Zur Berlin Art Week BAW 2023 wurden der Neuen Nationalgalerie ein paar Blumen und Baumkästen spendiert. Alles nur vorübergehend. So erblühte die Rose von Isa Genzken schon vorher und sicherlich noch etwas länger vor der Neuen Nationalgalerie. Steht der Galerie gar nicht schlecht. Vielleicht etwas sehr figürlich und wenig auf die Schätze der Moderne hinweisend. Das ist schon eher post-modern. Rückbesinnen auf die Werte der Natur, dass Stahl und Glas eben nicht umsonst zu haben sind, sondern erhebliche Umweltkosten mitsichbringen. Das regt zum Nachdenken an. Solarzellen, quasi unsichtbar auf dem großzügigen Flachdach der Galerie und für die geplante Scheune nebenan? Kunsträume stehen ebenfalls in der Verantwortung für die Überlebensbedingungen unseres Planeten. Denkmalschutz kann weitgehend eine Bremse sein, aber die energetische Verantwortlichkeit der immer gut gekühlten und beheizten Räume sollten auch wegweisend in dieser Richtung sein. Da gibt es noch viele Potenziale, die es auszuschöpfen gilt. Damit kann dann auch mehr Kunst gezeigt werden, da die laufenden Kosten gesenkt werden können für mehr als eine Wahlperiode oder Amtsperiode einer Hausleitung. Also Kunst kann einen schon auf unangenehme Gedanken bringen, die die Kunstschaffenden und Kuratierenden selbst betreffen. Isa Genzken und die BAW setzen Zeichen, die vielleicht so gar nicht unbedingt geplant waren. Nice. 
Get mobile
In inner cities, plagued by horrible traffic jams and pollution by cars and lorries, we dearly await at least the one day per year without this nuisance. Mobility can be organized differently. Brussels demonstrates this in an exemplary fashion. Many families gear up for this one day to teach kids how to cycle technically without the dangers of the fight for space, speed and breathable air. Older persons also feel much more save then and walk or cycle longer distances than they usually do. So many winners and only a few forced to not use their cars during 10 hours. Massive health benefits for the whole city, especially on too warm a day in autumn 2023. All these kinds of ideas were already discussed before the COVID-19 crisis on a mobility fair in Brussels. It is not the ideas that are missing, but the political will and courage to try new ways forward. Learning that walking and cycling in cities do not hurt you, prepares the readiness to go further along this path. Just do it. And do it faster than in the past. The planet needs it, people seem to really like it, too. Enjoy.
Widmann
Jörg Widmann hat seinen Einstand bei den Berliner Philharmonikern als „Composer in Residence“ gegeben. Die Schwester, Carolin Widmann interpretierte das Violinkonzert Nr. 2 von Jörg Widmann als Solistin. Das war ein ganz besonderer Abend. Die Widmanns haben doch tatsächlich gemeinsam die Einführung in das Programm des Abends mitgestaltet, eine ¾ Stunde vor dem Konzert im großen Saal der Philharmonie. Mit Begeisterung haben die beiden Geschwister von der gemeinsamen Zeit der Entdeckungen rund um die Violine in ihrer Kindheit erzählt. Damit wird die faszinierende kindlich, unschuldige, nahezu naive unbedarfte Herangehensweise an das Instrument verdeutlicht, die so charakteristisch ist für den Anfang des Violinkonzerts. Die Entdeckung eines Klangkörpers (vom einzelnen Instrument bis zum Tutti) geht aber rasch weiter zu einer Demonstration der vielfältigen Gefühls- und Virtuositätsregister der Violine. Paganini lässt grüßen, könnte man meinen.
Kaum klingt eine virtuose Passage an, da hinterfragt der Komponist die eigene Begeisterung. Ist das nicht einfach nur Akrobatik, um dem Publikum zu gefallen? Zweifel stellen sich ein und etwas Distanz zum gefälligen Wohlklang. Reflektierte Virtuosität, der Soziologe würde vielleicht auch reflexive Virtuosität als kompositorisches Element verwenden wollen. Notation von Musik und Klängen hat seit dem wohltemperierten Klavier relativ feste Vorgaben. Daran hat sich Jörg Widmann zu 98 Prozent wohl gehalten. Die anfängliche Erkundung des Klangkörpers Violine lässt sich aber nur anders notieren. Innovativ, mit mehr Raum für Interpretation in der Aufführungspraxis. Das betonte so auch die Schwester, die nun wirklich dem Komponisten sehr eng verbunden ist. Interessant war daher ihr Kommentar, dass diese Anfangsstelle für sie gleichsam die größte Herausforderung darstellt.
Die folgende „Fantasie für Klarinette solo“ von Jörg Widmann passte daher gut zu dieser Erkundungsreise von Instrumenten des Symphonieorchesters. Die Klarinette hat in allen Musikepochen und Stilrichtungen ihren Platz behauptet. All diese Anklänge lassen sich in dem Solo, welches der Komponist selbst dargeboten hat, wiederfinden.
