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The dictator next door

published in six languages in the European Magazine Cafebabel.com on January 5th, 2012 >> and shortlisted for the CEE Journalism Prize („Writing for Central and Eastern Europe“) 2012 >>

Belarus is Europe’s last dictatorship, but the Lithuanian capital Vilnius is located close to the border. Belarusian human rights campaigners use Vilnius as an asylum and distribution centre – yet they don’t feel completely safe. The Lithuanian president keeps up a good relationship with the Belarusian despot.

“We all want our ideas to be heard”

published by deutschland.de on the occasion of the Internet Governance Forum >> (German version >>) in November 2019

How can citizens be involved in governing by contributing their wishes, ideas and expertise? And how can leaders use big data to make their work more transparent and prevent corruption? Beth Simone Noveck, law professor and director of the GovLab research center in New York, advises governments worldwide on open governance – for example Barack Obama during his time in office and, since 2018, the German government. In this interview, she talks about this democracy of small steps and the chances and challenges of Germany’s Digital Council.

“I want to encourage people to be themselves”

published by Alumniportal Deutschland in November 2019 >> and in German >>

Mayowa Osinubi from Atlanta, Georgia, is constantly trying out new genres: She modelled, directed a documentary film and started both a YouTube channel and a feminist comedy show. She currently lives in Berlin as Chancellor Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. In the interview she talks about how the internet gave her the feeling to belong – a feeling she was missing offline.

Can her research reform the World Bank?

published by Letter, the magazine of the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD >> (and as a short version on the DAAD website >>)

When Professor Pinelopi “Penny” Goldberg applied for the position of Chief Economist at the World Bank in 2018, it was not her first application to the bank. Thirty years earlier, she had applied for an internship, but was rejected. She took it as a challenge, which led her from Freiburg to Yale and finally to Washington D.C.

“Ms Lemper, Marlene Dietrich would like you to call her back!”

published by German Embassy Washington D.C. and germany.info, directing + editing: Wiebke Nauhauser, cinematography: myself

An international icon for her acting, singing and style: in 1939, Marlene Dietrich became a US citizen and took a clear stand against the Nazi dictatorship in her homeland. 80 years later, German performer Ute Lemper, likewise world famous and living in New York, has dedicated a production to Dietrich – inspired by a phone call from the legend herself.

Dance, dance, dance

published by Lufthansa Magazine, August 2018, print and online >>

The city that never sleeps had an old dancing ban in place, from 1926 – until the current mayor overturned it. We visit some night owls as they ­celebrate their first summer of freedom.

Fortissimo piano

promotional video for the Californian piano teacher Isabelle Ang >>

Sharing memories with strangers

text and photos published by the Göttingen University alumni network, September 2017 >>

Former students of Göttingen University live all over the planet. More than 80 of them recently met in Berkeley, California, remembering good old WG and Mensa times.

“The free spirit will not be ousted”

Published by the German Acedemic Exchange Service (DAAD) in English >>  and in German >>, September 2017

Expat scientists in the US from countries like India or Egypt are increasingly interested in research opportunities in Germany; some of them feel alienated by the political climate under the Trump administration. They were among the largest groups among the 550 scientists who met at the Annual Conference of the German Academic International Network (GAIN) in San Francisco.

A treasure in the forest

documentary published by the German NGO Welthungerhilfe >>

Until recently, the only people who came into Jomi Pacharin’s remote mountain village were vendors and debtors. Doctors, teachers and government officials never set their foot here, they find the trail too arduous; hence many Paharia die from malnutrition and preventable diseases. When local helpers of the German NGO Welthungerhilfe first came to their village, Jomi and her neighbors stayed inside, full of suspicion – until they realized that these strangers would not take their belongings but offer something.