Chile's Atacama desert in bloom

It's a magnificent natural spectacle. Every few years, the Atacama desert in Chile transforms into a sea of bright pink flowers. Now, the Chilean government has announced plans to make part of the region a national park.



Popular with photographers

The stunning blossoms attract large numbers of tourists to the barren region. Like this woman, they are keen to photograph the natural phenomenon. By creating a national park, the Chilean government is also hoping to promote tourism in the Atacama desert.

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When a billion dollars is way too much: What is 'economic limitarianism'?

When Elon Musk can offer over $40 billion for Twitter, bridges are dismantled to move megayachts and the rich keep getting richer, a group of philosophers says something is wrong. A look at economic limitarianism.

Yachts have become a symbol of wealth and political cronyism especially since Russian oligarchs have come into the spotlight

Some would say you can never be too rich. But rising economic inequality is leading more people to think that's wrong. Some of us are too rich.

There is a long list of economists, philosophers and leaders who have dealt with the redistribution of wealth over the centuries. Entire political systems have been built around the idea of equality and sharing.

What is limitarianism?

Economic limitarianism is a concept that explores the idea that no one should be excessively rich. It focuses on the harms and risks of having super-rich individuals. When discussing inequality, it doesn't look at the problems of poverty or raising the poor up out of poverty. Instead, it focuses on having too much.

Putting an upper limit on how much wealth a single person can accumulate is not meant as a punishment. The idea is to encourage positive change for the economic system and population in general through social improvements. Besides that, at some point "surplus money" no longer adds to well-being or a flourishing life. A few million dollars ought to suffice in most cases.

Limitarianism is not socialism or communism. It does not reject the accumulation of wealth, ownership of private property, or some level of social inequality. It simply says that having a lot is sometimes too much.  

Currently, the theory does not break "too much" into concrete numbers. So there is no single point where it would step in and call out excessive wealth, like at $10 million (€10.2 million), $150 million or even $2 billion.

Philosopher Ingrid Robeyns has a lot to say about being too rich

Where did the idea come from?

One academic in particular is behind economic limitarianism: Ingrid Robeyns, a Belgian theorist working at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She researches and teaches in the philosophy department, focusing on ethics, political philosophy and social justice.

She first presented the idea of limitarianism at a conference in 2012 but it took a few years for her first academic paper on the topic to appear. Since then she has been tirelessly talking about the issue, publishing papers and working on a book. The idea has generated different reactions across the globe.

"In Europe, my experience is that the public shares many of the arguments for limitarianism. But in the US, it is an idea that is very far from discussions that are taking place in the mainstream debate," Robeyns told DW. "Part of the traditional American culture is the idea of the 'American dream' — the belief that everyone would have a chance to become very rich, if only one is dedicated enough."

Every billionaire a policy failure?

The theory is also much more than simply looking at income inequality. Morality is at the core of limitarianism. When is it morally or ethically necessary to intervene in a free market economic system for the benefit of society as a whole?

Are wealthy individuals adding to society by investing in increased productivity or are they just speculating or bleeding businesses dry — or entire developing countries? Are 10 cars really that much better than two?

Are the rich leading the world toward disaster?

"Some now use the slogan 'every billionaire is a policy failure.' I think that is right, but that even a situation in which some super-rich people have much less than a billion is morally and politically problematic," Robeyns said. 

Overall, she argues that limitarianism is built on two main columns: protecting democracy and addressing urgent unmet needs or problems in society that require collective action, like climate change.

Looking at political inequality, limitarianism worries that inequality can undermine democracy. The rich can use their money to influence politicians, hire lobbyists and get their agendas set into law. If that doesn't work, they can also influence public opinion by owning media outlets outright or funding think tanks.

Great wealth can impair climate change action

Economic limitarianism also assumes that a more equal distribution of wealth would lead to a better overall quality of life in the world. It could help those living in extreme poverty to flourish.