Nach dieser aufregenden Reise durch die Jahrhunderte der Musikgeschichte stand die „Reformationssymphonie“ von Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy auf dem Programm. Spannend war die Umsetzung „dieser Art von Teufelsaustreibung“ (Worte von Jörg Widmann) mit dem „2. jüdischen“ Satz und dem „3. protestantischen“ Satz der Symphonie in denen Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy seine beiden Wurzeln in den Gesängen und Liturgien in Andeutungen aufnimmt. Mit Klängen und Fängen der ausgehenden Romantik wurden wir in den weiteren Abend entlassen, samt Eindrücken aus der Ausstellung zu der Entstehung (60 Jahre) und der Architektur der Berliner Philharmonie und dem Scharoun Ensemble (40 Jahre) der Gebäude einschließlich der Stabi West. Das Mendelssohn Archiv hat in der benachbarten Stabi West einen kleinen, feinen Ausstellungsraum mitten im großen Lesesaal. So haben wir einen umfassenden Rundblick und Ausblick genießen können, die dem Kulturforum in eindrücklicher, dennoch unaufdringlicher Weise, eine hervorragende Stellung einräumen.
(Image: Jörg Widmann jenseits des Schattens von Furtwängler 2023-9-9)
Denkmal
Jedes Jahr gibt es die hervorragende Möglichkeit am Tag des offenen Denkmals, historisch wertvolle Gebäude und Anlagen zu besichtigen. An heißen Tagen, wie in 2023, sind Altbauten oder klimatisierte Räumlichkeiten besonders bevorzugt. Die Philharmonie hat erneut die Möglichkeit geboten ohne langwierige Voranmeldung, spontan vorbeizukommen und an einer Führung teilzunehmen. Das von Hans Scharoun entworfene Gebäude samt seiner akustischen Spitzfindigkeiten bietet spannende Einblicke. Stille, Sound und Noise in einem Gebäude und Konzertsaal will sorgfältig geplant sein. Kompromisse mit verfügbaren finanziellen Mitteln und Planungsverfahren gehören zur baulichen Realisierung, wie eventuell zu den Kompositionen, die dort aufgeführt werden. Heute erscheint uns die gelungene Akustik als historischer Meilenstein. Ebenso die Form des Konzertsaals mit Plätzen hinter dem Orchester, aber auf das Gesicht der Dirigierenden bietet einzigartige Einblicke in die Praxis der Aufführung. Für 10 Minuten war selbst bei der Führung zufällig ein Zuschauen bei der Generalprobe der Berliner Philharmoniker von weitem erlaubt. Komponist und Dirigent Jörg Widmann probte noch Ausschnitte aus der am Abend aufzuführenden Werke. Selbst hoch unter dem Dach der Philharmonie konnten die leisen Ansagen des Dirigenten leicht verstanden werden. Akustische Meisterleistung der Architekten. Wer hätte gedacht, dass Anfang der 60er Jahre eine solche Glanzleistung möglich war, im Berlin, das gerade erst durch die Mauer getrennt werden sollte und dann geteilt überleben musste.
Silence
In the modern world places of silence have become rare. During the industrialisation noise has become a synonym for modernism. Many people even celebrate noisy engines as an image of strength or horse power. In the wake of the 21st century is has become evident that this co-evolution has made us sick and whole cities suffer from the abundant sources of noise.
Can we talk about silence? No, wrong approach, but we can write or realise images dealing with silence. Yes, surely. Spiritual locations often build on the mystic experience that silence might incur. Measuring silence in physics is a lot more complicated. Sound has several forms of measurement. Also, silence is probably experienced by most of us as a relative concept. Compared to a noisy atmosphere we might appreciate less noisy situations as more or less silent already.
Therefore, a reasonable, but evasive definition of silence is the absence of noise. Depending on our auditive capabilities different persons will define silence at different levels. Sound near us blends into sound in the background and vice versa.
Temporality plays an important role. In complete silence we might imagine even to be dead. Otherwise, some distant vibes or vibrations will reach us and potentially stimulate our senses. Silence works as a bridge between two atmospheric impressions. It creates a feeling of expectation for something still unknown. Silence is underrated as our smart phone attempts to disrupt silence as much as possible to draw our attention to messages or reminders. Hence, silence is about to be turned into a new status symbol. Practice of meditation, listening to isolate and subsequently to discard sound, has become an advanced level competence, not only for musicians. Feel free to be silent and see what happens around you. It is easy in locations of supposed spirituality or in most libraries. Almost everywhere else you have a hard time to experience a silent atmosphere.
The composer John Cage made silence the title of one of his quite well known pieces. The willingness to pay for the entry to the silent concert might be surprising although the listening experience is unique to each location and diversity of audience. Composing silence remains a challenge, making noise is easy. (Image: NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, extract of Link) 
Ozone
Ozone (O3) has a rather mixed reputation. High up in the stratosphere it protects us from too much radiation from the sun, but down on earth in our respiratory environment it causes and amplifies respiratory difficulties. Hence, it is very important to differentiate the 2 different layers and differential effects of concentrations of ozone in the air. A forthcoming study in the Lancet Regional Health Europe (Nov. 2023) by Tianyu Zhao et al. demonstrates the long-term, negative effect of higher concentrations of Ozone on lung function. The prospective cohort study followed individuals in multiple states and locations over 20 years and corrects estimated effects for other environmental effects (fine particles PM 2.5 pollution) and green environment. Faster decline in spirometric lung function is highly likely to be caused by higher ambient ozone concentrations. The study is based on 3000+ observations from 17 centres in 8 countries in Europe. Older persons in the range from 35 to 55 had a steeper decline in ozone-related decline in lung functions.
