THE atmosphere was electrifying; the spectators hysterical but the match itself was drippy. No wonder the outcome was a barren draw.
Even though I went to the Badenova Stadium with a colleague to witness an anticipated competitive premier league match between the home side, SC Freiburg and FC Koln at the weekend, the passionate supporters of the two uninspiring teams ended up entertaining me.
They were there in their thousands and in the chilly weather stood on their feet, drumming, cheering, jumping and waving their respective flags to urge their teams on to a victory that never came. The stadium was earlier set ablaze upon the arrival of the teams on the green turf. The spectators gleefully screamed the names of their beloved players as these blared out of the loud speakers.
And at the dying embers of the lacklustre match, it became a shouting duel between the partisan Freiburg crowd and the marginal visiting supporters at both ends of the posts. As was to be expected, the home side eventually won the competition.
The buzz on the match began on Friday night with the arrival of the supporters of the visiting team into Freiburg. And by the following Saturday morning, almost everybody was spotting the paraphernalia of the two teams, which coincidentally is red and white.
Vehicles and trams were packed with both sexes of old and young supporters heading to the stadium. And by 3:30 pm (kick-off) local time, the 25,000 capacity stadium was full.
The contrast was sharp. A premier league match involving my home team, Real Tamale United (RTU) back in Tamale, Ghana does not receive such patronage. Only a few supporters turn up to watch matches at the 21,000 capacity plush stadium. They usually prefer to stay back and pay paltry fees to watch English Premiership matches which have become popular in Ghana, following the exploits of some celebrated Ghanaian players such as Michael Essien. They describe the local matches as lacking quality.
The Freiburg-Koln match did not live up to my expectation either, but their raucous supporters won my admiration for their display of loyalty and adoration for their respective teams.
Never mind that players upfront for the home team were particularly disappointing as they kept on fumbling and dancing around the ball as if they had never directed a ball into the net. Have they?
The vociferous supporters won the day for me after all. And as I walked out of the stadium with numb feet in the frigid temperature of about two degrees, I said to myself, “what a match!”
Friday, December 18, 2009
POTPOURRI OF EVENTS (PAGE 29, DEC 18)
WHAT strikes me as I walk through the streets of Freiburg as a visiting journalist is the absence of the blowing of car horns by drivers. The vehicles are all “mute.” The only siren I hear sometimes is from the Police.
As the numerous vehicles, trams, trains, cyclists and pedestrians criss-cross one another, everything seems to be automated with none overstepping its boundaries. And despite the past three weeks of my stay in the city, I am yet to witness any accident. Hawking on the roads is non-existent.
Bicycles are everywhere. Arguably, everybody, including the young and old of both sexes, can ride a bicycle. The bicycle lanes are well-laid out without any obstruction from motorists or pedestrians. Most people also use the trams as their means of moving around the city since they are always on time and fast too.
Motorists respect pedestrians’ right of way. On several occasions, I have seen cars stop to give way to pedestrians to pass.
The drains in the city are sealed except for the remarkable open canals that serve as tourist attraction. Litter bins are placed at vantage locations where people can easily dump their waste without breaking their back. As a result the roads and environment are clean at all times.
Apart from having places of convenience in every home and office, decent public toilets and urinals are not in short supply in the city.
The mayor of Freiburg, Dr Dieter Salomon has a website that allows both residents and non-residents to rate his performance. Wow!
Freiburgers love shopping. And there seems to abundance of shopping malls to satisfy the needs of the population. The numerous eateries are also highly patronised as drinking of coffee is the order of the day. Have you ever tasted Cappuccino?
There is also open display of romance by lovers. I encounter them daily in the open, the trams, shops and buses kissing each other with wanton abandon. I just look on in amusement.
The ladies are not in short supply either. They come in slim sizes of varying heights, all wearing tight-fitting jeans of different brands and designs. Young, innocent and charming.
The fascinating thing is that majority of the young ladies are in school. Indeed more than 10 per cent of the 200,000 people living there are made up of students.
I also learnt that majority of ladies in Freiburg marry late into their 30s because during their teens and 20s, they are usually in school acquiring certificates to make them knowledgeable and employable.
Freiburg is mainly a Christian city with many medieval church buildings. About 95 per cent of the population is said to be Christians but very few of them actually attend church services every weekend. Both Christians and the minority Muslims co-exist peacefully. The Muslims are mainly of Arab origin.
On my rounds, I have often spotted some silent paupers seated at obscure corners. The daily stress of life has also claimed some casualties. Psychotherapists are on hand to take care of some of them. Those whose illnesses are serious can be seen seated under bridges and trees, sometimes talking to themselves.
There is minimal crime rate. The smartly dressed policemen and women patrol the city day and night. They are also in the local communities wearing friendly smiles.
There is no heavy presence of Blacks in Freiburg because of the lack of factories and industries in the area. It is basically a white-collar city. The few Blacks you meet are either schooling or engaged in formal work.
Sorry, it is almost 6pm local time and I have to rush to my humble abode in the boarding house to escape the biting cold. I am already feeling numb in my feet and hands. Oh this terrible cold. I will be home in a week’s time, you know!
