Month: September 2019
DemocracyNow Naomi Klein: Greta Thunberg Is a “Prophetic Voice” in Fight for Climate Justice
Renowned activist, author and professor Naomi Klein discusses the importance of youth voices, including 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, in communicating the urgency of the climate justice movement. Klein’s new book, “On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal,” addresses the necessity of structural change to combat rising global temperatures and climate injustices. Klein praises Greta for her “moral clarity” as one of many youth voices that “burst through the bureaucratic language with which we shield ourselves from the reality of the stakes, the extraordinary stakes, of our moment in history.”
Greta Thunberg on the Climate Fight: “If We Can Save the Banks, Then We Can Save the World”
Greta Thunberg is one of the great truth-tellers of this or any time. But Greta is not all talk. All of this began with action. It began when Greta realized that if she wanted powerful politicians to put themselves on emergency footing to fight climate change, then she needed to reflect that state of emergency in her own life. And so she stopped doing the one thing all kids are supposed to do when everything is normal: Go to school to prepare for their future as adults. Instead, she stationed herself outside of Sweden’s parliament with a handmade sign that said simply: “School Strike for the Climate.” She started doing it every Friday, and pretty soon she attracted a small crowd. Then other students started doing it in other cities as well. Students like Alexandria Villaseñor, who stations herself outside the United Nations in this city every Friday, week after week, rain, snow or shine. Sometimes the student climate strikes were just one lonely kid. Sometimes tens of thousands showed up. And then, on March 15, came the first Global School Strike for Climate. Over 2,000 strikes in 125 countries, with 1.6 million young people participating on a single day. 1.6 million people. That’s quite an achievement for a movement that began just eight months earlier with a single 15-year-old girl in Stockholm, Sweden. And now this movement is gearing up for its biggest challenge yet: They have called on people of all ages to join the and go on strike, all around the world, on September 20. Because protecting the future is not a spectator sport. Thunberg and the many other amazing young organizers have been very clear that they do not want adults to pat them on the head and thank them for the hope infusion. They want us to join them and fight for the future alongside them. Because it is their right. And all of our duty.
Greta Thunberg SCHOOLS Congress on Climate Change
When I think of my Parents . . . . . . .(a Copy)
I wrote the following in my diary from the 2nd September 2015:
“When I think of my parents, the most remarkable memory about them is, how very different they were. Here is a bit of how my father may have influenced me, and then how my mother’s influence was so very different.
My father was the most open minded and tolerant person. He liked to talk to me about a lot of things. He always treated me as though I was trustworthy and mature for my age, able to understand different points of view. Very rarely did I see him being angry with me. He only tended to be somewhat angry when, all of a sudden, I behaved in a very unpredictable way. Despite his open mindedness he was basically a very conservative man. If I showed signs of departing from his view of the world, this would upset him personally. Still, he was loving and forgiving, and eventually he was always able to accept my departure from some of his conservative views.
Now, my mother was in every way the opposite of my father. On the whole she was maybe rather tolerant as far as I was concerned because she loved me. But she made it very clear, that she did not love my father anymore. She showed not the least bit of tolerance towards him, on the contrary, she showed a lot of hatred, for in her opinion he was a “Versager” who did not do anything for his children. She thought it was not up to her to look after him when he had serious health issues. Maybe she thought he was just pretending. Also, she hardly ever talked to me about things that were important to me. She tended to keep very important things from me, for she wanted ‘to protect’ me! At least, this is how I remember it. I knew she loved me very much. Still, I always felt I was not the daughter she imagined I should be. I remember she telling me, I was an “Oppositionsgeist”. So I must have been speaking up about some things that disturbed me a great deal. I felt very bad for opposing her, but I could not help it. Of course, on the outside I tried very hard to go along with what she expected of me, just to keep the peace. Alas, I think I came into inner conflict about it. In short, I often did not feel happy about myself.
I ask myself now, how come, when I felt very much loved by both parents, I still did not feel very happy in myself a lot of the time? I think I felt torn between my parents . . . . ”
https://auntyuta.com/2019/09/17/utas-diary-2nd-of-september-2015-2/
Further on I republish a few items and pictures from an earlier post:
“Mum kept a big photo album with pictures of me. Growing up, I always liked to look at all these pictures. However, I remember distinctly that the following pictures annoyed me quite a bit. I felt awful that the pictures showed me being so very plump! When I was told I looked ‘cute’ I tended not to believe it. I was self conscious at an early age and mostly didn’t feel ‘cute’ at all. I still often don’t like my picture taken because I think I might look awful! The adults in the pictures are my Mum, Tante Ilse and Onkel Addi. I wonder who took the pictures with all three adults in it. Was it perhaps my father? Pussi was Tante Ilse’s dog. Apparently I loved carrying this dog.
