Germans have reputation of loving to drive so it might seem a little shocking to see the nation explore free public transit. The push for
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Things Are Good: The Berlin Wall: Now Down Longer Than it was Up
The Berlin Wall marked a negative time in recent history in which two sides couldn’t communicate well and severed a country, and families, in two.
Continue readingThings Are Good: Berlin, Sponge City
Germany’s capital is becoming a sponge to stop flooding. It might seem counterintuitive to want to gather more water in order to stay dry, but
Continue readingThings Are Good: Germany’s Transition Away From Coal Helped Jobs and Culture
For years Germany’s transition from coal to sustainable energy has impacted communities. Many feared that jobs would be lost during this transition so plans were
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: For Years Canada has Outsourced Our Foreign Policy to the U.S. Why Not Let Germany Have a Turn?
If you want to know who is steering Canada’s foreign policy look no further than Canada’s voting record in the U.N. General Assembly whenever a
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Merkel wrongfoots Left opponents (again) – POLITICO
The center-left is holding off on naming its candidate for chancellor in next year’s election. Source: Merkel wrongfoots Left opponents (again) – POLITICO Filed under:
Continue readingPostArctica: Marguerite Duras – The War, A Memoir
A friend recently told me that he likes to save texts, not quotes but texts, larger pieces, that he finds interesting. I am reading this
Continue readingThings Are Good: Portugal Joins Other Countries by Running Only on Renewable Energy
Portugal reached a very significant milestone on its path to being fully powered by renewables by consuming energy only from sustainable resources for four days.
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Tipping point for the German far right – POLITICO
Alternative for Germany vying for first place in regional election. Source: Tipping point for the German far right – POLITICOFiled under: Europe Tagged: far-right, German Elections, Germany
Alberta Politics: News Satire: U.S. will not tolerate foreigners acting like Americans, officials say
ILLUSTRATIONS: A map showing some of the countries in which the United States has interfered in the political process (grabbed from Geology.com). Below: U.S. CIA Director John O. Brennan, Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican candid…
Continue readingAlberta Politics: As assumptions give way to knowledge, we have an opportunity to learn from the shooting in Munich
PHOTOS: Into the evening Friday, the mood in the Bavarian city of Munich was surreal (Polizeipräsidium München image). Below: The scene of Friday’s shooting in Munich. The person I know best in Munich described the mood in the Bavarian city Friday …
Continue readingAlberta Politics: A timely reminder on this historic day: The hammer of D-Day crushed Hitler on the anvil of Russia
PHOTOS: Canadians soldiers storm ashore at Juno Beach on June 6, 1944, 72 years ago today. Below: The late University of Victoria Professor Reginald H. Roy, author of 1944: The Canadians in Normandy. It’s now been two years since I wrote this piece o…
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Legalized Prostitution – Welcome to Paradise…
This excerpt from the article in The Telegraph – Welcome to Paradise. “You can’t give orders to your employees. It’s not allowed,” he says. Actually, says Knop, managing prostitutes is completely legal. The problem is making sure you don’t cross the line between “managing” them and “exploiting” them. Helmut Sporer, Detective Chief Superintendent […]
Parchment in the Fire: Germany’s extreme right continues to gain ground
It is the rising party of the radical right in Germany. Like the Front National (FN) in France and UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party) in the United Kingdom, Alternative für Deutschland (Alternative for Germany, AfD) is gaining ground at the polls with its anti-system, xenophobic and ultra-conservative positions. The regional elections held in March in… More Germany’s extreme right continues to gain ground
Parchment in the Fire: Rightward shift in Regional German Elections
Filed under: Europe, Fascism Tagged: far-right, German Elections, Germany
Continue readingThings Are Good: Using Art to Critique Government Spying of Citizens
Thanks to the efforts of Edward Snowden we know that illegal, immoral, and downright creepy spying by governments has been going on for years. It turns out that democratic governments around the world regular do mass surveillance of their people, something that authoritarian states are known for. Citizens have fought the spying in courts and […]
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Continue readingThings Are Good: Germany Opens Its First Bike Highway
Germany knows that their autobahns, which are famous for not having a speed limit, can only handle so much traffic. To alleviate pressure put on their highways they have built a highway just for bikes! The 100km long bike path runs through 10 cities. The bike path is fully lit, cleared of debris, and even […]
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Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Germany: Refugees today, the exploited workers of tomorrow? – Equal Times
Wajdi arrived in Germany a few months ago. He had studied law in Syria. But he was not able to bring his diplomas with him. The only things he still has with him from his home country after his long journey across Europe are his passport and his smartphone. Over a million migrants and asylum… More Germany: Refugees today, the exploited workers of tomorrow? – Equal Times
Alberta Politics: In Flanders Fields? It’s time to encourage another generation of school kids to read some better poems from the Great War
PHOTOS: In Flanders Fields? The reality of the Great war’s battlefields: squalor, incompetence, mechanized industrial death. Below: John McCrae, and a Great War poet still
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Could Syria Become the 21st Century Sarajevo?
There were plenty of proxy wars during the Cold War only back then the principals had enough sense to avoid direct clashes. That was then,
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