Book tour: "Im Namen der Tiere"

Monday, 19.05.2025
Conference Hall, FZA, University of Bayreuth (and via Zoom - link will follow)
5 pm-7 pm

At the invitation of the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence, Dutch journalist Olivier van Beemen is coming to Bayreuth to present his book “Im Namen der Tiere” (In the name of the animals). In his book, van Beemen exposes the problematic practices of the NGO “African Parks”, which manages 22 large nature parks in Africa and uses military forces to protect the areas from locals, terrorists and poachers. Van Beemen shows how this organization, supported by Western donations and safari tourism, creates authoritarian structures that oppress local communities and have established a form of “green colonialism”.

The reading will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Prof. Dr. Jana Hönke with a comment by Dr. Jan Sändig (both Sociology, UBT), and Esther Marijnen (Sociology, Wageningen University)

Olivier van BeemenQuelle: Olivier van Beemen via Verlag C.H.Beck

Olivier van Beemen

Olivier van Beemen born 1979 in Haarlem is a Dutch investigative journalist and author. Olivier studied French and journalism at the University of Amsterdam. Between 2002 and 2012, he was France correspondent from Paris for ten years for various Dutch and Belgian media, including Het Financieele Dagblad, Elsevier, Het Parool, Knack and De Tijd.

Van Beemen spent six years researching the Dutch brewery Heineken, which led to the publication of the book Heineken in Africa (2018), which was translated into four languages, as well as numerous articles and reports in the international press. Between 2020 and 2024, van Beemen was researching the non-governmental organization (NGO) African Parks, which focuses on nature conservation. Van Beemen published the book 'Im Namen der Tiere' (2024), which contained testimonies of torture against suspected poachers.

 https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivier_van_Beemen