This is rather bad news for older persons living in inner cities where both ozone concentrations, mainly in summer, heat and micro-particles cumulate. Similarly, areas with frequent so-called inversion micro-climate, (a layer of cold air on top of SMOG blocks the renewal of air for extended periods) face particular health risks. Professions that work long durations outside in the sun or the exercise of sports during high ozone day-time run higher risks for a deterioration of their lung functions in the long-run. The medical evidence is there now, also for Europe, what had been shown already for the US before.
It is time to adapt our lifestyle to these health risks. High effort physical work outside should start as early as possible in the morning hours or even before sun rise. Staying indoors is highly recommendable for older persons and persons with reduced lung functions (asthma risks) during such periods of high ozone concentrations. Like it or not, even wearing a mask outside, when it is sunny and hot would be preferential, but is rather inconvenient. We need to shift airing living rooms or offices without climatization to early morning hours rather than ambient temperatures in the afternoon, when ozone peaks are prevalent.
These effects and remedies have been known for some time, but the evidence is much more compelling now (Zhao et al. 2023). Climate change in form of global and local warming, particularly in inner cities, will only exacerbate these effects in the coming years. Prevention measures need to be considered in public health measures as well as urban planning. We can do it, if we want to. Start now to benefit from the effects a decade later or for the benefit of younger generations. (Image: Int. Encycl. of public health, p.702). 
Energy Ethics
Around the topic of energy there many ethical issues that urgently need sorting out. Carlos Diaz-Rodriguez and co-authors have provided a sound basis for such ethical considerations. To leave the disastrous path of energy provision through polluting fossil fuels and, additionally very risky, nuclear energy, they propose a departure from the principles and values that have guided us into a dead end. In their opinion we suffer from a mistaken belief to be able to control in extremis, through scientific methods, the forces of nature. In ethics this mistaken belief has roots in religious beliefs that mankind is mandated to make the earth subordinate to its own will. The authors propose to overcome this old paradigm with a new paradigm. This builds on the (1) “precautionary principle”, (2) justice as equity, (3) protection and the (4) principle of responsibility.
Most European readers of philosophy and social science are familiar with these principles. The virtue of the paper is to expose and juxtapose these principles in a clear format and a stringent application to the ethics of energy (production as well as consumption of it).
The precautionary principle is part of the European treaty on the functioning of the European Union Art. 191, but its implementation on energy issues reveals that it is a tiger without teeth. Younger generations across the globe are right to claim a more forceful implementation of this principle.
The perspective of justice as equity is bringing in later born generations as well into the balance costs and benefits of “cheap energy today” but huge costs of dismantling, repairing, stocking deferred to the future.
The protection principle refers to the loss of biodiversity and exploiting resources in areas of world heritage, for example.
The principle of responsibility goes beyond the judicial and economic principle that the person, company or state causing damage through exploitation of resources, and in producing energy with it, has to pay for repairing those damages.
As this is hard to achieve in real terms, there is an urgent need to reiterate the responsibility principle at all levels. Despite the inefficiencies of legal systems, the international legal order in particular, there is no way around than to insist on responsibility from the individual behaviour, company strategic goals as well as objectives set by nation states and international organisations. The Paris agreement and all COP XY conferences only prove the fact that irresponsibility continues to be a guiding principle.
Maximalist positions as well as continuing like decades before is failing people on earth. Organising a discourse on these ethical issues is a first step, but we have to be able to address negationists as well.
The missing principle so far is the solidarity principle. Without a firm commitment to intergenerational and international solidarity we shall remain unable to solve the ethical puzzle. It is high time to organise solidarity related to the field of energy.
(Image: “The fallen tree of knowledge” by Fabrice Samyn. Exposition in Yerres, France 2021-11) 
Energy Food
For more than a decade now researchers have shown the link between energy prices and food prices. At first sight this might seem surprising. In traditional or romantic associations with growing food, there is no link between the cost of energy and food production. Growing crops in your garden does not need more than sunlight, soil and water. Yes, that was long ago. Industrial production of food is heavily relying on energy to heat, feed and water plants or animals. Additionally, the supply chains have become far more distant, which increases the CO2 footprint even further. Therefore, it is no longer surprising that a great number of econometric studies confirm the close link of energy prices and subsequent pressure on food prices. This is not restricted to Europe, but has reached global contamination.
Enjoying seasonal local food is a double catch solution. You grow according to local weather conditions and use traditional conservation methods, if the crop is exceeding your demand at that time. Providing heating for animals to increase productivity or quality of products appears to be one of the most wasteful ways to further increase the spiralling up of energy and food prices.
In agricultural science there is a lot of research into the “energy intake” of animals to better grow or produce more milk etc. This is the expensive intermediary step using energy to produce energy intake for animals rather than humans. It is surprising that we take so many years to address these well-known linkages that have turned to serious problems after Russia’s war on Ukraine. Agriculture and farmers can be part of the solution rather than a problem themselves, if the link of energy consumption and food prices is taken seriously. 
10000
In France 100.000 is associated with Monsieur 100.000 Volt Gilbert Bécaud due to his dynamic singing and performance style. Since August 2023 we now have an additional association with the number 10.000. Ten thousand m3 was the size of stones that came down from the mountains near the popular skiing resorts in the French Alps (Le Monde Link+video). To visualize the amount, a back of the envelope calculation with a standard container size of 25 m3 returns 400 loads of lorries to be removed from hard to access landscapes. Count this into the costs of running ski resorts.