As the numerous vehicles, trams, trains, cyclists and pedestrians criss-cross one another, everything seems to be automated with none overstepping its boundaries. And despite the past three weeks of my stay in the city, I am yet to witness any accident. Hawking on the roads is non-existent.
Bicycles are everywhere. Arguably, everybody, including the young and old of both sexes, can ride a bicycle. The bicycle lanes are well-laid out without any obstruction from motorists or pedestrians. Most people also use the trams as their means of moving around the city since they are always on time and fast too.
Motorists respect pedestrians’ right of way. On several occasions, I have seen cars stop to give way to pedestrians to pass.
The drains in the city are sealed except for the remarkable open canals that serve as tourist attraction. Litter bins are placed at vantage locations where people can easily dump their waste without breaking their back. As a result the roads and environment are clean at all times.
Apart from having places of convenience in every home and office, decent public toilets and urinals are not in short supply in the city.
The mayor of Freiburg, Dr Dieter Salomon has a website that allows both residents and non-residents to rate his performance. Wow!
Freiburgers love shopping. And there seems to abundance of shopping malls to satisfy the needs of the population. The numerous eateries are also highly patronised as drinking of coffee is the order of the day. Have you ever tasted Cappuccino?
There is also open display of romance by lovers. I encounter them daily in the open, the trams, shops and buses kissing each other with wanton abandon. I just look on in amusement.
The ladies are not in short supply either. They come in slim sizes of varying heights, all wearing tight-fitting jeans of different brands and designs. Young, innocent and charming.
The fascinating thing is that majority of the young ladies are in school. Indeed more than 10 per cent of the 200,000 people living there are made up of students.
I also learnt that majority of ladies in Freiburg marry late into their 30s because during their teens and 20s, they are usually in school acquiring certificates to make them knowledgeable and employable.
Freiburg is mainly a Christian city with many medieval church buildings. About 95 per cent of the population is said to be Christians but very few of them actually attend church services every weekend. Both Christians and the minority Muslims co-exist peacefully. The Muslims are mainly of Arab origin.
On my rounds, I have often spotted some silent paupers seated at obscure corners. The daily stress of life has also claimed some casualties. Psychotherapists are on hand to take care of some of them. Those whose illnesses are serious can be seen seated under bridges and trees, sometimes talking to themselves.
There is minimal crime rate. The smartly dressed policemen and women patrol the city day and night. They are also in the local communities wearing friendly smiles.
There is no heavy presence of Blacks in Freiburg because of the lack of factories and industries in the area. It is basically a white-collar city. The few Blacks you meet are either schooling or engaged in formal work.
Sorry, it is almost 6pm local time and I have to rush to my humble abode in the boarding house to escape the biting cold. I am already feeling numb in my feet and hands. Oh this terrible cold. I will be home in a week’s time, you know!
FREIBURG: EUROPE'S GREENEST CITY (PAGE 29, DEC 18)
IT was Monday, about 5:30p.m. local time; the weather was unpleasantly cold and we were on our way to the annual Christmas party for staff of the Badische Zeitung daily newspaper at one of the new suburbs of Freiburg called Vauban.
I was not only amazed at the well planned community, but also struck by the history behind it and, of course, the way the solar system is used to power the ecologically designed homes there. They conserve more energy than they consume. It is no wonder it is termed a “sustainable model district”.
Indeed Vauban is a microcosm of the sprawling city of Freiburg that has won many accolades for itself. It is often referred to by many as the “Eco-City”, “Germany’s Environmental Capital”, while some call it the “Europe’s Greenest City”.
Give it either of the titles and you will certainly not be wrong. Freiburg, with a population of a little over 200,000, is situated in the Black Forest and on the southwestern part of Germany near the French and Swiss boarders. Eighty per cent of the over 900-year-old city was destroyed during the second world war in the 1940s but has since been rebuilt on its medieval plan.
In 1992, the city council of Freiburg, which literary means “Free City” from its historical past, adopted a resolution that made it mandatory for all new developers to construct low energy buildings on standard specifications. It ensured that the permissible energy requirement of a building was two-thirds the national limit.
An ecological development plan that involved energy conservation, renewable energy, waste reduction and recycling, participatory planning and the local production of staple foods was mapped out for the people. Also included in the plan was encouraging residents to work closer to their homes and the construction of long-lasting structures.
Today, Freiburg has not only developed and supported alternatives to nuclear power, the citing of which the people protested against in the 1970s, but which has created institutions and also attracted researchers to support other means to nuclear power.
This explains the reasons for the high concentration of eco industries, experts, architects, research institutions, planners and organisations in the city.
Also referred to as the solar capital of the world, solar panels span over 11,223m. The central town consists of more than 250 solar panels. Windmills are not also in short supply. More than 1.6 per cent of power is sourced from bio-energy.
Equally worthy of mention is the green vegetation. The landscape is virtually green as 42 per cent of its surrounding is under conservational protection. A lot of roofs have been transformed into vegetation layers, dubbed “green roofing” that allow storm water to run off. This reduces energy costs and urban heat effect.
Another notable positive feature is the city’s recycling scheme. Each household has separate bins. Kitchen and garden waste is composted. No wonder Freiburg won the “best recycler” in the European Union’s 2001 “Urban Audit” where 80 per cent of Freiburg’s waste was recycled, compared to the EU’s average of just 19 per cent.
