Ein Engel über #Berlin / An Angel over Berlin
I love this photograph of fireworks on Unter den Linden towards the #Brandenburger Tor (#Brandenburg Gate) at #Silvester/#Hogmanay/New Year's Eve, appearing to be an angel flying over the city.
@axmthompson and I wandered Berlin city centre, but the uncontrolled use of #fireworks was pretty terrifying, despite efforts from the emergency services. We ended up going home after fireworks hit us and people near us - it felt dangerous (maybe we're getting old!).
Fireworks for Silvester are a Big Thing in Germany, and this was the first time people were able to celebrate the New Year properly after two years of #lockdown. Many people spent a fortune on an arsenal of fireworks, and there were countless acts of violence and rioting across the city, with some young people attacking emergency service vehicles and responders with fireworks.
In contrast to what I think would happen in the UK, the Berlin government is approaching this very sensibly: they have had "youth summits" and diagnosed all kinds of issues, and are now investing €90m(!) in youth work, paying for more social workers, psychologists, street workers etc. to support young people who are feeling marginalised from society. This article (auf Deutsch!) explains more: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/nach-silvester-krawallen-in-berlin-senat-gibt-90-millionen-euro-fur-jugendliche-in-armen-kiezen-aus-9396860.html
Geht doch! 
