Herta Müller, the Romanian-born German novelist and essayist who has written widely about the oppression of dictatorship in her native country and the unmoored life of the political exile, on Thursday won the 2009 Nobel Prize for Literature.
Ms. Müller, 56, emigrated to Germany in 1987 after years of persecution and censorship in Romania. She is the first German writer to win the Nobel award since Günter Grass in 1999. Just four of her works have been translated into English, including the novels “The Land of Green Plums” and “The Appointment.”
Ms. Müller was born and raised in the German-speaking town of Nitzkydorf in Romania. Her father served in the SS during World War II and her mother was deported to the Soviet Union in 1945 and sent to a work camp in what is now Ukraine. As a university student studying German and Russian literature, Ms. Müller opposed the regime of Nicolae Ceausescu and joined Aktionsgruppe Banat, a group of dissident writers who sought freedom of speech.
She wrote her first work, a collection of short stories, in 1982 while working as a translator for a factory. The stories were censored by the Romanian authorities and Ms. Müller was fired from the factory after refusing to work with the Securitate secret police. While working as a kindergarten teacher, the uncensored manuscript of “Niederungen,” — or “Lowlands” — was smuggled to Germany and published there to instant critical acclaim.
“Niederungen” and other early works depicted life in a small village and the repression faced by its denizens. Her later novels, including “The Land of Green Plums” and “The Appointment,” approach allegory as they graphically portray the brutality suffered by modest people leaving under totalitarianism.
Ms. Müller has continued to speak out against oppression and collaboration. In Germany, she has criticized those East German writers who worked with the secret police and recently withdrew from PEN, the human rights organization, to protest its decision to merge with an East German branch.
The awards ceremony is planned for Dec. 10 in Stockholm. As the winner, Ms. Muller will receive 10 million Swedish kronor, or about $1.4 million.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Germany to push development of clean energy
Germany's cabinet has approved plans to dedicate special zones off its northern coast to house up to 40 offshore windparks that could provide electricity to over eight million households.
The plan involves setting aside zones between 12 and 200 kilometers (seven and 124 miles) off its northern shores. Of the 40 wind farms, 30 would be in the North Sea and 10 in the Baltic Sea. Of these, 25 have already received approval—22 in the North Sea and three in the Baltic Sea.
In total, the plan envisions German offshore wind parks holding up to 2,500 wind turbines. German Federal Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee also said that the plan could create about 30,000 jobs.
The plan is meant to double the current amount of energy supplied by wind in Germany to 12 percent by 2020. The country's national climate protection targets envision it satisfying 30 percent of its energy needs using renewable resources by 2030.
While many in Germany are happy about the decision, others think that the government has been too slow to act on this issue. Critics point out that plans to boost Germany's offshore power production have actually been in the works since the beginning of the decade. In 2002, the coalition led by then-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder—made up of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green Party—passed the German government's strategy on offshore wind energy development.
The plan involves setting aside zones between 12 and 200 kilometers (seven and 124 miles) off its northern shores. Of the 40 wind farms, 30 would be in the North Sea and 10 in the Baltic Sea. Of these, 25 have already received approval—22 in the North Sea and three in the Baltic Sea.
In total, the plan envisions German offshore wind parks holding up to 2,500 wind turbines. German Federal Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee also said that the plan could create about 30,000 jobs.
The plan is meant to double the current amount of energy supplied by wind in Germany to 12 percent by 2020. The country's national climate protection targets envision it satisfying 30 percent of its energy needs using renewable resources by 2030.
While many in Germany are happy about the decision, others think that the government has been too slow to act on this issue. Critics point out that plans to boost Germany's offshore power production have actually been in the works since the beginning of the decade. In 2002, the coalition led by then-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder—made up of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green Party—passed the German government's strategy on offshore wind energy development.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
New German Language College Opens in Azerbaijan
The newGerman language Center began to operate in February, 2009, and thus far it has over 100 students.
"The Center for the German language differs from other institutions for the foreign languages. Most teachers of the center passed qualification trainings in Germany. The center not only teaches the German language, but also informs students about the culture and life in Germany," Director of the Center Zahra Aliyeva said.
Aliyeva said the Center is a partner of the Goethe Institute. The Institute provides financial support and gives recommendations to the center's management. The students, who will complete the courses, will be granted certificates of the Goethe Institute," Aliyeva added.
German Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Per Stankina, said the activities of the center will influence qualitatively process of learning the German language in Azerbaijan.
"The center's teachers should teach students that with knowledge of the German language, they can find a job, not only in Germany, but also in Azerbaijan. The importance of Azerbaijan for Germany has increased. Many German's companies intend to operate in Azerbaijan and these companies will be happy to provide jobs for Azerbaijanis with a good German language," the ambassador said.
