Climate change from my window

Greenhouse gases affecting sunlight as viewed from my window. For the climate change deniers, this is it happening in real time. No time lag of hundreds of years. :-)

Climate change from my window

Greenhouse gases affecting sunlight as viewed from my window. For the climate change deniers, this is it happening in real time. No time lag of hundreds of years. :-)

Moved to wordpress

Please update your RSS feeds, if there's any of you subscribed. Many thanks, maraming salamant, vielen Dank (to blogpspot as well). I have moved to wordpress. It's still in the works but the blog is already operational. Different blog host, same free taste:

Click this: www.freetaste.wordpress.com

Mensa randoms

The other week I wrote about the Election Night Party at the Mensa (cafeteria). Last Tuesday I practically stayed there the whole day to promote the Sustainable University Freiburg. It's one of the most strategic place to do promo because of the high student traffic during lunch time. It was unusual to see this place with no students lining up to get there meals once we packed our stuff to end the day. Once the Mensa was deserted in the afternoon, I took a couple of photos to while waiting for a couple of colleagues. Here's a couple of them.

Reporting for Deutsche Welle

The report I made for Deutsche Welle is finally online. To listen to the entire Living Planet programme, click here. To hear just my bit of report ('Counting birds with computers') in the programme, click here. I did this report until the last few hours of my internship.

One of my many learning from the internship is that one should be more appreciative of media work. A reporter puts in a lot of hours to produce one report, from looking for a news, researching, conducting the interviews, writing a script, voicing, and editing. That's not exclusive to radio, but also for a printed article, online content, or TV. Giving a feedback is one way of showing your appreciation to our work, and you can do that by leaving a comment here or sending an email to Deutsche Welle. Thanks to Irene, Cheryl, and Mark who helped me made this report 'air-able.'

Subway

While still in Bonn, this is the station where I along with many other passengers got off. It's a major "working" station. From here, employees walk to big organizations nearby like Deutsche Welle, Deutsche Post, and the United Nations.

nur Autos... oder?

Only for cars? A cyclist begs to disagree.

In fall swing

View from my room yesterday:

Moymoy Palaboy

I have been quite out of touch on the latest happening in the Philippines. Here's a couple of crazy guys who became famous via Youtube. The name of their channel is called Moymoy Palaboy literally meaning Moymoy Wanderer (as in homeless). They're an internet phenomenon, reminiscent of the two Chinese guys singing Backstreet Boys songs. I think the Pinoy duo are luckier as they were able to break into mainstream TV.

Climate Change as a Security Threat

here is an on-going two-day conference on Climate Change as a Security Threat here in Freiburg. I especially attended to see Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who could be the next German Chancellor. It is also my first time to see the mayor of Freiburg, Lord Mayor Dr. Dieter Salomon. Dr. Pachauri, head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which received the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize also gave a presentation.

Some highlights of the event:
Dr Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, presents during the Conference On Climate Change as a Security Threat in Freiburg, Germany.


Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier manages a smile during a light moment in the Conference On Climate Change as a Security Threat in Freiburg. Earlier, he gave the opening speech which delved on Obama winning the 2008 US elections, foreign policies, and climate change.


Lord Mayor of Freiburg, Dr. Dieter Salomon, looks on as German Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier gives his opening remarks.


Foreign Minister Steinmeier, Dr. Pachauri, and Lord Mayor Salomon looks up at the screen to watch a video.

Participants take a break during the Conference On "Climate Change as a Security Threat" at the Konzerthaus in Freiburg.

People mill around the hall of the Konzerthaus in Freiburg after the opening of the exhibition "Environment, Conflict and Cooperation".

Life, Love, and Learn

I once blogged about me modeling for the university as a student. The opening ceremony of the exhibit was last week which I wasn't able to attend because I was still in Bonn. Yesterday I got a window time to pass by one of my university's main building where the exhibit was put up. Here's the result of the shoot about four months ago.




All comments to the last photo will be deleted, unless you write about contributing to my foundation. Ha!

America votes... and so does Freiburg!

