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MOTHER NATURE vs. THE STATE. Protecting the Environment Against State Policy in Austria and the Women Behind the Protest. Austria’s National Parks. is a green ribbon between the conurbations of Vienna and Bratislava - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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MOTHER NATURE MOTHER NATURE vs. vs.
THE STATETHE STATEProtecting the Protecting the
Environment Against State Environment Against State Policy in Austria and the Policy in Austria and the
Women Behind the ProtestWomen Behind the Protest
Austria’s National ParksAustria’s National Parks
is a green ribbon between the is a green ribbon between the conurbations of Vienna and conurbations of Vienna and BratislavaBratislava
protects the largest natural protects the largest natural riparian wetlands in Central riparian wetlands in Central Europe, which are still to a high Europe, which are still to a high degree ecologically intact degree ecologically intact
is vitally influenced by the is vitally influenced by the practically free-flowing stretch of practically free-flowing stretch of the River Danube, which in this the River Danube, which in this area still has the characteristic area still has the characteristic phenomena of an alpine streamphenomena of an alpine stream
represents a complexity of represents a complexity of ecosystems with an enormous ecosystems with an enormous diversity of habitats, plant and diversity of habitats, plant and animal speciesanimal species
offers home and refuge to many offers home and refuge to many endangered plants and animals endangered plants and animals
deeply impresses visitors with the deeply impresses visitors with the particular beauty of its landscape particular beauty of its landscape
provides a natural overflow for provides a natural overflow for floodsfloods
guarantees high-quality drinking-guarantees high-quality drinking-water water
acts as filter and climate regulator acts as filter and climate regulator for the whole region for the whole region
serves as a recreation area for serves as a recreation area for people living in the surrounding people living in the surrounding region.region.
Donau-Auen National Park contains:Donau-Auen National Park contains:
* more than 700 species of vascular plants* more than 700 species of vascular plants* more than 30 mammal and 100 breeding bird * more than 30 mammal and 100 breeding bird
species, 8 reptile and 13 amphibian species and species, 8 reptile and 13 amphibian species and more than 50 different species of fish more than 50 different species of fish
* an abundance of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates * an abundance of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates
Previous Environmental Previous Environmental Conservancy ActionConservancy Action
1973: first plans regarding the establishment of a National Park Danube-1973: first plans regarding the establishment of a National Park Danube-March-Thaya-Auen March-Thaya-Auen
1978: the Lobau area is declared a nature preserve (since 1977, the Lower 1978: the Lobau area is declared a nature preserve (since 1977, the Lower Lobau has also been an UNESCO biosphere reserve) Lobau has also been an UNESCO biosphere reserve)
1979: the riparian wetlands of the rivers Danube, Morava and Dyje in Lower 1979: the riparian wetlands of the rivers Danube, Morava and Dyje in Lower Austria are declared a nature reserveAustria are declared a nature reserve
1983: the riparian wetlands of the rivers Danube, Morava and Dyje and the 1983: the riparian wetlands of the rivers Danube, Morava and Dyje and the area of the Lower Lobau are classified as wetlands of international area of the Lower Lobau are classified as wetlands of international importance (according to the Ramsar Convention) importance (according to the Ramsar Convention)
1984: the most significant incident which led to the creation of the National 1984: the most significant incident which led to the creation of the National Park was the prevention - by public protest - of the construction of a hydro-Park was the prevention - by public protest - of the construction of a hydro-electric power station near Hainburgelectric power station near Hainburg
Groups Involved in the ConflictGroups Involved in the Conflict
Supporters of the DamSupporters of the Dam- The federal governmentThe federal government- The officials and speakers of the The officials and speakers of the
three political parties as three political parties as represented in parliamentrepresented in parliament
- Austria Social DemocratsAustria Social Democrats- Austrian Liberal PartyAustrian Liberal Party- Austrian People’s PartyAustrian People’s Party- Danube Power CompanyDanube Power Company- Austrian Labor Union FederationAustrian Labor Union Federation
DefendersDefenders of the of the ForestForest
- Women and youth of the Women and youth of the political partiespolitical parties
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)World Wildlife Fund (WWF)- Austrian Student AssociationAustrian Student Association- Spontaneous groups, artists, Spontaneous groups, artists,
intellectuals, scholarsintellectuals, scholars
Transcription of EventsTranscription of Events- 19451945:: Austria begins economic recovery WWII:Austria begins economic recovery WWII:
- companies established to build and maintain hydroelectric power plants companies established to build and maintain hydroelectric power plants - 1980:1980: Austrian Federal Government is formed Austrian Federal Government is formed
- coalition between the largest (Social Democrat) and smallest (Liberal) partiescoalition between the largest (Social Democrat) and smallest (Liberal) parties
- November 1984November 1984:: Permit is granted to begin construction Permit is granted to begin construction - November 29, 1984:November 29, 1984: Women call a press conference Women call a press conference- December 8, 1984:December 8, 1984: Protest march to the forest gathers 8,000-10,000 Protest march to the forest gathers 8,000-10,000
- thousands camp out for the next few days in non-violent protestthousands camp out for the next few days in non-violent protest- police forces called in and attempted to “clear” the unarmed protestorspolice forces called in and attempted to “clear” the unarmed protestors
- December 21, 1984:December 21, 1984: A “peace” is called to allow reflection on the issues A “peace” is called to allow reflection on the issues- December 25, 1984:December 25, 1984: 10,000 people gather in the forest to celebrate mass 10,000 people gather in the forest to celebrate mass- January 1985:January 1985: Ecology Commission submits its report; Hainburg site is Ecology Commission submits its report; Hainburg site is
rejected for ecological reasons rejected for ecological reasons
If the plant had been If the plant had been built…built…
hundreds of hectares of riverine hundreds of hectares of riverine forest would have been irretrievably forest would have been irretrievably lostlost
the Danube would have been the Danube would have been
dammed up. This means that the dammed up. This means that the last free flowing stretch of river in a last free flowing stretch of river in a basin, in the alpine-like stretch of basin, in the alpine-like stretch of the Danube, would have been the Danube, would have been destroyeddestroyed
the river banks would have been the river banks would have been replaced by dikes; islands and replaced by dikes; islands and gravel banks would have been gravel banks would have been destroyeddestroyed
the wetlands would have been cut the wetlands would have been cut off from flooding, which would have off from flooding, which would have stopped the characteristic dynamics stopped the characteristic dynamics of a flowing river of a flowing river
the natural dynamics of the ground the natural dynamics of the ground water would have been altered, water would have been altered, which would have affected the which would have affected the quality of the ground waterquality of the ground water
Live via telephone:Live via telephone:Freda Meissner-BlauFreda Meissner-Blau
Born: March 11, 1927Born: March 11, 1927
Journalist and Green Party Journalist and Green Party ChairwomanChairwoman
Prominent environmentalistProminent environmentalist
Ran for President of Austria in Ran for President of Austria in 1985; received 5.5% of votes1985; received 5.5% of votes
Women in the Austrian Federal GovernmentWomen in the Austrian Federal Government20032003
ELISABETH GEHRER Federal Minister for Education,
Science and Culture
BENITA FERRERO-WALDNERFederal Minister for Foreign Affairs
URSULA HAUBNERState Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Social Security, Generations and
Consumer Protection
MARIA RAUCH-KALLAT Federal Minister for Health and
Women’s Issues
Results of the Hainburg ConflictResults of the Hainburg Conflict From 1985:From 1985: development of alternatives for the hydro-electric power station at development of alternatives for the hydro-electric power station at
Hainburg by the Ecology Commission (maintaining the free-flowing stretch of the Hainburg by the Ecology Commission (maintaining the free-flowing stretch of the Danube and National Park or new options for a power station). Danube and National Park or new options for a power station).
1986-1989:1986-1989: scientific research for a future National Park by the scientific research for a future National Park by the Nationalparkplanung Donau-Auen; at the same time, discussion of new possibilities Nationalparkplanung Donau-Auen; at the same time, discussion of new possibilities regarding a power station at the highest political level. regarding a power station at the highest political level.
1989:1989: 411 hectares of the riparian wetlands near Regelsbrunn were purchased as a 411 hectares of the riparian wetlands near Regelsbrunn were purchased as a result of the WWF initiative “Ransom of Nature”. result of the WWF initiative “Ransom of Nature”.
1990:1990: agreement regarding the establishment of a National Park signed by the agreement regarding the establishment of a National Park signed by the Republic of Austria and the Provinces of Lower Austria and Vienna. Republic of Austria and the Provinces of Lower Austria and Vienna.
1991-1995:1991-1995: planning phase of the National Park by the “Betriebsgesellschaft planning phase of the National Park by the “Betriebsgesellschaft Marchfeldkanal”. Marchfeldkanal”.
1996:1996: Donau-auen National Park is officially opened. Donau-auen National Park is officially opened.
* Information provided by http://www.donauauen.at
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