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| April 2002 Newsletter |
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WHAT'S ON IN APRIL |
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CONCERT OF SACRED MUSIC BY JS BACH |
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Dr Hans-Peter Mueller from Munich wrote to us in connection with the different contributions which we reproduced in our previous Newsletter under this heading. As a longtime teacher of DAF in remote corners of the world, Dr Mueller admires the Circle’s dedication to the teaching of the German language. At the same time, though, he wished to make it a point that the word “Mitgliederinnen” is wrong because it represents “a crude violation of German morphology”. He maintains that, since the word “Mitglieder” is already a plural form, “Mitgliederinnen” is in itself wrong because “in NO WAY can a German word have two plural markers”. |
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Gerlinde
Kupp: Flirten, feiern, fröhlich sein – so ein LENZ 2. Teil - Ostern |
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Easter – where does the name come from? Many traditions are celebrated – but who knows what they mean, where do they come from? Here the author gives some brief explanations. Woher stammt der Name eigentlich? Es ist kein Märchen, auch wenn uns die Bedeutung von den Brüdern Grimm überliefert wurde. Jacob Grimm hat den Namen OSTERN auf die germanische Göttin Ostara zurückgeführt. Die Göttin des Frühlings und der Morgenröte hieß bei den Germanen EOSTRAE, bei den Römern AURORA: demnächst trägt unser wichtigstes Kirchenfest einen nichtchristlichen Namen. Zumindest, wenn es nach den Brüdern Grimm geht. Ostereier, Osterfeuer, Osterbrot, Osterlamm, Osterbäume, Osterbrunnen – zum ersten großen Fest des Jahres werden viele Bräuche mit Begeisterung gepflegt. Doch nur wenige kennen ihre wahre Bedeutung: Osterhasen galten im Volksglauben als Symbol der Fruchtbarkeit. Denn Meister Langohr kann eine reiche Nachkommenschaft zeugen. Und dies bereits im Frühling. Osterfeuer sollten nach germanischem Glauben mit ihrer Glut Hexen und böse Geister vertreiben. Aus kirchlicher Sicht wurde im Mittelalter daraus das Licht Christi, das auf die dunkle Welt gekommen war. Ostereier verdanken ihren Ursprung einer eher lästigen Pflicht aus früheren Zeiten. Da war es nämlich üblich, Abgaben und Steuern in Form von Naturalien zu entrichten. Im Frühjahr, wenn es noch keine Feldfrüchte gab, waren das Eier. Daraus entwickelte sich der Brauch, zu Ostern buntbemalte Eier zu verschenken. Osterküken stehen für das durch den Lenz wiedererwachte Leben. Osterwasser hat etwas mit reinem Volksglauben zu tun. Wer vor Sonnenaufgang am Ostersonntag Wasser aus einer frischen Quelle trinkt und sich damit wäscht, der bleibt das ganze Jahr gesund und schön. Osterlichter sind eine alte Sitte aus der Schweiz. Man lässt sie auf einem See oder Teich schwimmen. So demonstriert man seine Freude, dass der Winter vorbei ist und nicht mehr bei künstlichem Licht gearbeitet werden muss. Osterbrot soll ebenfalls Hexen und Teufel verbannen. Bei dieser Zeremonie werden drei Kreuze in die Brotrinde geritzt. Osterbäume werden bei uns im Fränkischen in ländlicher Gegend aufgestellt, besonders zum Schmuck eines Dorfes. Die einfallsreichsten, buntesten Bäume werden prämiert.