In 1969, the city transport regulations prioritised bicycles, public transport and pedestrian lanes. Bicycle lanes now extend more than 500 km. The tram network continues to expand to cover the entire city of 60km radius. One has to see the number of bicycles here for one to believe what one is told. It is the commonest means of transport apart from the tram.
All these efforts are aimed at minimising the impact and effect of carbon dioxide in the system and ensuring healthy living.
Despite such a laudable achievement by the city authorities such as the Mayor of Freiburg, Dr Dieter Salomon, and the Captain of the Energy, Klaus Hoppe, are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that future generations live in even more sustainable environment.
What the authorities and people of Freiburg have been able to achieve over the years is surely not beyond the capabilities of Ghanaians. We are even more blessed with abundant sunshine and natural resources. I believe with education, commitment, tenacity of purpose, hard work, selflessness, discipline and the willingness to walk the talk, we can equally make history for ourselves now and for future generations.
I was not only amazed at the well planned community, but also struck by the history behind it and, of course, the way the solar system is used to power the ecologically designed homes there. They conserve more energy than they consume. It is no wonder it is termed a “sustainable model district”.
Indeed Vauban is a microcosm of the sprawling city of Freiburg that has won many accolades for itself. It is often referred to by many as the “Eco-City”, “Germany’s Environmental Capital”, while some call it the “Europe’s Greenest City”.
Give it either of the titles and you will certainly not be wrong. Freiburg, with a population of a little over 200,000, is situated in the Black Forest and on the southwestern part of Germany near the French and Swiss boarders. Eighty per cent of the over 900-year-old city was destroyed during the second world war in the 1940s but has since been rebuilt on its medieval plan.
In 1992, the city council of Freiburg, which literary means “Free City” from its historical past, adopted a resolution that made it mandatory for all new developers to construct low energy buildings on standard specifications. It ensured that the permissible energy requirement of a building was two-thirds the national limit.
An ecological development plan that involved energy conservation, renewable energy, waste reduction and recycling, participatory planning and the local production of staple foods was mapped out for the people. Also included in the plan was encouraging residents to work closer to their homes and the construction of long-lasting structures.
Today, Freiburg has not only developed and supported alternatives to nuclear power, the citing of which the people protested against in the 1970s, but which has created institutions and also attracted researchers to support other means to nuclear power.
This explains the reasons for the high concentration of eco industries, experts, architects, research institutions, planners and organisations in the city.
Also referred to as the solar capital of the world, solar panels span over 11,223m. The central town consists of more than 250 solar panels. Windmills are not also in short supply. More than 1.6 per cent of power is sourced from bio-energy.
Equally worthy of mention is the green vegetation. The landscape is virtually green as 42 per cent of its surrounding is under conservational protection. A lot of roofs have been transformed into vegetation layers, dubbed “green roofing” that allow storm water to run off. This reduces energy costs and urban heat effect.
Another notable positive feature is the city’s recycling scheme. Each household has separate bins. Kitchen and garden waste is composted. No wonder Freiburg won the “best recycler” in the European Union’s 2001 “Urban Audit” where 80 per cent of Freiburg’s waste was recycled, compared to the EU’s average of just 19 per cent.
In 1969, the city transport regulations prioritised bicycles, public transport and pedestrian lanes. Bicycle lanes now extend more than 500 km. The tram network continues to expand to cover the entire city of 60km radius. One has to see the number of bicycles here for one to believe what one is told. It is the commonest means of transport apart from the tram.
All these efforts are aimed at minimising the impact and effect of carbon dioxide in the system and ensuring healthy living.
Despite such a laudable achievement by the city authorities such as the Mayor of Freiburg, Dr Dieter Salomon, and the Captain of the Energy, Klaus Hoppe, are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that future generations live in even more sustainable environment.
What the authorities and people of Freiburg have been able to achieve over the years is surely not beyond the capabilities of Ghanaians. We are even more blessed with abundant sunshine and natural resources. I believe with education, commitment, tenacity of purpose, hard work, selflessness, discipline and the willingness to walk the talk, we can equally make history for ourselves now and for future generations.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
MY FIRST DAY IN GERMANY (DEC 12, PAGE 22)
IT was on a nippy Tuesday morning, the first day of December and my first day at my new workplace, Badische Zeitung, where I was cordially welcomed to the editorial office of the daily newspaper.
It was all pleasant smiles and exchange of warm handshakes as I encountered the staff one after another.
I was later invited to the morning editorial conference, where the editorial team discussed the events to be covered for the day.
Never mind that I did not understand a word of the German language. My colleague and partner Julia Littmann, who had earlier worked with me at the Daily Graphic editorial office in the Northern Regional capital, Tamale, Ghana, was on hand to do some few translations of what transpired at the conference.
I was subsequently ushered into a homely office, where I would be working for the next four weeks as part of a journalists exchange programme dubbed: “Nahaufnahme-Close-Up.” It is organised by Goethe Institute, a German cultural institution that promotes the study of the German language abroad, and which also encourages international cultural exchanges and relations.
Located in the central business district of the historic city of Freiburg, the Badische Zeitung publishes 150,000 copies daily, which include supplements on travel, sports, culture, entertainment, among other areas.
