Ethical principles

The internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ and the technical services, applications, website modules and online services which it contains are based on the ethical, communal, and social values of:

• liberty

• creativity and imagination

• modern democracy, democratic values, and fundamental free democratic order

• rule of law

• development of talent and personality

• child-friendliness and child welfare

• social commitment to fight against poverty and hunger

• love and respect of nature

• animal welfare, conservation of species

• ethical attitudes and respect of creation

• enthusiasm for nature and culture

• enthusiasm for the cultural heritage of Europe (e.g., mystical castle ruins and traditional fairytales)

• enthusiasm for fantasy and imagination

• gender equality

• a democratic society rich in art, culture, music, and creativity

• a democratic society rich in theatre, drama, performing arts and literature

• a democratic society rich in arts and crafts

• a democratic society based on education and knowledge

• a lifestyle consciously close to nature

• promotion of art, culture, creativity, and talent

• action for individual and communal welfare

• action in the interests of democracy and society as a whole

These basic social values apply to the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’, its picture galleries, photo series, event calendar and the texts and information.

‘thewhiterider.eu’ is a fully independent and politically neutral internet cultural portal based on liberty, free democratic values, and the rule of law.

The internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ is based on and promotes the positive guidelines of democracy, fundamental democratic order, liberty, love of nature, charity, love of life, contemplation, child welfare, animal welfare, creativity, development of talent and the idea of social welfare.

‘thewhiterider.eu’ and its online and technical services only publish content of any kind which fully complies with these fundamental social, ethical, and democratic values.

The internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ is a neutral and independent internet portal which includes the content areas and topics listed below:

• castles and castle ruins

• stately homes

• monasteries, wineries, and manor houses

• medieval markets and historical markets

• Gothic architecture

• nature and love of nature

• mystical Gothic ruins

• fairytales and legends

• fantasy, creativity, and imagination

• cultural events

• artistic events

• classical music and classical music concerts

• religious music and religious music concerts

• events, festivities & concerts at Easter, Whitsun, Harvest festivals, Advent & Christmas

• culinary and gourmet events

• nostalgia

• photographs of medieval markets and historical buildings

• publication of our own photos and photographic images.

Photographs, informative texts, and events published in the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ have the sole objective of communicating aesthetic, artistic, and inspiring content, and the creative, contemplative, joyful, human, nature-loving and picturesque aspects of these topics.

Our photographs, photographic images and their captions are only produced with a view to their artistic, aesthetic, and creative aspects.

Our aim is to visually represent the positive and authentic mood of a deliberately simple and natural life (for example at a medieval market), as well as to visually communicate a nostalgic or mystical mood (for example historical subjects such as castle ruins). We also aim to present the beauty, aesthetic, and positive aspects, of European historical culture, as well as the enjoyment of nature.

On the basis of its ethical principles, the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ reflects the positive, beautiful, aesthetic, artistically inspiring, joyful, human, and nature-loving aspects of life.

Photographs, images, clipart, diagrams, icons, illustrations, texts, banners, advertisements, coats of arms, signs and symbols, homepage screenshots, links, events, goods, and products of any kind, which in any manner violate or denigrate:

• democracy and democratic values

• free democratic order

• the rule of law

• current laws and legislation

• moral standards

• the good reputation of persons or organisations

will not be published in the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’.

Many countries in Europe have a large number of interesting, beautiful historical and nostalgic sites which are worthy of conservation, such as beautiful castle ruins, picturesque stately homes and their ruins, or charming historical monasteries which have been almost or entirely forgotten. Regrettably, many of these picturesque buildings, are now threatened by decay.

By describing, listing, cataloguing, and categorising these historical sites on its website, and publishing photographs and images of these beautiful historical sites, the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ wishes to make as many of these old and historical buildings as possible accessible to a culturally interested audience.

Digitalisation in the form of cultural lists and lists of historical sites has the aim of raising awareness of these lesser-known historical buildings prevent them from being forgotten, and ideally, filling them with cultural life again (for example revival of castles and castle ruins).

With its cultural website, ‘thewhiterider.eu’ also strives to conserve and preserve the regional cultural characteristics and traditions which make up our European cultural heritage.

