RUHR.2010 - European Capital of Culture

Smoking chimneys and mines, coal and steel: for many decades these were the symbols of the Ruhr, Germany’s largest industrial belt. With 53 cities and around 5.3 million inhabitants, the third largest conurbation in Europe will be showing its new face as European Capital of Culture in 2010.

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2/9/10 3:07 AM

'Safer Internet Day' draws attention to dangers of social networking

Tuesday marks Safer Internet Day, created to encourage safer and more responsible use of online technology. A spokesman for the EU's cyber security body told Deutsche Welle how you can best protect yourself online.

2/9/10 3:06 AM

German director lays foundations for opera house in Africa

Berlin director Christoph Schlingensief has begun what may be his most ambitious project yet: building an opera house in the heart of the African savannah.

German Red Cross treats patients (© DRK)

German Citizens, Government Increase Support for Haiti

Germany remains shocked  by the earthquake in Haiti and its aftermath. Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle called it a “tragedy of apocalyptic proportions.” In considerable efforts—government contributions, including EU programs combined with private donations and numerous fundraising events, aid for Haiti is—is on its way.

Germans give almost 18 million euros for Haiti in TV telethon

A German TV benefit gala broadcast on January 19 raised 17.8 million euros ($25.2 million US) for Haiti's earthquake victims. Chancellor Angela Merkel also announced the government would contribute an extra 2.5 million euros.

Change in strategy in Afghanistan

Ahead of the international Conference on Afghanistan in London, the German Government has redefined Germany’s engagement in the Hindu Kush.The aim of the efforts is to achieve greater security for Germany by stabilizing Afghanistan in the long term. To this end, assistance for civilian reconstruction will be doubled, while the training of Afghan security forces will be stepped up.

Ingo Maurer

Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany

To kick off Ambiente – the leading international trade fair for Giving and Living – in Frankfurt am Main, the traditional ceremony honouring the winners of the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany is being held in February. The award-winning product ideas will be on show in the Galleria at the Exhibition Centre throughout the fair (from 12 to 16 February).

Canada Meets Germany (CMG) Seminar in Berlin, March 7 – 13, 2010

Canada Meets Germany (CMG) is an active network of young people from across the world who conduct activity to strengthen German-Canadian relations. Members can join the forum by taking part in a CMG Weeklong Seminar with the theme "Bi-lateral Cooperation on Global Public Goods: The Future of the German-Canadian Relationship".

May 7 - May 23, 2010 - IIHF Hockey World Championship 2010

During the 74th IIHF World Championship, the world's best hockey nations will crown their champion for the 6th time on German ice. Sixteen teams will play a total of 56 games between May 7 and May 23, 2010. The opening game, Germany v. USA, will take place in Gelsenkirchen, all others will be held in Cologne and Mannheim.

The New World of the Media

350 daily newspapers, 2,130 periodicals, countless online media, bloggers, millions of active Internet users: Germany is one of the countries with the highest media density and the greatest press diversity in the world. We present a special feature on the structures and scope of the media in Germany. Additionally: an interview with trend researcher Matthias Horx about the future of the media.

The Year of Science 2010 focuses on energy questions

The future of energy: this is the motto of the Year of Science 2010, which begins on 22 January and is organized by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research together with the Science Initiative. The aim of the years of science, which were launched in 2000, is to stimulate greater public interest in questions surrounding science and arouse especially the young generation’s curiosity for scientific topics by collaborating with universities and research institutions.

Energy Efficiency Award 2010

Companies from trade and industry which have implemented innovative, exemplary measures to increase energy efficiency are invited to take part in the international Energy Efficiency Award 2010 competition.The competition is being held by the Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) - the German Energy Agency - in cooperation with Deutsche Messe. The prize money amounts to a total of 30.000 Euro.

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Environmental Issues

Follow these links to find interesting information about various environmental issues that not only concern Germany but the entire global environment. Find out details about climate change and protection and the benefits of using renewable energies such as solar and wind energy. Learn how  Germany manages waste, soil and water, how it controls the air pollution and how hazardous chemicals are dealt with.

Employees of the German Embassy taking their bikes to work

Germany boosts cycling - inspiration for Canada?

More and more Germans are saddling up and getting on their bikes – both in their free time and to travel to work. Cycling is definitely in. Trend researchers are ­already talking of a bike boom. 

See how you can be a part of it - in Germany or in Canada

Germany-South Africa: Let's stay Friends - From 2006 to 2010 and beyond

A new special website is dedicated to showcase the support Germany gives to football projects in South Africa. Germany and South Africa have enjoyed a close partnership for many years. With this in mind, it is no surprise that Germany and South Africa, as consecutive hosts of FIFA Football World Cups, also work closely together in this area.

The site, in English and German, also offers useful information to all visitors and international football fans about the event and its host country. The FIFA Football World Cup 2010  will show the world a new, more dynamic face of Africa.

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 in Germany

It has now been decided which German towns will be hosting the FIFA Women's World Cup matches. The best women players in the world can be seen in nine different cities from Augsburg to Wolfsburg. Angela Merkel, the "honorary team manager", will be leading her team of well-known female personalities in their efforts to drum up support for the tournament.

Find out more

Time and weather in Germany

Berlin:
21:23:34 -5 °

Panel Discussion to commemorate start of the "Two-plus-Four" process in Ottawa 20 years ago

A panel discussion will take place on February 15, 2010, at the very location of the original conference. Key figures at the time will recall the historic events and help the Canadian audience recognize Ottawa's role in Germany's progression toward unification.

Germany at your fingertips!

From Government to Media, from directories to useful links, from phone numbers to postal codes. It's just a few clicks away!

Events in Germany

February 16, 2010 - Inke Arns on Media Art and the Arctic

Inke Arns, director of Hartware Medienkunstverein in Dortmund and an independent curator for media art, will present the ground-breaking Ruhr arts centre, as well as the art project “Arctic Perspective Initiative” at this Goethe-Institut Montréal conference.

Carnival in Germany

Some Rosenmontag faces in Mainz. © picture-alliance/dpa

Carnival is celebrated with great dedication in Germany. It is a time of elaborate parades, masks, balls and election of Carnival king and queen and official madness. The exact time of celebration and the traditions vary from region to region but it generally takes place in early spring, seven weeks before Easter. 

Celebrate Carnival in Germany this year!

"Filme aus der DDR"

July 11, 1990 the Trabi is in demand no more

a film series presented by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, University of Ottawa, with the support of the Goethe-Institut. All films in German with English subtitles. Free admission. Fridays at 6 :00 p.m. University of Ottawa, Room 026, Pavillon Arts Building, 70 Laurier E. except on Feb. 26: Simard 425.

German National Tourist Board (DZT)

Tourist information on holidaying in Germany, conference venues, shopping or ideas for young people: consult the German National Tourist Board website for all this – and much, much more!

Facts about Germany

cover "Facts about Germany"

Facts about Germany is a handbook for anyone seeking reliable and up-to-date information on the Federal Republic of Germany. It provides facts and figures about the country and its people, its government system, social life, poltical groupings and trends, all the different sectors of industry and business, and the multifaceted face of culture in Germany and its 16 federal states.

Germany - Land of Ideas

Germany - Land of Ideas

The automobile, the printing process, and the purity requirements for beer are inventions made in Germany. However, did you also know that Aspirin, the personal computer, and even MP3 have been developed here?

Find out more on the following website:

Spanish EU Presidency, 1st half of 2010

On 1 January, Spain assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first half of 2010.

RSS Newsfeed of the Federal Foreign Office

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