A study in the scientific journal “Nature Climate Change” in 2023 highlighted the increasing risks to European skiing sites. Same holds for the Alpes in Switzerland. Some areas relying on water resources to create artifical snow do so in less and less safe areas. Costs accrue to communities who benefit only indirectly from the skiing hype, celebrating 100 years of Olympic skiing next year. After all it is big business to sell or lend equipment, provide hotels and meals for all those sports women and men.
The so-called collateral damage is probably even worse. Interrupted railways, bridges, motorways and traffic in general becomes a severe disruption for quite some time adding to the total costs of having fun in winter. Is it worth it? A tricky question to ask in a referendum. We shall have to revise our past decisions to expand skiing resorts in light of the new evidence of higher risks and costs involved. A book on 10.000 years of history of glaciers is full of side-effects of glaciers melting away, which cause instability to valleys on the sidelines. In the most recent break-up of rocks it is actually more the access to the skiing resorts that was blocked, but this demonstrates to all: passing this area now, is not without serious side-effects. 
Everyday objects
If you were wondering whether everyday objects can be a piece of art, then the exhibition at the “Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin” is for you. Isa Genzken challenges our traditional view of everyday objects through small transformations of these objects. At first sight you “only” see something utterly familiar to you. A window, a radio, a rose or a wheelchair are immediately recognisable. However, all objects have a little twist to them causing some alienation, questioning or finding new connections. This is the stimulating experience of a visit of the exhibition. The booklet gives an informative overview of choice of sculptures chosen for the exhibition. Walking around in the spacious entry forum allows to appreciate the objects from many angles and in different lighting including twilight. Allow yourself to be challenged. Distancing your perspective beyond the obvious object you recognise broadens our vision of what we see and how we perceive it. The huge pink rose in front of the gallery overshadows even the monumental appearance of the Neue Nationalgalerie. In memoriam “Rosa Luxemburg” and Karl Liebknecht who were murdered not far away, near the “Landwehrkanal” in 1919.
Some visitors might like the skyscraper models she created to remind us that “design catastrophe” with the usual high rising buildings are pervasive around the world. Sculpture as architecture or architecture as sculpture has been her forward looking work from 2008 “Ground Zero – Hospital”.
With the construction work in full swing in the neighbourhood of the gallery with the design of a barn (Scheune) we understand the choice of the artist as a timely reminder that Berlin could be more daring in the architectural design. 
Smart watch
Das Handgelenk hat noch viel Platz für elektronische Geräte. Vom preiswerten Schrittzähler bis zur smart watch und intelligenten Armreifen oder sogar Ringen gibt es dort viel Potential für Innovation. Jenseits der Schritte werden mittels vielfältiger Sensoren eine Fülle von Daten erfasst. Datenschützer erschaudern geradezu. Das Potential für medizinische und soziologische Auswertungen dieser Daten ist immens. Vergleichbar mit einer elektronischen Waage, die Knochenmasse, Wasser und Muskeln erfasst erlauben die smarten Uhren noch mit Ungenauigkeiten, aber stetig besser werdend, kardiologische Werte und Schlafrhythmus zu erfassen. 
Mit Daten von tausenden bald Millionen Datenlieferanten lassen sich wichtige Studien zur Früherkennung von Gesundheitsrisiken durchführen. Plötzlicher Herzstillstand ist eines der immer noch wenig aufgeklärten Phänomene. Die Studie im LANCET digital health hat solche Daten ausgewertet und kommt zu der Schlussfolgerung, dass dyspnoea für Frauen und Männer der größten Risikofaktoren darstellt. Für Frauen wird Entwarnung gegeben für Diaphoresis, exzessives Schwitzen, aber nicht für Männer. Letztere sollten Schmerzen in der Brust ebenfalls ernst nehmen. Daten sammeln kann durchaus Leben retten. 
Dennoch droht dem Gesundheitswesen eventuell eine Welle an falsch positiven Selbsteinweisungen in der Notaufnahme der Krankenhäuser. Darauf sind wir noch wenig vorbereitet, inklusive der möglichen rechtlichen und finanziellen Konsequenzen. “Big brothers are smart watching you”. Müssen Ärzte die smarte Evidenz berücksichtigen, etwa so wie eine Patientenverfügung? Was wenn plötzlich der Notarzt unaufgefordert an der Tür klingelt? Wer hat meine Uhr gehackt, … , singt das Paulchen Panther jetzt.
More Design
How about a subject like Design in school. Rather than the same old boring teaching manuals in art, music, economics or social science, young learners have always been attracted to making things by themselves. The theoretical context is then coming to the subjects and objects more naturally. Economics as market design, design social security for platform workers, sound or furniture design could bring in the creative potential of the learners. Lessons learned through subsequent applications or realizations of prototypes allows the link of theory and practice. A school garden would even be a fantastic cross-discipline learning opportunity.
The most difficult part is probably to find competent coaches to guide the learners exploring and designing. The world is not perfect, so why should learners not be confronted with imperfections in learning set-ups. The most fun part in science is when experiments go wrong, hopefully not too badly though. Catching learners by their curiosity is very likely to get them hooked on more thorny scientific questions as well. Across Europe holidays are coming to an end and millions of pupils go back to their benches and rigid curricula. We should really care more about the next generation.
