I have a (non-nuclear) dream...

In view of yesterday's amazing/historic election result in Germany (see below), I'm dreaming of a time when: a) the British electorate might be similarly concerned about nuclear issues, and b) the outdated British (in particular English) election system might have changed sufficiently to allow similarly amazing outcomes.

See also extract from today's edition of UK Nuclear News below.

Germany

An estimated quarter of a million people took to the streets in four German cities on Saturday to call for the closure of all nuclear power plants in the country. The demonstrations in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Munich were organised by a wide range of environmental groups and supported by the main opposition parties in parliament—the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Left Party. The German federation of trade unions (DGB) also put its name to the list of sponsors and its chairman was the main speaker at the rally following the march in Berlin.

World Socialist Web 28th March 2011

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/mar2011/gdem-m28.shtml

Morning Star 27th March 2011

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/102752

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition was defeated in its southwestern heartland and failed to win control of a second state as the anti-nuclear Greens vote surged to a record, forcing her to reassess energy policy. The Greens were poised to enter the regional governments in Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate after state elections yesterday conducted in the shadow of the nuclear disaster in Japan. In Baden-Wuerttemberg, the Greens were set to lead their first state administration, ejecting Merkel’s Christian Democrats from power in Stuttgart after 58 years.

Bloomberg 27th March 2011

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-03-27/merkel-s-nuclear-policy-under-fire-as-greens-surge-in-elections.html

Telegraph 27th March 2011

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/8409736/Angela-Merkel-suffers-further-election-blow-over-nuclear-policy.html

Guardian 28th March 2011

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/27/german-green-victory-fukushima

Four nuclear power companies are preparing lawsuits against the German government in the wake of its decision to idle seven of the country’s 17 nuclear-power stations. Officials at the companies – Germany’s Eon, RWE and EnBW and Sweden’s Vattenfall – said no top-level decisions had been taken, but obligations to shareholders made suits “almost an imperative”.

FT 28th March 2011

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3d2319bc-588f-11e0-9b8a-00144feab49a.html

What is translation?

According to latest issue of Jost Zetzsche's excellent Tool Kit newsletter, translation is not "something" that multilingual people do, but a profession of highly qualified individuals who themselves can do a lot to make this apparent for anyone who cares to look.

Jost goes on to distil some overarching themes from the recently published book, The Prosperous Translator, into six useful bullet points:

• Writing skills in the target language are one of the key components to success as a translator.
• Above-average subject-specific knowledge is another key to success.
• There is great value in membership and active participation in professional associations.
• Networking with colleagues and clients is essential.
• Low prices devalue your proposal and make you less attractive.
• There is lots and lots of work out there for lots and lots of us, provided that we adhere to the points listed above.

Jost concludes that: the (translation) world would truly be a better place if we followed these suggestions (and if those who can't would choose a different profession!).

We owe the internet for changing the world. Now let's learn how to turn off

Next time we have people round for dinner or meet friends in the pub etc. and they get carried away with their blasted smartphones, I'll point them to this article that appeared in the Guardian's Comment is free section yesterday:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/22/internet-learn-to-turn-off

Oma Ziska (Franziska Gutfleisch)

Bin beim Aufräumen gerade mal wieder auf den Nachruf auf meine Oma Ziska (Franziska Gutfleisch) aus dem Mannheimer Morgen vom 19.11.2002 gestoßen und finde, dass sie durchaus endlich einmal eine Erwähnung im Internet verdient hat!

Swan & Rushes real ale pub, Leicester

'Re-discovered' an excellent traditional pub just up the road yesterday evening - see Swan & Rushes website at http://www.swanandrushes.co.uk/

German Communication Styles

I just came across an illuminating web page explaining German communication styles (and the proverbial/alleged lack of humour). You can find it here.

Germany's Energy Research Plan

Oct 29, 2010 © Germany.info

German Education and Research Minister Annette Schavan recently presented Germany's new energy concept and the research investments that will support it in an editorial that appeared in the renowned international weekly journal Science.

"The 'Energiekonzept' (Energy Concept) foresees an end to the country's dependence on fossil fuels and defines key milestones to achieve by 2050, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent (compared to 1990 levels), the modernization and insulation of buildings, and a decrease in electricity consumption by 25 percent," Schavan states in the editorial, published in the October 15 edition of Science.

"By spring 2011, the German government will present a detailed new Energy Research Program that outlines important research tasks to support these new goals," she added.

"Renewable energies will play the major role in restructuring Germany's energy supply. These sources already generate about 16 percent of Germany's energy, including wind and hydropower, biomass, geothermal, and photovoltaic power," said Schavan.

Germany's global leadership in Green Tech innovations was based on major ongoing investments in research and the dissemination of technology, Schavan moreover underscored.

"In 2010 alone, the German government will spend approximately 1 billion euros on energy and climate research," she said.

A new 40-year Energy Concept for Germany was presented by Chancellor Angela Merkel on September 6 in Berlin. She hailed it as "a revolution in the field of energy supply" that would create the most efficient and environmentally sound energy system worldwide in Germany.

Related Links:

Germany's Energy Research Plan - read the full editorial by German Research Minister Annette Schavan published in Science (Oct. 15, 2010)

Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)