Oktoberfest opened in the southern German city of Munich over the weekend. Now, security may be tighter than usual this year, but it's still a good time for millions of revelers.
The world's largest beer festival, the annual Munich Oktoberfest, opened for the 176th time on Saturday as organizers expect around six-million visitors to attend the two-week long party. At 12 noon, the mayor of Munich officially declared the festival open when he traditionally tapped the first beer keg with a wooden hammer.
Visitors each year consume millions of litres of beer and hundreds of thousands of sausages. Although many visitors come from abroad, Oktoberfest is a highlight for many Bavarians who turn out in traditional lederhosen and low-cut "dirndl" dresses.
Visitor Enrico Gosemani said, "It is great. We have been waiting all year for it and I hope it carries on like this for the next 16 days. It is a bit difficult with the children but at the moment it is really good fun."
This year however, the party mood was dampened slightly as the German government stepped up security at the event because of a heightened risk of attacks linked to a federal election in Sept.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Germany to lead the way with Green Energy plans
The German transport minister Wolfgang Tiefensee has signed a memorandum of understanding with eight industrial partners to set up a Hydrogen Fuel Network. High profile participants include Daimler, EnBW, Linde, OMV, Shell, Total, Vattenfall and the NOW GmbH National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology.
Speaking about the groundbreaking plan, the first of its kind anywhere in the world, Tiefensee said, "Our aim is to continue consistent and systematic promotion of electromobility based on batteries and fuel cells. Today we can see that Germany is setting the pace when it comes to hydrogen and fuel cell technology. We are aiming at establishing the nationwide supply with hydrogen in Germany at around 2015 in order to support the serial-production of fuel cell vehicles."
The ambitious German plan will be in two phases:
Phase 1 (2009-2011) will involve the assessment of various options for a nationwide hydrogen network and measures to increase public support. New hydrogen fuelling stations will also be installed to expand the existing small hydrogen network in urban areas such as Berlin and Hamburg.
Phase 2 will involve further development of the hydrogen fuel network and the introduction and commercialisation of electric vehicles fitted with fuel cells. The industrial partners hope to have several hundred thousand such cars on the road by 2015.
According to Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, "The widespread adoption of fuel cells will only occur when drivers can readily refuel with hydrogen. To accomplish that end, we're working together with oil companies, energy providers and public policymakers to help drive the development of the necessary infrastructure."
This is what is needed for the future. Positive action with the endorsement and cooperation of the major energy players.
Speaking about the groundbreaking plan, the first of its kind anywhere in the world, Tiefensee said, "Our aim is to continue consistent and systematic promotion of electromobility based on batteries and fuel cells. Today we can see that Germany is setting the pace when it comes to hydrogen and fuel cell technology. We are aiming at establishing the nationwide supply with hydrogen in Germany at around 2015 in order to support the serial-production of fuel cell vehicles."
The ambitious German plan will be in two phases:
Phase 1 (2009-2011) will involve the assessment of various options for a nationwide hydrogen network and measures to increase public support. New hydrogen fuelling stations will also be installed to expand the existing small hydrogen network in urban areas such as Berlin and Hamburg.
Phase 2 will involve further development of the hydrogen fuel network and the introduction and commercialisation of electric vehicles fitted with fuel cells. The industrial partners hope to have several hundred thousand such cars on the road by 2015.
According to Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, "The widespread adoption of fuel cells will only occur when drivers can readily refuel with hydrogen. To accomplish that end, we're working together with oil companies, energy providers and public policymakers to help drive the development of the necessary infrastructure."
This is what is needed for the future. Positive action with the endorsement and cooperation of the major energy players.
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Germans shun H1N1 vaccine
The German government has ordered 18 million more vaccinations against swine flu. But two-thirds of Germans say they don't want to be immunized.
In the latest step to fight an anticipated breakout of the H1N1 swine flu virus, Germany's 16 state health ministers have announced they plan to order another 18 million vaccination units. That's enough to immunize nine million more people and ensures there is enough stock should demand surge later in the year.
The health ministers have already ordered 50 million swine flu vaccinations for 25 million people, as each person requires two doses of the vaccine. That means there will be enough vaccine to cover 40 percent of the German population.