Calendar Time
We all use calendars to organize our time almost unconsciously. This is helpful to organize and synchronize our time together. Working time, family and individual time tend to use the same time structure to facilitate community. Work arrangements depend a lot on a common method to structure time. The work-life balance hinges a lot on synchronization of calendars and joint time slots. Towards the end of the annual vacation period in Europe the annualized change of calendars is still common practice despite most people going digital. Annual overviews allow to allocate and potentially synchronize calendars for major events or periods (next break, period devoted to learning, family planning etc.). A cleavage that differentiated Europe in the analogous times was that some countries like Germany use(d) chronological calendars running from 1st of January until 31st of December and counting calendar weeks (1-52). Many other countries have long ago moved on to “functionalist” calendars running based on the school year from 1st of September to 31st of August each year. Different planning horizons appear to be the obvious outcome. Whereas the former might focus on the planning of the end of the calendar year 2023, the latter functionalist calendars begin to structure the new year-long period 2023-24 including the next summer break towards the end of the next schooling year.
In France you start end of August 2023 to plan ahead until end of August 2024. This comprises the Olympic games in Paris 2024. Don’t worry, most tickets are sold out already and attributed through lotteries. When people in Germany start to buy calendars for 2024 and organize a printed calendar, this occurs traditionally around Christmas time and New Year’s celebrations.
Specific professions follow their own calendar time. Academic years or accounting years may well differ from the other annualised organisation of time through calendars. Of course, religions have established their own calendars just as migrating birds or French revolutionaries in the 18th century. Meteorological calendars or sensor-based structuring of annual sequences of seasons like in trees, plants or insects add to the impression of the existence of multiple clocks. 
A de-synchronisation of these multiple calendars increases the need to coordinate societies within or society and the economy, religion or ecology. I liked my printed calendars over the years. Now I shall print different versions for different countries and functions. I still wonder, if my life got easier or more complex. Probably, it has only become easier to organise complexity and diversity. Clock 6 video
Corbusier ZH
Realizations based on the theory of architecture by Le Corbusier are always worthy of visit. Passing through Zurich (CH) allows to discover another fine example of a villa he designed in the neighborhood of the old town. Within walking distance from the lake Zurich the spacious building allows just like the Paris example for an exhibition of art work within the villa. Horizontally stretched windows and a terrace on the roof make these villas look very modern. Rooftop bars and restaurants just stage a revival in inner cities as cool locations. Le Corbusier anticipated this long ago. Theories can have a long half value time of lasting.
The materials applied in the realizations were obviously less durable. This is the reason why the villa had been closed for renovations for many years. The reopening now shows the splendid views from inside out as well as from the outside. Colors are especially interesting in this example. Nothing is left to or build by chance. The Design language is spelled out in each detail down to door handles. An ongoing exhibition about the deterioration of materials and in some cases even toxic materials helps to understand the necessity to be aware of material science in construction. This makes visits even more informative. The confrontation of vision and sustainability becomes an additional topic also for the theory of architecture.
Too big
Too big to fail. We all thought that after the financial crisis some fifteen years ago, we would not deal with the same kind of problems again. The banking sector in Switzerland has proven us wrong. One of the 2 big banks Credit Suisse in Switzerland was about to default and asked for 170 billion state guarantee middle of March 2023. Only after a forced merger with the other big bank UBS (which was rescued in 2008 already) and the huge state guarantee the solvency of the even bigger bank was re-established. Tax payers were expected to foot the bill. Less than 6 months later the Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter announced that there is no longer a risk for tax payers to pay for the mismanagement of the bankers involved. This is a relief for the political system which is going to the polls next year.
Many unresolved questions remain. Financial market supervision is faulty to say the least. Banking left to bankers as controllers is risky. Apparently fines do not work only prohibition to exercise similar functions (internationally) again is likely to be effective (NZZ 2023-8-9 S.19). Other remedies lie in a complete overhaul of the governance system of banks and beyond. Supervisory boards should in theory be able to assess the risks incurred by the management board. Failure to do so has no consequences for them either. Representatives of the employees in the board is likely to introduce more longer term concerns into decision-making. Saving jobs is a valuable goal not necessarily in the interest of investment bankers. Capitalism is at high risk of survival and with it our democratic systems. It was not a bank in Niger that got into trouble, but at a major European financial center. Too big to fail in a tiny country still sends shivers throughout Europe. And the other big bank is growing even bigger now, probably un-savable now. If I had a bucket of Swiss Franks, I would rather sell them.
Sichtweise
In vielen Fällen stimmt die eigene Sichtweise nicht mit der Sichtweise von anderen überein. Das kann sich bei Personen bis hin zu Persönlichkeitsstörungen auswachsen. Bei ganzen Gesellschaften, Kantonen oder Regionen führt die verzerrte Selbstwahrnehmung zu gewissen Befremdlichkeiten oder Entfremdung. Die Lokalpresse der Südostschweiz zeigt zwei fröhliche BauarbeiterInnen, die gemütlich auf ihre Baustelle zuwandern. Weit gefehlt. Der Helikopter hat längst die Hauptarbeit übernommen und diese BauarbeiterInnen (à la Heidi) gehören einer Vergangenheit an, die längst untergegangen ist.