Head of the Goethe Institute, Werner Vella, said she hopes several more similar centers for the German language will be opened in Azerbaijan in future.
"The Center for the German language differs from other institutions for the foreign languages. Most teachers of the center passed qualification trainings in Germany. The center not only teaches the German language, but also informs students about the culture and life in Germany," Director of the Center Zahra Aliyeva said.
Aliyeva said the Center is a partner of the Goethe Institute. The Institute provides financial support and gives recommendations to the center's management. The students, who will complete the courses, will be granted certificates of the Goethe Institute," Aliyeva added.
German Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Per Stankina, said the activities of the center will influence qualitatively process of learning the German language in Azerbaijan.
"The center's teachers should teach students that with knowledge of the German language, they can find a job, not only in Germany, but also in Azerbaijan. The importance of Azerbaijan for Germany has increased. Many German's companies intend to operate in Azerbaijan and these companies will be happy to provide jobs for Azerbaijanis with a good German language," the ambassador said.
Head of the Goethe Institute, Werner Vella, said she hopes several more similar centers for the German language will be opened in Azerbaijan in future.
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
German law clears all Nazi "traitors"
The German parliament passed a law Tuesday clearing the names of those branded traitors by the Nazis in World War Two -- ending a long, tortured debate.
Nazi military courts condemned about 30,000 people to death for desertion and treason and about two-thirds of those condemned were executed, Social Democrat (SPD) deputy Carl-Christian Dressel said in the debate in parliament.
Historians say the Nazis used the treason charge to condemn soldiers and civilians to death for political resistance and for helping Jews. More than six decades after the end of the war, the law granting blanket rehabilitation passed unanimously. German State prosecutors reviewed traitor cases individually until now.
Backed by the ruling parties as well as the opposition, it was the final piece of legislation passed by parliament before the September 27 federal election. Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries said the rehabilitation that her SDP party had long championed restores the honor of a long-forgotten group of Nazi victims, most of whom are dead.
"Even if not all those condemned to death as war traitors were resistance fighters, they were nevertheless all victims of a criminal judicial system which murdered to preserve the Nazi regime," said Zypries, who had previously faced opposition to the measure from the conservative Christian Democrats.
The conservatives had opposed the measure because they wanted to keep existing rules requiring individual evaluations in place. The conservatives were also concerned that the actions of some deserters might have harmed other soldiers.
SPD deputy Christina Lamprecht told parliament the rehabilitation sent an important signal to survivors and their families who were now no longer stigmatized as traitors.
Nazi military courts condemned about 30,000 people to death for desertion and treason and about two-thirds of those condemned were executed, Social Democrat (SPD) deputy Carl-Christian Dressel said in the debate in parliament.
Historians say the Nazis used the treason charge to condemn soldiers and civilians to death for political resistance and for helping Jews. More than six decades after the end of the war, the law granting blanket rehabilitation passed unanimously. German State prosecutors reviewed traitor cases individually until now.
Backed by the ruling parties as well as the opposition, it was the final piece of legislation passed by parliament before the September 27 federal election. Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries said the rehabilitation that her SDP party had long championed restores the honor of a long-forgotten group of Nazi victims, most of whom are dead.
"Even if not all those condemned to death as war traitors were resistance fighters, they were nevertheless all victims of a criminal judicial system which murdered to preserve the Nazi regime," said Zypries, who had previously faced opposition to the measure from the conservative Christian Democrats.
The conservatives had opposed the measure because they wanted to keep existing rules requiring individual evaluations in place. The conservatives were also concerned that the actions of some deserters might have harmed other soldiers.
SPD deputy Christina Lamprecht told parliament the rehabilitation sent an important signal to survivors and their families who were now no longer stigmatized as traitors.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Baron Rock gees up Germany
German politicians have never been known for their sex appeal. Then along came Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, the aristocratic finance minister, who is inspiring a level of public excitement normally reserved for rock stars and Hollywood actors.
The extraordinary rise of Guttenberg, a Bavarian baron, since his appointment only a few months ago has bewildered experts who thought that the 37-year-old lawyer and rock enthusiast was unqualified to lead Europe’s largest economy through a recession.
Not only has the “rocking baron”, as they call him, become as popular as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, his mentor, he has emerged as one of her best electoral assets as she campaigns to win another four-year term in office.
Guttenberg, a member of the German Christian Social Union, the Bavarian partner of Merkel’s Christian Democrats, benefits from being a relative newcomer – he was elected an MP only in 2002 – and likes to present himself as an “unpolitician”, comparing politics to a “circus” and often referring, disparagingly, to “the business of politics”.