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| Malcolm Callus recommends a holiday in BERLIN |
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This essay was awarded the second prize in the European Year of Languages 2001 Essay Competition organised by the German-Maltese Circle Due to the size of Germany, it is not surprising that all the different regions (Länder) have their own distinctive characteristics. However, when one talks of the capital city Berlin, since the Twenties home to a good number of Germans and non-Germans alike, one cannot refrain from observing the way this city has been shaped by different cultures all throughout its rich history. In fact while before the fall of the Wall in 1989 it was common to refer to Berlin as “one city, two worlds” nowadays a saying like “one city, many worlds” is more apt. And for this reason, I would add that any tourist will find his niche according to his own interests in Berlin. The fall of the Wall, coupled with the Government’s move from Bonn to Berlin, brought an influx of new ideas that never come to an end. An increasing occupancy and conversion of destroyed buildings in the former East, part matched by constant renovation of ideas in the West, (that part of Berlin that had been booming since the Twenties but ceased for a while due to the two World Wars) resulted in more people working together in a fair competitive field. This makes Berlin one of the most attractive European metropolitan city today, which together with its dynamic people, offers more choice to the tourist. And with the amount of change happening there each and every time one visits a site, it is almost a holiday for the Berliner as well. Then there is also "janz weit draußen" (a typical Berlin expression meaning “the place out there”), - that area that comprises Greater Berlin surrounding the inner city downtown and where most Berlin families prefer to go on festive periods for picnics and vacation. Talking of which, while in Berlin, one should definitely visit the adjacent Brandenburg State situated to Berlin's west, the State which forged most of Berlin’s history throughout the ages. Obviously "the place out there" is not just Brandenburg, but for tourists it is the different neighbourhoods that together make up the actual dynamic downtown Berlin that keeps attracting them year after year. As a cultural centre where new art movements and lifestyle trends are born, since its cultural heyday of the Twenties to date, Berlin is the State where everybody should be happy in his own way. And with 3 opera houses, more than 150 theatres, around 170 museums, some 300 galleries, more than 250 public libraries, 130 cinemas and numerous other cultural institutions, visitors have a wide pick to choose from every day. Not to mention the clubs, and the wide gastronomic variety of restaurants from all corners of the world. So whether one takes a guided tour, books a boat trip, gets on bus no.100, just hires a bike or simply takes time for himself to walk and wander about, one may surely notice three different city centres. Namely Kurfürstendamm (still the most vibrant centre of the west), the eastern side stretch from Pariser Platz to Alexanderplatz, and finally the city within the city, Potsdamer Platz. Kurfürstendamm is the place where there is always something going on. From the Kaiser Memorial Church to the 90-strong shopping venue of Europa Center, street performers entertain the public while traders offer the latest gimmicks to passers-by. Here one also finds Kaufhaus des Westend, more known as KaDeWe, where nearly everything under the sun is for sale. And that is not all, there is more of anything for everyone here with a good number of posh restaurants, fast food outlets, pubs, cafes, cinemas and fashion shops. On the other hand, if one is interested in history, Kurfürstendamm Karee hosts the most recommended exhibition The Story of Berlin, a 4-floor multimedia display that highlights Berlin’s past 800 years through 3-D systems, touch-screen facilities, and time tunnels that bring different epochs to life. Moving to the famous Brandenburg Gate, one comes to the start of Berlin's grand old boulevard, Unter den Linden, once full of monumental buildings from the old Prussian state, nowadays unfortunately destroyed by the two World Wars. Historically at place, here one finds the embassies of the Four Powers that ruled Berlin after World War II, that is America, France, Britain and Russia. This then crosses into Friedrichstraße, once the centre of Berlin's nightlife but nowadays more active by day. Mostly a rich architectural site, it is usually in summer when classical concerts are held at the Gendarmenmarkt, or in winter when an ice rink is set in the square, that it is worth a visit here after sunset. South-West of Unter den Linden is Nikolaiviertel. Better known as "old Berlin", this is where one finds Berlin's oldest houses and the remains of many others destroyed by wars. This neo-baroque haven is very popular among tourists and it is becoming even more as the old city is gradually being rebuilt artificially by moving other old houses scattered around Berlin to here. As is Museum Island further north, another definite must, especially by night when the atmosphere is so magical it makes one feel as if he has been transported elsewhere to other times. Here one can find the Old Museum, the New Museum, the Old National Gallery and the Bode and Pergamon Museums, all worth a visit but with the Pergamon Altar being the highlight. To Potsdamer Platz, the square known in the Twenties as Europe's busiest junction. Unfortunately the war had its toll on buildings even