World news | Food, Travel, and Stories from a Swiss Chef Who Cooked Around the World

The World at War

Ulrich Koepf — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:57:46 +0000

by Ulrich Koepf, March 4, 2026 Leave me a comment about this blog

As we are sadly watching

The world immerses itself in what certainly looks like a third world war. We have to keep in mind what happened during the Second World War, what would have happened if the Nazis hadn’t been stopped and eliminated by the Allied forces? Where and how would we all be today?
Still today, we can remember what was said when the war was over, and 6 million Jews were slaughtered. “This can never happen again, let’s not forget.”

The World has been a witness

to a 21st-century bully invading a Democratic European country, which has been fighting for the past 4 years for its existence.
As you know, the Jewish struggle for existence has been going on for over 77 years! Most of the Muslim world never accepted the State of Israel as a legitimate state; however, over the last decade or so, most of the Gulf States have become more neutral towards Israel and are willing to accept living in peace with their neighbor, despite deeply rooted disagreements about that part of the land.

Iran, however,

for the past almost 50 years, it has been, and still is, the main irritant for the destabilization of the region. From 2005 until 2013, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was the President of Iran. During his time in office, he stated on public television, quote: “Israel needs to be isolated from the face of the earth.”

This radical, fanatic, and racist regime

hates jews and the West, for what the West stands, and has been the main contributor to terrorism all over the region by supporting Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen. Their objective over the last 47 years has been to destroy and harm Jews and the West.
Israel, the jews and the West aren’t going anywhere!
Iran should have been more concerned with providing and caring for its population instead of supporting terrorism all over the world.
A regime that cannot live in peace with its neighbors, keeps talking about death to the USA and Israel, cannot be allowed to have weapons of mass destruction!

Unfortunately, the same scenario is playing out in North Korea, where there is another bully in charge threatening the South. We really don’t know what his problem is, as nobody is really threatening his country.

Now we have an American President

who finally decided to eliminate a world threat, before it becomes another genocide, as in World War II, as I recall, many world leaders back in 1945 condemned the actions of the Allies, eliminating the Nazis. Now, because it’s Trump, some national leaders and political party members of the US are in uproar and disgusted by the actions Trump has decided to undertake.

Nobody likes war,

But to keep the future in check, someone has to keep the world racists and bullies in their place. Let’s put our political preferences, views, and negative comments aside and view the situation in a common sense. way.

We are in the 21st century, it’s time to put history behind us and try to live in harmony and peace!

The post The World at War first appeared on Food, Travel, and Stories from a Swiss Chef Who Cooked Around the World .

Die Welt im Krieg

Ulrich Koepf — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:44:14 +0000

von Ulrich Köpf, 4.März 2026 Bitte hinterlassen Sie mir einen Kommentar oder Ihre Meinung zu diesem Blog.

Während wir mit Bedauern zusehen, wie die Welt in einen Krieg gerät, der mit Sicherheit einem dritten Weltkrieg gleicht, müssen wir uns an die Ereignisse des Zweiten Weltkriegs erinnern.

Was wäre geschehen,

wenn die Nazis nicht von den Alliierten gestoppt und besiegt worden wären? Wo stünden wir heute? Noch heute erinnern wir uns an die Worte nach Kriegsende, als sechs Millionen Juden ermordet wurden: „Das darf nie wieder geschehen, lasst uns das nicht vergessen.“

Die Welt wurde Zeuge, wie ein Aggressor des 21. Jahrhunderts in ein demokratisches europäisches Land (Ukraine) einmarschierte, das seit vier Jahren um sein Überleben kämpft.

Wie ihr alle bewusst seid, dauert der Kampf der Juden ums Überleben bereits seit über 77 Jahren an!

Der Großteil der muslimischen Welt hat den Staat Israel nie als legitimen Staat anerkannt; doch in den letzten zehn Jahren haben sich die meisten Golfstaaten Israel gegenüber neutral verhalten und sind bereit, trotz tief verwurzelter Differenzen über dieses Gebiet friedlich mit ihrem Nachbarn zusammenzuleben.

Der Iran hingegen

war und ist jedoch seit fast 50 Jahren der Hauptgrund für die Destabilisierung der Region. Von 2005 bis 2013 war Mahmud Ahmadinedschad Präsident des Iran, während seiner Amtszeit erklärte er im öffentlichen Fernsehen: „Israel muss von der Landkarte verschwinden.“ Dieses radikale, fanatische und rassistische Regime hasst Juden und den Westen für dessen Positionen und hat maßgeblich zum Terrorismus in der gesamten Region beigetragen, indem es die Hamas im Gazastreifen, die Hisbollah im Libanon und die Huthis im Jemen unterstützt hat.

Ihr Ziel in den letzten 47 Jahren war und ist es, Juden und den Westen zu zerstören und zu schädigen.

Israel, die Juden und der Westen werden nicht verschwinden! Der Iran hätte sich mehr um die Versorgung und das Wohlergehen seiner Bevölkerung kümmern sollen, anstatt den Terrorismus weltweit zu unterstützen.

Ein Regime,

das nicht in Frieden mit seinen Nachbarn leben kann und ständig von Tod und Zerstörung gegenüber den USA und Israel spricht, darf keine Massenvernichtungswaffen besitzen!

Leider spielt sich dasselbe Szenario in Nordkorea ab, wo ein anderer Tyrann das Land bedroht. Wir wissen wirklich nicht, was sein Problem ist, da niemand sein Land tatsächlich bedroht.

Nun haben wir einen amerikanischen Präsidenten, der endlich beschlossen hat, eine weltweite Bedrohung zu beseitigen, bevor sie sich zu einem weiteren Völkermord wie im Zweiten Weltkrieg ausweitet. Soweit ich mich erinnere, haben damals, 1945, nicht irgendwelche Staats- und Regierungschefs die Aktionen der Alliierten verurteilt, die die Nazis eliminierten?

Nun, weil es Trump ist,

sind einige Staats- und Regierungschefs sowie Parteimitglieder in den USA von Trumps Maßnahmen empört und angewidert. Niemand mag Krieg, aber um die Zukunft zu sichern, muss leider jemand die Rassisten und Tyrannen in ihre Schranken weisen.

Lasst uns unsere politischen Präferenzen, Ansichten und negativen Kommentare beiseite lassen und die Situation mit gesundem Menschenverstand betrachten.

Wir leben im 21. Jahrhundert, es ist an der Zeit, die Geschichte hinter uns zu lassen und zu versuchen, in Harmonie und Frieden zu leben!

Send feedback

The post Die Welt im Krieg first appeared on Food, Travel, and Stories from a Swiss Chef Who Cooked Around the World .

A Film called “Namaste Seelisberg”

Ulrich Koepf — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:44:16 +0000

Have you ever visited this place? Have you been part of Meditation Movement? Leave me c omment about your experience here or at the end of this page

The Swiss Filmmaker Felice Zenoni, a native of Altdorf, Uri, Switzerland, just released a new movie called “Namaste Seelisberg.”

Village of Seelisberg

High above the Rütli Meadow and Lake Lucerne, the site of the Rütlischwur (Ruetli Oath), the oath that laid the foundation of the original Swiss Confederacy in 1281, lies the idyllic village of Seelisberg.
In 1971, the Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi seized the village, along with two historic hotels, for himself and his movement, which was widely considered a cult at the time.
The locals protested vehemently, even appealing to the Federal Council for help. In vain, Seelisberg became the headquarters of the “Transcendental Meditation Movement” (TM), which attracted celebrities such as The Beatles, Mia Farrow and David Lynch; Mike Love (The Beach Boys) and Clint Eastwood, both long-time practitioners and adherents attending TM. Clint Eastwood was frequently cited as one of the major stars who sought “enlightenment” through the movement’s teaching led by the Swiss headquarters.
Soon, the culture clash in the idyllic Canton URI Alps was impossible to ignore-thousands of followers of the shrewd, financially powerful guru flocked to Seelisberg.
Today, 55 years later, the village is once again facing profound change: In 2026, the movement left Seelisberg.
The historic hotels have been sold, and a Swiss real estate company plans to restore the iconic buildings as part of a 200 million Swiss franc project and open them to the public.

In the movie “Namaste Seelisberg”,

Director Felice Zenoni

Renowned Swiss director Felice Zenoni delves into the events that made the mountain village famous far beyond Switzerland. He illuminates the cultural conflict surrounding the TM movement from various perspectives. Residents, followers, and former employees of the guru all have their say.
Combined with breathtaking landscape shots and astonishing, partly previously unreleased archival footage, a multifaceted picture emerges of a conflict between tradition and contemporary spirit with universal significance.
A subtle, visually stunning, and moving documentary gem.

