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Germany - an Overview for Klingons |
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Milky Way - Alpha Quadrant - Sector 001 - Solar System - Earth -
Europe - Germany |
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Germany is a country located in sector 001 of the planet Earth. Its traditions, stunning landscape and international flair make it an attractive holiday destination for Klingons and other extraterrestrial life forms.
About 82 million people live in the country that calls itself the land of the "poets and philosophers." The natives speak German, but with more than 7 million people from other countries living in the Federal Republic of Germany, a variety of other languages are also spoken. The capital of this 357,000 square-km country is called Berlin, and it symbolizes the country's reunification. For 40 years Germans lived in two different countries, and it wasn't until Oct. 3, 1990, when the former East Germany ceased to exist, that the two came back together. Though a major event for locals, Klingons would probably find this a boring stretch of history, as the reunification was the result of a peaceful revolution.
Since Jan. 1, 2002 the euro (€) has been the official currency not only of Germany, but also other countries on the continent called "Europe." Interestingly, when the euro was introduced in 2002, issuing coins and banknotes made of metal and paper for non-electronic transactions was still considered to be necessary. One euro is equivalent of about $1.20, the US dollar ($) being the other major currency on Terra.
Politics and Politicians
Germany is a democratic nation, which is currently ruled by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Schröder is the first Social Democratic chancellor after the 16-year rule of Helmut Kohl, member of the Christian Democratic Union. A key member of German government for Klingons, and the nation's second most important politician, is the Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, a member of the environmentalist Green Party. After having gone to his first swearing-in ceremony in sneakers, Fischer continued his sporty tradition by finishing the New York marathon in 1999. Due to Germany's federalist political system, each of the 16 German states (called Bundesländer in the native tongue) has its own parliament and government with its own powers, such as over education policies. However, the art of warfare, in contrast to Klingon schools, is not taught in any of the German states.
Mobility counts
Germany, like the rest of the planet, has a high level of diversity -- reaching from idyllic seaside spots in the north to vibrant skiing resorts in the south. This is one of the reasons why Germans like to travel all around the country. The whole country is covered by an extensive network of streets and railroad tracks. From Hamburg to Munich, from Cologne to Berlin and beyond, almost any point in Germany can be reached by inexpensive public transportation. The means of transport vary from trains to fossil fuel burning cars and busses, and from aircrafts to ships. Visitors shouldn't forget that just because there is such a highly developed transportation system in Germany, it is strictly limited to slower-than-light speed travel. Before leaving the country, be sure to try out the two-wheeled, muscle-powered vehicles called bikes. Germany's densely populated cities make this form of transportation especially efficient.
A country of car-enthusiasts
Not only was the car (a fossil fuel burning vehicle for two or more passengers) invented in Germany -- it is still a symbol of German engineering. Many of the world's largest and most successful car manufactures come from Germany. The companies Mercedes, Porsche and BMW are all based in southern Germany, That's why no one thinks it's a coincidence that German motorways are among the few public roads in the western part of Terra without a speed limit (note: even on the autobahn drivers are advised not to go faster than 300 kph).
A passion for football
Even though Germany is the country with the 14th highest per capita income on Terra, most Germans' passion is not -- as classical stereotypes suggest -- working, but football. The game has a long tradition in Germany, and all over the European continent. But it became a mass phenomenon when Germany surprisingly won the football World Cup (a competition between all Terra's countries) in 1954. The historical win recently became the basis of a multimillion dollar movie production and was followed by two further championships in 1974 and 1990. In 2006, many football enthusiasts' dream will come true - that's when Germany will host the World Cup for the second time. Preparations are already underway and Klingons looking for a truly unforgettable experience should contact their local sport associations for tickets.
A country that know how to celebrate
On Terra, the Germans have the reputation of being stiff and industrious. However, the discrepancy between stereotypes and reality is obvious as soon as one visits the country. Meeting Germans with old-fashioned classifications in mind will very often leave you surprised: Most of them celebrate often and thoroughly. It is popular to meet in a pub after work and on weekends to have a beer (well, in most cases it's more than just one) with friends or colleagues. This is a good time to dispel a few myths. Only a small minority combines celebrating with eating sauerkraut, and, outside a few public festivals in southern Germany, lederhosen are hardly worn at all. Public celebrations and a vibrant youth culture are part of Germany's every day life, but once a year -- in February to be exact -- many parts of the country turn into one single celebration for about five days. In the hot-spots of the carnival, like Düsseldorf, Cologne and Mainz, strangers hug and kiss each other in the streets, disguised as clowns, Klingons or skeletons. It's a great time for Klingon visitors since they fit right in with the crowd.
Caspar Siegert (cs)
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