Author: Kontrast.at

Good news from the stratosphere: the ozone hole is smaller this year than it has been in many years – and well below the long-term average. Forty years ago, the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol laid the foundation for banning ozone-depleting substances. Back then, countries around the world made a collective decision for climate […]

In recent decades, China has massively expanded its influence on the global stage—with the goal of reshaping the international order. But what exactly lies behind this claim, and what consequences does it have for Europe, the global power USA, and global power distribution? Kontrast spoke with sinologist Doris Vogl, who analyzes different facets of this […]

Vered Berman grew up in West Jerusalem, has lived in Berlin for 22 years, and has been committed to peace since her youth. In 2003, she lost her mother in a Hamas suicide bombing. Twenty years later, she wrote a letter to the attacker’s family. In this interview with Kontrast, she shares what moved her […]

They cook and bake, clean, and set the table for their husbands – and millions of people watch them do it. Tradwives – short for “traditional wives” – have taken social media by storm in recent years. Their message is clear: nothing fulfills a woman more than being a housewife devoted to her husband and […]

The bicycle industry is booming. But how are the bikes that help reduce traffic and protect the climate actually made? Major brands like Bianchi, Canyon, Centurion, Giant, and Merida accept exploitation in pursuit of profit. As uncovered by an investigation by Le Monde Diplomatique, thousands of migrant workers in Taiwan’s factories are subjected to forced […]

Solar energy could have changed the world long ago. The technology was discovered in the 19th century – but it took almost two centuries to become widely used. This is the history of solar energy: why it was ignored for so long – and what finally led to its global breakthrough. Humanity has known how […]

Wikipedia has been under attack. Right-wing extremists tried to change history, twist facts, and spread their own version of the truth. But they didn’t expect the pushback. This is the story of how the Wikipedia community came together to defend the truth—and won. The Secret Plot to Rewrite History In 2007, a sharp-eyed Wikipedia user […]

In a world increasingly impacted by climate change and rising energy costs, Pakistan emerges as a surprising example of an impressive energy transition. The use of solar energy is booming—not driven by large corporations, but by the people themselves. Motivated by rising electricity prices and the need for a stable energy supply, more and more […]

The energy transition—shifting from coal, oil, and gas to renewable energy—only works if everyone can participate. Bottrop, a city in western Germany, shows how this can be done. Once a coal-mining hub, Bottrop has transformed by replacing heating systems, renovating buildings, and installing solar panels—all in just a few years. The energy transition is crucial […]

While the economy in some EU countries is stagnating and even slipping into recession, Spain’s economy is showing rapid growth. Spain’s socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has implemented government interventions to regulate prices. This approach has kept inflation low over the past few years and stimulated economic growth. As a result, Spain is now a driving force […]