Christian Frank – Page 12 – Climate Justice, Cloud Native and Buddhism

Lockdown two, week twenty-six

The numbers are looking better this week – the curfew seems to work, and the peak infection rates from the Easter break seem to be waning.

As restrictions will begin to ease, we need to think about our fear of going out and meeting people again (FOGO) – it won’t be easy, I guess.

In the long run, my take on this pandemic is that much like HIV has taught us about wearing a condom, Sars-CoV-2 will teach us about wearing an FFP2 mask in certain situations.

No big deal.

(Jean-Claude Letist, AIDS Activist, Cologne, 4/28/21

LDW +3

Three years ago was my last day at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and now my time at the university is coming to a close, too.

Two years ago, there were no signs of all the changes the pandemic would bring.

A year ago, we were already fighting with the pandemic, and I was already doing regular walks with my buddy Machop.

Today, I will go on another walk with him.

But, I am still as excited as I was three years ago, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

(Machop with a gift and Twitch, Cologne, 4/9/21)

Shutdown two, week twenty-five

Hooray! We’ve finally enacted the “Bundesnotbremse” (Federal Emergency Brake) and are putting a bit more effort into containing the pandemic.

The curfew in Cologne remains in effect, too; hopefully, we will see a reduction in infections and deaths in the weeks to come.

Quite many artists have made a fool of themselves this week by mocking the efforts – why is it so difficult for some people to understand that they cannot discuss or plead with a virus?

On a lighter note, today was Pokémon Go Friendship Day, and I managed to complete the collection challenge!

(Friendship Day, Collection Challenge, 4/24/21)

Shutdown two, week twenty-four

Finally! The Mayor of Cologne, Henriette Reker, has issued the long-overdue curfew.

State and federal governments are still arguing, though – as if the virus would care and wait for their deliberations.

ICUs in Cologne are at capacity, mainly with people of middle age.

Schools are still open.

Did anybody mention work from home?

(City of Cologne, Twitter, 4/16/21)

Shutdown two, week twenty-three

This week brought us two new words: “Bundesnotbremse” (Federal Emergency Brake) and “Brückenlockdown” (Bridge Lockdown).

They are both symptomatic of a complete and utter failure by our government to adequately address the Covid-19 pandemic.

Not to mention the anemic progress in vaccinations. Sigh.

We know that the greatest danger of infection is when we are in groups inside a room – shouldn’t we all be working in a home office then? Asking for a friend.

On a slightly sad note, the Hoky Popi festival in Santander got canceled. Not unexpected, but I was looking forward to it nevertheless.

(Hoky Popi cancellation, Twitter, 4/12/21)

100

My father, Dr. Klaus Frank, would have turned 100 today.

He was an ensign in the Wehrmacht and fought against the Soviet Union, returning home severely injured.

After the war, he spent most of his life atoning and striving towards reconciliation with his former enemies, trying to righting the wrongs and the suffering he had caused.

He joined the Social Democrats as an active member and founded a non-profit organization supporting Willy Brandt’s peace efforts.

I miss him.

(With his second wife, most likely in early 2010)

Yom HaShoa

“We cannot keep the remembrance of the Shoah only in the past.

The memory must become a key for our reflection about the world today, and the future.

It should become the source of our moral responsibility for the world we live in.”

Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński, Director of the Auschwitz Memorial, via Twitter

26 Nisan 5781

Shutdown two, week twenty-two

#laschetdenktnach

We’re in year two of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the prime minister of NRWE is taking Easter off to think and try to understand how the virus transmits from person to person.

It’s consistent, though; he also fails to understand the impact of CO2 on the climate emergency and the immediate need to stop burning fossil fuels.

Could it be an option to listen to our scientists?

(Easter vigil, Rudolfplatz, 4/3/21)

Shutdown two, week twenty-one

We are stuck, like the Ever Given in the Suez Canal.

The number of infections is on the rise; the new Covid-19 mutations transmit to the younger generation at a much higher rate.

Vaccination efforts have stalled.

There is no home office mandate in place.

The government has canceled the hard Easter lockdown.

Schools remain open.

What a colossal, embarrassing mess!

(Container Ship ‘Ever Given’ stuck in the Suez Canal, Egypt; Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2021; 3/24/21)

The lockdown is finally grown up; it’s no longer a teenager. After today’s about-face from our government over Easter restrictions, we’ll probably see it go into its thirties or forties. Can we get a new government, please?

Last Friday, though, we had the latest global climate strike – it was a total success! In Cologne, we had six fully Corona-compliant stages and made ourselves felt and heard throughout the city.

People understood the urgency of change to prevent the climate emergency, and we got pretty good media coverage.

Corona enabled us to have remote presenters from all over the world, and we were able to invite renowned scientists, such as Jason von Juterczenka, to give short lectures without the need for travel.

We will, however, need to elect a government this fall that understands the climate crisis and is willing to act!

(Cologne, Lecture by Jason von Juterczenka, 3/19/21)