Shutdown two, week forty-two

The incidence in Cologne is at 138. Need I say more?

Our climate camp is joining OKNB for the trip to Berlin and will take a break until mid-September, returning for the final week of climate election campaigning and the next global climate strike on September 24.

We desperately need a more competent government, one that values compassion and science. And doesn’t invent forms to prevent our Afghan friends from leaving the country and joining us.

On a private note, I’ve submitted my thesis on time. Wish me luck!

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(Directions, Klimacamp Cologne, 8/23/21)

Shutdown two, week forty-one

The local incidence rate in Cologne is at 75 and rising.

We have failed the people of Afghanistan.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released their sixth Assessment Report, containing pretty dire predictions. If you’re interested in an excellent explanatory write-up, I recommend this post by our scientist Jason von Juterczenka.

Looking at the bleak outlook, Christian Stöcker also has an op-ed in Der Spiegel headlined “The parents are still far from angry enough” – so true!

Six weeks to the upcoming general election and the climate justice camp in Cologne is still going strong

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(Climate Justice Camp, Cologne, 8/13/21)

Shutdown two, week forty

The local incidence rate in Cologne is at 44 and rising.

Vaccination is readily available, and the town council is offering walk-in vaccinations at many places, including mobile stations at party hotspots.

Go and get it!

On the other emergency, we learned this week that the Gulf Stream as part of the AMOC (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation) is weakening and showing signs of a possible collapse.

Massive fires are ravaging the northern hemisphere and massive flooding the southern hemisphere.

And we still believe that burning coal is a good idea?

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(Cologne for climate flag, Klimacamp, 7/23/21)

Shutdown two, week thirty-nine

The local 7-day incidence in Cologne is at 35 and rising.

Luckily we now have two approved vaccines for kids 12 years and older, and we might soon get vaccines for kids from 5 years onward.

Long-Covid is not fun and nothing we want kids to suffer from.

At the same time, we do not want kids to starve, burn or drown – so we need to address the climate crisis as the emergency that it is too.

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(Climate Justice Camp, Cologne, 7/30/21)

Shutdown two, week thirty-eight

Are we still in lockdown?

Technically speaking, yes – the CoSchVO still affects Cologne, with an average incidence rate of 31.8 and R at 1.28, and restrictions are in place.

I’m keeping my distance and wearing a mask indoors; however, there are many parties in our parks, and many people travel for fun and vacation. I hope fall won’t be a big disaster! With R above 1, chances are slim, though.

The climate justice camp in Cologne is in its 8th week now – come and visit!

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(Directions, Cologne Climate Camp, 7/25/21)

Shutdown two, week thirty-six

Not surprisingly, the numbers are on the rise again. Looking at the figures in the UK, Spain, Portugal, and The Netherlands, we’re in for a pretty bleak fall.

Alas, our governing politicians are ignoring the deadly nature of the Sars-CoV-2 virus and are willing to sacrifice our kids for their political gains. Despicable.

Same for the other emergency – no willingness from our politicians to address the climate crisis and work on meaningful steps to curb CO2 emissions. Their only goal is to stay in power for the next four years.

That’s an apparent side effect of Europe’s aging population.

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(Klima-Info-Tag, Chlodwigplatz, Cologne, 7/10/21)

Shutdown two, week thirty-five

Not surprisingly, the numbers are going back up again.

Still, it feels almost as if the lockdown was over, at least outside. In shops and public transport, everybody wears a mask, though.

We’re getting closer to the next general election. Unfortunately, the current ruling party and their primary candidate are trying to tackle the climate emergency not by addressing the issues, such as burning fossil fuels, but by trying to outlaw protests.

Difficult weeks lie ahead of us.

However, the climate justice camp in Cologne is going strong, with daily activities and many people visiting.

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(#NoVersGNRW Cologne, Ebertplatz, 6/28/21)

Shutdown two, week thirty-four

Infections rates are down; the weather is fine, and people are out and about. Almost nobody observes social distancing rules anymore. Summer!

We’re probably four to six weeks behind the UK on Delta-Infections. The numbers we get from the UK on infection rates and hospitalization are not encouraging – fall does not look promising right now.

The preliminary IPCC report is equally disturbing and does not bode well for our future either.

We need to unite behind science and continue to fight both crises!

Unfortunately, the answer of our state government is to outlaw climate protest rather than focus on fighting the climate emergency.

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(Nightshift in the Climate Justice Camp, Cologne, 6/24/21)

Shutdown two, week thirty-three

The number of new infections is still going down; we’ll most likely ease the mask mandate soon now.

However, the information we receive from the UK on the Delta-Mutation is not encouraging. We need to prepare in summer for a possible fourth wave in fall. Doesn’t that sound somewhat familiar?

The other emergency is not going away, either. Our governing party just released an abysmal election program with no ambition to reach the 1.5-degree goal of the Paris accord.

We need to go back to weekly strikes.

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(Warming stripes for NRW 1881-2020, CC-BY Ed Hawkins ShowYourStripes, 6/21/21)

Shutdown two, week thirty-one

The infection rates are still going down, and we can look forward to NRW (and Cologne) move to a lower level of restrictions. People are out and about; outdoor dining is in full swing. It seems that the curfews and the federal emergency brake did work.

Does anyone remember last spring? And the third wave that followed?

I, for one, have decided to remain cautious and not venture out until after the second dose.

On a very positive note: Cologne now finally has a climate justice camp! It’s here to stay, at least until the next federal elections.

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(Cologne, Klimacamp, 6/5/21)