"If you already have $10 million, it doesn't add much to your lifestyle if you get another 100,000 euros or dollars. But if you have no wealth at all, then any increase is significant" and means less hunger, fewer unheated houses and fewer children in poverty, according to Robeyns.

It is not just about money though. Proponents of economic limitarianism say that the rich are a danger to the environment since they create enormous CO2 footprints.

"The super-rich are disproportionately causing climate change because their material lifestyles are much more abundant and their investments ecologically harmful," Robeyns said. "One could therefore argue that it would be fair to use their excess money to address the climate crisis, rather than letting them get away to build luxury bunkers or villas on top of mountains to go and hide in, in case climate change gets out of hand and civil unrest breaks out."

Taking some of those riches could help with climate adaptation. Governments could invest in systems to protect citizens from extreme weather. At the same time, they could build renewable energy capacity or better technology.

Critique while the rich keep getting richer

Some critics think that economic limitarianism does not go far enough. Companies should also be subject to limitarianism guidelines, they say. Still, other philosophers and economists strongly disagree with the idea of limiting wealth. They see no moral limit to riches earned or inherited. In fact, it is the chance to become rich that propels entrepreneurs to take risks, invent things and bring about change.

Additionally, they argue that limiting wealth will not end political inequality. Measuring wealth or wellbeing is impossible and a better way to achieve more equality would be a progressive tax system.

Yet make no mistake — the rich are getting richer. The 2022 list of billionaires put out by Forbes counted 2,668 of them. Together they were worth $12.7 trillion. It is a bit less than the previous year since the many global crises have taken a toll. Nonetheless, they "found more than 1,000 billionaires who are richer than they were a year ago."

The cleft between those who have and have not is growing each year

Can limits realistically be put on wealth?

Robeyns sees the real-world problems with implementing her ideas. First, it is nearly impossible to come to a universal definition of how rich is too rich. Secondly, even if there were a defined amount, how would anyone go about actually collecting the surplus money? She finds consolation in the fact that philosophers are there to ask questions and not confiscate diamond necklaces or private jets.

"Ideas can change history. Some do, some don't," Robeyns concluded. Her ideas may be unpopular in some corners, but at least they make people think about inequalities.

"My role as a philosopher and scholar is to present those arguments, but it's up to citizens and leaders in the economic, political and religious domain to take the steps to realize such a world."

Edited by: Hardy Graupner

SEE (31) THe filthy lives of the ultra-rich - YouTube

Germany cybersecurity chief faces sacking over Russia ties — reports

The interior minister wants to fire the country's cybersecurity chief, according to German media. Reports allege Arne Schönbohm had contacts with individuals connected to Russia's spy agency.

German outlets report Arne Schönbohm may soon be replaced

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser wants to fire the chief of the federal agency responsible for cybersecurity over his alleged contacts with agents of Russia's security services, according to German newspaper reports.

Media cited government sources in reporting that Faeser wants to replace Arne Schönbohm, the president of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).

A scheduled joint appearance of Faeser and Schönbohm on Thursday to present the BSI Situation Report 2022 has reportedly been called off.

What are German media outlets reporting?

The Bild daily tabloid quoted the Interior Ministry as saying, "It is being examined how a rapid change of president can be achieved." German authorities are reportedly hoping to assign Schönbohm a new role rather than remove him outright, as provisions of the civil service law place limitations on the firing of state employees.

Media outlets said Schönbohm's alleged contacts with Russian agents may have come through the Cyber Security Council of Germany. Schönbohm helped found the group, which has a mong its membership roster a German company that is subsidiary of a Russian firm founded by a former employee of the Soviet-era spy agency, the KGB.

Konstantin von Notz, the head of the oversight committee for the intelligence services in the Bundestag, or German parliament, said, "These accusations must be decisively investigated."

Why is the Cyber Security Council of Germany controversial?

Among the members of the council is the Berlin-based cybersecurity company Protelion. Until the end of March, the firm did business as Infotecs GmbH.

According to the Policy Network Analytics research network, Protelion nee Infotecs was a subsidiary of the Russian firm O.A.O.Infotecs, operated by a former member of the KGB.

