This gallery contains 8 photos.
Long train rides at 5:00am. Neukolln to Berlin central to Hamburg to Emmerthal. A run and a hop and a hike. I am feeling particularly lucky this morning that it is two weeks into my project and I have a … Continue reading
“Twenty-five percent of Germany’s electricity now comes from solar, wind and biomass. A third of the world’s installed solar capacity is found in Germany, a nation that gets roughly the same amount of sunlight as Alaska. A whopping 65 percent of the country’s total renewable power capacity is now owned by individuals, cooperatives and communities, leaving Germany’s once all-powerful utilities with just a sliver (6.5 percent) of this burgeoning sector.”
Germany, a country know for it’s engineering and technological advancements, decided to pull the plug on nuclear power in a state of controversy after Fukushima. The controversy lies in whether or not the alternatives are really any better. It is well understood that coal is not a good alternative with the state of air pollution and global warming and even as advanced as Germany is with green energy, (biomass, wind and solar) these alternatives are not always consistent and cannot currently meet all the energy needs for a country with nearly 82 million people. In the interim of phasing out nuclear power and pushing advancements in green energy, coal is the dirty man picked to do the job. I am convinced however that the newer coal plants being built in Germany are more efficient and cleaner than any of the old coal plants we rely on in the U.S. Germany took a stand on the topic rather than shrugging and saying, “It’s all bad!” This is commendable because very few countries have made a clear decision, stood by it and forced technological advancements to improve quality and accessibility.
Developing countries that do not have adequate electricity are under some of the worse possible conditions. Kerosene, still used by many, is not only extremely polluting but seriously unhealthy and causes many fatal respiratory problems. Energy is a topic that spans so many facets from poverty to pollution to politics and having an opinion matters. I point out the topic of poverty and lack of electricity because cost efficient, reliable, clean and most importantly accessible energy is the goal. No energy source is truly free without risks and consequences and so it should be important that we weigh the risks.
Further reading here- biased on one side of the debate or another because understanding both sides is important.
Angst or Arithmetic? Why Germans are so Skeptical about Nuclear Energy
This gallery contains 1 photo.
Day 2: Energy project NY.PARIS.BERLIN A collection of books I have been reading on the topic of energy and also some Germany travel related materials to better prepare for travel that I will be doing outside of Berlin.
I’ve always been fascinated with the absurd. Completely fake worlds we create for amusement or escape. Believing that American culture contributed to this in the most extreme ways, though there are plenty of additions from the Japanese culture. While researching nuclear power in Germany I found out about Wunderland Kallar. In 1972 Germany built a nuclear reactor in Kallar despite protests. Soon after the Chernobyl disaster happened and the project was stopped. What to do with an unused power plant and cooling tower? Why build an amusement park… of course?!
Photos from: http://www.amusingplanet.com “Totally unused, the building is essentially one of the most expensive, complicated pieces of trash in the world.”
While I find Disneyland and fake waterfalls in Golden Gate Park to be amongst the absurd, Germany has some fascinatingly weird stuff. How about a swimming pool in a river?
photo: http://www.arena-berlin.de
Or what if you want to go to a tropical island on vacation. Experience the sand between your toes and warm sun on your face? Get to know the local island culture and drink a tropical drink out of a pineapple but you don’t really want to leave your country? Well… there’s something for you too.
“Located in Germany, Tropical Islands stretches across an area of 66,000 m², the size of eight football fields. It has perfect temperatures of 26 °C and is home to the world’s biggest indoor rainforest, Europe’s largest tropical sauna and spa complex, a Tropical Sea with a 200 metre-long sandy beach and many other exciting attractions. And best of all it’s open all year round, 24 hours a day!”
Photos and above quote: Bless This Stuff