Published by Urner Zeitung, Yann-Alexander Hage

Elaborated by Ulrich Koepf

Location of Temple

The post A Film called “Namaste Seelisberg” first appeared on Food, Travel, and Stories from a Swiss Chef Who Cooked Around the World .

Wie ich die Welt heute sehe: Macht, Globalisierung und die sich wandelnde Ordnung

Ulrich Koepf — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:39:19 +0000

Schreibt mir bitte ein Kommentar, mit Ihrer Meinung am ende dieser Seite

Wie ich die Welt heute betrachte

Ich sehe keinen klaren Kampf zwischen Gut und Böse oder zwischen Ost und West. Ich sehe ein System, das müde und überholt ist. Die Globalisierung, wie sie in den letzten Jahrzehnten konzipiert und propagiert wurde, hat ihre Grenzen erreicht. Seit vielen Jahren sage ich, dass die Globalisierung nicht funktioniert. Ich sprach dabei vor allem über das System der offenen Grenzen, durch das Menschen verschiedener ethnischer Gruppen, hauptsächlich aus östlichen Ländern, in die europäischen Länder strömten – Menschen aus verschiedenen Regionen, ethnischer Herkunft, Religionen, Glaubensrichtungen und Bräuchen sowie aus unterschiedlichen Klimazonen! Das war und ist meiner Meinung nach ein Schmelztiegel, der aufgrund von Vorurteilen und Hass jederzeit überkochen kann. Der Beweis dafür sind die Ereignisse in Deutschland und England. Die Globalisierung hat Märkte und Menschen miteinander verbunden, aber sie hat auch Macht konzentriert, Abhängigkeiten geschaffen und stillschweigend entschieden, wer die Regeln aufstellt und wer sich daran hält. Ein Großteil der heutigen globalen Spannungen entspringt diesem Ungleichgewicht.

Lange Zeit nach dem Kalten Krieg

drehte sich die Welt um ein einziges Machtzentrum: die Vereinigten Staaten und ihre Verbündeten. Die Globalisierung folgte dieser Logik. Handel, Finanzen, Institutionen und sogar politische Werte wurden als universell dargestellt, obwohl sie in Wirklichkeit westliche Prioritäten widerspiegelten. Dies brachte vielen Wachstum und Stabilität, hinterließ aber auch tiefe Narben: Industrien gingen verloren, Gesellschaften polarisierten sich, und ganze Regionen hatten das Gefühl, die Globalisierung sei ihnen aufgezwungen worden, nicht mit ihnen.

Deshalb sehe ich Donald Trump nicht als Ausnahmeerscheinung, sondern als Signal. Seine Rhetorik war grob und oft spaltend, doch die dahinterstehende Botschaft fand bei Millionen von Amerikanern Anklang: das Gefühl, die USA hätten jahrzehntelang die Kosten der globalen Führungsrolle beklagt, während andere das System ausgenutzt hätten. „America First“ war nicht nur Nationalismus – es war eine Reaktion auf eine Globalisierung, die sich selbst für ihren Hauptarchitekten nicht mehr fair anfühlte. Diese Botschaft zu ignorieren, wäre ein großer Fehler.

Der Krieg in der Ukraine

hat einmal mehr offengelegt, wie zersplittert die sogenannte „Weltordnung“ tatsächlich ist. Aus europäischer Sicht ist er eindeutig ein Angriff auf die Souveränität und das Völkerrecht. Doch wenn ich über Europa hinausblicke, fällt mir etwas Unbehagenhaftes auf: Ein Großteil der Welt betrachtet den Konflikt nicht unter denselben moralischen Gesichtspunkten. Viele Länder erinnern sich an Jahrzehnte, in denen das Völkerrecht von mächtigen Staaten flexibel, selektiv angewendet oder schlichtweg ignoriert wurde. Dies rechtfertigt zwar keine Aggression, erklärt aber den Mangel an globaler Einigkeit. Die Ukraine ist zu einer Bruchlinie zwischen westlichen Erwartungen und globaler Skepsis geworden.

Selbst Diskussionen, die beinahe surreal anmuten – wie das erneute Interesse an Grönland –, fügen sich in dieses Muster ein. Bei Grönland geht es nicht um Landkäufe, sondern um strategische Positionierung und zukünftigen Einfluss in der Arktis. Der offensichtliche Grund dafür ist das, was der russische Aggressor in der Nähe der Grenzen einiger europäischer Länder tut. Die Tatsache, dass solche Ideen wieder offen diskutiert werden, zeigt mir, dass wir in eine neue Ära des Großmachtdenkens eingetreten sind. Der Glaube, die Geschichte habe sich von territorialen Grenzen und roher Macht entfernt, erwies sich rückblickend als Illusion.

