Dear Reader

For a lot of people on this planet 2006 was not a good year. The field of politics has more then ever taken on a strange stench. People are confused, either pro or contra the various circumstances. Thus someone like President Bush can be on both the villain and the hero list, and he topped both of them!

But then there are a few folks that are only on one list, the good one, the one setting examples worth emulating, like Opra Winfrey, who puts her money where her mouth is. The world can use a lot more of her kind than the back stepping politicians we have come to know recently.

One must however applaud people like Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is sidestepping major politics and is making the environment a major issue, and rightfully so. Al Gore’s documentary "An Inconvienent Truth" on climate change made it quite clear that we must all make a contribution towards saving the planet now and not wait for more results of endless calculations. It would behove all of us to do one or two little things to get started.

Some 20 years ago it was very hip to be green. Now it is essential! All those tricks from back then, like putting a brick into your toilet tank to save water, are still valid and if everyone would do it would save a LOT of water. Replacing light bulbs for the saving variety, or at least go down with the wattage is another natural. Turn it off, off, off should be everyone’s motto, whether it is water, electricity, gas and any gadget, including cars.

Everyone in every household without any particular hardship or inconvenience can do these and many more things; and it would be a beginning. All it takes is a tiny bit of discipline. And if one cannot remember then a few posted notes would surely help until it becomes natural to do those things.

It is about consuming a little less, also in regards to our bodies. We are an overfed, stuffed population, especially in Western Europe and North America. Being overweight seems normal. We need to remember some of our grandma’s recipes and start doing our own cooking again. All that fast food does not help anyone stay healthy! Eating together will also provide a setting for a more normal family setting and work against the alienation of individuals especially if communication is practised. Our young people are loosing fast any skills they might have acquired at an early age with so much apparent technology and shortcuts to messaging.

It is clear that highly personal goals alone do no longer sustain good survival for our species. We all need to take a bit of responsibility for more then ourselves, at least for our immediate families. From there we need to expand into the larger realm of what is good for all of us, no matter what life form.

No doubt there is a lot to think about, but it really is not as bad as it sounds. A little bit will go a long way. And to all of those who already are doing this and that do help reverse the destruction of mankind by its own members, they need to be thanked and applauded.

I sincerely hope that most of you have made some decisions for the New Year along those lines, as well as some to further your very personal goals.

We wish you much success with your efforts to introduce change into your life! AND if you have some cool tips for the rest of us, let us know!

Happy New Year!

Sybille Forster-Rentmeister and the rest of the Echo Germanica crew.

PS.: The front page was adorned with two teddies, because the sight of several garbage pales made a fairy colourless scene, despite the many people, quite dismal. Besides, life is already so serious sometimes one must add a little silliness to make it better.

PS.PS.: I would like to thank all friends and clients of Echo Germanica for the many seasonal greetings and mementos. A special thank you goes to Isolde (You know who you are!) for assisting my husband in getting me a charming Christmas present that I love!