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Category Archives: Politics
Das war die Wehrpflicht.
Das war es also mit der Wehrpflicht: Zum Juli 2011 wird nach 54 Jahren die Wehrpflicht in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland ausgesetzt, was einer praktischen Abschaffung gleichkommt. Man wird wohl nie klären können, ob dieser Eingriff in das Leben junger Männer … Continue reading
Emancipation of women in Iran
The Islamic Republic of Iran is again at the forefront of social progress (see my previous posts about scientific and academic progress): This time, it’s women’s rights, something very dear to the Mullahs. All over the world, women are victims … Continue reading
Death to the Conifers!
Deforestation speeds up climate change in two ways: First, the loss of trees reduces the forests’ capacity to convert carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Second, if deforestation is not carried out for the production of timber, but for the winning of … Continue reading
Posted in Iran, Politics
Tagged climate change, deforestation, fire, forest, forest fire, global warming, Kurdistan, Kurds, nature, rainforest, REDD, reforestation, trees
1 Comment
What do the Students want?
Ever since the UK government announced its plan to raise the cap of tuition fees that British universities are allowed to charge and to introduce changes in the student loan scheme, British students have filled the streets with protests, have … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Politics, UK
Tagged higher education, LSE, student fees, student protests, students, tuition fees, universities, university fees
10 Comments
Iran punishes athlete for standing next to an Israeli.
In a recent post, I had already wondered how Iran’s government would react to an Iranian chess player losing the world record in simultaneous chess to an Israeli player. Well, now we know how Iran’s sports administration has handled a … Continue reading
Posted in Germany, Iran, Israel, Poland, Politics, Sports
Tagged Britva, Germany, gold medal, Hatikva, Hatikvah, Hossein Khodadadi, Khodadadi, Poland, Sergio Britva, weightlifter, weightlifting
2 Comments
“For Neda” wins Foreign Press Association Media Award 2010
The documentary “For Neda” about the life and death of Iranian protester Neda Agha-Soltan, which I had the honour to play a small role in, won the Foreign Press Association Media Award 2010 in the category of TV feature/documentary. The … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
Tagged Antony Thomas, documentaries, film, films, For Neda, Foreign Press Media Association, HBO, Neda, Neda Agha-Soltan, Saeed Kamali Dehghan, Tehran, TV, TV documentary
3 Comments
It was the Mossad!
What, WikiLeaks? The attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists? The hijackings of 11 September 2001? Pearl Harbour? Global warming? No. This time, it is something far more sinister that Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad is accused of: The Egyptian coast on the Red … Continue reading
Democracy, transparency, human rights? – No thanks, we are FIFA.
Although I live in England, I am actually not sad about this country missing out on the opportunity to host another Football World Cup. Living in London, I am already annoyed with the daily dose of tourists, and I am … Continue reading
Posted in Human Rights, Politics, Russia, Sports
Tagged FIFA, football, Fussball, Human Rights, soccer, world cup
8 Comments
WikiLeaks and Israel
When WikiLeaks announced last week that it would release hitherto secret communication between the US State Department and US embassies around the world, the levels of curiosity and anxiety were equally high. Overall though, the revelations might have bruised some … Continue reading
Posted in Egypt, Iran, Israel, Military, Politics, Saudi Arabia
Tagged diplomacy, international relations, Middle East, Wikileaks
5 Comments
Volksverhetzung von oben
Durch das Leben in einer weltoffenen und multikulturellen Stadt wie London bin ich vielleicht etwas verwöhnt was den Umgang mit Minderheiten angeht, aber was ich diese Woche aus meiner deutschen Heimat vernehmen mußte, machte mich wirklich fassungslos: Berlins Innensenator Ehrhart … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
Tagged Berlin, Ehrhart Körting, Islam, Körting, Muslime, Polizeistaat, Rassismus, Terrorismus, Volksverhetzung, Vorurteile
6 Comments