here, and after the city was divided into East and West this square (located between the areas of the Soviet, American and British where the Wall crossed straight through) remained unused, so much that life started booming again only after the fall of the Wall . But with the recent building of the sky-high Sony Centre, a number of different world class cinemas, the Musical Theatre, the Filmmuseum Berlin, and finally the Potsdamer Platz Arcades shopping center, which includes hotels, a casino, theatres, cinemas, shops, restaurants, bars and cafes, it seems that investors have not wasted their time to offer more that could attract anyone to this part of Berlin. So with ease I claim that while Kurfūrstendamm is still the domain of West Berliners and Alexanderplatz the stomping-ground of East Berliners, all Berliners, along with tourists and Germans from Greater Berlin have taken to Potsdamer Platz, so who knows, maybe this area will actually regain the magic it had in the Twenties. A brief overview on other neighbourhoods is worth mentioning. Prenzlauer Berg is the area the local administration is presently considering to turn exclusively into a tourist site, as walking along the recently painted picturesque houses in this area one comes across a good number of cocktail bars and cafes, including as well as a Mediterranean flair set by the owners of the many Italian restaurants here. But if one's taste for cuisine is different, one can also find Indian, Spanish, Jewish and Russian outlets, or to just relax and chat there is a beergarden, and some cinema halls as well. For those who are into sports, the Volkspark in the Friedrichshain area offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports. But the pub and club scene is not missing even here, where clubs offer a variety of music from schlager to drum ‘n’ bass to dark-wave to alternative rock. Not to forget Speciher, a huge American-style temple of entertainment with discos and bars on each of its four floors. Another stop is the district of Kreuzberg which to many Berliners is unofficially divided into an East (referred to as SO36) and a West (referred to as Kreuzberg 61). The latter has the reputation of being well-off and an upper-class area. In contrast, SO36, also known as “Little Istanbul” is a mixture of punks, drop-outs, avantgarde artists and filmmakers who co-exist with the Turkish (mostly second generation) population there. Although the nightlife has shifted to Mitte and to Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg still retains a sizeable share of this activity. The “Checkpoint Charlie” Museum – a vivid reminder of the history of The Wall, lies to the north of Kreuzberg. For those who remember the film "Cabaret" starring Liza Minelli, the area in which most of the film was shot goes by the name of Schöneberg, nowadays the place to be if you are in for the perfect cocktail. The same for those keen in dining out as outlets here range from cheap take-aways to really posh cafes. Into shopping with a difference? This area has got all those crazy and unusual fashion shops and outdoor markets, and when night closes in all these garments highlight the streets in the clubs, mostly Latin American style. Definitely much more upbeat and in fact a most vibrant centre of attraction to all Berliners and tourists is Mitte, the innermost core of the town. And it is understandable, for this area hosts the largest number of bars, clubs, studios, galleries, theatres and many historic cultural monuments. The streets are always packed with guided tours, especially every quarter when galleries are open for free to 10 p.m. Another inevitable encounter but this time all year round is Hackesche Höfe, a complex of eight inter-linked inner courtyards that bring together urban life in all its variety. And there is more, but to talk briefly about all the happenings in Mitte is already a detail in itself, so I just refrain by saying that fringe art, cinema, Oriental cocktails, cabaret, concerts, dance, designer clothing, late-night parties, jazz, tango, literature nights, electronic music and more make up for a varied vibrant scene all year round, all around the clock! In other words Mitte is an eldorado for who is out to enjoy himself, an area recommended in all tourist guidebooks. More relaxed, especially after 2a.m. when life in the streets would have greatly eased, is Potsdam, the island south-west of Berlin downtown marked a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. "Athens and Sparta, military camp and Epicurean garden, trumpets and violins, war and philosophy" is how Voltaire once described this floating city, a paradise as it was intended by the King of Prussia who set this area in the form of a Dutch town with canals, park landscapes and artistic lakes. Home to many craftsmen and artists, Potsdam is full of exotic architecture and decorative sculptures. And the dozens of gardens and parks by the water? Only one word for all that - harmony! So while night life is not as vibrant as Mitte, still "if you search, you find something", so much that it is in Potsdam that one finds a boat pub, various garden festivals, and a variety of world music events all year round. As one can easily observe, to sum up Berlin in a nutshell is difficult, practically impossible, as the city constantly undergoes new changes through a constant influx of creative new ideas, so much that if one visits the same area after a couple of years, most probably it would have underwent some changes. As Karl Scheffer once aptly described it, Berlin is a city "doomed always to become and never to be", and for that reason I would recommend a holiday there anytime.
