Social issues

Is Karl May’s Winnetou a “cultural appropriation”?

by Marita Brune-Koch

(19 September 2022) The “Ravensburger Verlag” has removed books by Karl May from its program. The reason: Karl May was accused of “cultural appropriation” as well as of trivialising the suffering of the indigenous American population, of trivialising the colonisation of America and the oppression and extermination of the native peoples there. The “Karl May Publishing House” contradicts the accusations and keeps the books in its program.
Germany

Chambers of trade alarmed

Open letter from the master craftsmen and women of the region of Leipzig to the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Minister President of the Free State of Saxony

Total domination by the “golden billion”

Excerpts from a speech of Vladimir Putin at the Conference “Strong Ideas for a New Time”1

(18 August 2022) (Edit.) On July 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a short speech to the Plenary session of the conference “Strong Ideas for a New Time”, which received wide attention in Russia. In it, he characterized Western society from the Russian perspective. This description is also shared by large parts of the world. However, it hardly finds its way into the debates in our western media. We reproduce here a key section of the speech.
Commentary

“Quality media” in the swamp of war propaganda

How liberal flagships turn into junk ammunition freighters

by Thomas Scherr

(5 September 2022) One had to get used to the fact that many renowned newspapers – also known as “leading media” – are increasingly deteriorating. In addition to their dwingling circulation numbers and increasing tittytainment or their ivory-tower snobbish feuilletons, they have become appallingly conformist. They still manage to set focal points of discussion in the “published” debate. In a limited playground, they mime “investigative journalism” or “debate culture”, arguing about trivialities.

Declines in performance among elementary school students

Study in Germany shows serious decline in competency

by Marita Brune-Koch

(9 August 2022) The proportion of children who fail to meet the educational standards set by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany1 has risen sharply. This was revealed by the Institute for Quality Development in a study.2

Norway: Biometric digital identity is coming

by Thomas Oysmüller*

(11 July 2022) Norway is abolishing its old digital registration system and is rolling out a digital identity that will be linked to biometric data.