In diesem Kontext

Ist BRICS weitaus wichtiger, als viele im Westen wahrhaben wollen. Es ist wichtig, sich vor Augen zu halten, dass BRICS nicht von den Vereinigten Staaten oder Europa gegründet wurde. Es entstand aus Ländern wie Brasilien, Indien, China und Südafrika, die oft als „aufstrebende“ oder „östliche“ Länder bezeichnet werden, aber in Wirklichkeit die Mehrheit der Weltbevölkerung repräsentieren. BRICS ist nicht durch Ideologie oder gemeinsame Werte vereint, sondern durch Frustration – insbesondere über die westliche Dominanz im Finanzwesen, in Institutionen und im dollarbasierten System, die lange vor Trumps zweiter Amtszeit begann.

So viel zur Globalisierung!

Ich sehe BRICS

nicht als einfache Alternative oder moralisches Gegengewicht. Die Mitglieder haben widerstreitende Interessen, unterschiedliche politische Systeme und eigene Machtambitionen. Doch ihr Wachstum sendet eine klare Botschaft: Die unipolare Weltordnung verliert an Bedeutung, und deshalb handelt Trump so, wie er handelt. Immer mehr Länder wollen Alternativen. Sie wollen Einfluss gewinnen. Sie wollen mitbestimmen, wie das globale System funktioniert, nicht nur Anweisungen erhalten.

Was mir am meisten Sorgen bereitet, ist nicht der Niedergang der westlichen Dominanz, sondern der Verlust von Vertrauen und Kooperation. Eine multipolare Welt kann ausgewogen und stabil sein – aber auch chaotisch und konfrontativ. Globale Probleme wie Klimawandel, Migration, Pandemien und technologische Umbrüche lassen sich nicht allein durch Blöcke und Rivalitäten lösen. Wenn sich Macht ausbreitet, muss sich auch Verantwortung ausbreiten.

Die eigentliche Herausforderung

besteht für mich nicht darin, zwischen der alten westlichen und der neuen östlichen Ordnung zu wählen. Es geht darum, die Globalisierung selbst neu zu denken – damit sie weniger arrogant, weniger hierarchisch und ehrlicher im Umgang mit Macht wird. Wir verlassen ein Zeitalter der vermeintlichen Führung und treten in ein Zeitalter der Verhandlung ein. Ob dieser Übergang zu Kooperation oder Konflikt führt, wird die Zukunft weit mehr prägen als jedes einzelne Land, jede Allianz oder jeder einzelne Führer.

Wünsche allen eine schöne, stressfreie Woche!

Euer Blogging-Freund Ueli Köpf

The post Wie ich die Welt heute sehe: Macht, Globalisierung und die sich wandelnde Ordnung first appeared on Food, Travel, and Stories from a Swiss Chef Who Cooked Around the World .

How I see the World Today: Power, Globalization, and Shifting Order

Ulrich Koepf — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:19:54 +0000

When I look at the world today,

I don’t see a neat struggle between good and bad, or East and West. I see a system that is tired and outdated. Globalization, as it was designed and sold over the last few decades, has reached its limits. For many years now, I have been saying that Globalization does not work. I was mainly talking about the open border system where people from different ethnic groups, mainly from Eastern countries, flooded into European countries, people from different regions, ethnic origins, different religions, beliefs, and customs, and climates!
That, in my opinion, was and still is a melting pot waiting to boil over due to prejudice and hate. The evidence for that is what is happening in Germany and England.
Globalization connected markets and people, but it also concentrated power, created dependencies, and quietly decided who sets the rules and who follows them.
Much of today’s global tension grows out of that imbalance.

For a long time after the Cold War, the world revolved around one center of gravity: the United States and its allies. Globalization followed that logic. Trade, finance, institutions, and even political values were framed as universal, while in reality they reflected Western priorities. This brought growth and stability for many, but it also left deep scars-industries lost, societies polarized, and entire regions feeling that globalization happened to them, not with them.

