Thomas Gottschalk is not a fan of new trends. So far he has been particularly bothered by gender asterisks. Now he's speaking out again, this time as a food critic. The former showmaster and radio presenter, who recently caused a media stir with his book “Unfiltered”, cannot understand the hype surrounding the so-called Dubai chocolate in Germany. “I don’t understand all the hype with this pistachio stuff,” said the 74-year-old former presenter of the show “Wetten, dass…?” in the last episode of his RTL+ podcast “Die Supernasen” with Mike Krüger. “We were given a Dubai chocolate (…), but it was quite bitter.” This type of chocolate has become a trend in recent weeks with clever advertising campaigns on social media. The sweet has a filling of pistachio cream and toasted dough strands called angel hair. Many stores only offered a limited number of tablets, so long lines formed in front of the stores.
Diversity in business
The economics officer has three entrepreneurial success stories Clemens Baumgärtner recently awarded the Phoenix Prize from the city of Munich. The companies are “examples of successful integration and an expression of the cultural diversity that makes Munich one of the most livable cities in the world,” said Baumgärtner. Shiva Shankar Paul emphasizes this. For him, Munich has long been home, says the 59-year-old. He came from Bangladesh as a young electrical engineer for political reasons, completed his master's degree here and soon founded his first company. He now runs three companies and has 25 employees, including his wife and two sons. BSD München GmbH provides German industrial partners to customers in Asia. Paul also sells designer lamps and runs a large online shop. The family is also committed to education, health and social justice in Bangladesh.
Georgios Falainas has been bringing a Mediterranean lifestyle to Munich for 20 years. His company Omilos imports food directly from small family businesses and producers in Greece. With the Greek Community of Munich, Omilos also promotes the integration of migrants, including through internships. The native Kosovar Besnik Drenica “I have earned a very good reputation in the construction industry with my iron weaving,” says Baumgärtner. His company ensures stability at hospitals, schools, bridges and hotels. The prize goes to a Munich company with a migration history and is endowed with 3,000 euros.
Guardian angel for school children
They are guardian angels in traffic and often provide advice in all situations, such as when it comes to lost hats or forgotten homework: Munich's helpers on the way to school. Whatever the weather, they stand on dangerous roads and help children get to and from the classroom safely. Sieglinde Weh has been working in Milbertshofen for 40 years. Mayor Dieter Reiter and mobility officer Georg Dunkel have now honored her, along with 57 other Munich residents, for their extraordinary commitment.
Fight against anti-Semitism
The Association of Jewish Students in Bavaria has a new board. Jessica Flaster becomes chairman. The 26-year-old content marketing manager stands for strengthening Jewish life in Bavaria and “the fight against the constantly noticeable rise in anti-Semitism.” There is currently a climate of fear for Jewish students, especially at universities. “Many hide their Star of David necklaces or don’t tell fellow students that they are Jewish.” The association will work to ensure that “Jewish students no longer have to hide their identity at university.”
Walks against loneliness
Get some fresh air together, start a conversation, maybe make friends? There are many reasons for the new program item Vera Bach at Kofra offers to try out. Bach is a trained Pilates and Nordic walking trainer and knows that exercise can be beneficial for the body and mind. In order to appeal to as many interested women as possible with the event, Kofra, the “Communication Center for Women on Work and Life Situations”, has chosen an unpretentious title for it: “The Walkers – Movement and Exchange”.
Of course, it's also about doing something about being alone, because that's a problem, especially in big cities. “Loneliness is a growing social challenge,” writes the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) on its website. It published a study on the topic in May. According to this, one in three people between the ages of 18 and 53 in Germany feels at least partially lonely. Since the Corona pandemic, I have adopted this feeling significantly. According to BiB, women are emotionally affected more than men.
You can meet Vera Bach for the monthly walks without registration at 4 p.m. in front of the Kofra rooms at Baaderstrasse 30. The next appointment is on Tuesday, January 7th. There will be an hour's brisk walk along the Isar, after which there will be the opportunity to sit down and have some tea. This time, starting at 6 p.m., there will be a film and a lecture about the “Mothers' Wall from Lake Constance,” an almost 6,000-year-old, enigmatic treasure trove of stylized women's bodies.
