Greetings from an exceedingly hot Berlin, preparing to cap off yet another week of 30 degree temperatures on Sunday. Alongside the physical heat, a political fever has taken over the city following the historic victories of the far-right party Alterative for Germany in last week’s elections. Looming ahead, the primary concern is economic, as fears intensify that a Volkswagen crisis could further push the already struggling German economy into recession, with potential ripple effects across the whole of Europe. During the sweltering days, I’ve been occupied, indoors in front of a fan, with my iPad illuminating the room, cherry picking from this week’s news.
Mark Paul hit a journalistic high note this week with his touching tribute to Denis Murphy, a 56-year-old man from London of Irish origins, who tragically lost his life along with 71 other people in the Grenfell disaster of 2017. The tragic narrative of Murphy, whose last words to his son on a phone call were, “I’m stuck, I can’t breathe”, serves as a reminder that behind any colossal disaster are personal stories of loss that continue to resonate long after the news cycle has moved on. Paul’s admirable commitment to the Grenfell coverage, which he accomplished while at the same time handling meetings with Irish political dignitaries visiting London, did a significant job in personalising the catastrophe.
This week’s contribution from Michael Harding was an engaging perspective on the modern health perils posed by Trump-Rogan-Tate-Morgan, comparable to the potential threats to country life of the past. He nostalgically recalls the time: “I haven’t forgotten the time the badger ransacked the scullery, although on that occasion it was me who stood terrified and naked, while he eyeballed me boldly, before getting stuck in the cat flap on his way out.”
My Weekly Reading List: The subtle crescendo of an imminent election continues to amplify.
My Weekly Reading List: Murdoch revelations keep coming in, and an Irish cinema pioneer steals the spotlight
This week’s literary digest involves contemplations on Donald Trump’s oration and the noticeable rise of the Derry girls. The week was also marked by passionate discussions on the power of details in captivating writing. One of the notable highlights this week was an intriguing piece by Shauna Bowers regarding the tragic neglect of mental health issues in Ireland, juxtaposed against the mounting extravagance of the country. Her poignant portrayal of the mental health care crisis struck a chord with many, painting a grim picture of the lack of sufficient therapeutic staff and ever-growing waiting lists for treatment.
Continuing my affinity towards the traditional radio over podcasts that often consume considerably more time before arriving at the crux, I particularly enjoyed exploring the BBC Sounds App. It provided a diverse array of finely edited content, which included one interesting piece featuring thriller novelist Lee Child. He delved deeply into his upbringing, his Northern Irish heritage, and how the Biblical tale of David and Goliath sparked the idea for his widely popular Jack Reacher series.
Perusing other intellectual platforms such as eurozine.com, I found insights into the ongoing dialogues gripping much of Europe. A thought-provoking text by Bryan Fanning, via the Dublin Review of Books, caught my eye, interrogating how Irish conservative perspectives have shifted in their expression of nationalism.
Finally, my inability to understand German didn’t hinder my appreciation for an intriguing interview with Olaf Scholz on Der Spiegel. The conversation was largely dominated by two defining aspects of German political discourse – responsibility and specifics – although it somewhat lacked in concrete resolutions. This could potentially explain why Scholz, currently in his first term as Chancellor, is viewed as the preferred option for a mere 23% of the German populace heading into his second term.
Berliner magazine, a favourite amongst English-speaking inhabitants of Germany’s capital, keeps finger on the pulse of cultural and culinary discoveries. In the current edition, it directs its attention to a provocative, humour intended, fascination of those deeply infatuated with German culture: naturism. Nudity has been a nonchalant feature of German life for a century, but it’s now roped in the trendsetters to join in on clothe-less activities like tea gatherings, sports clubs and even karaoke – to which one attendee admits, “Karaoke, in my view, is far more mortifying than nudity.”
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