My father, Alexander Spickermann, was born in Lodz on the 13th of May 1904. The following picture of him was taken in about 1916. This is the earliest picture I have of him. Alexander’s brother Edmund Spickermann, was born in 1902. Both brothers studied in Leipzig, Germany. The following pictures are from 1925 in the city of Leipzig. There is first Alexander and then Edmund. Both brothers are in their student outfits. And then there is a picture of both of them in front of the Völkerschlacht-Denkmal in Leipzig.
Alexander and Charlotte are my parents. They were married on the 25th of September 1930. Earlier that year, that is in 1930, Alexander promoted to Dr. phil and Edmund to Dr. rer.pol. The above picture is from 1925 when Alexander and Edmund first met Charlotte and Ilse. Charlotte was only fourteen years old at the time. Her sister Ilse was eighteen. Below is my parents’ wedding photo from the 25th of September 1930. (Charlotte was born on the 23rd of March 1911 and Ilse on the 27th of February 1907).”
My parents’ weddig photo: 25th September 1930
My parents lived apart a lot of the time during and after World War II and then divorced after having lived apart for many years.
Mum and her sister Ilse in June 1940
Mum with me and my brothers Bodo and Peter Uwe in 1947
Teaching Children Empathy over Competition?
Teaching Children Empathy over Competition?
What do you think, is showing empathy more important than being very competitive?
And what is the parent’s role in helping children that become over anxious?
Can a competitive environment cause great anxiety in children?
If you go to the link below, maybe you’ll be able to find some interesting articles about the raising of children.
What do I anticipate?
This post I published more than six years ago. I anticipated to live probably for another five to ten years. Ah well, I just celebrated my 85th birthday. Now I anticipate that maybe I am going to live for another four or five years! 🙂
Here’s our Buddha. He seems to be happy enough in this wilderness area near our house. Being the 5th Sunday of Lent today, I should have attended Mass. However so far I didn’t go out at all yet. This afternoon we’re off to neighbouring Warrawong to watch Steven Spielberg’s Movie about LINCOLN.
So far so good. I am very happy that I am very much pain-free today. Tomorrow I’ll have to see the doctor about the test results. I anticipate the blood-test is going to show that I am okay.
What else do I anticipate? Well, I anticipate that I’ll probably live for another five or ten years. I also anticipate that I might perhaps even be able to venture on another overseas trip when I am in my eighties!
For next month I anticipate that we’re going to see the family over Easter and that Peter and I are…
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Trump UN Speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxNh_m1uyi0
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/trump-un-speech-future-belongs-to-patriots-not-globalists-united-nations-general-assembly-today/
Trump says future belongs to “patriots,” not “globalists,” in U.N. General Assembly speech
President Trump’s third address to the United Nations General Assembly was an unmistakably nationalist one, with the president reiterating the theme of his foreign policy doctrine, that all nations should be looking inward and considering their own interests first.
In a sober, scripted speech Tuesday, he focused more on criticizing other nations that he believes treat the U.S. unfairly than on uniting nations around principles of democracy and humanity.
The president hit on each of his favorite themes — unfair trade, imbalanced defense spending, illegal immigration, and socialism — reading from the teleprompter in a somewhat subdued manner.
Trending News
“The future does not belong to globalists. The future belongs to patriots,” Mr. Trump said in one of the defining quotes of his more than 30-minute speech.
He singled out Iran for criticism, saying that the country deserves a government that cares about jobs for its people and for decreasing poverty. Mr. Trump said that after four decades of failure, it’s time for Iran’s leaders to stop threatening other countries and build up their own country.
But he followed up his critique with words of peace, stating that the U.S. is ready to embrace friendship with those who seek it, and it “has never believed in permanent enemies.”
“America knows that while anyone can make war, only the most courageous can seek peace,” he said.
His address came amid heightened instability in the Middle East, following the recent attack on Saudi oil facilities that the U.S. believes was carried out by Iran.