It also publishes magazines and weekend papers that largely contain adverts, announcements and vacancies.
Happenings in nearby towns are also reflected in the paper on regular pages to serve the interest of the people in those localities. The paper is also heavily patronised online 24 hours. For instance, more than 30 million readers visited the Badische Zeitung site in November this year.
The locally published newspapers are distributed to various parts of the Freiburg region of over 200,000 people by its 1,700 vendors. And latest by 6am, subscribers would have received their copies. And if there is any unsold at all, it is recycled.
According to the affable Chief Editor of the paper, Uwe Mauch, Badische Zeitung was published in 1946. I was presented with a copy of the eight-page black and white edition of the first publication.
Now, the paper is beautifully designed in colourful copies of several pages, depending on the quantity of news and adverts available on a particular given day to reflect modern trends of newspaper publication.
It currently has 45 journalists on its payroll with 15 of them resident in Germany, while the rest are out and about in other parts of the world. It also sources news from other agencies and freelance correspondents around the globe.
In describing the nature of their modern printing press, Mr Mauch, who has worked with the paper for the past 10 years, proudly declared, “We have a state-of-the-art machine that is currently one of the best in the world.”
He revealed that the machine is capable of producing more than 35,000 papers and about four million pages per hour.
The company purchased the Germany-made Cortina Machine at the cost of 25 million euros. The Chief Editor further indicated that the ecological friendly machine does not use water and chemicals, neither does it emit carbon.
At the moment, all is set and the paper is ready to go to bed. Do not miss your copy of tomorrow’s edition of the Badische Zeitung.
It was all pleasant smiles and exchange of warm handshakes as I encountered the staff one after another.
I was later invited to the morning editorial conference, where the editorial team discussed the events to be covered for the day.
Never mind that I did not understand a word of the German language. My colleague and partner Julia Littmann, who had earlier worked with me at the Daily Graphic editorial office in the Northern Regional capital, Tamale, Ghana, was on hand to do some few translations of what transpired at the conference.
I was subsequently ushered into a homely office, where I would be working for the next four weeks as part of a journalists exchange programme dubbed: “Nahaufnahme-Close-Up.” It is organised by Goethe Institute, a German cultural institution that promotes the study of the German language abroad, and which also encourages international cultural exchanges and relations.
Located in the central business district of the historic city of Freiburg, the Badische Zeitung publishes 150,000 copies daily, which include supplements on travel, sports, culture, entertainment, among other areas.
It also publishes magazines and weekend papers that largely contain adverts, announcements and vacancies.
Happenings in nearby towns are also reflected in the paper on regular pages to serve the interest of the people in those localities. The paper is also heavily patronised online 24 hours. For instance, more than 30 million readers visited the Badische Zeitung site in November this year.
The locally published newspapers are distributed to various parts of the Freiburg region of over 200,000 people by its 1,700 vendors. And latest by 6am, subscribers would have received their copies. And if there is any unsold at all, it is recycled.
According to the affable Chief Editor of the paper, Uwe Mauch, Badische Zeitung was published in 1946. I was presented with a copy of the eight-page black and white edition of the first publication.
Now, the paper is beautifully designed in colourful copies of several pages, depending on the quantity of news and adverts available on a particular given day to reflect modern trends of newspaper publication.
It currently has 45 journalists on its payroll with 15 of them resident in Germany, while the rest are out and about in other parts of the world. It also sources news from other agencies and freelance correspondents around the globe.
In describing the nature of their modern printing press, Mr Mauch, who has worked with the paper for the past 10 years, proudly declared, “We have a state-of-the-art machine that is currently one of the best in the world.”
He revealed that the machine is capable of producing more than 35,000 papers and about four million pages per hour.
The company purchased the Germany-made Cortina Machine at the cost of 25 million euros. The Chief Editor further indicated that the ecological friendly machine does not use water and chemicals, neither does it emit carbon.
At the moment, all is set and the paper is ready to go to bed. Do not miss your copy of tomorrow’s edition of the Badische Zeitung.
FREIBURG RESIDENTS RIDE FOR ECOLOGICAL REASONS (PAGE 22, DEC 12)
WHAT captures my imagination while walking through this classical city of Freiburg is the high numbers of bicycles and riders at every nook and cranny of the city. The city is virtually littered with bicycles.
Both the old and the young, male and female are spotted either pedalling their way up the gentle hills or slithering down the slope through roads and alleys with the characteristic hanging of bags on their backs.
Just like in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital of Ghana where I come from, bicycles are the major means of transport.
Ours is not about ensuring a clean environment, but something borne out of necessity, because majority of the people can simply not afford to acquire vehicles.
What, therefore, fascinates me is the fact that even though most people in Freiburg can afford cars, they have chosen to ride bicycles for ecological reasons of keeping the environment clean.
In fact, never in my life have I ever seen so many bikes in a city. The population of Freiburg is over 200,000, with more than one-third of the people using bicycles as their means of transport.
This number is more than the number of cars in the city. Other means of transport are trams, buses and trains.
There are bicycle parks outside the main train station and other spots where the bikes are all lined up and locked, while their owners are out and about at their respective workplace or at school.