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| New German portal in the offing www.deutschland.de |
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After winning a legal battle the German government now owns the domain "deutschland.de". Ownership of the domain was transferred to the German Press and Information Office by Medianet, the company that previously claimed the domain. This opens up the way for making "deutschland.de" a portal of portals for Germany. A pilot version is to be presented on the web at CeBIT 2002 in Hanover. It is scheduled to go into regular use this summer, affording virtual access to Germany in five languages. An advance version of the portal has been on the web since Friday, March 1. The portal for Germany is a project initiated by the Press and Information Office. It will be the main non-commercial portal for information on Germany in the areas of business, science and scholarship, government, tourism, sports, and culture. Annotated links to existing portals and collections of information on Germany are to be presented in a user-friendly way in five languages, i.e. German, English, French, Spanish, and Russian. The portal will also afford international access to an increasing number of direct services on the internet. "Arge deutschland.de", a company chosen to develop and operate the site after a rigorous selection procedure, and the Press and Information Office as the contract provider, will set the following standards for the new portal: Quality assurance for content is an absolute priority. The portal for Germany must be a seal of approval for information providers. User friendliness is an equally important requirement: modern design, clear-cut information architecture, and easy-to-use search functions. An e-mail call center will provide a competent response to global demand for information on the basis of optimum management. The portal will provide the framework for an international trademark, "deutschland.de", opening up the way for uniform national and international marketing. The portal will become Germany's visiting card on the internet and, as such, an important part of Germany's international presence. For this reason numerous cultural, media, foreign relations, as well as federal and state government institutions were involved in the development phase. The decision on domain ownership was handed down by a panel of judges on February 12, ending a legal battle that had gone on for nearly two years. The domain was awarded to the German government in an initial decision reached by the regional court in Berlin. In an appeal hearing Medianet indicated its willingness to settle the matter and an agreement was rapidly reached in favor of the government, represented by the Ihde law firm in Berlin. The company commissioned to develop and operate the portal, "Arge deutschland.de", is a joint venture formed between "Ponton-Lab GmbH" and "DeTeSystems" (Deutsche Telekom Systemlösungen GmbH). "Ponton-Lab", a medium-sized company based in Hanover, will assume responsibility for project management including the writing and editing of texts, site design, programming, and web software maintenance. DeTeSystems, a Berlin-based subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, will be responsible for designing, installing, operating, and maintaining servers, databases, and firewalls. The company will also create and maintain an e-mail call center. An agency by the name of "SchömannCorporate" will be responsible for the style guide.
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| The primitive horse in the fossilised mud – Messel Pit |
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As one travel west from Berlin one comes to Messel near Darmstadt, in the south of Hesse. It is hard to imagine that the temperatures here used to be tropical, even 50 million years ago. It is just as difficult for a lay person to imagine that here, near Messel, between railway lines and former factories, is one of the most significant places in the world for its fossil finds: Messel Pit, one kilometre in circumference and sixty metres deep. The place is just 20 kilometres from Frankfurt airport, not far from Darmstadt. UNESCO declared the pit to be a world heritage site in 1995. For scientists, Messel is a window to the middle period of the earth’s history, dating back to the Eocene period. From 1873 to 1963, brown coal and later oil-shale were