These include:

• regional cultural events and festivities

• regional cuisine, regional dishes, and regional culinary specialities

• regional music and musical instruments

• regional legends and fairy tales

• outstandingly beautiful regional natural landscapes and forests.

The administration of our internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ always endeavours to ensure that our advertising partners, including advertisements from external sources, fully comply with our ethical principles in advertising formats of all kinds (e.g., advertisements, advertising banners, text advertisements, company logos, devices, trademarks).

In accordance with our advertising guidelines and ethical principles, we make every effort to only display, advertise, present, publicise and market advertising and advertisements which fully comply with:

• democracy and democratic values

• the rule of law

• current laws and legislation

• the principles of ‘thewhiterider.eu’

• moral standards

• integrity in advertisements and advertising texts

• integrity of the sectors which are advertised.

Advertising of any kind which does not comply with the advertising guidelines of the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ will not be published.

Advertising and forms of advertisement of any kind, especially from external internet advertising sources, which promotes:

• websites of an anti-democratic character
• websites which glorify violence and/or have a militaristic character
• extremely commercially oriented websites
• obviously dubious and/or non-transparent business models and their websites
• obviously dubious products or services and their websites
• ethically dubious or unethical products and their websites
• non-transparent products or services and their websites

and which violates our advertising guidelines, will be barred by the administrators of the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ and removed from our website as quickly as possible.

If external advertising which does not comply with our advertising ethics and our principles appears for a short period in the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu', this most probably due to technical reasons.

It may however take several hours for an undesirable advertisement, for example from an external source to be barred and ultimately removed from ‘thewhiterider.eu.

We constantly endeavour to ensure compliance with our ethical principles and guidelines for advertising, and ‘thewhiterider.eu’ is not, and shall not be held liable for advertisements of any kind which violate our ethical principles and guidelines, applicable laws and/or moral principles.

The internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ follows the social guidelines of democratic values, democratic society, liberty, joy, compassion, and love of nature.

In pursuing these social and democratic values and their ethical principles, only symbols such as:

• characters, letters & written symbols

• emblems, coats of arms & heraldry

• devices & visual symbols

• jewellery such as rings, chains, broaches, and bracelets

• murals & petroglyphs

• artistic objects such as dream catchers and mandalas

• runes

• phonetic symbols

• magical and mystical symbols

• tattoos and body painting

• artistic and cultural symbols

• special characters

• number codes, number sequences & codes, digits, digit sequences & ciphers

• devices & trademarks, company logos & signets

of any kind, form or colour, which fully respect and comply with fundamental democratic values, current law and legislation, the rule of law, freedom, joy, compassion, and love of nature will be published.

Visual depictions of symbols can only by published if the symbol has an underlying positive and democratic orientation, intention and meaning, and the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ is able to emphasise the positive and/or liberal meaning of the relevant symbol on a purely visual level.

In the context of its passion for culture, its basic democratic values, its ethical principles including its technology ethics, the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ hereby declares that the

• methods and technologies

• software & programs

• computers, technical devices, hardware, communication devices and mobile devices

• online services, website modules & applications

which it uses now, and in the future, will solely be utilised for the benefit of society and for democracy in Europe.

The internet portal ‘thewiterider.eu’ also believes that as a part of their fundamental democratic rights and free will, everyone should always have an individual and personal right to freely decide how, and to what extent, they wish to utilise modern technologies.

The cultural internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ believes that in the context of technical equality, all modern technology should only be used for general and individual welfare and the welfare of society and democracy as a whole.

In line with its technological ethics and its passion for originality and love of nature, the internet cultural portal the ‘thewhiterider.eu’ pursues the policy “As much technology as necessary and as little technology as possible’.

In accordance with its passion for culture, its basic democratic values, and ethical principles including its media ethics, the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ hereby declares that the

• computers, technical devices & mobile devices

• internet & other information and communication media

• visual media, such as photography and publication of its own photographs

which it uses now, and in the future, will be used and utilised to their fullest extent for the benefit of society and for democracy in Europe.

The cultural internet portal 'thewhiterider.eu' firmly believes that the internet should be open, free, and democratic.