His hobbies, too, help to set him apart: his holiday reading this year was Plato in the original Greek; and the passion for rock included an appearance earlier this year at a concert by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Next to him, with red devil’s horns on her head, was Stephanie, his glamorous wife, a great-granddaughter of Otto von Bismarck, founder and so-called “Iron Chancellor” of the 19th-century German empire.
The hip image helps Guttenberg, the most eloquent defender of free markets in Merkel’s conservative block, reach out to the young who often sit around drinking beer at his rallies. His campaign has been labelled “Woodstock for conservatives”.
The extraordinary rise of Guttenberg, a Bavarian baron, since his appointment only a few months ago has bewildered experts who thought that the 37-year-old lawyer and rock enthusiast was unqualified to lead Europe’s largest economy through a recession.
Not only has the “rocking baron”, as they call him, become as popular as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, his mentor, he has emerged as one of her best electoral assets as she campaigns to win another four-year term in office.
Guttenberg, a member of the German Christian Social Union, the Bavarian partner of Merkel’s Christian Democrats, benefits from being a relative newcomer – he was elected an MP only in 2002 – and likes to present himself as an “unpolitician”, comparing politics to a “circus” and often referring, disparagingly, to “the business of politics”.
His hobbies, too, help to set him apart: his holiday reading this year was Plato in the original Greek; and the passion for rock included an appearance earlier this year at a concert by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Next to him, with red devil’s horns on her head, was Stephanie, his glamorous wife, a great-granddaughter of Otto von Bismarck, founder and so-called “Iron Chancellor” of the 19th-century German empire.
The hip image helps Guttenberg, the most eloquent defender of free markets in Merkel’s conservative block, reach out to the young who often sit around drinking beer at his rallies. His campaign has been labelled “Woodstock for conservatives”.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Bosom pals pep up German politics
A German politician has unleashed a new weapon to soften up voters in Berlin: Chancellor Angela Merkel's bust displayed on a poster, alongside her own.
Vera Lengsfeld, 57, has ruffled feathers in Mrs Merkel's conservative Christian Democrat (CDU) party with the unauthorised CDU election poster.
"We have more to offer" is the slogan on the poster, 750 copies of which were hung in Kreuzberg district of Berlin. Mrs Lengsfeld faces an uphill struggle against a popular Green politician.
"I needed to come up with something to even be noticed," Mrs Lengsfeld said, adding that the posters had massively boosted traffic to her website.
She is hoping to win a parliamentary seat in Germany's 27 September general elections. But the incumbent Green politician Hans-Christian Stroebele has won twice previously in the Kreuzberg district. The shot of Mrs Merkel sporting an evening gown with plunging neckline was taken at the 2008 opening of Oslo's opera house.
Some of the posters have been stolen as souvenirs since they went up on Sunday. A CDU spokesman said Mrs Lengsfeld's poster campaign had not been agreed with the party. And the CDU women's arm chided Mrs Lengsfeld, saying, "We don't need to do things like this any more."
Vera Lengsfeld, 57, has ruffled feathers in Mrs Merkel's conservative Christian Democrat (CDU) party with the unauthorised CDU election poster.
"We have more to offer" is the slogan on the poster, 750 copies of which were hung in Kreuzberg district of Berlin. Mrs Lengsfeld faces an uphill struggle against a popular Green politician.
"I needed to come up with something to even be noticed," Mrs Lengsfeld said, adding that the posters had massively boosted traffic to her website.
She is hoping to win a parliamentary seat in Germany's 27 September general elections. But the incumbent Green politician Hans-Christian Stroebele has won twice previously in the Kreuzberg district. The shot of Mrs Merkel sporting an evening gown with plunging neckline was taken at the 2008 opening of Oslo's opera house.
Some of the posters have been stolen as souvenirs since they went up on Sunday. A CDU spokesman said Mrs Lengsfeld's poster campaign had not been agreed with the party. And the CDU women's arm chided Mrs Lengsfeld, saying, "We don't need to do things like this any more."
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
German bride spends first night with crate of vodka
A bride in Germany spent her wedding night passed out next to a crate of vodka in the back seat of a car and had to be rescued by police when the BMW began to overheat in the sun.
Police in the western city of Cologne said on Monday the inebriated 30-year-old remained unconscious even after they smashed the car window to get her out.
"Only after being shaken several times did she eventually regain consciousness," police said in a statement.
Still clad in her wedding dress, the dazed woman had to scramble through the broken window because she had no idea where the car keys or her husband were, police said.
Police in the western city of Cologne said on Monday the inebriated 30-year-old remained unconscious even after they smashed the car window to get her out.
"Only after being shaken several times did she eventually regain consciousness," police said in a statement.
Still clad in her wedding dress, the dazed woman had to scramble through the broken window because she had no idea where the car keys or her husband were, police said.
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