corona: vier fragen einer einzelnen frau

Heute ist der 14. April 2020. Zur Stunde sind nach den Zählungen der Johns Hopkins Universität weltweit fast 2 Millionen Menschen mit dem Coronavirus infiziert, und mehr als 120.000 infizierte Menschen sind inzwischen gestorben[1]. In den letzten zwei Wochen hat sich die Geschwindigkeit der Ausbreitung des Virus in vielen Ländern – zumindest diesen Zahlen nach[2] – verlangsamt. Einige Länder in Europa beginnen deshalb dieser Tage damit, die strikten Beschränkungen des “Lockdown” der letzten Wochen schrittweise zu lockern: In Dänemark nehmen in dieser Woche Kindergärten und Grundschulen die Arbeit wieder auf; in Österreich öffnen erste Geschäfte; in Spanien fahren Arbeitnehmer wieder in ihre Betriebe und Unternehmen[3].

Für Deutschland hat die Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften Leopoldina gestern eine Stellungnahme mit dem Titel “Coronavirus-Pandemie. Die Krise nachhaltig überwinden” vorgelegt[4], in der in sieben Kapiteln Empfehlungen zum weiteren Umgang mit der Pandemie in Deutschland formuliert werden.

Continue Reading

The Banality of Morals

Today is April 2nd, 2020. As of today, the Johns Hopkins University’s Corona Virus Resource Center reports well over 900,000 confirmed cases globally and just short of 50,000 deaths[1]. Compared to when I wrote my last post two weeks ago, this is more than four times the number of confirmed cases and more than five times the number of deaths. Three countries – the United States, Spain, and Italy – now count more confirmed cases than the whole of China, where the virus originated, and the death toll in all three countries has also surpassed China’s.

Many countries have reacted to the situation with sigificant lockdowns, cancelling all public events, closing schools, universities, shops, and restaurants, and confining citizens to their homes. According to recent analysis, these lockdowns have already prevented another 60,000 deaths in Europe alone[2].

At the same time, the lockdowns are creating political, economic, social, and psychological challenges of a magnitude which most countries have not witnessed for decades.

Continue Reading

#globalretreat: the art of staying at home

Today is March 19th, 2020. By now, the corona pandemic is confining hundreds of thousands of people in Europe, in the United States, and in more and more other countries to their homes in order to slow down the spreading of the disease. As of yesterday, the WHO reported almost 210,000 confirmed cases and just short of 9,000 deaths[1].

Under normal circumstances, most of us like being at home – and many busy people even look forward to those rare periods when they have to travel less and can instead enjoy their apartments, houses, balconies and gardens.

Continue Reading

corona: a checklist for company leaders

Today is March 17th, 2020. By now, the corona pandemic has paused public life all over Europe. As of today, the WHO reports over 170,000 confirmed cases and just over 7,000 deaths[1]. Stock markets are crashing, shops are closing, and companies are struggling to adapt to the changing boundary conditions on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. Earlier today, Volkswagen and Opel announced to shut down production facilities in Europe to cope with the crisis[2].

Continue Reading

think, let go, serve – and face your fears

Today is March 15, 2020. By now, the corona pandemic[1] has far-reaching consequences for public and private life around the globe. As of today, the WHO reports over 150,000 confirmed cases and almost 6,000 deaths[2]. Countries and companies are issuing travel bans; theaters, music halls, cinemas, gyms, restaurants, and shops as well as schools and daycare facilities are closing down.

The crisis is creating an enormous workload for many: Healthcare professionals are working 24/7, caring for those infected (as well as for other patients) and engaging in research to find a cure or a vaccine.

Continue Reading

20 wünsche für die 2020er

Für 2020 habe ich – anders als in vorigen Jahren[1] – keine Neujahrsvorsätze aufgeschrieben, sondern zwanzig Wünsche formuliert, die aus meiner Sicht dazu beitragen können, dass unser Zusammenleben in den anbrechenden Zwanzigzwanzigerjahren möglichst gut funktioniert[2].

Ich wünsche mir für die 2020er…

… Paketdienste, die Pakete zum erwarteten Zeitpunkt an den Empfänger liefern, für den sie bestimmt sind (1/20);

Continue Reading

Wollen wir die totale Followkratie?

Seit Ende der vergangenen Woche gibt es auf Instagram einen Account mit dem Handle 12062020olympia[1]. Innerhalb weniger Stunden zog der Account so viele Follower an, dass Instagram ihn für einen Bot hielt und vorübergehend deaktivierte[2]. Der Account gehört zu einer Crowdfunding-Kampagne auf Startnext, die Geld für “Die größte BürgerInnenversammlung Deutschlands im Olympiastadion Berlin mit bis zu 90.000 Menschen” einsammelt.

Continue Reading

Four truths about climate action

Last Friday, in many countries around the world, millions were out on the streets to protest for action against climate change. In Germany, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in more than 500 towns[1]. Over the weekend, newspapers and social media buzzed with photos showing large crowds in public places; many of my friends and acquaintances posted their own snapshots from the protest marches.

Continue Reading

s.u.m.m.e.r. xii: ceasing

“Hellhound”, you whisper under your breath, “hellhound, ghoul, vampire, or skeleton. What kind of algorithm would that be?!”. You just got the results for the ‘personality under rigoruous examination’ (p.u.r.e.) test you took with the reputable Visionary Institute for Xpertise (VIX). You had hoped to get some indications for possible alternative careers once your current contract runs out, but somehow it seems these suggestions are not very practical.

Continue Reading

s.u.m.m.e.r. xi: reborn

“You are nominated!”, says a letter from the Union of Inspiring Wigbigwannabees (UIW). Surprisingly, you have been nominated for this year’s supercalifragilistic award for global expialidociousness (s.a.g.e.), a prestigious worldwide prize in recognition of outstanding leadership achievements. In the spirit of sustainability, the winner receives nothing but a ripe apple, so there are many stories about what past winners did with their award apples: some made apple sauce, some dried their apples, and one recent winner let it rot over months, posting daily pictures of its ongoing decay on social media.

Continue Reading

No more posts.