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Secret Codes at Ikea: When They Are Used – and What They Mean

Secret codes are not only used by the police – also at Ikea. Codes are often used for announcements, which customers cannot do much with. But what do they actually mean?

These secret codes are very common at IKEA – what do they mean?

In most cases, the meaning of the codes is only temporary: In order to guarantee the security of the codes, it can be assumed that IKEA will periodically renew some of the codes. Nevertheless, the meaning of some codes that appear particularly frequently can be interesting.

With some of the codes you can be pretty sure of the meaning. This includes, for example, the code 89. This is not only used at IKEA, but also in many other department stores: The code expresses that the store is busy and more staff is needed.

Code 88 is about a basic cleaning, maintenance or repair. Also, the meaning of the code 200 is pretty certain. This is also due to the fact that additional skilled workers are required.

The meaning of other mysterious IKEA codes – “Pippi Longstocking” and Co.

However, many of the IKEA codes are only speculative for us and their meaning is not certain. Nevertheless, it can be interesting to take a look at the codes that are common but raise a big question mark for us as buyers.

For example, if “Pippi Longstocking” is mentioned in an announcement, this is code for the need for security personnel. “Lucky Luke” is a code that requests that more registers be manned. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that a code will never remain identical for long. The code 300 is used to notify that there is an injured customer. The code 500 is used in a similar way: This is used to call first aiders in German IKEA stores. If you go to a branch in Switzerland, the code 500 has a different meaning. By naming this code, the Swiss IKEA branches are informed that a caregiver has lost sight of a child in Smaland. Other customers and employees are asked to help with the search.

The code 1000 has a different meaning depending on the number of executions. Simply calling it out suggests that all customers and staff should be on the alert. If the code is called a second time, an evacuation will be prepared. The third time the code “1000” is called, the evacuation is then carried out. How serious the situation really is cannot be predicted: it can be a compulsory exercise, but it can also be a bomb alert or a real danger to life.

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Cyprus – a Divided Country

Cyprus – an island in the Mediterranean Sea with a turbulent history and a divided country since the Turkish invasion in 1974. How did it come about and can there be a reunion?

The History of Cyprus

How did the invasion by Turkey and the resulting division come about? As is often the case, the causes lie quite far in the past. In 1878, following the Congress of Berlin in June-July of the same year, Cyprus became a sort of British protectorate. In 1914 Great Britain annexed the island. In the Peace Treaty of Lausanne at the end of the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922, Turkey recognized British annexation and formally renounced Cyprus. In 1925 Cyprus became a crown colony. However, the Greek Cypriots wanted the island to be annexed to Greece, the Enosis. However, it was believed in Great Britain that the island could not be dispensed with from a strategic and military point of view. In 1931 there was unrest, which was put down by the British colonial power. Cyprus played no role in World War II, but during the Cold War and after the founding of NATO, the island was of great importance for espionage flights and as a base for nuclear bombers. It was therefore clear to Great Britain that the island as a whole had to remain a British base.

In 1950 the Orthodox Church in Cyprus made a new push towards independence. In an unofficial poll, a majority of Cypriots voted in favour, but this was ignored by the British government. The newly elected Archbishop of Cyprus Makarios III. Not content with that, the Greek government under Prime Minister Alexandros Papagos was forced into action by threatening to take the Cyprus case to the UN. British Prime Minister Antony Eden then countered that the Cyprus issue also concerned Turkey, trying to play Greece and Turkey off against each other. Turkey responded accordingly, threatening to consider the Lausanne Treaty lapsed, which would mean that Cyprus would have to be handed back to Turkey accordingly. The British tactical maneuver made Ankara a player in the Cyprus poker game; At the same time, London used this tactic to trigger a new Greek-Turkish conflict. But Great Britain not only pursued its divide et impera policy towards Athens and Ankara, but now also played the ethnic groups on Cyprus off against each other.

In 1955, the Greek Cypriot underground organization EOKA started fighting. Turkish Cypriots were suspicious of the Enosis movement, fearing that joining Greece could lead to discrimination. They wanted to maintain the status quo and therefore increasingly turned to Great Britain. In order to save their own strength, they set up a special police unit made up of Turkish Cypriots to combat EOKA, and their deployment inevitably led to a confrontation with EOKA. With British tolerance, the Turkish general staff also built up an armed underground organization. The political goals of the Turkish side changed during the conflict from the initial desire to maintain the status quo to the partition of the island, Turkish Taksim. In 1958 there were first clashes between the TMT and the EOKA. In the course of this, civil war-like conditions ensued. The British’s failed Suez adventure diminished the island’s strategic value. The USA built up pressure because they saw the quarrels between NATO allies Greece and Turkey as a threat to NATO’s south-eastern flank. A solution was worked out in talks in 1959; However, this without the participation of the Cypriots, who saw themselves disadvantaged. In truth, this solution only served to settle the dispute within NATO, it did not resolve the conflicts on Cyprus itself.

How the division came about

The conflicts intensified. Makarios realized that partition or independence was the only option. While the Greek population wanted enosis, the Turkish population was divided. The more moderate group was for an independent Cyprus, the radical group for partition. An additional problem was that Makarios rejected de facto equality between Turks and Greeks, which was unacceptable given the ratio of 80:18 (Turks to Greeks) for the Turkish majority, since Makarios wanted a privileged partnership for the minority. The conflict erupted openly in 1963 when Makarios wanted to push through 13 constitutional amendments, including the abolition of the Turkish vice president’s absolute veto power, without offering any compensation to the other side. This plunged Cyprus into a serious state crisis. Both sides kept heating up the conflict, so that towards the end of 1963 one could speak of civil war-like conditions. The inner-Cypriot confrontation spread to the mother countries.

