Frankfurt Book Fair Kicks Off Today, Welcomes 200,000 Visitors
The Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's largest, kicks off today. Over 200,000 visitors are expected by Sunday, including 1,000 authors and speakers, 4,000 publishers, and 7,000 journalists. The Philippines is this year's honorary guest, with Nobel laureate Maria Ressa among the delegates. The fair opens with a ceremonial act today, followed by trade visitor days and public access from Friday.
Young author Nora Haddada will speak as the literary speaker, representing her generation's determination to combat negative trends through literature. The fair will showcase the Philippines' rich culture through a pavilion featuring bamboo, shells, and pineapple fabric, offering literary programs and historical information.
The Peace Prize of the German Book Trade will be awarded to historian Karl Schlögel at the close of the event. The fair aims to foster dialogue and promote a 'blueprint for a fair coexistence of people', according to its director and president. Emotions run high, with concern about democracy and AI, and warmth towards the Philippines. However, some authors have canceled due to Germany's stance in the Gaza conflict.
The outgoing president warns about AI's impact on democratic society and the lack of 'brain consumer protection' on social media platforms. Culture State Minister Wolfram Weimer echoes these concerns, describing AI companies as 'data vampires' and the situation as 'digital colonialism'. The Frankfurt Book Fair closes on Sunday, leaving visitors with much to ponder and a wealth of literary experiences.
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