Category: General

No change to report – the Tsar continues his atrocities, now targeting civilians, mainly children, and their food supply. How can a person with a sane mind enjoy mass-murdering people? And why would people in his country support this?

There’s also no change to report on the climate front – our government is an utter failure and entirely enthralled by the fossil fuel lobby. And the German auto manufacturers. Or is there any other valid reason not to limit the speed on motorways?

In September, they plan an international car fair in Munich, the IAA. There might be protests, though, to spoil the fun.

Also, in September, there will be the next global climate strike, and leading up to this date, Fridays for Future has resumed the weekly Friday protests.

(Don’t talk – fight, Cologne Central Station, 8/11/23)

 

Adding to his list of atrocities, the Tsar is now deliberately bombing grain silos in Ukraine, risking food security in Africa and starving people. He claims to be Christian, so I think his god will likely throw him and his minions into the deepest parts of hell after they pass on.

Unfortunately for us, right-wing ideology is on the rise everywhere. I believe it’s the patriarchy fearing the loss of privilege and, in the process, trying to destroy everything that’s not White and does not fit into their narrow worldview. (If you haven’t seen Barbie, do that now!)

Pride was much more political this year than the previous year because of the backlash against universal human rights in countries ruled by right-wing dictators and autocrats.

And there is the issue of the impending climate emergency – our current government is a complete failure in this regard. Instead of at least trying to curb greenhouse gas emissions, they are actively increasing the burning of fossil fuels, framing themselves as beacons of stability while completely ignoring the catastrophic changes we have inflicted on our planet. Oh well.

The next global climate strike will be on September 15th!

(Fridays for Future, Cologne Pride, 7/9/23)

The Tsar is continuing his war crimes, but the people of Ukraine are making progress – I really hope we’ll see a free Ukraine soon!

Domestic politics are a huge mess – most parties are trying to outdo each other in rescinding progress on climate issues, fearing the wrath of a small but very vocal group of right-wing conservative voters.

And the EU is getting really worse on the issue of migration – instead of protecting refugees and migrants, the EU decided to fight against them. #notMyEU

Meta is trying to conquer the fediverse. Oh well.

Pride month is over, but next Sunday there will be a big parade for Cologne Pride! This is the most important date on our local calendar, together with Carnival.

(Pride preparations, Alte Feuerwache Köln, 7/3/23)

The brave people of Ukraine are slowly advancing against the Tsar’s invaders.

I sincerely hope that Ukraine will be able to defeat Russia and free its people! I’m pretty happy that the EU is in for the long run and will continue to support Ukraine even if the US should succumb to fascism in the next election.

The so-called “Liberals” in our government keep protecting the fossil fuel industry at the expense of our future. Like the party-that-should-not-be-named, they are playing with the people’s fear of change and promising them a technology wonderland that will magically solve the climate emergency without change or effort. What on earth did we think when we elected them?

Stopping fossil fuels will not be possible while using cars as our primary means of production – a good alternative is bicycles!

(FFF cargo bike for the Sternfahrt, Cologne, 6/16/23)

“Nothing like waking up to Russians committing more insane war crimes” (Kris)

In the early hours of today, the Tsar destroyed Dnipro Dam, endangering the lives of many Ukrainians and destroying their livelihood; the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant seems also to be destroyed.

He also continues to attack Kherson while rescue workers evacuate civilians.

That’s so beyond redemption.

On climate, the “Liberals” in our coalition government are trying to block every measure that might limit CO2 emissions. We will continue to work to keep the coal in the ground for the remaining two open-pit lignite mines.

On June 25, the next protest will be at the Welzow mine.

Summer is finally here, and the spring simulcasts are drawing to a close.

(Dead Mount Death Play, Crunchyroll, 6/5/23)

Media reports are contradictory, but it seems that Bakhmut fell to the Tsar for now. I hope all Ukrainians were able to leave and are safe – it would be a horrible fate to fall prey to Wagner’s mercenaries.

There’s movement on the issue of fighter planes; I hope we will be able to supply Ukraine with modern plans soon.

Our government is reneging on almost all climate goals and measures and doing all it can to ruin our children’s future. On September 15, there’s the next global climate strike, and it’s more needed than ever!

On a positive note, summer is finally here!

According to the WMO, it will probably be the last one we will be able to enjoy outdoors, though.

(Summer, Cologne, 5/21/23)

 

From what we can hear, it seems that Ukraine was able to push some of the Tsar’s forces back from parts of Bakhmut – hopefully, this signals the beginning of a complete liberation!

The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is visiting Germany right now – I am happy that he came, even after our police released sensitive information about his visit to the press. We also pledged a significant amount of money, weapons, and ammunition.

Why is it so difficult to understand that burning coal (or any other fossil fuel) will foster the climate emergency and make our planet uninhabitable? Last weekend we were in Lusatia to make our voices heard and tell LEAG to stop burning more coal there.

On a side note, we made the last place in the Eurovision Song Contest. Again 🙂

(Opening act, Schleife, 5/7/23)

No change in the past couple of weeks: The Tsar continues his murderous spree, with recent allegations that he is using phosphorous bombs on the people of Bakhmut. Despicable!

And yet there are still Putin friends in Germany, carrying Soviet-area flags, talking about peace, and asking Ukraine to surrender to the Tsar’s terror.

In case you haven’t donated yet: https://u24.gov.ua/

Our social democrats and their neo-liberal coalition partner are trying to thwart any attempt at fighting the climate crisis. They are extending the life of the fossil fuel industry at the expense of our children’s future.

(May day street fair, Ottmar-Pohl-Platz, 5/1/23)

The Tsar is committing one atrocity after another and continues slaughtering innocent people.

And there are still people here who question our military aid to Ukraine.

Should we rather sit back and observe the killing? Like we watch people drown in the Mediterranean Sea and starve at our borders?

But not all is lost on the left of the political spectrum; some very reasonable people are still actively working to achieve justice for all. Quite to the contrary, though, on the right side of the political spectrum – we currently observe a strong push on both sides of the Atlantic trying to marginalize and punish everybody who’s not cis-gender, hetero-normative, and White.

On the issue of global heating, our current government last week ended all pretenses to work to minimize the upcoming catastrophic impacts actively.

(Police protecting the political party that must not be named, Cologne, 4/2/23)

Nothing new in the East: The Tsar is throwing waves and waves of mercenaries, convicts, and conscripts against the brave defenders of Bakhmut, killing most of his people. The death toll is already much higher than in World War II so he can have a place in the history books.

Although it is clear that he is killing people for fun and personal gains, he still has friends on the far Right and the far Left. Some wanted to rally in Cologne this weekend, but we were there to counter them; in the end, they didn’t show up.

I love my city!

(Köln gegen Rechts, Heumarkt, 3/11/23)