Just in case you have ever wondered how I look when I'm heddling... this is how.
I should probably pracise more so I don't look as, hm... concentrated? Stressed? Anyway, as you can tell, heddling is still very, um, interesting for me. (I also get extra practise usually, because I make at least one mistake and have to do it over. Still hasn't helped too much...)
Fortunately it's not as enormously interesting in Germany as in the US, but I'd prefer it to be more boring, actually.
We're still in the stage where the new government tries to get its bearings, and the plan of CxU and SPD was to get a huge amount of money for the next years - which all their current plans are more or less based on getting, and which requires the agreement of the Green party.
The Green party, whose joint government with SPD and FDP partly broke because the CxU refused to let them have some money necessary for investments. The Green party, who was blamed for everything while they ruled, and blamed for everything during the campaigns, and told they're just too stupid to set up a good budget. The Green party, who one of the bigheads in German politics still felt like insulting even after the elections... even after it had become clear that they'd need to agree on the new government's budget.
So as you can imagine... it looks like the Green party will say no. And actually not because they think it's a shitty decision to change some of the Grundgesetz and allow a little more debt; also not because they want to just be contrary. It's because the plans of the prospective next government include spending all that money on stuff that benefits the wealthy, and looks good to some of their influential clientèle, but actually not in things needed to make us ready for the future. Renewable energy sources. Good affordable and functional public transport. Reducing our CO2 emissions. Getting the infrastructure back into shape - and I'm not talking about building more Autobahnen, but renovating schools and preschools. Actually investing in education again.
The list goes on. So we will wait and see what happens now... once it really sinks in for the CxU, who were so utterly cocksure that they'd of course get their "yes" and their money to play with, that they are not getting their way all the way just because they think they should.
And hopefully the end result will actually be something that helps our society to knit back together.
I had a lovely time in Göttingen at the workshop - meeting some new people included, which is always very nice. There was also a lot of laughter, and in the end, three of us had a little time left before our trains were going, so we went to a nice café and had a lovely piece of cake to round things off.
The way back on the train I finally managed to work on a bit of headwear reconstruction for another ongoing project, so now I can concentrate on that a little more - and hopefully get the reconstruction sorted out this week.
It always stays interesting...
...at the end of this week, and I will be there, and am already looking forward to meeting new people, and learning a lot of new things.
Since I'm a little behind on my preparation, though (looking at you, world events and consequential doom-scrolling), I will have a little blog break and resume blogging next week.
Keep doing good things, and being kind!
It's time for some links - hopefully of interest!
First of all, excavations have located a medieval monastery in Aachen. German article (with pictures) here.
More German stuff: The LEIZA is doing a series of presentations, some (most even) of them hybrid. You can find out more here.
If you'd like facebook and instagram to use less of your personal data, you can find instructions on how to adjust privacy settings here.
And that's it for today... have a nice weekend!
I'm living much less under a rock these days than I'd like. Because, well. Things going on in the world and so on.
So. In case it has passed you by (for instance because you live abroad, and don't get German-centric news): The CDU (the "black party") has made a "Kleine Anfrage" which is basically an information request. That is their right, and it's a perfectly normal thing to do if you want to know something, or get some current numbers.
However... the way that they worded it, and the things they ask, it reeks of trying to intimidate a number of organisations that were active in the protests against the CDU vote together with the AfD. It's basically a thinly veiled threat of "we will cut your funding and discredit you because you did this".
There's a few things about this. Once, that's just not how you do things. Apart from the fact that any democratic party should be happy about people rising up to defend the democratic system, making a sort of roundhouse kick like this (which will get a lot of people working in the offices quite busy) and not even researching the individual organisations a bit on whether they are actually considered as "gemeinnützig" or not... well.
Discrediting networks that are doing research to help with renewable resources, sustainable farming, reducing food waste, animal rights, the protection of the environment, and educating people about right-wing extremism? That sounds like they are using the opportunity to try and get rid of everyone and everything that is criticising them for stuff that, yes, the black-led government or the governments with high black involvement have done.
