In the toolbox of policymakers, war is one among many. When deemed appropriate by the powers that be, war can be chosen as a means of enacting policy – no more or less legitimate than any other – albeit, crucially, not to replace, but to complement other tools of policy. When the Prussian military GeneralContinue reading “War is a mere continuation of politics with other means”
Category Archives: politics
Getting vaccinated… again
Last week, I had my first jab of Biontech, which is great, except I have been fully vaccinated with Sinovac before leaving The Philippines. But as the politics of Covid-19 vaccines goes, I am legally unvaccinated here, since Germany, like most European countries, does not recognize the China-made vaccine. Some physicians and majority of theContinue reading “Getting vaccinated… again”
The worst has happened
I have been delaying this post for two weeks now, in false hope and denial, but the truth is, we have COVID-19 community transmission here in our town for the first time, a year after the pandemic began. We are okay, of course, but the poorer communities are not. It is more heartbreaking that thereContinue reading “The worst has happened”
2021: The year of engagement?
This year is drawing to a close, and so it is time to think about the next. Let’s not fool ourselves: the challenges of 2020 are not just going to disappear as we turn to 2021. But a new year always comes with an opportunity to set an intention, and I would like to suggestContinue reading “2021: The year of engagement?”
We can save more turtles together
It is early in the morning and I am jumping around the rafters of the boats parked on our beachfront. My father is inspecting our fence. I am seven years old. Two men approach Father. Between them is a turtle as big as I am, which they were holding captive, one flipper each. The otherContinue reading “We can save more turtles together”
A quick thought on where we are right now
You’d be forgiven for thinking we’ve hit rock bottom only to break out the shovels. After 9/11, the world lost its mind. Rights curtailed, industries overhauled, countries invaded. Now, Covid-19 causes one 9/11 a day in deaths, in the US alone, yet here we are. On top of that, there is societal division, mounting US-ChinaContinue reading “A quick thought on where we are right now”
A quick thought on the death penalty
Arguments abound on if, why, and when the death penalty is justified or not. In my opinion, though, most of these arguments are missing the most important point of the discussion. A point, I think, that we can all agree on: Innocent people should not be executed.
Who will save us?
Sometimes, everything seems to be on fire. Literally, as with the fires in Australia, Brazil and California, but also figuratively, with the global pandemic, climate change and violent conflicts everywhere. Who, or what, will save us from all of this?
Brave complexity
Why is it that we shy away from complexity? Understandably, clarity is nice to have. We must make assumptions, categorize things, and avoid questioning everything all the time if we want to be able to live in any functional way. Yet it seems that in doing so, we so often miss the point entirely. AssumptionsContinue reading “Brave complexity”
I will take the inconvenience, thank you very much
I. I was sorting our trash for the bokashi compost when I realized why only a few households do it even if there is a long list of benefits. It is inconvenient. Segregating the trash, cutting up the organics to size, filling the bucket, and mixing it with soil definitely takes more time than chuckingContinue reading “I will take the inconvenience, thank you very much”
Markus + Micah 