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Category Archives: Politics
Did you notice the Irony? (13) UK Immigration Policy
The website of the UK Home Office which lists the official government policy on immigration says, on the same page even, that “immigration enriches our culture and strengthens our economy”, but then summarizes the goal of its policy as “reducing immigration”. … Continue reading
Posted in Human Rights, Immigration Law, Politics, UK
Tagged Home Office, Human Rights, immigration
3 Comments
Easily Confused (35) Perished Cities
Old cities, whose ruins we visit, wondering how erstwhile grand and important cities could cease to exist: Aleppo, Syria: (Diesen Vergleich gibt es auch auf Deutsch.)
Easily confused (34) Holocaust denial
There are people who deny that the Holocaust really happened, and then there is someone who claims that Germany denies the historical facts of the Holocaust. This is rather illogical because – for example – the Holocaust denier depicted above, … Continue reading
Film Review: “Argo”
When I was in prison in Iran in 2009, I was hoping for someone like Tony Mendez to burst open the door to my cell and to whisk me to a waiting helicopter. Except that I hadn’t heard of him at the … Continue reading
Diplomatic Breakthrough in Crimea
After weeks of failing communication between the great powers and after the world had come dangerously close to World War III Cold War II, international negotiators reached an agreement on Sunday night after a Summit Meeting on Crimea. (Zur deutschen … Continue reading
Anti-German election campaign in Italy
Finally I know what it feels like to be part of a group of foreigners used as scapegoats in an election campaign. It feels weird. Despite being aware that they are not targeted against me personally, I always feel affected by … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Germany, Italy, Politics
Tagged European elections 2014, European parliament, Italia dei Valori
18 Comments
Easily Confused (32) Manuel Valls
Whenever I see Manuel Valls, the new French Prime Minister, I am reminded of Jamie McDonald (actor Paul Higgins), the “crossest man in Scotland” from the film In the Loop:
Posted in Cinema, France, Politics, Scotland, UK
Tagged Cinema, In the Loop, In the Thick of it, Jamie McDonald, Manuel Valls, movies, Paul Higgins
4 Comments
Did you notice the Irony? (11) Climate Refugees
Did you ever notice the irony that lies in us flying to the Maldives, the Seychelles, to Easter Island and everywhere else, thus destroying the world’s climate with our CO2 emissions, but when climate refugees try to come to Europe … Continue reading
There are more important things than territorial integrity
Democracy and self-determination are great. But nobody should believe that a referendum hastily pulled out of a hat, with limited choices and without a proper prior public debate about the question posed at the polls is a good example of direct … Continue reading
Posted in Afghanistan, Cold War, Estonia, Europe, Germany, History, Human Rights, Latvia, Law, Lithuania, Military, Politics, Russia, Ukraine
Tagged Crimea, Human Rights, international law, Maps
18 Comments
Ariel Sharon, 1928-2014
Because Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006, didn’t really do anything for the past 8 years, some of the obituaries published today were probably written by journalists (or interns) who have passed away themselves in the meantime. … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 