War in Europe, weeks 67 and 68

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)

War in Europe, weeks 65 and 66

“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)

War in Europe, week 64

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)

 

War in Europe, week 63

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)

War in Europe, weeks 59 through 62

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)

War in Europe, week 56, 57, and 58

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)

War in Europe, week 55

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)

War in Europe, weeks 53 and 54

One year in, the Tsar is still indiscriminately terrorizing and murdering people in Ukraine.

I have deep contempt for our Left (and Right, of course), who condone the Tsar’s actions and belittle the horrors he’s inflicting on innocent civilians. He’s a fascist dictator and a terrorist.

Russian scholars do not believe that there will be peace while the current Tsar is ruling Russia; they say that his goal is a state of perpetual war against the West rather than winning. Some scholars suggest that he might stop once East Germany is back under Russian influence and control.

In any case, we have no other chance than to push back and defend our freedom.

To enjoy our freedom, we will need a livable planet, and there we face another enemy: Corporate greed and ignorant politicians.

Last weekend we had a powerful global strike with one of the largest unions in Germany – we will need to stop using fossil fuels now, including for personal transportation. Or, as we fondly say: Car is over.

(Early buildup for the bicycle rally, Global Climate Strike, Cologne, 3/3/23)

War in Europe, week 52

Next week it will be one year since the Tsar went and invaded neighboring Ukraine. The murder continues unabated, combined with a relentless assault on civilian infrastructure.

According to vice-president Kamala Harris, the US has formally concluded that the Tsar is committing crimes against humanity and that those involved will be held accountable.

Not so our far-left, who, out of an old allegiance to the former Soviet Union, are attempting to frame the Tsar’s murders as a peace effort. Same for the far-right, who will support any dictator to undermine our democracy.

You cannot call for negotiations if one side does not want to negotiate.

In Germany, after losing all state elections in a row, the market liberal party in the government is trying to block all measures to protect our climate that could displease their last remaining voters. Die-hard car lovers are rejoicing, but we will all suffer greatly.

On March 3, there will be the next global climate strike!

 

(Location scouting, Cologne, 2/4/23)

War in Europe, week 51

The war and the murders continue, and the Tsar prepares for a spring assault.

In Germany, the far Left (Sarah Wagenknecht), the far Right (unmentionable), and the TERFs (Alice Schwarzer) get together to spread the Tsar’s propaganda and condemn the people of Ukraine to a life of darkness and servitude.

In the US, the governor of Florida (Ron DeSantis) increasingly sounds like Putin in their war on western culture and a tolerant and open society. Banning books has never helped society to mend and grow.

Turkiye and Syria have been devastated by an earthquake – the only organization that I am aware of that can support the people in the north of Syria is the White Helmets.

Coming up: The next global climate strike is on March 3rd!

(Albertus-Magnus Platz, Cologne, 2/11/23)