Asked why the bikes are all locked, a student, who gave her name only as Aalina, explained that “they would be stolen if not locked; a lot of people have lost their bicycles through theft.”
Another landmark feature of this historic city is the canal system that runs through the city. The myth about it is that a visitor who accidentally steps into the canals will have to marry a Freiburg woman.
Indeed, the canal creates a very pleasant scenery as one watches the clean water run through the inland waterway through the artistically designed marble pavements.
And towering over the ancient architectural masterpieces of buildings in the centre of the city is the Freiburg Munster. I was told by my colleague, Julia Littman, that most of the surrounding edifices were the recreation of buildings that were destroyed during the Second World War.
It is, however, incredible that the 116 metres high Catheral did not give way to the bombs and still maintains its medieval exquisiteness.
Freiburg, which shares boarders with Switzerland, France, among others, also boasts of many tourist sites, including museums, theatres and other historical monuments that are dotted around the city.
It is also a citadel of education with five public universities and colleges with more than 40,000 students who are seen criss-crossing to their schools and faculties of studies in tight and skinny jeans.
Of course, one cannot miss out on the warmth of the people, most of whom encounter you with broad smiles and politely wishing you “hello.” The difficulty really for me is my inability to communicate in the German language as only few of those I encounter speak English.
For now, I can only say “Chao! Chaoo!!!” goodbye or see you.
Both the old and the young, male and female are spotted either pedalling their way up the gentle hills or slithering down the slope through roads and alleys with the characteristic hanging of bags on their backs.
Just like in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital of Ghana where I come from, bicycles are the major means of transport.
Ours is not about ensuring a clean environment, but something borne out of necessity, because majority of the people can simply not afford to acquire vehicles.
What, therefore, fascinates me is the fact that even though most people in Freiburg can afford cars, they have chosen to ride bicycles for ecological reasons of keeping the environment clean.
In fact, never in my life have I ever seen so many bikes in a city. The population of Freiburg is over 200,000, with more than one-third of the people using bicycles as their means of transport.
This number is more than the number of cars in the city. Other means of transport are trams, buses and trains.
There are bicycle parks outside the main train station and other spots where the bikes are all lined up and locked, while their owners are out and about at their respective workplace or at school.
Asked why the bikes are all locked, a student, who gave her name only as Aalina, explained that “they would be stolen if not locked; a lot of people have lost their bicycles through theft.”
Another landmark feature of this historic city is the canal system that runs through the city. The myth about it is that a visitor who accidentally steps into the canals will have to marry a Freiburg woman.
Indeed, the canal creates a very pleasant scenery as one watches the clean water run through the inland waterway through the artistically designed marble pavements.
And towering over the ancient architectural masterpieces of buildings in the centre of the city is the Freiburg Munster. I was told by my colleague, Julia Littman, that most of the surrounding edifices were the recreation of buildings that were destroyed during the Second World War.
It is, however, incredible that the 116 metres high Catheral did not give way to the bombs and still maintains its medieval exquisiteness.
Freiburg, which shares boarders with Switzerland, France, among others, also boasts of many tourist sites, including museums, theatres and other historical monuments that are dotted around the city.
It is also a citadel of education with five public universities and colleges with more than 40,000 students who are seen criss-crossing to their schools and faculties of studies in tight and skinny jeans.
Of course, one cannot miss out on the warmth of the people, most of whom encounter you with broad smiles and politely wishing you “hello.” The difficulty really for me is my inability to communicate in the German language as only few of those I encounter speak English.
For now, I can only say “Chao! Chaoo!!!” goodbye or see you.
XMAS FEVER IN FREIBURG (PAGE 22, DEC 12)
AS a foreign journalist in an unfamiliar chilly city of Freiburg, nobody needs to tell me that Christmas is fast approaching. You can feel it in the air; you can even smell it in the cosy shops, and indeed you can touch it at the Christmas Market.
Yes! A market mainly for shoppers for the Yuletide, where Christmas merchandise and gifts of all sorts can be found. It is located in the heart of the city, where ancient architectural designs blend magnificently with modern aesthetic structures.
The market is adorned with Christmas trees and colourful contrasting lighting systems that do not only make it exciting, but also offers an ambience of real festive season that is capable of putting every one, including the unyielding ones in the mood.
The shop owners often welcome shoppers to their wares with broad smiles and alluring gestures. Tempting aroma of grilled sausages from food vendors in the market fill the air, while jewellery, Santa Claus garb and a variety of wares, including sweets for kids are on display in the sheds and shops.
There are also fanciful play grounds for children to hang around, while their parents do the shopping.
It usually begins in the last week of November and run through the Christmas Eve or a few days after the Yuletide. The market is opened daily from about 10am to around 9pm.
It signals the beginning of Advent, a Latin word, meaning the arrival, which begins from December 1 to 24 every year.
The fact that Christmas means a lot to the people of Freiburg cannot be ignored, neither is the indication that money is not in short supply be overlooked as expectant shoppers flock from all directions towards the glittering market and depart with bags full of various stuffs.
Coming from a Muslim background (Tamale) in my home country Ghana, I am awed by what I see, because I have never witnessed Christians observe the coming of Christmas with such a warm anticipation, preparation and glamour.
