Lower thirds:

00:02 Report by Philipp Falkenstein
00:16 Katrin Androschin | Flussbad Berlin
00:53 Tim Edler | Flussbad Berlin

Script:

It’s a protest — but without placards, megaphones, or angry chants. 
Instead, Berliners are making their political point… in swimsuits. 

The mission: to paddle away a century-old ban on swimming in central Berlin. 

+++SOT Katrin Androschin, Flussbad Berlin+++ 
We ask politicians to lift that ban. It's about time — all the other cities are doing it. Even Paris proved it’s possible. Cities in the Ruhr area, a former industrial region in western Germany, proved it. New York has plans, London has plans. Many other cities are already doing it. And Berlin is really lagging behind. 

For 100 years, authorities have said the Spree is too dirty for a dip. 
 But campaigners from the group Flussbad Berlin say that’s outdated. Thanks to cleaner industry and improved water treatment, they claim the river is often as safe as other city waterways. 

+++SOT Tim Edler, Flussbad Berlin+++ 
The reason has been water hygiene — for 100 years. And it has been an issue. But now, in general, water quality is much better. More importantly, we now have water monitoring technologies that can actually foresee what's happening in the water. 

Beyond the fun, there’s a serious point: climate change is making Berlin hotter, and inner-city rivers could offer a vital way to cool down. 

So instead of marching, protesters will backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle their way through the historic heart of Berlin. 
Their slogan: “100 years of the swimming ban – time to crawl it away!” 

So will the city finally dive in and lift the ban? That’s still up in the air — or perhaps we should say: still up the river.