This blog is a space where I explore topics that concern the world – global and local, past and present. It is a place for reflections that do not always fit neatly elsewhere: geopolitics and local politics, the environment, resources, science and education, and how all of these intersect.
The blog is named after Esel, my toy donkey and long-time companion. Esel is German for donkey. He comes from the former East Germany and was passed down to me through my family, from a grandmother I never met due to the division of Germany. He is older than I am, quietly resilient, and has travelled the world with me – a faithful observer rather than a loud commentator.
Esel and I have lived and worked across several continents. Along the way, my path took some unexpected turns. I am trained as a geoscientist and spent years in academia, including climate-related research. I later worked internationally in the oil and gas industry, before moving into science diplomacy, international higher education, and the protection of scholars at risk. I also hold a degree in diplomacy and international relations. It may seem like a strange route for a palaeoclimatologist, but it has shaped how I see the world: curious, cautious, and deeply aware of power, limits, and responsibility.
This blog is my space to share short reflections drawn from that experience. I write fast non-fiction: posts are intentionally brief, usually under 500 words. They are not definitive answers or full analyses, but snippets of thought, moments of reflection, and questions worth sitting with. Contradictions and uncertainties are part of the process, and I welcome thoughtful disagreement.
I am also a pacifist, which can feel like a challenging position in today’s world. That perspective inevitably shapes how I think about conflict, power, and intervention, without claiming moral certainty.
Whenever it feels right, I link posts to song titles – songs I personally associate with the topic. Music, like politics, is subjective. Any views expressed here are mine alone and should not be attributed to the artists whose work I reference.
If you are looking for outrage or insults, this is not the place. This blog values curiosity, reflection, and respectful exchange.
So, welcome to the journey – one I take with Esel, my long-time partner in crime.
Johanna M. Schornbach