The history of Christmas market in Germany, I am told, dates back to centuries when regular seasonal markets took place throughout the year. Christmas markets were a welcome occurrence during the winter. They are happy occasions for weary villagers and they also add some shine to long, cold nights.
And the first Christmas markets were little more than the winter markets that lasted only a few days with traders in some cities displaying their goods out in the streets.
Over the years, each Christmas market maintained its peculiarities, with each specialising in local delicacies and traditional products. Formerly, only local tradesmen were allowed to sell their wares at the city’s market, which had led to the distinctive regional character of today’s markets.
Indeed, Christmas is an occasion many people around the world look forward to celebrating at this time of the year. The occasion provides a platform for both the old and the young from all facets of life to wine and dine, reflect and strengthen their spiritual bonds and also enjoy some fun.
After working all year round, the season offers the opportunity for all to dispense goodwill offers and massages to friends, relations and all.
And these traits are surely not in short supply in Freiburg.
And as I moved around, jostling my way through the thickening crowd of shoppers at the weekend hearing speakers blurring out Christmas carols with some musicians stroking the strings of their guitars to melodious tunes, it dawned on me that Christmas was around the corner, and I was going to be part of the Yuletide as I have already received some invitations to parties.
Yes! A market mainly for shoppers for the Yuletide, where Christmas merchandise and gifts of all sorts can be found. It is located in the heart of the city, where ancient architectural designs blend magnificently with modern aesthetic structures.
The market is adorned with Christmas trees and colourful contrasting lighting systems that do not only make it exciting, but also offers an ambience of real festive season that is capable of putting every one, including the unyielding ones in the mood.
The shop owners often welcome shoppers to their wares with broad smiles and alluring gestures. Tempting aroma of grilled sausages from food vendors in the market fill the air, while jewellery, Santa Claus garb and a variety of wares, including sweets for kids are on display in the sheds and shops.
There are also fanciful play grounds for children to hang around, while their parents do the shopping.
It usually begins in the last week of November and run through the Christmas Eve or a few days after the Yuletide. The market is opened daily from about 10am to around 9pm.
It signals the beginning of Advent, a Latin word, meaning the arrival, which begins from December 1 to 24 every year.
The fact that Christmas means a lot to the people of Freiburg cannot be ignored, neither is the indication that money is not in short supply be overlooked as expectant shoppers flock from all directions towards the glittering market and depart with bags full of various stuffs.
Coming from a Muslim background (Tamale) in my home country Ghana, I am awed by what I see, because I have never witnessed Christians observe the coming of Christmas with such a warm anticipation, preparation and glamour.
The history of Christmas market in Germany, I am told, dates back to centuries when regular seasonal markets took place throughout the year. Christmas markets were a welcome occurrence during the winter. They are happy occasions for weary villagers and they also add some shine to long, cold nights.
And the first Christmas markets were little more than the winter markets that lasted only a few days with traders in some cities displaying their goods out in the streets.
Over the years, each Christmas market maintained its peculiarities, with each specialising in local delicacies and traditional products. Formerly, only local tradesmen were allowed to sell their wares at the city’s market, which had led to the distinctive regional character of today’s markets.
Indeed, Christmas is an occasion many people around the world look forward to celebrating at this time of the year. The occasion provides a platform for both the old and the young from all facets of life to wine and dine, reflect and strengthen their spiritual bonds and also enjoy some fun.
After working all year round, the season offers the opportunity for all to dispense goodwill offers and massages to friends, relations and all.
And these traits are surely not in short supply in Freiburg.
And as I moved around, jostling my way through the thickening crowd of shoppers at the weekend hearing speakers blurring out Christmas carols with some musicians stroking the strings of their guitars to melodious tunes, it dawned on me that Christmas was around the corner, and I was going to be part of the Yuletide as I have already received some invitations to parties.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
EMPLOYMENT AND INVESTMENT POLICY TO CREATE JOBS FOR YOUTH (PAGE 38, DEC 9)
AS part of measures to help open up job opportunities for unemployed youth in the country, the Government, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has established an Employment and Investment Policy (EIP) to formulate a national policy in the use of labour-based technologies in the infrastructure sector.
Through the implementation of the policy, it is envisaged that more employment avenues would be opened up in the area of infrastructure development that would make use of labour intensive methods.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Nayina, announced this at a four-day technical training workshop for municipal and district engineers, administrators and technicians in Tamale.
It was organised by the ILO/Ghana project and sponsored by the Department for International Development (DFID).
The minister said the “Decent Work Project” being implemented by the Government was to ensure that people were engaged in honest jobs devoid of exploitation and harmful work conditions as part of the initiatives under the EIP.
Mr Nayina impressed upon stakeholders in the construction industry to adhere to the decent work strategy by adopting labour friendly methods and simple tools where possible, to ensure job creation to give meaning to the government’s “Better Ghana” slogan.
The National Programme Manager of the ILO-EIP, Mr Charles Kwarteng Asafo-Adjei, said a rural safety network programme would be inaugurated early next year to create employment for the people of the three northern regions where unemployment is very high. It would be funded by the World Bank.
He added that the EIPU was collaborating with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and some polytechnics to develop a curriculum to include labour intensive methods in the course structure for graduates and undergraduates in the universities and polytechnics.