The latest order is subject to funding being available. The thorny question of who will bear the cost of this – the federal government, the health insurers, the state health departments or local authorities – is being discussed at a special working group meeting in Berlin on Wednesday.
A new study conducted by the Forsa Institute for DAK, one of Germany's largest health insurers, revealed that a surprising number of Germans do not plan to get immunized.
In the study of 1,001 people aged between 18 and 60 years, 62 percent said they would "definitely not," or "almost definitely not" let themselves be vaccinated this autumn when the first swine flu vaccines become available.
Eighty-two percent of Germans said that swine flu poses a "fairly low" or "very low" danger.
Bavarians, in Germany's south, in particular rejected vaccination. Only nine percent said they would "definitely" go to their doctor to be immunized compared to 14 percent of Germans on average. It's a different picture in eastern Germany, where almost a quarter of those who took part in the study said they were "definitely" going to get immunized.
In the latest step to fight an anticipated breakout of the H1N1 swine flu virus, Germany's 16 state health ministers have announced they plan to order another 18 million vaccination units. That's enough to immunize nine million more people and ensures there is enough stock should demand surge later in the year.
The health ministers have already ordered 50 million swine flu vaccinations for 25 million people, as each person requires two doses of the vaccine. That means there will be enough vaccine to cover 40 percent of the German population.
The latest order is subject to funding being available. The thorny question of who will bear the cost of this – the federal government, the health insurers, the state health departments or local authorities – is being discussed at a special working group meeting in Berlin on Wednesday.
A new study conducted by the Forsa Institute for DAK, one of Germany's largest health insurers, revealed that a surprising number of Germans do not plan to get immunized.
In the study of 1,001 people aged between 18 and 60 years, 62 percent said they would "definitely not," or "almost definitely not" let themselves be vaccinated this autumn when the first swine flu vaccines become available.
Eighty-two percent of Germans said that swine flu poses a "fairly low" or "very low" danger.
Bavarians, in Germany's south, in particular rejected vaccination. Only nine percent said they would "definitely" go to their doctor to be immunized compared to 14 percent of Germans on average. It's a different picture in eastern Germany, where almost a quarter of those who took part in the study said they were "definitely" going to get immunized.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Germany looking to improve in last test before World Cup qualifiers
Germany have one eye on next month's World Cup qualifying showdown with Russia when they take on the 2010 tournament hosts South Africa in a friendly in Cologne on Saturday.
German coach Joachim Loew aims to use his last test match before his team's three final World Cup qualifiers for some-last minute experiments, while at the same time looking for an improvement on his side's recent outings.
The match comes four days ahead of a Group 4 qualifier against Azerbaijan in Hanover before the German team travels to Moscow on October 10 and then meets Finland in Hamburg on October 14.
Loew believes the effect of having his German squad together for 10 days for the first time in a year will have ironed out the problems evident in last month's 2-0 win in Azerbaijan and a recent trip to China and the United Arab Emirates.
Germany, three-time World Cup winners, has yet to lose against South Africa after a record of two wins and a draw, the last match resulting in a 4-2 victory in Bremen in September 2005.
South Africa have their own problems after losing their last four matches as they start a mini-European tour also taking in Ireland next week, before returning to the continent next month for matches in Norway and Iceland.
German coach Joachim Loew aims to use his last test match before his team's three final World Cup qualifiers for some-last minute experiments, while at the same time looking for an improvement on his side's recent outings.
The match comes four days ahead of a Group 4 qualifier against Azerbaijan in Hanover before the German team travels to Moscow on October 10 and then meets Finland in Hamburg on October 14.
Loew believes the effect of having his German squad together for 10 days for the first time in a year will have ironed out the problems evident in last month's 2-0 win in Azerbaijan and a recent trip to China and the United Arab Emirates.
Germany, three-time World Cup winners, has yet to lose against South Africa after a record of two wins and a draw, the last match resulting in a 4-2 victory in Bremen in September 2005.
South Africa have their own problems after losing their last four matches as they start a mini-European tour also taking in Ireland next week, before returning to the continent next month for matches in Norway and Iceland.
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