We believe that the internet should be used for the benefit of the individual, the common good, and democracy, and that everyone has the right to information, education, knowledge, art & culture, creativity, positive development of talent and liberty, and in the pursuit of these values, to a free and open internet.

In accordance with the passion for culture and nature which its website embodies, the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ endeavours to positively emphasise and support these free democratic beliefs with its photographs, images, and published information.

The policy of ‘thewhiterider.eu’ is not to modify, add or remove elements of a photograph or photographic image which were present at the time that the image was made.

This includes the subsequent insertion of image elements which did not form a part of the photograph at the time it was taken, or removal of image elements which were present when the photograph or image was made.

If, however, elements of photographs or photographic images are subsequently modified (for example by removal of a visually intrusive mobile phone mast from the tower of an ancient castle ruin with the aid of image processing software), this will be explicitly stated.

In all its photographs, especially those of medieval markets, nostalgic ruins and historical buildings, the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ always aims to reproduce an authentic nostalgic mood as far as possible. Unfortunately, this is not always entirely possible with photographs which are taken on location.

The photographers of ‘thewhiterider.eu’ are fully aware that their photographs or photographic images may contain modern image elements, as due to space, safety, organisational and/or logistical reasons, it is not always possible to photograph subjects without including “modern” and visually disturbing elements.

Some modern elements such as permanently installed wastepaper baskets, information panels or parked vehicles cannot be removed by us or can only be removed with considerable organisational time and effort in order not to appear as modern elements in the image. We naturally have little or no influence on other modern elements such as modern lighting, streetlights, electricity pylons, modern houses, or vapour trails.

If in exceptional cases our photographs include e.g., streetlights, billboards, wastepaper baskets, cars, drinking bottles, mobile phones, fences, cigarette lighters, wrist watches, spectacles, sunglasses, tinted spectacles, modern shoes, vapour trails or visitors in modern clothing, usually in the background or margins of the image, wherever possible these should not disturb the intended nostalgic and authentic mood of the image. 

Subsequent image processing and/or retouching of small modern image elements can often impair the mood of an image to a greater extent than small modern “blemishes”. For this reason, photographs and images with “modern” image elements may occasionally be found in the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu'.

Anyone who participates in public events such as medieval markets must inevitably accept that they may appear in photographs. In many cases, the protagonists, exhibitors, and artists who participate in such events automatically declare their consent to be photographed with their participation in the event.

Although they are not obliged to do so from a legal point of view, out of respect, the photographers of ‘thewhiterider.eu’ will usually ask persons who are deliberately photographed and individually identifiable, whether they may photograph them and publish their image on our web pages.

Please simply send us a short e-mail if you recognise yourself in one of our photographs or images, but no longer wish to be depicted on the internet pages of ‘thewhiterider.eu’ in spite of your general or individual consent to photography, or you have been accidentally photographed (for example in the margin or background of the image) and/or you no longer wish to be depicted in our photographs or images despite of your previous consent.

We will then remove the relevant photograph or image from our website as quickly as possible, and of course free of charge.

The internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ does not of course have any influence on other websites which publish photographs taken by us.

The internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ makes every effort to contact the owners of rights, for example

• the owners of a castle ruin

• a municipality which owns a castle ruin

• a person photographed at a medieval market

by identifying and contacting the relevant owner of the rights (for example for the purpose of obtaining their retrospective consent).

If in exceptional cases, despite intensive and appropriate investigations and reasonable expenditure of time, personal, organisational, informational, or technical effort, it is still not possible to inform or contact the owner of rights, we may request the person involved to contact us directly.

If you consider that we have (entirely unintentionally and certainly not deliberately) breached your intellectual property rights or copyrights, or have mentioned your intellectual property in the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu' by statement of:

• names and designations

• brand name

• trademarks

• company names

• object names or similar,

please send us the appropriate information by e-mail to the stated e-mail address(es). We will remedy the accidental violation of protective rights as quickly as possible and/or remove this from our web pages.

Photographs and images of historical combat events and tournaments in our internet portal are only presented for the purpose of depicting an exciting, nostalgic, and fascinating medieval atmosphere.