Through the implementation of the policy, it is envisaged that more employment avenues would be opened up in the area of infrastructure development that would make use of labour intensive methods.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Nayina, announced this at a four-day technical training workshop for municipal and district engineers, administrators and technicians in Tamale.
It was organised by the ILO/Ghana project and sponsored by the Department for International Development (DFID).
The minister said the “Decent Work Project” being implemented by the Government was to ensure that people were engaged in honest jobs devoid of exploitation and harmful work conditions as part of the initiatives under the EIP.
Mr Nayina impressed upon stakeholders in the construction industry to adhere to the decent work strategy by adopting labour friendly methods and simple tools where possible, to ensure job creation to give meaning to the government’s “Better Ghana” slogan.
The National Programme Manager of the ILO-EIP, Mr Charles Kwarteng Asafo-Adjei, said a rural safety network programme would be inaugurated early next year to create employment for the people of the three northern regions where unemployment is very high. It would be funded by the World Bank.
He added that the EIPU was collaborating with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and some polytechnics to develop a curriculum to include labour intensive methods in the course structure for graduates and undergraduates in the universities and polytechnics.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
TAMALE, THE OPPOSITE OF FREIBURG (PAGE 18, DEC 5)
Currently, Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, is experiencing harmattan, a cold dry dusty weather that makes the skin dry and susceptible to crack, particularly on the lips.
It is that time of the year when most people experience cracks on their feet that can tear bed sheets. And it is that time of the year when the shea butter cream made from shea nut becomes the companion of the people, particularly those in rural communities.
That was, indeed, the weather condition before I left Tamale for my sojourn in Freiburg, the serene and beautiful city in Germany. Prior to the onset of the harmattan, there was a very sunny weather, with temperatures of about 40 degrees celsius or more sometimes.
The temperature on my arrival at the Frankfurt Airport was different; less than seven degrees. And not only was the weather very cold, it had also just begun raining.
And did I shiver? Indeed, I fluttered like a wet chicken. My colleague, Mrs Julia Littmann, who had earlier spent some weeks with me in Tamale, finally came to my aid with some warm clothes that she had acquired with her very supportive husband, Andrea.
I had ignore the caution to carry some warm clothes along and I paid the price for my recalcitrance.
Upon arrival at the Frankfurt Airport, my colleague and I were welcomed by her husband and a companion, Ms Lena, with warm concentrated cups of coffee that provided me with some warmth for a short period after spending about eight hours in the air.
We were eventually driven by Andrea to Freiburg, a distance of 260 kilometres, on a four-lane asphalt road within about two hours 30 minutes. It certainly reminded me of the rough dreaded single-lane Kintampo-Accra road that continues to claim the lives of motorists.
When my colleague overheard me murmur to myself that my government should, as a matter of concern, also make sure that the Tamale-Accra road was designed into a dual carriageway, she asked, “Zak, don’t you think that could claim more lives?”
“Maybe,” was all I could say because of the recklessness on the part of some drivers back home. Indeed, Tamale is the opposite of Freiburg.
At lunch time, I tasted my first German food. They call it Spatzle in short. It is made of liquid flour dough mixed with eggs, meat, vegetables, berries and spices. I managed it for the rest of the day after gulping a glass of pineapple juice to wash it down.
And for the entire four-week period of my stay in this serene, well laid out city, I knew I surely would taste various German foods for the first time. And, frankly, I was already missing my favourite Tuo Zaafi (T.Z.) and waatche and hot pepper. Do not pity me. I have simply refused to learn how to cook and so I could not utilise the small kitchen attached to my room, where I spent the rest of the day to warm myself into the unfriendly and strange weather.
My presence in Freiburg formed part of an exchange programme dubbed “Nahaufnahme-Close-Up” meant for practising journalists from some selected countries. Under the programme, editorial journalists from Germany exchange their workplaces with journalists abroad for three to six weeks.
They join the editorial teams of the respective partner offices of daily newspapers and will be involved in the local journalism work. During their stay, the participating journalists produce articles (in their own language) for the medium in their host country, which will regularly publish them (after translation by the Goethe-Institut).
During my stay, I will be working with the editorial team of Badische Zeitung. An editor of the daily paper, Mrs Julia Littmann, is already back home after working in the editorial office of the Daily Graphic in Tamale in November.
The programme is organised by the Goethe-Institut, the German cultural institution operating world-wide. It promotes the study of the German language abroad and also encourages international cultural exchange and relations.
It is that time of the year when most people experience cracks on their feet that can tear bed sheets. And it is that time of the year when the shea butter cream made from shea nut becomes the companion of the people, particularly those in rural communities.
That was, indeed, the weather condition before I left Tamale for my sojourn in Freiburg, the serene and beautiful city in Germany. Prior to the onset of the harmattan, there was a very sunny weather, with temperatures of about 40 degrees celsius or more sometimes.
The temperature on my arrival at the Frankfurt Airport was different; less than seven degrees. And not only was the weather very cold, it had also just begun raining.
And did I shiver? Indeed, I fluttered like a wet chicken. My colleague, Mrs Julia Littmann, who had earlier spent some weeks with me in Tamale, finally came to my aid with some warm clothes that she had acquired with her very supportive husband, Andrea.