German media report Schönbohm was urged by the Interior Ministry to distance himself from the council, but his recent visit to mark the group's anniversary instead created widespread discontent within the ministry.

ar/nm (AFP, dpa, Reuters)

Who is supplying Russia with drones?

This week, Iranian suicide drones are said to have been used to attack the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Tehran denies supplying Moscow. What do we know about drone imports?

The Ukrainian military identified this object as part of an Iranian-made drone

They are demoralizing and deadly — and Russia is using them in its war against Ukraine: drones, likely from abroad. They can fly at speeds of up to 200 kph (125 mph) and make so much noise doing so that they can be heard long before they strike.

Iranian suicide drones?

According to Ukraine, Russia this week, for the first time, used Iranian suicide drones to attack the capital Kyiv.

Writing on the messaging service Telegram, the region's governor, Oleksiy Kuleba, claimed that six explosions were registered as the drones impacted near the city late Tuesday night (4/10/2022). He said a total of 12 drones had been dispatched with the aim of destroying infrastructure.

According to the website Military Factory, suicide drones, or loitering munitions, are unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) loaded with explosives. The Ukrainian military claims that it shot down the first such Iranian UCAV in mid-September.

Arms show in Iran: Unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) were tested near Tehran on August 25

Since then, military spokeswoman Natalia Humeniuk told AFP news agency, roughly two dozen further Iranian UCAVs have been spotted in southern Ukraine. Half of them were shot down. Most suicide drone attacks she said, targeted the sea port of Odesa, in Ukraine's south, where they killed civilians.

Suspicions that Iran may be supplying Russia with drones were voiced months ago. In late August, the US government cited intelligence suggesting that Moscow was trying to acquire Iranian drones for its war in Ukraine — especially because Russia was no longer able to produce its own as a result of Western sanctions, which made the acquisition of key components extremely difficult.

According to AFP, Russia has now acquired Iranian Qods Mohajer-6 drones. The unmanned combat drone can carry a payload of up to 40 kilograms (88 pounds) at speeds up to 200 kph. Beyond that, smaller HESA Shahed 136 suicide drones with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers (1,554 miles) have also been purchased. Iran has officially denied deliveries.

How deadly are the drones?

Even though drone attacks have repeatedly resulted in deaths, experts say they are not very effective. Jeremy Binnie of the British defense analysis company Jane's Defence Weekly told AFP that they are not very reliable because they are not particularly well made. Moreover, their explosive payload is also "relatively meagre." In his estimation, the weapons will not have much of an effect on the course of the conflict.

What's fatal, however, is the fact that they are very difficult to detect with radar, as a Ukrainian officer told the US online news site Politico. She told the outlet that her unit in Kherson recently lost two fully manned tanks after they came under attack.

Military spokeswoman Natalia Humenuik said that they also put more "psychological pressure" on the civilian population. The sound of the drones, she said, often triggers fear among already agitated civilians.

Turkish drones made in Ukraine?

This summer, Moscow also signaled interest in acquiring Turkish combat drones. But manufacturer Bayraktar made it clear in August that it would not sell to the Kremlin.

"No matter how much money they offer, it is out of the question for us to give them drones in this situation. At the moment we are clearly and wholly supporting the Ukrainian side," Haluk Bayraktar, CEO of the Turkish arms manufacturer, told the BBC.

The Turkish Bayraktar TB2 is seen as an effective and inexpensive alternative to Western drones

Currently, the Ukrainian military is having success with the Bayraktar TB2. The TB2 has become extremely popular with the Ukrainians after helping them destroy numerous Russian artillery systems and armored vehicles.

Now it is reported that the Turkish company is planning to build drones at a factory in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the plan on September 9, after a meeting with CEO Bayraktar.

The TB2 is 6.5 meters (21 feet) long and has a wingspan of 12 meters. It can stay in the air for more than 24 hours and has a top speed of 220 kph. And, according to experts, it is also cheaper than similar models from Western manufacturers.