When a direct Greek-Turkish clash threatened in December 1963, US President Lyndon B. Johnson intervened and prevented the outbreak of war between Greece and Turkey. Shortly thereafter, he suggested sending a NATO contingent, which Makarios rejected, however, and whereupon he turned to the Soviets. Nikita Khrukhchev willingly got involved. This ultimately led to the stationing of a UN peacekeeping force, the UNFICYP. Before this arrived, however, it escalated again in Cyprus. In late May 1964, Turkish President Mustafa Ismet Inönü ordered a military invasion of Cyprus for early June. Only through massive pressure in the form of a threatening letter was Johnson able to avert the invasion at the last moment. The Turkish government interpreted the Montreux Straits Agreement of 1936 so liberally that it was possible for the Soviets to bring a fleet into the Mediterranean which, as the so-called Eskadra, caused problems for NATO strategists for years.

The Americans got involved again. Several plans were drawn up together with British Foreign Secretary Dean Rusk to solve the Cyprus problem. All plans had in common that the state existence of Cyprus should be eliminated and Greece should be connected. In return, Turkey should receive territorial compensation from Greece, the so-called double enosis. Turkey agreed in principle, but Greek Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou had qualms about imposing such a solution on Cyprus. Although Turkey had renounced the invasion, the Turkish air force intervened in the renewed fighting at Kokkina in the Tillyria region and occupied Greek Cypriot villages with napalm bombs. When the Soviet Union got involved, the Greek government reacted nervously. In discussions with the Americans and British, the conception that went down in history as the “enosis per putsch” was developed: it was planned for Greece to organize a coup d’etat on Cyprus, get rid of Makarios and then immediately annex Cyprus should proclaim to Greece. According to the plan, the Americans and British would prevent Turkey from reacting too hastily. As soon as the situation calmed down, the Greek and Turkish governments would agree on compensation. Ultimately, this plan was not implemented, after which the Americans withdrew from active Cyprus policy for the time being.

The invasion of Turkey

Then, in 1967, something happened that further aggravated the situation. Right-wing officers led by Georgios Papadopoulos seized power in the “Colonel Putsch” and established a military dictatorship in Greece. The diplomatic position of Greece and its military presence in Cyprus were weakened by the foreign policy amateurism of the military. The idea that the dictatorship would be imported when the island was annexed to Greece led to a strong cooling off of the desire for enosis among many Cypriots. Makarios then distanced himself from Greece, but made the mistake of not normalizing relations with the Turkish Cypriots and did not give up the blockade policy. The Greek military junta felt provoked by his behavior and tried to discredit Makarios and, if necessary, eliminate him. This in turn provoked the Turkish Cypriots.

In the 1970 general election, the Communist Party became Cyprus’s strongest party. The United States then referred to Cyprus as the Cuba of the Mediterranean, and the secret services of Greece and the United States coordinated efforts to overthrow Makarios. The October 1973 Yom Kippur War in the Middle East once again highlighted the strategic importance of Cyprus. Around the same time, students at the Athens Polytechnic rebelled, dictator Georgios Papadopoulos was overthrown, and the head of the military police, Dimitrios Ioannidis, became the new dictator of Greece. The student uprising had shown that the junta’s days were numbered. In order to consolidate his position, Ioannidis urgently needed success, and he believed he could achieve this in the field of Cyprus policy. He decided to carry out the 1964 “enosis per coup” plan. The Athenian secret service was instructed by Ioannidis to prepare a coup d’etat against Makarios, and the terrorist group EOKA B, which had been set up by Grivas during the dictatorship, increased its activity. On July 15, 1974, the coup d’état began with an assassination attempt on Makarios, which failed. The putsch had actually failed, but the putschists did not give up. Since they could not find a presentable collaborator, they appointed Nikos Sampson, notorious as a “Turkish killer”, as president. However, the fact that this massively provoked the Turkish side is only a convenient pretext – after all, the Turkish invasion had been prepared for a long time since 1964.

On July 20, 1974, Turkish forces landed near Kyreneia. On July 23, the military junta in Athens was overthrown. A day later, former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis returned to Greece from exile in Paris and resumed the post of Prime Minister. In order to be able to dispose of the Greek armed forces in a possible war with Turkey, Greece withdrew from the military part of NATO on this day. This was a serious mistake because NATO was willing to mediate. This first phase of unilateral military intervention by invading Turkish forces through the right of intervention to restore the status quo ante is considered by some to be justified. Had Ecevit been content with restoring the status quo ante, he would have proved himself a great statesman. Through moderation he would have brought his country closer to Europe. Instead, he piled up obstacles in Turkey’s path to Europe, and the military in Ankara, unable to resist the temptation, on August 14, 1974, ordered the invasion to proceed. By August 16, the Turkish army occupied almost 40 percent of the island. By August 16, the Turkish army occupied almost 40 percent of the island. She deliberately advanced slowly to give the Greek Cypriots a chance to escape. Where they did not go voluntarily, force was used to help. Hundreds of civilians and prisoners of war were mass executed, raped and abused. There were many dead (980 on the Greek side). In all, just over 170,000 Greek Cypriots were expelled. The expulsions in the north of the island by the Turkish army provoked isolated violent reactions in the south of the island.

Many Turkish Cypriots fled their homes and headed north or fled to British bases. In this context, it must be noted that there was no official expulsion policy in the south of the island; rather, the fear of Greek terror and the Turkish request to flee to the north played together. The motives of the population movement are therefore not to be equated. In the end the island was divided and the ethnic “land clearing” was completed. As the second phase of the invasion began, the British were ready to place their now reinforced troops stationed in Cyprus under UNFICYP to stop the advancing Turkish forces. The British government informed Kissinger of this, but Kissinger rejected the British proposal: the Cyprus problem was to be solved once and for all. The second phase of the Turkish invasion could not be justified by anything, not even legal sophistication, since the causes that had led to the first phase had been eliminated: the military dictatorship in Greece had collapsed, a democratic government was in place, and in Cyprus it was coup collapsed; the second phase was an act of violent expansion.

The consequences of the invasion and initial negotiations.

200,000 Greek Cypriots, 40 percent of the Greek Cypriot population, were forced to leave their homes in the occupied territory and became refugees. A few thousand Greek Cypriots who remained in their homes after the invasion were gradually forced, using intimidation methods, to leave their homes and move south. Turkey continued its occupation of Cypriot territory in complete defiance of repeated UN resolutions. The resolutions demanded respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and the withdrawal of all foreign troops. This attitude of Turkey, as well as the continued violation of the fundamental human rights of the Cypriot people, has been condemned in the strongest possible terms by international bodies such as the UN General Assembly, the Non-aligned Movement, the Commonwealth and the Council of Europe.