For this reason, we only depict topics such as

• medieval tournaments and knightly combat

• historical and medieval re-enactments

• fencing and jousting exhibitions

• armouries and torture chambers

in accordance with our ethical principles and do not publish any photographs or images which depict extreme glorification of violence, or are extremely militaristic, brutal, politically, or ideologically motivated, and/or shocking.

Our photographs and images pursue a balanced and moderate course between living culture and creative enthusiasm for exciting and action-packed photography, i.e., expressive photographs and images without a militaristic character i.e., photographs which positively appeal to viewers and hopefully excite and fascinate and at the same time possess artistic and aesthetic qualities.

In accordance with its ethical principles and social values such as democracy, compassion, liberty and joy of life, the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ hereby dissociates itself entirely from the armed, violent, and inhuman medieval practices, as well as inhuman practices such as torture and violent interrogation methods.

Photographs and images of medieval and historical weapons which are presented in our internet portal, are solely for the purpose of depicting a nostalgic, historical, and medieval atmosphere in an image with an exciting mood.

Medieval weapons which do not have neutral connotations as living depictions of historical culture, and/or medieval weapons which have negative historical political associations will not be illustrated in the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’.

Medieval weapons and photographs of medieval weapons which may be published as photographs on our cultural website according to current laws and legislation but could contradict the ethical values of ‘thewhiterider.eu’ (for example photographs of medieval torture instruments) must first be vetted and approved by the administration of ‘thewhiterider.eu’.

In the context of its ethical principles and its positive social values such as democracy, compassion, liberty and joy of life, the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ hereby dissociates itself entirely from armed, violent, and inhuman medieval practices, as well as inhuman practices such as torture and violent interrogation methods.

Publication of photographs and images of beautiful old churches, magnificent Gothic cathedrals and/or enchanting Gothic religious buildings in the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ is for the purpose of creative and inspirational reproduction and visual communication of an aesthetic-nostalgic mood as part of our enthusiasm for beautiful Gothic architecture as a part of the spiritual and religious culture in Europe.

With the photographic reproduction of picturesque old churches, impressive Gothic cathedrals, Gothic buildings, and religious buildings on its internet pages, ‘thewhiterider.eu’ wishes to visually communicate its profound admiration of historical churches and venerable Gothic cathedrals, including the nostalgic and natural atmosphere which surrounds them. The authors of ‘thewhiterider.eu’ have a special enthusiasm for historical Gothic churches in open natural settings.

Many old churches or cathedrals are surrounded by cemeteries or historical graveyards and photography of the exterior of these churches or cathedrals is not possible without photographing a part of the adjacent cemetery.

If the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ publishes photographs or images in the context a photographic visit to an historical church, cathedral, castle, or park on its internet pages on the subject of “historical culture”, for example:

• historical cemeteries and graveyards

• historical gravestones

• dolmens & barrows

• cemeteries, mausoleums, catacombs or crypts

this is only done with the necessary reverence and respect.

Furthermore, only photographs and images of such historical cemeteries which conform with our ethical principles and democratic values will be published in the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’.

Observation of the rules of reverence, general morality, and the sole use of marked official paths, for example in the grounds of an historical church is a matter or principle in our photography of cemeteries and historical graveyards.

For reasons of reverence, personal data such as the name and/or date of birth and/or death of the deceased on gravestones or historical gravestones will not be legibly photographed or published in the internet portal internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’.

If we photograph or reproduce images of:

• statues
• figures & reliefs
• sculptures & busts
• gargoyles & well figures
• carvings
• icons
• images on vases
• frescoes & murals
• pictures, painting, ancestral portraits & ancestral portrait galleries
• portraits
• tapestries
• stained-glass windows & stained-glass figures or leaded windows and leaded window figures

or similar, this is solely for the purpose of depicting an exciting, nostalgic, and fascinating medieval atmosphere.

The internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ does not publish photographs or images of persons who are commemorated as statues, sculptures or similar, who are not compatible with our ethical principle and democratic values.

Such statues, sculptures or similar will not be depicted in photographs or images in the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu', or if such a breach of the ethical principle and/or democratic values of ‘thewhiterider.eu’ is established, these photographs will be removed immediately.

