Harald Köpping Athanasopoulos

Harald grew up in Großpösna, a village just outside the boundaries of Leipzig, but it is only after living elsewhere for four years that he really came to appreciate the city he was born. He is an idealist, a Christian, a socialist, a Europeanist, and, above all, a true Leipzig-lover. He will write about Leipzig’s history and politics, both of which are rather inaccessible to our English-speaking audience.

Insider guide to the lakes around Leipzig

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It looks like the weather will remain good for the next couple of weeks… perhaps it is time to do a little exploring.

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Opinion: On European elections and German divisions

"East Germans are often portrayed as racist naysayers who are unable to look at themselves as the cause of their problems. The history of the GDR is often reduced to the Stasi. The two parties that picked up on these perceptions are DIE LINKE and the AfD, with the latter being far more successful."

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“Stop talking right-wing bullshit”

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Yesterday we heard from a Syrian refugee disappointed in the discrimination she's met in Germany. Today we hear from a Leipziger who works with refugees and migrants, and is frustrated at different opinions on immigration immediately being shut down and dismissed.

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A guide to scuba diving in our local lakes

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"In this post, I want to tell you about what it takes to become a scuba diver, and about what you can discover underneath the surface of Leipzig’s lakes."

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The secret life of Serbian sweatshops

An eye-opening interview on the grossly substandard wages and work conditions in shoe and garment factories in South Eastern Europe.

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It’s time to take the right wing seriously

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"I don’t know how to defeat the AfD, but I have the feeling that calling them Nazis is not going to help, as this will further deflect from the real issues at stake."

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