Aber Zeitungen verkaufen sich lokal wohl besser, wenn sie an dem idyllischen Bild der Vergangenheit als Selbsteinschätzung und Selbstvergewisserung festhalten. Die Fremdsicht kommt eben auch nur von Fremden. Die Personen zahlen letztlich gerne für den Lift, um das Naturspektakel der Alpen auf 2000m noch eindrucksvoller erleben zu können. Dabei wäre mit Bussen und einer kleinen Bergwanderung dasselbe Panorama bei höherer Endorphinausschüttung zu erleben. Ob es für das Transportieren der Mountainbikes im Sommer nach oben und mehr Skifahrenden bei weniger Schneegebieten im Winter eine solche Investition benötigt, die noch mehr Grünflächen verschwinden lässt, bleibt äußerst fraglich. Der Kampf zwischen Mountainbikern und zu Fuß gehenden Personen wurde bereits durch getrennte Strecken entschärft. Zwischen den Menschen, nicht aber die weitere raumgreifende Nutzung der Natur. 
Geologie
Mehr GeologInnen braucht das Land. In der Schweiz beunruhigen derzeit zunehmende geologische Risiken. Der Klimawandel lässt Permafrost in den Höhen schmelzen, der jahrhundertelang Gestein zusammenhielt Gleichzeitig sinkt die Schweiz, nicht die Aktienkurse, selbst die Credit Suisse ist bereits untergegangen, aber rein geologisch, nüchtern betrachtet (NZZ, 2023 „Die Schweiz sinkt“). Das verlangt nun doch einige gründliche wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen. GeologInnen messen bereits mit unzähligen Messstationen die Bewegungen der Erdkrusten. In der Schweiz lässt sich sicherlich mit dem zunehmenden Abschmelzen der Gletscher und der Veränderung der (mehr) Regenfälle statt Schneefälle in den frühen Wintermonaten eine neue Gefahrensituation aufzeigen, nicht nur für den Tourismus. Die üblichen Reflexe: mehr Investieren in Schutz und neue Versicherungen wird alleine nicht mehr helfen. Biodiversität auf den unteren Skipisten ist eh Fehlanzeige, aber die Baumgrenze steigt. Das könnte genutzt werden, statt die vielfach kranken Fichten, die wegen ihrer kurzen Wurzeln kaum ein Gewitter überstehen (Ruinaulta vom 4.8.2023 S.6 und S.16-18). Diese Gewitter werden durch den Klimawandel wahrscheinlich häufiger werden. Noch mehr Versicherungen werden die Welt nicht retten können. Wir werden umdenken müssen auch wenn Verhaltensänderungen sehr schwerfallen.
Das Abbrechen von Bergspitzen, wie am Kantersteg (BE) oder der Bergsturz am Piz Cengalo 2017 in Graubünden, ereignen sich dann eher in den wärmeren Sommertagen. Die GeologInnen werden viele Arbeitsstellen haben (nicht nur im Geopark Sardona UNESCO Welterbe) und gehören zu den Berufen mit höherer Nachfrage durch den Klimawandel. 
Work Satisfaction
There is an important distinction between job satisfaction and satisfaction with one’s work. Being satisfied with the work you have done or something you created or co-created has become almost a privilege. Production in capitalism has mostly different objectives like rent seeking rather than satisfaction with one’s work. Compromises between both are a major learning process about the functioning of labour markets. Remote work, for some, contributes a lot to more job satisfaction. For others a healthy work environment is the top priority. Many people however focus simply on pay packages and this is often out of sheer necessity to escape poverty eventually. Trades have a tradition to allow satisfaction with one’s work, more than most jobs in industry. Flat hierarchies and subordination to your own standards, rather than pressure from supervisors, are much more common. Recognition of your work adds to the pay you receive. Job turnover is related to job satisfaction but also to satisfaction or even identification with the product of your work.
There is more to work than pay. Recognition in form of winning a price in a competition may help to keep awareness high that pay is only one element of remuneration. “meilleur ouvrier de France“ is such a kind of recognition. It encourages people to try new things and test new ideas. This is a major source of satisfaction with one’s work. We might even feel sorry for someone shouting “I can get no satisfaction”. He probably has to try in a simpler or different fashion rather than to try harder. The city Dijon in Burgundy seems to have a pretty high number of people with high levels of work satisfaction and happy to show it.
Greenwashing
We mostly think of greenwashing of big polluting industries , but there many other ways to cheat with green labels. When you travel through green Switzerland you might be surprised of how the Swiss way of greenwashing works. In order to survive as tourist attraction with less snow (Study published in Nature Climate change 2023) and reduced numbers of trees, greenwashing has to happen quickly before tourists arrive again.
The challenge is to clear your sick parts of the forest quickly and to build new ways for fast lifts to heights in the mountains where you are likely to find snow at least for the next 30 years after which the investment is amortized. (quote from Neue Zürcher Zeitung 5.8.2023 p11). This all is carried through in speedy fashion and probably in the most polluting way you can imagine. Heidi would cry in the arms of her grandfather and join Greta in the school strike.
Gartenwelt
Gärten sind eigene Welten. Selbst im gleichen Garten sehen verschiedene Menschen unterschiedliche Dinge. Man stelle sich nur sogenannte Farbenblindheit vor. Jahreszeiten bieten zusätzliches Ansichtsmaterial. Animalische Perspektiven würden für erstaunliche Überraschungen sorgen. Nach den Vorarbeiten mit dem Polinatorprojekt online hatten wir die Gelegenheit eine konkrete Realisierung einer solchen Gartenwelt zu durchwandern.
