Category Archives: Politics

Globalisation is a Myth

Posted on 2011-05-09 by Andreas Moser

Globalisation, this concept that everyone writes about and that many people blame for their woes or use as an excuse for their policies, is in large parts a myth. Who am I to claim this? Having grown up in a … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Economics, Politics, Travel | Tagged China, Europe, geography, globalisation, globalization, Statistics, trade, universities | 6 Comments

May we celebrate somebody’s death?

Posted on 2011-05-03 by Andreas Moser

I admit it: when I woke up this morning to the headline “Osama Bin Laden Killed“, I reacted with surprise (about the manhunt still being actively pursued) and jubilation, as well as admiration at the execution of the operation by … Continue reading →

Posted in Law, Philosophy, Politics | Tagged al-qaida, Barack Obama, Osama bin Laden, Pakistan, Taliban, Terrorism | 7 Comments

A welcome alternative to flag-burning

Posted on 2011-03-26 by Andreas Moser

When I was in Kosovo in February 2009 for the first anniversary of Kosovo’s independence, I spotted this car draped is US flags in front of a mosque in the Southern (i.e. Kosovar) part of Mitrovica: Of all the countries I … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam, Politics, Travel, USA | Tagged flag-burning, Kosovo, Mitrovica, mosque, Serbia, US flag | 4 Comments

Assessing the risk of nuclear technology

Posted on 2011-03-24 by Andreas Moser

The nuclear industry is keen on coming up with probabilistic risk assessments that show that a serious accident at a nuclear power plant can only happen every 20,000 years or so (admittedly this number is from a somewhat outdated report … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics, Technology | Tagged Chernobyl, Fukushima, Japan, NASA, Statistics, Wackersdorf | 13 Comments

Deutsche Aussenpolitik schafft sich ab.

Posted on 2011-03-18 by Andreas Moser

Nach Wochen des Mordens, Bombardierens und apokalyptischen Schwadronierens durch den libyschen Führer Gaddafi hatte die Weltgemeinschaft in Form des UN-Sicherheitsrates ausnahmsweise mal selbst genug von den ewigen “Ermahnungen”, “Aufforderungen” und “dringenden Bitten”, mit denen sonst auf Menschenrechtsverletzungen reagiert wird. Vor … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany, Human Rights, Libya, Military, Politics | Tagged Human Rights | 50 Comments

Why the North is taking itself too serious

Posted on 2011-03-13 by Andreas Moser

Map-making has always had the problem of trying to fit the surface of a (roughly) ball-shaped object on a flat piece of paper. A map reflective of the true proportions of our planet would look something like this: However, most … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Travel | Tagged earth, equator, geopolitics, map of the world, mapping, Maps, north-south divide, Northern hemisphere, Southern hemisphere, world, world map | 2 Comments

Iran chickening out of 2012 Olympics?

Posted on 2011-03-01 by Andreas Moser

Iran has threatened to boycott the 2012 Summer Olympics in London because the logo of the games resembles the world “Zion”. Iran has now complained to the International Olympic Committee – 4 years after the logo was launched. But see for … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Israel, London, Politics, Sports, UK | Tagged competition, Erez Israel, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lisa Simpson, London Olympics, Olympic logo, Olympics, oral sex, Summer Olympics | 11 Comments

Mandela deserves better

Posted on 2011-02-18 by Andreas Moser

The mail delivery centres where you have to pick up the parcels that are too big to be squeezed through the letter slot, are rarely housed in beautiful buildings or located in enticing parts of the city. My local Royal … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany, London, Politics, Travel, UK | Tagged Amberg, Invictus, Madiba, Mandela, Mandela Way, Nürnberg, Nelson Mandela, Nelson-Mandela-Platz, Nuremberg, Panzer, parcel, post, Royal Mail, South Africa, T-34, tank, train station | 3 Comments

Mubarak doesn’t get the point.

Posted on 2011-02-11 by Andreas Moser

President Mubarak’s speech on the evening of 10 February 2011 was not only a disappointment to Egyptians and the world, but it will be remembered as one of the worst political speeches ever. Poorly written and delivered, filled with platitudes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, History, Israel, Military, Politics | Tagged Hosni Mubarak, Mubarak | 4 Comments

Human Rights with Hollie

Posted on 2011-02-09 by Andreas Moser

The debate raging in Britain about the European Convention on Human Rights has been enriched by a new pundit on the block: (CAVEAT: I do not buy, read or even look at “The Sun”, one of Britain’s worst tabloids. Thanks … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Law, Politics, UK | Tagged ECHR, Hollie Peers, Human Rights, Media | 10 Comments