This is why I see Donald Trump not as an anomaly, but as a signal. His rhetoric was crude and often decisive, but the message behind it resonated with millions in the U.S.: the sense that the US. had been carrying the costs of global leadership for decades, while others took advantage of the system. “ America First” was not just nationalism-it was a reaction to a globalization that no longer felt fair, even to its main architect. Ignoring that message would be a big mistake.

The war in Ukraine

has further exposed how fractured the so-called “world order” really is. From a European point of view, it is clearly an attack on sovereignty and international law. But when I look beyond Europe, I notice something uncomfortable: much of the world does not see the conflict in the same moral terms.

Many countries remember decades when international law was flexible, selectively applied, or simply ignored by powerful states. This does not justify aggression, but it explains the lack of global unity. Ukraine has become a fault line between Western expectations and global skepticism.

Even discussions that sound almost surreal, such as renewed interest in Greenland, fit this pattern. Greenland is not about buying land; it is about strategic positioning and future influence in the Arctic. The obvious reason for that is what is happening near the borders of a few European countries by the Russian Aggressor. The fact that such ideas are openly discussed again tells me that we have entered a new era of great power thinking. The belief that history had moved beyond territory and raw power was, in hindsight, an illusion.

In this context,

BRICS matters far more than many in the West like to admit. It is important to remember that BRICS was not created by the United States or Europe. It emerged from countries like Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, often labeled as “emerging” or “Eastern”, but in reality representing a majority of the world’s population. BRICS is not united by ideology or shared values; it is united by frustration, especially with Western dominance of finance, institutions, and the dollar-based system, all of which started long before Trump’s second term. So much for Globalization!?

I do not see BRICS

as a clean alternative or a moral counterweight. Its members have conflicting interests, different political systems, and their own power ambitions. But its growth sends a clear message: the unipolar world is fading, and that is why Trump is doing what he is doing. More countries want options. They want leverage. They want a say in how the global system works, not just instructions.
What concerns me most is not the decline of Western dominance but the decline of trust and cooperation. A multipolar world can be balanced and stable- but it can also be chaotic and confrontational. Global problems like climate change, migration, pandemics, and technological disruption cannot be solved through blocs and rivalries alone. If power is spreading, responsibility must spread with it.

To me, the real challenge is not choosing between the old Western order and the new Eastern one. It is rethinking globalization itself, so it becomes less arrogant, less hierarchical, and more honest about power. We are leaving an age of assumed leadership and entering one of negotiation. Whether that transition leads to cooperation or conflict will define the future far more than any single country, alliance, or leader.

The post How I see the World Today: Power, Globalization, and Shifting Order first appeared on Food, Travel, and Stories from a Swiss Chef Who Cooked Around the World .

Taiwan…The disputed Island in the Pacific Ocean, 180 kilometers off the coast of mainland China

Ulrich Koepf — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 11:41:03 +0000

The History of Taiwan

The prehistoric history of Taiwan, before history was written
Taiwan was inhabited for thousands of years by Austronesian Indigenous people, who are genetically and linguistically linked to Pacific Islanders.
Human presence dates back at least 30,000 years.
Taiwan is the cradle of Austronesian migration, influenced cultures across the pacific and Indian Ocean.

In the 12th – 16th Century,

Chinese fisherman and traders occasionally visited Taiwan, but no permanent Chinese rule yet.
Indigenous tribes controlled the land, living in independent communities.

European Colonization started between 1624 -1662

Dutch Formosa – The Dutch East India Company established a colony in southern Taiwan, developing trade, agriculture, and missionary work.

Spanish Taiwan 1626-1642

The Spanish briefly held the northern part, but the Dutch forced them out.

Then between 1662-1683 The Kingdom of Tungning

Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong), a Ming loyalist fighting the Ching Dynasty, expelled the Dutch in 1662, he established the first Han Chinese government on Taiwan, using it as a base against the Qing.
His son and grandson ruled until Qing forces defeat them in 1683.

The Qing Dynasty Rule 1693-1895

During Qing rule, large scale Han migration from China increased. Conflicts between settlers and Indigenous peoples were common, Taiwan developed economically but remained frontier-like.

Then from 1895-1945 Japanese Colonial Period

After loosing the first Sino-Japanese War, the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan under the Treaty of Shimonoseki.
Japan modernized Taiwan extensively, built roads, modern infrastructure, sanitation; developed industries (sugar, rice mining). Implemented strict colonial rules but also improved education and public health.
Many structures and rail lines from this era still exist.

