Poll Result, a New Conflict Escalation, and a Big Anniversary

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Hello subscribers!

This week saw three (!!!) new blog posts, first a post on Thursday about the ‘frozen conflict’ over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the Caucasus escalating again into full-on military confrontation and violent engagements in which hundreds were killed, including civilians. Both Azerbaijan and Armenia have been ratcheting up the rhetoric and had their militaries (partially) mobilized. Fighting has been going on for a week now. Who started what and who retaliated in exactly what way, or where things are heading, is not clear at all from the outside. But the most worrying aspect is the potential involvement of Turkey, which has outspokenly sided with Azerbaijan, whereas Armenia will be banking on support from Russia (which has a military base in Armenia and secures the country’s western border with Turkey). So there is a risk of a full-on proxy-war developing here that could have serious wider repercussions all over the Caucasus. It seems, though, that Russia, as well as the OSCE Minsk Group (chaired by the USA and France along with Russia), are working for a return to peaceful diplomacy. Fingers crossed!

The second post came yesterday and had to mark a big date: the 30th anniversary of the reunification of Germany on 3 October 1990. That was the culmination, in a way, of what had started as the peaceful revolution in East Germany, brought down the Berlin Wall and sealed the fate of the GDR. With the official reunification thirty years ago that old state ceased to exist. It was also the beginning of the end of the Eastern Bloc at large as well as that of the Soviet Union, eventually, so it heralded the end of the Cold-War-era too.

Differences between east and west within Germany remain, however, and not everybody sees reunification as such a complete success story. Many easterners in particular still feel underprivileged and under-represented.

And then the third post, uploaded just a shot while ago, honoured the result of our latest little theme poll. The winner was “dark tourism & cars” and it was given quite a substantial post featuring 16 different images of cars, their stories and in what way they relate to dark tourism. Some will be quite surprising to most, I can imagine. Enjoy!

The runner up in the poll was “dark tourism & clothing”, so that one will be fielded again in the next poll, as has almost become “tradition” by now. This time I will also give the theme that came third, “dark tourism & spheres”, another chance as well, because several people had noted that that would have been their close second choice. “Dark tourism & NPPs”, on the other hand, will have to take a back seat for a while longer (though I’m looking forward to it making a comeback eventually).

So much for today.

Have a good Sunday and a decent week!