The main Mensa (cafeteria) in Freiburg, Germany is converted into a bar to hold big occasions like football matches. This time it was for a US Election Night Party.

A photo of Barack Obama flashes on the screen as the hosts talk to a correspondent in the US.

Organizers of the Election Night Party make final preparations before opening the bar to students.

People line up to get inside the bar

A man casts his vote for a mock election during the Election Night Party

A student watches as the 2008 US election unfold

John McCain's image flashes on the screen before the program starts

A panel consisting of a student from the US, political scientists, and a chief of a German-American organization in Freiburg analysing the 2008 US election in the Mensa

A woman hands out cheeseburgers to students. A big US hamburger food chain was one of the sponsors of the event.

Bidding Bonn goodbye

After spending two months in the former capital of the former Western Germany, I am leaving in one hour.  I will take a train back to Freiburg.  As with anyone leaving a place for a long period of time or for good, Filipinos celebrate a despedida, send-off party, or an Abschiedsfeier.  Yesterday I went to one, not for my departure, but for the consul of Philippine Embassy extension in Bonn.  The current consul is being recalled to Manila and the office is Bonn will close down.  A new office will open in Frankfurt.

Like any gathering, the table was awash with food (3 lechons!).  A special program was also organized for the consul and his family.  Here is one of my favorite parts of the program- a dance intermission number:

Sun, light, and fall

I took these shots in my room at my host family's house in Sankt Augustin. One need not go out to find interesting photography subjects- especially so if it is cold outside! Just look around your room and, with the right lighting and composition, a corner, crack, or even a dirt may yield an artwork.

Leisure in rush hour

I love trains, and the stations and the platforms that come with them. I am the chance passenger sort, who most of the time doesn't check tram or U-bahn schedules, unless I really need to. Or at least I do when I am already on the platform waiting for the train's arrival. That's why I always bring a book and my music player. They come in handy to while away the extra time in between (and during) transits.

These two folks at a Metro station in Barcelona look as if they are in a cozy cafe.

United Nations Day celebration in Bonn

I rushed to Bonn city center this morning when I remembered that a United Nations Day event is to be held there. I spotted a poster somewhere in the city a few days ago that there will be a celebration of some sort.  I googled for a programme of the activities before I headed downtown and decided it was worth checking out.

In Bonn, the mood was festive. Tents were put up to house different UN and development organizations.  Old folks danced to the groove of live bands and children enjoyed the giveaways and activities.  But at least for once as a global way of celebrating the day, UN Day should be a ceasefire day for all the wars in the world.  It is of related reason that UN was created after World War II.

Some photos during the event:

Opening performers rocking the opening ceremony

 

Balloon man.  I think he did this the whole day as it seemed all kids passing by asked for one of these world balloons.  I wanted one for myself! 

 

 The future of fisheries

  

Rescue team preparing for a demo

I paparazzi'd Achim Steiner (with red tie), Executive Director (big boss) of UNEP

Happy United Nations Day!

A few more photos in my flickr page.

Meeting Rhine and Moselle in Koblenz

Last Sunday's weather was perfect like what the forecast said. The sun was out and so were the people, and that includes my host family and me. We drove from Sankt Augustin down to Koblenz shortly after brunch. The trip lasted almost a couple of hours.

In Koblenz, two rivers meet. Koblenz got its name from the Latin derivative of 'confluence' as the rivers Rhine and Moselle create a confluence in the city. The Moselle marries the Rhine where the last stretch of land separating them, for some practical or non-creative reason, is called the 'German Corner' (Deutsches Eck). Just behind the viewing deck is a giant monument of William I guarding the most beautiful German corner.

From the other side of the Rhine, when one takes the ICE going to the north, most heads would look out the window to see the awe of Koblenz. I wished the train would stop in its tracks for a few minutes in the middle of the trip everytime I take this route, so we can take in the view, rather than see it like a passing slideshow from afar. And when I arrived in Koblenz, I was glad to be up close and personal. Those who live in Koblenz have nothing much to lose from 'not seeing' where they live. Nothing still beats the view of the Rhine from any of their windows facing the river.