Photographs or photographic images of animal hides and/or furs published in the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ are of single animal hide and/or furs which e.g., are owned by a stallholder at a medieval market and which form a part or the whole of a particular photograph.

For example, this may be an image or photograph of an animal hide as decoration for a tent or a historical market. Further examples are animal hides which are used as seat covers in front of a tent at a medieval market, animal hide as decoration of an historical musical instrument or a medieval and/or primitive item of clothing.

Photographs or images of market stalls at medieval markets in which an animal or animals have been killed solely for the purpose of obtaining and subsequently selling the relevant animal hide and/or fur and whose main or sole commercial purpose is the sale of animal hide and/or furs will not be published in the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’.

Naturally, the authors of the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ prefer to see animals which live free, unharmed, and happy.

In some cases, animal bone art or animal skulls are publicly displayed at medieval markets or historical events, for example at or over the entrances to tents, (for example a buffalo skull as part of the decoration of a tent). These usually have a purely decorative character and contribute to the visual appearance of the relevant market stall as part of the authentic and original lifestyle of the stallholder.

Photographs, e.g., of an historical and ancient hunting room in the context of a castle visit may show historical antlers or an historical collection of antlers. Such photographs and images are published in our internet cultural portal solely in the interests of authentic and documentary depiction of the contemporary historical living situation of the owners of the objects.

The internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ only publishes photographs and images of hunting scenes which involve “riding to hounds”.

“Riding to hounds” is a purely sporting variation of hunting for the purpose of equestrian and canine sport which is carried out without pursuing game.

For the reasons stated above, the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ may occasionally publish images of a medieval market or an historical object, which include carved animal bones, animal bones and/or animal skulls (for example a buffalo skull as part of a tent decoration at a medieval market, or historical antlers in an old hunting room).

If we publish photographs or images of animal bones and/or animal skulls on our website, this is solely in the interests of a complete and authentic visual depiction of the particular market stall, medieval market, or historical site.

Naturally, the authors of the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ prefer to see animals which live free, unharmed, and happy.

Cultural objects, historical objects, antique or nostalgic objects (for example antiques, antique pictures, paintings, medieval craft objects) which are shown in photographs and images in the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ (for example in our photo series) must always comply with the applicable laws and legislation, as well as the moral and ethical principles of ‘thewhiterider.eu’.

Historical objects of a sensitive, ethically dubious, anti-democratic nature, or which glorify violence such as prohibited weapons, historical objects which glorify violence, sensitive archaeological finds, taxidermically prepared animals in danger of extinction and/or historic objects with negative historical connotations will on principle not be published in the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’.

Objects and photographs of historical objects which in principle may be published as photographs on our cultural website according to current laws and legislation, but which could infringe the ethical values of ‘thewhiterider.eu’ (for example photographs of medieval torture instruments) must first be vetted and if necessary approved by the administration of the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’.

The internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ uses so-called “symbolic images” or "symbolic photographs” or as visual decorations for its general texts and its general reports and news.

Symbolic images and symbolic photographs are images and photographs which match the content and topic of the particular text but are not necessarily associated with, for example, the event which is discussed in the text.

For example, a report about a medieval market at “Castle Swanfield” may contain images from an earlier tournament at “Castle Deerbridge” which do not directly relate to the report about the medieval market at “Castle Swanfield”.

Wherever possible, in the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ symbolic images and photographs are always legibly and prominently identified and captioned or are identifiable as symbolic images and photographs from the general accompanying information text.

All event and information texts which are published in the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ must fully comply with democracy, democratic values, the free democratic basic order, applicable laws and the principles of the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu'.

Event and information texts which do not comply with the aforementioned values of democracy, democratic vales, free democratic basic order, applicable laws, and the ethical principles of the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ cannot and will not be published and will be removed from our internet pages immediately.

