Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/08/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks for the insight. I was well aware of some of this, but I had forgotten the point that Poland and the others had to struggle to get into the EU while Germany just landed there. I actually got a little irritated during my trip in this context. I really didn't think that everything had to have become so run down, and when I was asked for a donation to renovate a church, a building, etc, I started taking offense. I have more shots from this context, some of them will round off the first ones more, creating a bit more balance. Away from home now, but I'll get them up within the week (have an exhibition to put up first). Best, Daniel On 8/26/05, Nathan Wajsman <nathan.wajsman@planet.nl> wrote: > Hi Daniel, > > I like the documentation of the graffiti. The "tough life" in ex-DDR > needs to be put in perspective, though. In most of the ex-Commie > countries there was a period of great economic upheaval post-1989. In > Poland, for example, unemployment shot up (it still is high but now > decreasing), many people became poor very quickly, there was a bout of > hyperinflation etc. Now the situation is good and improving, but it took > years to get here, and to get the country in shape to join the EU last > year. In contrast, the East Germans joined the EU instantly once Germany > was unified; for political reasons, an ecomonically insane decision to > convert the Ost Marks to DM at the rate of 1:1 was made, which meant > that their savings and salaries suddenly were worth something in real > money--but it also meant that an East German worker was suddenly totally > uncompetitive, hence the high unemployment in the 5 new L?nder. And the > amount of investment that went into ex-DDR was simply mind-boggling. I > remember driving to Poland from Belgium in 1995 and once I crossed the > old German-German border, the place was one giant construction zone. Not > good for driving. But now when I drive the same route, I drive on > Autobahns fully up to West German standards. And so on. During the past > couple of years, I have been to Bautzen, Rostock and of course Berlin. > Berlin is a special case, of course, but even the smaller towns are now > virtually indistinguishable from similar towns in ex-West Germany. > > So I do not feel particularly sorry for the East Germans; they have had > an easy ride compared to the Poles, Czechs, Hungarians, not to mention > the Russians, Bulgarians, Romanians etc. > > Nathan > > Daniel Ridings wrote: > > > Pulled out some shots from my trip around northern Germany (Hansa > > towns). One thing that strikes you when you travel around in former > > DDR are the signs that life has been very tough ... and still is. > > Former residents of DDR in Germany have less pay, even if they are > > working side by side with colleagues from the old BRD, 20% less pay. > > > > There was little or no interest for renovations during the DDR period. > > That is both good and bad. Good because all the silly mistakes that > > the west made could be avoided, but bad because it is getting very > > close to being too late. > > > > Churches in general were of very low priority: > > > > http://www.dlridings.com/paw2005/33.html > > Stralsund, M3, 21/4.0 Skopar > > > > But side by side with the ruins, you see signs of rejuvenation: > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/album259/05v30_0044 > > same > > > > There's a couple in b/w with the IIIf and Elmar too: > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/album259/05v30_0060 > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/album259/05v30_0061 > > > > But walking around on vacation (read: you have a job that you can take > > off from) you are reminded that life is very tough even today. > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/album259/05v30_0052 > > I live here, what are you doing? Kiev 4A J-8M > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/album259/05v30_0053 > > Cold heart city > > > > Now to tackle what I've been putting off for far too long ... a new > > place to live in Oslo. > > > > Best, > > Daniel > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > > -- > Nathan Wajsman > Almere, The Netherlands > > General photography: http://www.nathanfoto.com > Seville photography: http://www.fotosevilla.com > Stock photography: http://www.alamy.com/search-results.asp?qt=wajsman > http://myloupe.com/home/found_photographer.php?photographer=507 > Prints for sale: http://www.photodeluge.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >