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Local Germany
6 days ago
- General
- Local Germany
Record number of complaints received by Germany's Anti-Discrimination Agency
Germany's Anti-Discrimination Agency published it's latest annual report on Tuesday, and the results made for grim reading. In 2024, the agency received 11,405 complaints about discrimination -- the highest number ever recorded, and a six percent rise compared to previous year. In 2019, the year before the Covid pandemic, the number of complaints received was 4,247. At 43 percent, the majority of complaints were about racist discrimination, followed by discrimination based on disability (27 percent) and gender (24 percent). Announcing the publication of the report, Ferda Ataman, the Independent Federal Commissioner for Anti-Discrimination, drew a clear line between the rise in the number of cases and the creeping normalisation of racist and discriminatory discourse. 'Discrimination is a growing problem in Germany,' warned the commissioner. 'With the rising number of votes for a party of the extreme right, it seems that more and more people feel encouraged to make racist comments in public.' Ataman added that the true number of cases – rather than the number of cases reported – is likely to be far higher, because 'most of those affected keep discrimination to themselves.' German protections are 'the weakest in Europe' According to Ataman, Germany's General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) is 'one of the weakest anti-discrimination laws in Europe.' Discrimination on the basis of nationality, for example, is not protected directly under Germany's General Equal Treatment Act (AGG). However, it can be considered indirect racial discrimination in some cases. Advertisement In 2024, around 2,350 complaints about discrimination involved incidents that were not covered by the current law. READ ALSO: Levels of racism and discrimination in Germany revealed in new survey Room for improvement The report identifies three areas for immediate action, including an urgent need for nationality to be included in the AGG as a ground for discrimination -- noting that the present loophole may have the unintended effect of encouraging anti-Semitic and anti-Roma discrimination. The commissioners also want to see the AGG extended to apply to government agencies. Currently, the authors suggest, citizens are inadequately protected against discrimination in government offices, in interactions with the police, in court, and in public schools and universities. In 2024, 25 percent of complaints received by the Anti-Discrimination Agency were connected with government agencies. Passers-by walk across a street in Munich's Haidhausen district in the early hours of the morning. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Peter Kneffel Finally, the commissioners are calling for greater accessibility and protection against digital discrimination, amid concerns that AI systems and algorithms can disadvantage older people and people with disabilities. Discrimination at work and in everyday life One in three complaints received by the Anti-Discrimination Agency is related to incidents that occur during job searches, job interviews, at work, or when leaving employment. The report focusses particularly on experiences of workplace discrimination based on gender and suggests that women are frequently affected by poor pay, lack of career opportunities, and sexual harassment. 'Gender-based discrimination is still deeply rooted in our society—and it is on the rise again,' said Commissioner Ataman. The report also makes clear that acts of discrimination can take place anywhere, at any time. Twenty-two percent of cases reported involved everyday activities such as flat hunting, visiting restaurants, or shopping, for example. Advertisement In one instance, described by Commissioner Ataman, a Muslim woman in Nuremberg was turned away from a doctor's practice with the words, 'We don't want people like you here.' In another case, a Mahmoud Z. applied for an apartment under the name Stefan H. According to the report, Mahmoud had already been turned down for more than 20 apartments, often without even being invited to a viewing. Mahmoud conducted his 'test' on the advice of the Anti-Discrimination Agency, to see whether his name was a contributory factor in his lack of success. Sure enough, 'Stefan' was invited to view an apartment that 'Mahmoud' had been told was no longer available. If there is a silver-lining to be found, it's that the apparent year-on-year rise in discrimination complaints may reflect an increase in the number of people who are aware of their rights, and have the courage to try and enforce them. If you have experienced discrimination in Germany, the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency provides free, confidential counselling in a variety of languages. READ ALSO: What to do if you experience racism in Germany
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Fighting algae blooms: Researchers investigating whether sounds can stop toxic blooms
The Brief Brevard County officials are testing underwater soundwave technology to combat harmful algae blooms in the Indian River Lagoon. The year-long pilot project uses ultrasonic transducers to disrupt algae cells, potentially preventing blooms and protecting the ecosystem. BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - Underwater soundwaves could be a new tool to save the Indian River Lagoon. Environmental officials on the Space Coast are testing a pilot project to see if sound can stop algae blooms from destroying the ecosystem with harmful fish kills, starving manatees and stifling seagrass growth. What they're saying "It has whole ecosystem level impacts," said Aleah Ataman with Brevard County's natural resources department, explaining how big of a problem algae blooms are across the region. She's set out to investigate: could those negative impacts be stopped with sound? "This technology has worked in lakes and other freshwater systems," said Ataman, who's a lagoon environmental specialist. Ataman says since it's been successful in other areas, it's possible the same sound technology can work in the Indian River Lagoon. "We call them ultrasonic transducers," said the scientist. FOX 35's Esther Bower saw photos of the tech being used and found out it's not very hard to set up because it dangles from a dock into the water. When in use, the system sends out low frequency sound waves in the water that affect the algae. "The gas vacuole inside the algae cell gets disrupted by the frequencies that are emitted," said Ataman. That cell disruption is enough to keep the algae from floating and feeding off the sun. When it sinks, it can't cause a bloom. "Oh, we're noticing a bloom here, imagine if we could head it off before it spread," said lagoon lover Fred Goldstein. He sits on the Citizen Oversight Committee for the Save Our Indian River Lagoon program and has one of the test tools in a canal near his neighborhood. "We put this in place. Here's what it did. Did it have any negative impacts?" said Goldstein, who's eager to see what the study shows. What's next If the pilot goes well, the county would use the tool to beat blooms. They're constantly tracking algae levels on an interactive map using satellite data. Ataman says they could rapidly install the system when levels look bad in an area of the lagoon. "We can fall back on these technologies if something major was going to occur," she said. "We could put the devices out, turn them on, it's really easy." Officials are also monitoring if marine life seems to be impacted by the underwater sounds. This pilot is going on for a year in several neighborhood canals near Sykes Creek. It's funded by a $200,000 grant from Florida's Department of Environmental Protection. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source FOX 35's Reporter Esther Bower met with the county lagoon researcher on 4/29 at a park dock near where the pilot is taking place. She also interviewed a resident via zoom on 4/29 who is monitoring the project in his neighborhood.
