Social issues

What must not be forgotten: death in the marshes

by Ralph Bosshard,* Switzerland

(14 February 2025) On Monday, 27 January, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz was commemorated, but other places of horror must not be forgotten – or made to be forgotten. There are still many such places, especially on the map of Belarus, that remind us of the pain and horror of the terrible tragedies and cruel crimes of the Nazis during the Second World War, known as the Great Patriotic War. In addition to the Khatyn memorial, the village of Ozarichi in the Gomel region deserves a prominent mention.

Ukrainians: 73 per cent in favour of “immediate peace negotiations”

by Multipolar,* Germany

(14 February 2025) Representative survey: demand for peace has majority support in all parts of Ukraine / 89 per cent of Ukrainians oppose lowering the age of conscription / German government supplies additional weapons.

On the occasion of World Education Day 2025: What defines good education

by Ralph Studer,* Switzerland

(7 February 2025) “School education and pedagogical thinking are in crisis,” says Jochen Krautz, Professor of Art Education at the University of Wuppertal. What Krautz is talking about here is now a widespread consensus. There is a need for a return to fundamental principles. And good education would not be that difficult after all ...

Germany

Publicly funded librarians impose their world view on readers by an index of dangerous books

by Norbert Häring*

(24 January 2025) (CH-S) In Germany, the “addiction” to censor public opinion is still gathering pace, whereas in Switzerland, thank God, it has not been as strong so far. Although there are forces here that want to emulate Germany and the EU in this respect – keyword “Digital Services Act” – they have been somewhat curbed so far. Elon Musk – whatever one may think of him – has already created a strong headwind and stirred up the censorship miasma. However, the trend towards opinion restriction is continuing in Germany, as Norbert Häring shows using the example of public libraries.

“Integration & inclusion – a growing burden”

What are the arguments against small classes and special needs schools?

by Michael Felten,* Germany

(24 January 2025) (CH-S) At the beginning of the new year, the author held a lecture at a “Swiss Standpoint” event on this hotly debated topic, which is also being discussed in our schools and universities. He summarises the essential points for us.

The LA fires look like a nuclear apocalypse

Except a nuclear apocalypse would be unimaginably worse

by William J. Astore,* USA

(17 January 2025) (CH-S) The author warns emphatically against underestimating the power of nuclear weapons and calls for an end to their construction. The catastrophic damage caused by the fires in Los Angeles is only a fraction of what would be caused using a nuclear weapon. – This is all too quickly suppressed.