Turkey continued to cling to the occupation. As a result of the invasion, around 35,000 soldiers were stationed and around 70,000 settlers from Anatolia were resettled in Cyprus. Added to this is the systematic destruction and alteration of the historical and cultural character of the area under Turkish occupation and the creation of a separate Turkish Cypriot economy. Thus Cyprus is part of the EU on the one hand and Turkish on the other. Due to the de facto partition of Cyprus, the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control only in the southern part of the island. Different regulations therefore apply to entry into the northern and southern parts. The Republic of Cyprus is a full member of the EU, but remains effectively divided into two parts. The internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control only in the southern part of the island, not in the northern part, which is delimited from the southern part by a demarcation line (Green Line). Only Turkey recognizes the northern part it occupies as an independent state (“Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”). UN units control the buffer zone between the north and the south, which is a restricted military area and also partially mined. Caution is advised when approaching the buffer zone and warnings are given against crossing the seaward extension of the demarcation line by swimming or boats. Military installations that are not necessarily designated as such throughout the island and the ban on photography that applies there should be respected, signage is not always clearly visible. Due to the de facto division, the German embassy in Nicosia can only provide limited consular protection in the northern part of the island.

But what are the chances of a reunion? Negotiations were started shortly after the invasion. In December 1974 the first talks began with the aim of overcoming the division of the island and establishing a new political order for both ethnic groups. As early as November, a United Nations (UN) resolution called for the withdrawal of all foreign troops, the return of all refugees and direct negotiations between representatives of both ethnic groups under the auspices of the United Nations. It was clear to all parties to the conflict that after the events of the past few years and the facts created by the invasion, a return to the 1960 constitutional order was out of the question. The Greek Cypriots had no choice but to agree to a federal solution demanded by the Turkish side. The question of what this should look like has divided both sides to this day. The Greek side demanded and still demands a strong central government, the Turkish side a weak one. While the Greek Cypriots originally had in mind a multi-regional federation in order to enable as many refugees as possible to return, the Turkish Cypriots are demanding a state made up of two federal states that are as ethnically homogeneous as possible. Political equality at all levels has been and has been the basic principle of all Turkish-Cypriot solution ideas since 1974.

On the other hand, the Greek Cypriots insist that any solution must take into account that they are the majority of the population, at 82 percent. It was and is essential for the Greek side to withdraw the Turkish troops as completely as possible. All negotiations were doomed to failure, and US intervention did not bring any progress either. While then-UN Secretary-General Perez de Cuellar proposed a compromise that was accepted, albeit reluctantly, by Greece, the Turkish government proclaimed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which Ankara promptly accepted. The UN Security Council declared them invalid. In July 1990, the situation was further complicated when the Republic of Cyprus applied for membership of the European Community. All talks were then broken off, the situation was more complicated than ever. When it became apparent that the EU would accept the Republic of Cyprus even without a solution to the Cyprus conflict, renewed negotiations under the auspices of the UN began in January 2002 with the aim of creating a plan that encompassed all aspects of a solution for the first time. However, progress could only be made when a new government came to power in Turkey in November. The AKP government backed away from Turkey’s longstanding position that the facts established in 1974 represented the solution to the Cyprus problem in order to put its own EU ambitions on a realistic footing.

Reunification – is it still coming?

It took until the beginning of 2004 before the final version of a solution plan that included all aspects of a future political order was drawn up. The key points of the Annan Plan, named after the Secretary-General of the United Nations, were:

Government elected by Parliament, composed of four Greek Cypriots and two Turkish Cypriots; collective leadership with veto rights for both ethnic groups
Two-chamber parliament based on the 1978 model
27 percent of the territory for the north;
Ambivalence: Establishment of a new state by two equal states (as demanded by the Turkish side but rejected by the Greek side as a possible starting point for a later secession) or conversion of the existing Republic of Cyprus into a new state (as demanded by the Greek side)
ambivalence: federation or confederation;
Return of more than half of the refugees under Greek Cypriot administration and resettlement of tens of thousands of Turkish Cypriots
Citizenship for more than 45,000 Turkish immigrants
Significant and persistent restrictions on the return of Greek refugees and freedom of movement in the north
Permanent Greek and Turkish military presence
Greece and Turkey, together with Great Britain, remain guarantor powers with the right to intervene.

In two simultaneous referendums, the plan was rejected by the Greek Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriots, on the other hand, voted in favor of the proposed solution. Up until the spring of 2008, there had been little progress on the Cyprus question, which was mainly – but not only – due to Papadopoulos’ openly intransigent attitude. With the election of leftist Dimitris Chistofias as president in February 2008, the climate changed abruptly. Direct negotiations between the two ethnic groups began, which for the first time in the modern history of Cyprus were led by two politicians who were considered moderate and which raised high hopes. But here again there was no significant progress. From April 27 to 29, 2021, talks took place again, again under the auspices of the United Nations. But here again there was no breakthrough, the situation is deadlocked. Both sides insist on the well-known points, and there is no sign of a compromise. So Cyprus will remain divided and divide Europe.

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Read Job Offers Correctly: Home Office, Remote, Mobile Office – Are There Differences?

“Home Office”, “Remote” or “Mobile Office”: In an interview, a lawyer explains what the terms mean and whether they even exist under labor law.

Important for applicants: What is the difference between home office, remote and mobile office?

The terms ‘home office’ and ‘mobile work’ or ‘mobile office’ are often used synonymously, as lawyer Christian Solmecke explains: “But the legislature knows neither one nor the other, only so-called ‘telework’.” “Remote” also has no employment law meaning.

“According to the Workplace Ordinance, ‘telework’ means computer workstations set up and equipped by the employer in the employee’s home,” says Solmecke. This is based on a corresponding contractual agreement in which the details are regulated. However, general usage also allows for non-regulated forms of working outside the company.