Events and the associated information texts published in ‘thewhiterider.eu’ may come from the following topic areas:

• art and culture

• classical and religious music

• medieval markets, medieval displays, medieval crafts & castle events

• theatre & drama

• stage performances & performing arts

• comedy & humour, cultural entertainment, humorous entertainment

• literature, education, philosophy, books, readings & book reviews

• culinary & gourmet events

• event dinners, crime-mystery dinners, spooky dinners, musical dinners & theatre dinners

• nature-related events

• creativity & development of talent

• Easter, Whitsun, Harvest Festival, Advent & Christmas events and festivities

• cultural events for families

• creative events for families

• musical events for families

• cultural events for children

• creative events for children

• musical events for children

• fairytales and legends

• spooky events (for example a crime-mystery dinner at an old castle).

In exceptional cases, due to lack of space (for example if only a limited number of characters are permitted for technical reasons) and certainly not due to a lack of respect, our texts in the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ sometimes only use a single form of address instead of the usual forms of address for all genders.

For example, for reasons of text length, we may occasionally only address our visitors as “Dear Visitors….”. This of course refers to persons of all genders, who are naturally welcome to visit our website.

General forms of address, such as “Dear Cultural Community“, naturally refer to persons of all genders.

If, in exceptional cases, the internet cultural portal 'thehwiterider.eu' only uses a particular or general form of address for reasons of space, this of course always refers to persons of all genders unless otherwise explicitly stated.

The internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ is based on values such as democracy, democratic values, creativity, liberty, compassion, love of nature and culture, as well as basic social values.

The internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ wishes to communicate the greatest possible nostalgic, historical, and medieval atmosphere, for example in the photographs of castles and castle ruins, as well as in the accompanying information and explanatory texts.

For this reason, when writing the texts for our pages and picture captions for our image galleries we make every effort to maintain an appropriate positive, nostalgic, medieval tone.

In spite of our cultural focus on medieval castles and castle ruins, in the age of the internet, modern forms of communication and modern media, the use of contemporary terminology and wording cannot always be avoided. A modern alternative may also be better than a nostalgic term in headlines where the number of characters is limited.

For this reason, in spite of our efforts to use the greatest possible nostalgic, medieval tone in our texts, titles, headlines or menu items, we may sometimes use modern terminology.

The internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ is committed to considerate photography.

We do not use or publish photographs in the internet in which people’s faces or persons can be clearly identified, without their previous consent (for example at a medieval market).

Not everyone likes to be taken by surprise by a photographer and photographed without their permission, for example at a medieval market. Because of this, ‘thewhiterider.eu’ aims to promote a movement towards considerate and respectful photography in which people whose faces are identifiable or who can be otherwise identified are, wherever possible, asked for their permission and are therefore free to decide whether or not they wish to be photographed and whether the photographs may be published online.

Unless otherwise explicitly indicated as the intellectual property, copyright and/or creative property of the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’, object names and historical object designations which are stated or are identifiable or legible e.g., in texts or on our homepage such as:

• object & historical object designations

• company names

• names of persons

• homepages and their internet addresses

• names of products, articles, and goods

• names of services

• other neologisms

• word marks or graphic trademarks or word and graphic trademarks

• company logos and signets

are the intellectual property of the holder of these rights.

Statement of these names and designations in the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ is only made in the context of necessary and purely objective information, however not in order to utilise third party property directly or indirectly for our own advertising and marketing purposes.

As a part of our basic social values such as democracy, democratic values, liberty, compassion, love of nature and culture, the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ considers people as human beings. For us, people are not simply customer numbers, potential customers, or figures in a sales statistic, but rather people with feelings, positive and individual talents and creative abilities.

In the opinion of the authors of the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’, the positive development and utilisation of these individual creative talents, skills, abilities and interests and creative potential for the good of the social environment and society as a whole is a positive “duty” for all of us.

The following conditions apply for links to the internet cultural portal TheWhiteRider.eu from external portals and websites of a private or commercial nature (for example links from social networks):

In principle, links from external websites and internet portals and online publications of any kind are permitted, providing that the website or online publication which sets the link is fully aligned to the following social values both ethically and with regard to content:

• liberty
• peace
• democracy and democratic values
• creativity
• development of talent and positive personal development
• child-friendliness & child welfare
• enthusiasm for art, culture, nature, creativity, music, theatre, literature, education and knowledge
• the rule of law and applicable legislation
• law and order and the values of a sovereign, democratic constitutional state
• gender equality
• love and respect of nature
• ethical treatment and respect of creation
• animal-friendliness, animal protection & conservation of species.

