Category: Technology
Flood protection: North Rhine-Westphalia takes greater account of small rivers
(GermanPolicy.com) – The government of North Rhine-Westphalia would like to give greater consideration to small rivers when it comes to flood prevention. For example, it must be checked where floodplains and other retention options could be set up. In addition, more measurement and control systems…
Technical solutions and improved civil protection suggested in Germany to prevent future flooding
by Thorsten KochGermanPolicy.com The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance would like to see risk areas that might be subject to flooding better mapped – with a special focus on smaller rivers. A spokesman announced that there is already data for larger rivers…
Environmental associations call for new locations for houses and more space for water
by Thorsten KochGermanPolicy.com Several environmental associations have called for reconstruction efforts after the flood disaster in western Germany to be adapted, with a view to tackling climate change. Rivers need to be given more space and some buildings rebuilt elsewhere instead of erecting them as…
Additional warnings to the population by SMS
Warnings to the German population through ‘cell broadcasting’ have been ordered since Wednesday. This was announced by Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU). All smartphones dialed into a certain radio cell will in future notify about disasters via SMS push notifications, for example in the…
Heavy rains caused damage to agriculture, rail, and motorway routes
by Thorsten KochGermanPolicy.com Agriculture has suffered much damage in the disaster areas in western Germany. “Several thousand hectares” of fields are affected, said a spokesman for the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture. Satellite images will allow for a more precise overview. In addition to the…
Flood disaster in Germany: in search of solutions
by Thorsten KochGermanPolicy.com The situation in the wake of the severe floodings in the west of the Federal Republic of Germany has stabilized. Authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate announced that officials and helpers are now getting a comprehensive picture of the situation. It is…
Fewer complaints against online hatred than expected
In the fourth year after the passing of the Internet Hate Act (NetzDG), fewer Internet users in Germany complained that social networks were deleting hate speech posts than had been expected. From October 2017 to June 23 of this year, the Federal Office of Justice…
Building materials for new homes more expensive
New residential buildings have become more expensive in May of this year. The rate of inflation was last that high in 2007. Conventionally built residential buildings cost 6.4 percent more in May than in the respective month of the previous year. Building materials such as…
Damage of Property Relating to my Latest Book Project
Two days ago, my desktop files were deleted in what, according to all likelihood, was government or government-sponsored hacking of my work computer. Four months of research on German politics for a new monograph are forever lost, and hundreds of hours of work on my…
Air force delivers ventilators to Brazil
The Bundeswehr has delivered 80 ventilators to Manaus, Brazil, after Germany was asked for help in the wake of the Corona pandemic. Brazil is currently suffering from numerous new infections with the Coronavirus.
Kretschmann for less data protection during the pandemic
A high level of data protection is inappropriate during the Corona pandemic, said the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann (Greens). By complying with data protection, the warning app for smartphones is “just a crutch” instead of a powerful control instrument.
SMS greetings for people entering Germany
From this Monday, March 1, people entering Germany will automatically receive a text message on their cell phones, the Federal Ministry of Health announced. The SMS contains a link to the entry and protection rules against infections applicable in Germany.