My host mother, Tita Mina, posing with one of the many 'lucky lion' heads...

...and me. I am not one to get left behind. Take note of the funky nose ring.

The river bank of the Rhine lays out an extension every few hundred meters where cruise ships are docked waiting for the next round of tour. It was a good business day for river cruising. There were many tourists walking along the banks of the river, soaking in the sun and the probably the last of the better days of autumn.

We left after almost two hours of walking from the parking lot, THE corner, and back. We drove further south and parked by a pit stop. Below the elevated strip of the Autobahn hovering high above us, we spread the table cloth by a road side table. We took out and gorged on Braunbrot (brown sliced bread), hard-boiled eggs, cheese and tea. Just a few meters was a main road where cars, caravans, and motorcycles passed by.

It was worth noticing parked caravans were still seen in their designated areas despite the cold nights signaling mid-autumn. And no, not all of them are from the Netherlands. Also, we passed by a couple of wine fests along the way. The wine harvesting season is almost over, and by this time of the year, 'young wine' is sold. These wines are not proper wine because of their less alcohol content and they are too sweet. They taste something in between grape juice and wine.

We drove further down and reached Berndkastel by almost 6:00 p.m. By this time shops were already closing for the day. The designs on the buildings reminded me of Freiburg, which is probably typical in the regions near the Rhine River. Cold air was starting to settle in, and the inner old city was noticeably colder, probably by two degrees, as the narrow streets, old houses and buildings, prevent the air from circulating. We walked back to the parking area after some window shopping and taking some souvenir photos. As the sun set, we traveled back to Sankt Augustin.

Out of job from the financial crisis? Be a crisis consultant

I asked my adviser what would be the recession-proof industry. I got a 'newspaper' as a reply.  With newspapers and other traditional media being an industry that has took some beating and consequently lay-offs, albeit not directly from the recession although very much economic reason, I thought it was a joke.  His argument though, was newspaper, and journalists, will have a plethora of topics to write about with the financial crisis.  You've read about financial crisis AND hunger, poverty, environment, climate change, US elections, technology, education, and ______ (fill in your favorite project).  Financial crisis and everything.

I would say one of the few recession-proof careers would be a 'crisis consultant.'  As a crisis consultant, you will be tasked to find faults in the industry of your assignment.  In the energy sector?  Too slow climate change.  In banking and finance?  Too many houses built and bought on credit.  If you don't belong to these giant companies, don't worry.  Individuals will surely be needing your services.  Tell a neighbor his garden needs a makeover.  The house needs a new layer of paint.  The new MacBook is the 'in' thing now.  Look around and you'll identify a crisis.  Now you just need to convince these people to pay for your service.

Blog Action Day 2008: Media and Poverty

My contribution to the Blog Action Day 2008 on Poverty would be searching and rewriting development-related news as part of my internship. I usually do this task for the environment program. But the host of the development program approached me this morning and asked for this favor which I gladly accepted. I didn't know today coincides with Blog Action Day that focuses on poverty.

So far, the subjects of the 'development news' I have found and wrote clips on show otherwise: poverty, hunger, and debt. Maybe I am starting to become a victim of the 'good news is no news' journalistic norm. The mainstream media usually focuses on the darker side of life: the slums of Manila, the malnourished children in Africa, and the child labor in India. We can't blame them, in some way, when it is the sad reality. As passive consumers of media, we should see through what is fed us. Better yet, let's try to make this sad reailty a thing of the past.

Freiburg in the Inquirer

I was tracking the PSE's performance today through the PDI, when I saw a familiar name of a place on the main page. Amado de Jesus wrote about Freiburg, in what seems to be a real estate-oriented column called 'Property Focus.' The article basically describes how Freiburg became the 'green model for the world', but offers no insight as to learning that can be applied to the Philippine context. The also makes no mention of Vauban, the greenest quarter of all of Freiburg, which makes the article rather 'incomplete.'  A high-resolution picture of the city would have been better as well.