Which means that quite a lot of people are now pissed, and the black party has not done anything to improve their image (which wasn't too good from the start if your viewpoints include anything like gender equality or social justice or environmental concerns).
The good news: In contrast to what the Kleine Anfrage implies, a lot of the organisations listed don't actually get any money from the state. So they can't cut their funding.
The other good news: We now have a handy list of organisations to support. So if you're curious, or if you would like to, say, send the equivalent of a coffee to one of them each month... here you go.
Always remember: Every little bit helps. Or, as it was once said during the pre-election campaigns here: Democracy is not a spectator sport.
Time to take a look at what we can do. Because yes, we can do things. Even if you don't have money, and even if you don't have much energy left these days, there are things you can do.
The easiest, cheapest, ridiculously small but still powerful thing that everyone of us can make happen every day: Smile. Give somebody you don't know at all a smile, out there on the streets, in the supermarket, in the bus, in the elevator. You already make a little change right then, right there. If you want to challenge yourself, make it three smiles each day. Bonus points if it's someone often forgotten or overlooked - a bus driver. The cleaning lady. A supermarket cashier. You'll make their day a little brighter, and yours as well.
One step up - say thank you to people. Write a note to a politician working for democratic causes, speaking up against unjustice, and say "Thank you for your work". They will be frustrated, too, and may be struggling, so hearing something positive will help them. You can also say thank you to the driver as you're exiting the bus, or when you see a cleaner doing their job. In a time where rifts between people are purposefully made bigger and bigger to tear us apart and make us easier to suppress and rule, acts of kindness and friendliness will help to get us closer again, and to not forget we are all humans.
If you have a little money to spare, go look for an NGO you can support. In Germany, CDU/CSU is now trying to intimidate the organisations that organised demonstrations against right-wing extremists and fascism, trying to discredit them and maybe stop their state support. (Spoiler: They usually only get money for specific projects, typically to support democracy, and have to list what the money was spent for - so it's not like they are handed a bunch of money with a "here you go, have fun".) Pick one of them - a research platform, some group pointing out extremist tendencies, an organisation buying up land to turn into nature reserves, a group (including a small local group) working to slow down climate change and protect nature. Donate to them, preferably a running donation every month. It does not need to be much, if you can spare a fiver each month (which is, depending on where you buy it, about a large coffee) - it already helps more than you'd imagine, especially if many of us do that now.
Shop locally, if you can. Support your local farmers and small businesses. Think about what you need before you buy - especially if it's from one of the big companies that make a lot of profit exploiting their workers. (Nestlé would be one of the huge corporations of, hm, debatable ethnicity.) Look if there's a thrift shop near you where you can donate stuff you don't need anymore that is still good to use, or a "free to a new home" distribution centre. Maybe you can even set up one yourself - a shelf with some kind of weather protection above it would already do.
You want to do more? You have time to spare but not money? Get active yourself. Helpers, supporters, everyone can pitch in with something. Setting up logistics for meetings, and tearing down. Handing out flyers (or stuffing them into mailboxes). Even if you're an introvert, there will be something you can do to help, without exposing yourself. You can also call your representatives and ask specific questions. If you're not up to calling, you can send a letter. (If you put a small coin in there, it cannot be put into the shredder unopened, so even if it does not get read, it will cause some nuisance.)
Germans are currently sending cups to Merz in an act of protest against things he said. Nobody knows what that will amount to, but it's something you can do, and it's at least fun. (And you can finally get rid of that ugly cup...)
If you're more extroverted you can talk to people. Listen to their concerns. Connect with neighbours and friends, build yourself a network that can lift you up when you are down. Talk to people outside of your bubble - maybe you can find a point that you agree on, and work from there. Maybe you can find a solution for a small problem in your area.
And the most important thing: Don't give up now. We still have a chance. No matter where you are, there still is a chance. But if we stop fighting, if we stop advocating... we will definitely lose.
If you like, make a note here in the comments on what you're planning to do - or your ideas for other things that can make a difference!
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