Israeli-made drones?

There has also been speculation about the use of Israeli-made drones since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. In mid-March, the online newspaper Times of Israel reported that photos purporting to document Russian drones shot down by Ukrainian forces were said to be Israeli made

The photos, whose authenticity have not been independently verified, showed the remnants of a Forpost-R drone, including a stamp bearing the name Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), an Israeli airplane and rocket manufacturer.

However, the Forpost-R is an intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) drone produced by Russia. It is a copy of the Israeli IAI Searcher, which Russia was licensed to build several years ago. 

This article was translated from German by Jon Shelton.

Plans to 'deepen' Germany's Rhine river to combat low water levels hit resistance

Water levels on the river typically drop later in fall with knock-on effects for trade and industry. A government plan to deepen the crucial waterway to curb future disruptions is proving controversial.

Dry conditions this year left large sections of the Rhine's riverbed exposed, forcing cargo ships to lighten their loads

It's difficult to overstate just how important the Rhine river is for the countries it flows through.

This mighty waterway serves as an economic lifeline in western Europe, connecting industry in Germany, France and Switzerland with the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Each year, more than 300 million tons of cargo are shipped along its length, from chemicals to coal, grain to car parts. Major companies have riverside plants that rely on these shipments. And when navigation is disrupted by low water levels — as was the case during this year's drier-than-average summer — the costs can be huge.

It's a scenario the German government is keen to avoid.

As part of an action plan to protect shipping, it's boosting the number of vessels adapted to low water. More controversially, it also wants to deepen a section of the Middle Rhine Valley — a proposal that has been welcomed by businesses but viewed with skepticism by environmentalists and some locals.
What is the project about?

The focus is a 50-kilometer (31-mile) section of the World Heritage-listed Middle Rhine — where the river is flanked by craggy cliffs, hilltop castles and wine-producing villages.


The shipping channel in this part of the Rhine is shallower at certain bottlenecks. That means vessels coming from the North Sea, for example, need to carry less cargo during times of low water to be able to pass through safely on the way to Germany's industrial southwest.

"When in doubt, it has to load much less," said Sabine Kramer from the Rhine Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSA) and the area manager for the project.

The government's plan envisages deepening the navigation channel by 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) — from 1.9 meters at low water to 2.1 meters — to bring this potentially tricky stretch in line with areas further upstream and downstream.

It sounds like a small change, says Kai Kempmann, head of the Committee for Infrastructure and Environment at the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR). "But for inland navigation, that is a lot. You can transport a lot more with those 20 centimeters."

According to the WSA, each ship would be able to carry at least an extra 200 tons.

Adapting the river this way is a "gain for shipping, because they can load more cargo and there are expected to be fewer ships traveling as a result," said Kramer.
How will the river be deepened?

To raise the Rhine's level, engineers with the federal waterways authority have proposed installing hydraulic structures that run parallel to the bank, as well as groin-like constructions that extend into the river. These would divert flowing water toward the middle of the Rhine and hold back sediment. Shaving jutting rock from parts of the riverbed and dredging in gravelly areas are also part of the plan.

Engineers are working with a massive model of one of the Middle Rhine chokepoints

The project is scheduled to be completed by 2030 and has an initial estimated cost of €180 million ($173 million), 40% of which is for ecological measures.

That hasn't convinced the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), though. The NGO fears channeling more water to the middle of the river will harm fish and mussels.

"It is a huge intervention," said Sabine Yacoub, BUND chairperson in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate. "We fear this will significantly change the riverbanks and impact on fish populations because this is where the fish lay their eggs."

Yacoub is also worried that ecologically important shallow areas could dry out permanently as a result of the changes.

Kramer from WSA Rhine said the deepening measures would not be allowed to cause environmental deterioration. "An environmental impact assessment is underway, and fish stocks are also currently being taken into account," she said.

