Category: climatestrike

War in Europe, weeks 117 through 118, and weeks 33 through 34

Ukraine is still short on ammunition, but luckily, most partners have finally allowed their weapons to be used against targets in Russia. The Tsar is not happy. Maybe Germany will now send Taurus cruise missiles?

In the Israeli-Arab war, year another ceasefire proposal has come and gone. Hopefully, Benjamin Gantz will leave the government today! But there’s no hope or change for the people of Gaza on the horizon.

Last Friday, we had an EU-wide climate strike to highlight the dangers to our climate coming from right-wing parties – there won’t be climate justice without democracy, and we need to fight to protect both.

This Sunday, we have the actual European election. The minimum age for voting in these elections is 16, and it’s an absolute privilege to vote.

Andate, elettori, andate!

(Zum Konraderhof, Hürth, 6/6/24)

 

War in Europe, week 116 and week 32

Supplies from the US have started to arrive on the frontlines, enabling Ukraine to halt the onslaught of the Tsar’s troops. We now need the Western governments to ship more weapons, especially long-range weapons, to turn the tide and allow Ukraine to free the occupied oblasts. Looking at you, Olaf Scholz!

There is nothing positive to report from the Israeli-Arab war; talks about a cease-fire have stalled, and the right-wing government in Israel is pursuing the complete destruction of Gaza.

Heavy rain has caused massive flooding in the Saarland and the state of Rhineland Palatinate. While the science between heavy rain and heating is clear, our politicians still believe that burning fossil fuels is a good idea. #DontLookUp

The European elections are in early June, and we really need to get everybody to vote progressive to save the Green Deal in Europe! On Friday, May 31, Fridays for Future will hold rallies to support voting all over Europe.

(Technologie, Toleranz, Talente – Green Tech Festival, Berlin, 5/17/24)

Summer Break

The war is raging on, and all other crises are also going strong.

It’s time for a break – the blog will return in September.

Here’s a selection of upcoming climate rallies and protests:

See you there!

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(AMAIM Warrior at the Borderline, Crunchyroll, 8/7/22)

War in Europe, weeks sixteen and seventeen

As the crises continue, I’m running out of things to write:

  • The Tsar is still killing people
  • The Climate Emergency is still killing people
  • The SARS-CoV-2 virus is still killing people

These three disasters are connected, and we can tie them to using fossil fuels and over-consumption.

Unfortunately, our governments are not doing much about these issues besides lip service. So, what can we as individuals do?

  • Send money to Ukraine
  • Switch to bicycles and public transport
  • Wear a mask and get vaccinated

And join the rallies worldwide, trying to pressure our governments to look up and act!

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(Bicycle rally, Cologne, 6/19/22)

War in Europe, week fourteen

“At times like this, all we can do is practice the world we’re trying to live in.”

(Quote taken from TeenVogue: Roe and Privacy Rights by Namrata Verghese)

And indeed, this is all we can do if we do not want to succumb to despair.

I am utterly disgusted by the inaction of my government towards the war in Ukraine – they are altogether abandoning any pretense to support the people there but focusing solely on economic gains.

Covid-19 is in the usual summer slump but far from over – the incidence rate in Cologne is at 210 right now; we can expect new viruses to emerge relatively soon.

And don’t get me started on the climate emergency – even though the danger is a little less immediate than the war, it is a much more significant threat to our planet and species. Just look up!

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(100 Maps and the War, Katapult Magazine, May 2022)

War in Europe, week thirteen

The tsarist autocracy is still waging its bloody war against the people of Ukraine. And our government is still holding back on support.

I had expected much better from the ruling Social Democrats. Still, they are unfazed in their allegiance to Russia, even though they suffered a massive defeat in the last state elections.

Especially our chancellor seems to be utterly tone-deaf to the needs of the Ukrainian people and public support for them in Germany.

But this is only one of the three crises we currently face: There is the climate emergency and the fossil fuel lobby that is trying to reverse the course towards renewable energy and the 1.5-degree goal. And Covid-19 is far from over, as the current spread of monkeypox shows.

We staged a state-wide rally this Saturday to pressure our politicians to address all three crises, stop importing energy from Russia, and secure a future for our planet.

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(NRW rally, Roncalli Platz, 5/21/22)

War in Europe, week nine

The war in Europe continues to ravage Ukraine, and our government is still not doing even remotely enough to support the people and fight the tsarist autocracy.

Same for the other two crises: If RWE gets to use all the lignite at the Garzweiler mine, we’ll be right on our path to 3 degrees warming. It’s not very likely that we as a species will survive that.

The Covid-19 incidence rate in Cologne is again slightly lower, at 530. By now, almost everybody I know has had Covid-19 at least once. And we do know that every infection depletes the immune system. Do the math.

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(Opening rally, Immenrath, 4/23/22)

War in Europe, week four

Actions speak – as Jakub Janda points out on Twitter. So true!

Germany has done almost nothing to support Ukraine against the murderous attacks from Russia; instead, it continues to fund the war through massive imports of oil, coal, and gas.

The actions of our government are shameful, at best.

As with Afghanistan, the lesson to the world is that Germany will only look after its interests and betray you in a blink of an eye.

The German inaction will be an issue during the next global climate strike; in Cologne, it will be on Friday, March 25, at noon in Rheinpark.

Regarding Covid, the incidence has gone back down to 1670 in Cologne.

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(Burning Kangaroo, Cologne, 3/19/22)

Shutdown two, week fifty-three

One week into the second year, the incidence figures are going through the roof; Cologne is at 186 right now.

Similar lousy news from the COP – to speak with Greta, it’s time to stop the blah blah blah and get down to concrete action and reduce greenhouse gas emissions right now.

On the same subject, I am trying to change what we eat to plant-based only; unfortunately, I’m gaining weight again – back to calorie-counting. Sigh.

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(Vegan Santa, Cologne, 11/7/21)