Society

The hope of an editor-in-chief that journalists in Russia may die of old age points out the risks facing the profession there. Journalist and media scholar Ksenia Luchenko writes about the gruelling business of reorting and free expression in her home country and the crisis of traditional journalism.
 

The limit of my freedom is the freedom of others – what does that mean, especially today, for our modern, complex society? Armin Nassehi talks about the concept of freedom in a world that is being rocked by one disaster after another.

It might seem flattering at first to present queerness as new, presented in a new futuristic design. Denying the history of transgender, intersex, homosexual and non-binary people is one of the most effective ways of undermining the queer community and calling its rights into question. We exist. And always have. So if any proof be needed, here’s a recap of the last hundred queer years in Germany.
 

Berlin wants to become a “sponge city” – not a single raindrop is to be wasted. This makes the capital a pioneer in Germany when it comes to the sustainable use of rainwater.
 

Amid an escalating climate crisis, many institutional investors have dropped their fossil fuel assets. Harvard joined them in fall 2021, divesting its endowment from the oil and gas industry – thanks in part to the tireless work of pro-divestment activists.
 

“Generation Greta” is politically active, digital, liberal – but surprisingly conservative when it comes to personal life planning. We take a look at the surveys of Germans aged between ten and twenty from 2019 to 2021.
 

The UK’s Committee on Climate Change recommends the British public to reduce their meat consumption by 20 percent. The public sector caterers feel responsible for that – and wants to implement the recommendation with their own resources.

 

Benin Bronzes are exhibited in museums around the world, but the largest collection can be found in the British Museum. Barnaby Phillips analyses how much the government impacts British museums’ ability to return the objects.

According to a survey commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Food, more than half of all Germans, around 55 per cent, describe themselves as “flexitarians”. What is behind this term, what do these people eat and can food be political?

Even now, language includes terms that originate from deep-rooted colonial racism and discriminatory structures in our society. How can vulnerable minorities find a voice? Journalist and book author Mohamed Amjahid takes a look at decolonisation of the German language from an everyday perspective.

In 2009, the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood in Montreal was ridden by heavy and dangerous traffic. The mayor of the borough had other ideas and pushed through a radical concept of appeasement against significant resistance.

After the Second World War it was thought that there would never again be any Jewish life in Germany. Today, however, there are female Rabbis in this country, Jewish LGBTQI groups, Jewish politicians – but despite all that – the problems with anti-Semitism have still not gone away.

The gender star has proved an enduring bone of contention. Henning Lobin now wades into the fray to offer his own two cents on the matter. We clearly need to sheathe our verbal swords, he says, and objectively debate the pros and cons of gender-neutral language.

Coral reefs are ecosystems that boast very great biodiversity but are highly endangered. The “climate refugee” super corals could offer some unexpected help and possibly ensure the survival of the reefs.

The concept of humanism involves much more than just being human. After all, as philosopher Michaela Ott writes, for a long time colonialism defined who was viewed as a person and who was not, and which compelling reasons there are for replacing this term with something more inclusive. 

What are the ideas and values that characterize a given society? And what do debates about the role and use of language have to do with that? Our new columnist, Henning Lobin takes on some controversial language issues.

Car pollution is one of the major causes of climate change. Large citys around the world are struggling with the persistent problem of excessive motoring. Estonian Tallinn sets a leading example. 

In the beginning was the tree: whether it is Little Red Riding Hood losing her way or wild men striking terror into people’s hearts, German myths and legends are often associated with the forest. Indeed the Germanic tribes depicted the entire cosmos as a tree. 

While the idyll of Romantic era songs may be gone, creative artists in Germany still explore the forest today – critically, ironically and with an eye to history. 

Lisa-Marie is doing an apprenticeship as a mechatronics engineer for commercial vehicles. In our “Survival Kit” column she tells us how she holds her own in a profession that’s very male-dominated, and why she feels totally at ease in her workshop despite that.

One year into the coronavirus pandemic, most people are tired of all the restrictions. How can they be inspired to embrace less consumerism for an ecological transformation? Sociologist Harald Welzer is confident that changing the narrative and positive visions will do the trick.

In the worst case, targeted disinformation can become a real and present threat to our democracy. A number of initiatives in Germany have responded by taking on the mission of fact checking information on the net. 

Translation is incredibly challenging: translating sensitively demands that historical, geographical, political and social contexts be taken into account. In their article, the literature scholars and editors of the platform poco.lit. Lucy Gasser and Anna von Rath look specifically at English and German, and discuss ten terms related to race that are difficult to translate.

The Corona crisis represents a turning point in our work culture – most of the work that used to be done at an office desk is now carried out from home. Does this mean more independence and freedom of action for everyone? Find out more in this interview with the social scientist Lena Hipp.