The Rhine was straightened in the 19th century, turning it into a fast-flowing channel that can efficiently transport cargo

The Rhine is 'our identity'

Philipp Rahn is also wary of the plans. He is the mayor of Bacharach, a town on the Rhine's banks that relies on tourism for over 90% of its budget. He says he fears any new structures in the river will negatively alter the picturesque landscape.

"These groins would have an enormous impact on our coast here," he said. "We have a rowing club. We have watersports association. We have a public beach ... And all of these would no longer be able to exist."

"The Rhine is part of our identity," he added. "And we would lose parts of the Rhine here, right in front of us."


Bacharach Mayor Philipp Rahn is worried the planned changes will ruin the riverbank

The project is still in its planning phase, so it is not yet certain which structures will be installed. Kramer says that although they would be visible when water levels are low, they are "less than many people imagine we are building, so it won't have quite as big an impact on the landscape as many fear at the moment."
Retooling fleets to cope

Periods of low water could become more frequent with climate change, threatening to undermine the Rhine's role as a provider of cheap and energy efficient water transport. At the same time, the alpine glaciers that feed the river are disappearing. According to Sabine Yacoub from BUND, that's what makes this project "short-sighted."

"By the time it is implemented, climate change may well have shifted the goalposts to such a degree that different measures are required and even those may not solve the problem."

In her view, "we should focus on adapting the ships to the Rhine and not vice versa."

Low water in August forced companies to lighten their loads, which led to delays in deliveries and soaring freight costs. It's too early to calculate the damage. But the drought in 2018, which halted traffic on the Rhine altogether, caused a loss of almost €5 billion for German industrial output in the second half of that year.

BASF, the world's largest chemical producer, is based on the banks of the Rhine in Ludwigshafen

Some companies, such as chemical giant BASF, have already started upgrading their fleets. BASF's complex in Ludwigshafen on the Rhine transports 40% of its raw materials via river transport. It backs deepening the river as part of a range of measures, including better water-level forecasting.

In a statement, the company said it was "increasingly chartering modern ships suitable for low water" and "increasingly relying on alternative modes of transport, in particular rail."

It's not yet clear when construction on the Middle Rhine could begin. The transport minister has called for the process to be sped up — the energy crisis resulting from the war in Ukraine has only made the transport of fossil fuels on the waterway more urgent. But with community needs, environmental concerns and business interests to weigh up, finalizing the project may take some time yet.

DROUGHT: GERMANY'S RIVERS DYING OF THIRST
A matter of draft
When fully loaded, the entire black part of a cargo ship's hull rests under the water. But this is currently not possible on many German rivers. Now, cargo ships may only be partially loaded. And if the load falls below a certain level, transport by ship is no longer worthwhile.
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Edited by: Sarah Steffen

GREAT SERIES

Season 4 of 'Babylon Berlin' set in Germany's dark 1930s

"Babylon Berlin" is the most expensive German TV series to date. The new season featuring police inspector Gereon Rath is set in the chaotic last years of the Weimar Republic.

"Babylon Berlin," the TV series adapted from the novels of Cologne-based author Volker Kutscher, has created ripples worldwide.

It was sold in over 90 countries, including the US, where streaming giant Netflix bought the rights to the program. The first season cost producers €40 million ($40 million), becoming the most expensive series in German television history.

Season 4 of "Babylon Berlin" now launches on October 8 in Germany and the UK on Sky, and on HBO for Central and Eastern Europe. The series will be later available on Netflix for the United States, Canada and Australia

The story so far

"Babylon Berlin" tells the story of police inspector Gereon Rath, who is transferred from his home city of Cologne to Berlin in 1929 to investigate for a special department.

As a First World War veteran, Rath is a victim of post-traumatic stress syndrome and uses drugs to keep his symptoms under control. In Berlin, he meets the typist and prostitute Charlotte Ritter, and together they unearth an illegal weapons trade.

All this happens as two Communist groups, the Trotskyists and the Stalinists, engage in violent exchanges in 1920s Berlin.

