The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

News of the day: climate protest, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, wildlife in China

2022-12-21T16:53:31.138Z


Climate activists cut off the top of a Berlin Christmas tree. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is on his way to Washington. And China's authorities want to reopen the country's wildlife markets. This is the situation on Wednesday evening.


1. The sawing off of a Christmas tree top in Berlin is a rather harmless climate protest - there is still outrage

I grew up in a world where a cheeky political activist named Fritz Teufel was a role model for many young people.

"If it serves to find the truth," Teufel (1943 to 2010) cheekily said to a Berlin judge as a defendant at the end of the 1960s, when the judge asked him to stand up.

»If it helps the global climate«, that's what I thought to myself today in view of the latest prank by Berlin activists of the »last generation«.

They sawed off the top of the Christmas tree at the Brandenburg Gate from a specially procured lifting platform.

Enlarge image

Without a tip at the Brandenburg Gate: climate activists with a lifting platform

Photo:

Paul Zinken / dpa

The protesters also rolled out a banner that read, "This is just the tip of the Christmas tree."

In the past few weeks, many Germans have been upset about actions by climate activists because they have been blocking streets and throwing food at works of art.

Homes of members of the "Last Generation" were ransacked.

It seems comparatively plausible to me to use a Christmas tree to demonstrate against the destruction of nature and the basis of life.

"Actually, it's the most well-behaved action by the 'last generation' in a long time," says my colleague Jonas Schaible from SPIEGEL's capital city office, who writes regularly about the protesters.

Even in the worst conceivable case, no one would be indirectly endangered (as in the case of road blockades), prevented from working (in the case of road blockades), no supply would be threatened (as in the case of pipeline disruptions), and no tangible or intangible art treasure would be endangered (as in the case of museum campaigns).

"The damage is minimal, as is the disruption," says Jonas.

"If you didn't know the tip was missing, you probably wouldn't even notice it."

The reference to the climate crisis is of course somewhat constructed.

"But the fact that even this harmless action outrages people shows how quickly the standards slip in criticism," says the colleague.

»On the other hand, it also makes it clear how many passionate opponents the 'last generation' has now turned against itself.«

  • Read the whole story here: Activists of the »Last Generation« saw off the top of the Christmas tree at the Brandenburg Gate

2. Zelenskyj's trip to Washington brings promises of weapons - the USA probably does not want to get more directly involved in Ukraine's fight against Russia's war of aggression

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left his country today for the first time since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression;

for a trip to the US capital Washington.

Earlier it was announced that US President Joe Biden will pledge another two billion dollars worth of weapons during Zelenskyy's visit, including the Patriot air defense system.

Selenskyj is said to be received in Washington by Biden in the White House, among others, and to speak before Congress.

Enlarge image

Volodymyr Zelenskyj visiting the front in Bakhmut

Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office / dpa

As expected, Russia today criticized Selenskyj's trip to the USA and the announced arms deliveries.

"All of this undoubtedly leads to an aggravation of the conflict and in itself does not bode well for Ukraine," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

He doesn't expect Zelenskyy to be more willing to negotiate with Moscow after his trip.

Peskow criticized that the arms deliveries would not only be continued, but expanded to include new systems.

I don't know about you with the current news situation, I still find the clarity with which the US and Russia now confront each other in this war started by Russia takes some getting used to.

In this respect, it is a bit reassuring for me that a US government representative said today: "We are not aiming for a direct war with Russia." Zelenskyy's visit and the delivery of the Patriot battery will not change that.

The visit is also a good opportunity for the President of Ukraine to reach out to the American people, the government official said.

"It's about sending a message to Putin and to the world that America will be there for Ukraine as long as it takes."

  • Read more here: USA wants to deliver Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine – Zelenskyj travels to Washington

More news and background on the war in Ukraine:

  • The strengths and weaknesses of the Patriot system:

    The USA wants to deliver the anti-aircraft system to Ukraine for the first time.

    It's among the most powerful in the world, but it also has a few weaknesses. 

  • More money, more soldiers, more missiles:

    During an appearance in Moscow, Vladimir Putin and his Defense Minister Shoigu promised the Russian army more resources.

    They only commented in vague terms about their problems during the war in Ukraine.

  • The secret fear of a quick peace:

    Suppose the war in Ukraine suddenly came to an end, through Putin's defeat or a ceasefire: Would Germany know what it would do then?

    A guest post by Markus Kaim 

  • Find all the latest developments on the war in Ukraine here: The News Update

3. Reopening wildlife markets in China could allow more pathogens to be transmitted from animals to humans – putting global health at risk

In the US, President Joe Biden signed legislation yesterday banning the private keeping of big cats in the country.

The law, which has been acclaimed by animal rights activists and which also prohibits any direct contact between visitors and the big cats, such as petting young tigers, lions or jaguars, seems very reasonable to me.

It is probably just a coincidence that almost simultaneously with the enactment of the new US law, it became known that the government in China is now planning to relax the ban on wild animal farming.

After the corona pandemic has subsided, the commercial operation of wild animal farms is apparently to be simplified again. 