mined from Messel Pit. The soft, oil-rich stone was cracked at low temperatures, i.e. broken down into its chemical components in order to extract the valuable raw material, oil. In 1942, 32 enormous distillation furnaces stood on the edge of the pit for this purpose. Even at that time, as legend has it, pit workers put to one side slate plates imprinted with fossils to show the palaeontologists. While it was known that significant finds could be made here, there were overriding economic interests. In the 1950s, the pit became less significant. It was cheaper to import oil, and the complicated process was no longer worthwhile. In 1962 a cement factory took over the premises. In the 1970s it, too, went bankrupt, and now the fate of the site seemed sealed: In the highly-populated region, the cities and municipalities were looking for a site to dispose of their growing mountains of waste. Why not put it all in the big hole? But they had not reckoned with the people of Messel: In 1975 a civic action group started a petition. The people went on demonstrations, collected expert opinions and second opinions and fought the local government’s plans through the courts. It was twelve years before they won their court case – on appeal. The palaeontologists can be grateful to the people of Messel today for saving this site. And the politicians? They have long since forgotten their plans for the refuse tip and are evidently basking in the reflected glory of the pit being a world heritage site. What is special about Messel Pit is the oily shale which is exposed here and which has preserved primitive animals from the middle period of the earth’s history in a remarkable way. When the stone is wet it is as soft as butter; when it dries it crumbles. Like oil, oil shale consists of the organic remains of plants and animals preserved over millions of years under high pressure in an environment with low oxygen levels. Unlike oil, however, the process in the case of oily shale was interrupted or was not quite complete. The pit is an Eocene lake-bed, which sank deeper and deeper and was covered with layers of rock. The reason why the fossils were so well-preserved, researchers believe, is that the floor of this lake was permanently poor in oxygen. Anything that fell into the lake and sank to the bottom perished immediately. But there was more to it than that: no animals or plants destroyed the bodies that had fallen into the dead lake bed, no current could damage them in any way, the water stood still. In time, fine layers of sediment covered the bodies or the plants and enclosed them layer by layer; complete with their skin and hair. By means of a complicated process, palaeontologists today release birds complete with their plumage and the contents of their stomachs from the layers of stone. They have been able to determine the colours of insects. And they have found the enclosed skeleton of a 50-cm long primitive horse. An ant-eater, too has been discovered in good condition – evidence for the hypothesis that once there must have been a land link between Africa and America, as there are only a few traces of this animal outside South America. What makes Messel so interesting is not only the quality of the finds, but also the period of the earth’s history from which they originate. Around 60 million years ago, the dinosaurs were becoming extinct. They had dominated the earth’s ecosystem for a long time. The few mammals already in existence had little chance. Ten million years later, when the tropical sea was spreading out in Messel, mammals were strongly on the offensive. They had begun to occupy all the places in the ecosystem previously held by dinosaurs. Mammals were starting to become the dominant group of animals on the earth. Messel documents this early period, when evolution was experimenting in a wild and uncontrolled way, rejecting certain forms and inventing others. Another 48 million years were to pass before man appeared on the scene. (Information on the Internet: www.hmwk.hessen.de/messel)
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| Volksmärchen |