Then in 1945-1949, Republic of China (ROC) takes Control

After World War II, when Japan was defeated, they surrendered Taiwan to the Republic of China.
However, the new ROC administration was corrupt and unpopular. Tensions erupted in the February 28 incident (1947), leading to mass casualties. This began the long period known as the White Terror, where political dissent was suppressed.

In 1949 the ROC Retreats to Taiwan

After loosing the Chinese Civil War to the Communists, Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang (KMT) relocated the ROC government to Taiwan.
At that point Taiwan became a military-ruled one-party state, economically supported by the U.S. and a stronghold of anti-communist ideology.

Between 1950s-1990s

That was Taiwan’s Economic Miracle, It transformed into one of the “Four Asian Tigers”
Key achievements were: Rapid industrialization, rise of electronics and semiconductor industries, and significant rise in living standards,

Between the 1980s -1990s Democratization

Taiwan transitioned from one-party rule to a vibrant democracy.
Milestones were: Martial law lifted in 1987, the longest ever, First direct presidential election held in 1996, Peaceful power alteration between political parties.

The Modern Taiwan (2000s-Present)

Today Taiwan is a democratic society with free elections, a global leader in semiconductors, especially TSMC, culturally distinct with mixed indigenous, Han, and Japanese influences, Internationally recognized in practice, though with a complicated status due to constant pressure from China.
Most of the world treats Taiwan as a de facto independent nation, but its de jure status is contested.

Conclusion/Summary:

Taiwan’s history is shaped by:
°Indigenous roots,
°European colonization,
°Chinese Ming and Qing influence,
°50 years of Japanese rule
°The Republic of China government and later democratization.

It is one of the most technologically advanced and democratic societies in Asia.

My personal opinion:

After everything this island, and its native people, have witnessed and gone through, they deserve to the decision to they have made, to be a domocratic free nation.
Even though, the Japanese were defeated after World War II, and surrendered to the Chinese, they should have more right to claim Taiwan then the Chinese, Japan was the main contributory to what this Island is today.

The post Taiwan…The disputed Island in the Pacific Ocean, 180 kilometers off the coast of mainland China first appeared on Food, Travel, and Stories from a Swiss Chef Who Cooked Around the World .

Our Oceans- We Depend on them Them!

Ulrich Koepf — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 12:03:49 +0000

On June 9th through 13th, 2025, is the Ocean Conference in Nice, France

The topic is ocean pollution,

And its preservation to save humanity.

The objective

is to create awareness and, of course, raise millions of dollars.

What I don’t understand is why they are not raising the core issue of the problem, which starts with some third-world countries. We have been watching videos over the last few years in which garbage trucks empty their loads of garbage into rivers. why? Because the governments don’t provide a proper pickup, disposal, and recycling system, therefore, garbage is deposited onto the streets, sidewalks, or just dumped into creeks or rivers, which then eventually reach the oceans. (Watch my video about your favorite fruits and vegetables ot of Spain)

Besides chemical, nutrient, metal, and toxin pollutions, the core or main problem is the population at large, not just manufacturers! That is where investments have to be made, to provide and subsidize projects in countries that cannot afford and provide a proper collection and recycling plant.

Another way of eliminating plastic, especially bottles, is to re-implement a system as we had many years ago, use glass bottles instead of plastic for most of the beverages, and add a return deposit for each bottle; this way it will eliminate most plastic bottles, and the glass bottles may be reused.

As far as chemical, nutrient, and metal-toxin pollution, establish strict laws, rules, and regulations, and establish an international government agency or committee to oversee corporations and manufacturers, to make sure they follow the rules. Don’t just talk about it over the next few years during your conferences, take action and do it!

In November 2025, the second COP30 will be held in Brazil, the first COP was in 2009 in Copenhagen, last one was in Paris in 2015, these discussion have been going on for 16 years, there will be more talk and discussions about the worlds environment in Brazil, as far as i understand the only thing being accomplished as of today, is the manucaturing of many electric cars allover the world, good start! However, with everything changing to electric all over the world, it means more digging for Lithium, which is going to be causing a problem in the long run, towards the core issue we want to eliminate in the first place, the environment! And what about the disposal of all the millions of batteries? They don’t know what to do with all the disposed wings of the Windmills everywhere yet!

Conclusion, and what can be done?