Enlarge image

Peacocks at a wildlife market in China (2017)

Photo: VCG/VCG/Getty Images

The breeding of animals such as porcupines, civet cats or bamboo rats would then be possible again under certain conditions.

Apparently, this is what the draft of a “law for the protection of wild animals” envisages.

My colleague Philip Bethge describes in a thoroughly worrying text today that scientists and conservationists fear that the trade in animals could increase again.

As a result, many animals live together in a small space, which gives viruses the opportunity to multiply rapidly, change genetically and possibly spread to humans.

The Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus most likely reached humans via a wild animal.

It may have been transmitted by Java horseshoe bats, a species of bat native to Southeast Asia.

In 2019, the pathogen is said to have jumped to humans at a wild animal market in Wuhan, China.

"China's return to wildlife husbandry is a threat to biodiversity and global health," my colleague Philip quotes a German expert as saying, "apparently the Chinese government has learned nothing from the outbreak of the corona pandemic and has now given in to economic pressure." Pathogens could be transmitted to humans is well documented: "It's a ticking time bomb."

How can the probability be reduced that other pathogens will spread from animals to humans?

Through species protection measures, as recommended by the UN World Nature Summit that ended a few days ago in Montreal: They would obviously significantly reduce the risk of new infectious diseases developing.

  • Read the full story here: China wants to allow more wildlife farms again 

What else is important today

  • Habeck thanks the Germans for saving gas: As

    things stand, Germany should get through the winter well.

    This is also due to the citizens who save gas.

    Economics Minister Habeck has now praised her in an interview.

  • Undeclared work rises with prices:

    life in Germany is becoming more expensive.

    According to one forecast, the shadow economy in the country will also grow – to a tenth of the gross domestic product.

  • Bestselling author Barbara Noack died: »

    Der Bastian« is one of her best-known works: Barbara Noack is dead. She will remain »unforgotten«, said her publisher.

  • "Well meant, but badly done":

    The philologists' association and the federal directors' conference of high schools see clear deficits in the implementation of the digital pact.

    The type of school still performs relatively well in terms of equipment.

My favorite story today

My colleague Cordt Schnibben pays tribute to the truly extraordinary reporter Marie-Luise Scherer

, who died a few days ago at the age of 84,

and her unique flair for language.

'She spent nights trying to find the one, the only possible word and killed dozens of cigarettes.

Was the jacket blue or bluish?

Up until then, who had read about the nitpicking of a porter?” Cordt Schnibben is himself a role model for many of our colleagues as a reporter and proclaims the beautiful, eternal truth here, among other things, “that the condition for precision in language is penetrance in research is".

  • Read the obituary of SPIEGEL reporter Marie-Luise Scherer here: With every cigarette she reckoned with the impatience of death

What we recommend today at SPIEGEL+

  • First the demolition, then the show:

    As the new boss, Elon Musk plunged Twitter into chaos.

    Then he put his withdrawal to a vote – a farce.

    His successor will not have it easy with him. 

  • »My child loved me once«:

    Why doesn't the daughter answer the phone anymore, why does the son keep his address secret?

    When children no longer want to have anything to do with them, mothers and fathers often suffer for years.

    But there are ways to start over. 

  • The tricks of the voucher king:

    A dream for the holidays: Especially those who are late like to use vouchers like those from Jochen Schweizer for Christmas presents.

    But there are doubts about the company's business model. 

  • David versus Goliath on Lake Zurich:

    Credit Suisse is knee-deep in morass: scandals, billions in payments, customer fleeing.

    The big bank is now unloading its anger on a financial journalist, whose reports torment the institute.

    It's about existence. 

Which is less important today

Enlarge image

Bruce Willis, daughter Rumer Willis and Demi Moore in New York in 2011

Photo: Bruce Glikas / FilmMagic

  • Question of Grandma's honor: Demi Moore, 60-year-old US actress, is publicly happy about becoming a grandmother.

    Moore's daughter Rumer Willis, 34, who is from his marriage to Bruce Willis, has taken to Instagram with a baby bump - and Moore, who once rose to fame alongside Tom Cruise in the film A Matter of Honor (1992). , delighted on the same platform, writing: "Enter my hot, crazy grandmother era."

Typo of the day

, now corrected: "In addition, a motorway access road was temporarily blocked in Berlin"

Cartoon of the day:

The new restaurant review

And tonight?

Enlarge image

Bergman, 1948

Photo: Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

In the media library of the public cultural broadcaster Arte, could you watch the film »stromboli« – a marital drama by Roberto Rossini with the gorgeous Ingrid Bergman from 1949. My colleague Marc Pitzke wrote about Bergman's 100th birthday a few years ago their scandals and about their sensational career in America.

"From saint to whore and back" is the title of his homage.

"Tall and of a naturally austere beauty, Bergman hardly fit the American ideal," writes Marc.

»Her eyebrows were too thick, her teeth weren't perfect, and she hardly spoke any English at first.

But she refused any kind of artificial embellishment.« This is how she has risen to become what is probably the most natural star in Hollywood to this day.

A lovely evening.

Heartfelt

Your Wolfgang Hoebel

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-12-21

You may like

Trends 24h

News/Politics 2024-03-28T06:04:53.137Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.