“Accordingly, ‘home office’ means the possibility of doing the work in one’s own apartment,” explains the lawyer. Mobile working is also part of the non-regulated special form of work. “However, unlike the ‘home office’, the spatial dimension is missing.” Mobile working is characterized solely by the provision of work outside of the company at changing work locations. “This can also include your own apartment, but also traveling by train or staying in a hotel,” says Solmecke.

Home Office: What does that mean in terms of labor law?

Christian Solmecke sees the same legal requirements for all formulations. However, there is a distinction, for example with regard to the scope and reach of the employer’s obligations under labor law. “If there is a so-called teleworkplace, the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Ordinance must be observed. If, on the other hand, there is home office in the actual sense or mobile work, the Workplace Ordinance does not apply,” explains the lawyer.

However, occupational safety measures must still be observed. Because the insurance protection applies when working at home or on the go as well as in the company. “As long as someone is doing an activity that serves the company and suffers an accident, they enjoy statutory accident protection,” says Solmecke. However, it must be determined in each individual case whether the accident happened during a business or private activity. The lawyer advises every company that offers home office to define binding framework conditions, whether in a company agreement or through individual agreements.

“Home Office”, “Remote” and “Mobile Office” are not labor law terms and do not differ significantly. Legislative requirements are blurred. If a company wants to be really legal, it should offer telecommuting. However, the regulations must then be strictly observed.

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Pets and The Climate: Cats and Dogs Cause so Much CO2 – and What That Means For You

The negative ecological balance of air and car travel as well as meat consumption is well known. But dogs and cats also have a significant impact on the carbon footprint of their owners.

What does carbon footprint mean?

Global warming should be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius
Binding target values ​​for the emission of greenhouse gases, which are primarily responsible for global warming, were laid down for the first time in the Kyoto Protocol on December 11, 1997. In addition to CO2, other greenhouse gases are listed here, such as methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). Since the Kyoto Protocol expired in 2020, a new climate protection agreement was introduced in order to be able to continue pursuing the international climate protection process after 2020. In 2015, at the 21st UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, 196 countries agreed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius — if possible below 1.5 degrees Celsius. In November 2002 the Glasgow Climate Conference (COP 26) took place and ended with the Glasgow Climate Pact. Here the 1.5 °C target was again emphasized and for the first time reference was made to phasing out unrestricted coal-fired power generation and to the abolition of inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels.

What is the carbon footprint?

The carbon footprint indicates the amount of greenhouse gases released by a specific activity, process or action. This means that every product also has a CO2 footprint, which is made up of the sum of emissions that come together through manufacture, use, recycling and disposal. But the CO2 emissions can also be determined for activities such as air travel, car trips, hotel accommodation or events. The carbon footprint accounts for about 60% of the ecological footprint. This indicates how sustainably a person, a company or a country deals with global resources. According to Welthungerhilfe, the world’s population would need 1.7 earths to cover the need for resources. Earth Overshoot Day, the annual deadline when all ecological resources of a year are used up, was already reached on July 27th in 2021.

Calculate your own carbon footprint
The World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) provides a carbon footprint calculator on its website that you can use to calculate your personal carbon footprint. The Federal Environment Agency also offers a CO2 quick check, which also takes pet ownership into account, among other things. Questions about the following areas of life are asked here:
Your shopping behavior for fruits, vegetables, dairy products, eggs, meat and fish
The proportion of organic or fair trade products you consume
How often you throw away food
How many car trips, plane trips and cruises you take and how often you use public transport.
What type of heating and water heating you use in your house or apartment
The standard and size of your house or apartment
How many people live in the household
Which energy efficiency class your household appliances have and how many small appliances you own
The type and frequency of laundry washing and drying
The money spent on clothes and shoes, leisure, consumer electronics, furniture, restaurant visits, overnight stays away from home, consumer goods and pets.

Why do pets also have a carbon footprint?

So far, there are only a few studies that look at the environmental impact of a dog or cat’s life. In 2020, the Technical University (TU) Berlin examined the entire life cycle of a dog in this regard and identified food, urine and faeces in particular as the main influencing factors. The environmental impact increases with the size, weight and lifespan of the dog. Animal and plant life are negatively affected by urine and the feces of the fur friends can make the trees more susceptible to diseases. For a dog weighing 15 kilograms that lives for 13 years, an average of 1000 kg of faeces and almost 200 liters of urine could be determined. With regard to dog food, the greatest burden was caused by the high proportion of beef and poultry and the packaging materials.

Are there too many dogs and cats?

Many pet owners may wonder why their beloved four-legged friend causes so much CO2. It is not only the CO2 emissions of a single animal that is decisive, but the large number of pets. According to the Federal Environment Agency, the number of dogs in Germany has more than doubled within 20 years. In addition, the Industry Association for Pet Supplies (IVH e.V.) states that 15.7 million cats and 10.7 million dogs lived in Germany in 2020, the number of which has most likely increased further in the course of the pandemic. 47% of all households had at least one pet. Justifications that dogs ensure more exercise for their owners and can encourage children to take more responsibility should not be included in the considerations.

The feed has the most harmful effect on the climate

Dog and cat food is largely based on meat and meat by-products. According to a report by Galileo TV, which documents a long-term experiment with vegan dog food in cooperation with the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, meat-based dog food accounts for 90% of a dog’s carbon footprint. Around 1 million tons of meat are consumed annually for the 26 million dogs and cats in Germany. It would theoretically be possible to feed dogs on a purely plant-based basis, as Volker Wilke from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover explains in the article. This would reduce CO2 emissions for wet food by 35% and for dry food by as much as 70%. So far, no adverse effects have been observed with feed made from peas, lentils, sweet potatoes or soya supplemented with vitamins and amino acids. However, the changeover should be carried out under expert supervision so that the dogs do not suffer any organ damage or muscle atrophy. However, the origin of the vegan feed is also important. Because if the feed is made with soy from Brazil or other countries of origin, it can be much more harmful to the climate than dry feed made in this country.

What is the life cycle assessment of dogs, cats and horses?