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Das Fischessen Ein armer Handwerksbursche kam auf der Wanderschaft durch Nürnberg, und da ihn hungerte und er noch ein paar Zehrpfennige in der Tasche hatte, so trat er in das nächstbeste Wirtshaus und gedachte, dort zu Mittag zu essen. Es war aber die "Goldene Gans", und er merkte, als er im Saal war, gleich, dass er in ein äußerst vornehmes Haus geraten war, getraute sich jedoch nicht, wieder hinauszugehen, und blieb, als die Gäste sich zur Mahlzeit an die gedeckten Tische begaben, verlegen und bedrückt hinter dem Ofen sitzen. "Nun, mein Guter", redete ihn der Wirt freundlich an, "willst du nicht auch hersitzen und mithalten?" Er fürchte, entgegnete der Handwerksbursche, dass es zu eng geworden sei, und er bleibe wohl besser, wo er sei. Aber der Wirt wollte das nicht gelten lassen. "Komm nur her", sagte er, "ich mache dir schon Platz". Und da wirklich alle Tische besetzt waren bis auf eine Tafel, an der einige reiche Bürger und Kaufleute zu speisen pflegten, die er gut kannte, so bat er diese, ein wenig zusammenzurücken. Der Geselle setzte sich also auf ein Bänkchen am unteren Ende, und es ward aufgetragen, ein Gang köstlicher als der andere. Aber er schämte sich und blickte, da ihn niemand zulangen hieß, mit heißen Augen auf seinen Teller nieder. Als man aber endlich gar sein Leibgericht auftrug, nämlich eine große Schüssel voll gebackener Fische, und ihn wiederum keiner nötigen wollte, so raffte er sich auf, nahm den kleinsten Fisch, der gerade vor ihm lag, vorsichtig von der Platte, stellte sich, als ob er mit ihm zu reden hätte, und hielt ihn sich danach mit dem Maul ans Ohr, als wolle er hören, was er zu antworten wisse; worüber die Tischgenossen sich nicht wenig wunderten. "Lieber Freund", sagte einer der Kaufherren, "was sind das für Tischgebräuche? Warum haltet Ihr Euch den Fisch ans Ohr?" Der Handwerksbursche tat, als rücke er nicht gerne mit der Sprache heraus. "Liebe Herren", sagte er nach einer Weile, "ich habe eben etwas mit ihm zu reden gehabt, wollt euch durch das nicht beirren lassen." Als sie nun aber erst redet in ihn drangen, sagte er, auf das Tischtuch starrend: "Mein Herzensvater, ihr lieben Herren, ist mir vor einigen Jahren unweit von hier in der Pegnitz ertrunken. Ich habe nun das Fischlein hier gefragt, ob er ihn nicht irgendwo gesehen habe. Nein, sagte es, es sei noch zu klein dazu, ich möchte seine Eltern fragen, die könnten mir vielleicht Bescheid geben." Da lachten die Bürger von Herzen und legten ihm gleich die Eltern auf den Teller, zwei schöne große Karpfen, nach denen er wehleidig geschielt hatte, zahlten ihm auch am Ende seine Zeche und ließen ihn fröhlich seiner Wege ziehen. Vom dicken fetten Pfannekuchen Es waren einmal drei alte Weiber, welche gern Pfannekuchen essen wollten; da gab die erste ein Ei dazu her, die zweite Milch und die dritte Fett und Mehl. Als der dicke fette Pfannekuchen fertig war, richtete er sich in der Pfanne in die Höhe und lief den drei alten Weibern weg und lief immerzu und lief kantapper, kantapper in den Wald hinein. Da begegnete ihm ein Häschen, das rief: "Dicker, fetter Pfannekuchen, bleib stehn, ich will dich fressen!" Der Pfannekuchen antwortete: "Ich bin drei alten Weibern weggelaufen, und soll dir Häschen Wippschwanz nicht entwischen?" und lief kantapper, kantapper in den Wald hinein. Da kam ein Wolf angelaufen und rief: "Dicker, fetter Pfannekuchen, bleib stehn, ich will dich fressen!" Der Pfannekuchen antwortete: "Ich bin drei alten Weibern weggelaufen und Häschen Wippschwanz, und soll dir Wolf Dickschwanz nicht entwischen?" und lief kantapper, kantapper in den Wald hinein. Da kam ein Reh herzugesprungen und rief: "Dicker, fetter Pfannekuchen, bleib stehn, ich will dich fressen!" Der Pfannekuchen antwortete: "Ich bin drei alten Weibern weggelaufen, Häschen Wippschwanz, Wolf Dickschwanz und soll dir Reh Blitzschwanz nicht entwischen?" und lief kantapper, kantapper in den Wald hinein. Da kam eine Kuh herbeigerannt und rief: "Dicker, fetter Pfannekuchen, bleib stehn, ich will dich fressen!" Der Pfannekuchen antwortete: "Ich bin drei alten Weibern weggelaufen, Häschen Wippschwanz, Wolf Dickschwanz, Reh Blitzschwanz und soll dir Kuh Schwippschwanz nicht entwischen?" und lief kantapper, kantapper in den Wald hinein. Da kam eine Sau dahergefegt und rief: "Dicker, fetter Pfannekuchen, bleib stehn, ich will dich fressen!" Der Pfannekuchen antwortete: "Ich bin drei alten Weibern weggelaufen, Häschen Wippschwanz, Wolf Dickschwanz, Reh Blitzschwanz, Kuh Schwippschwanz, und soll dir Sau Kringelschwanz nicht entwischen?" und lief kantapper, kantapper in den Wald hinein. Da kamen drei Kinder daher, die hatten keinen Vater und keine Mutter mehr und sprachen: "Lieber Pfannekuchen, bleib stehen!
