Transforum - a conference that transforms

There are conferences that you go to. You enjoy them. And then you leave. With some nice impulses and memories. It was good. It was nice. That was it.
And then there are others where you sense that what happened there has moved you. Something that won't let you go. The Transforum 2012 belongs to the latter category for me.
Topic: Look. Stand up. Get involved. Justice for the city.
The fact that the conference was moving began with the fact that it was harmonious on many levels. Money was not spent on expensive decorations, but the room was decorated with tulips in glued milk cartons and cloths made from recycled cleaning rags.
Berliners from half a dozen countries of origin were represented in the band. The participants were not bombarded with endlessly long lectures. Instead, they were given concise, relatively compact presentations supplemented by interviews, discussion rounds, films and poetic-musical contributions. So that the brain remained receptive. Incidentally, sensible food also contributed to this. Fruit as a snack during breaks and delicious cooked food and lots of salads instead of conference junk food. Marvellous. And of course fair trade teas and coffee. Logical. Coherent.

Personal highlights. Lecture by Harald Sommerfeld on the topic of „Looking“. In his usual sharp-tongued and creative manner, he pointed out where we have a distorted perspective. When we think of the misuse of taxpayers' money, the first thing that often comes to mind is abuse by people who receive Hartz IV without really needing it.
Harald then presented some (very conservative) estimates. Estimated amount of abuse of Hartz IV: 3 billion euros per year. Estimated amount of white-collar crime: 100 billion

Ouch. Who are the criminals?

Change of scene: Tottenham Riots 2011, Harald focused on a relatively large gang (600+ members) who were partly responsible for the violent excesses and were also responsible for a few other crimes such as abusing their wives, assault, cashing bad cheques, shoplifting, fraud, drunk driving (84!).

The members of this „gang“ - these are the honourable people who, as members of parliament in the House of Commons sit.

Holla, that got me. When it comes to crime, like many others, I think of the socially disadvantaged first. Not those „up there“.

Look. Or listen. Even when - as part of the lecture - young rappers from the Soldiner Kiez told the audience: „I'm fed up with everyone thinking I was responsible for 11 September - just because I'm a Muslim.“ „I would like to follow a good path, but when you're in a school class with five villains, it's really hard.“ „I often can't sleep at night because I have so many questions running through my head.“

And then. Friday morning. Get up. Sr Margit Forster from Solwodi (Solidarity with Women in Distress). She talked about the fate of women who are abducted by human traffickers and sold into sex slavery. Here in Germany too. It is estimated that there are around 10,000 prostitutes in Berlin alone. They work on the streets, in brothels, in the back rooms of pubs. Some, voluntarily, to earn money (voluntarily, when there seems to be no other way to escape poverty?), many to finance their drug addiction (is addiction voluntary?).
Then there are about 70 % of women who are controlled by pimps or pimps. Some locked up and really physically trapped. Others trapped in threats: „If you leave, we'll kill you“ or „We know where your family lives. If you don't co-operate, we'll kill them.“
What particularly affected me. Many of the African prostitutes are Christians. One woman who visits them in the brothels says that they often listen to worship music and have a Bible in their rooms. No, they don't want to do this „work“. They are trapped in the constraints. That really affected me. The Bible says that we should care for all people, but especially for our brothers and sisters in the faith.

In Berlin, I often cycle past one of the streets where the women stand. I've often wondered why they don't run away...the nearest underground is only 100 metres away. Now I know. And I asked myself what I could do. I'm travelling so much for work that I can't get involved anywhere on a regular basis. But I spoke to Sister Margit. They need women to accompany former prostitutes who want to get out when they go to the authorities. As translators. Inner strength. From time to time. As required. I can do that. I have weak knees. Don't know exactly what I'm getting myself into. New territory. But the women have much more reason to be scared than I do. I can overcome my little bit of fear. Today I wrote to Sister Margit: „I'm in.“

PS: It is worth taking a look at the website of the Transforum to drop by. The keynote speeches will soon be available for download there.