With the provocative book title “Time to eat the dog?” (Is It Time to Eat the Dog?), two New Zealand authors caught the attention of many pet owners in 2009. Is the ecological paw print really that bad?

No more than 2 tons of CO2 per year

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), every inhabitant of the earth should not cause more than two tons of CO2 per year, so that the climate would not be further burdened. The amount of two tons of CO2 corresponds to the capacity that the earth could absorb naturally. The actual values ​​significantly exceed these two tons, depending on the country. According to Statista, in 2019 an average of around 30.68 tons of CO2 was produced per capita in Qatar, around 14 tons in the USA and around 7.8 tons in Germany.

What is the carbon footprint of dogs and cats?

Researchers at the Technical University (TU) Berlin have examined the life cycle assessment of dogs. Among other things, the production of feed and the consequential damage to the environment caused by urine and faeces were included. The result shows that the popular pet causes significant amounts of CO2. For example, a dog weighing 30 kilograms produces around 1,050 kilograms of CO2 a year, as reported by the Tagesspiegel. Thus, with just over a tonne of CO2, this dog causes about the same amount as a one-way flight from Berlin to Washington. With an estimated lifespan of 18 years, the dog’s CO2 emissions would increase to 19 tons.

The life cycle assessment for cats was determined in 2019 by the Swiss eco-balance institute ESU-Services. In addition to feed and environmental pollution, domestic conditions such as heat loss when installing a heat flap were also taken into account. According to this, a cat weighing 4.2 kilograms produces about the same amount of CO2 per year as a 1,165-kilometer car journey, which roughly corresponds to the distance from Berlin to Venice.

Horses are climate sinners too

A study examined all important effects on the life cycle assessment of pets. This included, for example, feeding, housing, faeces, trips by car to the veterinarian or even going for a walk, as well as all necessary purchases for the pets. The authors compared the results with the environmental impact of a car trip. The results showed that horses had the worst environmental record. According to the calculations, the annual cost of keeping a horse corresponded to an annual car mileage of 3700 km. Overall, the scientists came to the conclusion that the larger the pet, the greater the environmental impact.

This is how you can optimize your pet’s carbon footprint

Remove legacies left by four-legged friends

Dogs defecate and urinate when they go for a walk. A researcher determined in 2017 that the dogs and cats kept in the USA alone produce a good five million feces a year. It is not possible to get rid of the urine, but you should collect the dog poop in a waste bag and dispose of it. Thus, the environment is less polluted, because the amounts of phosphorus, nitrogen and heavy metals contained in the feces contribute to freshwater eutrophication and freshwater poisoning. In addition, disposal companies have to collect less manure, which also saves CO2. Also against the background that the production of the manure collection bags is less harmful to the environment than the entry of manure into nature. At the same time, walkers are happy when they are spared stepping into a dog pile.

Adjust the amount of feed as needed

Since many pets are overweight, CO2 can certainly also be saved with regard to the amount of feed. Keep your pet at a healthy weight and avoid overfeeding. As a dog owner, you should also consider that the production of dog food also requires factory farming, because dog food rarely comes from organic farms.

Reconsider BARF feeding

Biologically appropriate raw feeding, or BARF for short, contains 75% high-quality raw meat and is therefore a much more climate-damaging form of feeding than ordinary wet food. This doubles the CO2 footprint. The BARF feeding is considered to be particularly adapted to the needs of the dog as a descendant of the wolf. In the meantime, however, the opinion is becoming more and more widespread that dogs have adapted their digestive system to carbohydrate-rich food in the course of their development and that such a high protein intake is therefore no longer absolutely necessary.

A simple calculation illustrates the dimensions: A meat ration of around 300 – 500 grams per day is recommended for a medium-sized dog weighing 30 kg. This adds up to 150 – 185 kilograms per year over the year – per dog. And this does not include meat consumption for cats.

Insect-based dog food as an alternative

The latest trends include food cans that contain insects as a protein source. Insect food producer Tenetrio reports that insect protein-based dog food contains all the amino acids that dogs need. In addition, dogs are very good at splitting and utilizing the insect protein. A study that examined compound feed containing larvae of the black soldier fly came to the conclusion that the feed was very well tolerated by the dogs even if they suddenly switched. However, the price here is still far higher than for dog food containing meat, which is due to the high production costs.

Vegan dog food possible, but expensive

Feeding a dog meat-free sounds strange at first. It is also not in line with a dog’s natural diet and requires some additives to keep the dog from becoming ill. In fact, it is possible to provide the dog with all the nutrients, even if no animal protein is included. Vegan dog food consists of vegetable protein in the form of legumes such as lentils or lupins, supplemented with vegetables, millet, taurine, L-carnitine, iron, minerals, vitamins or algae. The disadvantage, however, is that the price is currently three times higher than that of conventional dog food. In addition, the current study situation does not yet allow an unrestricted recommendation for special phases of the dog’s life, such as growth or age.

Cats are more difficult to change their food

So far, there are hardly any studies that have examined the effects of vegan diets in cats. The option remains to choose a feed that contains more animal by-products or to offer more dry feed.

Conclusion: Every hobby entails a certain amount of CO2 emissions. Whether it’s a pet or the sports car in front of the front door. Here you have to decide for yourself where you see savings potential. Several pets, a lot of air travel, high meat consumption and cars with high fuel consumption are perhaps too much of a good thing. If you keep a dog as a pet, you can reduce your dog’s CO2 footprint by consistently collecting the droppings in poop bags and by changing the diet.

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Suck Up The Spider With The Vacuum Cleaner: is it Really Gone – or Can it Crawl Out Again?

Many people don’t exactly go into raptures at the sight of a spider. Her first thought goes to the vacuum cleaner to suck up the spider. But what happens then?

This is what happens when you suck up a spider

You sit comfortably on your couch and look at the ceiling, lost in thought. Suddenly you discover a spider above you. If spiders are not one of your favorite animals, then you will quickly think about how best to get rid of the creepy crawly. In such a situation, it is not uncommon for the vacuum cleaner to be the only quick solution. But what happens to the spider when you vacuum it up?