Wir haben noch nichts gegessen den ganzen Tag!" Da sprang der dicke, fette Pfannekuchen den Kindern in den Korb und ließ sich von ihnen essen.
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| EUROCAMP 2002 |
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Also this year, the German-Maltese Circle has been requested to choose a candidate to participate in the EUROCAMP 2002 which will be held between the 8th and the 28th July in Letzlingen (Saxony-Anhalt). Eligible are members of the German-Maltese Circle aged between 18 and 25 and with a knowledge of German sufficient to be able to communicate. Only those whose current membership has been paid up by the 31st March 2002 will be considered. The chosen person will join a group of other 90 young people from around Europe working in various interesting projects and participating in the many leisure time events organised throughout the duration of the Eurocamp. Travel, board, accomodation and programme expenses will be all paid. More information will be given to those who apply. Application is effected simply by contacting our office and leaving your details. Closing date is 30th April 2002.
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| News from our Library from Olaf Rieck |
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We would like to thank Mr. Ovidio Vella from Sliema for his generous donation of books which includes literature classics, crime stories, novels, etc. Videos: “Wie hat der Terror unseren Alltag beeinflusst?” ist das erste Thema des in der Reihe KuBus erschienenen Videos. Menschen auf der Straße, einer Psychotherapeutin und einem Vertreter der Kirche wurde die Frage gestellt, wie wir mit dem Gefühl der Unsicherheit umgehen. “Soziale Sicherung: Rente mit Zukunft” ist das zweite Thema, in dem das deutsche Rentensystem erklärt und auf die Probleme durch die demographische Entwicklung eingegangen wird. CD: A CD with baroque music and arias by Georg Friedrich Händel is available at the library. What makes this CD very special is that the arias are sung by a countertenor. In Händel’s time, many parts were sung by castratos – something not possible today! So in most cases these parts are now sung by women. But some male singers have developed a special technique of singing, like for example Axel Köhler who in 1987 changed his vocal tone from baritone to alto. This CD was donated to us by his agent. More information about Axel Köhler, who is also a director, is available on the internet: www.axelkoehler.com Newsflash “German is second in candidate countries for the European Union” On Euronews (21.03.2001) a survey was conducted in candidate countries for the European Union in which people had to name the two most useful foreign languages. German, after English (86%), came in the second place with 58% with a large leeway from third placed French with 17%. This high percentage for German emerges mostly from the historical and geographical role of German in central and eastern European countries. The enlargement of the European Union could therefore lead to an increase in the importance of German and French could lose its current popularity. Neu “German TV” Am 1. März diesen Jahres wurde das Gemeinschaftsprojekt von ARD, ZDF und Deutsche Welle “German TV” gestartet. Zunächst kann es nur in den Vereinigten Staaten digital empfangen werden. Bis Ende des Jahres sollen Kanada und Lateinamerika folgen. Eine Marktstudie in den USA brachte zutage, dass in 1 Million Haushalte mind. eine Person Deutsch spricht und in 2,5 Millionen Haushalten eine Person Deutsch versteht. Derzeit ist ein kostenloser Empfang möglich, ab Mai kann German TV nur noch gesehen werden, wenn ein Abonnement abgeschlossen wird. Ziel ist es, nach sieben Jahren ca. 70.000 Abonnenten zu haben. German TV ist ein rein deutschsprachiges 24-stündiges Fernsehprogramm. ARD und ZDF steuern je 40% des Programms bei, die Deutsche Welle die restlichen 20%. Zu sehen sind z.B. die Tagesschau, das heute journal und die Nachrichtensendung der Deutschen Welle (Journal), Talk mit Sabine Christiansen, Johannes B. Kerner sowie Boulevard Bio, der aktuelle Tatort-Krimi und das ZDF-Fernsehspiel. Außerdem ist eine 45-minütige Zusammenfassung des jeweiligen Spieltages der Fußballbundesliga geplant. “In diesen außenpolitisch bewegten Zeiten besteht nicht allein in den USA ein hoher Bedarf an unabhängiger, kritischer und verlässlicher Information aus Europa und besonders aus einen so wichtigen Land wie Deutschland” so Fritz Pleitgen, Intendant von ARD/WDR. Weitere Informationen unter www.germantv.info
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