Volker Bruch (left) as Gereon Rath with Liv Lisa Fries as Charlotte Ritter

In Season 2, Rath changes to the criminal investigations department and spies on unconstitutional right-wing extremists, albeit unsuccessfully. By the end of the season, Charlotte Ritter officially becomes a deputy homicide detective.

Together Rath and Ritter investigate the murder of a film star in the Babelsberg film studios. They solve the case, but Season 3 ends with the Wall Street collapse in 1929, heralding the global depression.

Controversy around actor Volker Bruch

The COVID pandemic followed the end of season 3. The series star actor, Volker Bruch, who plays lead character Gereon Rath, made headlines with his links to the "Die Basis" party, considered to be close to the "Querdenker" movement of COVID-skeptics in Germany. The party was founded by people who oppose restrictive measures during the pandemic. The constitutional police has been monitoring the "Querdenker" group closely for its ties to the far right.

At ARD Degeto, a media production company that is part of the public broadcaster, this information about the series' lead actor is considered a private matter. "We do not comment on political activities and attitudes, as long as they do not break current laws," a spokesperson told the Tagesspiegel newspaper.

Season 4 of the series is based on "Goldstein," the third novel in author Volker Kutscher's book series and takes place in the years 1930-1931, during the global economic depression.

It is a time when the SA ("Sturmabteilung," the paramilitary wing of the Nazi party) and the Communist Red Front Fighter's League ("Roter Frontkämpferbund" in German) battle on Berlin's streets. 

Rath is assigned to spy on the Jewish-American gangster "Abe" Goldstein as a favor to the FBI.

What really happened in Berlin in the 1930s

The story is aligned with historical events that took place in Berlin in 1931. After World War I, there were millions of decommissioned soldiers in Germany, many of whom joined fight clubs.

The Red Front Fighter's League was the paramilitary arm of the Communist Party, and the SA was part of the Nazi Party, or the NSDAP, led by Adolf Hitler. The SA's brown uniforms had earned them the epithet "Brown Shirts" in the 1920s, and in contrast to the communists, they avoided conflict with the state machinery of the Weimar Republic, choosing instead to terrorize Jews, social democrats and communists. They were rarely targeted by the police for their violent acts.

The onset of the Great Depression is depicted in the third season

In 1930, the SA attacked "Warenhaus Wertheim," a department store run by Jews and destroyed display windows of other shops that were supposedly run by Jewish owners — a preview of the terror that would end in the Holocaust.

Three years later, the SA and the SS ("Schutzstaffel"), which was responsible for the operation and administration of concentration camps and which also took over military tasks along with the Wehrmacht, stood in front of the store holding placards which read: "Germans! Protect Yourselves! Don't buy from Jews!"

A different ending 

As soon as the plot reaches the year 1933, the year when Adolf Hitler and the Nazis came to power, the series will come to an end, according to director Achim von Borries. He is responsible for the content and creative execution of the 40 episodes, along with Tom Tykwer and Henk Handloegten.

But author Volker Kutscher wants his book series to continue and plans to end the novel series in the year 1938. 

"I must include the collapse of the German civilization of 1938, by which time even the last 'apolitical' person knew that the Nazi rulers were working towards a World War and the Holocaust, towards the great human catastrophe," he told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland.

"It [the ending] will be bitter, and it will not be a good ending for many of my characters, but only then can I close the series."

This means that "Babylon Berlin" fans can maybe hope for more seasons in the future.

IT REMINDS ME OF PHILIP KERR'S PRE WWII GERMAN POLICE TRIOLOGY

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Kerr

Philip Kerr - Wikipedia 

Philip Ballantyne Kerr (22 February 1956 – 23 March 2018) was a British author, best known for his Bernie Gunther series of historical detective thrillers.

https://berniegunther.com

The Bernie Gunther Novels of Philip Kerr - BernieGunther.com 

In 1989, first-time British author Philip Kerr introduced the world to Bernie Gunther, his sardonic, tough-talking fictional detective who was — as the New ...

https://crimefictionlover.com/2019/03/a-guide-to-philip-kerrs-bernie-gunther-series

A Guide to Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther series | Crime Fiction Lover 

Mar 28, 2019 ... Read our complete guide to the Philip Kerr's novels about wartime German detective Bernie Gunther including March Violets, the Berlin Noir ...