Der reale 3-D Eindruck ist überwältigend und bringt die virtuelle Erfahrung des Gartens im Lauf der Jahreszeiten in die reale Welt. Zu jeder Jahreszeit, selbst im Hochsommer, ist viel Farbe im Spiel und das auf mehreren Ebenen. Paradiesische Gartenwelten erschließen sich bei der Bewegung im Garten. Das wirkt wie ein Ansporn zu eigenen oder besser gemeinschaftlichen Anstrengungen einer vergleichbaren Realisierung. Genau das ist auch Teil der Ausstellung und des Katalogs „Zukunft der Gärten“ im Vitra Design Museum.
Nuclear War
In the last few years we have witnessed a new surge in the investment in nuclear energy on the global level (IEA). Ever since the foundation of the initiative “International physicians for the prevention of nuclear war” in the 1980s, there have been relentless reminders of the devastating effects of such a war. In 2023 we are all aware of the real risk of attacks on the biggest nuclear power plant located in Ukraine. Nevertheless we continue to invest heavily in power plants that constitute a massive risk at times of war between irresponsible nations. Besides the publication of many high quality papers in The Lancet there is regularly space to keep the awareness of the dangers of nuclear war at a high level. Too many politicians shield themselves from dealing with such realistic dangers in the interest of supposed cheap and save energy for all. Both is no longer the case. Nuclear energy is expensive and unsafe in peace and horrible in war times. We cannot afford to abstract from these rising risks. The hype about anything nuclear like in the 1980s is grossly displaced (image of book below).
Anger
It feels like we live in the “age of anger”. Anger was a predominate feeling in the “French yellow vest movement” spurred by sharp increases in petrol prices. In Germany the notion of “Wutbürger” had a short career to express anger of citizens against, against whatever could arise anger. There are plenty of issues of course that will cause arousal in public politics. The more a government enacts change, be it necessary or not, the more it is to arouse its citizens. Parliamentary democracy is thought to solve this through majority voting of the equally represented in parliament. Minority rights have been installed to safeguard the majority to become too overwhelming, but any close decisions on hotly debated topics are likely to cause substantial anger within a society.
This is far from being an issue only in Western democracies. Pankaj Mishra claims, this is a world-wide phenomenon and history provides ample examples for it. In his book on “The age of anger” he challenges the predominantly Western political theory, deriving from an opposition of Voltaire’s and Rousseau’s political thought to hold the individualisation and globalisation of an economic model, traditional capitalism, responsible for the rise of anger across the globe.
This critique of capitalism is now translated into French. Several movements of anger in France probably find some unifying roots of seemingly unrelated outbreak of anger, violence and subsequent repression. Old arguments of critics of capitalism stand up again. The challenge to democracy comes from the extreme right even more than from the extreme left. Re-imagining capitalism is needed more than ever to safe the survival of democracy. Participative democracy like in Bürgerräte in Germany or deliberative democracy practiced by President Macron in France are an important part to stimulate involvement of more people in the preparation of decision-making. Not perfect as procedures, but small steps ahead to confront and address anger of the citizens and people at large. 
Work Subordination
One of the defining principles besides the job description, working time, working place, remuneration of a work contract is the subordination to a superior. The employment contract entails some more or less strictly executed form of direction, but a right of direction nevertheless. This element of subordination has become a major issue in the definition of whether you are effectively an employee or a self-employed person. The digital revolution had enlarged the kinds of subordination. Platforms and algorithms, that distribute work among several employees (but named platform workers) disguised the subordination to a superior level of management to the platform and its seemingly anonymous algorithm. Many young riders were saying, I don’t like bosses, but I am willing to accept a “technical” platform that distributes work tasks only seemingly in a non-discriminatory way. Due to a failure of labour legislation to regulate early enough a thriving model of fake self-employment developed throughout Europe and beyond. Labour Courts have contributed a lot to correct the disguised subordination. Even Uber is advertising that they only operate as a broker of tasks, but have no subordinated employees. The related issue of subordination remains largely the same. Subordination to an algorithm of the distribution of tasks is the end result.
Many start-up enterprises use Kanban boards to facilitate project and team management. Shifting tasks between employees, introducing new tasks and self-selection of tasks are potentially subordination-free allocation of tasks (example software). Flat hierarchies seem more manageable through the use of such tools. The number of tools that integrate other office functions is impressive. When testing such tools, that become more popular also in the distribution of household tasks, beware of the data-hungry nature of such tools. For example, https://trello.com/ warns correctly in the small print that for its full functionality it would need to have permission to use “your” camera, microphone, contacts, photo library, calendar etc.
This demonstrates that subordination, nowadays, is complemented by the algorithmic use of a lot of privacy, we would never have agreed to a boss in person should even ask for. The new and old subordinators have powerful tools at hand, the subordinated will have to get their act together and limit the amount of subordination they are willing to accept.
Again, this is a generational topic. The low threshold to accept technical subordination in younger generations, your autonomous level-5 car is breaking earlier than you even perceive a risk, is confronted with the higher threshold to accept personal subordination for youth. Interestingly, for older generations the obverse is true. All in all, we have ample reason to rethink and re-define also in legal terms the manifold, disguised and new forms of subordination related to work.