Mr. Trump also listed his complaints against China, including its “massive market barriers,” product dumping practices and forced technology transfers. He railed against the World Trade Organization for failing to compel China to liberalize its economy and called for “drastic change” to the international trade system. The second-largest economy in the world, he said, should not be allowed to declare itself a developing country at the expense of others.
Earlier updates on the president’s day at the U.N. appear below.
Trump says U.N. has great potential
Mr. Trump, speaking at a lunch hosted by the U.N. secretary general, said he’s always suggested the U.N. has a lot of potential, either for war or for peace. But now, the U.N. is demonstrating great potential for peace, he said.
Then the president raised a toast, although he doesn’t drink himself.
Trump says India’s Modi is like Elvis to Indians
Mr. Trump praised his “chemistry” with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a bilateral meeting with Modi. Modi, Mr. Trump remarked, is like “Elvis” to Indians.
“My personal chemistry is as good as it can get” with Modi, the president said, adding later, “Maybe he’s the father of India.”
Mr. Trump said he thinks Modi and the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan can work out a solution to Kashmir, but ignored American reporters’ questions about Kashmir. Mr. Trump praised Indian reporters present instead, taking their less pointed questions.
“You have great reporters. I wish I had reporters like that,” Mr. Trump said.
Trump says Boris Johnson isn’t going anywhere
Mr. Trump, in a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said his British counterpart isn’t going anywhere. Their meeting came after the U.K.’s Supreme Court ruled Johnson illegally suspended Parliament. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, called on Johnson to resign.
Johnson, asked about the ruling, replied that he respects the judiciary even though he disagrees with its decision.
“I disagree profoundly with what they had to say,” Johnson said, adding that the U.K. needs to “get on” with Brexit.
President Trump called that question from a reporter “nasty.”
Mr. Trump, who joked that Johnson is having an easy time with his job, said he has no response to the ruling.
“I had no reaction,” Mr. Trump said. “I just asked Boris and for him it’s just another day in the office.”
During that bilateral meeting, the president also continued to defend his phone call with the Ukrainian president after admitting he brought up the Bidens and foreign aid during the call.
Trump concludes his teleprompter address
At 10:49 a.m., the president concluded his address which he read from the teleprompter, and delivered with little inflection in his voice.
The president received some applause upon concluded, although his audience of world leaders remained quiet as he spoke.
Trump says his administration is working to stop the criminalization of homosexuality
The president said his administration is working to stop the criminalization of homosexuality across the globe, although he didn’t give examples. It’s critical that LGBTQ people be protected, he said.
The Trump administration has often been criticized for its policies affecting LGBTQ people domestically.
Mr. Trump also insisted the U.S. is working to ensure women across the globe can have the same rights as men to own and inherit property, travel freely and access credit.
Trump uses Venezuela “nightmare” to blast socialism
The president said the U.S. is watching the Venezuela situation “very closely.” The Trump administration has long insisted the Maduro regime will be outside soon, but despite months of sanctions and support, that has yet to happen.
Mr. Trump, as his administration often does, used Venezuela as a tool to blast socialism. Socialism only benefits the ruling class, he said.
The Trump administration and Trump campaign has looked to label all Democratic presidential candidates as some variety of socialist, although Mr. Trump didn’t bring up any of his potential rivals in his Tuesday morning address.
Trump says open-border activists promote “cruel” and “evil” policies
Mr. Trump then hit on another favorite topic of his — illegal immigration.
He suggested the U.S. won’t tolerate illegal migration, and said those who promote open-borders policies are only promoting smuggling and abuses of human rights.
Mr. Trump insisted those who promote “open-borders” policies are only promoting “cruel” and “evil” policies, cloaked in the guise of social justice.
He said that as long as he’s president, the U.S. will enforce its laws and protect its borders. Anyone who enters illegally, he said, will not be allowed to stay.
Trump urges other nations to join U.S. in pressuring Iran
The president then moved on to Iran, urging other nations to join America in cutting the nation off financially.
The Trump administration blames Iran for the recent strikes against Saudi oil facilities.
“All nations have a duty to act,” Mr. Trump said. “No responsible government should subsidize Iran’s bloodlust. As long as Iran’s menacing behavior continues sanctions will not be lifted. They will be tightened.”
But the president made no new specific threats and did not mention any potential military options. The Pentagon announced at the end of last week that the U.S. would be sending troops to aid Saudi Arabia in a defensive posture.