Opinion: 2022 Nobel Peace Prize a slap in the face for Vladimir Putin

Three laureates from three countries — and yet this year's Nobel Peace Prize delivers a strikingly clear message to Moscow, says DW's Miodrag Soric.

Since 1902, a 23-karat gold medallion has been awarded to all who have received the Nobel Peace Prize

The decision regarding this year's Nobel Peace Prize sends a clear message to people in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and the rest of the world: We're honoring those in eastern Europe who have the courage to call out the monstrous crimes of the Putin regime by name. We are honoring those who are willing to suffer for the truth, to risk their lives, to go to jail.

The prestigious honor will pain Putin, for it will be recorded for posterity. Russia's violent leader and his state propaganda machine can ignore it, rail against it, and criticize it as much as they want but they cannot undo this wise decision by the Nobel Committee.

Systematically plotted crimes

Putin's crimes did not appear out of thin air: Neither his invasion of Ukraine, nor his persecution of Russian and Belarus opposition figures. Putin has been systematically preparing them for decades.

DW's Miodrag Soric

One of today's Nobel laureates, Ales Bialiatski, began calling them out by name long ago. For instance, Moscow's attempts to destroy Belarus sovereignty. For decades, Bialiatski has been fighting to maintain Belarus' language and culture. That alone made him a thorn in Moscow's side.

Minsk's self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly had him jailed, purportedly for tax crimes. The charges were always made up. Bialiatski was penalized because he documented how Belarus security services tortured and jailed opposition figures. He stood up for demonstrators protesting rigged elections. In 2021, he was jailed again. Today's Nobel Prize will refocus attention on his fate and that of his homeland.

Documenting crimes is also the mission that Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties has taken upon itself. Recently, the organization gained notoriety for documenting crimes committed by invading Russian troops. Their hope is that their documentation will ensure such misdeeds do not go unpunished. For that to happen, evidence must be collected, and victims' names recorded. In the past, the center has been active in attempting to steer Kyiv toward Europe by seeking to strengthen Ukrainian civil society.

'Memorial' at odds with Putin's plans

The most well-known of today's laureates is the organization Memorial. It began shining a light on the darkest chapters of Soviet history back in the 1980s. One of its most famous associates was Andrei Sakharov.

President Putin has reviled the organization — a role model for many NGOs around the world — for years. Back in 2003, during his first term as Russian president, Putin said the nation's schoolbooks should inspire pride in students. The great detail with which Memorial documented the millions of crimes committed by the Soviet Union's Communist leadership ran counter to the president's wishes. Moreover, the NGO — as it had during Soviet times — continued to fight for free elections and the rights of persecuted opposition figures. Late last year, Putin had Memorial banned.

In the early 1990s, Memorial actually influenced legislation written in the Duma. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the organization sought to ensure that no new authoritarian regime would ever be allowed to control the country again. That inspired Memorial to call for perpetrators from the Communist Party as well as those from the intelligence services to be brought to justice through a system modeled after the Nuremberg Trials.

Unfortunately, that idea failed when Communists distanced themselves from their own crimes during the days of the Soviet Union. If Memorial had succeeded back then, Vladimir Putin may have never come to power.

This article was translated from German by Jon Shelton.

Belarus opposition leader says her people 'are ready to fight for our country'

Speaking to DW, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she believed that a Russia weakened by the Ukraine war offers pro-democracy Belarusians an opportunity — as long as the international community doesn't abandon them.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: "If we feel the weakness of Lukashenko there 

will be hundreds of thousands of Belarusians on the streets"

Belarus' opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania after Russian ally Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in a disputed 2020 election that was viewed in the West as fraudulent, and which many thought she won. 

