Posted by Kenneth Birch on December 31, 2007
Traditions are made easily, also on this blog. So after 2005 and 2006, now has come the time for looking back at 2007.
This year has been eventful in many ways. And although it has seen a fair share of travel (two trips to Norway and two to Austria, for instance), it is the people I will remember from 2007. Two very significant additions to my life (below) have made this year like none other.
Here’s the list:
Thanks to all – big and small – who made all this possible. Happy new year!
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Posted by Kenneth Birch on December 21, 2007
In many ways Denmark is a nice place to live. Winter is not one of them, however. For the last many weeks, it seems, the sun has set before 4 p.m., and risen whenever it feels like it – that amounts to perhpaps once or twice a week.
So Christmas is a welcome celebration. Certain obscure theological purists object: Jesus was born in spring, not in winter, so celebrating his birth at midwinter is a heathen tradition. So what? Christ coming into this world is more of a turning point than winter solstice will ever be. Combining the two was a stroke of genius by whoever did it. Elijah says it clearly in this well-known passage:
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; and the that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Elijah 9:1)
This passage is also a well-known Aria in Händel’s Messiah, which I heard tonight with my extended family. The choir Camerata in their annual performance in Copenhagen’s Holmens Kirke – probably the best in town, and this year was no exception.
Christmas is finally here. Jesus has been born, and light is returning to the world (including Denmark). It is time to celebrate both. Happy holidays!
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Posted by Kenneth Birch on December 14, 2007
Climate change is topping the agenda of world leaders (if not world media) with the Bali summit ending today. Stars of the show include, of course, Al Gore, but also Danish climate minister Connie Hedegaard who will be hosting the Copenhagen summit in 2009 which should see a successor to Kyoto brokered.
Another new environmental darling is Australia’s new prime minister, Kevin Rudd. Rudd has pledged to join Kyoto swiftly and is steering his country (and my second home by choice) towards a more active role. Which is not a moment too late, with Australia being the country with highest emissions per capita and one of those having done the least.
But in their eagerness to amend for assumed previous sins, Australians are tripping over themselves with not too bright (but admittedly very aussie) ideas for how to save the world. My two favourites are:
- Kangaroos emit hardly any carbon dioxide when they fart, compared to cows. Scientists are seriously considering how to transfer bacteria from roo digestion into other animals to reduce emissions.
- Parents having more than two children should be taxed for every child beyond that. The rationale: people pollute – let’s have fewer people.
So, what exactly are we trying to save?
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Posted by Kenneth Birch on December 6, 2007
My very good friend Kamilla is in Vienna, studying for one term. I was lucky enough to find extremely cheap tickets from SkyEurope, so last weekend I spent three days in Austria’s beautiful capital.
And Vienna proved to have the perfect mixture of classic grandeur, laid-back charm, and Christmas celebrations that are large-scale but very authentic and not too tacky.
In a couple of days I managed to drink melange at Café Central, visit Hundertwasserhaus, do a bit of Christmas shopping, visit Christkindl (Christmas market) at Schloss Schönbrun and hear Bellini’s Norma performed at the Staatsoper.
All in all, a very nice weekend. Vienna is well worth a visit, especially at this time of year. (There’s a few pictures from my trip on Flickr.)
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