So when I got out of my evening class today I was pleased to see that the tram sign said there was only one minute left until my line arrived. I stood waiting for about four minutes, with the "ankommen" signal blinking, yet saw no train. Then suddenly a tram that had just passed headed toward the city center came back our way, lights blinking, with a loudspeaker announcement saying that there was a demonstration downtown and all trams would go no farther.
Excitedly, I decided to go check it out, forgetting that my stomach had been growling all throughout class. Once I turned the corner I could hear drums beating and people chanting. Once I got closer I saw people dancing in a huge drum circle on the corner and crowds marching down the main street with flags and picket signs - many of which were from "Die Linke" or "Die Grüne," so at first I assumed it was political. Then I realized the flags read "atomic waste? Nein Danke" or pictures of nuclear tubs that read "wohin?" (where to?). So I quickly realized that this had to do with the Nuclear plant scare during Japan's earthquake last week, and Angela Merkel's plan to keep nuclear power plants in Germany 12 years later than had originally been expected. My favorite sign read "Urangela" with a 3-eyed caricature of the Chancellor. Unfortunately it was too far away to get a good photo of.
I guess the protests are even bigger up north around Stuttgart, with human chains and all. Anyhow, getting a first hand look at a German political demonstration definitely made up for arriving home an hour late. I'm going to actually make some dinner now before I pass out, though.
Emily
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