To maintain its independence and neutrality and to permanently ensure suitable topical content of our cultural website in the sense of democracy, free democratic order, culture, nature and creativity, links to the internet cultural portal TheWhiteRider.eu from websites and online publications with content such as:

◦ historical and medieval weapons
◦ glorification of violence
◦ politics and political parties
◦ esotericism, supernaturalism & parapsychology

are not desired or permitted.

In case of infringement, the internet cultural portal TheWhiteRider.eu reserves the right to take appropriate legal action and claim for compensation (for example due to defamation, damage to image, deception and/or damage to reputation).

In case of doubt regarding the suitability of planned links, please send us a brief e-mail, so that we can examine whether the visual appearance and content of the planned link are suitable for the internet cultural portal TheWhiteRider.eu.

Thank you for your understanding.

The internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ has the ethical conviction that within the framework of their basic democratic rights, each individual has, and should always have, a personal right of access to the personal data which is saved by companies, in particular the large companies engaged in the internet and online shopping.

Furthermore, we believe that in the context of their informational and digital self-determination as well as their fundamental democratic rights to informational self-determination and free will, people can and should always be able to decide for themselves which of their personal data and information may be saved by companies.

In the context of the basic democratic right of each individual, to individual informational self-determination, these personal data include visual data (e.g., photos), audio data, biometric data and all other personal data.

In a technological and networked society and increasingly technological world, the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ believes that people count as people and should always be regarded as such.

People should not be seen as “transparent customers” or as a potentially interesting consumer target group, but rather as individuals with personalities, talents, and creative skills.

Privacy policy, data ethics, information ethics, sparing use of data, informational self-determination, digital and technological self-determination as well as the democratic right of informational self-determination are important components of the basic democratic values and ethical principles of the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’.

In the operation of its cultural website, the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ pursues a positive ethical policy of sparing use of data:

“As much data as necessary and as little data as possible.”

With the operation of its cultural website and the associated lists and catalogues, the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ aims to acknowledge the cultural dedication and passion of the owners of historical sites (for example castles and stately homes, manor houses and wineries) for our cultural heritage, and highlight this on the internet.

The cultural dedication of these people makes a valuable contribution to the preservation and restoration, revival and/or new revival of these historical sites as part of our cultural and architectural heritage, both for the general public as well as for the following generations.

For this reason, we always endeavour to present the positive, and impressive special features of each individual object or historical object for example a castle, a stately home, a winery, or a manor house on our internet pages, for the general public and society as a whole.

By listing and naming creative people in its online cultural lists, e.g.,

• practitioners of historical and medieval crafts

• medieval musicians

• medieval artists

• artists

• practitioners of creative crafts,

the cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ wishes to contribute to the preservation and conservation of endangered historical and medieval trades and occupations, historical craft techniques and medieval craft knowledge for society as a whole in order to pass on this knowledge to future generations.

These include, e.g., historical, and medieval crafts, and historical craft knowledge from fields such as:

• printing

• artistic glass work

• embroidery

• leatherwork

• herbalism

• cuisine

• fairytales and old legends

• Gothic art and architecture,

so that these can be preserved for future generations and ideally be revived and become more prominent and respected due to public interest.

In addition, conservation and promotion of a strong middle class in occupations such as culture, art, creativity, crafts, music and cuisine are a part of the general basic ethical and democratic values of the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’.

The authors of the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ believe that everyone in this world possesses creative skills and talents.

Furthermore, we believe that the discovery, development and promotion of this individual creative talent and utilisation of these positive creative skills for the good of the individual as well as for the enrichment of society as a whole, is the positive “creative mission” of everyone.

With its images and photographs, the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ aims to communicate and highlight its cultural passion for a consciously natural, nature-loving, and authentic lifestyle.

In an age of technology, computerisation, fast-paced living and permanent accessibility through mobile devices, a return to nature and our natural roots is a social and cultural development which is emphasised and supported by ‘thewhiterider.eu’ in order to give people more peace, and time for more contemplation and slowing down their lives.

