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.

Headline

Like every morning for the past two weeks (supposedly until last night), I wait at a bus stop where I take my bus to Siegburg main train station. I usually take a look at the coin-operated newspaper stand to get a glimpse of what concerns Germany at the moment. This Express (last Saturday) is no Der Spiegel, but the paper is speaking the same language like other dailies and other forms of media all over the world. I need not translate the words, as probably you can make out some of them in the picture.

The US stock market told a different story today though, as it is up by more than 11% at the final bell.

Fall's gold

The colors of autumn are everywhere.  From the fringes of trees turning yellow to a plaid scarves looped around people's necks.  Mornings are getting nippy.  The rain is a real spoiler to this beautiful season however, like the other week, although the past few days have been sunny, a little warm even.

Maybe I will be in denial that it is still summer until the first snowflake falls.

Green transportation

The Universität/Markt U-Bahn station

The U-Bahn (that's the German version of the tube) stations in Bonn come in eye candy colors. Yellow is the theme in Museumsmeile/Heuesalle where I get off every morning to get to Deutsche Welle. Most of the stations and U-Bahns are also showing signs of wear and tear, but the visual diversion in each station is welcomed from the older and craggier innards of the main train station. Still, I am not complaining. I am a big fan of the excellent connections here in Germany.

The Rhine River and Wasserwerk

One of the better 'world views' I have absorbed so far during the International Conference on Environment, Forced Migration & Social Vulnerability is not one that I picked up from the sessions, but from the wide windows of a UN University conference room. The UN Uni has one of the enviable view of the Rhine River in Bonn, only rivaled by the Post Tower which lords it over the Bonn landscape.

The white building on the foreground is the Wasserwerk, literally 'Waterworks,' which used to house the water pumping station of the city. They have converted the building into a conference center. I am now in the same building as I type this. Here is a peek inside:

Harry and Paul... starring the Filipina maid

Media and minority groups
While I am struggling to write a reaction paper for the media and minority forum I attended the other week, I fittingly stumbled upon comments through blog posts and in Youtube that are now reeling over the sketch of a Filipina maid in the British comedy 'Harry and Paul.' International (e.g., Sky and BBC, and IHT) and Philippine (e.g., PDI) media websites have also picked up the issue.

What went wrong?
The offending (or is it misinterpreted?) scene that stereotypes the Filipina as a maid and even worse, who can be requested to do sexual favors as part of their tasks, struck a sensitive cord to many a Filipinos. Majority of the comments I've browsed through can be categorized into two: those who say that the British humor didn't register to Filipinos (I do like and get the Peep Show!), and on the other hand, obviously, the BBC erred in portraying such a stereotype. While some argue that the maid wasn't the butt of the joke, but mentioning the word Filipina made all the difference.

Questions
I am curious of what the scriptwriter was thinking as he or she wrote that single line that ignited the fury of my fellow people. Did they let the script 'sleep' and have it undergo 'cultural sensitivity control' first before giving it to an actor? Did they think of the repercussions of referring to a particular ethnicity? Was it a tasteless slap-stick and marketing strategy to gain viewership, or an unintentional editorial misstep?

Playing the third party

My internship assignment this week (due tomorrow afternoon!) is to conduct 'vox-pops' about how lovers or couples fell into each other's hands. Vox-pops is short for vox populi, the Latin for 'voice of the people.' It is probably one of the basic elements of journalism that puts a human face to a topic. A 'common' person on the street is asked of his or her -or as my assignment calls for it, a couple's- opinions, experience, and thoughts on a subject. In this case, how did they meet for the first time, and who served as cupid for their paths to meet? Was it through a friend of a friend, or through an online social networking site?

This is my second time to do vox pops, the first time being for the CO2 compensation counters in Cologne-Bonn Airport feaure. Yet this time it is doubly difficult because of the 'niche interviewees' I am looking for: young couples. Intervening sweet-talking and smooching love birds is like the epitome of invasion of privacy. I have to keep a keen eye on pairs walking by, and decode the subtlest of intimate gestures as signs of their mutual understanding before I can approach them. My 'couple-detecting' radar failed once though. I approached a 'couple' with a baby in tow, and as I blurted out my spiel, it turned out they are not in a relationship of the romantic sort, but are simply close friends. 'The child is not mine,' asserted the guy as if he wasn't capable of creating one.

I've done four successful interviews, and the most interesting so far is not someone I met by chance. She is the daughter of my current host family, who met his boyfriend in a public viewing area during a European Football Championship game four years ago.

Care to know how the other vox populi interviewees met their better half? Or if I finish this assignment at all? Tune in on Wedenesday to Cool that will include a unique match-making feature.