Reduce Plastic Use: Reusable bags, bottles, and containers actually matter.
Proper Waste Management: Especially in coastal and developing regions, invest in, subsidize proper recycling plants in third-world countries
Green Agriculture: Limiting fertilizer use reduces nutrient runoff.
International Cooperation: The ocean doesn’t respect borders, so global policy is crucial (e.g., UN’s Marine Biodiversity Treaty), World Government Watchdog Agency
Support Cleanup Efforts: Organizations like The Ocean Cleanup and Surfrider Foundation are on the front lines.

Why It Matters

The ocean gives us every second breath we take—literally. Phytoplankton, tiny ocean plants, produce over half the world’s oxygen. If we pollute the oceans, we’re slowly suffocating ourselves.

Marine Life Destruction: Turtles eat plastic bags thinking they’re jellyfish. Birds feed bottle caps to chicks. Coral reefs bleach and die.

Human Health: Contaminated seafood, polluted beach waters, and air-borne chemicals from sea spray can all affect human health.

Climate Impact: Healthy oceans absorb carbon dioxide and regulate the climate. Damaged ecosystems lose this ability.

Economic Loss: Fishing, tourism, and maritime industries suffer when ecosystems collapse.

God Bless this Beautiful Planet!

And for our sake! Don’t pollute!!

Your Blogging friend, Ulrich Koepf

The post Our Oceans- We Depend on them Them! first appeared on Food, Travel, and Stories from a Swiss Chef Who Cooked Around the World .

The Relentless Struggle for over 77 years

Ulrich Koepf — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 08:52:42 +0000

I asked myself over and over again, what is Hamas’s objective by fighting the Jews, killing and starving their innocent Palestinian People in the process, because we all know, Israel is not going to go anywhere, this just complicates the situation, sparks more conflict and hate. Most of the children who have lost their parents in this war are going to grow up hating the jews for the rest of their lives, and most likely become terrorists them selfs.

There is no peaceful resolution; this has been ongoing since 1948. I personally blame it all on Arafat, who didn’t accept a peace deal back in 2000.

Arafat

Here are the reasons and objectives of Hamas.

CORE OBJECTIVE OF HAMAS

End of Israeli Occupation (as they define it):

Hamas does not recognize the legitimacy of the State of Israel and ultimately seeks the establishment of an Islamic Palestinian state in all of historical Palestine, including present-day Israel

Resistance as Strategy:

Armed resistance is central to Hamas’s identity and narrative. They view ongoing conflict as a legitimate and necessary means of confronting what they call Israeli occupation.

Leverage Through Hostages:

Hostages are used as bargaining chips for:

°The release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

°Gaining international attention.

°Strengthening their negotiating position in ceasefire talks.

Historically, prisoner swaps have been one of the only tools Hamas has to exert pressure.

Internal Legitimacy and Power

Within Palestinian society, especially in Gaza, Hamas seeks to maintain its status as a defender of the Palestinian cause. Compromise or weakness could damage its image, especially in contrast to the Palestinian Authority, which many perceive as ineffective,

Why Keep Fighting Despite the Consequences?

°Ideological Commitment: Hamas is committed to armed struggle as long as Israel exists in its current form.

°Political Survival: Ceasing hostilities without tangible gains (like prisoner releases or an easing of the blockade) risks internal backlash.

°Distrust of Negotiations: Keeping hostages ensures Hamas remains in talks. If they release them without conditions, they lose leverage.

Why not release the Hostages?

°Strategic Leverage: Hostages are one of the only powerful tools Hamas has to pressure Israel and extract concessions.

°Fragmentation of Control: Not all hostages may be under direct Hamas command – some are held by other militant groups in Gaza.

°Negotiation Tactics: Keeping hostages ensures Hamas remains relevant in talks. If they release

Current Dynamics ( as of 2025)

°Multiple ceasfire proposals have been floated, but Hamas often holds out for more favorable terms.

°There is an internal split in priorities: some want to preserve Hamas’s future as a political entity; others are driven by the ideology od martyrdom.

°Regional actors (Iran, Qatar, Egypt) influence Hamas’s behavior and incentives.

In Summary

Hamas continues fighting and refuses to release hostages primarily to:

°Maintain leverage over Israel

°Pursue its long-term goal of resisting Israel.

°preserve its internal legitimacy and bargaining power.

However, this comes at a catastrophic cost to civilians – both Israeli and Palestinian – and continues to deepen the cycle of violence. For many observers, Hamas’s strategy appears tragically rigid, prioritizing ideology and power over immediate humanitarian concerns.

