One year ago, we decided to add an after-work protest to the weekly climate strikes.
Much has happened since, not least, a global pandemic, but one thing did not change: Our politicians still largely ignore the climate emergency.
They seem unwilling to change, adapt, and leave the fossil era behind, not for themselves and not even for their kids.
What does that mean for us?
The science is obvious; we won’t stop fighting!
(Chlodwigplatz, properly distanced, 10/16/20)
In 2020, Germany builds a new motorway through three old and precious forests, severely endangering biodiversity and the supply of drinking water for the surrounding villages.
The state’s government is a Black/Green coalition (in US colors, that would be Blue/Green – the Christian Democrats in Germany occupy a comparable space in the political landscape as the Democrats do in the US). One would assume that a state ministry of public transportation run by a Green would oppose such a forest’s culling.
Alas, the Green party does nothing to oppose it. Their silence is deafening, and state party officials hide behind legalities and technicalities to not loose their power positions.
Unfortunately, a Black/Green coalition government is also the most likely outcome for the next national election.
We’re doomed.
(Dannenröder Forst, 10/4/20)
All scientists and most politicians agree that the age of fossil fuels is past and that we need to focus on clean, renewable energy.
We also know that the demand for lignite will dramatically decrease over the next decade. However, RWE is still planning to enlarge the open-pit mine at Garzweiler and destroy several villages in the process without need.
Last weekend saw several coordinated protests from various anti-coal organizations against RWE’s actions.
Unfortunately, the NRW government decided to deploy riot police to stifle the legitimate protests, partially with brute force, again placing RWE’s corporate interests above its citizens, hurting and alienating even more of us in the process.
Not good.
(Hochneukirch, 9/26/20)
Last Friday, September 25, we saw the latest global Climate Strike.
After a long break, due to the Corona pandemic, we went back to the streets to protest against how our governments ignore the Climate Emergency and destroy our future. All while following the Corona distancing rules, of course.
Cologne alone had 10,000 protestors in the street; all over Germany, we were more than 200,000.
And this is only the beginning!
(Cologne, 9/25/20)
On Sunday, we had local elections in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia.
In my home town, Cologne, the Greens reached a clear majority in both the city council and the boroughs.
Let’s make Cologne climate-neutral and keep it colorful, tolerant, and diverse in the years to come!
(Source: https://wahlen.stadt-koeln.de/prod/KW2020/05315000/html5/index.html, 9/14/20)
On Friday, September 25, we’ll have the next global climate strike!
Fighting the climate emergency is as important as ever, and we need to keep up the pressure on our politicians.
Last Friday, we had a relatively successful dress rehearsal in Cologne and were able to validate the distancing concepts for the next big protest.
See you in the streets!
(In the streets of Cologne, 9/4/20)
This weekend saw a big gathering of right-wing extremists and other Corona-deniers in our capital, Berlin.
During their protests, a group went to the stairs in front of our parliament building, brandishing the Reich’s hateful symbols – absolutely disgusting and shameful!
The Police should have prevented this, but they were sadly understaffed, with only three officers present in front of the parliament (according to media reports).
Maybe these officers protecting the commercial interests of RWE at the Garzweiler open-pit coal mine could have helped?
(Alle Dörfer Bleiben, 8/30/20)
I miss travel. I miss attending concerts.
I have been traveling most of my life as part of my professional career and in my free time. Once I understood the climate emergency, I started to decarbonize my life and change the way I travel.
Then came Covid-19, and subsequently the shutdown.
Now travel is pretty much out of the question, and will probably remain very limited for the next couple of years.
There are quite positive aspects: Last week I attended a book club in New York. Yesterday I participated at the Heyou Awards in Gothenburg and then later at a concert in Madrid – neither would have been possible pre-Corona. I hope that we’ll keep the online accessibility for the future!
Early October I have tickets for a concert in Madrid – will I be able to go? Or will we be in lockdown again at that time?
Only time will tell, but I feel like my wings have been clipped. And I seriously lack content for my YouTube.
(Heyou Awards Livestream, YouTube, 8/15/20)
This week (August 7 – August 14) is World Mask Week.
Wearing a mask is the best tool we currently have to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus and break the chain of infections.
By wearing a mask, I protect others from infection, in case I carry the virus.
Does this in any way infringe on my freedom or any constitutional rights that I have? Not at all – wearing a mask is about being a decent and considerate person.
Even the Google doodle dons a mask. And so can you!
(Google doodle, Android, 8/5/20)
Thursday last week I attended a great online meeting, organized by the Anti-Sexist Social Club and Next Gen Men; people from all over the world were attending.
Although I miss attending discussions in person, there’s a massive opportunity in remote events – I would not have been able to participate, had it taken place in New York.
During the event, Jackson Bird was reading from his memoir, Sorted, and Dane Woodland was reading from his collection of poems, transVersing.
The event focused on what we can do in the 2SLGBTQ+ community to be more inclusive and less sexist; all proceeds went to The Okra Project.
Many thanks to the organizers and their skillful moderation – I learned a lot, and I look forward to many more such events!
(Sorted, Audio Book – I support Jackson on Patreon)
