What makes germans tick

Parts of the population feel that the social elites look down on them in a sniffy, arrogant manner. This means that people feel a lack of social solidarity, that there is a class that considers itself morally superior, that it doesn't have to change its lifestyle, while the others, the "stupid" ones, those of yesterday, are in the wrong and have to do the work to change.

A principle of solidarity used to exist in former times. People had the impression that the elites fought for the rights of those in a weaker position; they fought for educational reforms, for social justice. Now one has the feeling that we have a social division in this sphere of idealism, but also in the material sphere.

People experience that they're not getting any interest on the money they save at the bank. That used to also be an expression of appreciation. They are worried that at some point they will no longer be able to afford a place to live in the inner cities. They ask themselves "Do I still have the right to stay here in Germany at all? And they are also concerned that digitization and artificial intelligence will rationalize their jobs.

Read more: 'German Angst': Pinpointing the collective fears of a country. You once said in another interview that there are no shared dreams here in the country, but also, that there are no shared fears. What would shared dreams look like? When we look at German history after the war, the common dream was: We want to rebuild the country and experience prosperity.

Then there was the dream: We want to be included again into the international community of nations. Then, in the generation, there was the dream: We'll build another Germany that is more peaceful, more emancipated, more tolerant, more just. What we observed, with the dissolution of the East-West dialectic, was that these common dreams dissolved. The next change involved an attitude of: OK, we can improve this. But then it became clear that even economic prosperity no longer leads to a collective dream.

Instead, people realized that certain realms of society benefit; others do not. Of course, this led to an escape into individualism, into self-optimization. The dream of cultivating community has been more or less replaced by personal ego maximization, by situational self-interest. Is that why you also said people cannot share their fears? Surely there are global fears, for example, about climate change, about terrorist attacks.

Can't people share such fears, or are they still too preoccupied with themselves? I don't think that's really possible anymore. Perhaps to some extent in the context of climate change, where young people are becoming active in particular, but even when it comes to the issue of climate change, there is a division among countries, among those who are pragmatic and situationally self-interested and do not want to have to forego anything, do not want driving bans, and those who call for more radical measures for environmental protection.

We spoke earlier about the worries and dissatisfaction among Germans. To what extent are these worries German-specific? Can't the dissatisfaction also be transferred to Europe in general? After all, there is the "Yellow Vest" movement in France, for example. I think that this problem of a lack of esteem and appreciation also exists in France, in America. It's a society that has lost its shared dreams, its common perspectives, and which is increasingly drifting apart.

It's a a phenomenon that can lead to anger. When you have reached the point where you no longer expect a response, you will at last be able to give in such a way that the other is able to receive and be grateful. Number: This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Travel Health Information. Symptoms Usually symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after being bitten by an infected tick. Prevention Travellers who hike, camp, or undertake outdoor activities in wooded regions or city parks of endemic areas should take measures to prevent tick bites.

Re-apply according to manufacturer's directions. Wear neutral-coloured beige, light grey and breathable garments, including long-sleeved shirts and pants. Tuck pants into socks. If available, apply a permethrin spray or solution to clothing and gear.

When hiking in wooded areas, stay in the middle of the trail and avoid tall grasses and shrubs. Use a tarp when sitting on the ground. Carefully examine your body, clothing, gear, and pets for ticks before entering a dwelling.

Promptly remove ticks using tweezers by grasping the tick's head and mouth parts as much as possible and by pulling perpendicular from the skin. See How to: Tick Edition for videos on removing ticks correctly. Thoroughly disinfect the bite site with soap and water or disinfectant.

If travelling in an endemic area, save the tick in a zip-lock bag or container for up to 10 days refrigerate live ticks; keep dead ticks in the freezer. Write down the date and location of your contact with the tick. Your healthcare practitioner may advise you to submit the tick for testing. In , a Hyalomma tick even infected a man in North Rhine-Westphalia with typhus. Between July and October, the deer louse fly is also active in Germany.

Sometimes known as a "flying tick", these critters make a beeline for their target and then shed their wings when they land, burrowing down, biting and sucking blood from their victims.

The ticks usually target animals, but attacks on humans have been recorded. They prefer to bite humans on the scalp or neck and can cause allergic reactions and even heart infections. Deer louse flies are usually found in forests in the summer and autumn. It is recommended to thoroughly check any pets after walks in case they have been bitten by ticks. Ticks can be located using a flea comb and removed with adhesive tape or washed away.

Any animal that has been infested with ticks should be bathed and washed. In , there were cases of TBE in Germany, which represents double the annual average and the highest number of cases since records began in In order to protect yourself against the disease if you live in a risk area, experts recommend getting the TBE vaccination.