Trump says U.S. seeks “justice” with China
Mr. Trump then went on to criticize China over its trade practices, with China’s representative looking ahead toward him.
The president said China’s “abuses” have been “ignored” or “encouraged” for years.
“Globalism exerted a religious pull” on many nations’ leaders, Mr. Trump said, making them overlook their own national interests.
Mr. Trump said “hopefully” the U.S. and China will strike a fair deal, but he won’t accept anything less.
“I will not accept a bad deal for the American people,” he vowed.
The president also brought up Hong Kong, saying the world expects China to uphold its agreement.
“We are all counting on President Xi as a great leader,” he added.
Trump emphasizes nationalist approach to trade and defense
Mr. Trump, who has long emphasized the importance of fair trade and every allied nation paying their fair share for defense, did so again on Tuesday.
The room was quiet as the commander-in-chief hit those central themes.
Trump blasts “globalists,” says future belongs to “patriots”
The president, introduced as “his excellency,”began speaking at 10:13 a.m.
Mr. Trump said the current time is one of “high stakes” and “clear choices.”
The president said the essential divide is the choice between those who have a thirst for control, and people and nations who want only to rule themselves.
Mr. Trump then went on to say the U.S. is the most powerful nation with the greatest military, and he hopes America never has to use that power.
“The future does not belong to globalists. The future belongs to patriots,” the president said.
Trump defends temporarily withholding Ukraine aid
President Trump, when asked about his decision to block aid to Ukraine shortly before his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he said he “wanted other countries to put up money.”
“We paid the money,” he said, arguing that other European countries should help Ukraine with its defenses. “That’s been my complaint from the very beginning,” Mr. Trump added.
And in language that echoed his sentiment about the 2016 Russia investigation, Mr. Trump decried the Ukraine controversy as a “witch hunt” when addressing reporters shortly before his speech before the United Nations General Assembly.
He again described his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “perfect” and maintained that he had applied no pressure on him to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden.
“But there was pressure put on with respect for [Joe] Biden’s son,” he argued. “That’s something they should be looking at,” he said.
Excerpts of the president’s speech
The White House sent along a few lines of the president’s prepared speech before delivery. In the speech he plans to return to themes urging countries to act in accordance with their own interests above all. He’ll also call for reform of the international trade system and will state that the U.S. seeks peace and cooperation.
The excerpts follow:
“If you want freedom, take pride in your country. If you want democracy, hold on to your sovereignty. If you want peace, love your nation.”
…
“At the center of our vision for national renewal is an ambitious campaign to reform international trade. For decades, the international trading system has been easily exploited by nations acting in bad faith. As jobs were outsourced, a small handful grew wealthy at the expense of the middle class.”
…
“The United States does not seek conflict with any other nation. We desire peace, cooperation, and mutual gain with all. But I will never fail to defend America’s interests.”
…
“When you undermine border security you are undermining human rights and human dignity.”
…
“Love of our own nations makes the world better for all nations.”
Trump to address China, Iran and Venezuela
Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway told Fox News Tuesday morning that the president will focus on putting America’s policies first in his speech.
The speech, which she described as “very powerful” will include discussing China and Iran.
The president will also bring up Venezuela, according to a senior State Department official.
Christina Ruffini contributed to this post.
Trump’s Ukraine call
Mr. Trump’s presence at the U.N. General Assembly has so far been dominated by questions about a phone call this summer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which Mr. Trump confirmed he discussed former Vice President Joe Biden and aid to Ukraine. Indeed, his most anticipated meeting at the U.N. is the one he’ll have on the sidelines of the General Assembly with Zelensky.
On Monday, Mr. Trump denied that he ever pressured Zelensky and threatened to withhold funding from Ukraine, and when he was asked about whether he’d be willing to release a transcript of the call, he said that he hoped reporters would be able to see the transcript, although he also said he’d “rather not do it, from the standpoint of all of the other conversations I have.”
He offered this prediction to reporters about the transcript: “You’ll be very disappointed when you see it.”
Diary with some more Pictures from August 2019
There are quite a few pictures from August that I published already towards the end of August.
I found now a few more pictures from that month. Here they are:

We try to sort out some DVDs. We have too many and they take up too much room. So it is best to get rid of some . . . However, for instance ‘As it is in HEAVEN is such a great movie I really would like to watch it again!

This is such a great spot in the morning winter sun!

Greta Thunberg Testifies Before U.S. Congress
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