Whether the spider initially finds its way into the vacuum cleaner bag more or less unscathed depends on the one hand on its constitution and size. What is more important, however, is the suction power you have set on your vacuum cleaner. Depending on the set wattage, the spider is sucked up at a speed of 100 to 140 km/h. suck For example, when you choose the level at which you gently vacuum your curtains or blinds.

Chances of survival in the vacuum cleaner bag

So if you only sucked up the spider with a low suction power, there is a chance for the spider to get into the vacuum cleaner bag alive. But here the next challenge awaits. Because whether the spider survives in the vacuum cleaner bag and thus perhaps even finds its way back or dies after all depends essentially on whether the bag is empty or already full when it is vacuumed up.

An empty vacuum cleaner bag does not bode well for the spider. Because it is thrown in at a speed, albeit a lower one, without damping. On the other hand, if the bag is already filled with dust, hair and other soft material, the spider will land more gently. If she survived all that, theoretically she can’t crawl out.

Alternative to the vacuum cleaner

It doesn’t matter whether it’s high or low wattage, an empty or full vacuum cleaner bag – the spider will never be comfortable if you suck it up with your vacuum cleaner. It’s definitely not animal friendly. Therefore, there are also more suitable methods of escorting the spider out of the apartment, especially alive. If you don’t trust yourself because you are disgusted or even afraid of spiders, it might be helpful to ask your partner. Or you look around in your close circle of friends to see who can quickly help you. Maybe you also have nice and animal-loving neighbors.

Whether help is near or you take matters into your own hands, a jar and a piece of paper are usually enough to remove the spider alive from the apartment. To do this, simply place the glass over the spider with the open side facing the wall or ceiling and carefully slide the piece of paper underneath. The jar is closed and the spider cannot crawl out. Then you go with the glass to the window, balcony or in your garden and release the spider into freedom. Here she can continue to do her very useful work.

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Less Sport, More Alcohol: According to The Study, These People Are More Intelligent – What’s Behind It?

Smart people’s brains fare better in the modern world. But a study proved that the intelligent people in the focus are more likely to lead an unhealthy lifestyle with alcohol.

Smart people drink more alcohol and exercise less. what’s up

Sufficient exercise and a healthy diet play a major role when it comes to health. One might think that a person’s intelligence indicates a healthy lifestyle. After all, intelligent people are more conscious and should know better. Or?

In addition, there is ample evidence that proves that there is a connection between high intelligence and long life expectancy. It involves these factors:

Higher intelligence offers opportunities for higher education, which can bring a healthier environment and higher social status.
Intelligent people live healthier lives overall, exercise more, smoke and drink less, which increases life expectancy.
A high IQ score can indicate overall good physical condition. This means that it can cope better with environmental stresses, which also increases life expectancy.
However, according to the study by psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa of the London School of Economics and Political Science, intelligent people very often have rather unhealthy lifestyles. They tend to sleep late and have more drinks than less intelligent people. In addition, they often lack exercise.

result of the study?

In the study, the psychologist presents the savannah theory: According to the studies, the brains of intelligent people cope better with the developments and requirements of the modern world. People with a lower IQ would not do as well with urban life or the media. Alcohol, the internet and television played no role in the Stone Age. Therefore, according to this theory, less intelligent people tend to have less of a tendency to get high from drugs such as alcohol or cigarettes because their brains have not evolved as much as those of intelligent people.

The psychologist is less concerned with inferring intelligence from lifestyle. Rather, he would like to examine how people deal with the values ​​and options of the modern world.

Is this healthy?

Of course not. Because the more unhealthy the lifestyle, the higher the risk of disease, regardless of a person’s intelligence. If you don’t exercise and eat unhealthily, you risk cardiovascular problems, depression, dementia or even cancer.

No matter how high the intelligence quotient is: In order to stay fit and healthy, sport, healthy nutrition and avoiding unhealthy consumer goods should play a major role and be taken seriously.

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Curious: This is The Most Common Nightmare – For You Too?

Nightmares don’t just affect children – every second adult suffers from scary scenarios in their dreams. The topics are often similar – and sometimes strange. However, one particular nightmare is dreamed very often.

The most common horror scenarios in dreams

Why we dream is still not fully understood. Dreams should help us, for example, to consolidate what we have learned or to process what we have experienced. Nightmares, on the other hand, can teach us how to deal with fearful situations.

As with books and films, nightmares can also be referred to as “classics”. Because there are some themes that repeat themselves in many people. These include, for example, dreams in which those affected fall into the abyss, freezing in dangerous situations, deaths of loved ones, monsters and war scenarios. According to a study, Germans most often dream of spiders. In the interpretation of dreams, spiders can stand for deception, fears and intrigues, but also for luck or creativity. Here it is crucial in which way the spiders appear in your dreams.

If you have a nightmare about a spider sitting or crawling on your bed, there may be intrigue in your community. If the spider runs over your body in a dream, bad luck is said to be approaching. However, if she weaves a web, it can mean something joyful for you. By the way, the topics of dreamers are different internationally. So most Britons probably dream of expecting offspring. Many Portuguese dream of the end of the world and in Poland, according to surveys, most people dream of cats.

Nightmares – what you can do about it

We’re powerless against dreams, aren’t we? Not necessarily. There are methods that you can use preventively, but also if you have already had a bad dream.

If you have had a nightmare, you can write down the dream after waking up; this should not occur again. You can also change the dream by writing and think of a “happy ending”, for example.

Medications such as antidepressants or sleeping pills can encourage restless dreams. You should talk to your doctor about this. If nothing helps against the bad dreams, you should seek help from a therapist.

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LED Flickers: That Could Be The Reason – and What You Can do Now

If the LED lamp flickers, this can have a variety of causes. You don’t need an electrician for everything. This is how you fix the flickering of your lamp yourself.

These are the advantages of LEDs

Saving energy – that’s what LED lamps stand for with their name. An LED can shine for up to 50,000 hours. Depending on the output, the incandescent lamp only lasts around 1000 hours. After the initial shortcomings that the LED was not bright enough and also needed a high electrical output, LED lamps are currently difficult to beat in terms of efficiency.