I had ignore the caution to carry some warm clothes along and I paid the price for my recalcitrance.
Upon arrival at the Frankfurt Airport, my colleague and I were welcomed by her husband and a companion, Ms Lena, with warm concentrated cups of coffee that provided me with some warmth for a short period after spending about eight hours in the air.
We were eventually driven by Andrea to Freiburg, a distance of 260 kilometres, on a four-lane asphalt road within about two hours 30 minutes. It certainly reminded me of the rough dreaded single-lane Kintampo-Accra road that continues to claim the lives of motorists.
When my colleague overheard me murmur to myself that my government should, as a matter of concern, also make sure that the Tamale-Accra road was designed into a dual carriageway, she asked, “Zak, don’t you think that could claim more lives?”
“Maybe,” was all I could say because of the recklessness on the part of some drivers back home. Indeed, Tamale is the opposite of Freiburg.
At lunch time, I tasted my first German food. They call it Spatzle in short. It is made of liquid flour dough mixed with eggs, meat, vegetables, berries and spices. I managed it for the rest of the day after gulping a glass of pineapple juice to wash it down.
And for the entire four-week period of my stay in this serene, well laid out city, I knew I surely would taste various German foods for the first time. And, frankly, I was already missing my favourite Tuo Zaafi (T.Z.) and waatche and hot pepper. Do not pity me. I have simply refused to learn how to cook and so I could not utilise the small kitchen attached to my room, where I spent the rest of the day to warm myself into the unfriendly and strange weather.
My presence in Freiburg formed part of an exchange programme dubbed “Nahaufnahme-Close-Up” meant for practising journalists from some selected countries. Under the programme, editorial journalists from Germany exchange their workplaces with journalists abroad for three to six weeks.
They join the editorial teams of the respective partner offices of daily newspapers and will be involved in the local journalism work. During their stay, the participating journalists produce articles (in their own language) for the medium in their host country, which will regularly publish them (after translation by the Goethe-Institut).
During my stay, I will be working with the editorial team of Badische Zeitung. An editor of the daily paper, Mrs Julia Littmann, is already back home after working in the editorial office of the Daily Graphic in Tamale in November.
The programme is organised by the Goethe-Institut, the German cultural institution operating world-wide. It promotes the study of the German language abroad and also encourages international cultural exchange and relations.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
20 STUDENTS AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS (PAGE 26, DEC 2)
Electrical contractors have been advised to keep abreast of the most advanced systems and technologies used in installing electrical cables to enhance quality service delivery.
The Assistant Marketing Manager of Nexans Kabelmetal, Mr Mahama B. Dollah, who gave the advice, said it was equally important for them to build their capacity in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to enable them to appreciate modern ways of sourcing for business and build partnerships with other companies.
At a seminar in Kumasi to sensitise the members of the Ashanti Regional branch of the Electrical Contractors Association to the need for them to source for quality electrical cables that met the requirements of contractors in particular and their clients in general, Mr Dollah noted that the use of substandard cables undermined quality work because the cables could easily catch fire to destroy lives and properties.
About 120 members attended the seminar, which also sought to introduce members to the products of Nexans Kabelmetal, one of the leading cable manufacturers in the country.
Mr Dollah charged the members to strictly adhere to specifications in installing outdoor and underground cables, as well as those specified for earth wires, conductors and binding wires.
He also educated the participants on the technology of cables and took them through the various types, their uses, characteristics and safety measures that should be taken to prevent cables from catching fire.
He said his company, which is affiliated to the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and other renowned companies in the country, was conscious of the danger of using substandard electrical cables any constructional work and would extend its educational campaign to other regional capitals to sensitise members of the industry to appreciate the need to use only quality electrical cables.
He called on electricians who had not joined the association to do so to enable them to share ideas and experiences on how to improve upon their work “to enable you to overcome every challenge you encounter in the industry”.
The Assistant Marketing Manager of Nexans Kabelmetal, Mr Mahama B. Dollah, who gave the advice, said it was equally important for them to build their capacity in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to enable them to appreciate modern ways of sourcing for business and build partnerships with other companies.
At a seminar in Kumasi to sensitise the members of the Ashanti Regional branch of the Electrical Contractors Association to the need for them to source for quality electrical cables that met the requirements of contractors in particular and their clients in general, Mr Dollah noted that the use of substandard cables undermined quality work because the cables could easily catch fire to destroy lives and properties.
About 120 members attended the seminar, which also sought to introduce members to the products of Nexans Kabelmetal, one of the leading cable manufacturers in the country.
Mr Dollah charged the members to strictly adhere to specifications in installing outdoor and underground cables, as well as those specified for earth wires, conductors and binding wires.
He also educated the participants on the technology of cables and took them through the various types, their uses, characteristics and safety measures that should be taken to prevent cables from catching fire.
He said his company, which is affiliated to the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and other renowned companies in the country, was conscious of the danger of using substandard electrical cables any constructional work and would extend its educational campaign to other regional capitals to sensitise members of the industry to appreciate the need to use only quality electrical cables.
He called on electricians who had not joined the association to do so to enable them to share ideas and experiences on how to improve upon their work “to enable you to overcome every challenge you encounter in the industry”.
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