Current Event 7/28/12

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, has taken a vacation from politics without consulting her cabinet members. She has not met with the cabinet to arrange this vacation, as she has done in the past, but is hiking with her husband to get away from the political turmoil of European leaders. On the agenda for her vacation is also a visit to the Bayreuth Wagner opera festival, where she will see a production of the "Flying Dutchman."
Merkel's own first half of 2012 has been rather like the tragedy of the Dutchman, with work and travel barraging her incessantly as she negotiated bailout packages, austerity measures, immigration and other issues. However hard she has worked, she is not getting the full approval of the German people, some of whom wonder if Merkel is acting with German interests above all, and if Germany is overstretching their fiscal parameters.
However, Merkel has attempted to stay neutral and at the back of many controversial topics, likely because she hopes to be reelected in 2013. She has been in office since 2005.
The fatigue of the German economy and people is reflected in Merkel, who is a definite sign that while Germany is doing much better than others in the Eurozone, it also needs a break to ensure that it will not wear out.

http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16124316,00.html

Current Event 7/21/12

Hamburg's artist population is diverse and talented. So is its population of trash collectors. To increase the public opinion of trash collectors throughout the country, the "Trashcan Project" began with ten trash collectors and one pinhole camera. The relatively rudimentary technology was organized by employees from Scholz and Friends, who transformed a trash bin into a camera with little effort. Although collectors were skeptical of the technology, they complied with the request to choose their favorite view of the city. Among views chosen were the church of Altenwerder and the City Hall.
Many trash collectors do not view their jobs as horrible, and many are trained in other positions but have worked this job for over 20 years.
Waiting an hour for photos to reach exposure has proved worth it: the project has been awarded the Silver Lion at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. Although the camera has been broken and can no longer take photos, the collectors and the public are amazed by the success of the work, which has been dubbed "Tonnografie:" a marriage of the German words for trash and photography. The marriage of the words is not the only remarkable union: trash as art demonstrates again Germany's unique culture and that culture's potential for growth.

http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16103760,00.html

One Way Ticket, Yeah

It's happening! As of several days ago, I have a plane ticket to Germany! (It's actually a roundtrip ticket--sorry, Paul and John). My travel agent has been so accommodating and as a result, I have a fabulous ticket that is convenient for both me and my host family. I leave September 1, so I have the WHOLE summer before I leave. Although I have not yet held the plane ticket in hand, I will soon. 

A plane ticket is a HUGE motivator/wake-up call that I am actually going to Germany and need to think about it more (if that's possible). I'm working on brushing up my German as well as learning more, and I also get really excited thinking about what to pack and meeting my host family. I've also been in contact with some other students who will be in my district, which is thrilling. 

Not quite to the day-countdown stage yet, but we're getting there....

Current Event 7/14/12

Joachim Gauck, who has now been in office for over one hundred days, has just appointed his new spokeswoman, Ferdos Forudastan. Ever since former President Christian Wulff resigned in a cloud of scandal that encompassed his spokesman, it has become obvious that the entire history of a spokesperson plays some role in politics.
Forudastan, who will begin her work in September, is half Iranian and half German and attended primary and secondary school in Switzerland and Iran, respectively. After studying political science and law, she became an author and a journalist, acting as a correspondent during the reunification of Germany. She has become well-known for her positions and work regarding immigration, and has penned books on the subject.
It is a clever move of Gauck to appoint this woman as a close aide, because of the current debates on immigration and his relatively paltry experience with the issue. Debates on Islam in Germany will likely also be altered by Forudastan's new position; the new spokeswoman is also married to a German politician, Michael Vesper.
It will be interesting to see how Forudastan's background impacts both Gauck's policies and the public opinion of the new president. In the issue of immigration especially, the new appointment will doubtless make changes in Gauck's plan for the nation and their lack of skilled workers.

http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16094381,00.html

Current Event 7/7/12

A recent study shows that the German nation is gaining weight. 53% of women and 67% of men are overweight, leading to more concerns about a rise in obesity rates. Many people in stressful job or home situations overeat or eat unhealthy foods, and these situations are increasing in Germany. Some levels of obesity require medical treatment, and scientists are concerned about the possible medical repercussions of the trend, such as depression and cardiovascular disease. Children's obesity is also increasing; it is speculated that this is caused by too many hamburgers and french fries, and not enough time exercising.
Parents are encouraged to help their children eat healthy foods, and support groups and weight loss surgery are also cures for the fat specter.
Denmark, however, has instituted a fat tax for foods with high amounts of saturated fat, with some success. This may be an effective method for Germany, but German diets and lifestyles, especially those of lower economic classes, will need to change also to slim the nation down.

http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16073793,00.html