GA English on Sunday News in Brief from Bonn and the region
Bonn · Cargo ship rams excursion boat "MS Beethoven“, Bonn celebrates the "Sound of Heimat 1.0“, hundreds of cyclists ride with Critical Mass, there was a fire in outdoor area of a plastics company in Troisdorf, Students dance at NatFak festival in Bonn – here’s our news in brief on Sunday.
Collision on the Rhine near Bonn: Cargo ship rams excursion boat "MS Beethoven“
On Friday evening around 8.15 p.m. a cargo ship rammed the excursion boat "MS Beethoven". On board the excursion ship, pupils of the Heinrich Böll Secondary School in Merten were celebrating their graduation party with their families.
According to witnesses, several people were injured in the collision. Several people fell and several glasses broke. Some passengers suffered cuts. The cargo ship apparently sustained a crack of several meters at its side. According to witnesses, the water police checked the "MS Beethoven" for its fitness to sail before it could return to the jetty at the Opera/Brassertufer.
(Original text: Michael Wrobel and Thomas Fassbender)
German folk music on the KunstRasen: Bonn celebrated the "Sound of Heimat 1.0"
BONN. On the KunstRasen in Bonn on Saturday there was a whole day of musical entertainment with local folk music under the heading "Sound of Heimat 1.0". And there are lots of photos to prove what a great time everybody had… That day belonged to the BrassBands: From 1.30 p.m. on Saturday, on the KunstRasen, formations were on stage which redefine, expand and modify local folk music, and want to preserve the old and at the same time welcome the new. Marching bands met Franconian beats, Dub and Dancehall met Bavarian lyrics and „Rheinisch“ cheerfulness.
(Original text: Thomas Kölsch)
Blockade for better traffic flow: Hundreds of cyclists ride with Critical Mass in Bonn
BONN. For ten years, the Critical Mass has been cycling through the city. On Friday several hundred people cycled again through Bonn. Their aim is to draw attention to the often poorly developed infrastructure for cyclists.
About ten years ago, when the bicycle tours of Critical Mass began, the group was more than manageable. Raphael Holland, a participant from the very beginning, recalls that "sometimes not even the 16 cyclists who were necessary to ride as a group came together". And now: Hundreds were riding this Friday, at the last meeting there were about 1300 people, a record participation, according to Holland.
The police have been keeping an eye on this phenomenon for quite some time and are still considering how to deal with it in legal and traffic terms by not actually having the right contact person on the spot. "For us, the focus is on the safety of road users," said authority spokesman Frank Piontek. That's why patrol cars are always present during the cycling events.
Although the meetings are announced via the social networks, there is no association behind them. Basically it is a loose meeting. Therefore, according to Holland, the actions do not have to be registered with the police. Nevertheless, officials usually accompany the troop. The authority had also asked for registrations once. However, the Critical Mass were convinced that this did not correspond to the original idea of spontaneously determining the route and therefore the offer was (gratefully) gracefully declined.
(Original text: Philipp Königs)
Containers and gas cylinders were ablaze: Fire on outdoor area of plastics company in Troisdorf
TROISDORF. For reasons still unknown, a fire broke out on Saturday morning on the grounds of Granulat 2000 in Troisdorf-Spich. Among other things, a container and several gas cylinders were on fire there.
When the firefighters arrived, a container and approximately 50 square meters of stacked Euro pallets burned in full flame on the site. In addition, there was also a lattice box with around 30 propane gas cylinders in flames.
To extinguish and cool the gas cylinders, the firefighters immediately advanced en mass with four C-pipes. Other forces were simultaneously responsible for the burning roof facades via a turntable ladder.
After a check, the all-clear could be given at least regarding the gas cylinders: These were then classified as harmless.
The massive and rapid deployment also prevented the fire from spreading to the two company buildings. Shortly after 11 a.m. the fire brigade was finally able to move away again.
The company Granulat 2000 produces hard and soft PVC composites and was founded in 1989 by former employees of Dynamit Nobel AG.
(Original text: Michael Wrobel)
Campus Poppelsdorf: Students celebrate NatFak festival in Bonn
The student festival of the Faculty of Natural Sciences on the Poppelsdorf campus was only possible thanks to a lot of improvisation: the headliner of the festival cancelled at very short notice. But a replacement was also found (on) at short notice.
Improvisation is the magic word when behind the scenes at big events it's a buzz. Shortly before the start of the student festival of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, NatFak for short, headliner Vona cancelled his appearance. But through friends who organize the Green Juice Festival, the band Heldenzeit was (won) found as a replacement. Contacts from Bonn saved the evening for the organizers. Last year 5000 visitors had danced to Cat Ballou in front of the stage of the first NatFak Festival. A huge success for the founding team. So it was clear: The festival is going into its next round.
(Original text: Eva Kunkel)