Speaking at the Warsaw Security Conference earlier this week, she said she believed Russia's setbacks in Ukraine could loosen Lukashenko's grip on power. "We have a distracted Russia that is about to lose this war. It won't be able to prop Lukashenko up with money and military support as in 2020,'' she said. 

DW: Are there people in Belarus who, in your opinion, would be ready to fight if Lukashenko were to decide to support Russia in the war against Ukraine? 

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: The Belarusian people are ready to fight for our country. And they have been proving this for two years. Yes, maybe now you don't see beautiful rallies on the streets, but this is not because the Belarusian people have given up. It's because we live in a Gulag, in an atmosphere of tyranny and terror and repressions. Any person can be detained for any comment on Instagram, anti-war comments or anti-regime comments, and our task is to keep people safe, to keep people prepared for new opportunities. 

If there is a trigger or we feel the weakness of Lukashenko, and Lukashenko will be weak when Putin is weak, then believe me, there will be hundreds of thousands of Belarusians on the streets.

You recently established a temporary executive body for your country. Could you tell us more about its objectives?

The United Transitional Cabinet was formed as a response to the war because we see that our independence is in danger. This transitional cabinet would be like a central decision-making institution. Those people who are on the side of the regime now, even people in militia or military, will see an organized place where they can enter and change sides. People around Lukashenko might support the regime because it's convenient for them, they are paid, but those people absolutely don't support the war. This cabinet was organized also at the request of the Belarusian people. They want to see critical forces united within a structure. 

Belarusian volunteers have been supporting Ukrainian army units in the war against Russia

We also want to have a military person in this transitional cabinet, a representative of defense, a colonel who can speak the same language as our soldiers and knows how to assist our military volunteers in Ukraine. 

We also have a representative focused on national revival. We tend to overlook this very important part of our work on language, on identity, on promoting our culture but this is the core of every nation and our language. Our identity has been ruined for 27 years and now it's necessary to explain why it's important. In 2020, the Belarusian people felt that we are Belarusians and now more and more of them start more to speak Belarusian. We are going to restore our identity; we are going to fight for our identity. 

We will also shortly appoint a representative for social affairs who will address social problems. 

You have lived in Lithuania for more than two years. It must be difficult to be abroad with your children while your husband, Siarhei, is in prison in Belarus. How do you deal with this situation? 

Of course, I can't say that it is easy. He's been in a cell for many, many days. It's an awful place without bedclothes, without normal food. The temperature in the cell is the same as the temperature outside, it's very cold and he's physically humiliated. They want to ruin him. He is a strong person, but of course every day I wake up thinking about him. I also understand that he's not the only one suffering; there are thousands of people. You feel pain every day. 

And every day you see your children who are demanding to have their dad back and you can't do anything about that. Again, there are thousands of children that are split from their mothers or fathers. It's like a snowball, it's becoming bigger and bigger. But you find strength to move forward because you are not alone. I really feel the presence of millions of Belarusians who are with me. I see how people don't give up inside the country. They can rely on those who fled Belarus because they continue to fight because they really want to return home.

The people in Belarus are self-organized, they don't need a dictator or another person to tell them what to do. They themselves create different initiatives in order to help. Some of them help prisoners, others help elderly people, there is job for everyone. I feel they showed us how to do it and we are in contact with people on the ground. I feel the energy. Yes, people are afraid, they are scared, but they say: Look, now we need to be quiet. But when the moment is right, we will be on the streets, we will do our part of the job. 

But now we need more attention from the international community. People want to be sure that at a particular moment we will not be abandoned, we will not be forgotten. There's so much pain in Belarus, but the people move forward. The same as the Ukrainians. We feel that both our nations are enduring very difficult times. But at the same time we feel the support and solidarity from powerful countries. 

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is the leader of the Belarusian democratic movement. She ran in the 2020 Belarusian presidential election as the main opposition candidate. After Alexander Lukashenko declared himself the winner of the disputed elections, she fled to Lithuania.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Edited by: Rob Mudge