Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Minister Till Backhaus Criticized Over Whale Hysteria
An opinion piece in Der Freitag criticizes Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's environment minister Till Backhaus for escalating the drama around a humpback whale named Timmy stranded in the Baltic Sea into nationwide hysteria. The author suggests the situation is a lesson in what happens when politicians succumb to presumptuous stupidity. The piece imagines a satirical film by director Helmut Dietl, with actors Jürgen Vogel as a Greenpeace activist, Lars Eidinger as a sleazy reporter, Heiner Lauterbach as a dubious private financier, and Sandra Hüller as a veterinarian from Hawaii. The author argues that more concern should be directed at Backhaus than at the whale.
Key facts
- Till Backhaus is environment minister of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
- A humpback whale named Timmy was stranded in the Baltic Sea.
- The situation has become nationwide hysteria.
- The author imagines a satire by director Helmut Dietl.
- Jürgen Vogel is suggested as a Greenpeace activist.
- Lars Eidinger is suggested as a reporter.
- Heiner Lauterbach is suggested as a private financier.
- Sandra Hüller is suggested as a veterinarian from Hawaii.
Entities
Artists
- Helmut Dietl
- Jürgen Vogel
- Lars Eidinger
- Heiner Lauterbach
- Sandra Hüller
Institutions
- Der Freitag
- Greenpeace
Locations
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Germany
- Baltic Sea
- Hawaii