With its lists of historical sites of Europe such as castles and stately homes, its cultural lists, and its own photographs, images and cultural reports relating to nature and culture of Europe, the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ aims to make a positive cultural and social contribution to democracy, friendship, love of nature and enthusiasm for culture in Europe.

The social contribution of the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ is intended to promote the idea of a Europe in the context of a modern community of nations and a family of nations based on the positive spirit of

• liberty

• democratic values

• friendship

• love and passion for nature

• enjoyment and passion for culture

• joy of life

• creativity and imagination

• a sisterly and brotherly spirit

• friendship among nations.

As vulnerable members of society, children are especially exposed to the impacts of conflicts, violence, wars, military action, and natural disasters.

Children’s whole lives are often negatively affected, both psychologically, physically, and mentally, by the results of violence, armed conflict, poverty, exploitation, and wars.

On the basis of its ethical principles, the cultural internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ wishes to support the key idea of a community of values - a community which fosters the vision of a society where children may grow up and develop in a child-friendly and peaceful world which enables their personal development, formation of a positive attitude, development of talents, a wealth of education, creativity, and playful learning as well as liberty and joy of life.

An important part of these child-friendly fundamental values is the social equality of access to education and knowledge for girls, in the form of school attendance and the active promotion of girls’ education throughout the world.

For this reason, in addition to its historical sites in its online lists, the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ also has an extra category on the subject of “Children’s aid, child-friendliness” and “A world fit for children”.

With its cultural website, the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ aims to promote the key idea and positive vision of an ethical community of values and a world in which states, nations, countries, and cultures treat each other and the natural world with respect, and act with a common passion for culture, creativity, and nature.

Furthermore, with the operation of its cultural website, the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ wishes to support the positive ethical key idea of a world in which

• peace

• promotion of education and educational diversity

• wealth of culture, creativity, and art

• wealth of knowledge and positive common sense

• sustainable development cooperation

• fair and social globalisation

• fair and global trade to the benefit of everyone

• aid for self-help and sustainable local aid

• promotion of regional economies

• creation of local jobs with fair and humane working conditions

• promotion and support of regional and communal personal development cooperation

• love of and enthusiasm for nature

• positive, humane technology ethics and technology ethics for the benefit of all

• a common commitment to fight against hunger and poverty

• a common commitment to combat exploitation and child labour

sustainably and permanently improve the living conditions of people in disadvantaged countries and states of the world, and make this a better, more just, fair, peaceful and in particular a more child-friendly world.

Love and respect of nature, enthusiasm and admiration of nature, natural beauty, ethics of creation, respect for creation and conservation of creation, animal welfare form a part of the nature-related ethical values of the internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’, and are also reflected in its published photographs, and images as well as in its cultural reports and news.

For this reason, the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ will also publish natural subjects in its image galleries and photo series in addition to photographs and images of medieval markets and historical sites such as castle ruins.

This includes photographs and images of the following natural subjects:

• impressive ancient trees
• beautiful forests
• picturesque landscapes
• exceptionally beautiful natural objects
• picturesque natural panoramas, for example beautiful hilly landscapes.

The internet portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’ is dedicated to understanding nature and the environment and creation as a complex, intelligent, sensitive, vulnerable, and collectively linked ecological system.

This definition regards nature as a networked, holistic ecological system which is based on a large number of laws, as well as tangible and intangible relationships, networks, correlations, and interactions.

This results in a caring, respectful, gentle, conscientious, considerate and protective behaviour towards nature, the planet and the whole of creation, which forms the ethical basis and sustainable understanding of nature and a life in harmony with, and governed by nature.

For the authors of the internet cultural portal ‘thewhiterider.eu’, values such as love of nature, respect and admiration of nature form a part of, and are innately connected with a supreme, benevolent and creative God. In our understanding and in our definition of values, this benevolent God is kind and merciful, and inspires and endows hope and joy.

According to our values, belief in God also implies a belief in the social values of joy of life, enjoyment of nature, freedom, happiness as well as contemplation and charitable actions.