Work Remote
Since the COVID-19 crisis we witness a steep increase in the interest to working from home or from remote places. Originally during the pandemic spread of the virus, remote work was the only way to stay in contact with employers and fellow employees for all those not considered as essential workers. Many employees and employers, for the first, experienced that working remotely can have multiple positive effects. First of all, saving time and stress as well as CO2 reduction due to less commuting is beneficial not only for individual employees, but also for society at large. These benefits are substantial.
In my opinion the most substantial consequence is the rethinking of several fundamentals related to work that have gone unquestioned for decades or even centuries, which is: Work happened predominantly at the work place. Digitalisation had changed this partially already, but the willingness to implement far reaching reforms related to work for millions of employees remained rather limited before the Covid-19 pandemic. Nobody had to go on strike to force employers to accept remote work. Suddenly employers, in some instances, were begging employees to please do your work from home or anywhere else. Now we are in the historically rather unique situation that both employers as well as employees try to reap the benefits of the unexpected revolution of remote work potentials including new digital tools to organise remote work (example “scoopforwork”). Employers found out they can do with much less office space than they previously thought they would need to accommodate all employees. Employees found out that saving on commuting time saves energy and frees time resources for other, potentially more healthy ways of life. A new balance of work and private life could be arranged at home. So much for the theoretical expectations.
In practice many women realised that they suddenly found themselves thrown back into working at home and in the home all the time again, with men still less willing to share household work equally. Unsuitable work spaces at home, arranged rather ad hoc, became a health and safety issue usually considered to be part of the employers’ responsibilities.
The results of the real-life experiment of forced remote work are still under scrutiny. To turn them into beneficial arrangements of voluntary remote work which is empowering, emancipating, increasing degrees of freedom for employees would be a huge step ahead. The full spectrum of negotiations is involved. Legislation, collective agreements and 1-on-1 solutions are needed to reap the benefits on all levels. Comparable to the industrial revolution during the 19th century, drawing millions of workers into factories and coal mines, we are at the beginning of a new era of digital and remote work that governs solar and wind farms for energy provision as well as 3D printing of industrial components.
It seems that we shift from the blue collar to the white collar to the no collar world of work. Working remotely in my t-shirt under the cherry tree is not the worst of a revolution (guard against cherry picking by employers and new layers of inequality). It might take a generation or two to accomplish this. With threatening, pervasive climate change we probably have to make it happen sooner rather than later.
Wessen Wetter
Wessen Wetter ist es denn? Mitten in einem Gewitter deklamieren Leute heute noch, “Um Gottes Willen“! Selbst in 2023 vereinen sich Leute und beten für Regen. Dabei wissen wir längst, wie der Regen entsteht, Feuchtigkeit in Wolken über weite Strecken zieht und schlußendlich als Regen über uns kommt. Dafür haben wir Dächer vorgesehen, mehr oder weniger solide und dicht. Regenwasser sammeln, sickern lassen, Rückhaltebecken erweitern; das sind alles Vorkehrungen gegen größer werdende Unwetter des menschengemachten Klimawandels. Beten sowie Meditieren kann dem Einzelnen helfen, sich zu fokusieren und Kräfte zu sammeln. Gemeinschaftserlebnisse stärken Resilienz.
Wetter ist in der Tat eine tägliche Art von Gemeinschaftserlebnis, oft lokal begrenzt, aber meist regionenspezifisch und manchmal ein landes- oder gar europaweites Phänomen. Neben den staatlichen Meteorologischen Instituten gibt es bereits immer mehr “citizen science” Projekte zum Wetter. Das belgische Beispiel (s.u.) zeigt eine Vernetzung von Bürgerinnen, die Spaß und Interesse am Wetter und am Teilen sowie Partizipieren haben, kann das Messstationsnetzwerk der staatlichen Wetterdienste erweitern und eine alternative Vorhersagemöglichkeit bieten. PollenAPPs nutzen ebenfalls die Leidensstärke von allergischen Personen, um ihre Pollenbelastung spezifischer zu erfassen und Prognosen zu verbessern.
Ciitzen Science ist ebenso ein wechselseitiger Lernprozess, der das Wissen und Methoden einzelner Wissenschaffenden quasi basisdemokratische “bottom up” Wissenschaft gegenüberstellt. Stärken und Schwächen der jeweiligen Vorgehensweisen müssen untersucht werden, besonders mit Blick auf “fake news” oder “fake data”. Nicht nur erschreckend viele Forschende in der Wissenschaft produzieren “fake data and science” (Sabel et al. 2023) für fragwürdige Reputation und Karrieren. Bürgerinnen, die Daten sammeln und eigene Analysen, Vermutungen oder Hypothesen vornehmen, können Wissenschaft erweitern, andere ermuntern und wertvolle, viele, kleine Beiträge leisten.
Schwarmintelligenz beim Wetter praktizieren bereits die Schwalben. Das könnten wir vielleicht von diesen lernen. Bei Vervier in Belgien sowie an der Ahr in Rheinland-Pfalz sind mehr als 100 Menschen gestorben, wegen unpräziser Vorhersagen und Verzögerungen bei der Übermittlung der akuten Gefahrensituation.
Citizen Science kann Leben schützen, genauso wie es andere dringend nötige Freiwilligendienste bereits bewiesen haben. Das sind mal ganz andere vielfältige, bunte Wetteraussichten. 