Participation in a Bundestag debate in the visitors' gallery, ascent to the dome, discussion with Dr Kirsten Kappert-Gonther, member of the Bundestag from Bremen, was just one afternoon of this programme, which was largely organised by the Federal Press Office. Information galore. For example, about the everyday life of a member of the Bundestag, her initiatives to prevent suicides, the number of which is currently increasing significantly, and about the limits and scope of political work in parliament. The group was also able to visit the art project "For the People" by Hans Haacke, which was installed in the Bundestag after a controversial debate a good 20 years ago. It is linked to the installation "Erdtrog" (Earth Trough), to which the visitors from Bremen could bring soil from their constituency, as many other visitors had done before them - in the meantime a colourful mixture of soil that has produced more than a hundred species of plants and animals. Art in the Bundestag - that is a programme of its own, even with its own curator, as the participants learned.
Other stops on the trip: A visit to the Ministry of Family Affairs, a discussion at the State Centre for Political Education on racism, vandalism and violence, a guided tour of the Documentation Centre of the Foundation Fleeing Expulsion Reconciliation, and finally a city tour of Berlin lasting several hours. "Although I am often in Berlin in my private life and as part of my cultural work as managing director of the bremer shakespeare company, this trip gave me a completely new and interesting view of political Berlin," concluded our board member Renate Heitmann.
By the way, anyone who would like to join our Berlin regional group is welcome to send us an email: alumniprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de