Germany

Carpooling the German Way

By Clark Boyd ⋅ February 8, 2012 ⋅ 3 comments ⋅ Transcript

Carpooling has been popular in Germany for decades. One German-based web company is betting that it will catch on in the US, where your car is your domain.

Germany’s Merkel in China

By The World ⋅ February 2, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

Wen Jiabao and Angela Merkel (BBC Video)

German chancellor Angela Merkel is in Beijing for a two-day visit expected to focus on the eurzone crisis, Iran and Syria. Accompanied by a 20 strong trade delegation, she is scheduled to meet President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.

Out of Work Spaniards Flock to Germany, Confront Cultural Divide

By Gerry Hadden ⋅ February 1, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

22-year-old Patricia Cigala, a Spaniard from the southeast city of Murcia, says goodbye to her visiting mom at a cold bus stop in Munich, Germany. Cigala moved to Germany three months ago and found a job with a catering company. She says it's taken her a while to get used to Germany's more rigidly structured social life. For example she says you can't just pop by a German friend's house unannounced without getting weird looks. (Photo: Gerry Hadden)

A growing number of Spaniards are getting obsessed with Germany and its image as a worker’s paradise. Those who go learn quickly that while you may earn more in Germany you also pay more in taxes – and that everybody actually pays [...]

Why Spain’s Unemployed Are Heading For Germany

By Gerry Hadden ⋅ February 1, 2012 ⋅ 4 comments ⋅ Transcript

Juan Alberto Fuente and Jose Sandino from Spain arriving in Munich, Germany. (Photo: Gerry Hadden)

Spain’s best and brightest are leaving the country for Germany, where jobs are better paid and easier to come by. The Spanish government says this is just a temporary blip, but some worry Spain could lose an entire generation.

Kimchi Art Display Aimed at Cultural and Ethnic Differences

By Caitlan Carroll ⋅ January 13, 2012 ⋅ 5 comments ⋅ Transcript

Kate Hers (on left) and her friend explain why it's important that every question on the form is completed. Hers plans to compile the responses at the end of the exhibit. (Photo: Caitlin Carroll)

An art installation in Berlin is aimed at getting Germans to think about cultural and ethnic differences.

Mayan Predictions for 2012, German Analysis and a Little Village in France

By Gerry Hadden ⋅ December 27, 2011 ⋅ 5 comments ⋅ Transcript

Not long ago I was in a little village in southwest France where new age doomsayers were gathering on a mountaintop they believe will be saved when the world ends in 2012 [...]

Wim Wenders Discusses ‘Pina’ – A Documentary on Choreographer Pina Bausch

By The World ⋅ December 23, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

A scene from "Pina" (Photo: wim-wenders.com)

Wenders’ new movie out “Pina” is a documentary about German choreographer Pina Bausch who died a few years ago at the age of 68.

Greek Home Owners Get Hit With Emergency Property Tax

By The World ⋅ December 21, 2011 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

Greek Flag (Photo: Oscar Alexander/Flickr)

The cash-strapped Greek government is hoping to raise 2 billion euros by the end of the year through an emergency property tax which has been added to homeowner’s electricity bills.

German City Evacuates Because of WWII Bomb

By The World ⋅ December 2, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

Host Lisa Mullins talks to “Stars and Stripes” reporter Mark Patton about the evacuation this weekend of about 45,000 people in Koblenz, Germany. The city needs to defuse World War II bombs recently discovered in the Rhine river.

Nazi Board Game ‘Out With The Jews!’

By The World ⋅ December 1, 2011 ⋅ 16 comments ⋅ Transcript

Anti-Semitic board game 'Juden Raus' (Photo: Wiener Library)

In the 1930s in Germany, anti-semitism was all-pervasive, and part of that can be attributed to pop culture. A commercially successful board game for example called “Juden Raus” (Jews Out) became a pasttime of German families.

Starbucks Challenging Germany’s Kaffeehaus

By The World ⋅ November 21, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

Starbucks Coffee Shop Berlin, Germany (Photo: flickr.com/photos/rickz)

A long-time Portland resident now living in Berlin, wonders why in the world Germans would buy coffee from the Seattle-based Starbucks chain. As Miriam Widman reports, Starbucks is pledging more stores but isn’t doing as well as they’d hoped.

Swaziland Chief Fought With Allied Forces in WWII

By Alex Gallafent ⋅ November 11, 2011 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

Chief Mnikwa Dlamini of Hhelehhele, in the Hhohho region of northern Swaziland. Now 88-years-old, Chief Mnikwa fought alongside Allied forces in Europe and north Africa during the Second World War. (Photo: Alex Gallafent)

The World’s Alex Gallafent brings us the story of an 88-year-old tribal chief from Swaziland. He’s also a veteran of World War Two.

Greeks Fed Up With Austerity

By Clark Boyd ⋅ October 25, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

Many Greeks have had enough of the austerity measures intended to keep the country from defaulting. Some of them are starting to say “No.”

Greek Humor in Times of Crisis

By Clark Boyd ⋅ October 17, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

Lost Bodies (Photo: http://lostbodies.gr)

Amid all the economic doom and gloom coming from Greece these days, you’d think the Greeks don’t have much to laugh about. But actually, humor is alive and well in Greece, and it’s helping many cope with some dark times.