Miscellaneous stories
A Great Gesture of Reconciliation
Forty years ago this picture from Warsaw made headlines around the world: on December 7, 1970, the German Chancellor laid a wreath at the memorial to the victims of the Warsaw Ghetto of 1943. He gently rearranged the black, red, and gold ribbon and stepped back a few paces. Then, surprisingly, he knelt down on the wet asphalt in front of the memorial and remained there with his head bowed and his hands folded. In doing so, Brandt sent a signal that moved the world.
In commemoration of this event and the following 40 years of German-Polish reconciliation the German Embassy and the Polish Embassy organized a piano concert with pieces of two great composer of the 19th century: Robert Schumann and Frederic Chopin at NAFA Concert Hall.
Germany and Singapore coorperate in improving Afghan air safety Singapore
Germany and Singapore continue their coorperation in Afghanisttan. The objective of the joint initiative is to improve the security in the Afghan civil aviation sector. In 2009 the first seminar for members of the Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation was inaugurated. In November 2010 Germany and Singapore agreed to continue the training of
personnel of the Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. The estimated cost of EUR 106.000,- will be equally shared by Germany and Singapore.
Hamburg – European Green Capital 2011
The European Commission (EC) has awarded the European Green Capital Award 2011 to Hamburg. Thereby, the EC has recognised the efforts by Germany's major seaport to solve environmental problems in order to both improve the quality of life of its citizens and reduce the contribution it makes to the global environment as a whole.
Hamburg seeks green answers to metropolitan challenges and has innovative ideas on how to share its experience and best practice as the European Green Capital of 2011.
Smoking chimneys and mines, coal and steel: for many decades these were the symbols of the Ruhr, Germany’s largest industrial belt. With 53 cities and around 5.3 million inhabitants, the third largest conurbation in Europe will be showing its new face as European Capital of Culture in 2010.
RUHR.2010. European Capital of Culture
Nuclear Security Summit resolves to build alliance against nuclear terrorism
47 states came together in Washington to seek ways to combat the growing threat posed by the proliferation of nuclear material. Germany and Singapore are part of the worldwide alliance against nuclear terrorism. Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle welcomed the “strong and responsible message” sent by Washington and called for further progress in the disarmament sphere.
Germany and Singapore coorperate in improving Afghan air safety
Singapore and Germany have agreed to collaborate in improving Afghan air safety. On 14 September 2009 the first seminar for members of the Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation was inaugurated.
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Creating an International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
Energy security, environmental protection and poverty alleviation are global challenges that can only be overcome by joint international efforts. Renewable energies play a key role in this context. Making greater use of them is crucial in view of climate change and limited conventional resources. With its initiative to establish an International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the German government has set itself the goal of accelerating the worldwide expansion of renewables.
German Civil Society
They help immigrant children to learn German, travel to crisis regions with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to assist refugees and support their local voluntary fire service: 23 million people in Germany – that’s one in three people over the age of 16 – actively contribute to the community, whether through work in the social domain, in environmental protection or in interest groups. These people form the basis of civil society in Germany, they tackle problems and help others – without receiving any money themselves.
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Riesling - Made in Germany
Riesling, more than any other type of grape, has shaped the global image of Germany’s wine-growing areas – which is why it is considered the trademark of German viticulture. “Germany can safely be said to be the home of Riesling. After all, some 60 per cent of all the world’s Rieslings are grown in Germany,” explains Ernst Büscher of the German Wine Institute.
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Discovery - Primate fossil found in Germany hailed as ‘missing link’ in human evolution
Ida, whom researchers are saying is the most complete and well preserved primate fossil ever found, was discovered in the Unesco world heritage site known as the Messel pit near Darmstadt in Germany. She is already being called the missing link in the story of human evolution between our early ancestors and the animal kingdom.
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