Tag Archives: Human Rights
Persecution of Lawyers in South America
Persecution of lawyers has a long history in South America. From Marie Arana’s biography Bolívar – American Liberator: Bolívar was handed an agitated letter from Páez, reporting the miserable state of affairs in Venezuela. “Your cannot imagine how ruinous the … Continue reading
How Social Media made the World better
Two cities walk into a bar. Says Srebrenica: “I was so unlucky that my massacre already took place in 1995. A few years later, and the internet would have saved us. My people could have alerted the world about the … Continue reading
Elie Wiesel, 1928-2016
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. I highly recommend Elie Wiesel’s book Night, a short but powerfully moving biography-novel.
Cuba, before the Americans are coming
As soon as I had announced that I would move to Latin America, the unsolicited advice began knocking on my door. From all four corners of the world, the recommendations arrived, yet they were so identical as if they were based on one and the same … Continue reading
Mass Graves in Europe
Three years after the European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize, we have mass graves in Europe again. But it’s easier to ignore them now, because this time they are at the bottom of the sea. In a laboratory at the University of Milan, … Continue reading
Thank you, refugees!
Dear refugees, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart! With your help, it has become very easy over the past few weeks to tell who of my friends, acquaintances, colleagues and relatives are xenophobes, racists and inhumane … Continue reading
Târgu Mureș, where the mayor is xenophobic and racist
I have always told people how welcomed I felt in Târgu Mureș. From the first week, I made really good friends, I felt integrated and I made this cute little town in Romania my home. But probably it only went that well because I … Continue reading
Why Eastern Europe cannot accept more Refugees
Dear Western Europe, it seems you are in sulk about our unwillingness to accept more any refugees. It hurts us to hurt your feelings, so please allow us to explain things from an Eastern European perspective. We are certain you that … Continue reading
Welcome to Germany!
It has been funny how many people have been telling me that Germany should be careful not to accept too many refugees, that they would be a threat, a burden or what not. It’s particularly funny when these comments come from … Continue reading
“In the Sea there are Crocodiles” by Fabio Geda
Every week now, thousands of refugees make it to Europe. Thousands die trying. In debates on immigration, refugees are referred to by the numbers in which they arrive, in economic or in legal terms. It’s time to read the account of one … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 