To be precise, the history of the LEDs we know today begins as early as 1907. It was here that the Englishman Henry Joseph Round made a discovery that had long-term consequences: non-organic substances can glow under electrical voltage. LEDs now shine in the brightest colors – economical and environmentally friendly. They are durable, robust, do not contain any pollutants, do not get too hot and can sometimes be flexibly adjusted in brightness.

A true marvel, one might think. But even the LED lamp does not always work as it should. One or the other will have experienced it before: an LED lamp that flickers. There is nothing more annoying. The good news is that this is usually easy to fix. Flickering often occurs when you switch your lamps to LEDs. To make a diagnosis, you can observe your LED: Is the flickering regular or irregular? Does it flicker all the time or only when you turn it on?

Causes and solutions against flickering

If your lamp flickers regularly, your old halogen transformer may not be suitable for LEDs. In this case you have to replace the transformer. The problem may also lie with the lamp’s capacitor, which stores the electrical voltage. Therefore, buy high-quality LEDs. Test symbols such as EMC, ENEC and GS are used for orientation. However, it often helps to unscrew and screw the lamp back in to restore contact between the lamp and the socket.

The LED only flickers when switched on or when the lamp is dimmed? This is also not surprising in the case of LEDs with inferior electronics. However, it is also possible that your lamp is not designed for the dimming function or vice versa: The dimmer is only suitable for halogen lamps or light bulbs. You should be able to find the answer on the packaging. The only solution here is to buy a suitable lamp or get a new dimmer.

However, if your lamp flickers irregularly, the cause may be a defective power supply unit. In this case, you should have the power supply replaced or repaired. But maybe the flickering is just the first sign that the LED is broken. If the LEDs are not permanently installed, you can simply replace them. Otherwise they might be repairable. It will cause confusion if the LED flickers even though it has no power. But that too can happen. In this case, it is advisable to obtain expert advice. The light switch may have been installed incorrectly.

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Already Dangerous? Why Your Dog is Panting – and When You Should See The Vet

When your dog pant, it’s nothing unusual at first. However, there are certain signs of a panting dog that you should seek advice from your veterinarian.

Why do dogs pant?

Dogs lack the ability to sweat because they hardly have any sweat glands on their bodies. A few are located in the area of ​​the paw pads and the nose. Dogs regulate their body temperature to a large extent through the upper respiratory tract, which includes the pharynx, nasal cavity, larynx, and trachea. Panting allows dogs to bring cooler air into their bodies, cooling themselves from the inside out. Panting increases the exchange of air between the mouth and the trachea. The sense and purpose of panting is therefore only in the increased evaporative cooling, which is caused by the constant draft. This eventually lowers the body temperature. Dogs breathe much shallower than humans and the increased saliva production, commonly referred to as “drooling,” prevents the tongue from drying out.

This type of cooling has other advantages for dogs:
Dogs can actively control the breathing rate when panting and thus the degree of cooling.
When panting, your dog does not lose vital salts through the skin, as is the case with sweating.
Panting does not produce odors, which could create disadvantages among conspecifics that communicate via scents. Because in addition to the sense of sight, hearing and touch, dogs also come into contact through scents and transmit messages.
Depending on the size, breed and physique of the dog, the amount of panting varies. Smaller dogs have an easier time regulating their temperature due to their physique and lower body volume. So they don’t have to pant as often and as much as their larger conspecifics. Larger dogs, on the other hand, have to pant a lot more to keep their bodies from overheating. Heavier drooling is also common.

With short-headed dog breeds, which include pugs, Pekingese or bulldogs, for example, heavy panting can occur even with little physical exertion. Their reduced turbinate and the resulting shortened airways make it difficult for them to breathe and pant. As a result, they have fewer opportunities to regulate their body temperature by panting. If your dog is one of these dog breeds, you should keep an eye on your dog when he’s panting so he doesn’t overheat. Before you get a dog, you should find out about the characteristics typical of the breed so that you do not unknowingly expose it to stressful situations.

When is panting normal in dogs?

Even a dog’s body needs to cool down after a long walk, an hour of agility training, or mantrailing, but it lacks the ability to sweat. This means that dogs cannot use the evaporative cooling that occurs when sweating on human skin like we humans can. They can shed a little sweat through the pads of their paws and the nose, but the cooling effect is very small and not enough to regulate body temperature. The low level of perspiration through the paws is primarily used to leave scent marks (pheromones) for conspecifics. When panting, dogs breathe shallowly and rapidly, up to 300 times per minute. This accelerates the evaporation of water on the tongue, in the mouth and in the upper respiratory tract. This effect helps your dog normalize its body temperature.

Tip: If you have a puppy or older dog, make sure he doesn’t overexert himself. The cardiovascular system could possibly be overtaxed. Make sure your dog always has fresh water available and offer him cool treats like watermelon or dog ice cream in the summer.

In addition to heat and physical exertion, emotions can also lead to increased panting. For example, if your dog is very happy when you come home or when he meets his playmates, it can upset him emotionally. Conversely, dogs can also experience stress when they feel overwhelmed in certain situations. Experts speak of a skipping action in which dogs, for example, scratch, bark or pant when they are stressed.

Many dogs also develop great fears of thunderstorms, lightning, or loud noises. In addition to volume, dogs also seem to sense a drop in pressure during thunderstorms. Darkening skies and gusts of wind can also frighten them. This can even lead to panic attacks, which are usually accompanied by rapid panting.

Tip: The most important thing is that you keep calm yourself, because your dog will sense your insecurity. Try to free your dog from the stressful situation as quickly as possible and have a calming effect on him. Move calmly and behave normally.

Intense sniffing is one of the favorite pastimes of many dogs. Hunting dogs, civil protection dogs or mantrailing use this ability to track down game, save people or set tracks. However, it also requires a high level of concentration in the dog and causes the salivation to be stimulated. Dogs can absorb significantly more scents through increased panting, but this also means a lot of effort.

Tip: Your dog performs at its best when it comes to nose work, which is why you should give your four-legged friend enough rest breaks after training.