All that for a struggle that isn’t taking them any closer to their objective, while they are letting their people be slaughtered and starved by Israel!

Go figure!

Your Blogging friend Ulrich Koepf

The post The Relentless Struggle for over 77 years first appeared on Food, Travel, and Stories from a Swiss Chef Who Cooked Around the World .

Thought of the Day!

Ulrich Koepf — Sun, 04 May 2025 14:14:06 +0000

Thought of the Day!

I am very partial to what is considered to be wise quotes, as so many of us are. The key to these beauties might be to live them since they are part and parcel of wisdom, having been time-tested. One quote was “ Ego is the anaesthesia that covers the pain of stupidity “. Now, with the same breath, I am also going to say that if you neglect yourself and you don’t take stock of what you are, you will never be able to rise above by learning to be better. There is a big difference between the two. This builds character, of course, and surprisingly, by strength of character, most of what we desire does fall into place easily enough. It was Mark Twain who said that “ I never allowed school to get in the way of my education “. You were born with a uniqueness that is to be shared. I hold onto this dearly since I realized that we all possess this power.

Let’s all use it since it is the foundation of our destiny!

GO ponder

LIVE

LAUGH

LOVE

BY SHEER RAMJOHN

The post Thought of the Day! first appeared on Food, Travel, and Stories from a Swiss Chef Who Cooked Around the World .

In case you need refreshing: What is Easter?

Ulrich Koepf — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:00:54 +0000

🌅 What is Easter?

Easter is the central feast of Christianity, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. According to the New Testament, Jesus was crucified by the Romans around 30–33 AD and rose from the dead three days later, which is the cornerstone of Christian faith. The resurrection symbolizes hope, renewal, and eternal life.

It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus, preceded by Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance.

🗓 When is Easter?

Easter is a movable feast, meaning it doesn’t happen on the same calendar date each year. The formula is:

Easter = The first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the Spring Equinox (March 21).

So Easter can fall between March 22 and April 25.

This method was established by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. It ties Easter to Passover, the Jewish festival Jesus was celebrating before his crucifixion.

📜 The Story Behind Easter

The Easter narrative is spread across the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John):

Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday (Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly).
Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper with his disciples.
Good Friday marks the crucifixion of Jesus at Golgotha.
Holy Saturday is the day Jesus lies in the tomb.
Easter Sunday is when his tomb is found empty and the resurrection is proclaimed.

Jesus’ victory over death is seen as proof of his divine nature and the promise of eternal life to all who believe.

✝️ Religious Significance

Theologically, Easter is a celebration of life over death, hope over despair, and light over darkness.
It is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the ultimate demonstration of God’s love for humanity.
In Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions, Easter also marks the beginning of the Easter season, a 50-day period leading to Pentecost.

🥚 Easter Symbols & Traditions

Many Easter customs blend Christian themes with pagan spring rituals. Here’s a breakdown:

🥚 Easter Eggs

Symbolize new life and rebirth.
Decorating eggs dates back to early Christians in Mesopotamia.
The tradition evolved into chocolate eggs and egg hunts.

🐰 Easter Bunny

A symbol of fertility, possibly derived from the Germanic goddess Ēostre.
German immigrants brought the concept of an egg-laying hare to America in the 1700s.
Today, the bunny delivers candy and toys to children on Easter morning.

🔥 Easter Vigil

Celebrated on Holy Saturday night.
A long and dramatic church service marking the resurrection with fire, water, and light rituals.

🌍 Easter Around the World

Italy: The Pope delivers the Urbi et Orbi blessing from the Vatican.
Greece: People greet each other with “Christos Anesti” (Christ is risen), and crack red eggs.
Ethiopia follows the Orthodox calendar, with fasting and a big feast called Fasika.
Sweden & Finland: Children dress as Easter witches and go door-to-door for candy (think Easter meets Halloween!).

🤔 A Few Fun Facts

The largest chocolate Easter egg ever made weighed over 15,000 pounds!
Hot cross buns, traditionally eaten on Good Friday, have pagan roots but were popularized by Christian symbolism.
In Germany, it’s traditional to hang painted eggs on trees (an Ostereierbaum).
In Orthodox Christianity, Easter is called Pascha, and sometimes celebrated on a different date due to the use of the Julian calendar.

The post In case you need refreshing: What is Easter? first appeared on Food, Travel, and Stories from a Swiss Chef Who Cooked Around the World .