Dear readers,
let's not even talk about Corona.
Exceptionally.
Even if the topic will determine our future at least in the medium term - and of course to a large extent our newspaper this week too.
Instead, let's talk about a more distant future, about how we want to design our cities, our living space and living space, in short:
how we want to live one day.
Because the future of humanity, so say researchers, engineers and politicians, will be decided in the cities.
Here we will have to solve the most pressing problems of our civilization, which primarily affect the fields of quality of life and climate change, work and digitization, democracy, social inequality and migration.
“Today more than half of the world's population lives in cities.
According to estimates by the United Nations, in 30 years there will be seven and a half billion people out of ten.
Cities make up less than three percent of the earth's surface.
But there 80 percent of global gross domestic product is generated, 80 percent occur all greenhouse gases are 75 percent of the energy used worldwide consumed. "So writes my colleague Marc Neller, the extensive research on this topic and some
exciting projects of urban planners
has brought together.
There is, for example, Philipp Bouteiller, who is supposed to implement one of the largest urban development projects in Europe: He plans
to build
an entire urban district out of wood
with houses, apartments and workplaces for 20,000 people, universities and hundreds of companies.
Other visionaries design
skyscrapers for growing vegetables
or heat entire settlements with the waste heat from giant computers.
Look forward to a wonderful excursion into the world of tomorrow.
I hope you enjoy reading WELT AM SONNTAG and have a relaxing weekend!
Warm regards,
Rainer Marx,
Head of Text, WELT AM SONNTAG
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These are some of the topics of the week:
Of life and death
Do humans have the right to die independently?
Ulrich Matthes plays an opponent of euthanasia in the ARD film "Gott" based on Ferdinand von Schirach's play.
His personal attitude is different.
In an interview he talks about the dichotomy between role and private opinion on a topic that leaves no one indifferent.
Dispute over street names
The picturesque town of Tarusa south of Moscow has been a haven for Russian artists and writers for more than a hundred years and is not exactly known for making headlines.
But now the city of 9,000 souls suddenly wants to break with its communist legacy, at least with the street names, and has sparked a heated debate in Russia about the past.
"Just laughing is no longer"
Barbara Schöneberger talks about humor in the corset of political correctness, about shit storms and world salvation on Instagram, deep cleavages, the quota for women and about a gag that she would no longer do today.
The frequent flyers
Taking the plane to the home office?
In the midst of the Corona crisis, hundreds of EU officials are still getting on planes or trains.
Because employees of the EU institutions have to stay in Brussels from Monday to Friday according to the applicable rules - even if their families live in Berlin, Warsaw or Milan.
But on site they are not even allowed to go into their offices for reasons of fighting the pandemic: They work from home in their Brussels apartments.
It's about your money
Those who make important decisions, submit applications and spend wisely by the end of the year can get a lot of money from the tax office.
From craft costs to donations: WELT AM SONNTAG explains how you can save taxes now.
Really? Already so late!?
Only man knows time.
But why it sometimes pulls like chewing gum, other times it evaporates in an instant is often a mystery.
In an interview, psychologist Marc Wittmann explains how the perception of time works - and how it has changed during the pandemic.
"My new magic word is spontaneity"
Star tenor Jonas Kaufmann reveals in an interview how the forced Corona break made him think - and why the break is good for his voice.
Noble wines for tough times
The economy groans, the trade groans.
But 2020 is an unexpectedly lucrative year for winemakers and wine sellers - also thanks to consumers who are keen to experiment and who want to spoil themselves.
But there are also losers.
Winter sports are possible
The ski areas in the Alps are prepared for a winter that will be different from all others before.
Because there won't be après-ski anywhere, but mask requirements and distance rules everywhere.
Ironically, the previously frowned upon ski resorts with particularly old-fashioned lifts could benefit from the new situation this year.
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