If you experience these symptoms, you should seek veterinary advice

If your dog has been exposed to high temperatures and has been in the sun for a long time, it may have suffered from heat stroke. In addition to high outside temperatures, high physical stress through dog sports, running on a bike or being locked in overheated cars can also be reasons for heat stroke. Then, in addition to the strong panting, the following symptoms appear:
Vomit
Diarrhea
balance disorders
apathy
cramps
In the event of heat stroke, the entire dog’s body is affected. Due to the severe overheating, the dog tries to pant more and more to lower its body temperature. However, he loses more and more fluid, which means that the blood becomes more concentrated and can no longer flow through the body as quickly. The heart then has to do more work and severe circulatory problems can occur, which can lead to loss of consciousness and shock. In the worst case, dogs can also die from heat stroke. Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate emergency care.
Important: Never leave your dog in a heated car. The inside temperature rises extremely quickly when exposed to sunlight and within a very short time the dog can no longer compensate for the heat.

gastric torsion or poisoning
If your dog shows other symptoms in addition to panting, such as restlessness, increased salivation and pale mucous membranes, it can also be a life-threatening stomach torsion or poisoning.

Gastric torsion is an absolute emergency that requires veterinary treatment within a few hours. The impending constriction of the blood vessels, as well as the entrance and exit of the stomach, is life-threatening. This prevents digestive gases from escaping and allows the stomach to inflate like a balloon. In addition to the stomach, other internal organs can also be affected, which is why immediate surgery is indicated.

Poisoning in a dog is also an emergency. Because if there is no treatment, dogs are threatened with long-term consequential damage or even death. The symptoms that dogs show when poisoned depend on the type and dose of the poison. In addition to panting, the following symptoms can also occur:
Vomit
fast or irregular pulse
restlessness
apathy
constricted or dilated pupils
Important: If you suspect poisoning in your dog, you should first try to calm your dog down. Also make sure that the airways remain free and bring the dog into the stable side position. If possible, you can bring a sample of the dog’s poison or vomit to the vet for testing.

Dogs can also react to heart problems with increased panting. If the heart no longer provides its full pumping capacity, the dog’s body can no longer supply every cell with sufficient oxygen. The lungs can also be affected by heart problems if fluid builds up in the lung tissue. This can result in the dog not getting enough oxygen.

Other symptoms that may indicate a heart or lung problem include:
Cough
Strangle
listlessness
Collapse
Pale or bluish gums
Attention: Panting in combination with pale mucous membranes can also indicate anemia, i.e. anemia or poor circulation.

Cushing’s syndrome is a disease of the endocrine system that results in increased cortisol levels. Poodles, dachshunds, miniature schnauzers, terriers and boxers are particularly affected: If your dog shows the following symptoms in addition to excessive panting, you should take it to the veterinary practice:
Excessive thirst and urination
hair loss
Bloated stomach
Other causes of increased panting in dogs:

Allergic Reactions: In an allergic reaction, dogs can sometimes become short of breath, lethargic, or vomit.
Infections: In some cases, infections can cause pneumonia. In addition to panting, your dog will then develop breathing problems, coughing and possibly a fever.
Pain: Dogs are particularly good at hiding pain. First signs can be, for example, when your dog is restless and panting when he would normally relax. If severe exhaustion, a lack of movement or vomiting also occur, this can indicate pain.
Overweight: If your dog weighs too many kilos, his organism will also be under more strain. In addition, lighter movements are difficult for him. This can also manifest itself in increased panting. Since obesity in dogs can also cause secondary diseases such as arthrosis, diabetes or heart problems, you should discuss with your veterinarian how your dog can best lose weight.

Conclusion

In summary, the following points should be observed:
Dogs can regulate their body temperature by panting. High outside temperatures or physical exertion can trigger panting in dogs and is not initially a cause for concern.
Make sure your dog always has access to fresh water, because panting causes him to constantly consume fluid.
Some dog breeds pant particularly often. This is especially the case with short-headed dog breeds, as their airways are shortened, making it harder for them to breathe.
The size of the dog also plays a role, as large dogs have more body volume.
In addition to physical causes, psychological factors such as excitement, nervousness and stress can also lead to dogs panting more often.
If your dog is panting for no apparent reason, it could be due to illness, upset stomach, poisoning, fever and pain. You should seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.
If, in addition to heavy panting, other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, balance disorders, apathy or cramps occur when the outside temperature is high, this can indicate life-threatening heat stroke. Then you should immediately take your dog to a cool place and definitely consult a veterinarian.

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According to The Study: These Are The Most Boring People in The World – Are You One of Them?

In a study, the most boring person in the world was symbolically searched for. In the following we present the criteria for this and you may also find yourself in them.

What was examined in the study?

A team of British researchers went in search of boredom. Research was carried out into characteristics that lead to people being perceived as boring. To do this, researchers from the University of Essex conducted various tests and surveys involving over 500 people.

It was possible to find out which hobbies and jobs most people find boring. The results were recently published in the psychological journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

However, the study was mainly about the perception of different jobs and hobbies and not about specific character traits. Whether the person behind the facade is really boring is of course always to be judged individually.

Who is boring – according to the study?

A person who works in accounting, likes to sleep in and watch TV, lives in a small town and is religious is perceived as the most boring. According to the study, such a person is a symbol of a stereotypical bore.

In particular, jobs in data analysis, taxes/insurance or in cleaning and banking are perceived as particularly boring. If these jobs are combined with leisure activities such as sleeping, religion, watching TV, watching animals or mathematics, then one is quickly considered boring.

In addition, people who do not live in a village or in a small town are more interesting. As a result, boring people are less likely to be liked and more likely to be avoided, according to study leader Dr. Wijnand van Tilburg.

On the other hand, who is interesting and why?

Because of the way you shape your own life, it can happen that other people find you boring. Without them really knowing the people behind it. Other people spend less time with these people and the conversations are also more superficial. Then boredom actually becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

On the other hand, these jobs are perceived as particularly interesting:
artistic or performing professions
Jobs in the scientific field
Journalism professions
Medical Professions
the activity as a teacher.
The paradox is that jobs that are perceived as boring are often very important and these people have a lot of power within society.

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