This and that (mostly political)...
1.) If you're curious about the 24th of October, I was here (because I was in Stuttgart for a seminar that weekend):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/350org/4040504650/in/set-72157622456565995/
(Admittedly, I didn't strip - I didn't have a swimsuit - so instead I just walked around and handed out flyers to passers-by.)
It was fun. But oh, wouldn't it be great if we could get...
2.) ... these kind of numbers?
3.) I'm going to Copenhagen in December, with Greenpeace footing the bill, in exchange for five or six days of behind-the-scenes work (kitchen help or something similar). This has the advantage of keeping me out of potential trouble while still allowing me to do something to support the protests. Also, yeah, zero cost for travel, accommodation and food is good.
4.) Even though most of my time will be spent doing unglamorous, invisible work, I *will* participate in the big demonstration on the 12th. Now, I'm not the confrontational sort - I wouldn't be going to Copenhagen to peel potatoes otherwise! *g* - but with the proposed new Danish anti-protest laws even just being near a completely legal demonstration can get you arrested and fined, or even put in jail for up to 40 days. Here's how you can help to keep me and other legitimate protesters out of jail:
If you're German: http://bewegung.taz.de/aktionen/http--www-taz-de-1-politik-europa-artikel-1-klima-demos-unerwuenscht/beschreibung#description
Internationally: http://danlaw.epetitions.net/
5.) Funny: I only just noticed that the new German cabinet, which isn't *that* new anymore, is pretty good on the diversity front. In fact, it's probably the most diverse cabinet we've ever had. Which is ironic, considering it's a conservative government.
Okay, so only five out of the fifteen members are women - but one of them is the Chancellor. And among the men there's a) an openly gay man, who has the second most powerful position after the Chancellor, b) an Asian-looking man, and c) a wheelchair user. So that's three minorities represented.
Of course, the presence of Westerwelle, Rösler and Schäuble is not quite the triumph of underprivileged minorities that it may look at first sight. Westerwelle was well-known and successful long before he came out; likewise, Schäuble only acquired his disability at a relatively late point in his political career. And Rösler is not only a member of the 'least hated' ethnic minority - agitators on the right often cite Asians as a positive example for successful and welcome immigration, especially compared to the large and increasingly openly maligned Turkish minority - but was also adopted into a German middle class family as a baby. Still, I'm pretty sure it's good for people's perception of what 'non-standard' [for 'standard' read: 'white, heterosexual, able-bodied men'] people can do to have these visibly 'different' people in the government. Even if there is little else that I can say to praise the new government.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/350org/4040504650/in/set-72157622456565995/
(Admittedly, I didn't strip - I didn't have a swimsuit - so instead I just walked around and handed out flyers to passers-by.)
It was fun. But oh, wouldn't it be great if we could get...
2.) ... these kind of numbers?
3.) I'm going to Copenhagen in December, with Greenpeace footing the bill, in exchange for five or six days of behind-the-scenes work (kitchen help or something similar). This has the advantage of keeping me out of potential trouble while still allowing me to do something to support the protests. Also, yeah, zero cost for travel, accommodation and food is good.
4.) Even though most of my time will be spent doing unglamorous, invisible work, I *will* participate in the big demonstration on the 12th. Now, I'm not the confrontational sort - I wouldn't be going to Copenhagen to peel potatoes otherwise! *g* - but with the proposed new Danish anti-protest laws even just being near a completely legal demonstration can get you arrested and fined, or even put in jail for up to 40 days. Here's how you can help to keep me and other legitimate protesters out of jail:
If you're German: http://bewegung.taz.de/aktionen/http--www-taz-de-1-politik-europa-artikel-1-klima-demos-unerwuenscht/beschreibung#description
Internationally: http://danlaw.epetitions.net/
5.) Funny: I only just noticed that the new German cabinet, which isn't *that* new anymore, is pretty good on the diversity front. In fact, it's probably the most diverse cabinet we've ever had. Which is ironic, considering it's a conservative government.
Okay, so only five out of the fifteen members are women - but one of them is the Chancellor. And among the men there's a) an openly gay man, who has the second most powerful position after the Chancellor, b) an Asian-looking man, and c) a wheelchair user. So that's three minorities represented.
Of course, the presence of Westerwelle, Rösler and Schäuble is not quite the triumph of underprivileged minorities that it may look at first sight. Westerwelle was well-known and successful long before he came out; likewise, Schäuble only acquired his disability at a relatively late point in his political career. And Rösler is not only a member of the 'least hated' ethnic minority - agitators on the right often cite Asians as a positive example for successful and welcome immigration, especially compared to the large and increasingly openly maligned Turkish minority - but was also adopted into a German middle class family as a baby. Still, I'm pretty sure it's good for people's perception of what 'non-standard' [for 'standard' read: 'white, heterosexual, able-bodied men'] people can do to have these visibly 'different' people in the government. Even if there is little else that I can say to praise the new government.